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Grits
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The Lost Knife Hideout Adventure

Here we have the expedition from the Wobbly Goblet Inn to Lost Knife Hideout across the border in Skyrim. The plan was hatched in the Goblet somewhere right around here.





Grits
Darnand

They made camp in an old troll hollow overlooking a broad valley. A rocky cliff rose unevenly into hills above, and the overhang would shelter them if it rained and yet not trap the smoke from their campfire. Tall fir trees clustered around the cliff’s base, scattered more thinly as the land dropped away to the valley’s open meadow. A thin stream of water fell somewhere over the rocks nearby. Darnand could see where the creek snaked out into the valley. Snow lay on the opposite hills in the crevices where the sun wouldn’t reach, even though flowers bloomed in the meadow.

Trolls pick the best places to lair, he reflected. I suppose because they can.

The sun had set somewhere behind the hills. Mid-level clouds blanketed the sky, lit blood-red from below. He wondered if it might snow. Skyrim’s seasons and weather remained a mystery to him.

Darnand spent a moment poking around the back of the hollow, looking for trouble. He found none. The discarded bones and litter had fallen nearly to dust in some places, and he could not detect a trace of rotten meat or pungent troll dung. Unidentifiable metal plates and weapons had gone to rust. This site had been abandoned for a long time. Nothing was left to sustain even the smallest of vermin. Still, he would place his bedroll way out at the edge.

He dropped his packs and began to gather fallen wood. No matter what their final division of labor, they would surely want a fire.

Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla grinned widely. Ever since they crossed the border and bought supplies at Helgen, she'd been grinning the whole time. Her banter was playful, her steps light, and when she saw snow on the ground back in Bruma, it was all she could do to not kiss the ground. She saw Darnand gathering wood and bit her lower lip, her eyes light with mischief. She discreetly rolled a ball of snow in one hand and tossed it at Darnand, the snowball hitting him square in the shoulder. She laughed, covering her mouth and waited for him to retaliate. She saw the others in the distance, trudging up behind her.
Darkness Eternal
In the wilderness, away from the campsite, Vera’s ears pricked forward and caught what her eyes could not see—the thumping of an owl’s wings in flight, the high-pitched cries of recently-awakened bats swooping in and foraging for insects in the chill dusk-filled air.

It was the busy rush of the hunters and the hunted, predators and prey, silent until the end. The death cry of a baby bird, taken in sleep on the nest by a marauding hawk, rocked her ear. There was a cut-short cry of a rabbit dying in the talons of the same owl from before that followed. Those and many others were captured by her senses in an unending variety of sounds of nature.

She also smelled many things around her; honey within a beehive just a few feet away from her head, or the smell of rotting fish being devoured by mudcrabs just down the river. She also scented a deer nearby; its musk as detailed as a spoken word, but that was game she didn’t have the desire to hunt at the moment.

Vera admired the sounds and the smells, savoring the familiar landscape of the north once again. She continued onward with a sack hanging over her shoulder that held three dead rabbits and a pheasant she personally killed an hour ago.

But that wasn’t enough. There was still one more pheasant to go, and this would be relatively easier, as it was being hunted by something else.

From afar, hidden behind a bush, she could see a red fox chasing a pheasant and before the avian creature could make flight, the fox was able to drag it down.

Vera casually left the hidden position and walked over to where the fox was. The creature, too occupied with the flapping animal in his mouth, paid no immediate attention to her until she was just a few feet away.

The fox, spooked once he spotted her, went into a full run. The presence of a superior hunter was so great that it left the injured pheasant behind.

Before the bird could run she put an end to it swiftly with her blade. They were naturally poor-sighted at dark, and with the dangerous animals about she knew it was already good as dead. The fox, on the other hand, could find something else to hunt. He had all night.

You'll have to make due with what the wilderness throws your way, Vera murmured inwardly.

After killing the bird, Vera filled a bottle with fresh water from the river, and then scoured the area and plucked away a family of jazbay grapes from a bush, holding them by the handful. She stored them away in her satchel instead of mixing them with the fresh game in the sack.

She was sure the emperor wouldn’t mind her taking these from the land, now. Those ridiculous laws held no power in this day and age. Now she could use them as appetizers. The ironwood nuts too, undoubtedly, was a great and easy snack that she was able to retrieve from the trees.

The sun sank just below the horizon and night was sometime away. Vera knew she had to get back to the group soon enough, after all, she was paid a great sum just to be present to make sure no outlaws or bandits would assault the group or anyone would get fatally wounded.

But in these lands it wasn’t just men and women with arrows and steel that could pose a threat. It was the wildlife, too. Sabrecats, bears, trolls and other natural creatures.

This much was certain to Vera, who headed on the trail back to where Darnand and the others had set up a makeshift camp. It was just in the Cliffside. Not only would it protect them from the snow or the rain, it would also serve as a high-point lookout.

There she also had a view of the miles-long distance; she saw high peaks, standing white-pure and unapproachable as a dream. The tall precipices mantled in rock and blankets of snow. She remembered the last time she was there. The moving sun sometimes cast rainbows and at other times, the peaks were covered with storm clouds or draped in morning mist. Then, the fog was naturally burned away by the light of the sun after eight in the morning.

The valleys were like bowls of flowers set in the snow that upon a certain time slowly turned to green in the long, summer days then brown with thick, rich leaves in autumn when the cold winter of the heights came down and reclaimed them.

All this she remembers when returning to the peak where the Breton and the others were. Along the way she came across a pack of wolves who set up territory nearby, six of them following each other until the alpha wolf stopped mid-stride and saw Vera’s fully ebony-armored figure walking in that direction. They didn’t attack, nor did they flee, instead they stared curiously as she carried a bag of meat over her shoulders.

Vera stared back at them and there was a kin-like moment in that communication of the eyes. She knew they wouldn’t bother the others, as long as she was there. They weren’t going to seek out a quarrel with people. They’d sooner pick off cattle and sheep from unsuspecting farmers than stalk a group of people camping out in the Cliffside.

One of the wolves howled, and the other sniffed with a whimper that followed shortly.

"Oh there's plenty for you out there, too." Vera said with a bare smile to the wolves as she walked twenty feet away from them. "You'll just have to work for it."

The huntress climbed up the steps of the hill and trekked into the path that led where the others were. She arrived just in time to see Kayla toss a snowball at the Breton.

She didn’t say a word as she passed by the woman and the targeted man. She needed to put the luggage down and get a fire started. Personally she'd eat the food raw. Making a fire did draw unwanted attention at times, but if they wanted to sacrifice a bit of safety for comfort, that's fine by her. She's not getting paid to sit around eating, that's for damn sure.

The Imperial sat down and pulled away the dead rabbits and pheasants from the sack, and set them all aside near the cave wall. Each of the furry and feathered animals had arrow holes in their body, marking the reason for their demise. Except for the last pheasant.

She took her gauntlets away and began skinning the rabbit with her bare hands. Everyone else could take the hint to build a fire. She could see the Breton had already started before he was interrupted by a snow-ball to the shoulder.



King Coin
Aravi was happy to be back in Skyrim. The cool mountain air felt lovely on her skin where it managed to penetrate her short but thick fur. She wore simple, but tough leather armor. It was more comfortable than it was protective. Tomorrow her Elven set would be used.

