Bleak Falls Barrow, Falkreath Hold
Skyrim
The 19th of Last Seed, 4E201

"How did I get myself roped into doing this?" Belinda asked with a groan as she and Sieghard arrived at the foot of the mountain upon which Bleak Falls Barrow sat on. "Hell, I don't even know how you got roped into this. Is it because you were just there?!"

Sieghard shrugged. They had spent the remainder of the previous day getting supplies, sharpening weapons, and Belinda bought a fur cloak. Growing up on Earth, Belinda despised the thought of wearing fur, but that was because she lived in a time when factories could make synthetic fur. Of course, real or fake, Belinda always found fur really tacky. Strangely though, in a place like Nirn's beautiful and dangerous Skyrim, it suited. Maybe because very few people hunted for sport? Well, the nobility did and shame on them. As an adult, Belinda believed in using the whole animal if you're going to kill one. That which couldn't be used could be turned into fertilizer. When dried and cleaned, bone made for excellent jewelry, decorations, weapons, or a replacement for firewood. Not to mention what the marrow could be used for. Belinda had spent the better part of the summer on Middle Earth, in a region called Forochel, learning from the Lossoth tribes who clung to their ancestral traditions and ways of life while the rest of Middle Earth advanced into the 5th Age, the age of technology and cars, though many of the old ways still remained, as well as some Elves and Dwarves and Halflings and Orcs.

Belinda loved when old and ancient traditions survived into modern times. She had a fondness for the retro and the vintage, and learning those old ways not only preserved them, but made her better at surviving. Now, it was no easy task to get a bone to light, but when you did, it burned for quite a long while. Naturally, you had to get as much meat off and empty the marrow, both of which went into food. Belinda's mouth watered at the thought of the hearty soup she had had last month. The portions may have been small, but they were filling. And obviously, she had been drooling at the thought of that mammoth stew, because Sieghard pointed it out.

"I was thinking of this delightful stew I had last month," Belinda said.

"Hmm?" Sieghard's curiosity was piqued.

"It was a mammoth stew, the bone marrow mixed in with chunks of mammoth meat and veggies mixed in," Belinda explained. "It was so yummy."

"Sounds good... Thanks, now I want mammoth stew," the Nord huffed.

Belinda laughed as they started their ascended up the mountain trail. A pack of wolves snarled at the, guarding their den. Sieghard stared the beasts down. Belinda touched them with her magic. They stayed on guard around their den while the two moved on. Soon, the grass faded into the snow and gales brought dusty snow to their face. Belinda wrapped her braid around her neck and drew up her hood. There was a tower in the distance. Their approach was met with a volley of arrows. Drawing their weapons, the pair ducked behind boulders.

"Shit," Belinda hissed. She took out her bow and an arrow, placing it on the bowstring. She peeked around the boulder, muttering a spell of Detect Life. She saw three people. They were staying out of sight. One peeked her head out. Belinda jumped out, drawing her arrow to the corner of her mouth, right forefinger pointing out to help line up the shot. She released the arrow and it zipped through the air at the woman's head. The woman dying sent two large men, an Orc and a Nord, charging forth. The Orc was wearing simple leathers and wielded an Orichalcum warhammer, a greenish alloy that was commonly used by the Orcish people of the plane. The Nord was clad in steel plate armor and had a steel great sword. Belinda withdrew her bow aside and drew her steel sword. Sieghard charge with Wuuthrad in his hands.

Sword in her left hand, Belinda conjured fire to her right hand. She threw out said hand, a cone of fire blasting the Nord. He continued his charge through the flames, raising his sword. He brought it down as she pulled back and raised her long sword in defense. The Nord slammed his sword on hers. Belinda clenched her hand tight so has not to be disarmed. But the force sent pain throughout her arm. She had been taught to fight with a sword, but truthfully, swords themselves were not her primary weapons of choice. She managed to back away, but the Nord was eager to slaughter her. He charged again and she went to her knees and shoved her sword up through the Nord's abdomen. She then rose and slammed into the Nord, knocking him back and off her sword. She charged him this time and thrust her sword into the Nord's neck. He went down.

