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Chapter Text

Name: Terys Nanin

Nicknames: Ter (Enver) Sweetheart (Astarion)

- She will call Astarion; Nibbles, Vampire-Boy, 'Starion, Bitey, Little Vampire.

Titles:

True Soul (Eventually)

Inquisitor (Eventually)

Herald of Andraste (Eventually)

Your Worship (style) (Eventually)

Comtesse in Kirkwall (Eventually)

Inquisitor First-Thaw (Eventually)

Born: 9:16 Dragon

Age: 25 (9:41)

- Appearance:

Race: Drow

- Hair colour: White

- Eye colour: Red (right) and Blue (left) (Heterochromia)

Class: Rogue and Wizard

- Subclass: Assassin and Necromancy

Background: Haunted One

Family:

Bhaal ("father"/creator)

Orin the Red (Bhaalspawn relative)

Sarevok Anchev (Bhaalspawn relative)

Unnamed Nanin foster parents (deceased)

Minsc ("uncle")

Enver Gortash (Lover)

History

Terys is a Bhaalspawn, but unlike other Bhaalspawn, she and was not born – Bhaal created them from a piece of his dead flesh. They are the only Bhaalspawn who had the guarantee of murder, the Urge, woven into their blood.

Terys grew up outside the Cult of Bhaal, and was at some point taken in by a poor couple in Baldur's Gate. She had a relatively peaceful childhood for a time, before Terys succumbed to the Urge and murdered her loved ones and foster parents.

Eventually, Terys became the leader of the Cult of Bhaal, and pledged to end all life in existence for her father Bhaal. At some point, fellow Bhaalspawn Orin the Red joined and became her second-in-command.

- Alliance:

Enver Gortash contacted Terys after reestablishing worship of Bane (God) Bane, and the two formed an alliance upon discovering common goals.

They were visited in their dreams by Bhaal and Bane, who named them their Chosen and commanded them to ally with Ketheric Thorm, the Chosen of Myrkul.

- Corypheus:

Terys, Enver, and Ketheric were encouraged by their patron gods to align themselves Corypheus to steal his powerful elvhen artefact, the Orb of Power, from him. Between the three of them, they decided that Terys would easily infiltrate the Venatori which leads her to the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Plot Note: I haven't decided when during the plot of Inquisition the next part will happen, but I would say early on as she would likely try to flee and return to the Cult of Bhaal. Maybe when they are in Val Royeux she can slip away in the night after recruiting Sera and Vivienne.

- Betrayal:

Gortash and Terys hatched a plan to steal the Crown of Karsus in a heist at Mephistopheles' Vault by having Helsik open a gate to Mephistar for them.

After the heist was successful, Gortash suggested that they use the Crown on the elder brain located in the illithid colony below Moonrise Towers. Terys agreed to the plan so that she could fulfil her pledge to her Lord: She would create an army of soulless mind flayers, and with the help of this army she would exterminate all life — including, as the last being alive, her own. Fully intent on eventually betraying the other Chosen, Terys joined Enver Gortash and Ketheric Thorm at Moonrise Towers.

At Moonrise Towers, Terys was treated like a god, and although nobody knew her name or rank, she was shown the utmost respect. The three Chosen initiated a raid on the mind flayer colony, and successfully used the Crown on the colony's elder brain, enslaving it to their will. At some point during this, the elder brain came to respect Terys and intended to go along with her plan, impressed by her unmatched cruelty.

After Terys put the Crown on the elder brain, she was soon betrayed by her sister Orin the Red, who was jealous of Bhaal's favouritism. Terys had her skull pierced and opened with a dagger, and was infected with a tadpole that began to eat her liquidating brain, resulting in her amnesia, as well as her becoming the first True Soul.

Terys was found by Kressa Bonedaughter who, impressed with her willpower and resistance to the elder brain's influence, began to study her. She would cut them open and put them back together repeatedly over the course of several days in the mind flayer colony, during which Terys was unable to speak or do anything but attempt to inflict violence on herself or others.

Noticing his wife's obsession and hoping to snap her out of it, Kressa's husband, Maghtew Budj, arranged for the broken and amnesiac Terys to be sent off on the Nautiloid Ship, where she would soon wake up with no memories of herself, or of her past.

Personality:

Terys is narcissistic and confident, inheriting a rather sadistic composure and a darker sense of humor.

Terys is a cold and calculated individual, more so than her bloodkin, Orin the Red. She believes in killing for killing's sake, preferring practical and simple methods over flair and grace, and takes issue with extravagant or needlessly creative killings. She is deeply loyal to Bhaal and never disobeys him.

Whilst leading the Cult of Bhaal, she relentlessly drilled herself toward perfection and settled for nothing less from herself or those who served her. She believes that power and domination are the defining traits of strength, and as such, will only help others if she thinks there is some personal gain at stake.

She harbours neither pity nor mercy for those she marks as treasonous or inferior. As one who wants nothing less than absolute control, she likewise has remarkable control of herself, seemingly able to react to any situation at a moment's notice without losing her composure.

Terys is marked by a distinct lack of empathy. Even as a child, she reacted with hostility when outdone.

She is prone to asserting herself and her authority in a grandiose way. She also shows a need for admiration, mostly from Bhaal, whom she emulates to a great degree, and from everyone else around her, though to a lesser extent.

Terys is known to have a cruel personality, showing little to no concern for others besides her father and the Cult of Bhaal, there are unique cases though such as Enver Gortash whom she is in a 'relationship' with, however this is purely a sexual relationship on her part. From a very young age, Terys demonstrated sadistic aggression and a near-total lack of remorse to friends, family, and animals. Her own adopted mother once remarked, "What is wrong with that child?" after observing her casual cruelties.

Note: This will be a Dark Urge redemption story with her trying to overcome the Urge through her new experiences with her new companions and role within the Inquisition.

Past relationships:

- Sceleritas Fel:

The fiend-like creature Sceleritas Fel served Terys and joined her during a series of grisly murders in Baldur's Gate. He was sent by Bhaal on the day Terys reached her age of majority to guide her to her birthright as Bhaal's Chosen. Sceleritas loved Terys dearly and revelled in her depravity. He particularly enjoyed being killed by Terys. His regular duties included managing the Temple of Bhaal, as well as helping Terys with torture and murder. Terys frequently needed Sceleritas' assistance, and Sceleritas believed Terys struggled to conduct herself properly without him.

When Terys disappeared, Sceleritas greatly missed her and was deeply worried for her health.

- Orin:

Orin was Terys's second-in-command and her sister, but the two of them always had a turbulent relationship. Orin believed that Terys's murders were too mindless to be worthy of Bhaal and that the Bhaal Temple decayed because of her. She was jealous that Terys was the favourite of Bhaal even though her killing lacked beauty and talent. Terys thought that Orin did not understand that Bhaal only wanted death in numbers, and that she was wasting Bhaal's time by killing in an extravagant way.

When Terys started the Absolute plot with the other Chosen, Orin grew even more resentful. She particularly despised Gortash's alliance with Terys, thinking that he was manipulating her. In response, Orin decided to infect Terys with a tadpole so she could replace her and rebuild the Temple in her own image. Terys was not aware of Orin's plan, as she believed that she worshipped her as much as all the other cultists.

After Terys placed the Crown of Karsus on the elder brain in Moonrise Towers, Orin attacked her, piercing their skull with a dagger and putting a tadpole inside it. She left her gravely injured on the floor of the mind flayer colony, where Terys was found by Kressa Bonedaughter. She healed some of Terys's injuries to keep her from dying and began experimenting on her, unaware of who they were.

- Bhaal and his Temple:

Terys commanded great respect, admiration, and devotion from the devotees at the Temple of Bhaal in Baldur's Gate. She inspired them with her sheer ruthlessness, staggering amount of victims, and the intelligence of her schemes and planning.

Bhaal himself loved Terys the most of all his children as he had personally handcrafted the her body from his own flesh, and filled it, with blood directly from his body, thus making her the perfect child in his eyes.

This also stands in contrast to the other Bhaalspawn who were born from myriad dalliances with mortal women of various races during the Time of Troubles, as such Terys is considered a pureblood Bhaalspawn. Bhaal's uncharacteristic level of love and concern for Terys is shown in the amount of attention that Terys receives from Bhaal.

- Enver Gortash:

Enver Gortash and Terys have a very close relationship, and Gortash considers the two of them to be friends. Gortash thinks of Terys as his favourite Bhaalspawn and assassin, regarding them as one of his "nearest and dearest". He respects Terys's cold-bloodedness and the slaughter she brings, as well as the mastery and control they have over their urges. Gortash actually likes Terys while he only tolerates Orin. Terys for their part always liked Gortash as well, admiring his genius and the brilliance of his plans. The two of them even fell into bed together.

The two met when Gortash contacted Terys following his establishment of the cult of Bane. Gortash informed Terys that some of her ancestral torture racks and the bones of one of her relatives were displayed in the Hall of Wonders. Terys and Gortash teamed up to recover these artefacts, which eventually led to them forming an alliance when they discovered they had common goals. They shared coded correspondence with each other as they discussed the failures of previous Banites and Bhaalists and how they might avoid them. Gortash and Terys came up with the Absolute plot and worked together to steal the Crown of Karsus from Mephistopheles.

When Orin betrayed Terys, Gortash was unaware of what had happened, only knowing what Orin had told him of the situation and that she had made a fool of Terys. Gortash was unable to interfere as they had agreed not to meddle in each other's affairs.

- The Absolute:

The Absolute, an Illithid Elder Brain evolved into a The Netherbrain from the power of the Crown of Karsus, actually had a positive relationship with Terys before they were betrayed. Terys was the one who placed the Crown on the brain's head, and as such it revered her for giving it so much power. The brain especially respected Terys for the calculated cruelty of her plan to kill all living beings. It intended to follow the plan and let Terys control the army it would amass. When Terys disappeared, the brain felt like it was abandoned as a slave to the other Chosen. The Chosen fought like children without Terys's presence, so the brain changed its plan which would eventually lead to its freedom.

Pairing: Astarion Ancunín and Solas

Powers and Abilities:

Magic:

Terys has access to older, more powerful magic granted to her by Bhaal upon her creation and later enhanced as a blessing by him.

- Her magic has a green energy to it, similar to the green glow of the Fade, even when casting fire or lightning spells, these appear green in nature.

- Due to the way that magic works in Baldur's Gate 3, there are no staves as a general rule, however, some magic users do use them such as Vivienne and Solas. Dorian I see using a dagger alongside his magic.

- She can shape and manipulate this magic for different effects, such as forming tangible constructs of energy and cast spells however her focus is mostly in necromancy, this will expand following her awakening aboard the Nautiloid.

- Her magic seems to react as an extension of Terys, more so than other mages and magic, likely because of her teachings within the Cult of Bhaal.

- Solas will note that the way she uses her magic reminds him of the ancient elves.

Necromancy: Terys' main school of study, is necromancy and she is considered to be very skilled at it. 

Battle-mage: Some mages specialise in spells that permit them to engage in combat from afar. Battlemages, by contrast, prefer to wade into the fray alongside their blade-wielding companions, close enough to read the fear in their opponents' eyes. Their spells primarily concern personal preservation as well as control of the elements in their immediate surroundings.

- Elemental magic mastery: Terys is gifted in manipulating the elements, however, her main focus is on her bow and will often enchant arrows by blowing magic onto the tip.

Shapeshifting: Terys has begun studying shapeshifting spells, she is currently unable to perform these spells but she has been looking forward to turning herself into a wolf or a dragon.

Abilities:

Master archer: With her mastery in archery, Terys can precisely hit targets from great distances with such tight groping. She can shoot objects off of people without harming them, and retain her accuracy even whilst in rapid movement. Terys can also anticipate an enemy projectile to block an arrow and fire multiple arrows at once. Her proficiency with her bow is equally effective in close-combat, able to shift between melee fighting and shooting with ease. Terys is even able to shoot targets while riding a mount.

Acrobatics/Free-running: Terys is very manoeuvrable and graceful, able to chase and outrun enemies through various terrains with no wasted effort or time, even scaling buildings and running from rooftop to rooftop with ease. In battle, she is proven very agile and evasive, able to fluidly dodge attacks from multiple directions with coordinated flips, twists, and sharp turns without losing balance.

Honed senses: Terys is able to pick up danger before anyone else in her vicinity does. Her keen skills of perception offer aid in otherwise detrimental situations. She is likewise able to anticipate attack patterns.

Master hand-to-hand combatant: Terys is an exceptionally skilled hand-to-hand combatant and with her magic is one of the deadliest combatants in Thedas, allowing her to compete with and defeat some of the most dangerous combatants one-on-one. She is very flexible and precise in her manoeuvres, able to change her battle tactics and attack patterns to suit the situation at a fast rate, allowing her to take on and defeat multiple fighters of advanced fighting prowess and enhanced/powered individuals. Terys can also utilise pressure points strikes to systematically take down her foes.

Master knife-wielder/Knife thrower: Terys is extremely deadly with knives, able to kill a man with a single stab. Terys is also proficient with knives in long-range combat and can utilise her arrows as improvised knives to stab her enemy.

Occult knowledge: Terys has great knowledge regarding magic, however she will admit that her magical knowledge is not infinite or complete and she is always willing to expand and learn new things.

Master interrogator/Torturer: Terys is an excellent interrogator and torturer. She is capable of inflicting much physical pain onto a target without killing them.

Toxicology: Terys is knowledgeable in various types of poisons.

Master of stealth/Infiltration/Escape artist: Terys is very elusive. She can sneak in and out of most guarded buildings without being detected, follow her targets for long periods of time unnoticed, and quickly disappear from sight even in broad daylight. She is also a master escape artist, able to free herself from various confinements, such as having been able to escape from being magically restrained to a chair.

"Your will is one of the strongest I've encountered, but even mountains fall over time." - Orin to Terys

Indomitable will/High tolerance for pain: A driven and determined person, Terys is known to keep fighting to the end and never back down. Once able to take an arrow piercing through her arm while barely flinching. Despite falling down a cliff-face shaft, being impaled, and inhaling poison gas, Terys remained conscious long enough to get herself to safety. This likely went some way to keeping her alive after being betrayed.

