talldarkandroguesome

[talldarkandroguesome]

24th of Midyear, Tirdas

I cannot say I am sad to be putting all the assorted family squabbles behind us.

As soon as we had left the house of Valeric, one of his father's men, a mortal Dunmer servant, was waiting with a summons. And what should we be asked of by Majorn the Ancient, a rather on the nose appellation for a vampire I must say. I wonder if he is even that old, though I knew it would be rude to ask. And you know, when someone could well rip out my throat in an instant, or worse, enthrall me and allow me to slowly be drained of my blood before being turned into bloodfiend, I tend not to try and offend.

Well... usually anyhow. There is an exception to every rule, after all.

Where was I, oh yes, Majorn wanted me to kill his son, Valeric. Not that he could not do it himself, but because he would not do it, he loved his son too much to be able to bloody his hands on it, so he needed someone else to do it.

How touching.

Yet he did not end his little talk there. Apparently making blood fiends was the, how did he phrase it, the lesser of two evils. How rich! Majorn claimed that Valeric asking his vampires to dine exclusively on animal blood made them a threat to Eastmarch. When I asked him how that was so, he said that his people killed hundreds, of which I certainly do not doubt. But Majorn said that when Valeric's people inevitably lost control, they killed thousands.

As I did not seem to immediately agree with him, he continued, playing the honesty card. Or at least the honesty feign. He told me that the reason why Valeric had so few followers was not for lack of trying, but rather that the two remaining were the only ones left. That all the others had gone feral and attacked nearby villages. That they had to be slain. I do beleive that Majorn believes his own story. Something in the way he said it was all such a waste that reminded me of the way Telvanni talk about losing an apprentice they had just spent coin on. A hazard of business, but a pity to lose the resources.

I admit, I was not sure that Valeric was taking the best path forward. Surely this was the reason that the Ravenwatch still partook of human blood, but remained with the willing. If animal blood could only temporarily sustain and that the blood lust was intensified when finally satisfied, it was reasonable that it could not be maintained.

And yet, there were so many bloodfiends in the area. They must be the work of father and son alike. And so I told Majorn that I saw the point of what he said. He looked slightly smug, mentioning that this is why he had let a mortal live, etc, etc.

Honestly, I was far more interested in seeing what I could learn. And why not be a double agent until I found out the truth from both of them? If I could just confirm that Imhey was alright and would not succumb to vampirism, we could just continue North and leave the vampires to deal with one another. They both seemed awfully set on murdering the other without having to do it on their own. Rather cowardly, really.

Still, he offered us the assistance of one of his men. I told him that I want to see if I can use Valeric's faith in me to lead him to his end and Majorn seemed... delighted? by this. He told me that he would have his servant show me where to meet after I had done my part.

Of course, by the time I had drawn close to Valeric's manner, I found one of his people enjoying a snack of Majorn's Dunmer servant. I saw a glazed over expression in her eyes and thought of how Count Ravenwatch had spoke of how he helped his young wards to learn to control themselves whilst they drank so as not to kill the person.

Then again, I did not know entirely how strong bloodlust was, so as not to risk it, I used my birthgift. The woman's eyes focused back on me and she seemed to come back to herself a little bit. Then she said that she could not stand the hungry any longer. That they would never be strong like Majorn's clan or the ancient ones if they ate such poor meals as skeevers and sharing a criminal on the rare occasions they find one.

I put my hand on her arm and told her that I knew of other vampires. Vampires who were able to make a deal with the local populous and fed small portions off of volunteers. They had made a deal to protect the people in exchange for people offering small drinks each day.

That shocked her and she said she did not know that was possible. I told her that it was no easy feat, that it took practice and patience and keeping one another accountable, but it was doable. That the vampires I knew who did this were very powerful, still had their own minds, and among them there were those who were ancient even through this practice.

I asked her if she would consider convincing Valeric of such a course. She laughed and said that he would not listen to anything from anyone else, too stubborn for that, even if they could convince the closest villages to trust them again after what had happened before.

So I asked her if she would want such a path for herself.

That startled her to think about it. And she said she did not understand. Valeric would not allow such things even if it was something she wanted for herself.

I told her I meant her leaving Valeric. That I could grant her a letter of introduction with the leader of this group. I was on good terms with him and that we had helped one another several times. They were disciplined, but able to live a good and supportive life.

She said she would have to think about it. I told her to find me if she wanted the letter, I would write it up after speaking with Valeric.

Then it was on to speaking with Valeric. He asked how his plan was coming along. I told him that his father had sent a messenger to summon me in a bid to sway me to his side. A sentiment that distressed Valeric.

I told him that his father said that the old ways were better and that while he could not bring himself to slay his own son, he was not above asking me to do it for him.

Those words seemed to sting and renew Valeric's conviction that his father needed to die.

So, much as I did with Majorn, I said I did not believe the lies of one so callous with the lives of others and so cowardly as to want another to kill his son for him. That I was planning to betray his father, pretending as though I had switched sides.

As both father and son had similar schemes, I made to play along with both. The death of the servant I simply would have to use as a ploy to say that I was more convinced by Majorn's side of things.

The plan for both sides hinged on a group of mortal hunters. Though Valeric said these hunters would be made thralls by his father, Majorn said that Valeric planned to use the hunters to act him and gave me a rune that would control a bloodfiend.

Naturally, finding the hunters was the next step. It was complicated, but, still keeping two guards on me, we were able to free the hunters. Well, all but one of them. Valeric felt like I was supporting him.

Then I carried the body of the dead hunter to Majorn's manse, showing him proof that the hunters were defeated and told him that one of his son's people had fallen to the thirst, just as predicted.

Majorn seemed very pleased by my success and told me it was now time to defeat his son. I swear, the back and forth of being a double agent has never been so tedious as it was here.

My final step was deciding who to slay first. An older vampire would certainly take more effort, so they should be first, but would we be too tired after taking down one to slay the other?

I returned to the cart and the guards and I made our plans. We would slay Majorn first. He was the greater threat as there were far more bloodfiends of his making than of his son's. And the son would be placated for the short term if we needed to send for reinforcements to defeat him.

And so we made our plans before returning to Valeric, who had made sure that we had a plan. The Dunmer servant had had a key on him that Rala, the vampire who had killed him, had procured. That we would wait until sunrise, to enter.

