To The Tower

"It is an honor, Nygozy."

"Irving. Ladies."

Nygozy looked at Ranyin and smiled at him then gave Kestrel a sideways glance, noticing the way he reacted and exuded an aura of distaste. She gave him a cold, calm assessment, her eyes moving up then down his frame slowly. The sneer from Kai could almost be felt as she considered this person due to his name having been on her list of possible candidates.

She handed the list to Calliara to see what she thought and was not surprised that the other woman played a cool game of indifference, not standing down from the man's attitude. 'Good.' She thought as Calliara gave the man look for look, 'She needs to stand up to people like this one.'

The Dwarf smirked then turned to face Ranyin first, giving him a nod and slight bow, "Thank you and good day to you, Ranyin Dane." She said then noticed the scowl on the Tamassran's face just before he spoke.

"What am I, chopped liver?"

"A mountain of it, maybe, Tamassran but even if you were then you would hardly be unnoticeable. I am certainly glad you do not smell like it." She stated to the huge man before giving the more eager young Templar a smile and changing her target to sight Kestrel himself.

"I'm surprised you did not notice and acknowledge someone that large, presenting only a pleasantry to the feminine part of the group out of duty." Her eyes turned to Kestrel's face, looking up with a raised eyebrow, "Maybe whoever made notes for Knight-Commander Greagoir was mistaken in the names he presented for possible promotion and testing for entry into the Grey Wardens. I am sure he meant someone who had better observational skills and believes in more than only doing as much as duty requires."

Politics. Recruitment. Sophia was finding it hard not to giggle. She had a feeling that inducting the young templar into the group would certainly make for an... interesting time. Especially if he were forced to spend time amongst the elves. The contempt rolling off him was enough to make her hair curl. Not that anyone would have noticed. So far, she was almost a non-entity. Which was just the way she liked it. It was just a pity that they had caught up with the Warden so quickly... she would have relished a chance to hear more of Calliara's past. The willowy mage shrugged to herself, smile flickering. Another time, perhaps.

That was when the scent wafted from under the door that the two Templars were guarding, snapping Sophia out of her dreamy stupor, eyes sharp. Of course... hadn't Nygozy said that she wanted to visit the Library? And here they were, stuck outside interviewing prospective initiates! Weren't the others aware of the knowledge that waited for them on the other side?

Then again... would much have changed since her last visit? New volumes would have been added, perhaps... a new filing system? Treatises offering insight into new and intricate spells? Sophia fidgeted: she could almost hear the Tower laughing at her. Resisting the urge to poke her tongue out at it she stood up straight, even brushing her hair out of her eyes. Hopefully, Nygozy would send her on ahead. If not... well. Slipping past was always an option.

When his shift had ended, Devin had retired to the library, his nose in an interesting book about the Tevinter Imperium that he had taken from the shelves. He knew that the Magister Lords of Tevinter were evil people who had done terrible things, but history was history and there was more to it than the bad things. Of course, having worked the night shift, he was tired and he was hungry, but the book had been so interesting that he'd kept reading.

He didn't realise he had drifted off until he woke up, aching as he had had fallen asleep in his heavy Templar plate. He glanced to a window to see daylight filtering in. What time of day it was, he didn't know, but he wondered why no-one had poked him to wake him or something.

He found his book lying on his lap. He frowned as he saw that one of the pages had been bent. He smoothed it out the best he could and placed a bookmark in it, then went to replace it on one of the shelves. He figured he should retire to his quarters and rest, but he didn't feel tired at all. Maybe some training would do him some good. That's when he noticed the strange gathering, the dwarven face of one which he could not mistake, for not only had he seen her face in a history book, but he had seen her at the Tower one time before. Of course, at that time, he'd been nursing one of his own wounds that an Abomination had given him.

