I do not own Kuroinu ~Kedakaki Seijo wa Hakudaku ni Somaru~ nor do I own Dragon Age. All rights respectively go to Liquid, the studio who created Kuroinu, and Bioware, the gaming company who made Dragon Age.
Feoh was still in need of repairs. Even though the battle was only a week ago, the damage was far greater than feared. Especially with the front gates that were blown to bits. Still, with progress being made, Feoh looked like it was on the road to recovery. Thanks to relief aid from the Fortress City of Ur, and the teleporters within Feoh working, the fortress was slowly being rebuilt and modified to withstand the next assault.
With Beasley's betrayal, all of his prime minister work fell onto Alicia and Prim. And the former prime minister's belongings, including his money, were confiscated, along with secretive letters he had made to the Kuroinu, further confirming his allegiance to them. Fitting, one suppose, that he had met a gruesome fate at the hands of the people he tried to sell just to have Alicia for his own.
Speaking of Alicia, despite the amount of work needed to do, she and Prim worked to have the Fortress City rebuilt and the treatment of the injured and raped take utmost priority. For Alicia though, she was glad that Sethran was around to assist. And she developed a new… certain appreciation for the Grey Warden. What was once admiration has now turned into something she didn't think she'd have: affection. Since their time together that night in bed never left her, Alicia privately dreamed of being with Sethran forever, her savior and knight in shining armor despite the color. She tried not to show so much of her more bashful side, but perhaps when this over, she can try to convince Sethran to stay in Eostia.
In her office, Sethran lays on Alicia's table what appeared to be something wrapped in cloth. It looked and sounded heavy but as Sethran opens it up, it reveals itself to be a sword. It was beautifully made, glowing bright blue all over, especially on the lyrium markings of the blade itself.
Alicia's eyes widen in awe of the beauty of the blade as she traces her fingers across it.
"What is this?" asked Alicia as she examines the blade.
"My old sword, Starfang," Sethran revealed. "Crafted from the rarest of all metals called starmetal. As light as a feather and tougher than dragonscales. No chip nor crack has ever appeared on this blade no matter how many foes it has cut down."
Alicia seems to be more entranced by the blade's blue glow. "It is a magnificent weapon."
"Do you notice the blood stains at the tip of it?" asked Sethran as he points to them.
Alicia takes a closer look and spots it. "Yeah…"
"Those blood stains are from the Archdemon of the Fifth Blight, when I drove my sword into its skull to end its cursed existence."
Alicia eyes in on the dried up blood at the tip, drawn into it. As a child she read stories of the legends of the Grey Wardens, fighting against a tainted god in the form of a dragon. Now to hold a sword that held the dried up blood remnants of the Archdemon made Alicia get shivers down her spine, seeing as how mortals triumphed over an evil god leading an evil horde worse than the Legion.
"Thank you for showing me this," Alicia said as she was about to hand the sword back, but Sethran stops her.
"It is yours to keep," Sethran revealed. "I gift my old weapon to you."
Alicia was once again stunned at the prospect. And yet, as she looks at it, she had doubt linger in her mind.
"I-I can't take this," Alicia said. "I-I mean, it's a great honor to wield it. But for me to keep it…"
"I trust you to wield Starfang, Alicia, in the days to come," Sethran said happily. "Your actions in saving Feoh have proven to me that you are a leader and warrior worthy to bear my old weapon. And besides, I have my word Vigilance with me."
Alicia then takes Starfang into her hands and swings it on a nearby training dummy in her room. And the sword had cut straight through, with one half of the dummy falling to the floor. She was stunned by the blade's sharpness.
"It'll take some time to get use to this blade," Alicia said as she puts it back in the sheathe and equips it. "But… thank you, Sethran. I will treasure it dearly."
Sethran smiles as he and Alicia come closer, holding each other's hands like they were star-crossed lovers. Ever since that night where Alicia asked him to stay and bed with her, the two have been relatively close in the eyes of Feoh's people. Some of the women gossiped that Alicia found herself a proper man in Celestine's chosen champion and were having a behind the scenes affair. Prim too heard of rumors and found it romantic, also curious, seeing a side of her cousin she never saw.
Both the Princess Knight and the Grey Warden High Commander looked into each other's eyes lovingly, smiling as their noses rub against one another affectionately.
Alicia and Sethran soon lean in for a passionate kiss, one that grew more and more bold as the latter lifts up the former. Alicia wraps her arms and legs around him, kissing him deeper even as he clears her desk to lay her on.
They continue to kiss passionately, even as Sethran teases Alicia with his hips against hers. This makes her break off the kiss and moan a bit.
"You've grown bolder since that night," Sethran smirked.
Alicia giggles, "Only when around you in private."
