Scroll 6
"Delaying the Daggers"
After the dead were given a proper burial, the people of Bal Foyen celebrated their victory.
As for the group who helped earn the Pact's victory against the Covenant, their task was not yet finished.
"The Pact owes you a debt. We almost lost the docks and Fort Zeren. If you had not intervened, all these people would have died….and our losses would have been far greater than we imagined." Mobareed said with a hand to his chest. "Saving lives is never a small victory….thank you."
Amrien finished tightening his knapsack to Kudri. "It wasn't just us, Centurion….the people of Bleakrock helped as well." he stopped looking over at the group from Bleakrock as they continued to sit in silence as the last of Rolunda and Rana's ashes burned. "I'm just sorry we couldn't save everyone."
"I wish you could stay here and celebrate with us." Darj adds. "But more lives will be lost if you three don't get to Davon's Watch."
"Make that five."
Amrien, Aedalyn, Dauragon, Mobareed and Darj looked over to see Ravena and Bishalus walk over.
"Ravena, you aren't staying here?" Aedalyn asked.
"No, I have to report to the Fighter's Guild on what happened here. You know how Sees-All-Colors gets when things aren't reported."
"Bishalus, you too?" Amrien questioned.
"I sent Gena with the refugees….she's still waiting for me to come back. I told her I'd meet her there when it was over." she sighs out heavily. "Though she might think I'm dead by now."
"I wouldn't worry too much." Ravena reassures, putting a hand on Bishalus' shoulder.
"I suppose not." Bishalus reaches into her own knapsack and takes out a small bag of gold. She hands it to Ravena with a smile. "I still have to thank you for finding Gena for me."
"It was no trouble, really. I don't need to be paid for that."
"Just take the damn coin, Ravena." Bishalus groans, shoving the bag into her chest.
"Are you leaving already?" Seyne asks, walking over.
"Yeah….we have to warn Davon's Watch about the Covenant. It will be much worse if we don't." Dauragon adds.
"I understand. I hope you all stay safe. May the Tribunal watch over you, friends. Even you, Dauragon."
Dauragon scoffs, but nods after a few moments of silence.
"Bishalus, would you like to hop on my horse with me?" Ravena asks.
"No, I have my own way of getting there." she puts her pointer finger and thumb together and blows into them. A loud whistle echoes through the courtyard, followed by a guttural whine.
Running from the southern gate, a green skinned guar with yellow spots skids to a halt next to Bishalus.
"My friend here will get me to the Stonefalls gate in no time." Bishalus grinned.
"Alright then, I think we're ready." Amrien said with a smile, hopping onto Kudri.
Aedalyn, Ravena and Bishalus got on their mounts as well, ready to head out.
"Dauragon, a moment before you go." Seyne called, motioning him away from the group.
Dauragon's brow rose in confusion.
There was a moment of silence as the two stood facing each other.
"What do you want?" Dauragon asked a bit rudely.
Seyne suddenly put both of her hands on Dauragon's face, causing him to flinch.
"You've been through a lot….." she said suddenly, letting go of his face afterwards. "You know…..when I got back to the village after you helped me with the bandits, Rana told me that you reminded her of herself."
"Is there a point to this? We have somewhere to be, Seyne, in case you forgot."
She laughs. "Of course, of course…..my you really are quite broody aren't you?"
Dauragon growled at this.
"Calm down. I mean no offense." she smiled and looked up at him. "I've seen how you fight against the Covenant…..it's quite terrifying, if you must know."
"The Covenant deserves to die….no other reason for the way I do things." he added with crossed arms. "Besides….it's none of your business anyway."
"True." Seyne replied. "But there is a bigger picture I think you're failing to realize."
"And that would be?"
Seyne raised her hand to Dauragon's face and forcefully turned his head to the group on their mounts.
"Them." she answered. "You have people who will help you. You just…have to let them help you. I know that's a little hard to do since, more than likely, you all have only known each other for a while…but, give them a chance." she chuckled. "They may surprise you."
"What a waste of time." Dauragon growled. "I'm going." As he walks away he turns around to face her again. "Stay out of trouble, sera."
As Dauragon spoke the last word in Dunmeris, Seyne smiled.
"En ohn sha, ser." she answered.