Belongings:

Bows: 

- Hellrider Longbow

- Darkfire Shortbow

Blades:

- Assassin's Shortsword

- Assassin's Touch (Dagger)

Armour:

Drow Leather Armour (Black and Red)

- Gloves of archery

- Boots of very fast blinking

- Circle of bones

Lore Notes:

Other Species:

There are more species in BG3 than in Dragon Age. As for their spread, only the elves seem to be found across all the nations, but Faerun species such as gnomes, dragonborn, orcs, and tieflings are all mostly found in Faerun due to the way they are treated in the likes of Ferelden, Orlais, etc.

Githyanki are seen more often in Faerun, however, small contingencies have been seen in other places in recent years, as if scouting out events and world states.

Tieflings, Dragonborn and Qunari are different species but are distantly related. They have too many similarities in design and stuff for me not to make a link between them, especially between the dragonborn and the qunari given the story that Bull tells the Inquisitor about the mixing of dragon into their species line at some point.

Half-Elves:

In Dragon Age, half-elves always look human, whilst in Baldur's Gate, they appear to be elves, so for this, it will be random luck of the genetic draw. So Shadowheart retains her ears, and Alistair still looks human.

Fade, Astral Plane, and the Hells:

Each of these are different 'realms', however they are all connected to one another. The Astral Plane is a 'neighbour' to the Fade, with them rubbing up against one another but rarely overlapping, however there are pathways between them. 

The Nine Hells are the infernal lower Planes of the Fade, home to Devils and divided into nine cosmological layers. Every layer is its own unique magical ecosystem, warped after the sheer presence of their rulers. The Nine Hells are locked into a never-ending Blood War with the Demons of the Abyss. Like with the Fade and the Astral Plane, there are pathways between The Fade and the Hells, however, these are incredibly dangerous to anyone that is not a devil or a demon.

To those outside of the Fade, there is little difference between the devils and the demons, especially those that follow Andrastianism.

Religion:

All religions are kept because each continent has its own religions, cultures, and beliefs. There are around 4,000 + real world religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, or ultimate concerns, so what we know of DA:I and BG3is not unrealistic. Therefore, folk stories, histories, etc are all kept, however I might  make changes to any location mentions if I feel they might fit better with a Dragon Age location. 

Mind Flayers/Illithid and the Githyanki:

As their origin isn't known in BG, then I am going to make the Mind Flayers the creation of the Evanuris. Because of this, they also created the Githyanki to be slaves for them. The Dreadwolf's rebellion also lead to the Githyanki rebellion. 

Chapter Text

“Wake up!” A voice rattles through her head and Terys jerks awake where she is kneeling on a cold hard stone floor in a dark dank room. Her lip curls in pain and she lets out a hiss through her teeth. Every inch of her body is aching and she can’t feel her magic. That’s a first. Her magic has been a part of her being since the moment it manifested and she’s not felt this empty since before that. She doesn’t like it. Her arms shift and she hears the rattling of metal chains against her wrists. She turns her eyes downward to find that her hands have been shackled in front of her and there are a number of armed guards around her, weapons pointed directly at her. They perceive her as a threat. Smart. She is a threat. But right now, she is more concerned as to how she ended up here. She has had blackouts before, but they are usually caused by drink, and seeing as she has none of the usual stomach churning that comes from a night of drinking then she is going to say that it wasn’t because of that. She remembers arriving at the Temple of Sacred Ashes with her Venatori companions. They were infiltrating the peace talks between mages and Templars so that they could create an opening for Corypheus to enter with his Wardens to complete a ritual. But much after her arrival to the Temple is hazy and missing. And she seems to be alone in this darkened room, none of her companions are here. Just her. She tilts her head, staring at the cuffs and trying to work out if there is a way for her to get out of these and the second cuff that sits higher up her forearm and is glowing with lyrium runes, this one is the one that has cut off her magic. That cuff needs to be gone as soon as possible.

Terys lets out a breath and raises her head to check out her environment, to see just where she is. The room is pretty dark, lit only by a couple of brazier torches on the wall by the door. She can make out metal bars in her peripheral vision, so this is some kind of dungeon or prison. She can hear the breathing and the movement of people around her, but they have placed themselves in the shadows of the room with only their weapons visible and catching the light from the torches. It is meant to be threatening. It might worry a weaker individual, but she is not weak. Her eyes check their weapons. They hold some rather polished spears. None of which look like they have been involved in any real battle, the weapons and the boys holding them. She could easily get out of this, but she is more interested in finding out just what happened and where she is then she is interested in leaving. Right now anyway. Once she has her answers, she has no problem carving her way to freedom. She really hopes the need arises.

Pain tingles in her left palm and she tilts her head, turning her hand over as a bright green light radiates from a jagged and angry looking scar on her hand, she can feel the magic around the edges of it, but because of the cuff on her arm it’s stuck under her skin, pushing against the edges of the scar. It’s not her magic, that much she can tell. All magic has a unique taste depending on who it is that is wielding it, everyone puts their own mark on it as they develop and use it. This is different. Older and more powerful than anything she has felt outside of the Bhaal Temple. This is interesting. Something powerful has marked her and she knows that this is no gift of Bhaal. His magic is comforting and warm. This magic is prickly and sharp and she gets the feeling that she shouldn’t have it.

Footsteps approach the door ahead of her, two sets of them. One heavy and strong, a warrior of some kind no doubt, the other set is softer, lighter, belonging to someone used to stealth. Terys sits up straighter, resting her shackled hands on her thighs as she lets out a long breath. Preparing herself for whatever steps through that door. She is blind. She has no idea what is happening. But let them come. Let them bring her the answers she seeks or let them bleed out all over the cold dank stones beneath her knees. 

Chapter Text

Terys takes a deep breath as the door to the dungeon opens to reveal two women that enter through the doorway. Both stern and strong, clearly, however only one of them is a warrior, the other possesses a uniform that is reminiscent of something a bard or rogue would wear. And they are both human. But worse than that, Andrastian humans. She knows how that group of people look at her kind. At elves. It is not the worst, she had the misfortune of meeting a Tevinter magister who spent the whole time talking to Gortash instead of her, and any time she opened her mouth to talk he’d sneer at her. Thankfully, Gortash stood by her and they didn’t go ahead with the deal they put forward at the time. Corypheus is on that same wave, but he at least was willing to take help from a God’s chosen disciple, and more than that, the child of one, perhaps that was why he could look past her ears. He seemed very interested in who and what she is and interested in having her and her patron on side.

Corypheus seemed fascinated by the fact that there are gods out there that do communicate with their worshipers. That are listening and guiding them. Faith on both sides of the Amarantine Ocean are so wildly different. Over here, they have no true contact with their gods, they have to just have faith that they are listening and silently guiding their hands. Back home, they know their gods are listening and guiding them. Terys feels like it gives them a deeper understanding of their religions and what it is their gods want from them. It makes them better followers and worshippers. Instead of blindly reaching around in the dark and quiet. 

The warrior approaches Terys before she then moves to stand behind her. Trying to come across as intimidating. To get a point across that she is not here to play nice with her.

“Tell me why we shouldn’t kill you now” She asks, leaning closer to Terys. “The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead” She leans up and moves to stand in front of Terys, her hand moving forward to point at her. “Except for you” She remains silent in response to the probing. Her face rests still and unresponsive, however her eyes track the dark haired human. Terys can’t help but feel a swell inside of her at the mention of death. She remembers how many people were at the Temple. Mages and Templars from not only Ferelden, but Orlais and beyond too. She is sure she even spotted a few from Faerun lingering around as well. But to know that they are all dead, does make her heart swell. More death for her beloved Bhaal. Not just death, but murder too. Because she can hazard a guess as to just what happened. She didn’t know the intricacies of the ritual, no one outside of the big man himself did, but she knows enough about magic to know that something went wrong and it caused the death of all the attendees, except for her. She wouldn’t be here otherwise and she wouldn’t have whatever this thing is on her hand. Though she does wonder if Corypheus himself made it out. Given what she knows of him, she has to assume that he did. The dark haired warrior grabs at the shackles around Terys’ left wrist and pulls it up as if to wave it in her face, showing her the mark that flickers with green magic. “Explain this!” She demands but Terys just tilts her head, her eyes shifting to the mark on her hand. Again, she is silent. Because she has no answers as to what it is. She has nothing to give them. And whilst she doesn’t care to tell them anything, she doesn’t like not knowing. She doesn’t like the lapse in her memory. The warrior throws down Terys’ hands where they land in her lap. She huffs and moves away from the drow, clearly getting very irate at the lack of response. She pulls a blade from the back of her armour before she lunges forward, drawing the blade to Terys’ neck. The blade kisses her neck, pushing against her skin, almost breaking it, but rather than scaring or intimidating Terys, it excites her. Gortash has done worse to her in bed as foreplay. The hooded red-head grabs the warrior’s arm and pulls her away from Terys, causing the blade to catch at her skin, making her bleed just a smidge.

“We need her, Cassandra” She scolds her companion before she turns back to Terys. “Who are you?”

“Who are you?” Terys counters back at her.

“We are the ones asking the questions,” Cassandra counters firmly.

“Then I am the one at a disadvantage” Terys admits, leaning forward on her knees slightly. “I have no knowledge of where I am, who you are, or what you are talking about” The two women share a look, a silent comment passing between them. The redhead turns back to Terys.

“We don’t see many drow this side of the sea” She comments as she paces the floor in front of the dark elf.

“We’re smarter than our paler cousins” Terys counters. “We saw the way you people are with us and retreated to the Underdark” She points out. She is not entirely sure that is true, but it gets a point across. She knows how bad the elves have it on this side of the sea, and she knows that it is one of the reasons Faerun is overrun with them, none of them will travel this far east because they know they’ll be shit on by the humans. Humans are much nicer back home.

“Do you remember anything of what happened? Why were you at the Conclave?” The redhead asks her, Terys shakes her head and shrugs.

“An acquaintance asked me to go” Terys answers, truthfully, even if she is keeping certain things from her answer. “Your Conclave could affect Faerun….if your Templars won anyway” She tilts her head slightly. “Don’t want them getting any grand ideas, like….thinking that they are right about magic” Her eyes shift to the cuff on her arm and she curls her lip over her teeth. “I remember arriving at the Conclave…but nothing that happened after…” Cassandra and the redhead step away from Terys.

“Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take her to the rift” Cassandra tells Leliana, firm in her tone, leaving no room for argument. She clearly has a plan and it involves Terys and whatever a Rift is. 

Chapter Text

Terys is disappointed that Cassandra has left on the magical cuff and swapped out the iron cuffs for a small tuft of rope, but it is not like she needs her magic to escape or fight if it comes to it. Cassandra has a sword and a dagger that she can easily get from her. She follows behind her now, heading up the stairs out of the dungeon. Now would be a good and bad escape attempt. She is alone with Cassandra, but there are armed soldiers not that far behind them, likely listening for anything happening so they can rush to help the warrior. There will come a moment when Terys will just know, but it is not this moment. She steps through the wooden door at the top of the stairs, following behind Cassandra, and finds herself in a candlelit church, or Chantry as they call it across this side of the sea. Lines of pews all positioned to face a statue of a female figure. One that Terys is not overly familiar with, however, she can take an educated guess that this is supposed to be Andraste. The statue actually reminds her of the ones of Mystra back home, only Andraste is more modestly dressed. She lets out a breath as she wanders closer to the statue to stare up at her. But she feels nothing from it. Even the statues of the gods in Faerun have a presence to their statues, as if they are watching through them, but there is nothing from this one of Andraste. She tilts her head, glancing over at where Cassandra is waiting for her, almost patiently. There is a look that she is giving Terys implying that she will drag her out if she lingers too long. Terys rolls her eyes a little and then heads towards the dark haired woman.

…….

Outside the Chantry, Terys blinks away the bright sunlight, lifting her bound hands to cover her eyes, allowing them to get used to the light. As a species, the drow do prefer darker environments, it comes from them evolving to live in the Underdark. Once her eyes adjust, she turns them back to the world around her. The sky is tainted green from a tear through the clouds above. That was definitely not part of the plan, because tearing the sky would likely screw the world over, meaning everyone, including they themselves, which defeats the whole plan of world domination. It wouldn’t be just their enemies that would suffer the consequences of a tear in the sky or worse.

“We call it the Breach” Cassandra informs Terys, motioning to the sky and the tear in it. “It’s a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour. It’s not the only such rift, just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the Conclave. Unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world” Above them, the Breach fluxes, crackling and stretching, sending a shooting pain through Terys marked hand. She clenches her jaw, hissing out with the surprise of it. This hurt more than it did earlier. So much so that she is being verbal with it. Cassandra steps closer to her, as if to help, only to think better of it. She stands up straight and folds her hands behind her back. “Each time the Breach expands, your mark spreads” Terys looks down at her hand as the pain subsides. “And it is killing you,” Cassandra informs her. Terys lets out a breath through her nose. That wasn’t what she was expecting. But perhaps that is why she can’t remember what happened, huge magical energy being inflicted upon her and the surrounding area. She supposes that could explain the memory loss. But it doesn’t really explain why it has marked her this way, or why she is the key to fixing it.

“You say it may be the key. For what exactly?” She asks, lifting her eyes to Cassandra.

“Closing the Breach” Cassandra answers. “Whether that’s possible is something we shall discover shortly. It is our only chance, however, and yours” Terys clenches her jaw and lets out a breath through her nose. She really wasn’t looking to stick around but if she is going to die anyway, she can at least attempt to fix this. To save herself, and use these people to do so. If they are theorizing that this mark can be used to close it, then they have someone that knows magic or the Fade extensively enough to come up with that theory. They might have a solution to get this thing off of her.

“And you still think I did this?” Terys holds out her marked hand. “To myself?”

“Perhaps not intentionally,” Cassandra answers. “Something clearly went wrong”

“And if I am not responsible….?” Terys counters, stepping closer to the warrior. Cassandra lets out a breath through her nose and then nods, more to herself.

