Chapter 2

Chapter 2

     The weather grew steadily colder as I trudged north, and not for the first time I marveled at Skyrim’s sudden weather changes.  In the north, it was almost always snowing and cold, with vicious blizzards that would spring up suddenly without warning.  In the south, the trees were nearly always green and the sun was nearly always out.  Snow only lay on the peaks of tall mountains in the south, while it covered the northern hills year round, making the footing treacherous. 

     Windhelm was finally in sight.  A drab grey and white sight, but I was happy to see it nonetheless.  At least I didn’t have to actually enter the city, since I planned on going to the harbor.  I crossed the river by jumping from piece of ice to piece of ice, then over the low barrier that kept stupid fools from just walking off into the freezing water.  Some of the guards eyed my antics doubtfully, but they couldn’t really say anything.  There’s no law that says you have to enter the harbor through the city.

     I stood and surveyed the vessels that were in port.  Most looked too small to cross an ocean, but there was one that caught my eye.  I headed for the pier, trying not to bump into the Argonians who worked on the docks.  I stepped onto the ship and picked the person who stood out most to ask, “Is this the Northern Maiden?”

     “Aye, this is the Northern Maiden.  But if you’re looking for passage to Soltheim, too bad.  I’m not going back there anymore,” he replied brusquely, turning away at the same time.

     I narrowed my eyes.  “Are you the Captain?”

     “Sure.  Yeah.  That’s me.  Who sent you?” he asked suspiciously, turning back around.

     “Well, not six hours ago, I was attacked by two masked men who had a note that said they had come from Solstheim on the Northern Maiden.”  I idly looked around at the ship, noticing out of the corner of my eye that Gjalund’s face had gone white.

     “Now hold on!” he interjected hastily.  “That wasn’t my fault… I didn’t know they were going to attack anybody.  I don’t even know how I got here!”  He was starting to look slightly panicked.

     “You don’t remember how you got here.  Do elaborate.” 

     “It’s hard to explain… I remember those people with the masks coming on board, then… Next thing I remember, I was here and they were gone.  That’s not right, losing whole days like that.  There’s been something strange going on there for a while, but after this… I’m done.  I’m not going back to Solstheim,” he finished adamantly.  Gjalund turned away resolutely and headed forward into the bows. 

     Oh yes, you are.  I followed.

     “Are you deaf?” he bellowed angrily.  “I already told you, I’m not going back to Solstheim!”

     I could probably bribe him pretty easily if I gave a good enough offer.  Or maybe if I was good enough, I could even just persuade him to take me.  But I was quite annoyed by this time, partly at the captain’s spinelessness and partly at the masked men’s leader. 

     I stomped uncomfortably close to Gjalund and hissed, “People are trying to kill me.  I’m not taking no for an answer.”  I allowed a hint of a Flames spell to come to my hand and looked significantly around the wooden, quite flammable ship.

     I really had no intention of burning his ship, and if he called my bluff I wasn’t sure what I would do.  But Gjalund, after looking stupidly at me for a second, looked down at my hand and realized what I was threatening to do.  He turned white as a frost troll and said hastily, “Hold on, now.  I’m just a simple sailor.  I never wanted to get mixed up in ay of this!”

     “Then fix what you caused and take me to Solstheim.”

       “Alright!  I’ll take you.  But we leave immediately.”  Gjalund looked like he was desperately hoping I couldn’t leave right then, which was why I took such pleasure in how far his face fell when I replied that I was quite ready.

     Accepting defeat, he started barking orders at his crew.  I took a seat in a part of the ship where I hopefully wouldn’t be in the way and thought about the best way to take revenge on this Miraak.

     After possibly the most boring few days I had ever gone through in my entire life, the Northern Maiden finally bumped up against the pier of the settlement called Raven Rock.

     “Well, here we are.  This is Raven Rock.  Can’t say I’m all that glad to see it again.  Good luck.  Maybe you can figure out what’s going on around here.”  I nodded to Captain Gjalund and got off the ship, looking around as I did so.

     It was a small port, with only a very few ships docked there.  A tall wall rose above the masts and continued most of the way around the part of Raven Rock that wasn’t protected by the sea.  The residents of Raven Rock were mostly Dunmer, which made sense since the island had been given to the Dark Elves after the eruption of Red Mountain. 

