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[Sisimka]

Thanks for the comments! Sten makes a nice change of pace from Zevran, eh?

I have another one-shot up on FF.net that should give you all a giggle, it's called 'Tall Tales' and can't be posted here. There's a link to my FF page at the start of this thread.

I'm working on two new projects featuring Aedan and Leliana. I'll start posting the first on Monday. (*gasp* Yes, I am taking the weekend off! I've got a couple drawing projects I'd like to work on.)

'Letters from the Vigil' will be a fairly brief story (perhaps 5-6 chaps?) and will represent my take on Awakening. I won't be covering the complete plot of the expansion, more picking out elements I want to involve in my own version of post-Origins Ferelden.

After that I plan to start posting another LONG one. This as yet unnamed story (working title: Secrets ) will feature the usual suspects: Aedan, Leli, Alistair, Brenna, my wardens and Aedan's kids. Aedan and Leliana will be having an adventure in Orlais while Alistair struggles to maintain order in Denerim... that's as much as I'm gonna say at this point! I'm planning on it being a story about accepting who you are and what you're doing with your life - that will be the sort of 'underlying purpose', anyway. But some unnexpected characters will return and it will feature lots of combat, a couple loops and twists and of course I'll be killing and maiming folks left, right and centre!

Thanks for your continued interest in my projects!

Modifié par Sisimka, 23 avril 2010 - 02:42 .

[Sandtigress]

What, no tainting innocent people this time around, Sisi? :-P

[Sisimka]

Sandtigress wrote...

What, no tainting innocent people this time around, Sisi? :-P

Oooh, I forgot that bit, actually, YES! I will be taintin' some folks this time 'round too! *evil cackle*

[Sandtigress]

Uh oh...my sincere apologies to those characters that I reminded Sisi she's going to taint......At least Alistair is already tainted. And hopefully he won't get any more arrows through the chest...*hands Alistair a kevlar vest, just in case*

[bob-san]

Cookies!



Absolutely adorable short Sisi. After Sten and the kitten, I can definitely see him engaged in battle against cookie dough.



BTW, to share, this short made me remember coming across this little thread on these forums when I first got here.



http://social.biowar...7/index/1880428

[Sisimka]

Heh, thanks for the link! Might have to check it out.

[Masticetobbacco]

NOOO WHERE IS SHALE

[Sisimka]

A new attempt at Leliana. I'm reasonably happy with this one.

[Miliat]

As I said already, I really love this one. It shows vast improvement, and she's absolutely lovely.

[Sandtigress]

Very nice, and I love your coloring, as always!

[Maximus741000]

This is just pure beauty, simply amazing, just like all your work, art or fiction. And with definate improvement as well

[Sisimka]

This collection of letters represents my ‘take’ on Awakening and will include plot spoilers.

I have written quite a few stories featuring Aedan and his companions. The first is called ‘The Hero of Ferelden’ which started with the slaying of the Archdemon and followed Aedan’s adventures for nearly a year afterwards. Among other things he went to Amaranthine and began to rebuild the Grey Wardens. The darkspawn attacks started to reoccur during that time and rumours of talking darkspawn circulated.

My second post-origins story, ‘Gifts’, tells the tale of Alistair’s wedding and occurs approximately one year after ‘Hero’, two years after the Blight. In journeying to Denerim Aedan encounters a tainted village, which would have been the work of the architect, not that they knew this at the time. Aedan’s eldest (adopted) son became tainted and underwent the Joining to become Ferelden’s youngest Grey Warden.

So, in my version of Ferelden, the events of Awakening happen next, immediately upon Aedan’s return to Amaranthine. I hope the contents of these letters adequately explain the differences between my story and the official one. We’ll all end up in the same place…
 


Vigil’s Keep

Alistair,

I write with dire news. Vigil’s Keep has been all but overrun with darkspawn. We returned from Denerim just last night to be met with the news that many of our order perished, including the soldiers of Amaranthine.  

You will remember I mentioned that we had all felt the taint here in a vague way. That village we burned must be connected. I blame myself for not investigating further and sooner. The darkspawn were beneath us all this time. The old cellars of this keep have been breached and there is the possibility of an entrance to the Deep Roads. I will keep you apprised of any further discoveries.

Though I thank the Maker so many of us were in Denerim for your wedding, and therefore spared, we have lost all but two of our new recruits. They died fighting darkspawn before we made them Wardens.

