Ok so here is the next chapter of "the Fox" is up. hope you enjoy. know before you read some of the commenters had some questions that i thought would be better to answer on the next chapter
(so I haven't played the first game but I have played the rest of the series is Naruto going to go through DA2 and Inquisition as well?) Ejammer - yes i plan is for Naruto to be directly involved in the other two games
(I've got to know are the other five recruits the number of characters you played through or what and are all of the hawk siblings going to show up?) Bloodzone15 - for the first question yes i roleplayed through the game with each of the different Origins and put in each one that i thought would be interesting to write. And yes, all of the Hawke sibling are going to show up.
So, any more questions i won't answer any that reveal too much to the plot.
enjoy
-Chapter 4 The Joining-
The trip back was a lot less eventful than the first one. As they followed Morrigan out of the wilds Naruto could help but notice there were a lot less Darkspawn than there were before. Not only that but it seemed the entire wilds were silent no sound of birds chirping or insects buzzing it like the calm before the storm.
"Here you are" Said Morrigan as she stepped out onto a dirt road that lead to Ostagar "I suggest you hurry, the wilds have grown eerily still"
"Thank you Morrigan" Naruto said his blue eyes holding the gaze of her amber ones.
"Y-yes well good luck to you" she said before leaving. She weaved through the trees of the wilds with ease, it reminded him of the Shinobi back home.
"God she's beautiful" Naruto said out loud drawing the attention of his companions.
"Seriously" Asked Alistair. As they walked closer to the gate.
"She's a witch my good man" Said Jory in shock.
"I'm a pirate, I've fucked a hell of a lot worse than a witch."
"Like what" Asked Daveth.
"Are you seriously asking me who I've had sex with" Naruto asked shocked.
"Why not" Daveth Said unashamed.
"Just no" Said Naruto ok maybe Daveth was a little creepy
"Ho their" said a voice at the gate. The group turned to see a dwarf adorned in heavy armor and a massive battle axe on his back. He had blond hair tied into a bread and a long intricate blonde beard. As he drew closer Naruto say he had a rough looking appearance not uncommon for a dwarf.
"Duren" Happily yelled Alistair towards the dwarf. The dwarf walked over towards them easily moving despite his heavy armor.
"Alistair, did you end up finding those scroll this time." Asked Duren
"Yes, this time we were successful"
"Haha good news then, and you must be the newest recruits" laughed Duren before he walked up to the three and shook their hands. "Duren Aeducan pleases to meet you"
"And you" said Naruto
"Duren is a part of another batch of recruits that went out before you guys" clarified Alistair.
"That's right, but you can meet the rest at the camp"
"Yes, Duncan would be needing these" Said Alistair as he took the scrolls and headed towards the camp the rest following.
"It's great you all came when you did some of the other recruits were getting restless."
"How many are their" asked Naruto. He could have sworn he had the same conversation with Alistair but put that out of his mind.
"Hmm let me see...there's….and then...five more" Said Duren
"Five" Asked Jory
"Yes, one more dwarf, a human, and three elves." Said Duren as they neared the camp. When they neared the gray warden camp Duncan called them over.
"So, you returned from the wilds have you been successful"
"Yes, the recruits got their blood and we found the treaties." Alistair said as he handed Duncan the scrolls. Duncan opened them and glanced at the contents before nodding and putting them in a trunk by his tent.
"Good, we most likely won't be using them but they're a good backup." He said walking back. "I've had the circle mages preparing, with the blood you've retrieved we can begin the joining immediately."
"The joining, you finally going to tell us what it is" Asked Duren and Naruto had to agree.
"I will not lie we gray wardens pay a heavy price to become what we are, fate may decree that you play your price now rather than later." Said Duncan forbiddingly.
"Let's go then, I'm actions to see this joining now" Said Daveth.
"I agree let's get this done" Said Jory.
"Then let's begin, Alistair go get the other recruits and take them to the old temple" Asked Duncan. Nodding Alistair left. "Come"
"Finally," mumbled Naruto.