Alicia continues kissing Sethran passionately, clashing her tongue with his as she moans. If she were her old self, she'd never consider doing this. All of the marriage proposals she had been given in her years as a Princess Knight were turned down as they were mostly political. That and she found the men to be arrogant and egotistical. She'd certainly got involved in the marriage proposals concerning her cousin Prim as she was not willing to see her be sold off to some sort of man she has no knowledge of.
But around Sethran, a foreigner from another land, she'd gladly throw caution to the wind and engage in sexual relations with him. She owed him much, including her life and her city. And she would definitely not want to see him go away back to his home.
Alicia begins to moan louder as she feels Sethran's hands reach down and around her butt, grasping it lightly as he brings her forward for his crotch to rub against hers.
Suddenly, horns were being blown outside of Feoh's walls. This made the two break away from their kiss and look out the window.
"Are we under attack?" asked Alicia.
Sethran rushes out and looks to see what seemed to be an army. When he squints his eyes to see the flag the army was carrying, his eyes widen.
It was a yellow and white checkered shield flag with two lions facing each other. And at the front was a knight clad in gold armor, wielding both Maric's sword and shield.
"Alistair!" Sethran cried before he turns to Alicia. "Reinforcements have come to us. From my home."
Alicia was stunned. As she looks out the window, she can definitely see that the soldiers were definitely not like any of other armies in Eostia. The flag they carried was also not of Eostian making. She had no idea that these foreign soldiers have come to the Alliance's aid. For some reason she doesn't trust them but she does trust Sethran and his good judgment.
And the one leading them, Alistair she heard the name called by Sethran, was someone Sethran knew. Any friend of Sethran's may be an ally to the Shields.
"I'll gather everyone else in the war room. Can you bring your homeland's leaders to meet Celestine?" asked Alicia.
"Will do. I'll take Chloe with me."
As Sethran leaves, Alicia puffs her cheeks a bit upon hearing Chloe's name. It was not so much because she was the Dark Queen's retainer, but Alicia has picked up bits and signs of Sethran and Chloe together and sometimes alone. And it made her heart ache with jealousy.
Just a little bit.
The Fereldan soldiers marched onto Feoh and all looked to see just how badly damaged it was. All the workers stopped working to look upon the soldiers, wondering who they were. They certainly were not Kuroinu nor were they of the Legion. Their armor was no doubt astounding and battle-ready. Up front were two important men, one wearing golden armor with a dragon symbol on the chest.
Sethran soon arrives and kneels to the man in golden armor, to the surprise of all. Behind him were Chloe and Oghren, along with a couple of Feoh's guards.
"It looks like I've arrived a bit late," Alistair said. "Too bad. I rather miss the whole darkspawn killing thing."
"Well, you didn't miss much," Sethran replied as he stands up. "Just a bunch of rag tag traitorous mercs, some nasty nobles, and demons. Only a few darkspawn in sight I'm afraid but no stragglers or hordes. And they were not aligned with the Kuroinu."
"I suppose that does take some weight off my shoulders," Alistair shrugs said shoulders. "And you look terrible. What's with all those bandages?"
"In a word, an ogre. I would've been dead by another group of darkspawn had Oghren not shown up to save the day."
"Hey. What am I? Chopped nug livers?" asked Oghren.
"From the smell that's not a bad guess," Chloe quipped.
"I came because ol' Seth here needed help. And from the looks of it, he could use the extra hands. You should've seen him get pommeled by an Ogre, Alistair. He's gotten rusty!"
"Oi!" Sethran cried. "Save that for when we're drinking at the tavern or I'll slag you! Come on, Alistair, help me out here!"
"Oh the dwarf is a bit of an arse, but I wouldn't go that far," Alistair said. "It's good to see you too, Oghren."
Oghren burps in response, "Yep. Good to see you too, kid!"
"I need to get my men situated here before we march again," Alistair said. "I'll need to speak to the leaders of this Seven Shield Alliance. Sethran, can you get a quick check up with Nathaniel Howe and the Wardens while I tend to my men?"
Sethran nods as Alistair tends to his men distributing what provisions they could to the people of Feoh. The High Commander soon comes upon his successor of the Grey Wardens, the current Warden-Commander of Ferelden.
"Nathaniel!" Sethran greets. "It's good to see you again."
"You as well, Sethran," Nathaniel shakes his predecessor's hand. "When I learned from the king that you needed Grey Warden support due to a possible Blight in Eostia, I took what I could to take with me. At best I brought 200 Wardens, with about half of them from Orlais."
"200 of our brothers and sisters should be enough," Sethran nodded. "I just pray that we can put down the darkspawn threat before the Archdemon arises."
"I agree, though to hear of an Old God in Eostia… I was in disbelief at first. But as we approached the land, I could sense the darkspawn. As did our king."
"With Alistair as both king and Grey Warden, it is only right he commands both the Ferelden Army and our order. Though largely, it is you who also must make the best decisions for the Wardens."
"I want to ask your opinion on something first though."
"What's that?"
