Chapter 1
Augustus had never been to Orzammar before, he had only heard tales of the stout warriors who fought darkspawn as if they were training dummies. From how the guard at the gate sassed him however, his only opinion of dwarves was that they were stubborn and rude. No formal greeting, just "give me your papers human." Luckily Bodhan had given him said papers, because he undoubtedly wouldn't have gotten in on his own. The nobles of the Free Marches thought he was too common and it appears the commoners thought he was too pompous.
As he stepped into the hall of heroes he was overwhelmed by the size of the cavern, dwarves were small people, he thought, why is this ceiling so high? Why is everything constructed like a castle? How could I get a fancy statue like this in my home? So many questions raced through his mind. But one toppled the others…
"Where am I going?"
Bodhan said the meeting party was in Tapsters Pub in the Orzammar Commons, there seemed to only be one door out of this hall, but how was he supposed to know if that was the "commons" or not. Augustus took the chance and opened the ridiculously bulky door. Behind it, the cave seemed to double in size and it really was a whole city under a mountain. He thought that the stories were embellished a little, but they undersold how huge the place really was. As he walked towards the crossroads he saw a dwarf shielded in armor, walking through the middle of the joined roads.
"Excuse me?" Augustus asked
"What is it surfacer?" The Dwarf replied
"I'm looking for Tapsters Tavern…I have business there"
"Tapsters is just down the road there, now leave me be, I have a job to do"
"What's that? Stand here and look scary?" Augustus jested
"Have you not heard? What do you do on the surface? Just stare at your so-called clouds all day? Mages from all over are running away from their circles, talks of rebellions and blasted blood magic cults."
"You worry about mages in Orzammar?"
"Of course we do human! Mages try to hide in the Commons or Dust town, we don't have any use for templars down here, and Lord Harrowmont has been a little too kind to surfacers passing through. These mages think our ancestral home as some sort of safe-haven for their spells and abominations. I am here to watch for any in the Commons, now leave me be!"
The dwarf irritably walked away and continued his patrol. He had pointed down the road on the left t, Augustus had no other business here, so he decided to go straight to Tapsters. He saw many shops and old monuments, some clearly newer, with less scratches and pieces breaking off. One was dedicated to The Hero of Fereldan, which from what he had just heard seemed ironic. The anger towards mages but the Hero herself was a mage from a circle. Now she was one of those Grey Wardens, he thought, but still she would probably be an inspiration to mages everywhere.
Augustus had no particular opinion on magic, he believed in the Chant of Light to a degree, but to him magic was just as dangerous as a templar with a sharp sword. He saw a building with signs that had three big mugs of ale on them…this was probably the place. As he walked into the pub he smelt the notorious stench of dwarven ale, along with the wet dog smell of beards soaked with ale. Now where were his companions he thought, as he scanned the room. He saw mainly dwarves in armor and merchants clothing, but in the far corner he spotted an elf. Sitting with his boots on the table surrounded by a couple dwarves, a woman and a Qunari.
"Quite a group" Augustus whispered to himself.
As he approached one of the dwarves spotted him and spoke.
"Oh the fancy noble boy is finally here!"
"Yes…that's me, fancy noble boy, a title I am quite fond of actually" He jested
"Quite nice to meet you, now to business, shall we? Can't quite protect someone who you don't know, yes?" The elf said
He was a roguish sort, his blonde hair tied back, a large face tattoo on his left side, tanned skin, and his smile devilish."
"My name is Zevran, Zev to my friends, I travelled with Bodhan for a bit and for this mission he is my boss, funny how these things happen, alright your turn!"
"Uhm…I am Augustus Trevlyan, fourth son inducted into the Ostwick Chantry, recently expelled from said chantry" Augustus said
"I Am Maraas" The Qunari said "Tal Vashoth Mercenary"
He was large and grey, like most Qunari, his horns short and coiling behind his head, Augustus had seen many Qunari in the Free Marches but could never tell them apart. One of the three Dwarves spoke up
"I am Lolinar Ivo, these are my two men, Bran and Sullan we are to be your escorts into the Deep Roads"
All the Dwarves gave a wave and went back to planning with their commander.
"And you are?" Augustus asked the human woman
"Ellenora" She said brushing him off
"Charming…" he said disappointed
"There now we know each other, that was only mildly terrible no?" Zevran said "We are all here! Bodhan has given us a map and we leave tomorrow! Get some rest my friends, I have been down these paths before…and I do not wish to stay long."