2: Outlander

My night's sleep was restless. I didn't think I could ever get used to sleeping on a wooden bed, no matter how often I did before last night. Reluctantly, I got out of bed and started to get ready for the day. Today, I had to go find Miraak's temple and see if I could find out what was going on. I prepared my supplies and took a much anticipated bath.

I met Geldis for a light breakfast. When I finished, I gave him a coin purse. "I want to stay here for a while. Could you keep my room permanently in my name?"

Geldis' eyes widened at the coin. It was clear that this settlement had fallen on extremely hard times. "Are you sure?" He sputtered.

"Yes. You need the money more than I do. Besides, I have a feeling I am going to be here for a while. Be nice to know that I'll have a room to come back to."

The owner was speechless. "I'll take that as a yes," I smirked, walking away.

(~~)

Leaving the Retching Netch, I found the local blacksmith and sharpened my weapons, got a healthy supply of arrows and bought some potions for my journey.

The Redoran guard, as intimidating as they were, gave me directions to Miraak's temple. As I left the settlement, I saw a fight in the distance. A Dunmer was battling several creatures that looked like they were made of…Ash. My eyes widened. I drew my Dragonbone bow, carefully aimed at the creature and brought it down in one strike. I drew back my bow again, this time while in a run.

The next one went down in an instant kill, and the Dunmer took the last one down himself.

I ran up to him, and he gave me a grateful smile. "Thanks. I wasn't sure I'd make it off this farm alive. I wish I could have said the same for my man here." He sighed in remorse at his fallen comrade.

"You're welcome. I'm sorry about your friend. My name is Brii."

"I am Captain of the Redoran Guard in Raven Rock. Modyn Veleth is the name."

I looked at the piles of ash around us. "What were we fighting?"

He snorted. "Some of the Redoran Guard have taken to calling them 'ash spawn'. Me? I don't care what they're called. All I know is they're a danger to Raven Rock and they need to be stopped."

I sighed. "What brought you to this farm?"

"I was going to search for clues that might lead me to wherever they're coming from. I know it isn't the best place to start, but we know they've been coming from this direction."

"I have to go soon, but I'd be glad to lend you a hand to look for clues."

He smiled. "Good, I can use all the help I can get. Besides, I don't feel comfortable leaving Raven Rock behind, and I'd hate to lose any more Redoran Guard. Please have a look around and see if you can turn up anything useful."

We started to search the ground around the farm when I asked, "so what exactly are these ash spawn?"

"No one knows really, Brii. Superstitious folk say they're the risen forms of those that died long ago, but I'm not so certain. They started attacking the Bulwark a few weeks ago. My men were able to kill them, but they keep coming back."

"How often do they attack?"

"We've had two other assaults on the Bulwark at different spots on the wall. I know it sounds crazy, but it's almost like they're becoming more organized and probing it for weaknesses."

I raised an eyebrow. "So…You think there's motivation with the attacks?"

"Exactly. Something has to be directing them against us and we need to find out who, or what it is."

I started to search the ash piles and I found a crumpled piece of paper. It read:

Raven Rock Stronghold,

My calls for the unconditional surrender of your forces and an immediate cessation of all hostilities has 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 communications between us.

General Falx Carius

Garrison Commander, Fort Frostmoth

"I found something," I shouted.

Veleth took the note from me and read it slowly. "This is strange," he said finally.

"Why?" I asked.

"The note says it's from General Falx Carius, but that's impossible. He was the Imperial garrison commander at Fort Frostmoth, but he died over 200 years ago when the Red Mountain leveled the place. There's no way he could still be alive."

I frowned. First Miraak and now this. "What will you do next?"

"If he's still alive, there must be something keeping him that way. Will you help Raven Rock?"

I sighed. I am going to regret this. "What do you want me to do?"

"I need you to head out to Fort Frostmoth and check it out. I'm going back to Raven Rock and prepare the men for further assaults. Be careful," he added. "This General Carius sounds out of his mind."

Once he walked away, I exhaled sharply. I guess I was doing this again; putting everyone else's needs ahead of my own. I smoothed out my armour nervously and headed for Miraak's temple.

(~~)

The path to the temple was littered with dragon skeletons and my eyes widened in surprise. Who was I dealing with here?

I started to climb the stairs gingerly and I noticed some enthralled men and mer rebuilding the temple. My first thought was: I wonder if Neloth has seen this. I could see why he was fascinated by this strange phenomenon.

I shook my head and kept walking up the temple steps. When I reached the top, I was surprised by how vast it was. My curiousity got the better of me when I heard the thralls building the temple. They were chanting the mantra that I heard from the Earth Stone in Raven Rock.

I turned when I heard a woman trying to get through to the thralls. "I'm here to help you! You must leave this place!" Her accent was Nordic.

I wonder why she isn't enthralled, I thought curiously. Still, she seems like she's not an enemy. I approached her and she quickly turned around. "You there. What brings you to this place? Why are you here?" She asked accusingly.

I decided to play her game. "Who are you?"

"I am Frea of the Skaal. I am here to either save my people, or avenge them." She was wearing Nordic carved armour, and seemed to be a skilled warrior.

"Save them from what?" I asked, although I already knew.

"I am unsure. Something has taken control of most of the people of Solstheim. It makes them forget themselves, and work on these horrible creations that corrupt the Stones, the very land itself."

"I've noticed about the Earth Stone in Raven Rock, but you say all of Solstheim is corrupted?" I asked in disbelief.

"Oh yes," she said grimly. "My father, Storn, our shaman, says Miraak had returned to Solstheim, but that is impossible."

"This Miraak tried to have me killed," I said in annoyance.

"Then you and I both have reason to see what lies beneath us. Let us go. There is nothing more I can do here. The Tree Stone and my friends are beyond my help for now. We need to find a way into the temple below." She sighed.

"Frea, what do you know about Miraak?"

"His story is as old as Solstheim itself. He served the dragons before their fall from power, as most did. A priest in their order. But unlike most, he turned against them. He made his own path, and his actions cost him dearly." That explains the dragon skeletons on the way up, I thought. "The stories say he sought to claim Solstheim for himself, and the dragons destroyed him for it."

I felt a rush of excitement. This might be the toughest enemy I've ever had to face. "You're here by yourself?"

"There are few of us left unaffected by this curse. My father Storn, the shaman, protects them in the village."

I sighed. "I believe you'll need the protection."

She nodded and then turned her head sharply behind us. "Is someone there?"

We were attacked then by two of Miraak's cultists. "Your master cannot help you now!" She shouted, as she stuck an axe in her enemy. I took down the last cultist with my bow.

"Thank you for your help," she said. "Will you follow me inside?

I smiled. "You're my best bet of finding out what's going on. I'm Brii by the way."

"It's nice to meet you. I wish it were under better circumstances," she said, as I followed her down the steps.

Frea opened the door and as we walked through, I wondered what awaited me.