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The path west was overgrown, the trees pressing close on either side. Maura led the way, her steps quick and sure despite the grief weighing on her. The further they went, the more signs they found of recent templar activity—trampled underbrush, discarded ration tins, the occasional scrap of torn fabric.
Varric kept Bianca at the ready, his eyes scanning the shadows. "So, these templars. They just... kill people and take their jewelry now?"
Cassandra's mouth was a thin line. "The Order has fractured. Without leadership, some have become little better than bandits."
Maura let out a bitter chuckle. "Bandits with principles."
The trees began to thin, revealing the silhouette of an camp ahead. Smoke curled from its chimney, and the faint sound of voices carried on the wind.
Daniel signaled for silence, then motioned for the group to fan out.
The templars—five of them—were gathered around a fire pit in the mill's yard, their armor dented and dirty. One, a broad-shouldered man with a scar across his nose, was tossing something small and shiny into the air—a ring.
Maura's breath caught. "That's it."
Daniel didn't hesitate. He stepped into the clearing, his voice cutting through the quiet. "That doesn't belong to you."
The templars scrambled to their feet, hands flying to their swords. The scarred one sneered. "Inquisition. Should've known you'd stick your noses in."
Cassandra moved to Daniel's side, her shield raised. "You murdered an innocent man and stole from his corpse. You dishonor the Order."
The templar spat. "Order's dead. Just like that knife-ear bastard."
Maura let out a strangled sound, her hands shaking.
Daniel's grip tightened on his staff. "Last chance. Hand over the ring, and we'll let you walk away."
The templar laughed. "Oh, we'll walk away alright—after we burn the heretics."
The scarred templar's laughter still hung in the air when Daniel struck first.
His staff came up, lightning crackling along its length before lashing out in a brilliant arc. Chain Lightning tore through the clearing, striking two templars simultaneously. Their armor conducted the electricity with brutal efficiency—one screamed as his muscles locked up, collapsing to his knees, while the other was sent flying backward into the fire pit, sending embers scattering like angry fireflies.
Cassandra didn't hesitate. With a battle cry, she led the charge, her shield slamming into the nearest templar with enough force to send him sprawling. The Enhanced Whirlwind Ring hummed as she swung her blade, the air itself trembling in its wake.
Varric and Solas moved in perfect sync—Bianca's bolts found their marks with deadly precision, while Solas's frost magic encased another templar's legs in ice, leaving him helpless.
Maura didn't cower. She snatched up a fallen templar's dagger and drove it into the thigh of the one Solas had frozen. The man howled, toppling over like a felled tree.
The scarred leader, realizing the tide had turned, made a desperate lunge for the ring he'd dropped—only for Daniel to intercept him with a burst of Flashfire. The templar recoiled as flames licked at his armor, his sneer twisting into a snarl of pain.
"You'll burn for this, Herald!" he spat.
Daniel didn't waste words. A final bolt of lightning silenced him forever.
Silence settled over the clearing, broken only by the crackle of the disturbed fire and Maura's ragged breathing. She stood over the fallen templar she'd stabbed, her hands trembling—not with fear, but with the aftershock of vengeance.
Daniel's interface flickered to life:
[30 EXP Gained]
[2 Templars Defeated]
[Obtained: 106 Gold]
[Obtained: Old Dalish Ring]
[Obtained: Coded Letter]
He knelt, picking up the ring Maura had fought so fiercely for. It was simple but elegant—a silver band etched with delicate Dalish patterns. Without a word, he pressed it into her hands.
Maura clutched it to her chest, her shoulders shaking. "Thank you," she whispered.
Varric was already rifling through the templars' belongings, tossing a small pouch of coins to Daniel. "These bastards were well-funded."
Cassandra wiped her blade clean, her expression grim. "They were no true templars. Just murderers hiding behind a dead Order's name."
Solas picked up the letter that had fallen from the leader's pocket, his sharp eyes scanning the contents. His lips thinned. "This is... troubling."
Daniel took the parchment, reading aloud:
"When the Tevinter Imperium said that mages should rule over man, the Just rebelled against the unrighteous decree. When the Circle said that mages should be allowed to consort with unholy spirits without care or consequence, the Just rebelled against the unrighteous decree. Now the Lord Seeker tells us to withdraw to Val Royeaux. My brothers, I tell you, we are the Just, and we must rebel against this unrighteous decree. Our battle must continue until no mage draws breath. Cast aside these cowardly shackles and join us along the river off the West Road."
The words hung in the air like poison.
Varric whistled. "Well. That's not fanatical at all."
Cassandra's grip on her sword tightened. "This confirms it. The templars have splintered entirely. These 'Just' are no better than the rogue mages they hunt."
Daniel folded the letter, tucking it away. "We'll need to deal with them. But first—" He turned to Maura. "Let's get you home."