Darnand found a great place to make camp. It was clear it used to be a troll den, but the troll has been long gone. Yet the scent of the fearsome beast had prevented other animals from claiming its former home.

It had been some time since Aravi traveled this area. She recognized a few of the mountains nearby by sight if not by name. She knew they were nearing their target. She guessed that it was at the base of the mountain they were on.

Darnand already set about gathering firewood. Vera arrived with some small game. So far she and Kayla have been civil. Aravi was worried when they left. She had meant to tell Kayla that Vera was going with them again, but didn’t get the chance. She was not pleasantly surprised.

They will be fine, Aravi told herself. Vera wasn’t Aravi’s first choice either, but the woman was skilled. Aravi was sure the woman would not cause any problems since this was a paying job.

Aravi looked around, looking for something to do. Darnand was gathering firewood and Vera had already returned with the meal. Aravi started clearing space for a fire. Aravi saw Kayla scoop up some snow and eye Darnand. Her aim was true and Darnand was hit with a snowball.

Aravi smiled and scooped up a pair of snowballs of her own. She interrupted the Altmer’s laughter with a snowball in the back of the neck. Unless her clothing was tightly fitted, she will have bits of snow running down her shirt. Aravi smiled sweetly at Kayla and hid the other snowball behind her back. Retaliation would be at hand, and Aravi was ready.
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla's eyes went wide as the cold ice slipped down the back of her clothes. She jumped rigidly, holding back a shriek.

"Gah! Aravi!" She squeaked, turning to look at the Khajiit. She grabbed two handfuls of snow and instead of packing them into a ball, flung it wildly at Aravi, missing her entirely. Kayla cursed as she saw the snowball behind Aravi's back and quickly packed a ball of her own, flinging it at Aravi, laughing. It hit her midsection, and Kayla covered her face and waited for more ice, giggling like a child.
Grits
Something thumped into the back of Darnand’s shoulder. He glanced around, more curious than alarmed. If it had been an arrow he would be on the ground.

Bits of packed snow dribbled down his side, already melting. He felt an instant of nostalgia for his last trip to Skyrim. His traveling companion had never tired of the snow.

Then he glanced around with narrowed eyes. Vera was busy skinning game. Aravi was hiding her hands with a look of sweet innocence. Kayla covered her mouth with one hand, eyes alight with laughter. It was the elf.

Darnand dropped the logs and bolted for a snowbank. He heard Kayla’s shriek as he scooped up a double handful. “Gah! Aravi!” she cried.

When he turned he found the Altmer engaged with the Khajiit. A grin stretched his features. It is on.

Any of a host of spells would give him an advantage in this fight. Darnand knew how to increase his distance through a strengthening charm, improve his accuracy by fortifying his agility, or simply use telekinesis to send the soggy missiles exactly where his mind directed them. However he already felt like a lad in the company of warriors surrounded by these highly skilled women. This was no time to flaunt his magic.

Thankfully he had his boyhood in snowy Chorrol to fall back upon.

Darnand expertly packed a snowball and sent it flying at Kayla’s back. He had a second one in the air before the first one reached her. “Fear the mage!” he called out, laughing.
King Coin
Aravi turned away from the double handful of snow Kayla flung in her direction. Nothing but a few tiny clumps hit her, the majority flying wide.

"Fear the mage!" Darnand yelled as he pelted snowballs at Kayla.

Kayla's ineffective retaliation, along with Darnand's very effective retaliation on Kayla made Aravi choose a new target before releasing her last snowball. She took careful aim past Kayla and sent her snowball flying for the mage.

She bent down quickly armed herself with another pair of snowballs.
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla squealed and laughed as more snowballs hit her. She saw Aravi take aim for Darnand, and scooped up more snow and packed it tightly and flung it at Darnand, missing him completely and hitting the snowbank he was hiding behind. She ran for him, kicking up bits of snow and tackled him, pinning him on the ground by sitting on his hips.

"Aravi! Quick! Snow in his pants!" She laughed.
Grits
Darnand straightened up with dripping snow in hands only to take a snowball full in the face. He spluttered and shook it off while packing his next round. Kayla stood giggling with her face covered. Aravi bent to the snow, busy preparing her next volley.

He chucked another one at Kayla to keep her occupied then bent to fill one arm with snowballs. Aravi’s aim was deadly. Let us see how she handles a moving target.

When he straightened again his vision was full of charging Altmer. Kayla tackled him to the ground, pinning him by straddling his hips.

“Aravi! Quick! Snow in his pants!” she called.

Darnand responded with all of the grace he could muster. He cried out for help and began to buck wildly in an attempt to heave her off. “Gaah, not the pants! Salyan! Vera! Where are you, Imperials?”

He realized that though trapped he was not without recourse. One hand yanked at Kayla’s neckline. The other stuffed his snowball down her top.
King Coin
Kayla tackled Darnand and had him pinned. “Aravi! Quick! Snow in his pants!”

Aravi dropped the two meager snowballs she had made and raced over to where Kayla and Darnand were struggling in the snow.

When she was close, she gathered an arm load of snow and dumped the whole thing on top of both of them. She laughed aloud at the two of them. I’m acting just like a child!
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla's eyes were wide with horror as the snow seeped into her clothing beneath armor.

"Darnand, NOT THERE!" She screeched, trying to fish the ice from her top by leaning over Darnand and scooping it out. She rolled onto her back and shivered after Aravi dumped snow on them, then laughed hard. She grabbed a handful of snow and with a wicked grin, stuffed it deep into Darnand's trousers.

"Now we're even." she laughed.
King Coin
Aravi held a pair of snowballs threateningly over the two, a wicked smile on her face.
Elisabeth Hollow
"No!" Kayla laughed and kicked Aravi's legs from under her. Aravi landed on the soft snow and Kayla tickled Aravi's ribs, laughing hysterically.
King Coin
Kayla reacted quicker than Aravi expected. “No!” Kayla yelled while laughing. Aravi went from standing over the two, to lying in the snow next to them within the blink of an eye.

“Oof.” The wind was knocked from her lungs as she collapsed in the snow. Before she could scramble to her feet, Kayla had her pinned and was tickling her under her armor. Aravi laughed and squirmed, unable to dislodge the much larger woman. Her wiggling only seemed to work snow into her clothes. “Stop!” she yelled while laughing.
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla laughed and let Aravi up.

"Okay, we need a fire. I'm freezing." She helped Darnand and Aravi up, both flying up as she pulled them to their feet. Kayla helped gather wood.
King Coin
Aravi let herself be hauled to her feet by Kayla. She brushed the snow off of her clothes. Snow had worked its way between the leather and her fur, creating cold wet spots.

"We are going to need a fire now," she said, shivering. She might even change out of her wet clothing into something dry.

She looked over at Vera, who was diligently skinning the small game she caught. Aravi stooped to the ground and balled up some snow. She threw it at a high arc, and it splatted on the ground next to Vera. She gave the other woman a tight smile and joined the others gathering firewood.

