Day 101
Blades clashed and people screamed as a large-scale battle was waged across central Skyrim. Zaynabi, Kharjo and I had been able to make our way along the edge of the battlefield to a mountain that overlooked all the plains around Whiterun. The imperial army had made a move to defend itself against the undead threat, meeting the horde's leaders in battle outside the recently demolished Whiterun. It's normally ruined outer walls now reduced to small rocks and the buildings still smoldered from the necromancer's magic.
"There were blades on the undead. Are they experimenting on their monstrous creations?" Zaynabi brought out a book and began to scribble something with charcoal. She had to wrap her cloak tightly around her as she wrote, snow had begun to come down in large clumps while we perched on the mountainside. I recognized this path as one you would take in the beginning of the game to find the dragonstone in the ruins at it's peak. Only now did I wonder if the ruins were being used as a base of operations for necromancers.
"Should we be worried about being attacked from behind?" I asked above the sound of the wind.
"We will be safe. There should be a cave along this route, one of the other Khajiit caravans use it during storms." Kharjo yelled back then turned his attention to a thunderous sound on the battlefield. From what we could make out large balls of fire where being flung across the fields, either from catapults or magic we couldn't tell.
"Let's get to the cave quickly!" I screamed and began to edge my way along the narrow pathway. We made slow progress as the battle raged below us. I felt bad for not joining the fight, we could deal a large blow against the undead menace in Skyrim should the imperial army be victorious, but then again in such a alarge battle what help would I be? We found a small opening in the side of the mountain that lead into a larger cavern, very similar to the one we had taken refuge before.
"It seems like ages since we where crammed into a cave with one another." Kharjo joked as we attempted to shake the snow off ourselves. I placed a few sticks of wood in a pile that I had stashed away in Kharjo's bag on our way past Windhelm. We had taken longer to travel towards Solitude as we had to get past the remnants of the fort that the imperials had tried to build next to the Valtheim towers. We also had to avoid many groups of undead that roamed around. Five days of running and dodging to get to our current location. I felt as though it would have been similar if I had been trying to get my sneak skill up within the game and just crouched everywhere.
"I'll take care of it." Zaynabi pulled out the book she had strapped to her belt and held it open. She channeled the energy of the spell from the book and into her hand, jetting a small stream of flame forward and onto the twigs. They caught fire immediately and the small cavern lit up.
"How long do you think that battle will go on?" I wondered out loud and peaked out the entrance to the cave. The fighting seemed to keep going, balls of fire being thrown high into the air from both sides of the fields.
"It's probably been going on for days. It's hard to tell but it looks as though the necromancers just try to resurrect any fallen imperial soldiers. It makes me wonder more about what they are trying to accomplish." Zaynabi crouched by the fire and tried to warm up her hands. "Storms are common around the peaks of skyrim. We'll have to try and get as warm as we can now then move on." She added as Kharjo knelt by the fire and I followed suite. We did what we could to get our limbs warm while the twigs burned. When they went out, we left the cave and back onto the narrow path.
"It looks as though both sides are backing off one another!" I yelled as we continued our slow advance in the snow.
"Looks like a lot of bodies!" Kharjo replied. Even from this distance we could see the mounds of corpses. Which side they were from, we couldn't tell. We moved on, no longer trying to pay attention to the events below but on our task of moving forward. It took some time before we reached the opposite end of the valley but we were able to make it without incident.
"That was troublesome." Kharjo moved his arms and legs around, snow falling off him in mounds. We did what we could to rid ourselves of the snow that piled on top of us. There was still some of the cold white stuff lightly falling from the sky as we rested by the mountain side.
"It looks as though the imperials have boosted the defenses of Fort Greymoor." Zaynabi looked around and pointed out the large towers that were around a wooden wall. "I can assume that they built that around the stone walls of Fort Greymoor." She dusted off the hood of her cloak and turned away from the military buildings. "We'll need to head North-West from here to reach the area around Solitude." I took out my map and made a shield over it with my cloak. In the dim light I could make out the small lettering next to a house symbol.
