tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87965996942731930502024-02-18T22:15:31.781-08:00Blood and HonourKiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-71574577084889995562014-08-24T00:41:00.000-07:002014-08-24T00:41:43.840-07:00Chapter 3. Location:- City of Winterhold. Date:- 2E 585 Morning Star Morndas 18th (book2)<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 3.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- City of
Winterhold.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:-
2E 585 Morning Star Morndas 18<sup>th</sup>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
snow storms from the previous days had abated to allow the sun to
break through to warm the city streets briefly before they returned
with a vengeance. The citizens of the city took advantage of the
break in the weather to enjoy the sun and to look for food amongst
the various stores within the city. Children ran free down the city
streets playing games of tag with snowballs, some of which went
astray to hit some of the adults browsing the stalls much to the
children’s amusement. One of which flew straight into Valkor's hook
nosed face which made him splutter and turn red with rage as he wiped
the remains out of his eyes he shouted at the children shaking his
fists. This only made the children laugh even more at his misfortune
as they ran past him knocking him to one side as they carried on
playing their games. As his vision cleared he looked around frantically
looking for the culprits, his anger cooled as he saw two women walk
past him with two children in tow. One woman had long blond hair with
the features of nord descent, the other woman with her had imperial
features with long black hair and green eyes. He spun round to watch
them walk away as a twisted sneer spread across his face at the
recognition of the blond haired nord woman.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Gresla
Shatter-Shield." he muttered under his breath all thoughts of
retribution to the children who had attacked him with snowballs
fading along with the pain of his arthritis in his knees and ankles
that had been plaguing him since his arrival in the cold climate of
the Winterhold.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He
quickly made the decision to follow Gresla back to her accommodation
in the hopes it would lead him to her husband Volk Shatter-Shield and
his partner in crime Left-Paw-Alight.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As he
followed the two women he watched as they browsed the market stalls
and chatted, at one point the young girl started to cry and hold her
arms up to Gresla who stopped talking to pick up the young girl to
carry her for a while. The young boy seemed fascinated by the crowds,
Valkor saw in his young features the same characteristics as his
father Volk. He watched the two women pick over the various cloths
from all over Tamriel which had been delivered into port by the
merchant ships that gave the city its life blood during these harsh
times of war and winter. His one big burning question that was eating
away at his inquisitive mind was “What was a thane of Whiterun
doing here with his family in this city?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After
a while they all headed away from the market to a local tavern and
went inside. Valkor gave it a few minutes and entered the
establishment himself.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
common room had a few patrons sat at various tables eating and
drinking with a few regulars sitting along the bar talking to the
inn's staff as they drank mead and ale. The fire was burning fierce
within its pit in the centre of the room which chased away any
remaining chills the patrons would have as they enjoyed their food
and drinks. Mixed with the smell of burning pine wood and cooking
there was the faint smell of stale mead and beer as Valkor ordered
his meal and drink at the bar before making his way over to an empty
table in a darkened corner of the common room in a small alcove. He
scanned the room looking for Gresla and her two brats, sounds of
footsteps running down the stairs caught his attention as his gaze
looked at the foot of the stairs a young nord boy emerged grinning as
he looked back up the stairway and shouted “ Beat you father.”
with a laugh.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Subconsciously
Valkor pulled his cowl further forward over his head to cover his
handsome and distinguished features as he sat back in the shadows,
his eyes never leaving the foot of the stairs as he watched Volk,
Left-Paw-Alight followed by the imperial woman and a dunmer with a
patch over his left eye appear and walk over to a large group of
tables that had been set for them. The two women along with the small
girl followed the group of men to sit at the tables which had been
arranged for their company.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Valkor
grinned as his mind started to work overtime about what all this
meant, he knew dunmer had dealings with skooma and slaves. With the
knowledge that Volk and Left-Paw-Alight were already involved somehow
with the skooma trade he just needed hard evidence. What worried him
was were the two women also involved or innocent to the whole affair?
How would he deal with the children if both parents are involved?
Maybe he could just throw the two brats into the harbour and be done
with them, casualties to justice; like father like son better to deal
with them now before they grow up and cause problems for the jarls.
Valkor smiled at this thought and of his own clans rise to thane in
place of the Shatter-Shield clan.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He
carried on observing the group trying to get as much information
before he took his report to the jarl of Winterhold. The first name
he obtained was that of the dunmer who the other called Veldam and
shortly after that the imperial woman who others called Amesia. As
for the two children he didn't take any notice of them until Gresla
called the little girl over by the name of Delte. Valkor froze in
place his memory knew that name from some where, it took him a few
minutes to remember it was from a night in Whiterun three years ago.
A dunmer female had entered his jarl's halls and demanded soldiers to
combat against cultists in his realm.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Valkor
had seen and heard enough, he had the information he needed. Delte
was the contact obviously not present due to her boat being delayed
by the storms off the coast. He now needed men to help him
investigate this group and keep watch for the dunmer female arriving
by ship with the skooma. He left a few coins for the drink and his
meal as he stood up form his table and walked out of the inn back out
onto the streets where the snow had begun to fall once more.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
gathering of the Shatter-Shield family and their friends were in a
jubilant mood and the ice between Veldam and Volk had thawed. Gresla,
Amesia and the two children sat in awe as the men retold their
adventures and battles in Cyrodiil. Fraki sat amazed by the stories
about his father, Veldam and Left-Paw-Alight fighting slavers,
vampires and their various skirmishes against the Dominion and
Covenant forces. They eventually finished their meals and
Left-Paw-Alight sat back in his chair as he wiped the foam off his
snout from the fresh beer the barmaid had brought over to the table,
a contented smile on his face as his friends laughed and talked of
old adventures and the future. Slowly his eyelids dropped and he
started to fall asleep, his time playing with the two Shatter-Shield
children had taken its toll out of the old argonian.
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-2114189309827392302014-07-10T08:37:00.000-07:002014-07-10T21:11:45.325-07:00Chapter 2. Location:- Helgan Date:- 2E 585 Morning Star Turdas 7th. (Book 2).<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 2.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Helgan
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 585 Morning Star Turdas 7<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In recent days the small fort town of
Helgen had seen more action than it had all winter, this was mainly
due to the new arrivals from Bruma. Men and women and some children
walked or limped around the town battered and bruised. Soldiers
struggled to help their comrades that were crippled due to missing
limbs and blood soaked bandages stemming the flow of blood. Flies
buzzed around some of the wounded as healers worked on people laying
on stretchers moaning in pain, now and then the sound of a saw
cutting through bone and the screams of pain came from a tent in the
market square.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A small group of mages stood huddled
around a fire warming their hands trying to keep out the chill. The
town had the air of defeat and the smell of death. The people who
lived there walked around in a daze at the news of one of the
Ebonheart Pacts largest defeat of the war so far, and it was at the
hands of Molag Bal and not one of the two enemy alliances. The news
was Bruma had been sacked by a daedric invasion force and Cloud Ruler
Temple which housed a massive garrison of Pact troops was now being
pulled from the very face of Nirn into Coldharbour. There was also a
name on everyone’s lips a dunmer who showed cunning and rallied the
fleeing troops to organise a fighting retreat through Jerrall's Pass,
it was the disgraced general Veldam Arendu of House Telvanni. It was
also he that commanded the mages to pull the mountains down into the
pass to stop the daedra from following them back into Skyrim.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The two guards stood on watch at the
forts main doors watching the crowds as they went about their daily
business with a bored look on their faces. A scream and a commotion
from the crowd caught their attention as a huge senche mount along
with its khajiit rider appeared where the crowd parted like a wave
breaking on the shoreline. The two guards looked at one another in a
stunned silence and then back at the rider and mount as the khajiit
dismounted and walked up to the two guardsmen. The rider was dressed
in casual clothes of his people and carried a large curved blade on
his back. His fur was striped with yellow and black and had the same
pattern as the fur on his mount. The khajiit stopped in front of the
two guards and gave a long low bow to them as a show of respect with
a sweep of his arm, his tail twitching.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This one wishes to deliver a letter
to Veldam Arendu of House Telvanni.” he said as he rose up from his
bow.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Give me the letter khajiit and I
will make sure he gets it.” one of the guards said as he held out
his hand.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This one must deliver the letter to
Veldam regretfully.” came the reply from the khajiit as he looked
at the guards. Seeming to sense the building tension the senche mount
gave a low menacing growl and lowered itself to the ground.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This caught the attention of the two
guards who gulped down their fear and looked back to the khajiit who
was now smiling at them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Very well stay here I will go and
find him.” the guard said with an indignant tone as he turned round
and entered the fort leaving his partner alone with the two khajiit.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Time seemed to stretch as did the
silence while the guard was inside the large fort looking for Veldam so
he could collect the letter from the khajiit.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Nice mount there.” the remaining
guard said nodding over to the large senche mount after a while of
waiting trying to ease the tension and boredom “Where did you buy
him?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This one did not buy him, he is my
brother.” the khajiit said in a reply.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Brother? How can you call a beast of
burden a brother even if its a large sabre cat?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The khajiit sighed and looked at the
guard “It would take to long to explain to you, just that we share
the same mother and father. So he is my brother.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The guardsman was about to open his
mouth once more to speak when the door behind him opened up once more
and his partner appeared along with Veldam.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam stood before the khajiit arms
crossed as he regarded him dressed in battered armour with a blood
stained bandage covering his left eye “I am Veldam Arendu, speak
now cat your name and purpose.” he said to the khajiit as a way of
introductions with an authoritative tone “What do I call you?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This one is Shar'Ki, my brother is
Mah'rut.” he replied with another low bow to Veldam and then
pointed to his senche mount.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam raised an eyebrow as he regarded
the mount and then said “You have a letter for me?” his tone
still sharp and direct.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Shar'Ki delved into his satchel and
produced a scroll with a red string tied around its middle with a wax
seal holding it together, a sigil of a flame embossed in the wax.
Veldam's hand stopped short of taking the scroll as he hesitated and
looked at the wax seal recognising the mark.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How did you know I would be here?”
he asked as he took the scroll.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This one is a courier.” was the
only answer from the khajiit Shar'Ki as he turned around to walk back
to his mount.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam and the two guards stood
watching him leave the town through the gates that would take the
courier to the Falkreath and Whiterun road. Veldam spun round and
headed back inside of the fort before he closed the door he spoke to
the two guards once more “I am not to be disturbed, under any
circumstances.” he then slammed the door shut.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Wooden logs crackled as the flames in
the hearth dried up the sap and consumed them throwing out its heat
into Veldam's room, a large bear fur rug had been placed a few feet
away from the fire with its head looking at the door to the room.
Sunlight streamed in through the open windows to the room showing a
simple bed against the wall opposite the fire, and a desk with a
chair in front of the window. Veldam sat at the desk with his back to
the window allowing the natural light of the day to illuminate the
desk as he stared accusingly at the sealed scroll in front of him, to
his right was a open bottle of molag and a full glass of the black
fiery liquid. Slowly his hand reached for the glass shaking with
anticipation of the sweet release the alcohol would give him and send
him into a drinking binge to forget the grief of the day he received
the news of Delte's demise via the same handwriting and wax seal.
For the past three years he had avoided the letters that
Left-Paw-Alight had written to him, the first half of which he had
lived in the bottom of any bottle he could lay his hands on. Now
though it seemed as if fate had caught up with him and decided to
play its cruel joke on him one more time. The hand reaching for the
glass balled up into a fist and smashed into the glass and bottle
sending them both flying across the room to smash against the wall.
He had lost his commission as general because of drink, it was then
that he started to pull himself out of the bottle and try to rebuild
his life. During which he had gained a small following of soldiers
that went with him on dangerous missions deep behind enemy lines,
most of the soldiers in his small unit were like him and looking for
death and volunteered for the most dangerous jobs.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He snatched the scroll up and broke the
seal as he unrolled it on his desk, Veldam placed a candle stick on
the top of the page to stop it rolling back up and started to read
its contents of the familiar writing of Left-Paw-Alight. Once he had
finished he read the letter again and again his one good eye widening
in shock and surprise, a smile spread across his features as he stood
up and walked over to the open windows.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You boy!” he shouted down into the
courtyard at a stableboy. The sudden shout startled the young boy who
looked around the courtyard looking for the source of the voice “Up
here you s'wit, get my horse ready I leave in the hour.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The stableboy looked up at Veldam and
touched his forelock then ran over to where his horse was stabled.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Northern border of Whiterun
Hold, Shatter-Shield clan holdings.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 585 Morning Star Sundas 10<sup>th</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Night had fallen across the clan hold
of the Shatter-Shield clan, its citizens who lived and worked there
had already packed up work for the day leaving the streets and fields
empty. Inside the clans tavern people were singing and drinking as
they consumed their evening meal while they caught up with the local
gossip. The merriment from the tavern could just be heard inside the
longhall of the clan where Volk stood by the large fire pit reading a
scroll delivered earlier that day by a khajiit riding what was
described as a huge sabre cat. His long hair now a pure white hung
loose over his shoulder, a reminder of his journey into Coldharbour
and the tolls that Oblivion exacts upon mortals. He scratched his
bearded chin as he read the letter from his long time tutor and
friend Left-Paw-Alight.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>Dear Volk
Shatter-Shield</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>I hope all is
well there in the hold of Whiterun. How is Brom and his new wife
taking to their union? </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>Tell Gresla and
Fraki I say hello, I miss you all but my work here is important to
the alliance and Tamriel. Also I hope to see your youngest soon,
although I am not sure on the name you both chose for her, but I
understand the reason why. </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>Again I have
sent a letter to Veldam I just hope he reads this one as I want both
you of you in Winterhold. My reasons for this request? I believe we
can bring her home Volk, I speak of Delte Hlervi. I will need you
both to help me in this though</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>All I ask of
you both is to come here to the college and hear me out. If you think
it is too risky I will not pursue it and will drop the research. I
have arranged rooms for Veldam as well as for you and Gresla with
enough room for two smaller beds if you wish to bring the hatchlings
with you.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>Your friend</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i>Left-Paw-Alight. </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gresla walked up
behind Volk and slowly wrapped her arms around him as she rested her
head on his large broad back.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Another letter
from Paws?” she asked him already knowing the answer.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yes. The
children in bed?” he answered her as he caressed her hands. He
didn't need an answer as the silence told him they were both sound
asleep.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Mmmmm!” Gresla
purred her reply “What news does he bring this time?”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“He wants me to
go to Winterhold to try and save Delte.” he said as he turned
around still in Gresla's embrace to kiss her “But I gave you my
word no more adventures, so he will have to make do without me.” he
placed the letter down on a table as he took Gresla in his arms.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Between his kisses
Gresla said to Volk “If you don't go to try and save your friend I
won't be able to do anything with you. Besides I have noticed you
have sharpened your swords and polished your armour for a journey. If
you don't go to Winterhold I will go on a field trip there with the
children to visit Paws without you.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You seem to know
me better than I do.” he said as his mouth moved down her neck to
the bare shoulders. Volk slowly peeled her dress down further “I
want you and the children to come with me, it will be good for them
to see a larger city.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well before we
go to Winterhold let me feel you inside me, I want to give you
another son the eight willing.” she said as the dress fell to the
floor.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk shook his head
with a grin and said “I don;t care boy or girl as long as it is
healthy and you survive childbirth.” he then cupped one of her
breasts and kissed it gently as he moved down her body exploring it
with his mouth and tongue. Gresla gave a gasp as his tongue explored
her jewel. With one hand on Volk's head her fingers entwined in his
hair she brought her other hand up her torso and gave her breasts a
squeeze with a moan of pleasure. In the firelight their bodies
writhed in each others embrace, skin glistening with sweat.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:-
Winterhold City, College of Magic.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 585
Morning Star Morndas 18<sup>th</sup>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam paced up and
down his side of the table in the meeting room which Left-Paw-Alight
had booked for their first meeting in three years. On this rare
occasion sunlight illuminated the room through its stained glassed
windows giving some relief from the constant snow storms of the past
few days. Every time Veldam stopped to turn around and head back the
opposite way he would send a scowling stare at Volk who sat on the
opposite side of the table. Volk sat quietly trying to avoid the gaze
and picked crumbs out of his beard from breakfast. The only sound in
the room was the marching boots of Veldam has he paced up and down
the floorboards.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk frowned trying
to think what to say to the dunmer, but every conversation he played
through in his own mind ended with an argument, so he remained quiet
hoping that Left-Paw-Alight would arrive soon.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So while you and
Gresla have been fucking and making spawns of yourself Delte has been
stuck in Coldharbour?” Veldam broke the silence as he stopped and
leaned on the table glaring at Volk.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It's not as if
we planned it that way old friend.” came Volk's reply as he met
Veldam's gaze for the first time “If it hadn't been for her
sacrifice we would all be stuck there or worse.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You had better
pray Paws can....” Veldam was interrupted as the door swung open as
Left-Paw-Alight walked into the room holding his staff in one hand
and some books in the other, his robes flowed behind him as he strode
up to the table and sat down.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well this is
nice all old friends together in one place.” he said to Volk and
Veldam eyeing them both “Amesia my assistant is with Gresla looking
after your two hatchlings Fraki and the young Delte she is quite the
handful much like her namesake.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What?” Veldam
responded in shock looking at the argonian and back to Volk.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“In memory of the
sacrifice Delte made to allow our escape, my wife and I named our new
born daughter Delte as a way to honour her memory and friendship.”
Volk said with a heavy sigh.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam sat down in
his chair mouth open in shock as he realised how selfish he had been
in his own grief “Forgive me Volk, Paws.” he said looking at them
both.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk shrugged and
smiled at his old friend “Nothing to forgive.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight had
kept the name of Volk's daughter a secret from Veldam for this very
meeting, his plan had worked and he sat back in his chair smiling as
he witnessed the fruits of his plan ripen.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Shall we
dispenses with these recriminations now?” Left-Paw-Alight said as
he looked between them both.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Agreed.”
Veldam replied as he turned to face the argonian.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What is this
plan you have in mind?” Volk asked as he turned his full attention
to the argonian.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It's quite
simple really, I came across some information about Delte during my
investigation into the Dark Anchors and what they represent.”
Left-Paw-Alight said as he looked between his two friends.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Where did this
information come from?” Veldam asked.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“From a reliable
source who is working against Molag Bal that is all I will say.”
the old argonian replied as he tried to deflect the question.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How do we get
her back?” Volk spoke up again “I hope its not going to be
another trip into Coldharbour.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Nothing as
drastic as that Volk, I intend to summon her to us in Winterhold.”
came the reply from Left-Paw-Alight “This is why I need you both
here to make the balance needed for the magic to work.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight
thumped his staff on the wooden floor of the room, a few moments
latter the door opened again and two young mage apprentices walked in
carrying a large wooden box between them. They reached the table and
put the box down on its surface then turned to Left-Paw-Alight gave a
short bow and left the room once more closing the door behind them.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“In this box are
two sword made of obsidian that are attuned to the heart,”
Left-Paw-Alight looked at Veldam “and strength.” he turned his
head and looked at Volk.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I have come up
with a way to summon her to us here by using her true name which I
obtained from reliable sources. With her being trapped in Coldharbour
for so long she will be disconnected from Nirn. For this I have
acquired a sky shard which is attuned to the realm of Aetherius.”
he continued to talk to the two men as he explained the ritual “The
swords are to sever her link to Coldharbour that I will manifest as
chains, you two must slice them with the swords on my command. Then I
will lower the sky shard down which will attune her soul back to
Nirn.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stared blankly
at the argonian while Veldam nodded his head as he listened to how
the ritual would be performed.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight
stood up and opened the wooden box, the inside was upholstered in a
red cushioned cloth. Lying in this cloth lining were two obsidian
longswords, both beautifully crafted engraved with runes and inset
gems. One of the swords had faint pulsing veins of red stone deep
inside its core, the other sword had the same design and pulsing
light, but this one had a green light to it. The pulsing light
reminded Volk of the rhythm a heart would beat to.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why the strange
markings on them, and the pulsing what is it?” Volk asked as he
looked in awe at the two weapons.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“The red and
green represent her heart and strength.” explained Left-Paw-Alight
“The reason they are pulsing is because they are both attuned to
the heartbeat of Nirn.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Nirn has a
heartbeat?” Veldam spoke up his tone disbelieving.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight
smiled and sat back in his chair as he steepled his fingers “Nirn
is a living breathing world, and like all things alive it to has a
heartbeat. As a shaman of my people we understand this more so than
any other race on Nirn.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I take it this
blue glowing crystal is the sky shard?” Veldam said pointing to a
egg shaped crystal lying between the two swords. Left-Paw-Alight just
nodded his answer.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I want to know
about this ally of yours.” Volk said as he looked over the swords
and crystal mesmerized by their construction and design.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight
sighed and closed his eyes as he tried to arrange his thoughts. “You
won't like it Volk, which is why I don't want to worry you both.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk and Veldam
looked at one another and then at the argonian.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Spit it out we
should know everything just in case.” Veldam said as he walked back
to his chair and sat down once more.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Very well the
information comes from a female dremora aligned to Boethiah, who you
know is no friend of Molag Bal.” Left-Paw-Alight sat back in his
chair slightly relieved to let the information slip.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“That is
correct,” Veldam said as he looked over to Volk “my guess is
Boethiah has agents in Coldharbour to try and disrupt the Lord of
Domination's plans.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk broke his gaze
away from the obsidian swords to look at Left-Paw-Alight “I guess
pulling Delte out of that place would constitute to a disruption
then?” the smile and wink from Left-Paw-Alight was all he needed to
know the answer to his question.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Lets get this
over with and get my battle sister home.” Volk spoke again to the
old argonian in an impatient tone.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“In good time
Volk.” came the reply from Left-Paw-Alight “We must wait for the
twin moons to enter their new phase, so we have three days to wait.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why wait we have
all we need.” Veldam slammed his hand down on the table making
Left-Paw-Alight jump.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It corresponds
with her birth sign general, the more sympathies we can have aligned
to our ritual the easier it will be.” Left-Paw-Alight said as he
regained his composure. “I wish to free her as much as any of you,
but remember Delte has been trapped in Coldharbour for thee years.
There is no telling how she has been effected by the rigours of that
place.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I am not a
general any more, they took my commission away just over two years
ago.” Veldam said as he rubbed his eyepatch “I dived into the
bottle and made poor judgements which cost lives.”</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I know”
Left-Paw-Alight said softly to Veldam.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You will always
be general to me.” Volk said to the dunmer “How did you loose
your eye?” he added as he looked at Veldam.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I lost it in
Bruma during the assault by the daedra when it was sacked.” came
back the answer from the dunmer.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Makes you look
meaner than usual.” Volk said with a smile and a wink, both men
burst out into laughter. Left-Paw-Alight sat back chuckling at the
joke as well, and pleased to see the animosity between them both
vanish.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I would like to
propose for us all to forget about our worries for the next three
days.” Left-Paw-Alight said as he stood up from his chair “Also I
would like to see these two hatchlings of yours and Gresla.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam looked to
the old argonian and said “I will second that, I also wish to see
this woman who keeps my best warrior at home. She must have a golden
fanny.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk reddened with
embarrassment and smiled as they all walked over to the door he put
his two meaty arms over the shoulders of his two friends on either
side of him as they left the room.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-35001918938594888402014-06-05T04:30:00.000-07:002014-06-05T04:38:26.489-07:00Chapter1, Location:- Winterhold City, Date:- 2E 584 Evening Star Middas 30th (book 2)<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter1.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Winterhold City.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 584 Evening Star Middas 30<sup>th</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia pulled her cloak tight around
her to keep the chill winter winds out as the snow fell heavily
around the city of Winterhold. Along the streets lanterns had already
been lit by the city watch. She walked past the entrance to a dunmer
corner club that was located on the outskirts of the Grey Quarter of
the city. Laughter and music spilled out onto the deserted street
with a promise of warmth from the cold winter night.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She stopped under a lantern outside of
the club and read the note once more about the meeting with the
contact that had sent Amesia and her friends to the Broken Tower
Redoubt. She adjusted her satchel that contained the journal and
rubbings of the runes she had taken from the expedition. The streets
of the Grey Quarter were deserted stray cats and dogs roamed the
alleys and side streets, their shining eyes watched as Amesia
followed the directions on the note to her destination. She was
stopped a few times by the city watch and questioned as to why she
was abroad at this time of night. Mostly the guards seemed to be
pleased to talk to someone different and break up their boring
routines. Her satchel full of paper and the staff she carried helped
her weave an easy story of a mage being sent on an errand by her
mentor soon placated their curiosities.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The snow had stopped falling by the
time she had reached her destination in the twisting maze of streets
that made up the Grey Quarter. A huge stone wall surrounded the
grounds of a large dilapidated town house. Its gardens overgrown and
wild bushes swayed in the cold wind shaking snow from their laden
branches. The iron gate lay open and crooked from lack of
maintenance, while the paving slabs that lead up to the front door
were covered in green moss. Out of one of the windows on the first
floor a candle flickered showing her the room where the meeting was
to take place. The whole scene sent a shiver down her spine as the
words of her dead friend Rik'Sea echoed in her head.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This is a place one brings people to
kill them.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With a deep breath she walked down the
garden path, her foot falls silent on the flagstones due to the moss
covering the slabs. Amesia stopped and looked down at her feet as she
wondered why the snow had not settled on the path. In the darkness
small runes glowed on the flagstones and each one gave off a small
amount of heat. She opened her mage sight and looked again at the
runes. This time she noticed they were capable of becoming a raging
inferno if the correct words were spoken. In that moment she realised
the power of the man she was to meet inside the old house was far
greater than her own meagre magical knowledge. She closed her eyes
and wished her friends were alive to give her support if anything
were to go wrong. As she opened her eyes to carry on up to the front
door she thought she saw a shadowy figure at the window where the
candle burned, its flame now sputtering as it struggled to remain
alight due to the sudden movement. Amesia quickened her step and
walked to the front door.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I wish to enter.” she said at the
large doors as per the instructions given in the note.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It runs deep in the earth of Nirn,
and where it reaches the surface it scars the world.” a disembodied
voice whispered back to her.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You seek lava, it is the life blood
of our world.” she responded with the exact phrase given to her in
the note she had read earlier.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With her answer the door unlocked and
swung open to reveal a large hallway with a flight of stairs leading
up to the first floor. In places the floorboards in the hallway had
rotted through leaving gaping holes that lead down into the cellar.
Amesia gripped her staff and held it before her ready to defend
herself if attacked, lightning crackled along its length as she
stepped over the threshold of the house. A lantern caught light from
some unspoken command and gave her enough light to see the stairway
as she approached. Slowly she walked to the foot of the stairs and
looked up at the landing, a roaring crackling sound of a large fire
could be heard coming from a room upstairs its glow could be seen
casting dancing light patterns on the wall of the landing. A loud
bang behind her made Amesia jump and spin round a bolt of energy left
her staff and struck the now closed front door, a click sounded as
the bolts and locks fell into place locking her inside the house. Her
heart pounding as she breathed heavily from fear she forced herself
to push onwards up the stairs. The only motivation not to flee was
the promise of five hundred gold coins for the journal and rubbings
she had taken from the statue of Molag Bal.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Doubt raced through her mind as she
wondered who the man worked for or if he was a member of the worm
cult she had heard so much about, or even a direct servant of the
dread prince himself Molag Bal. Would she even escape this meeting
with her life or soul intact?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If she ran now the deaths of her
friends would be for nothing and she needed the money because living
on 'if and buts' would not put food in her belly or clothes on her
back. Amesia summoned all the courage she could and pushed on up the
old creaky stairway to the landing. The wooden stairs groaned and
protested at her weight as she slowly made her way up the flight
keeping her back to the wall so she could have a clear line of sight
to as much of the landing as possible and the hallway below. Amesia
reached the landing and could see the room which had the fire roaring
away as it cast flickering shadows out into the corridor. She gripped
her staff till her knuckles turned white and cautiously made her way
to the open door. Halfway there she cried out in pain and shock as
the rotten floorboards gave way beneath her and her left leg shot
through them and the ceiling of the ground floor. Using her staff to
leaver herself up she inspected her left leg for any serious wounds,
noting the small cuts and grazes on her calf she knew that by morning
her lower left leg would be bruised and sore for the next few weeks.
She gritted her teeth and tested the weight on her damaged leg, then
pushed on to the welcoming warmth of the fire within the room.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia poked her head around the open
door and scanned the room beyond for any visible dangers</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The candle on the windowsill continued
to burn telling her she had found the correct room. Two large
cushioned chairs sat in front of the fire with a small wooden table
between them. A crystal decanter and two glasses full of what looked
to be sujamma arranged on a tray. Sat in one of the large chairs was
a man of imperial descent with his legs stretched out and hands
resting on each arm of the chair. His eyes were closed and his
breathing deep as though in meditation, the fire in the hearth seemed
to grow and die with each deep breath he took and each time it became
more fierce and hotter as though he was breathing life into it. It
took Amesia a few seconds to realise he was in a meditative trance
and feeding magicka energy into the flames, she opened her own
magesight briefly and saw with each exhale he poured magicka into the
flames and then drew it back into himself as he breathed in once
more.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Good evening miss Amesia.” he said
startling her, his eyes snapping open. The first thing that caught
her attention was his strange yellow vertical pupils of his eyes that
reminded her of a pair of snakes eyes, “Please take a seat.” he
said as his hand waved at the empty chair.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She entered the room and sat down in
the spare chair with her satchel clutched tightly on her lap. The
cushions on the chair were warm from the fire and started to sooth
away the chills of the night. Her contact smiled at her as he did
wrinkles spread across his features showing the signs of a weather
worn face that had seen many days in the sun. The smile put her at
ease slightly as he sat up and pointed to the glasses.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Take one and let the warm drink
chase away the winter chills.” he said to her in a friendly tone.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Thank you, but I am okay.” she
replied turning down the drink unsure if it was poisoned.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Very well, I hope you don't mind me
having a drink then?” came his response as he reached over and took
one of the glasses.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Look I just want to be paid and...”
she started to explain.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“...and get out alive.” he finished
her sentence for her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I feel at a disadvantage at the
moment.” Amesia confided in him as she decided to take the other
glass of sujamma “You know my name and yet I do not know who you
are.” she finished the sentence and looked at her supposed
countryman in his strange yellow eyes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The old imperial chuckled as he swirled
the sujamma around inside his glass “Names have power Amesia you
should know this being a member of the mages guild.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia couldn't control the shock she
felt when he told her of her membership to the esteemed order of
mages across Tamriel “How did you know?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I know a lot about you and your four
dead friends.” he replied “If it helps you may call me Bob.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia smiled and took a sip of
sujamma, its spicy taste seemed to radiate a warmth down her throat
to her stomach as it chased away the chills.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I want double the five hundred, you
sent my friends and I into a death trap.” she said looking at the
man sat next to her “My friends are all dead because you didn't
give us all the information.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You will get the five hundred as
agreed.” Bob replied in a serious tone the smile fading from his
face “I gave you instructions to wait in Rorikstead for my contact.
Yet you and your friends pushed on to the fort without aid from the
Shatter-Shield oathsworn.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia bit her bottom lip and looked at
her glass of sujamma “They were at the village when I made my
escape. The undead chased me all the way back to town, and the
oathsworn held a shield wall to beat them back.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I know.” Bob said with a smile “It
also means what you have in that satchel has some value towards
beating Molag Bal and his schemes for Nirn.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I want in, I want to make the Prince
of Domination pay for what he did.” Amesia said as she looked back
up at Bob. He shook his head and sat back once more in his chair.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No, you are a good person Amesia.”
Bob said to her as he looked into the fire “Take the gold and walk
away while you can.” he finished his drink and placed the empty
glass back on the table.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia gulped down the last of her
drink and got up leaving her satchel behind on the chair. Bob pointed
at a small wooden casket sat to one side of the fire place, Amesia
didn't show her surprise at not seeing it when she had entered the
room.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Five hundred gold as agreed.” he
said as she walked over to pick it up “And do mind the rotten wood
along the landing. I wouldn't want you to fall through and die in a
horrible twisted mess in the hallway.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She looked back over her shoulder at
him as he finished his parting comment but couldn't see if it was a
joke at her expense from before she entered the room or of a genuine
concern. Bob just continued to look into the fire without a hint of a
smile.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It took Amesia all her self control not
to flee from the old house and its strange occupant of an imperial
male who tried to act human but couldn't quite remember how to. Back
outside in the cold night air she breathed a sigh of relief and
decided to head for the nearest tavern. The snow had started to fall
once more as well as a strong breeze coming off from the sea, the
wind picked up the fresh powdered snow and tossed it around in
swirling patterns to gather in small piles against walls and in
corners. Amesia headed down a side street to a small tavern she knew
would still be open.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A sound from the old house alerted her,
she stopped and spun around to see a figure closing the front door.
