Dragon age (Open to all.)

This follows the Grey Warden Ste Shepard heading through the land of Feralden searching for his missing team mates. After an attack by a large dragon on the top of a mountain side the team had been blown in all different directions.

The grey warden stood up wiping the blood off his armour and headed into the nearby forest to look for any of his team mates.

After a while he come across a young elf woman in the woods.

Grey warden: Hey! Have you seen anyone round here.

He checks out the young woman. She has two swords and seems to know her stances. She is also quite young barely 20.

The darkspawn. They were the cause of so much mayhem, death and problems. Because of them I was lost to my clan, forced to scouting for any trace of them so I could be reunited with them. But it had already been nine days and with the exception of the few bodies I found from the run in with the darkspawn I had found nothing.

"I will not loose hope." I told myself, voice hard like stone. My people were crafty and would not fall to the darkspawn. I just had to figure out what craft they had pulled from to get to safety and follow them.

Up ahead I could feel the wind. It was colder, fresh and light. Meaning that a clearing was up ahead and not too far if the air was still clean from the musk and head of the woods.

A twig snapped and there was a sharp call of a surprised nesting mother bird. Someone was coming and by the sounds of it it was shemlen. Heavy footsteps, the clink of metal upon metal, this shem was a warrior.

Prepared to fight I drew my swords and rushed to find the clearing. If I was to fight it would be free of upturned trees and dirt broken roots. The clearing was of a fair size and would do well if the shem wished my life. I kept a loose standing stance so as not to looking intimidating should the shem want peace. But doubted that there would be any.

"Hey! Have you seen anyone round here."

"I have seen slight nor heard sound of another soul, save yourself." The fact that the shem stood before me without weapon in hand was a surprise but that didn't mean that it would stay that way for long.

"You fight against the darkspawn?" I asked nodding to the blood on his armor. It was obvious that he had been in a fight, did this tell of this prowess? I didn't know, only that it seem that he was the surviver of the match. A match I hoped was against the evils of the world and not the innocences. Then it hit me. The lack of signs from my family. The blood on his armor. Was he cause of it? Did he wear the blood of my people proudly on his armor!

My eyes narrowed and the grip on my hilt became dangerously tight. I would see him die a million deaths if that was the course.

Leo Darksoul

Leo watched the group silently out of a nearby tree. He laid an arrow on his bow and continued waiting to see how things turned out. The female was an elf, like himself, but seemed more like a warrior, whereas he was a ranger. Albeit with a bit of a...dark past. But let's get to that later.

Leo had already killed several darkspawn just this day. He was a Grey Warden. One of the few who survived the change to a Warden to fight the darkspawn. They fought in the darkness to prevent the taint from claiming the world. The darkspawn were stirring. A new Archdemon must be awakening. Leo ran a hand through his dark brown hair absently as his silver eyes remained locked on the pair in the clearing. He had always been more of a loner. Even more so than other Rangers he had met. Then again...his condition demanded it. He never knew when he might..no, not yet.

Leo had made a...deal some time ago. It had been his choice, and he doesn't regret it, but it has stopped him from accomplishing certain things. Social things, mainly, so it didn't bother him that much. Darksoul wasn't his true surname. He didn't even know his true surname. He had given himself the surname Darksoul. A bit of irony. There was a noise off to a side of the clearing and some rustling in the bushes. Leo turned his bow in that direction and waited.

The Grey Warden didn't take any steps closer as he saw the elf woman's hand tighten on her sword.

"My name is Steve Shepard. I am a Grey warden. Me and my team fought a dragon on the mountain and it blew us off the ledge."

Both his swords were on his back but he made no move for them.

"The darkspawn are throughout this area. This is darkspawn blood. Now why are you here alone?"

There is noise from close nearby in the woods to their left. Steve Shepard readies himself to move.

This man was a Gray Warden? My eyes narrowed again as I weighted this man's worth at first glance. He didn't seem the type that legends spoke of, he felt as any shem should, out of place in a world so green.

I sheathed my swords, there was honor in the name of Gray Warden and it was that reason alone that I gave him way. "I have come across no signs of others like yourself. Were you all humans or should I keep eyes for Elf or Dwarf?"

"Now why are you here alone?"

I could only tilt my head that the demand of this shem, no matter that he was a Warden. "I too have been lost to dear ones." I answered slowly. I was easily emotional and there was no reason to take it out on him. "The cause the same as yours but in a milder form, I did not fight a dragon."

