Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"Eli Ameris," he says simply. "Please, I am told you can help me? My girlfriend is ill, some magical affliction. I was returning to my family in Golden Shores when I realized it was destroyed. I am sturdy and unafraid of hard work; while I have some money and can pay for treatment, I do not believe I have enough to save her life."

[Varric]

Name's not real (not uncommon for adventurers though). Rest of it feels... true but incomplete (again, common enough). "Why come to me? Why not the Bastion temple?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I.. I am told you are both fair and knowledgable," he says, hesitantly. "This is... my girlfriend is... I do not suspect Bastionites can help her. This is an arcane affliction of some kind. I.. I believe demons are involved."

[Varric]

From Golden shores and... wait. "You said you were from Golden Shores?" he asks curiously, wanting to get more information about that line of thought. Not wanting to tip his hand, he adds, "you making any claim on the mine?"

[Marian Hawke]

"No," he says easily. "We weren't rich. If you've still a need for miners I could use the work -- my girl's half-elven, I don't think she'd be quite so fit, but she could be a laundress or some such when she wakes."

[Varric]

There were only a handful of dwarves in Golden Shores (asshole Bright among them) and I don't know you. Well... actually, there's a slight hint of resemblance there (son? Guy never hinted at it but... could be). "Where is she now? No sense in settling price if I can't help in the first place." Not my business really but... neither were a trio of idiot kids (Marian...). This helping people thing did work out pretty well.

[Marian Hawke]

"I took a room, she's in it. She won't wake up. If you can help, I'll pay whatever price you ask," he adds, already taking a few steps back from the door. "She's been through more than enough already without this."

[Varric]

"Alright," Varric says evenly, rising to his feet to follow. Poor negotiator but good lover, evidently. "What can you tell me about what happened? Don't leave anything out and start at the beginning."

[Marian Hawke]

"That will take some time," he hedges. "Will you walk with me?" At the Dwarf's nod, he leads the way, pausing only for Varric to close up behind them before he starts off. He walks reasonably rapidly -- not so fast they can't talk, but he clearly doesn't plan to dawdle.

"We met... we were in a bad situation," he hedges again. "We saved each other, and rapidly became lovers. To make some coin, we joined an expedition into the Underdark -- they were based out of Nyra, but we joined up in Raplin's Oak. We followed an ancient map, and were underground for a week or so searching for lost treasure. On our way back, we found a shrine that wasn't marked on the map. She has the better vision in the dark, so she led the way into the inner sanctum. There was a gemstone there, one that fairly pulsed with deep red light. I've seen that kind of light before -- it felt like some of the things demons do to lure in or attract victims. I called out a warning but it was too late: she touched the gemstone and it damn near fused to her hand. She fell unconscious, and I can't wake her, nor separate her from the gemstone. I fear for her soul."

[Varric]

Based out of- father fucking dust eater. "Got a name for the organizer of that outing? Any writing or the like in that shrine? Symbols, markings, anything?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I don't  know who organized it, but the name was Gold Streak Mining Enterprises -- clearly a shell company, and I've not had the time to determine who the investors are." That's odd -- most lower-class or adventuring folk lack a business education, but that felt natural to him, the terminology comfortable. "As for the shrine, I drew many of the symbols from memory as soon as I realized the healer couldn't wake her. My memory is very keen, though my art skills are lacking, but I did my best. There was writing but I don't read the language it was in, so I copied the shapes as best I could."

[Varric]

Gold Streak... Damnit Bartrand... the hells is wrong with you? I knew you were setting up an expedition, but the sunless Underdark? Really? "Good, good. Have you touched the gem at all?" he asks, mind churning furiously.

[Marian Hawke]

"No, I didn't dare. I've had enough of demons for one lifetime." Despite himself, despite his best efforts, he shudders, before swallowing and repressing his trauma as best he can. You're Eli now. Eli isn't afraid of anything. Eli loves the sunlight and the open spaces and the crowded streets. This is great. Eli's only worried about Cindy.

"Did-- did anyone survive?" he asks, trying to change the subject. "When Golden Shores fell. Do either of us have family left?"

[Varric]

"...depends on who your family was, doesn't it?" Varric asks, attention snapping back at that rather... clumsy phrasing. 

[Marian Hawke]

"It does," he hedges. "Is there a list somewhere? Surely some survived, couldn't they? The whole town can't just be... Everyone can't be dead, can they?"

There's something small and lost under the voice there, something boyish, something that drags down Varric's estimation of Eli's age significantly. His voice wasn't all that deep to begin with, but the more nervous he becomes, the higher it creeps, as if he was pitching it down and has lost his handle on that.