Do not own Dragon Age
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30 Parvulis, 9:30 Dragon, Ostagar
It was late morning when the band of merry misfits arrived at Ostagar. Duncan walked a few steps ahead of the group, relaying the basic layout of the camp. A few soldiers greeting Duncan, as the group passed. A jovial man stopped Duncan, the two conversing in private for a few minutes, before parting ways. The party had just crossed the threshold to the main compound, when they spotted a golden set of armor heading for them.
King Cailen greeted each of the recruits, engaging in a short friendly conversation. Elissa informing of Arl Howes treachery, Darrian, about what happened in the Alienage. After parting ways, Duncan gave everyone leave to explore the camp, but to be on the look out for a Grey Warden named Alistair. He asked everyone to find his camp come nightfall, the recruits would stay there for the night. Elissa's mabari, Thea, went with him. The party found a spot to eat a quick lunch, then Alim, Darrian, and Faren split off to explore, The ladies and Daveth followed behind Duncan, going to tour the southern side of the camp.
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The men didn't find anything interesting on the northern side, just the Tower of Ishal, but it was off-limits until Teryn Loghain gave the go ahead. The trio decided to head over the bridge separating the camps, stopping a soldier to ask directions.
Alim stopped to talk to a fellow mage, Faren and Darrian waiting off to the side. Darrian spotted Lyna and Solona, looking at some equipment.
"Which one you got your eyes on?" Faren asked, his deep voice coming off mischievously.
"What makes you think it's not you, handsome." Darrian replied, jokingly.
"Because you wouldn't be able to handle all of this." Faren returned, both his hands sweeping down, emphasizing himself.
Darrian chuckled, knowing the dwarf was jesting with him.
"Come on, salroka. Just tell me?" Faren asked, his tone more serious.
"It better not be my sister." Alim interjected, smiling.
"Yeah, you never did explain that." Faren stated.
"Your right, I didn't." Alim said, still smiling.
"Lyna." Darrian finally answered.
"I figured. You've been making googly eyes at her since we picked her up." Faren returned.
"There's just something about her. Something drawing me in." Darrian added.
"Aren't you married?" Faren inquired.
"Firstly. We never finished the ceremony. Secondly. It was an arranged marriage by my Hahren. I had just met her that day. Third. And I know it's going to sound callous, but she is dead." Darrian replied, a sadness to his voice.
"Peace, salroka. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wasn't sure. You came to us after a wedding ceremony." Faren explained, his tone soft.
"Yeah, I probably should have explained the situation better when we got back to the inn." Alim added, nonchalantly.
Darrian looked at Alim, smiling, but shaking his head.
"I will admit, she's pretty, but she's not my mug of ale." Faren expressed.
"Oh, you won't get any competition for me. I like someone a little less wo and a bit more men." Alim declared.
"Maybe we can find you someone to fly you off to the little death." Darrian suggested.
"No, thank you. I know what I like. You two will just muck it up." Alim asserted.
Faren and Darrian chuckled, both trying again, suggesting to find that special someone for their friend. Alim walked off, his compatriots following behind.
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The ladies walked at a leisurely pace, taking in the compound. Sereda spotted two men talking up a ramp, in the back back of the compound, one of them dressed like Solona, pointing it out to her.
"Those are mage robes." Solona observed.
"Do you think the other one is this Alistair we're suppose to find?" Sereda asked.
"Maybe." Solona answered.
Elissa saw where they were pointing, suggesting they go check it out. Lyna stayed quiet, she was feeling over-whelmed with everything.
Elissa took the lead, as she got closer, she began to hear bits of the conversation. The mage was upset at being summoned by the Grand Cleric. What stopped her movement, was not the witty comeback of the soldier, but how handsome he was, short golden hair, and kind brown eyes. The mage left, grumbling to himself about smart-ass Wardens. The soldier turned to Elissa, with a gentle smile, then stared for a moment. Solona cleared her throat to get their attention.
"You know, one good thing about the Blight? How it brings people together." the soldier stated, smiling at Elissa.
The other ladies chuckle at that. He's going to fit right in with their little entourage.
"Is everything alright?" Solona asked, pointing at the retreating mage.
"Oh him, yeah. The Grand Cleric loves making the mages fell like dirt and because we all have to play nice, I get stuck in the middle." the soldier replied.
"Wait, are you ladies the new recruits? I was told Duncan had returned with some candidates." the soldier questioned.
"If you are Alistair, then yes, the men are still exploring." Elissa answered, smiling softly.
