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]

Thank you all for the replies.


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Chapter 13. Stalhrim



I woke up to the sound of Falco calling my name. I removed one hand from Chrysamere and shrugged off my sleeping fur.

"I'm sorry, Rashelle, but we have a problem. I've just had a runner from Carnius come see me. Some fellow named 'Constans'. Apparently I need to get a report to Carnius in five hours or less. He's already teleported out."

"So?"

"This is important. If Carnius doesn't get this report, the colony may be finished. I need you to deliver it for me."

I swung my feet down from the large flat rock that I had been sleeping on. I rubbed my eyes and then reached out a hand. Falco gave me a rolled and sealed parchment.

"And Rashelle, watch that Constans. He's Carnius's man, slick and sneaky as anything."

I stood up and sheathed Chrysamere. I rolled up my bear fur and stowed it, along with the note, in my pack.

"By your leave?"

He nodded. I cast Divine Intervention and was teleported to the fort.

I entered the Imperial Cult building and ran up the stairs. There was a man standing in the hallway outside of Carnius's office. He was an Imperial, dressed in the finest of garments. He looked at me and, with a disdainful sneer, said; "Do you want something?"

This had to be Constans. I already wanted to beat him, and I'd only just met him.

"My business is with Carnius," I said as I brushed past him. I opened the door and discovered that the office was empty.

"Factor Magius is out, can I help you?" he said in a voice that indicated that this was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Where is he?" I snapped.

"He is out."

"WHERE?"

"Oh, somewhere ... I don't know. He's scouting out possible locations for further expansion."

I wanted to grab this toad by his neck and choke him. He returned my Look with a disdainful and disinterested, yet still challenging, gaze of his own. I didn't have the time now, but in the future ... this man and I would have business to "discuss".

I turned to storm away. After taking two steps there was a sudden flash of magic. My birth sign harmlessly absorbed the spell: it seemed to be some sort of Slowness spell.

"Oh dear, you seemed to have tripped that trap," said Constans in an insincere voice. "It's one of our security measures that we recently put in. It has a tendency to go off when it should not. Oh well, so sorry. I don't have a counter-spell handy."

Sparks flew from my fingers and I smiled.

"Atronach," I said before running to the stairwell.

I smelled a setup. Carnius was pulling something: though I could not ascertain what it was, I could tell that he did not want that report to arrive on time.

I ran down the stairs. Maybe Joleen, Marisa or one of my Legion friends had seen Carnius leave. I had just under five hours. If I did not even know where to start looking, I would most likely not find him in time.

From the stairs I shot past a startled guard and to the Imperial Chapel area.

Joleen and Marisa were both on duty. Even in my perturbed state I could not help but notice that they were such a cute couple. They had been holding hands when I entered. I was glad that I had rescued her.

"Rashelle, what is wrong?"

"No time to explain. I need to find Carnius. Have you seen him recently?"

"I'm sorry Rashelle, I have not," said Marisa.

"Neither have I", said Joleen.

I thanked them and ran for the door. Outside, I almost ran into Saenus.

"Oh, I am sorry Saenus."

"What is wrong? Can I help?"

"Have you seen Carnius Magius? It's urgent."

"He requisitioned an escort and set off someplace."

"Do you know where?"

"No, but he left by the north archway."

"Damnit."

"Severia might know. I believe she authorized the escort."

I thanked him and raced for the General Quarters, and Carius's office.

"Rashelle," said Severia, "what is wrong?"

"I need to find Carnius, fast. Do you know where he and his escort went?"

"He said that he was investigating possible sites for future expansion in Solstheim. That is all I know."

"Thank you Severia."

I went outside and to the north gateway. I inspected the ground, thinking that perhaps I could track Carnius. There were many sets of footprints: too many troopers went in and out of this gate on a daily basis. I would never be able to isolate the correct set of prints.

I cast Recall and was teleported to Raven Rock.

