Bright night above the Kirkwall rooftops, quieter than ever and the sewers don't smell as bad as usual either. They should approach here any moment now, I should ready myself.

Slim, short figure moves from one of the high roofs to another with a short jump and then crouches on the edge, looking down upon the elven alienage. Enormous sword lays loyally on the ground next to him. It was almost time... rattle of armor started coming from an alley behind his back and moved towards the alienage itself. "Here it is then." sounded his thoughts when he observed the happenings. A group of drunk individuals rushed down the stairs and stopped at the giant tree. Giggling of few women and a man filled the nightly quiet. "Not what I'm looking for..." he noted to himself, used to having no other company to share his thoughts with. He turned around to search for anyone else coming into the alienage only to miss the drunken party entering one of the houses. The night became quiet again.

Silence didn't last for long however as a loud noise of metal clashing started coming from somewhere down below him. Something worth his attention at last. He turned around to analyze the situation. Street leading to the elven ghetto was swarmed by armored mercenaries with Tevinter characteristics to their gear.

"Here they come... but where is the distraction? They might not even get chance to enter the house if they stay guard here. Hope Anso didn't go back on his word..." he thought, frowning at the sight of the magister's puppets.

Door to one of the houses opened, letting out a trio of suspicious people. "One of the soldiers perhaps? Coming to report in their sightings from inside the house." he thought and moved to the side to see better through the blasted tree branches.

"That ain't the elf! Gah, sod it, we were told to kill anyone who enters the house - to arms, boys!" Fight has broken out in the alienage, putting a pleasant smile onto the observer's face.

"Here, it should be this way!" said someone from the behind alley. Pausing his stalking he grabbed hold of his sword, looking at the back street from where the new voices came from. More hired muscle to be seen just waiting on the way, just lazing around most likely. "There I thought there would be no Tevinter blood to spill by my hand today." the warrior smiled, tightly holding his great sword and jumping down from the roof. He landed on the back of one of the slacking mercs.

The darkness of the night clouded his being from the guards and before they could react properly a pair of blue lit eyes sent them cowering down, before striking at them with a powerful slash of one giant blade. Light faded as he let out a low husky chuckle at his enemies' lowered heads. He hid his sword and looked around the alley. He saw one of the mercenaries crawling away with difficulty, leaving a blood trail behind him.

"Captain!" the dying man growled. Another straightly standing soldier frowned at the sight of him. The killer came out of the shadow.
"Your men have died. I suggest you run back to your master until you're rendered unable to." he told the leader of the mercenaries with determined gaze turning into frown as the captain showed no fear of him.
"You're going nowhere you stupid pet. Magister wants his investment back, slave!"

Light of the moon revealed dark skin of the mysterious fighter. It lit up again as the strange symbols covering his entire body started glowing sharply. He turned around violently the instant mercenary captain laid a palm on his shoulder boldly. The mercenary gasped as an armored hand ran right through his very chest.
"I am no slave," said the voice of the man piercing his flesh. Soldier's body was released the next moment, falling right down to the ground, his blood coloring it.

A group of unfamiliar people moved closer to him, letting out a distantly familiar giggle.
"How badass was that?" said one of the two women to her companions, trying to draw attention to their being there. The unknown figure in front of them turned his face to them, exposing his elven ears hidden partly under strands of white hair. He gazed upon the group, examining them with the big, green elven eyes.

Second of the two women went into a relaxed pose, with one of her arms on her hip, looking in a similar manner at him.
"Not bad," said she with a slight exotic accent. "I could make a do with him," she added.
"Now that is highly inappropriate to say after he fisted that guy to death," answered her a blonde dwarf standing next to her.
"Now that was inappropriate," chuckled the dark-skinned woman in high, thoroughly used boots. Third of the group stepped forward, a fair, pale woman, not much higher than the dwarf accompanying her. Moon's light then really exposed her person, as it reflected upon her light, blond hair and sharp blue eyes.
"Now that we both rated each other, I think it's time to find out who's who there. I don't believe you're just a bystander in this matter," she said towards him.

