Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Prologue

The Chantry teaches us that it was the hubris of men which brought the darkspawn into our world. The mages had sought to usurp Heaven, but instead they destroyed it. They were casted out twisted and cursed by their own corruption. They returned as monsters, the first of the darkspawn. They became a blight upon the lands, unstoppable and relentless.

The dwarven kingdoms were the first to fall, and from the Deep Roads the darkspawn drove at us again and again until finally we neared annihilation. The bloody battles of the Deep Roads still scaring the children of the rock to this day. The bloody battles of the kingdoms lost to darkspawn long ago and even still lost now.

Until the Grey Wardens came. Men and women from every race, warriors and mages, barbarians and kings...the Grey Wardens sacrificed everything to stem the tide of darkness, and prevail. It has been four centuries since that victory and we have kept our vigil. We have watched and waited for the darkspawn to return. But those who once called us heroes have forgotten.

As I walk over to a slain soldier, who lay amongst a caravan, I ponder the old Grey Wardens. We are so few now, and our warnings have been ignored for too long. With the tip of my steel boot, I turn the body of the man over. The darkspawn sword had pierced cleanly through the man's simple armor. He never stood a chance. I frown and shake my head at the gruesome sight.

I felt my blood run cold long before I sensed the darkspawn approach behind me. Their foul smell flooded the air in a potent aroma of decaying meat. I listened and waited as one approached my right flank. I turned in time to take hold of its wrist and catapult the creature over my shoulder near the cliff. It wiggled and was wroth as it struggled to regain its' stance.

Its' comrade was there ready to strike me down. I quickly picked up the others' fallen sword and sliced the armor of the darkspawn. It fell back onto the ground and there I drove the sword straight through. With a grunt, I twisted the blade deeper. It was only seconds till the darkspawn died.

The other one had finally gotten up onto its' hands and knees. I quickly ran over, and with a swift kick, it went over the cliff with a screech. My old bones screamed in disapproval. I knew it wouldn't be many more battles like this still left in me until the Calling. I wiped the sweat from my brow and gave a great sigh. Turning back around I see others who had perished at the hands of the darkspawn. They hung from the trees, lie in burning ashes nearby, and some just in piles. It was a cruel sight to see.

This may have just been an out of turn coincidence but I knew better. I turn back towards the cliff and look over the horizon. No, this was no coincidence. In fact, it may even be too late, for I have seen with my own eyes what lies on the horizon. A small thunder and distant lighting of an oncoming storm, and the thousands of small brewing fires of darkspawn campsites in the far off valley.

I wipe the blood from my face before turning my back on the sight. I don't know what we are going to do, but the Grey Wardens will fight to the bloody end.

Maker help us all.