"Where are my manners? Yes indeed, I'm Alistair. It's a pleasure to meet you. Might I know your names, fair maidens?" he queried rascally.
The ladies introduced themselves, playing along. Although he did kiss Elissa's hand, as she greeted him.
"Are you a mage?" Alistair asked, looking to Solona.
"I am." she supplied, a tad guarded.
"I was trained as a Templar. I never joined though. I was very bad at it. I don't have a problem, with mages, you see. I couldn't get behind the whole smiting thing. What's wrong with talking to someone first? How about we sit down and have a cup of tea? Instead, it's sword raised and stabby, stabby." Alistair explained.
"That! I can't even right now. You're alright, salroka" Sereda stated, between laughs.
After talking for a bit, Alistair joins the ladies in their tour of the camp. He takes them to the quartermaster, they see Daveth, hitting on a young woman. Sereda loudly asks him if that itchy rash has cleared up yet? Alistair, chortles. They also find a Sir Jory, near the infirmary. Sereda recognizes him from their approach to Highever. He had left with the Cousland soldiers, he is another recruit for the Gray Wardens, he had left early to see his wife and daughter, before heading to Ostagar. Solona wanders over to the nurses, asking if she can help. They politely decline, explaining that the men are suffering from the taint.
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Alistair leads them east, past the King's tent, wanting to show them the view of the valley below. Sereda refuses to go to the edge, saying it's bad enough with all that open sky, she doesn't need to start worrying about falling too. Solona and Lyna take a quick look, but return to Sereda, who is standing a good 20 feet back.
"Beautiful." Elissa states softly, looking out.
"Very beautiful." Alistair agrees, looking at Elissa.
Elissa begins to turn her head towards him. He turns his out quickly, gazing into the distance. Alistair misses her slight smile. They begin walking back to the main camp. At Elissa's urging, Alistair reveals that he's been a Grey Warden for a little over six months, but finds the work and the order fulfilling. They walk a few steps ahead of the others.
"I bet 5 silver, those two are together before the fortnight." Sereda says, talking quietly.
"I'll put down for, within a month, but after the two week mark." Solona rebuttals, smirking.
"You want in on this?" Sereda addresses Lyna.
"From my understanding, Elissa is from a noble lineage. I do not think she will, rush into such a relationship." Lyna contends.
"So what. I'm technically a princess, but that doesn't mean I haven't been around the lava a time or two." Sereda counters.
"I suppose shemlins, and durgen'lens have different courting practices." Lyna delivers.
"So, does that mean you're betting?" Sereda returns, grinning.
"I will put down for two months." Lyna concedes, smiling.
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The smaller group continues on, finding their fellow recruits by the mabari kennels. Elissa introduces everyone, taking a few moments to exchange their findings around the compound. Solona, sensing the distress of the hounds nearby, casts a healing spell on the sick mabari's, who immediately calm down. The kennel master asks if the group could find him a few of a specific wildflower, if they go into the Korcari Wilds. The party readily agrees to keep a lookout for the flower. Apparently, it can help the dogs heal from the taint.
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That night, after a good meal, Duncan informed the recruits that they would be heading into the Wilds in the morning, with Alistair as a guide. They needed one vial of darkspawn blood for every recruit, and to seek out an old ruin. There may be old treaties in a magically sealed chest. As the group settled in, Sereda noticed, that Elissa and Alistair, were talking, getting to know each other a bit better. Stealing glances at each other, as they laid down for the night. Sereda smiled to herself, then glanced at Faren. Perhaps Alistair was right, in a way, the Blight was indeed bringing different people together.
I will be skipping over some of the small side quests, because, lets face it, some of them were asinine. Some of the side quests will be incorporated, just a more straight-forward fashion. Instead of running around, back and forth, with this many characters, I'll streamline a few things.
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I know some folks are probably wondering about the time frames. I am basing the starting point off of Trian's Journal Codex. The last entry is for 28 Ferventis, stating that there will be provings for their siblings honor. I figure this is entered a day to three days before the start of the dwarven noble origin. I did a rough calculation of at least three days traveling the deep roads to the Aeducan Thaig, running around it, then back to Orzammer, one more week, then back down again after being cast out. Maybe three days, at most, your noble is down there before finding Duncan. I gave two extra days for leaway.
The commoner origin takes place in the same time period, just in a little different location, within Orzammar. Duncan could have theoretically, gone down into the deep roads after picking up the commoner. In my mind, he does this to see if the darkspawn are indeed with-drawing away from Orzammar, heading toward the south, to the Korcari Wilds.