The old temple was a wide area that was surrounded by arches with a long table that lay against the stone. Inside the temple were Duncan, Alistair, Jory, Daveth, Duren, Naruto, and five others. They were all dressed in armor given to them by the grey wardens.
"The ritual will take a couple of minutes to prepare, in the meantime use this time to get to know your fellow recruits." Said Duncan as he and Alistair turned to the table to start with the preparation. Naruto started the introductions. He rested his left hand on the hilt of his sword, took of his hat and took a bow.
"Naruto Uzumaki Captain of the Vixen, a pleasure to meet you all" he said. Naruto was dressed in a set of warden scout armor with his cutlass sheathed at his hip.
"Haha Duran Aeducan formerly of Orzammar well met." He laughed. Naruto had only met the dwarf an hour ago and he was already starting to like him.
"I'm Daveth from Denerim" Said the rouge giving a light wave. Daveth was dressed in a set of warden scout armor
"Jory a knight of Redcliffe" said the Knight bowing respectfully. He was dressed in a set of heavy warden armor. After Jory came a human woman. She stood about the same height as Jory. She had long ebony black hair tied into a braided bun and ice blue eyes. She wore a set of heavy warden armor with sword hilted to her waist. The sword had a stylized laurel engraved onto the pommel.
"Elissa Cousland, pleasure" she said frigidly. She was cold and distant it looked like she had something on her mind, something harsh. The next to step up was an elven woman she had long platinum blond hair and blue eyes. The first thing that Naruto noticed about her the way she carried herself. He'd seen city elves before, but she was different she had this air of confidence about her. She wore a set of warden scout armor with a long sword hilted to her side.
"Kallian Tabris greet to meet you all" she said happily her smile reaching from ear to ear, it was rather infectious if Naruto did say so himself. The next was the only other dwarf. She he'd short unkempt red hair and a rough but exited expression on her face. she wore a set of warden scout armor with two daggers hilted at her belt.
"Natia Brosca" she nodded quietly. But her cool silent nod did very little to cover the excitement that she felt. The next was another elven woman but unlike her kin she was Dailish. Naruto had only encountered a few Dalish in his time, but she was even stranger than those he had met. For starters unlike a regular elf her skin was a deep brown and she had chocolate brown hair that she kept in a loose ponytail giving her a striking appearance. If Naruto had to guess she had some Rivian in her.
'God, what's with today' Naruto complained in his head. It was like everywhere he looked he saw something that reminded him about his old captain. But back to the Dalish her tattoos were white and depicted like most Dalish tattoos a system of roots or vines. She wore a set of warden scout armor and a dagger on her side with a bow on her back.
"Lyna Mahariel" She said flatly. Naruto had the sneaking suspicion that she didn't like them. The last person was also a female elf but unlike the other two she was a mage. She was small and unlike the other two elves she didn't look like she was built to fight. She had short black hair put into several ponytails and carried a large wooden staff. She was dressed in a set warden battlemage armor.
"N-Neria Surana" She stuttered out. She was nervous whether it was about the joining or meeting new people Naruto didn't know. But what he knew for sure was that she was a circle mage, apostate tended to be a bit more forward. After the introductions Jory decided to talk.
"The more I hear about this joining, the less I like it" said Jory
"Are you blubbering again" Said Daveth
"Why all these dame tests, have I not earn my place" Said Jory
"Maybe it's tradition, maybe they're just trying to annoy you"
"Are all humans cowards" Lyna mumbled
"Are all elves broody" Said Naruto glancing at her.
"Nope" popes up Kallian "it's just her" she said making Naruto laugh slightly. Neria for her part mustered up some courage to ask Naruto a question.
"Y-you said you w-were a Captain" Asked Neria. She reminded him a lot of Hinata.
"Yes, my crew and I travel regularly across the waking sea and the Amaranthine ocean."
"I-isn't that dangerous, I-I hear the waking sea covered in pirates." Neria Asked in awe.
