Chapter 9: Recruitment Day
The first Blight had already raged for 90 years. The world was in chaos. A god had risen, twisted and corrupted. The remaining gods of Tevinter were silent, withdrawn. What writing we have recovered from those times is filled with despair, for everyone believed, from the greatest archons to the lowliest slaves, that the world was coming to an end.
At Weisshaupt fortress in the desolate Anderfels, a meeting transpired. Soldiers of the Imperium, seasoned veterans who had known nothing their entire lifetimes except hopeless war, came together. When they left Weisshaupt, they had renounced their oaths to the Imperium. They were soldiers no longer: They were the Grey Wardens.
The Wardens began an aggressive campaign against the Blight, striking back against the darkspawn, reclaiming lands given up for lost. The Blight was far from over, but their victories brought notice, and soon they received aid from every nation in Thedas.
They grew in number as well as reputation. Finally, in the year 992 of the Tevinter Imperium, upon the Silent Plains, they met the archdemon Dumat in battle. A third of all the armies of northern Thedas were lost to the fighting, but Dumat fell and the darkspawn fled back underground.
Even that was not the end.
The Imperium once revered seven gods: Dumat, Zazikel, Toth, Andoral, Razikale, Lusacan, and Urthemiel. Four have risen as archdemons. The Grey Wardens have kept watch through the ages, well aware that peace is fleeting, and that their war continues until the last of the dragon-gods is gone.-From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
Highever
Jenra packed his belongings as he prepared for his trip to Denerim. Alistair had lined up a bunch of recruits for him to determine if they were Grey Warden material. Afterwards, he would go to Ameranthine to establish the Ferelden branch…essentially becoming the new lord of Ameranthine. He heard footsteps coming into his room; it was his brother Fergus coming to see him out. Right behind him was Fenrir…the mabari ran to Jenra and licked his face. Jenra rubbed his hound's head and Fenrir whined a little. Jenra decided to leave his hound behind to look after Fergus and Highever while he was gone. It was hard for his hound, once a mabari imprints on their master they were fiercely loyal and wanted to be with them at all times.
"It will be all right, Fenrir…be a good boy for Fergus and look after our home" Fenrir whined but then gave a reassuring bark. Jenra then smirked. "Besides, at least you won't be bored…I heard the kennel master has lined up some suitable paramours for you" Jenra then saw his hound's ears perk up and tail wagging…the young lord chuckled, who know his mabari could be such a…dog.
Fergus crossed his arms and leaned on the wall. It was going to be difficult ruling Highever as he was going to worry about the last of his family. But he had to keep strong for his people. "So it's time…"
"Yes it is" Jenra said with a sigh. "I wish I had a little more time at home, but duty calls"
"Aye, but Ameranthine is not far from Highever…when you have time, you can always come and visit" Jenra could only chuckle sadly, if only it was like that but being a Warden meant a strong vigilance at all times or have the darkspawn ravage the lands. As Jenra was about to take his leave, Fergus cleared his throat. "Aren't we forgetting something?" Jenra looked back and saw Fergus with Night-fang in hand.
"We've been over this; brother…Night-fang is not mine to keep"
"Jenra, after everything you've been through with that sword, it is rightly yours" Fergus said. "Father entrusted it to you"
"Father entrusted it to me to keep it safe from Howe's hands but it was never meant for me" Jenra said. "It was meant for the heir of House Cousland…you"
"Maybe so…but there's too much history between you and this sword" he said. "I'll commission our finest smiths to create a new sword for our family, but I think Night-fang can continue to do some good in your hands"
Jenra sighed. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
Fergus smirked. "Nope" Jenra took the black and red sword out of his hand…the young lord had to admit it felt good have it in his hand again, like reuniting with an old friend. "Know this; brother when you wield that sword in battle…the spirit of our family is with you, always"
Jenra smiled. "I know" He gave his brother a hug and headed out of the castle. As he walked towards the city gates, the townspeople waved goodbye and gave their encouragements to their lord. Some even gave him gifts for his journey…Jenra gave one last glance at his home, smiled and went on his way.
Denerim
After two days on the road, Jenra made it to Denerim where a group of soldiers were waiting for him to escort him to the palace. The people all stopped was they were doing and crowded around, all trying to see the Hero of Ferelden…a title he was still not use to. As he walked, he could see that slowly but surely the city was getting back to normal. In recent months after the Fifth Blight, Ferelden had become something of a popular talking point in Thedas and for very good reasons. Blights historically tended to last for centuries with a devastating number of casualties, and large and at times permanent changes to the lands of Thedas. But this Blight was different…it only lasted for almost a year, the casualties while still quite large were remarkably insignificant and Ferelden suffered little to no damage to their lands. This caught the attention of the nations of Thedas especially Ferelden's bitter enemy Orlais…now the barbaric 'dog-lords' were looking quite formidable.
