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[Basher of Glory]

Let's talk about Joseph.
He grew up in Redcliff and joined the armed forces of the Arl when he became 16. He served for 10 years and was mainly used as a scout. Thus, he learnt to handle a bow, to hide, to camouflage and - if necessary - to fend off enemies with his sword and his dagger. He was a good soldier and his superiors tried to hold him - they even offered a promotion to sergeant. But Joseph wanted to do something different now - especially since he has met Bella from the local Tavern.

He talked with the smith and they made a deal: Joseph will go hunting and sell all the hides to the smith. That's a good base for the future, especially because the smith promised to take Joseph as apprentice and - if he learns well - will sign over the smithy when he retires in some years.

Joseph tried to convince Bella to marry him, but she was not ready for such an engagement yet. On the other hand she liked Joseph and didn't want to break the developing liaison. So she encouraged him to become quickly the next smith and - because she tends to be a bit frivolous at times - insinuated that she needs a "strong man".
Well, Joseph was not unexperienced in these matters, but didn't really know, if he would count as "strong" in the sense of Bella's subtle hints.

After some weeks he heard rumours of  a new blight and that darkspawn-scouts were sighted near Redcliff. Joseph didn't care about that and started to ply his trade. He went out hunting.

In the woods, when he silently tried to find some deer, he suddenly saw strange creatures... a tall one with a big axe and two smaller, but sturdy archers. He remembered the tales of some veterans and was sure: This must be a darkspawn gang, scouting the surroundings of Redcliff!

He was in a good position and they were not aware of him, so it was quite easy to finish the archers off with his bow. The tall creature came close, frighteningly swinging his axe. But Joseph was quicker, shot another arrow into the creature's leg, pulled out his dagger and cut it's throat.

After calming down for a minute or two he became aware, that he killed three darkspawns. Now an odd thought shot into his mind: Someone in the army has told him, that the blood of darkspawn "makes a man strong". Was it just a story, a rumour or could it be true?

Whatever! Joseph was still turned euphoric because of his victory, that he didn't think much - he tried it.
He filled his canteen with the blood of the slain creatures and drank it without hesitating a second.
"For Bella!" he jubilated before his body was grappled by an invisible fist, shaking him to and fro, smashing him to the ground, where he squirmed in pain for several minutes. Finally a merciful dead faint released him from his agony.

He was found by some trappers, who brought him back to Redcliff. Noone had an idea, how to help the poor unconscious man, so they brought him to the church, where the revered mother prayed for him - three days.

Finally Joseph awoke and felt... quite normal. A bit dull in the stomach perhaps, but anything else seemed to be ok.
"I should talk with Bella!" came to his mind and he headed for the tavern.

END

Question:
Is Joseph now effectively compareable to a Grey Warden, although he has no clue about the ritual and the order?

Modifié par Baher of Glory, 09 janvier 2010 - 08:15 .

[David Gaider]

Baher of Glory wrote...
Question:
Is Joseph now effectively compareable to a Grey Warden, although he has no clue about the ritual and the order?

The flaw in your story is that simply drinking darkspawn blood does not make one a Grey Warden. Most likely Joseph would come down with the blight and become a ghoul in short order. The villagers would have found him delerious and sick with fever, and if he survived he would have disappeared one night and never been seen again.

Becoming a Grey Warden requires a dose of the darkspawn corruption in sufficient potency that it immediately affects someone, rather than slowly enough to sicken them. Archdemon blood can be used (though is understandably much rarer), but any darkspawn blood can be magically treated to make it work. Your rank-and-file darkspawn simply doesn't have enough of the corruption within him to do the trick... though who knows? If he drank enough, maybe it might work. I don't doubt a story of an "accidental" Grey Warden could be justified, although it would take some doing.

Modifié par David Gaider, 09 janvier 2010 - 08:23 .

[David Gaider]

Baher of Glory wrote...

An entire canteen or - perhaps more medieval - an entire pumpkin calabash is certainly A LOT, right?

No. We're talking about the concentration of the taint, and in a short span of time, and not just the quantity of blood. The reason Archdemon blood is used is because it's the easiest way to get the concentration required, but it's not the *only* way. Regardless, just drinking the blood of a normal, run-of-the-mill darkspawn isn't usually going to cut it -- that's why magical means are usually required.

Note that simply recovering from the taint (which is possible -- Dog did it, after all -- though it's rare) is not enough. You must have both the quick concentration of the taint AND the recovery. I use the word "recovery" loosely, however. As the poster above me mentions, even Grey Wardens don't become immune to the taint. They still suffer from it in the long run.

Modifié par David Gaider, 09 janvier 2010 - 05:56 .

[David Gaider]

Ulicus wrote...
Am I right in thinking that Dog is in more-or-less the same position as Hafter from The Calling?

Probably. Though whether Dog acquired the same resistance to the taint as Hafter is never proven, as we got rid of the "blight infection" mechanic.

[David Gaider]

Sarevok Anchev wrote...
As i remember the Warden whos Hafters Master told the Female Mage GW that Hafter IS a Grey Warden himself!
Not just a random survivor like dog (and Dog only survives, when you find this rare flower in the Wilds)

I don't think he meant that literally. Hafter wasn't a member of the order, after all.