The night was bitterly cold, the snow falling in great drifts from the darkening grey sky. Regardless of the foul weather, the townspeople of Ivarstead gathered in the town square for the festivities, for it was the night of the New Life Festival, and the people of Skyrim were used to the winter weather to not be deterred from their celebrating.
As the night became longer, many of the village elders settled in the Vilemyr Inn. Jofthor, Klimmek, and some others gathered around Wilhelm's bar, ordering mead to warm their stomachs. The younger people continued to dance in the snow outside, even Narfi, the town beggar, was welcomed to join in the fun.
Four of the younger people; Gwilin, Barknar, Fastread, and Bassianus Axius stood apart from the rest of the merry-makers. Fastread, leaning against her lover Bassianus's arms, languidly uttered "well, not that tonight's celebrations aren't terrible, I do wish that we could do something a bit more exciting, don't you"? The other three looked at her sharply, before Gwilin replied "I agree dear friend Fastread, and as a matter of fact I also have an idea. Why don't all of us climb the seven thousand steps to High Hrothgar"?
Bassianus agreed with Fastread and Gwilin, and with much pleading, convinced Barknar (the only one to ever travel the path) to take them up the steps. While the elders watch the younger people celebrate, the four would-be adventures snuck out across the bridge, and began to climb.
They were not even halfway up the steps when the blizzard hit. The wind howled like a great pack of werewolves, the snow so thick that the four could only see a few feet in front of them. Regardless of the fact that each one of them were dressed warmly in thick furs, the cold had already started to seep through the cloth. "Maybe we should turn back" cried Bassianus, whose deep-red hair was now almost pure-white with snow.
Everyone else agreed, as none of them wanted to end up frostbitten or dead. As they began to turn back however, Barknar halted the group. "Wait" he shouted, "don't any of you hear that noise"? None of the other heard anything but the wind and their own heartbeats. As they tried to still their heavy breathing, they began to hear it. A strange...almost wailing noise coming from further up the seven thousand steps. As they listened, the four of them all realized one thing...the wail was that of a human.