(A man wearing a Spangenhelm-like helmet, brigandine armor and carrying a circular shield swings an axe at the screen.)
Dawnguard: The group of vampire hunters from Skyrim who prevented the Tyranny of the Sun...
(A Dawnguard soldier is shown firing a silver bolt into the chest of an attacking vampire.)
vs.
(A man wearing plate armor with a griffin on the front swings a large sword at the camera.)
Grey Warden: The strongest fighters of Thedas who are sworn to defeat the menacing Darkspawn.
(A Grey Warden is shown running a Hurlock grunt through with his sword.)
WHO IS DEADLIEST?!
To find out, we have gathered doctors, scientists and weapons experts to determine who would win a fight between two fictional warriors in a simulated battle.
It's a duel to the death to decide who will be...THE FICTIONAL DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
"Today, we have a battle between two elite forces charged with combating the forces of darkness," biomedical scientist Bradley Foster started, "Up first, we have the Dawnguard, the vampire hunters of Skyrim."
Dawnguard
Appearing from: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dawnguard (2012)
Homeland: Skyrim
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Armor: Dawnguard Heavy Armor, Dawnguard Heavy Helmet, Dawnguard Shield
"And in the other, we have the Grey Wardens, the sacred order whose soul purpose is to stop the Blight," Bradley continued.
Grey Warden
Appearing from: Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
Homeland: Thedas
Height: 6'
Weight: 180 lbs.
Armor: Silverite Plate/Drakeskin Leather, Steel Helm, Warden's Shield
"Both of these warriors are highly trained as they take on inhuman threats from their respective lands. They are used to parading around in heavy armor like its just every day business wear and swinging around large weapons like they are mere sticks. They also possess a fierce mental determination like no other," trauma doctor Joseph Kaiser continued.
"We're getting medieval with these guys in terms of weapons and not only that, we've got magic and freaking trolls to boot!" computer expert Eddie Cortez exclaimed.
"Enough talk. More testing," Bradley concluded.
The camera cuts to a bearded, dark-skinned man in heavy armor who is seen with a warhammer in hand that he brings down on a block of ice.
Up first to represent the Dawnguard will be their leader Isran.
The founder of the modern Dawnguard, he brings knowledge of their history, as well as their tactics to today's battle.
"The Dawnguard is dedicated to wiping out the blight of vampires from our world. We have the conviction, the tenacity and the prowess to carry out our mission," Isran spoke.
The camera then cuts to a blond-haired, pale-skinned elven woman in heavy armor who has a crossbow in hand, taking aim and firing into a wooden target.
Also representing the Dawnguard will be Beleval.
A former bandit turned vampire hunter, she knows of the dedication and resolve it takes to be a Dawnguard.
"We have an obligation to defend our land from the threat of vampires and any other menace that could befall it. The Grey Warden are pretenders," Beleval spat.
While their history is vague and surrounded by rumors and hearsay, it is known that the faction had its beginnings in the Second Era, when the Jarl of Riften's son contracted vampirism following one of his many adventures. Refusing to kill his own son, he commissioned the construction of a great fort to house him and he would be quarantined by a large mercenary force that would become the "Dawnguard."
"No one knows if the original order had to put the young man down, yet they continued to hunt vampires. People eventually came to disregard the threat of vampires, weakening the power and respect of the Dawnguard," Isran spoke.
The Fourth Era would see the rise of the Volkihar Clan and with it, a new surge in vampiric activity. After they wiped out the Skyrim chapter of the Vigilants of Stendarr, Isran would revive the order to combat the vampiric menace. Upon learning of the vampire Serana, the vampire hunters would battle the Volkihar Clan and its supporters to prevent the ancient prophecy known as the 'Tyranny of the Sun' from being fulfilled. After a hard fought victory, the Dawnguard emerged triumphant and the Volkihar Clan's threat ceased.
"We saved the world from being plunged into eternal darkness. If that doesn't make us capable of emerging victorious with today's battle, I don't know what does," Beleval ended.
The Dawnguard slew their vampiric adversaries with an arsenal designed for such herculean efforts:
Short Range: Dawnguard War Axe
Mid-Range: Dawnguard Warhammer
Long Range: Enhanced Silver Crossbow
Special Weapon: Armored Troll
But how will the Dawnguard fare when pitted against an equally skilled, equally determined new adversary?
The camera cut to a short-haired man clad in heavy armor, who was armed with a broadsword in one hand and tower shield in the other, taking a few practice swings with the former against a foam target.
Up first to represent the Grey Warden will be Alistair Theirin.
A former Grey Warden and current King of Ferelden, he brings knowledge of their history and tactics.
"You do not simply join the Grey Warden by choice. Either we recognize you and invite you to join, or you are conscripted. Either way, we only recruit the most worthy fighters to our cause," Alistair explained.
The camera then cut to a man with long dark hair and dark clothing, who was holding up a bow to make sure it was in fine working order.
Also representing the Warden will be current member Nathaniel Howe.
A former squire and skilled archer, he initially opposed them and can personally attest to their toughness.
"We fight to stop the Darkspawn, a far more dangerous threat than the vampires these Dawnguard fight. It takes a special kind of toughness to confront their threat and with the Grey Warden, you are seeing it," Nathaniel spoke.
The Grey Wardens were founded during the First Blight, when the species of Thedas were under the threat of annihilation by the Darkspawn. A hodgepodge group of veterans from the Tevinter Imperium would assemble at the Weisshaupt fortress, swearing off their oath to the Imperium and vowing to accept anyone they deemed suitable to join their new order, regardless of race or background.
"There weren't that many of us, but we were determined to defeat the Darkspawn. It wasn't long before we were reclaiming the lands many had thought lost forever and pushing those fiends back to the Deep Roads," Alistair explained.
Three more great Blights would follow and the Wardens were there to combat them every step of the way, gaining more societal influence and sway as they protected the people of Thedas from the Darkspawn. It was upon the ending of the Fourth Blight that their cause would die off and with the following Exalted Age, their influence would greatly diminish. It wasn't until the Fifth Blight was stopped they would regain their significance.
"We brought that desperately needed spark of hope in the darkest of hours. Humanity began to reclaim its place in the world. Nations flocked to support us in further Darkspawn invasions, sending us only their best of the best," Nathaniel concluded.
