Nice job Elizabeth Hollow! Other than in your preamble, I didn't really notice any spelling errors. I've done that Potema's Skull quest a couple times before, but as usual my memory is pretty bad so I barely remember it. Good to be able to read it in a story form.

The Kid: will he accept 'The Gift' from the Companions? that is the question....

Mustard, good luck with The Kid! Gotta love a Kid with a hammer.

Elisabeth H., I feel your keyboard pain. I have worn some of the letters off on mine. It does not help my spelling. I loved your post about Kayla!

Mikke of Green River and Torvar climbed the 7,000 steps. Here’s what she says about it:

I was wrong about the rain. By mid-morning Mother Kyne was smiling. We made the climb with wind in our ears and sun on our heads.

Torvar made good use of his new dragonbone bow. I only had to draw steel once in four frost trolls. We took our time and stayed away from the pilgrims. Some folk come to look at the plaques along the steps and meditate or some such sitting down activity. The words I need are written in blood and bone, and Julianos knows that Torvar is not one for reading. None of them looked like they were lost or injured, so we walked on by. I guess the trolls just have a nose for dragon blood.

The Greybeards had a lot to say for old men under an oath of silence. At least one of them did. He’s not their master, though. He tried to talk around the subject of who that is, and why I can’t meet him yet. It’s possible that the old man takes me for a fool. I know what lives on mountain peaks. The whole time we were there a part of me was calling out to one of my own. I was right to ignore the summons for so long. The wolf blood drowned it out for a long time. Now I have whispering Words and Greybeards’ Shouts coming at me from all directions. It’s damned unsettling.

The weather held for the trip back down. Once when we stopped Torvar said he could see Jorrvaskr. My eyes went north to Sofie and Alesan, and Roggi. I know they are safe together and loved the way they deserve.

Then I looked at Torvar, and he looked at me. We made camp under some rocks where the wind wouldn’t blow out the fire. Soon enough we’ll be back on the trail going after a bandit or a dragon or finding some old thing for somebody. For now he is mine and I am his. The world can wait.

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Dec 12 2012, 09:56 PM

OK, I had to leave in the middle of posting as often happens. Anyway Mikke and Torvar were attacked by cultists as soon as they strolled into Ivarstead. One of them had A Note. So it’s off to Solstheim! That was fast. I probably won’t write anything about the Dragonborn MQ since most people aren’t playing it yet, or if I do I’ll put it in spoiler tags even though this is the spoiler section. Just seems nicer that way.

*Claps*

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Dec 13 2012, 07:08 PM

So are the cultists the worshipers of the Big Bad in the DLC?

Indeed. The Girl has run into one even though she does not have dragons active. Her Solstheim is somewhat disrupted in a way that would be resolved by doing the MQ, but I’m sure you can deal with that through a mod or console command. It’s nothing so bad as the Dawnguard vampire attacks, but it could get annoying.

Here are some thoughts from Mikke:

The Skaal have named us friend and welcomed us to their village. A part of me longs to stay here and live among them with Torvar in the old way. They exist in harmony with the land and all upon it, for they are one. Each of them knows the peace that comes without fear of separation, for death to them is a drop of rain returning to the river. But I know I can’t be like that. My love is too selfish and far too deep.

I have met my enemy, and I fear him. He pinned me in place with his will as if I was no more than an errant pup. I fear for Torvar. This foe is too great for him. It’s likely that our deaths will be worthy of song, but he will not find me in Sovngarde. Nor will I run with him in the Hunting Grounds. Perhaps this is what draws me to the Skaal. They do not try to hold on, so they have little to lose.

I thought you had to do the main quest up until the Jurgen Windcaller quest before the Solstheim main quest could start? How did The Girl get around that? I would like to know, because it is probably the only way I will ever be able to do the Solstheim mq.

btw, have I ever mentioned that Mikke's name always makes me think of this song?

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Dec 13 2012, 11:57 PM

You do. There is Big Bad activity going on in Solstheim already, but the Dragonborn quests don’t start unless you have completed The Way of the Voice (which starts the Jurgen Windcaller quest). The cultist in The Girl’s game was in Solstheim, not

I love that song. Mikke was partly named for a real person who is called “Green River.” The real Green River’s life would actually make a pretty good story.

