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He took a deep breath, steeling himself. However this day ended, more blood would be shed before sunset. The only question was whose.
The fading light of dusk painted the Witchwood's gnarled trees in eerie shades of violet and gold as Daniel's party approached. Just before entering the dense thicket, a faint blue glow caught Daniel's eye—emanating from a rocky outcropping on a nearby hill.
"Another shard," Daniel murmured, veering off the path. The others followed wordlessly, their weapons at the ready.
The climb was steep but short. At the summit, nestled between two jagged boulders, the third shard pulsed with that now-familiar otherworldly light. As Daniel reached for it, the air hummed with latent energy, raising the hairs on his arms. The moment his fingers closed around the smooth crystal, warmth spread through his palm, different somehow from the previous two—this one vibrated with a deeper, almost musical resonance.
[Shard Acquired: 3/4]
Solas observed the phenomenon with keen interest. "Fascinating. Each shard we find seems to possess unique properties. I wonder..."
Varric cut him off with a dramatic shudder. "Yeah, yeah, ancient magical whatsits. Can we focus on not dying in the creepy murder woods now?"
Cassandra shot the dwarf a glare but nodded. "He's not wrong. We should move."
The Witchwood lived up to its ominous reputation the moment they crossed the tree line. The very air felt heavier here, thick with the scent of ozone and rotting leaves. Strange blue fungi glowed faintly along twisted roots, and the trees themselves seemed to lean inward, their branches forming a gnarled canopy that blocked out most of the dying sunlight.
They hadn't gone fifty paces before the first attack came.
"Ambush!" Cassandra shouted as fire erupted from the undergrowth. Three robed figures materialized between the trees, their staffs already weaving spells.
The battle was frenetic—fighting in the dense woods meant little room for maneuvering. Daniel's lightning spells crackled through the damp air, setting a nearby bush aflame. Varric's bolts found their marks with lethal precision, while Solas's barriers shimmered just in time to deflect a hail of ice shards. Cassandra moved like a force of nature, her sword cutting through mage armor as if it were parchment.
When the last mage fell, Daniel's interface pulsed:
[15 EXP Gained]
[1 Enemy Slain]
But this was only the beginning. The deeper they pressed into Witchwood, the more frequent the attacks became. Rebel mages lurked behind every other tree, their desperation making them reckless but no less dangerous. Some fought with disciplined formations, combining elemental magics in devastating combinations. Others were clearly novices, their spells wild and unfocused, but no less deadly for their lack of control.
After the sixth such skirmish, Daniel's interface tallied their progress:
[150 EXP Gained]
[10 Enemies Defeated]
[Obtained: 1 Bowstring]
[Obtained: 2 Weapon Fragments]
[Obtained: 1 Silver Necklace (Valuable)]
[Obtained: 11 Gold Coins]
[Obtained: Nevarra Skull (Research Material)]
[Obtained: Disciple Fire Staff (Common)]
[+22 Magic Damage, +1% Critical Chance]
During a brief lull in the fighting, Daniel took the opportunity to search the surrounding area. His perception skills highlighted several clusters of herbs growing in the unnatural glow of the Witchwood's fungi:
[8 Spindleweed Added to Inventory]
[2 Elfroot Added to Inventory]
They were preparing to move forward when the sounds of another battle reached them—not directed at them this time, but between two other groups ahead. Creeping forward through the underbrush, they came upon a grisly scene: four templars and three mages locked in mortal combat, the ground around them littered with corpses from both factions.
"Maker's breath," Cassandra whispered. "They're killing each other faster than we ever could."
Daniel didn't hesitate. "We end this."
The intervention was brutal in its efficiency. Caught between the Inquisition's assault and their existing foes, both templars and mages fell quickly. As the last body crumpled to the blood-soaked earth, Daniel's interface updated:
[30 EXP Gained]
[2 Enemies Defeated]
[Obtained: Amethyst (Valuable)]
As they pressed deeper into the Witchwood, the trees grew even more twisted, their bark taking on an almost metallic sheen in the eerie blue light. Strange carvings began appearing on their trunks—crude symbols that made Solas frown in recognition but say nothing. The air itself seemed to thrum with power, raising goosebumps on Daniel's arms.