“Someone is” She points out. “And you are our only suspect. You wish to prove your innocence? This is the only way” Terys takes a deep breath. She is the only survivor, therefore blame has immediately fallen onto her shoulders. Granted, she did have a hand in the events, but she knows that this likely wasn’t the outcome that was expected. She was a part of bigger plans. She will keep that to herself for now, no point in fanning their flames of blame, plus telling them the truth might get her sent right back to the dungeon. She doesn’t plan on sticking around long enough for the truth to come out anyway. Once she finds the perfect opportunity, she is leaving and heading back to Faerun and the comfort of her temple and the Cult of Bhaal. She gives Cassandra a nod. For now, she will play along and see how this all unfolds, if only to get answers as to what went wrong and to if her allies might have survived without the knowledge of these people. 

Chapter Text

Cassandra is giving Terys a moment to catch her breath . Terys doesn’t need to actually do that, she just wanted a moment to sit and contemplate what is going on now that they are outside of Haven. Not far from it but she has since had another attack from the Breach. The pain gets worse with each pulse of it. It’s still bearable for her. For now. She lets out a breath, staring at the Breach, her fingers touch at her trousers, which aren’t hers. She isn’t wearing her clothing. This isn’t what she was wearing when she arrived at the temple, so someone changed her into something that hangs wrong on her. She doesn’t have her weapons, her sending stone, or her satchel. They took her things. Understandable, but annoying. She is lucky that she corresponds in code and that all of her letters will be safe from prying eyes. Her necromancy journal might raise some eyebrows, if they can understand the writing inside, most of her notes are in drow elvhen, so unless they have an expert on that, she’s safe. She has to make do with what she has right now, which is nothing. She has no weapon, no magic, only her bare hands, though she does wish they had left on her clawed nail ring. She is not defenceless without her weapons, but it would always be much better if she had them to hand. She pushes herself to her feet as Cassandra starts to pace, starting to get impatient with Terys. 

“Where are we going?” Terys asks Cassandra who glances at her and her now untied hands tugging at the bottom of the padded coat she’s wearing. It hangs too loose on her body, meant for a human male and not a lithe drow. Whilst slightly taller than the elves Cassandra has met in the past, she is just as slender. There wasn’t much in the way of elf clothing lying around Haven for them to give her though. 

“To a smaller rift not that far from here” Cassandra answers. “To test whether or not that mark on your hand can be used to close it, and if it can, then perhaps it will work on the Breach” Terys snorts a little, folding her arms over her chest. 

“And if it doesn’t?” She counters and the two of them share a look. It doesn’t need to be answered because the consequences of this not working are reflected in Cassandra’s eyes. Terys will still be a prisoner, and still blamed, and likely be executed or something to that effect anyway. Her outcome is worse if she fails here. She needs to make this work, to show them that it can work and that she is useful, therefore proving her worth, granting her more freedom, and then she can escape. But she needs them to trust her for her to be given the space that will allow that to happen. As much as she hates this, she has to go along with Cassandra. “How did I survive the blast?” Terys asks.

“They said you…” Cassandra starts, then pauses to look at Terys. “Stepped out of a rift, then fell unconscious. They say a woman was in the rift behind you. No one knows who she was” She elaborates and then looks out towards where the Temple once stood. “Everything farther in the valley was laid waste, including the Temple of Sacred Ashes….I suppose you will see soon enough” Terys frowns a little, thinking who it could possibly be that was behind her, because there are witnesses that claim someone was there with her. But she can’t remember, and she can’t think of anyone that it could have been. The two of them then head along the path towards a stone bridge in silencer. Terys has no more questions, currently, and Cassandra is concentrating on getting this woman to the rift. 

…….

There is sound ringing in Terys ears as stones from the bridge that once stood above her rains down around her. Her head spins with what just happened. She lets out a breath and pushes herself to her knees to look around. A missile of energy from the Breach hitting the bridge as they were crossing it was unexpected. She rolls her shoulders and looks for Cassandra. The warrior lays prone on the ground, unconscious. Her dagger catches Terys’ attention. This could be her chance to get a weapon. She pushes herself to her feet and heads across to the woman, her eyes locked on the blade. Terys slides the dagger from the back of Cassandra’s armour and holds it up to catch the green light from above. She could easily end Cassandra’s life, right here, right now, and blame it on the fall. But she wants answers. She wants to know how to fix this thing on her hand and she doubts she will get them if this woman ends up dead. She turns when there is noise behind her, gross, slimy noise. Two shade demons emerge from puddles of Fade energy released from the missiles of energy from the Breach. Terys twirls the dagger in her hand and shifts into a defensive position in front of Cassandra.

Chapter Text

Terys could do better against demons if she had access to her magic, but for now, this dagger will do. She hacks and slashes, dodges and slides across the ice as she battles the shades. She’s Bhaal’s chosen for a reason and she quickly makes light work of the demons. She lets out a breath as they disintegrate into green goo that stains the ice below her feet. Terys lets out a breath and turns only to find a sword held against her throat. Cassandra is awake now, and angry. Angry that Terys defended them both from two demons. Terys curls her lip and gives the woman a stern stare. She just saved her life, and this is the thanks that she gets. She should have just slit her throat and be done with it. 

“Drop the blade” Cassandra orders her. 

“I just saved your life,” Terys counters, tightening her hold on the dagger as she uses it to point to what is left of the demons. “If you want to survive, to get wherever it is you are leading me, then I need a weapon to defend myself…” Cassandra lifts her head slightly as she thinks about that. Terys is right. And if they come across more demons on the road to their destination, then two of them fighting is going to be better than just her whilst trying to defend Terys at the same time. Cassandra removes the sword and slides it back into the sheath on her hip. 

“Very well” She comments. “Keep the blade” Terys lets out a breath and tucks the blade into the back of her trousers. 

“I would do much better with my own equipment” Terys mumbles and Cassandra hums in agreement and understanding. 

“If you survive this day, then I will see about returning your belongings to you” She offers. Terys fights the annoyance showing on her face, because she knows she has to play nice. She hates people telling her what to do. Bhaal is the only one who can give her commands and she’ll be happy about it. She is used to being the one in control. Losing it feels dirty to her. It irritates her so much her skin is crawling, begging for her to take her dagger and slice through this woman. She swallows that feeling down, for now. She curls her fingers into her palm, pressing her chipped nails into her skin and takes a deep breath. She has a feeling that this is going to test her patience. When she would normally kill for something like this, she needs this woman and she needs the help of her people to survive this mark on her hand.  

…….

Cassandra and Terys fight through clusters of demons, working pretty well as a team, considering their situation and current relationship. Terys even picked up some loose coin from a few dead soldiers, much to Cassandra’s disappointment and glower. But she let it happen. They need Terys and if she picks up a few gold pieces along the way, then fine. She can live with that. They come upon a small team of individuals fighting demons that seem to be erupting from the miniature Breach that hovers above the cobbled stone ground of the ruins of some building. Likely destroyed in the initial explosion that caused the Breach. 

There is no time for real introductions however as Terys and Cassandra race into the fight, weapons ready to cause damage to the cluster of shade demons that are encircling the allies awaiting them. With the extra help and weapons, they deal with the demons fast enough before any of them are injured or lost. Suddenly, a high elf grabs her arm and drags her towards the rift as it sputters and pulses. 

“Quickly, before more come through” He states. Terys turns an angry and murderous look at him as he has dared to touch her this way, but he is focused on the rift. He stops short though, frowning as he turns to look at her arm, to where that cuff is currently choking her magic. He lets out a breath and then snaps his gaze to Cassandra. “She is not going to be able to do anything with that thing on her arm” He scolds Cassandra, his fingers tightening around Terys’ arm but it is not about her. He’s angry that this cuff was put on her at all. “We don’t have time to argue about this, if you want her to use the mark, you must remove this anti-magic cuff, now” Cassandra clenches her jaw as she looks between him and Terys. She huffs and then pulls a key from the inside of her gauntlet, causing Terys to scoff. If only she had rifled a little more, looked beyond the dagger, then she would have found the key and been able to give her her own magic back. Cassandra unlocks the cuff, the lyrium runes dying out as the band snaps from Terys’ arm, dropping to the floor with a rattle. Terys closes her eyes and rests her head back as she feels her magic return to her, flooding through her entire being and slotting back into place where it belongs. The elf pulls at her wrist and thrusts her marked hand towards the rift. Terys lets out a surprised gasp as the magic from the rift latches onto her, drawing magic from the mark into it. “Will it to close,” He commands her. “You control it…” Terys lets out a breath and clenches her jaw, mentally adjusting her magic. She cringes slightly as she feels the magic shift, adapting to her will. The rift fluctuates and then finally snaps shut, releasing Terys’ hand. She stumbles back a few steps, only kept on her feet by the male elf’s hold on her arm. “You did it” He assures her as he pulls her closer, back to her feet properly. “Well done” Terys looks down at her hand and frowns. She has no idea what she just did or how she did it. The mark obeyed her like it was an extension of her own magic. A simple thought and command of magic. 

“How did I do that?” She asks, turning to look at the elf at her side. 

“Whatever magic opened the Breach in the sky,” He starts, releasing his hold on her wrist. “Also placed that mark on your hand. I theorised the mark might be able to close the rifts that have opened in the Breach’s wake” He shifts a little, folding his hands behind his back as he stands up taller, to his full height. For an elf, he is tall. Tall for even a high elf. “And it seems I was correct” 

“Meaning it could also close the Breach itself” Cassandra summises from that statement as she moves closer to the pair, sliding her sword away after the fight. 

“Possibly” He agrees and then turns his attention back to Terys. “It seems you hold the key to our salvation” Terys can’t say she likes that. Because it means they are going to be watching her every move, she is going to have no shot at escaping. He seems to register the annoyance that flickers across her face, before it is gone, but he says nothing, simply raises an eyebrow at what he saw. Seemingly surprised by that reaction from her. 

“And here I thought we would be ass deep in demons forever” Terys glances over to find out who just spoke. A dwarf is setting a heavy crossbow onto his back as he walks towards them. “Varric Tethras; rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tag along” He winks across at Cassandra who scoffs and rolls her eyes. Terys smirks a little at that reaction from her. Highly amused. “Not many drow outside of the Underdark” The dwarf comments as he looks over Terys, she tilts her head and folds her arms over her chest. 

“Not many dwarves outside of the Deeps” She counters. He snorts and nods, knowing that she means the Deep Roads. He’s met a few drow in his years, all of them referred to the Deep Roads as the Deeps. It’s just their term for it. He prefers it actually considering most of the roads have actually been long lost now. “Nice crossbow” She teases a little, eyeing up the impressive weapon on his back. She’s never seen a crossbow like that before. It’s so mechanically impressive, but also aesthetically very beautiful. 

“Ah, isn’t she beautiful?” He states fondly, glancing at his back to take in the sight of his beautiful weapon. 

“Almost as pretty as my blades” She comments, giving Cassandra a dirty side eye. The warrior rolls her eyes. “If only I could show you them” She takes a deep breath and tilts her head as she looks over Varric. “And you….your with the Chantry?” The elf starts laughing at her side. 

“Was that a serious question?” He asks and Terys snaps a sharp look at him for laughing at her. He simply raises an eyebrow at the look in her eyes. Something so fierce and stern from such a small elf. 

“Technically, I’m a prisoner, just like you” Varric answers though. 

“I brought you here to tell your story to the Divine” Cassandra points out. “Clearly that’s no longer necessary….”

“Yet, here I am” Varric states with a small smirk. “Lucky for you, considering current events” Cassandra rolls her eyes and Varric’s smirk grows. “We’ll be great company in the Valley”

“Absolutely not” Cassandra scolds sharply. “Your help is appreciated, Varric, but…”

“Have you been in the Valley lately, Seeker? Your soldiers aren’t in control anymore. You need me” Cassandra stares at him a moment before she makes a disgusted noise from the back of her throat. 

“My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions” The high-elf introduces himself. “I am pleased to see you still live”

“He means ‘I kept that mark from killing you while you slept’” Varric points out. Terys hums a little and glances at the elf. He knew what to do with her marked hand to close the rift, and managed to keep her alive long enough to get to this point. 

“You seem to know a great deal about it all” She points out, her suspicion not hidden at all. 

“Like you, Solas is an apostate” Cassandra offers, a slight snear to the word apostate. Terys pulls her own face at the term. That word doesn’t exist back in Faerun, not in regards to mages. It is a word that is associated with Andrastiansim and their views on mages. 

“Sorcerer” She corrects and gives Cassandra a stern look. “We don’t use the word apostate” She spits out the word. Everything about the way the Andrastians see and treat those with magic is disgusting to her. “That’s a you people thing” She gives Cassandra a dirty look and then turns back to Solas waiting for his answer to her question. 

“My travels have allowed me to learn much of the Fade” Solas offers in explanation to his knowledge on the rifts and the Breach and the mark on Terys’ hand. Informing her that the mark is linked to the Fade. “I came to offer whatever help I can give with the Breach. If it is not closed, we are all doomed, regardless of origin” The two of them share a look, as if he is telling her that he knows exactly who she is and where she has come from. 

“And after?” She pushes. “What will you do once this is over?” 

“One hopes those in power will remember who helped and who did not” A slight warning to his words, implying that he is aware that she is planning on running the first chance she gets. That they won’t take too kindly to that. He turns his head to look at Cassandra. “Cassandra, you should know; the magic involved here is unlike any I have seen. Your prisoner is a mage, but I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power”

“Understood” Cassandra lets out a breath and looks at Terys. “We must move forward, get to the forward camp quickly” 

“Well, Bianca is excited” Varric teases a little and Terys lets out a breath as she watches Cassandra and Solas start to walk away. “You didn’t tell us your name” Varric points out and Terys tilts her head, trying to decide if she wants to tell him the truth or not. Depending on how long she is going to be here, it will be harder to keep up the lie the longer that will be, but also make it easier to find out about who she is or where she might go once she does escape. 

“Terys Nanin” She introduces herself, flourishing it with a bow before she straightens up, tucking her hands behind her back. 

Chapter Text

The group of four travel along a small path along a cliff face above a frozen river. It’s a small path but wide enough that they don’t have to worry about falling off. Terys grinds her teeth as she follows along behind Cassandra and Solas. Her mind reeling as she tries to put together the puzzle in front of her. She still has no idea how any of this happened, her memories are still gone, but she can put together that the Breach is magical in nature, caused by magic, and is a huge doorway to the Fade and demons. It’s getting bigger and so is the mark on her hand, and it will eventually consume and kill her. Which, at the end of the day, she doesn’t want. She glances behind her at Varric who seems rather content to linger at the back, as far from Cassandra as he can get. Tension. Which might come in handy. She could play that to invoke a chance of escape.

