Knights of the Nine - New Kvatch, Attempt at fan-fic Options

[jack cloudy]

Go Tiber, go!

I'm not sure what the self-destruct spell has to do with anything, but it was slightly humorous. And slightly worrying, considering that it looks like the Tamriel-equivalent of a nuke spell.

And I think that ingame the curse got lifted. But that was Talos/Tiber there as well. So yeah, Stendarr does come across as a bit of an unpleasant person.

And Grits, the curse is progressive if I remember right. It starts out light, then over the years you get so tired you can't even wiggle a finger.

This post has been edited by jack cloudy: Dec 4 2011, 07:40 PM

[mALX]

This chapter was fascinating! I see now that what I thought was Tiber Septim being evil was just him exerting his power - and that he used it for the good, lol.

Really cool intervention scene - wish that cure of the curse had been so well defined in game !! Awesome worldbuilding, and I agree totally with Grits on what she said - I also felt that the gods had to have an inordinate amount of curiousity and interest whether they intervened and dabbled in people's lives or not.

I do recall that curse being a progressive one for the members of that family, but when the Player took it on it didn't seem to progress at all (that I noticed).

I also have to agree with Grits on McWilde's rambunctiosness in spite of the curse, lol. If that was him in a weak state, all hell will break out once he gets his energies back - watch out anyone who is not on his good side, lol.

I never had much of an opinion either way on Stendarr (having only Oblivion as an example) - but in Skyrim I am finding out that the followers of Stendarr are royal ar$ks - have been tempted a couple times already to "accidentally" end a few of them in their self-righteous uppity-ness with a miss-cast spell, lol.

As always, your beginning letters are a huge highlight for me (sort of like Rachel's poems at the beginning of each of her chapters, lol). They set off the chapter enormously for me, as does your Arch Mage in this story. The undercurrent that is always connected to any sections regarding the Arch Mage is such a subtle humor woven into the story - I love that !!

The tie-in with the three Jends may not have been meant to be funny, but it had me in hysterics.

Also, the description of Stendarr was awesome !! (loved to see his submission/subjectiveness to Talos too, that was great!).

I have to thank you for your character "key" you added to chapter one - that is something I will refer back to till I get the hang of all the regular characters, lol. Awesome Write, and really looking forward to more !!

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 5 2011, 06:42 PM

[McBadgere]

I read all your comments, I thank you all for them, and shall reply to them later...I know, a weird way of doing things, but there you go... ...I've just got back from the daughter's school's Glee concert and am a bit frazzled...She was brilliant btw...Did Fleetwood Mac's Everywhere...Ace!!...

Right...

New Parts!!!... ...


Previously on KOTNNK...

The forces of good...Well...Several knights anyways...have been cornered by an ancient and presumed extinct magic creature. They are still waiting and seeing what will come next...As is everybody else I think... ...I promise this is the last c*cking about part...Honest...Well...Probably...



1.9 Past.



I first picked up a sword as six. I’d been watching Daddy teaching Farn and Rhano in the back yard, so – of course – I had to have a go too! Daddy smiled then took the far-too-long-for-me-to-carry-sword off me and gave me a little wooden practice one to swing. It was one of the happiest days of my life.

When I was eight he told me, “Cal, I will teach you how to properly use a sword. But...You have to practice hard. Lots. Every day.”

“I will Daddy.”

“I know Cally. But there’s one more thing. You know about magic?”

“Yes.”

“Well, too many people use it to help them make things easier...Like carrying stuff, and running, and –“

“Lighting fires!!”

“Yeesss...Don’t tell your Grandma you did that...She might frown. Anyway, you can use it to help you with swords. But the thing is, if you don’t learn how to do it without magic, one day, you’ll be in a fight and you won’t have your magic. Then you’re dead.”

I’d frowned at that but then he went on.

“I will teach you how to use a sword, but you must never use magic when you practice. When I think you are ready, I’ll teach you how to use that too, but until then...Never...”

And he poked me on the nose and kissed the top of my head.

I never once in ten years used magic to practice. The day I beat Alix, Daddy took me to one side and said, “Now you’re ready.” Well, we couldn’t practice because I was crying so hard!

I love you Daddy. I miss you.



- Taken from “Wylde Girl”, the memoirs of Caroline McWylde. Knight of The Nine. 3E 486.