The Grey Wardens battled the Darkspawn menace with an assortment of mystical weaponry:
Short Range: Warden's Companion Broadsword
Mid-Range: Twinblade Knives
Long Range: Commission Longbow
Special Weapon: Circle Magic & Dragon's Call Staff
When the Dawnguard needed to cut his enemy down from up close, he relied upon the Dawnguard War Axe.
(A Dawnguard is shown hacking a vampire's head off in one fell swoop.)
Dawnguard War Axe
Length: 26 in.
Weight: 1.75 lbs.
Material: Steel, Wood and Leather
"This is our war axe," Beleval said presenting her axe to the panelists, "It's light enough to be wielded with one hand, yet powerful enough to cut through the leather armor often worn by our vampire adversaries."
"It looks pretty dangerous, but we want to see how effective it would be against enemies, both unarmored and armored," Bradley said motioning to the setup behind him with two targets, "First up, we have an unarmored gel torso and second, we have another outfitted in the plate armor and helmet of a Grey Warden, in addition to one of their tower shields."
"This is nothing new to the Dawnguard," Beleval said and took her position.
"Alright then, Beleval, on 3...2...1, hack 'em up!" Bradley shouted.
With a battle cry, Beleval brought her axe down onto the unarmored target's collarbone, cutting deep into her target. She easily wrenched the blade out before flipping it over and bringing the spike end down onto the crown of her target's skull, tearing it out in a gory display.
She then set her sights on the armored target, first using the spike to yank the tower shield away from her target. She then brought the spike down onto the target's helm, leaving a large dent and causing the head beneath to sway violently. She then flips the axe over to its blade end and swings into the plate armored chest, leaving a deep dent behind. Undeterred, she swings again lower and manages to chip away at the drakeskin before again flipping the axe and driving the spike into her target's gut.
"I think he's finished," Beleval smirked.
"You nearly split this guy in half," Dr. Kaiser said as he made his way over and pulled the gash open, "Right through the clavicle and severing all the bones, muscle, tissue and veins running through, but not as bad as above," he said prying open the split remnants of the dummy's head, "Right on the crown, piercing the brain and tearing it open...absolutely gruesome! Either strike would have been an instant kill."
He then made his way over to examine the other target, "As for our armored friend here, I see that your spike managed to penetrate his helmet and I'm seeing a crack as well," he said showing the aforementioned crack to the panelists, "We've got a small skull fracture. It's not fatal as it is fairly small, but could still cause some problems. I also have to take note of how violently this guy's head swayed when struck, so we would be looking at additional neck trauma. Not fatal, yet lots of pain."
He then slowly removed the armor, "You left a large dent on the silverite portion. We could be looking at possible cracking of the ribs or sternum, neither is a kill, but he's going to have a hard time breathing. I'd say the same with your strike to the drakeskin portion, that it's going to break a few bones and hurt the guy, but not kill. You did achieve penetration though with the spike, which could be deep enough to penetrate some skin, but otherwise just knock the wind out of him. One guy is dead twice over, the other is injured."
"But the question now should be, how will it fare when pitted against a real weapon?" Alistair chimed in.
To answer the Dawnguard's challenge, the Grey Warden swings back with a mighty blade of his own, the Warden's Companion Broadsword.
(A Grey Warden is shown beheading a Shriek with a swing of his sword before it can emit an ear-splitting cry.)
Warden's Companion Broadsword
Length: 4 ft.
Weight: 3.7 lbs.
Material: Dragonbone
"This is the standard sword for the Wardens," Alistair said presenting his blade to the panelists, "This sword is made of dragonbone, a substance stronger than steel."
"Not something you hear every day," Eddie commented while eying the sword up.
"It's an awesome looking blade and we want to see it in action," Bradley said motioning towards two more targets, "As it was before, we have one guy without armor, and the other is wearing the Dawnguard's heavy armor and helmet, along with holding one of their shields."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Alistair asked as he took his position.
"Alright Alistair, then on 3...2...1, slice 'em and dice 'em!"
Alistair lets out a battle cry and brings his sword down onto the first target's collarbone, before stepping back and driving his blade through the dummy's chest, the tip poking out through its back. He then swung the blade high and horizontally bisected its head.
He then set his sights on the armored target and swung at the brigandine, denting some of the plates covering the torso. He then stepped back and thrust his sword forth, going between two of the plates. He then raises his sword up high and brings it down on top of the helmet, leaving a large dent and violently rocking the head and neck beneath. It didn't end there as he brought his sword down onto the shield and left a noticeable dent in the rim before swinging again with all his force, knocking it off its stand.
"It is done," Alistair said stepping back.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage, "You just cleaved through this man's collarbone like nothing, again, he's nearly split in half. After that, you just punched right through him, tearing through his ribs and shredding a lung until you opened a new hole in his body. As for his head," he said reaching down to pick up the top of the dummy's head and haphazardly putting it back on top, "You split it in half right at the jawbone. Any of these blows would be an instant kill."
He then made his way over to the armored target and inspected the damage done.
"Starting with the body strike, the armor appears to have absorbed the brunt of the blow," Dr. Kaiser spoke before he carefully removed the brigandine, "I am seeing a cracked sternum, not a kill, but it would be painful. As for your thrust, you managed to get between the plates and have gone deep enough to knick the lung for a possible collapse. Without proper medical treatment, it could become fatal."
Dr. Kaiser then carefully removed the Dawnguard's helmet, "Moving on to your head shot, again, we have the helmet absorbing the brunt of the blow. It could generate enough force to possibly cause a depressed skull fracture, if not a concussion for sure. We also notice how violently the target's head rocked, leading to severe whiplash for your opponent. He's either hurt or immobilized by this point."
He then picked up the fallen shield before placing it back on the target, "As for your shield strikes, we didn't detect anything strong enough to break the user's bones beneath. Altogether, you have one guy dead and one who is either dead or almost there."
Both short range weapons devastated their targets, but where do our panelists stand?
"I'll start off by saying that while I did like the amount of damage the war axe was able to dish out, I still liked how the broadsword offered more options, even when armor is taken into account. Edge Grey Warden," Bradley started.
"I disagree," Eddie countered, "The war axe has that spike on the back, that allows for more options also. With the amount of damage it was able to dish out, I'm with the Dawnguard on this one."
The tiebreaker would fall down to Dr. Kaiser.
"I'm siding with the Grey Wardens on this one. Their sword offered more options and under different circumstances, could possibly cause more damage than the sword. Edge Grey Warden."