The walk back was quieter, the weight of what they'd done settling over them. Maura walked with her head high, the ring now securely on her finger, but her eyes were distant.
When they reached her cabin, she paused at the door, her voice softer than before. "Thank you. This... won't bring him back. But it gives me some peace."
She disappeared inside for a moment, returning with a small bundle—three fresh elfroot plants, their leaves still damp with dew, and a sheathed longsword. "Take these. It's not much, but it's all I have to give."
Daniel accepted the gifts, his interface updating:
[44 EXP Gained]
[Obtained: 3 Elfroot]
[Obtained: Fereldan Captain Longsword]
[61 Damage]
[+3% Attack Speed]
He examined the blade—a sturdy, well-balanced weapon, its hilt worn from use but its edge still sharp. Without hesitation, he offered it to Cassandra. "This should serve you better."
Cassandra took it, testing its weight with a few practiced swings. The blade sang through the air, its balance perfect. She nodded approvingly. "It will."
Maura lingered in the doorway, her gaze drifting to the distant hills. "What will you do now?"
Daniel followed her gaze. "Find these 'Just' templars. Stop them before they hurt anyone else."
She nodded slowly. "Then Maker watch over you."
Varric tipped an imaginary hat. "And you, ma'am."
As they turned to leave, Solas cast one last glance at the cabin. "The Veil is thin here. Be cautious."
Maura's smile was faint but genuine. "I will."
The soldier's report came just as they were preparing to leave. "Herald! We found another apostate cache—up the hill behind the cabin. But there's... a problem."
Daniel exchanged a glance with Cassandra. "What kind of problem?"
The soldier swallowed hard. "A house. On fire. And templars outside it."
Varric's fingers twitched toward Bianca. "Well. That's not ominous at all."
Cassandra was already moving. "Lieutenant, take your men and secure the supplies. Load them onto the carriage. The rest of us will handle the templars."
The lieutenant saluted sharply, barking orders to his squad as they moved toward the cache. Daniel, Cassandra, Varric, and Solas broke away, climbing the steep path behind Maura's cabin. The scent of smoke grew stronger with each step, the acrid tang of burning wood and something fouler—burned flesh—hanging heavy in the air.
At the crest of the hill, the scene unfolded before them: a modest farmhouse engulfed in flames, its roof collapsing inward with a shower of sparks. Five templars stood in a loose semicircle before the blaze, their backs to the approaching party. One—a woman with a grizzled braid—was laughing as she tossed another torch onto the porch.
Daniel didn't wait for introductions.
His first Chain Lightning struck like the wrath of the Maker itself, arcing between two templars before they even realized they were under attack. One collapsed, convulsing; the other whirled with a snarl, his sword already drawn.
Cassandra charged with a wordless roar, her new Fereldan longsword flashing in the firelight. The grizzled templar barely had time to raise her shield before Cassandra's blade shattered it, sending splinters flying.
Varric and Solas hung back, providing covering fire—Bianca's bolts found gaps in armor with unerring precision, while Solas's frost spells slowed the remaining templars, their movements growing sluggish.
It was over quickly. The templars, caught off guard and outmatched, fell one by one. The last—a young man with wide, terrified eyes—made a desperate lunge at Daniel, only to be impaled on Cassandra's blade.
Daniel's interface flickered:
[45 EXP Gained]
[3 Templars Defeated]
[Obtained: 2 Lambswool]
The heat from the burning house was intense, forcing them back a step. Varric coughed, waving smoke from his face. "Well, that's one way to redecorate."
Cassandra's expression was grim as she surveyed the blaze. "There could be people inside."
Solas's sharp eyes scanned the structure. "The door is barred from within. They locked themselves in."
Daniel moved closer, squinting through the flames. The front door was indeed sealed—and now consumed by fire. "We need to get inside."
Varric cracked his knuckles. "Stand back, kids. Time for some professional lockpicking."
Despite the dire circumstances, Daniel almost smiled. "That door's on fire, Varric."
"And? A little heat never hurt anybody." The dwarf winked, then darted forward, his movements surprisingly agile for someone of his stature. He produced a set of lockpicks from somewhere inside his coat, working at the burning door's mechanism with practiced ease. The lock clicked open just as the flames began licking at his sleeves.
"Ta-da!" Varric leapt back, brushing embers from his coat. "Now with extra crispy flavor."
The interior of the house was a charnel house. Thick smoke choked the air, but through the haze, the shapes of bodies were visible—huddled together in the center of the room, their forms blackened and twisted by the flames.
Daniel's stomach turned. "They locked themselves in for safety... and the templars burned them alive."
Cassandra made the sign of the Chantry across her chest. "Maker receive them."
Solas moved carefully through the ruin, his staff glowing faintly as he examined the scene. "Apostates, by the looks of it. And not warriors—these were civilians."
