3263 réponses à ce sujet

[AnniLau]

*loves on Nathaniel before he reaches the bottom of the page*

[Lady_Scarlett]

*Hums* Bloodbath, it's gonna be a bloodbath...

I'll range for mine going up tomorrow, seeing as I'm too lazy to make sure right now my spelling isn't messed up (easy) and I make sense (hard, because I rarely do). Violence! Muhahahaha! Especially since I had nothing better to do last night... (I got cheated. One of my friends told me SPN came back last night and I trusted them. I had a bag of popcorn and all, punched on the TV and put it on channel five and went, "WTF?! This is not SPN!")

[Avilia]

I was going to try to find a nice pic on Deviant art to bump, er, show to you all. But Deviant art hates me so instead:







Lilibeth's thinking - "Ooh la la." Nate's thinking "Wonder if that cute Dalish girl will come visit again"

[Addai]

Ok, here's my prompt fill for the week.  A little long, sorry.  It's up on ffnet if you'd rather read it there.


Relations

"Should we stop it?" Sigrun was standing on a crate, peering through a window in the attic of Vigil's Keep down into the courtyard below. "It" was a conflagration of two Dalish women in the courtyard: their commander and a new recruit plucked from a killing rampage in the forest named Velanna. The fight had not yet gone beyond a verbal exchange in heated elvish, but both women were mages and the air had a charged feeling, as though the very dust motes were tense.

Nathaniel peered over Sigrun's shoulder into the courtyard, his brow knitting.  "Maybe." Neither of them moved, however, until Nate heard Anders approaching from the storage room they had been sent to clear out.  "Let's send Anders down to do it."

Anders craned to see what they were talking about and understood the situation immediately. "Me? Not a chance."

"But you're another mage," Nathaniel protested.

"And my hair singes just as easily as yours does."

"You're afraid."

"Absolutely!"

It was hard to argue with such eager self-abasement, but Nathaniel muttered, "You have a shield of some kind, I've seen you use it."

Anders leaned his head and watched the two women for a moment. Velanna appeared to be mockingly repeating something the commander had said. "I don't know," he replied contemplatively. "It's actually kind of hot."

"Oh Andraste's blood! I'll do it." Nathaniel turned on his heel and descended the stairs at a fast clip.

By the time he reached the courtyard, Commander Adra had turned her back on Velanna and was walking towards him. He called out a warning to her just as a small globe of flame sailed towards the commander's back.  Tecla half-turned and jumped out of the path of the fireball, which harmlessly exploded into a shower of ash and sparks on the stone wall of the Keep. She swore loudly in elvish- Nathaniel took it to be a curse, at least- but Velanna had already disappeared from sight.

"Are you alright?" Nate asked, reaching out a hand.

"Yes, of course."  She began to pace back and forth, hands on her hips. The two women who shared such a similar background could not be more different. Even in appearance they were nothing alike, apart from the obvious elven features. Velanna was petite and delicate looking, which made her strident demeanor all the more striking. Tecla was tall for an elf, skin bronzed from the sun, and she wore leather armor just like the other soldiers, not a Dalish robe like Velanna.  Appearances were not the only way they differed, however. If anyone thought that having another Dalish mage at the Keep would lead to elven camaraderie, the notion had been disabused from the first moment the two women locked horns.

Nathaniel watched Tecla silently for a few moments, then gestured toward the Keep. "I'll be going then."

"I think I made a mistake, Nathaniel."

Howe turned back, surprised. They were both people of few words and their brief exchange had been all he had expected to get out of her. "Go on," he prompted.

Tecla paused, frowning, and explained, "I did not want to recruit her, but I thought she should do something good for the people of the arling. I thought she should..." The Orlesian elf searched for the word. "...I thought she should atone. But she is worse than ever. Her hatred, it is like the pot that boiled over and now it burns and burns itself. I think I must send her away." She stopped, watching him, her expression an obvious prompt for advice, perhaps for reassurance.

