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Grey Warden
War was coming, it was inevitable, but still didn't expect it before it was too late.
You are Alistair Morningstar a proud member of the militia of Golden-Harvest a border town between Wingbardy and Aquileia. And you were not expecting how today would go.
It all happened so fast, one moment you were enjoying a mid-day meal and the next the entire town is on fire!
It began when two griffons that you don't recognize barged into your home brandishing their weapons.
Bandits, they had expected unarmed civilians. Unfortunately for them you're not.
Quickly you brought up your sheathed sword blocking an overhead strike from a charging bandit. You parry it away and struck the marauder's exposed abdomen with your left talon, causing him to buckle forwards, knocking the wind of him. You brought the sword and smacked him with it hilt.
The bandit's partner dived it trying to skewer you. You curved your body away and tripped him over. You unsheathed your blade and stabbed your assailant through the back, killing him.
The first attacker had gained his second wind, he saw what you did to his partner and charged recklessly trying to slash at you with another overhead strike. You were able to dodge, and he over committed, you react on instinct and behead him the moment his neck was exposed.
Now that the battle was over you go into shock, you just killed to griffons, you killed before sure, dangerous wildlife, feral diamond dogs, and the occasional troll. But this time you just spilt the blood of your fellow griffon.
"Don't move or I'll her! I swear!" Your thoughts interrupted by a third bandit, this time he was holding your mother hostage, knife pressing against her throat, her eyes widened in fear.
"Let her go!" You roared.
"You're not in a position to make demands! I…" An arrow pierced his skull cutting off whatever rant he began.
"You alright Mrs. Morningstar?" She asked.
You turn to see your fellow militiaman and friend Marian with a bow in hand.
"Thanks for the rescue, Marian" You thanked, and then you went to check on your mother.
"Are you hurt mother?" You asked. She shakes her head and you sighed in relief.
"Mother, you have to evacuate!" You told her.
"What about you?" She asked worriedly.
"I'm part of the Militia, I need to help evacuate everyone and defend the town." You looked at her anxious faced and reassured her. "I'll be okay, mother. I promise, I'll return in one piece safe and sound."
"You truly are your father's son." She smiled fondly, caressing your cheek.
"Ahem" Marian coughed, "Sorry to interrupt this touching moment but, town currently being a little… I don't know UNDERSEIGED!"
"Ah right, what happening? Why are these bandits attacking the town?" You asked, griffon bandits were rare and most often dealt by the army.
"Not just ordinary bandits, they're mercenaries." She said grimly pointing at your assailants' insignia on their armor. "War has come to Wingbardy."
"We need to evacuate as many people as we can and then regroup with the rest of the Militia." You decided.
You hug your mother goodbye and you went your separate ways.
The sky was blackened by smoke from burning houses by the time you finished evacuating everyone. The smog grew dense and the temperature drew hotter as you reached the epicenter of the chaos.
Bodies of bandits, militia, and civilians alike pile on the ground. You search around looking for your fellow militiamen.
"Back off your Aquileian bastards!" In the distance you see Captain Brosca and your fellow militiaman and friend Daylen fighting off a wave of mercenaries. You flew in joining the fray.
With the element of surprise on your side, you stabbed your sword into the wing of an unsuspecting enemy causing him to fall to the earth. Marian provided support sniping down enemies where she can.
"Bout time you two got here!" Daylen exclaimed, stabbing his spear through a bandit then retracting it to smack another away with its shaft.
"Sorry, we needed to evacuate town. Where are the rest of militia?" You asked.
"This is the rest of the militia." He said sourly.
"They took out hard and fast before we could even counter act." Captain Brosca cut in. "You said you evacuated the town?"
"Yes Sir! Marian and I evacuated who we could and reported here as soon as we finished." You reported.
"Good, we need to fall back to shelter." Captain Brosca said cutting down another assailant. That was the last one, you all landed back down to the ground.
"But the town…" Daylen began to protest.
"A town is just a group of buildings and farms! It's the people that matters most!" Captain Brosca retorted.
"Captain! You might want to look at this." Marian shouted, she was still in the air, pointing to over the horizon. More enemies, this time, they're better equipped wearing full plate armor.
