The Light in the Sky
Cousland stood over the ogre's body admiring her handiwork. The ogre had thrashed about a good amount before succumbing to its wounds and had finally hit the floor with a good thud. All around the room one could see that quite an epic struggle was previously at hand. The ogre itself lay in a pool of its own blood, several slits and cuts to its hamstrings and neck area. Cousland could hear fighting down the hall shouts and yells indicating a small battle was at hand. She sighed and lifted the torch to light the beacon when the building started the shake. Dust fell from the rafters above with the shaking growing worse each passing moment. She moved over to see if the same could be said of those below her. A tower across the bridge cracked upwards and fell on a ballistae holding position on a distant hill. The screams of surprise and horror were deafened by a loud and thunderous crash. Cousland managed her way over to the nearest window and gazed awestruck as a comet of sorts crashed into the forest ahead of King Cailan's charge. The Dark spawn were not charging the Ferelden army, but instead turning to a foreign threat within their lines. The shaking stopped and she let go of the torch, lighting the ogre's blood trail on fire and in turn lighting the beacon.
"The building is clear- how did you get up here so quickly?" Alistair panted.
The fighting in the hall had ceased and Alistair and another soldier ran up to find her staring out at the battle before them. A cacophony of noise could be heard, but above all the shouting and war cries. A sharp bang could be heard in rapid bursts, sometimes a steady stream. The mage that had accompanied the party up the stairs walked forward and produced a spy glass from his sagging and torn robes. He looked on into the fight and gasped.
"There's- there's a golem or something- it's completely annihilating them-" Autumn Cousland snatched the scope from the mage and took a look for herself. What she saw was terrifying and awesome in ways she could not put in words. Finally Alistair lost his patience and started asking questions.
"Stop hogging the telescope and let me look already!" Autumn gave him the looking glass, a look of concern etched on her face. "Finally I get to lo- by the maker what is that thing?"
The mage grew excited, "the maker has answered our prays and sent an angel!" He started singing a hymn and praying. Cousland merely looked on with genuine curiosity at the spectacle before their eyes. To the south, the main force could be seen sweeping down on the vast dark spawn horde. "Well we did our part. Let us watch from here."
He sniffed the air and smiled. The genlock could sense the fear of the pathetic humans before him. Today he would feast on their flesh and wear their skin as a trophy. He was going to add skulls today to his collection! The shiny golden one at the front looked especially appetizing. He could peel the armor off and devour the juicy bits inside. Oh how this would be a great day just as the voice in his head told him! The day of the damned had come; none would stop them from scouring the surface and all in it. The genlock could hear the noise of the surface flood in through the tunnel. He and his kind quickly stormed up and onto the surface. He looked around and smiled, surveying the battle before him and began to rush forward screaming obscenities in his garbled tongue.
Thousands rushed from the cave networks toward the rear of their vanguard force. He had seen the golden one earlier and retreated back into the cave networks to tell boss that the humans were ready to die. Now they rushed forward to join their fellow monsters in a bloodbath. All over one could hear the clamor of many dark spawn shrieking together in unison as they ran to the sword clangs and screams. But there was another sound, a loud boom would echo here and there, followed by the screams of his fellow dark spawn. Suddenly a massive ogre head flew through the air and smacked the hurlock standing next to him instantly killing it. The genlock and those around it started to panic, but were pushed forward by the constant surge of darkspawn behind them. The genlock to his right was trampled by an ogre who then, coinciding with another loud boom, turned into bloody mist. The concussive force from the bolt caused the genlock to be knocked off his feet only to be trampled by his fellows.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity he got up again. He snorted in disgusted at his broken leg but pressed on heeding the call of the beautiful siren. Hardly anything could be seen as he moved forward behind his larger brethren. Other genlocks could be seen on a rocky outcropping loosing arrows before another rapid burst of loud booms cascaded with his ears causing them to become much like the ogre he had seen earlier. He finally got to a spot where he could advance no further and indeed he saw true fear in the eyes of the hurlock before him as it ran the way he had come, holding his left arm in his right hand. The genlock, curious to see what was going on, heard a mighty war cry before the ground itself shook, causing those before him to be launched in all different directions.