That the keep still stands is due to a pair of dwarven brothers seneschal Varel contracted to make repairs. One has caused more damage, the other vows to fix it. We are sadly lacking in funds and with the countryside so ravaged I dare not collect the usual tithe.  However, I need men more than gold, Brother, any you can spare. I will hold the darkspawn here, away from Denerim, until I find their source.

We found an apostate mage within the keep, details in attached report. Could you possibly intervene with the Grand Cleric? I invoked the Right of Conscription to keep him from templar hands.

My regards to Brenna and my hope that all is well with you,

Aedan.

______
 
Vigil’s Keep

Dear Leli,

I miss you already, though I’ve only been gone from your side for two days. Though I long to hold you again, and to kiss my children, I must ask you to delay your visit. I am sure Alistair has shared with you the news in his own letter, so I will not reiterate the horror here, only urge you to stay in Denerim and stay close to my Brother so that I know you are both safe.

I think perhaps you saved a man’s life tonight. Your kindness and virtue has taught me to be merciful just as Philippe has taught me to think before I act. I have not your way with words, my lovely bard, but I will tell you what happened.

An intruder was caught trying to make off a few of the meager treasures we hold here at Vigil’s Keep. I can see you raising your eyebrows! Believe me when I say my own nearly left my head at the news. What fool would dare to steal from the Grey Wardens? You would never, not in a thousand years, guess who languished in the Keep’s dungeon. Well, perhaps you would, you’re cleverer than I…

It was Nathaniel Howe. The last person I expected, certainly. I looked at his face and I saw Rendon Howe. I couldn’t breathe! The guards gave me odd looks and one even asked if I were well. Thank the Maker I took Philippe down there with me. That man is my backbone as you are my heart.

Fergus and Nate were such friends in the past, best friends really. I found it hard to remember my brother’s friend and not see the man that killed my family, Fergus’s family, but I did it, and I listened to his story and it made me sad. We have all lost so much, Nate has lost his family too. I had to tell him about Delilah. After that I let him go. I heard your voice in my head, Leli, I heard you say ‘try to be merciful’ and I let him go. The seneschal thinks I have lost my mental capacity, but if they will insist on calling me Commander and asking me to make all these decisions then they will have to learn to live with them.

I have to end this letter now. I don’t want to, I feel as if I am talking to you and you know I would do that all day if I could. But my list grows long and the day grows short. Thank you for listening to me and for being you.

My heart is always yours,

Aedan.

Modifié par Sisimka, 26 avril 2010 - 12:17 .

[Sandtigress]

Hmm, so with Aedan, did Nate actually leave, or did he do his "come back and beg to be a Grey Warden" thing?

[Inzhuna]

Ohh I loved 'Cookies'! So cute and heart-warming! Sten is such a softie!

[Inzhuna]

Also: I've commented on FF, but can I just say I absolutely adore and worship you for 'Tall Tales'?! xD I think I'm gonna be bursting out laughing whole day today remembering it!

[Miri1984]

Oooh, happy dance! I've been hoping you'd do Awakenings! Love the fact that it's in letter form as well. Can't wait for more!

[Sisimka]

Inzhuna wrote...

Also: I've commented on FF, but can I just say I absolutely adore and worship you for 'Tall Tales'?! xD I think I'm gonna be bursting out laughing whole day today remembering it!

I saw that this morning. Glad you liked it! Still makes me giggle.

Thanks to you, Sandi and Miri for the comments on my 'letters'. I was a bit nervous about the project, but wanted to try something different. I wrote these quite a while ago now, but saved them until after 'Brothers' to kinda keep my stories in the order they occur.

[Sisimka]

Vigil’s Keep

Dear Alistair,

You will find one surly dwarf in the company of this letter. I can only think of one explanation for Oghren’s insane plan to become a Grey Warden: sleep deprivation. I feel for him, really I do, but you must talk with him and explain that he has a duty before Ferelden now, that to his wife and son. I know you won’t question my decision on this, I know you understand.

Thank you for the soldiers, we are stretched thin. Amaranthine demands protection as do the village folk and I have not enough men to spare for both tasks. I am about to head to Amaranthine myself to further investigate the smuggling ring. It’s sad when I long to simply kill darkspawn again.

Thank you also for sending Wade and Herren, though neither of them is pleased with me. Wade wants to add things to my armour designs (I am sure you would agree with him that my plans are somewhat lacking in flair!) and Herren has yet to forgive us for the dragon scale incident. I won’t ask how you convinced them to come, only reiterate my gratitude.