I found Falco and explained to him what had occurred.

"Rashelle, you have to find him. I don't know how, but you have to! It's vital that we make this deadline."

Falco had no other advice; I was on my own.

Geilir the Mumbling was a seer. Perhaps he could use his abilities to locate Carnius. I cast a spell to fortify my speed, allowing me to run faster than normal. Like the wind, I ran northwest.

Despite my magically enhanced speed, there were still creatures fast enough that I had to stop and fight them. This delay was intolerable. "Damnit, die faster!" I shouted as I killed a spriggan for a third time.

I turned to see a Fryse Hag running towards me, dagger raised.

"I," I said as I cut her in two.

"Do," I said as two more set on me from either side.

"Not have," I said as I felt a shock ball spell and a frost spell hit me.

"TIME FOR THIS!!"

Fire came to me, a large ball of flame that burned everything near me, even the snow-covered grass. I ran, leaving charred corpses behind me.

I wished that I could stack spells as I could potions: I would run faster. I wished I had thought to make Fortify Speed potions, but how could I know ahead of time that I would need them?

Just as I reached sight of Geilir's place, Geilir himself emerged. He faced me and pointed west. "They are at the shipwreck!"

He had already known that I was coming, and why. Fortune was with me.

"Thank you!"

I ran.

Carnius and two Legion troopers were standing by the shipwreck. It seemed a strange place to build a second colony ... but maybe he had other plans.

"Good morning Rashelle," said Carnius as he raised an eyebrow. "What brings you here?"

From my pack I removed the sealed report. I offered it to him.

"Falco's Report."

"Oh, why thank you. I had feared that this would not get to me in time."

He chuckled.

I smiled. It hurt.

"You may go now."

I left.

Once out of their sight, I Recalled to Raven Rock.

I found Falco, who looked at me anxiously.

"Done. He was at the shipwreck."

"How did you find him?"

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Err, OK then. Thank you. You may have saved the colony and I appreciate this. Could you help me with another, lesser, problem?"

I nodded.

"There is an old Dunmer named Seler Favelnim in the bar. He's gone crazy: picking fights with everyone. That is odd for someone his age: he's rather old, even for a Dunmer."

"Bit early for that, isn't it?"

I looked oddly at me.

"Bars usually open around noonish or after."

"This one serves breakfast."

I laughed.

"Could you handle this problem for me?"

I nodded. I was glad that he didn't ask me to not kill this Mer: he knew me well enough by now.

As I neared the bar I saw another new face. So many new people had arrived here in the past few days. She was an older-looking Dunmer woman. She stepped in front of me.

"Stop."

"I have business in that bar. Please stand aside."

"I saw you talking to Falco. You have been sent to kill my husband," she said as she drew a dagger. "He is my world. You will enter that building over my dead body."

I frowned. I could easily have swept this woman aside but her loyalty ... and her love ... impressed me. I was touched. How wonderful it would be to love someone that much.

"I will not kill him, but I must stop him."

"He is a good man. It's just that his age, it bothers him. He's been brooding on it. Normally, he would not hurt anyone on purpose."

"Sera, I must go in there. I must stop him. I promise I will not kill him. I will try to resolve this matter peacefully. He may hurt himself if I do not go in there. Will you let me pass?"

"You are Rashelle, the Nerevarine, aren't you?"

I held my hand up, to show her the ring of Moon And Star. Almost all Dunmer, even those not from Morrowind, know of this ring. They know that anyone but the Nerevarine would die if they were to put on this ring. Her eyes widened.

I raised a finger to my lips and whispered: "Shhhh. Yes, I am ... but please keep quiet about the whole Nerevarine thing."

I had been enjoying my relative anonymity in Solstheim and did not want her to reveal me.

"I am Dralora." She sheathed her dagger.

"Dralora, I swear by Azura that I will not kill your husband. I will bring him to you, alive and unhurt. Please, let me pass?"

