Just to point it out so no-ones confused, I feel like constant, small timeskips are the only way to really do a story for something like Dragon Age considering just how big it is. I'm not trying to make an epic, just have a bit of fun.

Was probably my biggest mistake with my Warcraft stories.

Aside from trying a Warcraft story.

Because that shit is like a chunk of your life on its own.

Anyway, enjoy.

Start.

The mages, for as many as there were, were a group in desperate need of direction. And I was more than happy to provide. Though by the time we actually returned to Haven my fleet had too arrived, it was not the most interesting event to take place. Meeting Dorian Pavus, was however. A man, a bit older than myself, with a smirk on his lips and cunning in his eyes all wrapped up in a fabulously presented package, Dorian Pavus was, and is, a very interesting man. He worried over the fact that his mentor, Gereon Alexius was dabbling with powers outside his control. I agreed to meet with the man at a later date, whilst Dorian came with us at the present. Things to be done and all that.

The Lady stirred with discontent when I spoke with Alexius to arrange the meeting. But I managed to calm her down, I can only hope she forgives me for exposing her to him later.

Either than that I've grown a little fond of the people around me, looking past the zealotry reveals good people beneath. I suppose that I'll always have differences with the people around me, I'm just unused to being the only one with a certain view on the world.

Menma closed his journal and shook his head, before grabbing a piece of paper and began writing once more, "Knock, Knock, marvelous mage calling!" Chimed a cheerful voice, Menma felt a smile grow on his face unbidden.

"Come on in, Dorian." He said with a shake of his head, Karasu cawed softly as the Tevinter Enchanter entered the room, he was a handsome man to be sure, any woman would be the envy of all with him on her arm. Pity for women he was gay though, Dorian was a man Menma could see himself becoming fast friends with. Both had a similar outlook with a few key differences and both loved a good bit of cheeky banter.

With short dark hair that was well looked after Dorian managed to be the centre of attention in most rooms, he had tanned skin and dark brown eyes. A well loved mustache that looked better suited on a typical villain than a friendly magus of the Imperium.

"What can I do for you Dorian, I'm just sending a letter home." Said Menma giving the man a nod before resuming his writings.

"Oh not much, just figured I'd pop in have a chat with the man labeled Andraste's Herald." He was amused, if the little smirk on his face was any kind of tell, Menma sighed into his letter and shook his head, this time his smile melted away leaving what many would call, his 'Resting Bitch Face'.

"Not a title I bear with any modicum of pride." Was the grunt that could be mistaken for the common tongue.

"Ah but look at all those people out there, they love you! Tell me you don't like that attention." Challenged the magus.

"In truth, I hate that kind of attention. Zealots are good for one thing, dying in the name of stupidity. Why do you think I was so happy to have rebel mages with us? They at least thought 'This is a bit fucking sus' and decided to get the hell out of those shitful circles. That in itself implies thoughts that run counter to the fucking mess that is the chantry... I feel like you didn't come here to hear me rant about my views..." Said Menma, he sighed heavily, he felt like this was just going to be one of those days.

"I don't mind, I can understand the need to loose ones maddened thoughts." Said Dorian with a nod, pulling up the seat beside the pirate, "So tell me about this little fellow." He said pointing to Karasu who hopped over Menma's wrist and towards Dorian's outstretched finger.

"That's Karasu, it means Crow on the islands. Original I know. She's been with me for... oh I'd say five years at this point." Informed the Pirate, getting a surprised look, "I know she's little at the moment, but lemme tell you something Dorian, juice this little chick-a-dee up with magic and she could easily blot out the sun."

"You can augment her to what... ride?" Asked the man with shock, not exactly unheard of but a very hard thing to do.

"Oh yeah, I've been infusing her with my magic since the day I found her egg. I'll admit it was on a whim at best, but fuck if it doesn't scare the hell out of people." He said, gently stroking the bird with his gloved finger.

"Interesting... how old were you when you began this process?" Dorian asked with curiosity.