Meanwhile, Sieghard and the Orc were locked in a fierce battle. The Orc had gone berserk, wailing on Sieghard and leaving him with little to no opportunities to go on the offense. He was relying on the pole of Wuuthrad for defense. He had fought Orcs before, many of them great warriors and/or having gone berserk. So the Nord need not be on the offense. He held defense, and he would continue to do so until the Orc calmed down, wore down, or Belinda finished her own fight to attack the Orc's flank. Whichever came first, he welcome it. As the first dragged on, an ebony arrow slammed into the Orc's neck. In his berserk state, the Orc barely felt it. Belinda was conjuring a spear of ice, and she was using Elven arrows. So it could not have been her. Another ebony arrow zipped into the Orc's back. Belinda had taken notice of the arrows, ice spear in hand. She flung it into the Orc's side. With the Orc finally distracted, Sieghard swung Wuuthrad and cleaved the Orc's head off.

"Sorry to have interfered, but that was taking quite some time," said soft, smooth voice. Belinda and Sieghard turned to a Dunmer woman in tight, black leather armor lined with intricate silver designs, the most notable of which was the symbol of the Nightingales. Her skin was a pale silver, and she had beautiful, lilac, almond-shaped eyes. Her hair was a soft, snowy white, falling to her shoulders in twin French braids. She was beautiful, her features very Dunmer, yet humanlike with her ears more rounded than tapered. She was armed with a beautiful sword with a mithril blade and an intricate black walnut bow with silver carvings. "I am Dione Nightingale."

Belinda and Sieghard introduced themselves.

"Belinda Scale? I thought you looked familiar," Dione said. "You were in Helgan when the Dragon attacked.

"I was," Belinda said. "You must've been out before anyone else."

"I was," Dione responded.

"So, why are you up here?" Sieghard asked.

"After escaping Helgan, I hid out in the wilderness until yesterday evening to make sure the Imperials had cleared out," Dione answered. "So, I started for Solitude to report what happened at Helgan to the Bard's College, since I have yet to make my contribution to the Poetic Edda. Well, I spent the night at the local inn, and this morning I went to buy some supplies from the general store. Some bandits had robbed it last night and escaped into Bleak Falls Barrow."

"That... Is a remarkably stupid place to hide," Belinda said, her voice deadpan.

"Especially because those old ruins are full of Draugr, Spiders, Skeevers, and Trolls," Sieghard agreed.

"Eugh, spiders," Belinda mumbled.

"Not a huge fan?" Dione asked, raising a brow.

"Not. A. Bit," Belinda answered. "Well, as fate would have it, Sieghard and I are also heading into Bleak Falls Barrow. The Jarl's court wizard asked us to recover an artifact that "may or may not be there." In other words-."

"Farengar doesn't really know?" Dione chuckled.

"You know him?" Belinda questioned, it being her turn to raise a brow. In addition to being a bard, Dione was also a thief and a powerful mage. In fact, she was a master of arcana and was possessed of a great power: She could combined spells to create incredible results. There was something else, something only Belinda could see. She was a Planeswalker! "Sieghard, do you mind if Dione here and I have a private conversation?" Belinda asked.

"I don't know if that's really possible unless I move far away," Sieghard answered, scratching the back of his head.

"Ah yes, I almost forgot you're a werewolf," Belinda muttered.

"How did you even know that?!" Sieghard exclaimed.

"I can just tell these things; it's a talent of mine," Belinda answered, and then grinned. "That and you smell like a wet dog."

Dione snickered. "So, what did you want to know?" she asked.

"It's really not something I wish to discuss in front of Sieghard," Belinda answered. "Especially because it's a very delicate subject and I don't know how he'll respond to the information."

"Just say it," Sieghard huffed.

Belinda rolled her eyes and asked, "How long have you been a Planeswalker, Dione?"

Dione let the term sink it. She looked up at Belinda. "A few months. Are you one too?"

Belinda nodded. "I've been one for nearly 11 years. It must've been rough on you, taking all of this in and keeping it a secret."

"Yeah; it's been hard to find someone to approach the subject with," Dione told her. "I'm glad I have finally found someone."

Belinda smiled. "So, where'd you land?" she asked.

