From Stone To Sky

by Rol IV

"From Stone to Sky" tells the poignant story of Duran Aeducan, a dwarven noble from Orzammar who has lost everything to betrayal. For the first time, he steps out of the dark depths into the radiant surface world—a place he has only heard of in tales. A collection of short tales of the dwarfen warden that you don't see, in this kind of detail, in the game! Also some new stuff!

7. A Rumor of Betrayal A New

A Rumor Of Betrayal A New

Duran paused for a moment, the weight of the news sinking in. According to the rumors shared by Danal, the tavern keeper of Lothering, King Endrin—the ruler of the dwarves of Orzammar—was dead… or more precisely, Duran's father had passed away. Had Behlen, driven by insatiable hunger for power, truly orchestrated his own father's death? Was this another act of his ambition, an attempt to ensure the Assembly could not choose a different heir to the throne?

The questions gnawed at Duran, but for now, they seemed irrelevant. He would have his answers soon enough—when the Grey Wardens' official business brought him back to Orzammar. Yet even that thought filled him with uncertainty. Would they even allow him back into the city? And how would Behlen respond to his return?

Shaking off the doubts, Duran refocused. There was still much to be done in Lothering. So many good people had lost everything to the Darkspawn horde, and Duran had made it his mission to help them. His father had taught him compassion and humility—lessons that had stayed with him even through the darkest times. And though these were the affairs of surface-dwellers, Duran had come to recognize something remarkable: beneath the layers of fear and strife, there were honorable and duty-bound souls among them too.