Dauragon actually smiled at this, having not heard the Dunmeri language spoken in a long time. He walked back over to the group and looked at the two Bosmer siblings.
"You ready to eat Kudri's dust, sister?" Amrien asked with a devilish grin.
Aedalyn laughs. "On the contrary, brother, you will be eating Kari's ash filled dust all the way to Davon's Watch!"
Remembering what Seyne just told him while watching the two siblings bicker, Dauragon rolled his eyes.
As if I can give these idiots a chance. He thought in an unamused manner.
"Oh, Dauragon, there you are. You done talking to your girlfriend?" Amrien jested.
"Shut up, tree-hugger, before I set your arse ablaze!" he retorted hotly.
Aedalyn pats Kari on the head. "Can you carry another one, Kari?" she asked.
Kari purrs in response, rubbing her head across Aedalyn's hand.
"Alright." Looking over to Dauragon she smiles, holding out her hand. "Come on, let's get going."
Dauragon nods, taking Aedalyn's hand and pulls himself up on top of Kari.
"Finn, are you all set?" Aedalyn asks her pet fox, who snugly sits in front between Aedalyn's lap and Kari's head.
A cheerful squeak escaped Finn's mouth as he seemed to bounce in place.
Is that thing excited? Dauragon wondered, watching the fidgety creature.
Aedalyn chuckled. "He loves it when we take a ride on Kari. I guess it's knowing how fast we go that gets him excited."
"We all set?" Amrien asked.
"Xuth, I believe so. Let us be on our way." Bishalus answers.
"Hold on tight, Dauragon. Kari is really fast!" Aedalyn said with a huge grin.
With that, the group all urged the mounts forward towards the Stonefalls gate.
000
"So many people." Ravena breathed, seeing the view before her.
"Xuth, knowing this many people got out of Bal Foyen safely, makes our recent victory that much sweeter."
"Hold!" A nordic woman yells, stopping the group from progressing.
"Yes?" Amrien asks.
"You come from Bal Foyen….is all well?" the soldier asks.
"The battle has been won, comrade." Bishalus replied. "Though not without casualties."
"I see….I shall notify the refugees that they can return."
"I wouldn't do that just yet." Ravena urged. "Davon's Watch is in danger right now, we are on our way to warn them. It may be best to keep the refugees from Bal Foyen here for another day."
"Davon's Watch is in danger?" the nordic woman questions, her demeanor changing. She turns to another Pact soldier, a dunmer woman. "Have everyone on high alert. The threat from Bal Foyen is done, but Davon's Watch may be in danger. Double the patrol to groups of three, and if anyone see's any suspicious activity, report to me immediately!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"You may go, please hurry!"
"This is where I take my leave, comrades." Bishalus adds while getting off her guar.
"Thank you for your help Bishalus, I hope you find Gena again." Ravena thanked.
"It is I who should be thanking you, comrade. May the Hist embrace you, my friends."
"May the rains be ever on your back, Bishalus. Stay safe." Ravena replied, bowing her head.
Aedalyn, Amrien, Dauragon and Ravena continued down the path towards Davon's Watch.
The ash continued to fall and thunder could be heard in the distance.
"Tribunal above, the people of Stonefalls must have their hands full after the eruption of Red Mountain."
"I got here about a day or two after it happened. Ash filled the sky for over a week. People had to stay indoors." Amrien added. "It's a good thing the lava stopped moving, or Davon's Watch would have been waist deep in problems."
The group found their way to the gate, when Aedalyn suddenly made Kari skid to a halt, a fearful cry escaping her lips.
Dauragon's face almost collided with the back of Aedalyn's head due to them stopping so abruptly.
"What in Oblivion are you doing?!" Dauragon yelled.
Aedalyn didn't respond, for in front of her stood the ethereal form of the Prophet.
"There you are, vestige. Do not panic, only you can see me."
"Prophet?" Aedalyn questioned aloud.
"What?" Dauragon asked confused.
"Aeda, you okay? What's wrong?" Amrien asked, getting ready to hop off of Kudri.
"I-It's nothing." she replied, getting off of Kari. "You guys take Kari and the others to the stables….I'll catch up."
"What is it, Aeda?" Amrien urged.
"I told you, it's nothing, now go on!" she yelled.