We took our rest at Valeric's until morn, then, while the sun protected us from the bloodfiends, we descended onto the ancient vampire lair. Rala helped us in the main entrance and we traveled quietly along the corridors until we reached the innermost chambers.

The bloodfiends did not move as their rooms had been moved past, but we were not going to take any chances. One by one, Rala locked the room doors with the key, originally meant to protect the young vampires inside, it now kept all of us safe from them.

At last we came to the grand chamber of Majorn. He was laid in his coffin, but the lid still lay to the side. I signed that this was likely a trap, but we had to move anyhow. The Hlaalu guard stabbed Majorn through the chest, his vampire eyes flying open.

He roared, the deafening sound echoing off the chamber walls. The Telvanni guard threw fireballs into the coffin and the Redoran and Dres guards stabbed at Majorn, lifting shields to protect me while their pole arms stabbed at the ancient flesh.

Arrow after arrow was loosed from my own Houseguard. hitting the monster in the face. Majorn cursed me for turning on him and said he could not wait to feast on all our blood.

I told him that there were better ways. I knew there were. He laughed and called me a fool as he raked claws against the tall battle shields. He told me to fight him rather than hiding behind others like a skeever.

A laugh was my reply, after he asked us to kill his own son. It did me no favors, of course, for Majorn soon began to transform, his body taking on the large, grey skin of a gargoyle. And with a single shove, he parted my guards, leaving me exposed.

Just as he went to swipe at me, I teleported behind him and sunk my dagger into the back of his neck. He arched his back as though he could knock me off, but I held firm.

When a large clawed hand reached to grab me, I teleported again, up to the ceiling, then as his hands grasped nothing and he turned, I let gravity bring me down, using the force of it to shove the dagger in deeper.

In the speed at which it all happened, I failed to notice he now had a fetching tail, and it swatted me away like a bug, sending me sprawling across the stone floor. The Telvanni guard raised a shield just before a fist connect with my head and I had just enough time then to recover and roll away before I teleported again.

The other guards had resumed bashing the hard skin with shield and blade. I could see that it was chipping away at Majorn's vitality, but really, it was hardly doing much good. If the fight went on too long, the guard would all be spent and easily fall victim to the vampire.

I summoned my shades. It had been a while since I had the opportunity to make use of them and I had not wished to let all of my skills be on display for those of other Houses, but there was nothing to be done. This was a powerful vampire lord, after all. Holding back just to let everyone die would hardly be an effective way to succeed.

The shades and I moved in sync from all cardinal directions, slashing and parrying in succession. If one was about to be hit, we all teleported. Then one of the Houseguard would take the chance to hit from another angle.

We were all being battered by the stone-like skin of the vampire lord, but seemed to be avoiding the bulk of his claw attacks.

We still were not wearing Majorn down fast enough. I shouted to Sul in Dunmeris to blast a hole in the ceiling, to let in the light. She wove the spell while I made sure at least one of my shades protected her, breaking off from the rest of us.

I was burning through my magicka with this, but we had to survive. I felt like we had certainly underestimated our opponent.

Sul released her spell and the ceiling buckled with a loud crack, as Majorn's body barreled down on her and my shade.

I saw, with horror, that his claws were sunk deep in her chest, even as my shade managed to take out one of Majorn's eyes.

I yelled to my Houseguard to look after Sul, then I charged Majorn.

He turned, clearly having wanted to draw me out, turning as though I was about to fall into his feign. I had already expected this, though, and I had teleported to be on my back, besides his ankle, cutting at the tendons.

With a horrible cry, he lunged for me. I pressed up off the floor and dashed forward. As he went to grab me, his hand entered the sun and I saw him pull back his hand, more flames sprouting from the spot the light hit him.

Athal shoved, using his whole body strength to push the beast further into the light and I used my Prince's web as a sticky rope to grab hold of Majorn's arms and heft him forward and into the light.

The burning was not instantaneous. It was more like sticking your hand in boiling water, it took a bit before it would be truly deadly. What it managed best, was to turn Majorn back to his previous form.

I could hear the sounds of screams and pounding on the doors down the halls. Majorn must have been summoning his people to attack us. Only, it was not working.

At long last we were able to wretch Majorn's head from his body, something that would be far more difficult to heal from and then we headed out into the daylight. We let the head and the body sit out in the sun in two different spots, watching them go to ash.

I gathered some of the ashes up to use for alchemical ingredients. I was still a bit shaken by how quiet it had gone once Majorn was dead. It was as if it truly had become a crypt full of the dead.

We went back to the cart. Sul was not hurt as bad as I had first feared, she had taken the hit to the shoulder.

Still, it was a nasty wound and I made sure that all of us took a cure disease potion to ensure that none of us would develop vampirism. What a fetching nightmare that would be. This seemed very different from what the Ravenwatch seemed to have explained and the Ravenwatch can be in the sun, too. I will have to reach out to Fennorian when I can. I owe him a letter regardless.

Once we were healed up, cleaned up from blood, and the sun began to set, we returned to Valeric. Rala had had to wait for the sun to go down, but she met us soon afterwards.

Valeric was overjoyed about our success. Rala filled Valeric in on the battle. I wrote the letter I promised her, and two more, as I listened to her tell the tale.

Imhey, blessedly, had recovered, and was again a mortal Argonian. Moreover, she was very much wishing to leave as soon as possible.

Since Sul needed to rest, I had her escort Inhey, back to the wagon. The other guards, fearing what would happen if they left the remaining bloodfiends alone, returned to the manor to force the other vampires into the sunlight.

Valeric said he was not sure how to thank me. That we had freed the area of his father's tyranny. He had felt his father's death, and while he was somewhat saddened by the loss of a parent, he knew they could now live in peace.

I asked him if he would consider trying to live as some of the other vampires do. Or at the least, to speak with them to find out the best way to make a living for themselves, after all, I knew of an ancient vampire who had found a way to keep his wards from losing themselves to the fever.

He told me that he was not sure how another vampire might take his presence. I told him that I knew that it would be welcomed if they truly did come to learn. And I handed him a letter of introduction I had written for him. That I would come back by his lands here when my journey was concluded to see how he and his remaining family fared.