"Well I'm 22, started 5 years ago at 17 with Karasu, but I've been juicing up things with magic since I was... I wanna say 13." Menma tapped his chin in thought, a look of concentration crossed his face.

"You look so serious when you're thinking." Came the amused observation of Dorian.

"At least I still look gorgeous when I do it, that's a conciliation... I think the first thing I began to alter with my magic was my muscles."

"Oh? Curious choice for a mage of all things." Admitted the Pavus.

"Indeed, but I needed to compensate for the lack of time I could put into my physical training like the other boys. The girls had the magic, the boys became the warriors. Call it wounded pride but after I got my ass kicked the first time I was quite resolute in it not happening again." Admitted the Pirate.

"Herald, there's someone here to see you." Stated a muffled voice, a Templar no doubt, his head peaked in and Menma was proved right. Next to the man was a... androgynous person, sporting standard issue heavy merc armour from Kirkwall, with tanned skin, short cut brown hair with the sides shaved and dusky grey eyes.

"Apologies for the interruption, milord but he was rather insistent on giving someone up top a message." Said the Templar.

"It's no problem, Dorian and I were just having a chat about birds. Come in, what can I do for you...?" He asked, waving the Templar off with a smile, the man saluted and left, the not-man-not-woman stepped in saluting with a chest pound.

"Cremisius Aclassi, my company commander The Iron Bull wanted to send a message regarding some Tevinter mercenaries on the Storm Coast."

"Harding and her crew were dispatched to the Storm Coast... why did you come all the way here to tell me that though?" Asked the Herald with a curious, risen brow.

"The Bulls Chargers, to put it bluntly, wanna pick a side. Bull wants in on the party, we're moving to head off these merc's and wanted to send this message ahead, so you can see what we're made of." Informed Cremisius.

Menma made an 'Ah' noise and smiled, "We'll certainly look into it, but come, you must be tired how about a round, Dorian?" Offered the Pirate.

"Well... I suppose the swill around here will have to suffice." Krem rolled his eyes at the flowery mage, Menma grinned widely.

"We'll rally the boys, c'mon gents."

Haven's Tavern

Varric, Solas, Krem, Dorian, Menma and Cullen were all seated around a table, the pirate and his crow perched at the top with the dwarf and the elf at his flanks, the two tevinter men at opposite sides of one another, and finally Cullen at the end of the table.

"I'm uncertain as to why you asked me here, Herald." Said Cullen, a little awkwardly.

"Ah, come on Curly, if you keep drilling all day you'll lose that charming voice of yours we can't have that. Think of it as interpersonal relations training." Assured Varric, getting a chuckle the Prince.

"Be that as it may-"

"Oh come one Cullen, worst thing that happens is the soldiers get a moment to have a chat while they have a break. They're too scared of Cassandra to leave the area anyway." Brushed off Menma, why wasn't he marching off to the next objective? Because they just got back to Haven and he really just wanted to have a chat with a few mates.

Cullen actually had a small laugh at that, "That certainly is true. Very well then, cheers." The man rose his cup and the whole table joined in, merriment and camaraderie were had on that day indeed.

"So Cremisius, what can I expect from the Bulls Chargers? Any field you specialize in?" Asked the Herald after a few minutes of banter.

"You can call me Krem, sir. And no, not really. We take any job if the pays good and there's no objections, guarding and hunting are the usuals but we've have a few not so traditional ones, like joining an Orlesian Duke's party, not even to guard just to stand around and look intimidating." Menma shook his head in amusement at that, typical Orlesians. "This is the first time the Boss has chosen a side though, then again that big gap in the sky does warrant concern." He said with a smirk on his lips.

"An astute observation." Said Solas, smartass.

"Other than that there's not really much to tell, we get the work done, we're loyal to the contract." Rattled off Krem, this sounded a bit more rehearsed, perhaps Bull put the young man in charge of selling them more often than not.

"Well it'll certainly be interesting, first we got the mages, the fleet should be arriving within the hour, and now a mercenary company. I'd say this is coming together quite nicely, eh Cullen?" Asked the Pirate, getting a nod in response.