Continuing Kayla's quest!




I hopped over the almost-thawed body of the draugr Deathlord, casting a fire rune on the ground. I turned around and steeled my nerves for the imment explosion, Dawnbreaker in one hand and a firebolt spell in the other. As I expected, the Deathlord stepped on the rune and a fiery explosion engulfed him in flames. he never stopped. He gripped his sword and took a deep breath and-

Got a firebolt straight into his mouth. I don't have time for this. As he recoiled from the force(apparently they don't feel pain) I severed his head from his body. I can't do this. I can't deal with this. I want to go home to Onmund. I want to feel his stubble against my cheek as he whispers "Hello, my love."

Tears spilled from my eyes as I cried in rage. I threw a fireball spell at the Deathlord's corpse and coughed as it burned. I dropped to one knee. This isn't fair. This...drive to help people, when it could kill me. The knowledge that if it isn't me, it would be no one. There would be no one to protect Onmund, or keep the world safe for our future children.

I stood up and wiped the snot and tears onto the back of my hand and pressed on. I don't have time for this. I have to kill Potema.

Eventually I came to a room full of draugr. The stench was overwhelming. I gagged and heaved, and failed in stepping gingerly over them and ended up tripping over one with its hands reested in the funeral position. I grasp the gate bars and ehar Potema speak again. I shut my eyes. NO.

The draugr rise. I panic, casting a fire rune spell on the ground in th middle of the room, incinerating the first one that stepped on it. My panic subsides when I see that not all of the draugr have risen, only five, including the one I killed. I gripped Dawnbreaker and hoped for the effect I needed to get out of this situation.

I dug my sword into the first one and it crumpled. Nope, no explosion. Sithis. The other three rallied in a line in front of me and I was cornered. "IIZ!" I got two of them with my Ice Form shout, the other with only his arm frozen. sadly, not his sword arm. I had little room to use my sword, so I had to use my magicka. Firebolt after firebolt, he finally caught fire. Kept at bay by the sheer force of my magicka, yet ignoring the fire that would have made the strongest Orc scream from the searing pain, he finally caught fire and burned. His body caught the other body on fire and the gate opened. I ran. The other draugr did not follow.

I'm guessing because in the next room, there was Potema. She issued a challenge, and from the crypts on the walls in the large room came her minions. Dawnbreaker tasted undead flesh over and over, and when each draugr's dried up heart was pierced by it, a holy(unholy?) explosion reduced the draugr to ashes and caused any nearby to flee. I defeated the last draugr at the top of the steps by the large wooden door opposite to the one I entered in, and dodged Potema's spirit as it blasted the door open and posessed her skull. I rushed the foul spirit, plunging Dawnb4reaker to the hilt in Potema's chest with a roar. And that was it. I collected the skull and left the undercroft back the way I came.

The priests and priestesses gasped and nodded to me as I passed. I went to the Hall of the Dead, earning myself a few stares out in the daylight. I handed Potema's skull to Syrr and said simply "Here." He went on about how great a service I had done, but I hardly listened. I walked to the Blue Palace, in my dirty armor, and told him the deed was done. He sung me praises and I took my compensation and left. I took the next carriage to Whiterun.

The whole trip I felt woozy. Any sleep I did get was plauged with nightmares, and my head hurt so much that sunlight made it worse, and no food would make the terrible cramps in my stomach ease. Onmund greeted me with excitement, then fear. He rushed me into bed where I slept for a day.

When I awoke, I felt better. Onmund gave me a small smile but I could tell her was still worried. "When you want to talk about it," he murmured, "you can tell me."

"It was Potema," I whispered. "And she had so many draugr, and so many vampires."

His eyes widened. "Vampires?! Did you take a potion?"

I felt the color drain from my face. Onmund's face surely matched mine. "Take my hand. We are going to the Temple of Kynereth."

I grasped his hand and feebly stood up. He led me to the door. when he opened it, the light felt like it literally hit me. I drew in my breath sharply.

"Why is it so bright? I can hardly stand it!"

