Altha groaned inwardly as he re-read the letter Leliana had sent him taking a swig of the Ferelden swill they served here. To Altha, my dear friend and agent I need your assistance, recent news has come to light of a group of Templar's near the Hinterlands however with the recent relocation to Skyhold I must entrust you to lead this mission. However you will not be alone, I've task several agents to meet you in Denerim brothel the Pearl I've selected that location because it is very private and no one will question the strange people showing up. The people you are to meet are detailed on the next page, I hope to see you well soon and please be careful not to anger these Templar's.

He looked up humming the tune to a old elvish song awaiting to see who entered as he checked over his gear, he was wearing normal leather armor the daggers at his side and the bow on his back were reason not to mess with him. However the Dalish tattoo's kept most people looking over, a couple of the women had even offered him a free turn because of what they heard about the Dalish. He had ignored them he needed to stay focused, he did get side tracked listening to tales about the Warden visiting the Pearl and the surprises that occurred. The dwarf in drag one sounded terrifying especially, he didn't need to hear that one.

Angelo got going and he read his letter with an encryption from lady lelliana to go and meet a team, unlike most rouges Angelo decided to go with chainmail rather then leather armor because of his specialty it will cause him to be the tank of the group if their aren't any warriors. He loved smashing his ice bottle on him and watching the idiots rush to attack him only to get caught and become frozen for Angelo's mayhem pleasure once he is in the fight. Angelo walked into the pearl he had elvish tattoos as well his looked like a tree as he walked in knowing he was supposed to find others to join up with and he found another of the dalish and Angelo said "Aneth ara brother" Angelo said smiling "our mutual sister told me to come here" Angelo said knowing that if he knew of lelliana he would know that lelliana was once a sister of the chantry and that was code for she sent Angelo to be part of the team

Vavin walked though the door of the Pearl, with letter in hand, and he was armed to the teeth for battle, he carried a bow and a quiver of arrow and some traps on his waist and even some mines in his backpack. For all his weapons he was lightly armored, with thin leather armor under a heavy animal pelted coat and some leather boots that made it easy to jump around and sneak around. He looked over the letter again, it was encrypted which only took him a few minutes to figure out, the pretty red headed human wrote it, her name was Leliana or something. Pretty good spy master. But he had to focus on the matter on hand which was to find a group and find another group which are Templars who aren't insane or something. He didn't really care enough to know for sure.

He noticed that two elves were talking to each other, they look Dalish so the letter's description seem to be right, he must be early if the rest of the group hasn't arrived yet. He sighed, he wasn't really the voice for his sister's operations, he was more of the muscle but with brains to back her up. "Were you two sent by Leliana?" He asked bluntly. "If not then forget I asked."

Turning to his fellow Dalish elf "Andaran atish’an brother you must Angelo. Good to meet you, yes I know Leliana. There is no need for code here." He said as the dwarf approached he turned to greet him. "Atrast vala my dwarven friend, we have only to wait for three other, there are rooms in the back if you need a nap, if you wish a partner pay for it yourself. If not you may wait and talk with me as we drink Ferelden swill." He spoken happily as he burned the letters in a nearby torch. "Leliana and have arrangements made to set off tomorrow so I suggest drinking and eating then turning. We a long trip tomorrow, good news is I've secured horse's and a pony for Vavin. Turning back to his drink he continued to hum taking another swig.

Elora

Elora sighed in reluctance as she approached the Pearl. It was a small mercy that the air was cool enough for her to wear the hood of her cloak up to conceal her identity. Of course, she was not known in Denerim. She was not well known anywhere. Even so, the idea of entering a brothel did not fill her with any amount of pleasure. Still, she understood Leliana's decision. They would have some privacy to meet. The patrons would be otherwise occupied and hold little interest for the group of agents.

The assassin carried very little with her. To the untrained eye, it may seem as though she were completely unarmed, though her heavy fur-lined cloak did help to conceal what she didn't wish for others to see. Most of her supplies were locked in a safe in the room she'd rented in the Gnawed Noble Tavern. She did wear her studded leather armor, however, and the sheaths at her waist bore two of her daggers. There was a separate belt pouch above that that held a small array of poisons and potions as well as her coin purse. She did not expect to be here for very long, if she could help it. She had been informed in the letter that this would be their initial meeting but she did not yet know the details of when they would set out. She imagined there was another in the group that had been entrusted with this information unless Leliana herself would be there.