"Was it wise to appoint me as Warden-Commander of Ferelden? Giving back the lands of Amaranthine to me?"
"You know as well as I that your father was the one responsible for nearly destroying my family and ruining the Howe name. His greed overtook him, and that crime should not be passed to you nor any other. Plus, while I appreciated the rank and responsibility of your position, I'm not a political creature. And Highever is my home. I'd rather rule from there than Amaranthine, no offense."
"None taken. I just… Sometimes I ask myself if I am doing a good job and that I do not end up as my father."
"In our time together when I was Warden-Commander, Nathaniel, I'd say you are. At the very least you have family back at the keep. How is your sister? And Groundskeeper Samuel?"
"Groundskeeper Samuel passed away a few months back. But Delilah and Albert are doing well, along with their son. He's even said he wants to succeed me as arl of Amaranthine. Even wanted to be a Grey Warden."
"Is he serious?" asked Sethran in surprise. "You think he wants to restore your family's reputation?"
"Maybe. But I wouldn't go that far since the events are still fresh in mind."
Sethran had not forgotten the events after the Blight, in a process called the Thaw Hunt, where the remnants of the darkspawn are hunted down and destroyed. Whenever the death of the Archdemon at the hands of a Grey Warden occurs, the darkspawn are left divided and leaderless, splintering into warring tribes that fight one another and kill anyone else in their way. Sethran, having recently been promoted Warden-Commander, was engaged in this hunt, along with a darkspawn civil war between a unique sentient darkspawn called the Architect, and a broodmother simply called the Mother.
It was a long and grueling task to do. And the civil war between the darkspawn was finally over, but at the great cost of a burning city. One that Sethran still remembers as he was the one to give the order to burn it at Captain Garavel's suggestion.
"Is Amaranthine—"
"Slowly recovering," Nathaniel said. "We nearly lost the foundations when you gave the order to burn it. But thanks to King Alistair's aid and Queen Anora's support, we've begun to rebuild the city."
Sethran sighs in relief. "Good. I hope that when the Blight comes, I don't ever have to make a decision like that again."
Nathaniel moves on to a more enlightening topic, as this was no time to be remembering all the bad events prior to the present.
"Your brother Fergus also wanted me to give you this," Nathaniel soon pulls out a letter, to Sethran's surprise.
"Fergus?" asked a shocked Sethran as he takes the letter. "How is he doing?"
"Ever since I helped him in the recovery of Highever and defending it from darkspawn stragglers in the north, he has been grateful and granted some of my family's lands back."
"Has my brother given you any trouble since he became aware of your father?" asked Sethran.
"I admit, he was wary of me at first. But my sister and I convinced him that we weren't involved in our father's affairs. And we wanted to help him in any way we can to restore his family. Relations have been improving somewhat."
"Well, it is a start. I'll look at this letter when I have the time. For now, Warden-Commander, get your men settled and prepare the Joining. I may have found two potential recruits."
"Have you now? I guess I'll make the preparations. But where should we do it?"
"There's a courtyard within the castle that has remained relatively intact. We'll initiate the ceremony tonight and away from eyes and ears."
Nathaniel nods and bows to his predecessor before turning his attention to the rest of the Grey Wardens to set up camp.
At the war council, Sethran opens the doors along with one other person surrounded by his two bodyguards. All members of the Alliance stood to greet both the High Commander and his guest of honor.
"Everyone, this is my good friend King Alistair Theirin of Ferelden," Sethran introduces. "He came with reinforcements from Ferelden to aid us, along with the Grey Wardens."
Everyone had various reactions upon seeing the young king next to the High Commander.
"So you're Sethran's best friend?" asked Olga. "How curious."
Chloe gave no comment, standing guard over her Queen.
"It is an honor to meet with you, Your Majesty," Claudia bowed with one fist over her chest.
"Indeed. Your aid could not have come at a better time," Alicia concurred.
"Thank you for coming all this way," Prim thanked.
"Yo," Maia simply waved. Normally she would be excited of seeing a young man but perhaps today was just not her day. For various reasons.
"Blessings upon you, oh King of Ferelden," Kaguya bowed.
"Hey there!" Luu-Luu abruptly greeted nonchalantly.
Celestine bows and smiles, "It is a pleasure to meet you, King Alistair. I am Celestine, leader of the Seven Shield Alliance and I welcome you in this dark time."
"Likewise, Lady Celestine," Alistair also bows. "I do apologize for arriving late at this strange new land outside of Thedas. We don't exactly know much of the world beyond."
"Still, it is a relief that you have come. At this point, I'd gladly accept any help of foreign intervention from Ferelden."
"I'm surprised you're taking this well. I would've thought your people would have seen this as an invasion."
Celestine was a bit surprised hearing that and asks, "Have they… given you any trouble?"
"Nothing more than just gossip. I admit when we landed it took a lot of convincing on the port authorities to convince them we came to aid you. Once we invoked Sethran's name though, we were given a pass."
