954 réponses à ce sujet

[Freckles04]

Very nice, Sisi! I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this.

[Sandtigress]

Sisimka wrote...

It was really interesting putting words in Alistair's mouth this chapter, which is why it got long and took so long to write and edit. I felt he was coming from a place where he envies what Aedan has and cautions him to hold on to it. I wanted to give the feeling that he's not entirely settled with the idea of being king yet, hint that he suspects he's merely a pawn, without actually spelling it out.

While this story does include the romance of Leliana and Aedan, it's more about the choices the wardens made in Orzimmar and how I thought they might react to them.

I think you did it well.  It reflects some of the things he says and does later - like naming Anora his heir in case he should fall to the Blight, while still opting to do his duty as a Grey Warden and fight the blight even though he's king.  And being uncertain about the Dark Ritual because you could both fall at any time even before you reach the Archdemon.

I guess what you really did well is help paint Alistair as the more thoughtful, wise character that most of us know he is, underneath the mask of jocularity and bumbling idiot that he likes to make us think he is. 

[Maximus741000]

The archdemon's appearance. That honestly left me on the edge of my seat.Way to Go!

I honestly don't think my writing will be of anything in comparison to your writing. Either way, thanks for that installation, and it looks like the Legion of the Dead is next, then the broodmother. *shudders*

[Sisimka]

Freckles04 wrote...

Very nice, Sisi! I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this.

lol, at this stage, your guess is as good as mine! (I have a plan, I have a plan... I'm gonna keep saying that...)

Maximus741000 wrote...

... and it looks like the Legion of the Dead is next, then the broodmother. *shudders*

A plan!

[Masticetobbacco]

Aedan is a templar now?

NOOOOOOOOO

but I wanted him to be a beserker

it would be funny to see if you tried to make Aedan a reaver while with Leliana



great story

[Sisimka]

Masticetobbacco wrote...

Aedan is a templar now?
NOOOOOOOOO
but I wanted him to be a beserker
it would be funny to see if you tried to make Aedan a reaver while with Leliana

great story

Heh!  Actually, Aedan was a Champion/Templar, but I'm not sure I actually ever put any points into his Templar abilities, I was more focused on maxing out the DW skills with him.  He was pure dps.

In 'Hero' he became a Beserker.  Over the course of about five chapters I 'leveled' him to the third talent tier.  Hehe!  If we get to take a third spec in Awakenings, that's what I'd take for him.

I unlocked Reaver with my 'evil mage', not Aedan.  He would NOT do that to Leli.  It was hard enough to kill her with my mage!

[Masticetobbacco]

grrr keep going I want moar

[Apophis2412]

How could I have missed all these nice stories?

They're nicely written.

I'll give a more thorough response, once I'm done reading them all.

[Sisimka]

Apophis2412 wrote...

How could I have missed all these nice stories?

They're nicely written.

I'll give a more thorough response, once I'm done reading them all.

Thanks Apophis!  Welcome to my obsession, I hope you enjoy your visit!

[Sandtigress]

I had a wonder, Sisi. What happened to Jack the mabari in the Deep Roads? :-P Did I just miss him? Or is he living the pampered pooch's (and not the royal mount) life at the palace right now in Orzammar?

[Sisimka]

Let's see, there are three (or possibly more) explanations here, choose your favourite!
 
1. Pampered Pooch option: Aedan is so unreasonably attached to his hound (which from 'Hero' we kinda know isn't true, sorry, if they'd had a war cat instead of a war hound, I'd have taken it EVERYWHERE), that he leaves Jack safely in Orzimmar.

2. Stealth option: Under Leliana's careful tutelage Jack has become a rogue dog and shadows them without being seen or heard, taking no damage in battle and offering no opinions whatsoever. He is responsible, however, for the majority of the killing blows which is why ogres keep dropping to the ground and gurgling in front of a confounded Alistair.

3. Mistaken Identity option: Who in their right mind would take a dog into the Deep Roads? It's hell. He would get killed! What... you say he's a war hound? Oh, so that's why he growls when I pat him. I thought Jack was my faithful pet and feared he would start chasing rabbits and luring darkspawn... *sigh*
 

Modifié par Sisimka, 03 mars 2010 - 05:01 .

[Sandtigress]

Oh, option 2, most definitely. Go rogue Mabari!! Mostly because I like picturing confounded Alistair. :-D

[Sisimka]

Me too. Hehe.

[DalishRanger]

Great chapter as always, Sisi. Don't know why I forgot to comment yesterday. Durp. XP

A confounded Alistair is always fun. Especially when it's due to some freaky game glitch.

