Rashelle At Solstheim, bloodmoon fanfic Options

[blockhead]

This story contains spoilers for the Bloodmoon Expansion for Morrowind. As it has been some time since that was released I expect that this is no longer concern but I thought I would mention it here anyway.


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Rashelle At Solstheim

by blockhead aka pcc



Chapter 1. Arrival



I think I was the only one on board the boat who was not grumbling. Apparently the Solstheim posting was viewed as a punishment or an exile by the soldiers of the Imperial Legion.

This ship had been chartered by the Legion to send a group of soldiers to Fort Frostmoth in Solstheim. I was the only civilian passenger.

I felt a sense of anticipation, there was something in the air.

For one thing, I was cool, nicely cool. The air had been slowly lowering in temperature over the course of the voyage. It was now cooler than the coolest cave I had ever been in.

For another, I was going to a strange new land. I love to explore. I had heard of Solstheim and its "snow". I had been told what snow was but I frankly felt it too incredible to believe. It sounded more like a crazed skooma dream ... but I wanted to see it.

Over the past half hour or so, the sky had been becoming more overcast. It was now a solid-looking gray.

The air became cooler still, and I felt like I had never felt before. Around me the men were beginning to shiver and complain and don fur cloaks. I had been forewarned so I had a fur from a creature called a "bear" in my pack, but I had no urge to wear it. I was fine ... feeling better than ever.

The air got cooler still, cooler than I ever thought it could get. A gentle cold breeze blew against my face and on my bare arms and it was ... wonderful.

"Brrr, woman, you must have some Nord in you! They like the cold."

This was logical. My tolerance ... no ... my *affinity* for cold made me suspect that my father had been a Nord. Since I was an orphan, I would never know.

I was pacing on the deck, sometimes stopping to stare off towards the horizon, when it happened.

"It" was millions of tiny white particles that floated gently down from the sky. They were the purest white imaginable. They could not be ashes.

I caught some in my hand. they faded away. I caught some more. they ... melted?

"Is ... is this snow?"

"Well of course, haven't you seen snow before?" replied one of the men.

"No."

"Oh. Sera, I am sorry."

"It's OK."

I smiled. So *this* was snow. I was enchanted.

"You won't like it so much when you have to dig out from it in the morning, or when you have to walk through it."

"You've been here before?"

"Yes, I'm returning from a month-long furlough. I've been stationed at Fort Frostmoth for almost a year now."

He fell into a discourse on the problems and dangers of Solstheim. From horkers to snow bears to spriggans to the semi-intelligent rieklings, there were many new dangers and problems for the hapless adventurer.

I sensed he was going to segue into the "protect the helpless female" monolog so I discreetly adjusted the sheath of the claymore that I wore on my back. It clanked against my ebony cuirass. The Breton spell-sword in the armor can take care of herself, sera.

"Erm, yes, well keep your wits about you and don't slip on the ice and you should be OK."

Ahead, a gray and white mass resolved itself: land.

The ship approached and I could make out a stone dock. The ground behind it, covered with short green grass of a sort not found in Vvardenfell, rose up until it met, further back, the mass of a stone Imperial fort.

To either side were ... trees, but of a sort I had never seen before. These must be the "pines" and "fir trees" that I had heard existed in colder climates.

The men were busy calling the role or standing in formation or some other such military thing so I was was the first one off the ship.

"Brrrr, so ... cold." said an Argonian dock worker. I pondered the wisdom of a creature used to the warm swamps working here in Solstheim.

I looked at the fort, then I glanced to the west. The snow covered wilderness beckoned, a lure I could not resist. I ran west: I could explore the fort some other time.

It was not long before a creature attacked me: some things never change, no matter where you go. I identified this one as a wolf. I knew of these from before. They were almost everywhere in the empire but Vvardenfell. It took almost no time to dispatch it.

It wasn't too much longer before I was attacked again, this time by a large bulky brown creature. It walked on four legs but stood up to attack. It growled, had wicked claws and was larger that I was. Still, Chrysamere was up to the task and in short time I had slain it.

There was something familiar about this creature. Then I realized why: its thick fur reminded me of the fur I had in my pack. This brown creature was therefore a "bear".

I continued along, wandering and exploring. I was heading north as well as west now. I reached an area where the ground was covered with snow. The snow in the air began to get thicker: there was more of it. The wind began to pick up, driving the snow into an intense mass of bright white opacity.