"I see," Celestine nods her head. "High Commander, will you explain to your king of the current situation at the moment?"
"Yes," Sethran nods.
AN HOUR LATER…
After being told of everything regarding the Kuroinu's recent history, along with a brief history of the war between Celestine and Olga and the discovery of an Old God buried beneath the Black Fort, Alistair bore a grim expression as he looks over the map on the table.
"This is indeed most troubling," Alistair said before he turns to his old friend. "It seems what you wrote in your letter was true after all. Eostia will no doubt face a Blight. And we need to find a way to stop that from happening."
"That may not be possible," Sethran admitted. "I fear that the darkspawn, despite digging at random, may be closer to the Black Fort than we think. It's only a matter of time before the Old God awakens and becomes an Archdemon. And with Kuroinu either aware or not, this is almost like Fereldan all over again."
"In hindsight, perhaps," Alistair nodded. "But the fact of the matter is, the Kuroinu are the biggest threat right now. From what you have told me regarding Feoh, it's likely they have other spies within the other Fortress Cities. Or turncoats."
"We can't just lock down our cities," Claudia stated. "To do so would only make the people worry and no doubt fall into the Kuroinu's plan."
"I agree, but either way, we're just going to have to keep disrupting the plans of the Kuroinu here and there and simply be on the defensive."
"Then why not just take the fight to them?" Luu-Luu complained. "I'm itching to take the bastard Vult's head off!"
"You know we cannot do that, Luu-Luu," Sethran said. "Not with the enemy knowing of our defenses inside and out. As Celestine stated earlier, we must remain on the defensive."
"And so, King Alistair, will your soldiers from Fereldan aid us?" asked Celestine.
"My armies can help yours, Lady Celestine, but I am afraid I cannot spare the Grey Wardens to aid them," Alistar responded.
That sent a shock to everyone. But only Sethran remained remote, knowing that his friend was right.
"King Alistair, what do you mean by that?" asked Claudia. "Isn't that what the Grey Wardens are here for since we have darkspawn crawling on our lands and digging underneath our feet?"
"The Grey Wardens are a neutral pact, generally. Their concern is that of the darkspawn threat, not of other forces. And with darkspawn horde growing, they need to concentrate on thinning their numbers, perhaps find a way to cut them off from reaching the Black Fort."
While this troubled everyone in the room, only Sethran, Olga, and Celestine understood what Alistair had meant. And they indeed found his words to be convincing enough. If the Grey Wardens were sent to defend City Fortresses against the Kuroinu but no darkspawn, then their presence at those fortresses would be a waste and the darkspawn can sneak up somewhere else. At the same time, the Grey Wardens cannot simply go on a manhunt for the darkspawn. Not with the Kuroinu and its Legion monsters everywhere.
"B-But I thought the Grey Wardens were to help those in times of great need, whether there is a Blight or not!" Alicia said.
"Yes, but it is only for the greater good of all and if the darkspawn are involved. If the order were to align with any political or religious faction within civil discourse, it jeopardizes our neutrality. I may be a king of Ferelden, and a Grey Warden at that, but my duties to the former have put my duties to the latter in question. So like it or not, I leave the darkspawn work to the Grey Wardens unless they need aid."
"So… what now?" asked Prim.
"Like I said, I can still provide the aid you need. But the Grey Wardens will only fight against the darkspawn. If the Kuroinu had dabbled with them which I highly doubt, then the Grey Wardens will fight."
Sethran then looks towards Lady Celestine with an announcement.
"Lady Celestine, I want to discuss something with you, Olga, Chloe, and Alicia together. Privately."
Celestine saw that the tone was serious, so she decides to exclude everyone else from the meeting. "Everyone, let's call a recess for tonight."
With that said, the Shields take their leave and head out. Once the doors were closed behind the High Commander and the King of Fereldan, all that remained in the room was them and Celestine, Olga, Chloe, and Alicia.
"What is this about?" asked Alicia.
Alistar then said, "Because of the information Sethran has informed me regarding the darkspawn, it is unlikely the Grey Wardens I brought from Fereldan will stay. They will want to return home, even after the Blight is over. As you know, the order has sought to establish its presence here in Eostia and with the darkspawn threat looming, our purpose is more justifiable."
"Makes sense," Olga said. "Even if the Blight is over, who knows what other darkspawn remain here in Eostia?"
"I can grant the Wardens permission to establish a presence here, King Alistair," Celestine said. "But how do you exactly make people become Grey Wardens?"
"We go through a process called the Joining. A secretive ritual that only Grey Wardens know and no other. There is a certain… price to pay. One that we cannot say here."
Sethran then said, "Chloe, Alicia. I have decided to propose an offer to you two: join the Grey Wardens and undertake the Joining."
