The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]
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Alrik laughed. "Commander Vorenus find me some time ago. Told me could see very interesting things in Minrathous. So came with, and Vorenus was right. Very interesting. As for drinking blood..."
He shrugged.
"What Trajan Vorenus does, Alrik does."
-------
The Darkspawn scattered like cockroaches before sunlight, leaving only Trajan Vorenus, who had been sitting cross-legged among them. He looked up at Thaedrin, apparently unsurprised.
"Good. I was beginning to wonder."
He turned again to look at Dumat for a moment, but then shook his head as though to clear it. He came to his feet, dusting himself off before walking toward one of the few features of note in the cave: an enormous stone spike that drove upward through the ceiling, a winding circular staircase hewn into it. Trajan began the ascent.
"Tell me."
He shrugged.
"What Trajan Vorenus does, Alrik does."
-------
The Darkspawn scattered like cockroaches before sunlight, leaving only Trajan Vorenus, who had been sitting cross-legged among them. He looked up at Thaedrin, apparently unsurprised.
"Good. I was beginning to wonder."
He turned again to look at Dumat for a moment, but then shook his head as though to clear it. He came to his feet, dusting himself off before walking toward one of the few features of note in the cave: an enormous stone spike that drove upward through the ceiling, a winding circular staircase hewn into it. Trajan began the ascent.
"Tell me."
Thaedrin followed the Commander up the narrow stairs; the ascent was steep, but he knew the fatigue in his thighs was only a projection of the mind. In the physical world, he couldn't have been any more at rest.
"The Ciraine came upon us in the night, threw us back. I was forced to retreat, and made way for Antiva City." Fearing his superior's disapproval, he quickly added, "But events in the area have left our order with a very sizable donation from the merchant lords. You will be receiving weapons and armor by caravan in two weeks' time. Perhaps it merits an escort, to meet it halfway. We drove the Darkspawn back from the bay, but they are never far."
He paused, looking down at the Commander's feet ahead of him, "Forgive me my detour, but I have a plan to get us the warm bodies we need in the field. Also, a potential recruit has emerged."
"The Ciraine came upon us in the night, threw us back. I was forced to retreat, and made way for Antiva City." Fearing his superior's disapproval, he quickly added, "But events in the area have left our order with a very sizable donation from the merchant lords. You will be receiving weapons and armor by caravan in two weeks' time. Perhaps it merits an escort, to meet it halfway. We drove the Darkspawn back from the bay, but they are never far."
He paused, looking down at the Commander's feet ahead of him, "Forgive me my detour, but I have a plan to get us the warm bodies we need in the field. Also, a potential recruit has emerged."
"It was always a gamble, the Ciraine," Trajan agreed. "You did well to win us resources; I hope they're something we can use. I'll see them safely delivered."
He mulled over the rest of Thaedrin's words. He could spare the Wardens long enough to let Thaedrin see his plot through-- but did the plan have merit, or was the boy simply incapable of accepting failure? He considered it as they ascended through the ceiling of the cave and into open air above, continuing to climb ever higher.
"You have my leave to continue for now. Recruits are ever the goal. But if results aren't yielded soon, you should return. And have Alrik send me a dispatch by bird, will you? I need his opinion on the Ciraine."
And everything else, of course.
"How fare your party?"
They had reached the pinnacle of the spire; below them were the nebulous windings of the fade, and in the distance, very clear, the Black City. Trajan stared at it with a focus only superseded by the intensity with which he'd gazed at Dumat.
He mulled over the rest of Thaedrin's words. He could spare the Wardens long enough to let Thaedrin see his plot through-- but did the plan have merit, or was the boy simply incapable of accepting failure? He considered it as they ascended through the ceiling of the cave and into open air above, continuing to climb ever higher.
"You have my leave to continue for now. Recruits are ever the goal. But if results aren't yielded soon, you should return. And have Alrik send me a dispatch by bird, will you? I need his opinion on the Ciraine."