The Hero of Ferelden. Accompanying her was quite a motley crew. Was the gray-haired woman a Dalish elf? She certainly look like one. And there was another woman with her, as well as a Qunari. An interesting people, the Qunari, though he didn't like what he'd heard of how they forced their religion upon people. He'd rather die than be forced to follow some foreign creed. And the First Enchanter was there, as well as two Templar guards that he recognised. He nodded to them as he passed them all, replacing the book back into the history section.

Calliara kept staring at Kestrel, not wanting to be the first looking away, but noticed movement with the corner of her eye. As a ranger, she could 'see' with more than one sense, and when the Templar walked pass them she studied him with a quick glance. That one looked curious about them, not excited like Ranyin and not pissed off like Kestrel. Templars were complicated warriors to handle, they had to be mentally balanced to deal with their own addiction and to fulfill their vows and duties with the Chantry and towards Mages. But that man just looked curious, even seeing a tattoed elf, a dwarf (that surely he knew well), a Qunari and another woman. And he had a book in his hand.

The Dalish moved her head just a bit to keep the new Templar in sight while staring at Kestrel, and for some moment her eyes wanted to wander through the books exposed there. If only she could read properly... How many tales, songs and stories were kept there?

She shook herself from her fascination, still looking at Kestrel seriously and not blinking at all. She knew how unnerved people were when she stared at them like that, but it was a good defense against them. Make them nervous and they won't get close. Like wolves. She waited for someone to say anything else, but she remained silent. It was not her place to speak, at least before Nygozy decided something.

He quickly replaced the book, and glanced back at the group, but it was rude to stare and even ruder to eavesdrop. Shyly, the Templar started back towards his seat, when he heard something from the other side of one of the book cases. He followed the sound of the weeping, to find a black-haired apprentice desperately moving around, as if looking for something. “What's wrong?” he asked her.

She looked up. She was human, female. An apprentice, judging by her robes. “Oh...it's nothing...I-I'll just go...it's almost time for my lesson...at this rate, I'll never find it...”

He frowned. “Find what? Maybe I could help.” He was friendly to mages, unless they gave him a reason not to be. And this poor girl was obviously very troubled at the loss. It must have been special to her, whatever it was.

“Mother's amulet. She gave it to me before I was...taken to the tower...the clasp must have broken, it must have fallen somewhere. I-I've got to go...my mentor will yell at me otherwise...”

“Tell me what it looks like,” he requested. He didn't have many keepsakes, though his most treasured would be his first copy of the Chant of Light, which was battered from years of reading from its pages. He hadn't had a mother, and this girl had been taken from hers. That amulet was probably the only memory she had of her. And it was important to her, even though the apprentices left family ties behind upon joining the Circle.

She described it to him and told him of the places she'd been to, and then left hurriedly. The Templar now began his search for the girl's amulet. His search eventually brought him closer to the table where Irving and the Grey Wardens were...

((OOC: The apprentice is no-one in particular, just a random NPC. This is sort of to show that Devin's a nice guy. ^^ He didn't notice Calliara was glancing at him, because I'd assume Calliara's very good at not getting such actions noticed)).

Watching the two Templars to see their reactions was a lazy ploy used when the Dwarf wanted to assess instead of address something. She waited while another Templar came closer. Part of her attention was on this new gentleman who certainly was a gentleman. As he took his time helping a mage girl it made her consider the names on the sheet she'd had. She knew that face. Was he here during the demon problems and stuck in with the mages while the trouble had erupted?

"Kestrel, you are with me on the orders of Knight-Commander Greagoir so that we can speak together." She eyed him suspiciously before turning to the other young man, "We may speak again later, Ranyin. Thank you for your help, Irving. I know you are a very busy man so I will come see you later with my results."

Irving smiled at her, "That I am sure of." He turned and walked towards his room.

Nygozy took a moment to view her own group, "Calliara, Sophia and Tamassran. If you would go through to the librarian quarter master in charge of books then we can get going on our research. You have the paperwork, Calliara, for what we require. I know there are books here in your own language as well so that will help. We will meet here just after the supper bell at that first table."

She walked into the library expecting her people to do as she stated without problem. If they had any questions they would ask now but she believed there probably would not be any.

