Noble Indeed….
"It's so good to see you again uncle Kherek." Brytana exclaimed as she walked her uncle to the Provings. Her uncle on her mother's side had just gave her elder brother, Train, a thorough reaming out for belittling his younger sister on her most important day to date.
"Ah I imagine you would be. Endrin was always so angry when I came around you as a child. If it hadn't been for your mother I would have never seen you." He said, grasping her shoulder weakly and smiled through his thick grey beard. He started to cough lightly and had to stop for a breath.
"Uncle, are you unwell?" Brytana asked with concern. Kherek smiled weakly. He looked very different from the cheerful man he had been when Brytana was a child. That was almost twenty years ago. His skin was mottled and grayish green and his eyes were sunken in. The Taint.
"Ah my lass, being a Warden these past twenty years has not been kind to me. Still, I've seen a great many things I would not trade for the world. Like you," He said, kissing Brytana's forehead. "and you're mother, safe from the Darkspawn."
As they continued down the bridge to the Proving arena Kherek kept smirking at his young niece. "the resemblance you share with your mother is uncanny. Right down to your tattoos." Brytana smiled to her self, blushing. Her mother had been considered one of the most beautiful women of all time by the city. Brytana, like Trian and their younger brother Bhelen, had all inherited their mother's blond hair. But while Trian and Bhelen took after their father in facial shape and features, Brytana took after her mother. Down to her sapphire colored eyes and rounded face. In her girlish quest to capture her mother's beauty, Brytana had even had her mother's royal maroon tattoos copied onto her face.
They approached the Proving gates and nodded to the guard who admitted them with a bow. "Warden Kherek, Lady Aeducan. The Proving master is awaiting you."
Today was an odd day in dwarven society. Brytana Aeducan, second child of Endrin, King of the dwarven city of Orzammar, was to be honored in celebration of her first command of and expedition into the Deep Roads. Where as her uncle, Kherek, was to be honored for thirty years of service with the Grey Wardens. He was on his way to the Deep Roads as well for his Calling. A ritual that all Warden's undergo after thirty or so years. A Warden would go into the Deep roads alone, and fight Darkspawn until they died to prevent being corrupted by the taint that lived inside of them.
The Proving master stood as they entered the room. The two Wardens who had been sent to escort Kherek to the Deeps were awaiting them, along with Brytana's second, Gorim.
"My Lady." Gorim bowed as she approached. "Kherek, it's good to see you."
"Like wise." The elder dwarf said as he clasped hands with the young warrior. "Nug pellets. It appears we've missed most of the matches. My apologies dear niece."
"It's quite alright uncle. Who's winning?" She asked one of the Wardens. A tall human with scraggly blond hair and a matching beard.
"Warrior named Evared. He seems to be a most excellent warrior indeed." The Warden peered down into the ring. Brytana followed his gaze.
"Impossible, Evared's a drunken idiot. He could barely stand last time he went into the ring." but surely enough, there was a man donning Evared's golden armor battering and opponent across the ring like they were a small child. Evared was clobbering the other combatant with the blunt side of and extremely sharp axe. Brytana narrowed her eyes at the golden clad warrior. Kherek grew closer to her.
"What is it?" he asked quietly. Brytana stiffened her back and walked to a corner just as Evared knocked his opponent down to the ground with a jumping kick to the head. Kherek followed her.
"That's not Evared." Brytana said with amusement. Kherek raised an eyebrow. The Proving master declared the imposter the victor and began to announce the next challenger.
"The next round will be Evared versus-" Brytana rushed forward and shouted from the top of her lungs. "ME!"
"Lady Aeduc- wait, what!" The Proving master stammered. Brytana gazed at the fake Evared hard. Gorim approached the proving master.
"It is her Proving. If she wishes to fight, will you really deny her in front of thousands of people and her Grey Warden uncle?" Gorim half asked half warned. The master looked at Kherek, who was now cracking his knuckles. With fear in his eyes the Proving master turned back the arena and with fear now in his voice as well, agreed.
