Rashelle At Lokken, WWOLM fanfic Options

[blockhead]

Around the end of February and the beginning of March I posted a short fan fiction on a small intimate forum and there were some positive responses. This story is being posted here on the chorrol forums as I am eager to see the responses from the larger fanfic-oriented crowd here. This seems to be where the "pros" of the Morrowind fanfic world congregate,

This will be posted this in sections, serialized as it was originally. It would be easy to just post the entire thing all at once but I thought it would be more fun not to.

This story is based on the main quest of Emma's "White Wolf Of Lokken Mountain" plugin. It contains spoilers.


Rashelle At Lokken
by Blockhead

1. Arrival, Tension

Snow. The ground covered with it. The trees white with it. The late afternoon sun reflecting off of it. The landscape was that of a magical wonderland. My adventures in Solstheim had not reduced my wonder at this phenomena. I had never seen snow where I grew up and there was certainly none in Vvardenfell.

Although I was the Nerevarine and an experienced adventurer, I arrived at Lokken gawking and gaping like a tourist at the Imperial City.

The Lokken leaflet had been in my pack for some time and I had finally decided to see what it was all about. I had no great desire to hunt animals merely for sport (as advertised) but I have always liked to explore new places.

My adamantium boots crunched on the snow as I stepped out from the boat.

"You had better talk to Ragnar Fire Hair before you do anything else, lass. Without his permission, you are not allowed to be here", admonished the boatman again.

Yeah, whatever.

I paused to look around some more. Ahead lay the village, the road ahead rising up towards the mountain. Up further, to the left, could be seen the castle, covered with snow and looking amazing, like a fairy land castle in some painting.

As I slowly walked up the road I tried to stop and chat with some people but they all seemed preoccupied ... no ... afraid. At first I thought it was me, all decked out in my ebony cuirass, dark brotherhood greaves, adamantium boots, and the sword Chrysamere on my back. That and my bare arms making me look more a barbarian than a spell-sword could perhaps be intimidating. I suppose also my coal-black eyes and coal-black hair (an odd color for a Breton) marking me as Not A Nord did not put anyone at ease.

Several people had white hair. It was not the usual blond that Nords tend to, nor a light gray. It was a bright white, like snow. I had only seen such a pure white on the fur of snow bears and other animals. Something in the water perhaps?

A woman who did not have white hair (it was brown) was little friendlier. When I approached her she said "Hello there. Your face doesn't look familiar to me. I'm Silja. Welcome to Lokken. Don't expect to find much here, though. This is a poor village. Since we are not allowed to hunt in the forests anymore, it's hard for us to get by. I assume you have been invited by our chieftain, Ragnar Fire Hair, and that you have his permission to hunt? If not, you had better stay away from the Lokken wildlife."

I thanked her and walked up the road a little further before a guard named Gudmund also told me that it was very important that I see Ragnar Fire Hair first.

"I will, but first could you direct me to a trader or general store? I may need some warmer clothing."

That generated a smile and some directions the Lokken Clothier. I actually did not need the clothing. Despite my origin in warmer climes, I have an unusual tolerance, actually an affinity, for cold weather. What I was wearing now was comfortable and the only concession to cold I had was a sleeping fur in my pack. Still I had broken the ice a little bit. That was progress. It also gave me an excuse to try to talk to at least one more person before heading for the castle.

I walked into the clothing shop. I briefly talked with the woman there, Anna. She was also nervous like the people outside but gave away some more information. The people here were in fear, but from one of their own, not from me. Apparently this Ragnar Fire Hair, their new chieftain, was not liked and was a not a nice person. He had some men loyal to him and a shaman. They were also feared.

Thanking her I left and continued to the castle, stopping only once more, at the brewery. I had been in many a bar and tavern but never in a brewery and I was curious. There were big metal vats and kettles. It was rather complicated looking and awe inspiring in the manner of certain Dwemer ruins. By that I mean I had no idea how it worked.

Some chitchat there with Borka, and his wife Gwenn, yielded more information: the people who actually lived in Lokken were not allowed to drink the mead, or at least not much of it. It was reserved for Ragnar Fire Hair and for his guests. What little they were allowed was at three times the price that guests paid. I was beginning to dislike this Ragnar and I had not even met him yet.

Thus forewarned, I approached and entered the castle.

I entered an anteroom of sorts. A guard was there. He said nothing but pointed to the door on the opposite side of the room. I nodded and went to the door.

