The Ice Warrior Options

[redsrock]

The Ice Warrior

CHAPTER ONE


The horrifying, ear-piercing screams ran through the night, waking me up from my slumber. Upon hearing these dreadful noises I immediately rushed from my old wooden bed and entered the hallway of the fort. The others had already risen from their own cots and were brandishing their blades while running outside.

Come, Erick! The time is now! Prove your honor and your pride!

I heard someone yell those three sentences, but I couldn't make out who was talking. But I didn't have any time think. The enemy horde was on our doorsteps and I was not about to let my people down. After seeing the others rush out into the cold night, I sprinted back into my own room and lifted the lock off of my old oak wood-chest. Then I reached for my silver broadsword and ran out into the hall to join my comrades.

Outside the battle had already commenced, and the white-colored floor had by now been stained with the crimson blood of my friends...and my enemies. I ran, creaming at the top of my lungs as loud as I could. The enemy from the northeast had at last built up enough courage to attack us without surprise. I for one was not going to let this opportunity go to waste.

The untamed Nords had made their way through our defenses and were now in our camp. There were at least fifty of them; all running around setting to fire to anything they could find. Their dirty beards and hair flapped in the wind, along with the blizzard that was coming down from the dark sky.

The first enemy I came to face was a heavy-set warrior wielding an iron war axe and a dagger of the same material. The piece of scum roared at me and got into a defensive position as I charged towards him with my broadsword held high into the air. As I neared the man he swung his axe at me but I ducked just in time and tackled him to the cold floor. Snow splashed up into my eyes but I quickly wiped it away as I hacked at my adversary's face. Again and again I slashed at his face, even when I knew his death had already come and passed.

I was too crazed with wanting revenge; too distraught to even observe the other heavy warrior lumbering towards me with a giant wooden war-hammer. The weapon hit me square in the back and I instantly dropped my blade and fell to the white canvas. Then the warrior turned my body over and I was face to face with the enemy; the despicable Nordic warrior from the north...the Skaal!

The oaf of a Nord glared into my eyes with pure disgust. He hated me and I hated him. This story of revulsion between the Imperials and the Nords has lasted for many years. And this particular battle was only one of hundreds that was sure to follow.

Then the Nord opened his mouth and began to laugh insanely. Spit fell from his mouth and hit me in the forehead. I could smell the putrid stench that was his breath; but alas there was nothing I could do. He had my arms pinned to the ground. Then, a ball of green smoke came from the mouth. It formed into some kind of animal, though I couldn't tell what it was. Suddenly I heard a deep howl, and that's when everything went black and I snapped back into reality.

"Erick...Erick, wake up! Wake up, Erick!"

A dream....it was all a dream. I could have sworn it was real; the heat from the fires, the yells of the Nords, and the impact from the war-hammer...it was all so real to me. But, fortunately I was only dreaming, and now my roommate was trying desperately to rouse me up from my delusion.

"It was a dream, Erick...only a dream!"

Finally I sat straight up in my cot with my roommate's hand on my shoulder. Melvin, an Imperial soldier just as I, was looking into my eyes with a most concerned look about his hairy face.

"You don't look so good," he said, stroking his slick and thin black beard. Melvin had always been proud of his facial hair. He always kept it neat and tidy; which the ladies loved.

"I'll be fine. I just had another dream..."

I looked outside my window to see that it wasn't snowing the least bit, and there weren't any angry Nords running around with torches. Everything was peaceful for the time being

"More like a nightmare, Erick! I can't keep living with those screams, friend. Sooner or later I'll throw you in the hallway!"

I merely laughed it off, trying to forget what I saw. For the past several days I've had some of the most dreadful dreams ever imaginable. They all started out differently, but they all ended with the same green smoke and the same howl. It had really started to bug me and I had thought about seeing a mage about it.

But Melvin wasn't going to let me do such a thing. He figured the mages would think me insane. Such dreams were a sign of lunacy, you know. But I just couldn't help it. I wanted to know what they meant; if something was going to happen to me. I've talked with Melvin about it hundreds of times, but he doesn't seem to think anything is wrong. I wished I could feel the same way.

"So...was it the smoke again?"

"Yes."

"The howl as well?"

"Yes."

Melvin had jumped back into his bed by now, but when I told him it was the same dream, he turned around to meet my sweaty face.

"I know I've said this just a few seconds ago, but you look awful, Erick."

My friend's ‘kind' words weren't doing me any good. I couldn't keep living like this. At that very moment I told Melvin I was going to talk with the local mage first thing in the morning. He got out of bed and stretched his arms into the air.

"Where you going?" I asked him.

