I am the Leader of the Inqui-what?

Summary: If you asked Maxwell to describe the world, he would say it sucked. Between an alcoholic dad, a missing mom, and the shady job he performs to stay alive? His life was messed up as it was. But out of all the things he expected life to nail him in the gut with; it wasn't being sucked into a video game by a female goddess.

A/N: Hello! My name is StorSpeaker, and I hope you like this.

ENJOY!

Chapter

Adjusting the jet black bag, I continued to pedal my bike down the sidewalk, the cool afternoon wind blowing in my face as I pedaled past the multiple buildings in the town center of Waterford.

I had finished my business for the day.

Making sure to keep my head lowered, I continued to pedal away and down past the street, ensuring that I watched for pedestrians.

I didn't keep my head lowered enough, and soon the hood I was currently wearing flipped up, revealing my greying hair to the world; gritting my teeth I quickly flipped the hood back up before slowing down my pace to ensure that I did not have an accident like that again.

Long story concerning my hair.

Crossing the street, I went down into a small neighborhood and walked straight up to a small yellow concrete house, dying plants and bushes decorated the sides and weeds grew up from the sidewalk. Placing my bike next to the garage, I carefully get down on my hands and knees before crawling underneath the windows along the house sides. Once I had crawled to the back of the house and underneath one of the several windows, I tucked the black bag behind a clump of dying bushes; once I had made sure it was invisible to anyone, I crawled back towards the front of the house. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the keys to the house and quickly open up the door.

Only for my collar to be grabbed and me bodily thrown inside.

The nerves in my body flared up, but I refused to cry out. Instead I clambered to my feet as the door slammed shut.

Standing in front of the door was my father…if you could call him that.

He had on a brown T-Shirt, a pair of blue jeans, both covered in stains, and heavy brown boots caked in dirt and other filth.

"Where the hell you been brat?!"

"Out," I reply.

The man advanced, "Better explain what that means now or-"

"Or what…Jared?" I countered.

Jared grabbed my collar again and slammed me into the wall, "Or I pound you into the little shit you are!"

I grinned, "Aw, then you wouldn't get the privilege of this?"

I reach into my pocket and pull out a fold of bills, "One hundred bucks."

Jared scoffed before snatching the money, "As if. You were slacking on your daily pay anyway."

I shook my head, "No. That's extra, this…"

I pull out a larger wad of cash out of my back pocket.

"…right here is your pay."

As Jared made a grab for the money, I pulled it away, "That is insurance that you don't go poking around my stuff. Meaning you don't go in my room and steal my shit, understood?"

Jared eyed the cash, "Hundred bucks aint much kid."

I glared at the man, "It's more than enough the next few weeks, not to mention I can get more in the future."

Jared looked back at me, "…fine kid."

He snatched the money before storming out the door, "Stay out of the fridge!"

Rolling my eyes, I walked into the kitchen and open the fridge immediately and grabbed a can of beer.

"Dickhead zero, Maxwell…ten," I say before cracking open the can and taking a swig.

Cringing at the taste of the beer, I then say, "Sometimes being rebellious isn't worth the underage drinking."

With that, I throw the can into the sink and make my way down the hall and into my room. Well…room was kind of an understatement, a sleeping bag was placed over a couple of blankets and a pillow tucked in the center; a small dresser was against the wall with a similarly small TV on it. Not to mention the window allowing the sun to shine inside.

After shutting my door and locking it for good measure, I head to my window and open it before reaching out and grabbing the black bag. Quickly pulling it into my room, I opened it up and dump out the three things I had in there.

One was a gun, a small pistol that I hardly used. It did have ammo, but I never used it; but it was very helpful for bluffs.

The second was a plastic container that was locked by a small metal clasp.

The last was a video game case for the Xbox One.

Dragon Age Inquisition to be exact.

Placing the container next to the bag and moving it to the side; I reached underneath the dresser and pulled out the said console.

It took me several months of saving up, between paying for school lunches, dinner at fast food places and Jared's alcohol pension rising heavily; it was hard enough to scrap together the money to buy it, the TV and the game.

