The Last Plague ended four hundred years ago. People sincerely believed that the creatures of darkness had been defeated forever. However, at 9:30 of the Age of the Dragon, the legendary order of the Grey Guards once again sounds the alarm and predicts a new Plague in the kingdom of Ferelden. The commander of the Grey Guards, in search of a recruit for the order, finds himself on the threshold of Highever's castle.

(a book adaptation of this gorgeous game)

Dedication:

To those who fell in love with this world and had a good time there with their friends. Now it's time to collect them again and go back there again.

Special thanks to Danil Koutsev, who encouraged me during the work, as well as to the modders Tinimaus, SarahCousland, DahliaLynn, Kajana for inspiration.

Author's notes:

— This work is an unofficial novelization of the computer game Dragon Age: Origins and is written as a tribute to this legendary creation.

— Those who have never heard of Dragon Age can freely read this work as an ordinary book.

— The work reflects only the main storyline without secondary quests, but with additional episodes from me, so there is a "Missed scene" in the genres. By definition, this work is fanfiction anyway.

— I have carefully studied the universe through computer and role-playing games, books, the encyclopedia "The World of Tedas", the dragonage.wikia website, interviews with screenwriters — that is, a lot of research work has been done on the world, therefore...

— ...The canon is God here, but I am the queen. AU and OOS are our worst enemies. However, some of the canonical scenes have been slightly changed due to the prose format.

— I was playing the game in Russian voice acting, but I got to know the original game in the process and tried to bring everything to a common denominator.

— My character: Elissa Kusland. I really love her story, I hope you will too.

— In the comments, please, no spoilers. There are also those who are not familiar with the plot of the game.

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Карта Ферелдена: https://pp.userapi.com/c849020/v849020504/8c584/WukWtohvD6c.jpg

Карта всего Тедаса (на всякий случай): https://pp.userapi.com/c849020/v849020504/8c57b/ikd3WJVmylw.jpg

Трейлер к работе: https://vk.cc/9vF8ho

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The Prologue

Sometimes it is difficult to separate the truth from what has become a legend. And when the legend concerns the Grey Guards, all their deeds are all the more like fairy tales that make children forget their fun and listen in awe, and young people are inspired to do great things. The founding of the order became a legend, as did what happened before it.

There was once a mighty Tevinter empire that stretched across almost the entire Thedas continent. Its inhabitants worshipped Ancient Gods, intelligent dragons, who bestowed power and protection on their worshippers. Temples were erected in their honor and festivals were held.

They say there were seven of them.: The God of Silence is Dumat, the God of Chaos is Zazikel, the God of Fire is Thoth, the God of Slaves is Andoral, the God of Beauty is Urtemiel, the God of Mystery is Razikal and the God of Night is Lusakan. They taught their charges magic and promised power to those who worshipped them.

One day, the first priest of the God Dumat heard his whisper in the dark. The Dragon called to enter the Shadow in the flesh — the kingdom of dreams, spirits and souls — and in the very heart of the Shadow — the Golden City — to sit on the empty divine throne. Then the priest will gain unprecedented power. The other Gods promised their priests the same thing, and so the seven mortals, at the cost of terrifying sacrifices, tore the veil between the world of the living and the Shadow and entered the Golden City. But they did not see their patrons, but saw the Creator on the golden throne — the true Creator of the world.

He told them who they had been worshipping until now — false Gods, and as soon as the feet of the priests touched the Creator's domain, the Hail turned black and collapsed. The Creator, in anger, threw people back into the mortal world, turning their bodies into an ugly likeness of their souls, desecrated and hungry only for the destruction of the creatures of darkness.

The priests, having set foot on the ground, began to infect all living things with filth and went underground to demand from the Ancient Gods an answer for their deception and betrayal. They found Dumat, but as soon as they touched him, the taint of their bodies infected the Ancient God.

The dragon awoke, shook himself, spread his wings and rushed skyward, leading the legion to the surface from the darkness. Then the Plague began. For almost two hundred years it raged, it almost wiped out races, cities and empires. Armies of humans, elves, and dwarves gathered more than once and fought back, but the dragon, nicknamed the archdemon, always returned.

