Green with Mystery. {Open}

[Ivirya Valisira]

Ivirya's eyes fluttered open to the welcoming warmth of the crisp morning air. She lay on her cot in the tree hut she called home. She raised to catch the soothing wind of the mystical forest around her. Precisely why she chose the Brecilian forest as her refuge two years ago; This forest was a sanctum of pure and unrelenting mystique for those who made it their home. And yet, no matter what horrors or wonders that lay beyond, the radiance of the woods would persist, never relenting it's unsurpassed and utterly transcendent beauty that crossed it's length from the Wilds to the Coastlands. Truly to be green with mystery.

After gathering her essentials for her travels, she stood in the doorway of her treehut, the fragrance of flowers and fresh grass emanated from the forest below. She wondered of the Dalish, the elven wanderers who once made this gorgeous woodland their home. Maybe one day she would seek them out to learn more of what it meant to live so close to so lavish a forest. Maybe she would become Dalish herself. That would be something, wouldn't it? To be with the last bastion of the so-called "True elfs". perhaps it was the way they would announce them self by referring to themselfs with such a... prominent sounding title. So uncouth a proclamation to describe one's self did it sound to the elven apprentice that stood amidst to forest.

Ivirya did leap from the treehut. It was not tall from the ground so she did not strain herself over much by doing so. She raised her hand to her delicate face, summoning a small kindle of flame to her fingers. She could still control fire like no other apprentice at the Tower. Or at least, she assumed so. it was two years since her flight from the circle, two years since she last saw any of the other apprentices. How many were Tranquil? How many were Harrowed? Something to ponder, it truly was. something she continued to think as she began her trek through the forest.

[Arcill]

Since the Avvars and the Chasind united themselves behind Arcill`s leadership, they have traveled both far and wide across southern Ferelden, pillaging and burning their way, until they reached the Brecillian Forest where they sat camp in the old ancient ruins. They were thousands of people, and even a few Dalish Elves had joined them, those who shared the same thought`s and view about the Ferelden`s. For years they have been tormented by their disrespect and violence, now it was enough and Arcill had plans to stop it once and for all by conquering them.

As the morning arrived and rays of light came through the branches a top of the trees, Arcill woke up and from his scouts he was told about a presence in the woods, about an individual who could control magic. The news made him curious and with firm orders, he commanded a small group to be assembled, with which he would travel to look himself. Washing the hands and face in a bowl of water, Arcill picked up the sword and left the ruins.

Some minutes later, Arcill and his group of ten skirmishers found the magic wielding woman and in the bushes they hid as they followed intently, waiting for orders. While the ten waited on both sides, Arcill stepped out some meters in front of her, sword in hand with a look to intimidate. If she tried something they would all step out and ambush her, but if she acted politely there would be little need for violence. Right now, all Arcill wanted was to simply talk.

[Ivirya Valisira]

Ivirya's pleasant stroll was suddenly interrupted by a gruff looking human wielding a sword. Reacting from reflex, she summed a small kindle of flame to her hand once more, ready to unleash the fire, and positioned herself into an attack stance. The reason for this human's accosting her could be varied. Perhaps he was lost and thought her to be a blood mage, perhaps he be a bandit praying on those who could amount no such adequate defense. Perhaps t'was something deeper? Whatever the man's reasons may be, she made it clear that if a conflict was to arise, t'would be one that would become quite the gambit for both the elven apprentice and the human warrior.

Upon closer inspection, the human appeared more then a mere bandit. His tattered appearance and dirtied weapon gave the aroma of one who must have lead a life of danger and conquest. A warrior of true grit. T'would be possible that Ivirya read far to in depth to the lone human. Perhaps her incisive mind be creating imaginings of the human that far surpassed the truth. But for one who had lived in this forest, truth spoke only when it felt it should.

"Take heed, good ser."[/font] she stated bluntly. "I be nether a vagrant nor a lost soul. I would most hastily insist that you sheath your blade and explain your presence here. Whatever may be your motives, i shall not be trampled over so readily as a helpless damsel." It must have been strange for the human to hear one of the elven folk speak in a Ferelden accent. T'was so unfamiliar when those of her kind spoke with little accent. But before Ivirya lay more dangerous things; The armed human posed more immediate importance then linguistic analysis.

[Arcill]

In silence Arcill stood glaring at the she-elf, listening to what she had to say as he gnarled back, showing his teeth. He would not let her decide what he should do and should not, and thus in answer he spoke with a deep dark voice. “Whatever skills you have, you are trespassing in my woods and I ask that you reveal why you are here.” He then lifted the sword and pointed at her, with which he gave the signal for his barbarians to show themselves. One after another they came out, weapons in hand, surrounding the woman from all sides.

