Dragon Age:01 Shades in the Night

Starring: Adolph Cienfuegos, Sir Jean-Phillipe Lafayette, Royale, Dankhar Cleavehelm
Guest Starring: Angelique Vaaspaard; Templar in the town of Monfort; Merchant we traveled with to Andoral's Reach
Challenge: Gathering the heroes; Fighting shades in the middle of the night
Location: Val Royeaux; Monfort for a night; Camping on the side of the road; Andoral's Reach
Date Played: 21 Sept 2015

The following takes place one year after the Inquisition.

A Group Bands Together

Adolph: I've been entrusted to sally forth into the wider world as a favor for a woman whom I've never met. Her name is Angelique Vaaspaard and it carries weight in my social circles. She has a secret quest and strident guidelines on whom she will grant this boon. And so I survey my options for companions in Val Royeaux.

I see at once a masterpiece of a Duelist, who I later learn calls himself The Royale, in the third person no less. The negotiations are relatively painless though I determine that he has a taste for blood that I'll have to keep tended to.

Searching further I notice a mercenary pair, road worn but sharp eyed, having trouble securing a meal. I take advantage of the opportunity, buying their meal and more, and secure the aid of an honorable warrior and a prone-to-anger dwarven brawler.

Meeting with Angelique Vaaspaard

Adolph: We entreat with Lady Vaaspaard and convince her that we are her solution, so she reveals her needs to us. Once her family had Elven servants who served the family well and were, as a whole, granted freedom. They used this freedom to gather themselves into a new community several weeks away, named Dar Corain.

As a precaution, she had spies keep an eye on them and all seemed well and normal until the spying eye was poked blind. She hasn't heard word in about a week and the uncertainty has her worried. A threat, real or imagined, may be growing and she wishes to know more. Especially as a new player arrived at Dar Corain, a Dalesh woman who spoke their tongue.

We get further details, which includes a contact person named Julian Tartorie. We also kindly remind Lady Vaaspaard that such a journey has great risk and we get half our payment—500 gp—up front.

Town of Monfort

Adolph: After a week of hard riding we enter the town on Monfort, where the local templar exercises his power—and his caution—by having me present my papers that explain the confidence that my lady has in me and that I am excused an escort.

The Royale, bored from lack of skirmish, challenges the templar to a kind duel. The templar is schooled but not unreasonably so.

Shades in the Night

Adolph: Reading about Shades, those terrifying creatures, is horrible enough but now that I have met them in person I must say that I would prefer to not do so again. We were beset in the night while The Royale was on watch, who wisely woke me up to identify the mystical threat. We wake our companions and the ensuing fight was not kind to our Dwarves brawler. His attitude is rowdy and he will survive.

Once defeated the only remains they leave behind are opals. The brawler examines them and determines they are coated in Illyrium dust.

As the dawn rises after a night of fitful sleep, a merchant on a wagon approaches. We entreat with him to merge our groups for there is nearly always safety in numbers.