This was a shock to the two. Even Olga and Celestine were wide-eyed of hearing such a proposal. Both a dark elf assassin and a Princess Knight offered to join the Grey Warden order by going through the Joining. A million questions ran through their mind as to why they should accept the honored offer.
"What? Why us?" asked Alicia. "Why should we join?"
"Alicia, when you and Chloe battled that Ogre, you showed great courage and ferocity in bringing down such a monster. Any other soldier would've been paralyzed with fear against such a creature. And while one could say it was just the adrenaline or fear driving you, it nonetheless fell by your hands. And you saved my life."
Alicia blushes a bit and looks away, remembering that harrowing moment for her when she took on an Ogre and saved Sethran. Indeed, that dark creature was one of the toughest foes she had ever faced but it was by her hand that the beast fell. All eyes in the room turned on her in shock, even Claudia. When she heard the report, she didn't believe at first but it seemed Sethran's words rang true.
"Chloe, your dedication to protect Olga has no doubt won her your loyalty. As the only dark elf and only member of the Dark Queen's army loyal to Olga, you've protected her from both the Kuroinu and the darkspawn. And with this new threat, Olga will continue to be in need of protection from the darkspawn that will come, especially if we are to travel."
Chloe flushes. "Ohh… Th-Thanks… But I only did it for the Queen! Not for you!"
Olga could not help but giggle a bit at that remark. It seems even after making love, Chloe can't admit fully that she likes Sethran.
"You have a choice. You can either undertake the Joining and become a Grey Warden, or you can decline and maintain your position as a Princess Knight. We will not force you either way. Not even with the Right of Conscription. While we need as many good recruits as we can find, I have no intent on forcing the issue."
"Take your time to consider it," Alistair said. "Like Sethran said, we will not force the issue onto you."
"Will this affect our position as Shields?" asked Alicia.
"Not in the slightest," Alistair said. "Take it from me, a royal bastard who was at first a Grey Warden before someone forced me to be king."
He then looked over to Sethran, revealing he was the one, along with a few others, who pressured him to take the throne.
"Hey, you've been doing a good job so far," Sethran said. "And you did say you felt like you would make a fine king."
Alistair sighs in reluctance, "Why are you always right on these things?"
"Looks like now I'm the one to deliver unpleasant news and witty one-liners."
The two chuckle a bit Sethran reverts back the issue at hand.
"What will it be now, you two?" asked Sethran to Alicia and Chloe. "Take your time to choose."
"I'll do it," Chloe said. "For my Queen."
"As will I," Alicia said.
Sethran nodded in acceptance before he turns to his king and asks, "Alistair, if you could call for Nathaniel to prepare the Joining, we should carry it out as quickly as we can."
"Of course," Alistair said as he leaves to speak to Nathaniel, surrounded by his two guards.
LATER THAT NIGHT…
In Feoh's castle, at the courtyard at night, Chloe and Alicia were summoned over to the place to prepare for the Joining. Having been selected and deemed worthy by Sethran and Alistair to become Grey Wardens, they were to undertake this ritual to become like them. Indeed, they both have slain numerous darkspawn that no normally could fight against. But when their deeds were heard by Alistair, he felt it fitting to induct them into the order.
As the first of Eostia's Grey Wardens, they could set up a headquarters and get in contact with the other Grey Wardens in Thedas so as to bring in more reinforcements. They could also induct promising candidates to create more Eostian Grey Wardens, consisting of elves, halflings, and humans.
Even if there is an Old God in Eostia underneath the Black Fort, who knows how many others are there out in the world. Indeed, Thedas was just one part of the world and no one asides the qunari would know of anything beyond their borders.
But after about fifteen minutes passed since they arrived, both girls started to worry. Mainly of themselves and what this Joining entails.
"The more I hear about this Joining, the less I like it," Chloe said.
"I hear you," Alicia nodded. "The legends say that this Joining is secretive, so secret not even the greatest of kings know what it entails."
"Funny. I thought you'd feel honored to join the Grey Wardens. Won't this damper your position as a Shield?"
"If I survive this ritual, whatever it is, hopefully it does not. And I should ask the same of you. Are you worried you may not be at Olga's side if you do not survive?"
"Ha! Nonsense. I am Her Majesty's shield and most trusted servant. I could never leave her."
"If there is one thing I have never forgotten, Chloe, it is your dedication towards me," A familiar spoke up, making the two turn to see both Olga and Celestine surprisingly walk towards them.
"L-Lady Celestine?" asked a stunned Alicia as she bows. "What are you doing here?"
"We've been granted… permission from both the king and Sethran to witness this Joining," Celestine said. "After all, if the Grey Wardens want to establish a presence in our lands, and because we've outlived many in Eostia, we think it fair to see how the ritual is performed."
"Plus, Chloe, I need to look after you," Olga said. "If I learned that you did not survive this ritual, whatever it may entail, and I did not see your end with my own eyes, I could not bear it."
"My lady…" Chloe was a bit stunned.