In short range weapons, the Grey Warden takes the edge with the Warden's Companion Broadsword.
XXXXXX
The Dawnguard and the Grey Warden, two factions used to fighting supernatural threats.
"Vampires can live for centuries. They have plenty of time to learn new tactics, new technology, new ways to terrorize their prey. It forces us to be constantly adapting to meet whatever new tricks they may come up with," Isran explained.
"The Darkspawn have evolved over time. Every encounter we've had with them brings a new threat that forces the Grey Dawn to adjust our methods," Alistair explained.
When the Grey Warden needed a reliable sidearm to fall back on, they relied upon the Twinblades.
(A Grey Warden is shown stabbing a Hurlock grunt repeatedly with his twinblades.)
Twinblade Knives
Length: 30 in.
Weight: 3 lbs.
Material: Dragonbone
"These are the twinblades," Nathaniel said presenting them to the panelists, "These are a trusted sidearm for the Grey Warden when all else fails. What we call a 'dagger,' these are 'swords' to you. They are lightweight and often carried in pairs, giving us something to fall back on if we are ever disarmed."
"They look gorgeous, but how deadly are they?" Bradley asked, "We're about to find out as we have two targets for you to test them out on," he motioned towards a beef slab and an armored target, "We have a beef slab for you to test out on, and then a gel target wearing the body armor of a Dawnguard. We want to see if you can breach the armor."
"Consider it done," Nathaniel said taking his position.
"Then on 3...2...1, hack 'em up!"
Nathaniel launched himself at the beef target and simultaneously drove both knives into the slab, before pulling them out and stabbing four more times, twice with each blade.
He then turned his attention to the armored target and stabbed the target in the stomach, yet the blade didn't go far. He tried again, but it bounced off the plating. He tried a third time and again was met with minimal results before driving one blade into the dummy's neck and the other through its eye, letting out a loud grunt before stepping back.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done, starting with the beef slab.
"Your blades punch right through this slab, going deep enough to go through a person's ribs and shred through their lung. All of those strikes alone could be kill shots."
He then made his way over to the armored target, feeling around where the blades impacted it.
"Your blades managed to pierce through the padding, yet it might not be enough for anything lethal. You'd certainly hurt the guy, but nothing seems fatal at this point. I won't be counting your 'extra credit' though," he concluded, motioning to the deep tears in the dummy's neck and where its eye was pierced.
"Very cocky to assume your blades can go through anything," Isran spoke up, "Unlike your hollow posturing, we actually bring a weapon good for getting past an enemy's armor."
To answer the Grey Warden's challenge, the Dawnguard responds with a brutal skull crusher, the Dawnguard Warhammer.
(A Dawnguard is shown driving his warhammer's spike into the gut of a vampire before swinging overhead and bringing it down on the back of the vampire's head.)
Dawnguard Warhammer
Length: 56.5 in.
Weight: 3.91 lbs.
Material: Steel, wood and leather
"This is our warhammer," Isran said showing it off for the panelists, "We use this to break anything that stands in our way, be it rock, armor, or bone. We have our options with the blunt head to crush a vampire's skull, and the spike on the other end to pierce their armor."
"It looks quite impressive and doesn't feel as heavy as a typical warhammer," Eddie said as he took the hammer and held it in his own hands.
"We want to see what that hammer can do and have 3 targets set up," Bradley said motioning to the targets, 2 skulls and a third target wearing a medieval-like helm, "First, we want to see what both the blunt and spike ends can do to the bare skulls. Second, we want to see what both ends of your hammer can do to a target wearing the helm of a Grey Warden."
"It will not be a problem," Isran said taking his position.
"Alright Isran, then on 3...2...1, smash 'em up!"
Isran brought the blunt end of his hammer down on top of the first skull, shattering it to pieces. He then turned it around and brought the spike end down on top of the other bare skull, leaving a large hole behind.
Isran then set his sights on the armored target and brought the blunt end down on top of the helm, leaving a large dent and violently rocking the target's neck. He then flipped it over and brought the spike down on top of the helm before violently ripping it out.
"He came in like a wrecking ball!" Eddie sang, only to be silenced by a dirty look from Bradley, as Isran looked on in confusion.
Dr. Kaiser ignored the brewing confrontation and made his way over to assess the damage done.
"Your first target is practically reduced to dust," Dr. Kaiser commented as he stood over the fragments left behind, "There's no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again," he said, once again eliciting a look of confusion from Isran, but focusing on the next target.
"This guy, I'm afraid to even touch him. Your spike pieced through the skull like it was nothing and from that hole, you see the cracks forming. Without any flesh to hold it together here, this too would crumble to dust if I even dared try to pick it up," he concluded before making his way over to the armored target.
Dr. Kaiser carefully lifted the heavily damaged helm, "Your first blow cracked this guy's skull open. He might as well have been wearing a baseball cap," he said before sticking his finger into a small hole, "And your spike still managed to reach through and pierce the outer dermis, but only barely. This guy would be dead from your first blow alone. You are 3 for 3."
"That's what happens when you bring a weapon that actually can get past someone's armor," Isran smirked to Nathaniel, who shot him a sharp glare, but was restrained by Alistair.
Both mid-ranged weapons showed their deadly capabilities, but where do our panelists stand?
"This is an easy win for the warhammer in my book. It's a great anti-armor weapon that also possesses a greater reach compared to the daggers," Bradley started.
"I agree. The daggers' struggle to get past the Dawnguard's armor did it for me. The warhammer, the blunt damage negated the helm's advantage there. Edge Dawnguard," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"I'm with both of you on this. Edge Dawnguard," Eddie concluded.
In mid-ranged weapons, the Dawnguard takes the edge with the Dawnguard Warhammer.
XXXXXX
The Dawnguard and the Grey Warden, the fierce monster hunters.
When they needed to drop a vampire from a distance, the Dawnguard had a deadly crossbow at their disposal, rigged to fire exploding bolts crafted from ancient technology, the Enhanced Silver Crossbow.
(A Dawnguard is shown firing an exploding bolt of fire through the back of a vampire before the monster can kill one of their own, the beast catching on fire and burning to death.)
Enhanced Silver Crossbow
Length: 40.25 in.
Weight: 10.64 lbs.
Material: Silver, wood and bowstring
"This is one of the most trusted and effective weapons at our disposal," Beleval said as she showed off her crossbow to the panelists, "Unlike most of the crossbows from our lands, this one has silver added to it. We use the handle on top to reload after every shot, grab it and pull it back until it cocks. A very simple and quick solution."