The tremor in the Warden's body was alarm. Was someone here? I closed my eyes and listened to the woods. The animals were silent, in fear of a predator, normal when one such as the shem moves so loudly. The wind rustled dry leaves over the ground and in the trees and still, nothing. I could not hear the hallow sound wind makes when it hits something it can not move pass. I opened my eyes frustrated with myself. I heard nothing yet there had to be a something to make the shem ready himself as he did.

"Andaren atish'an." It was the only answer to all the non-answers she was finding. If this was the answer (s)he/they were skilled.

Leo Darksoul

The man in the clearing seemed to sense it as well. The female, however, did not. The man readied. A small group of five darkspawn, two genlocks and three hurlocks, leapt from the bushes, swords raised, and charged. Leo snapped off a shot and took down the first hurlock in the group. A second took a genlock off its feet. He held his hand as the remaining three ran at the group. Leo wanted to see how these two faired.

Oh, the darkspawn. How he hated, yet loved, them. They gave him a reason for existence. They gave him someone to hunt to fend off the demons on his back. Someone to sate the beings of the Fade watching him. A reason to avoid people. Yes, he depended on them. If they were to ever be completely extinguished, he would be lost. And thus he stayed to the forests where reports of them were common. He killed and moved on.

He had also spent a decent amount of time in the realm of the dwarves. They were a strong, respectable race. he had once traveled with a dwarf, but he was lost down in the Deep Roads on one fateful encounter. But that is a story for another time. It would seem Leo has quite a few stories to tell. But only time itself will tell if he has the chance.

Angel

Angel sighed to herself and wandered through the forest. She had seen several darkspawn corpses with arrows piercing them. She found another pair of corpses. She knealt and plucked an arrow from one of them. It was of an interesting make, and not one she had seen before. No race nor being she knew of used arrows such as these. She stood and slipped it into a pouch on her bag. She looked through the forest and moved along again.

She was an apostate. She had been trained in the ancient ways of shapeshifting as well as blood magic. Others had deemed it to be too dangerous. She found it to make her a better mage. Unfortunately, those who recognized her for what she was always caused problems. And so she avoided getting too close to anyone. She entered a small clearing where an elf and a human stood. She raised a hand in greeting just as a group of darkspawn burst from the bushes.

Two were taken down by arrows. She conjured up a ball of lightning and sidearmed it at the remaining genlock. It flew back, smoking from the electricity. Angel waited and watched the group.

The Grey warden barely draws his swords as two of the dark spawn are taken down by arrows.

As soon as The warden locks onto the next lot of targets a Mage girl brusts out the bushes and hits the three darkspawn.

The Grey warden quickly rushes forward grabbing both the elf girl's wrist and the mage girl.

"We have to get out of here its not safe. My team set up camp not to far from her last night. We can head there. We will be alot safer."

The Gray warden begins running with the girls after a while they all slow to a walk.

"So might i ask your names ladies?"

Steve thought he may have these girls travel with him for a while if they wanted to help stop the blight. They were also both very beautiful.

Leo Darksoul

Leo watched a mage turn the corner and fry the remaining darkspawn. He turned his head to the side. Surely not a circle mage. Must be apostate. He then tilted his head again as the man took the women by the hand and sprinted off into the woods. He was interested in the man's haste, considering the lack of darkspawn nearby. Then again, unless he was a Warden, he wouldn't be able to feel them anyway. Though there were still a few nearby. At any rate, time to move along. He figured he could follow the group to find his kills. They seemed to type to get into trouble often, and could use the extra help. But, stealth is his game, so he would stick to the shadows and reveal himself later on.

Leo dropped down from the tree and silently but quickly followed the group. He caught up just as they were making introductions. He silently stalked through the woods, keeping pace with them. In the meantime, he figured he could keep an eye on them and stop them from being devoured. Or worse, turned. He inspected his bow while he walked. Satisfied, he turned his attention to the group again.

Angel

Angel watched the man as he ran up to her and grabbed her wrist. She had to restrain herself from turning him into fried chicken. She didn't like it when people grabbed her. She had flashbacks of burning corpses surrounding her. When they slowed down and the blasted man finally let go of her, she stepped away immediately. She didn't particularly want to go to this man's camp, but she didn't have a choice, really. She couldn't take on every darkspawn in these woods on her own. Most of them, maybe.

"You may call me Angel." she responded.

She guessed she might as well get on their good side, for now.

"And yours?"

Attached picture...

I stood silent as attacks rained upon darkspawn. The more who killed the less I had to, not because I couldn't fight but cleaning my swords was a task that I disliked.

