Chapter Text
Drip…Drip…Drip…
The sound of viscous liquid dripping onto the floor echoed off the windowless stone walls of my musty cell. The chamber was small and bare save for two thing; The first was a large luminous green sphere that sent pulses of light and energy in waves through out the cell as it levitated lazily in front of the cells door, blocking it completely. The other thing was situated on the grimy floor in the middle of the cell, it was the source of the wet dripping noises that had filled the cell. I didn’t want to go near it, but I moved towards the middle of the chamber, hesitant to look upon the horror that was limp and motionless on the hard concrete floor. I stood in front of it, still unable to bring myself to look down at it. Looking at it would force me to accept the severity of my situation. I stood there looking at anything but what was in front me, as I prepared myself for what I was about to see.
Another wave of energy pulsed through the cell and I suddenly felt a faint tug on my entity towards the globe of light. I quickly glanced at it and noticed that it seemed be growing brighter and larger with every pulse.Interesting. Steeling my resolve I heave a great sigh of defeat and lowered myself to the ground, deliberately bringing my eyes to level with my naked physical body.
Yeah… I was looking at my broken and bloody body which was now inert and lifelessly positioned on my knees in a pool of my own blood. If I still had a body I would have retched at the horrific sight before me, but I didn’t have a body… because I was dead… Shoving that thought out of my mind I continued to study my face and body, taken aback by the sheer amount of damage that had been inflected upon my person. I looked even thinner in thinner in death without the luster life gives the living. My short blue hair was ragged and matted in blood from being torn out in patches by my torturers. My eyes were still wide open in fear and pain, one of my red contacts was still in place, in the mist of it all I hadn’t noticed the other had popped out. I looked from my contorted face to the rest of my destroyed body, eyeing the deep gashes along my arms and the fresh knife and burn wounds present all over my body. All of my piercings had been ripped out at some point and my lobes had been completely torn from the harsh removal of my gauges. Just the memory of the ordeal was painful and left me feeling raw. To be honest part of me was glade I died when I did, it had put an end to suffering that would have continued if I had not passed.
Even through all the blood I can see and remember clearly the damage that had been done to me, it had been a slow painful death. I shiver a little and wondered why I had kept fighting, using my pride and words as weapon and shield up until they had slit my throat. I knew my chances of getting alive was slim to non, I just… I guess I still had hopes that I could get myself out without dying or giving my assailants what they wanted.
I walked…no…more like floated around my body to get a better look at myself. I flicked my gaze about my exposed back admiring the abundance of tattoos that graced it. All of them had meaning but only two held my interest, the first was a sizable tattoo that occupied a large portion of my back, extending from the base of my neck to the small of my back. It was a depiction of a serpent with two heads one at each end of its body forming an infinite sign, the mouths of the serpent came to meeting with a circle between it two mouths. Around the bottom of the tattoo were nine different symbols one being something like a wolf with a sort of flame present in the middle of its head and another resembling a Celtic tree. It was more of a pale green branding then a tattoo and had been on my person since I could remember. There were what appeared to be words weaving elegantly around the serpent “Eolaselan’mah Pantheon” and “Rajelan Amelan Pantheon.” For the longest the strange tattoo perplexed my adoptive parents and I. It wasn’t till later in my life did I find out that the words were from a language that was entirely made up and to my complete shock the information had came to me from a video game. A game that ended up leaving me frightened by how the lore and history had ranged so familiar to me. Through out the game there was a feeling of déjà vu that was way to hard too shake, but it wasn’t just the strong feelings of familiarity that jarred me, but the memory like visions that began to plague me after I had played the games. Visions of war and destruction but not of my world. The brand like tattoo pulsed in time with the green ball as I felt yet another tug stronger then the last, ripping me from my thoughts.
I ignored the tugging sensation and looked to the top of my back where my favorite tattoo, my title that I stole from the same game rested. It laid across the top of my back shoulder to shoulder in larger interact black and red letters “Fen’Harel”. Seeing it in all its full glory without a mirror made me slightly happy and full of pride for a second. Not many people remembered the game so using the name as my title for work had been easy and even though most knew not what it meant it still struck fear in the hearts of my organizations enemies. Fear that we used in various ways.