Valeric thanked me. I offered a letter to Valeric's other charge and then asked Rala if we might speak before I left. We went to her room and I gave her the letter. I told her that it was ultimately her own immortal life that she needed to find a way in. That there are a lot of struggles when you live as long as we do, but that having someone who understands, even if it's not exactly the same, can bring you peace and a sense of direction.

She raised an eyebrow and asked me what I was.

I smiled and told her I was not entirely sure there was a word for what I was. Not quite mortal anymore. Not quite something else though. I was still working it out, how to define myself. That I had found the count to be of warmth and sage council. That if she were to meet him, she would have little doubt as to his character. He was certainly unlike any vampire I had ever met before. Ancient, but still deeply concerned about the mortal world and doing what was best for all.

Then it was her turn to smile. She asked me if I fancied him that much why I had left.

I told her that he was great, but not really my type. Too pale.

We both laughed.

I bid her and Valeric farewell and returned to find my guards in good spirits, but clearly tired.

Regardless, they wanted to be on the road again. When I asked about spending the night before we headed out, they all, uncharacteristically told me no.

And so now we are bouncing off down the road. Sena and Imhey, asleep with their shoulders pressed together. Sul sat on the bench besides me, studying me in silence as if I were an experiment. Typical Telvanni behavior though I suppose. I could hear the two servants bickering in the coachmer's seat about how they had to deal with a hysterical Nord for two days with no thanks.

Next time I will suggest they deal with bloodfiends and leave the guards with the cart.

I am giving Valeric until we come back by to agree to speak with the Ravenwatch. I gave vague details, I do not entirely trust him. Yet I want to give him the opportunity to make amends and learn a better way. And if he does not, then we will kill him. As he has not been drinking mortal blood often and is younger than his father, he should be easier to dispatch, should it become necessary.

For now, it is time to sleep. I look forward to being back in a city again.

[talldarkandroguesome]

22nd of Midyear, Sundas

We were lucky that an attack did not come while we were making our way back to the main road. Even more so that the sun came out in earnest today.

The roads are at least mostly dry, the mud of yesterday's storm having dried in most places and we made sure to drive the guar at a cautious, but steady pace today.

I had hoped to stop near the logging camp for our midday break and to check on the guar and cart, but as the area became more cleared of forest, that uneasiness crept back into my mind.

As we grew close to the camp, we could hear shouting and strange creaking and cracking noises. At first we thought it was something to do with the cart, but then we saw, just off the bend of the road, a group of Nords with axes attacking spriggans and a couple of wolves.

Just as I was about to suggest that we lend aid, there was a huge crack like thunder and the ground rumbled. As we looked for the source, we saw a troll, the body of one of the woodcutters or millers limb on the ground, a leg still clutched in its gnarled hand.

The guar spooked, understandably and as we went to calm them, we found the source, a pair of wolves had broken from the logging camp and was heading in our direction.

My heart was heavy for the loggers, it did not feel good to leave them to such a fate. Yet, we have a mission for which we need to proceed. And we need our guar kept safe to that end.

Two of the guards, the Redoran and the Telvanni, dispatched of the wolves and we did not need to ask the guar to make a swift exit from the camp. It was not until it was clear that the poor beasts were exerting themselves too far that we slowed them.

When we could hear no other sounds of animals or forest spirits that might have gave chase, we soothed the guar and gave them a treat of some pumpkin and ashyam. They gobbled them right up and seemed to calm for it.

We looked at our map once more and the low position of the sun over the mountain peaks. We were going to have to stop at Wittestadr. It is a quaint little village. With few homes, it is more of a family homestead than a true village even.

At least, that was what it had been the last time I had been there.

We arrived with a couple hours of light left to find a woman running up to us, covered in muck, obviously distressed. She said her name was Sena and that she and her friend were attacked by monsters and in her fear, she pushed her friend down in the spring and ran for her life.

I could already see that my guards were not ready for another run-in with an angry forest, so I tried to calm her down and asked, gently if it was spriggans or trolls.

She shook her head. Then began to cry, fearing that she had left her friend for dead. We agreed to bring her with us to Windhelm so she would not be left to the dangers of the wild and that seemed to calm her somewhat. I had my servant help clean her up while two of my guards went with me to look for her friend, the other three remaining with the wagon, guar prepared to leave if we needed to run again.

As we navigated to where Sena's friend, Imhey, was supposedly last seen, we saw what creatures Sena believed to be monsters. They were vampires. My heart sunk. I thought of Fennorian and of Count Ravenwatch. These were the creatures that made their lives so difficult.

Of course, the vampires we saw were the type half starved, mad with the lust for blood. They were the very picture of the outcome Fennorian feared most about himself if he were ever to lose control even a little of his hunger.

We only ran into two of them as we went and I said a silent prayer that they would not end up suffering any further, even as my guards dispatched of them. They were ferocious, but clumsy creatures and we soon saw the poor Imhey. Only, Imhey was speaking with a Nord in heavy armor.

At first, I thought it would mean that we could thank the armored hero, retrieve Imhey, and return to Sena. Only, as we drew near, I could see the signs of vampirism in the man's features.

Imhey was also yelling at the man and he was trying to calm her. I told my guard to follow my orders strictly and not to make any gestures of aggression unless we were attacked first. I introduced us as those who had found Sena, who were sent to find her friend, Imhey, who she was worried had been killed by the fiends of this place.

The Nord introduced himself as Valeric, one of the lords of the town. He said that Imhey had been bitten by a bloodfiend and that the infection it carries was spreading faster than she knew.

I asked what his intentions were with Imhey. He said he was going to get her out of the sun and to help her with a cure before it was too late. He said once the fever hit the hunger would begin.

Then he began to carry her off without her permission. She screamed after us, asking why we would not help her. I told Valeric that we would help, but to consider how she would feel. He was starting to smolder from the sun and so I told him I had to go with him and sent my guards to go and bring my apothecary box from the cart.

They did not want to leave me, but I told them it was imperative that they go. I took Imhey's hand just as Valeric did teleportation.

My head spun as I found my feet on solid ground.

Imhey was sobbing and I took her hand and told her that I would help her. I had dealt with people in the early stages of vampirism before and that we had managed to reverse the effects.

Valeric seemed surprised by this, but then told me I must hurry and get the dust of several bloodfiends to cure her. I explained to him that in the early stages a cure disease potion had been able to reverse the effects. He said he was unsure if the infection had spread too far for that to be effective or not.