"I apologize," said the so far mostly quiet person. "My name is Fenris. I am the one those thugs were in fact looking for and I am also the one who hired you, although through Anso's words," announced the no longer nameless elf to the still nameless group.
"My name is Katharina. Hawke everyone calls me... I guess it's because it's shorter or something. Nice to meet you." He scoffed at her last words.
"Hey! And what about me?" the taller women stepped in. "I am captain Isabela!" she bowed fancily.
"Don't let her bullshit you, she doesn't even have a ship." chuckled the dwarf. "My name's Varric Tethras and I am the one who makes up stories. Oh, and this is Bianca." The elf didn't seem too much interested in their introductions, but listened anyway, bowing his head slightly at the end of it.

"Who were those soldiers to you?" continued Hawke on the subject.
"They were hunters of the Imperium, trying to reclaim magister's lost property." He looked away as in remembering a citation. "Namely myself," he added.
"Slavers," said she at first seriously, but then smiled with arms folded and continued "Yeah I don't like those too much." Only then did he notice dozen of corpses around the alienage. All three of his newly found acquaintances chuckled quietly.

"Well... thank you for that. I couldn't have faced them alone. Although I had no idea they would be so high in their numbers when I asked Anso to provide a distraction for me." He made a face of slight admiration and then rushed forward to search the dead captain. That sent Isabela right on her feet, running back into the open and searching rest of the mercs for coin or valuables.

"It's just as I thought!" said Fenris suddenly, straightening back up. "I need your help once more. I know you have questions but this is a matter of superior urgency and I cannot afford to explain to further to you. Not now." The dark-skinned elf talked fast, making it obvious that it means great deal to him.
"All right, if it means killing more slavers." she smiled warmly.
"Good. Come with me to Hightown. It seems my former master is in the city. I cannot let the opportunity pass. We should attack him before he can begin to expect it," he continued hastily, turning the body of the dead captain face to the ground with a disgusted look.
"Lead the way." was her answer.

Way there was quick and quiet, except for few giggles between Varric and Isabela. Once there, Fenris led them to one of the mansion's door.
"There it is. If you've no second thoughts, let's go in now." Everyone simply nodded.

"Come out, Danarius!" shouted Fenris once inside, readying his weapon. "You cannot hide any longer!" He kicked the second door open, creating way for a group of shades to attack the group. Fenris' glowing arm sent his great sword right through the five of them, dispelling the magic that held their figures solid. Rest of the group also took out their weapons, rushing forward to follow the elf. They found him in the great hall with a staircase made of demonic matter so it almost seemed with how many shadowy creatures covered it.

Hawke stretched out her spear-like weapon and run it through one of the shades that tried to creep at Fenris' back while he was fighting one of his fellows. She hit the ground with the blade of her weapon, using it is a pole to fly across a pile of crates ahead of her, landing on another demonic creature about to cast a spell of sorts. Swift stream of bolts another few enemies close to her, coming from Varric's trusty crossbow, along with Isabela's daggers buried deep in the slime-like skin of another, endangering Hawke from behind her.

Fenris paid little attention to his allies, trying to move up the staircase as fast as possible. He reached the top, not noticing a spellcaster demon at his back, while fighting another. He felt cold strike him from behind, he turned around to see the spellcaster frozen solid as he was just about to cast a spell upon him. An instant later he saw a pair of armored ghostly hands tearing that very demon apart, releasing a wave of dark fog of energy. He saw Hawke pointing her spear towards him from below the staircase, with the blunt end forward. He frowned in surprise briefly, before continuing cutting through shades in his path towards the door to one of the rooms.

Once it was quiet in the estate again, Fenris shouted towards to door again, being unable to open them.
"Venhedis!" cursed he. "Quickly! We must find the key." Isabela coughed artificially from the side, handing a small golden key to him. He hastily opened the door and rushed inside to find it completely empty.
"Fasta vass! Sod it! Search for any valuables possibly left behind, they're yours. I... need some air." Fenris walked past Hawke and her companions swiftly and left the mansion.