Before the genlock stood a massive being clad in the most ornate armor, no helmet was present on the warrior's head, his face identifying him as a human. He froze in stark terror at the eight foot tall reaper before him. He did not see the massive piles of his dead fellows around him as his sight was solely transfixed on what he saw before him. The genlock forgot to even draw his bow, before he was crushed under the weight of a dead ogre who had been recently hit by a war hammer.
Captain Alexander Augustus Maximus swung his hammer high over his head, bringing it down on yet another vile ogre causing the creature to land already dead upon its own underlings. He bellowed another litany of battle, reciting the battle poems he had studied as a young marine. He allowed the momentum of his hammer to carry death to his enemies that surrounded him. They continued to throw themselves at him heedless of death, only caring for the siren call. The crater created by his entry was now filled to the brim with the dead bodies of his foe. Thirty meters in diameter and six meters deep, the hole was overflowing with darkspawn bodies. The Astartes had moved from it sometime ago and had formed another pile of bodies. He moved now towards the humans to his rear, which could be heard nearing his position. The darkspawn no longer surrounded him which only meant the window by which he could strike them shortened a bit. He frowned at this prospect, to be surrounded by his enemy was to ensure they could not escape him, for wherever he would turn, there would be another to strike.
Confirming his own thought process, he moved forward towards his enemies in a full sprint, his shield and hammer knocking foes to and fro. He bowled over countless vermin and then pulled his bolter free of its holster, placing his shield on his back. He swung his hammer while simultaneously firing his bolter, every shot finding its mark only to have the target explode outwards while killing others within the bolt's explosive radius. Every swing of his hammer sent foul creatures into their fellow darkspawn, knocking them to their backs screaming. His retinal HUD identified targets and their varying threat levels. Information sped across his retina identifying a massive ogre 50 meters away charging towards a group of human warriors. He took a mere moment to consider what lay behind him as he turned around, a mere fraction of a second to lay his next actions.
He pulled a massive grenade from his belt; several arrows pinged uselessly off his armor. The Astartes primed it and threw it at the charging hurlock to his left. He then moved in the opposite direction towards the massive ogre charging into the human lines, covering the distance in a few scant seconds and bowling over the ogre before putting his hammer to his head. The grenade had gone off and taken everything in 10 meters with it including an alpha hurlock who had been directing forces at them. The darkspawn retreated from the immediate area only to be rebuked by another alpha further in the line and sent sprawling forward again towards the human defenders near King Cailan's position in a renewed fury. These darkspawn had completely forgetting about the humans on their extreme right flank and the massive human absolutely demolishing their numbers. A mistake they would pay dearly for.
The marine looked around him at the multitude of xenos bodies and watched their living comrades run off towards the other side of the battlefield. They are after something specific. Captain Alexander turned around to the men behind him who were wearily staring at him, shields, swords, axes, pole arms, and spears all aimed at him. One inched forward a bit looking as if he might shit himself, "Who, who, who are you?"
The Astartes merely turned and spoke, "I am an Angel of Death set against the enemies of Humanity." He then revolved back to the darkspawn and charged forward screaming, "FOR THE EMPEROR!" The entirety of Maric's Shield heard this and in one mad dash followed the massive space marine bellowing "FOR KING AND COUNTRY!" The entire flank of the darkspawn was thus penetrated and driven back by the fury of humanity. A fresh volley of arrows was loosed into the dark spawn just Alexander made his first connecting blow, running shoulder first into an Ogre, which was sent sprawling on the ground, a massive shield brought down on its neck.