A knock came on the door and I heard the voice of Sul, the Telvanni guard. I said it was one of my guards and Valeric let her in. Sul had, along with my apothecary chest, another small leather bag filled with ingredients. I grab out my strongest cure disease potion as Sul went to gather the dust of the bloodfiends we had already killed.

Valeric seemed to think that there was still some infection within Imhey after my potion and so I mixed a new batch, hoping the fresher ingredients would mean great potency. Valeric took the dust when Sul and Athal, the Hlaalu guard, returned with their spoils, only slightly shaken. Valeric and I worked together to make the potion and I made sure to include luna moth wing, since it can both be used as a potent disease curing reagent, but also for restoring health. I figure as much as we can get to help Imhey, the better.

As we went to give Imhey the potion, Valeric stilled my arm and warned me that he was unsure about if this would help. He said that the potion he knew cured vampirism of his type killed the person as often as it cured them.

I told him about the restoring health aspects to the potion and Sul agreed to provide a healing spell if we needed to in order to try and spare her life.

Imhey was panicking, scared about dying, not trusting a vampire, not sure about the strange Dunmer who showed up. I used my birth gift to silence everyone. Then I gave the potion to Imhey, I told her that everything would be alright. She was going to live. That she could use all that fear and tell the Hist or whatever other powers she usually put her faith in, that she was not going to die today. She was going to recover. She was going to see Sena again and even to tell her how angry she was if she wanted. That we would see that she made the journey back to Windhelm. She was going to live if I had to fight another God to see it happen.

She drank the potion as I gave her these reassurances. I told her to transform her fear, her anger at the situation into the strength she needed to pull through. She was not going to let some curse hold her back. She was stronger than this. And no one in this room could change my mind. She cried and yelled and even threw the bottle across the room where it shattered on the wall.

I embraced her and told her I knew that it was a fight, but it was one that she was going to live.

Valeric gave me a side eyed look. I gave him a look to tell him not to contradict me about this.

He called one of his people, clearly a young vampire, to keep an eye on Imhey and asked if we could speak. Sul and Athal gave me a hand gesture to let me know they would be keeping an eye on me and I nodded.

Valeric explained that the bloodfiends were his father's doing. He said he was surprised that I had trusted him, though he was thankful. That he wished to end his father's corruption of the gifts they had been given.

I told him that I had met other vampires who were inclined to take no lives. Who only partook of blood from the willing and had made arrangements to that effect that would not endanger the volunteers. I had also met seemingly civilized vampires that were merely more calculating predators who liked to enthrall and drain their victims over long times. I had not decided exactly where on the scale he fell, but I was inclined to believe he was the former.

He informed me that actually, he and his clan only fed off of animals. They did not take blood from humans. His father's clan, well, they were more the later type. At least, those who made it through the madness of the fever and hunger without support from the older vampires.

I told him that if he could guarantee the safety of my people, of Imhey's friend, Sena, and Imhey, that we would help. We would also need to be given a place to stay for the night.

To his credit, Valeric agreed and gave us all a safe place to spend the night and even a protected stable with promise not to feed on our guar. The poor things really have been through enough already.

And so we are staying the night here. Valeric and I will be devising a plan to kill his father and any of his father's men that stand in our way.

I must admit, I never thought I would become so embroiled in vampiric politics, especially if it was not with the Ravenwatch.

Life is fetching nuts!

[talldarkandroguesome]

21st of Midyear, Loredas

It was as I feared.

The storms dumped torrents of rain upon us. We slowed our pace, but soon found the roads awash with thick mud. The cart wheels soon were caked in clumps of sticky mud and became stuck as the poor guar strained with the weight of it all.

Not wishing to risk further danger, we tried to wait out the storm, but it persisted through the middle of the day and when it did lighten to a moderate shower, we made the decision to turn off to the more passable road east, pulling into Jorunn's Stand.

The war camp was still there, with only slightly more permanent structures than when they were a more active battle site. And so I could almost be convinced to call it a fort. The soldiers there were very kind to us and helped us to get the wagon in better shape.

We soon learned that there were, in fact, quite a few reasons that they were still defending the area and so when they first saw us, they were unsure if we were Dunmer reinforcements or not.

Apparently there is some trouble with a faction of locals. I did not get many of the details, as I mostly was hearing about how days were spent with no attack and nothing to do, then suddenly they would be under attack at the least predictable hour, seemingly as soon as they had all relaxed. They said it was eerie, for it was only once they thought the danger had passed for good that the battle would commence.

I was much less pleased after that in the weather's forcing us to come this way. The guards and I agreed that we should head back to the main road to avoid any risk of these strange attackers.

It seemed as though it may have been some time since the last fight, though they assured us that they rarely have many casualties. The attacks come swift and end nearly as quickly.

I do not like the sound of it. And I was happy to let the defenders enjoy the break in their monotony with tending to the guar and the cart. To let my supposed servants speak with others. As soon as the weather breaks and we have the faintest daylight, we are heading out.

Not to be an ungracious guest, but I feel very uneasy here. We should not tarry longer than we must.

[talldarkandroguesome]

20th of Midyear, Fredas

The pass was more treacherous than I had hoped for. A thunderstorm overtook us as we were just over halfway through.

We had to stop and wait out the worst of it. The wind was whipping at our faces, stinging the eyes as it sent grit and soil flying through the air.

The thunder boomed and then echoed again and again on the walls of the pass, frightening the guar. They would not move, too afraid of the sound, huddling against the one side of the wall. We had to separate them from the cart, less they break the buggy shaft trying to get to the side of the road. Or worse, one of the wheel components.

When the thunder softened and we had rehooked up the guar and began moving again, it was getting close to dusk. We tried to hurry the poor beasts along, but we did not make the ruins until after nightfall.

I could not guarantee how safe we truly were, something I never enjoy. But I took some solace in our being off of the road.

Still, when I heard the sound of falling stone, I knew we were being ambushed. I had alerted our guard that we might be attacked in the night, so it was easy to let out a single note cry and awaken the few in our party who were not already on the defensive.

Luckily for us, the group of bandits was only four. We outnumbered them even if we had not also been better trained. Their underestimating who they were attacking only made their attempt the more pathetic.

They must have expected that it was just a couple of Dunmer bringing hardwood from the south, so they waited to try and take them for coin and goods.