"Yes! You heard me! The Lady Brytana Aeducan will fight Evared!" The crowd roared as Brytana made her way through to hallways to the arena. She held her sword in her right hand and her shield strapped to her left with the small enchanted electric dagger that was gifted to her earlier that day tied to her right thigh. She walked out into the arena, shutting out the Proving master's announcements and the cheering crowd. "Evared" Stared at her intently, twisting his axe back and forth in his hand. As if decide weather to use the blunt end again or com at her with the blade.
"You honor me with this fight." A cheery voice emanated from the golden helmet he had donned. Brytana smirked and raised her shield at him, leveling her sword over the top.
"And you make Evared look too good whoever you are." she replied with a smirk. The imposter went rigidly still.
"Shit…" he said out loud, staring at Brytana with shock.
"So where is the drunken fool?" She asked.
"Drunk and passed out." He answered. His left hand was opening and closing, like he was grabbing and invisible weapon. Brytana reached for her dagger and tossed it at him, then regained her stance. The other dwarf caught it with surprise.
"You're not going turn me in?" he asked in disbelief. Brytana laughed.
"I won't tell if you wont." Without another word, he launched at her, bashing the flat side of his axe into her shield several times, making her fall backwards and forcing her to roll as he came down with the sharp end where her chest previously was.
"Kinda fast for a girl aren't yeah?" He said, swiping at her with the dagger, splitting her cheek open as he brought his axe down to hit her shoulder. She deflected it with her shield and rammed her knee between his legs.
"Yeah, that's because I don't have 'those'" she laughed as she smashed her shield into his back, forcing him to the ground. She brought her sword down and pinned his shoulder to the ground, but he managed to bring his axe up and smash it into her knee, knocking her over. Her quickly dropped to his knee's over top of her and placed the dagger on her throat. Brytana huffed and puffed, her face red and hot. She blew some hair off of her face and with a laugh, dropped her sword and shield. The imposter rose to his feet and offered his hand, pulling her up with a tight grip. Everything seemed to be going well. She would accept that he was the champion and that she had lost. He would be on his merry way and maybe, she would find out who he was one day. That was, until the real Evared stumbled out onto the arena floor, screaming in a drunken outrage.
To be branded…..
"Thatz not meh! I'm meh! Hez not me at all, not even wan bit!" Evared belched out, stumbling along. The golden clad dwarf traded glances with Brytana. He raised his hands into the air.
"I am Evared! That man is the imposter!" he shouted back and pointed at Evared. It was a fruitless challenge however as several guards pushed path Brytana and drew closer to the other dwarf. On of the guard snarled.
"Remove your helmet now or by the ancestors, I'll remove it for you and leave the head inside." he spat. " I said now!"
The champion had no choice. He shook his head and said several swear words under his breath. He slowly removed his helmet and dropped it to the ground. The crowd went silent. He had short, spiked, dirty blond hair and a short beard, twisted at the ends of his moustache. He had bright blue eyes. He looked like any normal dwarf. Except for the small black tattoo on his face.
"Casteless scum!" a guard sneered and smashed his mace into the casteless dwarf's knee, bringing him down. Brytana walked forward and slugged the guard in his jaw.
"Do you really think it's wise to assault the Ancestors chosen champion, casteless though he may be?" She asked in a fierce tone. Brytana motioned to the guards. "Take him to holding. I'll deal with this later, if I find a single harmed hair on his head I will hold you all personally accountable for it. Do you understand me?"
The guard stuttered briefly and then nodded. "Yes my lady." They picked the downed dwarf up and removed his weapons. Brytana put her hand on his shoulder.
"What is your name?" She asked. The dwarf looked at the ground. "Well?" Brytana asked.
"Doodavage. My friends call me Dood." he said with shame.
"Doodavage? You aren't serious." Brytana laughed. "Really, what's your name?" she asked again. He looked at her with anger in his eye.
"My name is Doodavage Chamophski Brosca. It was my mother's sick idea of a joke. Said I was worthless anyway, might as well have a name to match. Now if you don't mind, I'm being arrested at the moment." He chuckled, looking away from the noble woman. As he was lead off, Kherek and Gorim rushed up to her side.
"What was that all about?" Kherek asked. Brytana laughed.
