The Thing That Should Not Be
Sergeant Major Legarius,
This is SSgt Kanary's report on the subject codename "Mountain
Frost". Operation "Mountain Frost" was started the 7th of Heartfire,
when a civilian with connections to the Blades was found by a legion
patrol posted on the gold road found civilian Harven Reuben
unconscious one click south of Wenyon Priory. Reuben was quote:
"covered with slime and bleeding from multiple wounds that seemed to
centralize on the chest above the heart.
Reuben was moved to the Imperial City Legion Barracks for rest.
He came to consciousness on the 8th, remembering everything save
how he got there.
We gave him two days to rest and recover. On the 10th we
brought him to the interrogation room for answering questions.
Reuben began back on Frost Fire 29th. He was staying at
Wenyon Priory a week after performing classified information. We
tried to get more out of him, but resident at Wenyon Priory Jauffree
objected showing the signature of the Grandmaster of the Blades that
the information was classified, but he said it did have something to do
with the Emperor's, the Gods bless his soul, assassination.
Reuben said he was at the local tavern in Chorrol known as the
"Gray Mare" for supper and bringing food back to Wenyon priory when
an female Argonian named Dar-Ma came and introduced herself to
him. He said they talked for a short while, and she left and Reuben
went back to Wenyon Priory for six days. He ventured into two caves
close to town, while on the second one he contracted the disease
Bloodlung, which causes chronic headaches, stuffed nose, and
vomiting blood.
He was afflicted for three days, and went to the healers at the
chapel of Stendarr in Chorrol, after, due to the severity of the sickness,
Prior of Wenyon Priory, Maborel declared he could no longer be of
assistance. After visiting the chapel, Reuben went to the Gray Mare for
lunch.
The publican of the Gray Mare passed on the rumor of Dar-Ma's
disappearance. Reuben was upset, and was told if he wanted to help,
he was to go to Northern Goods, where Dar-Ma lived with her mother,
Seed-Neeus.
After visiting with Seed-Neeus, Reuben learned that two days
prior, Seed-Neeus was ill, and Dar-Ma took her paint "Buttercup" to
make the delivery to a village south of Chorrol named Hackdirt.
Hackdirt is a small community with no more then a dozen
people, according to witnesses. Several years ago, Hackdirt was the
target of operation "Silver Vase", which, is also, classified information
that only the citizens and soldiers that were there recall, but are all
under level 10 security and cannot see villagers due to sudden lapses
of violent psychosis, displaying symptoms of rabies. The overseer of
the operation committed suicide two years ago.
Reuben asked around Chorrol about Hackdirt, and learned that
it used to be a successful mining community. He then learned that the
legion was called in several years ago, and that half the village was
burnt down. A report came from an Altmer named Honditar, saying that
the residents became harsh after dark.
Reuben said that he got his supplies for the trip, and for the
residents at Wenyon Priory, and went back to the small community.
He said he had brought up the subject numerous times while
there, but Jauffree quickly warned him off every time. Reuben said that
the desperation in Jauffree's eyes and voice concerned him, but
Reuben still wanted to follow through with his actions.
The following morning, Reuben left Wenyon Priory on his paint,
headed south, and found a path that led him to Hackdirt. Reuben
reported that Hackdirt was a burnt ruin from a distance, but, after
getting closer, he saw that there were some buildings that had been
rebuilt from the rubble.
Upon entering the small town, he noted that he was instantly
treated hostile. Reuben quotes: "I got a bad feeling about the place as
soon as I saw it. Before letting myself known I was there, I circled the
community several times to get a layout of the land, in case a quick
escape was needed.
"I then entered by leading the Nag, (Reuben's Paint), through
some burnt rubble. Every person that set eyes on me immediately
began scowling.
"I am the outgoing type, or so I am told, so I went up to people
who were just wandering around with a smile, told them my name, and
offered to shake their hand. One of the women there told me to get my
hand away from her, or she'd spit on it! After that, I looked for the inn,
Moslin's Inn. Immediately afterwards, I could feel somebody watching
me. I turned around, and a man in a huntsman vest immediately acted
like he was walking away."
