[IC] Pawns of the Inquisition

[Pundii]

Watching the two members of the Inquisition jump as if they'd just entered the fade without realizing, Nolan suppressed his amusement - figuring this was not the best time to laugh at two mysterious individuals he'd just met. Shifting his gaze over to Clara as his companions scrutinized her, Nolan took a few moments to process the dwarf's comment in regards to his staff, looking to the implement which he still held in his right hand - now that they were off the trail, it seemed far less practical to be holding it as he hung his staff over his back instead, keeping his left hand held open, further away from himself now and more toward his companion as he'd warmed himself at least well enough.

As the two commented on his crest, Nolan looked down toward it in a manner akin to if he'd just been informed he'd forgotten his trousers. Studying it for half a moment, he looked back up to the others in time for the woman's comment, shrugging. "Will of the Maker, perhaps?" Considering the fact that neither Clara, the woman or the dwarf had made any effort to murder one another yet, Nolan figured that perhaps the situation was safe and took a step or two forward to stand alongside her, as opposed to the defensive position he'd held behind her. As the woman began to explain herself and the dwarf, he'd raise an eyebrow. "Inquisition, hm?" He went for a moment to make some snide comment about how it was odd that the Inquisitor's will was to kill Templars, but then he remembered the actual purpose he and his companion were there, and he shut himself up.

Deciding to take it upon himself to provide the explanation for their being there, he glance over to Clara, figuring she'd fill in any gaps he left out. He was about to begin when the suggestion was given by the Orlesian, Nolan giving another sidelong glance toward Clara, not even bothering to suppress his amusement at the notion as he let out a hearty laugh. "Mage and Templar? That sounds like something out of Hard in Hightown." Continuing to utter a few brief chuckles at the notion, Nolan would eventually gather himself, and continue with their explanation. "Well, myself - Nolan, by the way - and my companion here, Knight-Lieutenant Clara, are, or rather - were - here for some..." He paused, thinking of the best way to describe it. "Aggressive negotiations."

Glancing toward the cave-in once more, Nolan cleared his throat. "However - it would appear as though you have done our job for us and uh... 'Convinced' the Templars here to stop living, so uh... Well done on that, we'll still take the reward for it if you don't mind." While he hadn't exactly explained the specifics of their overall goal, he felt he'd explained enough for the time being, after all, he hadn't exactly lied at all...

[Tuxedo Fox]

@Pundii@The Kraken@vFear
"However - it would appear as though you have done our job for us and uh... 'Convinced' the Templars here to stop living, so uh... Well done on that, we'll still take the reward for it if you don't mind."

Flint let out a deep bellowing laugh, the body shaking display of humor literally causing various beads interwoven into his beard to jangle noisily against his metal breastplate. He immediately liked the mage, or at the very least was doing a somewhat convincing display of acting like he did. "I like the way this one talks." Flint spat in a hushed tone while giving a sideways glance and toothy grin towards Erika. The brief look only lasted a second but in that amount of time Flint was able to get across to Erika that he indeed saw no threat from this random pair-likewise he quickly studied her expression well aware that she had reached a somewhat similar conclusion. It was the unspoken bond rarely seen in partners that had worked far to many high risk jobs together in the past.

After laughing over the implausibility of the two newcomers being a pair the man who Flint would come to know as Nolan went on to more properly introduce himself. "Well, myself - Nolan, by the way - and my companion here, Knight-Lieutenant Clara, are, or rather - were - here for some..." He paused, thinking of the best way to describe it. "Aggressive negotiations."

Glancing toward the cave-in once more, Nolan cleared his throat. "However - it would appear as though you have done our job for us and uh... 'Convinced' the Templars here to stop living, so uh... Well done on that, we'll still take the reward for it if you don't mind."

After listening to Nolan Flint let out another toothy fit of laughter as he was prone to do when his mind began to formulate mischievous ideas.

Reward.

Reward.

Reward.