There was a bit of silence after Aedalyn's outburst. She looked over to Amrien and forced a smile.
"It's okay, Amrien. It's nothing, really…..I just, need some air, that's all."
Amrien wasn't buying it one bit, but he nodded. He led the others toward the stables, leaving Aedalyn alone at the front of Davon's Watch.
"You noticed that too, right?" Ravena asked.
Amrien nodded. "She'll tell me when she's ready….I have a feeling I know what it is.
"Do you?" Ravena asked.
Amrien nodded again. "It's a long story, so I hope you don't mind me saying I can't tell you."
"I understand, I won't pry." she replied, hopping off her horse. A long, held in sigh escaped her lips as she stretched. "Well, I'm off to the Fighter's Guild to report what happened in Bal Foyen. I'll try to meet you guys later to help you deal with the Covenant when they get here. I'll even let the Fighter's Guild know so they can start getting people to safety."
"Thank you Ravena, it was good to fight alongside you again. It's been a while." Amrien said with a smile.
"Indeed it has, pack brother." she smiled. "Don't you leave Davon's Watch anytime soon. We're gonna have some drinks later." She started walking away from the duo.
"Aedalyn and I would like that, Ravena. We'll see you soon!" he yelled to her.
"You better!" she yelled with a raised arm, disappearing into the crowd of the crafting district.
"What's wrong with your sister?" Dauragon asked.
"None of your business, mage." Amrien replied coldly. "We need to find Holgunn."
Dauragon watched him walk away and sneered.
I really hate that guy.
000
"What in Oblivion is wrong with you?!" Aedalyn yelled. "You can't just pop in like that! It's creepy and the others will think I'm crazy!"
"Listen well. I have located a safe harbor from which we might plan our course of action. You must see me there."
An irritated sigh escaped her lips as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"And where, prey tell, is this "safe harbor" you would like me to find?" she asked irritably.
"Close, near Davon's Watch. The Harborage is a ruin in the cliffs, west of the city. That is where you will find me."
"Fine, whatever, I'll find you there. But I have other business at the moment. I'll find you when everything is settled."she replied with crossed arms.
"Very well vestige, I shall wait for you."
The ethereal projection of the Prophet disappeared, leaving Aedalyn alone.
By Y'ffre, am I glad no one was around to see that. They would think I'm mad.
Aedalyn walked back to the city gates and made her way inside to find her brother and the others.
000
Amrien and Dauragon looked all over town for the man known as Holgunn. When Amrien finally asked a Pact soldier if they knew where he was, turns out that he headed towards the gates after business.
"Holgunn, we finally found you." Amrien called.
"Can I help you? I'm very busy." he stated, in quite the annoyed tone.
"We have reason to believe that Davon's Watch is in danger, Holgunn."
"Old news, friends." Holgunn stated, He suddenly looks up, his one eye widens in realization. "Have you come from Bal Foyen? What news do you have?" he asked.
"We've repelled the Covenant attack there."Amrien answered. "I assume the signal fires worked, seeing as how the city is on high alert at the moment."
"Aye….we're giving them a good fight as we speak. But I'm afraid it may not last." he said with a frustrated sigh. "Still, without your warning, Davon's Watch would be in their hands. Feels good to save a city, doesn't it?"
"It will feel better once they are gone for good." Dauragon added coldly.
"Ignore him, he has a Covenant addiction." Amrien jested, receiving a glare from Dauragon.
A hand on both Dauragon and Amrien's shouldlders startled the two as Aedalyn squeezed between them.
"What did I miss?" she asked jovially.
"Why are you touching me, Bosmer?" Dauragon asked irritably, eyeing the hand on his shoulder.
"Oh come now, mage, I don't bite….I promise." she jested. She leaned in closer and smiled wryly. "Well…..not much." she added with a wink.
Dauragon merely replied with a groan and crossed his arms, looking away.
"Feeling better sister?" Amrien asked.
"Much better, dear brother, thanks for asking." she replied, pulling her quiver from her back. "Damn….going to need to restock on some arrows soon."
"We'll have to worry about that later, sister. Make them count, yeah?"
Aedalyn nodded. "I suppose….if push comes to shove, I'll use my daggers."
