For Glory [Mariah; Open]

[Ash]

"I don't need anything from you, Thing. Your goods are of no use to me." Ash spouted at the merchant standing before her at his weaponry stand. Various swords laid sprawled out on a couple tables surrounding him; shields that look like they'd break with one arrow, hanging behind him on a few posts; a few wooden cheap bows leaning against the tables, each paired with a bundle of arrows. She honestly didn't understand the point of trade or bartering. The Qunari didn't do such things. They distributed supplies evenly amongst all Qunari, with nothing in return.

She had everything she could possibly need. She had a bow with an endless supply of arrows. She was careful when she shot her arrows, and when she did, she retrieved them afterwards. She really had no use for health supplies, as she already had her share with her and hadn't used any of them. She hunted for her own food, so buying it was useless.

This merchant calling her to come look at his wares was pointless, and she wasn't going to waste any more of her time with him.

She didn't give him any nasty looks or spout anymore insults at him, but instead she pressed on leaving the stand behind. She was eager to leave this place anyways, find a good spot to set up camp and then finally cook the dead squirrel that was stuffed into her pack.

She lifted the hood of her black cowl and put it over her head. A couple next to her casting a dark look at her as she passed them, probably for the fact that she was an elf and not corralled with the rest of the elves in that slum they call their home. How the elves could submit to something like that, she'd never know. The Qunari would never do such a thing to such valuable resources. Even just passing the gates of the Alienage, watching the two guards pass back and forth, made her grimace. It sent a bad taste to her mouth.

[Mariah de Lydes]

The Chevalier led the black stallion through the streets of the small coastal town. There was nothing left for her here. Keeping a tight grip on the reins, Mariah made sure that Percival did not cause any trouble as he passed through the modest crowd. Very few people ventured past the immediate outskirts of town travelling north, as their farms lay to the south. However, Mariah was headed to Highever.

As her cart pulled toward the edge of town, Mariah noticed an odd stranger that stuck out even more than she did. An elf, by the look of her. Not an uncommon sight in these parts, but this one was decidedly out of place. The she-elf also seemed to be leaving town.

All out of leads from the locals from here to Amaranthine, Mariah knew that she would soon have to explore other avenues if she were to ever find her Empress. To her knowledge, Elves were servants here just as they were in Orlais, so perhaps this one would be more submissive to questioning than the local bartenders had been. Mariah pulled the horse alongside the elf.

"Hail, stranger! Are you travelling a ways?"

[Ash]

She couldn't help but stop at the gates of the Alienage, however. Slightly approaching without drawing the attention of the guards. She couldn't let them suspect her, for fear that they'd see her as an escaped elf. Still, seeing the malnourished elves inside was sickening in itself. At least the Dalish were free. They kept to their traditions, didn't let the human race control them or corral them like cattle. Didn't let themselves be chained like slaves and used as such without another word. It was still boggling to Ash as to why these elves let such things happen to them? How could they even be proud with themselves and their lives?

As she peered in, she couldn't help but notice a young boy near a small hut, holding out his tiny fragile hands at each person that passed. His clothes looked as if they were 3 sized too large; tattered from years of ware and tear, dirty from rolling around in the mud like swine. Where was this boy's family? Didn't they have parents to look after them? Or were they dead? Starved to death in their homes, or beaten to death by the very nobles that kept them locked up?

Then there was a young woman, stopped over the boy's body as she gave him a measly Bit, which was most likely the last of her coin. She simply walked away, while the boy stared at his new gift before running off to the nearest small shop, probably to buy himself a good slice of bread. Ash stood for seconds after, taking in the scene she just saw. Even in such a place like that, good could still be found. Despite her lack of use for currency, as the Qunari didn't use such things, she still appreciated it.

She finally turned away, before being stopped by another coming up behind her on their horse. Ash was wary of even paying any attention to the stranger, but she stopped anyways, drawing tired eyes to the woman above. "Why is it any business of yours, Human?" She replied, her dark brown eyes gazing up at the blonde woman, studying her features. It was obvious that she was of some importance to the human society here. Maybe a soldier or guard? She didn't look like a Templar, but even if she was, she was looking for a mage in the wrong place.