The Casteless Origin

Torph Brosca had been in Beraht's employment for a very long time. He had met Beraht when he had been nothing but skin and bones, mugging a stupid sod wandering Dust Town late at night. Beraht hadn't reported him. No, instead Torph had been hired. A six year old dwarfling who had followed his boss' footsteps like a little shadow.

They had a strange relationship. Beraht let him off with things, things that most folk wouldn't get away with. In return, he was loyal to Beraht, who kept him well fed. Things had become a bit more tense when Beraht started using Rica. But they still had their strange relationship despite it all.

Right now Rica was trying to fix one of her braids while Beraht skulked around her, sneering. Torph batted her hands away, and began fixing the braid himself.

"I can't keep gambling on you forever, precious," Berhat scowled. "You got a sweet look, something to light a man on fire, but you gotta make it count. I've not paid for you for nothing."

"Please, Beraht. Not in front of my brother-"

"The brat knows the works, don't you, Torph?" Beraht raised a brow.

"I thought I didn't know shit, boss," Torph teased.

Beraht smirked. "Exactly, and you better stick that way, little shit."

"You still call me that despite the fact that I've grown taller," Torph reminded. "I'm not a dwarling anymore."

"Torph-" Rica complained.

Torph almost groaned. He had been trying to distract Beraht from her. Sometimes Rica needed to let him handle things, even if he was her baby brother. Unlike her, he and Beraht were on good terms.

Well, as good terms as they got at any rate.

"My investment in you isn't proving very valuable right now, precious," Berhat growled, waving a warning finger his way. "And you keep your mouth shut. I'm doing the talking."

Torph remained quiet, realising his boss meant business. Rica looked more and more uncomfortable as time went on.

"You go find yourself a patron or you'll be back to sweeping the streets. I want you to have a belly full of prince soon," Beraht sneered.

"I... There is someone interested..." Rica admitted, making Torph blink, startled. She hadn't mentioned that before. "I didn't want to make any promises, but he seems very curious about me."

"Better, but not enough," Berhat growled, finally turning to him. "Now you, outside. Your buddy Leske is waiting and I swear if you screw this up you'll be locked in the dungeon for a week!"

"Oh no. Not the dungeon." Torph sighed lowly, his voice of complete disinterest.

The dungeon was quiet and somewhat peaceful. Nobody bothered Torph there, but this time instead of looking annoyed Berhat looked pissed off.

"It won't be just you in there, Torph," Beraht hissed at him. "Your whole family is on loose terms with me right now so you better fix that."

Beraht yanked on his arm and dragged him outside, shoving him at Leske who startled. Torph easily steadied himself though and glowered at his boss who stormed off, sneering at Dust Town's residents as he went. Torph sighed and shook his head.

"Alright. Let's go. Give me the run down, Leske. Before I hit someone."

"And here I wanted to see if that sexy sister of yours was in-"

"You want me to hit you, salroka? I'm willing to."

Leske chortled. "Alright, alright. Let's go. I'll tell ya everything as we go."

.::.

Torph sat down on the seat in the tavern, grinning as Leske cornered Oskias in his seat. Oskias paled and desperately looked around but everyone ignored them. Beraht had everyone here under this thumb, which was mighty handy in these kinds of situations.

"L-Look... I-I've always been loyal to Beraht..." Oskias stammered. "He's real good to my family..."

"Uh huh." Torph gestured to Leske. "Mind searching the bag?"

Leske smiled. "My pleasure."

Oskias paled. "Wa-Wait! I do have some lyrium in there. It's just ore! I made a side deal with one of the mining families-"

"Tsk, tsk. Side deals huh?" Torph grinned.

"I was going to bring Beraht his cut! I'd be crazy not too!"

"Suicidal, one might say," Leske smirked.

"How much this all worth?" Torph frowned.

"Just a little. Maybe about twenty-five sovereigns worth."

Leske and Torph both choked. "Seriously? Twenty-five?"

"M-Most of that's with my buyers on the surface. I just picked up a few nuggets down here..." A look entered Oskias' eyes and Torph internally sighed. "If I were to... Maybe give you a piece that would be a lot of coin. Could you uh... Forget to mention this to Beraht?"

"How long has this been going on for?" Torph raised a brow.

"Not long! Th-This is my first time..." Oskias whimpered. "Please don't kill me... It's worth so much money... I just took it and ran... Ri-Right back to Beraht of course!"

"You really think I'd take a bribe?" Torph snorted. "Berhat has friends everywhere. You should have known that. Leske?"

"Could everyone who isn't about to die turn around for a moment?" Leske drawled. "This might get unpleasant. Thank you."

"Y-You can't do this!" Oskais cried. "Call the guardsmen! Get help! Someone! Anybody!"

Torph nearly laughed when the barkeep piped up. "You two let me know if you need anything! I'll be round the back!"

"I-It's just a bunch of rocks! A-Are you really gonna kill me for that?" Oskias pleaded.

"Am I going to kill him?" Torph asked, tilting his head at Leske who snorted. "I mean I've just gotten comfy."