The blonde haired, blue eyed knight Marcus Jarn woke up and really wished he hadn’t. “No offence sir, but there’s better visions to wake up to. Is Royal still about for one?”

General Carodus Oholin smiled quickly then said “Yes, she’s coming now, and she’s going to have to put that shoulder back in. So I’d be more polite with her yes, Captain?”

“Y’s Sir,” Said Jarn, grimacing. “Sir, I have to report that they may be about to start something.”

The Nord General, Mazkay Dinai pointed towards the other knights and Kelleryn’s projection of the Yskraich and said “Is that your something?”

“Oh...How the hells are they doing that?” Jarn asked about the conjuration.

“Damned if I know.” Shrugged Oholin, “Anything else to report before I leave you to Royal?”

“We’re dead if we stay. There’s more turned up after you came up here. They’ve sent horsemen around that side to cut us off if we try to run. There’s another small-ish force coming around this side to try to get us. We missed two scouts. I saw them get back. Even without this damned Detect Life they’d have known how many we’ve got. Now...” He sighed deeply. “Gods only knows what they’ve got in store for that damned whatever-it-is.

Some kid tried to stop them letting it out. She-who-is-in-charge almost took his head off with her back-hand and released it. She’s an awfully confident lady that one.” Jarn raised an eyebrow, “Maybe we could have Marshal McWylde and Aeirawen wrestle with her before the end sir?”

Oholin snorted despite himself, but raised a finger of admonishment, “Stop drooling, it’s unseemly.”

Just then, Captain Sharneena Royal came through the fort’s entrance. Oholin waved the Orc over. “Royal, excellent. Dinai here will fill you both in on the plan...Such as it is. Royal, you need to put that shoulder back in. No need to be gentle, he’s a big boy now, he can take it.” Oholin looked at Jarn with a raised eyebrow. “Be polite now, ladies present.”


------------------------------------------------------------

“Drell, can you try and look beyond the Yskraich? Down towards that lot?” Caroline asked.

“Oooh...I can try.” J’Drell the Argonian looked beyond the monster down the causeway. “What am I looking for?”

“Just go along the front row, I want to see what we’re facing. See if I know Gellert’s second.”

As each new person was focused on, the projection instantly became them.

“Such an attractive mob,” Said Thedret, “Very dapper in their best slaughtering outfits.”

“Yesss,” J’Drell agreed, “But this all still feels wrong. Why were they all coming here? How convenient was it that Caroline got the info just now? Knowing full well we would come running. And how many of them we would take out before the end? It’s like someone’s trying to take as many problems out at once as they can.”

“Why would Gellert do that? He was here too, remember.” said Thedret.

“He wouldn’t,” said Caroline, “I think he’s been set up too. Dammit...I knew this was too easy after all this time.”

“You can beat yourself up later...” the approaching Carodus started to say.

“Wait!” shouted Caroline. “Go back.”

“How far?” asked a confused J’Drell.

“The last one.”

J’Drell looked back to the previous person. Kelleryn’s projected portrait showed an Imperial woman, in her late thirties, maybe her early forties stared up the causeway with intensity. She locked eyes with J’Drell briefly, started, then passed a hand in front of her face, which changed into that of a man. Not just any man though. Emperor Uriel Septim stared out at them.

“This is for my benefit.” Said J’Drell, “There’s no way she can know about this with Elfling’s gifts.”

That didn’t make Caroline feel any better. She ran through the fort gate and vomited.

Then she screamed.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Carodus watched Caroline go and shook his head. “She was there wasn’t she? At the end.”

“You weren’t there for the trials?” asked J’Drell.

Oholin shook his head. “I was dealing with stuff in Anvil. Tried to keep up using the Courier, but...Must have missed some.” He shrugged.

“Yeah, well,” Thedret continued, “Gellert ordered her killed ‘cause she’d found out what they were about to do, so two of them dragged her down to the lowest levels. One of them tried to rape her, and in the struggle she hit her head pretty bad. By the sounds of it she had concussion. But anyways. In the end, for some reason - Caroline said - that the other Dragon Company soldier killed the would-be rapist but left her locked in the cell. Then along comes the Emperor trying to escape down the tunnels. Well, you know what happened there.”

They heard Caroline scream again, but the purple life detect showed she was alone and so they left her.