She used a small amount of magicka to shroud herself in shadows to
watch the person leave the property and lock the door. From her
vantage point she could see the figure had her satchel over one
shoulder.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well that drink can wait Bob. Lets
see where you go.” Amesia whispered to herself.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bob stepped out into the light of the
lanterns on the street, he looked up and down the street and set off
towards the harbour. The main difference to Bob that Amesia noticed
was the long lizard tail and horns on his head inlaid with gold
runes, although his eyes were the same. Amesia chided herself for not
seeing through the illusion that the argonian had used and wondered
how he had managed it. Unsure what this all meant she decided to
follow the satchel and its new owner.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She kept to the shadows and out of
sight of her quarry as he lead her through the harbour and back into
the city. It was just after midnight by the time her journey ended
outside of the College of Magic at its hidden rear entrance. Amesia
watched as he spoke the password and activated the correct sequence
of runes needed to open the hidden entrance and enter the college
grounds. She decided the next morning she would attend a class in the
college and see who this argonian truly was.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Winterhold College</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 584 Evening Star Turdas 31<sup>st</sup>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The clouds of the previous night had
cleared revealing a crystal blue sky as the sun gave its weak warmth
over the city, sounds of dripping water could be heard in the quiet
spaces as the snow and ice started to melt slightly before the clouds
came again to lay down another sheet of snow. People moved around the
city pushing carts full of wares for the days market, a small group
of carts had gathered at the front gates to the college waiting for
the servants to open them up so they could deliver their weekly
supplies. Small store owners stood with tables waving and shouting at
the students who had started to gather at the entrance to come and
buy their wares. Some of the college students could be seen buying
snacks and bottle containing drinks to give them sustenance
throughout the day of study.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia mingled with some of the
students as they bought some apples and cured meat to eat during the
day. No one questioned the stranger stood with them as she was
dressed in simple robes and carried a plain wooden staff. Her cowl
was pulled up over her blond hair to keep the morning chill out. She
laughed along with the students jokes and chatted with them as they
walked past the main gates and into the college grounds. The main
building of the college loomed up before her, its doors now open
waiting for the students to enter and to head for their respective
classrooms. Slowly the students filled into the large stone building
and moved around the various notice boards detailing that days
lecturers and the classrooms they would be in. With the easy part of
her plan now complete she had to find the argonian from the previous
night.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The interior of the college was
comfortably warm kept at a constant temperature by magical
enchantments. Arranged on the walls and on the high vaulted ceilings
crystals gave off a constant light so the occupants could see in a
perfect light for their studies. Parts of the roof and some walls had
huge decorated stained glass windows depicting ancient nord heroes
and legendary mages locked in combat with daedra and other monsters
of legend. Sunlight illuminated the stained glass bringing the
designs to life. Branching from the great hall were corridors with
doors leading off into classrooms, outside of each door a stand with
the name of each class, the time of day it began with the name of the
teacher presenting the lecture. Amesia walked the halls looking at
each name outside of the classrooms in the hope of finding an
argonian name or to see the familiar face amongst the crowd. The
students didn't have many argonians among them and at a quick glance
it was easy to dismiss them for none of them had the large horns on
their heads inlaid with golden runes, nor did they have the strange
white markings on their snouts. She asked some of the students about
the lecturers and the classes they were to take. It wasn't long
before some of the students praised one of their favourite lecturers
who also happened to be an argonian, he took the class of illusion
and alteration. Amesia fell in with the small group of students and
made her way with the group to the classroom where the argonian
called Vistha-Okan-R was going to take his class.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Excitement mixed with fear made
Amesia's heart race at the thought of exposing a possible daedra cult
in Winterhold. The small group of students she had latched onto
entered the classroom and found desks to sit at, where they opened up
their note books and readied themselves to take notes of the talk for
their own studies. Sat at the head of the classroom was an ageing
argonian with piercing yellow eyes, a white marking on his snout. The
top of his head was adorned with a pair of large horns decorated with
golden runes and inlaid with gems. He was reading a book as he waited
for the class to settle down. Amesia found a seat at the back of the
class and sat down keeping her cowl up in place to try and remain
hidden for the moment.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Good morning students.” the
argonian Vistha-Okan-R addressed his class “Today we will focus on
merging two spheres of magicka which is alteration and illusions.”
he paused and looked around the classroom. Then continued to explain
the metaphysics and intricacies of the skills needed to merge the
two.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For an hour and a half Amesia sat and
listened to the lecture and made notes as some of the things she
heard surprised her as she learnt new ways to manipulate light
through illusion magic. She waited patiently for the moment where
Vistha-Okan-R would open the floor for the question and answers at
the end of the class.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia was starting to doze off when
she heard him open the floor for questions, with a rush of hands
reaching for the sky Vistha-Okan-R went back to his desk and sat on
the edge pointing to a student and listened to the question nodding
his head with a smile. The question he answered with ease and
confidence, with the first question answered another rush of hands
went up and with each question he answered with sound and easy to
understand explanations.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eventually there was a lull in the
questions as students tried to think of more things to ask flipping
through their notebooks trying to refresh their memory, Amesia chose
her moment to ask her question. Without raising her hand she spoke
out loud, her voice cutting through the room crystal clear.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You say it is possible to merge
alteration and illusion magic to change ones shape. I would like to
know if there are going to be any tell tale signs of this kind of
magic to the trained eye or is the transformation complete?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Vistha-Okan-R paused in his answer with
his mouth slightly open as he thought about the question and a way to
answer it “The hardest thing to disguise would be the eyes as they
are the windows to our souls.” he said slowly as he stood up to get
a better look at the student who had asked the question.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“To disguise one's eyes you would
also need to consume a full soul gem which would require time and
preparation.” he continued as he looked at Amesia in her eyes and a
smile spreading across his face as his tail twitched.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia not used to the subtle body
language of the argonians could tell she had riled his composure as
the argonian students turned to look at her and back towards
Vistha-Okan-R slightly backing away as he passed them. She met his
gaze and remained seated.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So lets say if you disguised
yourself as an imperial male.” she said breaking the building
silence “Would you need alteration to hide those horns and tail?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Class dismissed.” he said in a
annoyed tone above the din of chairs scraping on the tiles and the
door slamming as students pushed and shoved to get out of the
classroom and the building tension within. “Not you though miss
Amesia.” he pointed at her with a finger tipped with a long sharp
talon on the end.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia froze and sat back down feeling
very frightened and exposed as the students left the room. A khajiit
that had been sat next to her said as he passed “Good luck lady you
are going to need it.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What do you mean?” she said
grabbing hold of his robe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Master Vistha-Okan-R is one of the
best duellists in the college.” he replied as he pulled away from
her and ran out of the room.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Vistha-Okan-R watched the khajiit leave
the room and then turned his attention back to Amesia who was now
stood up holding her staff ready to defend herself. This seemed to
amuse the argonian who just chuckled as he turned his back on her and
walked back to his desk. Amesia relaxed a little as she witnessed no
aggressive body language from the old argonian.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So your name is it Bob or
Vistha-Okan-R?” Amesia asked as she slowly walked towards his desk
where he was now sat down in a high backed chair.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Vistha-Okan-R smiled as he leant back
steepling his fingers “Seeing as you can not say my saxhleel name
correctly please call me Left-Paw-Alight.” he said after studying
the imperial woman now stood before him. “It also seems my ruse is
over.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What daedra do you work for?”
Amesia said lighting crackling along her staff ready to attack.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No daedra or cult here my dear.”
he replied “I am tasked with investigating the dark anchors that
are plaguing our world by the mages guild.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then why all the cloak and daggers?”
she asked letting the lighting charge move up and down the staff.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You must understand the people I am
investigating are dangerous as are their patrons. The deception was
necessary for my own protection.” he replied as he offered a chair
to Amesia with a gesture “Tell me did you enjoy the tour of this
wonderful city last night?” he asked as he leaned forward and
poured some water from a jug into a cup.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You knew I was following you?” cam
Amesia's shock reply and slightly uneasy of his comfortable manner.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Of course I knew.” he snorted the
answer “I was also debating whether to kill you at the harbour and
drop your body into the water.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What stopped you?” Amesia said as
she slumped down into the chair offered to her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight chuckled with a smile
playing on his face “You reminded me of myself and what I would of
done in your shoes when I was younger.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So the runes and journal how are
they connected to your investigation?” Amesia asked running a hand
through her long blond hair “Also I am guessing the Shatter-Shield
oathsworn being in Rorikstead wasn't an accident either.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“First you are correct about the
oathsworn, I sent them to the town to meet your group as back up when
exploring the old fort.” he replied as he took a swig of water from
the cup “Second the runes and journal are linked to Molag Bal who
is also controlling the dark anchors.” he finished the sentence and
looked down at the notes on his desk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia sat forward her head in her
hands as she realised her dead friends would still be alive if she
hadn't pushed them to take the short cut and bypass Rorikstead. “Out
of curiosity are you the same Left-Paw-Alight that published the
paper on Coldharbour last year?” she said as she got up and walked
over to the windows that lined the classroom.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yes.” came the reply from behind
her “The guild approached me to investigate the dark anchors
because of that paper.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia looked out of the window down
onto a courtyard where students practised their spells and talked in
small groups studying notes from their books. The magical barrier
above the courtyard kept out the cold air and snow which allowed
various tropical plants to remain alive in the grounds giving it a
vibrant colour of life.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This journal and rubbings of the
runes will help in this and save lives?” she asked as she continued
to look out of the window.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Not directly no.” came the reply
from Left-Paw-Alight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So please tell me why my friends
died.” she said with a sigh as she closed her eyes bringing back a
memory of their faces laughing and joking which brought a small smile
to her face and allayed her guilt of knowing it was her decision that
got them all killed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I made a promise three years ago to
a friend and now I have a chance to make good on that promise.” he
explained to her as he watched her reactions closely “Your friends
died due to being impatient, I put in place the oathsworn for their
protection.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I want to help.” Amesia said
surprising herself with the comment.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight sat back in his chair
once more as he considered her proposal to help him. Amesia turned
round and leaned back against the stone wall to look at the old
argonian.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You know I am capable in the Arts.”
she continued to push her case forward to him.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I am not disputing your abilities
Amesia, its just your impulsive behaviour I can not afford to
accommodate.” came his reply deflating Amesia slightly as she knew
he was correct on his assumption of her.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You could give me a chance at least
to prove myself, and you said yourself that I remind you of yourself
when you was younger.” she protested as she walked back to his
desk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Very well I will give you a chance.”
he said as he reached down and took two letters from his bag “I
need these two letters to be sent to two different places. But” he
slammed his hand down on them before Amesia could pick them up “I
want it so they arrive to both parties on the same day.”
Left-Paw-Alight pushed them over to her.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He continued to speak to her as she
picked them up and read the names and addresses before placing them
inside a pocket in her robes “I then want you to decipher these
passages from the journal using the codex I am going to give you
before the people in the letters arrive here.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Bruma and a clan hold in Whiterun.
This task is impossible unless I hand deliver them.” she said in an
annoyed tone.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You would give in so easily?” came
the old argonian's reply with a chuckle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How was you going to achieve this
then before I arrived?” Amesia said folding her arms and tapping
her foot.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Use the courier here in town of
course with strict instructions on how to deliver the letters. You
though may use what ever you deem appropriate to get the job done.”
with that Left-Paw-Alight stood up and walked to the door. He stopped
and turned back to Amesia who was still stood looking at the journal
on the desk tapping her foot “Well are you coming? That is unless
you know more about summoning circles than I do.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She didn't need any more coaxing
picking up the journal from the desk she followed the strange
argonian out of the classroom.</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-86262370409539830052014-05-03T02:34:00.001-07:002014-05-03T02:34:47.148-07:00Book 2. Prologue:- Location:-Broken Tower Redoubt. Date:- 2E 584 Evening Star Middas 15th
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Book 2.</span></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Prologue:-</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:-Broken Tower
Redoubt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 584 Evening Star Middas 15<sup>th</sup></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The statue of Molag Bal
stood motionless in the darkness of the cavern, the torches that once
illuminated the cavern now extinguished due to the lack of oxygen. A
low audible hum could be heard coming the statue as power radiated
from it. Scattered around the cavern was desiccated bodies broken and
twisted, some still held weapons in their hands from where they fell.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Rubble and loose stones
started to tumble down a heap at one end of the cavern. A hand
appeared in a hole and withdrew. Light from the other side of the
rubble heap poured through the small hole. Voices could be heard
muffled and talking.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think we are
through.” a male voice said “Pass me the torch.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Make the hole
bigger." another male voice said this time in a thick heavy
accent common to the khajiit.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Wait help me up I
will send a light orb in so we can see the whole room." a female
voice spoke up above the two male voices.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sound of scrabbling
could be heard with a few grunts of effort, then a stave was pushed
through the hole and a small globe of light left the end of it and
floated up to the ceiling of the cavern illuminating the whole cavern
in a eerie blue light. Molag Bal's statue stood as an imposing and
horrific sight that dominated the view, a shocked gasp came from the
hole in the rubble as a pair of eyes took in the scene of the cavern.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"What is it?"
one of the male voices said with concern.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I think we have
found the chamber our employer wanted to find, its exactly like he
described it." the female voice answered "The statue is
still intact which means our job is going to be easier."</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I don't like this we
should pray to Stendarr before we go any further." one of the
male voices said.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Pray all you like
Casper, just do it while we move this stone heap so we can get in and
paid.” the other male voice said which had a roughness to its edge.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Enough are we not the
Undaunted?” a male with a heavy Alik'r accent spoke up for the
first time.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The gap in the rubble pile
started to expand along with the grunts and groans as the small group
started to clear enough of it to get into the cavern beyond. After a
few hours the gap had turned into a large hole which discharged four
shadowy figures. One of the figures held aloft a staff and spoke a
few words, fire sparks flew from the staff and danced around the
cavern walls igniting the torches that hung in their holders bringing
them back to life once more. As the flames settled on the torches
their light showed the features of the four figures that had entered
the cavern which housed the statue of Molag Bal.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Standing at the entrance
to the cavern was a tall khajiit wearing leather armour and sporting
two swords strapped to his back, in one ear he had gold rings and a
gold nose ring also. His fur had a mottled pattern to it and shining
green eyes looked around the room in a cold calculating movement. To
his left stood a large orc wearing platemail armour and sporting a
two handed hammer that when placed end first on the ground stood as
tall as the orc. His face was a miss match of skin and scars with one
ear missing completely. To the right of the Khajiit stood a smaller
man of bosmer origins he wore a mixture of cloth and leather and held
a bow in his left hand, small bones were tied into his long brown
hair. On the bosmer's right stood a woman of imperial descent she was
dressed in a long robe and held a staff in her right hand, over her
shoulder was a satchel filled with paper and books. Her hair was long
and golden like corn with green eyes outlined with black eye liner. A
redguard stepped forward in front of her with a sword and shield
ready for action as he scanned the scene before them, brown dangerous
eyes looked around the room his hair was tied up in corn rolls. His
metal armour shone in the torch light as he moved further into the
cavern and gave one of the dead bodies a kick.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Get the rubbing of the
runes and find the journal.” the redguard said over his shoulder
“And lets get out of here. Zo'Grob head back to the fort entrance
and keep watch there make sure no one follows us in to cut off our
escape.” he addressed the large orc.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With a nod and a grunt the
large orc known as Zo'Grob left the cavern and headed back to the
main entrance to the fort.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This one will stay here
by the entrance, Rik'Sea doesn't like like this place.” the khajiit
said as he leant against the wall and shrouded himself in shadows.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Fine I guess its down
to me and Casper to find the journal and get the rubbing of the runes
from the statue.” the imperial woman said as she looked at the
redguard and walked over to the imposing statue of Molag Bal.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She stood looking at the
runes that were engraved on the statue and noticed how they repeated
themselves as they rose up on each leg. Slowly she ran her fingers
over them caressing the statues leg as she would a lovers leg. A wave
of built up magicka energy exploded outward in a pulse of purple
light which sent the imperial woman flying backwards to land a few
feet away on her back. The redguard immediately went into a defensive
position with his weapon and shield ready, while Rik'Sea could be
heard drawing his two swords ready for action his green eyes scanning
the cavern for any sign of movement. Casper ran over to help the
imperial woman back to her feet.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Are you all right
Amesia?” he said as he helped her back to her feet.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“A little shaken that is
all.” she said as she dusted herself off “Relax Torlin.” she
said looking at the redguard “It was just a build up of magicka
energy, and I just happened to give it a path to discharge down. If I
had been ready for it none of you would of noticed.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Next time Amesia warn
us you are going to do something like that.” Rik'Sea said as he put
his swords back into their scabbards.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You wouldn't understand
half of what Casper or I do if I explained everything.” Amesia
replied in annoyance as she pulled out some tracing paper and started
to work on taking the rubbing of the runes.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Casper continued his
search for the book a torch held aloft as he moved around the cavern,
the sound of Amesia's rubbing could be heard now as she worked on the
statue. The lights flickered as a breeze blew through the cavern
along with a low moaning sound. Everyone in the cavern stopped what
they was doing and looked around waiting for the dead to rise. Those
few moments seemed to stretch into eternity. Amesia let out a sigh of
relief when nothing moved and realised she had been holding her
breath. She went back to rubbing the paper to get an imprint of the
daedra runes.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Found the journal.”
Casper shouted in excitement as he held the book up for all to see.
He walked over to where Amesia worked on the runes that adorned the
statue. He held the book out so she could place it into her satchel.
She took the journal from the bosmer and placed it into her bag, red
warm liquid covered her hands and face as she looked back up to
Casper a fountain of blood erupted from his mouth as a rusty sword
exited his chest. Amesia screamed clutching the rubbing’s and
satchel to her chest as she ran over to Torlin who was once again in
a defensive position ready to fight. The dead bodies started to stir
from their slumber as skeletal hands searched for discarded weapons.
Moans and creaking bones echoed around the cavern as the dead rose
up. Amesia looked up at the statue of Molag Bal and noticed its eyes
now glowed a cold blue as a malevolent laugh emanated from its stony
form.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Time to leave.”
Torlin said as he backed up to the entrance pushing Amesia behind him
“Rik'Sea scout our way out.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A shadow fled past him as
the khajiit ran down the corridor towards the entrance.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Amesia follow Rik'Sea,
I will hold them off here.” Torlin said as he stood in the small
opening to the cavern.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No you will need help
here.” Amesia argued.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Don't argue woman, get
out now.” Torlin shouted at her as he received a blow from one of
the undead on his shield and responded with a over head chop with his
curved sword.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia ran down the
corridor to the stairway that lead back up to the ground floor and to
freedom, behind her she could hear the sound of battle as Torlin held
back the tide of undead giving her and the remaining companions a
chance of escape. Ahead of her she saw Rik'Sea defending himself from
three undead skeletons as they tried to kill him. His swords flashed
faster than the eye could follow as he danced amongst them with ease,
he flashed in and out of shadows in a reflexive nature which gave him
the edge in combat. Amesia held out her staff and muttered a few
words as she approached his position and let fly shards of crystal
that exploded on contact showering the undead and smashing their dry
bones to dust.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia ran past him and
bounded up the stairs, Rik'Sea looked back down the corridor hoping
to see Torlin following. In the dim light he could see blue glowing
eyes approaching and realised Torlin would not be following as the
first skeleton entered the pools of light. A figure dressed in ragged
red robes could be seen at the back of the undead horde driving it
forwards, by its side could be seen the miss shapen head of Torlin as
he limped forwards. Rik'Sea ran up the stairs to gain a height
advantage and prepared to hold the stairway.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia got to the entrance
to the fort and saw Zo'Grob ready with his weapon confusion on his
face as the sound of combat echoed through the fort.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What's going on?” he
grunted as Amesia ran up to him.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Undead are attacking,
Torlin tried to hold them back. Rik'Sea is right behind me.” Amesia
said gasping for air.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No he isn't.” Zo'Grob
said “Looks like the kitty bought it, never liked him anyway. Get
to the horses I will hold them at the doors here.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amesia nodded and ran out
to where the horses were tied up and started to untie them. Zo'Grob
fought at the doorway using its narrow aperture and his large weapon
to his advantage to buy Amesia time to get their two horses ready for
the escape.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She mounted her horse and
pulled he reigns of Zo'Grob's horse over to where he held the
doorway. To give him time to mount the beast she let loose a barrage
of lighting at the undead and then summoned a wall of ice to block
the doorway. Zo'Grob mounted his horse and they both urged the horses
into a gallop. The ice that blocked the door was already starting to
melt as the red robed skeleton summoned flames from the other side.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A few hours passed and the
two survivors slowed their horses to a walking pace so they could catch their
breath.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You have the items we
need?” Zo'Grob shouted as they rode along the road to Rorikstead.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yeah.” Amesia shouted
as she looked back over her shoulder at the orc that followed her. He
gave her a grin and a wink knowing now they would still get paid. His
eyes went wide in shock as his grin turned into a visage of shock. He
dropped his hammer as an arrow exited his head through his right eye.
Amesia screamed as more arrows clattered around her from the undead
that had not given up the chase. She realised also that the undead
did not need rest or sleep, she gave a silent prayer to what ever god
was listening in the hope to reach Rorikstead before death caught
her and added her to the undead ranks.
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-68690981406648115462014-04-12T10:27:00.001-07:002014-04-12T10:27:06.592-07:00Brom Shatter-Shield profile.
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Name:- Brom Shatter-Shield</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Demeanour:- Caregiver; He tends to look
out for those around him above himself, life and war has yet to jade
his outlook on the larger world. Like the rest of his family though
he can be impulsive and prone to action before thought.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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Age:- 19.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
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Gender:- Male.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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Birth date:- 2E 562 Mid Year 25<sup>th.</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth sign:- The Ritual.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Place of birth:- Whiterun Hold in his
clan home on its northern boarders.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Race:- Nord.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Alliance:- Ebonheart Pact.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Current Profession:- Clan Justiciar.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Physical Descriptions.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hair:- Long and loose jet black it has
a braid that goes from the crown down the centre of the head that has
coloured wooden beads placed along its length.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eye colour:- Green (from his mother
side unlike his brother who has blue eyes.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Skin Colour:- Tanned white.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Body build:- Athletic and wiry muscles.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Type of clothing worn:- When travelling
he often wears his nord styled armour, at home he wears various
coloured woollen and fur garments to keep out the cold.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Facial/Body markings:- Clean shaven no
scars due to his age and not being in many battles or fights.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Likes:- Adventure, Magic, Renown.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dislikes:- Daedra worshipers,
Politics, Dishonesty.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Combat abilities:- He has been trained
in the use of sword and shield, but after his adventures with Delte
and his fight against his father decided to train in the use of dual
wield skills. This style played well into his build and speed in
combat. He was taught rudimentary magical skills and can call upon
this to help his friends in battle with healing winds and spell
wards.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Background:-
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For most of his childhood he lived in
the shadows of his elder brothers Kym and Volk. He idolised them both
and longed to be able to go on patrol with them both. His father
though had other plans in mind for Brom. At the age of ten he was
sent to the college of Winterhold to learn the ways of magicka. Brom
stayed for just over a year and then one night sneaked out and
returned home. When he arrived home he told his father he wanted to
be a warrior and not a milk drinking mage. Amused at this Ulfbert
started to teach the young Brom how to fight with sword and shield.
Brom took the rudimentary skills he had learned with the mages and
mixed them in with his melee skills.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When Volk left for his three years
service Brom stepped up and took over his brothers role within the
clan as Justiciar.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-27864488869718336462014-04-07T04:52:00.000-07:002014-04-07T04:53:44.918-07:00Veldam Arendu of house Telvanni profile.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Name:- Veldam Arendu of House Telvanni.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2IDhbDtQVy5Q73LtXK0FmZMKdeMAo9vC8PBMm8mUt-JPStT6Okp5kd5lE3ahEfBSt2Jbxke362fHlU5xLPMc6T917RTBE0ayBa6V72JrqZOTEUzdZJdaXVftlKlOmdjF6YiS3Msg7kQ/s1600/veldam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2IDhbDtQVy5Q73LtXK0FmZMKdeMAo9vC8PBMm8mUt-JPStT6Okp5kd5lE3ahEfBSt2Jbxke362fHlU5xLPMc6T917RTBE0ayBa6V72JrqZOTEUzdZJdaXVftlKlOmdjF6YiS3Msg7kQ/s1600/veldam.jpg" height="320" width="282" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Demeanour:- The tactician; He is the
type of person who will think things through before committing
himself or the men and women who serve him.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Age:- 75.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gender:- Male.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth date:- 2E 506 Sun's Dusk 10<sup>th.</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth Sign:- The Atronach.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Place of birth:- Port Telvannis.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Race:- Dunmer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Alliance:- Ebonheart Pact.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Current Profession:- General for the
Ebonheart garrison at Bruma in Cyrodiil.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Physical descriptions:- Black hair tied
up in a twin top knot. Stubble on his chin and jaw. Tall and
extremely well built for a dunmer, which cuts an impressive sight
when he is inspecting the troops.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(He looses his left eye during the
sacking of Bruma which is in the next book.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eye colour:- Red</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Skin colour:- Light grey
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Body build:- Tall, well built frame and
muscles from constant training.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Type of clothing worn:- In battle he
wears full platemail with a sword and shield. At home or in the
office relaxing he likes fine silk robes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Facial/Body markings:- Scars from
battle line his torso as well as a scar down the left side of his
face which is the remains of a wound that took his right eye. The left eye is now covered in a simple patch made from leather.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Likes:- Colovian brandy, adventure,
reading.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dislikes:- Deserters, Khajiit,
weakness.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Combat abilities:- Through his
schooling in his early life as a Telvanni mage he can summon fire
while in combat. As he grew he found a love for a more conventional
form of combat and picked up the sword. Veldam has a dangerous love
for being in the middle of close combat and often excels more than
most soldiers would when surrounded by foes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He is also versed in the use of
destruction staves and wands when it comes to ranged combat.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Background:-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam grew up as a cousin to the main
Telvanni family. He showed no real love towards the study of magic at
the dismay of his parents. What he did show was an aptitude to
tactics and strategy within warfare. This made him an excellent
commander for the house soldiers that protected the interests of the
Telvanni house.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When the Tribunal summoned all the
houses together to join the pact and abolish slavery he tried to sway
the house leaders and his parents to join the pact and lend their aid
to the coming war. These pleas fell on deaf ears and the Telvanni
left the discussions.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dismayed at this Veldam left the house
guards and joined the armies of the Pact. His parents argued with him
and vowed to disown Veldam if he left. He called their bluff and
departed for Cyrodiil, his father though pulled some strings with the
high command and this gained Veldam a generals commission. The ruling
Telvanni family was not amused at this and has now since removed
certain privileges from the Arendu family.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The untested general was given a small
fighting force in Morrowind and was ordered to recruit more willing
soldiers along the route to Bruma where he would report for duty at
the garrison there. As he travelled the road through Skyrim he
stopped off at various towns and cities and signed up willing
warriors that sought to join the Pact and help fight for their
freedom from the oppressive Altmer and conniving Bretons. Veldam even
went as far as to enter the jails of the cities and gave the
prisoners inside a choice. To join his banner and have their crimes
removed from their records or face the punishments they deserved. It
was during this journey he met a young nord by the name of Volk
Shatter-Shield and his friend which was an old argonian shaman called
Left-Paw-Alight.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam's force arrived at the garrison
of Bruma as the Daggerfall Covenant laid siege to the city. Veldam's
army cut through the Daggers and routed the army. When they entered
Bruma he was given a heroes welcome along with the men and women who
served with him. During the siege the garrisons commander had died
during the initial attacks, so Veldam took the position as commander
of the city and the fort of Cloud Ruler Temple. From this point he
took care and control over the surrounding area and Jerral's Pass.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His army had nearly doubled in size due
to the survivors who now pledged themselves to his banner, and the
men and women who served under him found they had a leader who would
stand in the shieldwall with them side by side.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In time he brought a new type of
warfare to Cyrodiil by using guerilla tactics and would often lead
these lighting raids himself deep behind the enemy lines.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Persona:- He has a level head on his
shoulders and is always thinking a few steps ahead. Never one to rush
into situations and often has a back up plan if things go wrong.
Veldam is as much at home in the courts of nobles or the battlefield
with the soldiers.
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-30007490705556239962014-04-01T11:06:00.000-07:002014-04-01T11:06:07.449-07:00Ulfbert Shatter-Shield profile.
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Name:- Ulfbert Shatter-Shield</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Demeanour:- Survivor; Ulfbert is one of
the most fearsome thanes in the hold of Whiterun. Known to go to
great lengths to make sure he and his men would survive any
encounter.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Age:- 53</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gender:- Male</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth date:- 2E 528 Mid Year 2<sup>nd</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth sign:- The Ritual</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Place of Birth:- Shatter-Shield clan
hold in the north of Whiterun Hold.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Race:- Nord</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Alliance:- None (he never joined the
pact and dedicated his life to protect the lands of Whiterun.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Current Profession:- Thane to Whiterun
on the northern boarder.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Physical descriptions:-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hair:- Bald, but his face sports a
large grey beard.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eye colour:- Blue.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Skin colour:- Tanned .</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Body build:- Well muscled for a man of
his age.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Type of clothing worn:- When in court
he wears furs and woollen clothing. When in battle he wears a plate
breastplate with a bears head embossed in gold underneath this he
wears a chainmail shirt and leather jerkin. On his legs he wears
chainmail greaves over the top of padded leather britches. On his
arms are gold torcs to show his status and ability as a warrior.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Facial/Body marking:- He has a few
scars on his face and body which he is very proud of.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Likes:- Power, Honour, Strength</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dislikes:- Getting old, not being able
to perform on the field of battle, weakness.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Combat abilities:- He will exclusively
use a two handed weapon at all times for its sheer destructive power
in close combat. Shuns ranged weapons seeing them as a womans weapon
or bandits, and will refuse to use magic.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Background:-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulfbert is an old nord who sees
tradition to be sacred, he and Kavak grew up together in the clan
hold of the Shatter-Shield. When they became older they would often
wander the wilderness of Skyrim exploring the ruins of the dwemer or
the old dragon priest tombs that littered the countryside. It was on
one of these adventures he met Left-Paw-Alight shortly after his
first son Kym was born. Not sure on how to thank the argonian shaman
who had saved his life he offered employment as a teacher to his
young son.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In time Volk and Brom were born and a
few years after Brom's birth his wife died of consumption that
Left-Paw-Alight could not heal her of. This effected Ulfbert more
than he realised as this was the start of his downward spiral into
looking how to stave off death, namely his own. This he did in secret
in one of the old ruins he had found when he was younger.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He eventually found that he could gain
immortality, but the daedra lord that could give it to him was Molag
Bal and demanded one thing of Ulfbert. This one thing was that he had
to sacrifice the future of his clan to be given The Gift.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unsure of what this meant Ulfbert told
Kym about his plans hoping he would understand and stand by him, Kym
was disgusted at his father and told him he would hand him over to
the jarl for his crimes. Ulfbert murdered Kym and hid his death
through a weaving of lies, but kept his skull to adorn the statue of
Molag Bal.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulfbert's plans were to come to
fruition when he realised his grandchildren from Volk's marriage
would be the future of the clan. So he gathered cultists to him and
raided Volk's farm while Volk was away fighting for the Pact. Faced
with one grandchild defending the farm and his mother Ulfbert was
enraged and slew the young boy of seven, then stormed the house
taking Fraki from his crying mother. Gresla the mother was given to
the cultists to become a sacrifice for Molag Bal, while the young boy
was to be taken to the clan hold and sacrificed there to prove
Ulfbert's worth to his new master.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With Volk's return how ever and he and
his friends looking for the cultists responsible for the attack
Ulfbert knew it was only a matter of time before his plans would be
revealed. He was forced to accelerate them, but did not consider that
the cultists also had their own agenda to gather more sacrifices from
Rorikstead.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Persona:-
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When he met Left-Paw-Alight he was very
much like Volk, but after the death of his wife he started to become
morose at times. As he got older he started to hate it and looked for
a way to regain his youth and this made him bitter at times. Still
loved by his people he would make sure they were well protected and
fed. He would often wear gold torcs around his biceps and these were could be cut up by his two handed axe to pay for equipment or food for
his men when times were hard. If a warrior proved themselves worthy
in battle he would also award one gold torc to the warrior. All of
his oathsworn adored him as a leader.