I was having trouble seeing. This was what they meant by "snow blind", a situation where daylight and whiteness were as effective as Stygian darkness at blinding one. The blizzard raged on and I stumbled in snow that was already over a foot high, with drifts almost as high as I was. I loved it!

At some point I crossed a small river that was covered with ice. I could walk on this ice, though I fell twice before I got the hang of it. I was amazed: the only ice I had ever seen before this was the stuff created by frost spells. Here was natural ice, strong enough to hold my weight.

Eventually, in a region with far less foliage, I reached the ocean. I was now somewhere on the west coast of Solstheim.

Most of the coastline of Solstheim is littered with impressive standing stones. They are huge and carved and placed, via means unknown, by ancient Nords. This was my first sight of them.

On a rock outcrop, I saw silhouetted the shape of a man. He stood and looked outward, towards the sea. Since the blizzard continued to blow, I found this behavior unusual. I carefully ascended the outcrop, which was slippery with spray and snow.

Now I could see the man clearly. he was a Nord clad all in a dark, almost black, armor that appeared to be made of wolf skins.

He turned to me, unconcerned at a stranger with a big sword and said "The sea, never has there been a maiden so beautiful or so unforgiving."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I am Thormoor Gray-Wave and I have been cursed. Six months ago I was at the rudder of the ship, not far from here. I fell asleep and we crashed against some rocks. Almost all on board were killed.

"A seer who survived the wreck cursed me with eternal wakefulness as punishment. I have not been able to sleep since that day, not a wink, not even a cat nap. I have tried potions, spells, and other things. Nothing worked."

The wind and the waves crashing on the shore were the only sounds.

"If only I could get the seer, Geilir the Mumbling, to rescind this curse."

"Maybe I could help?" I asked.

"Aye, lass, that would be a great thing if you could do it. I've suffered so. Maybe you could talk to him and convince him."

I nodded.

"His cave lies in that direction. It is not terribly far. The entrance is a low snow-covered mound."

He pointed.

"Right. I'm on it."

The blizzard began to taper off into a light snowfall as I traveled. On the way I was attacked by two Nord women. At first I was overconfident, as they were armed only with daggers. When the first dagger bit into my arm I realized that I had underestimated matters. The frost enchantment hurt, even with my affinity to cold, and the blade itself was more damaging than it looked. I also realized that these women were skilled with short blades.

Chrysamere chopped into the first one. She screamed and was down, although not yet dead. I kicked her while swinging my sword at the second one. She dodged but the blade still cut into her.

She came at me and I brushed the dagger aside with Chrysamere.

"Why are you attacking me?" I shouted.

"You will die where you stand!" she said as she raised her dagger and rushed at me.

I ran her through.

The first one must have quaffed a potion because she was up and on the attack again. I kicked her back while I pulled my blade from the second one.

I parried and my swing forced her back.

She came at me again and again. I simply parried and blocked. Maybe she'd calm down and stop.

She didn't.

I finally kicked her hand: her dagger went arcing though the air, quite a ways. She ran for the corpse of her compatriot, obviously intending to employ her dagger.

My booted foot smashed down on the weapon.

She stopped and glared at me.

"Why?" I asked. "Who are you?"

She aimed a kick. I dodged. Since I had to move my feet to do it, she dove for the dagger and snatched it up. She was on the attack again. I guess she just was not going to talk.

I dispatched her. It bothered me, not knowing why these two had wanted to kill me. I didn't think they were bandits.

I healed my arm with a spell and then examined the corpses: they both were wearing fur shirts that were very similar in appearance, as if they were some sort of uniform. Boots and brown pants completed the ensemble. I inspected one of the nasty cold-enchanted daggers. It was a curious construction in that the hilt had no cross-piece and that the blade was not much longer than the hilt. For its size it was rather effective. I stowed one in my pack.

I continued on my way and soon found a snow covered cave. I sheathed my sword and carefully entered.

The inside of cave looked as if it were entirely made from ice. I was astounded. I touched the wall: it was pleasingly cold. It *was* ice. Perhaps Solstheim was so cold that there were layers of ice in the ground as if it were merely another form of rock? Fascinating!

I progressed along the tunnel of ice. It went downhill until it opened into a cave that had some furniture, a few torches stuck into the floor, and one occupant.

He was a Nord man, with long, light brown, hair. He studied me warily. This was fair, as I had just barged into his home uninvited.

"Excuse me. I am Rashelle. Are you Geilir The Mumbling?"

He chuckled.

"I haven't mumbled since back in school as a lad, yet I have a name for life."

I grinned.