     As I walked on the docks toward the gap in the wall, a finely dressed Dark Elf approached me.  “I am Adril Arano, the Second Councilor of Raven Rock.  I don’t recognize you, so I’ll assume this is your first visit to Raven Rock, outlander.  State your intentions.”

     “I’m Kisvar, an adventurer.”  I didn’t want to play the Dragonborn card just yet.  “I came here in search of someone named Miraak.  I don’t suppose you can tell me where I might find him?” I asked courteously. 

     “Miraak, I….  I’m not sure that I do.”  His bearing told me otherwise.  He had become uncomfortable the moment I said Miraak’s name, and his eyes darted to the sides a couple times. 

     “Please don’t bother lying to me.  I’m really not in the mood for word games.”  Not a threat, but a subtle prod.

     “I… I’m unsure.  I swear I know the name, but cannot place it,” he pleaded for me to understand.

     I didn’t feel understanding.  “Are you sure you don’t know anything else?”  When he still looked hesitant, I said, “Surely you at least know someone I can talk to or someplace I can look for this Miraak.”

     He relaxed visibly when I talked of leaving and exploring a different lead.  “The name has something to do with the Earth Stone, I think.  But I’m not sure,” he added quickly, probably to safeguard himself from my wrath in case he was wrong. 

     “Fine.”  I turned away to enter the interior of the island.

     “Just remember, Raven Rock is sovereign territory of House Redoran.  This is Morrowind, not Skyrim.  While you’re here, you will be expected to abide by our laws,” he called after me, regaining some of his pompous attitude.

     Not likely.  I just won’t get caught breaking your laws.  I smirked to myself. 

     Upon finally passing through the archway into Raven Rock, I looked around with interest.  The houses in particular caught my eye.  They were made out of some kind of black stone, and had artistic curves and ruffles on the roofs with a slight overhang over the doors.  The ground was covered in a fine layer of ash.  I reached down and scooped up a handful in my gauntlet, eyeing it doubtfully.

     I headed left along the wide street to sightsee a bit before I got too caught up in revenge.  There was more of the same type of houses, then a well in the middle of a few different shops owned by vendors similar to the setup in Solitude. 

     I entered the inn (which was called the Retching Netch, of all things) and procured a map of Solstheim from the innkeeper.  It was a bit vague, with only what looked like the most important locations marked, but it did at least show this Earth Stone place.

     Leaving the inn, I sauntered over to the forge and stopped dead in my tracks.  There was a Shadowmark on the door of the blacksmith’s shop.  Curious, I found the blacksmith banging on a shapeless piece of metal.

     “Glover Mallory’s the name.  If you’re looking for a smith, you’ve found one of the best,” he assured me.

     “Glover Mallory?  Are you perchance related to Delvin Mallory?”

     Glover stopped what he was doing and gave me his full attention.  “Aye, I’m his brother.  How do you know him?”

     “I’m Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild.”  I figured it was safe to tell him that, since he was Delvin’s brother and had a Shadowmark on his door.

     “Ah yes, the new Guildmaster.  I’m aware of Mercer’s betrayal and death.  I can’t believe he could do that to the Guild.  And we would never have suspected if not for you.”  Glover shook his head.  “But what are you doing in these parts?” 

     After the way Adril had reacted when I mentioned Miraak, I wasn’t of a mood to ask about him any more at present.  Besides, I had a lead, and it was time I followed it.  “Partly sightseeing and adventuring, and maybe also to hit a couple new targets.”  I winked.

     Glover laughed and bade me farewell.  I left the forge and headed back the way I had come, toward the exit from Raven Rock.  A guard walked past me and I turned on my heel to look at him, ogling at his armor.  It looked somewhat like dragon armor, but the bones appeared to overlap each other, and the style was different.  Resolving to ask someone about that later, I continued my trip, following the map I had gotten.  Apparently the Earth Stone was directly across the bay from Raven Rock, which was quite convenient.  It occurred to me to wonder whether there were horses on Soltheim, which in turn made me think of Gormlaith.  She better not have died, especially since I had just named her….

     Ahead of me I saw several people clustered around a large round stone which was standing upright in the middle of a ring.  As I walked toward it I wondered if these people were hostile, but decided I would figure that out if and when they attacked me. 

