"A Warden started this mess. A Warden must be the one to end it. Tell Loghain that Nathaniel's in charge of the Wardens of Ferelden now. Just until the Warden-Commander returns and takes command again."
Ignoring the Champion of Kirkwall's yells for him to stop, Aedan Cousland let out a loud battle cry. Startling both Champion and Inquisitor as the Grey Warden ran towards the Nightmare Demon.
Aedan wore a blue and black gambeson with a blue and white striped warrior's scapular underneath the Silverite cuirass and segmented plackart. Silverite pauldrons, lames, couters, vambraces and gauntlets protected his hands and arms while wearing a pair of fingerless, brown leather gloves underneath. Below, he wore a leather belt with a sheath for a dagger and a pair of segmented Silverite tassets. He wore a pair of black trousers and brown leather boots underneath a set of Silverite poleyn, greaves and sabatons.
The Grey Warden's armor also came with a Silverite helmet that had a pair of wings attached to the side but Aedan had lost it before they entered the Fade. Revealing his brushed down, dark brown hair that ended just above his neck and a thick beard. His eyes were a shade of brown and a scar ran across the bridge of his nose.
Aedan's eyes glowed a bright red as rage burned through his body. Strengthening his attacks as he swung his greatsword at the Nightmare Demon but also left him vulnerable to some of the demon's attacks. Aside from hurting him, it also fueled his rage further and his next swing cut off one of the Nightmare Demon's fangs before he swung wide and cut the demon across the face.
The Nightmare Demon staggered back and roared before bringing one of it's legs down on Aedan who raised his blade and managed to block it. With gritted teeth, he turned to look at the others.
"Stop Corypheus... GO!!"
Aedan turned back to his opponent and rolled out of the way before his head could be bitten. He stood up and prepared to attack only to be sent flying after the Nightmare Demon smacked him with one of it's legs. His back slammed into a rock, leaving large cracks on the surface, before the Grey Warden fell on his front to the ground but steadily got to one knee. Using his weapon as a crutch.
Breathing heavily, the Grey Warden cracked his neck before staring defiantly up at the Nightmare Demon. Not a tinge of fear in his entire being.
"In War, Victory." Aedan muttered "In Peace, Vigilance. In Death."
The Nightmare Demon roared and shot one of it's legs towards Aedan in an attempt to impale him while the Grey Warden prepared to meet the attack with his blade.
"Sacrifice!"
Just as he was about to swing Ageless, a Fireball slammed into the side of the Nightmare Demon's head. Causing it to stagger and miss it's mark.
Aedan looked to the direction of where the Fireball came from and saw the Champion entering the fight. She was running towards the massive demon, eyes glowing a bright purple light as lightning cackled from her palm, before throwing out her hand and a torrent of lightning struck the Nightmare Demon.
The Champion then ran towards Aedan before sliding to a stop next to him.
"I thought I told you to go." Aedan grunted.
The Champion wore a red tunic with only one sleeve underneath a short-sleeved chainmail shirt. Over the mail shirt, she wore a sleeveless, charcoal colored, double-breasted tunic made of serge and wore a pair of similarly colored trousers along with a large, brown leather belt lined with wolf pelt and a pair of brown leather boots as well as a waist cape that reached the back of her knees. It was also made from the same type of fabric as her tunic.
She had on dark Silverite spaulder, cowter, vambrace and gauntlet protecting her right arm as well as a set of poleyn, greaves and sabatons while a bevor and gorget with a wolf pelt collar protected her neck. It also had a charcoal colored hood attached to it.
She also wore a pair of fingerless, leather gloves but wore a single, black, arm sleeve that ended just below the red symbol that marked her left arm.
She had chin-length black hair styled in an asymmetrical bob cut with side bangs and a pair of bright sapphire blue eyes. A red streak of blood ran across the bridge of her nose.
"And I told you that this is my fault as much as it is the Wardens." The Champion replied "If buying the Inquisitor enough time to escape is my atonement for that and all my past mistakes, then so be it."
"And Corypheus?"