The Space Marine moved forward at startling speed, Ferelden's best a bit of a ways behind him still dealing with the darkspawn turning to meet them. Alexander brought his hammer into an arc, crushing everything within range as he swung around in a three hundred and sixty degree movement. Everything within arm's reach became dead before hitting the ground. Bringing his bolter to bear, he shelved his shield and proceeded to cut down rank after rank of darkspawn adversaries. His gait carried him into the middle of another large group of darkspawn who had yet to engage their human opponents near the diversionary host. Captain Alexander smacked aside darkspawn with steady ease as he pushed deeper into they're massive gaggle that seemed stymied to move forward. He could see from his tall view that the defensive line was about to break under the extreme exertion of darkspawn.
The Astartes deciding to alleviate this issue for them, he activated the massive pack on his back. Traveling scores of feet into the air, he dropped two grenades towards the front of the formation, but not quite near any beleaguered humans. Hefty amounts of darkspawn infantry were eliminated in bright flashes and deafening explosions, relieving the human line somewhat. The Captain then descended right on top of a group of hurlocks, smashing through them with trivial ease. In a flash the super human speed, the Astartes weaved in and out of the human line smashing aside darkspawn as he went looking for a leader among them. Alexander frowned as he could not see hardly anything under this sea of Darkspawn and steel.
He blasted into the air again, his mind identifying numbers and soldiers. He spotted the long blonde hair and golden armor not even a second into flight, angling himself to intercept an oddly large of ogres moving towards the golden warrior and others notables who were wearing tabards with a stylized gryphon. The space marine smashed straight into the first one promptly removing his head from his shoulders. Bolts flew into the next two who then became nothing more than bloody vapor. Alexander placed his bolter to its leg clamp and pulled his knife from its sheath to engage at close quarters. However odd the combination of a large knife and hammer was, this did not diminish the quality of death that was doled out. Another two ogres lay sprawled on the ground as he moved about them with surgical precision.
Cailan and Duncan had formed up with his royal bodyguards and other grey wardens to fend off the ogres, when out of nowhere this massive man clad in armor comes and kills their multitude in several seconds. The golem looked at them and nodded, then proceeded to fly off deeper into the fight looking for other targets of opportunity.
"Maker's wrath made incarnate your majesty! That golem just utterly destroyed those ogres coming for us." Ser Tramlein managed to blurt out.
Duncan continued to focus on killing the darkspawn while masking his concern of what in the hell that thing was. That couldn't have been a demon, it was something else alright. It was obviously not darkspawn or any other race. But how in the blazes did it fly and wear such massive armor was even more deeply concerting. He surmised if they survived this battle they would find out just who this being was. For he was certainly glad it had chosen to side with them. He couldn't imagine how they would fight back such a being if it chose to fight them. The Darkspawn seemed to be an endless horde coming toward them and somehow this giant had given the Ferelden army an unprecedented boost in morale, they were slowly and steadily pushing the darkspawn back. The giant had also killed untold thousands of darkspawn in the first hour alone. That comet had thrown hundreds of the wretched creatures into the air. It was quite magnificent really, if not terrifying too. He took a moment from the fighting, beheading another genlock, he looked up to see the giant taking off again using a weapon that produced a flash at the end and made a loud booming sound rapidly. The giant flew up and towards them, leaving behind a large explosion in the darkspawn ranks.
Loghain had not seen the beacon lit and wondered if to charge. He was about to call a retreat when a large shaking occurred, throwing him and most of his army on their arses. It seemed as if a massive earthquake had occurred. He looked up only to see a huge deafening comet fall among the darkspawn army below him throwing up hundreds of their bodies. He saw their outward ranks turn in and begin charging in reverse towards the comet. Loghain had decided now was the best time to charge and called it then and there. The mass of Ferelden's army had recovered from their falls and surged forward with savage war cries on their lips. The screaming reminded of his old times against the Orlesians, causing a smile to find its way onto his face.
