The Family That Schemes Together, Sticks Together

"I can't keep gambling on you forever precious," the scum look Beraht shot his sister began to boil his blood. "You got a sweet look, something to light a man on fire. But you gotta make it count."

Rica squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, and shot a look at her younger brother, noticing the way his nostrils flared. "Please Beraht. I don't want to do this in front of my brother—"

Beraht laughed as he turned to face him. "Why not? He knows the slope of the land, don't you boy?"

Rico Brosca stepped forward a sneer across his face. "Didn't I tell you not to talk that way to my sister?"

Beraht smirked at him, unflinching "You told me a lot of things," he shrugged. "Not one of which meant more than a fart in the middens." Beraht stepped forward putting his face in front of Rico. "Before me, your sister was just another duster. Now check her out!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her up beside him.

Both Rica and Rico gasped as she was torn from her seat and tried to pull away, but Beraht kept his hand firmly around her bicep. A clear warning to Rico to stand down. "Braids down to here, gold-capped teeth." He said as he used his other hand to trace down her face and neck, stopping dangerously close to her chest. "She can recite elf-poetry and play the string harm. Every man's dream!" And with that he pushed her back, as Rica floundered to keep a steady hold of herself, catching herself at the wall.

Beraht backed up from both of them, as Rico's fingers twitched for a dagger, anything sharp enough to bring across his lecherous throat.

"All she's gotta do is find a lord, squeeze some kid out who looks like him, and we're all living the easy life in the Diamond Quarter."

Rica looked down at the ground, before bringing her eyes up to her brother. "Please don't get involved. You know that never goes well." She pleaded, obvious recent events keeping her even more on edge than usual, when she dealt with Beraht.

Rico looked into her eyes and looked down, silently nodding his head, while he fought the rage in his mind. Rico looked back at her. "I don't like to see him treating you that way." He murmured.

Beraht barked in laughter. "I'll treat her however I like. As long as you both eat off my plate." He stalked towards Rico again, looking him straight in the eye and glared, reminding Rico that he sometimes looked eerily like a Deepstalker. An ugly one at that. "You keep your head down and say, 'Aye' to any job I decide is low enough for scum like you." Rico didn't break eye contact, but the voice in the back of his head that sounded like Rica, told him to yield.

"Aye." Rico said, with more bite than he actually meant. To his dissatisfaction, it didn't seem to bother Beraht much as he looked back to Rica.

The crime lord craned his neck, to appear taller than he was, but Rico mused it was so he didn't look that much shorter than Rica. "In return, I can put out coin so you can doll yourself up and get a bellyful of some nobleman's brat. Than you both go free. And I get to join the family and be called 'my lord' for the rest of the little prince's life."

Rico couldn't help but laugh at that, ignoring the cast-iron look Rica shot at him. "And her son'll call you uncle and come visit on name-days?" Rico hid his grin as best he could, but he could feel it poke through. "What a joke."

"That's what everyone likes—a casteless with a smart mouth."

Rico shrugged. "We're in high demand."

"I didn't come for the joy of your company. I've been looking at my investments, and this one hasn't born much gold." Beraht began striding into the middle of the room, "I'm giving you another week precious. If you haven't found a patron, then you're back to sweeping streets."

He shot a dark look at Rica. "And I'll be taking all of my assets from you. Personally."

Rica unsure and anxious walked to meet him. "But, I have." She said as she walked in front of the fire pit. "I've met someone, that is I didn't want to promise anything, but he seemed interested."

Beraht looked thoughtful and Rico shot a look at his sister, but this time she couldn't meet his eye.

Rico took a breath and looked at Beraht. "So get off her back and tell me my job for today."

Beraht didn't turn his way, but began speaking, still looking over Rica. "Your buddy Leske's outside. He'll tell you the job for today." He finally turned and focused on Rico. "Don't even think about bungling this job. Your whole family's on loose sand with me today. And I know you don't have anywhere else to turn." Beraht shouldered past Rico, banging his shield a bit painfully into Rico.

As Rico watched him go through the door of their hovel, he resisted the urge to punt something into the back of his head. Like a dagger, or maybe even a dragon.

Rica grabbed his hand from behind, gripping it firmly. "I'm sorry you had to see that." She said, as she leaned into his shoulder.

Rico didn't look away from the door. "I can't stand him! I just want to—want to.." he trailed off.

Rica grabbed both of his hands and forced him to turn to her. "Just be careful about showing him. You've been lucky so far, he thinks it's funny when you and Leske get vulgar."

He gritted his teeth painfully. "Oh, I'll show him vulgar." Rico muttered.

Rica smiled somewhat and cupped his cheek, running her hand over his stubble. "Some of the nobles I've met, they'd soon have your head for speaking your mind." She said it softly, as if it were some morbid joke, but the look in her eyes told him her piece on the matter. "That's why I didn't tell you."

She let go of his face and turned back to the fire pit. "Beraht's been warning me since two others of his girls found patrons at Harrowmont's reception." Rica pinched the bridge of her nose, making her speech nasally. "They've received gifts already. Lord Rousten Elyse a surfacer-silk gown and she's not even pregnant. Beraht's getting impatient."

Rico grunted. "I just wish we didn't have to kiss up to that cave tick."

His sister shook her head and started to pace. "You know the other options, cleaning the middens, begging, going to the surface. No, until you find a way to save us all from Darkspawn and become a Paragon, we're stuck here. On Beraht's leash for life."

"I just think he expects too much from you, Rica." He said as he ran a hand through his hair. "You already do so much for that bastard."