How foolish, for it they had thought about our approach from the south, it would likely mean we had not the chance to sell the goods and to earn real coin.

Their lives were worth little, other than that I got to send the soul of one on to my Prince. Between all of them they only had one good pair of boots, some half rusted weapons, and a couple of coins. They must have been desperate to come after us. Poor fetchers. I almost feel bad for them.

The attack did little to delay us, at least. And so we headed out shortly after first light.

I should like to make Wittestadr before dusk, but I fear that the dark clouds that have been gathering about are unlikely to allow us such a luxury.

Even with the well kept quality of the road itself, there is a lot of muck and mud that has washed onto the road. If we get another rain like yesterday, I think we shall have to slow our pace again, if not stop, if only to spare the guar and cart. We cannot afford to have any major accidents with our cart. We having worryingly few replacement parts on us.

The Three keep us safe until we reach Windhelm.

[talldarkandroguesome]

19th of Midyear, Turdas

I learned a great deal of things once we made our stop to Fallowstone Hall.

For one, they have their own special summer melomel made with blackberries and mountain strawberries. Apparently they do not remove the wild yeasts from the fruit, so every batch is a little different in alcohol content, sweetness or acidity, and level of dryness.

Many melomels the fruit is boiled to keep the unpredictable nature of wild yeasts from acting upon the spirit. Usually it is only the homebrew where you get people willing to risk the chance on such differences, certainly it is hard to get a buyer to purchase something they cannot make any guarantees upon.

The fort is indeed home to many of the Companions. As it turns out, the crypt to their fallen is located beneath the fort and they always keep the place guarded. And as they are no stranger to chaos and challenge, they actually welcome this melomel.

I heard that it was a particularly dry batch that was currently being poured and so, like so many others in the little fortification, I eagerly gave my coin to try it.

It was amazingly dry. And while the scent of fruit and honey was strong, the flavor would leave you unaware of the amount of sugar that had gone into the beverage. It tasted rather more like a brandy than anything related to mead at all.

I was delighted.

In fact, I bought several bottles of the stuff to bring along.

I was warned that some of the bottles came from different batches, so I might not have the same flavor I enjoyed, but I told the barkeep that I was looking forward to finding out.

Being that I am tasked with supporting the tomb of my own forebearers, I also made an offering to the fallen by giving some good quality incense and a few coins to the retired members of the Companions who act as priests of Arkay. Or perhaps they have become priests. I simply know they were Companions and now they care for the dead.

It is such a noble profession to dedicate any part of your life to tending to those who no longer have any. To prepare those who have passed and to comfort their relations who yet live. We mer live such long lives that our relation with death is usually rather different. We do not need so many mer to take the position of seeing the dead through from deceased to ash and bone.

Not to say we have none of such profession. We are in a period of war, after all. Not to mention the common sight of murders in the major cities. Nor the deaths of non-Dunmer citizens.

Still, it usually falls more on the Tirbunal priests and the family of the one or ones who have died.

And so I try to support those devout workers of the corpse. We should all be so lucky as to have our bodies cared for when we expire. To be given proper rites to our custom and to be grieved for by those who need to do so. To ensure that our bodies, be they fleshy or merely bone, will not be desecrated by necromancers.

I suppose I no longer will be afforded such a luxury. Any time I die, I shall need to dispose of my former remains as though they were a criminal, left in an unmarked grave, or dropped in a river to be carried out to sea, or thrown into a narrow cave opening into the deepest reaches of Nirn. I have already faced a number of deaths and in nearly all cases, I have had to dispose of my own body as though I were merely trash. What a horrible thing when I think on it.

And so I shall concentrate on the matter at hand, seeing that everything is prepared for our ride through the pass.

[talldarkandroguesome]

18th of Midyear, Middas

We have made good time heading north.

I was concerned in going the shorter route through the gate at Fort Greenwall, the old fortification between the holds of The Rift and Eastmarch. I know it was sacked during the Akaviri invasion and I do not have fond memories of passing through it since then, where it has laid abandoned ever since. It always seems to have some bandits or other marauders occupying it, ready to extort and or murder you.

Luckily for us, it seems that we came close enough to a time when there was a clash between two groups and the only unpleasantness we encountered was the putrid smelling of rotting flesh.

I admit, hearing the cries of so many ravens did put me on edge, but I made liberal use of my amulet to alert me to the presence of daedra about. I saw none. Even of the corvid variety.

And so, being a decent distance north of the fort, and off of the road, we have made camp. We found a nice outcropping of rock that hides us from view of the road on nearly three complete sides, making us well defensible from potential threats of any kind.

As I recall, it is the Companions who set up another fort just north of here. It is a rowdy sort of place, but rather mirthful all things considered. They serve halfway decent mead, for which one can always be thankful for.

We should reach there at midday tomorrow, so we will have a good place to dine and resupply. Then through the pass and if all goes well, to the ruin of a fortification just east of the road.

If the weather continues to hold, we should reach Windhelm before the start of next week.

[talldarkandroguesome]

16th of Midyear, Morndas

I do not know why I should not have expected that the representative sent from Blackmarsh would be someone I already knew. Not from my time embroiled in the politics of my House, but from more heroic efforts in the recent past.

For whom should walk through the door of the inn than Er-Jaseen

They have undergone their life-stage change having changed from male presenting to female. And I truly think it suits them well.

I laughed and asked Titanborn why she did not tell me. She told me she had not been certain who Blackmarsh might send.

To me it seemed rather obvious. Who would have a better chance to persuade a High King than the hero of the Pact?

Obviously the government of Blackmarsh is less centralized than Morrowind or Skyrim, but even if one city decided to take charge, they would not find someone better suited. With Er-Jaseen’s knowledge of areas across the Pact and having overcome so many obstacles already, they would necessarily have the advantage in negotiations compared to any other candidate. No doubt her exploits will have already reached the High King and others in Western Skyrim.

Titanborn did not seem to know what to make of Er-Jaseen’s transformation at first. I find she often has difficulty with coming to terms with change outside of the battlefield, but to her credit, she seemed to relax pretty quickly once I showed no change to my own interactions. I am sure she was uncertain of if there were any differences in how one should conduct themselves around the change.

Eventually, once we all shared what we have done since the battle in Coldharbour, we got down to business. Why we were called to Riften in the first place.