"All you need now is some uniforms, possibly something with red, and clerics everywhere. Then the Chantry could get off your back."

"We were supposed to go to Val Royeux first but I figured we were already near Redcliffe, I'm surprised how salty Alexius looked."

"Well you did shit in his breakfast, Prince." Supplied Varric.

"Eloquent as always, Varric." Solas sniped with another smartass smirk on his lips, he'd fallen into the group dynamic quite well.

"I'm curious as to how he made the Arl leave the castle to him... fucking Time Magic." Grumbled the Pirate with a shake of his head.

"Well it may have been only a few hours to us but who knows how long in the castle." Dorian reminded, Menma grunted an affirmative.

"I've got to see the notes you have on that, it's just too useful not to be used... and if we end up making more rifts we can seal them with the Mark." Said Menma, his mood brightening as he wielded a grin, Dorian smirked, but the ex-Templar shot the Herald a condemning look.

"It's bad enough we have one mage dabbling in forces he cannot control, we don't need another." Cullen chastised, Menma tsked and rolled his eyes but kept his good humor.

"So this is where you ran off to, Commander." Said the voice of Cassandra, standing behind Menma as though she were a specter who'd just appeared, Cullen choked on his drink, Menma laughed only to feel Cassandra's arms grip his shoulders, her thumbs digging into his shoulder blades painfully, he grimaced.

"You've got a killer grip, Cassy." He commented.

"I'll take that as a compliment, now come. You're not going to spend your off-time lazily." She ordered, Menma sighed, Cullen was already out the door, Varric was laughing at his plight whilst the others held smirks.

"Ugh, fine... I finished my drink anyway. Have a good one gents."

Outside

"So what... you wanna figure out how to combat a spear?" Menma asked with a curious gaze. "Is it really so rare to see someone with one?" Cassandra was fully kitted out, her armour looked a little different, perhaps Harritt had added some extra's to it.

"None who have any real experience. Militia mostly. And if we should ever come into contact with one, I need to be able to defeat them." It made sense enough, didn't make leaving the pub for a sparring match any less dull.

Cassandra lunged, Menma trapped her blade 'tween his trident's prongs and twisted sharply, with enough force to disarm her sending the blade careening off and sliding across the snow, she was about to say something only for the spearhead to touch her gullet, "First tip, don't lead with your sword." He said smugly, getting an annoyed grunt in response.

This time she led with her shield, Menma feinted a stab but pulled back when she braced and leant to the side, striking her in the back of her knee forcing her to kneel, "Don't think I won't play dirty." Menma advised further, tapping her on the back with his pommel to get up.

Cassandra grunted but rolled her shoulders and as she moved in for the strike this time she struck him with... something, that made him seize up, she then bashed him with her shield and then drove the butt of her sword into his gut.

Landing ass first on the snow the pirate shot her an approving grin, "That's more like it! I'm curious though, what was that?" He asked with a tilt of the head, picking himself off and brushing off the snow on his uniform.

"That was a... talent I gained when becoming a Seeker." Said the woman offering a hand that was readily accepted.

"Well it was awesome, I'd ask how it works but I assume it's all very hush-hush." At her nod he smiled but went to pick up his weapon, "Well I gotta say it's useful, might I suggest we practice with it some more? I wanna see if there's a way to resist it. And if all else fails you can get a more concentrated go at it." Offered the Herald.

Cassandra considered this for a moment before shaking her head, "No, it was reckless of me to use that against you, it's only to be used against those I intend to kill."

"Was it the poking? Ah, my bad. Didn't think it'd piss you off like that." The mage frowned slightly and shook his head, "I'm used to people I dislike being the other end, when I fight. Don't take it to heart."

"I didn't you are... frustrating, I will not lie. But you say what you think and it saves time, better than tip-toeing around every issue like some." Cassandra replied.