Between the tree of them now, they quickly collected enough wood. Darnand used a weak fire spell to start the fire, and they soon had a strong blaze going.
Colonel Mustard
A little way behind the group, Salyan laughed as she saw the impromptu snowball fight break out between the others. She hung back a little until it died down as swiftly as it had begun, worried about getting her lyre wet and potentially damaged, and she instead helped gather and stack the wood for a fire.

Once it started burning, helped by a spell from Darnand, Salyan took a seat on conveniently placed treestump, pack at her feet. She took stock of the group; Darnand and Aravi were the two she knew best from their group, and it had been Aravi who had invited her along. She liked them both, Aravi's innate friendliness and Darnand's pleasant nature meaning she got on well with them. From what she had managed to learn about Kayla, the Altmer seemed alright, though she needed to speak with her more to learn for certain. The only unknown factor was Vera, the bounty hunter that Aravi had hired along for the expedition. There was something about the woman that left Salyan leery of her, something distant, cold and aloof. It was not something about her that was necessarily cruel or evil, but it left Salyan feeling wary of her all the same; it was a talent she had picked up at home, where a misstep over an arbitrary line could risk violence. It was not the same, but Salyan got the feeling that if it benefited her, Vera would not hesitate to abandon them or pursue her own goals. Perhaps she was just being paranoid, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on her.
Darkness Eternal
Vera looked behind her at the commotion and saw that Aravi, Kayla and Darnand were involved in a playful confrontation that resulted in snowballs being tossed at one another. It went from loud to louder even when the two women held down the Breton and filled his pants with snow. The Imperial woman sat that one out, and Vera noticed she had her instruments with her. Perhaps this was the reason she didn't want to get involved, that or she was like Vera and didn't want to get involved in the child-like fun the others were having simply because she didn't feel a reason to.

She turned away as the Breton called for the help of the imperials. A snowball landed somewhere beside her, thankfully, not in the back of her head. She turned to see who the thrower was and saw Aravi standing not too far off. She offered Vera a smile and joined the rest for firewood. It was obvious she was enjoying herself and Vera had no issue with that. Everyone had a way of doing something they like at their leisure. She was no exception.

She grabbed a dead rabbit, poked its bone through his hind leg and began peeling the fur off its skin. She pulled the skin apart with ease and set the unwanted pieces aside. Vera picked up the pieces of wood she made into sharp skewers, and grabbed the snowball Aravi had thrown near her to use it to moisten the wood before using it for the flames. The fleshy remains of the rabbit was then skewered to be roasted in the fire. She set it aside near the stone wall.

She waited until the others began a fire and skin the rest of the animals as they searched for more firewood. She was beginning to get hungry but she was willing share he meal with everyone else. There was more to go around.

The spoils of a kill should never go to waste. She’d be giving the dead creatures a bit of dignity by eating them and not letting their remains go to waste. Even their pelts could be used for something.

The fire had begun when Darnand cast spell against the wood and the entire thing was set ablaze. Vera picked up the fattest of the impaled rabbits and sat by the fire, placing the red rabbit just above the crackling fire, spinning the meat around as the flames licked the meat with its heat.

“If you’re hungry there are pheasant and rabbit over there,” she pointed at the side of the wall where she placed the impaled skinned animals standing along the wall. “There’s no salt . . . you’ll have to make due however you can.” She said this to no one in particular as the meat was just well enough to eat. She brought the partially cooked meat to her face, blew against it, and bit into it.

Just in the distance of the peak the wolves began to howl to each other and sing.
Grits
Darnand shook the snow out of his drawers as soon as Kayla let him up, turning his back for the sake of decency. It would not do to get his balls out in front of four females, even if one had just practically juggled them.

Vera had the game ready to cook. Darnand nodded his appreciation, taking a skewer to prop over the lower flames. He dug in his pack, producing a round, wooden salt box. The lid was held on by a single pin tightly enough to stay dry when closed. It swiveled aside when twisted in the hand.

“Seasoning,” he said, placing the box where anyone could reach it.

Next he retrieved a pressure vessel of Dwemer make. It held a stew of potatoes, onions, tomatoes, carrots, and peas already sliced for fast cooking. He added a small amount of water and clamped the lid back on.

“This should be ready by the time the meat has cooked,” he said. Pressure would make the vegetables cook more rapidly than possible with simple boiling. The pot would need to cool again before he would be able to get the top back open, but a judicious use of Frost accelerated the process. He made it thick enough to be eaten from even a shallow bowl or plate in case anyone had packed lightly.

“It will be good to taste a meal of proper game,” he said to Vera. “I travel most often with another who is not a hunter. We dine haphazardly on whatever creature last tried to make a meal of us.”

The mercenary had kept up her reserved, professional manner. Darnand respected her choice. Abiene had offered little information when he had questioned her about Vera. Only that she had joined Aravi and Kayla in a vampire hunt, and all three of them had returned. That and Aravi’s judgment in hiring her were enough for Darnand.

Wolves began their night song across the valley.

Darnand opened a bottle of wine, took a swig, and passed it to Salyan. His lack of armor or weapons gave him extra room in his pack, but dragging a set of travel goblets to Skyrim seemed excessive. He had left them with the rest of his things at the inn.


Darkness Eternal
Darnand had produced some dwemer contraption that boiled the vegetables he brought along with him for the trip.

Vera's strong teeth ripped into the meat. She had good teeth. Strong hands, too, that she would use to crack open the ironwood nuts.

She didn't look directly to the Breton as she twisted the meat so that the fire could devour every inch of it before she would. "Aye, that's how it works in the wild," she responded. "You either kill or be killed. Always feels good to be on the winning side." She grinned. "No meat better than the meat of the wild, I can tell you that much."

She couldn't discern much from the man other than the fact that he had scholarly air about him. His friendship with the two women suggested they've met before. She could tell he wasn't the most social creature in the pack.

The night whispered chilly winds over her and despite sitting next to the flames, she felt the nip of the cold over the nape of her neck and her ears. She had the opportunity to bring Lycus' black overcloak. She knew he wouldn't have a problem with her taking it. It would serve to keep her warm.
King Coin
Aravi saw that Darnand had the usual cooking gear. The times she had traveled with Darnand and Jerric, she learned that they almost always brought the means to make a good meal. Her pack carried the necessities and little else. It made camping with their group especially enjoyable knowing that there was cooked food. Though there were times where it was better to not ask what was in the stew…

Wolves started their howling already. A shiver went down Aravi’s spine.

Aravi took one of the rabbits Vera offered. “Thanks Vera,” she called and then went over to where Salyan was sitting. The woman was sitting on a stump near the fire. Aravi chose a spot on the ground and started to slowly roast the meat. To Salyan she said, “would you like some of this?” indicating the rabbit.
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla sat herself next to Darnand with a grin, crossing her legs and pulling out some fresh herbs from her pack. She grabbed a rabbit, nearly cooked, and sprinkled the herbs onto it. she set it back to cook and leaned back on her hands and sighed.

"This brings back memories," she said to Darnand in a low voice. "I was once traveling with a friend of mine, beautiful mage woman. We were tracking a particularly elusive group of vampires." the herbs began to smell good, and she set them out for anyone who wanted them. She leaned back and leaned a little closer to Darnand.