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-28208938647526656072014-04-01T09:33:00.001-07:002014-04-01T09:55:40.432-07:00Left-Paw-Alight character sheet.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Name:- Left-Paw-Alight, Saxhleel
name:-Vistha-Okan-R<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARc9QyaJYqBxewPD9DsDGPb_OdVpobXim4jyH5DgVKWU05n9T2P5aZ4ObH36weA2uq-NQsBhUcTEbw8gDYG6woitpZzYWssGLvz8ZU6AuqXDwe5unEl8-4zFHvCB2ESXxd-NnTRT88TI/s1600/Left-Paw-Alight+character+avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARc9QyaJYqBxewPD9DsDGPb_OdVpobXim4jyH5DgVKWU05n9T2P5aZ4ObH36weA2uq-NQsBhUcTEbw8gDYG6woitpZzYWssGLvz8ZU6AuqXDwe5unEl8-4zFHvCB2ESXxd-NnTRT88TI/s1600/Left-Paw-Alight+character+avatar.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Demeanour:- Teacher; he enjoys to teach
others about the world and how to read and write. Comes across as a
wise shaman of his people. Although old for an argonian he still
seems full of energy and ready for action.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Age:- 94 years old.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gender:- Male</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth date:- 2E 487 Rain's Hand 27<sup>th</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth sign:- The Shadow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Place of Birth:- Deep inside Black
Marsh</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Race:- Argonian</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Alliance:- Ebonheart Pact</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Current Profession:- Shaman for the
Ebonheart Pact.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Physical descriptions.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hair:- Use to have a plumage of
colourful feather that covered his head, but since his journey
through Coldharbour and Oblivion they have fallen out and been
replaced by a crown of horns.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eye Colour:- Yellow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Skin Colour:- Green/grey due to age.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Body build:- Slim with little muscle
definition.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Type of clothing worn:- Usually robes
of his people or the dunmer with belts and straps with various
pouches and satchels hanging from them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Facial/Body marking:- He has a face
tattoo of his tribe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Likes:- Seeking knowledge, travelling,
cooking.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dislikes:- Ignorance, daedra, slavers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Combat abilities:- Can use most types
of staffs and wands with very good proficiency, and also a sword in
one hand and a staff when he is pushed and running low on magicka. If
given time he has the ability to call upon strange spirits that sleep
within the environment around him which can cause some very dramatic
effects. He guards this knowledge and preserves it because it is an
old form of magic from his own people, vowing to the Hist never to
reveal its secrets to an non argonian.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When not fighting or adventuring he can
be found teaching anyone who wishes to learn the beauty of reading
and writing.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Background:-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He doesn't speak much of his history,
but from what friends have found out from him during the long nights
at the campfire or drunk in the taverns is as follows.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He is a father but left Black March
when his life mate and eldest son were killed by a dunmer slave
catchers groups, his other children were taken to Morrowind and
vanished without trace. Striken with grief he left Black Marsh and
wandered the lands of Skyrim learning all he could about the land,
the spirits that slumbered within and its people.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was in an old dwemer city ruin where
he met Ulfbert Shatter-Shield.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulfbert's expedition had fallen foul of
some deadly traps and dwemer steam powered guardians, Left-Paw-Alight
and his team had entered the city from another point, it was only
chance that the two groups met. Upon seeing Ulfbert and the survivors
of his group Left-Paw-Alight decided to lend aid to the stricken
nords. During the daring rescue Left-Paw-Alight lost three of his own
team to the deadly guardians and his right hand, but still managed to
free Ulfbert and Kavak from the traps and guardians that had trapped
them. The remaining survivors from both teams joined forces and
continued to complete their tasks within the city. It was at this
point Ulfbert found he couldn't pronounce Left-Paw-Alight's saxhleel
name so gave him the name of Left-Paw-Alight due to his magic
fireballs being summoned from his left hand.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulbert offered Left-Paw-Alight
employment to teach his son Kym to read and write, a job the argonian
took with delight he also became known as the clan holds healer as he
knew about herbs and healing magic. During his time in the
Shatter-Shield clan hold his right hand grew back which was a
testament to the argonians regenerative powers.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In time he saw the birth of Volk and
then Brom and taught them also how to read and write, out of the
three brothers though Volk and Left-Paw-Alight had gained a
friendship that none could explain.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When Volk signed up with general Veldam
for three years of service to the Pact Ulfbert pleaded with
Left-Paw-Alight to go with his son and make sure he was safe.
Left-Paw-Alight agreed and it came to be a relief to him as he was
starting to get itchy feet anyway.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Persona:-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His view on magic is very different
from his peers. He sees spirits living in the land, trees, air, water
and fire; he has also found a way to call on their help with some
very devastating effects in the past. Although he can still use his
own reserves of magicka like other mages he prefers to use
sympathetic magic or the spirits that answer his call.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight is very tolerant of
other races in Tamriel, and is very quick to make fun or joke in the
situations he finds himself in. This has in the past put him bad
light with other mages who view him as a simpleton, only to find out
to late that there is a cunning mind behind the façade.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-30212492427794823442014-03-31T14:41:00.001-07:002014-04-01T09:55:00.353-07:00Delte Hlervi Character Profile<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Name:- Delte Hlervi</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCztoS3OeF_YYnCzOT8QqrWO0gSl7KNxnxGiglxAPe6oA9UlY24PrgGst_GkTg3Of5koFj_xgeuwv6W7tzC3yEJ7yTiZloNfufBgo7szV6W99hUyso1MqByjqtzLmxDnMwGEJ6eTbyYY/s1600/Delte+avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCztoS3OeF_YYnCzOT8QqrWO0gSl7KNxnxGiglxAPe6oA9UlY24PrgGst_GkTg3Of5koFj_xgeuwv6W7tzC3yEJ7yTiZloNfufBgo7szV6W99hUyso1MqByjqtzLmxDnMwGEJ6eTbyYY/s1600/Delte+avatar.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Demeanour:- Austere to
those who she doesn't know. Once the barriers are down people tend to
find a caring individual who just enjoys life and all it brings.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Age:- 30</div>
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<br /></div>
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Gender:- Female</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth date:- 2E 551
Heartfire 22<sup>nd</sup></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Birth sign:- Thief</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Place of birth :- Mainland
Morrowind the city that will become known as Old Ebonheart.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Race:- Dunmer</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Alliance:- Ebonheart Pact</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Current Profession:- Scout
for the Ebonheart armies (hidden Morag Tong member)</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Physical descriptions.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hair:- Flame red usually
worn long and loose.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eye Colour:- Violet</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Skin Colour:- Dark Grey</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Body build:- Athletic</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Type of clothing worn:-
Usually leather armour when travelling, when at home silks and fine
garments.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Facial/ Body markings:-
None</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Likes:- Children,
Exploring, Alchemy.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dislikes:- Spiders,
Undead, Skooma.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Combat abilities:- Can
shoot with bows and arrows but prefers to use her two daggers. She
has some abilities with healing magicka.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte is an accomplished
alchemist, which helps her earn money when not working for the army
of the Ebonheart Pact.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Background:-</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Born in what is to be
latter known as Old Ebonheart to a dying house called Hlervi, her
mother and father decided to move to Elsweyr and start a fresh on the
edge of the desert farming silk to trade to the region. She can
hardly remember the journey due to her young age and what memories
she does have is that of her elder brother looking after her and
their mother on the road when Delte's father had to leave them for
supplies.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte's mother died during
child birth to her younger brother when Delte was only 4 years old.
This put a lot of strain on her father who now not only had to look
after the silk farm but also two children who were not old enough to
look after themselves. Life was good to them though until the
troubles started in the Imperial city.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Rumours sprang up of
dissension between the states and alliances were being made, visitors
would come in the dead of night to the farm and sue her father and
brother to join a side. Her father and elder sibling would have none
of it preferring to stay out of any conflicts.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Shortly after one meeting
her two brothers went out to hunt wild bore, only the youngest
returned with the story of a bore goring his brother to death.
Covered in blood he gave the gruesome story to his father and sister.
Stricken with grief their father became very ill and died shortly
afterwards. The lands and property now fell into the hands of Delte,
but before the reading of the will an Altmeri delegate visited and
asked that Delte be put under arrest due to the House Hlervi joining
the Ebonheart Pact. Delte resisted arrest and killed the delegate and
two of his guards, she fled into the countryside where she was hunted
down by a slave hunter and captured.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On her capture she
witnessed her younger brother swearing an oath to the Dominion and
her own sentence was to be taken to a slave camp to mine iron for the
war effort. Now a criminal all she had was taken from her and fell
into her younger brother's hands.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the camp she was placed
as a cook where she gained access to herbs and spices and due to her
knowledge of alchemy managed to make sleeping poison for the guards.
Within a few months of captivity she was free and running to
Morrowind.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Once in Morrowind she
tracked down the only surviving member of her house who took her in.
She recounted the tale for the old patriarch to the house. He
listened and gave her a coin and then sent her away. Thinking the old
man had gone senile she threw the coin away in a rage vowing to get
her revenge on those who manufactured her families down fall.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"You know you
shouldn't throw away a gift like this." The hooded man said to
her as he passed the coin she had thrown away between his fingers. "I
can give you want you want, all you need to do is accept."</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte did accept and was
taken to a Morag Tong cell where she swore oaths to Mephala and the
Tong. She was trained in the arts of stealth and assassination.
Within two years she had risen in the ranks and completed every writ
given to her. Delte asked the Tong Master for a leave of absence to
go back to Elsweyr and seek out the answers to the questions she had.
Giving his permission she left the next day.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Back in Elsweyr she
arrived at her family home and was greeted by her younger brother who
was pleased to see her free of the slave camp. During the evening
meal she was drugged and taken back to the slave camp. Upon awakening
the slave master bragged about how her brother had sold her to them,
and that she was to be kept alive because she had been like a mother
to the boy. With the Dominion now occupying forts and towns in
Cyrodiil she was being shipped to the front lines to work in the salt
mines.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Once at the salt mines she
was abused by the guards and caged for days on end without food or
water. Days turned into weeks and then months with no sign of escape
or rescue. On the eighth month of her captivity a daring raid by a
Dunmer, Argonian and Nord alerted the whole slave camp. As she swung
there in her cage she shouted out to them to free her, the dunmer and
nord killed the jailer and his guards and broke Delte free. Weak and
dehydrated she was half carried and half walked out of the slave camp
and to freedom.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the way back to Bruma
she recovered her lost strength and showed a great aptitude to bypass
enemy troops and positions. The male dunmer who rescued her became
enamoured with her and soon won her heart. His name was General
Veldam Arendu of House Telvanni he explained he was not a direct
descendant to the house more a cousin and a rebellious one at that.
The nord was Volk Shatter-Shield from Skyrim who was now on his
second year of service in the Ebonheart Pact along with
Left-Paw-Alight the argonian. The four of them soon became good
friends and saw many adventures together in Cyrodiil before the war
between the alliances really began.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The rest can be read here
as it picks up three years before the war begins in open conflict.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
http://deltebackground.blogspot.co.uk/<br />
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Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-1886026156825795122014-03-29T16:53:00.002-07:002014-03-29T16:53:16.029-07:00Chapter 11, Location:- Outside Broken Tower Reboudt, Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Tirdas 17th.
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 11</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Outside Broken Tower
Redoubt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Tirdas 17<sup>th</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kavak and the Oathsworn of the
Shatter-Shield clan had a busy time with clearing the old fort of the
cultists that had made it their home. He and his men had found some
of the cultists trying to dig through a fresh cave in deep in the old
dungeons. Once the fighting had died down and he was happy enough
with the security of the old fort he sent teams out to do a final
sweep and to kill any cultists they found along the way.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He sat down heavily on the stone steps
leading up to the main door by the roadside and looked up at the
clear blue sky as the sun rose to its zenith for the day. The air was
filled with bird song as they flitted about the cliff face and bushes
that clung to the old rocks for survival. The search for the lord
Volk had been for naught as there had been no sign of him or
Left-Paw-Alight and he began to wonder if they were trapped on the
other side of the cave in which was why the cultists were digging
there to try and get to them.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kavak pulled his two handed sword out
and rested it on his lap and inspected the blade. The blade of the
sword had notches from the fight at the clan hold and from the battle
that had taken place in the fort, he lovingly stroked it with a
calloused hand and a smile. The weapon had served him for most of his
adult life and now like him it was starting to loose its edge far to
quickly in battle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lightning split the sky and a vortex of
clouds swirled above the grass plains, Kavak looked up as a flight of
birds frightened by the sudden sound took to the air and sighed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“One more battle for us both by the
looks of it.” he said to the blade as he stood up and went back
inside the old fort to bellow out a command “Oathsworn to me, we
have more daedra to kill.” His voice boomed throughout the old fort
and the sound of running feet clad in metal and leather could be
heard as his unit of elite warriors started to gather to him.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The portal from Coldharbour opened up
ten yards above the grass plain and evicted three figures that hit
the ground below. With a crack like thunder the portal closed behind
them. From where Kavak stood with the Oathsworn he could see the
figures laying on the ground was an argonian and two humans one male
and one female. The figures didn't move for a while and then started
to rouse trying to stand up onto their feet. Kavak gave the order to
raise the shield wall and approach the three figures before they
could gain their bearings and attack them.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk rolled over onto his back as he
tried to catch his breath. Gresla laid next to him looking up at the
clear blue sky and started to laugh and breath in deeply the clear
mountain air of Skyrim. Left-Paw-Alight sat bolt up right and looked
around in a daze.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Oh look Kavak is here to greet us.”
he said as his brain tried to process the sight around him “That's
nice, I wonder how he knew where to find us.” Left-Paw-Alight then
held his head in his hands and started to make a strange croaking
sound a sob left him as he realised what had happened “Oh gods we
left Delte behind.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I know.” Volk said as he rose to
his feet with the help of his wife who was overjoyed at being freed
“How are we going to break the news to Veldam?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk walked over to Left-Paw-Alight and
helped him to his feet “Come on Paws.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I will send Veldam a letter once we
get back to your hold.” Left-Paw-Alight said as he rose to his
feet.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“She will not be forgotten Paws,
while my clan still lives in these hills and my family hold still
stands her name will live on in our sagas.” came the reply from
Volk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kavak stopped halfway to the three
figures and gave the order to lower the shield wall, he watched as
the three figures got to their feet and a smile spread across his
face as he recognised the human male and argonian to be Volk and
Left-Paw-Alight, the female he assumed was Volk's wife Gresla. He
started to laugh and moved forward to greet them all, the Oathsworn
broke rank and followed their leader.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It is good to see you my lord Volk.”
Kavak said as he greeted him with a warriors handshake.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Good to see you as well old man.”
Volk responded with a grin as he looked around at the Oathsworn and
added “Where is Brom?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“There are many things we need to
discuss on the way home.” Kavak answered his tone dropping to a
more serious note. Volk's heart leapt into his throat and his mouth
went dry as he tried to swallow.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Is Brom well?” he asked the old
nord fearing the worse.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yes Brom is fine.” Kavak said with
a grin spreading across his face “And so is your son Fraki.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At hearing this new Gresla gave a sigh
of relief “Thank the gods.” she put her arm around Volk and
rested her head on his shoulder.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What are you not telling us though?”
Left-Paw-Alight spoke up as he listened in on the conversation.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Best that comes from Brom.” Kavak
said as he looked at each of them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I'll tell him if you wont.” Gresla
said in a defiant tone “Your father Volk lead the......”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Shut it woman.” Kavak raised his
hand to strike Gresla “You maybe Volk's wife but it is not …..”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It's ok Kavak let her speak.” Volk
interrupted him and then lowered his voice to a growl and added “She
is my wife and I do not want you to speak to her in such a way again.
You shall treat her with the same respect as you would me.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Forgive me my lord.” Kavak
apologised and bowed low to Volk “Forgive me my lady.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Apology accepted.” Gresla said
looking at Kavak, she then turned to Volk and continued “Your
father Volk lead the attack on our farm and took Fraki from me after
he killed Michael in cold blood.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk staggered backwards away from her
the shock of the news was like a physical blow to him as he looked
between Gresla and Kavak shaking his head in disbelief. “This is
some sort of cruel joke it has to be.” he said wiping away the
tears.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I wish it were.” Kavak said as he
held onto Volk to steady him “Brom challenged your father when his
crimes became known. He won and sent us to find you.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I have regained my wife and new
born, only to loose a battle sister and my father. The gods certainly
know how to make fun of us.” Volk shook off Kavak and went to his
wife and held her close.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kavak turned to look at Left-Paw-Alight
in his ruined robes “Good to see you as well Paws old friend.” he
frowned at the argonian looking him up and down “New look in robes
I see?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No it is not.” snapped
Left-Paw-Alight “They are ruined Delte she cut...them..” he
stopped his rant and looked at Kavak “Delte is the name of the
battle sister Volk spoke of. If not for her we would not of been able
to escape Coldharbour.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Let us go home I wish to see my
son.” Volk said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Shatter-Shield clan hold.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Fredas 20<sup>th</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom sat in the clan longhall the blood
and bodies from the fight with the cultists and his father had been
removed. New fur rugs had been placed around the hall and servants
scurried about cleaning, some of the militia stood guard inside the
hall. Shouts were heard outside as the rest of the militia went
through their drills and training. A large fire gave the longhall a
much needed warmth, spread out in front of it was a fur rug where
Fraki lay giggling as Hreira played with him and her new born
daughter. The mood around the settlement had improved greatly and a
new sense of hope seemed to of fallen over the people who lived and
worked within. As the winters snow had retreated the flowers were
starting to come out of their winter hibernation. Children ran about
outside playing games of hide and seek or seeing how far they could
roll a wooden hoop with a small stick down the roads.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One of the militia sergeants entered
the longhall, his long chainmail coat glittered in the shafts of
sunlight that spilled down from the roof and windows. He walked
briskly up to where Brom sat and bowed low. “My lord I have news.”
he said with a barley contained smile and waited for the signal to
continue.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom waved a hand at the sergeant “Go
on sergeant Balfhe .”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Your brother approaches with Kavak
and the Oathsworn my lord.” sergeant Balfhe said then stepped to
one side.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom shot to his feet and started to
half walk and half run out of the longhall to greet his brother. He
stopped at the doorway and shouted over to Hreira “Volk is on his
way get Fraki ready to meet his father.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The approach to the longhall was lined
with family members of the Shatter-Shield clan as well as the militia
and local farmers who tended the lands around the hold. The cheering
was overwhelming, Brom stood at the doors to the longhall beaming
from ear to ear, his long hair braided with coloured beads and cloth.
He wore a red woollen tunic and leather britches with leather boots
that came up to his knees. Around his neck was a golden torc that
glittered in the sunlight his arms also had golden torcs to show his
status as a warrior lord. He looked over at Hreira who was holding
Fraki and said to her “Stay out of sight with Fraki, I wish to
surprise Volk.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight looked over at Volk as
they made their way through the crowd towards the longhall. During
their journey through Coldharbour and back to the clan hold he had
noticed grey streaks of hair had appeared in Volk's hair and beard.
His own glorious plumage of coloured feathers had fallen out and now
it was being replaced with a crown of horns. The words that Delte had
said echoed in his mind about travelling through Oblivion will always
take a toll on those mortals that dare enter. Gresla and Volk had
been inseparable throughout the whole journey from Rorikstead.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They all dismounted their horses a few
steps away from the longhall, Volk helped Gresla off her horse and
walked hand in hand up to the main doors where Brom stood waiting
with a huge grin on his face. The two brothers embraced each other as
only brothers can, and then Brom turned to Gresla and gave her the
same welcome.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Is it true about the Old Bear?”
Volk asked breaking the silence between them looking at Brom.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Tears welled up in Brom's eyes as he
nodded his head, Volk embraced him again and said “It should never
of been you to do this task, forgive me brother.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well there is some good news I have
for you and Gresla.” Brom said as he waved Hreira out from her
hiding spot with Fraki “We saved him before our father could
sacrifice him to Molag Bal.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hreira stepped out of the longhall with
Fraki in her arms and presented him to Volk and his wife. Gresla gave
a gasp of joy at seeing her baby and gently took him from Hreira,
Volk looked down at the face of his surviving son and placed his
index finger into the palm of the young boy. Fraki gripped hold tight
on his fathers finger as Volk tried to shake it free with a smile.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“He has a good grip, he will make a
fine warrior.” Volk said he then looked at Hreira and said to her
“You lass come here.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hreira walked up to Volk and gave a
small curtsey “My lord ?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Are you the wet nurse Kavak told me
about?” he asked her his tone now more serious and stern.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yes my lord.” she replied with her
head still bowed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Look at me when I want to thank you
for taking the time to look after my boy and offer you anything
within my power to give you as reward.” Volk said to the young
mother</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hreira looked up into Volk's steel blue
eyes framed with his black hair and said “I only wish for my
daughter to grow up healthy and be given an education.” she said in
all honesty.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then it shall be so, move your
family up to the longhall.” Volk said resolute “I think a feast
is in order to celebrate our return and reunion.” he said as he
placed an arm around Gresla and Brom as they wall walked into the
longhall.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The feast lasted for three days and
three nights in celebration of Volk's return and his reunion with
Gresla his wife along with his son. On the last day of the feast a
clan skald stood on a large oak table with a drum and sang a new saga
of Volk's adventures in Cyrodiil and Coldharbour. Once he was
finished the skald quietened down the crowd in the hall and spoke to
his audience.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Although she was a dunmer her skin
ashen grey with violet eyes she had the heart and soul of a daughter
of Skyrim, and this saga is for her.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He then started to beat his drum once
more and sang a second saga about Delte and her sacrifice to save
Volk and Gresla from Coldharbour.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u>Epilogue</u>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight kept to his word and
sent a letter to general Veldam giving him the bad news of Delte's
demise and how it had occurred.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam didn't take the news well and
entered into a spiral of self destruction over the next year. The
bottle became his only companion and love for a while until he lost
his commission for general after a large defeat in a siege at one of
the keeps that littered Cyrodiil. It was shortly after this event he
managed to pull himself out of the bottle and work towards getting
his rank of general back. His natural charisma brought others like
him together to form a small unit of highly trained men and women.
They took on the jobs deep behind the enemy lines in disrupting
supplies of the enemy alliances. Rumours surrounded the unit about
all those that serve in it are looking for death and they were tired
of life due to the high risk missions they took. The enemy soldiers
gave Veldam's new unit the name Hellequin which would garner ghost
stories around the campfires at night.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight said his farewells to
the Shatter-Shield family and went on to the college in Winterhold
city. When he arrived at the college he was well received by the
other mages who studied and lived there. He gave the council his own
accounts of what he had seen and done in Coldharbour, along with the
strange contraptions he had seen being made. Left-Paw-Alight left out
the part about Delte due to a promise he had made to Volk that he
would find a way to free her soul or get her home if she still lived
some how.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight was given the honour of
being able to hand pick his own students that would help him research
more on the daedra and the events in Coldharbour. Over the next
couple of years he kept in touch with the Shatter-Shield clan and
sent letters to Veldam, although he never got any back from the
general.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the year that followed Volk's return
home his wife Gresla gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Gresla and
Volk overjoyed with this blessing gave their new addition to the
family the name of Delte in honour of his missing friend. Fraki and
Delte Shatter-Shield was given every care and attention that could be
afforded. Brom and Serena the breton healer from Rorikstead started
courting and after a year and a half they tied the knot at the shrine
of Mara to become husband and wife. Volk still taunts his brother
about not marrying a nord, but soon found that Serena to be a perfect
match for his brother. Gresla and Serena became good friends and
would often spend time together while the two brothers were away on
business.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
True to his word Volk accepted Hreira
and her daughter along with her husband into the clan and gave them
the same attention as he would his own flesh and blood.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kavak decided to retire and hang up his
sword once and for all, as he stepped down as the clans housecarl his
nephew and husband to Hreira took up the title. The ranks of the
oathsworn swelled as some of the displaced people from Rorikstead
came to the clan hold and pledged themselves to the clan. With this
came new problems as the jarls Morthal and Solitude demanded to know
what Volk's intentions were to be with such a fighting force on their
southern boarders.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the pillars that held up the roof of
the longhall a new saga was carved into the wood of Volk's adventures
with his two friends but it was never finished until the fate of
Delte could be determined.
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-83709618578912793882014-03-29T05:20:00.002-07:002014-03-29T05:20:55.454-07:00Chapter 10, Location:- Coldharbour, Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Morndas 16th.
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 10</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Coldharbour</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Morndas 16<sup>th</sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With no sunlight or moon to guide them
through the city it made their journey difficult. The only light
seemed to come from the clouds above and the stone walls of the city
along with some of the major buildings in a sickly black purple light
that would make one feel ill with nausea and a pulsing headache if
looked at directly for to long. In the sky large winged creatures
wheeled and dived on the currents of air, now and then they would
swoop down and pick up individuals only to carry them off to some
place unknown. They followed a fast flowing stream that stank of
stagnant water and effluent Delte covered her mouth and nose with a
silk scarf as they made their way along the banks, Volk and
Left-Paw-Alight tried their best not to breath to deeply but in the
end gave up and just tried to ignore the stench. Placed along the
banks of the stream were small encampments of old run down market
stalls and tents with sleeping bags inside. The occupants to which
looked much like the others they had seen during their time in
Coldharbour. Some scurried about on hands and knees like wild dogs
looking for food baring their teeth at passing daedra and each other.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte circumnavigated most of these
settlements and their occupants trying to avoid getting into a fight
and giving away their purpose and location to the daedra. The fights
they couldn't avoid were over quickly and quietly with either a
dagger in the back or an arrow from Delte's bow.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As they approached one encampment they
noticed a log fire blazing away with a strange man sat playing a lute
and singing songs to a group of dishevelled looking humans with cold
empty grey eyes wearing only rags. On the lute players head sat an
old battered saucepan as a makeshift helmet. He wore a ragged tunic
and breaches, on his feet were a pair of old leather boots with their
toe caps missing. Left-Paw-Alight nudged Delte and pointed at the
scene and said “Now that is strange.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What do you mean?” Delte said
looking for an explanation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Singing and playing a lute shows
signs of intelligence and a creative edge or soul.” came his reply
“We should go and see if he is in a talking mood, maybe he can
direct us to the fresh slaves or even Gresla.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then let us go and have a word.”
Volk interrupted at hearing this, he moved out of the shadows and
headed over to the camp before Delte could stop him or urge caution.
She sighed and shook her head and followed him over to the camp fire
along with Left-Paw-Alight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk was already sat down on one of the
logs by the fire when Delte and Left-Paw-Alight arrived and sat down
along side him, the man carried on playing for a short while and then
stopped to look at the new arrivals. “Well well looks like I have a
new audience, I am pleased to say. The old one wasn't in a very
talkative mood, they just had no soul.” he said and started to
laugh “Oh were are my manners, Sir Cadwell at your service.” He
finished as he lifted up his saucepan helmet in greeting.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte, Volk and Left-Paw-Alight looked
at each other with puzzled expressions on their faces. Volk
introduced himself and his two companions to the man calling himself
Sir Cadwell. Delte got impatient and asked “We are here looking for
a way to the newly arrived slaves and a nord woman who goes by the
name of Gresla Shatter-Shield.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I see well how about a trade first?”
Sir Cadwell offered.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Go on what kind of trade?”
Left-Paw-Alight replied trying to define the deal in a less broader
term than the one used by the strange man.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well let me see.” Sir Cadwell said
as he stroked his long pointy grey beard as he thought “Ah ha I
know what about a song in trade for information?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight sighed with relief and
then said “I don't know any songs though, a spell I can teach you
though.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No I need a new song, something
cheerful in this dark and dismal place to help lift the mood.” came
the reply from Sir Cadwell.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte shrugged her shoulders and
confessed “I don't know any in the common tongue.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I have one.” Volk said with a
cheeky grin.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Oh gods no not that one Volk.”
Left-Paw-Alight complained</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Now I am intrigued to hear this one
master Volk.” Sir Cadwell said with a grin looking at the
discomfort written on Delte's and Left-Paw-Alight's faces.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk took a deep breath and started to
sing in a deep resonant tone:-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There was a young fop from Highrock,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Who thought he had a big cock,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He met a nordic whore,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They wiggled and jiggled all night
long,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Till she screamed “Is it in?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk and Sir Cadwell fell about
laughing at the poem while Delte held her head in her hands and just
groaned along with Left-Paw-Alight. Suddenly Sir Cadwell sat bolt up
right and looked Volk in the eye and said “I was from Highrock you
know.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stopped laughing instantly and his
hand went to his axe waiting for the attack. Sir Cadwell looked him
in the eye and scowled, then a smile spread across his face and he
said “But I like that one, and there were many fops in Highrock who
could boast.” Volk's hand fell back onto his knee as he relaxed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“As agreed a song for information.”
Sir Cadwell said as he put his lute down by his side “You are
seeking entrance to the soul forge tower then if it is new slaves you
are looking for. As for the maiden Gresla she came through a week ago
now and will be soul forged soon, unless she has already met that
fate of course.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What does soul forged mean exactly?”
Left-Paw-Alight asked.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sir Cadwell picked up his lute and
started to strum it as he spoke “Soul forging is where the mortals
are taken to the forge and have their souls hammered from their
bodies. The soul is then forged into the chains you see above us
going to those large spinning hoops of metal. Quite and ingenious
contraption and Molag Bal's newest invention and plan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Wait what plan?” Left-Paw-Alight
said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Oh to pull Nirn into Coldharbour of
course.” came the reply from Sir Cadwell as he strummed the lute.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Soul forging sounds painful.”
Delte confessed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It is my dear, most don't survive
the process.” Sir Cadwell answered “Those that do often go insane
or feral.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Have you been soul forged?” Volk
said wondering if Cadwell's madness might be a part of this process.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Oh no my dear boy, I have been here
for....ermm …. well let me see....” Sir Cadwell started to count
on his fingers and then gave up “A long time, you see I came here
when my head was unceremoniously removed from my shoulders in a
fight.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How do we get into the soul forge?”
Delte asked him</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Follow this river to the harvester
mines.” Sir Cadwell pointed at the river and the direction they
needed to travel in “Be careful in the mines they are filled with
traps and beasties.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte and the others rose to their feet
and started to move again, Delte looked back at Sir Cadwell and asked
him “What kind of beasties?” Secretly hoping it was not going to
be giant spiders.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Mostly undead and snakes.” Sir
Cadwell said as he waved goodbye to them “Oh and give my regards to
Eleanor when you see her.” With that parting remark he started to
play his lute once more and sing the song Volk had taught him.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When they reached the river bank once
more and started to follow it Delte said “I wonder who Eleanor is?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I don't know and there is only one
way to find out.” Volk said in reply “Lets get a move on, sounds
like we have some ground to cover.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They followed the rive to where it
vanished into the cliff face. A quick search revealed an entrance to
some old abandoned mine that Sir Cadwell had told them about.
Metallic clanking sounds could be heard echoing through the tunnels,
along with hiss of high pressured steam shooting out of vents.
Glowing fungus and lichen lined the walls in a strange blue glow
within the tunnels, the light they gave off was enough to navigate by
with ease. Delte took point as they entered the old mines, it wasn't
long till they came across their first trap of a metal plate in the
floor of the tunnel with holes peppered in it. A hiss of steam shot
out of some pipes nearby and a set of iron spikes shot up through the
holes, with no way to disarm the trap they had to time their run and
jumps to be able to get past it without incident. Skeletons littered
the ground with huge holes in skulls and broken bones, a testament to
the effectiveness of the traps in the mines.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte picked the route through the
mines trying to avoid most of the traps or find a easy path over
them, on one of the traps she and Volk had managed to get across
without any problems until it came to Left-Paw-Alight's turn. As he
jumped over the trap the spikes shot out and skewered his trailing
robes pulling him back and up to suspend him above the floor of the
mine. The sound of tearing cloth could be heard as the robes start to
give way due to his weight pulling on the seams. The spikes shot back
down into the floor dumping the argonian onto the floor with a thud,
Volk and Delte pulled him clear and helped him back to his feet.
Delte stripped Left-Paw-Alight of his ruined robes and left him
standing naked to the waist as she took them over to a rock and
started to slice the bottom half of the robes away. When she had
finished she handed them back to him and said “There put it back
on, no more getting caught in traps.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He looked at the robes and then Delte
with a measure of disgust and shock, but didn't say a word as he put
what remained of his robes back on.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They moved deeper into the mines all
the while a steady ringing sound could be heard, Volk cocked his ear
up towards it and told the others it was a hammer striking an anvil
meaning they must be close to the soul forge.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eventually they arrived in a large open
cavern that had been bug out by the claws of some monster and various
points in the walls tunnels lead away into the darkness, some went
downwards others carried on the same level. The three of them found
one tunnel that started to incline upwards back to the surface,
Left-Paw-Alight summoned a small flame and held it up, as he did so
the fire moved towards the tunnel that inclined meaning the tunnel
lead to the surface. As he dismissed the flame skeletons and small
imps poured out of the other tunnels, Delte and Volk held the front
rank as Left-Paw-Alight cast spells and backed his way up the tunnel.
Once the three of them was clear of the entrance Left-Paw-Alight cast
a powerful kinetic blast at the tunnel roof bringing it down onto
their enemies, and blocking the way back through the mines. The climb
was steep and tiring for all involved, eventually they made it to
where the tunnel flatted out and they saw the entrance that lead into
a courtyard of some kind.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They emerged into the courtyard and was
met by a huge towering fort built into the very wall of the city of
Coldharbour. Its stones were made of a black granite with small bones
embedded within them. A small wooden door sat at the top of a flight
of stone steps, at the base of the steps there was a wooden table
where a woman was sat writing in a book with a quill pen. The woman
was dressed in a simple black dress and wearing black boots. They
looked up at the sky and saw the huge metal ring spinning suspended
above the tower, chains could be seen wrapping around it looking like
huge metallic snakes coiling around their prey. Cries of pain and
moans could be heard coming from within the large tower in between
the strikes of the hammer sounds.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The woman at the table looked up and
smiled at them as they approached, her smile was devoid of all
emotion which set Delte's nerves on edge and gave her an uneasy
feeling. She tightened her grip on her bow stave watching the open
ground between her and the only door visible that lead into the fort.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Careful Volk, I don't like the look
of this.” She said as Volk stepped forward to meet the strange
woman.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk nodded and walked over to meet
her. “ Eleanor I presume?” He said to the woman.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why yess that iss my name.” She
said stopping in her stride to keep a distance between Volk and
herself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Sir Cadwell sends his regards.”