She nodded. "He's the Mer dressed all in blue."

I entered the building. Alcedonia Amnis was tending bar. A relieved expression crossed her face when she saw me. She nodded towards my left. Turning in the indicated direction, I could see an older looking Dunmer in blue, standing. No one was near him.

I walked towards him.

"Go on! Let's fight," he said. "I'll show you I'm not too old to still mess you up."

I was silent.

He punched me in the shoulder. It hurt but not that much. I frowned. I pitied this man.

"I don't want your pity. Defend yourself!"

He hit me again. His hand banged on my cuirass and he screamed in pain.

"Please, stop this," I said.

"Why? Look at me. I'm an old man. My health is failing, I'm of no use in the mines, and I'm a burden to my family. I don't want to waste away in bed; don't you see? That's no way for a man to die."

"What about your wife?"

"My wife will be better off without me, whether she realizes it or not. What, you think you know better?"

"This isn't your only option."

"I suppose you're going to try and tell me that my family is more important, right? Look, I don't want things to end like this, but I don't want Dralora to have to see me wasting away in front of her. I don't want her to have to take care of me because I can't do it myself. Just kill me, won't you? Put an end to this!"

I shook my head.

"You won't, eh? Well, maybe I won't give you a choice!"

He tried to punch me in the jaw, I dodged. He punched again, a glancing blow to my shoulder.

I felt sad. I did not want to kill him. I did not want to hurt him. I wanted him to stop so that I could tell his wife that all was well. Perhaps I could use a paralyze spell, but then he'd try again when the paralysis wore off.

He swung his fist again. My open palm blocked. He tried again. I blocked again. He began to swing both fists furiously. My palms blocked each swing. I suppose it resembled some strange sort of dance.

He puffed and swung feebly. The effort was tiring him.

I blocked a few more punches.

He leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees. He was breathing hard.

"Haven't got it," puff puff, "like I used to."

"Muthsera, you have lived a long time and your remaining lifespan is most likely still longer than the total lifespan of a Man. There is a woman outside who loves you deeply: that is more than some of us have. You have a good life. Please, stop this."

"Argh, you are right. I feel a fool."

"Let me heal your hands."

He held his hands out and I cast a small spell to heal the cuts that my armor had given him.

"Come on," I said. "Let's go."

I led him towards the door.

Dralora was overjoyed to see him. She threw her arms around him. I was reminded of the reunion of Joleen and Marisa.

I turned to walk away.

"Rashelle?" I heard him say

I turned back.

"Thank you. You have shown me that I have much to live for. Dralora is here with me, so I am happy."

"And I thank you for saving him," said Dralora.

I smiled and said, "You are both welcome."

Falco was relieved and pleased that I had resolved the situation so nicely.

"Rashelle, we have ... not a problem, but something of interest."

My stomach growled.

"Unless it is urgent, tell me over breakfast."

He laughed and said, "Fair enough."

In the bar, as I waited for my hard-boiled kwama egg, Falco explained the situation.

"The miners have dug into an old buried Nord tomb. They've found some odd material that they can't dig though. I went down and took a look. It looks like ice but nothing can scratch it."

"Stalhrim."

Falco raised an eyebrow.

"I have seen it in tombs around here. I've been learning things from the people who live here in Solstheim. They used to use it to make coffins. I've been told that the secret to its making has been lost."

"I wonder," said Falco, "If you had discovered a hard and nearly indestructible substance, if you could make super-weapons: swords that retain an edge for a long time and cannot easily be shattered by other weapons, what would you do?"

"Do you think that this is what Carnius is after?"

"It could be ... but in order to use this ... err ..."

"Stalhrim."

"Thank you. In order to use this stalhrim, you would need a means of cutting it, of working it."

"Maybe they have it in Skyrim as well as Solstheim. Maybe Carnius knows a Nord who still has the old knowledge."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. I waited.