The twisted trees of the Witchwood suddenly gave way to a clearing dominated by a gaping cave mouth. But what should have been a simple entrance was transformed into a nightmarish tableau—dozens of jagged ice formations jutted from the ground like frozen spears, their surfaces reflecting the flickering light of magical barriers that sealed the cave entrance. The air crackled with energy, making the hairs on Daniel's arms stand on end.
Solas went very still, his eyes narrowing. "I sense powerful magical energies ahead," he murmured. "The senior mages must be inside."
Varric whistled low as they took cover behind a moss-covered boulder. "Well, this looks inviting. I count at least eight guards—four mages and four sellswords by the look of them."
Cassandra's hand tightened on her sword hilt. "We'll need to take them quickly before they can raise an alarm."
Daniel studied the defenses. The guards stood in disciplined formation—two mages maintaining the shimmering fire barrier across the cave entrance while the others patrolled with weapons ready. The sellswords looked hardened, their armor bearing the scars of previous battles.
"I will take out the barrier mages first," Daniel whispered. "Cassandra and Varric will charge the moment they fall. Solas—"
"Barriers and crowd control," the elf finished with a nod. "Understood."
Daniel's first fire magic took the leftmost mage through the throat before they could react. The second mage turned just in time to catch Varric's next shot through the eye. Chaos erupted as the remaining guards spun toward the threat.
"Now!" Daniel barked.
Cassandra surged forward like a storm, her shield slamming into a sellsword with enough force to send him crashing through one of the ice formations with Varric bolt supporting from behind. Daniel's staff came alive with crackling energy, Chain Lightning arcing between three enemies simultaneously. Their bodies convulsed as electricity coursed through them.
Solas's magic wove through the battlefield—icy barriers protecting their flanks while spectral blades harried the remaining foes. Within moments, the guards lay dead or dying.
[60 EXP Gained]
[4 Enemies Defeated]
Daniel approached the fiery barrier, feeling its heat even from several feet away. "Can we bring this down?"
Solas studied the weaving of the spell. "Together, perhaps. The magic is strong but crude—more brute force than finesse."
They positioned themselves before the barrier, staffs raised. Daniel focused on the flow of energy, sensing the weak points Solas had mentioned. When their spells struck simultaneously—Daniel's lightning meeting Solas's dispelling magic—the barrier shattered in a spectacular shower of sparks.
Cassandra didn't hesitate. "With me!" she roared, leading the charge into the cave with soldiers at her back.
The cavern beyond was nothing like Daniel expected. Instead of a natural cave system, they found an enormous hollowed-out chamber transformed into a rebel mage stronghold. Dozens of tents and makeshift structures filled the space, all arranged around a central dais where a massive, pulsating crystal hovered midair. At least twenty mages and twice as many mercenaries whirled to face the intruders.
Then all hell broke loose.
Daniel's world narrowed to spells and survival. He wove through the chaos—casting Barriers over Cassandra and the soldiers, unleashing Energy Barrage into clusters of enemies, freezing attackers in their tracks with Winter's Grasp. The air filled with the stench of ozone and burning flesh, the cacophony of battle echoing off the cavern walls.
Varric's voice cut through the din. "Incoming! Big nasty at twelve o'clock!"
A towering figure robed in shimmering blue silk emerged from the largest tent, staff crackling with power. The rebel leader's face twisted in rage as he took in the destruction.
"You!" he bellowed, pointing at Daniel. "Herald of Andraste! Face me if you dare!"
The challenge was clear. Daniel met Cassandra's gaze—she nodded, turning to rally the soldiers against the remaining foes while he advanced toward the mage leader.
The duel was brutal. The mage fought with decades of experience, his spells precise and deadly. Fireballs erupted at Daniel's feet, ice shards rained from above, and once, a whip of pure lightning nearly took his head off. But Daniel had something his opponent lacked—the desperation of someone fighting for more than pride.
When the killing blow came, it was almost anticlimactic—a perfectly timed Chain Lightning that caught the mage mid-incantation. The rebel leader spasmed violently before collapsing, his staff clattering to the stone floor.