At that point, I vomited on the floor.

Wait, so you've got your invitation to Solstheim but you haven't done any of the MQ? That's strange. I like Mikke, by the way; she's got a good 'voice' for a character and I enjoyed her reflections on the Skaal (man, I missed those guys).

And that was an absolutely riveting read, Elisabeth! You've a real knack for writing intense and exciting fight scenes.


And now for an update on the Kid.


The next few days for the Kid are busy ones, most of it being taking bounties for the Companions or old man Balgruuf. It's makework, but he's learning while he does it, and finding it strange to see the other side of things when it comes to bounty hunting. Most of his time in Whiterun is spent up at Jorrvaskr, getting to know the Companions, or learning how to shape steel with Eorlund Grey-Mane at the Skyforge. He gets himself a few more spells, too, most useful one being an Alteration spell called Oaksin; not much is going to get through a magical shield and a good set of steel that he's managed to forge for himself. He even gets himself a new hammer, an orc made one, enchants it to deal fire damage too; a hammer, a bow, and an alteration spell might not be the fanciest things to take to a fight, but they sure work.

Then Skjor says he wants to speak to him, meet him at the base of the Skyforge come nighttime. The Kid agrees, and come darkness, he's there with Skjor and Aela. The two of them take him to a secret place, a cave called the Underforge, and there they make him an offer; become a part of the circle, take the beast blood. Become a werewolf.

The Kid considers this for a few moments. On one hand, everything he's been told, ever since he was just a little boy dandled on the knees of his dear old grandma, says that werewolves are evil, but the Companions are decent folk, he knows that much, and he ain't a fan of the Silver Hand. So he agrees. Takes the beast blood, becomes one of the circle, one of the pack.

When he comes to, he's near an abandoned fortress, name of Gallows Rock. Aela's waiting for him, explained she followed as he turned, kept him out of trouble and under control. The Kid's grateful, wondering what he's doing here. The place is a Silver Hand stronghold, with a small army of them holed up in there, lead by a real nasty piece of work by the name Krev the Skinner. I'll leave you to guess how she got that name. Skjor had already headed inside by another entrance, to hit them with a pincer movement, and Aela wanted her and the Kid to be the second wave. The Kid takes the beast form again, and they go in.

The Silver Hand put up a hard fight, but it isn't anything the two of them couldn't handle. The Kid's the one who soaks up most of the hurt, with a good suit of steel and spell to absorb the worst of what they can throw at him, and Aela hangs back, doing what she does best with her bow. It's when they fight their way to the bottom fo the fort and find Krev, that's when they realise what's happened.

Skjor didn't make it. He fought hard but there were too many Siver Hand and only one of him. Krev pays for it, though the Kid and Aela make sure of that.

It doesn't take a genius to see that Aela's angry as a soul can be. She gives the Kid some orders; go clear out a group of Silver Hand up at Fort Fellhammer, then report back to Jorrvasrk and we'll take out more of the Silver Hand. The Kid's happy to oblige.

There were a good two dozen Silver Hand hold up in Fort Fellhammer. Only the Kid walks away from it alive.

The next few days are going to be bad ones to spend being part of the Silver Hand, the Kid's sure of that.

Uh oh. What a riveting update, Elisabeth!

Mustard, it sounds like the Kid is experiencing some dark days. I remember the quests that follow through my character's red rage.


No, Mikke got her invitation as soon as The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller started (early in the MQ), which is how it’s supposed to happen.

You can go to Solstheim right away without an invitation though, which is what The Girl’s character did. You just go to Windhelm and hire the new boat to take you. There’s a new loading screen that tells you about the boat. There is a lot to do on Solstheim that is not related to the Dragonborn quests.

If you really love the Skaal... And for that reason The Girl's character returned to Skyrim and started the MQ.

Good! He gave into the Beast blood! He's just a part of nature as natural animals. Hunting, killing and eating for survival is all part of being Hircine's creation.

I always wanted more out of the SIlver Hand. They just seem to be common bandits with no real story behind them and why they hunt werewolves or their previous relationship to the Companions.