Volk said with a grin thanking their lucky stars they had found
another ally in this dismal place.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She threw her head back and laughed
although it held no emotion at all which set Volk's hackles up on the
back of his neck, slowly he drew his large two handed sword.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Welcome mortalss to my lordss
domain.” she said with malice in her voice “Ssubmit to me now and
I will make your deathss quick and painlesss.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With that she produced a black soul gem
and held it up waiting for them to kneel before her.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“A black soul gem.” Left-Paw-Alight
said to Delte “She means to trap us here, some friend she is.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Knowing the implications of what the
black soul gem meant Delte slowly pulled an arrow out of her quiver
and dipped the point into a small pot of black paste.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Sorry lady you are in my way and not
being very helpful with talk of submission.” Volk responded as he
hoisted his sword up and started a running charge at the woman.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As Volk covered the middle ground the
woman's body grew in size and transformed, her bottom half turned
into that of a large snake while the top half remained female but her
teeth grew into large fangs dripping with poison, while her body
gained another pair of arms. On the end of the tail a large rattle
made a constant sound that put Delte's teeth on edge.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“A harvester of souls.” Delte
shouted above the din of the rattle as she drew back on her bow.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk leapt into the air at the end of
his run his sword high above his head ready for the down swing when
he met his target. The harvester screeched at him and threw a bolt of
magical lighting at the airborne Volk, it hit him squarely on his
chest sending him flying back the way he had come to land heavily on
the courtyard floor. Smoke slowly rising from his chainmail armour.
The harvester began to summon more energy to throw another spell at
Volk's prone form.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An arrow struck the daedra ruining its
concentration and the spell died on its lips, a cry of pain and shock
came from the creature as the fast acting poison from the arrow took
effect and spread its way through the blood stream.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Face me creature!” Delte shouted
as she ran in the opposite direction away from where Volk lay. As she
moved she loosed arrows in quick succession at the harvester of
souls.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The harvester of souls screeched at
Delte and slithered towards her with clawed hands outstretched.
Left-Paw-Alight cast a healing spell over Volk's prone form, and then
summoned up a fireball to throw at the daedra. The blazing ball of
fire hit the daedra causing the harvester to throw up a magicka ward
for protection and stop any more spells from hitting it. Small
glowing orbs of light started to appear and travel towards the
creature.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Shoot the orbs.” Left-Paw-Alight
shouted over to Delte as he now cowered behind his own magicka ward
as lightning ignited the air between him and the harvester.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte took aim and shot an arrow at
each of the orbs, she missed the last one as it struck the harvester
of souls. She watched horrified as the wounds she had given it were
healed as the light enveloped its nightmare form.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His head spinning Volk slowly got up
and looked around the courtyard, he saw Delte hiding behind a wall
buttress as she shot arrows at the daedra and Left-Paw-Alight being
magical assaulted by lighting from the creature they were fighting.
Volk picked up his two handed sword and ran at the daedra once more
ready now for the attack.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight watched as Volk charged
past him and dodged a bolt of lighting, then ducked under a swipe
from the clawed hands of the creature. His sword came in low and
sliced the belly of the snake part of the body, intestines spewed out
onto the courtyard as it reeled back in pain. It raised its hands
high into the air to rain blows down onto Volk who was now moving in
again to strike another part of the snakes tail.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An arrow from Delte's bow pierced the
harvesters skull sending an uncontrolled spasm through its body. The
snake tail whipped around and swiped Volk off his feet, he rolled
away as the dead daedra toppled over and lay twitching on the ground.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Without pausing for a rest Delte
bounded up the stone steps at the door picking the lock.
Left-Paw-Alight and Volk looked over the book the woman had been
writing in and noticed she was keeping some sort of accounts or tally
system of souls entering into the soul forge. The latest entry was
today along with a head count.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I don't want to deal with one of
those things again.” Volk said looking at the dead creature lying
on the ground.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Harvester of Souls.”
Left-Paw-Alight said to give it the proper name of the creature they
had just fought against. “One of the more powerful daedra that
calls Coldharbour its home.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Are you two coming or do you wish to
stand there contemplating your navels all day?” Delte said with a
grin as she entered the now open doorway.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Inside the fort the scene was filled
with a column of smoke rising up the centre of a hollowed out tower.
A huge metal frame was built on the inside of the tower with walkways
and stairs leading up and down to various levels. Patrols of daedra
roamed these walkways with leashed clannfear by their sides snapping
at any stray hands or feet from the prisoners that protruded from the
iron cells that lined the walls. The heat was intense inside the
structure and the hammering was a lot louder along with the screams
of pain that sounded with each strike of the hammer. Animated black
iron chains moved through the air on invisible pulleys they sped by
at amazing speeds. Now and then they would catch hold of a iron cage
from the wall and wrap around a hoop on its roof, only to whip it out
of its socket in the wall and send it either down or up the tower.
Full cages went down while only empty ones rose back up to the top.
Delte took a chance and looked up at the top of the tower and far
above her she saw a faint glow of a portal stone, she then looked
down at the floor of the tower and far below them stood a giant
figure wielding a huge hammer onto an anvil. Placed on the anvil was
a figure which was to far away to determine what race it was, the
hammer struck the anvil and then a second anvil where a piece of
white hot metal had been placed. A link in a chain formed as the body
on the anvil shrivelled up and became ash. Another figure was pulled
from out of the cage at the base of the tower by two black animated
chains and placed on the anvil ready for the next blow from the
hammer and a new link in the chain.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight looked closely at the
metal frame work they now stood on and saw small faces screaming in
eternal torment back at him, he placed a hand on the rail and closed
his eyes to try and get a sense of the magicka involved in its
constructions. He recoiled back in fear and a cold dread came over
him. “By the gods, living souls being worked into the daedric metal
to give it life and form.” he said as he recovered from the shock
and horror of what he had sensed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We can't save them all though.”
Volk added as he realised the magnitude of the task at hand “Even
if we manage to save just one cage full of prisoners it will be a
miracle”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then let us see if we can save the
cage that holds your wife.” Delte said with a smile as she looked
down upon a platform suspended in the centre of the tower by a long
walkway and chains.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the platform stood a robed daedra
that would wave a control rod in a direction and then a cage would
swing down in front of him, a lot of pointing and shouting would
issue forth and then the daedra would write in a book. Once the
writing was finished the cage would then be sent on its way down the
tower to await the smiths hammer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Wait here.” Delte told the others
“I need to go and have a chat with that daedra down there.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She moved away and melted into the
shadows, Volk and Left-Paw-Alight watched her go and stayed hidden on
their perch which was a perfect vantage point to watch her progress
below.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Poor bastards.” Volk remarked in
abject horror as he watched “If we get caught I am going to die
fighting, there will be no surrender from me.” he promised.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Agreed.” Left-Paw-Alight replied
with a nod “Best we make sure not to get captured then, stay low
and wait for Delte's signal.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why is the book important though
Paws?” Volk asked puzzled at why the daedra would need to write
anything of mortals.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It will have the names and possible
dates recorded within. It is very difficult even for daedra to work
magic on such a magnitude as this without using True Names.”
Left-Paw-Alight replied “A True Name is the one we are born with
and then the Gods and stars give us more names, if someone knows them
all then they can do things with a soul whether it is mortal or
divine. The more powerful the being the longer and harder the name is
to learn and pronounce. My guess is they record them in the book so
they are then known to the smith either through a telepathic link or
another book below us.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What is your True Name then Paws?”
Volk asked with a grin and complete innocence to the implications of
the question.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Let us just say the name you know me
by is not my real name to begin with.” Left-Paw-Alight said as he
watched Delte make her way across the walkway to the centre platform
“Not that I don't trust you with it, its just that you wouldn't be
able to even say my saxhleel name properly to do it justice. Your
father gave me the name of Left-Paw-Alight when we first met.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte crept along the walkway careful
not to make a sound, even though the din of the hammer on the anvil
echoed through the tower a simple misplaced sound could alert her
target. She pulled the fell dagger from its sheath and instantly felt
a sense of apprehension and a wave of joy from the blade. A thought
entered her mind from the sentient soul within the blade of tasting
daedra blood after such a long time would be a beautiful feeling. She
gave one quick look around at her surroundings and made sure the
guards were all out of ear shot, and they were all to far away to
lend aid to her target if it didn't die in the first blow.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte concentrated her magicka in a
small portal made up of the shadows around her and stepped into it,
she leapt the distance between her and the daedra as it started a new
entry in the book within a blink of an eye. Her dagger appearing in
its kidney, she quickly pulled it out and sliced across its throat
before it could recover from the pain and shout the alarm. The
dremora died in her arms as she let it down silently to the floor.
She quickly pulled the robes and mask off and put them on as a
disguise while she read the book, picking up the control rod she
placed this in her belt. The dagger she held let a wave of healing
energy wash over her as it consumed the soul of the dead daedra, she
noticed her aches, grazes and cuts healed in that instance leaving no
marks.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The book was written in the daedric
runes which Delte could read due to her dunmer heritage, within the
book were the names of all the prisoners that had come through the
soul forge along with dates and the places in Tamriel from which they
came from. Engrossed with her search for Gresla's name she never
heard the guard walk up behind her with the leashed clannfear by its
side in a parody of a human guard and his guard dog. Volk and
Left-Paw-Alight was to far away to lend aid to her and they watched
helplessly at the scene unfold below them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What is the meaning of this?” the
dremora demanded as it looked at the dead dremora on the floor with
black blood pooling from the wound that sliced its throat and
puncture wound in its back.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“He had made a mistake, I was sent to
correct it by Eleanor.” Delte responded in an authoritative tone
“Do not disturb me again or I will consider you as part of the
mistake and will have you dealt with in the same manner as he was.”
She pointed to the dead dremora on the ground without looking up from
the book trying to give off an air of confidence and power.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The clannfear sniffed at Delte's feet
unsure of the scent it could detect, she closed her eyes and prayed
to Mephala for guidance.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Child of Mephala say this exactly 'I
am the Keeper of Names.'” the disembodied voice said to her from
the dagger she held.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte opened her eyes and kicked at the
clannfear as she said “I am the Keeper of Names. Now get your
mongrel away from me weakling.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The dremora pulled back on the leash to
heel the clannfear and spoke in a frightened tone “I am.... forgive
me Keeper. I will carry on my patrol.” with that the dremora bowed
to Delte and walked away with the clannfear in tow.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte let out a sigh of relief and
looked at the dagger and then placed it in its sheath deciding to
deal with it once she was free of Coldharbour. In the book she
noticed one name started to glow in red she blinked her eyes and the
voice spoke again from the dagger.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This is the mortal you seek is it
not?” the voice spoke again. “Take the control rod and call up
the cell number.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte pulled out the control rod and
concentrated on the cell number, the small gem on the end of the rod
started to glow with a green light as chains started to descend down
the tower far below her. She saw the gem change colour slightly and
looked down her eyes following the chains and noticed that they had
attached onto a cage full of people. She smiled and then gave the
mental command for the cell to rise up to her platform. She looked up
at where Volk and Left-Paw-Alight where hidden and waved at them to
come and join her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The change of direction of the cells
did not go unnoticed by the guards within the tower. Volk and
Left-Paw-Alight were seen as they made their way to where Delte
waited for them. A klaxon sounded the alert and daedra started to
rush up the flights of stairs towards them. Delte watched their
progress from her vantage point and noted the timing was going to be
close. She looked down at the cell as it rose up to her platform and
leapt over the side to land on its roof. She then threw her disguise
off and strung her bow ready for combat.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The cell stopped at the platform as
Volk and Left-Paw-Alight ran down the walkways length to the cell,
Delte loosed two arrows at a pair of daedra that were in hot pursuit
of her two friends.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Jump and get on we are going all the
way to the top.” Delte shouted above the din of the alarms and
sound of hungry clannfear coming to eat them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk jumped and cleared the gap with
ease, he spun round as Left-Paw-Alight jumped and caught hold of his
arms and hauled him the rest of the way onto the cells roof. The
prisoners in the cell were all shouting and asking to be freed when
they realised their new passengers were mortal. Delte shot another
arrow at a clannfear as it tried to leap after them. She then dropped
her bow and grabbed hold of the control rod and pointed it up at the
open sky where the portal crystal was stood on the roof of the tower.
The cell lurched up and began its ascent back to the top floor of the
tower.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The occupants within the cell gave
cries of shock and pain as they were tossed about like rags dolls as
the cell rose up through the tower. Volk peered through the bars in
the roof of the cell at the people within and shouted “Gresla
Shatter-Shield!”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A woman came into view with long blond
hair which fell down tussled and knotted, her blue eyes starred up at
Volk and shouted in disbelief “By the gods Volk! Its you.” she
then burst into tears as he reached down through the bars and held
her hand.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk looked up at Left-Paw-Alight and
Delte with joy on his face and shouted out to them both “She is
alive.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lighting bolts flew past their heads as
some of the daedra cast spells at the rapidly ascending cell,
Left-Paw-Alight knelt down on one knee and with staff held in one
hand he bowed his head as he closed his eyes. A bubble of magicka
energy spread out from him the gems on his staff glowed with the
power he focused through the staff. The shield enveloped the cell and
its riders to protect it from the harmful spells the enemy were
casting in their direction. Delte launched arrows one after the other
as they rose up the tower, her supply quickly dwindling.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Hold tight sweetness we are going
home.” Volk shouted down into the cell “Can't this thing go any
faster?” he shouted at Delte as the air rushed past his ears, his
long hair flailing about in the turbulence.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte fired her last arrow and picked
up the control rod once more and waved it above her head, the cage
lurched and started to climb faster.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Animated chains shot out from the fort
walls trying to attach themselves to the runaway cell, dremora
hitched rides on the animated chains to try and reach the speeding
cell and the mortals that were aboard trying to make their escape.
Most flew past missing the cell as it sailed on past, those that
managed to gain a purchase were quickly kicked off or cut down by
Volk and Delte.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The cell came to a sudden halt smashing
a metal cog and pulley system as it reached the top floor of the
tower. Delte rolled off the cell in one fluid movement and cut down
the two dremora guards. Volk leapt to the floor and sliced down on
the large padlock on the cell door with his huge two handed sword. As
the lock hit the floor the prisoners threw open the door and surged
out of the cell picking up what weapons they could find.
Left-Paw-Alight was already making his way up the final flight of
stairs to the rotating portal crystal killing the daedra that came
down the stairs to stop him with fireballs. Delte quickly followed
him along with the escaped prisoners. The blond haired woman ran over
to Volk and threw her arms around Volk's neck and hugged him, he
returned the embrace and kissed her passionately on the lips, and
then pulled her head close to his chest and held her tightly.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk we need to leave now.” Delte
shouted down from the platform above as she pointed to a massive
force of daedra of various kinds fighting their way up the stairs to
their location.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk took Gresla's hand and they ran up
to the platform where the crystal was.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk arrived at the crystal and saw
Delte and Left-Paw-Alight both examining it as it rotated on its axis
in a black metal frame.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How long till we can get it open?”
he asked Delte.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Not now Volk let us try and focus
our energy.” came her reply.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think I can open this on my own
but it will take time.” Left-Paw-Alight said deep in thought.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte walked away and looked down at
the floor below where the cell cage now lay in ruins, the daedra had
stopped advancing up the stairs and now waited on the floor below,
she walked over to the top of the flight of stairs and saw some start
to make their way up the flight of steps to the platform. Looking
over at Left-Paw-Alight as he started to charge the portal with
magicka, and a glance at Volk looking into his wife's eyes she looked
back at the advancing force knowing they would not have time to get
the portal open.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte closed her eyes and bowed her
head and said to the man next to her with a sword he had picked up
from one of the dead daedra “Give me your sword.” the man handed
her his acquired sword without protest. She walked down the first few
steps and sliced the rope holding the portcullis up in its recess
that would block off any entry to the platform with the crystal, it
dropped with a metallic thunk. The daedra below her stopped their
advance up the stairs waiting for her next move. Volk's head shot
round and looked at her through the bars of the gate way and ran over
to her.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Delte don't do this.” he pleaded
with his friend.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You are going home Volk.” Delte
said to him with a smile on her face and then turned around to walk
down the steps “Tell Veldam I love him.” she added without
looking back.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With that she ran down the steps to the
waiting hoard below, moments latter Volk heard the clash of weapons
and Delte singing a song in her native tongue. Volk looked over at
Left-Paw-Alight as he charged the portal up with magicka looking for
an explanation but all he saw was the old argonian concentrating on
the task at hand but in his eyes he saw a sadness. Volk started to
try in vain to lift the heavy portcullis back up to try and get to
Delte and to help her against the daedra below. Cords of muscles
stood out on his arms and neck as he strained against the portcullis
as he tried to lift it he gave a roar of frustration and then
collapsed on to the floor, Gresla knelt by him and tried to comfort
her husband the best she could. The din of battle below them still
sounding out as Delte fought the daedra below on her own.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sentient dagger that Delte wielded
in battle proved to be a boon to her in the fight as each time it
tasted the blood of one of the daedra it would heal some of her own
wounds. Surrounded by enemies she spun, parried and dodged their
blows, each time one made a mistake she stepped in and ended its life
with one swift blow. The strain from using her magicka in combat was
starting to show though as her attacks became slower and fatigue set
in making the muscles in her arms burn with the strain.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I don't understand why she is
singing.” Volk said as he watched Left-Paw-Alight streams of
magicka now flowing freely between the argonian and the crystal.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“It is her death song.” one of the
prisoners said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk looked up at the man who had spoke
to him and saw a dunmer stood before him in rags, red eyes looked
down at Volk and a smile appeared on the dunmer's face as he bent
down and helped Volk and Gresla back up onto their feet.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Don't weep for her, it is not our
way.” he said to Volk “Just make sure you carry out her last
wish.” he added.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A lull in the fight happened around
Delte as she watched a large daedra step through the crowd around
her. A circle was formed as the large dremora stood before her with a
huge mace and wearing full plate armour made up of the same black
metal adorned with runes as its fellow dremora. She gulped down air
and tried to take advantage of the rest to regain some of her
strength and speed. Her armour was now hanging torn and ragged from
the weapons that had hit or been deflected by her parries a fraction
to late. Blood stained silk under the leather flapped about in the
breeze as she wiped her mouth of blood and spat on the floor whilst
looking at the newcomer. Delte smiled and pointed her sword at the
dremora “Come on then, I may miss the portal but I will build a
bridge back to Tamriel from your dead bodies.” she said mocking the
daedra.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There was a loud pop as the crystal
imploded inwards and then exploded out again showering everyone on
the platform in dust leaving a shimmering portal open and leading
back to Tamriel. Scenes in the portal faded in and out of focus as
various places were seen within, the prisoners started to pour
through the portal back to Tamriel.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk Gresla come on we have to leave
now it won't stay open for long.” Left-Paw-Alight shouted above the
roar of the wind that came blowing through the portal.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We are not going without Delte.”
Volk shouted back as he tried to lift the portcullis again.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Come on Volk we need to leave now.
Don't let her sacrifice be for nothing.” came the reply back from
Left-Paw-Alight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Resignation crossed Volk's face as he
ran over to the portal with Gresla and took hold of Left-Paw-Alight's
hand and then grabbed hold of Gresla around the waist as they leapt
through the portal. Moments latter the portal closed with a
thunderclap and was gone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte had begun her fight with the
champion dremora with the mace when the portal closed trapping her in
Coldharbour, her sword locked in a contest of strength with the
dremora it started to laugh and then spoke from behind its helmet
“You are trapped here mortal.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“My plan was never to escape. It was
to buy my friends time to open the portal.” Delte replied with as
she slipped the dagger through the chinks in the plate armour and
into the soft body underneath. As the dagger transferred some of the
soul energy from the dremora a blow from behind took Delte unawares
and then her world went dark.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-1692720279417269912014-03-22T07:30:00.001-07:002014-03-22T07:30:21.032-07:00Chapter9 Location:- Broken Tower Redoubt. Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Sundas 15th/16th
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter9</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Broken Tower Redoubt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- <span lang="en-GB">2E 581 First
Seed Sundas 15</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">/16</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Midnight had arrived as Delte and Volk
scaled down the cliff face to stand on top of one of the broken
towers of the fort where the cultist had their base. They both peered
over the battlements to the second floor roof top where the tortured
victims were tied up on wooden crosses. Below them stood two guards
at a door way that lead into the the towers interiors.
Left-Paw-Alight and Johan quickly followed them down the cliff face
and made their way over to where they lay surveying the battlements
below.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte and Volk hauled themselves over
the edge of the towers battlements and dropped down on top of the two
guards killing them from the impact. As they moved between the
tortured victims killing them and putting them out of their misery,
as well as stopping any from raising an alarm Left-Paw-Alight and
Johan climbed down the tower. The silence around the old fort was
oppressive as no night animal wandered around or made a noise, as
though they could sense the aura of evil that permeated the old fort.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After finishing with the torture
victims Delte pressed her ear to the door that lead into the interior
of the tower. She closed her eyes and tried to filter out the heavy
breathing from Left-Paw-Alight and Johan from their exertion from
climbing down the cliff and tower. Slowly she lifted the latch and
pushed the door open without a sound and vanished inside leaving the
others to wait for her to return with the all clear.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Inside the tower darkness shrouded
Delte as she moved in the shadows careful not to make any sound from
stepping on the detritus that was strewn across the floor. A fire
burned in one of the rooms its door wide open. Two figures sat
huddled at a wooden table playing a game of draughts chatting as they
played the game. An open bottle of wine sat to one side with a tray
of cheese and various fruits left over from their evening meal. Delte
assumed these were the relief guards for the two that now lay dead
outside. Delte moved to the door that opened out onto the landing and
a stone stairway that wound its way down to the next floor. Candles
placed on the steps gave off small pools of light that helped guide
people down the flight of stairs, Delte remained in the shadows and
stalked down the stairway to the first floor in the tower.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As the stairs ended it opened up into a
large circular room with beds that lined the walls three of the beds
were occupied with cultist laying on straw mattresses, the whole room
was illuminated by a large iron chandelier with candles set into the
holders giving the room a yellowy orange glow. Their heavy breathing
denoted to Delte that they were all fast asleep in a deep slumber.
She waited in the shadows looking for any patrols before making her
move. A few moments went by and the only things that moved where the
bed clothes with the rise and fall of their sleeping contents. She
moved from occupied bed to occupied bed and slit the throats of the
sleeping cultist quietly and without incident or thought. None of
them would wake up again in this world.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another dark stairway lead down to the
ground floor, again she moved through the darkness avoiding the
candle light that spilled out onto the stair way from the small
groups of candles that had been placed to light the way down. Her
eyes and ears alert for any sound or movement, perspiration started
to form on her forehead from the effort of sneaking, a cool air blew
up the stairway as a door was opened and closed again some where
ahead of her. She heard a strange clicking sound move away from her
location, Delte slowly made her way down the rest of the stairway and
followed a corridor following the sound of the clicking noise.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stopped at a door that lead to
the outside of the fort and to the first floor battlements that
looked directly onto the road below, she put her ear to the door and
listened for any sound from the outside. Hearing nothing she grabbed
a loose stone and wedged it under the door to stop anyone who was
outside from gaining entry to the fort. She then restarted her route
down the corridor in the same direction the clicking sound had gone
but now had stopped. Another doorway that opened up into a circular
corridor, she peeked through the open door and saw nothing but an
empty corridor, this was starting to set her nerves on edge there
should be more guards.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A creaking sound alerted her to
movement behind her, she rolled away from the door as an arrow
thudded into the frame where her head had just been. She spun round
and in the darkness of an alcove she had missed two red eyes stared
back at her unblinking. Delte saw the dark outline of a bow as the
skeleton stepped forward and drew it back again for another shot.
Delte rolled forward and using her dagger sliced the taught bow
string, the half drawn arrow flew off and clattered on the flagstone
floor. The skeleton swung the bow stave at Delte's head who dodged
backwards to avoid the attack, the skeleton's follow up attack caught
her unawares as the carved horn nocked end of the stave was thrust
into her stomach. The leather armour she wore took most of the
impact, but the blow still winded her. The stave came again at her
head which she ducked to avoid, before the skeleton could launch
another swing she lunged forward and threw her arm around the waist
of the skeleton lifting its light frame up and throwing it to the
ground. Delte groped around its skull face and found a purchase in
its eye sockets, her thumb and little finger went deep into the eye
sockets as the rest of her fingers grabbed the top part of the skull.
She lifted its head up and smashed the back of the skull against the
flagstone floor sending bits of bone in all directions, the glow in
its eyes flickered and went out.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte lay there on the cold stone floor
in the ruined remains of the skeleton. As she tried to catch her
breath her hand searched around on her stomach where the blow had
hit. Her fingers found a small dent in the leather body of her
reinforced corset, if it wasn't for the armour the bow stave would of
skewered her. Looking at the skeletal feet she realised that it must
have been the skeleton that had come through the door, and the
clicking sound was its feet striking the stone floor as it walked the
patrol route it had been given by its master.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You are going to have to be more
careful Delte.” she reprimanded herself in a whisper.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She started to tap her fingers on the
stone floor to a rhythm that entered her subconscious, a sickening
feeling spread from the pit of her stomach as her rudimentary magicka
skills detected the hint of dark magicka being worked. She sat bolt
upright there was a lot of magicka energy being drawn down into the
dungeons below the old fort. The rhythm she had detected was a faint
drum beat that seemed to rise and fall in tempo.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte started to move again now
following the sound of the drum beat. It wasn't long before she
arrived on a long balcony that overlooked a hall with a flight of
stone stairs at the far end leading up to another balcony. Her eyes
scanned the scene but saw no one moving about the fort. Piles of
bones lay in various places around the hall, the remains of the
undead servants that had perished when she had killed their sleeping
masters up stairs. Delte peeked over the edge of the balcony where
she was and saw a pair of dremora guard standing at a door way that
she assumed lead down into the fort dungeons.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hours seemed to pass for Volk and the
others who waited outside on the upper battlements for Delte's
return. Johan had already killed the skeletons below on the lower
battlements for target practice and now stood looking at the door
with an arrow nocked on his bow ready for trouble. Left-Paw-Alight
was meditating trying to clear his mind and call upon some help from
any passing spirits that might be in the area, as he meditated he
carved rune into small pieces of wood and stone and placed them into
a pouch he wore on his belt. Volk meanwhile marched up and down like
a caged animal waiting for release.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The door that Delte had used opened up
and two guards stood looking at the three companions surprise etched
on their faces. Johan let loose the arrow at the guard in front which
hit its mark in the guards chest. The first guard dropped dead, the
second guard drew his sword and opened his mouth to raise the alarm.
Before he could move or make a sound a leather gloved hand covered
his mouth from behind and a long bladed dagger sliced across his
throat. As he fell forward dead Delte stood behind him, the shadows
seemed to peal back reluctantly from her.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well what are you waiting for?”
she said with a smile “A special invitation?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Took your time didn't you?” Volk
grumbled.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I had to do my hair and hide the
bodies.” She replied as she fluttered her eyelashes at Volk which
gained a smirk from him as he walked past her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan walked past her into the tower
without saying a word still unsure if he should be here,
Left-Paw-Alight was next to enter the tower as he walked up to Delte
he placed a finger in the dented leather of her corset where the bow
stave had hit her from the skeleton and pushed her inside of the
tower. Delte looked down and shrugged, Left-Paw-Alight smiled and
shook his head. Delte had got the message from him without saying a
word, she would have to be more careful.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“The route to the main hall is
clear.” Delte gave them a quick scouting report “In the main hall
there are two dremora standing guard at the entrance to the
dungeons.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I sense there is a massive vortex of
magicka energy coming from below us.” Left-Paw-Alight interrupted
her “We need to move fast with this amount of energy they can rip a
hole right through the veil between worlds and enter Oblivion.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Lets get moving then, time things
got violent.” Volk said rolling his shoulders and walking out to
the stone stairway that wound its way down to the base of the tower.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“But we don't know how many are in
the dungeon.” Delte protested trying to urge caution as she
followed Volk down the steps quickly followed by Johan and
Left-Paw-Alight.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We need to stop the ritual Delte
before its to late.” Came Volk's reply as he stepped into the small
barrack room on the first floor.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He stopped and looked at the bodies
laying on their beds, blood stains covered the sheets and blood
pooled on the floor below from where Delte had cut their throats
whilst they slept. Left-Paw-Alight and Johan entered the room, Johan
gasped at the sight and looked over to Delte in disbelief.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Nice and clean as always Delte.”
Left-Paw-Alight remarked as he inspected the bodies “Just like a
professional Dark Sister.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Don't insult me like that Paws,
better you hit me with that staff it would be less painful.” came
her reply in a sharp tone. She walked past Left-Paw-Alight and bumped
shoulders with him as she passed without apologising.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk looked out of the room and down
the next flight of stairs, carried faintly on the drafts of air he
heard the sound of the drums below being used in the ritual
Left-Paw-Alight had detected. He heard the vocal exchange between
Left-Paw-Alight and Delte and rolled his eyes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“She is Morag Tong Paws, now drop it
will you.” Volk said as he spun around to face them.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight stood in the centre of
the round room mouth open and eyes wide at this revelation about
Delte.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How do you know?” He remarked as
he regained his composure.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“She told me when we was captured by
those vampires in Cyrodiil, before you and Veldam came back for us
and purged the place.” Volk said to the shocked argonian. “She
asked me not to tell anyone and I gave my word.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Potentate_Versidue-Shaie_.28.3Fb_-_2E_324.29"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Versidue-Shaie"></a>
“But they have a standing bounty on their heads for killing
Potentate Versidue-Shaie.” Left-Paw-Alight added looking between
Volk and Delte.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte sighed and said “Paws do you
really think it was the Tong? If you were the Dark Brotherhood trying
to get rid of the competition how would you do it?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Umm I see your point, I am sorry
Delte. Why didn't you tell me though?” Left-Paw-Alight said feeling
a little hurt.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I didn't want to put you on the spot
if anything happened to me, and when I told Volk I wanted to tell him
because we wasn't sure we would make it out alive.” She said as she
walked over to the argonian and gave him a hug “No harm done. We
are still friends right?” She asked.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight nodded and responded
“Yes still friends, just wish you would of told me but I understand
your reasons. You are good at keeping secrets Delte, anything else I
should know?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Now where is the fun in knowing
everything Paws?” She said with a smile as she followed Volk down
the stairway “Come on we have a ritual to stop.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The two dremora stood motionless at
the entrance to the dungeons under the old fort. The only signs that
there was any kind of life to the black armour that had red glowing
runes engraved all over the suits were the two bright red eyes that
peered from within the helmets. Their weapons were made of the same
metal, both sported two handed swords that stood as tall as a mortal
man the blades impossibly sharp that could cut through the toughest
metal and stone on Nirn.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan drew back his bow with an ebony
arrow nocked to the string, he sighted down the arrow at one of the
dremora. The runes on the bow started to glow as he held his breath
to steady his aim and loosed. As the black ebony arrow left the bow
it was encased in ice from the magicka stored in the runes on the bow
stave. The arrow slammed into the chest of the dremora on the right
of the door killing it as the body was driven back by the force of
the arrow to smash against the wall behind. The other dremora upon
seeing Johan swung its sword high above its head and charged at him
shouting “I smell weakness, die mortal.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight stepped out from a
pillar on the balcony a halo of fire circling his hands, he clapped
them together a small rune engraved piece of wood in his palms. As he
clapped balls of fire leapt from him and slammed into the dremora.
The impact put the daedra off balance mid charge, Delte and Volk took
advantage of this and ran from their hiding places to attack the now
wounded dremora. The fight was over very quickly Delte and Volk cut
down the dremora before it could recover its balance.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte lead the way down into the
dungeons keeping and eye open for traps and guards. Any that were
found was quickly and quietly dispatched, the deeper they went into
the dungeons the warmer the air became. Torches illuminated the
tunnels that had been hewn into the living rock of the mountain.
Cells with huge iron gratings line one wall, in each of them was a
wooden bucket in a corner and a straw mattress that lay on the floor.