"Someplace called Vryn," Dione answered.

"Vryn? Haven't been there yet," Belinda said.

"Oh, yeah; I landed in this really pretty place by a ring just as pure mana was rushing though," Dione told her. "I almost got blown up. I think. Not quite sure what happens when pure, raw mana hits you."

"Incineration, perhaps," Belinda responded.

Sieghard was lost as the two women talked. Finally, he interrupted, "Shouldn't we keep going to Bleak Falls Barrow?"

Belinda and Dione looked to him, then exchanged glances. "Sorry," they apologized.

Now a trio, they continued up the snow-coated trail to the ruins. They were met with more bandits. Six total. Belinda summoned a small fire wyrm that raged against a bandit. Dione conjured an illusion of herself, leaping and rolling away before a Nord could cut her down. Dione summoned Dremora to fight the Nord before finding a safe perch to shoot arrows at the two enemy archers. Sieghard went into battle against an Argonian warrior. Belinda focused on the remaining bandit: An Altmer mage. They had a magical duel, launching spells at one another. It was Belinda's fire versus the Elf's ice.

Dione managed to shoot the first archer. Her mind was keen, fast, her eyes all over the place. The archer fell forward, the arrow protruding from his ankle. With him down, Dione launched another arrow. This one zipped into the Bosmer's head, killing him. An arrow flew at her. She twisted herself out of the way, the iron arrowhead cutting her across her cheekbone. Conjuring a ball of lightning to her left hand, she threw it at the second archer, a Kahjiit. The ball of lightning exploded at his feet, sending him flying into a pillar. Dione cast invisibility and charged, switching out her mother's Nightingale bow for her father's Nightingale saber and a long, ebony dagger. She reappeared beside the Khajiit, spinning swiftly. She cut off his arms, making the Khajiit hiss in agony. Dione stomped the ground with her right foot, bringing her momentum to a halt. She used the force to plunge her dagger into the Khajiit's chest. He fell over.

Her Dremora was relentless and unforgiving to the Nord who had nearly slain Dione. The Nord couldn't attack, let alone block. She went down easily when the Dremora cleaved her head off with his great sword. The fire wyrm was dispatched before too long. It was merely a fast, easy summon to distract the bandit while everyone else fought. And Sieghard was the first to dispatch his opponent. The Argonian was far from a decent swordsman and his iron sword was a flimsy piece of craftsmanship. It broke easily shattered under the full force of Wuuthraad, and then Sieghard brought the ancient axe up to cut up the length of the Argonian's torso. The Argonian fell back, exposing him to a killing blow from Ysgrammor's axe. After that, Sieghard charged to Nord that the small fire wyrm had been distracting, charging across the ruins' courtyard to attack the Nord from behind.

Belinda managed to scorch her Altmer opponent. The Altmer summoned a Dremora, earning the attention of Dione's Dremora. This allowed Belinda to dance around and slay the enemy Dreamora with a quick stab to the head, via the dagger Belinda had hidden in her bracer. She then got hit in the back by a fireball spell that the Altmer launched at her. She grunted, turning her head and muttering a powerful lightning spell. She turned, lightning blasting from both hands and striking the Altmer in a brilliant display. Belinda smiled. She loved magic so damned much!

Dione sent her Dremora back to Oblivion. "Well, that was exciting," she commented. "Shall we proceed inside to retrieve what we came here for?" she asked a moment later.

"Aye," Sieghard grunted in agreement, heaving Wuuthrad up and onto his shoulder.

"You know, I think we make an excellent team," Belinda told them, giving them a smile.

"You truly think so?" Dione asked.

"I know so," Belinda answered.

They looked to the quiet Sieghard, who came off to Dione as stoic. Finally, the Nord smiled to them and said, "We are a pretty good team."

The trio smiled in union and put their hands on top of one another. They were a team, and now they turned their attentions to Bleak Falls Barrow.

