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

[FortyThree]

Diocles finished his letter with a small smile, folding it carefully while chewing on a couple of grapes. Feeling formality was appropriate, he persuaded one of the novice mages to heat some sealing wax for him and used it to close the letter. Before it had time to cool he produced a signet ring from his pocket, pressing it into the wax to give it his family's crest-A raven perched on the hilt of a sword. Or perhaps it was supposed to be dragging the sword. It was also possibly a crow. He knew once, but the knowledge, like so much else, was lost.

Shrugging it off, he passed the letter to one of the elven servants along with instructions to deliver it to the intended recipient when it could be done so quietly, even if it needed to wait until the end of the evening. The note was written in careful strokes, each letter written with precision and beauty.

My lady Sulahn'nehn,

I realize you likely cannot read this letter, but I am certain my clever girl can surmount that barrier easily. Having reflected on it, I thought that the inconvenience of finding someone to read it to you would be worth avoiding the need of hearing my words or looking on my face.
While I maintain my motivations were not entirely selfish, I admit I am at fault, egregiously so. I have hurt you deeply, and there may never be anything I can do to make up for that. Just because it is impossible, however, does not mean I will not try. I will not ask for you to restore our romantic relationship, I know it is beyond you to look past such a slight as I inflicted. However, there is a weight in my heart that will not be lifted until you once again call me your friend, and I will seek that end with my every breath.
I owe you. I am at your disposal, with the limitations that I cannot betray the Wardens or the one who saved my life. Know too that I will honor what vows I have made to you that I have not already broken. I will protect you, and that oath I hold above others.
Despite my desires to speak with you once more as a friend, I will not impose myself upon you. I will avoid, against my every instinct, seeking you out to speak. In the event that my duty compels me to approach you, I will do so professionally, and I vow to keep my emotions out of such dealings. On the other hand, I implore you to seek me out whenever you have the inclination to do so. Even if you would just like to yell at me for a while, though I warn you I expect I will be healed more by the warmth of your presence than I could be harmed by the ire of any words.
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to listen to this.

Yours sincerely,
Diocles Komnenos

P.S. Elvhen names are as hard to spell as they are to say, I had to ask one of the other elves (Vulain, I think his name was) to help me get your name right. Nice guy (Unless we didn't get it right, in which case he's an ass). Regardless, he did not see the contents of this letter, nor did any other. I have kept the incident between us, the other, and Ulrin.

 

[duckflesh]

Trajan Vorenus, dining with Alrik and a few other officers, now stood and headed to a lectern erected specially for the occasion. The room quickly hushed.

"Tonight we celebrate the initiation of new Wardens, and the promotions of some who have already proven their merit. Senior Warden Aurelius. Warden Komnenos."

Delphina rose and approached the lectern, saluting.

"For her continued outstanding service, Warden Aurelius is hereby promoted to the rank of Warden Constable. Congratulations, Constable."

Delphina, saluting again, could not help but blush as she took her place to the left of the podium.

"Warden Komnenos. For continued reliability in the line of duty, you are promoted to Senior Warden. Serve well."

He gestured that Diocles should fall in next to Delphina.

"Fidelity."

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles had approached with formality, keeping his posture perfect and salutes crisp. Once he'd accepted his promotion he stepped alongside his still-superior, whispering to her from the corner of his mouth as he did.

"I knew it. Shame you didn't have time to braid my hair, I'm afraid I don't look nearly as pretty as I should."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn?nehn could see that there was an upside to continuing to work alongside each other, but she was also able to see the downside of sticking with familiar faces when their duty was dealing with darkspawn. She never did get to share her opinion on it as she was interrupted by a puzzling delivery.

She knew what it was; she had seen letters be exchanged before. She knew that on the parchment were letters that formed words and words structured in a sentence that would have meaning. All of which were lost on her. The elf asked if it was a mistake, but was then assured that the letter had indeed been meant for her. She was borderline offended. Who in their right mind would write her a letter? At what point in her life as a slave would she have learned to read? It had been sealed so nicely. Sulahn?nehn didn?t exactly favor the idea of going about the Wardens to find a human who wouldn?t mind giving her the time of day and reading to her.

?Ulrin, would you excuse me?? Not waiting for a response, she got up, letter in hand and looked for the only other male she traveled with that she did not mind speaking to. Unfortunately for her, he also sat with the spirit. ?Ser Jarrik? I hate to intrude, and I do hope it isn?t too much of a bother?This was given to me. I do not know who else to go to, I was not permitted to learn such skills.?

She held the letter out to him.

 

[Cinnonym]

This body's head turned toward the lectern.


Though there was considerable distance between itself and the nearest Grey Warden, the room was so silent that the whispers carried. What had they called him, they wondered, who was that supposed to be? The spirit shifted around the bench and stood, taking measured steps towards where the Commander was heading the ceremony.