I finished examining my back and continued to float around my still form coming to a stop in front myself once again. I freeze briefly as I feel another pull on my soul-That’s what I am right? Without a body I am just a soul...The pulling sensation was more insistently tugging me harder in the direction of the eerie portal like light that had appeared just shortly after I had left my body. The waves of green light bathed everything in the cell in a sickly green tint, and with every pulse I can feel myself being pulled, and yeah it was freaking me out. I mean everyone says that when you die you see a white light, well I’m not seeing a white light I’m seeing green, which makes me suspect that the portal must have manifested to take me to hell.
Not wanting to acknowledge the possibility of going to hell, I look back down at my body and stare at my bruised and bloody face as I thought back on the last few days that had lead to my demise.
It had been a normal day, if you considered a mercenary/spy committing blackmail and espionage all in a days work normal. I had been sent to Texas by the organization to gather information on a woman and child prostitution ring operating out of Vegas. The guy I was sent to shake down for this information was a Texas Representative who had just announced his intentions to run for President in the coming election. The man was also having a secret affair with his male secretary, despite being married with kids, which I personalty couldn’t have cared less about. My company had no room for such discrimination, but having that secret in my arsenal had made my extraction of information that much easier.
When he realize what I was after he profusely denied his hand in the matter and refused to give me what I wanted, even going as far as to threaten me with his crooked connections. His denial wasn’t surprising, most of my targets almost always never willingly gave me what I came for, at least not with out some convincing. The moment I revealed what I knew about his little secret he turned a wonderful shad of magenta, a color that seem to only deepened as I explained what would happen if I were slip what I knew to the press along with the proof my company had gathered. That kind of information would cost him his position, destroy his marriage and tarnished his credibility due to his strong public stance against the LGBT community was just that, a political stance. With his secret in circulation his life would be ruined and his chances of winning the race to the White House would end before it even begin.
Don’t think I enjoyed the act of blackmail, I didn’t, but in my line of work it was sometimes necessary as with this case. The info he had was vary valuable, from my connections I knew he was strongly tied to the finical side of the prostitution ring and ultimately had the power to shut it down, if not directly at least indirectly. He caved once he saw just how much he could lose, they always caved in the in.
I left his posh downtown office shortly after I got him to hand write me a letter that would have the cops in Vegas shutting down the scene in no time. As an added bonus and with little persuasion needed I got the poor desperate man to write a nice sized check out to my company with a promise that his secret would stay a secret. With both the letter and check safely tucked inside my coat I had made my way to a small cafe that I frequently visited whenever I was in town. A foolish lack of judgment on my part, I know this now. Half way there I had a strong feeling that I was being watched and followed, but cocky me ignored the feeling and continued on my way. I mean what did I have to fear? Anyone in a place of actual power not to screw with me, in fear of catching my attention and having my company digging up skeletons that they wanted to stay buried. I had grown to powerful for my own good, I had gotten comfortable with the safety net others fear of me, had graced me with. I had thought myself invincible and beyond others reaches, I had believed my power was enough to ensure my safety, such false securities.
When I left the cafe it was a little after 8 pm, and I was running late for my next appointment, so I started heading to the hotel where the meeting was to be held. I was not even a full block away from cafe when a black sedan drove up next to the sidewalk and slowly followed beside me. I glanced around and immediately spotted three guys on the other side of the street looking dead at and were making their way across the road towards me. Without much thought I turned to run back to the cafe but there were two more men behind me. One of the men had his hand out to grab me but my years of training kicked had kicked in and within a matter of seconds the dude was on his back basically hugging his now mangled and useless arm. The other guys had finally made it to me and I knew I could not take them all on.
