After the battle, Geralt returns to the mortal world and helps breaks the siege of Kvatch…
VII: Easier Said Than Done
When the White Wolf came too, he was back in Kvatch. He grunted, standing up, looking around. Kauthuet was nowhere to be found, and the Oblivion Gate had vanished. The only thing left of it was the molten lava breaks in the ground. Instead of a red sky, Kvatch was now being rained on.
Savlian and his men rushed to Geralt, "By the Gods! You've done it!" Savlian congratulated the Witcher, "But this is no time to celebrate, if we move now, we can retake Kvatch. Are you with us, Geralt?" he asked.
"Yeah…just give me a minute…" Geralt said as he snuck down to his knees, placing his hands in his lap, and closing his eyes. Meditation was necessary for Witchers after combat. It helped them collect themselves and draw more of The Power which fueled their magic. Geralt also took this time to drink a Swallow potion. This potion relaxed his muscles and enhanced his senses to give him and edge in battle.
"Oi, what do you suppose he's doin'?" asked one the Kvatch guards.
"Dunno, is he sleeping?" said another.
"Quiet." Snapped Savlian, "I think it's some ritual or something…"
Geralt opened his eyes, his iris glowing bright yellow for a few seconds, as he stood back up. "Ready."
"Good, let's go men…FOR KVATCH!" Savlian ordered as the Kvatch guard and the Witcher entered the city of Kvatch.
In another realm of Oblivion…
Kauthuet was in a fit of rage, killing his own soldiers, as he made his way to Dagon's throne. "Out of my way you pathetic excuse for soldiers! ONE CITY! And we could not take it? ONE CITY?" he yelled as his voice thunderously echoed throughout Oblivion.
"KAUTHUET!" Dagon hollered.
Kauthuet bowed in respect, "Lord Dagon."
"You have failed me, Winged One…Kvatch was not sacked as intended…" Dagon said.
"Yes, I am sorry my Lord…" the Valkynaz started.
"Sorry? I DO NOT WANT YOUR PITY! I want to know why it happened!" he commanded.
"There was a mortal…" Kauthuet said.
"A mortal? In my realm?" Dagon shouted in disbelief.
"Yes, my Lord, he was strong, and well versed in the arts of Destruction magic…fast…he calls himself the White Wolf." The Dremora reported as his fist clenched in anger. The Witcher had beaten him, disgraced him in front of his kin.
"You seek revenge?" Dagon asked, smirking.
"Yes, my lord, more than anything…" The winged dremora said looking up at his master.
"Then luckily for you, Camoran has set his plan in motion…Go to his paradise, he will give you the details…and see to it that you take care of this White Wolf." He ordered.
"Yes, my Master." Kauthuet said as he opened a portal to Paradise, leaving the realm of Oblivion.
Back in Kvatch…
The transition from the front gate to the Chapel was no easy task. Hordes of Dremora blocked their path as well as their beastly kin, the Daedra. Scamps continuously threw fireballs at the Witcher and the Kvatch guard. The Clannfears moved quickly and precisely attacking Savlian and his men in droves. The Witcher had his own problem to attend to: the Daedroth. This, 8 foot tall, crocodile beast gave Geralt a test of his skill. It attacked unforgivingly, using its size to its advantage. Though a challenge, the Witcher eventually won, by throwing his steel sword in the Daedra's open mouth and moving in to decapitate.
Once the skirmish was over, there lay several dead Daedra and Dremora, a beaten and battered Kvatch Guard, and one tired Witcher.
"Into…the Chapel…" Savlian ordered whilst catching his breath as him men and Geralt did like they were told, taking refuge inside the Chapel. They were met by one of Savlian's lieutenants, a dark skinned female who immediately with the townsfolk help, attended to the soldiers. Geralt waved the townsfolk away as he sat down on the Chapel floor, leaning against a stone pillar. He needed to Mediate again and regain his strength. That's when he heard Savlian talking to the dark skinned solider, "Take these citizens back to camp, I'm entrusting you with their lives…"
"I won't let you down, sir!" the female solider responded, as she gathered the citizens, leading them out the chapel. That was when Geralt caught a glimpse of a brown haired man, in a dark blue robe. He had the same eyes as Uriel. "Martin?" Geralt questioned to himself as the citizens left.
"Geralt!" Savlian called.
The Witcher arose from the floor, walking over to the Captain.
"Are you alright?" Savlian asked.
"I've been worse…"Geralt said, "Where do we go from here?"
"We need to liberate the castle. Hopefully the bastards haven't destroyed the drawbridge and we can get across…" Savlian explained as he drew his sword, "Alright, you know the drill…let's go." He commanded.
Once outside, The Witcher and the guard were met by another horde of Daedra and Dremora. They fought on, pressing forward towards the drawbridge that led to the castle. The Daedra were overwhelming. "How many more can there be?" Geralt exclaimed as he took out another Dremora with his Silver Sword.
As if on cue, another group of Kvatch soldiers with Imperial Guards came rushing in from the Chapel, taking out any Daedra and Dremora that had pinned down Geralt and Savlian. Once the vermin were all taken care of one solider, walked over to Savlian.
"Sir! Berich Indain, told me to give you this key, he said it opens the gate leading to the courtyard of the castle!" the solider reported.
"Good work, solider! Where is Berich?" Savlian asked as the group made their way across the drawbridge.
"He..he didn't make it, Captain." The solider responded.
Savlian placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, "There will be time to mourn him, but not now…now, we fight and reclaim what is ours!"
And so they pressed on, into Castle Kvatch.
Once inside, Geralt was instructed to find the Count of Kvatch and bring him to safety. Geralt received backup from an Imperial Guard and one of the Kvatch archers as they made their way through the castle. The only found more Daedra as they searched for the count. They came upon his bedroom, where they found him, lying face down in a pool of his own blood. Geralt bent down, slipping the Kvatch Signet Ring off his dead finger. They made their way back as Savlian and his men had just finished cleansing the main hallway of the remaining Daedra.
"Did you find the count? Why is he not with you?" Savlian asked, walking over to the Witcher.
"He was slain by the Daedra, Savlian…I am sorry…" Geralt informed him as his voice trailed off. He handed him the Signet Ring.
"It's alright….and my thanks for helping us break the siege. Kvatch has rebuilt before and will do it again…it will just take time." He said as he looked at Geralt, "I am a man of my word. You helped me and I'll help you; Martin should be around camp somewhere, most likely tending to the wounded or emotionally unstable citizens."
"My thanks, and take care." The White Wolf said as he nodded to the Kvatch captain and made his way out Castle Kvatch…
