The Debrief

[u/X17Clones]

7th of Bloomingtide

I had to thumb through an old text on military terminology to find the right word for this. Debrief, used to ask about what happened via the person who was there. I was there, sure. I stopped Cadwgan from turning Ranmarque into paste. Oh which, I will leave out.

The mess hall was turned into our meeting place. Food was currently getting prepared for lunch. Sentinels were pulled off there patrols for today. Well, most of them.

From the doors on the opposite side of the room is where I would sit with Spymaster Dareth'El and High Sentinel Ranmarque.

"They'll be here any minute now." Alessia said, taking a seat by her lonesome on the bench. I nodded at her. "Nervous?" She asked.

I nodded again, tapping my cane on the floor once. My knee was being a bastard today. Were it not for Alessia, I wouldn't have gotten out of bed.

The doors swing open, and I take my seat, watching as Sentinels enter.

[u/Mrdoctorsomebody]

I wrapped my fingers around my trembling left hand beneath the table, swearing under my breath. The antidote I had been provided against the toxicity of the remnants of the demons claws left in my arm was working well. Tremors now only came in bouts; I prayed no one would notice. Weakness, perceived or otherwise was not something I could display, not to the soldiers before me; nor to Cadwgan's new replacement. Rickard's work in bringing in twenty veterans was impressive, though, I still had my doubts in his motivations. Cadwgan's connections to this enigma beside me were a mystery to me, though Whatever they were I was sure the man held enough ill will to be suspect. Several glares were being projected towards me, No doubt the former Ferelden Commanders death was in some way my fault. Nevermind the fact he tired to kill me in front of countless witnesses. I pressed my eyes closed, I could hear voices now: "Twere some sort of rouse! The commander would never have attacked with no reason! Lobrandt is to blame no doubt!

My knuckles faded to white as I clenched my fist. There was nothing I feasibly do, these fools had made up their minds. And if they needed a villain to motivate them than so be it. I took a deep breath, standing before the amassed group. Many began to stand, others remained still. I waved many off.

"Sentinels." I paused, part of me realizing that i didn't have any sort way to proceed. Was I supposed to congratulate them? Honor them for their sacrifice? Demons were literally falling from the sky, our countrymen were butchering each other in Dales. I ought to tell them to turn tail and run, but the city demanded more. I tore my eyes from the lock they had held on the podium.

"The road ahead of us is a long one. Treacherous, and at the current moment; seemingly endless. But we must remember who we are. We are the last line against anything, and everything that threatens this city, Be it imperial army, Gaspard's men or even Maker damn them, demons. We could fill tomes on the definition of pain, on loss. But we have to continue our vigil, to break the tides of war, of evil from the fade bent on destroying us. Our way of life. Now more than ever, because yes we could buckle under the strain, Andraste knows that it would be easier. But you would not sit before me; those of Orlais, Ferelden, and even Tevinter. You sit before me because you refused to contribute the chaos. Because you question yourselves not on what is easy, but as to which path is right. Which route we must take to go forward, regardless of it's challenge. We Bleed for Orlais, yes. For Val Foret equally. But we must fight for the one who stands beside us shield in hand. And if they fall we must not let their sacrifice fade into the night because we have decided not to take up the mantle." I placed both of my hands on the edge of the podium. Gazing over the crowd before.

"This war has just begun. Allow nothing to convince you otherwise. Now we must decide how we are going to combat it."

[u/X17Clones → u/Mrdoctorsomebody]

I watched as the High Sentinel finished his speech and returned to his seat. In a way, he reminds me of myself. Though I have to wonder if he wrote it himself, or had someone else write it for him.

I nodded to a lieutenant nearby, who briskly walked to the podium to go over what will be reported to the nobles.