It was strange to my me that I had come across no one in nine day and yet in this hour alone happened across a Warden and a mage.

"We have to get out of here its not safe."

The shem grabbed my wrist as if he own the right or had the honor and pulled me along with him. I wasn't the biggest fan of being told what to do, much less be pulled into a situation that was unknown to me. I had been fine by my own, fought the darkspawn I came across and walked the victor.

The female, Angel I would be told later was her name, didn't seem thrilled to be touched by this man either. And while she retreated from this man the moment it was possible she did seem to handle being treated better.

"You may call me Angel. And Yours?"

I was once again silent and walked to the nearest tree to take comfort in the rough bark. Would this 'Steve Shepard' notice if she were to slip back into the woods in search of her people. There was no reason to be here with this pair and she doubted that in the Warden's goal to find his teammates she would find the ones she wished for.

So while introductions were being made I slid from my position of leaning on the tree to silently melt into the woods. I had no wish to be in a party of shems pointed at their own agendas with no care for my own. Little did I know that there was an elf in the woods watching our every move.

Leo Darksoul

Leo watched silently. The group came to a stop, the mage introduced herself as Angel, whereas the elf skirted away slightly. Leo tilted his head slightly as he saw the woman stepping back into the trees, evidently trying to sneak away. Which he understood, of course. If someone had suddenly grabbed him and started running, he would have done a lot more than just sneak away. Hmm. That reminds him of something, but he can't quite remember. Maybe later he would think on it. He had come to listening when his mind tried to speak. Speaking of...

He shook the thoughts clear. Later. he promised the voices whispering.

The elf snuck through the woods, and right into him. He rose from the shadows, leaning on his longbow casually.

"Greetings." he said simply in his low voice, with a curious tinge in the background that is just barely able to be caught if one pays attention.

He hasn't told anyone the reason to it. And those that knew? They are quite dead.

(Looks like we are getting paired off.)

Steve turned to the mage.

"I am sorry for being forceful. I am the Grey Warden Steve Shepard. I am here to defeat the darkspawn but was lost from my team. Where is the young elf girl?"

After looking for what seemed like hours it was night fall and The warden and the mage made it back to camp to find that animals had destroyed the other three tents leaving one that could be repaired. However it was due to be a cold night.

"We will look for her at first light. However tonight we need to keep sheltered and warm."

The Grey Warden didn't want to say about them both sleeping in the tent side by side to keep warmer. He was to much of a gentleman.

Angel

Angel watched as the other elf slipped away. She didn't begrudge her that. If she had the chance, she'd have slipped away too. Maybe if she turned into a giant spider she could get away...

The man apparently hadn't seen her escape, and so insisted on searching for what must've been an hour before they went to his camp. Angel remained silent for the most part. That was, of course, until the man said they would be staying in the tent. Together.

"No." she said to him. "I will not be staying in that tent with you. I barely know you."

That and she didn't sleep in that close of proximity with anyone. Literally anyone.

Leo Darksoul

Leo looked over at the remaining pair as they started off in their direction. This women didn't want to be found any more than he did, so he did the one thing that would get them hidden without a sound. He looked to her and walked over to her. He opened his cloak.

"Do you mind?" he whispered. It was the only way to keep them hidden, because climbing a tree would be just enough noise that they would be heard.

He stepped into her and covered both of them with his cloak before crouching down in the shadows. The cloak was of an...interesting make, and seemed to blend with the surroundings. It would keep them hidden for the hour that the two searched for them. He was painfully aware of the elf's proximity, but he tried to ignore it. Interesting how humans fail to notice the simplest things, or how they always walk along the same path to try and find something.

At any rate, they soon left, so Leo stood and backed away, unruffling his cloak. He hadn't done it to make a move on the other elf, but did it out of necessity. He was sure she'd understand. Elves have a habit of it.

"My apologies." he said to her.

Ori nodded her head no, she didn't to be once again caught by this Warden. Strange she thought to herself a while later, that she considered it being captured while with the shem but a blessing to be shaded by this, a fellow elf.

When all was clear the elf stepped back and let her go. "Ma seranas. I do not know why the Warden thought it important to look for me, he knows nothing of me or what I plan for my time." There was a tightness in her voice as she spoke, her mother had been a city elf and was told how shems, no matter the type, rule over the elves. She hadn't know it to be true till she came across this one, her first human.

"You are one of great skill, have you seem signs within the last nine days of a camp moving towards safety? Darkspawn have split me from my clan." She explained hoping that he had seen something that could help her.