The words echoed within his head as he quickly spoke up in response. "Reward, eh? Everyone knows a dwarf can appreciate a man wanting his well deserved reward. Am I right, Erika?" he asked rhetorically while getting a nod in confirmation from his companion. "What if I could offer you both an even bigger reward though?" He slung his shield over the makeshift prongs on the back of his armor, the small protuding pieces of metal allowing him to neatly keep his shield clung to his back. Likewise he dropped his mace between a similar looking contraption on his belt, the inverted slots of metal allowing his mace to fall into a wedge of sorts that kept the deadly weapon secured tightly against his hip.

Making his way over to Nolan far faster then his little legs should have been able to carry his metal encased body Flint slung his arm over the man as if the two were old friends, the odd sight looking even more comical due to Flints small stature. "So Nolan, names Flint by the way-big fan of the wardens-Who isn't though, amiright? Anyways, what if I could offer you all an even bigger reward? Me and my friend here well, we are both quite the, uhm, how did you put it?" He paused momentarily locking eyes with Nolan while sporting his infectious toothy grin. "Aggressive negotiators. And it just so happens we have quite a bit of...uhm, negotiating to do with some undesireable types that have recently opened up a mine here." Using his large stocky frame Flint spun Nolan slightly so the odd pair was now facing Clara, Flints beady hazel eyes locking place with Clara's metallic visor in a way that garnered her full attention. "A lyrium mine. And we could always use another hand or two when it comes to negotiations-after all as I'm sure you know meetings of that sort usually get pretty heated. Perhaps we could arrange something that benefits all four of us? After all we do work for the Divine herself." Again Flints eyes particularly lit up when mentioning the Divine to Clara, as if trying to make her feel like it was her duty to help out.

In all honesty Flint just wanted to lessen the chances he would be the one to take a fireball to the face today.

[vFear]

As the exchange led by the much more diplomatic Warden Nolan and the two odd companions went on in the tunnels, Clara grew visibly more easy: her stance grew straighter rather than braced and her shield arm would come to dip, both fatigued by holding up for so long and interpreting a reduced risk of attack. As far as she interpreted Nolan was handling the exchange well, so she kept quiet and played her part as the Templar of the party; she wasn't so zealous to be blind to the fact that her faith could bring a worse outcome.

It was at approximately this point that Clara tightened her grip on the hilt of her longsword:
"Reward, eh? Everyone knows a dwarf can appreciate a man wanting his well deserved reward. Am I right, Erika? What if I could offer you both an even bigger reward though?" began the dwarf, bringing Clara's mind straight to concluding the dwarf was suggesting paying off her and her companion. Who do they take us for? Paying off a Grey Warden and a Templar!? her thoughts rung within her head - although thankfully not for long enough before the dwarf kept talking. "...it just so happens we have quite a bit of...uhm, negotiating to do with some undesireable types that have recently opened up a mine here." Clara eased somewhat at this, starting to put together what the dwarf is truly suggesting - or at least by her interpretation. As the dwarf looked to her, she looked down upon him - indeed, her full attention gathered. "A lyrium mine." She didn't catch the rest of the dwarf's sentence - at the mention of lyrium, having gone some time without a dose, her senses distorted and the skin under her eyelid began to twitch. She craved a dose of lyrium, her nose began to twitch in anticipation; her lyrium sand was in her kit, after all, which w-

Clara suddenly brought her shield down, bringing it harshly into her left thigh. The sudden pain brought her back to her senses, in time to catch the rest of the sentence.
"...benefits all four of us? After all we do work for the Divine herself." the dwarf suggests, to which Clara nods in response as she lifts her longsword to slide it back into her scabbard now she's content the situation is safe.
"I imagine we could, Dwarf Flint - what exactly is your title within the Inquisition, by the way?" She pauses before speaking further, "The Templar Order can use any source of lyrium for its knights in the war - although, when you say 'undesirable types', exactly who do you reference? Between the four of us I imagine what we are able to fight is quite broad, although I don't intend to fight Chevaliers or Dead Legionaries."

