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As they settled in for the night, Daniel stared into the flames, his mind racing. The Hinterlands had thrown another mystery at them—one that made the wolves became more aggresive and not fear humans anymore.
The next morning dawned cold and misty, the kind of damp chill that seeped into bones and made every movement feel sluggish. Daniel rubbed his hands together, his breath visible in the crisp air as he emerged from his tent. The camp was already stirring—soldiers breaking their fast, scouts preparing for patrols, the clang of a blacksmith's hammer ringing through the clearing.
He spotted one of Leliana's agents near the edge of camp, a lean, sharp-eyed elf named Theron who moved with the quiet precision of someone used to going unnoticed. Daniel beckoned him over, unrolling the map they'd marked the previous evening.
"Theron, I need you to send word back to Haven," Daniel said, pointing to the three circled locations. "Commander Cullen needs to dispatch forces to begin construction on these watchtowers as soon as possible. The first is near the broken bridge, the second overlooking Fort Connor, and the third by the farmstead we scouted yesterday."
Theron studied the map, committing the details to memory with the ease of a seasoned scout. "Understood, Herald. I'll have a raven sent within the hour. Should I include any additional details?"
Daniel hesitated, then nodded. "Mention the wolves. And the... state they were in. Cullen should know what we're dealing with out here."
Theron's expression darkened slightly, but he gave a firm nod. "Consider it done." With that, he slipped away, melting into the morning mist like a shadow.
Varric, who had been listening nearby while pretending to inspect Bianca, let out a low whistle. "You really think Cullen's going to send people out here with demon wolves running around?"
Daniel rolled up the map, tucking it back into his belt. "He'll have to. Those watchtowers are crucial. But we'll deal with the wolf problem today." He glanced toward the northern hills, where the cave—and whatever awaited them inside—loomed in his thoughts. "Once we find out what's causing this, we can put a stop to it."
Cassandra approached, her armor already strapped tight, her sword at her hip. "The sooner we move, the better. If whatever's in that cave is spreading, we can't afford to wait."
Solas appeared beside her, his staff in hand. "I've prepared what potions I could. We may need them."
Daniel exhaled, steeling himself. The mystery of the wolves, Hessle's letter, the cave—it all led to one place. And whatever they found there, it wouldn't be pleasant.
"Alright," he said, turning to the others. "Let's finish this."
Daniel turned to Lieutenant Arens, who stood nearby overseeing the morning drills. The grizzled veteran's face was set in its usual permanent scowl, but his eyes held a glimmer of respect when they met Daniel's.
"Lieutenant," Daniel called out, motioning him over. "I'll be taking thirty soldiers with us to investigate the cave. The rest will remain here under your command."
Arens gave a curt nod, his voice gruff. "Aye, Herald. I'll keep the camp secure. You expecting trouble up north?"
"Always," Daniel replied with a wry smile. Then, reaching into his pack, he produced a carefully wrapped bundle. "Before we go, I need you to send some men to the Crossroads to sell these." He unfolded the cloth, revealing an assortment of items that glittered in the morning light—three aquamarines, a silver bracelet, two figurines of Maferath the Betrayer, a Gurn Gallstone charm, and various other trinkets they'd collected during their travels.
Arens raised an eyebrow at the eclectic collection. "Bit of everything here, isn't there?"
Daniel chuckled. "We've been picking things up along the way. Should fetch a decent price. Make sure the gold makes it back to camp."
The lieutenant carefully rewrapped the items, tucking them into his belt pouch. "Consider it done. I'll send my most trustworthy men—no sense tempting fate with bandits about."
With that settled, Daniel turned to his companions. Cassandra was already mounted, her posture rigid with anticipation. Varric was grumbling as he adjusted Bianca's straps, while Solas stood quietly beside his mare, his expression unreadable.
"Move out!" Daniel called, swinging onto Max's back. The stallion snorted, eager to run. Behind them, thirty soldiers fell into formation, their armor clinking softly as they began the march north.