"I just got my ass handed to me by a casteless dwarf. In my own Proving." She said as she walked towards the exit. Kherek chuckled as they followed. "He would make a fine Warden." Kherek stopped walking and watched his niece and her second walk away.
"That he might." Kherek said as he instead followed Dood and his captors.
Gambit of the Grey….
Kherek may have been ill but he was still a Grey Warden. It was his duty to help combat the Darkspawn and that included finding capable recruits. This Dood might just be Warden material. Kherek followed closely. Not wanting to cause a scene by conscripting the man in public. He would do it later on when he was in holding.
Suddenly, another guard approached the group and demanded that the prisoner be released to him. The other guards didn't approve his demand but they did not argue. Clearly this was a higher ranking officer. Dood, however, did argue. He was promptly knocked out and given to two other guards who approached from the shadows.
"What mischief is this I wonder?" Kherek said to himself as he followed the new guards across the merchant quarter of Orzammar. The guards draped a cloak over Dood and tossed him and another bound and gagged dwarf into a cart. They headed towards the poorer section of the city. "Why take prisoners to Dust town?"
Kherek gripped the huge war hammer he carried on his back. This might be interesting after all. Upon reaching Dust town, the two prisoners were once again traded off, only this time they were traded off to a few thugs that were equipped with more than any Duster was legally allowed. Yes, this will be very interesting.
After another hour of searching and paying for information, Kherek found where the young dwarven men had been taken. They had been taken by the Carta, a group of thugs and ruffians who were organized by a upper caste man named Bherat. He had been a small time crook the last time Kherek was in Orzammar. Kherek had returned to the merchant quarter. There was supposed to be and entrance to the Carta's hideout inside of a shop there. After ordering the residing merchant to leave the shop for no less than an hour, Kherek began to search for the door. Upon finding it, he shut it behind him so that no one else who walked in could follow him. There were two Carta members further down the hallway, they seemed to be trying to hold a door shut.
"By the ancestors!" One of thugs the cried out when the door smashed open revealing Dood and the other dwarf covered in blood. Dood had found a replacement axe, while the younger dwarf wielded twin daggers. The two Carta dwarves rush down the hallway in fear only to be greeted with Kherek's large hammer. Kherek smashed one of the into the ground with a blow to the head. He put a dagger into the other dwarf's throat.
"I know you. You were at the Provings today!" Dood said as he ran up to meet Kherek.
"Yes, you gave my niece a thorough beating young one." Kherek chuckled out. Dood's companion tugged on dudes shirt.
"Dood, when need to get out of here before they realize Bherat's dead." He panted. Dood ruffled the other dwarf's hair a bit.
"Alright Leske. But guess that depends on our friend here." Dood said calmly. He looked to Kherek, who motioned behind him.
"Don't get to far ahead. I have something I'd like to discuss with you after we get out. If you're willing to listen, I think it could be very beneficial for you." Dood raised an eyebrow.
"Well, this day is just going to keep getting better and better isn't it? Not like I have a choice. Fine, we'll talk. Come bud." He said, patting Leske's shoulder. Upon leaving the shop Kherek had entered, they were greeted by a dozen armed guards, along with Brytana, Gorim and another young female dwarf. She had shaggy red hair and the same tattoo that both Leske and Dood bore on their faces. She was another Casteless dwarf. But she was well dressed. Maybe an Noble Hunter?
"Uh…Hi Rica! What are you doing here?" Dood said sheepishly. The red head, Rica presumably, rushed forward to hug Dood. The proceeded to smack him over the head repeatedly.
"You stupid, stupid, stupid nug brained idiot! What were you thinking!" she screamed as she beat him down. Kherek walked to Gorim and Brytana.
"I take it they know each other?" He laughed.
"She's his sister. She happens to be Prince Bhelen's concubine as well." Gorim answered. The guards moved to arrest Dood. Dood didn't fight. Rica begged for them to not take but Dood waved her off.
"It's alright. I knew the risk when I went out there. It was make sure Evared won or Bherat would kill you and Leske. Just let me go Rica." He said. Rica clung to him crying as he was dragged off. Kherek intervened however.