"Rashelle, I remember back when I was scouting around Solstheim, before I finally chose this location, I spoke to a few of the Nords who live here. I seen to recall that a fellow, named Graring, said something about "ice armor". At the time, I did not think much about it. Now I wonder if that is connected to this stalhrim stuff. He's some sort of outcast from the Skaal village but I did not get the details. Could you go and talk to him?"

"I will do this, but I must do other things first. I need to get back to the Skaal."

"I understand, Rashelle. This is not an urgent matter. Whenever you can get around to it is fine ... but I just have a feeling that it may become important."

I nodded.

"Thank you Rashelle. Graring is a ways northeast of here, where the Harstad and Islid rivers join. This joining is northwest of Lake Fjalding."

After breakfast, I headed northeast. Consulting my mental map, I realized that this Graring fellow would be on my way to the Skaal. Despite the lower priority, I would talk to Graring next.

As always, I traveled across a landscape of alternating areas of snow and not snow. Both were beautiful in their own way, though I preferred the snow. The usual assortment of attacking creatures and men plagued me as a journeyed.

On the way, I encountered a Nord tomb. Curiosity got the better of me and I entered. Oddly enough, there were no undead in it. Another curious thing was the helm that I found in a chest. It was a bear helm that had a strong enchantment on it that would allow the wearer to sense the locations of all beasts within a hundred paces or so. The enchantment was the sort that is constantly active: one did not need to invoke it.

While nifty, it did not strike me as a necessary effect: I'd know about any creatures soon enough ... when they attacked. I also do not like to wear helms. I put the helm back in the chest where I had found it.

I arrived in the desired vicinity around noon or so ... and a feeling came over me. I slipped on my chameleon ring and began to move stealthily. Such intuitions I have had from time to time and I've found it best to follow them without hesitation. This has saved my life on more than one occasion.

Moving silently, I crept around a mound of snow.

I saw three Nords lying on the ground, near a fire. They were bound with ropes. An imperial woman stood close to them. She was speaking but I could not make out the words. She wore warm clothing under a netch leather cuirass: this was a form of light armor often favored by thieves and assassins.

Looking past the fire, I could see a house.

Using every inch of cover that I could, and trying to forget that I was a mostly black figure against the white of the snow, I moved closer.

The Three Nords were wearing a combination of fur clothing and fur armor. This indicated that they were locals: they probably lived in the house.

Two of the Nords were men. One had the beginnings of grey hair. I pegged him as the leader of the trio. The woman looked to be the same age as the younger man.

"Never, outlander. You would misuse it!" said the leader.

The Imperial kicked him. there was a crunch as something broke but he remained silent.

"I will have the means of extracting the ice-nine, fetcher," said the Imperial woman.

What was ice-nine? Perhaps it was another term for stalhrim: maybe that was what the word translated to in Tamrielic. It seemed I had arrived at the right place, and just in time.

The Imperial kicked the Nord woman so that she rolled towards the fire. She crouched down, grabbed her by the hair and jerked.

"Is this your wife? Or perhaps your daughter? I think maybe I'll burn her pretty face off."

Enough. I drew Chrysamere and ran silently towards them. I had made half the distance before the Imperial noticed me.

In one motion, she let go of the woman and drew a short sword. The combat was fast and furious. From her apparent skill, I'd guess her an assassin. Still, I was better: Before long, she lay still in a pool of her own blood.

I cut the three Nords free and then gave a potion to the leader. He drank it and said; "Thank you, lass, whoever you are."

"I am Rashelle."

"I am Graring. This is my son, Aenar. Hidar here is my daughter."

"Pleased to meet you."

Introductions concluded, I pointed to the Imperial and asked: Who was that?"

"An outlander who wanted something," said Graring. "Are you here for a reason, lass?"

His gratitude had been quickly tempered by suspicion. I could respect that. I was just another outlander, after all.