[Sisimka]

DalishRanger wrote...

Great chapter as always, Sisi. Don't know why I forgot to comment yesterday. Durp. XP
A confounded Alistair is always fun. Especially when it's due to some freaky game glitch.

I think what I found funniest about reading your LJ post is the options Legam had to pick in response to the break-up convo!  I have tears in my eyes, that's how hard I am laughing!

[DalishRanger]

Yes, I was quite pleased there was a very appropriate "I wasn't even aware there was a 'you and me.'" response. :lol:Everything after that I had to make sure was pretty neutral.

Also, the "I think I understand." was a total lie. Legam had NO idea WTF was going on. XD

It brought tears to my eyes from laughter when it first happened to me. I had to pause the game while I had a gigglefit.

Alistair apparently doesn't understand what bromance is.

Modifié par DalishRanger, 03 mars 2010 - 06:13 .

[Freckles04]

Sisimka wrote...

Let's see, there are three (or possibly more) explanations here, choose your favourite!
 
1. Pampered Pooch option: Aedan is so unreasonably attached to his hound (which from 'Hero' we kinda know isn't true, sorry, if they'd had a war cat instead of a war hound, I'd have taken it EVERYWHERE), that he leaves Jack safely in Orzimmar.

2. Stealth option: Under Leliana's careful tutelage Jack has become a rogue dog and shadows them without being seen or heard, taking no damage in battle and offering no opinions whatsoever. He is responsible, however, for the majority of the killing blows which is why ogres keep dropping to the ground and gurgling in front of a confounded Alistair.

3. Mistaken Identity option: Who in their right mind would take a dog into the Deep Roads? It's hell. He would get killed! What... you say he's a war hound? Oh, so that's why he growls when I pat him. I thought Jack was my faithful pet and feared he would start chasing rabbits and luring darkspawn... *sigh*
 

Option #4:

Aedan read The Calling and told Jack what happens to Hafter, and Jack opted to guard the camp with Bodhan and Sandal.

[Sisimka]

Freckles04 wrote...

Option #4:

Aedan read The Calling and told Jack what happens to Hafter, and Jack opted to guard the camp with Bodhan and Sandal.

Hee! Aedan does like a good book!

[Sandtigress]

Freckles04 wrote...

Sisimka wrote...

Let's see, there are three (or possibly more) explanations here, choose your favourite!
 
1. Pampered Pooch option: Aedan is so unreasonably attached to his hound (which from 'Hero' we kinda know isn't true, sorry, if they'd had a war cat instead of a war hound, I'd have taken it EVERYWHERE), that he leaves Jack safely in Orzimmar.

2. Stealth option: Under Leliana's careful tutelage Jack has become a rogue dog and shadows them without being seen or heard, taking no damage in battle and offering no opinions whatsoever. He is responsible, however, for the majority of the killing blows which is why ogres keep dropping to the ground and gurgling in front of a confounded Alistair.

3. Mistaken Identity option: Who in their right mind would take a dog into the Deep Roads? It's hell. He would get killed! What... you say he's a war hound? Oh, so that's why he growls when I pat him. I thought Jack was my faithful pet and feared he would start chasing rabbits and luring darkspawn... *sigh*
 

Option #4:

Aedan read The Calling and told Jack what happens to Hafter, and Jack opted to guard the camp with Bodhan and Sandal.

Aedan: What's that, boy?  You don't want to go into the Deep Roads with me?  But I thought you were my loyal Mabari!
Jack: *whines and runs off, returning with The Calling*
Aedan: Ohh, I see.  Well, I guess I can understand.  You take care guarding the camp then.  Be a good boy.
Jack:  *happy bark*  *runs off and deposits book in Alistair's lap*
Alistair:  What's this?  *flips through*  Wait....the end here...my mother is an elf?! Aedan, why dind't you tell me?!
Aedan: I, um, forgot?  It didn't seem important at the time?  You.....never asked?
Alistair: Do you really think that's going to work on me?
Aedan: You expected it to work on me!

Modifié par Sandtigress, 03 mars 2010 - 06:35 .

[Sisimka]

LOL

Aedan: Your ears are round?

Edit:  - Or -

Aedan: You have enough to deal with right now...

Modifié par Sisimka, 03 mars 2010 - 06:35 .

[Freckles04]

Too funny, Sandi!

[Sisimka]

Sandtigress wrote...