As the leader fell, the remaining resistance crumbled. Cassandra and the others made quick work of the last holdouts. When the final enemy fell, Daniel's interface pulsed with updates:
[354 EXP Gained - Rebel Leader Defeated & Stronghold Cleared]
[90 EXP Gained - 6 Enemies Slain]
Cassandra wiped blood from her sword, surveying the carnage. "The Crossroads should be safer now, at least for a time."
Varric kicked a discarded staff aside. "Yeah, until the templars decide to make their move. Can't imagine they'll miss this opportunity."
Daniel moved to the fallen leader's body, his interface highlighting several items:
[Obtained: Wrath of Lovias (Unique Staff)]
[27 Cold Damage, +2 Cunning, +5 Magic, +4% Magic Defense]
[Obtained: Silk Handkerchief (Valuable)]
He examined the staff—its pale wood seemed to hum faintly in his grasp, the carved wolf's head at its apex glowing with residual magic. Without hesitation, he turned and offered it to Solas.
"You'll make better use of this than I would."
Solas accepted the staff with a rare, genuine smile. "My thanks. This is... an unexpected gift."
Daniel turned to the lieutenant. "Have the men clean up—dispose of the bodies outside the cave. Tend to our wounded first. We'll camp here tonight—everyone needs rest after today."
Daniel took a deep breath, the scent of blood and burnt ozone still thick in the air, as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The cavernous mage stronghold was eerily quiet now, save for the occasional groan of wounded soldiers and the crackle of dying magical energies. He activated his perception skills, his eyes scanning the chamber for anything useful they might have missed in the heat of combat.
Near the remains of a collapsed tent, his gaze locked onto a cluster of vibrant red flowers pushing through the stone floor—Embrium, their petals glowing faintly in the dim light. As he harvested them, his fingers tingled with their residual magical energy. Further along, his attention was drawn to a vein of dark, glossy stone embedded in the cavern wall. Chipping away at it with his dagger yielded several chunks of pure Onyx, their surfaces smooth and cool to the touch. Finally, tucked away in a shadowy corner behind the central dais, he found a single Royal Elfroot plant, its leaves shimmering with an almost metallic sheen.
[Embrium Added to Inventory]
[9 Onyx Added to Inventory]
[1 Royal Elfroot Added to Inventory]
A heavy chest caught his eye near what appeared to be the rebel leader's personal quarters. The lock yielded easily to a precise application of frost magic, revealing a cache of weapons beneath a layer of moldering cloth. A Reinforced Dagger with a wicked curve to its blade lay atop a massive Sledgehammer, its head pitted from use but still serviceable.
[Reinforced Dagger Obtained (Common)]
[39 Damage, +2% Attack]
[Sledgehammer Obtained (Common)]
[58 Damage, +3% Armor Penetration]
As Daniel straightened, something far more intriguing captured his attention. The back wall of the cavern wasn't natural stone at all, but rather a carefully constructed facade adorned with five statues. Two were immediately recognizable—ornate Tevinter effigies flanking the central area, their stylized robes and haughty expressions unmistakable. But it was the other three statues that sent a thrill of recognition through him.
Arranged in a triangular pattern above the Tevinter figures were three smaller statues, each depicting a different celestial body. The leftmost one glowed with a soft blue light, while the other two remained dark. Daniel's breath caught as he approached, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings at the base.
"Solas," he called, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. "Come look at this."
The elf joined him, his new staff tapping softly against the stone floor. His sharp eyes took in the arrangement, and a knowing smile curved his lips. "Ah. An Astrarium puzzle. And it seems we've already completed one segment."
Varric wandered over, Bianca slung across his back. "Let me guess—more ancient magical nonsense?"
"Not nonsense," Solas corrected. "A key. These statues correspond to Astrariums we may find elsewhere in the Hinterlands. Solve all three, and..." He gestured to the faint outline of a door barely visible in the stonework.
Daniel nodded, his mind racing. "That explains why one is already lit. We must have unknowingly solved one of these puzzles already." He studied the glowing statue—it depicted a crescent moon with three stars. "Winterwatch Tower," he realized. "That device we found there—it must have been connected to this."