Leske rolled his eyes but quickly finished their newest buddy off with a dagger slicing open his throat. Oskias collapsed, choking and coughing up blood before finally going limp. Torph sighed and slipped off the chair as he scooped up the bag.

"Right then. Time to pay the boss a visit."

.::.

Torph had to admit he was a bit curious about Beraht and Jarvia's conversation, but he ignored it and wandered over instead as the pair turned to face him.

"About time you showed up, brat. What happened to Oskias?"

"He had a side deal going on for lyrium. All I found was a nugget," Torph mused, tossing said nugget in his hand up and down, catching it each time. Beraht threw him an unimpressed look.

Beraht snatched it off him, eyeing him. "And Oskias himself?"

"Dead." Torph scratched his ear.

"Excellent," Beraht smirked. "I'll get someone to handle the clean up." He wasn't finished yet though, Torph could see it. "Not you though, brat. I've got another job for you."

"Someone else pissing you off? That's a lot of folk in one day," Torph whistled.

"The warrior caste is holding a Proving today as a welcoming for the Grey Wardens that just arrived. They're hoping to impress them with a new recruit. It'll be filled with all the best fighters, last man standing, you know the drill."

"Ah." Torph clicked his fingers. "Betting again, boss? Who this time?"

"Everd is a long shot so I put a lot of coin down on him." Beraht said. "You know what to do, brat. His match is with Mainar who is the best in the line-up."

"Got the drugs?"

"Right here. Here's your pass to get on the grounds." Beraht handed both over. "Make sure you aren't caught or else."

"Me? Getting caught?" Torph grinned. "I've done this plenty of times."

"Don't get cocky, brat. Remember, when I say I have coin on this I'm not talking about a little thing like the value of your life."

"Ouch," Torph teased.

"Shut it," Berhat scowled. "If I don't see Everd's name on that winner's sheet then you'd better make sure I don't see you or your sister again."

"Alright, boss." Torph bowed his head, smirking at the irritated look he got in return. He quickly turned on his heel and left, Leske right at his side.

Once they were safely away Leske snorted. "Salroka, I can't believe you kept a nugget for yourself."

"Not just myself. Want a piece of the profit?" Torph winked.

"You bet I do!"

"Then let's go see your girl and get back to work."

.::.

"I really can't be bothered with all this crap," Torph complained as he followed Leske into the Proving grounds. His old friend froze, eyes wide and bright, in a way Torph hadn't seen in years. Torph frowned. "Leske?"

"Look, Duster. Those are Grey Wardens over there!" Leske cried out before smirking wickedly at him. "Hey, I dare you to go over and talk to one of them. Say 'Welcome to Orzammar, Grey Warden. May I drink your bath water?'"

"What would I get if I do it?" Torph asked.

"I'll give you half of my pay of the nugget," Leske offered.

"Deal." Torph smirked. He began to approach the young girl with long blonde hair wearing a Grey Warden robe. She blinked down at him before grinning.

"Hey. I'm supposed to greet you and wish you and your House well right? Ciara told me it was something like that."

Torph choked on his laughter. The bloody kid thought he was a 'normal dwarf'. That was adorable and almost sad.

"Well where I'm from we just say 'hello', kid," Torph grinned.

The kid laughed. "That's much easier. I'm Lawrien Amell. I just joined the Grey Wardens about a year ago."

"I'm Torph Brosca, of well... Nobody?"

"That's a weird House name," Lawrien said, and he wasn't quite sure if she was messing with him or not.

"I'm casteless, kid. We're a bunch of 'nobodies'."

Lawrien raised a brow. "The caste system? That's the fancy name for being rich or poor right?"

"I guess? Kinda?" Torph shrugged.

"Well, it's stupid. I was told you guys aren't allowed to fight."

"Yup."

"I bet you can though." Lawrien's eyes gleamed knowingly, as if she knew about his hidden axes. "I bet you could beat most of those warriors down there."

"You're probably overestimating me here, kid. I'm just a poor piece of casteless scum you could get arrested for harassing you."

"Why would I want you arrested?"

"Because I'm a stain in your sight? Something like that?" Torph shrugged. "I don't know. You don't really need a reason to be fair."

Lawrien tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. "I don't like many of the nobles here. They are full of lies and most of them feel horrible. Nara's nice though. All she wants to do is protect people from the darkspawn."

"Nara?" Torph frowned.

"You know her. Probably haven't met here though," Lawrien grinned again. "I doubt Princesses tend to wander about often after all."

Narascha Aeducan? The kid had given the Princess a nickname? And said it openly? Torph gaped, too shocked and horrified to even respond to that one. She merely laughed at him, eyes bright with mirth.

"Lawrien, we're about to go inside!" a brunette female Warden called out.

She had daggers belted to her waist and back. But he was willing to bet she had hidden daggers up her sleeves and in her boots.

"Coming, Ciara!" Lawrien called back, eyes still on him. "You might meet Nara one day. I bet you'd be fun to work with." Lawrien turned on her heel and waved as she walked off. "Well, see you later, Torph!"

"Uh, bye?" He blinked, baffled as he returned to Leske's side who was laughing.

"Sodding hell you actually did it!"

