"I've heard of them. Seen a few. They're not as rare as you'd think, but they are very, very difficult. 'Spirited' and 'stubborn' suggest a reasonable resistance. No, they're just plain mean. Spur a horse a little too hard, and you're getting a brush against a tree. Kick this thing the wrong way, and it's taking a piece of you. That said, there's utility here. As fast and strong as any other, and the rider who masters one is making a statement. Not just 'I can do what you can't.' It's almost 'I can do what you wouldn't even dare.'"
-Master Dennet on Dracolisks
Naomi prepared herself for travel, unsure of what laid before her. She was eager to explore the strange lands, and left for the training grounds to find Cassandra. When she crossed the wooden boundary near the front of Haven, she heard shouts of multiple people coming from the stables. Allowing herself to be sidetracked, she pranced over out of curiosity and melded into them, softly pushing her way to the front.
She gracefully removed her hood, unsure of what she was looking at. The stable hand was wrangling a scaled beast as another man was trying to get a saddle on its' back. It was a large, horse-sized lizard of sorts, bright red in color. Black markings littered the beasts' hide, swirling the entire way up to the horns that framed its crimson eyes. She saw what she thought were fangs, but couldn't get a good look due to a frame-trap of some sorts upon the poor creature's muzzle. It knocked the man to his bum, and kicked the other into the fence.
"Found yourself in a spot of trouble?"
"Does it look like I'm having a good time?" The stable hand grumbled, trying to get the creature to calm down by tugging on the leash.
"I wasn't talkin' to you, I was talking to it."
"The man who gifted us this 'trained mount' failed to mention he was a demon from the Western Approach!"
"Give me that..." She snatched the 'leash' from the man and dismissed the other, entering the "arena."
"Step aside, please. Come on, now, clear the area and go about your business." Cullen gave orders behind her, "Herald, what are you-"
"Shh!" She waved a hand to him, watching the creature reel in dismay.
"It's alright, lad, I'm not gonna' hurt you." She dropped the leash to the ground as the beast reared., "Aye, I feel your frustration. People lookin' at you all funny, blaming you for bein' here when you had little decision in it." She spoke calmly and softly to the beast, inching forward and extending a hand with caution.
"See? I'm not so bad, beastie." Her gaze kept to the ground, not wishing to challenge the creature by looking at him directly, "Now, I'm going to take this off, and you're going to behave."
Carefully, Naomi took the trap around his mouth in her hands. The creature flared its' nostrils, unsure if he should allow her to progress.
"You aren't seriously-"Cullen began to protest.
The metal cage had been made free of the dragon-like creature's mouth with one, swift, tug. He let out a horrifying shriek into the air. He did not have hooves, but rather claws that dug deep into the earth as his scaly tail flickered in anger. Naomi put herself in a defensive stance between him and the crowd, doing her best to keep him cornered as to prevent his escape.
"Ah, that feels good now, doesn't it?" She raised her voice to Cullen behind her, "Commander, be a dear and fetch me some meat? With fangs like those, he's surely not havin' the straw these daft men lay for him." She sparred with the creature who took a chomp at her.
Naomi bopped the thing on his nose.
"Now, I'll be havin' none of that from you, lest you want me to name you something insulting, like 'Fluffy.'" She extended a finger to him, shaking it disapprovingly.
Astounded, Cullen did as she asked, grabbing a skinned nug that hung in the front of a nearby butcher's shop. He threw a few coins on the counter to quiet the man yelling at him.
Nug hanging in hand, he marched through the crowd, people giggling as he did.
"You'll hear about this later…" He mumbled as he tossed it to her.
Without taking her eyes off of the beast, she grabbed it instinctively, leaving the crowd to gasp and praise her for her skill.
"I thought seeing you walk around with a skinned nug was strange." Varric came to his side.
Naomi remained focused on the task at hand, but found it funny to imagine the almighty Commander running about with this skinned creature in his hand.
"So this is how this is going to work," she held the skinned animal to her face, forcing the beast to pay attention, "I'm going to feed you, but only after you cooperate."
She took one step at a time, ready to dodge if he decided otherwise. Keeping her eyes to the ground, she extended a hand, aiming for his snout. Tension thick in the air, the crowd watched on as Naomi's hand pressed gently on the bridge of the creature's face. She exhaled in relief and tossed the nug into the air. He leapt for it, swallowing the meat in a few, massive, chomps.
"Aye, there ya go, lad! You've earned a proper name!" She placed her hand underneath is jaw, scratching him as a reward. He hummed and wiggled his tail in delight.
"Did you just- pet, a dracolisk?" The Seeker had joined the crowd.
"A what?" She turned to face Cassandra, the dracolisk resting his head on Naomi's shoulder as she continued to pet him, "This big lizard?"
"A dracolisk. The dragon standing behind you." She said, bluntly. "Commander, how could you allow her to be so reckless?"
"She was knee deep in dragon-taming when I arrived; I only assisted her to preserve her limbs, Lady Seeker!"
"Hush, now, lest you rile him up again." Naomi turned to her new friend, "I think I'll keep you."
She retrieved the leather seat from the ground that the man had thrown in a hurry.
"Where's the proper bridle for him?" The Herald asked as she was done securing the awkward, custom saddle.
"I've got to see this." The stable hand who'd been trying to wrangle him earlier tossed it to her without hesitation.
The contraption made the dracolisk uneasy.
"Open up," Naomi opened her own mouth as demonstration, "Oh, don't be difficult." She pushed the metal bit against his teeth.
Giving in, he bit the bar, positioning it to make it more comfortable in his mouth. She wrapped the loops over his horns, admiring the handy work that went in to building the piece.
"Herald, don't!" Cassandra declared, stepping over the fence.