"I am sorry. I come here on behalf of a man who has not been able to sleep for six months."

He frowned and said; "He caused the deaths of everyone on board but myself and my friend."

"He said it was an accident."

"Aye, lass, it was: the fool fell asleep at the helm. We struck rocks and the ship sunk like a stone. I dragged him to the shore, although I almost decided not to. I let him live but I put a curse on him: he will never sleep again."

I remained silent. Sometimes I say more by not saying a thing. I stared.

"They died because of him."

I was mute.

"Look lass, he did a terrible thing."

Silence was my only reply.

"Of course, we all make mistakes," he said, "It's just ... that one was such a big mistake."

I silently reflected on mistakes that I had made in the past.

"How about this, lass? If you can find my friend for me, I'll lift the curse on Thormoor Gray-Wave."

"Your friend?"

"Oddfrid White-Lip. She is my only friend these days. Some draugr attacked us here today and they took her away. My powers as a seer are, sporadic: they do not work on demand, so I did not see the attack ahead of time."

I nodded.

"My visions indicate that the draugr took her to Kolbjorn Barrow. It is to the far south east of here, not far from the Imperial fort. It's a little bit west of the fort, actually"

He must mean Frostmoth.

"What are draugr?"

"They are undead: they are the mummified corpses of Nords that have become animated. They are a black in color, with eyes that glow red: they are hard to see so they can catch you by surprise. They seem to lurk in every barrow in Solstheim. They attack and they kill: they feed upon the living. Beware of them."

I nodded and departed.

I made a long journey back to the fort. I fought many creatures along the way, including one of a type that I had been warned about, a spriggan.

The creature was of a strange appearance. It resembled some weird cross between a woman and ... a tree. Its face was human but the eyes were devoid of any humanity, staring blankly as it used its large claws to slash at me.

Taking a hint from the resemblance to trees, I hit the spriggan with a fireball. It screamed and slashed at me again. While the spell did some damage, it was not enough to kill the creature. I chopped with Chrysamere. The sword connected but the spriggan was tough ... with flesh almost like wood in hardness.

Nothing but to chop and duck and chop some more. Blood like red sap flowed from its wounds. Eventually I killed it.

I paused to take a breather. This creature had been ... annoying.

One does not expect a just-killed creature to return to full health and attack again, yet that is just what the fetcher did. Suddenly there was a flash of light and I was staggering back from a slash of the creature's claws, cursing and dodging a second slash.

I slammed down a potion and fought. I killed it a second time.

It rose from the dead again ... larger this time. I was beginning to come close to panic. Could this thing ever be killed for good?

Finally, I killed it for a third time. This time it stayed dead. I like many things about Solstheim, but spriggans are not one of them.

Upon sighting the Fort, I turned and strode west.

I found a barrow, a Nord tomb. The entrance was a pile of roughly-hewn dark stone blocks with an ornate door. I slowly puzzled through the ancient Nordic runes on the door, whose shape and meaning were unlike modern Tamrielic, and determined that this was the Stormpfund barrow.

This was not the one I was looking for but I entered anyway. The black stone made the interior of the barrow even darker than that of a Vvardenfell tomb.

I met my first draugr and also an animated half rotted undead wolf. Later I found out that these are called "bone wolves".

I fought them.

Afterwards, I found a nice-looking Nordic silver claymore. As I didn't want to lug it all around the island, I left it there. I found some gold and some gems: those I took.

In the back of the barrow was something ... interesting. It looked like ice, but it was harder than ice ... much harder. I could not crack it with Chrysamere. I peered through its translucency and saw a skeleton inside. This strange ice thing was some sort of coffin.

I exited the barrow and continued on my way. The ground sloped up and I ascended a hill. The hill was topped by a circle of standing stones. I saw nothing of interest in the circle so I continued walking west, down the other side of the hill.

I found another barrow. The runes on the door indicated that I had found the Kolbjorn Barrow. There were no people here, save for the undead. I fought through these as I had the ones in the previous barrow.

I did not find the woman. As those draugr had only carried Oddfrid White-Lip off that day, I should have seen her or her recently-killed corpse. Maybe he had envisioned the wrong tomb?

On a rock in the center of the barrow lay a skull. Geilir couldn't have meant that this was his friend, could he?

The skull had no dust on it so it could not have been there for more than a few days. I put it in my pack.

My return to Geilir's cave was uneventful, save that the snow had stopped and the sun was shining brightly. The glare of the sun off the snow took some getting used to, but it was all still very beautiful.