Aedan: I, um, forgot?  It didn't seem important at the time?  You.....never asked?
Alistair: Do you really think that's going to work on me?
Aedan: You expected it to work on me!

ZING!

[Oliver]

Very nice Sisi! I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this andhope that you keep writing some more!

[Sisimka]

Thank you Zarmy!

[Sisimka]

Well, this one got all ‘thinky’ on me. Yeah, I know, I’ve been down that road before…
 
(Part Four)
 
First day, they come and catch everyone.
Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat.

 
Aedan gasped and opened his eyes. He shuddered in horror at the memory that had awakened him, how could he have fallen asleep? He’d never wanted to close his eyes again, not after what they’d seen… He lifted a hand to rub at his face and grimaced at the dark stains on his fingers. Even in the dim light of the torch he could see how filthy they were. The odor that arose from his armour, from himself, as he lifted his hand was no more pleasant. He heard a soft whimper and glanced beside him. Leliana was there, she had not been when he first sat to watch, she must have moved up after he’d fallen asleep. Though her eyes were closed in sleep, her expression was not restful. Her face was pinched and her lips twitched. Her shoulders hitched slightly and she sighed. Aedan smoothed a strand of hair from her face, pausing to rub his thumb gently over a smudge on her cheek.

They were all grimy and stained.  There were no baths in the Deep Roads. There was nothing but death and a steady descent into madness. They had lost all awareness of time and rested now only because they could. As if its presence heralded the way of things to come, there had been little or no respite since they’d seen the archdemon.

“Kadan?” A deep, soft voice, a sound so foreign to his current train of thought Aedan barely recognised it for what it was. He looked up. Sten was regarding him curiously with those purple eyes of his. The state of the Qunari warrior was a clear testament to the trials they had faced. His armour lay in a pile beside him and his side was bandaged with dirty linen strips stained dark with blood. 

Aedan replied with, “Sten, are you well?”

Sten nodded quietly and enquired whether Aedan would take the watch. Aedan nodded swiftly, tendering an apology, “Thank you, Sten, I will endeavor to stay awake this time.”

The Qunari simply nodded and then dropped his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Aedan moved his gaze further back into the shallow cave they had chosen to rest in. Alistair was on the other side of Leliana and he appeared to be sleeping. His expression reflected the disturbing nature of his dreams, however. Further back Aedan saw Wynne. She was awake and he met her eyes. She did not see him for a moment and then she came back to herself. Her face did not change. She merely nodded wearily at him and let her eyes fall closed. 

Two vague shapes beside her would be Morrigan and Zevran, both reclined into the shadows. He hoped they were sleeping. Oghren was across from him, a little aside from Sten. The dwarf was half sitting, half slumped against the stone wall, his legs out before him and his head thrown back. His mouth was open and he was snoring. Across his lap lay an enormous hammer and his hands twitched over it now and again. 

Aedan glanced back toward the mouth of the cave. Shale would be out there, somewhere. The golem was their vanguard, the companion’s first line of defense should anything disturb their rest. 

This had been their first opportunity to lay down their weapons and loosen their armour since crossing the bridge into Bownammar. As his mind ranged over the events that had brought them this far, to this state of unease and unrest, Aedan could not help the shiver that crept down his spine. Ferelden seemed a fond, but distant memory. Their world now consisted of shadowed corridors and darkened niches, every new opening holding another trap, another horror. It was like a nightmare from which he could not awaken and Aedan despaired of ever seeing the sky again. He did not want to die down here…

Third day, the men are all gnawed on again.
Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate.

Nor did he want to remain here. He thought of the Legion of the Dead. They had met the legendary soldiers at the bridge and had helped them to advance their line to the other side. The battle, while arduous had been straightforward and the chance to vent their anxiety against the darkspawn had helped to clear his and Alistair’s heads from the encounter with the archdemon.  The dedicated dwarves would venture no further, however, and Aedan had not pressed. They had their duty and he had his.

The doors to the great fortress had been sealed in an effort to stem the tide of darkspawn, but the Deep Roads were riddled with tunnels and the soaring rock walls either side of Bownammar had been no exception. They had located a narrow fissure and slipped through. Darkspawn scattered ahead of them and Alistair had run after the fleeing genlocks leading the companions directly into the first trap.

The corridor had opened out into another cavern, one littered with darkspawn. With little time to coordinate strategy they had thrown themselves into the fray, first coming to Alistair’s aid and then branching off to deal with the genlocks peppering their party with arrows. Then came the bronto, and as if that wasn’t enough to contend with, as the fight spilled out into the cavern they drew the attention of the emissaries and an ogre. It was a bloody mess, literally.