The dirt path wound through rolling hills, passing by Horsemaster Dennet's farmstead. The fields were alive with activity—farmers tending crops, children chasing chickens, the occasional bark of a herding dog. It was a scene of normalcy that felt almost surreal given the chaos that had gripped the Hinterlands.
As they crossed a shallow river, Daniel's senses prickled. His perception skills—honed through years of surviving on the road—flared to life, drawing his attention to something half-buried in the riverbank. A package, wrapped in oiled leather, had snagged on a protruding root. The current tugged at it lazily, as if trying to reclaim what it had lost.
"Hold up," Daniel called, dismounting. The water was icy as he waded in, his boots sinking slightly into the soft riverbed. He grabbed the package, hefting it with a grunt—it was heavier than it looked.
The moment his fingers brushed the sodden leather, his interface flickered to life:
[43 EXP Gained - Recovered Lost Package]
[Acquired: 215 Gold Coins]
[Acquired: Carta Coat (Rare)]
Daniel's eyebrows shot up as he examined the armor. The Carta Coat was a thing of fine craftsmanship, its dark leather reinforced with subtle metal plates. The lining was dyed a deep red, the stitching precise and sturdy. His interface provided the details:
[Carta Coat (Rare Rank Medium Armor)]
[91 Protection]
[+2 Cunning]
[+3% Melee Defense*]
[Restriction: Rogue Class, Dwarf Only]
Varric, who had wandered over, let out an appreciative whistle. "Now that's a nice find. Carta work, by the look of it. Probably belonged to some smuggler who took a swim and forgot to resurface."
Daniel tossed the coat to him. "It's yours. Fits the requirements."
Varric caught it with a grin, running his hands over the leather. "You sure? This is worth a small fortune."
"Consider it payment for putting up with all the horseback riding," Daniel said dryly.
Varric laughed, already shrugging off his old coat. "Now that's an offer I can't refuse."
The soldiers chuckled as Varric made a show of modeling the new armor, striking exaggerated poses that had even Cassandra rolling her eyes. The moment of levity was short-lived, however. As they remounted and continued north, the atmosphere grew heavier. The trees thickened, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight. The air smelled of damp earth and something else—something faintly metallic.
Daniel pulled the map from his belt, the parchment crinkling as he unfolded it. The morning mist had thickened, obscuring landmarks and making navigation tricky. As he traced their path with a finger, his stomach sank.
"We're going the wrong way," he announced, turning Max around with a gentle tug of the reins. The stallion snorted in protest but obeyed.
Varric groaned dramatically. "You're telling me we've been marching in circles this whole time?"
Cassandra shot him a glare before turning to Daniel. "Are you certain?"
Daniel pointed to a marked slope near their outpost camp on the map. "The right path is back that way, down the southern slope. This northern route leads to dead ends and rocky cliffs." He rubbed his temple, frustration bubbling up. "The terrain looked different in the mist. My mistake."
Solas, ever observant, nodded slowly. "The fog does play tricks on the eyes. It's an easy error to make."
Daniel appreciated the attempt to soften the blow, but time was wasting. He raised his voice to address the soldiers. "Double back! We're returning to camp and taking the southern path instead."
A few of the men grumbled under their breath, but they fell into formation without complaint. The march back was slower, the mood dampened by the detour. Varric, at least, seemed unbothered, too busy admiring his new Carta Coat to care about the extra walking.
As they neared the outpost camp again, the mist began to lift, revealing the correct path—a gentle slope winding down toward a denser part of the forest. Daniel exhaled in relief. There it is.
Cassandra moved her horse alongside Max. "We'll make up the lost time," she said quietly.
The descent down the southern slope proved far more manageable than their previous misguided route. The morning mist had fully dissipated now, revealing a shallow river glistening in the midday sun. As they approached the water's edge, Daniel's mark suddenly pulsed with a warning throb. His gaze snapped to the right bank where a rift hovered ominously, its sickly green light pulsing like a diseased heartbeat.
"That rift..." Daniel muttered, reining Max to a halt. The others followed his gaze.
Varric squinted at the swirling vortex. "Looks like the usual demon party to me."