"As much as I want to kill the bastard myself, my story ended three years ago. This is the Inquisitor's story now. She'll end Corypheus."
"You have that much faith in her?"
"Yes and no. I threatened her that the Inquisition better pay off or I will haunt her for an eternity. I have a long list of puns waiting lined up for the future."
"Maker save her then."
The two shared a laugh before the Champion placed her hand on Aedan's shoulder and he was suddenly surrounded by a green light. Moments later, he felt good as new. His previous injuries gone, the Grey Warden stood to his full height and rested his greatsword on his shoulder.
The Grey Warden then looked down at the Champion.
"You know I never really did catch your name, Champion."
Said Champion looked up at him with an amused look.
"Hawke. Marian Hawke. A pleasure, Warden."
Aedan nodded and held out his hand.
"Aedan Cousland. At your service, Lady Hawke."
This caused the Champion, Marian, to snort but she took his offered hand nonetheless.
"I'm no Lady, Cousland."
The two shook hands before looking over to the rift just as the Inquisitor jumped through it. Moments later, the rift closed and the Nightmare Demon roared.
"She's through." Marian commented.
"Good. Then that just leaves us against that."
The Grey Warden and the Champion glared defiantly up at the Nightmare Demon as it loomed over them. The two then looked around them and found themselves being surrounded by Fear Demons, Terror Demons and Fearlings. All of whom were slowly advancing towards them.
"I still have enough fight left in me to take on these demons. What about you?"
"Oh I'm not going down yet. Not until this big, ugly, loud-mouthed bastard get what's coming to him." Marian replied. Eyes glaring at the Nightmare Demon's own.
The Champion spun the Staff of Parthalan before slamming it down on the ground. The orb on the glaive glowed orange before Marian raised her open palm above her.
A dark cloud suddenly formed on top of them before Fireballs rained down on the surrounding demons. The Fireballs burst in a fiery explosion upon touching the ground. Killing those it hit while setting the ones near the explosions on fire.
The Nightmare Demon roared and the lesser demons around it charged the two. The Fearlings charging in first. Followed by the Terror and Fear Demons.
Aedan looked at the approaching demons and closed his eyes before taking a deep breath. He dropped into a fighting stance before opening his eyes. Revealing his irises which were now glowing a shining silver.
Letting out a battle cry, Aedan ran towards the closest demon and dashed forward. Slicing the demon in two before leaping into the air and bringing Ageless down on a second demon and splitting it's head and upper body in half.
The Grey Warden started cutting down any demon that got close to him. Killing demons left and right.
Some managed to get past him and moved to attack the Champion but she wasn't defenseless as they thought.
Using the bladed end of the Staff of Parthalan, Marian stabbed and sliced any demon that got too close. She would also combine spells with her attacks.
Marian closed in on a Fear Demon and impaled it in the abdomen before planting her palm on it's head. Her hand glowed purple before searing a glowing rune onto the demon's head then proceeded to kick it towards a group of Fearlings.
Moments later, the Fear Demon exploded. Taking it, and the Fearlings surrounding it, out.
Marian stabbed a Fear Demon in the abdomen as it appeared behind her but she had anticipated this. She let go of her weapon and grabbed it's head before her eyes glowed and she unleashed lightning on the demon's head until it exploded.
A Terror Demon appeared behind the Champion and was about to strike her down by surprise but it was promptly bisected by Aedan.
The Grey Warden swung hard and the momentum of the swing made him spin in place. The Fearlings and Terror Demons tried to close in on him only to end up dead as Ageless sliced them in two.
The Champion smacked a Terror Demon across the face with the orb of her glaive then kicked it towards the Grey Warden who swung his greatsword and bisected the demon.
A Fearling managed to jump on Marian's back and Aedan ran to her aid. He grabbed two of the Fearling's legs and pulled it off of the Champion before throwing it to the ground. He quickly raised his boot and crushed the Fearling's head.
They fought tooth and nail against a seemingly endless horde of demons for who knows how long. They were starting to slow down. Tired after killing countless demons which were slowly covering the very ground they stood on.