"It was a particularly chilly night, and the snow had nearly buried us. I think that's what the vamps were counting on. They don't need heat to survive. We did. We made a snow shelter, but it wasn't enough. Anyways, a snow troll had ripped my pack from me and tossed it over the mountain in a frenzy. All of my warming potions, herbs, everything, went with it. But she was smart. After we killed it, she was brilliant, by the way. I had never seen a wall of fire before. She was a, think the proper term is pyromancer? She could make flames envelope her target and burn them to a crisp."

The rabbit sizzled and popped, and Kayla turned it over.

"We had to huddle very close that night. Cheek to cheek." She leaned closer to Darnand, a mischievous smile on her lips. "And I was wondering if all mages were...good with their hands, like she was." She bit her lower lip briefly, then leaned back and laughed. She enjoyed teasing him, and by the red in his face, he had caught her drift.
Grits
Kayla leaned in and related the tale of one cold night she had shared with a beautiful woman. Darnand felt himself flush at the teasing. He knew he was supposed to infer the sexual meaning and respond in kind, but such banter did not spring readily to his mind. He doubted that an anecdote about cuddling up with a hairy Nord under similar circumstances would hold much charm. Nearly freezing to death while an icy beard tickled his neck was not among the memories he wished to keep, much less share.

Instead he addressed the part of Kayla’s remark that interested him the most.

“Indeed, I would refer to your partner as a pyromancer,” he said. “The spell you describe sounds like Wall of Flames, which is taught to destructionists at the Expert level by the College of Winterhold. When I was last there we lacked sufficient funds to complete my training. I have created the effect on my own since, but attempting it is…” Darnand winced at a memory. “Far from safe.”

I could make an innuendo regarding the differences between hand-casting and using one’s staff, he thought. A flush heated his face again. When the Deadlands freeze over.

He brought a Fire Shield to his hand and shifted the pressure cooker in the edge of the blaze.

“I have apples,” he announced, thoroughly flustered. Instead of palming his face Darnand gestured to his pack. “If anyone should care for one.”
Elisabeth Hollow
Seeing Darnand squirm brought endless joy to Kayla. It was rare that she got the chance to tease someone more reserved than she, and to see him blush and look away tickled her. She was a bit disappointed he didn't flirt back, but beggars can't be choosers, and she was a beggar in the sense of receiving male attention. The past few days had been the most she'd received attention since leaving Skyrim.

But she was back in her homeland, and that made her happy to the point of giddiness. The waning day coupled with the warm fire made for what could be a wonderful evening. She saw a torchbug light up a short distance away and smiled.

"I missed Skyrim." She said to Darnand, reaching over and taking an apple. she took a bite, and a bit of juice dribbled over the skin. She licked it up before taking another bite. It was sweet and made her mouth water.

"If you're cold," she said after swallowing her bite, "I've got some herbs that I chew that keep me warm. Frost Mirriam is good for that. I always keep a sprig or two in my mouth." She reached into her pocket and brought out parchment folded into a small envelope. Inside were slips of waxed paper with sprigs of herbs in them. She handed one to Darnand with a grin.

"In case those magickal hands of yours aren't enough tonight."
King Coin
Aravi saw Kayla whispering to Darnand. She watched Darnand’s face turn a shade of red. It was pretty easy to see Kayla was teasing him. Aravi decided to throw some oil on the flames.

“Careful Kayla, he might grab your rear, and none too gently either.”
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla let out a bark of laughter and looked back at Darnand, who was now beet red. A wicked look crossed her face and she turned back to Aravi, laughing.

"Hey, don't threaten me with a good time, now!"
King Coin
Kayla's mirth was contagious and Aravi couldn't prevent herself from smiling. She also enjoyed Darnand's expression.

"It's painful when he gets a hold of you, and he does it at the worst times. Consider yourself fortunate you don't have a tail either."
Elisabeth Hollow
"Oh, he plays rough, huh?" Kayla looked at Darnand, a huge grin on her face. "You know what they say, the quiet ones are the most fun!"

She threw her head back and laughed and took another bite of her apple. Just to punctuate her teasing remark, she ran her hand gently over Darnand's, batting her lashes. She enjoyed seeing him so flustered, especially knowing that he'd never return the flirting or shoot an innuendo back at her.

She then reached over and gently touched his cheek. "You're a good sport, Darnand. Most mages I know get flustered to the point of anger and say something about roasting my insides." She grabbed the bottle of wine as it was passed to her and took a few gulps. It didn't look like anyone else was interested in drinking it. She took the rabbit off of the fire and waited for it to cool so she could eat.
Grits
Darnand snorted as the women teased him. It was all in good fun. He gave Aravi a shy smile, relieved that she was able to see some humor in their tail-pulling history.

He renewed his fire shield on one hand and pulled the pressure cooker from the coals, then cooled it with frost from the other hand. The lock pin clicked down as the pressure inside eased. He opened the lid and began ladling out servings of savory vegetable stew.

“Please help yourself,” Darnand said. He sliced off some pheasant with his belt knife and laid the chunks on his plate next to the stew. Then he sat back and began to eat, blowing on the steaming food to cool it rather than using a more arcane method. He doubted that Vera would be amused if he accidentally shot cooked vegetables across the fire at her during dinner. Or ever, he amended.

The pheasant was tender, the meat generously basted by the bird’s autumn fat layer as it cooked. Darnand gave Vera a grateful look. He knew the hunter would not need an explanation, though he was not certain that she had noticed his appreciation.

Darnand balanced his plate on his knee and took another swig of wine before he passed it.

“Should we discuss tomorrow’s plan?” he said to the group at large.
Darkness Eternal
Vera remained seated near the flames the whole time with ears out to the world rather than the laughs and teases of the giggling travelers.

She finished her last pheasant while the others ate their fill. Darnand had just completed his work with the steamed vegetables and passed them out so any hungry volunteer could devour them. Vera was among the first to pick out her desires greens.

She cast one quick glance at the subject of the women's teasing and caught an appreciative expression on his flushed face. It was clear he was enjoying the food, as were the others and was giving her his gratitude through a show of emotion.

Vera nodded once and passed the wine bottle to another as it reached her. Right now, she wouldn't touch wine. Nor Cyrodiilic brandy. Water was fine as it was. Fresh from the river, preserved in the bottle and seated just near her in case she felt the need to cool her throat.

The Breton averted the topic of playfullness with something a bit more serious. It was Vera's turn to be more appreciative, but she didn't nescessarily show it. He might have guessed it, as she was the first to respond to his question.

"You'll be going in the caverns," Vera noted as she began cracking the ironwood nuts she collected from her pockets. She cracked them with her back teeth, and threw away the shells into the flames. "I'd choose to stay on the high ground if there is any. I'll keep an eye out while you do whatever it is you're doing."

She kept her eyes away from the flames, as she was seated a bit closer to the shadows. She knew the effects light had on her eyes and she wasn't enthusiastic to find out one of them even getting a hint of her oddity. She wasn't playful or joyous as the rest of them. Life had scorched such joy and felicity from the days of her youth. This was somewhat normal, though, for any other mercenary out there and she was glad she wouldn't have to force a charming smile or embrace others around her. She'd have to keep her temper in control.

And it takes great effort.