Nathaniel was speechless. The commander was actually confiding in him, something she had never done before, not with him or with anyone so far as he knew. For some time Nate had been concerned about her. Every military commander he knew operated with a second, someone who was eyes and ears and sounding board and errand-runner.  Tecla had people helping her with the administrative affairs of the arling, but in the field she had no such person. Nate was the only one in their small ragtag band of Wardens who had been in military leadership before, unless one counted Oghren, who these days couldn't lead himself out of the privy. Nate had gone to Varel and Garevel and told them his concerns about the commander, offering his services, but that had gone over like week-old milk. Varel treated his offer with skepticism and suspicion. Garevel stood back with arms folded looking ready to carve the scarlet T for traitor into his chest, or perhaps the scarlet H for Howe, which had become synonymous for the same. Varel ended the conversation by saying that if the commander wanted a lieutenant, she would find one herself.

Now Tecla seemed herself to be turning to him for help. All Nate had really wanted was to feel useful. It had burned that his superiors still did not trust him even with so much as second, but maybe the elf did. After recovering from his surprise, he urged, "Don't do that. Not yet. Let me talk to her."

"You?" Tecla did not conceal her skepticism.

"Velanna sees humans as her enemy," Nate went on, reasoning. "It is easy to do that when the other side is just a faceless mass. If she can come to trust one human a little, maybe it will change her view of the whole."  He wondered if Tecla realized he could be talking about her just as easily as about Velanna. The commander was ice to Velanna's flailing outrage and fire, but Nate suspected that the roots of her silence and drive to prove herself were not so different than Velanna's.

Warily the commander ventured, "How do you hope to accomplish this... change?"

He pulled a grin. "I have my ways, not to worry."

Tecla snorted in reply, then paused to consider. "Well, we shall see. I will take her on our next missions and if you think it will help, go ahead and use your 'ways.' I will try to stay out of it. But we will both have to watch her carefully."

"Deal."

Tecla started to walk away, then turned back and asked, "Why do you even want to do this, Nathaniel?"

Even after this small breakthrough, he was not ready to tell her the real reasons. Still keeping up his grin, Nate replied, "All in the interest of elven-human relations, commander."

Modifié par Addai67, 18 septembre 2010 - 06:49 .

[Avilia]

Addai - loved it. Carving a scarlet "H" on his chest...

[CalJones]

I liked the line about Oghren being unable to lead himself out of the privvy. That made me chuckle.

[Addai]

Reading Avilia's....  oh noes!!! 

[jenncgf]

Addai - loved it!

[Sarah1281]

Okay, here's my prompt entry:

Nathaniel Howe thought that Fergus Cousland could probably stand to be a bit less put-out to see him under the circumstances.

“I might have known you’d be involved,” Fergus said bitterly, glaring at him. His guards were dead and his clothes were torn but he didn’t seem to notice any of that.

“I hardly think that saving you from bandits counts as being involved in said bandits’ attack, Teyrn,” Nathaniel responded evenly. Once he and Fergus had been friends but once he had had a father and Fergus had had parents. Once he had had a brother and Fergus a wife and child. Now everyone was dead and he had been conscripted into the Grey Wardens for plotting to kill Fergus’s sister who had slain his own father while Fergus was on record saying that he didn’t think Nathaniel would have the stones to return to Ferelden. Well Anastasia Theirin was still alive and here Nathaniel was.

“You could have easily staged the attack in order to try and get into my good graces,” Fergus claimed.

Nathaniel sighed. “Please, Teyrn. Using bandits isn’t really my style.”

“No, I suppose that when you attempted to murder my only living family – and so finish the job that your father started – you did work alone,” Fergus conceded.

Nathaniel concealed a wince. That had really not been one of his finer moments, he had to admit. “I was operating under faulty information,” he said smoothly. “And even before I learned the truth I decided not to attack her. I was arrested for trespassing in my former home not for making an attempt on Anastasia’s life.”