When exhaustion finally took it's toll on both of them, that's when the Nightmare Demon finally rejoined the fight and ran towards Marian before raising one of it's leg to strike.
Unaware of the danger she was in, Marian was surprised when Aedan suddenly pushed her to the ground. Moments later, she heard the sound of flesh being pierced and her eyes landed on Aedan. One of the Nightmare Demon's legs impaling him in the abdomen.
The Nightmare Demon pulled it's leg out and the Grey Warden coughed out blood as he looked down at the hole on his abdomen. He was surprised he was still standing at all. Oh wait. He can feel his legs giving out.
Aedan would've fallen face first to the ground of demon corpses had it not been for Marian catching him just in time.
The Champion grunted as she tried to hold the Grey Warden's entire weight. Unfortunately, he was as heavy as he looked.
"Andraste's flaming knickers! What the bloody hell do they feed you?"
"Heh... Meat. L-Lots of it. You think... I was born with these muscles?"
Marian didn't reply as she tried to cast Heal on the Grey Warden but found to her horror that she was out of mana and out of Potions.
"Shit."
"W-What?"
"Uh. Well. I've got good news, bad news, worse news and horrible news." Marian replied as casually as she can.
"What's the- ah! Good news?"
"It's almost over."
"I think I have an idea of what you mean." Aedan coughed out blood again "Ugh. And the bad news?"
"I'm out of mana."
"The worse news?"
"I'm out of Potions. Health and Lyrium."
"And the horrible news?"
Marian looked around them as the demons surrounded them but didn't attack. The Aspect of the Nightmare Demon suddenly appeared in front of the two.
"The mouthy bastard is right in front of us and it looks like he's about to start talking again."
"Oh... great. Just... bloody great... I can't believe I'm gonna die... listening to him."
"Like I said, Hawke." The Nightmare Demon began. Using Corypheus' voice which futher made Marian want to kill the demon "How could you expect to strike down a god?"
"Can I use your own method against you and say talk you to death?"
"Tch. Even in the face of death, you resort to humor? Is that all you know, Hawke?"
"Yes. It also helped distract you enough for me to do this. Sorry about this, Aedan. Just know that this was my last resort."
"W-What?"
While they were talking, Marian had slowly tapped into Blood Magic and used Aedan's blood as well as her own to fuel her Magic.
The Grey Warden screamed while Marian's eyes and veins glowed red and her hand cackled with red lightning. Marian yelled as she sent a powerful wave of red lightning at the Aspect of the Nightmare and sent it flying back to the Nightmare Demon. She grabbed her glaive and raised it above her head and summoned a dark cloud above them.
Bolts of red lightning randomly struck the demons around them before fireballs followed soon after. Taking scores of demons out.
Marian then planted her glaive on the ground and summoned a wave of telekinetic force that slammed the surrounding demons and crushed them. Unfortunately, by casting all those spells in quick succession, combined with her exhaustion and injuries, took it's toll on her and she collapsed.
Both Aedan and Marian fell to the ground. The former unmoving and the other exhausted to the point of death. The Champion could feel it. Death was close. All she could do now was wait as she stared at Aedan's blank and lifeless eyes.
'Mother. Father. Bethany. I'll be there soon. Carver... I hope you find Merrill again. Maybe if you get laid with the one you love, you'd finally stop being a tit. Heh. Like that... will... happen.'
Marian closed her eyes for the final time. Her life finally leaving her.
Before the demons of the Fade could lay a finger on their bodies, a pillar of blinding light shined down on the two. Any demons that tried to get to them were blasted away. Even the Nightmare Demon could do nothing as the light's brightness increased in intensity before vanishing. Leaving behind nothing. Not even Aedan and Marian's bodies.
(Line Break)
Aedan's eyes snapped open and the Grey Warden shot up. He grabbed Ageless from the ground and jumped to his feet. Falling into a defensive stance as he frantically searched his surroundings for any demons. Instead of finding any, however, he found the unmoving form of the Champion lying a few feet away from him.
Without hesitation, he ran to her side and knelt down to look for signs of life. Sighing in relief when he saw she was still breathing.