I was out number by far but I wasn’t going down without a fight. I whirled around and kicked out catching the face of one guy with the sole of my shoe knocking him unconscious instantly. I then dodged to the side as I narrowly avoided a wildly thrown punch from one of the other attackers. But I lost my balance on an uneven area of the sidewalk, I regained my my balance too slow. As I prepared myself to lunge at another guy I heard the sound of a silenced gun being fired from behind me and I felt the pain instantly in my side and shoulder. I tried to ignore it but the pain made me sluggish and too slow to respond when one of the men raised his fist and connected a heavy blow to my nose. I crumpled immediately and blacked out before I hit the ground.
When I came to, my arms were bound above my head tied to a hook in the ceiling of the room…cell. Three days… three days they tortured me, starved me demanding information only two other people in the world new I possessed, information that I did not want to give. And I didn’t give it up, the information would have been used to kill hundreds of innocent people who had done nothing wrong, other then worshiped a different god in the wrong place at the wrong time. For the most part I didn’t beg and I tried my hardest not to cry as they continued night and day with their assault. At times I would goad them and insult there tactics just to distract myself from the pain, it pissed them off greatly. In the end I did beg, I begged not for my life but for the name or title of the one who had betrayed me, something they denied me up until the very end , when they had realized I was not going to crack.
With a blade to my throat my killer whispered “The Dovakin sends his apologies to you Fen’Harel.”
I stiffened not from the pain of the knife at my neck but at the title that he had given me. I couldn’t believe it and part of me still refuse to accept it. The Dovakin of my organization had been my lover and close friend, why would he need to betray me? All he had to do was ask and my love for him would have compelled me to spill my knowledge, I loved him that much. We created the organization to change the world for the better, only using what we gained to help those in need, there were no secrets between us…at least not on my side of the relationship. The questions bubbled in my mind but they died when I did.
I feel yet another tug on me, this one stronger then the previous ones, actually dragging me a few feet towards the green light. I could feel that the next tug might actually suck me into it. So with one last look down at my body, a long look to memorize my face, I turned towards the green and floated to it. Standing next to it I can feel that the pull was almost impossible to resist, but I am afraid to pass through. I have never been one to fear death itself but I was terrified of what came after, fearful of what might be on the other side.
I don’t have to be a genius to know that I had not lead the kind of life that could get you into the gates of Heaven. I would be a fool to believe my good deeds would be enough to carry me through. No matter how good my deeds ended up being , the way I achieved them would have made the devil himself proud.
Well I cant stay here and hunt this cell forever…
With a wistful sigh I take one last look at my broken body and the cell around it, then faced the green light.
The moment I float through the green portal I can feel the diffidence before I see it. The atmosphere is almost tangible and…slimy? Like its thick, heavy and… I don’t know how to describe the sensation, it just feels really…eww. I take a glimpse around myself and am shocked… Ok maybe not that shocked. I mean hell is hell but there were no legendary unending lakes of flames nor was there any torture happening instead I seemed to be in a wasteland. Its all greens and blacks, and many of the structures that may have once existed seemed to have crumbled long age leaving shapeless ruins in their stead. I looked up at the sky and notice that there are massive rocks and boulders floating in the air, not only are they defying gravity but some are so huge that there are buildings built on top of them. Looking farther then the immediate sky above me I spot an enormous floating mass in the far distance that seemed to hold an entire city. I am in awe, like really, if this is hell then I am envious of what Heaven must look like.
I looked down at myself and was pleasingly shocked to see that I had something that resembled a body, only it was see through and shining in bright white. I moved my arms and shudder at the sensation. It felt like I was moving through water against the tide.
Did I mention how slimy this place feels? The air is so thick that when I looked up from my body I could actually see it in the form of a heavy green fog on the horizon of a large but completely still body of water. I float a little towards the murky green ocean and stare into the horizon catching fleeting glimpses of thick air here and there.
Why does it feel like I’ve been here before? I think to myself. I don’t remember ever visiting hell, but the feeling of having been here before is unnerving. A ripple in the calm waters catch my eye pulling me from my thoughts. I stand still and watch as the ripples become more and more violent, until I am quite sure something might emerge from the depths of the water.