"Taking a piss, if that's okay with you," he said playfully walking out the door, closing it gently behind him.

I was lucky to have a friend like Melvin. I remember the first time I met him here in this desolate snowy island of Solstheim. It was three years ago then, just shortly after I had arrived from the mainland. Melvin was always the smartellic type. He never let anyone tell him something he didn't want to hear, but he was always one to voice his own opinion.

And you know what; I almost feel grateful for getting sent here to Fort Frostmoth. Sure, I'd be much more comfortable back in Caldera, stealing ebony again. But what good would that do me? By coming here and working my tail off I've become a better man and a better human being. No more thieving for me; my life as a criminal was over the moment I set foot on this island. Since then it's been a lot of hard work, but at least I can say I now have control over myself.

But Melvin...well, he's different story. Though he's stopped his skooma addiction, he's also still a heavy drinker. Mazte is his favorite and I could almost bet you a hundred septims there's a couple bottles of it under his bed right now. But at least he can control when he drinks. It's not like he does it in broad daylight. No, he's way smarter than that. If you ask me it's his intelligence that's allowed him to survive so far. Everyone has their own personal attribute that compliments themselves. Melvin's is his charm and intelligence, and mine is...well I'm not quite sure just yet.

Captain Falx Carius seems to be respectful for my hard-working nature, but that has only gotten me the title of "Captain's Pet" from the other soldiers. Of course, none of us are really soldiers. Everyone knows Fort Frostmoth is where all the trouble makers go to spend the rest of their lives working for the Empire. It's not really that much work if you ask me; a little bit of construction, a little bit of mining, and some other minor chores.

The life of a prisoner isn't so bad I guess, but I can still can't help but wonder if there's something else out there for me. I realize that my life as an inmate is eternal, but still...I've got a feeling something's about to happen. Something big...but I just don't know what; nor if it's good or bad.

"You still awake?"

Melvin had walked into the room and flopped onto his bed. It was likely a little after midnight, and I had awoken my friend from his sleep for the third night in a row.

"I'm sorry, Melvin. I'll...I'll wait on speaking to the mage if you want me to."

"Yes, I'm glad to hear it, my friend. Do NOT tell them about your dreams, Erick. It will only lead to more problems. They'll lock you up in a cell, and before you know it they'll throw you out into the wild. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

No, that didn't sound like a good life to me. Perhaps my dreams would fade away?

"Don't worry, I'll keep quiet."

Only time would tell.....

This post has been edited by redsrock: Feb 7 2008, 05:11 AM

[redsrock]

CHAPTER SIX


I woke up abruptly, from yet another nightmare, drenched in hot sticky sweat. I felt my forehead, which was feeling very clammy. My heart was pounding like a beating guar drum, and for good reasons. Yes I had just had another nightmare, but this one was different. A werewolf was involved this time.

“You alright, Erick?”

I had awoken Melvin from his sleep, just as I always did with my nightmares. But for some reason he didn’t seem to be too angry this time.

“I had another nightmare, but it was different this time.”

“Yeah, how so?”

“I saw a werewolf…”

Melvin looked at me for a couple of seconds with a blank stare, and then all of a sudden busted out with laughter. Her was actually holding his stomach and complaining that it hurt from the laughter.

“A werewolf? That’s funny, Erick, it really is. But you know it’s probably good that happened. Now you know you have nothing to worry about.”

“And why is that?”

“Erick….a werewolf? Come on, give me a break. How can a werewolf mean anything?”

“You and I both have heard the stories…”

“Exactly…STORIES! Stories told to us by Nord wanderers so old they don’t even remember their own names!”

He obviously didn’t seem to think these dreams weird, but I certainly did. Werewolves, though considered mythical creatures at best, still scared the living daylights out of me. Many stories have been told about how man have been torn to pieces by these ferocious beasts, yet nobody has actually be able to prove their existence. I for one believed in them, but Melvin did not.

I was so angry at him I went back to sleep without saying anything else. One thing was for sure though; I was going to talk to the local priest first thing in the morning. I had a bad feeling about all of this.


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The next morning I woke up extra earlier, some time around five o’clock in fact. I headed straight for the Imperial Cult Shrine, where the priest Antonius Nuncius had his own room.

Antonius wasn’t your regular priest mind you. He may act all nice and all in front of you, but let me give you a forewarning, he’s actually a backstabber who’ll do anything to save his own head. I never did like the man and I never will. He helps inmates smuggle alcohol right under Captain Falx’s nose. But of course I wouldn’t dare tell him for fear of losing my own life at the hands of the other inmates.

It might seem to you a bit strange that I was going to this man for advice when I hated his guts, but what can I say? I’m a desperate man in need of figuring out what my dreams mean and why I keep having them.