We are making slow progress clearing the tunnels beneath the Keep. The Deep Roads are down there and Voldrik has discovered one of the ancient dwarven locking mechanisms – it was never finished properly, but is in good repair. He believes he can finish the job. It will be a great relief to look outward once more and defend those around us as we concentrate on repairing and fortifying the Keep.

I have a new recruit to put through the Joining. I will write upon my return from Amaranthine with any further developments. As usual, you will find one of my reports attached. Will you read it this time, I wonder? (Leliana told me what you do with them!)

My best regards to Brenna and my hope that all is well with you,

Aedan.

_____
 
Vigil’s Keep

Dear Leli,

My love, your letter read like a song! It cheered me so much. I laughed aloud as I read of your adventures in the Market with Riordan. I agree that having Grace a little younger and not quite able to walk yet is a good thing! I miss you all so much, but I could picture you together and I smiled. Be sure to give my kisses to those children for me and save the best one for yourself.

I have a story for you! You will remember in my last letter I spoke of Nathaniel Howe? He returned to Vigil’s Keep and sought an audience with me. We talked for a long time about his family, his father and his grandfather. We talked about Delilah. I’m not ashamed to tell you that we both might have shed a tear over our losses. (Just one, and if you must tell Alistair, tell him it was a manly tear!) Nathaniel was profoundly affected by what I told him of Delilah’s dedication to our order. I used your words, I told him she had been one of the bravest women I have known and I told him how much anguish her death had caused me. He believed me and he comforted me, can you believe that? He had known of my previous attachment to Delilah of course. Nate is a better man than I. Older, wiser, and more compassionate. Then he wanted to hear about his father’s death, we talked into the early hours about Rendon Howe. Nate became quite bitter and I had to put a stop to our conversation.

We reconvened the next day and he spoke to me of his grandfather, who, surprisingly enough had left Ferelden to join the Grey Wardens in Orlais. He was never heard from again, but as we are encouraged to sever family ties (something I have obviously failed at rather spectacularly), I am unsurprised. The end result of our conversation is that Nate has chosen to become a Grey Warden. I found myself horribly conflicted over his decision, and as you can imagine I feared his loss during the Joining. But he has survived it and he is my Brother now. I am glad to have him here, I think together we can put the past behind us.

But I have done more than sit around talking (and shedding manly tears). I have fought darkspawn too, and bandits and smugglers. Be sure to tell the children how brave their father is, your tales always paint me in the best light. You make me sound like a hero, love!

Though repairs are underway, the Keep is still not safe. I hate to ask and you know I crave your company, but please don’t come to Amaranthine yet. Perhaps once we have sealed the tunnels it will be safe. I will write as soon as I know.

Seneschal Varel awaits my attendance, I must finish this letter here. You know I don’t want to. Again I will tell you I miss you and I love you.

My heart is always yours,

Aedan.

[Maximus741000]

I really enjoy this clever take on Awakening through letters from Aedan to his loved ones, it's very clever : ) . And just like all your writing, Aedan's emotion is conveyed well.

[Sandtigress]

I really like hearing the story this way - its not like we don't know what happens, so its kind of a refreshing take on it! Go on Aedan, cry more of those manly tears that we love so much!

[Sisimka]

Vigil’s Keep
 
Dear Alistair,
 
I finally have good news, Brother. We have cleared the tunnels beneath the keep and Voldrik has repaired the locking device. The Deep Roads have been sealed. Voldrik has put in a request for stone and I’ve heard there may be deposits in the Wending Wood. That is next on my agenda – I am preparing a small group of Wardens to accompany the expedition as darkspawn are still about.
 
In addition to clearing our tunnels of darkspawn, I have cleared the sewers of Amaranthine of smugglers at long last. Following a trail of clues as faithfully as my mabari follows his nose, we found a secret enclave with entrances in several parts of the city. How this has escaped the guards’ notice for so long baffles me. I would suggest someone had turned a blind eye, but I have enough conspiracies to tear down without constructing my own, for now. Zevran will be keeping an eye on the situation for me.
 
How is it you run an entire nation when I have trouble keeping tabs on one arling? (Ah, perhaps your secret is my lovely wife! If I did not fear for her safety I would demand you relinquish her to my side.) I held court this morning. You know it is a task I detest. You will find details of the cases and my sentences in the attached report.
 