Taking a step away from the waters edge I look around me and am caught off guard by the presence of souls… spirits? I’m not really sure but they were all floating towards the water with half formed ethereal body's like mine except each emitted a different colored light but I seemed to be the only one that was white. Some where floating in groups and seemed to be conversing among themselves, others were observing the large ripples in the water with obvious excitement. All appeared to be occupied except for one, a pale green one in the form of a woman, who happen to be watching me rather closely. Even after I had caught its eyes with mine it continued to blatantly stare at me as it began to float my way.
Wanting to get away from my green admire I float through the crowd away from the disturbed waters. Not knowing where to go I just set off in a random direction taking in my surroundings. The scenery changed every now and then from shapeless ruins to more identifiable structures and buildings all with the same green tint to them.
I had been floating around for what felt like hours when I realized something was silently following me. I turn around to see that the pale green female was standing behind me.
“Look I don’t know who or what you are, but you are being rude staring at me and following me like this.” I say almost going silent at the sound of my voice, which echoed in an airy and light way. The Green intruder stays silent and floats closer to me, and I back away a few feet.
“I apologize if I have offended you ma’falon. But I wanted to ask if you know who you are?” it asked in the same kind of light echoing voice, its glowing green form flickering with every word. I was taken aback by the oddness of the question, she didn’t ask me who I was but if I knew who I was. If it wasn’t looking at me so intensely I would not have answered such a question.
“My name is Heaven. Who are you, and why are you following me?” The green one bobbed in the air quietly for a few seconds before speaking again.
“You may have been Heaven, but weren’t previously and you are not once more. I on the other have always been known as Wisdom.” Wisdom’s light flickered but I didn’t notice this time due to the reality of its words rubbing me the wrong way. What the fuck did she just say?
I looked around us and then up at the sky, before looking back at Wisdom taking in her features. Her hair was mid length and wavy, and though her features were hard to make out I could see her small noble nose and the curve of her lips, but it was her ears that confirmed my suspicions. They were not like mine had been, they were long and pointed at the tips…
I float backwards slowly as I feel the shock take over, unable and not completely willing to believe what I was seeing, what I had heard. Trying to stay calm and not wanting to panic prematurely I questioned Wisdom, knowing the answer already.
“Pray tell me where am I?”
“You are in the fade Da’len.” she flickered a reply without hesitation. I could feel myself shaking my head rigorously in denial.
No, no it cant be. I cant be.. this can not be real. How did I get here? Why am I here. Oh God whats happening?! I think to myself as my mind runs through all I had seen since I had arrived. But even as reluctant as I was to believe I was in the Fade the evidence was all too damning.
“I’m in the fade which means I’m in…Thedas?” I ask slowly more to myself then to the spirit but she nodded her head in response anyways. Holy shit, I’m in a fucking video game!! I think almost rejecting the possibility. Why was I here? Did everyone from Earth go to the fade in death? Am I to be in the Fade forever, was this my personal hell? Too many questions danced in my head but something about what Wisdom said...
”You said that I'm no longer me, what did you mean by that?”
“You are still yourself, but you were never truly Heaven. You are currently missing parts of yourself, and once you become whole all will be reveled.” Wisdom began to float away in a difference direction as it spoke so I followed her.
“Long ago I was asked to watch over you and observe your journey on earth, therefore I know all you have seen and experienced. Only you know what is to come in the near future for Thedas and only you have the power to fix it.”
I stopped following and just stood still “Why were you asked to watch over me? Who asked you to do it? And why me of all the people from my world?”
Wisdom came to a stop turning to face me while shaking her head at my questions. “I was given the task because you are not from the world you call Earth but was sent there for reasons only know by the ones that sent you there. I was to watch over you so that I could guide you when you returned. Now da’len, we must keep moving there is so much I must tell you but so little time.” without waiting for my response she turned and continued on her way.
I followed silently as I retreated into my thoughts. Wisdom had given me a lot to think on. I was confused and it was frustrating, I was dead, what could I possibly do to help Thedas? I had been to or was from Thedas but had no recollection of such an event. She was right about me knowing what was to come, but as f0or me having the power to fix it, I wasn’t as sure as she was.