"It looks like we could stop by Rorikstead to rest." I rolled the map back up and placed it in my satchel. "If it's still standing that is." I added and we continued to trek through the falling snow. A day of travelling and avoiding imperial patrols got us to the remains of Rorikstead.
A few hours later we reached the area around Rorikstead. We were able to assume there might have been an attack from the necromancers as we could only see small stumps of what used to be buildings. But instead of finding them smoldering we found that the homes and any walls had been taken apart. We noticed hasty marks with axes and hammers on the few buildings that made up the village of Rorikstead. Without investigating further we instead continued along the main road and headed farther north. It wasn't until we came to a crossroads that fatigue began to affect us. Night was also approaching and we needed to find shelter to avoid detection by both the imperials and any undead that may have gotten this far.
It took us almost an hour but we had been able to find a cavern where we could take shelter against the falling snow and the night. We started a fire and began to eat from our rations.
"Dragon Bridge is nearby. After that it's just a short walk to the shrine." I noted on my map and munched on bread.
"It might be a little harder as it is the snow season in Skyrim. Though the elements are harsh enough normally, it will be especially so for some time." Kharjo looked outside the cave and sighed heavily. "I miss the warm sands of home, I am glad that I will be returning soon." A smile formed on his lips and his eyes began to shine.
"I will only be happy to be rid of the cold. I am not as eager as you to return to Elswyr." Zaynabi scoffed and finished the small bit of meat that was in her hands. I had never really heard her history before. Only that Zaynabi had joined up with the caravans after her and Ahkari had similar situations. I had never really paid much attention to the caravans in the game. I had only ever needed to find them when I needed to shop on the road. I wish now that maybe I would have talked to them more, maybe in the game it could have given me at least some insight on how they where and what had happened to them that lead them to Skyrim.
"I'll take first watch." I finished my bread and walked over to the entrance of the cave, taking a seat on a small rock. I leaned my body against the side of the cave and looked out over the snowy land. I had never imagined that any of this could have happened to me. Waking up in a world that I though had been just a video game. Surviving long enough to get as far as Riften and now. I looked down at my armored hands and smiled. I had come a long way from barely chopping wood with my weak arms. I had learned how to use a sword from Marsh-Walker and Mjoll but I was still a novice in battle. Dawnbreaker is what saved me from dying against the undead, not my skill with a blade.
"If it wasn't for a daedra-" The thought scared me as I looked up at the gray sky. I had believed in Akatosh, that his power was compelling me towards living and helping others. But come to find out that Meridia had been watching me and she was the one that protected me, not Akatosh. "Is it wrong to trust a daedra? Even one who just hates the undead?" My mind was a mix of different feelings when Zaynabi walked up next to me.
"How does it look?" She asked and took a seat on a rock beside me.
"It looks quiet, nothing is stirring." I replied with a nervous laugh. "I would feel nervous but given our experiences I've become used to it." It was dangerous to drop your guard but I had become accustomed to the quiet that took hold of the land when undead were near. The area around New Riften was always quiet and finding game to hunt was rare.
"I understand what you mean. It is the same for me." Her brightly colored eyes scanned over the snowy field and her muzzle lifted in a smile. "I had begun to grown accustomed to Skyrim you know. I don't miss the warm sands of Elswyr like the others do. There was nothing left for me there." She dropped her gaze and began to fidget with her clawed hands. I realized that she had never spoken about herself before and wondered what prompted her to start now. "Kharjo has been talking of his home and the things he will do when he will do when he returns." It was as she had read my mind and answered me. I couldn't help but smile as she had a knack for doing that. "But we still have to get through Cyrodiil. I just hope that this amulet that we must recover is worth it." She sighed heavily and turned towards me.
"I think it will be. I told you how it was Meridia who spoke to me. But she hates undead more than anything, I think we can trust that she will get rid of them." I tried to reassure myself with my words more than anything and I believe Zaynabi could see that.