“Caroline blames herself for not being able to save Septim because she either kept blacking out or her head injury wouldn’t let her focus her magicks. By the sound of it there were too many Mythic Dawn down there anyway. The pile of bodies that came out of there would make a legend in itself. Between Caroline, the two remaining Blades and The Emperor himself, they killed off enough that would have made a small army. The Dawn really were down to the last man, who then came through a hidden door. Stab an old man in the back. Very noble.”

“She couldn’t have stopped that, back someone into a corner then walk in from behind? No chance.”

The life detecting and head drill spells disappeared.

“The Yskraich’s going back to the woman.” Said J’Drell.

“Right, story time over.” Said Carodus, “Oreyn, stop making Shines and call your Uncles, we need them.”

Just then, Caroline came back. She looked down at the ground. “Sorry. The woman is Misa Treain. She was Gellert’s second-in-command back in the Dragon Company. Seems she’s never left. I’ve seen far more of that woman than I ever wanted to. She’s evil, vicious and brilliant.”

“Well, being good, vicious and brilliant, you’ll take her in a heartbeat won’t you?” said Carodus, “Although I suspect Jarn will pay good money to watch that.”

Caroline laughed and looked over to where the Imperial was being tended to by the Nord General and the Orc Captain.

“He can’t handle a sword” said Oholin, “but we’ll have him and Royal secure the gate. He can be the Respite Port. His Warvoid is probably stronger than even J’Drell here’s...”

“Oooh...Really? That would take some doing. I’ve been using mine for more years than you’ve been alive Oholin.”

“And?” asked the General with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve seen him fend off an entire mine’s worth of Goblins with it. Don’t start getting Warvoid envy now. You can go compare each other’s later...”

“What’s a Warvoid?” asked Kelleryn.

“It would take too long to explain...”

“Massive shield that only lets in what the caster wants,” said Caroline, “usually people. It absorbs magika and health from anyone that’s attacking it directly. Which needs controlling ‘cause you don’t want to take your friend’s. But anyone inside gets healed and their fatigue recharged. Hence the Respite Port. Oh and it also takes the kinetic energy from arrows coming in, turns it into to fire and burns the arrows up, or – and this is where it takes real skill – re-directs the arrows out at another enemy. Oh, and magic attacks recharge it. Unbeatable in the right hands.”

“Yes, and Jarn can keep it up all day...”

Thedret snorted, “Aeira would have a field day with that.”

“I can do that.” Said Kelleryn. Thedret snorted again. The others looked at Oreyn. “The spell, I can do that.”

J’Drell laughed. “Ha-ha-haaa, of course you can Elfling. We really need to talk soon.”

Just then the Wraith and the Ancestor appeared by them. Carodus jumped back. “Dammit!” He sighed and shook his head. “Can we finally get to the point? We’re really out of time here. They are coming. Now.”

“Yes they really are.” J’Drell observed. “Everyone up. They know we’re here, grab your gear. Oh, sorry General.” He flattened his fins to his head. “Force of habit.”

General Carodus Oholin sighed. His faith in the Nine was unshakable. His faith in himself was absolute. His confidence in the abilities of three of the six out here was without question. However we also have an old man, a shy Orc, a – currently - one armed knight and Oreyn...Whatever the hells he was. Oh, and the Uncles.

Still, Carodus had never played it easy. As the three others joined them, he quickly explained the plan to them all.

This was going to be interesting he thought to himself.

This post has been edited by McBadgere: Dec 15 2011, 07:00 AM

[Acadian]

“Caroline blames herself for not being able to save Septim because she either kept blacking out or her head injury wouldn’t let her focus her magicks. By the sound of it there were too many Mythic Dawn down there anyway. The pile of bodies that came out of there would make a legend in itself. Between Caroline, the two remaining Blades and The Emperor himself, they killed off enough that would have made a small army. The Dawn really were down to the last man, who then came through a hidden door. Stab an old man in the back. Very noble.”
I love how you did this, and plugged Caroline right in to the beginning of Oblivion.

’She’s evil, vicious and brilliant.”
“Well, being good, vicious and brilliant, you’ll take her in a heartbeat won’t you?”


Kewl magic shield power!

[Athynae]

WHEW!! Finally got caught up again! Fantastic stuff you've got going here Mac B. I am thoroughly enjoying the exchanges between the characters.

The scenes with Tiber, Stendarr and Akatosh were quite a joy!

Look forward to more, and I'll try to stay caught up....famous last words, lol.

[Grits]

Jarn raised an eyebrow, “Maybe we could have Marshal McWylde and Aeirawen wrestle with her before the end sir?”