"That looks cool, but I see you've got a bunch of different types of bolts here," Eddie spoke while examining a number of bolts laid out on the table before him, along with small bowls filled with what looked like salts of various colors.
"The bolts we use are derived from ancient Dwemer schematics. They are crafted from regular steel bolts and enhanced by salts crafted via alchemy. We can choose from fire salts, which allow us to craft bolts that will immolate a target, void salts, which allow us to shock a target, or frost salts, which allow us to freeze a target, all of which explode upon contact," Beleval explained.
"Sounds wicked!" Eddie exclaimed.
"And I'm eager to see them tested out," Bradley continued as he motioned to three armored targets, all of which were outfitted in variations of Grey Warden armor.
"Here, we have 3 charging Grey Warden. Beleval, we want you to test one of each bolt against a different target," he explained.
"Watch in awe at the technology we possess," Beleval said to Nathaniel, who just shrugged in return.
"Alright Beleval, on 3...2...1, open fire!"
Beleval pulled the trigger and the first bolt flew into the closest target, an explosion followed by the target being engulfed in flames.
"Talk about hot under the collar," Eddie quipped.
Beleval quickly pulled the second bolt from the quiver on her belt and grabbed the loading lever, cranking the bowstring back and dropping the bolt into place. Once the string was cocked, she fired off her second projectile into the second target and there was another explosion accompanied by a crackle of electricity.
"Quite the shocker," Dr. Kaiser added.
She wasted no time grabbing the final bolt and quickly reloaded, firing it into the last target's chest, an explosion followed by the target being coated in ice.
"He's as cold as ice," Eddie replied.
"Okay, enough with the puns, gentlemen," Bradley grunted, rolling his eyes.
"It is done," Beleval called out.
Dr. Kaiser composed himself and went over to assess the damage done.
"Your first target struck its target in an armored portion, which might not do much damage alone, but the fire that follows would lead to a slow, painful, gruesome demise for this guy. Not only would it be painful for him, but you have to think of the psychological impact this could have on his colleagues."
"Or just the effects from any of those bolts altogether," Bradley added.
"Indeed," Dr. Kaiser replied as he made his way to the second target, "This guy too is being tortured with every passing second. He's being subjected to ventricular fibrillation, meaning the blood flow through his vascular system is being prevented, or even asphyxiation as a result of interference with the central nervous system's control of respiration."
He then made his way over to the final target, only now with the ice finally beginning to melt.
"This guy could very well be frozen in place, unable to move until all of his vital systems are overwhelmed by the extreme cold. Another very horrible, gruesome way to go. You are 3 for 3 total," Dr. Kaiser concluded.
"We would gladly accept your surrender," Beleval spoke to Nathaniel.
"A true Grey Warden would never go down without a fight," Nathaniel scoffed, "Our longbow may not come equipped with the fancy tricks of your crossbow, but the Wardens employ only the best marksmen from throughout the lands. We wouldn't need some fancy elemental attacks, we bring sheer skill to back our claims."
To answer the Dawnguard's challenge, the Grey Warden fires back with the Commission Longbow.
(A Grey Warden archer is shown dropping a charging Hurlock with a well-placed shot through its right eye, the beast dead before it hits the ground.)
Commission Longbow
Length: 5'
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Material: Dragonthorn Wood
"Now that's a big bow," Eddie commented.
"And made from dragonthorn, one of the strongest types of wood in the land," Nathaniel added.
"Much like what Beleval just did, you are being pitted against 3 armored targets," Bradley said looking towards the aforementioned dummies, "Yet, you are being given 9 arrows to prove your point."
"I would only need one good shot with each, but if you insist," Nathaniel said as he took his position and loaded an arrow.
"Alright Nathaniel, on 3...2...1, open fire!"
Nathaniel let the first arrow soar straight into the exposed face of his first target, before he quickly drew another arrow from his quiver, drew his bowstring back and let the next arrow fly into his target's eye. He repeated the same process, this time striking his target in its other eye.
"Now that's precision!" Eddie exclaimed.
Nathaniel drew his fourth arrow and set his sights on the second target, firing an arrow that went a little lower through the target's chin. He repeated the process with his fifth arrow, sending it flying into the target's throat, before firing another shot into the side of its neck.
"He's not even bothering with the armor," Dr. Kaiser commented.
"Why should he?" Alistair smirked.
Nathaniel loaded his seventh arrow and fired upon the third target, striking it right between the eyes. He followed up with another arrow that went further south, destroying its nose, before sending his final arrow flying through the target's mouth.
"All targets are accounted for," Nathaniel said as he permitted himself to relax.
"That's some of the most accurate shooting we have ever seen, period," Dr. Kaiser said as he made his way over to the targets, "With your first guy, you actually took out both his eyes. With your second target, you went a little lower and tore right through his chin, poking at the very base of his windpipe, before you follow up with another windpipe shot, and then one that tears right through his jugular. With your last guy, you struck him perfectly right between the eyes, followed by another that would have pierced his brain stem directly. You are 3 for 3. Congratulations!"
"Yet, it's still very anticlimactic when compared to what our specialized bolts can accomplish," Beleval commented.
"Not to forget, you don't know how effective your arrows would be against a Dawnguard's heavy armor," Isran added.
"Like I've said before, the Grey Warden aren't about flash. We're about skill and we make use of it to the best of our abilities, not even bothering with anything that could stand in the way. When we see a kill shot, we go straight for it," Nathaniel countered.
Both the crossbow and the longbow showed off their deadly accuracy and killing power, yet where do our panelists stand?
"I have to side with the Dawnguard on this one. It brings those specialized exploding bolts, each with its own effective elemental attack that can basically cancel out almost any armor it is pitted against," Bradley started.
"And think of the additional psychological effects of watching your colleague burning, being shocked to death, or frozen solid! My edge goes to the Dawnguard," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"I'm with both of you on this one. Even if the Grey Warden have the more skilled archers, the Dawnguard still brings the crossbow with the special bolts that can cancel out any of those edges," Eddie concluded.
In long range weapons, the Dawnguard takes the edge with the Enhanced Silver Crossbow.
XXXXXX
The time has come for our warriors to test out their special weapons, both of them emphasizing very different approaches to warfare.