The Teryn watched as his army savaged the darkspawn's unprotected flanks, forcing the vile creatures back into the forest. He frowned as he saw that Cailan's vanguard was not faring well as the darkspawn intently pressed upon it with reckless abandon. However many darkspawn the giant killed did not seem to stymie the tide that constantly washed against Cailan and his stout allies. However the marine had put a sizeable dent in their ability to swing back around to Loghain's main force, allowing them to advance freely into the darkspawn forces. However the darkspawn just seemed to keep coming and coming, this Loghain had noticed had caught the attention of their big friend.
Captain Alexander understood that he could continue this slaughter limitlessly; however the human defenders' stamina would be drained by such a prospect. He needed to find where all these fresh reinforcements were surging from and immediately halt it. The giant ignited his jetpack and flew up and towards the rear of the darkspawns' lines where he saw them surging out of a gaping cave. The Astartes immediately flew down into the mouth of the cave and began his deadly craft. Bringing his bolter to bear, he immediately cut down scores of darkspawn and brought their undivided attention to himself. He withdrew his bolter and proceeded to hammer and shield his way through the darkspawn coming out of the cave mouth, completely halting reinforcements into the warzone. He threw a grenade down the mouth which exploded a moment later causing a noticeable amount of rumble to accumulate, but not enough to stop his foe.
Alexander reeled around as a fork of lighting hit him knocking him on his back, he then quickly regained his posture and jumped after the darkspawn who had done so. The Astartes threw his hammer at the emissary and killed it, knocking it into a group of hurlocks rushing him. Moving with great speed, the giant pulled the remaining four grenades from his belt and threw them into the same general area down the tunnel. They erupted into a massive explosion causing a cave-in that would result in a lack of extra manpower to defeat the Ferelden defense force around Ostagar. He frowned at the thought of having no more grenades to use, the giant groups of darkspawn they destroyed was however gratifying. The Astartes wheeled around and rushed into the midst of an omega hurlock. This hurlock was far better armed and armored than any of its peers. It took notice of the giant and cackled, throwing two fireballs at him which were promptly dodged. The Astartes then pulled his bolter to assault the target. The omega frustrated, ordered two alpha ogres to charge forward, drawing fire from the Astartes. Alexander gunned down both ogres with impunity. However before he was able to eliminate the omega hurlock, the wretched creature promptly blasted off his feet with another fireball.
"Suffer not the xenos to live!" The giant roared forward, redoubling his efforts to close on the adversary.
The Captain's sensors went red as he saw his wounds were clotting and repairing from the burns he had just received. His two hearts pumped ever faster as he willed himself up, activating his rosarius for the first time. Another fire ball slammed into him only to be absorbed by the shielding. He smiled and pulled his knife, throwing it faster than any mind could process let alone any eye see. His knife picked up the omega and slammed it into a tree killing the omega on impact. He immediately turned to engage more darkspawn as they rushed him, trying vainly to defend their leader. Pulling hammer and shield, he smashed the score of darkspawn apart within seconds, another emissary choosing to throw forks of lightning at him along with another fireball slamming into his side. The Astartes activated his jump jets and slammed into the first one and threw his hammer into the second. Both eliminated with unrelenting fury.
It could be seen that the tide of Darkspawn had lessened considerably. Loghain could see from his high perch that many darkspawn coming from the forest had trickled down to nothing. He could hear the reports of that loud weapon the giant wielded from time to time in the background. However good this was, Cailan's vanguard had still not been broken through to. The advancing main army was meeting stiff resistance as the darkspawn seemingly realigned themselves to the main force. They knew that if they kept pushing on the vanguard, they would never get to whatever they were looking for while being slammed from the side. Soon that weak flank became a solid defensive line, but not after thousands of darkspawn had paid for it. Now Loghain was flustered as his army was met with a near halt trying to pry through to Cailan. If the king died- he cast it from his mind. Now was the time to push or the vanguard would be cut down.
"Ser Cauthrien, direct the second and third companies of Maric's Shield to push to the vanguard!"