"You're all capable of killing animals," she noted, looking specifically at Aravi. She's hunted the undead. What's a furry beast to her? "I'll keep my attention focused on anything potentially dangerous. Trolls or outlaws that's taken residence in the caverns." She looked out into the valley. "Its the outlaws I'm concerned about."
Colonel Mustard
Salyan smiled as she enjoyed the banter that passed between the group, and once the food was ready, tucked in to the meat and the vegetable Darnand had prepared in his pressure cooker.

"I'd choose to stay on the high ground if there is any. I'll keep an eye out while you do whatever it is you're doing."

Salyan nodded at Vera's plan, and at her comments about worrying about outlaws; animals could be vicious and dangerous, but at least they could be outsmarted without too much difficulty. Mortals, on the other hand, were an eternally unknown quantity, and that made them particularly dangerous to fight against. At least this was going to be taking place on good old-fashioned Nirn; some of the expeditions that Salyan had been on in the Isles had encountered things far worse than bandits or mortals.

"If we're discussing plans," Salyan added. "I have an idea or two of my own. Kayla and Aravi, you two are clearly the best people we have in our group for front-line fighting, so I think it would be best if you were the vanguard. Darnand and I can stay further back and provide support; I can bolster your fighting abilities or disrupt large groups of enemies, and I'm guessing you, Darnand, are probably the sort of mage who's good at throwing fireballs about. Vera, you can watch our backs and keep to the higher ground, and provide long-ranged support with your bow. Also, watch Darnand and I, too. I'm not much good in a close-up brawl and Darnand, you're a mage. I don't need to go through the stereotypes, I'm sure."

She made that final comment with a smile, just to show that it wasn't meant seriously.

"This is just going on times when I've done this sort of thing before," Salyan said. "But if anyone has any other ideas I'm happy to hear them."
King Coin
Aravi ate quietly as the others discussed a plan of action. She was particularly relieved when Salyan presented her plan. The bard was the only one here she hadn’t fought with before. Salyan was powerful with her magic, that was clear to Aravi, but using it under the threat of injury and death was another thing.

“I like this plan, but it might be too narrow in places for all of us to stay together and be effective. We may have to split up when we get in. I hope that is not the case however. Also keep this in mind while we fight: be sure to allow Darnand to cast a soul trap spell on any beasts before delivering the killing blow. That’s what we are here for. I have an enchanted dagger for soul trapping as well, but I will only use it if we are forced to split up.”
Grits
Darnand listened to the ideas passed around the fire.

He smiled back at Salyan. “You are correct in your assessment. My cloak carries a mild Frost Shield enchantment, but it is intended to ease the discomfort of travel, not stand in as armor. It is not enough to turn a blade or prevent dismemberment. As you suggest, I shall maintain a distance so that I might cast the soul traps without coming under immediate attack. I will use a spell with a long duration, so accuracy will be important. I do not want to waste magicka.”

Darnand scraped his plate into the fire to clean it. Then he wiped his utensils and put them away as he spoke.

“Aravi and Kayla, I will not use fire while you are engaged at close range for fear of hitting you. If you need support I will summon a dremora. I must warn you to remove yourself from the fight if I do so. He often attacks indiscriminately once the initial threat has been eliminated. I will only summon him under great duress.” Which contributes to the lack of control, he thought. “And of course my fire spells will aid your strategic repositioning, if such should be required. On the subject of friendly fire, I should explain the soul trap. If you find yourself caught in the effect for some reason, do not become alarmed. It takes tremendous power to trap a human’s or mer’s energy in this manner. Even if you should… er, expire while the spell is upon you, your soul will not be trapped in any gem that I carry.”

From the looks on the faces around the campfire Darnand speculated that he might have shared too much information.

He nodded at Aravi. “It is good that you have an alternate means of setting the soul traps.” On a dagger, for the love of Mara! he thought. Running up to an angry creature and poking it with a short blade might secure the attention of Sheogorath.

But Aravi was an experienced warrior despite her delicate appearance. Instead of expressing the concern he felt for her safety, he gave her a little smile. “I recall your speed and great agility in battle,” he said. “Your two blades move faster than this Breton’s eye can follow. It is good that our results will not be diluted if we should need to separate.”

Darnand glanced at Vera. He agreed that she should remain apart to provide clear perspective and ranged support with her bow. The rest of them should be able to take down even the strongest animals with cooperation and planning. It was the more responsive threats such as bandits that posed the greatest danger to them. Having a professional killer watching their backs would allow them to focus on the conflict at hand without being caught by one they failed to see coming.

He finished stowing his gear and looked around. Folk were often tempted to stay awake sharing stories in the warm intimacy of a campfire. Darnand was admittedly not a gregarious person, and he felt that they had enjoyed enough of that already. “Shall I take the first watch?” he said.


King Coin
“I also ask you don’t bring out your atronach either Darnand.” Aravi remembered that particular daedra with dislike. They shouldn’t have to worry about Darnand’s fire either, as long as they stick together. If we are forced to split up, then I will be concerned. Despite their friendship and some successful adventures since, their first meeting was very rough. When he talked about the soul trap spell, she was inwardly relieved but tried to not show it. Based on things Darnand had said, she wouldn’t be surprised if he did have a black soul gem. Capturing the soul of one of their party was something she didn’t want to risk.

“Shall I take the first watch?”

Aravi nodded. “You can wake me for the second watch.”
Elisabeth Hollow
"I'll take third." Kayla offered. She was already cleaning up her food and unrolling her sleeping bag.
Colonel Mustard
"I'll have the fourth, then," Salyan added. She began to clean her plate, using a chunk of snow as both a brush and water at the same time. As she finished that, tucking it away in her pack and unrolling her own bedroll, she nodded over to Vera. "My thanks for the food, Vera. It was delicious."
Elisabeth Hollow
Little happened through the night. Darnand took first watch and reported a clear night, as did the rest. The lights of dawn soon peeked over the horizon, and Vera, ever watchful, began packing up, rousing the rest of the group. they cleaned up camp, scattering the ashes of their fire and giving little sign they were there. They all slid into their armors and trudged forward with Darnand pointing the way, his nose in his map. Kayla occasionally had to pick him up by the shoulders to keep him from stumbling over a fallen log or errant rock, and Aravi nudged him towards the cleared pathways instead of the brush that lined the dirt paths.

The sound of roaring water filled their ears, and the scent of cold, clean water wafted to their nostrils. The mouth of a cave, small and unassuming, peeked into their sight. Darnand folded his map. Kayla opened her bag of potions and let everyone look inside.

"I've got invisibility potions,, healing potions, poisons, and," she looked at Darnand, "Dispel. Aravi told me you can get a little trigger happy. happens to the best of us." she said reassuringly.

"There's a few magicka boosting potions, too. Don't be alarmed by the small sizes of the bottles. I've concentrated them into a potent, but small vial. The weaker potions are for surface wounds, the stronger ones for internal damage. take what you think you'll need. Aravi, I made a special potion for you.' She handed Aravi a bottle with yellow liquid in it.

"Rally potion," she whispered with a smile. "In case there are spiders." She made her fingers crawl up Aravi's arms and laughed a little. "Drink it if there are."