Soon afterwards, some more footsteps were heard comprising of three people, Sethran, Alistair, and Nathaniel. Nathaniel was in the middle, holding the Joining chalice in his hands, filled with a liquid that no one could see.
"At last we come to the Joining," Sethran began. "The Grey Wardens were founded during the First Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. And so it was that the first Grey Wardens drank of darkspawn blood and mastered their taint."
"We're… going to drink the blood of those… those creatures?" Alicia was repulsed.
"As the first Grey Wardens did before us, as we did before you," Sethran confirms. "This is the source of our power and our victory."
"Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint," Alistair shared. "We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the Archdemon."
"Those who survive?" asked Chloe.
"Not all who drink the blood will survive and those who do are forever changed," Sethran explains. "This is why the Joining is a secret. It is the price we pay."
Olga lowers her head a bit, knowing of that harsh lesson where with power comes a price. Indeed, the memory of her people turned into the Legion to defeat the darkspawn during the Elder War still felt like it was yesterday. And it seems the Grey Wardens truly do understand the meaning of sacrifice, but in this case, it is for the individual. To drink of darkspawn blood to master the Taint within and use that power to slay the Archdemon. That is indeed a heavy price to pay.
Celestine holds Olga's hand in secret, reassuring her friend that everything will in time be okay.
"We speak only a few words prior to the Joining," Sethran said. "But these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would?"
Alistair nods as he bows his head, along with Sethran and Nathaniel.
"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."
With those ancient words spoken, Sethran walks over to grab the chalice containing the blood of the darkspawn.
"Chloe, step forward," Sethran calls out.
Chloe was at first nervous about all this. To drink the blood of those vile things that want to kill her. The thought of it made her repulsed.
Still it could be worse. She could be drinking the sexual essence of humans by force of which she had endured since she was a child. How she had remained free of pregnancy is unknown. Perhaps this taste of darkspawn blood will purge the other taint within her that she has had.
Taking the chalice into her hands, she brings its contents to her lips.
*SIP*
Chloe takes a sip of the chalice. It was vile and disgusting. Warm but gross. Luckily, with herbs and lyrium, it made the chalice drinkable to consume, even if it contained a single drop of an Archdemon.
But that is when Chloe felt it. A throbbing headache in her head as she begins to hear whispers. Dark whispers of below, of voices like the stuff of nightmares. She takes the voices in, trying not to make such a dramatic scene despite the pain in her head.
That is when she looks up and her eyes were rolled backwards, to the shock of all but the Grey Wardens. Chloe soon begins to fall backwards, but Nathaniel catches her from behind and lowers her to the ground before checking her heartbeat.
"Chloe!" cried a scared Olga. "Is she...?"
"She yet draws breath," Nathaniel said, to Olga's relief as she sighs heavily. "She will recover."
With one recruit alive, now just stands one more.
"Alicia Arcturus, step forward," Sethran calls out.
Alicia however voiced doubts. "A-Are you sure, Sethran? Is this wise?"
Sethran calmly smiles and says, "There is no turning back."
Alicia, hearing the words, then responds, "So be it."
Having made up her mind, Alicia takes the chalice and stares at its contents. As Sethran said, there was no turning back on this. She had to drink it here and now before those doubts return to her head. And perhaps become what seals her fate.
*SIP*
"You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good," Sethran watches as Alicia drinks the cup. The taste was sweet yet vile as the darkened blood courses in Alicia's body. He then takes the cup away from her. "From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden."
Like Chloe before her, Alicia starts to get a throbbing headache in her head, making her hunch over as she hears voices. She could feel the Taint within her driving her body like mad, the voices becoming unbearable as her body wracks in pain.
Her eyes then roll back. But then next she saw was a winged dragon, cackling in darkness. As if it was aware of her presence, it catches her gaze and roars with aura of evil that makes even the bravest of knights tremble before it.
The Archdemon.
Both Chloe and Alicia soon wake up to see the three faces of Sethran, Nathaniel, and Alistair over them, their Grey Warden brothers.
"It is finished," Sethran says. "Welcome."
Both Alicia and Chloe were then held up by Celestine and Olga respectively, concerned that they were feeling fatigued and heavy after experiencing such a scary episode.
"No deaths this time," Alistair said. "In my Joining, only one of us died. But it was… horrible. I'm glad at least you two made it through."
"The first Grey Wardens of Eostia," Nathaniel commented. "I pray to the Maker that this will serve as an inspiration in the tales to come."
As soon as Chloe and Alicia stand up, Sethran then asks, "How do you feel?"
Chloe groans, "Ugh… like my head is spinning after a fall."
Alicia concurred, "Nothing you said prepared me for that, Sethran."
"Such is what it takes to be a Grey Warden," Sethran responded, repeating Duncan's words when he said that.
"Did you have dreams?" asked Alistair. "I had terrible dreams after my Joining."
