The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]

[FortyThree]

Diocles grinned, turning to somber Ulrin while sneaking a carrot off of his neighbour's plate.

"Oh, no! We're friends."

He pointed to Ghil.

"And we're friends.."

He pointed the carrot at Sul, before taking a bite of it.

"But-Mph, excuse me. But you and I, Ulrin, we are not friends. We are.."

Diocles suddenly lost his grin, narrowing his eyes, his muscles tensing as he put on the face of a deathly serious warrior. He was determined to make one of these new recruits atleast crack a smile, and pulling Ulrin's leg a bit might be exactly what was needed.

"..Soulmates!"

 

[Cinnonym]

Thaedrin seemed amused at the bickering and theatrics coming from the neighboring table; Ghil, however, watched the exchange between the two elves and the human called Diocles with a blank expression, drinking her broth right from the bowl cradled in the palm of her hand. The woman paused to wipe her mouth on the back of her glove before giving her attention to the archer beside her.

"When do we face Darkspawn?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin looked over at Diocles and frowned, "I will settle for your version of 'friendship', nothing more." He looked away from the archer and resumed eating with a scowl and not another word.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn opened her mouth to spew anger at the elf. What did he know? As if she could ever forget the deaths, the sacrifice. Had he known, he would still likely be an ass about it. He could not have known what it was like to serve faithfully under a bloodline that took part in the grisly event. A year without a master was no excuse to loose all manners and control. She wanted to take her drink and fling it at his face, it would have been so satisfying, instead she thought better of it. At least one elf should display some control. Not even Diocles musings could rouse a chuckle.

Thank the Creators. A new subject. Though the argument had managed to spoil her appetite.

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles sighed at the somber lot. He couldn't blame them, though. He remembered his own Joining, his own anger and frustration and pain. Turning somber, he began to speak while filling his own plate.

"You can only resist my charms for so long, Ulrin. ... We may face them on the morrow, I do not know. The Commander may, but.. Even he can be surprised. Do not let your appetite for tainted blood get the better of you, warrior. It will be sated, and then some, no matter how great. We will battle hurlocks and genlocks and worse beyond count. You will fight until you reach your limits, you will fight further, and possibly, you will stop fighting. But rely on your armor and your new brothers, and you will kill for years before that happens."

He began to eat, quickly filling his face without regard for decorum. Indeed, he attacked his food as if it was made of darkspawn, his grin finally having receded for the night.

 

[Cinnonym]

The barbarian watched as Diocles waged war with his dinner plate. She shared the same hunger as the rest of them, but the meal wouldn't satisfy. She already had experience with the same sort of craving. After another moment of solemn silence, she stood.

"I will take my rest, then."

As the woman left, Thaedrin came to take her place in a less social manner. He remained standing, as though to sit with them would be demeaning. "Komnenos, if you've finished playing with your new toys, we have preparations of our own to make. ...All of us."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Not a word would be said to that man. Not this time. It was as good an excuse to leave as she would get to escape from the uncomfortable situation. She got up from the table to leave, bowing her head. "Please excuse me. Good night, and may you rest well."

She left the men behind to deal with whatever it was they needed to do. She wondered if the beds were at all soft and if she would sleep soundly. She shuddered, remembering the horde and the archdemon as he traveled back to the barracks for what would hopefully be a much needed good night's rest.

 

[FortyThree]

"..Aye."

His hunger mostly sated, Diocles rose from his seat to face Thaedrin. It was respectful, but it was also quite likely he did so simply to enjoy the slight height difference he had on the mage.

"What do you need of me, Constable?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Like the other two recruits, when Thaedrin arrived Ulrin left. The man's voice alone was enough to kill whatever appetite he had remaining. He tossed the roll in his hands back to his plate carelessly before silently dismissing himself and returning the men's barracks.