"Come on, Marian. Wake u- "
The Grey Warden was cut off when the Champion's fist shot up and decked him right in the jaw. The act caught him by surprise and Aedan fell on his backside while clutching his jaw in pain.
Marian sat up with a groan and placed a hand on her temple. Her head was pounding like she had an all-nighter in the Hanged Man. She looked to her left and saw her glaive before looking to her right to see the Grey Warden on the ground and holding his jaw.
Unsure of what's going on, the Champion grabbed the Staff of Parthalan and stood up. She took in her surroundings and her brows raised in surprise.
"Aedan." She called out "Where are we?"
"T-The Fade. Don't you remember? Holding off the demons so the Inquisitor can escape."
"This doesn't look like the Fade."
After making sure his jaw wasn't broken, Aedan got back to his feet and made his way to stand next to Marian.
"What are you talking about?"
"Look around you. Have you ever recalled the Fade being this pretty? Last I remember it was all hazy, dark and filled with spirits and demons. Certainly not this."
The Champion and the Grey Warden looked around them to see that they were in a luscious green field. In the distance, they could see the shape of mountains and to their left they could see a dirth path leading to a paved road.
Aedan was lost. In the literal and metaphorical sense of the word. He had no idea what happened, what's going on or where in bloody Thedas were they. All he could remember was fighting off the Nightmare Demon to give the Inquisitor enough time to escape to the rift.
Then Marian joined him and they were surrounded by lesser demons summoned by the Nightmare Demon as the rift closed. The two fought countless lesser demons for Maker knows how long until the Nightmare Demon got a lucky shot and left a hole... in... his...
Aedan realized that he was supposed to have a giant bleeding hole in his gut but when he looked down, he saw there was no hole. He touched his abdomen and half expected it to go through but found that he was fine.
He shook his head and tried to continue to remember what happened before he woke up here. Wherever here is.
'Right. I was down and bleeding out. I was about to collapse but Marian caught me and tried to heal me with magic but she had exhausted herself. She couldn't cast a healing spell or any other spells for that matter. She was out of potions the same as I and the Aspect of the Nightmare was standing right in front of us. He taunted Marian and she apologized to me before...'
Aedan slowly turned to look at Marian and said Champion felt his eyes on her. She planted her glaive on the ground and crossed her arms before raising a brow.
"What? Do I have something on my face?"
"Marian. What happened? In the Fade. The last thing I remember was you saying sorry then I felt... Pain."
Marian's eyes narrowed and she uncrossed her arms before slowly reaching for the Staff of Parthalan as the Grey Warden slowly walked towards her.
"An agonizing pain." Aedan continued.
"Stay back, Aedan." She warned him.
The Champion might have felt fine but she wasn't sure she can handle the Grey Warden without her spells. She had tried to conjure a simple Fireball but found that she was still out of mana.
"It felt like my blood was being sucked right out of me. What did you do?"
"I said stay back!"
Aedan stopped and let his expression soften.
"I won't hurt you, Marian. Just tell me what happened. Please."
Marian bit her lip and looked away. She relaxed herself and let out a sigh before looking up at the sky.
"I used Blood Magic." She answered "I didn't want to but like I told you. It was my last resort. I didn't want to give that demon the satisfaction so I used Blood Magic to cast off a few more spells before collapsing. I knew that if I did that, I would certainly die but I still continued through."
"And me?"
"You were dying. I could feel it. It's why I apologized. By siphoning your blood, I knew there was a chance that I would end up killing you and I did in the end. It might not have been a painless death but at least it didn't give the Nightmare the satisfaction of killing us both."
Aedan watched as she looked away from the sky and turned to face him. He gazed into her bright sapphire eyes. Trying to look for any deceit and treachery but found nothing but honesty. He found no lie behind her eyes.
The Grey Warden sighed and ran a hand through his hair before looking back at Marian.
"Look. It would be hypocritical of me to condemn you for using Blood Magic when the Wardens had conscripted a number of Blood Mages through the years or employed the services of Apostates. Besides. I rather die to you than die to that demon. But from the looks of it... we're still alive." He then pointed at his abdomen and where the hole should be "And healed. Somehow."