Quickly plugging the console into the TV, I placed the disc into the console and allowed the game to download; I lean against the wall and stare at the plastic container.

I had to give inventory to him tomorrow; I managed to fill out the quota for the month so there shouldn't be any reason for…trouble.

A hole in her chest that was leaking out blood as I lowered her to the floor, it pooled around her hair like a red veil before I sprinted away, ripping off my jacket and stuffing it into the nearest trashcan.

I shook my head, looking back at the TV I saw that the disc had finished loading, and I grabbed the remote before opening up the game. After a few minutes, the sound of a lone string was heard as I see two groups of people heading to a massive building. On the right were what appeared to be knights with the symbol of a sword with several wings stretching out on each side; on the left were robed figures that used staffs to help them walk, the tip of the staff glowed for every third person.

Opening the menu, I quickly pressed "New Game" before jumping in surprise as the building blew up in a flash of green and expelled outwards.

Then, cards appeared on the screen, dictating what species and gender I wanted to be.

I quickly chose a human male, as the other options of being an elf, dwarf, or…Qunari, a kind of bull-man.

A dwarf just seemed too…short. Not just that, but…a dwarf…come on.

Qunari? A giant bull man? I will pass, as I do not want to resemble a Minotaur; and the moment I heard "Elf" I either thought of Will Ferrell, or a midget making toys.

Next was the kind of fighter, I just skipped to a Mage…I liked mages, using magic to help themselves or others with their tasks…and shooting fireballs is always awesome.

However, it was then that the game froze.

Blinking, I tapped the buttons on the controller a few times and the screen only did nothing.

Great, must have frozen.

Getting up, I was about to approach the console and unplug it when the screen went dark.

Was this supposed to happen?

Slowly stepping closer, I then see words appear on the screen.

Hello!

I blinked, "Does it mean me?"

Yes.

…

I quickly grabbed the gun off the floor and aimed at the window.

"Ok. Enough of the BS," I exclaim, "Stop what you're doing right now, or I shoot!"

After a few moments, I unlocked my door and aimed the gun down the hall, while I saw no one I still looked into the darkness; waiting for someone to appear and claim that they were responsible for the screen.

Nobody came out.

After a few moments, I slammed the door shut and locked it up. Going back to the TV, I look to see a whole paragraph.

Do not fret. Are you alright? Wait, what is that? Why are you looking out the window? Stop. Come back please. I'm sorry for worrying you you! Hello? Hello? Hello? Ah, you have calmed now.

I frowned at the TV, "Ok. What is this? You hack into my TV? Some kind of pirated copy of the game?"

Err…That is complicated. No. No, this is not some kind of pirate game. I heavily require your help, please.

I raised an eyebrow, "Why would I help the words on the TV?"

Ah! That is what this contraption is, a Teavee. Now I see your difficulties, could you please stand closer to the Teavee?

I slowly got closer to the screen, keeping a steady hand on my gun, "Tell me this isn't going to be some Harry Potter-"

In a bright flash, I felt something grab my waist and pull.

"-SSSHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTT!"

I felt like I was being sucked through a straw, only for the straw to open up and me to start spiraling downwards into brilliant light.

"Don't worry!"

I felt something cushion my back and immediately started thrashing and quickly aimed the gun; I found myself lying on a dark, green pasture, all along the outskirts were clouded by trees. Getting to my feet, I scan around the pasture before sprinting into the woods; whatever brought me through the screen would probably be still looking for me. Moving around the trees, I ducked below a thick branch before stopping in surprise.

I was still in the pasture.

Blinking, I slowly turned around and went back the way I came, it wasn't long before I walked back into the pasture from the opposite side.

Well…damn.

"Hello," a voice spoke.

Whirling around, I held up my gun, "Don't mooooooo…"

A glowing figure was standing in the pasture…I mean glowing, I could faintly make out an outline of a woman but that was the extent.

"oooooooooookay…I am tripping!" I say.

The figure tilted its head, "Tripping?"

"High. On drugs from when I was handling the stuff earlier," I explain, "There is no way this is happening. I am currently higher than a kite in my room and will wake up feeling terrible much later."

