Vigil's Keep

The main hall was usually filled with diners although today it was filled with the new recruits. The commander sat at one of the dining tables, running through a number of missives as he awaited the arrival of others. Beside him, the Keep's senechal stood at ready, having gotten the materials for the Joining ready.

The huge chalice sat on the table.

The elven mercenary and blood mage would show up on time, with the blood mage admittedly covered in some bandages. He seemed to be recovering well enough at least.

Having cleaned up the dining hall as she had been instructed, the elf had resisted any backtalk or snark. She didn't have a lot of pride, and she had no problem with lying about killing a Genlock if need be. Having performed the chore of cleaning the dining hall with no complaint and not even much of a frown, she'd gone to get herself ready afterward.

Janella arrived in her usual attire, right on time. She didn't have much of an idea as to what to expect, and she only had practical garb in the way of clothes. The elf looked cleaned up enough for it, even if there was some definite bruising around the right side of her face and her ear. It was starting to turn different colors, in stark contrast with the pale tone of her skin. Her dark hair was piled up on top of her head in a bun that might be described as pretty and feminine, but that's as far as she went when it came to her appearance.

She was nervous, but not a bit of it showed on her face or in her mannerisms. Her heart was hammering against her ribs like a bird that was struggling to burst free of her rib cage, but she let off some steam by sending an intimidating grin over at the elven mercenary. Standing in the now immaculate dining room, because she had not wanted to give Byron an excuse to make her go back over her work, she waited.

Runt did as he was told, viewing cleaning as nothing more than a simple request from Master Byron. Similar to Janella, he denied any snarky attitude or complaints. He had finished a bit after Janella had left, making sure his work was acceptable.

When he arrived he wore the same attire as his spar, the only difference was the markings painted on his face and torso, marks of his people with the symbol for the Lady of the Sky in the center of his chest. He stood a fair distance from Janella, although he understood how easily recognizable he was the Avaar was not going to make them seem close. He did notice the mage he fought in his first spar and offered a peaceful nod.

His wounds were covered in fresh bandages, but it did not seemed like they bothered him at all. He stood as tall as a mountain, probably strong as one some might suggest.

Byron would show up eventually, along with a couple of the more senior wardens. However their numbers had been lessened, a good number of them had embarked on a mission on the Dales.

With the recruits in place, the commander stopped his work, gesturing to the senechal, Windel, to begin his work. Windel would walk towards the recruits, collecting the vials of darkspawn blood from them.

Roderick got up and wandered over to the recruits, gesturing for them to stand in a line.

"The Grey Wardens were founded during the First Blight, where humanity stood on the brink of annihilation. So it was that the first Wardens drank the blood of the darkspawn and mastered the Taint. This is the source of our power," the mage said, eyes landing on Janella. Byron had mentioned her guess to her. If Janella looked at Byron, he just sipped his whiskey, eyes on the commander.

Windel took the large silver chalice.

"Those who undergo the Joining become immune to the taint. The time for us has come to begin the Joining. I shall speak the words that been said since the First. Join us brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that can not be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And that one day we shall join you," Roderick spoke quietly.

"Rind, step forward. From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden," the commander said as he held the chalice in his hands. The mage stepped forth, grimacing a little before he took a sip of the mixture. Even as a blood mage, he had his standards. As Roderick removed the chalice from his hands, Rind started having a seizure on the spot, his body jerking in pain as he collapsed onto his knees, his eyes turning white. A groan escaped his lips before he passed out on the spot.

The senior wardens kept silent, watching quietly, remaining stoic in expression. One of them walked over to the mage.

"He lives," she declared.

Roderick then turned to Runt, offering the chalice to him, and then Janella soon after.

If they took a look at the elven mercenary, he was shaking like a leaf.

(Your characters would survive the joining, though there's a variety of degrees of responses to drinking the Darkspawn blood)

Janella waited patiently, even though she wanted to yell that they needed to get on with it. She did blink at the dwarf whenever she saw that he had his flask even at the ceremony, staring at him for a moment. The elf was very careful about keeping her facial expression schooled whenever it was revealed they were going to drink Darkspawn blood. It had only been a guess and she had not thought it would be true. She saw the mage looking at her and tried to look innocent, but she failed miserably. Janella didn't look toward Byron at that moment, instead tilting her head to see how the other recruits were handling having to drink this.

She took a deep breath when it was her turn to drink. Grimacing over the sight of it, she knew she'd come too far to turn back now. She was a criminal, and she doubted they'd let her leave alive even if she did turn back. It had been that way when she was initiated into the Crows. The elf steeled herself before drinking it. Her eyes rolled up in her head and she promptly fell over, her body apparently lifeless. Upon close inspection it would be revealed that she was taking rapid, shallow breaths.

The Avaar made a quick prayer for Janella in hopes she would survive, it would be a shame to lose someone so strong within their ranks.

When it was his turn, he carefully held the chalice, staring into the blackness inside of it before drinking his portion. When it parted from his lips he waited for the effects to kick in what would happen? Would he faint as well? Die? Would he lose his mind to madn-

Buuuurrpp!!