And then the Grey Guards came. Battle-hardened warriors of all races and classes tamed the evil and used it to defeat the archdemon. They sacrificed everything to save the world and won. Dumat was defeated, and the darkspawn that followed him disappeared deep underground.

Since then, there have been three more Plagues, three tainted Ancient Gods, and each time humanity has been led to victory by the Grey Guards. That's how the legends of great heroes were born.

Four hundred years have passed since the last one.

People have forgotten both the dangers and their rescuers, but the Guards are always on duty. Perhaps darkness is coming to earth again right now, which means it's time for a new legend. Sometimes it's hard to separate the truth from it. And when the legend concerns the Grey Guards, all their deeds are all the more like fairy tales.

I'm not going to tell a legend, but a story about people.

Komm:

https://pp.userapi.com/c849128/v849128534/180501/TWEohaeGo-E.jpg

Chapter 1.1 Duncan arrived at Highever.

9:30 of the Age of the Dragon*.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds and the crimson crowns of the trees. Small drops fell from the leaves and disappeared into the yellowed grass. After the rain, the forest smelled of moss and earth. Despite the beginning of the stubble season, the air still felt pleasantly cool in calm weather.

Duncan walked along the manicured path to the castle, whose tall stone towers were already visible on the horizon. It was only an hour and a half by horse from the city on the direct road here, but Duncan decided to walk. The hunting grounds of the Highever Tarn were indeed worth a look, but Duncan was on his way to the castle on business, so even though he admired the forest and hills, he did not deviate from the direct path.

Soon, the path turned into a cobblestone road. The majestic fortress of gray and white stone stretched out in all its glory ahead, and the sun was sinking to the west and almost touched the spire of the tallest tower.

The guards at the outer gate of the fortress noticed from afar a swarthy man in combat attire, with a sword on his belt and a pair of daggers on his back. They gripped their spears tighter, ready to stop the intruder if he tried to pass without asking, but the man stopped himself and greeted warmly:

"I welcome you. My name is Duncan. I am Commander of the Grey Guards of Ferelden. I recently wrote to your Teyrn about my request, and he kindly invited me to his castle. Does Knight Sir Roland Gilmore serve here?"

One guard nodded and disappeared through the gate, the second guard kindly invited the guest to proceed to the courtyard of the fortress. Duncan glanced briefly at the laurel wreath carved into the stone above the gate and entered the open door. There he was asked to wait until he was reported to Thairn.

Duncan was left alone, looking around the bustling courtyard. As in the city, preparations for a long hike were in full swing here. Elf and human servants scurried back and forth with armfuls of things, passing baskets and travel bags. Several dozen soldiers and knights lined up in even ranks, their commanders called the roll and gave instructions.

Along with the clatter of the marchers, the sighs of those who came to see off their relatives and the voices of curious children who climbed the walls to watch the solemn action could be heard. A few boys even tried to slip into the soldiers' ranks along with the warriors, but they were quickly chased away and urged not to interfere. Soon these soldiers will go south to defend their country, and not from anyone but from the formidable creatures of darkness.

Duncan took a few steps along the bridge leading deep into the fortress, under which there were wooden and stone buildings from various warehouses and servants' houses to the armory and barracks. Hearing the clink of steel and the nearby sounds of battle, the Guard craned his neck and peered over the wall of one of them.

On the sand training ground, two knights were fighting within a fenced circle. At least that's what Duncan thought from their armor. Both had the same symbol on their shields that he had seen above the gate, a laurel wreath that looked like two wings— the symbol of the house of Teyrn.

One knight was noticeably smaller than his opponent, but he fought with him on equal terms, and even surpassed him in agility and speed. He had a long blue crest on his helmet, and his smoky gray armor stood out from the brown scaly armor of his comrades who were watching the battle.

The second knight was much bigger and broader in the shoulders and with a heavy gait. He tried to catch his more agile opponent in a power duel, but he successfully avoided the obvious trap and struck from the flank, not giving him a chance to seize the initiative and attack.