"But you know how desperate the nobles are for more children. They can barely field enough soldiers to man the walls against the Darkspawn. If I could just give one of them a son, the whole house would celebrate, even move you and mother up with us. We'd become noble caste." Rica sighed.

"It's what Beraht's betting on. That's why he's paying for my clothes, my voice lessons. He wants a share of the reward."

Rico pondered that. "Then who's the noble who's interested?" he asked and Rica stared at the wall

"Yes! That is I hope, he's charming and strong and…" she shook her head, as if waking from a daze. "That's enough of that. Beraht gave you a job, best not keep him waiting."

Rico groaned as he dashed to his bedroll and withdrew the rusty iron daggers from underneath the paper stuffed back he used as a pillow. He pecked a kiss on his sister's cheek as he passed her. Ignoring his blind-drunk mother on the table.

"Come home soon, I'll have dinner waiting for you and mother."

Pushing open the thin iron door that separated all of Orzammar from their filthy hovel, Rico grunted. The smells of Dust town getting noticeably dirtier, as he spied another duster passed out and covered in his own vomit against the stone of the Brosca family hovel. The red hues of the magma reaching up and casting shadows on the stone sky, the smell of sulphur and sick smothering Rico's nose. He ignored it, as he always did. Orzammar was never a fair smelling city. Never fair, really, Rico thought to himself.

A familiar face stole Rico's gaze from his stone prison. "About sodding time" Leske smirked, the dwarf leaning against the side of Rico's hovel. "I was just about to bust in and get an eyeful of that spicy sister of yours. Ga-Row!"

Rico smirked. "Leske, how's it hanging?" He looked good, considering last time he saw him he had gotten drunk and shaved his own eyebrows off.

Leske sighed "No girls, no money and no home to call my own. I was thinking about writing a poem about it, which is hard once you consider that I can't write. Or read. Such a shame, really."

Rico laughed. "Name someone in Dust town who can!"

"But if I could read and write, like some fancy merchant caste poof, then I'd think I'd write 'Oh you really suffer to have no caste, you noble fuckers can shove it up your ass.' Y'know, I actually heard from some noble twat that there was an actual dwarf that told stories for a living on the surface, doesn't even have a beard, I heard!" Leske stopped and sighed. "But I don't know, maybe I could ditch poetry and give pottery a try again. Try to become a Paragon of Vases."

Rico grasped Leske's shoulder and shook him playfully, "If you were a Paragon of anything, it would be by getting rejected by every girl in Orzammer. Create the really desperate for a shag caste."

"Then I guess we'd have to keep playing heavies for Beraht."

He rolled his eyes as they started to walk through Dust town, trying to ignore the cries for a single copper from the beleaguered and lame.

"Give it to me; after the day I've had, I'm ready to bust some heads."

Leske gave him a look. "Search and discipline. Smuggler name Oskias. He's holding out on Beraht and he wants his money or the shipment. Really just wants us to break the guys legs or something like that."

Rico grimaced. "Sounds like fun." Leske raised a hairless eyebrow and said nothing. "Any idea where Oskias is hiding."

"As if it were that easy." Leske joked. "All he told me is 'find him.' Duster's got some family in the Merchant Caste. He's probably laying low near their quarters."

As they reached the commons Rico gestured in front of him. "Age before beauty."

Leske grinned before doing the same. "Virgins before the Sexmeister."

Rico grinned as they followed the path up to the smugglers family estate. Just do a couple jobs here and there for the scumlord, easy right? Yeah, and he was Paragon Branka's rosy farts.

Rico and Leske break out of Tapster's Tavern, ignoring the startled and disgusted shouts of the dwarves wandering the commons. Rico began to wipe the blood off his daggers with a cloth he took from one of the tables. The battle was short but pitched, to Rico, it looked as if the poor bastard was unskilled, but a sword would catch you dead in the belly no matter the skill level of the wielder.

Leske breathed out. "What a rush, for a minute there I thought he was gonna gut me with that fancy sword o'is but you poppin him in the knee like that. Man! He never saw it coming."

Rico grimaced but continued wiping down Stabby, his iron dagger, the blood staining the cloth dry as he tossed it over his shoulder. He had wanted to give Oskias a quick death, but he hadn't planned on Oskias having a surfacer shield. Made every cut he scored against Oskias with Stabby that much wilder and considerably agonising, considering the extract he had coated Stabby with before the fight.

He thumbed the bag that held the goods. He never enjoyed killing. He like fights and violence well enough, considering that life as casteless was never easy and if you didn't roll with the punches and knock life flat on the back, you'd end up deader than nug on a stick, but ending Oskias' life, Beraht or no Beraht, over two Lyrium nuggets just seemed like a waste to him.

But he wasn't in a position to act on his own. Beraht needed him to go wherever he pointed. Rica needed him to come home safe and alive each night. Even his mother needed him, to keep her sheltered while she gets wasted every night. He had other people depending on him, and he considered himself selfless enough not to act on his own conscience.

"Let's get over to Beraht, before he starts to think we're holding out on him."

Leske laughed one more time, adrenaline slowly seeping out of his body. "Usual place?" Leske asked, as they made their way to the other side of the commons. Rico ignored all the sneers and scowls, even the saliva they spat at their feet. His fists ached to knock that bitch out, but knew that would earn him a one way trip to the Deep Roads.

They were soon forced to stop halfway to the safehouse and peered over the arguing merchant and guard blocking the rest of the marketplace.

Leske leaned into his side. "Think we can sneak past?"

Rico laughed. "Sneak past what? Them? Or that massive fucking cart?"

