"Hot damn!" Will shouts as Sef and the group reaches the priory. "Looks like two priestesses, an Imperial soldier, and a…farmer?"

"And one annoying-ass porter," Sef says back.

"I just can't believe you all made it," Will says smiling. The group's faces darken. "Oh, who…?" Will asks, realizing someone hadn't made it.

"Two farmers, Merildor's friends," Sef says, saddening.

"I'm sorry," Will says to the High elf farmer.

"I have had a face to face with them in my dreams, and they begged me to move on,"

"We understand that Sef and Freidir had a talk with Talos," Honditar says, when the group gathers in the square. "And that the people of the Imperial city are safe,"

"Yes," Sef says, gesturing for Honditar to continue.

"So I think we should all make our way to Skingrad, prove we mean no threat to their isolated society, then half of us can escort their civilians to Bruma, and this 'Temple' where the Emperor is. Then the other half of our fighting force will travel past the ruined Kvatch to Anvil,"

"I like it," Sef says. "Except that the people in Anvil are in their ships, remember? I think we should take the people from Skingrad to Cloud Ruler, but then go to the Imperial city, and fight our way to the Waterfront District. From there we can take a ship from there to Anvil,"

"But that'll take three days, at the least," Bittneld says.

"Well, shit," Otis says from behind Bittneld.

"That may be our only choice," Says Freidir. "Because I seriously doubt the people of Anvil left any spare boats at the docks,"

"Okay," Sef muses. "How about, we fight to the Imperial Palace, pick up any pirates that have taken refuge there, and have them save the people of Anvil,"

"Good," Bittneld says. "Plus, the pirates could transport some of our fighters to Bravil and then Leyawiin,"

"Yes, and a third group could go to Cheydinhal, and save their group of survivors," Sef finishes.

"Perfect!" Freidir shouts, and the crowd cheers.

"In the morning… SKINGRAD!" Sef shouts and the crowd cheers louder.

From the Weynon Priory stables, the group gets three horses. Sef sneaks behind the chapel, looking for whatever weapons the bearded man was speaking of. Lying in a crater, as if it fell from the sky is a chest. He runs up to it and pulls out an arrow. One arrow. This is his super weapon. The only thing Sef notices is special is glowing, in a disturbing blood-red mist. He drops it in his quiver, and joins the group in preparing their departure. They pack all the food and water they can find onto the horses, and set of down the Black road, but this time, they head east.

Any openings in Skingrad's defenses, if there were any, were undetectable. The main path to get into the large city was filled with wooden spike barriers. Many guards stood behind these barriers, at the sight of the survivors, raised their bows.

"Wait! You idiots, it's daytime, those people are not infected," Says an Imperial.

"Danus! I don't care what you say, the count ordered the lockdown, and to kill any outsiders," Another guard says back.

"Dion!" Danus shouts back. "The count was one of those things, as was his damn wife. I'm the leader here, now stand the fuck down!"

"Yes sir," The guard mutters lowering his bow.

"Thank you, Danus!" Bittneld shouts.

"No shit, Bittneld? Is that you?" Danus says, hoping the barrier.

"The Curse-Bringer himself," Bittneld says back, as the two Captains embrace each other.

"Bittneld," Sef says, stepping forward. "Tell him the plan," Sef says looking back as his group. "We'll spend the night,"

"Sounds brilliant, 'cept I never I of any 'Cloud Ruler Temple'," Danus says, sitting back, he glances at Dion who nods his head in agreement. Sef, Bittneld Freidir, Teekeus Otis, and Will sit in the castle with the two guards. Sef had asked the leaders to choose their representatives. Will, to represent the Fighters guild, Otis, to represent the Battlehorn knights, Bittneld to represent the people of Chorrol, Teekeus had chosen herself as the Mages guild representative, and Freidir represented Talos.

"I assure you it exists," Bittneld responds. "Talos is all-knowing,"

"Sorry, you are correct, Talos would not have said it if he didn't know it," Danus says apologetically.

"Never mind that," Bittneld says changing the subject. "What happened to the Count?"

"A misunderstanding," Dion says, shifting uneasily in his chair. "He and his wife were vampires before the outbreak, a different kind of vampire, not controlled like the rest of them are. The problem was, the people of Skingrad found out, and didn't believe that he wasn't one of them,"

"To insure the Count's safety, I threw him in prison along with his wife," Danus cuts in. "But one of the guards killed the Count and Countess while they slept," Danus finished.

"What did you do to the guard?" Freidir asks.

"Gave him two days food and his weapons and sent him on his way," Dion says for his captain.

"At midnight," Danus says standing up. "Now, I'll go tell the people the plan,"

"Danus," Sef calls to the exiting guard. "Make a list of the fighters and their abilities,"

"Alright," The guard says, closing the door behind him.