Reuben said he went into the inn, and was once again greeted
menacingly. Reuben rented a room, put his belongings away, and
came back down. Reuben then asked the innkeeper about an
Argonian woman named Dar-Ma.
Reuben said that the innkeeper was obviously lying when he
said: "I don't know no Dar-Ma. Haven't seen me an Argonian around
here in who knows how long. Kinda forgot what the hell they even look
like."
Reuben then proceeded to Moslin's Dry Goods, the store Dar-
Ma was marked to deliver to. The owner, Reuben reported, put up a
better act then the innkeeper, but there was still something wrong with
her story. The owner replied to Reuben after he told her she was
looking for Dar-Ma: "Huh, well that makes two. Young Argonian swit
was supposed to be here days ago. Now you tell me, how the hell am I
supposed to run a business like this without merchandise?"
Reuben reported that he knew the villagers were hiding
something from him then, and wandered around the small town,
conversing with the inhabitants, asking door to door for Dar-Ma.
He said he heard somebody use the threat of having the
Brethren deal with him. Once he inquired, all of the locals agreed that
they didn't like outsiders.
After wandering about, Reuben said he found a paint quarter
horse in a burnt house behind Moslin's Dry Goods. After confronting
the owner about the animal, the owner declared that the horse was
hers. When Reuben then asked her about the Brethren, she made a
comment saying that Reuben would get to know the Brethren: "real
quick-like".
Shortly after leaving the store, Reuben reported seeing
something off in the forest. Reuben went to investigate, but was
attacked by four men showing signs of rabies, and had eyes much
larger then normal. Reuben defeated his attackers, but took a hard
blow to the shoulder.
Reuben went back into town, and a resident named Jiv Hiriel
approached him, telling him to meet him at his home at sunset.
Reuben went to his room in the inn, noticing the innkeeper
sneering at him while he held his shoulder while he went up the stairs.
On his way to his room, Reuben reported seeing a door opposite
of his torn off its hinges. Reuben went to investigate, and reported
finding signs of a struggle. After searching the room, he found a small
book that read on the cover: "Dar-Ma's Diary".
Upon reading it, Reuben said he learned that Dar-Ma was
hearing noises outside her room late at night. Reuben then confronted
the innkeeper about the diary.
He changed his story, in saying that he remembered an
Argonian woman. But he didn't remember what happened to her.
Reuben rested in his room, but was attacked by another of the
"Brethren". After fighting off his attacker, Reuben went to Hiriel's
house.
Hiriel explained to Reuben that the citizens of Hackdirt
worshipped "The Deep Ones". There is no record of "The Deep Ones"
in the Arcane University, or any other known major repositories of
knowledge.
Hiriel gave Reuben a key, saying that it would unlock one of the
trap doors around Hackdirt that led into the tunnels.
Reuben went into the tunnels, and found Dar-Ma in a cage with
iron bars. He freed Dar-Ma, but told her to get back to Chorrol on her
own when he heard a noise from across the cavern.
Reuben quotes: "There was a rumble on the other side of the
cavern, and I gave Dar-Ma the signal to get the hell out of there. She
left, and I drew my weapon, a fine steel blade. I slowly moved across
the room, when the entire side of the cavern wall just collapsed.
Nothing pushed it, it appeared. Once all the dust settled, all I could
see in the darkness beyond were to huge yellow eyes staring at me.
"I turned and ran as fast as I could. I ran for my life. It scared the
shit out of me. I'm not one to get scared easily, but that…"
Reuben states that he remembers nothing afterwards. I have
dealt with many stories of suppressed memories, and knew I had to
approach this part slowly and easily.
I asked him if he, in his own words could describe what the
creature was. He looked me right in the eyes. I have never had
anybody look at me like that. It was a look of complete seriousness.
He answered me; his bottom lip quivering uncontrollably, "What
was it? Easy. It was the thing that should not be."
Colonel Ranyold
Hey guys and ladies, hope you enjoyed the crappy story. Hit me
back on what you think about it! Just no cussing or anything of the
sort, please. Oh, and the title is based on Metalica's "The Thing That
Should Not Be" off of their "Master Of Puppets". (Great album!)