Well, it was a good quest. Wonderful to hear Kid take on Krev. Poor Skjor, may his Spirit run wild in the forests of the Hunting Grounds . Screw Sovngarde!

Cool, I am glad to see others are writing. It feels like an early Christmas present or something. Lol.

Tirdas, 5:28 AM, 6th of Morning Star

Days Passed: 142
Level: 26

It is early in the morning and Lord Haaf-Mersey awakes from a dream, a very pleasant one. This dream had seemed very real, and at the moment, this is all he can remember of it.

He is in Lakeview Manor, and has recently spent a few days here with his little friend Lucia. His latest accomplishment? He has finally figured out how to get some light into his man cave, by filling goat horns with candle wax and placing a wick in the wax while it's hot. Light the wick, and it's done. The 'cave' needed some light, it was pretty dark down there. The Lord does not need to keep casting and re-casting Candlelight spells while he works.

"Marcurio, are you here?"

His partner certainly is. As the Crusader from Cyrodiil hears the Destruction Wizard from Riften walk up the steps, he struggles to remember his dream.

He had been in a chapel, praying to the Nine. It was warm outside, and Haaf-Mersey's ministrations had been interrupted .... by....



He remembers! And smiles! Grins so hard, he feels his face might just split in two. Dyan phor a'Cauz herself had walked in to the chapel at some point. The dream had been so real! Dyan had been grandly accompanied by the Jemane brothers, who had joined her late in her days as Cyrodiil's Paladin. The trio had traveled briefly, according to text and lore, until one of the Jemanes has stolen the Crusader's Sword from Dyan. But Dyan had managed to defeat Umaril anyways, even without this sword.

In the dream, the Jemanes stood dutifully as squires in the background, whild Dyan had spoken with Lord Haaf-Mersey directly. She told him he must stay on his chosen path, Skyrim would need him. From the way she spoke, it was if she'd been watching him for a long time.

Haaf-Mersey's mentor had been long dead of course, so having a dream in which she made a very personal appearance was just as grand as having a dream in which Talos or Zenithar or Mara showed up. And again, this dream had seemed very real. As real as Marcurio, bumbling up the steps.



5:48 am

"We must maketh our assist to Falkreath, Marcurio", Haaf-Mersey says, still feeling overwhelmed by his dream.

"Divines smile on you friend".

"Very good. Falkreath needth our assist. Ye are to cometh with me, to travel these woods. And seekth upon a sudden sort of manly beast. One known to be a 'werewolf'. Have you heard of such, Marcurio?"

"Alright. What is it? What do you need?"

"Ye shall assist, while I travel these woods. I gather ye have not heard of werewolves, then? 'Tis alright. Once we find him, all shall be clear".

Lord Haaf-Mersey had recently been to Falkreath alone, and had learned of the death of a local girl, probably no more than Lucia's age. His questionings brought the Crusader to Falkreath's jail, where a strange man had given him a ring, and then explained how this ring would cause him to transform randomly into a werewolf, if the Moons were out. Haaf-Mersey had not put this ring on his finger, but it had somehow wound up there anyways.

The strange man had escaped the jail after transforming himself into a werewolf. Haaf-Mersey knows that if it's daylight, there is less of a chance that he shall follow the same fate.

"Are you ready?" he asks Marcurio.

"Anything else?".

"No. We must make haste, however! The proper time to hunt this beast-man must be in daylight, which is how I have come to conclusion".

"Let's go".

Haaf-Mersey likes the man's attitude, and agrees with him.



7:54 AM
It takes hours for Lord Haaf-Mersey to get himself ready. He wears his crusader's armor and carries a silver sword. He is not sure if silver affects werewolves more than usual, but he remembers back to his his days with the Companions. All Silver Hand Bandits carry silver weapons to combat with. Since werewolves and Companions are their main enemies, perhaps there is a reason why they prefer silver.

I actually don't know if silver affects werewolves the way it affects undead.

It is a sunny day outside. Perfect. The Lord casts his Clairvoyance occasionally, keeping to the correct path. Hopefully he and Marcurio will then dispose of the menace who killed the Falkreath girl quickly, and without much blood shed on their part.