For the Grey Warden, they relied upon a more mystical way to take down their foes with Circle Magic, coupled with the Dragon's Call Staff.
(A Warden mage is shown raising his staff and launching a stream of fire upon a Sylvan, reducing the beast to a burned husk.)
Circle Magic
Size: Variable
Weight: None
Substance: Magic, mana
Dragon's Call Staff
Length: 5 ft.
Weight: 3 lbs.
Material: Dragonbone, Lyrium
The camera then focuses on a man with reddish-blond hair and wearing a dark robe with a feathered hood. He walks over to the table and picks the staff up and examines it.
To test out their magic, the Wardens have brought in the Circle mage Anders.
Anders approached his fellow Wardens and panelists with the staff in hand.
"All mages in our land are trained by the Circle of Magi and the Dragon's Call staff is standard equipment for us," Anders explained showing it to the panelists, "They are forged in Orlais out of Lyrium infused with Dragonbone to help us better channel our magic."
"We've seen magic used on here before, but want to see how your Circle Magic compares and have set up a scenario where you are being attacked by a small army," Bradley said, motioning towards the ten targets set up behind him. "All of your targets are outfitted with thermal, impact, and electrical sensors to give us a better idea of how lethal your attacks can be. Show us what you can do!"
"That I will," Anders nodded as he approached the clearing and stood 15 yards away from his targets.
"Then on 3...2...1, let 'em have it!"
Anders conjured up a fireball that he fired at the first target, which exploded into a much larger ball of flame as it connected, swallowing up the target next to it as well. He then fired a large stone that knocked over the third target and summoned another he launched at the fourth target's head. He then focused his attention on the fifth target and fired a cool blast that froze the target solid. He then shot a bolt of lightning that struck two of his targets in one fell swoop before focusing on the three remaining targets. Channeling up his mana, he launched a continuous stream of fire to roast them all.
"Very impressive!" Bradley exclaimed.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done, starting with the first two targets.
"The first target you aimed at actually isn't that badly burnt compared to the second guy, yet going by our impact sensors, the blast at the end did more damage to him than the fire itself. You may as well have hit him with a frag grenade," he said before moving onto the stone targets.
"Your first guy you hit dead center with a large stone and with the force of a battering ram. His bones are broken beyond repair and his insides are basically reduced to liquid," he said before picking up the crushed remnants of the next target's head, "With this poor sap, we don't need any further explanation."
He then made his way over to the frozen target, "As for this guy, he is frozen solid. He's not dead right away, yet it will be a very slow, agonizing death for him."
"Then let me alleviate his suffering," Anders said before launching another large rock that shattered the target to pieces, much to the alarm of the panelists.
"Right," Dr. Kaiser sheepishly squeaked before approaching the two electrocuted targets and observed the aftermath, "And here, both these guys were electrocuted to death...another very violent, gruesome way to go with the level of power you put into this spell."
He then focused on the last 3 targets, "As for all of these guys, burnt to a crisp. Even if they wore armor, that would have done nothing to protect them. All of your targets are eliminated."
"Dawnguard, what do you think?" Bradley asked.
"It was impressive, I will say that, but what happens when your friend gets separated from his precious staff?" Isran asked.
"He doesn't have to use the staff," Alistair grinned, "It simply channels the attack and allows the mage to make small magic attacks without using up his mana."
"Well, we have our own surprise, one that would literally crush your mage where he stands," Beleval spoke up.
To answer the Warden's challenge, the Dawnguard responds with a monstrous surprise of their own, the Armored Troll.
(An armored troll is shown swinging one of its arms violently and sending a vampire flying off into a nearby rock wall, before grabbing another vampire and biting down on its head.)
Armored Troll
Height: 7'
Weight: 500 lbs.
Armor Weight: 50 lbs.
Attacks: Swipe, smash and bite
The camera then cuts to a bearded man with reddish hair and clad in red Dawnguard armor.
To help with the armored troll, the Dawnguard have brought in their blacksmith Gunmar, who also specializes in taming trolls.
"So, you're telling me you guys have actually managed to tame trolls?" Eddie inquired.
"Indeed we have," Gunmar nodded, "They are large ape-like creatures who wander the caves and mountains of Skyrim. There are two well-known types, the normal ones and the frost trolls, which are much tougher. Once we've tamed them, we add armor, including metal blades to their arms to make them do even more damage."
"They sound pretty powerful. If we are taking apes into account, then we have to think of them as using their hands as their main weapons, as well as their bite if they get up close to a target," Dr. Kaiser added.
"The trolls can also regenerate any wounds quickly," Gunmar added, "Unless you use fire against them. It impairs their healing ability and makes them easier to kill."
"And do you have a troll for us to test out?" Bradley asked.
"That we do," Gunmar replied.
The scene then shifted to the outdoors, more specifically, to an open pit with ten armored practice dummies and a large gate on the opposite end.
"Given that we are working with a live animal in this next test, we've been forced to take things outside and have a repurposed an old gravel pit specially for this test. Like it was for the Warden's test, we have ten targets for your troll to plow through," Bradley explained.
"So, when do we get to meet the troll?" Eddie asked.
A loud bellow resounded and the gate rattled violently.
"You really had to ask?" Dr. Kaiser commented.
"Alright, then release the troll!" Bradley commanded.
The gate was raised, yet the troll had gotten impatient and violently swung its bladed arm, warping the bottom half as he stepped into view. The massive beast was outfitted in a steel harness, steel helmet, and gauntlets with attached blades to make them even deadlier.
"Damn, that thing's like an ape on steroids!" Eddie exclaimed.
Gunmar stepped into view and motioned for the troll to halt and the beast stood tall, flexing its arms and grunting in anticipation.
With another motion from Gunmar, the beast made its way forth and swung its arm into the nearest target, tearing its chest wide open. The troll continued forth, swinging its other arm and tearing another target's stomach open with its blades before bringing its fists down onto another, crushing its head.
"He's just tearing through those targets like they're nothing," Bradley commented.
"And that armor is doing nothing to help either," Dr. Kaiser commented as the troll effortlessly knocked over a fourth target and then swung hard enough to send a fifth target flying far across the pit.
The troll continued forth and grabbed the sixth target by the neck, biting down on its head, a sickening crack causing the panelists to wince as the skull was caved in. The troll spat out the gel and fake bone before swinging its arm again and impaling the next target on one of its blades, the beast bellowing in frustration as it swung its arm to get the target off and in the process, knocking over the next target before it finally freed its arm.