Rats scurried about in the dark recesses and the constant drumming
now picking up in tempo.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why the drums?” Johan asked aloud
as they moved towards the sound.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Magicka pulses with a life force of
its own. It is created by life itself and in turn creates
life.”Left-Paw-Alight explained the best he could “The drum
represents a beating heart and helps focus the minds of the
uninitiated in the Arts to be able to draw on its power.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How does that work for the undead
though they have no heart?” Johan inquired fascinated by the
subject.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“That is a different source of power,
it comes from a different place and is the exact opposite of what we
mortals do. Daedra use another type of magicka from us mortals as
well and it is drawn from their patron lords or from pools of their
own power.” He answered in the most simplest way possible for Johan
to understand.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An intersection opened up where one
corridor lead to a flight of stone steps, further up the corridor
lights illuminated the entrance to a huge open natural cavern. From
where they had stopped they could see the cavern was occupied by
black robed figures all chanting and wearing masks or hoods to hide
their faces.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte went up the dark stairway and
reappeared after a few minutes. “This way it opens out onto a
balcony that over looks the cavern.” She said to the others.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They all followed her up the dark
stairs to the balcony that had been hewn into the natural rock of the
cavern. Left-Paw-Alight cast wards and runes on the stairs to explode
if any enemy followed them up.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Crouched low and looking over the rail
into the cavern below the scene in front of them unfolded. The centre
of the cavern was dominated by a huge black stone statue of Molag
Bal. Stood before it was a man wearing a set of long red robes with
gold thread and a human skull held aloft in one hand in the other was
a ornate dagger with a pulsing purple gem on the end of its pommel,
the blade of which was curved with wicked looking serrated edges
forged of the same black metal seen from the daedra and their weapons
and armour. His face was covered by a mask which was the same visage
of the face on the statue.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Laying on the altar was a female altmer
bound by chains and naked, she struggled against her bonds and where
the chains rubbed against her delicate skin blood welts appeared. Set
into the wall around the cavern were cells their entrances made of
iron bars with locked doors. The drums were on a dais set apart from
the statue and altar on this stood a man wearing a loin cloth his
body wet with sweat as he beat the large drum. The skin of the drum
had a strange leathery look to it while the bowl looked to made from
the bones of various sentient races of Tamriel.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The drumming stopped and the man in the
red robes plunged the dagger into the altmer's heart. At the point of
her death the runes on the statue's legs glowed and a swirling gate
appeared between them. Air from the cavern was drawn into the gate,
and then a gust of wind came from the gate. Carried on the wind from
the gate there was a horrible sickly stench of decay and death along
with moans of an inhuman nature.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Oh gods no they used that poor woman
as the catalyst to open the gate.” Left-Paw-Alight said in a
whisper “Her soul was used to open the gate, we need to stop this.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The crowd of cultist prostrated
themselves on the hard flagstone floor as shadowy figures started to
appear in the Oblivion gate, the gate rippled at the figures stepped
through. A procession of various daedra walked through the gate and
stood on the dais looking at the cultists with their inhuman eyes.
Robed daedra moved around the cavern to each cultist and acted out a
small ritual with a inky black soul gem. At the end of the ritual a
small transfer of energy from the cultist to the soul gem happened in
a blue glowing mist.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What are they doing?” Johan
whispered.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Allowing the daedra to condemn their
souls to Molag Bal.” Delte said as she watched the scene “That
crystal stores part of their soul so it will be forever linked to
Coldharbour.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Look there.” Volk interrupted as
he pointed at the cells “They are herding the captives to the
gate.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One by one each of the cells were
opened and their occupants were roughly pulled out and whipped up to
the gate by the dremora. Volk's eyes focused on the captives faces to
see if he could see his wife amongst them. Realisation dawned on his
face as he watched the dremora herd the slaves into the gate.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No she is already in Coldharbour.”
He said not seeing her in the crowd.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Calm down Volk there are too many of
them for us to handle.” Delte said as she put her hand on his arm.
She felt him relax and he nodded.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The last of the slaves entered the
portal along with their new masters, slowly the cavern started to
empty leaving only the man stood on the dais wearing the red robes
with gold thread along with the dead altmer.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Now my dear you serve my lord in
Coldharbour.” The priest spoke to the cooling corpse of the dead
woman “And so shall your flesh server me in this world.” He
finished and tenderly kissed the corpse as he groped its breasts. He
stood up straight and picked up his dagger once more and slowly with
great care carved out its heart and put it into a bowl. He then
picked up a black soul gem and painted it with runes from the blood
of the dead altmer. Left-Paw-Alight watched horrified and sank back
down behind the railing of the balcony. “We need to stop this
profanity.” He whispered.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Agreed.” Volk said as he stood up
and drew his two handed sword. He leapt down from the balcony and
rolled as he landed on the floor below, at the end of the roll he was
back on his feet and running towards the red robed priest.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So much for being quiet.” Delte
said as she drew her daggers and followed Volk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight stood up magical fire
already circling his hands, Johan stood up as well his bow already
being drawn.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
From behind the mask the cultist priest
gave a cry of shock when he was alerted to their presence as he
stepped aside to face Volk and Delte.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk bounded up the steps and leapt at
the priest sword raised high, the priests hands flew out at Volk and
a wave of energy hit Volk in the chest. The force sent the nord
flying back the way he had come, he hit the floor and rolled to a
stop his two handed sword clattered on the stone floor of the cavern.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Fire flew from Left-Paw-Alight's hands
towards the priest and hit a magical shield that shimmered in front
of the priest the fire spattered and faded. Johan loosed his arrow at
the priest and as it hit the same magical shield the barrier
shattered into fragments of light. The cultist priest laughed and
started to summon a powerful magical tempest of lighting. His
incantation was cut short along with his life as a pair of daggers
sliced across his throat from behind.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Enough from you.” Delte said as
she watched his corpse hit the floor.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stirred and retrieved his sword as
Left-Paw-Alight and Johan came down to join them. Delte picked up a
leather bound journal that the dead priest was carrying on his belt,
cries of alarm echoed down the passage from the fort. Their fight
with the priest had not gone unheard. She read the book quickly
scanning the pages for clues, her eyes opened wide as she understood
the place names, numbers and dates were linked to the lunar cycles.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk your wife is already in
Coldharbour.” She said as the sound of shouts and running feet
echoed down the passage getting louder all the time.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then that is where we go next.”
Volk responded as he took the book from her and began to read it “I
will tear Coldharbour apart to look for her dead or alive I will find
her.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A cry of pain echoed around the cavern
all their heads turned to its source. Johan laid on the floor with
two arrows protruding from his stomach and one from the right side of
his chest. Blood foamed on his lips showing one of his lungs had been
punctured. Delte ran over to him and knelt by his side, a blue glow
surrounding her hands as she concentrated healing energies into the
wounds.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Paws cover me.” Delte shouted as
another arrow flew by her narrowly missing her head.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stood by Delte sword raised and
ready to defend Johan and Delte.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight pulled a stone with a
rune carved into one side of its flat surface and pointed it at the
stone archway that held the cavern roof up where the passage entered.
Ice surged forth from his outstretched hands and slammed against the
rocks, another salvo of arrows came through the blizzard and Volk
swung his sword knocking a few of the closer ones aside. Delte looked
up at the entrance and saw the enemy archers were already reloading
their bows and making ready to fire. She picked up her two daggers
and threw them one after another at their attackers, both hit their
marks killing two of the archers.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Paws your aim is a little high.”
Volk shouted out as he stepped forward to intercept two cultists who
had braved the magical blizzard.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The air above them went from freezing
cold to an intense heat, concentration etched on Left-Paw-Alight's
face. He blasted the frozen rocks with the summoned inferno, a piece
of wood held in his hands glowing with the same intense heat, slowly
the wood crumbled away into dust. The stone split open with a crack
and then a rumble as massive chunks of super heated rock fell onto
the archers. More stone fell now sending a wave of dust to cover the
occupants of the cavern, Volk cut down the surprised cultists and
threw himself over Delte and Johan as a wave of explosions erupted
from the tunnel in which they had entered the cavern. The stair way
and part of the balcony collapsed and was sealed off to any more
cultist from entering the cavern.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The rumbling stopped and the dust began
to settle in the cavern “Everyone all right?” Left-Paw-Alight
coughed trying to clear his lungs of the dust he had breathed in.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think so, Delte are you okay?”
Volk asked as he picked himself up and looked around.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yeah, just get off me you big lump.”
Came her reply “Johan is hurt badly, I can't heal him.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan grabbed Delte's arm and smiled up
at her “Its okay Delte.” He coughed “You and the others gave me
something I never dreamed of gaining.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte shook her head and carried on
trying to heal the wounded nord “I will try and stabilise your
wounds.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“All the exits are blocked how do we
get out now?” Volk said as he inspected the cave in and kicked a
stone at the rubble. A sound of digging could be heard coming from
the other side of the cave in. Volk smiled “Maybe we could wait for
them to dig us out and we kill them as they enter the cavern.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think we will be dead by the time
that happens.” Delte said not looking up from Johan “We need to
escape through Coldharbour now its the only chance of getting out
alive.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I will start the ritual to summon
the magicka needed to open the portal.” Left-Paw-Alight said as he
ran up to the altar and started to chant.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“That will take a long time Paws even
I can feel the magicka has left the room.” Delte responded as she
carried on pouring healing magicka into Johan.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Use my life force.” came a weak
voice.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Everyone in the cavern turned to look
at Johan as he smiled and closed his eyes. “Use my soul to power
the gate, I am dying anyway may as well use me to save those that
have a chance to live.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I will not allow it, it is anathema
to everything I stand for and believe in the Arts.” Left-Paw-Alight
said shaking with anger, slamming the end of his staff on the stone
floor sending sparks of lighting up from the point on impact to drive
home his point of view.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How long till we run out of air?”
Delte shouted at him and then pointed at the cave in “How long till
the cultist break through?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“And how long will it take to open
the portal with magicka?” Volk added following Delte's train of
thought.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight looked down at the
floor and did some quick calculations and said “To long to open
with magicka. We would of run out of air before then.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then it is settled we sacrifice
Johan.” Delte said as she stood up and retrieved the ceremonial
dagger “Sorry Johan if there was another way.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Just make it quick Delte.” Johan
coughed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Spoken like a true son of Skyrim.”
Volk said as he walked over to where he lay “I will look for you in
Sovngarde when my time on this world ends.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte picked up the priests dagger and
turned it over in her hands as she examined it. Runes were engraved
along its blade and pulsed with an inner red light. Faint red veins
of energy could be seen deep in the metal blade pulsing in time to a
rhythm all of its own. The handle was wrapped and bound in leather
and held tightly in place by silver wire. On the pommel was a strange
looking gem that seemed to have a swirling mist trapped within. When
she held it up to the light a wave of energy washed over her making
her feel sick with revulsion as her mind was given a vision of human
sacrifice and what was awaiting them in Coldharbour.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She put her fingers into the pool of
blood from the dead priest and drew the rune of Mephala on her face
and turned to the others.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Pick an aedra or daedra that watches
over you and paint their rune onto your faces.” Delte ordered the
Volk and Left-Paw-Alight.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Did you have to use his blood though
Delte?” Left-Paw-Alight groaned at her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Use what ever is at hand, waste not
want not.” she replied as she walked back to where Johan lay on the
floor.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She knelt down by his side and raised
the dagger up in the air above his heart and began to chant a tongue
Volk and Left-Paw-Alight had never heard before.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What language is that?” Volk
wondered aloud as he painted on his face with some white chalk that
Left-Paw-Alight had handed to him the rune for Kyne.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think its ancient chimer, the
dunmer are heavily into daedra worship. They have a set few who they
deem as good daedra and some that are evil.” Left-Paw-Alight
explained to Volk as he drew the rune for Stendarr on his face.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I thought all daedra were bad, would
never of thought there were some good ones.” Volk said as he walked
over to the portal to get ready to enter Coldharbour.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight chuckled and nodded at
him “And that is the best way to be when it comes to daedra.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan looked up at the dagger poised
above his heart and closed his eyes, a smile spreading over his face
knowing he was giving the others a small chance to save the slaves
and Volk's wife.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte finished the ritual and plunged
the dagger into Johan's heart, the blood rune on her face lit up as
soul energy coursed through the dagger down her arm and out of her
other hand that was now pointing at the portal. Delte screamed in
pain as a spiralling red mist left her and headed for the portal, it
was then she felt another presence in the dagger a sentient mind
vying for control over her own mind. Volk moved away from the portal
to try and help her, but Left-Paw-Alight held him back from
interfering with the ritual.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“She is in a battle for control
against a daedra spirit that was bound to the dagger.” He shouted
above the noise of Delte's screams and the roar of magicka that was
now flooding the cavern “If she looses or the connection is broken
before the ritual ends she will die.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte regained some control of her
vocal chords and shouted “Mephala guides me, and my Will guides my
blades. My soul is hers to take it does not belong to you fell
blade.” With that the portal ignited into a swirling purple mist a
clap of thunder echoed around the cavern as once again air was pulled
into Coldharbour and then air was sucked back into the cavern from
the realm in Oblivion bringing with it once more the stench of decay
and death. Delte stood up swaying unsteadily on her feet sweat
pouring from her face from the magical battle with the dagger.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Lets go it won't last long.” She
said as she pulled the dagger out of Johan and walked over to the
portal.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Delte are you okay?”
Left-Paw-Alight asked her in a concerned tone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She nodded and gave a weak smile “I
will be, wasn't expecting there to be a spirit in the dagger to be
honest. A powerful one at that, but it now knows who’s its master
is now. Paws hold onto my hand Volk you take hold of Paws's other hand.
When we step through keep your eyes closed and mouth shut, and what
ever you do; do not let go of each other.” With that she stepped
through the portal with Left-Paw-Alight and Volk in tow.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
All three stepped into the portal the
air roared past their ears, Volk felt his ears pop and then an
unimaginable pain swept over him as it felt like his whole body was
being skewered with thousands of hot needles. He tried to scream but
his mouth was instantly filled with hot ash, out of desperation he
opened his eyes and instantly wished he had kept them shut. Then as
sudden as it all began it was over, he was on his hands and knees
looking at white sand and a black ocean as he moaned in pain and
started to cough.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He looked over at Left-Paw-Alight and
noticed the argonian mage throwing up his last meal and holding his
head. “I feel sick.” Volk groaned as he slowly got up but
instantly went back to his knees as his own stomach vented its
contents.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I feel like I have been turned
inside out.” Left-Paw-Alight moaned and began to retch once more.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Come on get up we are out in the
open and need to move to cover before we are spotted.” Delte urged
them as she stood guard with an arrow nocked to her bow that she had
reclaimed from Johan.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How come you are not effected as we
are?” Left-Paw-Alight said as he steadily got to his feet and leant
on his staff.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Who is to say I am not effected? “
Delte offered back “When one travels to Oblivion you always leave a
piece of yourself behind, sometimes its physical sometimes its
mental. One thing for sure you are never the same again.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk got to his feet and said “Lets
get moving then.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As they ran along the beach to some
derelict buildings on the beach front small puffs of sand rose from
where their feet struck the sand and slowly settled back down. Volk
watched with interest and said “This sand is strange, it doesn't
act like any sand I know of.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Its not sand.” Delte said “Its
the ground up bones of Molag Bal's enemies that he has defeated over
the ages.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Wish I never asked.” Volk said in
a mumble.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yeah stop asking questions you don't
want the answers to.” Left-Paw-Alight said with a chuckle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How would I know if I should ask
them if I don't....... Shut it Paws.” Volk said laughing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Inside the old derelict building there
was old mouldy furniture along with burnt carpets and wall hangings,
the wood had been scorched by flame and a thick layer of ash had
settled over everything. The glass was still in some of the windows
and Delte moved over to one and cleaned a small spot to look out of
onto the street. Daedra and shackled mortal races could be seen
milling about out side of the house in the streets. The slaves all
had empty white eyes and drawn features as though they had been
starved for weeks on end without any food, each of them dressed in
long ragged robes. Volk joined Delte and looked out into the street
through the window.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Where did the new slaves go? They
couldn't gotten far.” He said to Delte.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Our gate opened in a random location
because we didn't know the name of the link here or had a resonance
stone.” She replied watching the street “My best guess is to look
inside one of those towers that are dotted around the outer wall of
the city. To be honest the quicker we leave this place the better for
all.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I wonder what those large metal
rings are doing floating up there above the towers.”
Left-Paw-Alight added as he found a window to look out of.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Not sure, but what ever they are it
looks like trouble for Tamriel.” Delte confessed to him “We
should make way to the nearest tower and try our luck there. Who
knows we may find a kind soul here that can help us.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Is that even likely in a place like
this?” Volk asked as he pulled away from the window.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte shrugged and said “This city is
based on the Imperial City in Cyrodiil in a twisted sort of way, just
as that city has its bad elements this one will have its good
elements hidden away.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The three of them left the building
taking care not to be seen by the denizens of Coldharbour. The route
they took was slow with having to move from alleyway to alleyway,
while at the same time hiding from the roaming patrols of daedra. The
clouds above the large tower at the centre of the city swirled in a
huge vortex all made up of different shades of black and grey, with
no sun or moon to guide them they had to rely on landmarks and their
own sense of direction. It wasn't long before they found that some of
the humans were not placid individuals and that some of them would
attack on sight as they hunted for food amongst the rubbish that was
strewn about on the ground. They was alone in an alien wasteland with
danger around every corner, and where most of the cities occupants
wanted to eat them or kill them.
</div>
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Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-67677243130676958402014-03-09T05:29:00.000-07:002014-03-09T05:29:15.289-07:00Chapter8, Location:- Broken Tower Redoubt, Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Sundas 15th.
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter8</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Broken Tower Redoubt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- <span lang="en-GB">2E 581 First
Seed Sundas 15</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte and the others
watched the ruined fort from behind the rocky outcrop on top of the
cliffs opposite of the main entrance to the old fort. The remains of
an old tower strewn about them, Volk had explained that it use to be
a bridge that span the gulley with battlements for archers to hide
behind in case of attack. It was one of the few roads between
Markarth and Whiterun at one point and this was considered a safe
point to cross, but sometime ago there was an earthquake that brought
the bridge down and so the fort was abandoned and left to ruin. The
ruins of the tower they now hid in is what is left of the stones that
the local residents had not yet stolen for their own homes.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the battlements
opposite screams of pain issued forth from the survivors from the
attack on Rorikstead, those that had returned had been quickly
subdued and placed on racks out in the open. The cultist priests now
started to strip the flesh off the cultists that had been part of the
raiding party on the town of Rorikstead, the strips of which was
placed into an ornate wooden box inlaid with golden daedric runes.
The raiders were being kept alive through dark magic, as each one was
stripped of their flesh the skeletons were freed to join the rest of
the undead that guarded the fort. The sky above was shot through with
red clouds giving the whole scene a horrifying vista which could of
just been happening in Oblivion rather than Tamriel.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The cult priests wore long
loose white robes that had been splashed by blood and offal from
their victims. Their faces covered by bronze masks that represented
their master Molag Bal. The skeletal servants carried the wooden box
that held the stripped flesh were of various races. The newer undead
could easily be identified from the red stains on their bones and
where bits of flesh and sinew still clung on to the old frame of its
former host.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Oh gods why are they
doing that to their own people?” Johan said in a hushed whisper the
sound of revulsion present in his tone.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“They are weak and
deserve to be punished.” Delte responded “Only the strong shall
serve the Lord of Domination.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why keep the flesh
though?” Volk asked amazed by what he witnessed.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Those runes keeps the
flesh alive inside the box.” Left-Paw-Alight answered as he watched
the whole scene trying to take in as much information as he could
“The flesh could be used to make a flesh atronach. We must stop
them before they manage to do this.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Four against all of
them?” Johan said looking at the others in shock.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yeah I don't like the
odds either.” Volk said as he stroked his black beard in thought “I
would of liked to have more of them, would be a fair fight then at
least.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What!” Johan replied
his head snapping back to look at Volk hoping to see a smile on his
face. Delte and Left-Paw-Alight just chuckled which didn't relieve
Johan from the thought of them going up against the fort filled with
cultists.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We should go in from
the top.” Delte said as she pointed to one of the towers that had
its back against the cliff face “Climb down to the top of that
tower, then we take the upper battlements where the poor sods are
being tortured and then reinforce our position there, while I scout
the inside to see what we are really up against.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Agreed.” Volk and
Left-Paw-Alight said in unison.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Lets move we need to
make our way to the other side and above the tower before night
fall.” Volk said as he crept backwards away from the boulder that
hid him from view of the old fort.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Shatter-Shield
Clan Hold North of Whiterun on the Boarder to Morthal.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Date:- 2E 581First
Seed Morndas 16</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">
</span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">The Shatter-Shield
clan hold sat a top a mountain plateau surrounded by a tall wooden
palisade. On either side of the main gate two large wooden towers
stood like silent sentinels. Guards patrolled along the wall and
watched the farmers that tended to their crops outside of the walled
area. At night the farmers would return to the walled area with their
flock to keep them safe from any night time predators whether it be
bandits or the local wildlife that roamed the wilderness at night. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom rode up the main
approach under the mid day sun, after riding all night he was
beginning to feel tired and in need of a rest. Where his arm that had
been broken and latter healed by the Breton woman Serena, a large
bruise had now started to come out. He reached round to his saddle
bag and pulled out a hollowed out horn from a horker and blew a two
tone note to signal the guards he was friendly. As he approached the
gate guards came to greet the young lord on his return home. Brom
dismounted his horse and let the stable hands take it away to be
tended to. He looked around at the guards looking for a familiar
face.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Where is my father and
Kavak?” Brom asked as he brushed his armour down and arranged his
fur lined cloak.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Your father is locked
in the long hall and not to be disturbed.” Kavak said as he walked
up to greet Brom “I heard your call as you arrived Brom, good
journey was it?”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom turned and faced
Kavak who was Ulfbert's second. He had also been Volk and Brom's old
teacher in the art of combat and strategy. Although going grey and
age etched on his rugged features the man still made an imposing
sight. Kavak had a shaved head that showed a mottled black and grey
pattern in the stubble. His long braided beard still mostly jet black
covered his chin and mouth, from under two bushy eyebrows two green
eyes shone. Broad shoulders and thick muscled arms belied the power
this old warrior could summon in battle when wielding his large two
handed sword that was slung across his back. Kavak's sword was unique
in that its handle was twice as long as the usual nordic design, the
handle had no cross guard to it. On the end of the pommel was a
carved metal wolfs head. With the handle being longer than it should
be this made the blade about half the length of a normal two handed
sword. When used in battle by Kavak he swung it like one would swing
a staff but with the weight of the blade and with his strength behind
this unique weapon it made a deadly combination. Kavak wore a set of
furs that protected him from the cold and underneath a suit of
chainmail armour with a chest plate and shoulder plates to help
deflect attacks in battle.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Rorikstead was attacked
by daedra cultists Kavak.” Brom said as he greeted the older man
“Volk has asked for you and the oathsworn to ride out and reinforce
the town. I must also speak to the Old Bear, we know where the vipers
have their nest. Volk and Paws are there now waiting for me to return
with help.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“The Old Bear has given
orders not to be disturbed till tomorrow morning.” Kavak said as he
shook Broms hand in the warrior's greeting “He even told all of us
to leave the hall, servants and guards all.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom snorted and started
to walk through the settlement towards the large longhall that sat
atop the hill in the centre dominating the skyline. The longhall was
built out of the large pine trees that grew in abundance in Skyrim.
The pillars that held up the entrance way and most of the structure
was carved with nord runes and pictograms that depicted the
Shatter-Shield clan history and saga of ages past that the clan's
skalds used to entertain people and teach the younger generation of
their heritage.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kavak walked by Brom's
side “Brom I am worried” he confessed to him “Shortly before
your father ordered everyone to leave the longhall a group of black
robed priests came to visit him.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Who are they?” Brom
asked as he quickened his pace “What god do they follow?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I don't know.” Kavak
said in reply trying to keep up with the younger man. “I wasn't
present at the time, my men told me when I got back from patrol.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Who sent you on patrol
Kavak?” Brom said looking at the older warrior.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Your father Brom. He
told me to take half of the men out to scout the northern boarders.”
Kavak replied with guilt in his voice.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom came to a
sudden stop twenty paces from the main doors to the longhall. Instead
of being greeted by the sight of two oathsworn he saw two seven foot
tall black armoured warriors sporting large spiked maces that stood
as tall as Brom and Kavak. The black armour had energy glowing an
angry red that seemed to curl into daedric runes. The full face helms
had two glowing eyes staring out at the two men.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Gather the oathsworn.”
Brom said to Kavak “We have daedra to kill and my father to save.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Men and women assembled
behind Brom as he continued to watch the two guards at the doors to
the longhall. The daedra stood motionless like a pair of black
statues, the only thing that belied the fact they was alive was the
sight of their breath on the cold air and the glowing red eyes deep
in the helmets. Kavak appeared by Brom's side and he handed him a
shield, as Brom put the shield on his left arm Kavak placed a helmet
over his head and strapped it in place.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Ready?” Kavak said to
Brom.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Lets do this,” Brom
replied with a nod and drew his own sword “all with me.” He
raised his sword and started to jog towards the two daedra. The jog
turned into a running charge, ten yards from the doors Brom gave a
mighty nord battle cry the power in his voice reverberated around the
settlement. The sound of his battle charge bolstered the oathsworn
and as one they answered back with their own call. The battle cry
seemed to galvanise the two daedra into action as they took up their
large two handed maces and entered a guard position, they started to
move forwards to meet the nord charge head on. The two forces met in
a mighty clash of arms. The large maces of the daedra crushed two of
the oathsworn, Brom and Kavak ran past them both and turned to cut
them down from behind before they could raise the maces to strike a
second time. Brom tried the two large oak doors to the longhall and
found them locked in place from the inside.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Axes.” Kavak shouted
“Get me in there.” he pointed to the doors.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Three nords ran up to the
doors each wielding large two handed axes and began to chop their way
through the oak. A rhythm was soon established and within moments the
doors hung in tatters with the locking bar broken in two. Brom and
Kavak kicked the doors open and ran into the main hall followed by
the rest of the oathsworn. The band came to a sudden stop due to the
sight that lay before them.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The centre of the hall was
dominated by a black stone altar set on a dais that had no seam and
looked as if it had been grown from the very rock that the longhall
was built upon. A statue behind the altar showed the stony visage of
Molag Bal in all his gruesome glory, a human skull grasped firmly in
his taloned hand. Black robed priests surrounded the altar with their
heads bowed and chanting, on the dais stood a man dressed in a cloak
of freshly skinned human skin arms raised in supplication to the
statue. In his hands he held a wicked carved dagger that sported evil
daedra runes that pulsed with energy. Hanging from the rafters of the
hall were some of the servants stripped of their flesh and pools of
blood gathering underneath each one. A babies cry was heard coming
from the altar, as Brom worked his way round the back of the room he
saw a small boy tied to the altar. He recognised the child as that of
his nephew and son of Volk and Gresla his wife.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Kill them all.” Brom
shouted and charged at the closest priest cutting him down and
interrupting the ritual.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With the death of the
priest the rest of the cultists drew various weapons and entered into
a melee with the oathsworn, as they did clouds of purple smoke
erupted around the hall and their daedra servants tore through the
veil that separated Oblivion from Nirn to help in the fray.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Kill the priests and
break the link of their servants.” Kavak shouted the order above
the din of battle as he cut down two cultists with his sword.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The priest wearing the
human skin cloak turned around and faced Brom. He stopped in his
tracks as he looked upon his fathers face.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Brom my son stand by me
in my moment of ascension.” Ulfbert said with his face covered in
the blood of his house servants.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom's stomach churned his
body started to shake with the now conflicting emotions that were
running through his mind.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What is this madness
father?” Brom managed through his shock and revulsion “Are you
under a spell or being forced to do this?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I am in full control.”
Ulfbert said spreading his arm wide “My grandson's blood sacrifice
will ensure my own immortality in service to the new one god of this
world Molag Bal.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You raided Volk's farm
and killed his eldest, what happened to Gresla?” Realisation struck
Brom as to why Volk's home was raided. He looked around for his elder
brother and said “Where is Kym my older brother? He would not be
part of this I know it.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulfbert shook his head and
said “I told him of what we could achieve but he rebelled against
me.” an almost sadness in his voice as he slowly pointed to the
human skull griped by the statue “So I gave him a place of honour
to watch my moment of glory.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom pointed his sword at
Ulfbert his heart pounding with rage and spoke in a loud and clear
voice above the din of battle that ragged about them. “I challenge
you for the right to rule in single combat.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then come at me Boy.”
Ulfbert replied with a grin “When you die Volk will be given the
chance to join me.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Around Brom and Ulfbert
the battle between the oathsworn and the daedra raged as the priests
were killed their daedra servants vanished in puffs of acrid smoke
and a scream of frustration. Slowly the cultists were wining due to
the weight of numbers against the elite soldiers of the
Shatter-Shield clan. Brom gave a battle cry the sound coming from his
very soul tainted with his pain and anguish at the revelations of his
fathers betrayal of everything he held sacred.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Reka inn landi.” Brom
shouted in his native nord tongue.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A visual wave of energy
swept over the oathsworn which seemed to bolster their resolve as
Brom charged at his father. Ulfbert ran to meet the charge, a large
two handed daedric axe appeared in his hands as he did so.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom gained the upper hand
and pressed the attack quickly against Ulfbert, the older man stepped
back parrying and dodging the assault. He checked one of Broms blows
as the back of his right foot hit the wall. Their weapons locked as
the fight now became a test of strength. Brom felt his knees going as
his father bore down with all his weight and strength onto Brom. Just
as he thought his legs were about to give he heard Left-Paw-Alight
speak to him from a long ago memory after witnessing the devastation
of am hurricane that had swept through the lands when he was younger.
“In a hurricane it is better to be a reed than a strong oak.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom dropped onto his
right knee and twisted at the hip, Ulfbert surprised at the sudden
void of resistance stumbled past trying to stay on his feet. Brom
turned quickly back on his feet and pressed the advantage. Ulfbert's
long years and expertise in combat allowed him to defend himself even
though he was unbalanced, this gave him time to gain his footing once
more.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulfbert kicked Brom back
and followed the move with a running jump bringing his two handed axe
down onto the shield Brom held up to protect himself as he struggled
to get up off the floor. His shield shattered in two from the blow as
the axe struck home, he kicked at Ulfbert's knee which gave way
sending his father to the floor with a grunt.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom stood up and sliced
the leather straps that now held the ruined shield to his arm and
drew his dagger. He changed tact in his strategy by reversing his
grip on the sword, a move he had seen Delte do in Rorikstead. Ulfbert
stood up and gave a frown at the change of fighting style that he now
adopted, this turned into a smile and he beckoned his son to attack
him.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Come on Boy, you want
to have leadership of the clan. Come and take it.” Ulfbert said in
a mocking tone.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom started to weave his
sword through the air and ran at his father, the speed of the sword
pressed the old warrior back into a defensive posture as he parried
each pass of the fast moving sword. Shock spread across his face as
Brom's dagger pierced his chainmail and entered his left lung, he
dropped his daedric axe which vanished back to Oblivion before it hit
the floor. Brom's sword sliced across Ulfbert's throat and in one
swift movement Brom changed his grip once more on his sword and
rammed it through his fathers heart and out through the back. His
father was dead before his head hit the stone floor, Brom looked
around the hall at the oathsworn that still lived. They had defeated
the cultists before the end of Brom's fight with his father and stood
to watch an old tradition carried on, Kavak stood and smiled with a
nod to Brom happy to see the old traditions to be fulfilled. He then
went down on one knee along with the rest of the oathsworn.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We swear to up hold the
laws of the clan and serve the Shattered-Shield as Shor is our
witness.” Kavak along with the rest of the oathsworn said which
reaffirmed their oaths to Brom and his family.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom stood in shock at the
scene he had killed his own father for being in league with the very
people who he had pretended to be hunting down. The man who had
raided his brothers farm and killed his eldest nephew in cold blood.
A cry from the altar brought him out of his shock, he turned his head
and looked at the baby boy laying tied to the dread altar. Slowly he
cut the bonds and gently picked up the infant, as he rocked gently to
try and calm the child he turned to Kavak and said. “He won't stop
crying, I don't think he is hurt.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think he needs his
mother Brom.” Kavak replied with a grin “You don't have what it
takes for what ails him. Itard go and find my nephew's wife the poor
bairn needs a wet nurse.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Clean up this mess and
cut those poor sods down.” Brom ordered the oathsworn as he pointed
up at the dead servants “I want our dead to be honoured.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“And your father?”
Kavak inquired.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Burn him with the other
cultists.” Came the reply from Brom without emotion “That man
wasn't my father.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The comment hurt Kavak due
to the long years of friendship he had with Ulfbert, but could
understand Brom's wishes and so with a silent nod he left Brom and
began to help in the clean up of the longhall.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom sat in his fathers
chair with his nephew still clutched to him crying for his mother
naked as the day he was born. A few minutes passed and a young woman
was escorted into the hall and up to where Brom sat with the baby.
She was dressed in a simple blue cotton dress, her long golden hair
hung loose over her shoulders. Brom looked at her approaching and she
smiled at him, her large brown eyes trying not to look at the carnage
that laid around them.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“This is Joldi my
nephew's wife.” Kavak introduced her to Brom “She gave birth to a
baby girl two weeks ago my lord.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What is her name?”