Note to self: put down coffee before reading.

“He wouldn’t,” said Caroline, “I think he’s been set up too. Dammit...I knew this was too easy after all this time.”

Aha! And Warvoid envy. I was giggling at the same time I was ooo-ing over the spell. I’m guessing that Kelleryn might give everyone a surprise. It was great to get some background on Caroline, even though some of it upset her. Carodus is right, this is going to get even more interesting!!

[mALX]

The workings of your mind SO remind me of Foxy's !! Your touches of humor pop up in the oddest places - I love that! You manage to slide one subtle line into an intense scene and turn it on its ear! Great Write! Grits already called my fave lines, lol.

[King Coin]

This time I got to 1.3. I like the characters so far. Will continue with it this time...

Just might take a week to catch up.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Dec 14 2011, 05:51 PM

[jack cloudy]

Dang, that shield is way above anything that's possible in the game. Still, I like it and besides, gamemagic has always been awfully limited next to bookmagic.

I still like the character interactions. Sure, the joking might be a little inappropriate considering their situation, but that's just how they deal with stress I think. And next update will be episode 1.10/2.0: The Uncles strike back!

[Colonel Mustard]

Well, not much to add that hasn't been said already, but I enjoyed this a lot and I'm interested to see what Kelleryn (along with Inky, Pinky and Clive) will do to possibly save our heroes from their predicament.

Though I'm in the Skyrim quest where you need elf blood so part of me currently whispering in my ear 'kill him, kill him, kill him.'

This post has been edited by Colonel Mustard: Dec 14 2011, 10:54 PM

[McBadgere]

Answers to comments!!!...Oh yeah...I know you’ve been waiting eagerly for them...

Everyone – Thank you for taking the time to read it, it’s always appreciated...

K.C. and Athynae...Blimey, where you been?..Only joking... ...Cheers...

Zalphon...Yes indeed! Call McBadgere for all yer divine recording needs!... ...

Acadian...

Glad to see that curse lifted and thanks for letting us know that the god #3 was the Dragon God of Time himself

...The curse was a real annoyance to me the entire time I played the game...I was determined to get rid of it...And I was trying to keep the identity of the other God queit for as long as poss...I'm a tease me.. ...Yes indeedie!!...

I love how you did this, and plugged Caroline right in to the beginning of Oblivion.

Thanks for that...When I thought about it, she really was the best one to get stuck down there with th’Emperor...More to follow with that...Thanks for still reading...

Colonel Mustard...Cheers matey!...Glad you like it...And I take your critique and let you know that I get what you mean and I am endeavouring to sort it for later chapters, but I have both ADHD, OCD and awkwardness...In that as it was when I wrote songs...Once it’s down on “paper”, it’s down...And I find it impossible – other than minor edits – to change them... ...So what I write from now on will – hopefully – make more sense...Cheers again...And as for Kelleryn...He’ll have his work cut out in this fight, but it’s later when he comes into his own more...

Jack Cloudy...The shield spell is mostly made up of spells that are in the game...Just because Bethesda won’t let you combine them is not my fault... ...My attitude to magic is that if I can explain it using the rules that I made up meself, or using the disciplines in-game then the level of spell really depends on who I’ve given it to...Oholin, Caroline or Thedret wouldn’t be able to use Warvoid, but Jarn may not be able to use the Offence spell I’ve given Caroline, Robert, J’Drell and Deaconsson...And none of them can do Ormandin’s spells...*Shrug*...Even I have rules...

The self-destruct spell is an end-game spell...And basically, the chapter having Ormandin in, I took the opportunity to put that spell in the hands of Ormandin...Where it needs to be...Oh plus, that particular intro did more for the overall story than it seemed...The date is 50 years after Oblivion...And Ormandin is still Arch-Mage...Well, according to Skyrim and the Greg Keyes novels, the Mages-Guild was dissolved and replaced with something else...Well not on my watch buddy...Idjots...Plus it puts Liiaric Jend into the story, who’s coming up soon...And then there’s Jenna, who may or may not appear, subject to the wife’s approval...As Jenna Kirrane is one of her characters, and Liiaric was created to be her hubby...*Shrug*...The wife is obsessed with her characters being married...And as she’s a High-Elf – Jenna, not the wife - I had to make one up for her as there isn’t a decent one in-game...