As it turns out, there has been a series of attacks in the region. Titanborn said it was not safe to discuss all the details presently, no doubt just because patrons were not going to have their goods stolen, does not mean that there would not be people listening in to find out who might be a good target once they left the inn. Or more pressing to Titanborn's concerns, the information brokering was certainly not off the table.

So it boiled down to needing one of us to continue on with the negotiations as planned, and one to help Titanborn scout. I knew that I could not leave the entirety of my retinue behind, making me a poor candidate on the stealth side of things. Though, no doubt it would be useful if going into a dangerous place to have a few extra people to provide distractions or to provide assistance.

Obviously Titatnborn thought, since I had done a good deal of scouting during our time in Coldharbour, that I would be a good fit for that part of the mission. On the other hand, Er-Jaseen said she was not as certain of her abilities to do the more delicate aspects of diplomacy. Get invited into the room, sure. Boldly present a plan and be the emblem of Pact unity, obviously. Yet they lacked in confidence with any further statecraft.

It was obvious that Titanborn was not volunteering to do the diplomacy aspect of the assignment. When I asked if her sway as a hero of Skyrim birth might not help the negotiations, she said, her lack of the sort of tact nobility seems to enjoy aside, she thought that someone who had been elected as the representative of the Skald King, who the High King currently has tensions with, might hurt our case.

I was loathed to agree, of course. I do so miss being able to go out in the field. I so rarely get to make offerings of lives to my Prince these days.

Still, I understood that while I was well suited to both options, I had a unique advantage in the negotiation option over our other choices.

So after having set down each party's next steps, Titanborn and Er-Jaseen will head off to their scouting mission. I am to head to Windhelm, to meet with the Skald-King and begin formulating a plan for our negotiations. Er-Jaseen and Titanborn will meet us when they have gathered whatever information they need from their mission.

I hate not knowing important things, or even potentially important things. I know that our House will want any information about a potential threat so close to the Morrowind border.

Alas, I only have so much choice. And so I shall head northward in the morning, saying that I have won the commission as delegate and that we are heading to Eastmarch so that I can be briefed by the Skald-King in person.

[talldarkandroguesome]

15th of Midyear, Sundas

I had a nice trip to the local book seller and the Mages Guild yesterday. I bought several books to pass the time, the waiting has been grating on me since I am not to leave the inn without at least two guards at any given time. And what a wretched drag that is.

At least I could get some fresh air and see something besides these four walls, even if it meant that I had to listen to people whispering about me in the streets. I fear what it might mean given the Thieves Guild's presence here. My dealings with them have been less than positive. Surely I am not recognizable now.

Surely.

We received another missive that Titanborn will be waiting on the balcony this evening and that we should meet with the final delegate. Hopefully their entourage will not be too large. I can only image a group of 25 person showing up to Solitude. What a sight we will be. And likely not welcome. I need to find a way to reduce my own retinue. Hopefully the meeting with Titanborn will support that decision.

[talldarkandroguesome]

12th of Midyear, Turdas

At long last, a missive has arrived to let Titanborn know that the Black Marsh representative is unharmed, only delayed. Apparently they had some sort of crisis they had to attend to before they could make their way here.

Of course, it was only because I ran into Titanborn at the bar ordering food that I heard such news. She says she is trying to keep a low profile.

I can understand that. She is a great hero and her face and name are widely known.

More so even than that, with her stature being what it is, she stands out pretty much everywhere she goes. Being in Skyrim, she is held in even higher esteem.

I invited her to take her meals in my chambers, as she can at least have some company and be out of the way of prying eyes.

To her credit, she was happy to come along, at least here and there, to play games of chance and to swap stories. She was very interested in what she had heard of the conflict in Summerset. And I gave her the very detailed version of the safe explanation for everything that happened.

Yet, all of it left me quite sad, thinking again about Earl Leythen's demise. I really must work on Zethith's requests so that I can see him again.

When will this Blackmarch representative arrive? I am eager for their arrival more now than ever.

[talldarkandroguesome]

I’m so honored that you drew more fanart. And yay for more love for Tel!

just somemore fanart of @talldarkandroguesome 's Fayrl and also @mazurah 's Tel who has become my favoirite out of the whole bunch i love him so much

[talldarkandroguesome]

9th of Midyear, Morndas

When I had been told I would meet an agent of the Skald King, I had not expected to know them. At least, not so closely.

It was fetching Lyris! As in Lyris Titanborn, one of the Five Companions, who was there in Coldharbour fighting Molag Bal with the other Vestiges.

What are the fetching odds!

Then she told me that we are to wait for our Blackmarsh representative to arrive before discussing the matter at hand.

So instead, I bought her a pint of mead, well, I suppose technically Prince Irnskar paid for it. But we talked about many things, mostly reminiscing about the few fond parts of our journeys together.

I seemed to have surprised most of those in my guard, who, despite my knowledge shared just days earlier, did not seem to expect that I had any skill or prowess in a fight.

The Redoran guard seemed very interested in Titanborn and I did not dissuade the interest. The Telvanni guard seemed overly bored of the stories and so I dismissed him to rest sending for the Indoril guard to take his place.

I do hope our Argonian friend will arrive soon. It is already passed the midday and I am getting tired of hearing the same handful of songs on repeat.

I just pray nothing has happened to the Blackmarsh representative.

[talldarkandroguesome]

7th of Midyear, Loredas

With a hearty meal and a nice bottle of dry summer mead, I finally felt a little bit relaxed.

The Shadetree Inn has an agreement with the Thieves Guild that its members will refrain from stealing on their property. They pay a good deal of money to see that their customers are not interfered with and the cost of the rooms is higher to that purpose.

Yet nearly everyone understands this to be the case. Not all travelers from outside of the hold, or Skyrim, are aware, but I needed to take precautions. I cannot be seen to teleport again. Not to mention, if I did, I would have to rely on Zethith to teleport me back. And I would rather not come to owe any additional favors. I have so many to pay back already.

We received a letter after breakfast that the Skald King wishes for me to meet up with one of his local agents, who is to be arriving to Riften on Sundas.

I had to ensure that the thing was not a forgery or altered in some manner.

Upon discerning that it was genuine, and having word from the innkeeper that along with the letter, additional nights were paid for by Skald's son, I felt there was more credibility to the whole affair.