"Rashelle, did you find her?"

"It depends ... "

I took the skull from my pack and said, "Is this her?"

His face lit up and he exclaimed, "Oddfrid, my friend!"

He took the skull from my hands. He looked so happy that I could not remain angry for having been sent on such a pointless quest.

"Oh thank you for rescuing her!"

He then spoke to the skull. "Oh Oddfrid, it's so good to be with you again!"

I remained silent.

"Oddfrid sees things," he said to me. "Sometimes she tells me them. She is grateful to you and will tell you of your future."

I nodded. I didn't really know what to think, yet alone what to say.

Geilir held the skull in both hands. He twitched and his eyes rolled up. In a different voice he began to speak.

"The time for the hunt is near. You are both hunter and hunted."

I didn't think he was faking it. It was rather creepy.

Geilir's trembled for a few seconds and then blinked.

"It always gives me the shakes to do that," he said in his normal voice.

I nodded.

"Here Rashelle, she wishes to communicate with you directly."

I raised an eyebrow and took a step back.

"She says it's, ummm, 'girl talk.'"

"Could you put the skull on the ground? I don't want to drop it."

He did so. I crouched down, took a deep breath to prepare myself, and put two hands on the skull, as he had done before.

When I had touched the skull before, to put it in my pack and again to hand it over, there had been no sense of any magic or anything else about it. This time it was different: there was a mental contact and the skull was talking to me, directly in my mind without sound! That Nord was not so crazy after all.

"Rashelle, Thank you for rescuing me and bringing me back to my Geilir. I know this is very strange for you but I really do appreciate it."

"You are welcome ... and yes this is rather unusual."

"As for a more personal glimpse into your far distant future, Rashelle ... there will be true love. Someone ... someone tall ..."

"... dark and handsome?" I interrupted. That was the oldest fortune-teller line in the book. This had gone from strange to ludicrous.

"No ... tall and light ... yes, lightness. They wait for you, though they do not realize it yet. That is all I can say."

I sensed that the conversation was over. I removed my hands from the skull and stood up.

"Can you please lift the curse now?"

"Of course, lass."

"Thank you."

I departed and returned to the coast. I found the outcrop but I did not see Thormoor Gray-Wave standing there. Had he disappeared? Had he fallen off the rock in a sudden onset of sleep?

I scurried up the big rock as fast as I could and discovered that he was still there, but not standing. He was lying there so peacefully, a smile on his tired-looking face. His chest slowly rose and fell as he breathed. The curse had indeed been lifted, perhaps instantaneously and without warning.

I was concerned that he would fall off of the outcrop in his sleep. I was also worried that there might be a creature in Solstheim capable of climbing and then attacking him. I tried to shake him awake but he remained in a deep slumber.

It was nearing the end of the day. For the sake of his safety, I decided to remain there. I ate some food from my pack and watched the sun set.






This post has been edited by blockhead: Jun 11 2007, 11:24 PM

[blockhead]

Chapter 7. Decision



I stopped in to see Carnius at the East Empire Company offices again. He said there was nothing that needed doing. I thought this odd, as a new colony should be a mass of Things To Do. I kept this last to myself.

"As a matter of fact, the boat now goes there even though a dock has not yet been constructed. More men and supplies have been shipped there since you were there. The progress is excellent."

I thanked him for his time and left.

Marisa was on duty at the Cult chapel.

"Hey Marisa. How are you today?"

"Hello Rashelle. Much better. Thank you again."

"It was my pleasure."

A thought struck me and, impulsive as ever, I blurted it out; "Marissa, did you tell the Nords up at Thirsk to stop drinking mead?"

I felt bad to ask this question, as I then realized it would bring back the memories of her ordeal.

She shuddered and hugged herself.

"Oh Marisa, I'm sorry I brought it up."

She took a breath, closed her eyes, released it before speaking.

"No Rashelle, it is all right. Yes, I did, though the Cult has no actual ban on alcohol."

"Marisa, if it hurts to talk about it, forget I brought it up." I was curious but I not want to press her.

"I'm sorry Rashelle, it's just that I've had some ... experiences ... with the effects of mead. I can't talk about it. Drinking is fine, but mead is evil."

I nodded. I would have to leave it at that. I apologized for upsetting her and departed.

I left the fort and walked west, in the general direction of Raven Rock. I was headed there because I was curious as to how things were going. I also was going there because of my earlier resolve to reduce the damage done by the East Empire Company: it was time for me to start watching things and participating where I could.