Cassandra joined them, wiping sweat from her brow. "So we need to find two more of these... Astrarium devices?"
"Precisely," Solas confirmed. "And given the Tevinter presence here, I suspect whatever lies beyond that door is both valuable and dangerous."
Before they could speculate further, Daniel's attention was drawn to a worn sack propped against the base of the statues. Inside, he found two thick sheets of Ram Leather, still supple and well-cured. Nearby, another chest yielded even greater treasures—a Disciple Lightning Staff that crackled with barely contained energy, and a simple but well-made ring that seemed to hum with potential.
[Disciple Lightning Staff Obtained (Common)]
[25 Electricity Damage, +8% Critical Damage Bonus, +2 Willpower]
[Ring of Critical Damage Obtained (Common)]
[+5% Critical Damage Bonus]
Daniel turned the ring over in his fingers, considering. The boost to critical damage could prove invaluable in future battles. Slipping it onto his finger, he immediately felt a subtle sharpening of his magical focus.
Varric whistled appreciatively. "Not bad, not bad at all. Though I still say Bianca here is prettier than any staff."
Cassandra rolled her eyes but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she turned to Daniel. "What now? Do we pursue these Astrariums immediately?"
Daniel considered their options. The soldiers were exhausted, their supplies depleted from the day's battles. The stronghold, now secured, offered shelter and relative safety. "We rest tonight," he decided. "Tomorrow, we'll send scouts to locate these other devices. But first—" He gestured to the lieutenant, who stood nearby overseeing the cleanup. "Double the watch rotation. I want this cavern secured."
As the others moved to carry out his orders, Daniel found himself staring at the mysterious statues once more. The glowing figure seemed to pulse faintly, as if in recognition. Somewhere out there in the Hinterlands, two more puzzles waited to be solved—and whatever lay beyond that hidden door could change everything.
The thought should have filled him with trepidation. Instead, Daniel felt only determination. Whatever secrets the rebel mages had died to protect, the Inquisition would uncover them. And then they would decide what to do with that knowledge.
For now, though, rest. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new battles. But tonight, they had earned their respite. The Hinterlands would keep its secrets a little while longer.
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Name : Daniel Carter
Race: Elf
Level 4 : 1361/1500 EXP
Professions: Mage
Gold Coins: 1370 Coins
Weapon: Staff of the Dragon
Armor: Light Armor of the Dragon and Templar Scribe Scowl
Accessories: Lifeward Amulet
Inventory: Acolyte Ice Staff, Morning Star, Stiletto, Hunting Longbow, Fire Resistance Cowl, Mercenary Coat, Acolyte Fire Staff, Disciple Lighting Staff, Sigil of the Gamordan Stromrider, Apprentice Armor, Qunari Battleaxe, Amulet of Magic, Raider Hatchet, 2 Disciple Fire Staff, Amulet of Willpower, Apprentice Mail, Qunari Buckler, Medium Adventure Armor, Mindleech Staff, Soldier's Nemesis, Recruit's Dirk, Reinforced Dagger, Sledgehammer, Disciple Lighting Staff, and Ring of Critical Damage
Crafting Materials: 34 Elfroot, 50 Iron, 2 Blue Vitriol, 1 Dawn Lotus, 11 Silk, 10 Lambswool, 2 Royal Elfroot, 10 Ram Leather, 23 Drakestone, 3 Fire Essence, 3 Blue Vitriol, 3 Canine Leather, 4 Plaidewaive, 1 Frost Essence, 1 Fade-Touched Iron, 4 Blood Lotus, 5 Embrium, 10 Spindleweed, and 9 Onyx
Valuables: 3 Aquamarine, Silver Bracelet, 2 Figurine of Maferath the Betrayer, 2 Shadow Essence,
Gurn Gallstone Charm, Braid of Rank, Glass Halla, 3 Silver Necklace, 1 Ram Horn, 1 Bride's Blood Vial, 2 Silk Handerchief, 1 Glass Fox, 1 Silver Earring, 1 Dreamer Rag, 1 Miniature Throne, 5 Weapon Fragment, 2 Bowstring, 3 Mysterious Shards, and Nevarra Skull
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