Three Mages and a Rogue
This is a short one-shot based off of my experiences with my first Awakening play through. I have no problem with Oghren as a character—he's actually pretty funny—I just have serious issues with his fighting skills and his tendency to "die" seemingly 2 seconds into every battle. No spoilers if your familiar with the characters for both Origins and Awakenings.
Genevere Amell sighed as she dropped her staff, pulled out her sword, and waded into the fray. Maker but she missed Alistair right now—why did her own personal shield warrior pick now to go on a tour of the Warden facilities in Orlais? Oh, she understood his need to get out of Ferelden for a while. Maybe once he got back, Arl Eamon would have given up on trying to talk him into marrying Anora. She and Alistair were going to rebuild the Grey Wardens together, and the sooner Eamon accepted that, the happier everyone would be . . . . She barely ducked a mace and tried to force her wandering thoughts back to the battle where they belonged. This was why mages were supposed to be in the back flinging spells from their staffs—like Velanna and Anders (lucky sods) were doing.
She wasn't completely horrible with a sword—Alistair had seen to that. There was just something awkward about a mage—a Spirit Healer no less—fighting with a sword. However, it wasn't like she really had a choice. Nathanial was trying, but he just wasn't cut out to be alone on the front lines of these larger battles. It wasn't his fault, rogue training just didn't cover the necessary tactics. It could be worse—at least Velanna and Anders were keeping the darkspawn distracted with some pretty fancy magic.
As another spray of rancid blood hit her in the face, she wished again that there was a Grey Warden with warrior skills that she could call on. Maybe next time they left the keep, she should bring Oghren along after . . . no, it was best that her friend continue to "guard" the stronghold. She still felt guilty even though she knew it was really no one's fault. How could they have known that all that alcohol would react that way with the taint from the joining every time he activated his Berserker talents? Poor Oghren, she mused as she beheaded the darkspawn in front of her with a flourish—and another spray of blood—fainting spells (on the battlefield no less) had to be so embarrassing.