I killed another of those damn Fryse Hags on the way, as well as the berserker, the bear, and the two spriggans that attacked me.

It was in the early afternoon when I reached the colony. I was amazed at what had been done: in the two days that I had been away, two buildings had been erected: a mine entrance and a house.

"Rashelle, good to see you," said a tired-looking Falco, "It's good that you've come around."

"Carnius said you had no need of me, but I want to lend a hand anyway."

"Why would he say that? We are very busy."

"That's what I figured."

"Look Rashelle, I assume Carnius wanted you more as a courier and troubleshooter, but I have many more ... well ... menial tasks that need doing. I feel embarrassed to ask this but we need them done."

"Go on, " I replied. "I want to help. Just don't ask me to cook: I never got beyond the 'kill it and grill it' stage."

He smiled.

For a few days I did various tasks along with the men. I worked on digging the mine: that was brutal. There are no spells for excavation so we all wielded miner's pick axes. I hunted. I did end up cooking ... once. They never asked me to cook again, though I did try my best. I don't know why my alchemy skill doesn't carry over into food preparation.

I assisted in the construction of houses, carrying out the unskilled portions of the work.

At one point, a snow bear attacked. I had heard of snow bears but this was the first time that I had seen one. The vicious creature cast a strong frost spell which of course hurt me not at all. The men were impressed by the rapidity by which I dispatched the beast.

Work continued. We slept in rotating shifts; therefore it was not a surprise that, when Falco's approaching footsteps woke me, it was still dark. I am a light sleeper, even after an exhausting shift of digging.

"Rashelle, we have a problem."

I rubbed my eyes, then looked questioningly up at him.

"There's a Nord, says he's from that Skaal place up north. He's blocked the mine entrance and won't let anyone in."

I stood up and said, "And you want me to get rid of him, don't you?"

I sighed as I sheathed Chrysamere: I didn't want to kill some unknown Nord.

"Rashelle, don't kill him!"

I raised an eyebrow. I had not expected such a sentiment from an East Empire Company employee. It was a welcome change.

"Rashelle, I don't want to annoy the people who already live here. I want to minimize the damage that the Company does here."

I was shocked. Falco was echoing my earlier private thoughts on the matter! This impressed me. I smiled and nodded. He pointed to the mine entrance. I could see a big Nord by the light of a torch.

I approached him.

"Aye lass, that armor fits you well. You'd make a pretty shield maiden, you would."

"The shield maidens are virgin warrior women," I answered.

He raised an eyebrow, surprised at my knowledge of Nord folklore. My reading of the other day was coming back to me.

"But who are the Fryse Hags?" I asked.

I suppose this was a silly thing to ask, as my business was to simply get rid of him, but ... I hated not knowing.

"They worship Kyne ... "

"... the mother of Men," I interrupted, "Her 'daughters' gave you Nords the thu'um or 'storm voice' ability. She is the widow of Shor, who was killed by the other gods for creating the Mundus. But what about the Hags themselves? What is their purpose? Where do they come from?"

Here he was, blocking the mine to protect the land, a goal I could agree with somewhat. Here I was, charged with the mission of getting rid of him ... yet I was instead conversing with him about Nord religion and folklore. I mentally shrugged. I sometimes had unusual impulses for handling situations, yet they often worked. I'd just continue on and see where it led me.

He seemed off balance, made nervous by either my knowledge or the direction of my questioning. When someone is off balance, you can often hit them with a question and get an answer that you would not otherwise.

"How is Erich The Unworthy? When I visited your village, he was still recovering from that wolf bite."

This last was an obvious lie, that I had just made up on impulse.

"Oh, err, he's doing fine. I think he mentioned you, come to think of it."

I had never been to the Skaal village. Erich was not of the Skaal, and was also no longer among the living. I had just caught this Nord in a lie. He was not from the Skaal village ... most interesting. It made matters easier: nothing I did would offend the Skaal.

He then recovered and said, "Be that as it may, you all need to clear out! You are ruining the land. There will be no digging into, uh, sacred Nord soil."

Riiiiiight ... and I can can sell you some prime real estate in Cyrodiil.

"You will leave now," I said.

"You going to make me, pretty-face?"

I decked him.

He picked himself up, rubbing his jaw.

"Ha! A lucky punch. Try it again!"

He raised his fists and sort of danced around in what was apparently supposed to be a combat stance.

I decked him again. I waited politely as he picked himself up, again.

"Feh! No mere woman is going to ... " he said as he leaped for me.