“You mentioned blades before” Solas starts as he slows to walk at Terys’ side. “You don’t make use of a staff?”

“Some others might” She answers. “Warlocks tend to favour single-blades”

“You’re not a Warlock” He points out, she hums a little and shakes her head. Cassandra scoffs at the mention of Warlocks. Terys figured that she’d have a problem with them given how Warlocks get their magical boosts. It is not the worst option, such as making deals with demons, but deals with devils come pretty close in their eyes. It’s all about the terms of the pact though and what is done with the power. Terys understands that and she did consider making a pact when she was a teenager, before Bhaal.

“No” Terys agrees with Solas. “I’m not”

“You specialise in necromancy” He tells her and she glances at him. “I saw the tome in your satchel…and your journal” She turns to face him, anger flickering across her face.

“You read my journal?” She asks, he shakes his head.

“No, I left it alone, however the runes on the front and spine are reminiscent of Thayen, Tevinter and Nevarran necromancy protection runes. As are the decorations on your blade…” She scoffs a little, annoyed that someone went through her thing, she knew that they would have, but it still bothers her that someone is actively talking about it with her. She clenches her jaw and lets out a breath through her nose. Someone touching her things would usually end up with them bleeding out at her feet. The last person that tried to touch something of hers, a dumb fairytale book on her shelf, she cut off their hands and strung them up by their feet in front of her chambers in warning to the others. But she can’t do that here. This elf is her chance at surviving the mark on her hand, he is the one with the knowledge she needs. She clenches her teeth together, huffs and then turns, walking away from him. Solas fast walks to catch up with her. “I’ve upset you” Solas states as he folds his hands behind his back, walking at her side.

“I don’t particularly like people messing with my stuff” She points out, a biting scolding tone that leaves no room for misinterpretation for how she is feeling. He knew that she would be upset about this, because he would be upset about something like this.

“That is why I didn’t read your journal” He points out. “Even when some” He glances ahead at Cassandra. “Pushed for me to do so” Terys scoffs a little and then fidgets with her jacket. It fits so uncomfortably on her. “They wished to know if there was anything in there to explain what happened”

“There isn’t,” Terys is quick to point out. “The journal relates to my studies, it is not a diary of events” As if she would be stupid enough to write down her plans. Even her correspondents with Corypheus are in deep code, the paper and ink both enchanted to make sure no one but them could read them. She uses the same precautions with Gortash, though that is simply because their letters contain some pretty steamy scenarios. With him, she has felt the closest thing to longing in her life. Longing for the passion, pain, and pleasure he can inflict on her body.

“What’s it like in the Underdark?” Varric suddenly asks drawing Terys from her memories with Gortash. Terys glances behind as Solas moves ahead. “I’ve never been” She hums in agreement.

“Neither have I” Varric raises an eyebrow at her, waiting for her to elaborate. She sighs and looks down at him. “I was raised on the surface…Baldur’s Gate”

“Your parents left the Underdark?” Varric asks. Whilst dwarves outside of the Deep Roads is considered an oddity, still. Drow outside of the Underdark are incredibly rare.

“I’m adopted” She mumbles and clenches her jaw. “Half-Orc father. High elf mother. Neither of them were welcome with their families….for loving one another….and they couldn’t have children together…so….” She motions to herself. “They found me”

“They must be worried about you” Varric offers softer. Terys snorts and turns away.

“They’re long dead,” She informs him. “Murdered when I was a teenager” Varric pauses in his steps as she continues. She soon realises he is no longer with her and she stops to turn to him.

“Sorry” He tells her, she shrugs a little.

“Don’t be,” She counters. “You didn’t kill them” She points out and gives him a small smile. She doesn’t know what it is about this dwarf, but he has an air to him. Gentle and sweet and whilst normally that would turn her stomach something foul, she isn’t hating it. Likely due to circumstances. He, and Solas, are the only ones that aren’t blaming her. They are curious and asking her questions about herself. Which she also doesn’t hate. Whilst she is being blamed for the death of thousands, if she knew what happened, if she did this, then she would hold up her hands and admit it. Thousands of people died. Murdered. Of course she would take credit for it if she actually did it. Bhaal would be proud. He would celebrate with her. But she has no idea. Lying about killing, that would not make her father proud. He likes honest murder. Taking credit for someone else's deeds is not honest murder. Like when she took accountability for murdering her parents, her neighbours, and their kids. 

Chapter Text

Terys is covered in green goo from the demons they fought to get to the Forward camp and some of her own blood from slashing injuries. Demons have very sharp claws. She can deal with a few slashes. She is not the only one to look a little battered as she follows after the others towards the gates ahead of them on the road. Cassandra’s right wrist gauntlet has been shattered. Solas’ robes are singed and Varric, well, nearly not a hair out of place. He looks ruffled but in one piece. They are all in one piece. But it was not as smooth sailing as it could have been. Terys is still adjusting to the mark on her hand, meaning she didn’t always have control of it when she needed to. Cassandra leads the way through the gate as she unlaces the gauntlet from her arm, there is no use in her wearing it in the state it is in. They are heading towards a small camp on a bridge close to the Breach but not directly beneath it. Ahead, Leliana awaits them, but so do many soldiers and one Chantry priest or something. He is wearing the robes that mark him as some member of their church.

“Ah” He leans up from the table when he spots Terys, Cassandra, Solas, and Varric approaching them. “Here they come”

“You made it” Leliana comments, slight relief in her voice as she . “Chancellor Roderick, this is…” Leliana starts introductions but Roderick is not going to let it happen pleasantly.

“I know who she is” He stops her and gives her a scathing look. “As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution” Terys has felt the urge to murder since the moment she woke up, but never more than in this moment and with this man and with that one single sentence. Her fingers twitch at her side, longing to reach for her blade at her side. It is not until Solas grabs her wrist that she realises that she has actually started to reach for her dagger. He gives her a look and shakes his head. Telling her that this is not the time for her to sink into that urge. It wouldn’t help her in this situation. It isn’t needed, because Cassandra is just as annoyed by this man as Terys is.

“‘Order me’?” She smears as she steps closer to the Chancellor. “You are a glorified clerk,” Cassandra spits out. “A bureaucrat”

“And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry” Roderick counters, his hand resting on the table, covering the map that is there.

“We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor” Leliana corrects him. “As well you know”

“Justinia is dead. We must elect a replacement and obey her orders on the matter” He argues. Terys folds her arms over her chest, if to do anything then to stop herself from slicing him from navel to throat.

“So none of you are actually in charge here?” She asks them all, a slight twitch at her lips. If they are disorganized and in fighting, that all just works in her favour. In-fighting is always a threat to organizations. Roderick turns his attention to Terys, glaring at her as she tilts her head unphased.

“You KILLED everyone who was in charge!” He states firmly and loudly. Terys’ lip twitches as a sort of joy blossoms at his upset. He turns his eyes to Cassandra. “Call a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless”

“We can stop this before it is too late” Cassandra argues, stepping closer to the chancellor.

“How?” He asks her. “You won’t survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers”

“We must get to the temple, it is the quickest route”

“But not the safest” Leliana counters. “Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains”

“We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It is too risky”

“Listen to me” Roderick tries to divert attention back to him. “Abandon this now before more lives are lost” The Breach then suddenly lurches, green light pulsing through the sky above them. The mark on Terys’ hand pulses along with it, sending stabbing needles of pain all up her arm. She tilts her head and looks down at the mark, pursing her lips in annoyance. Cassandra moves closer to her.

“How do you think we should proceed?” She asks Terys who scoffs and then laughs.

“Now you’re asking me what I think?”

“You have the mark,” Solas reminds her. Terys lets out breath and glances up at the mountain.

“And you are the one we must keep alive,” Cassandra adds. “Since we cannot agree on our own” Terys wrinkles her nose. If they take the mountain pass it will take longer and there is likely less chance of their being a battle and she has a hunger for battle right about now. Taking the forward path means that they will get there quicker, and this will be over faster. Live or die. Whatever is going to happen.

“I say we charge,” Terys offers as she shifts her head to look at Cassandra. “I won't survive long enough for your trail. Whatever happens…it happens now” Cassandra nods, seemingly pleased with her choice. “But I am going to do it with my own armour and my own blades” Terys adds.

“All of that is back in Haven, we don’t have time to go back and get it” Cassandra argues. Leliana clears her throat then holds out Terys’ satchel and gives Cassandra a small sly smile. Terys moves towards her and takes it, a sliver of excitement flooding her. Nearly everything she holds dear is in the bag. Leliana then motions to the tent behind her.

“Make it quick” She offers and Terys nods. She knows that time is of the essence here. They have to make it into the temple, and fast. 

Chapter Text

Terys doesn’t have time to redo her hair the way she likes it, so for now, she has to settle for a simple ponytail to finish getting changed. Her armour fits her like a glove and she sneers down at the outfit that had her in before. She takes a deep breath and then steps out of the tent, looking far more formidable than she did five minutes ago. This armour makes her look more menacing, stronger, fiercer. Likely why they took it off of her in the first place. She holds her circle of bones in her hand as she moves to rejoin Cassandra, Varric, and Solas, each of them turning to look at her as she approaches, pulling the circle onto her head, the skull symbol on the front resting against the top of her forehead. She has both of her bows attached to her back, as well as two quivers, one for normal arrows and one for her specialized arrows. Her daggers rest in holsters on her thighs.

“How do those bows fit in your bag?” Varric inquires. Terys raises an eyebrow.

“It’s a bag of holding. Enchanted to be bigger on the inside” She explains as she adjusts the bag strap across her chest. It is always awkward using this bag with her armour and weapons, but she would much rather suffer through that than leave it with these people. Solas moves to her back and makes sure that her bag’s strap isn’t going to interfere with her bows. Whilst it is not far to the temple, they have no idea what they are going to face on their way there. “Do you not have those here?” Solas snorts a little and she gets her answer. Of course not. Not with the way mages are stunted. Tevinter may have something similar but they are less likely to share with the rest of the world and the world is less willing to take anything they offer.

“We’re wasting time” Cassandra scolds them before she turns and stalks away towards the other end of the bridge. Terys clenches her jaw and rolls her eyes. She and Cassandra are not going to get along. They are both religious zealots with opposing philosophies. Terys is not going to find any allies among any of these people.

……..

The fight to the Temple center and the Breach in the sky is not an overly difficult one, just cluttered. Demons and soldiers fighting for survival next to a rift. Adding four more forces into the fight doesn’t help matters and Terys doesn’t really get to do anything in the fight, unable to get close enough to do any damage without risking a soldier. And right now she is trying to be good, so she hangs back and fires her bow when she has a shot. But once she does get a moment, a small moment, she races for the rift before more demons can manifest on the tiny, cramped battlefield. She throws out her hand towards the rift and instantly it catches to the mark on her palm. She hisses at the pain and closes her eyes, trying to focus on the rift and not the fighting around her. The pain becomes more intense as time goes on, tugging at the magic in the mark and even the magic inside of her. She grits her teeth and pushes with the pull. The rift sizzles and cracks as it pulses closing in on itself. Terys yanks her hand away as the rift closes, her eyes turning down to her hand as she lets out a long breath.

“Sealed, as before” Solas comments as he shifts to her side. “You are becoming quite proficient at this” She sneers a little with that compliment. She doesn’t want to get better at it. Because that means that they are going to try and keep her around. It will make escape all that harder. She reaches up with her marked hand and scratches at her neck, uneasy with the prospect of being stuck with Andrastians.

“Let’s hope it works on the big one” Varric adds as he shoulders his crossbow. Terys glances at her bow in her hand and then sighs. She sets it back onto her back and adjusts her quiver so it is out of her way.

“Lady Cassandra” A voice from behind them calls out, moving towards them. Terys glances back at the man, a soldier from the way that he is moving and from the longsword hanging at his waist. “You managed to close the rift? Well done” Cassandra shakes her head as she slides her sword back into place.

“Do not congratulate me, Commander” Cassandra argues and then sighs, looking back over her shoulder at Terys. “This is the prisoner’s doing” Terys rolls her eyes, Cassandra cannot even use her name. A degree of separation between them. Which Terys is grateful for. Cassandra isn’t trying to get close to her or be her friend, unlike the other two with them. The Commander follows Cassandra’s eyes landing on Terys. There is surprise in his eyes when he sees her, likely never having seen a Drow before. They are rare enough on the surface of Faerun, let alone west of the Amaranthine Ocean.

“Is it?” His eyes look over Terys and her weapons and armour, he relaxes slightly at the sight of her blades. And she immediately understands. He was looking for a staff. He was looking to see if she is a mage. He’s a Templar. She tilts her head slightly. He’s not used to seeing mages with actual weapons. “I hope they’re right about you” He takes a step closer to her and her eyes flicker across to look at him. “We’ve lost a lot of people getting you here” Terys clenches her jaw and then turns away from him. She has no interest in conversation, only wants to get this done. To find out if she is going to live or die. She pushes away from the group to move deeper into the temple. Her mind is trying to remember where she would be in the former version of this building but it is unrecognizable in its current state. There are only foundation walls left standing, along with a great many charred bodies. She drops down from the upper level and lets out a breath. This could have easily been her here. She could have died in the explosion. She wishes she could remember how she survived. Her eyes catch the shine of something shiny close by and she moves towards it as the rest of her party joins her. Cassandra looks ready to scold her for her attitude and her behavior but she bites her tongue to follow after Terys. Terys’ attention is on a charred and crispy body still smoking and still hot. The drow crouches in front of it, her eyes locked onto an amulet around their neck. Because she gave a number of these amulets to her attendants as they left Faerun. A mark of who they are and who they represent. Bhaal’s loyalists. Her loyalists. She reaches out and takes the amulet between her fingers, ignoring how the metal burns at her fingers even through her gloves.

“Do you know who they were?” Cassandra asks, Terys shoots her a look and then nods to the smoldering corpse.