Fergus frowned deeply, a sure sign that he felt that Nathaniel had a point. “You should never have come back here regardless.”

“And why not?” Nathaniel challenged. “Because of what my father did?”

“Yes because of what your father did,” Fergus exclaimed. “He was a monster and he tried to destroy everything. He killed my family, he sent assassins after my sister, he sold Ferelden natives into slavery, he tortured nobles, he kidnapped Templars-”

“I get it,” Nathaniel cut him off, unwilling to hear more. “I really do. I have come to accept that my father, at least in recent years, was not a good man. I have come to accept that he greatly wronged all of Ferelden and your family in particular. I am not him, Fergus.”

Fergus started slightly at the unexpected invocation of his given name. “You look like him. You’re his son. You carry his name.”

“I’m not him,” Nathaniel repeated.

Fergus closed his eyes. “I…I do know that. Intellectually. Just the same, you’re father killed my family. How am I supposed to get over it? I went away to Ostagar and our fathers were supposed to come the following day. My mother was supposed to be safe at Lady Landra’s Denerim estate and my little sister was supposed to try her hand at running the castle while Oren and Oriana stayed there with her. I never made it to the battle, I was imprisoned by Chasind for nearly a year, and then when I finally did escape I found only your father’s men at my home. Again, I ask you: how am I supposed to get over it?”

Nathaniel was quiet for a moment as he desperately tried to come up with some sort of answer for his former friend. “I don’t know,” he said at last. “Anastasia’s managed it and I’ve forgiven her for her part in destroying my family.”

Fergus snorted. “Well, that’s Anastasia. She’s always been a bit off. And what do you have to forgive? Your father brought everything on himself and from what I’ve heard of what happened, her killing him actually had very little to do with vengeance and was more of a necessity.”

“He was still my father,” Nathaniel said mildly. “Look, I don’t have all the answers. I wish I did as it would make this – and everything – much easier but the fact remains that our families were friends, that my father killed your family, that your sister killed my father. My brother died in the war as well and my sister refuses to acknowledge where she came from. The Howes no longer have an Arling but you’ve not only reclaimed Highever but Anastasia is the Queen of Ferelden and Teyrna of Gwaren in addition to having taken temporary control of Amaranthine. I’ve lost a lot as well and I don’t mean to get into a petty argument about who has had it worse. The point is that some things can’t be changed and we’ve got to find a way to live with them.”

Fergus was silent for a long moment. Eventually, he asked, “Do you really regret what happened to my family?”

“Every day since I heard that they were dead,” Nathaniel admitted. “Even when I was under the impression that they were traitors to the Crown and even more now that I know that that wasn’t the case. And why wouldn’t I be? We were friends.”

“That was a long time ago,” Fergus said ruefully. “Sad as it is, this is the first time that I’ve seen you since you left for the Free Marches a decade ago.”

“I didn’t hear from you often given how far away I was,” Nathaniel told him. “I heard from my father less. I had no idea and you can’t possibly believe that I would have supported it had I known.”

Fergus looked a little wistful. “I don’t know. Ten years is an awfully long time. You left just after the birth of my son.”

“Father wanted me to leave earlier but I didn’t want to miss that,” Nathaniel said softly.

Fergus shook his head as if to clear away the memories. “Ten years is a long time,” he repeated. “Just the same…you saved my life today. As Teyrn and the brother of Ferelden’s other Teyrna and Queen, that’s probably worth something. I’m beginning to feel a little foolish just standing around in the middle of the road after a bandit attack so I think we should get into town. Then we can…talk. I’m honor-bound to repay you for this, you know.”

Nathaniel nodded. It was actually more than he’d expected. Being a Howe in a country that still had a long way to go before they could forget the sins of his father, he would have expected – at best – a curt thank you and maybe a pouch full of sovereigns. Regardless of what had happened between their families since the beginning of the last Blight, Fergus had once been a friend and he had hated to lose that. “I didn’t do it for that.”

