If you want to read 15 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/DeathGun24
________________________________________________
As the soldiers set up tents for the wounded, Daniel found himself staring at the spot where the rift had been. The Hinterlands continued to test them at every turn, but with each victory, they grew stronger.
Daniel knelt beside a moss-covered boulder, running his fingers along its jagged surface. His perception skills tingled, drawing his attention to a cluster of metallic deposits embedded in the stone. With careful strikes of his dagger, he pried loose several chunks of raw iron ore, their rough surfaces cool to the touch.
[2 Iron Added to Inventory]
As he pocketed the ore, his gaze swept across the makeshift camp. The wounded soldiers were being tended to with what elfroot potions they had left. A young recruit—the one who'd taken the Terror's claws to his chest—was sitting up now, his bandages already showing spots of blood but his face set in determined lines. Nearby, Cassandra moved between the injured, offering quiet words of encouragement while Solas checked each dressing for signs of demonic corruption.
Varric sidled up beside Daniel, Bianca slung casually over one shoulder. "Not bad for a day's work, eh? Closed two rifts, bagged a dozen demons, and found your shiny rocks." He nodded toward the lieutenant, who was deep in conversation with a scout. "Though I'm guessing the fun's not over yet."
Daniel exhaled slowly, rolling the tension from his shoulders. "Not by half. Those templars won't wait forever."
As if summoned by the thought, the lieutenant approached, his helmet tucked under one arm. "Herald, the wounded are stabilized. Those who can't fight are heading back to the Crossroads with an escort. The rest are ready to move when you give the word."
Daniel pushed to his feet, his new Belt of Health's magic easing the protest of tired muscles. "Then we move out. Every hour we delay is another hour those templars have to fortify their position."
The march back through the Witchwood was tense but uneventful. The twisted trees seemed to watch their passage, their gnarled branches creaking in the faint breeze. When they emerged near Fort Connor's ruins, the lieutenant pointed westward, where a narrow dirt road snaked between two rocky outcroppings.
"That path leads deeper into the western hills," the lieutenant explained. "Scouts report heavy templar activity in that direction. If their stronghold is anywhere, it's there."
Cassandra adjusted her grip on her shield. "Then we take the fight to them. No more reacting—we strike first."
Solas studied the road with narrowed eyes. "They'll have lookouts. We won't surprise them as we did the mages."
"Don't need surprise," Varric said with a grin, patting Bianca's stock. "Just better aim."
Daniel considered their options. The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape. They could press on and risk fighting at dusk, or camp here and give the templars another night to prepare.
"We move now," he decided.
Then they saw many abandoned tents flapped like ghostly sentinels in the evening breeze as the Inquisition forces moved cautiously through the makeshift camp. Daniel's boots kicked up dust from ground that hadn't been disturbed in days—the rogue templars had clearly vacated this position recently, though the reason why remained unclear.
"Looks like they pulled back to their main stronghold," the lieutenant muttered, kicking over a cold campfire. "Could be gathering their full force."
Varric nudged a discarded wineskin with his foot. "Or they got word we were coming and decided to make a proper welcome party."
Cassandra's hand never left her sword hilt as she scanned the surrounding hills. "Either way, we—"
Her warning came too late. A crossbow bolt whizzed past Daniel's ear, embedding itself in a tent pole with a dull thunk. From the rocky outcrops above the abandoned camp, a dozen figures in scorched templar armor emerged, their weapons gleaming in the fading light.
"Ambush!" Daniel shouted, already summoning a barrier as more bolts rained down.
The battle was fierce but brief. These templars fought with the desperation of cornered animals, their lyrium-enhanced abilities making them formidable opponents. One knight charged Daniel directly, his massive two-handed sword crackling with holy energy. Daniel barely managed to roll aside, feeling the whoosh of air as the blade carved through the space where his head had been.
Varric's crossbow sang from behind cover, his bolt finding the knight's exposed armpit. As the templar staggered, Daniel unleashed his newly improved Chain Lightning—the spell arced beautifully between three attackers, making their armor glow white-hot before they collapsed.