Elora pushed open the door to the brothel and stepped inside. She lowered her hood and glanced swiftly around the room. Despite the scantily clad men and women that fluttered about fawning over the patrons, the outer room appeared like any other tavern. She had been here once before whilst following a mark. Originally, she had planned to impersonate one of the workers and get him alone so that she could kill him in one of the back rooms but she had drawn attention from some of the other men. It would have been unwise for her to continue when there were others who could recognize her and connect her to the death of the man in question.

The Pearl had not changed all that much since her last time here but Elora's eyes were not on the decor. She searched for the people she was expected to meet as she unclasped the front of her cloak but before she could locate them, she was approached by the proprietor.

"Welcome to The Pearl. Who is it I can introduce you to, today? One of my men? We've got someone to suit every taste. Or perhaps you've come to seeking employment?" Her eyes flickered over Elora as though considering her for the job. The assassin frowned and pulled her cloak back around her body. "Maker, no!" she sighed in exasperation, her eyes coming to rest on a small huddle of people in the corner. She began to move around the woman in front of her. "Bring me a bottle of wine. I'll be with the group in the corner." She answered, already moving past her. The proprietor didn't look particularly pleased that she was only here to meet others but she didn't object.

The two Elven men had arrived and so had the dwarf. If memory served, they were still expecting the last elf, a woman, and a Qunari. She was a little surprised that she was the only human in the group but it didn't bother her. As long as they did their jobs well, she shouldn't have too much of a problem with any of them. Elora came to a stop in front of the table they occupied. "Altha, Angelo and Vavin, I presume?" she asked, her eyes flickering to each of them in turn. Of course, she couldn't be sure which of the elves was which as the letter had not specified, but never mind. "I am Elora."

Two green eyes peered down at the encoded slip of paper once more. To someone without knowing the key it would appear gibberish, to her… well… it still appeared as such… for the most part. Scribbles lined the paper showing multiple attempts at decoding the message correctly. At least this time she got a location.

 

“Pearl?” she asked herself. Somehow the place sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

 

Crumpling up the piece of paper she slipped the message into her pocket.

 

As she made her way through the streets she could feel eyes following her. This was not the best part of Denerim that was for sure. Maybe she should’ve chosen more discreet garb rather than her traditional Dalish dress. Still, when she got the letter she wasn’t prepared to have to hide, her tattoos made that neigh impossible regardless.

 

Ella continued briskly through the growing crowd keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. It would be then her ears would perk at the word ‘Pearl.’ She immediately diverted her eyes in the direction. Two dirt-covered human men seemed to be talking about it. She couldn’t discern any more words from their conversation, but their animated hand motions made up for it.

 

“Gotcha,” she mumbled under her breath.

 

~ ~ ~ ~

 

As it would turn out she was nearby, but the Pearl wasn’t well advertised, and the reason would be made clear when she walked in the door.

 

Inside she saw men and women alike all gathered in groups or awaiting “services.” A few of the patrons looked her way, she cringed just thinking about what was going on in their heads. She tried to ignore it; she had to find the contact. She pulled the slip from her pocket and read her poor decoding and looked up.  As if on purpose her eyes fell upon a man, a Dalish man of all things, matching the description.

 

“Leli,” she said in more of an asking tone than anything else.

"Is that a Qunari?"
"Damn Oxmen...."
"Maker's wraith, what is it doing here?"
"Do you think he is a scout?"
"Are we being Invaded?"


The murmurings of onlookers, some more discrete than others, filled the city streets' air as the object of their concern made his way through the crowd. Katari scanned the area, which was made easier with him standing a good head and shoulders above everyone else near by. The stern look on his face showed that he was set on a goal, though when it came to Qunari it required a certain finesse to tell one harden expression from another. As his eyes moved from building, to citizen looking back at him in a mixture of fear and hate, and back to building he recalled the instructions he was given from the letter he received from the young red headed woman he owed his life to. "Katari, if you truly wish to repay my deed and help a cause that will prevent the injustices you and so many others have been exposed to please meet with one of my agents in Denerim at the Pearl, he shall be a young Dalish Elf by the name Altha." The letter was short and Katari was sure lady Leliana was more than capable of writing a much more elegant and profound request, but both he and Leliana knew that these simple words were all that was needed to gain his support. Katari was pulled from his thoughts when a wooden sign with the words, The Pearl, engraved into it. The Qunari wasted no time and headed into the building.