The cart in question was huge, and obviously carrying goods from the surface, and was effectively blocking them from the closest of Beraht's hiding holes.

"Move this cart!" Demanded the guard, his hand perched on the hilt of his axe. "Or I will have it thrown into the Deep Roads! And you with it!"

The merchant, visibly anxious stuttered. "I'm sorry, my lord, but, but there was no where else to put it. I couldn't even set up shop in my usual place!" he pleaded as he cowered in fear.

"Nonsense!" The guard barked.

"I-it's true! The servants are polishing the floor for the new commander's mission tomorrow!"

The guard backed down from his aggressive stance, but continued to sneer at the merchant. "True enough, it is the Aeducan girl's feast tonight. Very well, but I want it gone by the evening patrol. If any of it is still there, I'll throw it over the Duster's in Dust town!"

The merchant relaxed slightly, but still rushed around the cart, as he tried to push the massive cart alone. "Thank-you, my lord."

Rico laughed slightly, "Wish I could see that."

Leske sighed and turned back around. "Can't go this way, have to go the long way, back through Dust town."

Rico mockingly saluted Leske, and he rolled his eyes. "I just love it when you take charge like that."

"You'll love it even more when I don't throw you into a pool of lava."

"I don't know about that, I kinda like it hot."

As they walked through the Carta hideaway and into an alcove of a shop on the other side of the commons, a group of dwarves were huddled around a table, with Beraht's voice booming around the room, but he seemed to only be conversing with a Dwarven woman with short hair in somehow even longer braids.

"The king is old. His rule won't hold much longer." He said, twirling a lock of beard hair between his fingers.

The woman's voice was raspy and tough. "Prince Bhelen seems far more sympathetic to our interests than Trian. The Aeducan princess however, is a no-go. She'd raze Dust Town back to the stone, to root us out if she could."

Jarvia, as Rico knew her, was a malicious woman. Having done some jobs under her himself, he knew to associate her as a grade-A psychopath. He'd even most likely associate that kind of behaviour to her, more than some noble caste bitch.

"Bhelen has interests," Beraht grinned. "Interests he knows I can provide. Though it wouldn't hurt to remove the poor princess from the board- We'll finish this later."

He caught Beraht's eye and nodded, descending the few stairs to Beraht. "It's about time you two showed up. What happened with Oskias?"

"We found Oskias, he had side-deal going on with some Lyrium." Rico told him as he fished out the two nuggets.

Beraht grinned. "Some people are slow-learners. He should have known: You don't lie to me. I can smell it." He looked thoughtful for a moment as he stepped closer to Rico. "Don't I make that clear? I feel I make that clear."

Beraht held his hand out, as Rico dumped the small bag into. Carta boss or no, Rico absolutely refused to touch his hand. All the posturing Beraht does, Rico wouldn't be surprised if he shovelled his own shit and claim it smelt like a fresh afternoon breeze. Whatever that was.

Beraht looked unimpressed. "That all? Guess the Duster was smart enough to keep his main stash topside." He looked back at Rico and Leske. "And Oskias himself?"

Rico nodded. "Last I saw, he was coloring the tile on the Tapsters' floor."

"Excellent, excellent. I'll send to- handle the clean-up." He suddenly jabbed a finger towards Rico. "Not you though. I have another job in mind for you."

Rico laughed. "You want me to make another duster cry?"

Beraht sneered at him. "Not if you know what's healthy for you. I want this job to be invisible."

"The warrior caste is holding a Proving today—all the best fighters, the last man standing, you know that sort of thing.

Supposed to be in honour of some Grey Warden who's looking for candidates to drag off to a life of eternal glory. Now it's not often we get every named fighter in Orzammer lined up like that, and I have a certain acquaintances who… take an interest in this sort of thing."

Rico was sceptical, he could see where Beraht was going with this kind of gig. It wasn't often Beraht would throw a job like this out. Or ever really, he was only ever good at bonking some duster over the head with a very heavy rock. Or get up close and personal with Stabby. Rico was beginning to have doubts.

"You're taking bets on the fighters?" he asked hesitantly.

"You get it," Beraht laughed, his booming voice throwing around the room. Jarvia rolled her eyes, and started to size Rico up. Beraht quieted down. "There's a lot of coin in it, when a few fighters get the fever up. Favoured fighters named Mainar, veteran of four darkspawn campaigns."

"My man, Everd's a long shot. Just got back from the Deep Road's offensive. Some young buck who has all the ladies drooling. I've got a lot of money riding on him. Mine and other people's. I expect to see that eight-to-one pay off. You understand me?"

Beraht was dangerously close to Rico's face. Refusing to back down, he grinned, eye-to-eye. "Aye."

He pointed at the door. "Then get out of here, and if Everd loses, well, we'll see what you and your sister can scrape up to compensate me. Here's the passes to the Proving Grounds." And with that Beraht threw the passes on the ground in front of him and turned back around to the other people gathered around the table. Jarvia gave a final look to Rico before grunting and giving him a greasy look, before she turned back around.

Rico glared at the ground, and slowly picked the passes up and walked to the door and opened it. Turning around to give Beraht one last hate filled look, he passed the threshold, with Leske scurrying behind him.

With the delightful interaction of the guards of the Proving grounds, and an equally delightful glob of spit from one of said guards sitting on his boot, getting into the grounds was easier than Rico originally thought.

"What a dazzling attitude. Times really are changing in Orzammer, aren't they Leske. Let us both bathe in the equality."