Cassandra fought like a force of nature, her sword moving with lethal precision. When one templar tried to flank her, she pivoted and bashed him with her shield so hard his breastplate caved in. Solas wove spells of frost and force, his new staff amplifying his magic to terrifying effect.
When the last templar fell, Daniel's interface pulsed with updates:
[51 EXP Gained]
[3 Enemies Defeated]
[7 Lambswool Added to Inventory]
[Exacting Longbow Obtained (Common)]
[+32 Damage, +2% Critical Chance]
[Sigil of Deathroot Obtained (Rare)]
[+10% Attack / -50% Healing Bonus]
Daniel examined the sigil carefully—its surface was carved with strange, thorn-like patterns that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles. The trade-off was severe, but that attack bonus could be decisive in the right circumstances. He tucked it away for later consideration.
More pressing was distributing their newfound gear. Daniel opened his inventory, selecting three key items they'd collected over their travels. First, he handed Cassandra the Amulet of Willpower—its silver chain and blood-red gem would bolster her already formidable endurance.
"May it serve you well," he said as she fastened it around her neck.
Solas accepted the Amulet of Magic with a rare smile, the sapphire set in its center pulsing faintly in time with his breathing. "My thanks. This will... expand certain possibilities."
Varric practically snatched the Ring of Critical Damage from Daniel's palm, slipping it onto his finger with a flourish. "Now we're talking! Bianca's going to love this."
As the others adjusted to their new gear, Daniel surveyed the battlefield. The templars' bodies lay where they'd fallen, their armor scorched and bloodied. These weren't the fresh-faced recruits they'd faced before—these were veterans, their gear bearing the marks of countless battles. Which meant the stronghold ahead would be defended by the best the rogue templars had to offer.
The lieutenant approached, wiping his blade clean. "Herald, scouts report movement further down the valley. Looks like this was just an advance party—the main force is still ahead."
Daniel nodded, tightening the straps on his armor. "Then we keep moving. But from now on, we assume every shadow hides an enemy."
As they pressed onward, the terrain grew steeper, the path winding upward into rocky hills where the setting sun cast long, deceptive shadows. The air carried the faint scent of woodsmoke—likely from the templar stronghold's cookfires.
The shattered remains of the bridge lay in jagged pieces across the riverbank, its wooden beams splintered and scorched from recent battle. Daniel crouched at the edge, running his fingers along a still-smoldering plank—the destruction was fresh, likely no more than a day old.
"Looks like the mages and templars had quite the party here," Varric remarked, nudging a broken templar helmet with his boot. The metal bore deep scorch marks from magical fire.
Cassandra pointed to the left where a narrow mountain path wound upward, guarded by a makeshift barricade. Beyond it, they could see the flicker of campfires and the silhouettes of armored figures moving about. "That's our path forward. And if they're guarding it this heavily..."
"The stronghold must be just beyond," Daniel finished. He turned to the others, his voice low. "We hit them fast and hard. No mercy—these are fanatics who won't surrender."
The attack on the guard post was brutal in its efficiency. Daniel's Chain Lightning arced across the two sentries before they could raise the alarm, their bodies convulsing as the electricity coursed through their armor. One managed to loose a crossbow bolt that grazed Daniel's shoulder before Varric put a bolt through his throat.
[36 EXP Gained]
[2 Enemies Defeated]
As they pressed up the winding path, the terrain grew steeper, the air thinner. Then, cresting a rise, they saw it—the templar encampment, protected by a formidable palisade of sharpened logs and guarded by at least twenty armored figures. Torches burned along the walls, casting flickering light on the grim-faced warriors patrolling its perimeter.
Cassandra's grip tightened on her sword. "They've fortified the position well."
Daniel studied the defenses. "Frontal assault would be suicide. We need to draw them out." He turned to Solas. "Can you create a diversion? Something to pull their forces to one side?"
The elf nodded, his new amulet glowing faintly. "A spectral apparition at their eastern wall should suffice."