Would you be offended if I sent Wade back? Why is it that creative genius must whine so? He is not happy with the metal I have procured for him and insists he can make this and that if only I could find something more interesting. I wonder if he expects me to go slay another dragon just so he may have a project? (Don’t mind me; I will be keeping Wade, of course. Perhaps I can encourage a friendship between him and Dworkin the explosive dwarf? Yes, I am laughing.)
 
I am cautiously optimistic about our recovery now, political juggling aside. If we can rout the final darkspawn and encourage the city folk and the country folk to get along, peace might yet be restored to Amaranthine.
 
My best regards to Brenna and my hope that all is well with you,
 
Aedan.
 
 _____

 
Vigil’s Keep
 
Dear Leli,
 
Not only did you lift my spirits with your last letter, but those of Luke as well. He is sitting beside me as I write, reading your letter over and he has the book you sent on his lap. He hugged the book as if it were you, I think he misses you more than he might have expected. I shouldn’t be surprised by this; he has now joined me in being away from the ones we love. I suppose you could say we have each other now and I should be overjoyed to have my son at my side, and I am, in a way. But for my actions, he would not be here at all.
 
But I grow maudlin and I had not intended to do so. I had intended to tell you about Anders! He is the most curious fellow and I do believe you would find him to your liking. He makes me laugh, even when the situation may not warrant it. His wit and humour kept reminding me of someone and you would have made the connection right away with your keen eye… imagine Alistair with longer hair, in a dress (at last!) and with command over the power of magic. Scary, I know! (I’m chuckling and Luke has asked why…) I had thought perhaps Taren and Anders might clash, they hold similar skill sets yet very different outlooks on, well, everything! Taren, as you know, stands by the circle and is actively involved in Alistair’s efforts to create coteries of mages across Ferelden instead of keeping them locked away in a tower. I think this is the bonding agent between the two men. Anders has escaped from the tower… wait for it… seven times. I have to agree with him that they really should give him his freedom as some sort of reward. Though I may have helped his cause by making him a Warden, perhaps I have only placed yet another limitation upon him? But there I go with my mood once more.
 
Suffice to say, Taren and Anders have a healthy respect for one another and an awful disrespect for the stone around them. I had grown somewhat used to Taren exploding things or laying secretive glyphs to ‘see if they work’. But now he has a partner in crime and there are days where I dare not set foot out of my office! But their levity has been a boon and at a time when we have lost much, I appreciate it. Luke has also taken a shine to our new mage. I found the pair of them playing with a kitten out in the yard. Apparently Luke found it and Anders adopted it. You are going to love the name: Ser Pounce-a-lot.
 
So you see, my love, we are making our own stories here and I am dutifully reporting them to you. As always, I feel as if I am talking with you in a way as I write this, but letters will never fully replace your sweet company. (And once again my mood plummets) Soon, love, soon. I know you think I am being overly cautious, but I also know you understand why. Kiss the young ones for me, and sing them that lullaby. Did I tell you I tried to sing it to Grace? I am sure she prefers it from you. I miss the sound of your voice, I miss you and I love you.
 
My heart is always yours,
 
Aedan.
 

[Sandtigress]

Anders with a partner in crime.....that is a SCARY thought!!!

[MireliA]

Loving the letters and glad to know Aedan has Luke with him .



I can imagine Leli squeaking at the cuteness of the cat's name

[Miri1984]

*sigh* Anders. So much my second love. Uh... third if you count my husband... Maybe I should clarify it... second DIGITAL love .



Loving this. It's nice to hear Aedan's voice directly like this - I can just picture his face as he writes.

[Sisimka]

Vigil’s Keep
 
Dear Alistair,
 
Where to start? Logically, at the beginning, I know. Doubtless you are wondering why this letter is arriving later than expected. I was unavoidably detained by a talking darkspawn. It seems Morrigan may have been hearing voices (other than the ones in her head) after all.
 
I undertook a mission to the Wending Wood. I had not intended to go myself, the tasks at first seemed too trivial, but I tire of all this administrative work Varel would have me do and so I led the expedition. As I mentioned in my last letter we hoped to find suitable stone deposits there and investigate the silverite mine for Wade but as I had also received reports of bandits in the area. Yes, more bandits, do they ever tire of profiting off the misfortune of others? Obviously not. But I digress and I apologise for that. I am tired. I will continue this letter in the morning.
 
I am hardly refreshed, but I must finish this letter. We found some stone, mission accomplished, and also some interesting wood samples from those sodding trees that move. I hate those things; do you remember them from the Brecilian Forest? Add flames and scorched wood to your mental image, yes, we do things differently up here in the arling of Amaranthine. I realise my tone is somewhat flippant, perhaps this is a reaction to escaping certain death yet again.
 