"Yes, it is but that's half the fun" Naruto said with a grin. Just as Naruto finished talking Duncan walked up
"I see you are all dressed in your new armor" he observed.
"Wasn't our old armor suitable" Asked Jory.
"Speak for yourself this is way better than my old armor" Said Daveth.
"The Armor is part of the Joining, as you might have guessed the joining itself is dangerous if you die during the process may you die as a grey warden" Duncan said catching everyone's attention.
"So, you finally going to tell us what it is" asked Elissa getting a nod from the old warden.
"Yes, at last we come to the joining. the grey wardens were founded during the first blight when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So, it was that the first grey wardens drank of Darkspawn blood and mastered their taint." Duncan said shocking Naruto and the other recruits.
"We-were going to drink the blood of those-those creatures?" Asked Jory
"As the grey wardens before us, as we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory" Said Duncan
"Those who survive the joining become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the Darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon." Said Alistair
"B-but this is b-blood Magic" Said Neria.
"In a sense yes but as a grey warden our duty is to stop the blight. To stand vigilante in the darkness against the horrors of the Dark." Said Duncan. Naruto had to hand it to him he new how to make a speech. "We speak only a few words prior to the Joining. But these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would?"
"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." Said Alistair mournfully. Duncan turned to the table and picked up an ornate white chalice presumably filled with Darkspawn blood.
"Daveth step forward" Said Duncan as he handed to chalice to him. Daveth looked at the blood before drinking from the chalice. Duncan took the chalice and backed away watching the rouge. Daveth started to stumble erratically screaming in pain. Naruto watched as he saw the man he went into the wilds with start to spasm. Deviate lifted his head up showing the group his vacant white eyes.
"Makers breath" Said Jory. As they watched Daveth go through unimaginable pain before he hit the floor clenching his throat like he was suffocating.
"I am sorry Daveth" Said Duncan as he stared at the dying man. "Step forward Jory" he said turning to the knight.
"I-I have a wife, a-a child, had I known" he said drawing his sword.
"There is no turning back" Said Duncan mournfully
"N-no you ask to much" Jory said backing up brandishing his sword. Duncan drew his dagger putting down the chalice and stepped towards the knight. Jory swung his sword hopping to end Duncan's life ably for the old warden to swiftly part his blow before stabbing Jory in the heart killing him. Naruto watched to exchange in equal parts remorse and awe. Remorse for Jory's death and awe at the warden's skill.
"I am sorry" Duncan said before the knight hit the floor. "But the joining is not yet complete"
'Shit' thought Naruto mentally making a point if he survived this to tell the man's family about his death.
"Naruto" Duncan said catching the blond's attention.
"Well this is it" Said Naruto as he walked up to Duncan.
"You were called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good." Said Duncan. Naruto took the chalice and stared at the blood. his mind drifted to the past in his head played a scene of Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, and him sitting in Ichiraku's having lunch and another of them as well as the rest of Konoha eleven having a party Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune were their too. The scenes almost made him cry. he hadn't thought about everyone else in such a long time he began to doubt himself.
'What would they think if the saw me know he thought' Naruto thought feeling ashamed.
'They would be proud' Said a small voice in the back of Naruto's head it was soothing, familiar. Composing himself he looked Duncan dead in the eyes, smiled his widest smile and held out the chalice with one hand.
"Cheers" he said happily before downing the mixture. It felt like liquid fire going down his throat, but he did not flinch. He wouldn't flinch he told himself he was Naruto Uzumaki Captain of the Vixen, Shinobi of Konoha, jailer of the Kyūbi no yoko, HE WOULD NOT FLINCH. Then everything went black the last thing he heard before he passed out was Duncan.
"From this moment forth you are a grey warden."
Ok that's the latest chapter hope you enjoyed it the next will be coming out next Thursday or Friday. If your wondering abought them being dressed in Grey Warden armor. To me it just furthered their philosophy abought those died in the joining being considered grey wardens. Its just a little tidbit that won't make much a difference in the story. And don't forget if you catch any errors that I missed cope and paste them to me. Thank you =p