Daniel shook his head, his stomach tightening. "No, this one's different. Stronger." The Anchor in his palm burned with unnatural heat, as if resonating with the rift's malignant energy. "We're not equipped to handle whatever's coming through that right now. We'll go left instead, follow the ravine north."
Cassandra's hand drifted to her sword hilt. "You're certain?"
"I can feel it," Daniel said grimly. "That rift isn't just open—it's waiting."
Solas studied the rift with narrowed eyes. "The Herald is correct. The energy signature is... unusual. Best avoided for now."
They turned left, their horses' hooves splashing through the shallow river as they followed the ravine's winding path. The soldiers remained alert, hands never far from their weapons. The ravine walls rose steeply on either side, their rocky faces dotted with stubborn shrubs clinging to life in the cracks.
They hadn't gone more than a hundred yards when the ambush came.
"Down!" Daniel shouted as arrows whistled through the air. He rolled off Max just as a shaft buried itself where his chest had been moments before. The stallion reared, but battle-trained as he was, didn't bolt.
A dozen outlaws emerged from hiding spots among the rocks—ragged men and women with desperate eyes and well-worn weapons. Their leader, a hulking brute with a rusted greatsword, bellowed a challenge.
"Your gold or your lives, Inquisition dogs!"
Varric already had Bianca leveled. "Oh, I do love it when they make it easy." His first bolt took the leader square in the throat, cutting off further threats.
The battle was short but brutal. Cassandra's shield smashed into one bandit's face while her sword disemboweled another. Solas wove frost magic between barriers, freezing one outlaw solid before shattering him with a well-placed energy bolt. Daniel's chain lightning arced between three attackers, leaving them twitching on the ground.
When the last outlaw fell, Daniel's interface flickered:
[32 EXP Gained - Outlaws Defeated]
[Acquired: 5 Gold Coins]
[Acquired: Barbarian Lord Maul (Rare)]
The maul was a monstrous thing—its stone head carved with crude runes, the haft wrapped in leather grips darkened by years of sweat and blood.
[Barbarian Lord Maul (Rare)]
[115 Damage]
[+8 Strength]
Cassandra eyed the weapon with distaste. "Savages."
Varric hefted it experimentally before nearly dropping it. "Andraste's knickers, this thing weighs more than I do!"
Daniel stored it in their supply cart—perhaps one of the soldiers could make use of it later.
The ravine eventually opened into a wider valley, the dirt path winding upward toward the northern hills. The terrain grew rockier, the trees thinning out until only stubborn pines remained. Then they saw them—a pack of wolves lounging near a gaping cave entrance, their eyes that same unnatural green they'd come to associate with corruption.
Varric sighed. "Well, if it isn't the welcoming committee."
Cassandra drew her sword. "These must be the wolves Master Dennet's wife warned us about."
The wolves attacked without warning, moving with that same unnatural speed they'd encountered before. But this time, the Inquisition forces were ready. Archers loosed volleys while the melee fighters formed a defensive line. Daniel's lightning spells crackled through the pack, leaving smoking corpses in their wake.
When the last wolf fell, his interface updated:
[75 EXP Gained - Slays 3 Wolves]
Cassandra wiped her blade clean. "That cave must be their lair."
Solas approached the nearest wolf corpse, his staff glowing as he examined it. "The corruption runs deep. These creatures were not born this way—they were made."
Contrary to expectations, the cave wasn't pitch black. Gaps in the ceiling allowed shafts of sunlight to pierce the gloom, illuminating the uneven floor in patches. The air smelled of damp stone and something fouler—a metallic tang that made Daniel's nose wrinkle.
They'd barely taken ten steps inside when the growls started. More wolves emerged from side tunnels, their eyes glowing with that same sickly light. And behind them—
"Demon!" Cassandra shouted as the Terror demon materialized from the shadows, its elongated limbs twitching with malicious energy.