Brom asked Joldi.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Her name is
</span>Hreira my lord.” she said with a slight curtsey “I have
enough milk to look after your nephew.” she added with a smile.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom stood up and offered Joldi the
chair he was sat in and gently handed over his nephew to the young
mother. She took him and barred her swollen breast and offered it to
the child which latched on easily and started to suck.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Something wrong my lord?” Joldi
asked as she noticed Brom watching her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No I was just thinking what a
beautiful sight. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
Brom replied going red with embarrassment. He looked around the hall
and added “Joldi when you have fed Fraki could you take him to some
place that has a nicer surround? This place is not fit for a baby at
the moment.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Joldi nodded and rocked gently back and
forth to comfort Fraki as he drank his fill.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“My lord what are your orders for the
oathsworn?” Kavak addressed Brom as he left the hall.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Take them to Rorikstead leave half
of them there to help rebuild and defend the town.” Brom said still
not use to the new title that he had been given “Then you take the
rest onto the ruined fort of Broken Tower Redoubt to look for Volk,
kill any cultists you find.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Who will guard the hall?” Kavak
inquired as he walked with Brom to the main doors.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I will call up the militia it is
time they worked off the winter fat.” came the reply from Brom.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-11677444459969216552014-02-25T02:51:00.000-08:002014-02-27T06:20:16.779-08:00Chapter 7, Location:- Rorikstead, Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Loredas 14th.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 7</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Rorikstead</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed
Loredas 14<sup>th</sup></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The outskirts of the town
was in ruins, burnt shells of buildings all starting to collapse in
on themselves. Charred corpses littered the road where some of the
occupants that had managed to escape the fires but either been cut
down by the raiders or died from their burns. Volk charged past the
devastation his senses hardened by years of constant warfare. Brom
struggled as he looked for survivors, until Delte passed him and
turned a corner in the road to head towards the town centre from a
different angel to Volk's route. This snapped Brom from out of his
doldrums, by the time he rounded the same corner Delte was stood on
her horseback with daggers drawn bearing down on the raiders. As it
reached the barricade she jumped off using the momentum to sail over
the heads of the attackers. She landed on both feet and killed two of
them in one move. Delte parried blow after blow from another two
attackers, one of the attackers over extended and over balanced.
Delte exploited this and dispatched him in one swift move. Brom
fought for his life against an armoured man wielding a huge two
handed sword. He caught an over head swing on his shield that popped
the iron rim off its rivets the blow jarred Brom's arm and he pushed
the large sword to the left while stepping in and killing the
armoured man by ramming his sword up at an angle underneath the
breastplate. He turned to check on Delte she had dispatched the
other assailant and was now being hard pressed by a giant of a man
swinging a huge two handed axe.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte dodged each swing
of the slow weapon that was being used by the large man sporting a
bushy black beard and long black greasy hair. The only attire he wore
was a fur loin cloth. His naked torso was covered in daedric runes
and ritual scars. Each time she tried to step in for the kill her
opponent had seen it coming and checked the move. He swung the axe
again and as Delte moved in anticipation of the attack he quickly
changed its direction and caught a glancing blow to Delte's head.
Dazed and disoriented she fell to the ground. Blood ran down one side
of her face and her vision was blurred, laying on her back on the
hard dirt packed road daggers crossed up in a guard position her legs
pumped trying to move away and give her time to recover her senses.
Slowly her vision cleared only to see the huge towering form of the
man bearing down on her he brought his axe up high to finish her off.
Delte closed her eyes waiting for the end.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The death blow never came
Delte opened her eyes and saw Brom stood over her, the remains of his
shield hung from his arm that had blocked the blow. His face a rictus
of pain the snap Delte had heard was the sound of his arm breaking.
She sat up and rammed her dagger between the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup>
rid of the bearded man killing him. He slowly toppled over backwards
like a huge oak tree that had been felled. Brom sliced the leather
straps to his now ruined shield that still clung to his broken arm, a
movement in Brom's periphery vision got his attention. He turned to
see another raider rushing towards them swinging two swords. The man
stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at the two arrows that had
appeared in his chest then fell down dead. Delte and Brom looked
around and saw Johan stood on a barn roof nocking another arrow. A
strange lull came over the scene of battle and a babies crys came
from within one of the burning buildings, Delte's sharp hearing
picked up the sound, before Brom could stop her she dove through the
doorway and vanished into the flames. He looked over the barricades
at where Volk and Left-Paw-Alight were fighting and made his way over
to them to help in their skirmish.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight used his
staff to parry a sequence of attacks from a dunmer with a longsword
and a parrying dagger. With each parry a ball of kinetic energy built
up on each end of his staff. Left-Paw-Alight feinted to the right his
dunmer opponent fell for the ruse and left himself open to the follow
up attack. One end of Paws's staff struck him squarely in the chest,
the kinetic energy on the end of the staff that struck the dunmer
exploded and sent him flying back against the stable wall. His dead
body fell to the floor the chest cavity caved in from the blast.
Left-Paw-Alight looked around and saw three more attackers coming
towards him, he twirled his staff and slammed the unspent energy ball
onto the ground. A wave of kinetic energy spread out and threw the
three would be attackers to the ground. Johan pinned each one with an
arrow and they never got back up.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Delte dashed though
the common room of the burning house, flames licked at her and the
smoke made her eyes water. Her innate dunmer resistance to fire and
heat allowed her to move fairly freely in the inferno. Another cry
from a small room gained her attention and she homed in on it. A
small bundle of blankets moved in a cot, Delte ran over and picked up
the small baby and then made her way back out of the burning inferno.
</span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom turned a corner on
his way to help Volk and Paws. In the middle of the street a Breton
woman was in a magical dual with a man in black robes wearing a blood
red mask. Lighting arched between the two mages, the air had a tangy
taste and smell of iron to it. The breton woman gave a cry of shock
as her wards fell, this galvanised Brom into action. Quietly stepping
up behind the enemy mage he rammed his sword into his back and gave
it a twist, as he pulled it free the man fell dead to the ground. The
breton woman stood straight and gave Brom a smile of thanks and ran
back to the barricades.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With the death of the
enemy mage most of the attackers vanished in puffs of acrid smoke and
a scream as their tether to Nirn was severed. The remaining mortal
attackers devoid of their daedric support dropped their weapons and
fled. A huge cheer erupted from the citizens left alive as they
realised their victory.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte ran through the
front entrance to the burning house with the small child clutched
tightly to her chest. Once out in the fresh air she took a few deep
breath to clear her lungs of the smoke she had inhaled. Gently she
placed the small bundle of sheets on the ground and unwrapped them. A
small human child lay there before her unmoving, its tiny lips had
gone blue. Tears welled up in Delte's eyes and ran down her soot
covered face leaving clean tracks of skin. A blue glow emanated from
her hands as she poured healing magicka into the small form that laid
before her on the ground. A scaled hand was placed on her shoulder
and a familiar voice spoke with concern. “Delte the child is dead.”
Paws said to her “Save your energy for the living.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Delte shook his hand
off and carried on trying to heal the small baby. Paws shook his head
and walked away. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">People were milling
around still dazed by what had happened to them and their small town,
work teams had started to put out the fires and try to save what
property they could. Brom sat on a stone wall as the breton woman
healed his broken arm, his attention was alerted to three women
huddled together crying over a burnt corpse of a man. Delte appeared
holding a small bundle of soot stained blankets, her cloak was burnt
around the edges, her leather armour covered in soot. Her face
covered in black soot also apart from the strips of skin where her
tears had cleaned it off. One of the women looked up at her and
wailed as she recognised the blankets. She stood up and slowly walked
towards Delte with apprehension. Delte smiled as a small leg moved
and poked out from within the bundle. The woman stopped crying and
hitched up her skirt and ran over to where Delte was stood. Delte
gently handed over the baby to the woman, as the child recognised the
familiar voice of it mother a happy gurgling sound came from the
blankets.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Some joy survived
this day at least.” The breton woman said to Brom.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Aye and to think
I was going to stop her from going into the burning building.” Brom
said as he flexed his fingers. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">You was concerned
for a friend, that is understandable.” She said with a smile as she
finished the healing spell. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom held out his
open hand to the woman and looked into her green eyes framed by long
black curly hair. “My name is Brom Shatter-Shield.” He said to
her.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">The breton woman
looked down at his hand and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek
“Serena and thank you for helping fight off the attackers.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom blushed and
looked down at his feet to the amusement of Serena. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">I best see to the
wounded.” She said to Brom as she picked up her staff and walked
away. She paused and turned back to look at Brom and asked. “Why
did they attack our town? Who were they?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Daedric cultists
of Molag Bal.” Brom replied before he could stop himself. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Serena's smile faded
“Are you and your friends hunting them?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom nodded and
walked over to her “I would like to help you with the injured, and
maybe while you teach me some of the finer details I can talk to you
about the attackers.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Glad for the company
she nodded and they started going around the wounded townsfolk.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Delte stood and
watched the mother now reunited with her baby, dead townsfolk lay all
about bunt and bleeding with open wounds on the ground.
Left-Paw-Alight came to stand by her side and watched for a moment
with a smile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">I am glad you
didn't listen to me Delte.” he said to her “The town elder wishes
to talk with us, are you coming?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Delte nodded and
turned to leave with Paws to meet with the elder.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">A man in his
twilight years dressed in scale mail leaning on a large two handed
sword was deep in conversation with Volk. The man's long grey hair
blew freely in the breeze. He sported a long bushy beard that was
more grey than its original red, but his blue eyes still held some
fire of life to them. His armour had gone rusty in places and some of
the straps had not been fastened due to the rush of putting it on
during the initial attack. The sword he leaned on had fresh notches
along its length and was now slightly bent from the years of use and
now neglect. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Delte, Paws this
is elder Sven Jager.” Volk said as way of introduction “He has
some interesting information about our friends.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Delte, Paws thank
you for your timely intervention.” Sven said “If you hadn't of
come when you did we would all be dead.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Brom and Johan
are helping tend the wounded.” Paws told Volk and Sven as he shook
hands with the elder.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">As I was saying
to Volk the raiders came from the north.” Sven said to the three of
them “Not sure why though, all we have here is grain, potatoes and
goats.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">People.” Delte
said in reply “You have people that is why they attacked.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Sorry miss but I
don't understand.” Sven replied as he ran his fingers through his
long grey hair. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">They are daedric
cultists looking for slaves and souls of sentient beings.” She
explained to the elder “You need to send word to Whiterun and
Markarth and let them know what has transpired here.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">We go north from
here then?” Paws said looking at Volk. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">I have had
reports from local hunters about strange lights and sightings of
undead at an old fort on the boarder to the Reach and Whiterun.”
Sven said as Volk stroked his beard in thought “I thought nothing
of it until now, you know hunters drunk around a camp fire telling
each other stories.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Volk nodded in
agreement and said “Hardly worth our time investigating rumours
from drunk wildmen. We go north from here.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">No!” came the
reply from Delte “We should investigate the fort. These hunters if
they are anything like the ashlanders of Morrowind simple ghost
stories wouldn't scare them. They are often made of sturdier stuff
than your average local.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">I am not going to
argue Delte.” Volk turned and looked her in her eyes “We go
north, I am not going to gamble on this one. My wife and child's
lives are at steak here.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">What is north
from here Volk? Where can the cultists hide and do their worshipping
north of here?” Delte replied back.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">From here only
Morthal and Solitude.” Paws said as he followed the discussion “No
ruins to speak of or any real cave systems.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Brom.” Volk
shouted over to his brother and waved him to come over.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom left Serena and
walked over to where Volk was stood a huge grin on his face.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Stop your
flirting with that breton whore, I have a job for you.” Volk said
as he approached.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">She is not a
whore, and her name is Serena.” Brom said in a hurt tone “She is
the town healer for Rorikstead and the out lying farms.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">No matter, I want
you to ride to our clan longhall and report to the old bear. Ask him
to send Kavak and his oathsworn over to Rorikstead to bolster the
defences here.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom nodded and
walked over to where Johan had tied up the horses Delte walked with
him. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Thank you Brom
for saving my life.” Delte said as she walked arm in arm with the
young nord.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Brom shrugged “It's
ok, I broke my arm but Serena fixed it for me.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">She likes you
Brom, be careful on the road.” Delte replied with a smile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">How do you know
she likes me?” Brom asked as he mounted his horse.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Woman's
intuition.” Delte said with a smile and a wink as she left Brom and
walked back to Volk and Paws. Johan followed close behind with bow in
hand.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">So where to now?”
Johan asked Delte as they walked back.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">An old fort west
of here on the boarder to the Reach and Whiterun.” Delte replied.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">I thought Volk
was set on going north.” Johan said in a confused tone. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">He is.” came
the reply from Delte with a knowing smile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">When Delte had
arrived back to the conversation Volk had planted daggers and stones
on the ground. One large rock showed where Rorikstead was and two
daggers showed Solitude and Morthal. A twig showed where the ruined
fort was on the boarder of the two holds. Volk shook his head “The
only thing north of here would be reachmen and they are more
xenophobic than the maormer.” he said</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">You also have
your family hold on the northern boarders to Whiterun and Morthal
Volk.” Paws said as he looked at the makeshift map “If the
cultists are north of here they would of run afoul of your fathers
patrols.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span lang="en-GB">Yes your right so
Delte's assumptions maybe correct and its the only thing we have to
go on.” Volk conceded the point “I guess we go to the old fort of
Broken Tower from here then and hope the hunters were right to fear
the place.”</span></div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-64161383279224402442014-02-13T11:20:00.001-08:002014-02-27T06:18:47.981-08:00Chapter 6, Location:- Road to Rorikstead, Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Turdas 12th. <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 6</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Road to Rorikstead
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Turdas 12<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By the time Volk had finished digging
at the bottom of the well and pulled out a large plain lead sealed
chest it was mid morning. The funeral pyre they had set alight was
now blazing away with black greasy smoke billowing up in a column
that rose high up into the clear blue sky. Volk and Johan heaved the
chest over the well wall and set to chiseling off the lead seal.
Johan stood and watched in silence after helping Volk haul it out of
the well. With the last part of the seal removed Volk threw open the
lid to the chest, the sun glinted off polished metal and gold within.
Johan gasped in shock at seeing the wealth inside as Volk dug in and
pulled out a chainmail coat and leggings.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I keep these for reserve and the
money is my savings." Volk said in way of an explanation "I
bury them to keep them safe from bandits and thieves"
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Now I know where to look."
Johan replied with a grin on his face.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk laughed and shook his head "I
will move it when we get back."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Found your axes Volk, and the
gold from your payment from the general." Delte interrupted the
two men.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk nodded and closed the lid to the
chest once more, with the items he needed removed from its contents
he shoved the chest once more over the well wall and let it sink back
down into the mud at the bottom of the well.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Sort out the horses while I get
my armour on. Then we will be off." Volk said as he headed back
to the house.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"We only have two horses left
Volk." Delte shouted after him as she ran to catch up.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I know that, and that is why you
and Johan ride together until we reach Whiterun stables." He
said and then shut the door to the house.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte turned around and scowled at
Johan who instantly looked at the ground still unsure of the dunmer
female.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Bloody n'wah." Delte spat at
Johan "Why do I have to ride with him?"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Now now Delte," Paws said as
he came round leading the two horses "you are lighter of frame
than myself and Volk. Less of a strain on the horse, and Volk and I
can take turns to ride my mount."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte snatched her horse's reigns out
of Left-Paw_Alight's hand and started to checks the harness.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Fine but he puts his hands
someplace I don't like they are coming off at his elbows." Delte
continued her rant.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight chuckled as he checked
the harness on his own horse. "Don't worry Johan, Delte can be
rather charming once you get to know her." He said hiding behind
his own horse as he tried not to laugh.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Shut it Paws." Came the
reply from Delte</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This proved to much for Left-Paw-Alight
who couldn't hold the laugh in any longer, Delte realising she was
being wound up tried not to laugh which only resulted in a huge smirk
spreading across her face.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Damned lizard." Delte said
as she tried not to laugh.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"That's me." Paws replied as
he regained his composure.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Inside the house Volk chuckled at the
loud conversation going on outside between Delte and Left-Paw-Alight
as he put on the chainmail armour. Over the coat of chain he wore a
tabard that had a yellow wooden shield being spliced in twain by an
axe of white set on a dark blue background. On top of this he had a
set of thick leather straps that held his weapons in place, his twin
axes now back on his hips and in easy reach, a large two handed sword
sheathed on his back. As Volk turned to leave his home he stopped at
a small shrine dedicated to Shor and knelt before it with his two
handed sword drawn. Hands resting on the pommel he bowed his head and
prayed to the dead god of war of the nord people.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Shor grant me the strength of
Ysgramor and his five hundred, so that I may find my wife Gresla and
child safe."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With his prayers said he stood up and
sheathed his sword once more and left the house to join his
companions for the ride to Whiterun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Whiterun Stables</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Turdas
12<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte and her companions took a steady
ride from Volk's farm so as to not cripple their remaining two
horses. Volk and Paws would take turns in the saddle during the
course of their journey. Starting to feel more at ease Johan began to
tell them what had been happening in Skyrim since their departure to
Cyrodiil. He also went into more details of the night his village and
farm was raided by the cultists.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was dusk as they arrived at the
stables of Whiterun. The farmers had already vacated their fields
after a long days toil, the air was filled with a scent of freshly
turned soil and manure. In the distance a windmill turned its creaky
sails as a cool wind blew down into the grass plains. The sound of
barking could be heard coming from the city as packs of stray dogs
roamed the streets. Delte shivered and pulled her cloak round tighter
to try and keep the chill out, from living for the past couple of
years in Cyrodiil and earlier in Elsweyr for most of her childhood.
Volk stood at the door to the stable house and gave it a sharp knock
with his mailed fist. Muffled voices could be heard inside along with
the scraping sound of a chair being pulled along the wooden floor.
Slowly the door was pulled open and a gruff voice said “We are shut
go away or ye' taste my club.” Then it slammed shut again with a
bang.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I am a son of Skyrim in need of
two horses with good gold to pay for them both." Volk shouted at
the now shut door.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The door opened again and was quickly
filled by a rotund man with rosy cheeks and a grin, wearing a simple
outfit of a green woollen tunic and leather breaches which a rope belt
attempted to keep them held up and maintain the mans dignity.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Two horses and gold you say?"
The man said to Volk with a cheerful grin.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk nodded and patted a pouch of gold
on his belt with a smile.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Name is Olson, and I am the
stable master." He said as a way of a greeting to Volk and shook
his hand.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Good to meet you," Volk said
"I am Volk Shatter-Shield."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Olson grinned even more recognising the
name of the local Thane's son, and looked towards where the rest of
the group stood. "Who are the horses for my lord?"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Myself and Johan there."
Volk replied pointing his finger at Johan.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Follow me I may have what you
need." Olson said as he walked to the stable block.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Delte while I get the horse and
harnesses I want you to go to the Jarl." Volk said "Tell
him all that has transpired, he needs to know and we may even get
some help."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk followed the stable master into his
house to finalise the sale.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Why me?" Delte protested as
she mounted her horse."He doesn't even know me, why would he
take my word?"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"He doesn't like me that is why."
Paws said in answer to her protests "Last time I met him I
insulted his court mage and the jarl had me physically thrown out."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"What did you do to his mage?"
She asked with a smile knowing Paws would not often put a foot wrong
in the matters of politics.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Another time Delte," Paws
waved her off "best get going. Knowing Volk he will want to make
tracks till midnight which doesn't leave us much time."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte set her horse off at a trot
towards the large gates to Whiterun, Johan stared at Left-Paw-Alight
with his mouth open, Paws looked back at him and shrugged.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"The court mage is an idiot, I was
just pointing out the fact to the Jarl." Paws scratched his chin
as he thought back to the event "He was implying that Volk and I
were skooma smugglers and that only select individuals could work
magic, also beast races don't have the ability to work real magic.
When in fact anyone with the aptitude to study and learn can work
magic. Even you Johan if you applied yourself."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte approached the large wooden gates
to the city, torches burned brightly in their wall brackets on either
side. On the ground large iron braziers gave off their heat from
raging fires that burned within them to drive off the chill night
air. Two guards stood either side of the gate while a third stood in
the middle of the road his right hand resting easily on the hilt of
his long sword in his other hand he held a shield with the same
emblem as the two guards at the gate. The symbol was that of a strong
looking horse painted in black lines on a yellow background.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Halt traveller." The guard
in the road addressed Delte "State your name and purpose."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte threw back the hood of her cloak
and looked at the man in the eyes. "I come to appraise your jarl
on events that are going on in his realm. My name is Delte and the
news I have is urgent. Now let me pass."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The guards laughed at her reply, the
one who stood in front of her apoke again. "I am sergeant Brant
of the guard, and I can not let you in to see the jarl because today's
court is closed to petitions. If you could come....."The
sergeant was cut short in his reply.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Listen and listen well n'wah. The
jarl has Molag Bal cultists roaming his land. They are killing his
subjects and taking away slaves for daedra rituals. You will either
let me in now or I will go through you." Delte raised her voice
with one hand on her dagger.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The guard sergeant looked back into her
violet eyes unsure if she was telling the truth or trying to scare
him and his men, those cold alien eyes told him nothing of what was
going on in the dunmer's mind which sent a shiver down his spine.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Fine the horse stays here though,
and I will escort you to him." the sergeant said as his
underlings opened a small door in the middle of one of the gates.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte dismounted her horse and tied it
to the fence rail and then followed the sergeant into the city.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The gate slammed shut behind them and
sergeant Brant walked by Delte's side. The first thing Delte noticed
was the stench of the city, a open sewer ran along the wall down the
hill towards the main river. Stray dogs ran in packs down deserted
roads and alleyways looking for scraps of food that had been left
from the days market, or from people throwing out their rubbish. In
the darkness rats could be heard scurrying about. Delte put her hand
over her mouth and nose to try and disperse the smell, while her
escort seemed to be unaffected by the smell.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They passed an inn called the Bannered
Mare singing could be heard coming from inside, along with the smell
of roasted hog which now mingled with the stench of the city. Regardless Delte's stomach growled at the smell reminding her of the
lack of a real meal over the past few days. Brant explained the
districts to her as they went up a stone flight stairs into the Wind
District. It was then they passed by the gildergreen tree in full
bloom, Delte dropped her hand and gasped at the sight. Brant puffed
his chest out as some home pride swelled in him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Beautiful isn't it?" Brant
said as they passed it by. Delte nodded as they carried on towards the
castle of Dragonsreach in the Cloud District where the Jarl held
court.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the doors to Dragonsreach sergeant
Brant walked up to a man in the same colours as his own uniform but
this one had a large two handed axe and better quality armour and
spoke to him about Delte's request. She soon learned that the other
man Brant was speaking to was his captain who then dismissed Brant
back to his post at the gate.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Follow me please miss." The
captain said as he opened the doors to the large hall of the jarl.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first thing that came into view as
Delte crossed the threshold was huge wooden pillars carved with
nordic runes and sagas. They in turn supported a high vaulted ceiling
with huge wooden beams that spanned across the whole building. Stone
steps lead up to another level where voices and music could be heard,
and a strong smell of more cooking wafted down to her. As she and the
captain ascended the steps her stomach growled again, she gave a
wince and glanced over at the captain who smiled.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the top of the stairs the interior
of the castle opened out into a huge courtroom. The centre of the
room was taken up by a fire pit, servants on either side turned
roasting spits with hogs impaled on each one. A row of tables were
placed length ways down the pit with people sat facing the fire pit.
At the far end opposite Delte was another table where a man who wore
a circlet of gold on his head sat with a woman on his right eating
their evening meal. A large burly man dressed in platmail and furs
stood behind the seated man at the head table. All eyes in the room
looked at the her and the captain and followed her as she walked
between the fire pit and tables. Delte looked up at various hunting
trophies as she made the long walk towards the head table, animals
from all over Skyrim and even beyond adorned the walls. The people
sat at the tables noticed that as she walked past the fire pit the
flames seemed to move towards her as if sensing her dunmer heritage
and affinity to fire. She looked at the nobles all sat at the tables
and felt out of place in her dusty and scratched armour, she took a
deep breath and increased her pace.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The man who stood behind the jarl held
up his hand and with a thick nord accent spoke "That is far
enough dunmer."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stopped and looked at the man sat
before her, his hair was red in colour shot through with grey. It was adorned with coloured wooden beads. Steel grey eyes looked her over
as a bearded chin and mouth chewed a bite of roast hog. In his right
hand was a bone that had been recently picked clean, draped over his
shoulders was the skin of a sabre cat, its front paws over each
shoulder had clasps attached to them and into his armour breastplate.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Jarl Hulderic of Whiterun."
Delte addressed the man sat in front of her "I have news of
cultists roaming your lands and raiding villages and farms for slaves
and sacrifices. My companions and I are on their trail, but require assistance."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A hushed murmur went around the tables
with gasps of shock, the jarl nodded as he listened to the request.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Pray tell me your name and those
of your companions." jarl Hulderic said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"My name is Delte and I travel
with Volk Shatter-Shield and an argonian shaman called
Left-Paw-Alight." She replied, a man to her right snorted in a
laugh which drew her attention. He was dressed in fine red velvet
robes with silver and gold embroidery. His hook nose the most prominent feature on his thin lean face.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Sire you would take orders such
as this from a vagabond dunmer who travels in the company of known
criminals?" The man said in a aloof tone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"That was never proven you cur,
and that is my son you are accusing." A large old nord pointed a
meaty finger at the hooked nose man in robes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"QUIET! All of you." jarl
Hulderic shouted "Sorry Delte please explain yourself."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"We arrived at Volk's farm last
night. What we found was a small group of bandits had taken
residence. They attacked us on sight, so we made our escape."
Delte explained the details of the previous night "Next morning
we formulated a plan and attacked to take back the farm. We killed
seven of the bandits and took one prisoner which we questioned."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The whole room had now gone silent,
even the servants turning the roast hog had stopped to listen to the
events.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"The bandit told us they found the
farm deserted and a boy of about eleven had been killed and left to
rot in the courtyard. He also told us of a rune painted in blood on
the door which they had washed off." Delte continued her report
and then drew the rune on the table cloth with the blackened piece of wood from the fire for the jarl to see. The man in the red
robes got up and walked around to look over the jarl's shoulder at
the rune.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Never seen it before, she is
obviously lying trying to gather soldiers away from the city for an
attack by her comrades who are probably the bandits she mentioned."
Hook nose remarked "She has no second name, that means she is an
outlaw of her own people or an ashlander. Either way they are classed
as criminals."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte's hand curled around the hilt of
her dagger, but the large armoured nord caught her eyes and shook his
head as a warning.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Insult me or my friends again and
you will die." Delte addressed Hooks Nose.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"What is this rune?" jarl
Hulderic asked Delte "You obviously have more knowledge of it
than Valkor here." the jarl pointed at Hook Nose, Delte smiled
as the mage shifted uneasily at the statement.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Its an old chimer rune for Molag
Bal. A cult in the 1<sup>st</sup> Era used it as their symbol."
Delte continued her explanation "We thought the cult to be dead,
but if they are active now in Skyrim we need to move before they can
gain more support and power."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Why would they need slaves and
sacrifices of such magnitude?" Volk's father asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"So they can open gates to
Coldharbour in Oblivion." She turned to look at him, in his eyes
she could see a resemblance to Volk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"How many soldiers do you require?" Jarl Hulderic asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Twenty if you can spare them."
Delte said in reply without hesitation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Not a chance." the captain
of the guards said he had been following the conversation from the
back of the room "Since the troubles in Cyrodiil we are short
handed as it is."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Don't trouble yourself captain
Karlof. My son will go with them and report back to the jarl."
Volk's father spoke again and turned to a young man he gave some
whispered orders to a young man on his left. The young man stood up
and bowed to the jarl then walked out of the hall.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Thank you thane Shatter-Shield,"
captain Karlof said to Volk's father "with your sons report we
can better determine the course of action."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Is that it?" Delte said in
an exasperated tone "One boy?" I come here to inform you
that your lands and people are in danger and you give me a boy as
help."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"He maybe a boy but I know my
son." Thane Shatter-Shield said "As you may know Volk they
were both trained by me and my second. Come let me walk you back to
the city gates."
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The thane stood up and took Delte's arm
as her own father would of and walked her to the large doors in
silence. Delte was fuming inside she had been insulted and laughed
at by these humans who had no knowledge of the danger they were in.
The thane seemed to sense this and kept a tight grip on her hand was
they walked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Once outside her temper cooled in the night air and the
old thane walked at a slow pace back down the steps towards the Wind
District humming a tune. He stopped and sat down on a bench under the
gildergreen tree.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Lovely night," the old thane
said as he breathed in deeply "I also know of the cultists you
speak of. What I didn't know was the attack on Volk's farm, and that
saddens this old heart more than you know."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte sat down by his side and let out
a huge sigh.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Thane Ulbert Shatter-Shield."
He said with a smile as he gave his full title and name "Now let
me tell you what the three of you have walked right into. There are
people in court here that are working against the jarl. Its my job to
protect him and find these vipers."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Well that is just great."
Delte said and looked up at the branches of the tree "Skyrim is
being over run by daedra cultists and the people in charge are making
power plays for crowns."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ulfbert chuckled and shook his head
"The vipers are the agents of the cultists, and some of them
were sat in that hall we just left. Jarl Hulderic commissioned me to
root them out."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"If you know who they are why not
remove them now?" Delte enquired as she looked around the
square.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"No hard evidence and you just
can't go around accusing nobles without hard facts." Ulfbert
replied "You and Volk need to find Gresla and her child before
it is to late. Let me worry about the vipers here."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stood up and bowed slightly to
Ulfbert, this show of respect took the old thane by surprise. He
stood up and placed both hands on her shoulders.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Tell Volk I love him."
Ulfbert said to her and then turned to head back into Dragonsreach. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By the time Delte had returned to Volk
and Paws the new horses had been bridled and ready for the journey.
Volk and his younger brother had been reunited which seemed to of
lifted his previous black mood as he beamed a huge smile as he talked
and joked with his sibling. Left-Paw-Alight seemed to take joy from
seeing the boy again, and to of grown into a young man during their
time away. Johan stood to one side shuffling dirt with his boots not
knowing where to look, now and again Volk's brother would scowl at
Johan as Volk recounted their meeting with the bandits at his farm.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Delte this is my younger brother
Brom." Volk said with a grin as he introduced him to the dunmer
female "Brom this is Delte the lady dunmer I wrote to you
about."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom grinned and held out his hand as a
way of greeting Delte.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Nice, so are we going to move or
stay here chatting?" Delte said as she looked Brom up and down
and then mounted her horse.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte trotted away on her horse, Brom
looked at Volk and shrugged "What did I do?" He said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Nothing mate she just doesn't
know you that is all. Don't worry you will know if you upset her."
Volk said as he mounted his new horse.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They made their way to the main road
Volk rode alongside Delte and listened to her account of what had
happened in Dragonsreach, and of her chat latter with his father
Ulfbert. Left-Paw-Alight, Brom and Johan rode behind them, Paws and
Brom chatted between themselves about the events in Cyrodiil and in
Skyrim. They made camp around midnight just off the main road to
Rorikstead. A campfire was quickly built to chase away the night
chills. Johan looked around the camp as they ate supper, he noticed
Delte was staring at him with her violet almond shaped eyes. The
firelight seemed to make her eyes glow with a inner energy and this
made him feel uneasy from the attention he was getting from her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Can you shoot a bow Johan?"
Delte asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I can kill a deer at eighty
paces." Johan replied pleased that she had broken the silence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"What about a man or a woman?"
She asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"If my life depended on it I guess
I could shoot someone." Johan replied as he looked over to Volk
who just shrugged.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stood up and walked over to her
horse, she gently patted its flank to calm it down and pulled out a
long package wrapped in soft leather. Delte walked over to where
Johan was sitting and gave him the package.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Its my bow I want you to have
it." Delte explained to the puzzled Johan "If we are going
up against these cultists we are going to need all the people we can
get to help."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"So you are not afraid I will
shoot any of you in the back with it and run?" Johan replied.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"A misplaced arrow by you could
spell your own doom, a cultist will not care who you are they will
kill you because you are not one of them." Delte explained with
a smile "But a well placed arrow could help turn a battle or end
a fight."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I am not a warrior though."
Johan wailed "I am a coward remember."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte nodded "That is why I am
giving you my bow. Treat her well and she will look after you. The
four of us are going to be in melee most of the time, you can stay
back and shoot the enemy."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan unwrapped the bow stave and
gasped in amazement at the quality and design. Gems sparkled along
the handle and runes inlaid with gold had a magical glow to them as
an unseen energy pulsed along the ebony limbs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I can't accept this."Johan
said "Its worth more than anything I have ever owned or ever
will own."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"It's priceless." Delte said
as she sat down on her bedroll "I made it two years ago, but I
feel it would serve me better in your hands. Take vengeance Johan for
the family you have lost to these cultists. Blood for blood make your
ancestors proud."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Thank you Delte." Johan said
as he wrapped the stave back in the leather covering. "I won't
let you down."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"That is all I can hope for."