"I come from the Raven Rock colony, where I have been trying to keep the Empire from damaging Solstheim."

"I knew that the ebony would draw the Empire sooner or later," he replied.

"The miners have stumbled onto a burial cavern, a deep Nord tomb. There is a coffin made of something that looks like ice, yet is unbreakable. Nothing can scratch it. I was asked by Falco Galenus to come and see you about it."

All three were silent.

"I've been told that it is called stalhrim," I added.

"Many have come for stalhrim. Some try to pay us. Ha! We have no need of their money. Some try to take it, like this one."

He spat on the corpse.

"It's a bit of a coincidence that you just happened to come along when she attacked. Perhaps this was all a setup so that you could gain our confidence."

I frowned and remained silent. There was nothing I could say.

"Still, there is something about you. I believe you may be different."

He paused, obviously in deep thought.

"Wait here, outlander."

I nodded.

Graring went into the house. The two Nords and I waited in silence.

He returned a moment later, holding an odd-looking axe. It appeared to be iron, yet later I would discover that it was much harder than iron. It had a curiously bent appearance. It would not be an effective weapon, nor would it be suitable for chopping wood. It was smaller than an axe ought to be. Perhaps it was a specialized tool for a certain ritual or a specific task.

He offered this axe to me. Not understanding, yet not wishing to offend, I accepted it.

"I am taking a chance in giving this to you, but you are not like the others who came before you. It is a special tool that, because of its craftsmanship and enchantment, will allow you to cut stalhrim. Chip off some from the coffin in your mine in Raven rock and come back here with it."

I could feel no enchantment but I wisely refrained from pointing this out.

I bid him good day. I started to walk away, heading northeast.

"Rashelle?"

I paused and looked back at him.

"Raven rock is the other way."

"I am going to the Skaal village."

Graring raised an eyebrow,

"I have been performing a task for them."

"You are definitely not like the other outlanders," he said, visibly impressed.

"Rashelle; before you go, I must tell you of us and the Skaal."

I waited.

"We were cast out of the Skaal village because we discovered that stalhrim can be forged, much like a metal. The Skaal consider it blasphemous to make things from it. To them it is holy, only to be used for coffins. Do not let them see that axe."

"Understood."

"Bring the stalhrim to me and I will tell you more."

I nodded and then departed.

It was still in the early afternoon when I reached the Skaal village. I was greeted with the same sullen silence as before. Not wasting time, I strode to the shaman's hut and knocked on the door.

Through the door, I heard him say; "Enter, Rashelle."

How did he know? Was there a peephole? Did he have some Seer ability? He might ... as he was a shaman, after all.

I opened the door and entered. He was seated at a table. He stood up and approached me.

"Early this morning," he said, "I went to the Beast stone. It is active again. I can sense that the energy of the land, and of the Skaal, has returned. This indicates that you have completed the rituals for all six stones."

I nodded.

"Outlander, I did not believe that you would do it. I did not believe that the All-Maker would permit you to do it. I am impressed."

I waited.

"Tell me, did the All-Maker appear to you?"

How did he guess? I said nothing. I was not going to tell him about the duplicate Svenja: it would sound like a made-up story.

My eyes must have betrayed me for he sucked a breath in and said, "That is incredible. You are like no other outlander I have met."

"I was not going to tell you. You would think I was fabricating a story to falsely impress you."

"I am a shaman: I can discern a lie. Come," he gestured to a chair, "sit and tell me how it happened."

I did.

"That is wonderful. Do you see the resonance in the magic? An Outlander, aided by someone from Thirsk, both working to restore the power of the land. Outlanders, Thirsk, the Skaal: three forces, united to restore the Oneness. Truly the All-Maker's hand is apparent in this matter."

"So now what?"

"You have passed a test of loyalty to the Skaal. There will be other tests. You must speak to our chieftain. Come, let us go to him now."









This post has been edited by blockhead: Jul 21 2007, 01:50 AM