"Alright, anyone else have anything to add?" She left the bag open for them.
Darkness Eternal
Morning had come and Vera spent most of the night awake. She'd had a good rest before coming and even if she didn't, she doubt she would sleep. She's had a lifetime of insomnia.

The trip to the cavern was quiet and uneventful. It wouldn't remain like that for long, though. Things always go bad. But she was prepared, just as the others were.

She was fully armored. Her gauntlets encasing her hands, her black boots covering her feet and strong legs and her belt safely secure around her waist. Sported on her back was a bow and a quiver full of arrows, deep in her boot was a vicious knife, easy to reach and to pull out. She placed her helmet over her head. It would serve to preserve her identity amongst thieves and bandits, and though she was aware the group had seen her face, she still wouldn't flaunt her looks to her enemies in Skyrim who knew her under a different alias.

As far as she's concerned she was still a wanted woman in the Reach and in Riften. But in the end, she planned on leaving no survivors or taking any prisoners. She couldn't say the same for the others, though.

Kayla had her potions and poisons; healing, invinsibility, and a special potion for Aravi.

She didn't need any. There were few abilities in her disposal that included blending in with her surroundings and become invisible to the naked eye. But she learned to not be too dependant on that power alone. She'd stick to the high grounds and the shadows. Besides, they need the potions more than she does.

More for them.

She checked and rechecked her arrows once more, seperating the different pointed ones. Some would work better against steel plate, others wouldn't. Some were made just for piercing soft flesh and to penetrate armor.

"The cavern inside might have multiple levels. If we're splitting up I want to know who is going with who."

She put an arrow in her quiver in the back before adding. "Who's going to need me to watch over their backs?"

She doubted some of them would even need her assistance, but she didn't come this way for nothing. She expected to be vigilant over someone or two people in the caverns. If the group split up, then she'd have to focus on one.

Some of them were capable. Aravi and the high elf. She didn't know much about Darnand other that he was a mage and the other Imperial girl could inspire the others to fight while she remained away from the heat of battle. If anything, she can whack a troll alongside the head with her lute if things went bad . . .

Vera almost nearly smiled at that.
King Coin
They woke early, before Magnus appeared over the horizon. Aravi dressed for battle rather than comfort today. Frost covered the ground and it was especially cold changing into her Elven armor behind a thicket, rather than changing near the fire. She took the chill over appearing almost naked in front of her friends. When the camp was packed and everyone was ready to travel, the first rays of light were just filtering into their den.

When they arrived at the cavern, Kayla presented a bag of potions for everyone to take from. She approach Aravi with a special potion. What’s this?

Kayla told her what it was, and playfully made her hands crawl up Aravi’s arms. She smiled nervously and put the potion where she could easily get to it. I hope I don’t need this… With a sinking feeling, she knew she probably would. “Thanks,” was all she could say. Anything but spiders…

Aravi took a couple of healing potions and a few stamina potions. She has restoration magic for wounds, but stamina was something she didn’t know how to replenish yet without potions.

Vera wanted to know who she was going with if they had to split up.
“You would go with me. Darnand and Kayla can go together. Salyan, it’s up to her who she goes with. If it’s just the two of us, then we’ll use stealth as much as we can.”

Aravi wasn’t about to let Kayla to go with Vera. The two of them might come to blows…
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla nodded. "I can go with Darnand." she handed Darnand a potion vial with a thick bluish liquid in it.

"Here. it completely restores your magick. all of it, no matter how much is spent." she handed another to Salyan.

"In case something happens to me. Vera and Aravi both know how I attract sharp objects to my organs." Her mouth twitched slightly at her own morbid joke. She had a bad feeling suddenly, and wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of. that they took advantage of her potions.

"I can stay up front and silence our footsteps, Darnand. Take an invisibility potion if you want. I hear it's large in here, and in case there are any bandits high up, or creatures that can throw rocks-" She rolled her own eyes. "-I'll take the brunt of the damage. Okay?"
Darkness Eternal
Here we go. The partnership time.

Vera long ago decided that this was the worst part of the job; working with others irritated her; she had always been a lone worker. Part of this to blame was the reason other people tended to screw up when coin was to be made.

But time again she reminded herself that working with Aravi at least wouldn’t be bad. She knew the woman wanted her in the team out of necessity rather than any other reason. She and Kayla were friends, and so were Darnand and the new woman, Salyan. But her? She was wanted for her skills, not for her to abilities to throw snowballs or do group hugs in the midst of something important. But what does she know? She had no childhood, and if she did it was just as vague as remembering a dream that happened years ago.

She was just along for the ride and of course to get a fat coin purse by the end of the journey. The other half of the pay, anyways and this suited her just perfect.

She learned that she was going to be working alongside Aravi while Kayla, (unsurprisingly considering their conversation last night) would go with Darnand.

Though she didn’t think too much of it Vera suspected the reason. Kayla must hate her. Perhaps for drowning that absent-minded thrall back at the cavern's entrance and giving her a word of warning that she should kill or risk being killed. If that was why she clenched her fists so loud that Vera could hear it, then that must be part of the reason.

This was one of the reason she hated working with others. People spent too much time brooding about the past grievances, keeping old scores. Holding grudges, and grudges that were born out of non-sensible feelings. That kind of emotion always interferes with true rationality.

She never held much grudges, not unless her pay was being personally affected. She knew how some men were with their coin; it was a characteristic of greed and a tight-fist. There had been times when she'd needed to take extreme measures to get paid for the completion of a task, and even when she did she was given a low pay or sometimes, none at all. Those same times she’d been threatened to leave the area, empty handed, or face the steel of a handful of loyal bodyguards or housecarls.

In that case, keeping score was more than just a petty feeling. It was necessary. She doesn’t work for free and payment either had to be in blood or coin. If word got out that she was betrayed with no qualms, then she was no longer a woman to be feared and a woman that was not feared was not respected, and that led to others not hiring her. When buisiness was damaged, things had to be taken to violent levels.

She didn’t doubt one bit Kayla would be bold enough to try something. She’s good at reading people and despite the woman’s puerile behavior she was quite dangerous. She knew sticking with Aravi would be the best idea.

Kayla was Aravi’s friend and she’d rather not get into a deadly confrontation with her. Bad for business, and a considerable sum subtracted from her pay. Considerable sum meaning every last septim.

If they weren’t friends, and if Aravi didn’t have any connections with the Altmer woman then it didn’t matter. If the woman retaliated for whatever emotion-based reason that was the highlight of a typical woman, she’d do whatever she could to escape the place alive, leave the adversary’s body for the wolves.

She couldn’t fault a woman for being angry, though. She had her own weaknesses as well. The random anger problems, the uncontrollable rage and fury.

I’m still working on that, Vera said in her mind. Lycanthropy takes a toll on one's mind. When one walks hand in hand with the beast, things always goes wrong and turn violent. Always.

Right now she just hoped nothing would go wrong. As long as they keep their mouths shut and she holds her own tongue, there is nothing to worry about.

Kayla passed on the potions to those who wanted it, but Vera took no part. Part of her mind came across the idea that the woman might be brave enough to try and poison her.

That would be something, Vera mused. Poisons don’t do much damage to lycanthropes unless they have essence of nightshade and wolfsbane. Then she wouldn’t choke to death but her organs would burn and her ribcages would weaken until the point of breaking.