Bloody darkspawn.

My father had warned me that something like this might happen, when I'd decided 11 years ago to leave the family suger plantation to my younger brother and apprentice myself to the summoner who had saved our town from those crusaders with his demon slaves. "Magic-types get blamed the first time something goes wrong," he'd said. "best stay here, where everything you can see for a day's ride will be yours." Like a fool, I'd ignore him, and while I'd learned my art well, I'd happened be preforming in a village the night they attacked. It was a bloody, beastal slaughter. I would have helped, I'd called all my servents to me, but it was all I could to escaped. Everybody in the area had been after me ever since.

"I'll be turning 20 in three days time," I growled to myself. Yes, I was a were-beast, a lycanthrope (werewolf) to be percise. It was heridtery though, got if from my mother, so I coulden't infect anybody and had control over when I transformed. Still, there where a few tell-tail signs of who I was; my ink black hair was a bit longer then usual, I was obviously disporpotionaly muscled for a scholar (although not a hulk by any sence of the word), the slight slit in my eyes, and my slightly haunched posture whre the real giveaways, but there where more subtle things. I had my staffed, topped with the seven gemstones of a summoner, held out before me, charmed with a fire spirt to hold off the wild beasts. I have a problem with herbavores, they really hate me. Can't imagine why.

"Look out boss," the fire spirt hissed. "Movement to the left." This was one reason elemental spirts where better then angels; they actually paid attention to their surrondings.

It was a small group of travalers, two to be percice. One was obviously and elf, but the other two where too obscured to tell. One of them where etheir girls or massively peced-out men, and the other was a man or extremely underdeveloped woman. If he'd had to guess, they where travalers of some sort. Maybe they woulden't recognize him.

They where standing near the ruins of a small campsite, spirts knew who destried it. It must have belonged to a fairly small group, concidering the size of it and the presence of only a singel firepit. Unless they'd resently survived an attack, this wasen't there campsite. Still, that only gave the fact that they where travalers further credince; why else would they be scrounging around such a ruined place

He lightly worked his way through the growth seperating them, being careful not the set the whole woods on fire. "Excuse me, brothers and sisters," he gave what passed for a smile on a slightly worn and gaunt face. "I seem to have lost my way. Do you happen to know which direction Var Detel is in?"

Leo Darksoul

Leo looked at her when she asked her question. A camp. He had seen trails of two camps. One being the man whom they just recently left, and the other...

"I have seen signs of two. One belonged to the human who you just left. The other?" he paused. "I found tracks of a decent sized group moving through these woods just two nights ago. They were being followed."

He stopped and sorted his thoughts. It had been some time since he had spoken to another person.

"Darkspawn, of course. I slew the darkspawn, but not before finding a few bodies. Elven." he said calmly.

He was not sure if they were of her clan. Hmm. He had seperated himself from his clan. Later.

"I did not trail them further." he ended simply.

"I can help you search for your clan, if you wish." he offered.

He had done his duty by slaying the darkspawn, but he had also come here to help those who needed it. If she wanted, he was sure he could find the tracks again. He thought back to that day. He had excellent memory, and could always remember every moment of his life vividly. Yes, there. Not very far away he could pick up the trail, unless the weather had covered it.

Ori's blood ran cold. Being followed. Elven bodies. She wondered if they were the same bodies she had come across that prayed that they were. Hugging herself she tried to find something to break the chill in her body. 'He said that there were only a few. And two days ago is a while back, I'm sure they must have shook their followers by now.' I nodded my head in agreement placing all my faith into believing that was what happened and that everyone was safe.

Ori looked up at the elf and released her hold on herself. "You're help will be greatly appreciated. I will be in your debt." She wanted to hug him, he was her hope that she would be reunited with her family. "My name is Orithyia." I offered my hand in greeting. "You are?"

Leo Darksoul

Leo watched her as fear seemed to grip her. He had never understood fear. Merely an emotional reaction. He looked down at her extended hand and tilted his head slightly. What was he...ah, yes.

He extended his hand as well and clasped hers. He gave it a single firm shake and paused, trying to remember something. His name. What was his name...He was certain a puzzled and slightly frustrated look was on his face regardless of how clear he usually kept it. Such a common piece of knowledge that he had somehow forgotten. He reached out with his mind and finally grasped it. His face cleared back to its normal calm.

"Leo. Leo Darksoul." he said politely, and released her hand.

Oh, the irony of that name. But then again, it had been so long since someone had offered him the politeness that this young elf did. It made him curious as to how she grew up. He looked down at his hand again, and was suprised to find that she still held it, even though he had released hers. He looked up at her and tilted his head slightly.