Bleak Falls Barrow, Falkreath Barrow
Skyrim
The 19th of Last Seed, 4E201

Belinda, Sieghard, and Dione entered Bleak Falls Barrow as quietly as possible. Dione held up her hand and pointed to an orange light in the distance. Belinda and Sieghard ducked down while the Dunmer slipped into the shadows. Belinda cast Detect Life, allowing her to see Dione moving in the darkness. She blended right in. The Dunmer hovered behind an ancient... Pedestal? Or was it a sarcophagus? She peered over the edge and saw a Draugr lying within. She poked it with the end of her bow. Nothing. She turned her attentions to the two Nords sitting by the fire. There was a man and a woman.

"So we're just supposed to sit here while Arvel runs off with that Golden Claw?" the female bandit asked.

"That Dark Elf wants to go on ahead, let him," the male bandit responded, irritated. "Better than us risking our necks." He sat on a bench, elbows on knees.

The female bandit stood, frustrated. "What if Arvel doesn't come back?" she demanded. "I want my share from that claw!"

"Just shut it and keep an eye out for trouble," the male snapped.

Dione sent a hand signal to Belinda, knowing the raven-haired woman would see. Belinda nodded and crept over. Dione made a hand signal for bow and arrow, hoping it was clear. Belinda nodded again and drew her own bow and an arrow. The two women notched an arrow to their respective bows and drew back, angling themselves and their arrows at the bandits. The arrows were launched into the air and pierced the bandits. Dione's arrow struck the woman in the head while Belinda's got the man in the heart. Quick, clean kills. Sieghard rejoined them as they looted the massive chamber. A few gold between them, some lockpicks divided between Belinda and Dione, and some junk to sell off later. They descended down ancient stone corridors, some of which were collapsed and every crack and crevice was etched with spider webs. That gave Belinda some pause, seeing as how she despised spiders. They freaked her out.

"You okay?" Sieghard asked.

"Yeah, I just don't like spiders very much," Belinda answered.

"Bad experience?"

"Yeah... Was nearly sacrificed to a spider goddess on a world where the local Dark Elves aren't very nice," Belinda explained.

"Yeah... Just stop right there," Sieghard said.

They arrived in a chamber where a Nord bandit pulled a lever. And then died when hundreds of poison needles impaled him. The man howled in pain, collapsing. He coughed and hacked up blood before finally falling onto his side. Blood pooled around him. The trio watched, paling. Well, that was pleasant! They fully entered the chamber and looked around. Three pillars with ancient carvings of an eagle, a whale, and a snake lined the left wall. There was an upper level of the chamber with two panels depicting a snake and a whale. The third panel had long since fallen and showed a snake.

"Obvious puzzle is obvious," Belinda said. "Seriously, am I the only one who questions the intelligence of the people who build these places?"

"Nope," Dione responded. "I do it all the time." Then they all looked to the dead body and the few bones scattered about. "Granted, some of the people who attempted to open this gate prior is proof that maybe being obvious isn't such a moronic idea in the first place."

"True; though it is easier for those who are patient and have more than half a brain," Belinda pointed out. She examined the panels and, from left to right, shifted the pillar to Snake, Snake, Whale. She and Sieghard back up as Dione pulled the lever, then did a backflip in case the combination was wrong. The gate only raised.

"Too easy," the Dunmer said, smirking. They proceeded, Dione killing a few skeevers with a basic fire spell. "Anyone for roasted skeever for dinner?" she joked.

"Bah, not enough meat," Sieghard replied.

"You've actually eaten a skeever?" Dione asked.

"No; field rats," Sieghard answered. "They're meatier."

"Stop making me hungry!" Belinda exclaimed as they came upon a place with a lot of spider webs. This made Belinda a little more nervous.

"Is... Is someone coming?" called a male voice. "Is that you Harknir? Bjorn?! Soling! I know I ran ahead with the claw, but I need help!"

Belinda drew her sword and hacked away the web that prevented them from proceeding, and saw someone tangled up in a web on the other side of the room. The man screamed in terror when a hugeass spider dropped down. Belinda shrieked in terror. Oh, how she hated spiders! They were the bane of her existence!