But she’s more nord than anything, so that wasn’t likely.

Her thoughts and her head focused on Aravi. The woman’s skill was prodigious for one so thin. She was a huntress herself; killing vampires in a trade, perhaps getting paid for it.

Though this wasn’t what interested Vera. It was something else. Something she’d discovered the night she first walked in the Goblet and the woman was sitting down eating, wet from the rain.

"You should go ahead first," Vera said to Darnand behind her helmet. Her head turned to Aravi. "Ready when you are."
Grits
Darnand led the way to the cave, expertly guided around several obstacles by Kayla and Aravi. Annoyingly the fallen logs and gigantic trees did not appear on his map along with the lines indicating settlements and terrain. He was working on an enchantment that should do the trick, but so far it had not been successful.

He gave his map a little shake. Dammit. Perhaps a stronger charm of Clairvoyance…

“Herk!” Darnand popped back up to his feet again, brushing off a knee. That rock came out of nowhere. He reached back and tugged his staff loose from where it rode across his back, carrying it in one hand for balance like a walking stick.

“This carries a shield enchantment,” he remarked to Kayla. “Though I should not like to test it against a troll.” His eye ran over the numerous scrapes and gouges carved through the scorch marks and into the wood. Each held a violent memory. Darnand kept his body fully healed and free of blemishes as a testament to his own skill and Abiene’s. These were the scars that reminded him of the fights he had barely survived.

The song of falling water confirmed what his map had already told him. They had arrived at the cave system. He folded the parchment and put it away.

Vera sorted her arrows at the cave’s entrance. Her armor appeared to made of pure midnight, and her face was concealed by a full helm. It was slightly unnerving to look upon. She asked how the group would split up if such became necessary.

Darnand glanced over at Aravi. He had fought at her side, or more accurately somewhat to her rear, and she knew his capabilities. She had also witnessed his mistakes. He awaited her judgment.

Aravi indicated that she would accompany Vera while Kayla paired with Darnand. Salyan would choose her path when the time came.

Kayla handed Darnand one of her highly potent potions. “In case something happens to me. Vera and Aravi both know how I attract sharp objects to my organs.” Her laugh held an edge.

Darnand tucked the small vial into the bandolier across his chest, nodding with respect and appreciation. He possessed a vast reserve of magicka thanks to the stars that blessed his birth. His own potions could not refill it, but he knew that Kayla’s could. That reminds me…

“I was born under the Apprentice,” he told her. “I have taken measures to alleviate the condition, but I am still cursed with a weakness to magicka.”

Darnand shot Kayla a quick grin. Truth be told, anticipation always brought the kind of energy best released in solitude or in a fight. Today there would be no need to seek out quiet time behind a sheltering tree trunk.

“Shall I cast a charm of fire resistance upon you?” he asked her. Instead of the reassuring flicker of a Restoration spell he brought a small tongue of flame to his palm as a jest.

Kayla continued, speaking of stealth and the need for caution. She told him she would stay in front and take the brunt of the damage.

“All right.” He looked up at the elven warrior, completely serious again. “If your blade carries an enchantment I might have opportunity to cast a curse of weakness that would strengthen its effect,” he said. “Call out if you would like a ward cast over you, or a rapid healing spell. I have little defense, but I am capable of casting an array of spells under pressure.”

Darnand removed his cloak and set his pack aside at the entrance. A casual observer wouldn’t see it there, and a thief wouldn’t bother with its contents. He lifted a fold of his robe. “I wear little metal, but a spell to silence our steps would be most welcome. If we should come under fire from above I will cast my traps as quickly as possible and then shoot concentrated flares.” He held his hand palm forward and made a short gesture to demonstrate.

Vera’s helmeted head turned from Darnand to Aravi. The mercenary was ready to get the job done.

Darnand glanced over at the pool next to the cave’s entrance. He imagined rinsing the sweat from his face later. How cold it would feel. He centered himself with the thought of after.

Darnand glanced at Aravi. He told her with a look that he was ready.



.
Colonel Mustard
Salyan was awake not long after the first fingers of dawn tickled the horizon, clambering out of her bedroll and rubbing her eyes. She dressed, pulling on the set of light leather armour she wore in such situations. With the breastplate pressing her far-from-ample bosom flat, she could have been mistaken for a boy by a stranger.

Her dagger was placed in her belt for easy access, and she made sure the two waterskins filled with concentrated magicka and healing potions were in easy reach. A couple of vials of antidote against poison were at her belt as well; she had learned that lesson from forays into Elytra nests back home on the Isles. Finally, she took the time to tune her lyre, as making sure the pitches were correct was absolutely essential for spellcasting correctly.

Trekking through the forest, Salyan took in what sights and sounds she could as they walked, listening to the birds chirrup and chatter, enjoying the sight of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy and beaming through the pine trunks.

Their arrival was greeted with the booming hiss of falling water, from a waterfall on the far side of a pool by the cavern's entrance. Vera was busy sorting her arrows, and Kayla and Darnand were exchanging potions and words.

“You would go with me. Darnand and Kayla can go together," Aravi said. "Salyan, it’s up to her who she goes with. If it’s just the two of us, then we’ll use stealth as much as we can.”

"I think it might be best if I went with you and Vera, Aravi," Salyan said. "Unless Vera is also a mage then you two won't have a strong magician on your side, and I can help you with magical support. Plus I'm not too bad at moving quietly, when I need to."
King Coin
Aravi watched as Kayla distributed more of her potions. Oddly enough, Vera didn’t take any of them. Doesn’t trust her maybe? This worried Aravi, but she kept it off of her face. If her ears or tail showed any discomfort, she hoped others would just assume it was just anticipation of what was within. Hopefully this won’t affect either one’s ability to fight.

Salyan said she would go with Aravi and Vera. Aravi nodded to her.

“Neither of us are mages. Good to know you are quiet as well. I occasionally use a muffle spell when I’m worried about making noise.”

Everyone seemed like they were ready to go inside.

“Ready when you are,” Vera said from behind her black helm. She was encased in heavy plate armor made from incredibly strong ebony. The helm totally protected the other woman’s face, only her eyes could be seen within the visor. Aravi’s husband wore an ebony breastplate as well. He didn’t wear a helm though; none would fit on his head.

Darnand also indicated he was ready to go. He was in his usual robes, and not for the first time she wished he would wear something armored over his chest at the very least. At least Salyan was wearing something protective.

Kayla was in her new chitin armor that she received from the Dunmer merchant. It looked like it would serve her better than the leather she wore on their last outing. Hopefully her organs won't attract too many sharp objects, Aravi thought when she heard Kayla's gruesome joke.

Aravi’s own elven armor gleamed in the sunlight. It showed scratches in places where it turned aside a weapon or claw. She put her open faced helm on. It was shaped to resemble an eagle, its wings folded down covering her cheeks. It was one of the few that fit her well, and a blacksmith put holes for her ears. She wore a pair of leather bracers. Her feet were wrapped in the cloth strips she preferred, leaving her toes uncovered.

She looked at them and said, “well, shall we go in?”

She walked forward and inside the mouth of the cave.