"Yes."

 

[duckflesh]

Delphina giggled. "Hey, look at this," she whispered, "that sulky elf girl is passing notes over there. We should make her come up here and read it in front of the class."

----

Trajan nodded to Fidelity.

"As many of you know, Constable Thaedrin was tragically slain in the line of duty; however, being a mage, he has agreed from beyond to allow a spirit from the Fade to take possession of his body. That spirit, Fidelity, wishes to serve as a Gray Warden. As such, from this moment, Fidelity is one of us."

He indicated that Fidelity should stand to his right.

"Telrin, please approach."

An elf, this, and quite young, clearly nervous as he approached. Trajan nodded grimly, lifting the ceremonial goblet from an alcove in the lectern.

The elf took it, and drank.

His death was extraordinarily swift, and seemed almost painless. When he crumpled to the ground, the amount of blood that spilled from his mouth was much more than what he had sipped.

Trajan barely even looked at the corpse as a pair of slaves cleaned up the mess. "Jarrik de Avalos."

 

[FortyThree]

Objectively, it was a pretty funny joke. Diocles didn't find it amusing, though.

"Leave her be, she's a sweetheart. Look, here comes Ironface. I'll bet you anything you can name he survives."

 

[Slycne]

"Aye, lass it's no trouble."

He accepted the letter carefully, it looked important, and for once he was glad they weren't serving anything none to fine to drink - lest he be too full on wine to read the fancy penmanship. Cracking the wax seal and unfurling the parchment, it only took a few moments to gather that this was not something for prying ears of the crowded hall.

"Jarrik de Avalos." His own name hung in the air, and suddenly it seemed all eyes were on him.

"Aye, right..." The odd conversation with the spirit and the letter had been enough to lapse his memory, and the pit in his stomach grew back into a maw. Something that he tried not to let show as he put on a face for the elf, handing her the letter back. "It's not somethin' to be read in the open, I'll find you after the deed's done." As if it were a simple task to be hand waved away. "Heh, I'm sure it won't even be the foulest brew I've tasted."

The Rivaini man wasted no time striding up to the front of the hall. "Don't suppose you've got any Antivian red to chase that swill down?" A nervous jest to cut the tension.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Of course she would have managed to pick the most inopportune moment to request help. She was thankful that he did seem willing and was curious about what the letter said, but Sulahn?nehn only just recalled what he was doing at the fortress. The mortality rate of the Joining was staggeringly high and Jarrik was to drink next. Someone had already fallen to it, an elf, and he could very well follow.

There would be prayers for the lost tonight.

 

[duckflesh]

Trajan smiled at the joke. "You never know."

He offered the goblet, the thick liquid inside sloshing around the rim, but not spilling.

 

[Slycne]

Fearing unnerving himself in front of the entire company, a tale that could never be lived down, Jarrik steeled himself and took the goblet without further hesitance nor comment. In a quick and smooth motion he lifted the heavy cup to his lips and drank freely from the slurry of darkspawn blood and lyrium, ignoring the body that had just been carted off.

For a moment it appeared the drink had no ill effect, as if the man's titanic constitution truly matched his boasts. Jarrik even managed to simply hand the goblet back, cringing at the taste. The moment his fingers loosened around the base though they began to shake and clutching the fist tight only pushed it down the arm. The gnawing fear in his gut at been replaced with a pain that threatened to consume him inside out, and the Riviani man seethed and convulses as he stood.

Grunting to one knee, the best he could manage to fight it was to keep from screaming out, just a guggling wince escaped. After had seemed like an eternity of pain washing over every nerve, as if a searing nail of fire being driven in, the tides finally receded. The shaking ceased and Jarrik lifted his head slowly, suddenly exhausted.

"Aye, that wasn't so bad." And then there was only black... his body slumping over unceremoniously.

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin watched Sulahn'nehn depart from his company with the letter in hand. He thought about following her, but realized it would be strange for them both to be moving about. And with the Commander scrutinizing their every move he decided to remain seated.

Which was for the best, for as soon as the female elf was up and about, the reason for their celebration was brought to everyone's attention. Delphina and Diocles' promotion among the ranks was announced, and they looked quite pleased with themselves. As well as the announcement of Fidelity's presence among them. Though that news did not bring so much excitement to the hall.

Up next was Jarrik, and to be honest, Ulrin had to look away rather than watch the poor slave die. Though the Grey Wardens existed to save the land from the Blight they were terrible humans through and through. He looked back when the newcomer stepped up to take the goblet. He expected him to drop to the ground, or pass out, or scream, but it seemed he was stronger than that. Stronger still than what he had shown. Even his falling from the affects of the Drakspawn blood was rather dignified.