"Unhand him. Now." Kherek demanded. The guards stared at him in confusion.
"But Warden. The punishment for impersonating a higher caste is death. You know that." The lead guard retaliated. Kherek glared at him.
"You think don't know the laws of my own people boy? I hereby conscript this prisoner into the Grey Warden's. Unhand him." Kherek demanded. Everyone froze.
"What! You said we would talk first!" Dood declared. "Forget it, guards! Hang me! Quick!" He demanded, trying to pull the guards along himself. "Come on, what are you waiting for, Hang me already!" The guards however, didn't budge. Kherek waved his hand and the guards released him.
"You don't have a choice now boy. One way or another, you'll die. Why not make something of yourself before hand?" Kherek asked seriously. Rica gave him a pleading look.
"You'll live longer Doodie. Please." She begged with tears in her eyes. Dood grumbled and groaned.
"Alright! And don't call me Doodie!" Dood said as he walked over to Kherek. "What are your orders then?" Kherek tossed him a sack of coins.
"Go have a drink with your sister and friend. Say your goodbyes. You will meet me and the other Wardens at the entrance to the Deep roads. If you do not show, you will be hunted down." Kherek warned. Dood nodded graciously and went back to his sibling. Brytana came to stand next to Kherek.
"You had me worried uncle. You should have told me where you were going, I would have helped you." she scolded. Kherek put his arm around her shoulder.
"If your father had found out I had let you follow me to Dust town, he would have had my head cut off fast than a Hurlock. I'd like to live just long enough to go to a Warden's death. I never wanted to return to Orzammar in the first place. I might as well see it through." Kherek sighed. "Come now, enough of such things. I want to have dinner with my favorite niece and nephews before I die."
Thicker than water….
"Don't make me do this Trian. Please, I'm begging you. Brother, I love you. I would never betray you!" Brytana pleaded with her older brother. They were in the Deeps. While returning from her mission to collect an ancient Aeducan artifact, Brytana had been ambushed by her older brother and a croup of his men. Brytana had only three men with her. A scout, a Warrior named Frandlin Ivo, and her trusted second Gorim. Even though they were battered already due to being attack by a group of mercenaries while recovering the artifact they managed to hold there own. All of Trian's men had been slain but Gorim and Frandlin had been seriously injured. Gorim clutched at his leg while Frandlin attempted to fix his shoulder. The scout had an arrow trained on Trian but couldn't get a clear shot while Brytana blocked his path.
"Lies! I know you Plan to steal the throne from me!" Trian screamed, swinging his giant maul at her. "You were planning to ambush me! To bad I got to you first!" Brytana ducked up under his swing and rammed her shield into Trian's chest, forcing him back a step.
"That's the lie! I would never dream of taking the throne from you!" Brytana screamed back as she kicked his hammer from his hands and tackled him to the ground, pinning him.
"You would plot to kill your own brother and then profess you love him? Bhelen was right! You are sick!" Train said, wiggling to get free. Brytana bit back tears. She slowly rose off of Trian, much to her brother's surprise. She kicked his hammer to him and dropped her own shield and sword.
"Kill me then." She demanded. Trian gave her a baffled look. "End it if that's what you truly think. But before you do, listen to this, and I swear by the ancestors it's the truth. Bhelen told me the same thing last night. I wanted to believe he was mistaken, that he had been given false information. But apparently it was all lies. He played us both against each other Trian. I believed in you, I wanted you to be our next king. I never thought you would plot to have me killed. But I was wrong. You honestly think I need to die. So kill me." Brytana said quietly, she looked Trian and his eyes' and said it again. "KILL ME!"
Trian's snarl faded into a frown. "Sister I…Brytana, I didn't know. I should have known. I'm so sor-" He started. An arrow planted itself in his chest. Brytana whirled around. The scout had released his arrow after Trian had submitted. Brytana rushed him and ran him through on her sword. She snatched the bow from his hand and kicked him backwards. She turned to Trian who stood on the edge of a cliff. Their eyes met. But Trian's drifted to the side.
"Father…" he gasped and fell backwards, off the cliff and into the shadows below. Brytana slowly turned around. Several warriors were standing behind her. Among them, her father, King Endrin, Lord Pyral Harromont, a good friend to her family and her younger brother, Bhelen.
