Chapter 2
Battle of Ostagar
After giving Duncan the vials of darkspawn blood and telling him of Morrigan and her mother saying that they had the scrolls they were told of the joining ritual and had agreed to get it done. Alistair led them to the tower to the east where the ritual was to take place.
"The more I hear about this joining the less I like it." Says Ser Jory
"Are you blubbering again?" Says Daveth
"Why all these damn tests? Haven't I proven my worth?"
"Maybe they're just to annoy you."
"I have a wife in Highever with a child on the way if they had warned me.."
"Would you have come if they warned you? Maybe that's why they didn't."
"Including sacrificing us."
"I'd sacrifice a lot more if I knew it would end the Blight."
"You may have a point there Daveth but everything in life is about sacrifice." Says Emma
"Well if we die here and now then I won't have any regrets I have lived a full life and will gladly give it up if it meant ending the Blight." Says Jake
"I suppose you're right." Says Ser Jory
"At last we come to the joining as mankind stood on the verge of total annihilation the first Grey Wardens drank of Darkspawn blood and mastered their taint." Said Duncan as he arrived
"We're going to drink the blood of those creatures." Said Jory
"This is the source of our power and our victory." Says Duncan
"Those who survive the joining are immune to the taint and can use it to slay the Archdemon." Says Alistair
"Daveth step forward." Says Duncan
Ser Jory had a concerned look on his face as he saw Daveth drink from the chalice Jake saw this and decided to take on last shot at convincing Jory to go through with the joining.
"Listen mate I know you're scared that you'll not survive this and leave your wife without a husband and your child without a father but if you survive this you'll become a role model for your child and a hero in the eyes of your wife. They will value your sacrifice all the more if you survive and help defeat the Blight don't you think."
Ser Jory knew he had a point and after thinking it over he decided to go through with the joining in order to ensure his wife and child have a future. Daveth collapses dead shortly after that moment.
"Step forward Jory." Says Duncan
Ser Jory was nervous and was trembling greatly he stepped up to grab the chalice to drink from it, his hands were shaking non-stop but as he grabbed the chalice it stopped. He took one last look at Jake before drinking, he handed the chalice back to Duncan and shortly after collapsed but survived.
"Well that was bracing." Said Jake
"That's putting it lightly." Says Alistair
Ser Jory comes to a moment later and is moved so he can gather himself.
"Emma step forward." Says Duncan
She steps forward ready as she can be, as Duncan hands her the chalice she immediately drinks its contents as soon as Duncan takes the chalice she grabs her head in pain before falling to the floor. She was still breathing so it was a good sign Ser Jory was happy he wasn't the only one to survive Jake not waiting to be called forward he stepped in front of Duncan saying he was ready.
"Here we go." Says Jake as he is handed the chalice.
He drinks the contents and unlike the others he just stands there unfazed by the joining, both Duncan and Alistair are in shock at what they are seeing as soon as Emma Cousland wakes up Jake does also Emma still uncomfortable saw Jake just standing there unmoving as if he became a statue.
Alistair went to check on the newest recruit and saw he was what looked like a dream state he was breathing but none responsive he left him to whatever he was going through, as soon as Emma was able to stand up under her own strength Jake awoke from his state and was ready for the battle.
Duncan lead the newest recruits down to the meeting where King Cailan and Teryn Loghain are talking about the strategy for the battle. The plan was for King Cailan to draw the darkspawn to attack the front lines while having Loghain's troops in cover waiting to flank the darkspawn, the King was to signal the for Loghain's men to flank the darkspawn. King Cailan said for the newest Grey Wardens to go to the Tower of Ishal to ensure that the beacon is lit, Duncan and Ser Jory were to join King Cailan on the front lines while Alistair, Emma and Jake went to the tower to ensure the beacon was lit to signal Loghain's men.
Once the plan was set everyone took their place and waited for the battle to begin, when Alistair was told about his role in the fight he wasn't happy about it he wanted to be part of the battle but agreed to do as he was told. Emma Cousland and Jake shook their heads at Alistair but knew how he felt but knew to keep it to themselves, they soon made their way to the Tower of Ishal to light the beacon.
Two guards came running out from the direction of the tower.
"You you're Grey Wardens aren't you?" Said one guard
"The tower has been taken." Said the other
"What do you mean taken? Taken how?" Said Alistair
"The darkspawn came from underneath the tower. Most of our men are dead." Said the first guard
"Then we'll have to go up there and light the beacon ourselves." Said Emma Cousland
"You're mad you all are I'm getting out of here." said the second guard as he ran for his life.
"Well he sure knows how to make his opinion known doesn't he?" Said Jake
"Let's go." Said Emma Cousland
They all followed as she led the charge killing any and all darkspawn that they come across, they made easy progress as they got to the tower and after clearing the first floor they made a discovery of how the darkspawn entered the tower from the tunnel they dug from the battle field.
"What are these darkspawn doing ahead of the main horde?" Asked Alistair
"Oh stop being such a baby that's why you have a sword in your hand." Said Emma Cousland
"Come on Alistair what did you think it was used for?" Asked Jake
"Oh this no this is my knife I use it to eat my dinner with." He replied
"If that's your knife I wonder what your fork looks like?" said Jake
"My what? I haven't slept with anyone I'm a virgin." Said Alistair who became embarrassed once he finished his sentence.
Emma giggled at Alistair but he just wanted to get the beacon lit so they can move past this and he can help in the battle against the darkspawn.
"Come on guys let's get moving before it's too late." Says Jake
They stopped laughing and started moving towards the top of the tower where they came across their biggest challenge so far tonight.
"Whoa that's one hell of a big darkspawn!" Said Jake
"You ain't kidding." Replied Emma
The Darkspawn ogre turns out for the group to see blood and flesh all over his mouth, giving the group a sign of dread and disgust.
"Attack!" Says Alistair
Both Alistair and Emma charged the ogre while Jake and the tower guard held back using a crossbow and a regular bow. Emma and Alistair were swinging the sword slicing the ogre as much as they could using their shields to block any swings from the ogres arms, the tower guard was aiming for the ogres head while Jake was using his bow and arrows to hit the ogre in the chest.
The ogre got angry at its inability to hit Emma and Alistair so it swung both arms at once which caused both Emma and Alistair to go flying into the wall of the tower, once Jake saw this he put his bow away and pulled out his sword and dagger and charged once he was in range he jumped up using the wall as a stepping stone and pounced onto the ogre and thrust his sword in the ogres chest. The ogre fell to the floor and as soon as he did that Jake thrust his dagger into the ogres head killing it.
"Well that was intense, wouldn't you say?" Said Jake as he got off the ogre
"Well that's not what I was thinking of but it's good enough." Says Emma
"Oh what a headache." Said Alistair as he got to his feet.
"Well you're alive that's what counts." Said Jake as he lit the beacon
"Yeah I just hope the signal isn't too late." Says Emma
Once the signal was visible Teryn Loghain told his men to retreat leaving the men, women, Grey Wardens and King Calian to die at the hands of the darkspawn. Meanwhile back at the Tower of Ishal…
"Well it's time we re-joined the army to help fight off the darkspawn horde." Said the Tower guard
As soon as he turned to head for the stairs he was hit by an arrow from approaching darkspawn killing him instantly as the group turned round to see what was happening they all got hit falling to the floor as the horde swarmed on them. Everything went black and they all assumed it was all over and they were as good as dead.