"Hm…" the figure waved its hand, "You do not seem to be affected by anything, only a minor influence of alcohol-"

I clap my hands, "Bingo! Or that!"

"…you are a very strange human," she stated before snapping her fingers.

"I pref-URGH!"

Bending over, I quickly became very sick, puke spilling out from my mouth and onto the pasture.

Hacking and coughing out the burning liquid, I wiped at my mouth, "The hell?"

"All ailments of your body have been purged," the figure stated, "Now could you please listen now?"

I blinked, "Dream?"

The figure crossed her arms, "You are quite possibly the most peculiar human I have ever met."

I pinched my arm, hard.

Ow, but nothing changed.

"Ok…so not dreaming," I say, ticking my fingers, "Not drunk, not on drugs…"

Freezing in place, I slowly turned back around to the figure, which was still looking at me, "So…this is…real?"

"Yes," the figure stated, "and I need your help."

"Ok…ok…and you are?" I ask.

"Andraste," the figure said before bowing slightly, "Prophet, and Bride of the Maker."

I blinked, "The Maker? What kind of maker?"

"…what exactly is your religion child?" Andraste asked.

I shrugged, "Don't really bother with it, as it seems pointless."

Andraste seemed to sag at that, "While that does disappoint me, I will have to address it later. As I have stated earlier, I require your help."

I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow, "Depends. What kind of help we talking about?"

Andraste crossed her arms, "I require a champion. You see, many of the champions created by your kind have influenced and changed the world, only to have been recreated constantly and have chosen different choices each time. It is…similar to ripping parchment into multiple pieces and having those pieces ripped again and again."

"Alright," I say, "and I was the lucky winner…why?"

"You have not created a champion," she stated, "Therefore, you are ignorant of your possible choices, therefore a perfect champion."

I blink, "You're telling me that because I haven't played a video game, I am suddenly going to be pulled into said video game and am playing for my character?"

"I'm sorry, but what is a "video game"?" she asked.

I shook my head, "Isn't that the general idea though?"

Andraste tilted her head, "This…does not interest you?"

I gave a cold laugh at the deity, "Go into a foreign world and do a specific task before being thrust back home? Yeah…I'll pass."

"You do not want to be a hero? Save the world and be thanked by hundreds?"

"Lady, if you'd seen what I've gone through, what I have done, then you would know that I don't like being played. The world could burn and I won't give a damn."

"I am not "playing" you though," Andraste said, "I am sending you there to stay…forever."

I blinked, "Forever."

Andraste nodded, "Yes. That would be an unfortunate-"

"When do we leave?" I asked.

"-in order to…what?"

I strode towards the woman, "You put me in as your champion and I get to stay in a different world, right? Let's go. Forgot what I said."

Andraste shook her head, "Well…alright then."

Reaching out, she carefully placed her hands on my shoulders, causing me to wince at the bright light shining off of her.

"At first it won't make sense at why I am placing you here, however you must keep an open mind."

With that, we vanished yet again.

My body ached…and my hand burned with pain.

I slowly pushed myself up onto my feet, rolling my shoulders; I look around to see…what the heck?

I was surrounded by craggy rocks, jutting up from the ground; like someone put explosives onto the ground and let the rocks stick to wherever they landed, a green haze seemed to cling to the air and faint whispers echoed around, too faint to hear.

Looking around, I see a bright light, and instantly had a relieved feeling.

Guess in this case it was good to head to the light.

I began to make my way over and around the craggy rocks, quickly approaching the base of a stone hill where the light was located.

As I began to make my way up, I heard a weird clicking noise; turning around and looking at where the sound came from, I saw several massive, white spiders approaching!

In a flash, I quickly began to climb up the hill, hoisting myself up and away from the arachnids.

I heard the clicking get closer.

"Come on!" I growled through gritted teeth.

As I made it close to the top, I looked to see a glowing figure reaching out her hand.

"Hurry! Reach!"

I quickly did what Andraste asked; straining my hand towards the deity as I felt faintest brush at my foot.

My hand made contact; and the world lit up in a brilliant gold.

After what felt like flying, my legs hit the ground and folded like playing cards, sending rock chips embedding themselves into my knees.

