The man left me alone in the cabin that I learned was where his leader slept and had given it to me to recover in. Leader to what, I didn't know. I had an idea especially if this was a LARP group. I was still recovering as it turns out, especially when I broke out into chills and he felt my forehead and told me to sleep. I had a fever apparently and didn't even know it. Typical.

I retched again, the water I drank coming out along with more and then I was dry heaving. Thankfully it was the last of it. But I slept fitfully. I rose and poured myself water that I downed slowly and then crawled onto the feather mattress and pulled over the thin blanket.

I don't know what I hoped when I woke up in the morning to the man shaking me awake saying the fever had broke but not the sound of metal clashing on metal.

"What is that noise?" The man, who I should really ask for his name looked to me as he placed a bowl of what looked like porridge in front of me. I frowned and wondered if I could get fruits with it but best to be polite. I began eating it and he flitted open the windows to let in more light and fresh air.

"It's the men, training. We are the Blades of Hessarian we are the best blades this side of the Frostbacks." This guy was good. He almost sounded like that was his duty, his life. LARPers these days were committed.

"I didn't ask before… but uh what's your name?" The man turned to me. His ginger hair was dull in the morning overcast light.

"Alon. I am the second in command to Emeric and it was my duty to care for you."

"It is nice to meet you, I'm Mercy and thank you again for the care. I think I would have died on the shore." I said and held out my hand. He took it slowly in his and shook it while smiling.

"Mercy…the maker has a sense of humor." His eyes seemed to brighten and a small chuckle came out before he moved out of the cabin leaving me alone.

"What?" The way he reacted it's like he never dropped character. I'd seen a lot of LARPers but this guy, top notch. He looked like he truly believed in the Maker.

Finishing my porridge I noted the bundle of clothes and the water bucket with soap he had left. A bucket. Did this place not have showers? Sighing I cleaned off and air dried quickly before slipping on…a dress. With it were a bra contraption of some sort that was too tight and some undergarments. I slipped them on and the brown and white dress. Next was the simple clogs.

Where was my carry on? I was sure I had it when I crawled to shore. I'll have to ask.

I walked out the door to a foggy and misty morning but I could see the area. The clashing of metal came from others sword fighting. From what I could tell they were practicing. Next to the door was Alon sharpening his own sword with a stone of some sort.

This roleplay was really authentic.

"Mercy. Emeric wishes to speak to you." He rose and the friendliness was gone, replaced by a civility and distance. He escorted me down the cabin toward where a throne sort of sat. It was a really fancy chair. By fancy I mean it was adorned in paints, furs and feathers. And it had two piles of hay where two large dogs sat. They looked like a mix between a pit bull and a newfoundland dog. They were big, ferocious and incredibly intimidating.

"They won't attack unless they consider you a threat. They would have the moment you walked out of my cabin." A gruff and rough voice said. I looked up to see a sandy blonde haired man with a beard to match. He was big, tall and bulky. At his back was a large sword. Greatsword worthy. It must have been for show but those dogs were real especially as one walked up to me.

Its muzzle got up close and personal as it sniffed me and then sat in front of me expectantly. "Uh…" I pet it and its woof jolted me back. Laughter filled the area and the man on the throne walked up to me.

"Come sit." He grabbed my arms and led me to sit right next to him, squished against the side of the throne and him.

I promptly and without further ado thanked him profusely. He smiled and nodded then gestured to the men and women around us, training. "Thank them. They are the ones who say the maker cast his light on you, showing them where you were."

"Yes but you let them."

"I have my own reasons for allowing it, Mercy." The way he pronounced my name was warning sign number one.

"What reasons would those be, Emeric." I visibly gulped and he merely chuckled.

"My men are often without entertainment. The nearest town is Crestwood. And you would have died were it not for us, either by water poison or by a bear or the dragon."

I laughed. "Dragon? Those don't exist." He looked at me with a frown and then pointed up. I followed his gaze and he told me to wait. "Dragons don't exist… they're fairy tale legends. Fake- oh fuck."

There flying in the sky, flapping its wings was a dragon circling around. I barely saw it because of the fog but the roar it made shook me. "I-I barely saw it…" A bolt of purple, yes purple lighting shot out from the dragon and lit up the sky. It hit somewhere close because the next thing I know I hear a roar and then the ground shook.

"The dragon likes to play after it's had its meal so it has been toying with this giant nearby. I can show you." Another roar sounded and then the dragon was flying off. Emeric's hands held my shoulders and pulled me close. "Have you never seen a dragon?"

"Th-thos-those sho-shouldn't exi-isst…" My teeth were shattering and Emeric was warm, very warm as he tucked me closer to his side and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

A Dragon…I'm really in Thedas. I could not be more fucked.