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Chapter 2

Five day, five days he had traveled through the thick woods. Everything was the same to him, he didn't even know how many miles he had traveled. Thankfully he had come prepared with a bedroll, flint and steel, as well as a compass and some food scavenged from the ship . The forest was quiet, almost as silent as a grave with an uneasy stillness over it. To maybe it would be unnerving to most, but he was a Nord and Dovahkiin. He wasn't going to to be scared of a simple forest. So far this land was like anywhere in Tamriel, though he still had yet to meet the natives other than those scavengers at the beach. If he was to get a true lay of the land, this Fereldan, then he would have to find some form of ruler in this land. If they are tribal then maybe an alliance with the strongest or a few of them would be beneficial.

Looking at the Dwemer map, he couldn't tell where he was. The scavenger told him it was Fereldan, but the Dwemer either didn't know the names of the lands or there weren't any at the time. Either way he'd need to find a settlement, get a feel for their number and possible threat to Tamriel. So far this entire quest has gone worse than he expected. He needed to try and salvage what he can, then try and return with as much knowledge that he can get on his land.

Rolling up the map he started walking once again, pulling his bag closer to his person as he kept scanning the surrounding trees for any movement. The only sounds he could hear where some chirps of birds, a few deer running off as soon as they saw or heard him, and the sound of his own foot fall and clinking of his metal armor. This land was so peaceful, once he made it far enough inland, it almost reminded him of Cyrodiil and parts of Skyrim. He almost thought he was back on Tamriel, but he'd been all over every providence. From High Rock to Blackmarch, from the Summerset Isle to Morrowind. This was somewhat familiar to Valenwood, but it still held a vast difference from the Bosmer home.

As he walked Thrain heard a snap of a twig to his right, shaking him from his thoughts and making him stop, pulling a blue piece of cloth he had wrapped around his neck as a scarf up over his mouth and nose. His Nordic Shield strapped to his left hand and pushing his Nordic Sword from the sheath by the guard. "LAAS YAH NIR!" He shouted, his vision fading and returning within seconds. His gaze now showing a few Fox like creatures with massive ears running in the opposite direction of the sound. Thrain turned and focused, seeing a few figures in the distance. Some as tall as Bretons and Imperials, while a few where far shorter or taller, one towering over them all and seemed to be approaching him.

Thrain grasped the hilt of his sword, pulling his weapon and holding his shield in front of him. Taking a deep breath as he calms his nerves, waiting for them to come to him as he tightened his grip on his sword and shield. The sound of growling and low hisses lowly growing louder and louder as they approached. When from behind one of the tree came one of the Man sized figures.

The creature almost seemed to be an undead or even from Oblivion. The faces of those without helmets looked grotesque, the flesh pale, almost necrotic, with some patches of flesh missing with had no lips, and their teeth sharp needle like fangs as a black liquid seemed to pour from its mouth and pale lifeless eyes. Their armor seeming to be crude but looked sturdy, though not as good as Orsimer mad but would be difficult to cut straight through. Next to it was a shorter one, but far more bulky with their arms acting like another set of legs as he'd seen some creatures use. Still just as hideous and in similar armor, be it far more scarce as it only covered part of its arms and legs. Then a lanky creature followed, it's limbs almost spider like with crude blades attached to its forearms. It crouched low, its head cocking from side to side in a way that reminded him of the Falmer with it's pale skin and pointed ears. And Finally the last creature emerged, towering over all the others. Massive horns twisting like roots from its skeletal like head. Like the shortest there were few plates of armor on its body, only on it's shoulder, forearms, hips, and some of its chest.

More and more started to emerge behind the giant, almost a dozen of these creature, a majority of them being the man size variant. They all seemed to growl and hiss at each other, seeming to be talking to themselves as they stared at Thrain. Then one of the Man like creatures started to move closer, making Thrain bring up his shield, ready to attack or defend himself. The creature stopped and tilted its head to the side before crouching low to the ground. Seeming to be trying to seem less threatening as it tried to move closer. But Thrain stayed weary as it moved within a few feet, his gaze shifting between it and the others in sight incase they rushed him. But the creature did something that threw him off, it held out its arm towards Thrain and sliced open its wrist. Black blood pouring from the wound and seeming to destroy the grass as it touched the ground.

The creature seemed to be unaffected by any pain as it continued to hold out its arm towards Thrain expectantly. Cocking its head to the side as it watched Thrain, nodding towards its wrist. Thrain raised an eyebrow, the creature seeming to be expecting him to do something with its cut . . . or even the blood pour from the wound. The liquid seeming to suck the life from the grass below the creature told him enough to keep his distance from the substance.