Torture rushed ahead, sniffing about the sides of the bookcases and moving both Devin and the young girl then started scratching at a crack at the bottom of one of the bottom shelves then barked.

A smile lit upon the small woman's face as she watched her mabari search and waited for the results.

"Calliara, Sophia and Tamassran. If you would go through to the librarian quarter master in charge of books then we can get going on our research. You have the paperwork, Calliara, for what we require. I know there are books here in your own language as well so that will help. We will meet here just after the supper bell at that first table."

Calliara nodded silently, still staring at Kestrel, and slowly her lips curved in a cold, wolvish smile, just as a predator eyeing a bug that thought it was a menace. She turned her head, slow, her eyes focused on Kestrel's face until she looked at Sophia and the Tamassran.

''Sophia. Hahren Tamassran. Please come with me'' The Dalish motioned them to follow her and started walking, reading the list she had in hand. She had some difficulties with many of the words, but she was determined to fulfill what she was asked. Surely the person in charge off the library would read it properly

More Templars filed in, and the Tamassran looked incredibly bored. He then stood up straight upon receiving orders from the Warden-Commander. "Calliara, Sophia and Tamassran. If you would go through to the librarian quarter master in charge of books then we can get going on our research. You have the paperwork, Calliara, for what we require. I know there are books here in your own language as well so that will help. We will meet here just after the supper bell at that first table." She said and the Tamassran nodded. "Yes... although I do not know what it is we are looking for." he grunted, then looked towards Calliara. ''Sophia. Hahren Tamassran. Please come with me." she said and the Qunari nodded, once again. "Curious... the term hahren." He mused to himself.

((OOC: Sorry on the delay. My muse left me, and I had house cleaning and stuff to do. In case you didn't know—though you probably do—ser isn't used just for men. ^^ Hope I'm not doing anything wrong by slightly bunnying your Mabari)).

He heard the scraping of paws against stone floor, and glanced down to see a dog, sniffing around as the Templar himself looked desperately. He glanced back and saw the owner of the dog; not only a familiar face that he'd seen at the Tower during the demon attacks but the Hero of Ferelden herself. He was surprised to see that she would take the time to aid him in finding the apprentice's trinket.

And soon it was found, not by he, but by the Mabari hound. They were as smart as they were large, that much was for certain. He opened his hand for it, sighing with relief. “Thank you, ser, for getting your Mabari to help me,” he said, to Nygozy. “We've spared that poor girl a lot of heartache. I'll return it to her when her classes are over.” The trinket dropped into his hand, and he wiped the saliva off with his cloth. “Good doggie,” he told the Mabari. He wished that he could have one, though he doubted he ever would be allowed one, as he'd probably live and serve in the Tower until retirement.

“You were the one,” he said. “The one who rid the Tower of all those Abominations. I saw you when you came to the Tower.” He was still amazed by this.

((No problem and I don't mind Torture being bunnied))

Nygozy didn't even watch as the others left her side but continued to watch Devin as he reacted towards Torture's help. The dog's inate ability to find almost anything made it so that she did not doubt for a second that his nose would pick out where the piece of jewelry. In fact, she had no idea how her hound found anything considering some of the slobbered items he'd brought her before. It was always a surprise to see what he could find next. Not always a pleasant surprise but at least this finding was a good one.

“Thank you, ser, for getting your Mabari to help me. We've spared that poor girl a lot of heartache. I'll return it to her when her classes are over.”

"Torture does as he pleases. I did not request that he help you. That's all his slobbering goodness." She chuckled as the trinket dropped into his hand, and he wiped the saliva off with his cloth.

“Good doggie,” he told the Mabari.

Nygozy noticed the yearning eyes as the Templar looked at Torture and the way her Mabari reacted to the man. Her eyes twinkled in thought as she considered what was going on.

“You were the one. The one who rid the Tower of all those Abominations. I saw you when you came to the Tower.”

