I just woke from my joining. It was...I don't know how to put it. Shockingly deadly, perhaps? It is difficult to explain-I think if I want to tell about what I went through, I best start where I left off.

We arrived at the old fortress of Ostagar; the place is big. Both me and Duncan end up getting a surprise welcome from Cailan, the king of Ferelden. For a king, he is easily respectable. I had always thought that human nobility were stern and consider themselves above everyone else; especially the Elven. After the introductions were out of the way, we got to business.

So far the army had held the line, but the horde keeps growing, despite no Archdemon in sight. Already the Wardens, half of Ferelden's forces, the Circle of Magi, and several bands of mercenaries had gathered, including the men from Redcliffe. The Wardens from Orlais along with company are on their way as well. Everyone thinks this is not a Blight-everyone but the Wardens. They know something's up, but they figure it's best to wait before seeing for themselves if there is an Archdemon. Duncan asked me to take a moment since it was a long trip before gathering the other recruits along with a Warden named Alistair.

As I took the time to look around the camp, I saw everyone making preparations for the battle. There was a kennel master who needed help with a mabari, but I wasn't sure at first since twice the clan was chased off be Shems using mabari hounds. Despite this, I agreed since I knew what that poor thing was going through. The kennel master said that if I was heading into the wilds anytime soon to find a white flower; it would help the hound from dying by darkspawn blood ingestion.

I found the Warden that Duncan had told me to find. I hung back while he spoke to a mage, soon to have his attention. Alistair was an odd one to best describe him-for some reason there is a slight resemblance to Cailan. Alistair told me that he would accompany me and the other two recruits for our Joining. While we walked to Duncan, I discovered a soldier locked up for deserting. He proclaimed to me he was just rummaging around the mages things and not actually running away. As a trade, I offered him food for the key... and trust me, you don't want the story on where he kept it.

Alistair told me some details about the Grey Wardens, but it was about the same things everyone knows about across Thedas. We gathered the other recruits; there was a thief named Daveth and a solider known as Ser Jory, both honoured to become Grey Wardens. We continued walking to Duncan, both of the other new recruits telling me the tales of their recruitment. Daveth was conscripted after he almost got away with stealing Duncan's purse, while Ser Jory, a family man, was recruited after winning the Grand Melee.

Duncan revealed that to us that we had to go into the woods to gain three vials of darkspawn blood before going on to an old outpost to gather some treaties of the Grey Wardens. While in the woods we ran into plenty of trouble; darkspawn and the local wild life. We found a patrol only one man, half alive, was left. Alistair patched him up so he could get to camp though. I also managed to find the flower the kennel master asked for. It's known as Astia's bloom since for some reason they grow where ever pinches of ash were dropped it.

Continuing our mission, we finally found the ruins Duncan mentioned, along with the chest-emptied of its contents. Suddenly a strange looking woman appeared behind us. The guys were frightened by her, but I was curious on why she was in the same place as us. She told use she was following us the entire time, and that the scrolls were taken by her mother. I requested an audience with her since they were important; though the guys advised not to, thinking it was a trap. Morrigan, the woman that told us what happened to the scrolls, just found this funny. We arrived at a hut after following her, where an old woman met us outside. We got to business rapidly, and she gave us the scrolls, demanding us to remember that they were vital and everything wasn't as it seemed to be. None of knew what she meant, but she was sure we would find out soon.

Morrigan lead us out of the woods and we returned to camp. Before we went to Duncan I took the time to loot the mage's chest for anything we could use, careful to let no one see me. Nothing seemed useful at the time, but maybe later it will be needed. I also sold some stuff to the quarter master and got some needed supplies and lastly gave the flower to the kennel master to help the dog. He said he is looking better now and recommended that after the battle I get my sent imprinted and make him my own. Somehow, having my own war hound sounded like a good idea so I kept it in mind.

We met up with Duncan near a blazing fire and told him what happened. Alistair had a theory that they where apostates hiding from the chantry-but Duncan said that the problem was not ours to deal with and ordered us to ready for the Joining. With nothing else to do, we made our way to the old temple and prepared for the Joining. We waited a while-Ser Jory was getting nervous, wondering what was taking so long. I admit I was also a bit worried, though mostly because I might die soon with the taint in me. Duncan finally arrived and told use what was going to happen to be fully made in to the Grey Wardens. We needed to drink darkspawn blood we collected. Only some survive the ritual. Before we went through it, Alistair gave us our possible final rights and oath.

"Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And that one day we shall join you."

First went Daveth. He didn't survive it, and choked on the blood. Ser Jory was next, but didn't want to go through with it. He tried to escape and fight back, but Duncan killed him in cold blood. It was my turn next, and seeing that I have no choice since I would die anyway-whether through the ritual, the taint, or another way-I drank the blood. Images cascaded across my closed eyes. I saw...I don't know what I saw. Darkness, some dragon, and I heard what sounded like music but I couldn't tell what it was. It was faint, almost mute.

I soon woke up, Alistair standing over me, expressing how glad he was that I survived. I just wonder if I am truly cured now. I can tell you I feel fine; the only difference is that I have a headache. That's likely because I can suddenly sense so many darkspawn in the woods. I wonder how I'm going to make it go away. Duncan says the side effects will go away in time, though he didn't say how much time. He allowed me to take a moment to myself and meet him at the war council, to attempt to take some control of this fight.