(P.O.V. Change)

It was a clear sunny day on the coast of Ferelden. They were just north of Gwaren, having entered the Brecilian Forest a day and a half ago. The forest itself was eerily quiet, not even the sound of bird chirping anywhere to be heard or wind blowing through the leaves on the trees. But they needed to stay focused and continue on their mission and investigate potential recruits from a clan of Elves last seen entering the forest.

Rolling up their Bedrolls and taking some salted and dried meat for a quick ration as they continued deeper into the forest, the men falling in step behind their commander. Continuing the north as they traveled along a small stream that cut a path through the thick trees. As they traveled a familiar tingling began to sound in each of the minds of their group. "Darkspawn, quite a large group at that." One of the men said, turning in the direction it felt the strongest.

"Indeed, one of the largest I've felt on the surface. And so far from the Horde . . . far too large to be a scouting party at that. This doesn't bode well." Their commander said, walking up the front. Stroking his beard as his Silverite armor clinked at his movements. "They seem to be moving Eastward, it would be best we try to spot what they are doing before we try to engage them."

"Agreed, whatever they are after we should also try and recover, Duncan."

"Of course, whatever has drawn such a large party isn't something we should dismiss." The now named Duncan says, his hands pulling out the twin long daggers he kept on his back as his men followed suit and armed themselves for a fight.

Each of them ducking into the shadows or crouching low as they tried to match the stealthy nature of the Rogues of their party, Duncan remaining out as he lead the Warriors and Mages after them. Eventually reaching a small hill and laying on their stomachs as they crawled closer to the Darkspawn. Sure enough, there was a group of a Dozen Darkspawn, mostly Hurlocks and Genlocks with a handful of Shrieks and an Ogre at the back. All of them seemingly focused in one direction, looking ahead of them at one thing, or rather one man.

The man was tall, easily a head or two taller than most. He could pass as a Qunari or Avvar, the armor he wore seemed to be similar from the appearance. But they never heard of the Avvar and Qunari wearing armor like this. In his hands where a large round shield and sword, both with a similar design of his armor.

But the most startling thing was that none of the Darkspawn where attacking the man, the instead seemed to be studying him. The man seemed unaffected by their presence or numbers, his hands gripping his sword tightly as one of the Hurlocks started to approached, stopping when he saw the man tense up. The Hurlock crouched low and slowly moved closer, tilting his head from side to side as the rest where hissing and growling to each other. Seeming to be studying the man as well.

Duncan narrowed his eyes as he saw this, "The Darkspawn seem to be reacting to his man, they aren't outright attacking but seem to be trying to not offend him . . . strange. Whatever this man is or why they are reacting this way can't be good." Duncan thought, his eyes almost bulging out of his head as he saw the Hurlock approaching the man stop, slitting its own wrist and offering his blood to him. The man seemed to take notice to the blood as it dripped down onto the grass.

The man's head looked back up at the Hurlock, it tilted its head in confusion. Seeming to expect something from the man, before the man slashed his sword across its neck. The Hurlocks head slowly falling off behind it and its body slumping to the side as the other Darkspawn seemed to snap out of whatever trance they were under and began to growl and snarl at the man. The Genlocks charging with the Hurlocks and Ogre as the Shrieks vanished from sight.

One of the warriors quickly stood up, only to be grabbed by Duncan. "Hold, these darkspawn seemed to be interested in more than simply attacking this man. It would be more vital for us to continue to observe, we will act only if necessary." Duncan says, his tone and grip still calm yet commanding as he turned back to look at the man.

(Thrain Stormcrown)

Thrain saw the creature try to move its bleeding arm closer, offering the blood oozing from its wound. The seemingly poisonous liquid was destroying the grass as soon as it touched, this creature seemed to be expecting him to do something as it offered its blood coated arm to him. His eyes narrowing as he saw it try to move even closer, holding the wound up to his face and try to force its blood to his mouth under his mask. Gripping his sword tightly he slashed the creatures neck, the crude chainmail offering little resistance against the stronger metal of the Nordic sword.

As the creatures head and body fell to the ground the others growled and hissed angrily as they charged. "YOU WANT ME?! THEN COME GET ME!" Thrain shouted, grinned under his cloth mask as he charged at the horde. Crashing into one of the Men like creatures with such force it was sent flying back into it's brothers. Letting out a loud War Cry Thrain slashed at the shorter creatures, severing the arm of one. Sending it to the ground as it tried to balance itself on it's one remaining arm before Thrain stabbed down into it's exposed neck.

"PATHETIC! COME, GIVE ME A TRUE CHALLENGE!" Thrain shouted at the top of his lungs. Hacking away at a second short creature, the weaker metal offering little protection of the Legendary quality of the Nordic steel sword. The blade cutting the metal 'breastplate' and leaving a deep gash that went through the bone and nearly cut the creature in two.