The amazed inflection to Devin's voice was easily caught and Nygozy smirked, "My friends helped with that a lot. If it weren't for working together it never would have gotten done. I remember faintly seeing you as well. Good fighter. Swift hand, hard action. You were impressive."

((Lith using Fei's computer and not feeling like logging out and logging back in.))

Kestrel kept his face long, the frown stretching the edges of his lips towards the ground, each inch protruding his contempt for everything about this group. He was spoken to by the others of the group, but his mouth did not stray to answer their insignificant words. His eyes stayed to Nygozy, she was what he had to worry about. He had no love for the organization of the Wardens, but he knew that if given the word, he could not deny their recruitment (or rather conscription). And as the little one opened her mouth to speak to him directly he knew he had cause to dread.

"Kestrel, you are with me on the orders of Knight-Commander Greagoir so that we can speak together."

His muscles tensed, he wanted to say no, but he could not do such a dishonor to his great family. There was nothing Kestrel had wanted more than to bring them back up to the statues they deserved. His head nodded though his body did not do so easily. "Then I will follow you." He would not open his mouth anymore, unless addressed directly.

((OOC: Sorry about the delay. Hehe, Lith, it'd be interesting if we made Kestrel and Devin bunkmates.))

"Well, then, thank you, Torture," said Devin with a smile. "I see the things I've heard about Mabari's smarts are not exaggerated." He pocketed the trinket, not wanting to interrupt the girl's training. He would deliver it to her once she had free time. "Ah, thank you. I'm nothing special, really. Was merely doing my job." He frowned. "So many good people lost their lives that day."

He hoped she didn't mind making conversation with him, but decided to ask first. She was a dwarf and the Hero of Ferelden; she probably had seen a lot. And he was curious. "So, are you busy?" He noticed Kestrel, and simply nodded to him. He was under the impression that Kestrel disapproved of him, but he couldn't really tell.

((That's ok. Life happens and geez that is a good idea hehe))

Nygozy watched as the other three left from the side of her eyes then regarded the two Templars before her, "Ah. I am feeling that Greggy may have tossed me a non-compliant." She said partly to Kestrel and partly to herself, her nickname for the large man ringing of amusement, "Make yourself comfy, Kestrel. This may take a while and I don't want you to fall asleep on your feet."

She pulled out a chair with her foot and swirled it around to him in such a way that it faced away from her then grinned at Devin, "Mabari are a lot smarter than some say." Torture barked, wagged his little tail and started jumping up and down, "No you cannot steal their lamb." She said and the dog put his head down and whimpered, "But you can ask for some bones but get your back butt back fast." Torture brightened up and rushed from the room, knowing exactly where to go.

The warden sighed, "I do have time to talk with you, Devin. In fact, you are one of the people I wanted to see."

Nygozy let the dog leave to ask for bones. Devin chuckled. "I'm sure the Tranquil that works in the kitchens will give him a bone or two," he said. She was one of the few that had survived, the head of the kitchen staff. He didn't recall her name, though.

"I do have time to talk with you, Devin. In fact, you are one of the people I wanted to see."

"Me?" He was surprised, and his voice revealed as such. That wasn't what he'd expected. "You came to see me?" Getting over the surprise, he asked, "You're going to test me for recruitment into the Wardens?"

She hopped up onto the table backwards and sat there looking at Devin with a cheeky grin, "Something like that." The little woman tapped her fingers on the table for a moment then continued, "You were quite brave during the infestation of abominations, took it upon yourself to help and do your best to protect those not as strong as yourself. That is admirable."

Nygozy hopped down from the table and let her eyes wander over the bookshelves, "You were born here, raised here and have a good record for learning etcetera etcetera. At least one person I know has pegged you for a possible recruit, if not specifically to be a Grey Warden then at least to work with us as an aid."

There was a moment of silence as she turned back to Devin and she waited for it all to sink in, "What do you think? Is this something which would please you?"