Oh, and the joking...It’s escapist fiction...And I can’t help it... ...

mALX...Thank you so much for your excellent words...Much to answer...Tiber and the Gods...Tiber rocks, he really does...And it all came from one section of an in-game book...I love Tiber...And then when Akatosh turned up when my scene failed to work...And I knew exactly who he needed to be...Oh-ho-ho...There are at least three of the others coming too...Stay tuned...I think the Gods will be more interested in this particular bunch for a reason...Stendarr...*Shakes head*...Don’t know why...But I’m stuck now...

And yes, curse removed Robert will be...Proactive...

The Konitkipedia will be added to when I have enough to add to it...Cheers for that, I hope it helps with my confusingness...

Cheers for the thumbs up for the intros...I enjoy the challenge of expanding the story for each one...I’m loving it...

Must meet this Foxy...Sounds fun...And like I said...I can’t help the jokes...

Ormandin is one of the more important characters of the story...And it’s surprising that a char that I’ve never played becomes one of my faves to write...

And then there’s Grits...

Robert seems like a person of more than usual vigor even with the curse, and not an easy patient

... Roberts make bad patients...It’s in our DNA...He’s a soldier and really not very able to sit still easily...A fact which Helen Royal knows well as they are...Old friends...

Note to self: put down coffee before reading

Sorry about that... ...

The multiple Carolines was something I thought about, but as I was in school with a Caroline Wilding I thought it would be cool to name McWylde after her...So it stuck...And the two Jends was a c*ck-up on my part when I was making Liiaric up...He was supposed to be Marcus Jarn, but then he became Jend ‘cause I got confused, and I gave him to the wife to play with...As it were...

I’m glad that no-one’s shouting me down about overpowered spells and stuff...I’m enjoying messing about with magic, and like I said, even I have rules about it...

More Caroline coming up later...Or soon...But knowing me, probably later...

As this was the last chapter I did pre-Skyrim I haven’t got anything more until I write it, which is down for Saturday...So it might be after Christmas before anything new appears here...

Thank you so much, all of you, for reading...I really appreciate that you’re enjoying it...*Hugs each and everyone of you*...

This post has been edited by McBadgere: Dec 16 2011, 05:26 AM

[King Coin]

K.C. and Athynae...Blimey, where you been?..Only joking... ...Cheers...

Same to you!

I gotta say, I thought the khajiit in the beginning was going to have a role in this story. Anywho…

1.3

Love the creative liberty you took with the magic. “The walls have ears.”

Well, from what it sounds like, these knights need to leave. NOW. Lol. 50 soldiers outside? I guess they can look over the domestic staff then?

1.4 tomorrow...

[King Coin]

1.4 tomorrow...

or not...

1.4
Took me a second to realize there was a flashback in this one.

People weren’t comfortable without a fire of some type eh? I suppose protection from Daedra isn’t something to skimp on.

The prophet annoyed the [censored] out of me in game! He sounds much better in your rendition. I’m not sure who he actually is though. He claims to be Tiber (who is Talos).

[McBadgere]

Cheers... ...

Yes, he's Tiber now...Not Talos...The...Explaination (such as it is... )...is there... ...

Cheers for reading...

Umm, yes...It's not...Linear as such...But if I'd put the stuff in Kvatch where it actually happened, you'd lose something...Well, that's what I thought anyways... ...

[Athynae]

My apologies McB(shakes head at the silly badger) I got a little behind while I was playing a couple of RL games, "Let's prepare for mid-term exams" (with the middle school wild animal) and "Let's take care of the bully" with the elementary one. The first is always interesting once you get past 5th or 6th grade, the second however is never any fun especially if your wild animal is one of those that is either loved absolutely or disliked in the same manner by the teacher. I do not know why this is particularly other than he challenges them to do something besides sit on their butt and assign busy work.

The second game, first play through, proved to be a small challenge, but we started a second play through just before school got out for Christmas with a different character and setting for said bully. It looks as though this play through is going to prove a bit more serious as it involves not bullies of the peer realm but a teacher making an attempt to blame said wild animal for situations he had no part in and sharing those thoughts with other teachers (Oh and this teacher is not even one of my youngest sons instructors, he just thought a little gossip with his teacher friends would be the "thing" and it just so happened his whispers were overheard in the hall by my youngest son as he walked behind them). Can you say "Getting ready to turn the entire school system on it's ear?" I thought you could. Yes, I have almost 3 weeks to create a strategy for this game and I promise you they ain't seen nothin' yet.....