Fergus’ eyes flickered. “I know.”

Modifié par Sarah1281, 18 septembre 2010 - 05:49 .

[Addai]

Great job, Sarah! The bit about Nate being there for Oren's birth is touching.

[jenncgf]

Sarah, nice!

[Avilia]

Very cool Sarah. I like that they have history - you'd think they would if their parents were friends.

[jenncgf]

My prompt fill for this week!  Thanks to SurelyForth for the first line  :happy:

Out of the Mouths of Babes


It was Satinalia.

This Satinalia was particularly special for the denizens of Vigil's Keep, however, as it marked the completion of the repairs made to the keep after the darkspawn sieged its walls less than five years before. Thanks to the many and generous donations from the lords and ladies of Ferelden, Orlais and other countries, the keep was fully restored in record time. Since the city of Amaranthine had been repaired some years prior, the completed restoration of the keep marked the effective end to looking back on the past for the Grey Wardens and a complete focus on the future.

Because of the significance of this momentous occasion, the Grey Wardens had decided to hold a festival at the keep, with the last day of the festival coinciding with the Satinalia holiday. Vendors and merchants came from all over Ferelden to peddle their wares, performers juggled and sang and did tricks to please the masses gathered, and games were set up in every available space at the keep. For their part, many of the Wardens had family members come and stay for the duration of the festivities. Nathaniel's sister Delilah and her son Samuel came, as did Felsi and Oghren's daughter Elissa. Once the children were introduced to each other (somehow they hadn't managed to visit the keep at the same time in their short lives), Samuel and Elissa ran off together to play games and eat treats. Nobody was concerned for the four-year olds, since most of the Wardens and the keep's guards knew the children and had posted guard throughout the keep. If there was a place where two small children would have constant supervision, this was it.

Nathaniel and Elissa walked together with Oghren and Felsi as they observed the festivities. Over the years since their divorce, Oghren and Felsi had become friends, at first for the sake of their child, and later because they genuinely got on well together. Felsi would insult Oghren at nearly every opportunity and Oghren would make crass jokes to force rolled eyes or some other reaction out of Felsi. Somehow there was never much fire behind the teasing and insults, however. It was a strange relationship, but one that worked well.

As the four walked throughout the festival, they noticed that everyone was having a good time. The jugglers had attracted a huge audience, as had the minstrels. There was an acting troupe performing impromptu theater; the crowd surrounding the troupe periodically roared with laughter. The meat cooked on the outdoor fire pit was tender and juicy, causing many a chin to have juice dribbled upon it and clothing to have spots, but nobody seemed to mind. Children ran about from here to there and back again, playing games of tag or hide-and-seek, their energy feeding off that of the festival. Nathaniel thought that there would be many small children asleep and carried out of the keep by exhausted parents come sundown.

Delilah found them browsing through the merchants' wares. She was smiling, her eyes crinkling at the corners, as she regarded her older brother. “Having fun?” she asked Nathaniel after they exchanged hugs.

“Very much so. How about you?” Nathaniel smiled back at his sister.

“This festival was an excellent idea. Everyone seems to be having a grand time. Now all I need to do is find my son and make sure he's all right,” Delilah mused as she looked around.

Just then, a small dustball with dark hair ran up to the adults, an even smaller dustball with red hair following close on his heels. “Mother!” the dark-haired dustball exclaimed, giving Delilah a dirty hug.

Delilah smiled at her son. “Have you two been having a good time today?” she asked as Felsi made clucking noises and pulled out a handkerchief to try to take the top layer of grime off her daughter.

“It's been sodding great!” Samuel almost shouted in his excitement.

Silence fell in their little corner of the courtyard. Delilah raised an eyebrow as Elissa tried to smother a laugh with an incredibly fake cough. Oghren looked almost innocent, but not enough to avoid the glare that Felsi had now leveled upon him. Nathaniel inwardly grimaced at the look of death Felsi was now wearing.