And everything else, of course.
"How fare your party?"
They had reached the pinnacle of the spire; below them were the nebulous windings of the fade, and in the distance, very clear, the Black City. Trajan stared at it with a focus only superseded by the intensity with which he'd gazed at Dumat.
The party. The best possible topic.
?Alive,? he said, as that was the most concise description. ?They disrespect me. Some loathe me outright. The elves are mouthy fools and Komnenos is no less undisciplined than ever before, however, none of the lot of them has disobeyed a direct order. And that, at least, is seeing us through.?
He took a gamble in avoiding a mention of the archer?s temporary stint as a corpse, but Alrik had drunk enough mead that it might slip his mind when he made his report. Following the line of the Commander?s gaze, he found the Black City hanging in the sky, fixed at the same point no matter how high one climbed. It had taken the lives of thousands of slaves to reach it, he knew, but instead of the wistful reverence of Trajan he held only a bitter contempt.
?Why did He do this to us??
?Alive,? he said, as that was the most concise description. ?They disrespect me. Some loathe me outright. The elves are mouthy fools and Komnenos is no less undisciplined than ever before, however, none of the lot of them has disobeyed a direct order. And that, at least, is seeing us through.?
He took a gamble in avoiding a mention of the archer?s temporary stint as a corpse, but Alrik had drunk enough mead that it might slip his mind when he made his report. Following the line of the Commander?s gaze, he found the Black City hanging in the sky, fixed at the same point no matter how high one climbed. It had taken the lives of thousands of slaves to reach it, he knew, but instead of the wistful reverence of Trajan he held only a bitter contempt.
?Why did He do this to us??
Trajan stared at the city, the one place in the Fade that he could not reach.
"We fought an Emissary, once. A fiendish thing, a greater threat than ten ogres. It killed many of the first Wardens, so strong were its spells. When we finally put it down, I held my sword to its throat. 'What is in the Black City?' I asked it."
He paused, caught up in the memory.
"'That,' it told me, 'Is something one can only see for oneself.' And then it died. I know not who made that city, or why He tries to keep us out of it. It is our right, our inheritance. I will slay Him as surely as I will Dumat if ever given half a chance. Or maybe it was Dumat who made the city, and he was driven mad when we reached it: mad with fear that his creation had matched his power."
He sat down on a well-worn step; it looked as if he had spent much time upon it. "If only we could make it there, and see for ourselves. What harm could it cause? The damage is already done."
He looked at Thaedrin. "Don't let them disrespect you too much. Know the limit. You are a hard man to get along with and you must be easier on them than you might like, but too easy and they will become rebellious and entitled. Learn to walk the line."
"We fought an Emissary, once. A fiendish thing, a greater threat than ten ogres. It killed many of the first Wardens, so strong were its spells. When we finally put it down, I held my sword to its throat. 'What is in the Black City?' I asked it."
He paused, caught up in the memory.
"'That,' it told me, 'Is something one can only see for oneself.' And then it died. I know not who made that city, or why He tries to keep us out of it. It is our right, our inheritance. I will slay Him as surely as I will Dumat if ever given half a chance. Or maybe it was Dumat who made the city, and he was driven mad when we reached it: mad with fear that his creation had matched his power."
He sat down on a well-worn step; it looked as if he had spent much time upon it. "If only we could make it there, and see for ourselves. What harm could it cause? The damage is already done."
He looked at Thaedrin. "Don't let them disrespect you too much. Know the limit. You are a hard man to get along with and you must be easier on them than you might like, but too easy and they will become rebellious and entitled. Learn to walk the line."
Thaedrin saluted stiffly, though the man?s back was to him. ?Yes, Commander. I thank you for the opportunity to learn my place as Constable, I will not fail you in this task.? The blood mage paused, giving the Black City one last lingering look, ?I?ll leave you to your rest, then. Goodnight, ser.?