Sorry just venting a bit, looking forward to more story though, keep it coming there McB.....

[jack cloudy]

Oh, and the joking...It’s escapist fiction...And I can’t help it... ...

Hey, I'm all for the jokes. You have to deal with stressful situations somehow and this is more entertaining than giving everyone an angst overdose.

[McBadgere]

My apologies McB(shakes head at the silly badger) I got a little behind while I was playing a couple of RL games...Yes, I have almost 3 weeks to create a strategy for this game and I promise you they ain't seen nothin' yet.....

Sorry just venting a bit, looking forward to more story though, keep it coming there McB.....

...OH hell...

I really was only joking...I do know what you're going through...We've had similar problems with my daughter...And to a degree with the son...

Suffice to say, several of th'wife's chums joke about the two schools having her picture as enemy #1... ...

Hey, I'm all for the jokes. You have to deal with stressful situations somehow and this is more entertaining than giving everyone an angst overdose.

Oh, my Gohhhddd...*Holds head*...

Cheers... ...

[Athynae]

And it was taken as a joke McB, I apologize for getting all serious on you! I just get that way at times.

I am enjoying your story very much so just keep it up and I will do my best to keep up....famous last words, lol.

And now we know where Athynae gets her weirdness from....

[McBadgere]

NEW PARTS!!!... ...

Merry Christmas!!...

Right, I'm trying to crack on with it...But then this happened...One chapter, in three parts...And they're all long-ish...

Sorry... ...


Previously on KOTNNK...Aeirawen was part of the force attacking Fort Freedom, but then she and the other wood-elf Galasafon were attempting to bring the evil boo-hiss baddie Marrick Gellert back to New Kvatch...


1.10 – Aeirawen...(pt. 1)



The last woman and the last man on Nirn pulled their cloacks tighter against the fierce wind. After a time, they looked at the last of the Old Gods and waved farewell. The woman opened a portal, then she and the man walked out of the world.

The world was unmade.

The world was made.

The portal opened again and the first woman and first man on Nirn walked through into a verdant forest. They looked at each other, shrugged and disrobed. Then they made love, as they had many times down the ages.

As he woke later, the man stood up, picked a fruit and said simply to the now awake woman, “Apple?”. Then he looked behind her and paled. There stood the first of the New Gods, attended by his ever present two Angels.



- Taken from The Book of The World. Author unknown.





Aeirawen burst into the clearing with three horsemen bearing down on her. She pulled up sharply, which caused one of the horses to rear and throw her rider. Unfortunately not the Khajiit that had been tracking her this whole time. Aeira crossed the distance to the downed man and planted the head of the Dragon Hammer she was still carrying into his. Turning and flitting into the centre of the clearing, she waited for the two others to gather themselves. She grinned briefly at them, even as she panted her fatigue away. Damn, she was tired. How long had she been running? She had no idea, but it was a damned long time. Speed augmentation was all well and good for a short while, but over long distances? It was still down to your own fitness levels - you still had to run dammit! Aeirawen laughed the thought of the portly Keern Ralman trying this.

The two bandits looked briefly at each other, as if wondering that the idea of a lone Bosmer knight in the centre of a clearing being quite so confident was actually occurring to them both.

They charged.

Aeira waited till they were fully committed, then she narrowed her white glowing eyes, smiled her most feral grin and launched herself into the speed augment. Raising her arms as time appeared slowed down, she swung the hammer with one hand into the chest of one, killing him instantly. Her left arm grabbed the other bandit’s sword arm as it fell. The rider twisted around in the saddle, his shoulder broke and almost sheared off, his ankle didn’t fare so well as it became twisted in his stirrup. His neck snapped the instant he hit the ground, so any pain was truly short lived. The horses carried on out of the clearing, as if they wanted nothing more to do with anything bar grazing.

Aeirawen fell to her knees with fatigue. This was getting too much now. How many more were there? She couldn’t keep this up all the way to Kvatch. If she was even headed towards Kvatch by now. The Bosmer pushed herself up to stand, brushed her blonde hair back out of her face, and went to the nearest tree. She leant against it and looked up at the sun, then at the nearby trees.

“Right, that’s north.” Aeira figured that she’d been headed generally northeast all this time. If I head north at least I’ll get to the Colovian Highway, she thought to herself and prepared to run again. Just then she heard another set of hoof-beats. Sighing but casting - for yet another time – her ease fatigue spell, she ran once more to the centre of the clearing, but kept the hammer’s head resting on the floor.