"Talk about a troll in a china shop," Eddie laughed.
"You really had to go there?" Bradley asked, shaking his head.
The troll swung his arms wildly, knocking the shield away from the ninth target in one swipe before his other arm knocked the dummy down and he finished it off by bringing his arms down to crush its chest. The troll then swung wildly on the final target, impaling the dummy with one of its arm blades and then shaking his arm wildly to get the target off, tearing it in half before Gunmar whistled to halt the beast. Once he led the troll away, it was safe for Dr. Kaiser to approach and give his analysis.
"What else can I say? He stacked these corpses like it was Judgment Day!" the good doctor proclaimed as he walked among the mangled remnants of the armored dummies. "We've got crushed skulls, internal organs reduced to mush...people being torn in half," he said nudging the upper half of the last target, "Their armor is doing nothing to help them against this raging behemoth."
"Quite the brutal display we just had there. Grey Warden, what are your thoughts?" Bradley asked both representatives.
"We fight beasts worse than these trolls all the time. One of them would be nothing to us," Alistair confidently smirked.
"Besides, you're dealing with a live creature here. What happens when that little 'pet' of yours decides not to listen to you? Then you have a whole new problem on your hands," Nathaniel added.
The Warden's magic versus the Dawnguard's armored troll, where do our panelists stand?
"While no doubt the troll is a devastating ally to have on your side, I'm giving this to the Warden's magic. It brings more diversity and if it can exploit the troll's weakness to fire, that would be the deciding factor. Edge Grey Warden," Bradley started.
"You mention the troll's weakness to fire, yet we also have to take into consideration that the Dawnguard are bringing a live creature to battle with them. You have to ask yourself what if the creature goes into business for itself? Training can only take an animal so far, especially on the battlefield. It could become too unpredictable, whereas the mages are trained in various forms of magic and have the tools to help bolster their abilities, such as the staff. Edge Grey Warden," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"The troll can do a lot of damage, no doubt. Yet, there are multiple types of magic the Warden mage brings with them and with it, various kinds of elemental damage. Edge Grey Warden," Eddie concluded.
In special weapons, the Grey Warden takes the edge with their Circle Magic and Dragon's Call Staff combination.
With our weapons tested, we must also take into consideration the armor worn by both warriors. For the Dawnguard, they are clad in the Dawnguard Heavy Armor, coupled with the Dawnguard Heavy Helmet and Dawnguard Shield.
For the Grey Warden, they are clad in Silverite Plate and Drakeskin Leather, coupled with the Steel Helm and the Warden's Shield.
"From what we've seen, the silverite plate used in the Grey Warden armor is far more durable compared to the steel mixed in with the leather of the Dawnguard's armor. Their shield also offers more protection compared to the Dawnguard's circular shield. The only drawback they suffer is that depending upon the design of their helm, it could limit their vision, whereas the Dawnguard's helmet offers less obstruction, yet leaves their face wide open. The edge goes to the Grey Warden," Dr. Kaiser explained.
For body armor, the Grey Warden takes the edge.
Now, the time comes to consider the X-factors which make these warriors what they are.
"Once again, I am going to start things off with training," Eddie started, "I'm tempted to call this even as both warriors are trained extensively in the usage of their regular weapons, as well as those who are capable of wielding magicka. The Grey Wardens add in their usage of magic staves, whereas the Dawnguard have access to ancient dwarven technology they have perfected."
"Up next, we factor in organization and the edge here goes to the Grey Warden as they have a more well-established leadership structure, including their Right of Conscription, which gives them a constant influx of manpower and ancient treaties that give them military aid, armed forces and equipment during a Blight, whereas the Dawnguard have only recently been re-established and would be largely reporting to one person, in addition to being barely scraping by with whatever they have."
"Up next, we touch on extremism. The Dawnguard are relentless, seeking out vampires wherever they go and attacking them on sight without question. The Grey Wardens on the other hand, will actually make a recruit go through the 'Joining,' which requires them to actually drink the tainted blood of a Darkspawn and will kill those who refuse to participate as a means to protect what the ritual entails."
"That would also go well with ferocity as our last factor. The Dawnguard are relentless in their hunting of vampires, their surviving members even carrying on while the group was disbanded, attacking them on sight. The Grey Wardens can be ferocious, yet nowhere near as extreme as the Dawnguard," Eddie concluded.
Our testing has been completed and our X-factors have been evaluated. We are now one step closer to deciding the victor.
Our teams tested 4 weapons used by the Dawnguard: the Dawnguard War Axe, Dawnguard Warhammer, Enhanced Silver Crossbow, and the Armored Troll.
On the opposite side, we tested 4 weapons used by the Grey Warden: the Warden's Companion Broadsword, the Twinblade Knives, the Commission Longbow, and the Circle Magic & Dragon's Call Staff combination.
For short range weapons, the broadsword's versatility cut through the war axe.
EDGE: Grey Warden
For mid-ranged weapons, the Warhammer's brute force crushed the Twinblades.
EDGE: Dawnguard
For long range weapons, the crossbow's enhanced bolts blew through the longbow.
EDGE: Dawnguard
And for special weapons, the Warden's magical combo torched the armored troll.
EDGE: Grey Warden
Our scientists and weapons experts have concluded their testing and it is time for the final battle. The battle will be fought in a 5-on-5 squad, with the Dawnguard being accompanied by an armored troll. To ensure the battle won't be decided by a single, lucky blow, the battle will be simulated one thousand times in a duel to the death.
Who will prevail in a battle between the elite monster hunters?
Vampire Hunter
(A Dawnguard is shown firing an exploding bolt into the chest of a vampire's thrall, burning the being alive.)
vs. Darkspawn Slayer
(A Grey Warden is shown driving his sword through the chest of a werewolf, while a mage uses a stream of fire to take down a group of attacking skeletons.)
"Our data is gathered and the combatants are set. It's time to light this candle," Eddie smirked as he typed in the final commands to begin the simulation.
XXXXXX
The sun is setting over the countryside as five figures make their way across a bridge, all of them armed for battle.
The group is led by a human wearing silverite plate armor and helm, carrying a broadsword in one hand and a shield in the other. Behind him is a figure clad in a dark robe and carrying a staff, followed by a dwarf in drakeskin leather and armed with twinblades, and lastly two elves armed with longbows and twinblades strapped to their sides.