     The people appeared to be guards and citizens of Raven Rock.  But why were guards doing construction?  And what were they building, anyway?  It looked like some kind of shrine.

     One of the people approached me, but not one of the workers it seemed.  He was a Dark Elf who wore long brown robes, the mark of a wizard.  “You there.  You don’t seem to be in the same state as most of the others here.  How interesting.”

     “I’m sorry, what was your name again?” I asked pointedly.

     “Ah, I forget myself.  I’m Neloth, a Telvanni wizard,” he informed me, straightening his robes like the title ought to mean something to me.  I had no idea what Telvanni wizards were, so I said nothing.  “May I ask what you’re doing here?”

     “Here at the Earth Stone, or here in Raven Rock?” I asked, partly to annoy him and partly because I wasn’t sure which he wanted to know.

     “Both, I suppose,” he said, a trifle impatiently.

     I grinned.  I loved getting under people’s skin.  “Both because I’m looking for a person named Miraak.  I don’t suppose you’ve heard of him?”

     At least Neloth had a thoughtful look on his face instead of a frightened one.  “Miraak… Miraak… it sounds familiar, but I can’t quite place… oh.   Wait, I recall.  But it makes very little sense.  Miraak’s been dead for thousands of years.”

     You would think this would surprise and frighten me, but after having actually been to Sovngarde and seeing the warriors who originally banished Alduin from the world, a little thing like the knowledge that the person who was trying to kill me was supposed to be dead didn’t shock me as much as it could have.  “What you just said makes very little sense,” I retorted dryly.  “What do you mean?”

     “I’m not sure, but it is fascinating, isn’t it?”  He rubbed his hands together and looked around him.  “Perhaps it has some relation to what’s going on here.  Quite unexpected.  I’m afraid I can’t give you any answers.  But,” he said, seeing I was about to interrupt, “there are ruins of an ancient temple of Miraak’s toward the center of the island.  If I were you, I’d look there.”

     If you were me you’d be Shouting you into the ocean right now for being difficult and not knowing anything, I thought sourly.  I decided he didn’t know anything else and changed the subject.  “What are they doing?”  I gestured to the shrine.

     “Building something clearly.  And yet they don’t seem to have much to say about it.”  Disregarding the fact that he had just stated the obvious, something that really annoyed me, I looked at the workers more closely.  They weren’t talking among themselves, or making any noises, or doing any of the things that people normally do when working.  Occasionally one would mumble something, but they never stopped working and their movements appeared jerky, almost automated. 

     While I was staring confusedly at the workers, Neloth had continued talking.  “I’m very interested to find out what happens when they finish.”

     I had a feeling that what would happen when they finished wasn’t going to be so much interesting as alarming, but I didn’t say so.  What I did say was, “Do you think we ought to stop them?  They don’t really appear to want to be working….”

     “Certainly not!” he exclaimed severely.  “Doing so would interfere with whatever is going on, and I would be unable to see how this all turns out.”

     Writing the wizard off as hopeless, I muttered something back and headed back into Raven Rock.  I would go to this ancient temple and see if I had better luck finding answers there.  Why are quests always like this?  You find one person who doesn’t know anything but tells you to go somewhere else, and then you find out that you’re supposed to go somewhere else from there, and so forth.  Ugh.

     I was glad to put the Earth Stone behind me.  For some reason it freaked me out more than the Night Mother…. 

     I passed through Raven Rock and exited the city through the other side.  I glanced around as I walked, curious to see more of the island.  On the left there was a cliff of strange cylindrical rocks that jutted up as high as the Raven Rock wall.  They were as grey as the ash underfoot, which puffed up in fine clouds as I walked on it.  The ocean crashed against the shore on my right, sending up splashes of spray where it struck rock. 

     Maybe that’s the rock that the houses were made of, I realized.

     I snapped out of my musings when I heard the sounds of conflict somewhere ahead of me.  Drawing both Daedric swords I dashed forward, eager for a fight.  Ahead there were what appeared to be the remains of a burnt farm.  A Dark Elf stood fighting valiantly against three… somethings.  I’d never seen these creatures before.  They were man shaped, but looked as if they were made of ash and their deep-set eyes glowed red.  There were large rents in their skins that glowed red like some Daedric artifacts, but whether these were wounds or the natural hide of the creatures I could not tell. 