A huge white Anvillian destrier burst into the sunlit circle of the bloodied woodland glade.

“Two?!” She almost wept with joy. “I thought I’d told you all to head for Kvatch.” She reached the horse and hugged his neck. The horse replied by putting his head down on her shoulder as if hugging her back. “Still, being with J’Drell for so long I suppose you would pick up a stubborn streak.” She grinned.

It wasn’t her beloved Dail, but if anything, J’Drell’s horse, Two, was probably better when it came down to it. The Anvillian horse’s endurance was legendary, and she had no idea how long was still to go. She grabbed the saddle’s horn with one hand and hauled herself on Two’s back.

Aeira silently thanked Brellin for the strength augments in her white Elven Plate heavy-armour. She put her hand to the red diamond on her chest-piece and prayed her thanks to Kynareth for delivering her this fortunate rescue.

She looked back the way she’d run. Finding Galas would be next to impossible with all the Bandits, Marauders and what have you in there. That goes for the Fort too really. Her only course then would be to head back to New Kvatch with the Dragon Hammer and tell the Commander what had happened.

She sighed deeply with frustration.

She securely tied the Dragon Hammer to the saddle, so as it wouldn’t bang against Two’s side as he ran.

Then she rode.

---------------------------------------------------------------------


Earlier...



“Damn.” Said Galasafon.

“What?” Aeirawen asked.

“Umm...Ewythr. He’s...Umm...Tall...”

She sighed, stopped tying all the other horses’ reins up to their saddles and came over to Kelleryn’s black horse. Bending down, Aeira cupped her hands and boosted Galas onto the saddle. She moved aside as he levitated the still prone form of Marrick Gellert onto the horse in front of him.

“This isn’t going to be comfortable for any of us old boy.” Galas patted the horse on his shoulder.

Aeirawen knew that Galas wasn’t a natural horseman. He could do when needed, but he preferred running.

“You going to be alright?” she looked up to him.

He looked about, smirked then shrugged, “I have a choice?” Then he grinned genuinely. “When has it ever been easy in this job?”

She laughed.

There was the slightest hint of wrong feeling and she ducked, just as an arrow passed in the space where her head had been. She screamed in Elvish, using her Command Beast spell, “Two, Jasper get them to Kvatch. NOW!”

------------------------------------------

J’Drell and Thedret’s horses being the most experienced of them, and possessed of truly amazing amount of intelligence whinnied and stamped their feet as the other horses started fleeing the incoming horde. The pair of Anvillians chased them down, herded them up into a line then headed dead northeast. A couple of the knights’ horses had crossbow bolts in their hinds, but nothing that would slow them unduly.

By way of horse signal, Two left them to Jasper’s care and stopped.

He turned and headed back the way he’d run.

The space the horses had recently left was deserted. Several men were on the floor, dead or dying. Two twisted his ears this way and that and located separate chases. He looked at the ground, sighed and followed that one.

It was not long before he caught up with the back of the pack. He nudged the nearest one towards a tree, it reared and fell backwards onto its rider. As sorry as he felt for doing it, several more horses went into trees headfirst.

Just then a scent caught him. He turned and ran a new direction, following some horses that had peeled off.

The chase. Nothing like it. He ran.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Much earlier...



Aeirawen mopped the blood from the corner of her mouth and followed the Imperial outside, “I’m from Anvil you inbred son of a mule lover.”

“That’s Captain inbred son of a mule lover.” Said the man picking himself up off the floor and brushing from his armour, the wooden debris of the door he’d so recently destroyed with his passing through it.

“Well, Captain,” she said through clenched teeth, “the nearest I’ve ever been to Valenwood is being shown Falinesti in a ‘scope from a hill above Anvil.

Just because your Emperor decided to open up your Legion to every native born Cyrodiillian, don’t be surprised when you wind up with any kriffing native of Cyrodiil.”

“Mind your language soldier, I am your superior.” Said the Captain.

“Hah! Oh, I’m sorry sir,” she said snarling the word out, “I have yet to hit the Hold. It’s sometimes difficult to restrain myself. Besides, I’m amazed you could be superior to anything that doesn’t live in the ground.”

She heard the distinctive scrape of metal on scabbard behind her, and turned sideways where she could, if needed, defend both sides. Just then she heard a voice.