“From that you think I could recognize them?” She counters and draws her thumb over the amulet that hangs around their neck. “No, not specifically” She turns back to the corpse. “But this amulet…” She pushes herself to her feet, pulling the amulet with her. They were one of her people. A member of the Cult of Bhaal that came here with her. All of them are dead now. Her attendants and the Venatori guards Corypheus assigned her. It is just her left. She didn’t care for them, but having allies in this moment might benefit her. She has none.

“What is it?” Cassandra pushes, Terys gives her a look.

“Nothing” Terys answers firmly, she doesn’t want to talk about it with these people. Whilst she is proud of her people and her religion, she knows exactly how these people will react to finding out that she worships the god of murder. She slides the amulet into her quiver, it is likely the only one she is going to be able to recover, and she can make sure that it makes it back to the temple of Bhaal. Cassandra gives her a glare knowing that she’s hiding something from her. “It’s shiny and silver,” Terys lies to her. “And can be sold for some coin” Cassandra clenches her jaw and shakes her head in disappointment but lets the matter drop. 

Chapter Text

Terys wakes with a jerk and immediately regrets it as the pain it sends through her is nearly crippling. Her muscles ache, her hand aches, her stomach is in knots. She groans and flops back down. This feels like the morning after a good night before. But she has a feeling that it isn’t the cause this time. But at least she is not waking up to find herself in chains this time. No, this time, she is laying on a warm and comfortable bed, layered with fur blankets. She is in a cabin and not the dungeons. She touches the furs at her side, drawing her hands over it as she inhales and exhales, trying to remember how she came to be in this bed. She frowns a little and pushes herself back to rest against the headboard, racking her mind as to how she ended up here. Just like with the dungeon, she has no memory of how she got here. Though it is different this time. She remembers taking the amulet from the dead cultist. She remembers walking further and deeper into the ruined temple. She remembers hearing voices echoing around her. She remembers Leliana and her scouts and she remembers approaching the rift beneath the Breach. But anything after that is a fuzzy mess in her head. But not gone entirely it is just a scrambled mess. It seems like memory loss is a running theme these days but this occurrence is likely down to exhaustion and magic more than anything traumatic. She can’t remember the last time she ate, or really slept because being unconscious does not count and the mark was affecting her being. These memories will likely return with time, rest, and meditation. However, she still has nothing in regards to what happened in the first place. Those memories feel so far from her mind, if they are still there, they are locked deep down in her mind so far away that she can’t pull them to the front.

Terys wrinkles her nose and then takes a deep breath. She feels like this day is going to test her patience. Her usual methods of reaction are not going to fly here with these people. These goody goody people that believe that murder is wrong and unneeded. She pulls a face and shakes her head. Until she finds her moment of freedom, she has to snuggle up to them, play nice and follow their rules. As much as it is going to physically pain her to restrain herself. All those lovely little impulses that she usually indulges are going to have to be left unsatisfied for now. She will make up for it once she returns to Baldur’s Gate. Perhaps she can contact Sceleritas and have him be prepared for her return. She won’t risk asking him to come here, these people are not going to take well to a fiend in the village, especially one that looks and acts like Sceleritas. She assumes that if she wants to send out any letters then they are going to be watched. Sure, she has her sending stone, but that is only linked to Sceleritas. If she wants to get in touch with Gortash, she needs to write. And she should get in touch with him. If anyone is going to help her get home, it is going to be him. He has the means. He has a submersible that she could make use of. She could order Sceleritas to take the sending stone to Gortash. That would make communication private and easier between the two of them. She pushes herself to her feet and glances around the room that she has awakened in. It is a simply decorated cabin, probably one in Haven. There are whispers and voices from beyond the door. The voices are no longer tinted with disbelief and suffering, there is hope and lightness to them. Whatever happened, they seem to be pleased with the results. Terys snorts and shakes her head, her eyes seeking out her satchel. But once again, her belongings are missing. Her satchel is not in this room. She purses her lips in annoyance. What is it with these people and touching shit that don’t belong to them?

Suddenly, a small female wood elf enters the cabin, carrying a box of what smells like a collection of herbs. She is humming softly to herself as she closes the door behind her, turning to the room. Her eyes widen when she sees Terys awake and on her feet. Instantly, she drops the box and falls to her knees in front of the drow.

“My lady” She starts. Terys’ lip twitches, a pleased smirk threatening to stretch across her face as this elf presses her forehead to the wooden floor, lowering herself as far as she can get. This is familiar. Sending a trickle of pleasure along her spine. She steps closer to the elf and tilts her head. “Forgive me” The elf pleads. “They told me you were still sleeping” She motions back to the now broken box. “I was bringing herbs for the healer” Terys lets out a breath and moves to the box, ignoring the elf who remains on her knees. Terys uses her foot to push aside the broken part of the box. Checking to see if she is telling the truth. She is. Terys lets out a breath and moves towards the elf. She threads her fingers through the elf’s hair, her eyes fixed on the movement. That urge inside of her is telling her to kill this girl. Simply because. Because she enjoys killing. Because she enjoys watching the blood spill from a warm body. Her eyes sparkle with the possibilities. This girl wandered in here, freely of her own accord. Her hand pauses and her lip curls up in sudden disappointment because this isn’t going to go down well with her captors. She clenches her jaw and lets out a long breath through her nose before she releases her hold on the elf’s hair. She has to behave herself. She swallows the nausea she feels at the denial of her nature. The elf is confused as she pushes herself to her feet, eyeing Terys a little as she backs up. As if sensing that something isn’t right here with her. “I should tell….that you’re awake” The elf whispers and then bolts out of the room, the door swinging shut behind her. Terys lets out an annoyed breath through her nose. She’s made a mistake. That elf could tell others that Terys was being creepy. That won’t help her image. She scoffs at herself for worrying about this. She has never worried about anything like this before. She revels in the damage that she does and the way that she scares and intimidates other people. This place is weakening her. Changing her. A soldier soon appears in the doorway and Terys rolls her eyes as she loosens her hair, tugging free the ponytail and shaking out her locks. She glances over her shoulder at the soldier who shifts on his feet.

“Seeker Pentaghast is asking you to join her in the Chantry” The Soldier informs her, bowing his head towards her. Terys cocks her head, investigating his reaction to her. There is no fear. No caution. There is reverence in his eyes and posture. He leans up and motions to a trunk at the end of the bed. “There should be a change of clothing in there, if you wish to change” Terys looks down at her armour and then hums a little. Unsure if she wants to swap out safety for comfort. 

Chapter Text

As she leans the cabin, Terys pulls a leather gambeson over her shoulders as she heads down the path and away from the cabin. The entire path is lined with people who are all instantly staring at her. Terys blows a stray hair from her eyes as she lets them scan over the crowd. Mostly human. A few elves. Mostly wood elves. She takes a deep breath and folds her hands behind her back. With all these eyes on her, she wants to reach for her weapon, but they were unsurprisingly missing from the cabin. Likely still feeling as though she might be a threat to them so they took away anything they thought that she could use as a weapon. But right now she has nothing. She takes a deep breath, eyes drifting to the huge wooden gates behind the crowd of people and the wall that circles the town. Her exit. Terys could get over the wall with a misty step spell, but she was not focused on the conjuration school of magic during her studies. If she could find a scroll or a tome she could teach it to herself, but that will take some time. She can’t afford to rush through the learning if she wants to make a successful escape the first time she tries. She can’t afford to make a mistake. The first time has to be the only time. And she would have to wait until it was dark, so there would be significantly less people around. There is no way that she could escape with this many people watching her. Lingering around her cabin, despite how close it is to the gate of the village. Unfortunate. She’ll have to see what the rest of the day begins. She glances to her right.

“Where is the Chantry?” She asks the soldier standing guard outside of her cabin. He is going to be a problem as well, but she knows a tea that will help with that. The soldier motions up through the village to the chapel-building sitting at the far end and atop the hill that the village has been built on. Terys lets out a breath. It is going to be a long walk with all these eyes on her and the whispers around her. For all that she is used to being watched and stared at and whispered about, there is something about this situation that makes it uncomfortable. She takes a deep breath, holds her head up and pushes herself forward. Ignoring the voices around her and focusing on her own faith. Her loyalty to Bhaal will get her through. She just has to play these people so that they will give her what she needs to facilitate her escape. The sooner the better.

……..

The Chantry is too bright. Too Andrastian. Terys pulls a face at the cleanliness of this place. There is not a speck of dust anywhere to be seen. There is a distinct lack of personality to this place. It’s all very beige and white and cream. Boring. Terys tilts her head as she stares up at the statue. Even Andraste herself has a normal look about her. Just a woman. An ordinary looking mage. Terys scratches at her face and then moves on. There is nothing to keep her attention here. She moves towards the back of the Chantry where she can hear voices. Loud and forceful. Arguing. That she does love to see in her enemies, less so in her companions and allies. She smirks as she leans against the wall, listening to the voices within. Rodrick is being very vocal about Terys’ presence and her actions. He wants her chained and put on trial for her, perceived, role in the Temple explosion and the creation of the Breach. Cassandra, surprisingly, is standing up for Terys. Wanting her to be cleared of all charges due to the voices in the Temple. Terys can barely remember what happened up there, but she does remember the voices. Corypheus’ voice and her own and she assumes the Divine. Flickers of a memory rush her mind.

……..

Back at the Temple, as Terys, Solas, Varric, and Cassandra are making their way through the ruins of the old temple, they hear things. Voices echoing against the stone walls. Reverberating through them until they reach the central chamber. Dropping down, they are forced into a vision of past events, specifically the past events of this temple and the creation of the Breach, and Terys’ own role in it. Terys cringes as her mind is dragged into the vision, her eyes swimming with green magic.

“Run whilst you can! Warn them!” An older female voice yells, the Divine hovering above them, restrained by magic. Warning, begging, pleading with vision!Terys who stands in. what appears to be. an open doorway, to do something here. To help her. To warn the rest of the temple that something is happening.

“Drow” Corypheus’ voice greets, but there is that hint of distaste at her species that keeps him from sounding pleased to see her.

“Interesting” Terys’ voice echoes around them before the misty vision disappears, causing Cassandra to turn to look at Terys who manages to school her face into what is expected of her. Solas, however, narrows his eyes at Terys.

……

None of that memory is incriminating. Nothing Corypheus said admits to Terys working with him. Nothing in what was revealed shows her true intentions or allegiance at the Temple. Good. Cassandra is standing up for her because she believes her to be innocent. This works in her favour. Play to that and she can ask for whatever she wants, like that scroll of misty step. Someone here has to have one or a way to get one. 

Chapter Text

There are two Templars assigned to the door, their eyes turning to track Terys as she enters the backroom. Their hands drift to the hilts of their swords. Ready to attack if need be. If they are ordered to. She glances at one of them and his eyes look away from her. She lets out a breath through her nose as Roderick turns to glare at her. She's fighting her amusement that this man thinks he is intimidating in any way. He steps around the large table in the centre of the room.

"Chain her" He orders the two Templars who look to Cassandra for clarification. "I want her prepared for travel capital for trial"

"Disregard that, and leave us" Cassandra counters. The two Templars relax and then leave the room after placing their fists on their chests in acknowledgement of Cassandra's authority. Roderick

"You walk a dangerous line, Seeker" He warns giving a steel glare at Cassandra.

"The Breach is stable, but it is still a threat. I will not ignore it" Cassandra counters. Terys' eyes flicker between the two of them. "Or those responsible"

"Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave" Leliana continues. "Someone Most Holy did not expect. Perhaps they died with the others - or have allies that yet live."

"I am a suspect?" Roderick asks, surprised by that prospect.

"You, and many others" Leliana answers firmly. Making sure that he understands that they do truly consider him a suspect.

"But not the prisoner?" Roderick counters.

"I heard the voices in the temple," Cassandra admits. "The Divine called to her for help"

"So her survival, that thing on her hand - all a coincidence?"

"Providence. The Maker sent her to us in our darkest hour" Cassandra actually looks like she is about to fall at her knees and worship Terys. To worship that she was sent here to help at the point of their greatest need. Terys wonders if she would think that way if she knew who really sent her here. Not Andraste, but Bhaal. Not some prophet of the Maker, but the god of murder. Not to mention if Cassandra found out about Terys role in the events that led to this.

"Well, this is a change of heart" Terys comments, folding her arms over her chest. Cassandra nods in agreement, because it is. Up until the Temple, she thought of Terys as nothing more than a prisoner, the person that they believed was responsible. Rightly.

"I was wrong," Cassandra admits. "Perhaps I still am. I will not, however, pretend you were not exactly what we needed when we needed it" Cassandra looks over at Terys who raises an eyebrow. She is not wrong there. Terys' marked hand is the key to the Breach and the rifts. And she did appear, falling out of a rift, as if it could have been divine intervention.

"The Breach remains, and your mark is still our only hope of closing it" Leliana adds which just upsets Roderick even further. He points at the two human women.

"This is not for you to decide" He scolds them, sounding more like some uppity noble who has been told he can't have another cake. Cassandra scoffs and crosses the room to pick up something before she returns to the table. Here she throws a thick book down onto the table, the thud echoing around the mostly empty room. She presses her finger into the cover and stares directly at Roderick.

"You know what this is, Chancellor?" She asks and he shakes his head. "A writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn. We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible and we will restore order. With or without your approval" Cassandra stares at Roderick, daring him to push her on this. She has her duty, she has her path. She is not about to divert from it if she can help it, and that means that Terys is important and needed. Roderick shakes his head and then leaves the room without another word. He made his stand and lost. He won't try again today, but he will try again. Of that, Terys is sure. Men like him can't let things go. She sees a blade to his gut in the days to follow. Her own, if she gets her way.

"This is the Divine's directive: rebuild the Inquisition of old" Leliana explains for Terys. "Find those who still stand against the chaos" She then turns to Cassandra, her eyes turning scolding. "We aren't ready. We have no leader. No numbers. And now, no Chantry support."

"But we have no choice; we must act now" Cassandra argues and Leliana shakes her head and steps back, relenting that her companion is right. Cassandra turns to Terys. "With you at our side" Terys raises an eyebrow and fights the snort that is threatening to erupt from her nose at the irony of this whole situation. Considering her role in actually breaking the sky and her role in causing this state of the world. Roderick is not wrong about her. But this is her moment to get something out of this. To use this moment and get what she wants. She can't ask to be let go, they won't allow that. The mark on her hand makes her valuable, whether she is here willingly or by force, she is not going to be able to walk away.

