Dragon Age: The Duel

Chapter 1: First Light



For some reason that morning was as restless as the night had been. Leaving Leon and David with little else to do except look around. The only problem with that was the horror of it all. The camp parties were broken, almost no one person had enough spirit to share with anyone else. Many had seen their allies die on this battle field. Many others it seemed had seen far worse. Every soul dare not look another in the eyes, they would not risk any attachment to anyone else. There was very little noise and talking except for the smith's repairing weapons and armor, the crackling of the fire's and the hooves of the animals.

Leon decided to visit the wounded when he and David split up for a while. He found those that could be helped and did his best to comfort them. It meant nothing in the long run if the Avvar won, but really how can someone expect them to rest after all this news. All the things that had been shown them were far, far worse than anything they had heard from travelers or merchants.

About the time he had stumbled back on the body of the slashed soldier. From the seal on his shield he was an Ash Warrior. A member of the mercenary group commonly hired by the kingdom when long battles are required. Further inspecting the wound it did at first seam like an animal, even still there had to be more to it, the slashes were huge. He would move the flesh apart to inspect the cuts and noted... Singe marks on the edges of each singular wound. They were not straight either they curved, but ever so slightly.

David had decided to seek out Lord Koyu to ask questions. Seemed Kratis was in a strategy session with his advisers and other lords. David was left to wait, but not long as they finished up rather quickly. Lord Koyu exiting the large tent noted David and approached the young man.

"Looking for me soldier?"

The man said with the hint of a smile, but it may have just been habit from his time with other Lords.

"Yes, my Lord. I was hoping to ask some questions. We are blind right now, but I wish to get some of the picture."

Koyu seemed to narrow his gaze slightly, but it was gone if you tried to look for it.

"Alright young man. Give it your best shot."

Koyu however seemed pleased to answer questions.

"First off, what happened to the previous forces? You had a band numbering over eighty men with thirty reserves."

Koyu nodded.

"I'm not entirely sure... Everyone in the camp is... Missing something, a weapon or spell the enemy is using we are not sure."

David tilted his head slightly.

"Missing something? Do you mean they are missing actual things?"

Koyu sigh's and pulls David to the side.

"No one remembers the last three days. Even I... I remember leading the entirety of my forces, spotting the Avvar main line... Then nothing. I remember walking through the camp after with no bodies, no sign of anyone. Then like a flood person after person wandered back into camp like they were sleep walking."

A noble looking man would walk up on them having heard the ruckus, wearing robes.

"I suspect blood magic."

Koyu looks up and coughs slightly.

"Yes well met, Ser Horen. This is one of my new volunteers from Deadnettle. David Blaze, I believe is his name."

David salutes and lowers his head.

"Well met, Ser Horen."

The noble turns his head slightly.

"Quite. The enemy may have tricked us once, but the magic of our forces will be prepared this time. There is no reason for you to search for King Aethlon. It is likely he is still under the spell and wandering with his company."

The noble Ser Horen walks away, rather hurriedly and offended that such talk was going on.

"My Lord, if I may say, was his mother an Oger, or was he dropped on his head when he was little?"

Koyu laughed at this, however cut himself off so as not to draw attention.

"Yes well, seems every mage in the camp agrees with him, so we will see who's mission is unneeded tomorrow."

David decides to ask another question.

"What exactly will we be doing tomorrow?"

Koyu turns to David with a nod.

"We will be heading south to the Korcari Wilds. Our group should pass by with minimal issue, maybe some scouts, but once through we will be looking for the Chasined or any sign of King Aethlon's men."

David raised a brow puzzled slightly.

"Why the Chasined?"

Koyu looked at David with a half grin.

"The Chasined have lived in the Wilds for generations, I don't think a leaf falls from a tree without them knowing."

David salutes satisfied that there was actually a plan.

"My Lord."

David would leave to meet back up with Leon. Who was pale, well more than usual.

"Leon, whats wrong?"

Leon took a few seconds to keep his thoughts collected correctly.

"Remember the body you pointed out? That wasn't just a wild animal, that man was on the receiving end of a bite from a Dragon that had spit fire within seconds of snatching him up."

David was surprised and it showed in his voice.

"How can you be sure?"

Leon shook his head.

"The teeth had been hot enough to burn the skin it had ripped open."

David shook his head as he paced to the side.

"No, the last of the Dragons had been hunted down by the Pentaghast family a hundred years ago."

Leon nodded.

"It's possible and you know it."

David took a heavy sigh before he relented and sat down across from Leon.

"So. Any idea's on how to keep us from becoming Dragon chow?"

Leon shook his head.

"No, the best I know of Dragon's was what we heard as kids."

And that's how the discussion went, both trying their best not to sound crazy, but wanting to be prepared for every possibility. It was then the sun broke the horizon and Koyu gathered the remaining four volunteers.

"Ready?"

No one answered as they left camp to travel to the Korcari Wilds. It was as Lord Koyu had said, some wolves, and Barbarian scouts. Nothing they couldn't easily dispatch, and nothing out of the ordinary like a mage casting blood magic, or a huge fire breathing Dragon. It was starting to look like the worries were for nothing.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerp!

A whistle of an arrow hitting dead oak. Right near Leon's head. The group turn it was a warning shot, not for the group, but to warn everyone near by. This was going to get tricky, fast. Even though the archer that was with them took him down after the fact they had to move. They began running through the forest straight south before coming to a wide open area of many hundreds of ut down tree's. The rumbling at their feet however rose red flags everywhere, they circled each other facing out waiting for it to appear so they knew how to handle the rest of this situation, when the ground exploded beneath them.

"WURM!"

A large mouthed wurm sprang from the ground knocking the group around. Lord Koyu fell to his front and the others spread from there, the wurm found its target landing on the archer engulfing him all but for a left foot from calf down. Leon rolled to his side, weapon at the ready. The rumbling began a new and David was on his feet. Both weapons pulled back and ready to strike with a whirlwind of slashes. However, the beast sprang up under the remaining soldier engulfing him and attempting to take David as well. David swung blocking two large tusks meant to gore and rip up chunks of earth too large for the beast, but the large creature was simply redirected, its body and weight still moving over David, who was pushed to the ground. Now in danger of being crushed and torn to bits by the creatures many spines and spikes about its body.

"NO!"

A blast of energy shot from Leon's hand knocked the creature away. Leon stabbed the earth and lightning struck the blue gem on his hilt shooting through the blade and dispersing in every direction underground. The wurm forced itself up to the surface and Lord Koyu with David stabbed the creature through the head on each side, before both met on top of the beasts head, severing it completely.

David was scratched up, but alright all the same. It was only then did they realize, they where surrounded by some form of mist. It took only a second but the mist covered the group in a quick whirl and was gone the next. Along with David, Leon, and Kratis.

To be continued.