Looking around, the Proving Hall was the most grandest thing Rico had ever stepped inside in. It thoroughly amazed him, but the sobering realisation that the nicest place he'd ever been in was a job for Beraht, one that the more he thought off, the more he realised that this job had a higher than usual chance of being run through with a sword by actual warriors, somewhat spoiled the experience.

Also, he had spit on his boot. That sucked as well.

Leske stopped immediately, looking at Rico in shock, horror and amazement. He slowly brought his hand up to point at the human man standing in the middle of the hall, talking with a dwarf who seemed to come up to the human's pelvis. "Don't look now," Leske breathed. "But I think that's a Grey Warden."

His hand still pointing at the Grey Warden, even when the Grey Warden looked up to see Leske pointing very blatantly at him, that he excused himself from the Proving's Master and walked over.

The Grey Warden, a very tall and tanned man in armor so bright that Rico could see himself and his face brand in clear detail. His wicked looking sword strapped to his back, and an equally looking, just as shiny dagger on the other side. A pattern of two griffons dancing on his breastplate, though to Rico it looked more like they were canoodling.

"Stone-met, my friend." The Grey Warden's smooth deep voice greeted them. "Or that is what they said in my last visit, to meet the dwarves of Orzammer. Or did that change, you're giving me a particular look."

Rico felt the amazement on his face, as well as see it in the Warden's breastplate. Wow, he's tall, Rico thought. And shiny. Rico shook his head. "Oh, I just wasn't expecting such a pleasant welcome."

The Grey Warden looked thoughtful. "Did you assume the Grey Warden's would not be as pleasant? Allow me to rectify that." The Grey Warden stuck out his hand. "My name is Duncan. I'd say, 'Of the Grey Wardens,' but I suspect you already know that. Pleased to meet you."

Rico thought a moment before sticking his hand out to greet Duncan. "I'm Rico. Of… of nobody."

Rico immediately let go and dropped his hands to his sides. As Duncan slowly brought his back. "Ah… of course. That's what the face-brand means, then. I remember that now."

A surge of anger coursed through his body, as Rico straightened up and glared directly into the Warden's eyes, bravado filling him up so suddenly. "So what? Now you have to stop talking to me?" By the stone he was tall.

Duncan laughed mirthfully and Rico lost his courage almost instantly. "I never turn down the chance to meet someone new. When we visit Orzammer, we tend to remain in the Diamond Quarter. You forget how much of the city you miss."

Rico frowned at him. "Or the parts you're not allowed to see." He murmured.

Duncan was silent for a moment. "Quite." He said in return. An awkward silence filled the air, and Rico cursed. Way to be depressing, Rico. He chided to himself.

"So," he said eventually. "Is it true you're here looking for recruits?"

Duncan perked up at the question, obviously eager to change the uncomfortable atmosphere. "The Wardens are always looking for those who have the courage to spill their blood in battle to fight the darkspawn. It's rare that we find both with the skill and the will. The best Wardens are ruthless to their enemies, compassionate to their friends, and inspiring to the troops." Rico thought of that for a second. "It's a lot to find too, but I hope you also find what you are looking for."

Duncan gave Rico a small smile, before walking off to the other end of the Proving hall. Rico watched him go, pondering his words. 'Ruthless, compassionate, inspiring' that's what Duncan had said. He squared his jaw as he felt another surge of courage flow through him.

"Leske, put your hand down. We have a job to do."

"We're so totally fucked." Leske said as he began pacing around the room anxiously.

"It's really not that bad."

"Not that bad?! The sodding blighter is stone-cold DRUNK! He can't even hold his own dick without falling over, than fight in the Proving!"

From below them on the ground, Everd, snorted and upchucked something black.

"By the Stone!" Leske lamented. "We're dead. We're so dead."

Rico thought for a moment. "When my mother is like this, we usually just sit her up and place a bowl of boiled nug dung under her nose to wake her up." Rico looked around the room. "We need a pot."

He found a very cylindrical shield. "There!" he pointed. "We can use that as a pot." Rico ran for it and picked it up.

All of a sudden, Everd jumped up, grabbing Leske by the shoulders. "WHO'ER OUUUU!" he demanded. Leske cried out, as Rico fumbled with the shield and threw it towards them both.

Rico saw in slow motion, as the shield spun through the air and slowly slam into Everd's forehead. Knocking him down to the ground like a stone.

They sat in silence for a moment, only interrupted by a sudden knock at the closed door, making both Rico and Leske jump.

"Everd, match up, you ready?" the voice asked.

Rico and Leske looked at each other in horror. And both stood up failing their limps at each other in a panic. Their arms flapping in a poor substitute for speech as the knocking got louder and became more constant.

"Everd, you in there?" the voice persisted.

Rico and Leske, not done freaking out, began pointing at the most certainly dead fighter to each other and then the door.

"Everd, I'm coming in!"

Rico's blood froze, and in his panic he shouted. "DON'T COME IN!"

Rico covered his mouth almost immediately as Leske glared fiery anger at him. Leske quickly used his finger and mimed cutting his neck before pointing it viciously at Rico.

Everything was quiet.

"Alright, just get ready and meet me by the doors. Your match is first up." And almost as if it were an after thought. "And please stop drinking that nug piss. It makes you sound like you're chugging dirt."

Rico and Leske looked at each other. "I think," Rico smirked, a smirk so smug that he felt it reach his jawline. "I have an idea."

Rico clamoured up to the proving guard. "I am Everd. Everd is me. I am ready to fight in Everd's- I mean, my match."

Through the peepholes of the helmet, he saw the Proving guard look at him strangely.

"Alright Everd, first match is yours, you're fighting Mainar."