"Just tread with caution Darius. Daedra do not normally give away their power for free." Her tone was filled with worry and she had a very sad look upon her face. My gaze fell to the shining blade strapped to my hip and my head shook from side to side.
"I'll be alright." I assured her as best I could but the look she gave me said that she doubted it.
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Day 102
"There's no time! We need to move out of here and help the others!" A cloaked man argued with another as they stood before the statue of Meridia. From our perch we could make out a small object hanging between the two hooded statues under Meridia. That's where her beacon would be if it was the game, but now a small piece of the amulet hung on a string in it's place.
"We where ordered to watch the statue! I will not ignore those orders while Ryzal is in charge of the northern brotherhood." The other figure argued back. He sounded like an older man and the way he slumped over slightly and relied on his staff confirmed that. "You would be wise to just follow orders like the good apprentice you are." He snorted and turned towards the statue. "This daedric prince would seek to undo what we have worked so hard and long for." He went to reach for the amulet but a ball of flame appeared and swirled around the two small statues that held it.
"The thing just appeared out of no where, what would they have planned?" The other hooded figure seemed to have given up his argument and moved to stand next to the older one.
"Whatever Merdia has planned, it will be to rid all of Tamriel of the power we command." The old man leaned onto his staff and turned away from the statue. He brought his hand forward and a small tendril of purple energy shot fourth into the ground before him. A pool of black liquid formed where the tendril went and began to grow. A boned hand shot fourth from the pool and brought itself to the edge. After dragging itself up, an armored skeleton presented itself to the necromancer. Two more brought themselves out of the pool before it dissipated as if it had never been there. "I want you to go with this young man. Follow his commands." The skeletons bowed their heads and turned their empty eye sockets to the other cloaked figure.
"I will use them well master. I will return with my report of the area." He lead the small group off the shrine and down the hill towards the main road.
"Darius. We should move now while there is just one." Kharjo had already drawn his blade and was preparing to move out from the brush but I had placed my armored hand on his chest.
"I have seen these men lay waste to a city with just one mage. It's best if we don't take on one with just us." After surveying the area I could see that the older man's apprentice had been the only other living person around. No other skeleton guards or anything. Either the older man believed he was safe and in secret or he was vastly confident in his abilities. I could feel the warmth of the blade strapped to my belt. It seemed eager to plunge itself into this necromancer. I wondered exactly how this sword seemed to have such a life of it's own and that thought had worried me since I had first used it.
"Meridia, give me strength." I prayed and drew the blade quietly from it's leather sheath. "I honestly don't see another route." I stared down at the blade then to Kharjo and Zaynabi. They both nodded and readied themselves. Though this went against what I had just said to Kharjo I couldn't see any other options. The old man just stared up at the statue and seemed to be muttering to himself. "Wait, muttering?" I thought a moment then my eyes opened wide in horror. "Move!" I shouted and dove out of the brush and towards the altar. I could hear Zaynabi and Kharjo hastily jump after me just as the brush we were in burst into pure black flames.
"I knew there was someone there. It becomes easier to discern the living from the dead when you spend so much time with the latter." The old man laughed and turned his attention to the three of us. He scowled when he noticed the blade I held. "I knew that blasted daedric prince must have been guiding someone. I had hoped though that I would have had more time to rest." He raised a hand and summoned two armored skeletons who charged immediately.
"Go for the old one!" Kharjo yelled and tackled into both the skeletons, bowling all three of them over the edge of the altar to the pathway below.
"Kharjo!" Zaynabi leapt after them, spell book in hand. That just left me to face the necromancer. My body shook slightly but I noticed something about the man. His breath came in shallow ragged heaves. He was exhausted, had he been fighting before this? Something was taking it's toll on him and I knew that this would be my only chance to kill him.
