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 SIXTEEN


As my eyes opened and began to regain focus, a terrible smell overcame my frozen nostrils. And once I could actually make out everything in front of me, I realized I was sitting in some kind of house in a room with the door shut, with my feet and hands tied binded together by thick ropes. I tried moving my limbs but they ached badly and I surrendered to the fastenings for the time being. What was more important was trying to figure where I even was in the first place. That’s when I heard an awful tone of singing coming from another room.

The voice was seemingly coming from a Nord, and I could easily note the strong accent that came from that particular race. But of course I shouldn’t be surprised, but rather scared for my life. I wondered if I was at the home of the Skaal, and then I turned around looking for Teemee, who was nowhere to be seen. Frantically I tried scooting across the room on my bottom, but I didn’t even get halfway to the door before the bindings disallowed me to move any further. I was now a prisoner once again…

Unexpectedly the door swung open, and in the doorway stood a loft Nord with a black beard that hung way down to the floor, almost dragging across it. His wild black hair was extremely messy and large as well.

“’Ello there, child. So you’ve decided to wake up, have ye? You’ve been sleeping fer a while now…” he said while walking into the room.

The floor boomed whenever he stepped with his gigantic fur boots. When the Nord neared me I noted several scars on his face, and his eyes…his eyes twinkled a bright blue color. They looked so peaceful but I had a bad feeling the Nord was anything but that.

“Wh…Where am I? Who…who are you?” I barely stammered. Right then I realized that my jaw was in excruciating pain as well. It was as if someone had beaten the living daylight out of me.

“Shhh….,” The Nord said while putting a fat finger up to his hairy upper mouth. “Hush, child, calm yer voice.”

The Nord then turned away from me and began to stare outside the window, located in the left corner of the small cramped room. I didn’t know what time it was, only that it was nighttime, for I could see the stars where I sat. I attempted to get up from the hard floor, but as soon as I put pressure on my left leg I immediately fell down. It appeared that I had somehow injured my leg as well, for it hurt badly. I looked down at it and it was dark blue around the knee region.

The Nord turned around to face me, and his head was cocked to the side. “Child, you mustn’t struggle. It will all be over soon.”

His voice was so calm and soothing it was scary. It was almost as if he was under a trance or something. I don’t know, it was hard to explain, but I knew something wasn’t right and I had to get out fast.

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? AND WHERE AM I?” I yelled at the top of my lungs. This caused the Nord to jump backwards in surprising fashion.

“My, my, child. Such angry words….”

Tears were forming in my eyes out of frustration.

“Why, my name is Ranmir. Yer inside my humble home, child. And lucky for you, it just so happens that yer the guest of honor tonight. You and yer lizard friend that is…” He said with a fanatical and creepy smile.

He turned away again and continued to stare outside the window, at who knows what. And again he sipped away at his large mug of drink. As he drank I noticed it looked a little awkward. So then I asked the Nord what he was drinking.

“What kind of wine are you drinking?”

I asked this even though I somehow knee the horrible truth. This drink was anything but wine. The Nord simply laughed at my question, and as he did his large body shook violently, causing some of the drink to slash from the cup and onto my shirt. It was dark red, and sticky. And when I tasted it my assumption was correct…..it was blood.

“OH MY GOD!” I screamed out loud, only making the Nord laugh even harder. “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO ME? WHERE IS TEEMEE?”

I was losing it now, for I knew what was going to happen to me. This Nord was a cannibal, and apparently a hungry one at that. He was going to eat me.

“Patience, child, patience,” he said in that same creepily soothing tone. “The time is not yet right. Soon, I promise you….”

Then he stepped outside the room and closed the door behind him, laughing the entire way. And as he did close the door, I took a peek at where he was going. Outside in the next room was a table with a severed head on it in a thick pool of blood…..that of Teemee. It was only a glance, but that’s all I needed to recognize my scaly friend. And next to the head was an enormous axe, with the head as bloody as the table it was resting on.
Once the Nord closed the door to my ‘holding cell’ I began weeping very loudly. Now Teemee was gone…my only friend left besides Melvin, the person I am now desperately trying to find. And here I am legs and arms binded together, inside a madman’s home who wants to devour me. This obviously wasn’t a predicament I wanted to be involved, not in the least. However, I couldn’t just sit here and let the Nord do his bidding. I had to fight back…..for Teemee and Melvin if nothing else.

So as I struggled to find a way out of my imprisonment I made a guess at how much longer I had until the Nord would come for. It couldn’t be too long, for the Nord knew that I knew of his evil doing. If he was the least bit smart he would realize that I would at least try and find a way of escaping. But he is a Nord, and they aren’t exactly known for their intelligence. Although this particular Nord is different from any other I had even met.

I pulled and tugged at the chains that were fastened to my limbs, but they wouldn’t budge. Now matter how hard I yanked the chains weren’t going anywhere. The Nord obviously put a lot of strength in binding me together, and unfortunately there wasn’t a thing I could do to loosen them. But lucky for me, because the Nord’s probable lack of intelligence, I had yet another plan.

It was highly likely that the Nord would be using a large and heavy weapon to chop me into pieces. Now, I’m not a historian of cannibalism by any means, but I doubt he’s going to eat me whole. It would make more sense to slice me into pieces so I’m easier to eat. And if that is the case, when the Nord swings his heavy weapon he will be doing so slowly because of the weapon’s weight. Therefore, I’ll position one of the chains in place so that the weapon cuts through the chains, helpfully freeing me. However, this is easier said than done.

There is one chain connecting a cuff around each of my ankles. The same goes for my wrists as well. So I will throw the two chains in place and pray for the best outcome. If I’m wrong I am as dead as a doornail. But…if I succeed then at least I am one step closer from getting out of this terrible place.