With heavy steps, Arcill approached slowly as he prepared himself for combat should she choose to attack him. His scouts had told she had magical abilities, and he knew well enough that messing with people who had such sort of power was dangerous, yet he had to do it anyway. If the woman kept walking into the forest, she would eventually stumble upon the thousands of barbarians that had sat camp in the ruins, and if she saw them, it would be a great risk that she would later tell the Fereldens about it. She had to be stopped, either she would join his cause or she would be captured or killed, in the end it was her choice.

As Arcill came closer to the elf, he stopped and began to walk around her in circles, studying her clothes and look. She was pretty, he thought, and she would be good fun for his men should they choose to take her, however he knew he shouldn`t underestimate her. She seemed skilled and capable of survival, especially if she had lived in the forest for a while. Taking her down, would be no easy task.

[Ivirya Valisira]

The human continued to be increasingly hostile towards Ivirya, signalling forth his accomplices from the bushes, surrounding the elven mage. She paid no heed to them, concentrating on their fearless leader. As the warrior made his was around her in a circle examining her, Ivirya began walking in a circle opposite to him, holding a magical kindle of flame in her hand where he could see it. Her violet eyes remained fixated on his.

"Your forest?" she prodded. "Any being with eyes can see that these woods answer to no master, let alone a beast such as you." It must have been surprising for the man to hear such unwavering courage from one facing such odds as she did so, but such willingness and fearlessness was as commonplace for her as drawing breath. The discipline to act accordingly under such unfavorable circumstance was something she had tutored her self for years.

She calmly raised her hand above her head, her eyes gesturing to the sky above her. T'was then that she let out with a bolt of fire aimed upwards, the warmth of the flames encompassing the spot near her hand as the fire swelled out upwards. She made an effort not to direct her magic at the man or his men, T'was merely a display of her powers in an effort prove the point that she were not as fragile an opponent as they might have assumed.

[Arcill]

What the she-elf dared to say, made Arcill angry and just as he was about to reply, an outburst of flames shot from the woman`s hands and up into the air, a display of her powers, which was sought to make the barbarians afraid. For a moment, Arcill had been circling her and she had begun to circle him, but when the flames appeared, he stopped. It was not because he was afraid, but because it had been unexpected. Like a mountain he stood and watched, glaring at the woman without flinching and he could see his other barbarians was slightly scared. None the less they stood firm as he glanced at them, fearing Arcill more than the female “You are impressive, but not good enough.” Arcill said and began to walk around her in circles again, tightening the grip on the hilt of his sword.

“Yes, this forest is mine, and soon entire Ferelden will be. If you choose to attack, then so be it, but know that you will fall, before you manage to kill all of us. And if I were you, I would not try it.” Arcill spoke firmly, knowing well enough that if he and his men died, then there would be an entire army waiting behind the hills not far away. “I repeat, reveal why you are here? Are you a Ferelden spy?” He asked again, wondering if the Ferelden`s had sent her.

[Ivirya Valisira]

T'would seem that confrontation was inevitable. The fierce human continued to stand his ground, nether flinching or fleeing. T'was quite the quarrel that Ivirya found herself in. She had hoped for this to be another pleasant day of basking in the beauty of the forest, now she stand toe to toe with a savage and his bandit compatriots. She did not see the point in engaging in diplomacy with the brute and his men. If there were, she would have. But alas, it was clear that his apparent hatred of Ferelden was deep rooted and his inquiry of her being a spy only proved this point further.

"My identity if my own, Beast." she stated sternly. "You are in no place to command anyone, least of all me!" T'was then that she brought up her staff, it's metal frame work and regal construction gleamed in the light of the sun through the trees. She aimed it true at the chest of the bandit's fearless leader before firing a bolt of Arcane energy at him.

T'was the moment right after where a quick thinking Ivirya dashed in the opposite direction of the leader. she brought up her staff again, the bandits must have thought Ivirya to use it fo fire another spell at them. Much to their surprise. Ivirya proved adept at wielding it as a quick use cudgel as well as a magical channel when the blunt end of the staff made contact with the skull of two of the barbarian bandits before fleeing deeper into the woods.

[Arcill]

Hearing the answer from the young elven woman did not satisfy Arcill at all, neither did it get any better when she raised her staff and shot a bolt of magic at him. Seeing what was about to happen, the fearless barbarian leader rolled to the left and allowed the arcane bolt hit another man behind him. It was like a shockwave and from where Arcill ended up standing, he witnessed what happened to the man as he got hit and blew backwards into the bushes. With no regret for having stepped out of the way, he felt not pity for the man, but rather a stronger anger and rage building toward the she-elf. Thus his attention turned back to her, and with a glare he watched as she ran off into the forest, knocking two other barbarians down while she fled.

“You are choosing the hard way then, well then so be it. Let us have a hunt.” Arcill whispered to himself and then starred at the others who remained around him, before he took the leap to follow the scared elf. Just as Arcill went, the other seven barbarians followed and they ran through the trees and bushes, all trying to catch up the one who had escaped them. What the woman did not know, was that she was fleeing in the direction from where they had come, where the barbarians was stationed. It was no chance she would be able to escape the forest without being caught, Arcill thought as he ran and hoped if he did not catch her, than someone else ahead would.