So I entered the building and walked over to Antonius’s door. I wasn’t too sure if he would hear the knock or not since a study room separated the hallway and his actual room. But, after about thirty seconds of loud forceful knocking, the corrupt priest opened his door, and it appeared he wasn’t in a good mood.

“What in Oblivion do you want? It’s almost five thirty in the morning!”

His face was rather hairy, signaling that he was in need for a good shaving. Also it appeared as if I had angered him. I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised.

“I wish to speak with you, Antonius.”

“This early in the morning? I don’t think so. Come back later…”

He began to close the door in my face, but I stopped him just in time.

“No, I need to talk to you now. I’ve been having dreams, and…”

“I said not now, Erick. Everyone has dreams, you know. As I’ve already told you, come back LATER!”

Before I could react the old wooden door was slammed violently in my face, almost breaking my nose in the process. Thankfully I was able to back away from the door just in time. I left the armory feeling quite annoyed by everything, and then decided to go back to my room. I didn’t really know what else to do, and it wouldn’t be too much longer until it was time for work. But then Captain Falx walked out from the main building and spotted me.

“Erick, what are you doing up so early?” He yelled from across the yard. I walked over to him so we didn’t have to yell.

“I just couldn’t sleep, sir.”

I lied to him of course, but I wasn’t about to tell him the truth. There was no way I could tell him the dreams I was having. He would think me as a lunatic, just like Melvin does. Thankfully he hadn’t seen me leaving the armory.

“Well, how about you join me on my morning walk. There’s something I’ve been meaning to speak with you about anyway.”

To be honest I didn’t really want to walk anywhere, for it was freezing cold, but then again I didn’t want to upset Falx. So I walked with him. We exited the fort through the back entrance and began walking on a small dirt path leading to the northeast.

“I hear there have been some problems at Raven Rock,” He said simply, not looking at me but keeping his eyes pointed straight ahead.

“Yes, um, about that…”

“There’s no reason to explain, Erick, Falco has explained everything,” he said in an unusually gentle tone. I had expected him to lash out at me in anger for disgracing Fort Frostmoth and the Imperial Legion.

“And you’re not angry?” I asked wearily.

“I was at first, and then Falco explained the situation. I understand there is a certain Bruno that is causing problems?”

“Yes sir, but that’s no excuse for us to act irrationally.”

He chuckled and then looked me in the eyes. “Yes, I knew you would say that. You always have been a level-headed person. It’s a shame your life was ruined by your ill-fated decisions earlier in life, hmm?”

He was right. I really wasn’t that bad of a person. Just a few bad decisions led me to where I am now. But I wasn’t ready to openly talk about that with anyone just yet….not even the Captain. And when I didn’t respond to his comment, he continued anyway.

“But I digress. I just wanted you to know that you are not in trouble, Erick. Knowing you I’m sure you’re worried about what’s going on, but remember, I picked your group for a reason.”

“And what’s that?” I asked eagerly.

“Because you and your mates, for the most part at least, stay out of trouble. The Argonian and the Khajiit are a little crazy-acting sometimes, but that’s okay. Melvin is a little controversial, but I think everyone is used to that by now. And then of course there’s Madila, but I don’t she’ll be a problem any time soon. What I am trying to say is that you five are the best prisoners of Fort Frostmoth. That might not seem much to you, but believe me, at least it’s something.”

We talked for another twenty minutes or so, but most of it was just small talk, nothing really important. When we arrived back at the fort most of the prisoners were awake and ready to leave. I had not showered this morning, but I didn’t even care. I was still shocked by what happened last night. And when I saw Melvin standing over in a corner, rubbing his leg where he received his wound from last night.

“How’re you feeling?” I asked him.

“My leg’s killing me, but at least I looked good,” He grinned and winked.

I wasn’t at all amused. I was only ashamed of what he did. And after speaking with Falx earlier I was now ashamed even more.




On the way to Raven Rock I explained to Melvin what Falx and I talked about, but he didn’t seem to care.

“So what? Do you really think it matters, Erick? Either way we’re prisoners. No matter if he likes us or dislikes us we’ll always be inmates.”

I didn’t feel like arguing with him so I simply let it go. Besides, I had a feeling we were going to have a long day ahead of us and I didn’t want to be in a bad mood all day.

At the entrance of the mine Madila, Teemee and J’Dato were waiting by the door, all three looking to their left. When I looked to see what they were staring at I saw Bruno marching towards Melvin and me. He stopped just inches from Melvin’s face and glared at him for several seconds. Then he reared back with his fist and swung at Melvin’s face.