"Before I agree to anything.....I have a list of...non-negotiable requests" She admits, clasping her hands behind her back. "If I am to be risking my life for you people, then I will be compensated accordingly"

"What are your demands?" Leliana asks. Terys raises an eyebrow, a little surprised that they are willing to at least listen, she assumed they would demand it, as she is still technically their prisoner. They, of course, can still deny her even after she has listed them out. She can't be too unreasonable if she wants them to accept. She needs to gain their trust enough that they loosen the chains so she can make an escape to get back home.

"The guard outside my cabin" She starts. "There is no need for him..." Cassandra goes to argue but Terys snorts. "I can protect myself and my privacy is very important if I am to be a part of this" Cassandra lets out a breath through her nose but nods. "I have been looking for a scroll of misty step," She adds. "If you should find one...I would like to have it"

"Misty step?" Cassandra asks, Terys tilts her head as she looks at her. Debating whether or not she is actually asking what that spell is or why she needs it.

"Blingdenstone Blush" Terys adds. "I want ten bottles, a week...and three of Chultan Fireswill. I also have a list of alchemy ingredients I need to be supplied with regularly" She rolls her wrist and manifests a roll of parchment with the information that she needs. It is basically her shopping list from home. She takes the roll from where it hovers and then holds it out towards Leliana who takes it from her to look over it. "And a raven or at least some form of messenger boy to make use of, without supervision" She gives Leliana a look because of them all, the spymaster will likely be the one that overlooks her missives and letters. "And a stack of fur blankets. I hate the cold" Cassandra and Leliana share a look, the two of them trying to decide if these are reasonable. But if they want Terys' help with the rifts, which they do need, then they might have to concede to these demands. In the long run, a few bottles of wine, a scroll, a raven, they all seem like nothing.

"Anything else?" Leliana asks. Terys lets out a breath as she thinks about whether there is anything that she wants to add. Those things were just the first things that came to mind.

"Nothing else comes to mind," Terys admits. "But should I think of something I will be sure to tell you" Terys takes a deep breath and then snorts. "When I woke up, I certainly didn't picture this outcome" She admits.

"Neither did we" Leliana agrees with her. Cassandra moves closer to Terys.

"We agree to your terms...Help us fix this before it's too late" She begs of Terys and holds out her hand towards Terys in an act of alliance. Terys has what she wants from them, for now. It's a start. She can work with this. Terys takes the offered hand and nods.

"We have an accord" She offers as Cassandra shakes her hand, a sense of relief filling her. Without Terys, she knows that they would struggle. They need Terys, well, they need the mark on her hand. Without her, the world will suffer. Without her to fix the rifts, they would continue to haunt the lands and the people. 

Chapter Text

After her meeting with Leliana and Cassandra, Terys makes her way to the tavern. It’s easy enough to pick it out. The central building has more foot traffic than everywhere else, except perhaps the building set up a little distance away and the Chantry. A bard sings in the corner. The tables are almost full. It is a busy evening. From the doorway, Terys reaches up and scratches at her neck before she makes her way through the tables to reach the only empty space. The bar. She perches herself on a stool at the bar and spins around on it, her eyes drift to the grain of the wooden bar as the barmaid moves along the bar to serve her.

“My Lady Herald” She greets, bowing her head slightly. Terys lets out a breath through her nose.

“Do you have food?” Terys asks, then uses her nail to scratch at the wooden bar top. “Wine?”

“This is a tavern” The barmaid answers and Terys snorts a little, lifting her eyes from the grain of the wood. “I can’t promise that the wine is of quality, your worship” She adds. “But it is wine” Terys nods a little and motions with her hand that it will be fine. “As for food, all we have is ram and pea stew”

“Do you have anything raw?” Terys asks, leaning up and wrinkling her nose. “Pig or….” She stops herself from asking for dwarf, because these people don’t do that. She knows that. And she has an image to uphold.

“Oh…of course” The barmaid is quick to answer, however, there is a sense of confusion on her face but she doesn’t know enough about drow to question it. They are considered a mysterious and dark type of elves and secretive. “Let me pour you some wine before I fetch some” Terys hums a little and goes back to scratching at the wood. The black polish on her nails chips a little with the action. She stops when the barmaid sets a small goblet of wine in front of her, her hand reaching out for it instead of ruining the bar top. She takes a drink and swallows the thick sticky overly sweet red liquid and pulls a face. The barmaid was right about this wine. It is barely even passable as wine, more like grape syrup. It is certainly not Blingdenstone Blush but she will deal with it until they can set up a delivery of her favourite. Cassandra did warn her it might take a few weeks. They have to find a trader, set up a delivery and then await for it to arrive. Terys is hoping that she is not going to be here that long. She’s hoping that it is not going to take that long for them to find her a misty step scroll. They can’t be that hard to come by, there were loads back at the temple. Now she wishes she’d done more with them than use them as kindling on pyres. She sets the glass down and turns on the stool to look around the tavern. There are eyes on her and not at the same time. No one wants to be caught staring at her but they are all still watching her. She would prefer they just stare at her, that she is used to. The Bhaalists are all very open with the way they are with her. No hiding. A blonde armored figure passes behind her before he stops and glances at her.

“Herald” He greets as he sits at her side. She swallows the wine in her mouth and then raises an eyebrow at him. “We met at the Temple…I understand if you don’t remember….” He clears his throat a little and then rubs the back of his neck. “Cullen….Rutherford” He introduces himself. “Commander of the forces here, or at least, that’s what Cassandra wants me to be”

“Huh” She states as she studies him. “I take it that title is sticking? Herald?” She asks him. He is not the first to call her Herald, she has heard it from those she has passed by in the village. She didn’t like it then, she doesn’t like it now.

“It appears so” He agrees and she wrinkles her nose in annoyance. Being a Herald of anyone but Bhaal feels dirty and wrong. She has a patron god. She doesn’t need some false god attached to her. Bhaal might see it as a slight. “What would you prefer that they call you?”

“Well, my name” She argues as the barmaid sets a plate of raw meats in front of her, with a garnish on the side as an added flourish.

“I..” Cullen starts and then frowns. “I don’t even know your name”

“Terys” She offers as she reaches over and pushes the meat around the plate before picking a slice. “Now…do you mind?” She asks him. “I would like to eat in peace” Cullen hums a little and then nods, before he stands and crosses the room to sit at another table, with a soldier who scribbles at a piece of parchment. Terys lets out a breath through her nose before she slides the meat into her mouth, turning to focus on her meal. The barmaid returns to refill Terys’ goblet before she then sets the bottle next to it and then wanders off to see the other patrons as the bard in the corner strikes up another song.

Chapter Text

Returning to her cabin, Terys discovers that a trunk has been delivered to her cabin and it causes Terys to roll her eyes. Her comment about privacy has clearly gone ignored somewhat, though the soldier guarding the cabin is gone. So that is something at least. She taps her boot against the trunk before she unlatches it and opens it up. It is filled with fur blankets. There are bottles of something called Agreggio Pavali, that looks like wine. A box of chocolates. A leather-bound journal. And a note. Terys sits on the floor, leaning her back against the trunk to read it as she takes it from the top.

“Lady Herald” Terys scoffs at the use of the title, she really hates it. Even at the Temple of Bhaal, she didn’t have a real title, she was just Terys. Her name. She likes her name. But this does seem to be sticking and she cannot wait to get away from it. “Please find inside the fur blankets that you requested of varying sizes and thickness. Also five bottles of Agreggio Pavali gifted by Lady Fortier” She reads out aloud. “To see you through until a supply in the bottles you asked for can be found and set up” Terys hums a little, she can understand that. They are in the middle of nowhere in Ferelden. Far from Faerun. “The chocolates are a gift from the soldiers that witnessed what you did at the Breach and the leather-bound journal is from the advisors, to perhaps document your time here” Terys rolls her eyes. She hopes she is not here long enough to need that. “Please, come see me in the Chantry to discuss any other requests you may have. Lady Josephine Montilyet, Ambassador of the Inquisition” She frowns a little and thinks back trying to remember if she’s met Josephine yet. But she can’t place her. Yet more people. Terys pinches the bridge of her nose before a squawk jolts her. She looks across the room to find a caged raven on the desk. Terys lets out a breath and then pushes herself to her feet. A sense of excitement rushes through her. She can make contact with Gortash now. He can help her escape this place and these people.

……

As she sleeps, Terys finds herself in the Fade and in a Fade version of her home. The Temple of Bhaal soaked in the green glow of the Fade. This isn’t the first time she’s dreamt of this place, it is often in her dreams but this time feels different, as if she is more connected to this place. Perhaps because of the mark on her hand, whatever it is. Whatever connection it may have to this place. She kneels in the altar room before the large skull of Bhaal on the wall. Her head bowed and her eyes closed. Her mind finally feels at ease after weeks of being away from this place. Even in dream manifestation. The only thing missing is Sceleritas. She actually misses her insane little butler. He would help her satisfy her urge without breaking her cover. She could take it out on him and not some random resident of the village.

“You are being stalked, my little slayer. It seems you have gained the attention of another god” A voice from the skull on the wall states and she frowns. She doesn’t think she’s noticed anyone like that watching her. She would assume she would be able to sense if she is being watched by a god. She felt it as a child with Bhaal, but maybe that was because they are bloodkin.

“I…who?” She demands but Bhaal remains silent. It’s then that she feels eyes behind her. She turns, abruptly, and holds up her hands in an attack stance, manifesting fire in her palms to illuminate the dream!temple behind her to reveal a large black wolf sitting and watching her, six red eyes shining in the dark. “Which one are you?” She asks, keeping her hands up. The wolf cocks its head in question. “Which god?” She pushes, stepping closer and intensifying the fire in her hand.

“I am no god” The wolf answers and she snorts.

“Okay” She draws out, not believing him. Bhaal told her otherwise. And of the two of them, she knows who she is going to believe in this matter. Her patron. Her father. “So who are you?”

“Fen’Harel” He answers and she chuckles a little, rolling her eyes listening to the ‘voice in her head’ as he recites the list of titles associated with Fen’Harel. She snuffs out the magic in her hands and lowers her arms.

“Dread Wolf. Elven God of lies, betrayal and rebellion” She repeats, her tone rather casual but mocking. “Not a god?” She asks as she flicks her hair back over her shoulder and lifts her eyebrows at him in making her point.

“You are a follower of Bhaal” He states as he looks up at the statue behind her. She tilts her head, crossing her arms over her chest. She doesn’t answer him. “God of murder” He looks at her, those six eyes studying her. “No” He states as if sensing something on her. With her. Within her perhaps. “Not a follower…..a child…you are a bhaalspawn” She smirks at him and gives a half shrug. Neither confirming or denying, but in doing so, basically confirming anyway. He seems surprised to figure that out, as if it should have been something he already knew or figured out about her.

“And what is it that you want?” She asks. “Why come into my dream to watch me….?”

“Curiosity” The wolf answers, sitting on its hindlegs. “I heard of the events at the Temple of Sacred Ashes and wished to witness the survivor for myself. The so-called Herald of Andraste” Terys snorts and rolls her eyes at the temple. She glances behind her at the Bhaal skull.

“Did you hear?” She asks. “These Andrastians believe me to be a herald of their false prophet….”

“I heard” Bhaal’s voice rings out. “My dear little slayer held above the masses” She could be mistaken, but he almost sounds proud of her. She thought he would feel slighted that she had been ‘claimed’ by another god. Perhaps he can see plans. Perhaps he can see something to be gained from this. She’s worried about how this is going to come across to Corypheus, that it means she is going to fail Bhaal. That she is going to let him down. “Ah” Bhaal understands as the shadows take form to allude to Corypheus. “Do not fret over alliances, your sister has already gone to appease matters” Terys rolls her eyes at the mention of Orin going as an envoy to Corypheus. She doesn’t have the tack to deal with him and Corypheus is not the sort to take well to someone of Orin’s mentality. Terys then frowns a little at the feeling flooding through her. It starts as a floating feeling within her chest as her consciousness and body start to awaken. She always feels like she is barely here when she is waking again. She looks at her hand as it starts to fade. She pulls a face and then sinks into it. Letting herself wake. In the Fade, Bhaal and Fen’Harel remain a moment before the wolf turns and trots away from the altar to murder.

Chapter Text

The morning sun is an assault on Terys’ eyes as she leaves her cabin with an apple clutched between her teeth. She is hungry and all that was waiting for her was a bowl of fruit. She might have to talk to that barmaid about real food being delivered to her cabin. But for now, she has the apple. Her raven rests on her arm as she attaches her small scroll letter to Gortash to the bird’s leg. As soon as she woke up, she needed to get this sent. She cannot allow Orin to be in charge of dealings with Corypheus. Orin is not a people person and she cannot fake it like Terys can. Orin has no tack. Terys draws the back of her fingers over the bird’s neck before she lifts her arm, encouraging it to take flight, which it does. As she watches the bird fly away, Terys’ hair sways slightly in the wind. The long white tresses have been left loose this morning. Without her braid, her hair falls down past her backside and around her shoulders to her waist. She hasn’t cut it since she was a teenager. Since she joined the Temple of Bhaal. And well, she actually enjoys running her fingers through her hair after a particularly bloody kill when she is coated in it, head to toe. Plus Enver has a thing about it being loose and wild. She lets out a breath and lowers her head.

