Legends of the Grey Wardens (major spoilers)
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:16 pm
I recently read an interesting article than conjectured that playing a game like DA:O is like an incarnation - a life lived in a different reality. Following that reasoning, I thought it would be fitting to create a place where our incarnations could be honored and our legends told. Like stories shared around a campfire, I think it would be fascinating to hear the path each of us took and where it led us. Of course, this implies that if you haven't yet finished the game, you may want to return later so that your own legend is not compromised by the material within.
Please feel free to related your story in any way that makes sense to you: in first person or third, as an adventure or obituary, as brief or as long as you like...
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My name is Ayejsha of Ferelden, a mage of the Circle. After surviving the Harrowing, I made a fateful choice to help my friend Jowan and his love Lily. Though I was ultimately betrayed, this opened my path to becoming a Grey Warden. I fought and witness the horror at Ostagar, rescued a Mabari war dog and named him Rokthor, freed Sten from his cage, sided with the mages to quell the abominations within their midst, became an Arcane Warrior, killed Flemmeth, preserved the sanctity of Andraste's sacred ashes, killed the High Dragon, and (with some reservations) allowed Brother Genitivi to reveal the presence of the sacred ashes to the world. I returned to Ostagar to ensure the proper burial of King Cailan and to avenge his death, freed Shale and helped her remember her heritage, saved Arl Eamon and his son Connor and destroyed the desire demon without quarter or negotiation. I fought with the militia at Redcliffe, bedded Leliana and Zevran, fell in love with Alistair, sided with Harrowmont, killed the deranged Branka without hesitation, and destroyed the Anvil of the Void. It was my privilege to bring healing to the Dalish and remove an ancient curse from the werewolves, help a Grand Oak find his acorn, expose the slavers at the Alienage, help Sten retrieve his sword, encourage the dwarf Dagna to study at the Circle, take Alistair to meet his shrewish sister, allow Wynne to wash away her only regret, intimidate Leliana's former mentor, and assist Oghren with getting laid.
I have only two regrets. The first is that I never see the healing of the Circle. The second is that I was... selfish in my relationship with Alistair. It would have been easier for him, in the end, if I had hardened him against what was to come. But I was unable to do this... to destroy that part of him that was innocent and tender. In fact, I was unable to do this with any of my companions because if price of victory was our humanity, then what was it exactly that we were fighting for?
I bested the paranoid traitor Loghain at the Landsmeet and killed him, honored my promise to Anora and joined her with Alistair, and... though I cared for her a great deal and was sorely tempted, I refused to perform the Dark Ritual with Morrigan. Though an untainted Old God may have been a benevolent thing, I was unwilling to trust that all our sacrifices would not be undone by a person who was so secretive and so beguiled by power. I was saddened at her leaving because, though Morrigan and I were polar opposites, in one way we were exactly the same: we never allowed emotion, attachment, or situation to dictate our course or cause us to waiver from our ultimate goal.
My watchwords were honor, compassion, and service. I chose to give my life in the service of these ideals.
In war, victory
In peace, vigilance
In death, sacrifice
Please feel free to related your story in any way that makes sense to you: in first person or third, as an adventure or obituary, as brief or as long as you like...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My name is Ayejsha of Ferelden, a mage of the Circle. After surviving the Harrowing, I made a fateful choice to help my friend Jowan and his love Lily. Though I was ultimately betrayed, this opened my path to becoming a Grey Warden. I fought and witness the horror at Ostagar, rescued a Mabari war dog and named him Rokthor, freed Sten from his cage, sided with the mages to quell the abominations within their midst, became an Arcane Warrior, killed Flemmeth, preserved the sanctity of Andraste's sacred ashes, killed the High Dragon, and (with some reservations) allowed Brother Genitivi to reveal the presence of the sacred ashes to the world. I returned to Ostagar to ensure the proper burial of King Cailan and to avenge his death, freed Shale and helped her remember her heritage, saved Arl Eamon and his son Connor and destroyed the desire demon without quarter or negotiation. I fought with the militia at Redcliffe, bedded Leliana and Zevran, fell in love with Alistair, sided with Harrowmont, killed the deranged Branka without hesitation, and destroyed the Anvil of the Void. It was my privilege to bring healing to the Dalish and remove an ancient curse from the werewolves, help a Grand Oak find his acorn, expose the slavers at the Alienage, help Sten retrieve his sword, encourage the dwarf Dagna to study at the Circle, take Alistair to meet his shrewish sister, allow Wynne to wash away her only regret, intimidate Leliana's former mentor, and assist Oghren with getting laid.
I have only two regrets. The first is that I never see the healing of the Circle. The second is that I was... selfish in my relationship with Alistair. It would have been easier for him, in the end, if I had hardened him against what was to come. But I was unable to do this... to destroy that part of him that was innocent and tender. In fact, I was unable to do this with any of my companions because if price of victory was our humanity, then what was it exactly that we were fighting for?
I bested the paranoid traitor Loghain at the Landsmeet and killed him, honored my promise to Anora and joined her with Alistair, and... though I cared for her a great deal and was sorely tempted, I refused to perform the Dark Ritual with Morrigan. Though an untainted Old God may have been a benevolent thing, I was unwilling to trust that all our sacrifices would not be undone by a person who was so secretive and so beguiled by power. I was saddened at her leaving because, though Morrigan and I were polar opposites, in one way we were exactly the same: we never allowed emotion, attachment, or situation to dictate our course or cause us to waiver from our ultimate goal.
My watchwords were honor, compassion, and service. I chose to give my life in the service of these ideals.
In war, victory
In peace, vigilance
In death, sacrifice