"Yes." Rico nodded. "I am Everd."

"O-kay, may fortune favour your fight, Everd. Are you ready?"

Rico nodded his head. "Everd is ready."

The guard gave way and he stepped into the Proving grounds. He heard the cheers before he saw the crowd. His heart jumped and hammered in his chest, threatening to leap out of his chest and kill him before the crowd, that would easily stampede him should they rally against him. Or Beraht, whicher got to him first.

"This is a Glory Proving!" A booming voice announced. He looked up to the centre stand and found in the distance the Proving's Master, with Grey Warden Duncan beside him, looking down at him. "Under the watchful eyes of our ancestors and fought, for our honoured guest, the Grey Warden!"

He kind of saw Duncan bow to the crowd. Either that or he was showing off his impression of a dwarf, Rico couldn't decide.

"The Warrior Everd, son of Galten, will fight Officer Mainar, survivor of the battle at Kal-Elerin!"

Mainar strode towards Rico, his steps heavy and precise. His long brown hair and beard done in braids along the side of his face, his chin held high, exactly how a warrior should look.

Well shit.

Mainar bowed to Rico. "You honour me with this fight. May the Stone show the boldest heart through the strongest arm." Mainar waited, and tilted his head at Rico, waiting for a response.

Rico shrugged. "I'm Everd?"

The Proving's Master shot throughout the arena. "First warrior to fall is vanquished. Fight!"

Mainar drew his sword and readied his shield and fell into a stance as he approached Rico. Rico hurriedly drew Everd's axe and readied Stabby, but soon Mainar went on the offensive.

Mainar lunged with his sword, and Rico almost cried out when he felt it only skim off the side of his armor, readying an attack, Mainar struck out with his shield, slamming into Rico and knocking him back. He readied himself again, but Mainar left nothing to chance, and was soon after him, swiping at him with his sword.

Rico tried to deflect his next lunge with his axe, but Mainar managed to disarm it. The axe flying wildly through the air, Mainar advanced, shield keeping his flimsy iron dagger away from his body.

Maybe I should have drugged Mainar afterall. Rico managed to parry the next attack with his dagger, but soon fell victim to a shield bash. He teetered away from Mainar, reeling from the hit, but refusing to fall. He heard the crowd cheer and boo from the stands, but at that moment, he couldn't care less.

He was losing. Badly. It didn't matter if Mainar beat him, because Beraht was going to kill him, and Rica. He couldn't let that happen. Not to Rica. This is what I get for wanting to fight like the warrior caste.

You're not a warrior. You're a duster. A duster who's had no real experience against a seasoned warrior, who fights with valour and honour.

But that doesn't mean a duster doesn't have a few tricks of his own. He grinned under his helmet. Duster's fight dirty.

He slowed to a stand still and held his dagger out in front of him with his hand and used his free hand to beckon Mainar over to him. For all his ready stances and sword and shield techniques, the stupid blighter forgot to wear a helmet.

Mainar charged, and when he got close enough, sword in front, ready to slash, Rico used his dagger to scrap up dirt from the grounds and flung it into Mainar's eyes. Mainar cried out, as Rico danced behind him, and used his foot to kick Mainar.

Mainar staggered forward but didn't fall, dirt clinging to his eyes, he discarded his shield to visciously rub his face. Rico used the distraction to grab his fallen axe.

"Sodding nug-piss fucker!" Mainar yelled. "Where's your honour!" he cried. Rico charged, dodging the hazardous swings Mainar took in front of him.

Rico parried with his axe and stabbed Stabby in between the hilt and guard and pulled, disarming Mainar, leaving him defenceless. He leaned in close to Mainar's face.

"I'm Everd." He whispered. Rico kicked Mainar in the groin, and grinned as he clutched his dwarven man purse in his hands, as he fell to the floor gasping.

The crowd cheered and Rico raised his hands, savouring his victory over Mainar! He roared when they whooped, windmilled his arm when they jumped, and mooned them when they screamed.

"The winner is Everd!" the Provings Master announced. "A truly memorable fight. A young cadet vanquishes the wily veteran." He nodded to the side, and a dwarven woman in a robe was administered to Mainar's tattered pride. And genitals.

With each fight, he felt himself grow more bolder. Defeating the asshole from last years Proving, earning him even more favour amongst the crowd. The giant axe he used was more of a challenge then Mainar, but after Rico managed to take out his legs from under him, earning him a swifter victory over the former champion. The Silent Sister was easier, especially after he punched her in the tit.

With each battle he felt his feet become lighter, his flurry of weapons disarming and then assaulting. He savoured it, felt his blood run with fire after each win. This was right, it was natural. Like everything up until then was to bring Rico to this exact moment.

For the first time, Orzammer cheered for him. He even forgot that it wasn't his name they cheered.

Then, came the spoiler.

The Proving's Master tried to pacify the rallying crowd. "In a special turn of events! We have a match just for the people of Orzammer! Everd, son of Geralt will face Orzammer's very own Princess Aedu- what is the meaning of this!"

Everd suddenly stumbled into the arena. Gasping and shouting. His forehead bruised, swollen and bloody.

Damn, Rico thought. I had really hoped he had died.'

Rico looked down at the ground briefly. "So close." He muttered.

"Hey!" the real Everd shouted "That's my armor! And what did you do with my shield! Can't sodding find it now!"

The crowd raged and screamed. The Proving's Master was louder still. "How dare you interrupt this sacred-"

"Wait!" Mainar shouted above it all. "I know that man. That's Everd! Then… what imposter did I fight?"