((OOC: It'd be nifty if it was Greagoir that had suggested him. :3))

"You were quite brave during the infestation of abominations, took it upon yourself to help and do your best to protect those not as strong as yourself. That is admirable."

It did make sense, though he was still surprised she'd chosen him. There were so many talented people in Ferelden. "I would not stand around while people were getting killed. Those that can fight to protect those that cannot, should," he said.

"You were born here, raised here and have a good record for learning etcetera etcetera. At least one person I know has pegged you for a possible recruit, if not specifically to be a Grey Warden then at least to work with us as an aid."

"I...I would be honoured to," he said, after a moment of thinking it over. "I would like to be a Grey Warden." He didn't have a lot of experience out of the tower, but he'd fought during the attack on Denerim, and he knew the basics of what darkspawn were like. Foul, unholy creatures they were. And they had spellcasters. Undoubtedly his templar abilities would be useful.

"Though..." he said apprehensively. "I have duties here. Are you sure that the Chantry would be fine with this?"

"The chantry will be fine with any choice I make." She shrugged, "Besides, Greagoir is one of the people who suggested you but it was not he who made me decide. Besides that, it is you who gave me incentive to choose you."

She tapped Kestrel, indicated for him to come along and started walking, "There will be someone to take over your duties here." Nygozy stated to help him out, "I know you have not been out of the Tower much but I have been told that you are the adventurous type so it should be fine."

The small Dwarf started leading them to the Templar housing, "I need both of you to gather your things and meet me at the Tower entrance. We will be leaving as soon as you have said your good byes to people and we are ready. Don't hurry too much. I shall avail myself with Greagoir's company." She grinned and it wasn't a sweet one.

Some time later Nygozy sat on top of a table at the entrance to the tower, looking at some weapons laid out on another table where the merchant who was a constant fixture at the Tower dealt his trade.

"No no. Hero you are not looking at this one properly. See the markings here and here? That is the runic designs which bring out the flame."

The warden commander shook her head, "Not at all. That is lightning. I know lightning designs when I see them and that is Qunari make, mark my words. Sten carried one himself but it did not use lightning."

Torture lay upon the ground snorting with frustration now and again then his head popped up.

"Glad to see you ready." She said without looking over to one of the newest recruits, "Kestrel has already left for the mainland. He seems to be in a bit of a snit. Anyway, let's get a move on. If the fates have a bad sense of humor then Sinjan will have cooked and then I will have to pretend to eat his cooking. Best to get the pain done and over with as soon as possible."

((OOC: If that Qunari sword isn't intended for anyone and it's a Greatsword, Devin could use an awesome new greatsword to start his journey off with. ^_^))

He had expected that Greagoir was among those that had suggested him, as the Knight-Commander always seemed impress with his service at the tower. "That's right," he said. "I like to learn new things. Thank you for this opportunity, Warden-Commander." He was surprised that the order was not just to him, but to Kestrel. The other templar was reclusive, and towards the mages of the towers, he was not nice. He knew there were mages in the Grey Wardens; he had seen them with the Warden-Commander.

But he wasn't one to question. "Right away, ser," he said, and left to get what little effects he had, and to return the trinket to the girl . She was immensely grateful, but she didn't have much time to talk to him.. A copy of the Chant of Light, clothes, a few journals, his coinpurse, and a book of children's tales. He placed this all neatly in a bag and hurried to the entrance, to find Nygozy looking over the merchant's swords. "That is quite an impressive weapon, Warden-Commander," he said, walking over to the dwarf. It was so interesting how he towered above her in height and yet he knew she was stronger than him, had seen so much more combat than he had. But the dwarven folk were like that: short, but strong.

"It is a good one, isn't it?" She stated more than asked Devin, "A greatsword worthy of a champion." Nygozy's hazel eyes lifted just as the left edge of her lips did in a smirk, "Test it out on that dummy over there please, Devin."

She hopped off the table and strode to the side to watch the young man and see how he reacted as well as how the sword would work. The warden commander knew potential and she saw a lot within both templar and sword but it would have to be nurtured. He was a good man and that was the type she truly needed within the warden ranks.