In the next few days Thedas would see if this was simply a run of good fortune or if Ferelden was new power player on the world stage. Jenra's escort arrived in front of the Royal Palace where Alistair and Arl Eamon were waiting for them. "Your Majesty, My Lord…it has been a while" Jenra said with a bow. "Quite the audience here"
"Apologies…it was the advisers ideas, they wanted a big showing" Eamon said. "So how goes Highever, my friend?"
"It is well, though our economy is suffering right now" Jenra said. "I have no doubt Fergus will put our home on the right path"
"So tell me, how many recruits did you find, Your Majesty?"
"I found seven of Denerim's finest warriors" Alistair said. "However the other lords were quick to send their finest as well, I guess they see being in the good graces of the Hero of Ferelden will be good for them"
"So in total there are twenty recruits" Eamon said. "Does this sound acceptable, Jenra?"
"More than acceptable, but there is more to being a Grey Warden than fighting prowess" Jenra said. "Their dedication is the most important…" Alistair said nothing as he knew exactly what Jenra was talking about…
"Daveth, step forward" The thief hesitated at first but did as the warden said and took the chalice and drunk the blood. Daveth slumped back in pain as he could hear soft dark whispers in his head, his eyes rolled back.
"Maker's breath!" Jory said horrified. Jenra could only look on in horror as Daveth gasped and choked until slumped to the ground with eyes dead to the world.
"I am sorry, Daveth…" Duncan said regretfully. "Step forward, Jory" He turned to the scared soldier as Jory stepped back and drew his sword. "Don't do this, Ser Jory"
"But…I have a wife, a child! Had I known…"
"There is no turning back…" Jenra looked at Alistair; he just closed his eyes like he knew what was coming next.
"No! You ask too much! There is no glory in this!" Duncan drew his dagger and came in close; his eyes had no anger, no sadness…just nothing. Jory swung for Duncan and the warden parried and stabbed Jory in chest. Jory's face before he died was of fear, and betrayal.
"I'm sorry" Duncan said as he pulled the dagger out of the dead man's body. "But the Joining is not yet complete" Jenra looked on as he saw Jory on the ground in the puddle of his own blood. There was really no turning back…he would either become a Grey Warden or die from the ritual or Duncan's blade. "You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good" The young lord hesitated, but then he thought about his family, his home and Rendon Howe he hoped his anger and grief would be enough to get him over the threshold. He took the chalice and drank.
Even though what Duncan did had to be done, it was still a terrible thing to have to go through. To kill a good man or woman to keep the secrets of the order…Jenra was trying to avoid what Duncan had to do. But people are unpredictable they can change their minds in an instant. The three men enter the courtyard where the recruits were waiting. Jenra scanned some of the recruits, at least half of the soldiers were grizzled with several scars on their bodies…they were battle hardened and experienced a very good trait to have. However their age was a problem, a person's age during the Joining determines how long that person has until their calling. The experience of these veterans was welcomed but the Calling would take them very soon.
The other half were fairly young, they were at least Jenra and Alistair's age when they started…they had some skills with the sword but were green when it came to darkspawn. It would take years for the Calling to take them but they would be the first ones to fall in battle with the darkspawn. Jenra walked up and cleared his throat as the recruits stood at attention.
"I thank you all for being here" Jenra said. "You are all here to join the ranks of the Grey Warden"
"As I look at you, I see potential in you all" he said. "However, it takes more than potential to join our order"
"I won't lie, if you join us it will be hard, it will be a constant battle with the darkspawn and you will sacrifice a lot more than life and limb" he said. "If you don't wish that, then you are welcome to walk away and resume your previous life"
"If you choose to bear this burden, know this once you make your choice…there will be no going back, you will live and die by the codes of our order" He saw some the veterans grin with excitement at this…they believed glory awaited them, a foolish belief that may get them killed. The younger warriors looked pale, the warden's brutal honesty was making them think twice about this…good the more they think about this the less casualties there will be. Then there were those with determined looks on their face, they knew the seriousness of being a warden and yet they would not run away. Brave…but they would more than bravery to survive the Joining.
"What will be your choice?" Some of the warriors decided to back away…others took longer to think about until some backed away like the others. The others stepped forward to join the Wardens…of twenty recruits seven decided to stay. Jenra nodded, seven recruits that was pretty for a start. "Those of you who have decided to turn back from this path, know that you should not feel any shame about your decision" Jenra nodded at Alistair and Eamon, and the candidates that decided to walk away was escorted out of the courtyard so Jenra could talk to the other recruits.
"Get some rest, because tomorrow we will travel to Ameranthine"
The Awakening begins! Next Time! As always Review and Comment!