Of course, I did not let my guard down. And I shall not. Not until I know that the whole party is convened.

I shall listen to the music of a lute from downstairs, as I drink mead and eat the best food that Riften has to offer.

Not a high bar, admittedly, but it is far less likely to be rotten and covered with a strong spice or soaked in a sleeping potion so that I awake days later with nothing but the sheets on the bed and nought a coin or possession anywhere to be found.

[talldarkandroguesome]

6th of Midyear, Fredas

We finally arrive in Riften.

I shall write nothing of the road until now. I do not wish to recall it and perhaps not mentioning it here will allow me to forget it over the passage of time.

The sooner the better, really.

Suffice to say, we had a messenger go ahead, hoping to allow the Skald King preparation time for our arrival.

Then the blood wheel broke just before sunset halfway down the road. We were, of course, delayed by those things I do not wish to speak of.

So we had to await daylight to make the repairs.

As it turned out, we somehow did not have all the parts or tools needed to make this repair, despite having asked for everything to be prepared, for just such a circumstance.

In part, I suspect the Dres servant of having a hand in all this. Perhaps some kind of revenge for the threats I made earlier.

No matter the cause, we had to wait for half a day for the Hlaalu servant to make their way to Riften to make purchase of the items we need. I made it clear that if a carpenter or farrier were available, to persuade their assistance in the matter.

Of course dusk was approaching by the time the materials arrived. Apparently the carpenter was not available to come out so close to sundown, knowing they would otherwise need to work in the dark. The farrier said she was far too busy to be able to leave her stable unattended.

Did I mention I hate the thieves den of a city Riften is.

Sure, it looks like a clean, well working city on the outside, but the criminal element that lays just below that surface image is a deep one. It has a long history. Few places on Tamriel have as seedy an underbelly as Riften.

I'm sure that we will have someone come up missing something important, so I have made sure that none of my truly valuable items are under the care of any of this lot of Housemer.

But we have the cart parked and the guar tended to. We have the whole of the second floor of the Shadehome Inn. And I am ready to just have a decent meal and to be able to sleep with my legs out straight and laying flat on a mattress.

[talldarkandroguesome]

3rd of Midyear, Tirdas

We arrived to Fullhelm. I had forgotten just how little was there.

At least there were fences and some manner of fortification there. We were able to sleep without worry about what wild beasts might feast upon us in the night if we needed to step away to use relieve ourselves without a privy.

The scant forces present at the fort were at least generous. They know the meaning of hospitality, what little they could spare.

We heard a clash outside the northern gate.

Well, perhaps gate is generous for a series of wooden planks lashed together and standing in a broken fence sort of positioning. It may have looked at a distance as a solid fence of wood, but upon drawing nearer, it was just a slightly further forward section a few paces in front of where the opening was.

Which made the sound of battle all the more worrisome.

As we soon learned, there were some undead stirred up in the area and they had been throwing themselves at any who tried to use the road just outside of the fort.

As I abhor the undead, I was none too pleased to be spending the night in such close proximity. So we asked around to see what could be done.

Apparently it was the fault of a necromancer that had come through but was since dispatched of, only some of the enchantments left in his wake still triggered occasionally.

I did not catch the whole story, for I as distracted many times by the sounds of the creaking or splintering of bone.

The Thane, Ironhand I believe his name was, gave us a place to stay for the night. It was sparse, as one would expect for a small fort like Fullhelm, but it was comfortable.

Inside the stone walls I could not hear the fighting and, not wishing to think much more of the undead, I took my medicine and let it lull me to sleep as quickly as possible.

In the morning, I was awoken by the Indoril Houseguard who asked if I was ready to leave. Having somehow forgotten about the trouble with the undead, I said I was. We ate as the Thane's honored guests and talked about the war. At least, we did so as much as was politic to do so.

From him I learned that the tensions with Western Skyrim were indeed reaching a pitch. It did not make me overly confident to hear him say so. My birthgift's power is waning. It is certainly better than it will be come Last Seed.

As I await the carriage, I came to remember about the undead. And for once, I am happy to be sequestered within the hot space with the curtains closed. I do not wish to think about it any further. It will be bad enough to hear them.

May The Three keep us all safe from harm!

[talldarkandroguesome]

1st of Midyear, Sundas

How I had forgotten about the ferocity of sabre cats.

With the carriage appearing to be a lumber merchant's cart, I do not think they expected so much of a fight.

It was just a pair, but I do not think the House's guards have had encounters with such beasts before. Alit do not tend to fight using group strategies.

We stopped after that for the night and I supported with the healing of wounds by making up healing potions. And we ate what meat we could.

I had to prepare it, of course, for none of them knew exactly what to do with it. Not a one of them had ever been to Skyrim before.

There was something that changed last night. A different energy that the guards seemed to have. Perhaps it was merely respect, but I suspect more than that alone.

The Redoran guard seemed to pay special attention to the care I took in everything. Perhaps she told the other guards of my foresight with the spell. Or maybe she was just curious given all the rumors about me.

Ha! I can imagine what it is that the guards of all the Houses thought of me before.

I certainly have no idea what they believe now.

Before we went to bed, I made sure that we took the remaining meat and hoisted it high into a tree a good distance from where we were staying for the night. Then seemed suspicious of this request, as if wondering what kind of superstition it might belong to, but I told them that the smell would attract large scavengers, bears, more sabre cats, wolves if they were hungry enough. Though wolves, at least, could not climb trees, unlike the others.

That caused them to exchange glances. I told them all that by keeping the meat far away and up a tree, we would not be as likely to attract any of that in our direction. And if anything were to try and get the meat up the tree, as high into the branches as it was set, we might hear the breaking of lower branches as the beasts tried to gather the meat, which could alert the guards of danger nearby.

We buried the bones deep enough to not be smelled by other animals.

This morning I was not forced to keep the curtains closed. I got to watch as we wound our way up the trails to Fullhelm. I hope to report in to the Eastern forces so that they can send a messenger ahead to Riften to announce our impending arrival. I know we are several days behind our planned arrival date. Who knows, we may be behind the Blackmarch representative at this point.

Regardless, I look forward to a more relaxed atmosphere. How I have missed the smell of the conifers, their musky resin fills the air. And while it is already Midyear now, I can smell the cold in the air. I cannot wait for the coolness to descend as we travel northward. How I have missed a summer without sweating or the sticky humidity.