The trio drew their weapons, ready for the fight. Belinda decided to hang back with her bow and arrows. This left Dione to cast spells at the spider. Sieghard charged in with Wuuthrad. The spider focused on the large Nord. Dione kept a healing spell in her off hand, dancing around the spider with fireballs in her right hand. She blasted the damned thing as the spider tore at Sieghard, who cut it open with the razor-sharp edge of the ancient battle axe. Belinda muttered a spell, the head of her next arrow encased in flame. She launched it, the arrow piercing several of the spider's eyes. It oozed a greenish-grey substance that sizzled and charred into a foul-smelling charcoal. The spider clawed at the burning wounds, allowing Sieghard to start loping off its legs. Together, the trio slew the spider.

"Good, it's dead! Now let me down!" the man shouted.

"Where's the claw?" Dione asked, walking over.

"Yes, the claw!" the Dunmer, probably Arvel, exclaimed. "I know how it works! The claw, the markings, the door in the Hall of Stories! I know how they all fit together! Help me down, and I'll show you! You won't believe the power the Nords have hidden here!" Dione brought fire to her hands and formed a single string of it. She shot the string of fire at the web, cut it cleanly. Arvel dropped down and stood up. He turned, chuckling. "You fools!" He took off running. "Why should I share the power with you or anyone?!" Sieghard almost gave chase, but Dione threw her arm out in front of him, making him stop.

"Let him go," she told him. "The way he's going about it, he won't get very far."

"He's a fool, just like the Nord from earlier," Belinda agreed. "Also, please note he did get caught in that nasty spider's web."

At this point, they proceeded with caution, Draugr waking from their ancient slumber. The three killing them easily, and found Arvel dead from a spike wall trap and a Draugr on the other side. Dione threw a fireball at the Draugr; it charged them, only to be reduced to ashes. They looted Arvel's corpse and moved deeper in, killing more Draugr and making Draugr set off traps. That amused Belinda and Dione the most. When it came to the swinging axes, Belinda watched the pattern, and charged through, pulling the chain on the other side so Sieghard and Dione could follow. Then at another point, Belinda shot a blunt arrow at a pool of oil, attracting the attention of the Draugr. Then she shot the pot of burning coals overhead. The pot fell, it practically exploded, flames going up. The Draugr were reduced to dust.

The next area was relatively quiet, save for a few Draugr, but they eventually came to the Hall of Stories. Faded reliefs and carvings of ancient kings, draconic gods, and battles with Elves lined the walls, telling tales. The door on the far end was a puzzle lock that correlated with the golden claw that the trio retrieved from Arvel's corpse. Dione matched the rings with the carvings on the underside of the claw. She inserted the claw and unlocked the door, which slid down to reveal a natural cavern. Bats swarmed past the trio, making them duck. Upon rising, they turned their attention to a man-made platform with a wall and a sarcophagus. Belinda felt and heard the Word of Power before she even saw it. It pulsed as she brushed her fingertips along each draconic letter. Fus - Force. She knew many Shouts already, having had an excellent mentor in the Way of the Voice.

The sound of stone hitting the ground drew Belinda's attention away from the word wall, a Draugr rising from its resting place. It wore ancient, ebony armor and wielded an ebony battle axe. The trio all cursed silently, drawing their weapons. The Draugr then Shouted: "Fus-Ro-DAH!" The Shout sent Dione and Sieghard back. Sieghard stumbled to his knees. Dione was thrown into the wall. As her back hit the wall, her breath went flying from her lungs and the Nightingale bow clattered nearby. Belinda had managed to hold her ground, sword in hand. She glared, locking eyes with the Draugr. It charged her, swinging its axe.

Belinda ducked under the swing and came back up with a clean upwards slice. The Draugr stumbled forward, but used the stumble to turn itself and charged an ice spike. Belinda threw up a ward, the spike shattering against it. The ward dispersed as the Draugr charged again. It was bringing an upwards slash. Belinda jumped back and spun away to her left as the Draugr tried to bring the weapon back down. Belinda was behind the Draugr and plunged her sword through its back. The Draugr spun, jerking Belinda's sword from her hands and brought its axe around. Belinda ducked as the axe cut through the air where her neck had been. And behind her, Sieghard had taken on his wolf form: A large, golden-white beast with yellow-gold eyes. He tackled the Draugr to the ground, jaws snapped around its head and then ponded him with his massive paws. The Draugr was slain, and Sieghard threw back his head with a howl.