Rated M for possible mature content including sex, violence, language, graphic situations, and drug use.
CH1: The Door of Night
In Peace, Vigilance
In War, Victory
In Death, Sacrifice
The Grey Wardens ethos
2 weeks prior to landing in Endor and a day before they ship out.
Evening was falling upon Vigil's Keep in the Northeast of the Amaranthine Arling. The ancient fortress has been the base of Ferelden’s Grey Wardens for over two centuries. With the end of the last Blight and the Inquisition, Thedas finally seemed to be on the mend. Darkspawn attacks were less no one was trying to conquer them. Sure small spats and miniature wars still happened, but nothing much that concerned the land at large.
The Wardens, having rebuilt the Fortress and their Order spent most of their days seeking and training new recruits and ruling the Amaranthine Arling. Though normally neutral in politics, the Arling and Keep were gifts from King Alistair at the end of the Fifth Blight to Rex Cousland the newly dubbed Warden-Commander of Ferelden before King Alistair died killing the Archdemon. The Keep survived many battles and hard times even living through another Darkspawn invasion led by The Architect who was fighting with The Mother for control of the Darkspawn Horde. Rex Cousland dealt with it and while it didn’t free Ferelden of the the monster it did buy a little breathing room for he and the Wardens from Weisshaupt Fortress to hunt down and destroy The Architect and his underlings sending the rest of the monsters far into the Deep Roads.
It looked to be a full on retreat and the Wardens returned heroes. From then on they were regarded as the noble heroes of yore they once were. But now, two-hundred years after the Blight and four years after the last Darkspawn have been seen in Ferelden, news has come that their peace has come with a price. Upon their shore came Elves seemingly from the Dalish past, tall, beautiful, proud warriors and immortals with powerful magic. But here in Ferelden they were just Elves and that hatred brought them to door of Vigil’s Keep. That was a day ago and in that time the Elves have proven just as noble and wise as anyone else, but their tale is one all too familiar to the Wardens. While none of them have been in a Blight they have fought Darkspawn before and all their records on Blights sets them all on edge.
They trained and rested and on their second day here their leader Leaurnas has been in conference with Warden-Commander Raziel discussing plans. Many hours had past and a few of the Wardens hung around the Great Hall talking with the Endoran Elves. It was a quiet thoughtful period after their evening meal, some discussions were being had, but most were just waiting on the two leaders to emerge and tell them the plan.
***Meanwhile in Endor***
2 weeks after the meeting of Leaurnas and Raziel
It was early evening in Endor and the Prancing Pony in Bree was alive with the sounds of lively talk and clanking of tankards and glasses. This has been the home of a group of tired warriors for the last two months. The Wrong were running rampant across Middle-Earth, and the Alliance was wearing itself thin. The King of Gondor has been meeting with Dwarves, various groups of other Men, and even races like Ents. Anyone and everyone he could speak with to help them fight back this new tide of death and destruction.
But their first and best hope laid in the Elves that left two weeks ago to seek help from aboard. No one has been from the shores of Endor in many millennia. Out there it was the country of the Valar and Eru. Beyond the reckoning of even the Eldest of the Elves, but they had no other hope no help or guidance had a way to combat these endless monstrosities. So paramount was this mission that the Gondoran King had sent some of his best warriors...or at least the few he can spare for a few weeks to escort the Elves and their aid back or bring him speedy news of their failure to find any help.
He could only spare four, but they were solid and reliable. Two Rogues and two Warriors, Banai Auhl, Enora Daglari, Jagmar One-Eye, and Damina Buck. They've been keeping the Pony open late and quiet all this week, but tomorrow they were expected to be at the Gray Havens to receive the Elves and any helpers after their month long journey. No one was sure of what they come back with, but the general conscientious was giants of some distant land. With weapons and armour emanating Holy Light and shooting off bolts of fire that could incinerate whole companies of these monsters at a time. Hope and desperation do strange things to the minds of those who are holding onto them.
For now though the four defenders are just trying to drink away the worry in their minds.
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