As we floated through the fade in silence we passed up many other spirits and what I would guess were demons. Every now and then the scenery of the Fade would abruptly change and we would pass through whole towns that may have been impressions of actual locations from the other side of the Veil. The towns were filled with both spirits and demons though they seemed to avoid each other but when we passed them they would stop and stare at us. Their stares were unnerving and made me uncomfortable.
“Why are they staring at us like that?” I whispered as I moved closer to Wisdom.
“Your arrival was felt by all in the fade, they are curious about you. We all feel your presence it is something that calls to both spirits and demons. It will also be felt by powerful dreamers that visit the fade in their sleep.” the spirit answered without stopping. I ignored the looks after that and focused on the ever changing locations of the Fade. After what could have been hours of floating through the Fade Wisdom came to a stop.
I looked about our surrounding and saw that we stood before a large structure that sat upon a snowy plateau. The building stood proud in front of a huge mountain ridge that towered over it. There was also the largest gathering of spirits I had yet seen floating about the area. I know I had seen this place before but wanted confirmation.
“Where are we?” I finally asked after taking in full stock my current location.
“This is the Temple Of Sacred Ashes, it is where you will need to be for the next step of you journey. But for now I well explain what you will need to do to become whole again. Come closer Da’lin.” she motioned at me to come near and reached out both her ethereal hands towards me. I hesitantly floated forward and she placed her hands on ether side of my head. Instantly my sight blurred and visions of the game played out before my eyes the scene of Corypheus at the conclave seemed to be the focus.
After the scene played a second time my sight returned and wisdom floated back a few steps, removing her hands from my head.
“When that time comes you must not hesitate, you must grab the orb at the same time as the future Herald. Only then will you become whole.” she informed me.
“But I’m in the fade, how would I be able to grab the orb in time with the Herald?” I shook my head at the impossibility of what she was telling me to do.
“You are aware of the spirit of compassion who roams freely in Thedas in a form he manifested for himself? This will be similar only you will not be creating a new form, your soul will call forth your original form. Coming into contact with the orb will solidify you body and allow you to live as you once was.” I nodded at her mention of Cole, kind of understanding her meaning.
“How do I leave the fade? Don’t I have to be summoned to be able to cross the Veil?”
“That only pertains to spirits, you are a soul separate from its vessel. You may cross over to the other side at any time. But once you leave the Fade you won’t be able to get back to this side. As for how to leave, all you must do is press yourself through the Veil.” I looked up at the Fade version of the temple letting her words sink in. The spirit bobbed in the air with her response and waited patiently for me to come to terms with what was to be done.
Why am I hesitating? This will give me the chance to live again. So what if it will come with its own burdens. So what if I don’t entirely understand what was going on. Besides if I don’t go and the inquisition fails I will have that on my chest for the rest of my eternity in the Fade.
I take in a deep breath, “Ok tell me what I must do. How long do I have, before it starts.” I say in resignation.
The spirit nodded its head then turned away from me heading towards the temple as it spoke. “The gathering at the Conclave has already started. The official start of the meeting will began at mid morning tomorrow. You must wait inside the Temple and position your self as close to the orb as you can with out catching the tainted Magister’s attention. I Would suggest that you cross the Veil early in the morning at first light. That way the disturbance in the veil from your exit is felt by as few as possible. Keep to the shadows and keep yourself invisible at all time. Until then you should familiarize yourself with the layout of the temple.” When she finished speaking she came to a stop once again, this time in front of the large arching entrance of the temple before turning to face me.
“Da’lin you are about to embark on a mission to save this world from falling into total chaos. It will be a long hard road ahead of you but you must guide this Harold in the right direction. I’ve no doubt that once you become whole again you will understand your role in this much better. I ask that you call upon me regularly when you visit the fade, I am here to help you with your burdens.” Something in the way she said it made me feel as if she was about to leave me there. But I had a gnawing question that needed to be answered.
“Wisdom before you go, what do I do about Fen’Harel? He will most likely kill me on the spot if he thinks I know too much. How will I help without letting on that I know everything? He is your friend after all, how do I handle him?” The spirit tilted her head as if listening to something I could not hear before she responded.
