[center] [h1][b][color=Gainsboro]The Path to Deeproads[/color][/b][/h1] [hr] [color=DimGray]Weisshaupt Fortress, Noon[/color][/center] The meeting hall was a sectioned off from the great library of the citadel near the first warden’s office, and below the roosts this portion was used to review tactics, hold private meetings, and host the entire seniority of the grey wardens at their height. The walls were lined with relics, weapons, and darkspawn trophies. A painting of each Archdemon at the height of their strength hung in these halls, as a grim reminder of what the threat they had to contain was... Yet now, an image based on the description of Corypheus and of the Architect, though the second was only known within the wardens. The stone floors had been shined, yet blood stains from ancient days could still be seen among the cracked floors. Shelves divided up the different meeting tables as by the great double doors senior wardens were directing the arrivals to their tables. The other Pathfinder teams were three maybe five wardens meant to be fast and light. Yet the largest table was where each warden of the party would find themselves sent to. Face to face with the high constable, Revanelas, the warden who riled up and excited the others with talk of glory now wore a grimm expression. As soon he was joined by Ashlea, one of the archivists and another Elf who had been with him to give the speech, but taking the other seat was a Qunari mage? No, she was Vashoth found and raised within the order by members of it, after they discovered what the Qunari colony planned to do to the child should they return her. Her sheer sized dwarf the two elves, yet unlike the grim look the other two had, she seemed pleased to see so many here. Small platter of crackers and cheeses along with dried meats sat upon the table for those who had not yet eaten, even two pony kegs of ale from the dwarves had been placed upon the table to help lubricate the discussions to come. Once the last of them had taken a seat Revanelas stood and gave a bow. “You all have been chosen for the pathfinder teams. The other teams are around the room from us... Are smaller and more focused. Our mission is... Different from the others.” He spoke more openly now without the entire order eyes upon him, just the elite few who would carry out the task. A task that may very well change the fate of the dwarven people and the relevance of the grey wardens. “Felnammar, a fortress supposedly connected to Darmallon, the Great Golden Thaig. The smaller teams will be checking out the paths between Kal-Sharok and Felnammar and searching for signs of the Archdemon tomb... Our goal is to explore Felnammar, the dwarves of Kal-Sharok believes notes on the location of Darmallon can be found within the thaig. While the others hunt for the location of the Archdemon, we will fulfill the secondary mission. Uncover what Felnammar has to offer and when ready call in the dwarven reinforcement who will occupy and unseal its surface access. Meaning Kal-Sharok will now be able to trade with the surface, this will allow the body of the surface dwarves forces to join us in the deeproads.” He explained as chamberlain Adelina rolled out a map for them all to view this section of the deep roads. Showing what little was still mapped by the dwarves. “From here your mission will change... Namely if we can secure Darmallon... We will.” Adelina explained, the Vashoth leaning over the table tracing the region she suspected the great thaig might be in. “Darmallon contains more gold than any mine in Thedas today... And for centuries before it fell, it was storing and stashing it. Orzammar and Kal-Sharok’s shaperate as well as their Assemblies have made an arrangement... To let the Surface dwarves occupy and rebuild Darmallon if it can be located.” Chamberlain Adelina explained as she looked between the faces of the gathered wardens. “While the speech outside was to offer up why we are doing this. Our true goals are long term. The archivists across the order believe it is not a risk of seven blights we face but seven blights and seven sidereal magisters... Old histories within the archives say that some darkspawn who could talk and command the others walked the earth once during the first blight.” She paused, as if reluctant to say more before Ashlea jumped in standing up. “It is because of those stories we believe the total threat from darkspawn blight sized level cataclysmic events is fourteen, not seven. Meaning if you take the threat of the Architect and Corypheus as two of them... We have two more Archdemons and five sidereal magisters left to bring down.. And our Order is dying.” She said with finality as she let it sink in for a moment. “For all the reforms, the new blood, and the strength we have gained it is not enough to counter our decline. Griffons certainly boosted the order's prestige and mythos, if we gain control of the Anderfels it will alleviate our lack of funds and manpower shortages, for a time. But the greatest weakness is our shortened lives... Twenty to thirty years, in that time we must train our replacements and give them the same poison we ingested and hope they can build upon our work. Only now with a team of archivists, mages and researchers are we even starting to uncover the secrets of our forebears. Our fortresses crumble, our numbers dwindle as we are seen as less relevant with each Blight.” She looked at all of them, then shrank a bit realizing her emotions had been overwhelming her, she wanted to desperately tell them about potential cures for the Joining... But she couldn’t give hope without a guarantee, that was the greatest cruelty. Revanelas stood up as the other two sat down, both fixing their eyes upon him. “Killing the Archdemon before it rises is certainly a way to restore our reputation... But, I believe we can help secure our future if we aid the dwarves in rebuilding. We cannot wait for the attacks... We need to find ways to bury them and kill them where they live and breed... More importantly all Pathfinder teams will have mages who can heal blighted landscapes... We will be testing this as we move along, archivist Ashlea will accompany us.” He explained as he looked at all of them. “Whether we kill the Archdemon, discover Darmallon, every inch of ground we take back. Every breeding ground we put to the torch will save thousands... I know not all of you agree with the plan but we must act. Thedas must see us as heroes and warriors of legend again, not the dying gasps of an ancient order of vagabonds cluttering their highways.” He spoke, the world had only for a brief moment made warden’s heroes in the days of the fifth blight’s closing. Moving on quickly to killing each other once more over what they saw as more pressing matters. “Now. I am not some leader or tyrant who will demand you to do this... You may ask to be removed from the team and sent to the main force that will clear the roads to Kal-Sharok when the pathfinders discover the route or support other operations.” Revanelas slowly explained, as he sat down once more. “I will take any questions or discussion you wish to field now. Once we leave you are expected to follow orders, but this is the time to hear your concerns and thoughts. I promise you, the first warden will hear them too, this is no longer a place where you are expected to obey without question.” He spoke smiling as if to encourage. “I also encourage you to drink and introduce yourselves, while I have read and been told about you by your fellow wardens, few at these tables will know you all.”