[The Kraken]

The shift in tone that the conversation had taken- from nervously sarcastic to genuinely friendly- made Erika settle in her soggy boots even further. It appeared all was well between the four, even so far that Erika and Flint even took care of the two newcomer's job for them. At the mention of a reward Erika could practically hear the gears begin to turn in Flint's head as he began to talk. Erika had given a glance down at Flint, but found that he had already closed the distance between himself and Nolan, throwing his arm around the much taller Warden.

She nodded rather convincingly when asked about their own negotiating power with rewards and such, but left the rest of the talking to Flint, who was already on a roll with trying to convince these two here to help them out in taking down the mine. Well, its the least they could do after all the help Erika and Flint were with the Templars, right? Erika admired her partner's quick thinking, provided it would work. The Inquisition often contracted out mercenaries anyways, and they had yet to meet up with their other partner. They would probably need the extra hands after all the attention they had brought to themselves thus far. It might make for a nice story later after a few pints, but Erika had definitely seen cleaner missions.

When the Knight-Lieutenant finally spoke up, Erika found a spot to cut in at. "We are both Agents to Spy Master Leliana, and Ambassadors to the Inquisition." That sounded good, right? It wasn't a lie, either. Just... not exactly an awarded title. The Inquisition being a fledgling operation, such titles were reserved for only those of importance, such as Leliana. Both Erika and Flint were more than capable of representing the order, and felt comfortable doing so.

"As far as our enemy goes, I'm afraid it is the Venatori whom we must face. They've been mining red lyrium here on the Coast and the Divine wants it shut down before they have a chance to do anything with it. Not only that, but the locals have been reporting some strange happenings in the area as well. The plan was to get in and out quickly and discreetly, but thanks to our rogue Templar pals back there, I doubt that plan will serve us much purpose anymore. If we have to, we'll use the rest of Flint's handy dandy Gaatlok and blow the place in on itself and bury the bastards with it." She gave a shrug. "That should be our last resort, however. Don't worry, though. If you choose to help us, you'll be adequately compensated, as my friend here has promised."

[Tuxedo Fox]

@The Kraken@vFear@Pundii

Flint laughed inwardly at hearing his newly bestowed title; leave it to Erika to come up with something as flowery and official sounding on the spot. He let his companion carry on, well aware of how efficient her silver tongue could be. Quickly he mimed a look of hurt at Erika's words about blowing the place up being a last resort, his armored hand clamoring to his chest as his face took on a shocked expression. Nonetheless he let her continue on, concluding in the promise that Flint's words had been true.

He was about to open his mouth to agree when he just happened to make out the sight of a faint glowing red light approaching the newly met group from down the darkened tunnel. Breaking off from the group Flint took a few steps towards the odd sight, his eyes trying to make out the culprit behind the now brightening reddish hue filling the tunnels. He tried to make out footsteps but all his ears could picks up was a mass shuffling of movement echoing off the walls, as if the maker of the noise moved in a mindless pattern.

No doubt that his companions had made note of this odd approaching spectacle Flint rhetorically barked out "I don't suppose these are any friends of yours?" while readying his mace and shield he planted himself firmly a few good feat in front of Erika. Wasting no time he turned his body sideways while keeping his shield held at the ready-effectively hiding as much of his frame behind the shield as he could. He held his mace loosely in his right hand, letting the heavy steel dangle in a way that allowed him to swing it overhead to crush whatever imaginary enemy that would wind up crashing against his shield. It was a stance that often favored multiple shields-no doubt he was hoping for Clara to take up a similar position beside him.

Quickly Flints assumption to take a defensive position proved rather wise; the morbid sight of men and women dressed in mere scraps shambling their way towards the group appearing from the darkness moments later. Even more horrifying then the half dead, starved, and clearly crazed approaching mob that clutched shovels and pick axs was the fact that their very veins seemed to glow a translucent red from under their skin-a few of the lot even sporting large and bulky growths of what looked like amber red stone.