The battle was chaos. The wolves harried their flanks while the demon lashed out with claws that left deep gouges in the stone floor. Varric's bolts punched holes in the Terror's chitinous hide, while Solas's barriers flickered under the onslaught. Cassandra fought like a woman possessed, her blade a silver blur as she carved through wolf after wolf.
Daniel focused on the demon, his staff channeling raw energy into concentrated blasts. The creature shrieked when a particularly powerful strike shattered one of its arms, black ichor spraying across the cave walls. With a final surge, Daniel plunged a lightning-charged dagger into its chest, the demon dissolving into foul smoke.
His interface pulsed:
[100 EXP Gained - Slays Demon and Wolves]
[Acquired: 4 Canine Leather]
[Acquired: 1 Wolf Fang (Research Material)]
[Acquired: Token of the Packmaster (Rare)]
The amulet was an eerie thing—a wolf's fang set in silver, hanging from a leather cord.
[Token of the Packmaster (Rare Amulet)]
[+2% Sunder on Hit]
Daniel replaced his old amulet without hesitation, feeling the magic settle against his skin like a second pulse.
Cassandra sheathed her sword, breathing heavily. "With the demon dead, the farmers should be safe from the wolves now."
Solas nodded, gazing at the dissipating demon essence. "I expect the wolves are also pleased to be freed from its control."
Varric kicked a pebble at the nearest wolf corpse. "Yeah, I'm sure they're real grateful."
Daniel turned toward the cave's depths. "Let's see what else is down here. That demon didn't just wander in by accident."
The others fell in behind him as they pressed forward, the sunlight from above made them can see the way as the deeper they went.
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Name : Daniel Carter
Race: Elf
Level 5 : 1627/2500 EXP
Professions: Mage
Gold Coins: 1659 Coins
Weapon: Staff of the Dragon
Armor: Light Armor of the Dragon and Templar Scribe Scowl
Accessories: Token of the Packmaster and Belt of Health
Inventory: Acolyte Ice Staff, Morning Star, Stiletto, Hunting Longbow, Fire Resistance Cowl, Mercenary Coat, Acolyte Fire Staff, Disciple Lighting Staff, Apprentice Armor, Qunari Battleaxe, Raider Hatchet, 2 Disciple Fire Staff, Apprentice Mail, Qunari Buckler, Medium Adventure Armor, Mindleech Staff, Soldier's Nemesis, 2 Recruit's Dirk, Reinforced Dagger, Sledgehammer, Disciple Lighting Staff, Apprentice Armor, Exacting Longbow, Barbarian Lord Maul, and Lifeward Amulet
Crafting Materials: 34 Elfroot, 62 Iron, 2 Blue Vitriol, 1 Dawn Lotus, 11 Silk, 17 Lambswool, 3 Royal Elfroot, 10 Ram Leather, 23 Drakestone, 4 Fire Essence, 3 Blue Vitriol, 11 Canine Leather, 4 Plaidewaive, 2 Frost Essence, 1 Fade-Touched Iron, 4 Blood Lotus, 5 Embrium, 10 Spindleweed, 13 Onyx, and 3 Ironbarks
Upgrades: Sigil of the Gamordan Stromrider and Sigil of Deathroot
Valuables: 2 Shadow Essence, 1 Ram Horn, 1 Dreamer Rag, 5 Weapon Fragment, 2 Bowstring, 3 Mysterious Shards, Nevarra Skull, 1 Wisp Essence, and 1 Wolf Fangs
Potions: Lesser Health Potions x8, Lesser Regeneration Potions x5, and x5 Lyrium Potion
Skills: Chain Lighting, Flashfire, Barrier, Winter's Grasp, and Energy Barrage
Armor Schematics: Shokra-taar Schematic, Antaam-saar Schematic, Avvar Armor Schematics Acquired, Stone-Bear Armor Schematics, Vanguard Coat Schematic,
Weapon Schematics: Curved Dagger Schematic and Hunting Bow Schematic
Potion Recipe: Lesser Regeneration Potion recipe and Lyrium Potion Recipe
Bottles of Thedas: Vint-9 Rowan's Rose and Carnal, 8:69 Blessed