Holgunn cleared his throat, crossed his arms in impatience, and looked to the three Mer that casually talked amongst each other.
The two Bosmer stopped and smiled.
"Apologies, commander, please continue." Aedalyn gestured, nudging her brother in the arm.
"I'm Holgunn, the Nord commander here in Davon's Watch. My men are the spine and strong arm of the Ebonheart Pact. I've heard good things about you from these reports sent by Mobareed." His eye narrows slightly. "Let's see if they're true."
"How can we help against the Covenant, Holgunn?" Amrien asked.
"The Covenant is attacking the city. The devils bombarded the northern district and now they're ashore, preparing their next move. I need every able hand in the battle to come."
"We'll stand with you, Holgunn. We have a friend reporting to the Fighter's Guild as we speak to make sure people get to safety."
"Then you'll stand where you're needed. Right now, Grandmaster Tanval Indoril's at a manor in the north of the city. He's got a smart plan, but he needs help."
"Right behind you, lead the way." Amrien assured.
Holgunn lead the group through the city. There was quite the amount of tension as the city guards seemed more on edge than usual. There were no children in the streets and the crafting district was completely empty.
Passing the Fighter's guild, the bellowing yell of a female Argonian could be heard from within.
"Sounds like Sees-All-Colors is not too happy with the situation." Amrien snickered.
"Poor Ravena." Aedalyn sighed. "I don't envy her one bit having to deal with that reptile."
"I always wondered if she was actually a dragon in disguise….she can be scary at times."
"Hey, tree-dwellers, stop flapping your gums and focus!" Dauragon scolded, getting ahead of them.
"Stop calling us that!" the Bosmer siblings said in unison.
A loud, cacophonous blast could be heard in front of them. It was followed by screams from the crafting district behind them.
"The Covenant's been bombarding the city for a few days now. If Davon's watch falls, all of Stonefalls will be in danger."
"We'll deal with the Covenant trash if you take us to where we need to be." Dauragon replied, still receiving cold glares from the Bosmer siblings.
As they entered the northern district…the difference was like night and day.
Smoke and embers filled the air, livestock and farmers lay dead in the streets.
Holgunn stopped in front of a Dunmer soldier, his fist balling up in anger.
"Poor bastard….didn't even get a warriors death."
Aedalyn shuddered as she saw a windmill up in flames in the distance. It brought back memories of the attack at Bleakrock. Smoke and ash filled the air, causing the group to sputter and cough.
Visibility became a problem due to the amount of smoke in the air and Amrien nearly tripped over a dead guar.
As they found themselves near the fountain square, Holgunn yelled out in frustration.
"Damned Covenant! Will these bombardments never stop!?"
He led them to a small manor and opened the door.
"Here we are, let's get inside and pray the Covenant doesn't decide to bombard the place.
When they entered, an audible sigh of relief filled the room.
"Holgunn, you've returned…thank Kyne for that."
The two grabbed each others forearm in a brothers-in-arms handshake.
"Aye…and I have brought some willing comrades to help with your plan." he added, gesturing to the two Bosmer and the broody Dunmer.
The Dunmer bowed in welcome. "Greetings, comrades, I'm Tanval Indoril. Holgunn said you were reliable. I trust his instincts…..and I know there is much work to do."
"Shor's bones, what a mess." Holgunn interrupts. "It's really happening, isn't it? The Covenant dogs and that Aldmeri bitch are really attacking us, aren't they?"
"I'm afraid so, old friend. The same could probably be said for the other two alliances….no doubt we will have to counter their plans and attack them. Meanwhile, they will be facing each other too." Tanval replies.
There were a few moments of silence before Tanval spoke again.
"The Covenant closes on us like nix-hounds on a kill. They think they've already won the city." his eyes narrow. "They're entirely wrong. They are doomed to the last man."
"Holgunn told us you have a plan to stop them. You mind telling us what this plan is?" Dauragon asked.
"You are the plan, ser." he replied rather quickly.
Dauragon's brow rose in confusion.
"Excuse me?" the Bosmer siblings question in unison.
Tanval sighs in frustration. "There's a relic beneath the city guarded by spirits of my ancestors. For me to fight them would be blasphemy, but you aren't of House Indoril. You can retrieve the relic without issue or….curse."