Delilah recovered first. “Sam, dear, please don't say 'sodding' again, all right?” She bent down to his level and looked him in the eye. “Do you remember when I was telling you about things that children shouldn't say?” Samuel nodded dutifully. “That's one of those things. Can you remember that for me, sweetie?”

“Okay!” Samuel smiled at his mother, completely unperturbed. Before Delilah could say anything else, little Elissa started to run off.

“Sam, you nughumper! Let's go!” And with that, Samuel squirmed out of his mother's grip and ran off with the little dwarven girl, the pair of children laughing and running as fast as their little legs could go.

As soon as the children were out of earshot, Felsi rounded on Oghren. “Really, Oghren! You had her for three days! Couldn't you have watched your language for THREE days?!”

“I tried, really I did, Fels!” Oghren held his hands out in a gesture of defense. “But it's sodding hard to suddenly watch your tongue all the time!”

“This is important. Now Ellie's gone and corrupted Delilah's little boy! How many other parents are going to come to me and holler at me for their children learning unsuitable language?”

Delilah, ever the peacekeeper, spoke up. “It's all right, Felsi. I'll just have a talk with Sam when the festival is over.” She patted the dwarven woman's arm. “He was bound to hear some coarse language around the keep anyway, what with all the soldiers here. I'm surprised it took this long, actually.” Felsi was only slightly mollified, but she managed to reduce her bristling to an occasional grumble coupled with a sharp look in Oghren's direction. Oghren, for his part, had learned enough over the years to look sheepish when she did so.

The adults continued mingling and enjoying the celebration until dinnertime, when it was time to collect the children and feed them. Oghren spotted them first and waved his daughter over. As little Ellie and Sam trudged their dirty little selves over to their parents, it was Felsi's turn to look sheepish at little Ellie's next words:

“Dammit Oghren, do we have to?”

[Avilia]

@jenn - that was sodding great ;-)

[Addai]

Ee, little dwarflet! That was fun.

[Riona45]

I'm really enjoying the stories--thanks to those who posted them!

[rak72]

Hey guys, if you don't take Nate with you to fight the brood mother, will he always die at the keep?

[Zjarcal]

rak72 wrote...

Hey guys, if you don't take Nate with you to fight the brood mother, will he always die at the keep?

That depends on whether the Keep stands or not. If you did all the upgrades, he'll survive.

[Addai]

Nate can die in Awakening?!  :crying:  *did not know this*

Modifié par Addai67, 19 septembre 2010 - 03:23 .

[Giggles_Manically]

Addai67 wrote...

Nate can die in Awakening?! *did not know this*

If you dont fully upgrade the keep and leave him there he dies, as can any other person left there.

Velana no matter what when left behind has a wall fall on her "YAH!", but then is not found.

[rak72]

Addai67 wrote...

Nate can die in Awakening?!  :crying:  *did not know this*

Seems everyone dies, unless you take them with you ... except Ogren

[Zjarcal]

rak72 wrote...

Addai67 wrote...

Nate can die in Awakening?!  :crying:  *did not know this*

Seems everyone dies, unless you take them with you ... except Ogren

Oghren can die in the Keep as well.

Again, it depends on whether all the upgrades were applied. Velanna and Justice (I think) however will always die or disappear if they stay in the Keep, regardless of whether it was upgraded or not.

[jenncgf]

Avilia, Addai, Riona: 

Thank you! <3

[Avilia]

Its a little known fact that leaving Nate to defend the Keep will cause your game to crash repeatedly. This bug can only be fixed by including him in every mission. True story...would I lie?

[Sarah1281]

Its a little known fact that leaving Nate to defend the Keep will cause your game to crash repeatedly. This bug can only be fixed by including him in every mission. True story...would I lie?

Does that still happen if you leave him at the Keep only to immediately return once you hear that Amaranthine is having problems? Seeing how thrilled he is to see you might make it worth the risk...