"Such dreams come when you begin to sense the darkspawn, as we all do," Nathaniel explained to the two who were confused. "That and many other things can be explained in the months to come."
"Before I forget, there is one last part to your Joining," Alistair said. "We take some of that blood and put it in a pendant. Something to remind us… of those who didn't make it this far."
Alicia, confused, asked, "But… how is that relevant given that no one died?"
"In your case, it's more so to remember those who have undertaken the Joining prior to yours. Sethran and I have our own pendants, to remember those participants we were alongside with… before they died."
"Take some time," Sethran advises. "When you are ready, we will meet in the war counsel room to discuss our next move against the Kuroinu. Nathaniel, if you could take the Joining chalice…"
"Of course," Nathaniel replied as he takes the chalice.
With Alicia and Chloe in the arms of their respective leaders, they were led away by them to be taken care of and get some rest. The remaining people in the courtyard were just the king of Fereldan and the High Commander.
"Thank you, Sethran," Alistair thanks his friend. "Duncan… He would've been proud of you."
"He'd be proud of us both, my friend," Sethran smiled as the two look up into the clear blue sky.
It could have just been them but somewhere in the skies, from the realm of the Maker, Duncan smiled on his two students.
BLACK FORT…
Vult sat on his stolen throne, surrounded by orcs and his fellow Kuroinu mercenaries, with Keane standing to his right. Usually, there would be an orgy going on in the room, but not today. There was no reason to celebrate. Ever since Sethran's betrayal, Vult always bore the look of bitterness and anger, cursing at his former colleague and his actions of saving Olga and Chloe.
Had things gone as planned, they would have been his slaves. Sethran could even have them for his own. But instead, Sethran betrayed him and stole everything.
And now, with news of his army's defeat at Feoh and the death of Beasley, it only made him more visibly frustrated.
"Captain," Vult said gruffly to his subordinate, who was a survivor of Feoh. "Explain to me how you failed our very first assault against the Princess Knights."
The captain was scared shitless, ready to piss in his pants and tremble in fear. "W-Well, you see…"
Vult interrupts him. "With such a large force you had, and Beasley sabotaging the walls, we would have taken Feoh easily, have all those women to ourselves including both Princess Knights! So spit out the reason why it failed!"
"E-Everything was going well at the start. The walls came crashing down when we used the bombs and we swarmed in. We caught them unprepared and had managed to take almost half the city."
"Spare me the damn details!" Vult shouted. "Even if reinforcements from Ken or other Fortress Cities arrived, we still had them outnumbered."
"Yes, sir. B-But, just as we had the Princess Knight nearly give up, the Dark Queen showed up. Along with her subordinate… And Sethran."
The silence that followed afterwards was deafening. Like all stood still upon hearing Sethran's name being called. Vult's intense gaze on the trembling captain soon gave way to anger as it permeates through the air.
"Sethran… was there?" He asked.
"Y-Yes. He rescued the Princess Knights, and killed Beasley."
Vult soon rises from his throne and starts descending down the steps towards the cowering captain.
Unable to think straight, the petrified captain continued to explain, trying to make some excuse to get him to live. At this point, he knew what Vult was going to do to him, and he did not want it.
"W-Wait, my lord. Please! It was just one assault. We can still win this war if we attack the other Fortress Cities and-"
*SLAM*
*CRUNCH*
"GAAAAAAGH!
Vult stomped and crushed the captain hard on the genitals, crushing them with a loud crack that made every Kuroinu soldier and orc wince in pain.
Vult then picks the man up and then angrily throws him over to what looked like a den full of hungry rabid man-eating hounds. The sounds of the man screaming as his flesh is eaten by the hounds brings fear to the men around Vult, but it didn't matter. To say he was now furious was an understatement. Sethran interfered once again in his plans and he will likely continue to do so over and over.
The leader of the Kuroinu sits back down on his throne and leans on his armored hand, his anger rising every further. "Sethran. Once again, he fucks up my plans. If he was not at Feoh, we could have taken it!"
"To think one man made such a difference," Keane said while adjusting his glasses. "Your plan was flawless, Vult. The defenses would be brought down, Alicia would surrender herself to the first innocent threatened and then the rest of the city would be demoralized and fall under your rule."
"And one damn traitor ruined it all. ONE!" Vult shouted. "Again, he takes away our sweet prizes right out from under us! When I get my hands on him, I will choke the life out of him and make him watch as I personally fuck every single woman in Eostia!"
Vult's anger echoed on that last statement for everyone in the Black Fort to hear. Whether he was trying to rally them through his frustrations or voice out his annoyance of his ruined plans, no one knew. All they did know was that it was best to keep silent in front of their leader, for to speak now of reassurance would only serve to piss him off even further.
"Perhaps I can help with that, Oh Mercenary King."
A voice soon spoke out, catching the ears of all. Suddenly, the room darkened as the lights dimmed and nobody could see. The men began to panic.