Torture's head lifted and he strode to Nygozy's side, waiting and watching.

She certainly complimented him a lot. He wouldn't consider himself a champion, though Greagoir had mentioned that he had talent with a blade. He grinned, and gripped the hilt. To those who had not trained with heavy weapons, it would seem as though it were effortless to lift that heavy blade, and the red-haired man had enough strength in him from all of his training and fighting with his weapon of choice that he lifted it with ease, admiring the fine Qunari craftsmanship. They might have been heathens, but one could see in the design of the sword that they strove for perfection in their craftsmanship, and one might look upon this sword and believe they'd achieved it.

He walked over to the dummy, and swung. The dummy was made to absorb impacts, likely enchanted by the Formarii to withstand any attack. As the blade struck the dummy's "chest," sparks flew from the blade, sparks that would electrocute any darkspawn or whatever he might face as a Grey Warden. The dummy was moving now from the impact, and he used the opportunity to strike again, though it was hardly a moving target.

Nygozy watched while smiling and the salesman turned to her as Devin attacked the dummy, "Ser, he is not a champion."

"Not yet." She admitted as she watched the young man, "But he does have the qualities to become much more. Whether he builds upon those or lets them go to waste will be up to him." Nygozy jumped down from the table, tossed the merchant a small change purse of coin, "We will take it. Devin, time to go. Obtain your scabbard and other belongings and we will leave."

The small woman walked to the door to outside and waited while Torture trotted over to her. She petted an ear absentmindedly.

All of this flattery -- from the Hero of Ferelden, no less -- made him feel a bit awkward. He gazed at his sword for a moment, before removing his old greatsword and its scabbard. He couldn't carry them both, so he would have to sell this one. They'd had quite a time together, him and that sword; he didn't want to part with it, but he knew that it was time to. "Find her a good owner, will you?" he told the merchant, as he secured the new holster on his back, slipped the Qunari sword into it.

He turned and followed Nygozy, patting his pack to show he'd already gotten his things together. "I'm ready," he said, and they stepped out into the daylight. As they left, he found himself gazing back at the Tower, knowing he'd miss his old home. Still, this would be quite an adventure. HIm, a Grey Warden, chosen personally by the Hero herself. He still couldn't believe it, and he hoped he would not diappoint her.

Nygozy waited until Devin was beside her and Torture took up position on his other side then opened the door and got out onto the docks. She calmly walked to the end and lit the lantern to indicate to the boatman across the river to come get them. It would be a while until the man arrived so she stretched and yawned as she walked to the end and took a look over the water.

"You probably have questions to ask. We are going to be a while so you might as well go ahead and ask them while we wait." She turned and smiled at him as Torture sat down and scratched an ear, "This isn't official so you can ask whatever you like, off the record. I would also like to know about you from you and not just the notes I have."

((OOC: Assuming it's night, because how would he see the lantern if it's day? ^^; Unless it's enchanted or something, xD. Also see my away message; it may take a while for me to get my next post up.))

So many questions were bubbling up in his mind as he went over what he knew of darkspawn and Grey Wardens: the Chantry's version where the Magisters entered the Maker's Golden City and tainted it with their sin, cast out as the first Darkspawn. He recalled the fight he had taken part in; the varying types of darkspawn he'd been briefed on, how best to kill them. Grey Wardens were supposedly the only ones who could end a Blight, and had a bad reputation in Ferelden until Nygozy gathered the armies and slayed the Archdemon.

"Now that the Blight is over," he said finally. "What are the darkspawn doing? And what will our present tasks be?" The cold night air stung against his cheeks. He left his helmet off, preferring to equip it only in battle. It was habit; he had started this because he didn't like how intimidating it made him look. And he thought of yet another question bubbling in his mind. "Templars are given lyrium so that we can use our abilities," he explained in case she didn't know. "It is also addictive. How will you handle this? I'm guessing you have a supply?"