"Are you serious?" Amrien asks, looking to his sister with worry.
"The entrance is through the tombs across the square. Bring the relic here once you've retrieved it….then we'll continue from there."
"I think he's pretty serious, brother." Aedalyn responds.
"Father, let me go with them." another Dunmer asked who stood next to Tanval.
"No! I forbid it!" Tanval yells, his voice echoing off the walls in the manor.
"At least let me head to the beach with the rest of the soldiers, I'm ready!" the younger Dunmer yelled defiantly.
"By the Three, I said no Garyn! You are to remain here and that's the last I'll hear of it!"
The younger Dunmer, now known to the group as Garyn, seemed to sulk at this. He crosses his arms and nodded, but his face pretty much said what was on his mind….and he was not happy.
"Forgive my foolish son." Tanval apologized, breaking the silence. "He does not know much about the world's current situation. Or the great danger is family is in." he said a bit coldly, looking in Garyn's direction.
000
Descending down the stairs of House Indoril's crypts, Dauragon, Amrien and Aedalyn tread in silence.
Dust fell from the ceiling and the squeaking of a rat could be heard every now and then.
The crypts held skeletal guards that roamed the catacombs, protecting the ancestral dead of House Indoril.
Dauragon led the group, his staff in hand, as they continued to descend further into the crypts.
"While broody over there worries about finding skeletons and spiders….." Amrien jested, his face then becoming serious. "You wanna tell me what happened back there when we rode into the city?"
Aedalyn's face contorted, puffing out her cheeks. "Nothing really." she lied.
Amrien gave her a "I know your lying" look and crossed his arms.
"Really, it was nothing…..I just…." she stopped, sighing in defeat. "Fine, okay…..you know when I told you about the whole Oblivion thing?"
Amriend nodded.
"And remember when I mentioned some old guy that saved me and whatever?"
Amrien nodded again, smiling this time.
"He kind of….popped in, unannounced and creepy. Well, a magical, ethereal projection of him, anyway."
"And?"
"He….wants me to come see him at some place called the Harborage. It's east of Davon's Watch." she revealed, putting her hands on her hips. "Turns out only I could see him when he nearly scared the horns from my head." she said in a frustrated tone. "He's such a weird old man."
"He saved you though, yeah?"
Aedalyn nodded. "Yeah…..but he merely helped me get out of Coldharbor. It was….Lyris who saved me."
"Who's Lyris?" Amrien asked.
"A story for another time, brother. We have an army to stop, remember?"
"Thank you." Dauragon bluntly replied.
"You were listening to us?!" the siblings questioned in unison.
"Kinda hard not to. We're in a crypt made of stone walls….your voice echoed."
Dauragon stops in a doorway and holds out his hand.
"There's something up ahead."
The group look within to see a large room. Standing in front of some kind of altar was a spirit who floated from one side of it to the other.
"That must be one of the ancestors that Tanval mentioned."
"I would have never guessed, sister."
Aedalyn elbowed him in the gut.
"Who's there?" a raspy voice called from within.
"Well, he knows we're here, thanks to you two." Dauragon growled.
"Shut up mage. Let's come up with a plan." Amrien suggested.
"Shouldn't we try talking with it?" Aedalyn asked.
"I don't think that will work, sister."
"It was an idea." Aedalyn said with puffed out cheeks.
Dauragon continued to watch the room and noticed two skeletons in opposite corners.
"There's more skeleton's in th-"
With a hard kick to his back-side, Dauragon stumbled into the large room, stopping his fall with his staff.
As the anger boiled, he quickly turned to find that the twins were not there.
I really hate those two. He thought angrily to himself, his grip on his staff tightening.
"Who's there?" the raspy voice called once more.
"D-Dauragon Feydron." he replied, shaking his head at himself. I can't believe I'm actually trying to talk to a spirit.
"Why have you come here, Dauragon of House Feydron?" the spirit asked, floating away from the altar and towards him.
"The people of Davon's watch are being attacked by the Covenant….my group and I have come to retrieve a relic to aid us with the battle."
There was an eerie silence before the spirit moaned loudly. "Tanval Indoril! He will destroy us all!"
The spirit attacked, almost passing through Dauragon. Dauragon dodged, just barely, taking out his staff.