Varric kicked aside a fallen beam, revealing a half-melted staff. "Yeah, well, since when did that ever stop a templar?"
Daniel forced himself to focus, pushing aside the horror. They needed to search the house—for survivors, for answers, for anything that might help them stop this madness.
A shelf near the back wall had partially survived the flames. Among the scorched debris, something glinted—a smooth aquamarine, its blue-green hue vivid even in the dim light. Next to it lay a staff, its wood blackened but its metal core intact.
Daniel's interface identified them:
[Obtained: Aquamarine]
[Obtained: Mindleech Staff – Rare Rank]
[24 Fire Damage]
[+6% Barrier Damage Bonus]
[+2 Cunning]
[+2 Willpower]
He hefted the staff, feeling its weight. The magic within it hummed faintly, even after the fire. Solas eyed it with interest.
"A useful find. Though I doubt its previous owner has further need of it."
A chest in the corner, miraculously untouched by the flames, yielded more treasures:
[Obtained: 57 Gold Coins]
[Obtained: Hunting Bow Schematics – Tier 1]
Varric whistled at the schematics. "Not bad. Could make some decent coin off these."
But it was the journal that gave them pause. Half of it was reduced to ash, but one page remained legible. Daniel read it aloud, his voice tight:
"The templars were attacking the peasants we'd taken food from. They wanted to make certain that everyone fought to the death rather than help us. We took them by surprise with ice and lightning, and several were dead before they even saw us. So much for all that templar discipline—the brutes are off the leash just as much as we are now.
Still, there were enough of them to damp our magic, and the sellswords died fast when it came to blows. We've fallen back into the peasants' home. It's sturdy enough in here, and it looks like the peasants didn't give up all their food after all. The door's locked, and the templars gave up trying to force it after we killed the last fool who tried.
I can hear them out there, doing something out in the trees. Whatever they try, we'll be ready. We're never going back to any Circle. Even real templars couldn't stop us, and these glorified bandits are no better than we are."
Silence followed his words.
Cassandra exhaled sharply. "So. Apostates stealing from peasants. Templars burning them alive. And innocents caught in the middle."
Varric folded his arms. "Yeah, this whole 'war' thing is going great."
Solas's voice was quiet. "This is what happens when order collapses. When fear replaces reason."
Daniel tucked the journal into his pack, his jaw set. "Then we restore order. Starting with these 'Just' templars."
The heat from the burning house was becoming unbearable, the roof groaning ominously. They retreated outside, the fresh air a relief after the smoke and death within.
Below, the lieutenant and his men were loading the last of the apostate cache onto the carriage. The sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the bloodied earth.
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Name : Daniel Carter
Race: Elf
Level 3 : 1323/1500 EXP
Professions: Mage
Gold Coins: 1309 Coins
Weapon: Staff of the Dragon
Armor: Light Armor of the Dragon and Templar Scribe Scowl
Accessories: Lifeward Amulet
Inventory: Acolyte Ice Staff, Morning Star, Stiletto, Hunting Longbow, Fire Resistance Cowl, Mercenary Coat, Acolyte Fire Staff, Disciple Lighting Staff, Sigil of the Gamordan Stromrider, Apprentice Armor, Qunari Battleaxe, Amulet of Magic, Raider Hatchet, Disciple Fire Staff, Amulet of Willpower, Apprentice Mail, Qunari Buckler, Medium Adventure Armor, and Mindleech Staff
Crafting Materials: 30 Elfroot, 44 Iron, 2 Blue Vitriol, 1 Dawn Lotus, 11 Silk, 6 Lambswool, 1 Royal Elfroot, 10 Ram Leather, 23 Drakestone, 3 Fire Essence, 3 Blue Vitriol, 3 Canine Leather, and 4 Plaidewaive
Valuables: 3 Aquamarine, Silver Bracelet, 2 Figurine of Maferath the Betrayer, 2 Shadow Essence,
Gurn Gallstone Charm, Braid of Rank, Glass Halla, 1 Weapon Fragment, 2 Silver Necklace, 1 Ram Horn, 1 Bride's Blood Vial, 1 Silk Handerchief, 1 Glass Fox, 1 Silver Earring, 1 Dreamer Rag, and 1 Frost Essence
Potions: Lesser Health Potions x8, Lesser Regeneration Potions x5, and x5 Lyrium Potion
Skills: Chain Lighting, Flashfire, Barrier, and Winter's Grasp
Armor Schematics: Shokra-taar Schematic, Antaam-saar Schematic, Avvar Armor Schematics Acquired, Stone-Bear Armor Schematics, Vanguard Coat Schematic,
Weapon Schematics: Curved Dagger Schematic and Hunting Bow Schematic
Potion Recipe: Lesser Regeneration Potion recipe and Lyrium Potion Recipe
Bottles of Thedas: Vint-9 Rowan's Rose