     Whatever they were, they looked evil and I was in the mood for a quick fight.  I leapt to the assistance of the Dunmer and began with a double power attack, sending of the attackers staggering back.  It wasn’t expecting me, and a few quick cuts finished it off.  I made a face when it dissolved into ash on my favorite boots.  Another one broke off its assault to attack me while the third kept up its battle with the Dark Elf.  It raised its hand, palm glowing with a fire spell, and I dove to the side just in time.  I cut at it from the side, but it was already backing away to get itself out of my range, but keep me in range of its fire spells.  This tactic didn’t agree with me so I jumped after it and landed a solid hit, this time ducking underneath the fire spell, wincing as I felt the heat fly above me.  As it tried yet another fire spell (apparently these things didn’t learn very well) I kicked its hand aside and stab it straight through the torso with both swords.  It dissolved like the other had, and I spun around, swords raised in guard position.

     The Dunmer had finished of the last one and stood panting, holding his arm gingerly.  I sheathed my swords and waited for him to get his breath back.  “Thanks… I wasn’t sure I’d make it off this farm alive.”  He gestured at an armor-clad body I hadn’t seen before.  “I wish I could have said the same for my man here.”

     “What are those things?” I asked.

     “An outlander, eh?  Those were ash spawn.  They’ve always been a bit of a problem, but for a while now they’ve been attacking Raven Rock in force.  I came here to search for clues.”

     Ash spawn.  How creative.  “You must be the Captain of the Redoran Guard, then,” I inferred.

     “I am.  Captain Veleth, at your service,” he said, giving me a slightly pained smile.

     Apparently I had assisted someone of very high rank, which was always useful.  I made it a point to help as many people as I could because often if I ever needed something, a person who I had once helped would help me in return.

     Which reminded me of that one time where I stole something from an important person, expressly so I could return it to make them divulge some important information….  That had been very entertaining.

     “Actually, I could use a hand in this investigation.  You’ve shown your quality as a warrior, we could use someone like you.”  He looked hopeful, and I considered, biting my bottom lip thoughtfully.  It wouldn’t hurt to help him in between my efforts to locate Miraak.  Sometimes taking up a different quest for a while was a good way to get a different take on the main one.

     “I’d be glad to give you a hand,” I assured him. 

     “Good, I can use all the help I can get.  We were searching the farm when the ash spawn ambushed us.  Have a look around and see if you can turn up anything useful.”  He fumbled around in his pockets, most likely looking for a health potion.  That cut looked pretty bad; it might take a while to heal by itself.

     When asked to look for information, I always search any dead bodies first.  I sifted around in the ashes the ash spawn had degenerated into and, to my surprise, found a piece of gold ore and some gold.  In the next one I searched I found a note, and unashamedly I read it before handing it over to Veleth.

Raven Rock Stronghold,

     My calls for the unconditional surrender of your forces and an immediate cessation of hostilities have been ignored numerous times.  I therefore have no choice but to assume your purpose on Solstheim is hostile, and to treat Raven Rock Stronghold as an enemy of the Empire.  I warn you, any attempt to breach Fort Frostmoth will be met with an equal level of aggression.  I will do everything in my power to wipe you and your forces off the face of Tamriel.  There will be no further communication between us.

General Falx Carius

Garrison Commander, Fort Frostmoth

 

     After Veleth had read the note, he raised an eyebrow at the signature.  “Carius was the Imperial garrison commander at Fort Frostmoth, but he died over two hundred years ago when the Red Mountain leveled the place.  There’s no way he could still be alive.”  Veleth put away his Elven battleaxe, looking much better.  “I will go rally the Redoran Guard.  I recommend that you head to Fort Frostmoth and investigate the area.”

     I agreed, and he headed back in the direction of Raven Rock while I continued along my original course.  Miraak’s temple first, Fort Frostmoth later.  I carefully marked the location of the farm on my map as I walked.

     Hm.  According to my map, the temple should be somewhere… right there.  I could see the ominous stone spires rising up above the temple in the distance.  There was a long set of stairs leading up to it.  Generally going straight up the obvious way into a place that may or may not be hostile isn’t very intelligent, but I had a high enough opinion of my skills not to care.

     I started climbing the steps, then stopped and squinted ahead of me.  What was that?  It looked like….

     Dragon bones.  Mounds and mounds of dragon bones.

Completely unedited.  I'm too lazy.