The crowd turned against Rico shouting and slurring. The warm happy feeling of rightness fading quickly.

The Proving's Master pointed at Rico. "Remove your helmet, warrior! I demand to see who you are! Let all who watched you see your face!"

Rico thought of his angle. Continue the lie, or yield. He could hear Rica in his head again. Telling him to give himself in.

He sighed as he removed his helm. "I am of no caste or clan!" he announced, holding his chin up high, hoping it would accentuate the face brand. "But I have defeated you all!"

The crowd screamed again banging and stomping and generally just being a mob, and slowly a group of guards approached him, weapons drawn. Rico backed up, he knew he was being cornered, but might as well make them work for it. Everd started advancing him as well.

"That," Everd hiccuped. "Should show me for pretending to be you-wait…"

Rico looked towards the crowd, looked at Duncan. He saw him on his feet, his hand stroking his beard. Or his mouth. Who could really tell with humans.

"Casteless!" The Proving's Master spat. "You insult the very nature of this Proving!" He banged his fist against the stone parapet. "Guards! Take this… filth away!"

The guards grabbed onto Rico, under his arms, and took Stabby from him. Rico spat at the ground. Anger colouring his vision. "Well fuck you too, you sodding nug-humping… licking…. Stone….. sod it."

And as Rico was carted out like a duster, he couldn't help but think how it would've felt, to leave as a champion.

He awoke to iron bars and a whispering voice. "Pssst, hey. Rico. Rico you hear me, mate!"

Rico groggily blinked his eyes and sat up. "…Leske?"

"How hard did they sodding hit you? You sound like they collapsed half the Diamond Quarter on you."

"Thanks Leske, always can count on you to give me warm fuzzy feelings."

"If you wanted warm and fuzzy, rent Teli for 5 coppers and an ale. But we're more likely to get stabbed and dumped. Beraht has us now. Bribed the guards and carted us here in his own private cells. They're gonna kill us, man. We fucked up."

Rico grunted. "Well maybe we would've been fine, if you had made sure Everd wouldn't get the fuck out in the arena, and out me in front of all of fucking Orzammer!"

Leske scoffed. "You're blaming me? You kill people all the time, you couldn't make sure a passed out drunken asshole was actually fucking dead?!"

Rico puffed his chest and pouted. "He looked pretty dead from where I was standing."

"Not dead enough apparently."

They settled into uncomfortable silence.

"So," Rico said after a while. "Got any ideas how to get out of here?"

Leske swore. "And do what? Kill Beraht and run the Carta ourselves?"

"Not such a terrible idea."

"It's fucking suicide is what it is. Beraht has people everywhere, Jarvia's here! How do you suppose we overthrow Beraht, because unless you're hiding a fucking dragon in that up-tight ass of yours, we're dead."

"We're going to die anyway, Leske." Rico said, pressing his face up against the stone wall, as he fiddled with his shirt. Rico was surprised Beraht gave them clothes to begin with. He usually took everything from the people he locked up, loincloth and all.

Leske sighed and stepped towards the bars. "I think I may have an idea. I kept a lockpick in the sole of my boot for this occasion, and luckily, they were stupid enough to leave my shoes alone." Rico heard rustling from Leske's cell. "Now if I can just get it out-crap."

"You honestly thought I wouldn't have found that?" Jarvia said from the shadows. "C'mon Leske, we're the ones who taught you everything you know." The dwarven woman sauntered up to the bars, poking her face through Rico's cell, and smiled. "Hey baby." She purred.

Rico laughed. "Didn't think you and honest would fit in the same sentence. I owe you a drink, Leske."

Leske let out a half-hearted 'yay' from his cell. Despite his jab, Jarvia smiled still. "It's been interesting watching you both try to save your skins. Oddly charming really. Kill Beraht and take over the Carta, what twists and turns your mind takes."

Rico looked dead on at Jarvia. "Just what I always wanted; your approval. I can die a happy man now."

Jarvia barked a laugh. "Can't leave a stud die unfulfilled." She backed away, sauntering slowly, and Rico couldn't resist staring at her hips. "You cost Beraht a cute copper, lost a hundred sovereign for Lord Vollney. The whole Proving was declared invalid, and the Assembly is calling an official investigation. You single-handedly brought the entire Dwarven Carta to the deshyr's attention. Do you have any idea what you did?!" Her lulling calm began to burst into unbridled rage during her speech.

Rico laughed nervously. "I bet that pissed you off…" he murmured.

Jarvia snarled and lunged at the bars. "You're damn right it pissed me off! If it were up to me, I would personally shove my hand so far up your ass, I'd be doing shadow puppets out of your mouth!"

Despite himself Rico reacted in the only way he knew. "…kinky."

Jarvia's nostrils flared as she let go of his cage and sauntered away. "I'll see you later, champion." She said, sarcasm dripping off the word like tar. She walked off into the shadows again, disappearing immediately.

"Well," Leske drawled. "That's not good."

Caged in a literal stone prison inside of his philosophical stone prison, Rico sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Don't worry. I have a plan."

"A good one I hope."

"You'd be surprised."

Rico began banging on the bars. Soon enough, the guard, Tropa, another casteless like them approached him. "Rico, can you not do that, you're giving me a headache." The dwarf was relatively friendly to Rico, as far as thugs go, but this was a matter of life and death.

Rico tilted his head. "That's funny, that's what first happened to me as well."

A brow furrowed in confusion, as Tropa leaned in close, "What do you mean?" he asked.

Crossing his arms across his chest Rico leaned backwards. "The headache. Broke right into a fever, I was bedsick for days, couldn't get a single ounce of sleep."