He then turned at the sudden sound of clattering bones as Amrien appeared from the left side of the room.
"I think you made him angry, mage." he jested, dusting his hands off.
Another clattering of bones from the right side of the room, and a stray arrow nearly hitting her brother, Aedalyn lowered her bow.
"Watch where you aiming those, sister." Amrien said nonchalantly.
"Aw, I missed." she merely replied, sticking out her tongue.
The spirit turned around and began to attack Dauragon once more, who dodged out of the way yet again.
"Any plans of fighting this thing?" Amrien asked. "Hitting it with our current weapons won't exactly work."
"We'll have to think of something, or our dear old mage here will be dealing with the curse of the Indoril family for the rest of his days." she jested, giving Dauragon a devilish smirk as he glared at her.
"Would you two just shut up and help me deal with this thing." he growled, charging a fireball spell.
000
"Well that's not creepy at all." Aedalyn said sarcastically as they eyed the relic on the altar.
"A skull? What in Oblivion will a skull do to help us fight the Covenant?" Amrien questioned, picking it up. Holding it in both hands, he turned it a few times, eyeing it with a raised brow.
Aedalyn came up beside him and shrugged. "You're asking the wrong person, brother." she then walked towards Dauragon, who stood over the ashes of the spirit they just fought.
"That was rather blunt to tell the spirit what we were doing, mage." she jested, smacking him on the back.
"We got the relic, didn't we?" he questioned, crossing his arms.
"True." she replied with a sheepish smile. "But that fight wasn't easy, with us having no templar at our side."
Aedalyn walked around the room, picking up any salvageable arrows from the battle.
"Hey mage, you got a spider crawling on your robes." Amrien said, pointing.
Dauragon spun around, trying to find the critter. When he found nothing, his face contorted into a scowl as the snickering mess that was Amrien began laughing.
"I'm just messing with you." he chuckled out, rubbing a finger under his nose.
Damn tree-humping, bark licking bastard. Dauragon thought in pure rage, flipping Amrien off as he left the room.
000
Amrien threw the skull at Tanval, who barely caught it.
Aedalyn smacked him on the back of the head. "Careful! That's the head of one of his ancestors! How would you feel if someone did that to one of our ancestors, huh?!"
"Sorry…..I got a little carried away."
Tanval cleared his throat.
"You've retrieved the relic….good."
"Define good." Aedalyn said a bit nervously. "An enraged spirit attacked us. He said that you would destroy us all…..any reason for that?"
"It must have been Nam Indoril….I have heard many a tale throughout my childhood about the spirit that protects the crypts of my ancestors. He refuses to recognize the threat facing us today….I'm just glad that it wasn't me or my son who did what had to be done."
A long, frustrated sight escaped his lips as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's time to turn the table on the Covenant. For that, you must buy me some time. I need prepare the ritual that will bring this to an end. We have to delay the Covenant troops to the south."
"How father? They are already on the beach outside of the west gate." Garyn nervously added.
"Holgunn is commanding the defense of the west gate as we speak. You need to find him and help him in any way you can. Hopefully that will buy me enough time. If you need to know how to get to the west gate, ask Garyn."
"Even better, I can take you there." Garyn added.
"No, you can direct them to it but I will not let you leave here." Tanval ordered.
"Well good luck, father, because I'm going." he retorts, running to the door.
"Garyn, wait!" Aedalyn yelled, running after him.
Dauragon followed behind, not saying a word.
"We'll keep him safe, Tanval, I promise." Amrien assured, running after Garyn and the others.
"May the three watch over you." Tanval prays aloud.
000
"I want every able bodied member of the Fighter's Guild to be ready to defend the city if those Covenant dogs get through!"
"Jeez, Sees-All-Colors really needs to learn to lower her voice an octave or two." a Breton said uneasily, leaning over a railing on the second floor of the Fighter's Guild guildhall.
"This one agrees." a female Khajiit replies, sitting on the same railing next to him and sharpening a dagger in her left hand.
"Braion, Sa'raabi….shut your traps and get ready to move to the west gate. We'll be fighting off the Covenant dogs on the beach!" Ravena yelled, picking up her mace.
Ravena turns around. "Bazgar, is The Pack ready to head out?" she questioned an orc walking up behind her.