I entered the throne room. There were animal pelts on the floor and tapestries on the walls to warm up the cold stone room and to provide an ambiance conducive to the hunting enthusiast. There was a bar on the left.

A bar in a throne room: that's not something I've seen before. Convenient I suppose if one were more concerned with entertaining than the usual duties of ruling. There were four guards; one on either side of the door I had just entered and two closer to the throne at the far end of the room.

The throne was on a raised section of the floor and on it sat a large mean-looking Nord with red hair who could only be Ragnar Fire Hair.

To his right stood a man in dark robes who had to be his shaman.

My boot steps were the only sound as I approached the throne. I presented the leaflet to Ragnar.

He tossed the leaflet aside and spoke: "Who the oblivion are you? You have no business being here uninvited and I'm sure I didn't invite you."

He paused and studied me. I stared back at him. I'm sure my eyes now had the hardness of obsidian as well as the color. I adjusted the angle of the sheath on my back.

He looked tough. And huge. A great bull of a man, and Nords are already kind of big. I wouldn't want to fight him, at least not alone.

"Well, you look like you can handle yourself in the wild. There is one way that perhaps you can be allowed in the forests."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I want you to hunt and kill a certain wolf. This is no ordinary wolf. It's larger than the regular snow wolves, though it is white like they are. It has unnatural blue eyes. My men and I have pursued it on numerous occasions and it has always gotten away."

"That's not something you see every day," I quipped. Oh Rashelle, you must stop this business of talking without thinking!

"Exactly. it is obviously not natural, not of the All-Maker. It is a daedra-spawn, an abomination, a menace that must be killed for the safety of my people," he said, not picking up on my sarcasm.

I nodded, not trusting myself to not again say something wrong, and to also buy myself a second or two of time to think of an appropriate response.

This man mentioning the All Maker rubbed me the wrong way: after my adventures amongst the Skaal I had some respect for their beliefs. I somehow knew that Ragnar had no right to call on their All Maker.

"So, oh chieftain of Lokken, so long as I Quest for this White Wolf, I am permitted in the forests of your island?"

"Aye, with my blessing. Bring me his head there will be a reward."

"I shall begin at once. First I will question the guards and villagers as to sightings."

"Excellent" he said, waving me away, obviously tired of talking to me now that I had agreed to his business.

I definitely did not like this man.

As I turned away I got a better look at his shaman and I liked him even less. My magical sensitivity picked up on an evil from him that I had previously only sensed from Sixth House minions. I tried not to display my feelings: a shaman is very sensitive and notices many things. Around him it would be best to appear to be a simple non-magical warrior and not a spellsword.

I strode away from the the throne. Before I took more than a few paces I could see that the woman at the bar was trying to get my attention with her eyes.

I sauntered over to the bar. Might not be a bad idea to get a mazte anyway. I cannot not stand mead. I love snow, but the Nords can keep their mead.

"I'm Kielreen"

"Rashelle. Got any mazte?"

"Yup".

"Please".

She poured me a mazte and started to speak very quietly. Not a whisper. That would have attracted attention, but she obviously wanted only me to hear.

"he's asked you about the big white wolf, wants you to kill it, right?"

I paid and took a sip before replying.

"Yes."

"Don't. There is something strange about the creature."

I took another sip.

"Things are not as they seem in Lokken."

That much was already obvious.

"Talk to my aunt Gwenn at the brewery."

I had just been there. Maybe mentioning Kielreen would get Gwenn to say more than she had the first time. I nodded ever so slightly. Picking up my drink, I walked to one of the one of Ragnars guards.

He at first did not want to speak but I can be charming when I want to be. I asked him about the white wolf and any sightings of it. This did not yield any new information but would go back to Ragnar and would keep him complacent about my activities. I had already decided that I was not going to kill this mysterious white wolf.

After talking to the the other guards I finished my mazte, left the mug on the bar and exited the castle. It had begun to snow. I caught some flakes in the palm of my hand and watched them melt.

This post has been edited by blockhead: Mar 30 2007, 11:41 PM

[blockhead]

11. Reaction, Justice

I snapped awake. Sigrid was calling my name and walking towards the bed. I didn't see Laurenna. I knew something was wrong.

"Where's Laurenna?" I asked as I got out of bed.