He slipped out of the Fade then; a shiver as he returned to true sensation, and he was done. His eyes were dry and his head was pounding when he finally came to bed. Too hard, too easy? The men under his command at Weisshaupt had accepted his authority by virtue of his birth and title; here, every word out of his mouth was to be detested, or worse, challenged. How could it be said that he had been too hard, when his underlings behaved as such? Something would have to change. He would need to hold them tighter, remind them of their duty to the Wardens beyond their own survival.
He lay awake and regarded the ceiling for a time, thinking of the story of the Emissary. Thaedrin was up again, bathed and dressed, by dawn to have the slaves prepare breakfast and awaken his comrades. The elves of Rorqual?s moved down the hall, coaxing the Grey Wardens out of bed with sharp knocks and gentle voices. Jarrik, as well.
He slipped out of the Fade then; a shiver as he returned to true sensation, and he was done. His eyes were dry and his head was pounding when he finally came to bed. Too hard, too easy? The men under his command at Weisshaupt had accepted his authority by virtue of his birth and title; here, every word out of his mouth was to be detested, or worse, challenged. How could it be said that he had been too hard, when his underlings behaved as such? Something would have to change. He would need to hold them tighter, remind them of their duty to the Wardens beyond their own survival.
He lay awake and regarded the ceiling for a time, thinking of the story of the Emissary. Thaedrin was up again, bathed and dressed, by dawn to have the slaves prepare breakfast and awaken his comrades. The elves of Rorqual?s moved down the hall, coaxing the Grey Wardens out of bed with sharp knocks and gentle voices. Jarrik, as well.
Waking up of her own accord, in the bed of the man she cared for, with enough time to relax would have been fantastic, however, a wake up was issued. The elf stirred and groaned as she nuzzled back into Diocles, reluctant to wake."If the darkspawn are not at the doors, I request a few more moments of rest."
Diocles sighed, unwrapping his arms from the elf.
"If you wanted more rest, you shouldn't have let me keep you up so late. Come on, we don't want to give them a reason to try to keep us apart in the future."
He rolled out of the bed with a yawn, dressing this day in somewhat more practical clothes. It was still contained a great deal of silk.
"If you wanted more rest, you shouldn't have let me keep you up so late. Come on, we don't want to give them a reason to try to keep us apart in the future."
He rolled out of the bed with a yawn, dressing this day in somewhat more practical clothes. It was still contained a great deal of silk.
Jarrik awoke with a grumbling murmur, squinting against the morning light. Last he recalled, him and Alrik had been drinking and swapping stories, but then his memory got all fuzy. It certainly felt like he'd attempted to drink the barbarian under the table.
"Eggs."
That's what this morning needed, and he quickly washed and donned attire. "Morning." His curt greeting as he joined the table and hungrily gathered a plate of poached eggs, fresh bread and cheese. Along with a small glass of wine to ease the pressure in his skull.
"Think the 'spawn will sortie again today?" It was an open query to cut the silence more than a need to know the answer. Thoughts of the joining ever lingered in the back of his mind, and it was easier to focus on more immediate issues.
"Eggs."
That's what this morning needed, and he quickly washed and donned attire. "Morning." His curt greeting as he joined the table and hungrily gathered a plate of poached eggs, fresh bread and cheese. Along with a small glass of wine to ease the pressure in his skull.
"Think the 'spawn will sortie again today?" It was an open query to cut the silence more than a need to know the answer. Thoughts of the joining ever lingered in the back of his mind, and it was easier to focus on more immediate issues.
"The blame cannot be shifted entirely on myself, lath."
She slipped out of the bed, stretching. Unfortunately for her, all changes of clothes for a woman were still in a different room. It seemed she never thought these things through. Sulahn'nehn dressed herself in what she had and approached Diocles, he really did have a knack for fashion. She wrapped her hands around his waist from behind and kissed his shoulder. "I need to prepare for the day. I will see you over breakfast."
Sulahn'nehn left him behind to change into something less dressy. It would only be a disappointment later when it was taken from her or ruined. Later, she returned to the dinning hall for their morning meal.
