Author note: So it begins. I want to thank karmalade for Karma's Origins Companions, the mod that heavily expands the party and solves things like Gorim pulling a Jacob, immortality for Ser Gilmore Companion mod, which is extremely well-written, Kajana and Taylor17387 for Human Commoner Origin - Revived, which adds a new playable origin and, of course, BioWare for making the game that inspired this.
Chapter 1: The Casteless (Faren)
Faren stood near the cliff, looking into the lava river flowing near Dust Town. There were only rocks around, but he tried to imagine a sky with clouds, which he had never seen in his life but heard some stories about. He heard that the dwarves who leave for the surface lose their balance and fall into this very sky. Far-fetched children's stories, he thought. Since childhood, he preferred stories about the Paragons - heroes who were revered by the dwarven people. He especially remembered the story of Paragon Gerlon, who, like Faren himself, was born casteless, left Orzammar, returned and became both the king and the Paragon at the same time.
However, such cases are one in a million. Casteless are not considered dwarves, they are not even taken as servants. Every casteless has four choices: begging, sleeping with nobles in order to get a same-sex child, going to the surface, or working for Beraht, the local leader of the Carta. There was also the Legion of the Dead - an order of dwarven warriors who renounce their past life and fight until the end of their days in the Deep Roads. Faren did not want to humiliate himself in front of other castes, and his conscience did not allow him to leave his sister, because after his father went to the surface, and his mother drank herself to death, Rica replaced both parents for him. Since there were no other options, Faren could only be a criminal.
- Salroka, there you are!
Faren heard a familiar voice.
It was Leske, a scruffy dwarf with a dreadlock braid, ready for Beraht's next assignment. Faren and Leske had known each other since childhood, but they have become friends relatively recently, when Beraht paired them up so that they could shake off a few golden coins from a merchant who owed the Carta boss. At first, Leske seemed strange to Faren, but later they got used to each other.
- What happened, Leske?
- Beraht is calling. One more task.
Faren reluctantly followed Leske to Dust City.
- Salroka, I saw Rica today. I have to say, she's gorgeous.
- Don't you even dare to hit on my sister.
- Is it because I'm your friend, or because I'm casteless?
- Both, salroca, both.
- Come on. What, you never had such thoughts yourself?
- I want to remind you that I have a greatsword. Another similar phrase about my sister, and I'll use it.
- Okay, Faren, sod it, I'm shutting up.
Entering one of the houses belonging to the Carta, they saw Beraht, a dwarf with a large beard, dressed in an expensive armor from one of Orzammar's finest blacksmiths. What distinguished him from the other dwarves in Dust Town was the lack of a brand on his face - Beraht belonged to the caste of merchants, which, however, did not prevent him from leading the Orzammar Carta.
- You've been out too long, Stone damn you, - Beraht said angrily.
- Sorry, we... - Faren was beginning to make excuses.
- I am not interested in your stories. You're still here only because of your sister. A noble hunter is more useful than a dumb brute with a sword like you.
Faren got furious and was already thinking about drawing his sword and finishing off the boss. Leske understood his friend's intentions and stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.
- Rica has already gone on a date with some noble oaf. She will give birth to a son from him, and the good uncle Beraht will immediately join his house. And now your task. What do you know about Provings?
- Dwarves from the warrior caste show off their martial prowess in front of all Orzammar, - Faren replied.
- In case you haven't heard, one of the Provings is taking place today. Some of the nobes have bet a lot of gold on Everd.
- And what about us?
- Everd is too green for a Proving. Every opponent of his has been to abandoned thaigs. Here are your passes. Go to the arena. Find Everd, cooperate with him. Also, here is the poison. Before the fight starts, pour this into a jug in Mainar's room, of all the other fighters, he is the most dangerous, but this will make him very tired, and Everd will defeat him. And don't get caught! There's a lot of gold bet on Everd, if he doesn't win, you will both die. And I'll give Rica to my bodyguards.
- It will be done, boss, - Leske said.
Taking two passes and a vial of poison, Faren and Leske almost ran into one female dwarf in light armor at the exit.
- Get out of my way, you fools! - she shouted.
The dwarves simply let her pass.
- Who is this? - Faren whispered.
- Jarvia. The right hand of Beraht, - Leske answered. - They say she is more than the right hand. But I wouldn't try to find it out if I were you.
- I don't like her. I don't like it at all, - Faren said thoughtfully.
Author note: Yes, here comes the first plot deviation - Kalah died before the start of the game. IRL I don't like interacting with drunk people, so I decided to kill Kalah off and make Rica the only one whom Faren values in Dust Town. For Oghren fans, don't worry, he will appear, but his role will be less significant.