10:02 AM
The pair upon a giant white elk. Haaf-Mersey's skin pricks with goosebumps, as he wanders way too close to the animal, which does not run. He casts Clairvoyance again, and then realizes he's staring into the face of what could be his next enemy, yet the animal does not attack.

"Are ye...." he starts to talk to the animal. At some point, he had met a talking dog, but this animal (the elk) does not talk back. "I know not what to do, Marcurio".

And then he remembers Hircine is the Daedric Lord in charge of hunting. Perhaps that is what he and Marcurio must do, then. They must hunt this animal.

"On the count of three, Marcurio, we shall make our attack. One...two....." Haaf Mersey draws his sword "THREE!"

The white stag falls with just one blow. At first the Crusader thinks he has just killed an ordinary animal, then he sees there is a ghostly image, slightly bluish, standing over the body of the dead elk.

"Well met, hunter!" a voice speaks out. Haaf-Mersey is not surprised.

"Ye...I speakth to thee, Hircine?

"I am the spirit of the hunt! Just one piece of the glorious fauna that your kind stalks. Hircine!"

"I am Lord Haaf-Mersey, Crusader from Cyrodiil! and I now asketh thee what shalt thou make of preference? For a child is dead, and thee have responsibility towards such".

"Your future is precious to me! I will make good use of it. You bear my ring. The one sho stole it has been led to what he thinks is his sanctuary. Just as a bear tries to seek his own, but only winds up trapped, I need you to do my bidding".

11:06 AM
Haaf-Mersey considers this. He would not normally perform acts for one of Oblivion's Lords, but the man from the jail did kill a little girl. And if it is Hircine's wish that Sindig should die, let it be so.

"I shall do as ye sayeth, but only for my own good, and for the good of Skyrim"..

"Ahhh my hunter!" said Hircine, rambling on a minute. ...."don't dally while the prey flees!"

As the spirit form of Hircine vanishes, Lord Haaf-Mersey is not sure who's bidding he is really performing: his own, or Hircine's.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Dec 16 2012, 08:46 PM

Yay for Dyan's appearance! Not to mention Renee's patented Compass Delete Mod

LHM thinks of Dyan kind of the same way we think of saints, so that's a pretty big deal for him. That was a lucid dream he had, by the way. I've had a few of these, they are very real, not sure if you've ever had one of those.

Well, I am kinda bummed. LHM took care of Sindig, and also wasted the bandits at Knifepoint Ridge (this was one of their latest bounty quests) yet his "Assistance to Falkreath" ratio is still at 1/3. Dangit. I want him to become Thane!

.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Dec 16 2012, 11:15 PM

Middas, 2:09
AM, 14h of Morning Star

*

Lord Haaf-Mersey

Days Passed: 150

Lord Haaf Mersey stands before his most recent find, a statue devoted to Talos. This statue has been tucked into a lonely area of Riften, behind a large building. It's easy to miss, and probably for good reason. The Lord discoveres it as he's strolling about the village. Talos has been pushed to the side (the Lord thinks) but at least he's stilll here.

The statue is accompanied by an idol, and the Crusader from Cyrodiil feels the mighty power of Talos rush through him as he places his hand upon this idol.. He needs some guidance from Talos. The next day, he's decided to take on a group of bandits by himself, without Marcurio's help. He's dealt with the bandits of Broken Helm before, but not on his own.

"They shalt pay for their misdoings. For the Jarl requires such".

After taking on the bandits (assuming he lives) he will then return to Castle Dawnguard, to speak to Isran once again, and report what (who) had been found at Dimhollow Crypt.



6:29 Am
Lord Haaf-Mersey is still in Riften, and comes upon a fallen Riften Guard as the morning brightens. A second man is kneeling before this guard, praying for the man's soul, perhaps. The Lord lights a Candlelight 0 and also says a quick prayer.

"What has become of this poor man?"

"New in town eh? Here for the fishing I guess?" asks the kneeling one. Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered him as he grieves, Haaf-Mersey thinks.

"No. I cometh to serve and appear before thee, the peoples of Skyrim" Lord Haaf-Mersey answers.