Whatever these people had been before they were no longer sound of mind-a fact rather obvious the closer they came. Although clearly thoughtless they did appear to have one thing on their mind; and that was killing everyone in the tunnel.

"Nows a good time to use that walking staff!"

[Tuxedo Fox]

@Saarebas
Despite overwhelming numbers Vat-Kataris band of men followed their horned leaders show of bravery; quickly cutting their way through the sea of undead they reached the large manmade gate effectively cutting off any possibility of being flanked. Upon reaching the thick barricade doors they were met with the sight of two well dressed mages-the two of which looked shortly out of breathe as if they had just ran here. It was clear by the looks on their faces that they were far more surprised to see Vat-Katari and his men then vice versa.

The slightly older of the two didn't hesitate, raising his staff upwards into the air he summoned forth a wall of ice; the huge glacial display violently bursting out of the ground caught a fair number of Vat-Kataris men off guard-instantly trapping all those that had been hugging extremely close to the barricade wall in a permanent state of icy death.

"Collin, retreat and warn master Claren that there are indeed intruders at the front." The older mage who'd just summoned the ice wall barked at his younger counterpart-his eyes solely focused on the gate doors.

"But the master said not to-" Collin began speaking hesitantly, only to be cut off by the older man.

"Damnit Collin," He summoned a ball of fire in his free hand. "If you don't leave now ill kill you myself. I can handle things here-I have been looking for an oppurtunity to prove myself."

[Saarebas]

The sound of metal crushing hollow bones echoed through out the cave as Vat-Katari and his men raged against the undead mass that encircled them. They may have been stricken with fear a mere few moments ago but the bandits fought with the ferocity of starved mabari, cutting their way through the shambling corpses as they made their way to the barricade. Vat-Katari himself seemed to be having a grand old time as he lobed volley after volley of explosive balls of fire into the horde, igniting whole scores of undead like fire wood. He let out quite the blood thirsty laugh as he grabbed one of the undead, it attempted to stabbed him with its rusted and broken sword, by the throat and hoisted it into the air. The corpse was that of what use to be some young fair haired farm wife, seeing as she was currently festering with maggots and had a quiver's worth of arrows lodged into her chest she had most likely seen better days.

A wicked grin grew on the Kossith's face as he eyed the decomposing foe he held. His hand then erupted in flame, the undead young woman along with it. It wasn't a moment later that Vat-Katari hurled the now vaguely human shaped inferno back into the horde, engulfing a whole line of the undead in flames. "HA HA HA! IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?!" He exclaimed victoriously before he began yet again to throw balls of fire into the crowd. He and his men had made a good dent in the horde and managed to force their way all the way to the barricade with out experiencing any losses, Vat-Katari was beginning to think that this was going to turn out to be quite the easy raid.

As tradition his hopes for simplicity were dashed just as they had formed, this time in the form of a few of his men finding themselves quite dead do to being frozen solid. As Vat-Katari turned to inspect what just happened he was able to catch the brief argument between what could only be two Tevinter mages, one of which was already fleeing back down the cave while the other one looked quite ready for battle. "Oh you have just made a huge mistake..." Vat-Katari said before he stomped his massive metal boot covered foot, after which the ground in front of him began to violently shake and crack to the point that the ice wall along with his frozen former comrades shattered. He gave a crooked smile to the now exposed mage before he spoke. "It has been quite some time since I got to kill a Vint. Guess I am going to have to change that aren't I?" With that said Vat-Katari then launched himself forward with enough speed and force that if he hit the mage would be little more than a pile of broken bones and ripped flesh.

[vFear]

"Agents, then - very well." Clara acknowledges with a nod of understanding. She fell silent to continue listening to the rogue - learning of matters such as the red lyrium mines and the Venatori. "Venatori, as in the Tevinter Cultists? They act against Ferelden?" Clara went on to query before taking a moment to pause then speaking further, "The presence of red lyrium is also a concern - it may be best to destroy the tunnel network. Red lyrium is the likes of evil and abomination and would be best purged from the Maker's worl-." She would go on, with the imagination suggesting that she might even lead into the Chant of Light, before faint red light came from the tunnel ahead.