Delte said to him "I will take first watch if that is alright.
Oh and make sure not to build the fire to high."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Why?" Brom asked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Why what? " Delte turned her
gaze to the young nord.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"The fire, why not build it up?
Its going to be a cold night otherwise." He said as he defiantly
threw a new log into the flames.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Because I don't want to fend off
a rampant male troll looking for a mate." Delte said to Brom.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At this Paws started to choak on some
bread he had just bitten off and Volk put his head in his hands and
gave a muffled moan. Brom started to laugh along with Johan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Well I don't see what is so funny
about being out in the wilds during troll season." Delte said
with her arms crossed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Troll season?" Brom howled
with laughter "Who told you that pile of shit?"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte gave a scathing look at Volk and
Paws and stomped away from the fire to begin her watch. Paws regained
his composure and shook his head.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Bugger I had forgotten about that
one." Volk explained "I had told her that because she kept
stopping to pick herbs and plants for her alchemy. So I made it up to
try and speed our journey up."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stood up and dusted himself down
of crumbs "I had best go and make amends with her."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He left the circle of firelight to look
for the dunmer female.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I don't understand her problem."
Brom said "She doesn't have a sense of humour."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Oh she does Brom," Paws
answered "its very subtly and dry though. Remember she is not
like you or Volk, she is a dunmer a dark elf. Very different people
from those you know of in Skyrim."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Always the teacher Paws."
Brom said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"It's not done you or Volk any
harm though now has it?" Paws replied with a wink.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
During the trip to Rorikstead the
company made good time, even though they had to bypass some giant
camps along the way. Delte gave instruction to Johan on how to shoot
the bow better and the two brothers went out to hunt the next night
for small game to save their provisions.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the second day of travelling they
rounded the foot of some hills and their view into the small town or
Rorikstead was unobstructed. The scene that lay before them was of
devastation and death. Fires blazed away out of control through the
squat wooden buildings and thatched roof tops. Magical lighting
arched between two figures in the town square as some of the men were
trying to fight off the attackers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Kyne's breath." Brom swore
at the sight he beheld.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk pulled out his two axes and dug
his heels into his horses flanks. "For Shor and King Jorunn."
He shouted as his horse entered full gallop.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Brom pulled his sword out and gave
chase after his brother with Delte right behind him.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I got to string my bow."
Johan complained to Paws who was still with him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Learn to do it on horseback
Johan. Come on do you want to live forever?" Left-Paw-Alight
said as he sent his horse hurtling down towards the burning town of
Rorikstead.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"Madness they are all raving mad."
Johan said to himself as he unwrapped the bow and strung it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-33667282940293592372013-12-29T04:06:00.000-08:002013-12-29T04:06:28.959-08:00Chapter 5. Valtheim Towers. Date 2E 581 First Seed Turdas 12th.
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 5</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Valtheim Towers
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Turdas 12<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Two hours before dawn the twin moons
Masser and Secunda had set behind the horizon, with the lack of
moonlight it plunged the pre-dawn into darkness. Outside Volk's farm
house the only light the three companions had to guide them was the
starlight, and Delte's details of her reconnoitring of the small
holdings earlier.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte took position behind the wall of
a cattle pen to use as cover while she strung her bow and poisoned
the arrows with paralysing poison. From her vantage point she could
see the front door to the house and Volk's progress as he crept into
the yard.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk slowly made his way towards the
well and crouched down behind the wall. He drew out a pair of sax he
had found in the old barracks after losing his twin axes earlier
along with his horse in the previous skirmish with the bandits. As he
watched the doorway his hand searched along the ground looking for a
stone to throw at the front door when Paws gave the signal that he
was ready and covering the back entrance to the building.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight finished quietly
enchanting the back door area with trap runes of fire. He stepped
back and summoned a Flame Atronach which instantly put him in a
battle of wills against the minor daedra. Once won he sent a small
globe of magical light up into the sky, this was the signal to begin
the attack.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk saw the signal from Paws and threw
the stone at the front door, it struck the wood sending a loud
cracking sound to echo around the stone basin in where the farm
stood. Shouts of alarm came from within the house as the people
inside was alerted and lit the lanterns so they could see. The door
flew open and bathed the front porch of the house in bright lantern
light. Volk was already up and moving fast to cover the last fifteen
yards of open ground before the element of surprise wore off and the
occupants eyes adjusted to the light sources.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Two figures silhouetted by the light
stood in the door way and drew back their bows. Delte loosed her
first arrow which struck home into the chest of her first target
driving it back into the house dead. The second figure hesitated and
looked for Delte's location which gave her time to draw another arrow
and loose, her aim was slightly off target as it left her bow to hit
the second bowman along the cheek bone. The poison took immediate
effect and they dropped to the floor paralysed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk leapt over the prone forms of the
two bowmen in the doorway and entered into the front room. As he
landed he parried a clumsy attack from the argonian, His other hand
came round and sliced across the bare stomach to disembowel him. A
woman screamed to his right and drove a axe at Volk's head. Volk
dodged to the left and spun round to her right, then drove a sax
blade hard into her lower back to sever the spine.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An explosion rocked the rear of the
house as one of the bandits tried to leave, quickly followed by a
blood curdling scream as he was consumed by the fire from the
atronach and fire traps. Volk was now surrounded by a dunmer male and
two reachmen. He grinned and splattered his opponents with the blood
off his sax blades as a taunt. With the initial surprise of the
attack now faded his opponents would be harder to defeat.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You are all dead men, you just don't
know it yet.” Volk growled menacingly at them.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A shadow passed behind the dunmer male
and he fell down dead as Delte sliced his throat. The reachman
closest to her turned his attention on her and went in for the
attack. The second reachman assaulted Volk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte dodged the reachman's longsword
with a dancers grace, all the time drawing him closer with feints
from her own two daggers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk parried the attacks of his
opponent, then crossed his blades to catch an overhead blow. As the
reachman pushed with all his strength Volk brought one of his blades
out of the lock and slashed his opponent across the throat. Blood and
air escaped from the gaping wound and the reachman dropped his sword
as his hands grasped at the wound trying to hold in the blood and
escaping air from the windpipe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk turned round and saw Delte parry a
few blows and pirouette out of a counter attack. He sighed and
shouted out to her. “Delte stop playing with him and just kill
him.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte took an obvious swipe with her
dagger at the man's neck as he ducked down she then brought her other
dagger hard up underneath his chin and drove it home through his
skull. As the eyes in his head rolled back she kicked him off the
blade and wiped it clean on his jerkin.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You spoil all my fun.” She said to
Volk as she got up and walked over to the paralysed man.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I will let you have fun
interrogating this one.” Volk said pointing at the last remaining
bandit who was a nord. “Is he alive?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte nodded and tied the man's hands
behind his back and then his feet. “The poison will wear off soon.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Good.” Volk moved closer to Delte
and whispered in her ear “Can he hear us?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yes and also see what we did to his
friends from his position as well.” Delte replied “I don't think
he will hold out long.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paws came in from the back of the house
followed by the subtle smell of sulphur. “All clear back there, a
nord male tried to escape but he is now ash.” Paws cast a look
around the room noting the bodies “Any still alive or do we need a
seance to contact the dead?” He added with a chuckle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte kicked the prone nord “This one
is alive for now. He will answer our questions.... in time.” She
added with a wink to Paws.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I will fire up the furnace, we are
going to need hot irons and coal for his questioning.” Volk
commented as he walked out to the back of the house.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk sat by the side of his now exhumed
son tears rolling freely down his face. Delte and Paws had moved the
prisoner to the now raging hot furnace that was situated in a small
cave behind Volks farm. Daylight had broken and along with it the
bird song of spring filled the air with noise. A small family of
rabbits hopped around in the long meadow grass where the cows would
have been grazing. Volk's dead horse hung from a A-frame its belly
sliced open and partly butchered by the bandits. During the aftermath
of the fight Volk and Paws had moved the dead bodies out of the house
and placed them around the foot of the A-frame. Flies were already
congregating around the carcasses of the dead bandits and horse.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight sat outside of the cave
entrance to Volk's furnace watching his friend grieve over his dead
son. Now and then on the wind he caught snippets of Volk talking to
his son as though he were alive and could hear him. Delte broke Paws
reverie by placing a hand on his shoulder.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Will he be all right?” Delte
asked nodding over to Volk.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I hope so, its never easy for a
parent to bury their children.” Paws said with a heaviness in his
voice.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You lost a child as well?” Delte
asked sensing the grief in the comment.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Along time ago, I also knew Michael,
Volk's eldest boy. I was his godparent.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I am sorry Paws, I didn't know.”
Delte said as she headed down the steps towards Volk “By the way
the prisoner is awake.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Hold on I will go and get Volk.”
Paws said as he got up and headed down the steps “Would also like
to pay my respects to the boy as well. You go back in and make sure
everything is ready.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte nodded and turned around to head
back inside to the furnace.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The prisoner watched in wide eyed
terror as Delte stoked the furnace even more, the heat from it hard
started to make him sweat and small rivulets were now streaming down
his body and splattering on the dirt floor of the workshop. Delte
showed no visible signs of being effected by the heat due to her
dunmer heritage.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What are you going to do to me?”
The nord male stammered.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Answer our questions truthfully and
you may live.” Delte answered without turning around.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I don't know anything, I am just a
farmer.” He cried.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Delte laughed at him and said “This
farm belongs to the Shatter-Shield clan. The owner grieves outside
over a dead son, missing child he has never seen and wife. You had
best come up with something else or this will be the quickest
interrogation I have ever done.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No not this farm, we only came here
because it was abandoned. My farm got destroyed by raiders on the
boarder of Windhelm and the Rift.” The nord said as Volk and Paws
entered the furnace.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stopped in front of him and looked
the prisoner in the eyes. A scowl of pure hatred etched on his face.
Eyes red from the tears he had shed earlier.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What is your name?” Volk spat at
him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Johan Fletcher.” The prisoner said
with fear in his voice “I will tell you everything okay. I am a
coward please don't hurt me.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A small puddle appeared at Johan's feet
and a wet stain spread down the leg of his britches as his bladder
gave way.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why kill my boy and wife?” Volk
asked as he grabbed a hand full of Johan's hair.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I didn't, we found the body of a boy
outside near the well with his head caved in. We buried him ourselves
out of respect because it looked like he had died in battle.” Johan
blurted out in pain.”There was no new born child or woman here. The
place had been deserted for a couple of weeks by the look of the body
and spoiled food in the pantry.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think you are lying. Delte put a
hot coal down his right boot.” Volk growled out the order and let
go of Johan's hair as he stepped back to allow Delte access to the
prisoners booted feet.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan started to scream and thrash
about in his bindings as Delte approached him with a white hot piece
of coal. “I am telling you the truth.” Johan screamed “This
place is cursed, I told them but they laughed at me. Please for the
mercy and love of Mara.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk put his arm out and stopped Delte
in her tracks. “Go on.” Volk said to Johan “Why is this place
cursed?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“The blood smeared rune we found on
the door to the house. The girls washed it off, but I have seen it
before.” Johan said in between sobs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What did it look like? Can you draw
it exactly?” Paws said now intrigued by the answers Johan was
giving.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan nodded and looked up at the three
of them “I will never forget that dread rune it was the same one
the raiders used when they attacked my farm and village. They used my
fathers own blood to paint it on my house while I hid from them like
the coward I am in a hay stack.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk pulled out one of his sax and cut
Johan's bindings that held his hands to the large metal frame he was
tied to. Left-Paw-Alight handed over a piece of charcoal and some
parchment to Johan so he could draw the rune. Trembling with fear he
accepted the items and started to draw. After a few minutes he had
finished and handed the items back to Left-Paw-Alight.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paws looked at the rune and ran a hand
over his head feathers as he frowned at the drawing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Not seen anything like this before.
Are you sure this is the rune you saw?” Left-Paw-Alight questioned
Johan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Of course it is, that rune is etched
in my waking life and my dreams. After what the raiders did to my
family and drag off my mother and younger brother.” Johan broke
down in tears.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“May I see?” Delte spoke up as she
reached out a hand for the parchment.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why not. I have studied every rune
known to the college. Its not daedric or magical, I think he made it
up to save his own skin.” Paws said as he gave her the paper.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk punched Johan hard in the stomach
and then an uppercut to his chin. He pulled back his fist for another
blow.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Stop.” Delte cried out “Release
him.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What?” Both Volk and Paws said in
unison in a surprised tone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stepped forward and addressed
Johan “I know this rune, its an old dunmer or chimer rune for
Domination.” She then took some cloth and damped it. Slowly she
rubbed out some of the rune and when she was finished she showed the
results to Volk and Paws.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Over time it has changed to mean
something else entirely.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Both of the men looked at the parchment
she was holding up with the now changed rune and said in unison.
“Molag Bal.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte nodded “Correct, now Johan do
you know where these cultist are?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan nodded slowly his face now
becoming a bruised mess from Volk's beatings. “I know the place I
can take you there, but don't expect me to help you fight them.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You show us the place and I will set
you free.” Volk said as he bent down and cut the bonds at Johan's
feet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“If you run I will hunt you down.”
Delte added “You will have three days before you die. Day one I
make my poisons. Day two I track you down like an animal. Day three I
catch you and kill you.” She counted off on her hand.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Johan stared wide eyed and open mouth
looking into her almond shaped merish eyes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I give you my word I will not run. I
swear to you and Shor.” Johan blurted out.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Then it is done.” Volk said with a
nod “Come I will get some water for you so you can clean yourself
up Johan while you tell me what you can do other than shoot bows at
unsuspecting people”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As Johan and Volk left the furnace
Left-Paw-Alight asked Delte “Do you believe him about the rune and
raiders?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Yes.” Came her reply “My people
thought the cult was dead after being wiped out in fight they had
with the Morag Tong for control over a city. Seems they have been
laying low and waiting for an opportunity to try for another power
struggle.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why now though I wonder?” Paws
mused.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Lets find them before they manage to
do something we are all going to regret. Also pray to the eight for
Volk's family.” She said as she walked out into the sunshine of the
spring morning.</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-69079941017443532982013-10-26T11:51:00.000-07:002013-10-26T11:53:41.982-07:00Chapter 4. Grass Plains of Whiterun. Skyrim. Date 2E 581 First Seed Middas 11th.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 4</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Location:- Grass plains of Whiterun.
Skyrim.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Middas 11<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The passage through Helgan had been
easy enough for the three of them. On their over night stop Volk had
asked Delte to help him pick out a present for his wife Gresla. There
was a lot of troop movements in the fort town as units passed through
from Falkreath and Whiterun on their way to Bruma which was now on
the front lines of the growing war between the three alliances. The
next morning they left Helgan behind and set off for the plains of
Whiterun where the Jarl of Whiterun held court.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Their path followed the river east past
the outskirts of Whiterun and towards a large stone toll bridge that
Volk gave the name of Valtheim Towers that spanned the now fast
flowing river before it fell away into a huge waterfall. A warm wind
blew across the grasslands and large multicoloured dragon flies
skimmed across the water, with a constant rumble of the waterfall
further down stream. The doors and windows to the towers were
shuttered closed and a large iron portcullis blocked the route over
the river. The lack of guards only compounded the statements made by
Narol two days previous at the Jerral Way Tavern.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The three companions stopped for a
short rest at the toll bridge to ease their aching backs from the
long ride. Delte watched a kingfisher dive down into the river and
fly off with its catch. She was beginning to like this new land and
the new animals that she had not seen before during her time growing
up in Morrowind and Elsweyr. During the stop she mixed some potions
whilst sat on the bank of the river and tested the new herbs she had
picked along the way. Volk tucked into some salted mutton and bread
that he shared with Left-Paw-Alight. He explained to them that his
farmstead lay just over the next rise off to the right nestled within
a semi circle of granite topped hills, where the south side of the
circle the hills reached up into the mountains. It was there he had a
wooden ramp that lead up to a natural cavern where he had his own
forge and workshop. The fields had corn and various vegetables with a
few cows and chickens. For the first time Delte saw Volk in a whole
new light, not that of a warrior born but as a farmer and husband. A
stark contrast to the man she had known for two years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sun was starting to set as the farm
came into view. A wooden fence cut across the open end of the
semicircle of the granite topped hills Volk had mentioned earlier. At
the entrance to the fields lay a broken gate. Its shattered parts
strewn across the approach to the main building. The fields were
starting to get overgrown with weeds, and there were no cattle or
chickens to be seen. Set in this backdrop was a squat stone cottage
with a thatched roof. Smoke was lazily curling its way up out of the
single stack chimney, but the windows were shuttered up tight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk's stallion pawed at the ground
seeming to sense its masters apprehension at the scene that lay
before him. A shiver ran down Delte's spine as she and Paws looked at
each other.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No this isn't right. Something it
amiss.” Volk growled as he dug his heels into his horses flanks
sending it into a gallop.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk wait.” Delte shouted after
him in vain.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Go I will watch the road here.”
Left-Paw-Alight said to Delte as he spun his horse around to keep it
under control.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte sped after Volk who was now
halfway down the approach road to his cottage. Her white gelding much
faster than Volks large Skyrim bred warhorse quickly gained on him.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The door to the cottage opened up and
two figures came into view. One was a man of human origins and the
other was a woman also of human descent. Both wore studded leather
armour and held a longbows, as one they drew back the strings on
their longbows.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk no.” Delte shouted as Volk's
horse entered the large front area of the cottage.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was then the unknown man and woman
loosed their bows at Volk, and pulled another arrow each from their
quivers. One arrow narrowly missed Volk and flew by his left ear
making him flinch to the right. The second arrow buried itself into
the breast of his huge horse killing it instantly. Its front legs
crumpled underneath it throwing Volk over its head to land heavily on
the ground. Delte rode past the prone Volk and threw a small bottle
at the feet of their two assailants. The bottle smashed open allowing
the liquid inside to evaporate quickly into a cloud of gas that
enveloped the doorway. Delte spun her horse around and helped Volk
climb up behind her, Left-Paw-Alight seeing the commotion let fly
with a firebolt into the cloud of gas. Delte dug her heels into her
horse's flanks and set off back towards where Paws waited. The
firebolt hit the gas cloud from Delte's bottle causing it to explode
in a fireball. A blood curdling scream emanated from the explosion as
a figure wreathed in flames ran out spinning and dancing trying to
put the flames out as the fire consumed them.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Paws move. We head back to the toll
bridge.” Delte shouted at Left-Paw-Alight as he summoned up a fog
bank to obscure the view from the cottage. He then urged his Colovian
mount into a run back down the road from the direction they had come
from.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Four more arrows appeared from the fog
bank, three went wide, but the fourth struck Volk in the back of his
left leg. He grunted in pain as Delte's horse turned onto the main
road to follow Left-Paw-Alight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Delte I got hit by one of those
arrows.” Volk said as he tried to hold on. “It's in my left leg.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You'll be fine.” Delte said. “You
have another leg not sure what you are moaning about.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Very funny.” Volk chuckled.
“Thanks by the way. I would of...”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Don't mention is.” Delte cut him
off. “ I take it that wasn't your Gresla?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No it wasn't.” came Volk's reply.
“We need to regroup and find out what is going on.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“First we need to patch that leg of
yours before it gets infected.” Delte said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We need to make ready and
attahhhhh!” Volk's sentence trailed off into pain filled
incoherence. He looked down at his leg and saw Delte had reached down
and tugged on the protruding arrow shaft.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Point taken.” Volk said sulkily.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paws inscribed a rune for wind on the
nailed up door to the toll bridge guardroom. Then stood to one side
and started to chant. Delte supporting Volk waited for Paws to break
down the sturdy oak door. As Left-Paw-Alight chanted he felt the
presences of a wind spirit take notice of the rune and chant. Paws
changed the chant slightly and suggested to the spirit to smash down
the door. He felt the wind spirit struggle against his will. Paws
then applied more coercion and reasserted his dominance against the
spirit by flooding the rune with magicka. The door imploded inwards a
thousand shards of wood covering the inside of the building in oak
splinters, Left-Paw-Alight stepped though the debris and sent small
globes of light spiralling throughout the guardhouse. Moments latter
he poked his head back outside and beckoned the waiting Delte and
Volk inside.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“The place is clear come in. I will
seal the entrance while you take care of Volk. “
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte helped Volk hobble up the wooden
stairs to the first floor of the guardhouse, in the fading light she
could make out a few beds. Slowly she lowered the wounded Volk onto
one of the beds and started to look for candles to light that the
previous occupants had left behind.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Downstairs Paws was drawing runes
around the entrance he had broken down, as he finished each one a
slight glow emanated from it to show it was active. He then moved
onto the next rune all the time chanting calling out to the various
elements to bind them to the runes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Take off your trousers Volk.”
Delte said as she moved around the room lighting the candles. “You
will need to cut the left leg to get it past the arrow shaft.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I didn't think it would take an
arrow for you to get my trousers off Delte.” Volk said with a
boyish grin as he cut the leather around the arrow and gently pulled
the rest of his trousers down.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Don't flatter yourself.” Delte
replied coldly as she walked back to Volk who was now laying on his
front on a bed with a straw mattress. “I am a Dunmer, even though
we are friends I would never lay with a inferior race.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Damn Delte it was meant to be a
joke. I am a married man as well you know.” Volk replied. “I
can't see why you see the Dunmer as a superior race over the Nords
anyway. We are all the same in the end.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Sorry Volk, not all of us think that
way.” Delte said as an apology as she took out her dagger and
started to sharpen the blade. “Its just the difference in cultures
and humour I think. It's one reason I agree with this alliance, so
that hopefully our people can learn to get along and trust one
another.” She took out a rag and applied alcohol to it and wiped it
along the now sharpened blade of her dagger.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk drew in a sharp breath as Delte
splashed some of the alcohol onto the wounded area of his leg. “This
is going to hurt Volk.” Delte said as she examined the arrow. “I
need to cut the leg open either side of the shaft to get the arrow
head out and make sure the wound is clean before I close it up.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Just get it done.” Volk growled
trying not to scream.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight came upstairs and sent
a small globe of light to stick to the ceiling of the old barracks
so that Delte could see what she was doing far easier than with just
candle light. Delte cut into Volks leg and started to work on the
wound.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You was lucky the arrow missed the
bone and the main artery.” Delte said as she started to pull on the
arrow.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I never feel lucky after being
shot.” Volk said through gritted teeth and then passed out due to
the pain.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“He has passed out Delte.” Paws
said as he looked on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Thought he might, it will be easier
this way.” Delte replied as she cleaned the inside of the wound.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How does a scout know about arteries
in the body?” Paws enquired.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte threw down the now spent and
bloody linen and cotton swabs. “Part of the training my father
taught me.” she said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paws sat down on a stool and handed
Delte a small bottle of healing compound. “I don't believe you.
Scouts learn to track, make traps and shoot bows mainly.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Depends what you are hunting on the
skills taught.” Delte said as she applied the healing solution and
watched as the skin started to knit together on Volk's wounded leg.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What job did general Veldam send you
on during the battle at Jerral Pass?” Paws asked sensing Delte's
evasive answer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stood up and started to rummage
through her backpack. “I need to find out who tried to kill us.
Volk will want answers when he wakes up.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Stop avoiding the question Delte.
You are more than just a scout for the Ebonheart Pact.” Paws
pointed a clawed finger at Delte. “Scouts do not know about alchemy
to such an extent either.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte pulled out a grey and black
mottled linen cloak from her pack and threw it around her shoulders.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As she fastened the clasp she said.
“Look after Volk his wound will be tender for a few days. I will be
back in a few hours, and Paws please drop it.” with that she left
before he could stop her and continue his line of questioning. He
sighed and shook his head and let the magical light dim and go out,
leaving the room to be solely illuminated by the candles Delte had
set light to.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight looked around the
old barrack room they had chosen to take refuge in. A old open fire
place commanded centre view, its old roasting rack rusting up through
lack of use. The old cots had marks on them from small rodents
chewing at the wooden frames and straw mattresses. He went over to
the fire place and started to build a pile of wood into the fire
place from a small stack that had been left nearby. Searching though
his pockets he found his tinder box and started to pack in the dry
tinder, striking the flint onto the striking steel sparks shot
forwards onto the tinder which started to smoke. Gently he blew on
the small flames helping them grow and take hold of the larger wood
faggots in the fireplace.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As the fire caught hold on the wood he
filled a pot with water from his and Volk's canteen, then placed it
on the iron frame above the fire so it would boil. He then headed
down stairs to the storeroom to look for any supplies that had
survived the exodus of the troops that lived there previously.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk stirred into wakefulness the first
thing he noticed was the smell of cooking. He slowly opened his eyes
and looked around. “Ugh how long have I been asleep?” He asked in
a mumbling groggy voice.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Just over two hours.” came the
reply from Paws. “Some stew in the pot if you're hungry.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk slowly got up and tested his
weight on the wounded leg. The skin had healed over to stop
infection, but there was still the bruise and tenderness of the torn
muscles.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“She has done a good job there.”
said Volk then he breathed in deep at the smell of the stew. “Smells
good did you cook it?” Volk's stomach grumbled in anticipation to
the thought of the meal. Left-Paw-Alight nodded as he dished out a
portion for Volk.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I found some salted pork in the
cellar, and some rogue vegetables outside on the river bank.”
explained Paws. “Why you ask if I cooked it?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Delte sweet lass but her cooking is
worse than mine.” Volk said as he sat down gingerly on a wooden
stool at the table. “Where is she any how?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“She went back to your farm to see
who attacked us.” Left-Paw-Alight handed over a full bowl of stew
to Volk and sat down opposite him. “We will need to know how many
we are up against and their training in combat. She should be back
soon.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk nodded as he tucked into the food.
“Good I want to assault them two hours before dawn, when the night
is at its darkest.” said Volk with a full mouth of stew and bread.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A slender arm reached down and grabbed
a bread roll off the table in front of Paws and Volk. “I agree with
Volk on the time.” a female voice said startling the two men. “I
also know how to mix poisons that are tasteless into food as well.”
she added with a cheeky smile and a giggle as she sat on a cot while
taking a bite out of the bread roll. “So remember that next time
you ask me to cook.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“By Shor's Stone lass you're like a
ghost. And about the cooking.” Volk tried to apologise as Delte and
Paws broke into laughter. Delte waved the hand holding the bread roll
at Volk in a gesture to forget about it. Volk sighed and gave a
smile. “So what do we know?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I think they are a group of thieves,
not bandits.” Delte started to give her report. “There are now
eight of them, one having died earlier today from the skirmish we had
and the explosion. Two women both of them are nords by the look of
them and six men.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“The men nords as well?” asked
Paws.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Not all of them, and don't
interrupt. Its rude.” said Delte as she crossed her arms with a
pout, then smiled and continued. “If you let me finish, two of the
men are nords. One is an argonian one is a dunmer and the other two
are strangely tattooed bretons.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Strange tattoos, look like bretons.”
repeated Volk as he stroked his beard. “Could be Reachmen, they are
relations to the bretons but are a vicious bunch who worship strange
gods and work old magic.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk your saddle bags and money is
being shared amongst them.” added Delte then she looked at the
floor her tone changed to a sombre voice. “I also saw something
else. Outside round the back.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Spit it out lass.” Volk insisted.
“We need to know it all.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte sighed and looked up at Volk and
Left-Paw-Alight concern etched on her face. “I saw a small freshly
dug grave. To small to be an adult.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk's face went into a scowl he
clenched his fists, rage boiled up into his usual jovial features.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Could mean nothing, could be a
perfectly normal explanation to this.” Paws tried to reassure Volk.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I want them dead, no mercy, no
quarter and no prisoners.” Volk stood up all memory of the pain he
felt in his leg forgotten. “Get some sleep both of you, I will take
first watch.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk there was only one grave, if it
was the thieves there would be more. Or your wife may have been sold
into slavery.” Delte stood up and blocked Volk from leaving.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You are not making me feel any
better with talk of slavery Delte.” responded Volk as he took hold
of Delte and moved her roughly aside.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“If we kill them all we will never
know the truth. Keep one alive and we may find Gresla and your new
born.” Delte shouted to the now retreating Volk as he headed to the
stairs.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why keep a helpless babe alive?”
Volk said as he stood at the top of the stairs seething with anger.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“To placate the mother, to stop her
from fighting.” finished Delte.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk looked down the stairs into the
darkness that cloaked the ground floor and said. “Keep one alive,
you are right Delte. Gresla might be alive still, she would do
anything to keep our children safe.” with that Volk headed down the
stairs to sit in the darkness and watch the approach to the bridge.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Left-Paw-Alight made his way around the
small barracks and extinguished the candles. As he leant over to blow
out the last one Delte rolled over on her cot and asked. “Do you
think Volk will do something silly before we wake up?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No.” replied Paws. “Volk is
ragging mad not an idiot. Not even he can take on eight people on his
own and win.” he then blew on the last candle which sent the room
into darkness.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As he lay back on his own cot he
secretly hoped Volk would not do anything until they was all present.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-86911669202323223892013-09-15T06:29:00.000-07:002013-10-20T12:22:56.810-07:00Chapter 3 Location- Jerral Way Tavern Date- 2E 581 First Seed Morndas 9th<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chapter 3</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
Location- Jerral Way Tavern</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
Date- 2E 581 First Seed Morndas 9<sup>th</sup>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB">
The journey to the Jerral Way tavern was pleasant and
uneventful. Each of the three companions enjoyed their own thoughts
and dreams of what the future would hold for them. Volk would start
to whistle now and then some old Nordic tunes as he thought about
going home to see his wife and children. Left Paw-Alight made notes
in a small journal as he passed by certain rocks and plants, now and
then he would mutter to himself and scratch out previous entries to
correct mistakes he had made on his way through the pass the last
time he had come this way. Delte was just happy to look around at the
new scenery she had never been this way before and would stop now and
then to pick some herbs to study for new alchemical potions and
poisons.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB">
As they rounded a bend in the road there stood before
them a averaged sized tavern. A ten foot granite stoned wall
surrounded the main buildings and stables. The gate was wide enough
for a horse and cart to pass through. The main tavern was half built
with local stone and the upper half of the ground floor was of local
pine wood. The roof was of thatch and poking through it was a chimney
made of the same stone as the lower half of the tavern billowing out
wood smoke scented with pine and ash wood. All around the area was a
dense forest which climbed steeply upwards away from the road. As the
three approached the sun was setting causing the crisp mountain air
to gain a cold bite to it. Their breath was starting to show and
their horses were steaming from the long tiring ride up into the
mountains. They made their way over to the stables and paid the
stable boys to look after and bed down their horses for the night,
then they headed over to the main tavern to look for a meal and bed
for the night.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
A warm friendly atmosphere welcomed the three
travelers as they entered the common room. With a large open fire
burning in the centre of the room surrounded by granite stone. All
around men and women of various races sung songs and drank the ale
while some tucked into meals. At the back of the room the landlord
served drinks while his wife and daughter served the meals to the
patrons. Off to the left was a corridor that lead to various rooms
that served as the taverns bedrooms. Volk and Delte headed towards an
empty table. Paws headed off towards the bar to order their food and
drink and to arrange rooms for them all for the night.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
Volk stretched out his huge arms and gave a contented
sigh and smiled. “Long ride today.” he said above the din to
Delte.</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
Delte nodded as she looked around the room at the
people. “I wonder where they are all going to?” she replied.</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
Volk looked around at the other patrons and noted
that most of them wore some kind of armour or had weapons hung on
their belts. “Looks to me they are heading to the front lines. Poor
sods they sing of honour and glory now, but after their first battle
half of them will be dead or cripples.” he looked back at Delte and
leant forward. “I want to know why you are going to Morrowind
though, you are to be married to Veldam yet you leave him to make
this journey.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB">
“Its a long story and you know most of it Volk.”
Delte tried to avoid the question and play it down.
</div>
“<span lang="en-GB">Aye that I do. Why Morrowind though? Why not
go back to your family holdings in </span>Elsweyr and take care of
your conniving younger brother?” Volk asked knowing that Delte's
younger brother had sold her into slavery twice before he had met
her, and by all accounts murdered her older brother and poisoned her
father.
<br />
Delte knew that Volk would not leave this line of questioning even
though it was blunt and straight to the point she knew he cared about
her and Paws. With a sigh she responded. “I have to visit my
families tomb back in Morrowind to gain the blessings from my
ancestors. Without them I will never be able to act against my
brother Meden, by all rights he is the sole heir to the estates in
Elsweyr and Morrowind. He is the only male descendent so by law it
all goes to him, as a female of my line I need the blessings of the
ancestors.”<br />
“I will be honest I don't understand the reason for these
ancestors seeing that they are dead nor will probably ever understand
your culture Delte. I will say this though if you ever need help
against him just say the word and I will give you my sword.” Volk
swore his oath to Delte. Taken back by the offer Delte was left
speechless and didn't know what to say other than a meek thank you.<br />
Left-Paw-Alight came over and sat down at the table with Volk and
Delte with a huge smile playing across his lips. “I've got a good deal. Todays special and a jug of ale is coming over, and three rooms for
the night all warm clean and with fires.” Paws rubbed his taloned
hands together. “ I am starving.”