"Yes ma'am, pack sister…." he stops, eyeing the other two. "If Braion and Sa'raabi don't have anything else to complain about."
"Why does this one feel as if she has been insulted?" Sa'raabi asked.
"It's because we have been, Sa'raabi." he shrugs. "But that's Bazgar for you, loves to make other people feel inferior because he's the size of a troll."
"You forget, pack brother, he has the brains of a mudcrab." Sa'raabi snickered.
"You'll make a fine rug, cat….don't make me turn you into one." Bazgar threatened.
"All of you knock it off and get ready to move out." Ravena ordered, rolling her eyes. "Don't forget that the Alpha is near the west gate….surely you would like to see her again, right?"
Sa'raabi claps her hands together and begins jumping up and down.
"This one can't wait to see big sister Aeda again!" she yelled jovially, her tail swishing side to side in excitement.
"It will be good to see her again, for sure." Braion agreed. "She's had us quite worried since her brother told us about her disappearing."
Ravena and her four teammates descended the stairs of the guildhall and walked out the door.
"Let's move out."
000
"Such senseless death and destruction…." Garyn said solemnly. "My father said that the Akiviri war was like this, though I could scarcely believe what it was like. Now I know."
"No one ever truly knows what war is like until they experience it themselves. We've seen our fair share." Amrien said darkly.
"Though often times with war comes great change….for better or worse depends on who won and who lost." Aedalyn added.
When they finally made it to the west gate, Holgunn stood with a few Pact soldiers, giving out orders.
"Now get out there!" Holgunn yelled, watching as the soldiers ran out of the gate. He turns to an Argonian messenger and nods. "Thank you for letting me know, fighter. Give Sees-All-Colors my thanks for sending me her best to defend the city."
"May the Hist watch over you, Holgunn." the Argonian prayed mid bow.
"To you as well, comrade." as he finished responding to the messenger, his eye widened in surprise. "Garyn?! What are you doing here?!" he questioned aloud.
"Calm down, Holgunn, I brought your friends her to help you. We need to buy my father some time so he can prepare the ritual."
"Alright, but you need to get back."
Garyn nodded. "Tribunal watch over you my friends!" he yells, running back in the direction the group came from.
"It is good to see you, comrades, but I have bad news."
"What is it?" Aedalyn asks.
Holgunn's face contorts with frustration. "I've been reviewing our defenses. It's not good….The Covenant is bringing up ballistae and siege ladders. We need to burn them to ash. I'll be leading a from the gate. Meet us when you're done. It'll be glorious!"
A devilish smirk stretched across Amrien's face. "We have a pyromaniac that can take care of that for you." he grinned, smacking Dauragon on his back.
Dauragon growled, glaring at the cheerfully optimistic Bosmer.
"The messenger you saw talking with me said that Guildmaster Sees-All-Colors has sent an elite group from the Fighters Guild to aid you."
"Anyone we know?" Aedalyn asked her brother.
Amrien shrugged. "Not sure. Probably not."
"Let's get a move on, tree-dwellers. We're wasting time while the bastards are moving closer to the gates."
"Don't get your robes all bunched up, mage. We're coming."
000
On the beach, Ebonheart soldiers fought the Covenant with every ounce of strength they had. Amrien and Aedalyn fought off those they could, but it seemed like too many had reached the beach.
"We need to destroy those siege weapons!" Amrien yelled.
"Kind of hard to do with so many Covenant soldiers blocking the way!" Aedalyn yelled as she shot another barrage of arrows.
Without a word, Dauragon gripped his staff tighter than usual and began charging a spell.
All around them, Pact soldiers began to fall, nearly leaving just the three of them to defend the beach.
"Damn it! There's too many!" Amrien yelled.
As the group got surrounded, a loud yell of anger fell from Dauragon's lips as he lifted his staff into the air.
Fire and brimstone, mildly speaking, flew from the staff and set the trebuche's on the beach ablaze.
Swinging his staff sideways, Dauragon shot another fireball at the ballistae next, also taking some Covenant soldiers out with it.
Breathing heavily, Dauragon leaned against his staff and fell to one knee.
"Mage, are you alright?!" Amrien called out, kicking a Breton templar away from him.