They are Grey Wardens in search of Darkspawn rumored to be lurking about in the area.
Grey Warden: 5
In the nearby mountains, a quintet of individuals marches about, all of them clad in variations of reinforced padded armor and helmets, all of them carrying circular shields. Among them are two humans carrying battle axes, an orc with a warhammer, and two elves carrying enhanced crossbows with battle axes strapped to their sides. Behind them, an armored troll grunts loudly and swings its arms restlessly.
They are vampire hunters known as the Dawnguard and they are on the hunt after hearing reports of vampiric activity.
Dawnguard: 5
The Grey Wardens crossed the bridge and approached a small village that appeared to be strangely devoid of life, prompting the quintet to halt. Looking back to his companions, the swordsman gave a cautious nod and they continued forward.
It wasn't too long before they were entering the village square and found all of the buildings ransacked and upon further inspection, discovered what had become of the villagers.
They could only stare in silent shock as they found a number of corpses splayed about, all of whom were drained of blood.
The human warrior looked back to his colleagues and nodded for them to remain on guard as they looked around for any signs of the culprits.
At the opposite end of the village, the Dawnguard had arrived and were greeted by a similar sight and furthermore, the strangers at the opposite who were milling about. Had they been sent by the Volkihar Clan?
The Dawnguard leader motioned for his people to stand aside and allowed the troll to march past them, the beast letting out a loud roar and swinging its arms wildly as it caught sight of the Grey Wardens in the distance.
The Grey Wardens noticed the behemoth lumbering towards them, covered in crude armor and swinging its arms wildly. The Warden archers wasted no time and took their firing positions, launching arrows into exposed portions of the beast's body. That did nothing to slow the oncoming monster and they quickly reached for new arrows from their quivers and fired again, yet the beast strode forth and swung its arms, forcing the archers backwards.
It was in the following confusion one of the elves was struck by a bolt and convulsed violently as waves of electricity surged throughout his body, leaving him dead within seconds.
Dawnguard: 5 – Grey Warden: 4
The other Warden archer watched as his comrade fell, yet he was forced backward by a swipe from the troll's bladed arm. He did manage to fire an arrow into the brute's eye, but that only seemed to further agitate it and the brute raised his arms up in an attempt to crush the archer, only to be halted by a boulder being flung into its back.
The Warden mage summoned a giant boulder to slow the beast down, but it had only angered the brute and it lumbered towards him and the swordsman, prompting him to create a stone wall to take the blow directed at them. They would have to act fast as the mage's magicka would be draining shortly and the troll still pounded away, determined to tear through them.
It is in the following chaos the rest of the Dawnguard makes their presence felt, both crossbowmen opening fire upon the Warden archer, who is barely able to avoid being both frozen and burned alive as the exploding bolts connect with the earth before him.
Taking cover behind a crumbling stone wall, the Warden archer avoids a shocking bolt fired in his direction before he is able to stand up and fire an arrow of his own through the eye of an approaching crossbowman.
Dawnguard: 4 – Grey Warden: 4
The troll brings its fists down attempting to crush the dwarven Warden, who barely dodges the attack and stabs his knives into the troll's leg and side, yet the blades have no effect and he leaps backwards, yet the ground is rocked as the beast pounds the ground and he finds himself bumping into the Dawnguard's orc warrior.
The orc roars and brings his hammer down on the dwarf, who again barely dodges the swing. He drives his knife into the orc's side and goes for the other, yet the orc backhands him and sends him stumbling back. With a labored grunt, the orc swings the hammer sideways and the spike pierces a weaker portion of the dwarf's armor, leaving him coughing up blood before the Dawnguard orc brings the blunt end down on top of the dwarven Warden's skull.
Dawnguard: 4 – Grey Warden: 3
The Warden swordsman and mage still hid behind the stone wall and it was then the mage looked around and noticed one of the Dawnguard's axe men rushing towards him and he raised his staff to fire a burst of freezing energy at the approaching fighter, who had no time to react as he was struck head on and frozen in place. A second later, he fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Dawnguard: 3 – Grey Warden: 3
Yet the troll wasn't finished with them and again approached.
"Hurry up and burn that damned thing!" the lead Warden shouts to his mage as he barely dodges a swing from the troll's bladed arm, swinging his blade into the beast's side to little effect.
The Warden mage raised his staff and launched a stream of flame into the beast, who still trudged forth.
Things were getting desperate for the mage as he put his all into the attack, the magicka rapidly draining.
Yet still, the beast stubbornly advanced and swung its arm, the attached blade tearing through the mage's abdomen. It was only then the flames ceased and the mage fell to the ground, the armored troll taking a few more steps before falling to its knees and succumbing to its injuries.
Dawnguard: 3 – Grey Warden: 2
The lead Warden spotted the Dawnguard orc from nearby and charged the warrior, who attempted to swing its warhammer at him, yet the human swordsman avoided the blow and swung his sword low, cutting through the orc's leg and sending him falling to the ground hollering in pain before silencing his cries by driving the blade's tip into the back of his neck.
Dawnguard: 2 – Grey Warden: 2
The Dawnguard leader witnessed the fall of his comrade and rushed to meet the Grey Warden, swinging his battle axe at the armored warrior, who brought his shield up to deflect the blow. The Warden swung his broadsword, yet his blow too was intercepted by the Dawnguard's shield.
As both men clashed, in the distance, the remaining Dawnguard crossbowman took aim upon the Warden swordsman and was prepared to fire when an arrow tore through his forearm.
The crossbowman looked over to see the Warden archer taking aim and firing another arrow, moving at the last second and causing the arrow to strike a padded portion of his armor. He took cover behind a fallen tree to avoid another arrow fired in his direction before he reached for an exploding fire bolt.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, the Dawnguard loaded the bolt and pulled the handle back, cocking it and taking aim just in time as the Warden archer was approaching. He fired his bolt and the following explosion of flame ignited the Warden's cloak and forced him to drop his longbow.
The Warden tried to pat away the flames licking at his flesh, yet he was forced to toss his cloak aside. Through the searing pain he still marched forth, drawing his twinblade knives and charging for the crossbowman, who in turn dropped his crossbow and went for the battle axe strapped at his side.
The Warden lunged with blades extended, yet the Dawnguard barely dodged the attack and swung with his axe, only managing to scratch the surface of the archer's armor. In turn, the Warden's blade collided with the crossbowman's padded armor and sent him stumbling backwards.