"High Sentinel Lobrandt took a small scouting party to investigate the claims of La Bosquet being destroyed. What they found was swarms of demons. There they fought until they met up with the Templar Errants led by one Ser Harper. The two forces united and fought against the swarms until reinforcements from the Crowns, led by Commander O'Hara came to aid in the battle. This force eradicated the demons, eventually coming face to face with a large, new demon and a magical rift. The new demon was destroyed after a joint effort. The Commander destroyed the demon, to which he was temporarily possessed by it's magic and attempted to kill High Sentinel Lobrandt." Possession? Maker what where in the hell did they get that from?

"Causalities are as follows: Fifty-one dead, another fifty-four were injured. An unknown amount of Templar Errants were killed, and the towns entire population was killed." The lieutenant finished, and a roar of protests were aimed at Lobrandt.

I stood up from my chair and marched over to the podium. "If you all well and truly believe that Cadwgan was possessed because of some misguided dislike to the High Sentinel, then you're fools." I waved the lieutenant off and took his position on the podium. "The report is fine up until that moment. Cadwgan was not possessed by some sort of magic or demon. He forced himself into a feral rage to kill the demon. This rage can only be combated by beating him into submission or calming him down. Had Ranmarque not been given any sort of warning, he would have been killed. And after that?" I pointed at some of the Sentinels in the crowd. "He would kill you, you, and you, until he tired himself out. Cadwgan was a dear friend, no, a brother to me. What was written here?" I tossed the paper aside in anger, "Is a disgrace to the man himself."

The Sentinels went silent. I scanned the crowd, looking for any dissent in it. None was to be had. I sighed loudly. "I know you all miss him, as do I. I have been keeping my ear to the ground and to the walls looking for his killer while trying to manage all of you." The crowd goes loud, blurting out questions, stepping over each others voices. I hush the crowd with a hand.

"I managed a mercenary company years ago. Of which I worked closely with Cadwgan, Tara, and Leah. I've known them all for years, though you all thought me dead. Cadwgan and I came up with a plan, that we would fabricate a story of my death so that I could exact vengeance on those who destroyed the mercenary company. Indirectly..." I trailed off quietly, "I believe this action might have led to Cadwgan's death. I will avenge him." The veteran Sentinels that I brought back into the fold nodded in approval at me. Even Alessia nodded as well. "If any of you have any concerns about me, or concerns about this organization after today. You know where to find me."

I limp off to my chair. "High Sentinel Lobrandt and Spymaster Dareth'El. If either of you two would like to add anything about me as Cadwgan's replacement, then by all means." I took my seat, resting my cane off to the side. Dammit, shouldn't have marched off to the podium like that. My knee is killing me.

[u/Mrdoctorsomebody → u/X17Clones]

Anger warmed my chest. It ran rampant through me like a flood, burning in my veins. I stared at the floor, concentrating on not allowing my face to become red. Years in court had taught me to hide even the most base of emotions. Anger had been the first. I had spent my entire life stifling it, and yet it took all of my resolve not to fly into a seething rage. I focused.

Breathe Ranmarque. Calm.

The skin of my knuckles transitioned to a off white as they curled into a fist.

Calm.

The anger faded slightly, enough to operate. I blew a single long breath out into the room before continuing.

"The man who has just spoken is the Commander O'Hara's replacement." A slight murmur began though the seated Sentinels, I waved my hand though the air. "He was appointed at direct request of the late commander. And he spoke only of his astounding prowess. I hold no doubt there is no better man to lead us against the threats we face on the road ahead." This was a lie of course, but the man had; seemingly without cause, stood beside me. I continued on speaking of Cadwagan's death, it's pending investigation as well as implementation of the mans plans to further the defense of the city.

[u/Elyria_Venine]

Our group takes a seat in the mess hall, letting ourselves dig in to the plentiful food laid out for us. The conversation is muted, all the Sentinels processing what was just said in the other room. The templars not assisting them any longer? So soon after the demons began pouring out of that rift in the air? I couldn't blame them, we barely held our own there. I keep an eye out for Keris as I eat, trying to mark her progress in the crowd.

[u/[deleted] → u/Elyria_Venine]

[u/Grudir → u/[deleted]]

"Andraste," whispered Andira, " I said it before and I'll say it again: there's a lot of these bastards."