"Shut up, I just used a lot of magicka! Keep them away while I charge another spell!" Dauragon spat.
Amrien and Aedalyn were growing tired themselves, but fought until they couldn't anymore. Aedalyn kept her bow drawn, ready to shoot any Covenant soldier who got to close.
Amrien stood in front of his sister, ready to defend the ranger with his life if needed be.
As the Covenant soldiers surrounded them, growing closer and closer, the sound of distant howling could be heard behind the group.
"Our prey is before us, pack brothers and sisters! Sharpen your claws and bare your fangs, The Pack is on the hunt!"
Aedalyn, Amrien and Dauragon turned around to see Ravena standing at the top of the stairs leading up to the western gates. Standing next to her was a Breton mage who's staff shone with the light of healing magic.
Running down the stairs with a wolf-like howl was an orc dragon-knight cloaked in black armor with a wolf pelt sitting on his shoulders and head.
He ran down the beach, sword out and swung it around, taking three Covenant soldiers out in one strong swing.
"For The Pack! For the Alpha! For the hunt!" the orc yelled, running ever further into battle.
Jumping into the air in true rogue-like fashion, a Khajiit woman came down upon two startled Covenant soldiers. Her daggers dug into their backs and she twisted them in further.
Using pure shadow in the same manner that Amrien used whenever he fought, she jumped from target to target, killing her foes with swift and accurate strikes.
Popping up next to Aedalyn, she wrapped her arms around her. A squeaky, purr-like chirp fell from the Khajiit's lips as her cheek pushed against Aedalyn's cheek.
"This one is so happy to see you, big sister! I'm so glad you are well!"
"Sa'raabi?" Aedalyn questioned with a pushed in cheek. "Is that you?"
"Yes, big sister! Sa'raabi is so glad to see you!" she squealed in delight.
Looking over at the hulking orc now standing next to him, Amrien's brows rose in amusement.
"Hey there, big guy." he greeted, smacking the orc on his lower back.
The orc smiled, grabbing Amrien into a large bear hug. A loud, hearty laugh escaped his lips.
"Amrien! It's good to see you again, pack-brother!" he yelled joyfully.
Amrien winced slightly, feeling slight pressure on his ribs. "Uh….good to see you too, Bazgar. D-do you mind….putting me down." Amrien groaned. "I can't breathe."
"Sorry old friend." Bazgar replied, putting him down.
As Dauragon was ready to burn the ladders, a fireball arced from the top of the stairs and landed on the ladders with a small blast.
Dauragon turned his head to see the Breton mage walk up beside him. The Breton looked at the burning trebuche's and ballistae and smirked.
"Wow….quite the hot head, aren't you?" he questioned to Dauragon, not even looking at him.
Dauragon glared at him.
The Breton held out his hand in greeting. "Braion Ashven. Nice to meet you."
Dauragon didn't shake his hand, still glaring at the Breton.
"Yikes….you're pretty scary." he said nonchalantly, putting his hand down. With his staff in hand, Braion mumbled a few words under his breath and healed Dauragon.
Braion patted Dauragon on the back. "Good work. You can leave the rest of the burning to me."
"Aedalyn, Amrien, Dauragon, we'll finish off the rest of these Covenant dogs. Go report to Holgunn, the next stage of the plan is ready!' Ravena yelled.
"Are you sure? We can help." Aedalyn asked, lowering her bow.
"Go on, big sister, Sa'raabi will take care of the rest. We shall catch up later!" Sa'raabi yelled, running away with her daggers out.
Bazgar smacked Amrien on the back, causing the wind from Amrien's lungs to escape. "Go on, small one! Leave the rest of this hunt to your pack siblings!"
"Yeah….sure thing." Amrien wheezed, patting Bazgar on the arm.
As the members of The Pack fought off the rest of the Covenant force on the beach, the group ran back to the western gates and entered the city.
(What a chapter! So many funny moments in this one! I had to cut it here due to the length of this chapter. With the forces on the beach delayed, the group now heads back to Indoril Manor to aid Tanval in the ritual. Will it work? Can Davon's Watch stay out of Covenant hands? Guess we'll find out in the next chapter! Next Chapter: A Monster Unleashed! Look forward to it! ^.^)