"See father? It is just as I said, It appears we are to late. She has killed Trian." Bhelen said. Brytana looked down at the bow in her hand. She already knew where this was going.
"My child, what have you done?" Endrin cried as he ran to the edge of the cliff. "Why? Why kill your own flesh and blood? Is power really all that matters to you?" Brytana couldn't speak. She couldn't fight what was about to happen. Her life was about to end and she could do nothing to fight it. Unless…
Brytana ran through the Deep roads as fast as she could. Her heart was racing. All she had with her now was a sword, shield and rags the assembly of Deshyrs had seen fit to wrap her in before the exiled her to the Deeps for fratricide. She stumbled upon a corpse. It was female by her guess. It had obviously been in the Deeps for a long time judging by the rot and decay. It had a stained and rusted golden plate of armor upon it. Brytana was forced to sever the body's head and right arm to get the armor off. She slowly clasped it around her blouse. It was a bit large but it would have to do. Her feet ached. They had not given her any footwear when they had sentenced her so she had been running for hours, gaining numerous cuts and scrapes along her feet.
"Ancestors forgive me." She whispered to her self as she finished equipping the armor. She felt dread at stripping the dead for her own gain, but she had to. She had to survive long enough to find her uncle in the Deep roads. She had a plan. It was not the best but it was a plan none the less. She would join the Grey Wardens and one day, she would exact her revenge upon Bhelen. Maybe even the assembly too. After all, they had blatantly refused to give her a trial and sentenced her. Her father had taken ill after arriving in the city limits. Apparently his heart had started to fail with Trian's death. She would avenge Trian. She would set things right. But she had to survive first. Finally she found what she had been searching for at long last. Her uncle was engaged with a Genlock, a small Darkspawn.
"Is that the best you can do! You ugly bastards!" Kherek yelled in triumph.
"Uncle!" Brytana called out, stumbling to meet him. Moving past his fallen foe, Kherek caught his young niece as she fell to the ground in front of him.
"Brytana! By the Paragons! What are you doing this far into the Deeps?" he asked, wiping blood from a cut on her forehead.
"I was," She gasped. "Looking for you. Bhelen. He's betrayed Trian and I. He had Trian killed and framed the murder on me."
"Dammit." Kherek spat. "That little brat has gone to far. But why have you come looking for me child? There is nothing I can do."
"I want to join the Wardens with Dood. It's the only way I'll survive long enough to fix things and prevent Bhelen from ruling Orzammar. Where are the others? Where's Dood?" She asked, rising back to her feet. Kherek grimaced.
"We were attacked. The others are dead. I stayed behind to cover Dood's escape. He gave me his word he would make his way to Ostagar somehow." Kherek explained. Brytana nodded. "You must go now Brytana. What comes next I must face alone." He said, pushing her along a new path in the roads.
"Uncle, is there anything I can do for you?" She asked quietly, hugging him tightly. Kherek nodded.
"Just survive. Follow that path, Dood has only been gone a short time now. You should still be able to catch him." Brytana released him from her grip and started to run again. Kherek called out to her one last time. "Brytana!" she stopped and turned to face him one last time. He tossed something at her.
"Find the other half!" He yelled as a Hurlock appeared from the shadows behind him. "Run!" Brytana ran as fast as she could. New cuts were being made on the heels of her feet but still she ran. Dirt and small rocks clung to the blood on her feet. Eventually she saw a light. It was extremely bright. There was a short figure standing in the center of it. It was Dood.
"Dood!" she called out. The dwarf turned to face her with shock on his face.
"Brytana!" He called back as he rushed down to meet her. Her blood drenched foot made the rock she was standing on slick, she feel, only to be caught by Dood before her face hit the ground.
"Ancestors! What happened? You look like bronto shit!" He asked with concern. He picked her up in his arms and started to carry her up the rocks.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you after-" she started. She promptly passed out in her arms. Dood chuckled to himself.
"Of course, go ahead. Take a nap. I don't mind carrying you at all. As the humans say, Light as a feather."