"That was too much." Torph shook his head, numbly patting Leske's arm who chortled and followed after him as they headed for Everd's room where he should be getting ready.

Instead of a fierce warrior though they were greeted with a sodding drunk who was lying useless on the floor. Torph groaned at the sight and scooped up a bottle, drinking the left overs. Leske went pale, nudging the warrior before the panic settled in. Torph moved on to the next bottle which Leske soon snatched out of his hands.

"Beraht's going to kill us if we slip up here. He's already jumpy enough after Oskias," Leske cried out.

"Better be drunk for the murdering then." Torph reached for the bottle but Leske chucked it aside.

"Now ain't the time, Duster!" Leske snapped, but then he started eyeing him thoughtfully, glancing between him and Everd. "Huh... You're about the same size... Alright listen. I think we need to put those ass kicking skills of yours to use. We're gonna dress you up in Everd's s armour and then you could fight in his place!"

"Like fuck!" Torph laughed. "What do you think I am? Crazy?"

"You need to for Rica's sake!" Leske insisted to his poor, bleeding heart. "And also yeah. You're completely insane, salroka."

"Dammit," Torph groaned. "Fine. Help me out with his armour..."

.::.

"Ah, greetings, Princess. I hope we aren't intruding," Duncan greeted, bowing.

Narascha Aeducan had invited them up into the Royal booth, and Duncan happily accepted the invitation. It was the best seating, and view of the match. He had told Ciara that he wanted his newest recruits to see how well the elite of the dwarves could fight too. Ciara had to admit, she was curious too.

Ciara bowed, gesturing for Lawrien to copy her. Lawrien blinked for a moment, before scrambling to copy her. Princess Narascha smiled, and nodded.

"Greetings to you too, Commander Duncan. I hope you have been enjoying your stay so far." The sandy blonde haired woman smiled, gesturing for them to sit down.

Narascha Aeducan's hair was short with two braids woven back to twist together at the back of her hair. Her eyes a cloudy blue that reminded Ciara of Ferelden's skies. She wore armour, though this looked to be more ceremonial than practical.

Lawrien grinned. "So far Everd seems to be doing the best." Ciara frowned, there was a look in Lawrien's eyes, it was the look that usually ended up with them both in trouble. "It looks like so much fun. I wish I could join in. I bet you do too, Nara!"

"Don't just nickname the Princess!" Her second protested, looking appalled.

Princess Narascha thankfully laughed. The Proving Master eyeing her wearily. He was probably worried about her trying to join in, as the rumours went the Princess of Orzammar did that often. Showed up randomly and joined in much to the Proving Master's and Lord Harrowmont' dismay.

"It's fine, Gorim," Princess Narascha looked amused. "The matches are good fun. It's also nice to be able to smack around the Lords that Lord Harrowmonth keeps trying to impress me with."

The Princess then glanced over at Everd curiously. "So, do you think you might offer Everd a place within the Grey Wardens, Duncan?"

Duncan smiled. "He seems like an excellent warrior. I think that-"

A commotion interrupted them from down below. A man came stumbling drunkenly out into the middle of the field, earning an alarmed cry from the opponent who was just beaten. Ciara frowned, glancing over at Lawrien who now looked nervous. Ciara's eyes narrowed. She knew what was going on and Duncan obviously came to the same conclusion because he sighed.

"Wait I know him! That's Everd! But then who did I just fight?" the dwarf cried out, glaring at the dwarf, fully armoured before him.

"Remove your helmet warrior and let us see your true face!" The Proving Master ordered as the guards began to surround the man, all five looking weary.

The helmet was reluctantly removed, revealing a dwarf with a long, dark brown beard and a shaved head, who looked completely done with everything. Ciara frowned. That had been the dwarf who spoke with Lawrien earlier. Lawrien who looked awfully pleased. The joy was hidden by all the enraged screams mixed with anger and disgust that filled the hall.

"Casteless scum! You insult the very nature of this Proving. Guards! Guards take this filth away," the Proving Master howled.

Princess Narascha frowned curiously. "He defeated all our warriors?"

"Hold your men, please I implore you," Duncan pleaded, baffled. "This warrior has defeated the best of have to offer! Does that not mean he is your Champion?"

"We are honoured by your presence Warden Commander, but this Proving is not just for you. We have laws that have been governed for a thousand years!" the Proving Master explained, disgust dripping from his tongue. He glared at the casteless dwarf who was being led away, hands chained together and his armour already being stripped off. "That thing is no warrior. He's casteless and his very presence here pollutes the Stone!"

"Well your Ancestors favoured him in this match." Lawrien replied, turning on her heels and striding out the doors. "I'm heading after him, Duncan!"

"Lawrien, wait-" Duncan called out but sighed, the blonde was long gone. "Why does she never wait?"

Ciara snorted. "She's never been all that patient."

"She hasn't realised yet that I'm needed to recruit someone?" Duncan grumbled to himself as he strode out, offering a nod and fair well to the Princess who nodded back.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I believe we may have just found who we're looking for." Ciara curtsied and quickly followed after her Commander, the Proving Master following behind, stammering protests in their wake.

The Princess was still staring out thoughtfully into the Proving grounds as they left.