Clara's eyes, through the visor of her helm, snapped over towards the source of the red light before shifting over towards the moving dwarf. She cautiously moved up to his side - specifically, his left side - to create something of the front line of a formation for the rogue and mage behind to safely do what they do best. As the dwarf beside her brought his shield to bear, she brought her own up to her front in such a way to compliment a wall, much like the dwarf; albiet, to not quite the best effected due to the natural height difference, but still to some effect never-the-less.

Clara's eyes briefly widen then squint in concentration as the figures step into the light: shambling, red-veined creatures, something that vaguely compliments what once was of the maker's creation - or rather, abominations. If she wasn't bound by duty from the mention of red lyrium, she certainly was now: she drew her longsword from her scabbard with a telltale rasp before bringing it to her side, the flat of the blade parallel to the ground and held high alongside the shield - in such a way to allow both defensive thrusts and offensive strikes from the shoulder with the benefit of sound defense.

As the dwarf called out to the Warden Mage, Clara spoke to herself, her voice subtly echoing throughout the tunnel in a way to make it more than likely audible to the party.
"Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just." With her quiet prayer concluded in the face of abominations, she braced for the oncoming combat.

[Pundii]

Listening idly to the conversation, Nolan was rather amused by the persuasive tone which the dwarf took on, taking note of the explanation they were given. It seemed fairly simple, a Lyrium mine which needed clearing, then of course there was the mention of the Venatori. Nolan already disliked people from the Imperium, so the cultists who had started acting up in the area were not a group held any sympathy for - but he was smart enough to know they weren't a group to be trifled with. Similarly, Nolan was more than aware that Red Lyrium was not something to be trifled with, having been from Kirkwall, he was aware of the corruption it could spread, and he'd encountered it more than a few times since he'd begun his peacekeeping.

Listening to the group discussion, Nolan's eyes drifted down the cave as the sound of shuffling grew along with the red light, more than aware of what was coming. Before Flint even called out toward him, Nolan shifted his free hand up to the fire in his hand, swirling his hand about it as the ball grew in ferocity and size, waiting for the two warriors among them to ready themselves for the oncoming battle as the mob would reveal themselves. Not bothering to wait for Clara to finish her prayer, Nolan thrust his hand outward, the fireball flying over the dwarf as it would slam into one of the corrupted miners from the front, exploding in a large ball of flame, engulfing another one of the mob in flame as they fell to the ground, providing the cave with some light as the shamblers slowly died, their screams filling the cavern as Nolan took hold of his staff with a flourish.

"Apologies in advance for the smell." Nolan quipped in a matter-of-fact manner, shifting his staff in his hands as he made another flourish, swinging it so the tip pointed outward, a much smaller ball of flame flying outward as it collided with another member of the mob, not quite having the same effect as the larger fireball, but setting the man's clothes alight as he continued his crazed, shambling march toward the group. Twirling his staff in his hands, he let it shift to his side once more as he lowered his free hand to his side, beginning to prepare another, larger spell - allowing his companions to join the fight themselves for the time being.

Nolan had been hoping for a far more simple job, especially seeing the Templars he and Clara had been sent to deal with were already dead, but this day was shaping up to only become more and more complicated - all Nolan could do at this point was hope that it did not get any worse. But then again, the chances of that now were slim to none.

[The Kraken]

Just as quickly as the conversation had come about, it switched pace just as swiftly as an eerie red glow cast a soft light down the cave from one end. It was impressive, really, how naturally the four were able to fall into a battle formation. The two mercenaries at the front provided a shield barricade for Erika and her mage counterpart to launch attacks from the safety of behind. For the Warden, she was suddenly thankful. For, without his brightly casted spells, she would not have the light she needed to shoot down the walking corpses with the pinpoint accuracy of the bow she drew from her back.