A part of my heart shall always remain in Skyrim.

[talldarkandroguesome]

30th of Second Seed, Fredas

I brought my ultimatum to the commander. I told him I would personally go and inform the Grand Council of this insult if he would not let us pass. That he was restricting a diplomatic endeavor and that he was way below the station that should be able to prevent such orders from being carried out.

You know what this empty-skulled alit did in response?

He laughed.

Actually laughed!

Then he spit.

I turned to the Redoran guard and told her we were going back to Mournhold.

The Dres in my party both looked aghast and began to yell at the Commander, who had his subordinates put their hands to the hilts of their blades.

Then it was my turn to laugh. I told the commander that he had just signed his own death warrant for treason.

As he started smiling smugly and saying that who was I, a weak little bureaucrat to take him on? I was not even a mage, so it was not as though I could do anything unless they let me leave and go to the Temple. Which they would not allow.

I asked the Redoran guard if they could remember all of that. She nodded and said she would not be likely to forget such words.

I told her, good. Then I thanked my guards for their service and said I should return shortly to rejoin them.

And just as their faces began to look confused, I teleported back to my manor in Mournhold.

The Redoran guard made the smallest sound of surprise in her throat, then steadied me as the familiar nausea set in.

She asked where we were, I told her we were in Mournhold, as I had promised. She seemed to do a mental calculation and was shocked. I told her that I had placed a special, very expensive marking spell here, in case of trouble and that I could not do it again, it was a onetime spell.

Avon came bursting into the room, his staff raised with a glowing blue light, to threaten the sudden intruder into the manor when he saw me and let out a huge sigh of relief. Then began to ask me what I was doing here. Was there trouble of the road? Was I hurt?

I smiled at him and said I was fine, recognizing his old fondness in the fear in his voice. I told him that I was alright, but that the Dres commander at the border of Skyrim was sabotaging our mission.

At that, the Redoran guard stood up to attention, recalling herself and seeming to notice that we were in a bedroom of the manor.

Avon hurried out to get Cheerz to prepare a carriage and I added a formal riding coat, since my previous one I had given to the Velothi.

We headed to the Grand Council building and met the Councilmer, who were just leaving to take their midday meal. When they saw me, they all looked perturbed. I made sure to keep my most angry expression on and then gave the formal bow.

I told them I was very sorry to disturb them, but I had come to share that a commander in the Pact army, one of House Dres, had refused our passage from Morrowind into Skyrim.

All eyes turned towards the Dres representatives. They kept a neutral expression and said that it must have been a misunderstanding. I turned to the Redoran guard and asked her to convey the events as they had happened.

As she began, onlookers began to gather and the Council ushered us into the room, sending runners to bring back the few Councilors who had already left.

We repeated the story again. The Dres Councilmer starting to realize what would be implied and said that they would rectify this at once. No true member of their House would act this way.

And so it was that, armed with a series of guards from all the Houses and a representative of the Grand Council of each House, and the Signet speaker of House Dres, that we all arrived at the Temple Iliath.

From there, the mages of House Dres that accompanied us brought us all to Fort Virak.

As soon as the Commander, who had at that point resumed his regular duties of drinking and naught much else. Apparently those in my entourage had been taken prisoner for threatening the fort's commander.

The Signet approached the commander and demanded answers. The commander took one look at me and started to laugh, asking if this was really what I thought would fool him.

I could see that, with so many Dunmer amongst the ranks, that they were nervous. When the commander asked them to raise weapons, they did not know what to do.

The commander said they were the Pact's soldiers, they did not have to answer to the Houses, even in Morrowind.

And that is when, without even speaking to him, the Signet cast a single spell and the commander was gone.

Without even the slightest hint of irritation in his voice, he told the soldier there to release my guard and called for the next in command to come forward. An Argonian woman, in Nord armor stepped forward and said it was she.

The Signet said that he would pass along his apologies to the Skald King via the Morrowind diplomat once I reached Eastmarch. Then he congratulated her on her promotion.

Without missing a beat, she gave a bow and told the others to hurry up with setting free my guard and preparing our guar.

Then the Council passed a silent look about them and their guards nodded.

So that is how we finally made it across the border and are now on the roads of Skyrim.

And they say there is no such thing as justice in wartime.

[talldarkandroguesome]

29th of Second Seed, Turdas

Apparently the guards at the border are duller than a piece of ancient sea glass and could not find their own arse if it were planted in a chair.

How many days we must wait for their commander to clear our letters, I do not know. But this is a Great Council letter and decision, just because some backwater guar-fucker wants to feel like he has power, he is sending word to get approval.

Did he simply send a messenger to the closest Temple, who could teleport back to Mournhold and get a verification? Of course not! That would require a modicum of intelligence, which we have already established, this swit does not possess.

Despite all of our papered credentials and everyone clearly of the station they claim to be, this idiot with no more than a particle of ash where his brain should be, has said there was something suspicious with out request papers.

I think he has confiscated skooma that he is deep into partaking of. The Grand Council's seal is on the documents! There are seals from the Five Signets on the document!

If I could slit his throat and not bring further suspicion on our venture, I would have done it two days ago!

You can be sure that as soon as I have the opportunity to do so, I will be sending word to the Grand Council that a member of House Dres, was responsible for this delay.

That is the other infuriating part! Two of the members of his own House showed their credentials, and he is still behaving this belligerently!

You can bet that if there is any opportunity to decrease the number of those in my entourage, the Dres will be the first to go. I have this insult to use as justified evidence for making my decision in that way. For I could certainly use this to make a claim that the Dres were trying to sabotage our move towards peace with Western Skyrim. It would not be hard to devise a reason why it would be seen to help their House's aims.

To that end, my Dres servant has been nearly pleading for me to forgive the mer's ignorance. She has made several appeals to work on her House brother's to show that there is no ill will between us.

So far, her appeals have fallen on deaf ears it seems, for still we are here. Waiting for word to be able to pass.

I can tell that the guards are growing restless. If it would not mean having to weaken our border defenses, I know that the Redoran and Indoril guards would have already challenged the commander.

By tomorrow, if we do not have word, I will teleport back to Mournhold and handle the situation myself. I will take the Redoran guard with me, someone I can trust but who would not be of my own House.

I can only imagine the stir that would cause.