Dragon Age: The Cousland Chronicles
Chapter 1: Fall of Highever pt1
'And so is the Golden City blackened. With each step you take in my Hall. Marvel at perfection, for it is fleeting. You have brought Sin to Heaven and doom upon the world'-Canticle of Threnodies 8:13
The Chantry teaches its flock that it was the arrogance of men which brought the darkspawn into Thedas. The mages of the Imperium of old sought to take the Golden throne but had destroyed it instead. As they were casted out, the mages were twisted and cursed by their folly turning them into monsters…the first darkspawn. When they returned to the world of man they brought death and destruction, this terrible event would come to be known as The Blight, the first of many.
The dwarven kingdoms, strong and proud as the stone they worship were the first to fall. The Deep Roads, the dwarves' proudest achievement were used as tools for the darkspawn to attack Thedas again and again until the world neared ruin. In the darkest of days, the prayers of the innocent was answered, the Grey Wardens came…men and women from every race, warriors and mages, barbarians and kings, the Grey Warden sacrificed all to keep the darkness at bay…and prevailed.
In the four hundred years since that victory, the Grey Warden has kept watched and waited for the darkspawn to return. However in times of peace, those that once called the Wardens heroes have forgotten…
Ferelden-9:30 Dragon
In the forested area in Ferelden, a vicious battle had taken place...from the trees men women and children hung from the trees as trophies. Nothing was spared not even the livestock...a lone figure came across a body of a young soldier, barely out of his teens struck in the throat with a sword eyes open and dead to the world. The figure shook his head in pity, a life so young and full of potential ended in such misery. He pulled the sword out, knelt down and closed the man's eyes…it wasn't much; it was all the kindness he could afford in such a short amount of time. He heard growls and hisses behind him…darkspawn. It wasn't enough for the monsters to slaughter but they had to defile the dead also, such disgusting creatures.
One of them lunged at the man, with swiftness in his feet he went behind the monster and cut off its head. He dodged the other darkspawn blow and kicked it from behind. Before it could come back up, the man jumped forward and struck it in the head. The man sheathed his swords and continued forward across the field of death before stopping at a ledge. The sky was black and ominous as the smell of smoke filled his nose…he sighs wearily; he had hoped that this day would not come. He turned and walked away…the rest of Ferelden must know and prepare.
"Maker help us all…"
Highever
Situated on the north coast of Ferelden, Highever is the ancestral home of the Couslands and one of only two Teyrnirs left in Ferelden. Teyrn William Cousland served the embattled kings of Ferelden to drive back the Orlesian Empire and free their country from their occupation. Today House Cousland takes their banner in service to the Crown against the bestial darkspawn rising in the south. The castle doors flew open as several soldiers came in awaiting their lord's attention. Bryce Cousland, the one only son of William Cousland and current lord of Highever was starting into the fireplace contemplating his action.
"I trust, then, that your troops will be here shortly?" Bryce asked.
I expect they will start arriving tonight and we can march tomorrow. I apologize for the delay, my lord. This is entirely my fault" The older man in black nobles clothes said. Rendon Howe, Arl of Amaranthine and head of the Howes, one of the oldest noble families in Ferelden. Howe is an old friend of Bryce from Ferelden's war with Orlais, his bravery at the battle of White River was honored by the King of Ferelden.
Bryce sighed. "No, no…the appearance of the darkspawn has us all scrambling" he said. "I've only received the call from the king a few days ago, myself" He walked over to Howe. "I'll send my eldest off with my men. You and I will ride tomorrow, just like the old days"
"Yes the old days…when we fought Orlesians, not monsters" Howe said.
Bryce laughed. "At least the smell will be the same" The door opened and a dark-skinned young man with silver hair tied into braids in heavy armor came in. Bryce smiled with pride at the man. "I'm sorry pup; I didn't see you there. Howe, you remember my son?"
"Ah yes, young Jenra…he's grown into fine young man. Pleased to see you again, lad"
Jenra gave a smile and nodded. "And you my lord" Jenra felt an uneasiness as Howe smiled at him, since he was a young child he always felt unnerved by the Arl. Despite this he kept it to himself out of respect for his father.
"My daughter Delilah asked after you, perhaps I should bring her next time"
"I'd like that…"
"Good! She goes on about your prowess as a warrior" Howe chuckled. "I think you have an admirer, young man" Jenra groaned on the inside, just what he needed…being a noble had its advantages but one disadvantage was his parents and complete strangers trying to set him up with women he never even met before.
"At any rate, pup I summoned you for a reason." Bryce said. "While your brother and I are away, I'm leaving you in charge of the castle"
"I could come with you…give you and Fergus an extra arm against the darkspawn" Jenra said coyly.
"Jenra, we've talked about this…" he said. "I'm not willing to risk the wrath of your mother if you join the war; she's already twisted into knots about Fergus and me going" Sometimes it was amusing that despite being lord of Highever, he was very wary of his mother's fury. Then again, his mother was Rivaini and Rivaini women were quite known for their tempers.