Tropa made a face and shook his head. "Just because it happened to you, doesn't mean it will happen to me."

Rico laughed and stood up. "Maybe it won't. But one way to make sure is to put your ear against some iron- try the bars- and listen for this dull ringing."

Tropa scrunched his brow up and put his ear against an iron bar of Rico's cage. "What's it supposed to say?" He asked lamely.

"Give it a moment." And suddenly, Rico brought his arm around the other bars, wrapping his forearm against Tropa's head. Tropa struggled, but couldn't get out of the headlock quick enough for Rico to give a sudden jolt, breaking his neck with a deafening crack. Rico sighed. "Sorry Tropa." He said as he went through his pockets for the key.

"If we're gonna get out of here, we have to kill everyone." Leske said, a sad note in his voice.

"I know."

Rico unlocked the cell door and ran to Leske's, unlocking it quickly and diving towards a box by the wall. At least he got Stabby back.

The way through the caverns was uneventful. Rico ran into a few enemies here and there, but considering he had defeated the best that the warrior caste had to offer, petty thieves and hired muscle seemed like a cake-walk. He felt his blood warm and sing as he fought and scrapped with other dusters. His arms yearned to slash and slice. He just gave into the song of battle and let it course through his muscles, blood and tingle his skin.

It was kinda orgasmic. In a non-sexual kind of way.

He and Leske came across a door. He nodded at Leske. Leske nodded back and readied his stance.

Rico edged the door open and peeked through. He saw Beraht with two other men.

"I'm cutting the whore free." He heard him say. His blood cooled and turned to ice. Whatever that was. "If that turncoat brother of hers doesn't know his place, I don't need precious Rica, either."

"Rica?" A blonde dwarf perked up. "That the one you got all dolled up in lace? Been wanting to get my hands on that."

The other dwarf was bald, he laughed. "Heh, I know what you mean." He said as he made a crude impression of Rica and started to thrust his pelvis into the air.

Beraht grabbed both of their shoulders. "She's yours if you want her, boys. And let me tell you… it tastes as good as it looks." They began to laugh, the glee and savageness in the sound stabbed Rico like tiny knives.

"Rico." Leske hissed. "Rico!" he said again louder. It took a moment for Rico to notice he had approached the scumbag, and his little ugly nug-humping pricks.

Beraht drew his weapon. "What the sod is that thing doing out of it's cage." The other dwarves startled and drew their knives. "Let's teach this little duster a lesson."

The bald and blonde dwarf charged, daggers raised, aiming for his face. He ducked down and rolled, using his axe to slice the back of the blonde dwarf's knee open.

He cried out as he collapsed onto the other knee. The bald dwarf blanched and raised his dagger again, aiming for Rico, but he side stepped out of the way. The bald dwarf was clumsy and graceless and too slow to stop himself from plunging the knife meant for Rico into the blonde dwarf's chest.

The bald dwarf stuttered. "No!" he cried as the blonde dwarf fell over, convulsing and spitting out blood. The bald one stumbled backwards, dropping the knife, and giving Rico the perfect opportunity to bring the axe into the front of his face. The bald one collapsed, axe still buried into his skull, and admittedly took Rico some time to pull out.

Seeing it refused to budge, Rico left it where it was and walked over to the blonde dwarf, still convulsing on the ground. Rico stood over him and quickly brought his foot down onto his skull. The crunch of broken cartilage, gave Rico a clear indication that maybe this one was down for the count.

Rico turnt to look at Beraht, who was scrapping with Leske. Beraht managed to bash Leske in the gut, doubling him over. Beraht brought his sword above his head, angling it above Leske's neck, but brought it down in a pained yelp. Letting go of his sword Beraht looked at his wrist, to see a rusty iron dagger embedded into his wrist, and poking through the other side. Beraht cried out as he pulled the dagger out of him and threw it at the ground, and just as quickly bashed Leske over the head, knocking him down.

He turned to face Rico. "You fucking brat!" he spat, and charged towards Rico. Readying his axe, he brought it down upon Beraht, only for it to be deflected by his shield. A quick shield bash aimed for Rico, he rolled again out of the way, and stood up, just in time to dodge another hit with the shield.

"WHY. WON'T. YOU. JUST. LIE. DOWN. AND. DIE!" Beraht rage, swinging his shield, each swing getting closer and closer.

Finally Rico's luck ran out. A hit brought Rico to the ground, dazing him. That wasn't as strong as the others could have been. Beraht standing over him. Face red, sweating profusely and his dark hair and beard scraggly and falling out in patches. He dropped his shield and straddled Rico, putting his large clammy hands over Rico's throat.

Rico gasped as Beraht squeezed. The older dwarf began to laugh maniacally. "….dieeeeee." he whispered, and wheezed. His hands loosing grip, Beraht fell to the side coughing and gasping for air.

Rico sat up, gulping air greedily, before getting on his knees and standing up. Walking over to Beraht, he used his foot to turn him over on his back. His eyes red, blood spewing from his nose and mouth and eyelids.

Beraht opened his mouth, and barely any sound came out. "What…. Did… you." He couldn't finish as he began to choke.

Rico smiled. "You didn't think I wouldn't coat Stabby in some of that deathroot extract I found layin' about, did you?" Beraht's eyes widened. Either because he heard Rico, or he lost all muscle control, Rico couldn't tell. "See you later, Beraht."

Rico picked up Beraht's shield and stood over him again. Strapping his arm into the shield, he then used it to quickly hack into Beraht's neck.