“Ah, ah...It’s not polite to stab young ladies in the back.”

Aeirawen watched as the would-be assassin came out of the Hammered Ogre Inn with the point of an ebony sword at the base of his skull. Following him was a pretty young woman with copper-blonde hair.

“Ah, Captain Olford,” said the original Captain, the one that had been making a nuisance of himself towards Aeira all afternoon, and in the end, accused her of being a Bosmeri spy.

As if. Tall, blonde, blue-eyed, not exactly graceful and with little talent for Illusion, she doubted that invisibility would be in her repertoire any time soon. So no, spy was not high on her list of things to do. Hitting people and things very hard with axes and maybe setting them on fire, yes. Spy, no.

“Go pick on someone your own size Derment,” the soldier called Olford said, “but that would mean finding a scamp to bully wouldn’t it?”

Derment shot Olford a murderous look, but drew himself up imperiously, turned on his heel and marched towards the Legion quarter of Bruma, followed by his three armsmen.

Olford crossed to Aeirawen and asked, “You okay?”

Aeira wiped her mouth again, “Yes Captain, Ma’am, thank you.”

Olford tilted her head, smiled and held out her hand. “We’re off-duty soldier. Caroline Olford.”

Aeira shook the hand and then suddenly remembered, “Olford?! As in...”

“Yes,” Caroline rolled her green eyes, then affected a mock-aristocratic voice, “General Kenth Olford, hero of blah blah et-cetera.”

Aeira smiled. “You don’t think much of his reputation?”

“I have all the love in the world for my Daddy...But...” She shook her head, “Ach, we’ve only just met. There’ll be time enough for all that...Hopefully.”

Just then the owner of The Hammered Ogre came out and started complaining about his door and the cold and a million other things.

Caroline sighed and shook her head. “He’s an old friend of my Dad’s. Time to be the General’s daughter again. I’ll take care of this, you go clean yourself up and don’t worry, I’ll go see your commander and square all this too.”

“Umm...Why would you do all this? Like you said, we’ve only just met.”

Caroline tilted her head again and drew her eyebrows together in an almost frown, “I think...Mara told me to.” She gestured vaguely up, “either that or it’s just the right thing to do.” She shrugged, “When you’re off-duty tomorrow, come find me here, we’ll go to my house and talk some more. You good with that?”

Aeira smiled, nodded and shook Caroline’s hand again. “Thank you.”

Caroline shrugged, smiled and indicated the still remonstrating innkeeper.

Aeira watched her go and was surprised at her own feeling of joy at the sudden turn in events. It felt like finding another sister in the unlikeliest of places. She shrugged and made her way back to the barracks.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Now...



Aeirawen was riding north, or as best as. She’s passed out of the thickest of the forest and was headed out into the farming communities that ran alongside one of the many rivers that started in the distant Colovian Highlands and made their meandering way down through County Kvatch to the estuary at Anvil.

Several riders burst out of the trees behind her. The Khajiit being the one in front.

“Well, naturally.” She sighed.

Aeira urged Two on faster, and he responded with a surprising burst of extra pace. At least they’re not gaining she thought.

Minutes passed without incident, but always, the pursuit was there.

Looking ahead she could see a road, and in the distance she could see a block-train, coming from one of the mountains at the end of the Colovian chain that was being dismantled for the rebuilding of Kvatch.

Thanking Kynareth that she was going to be off the farmland soon, Aeirawen realised she’d have to tell the Commander about the damage. The Knights of The Nine may own these farms in order to feed the soldiery and, indeed, many of the workers, but that doesn’t mean they can ignore any damage wrought on them by a Knight.

She reached the road and raced along it. Two seemed to be pleased at the firmer footing and responded to it. With joy it seemed. Aeira felt as if she was about to cry and indeed her eyes had watered, but she let one hand off the reins, wiped her eyes, then used the free hand to pour Respite into Two as best as she could.

“Not far, Two. Not far now.”

Two offered no opinion, but put his head down and charged.


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This post has been edited by McBadgere: Dec 24 2011, 11:08 PM

[Athynae]

I like Aeira, she's got spirit! I enjoyed the exchange between Caroline and Aeira...seems to me they would be admirable friends to have.

Keep it up McB, sure am enjoying the ride. hehe

And although I am the ultimate Scrooge MERRY CHRISTMAS I do hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.