He lay on the ground, curled up around his stomach, where I had kicked him. As adamantium boots are kind of hard, I had somewhat pulled my kick, reducing the force of the impact so as to cause no permanent damage.

"... oog," he said after he recovered his breath. "You're strong for a woman."

"Ha! I'm strong for a man! Now do you want some more of that or are you going to scram?"

He slowly got up. I waited. He dusted himself off. My eyes met his. They dared him to try something.

"What are you? Some kind of Valkyrie?"

"I'm a sweet little innocent Breton spell-sword who can thrash you without breaking a sweat, who knows you are not of the Skaal, and who is recommending that you leave ... now."

He hesitated.

"The next kick will be lower. It will hurt more."

He fled.

The men began to clap.

"Nicely done!"

"Awesome!"

"Remind me not to mess with you."

I smiled and returned to Falco.

"Most impressive," he said, "and well done. Thank you."

"That man was not of the Skaal."

"What?"

"I caught him at a lie. I asked about someone who is not at the Skaal village. He didn't catch on."

Falco's face clouded up and he gave an almost imperceptible nod. This news did not surprise him. Interesting.

I waited.

Falco said nothing. It was apparent to me that he knew something that I did not ... and that he was not going to tell me. He didn't trust me. This was fair enough and I could understand the logic. Perhaps at a later time he would decide that he could tell me.

The next day or so passed without incident: we made further progress both at construction on the surface and excavation below the surface. The men now did not have to all sleep in one house.

The pick axes, which we used to dig in the rock, were wearing out. Two had become useless already.

"Rashelle," said Falco, "as we now have more men than tools, you are freed up for other tasks."

I nodded.

"I would like you to return to the fort and inform Carnius of our progress. Also I would like you to ask him to see about getting us more pick axes."

I nodded.

"Thank you Rashelle."

I cast Divine Intervention and was returned to the fort. I entered the Imperial Cult chapel building and ran up the spiraling stairs to the second floor.

"Good morning Rashelle," said Carnius. "I have work for you."

I nodded.

"I'd like you to retrieve a shipping manifest for me. Normal procedure is for any manifest to be brought to me after each shipment. A ship was due at Raven Rock yesterday."

This was news to me. There had been no ship yesterday, nor had Falco been expecting a ship.

An instinct made me unwilling to reveal to Carnius that I had just come from Raven Rock so I simply nodded and said: "Right, I'm on it."

"Thank you Rashelle."

I left the office and then cast Recall. I had cast a Mark spell in Raven Rock a few days ago, so I was teleported to Raven Rock, within a few paces of where Falco happened to be standing.

"Falco, Carnius asked me to bring him a shipping manifest, yet we have not had a shipment."

"Strange."

"Indeed."

"I wonder if there has been a ship, but it is lost at sea or something. Maybe they had to put in at an inlet or natural harbor elsewhere on the island."

As the sea between Vvardenfell and the the rest of Tamriel is little more than a channel, and as the distance between Solstheim and Vvardenfell is not much wider, I expected that it would be impossible to get lost ... though perhaps a storm at sea had thrown them off course.

"Rashelle, the only thing I can say is to ask around. Perhaps one of the men saw a ship yesterday or during the night or something."

I nodded. It was weak, but I could not think of a better idea.

I asked around and one of the men said that he had noticed a light to the northwest, some time last night.

After informing Falco of this news, I headed northwest.

I entered into an area that was familiar: I walked past the snow covered entrance to Geilir the Mumbling's place.

On the coastline, a little bit west of Geilir's place, I found the ship. It was half out of the water, as if some idiot had decided to ram the land. On impact the ship must have turned: the port side faced me, and the starboard side faced the sea.

I had never seen draugr outside of a tomb before: there were three of them near the ship. In good light they were even uglier. They were eating the corpses of the crew. I shuddered. I had been told that the draugr fed on the living but to actually see it was a shock.

They spotted me and rushed to attack. With fire and sword, I finished them off. I then approached the ship and examined the corpses. Each one had its throat torn out. Portions of the bodies were missing; presumably eaten by the Draugr. I recognized the corpse of the Bosmer ship captain who had taken the men and I to to the colony the other day.

I cast a brief levitation spell and rose up in the air. I then settled onto the tilted deck just as the spell cut out. It looked as if there were no survivors but I was going to search the boat: we needed mining picks.

I found a hatchway and descended below decks.