"Well, why not do as he said," chuckled Isabela and started going through some of the cabinets, stuffing any coin or golden trinkets in her bra. Varric shook his head in rhythm with Katharina shaking her own. Isabela turned around, "What?" she laughed. Hawke smiled back and gestured for them to continue as she goes outside to see what's going on.

Walking out presented her with nothing but an empty street, as Fenris probably took a different exit out of the mansion. She trailed the house's walls to find another doorway. She found one several meters away and Fenris another few from it. Isabela and Varric came out of the door just a moment after, finding little of value inside the manor.

The elf turned his attention back to his temporary allies.
"I'm sorry to have dragged you here for nothing. Danarius must have left before we arrived. I assume you have some questions as to why this has to be. You can ask me now if you wish," he said looking at the obvious leader of the group without interest, looking as angry as before.
"Who is this Danarius, why is it so important that he dies?" Hawke asked. Fenris straightened up frowning.
"He's a magister of the Tevinter Imperium and also my former master from times where I've been a slave. I think it's obvious as to why I wish his death now..."

"Seems like quite an effort only to recover an escaped slave... no offense, but he must have dozens, no? I suspect the symbols on your skin have something to do with that," stated Varric the obvious question.
"I must look strange to you..." started the elf.
"Not at all" replied Isabela in a flirtatious voice, to which Fenris paid little attention.
"I have been given those by my former master and the ritual erased my whole memory from before that event. Danarius doesn't even want me, only the lyrium of which the markings are made. Even if he was to skin me and rip it out of my flesh," he said with a frowned, angry look.
"Sounds like a waste of a perfectly handsome warrior," added Hawke with a chuckle, turning into a warm smile. Fenris got ripped out of his angry state, laughing shortly in a shy confusion, which sent Isabela into a bit of a pout, when her remark had no success.

"I haven't got much to repay you for your services, but here is all the coin I have." He handed her a small pouch of gold.
"It's alright, I wouldn't turn down your help in return. I get in this kind of trouble a lot..." she refused his offer.
"We you meant," added Varric, folding his arms.
"True that," chuckled Isabela.

"Be it so, then. I thank you for your kind offer and will be here, at your disposal, if you need me," answered Fenris with a polite bow.
"No need to be so formal, elf. We're all friends, family and deep in trouble here," said Varric and moved towards the elf, shaking his hand. "Should you find yourself in need of something, Varric Tethras knows everything about this city. You can find me-"
"And me!" interrupted Isabela,
"...at the Hanged Man. Do visit from time to time, we play cards, drink bad ale and cure broodiness." finished Varric as he let go of Fenris' hand and started walking away from the scene, followed by Isabela, who winked at their newfound companion on the way. Katharina also stepped forward to properly form a bond of some kind of a friendship between them and shake his hand, only to find out that she's shorter than he is. She turned her eyes upwards looking at the top of his head. "Maker damn it!"

Fenris looked down at her, amused at her disappointment. But then his gaze turned into a serious one again.
"As long as I remember did I suffer at hands of magisters abusing their magical abilities to torment me. I escaped them only to find myself in company of yet another spellcaster," he stepped back a bit. "I saw you casting spells inside. What is it going to be - what kind of mage are you? Just what do you seek?" he continued cautiously.
"What do you think I seek?" she said in a voice that made her seem half a meter taller all of sudden. Fenris could feel her authority and respectability from her tone which worried and comforted him the same, just as it surprised him, seeing that in a person he would take for not much more than childish till now.

"I came to this city with problems of my own. What I seek is safety and comfort for my family, hard-earned if needed. I do not abuse my powers, the way someone has in there," she pointed back at the door of the mansion. "I am not the only one among my companions that has the gift. Is this gonna be a problem?" she said, folding her arms in serious manner, but seeming calm and confident.
"I might watch you and your friends carefully. I won't step against you or them however, unless I'm given a strong reason to." Fenris' voice turned somewhat offensive at the end. Hawke however paid it little notice.
"Good," she smiled again kindly. "See you later then... Fenris." Katharina shook his hand again briefly, smiling at him still, and then left the Hightown just as her companions have.

Events of this day have been most interesting, might as well stay in the manor now. Not that the owner will be needing it anytime soon.