"Appreciate it." Menma nodded and rested the trident against his shoulder, he looked off to the side, over the mountains to the north, a low thunderous noise began to echo throughout the valley, a black shadow sitting just in the mist began to slowly clear.

"Oh, so they did finish it. Good to know." The Pirate said with a smile on his face. From the mist that settled over the mountain appeared a giant figure, but it was no mere beast of the skies, it was a ship, a long sleek ship with a horned raven's head mounted at the front, carved with tender care. the beak was open for reason to be explained later. Two leather bound balloons kept it aloft, tied to the sides of the ship with thick chords, metal tubes rising from the rear of the ship and into the balloons, the mist cleared rapidly around it, heat emanating from the ships 'tail feathers'.

"What is that!?" Demanded Cassandra, a reflexive step back.

"That my dear, is my warship. The Raven. Kitted out with the ability to fly," Menma stared proudly into the skies whilst many stopped what they were doing to gawk at the big flying ship, it cast a shadow over all of Haven, ropes fell down from the ship and on them were anchors, smashing into the ground with a thump, Menma watched as hordes of soldiers repelled down people, from dwarves to Kossith began to populate the ground, all of them bearing various signature Raven's of the Black Fleet marked upon their person, some even having one on their cheeks.

Menma strode forward, leaving in his wake many with loose jaws and slack shoulders, Neptune was spun between well trained fingers and slammed into the ground, blades first, the soldiers that dropped down, numbering in the three-four hundreds, all saluted with a chest pound and a chorus of, "Admiral!" To some he was Captain, but the fleet at large addressed him as Admiral.

Menma placed his hat on Neptune's pommel and strode forward, arms crossed behind his back, "Soldiers. Friends. Comrades. In the sky is our new foe, the Breach. With the support of the Mages we will seal it, but we will not be stopping their. Until further notice the Black Fleet joins the Inquisition. We will integrate into their forces, but I am still the one in charge. Is that understood!" He shouted.

"Yes Admiral!" The chorused once more, driving a smirk to his lips.

"Good." He nodded to himself but kept that quiet, "We fight against the unknown, once more we plunge into conflict, but that's what we live for is it not? To throw ourselves into the abyss and fly with the winds of change 'neath out wings. What are we!?" He roared, stepping forward in the sky sat the Raven whilst Karasu fluttered down and sat on his hat, that sat on his trident.

"THE BLACK FLEET!"

"What do we do!?"

"FIGHT UNTIL THE LAST MAN!"

"What do we say to our foes!"

"RUNNING MEANS YOU DIE TIRED!"

Throwing his arms up it was met with cheers, the Black Prince laughed heartily as he was suddenly onset by a Kossith woman, hair white as fresh snow and bright purple eyes. She bore the usual ash grey skin that most Qunari seemed to have, horns that swept back over her head were the colour of obsidian. This was Kleo, and like a Saarebaas would, she had the scars of her time under the Qun. Marks on her lips frown when they were sewn shut, scarring around her eye sockets from the mask she was forced to wear. Not able to been seen presently but still there, were the marks around her wrists, and throat from her bindings.

The glomp was real.

The Legion of black clad sailors broke into a mass of joyous shouts, calls for battle, and relief. The Black Prince had touched each of them in his own way, the Master of the Fleet had started it from humble beginnings as a simple Caravelle captain, to now having the first warship in the skies. The captains stepped forward and looked upon their Admiral and his first mate with warmth.

Cassandra, Cullen, Leliana and Josephine came to the forefront behind Menma, the large Qunari woman, from their perspective, overpowering him and peppering his face with kisses and cheek rubs.

"That was... quite the display, Admiral." Said Cullen, smirking. Kleo looked over the head of her beloved, his face in her bosom as she stared down those behind him, "Shall we make introductions?"

"That'd be a good idea." Said Menma from his fleshy cage, he pat Kleo's hip gently and she released him, standing beside him with a straight back, Menma placed Karasu on his shoulder and popped his hat on. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Inquisition, the Black Fleet-" He'd of continued but they got excited.

