Ogre
I had been on my own for about three months. Thankfully, the north is warm, and food is not too scarce. I traveled merely with my armor and my weapon. The small satchel at my hip only contained the barest scraps left from one small meal to the next. I was subsistence hunting every two days and raiding whatever supplies I could find. I was like a stray dog, scavenging for survival. I'd always been thin, now I was gaunt.
I was not really giving my future any thought. All I knew was that I had to survive and I had to get as far from Tevinter as possible.
I was generally headed south, towards Ferelden. I knew little about it, except that it was a place that the Magisters derided, and escape-minded slaves fled to. The fledgling country had outlawed slavery and that was enough of a reason for me to go to it.
I had gotten lost and had only the faintest idea of where I was going. I found the tunnels quite by accident.
I had never seen the blocky, dwarven architecture before, but I surmised this must be one of the many abandoned entrances to the Deep Roads. I had been barely avoiding a group of slavers for days and decided to take to the tunnels.
Being a slave, no one thinks to share world news with you, Whatever you pick up is quite incidental. So, news of the Blight in Ferelden had yet to reach me. The tunnels seemed like the best choice for making better time and eluding the slave hunters.
I walked the Deep roads for two days without incident. My eyes grew more accustomed to the dim light filtering from fissures overhead. The first night I spent in the Deep Roads I barely slept. Sounds of movement, the dripping of water, things flying about overhead all conspired to keep me awake. I continued as soon as the meager light of day seeped in. I found small streams which contained pale fish that served as my food source, but I was already thinking I had to leave the tunnels when a sudden lack of noise stopped me in my tracks.
I reached for my sword just as the first roar shook the walls of the tunnel. My brands flared to life, brightening the path enough for me to see the ogre charging towards me in the distance.
I had no time to consider a plan of attack. I was underfed, tired and alone. The ogre seemed to fill the whole tunnel.
I ran as fast as I could.
It roared again and charged at me. I was torn between dampening my brands and making myself a less obvious target and keeping them bright for speed and protection.
I chose the latter (which later proved the best choice, as Anders assures me that Darkspawn can see perfectly well in the dark, as well as smell their prey).
I spotted a smaller tunnel, half submerged in water and I dove towards it. I had no idea where it went to or if there was more to it than just a hole in the wall, but it seemed the best way to get away from the raging beast.
Even in my emaciated state, I barely fit through the tunnel. I was barely a few yards in when the ogre rammed his head into the fissure, trying to get at me, roaring into the tiny space. The noise was like a physical force and it is one of the few times I have been frozen by fear. My position was indefensible, I could barely move, let alone wield my sword, and the creature was determined to kill me.
Once my heart was beating again, I kept pushing into the crevasse. I turned my back on the ogre and hoped the opening actually led somewhere. There was no way out but through.
The ogre kept pounding on the entrance as I was plunged farther into the rock. Suddenly the ground under me gave way and I was under water. I sputtered to the surface. I dove towards the new opening to find a large cavern. As I adjusted to my surroundings, I noticed that I was no longer the only source of light. The cavern had a natural entrance!
I have no clear memories on how I got out of the cavern. All I knew was that the evening breeze on my drenched skin felt like heaven itself.
After the run in with the ogre, I promised myself that I would never go back to the Deep Roads.
Of course, I broke that promise.
We ran afoul of ogres and much worse on Bartrand's expedition, but I was never gripped by the same helpless panic of that first time. I didn't know it at the time, but that merry band of misfits would change me forever.