[Ivirya Valisira]

Ivirya rushed with great haste as the barbarian bandits remained in pursuit of the magically talented prey. She continued to run until she came with short distance on an entrance to a large camp. She looked ahead, squinting, judging from the look of the men and women and, much to her surprise, elves in the camp, she deduced that they were of the same band as the Beast. Thinking fast, she ducked towards her left, away from the camp and her pursuers.

She could hear the shouting from the men in the camp as they began to rally within, they must have seen Ivirya were engaging in pursuit along with their leader. Ivirya, after running for several paces, turned and pointed her staff upwards and behind her, launching a volley of Ice Bolt through the thick trees, she could not see the bandits or her Ice Bolts after a few feat when fired, the brush was too thick, She had hoped to slow them down enough to give her time.

And so she made off as she was before, running through the tree line of the massive forest around her. She wondered, how many mages had fled in this manner as well, only with Templars under the guise of righteous authority pursuing Apostates like her. But now was no time for museings on mages and Templars, now was a time of action, chiefly involving Ivirya escaping the bandits and finding refuge from their ruthless leader.

[Teagan]

The Brecillian forest, an ancient woodland that seemed older than time itself. There was magic here, even a warrior such as Teagan could feel it in his bones. Looking around the forest, he could sense that there were things men would never truly understand that lurked within the confines of the great forest, and the trees seemed... Alive. Of course, Teagan knew they were living beings, be he didn't mean like your garden variety tree like those in Redcliffe. No, these trees seemed very much to have a mind of their own, as Teagan could not help but get the feeling they did not exactly enjoy the fact that he and his army were trespassing on their hallowed soil.

Teagan was marching with considerably less men than he had wanted to. The army was a total of 18,000 strong. They were on their way to Gwaren, were accordng to Landon they were to link up with an additional 10,000 men. Teagan doubted even then their numbers would be sufficient, but Landon had the authority on this one. Damn Anora and her stupid lapdog. The teyrn was being brash, and all his commanders knew it. That is why Teagan only brought 10,000 of his men. He had a sick feeling at the pit of his stomach that those men in Redcliffe will undoubtedly see fighting soon.

At the head of the column with Landon, Teagan remained sullen and silent. The army was made up of a majority of his troops, yet there he was listening to him, blathering on about Maker knows what. Occasionally, he'd give a nod or a sigh or grunt in return, but he rarely answered or spoke back. He was too busy observing, thinking, planning for worst case scenarios.

Maker cast your gaze upon us He thought to himself. He knew better than to put much faith in that however. Prayers did little good in places as old as the Maker himself, which seem to follow its own rules.

[Ivirya Valisira]

Ivirya continued to sprint through the Brecilian forest, hoping to at least put some distance between her and the barbarians chasing her until she found herself stumbling out of the woods and coming face to face with an army of soldiers, They were not of the barbarian's tribe, thank the Maker. It would seem that the forest, or the Maker himself, felt Ivirya worthy to save from her fate at the hands of the bandits.

Ivirya looked amidst the vanguard of the army for someone who looked to be their leader, she came up to a middle aged human who appeared to be of noble birth. She could not know what his response to a lone elven women in the midle of the forest would be, but she prayed that he would be of the accepting kind of mindset, bigotry would do little in the face of an approaching band of raiders.

"Forgive me, my lord, for intruding on you at this moment." The young elven women said as she got on one knee. "A large band of bandits rest somewhere deep in the forest, they accosted me and chased me away, they pursue me even as we speak." Ivirya hoped that the humans before her were kind to take her at her word, lest the Bandit's Leader take the upper hand on them and her

[Teagan]

As Teagan rode in the front, he noticed a small commotion occurring from some of his men. They had noticed something in the woodland. Before he could call his men to arms, however, what had been the cause appeared before him. It was a lithe elven woman, one who was clearly well mannered and educated simply by her manner of speaking. As she spoke, his face visibly stiffened, and looked out towards the forest.

"Enough with the pleasantries." Teagan responded quickly. He wasn't speaking in a harsh or angry fashion, but simply a quick, effective matter of fact way of speaking. He didn't have time for fancy language with the barbarians so close. "Where are they, and how many are there? Runner!" A rider quickly rode up to the front. "Spread the word down the line. The enemy is near. Stand by to form for battle." The man pounded his chest in salute of his commander and road down the line, and Teagan looked back at the woman, his face softening.

"I thank you miss. I'd ask how you acquired such information, but right now we may need your help in battle." He saw the staff on her back, and it took all of two seconds for Teagan to discern she was a mage. "We do not have any mages of our own, and it would not be a stretch to think the enemy has battle mages in their ranks..."