As Katari entered the Pearl dirt fell off the large, black leather boots that covered his equally large feet and onto the floor. The Qunari's whole attire in fact seemed to have at least a layer of grime on it, from the dark, tattered robes that wrapped around his body to the battered cloak that was draped over his shoulders. The less than pristine condition of his clothing aside Katari also had a long, slightly bent, stick topped with a piece of metal in the shape of a oval which also had a few spikes erupting from it. Some may guess that this was some bizarre form of mace while others would wright it off as a overly eccentric walking stick, but in fact it was a instrument that saved the life of many a magic user. Yes this indeed was a mage's staff strapped upon Katari's back, one that this Qunari had carried into battle countless times.

It was not long after he entered the building that Katari was approached by the proprietor who held a less then certain look on her face. "Uh... Welcome to the Pearl... Are you here to take part in our services?" She spoke, obviously unsettled by the Qunari's presence.

Katari eyed the woman in front of him for a brief moment, his eyes cold and steely, before speaking in a low and firm tone. "No." After he spoke Katari brushed past the now baffled proprietor and pushed onward into the building, his eyes scanning it's patrons before they fell on a small group of people of assorted races. The Qunari quickly picked out three Dalish Elves among the group, only two of which were male. He then walked up to the before speaking in the same low and firm tone from before. "Altha?" If anyone in the group took the name as their own Katari would proceeded with his questioning, but if they were merely confused he would continue his search of the building.

Altha turned to the human woman who approached. "I'm Altha the elf put in charge of this little mission, please have a seat." He then turned to the female Dalish. "I'm Alatha, Leliana sent word of you, Andaran atish’an sister, glad to have you along. Lastly he noticed the large Qunari approach, he gave a respectful bow. "Shanedan my friend, I hope the people in town did not give you trouble? Looking at his new companions he smiled greeting the new arrivals warmly. "I am happy you all made it. Now if you want more details on our job you can join me here at the table if not, well we have individual rooms in the back to sleep in." He finished his drink deciding to get the ball rolling. "So Leliana sent me letters detailing you all.Yes I'm Dalish and yes I'm a bard who spies for the Dalish. Now lets do the introductions shall we?" Altha sighed waving over a waitress having her place six drink on the table. "Why don't you start us my Qunari friend? I'll answer questions after that."

The Qunari gave a slight nod to the Elf who identified himself as the Altha Katari instructed to meet. "Shanedan Kabethari." Katari said simply as a response to the Elf's greeting, not wanting to waste words on describing the reactions to his presence he got from the citizens. He scanned the rest of the group for a moment, just long enough to gather some surface information on who he would be working with, before turning his cold gaze back to the Elf who was the reason for him being here. Katari let out a slight grunt of announce when Altha brought introductions, to him it seemed rather pointless to use such niceties when more pressing matters were at hand. "Katari, you all may call me Katari." He said to the group in his low tone before looking at Altha. "And I am no Qunari." He said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He simply nodded to Altha and thanked him quickly. He sat down with the slowly growing group and ordered some ale. The rest of the group shown up a short time he did. Two women and an Oxmen. He raised an eyebrow at the odd assortment of the group, three dalish Elves, a human woman, and an Oxmen and himself a dwarf. They will stick out like a sore thumb. It was obvious that the Elvish woman was a mage even without the detail in the letter telling him so, the Oxmen seemed shorter then the ones Vavin dealt with before.

The leader of this group was a bard, oddly enough for the Dalish,Altha. He should take notes of the group. The Oxmen, Katari, if the letter is correct, he is a mage, seems pretty obvious why he doesn't want to be called a Qunari. "Huh, so your a Tal-Vashoth then Katari." He said, even though it was worded as a question, Vavin was just getting a confirmation out of Katari.