..Or he could just belch like a pig. Runt gave his chest a light pounding to help get the rest of his gas out but bo fainting occurred,"..Did I..Pass?" He asked, confused, as he handed the chalice back.

A good number of the senior wardens looked amused when Runt drank and merely burped.
"That's a rare one," Bryon remarked as he sipped his drink.

"Yes Runt, from this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden. As is Janella," Roderick spoke to the Avvar. It was a lifetime commitment after all. Even if they decided to wander off on their own missions, they were all still bound by the Taint.

Janella thankfully had been out when it came to the elven mercenary's time. His joining was not clean.

The elf had taken the chalice and sipped it, a lot more relaxed when all three of the other recruits had survived and were alive. Being knocked out was something he could handle... but he had no such fortune as the others. After he sipped his drink, his body convulsed, and he reached for his throat, gasping for air before he collapsed. Unlike Rind and Janella, when the warden went over to check, she just shook her head.

"I am sorry Roshan," Roderick said quietly to the elven mercenary as his body went still. As the commander took a look at those who survived... and well only one was standing for the moment.

"How do you feel Runt?"

There would be nightmares of course... and it was all part of being a warden. But thankfully, they would be spared from the worst of it most of the time. The next Blight wasn't upon them and hopefully they wouldn't feel the call of an Archdemon in their lifetime.

Byron moved over to check on Janella, to see if she would awaken soon enough. It always took a toll on the body, but it depended on the recruits but they would heal. Smelling salts did help. The blood mage was beginning to stir as well, groaning softly as he came to.

The elf missed out on the humongous belch and the death. Whenever she did come to, she seemed hungover. Putting one of her slim-fingered hands to her head, she cursed and wavered for a moment upon sitting up. Janella managed to recover well enough, even if she wasn't as graceful as usual while she stood up.

Seeing that Runt and the blood mage had survived, she didn't look upon the other elf's death with any compassion or regret once she realized that he was dead.

Runt nodded slowly, checking his body for any abnormalities,"I am fine sir..It seems my body has taken the blood well..No doubt this is a blessing from the Lady." he stated with confidence. He looked over at the elf mercenary, hearing of his death before walking to the blood mage and Janella, offering himself as a pillar for them to balance on.

"It seems..His will was not strong enough. May he find his peace on the other side.." he stated simply, his words didn't hold pity but more disappointment. To Runt and his people, being strong was knowing when you aren't up to a challenge and preserving your own life, a lesson he didn't learn until much later in his life, but to accept a burden without being ready was the epitome of weakness.

The mercenary could've preserved his life but instead chose weakness. Shame.

He then turned to Roderick,"What do we do now sir?" he asked.

Rind accepted Runt's help. Roderick frowned visibly when Runt declared the fallen elven mercenary weak.

"His name would go into records as a Grey Warden. It is not a matter of weakness. Not all who drink the blood will survive, and those who do are forever changed. Those who survive it, will be immune to the Taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn, as they can sense it in us," the commander said as he walked over to the elf's body.

"The Joining has remained a secret since the First and it is the price we all pay... for the Taint will claim us sooner or later. There is a final ritual... where some of the blood will be taken and placed into an amulet, to remember those who have given their lives to join the Order," Roderick continued before he instructed them on how to go about it. (Game is vague about that, roll with me on this)

"As for what do we do now, you can take a rest if you like, wander the Keep, perhaps visit the City of Amaranthine. Unless you're eager for a mission. Then I'd be more than happy to award you with them. We have received reports that Venatori have a pride demon with them. Several senior wardens have been dispatched. Some of our wardens have gone missing in the Hinterlands and I've not been able to spare anyone to continue the search for them. The Legion of the Dead have also requested our help down in the Deep Roads. Our numbers are still small but we are still needed."

Janella did not accept Runt's help. The former assassin saw it as a sign of weakness, and wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet. She did waver some but she managed to stay on her feet. The elf did set a long-fingered hand over her abdomen and take a deep breath like she was doing her best not to vomit. She managed to keep her composure this time and listened as Roderick spoke. The elf did give the commander a sharp look whenever he spoke of the final ritual and said that the Taint would take them sooner or later. Janella decided it was best to ask questions about it later, she could not change it now.

"I'd like to sleep this off and then maybe take on a mission," she said. "Rest off the spar and the . . . worst drink in all of existence, and I'll be ready for some fun," she said in a flat, wry tone of voice. "I can go and look for the missing wardens in the Hinterlands, that sounds like a task that my skill set might be good for. I'm not the best tracker, but I'm good at staying hidden and searching."

Runt took notice of Janella's denial of his assistance, he almost smirked, the Lady truly blesses him by bringing him here. In terms of the mission, the Avaar crosses his arms in thought.

Tracking wasn't his strong suit, although he could do it if needed but Janella is better off searching,"I shall assist in the Deep Roads. I shall rest along my journey there." He explained.

Janella would receive her missions, together with Rind to head off to Valammar.

Runt was assigned to accompany Tobias down to the Deep Roads.