Aedan had slumped to the ground beside his friend and with a hint of a smile had said, “If you ever think about chasing a running genlock again, don’t.” 

“What and spoil the surprise?” Alistair had quipped and they had laughed together, hoarse breathless gasps, but laughter none the less. They’d received a sharp glance from Wynne who was setting Oghren’s arm and a positively malicious glare from Morrigan who was also putting her one healing spell to work. Zevran and Leliana had both looked at them with raised eyebrows, no more. Sten may have been another golem and had regarded them as stonily as Shale.

This had only increased their hilarity and they’d leaned against one another, chuckling and chortling until they had to stop and draw breath. It had been a release of tension, no more, no less. The archdemon had shaken them both to the core. They had not known what they had been walking towards… 

And so began their plunge into insanity. There had been no time for thought, no time for introspection. No time for recriminations. No more humour. They fought and they bled, they healed and fought again. Every door they opened presented fresh horrors, diabolical traps and wave after wave of darkspawn. Tunnels dead ended and paths fell over cliffs, jagged ravines parted bridges and falls of rock turned their steps aside.

One of the darkspawn had been an ancient and formidable opponent, one that had nearly felled their entire party single handedly. They had recovered an interesting artifact from its body, the blade of a sword. It bore the same markings as the hilt Aedan had found and he tucked it into his pack to examine more closely later. The forge master had been another long and exhausting battle, but had netted Oghren the new hammer he now clutched reverently in his sleeping hands.

Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn.
Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams.

The whispering screams had been their only warning when they had been ambushed by shrieks, a fight so long and so devastating Aedan had feared for all their lives. Only he and Sten had been standing at the end, even Wynne had been knocked unconscious. It was a much subdued group that huddled in the middle of the crumbled bridge afterwards, starting in turns at every whisper of sound.

The lull had been brief, however, as Aedan had urged his companions forward off the bridge feeling their position was too exposed, and into yet more combat, this time with ghostly skeletons. It was after that, as the party had turned into yet another series of tunnels, the eerie voice had started.

“Does anyone else…hear something?” Zevran had been the first to ask.

Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew.
Eighth day, we hated as she is violated.

“Thank the Maker, I thought I was imagining it,” Leliana had responded, her face a mask of relief, an expression that had faded quickly, however, as the companions had stopped to actually listen to the words.

“Tis not a pleasant rhyme,” had been Morrigan’s reaction and Wynne had uttered an agreement there.

As they had ventured deeper into the tunnels the voice had seemingly hovered before them, drawing them on. They’d fought the ghostly legionnaires and more ogres before they had picked up the trail again, following the whispered words to Hespith.

Poor tainted Ruck paled in comparison to the horror and betrayal Hespith had endured, and at the hands of Branka, the paragon they sought, no less. Oghren had demanded answers from his ex-wife’s lover and captain, but what Hespith had told them made little or no sense…until they’d seen the Broodmother. 

Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin.
Now she does feast, as she's become the beast.

The entire cavern that housed the horrendous creature had been draped with fleshy stands and ropes as if a giant belly had been opened and had spewed its guts upon the floor. The floor, Aedan didn’t like to remember the floor, squelched beneath their boots. The smell was shocking and Aedan had not been the first one to gag. Then the tentacles had appeared, thrusting out of the floor as if drawn to their presence, knocking the companions about like playthings. The battle had been the hardest the companions had ever fought. The bulky layers of flesh had resisted their weapons and when the tentacles weren’t distracting them, the darkspawn were. 

Sten had been caught up in the Broodmother’s grasp and when he’d hit the floor afterwards, even Wynne had not been able to revive him. Oghren had taken hit after hit, only his berserk fury keeping him on his feet. Zevran had been knocked unconscious. Aedan had taken the rogue’s place, protecting the back line. Morrigan had been the last to fall, just as Aedan had reached her side and he’d beheaded the genlock responsible with a furious cross sweep of his blades. Then the fight had been over and one by one the companions had been revived. Together they’d limped to this shallow cave. 

Aedan shuddered and closed his eyes, then opened them again with a jerk of his head as the grotesque image of the Broodmother filled his mind and the last words of Hespith’s rhyme echoed in his ears. Provided he lived to see daylight again, he did not think he’d ever likely forget what had awaited them in that cave. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat and forced the thoughts aside again. But his movement had woken Leliana and she stirred next to him, opening her eyes with a quick gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. Aedan glanced over at her she met his eyes. They didn’t speak…words couldn’t even begin to cover what they had seen.