Haven is quieter this morning. Now that it is known that she is awake there are less people lingering around her cabin to see her. That’s not to say that there aren’t any. But one catches her attention as she moves through the village, a young boy, maybe five or six, sits on the snow covered steps leading towards the central area of the village. He looks cold, and he is sitting all alone. But mostly, she is drawn towards him because his eyes shine with hunger. Terys pulls the apple from her mouth and stares down at him. Feeling something akin to compassion. She curls her lip, unsure why that is happening. She’s never cared about the wellbeing of other people before. She rolls the apple out of her hand and into the waiting hands of the small child. Terys stares at the kid as he devours the apple in only a few bites before he lunges forward and hugs her legs. She looks panicked by that affection. The thanks. He pulls back and then hurries away from her. Terys pulls a face, unsure why she did that. She’s hungry, she could have eaten it, but that kid was staring up at her with those big wet hungry eyes. And she felt something stir inside of her. That sits uneasy in her stomach. These people are affecting her and in more ways than her just pretending to be their Herald. She could have just walked straight past that child and had her apple. She shakes her head and moves on, heading up the steps and past the tavern towards where the apothecary was marked on the map left for her in her cabin. A way to mark any important places she might want to visit or places she might have to visit. Plus Cassandra thought the apothecary might have some of the herbs she gave over in her demands. Solas leans against his staff, watching her as she climbs the steps to the little cluster of houses he is lingering around. Lingering around his own cabin. She takes a deep breath and looks around as Solas moves closer to her.

“Is there something I can help you with?” He asks her.

“No” She answers. “Just exploring” She adds as her eyes flicker around, mapping everything in her mind. “Until they give me something to do anyway” She adds as her eyes seek out any way out. But Haven is pretty well enclosed and she will need to learn misty step. Because there is no way she can just walk out the front gate without someone seeing her and reporting it to either Cassandra or Leliana. She then seems to remember that Solas himself is a mage and he might just have the scroll she is looking for. She spins to look at him. “You are a mage”

“I am” He agrees, leaning on his staff to make a point of it.

“Do you have scrolls?” She asks, moving towards him. “Or tomes or…whatever it is that you people use”

“You people?” He counters and she hums a little and tilts her head.

“Oh, not elves…obviously” She answers. “I just meant…not Faerûnian. I don’t really know how mages work here, only that they get imprisoned for their magic because their religion is full of cowards”

“You might want to be careful about saying things like that when you are working with them” Solas points out and she snorts, rolling her eyes slightly. They need her more than she needs them, at the end of the day, she can say what she wants and they aren’t going to send her away. They need the mark on her hand to close the rifts. “As for your request” He motions to the cabin behind them. The one given to him to share with Varric. Terys hums a little and then follows him inside.

……

Inside, Terys glances around the cabin. It is slightly different to her own. Smaller. And houses two individuals instead of just one. And two very distinct personalities. It is very clear who sleeps where and who claims which aspects of the interior. Varric’s side is all messy. Books and parchments and quills and ink pots litter one of the two desks along with an empty cage. Blankets and clothing strewn everywhere. And on the other side, Solas lives a much more organized and neat existence. Everything seems to have its place. Even just the desk, with sealed boxes and tiny chests. Solas picks up a chest from under the bed and then sets it on the organized desk. He motions to it, allowing her to help herself. Terys opens it up and pulls out scrolls and tomes and books. Solas leans on his staff, watching her. But he has no misty step or anything even similar.

“Is there anything specific that you are looking for?” He asks her, aware that she must be if the scrolls he has shown her aren’t good enough. She lets out an annoyed breath through her nose.

“Yes, but you don’t have it” She leans back onto her backside and hangs her head as she tries to calm herself down. She is wanting to lash out at him for something he had nothing to do with. She would usually kill those that wronged her, even for something this simple, but she needs him. His knowledge of the Fade and this mark on her hand. And she can’t go around randomly killing these people. Not yet anyway. She taps her fingers on the chest before she pushes herself to her feet. “Thank you anyway” She mutters and then leaves the cabin and a confused Solas behind. 

Chapter Text

As Terys leaves the cabin and heads down the steps towards the tavern, she sees commotion. And immediately the Urge is pushing her to get involved, it feels excited at the prospect of violence. A soldier has an elven mage girl grabbed by the wrist. Her quarterstaff is broken on the ground at her feet. Before she has even considered it, she is shoving the soldier whilst pulling the mage free of his hand. The mage stumbles to stand behind Terys who glares down at the soldier now sitting on the ground staring up at her with wide eyes. Recognition flickers in his eyes as he realises who it is that is looming over him. 

“Herald” He starts. “She’s a blood mage” He motions to the mage cowering behind Terys. 

“I cut my finger” The mage defends. “I was healing it” She picks up the broken pieces of her staff to her hands and looks down at it sadly. It is probably a lot harder to get new ones or replacements for them. With her mood, Terys is looking to cause pain, and now she actually has a legitimate reason to do so. No one is going to judge her for killing this soldier. He’s a dangerous shit-stirrer. Her hand twitches, inching to where there is a dagger resting on her hip. Suddenly, Solas grabs her arm to stop her and pulls her away from the stuttering soldier. 

“Come with me” He tells her, dragging her with him as he moves. “Terys” He warns as she struggles against him, pulling her dagger from her belt fully intending on killing the soldier. “Not here” He adds, firmer this time as he releases her to grab her dagger wielding wrist. She snaps her hard eyes around to look at him. The two of them stare at one another. Her jaw clenching and unclenching before she lets out a breath before relenting. She allows him to lead her out of Haven’s main gates. 

…..

Terys hasn’t actually ventured this far yet, mostly because she didn’t realise she could. She didn’t think the whole thing went beyond the gates. Out here, there is a cluster of tents set up close to the edge of a frozen lake. There are soldiers that are training under the watchful eye of Cullen. There are refugees that are arriving. Chantry sisters lingering, not watching the soldiers training. Cullen raises a hand in question but Solas just shakes his head waving him off. Getting anyone else involved will likely risk their life. 

……

Solas stops her behind a lonely cabin a short distance from Haven. In the trees and snow and away from prying eyes. At least, the majority of them, he is sure that there are still some eyes on her, the Spymaster probably has someone watching the Herald. He releases Terys.

“There” He points to a ram grazing in the snow. Terys frowns and turns to look at him. 

“That’s an animal” She points out and he nods. 

“Channel that… urge that you have into killing it instead” She snaps her head around to stare at him. Narrowing her eyes at the wording there. And the emphasis on the word urge. Solas can see her mind working even as her eyes remain still and void. A very different reaction than he saw earlier when her anger and urge burst out of her, almost slaughtering that soldier where he stood. Now she is almost unresponsive. She stands up abruptly when she realises. 

“You are…?” She asks him and then searches his eyes for the answer. “It was you? You are….?” 

“Solas” He interrupts her before she can mutter his name, informing her that his identity is a secret and to voice it when there are so many ears that might be listening to them right now. He nods. She snorts and rolls her eyes. But she is confused too. He’s just let her put those pieces together. And he has to have done it on purpose. There’s no way a god accidentally lets it slip. 

“Why reveal this?” She pushes, folding her arms over her chest. “You’re clearly hiding as much as I am”

“Precisely” He states. “You won’t risk telling people because you know I can tell them about you and what you really are…..and between the two of us, which truth is most likely to be believed” She lets out a breath through her nose and then takes a few steps backwards before she spins on her feet. “This is not a threat, Terys” Solas assures her. “It is an offer of…of shared truths, of…companionship” She lets out a breath and then turns, throwing her dagger at the ram ahead of them. It sinks into the animal’s neck causing it to fall to the snow with a cry of pain. Terys then darts across the snow and rips the dagger from the neck and then stabs into it, again, and again, and again until it is long past dead and she is splattered in its blood. She leans back and lets out a long breath, a sense of ease settling over her. It won’t last, not with an animal kill, but it allowed her to feed some of her urge. She pushes herself to her feet, wiping the dagger on her breeches, her eyes on Solas. She lets out a breath and then heads towards him. 

“I’ll think on it” She tells him as she walks away from him. His eyes on the mess of the ram left behind. There is nothing that can be salvaged from it. 

Chapter Text

A bath is called for after Terys’ return due to the amount of blood covering her. It feels like it has been a while since she has soaked in hot water, and whilst she does enjoy the initial coating of blood, when it dries, it does get annoying. She lays under the water, staring up at the ceiling of her cabin, her fingers wrapped around the tin tub. The water is now tinted red with the blood and it gives her worldview a beautiful taint. She jumps a little when Cassandra’s face comes into view. Her relaxing bath suddenly turned into a demand of the Inquisition. Terys pushes herself up out of the water to look at the Seeker who steps back from the tub.

“This couldn’t wait?” She asks as she leans on the edge of the tin tub, resting her chin on her arms. “I am naked” Cassandra picks up the robe from the bed and holds it out towards Terys.

“No,” Cassandra states. “It cannot wait…” Terys pulls a face and then climbs from the warmth of the water to take the robe from Cassandra to pull it on. “We are gathering everyone in Haven to formally announce the reformation of the Inquisition”

“And I have to be there?” Cassandra turns to give her a look, because of course she needs to be there. She is their Herald. She has the mark, she is the only one who can fix this mess. Terys lets out a breath through her nose, accepting the look on Cassandra’s face as an answer.

“Wear this” Cassandra motions to an outfit she has laid out on the bed. Terys sighs and moves to her side.

“What is wrong with my armour?”

“Nothing,” Cassandra assures her. “It is structurally sound for battle, but you need a ceremonial outfit” Cassandra then motions to the outfit again. Terys lets out a breath through her nose and looks over the outfit. It’s dark blue and black and has very little in the way of actual protection. Just some knee pads and shoulder pads in metal and a hardened leather chest piece. At least they kept her color scheme. But they must have either had this ready for her whilst she was unconscious or they rushed the clothier and blacksmith to get it done. Whatever it is, they are very serious about her sticking around. “I will wait outside,” Cassandra states. “Hurry up and get dressed” She then leaves the cabin without another word. Terys scoffs and rolls her eyes as the door shuts. Tedious. She hasn’t followed demands of anyone less than a god in a decade. It feels wrong to take them from someone far below.

…….

Standing in front of the mirror, Terys checks out the new outfit and the way it looks on her. She can’t say she hates the way it looks, it just isn’t something she would pick for herself. She has Bhaal robes for when she is in the Temple, and other than her armour, she rarely wears anything else, unless she is meeting with Enver, privately. She has a number of dresses that he has bought over the course of their alliance for her to wear specifically for him. He has a certain look that he likes on her when they are together, as much as he likes her armour on her, especially if it is bloodied. She turns and looks over the outfit in the mirror and lifts an eyebrow in thought. For the sake of fitting in, she’ll wear it.

…..

As she makes her way to the Chantry, Terys spots Cassandra who stands with three other figures. Leliana and Cullen she recognizes, those she has met, the other figure she does not, but she can guess. This must be Josephine Montilyet and Terys soon finds her answer as she moves towards them.

“Josephine Montilyet” She introduces herself with a bow of her head when Terys joins her. “Ambassador”

“Terys” Terys introduces flatly then realises that it’s stupid of her to introduce herself to this woman who likely is fully aware of who she is. Everyone here is fully aware of who she is by now. She pulls a face at herself and then sighs.

“Pleasure to finally meet you, Terys” Josephine offers warmly. “I hope that everything in that trunk was satisfactory” Terys nods.

“I haven’t tried the wine yet, but I liked the chocolates,” Terys admits. “And I appreciate the fur blankets….I detest the cold” She adds, and that isn’t a lie. Even in the Temple, she usually had blankets upon blankets to sleep with and a fur lined cloak to keep her warm.

“It is time,” Cassandra tells Cullen as she holds out a scroll towards him. Cullen takes a deep breath and then takes it from her, a small hammer held in his other hand. They have talked this through, at least. Terys folds her arms over her chest and turns slightly to watch as Cullen hammers a proclamation scroll to the door of the Chantry and then steps back to Cassandra’s side. Terys waits for more, because of course there should be more if this is about them announcing the reformation for the Inquisition, officially. Some big fanfare. Fireworks even. But no one moves and nothing else is done.

“So that’s it?” Terys asks as she looks at Cassandra. “A statement posted? I was expecting a speech or something”

“You are free to make one” Leliana comments and Terys snorts. The speech that she would give is not one that they would approve of. It is best she doesn’t do that for the sake of appearances.

“We will prove our intentions through actions and not with a speech” Cassandra points out and then walks away.

“I put on this whole outfit for this” Terys comments and looks down at her outfit, to pull a face. “I got out of my warm bath” She then growls and glares at Cassandra’s retreating form. 

Chapter Text

It only takes two days before Cassandra is calling for Terys to join her and the other advisors in the Chantry. Her first official Inquisition meeting. Which means that she has to wear her ‘official’ outfit, as she has come to call it in her head. She is still not used to the looks and the whispers and being worshipped as some Herald. Solas still watches her. As if he is waiting for her to snap and murder at any moment, and well, he’s not wrong. She has really struggled with the Urge in these last two days. So she’s kept herself to her cabin mostly. Writing to Gortash and Sceleritas to try and get a plan in place. If she knew what the Inquisition’s plan was, it would be easier, so maybe this meeting has come at a very opportune time. Once she knows what their plans are, she can really start making her own. To get a good idea where and when she will find the most opportune moment to flee from them all. Inside of the Chantry, Cassandra walks at Terys’ side, heading towards the back room. Cassandra glances over at Terys and then away again, trying to figure out what to say to fill the silence. Because if she is honest, Terys makes her skin crawl in a way she can’t explain. Since the moment she met her, it’s been there. An intensity.

“Does it trouble you?” Cassandra asks her as they come to a stop before the far door.

“What?” Terys counters and Cassandra motions to Terys’ marked hand. Terys curls her fingers into her palm and clenches her jaw. “Oh” Terys whispers and then shakes her head. “Not really” Terys admits and then heads onward towards the door. Cassandra follows her. The mark on her hand is actually constantly painful. It is hard to ignore at the best of times. But she doesn’t need these people fussing over her if they think she is weak.

“What’s important is that your mark is now stable, as is the Breach. You’ve given us time, and Solas believes that a second attempt might succeed provided the mark has more power. The same level of power used to open the Breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by” Cassandra admits. Terys turns a look on Cassandra.