"Yes my lord!"
"Cauthrien, move our Calvary to make a breach for the companies to push through. I want a link up with the vanguard now!"
"Orders underway milord," Ser Cauthrien mounted her warhorse and rode off to the companies.
Loghain, satisfied with that, watched as a giant figure flew out of the forest and into the still thick darkspawn lines pushing on the vanguard. Loghain looked intently as the giant warrior landed among a group of darkspawn and dispatched them with ease. The darkspawn closed on the threat within their own lines and soon a pile of bodies was forming. The massive human warrior taunting them and laughing as he played king of the pile, while all the darkspawn tried to climb the hill of their dead brethren for a chance to take a swipe at the Astartes. The captain merely laughed and launched himself into the air again, the burn of his jets setting the pile on fire.
Loghain gaped as he saw the giant fly into the air, the pile of bodies, fifteen minutes into the making catching on fire. He watched as the massive being ripped through the air heading for the forest, completely abandoning the fight for unknown reasons. The ground itself began to shake again forcing the Ferelden hero to look up. Another comet streaked across the sky into darkspawn rear most forces. Expecting to see another angel appear, Loghain looked on with impatience. Nothing came from it but hundreds of dead darkspawn flying into the air. The angel reappeared from the forest and moved to the comet's crash site. Suddenly, a massive thundering sounded repeatedly from the crash site, the darkspawn all around disappearing into mists of blood and gore.
Captain Alexander could hardly hold back a grin as he saw the beauty that was held before him. A massive assault pod that had been launched shortly after his came down bearing many deadly gifts. He immediately picked up the assault cannon, feeding in the assigned ammunition to have arrived with it. Once set up, he began unloading into the darkspawn, whole groups disappearing in beautiful flashes of light. Nothing at this point could get within twenty-five meters as he unloaded into the thick groups of darkspawn before him. Click-Click-Click- the Astartes frowned and double timed back to the miniature armory behind him. He immediately discarded the assault cannon in favor of a sword on his hip and the flamethrower.
The captain jetted into a massive group of darkspawn once again, but this time bringing the flamer to bear on them. The chemicals mixed and set themselves upon the pilot light only to ignite everything in forty meters up as he turned in a tight circle. The darkspawn could not scream as there was no oxygen to bear, nor could they as they died instantaneously from the purifying flames. The Astartes moved further and further into their lines until he identified the humans moving forward towards him. He immediately switched off his flamer and pulled out the sword he had pilfered from his armory, to be more exact, a chainsword. He went to work using his bolter and chainsword to cut through multitudes of opponents until he was in line with the human soldiers, all of them cheering at his arrival to their lines. In this single night, the darkspawn had known for the first time what fear was as they began to act as cornered animals, lashing out even further at the stalwart human warriors.
Their numbers cut thin, the darkspawn began to falter and so in an act of desperation lashed out at the Grey Wardens and those near them. As they fell to the massive surge of darkspawn rushing them, an ogre rushed into the failing Grey Warden formation and smashed the king aside, rendering him unconscious on the ground. Duncan seeing this ran against the ogre alpha only to be swatted to the side. He tried to get up but could feel nothing of his legs. The warden-commander cursed as he could not gather himself to get up. Calling to the other Grey Wardens did no good as they were cut down by the sudden fury of the darkspawn enemy. The darkspawn saw him as they slew the last of his brothers and sisters. The omega leading them smiled and began to rush him before being blowing apart in a red mist that showered the commander in tainted organics.
The massive warrior who had heralded from the sky fell upon the darkspawn in one furious assault. His sword and thunder weapon shredding the tainted enemies of humanity with cold meticulous precision. Every boom a darkspawn flew apart and with every swing of his noisy sword they were sheered. A number of emissaries had seen the massive creature fly to defend the wardens and snarled as they reined spells upon him knocking him back. The giant struck back and shouted a war cry before visiting his thunder weapon upon them.