"Let me convince her"
Bryce chuckled. "Good luck, you know your mother and she made it clear there is no debate" He then became serious "This is no needless task, I ask you to take a great responsibility" he said. "Only a token force will be here and you are to keep the peace in the region, you know what they say about mice when the cat is away, yes?" As much as he wanted to go, Jenra knew his father was right...the Couslands had enemies, enemies that would take advantage of their lord being away for so long.
"Yes sir…" he relented.
"Good boy, there's also someone you must meet" Bryce turned to one of his soldiers. "Please…show Duncan in"
Jenra tilted his head. "Duncan?" The door opened and Jenra looked past his father to see a man walking in with two swords, a dagger and longsword. He wore grey-silver armor of fine detail, but what caught Jenra's attention was the man's eyes…they were hard and piercing, there was no doubt that he had seen his fair share of battle.
"It is an honor to be a guest within in your hall, Teyrn Cousland" Duncan said.
Howe frowned a little. "Your Lordship, you didn't mention that a Grey Warden would be present"
Bryce looked at his friend. "Duncan just arrived recently, unannounced. Is there a problem?"
"Of course not, but a guest of his stature demands certain protocol. I am…ill-prepared"
"We rarely have the pleasure of seeing one in person, that's true. Pup, Brother Aldous taught you who the Grey Wardens are, I hope?"
"Of course, the Wardens defeated the darkspawn and stop the Blights"
"Not permanently, I fear…" Duncan said. Wardens had the uncanny ability to sense the darkspawn rising, an ability that very few could understand and the Wardens were very tight-lipped when it came to their secrets. Despite that, without that ability Ferelden…no all of Thedas would have fallen to the Blight a long time ago.
"Duncan is looking for recruits before joining us and his fellow Wardens in the south. I believe he's got his eye on Ser Gilmore" Bryce said.
"If I might be so bold, I would suggest that your son is also an excellent candidate"
Jenra blinked, it was not every day one gets praised by a Grey Warden. "Uh…really?"
"Honor though that might be, this one of my sons we're talking about" Bryce said sternly.
"But father, the Grey Wardens are honored heroes…why wouldn't you want me to join?"
"I've not so many children that I'll gladly see them all off to battle" Jenra sighed, his father could be such a den mother at times. Bryce then frowned. "Unless you intend to invoke the Right of Conscription?" The Right of Conscription, a demand that any individual from kings to criminal be drafted into the Warden's ranks. Other than their stature as heroes, this right is the reason the Grey Warden are so powerful in Thedas. However this is used sparingly, so it wouldn't be abused and bring on the wrath of the kings and queens of Thedas.
"Have no fear, good ser. While we need many good recruits as we can find, I have no intention of forcing the issue"
Happy with that answer, Bryce turned to his son. "Pup, can you ensure that Duncan's request are seen to while I'm gone?"
"Of course, Father"
"In the meantime, find Fergus and tell him to lead the troops to Ostagar ahead of me" As Duncan and Howe walked away, Bryce placed his hand on Jenra's shoulder. "Pup, I know you feel frustrated about this but I hope you know I'm not keeping you here because I think less of your abilities"
"I know but I'm not that sickly child anymore, father…I've grown up, grown stronger" Jenra said.
"I know, I know…but some things will haunt me for the rest of my days and seeing you so close to death's door is one of them"
Jenra sighed. "You worry too much, you know that my lord?"
Bryce chuckled. "I may be a lord but I'm still a father at the end of the day…you'll come to understand when you have pups of your own" Jenra smiled a little and walked out of the chamber to see to his older brother, Fergus. Since he was a child he looked up to his elder brother, unlike his parents Fergus didn't coddle him because of his sickness and Jenra was forever thankful. When he was starting to get better, Jenra would sit in and watch his brother's sword practice until he joined in started sparring with him. He never could beat him but that just made him more determined to prove himself.
"There you are!" Jenra turned and saw Ser Gilmore, a high ranking soldier in service to his family. "Your mother told me the teyrn had summoned you, so I didn't want interrupt"
"Hello to you too, Ser Gilmore" Jenra said.
"Pardon my manners, my lord. It's simply that I've been looking all over the castle for you…" he said franticly. Jenra sighed, a great warrior Ser Gilmore may be but he was incredibly uptight even if it wasn't needed. "I fear your hound has the kitchens in uproar once again"
"Fenrir?" Jenra groaned. "What mischief is that mutt of mine up to this time?"
"I don't know but Nan is threating to leave" Gilmore said.
"I wouldn't take it seriously; she's just releasing some steam is all"
"Your mother disagrees, she insists you collect the dog and quickly" he said. "You know these mabari hounds, they'll only listen to their masters…anyone else risks having an arm bitten off"
"Fenrir wouldn't do that…" He thought back to that one noble that got a little too close to him and had a bite to the bottom for his trouble. Jenra went to bed without supper for that fiasco. "Then again…better to be safe than sorry" Jenra and Gilmore went to the kitchens.
Welcome to Dragon Age: The Cousland Chronicles, the first of my Dragon Age series.
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