Just what kind man had joined them?

 

[duckflesh]

Jarrik was flying. He was high above Thedas in the night sky, looking down at a peaceful river that flowed out into a bay. Which river was it? He squinted his eyes, but could not be quite sure.

One by one, the towns along the river lit up for the night. It was only as he began to sink lower that he realized the lights were too sudden, too bright. The riverfront had taken fire.

For a moment he was standing in the middle of a dirt intersection, and around him dozens of darkspawn, grinning, armored gremlins with razor-filled mouths, hacked farmers and merchants apart in front of their children. The noise, and heat, were unbearable.

A moment later he was above again, safe, away from the noise; but then an awful roaring screech filled the air, and he saw that he was not alone. Dumat hovered there, watching him. The dragon opened its jaws and gently floated forward, preparing to devour him. He could do nothing to resist.

"Join us, Jarrik. Become one with us.

----

"Would one of you strapping young men carry Warden De Avalos to his bunk?" Trajan asked. "And see if one of the slaves can find some Antivan wine for him."

 

[FortyThree]

"Told you, Constable."

Diocles nodded, gesturing to exert his newfound authority.

"Vulain, give me a hand."

With the elvish Warden aiding him, Diocles lifted the larger man without difficulty, the two of them each taking one of his arms around their shoulders and carrying him away with dignity, joking quietly to each other as they left the hall.

 

[duckflesh]

"Everyone, please enjoy the rest of the night. Tomorrow it's back to slitting Darkspawn throats."

Trajan returned to his seat, but retired to his quarters not long after.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn twisted her lips. It was all good and well that Jarrik survived, but he couldn't exactly reiterate the letter unconscious. Once again she had to look for someone to read it to her. A fresh recruit aided her and she was finally able to know what it said. Jarrik hadn't been wrong, it really was not something that should have been written when she would have to find a reader. She took the letter back and thanked the human for helping her.

Immediately, she set out to find the new Senior Warden. "Komnenos. Ser. May I have a word with you? In private. " Once she was able to get him away she barely waited for the door to close. "It's a very pretty letter. ", she handed the parchment to Diocles, "Very pretty words. You are fantastic with making what you say sound beautiful. If I may say, and forgive me if I step out of place, but... maintain what you will. I will still maintain that it cut me deeply. Try as you may, for whatever good it will do. You are an adult and my superior, you can and will make your own choices. Chase my friendship if you want. I do not hate you, Komnenos. I am angry with you, disappointed in you, I am sure somewhere you feel that for me. If I am to heal and come to know you as a friend it will be because it happened on it's own. Not by practiced words read to me. I hope this is something you can accept. "

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles was made uncomfortable by the look on her face as soon as he saw her. Dismissing Vulain and leaving Jarrik to rest, he waited patiently for her to tear him apart. It was.. More gentle than he expected, and surprisingly mature for an elf so new to these freedoms. He actually smiled a little as she spoke, oddly proud of her for standing up to him. He took the letter and tore it apart, nodding to the pretty little woman as she finished.

"I understand. ... You know, I've never.. I mean, I.. Never mind. Just know that it was sincere, Sulahn'nehn."

His tongue was failing him, for once. Or perhaps she was right. Perhaps his own brand of enchantment was simply insufficient. Regardless, Diocles felt terribly tired all of a sudden. He gave her a small bow before retreating back into the men's barracks. He was asleep within minutes of disrobing.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Good.

It went very well in her mind. Perhaps now the two could carry on without causing a scene or any awkwardness. Or at least they were on the right path and it would hopefully keep her away from trouble with the rest of her superiors. For now, there were more important things to do.

She prayed for the elf who did not survive the Joining and once again for her friend lost at sea to find her way to her resting place.

Sleep came soon enough, accompanied by night terrors.

 

[Rosen2012]

After Jarrik was carried off, and Sulahn'nehn had wondered away with her mysterious letter, Ulrin departed back to the barracks as well. They were warned things would be back to normal tomorrow, honestly for that he was glad.

He returned to his bunk trying to put from his mind all the unpleasantness about what was lost and let himself slip into sleep and nightmares.

 

[Cinnonym]

At breakfast the next morning, Fidelity sat in the mess hall among its fellow Wardens. While there was, again, plenty of space left on either side of the spirit, the fear and uneasiness was largely replaced by interest. Perhaps they felt they were in less danger if it wasn't Thaedrin in control of the body. In either case, Fidelity would have continued breaking a heel of crusty bread in its hands, whittling it down to smaller and smaller pieces. It liked the sound of it, and the texture, and the crumbs.

Eventually, it ate.

"I have not seen action since I came here," it said, to no one in particular, "though I expect that will be remedied shortly. There was a task already at hand when this body died, if I recall his stories."