"Don't look at me." Marian raised her hands in mock surrender "I dropped dead after using up all the blood. I have no clue how we're alive or where we are for that matter."
Aedan nodded before looking at the dirth path leading to the road. A minute of silence passed before the Grey Warden grabbed Ageless and rested the greatsword on his shoulder. He began to whistle a tune as he walked down the dirth path.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"I don't know about you but I'm following this road. There's bound to be a town nearby. Maybe I can found out where we are from there. Are you coming?"
Marian didn't need to be told twice and removed her glaive from the ground before running after the Grey Warden to catch up and match his pace.
Unbeknownst to the two, this was just the beginning of their next great adventure.
(Line Break)
A small group consisting of twelve Sergents montés, or Mounted Sergeants in the Common Tongue, from House Lys had just finished their patrol of their section of the Comte de Rouzet's borders and were on their way back to their outpost. They were accompanied by three Knights from the Ordre de la Rose.
The Knights of the Rose or Chevaliers de la Rose were Knights serving directly under the Royals of the Royaume d'Ur. They were led by Grande Maîtresse Dorothée de Pivionie and every single one of the Rose Knights were women.
Both Highborn and Lowborn were allowed to join as long as they swear total loyalty to the Royals. In exchange, they were given more privileges compared to the other Knightly Orders meaning they had more power than them.
Only the Royals have full control of the Order. Anyone lower had no such power over them. Not even the Conseil des Fleurs who ruled the kindom in the stead of the underage Princess Prim Fiorire.
Rose Knights wore breastplates that left their midriffs exposed, spaulders and lames, vambraces with bicep-length black gloves underneath, greaves and sabatons. Each piece of their armor was made from Adamantine. The strongest and most expensive material in Eostia and can only be bought directly from the Dwarven City of Anvil in the Realm of Ansur. Below, the Rose Knights wore segmented Adamantine tassets and a black, M-slit skirt underneath. They also wore a hooded, white cape with the pink rose crest stitched on the center.
One of the Rose Knights, Chevalier Jeanne de Jasmin, kept her eyes on the road before something struck the Rose Knight hard and threw her off her horse. The Rose Knight found herself tied up by a bolo and quickly rolled to the side of the road to avoid getting trampled by the Mounted Sergeants and her fellow Rose Knights.
The patrol group stopped their horses and Chevalier Eveline de Crocus jumped down the saddle of her mount and ran to Jeanne's side to cut her out of the bolo while Chevalier Marie de Marguerite calmed the fallen Rose Knight's horse. The Mounted Sergeants, however, formed a defensive circle around the three Rose Knights. Keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings but the sun had already set and they could hardly see anything.
"Jeanne. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'm- "
She was cut off when a large axe struck one of the Sergeants. His body fell beside Jeanne and the Rose Knight saw the symbol marking the weapon's shaft.
"BEASTMEN!" She yelled.
Another Sergeant was struck down. This time by a spear to the neck and then another and another.
A roar echoed through the night as a group of Beastmen ran out of their hiding spot in the surrounding trees and charged into the patrol's position.
Four Minotaurs dropped on all fours and quickly closed the distance. Ramming their horns into the Sergeants' mounts while two Satyrs proceeded to cut down the Sergeants who fell from their horses with their sickles and swords. Three Pigmen, three Boarmen and a larger, grey Minotaur moved in and surrounded the Rose Knights who readied their longswords.
"Die, beast!"
Without looking, the Minotaur punched the Sergeant that tried to attack it. The force of the punch was enough to knock the man to the ground and he was out like a light. The Minotaur then raised it's hoof and brought it down on the Sergeant's head. Crushing it like a melon.
Jeanne glared at the Beastmen before running towards the Minotaur.
"For the Rose!"
The blonde Rose Knight spun to the side to avoid an axe before bringing her blade down and cutting open the Pigman's back. The Beastman stumbled forward and fell on knee before looking up just in time to see Eveline swing her sword and cut off it's head.