On board were a variety of supplies. Since the ship was mostly above the water, it appeared that much of the cargo was still in good condition. There were crates of ash yams, clothing, nails, tools and other necessities. I would not take them now: I was focused on the miner's pick axes. I found five picks scattered in various locations. The cargo had shifted when the ship crashed. Whoever had stowed the cargo on board was an idiot. Good dock workers know to pack the cargo in a ship so that it cannot move, no matter what conditions the ship sails through.

Pick axes clutched in my hands, I ascended the ladder topside.

I was about to cast a Recall spell, when I heard a faint sobbing. It sounded like a woman.

I jumped to the ground, dumped the picks, and slowly began to walk along the side of the ship. I heard nothing, now. I continued to walk. I passed the bow of the ship and turned. I was standing in the water now and could see the starboard side of the ship. There was an Imperial woman in the water, huddled against the ship. She had shoulder length dark brown hair and wore an expensive looking skirt and blouse. The skirt was drenched. She shivered and looked most pitiful. Her face was streaked with tears and ruined makeup.

She saw me and said "Get the horrible creatures away."

"I've slain them."

I held my hand out. She grasped it and I then pulled her up. Closer, I could see that her eyes were grey.

I led her out from behind the ship.

She saw the dead draugr and shrieked "Get the horrible creatures away!"

"Shh, it's OK now. Those draugr are dead!"

She saw the bloody corpses and kept screaming.

I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

"SHUT UP, you stupid woman! Do you want to draw every beast in Solstheim here? Be quiet!"

She gulped and nodded.

She shivered. Her clothing might be nice for a dinner party in a rich mansion in Cyrodiil, but was certainly not appropriate for this environment.

"I am Rashelle. What happened here?"

"I'm Apronia Alfena. We were on the way to Raven Rock. The weather started to get bad. The captain was a wood elf."

The uninformed often use the term "wood elf" to refer to the Bosmeri.

"Wood elves live in the trees! They know nothing about oceans and ships and things like that."

There was truth to this: I had been surprised when I first met the Bosmer ship captain the other day.

"The next thing I knew, the whole ship shook and then shuddered. There was a horrid breaking sound. It hurt my ears! Then the boat was here on the land, not in the water!

"These, these, these THINGS came and ... and ..."

She started to cry.

"I-I-I hid. I was in the cold wet water. They wandered around but could not see me. I've been there since last night. I'm drenched and I'm cold and I'm tired."

"We are in the wilderness," I said. "We are northwest of the Raven rock colony. I can give you a Divine Intervention Potion. You will be teleported to the Imperial fort. You will be safe there."

"No, I want to go to Raven Rock. That is why I was on board the ship."

"Very well, then. I'm going to take you there, but you have got to be quiet and you have got to obey me. Can you do that?"

She nodded.

"I'll fetch you something to eat from the ship."

She shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I can't eat after seeing this. I feel sick."

Incongruously she gave out a small burp.

"Oog. Oh, excuse me."

"Take off your shoes," I said as I retrieved the pick axes.

"What is this, some creepy religious ritual?"

"Those are high heels. you will not be able to walk in them."

"Oh, but they cost almost 100 drakes," she whined.

I was fast losing patience with this woman.

"Look Apronia: just do as I say or you stay here, OK?"

She took off her shoes.

"Let's go."

I strode ahead.

"Wait for me, I can't go that fast!"

I had to slow my pace.

I wondered if I could get her to carry some of the pick axes but I expect she couldn't even carry even one of them for very long.

She tripped on a branch and cursed in an un-ladylike manner.

As we passed by Geilir the Mumbling's place, I thought about taking her there to rest. I decided that I could not impose on him so we pressed on, southeast, in the direction of the colony.

She stumbled again. A long skirt is just not the proper attire for the snowy wilderness of Solstheim. If we encountered a Hag, and if the Hag attacked, I could have Apronia change into her clothes.

A spriggan rushed towards us.

"Stay still and be quiet! I will handle this!" I hissed as I dropped the pick axes.

Trembling, she nodded ... silently, for which I was glad.

I fought and killed the spriggan.

"It will come back to life twice more. Don't panic."

As I fought the spriggan for the second time, I could hear, and then see, that Apronia was being menaced by a wolf. Oddly enough the wolf seemed content to growl at her threateningly, without attacking her. Perhaps her hysterical shrieking was bothering its ears? It certainly bothered mine.

I finished off the spriggan. Quickly, I turned to the wolf and dispatched it. I then whirled around, expecting to face the Spriggan for a third time. The creature did not rise again: someone else must have killed it once already.