Both elves glared at each other and with a collective shout lunged forth with weapons raised, the Dawnguard going high, while the Grey Warden went low.
The tearing of tissue sounded and when both warriors came to a halt, the Dawnguard was left with a long blade sticking out from his armpit, his lung pierced, while the Grey Warden stood with his right arm severed just beneath the elbow.
Through it all, both warriors stared to each other before collapsing and bleeding out, their eyes still locked onto each other's.
Dawnguard: 1 – Grey Warden: 1
The Warden swordsman was still locked in a tight duel with the Dawnguard leader, both men becoming increasingly fatigued as the battle carried on. Steel clashed and shields slammed together, yet neither man showed any signs of backing down.
The Dawnguard leader again raised his axe and brought it down onto the Warden's shield, who shot his shield up to absorb the blow and knocked the vampire hunter off balance. The Warden tried to follow up with a sword slash, yet the Dawnguard turned his back and he sliced into the padded exterior, his opponent unharmed.
Both men stared at one another before swinging simultaneously, their weapons interlocking and a struggle followingas both men pushed each other back and forth, until the Warden managed to get his shield up and shoved the Dawnguard back. He followed up with a thrust of his sword that again caught the Dawnguard, yet the extra padding saved the vampire hunter.
The Dawnguard put his shield in front of him and charged head on at the Warden, yet it was only to fake him out as he suddenly halted and then swung his shield sideways, the blow knocking the Warden backward before he attempted another swing from his battle axe, that would only dent the Warden's armor and send him stumbling back with a cracked rib, yet the Warden swung his sword low and sliced into the vampire hunter's thigh.
The Dawnguard cried out in pain, yet struggled forth as he barely raised his shield in time to block another slash from the Warden and summoning his remaining strength, pushed his armored adversary backwards.
"You fight well," the Dawnguard huffed, "but in the end...you too shall fall with all the other murdering vampires!" he roared before launching himself forward, only to find himself held back by the Warden's broadsword.
"I am no vampire!" the Warden shot back before raising his leg and kicking the Dawnguard backward.
"You lie!" the Dawnguard shouted back.
"It doesn't have to end like this!" the Warden protested.
"It ends now!" the Dawnguard shouted before making his charge.
The Dawnguard swung his axe at the Warden, who sidestepped the attack and thrust his own blade forth into the vampire hunter's lower back, piercing a weak point in his armor and hitting his spine.
The Dawnguard cried out in pain and collapsed, only for the Grey Warden to pull him up so he was looking into his eyes.
"I tried to tell you, but so be it," the Warden said before drawing his blade across the Dawnguard's throat.
Dawnguard: 0 – Grey Warden: 1
The Warden raised his bloodied blade into the air and shouted "In war...victory!"
XXXXXX
Winner: Grey Warden
Grey Warden
Warden's Companion Broadsword: 136
Twinblade Knives: 60
Commission Longbow: 138
Circle Magic & Dragon's Call Staff: 195
Total: 529
Dawnguard
Dawnguard War Axe: 109
Dawnguard Warhammer: 82
Enhanced Silver Crossbow: 149
Armored Troll: 131
Total: 471
"In what we expected to be a fairly close matchup, the Grey Warden prevailed by a slightly greater margin than we had anticipated," Bradley started.
"The Grey Wardens triumphed thanks in part to their superior armor, having a more effective short range weapon, and having the better magical attacks at their disposal.
"The Dawnguard however, did not make the fight easy, thanks in part to their magical bolts used by their enhanced crossbow, plus the powerful and deadly distraction their armored troll was able to bring. But in the end, the Grey Wardens brought an arsenal that was designed to be used against a greater assortment of threats, whereas the Dawnguard's was primarily used for fighting vampires," he concluded.
"I feel no shame in falling to the Grey Wardens as they proved themselves to be a worthy opponent," Isran spoke, "Perhaps we shall unite against our shared threats."
"As long as evil is afoot, the Grey Wardens will continue to stand vigilant against any threats to Thedas and the surrounding lands," Alistair concluded.
(The Warden swordsman huffs and puffs with his sword in one hand and the severed head of a vampire clutched in the other, having slain the true culprit behind the village massacre.)
XXXXXX
Next time on "Fictional Deadliest Warrior," it's an all-woman squad battle:
(A redheaded woman in a skin tight black body suit lowers herself from above via grappling hook before striking a pose and pointing a pistol at the camera.)
Black Widows: The Red Room's elite spies and assassins who covertly served the interests of the Soviet Union...
vs.
(A woman in a skin tight suit with various straps and wearing a futuristic combat helmet with a red visor leaps down from an unseen platform, rising to her feet and pointing a submachine gun at the screen.)
Haven Troopers: The elite special forces who carried out the will of Liquid Ocelot with brutal efficiency.
Who will be...THE FICTIONAL DEADLIEST WARRIOR?!
XXXXXX
Author's Notes: It's been 4 months since you've heard from me and I had to really trudge my way through to get this chapter out, but I have returned...at least until I likely disappear for a few more months at a time...
In story related news, I've opted to axe my "Wei Shen vs. Niko Bellic" fight and will be replacing it with 2 new matchups:
Wei Shen (Sleeping Dogs) vs. Leo Kasper (Manhunt 2)
Niko Bellic (Grand Theft Auto 4) vs. Aiden Pearce (Watch Dogs)
I'm doing this because I felt that while both "Sleeping Dogs" and "Grand Theft Auto IV" do take place in urban environments, they are still very different in the way that GTA4 is more about shoot 'em up action, whereas "Sleeping Dogs" is more about hand-to-hand combat and firearms don't come into play until later, which is how it goes with "Manhunt 2," in addition to parts that involve sneaking around and using the environment around you to take out your foes.
On the other hand, "Watch Dogs" utilizes more of the same shoot 'em up action as GTA4, plus Niko and Aiden both share the trope of being anti-heroes who fight to protect their families.
It just goes to show that nothing is certain at times, but I still try to think of ways to include combatants from scrapped ideas in one way or another. It also challenges me to think outside the box with some of the ideas I can come up with.
The Dawnguard and all "Elder Scrolls" references are owned by Bethesda Game Studios. The Grey Warden and all "Dragon Age" references are owned by BioWare.
With apologies to Elder Scrolls fans.
As always, read and review! This is Metal Harbinger saying KEEP IT FUCKING METAL!