 

[ShadowFolk]

The uniform seemed more difficult to get out of than it was to get into and that took her some time as well. It was around the time she searched the barracks for a sleeping gown that she realized just how doted on she had been for a slave and missed her one nice slip (though it was of course given to her so her master might not have to see rags, Creators forbid). What she found was rough and scratchy, all she could ask for at the time. As soon as she'd changed and tucked away the uniform she crawled into bed. It was no plush bed of a magister, but it was a far cry better than a cot or the floor. Within a few minutes, she drifted off.

 

[Cinnonym]

Thaedrin glanced around the mess hall; the recruits had all filtered out, leaving him with the tested and true.


"As you sense the Darkspawn, so, too, do they sense you," the Constable made a gesture and his men filed out to begin a patrol of the exterior grounds. "It is only a matter of time before the horde breaches Tevinter defenses in the area. We are surely a beacon to them."


He paused, passing his gaze over Delphina. A rank below him, he didn't think she would object.


"That's why I find it so very brave of you and Komnenos to accept a reconnaissance mission. I suggest you try to be back before dawn."

 

[duckflesh]

Delphina raised her eyebrows, but made no comment.

 

[FortyThree]

"Reconnaissance.. My specialty. Except for putting arrows in things, of course. Where will we scout?"

 

[Cinnonym]

"As I mentioned, the settlements nearest Weisshaupt will be vulnerable. It would behoove us to ensure their fortifications are holding. Take the griffons, if you like, so long as you both return in time to wrangle your elves and brigands into proper shape for the morning."


Thaedrin turned on his heel and left the mess hall, having successfully demonstrated his authority. Tending to the plague-ridden this morning had left him feeling a bit deflated until now.

 

[duckflesh]

Delphina rose.

"Come, let's get to it."

She knew that the assignment was pointless, simply Thaedrin flexing his muscles, but she had no right to refuse. She'd do her best to get it done as quickly as possible so that the recruits could get at least -some- sleep before their first real day as Wardens.

"I don't think we want to deal with acquainting the griffons to you just yet. Horses will do. Come, now, to the stables."

 

[FortyThree]

"At your service, my lady."

Following behind closely, Diocles actually seemed sincere for once.

"Horses it is-I do take quite a bit of acquainting. .. Uh, sorry, by the way. He's probably only trying to get back at me."

 

[duckflesh]

She laughed softly. "Well... yes, probably. I'm eating dinner with Alrik from now on."

 

[FortyThree]

"Wise. Though he's neither as charming or as pretty as me, he does have fewer enemies. It must be because he grinds them to paste. Well, we can handle this on our own easily enough."

Diocles stopped to string his bow before they entered the stables, just incase. It took a bit of effort to do so, but he felt the bow's difficult nature was well worth its range and stopping power-Though it would be a bit big for horseback. He took a reliable gelding that seemed fit enough, mounting the beast with grace, after assisting his senior to do the same.

The archer's banter and ribbing quieted as they rode out, not simply as a precaution, but a result of his warden's premonitions acting up.

I sense you out there, monsters..

 

[Cinnonym]

Meanwhile, the fortress was quiet.

Ghil slept, if you could call it that, sitting upright in full gear with her back against the wall and her greatsword laid across her thighs. At dawn, a horn sounded to rouse the Wardens to a morning meal and a day's work. The barbarian slid down from the top bunk and adjusted her uniform, mail and breastplate and all. She regarded the elven woman dispassionately, and chose to let her wake on her own. Her sword was again strapped across her back, she made her way back to the mess hall.

Thaedrin was already awake; the nightmares made sleep difficult, if not impossible. With a sharp tone and a stern expression, he stood in the Great Hall and directed the new "servants" in their tasks.

 

[Rosen2012]

All together Ulrin slept poorly through the night. The previous day events coupled with his own guilty feelings and nightmares made it hard for him to keep his eyes shut more than a half hour at a time. The sound of the horn beckoning them from their bunks was almost welcome. He rolled off of his bed and dressed in his Warden's uniform before making his way down to the dinning hall.

At least if they had to go out and face the Darkspawn today, battle would keep his mind off of how tired he was.