"As I said, I slew the darkspawn. So unless another group followed them, they should have reached safety by now." he looked at his hand again, and reached with his other to pry hers from his, then placed it by her side before stepping back.

"We can start now, if you want. Or a night's rest may help. Easier to track in daylight."

He had a camp not far off. Just a small one. Simple, as were his usual arrangements.

Angel

Angel look over to the man next to her, then spotted the fire through the brush. She tilted her head at the sense of magic in the air. Not her own, of course. She glanced over at the man, then back to the magic user as he made his way through the underbrush. She tilted her head slightly at the man's question. Var Detel? He was a little off to be looking for Var Detel.

"You are a little out of your way, stranger. Var Detel is quite the distance from here."

Hmm. Something didn't add up. She glanced over at the flame floating next to the man. He was a summoner. How he had evaded the circle, she had no idea. She started to summon a tempest, she had chained its spirit herself, so she wouldn't lose control of it, but she stopped herself. No need to announce that she was a mage. Not yet, anyway. She looked on, and waited for the man's explanation.

The grey warden spotted the poeple talking in the clearing as he ran into the middle of it.

After defeating the archdemon and saving the Dalish elf camp from the werewolves by killing the werewolves and saving the circle of Magi by siding with the Mages. He had saved Ferelden however there was still pockets of darkspawn loose and he had to take care of them.

He heard about the Mage's camp as he entered the conversion.

"What ever we do we need to do it fast. I sense alot of darkspawn closing in on our position. My team's camp was mostly destroyed. We need another way out of here."

The grey warden had sword and sheild in his hands. Even tho the blight was over there was still plenty of darkspawn about. With the Archdemon destroyed however most of them were disorganised and scattered into the forests near the Dalish camp. This was were they all were now. He didn't know however where the rest of his team was.

Alistair had gone to Orlais to bring the rest of the grey wardens back with him. Sten had decided to return to his Qunari clan. Also Zervan had spilled after after the defeat of the darkspawn. Morrgian was no were to be found.

This had left the warden with Shale, Wyanne, Leilanna and his faithful hound to deal with the remaining darkspawn.

The guilt of leaving people that might need help was starting to weigh on her. It was even doubled when Leo offered his help in her task.

"What of the others?" Ori bit her bottom lip and hated to admit to the fact that she was thinking of returning to the grabbing Warden and mage of sorts to just see if they are alright. "You assure me that me clan is alright but the Warden, Steve Shepard and the Mage Angel might be lost for the worse." Putting herself in the fright of losing her family she could understand the Warden's pushy manner.

"Should we stalk them to make sure they are alright? Or should I be selfish and put my needs first?" Talking to herself always made Ori feel better but it was weird to speak so freely with another person around.

Leo Darksoul

Leo looked over at her when she spoke. It did not affect him either way. Well, maybe it did.

"I offered you my help. If you feel we should help the other travelers, we may do so."

"It might be better if we did. Extra hands are always welcome against the darkspawn. They could help us find your clan."

It might also help with his conscience. Not that it was really there anymore. It was just wishful thinking that he still had one. Maybe it was best if he didn't.

A sort of darkness grabbed at him. Darkspawn were near. Lots of them. He brought his longbow up to bear.

"Now would be the time. Darkspawn are near." he said to her, voice taking on a chilling cold.

He started off towards the warden's camp. What remains of it anyway. He motioned for Ori to follow him as he moved through the shadows like he was made of them himself. He had recieved many comments on it. People said it was unsettling that he was so quiet.

"Ah, I thought I might be going the wrong direction," I mussed half to myself. Var Detel was a good two months walk from the village I left, no doupt it would still be a long way off. "Oh, but where are my manners? The name is Eliwood Grenik. Perhaps I might have the pleasure of your name?" He let himself down with a sweeping bow, which is much harder to preform properly then it appers.

The fire spirt flickered at his side, letting off it's slight brimstone smell and making things unbearably human. "Inferno, be a dear and go spend some time in the firepit, would you?" he adressed his spirts politly; just becuse they had to listen to you diden't mean you could let your guerd down. Far better to keep them as happy as possable. "Terribly sorry, fire spirts can be a bit of a pain if one dosen't keep them properly tasked. Prone to boredom. But I digress," he apologized. He had a habit of doing that, especially among woman. It ethier impressing enough to get them to like him, or confusing enough to get them to leave. Etheir way, he was fine.