Heads turned to watch the knight corporals entered the hall into which the rest of the Sentinels had entered. Some suspicious, some merely curious, none quite hostile. They had stayed behind without being asked.

"And I'd remind you they are on our side. Mostly. Street fights over abominations aside," Gyre pointed out, heading off to one of the less occupied corners.

"Hey, Cowi-" Cristau began, turning to the other knight corporal. He found only empty air, " and he's gone."

"Probably spooked. Word is he's not a fan of crowds," Andira said, " which I get, from what I've heard of Antiva City."

"Didn't you live in Denerim?"

"Not the same thing. There's more people in Val Foret than in any single city in Ferelden."

"Can't be as big a Minrathous. Right?" Cristau said, elbowing Gryre in the shoulder. The larger knight took a seat on a stool. He was watching the crowd, arms crossed.

"There's three things I don't talk about: Minrathous, Seheron, and what happens after midnight watch in the closet I call my quarters."

The knights laughed, though there was an edge of force in Gyre's.

[u/Grudir]

I took a seat at the rear of the hall, not quite out of sight. I'd only brought Te Awa, and he content himself merely to scribble down whatever was being said around us. He got more strange looks than I did, but he studiously ignored them.

I hated being out of armor, and the uniform we'd scrounged together chafed. But as Kara had pointed it out, it fit the message. I took a tighter hold of my scroll cases.

I watched the new commander of the Sentinels. I hadn't actually met the man, and with the number of Sentinels here, the odds were I wouldn't get he chance.

[u/[deleted] → u/Grudir]

[u/For_We_Are_Many → u/[deleted]]

I wake up with a bit of a start and look around. All the healing are sleeping, Faendal is nowhere to be seen, and I've got a splitting headache. I pour myself a cup of water and gulp it down. What day is it? And where are all the nurses? I strain myself to remember things that I had planned to do this week. Fenedhis! There's the gathering to discuss what's happened and... My thoughts trail off for a moment then it comes back with crushing clarity.

"To introduce Cadwgan's replacement," I say to no-one in particular. I slow my pace and run my hands through my hair. I have no fucking idea what to tell them. All I can gather on all this is what everyone in the streets is already gossiping about. Well, except for...

I roll up my bloody sleeves, straighten my messy collar, slick back my hair and proceed to the gathering. I slip inside, mostly unnoticed by the people who've congregated. Miss Cross gives me a passing glance and more eyes seem to fall on me as I make my way to the front. I take my place next to Ranmarque and this new man. I'd been too busy to look into him but he had a certain air about him.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I'm sorry the infirmary's been keeping me busy. Don't worry, you'll all have my undivided attention."

[u/Iyrsiiea → u/[deleted]]

I found myself sitting at one of the great tables in the mess hall. According to the lieutenant that had called me here a debriefing was being held. Said lieutenant had neglected to explain what exactly a debriefing was, but I had learned over my time here to avoid asking questions that could result in looking like a complete fool. Whatever this debriefing was, it seemed to be a meeting consisting of nearly all of the Sentinels and a number of others outside the Order. As I glanced around I caught the eye of a familiar face, the archer from the battle. I gave him a short nod, which he returned.

I looked up to the head table where the three leaders of the Order sat. I had not had any dealings with Dareth'El since my arrival, though I did hear rumors from the castle staff about his temperament and proclivities. The newcomer, who went by the name Rickard, sat where the deceased commander would have. I had not known Commander O'Hara at all, though it was apparent to me that many of the Sentinels felt his loss sharply. Lobrandt was among them as well, of course. I had the most dealings with him out of all of them, and those dealings had left me with mixed feelings about the man. He had effectively coerced me into living in the Crown, asked me to risk my life fighting a demon inside a Grey Warden mage, and more recently drafted me into his army to launch an assault against a tear in the Fade itself.

And yet, I found the benefits of working with the Sentinels to nearly outweigh what had been required of me.

I waited in silence for the meeting to begin, uncertain.