"I might be weakened but I will not fall easily" He shouted and hurled a ball of dark flame towards me. I rolled to the side, hitting the stone hard. I wasn't used to such a move and it hurt slightly when I made impact with the ground. I recovered just quick enough to dodge another ball. How was he making it black flame? I had thought most magic was pretty straight forward in the world of Elder scrolls. I shook my head and brought up Dawnbreaker. I would have to think about it later, I needed to get that amulet piece.
I moved as quickly as I could, dodging flame after flame. His breathing became more ragged, his actions slowed. I just needed to bide my time and strike when he was too weak. He attempted to bring up another flame but it sputtered out in his hands. He looked down in surprise and raised his head up just in time to see my blade bite into his chest. The sword seemed to spark to life, almost gleefully engulfing him in fire.
I withdrew the blade and he slumped to the ground, flames still rising higher on his body. I wanted to check on Zaynabi and Kharjo, but my body turned towards the statues of it's own will. My fingers closed around the amulet and lifted it from it's home between the statues. It was warm to the touch, much like when I wield Dawnbreaker. I put the string over my head and could feel control of my body be relinquished back to me.
"Darius!" Kharjo and Zaynabi both came running up the stairs, looking a little out of breath but otherwise okay.
"It's alright, I got him." I smiled and gestured to the burnt corpse beside me. "I also got the amulet." I tapped my chest to make sure it was snug under my tunic.
"We should leave this place now while we can." Kharjo looked around, making sure nothing else was about to come.
"You're right, we don't want that other one coming back now." I agreed and the three of us made our way back up the hill we had rolled down in order to take a longer way around to the main road.
A few hours later we found ourselves in a safer area around the main road. We were heading south in order to find a passage through the mountains that would lead to Cyrodiil. Night was falling quickly as the weather began to turn foul once more.
"I'm tired of all this snow." I complained as we searched for shelter.
"We have traveled through skyrim longer Darius and I can tell you it gets no easier." Zaynabi laughed lightly then turned to Kharjo.
"There seems to be a hunters lodge near the edge up here." Kharjo pointed to a small wooden hut that had a large opening on it's side as well as a front door. There also seemed to be a dock like structure that allowed one to look out over the cliff side safely. "We should stay here for the night."
"Let's see if we can find anything useful here too." I added and we made our way up the hill to the wooden structures. I couldn't really call it a house, though there was a bed the opening on the side of the building made it very difficult to keep sheltered against the now falling snow. We draped furs that we found over the top of the hut and covered the opening as best we could. After deeming the small space worthy of sleeping we settled in and began to keep watch over the doorway and window on the opposite of the hut.
"We might have to stop in Markarth before we head South." I muttered to myself and looked over a map. Zaynabi had given me a map of Tamriel was well that also marked places she had visited with Ahkari on their way up to Skyrim. "Either we could head through Falkreath and go into Hammerfell or try and make our way past Helgen to the southern pass to Cyrodiil." I couldn't make ends of the maps as there was no clear roads through the mountains. Just a large Southern pass that signified one of the few entrances into Skyrim's land.
"It would probably be best to head to Hammerfell first. The pass to Cyrodiil might be guarded well by the empire." Zaynabi rolled around in her cot before sitting up and stretching.
"I'm sorry if I woke you." I apologized with a sigh.
"I was on the verge of waking." She smiled and looked at the map I had on the floor in front of me. She took a nearby candle and brought it closer to see better. "From Falkreath there is a small cavern that is the only pass that leads to Elinhir in Hammerfell. We could begin looking for the piece there as we head towards Cyrodiil." She pointed to a small mark on the map that looked to be an entrance to a cave.
"Do you think those creatures will be in there?" I asked, thinking back on the many caves we had passed that were packed full with the vile things.
"It's hard to say but it'd be much better than trying to get through a blockade the Empire has set up."
"Then we'll head to Hammerfell. Better to get some rest though before we start." I smiled and welcomed my turn to sleep. I was exhausted and my body felt heavy. Wrapping myself in my cloak I settled against a corner and closed my eyes. Before sleep took me, I felt my hand closing around the amulet at my neck, as if to make sure it was still there.