Soon however, what appeared to be a rune circle emerged form the floor. It then cackled with red electricity and a burst of light shined out, revealing what appeared to be a figure wrapped up and emerging upwards in a circle before facing frontwards towards Vult.
The light show dies down as the Kuroinu and the orcs prepared their weapons. But the stranger's presence left them paralyzed with fear as he catches onto their gazes, making them terrified of his appearance.
"Who are you, old man?" asked a rather impatient Vult as he rises from his throne. "And why are you here?"
"I am known of many names. You may simply address me as the Elder One."
It was at this point at that the Elder One then lifted his cowl up, revealing the face of a man but horribly disfigured despite being mostly intact. His skin looked like it was flayed and attached to the rest of his body like a piece of skin. His arms were very thin like the bones of a skeleton, but they had very sharp nails like the talons of a dragon. Around the left side of his head and underneath the right side of his chin looked to be red crystals. Those crystals also appeared on his chest, barely holding up his flayed skin.
"Well, Elder One, you came a long way here to die," Vult insulted.
But the Elder One was hardly impressed with the threat. "I have seen such men like you bark with such words. And too often do they foolishly fall. The reason why I have come is because of the threats that have arrived from overseas. That of the continent of Thedas."
"What? What do you mean by that?"
"The Goddess and the Dark Queen have received foreign aid due to the actions of their trusted High Commander. You are outnumbered and powerless to stop them, even with your schemes in play."
"Are you requesting an alliance?" asked Kin, untrustworthy of this stranger before him.
"A cooperation," The Elder One cryptically clarified. "We both seek to destroy the one individual that has caused your plans to fail time and time again."
Vult figured out immediately whom the Elder One referred to. If Sethran could thwart Vult's plans and steal their prizes, then it is of no doubt he would have likely requested foreign aid outside of Eostia. And given of how the Princess Knights would most likely forge an alliance with the foreign invaders to defeat him, Vult needed to let go of his pride somewhat and accept the aid of this abominable man.
Whether it was worth the price to pay, he didn't care. He just wanted Sethran to pay for everything with his life. And have Eostia and all of its women right in the palm of his hands.
"Very well," Vult said, to the shock of Hicks and Keane. "But you are under my command. And you will obey whatever orders I tell you to. Understand?"
The Elder One bows in gratitude.
"Kin, show him your lab. Maybe he can help us with your experiments."
Kin obeys and leads the Elder One over to his laboratory, with the mysterious stranger right behind him.
But unbeknownst to all, the Elder One was not whom they thought he was really. In fact, no one had even noticed of the magic lingering in their heads now. Not even Vult. A magic that would slowly but surely corrupt them into his service, to become darkspawn without the need of flesh or blood to corrupt them. Not even broodmothers.
To the Elder One, they were nothing. As a former Tevinter Magistrate from the days of the ancient Tevinter Imperium, he has not forgotten his human life. Of how he entered along with seven others into the Golden City, only to return vile and twisted.
To Corypheus, they were just pawns for he was after a much greater and coveted prize.
That of great being whose song he hears, whose whispers he obeys. The Old God within the Black Fort slumbering beneath the prison.
One drop of the Taint into the beast, and the Archdemon is born. And a Blight begins.
Remember how I said this story was on hiatus? Well with my life somewhat over after previous chapter, I managed to make the time to get this chapter out. Took forever and I am not sure if it was worth it. But better than nothing and no response I suppose.
But enough on my life. Let's look at what we know. Alicia gets Starfang, the best weapon in Dragon Age Origins, from Sethran which I think for both weapon and name, it fits her well. Alistair arrives just like in Dragon Age Awakening at the beginning of the game, but this time with more soldiers and Grey Wardens. After a war council meeting with the Shields (which I admit could be done better), the Joining occurs for Alicia and Chloe, becoming the first Grey Wardens of Eostia. And they both survived because they have to. I wasn't planning to have any of them die or have any other recruits join in and have them be killed like Daveth or Jory in Dragon Age Origins.
Finally, we see Vult's reaction to Feoh and the return of the Elder One a.k.a. Corypheus. Now I know what you're thinking: Corypheus would never align with the Kuroinu for their depravities and their lustful goals. And that IS true. Corypheus is a skilled and master manipulator, able to corrupt men's hearts easily with his magic. It is why the Wardens and the Venatori fell easily under his sway during Dragon Age Inquisition. As one of the first darkspawn, his power is unmatched. In short, the Kuroinu are nothing but cannon fodder for him to use so he can work on a much more larger goal: the Old God within the Black Fort that the Kuroinu do not know of.
Next chapter will be a prelude to Ansur. And will focus on Maia. The events will play out similar if not the same as Kuroinu Rebellion and if you are at all curious how, check out LionHeart Studios page and download the recently updated version of the game.
Like, favorite, follow, and review at your leisure. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.