"I don't know. She went outside: she had to 'go'. but that was awhile ago, she hasn't ... "

I was outside. It was snowing now and I could see no tracks. Laurenna was nowhere in sight. Where was Wulfren for that matter? He must have had enough time to get back here by now.

I cast a spell used to detect enchantments. Laurenna had one levitation and one chameleon amulet with her so my spell should have located her. I detected nothing aside from the amulets in the cottage. She was either far away ... or inside the castle: the thick stone walls would block my spell. I knew then that they had come and kidnapped her when she was outside by herself.

Wulfren had warned me to stay with her. Now she was gone.

"If they harm so much as one hair on her head, they will die!"

I rushed back into the cottage.

"Sigrid. They have her. Somehow Ragnar knew and came back early from his hunting trip. I can't wait for Wulfren."

I gave her my one backup almsivi intervention scroll.

"If I'm not back in an hour then all is lost. Use this to escape to Gnisis."

I left.

I cast Jump and I shot towards the castle. I cast Slow Fall just as I was about to hit. I landed next to the exterior door to the master bedroom.

The guards looked at me but they seemed unsure as to what to do. I quickly let myself in with the key and had the door re-locked behind me before they could come to a decision.

Quick as a flash I was across the room and entering the secret passage.

I cast a Light spell and ran along the passage.

Ragnar's men were waiting for me.

I should have expected this but did not. It was entirely logical: the attack on his shaman had bypassed the guard in the anteroom and the ones outside. Therefore the secret passage had been used. In retrospect, it was logical and obvious to now patrol the passage.

I was caught unawares. I expected undead, not a cross-bow.

A bolt pierced my cuirass: from the pain I knew it hit something vital. That should have been impossible, bolts can't pierce ebony armor ... unless they were using daedric bolts. Another bolt hit me in the leg. I was down. Through a fog of pain I cast a large fireball down the passage. I cast another one. I followed it with a nasty toxic cloud spell.

Silence: maybe I had gotten them all.

I was going to faint. If I fainted now I would die. I took a potion, then another. The healing action of the potions pushed both bolts out. It hurt. I took a third potion.

Finally I was able to rise. That was a close one. Stupid, Rashelle: Always expect the unexpected.

I canceled the Light spell and moved at a slower, more cautious, pace.

My feet bumped a body. By the scorched smell I knew it was dead: a char-broiled mass of meat for the rats.

There was another body in the same condition. So there had been two stationed here. Casting a Night Eye spell to see in the darkness, I searched the bodies. I took a cross-bow and some bolts. I'm not good with bows but maybe I would get lucky. I moved forward again.

There was torch light at a branching: another of Ragnar's guards. I hit him with a fireball. Stupid, if anyone had a Reflect spell ... but they didn't.

As I approached the throne room, I could hear the clash of metal on metal: fighting.

I reached the door, looked though the peephole.

A Nord in Nordic mail armor was there, and he was fighting Ragnar. He was wielding the warhammer of Thorjan Bjorg. The warhammer identified him as Wulfren. I had only ever seen him in wolf-form: I did not know what he looked like as a man, aside from having white hair and blue eyes. That idiot must have decided to go directly to kill Ragnar by himself, leaving Laurenna and I entirely out of it. A noble and protective move, but stupid: Ragnar was winning. Ragnar was playing with him, as a cat does a mouse. Wulfren was favoring his side and was bleeding. He looked like he was going to drop the warhammer any second.

Then Wulfren was down. Ragnar kicked him once. Again. I winced as I heard ribs break. Turning from the peephole, I sheathed my sword. I then loaded and cocked the cross-bow.

"Ha! Crawl like a kwama. You'll beg for death, before I kill you." said Ragnar, "Then I'll rape your sister while your mother watches!"

I took another look. I could see only one guard and he was dead. Wulfren must have managed to kill him while also fighting Ragnar. Wulfren and Ragnar were alone in the throne room.

I would only get one chance to do this and marksman was not my strong suit. Focus Rashelle. Aim.

I opened the the trap door, aimed as quickly as I dared, and fired.

I was aiming for Ragnar's head but I hit him in the side. It may have been a fatal wound or it may not have been. If it were, it would take too long to kill him.

Dropping the cross-bow, I sprung out of the passage. Ragnar had turned and was now looking at me in astonishment.

I hit him with a targeted paralyze spell and ran towards him.

I reached him. He was motionless: the spell worked.