Inside, the floor sloped downward slightly. She walked silently a short ways. The smell of dried blood hung in the air, and her night vision allowed her to see discoloration on the walls. There were no bodies however, and she got a sinking feeling.

Kayla was close behind her when she looked back.
Grits
Darnand stepped into damp darkness. A stream flowed past on the left, covering the noise of his feet. From the sound he could tell that the space opened up ahead.

Light from the entrance showed him solid footing. Skyrim’s ubiquitous cave fungus gave off its pale, sickly glow, but he would need more than that to see ahead. A Khajiit and two mages would have their own solutions, but he wondered what Kayla and Vera would do for light. If they lit torches he would save his potions and magicka for later.

Kayla is an alchemist, he remembered, glancing at her strong back. She will likely use a potion. And of course many adventurers know the Candlelight spell.

Darnand reached for his staff to be certain of his footing in the meantime. There was no smell of animal waste. He took that as an encouraging sign. Whatever had left the bloodstains must have been carried off and devoured elsewhere. Perhaps the killer was smart enough not to lair in the doorway. Intelligent predators carried more magicka to fill his gems.

He touched his shoulder bag, belt pouch, flasks, and bandolier out of habit. He had learned that under stress his muscles reached for where things had been most often, so it behooved him to maintain the same arrangement.

In a few more steps he could see the straight edges of manmade clutter. Probably crates and boxes, maybe a table. Perhaps a staging area , he thought. This would be a good place for smugglers. It is not surprising to see that someone else has been here.

He hoped that those who had dragged in the crates had also left their blood here on the walls and floor. Killing bandits would not further their goals. Killing whatever ate them would. He wondered how long ago violence had occurred.

A little light would reveal more.
Colonel Mustard
In the wake of Kayla and Aravi, Salyan glanced around the entrance of the cave. The walls were slick with damp, as if they had entered the womb of some sleeing stone goddess of immense scale, the stone squamous with a scabrous stubble of grey-green lichen. In the distance, she could hear the roar of falling water from some far chamber.

She scanned the entrance, looking for any signs of what the inhabitants might be; the cluster of furniture at the entranceway (most likely a post for sentries and guards) indicated human habitation, but the spattered blood showed that something else had tried to take over. Whether or not they were successful was impossible to tell just from what was at hand.

"Vera," she said. "You're a seasoned and fearsome huntress of beasts and men alike; any guess as to how old these bloodstains are?"
Elisabeth Hollow
Kayla cocked an ear in the darkness as she walked a little ahead of Aravi. She knew Aravi could see in the dark, and were she to run into something, Aravi would let her know ahead of time. Besides, the point of this was to get her eyes adjusted to the dark. Creatures could see in the dark, but most humans and mer couldn't without the aid of a spell.

She gripped the hilt of Dawnbreaker, her sword dull and lifeless without the presence of undead around. She was relieved. After all, what good was she is she blinded her comrades?

The walls were slick with slime, and Kayla wiped the slippery liquid off on her armor absently as her eyes adjusted. she thought a ball of light would be unwise, as the light would carry down the tunnel, if it was short enough, and alert others to their presence.

The roar of the water that carried into the cave echoed loudly off the small tunnel walls. Kayla reached into her pack, the light of the tunnel still lighting her path. She downed a potion to help her see in the dark as the others spoke. She heard Salyan ask a question, but didn't hear an answer as a familiar, chilling sound reached her ears, over the sound, barely, of the rushing water. The clicking of mandibles, rubbing together hungrily made her stomach drop.

Charrus.

She searched around to see where the sound could be coming from, but saw none. She shook her head. Couldn't be. We're not deep enough. It's too light this way.

Then she remembered the stories she'd heard coming from Skyrim to Cyrodiil about Falmer attacking above ground, striking out against the hated man and mer who had not been cursed by the Dwarves. There could be a few Falmer living closer to the surface than normal. It was possible. Unlikely, but possible.

She'd battled Falmer and Charrus before, and alone as well. But she wasn't sure about the others. She decided to warn them. She tied her bag up and took a few steps then stopped. She felt odd, like she was being watched. She turned around to see nothing. She walked closer, keeping an eye behind her.

"Hey, everyone. I think there's Falmer down here." She said in a hushed tone. She set the bag of potions on the ground next to Aravi. "I'm not sure what everyone knows about them, but-" Something flickered in the corner of her eye, to her right, and she turned to see a pale, nude, bloodless-looking being with a noseless face snarling on the other side of the small river. It had an arrow nocked, and was ready to fire. straight at Vera.

"Move!" Kayla pushed Vera out of the way, the arrow missing her chest by several inches. In retrospect, the arrow would have glanced off the woman's armor with no problem. But Kayla wasn't thinking about that at the moment. Another Falmer had appeared next to the other, an arrow nocked straight for Darnand. Kayla picked the Breton up and twirled him around her, pressing his chest against hers.

Then things felt even more odd.

She let go of Darnand in time to see an arrowhead sticking from her chest, the Breton clear from the point. Time stood still as she took a step backwards, a confused look on her face as she looked at Darnand.

"Are you okay?" She mumbled to him before she felt nausea take over. She felt light, like if she fell over, she'd float away. But when she fell backwards, all she felt was the cold shock of the ice water as she floated downstream.

My potions, She thought numbly. She shook off the thought, right before she floated off. She felt nothing as her body was carried downstream and over the falls.
Colonel Mustard
"KAYLA!"

It had been sudden, the moment when an arrow sprang from Kayla's back, biting into it like some murderous parasite, and for a split second Salyan froze, first instinct to rush after the Altmer before she could come to more harm. An arrow slicing through the air past her shoulder cut her back to reality, and she raised her lyre; she sent a bolt of magickal energy towards the two pale, scuttling things that were sniping at them with bows and arrows, an angry buzzing snippet of arcane sound that that hit one of the archers. With a shriek of rage, it drew a dagger and leapt at its fellow, the two of them caught in a sudden, frenzied struggle.

Salyan scrambled to the edge of the stream where she had seen Kayla fall, crouching next to it in case of more concealed marksmen and scanning along it to try and see where she was. The Altmer was nowhere in sight.

"Sheogorath's beard!" Salyan cursed. "I can't see her!"
King Coin
Aravi was looking the wrong way when it happened. Kayla walked past her, but her eyes remained behind, watching the others as they came up behind.

The clicking sound reached her ears. The one she dreaded. Charrus.

Kayla heard it too. The giant bugs weren’t a concern yet. Kayla would give them plenty of warning if the creatures saw them.

The others filed past, and Aravi waited to be sure nothing followed them in.

She heard Kayla whisper, and then shout. Salyan yelled her name. Aravi looked up and drew her short bow. Falmer. She pushed the concern for Kayla out of her mind, that can wait until they were done. If someone was injured already, they could still go back to camp.

A streak of bright magic left Salyan’s lyre and turned one of the two Falmer against its ally. She loosed an arrow with a wide head against the one that appeared healthiest. It struck the creature in the thigh and caused it to fall. The other was dealing with knife wounds. She drew another arrow and shot. This time, she knew how high to elevate her aim and the bleeding Falmer was hit in the chest. Perhaps the one that fell survived and Darnand can trap it before it expires.

“Anyone see any more? What about the Charrus? Are they coming?”
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