Chapter 6: The Strider
Quirinus stood on the wooden platform of the silt strider station and he stared at the strange bug-like creature below him. He had heard tales of the size and appearance of such a creature, but none of them lived up to the actual being.
It had to be at least thirty feet high, the platform he was on towered above the small buildings of Seyda Neen, and the Silt Strider stood six feet higher than it. It had six long, spindly legs covered with hard chiton, and the body looked that of a flea, only larger, and with a hollowed out cavity on its top.
The Silt Strider Driver glared at him impatiently.
Finally, after what must have been six or seven minutes, the driver finally lost her patience.
Are you getting on, or are you just going to stand there like a fool?
Quirinus mind was still trying to compile everything he was seeing, and he ignored the driver.
The driver got up out of the cavity on the top of the Strider and shook Quirinus.
Hey, wake up! I m trying to run a business here, so, are you just going to sit there, or are you going somewhere?
Quirinus broke out of his trance, and looked at the woman who had just pushed him.
Uh, uh, yes, I would. I m trying to get to Balmora, can I get to there from here?
Hmmph, yes you can outlander. I am Darvame, and Tashu over here can make a special trip just for you, for the same low price.
Evidently Tashu was the name of Darvame s Strider.
Well, Tashu sure is a pretty thing, I m sure she is very nice. I would like to hire you for a trip to Balmora.
Dvarame laughed, Pretty! Tashu? He doesn t have a brain, and is the ugliest thing I have ever laid my eyes on, and that is including a diseased Cliff Racer! As for the trip, it ll cost sixty septims. I am going out of my way on this trip, so I ll have to factor that into the price.
What! Quirinus was aghast, You just said that it would be the same low price! I, I m not sure I can even afford that!
Davarme smiled, Just off the boat I see. The Island of Vvardenfall is a dangerous place. You have two choices. You can either ride on this smelly bug, or you can be table scraps for a Kagouti by this evening. You don t even have a weapon. Sixty septims is a small price to pay.
Quirinus cursed under his breath and pulled out his coin purse. He looked at it for a second, wondering whether he was making the right decision. He finally decided it was necessary, he was used to the Imperial City, Morrowind was a foreign and dangerous place.
Fine, here is sixty septims, Quirinus took ten coins from his purse, then he threw the purse towards Davarme.
Good, now, get on board. Both Davarme and Quirinus got on board the Strider, and the driver sat up front. She took a series of levers and began to manipulate them, and the Strider began to move.
She looked back, We ll be in Balmora by sundown. We ll be heading northeast through the Bitter Coast and then head north up the Odai River to our destination. Thank you, by the way, do you know where the Balmora Corner Club is?
Hey, I just ride there, I don t like the city, you ll never find a larger hive of corruption and villainy. The dark elves there have forgotten what it means to be a Dunmer, they just suck up to their imperial masters... no offense. The Hlaalu s rule the city, and they are a mean bunch to be sure. They are only rivaled by those crazy wizards on the coast, the Telvanni. Now those are a nasty bunch of mer.
The Strider left the port, and began its journey to Balmora.