I grunted in pain, only for my left hand to flare up again. Gasping, I clench my wrist to see a green light glowing in my palm.

The hell?

My vison started to fade and my eyes felt heavy, suddenly…the ground felt like a clump of silk pillows.

When I slowly opened my eyes again, I was on my knees and hand my hands in a…stock. Both hands were shoulder length apart and locked up tight, not as tight as handcuffs though, keeping my eyes partially closed I flicked them around the room.

Four men had swords pointed at me, all wearing steel armor and helmets, to the sides were metal jail cells, in front was a wooden door, and I was in the center which had what appeared to be an emblem for the sun.

A hissing noise sounded and a green light flashed in my hand, not to mention burn like someone had placed an iron to it.

I knew what that was like, so I could compare it.

Gritting my teeth, I managed to keep quiet and head low; closing my eyes again I evened out my breathing as if I was still unconscious.

Whatever advantage I got, I needed to exploit.

Suddenly, the door opened and the sound of heavy boots sounded before the sound of steel against steel resonated in the room.

I assumed the guards had sheathed their weapons as the boots circled around me, I heard another pair but they stopped before approaching.

Suddenly something smacked into the back of my head, "Wake up."

The voice had a bizarre accent, almost French, and was filled with authority.

Rolling my neck, I then say, "Can I get something to drink before we continue the interro-"

Another smack.

"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now?"

I looked over my shoulder, standing there was a woman with pitch black hair, tied up into a sort of braid that circled her head, the light shone to have a scar along her jawline, full lips, and fierce brown eyes. She had on purple leather under a steel chest plate that had an eye in the center.

"The Conclave is destroyed," the woman continued, "Everyone who attended is dead…except for you."

I raised an eyebrow, "Ok…so?"

The woman blinked and I could hear the soldiers shifting.

"So?!" she nearly shouted, "People have died!"

"And people will continue to die," I retort, "They die every day. So a place blows up and kills tons of people, everybody freaks out. I mean, you don't go crying about someone who had a heart atta-"

In a flash, the woman punched my jaw with her metal glove. Letting out a grunt, I rolled my jaw a few times before fixing the woman with an unamused look, "That all you got?"

She narrowed her eyes before grabbing the stock, specifically my left hand and bringing it up, as it crackled with green light.

"Explain this."

"Magic? Sorcery?" I say.

The woman looked almost pleased, "What kind?"

I shrug, "No idea…kinda makin' it up as I went, I really have no idea what it is."

Grabbing the collar of my battered hoodie, she lifted me up, "LIAR!"

Gotcha.

In a flash, I head butted the woman in the face, she cried out in surprise before I pushed her back towards the wall and quickly dart back.

Steel ringed inside of the jail as guards redrew their swords, the woman glared at me with anger but a bit of surprise as well. As she took a step forward and I braced myself for an onslaught, the second woman jumped in the way and grabbed her shoulders.

"We need him Cassandra, calm down."

The second woman had short red hair underneath a purple hood; she had on a chainmail and leather gloves and boots, and also had a similar accent as well.

I look at the now dubbed Cassandra, "Whatever you think I did, I didn't do."

Cassandra didn't respond. She only continued to glare.

"Then why fight back?" the second woman asked.

"I have no idea what the hell is going on!" I state, "So when a person suddenly hits me, don't expect me not to hit back, even if you are a girl!"

"Do you remember what happened?" the woman asked, "How this began exactly?"

I didn't answer, still glaring at the guards

The woman sighed, "The sooner you talk, the sooner you can be on your way."

Still eyeing the guards, I say, "I was running. Massive spiders were chasing after me as I tried to escape. As I did, I saw a woman…A-"

"A woman?" the second woman asked.

I nodded, "Yes. She reached out to me, so I reached for her…but then I found myself on rock and in pain."

Cassandra placed a hand on the second woman's shoulder, "Go to the forward camp Leliana. I'll take him to the Rift."

"Do I have a say in this?" I ask.

"No."

"Then I pick someone to go to the Rift with…someone that's not you."

Read, Have a Great Day and God Bless.

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