Their last quest had taken them to the most holy relic in all of Thedas, the ashes of the Sacred Andraste, the bride of the Maker. Their passage into the Deep Roads could not have contrasted more sharply. What they had seen down here, what they had endured, what they had heard, would be etched forever in their memories. Aedan felt especially for Leliana, the bard had a mind for detail and story and of all of them she’d probably found the obsessive chanting of Hespith the most disturbing. Aedan took her hand now, and interlaced her fingers with his own. A simple gesture, but one that represented the sweetness and innocence he felt they’d all lost on this journey.

The rest of the companions began to wake and though none of them looked particularly rested, at least they looked a little less haunted.

 “By the stone, Branka has a lot of answer for when we catch up with her…” growled Oghren. The dwarf had only slept after drinking himself into a stupor and the party had willingly indulged him. Despite the snoring, a well rested Oghren was much preferable to a sober and exhausted Oghren. He was shaking his head and grumbling now, searching through his pack and though Aedan hoped he wasn’t looking for another drink, he would not have lifted a hand to stop him. 

“We must leave this place.” Sten broke in and all heads turned toward him. He continued, “We waste time down here… if we fall to this madness then who will defeat the Blight?”

Alistair was nodding toward the Qunari and said, “What if there are more of them…that thing? The archdemon is up there,” he gestured vaguely toward the ceiling, “I fear Branka will be in worse shape than Hespith when we find her… if we find her…” he trailed off.

Zevran was watching the exchange silently while picking at his nails with his dagger. Morrigan spoke up.

“For once, I agree with you Alistair. We should leave this place. If this Bhelen really needs the support of a mad paragon to make him king, his claim is weak.” She shrugged indolently. Zevran acknowledged her words with a nod. He’d made a similar comment before they’d left Orzammar.

Alistair glanced at Morrigan in surprise and she inclined her head toward him as if to say, ‘Oh yes, I do occasionally think of something besides turning you into a frog.’

Oghren had succeeded in pulling a flask from his pack which he uncorked with his teeth. He spat the plug aside and growled, “Well I’m not gonna stop you, but I’ve come this far and I intend to find that bloody woman. You can all go back to yer sodding Blight if you want…”

Alistair blinked and said, “It’s not just ‘our’ Blight! But that’s beside the point, here… and now. We can’t leave you down here by yourself,” he glanced at Aedan and continued, “Can we?”

Sten growled and started putting his armour back on over his bandages and Wynne hurried forward to check his wounds. Aedan looked at each of his companions in turn, studying their grimy, weary faces. He fought the insane urge to chuckle. They were all regarding him with such serious expressions and they were all so filthy! Alistair’s armour was blackened with blood and Morrigan’s robes were torn. He couldn’t even remember what colour Wynne’s robe had been. The rogues' leathers were stained and creased and the combined odor of their unwashed bodies was cloying, even over the pervasive reek that filled the Deep Roads. Hair was matted to heads and Zevran was not the only one that needed to clean his nails.

He stopped at Wynne’s cool blue gaze. Her voice floated in the back of his mind, a comment she’d made only days ago, what now seemed like weeks, ‘because you gave your word…’

A new voice sounded quietly from beyond the mouth of the cave, “Sounds like it has a bit of a dilemma…” Shale had returned.

Leliana squeezed his fingers and Aedan looked down at their hands. 

When he looked up they were all still watching him and Aedan felt the weight of each and every one of their gazes. They were waiting for his decision. They would follow his lead. He couldn’t remember exactly when he’d become the leader of this outfit. Alistair was the senior warden. But other than offering advice, his brother warden always deferred to his lead.

Stay…or go? It was his choice. Why were they here? What were they really doing in the bowels of the earth? Aedan closed his eyes and tried to recall Duncan’s words, the few phrases and snippets of advice he’d managed to impart before Ostagar. Would Duncan be down here in this hole chasing ghosts? Would he see it as doing a Grey Warden’s duty to protect humanity? Did they stand a chance against the darkspawn horde without their dwarven allies? Aedan couldn’t decide. He was so tired he could no longer draw the distinction between his duty to humanity and his word, given to one man. His word. He had given his word to Bhelen.

He opened his eyes and looked at Alistair. Though they were all waiting for his decision, it was to Alistair that he addressed his answer. Aedan said, “I gave my word. We find Branka.”
 
 

Modifié par Sisimka, 04 mars 2010 - 12:22 .