"HAIL!" They greeted, Menma shook his head in amusement at his soldiers but didn't say anything.

"My Fleet-Captains, Karin." He gestured to a redhead, one side of her hair was smooth and straight, the other mad, wild and spiked. She sported a pair of eye-glasses as well as a suspicious pouch on her belt, her skin was fair, much like the Admiral's own, though had ruby red eyes instead of the molten gold Menma flaunted.

"A pleasure." The same accent too, it would appear another islander was within their midst.

"Nagato." Yet another redhead, a man with amethyst coloured eyes, his hair was short and only reaching his neck, though was more like a mop than hair. He was a slight lankier than the Prince, the man sported a pair of daggers on his hip, another suspect looking pouch on his hip. He sported a small smile and bowed his head with his greeting.

"Very nice to meet you all."

"And last but not least, This is Wisp." He introduced an elven woman, contrary to her name she was anything but wispy, she was a full bodied woman with dusky mocha coloured skin and river-blue eyes. Her skin was patterned with black tatoo's not unlike Dalish markings but much thicker and going all over her body.

If you catch ma drift.

She was sporting a more provocative version of the uniform, her stomach exposed along with her toned thighs, her coat though, was as usual. She had a staff that was more akin to a halberd held gently in her gloved fingers, the shaft was made of obsidian with a solid orb of lyrium encased in a focus, the plating around which was made of lazurite. 'Blue is my favourite colour' was her reason.

"Lovely to see you, even more so with you here, Admiral." She tossed him a wink, he responded in kind while wielding a smile that sparked a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"And my Chief Engineer, Adaar." A large Kossith man sporting a pair of goggles around his neck in addition to his uniform his horns were cut, or capped, to a short stump of their possible size, going onto just over his hairline, he had storm grey eyes and dark ash coloured skin. Adaar merely nodded in their direction.

"Quite the group..." Observed the Spymaster.

"I'm still stuck on the giant ship in the sky." Was all that Varric could muster.

"Trade secret." Supplied Adaar with a rumble. Getting a chuckle from the Admiral.

"Any problems with it so far?" Asked Menma, turning to th larger man.

"Not so far, Sir. There was a little more heat than initially thought, but we sorted the issue quickly." Menma nodded and turned back to the Inquisition's heads.

"As I said, I would back this little operation with my fleet. And so they have arrived, albeit with a bit more flash than I anticipated, nevertheless there is much to be done. Shall we?" He said, gesturing to the Chantry.

"Set up light camp for now, soldiers. On the ledge over there!" He ordered over his shoulder, pointing to his right, the Breach lay over those hills, it was a not-so-subtle way to put those he trusted as the bulwark.

"Sir!" The black fanned out as a few that remained atop the Raven tossed down packs with parachutes attached to set up camp. Always come prepared, or don't come at all.

Chantry

Menma, the Head's of the Inquisition, along with his Fleet-Captains entered the War-Room, the reason for the extra's was because the Herald had jobs for them to do and it was best to get the go ahead from the others instead of going behind their backs.

"Before we begin, you said the Inquisition was a blunt spear, what did you mean by this?" Asked Cassandra, her lips set into a small frown.

"I meant no ill will with it but it is fact, without a Head-Inquisitor there's none to sharpen the 'weapon' to it's proper point. The metaphor is a bit much but you get my idea. You can still kill someone with a blunt weapon, it's just less efficient." He said with a shrug before looking over the war table.

"I know that look..." Started Nagato, a small smile on his face. "You've got the same look in your eye from all that time ago, when we started the Fleet."

"Andraste no, not again." Groaned Karin.

"Calm your tits, Karin." Shot out Menma with a sigh, "I'm just thinking about what I can get you all to do while we traipse into Val Royeux and dick around with the Chantry."

"Actually, I have gotten word the Templars have secluded themselves into Therinfall Rebout, our best chance to approach them will be with noble backing, then again the 'Black Prince' and his flying ship may be enough to open the gates if we wish to approach with bravado." She said with amusement.

