Epilogue

In the dawn-lit fields of Redcliffe, a lone youth was driving a plow. He paused for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow. It was going to be a tough year, with that pesky Blight coming.

Suddenly, a tall, dark, and stoic warrior came marching across the freshly seeded field. The young farmer approached him angrily. "Hey, watch it, pal, you're trampling my furrows!"

"Sorry," the warrior responded, bowing politely. "My name is Duncan, of the Grey Wardens. I'm looking for a human commoner named Eragon Skywalker."

"That's me," the boy confirmed.

Duncan's face broke into a grin. "Well, congratulations, today's your lucky day! I've come to recruit you." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "The devs tried to talk me out of it, said that an untried farm boy rising to become a national hero was a cliché. But I really think you've got what it takes. What d'you say?"

The boy was thrilled. "You really want me to join your order and save Ferelden? I'm speechless! But isn't there a test required for potential recruits?"

Duncan's smile broadened. "As a matter of fact, yes. And I've already got one planned for you." He turned the boy around, and pointed to an approaching mob. This mob consisted of seven angry youths from a variety of different races and social backgrounds, who were brandishing weapons furiously at the Warden-Commander.

They were led by a radiant battle-maiden with flowing mahogany hair and limpid aquamarine eyes. "Don't listen to him, young Skywalker," Elissa Cousland urged, her voice melodic yet commanding. "He's a pathetic excuse for a Warden. All he ever does is travel around the country, trying to find kids to do his fighting for him!"

"The supernaturally alluring human speaks the truth," Duran Aeducan confirmed. "That rat Duncan left me to die in the Deep Roads!"

"He sent me to rot in prison with this jerk!" Neria Surana and Daylen Amell said in unison, pointing at each other.

"He left my hunting buddy to die!" Lyna Mahariel accused, her skin blotted with the lesions of a Blight disease.

"He said I have cooties!" Faren Brosca thundered indignantly.

"And he saddled me with a crazy husband!" Nesiara Tabris added, glaring daggers at the Warden Commander.

"These kids have been chasing me all over Ferelden," Duncan explained. "It's driving me nuts. So I've decided that your test will be to dispatch them for me."

"What?" the farm boy shrieked, raising his pitchfork defensively. "No way! Fight them yourself, you lazy oaf!"

But Duncan just shoved the young human commoner at the raging mob. "I have underlings for that. By which I mean you. So get to work!"

Elissa put her arm around the farm boy's shoulders. "Listen, friend, there's no need for you to throw your life away. Why don't you join us instead? We're forming our own order, Kids Opposed to Opportunistic Leadership, to protect the youth of Ferelden from the machinations of the Grey Wardens."

"Sounds good to me!" Walking over to join his new brethren, he turned his pitchfork on the Warden-Commander. "Say your prayers, jerkwad!"

With those words the noble order of K.O.O.L., now eight members strong, began to pursue Duncan with renewed vigor. The Warden-Commander fled in terror. "Dang it, now I've got to find myself a new recruit. Maybe I should try the Korcari Wilds. A Human Barbarian Warden has a nice ring to it."

A/N: Just in case some readers haven't heard, Human Commoner and Human Barbarian were planned origins that ended up getting scrapped later.