Vavin sighed, might as will introduced himself to the group, since Katari made it a little awkward.
"I introduced myself, no point in keeping secrets, we don't need any drama if my background bothers anybody more so if I hide the fact." He said in a nonchalant manner. "I'm Vavin Wedic, I'm the spy master and also the brains and for my sister gang, she's a good leader but shit at keeping track of money and traitors, I deal with that and she stays being the boss, less work for me." He said bluntly. "Also I'm good at making traps, if you need somebody to die a painful and messy way I'm your man." He inserted a joke but it would be nigh impossible to tell it was a joke for most.

Elora

Elora nodded in response to Altha's greeting and took a seat. The bottle of wine she had ordered was delivered to the table and she poured herself a glass, making no offer to share. After all, she did not yet know these people. Leliana chose those she knew were capable, yes, but it did not mean she could trust them. Yet. So for now, she settled back and drank deeply from the glass in her hand, watching the others of the small group with mild interest. It did not take long for the last of the agents to arrive. Both were mages, which surprised her. From what she knew of the Qunari, they kept their mages under strict control. That this one had escaped was...unusual.

"A Tal-Vashoth and a mage. Or, what is it you call them? Saarebas? I must admit, I am impressed that you managed to leave your homeland in one piece. I imagine it was no easy feat." It did occur to Elora that Katari could be a spy but...would the Qunari people really risk allowing him out alone? Both scenarios seemed equally unlikely. She would have to be wary. She trusted Leliana's decisions but one could not be too careful. She had learned that lesson well.

The dwarf, Vavin, spoke and Elora smirked a little at his comment. "And," she added to his sentence. "Should you need someone dealt with silently and quickly, I am your woman. As I mentioned, my name is Elora. I have spent some time as an assassin and I have skills involving poison and other such toxins. I can also be very convincing when I need to be." She tilted her head to the side a little but did not elaborate. There was more than one way to convince someone to relinquish information and she had successfully used both methods to get what she wanted in the past.

Around this man sat a strange assortment: a human woman, another Dalish, a dwarf, and a Qunari. Could these really be them? Leliana certainly had put a strange group together if this was the case.

"I'm Alatha, Leliana sent word of you, Andaran atish’an sister, glad to have you along.”

And with that all doubt ceased; these were the people she was looking for.

“Andaran atish’an,” she replied with a nod.

He continued to greet the Qunari and begged them to either sit or sleep. She cringed at the thought of the latter. Any bed in this place was nothing she wanted a part of. She opted for the table, besides, it would be rude to leave so quickly. She quietly sat down at the round table, just across the the one who she now knew to be Altha and listened as everyone one-by-one spoke.

It would be the Qunari who would speak first just as drinks would hit the table. Affront her a flagon of some form of beer. The smell was so strong she swore she could taste it just by it sitting there. Damn, she hated beer. Still, she did not want to appear rude, maybe if it was a human, or one of those brutish oxmen, but she was not about be rude to a brother.

She listened as the Qunari introduced himself and looked him over as she picked up the beer. While she had to admit she hadn't run across that many, she had yet to see a male so small. She shrugged it off as she raised the mug to her lips.

"And I am no Qunari."

The beer touched her lips and her tastebuds went alight and bitterness filled her mouth. She paused and forced the liquid down her throat, her face reddening with the displeasure she had just endured. She hoped the oxman Katari did not notice. They weren't known for their kindness or patience. She placed the mug back onto the table where this time it would stay undisturbed. She finished her social obligation, and wasn't intending to drink anymore anytime soon. The dwarf would speak up next.

Vavin was his name and traps seemed to be his game, maybe with a side of dark humor. The human would speak next, but only after pouring herself some wine. Her game was silent murder.

A Tal-Vashoth, a trap-making dwarf, a Dalish bard, and an assassin human... Leliana sure knew how to pick'em. What in the world was she doing here? Of course it could be merely egos talking but she seemed to be surrounded by very combat capable folks, but none in the traditional sense. Her use would be tested, no doubt. She was not the most sneaky, or the most deadly, but she did have one advantage to bring to the table. She held no outward appearance of a threat. She carried only a staff and no armor or blades of any kind. She was thin and as most elves appear to be, almost frail and young. No one would suspect the kindly little doctor elf.

