I feel my eyes flutter open and scrunch my nose, when the smell of sewerage assails me. I groan as the light flashes brightly. A rock digs painfully into my back. My head is pounding and my teeth ache. My teeth. I cover my eyes, and sit up. I look around and see cobblestone. Rubbing the spot where the rock was jabbing me, I look down at myself.

I'm wearing my favourite pair of skinny jeans, green basketball shoes, a shirt with some ironic slogan and the hood I got from my best friend, Isaac, when I moved away, last year.

Where am I? It seems... Familiar.

I stand and check myself over for any wet patches. When I find none, I look around for some kind of vague idea of where I could possibly be.

"Lost?" A gruff voice breaks through my stupor, making me jump a clear foot off the ground. I search for the source, when I see a short man standing next to me. My jaw drops and I stare wide eyed. In front of me stands a dwarf, with amazing chest hair.

"Varric Tethras!" I exclaim. And I see its true, Bianca sits firmly strapped to his back.

"I see my reputation precedes me." I plaster a self assured smile across my face, to cover for my slipped facade.

"Who could forget the wondrous storytelling dwarf with amazing chest hair. Nor his beauty Bianca. I have to make people stop talking about you."

"Oh you're making me blush. " he waggles a finger at me. " My egos too big as it is, without the help of strange women on the street. " I grin sheepishly. He looks quizzically at my clothes before speaking again.

"As you already know mine, would you mind telling me your name?"

"Nessa Mìrìal" I feel the words slip past my lips before I even consciously register the question. Why that name? New world new name, I guess, though I can't remember where I heard that.

"Dalish? So you're from one of them wandering clans, eh?" Dalish? Why would he think that? They only accept elves. Or half-elf mages.

"No, I'm not from around here." Neither are the Dalish, I think sarcastically. I brush a stray lock of red hair behind my ear, and my hand stills. I feel a fine point, and the most definite characteristic of an elf.

Okay, definitely a dream.

"I'm from Denerim. Alienage. The Denerim alienage" I stumble through the sentence, and I see he notices it, but doesn't comment.

"Well Nessa, I'd best be leaving. Business to do, stories to tell, people to kill."

"Wait!" I exclaim then calm myself. "What year is it?"

"Did you knock your head that hard? It's 9 29 dragon. " And with that he spins and walk away. 1 year before the blight.

Well. That went well.

I looked up at the sun and saw that it wasn't even past lunch. Or it was way after. Either way I would have to move. Should I stay in Kirkwall? I liked Hawke, and well there's goddamn FENRIS, but... I think I could help better with the blight, and come back after saving Fereldn. How would I get there? I'll need money first. And weapons. But this is just a dream after all , so maybe I could just wish some?

I close my eyes and envision the sovereigns from both the game and my history lessons. I think about them appearing in my open hand.

I open my eyes, but my hand is still bare. I frown and sigh. Maybe this would be harder than I thought. I look into my bag to check if I have anything worth selling. I must have been going to or coming home from college, as I had my writing pad and stationery with me. I also had a half finished packet of gum, panadol, the keys to my apartment, my art book, pastels, colouring pencils, my phone, iPod and my wallet filled with useless notes, a picture of my family, my school ID, gift cards and a credit card. Mostly useless in this pre-technology world.

I might be able to sell some of the art I've drawn, though it won't get me enough for a ship to Fereldan. Or will it?

I look up and realise why this place looked familiar. A red body is hanging upside down, with its legs tied to a wooden pole. I must be standing outside the hanged man. I turn and see the stairs leading to high town. The docks must be... Down there. I set off at a brisk walk.

ooOoo

And so you're introduced to our main protagonist.

Feel free to write a review, favourite or follow as you please. I would like to hear feedback on what you think of this, and how you think I could make it better, though you can do as you will.

-FMI