Apronia kept screaming. The sound was ripping through my head.

"Shut the oblivion up! The fetcher is dead already!"

I gave her my Look. It succeeded in silencing her.

I could not go on. She was too slow. Everything made her scream. I'd go mad before we made it to the colony ... or I would kill her.

Before she could react, I picked her up. I had one arm under her legs and one under her shoulders. She squealed and kicked her feet.

"Shut up and quit wiggling! I'm trying to save your sorry butt!"

She whimpered, but quietly.

I'd come back for the miner's picks later.

Finally, I could travel at speed. I ran as fast as the terrain would allow. She threw her arms around my neck, closed her eyes tightly and whimpered. The poor woman was terrified: I felt a little upset, but it was faster this way! We could avoid fighting most of the creatures. When we reached an area without snow on the ground, I picked up more speed. Some creatures tried to attack but I left them behind.

I had to slow down as we reached partially snow-covered ground. Ahead of us reared a bear. I didn't want to drop Apronia so I tried a targeted paralyze spell. It is tough to cast with a burden in one's arms but it can be done. This spell didn't always work, but this time fortune was with me. I left the motionless bear behind and continued my run.

I was relieved when we finally reached Raven Rock.

Falco raised an eyebrow as he saw me run into the colony, Apronia in my arms.

"Falco. I found the ship, northwest of here. This woman is the only survivor."

I spoke to her: "Apronia, we are here. Please let go of me and stand up."

She opened her eyes and fearfully looked around.

"Apronia. I am going to put you down now. Let go please."

She did. I released her and stood her up. One of the men threw a blanket over her shoulders.

"T-Thank you," she said.

The men sat her down by the fire.

"Oh, and guys?" I said.

They looked towards me.

"No funny stuff. She's under my protection, OK?"

"Yes sera!" they chorused.

I turned to Falco, who said, "That was a good thing you did, rescuing her. What happened?"

"Ship ran aground. Draugr attacked. She hid and survived. The rest were killed."

He nodded.

"Rashelle?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sure it seemed cold of me to ask this, but did you find any ..."

I interrupted: "I'll fetch them now. I'll be back shortly."

The miner's pick axes were where I had dropped them and I Recalled back to the colony.

"Thank you Rashelle."

I nodded.

"Rashelle, may I speak with you in private?"

He waved an arm and walked south, towards the water. I followed. He stopped when we reached the shore.

"Now we are out of earshot and also far enough away that no one watching can lip-read our conversation. We have things to discuss, Rashelle."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I volunteered for this assignment. I know how the Empire, and how certain people in the Company, do things. I want this colony to be successful. I want to do this without damaging the land, as much as I can. I don't want some executive's private agenda ruining things."

I nodded.

"We've come to a crossroads. It's time for you to make a decision."

I waited.

"I am suspicious of Carnius Magius. He is up to something. He is always up to something. He has a history. For every project that he manages, he always has a second, secret, project. This second project exists solely for the sake of lining his pockets and filling his coffers. He gets rich and everyone else suffers. He skims, he schemes, and he destroys. Nothing can be proved, of course."

I sensed truth here. I had a gut feeling. Carnius had been pleasant to me, but I recalled his contempt for Red-spear. Carnius's unwillingness to send me over to help the colony had already raised a small suspicion. Falco's little speech had caused the suspicion to grow in size.

And who had sent that Nord?

"Rashelle, I want the colony to work. I want it to thrive. I want to not offend the Skaal or the people up at Thirsk. Eventually I see trade with them. I want to be good neighbors.

"I want you to take your orders only from me, not from Carnius. You must decide now if you are going to follow him or me."

I don't like being made to decide things "now". Still, I took a second or two to consider.

Carnius, disdainful of the natives, directing from his office.

Falco, who led directly, who got his hands dirty along with the rest of us and who shared my desire to minimize the damage that the Empire caused.

The choice was easy.

"I will follow you from here on, Falco. My own reason for joining up is to reduce the negative effects on the land and people as much as I can."

He smiled, a relieved sort of smile.

"Thank you, Rashelle. Now I can tell you the rest."

He did so. Though he knew not what it was, he knew that there was something here that Carnius wanted. He wanted it more than the ebony. This last was a puzzle: I could not think of anything more valuable than ebony. Neither could Falco.

"Back to work?" he asked.

"Back to work." I answered.

I looked up at the sky. The position of the sun indicated that it was in the mid to late afternoon.








This post has been edited by blockhead: Jul 4 2007, 01:16 AM