"What in the name of Andraste?" Erika said at the observation of the lyrium that seemed to be binded so much to the things that their skin crawled. She knew the stuff was a nasty and unstable substance, but this was unlike what she had come across before. Still, she continued to draw arrows from her quiver and unleash a massive assault on their assailants while her trusted partner and the Templar bashed them with shield and mace on the frontline.

With their combined forces and the powerful fire attack from the Warden, the quartet seemed to make quick work of their opposition. However, wherever they came from, there would be many more. Erika stepped forward and pulled an arrow from the neck of one of the corpses, placing it back in her quiver.

"We don't seem to be making many friends in these parts, save you two. I think it's time we finally get a jump on someone instead of letting everyone else sneak up on us. Shall we then?"

[Tuxedo Fox]

@The Kraken@Pundii@vFear
"Agreed. If you'd all just follow my sodding-" He wrenched his mace out of what was left of some poor bastards skull, a grunt of effort escaping his lips as the mace successfully freed itself with a plolp. "-Lead no one would even know we are here. Noisy humans, must be the long legs."

The fact that these miners (If that is what they were, Flint wasn't positive.) literally had rocks of lyrium growing from their malnourished and overworked bodies was rather troubling. Flint prodded the body of one such corpse, his mace echoing the dull crunch of stone as he put some weight on the red afflicted area. As if proving this was in fact the red tainted bastard cousin of lyrium so many dwarfs made a living mining and refining. He shot a worried glance to his partner Erika-the Inquisition would undoubtedly want to hear about this.

Leading the group Flint marched on in a way that could best be described in a vast number of words; none of which were silent.

"-And so then he says to her he says; I thought you wanted Mushed Shrooms, not Mushrooms." He let out a bellowing fit of laughter. "Get it? You get it, right? Oh-Whats this." No sooner had he finished yet another joke that clearly no one understood but him had the handful of party members rounded a corner in the cavern system, immediately arriving in front of a large bulky looking barricade like structure-the solid looking wooden gate being the only way through.

"Oh if only we could use magic..." Flint barked in a rather convincing defeated tone of voice.

[vFear]

@Tuxedo Fox@The Kraken@Pundii

As the battle came to a close and the numbers of the abominations thinned, Clara stepped forward from her steadfast position and began to advance. Admittedly, shambling miners didn't scratch up to desperate apostates and disciplined maleficar, but she made sure to be cautious none-the-less - it'd be far too embarrassing to have to ask for healing for her pickaxe wound. The advance itself was fairly simple but no-nonsense - shield high and angled to redirect oncoming attacks rather than brunt them with quick, efficient strikes with sword, having no need to employ advanced techniques when they can barely shamble a parry - with mining equipment, no less.

At the conclusion of the battle, Clara made a note of pacing around the dead to ensure each one was dead through one means or another. She was unfamiliar with this breed of abomination and elected to take no risks, lest they rise to take the party on from the rear. Once she was content, ignoring the conversation going on meanwhile, she knelt down beside one of the corpses and after resting her sword beside her, examined the corpse with the aid of her now free hand. It wasn't difficult to figure out the gist of what was happening: an earthy red with something of the like of rocks mixed with the complexion, on miners, plus the presence of red lyrium.
"The lyrium did this." she concluded, albeit quietly and to herself on the grounds that the rest of the party had probably figured that out as well. Whilst she hadn't determined the nature of the beast she at least had somewhere to start and for her that was good enough. She took her sword back in hand and stood, where she then moved to follow behind the armored dwarf who led the party further into the tunnels.

Throughout the journey inwards and the dwarves loud storytelling, Clara remained silent. It was less a matter of she was thinking or mulling something over but more that she couldn't think of anything to input - besides, Flint seemed to happy talking.. largely to himself?
"Oh if only we could use magic..." came Flint, to which Clara snapped her gaze at the sturdy wooden door. She got the impression there was a magic barrier and that she had best purge the spell but when she caught on, she returned to her passiveness.