The largest creature kept charging, lower its head as it tried to ram Thrain. Only for the Nord to narrowly dodge with a roll to the side. "YOL TOOR SHUL!" He shouted, fire leaping from his maw and coating the creatures back as it let out a roar of pain and shot back up. The man sized creature getting to their feet and charging with the shorter ones. Surround Thrain as he let out his shout one the big one.

"NOW WE'RE TALKING!" Thrain shouted, placing his shield on his back and grabbing an Nordic Axe from his bag. Slowly looking at them all before he could hear the skittering of something from behind. Spinning to confront the creature he saw the thinner ones appear from the air. One trying to stab Thrain in the stomach, only for the axe to grab the blade and pull it to the side. His sword then piercing the creatures stomach before he sprung, ripping his sword from it's stomach and cleaved it in two. A second tried to follow the first, only for Thrain to continue spinning around and swing his sword, deflecting the blow with his shield as he chopped the beast's leg clean through. Making it fall to the ground before taking the axe to its face.

Thrain let out another yell as he he left the axe in the creatures face, his armor becoming coated in it's blood. But he didn't have time to worry as he was the other Man sized creatures and the shorter ones surrounded him. Each hissing and snarling as the ground began to shake. From over his shoulder he spotted the big one charging once again, jumping into the air with it's fists raised high. Ready to crush Thrain, only for him to tuck and roll out of the way. Narrowly avoiding the attack as he jumped to his feet.

"MUL QAH DIIV!" Thrain shouted, his voice dripping with power that surrounded and solidified in a scaly armor that coated his body. Dragon like heads and horns covering his hands and helmet. He then jumped up and stabbing his sword into the beast's back, hoisting himself up onto it's shoulders and pulled his sword free. The creature tried to grab the Nord, only for its hand to be slashed by the sword as Thrain grabbed the beast's horns with his free hand.

Placing his sword on his belt before he balled his fist and SLAMMED it down on its head. The force and strength making a shock wave as it flailed its arms and roared in pain. Knocking the others away as Thrain continued to punch it in the skull. Pulling on the horns to steer the creature like a wagon as it crushed one of the Man sized creatures under its feet and its claws gutting another. "PATHETIC!" Thrain shouted as he punched. "WEAK! ABOMINATION!" He shouted, punching again and again. "VOID! TAKE! YOUR! WRETCHED! SOUL! BACK! TO! THE! DEPTHS!" Again he shouted as the creatures head began to bleed more and more. Then Thrain grabbed both horns and began to twist its head, its arms flailing wildly as its neck turned more and more before a resounding CRACK echoed through the air. The creature went limp and fell to the ground with a heavy thud, it's head now turned fully around and blood slowly trickled through its shattered skull.

The last two Man sized creatures and the shorter one hissed as they stood together before charging towards him, the shorter one getting ahead of the others. "IIZ SLEN NUS" Thrain shouted, his breath as cold as the Skyrim Northwinds from the Sea of Ghosts as what seemed to be a wall of frost shot towards them. As soon as they touched it their bodies began to become coated in a thick blanket of ice, becoming as statues as they froze midstep.

Grabbing his shield from his back Thrain let out a loud roar as he charged the frozen creatures. Crashing through the smaller one and bashing his shield against the last two creatures. Shattering them into hundreds of small pieces that were sent flying in all directions. Thrain began to to look for the last creature, but a sharp pain shot through his back. From behind came a hiss of the lanky creature as it stabbed Thrain from behind. Making him growl in rage as he reached around and grabbed the creature by the arm.

Pulling it around to face him, not caring as he felt the blade forcefully ripped from his back. Thrain then grabbed it by the throat, squeezing harder and harder as he pulled on it's arm. Ripping the arm from its body as he crushed its throat in his hand. His rage still burning bright as he saw it try to grab his arm at its throat with its one good arm. "YOL TOOR SHUL!" Thrain shouted, releasing a torrent of flames into its face. Slowly melting the face and armor of the creature as it spasmed and slowly grew less and less till its body went limp. The head now gone as Thrain tossed it away, but the pain continued to course through his spine.

It was unlike anything he'd felt before, he could tell it wasn't a normal dagger wound. Nor was it a simple poison. So he pressed his hand on the side of his body in front of the wound as his hand glowed with a golden light of the basic heal spell. Feeling the cut slowly close, but the pain didn't go away. Seeming to get worse and worse by the second as he fell to his knees. Panting heavier and heavier as his skin began to become pale and his veins turned black. He felt something inside him beginning to burn as he threw his head back. "RRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" An animalistic roar came from his maw as he released another dose of Fire Breath into the air, stopping in an instant as his vision began to fade and he collapsed to the ground, fading deeper and deeper into the black void of nothingness.