Looking the him straight in the eye I hissed, "Burn, fetcher."

With a hate as pure as sunshine, I put a hand on his chest and began to pour a fire spell into him.

I could tell when the paralyze cut out because he fell to his knees and began to scream. My hand stayed in contact and the fire got hotter. The scream was quickly silenced by white-hot flame.

He was dead but I wanted to continue burning him. I wanted to burn him until there was nothing left but ashes. It would have been very satisfying. I did not, because I was in a hurry: I needed to save Laurenna.

"Rashelle," said Wulfren weakly.

I turned to him, crouched down, and handed him a potion. "Drink this."

He drank it.

"Rashelle, I ... "

"Not now. Drink this."

I gave him another potion. There were cracking sounds as the potion set and healed broken ribs.

"I'm sorry I ... "

"Later. Focus, Wulfren. We need to save Laurenna. Are you healed now?"

"Yes. Let us go. Lead on."

I extended my hand. He grasped it and pulled himself up until he was standing.

"Wulfren," I said, "is there anyone left in the castle who will try to kill us?"

"No. The regular guards were loyal to my father. They followed Ragnar because he was the chieftain, not because of any great loyalty. They won't give us any trouble now."

"Good," I said. "Now Laurenna."

I ran towards the prison area, Wulfren at my heels. Where else would they take her? No one tried to stop us.

I entered the prison area and faced Von Schlepp.

"Von Schlepp. Ragnar and his men are all dead. Wulfren rules now. Where is Laurenna?"

"Oh thank goodness you are here Rashelle. You've got to help her. Ragnar's guards dragged that poor girl down here and threw her in that cell beneath the trap door. They took my key. They must have beaten her up severely, because she was in terrible shape. And all the time she was calling for you, Rashelle, begging for her to rescue you."

Enough. I darted past Von Schlepp to the trap door and I was down in Laurenna's cell.

She was a mess, Ragnar's goons had worked her over. She was bleeding. It tore me apart to see her like this. I'll kill them. No wait, I'd already done that. Focus, Rashelle.

"Rashelle, I knew you would come." she croaked in a small voice.

Searching my pack I discovered that I had used up all of my healing potions. I quaffed a restore magicka potion instead.

I laid my hands on her and poured healing magic into her. A blue glow suffused her.

I cradled her head and healed her bruised bleeding face.

I concentrated, focused, healed.

When I was done I said; "Ragnar and his henchmen are all dead. Wulfren is the chieftain now. You are safe now. It's over. We've won."

"Thank you, Rashelle. Thank you so much for everything."

"Is she all right?" Von Schlepp called down.

"Yes, thankfully," I called up to him.

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone smash a trap door from its hinges with one kick before," he said.

I turned back to Laurenna and asked her, "Can you stand up?"

"Y-yes. Thank you Rashelle".

I helped her stand up. She still was shaky and seemed weak but otherwise restored to health.

I brought out a potion.

"Drink this," I hissed, "it will taste very bad you must drink it".

She did.

"Rashelle," Wulfren called down, "You should take Laurenna back to the cottage to rest. I've got matters in hand here."

"OK Wulfren, but I have a question for you."

"Yes?"

"How did you know Ragnar was back early?"

"I suddenly was human again. I departed from the hideout. I was in the forest, about halfway to the cottage, when I spotted Ragnar and his men, heading for the castle in a hurry. I carefully followed them. I stopped before I got too close to the castle and I waited. I watched them enter the castle. I swear I could hear his bellow of rage even from outside where I was standing. I waited a bit longer. Then I decided to just go in and kill him then without involving you two."

That explained a lot. It didn't explain why Ragnar knew to come back early. My only guess would be that there had been some sort of magical tie between Ragnar and his shaman, so that Ragnar knew of his death instantly.

To Laurenna I said, "Put your arms around me, I'm going to teleport you home."

She did and I did. Recall only works on one person but if in close enough contact a second person can be carried along. It was awkward because she was taller than I am, but I wanted her out of there and in her cottage as quickly as possible.

We went into the cottage and I put her in her bed.

"Sleep now. You are safe now."

I then turned to Sigrid.

"Ragnar and all of his cronies are all dead. Only the regular guards remain and they were always loyal to Wulfren. It's over. Wulfren rules now. He is in the castle now. You are free."

Sigrid said; "Oh Rashelle, thank you for everything," and gave me a hug.