"Captain! The city is over run! We must fall back." An estranged voice shouted through the thick mist that formed in the land around them. The sounds of screaming woman, children, and even men boomed through the covered fields. In the distance a trudging, clanking sound could be heard and it only cause hearts to sink lower. Varin looked out and saw the wave of Darkspawn sit like a giant mass against the mist filled background. Were it not for the abject horror of the sight alone Varin would have been impressed at the ability to martial such a force. In that instant the voice that had rang out once before chimed once again and he knew that they were lost. With a heavy sigh Varin took a quick look at the field in front of him. The city itself had filled with corpses. The dead of both human, elven, dwarven, hurlock, genlock lay amongst the once green surroundings. Varin closed his eyes as he felt the pulsing sounds of the trudging army moving forward with slow and methodical force.<br/><br/>He sighed once again and knew that deep in his heart that nothing could be done. "We must...We must retreat. Now, get everyone out now." He yelled over the steady rhythm of the coming feet. He thanked the maker, the dwarven paragons, the old elven gods that the darkspawn were far enough away to get most of the wagons filled with people and supplies out of Amaranthene before it was too late.<br/><br/>That had been three months ago and every single moment weighed heavily on Varin's mind. The slow trudge of the people from the upper arling of Ferhelden made their quiet and methodical trudge through the various mountain ranges, forests, and plains riddled with small roving bands of darkspawn. The loss of soldier and civilian weighed heavy on his heart and he wondered if they, with so many civilians, would make it to their destination. Fear gripped him as he wondered if Orlais was as bad as Ferhelden and if that was the case they would have nowhere to go. That thought alone scarred him to no end. Valin walked at the front as several wagons trotted behind him and a small sequence of guards made up the slim amount of protection that could be supplied for the wagons. Valin heard the rustling in the brush and it made him tense and draw his greatsword. "What is it captain?" Questioned one of the soldiers as he readied a mace and shield."<br/>"I think there is something following us...And quit calling me captain, I'm just a man like any of you." Valin's eyes trailed across the landscape and watched as three genlocks  hurled themselves out of the brush and stormed them. Valin released a deep war cry and several of the men charged in bolstered morale. Valin lunged forward and brought his sword down upon the middle genlock cutting through the patchwork armor on the dark creatures chest. The other soldiers made quick work of the other two as they vented their rage out against the bodies. Valin brought his sword back onto his back and ushered for the wagon to continue forward.<br/><br/>The group made its way to the outskirts of the city. It was bleak but was still upright and with a collective sigh the group inwardly cheered at its marvelous sight. Valin led the group to the front gates and talked to the guards. Although rather disliking the group in a few coins made their way into their hands and they called for the gateman to open it for them. Finally they were in relative safety, at least for now. Valin kept moving through the walls of the city looking for anything that could help him ease his mind a tad. Stumbling upon an Inn he smiled to himself and then nodded at the two elven women before he stepped inside.<br/>"Hello sir...I would like a room and something to drink, something... Strong would be best." The innkeeper produced the strongest ale that he could muster as Valin slid the coin across the wooden framed counter. Valin released another sigh and brought the drink to his lips letting the walls form some sort of comfort for him.