An elderly knight, who was watching the duel, motioned to a soldier standing to the side to join the fight. He hesitantly followed the order, but after entering the circle, he began to actively attack the knight in gray armor. The battle accelerated.

The little knight tried his best not to get between the two opponents and, constantly moving, tried to strike one or the other, and, when necessary, used the shield as a weapon and the sword for protection. Finally, a large knight drove him to the edge of the outlined area and began to press the shield to force the enemy into the kill zone.

The soldier decided to take the chance and attack from the side. The little knight froze in place, tensed, and then, when the soldier was only a step away from him, abruptly, like a spring, leaned to the side, slipping out from under the pressure from the front with the help of the shield. The large knight, due to the disappeared resistance, fell forward just in time to bump into a soldier who jumped out into his path, and together with him flew out of the circle, and even knocked the poor guy to the sand.

There was a burst of laughter, cheers and whistles from the onlookers. Even their mentor, an elderly knight— grinned, raised his hand and said something, apparently declaring the winner. The little knight put his shield behind his back and took off his helmet, his disheveled dark hair scattered over his shoulders and back.

Woman. Pretty young. Perhaps the youngest of the soldiers and knights present at the training, men and women. The girl approached the fallen soldier and gave him her hand. He seemed embarrassed and did not dare to hold out his hand, but the girl smiled and said something, insisting. The soldier hesitantly took hold of the outstretched palm and used it to get to his feet.

A new pair of rivals entered the outlined circle, but Duncan did not look at them. The girl stepped aside, put down her helmet and sword, took off her gauntlet and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her mentor came up to her and started talking and showing her something with an imaginary sword and shield in his hands. The girl looked at his gestures and nodded.

"Grey Guardian," a soldier approached Duncan.

"Who is this girl?" Duncan asked, pointing at the winner.

The soldier looked over his shoulder at the training ground.

"Oh, this is Milady Elissa, the daughter of Thairne." he replied and returned to the original topic. "Teyrne Kusland is ready to receive you."

Duncan looked back one last time at the young warrior, who at that moment was also called by someone from afar. She shouted, "I'm coming!" and disappeared behind the walls of one of the buildings. Duncan followed his guide to the castle gate.

The Kusland house was a series of isolated stone buildings connected by rows of arches and ceiling-less corridors leading upward. Decorative ivy covered the walls. The masonry was cracked from antiquity in some places, and scaffolding stood here and there. Duncan was led to the main hall, from which small corridors branched off like a network of rivers leading deep into the castle. The guard quietly went inside.

Tyrne Bryce Cousland was standing by a huge fireplace at the far end of the room, stunning in its size, and was not alone. He was talking to another nobleman, who was as gray-haired as himself. Duncan tactfully stayed at the entrance, admiring the rich surroundings, and catching the conversation out of the corner of his ear.

"...So your soldiers will be delayed?" Thairn asked the other man.

"It's the rainy season in Amaranthine, so they could be hampered by bad weather. I'm sure they'll start coming tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm sorry for the delay, my lord. It's my fault. I should have announced the collection earlier."

"No, no, it's okay. No one expected the darkspawn to appear in the south. I myself received an order from the king to march just two days ago", Thairn slammed his fist into his palm. "Then it's settled! I'll send my senior with my men, and we'll wait for your soldiers and ride together, just like in the old days."

"That's right, only then we were young and fighting for our country with the Orlesians, not..." The nobleman shivered, "with monsters."

"But the smell of this war is the same." Teyrn grinned and turned his attention to the girl in the doorway, and his gaze immediately warmed up. "I'm sorry, little wolf, I didn't see you," he smiled.

Duncan immediately recognized the young warrior from the training ground, except now she was wearing a turquoise dress, and her hair, which was still messy after the fight, was pinned back in a bun. Elissa approached the interlocutors and made a slight bow.

"Hou, do you remember my daughter?" Thairn introduced her.

"I see she's grown into a beautiful lady." Hou replied politely. "It's good to see you again, my dear."

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