That's how Leske found Rico. Sitting in a pile of blood and gore gently bringing a red soaked shield amongst the floor.

Leske grabbed Rico's shoulder. "We gotta go Rico!" he said as he dragged Rico away from the remains of the Carta boss, Beraht.

"Ahhhhh!" Leske breathed. "Fresh air. I never thought I'd never see another free day."

Rico and Leske were then suddenly swarmed by guards.

Leske sighed. "Sod it."

Mainar pointed. "There they are! Seize the fugitives!" he shouted.

Slowly the Proving's Master approached, his own pompous ceremonial sword drawn. "Drop your weapons and walk down, slowly. If you resist, we will use force." He ordered.

Rico glared but soon moved his gaze to the very shiny human, sauntering to the crowd of guards.

"Duncan." Rico breathed. He steeled himself and straightened his posture. "If this is your idea of a heroic rescue, you're too late."

Duncan laughed, but the Proving's Master bristled. "You do not speak, until the Shapers have judged you."

"One moment, my friend," Duncan interrupted, bringing the heavy gaze of the Proving's Master upon him. "Did you not suggest that this Beraht might have arranged their convenient escape?"

The Proving's Master snorted. "Regardless, the penalty for impersonating a higher caste is death."

Duncan crossed his arms and gave out a low hum. "If this Beraht is as influential as you say, perhaps he also masterminded this Everd's impersonation."

Rico laughed. "Last I saw Beraht, he was suffering from a bad case of dead."

The Proving's Master stance relaxed, and his squinted his eyes, as if he were seeing Rico for the first time. "He's dead? Beraht had many enemies, but also powerful allies. They-"

Leske cut in front of him, stepping forward. "Beraht would've butchered us if we hadn't killed him first!"

Duncan stepped forward standing in front of Rico. Rico once again found himself staring up at Duncan. But something had changed, there was a glint in his eyes, one that had not been there last they spoke. Rico didn't know if he found that absolutely thrilling, or terrifying.

"Your friend has once again shown his courage and skill." He said, giving Rico a look. "The Grey Wardens travel far and wide to find people who are ruthless against their enemies, compassionate to their friends, and inspiring to their soldiers. I believe this dwarf, casteless as he may be, is exactly what we Grey Wardens, look for in ourselves."

The Provings Master sputtered, the guards looked around anxiously and backed off a few steps, even Mairan, prude that he seems, took the offer surprisingly.

"Him!" Mainar shouted incredulously.

Rico laughed out loud. More like barked, like a dog. Whatever that is. "You want me, in the Grey Wardens?"

Duncan held out his hand. "Let me make my offer formal. I, Duncan of the Grey Wardens, extend the invitation for you to join our order."

"This man," the Proving's Master wheezed, face red with anger. "Is a criminal. You cannot do this!"

Duncan sighed. "I can, and I am. It would mean leaving Orzammer and travelling the surface lands to battle the darkspawn taint wherever we can find it, so we can strike a decisive blow against the Archdemon and the Blight."

Rico shook his head and laughed. "Sodding yes, let's get out of here."

Duncan raised his hands in front of the legion of guards. "Then in front of these witnesses, I hereby recruit you into the Grey Wardens. Know that you are most welcome."

"This, this is most irregular. The warrior families will be very upset-"

"Tell the warrior families to suck it." Rico taunted as he sauntered past the Proving's Master to Duncan's side. "I'm a Grey Warden now."

Leske laughed and went up to Rico. "A warden? You lucky piece of Bronto shit. And here I knew you when you were stealing bread."

Rico laughed. And looked out towards Orzammer. He sighed. What am I going to tell Rica?

"Before…" he started, looking up at Duncan. "Before we go, can I say goodbye to my sister?" he asked Duncan.

Duncan sighed. "We do have a schedule to keep, but I will not deny you this."

Rico smiled. "Thank-you."

"By the Stone." The Proving's Master sighed. "I want this thing. Out of Orzammer by Princess Aeducan's feast. If I see either you or him after that, we will drive you out of Orzammer." He grunted before striding off, taking his contingent with him. Mainar shot him a dirty look before leaving as well.

"Well," Rico said, watching the dwarves walk away in a huff. "Shall I show you Dust Town, Grey Warden?"

"You're-you're leaving?" Rica looked distraught, her red hair perfectly done was quickly becoming tangled as she pulled her hands through it.

Rico laughed. "Not forever, just until we defeat the Archdemon in the south." Rico brought his hand up to cup Rica's face. "I'm a Brosca, you're my family. I would never abandon you. Not like father."

Rica hiccuped, tears running freely down her face. "I love you, Rico. Never forget that." She sobbed.

Rico blinked away tears. He didn't think leaving would be this hard. He gulped. "I love you too."

There was a knock at the door. He turned quickly to look. Duncan had waited outside, and gave Rico very limited time to say goodbye.

Rico stood up and grinned at his older sister. "Just you watch me, Rica! I'll become a hero up there. I'll buy land, become a surfacer Paragon. After I defeat the Blight, things will be better." He leaned down and kissed Rica's cheek. "I'll see you then." He promised and he dashed for the door.

Rica watched him leave, not bothering to wipe her tears as her little brother disappeared from her altogether.

"Come home soon." She whispered.

Part 1 of the 4 part prologue. Introducing Rico Brosca, the Dwarven Rogue, stout of body, stout of heart and the full-blown sex appeal of a dolphin (which is a good thing).

Part 2 should be up soon. Note: this is not contractually binding, so if it isn't don't bunch up your panties and throw them at me. See you all next time.