Ambroise Canne

Carsten, vampire hunter

Eridor, vampire hunter

Vontus Idolus, vampire hunter

Shamar, hunter

Shameer, marksman

Uuras the Sheppard, Runner

Vandorallen Trebatius, ex arena champion

Danus Artellian

Dion

Skingrad guard, Aserion

Skingrad guard, Zed

Skingrad guard, Cano

Skingrad guard, Sam

Skingrad guard, Vllend

Ah-Malz, Warder rank fighters guild

Fadus Calidus, swordsman rank fighters guild

Parwen, archer, protector rank fighters guild

Adrienne Berene,Mages guild head

Druja, Mages guild apprentice rank

Erthor, Mages guild apprentice rank

Sulinus Vassinus, Mages guild evoker rank

Vigge the Cautious, Mages guild Conjurer rank

Marie Palielle, Healer

Agnete the Pickled, Smith (keep your voices down)

Sinderion Master, Alchemist

"Not bad," Sef says, looking over the list with Bittneld and Otis. "They have more guards than we do, which will be great,"

"Yes it will," Bittneld agrees. "Plus another healer and another smith,"

"Dion!" Sef shouts at the guard, who is speaking with the volunteers. "Come here for a moment,"

"Yes?" He asks, jogging over.

"Anyone one this list that shouldn't be or vice versa?"

"Yeah, one, a wood elf named Maglir," Dion says, searching the group of volunteers and non-volunteers. "He is in the Fighters guild, no reason he shouldn't come,"

"Do you see him?" Bittneld asks. "I can talk to him,"

"Yes, there in the iron armor," Dion says pointing to a little Bosmer, amongst the civilians. Sef and Bittneld walk over to him, Otis close behind.

"Greetings Bosmer," Bittneld says.

"Hey," The wood elf says, scowling. "Somebody has to stay with the civilians,"

"No, there will be plenty of guards at Cloud Ruler Temple," Sef says to the angry elf.

"But the people trust me, they feel comforted by my presence," Maglir shouts at the three fighters. Sef looks past Maglir to a woman shaking her head at him. Sef nudges Bittneld, who nods, seeing the woman.

"You'll come fight with us," Bittneld says, moving towards the angry elf.

"No," The elf says unsheathing his sword. "I won't,"

"You don't want to do that," Otis warns. "I don't think you've seen Bittneld fight,"

"I don't care," Maglir says, eyes blazing. "Better to fight him than those damn vampires. I want to live,"

"Keep this up and you won't live either way," Otis warns again.

"That's right," Bittneld says getting closer to Maglir.

"You're sure?" Sef asks, implying the inevitable.

"I'll fight this bitch," Maglir says, lunging at Bittneld. The Captain moves to the side, swiftly dodging the elf's blade. In the same movement, the guard grabs the elf's outstretched arm, pulls him in, and smashes the back of his hand into the Bosmer's throat.

The little elf collapses in a heap, gasping for breath.

"I don't think I could've warned him any more than I did," Otis says laughing. "Dumbshit," He says, leaning over the downed elf. "You gonna fight with us now?"

"Burn in Oblivion," The little elf mutters.

"Oh no," Sef says laughing. "That was the total wrong answer,"

Bittneld leans over, picks up the little elf, and lifts him to eye level. "You sure you want more?" He says pulling the elf nose to nose. "Lifetime in prison for abandoning,"

"Better that than death," The elf says back.

"Ya know," Bittneld says throwing the elf to the dirt. "I was kinda hoping you'd say that,"

"Dion!" Sef shouts. "Put this one in shackles,"

"What?" Dion shouts back.

"Put this…" Sef, feels a pain, hears Otis shout, and looks down to see a sword in his stomach. "Healer?" He whispers, collapsing.

Otis stabs the Wood elf in the neck, ending his treachery. "Healer!" He screams, looking around.

"What happened?" Danus shouts, running towards them.

"That damn Maglir stabbed Sef," Otis replies, looking past Danus to see Freidir dragging the healer forward. The Breton woman releases herself from Freidir's grip and kneels down next to Sef. She slowly puts her hands where the sword meets Sef's stomach.

"Elf," She says without looking up.

"Yeah?" Freidir asks.

"Pour one of these healing potions on his stomach the second I pull the sword out,"

"Okay," The Bosmer replies shakily. The Breton swiftly pulls the sword out of the Dark elf, who unconsciously gasps in pain. Then the Wood elf pours the bottle out onto the wound, slowly the bleeding, put not by much.

"My potions are weak," The Breton explains, rubbing her hands together. "But my powers are strong," She says placing her glowing hands on the wound. "I think he's too far gone," The healer says, her hands losing their glow.

"But Talos chose him!" Freidir exclaims.

"I'm sorry," The healer says, standing. "He walks with the Nine now,"

"Indeed you do," A voice booms. Sef looks around, taking in the nothingness. He stands in a white place, nothing to be seen, but lots to be heard.

"Hello?" He shouts, but the voice he hears is not a shout, but a whisper. A sense of dread overtakes him. "Great, I'm dead," He says aloud.