Marie ducked underneath the sword after the Boarman wielding it tried to slice off her head and the red-haired Rose Knight impaled the Beastman in the gut. She ripped her weapon to the side, slicing the Boarman open and it's innards poured out of the gaping wound.
Before the Rose Knight could finish the job, a Pigman bashed it's club against her head and knocked her out. Marie fell to the ground and another Pigman arrived before the two Beastmen bound her in ropes and proceeded to drag her to the forest.
"Marie!"
Jeanne moved to intervene but the Minotaur punched her hard in the exposed midriff. Knocking the air out of her before the Minotaur grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. It roared then proceeded to slam the blonde Rose Knight to the ground.
Holding her abdomen in pain, Jeanne rolled to her front and reached for her weapon but the Minotaur grabbed her ankle before she could reach her blade and pulled her towards it. The Beastman knelt down and grabbed her by the hair before slamming her head into the ground. Knocking her out.
The Minotaur huffed before dragging the unconscious Rose Knight by the hair and walked away to the forest.
This left Eveline as the only Chevalier standing and the purple-haired Rose Knight found herself surrounded by the remaining Beastmen.
Eveline bared her teeth at the Beastmen before quickly grabbing the heater shield on the ground and prepared herself for what she thought to be the fight of her life. It might as well be considering the fate that awaits her and her companions.
Beastmen are known to slaughter and eat the men during their raids and ambushes while women were turned into breeding cows back in wherever they came from. Using them to increase their numbers until the captured women finally died or had been used up to the point death at which point, their corpses would be used to feed the Beastmen they bore. Then they were off to find another batch of poor souls to take their place.
Eveline would not end up like that nor would Jeanne and Marie.
The Rose Knight let out a battle cry and ran towards the closest Beastman who mirrored her actions.
The two were about to collide but a large orb of ice slammed into the Beastman's side before slowing encasing it in frost. This caused everyone, including Eveline, to stop and process what had happened but they were quickly snapped out of it once they heard a Pigman's dying squeals.
Everyone turned to the source of the noise and saw two individuals standing over the corpse of a Pigman who had a greatsword buried in it's massive gut.
Eveline narrowed her eyes and could barely make out the two figures. One was taller than the other by a foot and wore armor that shone in the moonlight while the other had their face obscured by a hood.
'A Knight and a Mage?' Eveline thought.
The knight grabbed the handle of the greatsword and violently ripped the weapon off of the Pigman's corpse before resting the blade on their shoulder. They turned their head to their hooded companion and nodded to which the hooded one replied by spinning the glaive in their hand above their head.
Lightning cackled around the pole weapon with the orb glowing purple before the mage planted the blade on the ground.
A bolt of lightning shot out of the orb of the weapon and struck a Satyr in the chest before the lightning bolt proceeded to arc towards another Satyr and hit it directly in the heart.
The two Satyrs convulsed as soon as the lightning hit them before falling dead on the ground. A smoking, fist-sized hole in their chests and backs.
This snapped the other Beastmen from their surprise before the four Minotaurs ran towards the two. Each of them carrying an axe or a large cleaver.
The knight dropped into a fighting stance before dashing towards the first Minotaur. Eveline's eyes grew wide as she saw the knight's blade cleave through the Minotaur's abdomen and sliced the Beastman in two.
Despite the loss of the Minotaur's lower half, the Beastman was still alive but this was rectified by the mage who snapped their finger and the Minotaur was suddenly burning after a burst of flames.
Back to the knight, they grabbed a discarded spear from the ground and threw it at the second Minotaur. Nailing it in the right hip before grabbing another spear and threw it at the left hip. This caused the Minotaur to fall to it's knees before it was beheaded by the knight.
A third Minotaur, however, caught the knight and lifted them up while spinning around before slamming the knight onto the ground. Using the knight's own momentum against them.
(Line Break)
Aedan felt the wind get knocked out of him after the half-man, half-bull creature slammed him into the ground.
'That bloody hurt.'
The Grey Warden then saw a large hoof hovering above his face and quickly rolled out of the way as the beast brought it's hoof down in an attempt to crush his head.