It seemed to be her turn and politely spoke, “Ellavorn, but most I get called Ella. I work mostly with information, otherwise I tend to the wounded wherever I am needed. A pleasure,” she sealed with a small smile.

Angelo laughed when the qunari said he wasn't a qunari, Angelo just thought it was funny before he finally stopped when he heard ella say what she would be doing, now that Angelo looked it seemed that they had no warrior with them so that meant Angelo was their forward vanguard which is just the way he likes it! Angelo then grinned and spoke up " I am Angelo I left my clan and fought lelliana soon after and I like to think I almost beat her. By the way" Angelo paused to bang on his chainmail "just because im a rough doesn't mean I cant take punches my specialty is turning the fight to our advantage just give me the signal and ill start some fireworks you never thought you would see, and all from smashing a bottle. If you know what I mean you know why im a little off, but that's to be expected from my line of work just let me in the fight and ill make sure none of them gets out alive" Angelo said grinning a little devilish as he sat down and ordered some wine to drink rather then ale, since Angelo wasn't in his clan he wasn't going to settle for simple ale or mead

Katari moved his attention lower from the Elf to the seated Dwarf who nursing an ale. The Qunari listened as the small man gave his name and a brief explanation what his skills were, Vavin a spymaster who apparently had a calling for trap making. Katari saw the need for people with these kind of talents, though it did make him slightly less trustful of the Dwarf. "Yes." Katari said indifferently to Vavin, not showing the usual pride or shame that most of his kind did when admitting their states as Tal-Vashoth. As others began to sit and drink Katari remained standing at the end of the table, not making an attempt to pick up the drink that was ordered for him or order another. He listened carefully, his eyes slowly scanning them, as each of the other members of the group gave their names and some insight onto what their abilities were. All of them seemed to have a purpose to play in the group, someone to rig that battlefield to their advantage, another to work as a vanguard, two rouges to wear down enemies, and a Elf to heal the wounded to get them back in the fire. Nicely balanced for a small group, though if their personalities would allow the to work together had yet to be seen.

Katari looked over to the human woman who had seemed to be praising him, something he did have no experience with. "Yes, I once was Saarebas." He said flatly, though the name seemed to sit sourly in his mouth. "But I escaped from no Homeland of mine nor the Qunari." He said after, seeming to consider the words as he spoke them. "...Much needless blood was spilt in this one's escape. Many young lives returned to dust much to early." He said, his expression hardening even further.

Altha sighed he looked at the owner, giving her a nod he threw her a rather large and sizable pouch of what looked to be around 80 sovereigns. Immediately the room was emptied, drunks thrown out customers told to come back later grumbling. Altha cleared his throat gone was the humor and good nature as he produced a map of Ferelden laying it out on the table. "Alright boys and girls here's the details I collected, encase any of you were wondering, I've been on this job since the Inquisition was first built in Haven. So I have found that the Templars who did not agree with abandoning the Chantry about a hundred or so, there in the frost back mountains training new Templars in a old Tevinter fortress. Before you ask I tried the diplomatic approach... They killed the two negotiators with me and captured me" He stopped thinking for a moment. "However the guard was very polite Templar women who seemed to have a interest in me. So I got her to unlock the cell by faking that I had been stabbed by the Knight-commander there during one of the interrogations and stole the key off her leaving that place."

"Now as to for the mission I'm working on a way to get us and distract the Templar's long enough for the terrible idea I have. See I have something worse than any poison and fouler than anything else every distilled, the plan is to dump this in the water supply and food stores then wait them out. Eventually they have to come out and talk with us or die slow and painful death which are not are faults Leliana can't yell at us." His cheerful demeanor returned as he smiled. "So speak up with questions and comments I know you have them."

Angelo grinned widely "oooo! I like this plan!" Angelo said living the idea of using poison and forcing them out and all that was needed was the distraction "oh please let me provide a distraction! I'd love to cause some havoc I'm betting on taking down at least 20 Templars on my own before I'll need help" Angelo said grinning scratching his chin already itching for a fight with a bunch of those Templars, Angelo need only to use his bottles and smash then for the chaos the others would need to do their boring job

"We want them to be alive Angelo, however I do plan to put you to use distracting them. As for the rest of you here's your assignments Katari, Vavin, and Angelo will be distracting the Templar's at the gate, Vavin you will set traps near the gate, non-lethal only just encase they try to escape. Angelo will be in-charge of annoying and pissing them off and Katari will use magic to suppress any archers as for team two. That will be me, Ella, and Elora. Ella is coming along to help me, now Elora you will be poisoning the water with this." He produces a small glass vial laying it on the table in-front of Elora.