She looked to Jarrik, covering her mouth as she got over a rather bad case of yawns. "Good morning, ser."
She slipped out of the bed, stretching. Unfortunately for her, all changes of clothes for a woman were still in a different room. It seemed she never thought these things through. Sulahn'nehn dressed herself in what she had and approached Diocles, he really did have a knack for fashion. She wrapped her hands around his waist from behind and kissed his shoulder. "I need to prepare for the day. I will see you over breakfast."
Sulahn'nehn left him behind to change into something less dressy. It would only be a disappointment later when it was taken from her or ruined. Later, she returned to the dinning hall for their morning meal.
She looked to Jarrik, covering her mouth as she got over a rather bad case of yawns. "Good morning, ser."
Diocles waited just a few minutes, giving Sulahn'nehn time to enter before him. It wouldn't do for them to enter together. The appearance of making appearances, that was enough for civilized company. Finally his hunger overcame his patience, and he joined the others in the dining hall. He stacked his plate high, taking a seat near the head of the table.
"Tonight," Thaedrin said, at the head of the table with his plate already clean and a dark stout at his elbow, "but until then, there is work to be done and preparations to be made. Eat, and we will leave for the warehouses once you've all finished. We will have you each equipped properly before we begin."
Ghil wandered into the room, hair still damp from last night's soak and wearing a satin robe that hung open at the chest. Thaedrin managed to convince himself to be glad she had at least belted it, though he gave a long-suffering sigh.
"What? Was all that was there." She shrugged, tearing a fistful out of a loaf of bread, "What have I been missing? Equipping, you said?"
Ghil wandered into the room, hair still damp from last night's soak and wearing a satin robe that hung open at the chest. Thaedrin managed to convince himself to be glad she had at least belted it, though he gave a long-suffering sigh.
"What? Was all that was there." She shrugged, tearing a fistful out of a loaf of bread, "What have I been missing? Equipping, you said?"
Sulahn'nehn noted that Diocles had not said a word since he arrived, which was odd to say the least. And then Ghil arrived in her usual fashion, she would have said nothing if not for the sigh. "Ghil, my friend. You may wish to, um, readjust your robe." She looked the barbarian over, "And if you would like I can help you with your hair again. "
The woman shrugged again and pulled one side of the robe inward to cover a breast.
Thaedrin eyed Diocles with suspicion; the archer had no precedent of silence. Instead of pointing it out for discussion, his attention turned elsewhere. "Ser de Avalos, I found myself wondering, why is such a... 'decorated'... Rivaini man here in Antiva City?"
Thaedrin eyed Diocles with suspicion; the archer had no precedent of silence. Instead of pointing it out for discussion, his attention turned elsewhere. "Ser de Avalos, I found myself wondering, why is such a... 'decorated'... Rivaini man here in Antiva City?"
"'til recently, I was attached to the Tevinter legion in Rivain." He cut into one of the poached eggs, letting the yolk soak out into the bread. "But given its location, Rivain is about the closest semblance to peace in the realm. Far east and all but land bridged that is, and we haven't seen no 'spawn with gills yet." He crudely drew the outline of the area in the air with a fork to demonstrate why it was strategically easy to defend.
"A few skirmishes with brigands and the more ruthless pirate." Taking a break to pause for a bite of egg soaked bread, washed down with wine. "But it gets pretty dull riding on patrol day after day. So I went off seeking fame and fortune, as they say."
Jarrik briefly pondered the question forming in his head. "How did a Laeta...Atlus come to find themselves with the wardens of the grey?
"A few skirmishes with brigands and the more ruthless pirate." Taking a break to pause for a bite of egg soaked bread, washed down with wine. "But it gets pretty dull riding on patrol day after day. So I went off seeking fame and fortune, as they say."
Jarrik briefly pondered the question forming in his head. "How did a Laeta...Atlus come to find themselves with the wardens of the grey?