'I really wish I didn't lose my helmet before this.'
The Minotaur attempted to stomp his head in once more but Aedan kept rolling out of the way. Unable to stand or grab his weapon.
"This is bloody ridiculous!"
Meanwhile, Marian was dealing with her own Minotaur.
The Champion had cast a variant of Rock Armor on herself but instead of covering her entire body, the rocks only formed around her forearms and hands. Essentially forming a pair of Rock Gauntlets.
Marian blocked the axe with her left forearm before punching the Minotaur in the flank. Causing it to drop the axe and stagger back. Marian, however, didn't stop her assault and sent a number of body shots into the beast's abdomen before delivering a solid uppercut that knocked the Minotaur to the ground.
The Champion dispelled the Rock Gauntlets and made her way to the Staff of Parthalan which she planted on the ground a couple of feet away. She grabbed the glaive and pulled it out before spinning the pole weapon in a flourish as the Minotaur recovered and charged towards the Champion.
The glaive's orb glowed an icy blue and Marian ended her short performance by slamming the orb on the ground.
A large frost spike suddenly formed and shot out from where the orb hit. Impaling the Minotaur in the chest. The beast's heart can be seen on the tip of the frost spike which was protruding from the Minotaur's back. Still beating but growing slower and softer until it ceased completely.
Back to Aedan, the Grey Warden rolled next to a dead soldier and he quickly grabbed a spear next to the corpse. He then got on one knee and shot up. Impaling the Minotaur up the throat.
The beast grabbed the shaft of the weapon but Aedan bared his teeth. His eyes slightly glowing red and twisted the spear before driving it deeper until the head of the spear came out the back of the Minotaur's neck. The Minotaur fell to it's knees and Aedan ripped the spear out of the beast before kicking it hard in the chest.
The Grey Warden dropped the spear and retrieved Ageless before turning to the remaining beasts only to see them turn tail and run to the woods. Leaving behind the woman they were surrounding before who was now staring wide-eyed at them.
Aedan wiped the blood off of Ageless before resting the blade on his shoulder and made his way to talk to the woman. He noticed Marian had joined him and her hood was pulled back to reveal her face.
The orb on her glaive glowed a bright orange and acted as a torch for them as they approached the woman who sheathed her weapon.
"Merci, étrangers. Je n'aurais pas pu les prendre tout seul."
'Orlesian.' Both Aedan and Marian concluded.
"You're welcome." Aedan replied. Having studied Orlesian to better communicate with the Orlesian Wardens that were sent to reinforce Vigil's Keep, he roughly understood what she said "Ser... "
"Oh! Rose Knight Eveline de Crocus."
"Warden-Constable Aedan Cousland."
"Marian Hawke. What happened here?" Marian gestured at their surroundings with her glaive.
"We were on our way back from patrolling the county's borders when the Beastmen ambushed us. All of the Sergents montés with us are dead and two of my fellow Rose Knights had been captured. I know that we just met and I am grateful that you came to my aid but I beg you. Please help me save Jeanne and Marie."
"What are these bastards going to do to them?"
"The Beastmen would use them for breeding. They would rape them until they either die or have become too broken to bear any offspring." Eveline answered.
Before Marian could say anything, Aedan beat her to it.
"I will help you, Ser Eveline. No one should suffer from such a fate."
"Now hold on just a min- "
"Thank you, Ser Aedan!" Eveline then looked towards the forest before turning back to the two "Follow me. I know how to tract these Beastmen."
Aedan nodded "Lead the way."
The Grey Warden followed after the Rose Knight while Marian watched them go before shaking her head and decided to follow them. She was going to help the Rose Knight anyway but she wanted to find out where they were first. Looks like that will have to wait. In the meantime, however...
The Champion looked at the corpses surrounding her and got to work on checking if they have anything of value. You'd be surprised of what you can find in the pockets of dead people. It could be junk, coin, potions, weapons or even a valuable trinket that could sell for at least 50 sovereigns or something.
She might as well take them considering their previous owners certainly won't be using them anymore. Like the good Champion she was, Marian can't let all this stuff go to waste, right?