"It's pure extract of the worst smell I ever encountered, Oghren a Grey Warden dwarf. Seriously if you value your life don't smell it... However it is amazing for pranks, I once swapped Leliana's favorite perfume for it. Now me and Ella will be poisoning the food supply and then going to done to the prison, Elora you will escape the same way we will enter through a tunnel network, after Ella and I are out we collapse the tunnel. He grinned looking at Vavin "That's the reason why I asked for you master dwarf, I've got lyrium and anything else might need to make some things that go boom. If you can bring down that tunnel the only way out for the Templar's will be the main gate which we will have locked down."He sighed leaning back. "However we will be spending the night here in the Pearl, fear not I arrange for clean beds and told them no company, unless any of you purchase some, I don't recommend it however, friend of mine once woke up to a dwarf in drag."

Elora

Elora set down her glass and leaned forward as the map was laid out on the table in front of them. She listened intently to Altha and the plan he had devised. While she would have enjoyed playing the distraction, she certainly couldn't keep the attention of so many. Besides, she liked the fact that she would be doing her part alone. It was what she was used to. Working in a group was new to her and she wasn't entirely certain how well she would fare.

Lifting the vial, Elora twirled it slowly between her fingers and studied the murky coloured liquid within. When the elf revealed just what the concoction was made of, she made a sound of distaste in the back of her throat and pulled a face. "This is a dwarf's bodily fluids?" she questioned in horrified disbelief. She was reluctant to have it on her person at all. The idea that the vial might somehow leak was more concerning than that of the rashvine nettle extract she occasionally carried.

"How exactly am I to poison the water without smelling it?" Elora asked, her eyes hard as they flickered up to meet Altha's. "If it's as potent as you say, the moment I uncork it, i'll be subjected to it's stench." She was no longer looking forward to this job as much as she had been. Sighing deeply, she moved the vial carefully to one of the pouches on her belt.

"I have a room already organized in the Gnawed Noble Tavern and my things are there. If you would really prefer we all stay here, I could go fetch my things," she offered, her attention returning to the map. It was surprising to her that the Templars were so unwilling to cooperate considering the Inquisition was reaching out to help, rather than hinder them. Perhaps they were concerned that the offer was not a genuine one. The Inquisition was working with the mages, after all. The very mages that had started the rebellion. She supposed she could understand their concern.

"You say the Templars imprisoned and interrogated you, Altha. They did not see reason even when you explained that we wish to have them join the Inquisition? It puzzles me that they would refuse considering their position at present. Unless there is something more sinister going on. Leliana is certain they are free from the corruption of this red lyrium?" she asked, tilting her head as she considered what they might have to face once they arrived. There was over a hundred of these Templars, according to Altha. They were more than a little outnumbered.

Altha sighed looking over the group. "They think in Inquisition is going to jail them or worse kill them all leaving little in the way the of mages to rise to power. Also they are sacred I mean have seen the red Templars? If they escaped that. Then no doubt sacred of lyrium too so withdraw could have them on edge. You'll to worry about how to get it in the water yourself Elora, your clever just be careful that stuff can knock anyone whose not a dwarf right out." He sighed taking a seat back at the table. "I would prefer you all stay here, where there is no chance of spies or unwanted ears, gnawed noble has many spies in it also assassin's den well Crows nest to be blunt."

Katari's annoyed expression softened to his usual blank one when Altha proceeded to have the Pearl cleared out and started to go over their mission as well as the plan of attack. He listened to Altha with unwavering interest, taking note of each of the roles everyone will be playing. "These bas I must battle need to be left alive?" He asked as more of a confirmation. Katari rarely went into battles expecting that his opponents would come out alive, it was one of the few teachings of his years as a Saarebas that stuck with him. He then looked over to the Dwarf and Elf he would be working with, they both seemed like they could hold their own in the thick of it which gave Katari a bit more reassurance in this plan.