Duncan watched with relief as the darkspawn retreated before them, broken and battered. They had driven them back, but at the cost of nearly every grey warden in Ferelden. He could only hope that the newest ones to their order stilled lived. He slowly slipped in and out of consciousness before just falling back, the last thing he felt were massive hands picking him up and a sudden rush upwards.
The Captain had watched this man fight with extreme valor worthy of commendation. He would present this man to the ones he had seen in the tower, as they wore the same tabard. He flew straight up and towards the beautiful beacon of light at the top of the tower. It was quite now, the rain still pattered on his armor, lightning could be seen in the distance on occasion, and the resonating noise of his rocket pack were soothing. He reflected on how to approach these humans, for they were surely a brave number who were worthy of the Emperor.
Cousland studied the battlefield closely. She had seen from a distance, the darkspawn rush into the line and kill the grey wardens piecemeal; the king himself had been flung aside in the same manner of a ragdoll. Now she was watching with uncertainty as the monolithic figure, which had rained so much destruction upon the darkspawn fly towards them with a body in his hands. She looked over to see Alistair backing away as the giant landed in the beacon-lit room. The mage all but running for the stairs and a soldier who had run up after them simply sank to his knees shaking.
Alistair managed to choke out, "Is there something we could help you with my lord-", he gasped as he beheld Duncan in the giant's arms, "No!" Tears formed in his eyes as he all but sprinted up to the giant and Duncan.
The giant merely laid Duncan down and spoke with a deep voice, "This is your leader I presume? Have no fear for his heart still beats. I watched from afar at times in the battle and saw him slay many of these ravenous creatures. He is worthy of great respect. Ave Imperator."
Cousland approached cautiously as the giant came down on one knee and looked upon the warden commander. He was certainly the biggest human she had ever seen. His sword he wielded with one hand would be the broadsword to any other. He moved faster than any human she had ever seen either, let alone any creature. He would make a fine grey warden. She remained deep in thought, only raising her head to see Alistair start asking questions.
Alistair became excited as he figured out this being was friendly. "Who are you exactly? Maker knows we have never had a- what are you?"
"I am Captain Alexander Augustus Maximus of the Storm Angels. The Emperor's finest. I have been sent here to clean this world of the filth that has come to threaten humanity so greatly. At this time the enemy is retreating and will most likely regroup to strike at you again."
Alistair was about to ask another question before Lady Cousland put her hand over his mouth and spoke, "I am Autumn Cousland and this is my Friend Alistair of the Grey Wardens. Who you have before you is our Commander, Duncan. If it were to please you, we must attend to him. Just so you know where we are, you are in a country known as Ferelden on the continent of Thedas."
"Your commander had broken his spine after being back handed by a large…creature of sorts. He will need rest and recuperation. Your healers may possibly be able to heal him. For now, I must meet with your leaders." The Space marine hovered over the two as they gathered they're commander before following them down the steps of the tower.
The soldier up stairs never did stop praying to his maker as the company parted from his presence. Alistair craned his neck looking at the eagle on the giant's armor. "What does that represent? Your crest there."
"That is the Aquila, which represents the Emperor's beloved Imperium of which I defended for over two centuries before being sent here to relieve you of this menace." The Captain perked with pride at first before remembering what had ended that service so abruptly.
"And you never did tell us what you were my lord." Alistair pointed out.
"I am the Emperor's sword. The Adeptus Astartes." The marine stated proudly.
"So you're an Adeptus Astartes or is one of those an organization you belong to and the other what you are?" Cousland joined the conversation with an educated analysis. The marine had noticed her smart ways and answered nonchalantly. "Well the denizens of the Imperium simply know us as Space Marines. Only the most inclined of people will call us Astartes."
"Would you please establish to me what your order is and does?" The giant inquired. Alexander needed to be in the know as knowledge was power. Whatever these grey wardens were, they were respectable warriors and a connection that must be made.