As with the Brecilian Forest, apparently there is tension between the humans and the elves in the Wending Wood. I am sure this news hardly comes as a surprise (yes, I can see that eyebrow quirking), but in my naïve way, I had thought perhaps news of our tentative foray into friendship with the Dalish clans to the south may have spread. But once again, the humans war with the elves only this time neither side is to blame. We discovered evidence of more tainted villages and people, only this time they slaughtered one another instead of hiding away from the world. And this time, I have discovered the cause. Did I hear you say ‘talking darkspawn’? (Or am I hearing voices as well?)
 
This is the third time I have sat down at this letter. Trouble is brewing, Brother, and not only within the keep (save me from all these mages). But I have not told you about the architect yet. No, I do not refer to the dwarf who is fortifying the keep, but the darkspawn who is raising an army. He laid a trap for us within the mines and imprisoned us. One of his minions let us out of our cells, but we had to retrieve our gear and I lost many (more) soldiers during our eventual escape. We discovered his foul plans, it is too horrible to contemplate… it leaves me without words.
 
This letter is taking me so long to write, am I really so shaken? Alistair, I don’t care what you tell Leliana, but do not let my wife come near Amaranthine. Do not come yourself. The darkspawn are organized and they are massing. This architect has a mad plan to taint us all, but I will not let it happen. I will find and seal every entrance to their underground lairs and I will end this threat. You have my word.
 
There is more to write, but it will have to wait (as will my usual report), I have to go mediate yet another dispute.
 
Maker watch over you Brother,
 
Aedan.
 
 
_____
 
Vigil’s Keep
 
Dear Leli,
 
How things can change in the course of a few days – I had high hopes we had resolved our troubles and now they have only deepened. I wish you were here, I need your strength, I need you. At times like this I both do and don’t understand why Wardens should not have families. I fear for you if I were to fall, but to not have you in my thoughts, to not have you and my children to fight for as well, I’m sure it would all be less meaningful, but maybe I am a selfish man. I am going to take a walk, my love, I will write more when my head is clearer and my heart is lighter.
 
Alas my excursion did not refresh me as it might have. It seems everyone within the keep has a problem with everyone else lately, and they count on me to sort out all their differences. Anders, for all his charm, can be – how should I put this politely – blunt. He has riled up both Nate and Yrisa and even his new friend Taren is looking at him askance. I think the fact the Templars are still bothering us may have something to do with his mood, yet another issue I must investigate further.
 
Also, another mage has entered the keep and she abides no one. I do not know how long she will aid our cause and I have no intention of putting her through the Joining, her heart is not with us. But right now, we need all the help we can get. She reminds me somewhat of Morrigan with her prickly nature. Luke is terrified of her and I do not blame him. The only Warden Velanna seems to find even remotely interesting is Kayley, but not when she is in the company of Zevran. With all the bickering and personality conflicts going on, I nearly feel the need to draw up a hallway usage schedule.
 
Leli, it seems I am not fit company right now; these stories are hardly amusing, I know. I should not write such letters to you. I want only to write of happy things, but there are none right now. Do you know I am holding my amulet as I write this? I can feel you, but it is not enough. Though I am grateful you are out of danger I cannot help missing you more every day. I crave the sound of your voice, your laughter, the warmth of your embrace. And now I am brooding… I have to end this here, I need sleep, my love. I will write again when I have recovered my humour.
 
My heart is always yours,
 
Aedan.
 
 
_____
 
Dear Leli,
 
Don’t worry about Aedan I will take care of him. He seems very sad at the moment – I think all the tainted people he saw and the plans of this mad darkspawn that talks have stirred bad memories for him – memories of me and how I came to be a Grey Warden. I don’t blame him for my fate; I tell him this all the time, but he is not over it. I’ll keep telling him until he believes me, I promise.
 
I miss you too, and little Rory. I don’t really know Grace yet, but I’m sure I will come to love her as I do all my family.
 
I trust Aedan, he will end this strife -- he is a hero, after all. And he has good men here; his Wardens are the best soldiers in Ferelden. So you don’t have to worry about us, we will prevail.
 
He is sleeping right now so I am sneaking this note in here for you. I will write again soon, when we both have happier stories to tell you, but I want to go sit outside his door now and make sure no one disturbs him.
 
Hugs,
 
Luke.