"No, that would cause too much open hostility. Besides I don't need more people gawking at my baby." Karasu cawed indignantly at that. "Oh come one you're my fat-baby, Karasu. You know daddy will always have a place for you. It's just that the Raven can carry hundreds of troops and rain hellfire on anyone I point the cannons at." Karasu cawed once more and left his shoulder, in favor of sucking up to Wisp. "Fickle bird." He shook his head as the woman caressed the small animal lovingly.

"The faithful have massed towards us, in that lot are many nobles who would happily make an alliance with the Inquisition more appealing, to the Templars." Suggested Josephine, Menma hummed as Cullen responded.

"That could work, but the Templars are bound to the chantry, would material gains that nobility have really intice them so?" It was rhetorical, but was answered anyway.

"From what my spies have seen in Val Royeux, the Templars have left the Chantry."

"Well... shit." Muttered Karin.

"Indeed." Accented Cassandra.

Menma shook his head, "We'll deal with it. Nagato, I need you to take your warband into the Fallow Mire and track down the Avaar holding our men, your main concern is getting them back. If you find anything of use there, bring it back." Began the Prince with a nod to his cousin.

"So a standard retrieval/scavenge mission? I can get that done." Affirmed Nagato with a firm nod.

"Karin, you'll go to the Storm Coast and check out the Bulls Chargers, while you're at it do a sweep of the area, I from what Harding has managed to send back so far, there's a band of warriors called the 'Blades of Hessarian'. Do what you do best." Karin grinned smugly and puffed out her chest, nodding as she did so.

"No probs Bob."

"Wisp you'll be coming with us to Therinfall, it'll pay to have another mage on my side, that and it is always funny to watch the chaste chafe when you're around them." Wisp let out chimes of laughter and shook her head, a fond smile on her lips.

"At least you're honest." She said, all three of them did the usual chest pound before leaving, Wisp taking a mewling Karasu with her.

When the door shut he was set upon by the heads, "Explain." Ordered Cassandra.

"What part, what did I say about specifics?" He said with a few clicks of his tongue.

"Who were they to you, outside of their affiliation." Suggest Leliana.

"Karin and Nagato are my cousins. Their sister was to be my 'promised one' when I returned to the islands. That's a complicated mess if ever there was one." He said forlornly, shaking his head. "Either way, Wisp and I met when I came to land one day, though it was near Rivain her Clan had been wandering that area for a while, believe it or not she's only a half-elf, she's got her mothers figure."

"And the Qunari?" Asked Leliana.

"Kossith." Menma's growl told her she'd stepped into a spike-trap and must choose her words carefully around that area, let's she be snared.

"Kossith." Amended the Spymaster, "How did you come upon so many?"

"I rescued Kleo around Kirkwall, when I was visiting. This was before the Arishok went banana's and set the city alight. Her keeper was being a complete tool and tossed her control rod, when I found the poor darling it broke my heart to see such a beautiful creature tortured that way, so I took her away and murdered the Avaarad who was supposed to hold her. That'll warn those fucks." He snarled at the ground for a moment, stewing on the memory.

"And Adaar, his parents were Tal Vashoth, any more is not mine to tell."

"But you just told us of... Kleo." Cassandra pointed out.

"I told you the quick little story of how we met. How Adaar and I met is kinda jumbled up with his own history." The Pirate countered.

"What of the el- Wisp." Cullen quickly amended that when a sharp stare found his gaze.

"What more about her?"

"What kind of Mage is she?" He asked frankly.

"You mean has she dabbled in the 'forbidden'? No. We don't need Blood Magic, we rule the sea's with ice, storms and tides well enough." He expected this question at some point so he didn't get bent outta shape about it, didn't meant it didn't annoy him.

Cullen took him for his word, which was refreshing all things considered, then again the man never really stated his opinion on this whole 'Herald of Andraste' thing, so for all Menma knew he was one that was too scared to talk too much shit just in case.

Who knows. For now, work was to be done.

End of Chapter

Raxychaz!