Alistair was all too happy to enlighten him on what the wardens were as they made their way down the final steps…
Loghain surveyed the battlefield with grim satisfaction, all of the grey wardens were dead, they're commander had been picked up by the giant and flown off somewhere. That in itself was perturbing; however the king was still alive, rendered useless by knee-to-the-face by that massive ogre. He had seen Cailan as he was pulled from his armor and laid in bed, servant rushing to and fro with buckets of hot water to wash their lord. He had frowned knowing it was no good to sit and stew. He had plans to make and people to talk to. A war to win. That war would not win itself, but at least with the king somewhat out of the picture, he could prosecute a proper conflict against the darkspawn. Especially with that massive giant massacring them as he did.
What he had seen that whatever-it-was do was nothing short of astonishing as it had broken the entire darkspawn offensive in two hours by itself. He pondered it very likely that the giant had killed as many darkspawn as the entire army combined. It was certainly possible considering what had unfolded before his very eyes. The entire army was raving about the action as they had started their partying already, celebrating one of the greatest victories in recent history. He was certain the same could not be said about the darkspawn as they retreated into their dark holes. Not to be seen until they were certain they were ready for another offensive. This chilled Loghain as he considered what the darkspawn would do to be ready against such an enemy as the giant. There would be a reckoning for sure, that much was known. Ostagar had to fortify even more heavily if they were to prevail against another assault by the darkspawn. Hopefully this time there would be no glorious charge by that foolish child dreaming of victory. He had certainly gone and gotten all his grey warden friends killed and most of his personal retinue. Only three of his body guard had lived through that, only one would live to actually fight again.
Ser Cauthrien was alert and tense enough after the battle, everything was so calm and quiet except for the noise of the loud and delighted soldiery. They had taken light casualties, if only for the intervention of what everyone was calling an Angel, if not an Angel of Death. Soon though that noise turned chill fully quiet. The soldier in front of her had a look of galling surprise on his face.
She soured and looked at him, "What is it sergeant- by the maker!" She turned around to see the two wardens who had lit the beacon standing there in front of the giant. Everything and everyone just merely stared.
The Astartes sternly looked at her and sized up her and everyone there in a brief moment. "I am Captain Alexander Augustus Maximus of The Storm Angels. I wish to speak to your leaders."
Ser Cauthrien gawked for a moment, lost in what to do before speaking, "Please discard your weapons first, we can't have you armed before Teryn Loghain-"
Now Alex did not like hearing this and no one had any right to take his weapons from him, nor would he submit to this woman that which was not hers. "Now how do you purpose that be done? Because I'm certainly not giving them to you or anyone under you. They are not fit to hold such. I have lorded over populations and armies in my centuries of service to humanity. You would not do well to tell me where I may place my weapons, whether at my side or on the ground before you. They shall stay with me, at my side or in my palm where they become an extension of my prowess. Now once again I will ask, take me to your leader."
Ser Cauthrien did not like this at all; this being could easily take her and those with her. So she opted to comply. "Sergeant, go and fetch Teryn Loghain."
Before he could respond a strong hand was upon his shoulder, "There will be no need for fetching me, as I have arrived." The Teryn scowled and then gave the marine one of his hallmark glares. "I am Teryn Loghain, commander of this army. The king is currently indisposed of at the moment; he took a mighty blow to the head. Of course I'm assuming you saw this as you killed the same ogre mere moments later with that thunderous contraption of yours. What is it you will Captain Maximus? "
The Astartes smiled and spoke, "The same thing as you Teryn, the eradication of this Darkspawn and its Archdemon." The giants features became suddenly serious, his façade a cold demeanor," I carry the Emperor's Torch and with it destroy the shadows. I am the blade forged in defiance of fate. Let it be so that I swear before all of you now, that I will not falter nor fail as I persecute those who would bear the notion to destroy humanity. For they will cower before the coming storm!"