“Clearly” Terys starts. “You have something in mind”

“We do” Cassandra agrees and then pushes open the door to the room that Terys found herself in days ago. Only it is not Roderick and his accusations that she finds. Josephine, Leliana and Cullen are waiting around the large table covered in a map of Ferelden, Orlais and the Sword Coast. Although the Sword Coast map seems to be a tag on piece. Likely only found because of Terys and her origins. She has clearly come from farther away than they were expecting. Perhaps ignorance on their part. Their war affects the rest of the world. Even those beyond the Amarantine Ocean. If the Templars win, then they may get some ideas on how the mages are treated in the rest of the world. If the Chantry gets a victory under the belt, imprisoning their mages, what is to stop them from trying for those beyond. Cassandra approaches the table as Terys closes the door behind them before joining Cassandra. “You have already met everyone here” Cassandra starts as she leans on the table. “But for formal introductions….Commander Cullen, leader of the Inquisition’s forces” She motions with her free hand towards Cullen.

“Such as they are” He offers with an incline of his head.

“Lady Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat” Cassandra moves on, motioning to Josephine.

“Andaran atish’an” Josephine greets and Terys blinks at her surprised by the elven coming out of her mouth. The people this side of the sea aren’t really all that interested in becoming knowledgeable in other cultures. Terys herself knows very little elven. Only what she remembers her mother teaching her as a child, but she had no interest in it. And Bhaal had no interest in her learning.

“You speak elven?” Terys asks her.

“You’ve just heard the entirety of it, I’m afraid”

“Ah, good” Terys comments. “That’s pretty much all I remember too” She shrugs at Josephine who then relaxes, free from having to worry about it. 

“And Sister Leliana” Cassandra nods to Leliana.

“My position here involves a degree of…” Leliana starts to explain only for Cassandra to bluntly counter her.

“She is our spymaster”

“Yes. Tactfully put, Cassandra”

“Cassandra tells me you have a plan” Terys shifts closer to the table to look over the map.

“I mentioned that your mark needs more power to close the Breach for good,” Cassandra explains.

“Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help” Leliana informs Terys who hums in agreement.

“And I still disagree. The Templars could serve just as well” Cullen argues. Terys chuckles at that idea. Templars are such a foreign concept to her, a humorous one. That instead of encouraging and teaching their mages to be safe with their magic and to educate them on the Fade and the risk of demons, they just straight up imprison them. Cullen gives her a look and she clears her throat.

“Sorry” She offers, not sounding all that apologetic. “We don’t have Templars in Faerun; we find them unnecessary”

“We need power, Commander” Cassandra pushes the conversation onward, ignoring Terys’ comment and likely trying to not escalate that conversation. “Enough magic poured into that mark…” Cullen draws his eyes from Terys.

“Might destroy us all” He finishes before she can. “Templars could suppress the Breach, weaken it so….”

“Pure speculation” Leliana argues.

“I was a templar” Cullen counters, turning to look at her. “I know what they’re capable of”

“Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet” Josephine defuses. “The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition–and you” Josephine turns to Terys. “Specifically”

“Can’t you simply ignore them?” Terys asks, not sure why it should matter either way.

“If only that were possible” Leliana voices.

“Some are calling you–an elf-blooded mage,” Josephine admits. “The ‘Herald of Andraste.’ That frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we heretics for harbouring you”

“Chancellor Roderick’s doing, no doubt” Cassandra scoffs.

“It limits our options,” Josephine informs them. “Approaching the mages or templars for help is currently out of the question.

“I’m no herald of anything. Especially not Andraste” Terys states firmly, finally getting a chance to voice how she feels about all of the focus on her title. Cullen chuckles.

“I’m sure the Chantry would agree”

“People are desperate for a sign of hope. For some, you’re that sign” Leliana adds.

“And to others, a symbol of everything that’s gone wrong”

“So if I wasn’t with the Inquisition…” Terys starts.

“Let’s be honest: they would have censured us no matter what” Cullen admits as he places his hands on the hilt of his sword.

“And you not being here isn’t an option” Cassandra adds firmly and Terys hums a little. That is disconcerting. A problem for her plans. They are prepared to hold on tight to her.

“There is something you can do. A Chantry cleric by the name Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable”

“That’s not at all concerning,” Terys mumbles. “You don’t think it could be an ambush?”

“I doubt it,” Leliana argues. “From what I know of her, she is a kind soul and not the sort to involve herself in violence” She shifts slightly to motions to the map and Cullen slides a Chantry marker towards where the Hinterlands are marked. “You will find Mother Giselle tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe” Terys wrinkles her nose a little. More unnecessary stuff to do. But being out in the wilds does bring up more opportunities for escape.

“Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisition’s influence while you’re there” Cullen adds and Terys folds her arms over her chest. She has no intention of doing that. She has no intention whatsoever in staying and helping them. But for now, she’ll agree.

“We need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley, and you’re better suited than anyone to recruit them” Josephine offers softer than Cullen, a little more encouraging. Terys wonders if Cullen is fully aware of her field of study and that is why he sounds so prickly with her, that and perhaps her comments about templars. 

“In the meantime, let’s think of other options” Cassandra orders of the others. “ I won’t leave this all to the Herald” 

Chapter Text

Outside of Haven, not far, within eyeline of the soldiers and Cullen who is pretending not to see Terys who leans back against a tree, a fur blanket on the ground to keep her from the cold, and a book open in her lap. She’s waiting on Cassandra, Solas, and Varric. They are leaving for the Hinterland this morning. A journey that will likely take days if not weeks, she doesn’t know this side of the world well enough to know how long it is going to take. She sent letters to Enver and Sceleritas. Their responses will be waiting for her when she gets back, hopefully. Hopefully, there will also be a scroll of misty step waiting for her too. Once she has heard from them, once she has what she needs, she can start putting in real energy into leaving. She cannot stay with these people, it is twisting her insides up something painful. Having to bite her tongue and restrain her hands. She itches everyday to slaughter her way through Haven to escape.

“Interesting book?” She is startled from her thoughts to find Solas leaning against his staff and watching her. She lets out a breath and glances down at the book. It is not particularly interesting. Something about herbology. She closes the book and shakes her head.

“No, but I can’t do what I want to do” She argues and brushes her tongue over her teeth. “I am hoping that we cross some bandits or something on the road….” She looks at Solas. “Or you, Varric, and Cassandra might bear the brunt of my urges because this place and these people are not helping” She pushes herself to her feet and throws the book down onto the blanket. “Every person that walks past me, I think about digging my dagger deep into their ribs and watching their blood pour out of them…” She lets out a heavy excited breath, eyes glazing with the prospect of actually doing that. Watching blood seep from a body to stain the snow below her. The most beautiful canvas to paint on. Solas grabs her chin and tilts her head up, drawing her eyes from the snow.

“You need to control yourself” He warns her and she smirks a little.

“Or what?” She asks him.

“If killing animals isn’t going to satisfy you, then you need to find another outlet” He ignores her question. They both know that this secret will stay between them. She knows his secret, he knows hers. There is no way he will tell them about her, because he won’t risk her telling them about him. Not that his secret would be believed. It is a far more ridiculous secret. Far more far fetched. But it is not a chance he is willing to take. Because all it takes is someone like Cassandra believing her and it is over.

“Are we interrupting?” Cassandra asks, causing Solas and Terys to step away from one another, turning to look at her, and Varric at her side. Varric is smirking a little.

“No, of course not, Seeker” Solas answers as Terys flicks one of her braids over her shoulder and wraps her free hand around the dagger hilt on her belt. Cassandra holds out the second pack in her hand towards Terys. It is Terys’ own bag, she can tell by the marks on it from the years of use.

“I took the liberty of packing you some supplies,” Cassandra informs her. “Food, water, a tent….as well as your bows…” Cassandra throws that bag at the drow who catches it and then hums. “It will take us eight days to reach the Inquisition’s camp in the Hinterlands” Cassandra continues as Terys pulls on the pack. “We will walk through the day and camp at sundown….” Cassandra then hands over a cluster of scrolls to the drow who takes them.

“What are these?” Terys asks her as she turns the cluster of scrolls around.

“Letter addressed to the Herald of Andraste” Cassandra answers. Terys pulls a face at the scrolls. She is not interested in reading fan mail. She doesn’t want to be here, she doesn’t want to be this Herald. She doesn’t want to read about people’s problems. “Josephine thinks responses would come better from you rather than us” Terys lets out a breath and then slides the scrolls into the pack before pulling it onto her back to ignore and even burn later.

……

Terys has decided that she despises camping. She hates it. Sleeping outside in the cold on the hard ground sucks. It also doesn’t help that she is living with a murderous urge inside of her and right now she is having to control herself. She misses her temple. She misses going on and finding victims. Every night she could find one without issue or complaint or struggle. She didn’t know how good and easy she had it. Until now. Their campsite has been set up for the night. Three tents between them, three sleeping whilst one stays on watch and then switching up during the night. Terys drops her bag into the tent and takes a deep breath. She is aching everywhere. Being centered in Baldur’s Gate means that she doesn’t have to travel all that far all that often. Hiking and walking all day is exhausting. Listening to Varric trying to make conversation is exhausting. Cassandra’s eyes on her is exhausting. Having to watch her behavior and her nature is exhausting. She is not used to being normal, in their eyes. She is perfectly normal for her life. But not for the Herald of Andraste. She is not the sort of reverential figure that they are looking for. She looks down at her marked hand, using her other hand to press her fingers into the wound.

“Herald” She rolls her eyes at the title but turns to face Cassandra behind her. “Are you hungry?” Cassandra asks, holding out a small wrapped package. Terys glances at it.

“What is it?” She counters. Cassandra shrugs.

“I have no idea, Flissa at the tavern put them together” Cassandra shakes the package and Terys takes it from her. “Do you want to take the first watch or….?”

“I can take the first watch” Terys answers as she moves away from Cassandra to sit at the fire that Solas lights up. Varric is already seated, his crossbow in his lap to clean it, despite not using it at all today. But she understands that, she will clean her blades too. Terys sits on a fallen log and turns the food package over in her hands to look at the front of it. It’s been marked with her name so this has been specifically made up for her. Hopefully that means that Flissa has put together something that she can eat. Because she knows what she asked for in the tavern the last time she was in there. Hopefully this is going to be something she can actually stomach unlike most other foods she’s tried since waking up in Haven. 

Chapter Text

Terys pulls a face as she stares into the fire. This isn’t going to work. Her blood is pumping in her ears, drowning out everything, pleading with her to satisfy her urge. Blood. Blood. Blood. Solas might have told her to control it but he doesn’t understand how deep that urge has its claws in her. As if it would be so easy as to simply will it away. A hand touches her shoulder causing her to jump a little and turn, holding out her blade towards whoever just touched her. Varric stands behind her with his hands held up. She lets out a breath, her lip curling over her teeth, the start of a snarl working its way up her throat. Varric gives her a questioning look and she lets out a breath, willing it away for now, it will return, and soon. Her entire frame sinks, the blade falling from her fingers. 

“What do you want, Varric?” She asks him as she turns back to the fire. 

“Well, I saw you weren’t sleeping, so…” Varric starts as he slowly moves to sit at her side. “Thought you might want some company.” She snorts a little and shakes her head.

“I am perfectly capable of suffering my insomnia without help” She argues dryly but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He hums a little and rests a book on his legs, opening it up. 

“Perhaps you don’t have to” He counters and she clenches her jaw. She can’t stop him. So she supposes she just has to deal with him. The two of them sit there in silence as Varric reads from his book and Terys stares into the fire, watching the flames waver and flicker in the evening breeze. 

…..

Some time later in the evening, Varric lifts his head from his book when a branch breaks through the trees. His eyes flicker around to find the source, but other than the fire, there is very little light to illuminate the area and with the trees casting large shadows. It is impossible. Terys has barely moved from her position since he sat down. Making no show of hearing the same thing he did. 

“Do you hear that?” Varric asks as he stares out through the trees. Something is definitely moving out there. The crunch of boots on the dry leaves. The rattling of metal. Someone is moving closer to them. Trying to be silent but they are wearing armour. Trying to sneak up on them. 

“Douse the fire and wake the others” Terys tells him as she grabs her dagger and lunges forward from the log.

“You shouldn’t go out there alone” Varric warns but she is already rushing through the trees towards the noise. This could be her chance to satiate the urge for a while. And she has to be quick so as not lose out on a kill because one of the others gets there first. She needs this. 

……..

In the trees, Terys spins, drawing her blade across a Templar’s throat and then drops to stab him in the gut, twisting the blade before she pulls it across, tearing him open. She’s covered in blood and all sorts of other delicious bodily fluids. She stands and pushes over the Templar with a firm shove of his shoulder. He is the last to fall. Of four Templars. She hasn’t had much to do with Templars, never had a reason to, in fact, Cullen was the first Templar she met. But she doesn’t agree with their doctrine. She doesn’t agree with their practices. So killing them kind of feels hollow, because she is getting nothing out of this. No innocence to take. It is something though. A shudder runs down her spine as she closes her eyes and basks in the smell and the warmth of the blood covering her. It feels like it has been so long since she has felt this. 

“What happened?” Cassandra’s voice breaks the silence. Terys snaps her eyes open and instantly all the joy is gone. She clenches her jaw and turns to face Cassandra, Solas, and Varric behind her. 

“I dealt with it” She states and slides her blade into the sheath on her hip. “Obviously”

“Templars” Cassandra points out as she crouches, pulling a sliver of leather with the Templar sigil on it from the remains. “We had no reports of them being on this road” She points out. Terys rolls her eyes slightly because it is very clear that they are on this road regardless of whatever scouting report the Inquisition received. It was three days ago that they left Haven, that is three days for them to have changed their travelling patterns. 

“Well, they are here” Terys comments as she slides her blade into the sheath on her waist. “Or they were” She snorts at her own comment and then turns to face the others, sweeping her blood soaked hair over her hair. “I’ll deal with them” She offers. “You can go back to sleep” Cassandra looks down at the bodies with a frown. Terys is an elf, dainty and soft looking.  So much damage was done to these bodies. She doesn’t look like she can do this much damage. But she supposes she shouldn’t judge considering Varric’s size. And the stories of Andrea Hawke. The small human female rogue that battled an Arishok and partook in the beginning of the mage rebellion. 

“Are you sure you don’t want some help to deal with them?” Cassandra asks.

“Nope,” Terys argues, folding her arms over her chest. “My specialisation is necromancy, dealing with dead bodies is kind of my whole thing” She reminds Cassandra who lets out a breath through her nose and then nods. She walks away, closely followed by Varric who glances back to check on Terys before he shakes his head and heads back towards the camp.