"Move!" Naomi hopped up onto the dracolisk, kicking his sides, "Ahoy! Just likea' horse, he is!"
Barely escaping the clutches of a protective Seeker of Truth, he took off in the direction where there were few gathered, jumping the gate with ease.
"You are trained, aren't you? That'll show em!" Naomi yelled in excitement.
Together, they rode off down the trail out of the village into the forest.
She found herself among strange creatures in the outskirts of the snowy tundra. They were large, four-legged, furry things with horns she could not describe. Finding a nice spot near them among the trees, she decided it was far enough to have stretched the dracolisk's legs. She smiled at the beast, patting him on the neck.
He was hesitant, looking behind them.
"Herald?!" Hooves rattled in the distance.
"He'll have an angry exchange of words prepared for us, I imagine."
Cullen barreled into the field, charging on a brown horse with a beautiful, black mane. With hot hair blowing from its nostrils, the horse charged until The Commander pulled it to a stop next to the dracolisk. The beast snapped, letting another shriek escape its massive jaws. Cullen's horse backed away in panic, bucking it's head and standing on its hind legs, challenging Naomi's mount with its hooves.
"Calm down!"He pulled on the reigns, finally settling the animal, "That was quite a show you put on."
"Apologies," She lowered her head, "Perhaps I am reckless because I question the reality of all this. I thought this would all be a dream to wake up from, yet every night I dream of home, in truth. Quite ironic."
The sadness on her face softened his rage.
"Where do you call home, Your Worship?"
"You wouldn't know where I spoke of even if I told yeh." She looked up into the sky, staring at the Breach.
The two began to trot back next to each other.
"We expect you to learn so much about this world of ours in such little time. I only see it fair that you educate us on yours, as well."
"Are you curious, Commander?"
"Perhaps." He admitted.
She focused on the frozen landscape in front of her.
"I was born in Ireland, a country seized by a tyrannical occupation. The population kept goin', but they took our resources, leaving us to defend what precious little we had left." Cullen listened to her speak as her words turned sour, "The city of Dublin had many'a opportunities, unless you had tits. So, my mother being smart in the sort, passed me as a young man, and I found work among a ship on my thirteenth year. Her name was Medusa's Scorn, Captained by…" She choked, her voice cracking, "Captain Johnny McGrath."
"Where are you from, Commander?" She quickly changed the subject.
"I was born here- in the country of Fereldan, to a small village named Honnleath. Like you, I have also been in service since the age of thirteen...previously within the Templar Order." Cullen rubbed the back of his neck, nervously.
Naomi still grew tense from the word, her fists tightening on the bridle.
"The Templars where I am from are not of the kind-hearted sort. They are the root of everythin' evil that walks about. I've lost Brothers and Sisters at their hands, and I've taken even the lives of even more of theirs." She spoke with a quiet anger, "They fear free will, death be the only answer to insubordination."
Pausing before continuing, she looked to the Commander.
"I've lived the last eleven years of my life huntin' them down. I swore an oath to keep the minds of people free from those who'd enslave'm. Can you explain to me how these Templars, or the Chantry they serve, are different? Do they not fear the free will of men, and all but rid them of free will because of it?"
"I cannot." Their eyes were fixed upon each other in ferocity, "I once believed that the Templars' purpose was to provide a safe place for the Circle Magi to practice their craft. I thought it a noble duty. Still, Herald...you must understand that there remains Templars who hold the Chant of Light close to their hearts."
Naomi studied his face and searched his intentions. This was a man of honesty and nobility.
"I will consider your stance, as well as the others', Commander."
"That is all I ask." He was grateful, admiring her beauty against the snow-driven forest.
They reached the borders of Haven where an angry Cassandra stood waiting for them. Varric and Solas were ready and waiting.
"Running off wouldn't be the most ridiculous thing you've done today, Spitfire." Varric winked.
"Ah, Spitfire, yes...interesting li'l nickname you've got there. Speakin'o which, name's Naomi. Sorry for the mix-up in the beginnin'."
"Is it not Joan?" Solas asked inquisitively.
"Nay, it's just a handle."
Cullen thought to himself, and wasn't sure how he already knew that.
"Why would you lie to us about your name?" Cassandra glared at her, unstinting.
"My name gets me in loads of trouble, where I'm from. I'd imagine my bounty lies at more than five-thousand pieces by now." She shrugged.
"What does that translate into coin, here?" Varric inquired hopefully.
The two of them laughed at the prospect of him turning her in.
"Did you name him yet?" Solas asked, lifting his chin towards the dracolisk.
"I think I've settled on one, aye."
"And?" Cullen asked impatiently.
"Dullahan." She patted the beast on its side, "His name is Dullahan."
"Sounds elvish." Varric grumbled.
"Believe me when I say that it is not." Solas chuckled.
"I'm from a country by the name of Ireland. The Dullahan is a legend of ours. He rides, with his own head in arm, on his black horse, whose eyes are red like the sun. The beast pulls a wagon whose wheels are made of thigh bones as he uses a human spine as a whip to stay on course. He ceases only but for a person when it is their time to go, and when he speaks their name, their soul is his." She pet the dracolisk as she told the gruesome tale.
"Wouldn't you be the Dullahan in the story?" Solas asked uncomfortably.
"Spose' so. But you're only gonna' stop to give them what for, ey, Dullahan?" She scratched the beast underneath it's chin, "He's just as terrifying as the tale, especially with that shriek of his."
Varric mounted his war ram. Solas followed suite upon the back of a hallah, and Cassandra on an armored horse.
"Be safe." Cullen waved off as the group departed.
"Maker have mercy."He went back to training the men, shaking his head in disbelief.