"War Sworn…" The captain gasped.
Wait what.
"We need to retreat now!" Captain Brosca ordered.
You all took off through the air flying towards the shelter.
"Captain, when you said War Sworn do mean the Knightly Order of Aquileia? I though there weren't anymore Knightly Orders except the Knights Lion?" You asked.
"They were a Knightly Order, but they were disbanded years ago. They were fully integrated into the Aquileian Military, if I recall correctly. However even disbanded they still serve as vanguard for Aquileia." He explained. "Where here."
Instead of a usual underground bunker, the shelter was actually a small fort outpost that fell into disrepair and wasn't worth the upkeep to restore it. We all landed on the ramparts.
"Wait, if the War Sworn are still around, what about the Grey Wardens? Are they still…?" When you were young, you grew up listening your father's tales of Grey Wardens of how they protected Wingbardy from the forces of Evil. Whether it be brigands or Discord himself, the Grey Wardens stood tall. Or at least until the battle of the Northern Ridge.
"I'm afraid not. The War Sworn" He spat, "abandoned the battlefield that day at the battle of the Northern Ridge. They had their numbers intact, we were not so lucky."
Oh.
Wait…
We?
"Captain… are you…are you a Grey Warden?" It was Daylen who beat you to the punch.
"Was. We didn't disband more of…" The captain sighed. "The battle was massacre; the Grey Wardens were the first and last on the battlefield. In the end there weren't even a handful of us left, those of us that remain couldn't support the Order, so we went our sperate ways.
"You didn't even try." It was your mother who spoke. She appeared to have been waiting.
"Mother?" You exclaimed
"Surana." Captain Brosca greeted.
"And let me guess, she a Grey Warden too." Marian sassed.
"No dear, I was their Logistics Manager." She replied, my jaw dropped.
"You could've rebuilt the order you know, you're still alive aren't you, you could have easily taken on a squire or two. We still had most of our assets." Your mother continued.
"You make it sound easy, Surana." Captain Brosca huffed.
"Easy? No. Doable? Absolutely." She replied.
"Then, why didn't Edric do it." He retorted.
"He did, he trained the squire standing walking next to you." She said looking at you.
"Me?" You pointed to yourself, "But, I'm not."
She smiled. "Do you remember the games you and your father use to play, the stories he told you."
"You mean?" You could hardly believe your ears.
"Yes, your father was a Grey Warden. He wanted you to follow in his footsteps and help him rebuild the order." She explained. "But then he passed away… and I allowed his plans to go with him."
"Mother, why are you telling me this now?" You asked.
"Because with this war, I believe it is time the Grey Warden return." She replied, then smiled. "If you're willing of course."
"Yes!" I couldn't even begin to say it fast enough. I cleared "I will take on father's legacy and become a Grey Warden."
"Got room for one?" Daylen smirked.
"Make that two." Marian replied.
"Go on another adventure, without you guys? Perish the thought." I look over to my mother almost pleading.
"I don't see why not? You are both capable fighters trained by Brosca, isn't that right Lt. Commander?"
The captain's face grew red looking as if he was caught raiding the cookie jar.
"Er hm fine, if you insist on become Grey Wardens, then I will personally overlook your training to make sure you meet our standards. This will be the most grueling training you'll ever face. Are you prepared?"
"Yes Sir!" You three chorused.
"Then we shall begin the Joining Ritual as soon as possible. I'll need to set up…" He said.
"Already ahead of you." Your mother cut in. "Everything is ready in the ceremony room."
She led your group to large round chamber lit with candles. She handed Captain Brosca a chalice and filled it with some strange red wine.
"It is time for us to begin the Joining, I shall speak the words that have been said since the first."
"Join us brothers and sisters."
"Join us in the shadows, where we stand vigilant"
"Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn"
"And should you perish know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and one day we shall join you."
He spoke these words and called you forth.
"Alistair Morningstar, from this day forth, you are a Grey Warden.
You take a sip of the Chalice.
Suddenly, you feel a little woozy, your vision darkens. The last thing you hear is.
"He will live, Edric raised a strong one."
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