"Only the best in all of Riften..." the man starts, ignoring the Lord's answer. At first, Haaf-Mersey doesn't know what the man is talking about, until he says he "owns Riften's fishery", and then blabs on about how he started with nothing, but now he's made his business into a success.

"'Tis good. I am Lord Haaf-Mersey, Crusader from Cyrodiil. And I have also cometh to Skyrim with very little, yet 'tis I who will make eventual the Savior of days. And ye? Yer fishery is making of profit, then?"

"I see", answers the fisherman in a droll tone. "My catch spreads across a good portion in Skyrim. The only untapped market is in Markath, however if you're headed by that way, I may have a task for you".

See, this is why I love RPGs. Wasn't I just talking about how he's never been to Markath?!

"I shalt take on such a task. What is it?" Haaf-Mersey trusts the man, whose name turns out to be Bolli. Bolli seems honest.

"Good. Klepper will pay you as soon as you arrive with the letter. Here you are".

Lord Haaf-Mersey takes the letter, and starts to make his way back to the Bee 'n' Barb for a few hours of shuteye. He starts to walk away, and then turns around.

"Thee shan't be in needing of thine armors, Sir" he speaks to the fallen guard. "Might I traipse upon thine clothings? And make service where ye have failed".

He takes the guard's armor, thinking it might come in handy at some point. The fallen guard doesn't seem to mind.



Middas, 2:10 PM

"Where ahh these vampires coming from? We need to wipe them out befohh things get out of hand!" says a guard.

"In the grandest sceme of things, such is of possibility. And I aim to playeth mine part to the fullest".

Lord Haaf-Mersey leaves Riften wearing the fallen guard's armor: helmet, cuirass, shield, and greaves. He improvises this with a set of superior dwarven gauntlets and magical boots that provide a bonus to his Stamina. If he is going to be performing a service for the village of Riften, he shall do so properly: representing the directive from Riften as best he can.

I am a little nervous. He's wearing all that light armor, yet has absolutly zero perks in this area.

5:29 PM

"That's it? That's all you got?!"

The road to Broken Helm is busier than he thought it would be. So far he's fought two giant spiders, four wolves, and a couple of bandits. He managed to convince one of these bandits to "give in to the Nine!" (I accompanied this with a successful Calm spell), but now Lord Haaf-Mersey has defeated his latest foe: a Dark Brotherhood lizard-woman.

As he loots the body, he finds something he has not seen in a long time: a glass sword! "Thee have cometh to me!" and he takes this sword, leaving behind his superior-strength sword of steel.

He realizes he is at the bottom of the big hill. Only one place left to go now.



8:54 PM
As he climbed the hill, it had started to rain, and darkness soon falls. This is not a problem for Lord Haaf-Mersey, as he lit his path with a Candlelight spell. 0 As he arrives to the bandit's stronghold, he calls out...

"I AM LORD HAAF-MERSEY, CRUSADER FROM CYRODIIL. I MAKETH MINE WAY IN REPRESENTATION OF THUS HAMLET OF RIFTEN. Give thineselves up for forgivness, or ye shall pay", he quiets his voice once he has their attention, and they start to draw nearer. There are two of them guarding the outside. Haaf-Merse sees them as he quickly casts Detect Life.

The bandits to do not answer back, instead they volley him with several arrows, all of which miss as Haaf-Mersey runs behind a large rock.

"That was a bad thing to do. GIVE IN TO THE NINE, MISCREANTS! OR BE IT THINE FATE THAT YE SHALT PERISH!"

"True Nords never back down!"

That does it. Haaf-Mersey has given them the chance for redemption, yet they've refused. He draws his new sword of glass, and charges forth.

"IN THE NAME OF RIFTEN!" he clobbers the nearest archer.

"Die already so I can take your uhhhhhh!" the nearest archer falls. Despite the fact that Lord Haaf-Mersey then takes at least three more arrows, he also quickly dispels of the second archer.

"YOU'RE DEAD....DEAD! Ughhhh!!!!"

These first two were easy to combat, and fell quickly. Young and malnourished, as many bandits often are. But Haaf-Mersey knows their leader is inside, and this leader (and his or her closest minions) would not be young and malnourished. Bandit ringleaders often got the lion's share of the best foods, magic, and coin. They often live well, and often also possess a lot more strength. And they might also surround themselves with others who would also have more strength than these two guards.