The plan worked better than expected. When Solas's illusion—a terrifying demonic figure—appeared at the far end of the encampment, half the templars rushed to investigate. Daniel gave the signal, and Cassandra led the charge through the suddenly under-defended main gate, her sword flashing in the torchlight.
The battle inside was chaos. Templars poured from tents and makeshift barracks, their lyrium-enhanced abilities making them formidable opponents. Daniel, Solas, and Varric provided ranged support from atop a supply cart, their spells and bolts picking off targets as Cassandra and the soldiers carved through the enemy ranks.
Then came the templar leader—a massive knight in blackened plate armor, his greatsword crackling with holy energy. He cut down two Inquisition soldiers with a single sweep before locking eyes with Daniel.
"You!" he bellowed. "Herald of a false prophet!"
Daniel barely had time to raise his staff before the knight was upon him. A quick Winter's Grasp spell froze the man's legs momentarily, buying Daniel just enough time to roll away from a decapitating strike. As the knight broke free of the ice, Daniel channeled all his remaining mana into a point-blank Energy Barrage. The twelve magical projectiles struck like hammer blows, staggering the knight long enough for Daniel to drive his staff's bladed end through the man's visor.
With their leader fallen, the remaining templars' morale broke. When the last enemy fell, Daniel's interface pulsed:
[102 EXP Gained - 6 Enemies Slain]
[354 EXP Gained - Templar Stronghold Captured]
Cassandra wiped blood from her blade, surveying the conquered encampment. "With this victory, the refugees on the King's Road should be safer now."
Daniel's interface updated again:
[The Sweetish Finger Obtained (Unique Sword)]
[69 Damage, +3% Attack, +3% Critical Damage Bonus, +2% Sunder on Hit, +3 Willpower]
[Qunari Slasher Grip]
[Simple Pendant Obtained]
The sword was a masterpiece—its blade etched with intricate runes that glowed faintly when moved, the hilt wrapped in Qunari-style leather grip. Daniel immediately offered it to Cassandra.
"Your sword served you well, but this..." He turned the blade in the firelight. "This deserves a warrior like you."
Cassandra accepted the weapon with something approaching reverence, testing its balance with a few practice swings. "It's... perfect."
As night fully descended, Daniel organized their forces. The lieutenant oversaw the burning of the dead templars—a necessary precaution against disease and a mercy their fanaticism hadn't earned them. Soldiers set up watch rotations while others prepared a hot meal from the captured supplies.
Daniel found a quiet spot near what had been the templar commander's tent, the Simple Pendant turning in his fingers. It was a plain thing—just a silver chain with a small Andraste symbol—but something about its simplicity spoke volumes. These templars had truly believed they were doing the Maker's work, no matter how twisted their methods had become.
Varric joined him, handing over a bowl of surprisingly decent stew. "Not bad for field rations. So," he nodded toward the pendant, "thinking of starting a jewelry collection?"
Daniel pocketed the item with a tired smile. "Just wondering how things went so wrong for them."
"Same way they always do," Varric said around a mouthful of stew. "Good intentions, bad information, and too much lyrium."
As the camp settled into an exhausted but victorious quiet, Daniel stared into the fire. They'd struck a major blow today, but the Hinterlands still had challenges ahead—the remaining Astrariums, the mystery of the shards, and who knew what else lurking in these war-torn hills.
________________________________________________
Name : Daniel Carter
Race: Elf
Level 5 : 683/2500 EXP
Professions: Mage
Gold Coins: 1429 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, 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, and Exacting Longbow
Crafting Materials: 34 Elfroot, 52 Iron, 2 Blue Vitriol, 1 Dawn Lotus, 11 Silk, 17 Lambswool, 2 Royal Elfroot, 10 Ram Leather, 23 Drakestone, 3 Fire Essence, 3 Blue Vitriol, 3 Canine Leather, 4 Plaidewaive, 2 Frost Essence, 1 Fade-Touched Iron, 4 Blood Lotus, 5 Embrium, 10 Spindleweed, and 9 Onyx
Upgrades: Sigil of the Gamordan Stromrider and Sigil of Deathroot
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, Nevarra Skull, and 1 Simple Pendant
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