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It wasn't long before the daughter of the tavern keeper came over
with a tray filled with wooden bowls of steaming beef stew and
vegetables, along with two jugs of ale and a tankard for each of
them. Delte noticed the girl had long blond hair and blue eyes with a
slim figure dressed in a simple cotton dress with a apron tied around
her waist. She noted the smile she gave Volk as she served him his
food. Volk did not notice the attention as he poured out a tankard of
ale and downed it in one gulp. As he slammed the tankard down on the
table he let out a loud belch which made the girl giggle. “Mighty
fine ale lass tell your father for me.” Volk said as he wiped the
foam from his beard with the back of his hand.
<br />
“You know my father?” The girl asked incredulously.<br />
“Aye he and I took back this place from a gang of bandits, and
rebuilt it in the following months. A few years before you were born,
it was in that fight he lost three of his fingers on his right hand.”
Volk explained to the young girl. “Tell him Volk says he is a milk
drinker.”<br />
The girl beamed a huge smile and walked back to the bar to tell
her father the message from Volk.<br />
As they were all tucking into their stew and vegetables the large
Nord who was the tavern keeper stood behind Volk. His huge hands
gripping a thick leather belt that held up his britches. A large
paunch belly over hung it, his arms as thick as tree trunks. Sat atop
of his broad shoulders was a large bald head with red cheeks sporting
a huge smile. Delte looked up and he gave her a wink.<br />
“This the long haired lout who called me a Milk Drinker Petal?”
The tavern keeper roared to his daughter across the room.<br />
“Aye father.” Came the reply from the girl who was now serving
drinks behind the bar.
<br />
At this point the whole room went quiet and held its breath
waiting for the first punch to be thrown, money started to change
hands as Volk started to laugh and put his bowl down before standing
up to face the tavern keeper. The two of them scowled at each other
and clenched their fists, Paws and Delte looked at each other
uncertain of what was going to happen. The rest of the patrons seemed
to know the outcome of this stand off as now the gold was starting to
flow between themselves betting on who the winner would be. The
regulars betting against Volk and those who didn't know any better
put their money on which ever contender looked the best.<br />
The two men than embraced as old friends slapping each other on
the back and laughing. The whole room seemed to let its breath out
and the gold stopped moving, some even trying to get back their bets
with little luck.
<br />
“You've gotten fat Volk you big girl.” The tavern keeper said.<br />
“And you still stink of pig piss Narol.” Volk retorted with a
laugh.<br />
Both men laughed and parted, Narol sat down between Volk and
Delte.<br />
“Paws I still see you are hanging around with this wazzack. How
is life treating you?” Narol said in way of greeting to
Left-Paw-Alight.<br />
“Yes well someone has to keep an eye on him.” Paws said as he
reached over the table and shook Narol's hand.<br />
“Are you going to introduce me to this lovely lady then?”
Narol asked as he beamed a huge smile at Delte.<br />
“Narol this is Delte, one of the best scouts I have had the
privilege to server with. And a really good friend.” Volk said.<br />
Delte offered her hand to Narol in the customary human way of
greeting. Narol took it and clasped it between his two huge calloused
hands. Delte noticed that his right hand only had a thumb and index
finger. The rest of it was a scared mess.<br />
“You are all welcome to stay for as long as you need.” Narol
said as he looked into Delte's violet eyes. “By the eight Volk this
elven maiden is beautiful.”<br />
“She is also engaged to marry General Veldam.” Volk said as he
poured out another tankard of ale.<br />
Delte smiled and gently pulled her hand away from the vice like
grip of Narol. Seeing an opportunity Narol grinned and said.” You
can have the wedding here at my Tavern. For a small fee of course.”
<br />
Delte laughed at the offer. “Thank you Narol but the venue has
already been picked and its in Morrowind. I can always send you a
invite though seeing your old friends with Volk and Paws.”<br />
“Would be honoured m'lady.” Narol said with a wink.<br />
“We are not stopping for long Narol, just tonight then we move
on to Helgen before we head over to Whiterun and Volk's farm in the
plains of Whiterun.” Paws said to Narol to show they wasn't
intending to stop.
<br />
Narol wiped his forehead with a beer stained cloth and sighed.
“You've not heard then. The plains of Whiterun have been over run
by bandits. With troops being diverted to the front lines there are
hardly any militia to keep the law in the outlying lands of the
Holds.”
<br />
“Then all the more reason we make haste, I also long to see my
beautiful wife and two children.” Volk said to Narol.
<br />
Narol slapped Volk on the back with a laugh and stood up to head
back to his place at the bar. “And poor Gresla won't be able to
walk for weeks.” he said as he walked away laughing.<br />
Volk blushed bright red at the comment much to the amusement of
Delte and Paws. They all finished off their meals and headed to the
rooms Paws had rented for the night.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The next morning the three companions said their farewells to
Narol and his family and headed out of the Tavern enclosure towards
Helgen. The sun shone in a clear blue sky wisps of snow spun across
the ground on a light breeze. Spring was already in full pursuit of
winter in the lowlands, but deep in the mountains of Skyrim winter
still held on. Pine trees and other evergreens covered the sides of
the valley, dotted along the road small bushes of snowberries were in
bloom along with splashes of blue flowers from the mountain plants;
that were starting to flower due to the small change in the longer
days and warmer air. Delte would stop every now and then and
carefully pick some of the more ripe berries and flowers for her
alchemy. During one of these small stops Volk noticed she was acting
uneasy. “Something wrong Delte?” He asked as he patted the neck
of his horse.<br />
Delte looked up at him and said. “I have heard tell of huge
frost spiders in these parts. I just do not wish to see one for
myself. Not too keen on spiders as a whole.” She then bent down to
start picking the berries.
<br />
Volk started to chuckle and looked towards Paws with a wink he
said. “Its not the spiders you need to worry about at this time of
year.”
<br />
“Oh really what can be worse than a huge eight legged monster
that can climb trees and spit poison from sixty yards away then? “
Delte replied as she bagged a handful of berries and snow flowers
without looking up and missing Volks huge grin.
<br />
“Its the trolls. This time of year the females are in season”.
Volk said trying not to laugh. “The males come down from the peeks
to hunt on the valley floors for food and to look for a decent shag.
Of course they will fight anything they see or that gets in their
way.”
<br />
Delte dropped the herbs she had started to pick and mounted her
horse quickly. “Come on lets get to Helgen before sunset.”<br />
“What about your herbs?” Paws inquired with a sly grin.<br />
“Changed my mind. I will buy some when we get to town.” Delte
said as he urged her horse into a steady trot.<br />
As Volk came level with Paws he said to the large Nord. “Nice, I
wondered what you was up to. Troll season I like it.”
<br />
Volk shrugged. “Had to think of something to hurry her up.”
<br />
They both brought their horses into a trot to try and catch up
with the vanishing figure of Delte.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-28385115333845374002013-06-13T03:22:00.000-07:002013-10-20T12:18:27.460-07:00Chapter 2 Location- Bruma garrison city. Date- 2E 581 First Seed Morndas 9th<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
General Veldam Arendu of
House Telvanni sat at his oak desk the day after the battle. Light
from the mid morning sun streamed in through the tall glass window
and fell across his desk illuminating the battle reports from the day
before. A fire roared away from a huge granite stone open fireplace heating up the
room while it gave off a sweet smell of pine sap. General Veldam
dressed in jade green silk robes and leather britches, a small beard,
neatly trimmed, adorned his chin and upper lip. Under his left eye a
white scar ran along the top of his cheek bone. Veldam picked up a
glass of Colovian Brandy and took a sip as he sat back in his chair
while he read a report from the scouts he sent out shortly after the
enemy had routed from the field of battle.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A log spat and crackled in
the fire as three sharp knocks rattled on the door to his office.
General Veldam sighed as he put the glass back on the table. “Enter.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The door opened to reveal
a Nord wearing a leather jerkin, at his side hung a bearded ax. His
long black beard nearly obscured the chain of rank he held. The Nord
closed the door behind him and stood to attention.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“M'lord Bondsman Volk
Shatter-Shield, the Argonian Shaman Left Paw-Alight and Delte are
here to see you as requested.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Best send them in
sergeant Khalan.” Veldam said.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“As you wish m'lord.”
Sergeant Khalan spun on his heal and strode out of the office.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Shortly after the door
opened again and the three guests walked into the office and stood to
attention before the general's desk.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Please, all of you sit,
no need for ceremony.” Veldam said in an annoyed tone.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As they sat down he got up
and shuffled over to a drinks cabinet that stood in the corner of the
room.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You're hurt.” Delte
said in a concerned voice, a frown crossing her face.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Bah just a scratch from
yesterday. Took an arrow to the knee during my cavalry charge down
the left flank. The physician cleaned the wound and has given me some
ointment for it.” Veldam said with a dismissive wave.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Anyone want to sample
this Colovian Brandy with me?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Aye I'll have some.”
Volk said with a grin spreading across his face.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Is it not a bit early
for drinks?” Delte said.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Nonsense its never to
early for drink.” Volk replied.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Paws?” Veldam asked.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No sir, thank you all
the same.” Paws replied with a smile.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte got up off her chair
and walked over to join Veldam by the drinks cabinet.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why didn't you come to
me for a potion?” She whispered in his ear.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“After our last
conversation I didn't think you would want to see me.” he whispered
back.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Shut up and go and sit
down you fool. I'll deal with the drinks.”Delte said as she ushered
him back to his chair.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk and Paws looked at
each other in a uncomfortable silence as the tension in the air
started to tighten between Delte and Veldam. The general sat back
down the pain in his face eased as the weight off his wounded knee. The only sound in the office was Delte pouring the brandy.
Paws gave a polite cough and spoke.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Volk and I are here
about our three year oaths to you.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“By Azura has three
years passed already?” Veldam said with a chuckle. “I remember
the day when I asked you both in that Whiterun tavern seems as though
it was just yesterday.” Veldam looked at them both. “Can I ask
you for another oath of three years?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte handed Veldam and
Volk a glass of brandy each and sat down again crossing her legs as
she did.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“No, I have a wife and
two children. One of which I have yet to see back at my farm.” Volk
said as he downed the brandy in one gulp.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I understand Volk.”
Veldam said as he opened a draw in his desk and pulled out a sealed
scroll. As he handed it to Volk he said. “Take this to the
quartermaster, he will pay you the full three years service and a
bonus.” He also handed one to Paws with the same instructions.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I also wish to leave.”
Delte said as she fidgeted with a gold chain around her neck.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam sighed and turned
his red eyes towards her. “This is about the writ I served you
before the battle?”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Huh don't flatter
yourself. You know why I need to leave. We spoke of it the night
before the battle, before you gave me the writ.” she said crossing
her arms.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam decided not to
pursue the issue with the present company. Volk stood up and offered
his hand to Veldam who accepted it in a warriors handshake. Paws
stood up and bowed his head and they both nearly ran over each other
as they tried to leave the office.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The door slammed shut
behind them and Delte spoke. “You used me as a weapon Veldam. Who
in Oblivion told you I am Morag Tong?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam didn't say anything
and just handed her a letter with a broken Morag Tong wax seal. Delte
took it off him and started to read. Veldam sat back and took a sip
of brandy and waited for her to finish reading the missive. The
minutes it took her to read seemed to stretch into an eternity for
him, as he hoped it would calm her down from the argument they had
the night before the battle.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte placed the letter
back on the desk. “Bastards!” She said. “Why didn't you tell me
you had been asking for a blade from them for so long?”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I didn't know you was a
blade for the Tong until that letter.” he replied as he took the
letter and locked it back in his drawer. “You read it yourself, they
knew you were here which is why my requests went unanswered.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte stood up and walked
to the window, in the street below she saw stall holders hawking
their wares to potential shoppers. A patrol of the city guard milled
around a small group of prostitutes trying to get them into their
beds for free. Directly across the street Volk and Paws loaded up
their horses for their journey through Jerall Pass and into Skyrim.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“You could have shot me
down mid rant, but you didn't. Why?” Delte said quietly.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam pulled himself out
of the chair and walked up behind her, he put his hands around her
slim waist and gently kissed the nape of her neck. She leaned back in
his embrace and tilted her head to one side as he kissed her. Deltes'
scent and warmth of her body quickened his pulse. He pulled his head
back and whispered in her ear in a deep resonating voice.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I don't want you to
leave. Stay here and marry me.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte turned to face him
and kissed him on his lips, her arms came up and dropped over his
shoulders.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I have to, if I marry
you now without a House name or proof of my bloodline questions will
be asked.” Delte purred in between kissing him.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam pulled away from
her with a frown. “I don't care what those n'wah think.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte chuckled and shook
her head. “No you may not, but I do. I do not wish them to think I
am some Ashlander or vagabond looking to marry into money or power.
Your bloodline is strongly tied to the original Telvanni line. That
is why I need to get my name and Ancestors' Favour back.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I guess you're going to
Morrowind via Skyrim?” Veldam said.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte nodded her response.
“It makes sense to travel with Volk and Paws. You'll worry less
this way.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Veldam chuckled and placed
his forehead to hers. “Yes your right. Just promise me you will not
take any unnecessary risks.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“I promise to be a good
girl.” Delte cooed and then kissed him passionately.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Slowly the town of Bruma
awoke around Volk and Left Paw-Alight as they checked their horses,
supplies and equipment. Stall holders shouted their advertisements
hoping to attract buyers, stray dogs ran up and down the street
looking for scrap food left on the ground from the previous night and
early morning. Paws finished checking his bridle on the horse and
reached into one of the saddlebags, with a smile he pulled out a
small phial. In the morning light a red liquid moved lazily within.
The phial was bound up in what looked like a bow string. Volk paused
checking Delte's horse and watched Paws as he held up the phial and
checked the wax seals that held the string in place. Each wax seal
had a different rune of magicka seared into it.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What's that?” Volk
asked as he continued checking the bridle straps.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Uh oh well... You know
that Altmer mage from the battle?” Paws said with a grin.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“How can I forget when I
saw him cast that fire spell on the lancers. So what about him?”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well I've got some of his
blood in here and used a binding spell mixed in with sympathetic
magicka.” Paws explained as best he could to the large Nord. “This
stopped him from casting more harmful spells, and as long as this jar
and its seals stay in tact it will handicap him for much longer.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So that's why he never
managed to cast more fire spells?” Volk asked in amazement at Paws.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paws grinned and nodded.
Volk laughed and said. “ Your one crafty lizard Paws, and one hell
of a mage.”</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Shaman”. Paws
corrected Volk. “And than you Volk”.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So what are you going
to do with it?”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Not sure really, I was
going to bury it some place along the trail to Helgen.” Paws said
as he carefully placed the phial in a small cushioned case and put it
back into his saddlebag.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Why not hold the Altmer
to ransom with it?” Volk said with a grin.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Thought did cross my
mind to be honest. Or I could leave it in the ice flow or a mountain
glacier in Skyrim. It would last a few years and frustrate him more.”
Paws chuckled at the thought of the Altmer mage trying to light a
simple candle with the hex in place.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“That is cruel, just
remind me never to anger you Paws.”
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte opened the large
oakwood door to the front of Veldams' house and office and walked out
into the street. Her black fur lined cloak billowed out as she walked
across the street to where Volk and Paws were standing with the horses.
Her long red hair blew about in the slight breeze catching the
sunlight as it did. Strapped to her right leathered thigh was a
stiletto dagger on the other thigh were straps with small glass phials
filled with alchemical potions and poisons. The body of her armour
was a black leather corset with ruffles of silk poking through from
underneath. A silver clasp held her cloak on around her shoulder.
Smouldering violet eyes endlessly watched the street as she walked
across it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“So are you coming with us?”
Paws asked in a way of greeting her.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Delte nodded and looked
back up at the window she was looking out of a couple of minutes
earlier. Veldam was standing there watching her, Delte smiled and blew
him a kiss then mounted her white gelding. Veldam waved back and then
disappeared from view. Paws and Volk mounted their own horses, Volk's
was a pure bred Skyrim stallion with a thick brown fur hide. Paws
horse was a Colovian breed with a tan hide.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“We get past the
watchtower and make the Jerall Way Tavern by nightfall. Then on to
Helgen. From there we are a days ride to Whiterun and my farm.”
Volk said as they rode out of the city gates.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796599694273193050.post-4476156292366675182013-05-12T11:14:00.000-07:002013-10-20T12:12:54.617-07:00Chapter one- Battle at Jerral Pass.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After a cold starry night the grass
plains of Cyrodiil glistened heavy with dew in the morning sun.
Starlings danced in the sky with amazing precision and agility.
Left-Paw-Alight watched in wonderment and pondered if their differing
patterns meant anything. His long reptilian tail twitched
unconsciously as his eyes followed their morning dance in the clear
blue sky.<br />
"So can they tell us how this battle will end?"
Volk said in his usual booming voice breaking Paws' train of thought.
<br />
"Just that it will be a sunny day, filled with screams and
blood." he said as he pointed across the grass plain at the
approaching Aldmeri army.<br />
Volk's eyes followed the direction Paws
was pointing and smiled. "So the scout's story was true, I
was doubting whether we would see the cowardly fetchers this side of
winter. Let them come my ax thirsts for their blood." <br />
"There
will be plenty of that before this day ends Volk my old friend. I
just hope we all live to see our release from the oaths we swore 3
years ago." Paws picked up Volk's heavy oak and iron shield and
started to strap it to his forearm in preparation of the battle
ahead. <br />
"You seen Delte? " Volk asked Paws.<br />
"I
think she was ordered to go see the general before the battle lines
were drawn up. You do know what this incursion means to the Ebonheart
Pact?" Paws said as he began to strap the shield to his friend's
arm.<br />
"Aye we are officially at war with the Dominion for
control of Cyrodiil. Three years running silent missions against
their supply caravans and on our last day in the army to this Dunmer
general we get to have a real fight." <br />
"You sound almost
disappointed." Paws said as he finished off the last strap and
tied the loose end in so it wouldn't catch.<br />
"I am. By the
eight I am disappointed, where is the glory in fighting from the
shadows?" Volk responded. " When you can stand toe to toe
with a foe in a fight, snarling and spitting at each other as you try
to plant your ax into their gizzards." <br />
Paws stepped back
from Volk as he tested the weight of his shield upon his arm. "Do
not be so eager to jump into harms way Volk, you still have a wife
and two children back home. One of which you have never seen."
<br />
Volk nodded with a grunt and headed off toward his unit which
would hold the centre of the field and set the challenge to the
enemy. Paws picked up his staff and set off to his own position near
the archers where he could command a better view of the battle and
cast his spells easier.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-------------------
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
From her vantage point Delte
watched the Ebonheart army muster up into its units and form neat
lines down in the valley below. Her thoughts running through the
previous night's events with general Veldam Telvani and the
conversation they both had about today's battle. She closed her eyes
as the memory flooded in of Veldam standing in the dim light of her
lantern light tent handing her the orders to kill the Khajit general
and burn his standard. Delte had argued with him that she was just a
sapper, then pleaded with him as a lover not to send her on this
mission. Veldam then revealed that he knew she was a Morag Tong
assassin and she was duty bound to honour the contract. With a heavy
sigh she opened her eyes and gave a series of hand signals to her
small unit of skirmishers. As one they moved silently through the
shadow line of the trees to their objective.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-------------------
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Volk placed himself on the front
rank of the shield wall a place of honour at its centre was reserved
for him as a veteran of many battles. He looked to his left and right
to make sure his shield brothers were ready for the fight. To his
left was an old friend and veteran his name was Karl. He wasn't as
big of frame as Volk, but he could move far quicker. Karl's speed and
agility often caught his enemies by surprise. Down the right side of
his face ran a ugly scar which was given to him by a Redguard
scimitar the previous year in a small skirmish on the outskirts of
Kvatch. On Volk's right was a young boy who had just recently been
conscripted to his unit, Volk frowned and said. "Boy, you been
in a shield wall before today ?"<br />
Startled by Volk's question
the his eyes went wide at first then he regained his composure and
set his jaw. "O'course I have." came the reply.<br />
With a
chuckle Volk said. "Yeh right, listen to me boy." <br />
"Name
is Sven, not boy."<br />
"Okay Sven, listen to me all the
same. Keep your footing, make sure our shields are locked together
and guard the man on your right."<br />
"Who will guard my
left?" <br />
"I will that’s why we are shield brothers."
Volk responded with an encouraging smile. "Just don't piss your
britches when we meet the enemy. It's embarrassing."<br />
"Don't
worry Sven. Volk will piss enough for all of us during this battle."
A shout erupted from behind them both quickly followed by a raucous
laugh and cheer, Volk threw his head back in laughter. <br />
"Skald
sing us a battle song that will steel our resolve and put fear in our
foes hearts." Karl shouted above the laughter with a grin. <br />
"Or
one of whores servicing the men after a fight." another shouted.
<br />
From the midst of the unit a drum sounded with a steady rhythm
accompanied by a deep resonating voice as the skald started to
sing, and along with him all the warriors in the unit. <br />
<br />
"Thousand
warriors roaming through the northern lands<br />
And only related with
Ysgramor still.<br />
One thought drives them along to fight<br />
And die
for their northern land<br />
War, misery, fear and death to spread<br />
It
is a commandment no respect for life<br />
Only here to kill you just
the warriors pray to Orkey<br />
Blood and honour - for life and
death<br />
Blood and honour - is the warriors highest law<br />
Blood and
honour - Ysgramor"</div>
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<br />
Slowly Delte's unit of skirmishers
moved closer to their target. The opposing general and his retinue of
bodyguards were now within bow range. Her skirmishers spread out
amongst the bushes in silence, with her back to a tree Delte peeked
around it to spot the Khajit general. He was tall and dressed in
golden plate armour which shone in the morning light. His fur jet
black shot through with white, green feline eyes watched his troops
move in formation toward the Ebonheart lines. A large paw rested on
the pommel of a longsword, while the other stroked his chin deep in
thought. The bodyguards stood at the ready to respond to any threat,
they were a mixture of Khajit and Altmer all dressed in plate armour
of similar design. <br />
Delte gave the hand signal to poison arrows
and use the bodkin points, at this range the pointed tips made from a
inch and half of steel would pierce through the plate mail, chain
mail and hardened leather layers and bury themselves into their
targets. If the arrows didn't bring a swift death then the poison
would. All she and her unit had to do now was wait till the battle
was joined, so she wrapped her cloak tight and huddled down out of
sight. Delte and her skirmishers would take turns to keep watch
on the targets and give the signal if they moved positions.</div>
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<br />
Paws watched the enemy mage canter
his horse away from his general toward their cavalry. This caused
some concern to Paws' as it could mean the Altmer cavalry would lead
the charge at the shieldwall. Their lances would smash the wall apart
and run riot through the archers and ballista crews, Paws made the
decision he had to be in the front line of the shield wall if they
were to win the day, he could stop or slow the charge and avert
disaster. With as much speed as he could muster he made haste to
Volk's unit.<br />
"Move!" Paws' hissed as he pushed his way
to Volk's side. "Out of the way or all will be lost."<br />
Paws
clamped a taloned hand on Volk's shoulder. "They hope to break
the wall with cavalry. I need to be here to stop them." Paws
explained as Volk turned to look at him with a puzzled look. <br />
"Stay
by me old friend I'll be your shield brother." Volk shouted
above the singing. <br />
The comment did not go unnoticed by Paws, and he
felt a surge of pride for him to be considered a shield brother by
a Nord was a great honour. With a nod and a smile Paws drew his sword
and tighten his grip on his staff. <br />
The whole of the Ebonheart
force went quiet awaiting the signals to advance. All eyes were on
their enemy as a rider with a red flag went past the front ranks, all
the warriors with Paws knew this meant a charge from their cavalry
was going to take place. <br />
"SHIELDS!." A shout went up
making Paws jump, not being in a shield wall before all this was new
and scary for the Argonian. With a loud clank of oak and iron the
shield wall merged together to create a impenetrable wall bristling
with weapons from spears, swords and axes. Paws looked out over the
top of Volk's shield at the approaching cavalry now wheeling into
centre position to challenge Volk's unit. If the enemy could break
them the fight would be over and the Pass would be lost to the Altmer
as would the small garrison town of Bruma. <br />
"I hope you've got
some tricks up those sleeves of yours Paws." Volk said in a
growl <br />
"Just tell me when they are in full charge and halfway
to us. I have an idea that may work, if not then I will be rejoining
the Hist sooner than thought." <br />
"And what about me?"
Volk said.<br />
"We all know you heathens don't go anywhere when
you die." Paws retorted with a laugh.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Delte heard the thunderous clank of
the shieldwall forming and knew that soon the two sides would meet in
bloody combat. She risked a quick glance at the Khajit general, he
was still in place sending out his order using different coloured
flags and riders. From her vantage point she saw the enemy Altmer
mage ride down to join the cavalry unit. Her heart sank when she
spied each one of the cavalry had a heavy lance, the tops adorned
with coloured ribbons marking past glories and valour. She knew a
full charge from these heavy lancers against any shield wall would
smash it apart, and break through into the rear ranks. Doubt crossed
her mind about whether to stay and carry out the contract, or to flee
now to safety, Delte closed her eyes and breathed deep. He sense of
honour and duty kept her in place to wait for the time to spring the
trap. Drifting on the wind came the sound of pounding norse drums,
each beat meant one step forwards to keep the shieldwall together and
one more step to death or glory.</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
With each step forwards Paws'
confidence shrank and he flinched each time the men who made up the
wall give a roar of defiance at the enemy. He took a swig from a
potion bottle that would help calm his nerves. The warm liquid
trickled down his throat and the warmth from it was soon spreading
throughout his body. <br />
"You are in the right place at the
wrong time." Volk said to him in-between the beats of the drum.
"Stay close to me old friend." <br />
Paws gave him a weak
smile and a nod, and with a look over the top of Volk's shield he
watched the cavalry enter a trot and then pick up speed to a full
gallop.<br />
"Hold fast." A shouted order came and the drums
stopped. "Brace the wall." <br />
With this order men behind
Paws and Volk put their weight into their backs to add strength and
stability to the front ranks. A rhythmic thundering started to sound
as the cavalry picked up speed. <br />
"Halfway now Paws."
Volk said. <br />
<br />
Volk watched as the enemy mage cast a spell over
the cavalry unit, their lances erupted in magical fire and they were
levelled at the shieldwall. Paws started to gather his will as the
cavalry picked up speed and momentum to punch through the shieldwall.
He closed his eyes to help with his concentration to imagine the
spell he was working on. A cold air blew in around his feet as the
energies swirled unseen by all other than Paws. The breath from the
warriors around him could be seen as the temperature dropped sharply
in the spring air. His lips moved saying silent words, in his mind he
sensed the cavalry approaching within range and released the spell.
<br />
"DEIGH BIOR" Paws voice boomed with power as the ground
between the cavalry and the shieldwall erupted with huge glass
like spikes of ice, each one pointing out toward the on-coming charge
of mounted knights. Too late to halt the charge the horses and riders
crashed like a wave against the ice wall impaling rider and horse
alike. The morning sun glinted off the ice and blood that quickly
covered the area. Paws watched as the enemy mage wheeled his horse
just in time to avoid being killed himself, as he did Paws watched
him cut his cheek open on one of the ice spikes. The mage spat a
curse then rode back to his allies, Paws eyes were fixed on the blood
from the enemy mage and with a smile extended his will to grab hold
of the ice that it rested on. The telekinetic power of his magic
snapped the ice off and slowly brought it back to his hands. <br />
Looking
at Volk Paws said "Leave me here, the enemy mage will not be a
problem any more." <br />
Not quite understanding Volk nodded as
the order to advance was given. Paws quickly put the melting ice and
blood into a jar and walked back to the archers on the hill.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Delte watched the cavalry
charge from her vantage point, and consequently also its complete
annihilation from the spell. From behind her a moan of disappointment
and curses from the Khajit general and his bodyguards. She slowly
took two arrows out from her quiver, both poisoned with her own
mixture of nightshade and white thistle mixed into a paste using bone
meal. If arrows didn't kill her target then the pain and poison
would. She nocked the first arrow to the bow and gave the signal to
her team. In one fluid motion from her hiding place onto one knee to
face the Khajit and sighted down the arrow and released. Before the
first arrow hit its mark she already had the second one in flight,
then she was up and running in toward the group of knights swords
drawn. <br />
The Khajit general sank to his knees eyes wide in
disbelief as he held the arrows trying to pull them out. Green foam
started to appear on his lips as the poison coursed through his body.
A gurgling moan escaped his lips as he tried to call out a warning to
his guards, time seemed to slow down for the Dunmer female who had
materialised from the shadows. She moved with speed and ferocity of a
desert mongoose. Her two swords flashed in the morning sun as they
sliced apart the remaining guards, other guards fell about him with
arrows and then more shadows materialised and formed into deadly
warriors. <br />
Delte knelt down by the side of the dying Khajit,
violet eyes looked on to jade green eyes and then she spoke. "Mephala
take you." With a quick draw of her sword across his throat she
ended his life. Delte looked around at her skirmishers and noted they
had lost three of their number during the small conflict. With their
part in the battle done she gave the order to loot and fire the
generals pavilion tent and standard.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Volk moved in line with his shieldwall
toward the enemy shieldwall. He could now see the individual faces of
Altmer, Khajit and Bosmer. Expressions set in grim
determination. In the distance he saw smoke rise from the enemy
generals position. A smile crept across his face as his unit gave a
cheer and pushed on. The opposite shieldwall started to waver as the
men within started to look behind them. Panic setting in to see their
generals tent and standard alight. The unit leaders of the enemy
shieldwall started to shout orders to keep their unit together and to
stop a full rout. To aid their resolve the enemy mage cast a spell
over them to bolster their courage, this allowed them to
once again start to move forwards toward the Ebonheart shieldwall.
<br />
<br />
Ten yards separated the two shieldwalls when they both came
to a halt. Insults from both sides started to fly along with the
usual stare downs and personal challenges. This war of words was
meant to unnerve the opposition and to goad them into a charge. Volk
revelled in this as he shouted all the insults he knew at the Khajit
and Bosmer. Two rows back from Volk men readied spears and threw as
one, they landed with devastating effect into the enemy unit. Unable
to hold order any longer the Altmer shieldwall broke into a run and
crashed into the solid Nord shieldwall. Battle was joined.<br />
Volks'
short sword struck the unprotected neck of a high elf, he drew it
free as he dropped his shield down to catch a low blow from the
Khajit to his right. With a snarl he took the Khajits hand off at the
wrist by a downward swipe of his sword. Volk took a moment to look
for his shield brother who should have caught the Khajits' weapon,
looking down at the now muddy and bloody ground he saw him writhing
trying to hold in his own bowels from a vicious wound to his midriff.
Rage built up in Volk and he gave a roar of defiance as he
stepped out of the safety of the shieldwall and into the enemy ranks.
Dropping his short sword and shield he drew out his long sword and
started to chop down any in his path. A high elf stepped forward to
challenge him Volk laughed and cut him once across the neck and at
the shoulder joint, the elf fell to the ground dead. Where Volks'
blade fell another victim lay on the ground dead or dying. To him the
enemy troops moved slowly as though stuck in tar, his longsword sang
a sweet song of death in his hands. He managed to clear a circle
which broke apart the enemy ranks and shield wall. Seeing this
opportunity by his own unit they pushed inwards to engulf the enemy.
The fight quickly turned into a rout as the Altmer lines crumpled
from the onslaught. Volk and his shield brothers gave chase hacking
down any who put up resistance, bloodlust now coursing through their
veins. </div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Delte and her skirmishers had
watched the clash of the two shieldwalls from the hilltop where the
dead Khajit general lay. As the rout started Delte gave the order to
move into range and shoot the now retreating archers. Slaughter
ensued as the arrows fell driving home the notion of defeat to the
Dominion forces as the sun started its slow decent to twilight.</div>
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<br />
The colour of the setting sun
matched the colour of the grass plain, a deep blood red. Ravens and crows had started to settle on the dead to begin the feast that
awaited them. Volk now reunited with Delte and Paws knelt beside his
shield brother Karl. His stomach wound cleaned and dressed, the
physician had done all he could now his life was in the hands of the
gods. Karl's breathing was shallow and slow, Volk knew he wouldn't
live to see the dawn as he had seen wounds such as this many times
before. <br />
"I shall see you again in Sovngarde honoured
brother." Volk said solemnly, he leaned forward and kissed
Karl's forehead. <br />
Delte placed her hand on Volk's huge shoulder.
"Let him die in peace Volk. The general still wishes to see us
all."<br />
"Aye, lets go. I just needed to say farewell to a
friend and battle brother." Volk's voice was choked with anger
and sorrow. <br />
As they left the infirmary area Paws said. "
Many more will die, for this conflict has only just begun and will
last a lot longer than anyone has ever known. This will not end until
one man will rise with the strength of the dragons and the blessings
of the eight divines."<br />
"I will gladly fight by that
man's side if I am able" Volk replied. "Even if he is not
a Nord."
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07849208080597283474noreply@blogger.com0