"Speaketh to me, Talos. Might thine will prepareth me for battle".



11:18 PM

WHISSHAP!

"What was that?" says a bandit out of eyesight. Haaf-Mersey knows Broken Helm Hollow is a one-room cave. He is not in the main area, yet, he is merely walking in the place. He has just cast a shield spell *, which the insiders had managed to hear.

"Thought I heard something", his friend answers. Two of them. Lord Haaf-Mersey is not afraid.

"I am Lord Haaf-Mersey, Crusader from Cyrodiil! And I now carry a message from the Jarl Riften! Give up thine holdout, cast aside thine weapons and spells, and cometh freely into the hands of the Jarl! Make amends, and ye shall be spared".

"I'll show you what a real orc can do!"

There happen to be three of them in here, not two. One of the orcs also happens to be their leader. As teh Lord fights, one of the bandits falls quickly! The Lord must run to a safe place to swallow a few health potions before continuing the fight.

"Pray to Stendarr while you can!"

"I have! I thinketh it shalt be ye who must pray to him, for truth! ARRGH!" he slams the orc with his blade, staggering him!

"You won't get the best of me!" the orc now charging him is wearing less armors than the other one, which means he moves a little quicker. It is he who falls next.

"One left! And YE shall perish next!"

"Just give up!"

"No. Never!"

Haaf-Mersey quickly dodges by the bandit leader, running up a ramp-like area while drinking a stamina potion. He must run around the room occasionally, taking time to heal up. He senses that this final enemy is getting weak.

"I'LL BURY YOU! ARRRRGH!!"

"Might want to re-think that one", Lord Haaf-Mersey quips in return, as the orc falls before his blade. "Once again, I have made triumph. As such, the final move was mine".

The Crusader from Cyrodiil then loots the bandit's chest, has some dinner, and calmly takes a few hours of sleep in a bedroll, in preparation of the days to come.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Dec 21 2012, 01:17 AM

GO LHM!!!! He's my favorite read on this thread

I don't often post here, but I wanted to share this.

@Lady Saga: Love the way you show the magical effects in your writing.

~~~

“Careful,” Kharjo hissed as Aravi reached for the door.

“Don’t worry, I was just through here not long ago, it should be clear,” Aravi whispered back.

“Then why are we whispering?” Kharjo asked. Aravi glared at him.

“Just be quiet.” Aravi pushed open the door, and froze.

“You’ll make a fine rug, cat!” a woman shouted at her and charged. Aravi looked at the bow in her hands, then dove out of the doorway. The woman’s – Aravi saw her eyes – the vampire’s wild swing thunked into the dirt floor. Before the vampire could lift her mace back up, Kharjo’s shield crashed into the side of her face, sending her sprawling at Aravi’s feet.

Aravi was still holding her bow. She dropped it and sent her fist into the vampire’s throat, crushing her windpipe as she tried to draw breath. Her ragged gasp was silenced by a precise swing by Kharjo’s own mace.

They both stood there a minute, breathing. That was fast. The shakes started to set into Aravi’s hands when she finally picked up her bow. She looked at Kharjo to make sure he was fine. He didn’t say anything, but he gave her a look. Aravi squashed the urge to stick her tongue out at him. I was careless.

She cast a muffle and then an armor spell on herself to reinforce her light armor. Then she properly armed herself for close in fighting – a pair of swords. She went through the door and deeper into the ruin. Kharjo followed behind, making not a sound without the assistance of magic. She didn’t know how he did it, but he was just as quiet as she was while wearing heavy plate armor. It was times like this that she was the most grateful she had met him. It didn’t matter if she was fighting a dragon or taking a shortcut through a ruin under a mountain, she could count on him to have her back.

I love this scene with Aravi and Kharjo !!! Awesome write, KC !!!

Yeah, that is great, King Coin. Keep it up! And thanks so kindly, Miss Hollow. That means a lot to me.

the colored magical effects are silly, I know, but it's what I like to add to my stories.