Regrettably there wasn’t any more time for preplanning, for the door leading to the next room swung open. The Nord stood there, holding a large mug of his “drink” in one hand, and a large battle axe in his other. I noticed how tense his muscles were, and I then knew he was going to act quickly and I had to be ready for the attack. And as soon as I made those thoughts the Nord took one long drip from the mug and then threw it to the ground. Blood was trickling down his hairy chin and onto his ruffled beard. Then he smiled and began walking towards me, clutching his axe tightly with both hands.

“Hold still, child, it will all be over soon…..” He then raised his axe high into the air, and he brought it down with more quickness than I would’ve given him credit for. Still, I was able to position the chains just in time and they were cut cleaning by the sharp head of the axe. I quickly got up from the ground, but then fell right back down from the pain in my knee.

Seeing that he was running out of time to perform the dirty deed, the Nord again swung his axe, and because of my quickness I dodged the attack once more. I then swiftly crawled over to the mug, which I found was made of died up clay, and tossed it at the Nord. The bloody container hit the Nord in the face, causing him to momentarily drop the axe while he tried urgently to wipe the blood from his burning eyes. And I took advantage of this situation.

I got up and forced myself through the door, limping the entire way mind you. I closed the door hoping to buy a little extra time, and then looked around the room for a door leading to the outside. But of course the first thing I noticed was Teemee’s still head, and I shuddered when I spotted it. But I shrugged it off; knowing now wasn’t the time to mourn. That would come later.

Suddenly the door swayed open from behind, hitting me in the back. I flew forward and dove across the table because of the force from the door. I landed on the floor, and next to where I was lying was a butcher’s knife. I noted it’s location in my mind and turned to face the Nord.

“I said stand still, dammit!” The soothing tone of his voice had been replaced by one of sheer madness. This Nord was not only a cannibal, but he was insane as well.

He walked up and hovered over my body, raised his axe, and before he could bring it down, I quickly grabbed the knife beside me. Then I plunged the blade deep into the Nord’s large stomach. He immediately dropped the axe and it landed a few inches from my face. His own face was now full of fear and surprise. He underestimated me, and was now paying the ultimate price for it.

His hulking body fell to the ground besides me, as still and as dead as the bloody knife I now held in my hands. I tossed the blade to the ground and scooted over in front of the table to get some to stretch my aching bones. The Nord must have done a number to me in the snow. I figured he must of beat me up pretty badly for me to feel like this.

And then of course I looked at Teemee’s detached head once more. And also, again, tears began streaming down my face as I thought about how close we were getting. Through all this time I had essentially thought of Teemee as a snot-nosed jerk. But after talking for a while I realized I couldn’t have been further from the truth. He was only misunderstood. But now it didn’t matter, as yet another one of my friends’ lives has been cut severely short.

I was about to head out and search for the settlement of Thirsk, but then I got to thinking. This house, even though it held two corpses, was still a pretty good place to stay when ever I would need to retreat. I wanted to dispose of the Nord’s body, but my bones were too weak to move him. So rather than hurt myself even more I only got rid of Teemee’s head. I couldn’t find his body, and to be honest I didn’t want to think about where it could be. The smell was obviously not very pleasant, but I’d simply have to deal with it.

As I lay in a bed upstairs, where the stench of death was less noticeable, I heard a tiny ‘pang’ and suddenly standing in the room was Madila, with her hands crossed and mean expression about her face.

“So…..sleeping on the job, eh?” She said, and not in a friendly way I should add.

“In case you haven’t noticed Teemee is dead, and I was almost eaten alive by an insane Nord. By bones ache terribly and I think I deserve a little bit of rest,” I said defiantly.

“Oh, don’t worry about Madila and her eternal suffering. Let’s just take a little rest. She’s waited for nearly forty years for this opportunity, she can wait a tad bit longer,” she said sarcastically.

“To be honest I really don’t give a damn about you and your ‘suffering’. If you ask me you’re having too much fun watching me run around, escaping death every five [censored] minutes!”

“I didn’t plan on the Nord, Erick. That was bad luck and thankfully you proved skilled enough to handle the situation.”

“Well, if it wasn’t for this ring I’d be dead now. I suppose I should thank you for that. It has saved my life several times now…” I tried cooling my voice down a bit, for I fear Madila was getting fed up with my tone.

But she simply rolled her eyes and said, “Erick, Erick, Erick... That ring is doing nothing for you. You do realize that, correct?”

I cocked my head to the side and gave her a confusing look. “What do you mean ‘nothing’?”

“It is a normal copper ring, Erick. It has no special abilities whatsoever.”

“Than how do you explain how I killed the Nords at Fort Frostmoth, and how I escaped death in this very house?”

“Don’t you see? The ring has proven you are skilled enough to handle yourself, Erick. It was only a test, to give you confidence. You’ve been doing everything with your ability. That’s why I chose you. Do you think I would have came to you if I had to give you a ring just to get by?”

I couldn’t believe. It’s all been one big joke this entire time. I had thought the ring was brining me powerful abilities, but apparently I’ve been wrong. It…was just so unbelievable. I never would have thought this…ever.

“Are you sure?” I asked, and Madila rolled her eyes yet again. She was also becoming impatient as well.

“I haven’t come here to blow sunshine up your [censored]. I’m here to get you on your feet and back out there. I understand your injuries, so I suppose spending the night here won’t hurt too much. Just don’t get too lazy…..or else I might decide to go ahead and end Melvin’s life. I am not a patient women, Erick…”

And with that she disappeared just as quickly as she had arrived…

This post has been edited by redsrock: Mar 31 2008, 03:21 AM