“When you become whole you will know how to deal with him. It will come to you as all your missing pieces fall into place. But I suspect you will be encountering him sooner then that. As I have said your presence is felt throughout the whole of the fade, no doubt he feels it also. And now that you have summoned him in his own realm he may be here shortly. Heed my advice Da’lin do not fight him but also do not give give him too much of your knowledge of the future events to come. If you do it may change the fate of Thedas in a way your knowledge will be useless. I must go before he arrives to avoid the rise of suspicion. You must be strong Da’lin no need to falter in your steps, you will not be alone.” Before I could object the spirit just disappeared and I was left alone with more questions then answers.
I look around for her but I knew she was gone. Turning towards the entrance of the temple I take her suggestion and float through the arch way of the Temple Of Sacred ashes.
The ruins of the Temple of Sacred Ashes as a whole had only been present in Dragon Age Origins and had been over run with cultist. But the fully restored version only made a brief appearance in Dragon Age Inquisition’s start screen and was promptly destroyed in that same scene. So it was no surprise that the short glimpses of the temple had not prepared me for the full grander of the temple. The enormous Temple consisted of of four beautiful constructed buildings that encircled an open courtyard that housed a fountain and several sitting benches. Standing guard at the entrance of each building were statues of Andraste that stood proud and imposing.
When I floated into the main hall of the temple I saw that though the temple was built completely out of stone it had an air of elegance about it. From its large Arching entrance ways to the numerous statues of the prophet Andraste and her followers that stood in attention around the huge main hall. The windows at the back of the hall provided brilliant green light through the red and white chantry style curtains that were draped decoratively around the hall. There was a large mural on the left wall of the entrance, that depicted the fearless leader of the exalted march standing on a cliff above her army with her hand reaching out towards her maker. The mural came to an end at the entry way of a hall that lead to some smaller rooms, which followed the same decor fashion as the main hall with the exception of the murals which differed from the main hall’s.
I don’t know how long I had roamed the halls of the temple but after awhile I started hearing the sound of people speaking in faint whispers, that was not of the spirits that were present through out the temple. The sound seemed to be everywhere in and around the temple but was without a physical source. It had started as an unidentifiable buzzing before it became persistent and more clearer. Unable to find the source of the talking, I found myself focusing on it. Within seconds the source of the sound appeared in the form of phantom like apparitions of people all around me. The sight was startling until it donned on me that I was watching what was happening at the conclave in real time through the Veil.
The scene of the conclave was a somber one, with the tension between the templars and mages saturating the air. Even though the mages and templars were at the gathering to reach an agreement, they seemed to be going out of their way to avoid one another. The templars had taken to standing silently against a wall in a large group while actively sneering and glaring at the mages. The mages on the other hand were roaming the halls of the temple and engaging in quiet conversations among themselves. The chantry sisters that were present had situated themselves around the main hall in small groups. Some where kneeling at the feet of Andraste’s statues praying while others had taken it upon themselves to keep the more violent templars and mages at bay.
As I observed the interactions of the gathering a fight had broke out between a elven circle mage and a templar that had been calling out insults as mages passed him. I watched as the templar drew his sword while calling the mage a “filthy knife eared abomination” before attempting to smite the poor mage. The mage threw up a barrier but before she could cast another spell a chantry sister ran between the two as another sister grabbed onto the templar and successfully pulled him away from the scene. The mages nearer to the elven mage moved to console her as the remaining chantry sisters reminded the gathering crowds why they were there.
I was entranced with the scene and had let my guard down, when I herd the sound of rustling fabric behind me. Part of me went into high alert noting that the sound was not made by a spirit, but I ignored it and continued to watch the events of the conclave unfold. I didn’t pay the sounds any mind until till there was a sound of someone clearing their throat directly behind me. Pissed someone was interrupting me from my observation I turned to give the intruder and earful, but stopped short with my words caught in my throat. Standing behind me with blatant curiosity dancing on his defined features stood non other then Fen’Harel himself.