Chapter 21: 21
Chapter Text
The day had gone pretty well. I woke up next to two beautiful women, I had a nice pint of blood for breakfast, and I played fetch with Mr. Rogers. The sun was slowly going down, and I was about to get to work on some potions when the universe decided I'm not allowed to be happy.
Quest added
[Uninvited Guests!]
It seems your secret base is not as secret as you thought! Someone's found you, and they're in a bad mood!
Objective- Defend your home!
Bonus Objective- Defeat your attackers!
Bonus Objective- ???
Rewards- ?
Bonus Rewards- ?,?
Failure- You will be forced to move or die
One week. Is one week off too much to ask?
I activate Godspeed and begin running around the temple.
My first stop is the portal room. Serana and Valerica are working on something involving some green crystals, but I run in and interrupt their work.
"Someone found us. I don't know who, or how many, but we need to get ready to fight." I wait just a moment to see Serana give me a sharp nod, before I Godspeed away.
I stop at the top of the mountain to find Svar, Paarthurnax, and Durnehviir all looking down at the ground. I walk up next to them and follow their gazes.
With my vampiric sight, I'm able to see a small group of humanoids walking through the clearing where the Forsworn camp once stood. I'm too high up to get much detail, but it's pretty apparent that they're looking for something.
"Any idea who they are?" I ask the group.
"Vampires." Durnehviir rumbles. "I have spent too long in Valerica's company not to recognize them. However, these ones are goraan. They do not possess my friend's years or experience."
I look up at the setting sun and curse internally. Guess these guys planned their arrival if they're showing up right as the sun sets.
Svar turns to Paarthurnax. "Are these the same ones that were here before? I didn't get as good a look at them as you did."
The great grey dragon hums for a moment. "Nid. These ones are different, but it is possible they serve the same master."
I let out a long breath. "I'll go let Serana and Valerica know we've probably got some of Potema's lackeys on our hands. You guys get ready to fight in case they're able to find the temple."
Paarthurnax shakes his massive head. "They already have Dusk. They may not know where to enter, but they would not have returned in such numbers while being ignorant to our presence."
I furrow my eyebrows and look back down to the clearing. "I only see eight. Are there more."
Svar nods, and points off into the trees. "There are at least a hundred more waiting there. There could be more I don't see."
"Are they all vampires?" I ask.
She nods. "As far as I can tell."
"No." Durnehviir breaks in. "While the majority are, there are several necromancers among their number."
I nod. "Let me know if anything changes. I'll be down near the entrance."
I get a nod from Svar, and watch her draw Ascalon and Reven's saber before I Godspeed away.
I don't find Serana and Valerica in the portal room. By the time I get back, they're standing near the entrance with a couple dozen armored undead.
Valerica notices me first and walks up to me. "What are we facing?" She asks.
"Vampires and necromancers." I say. "The working theory is that Potema somehow figured out where we are, and took offense to our presence."
"How did they find this place?" Valerica asks.
I shake my head. "I don't know, and it's kind of a mute point now. What matters is that they did, and are pissed at us for some reason."
"How many of them are there?" Serana asks as she walks over.
"Svar saw at least a hundred." I say as I turn to her. "I don't know how many are vampires, and how many are necromancers. I just know there's a mix."
Valerica frowns and grabs her chin. "How old are the vampires?"
"I don't know exactly, but if they're from Movarth's coven there shouldn't be any older than two-hundred years." I answer.
She nods. "Then we should be able to defeat them. Were they children of Harkon I would have suggested fleeing."
Thanks for the vote of confidence lady.
I turn to Serana. "You've still got Morokei right?"
She nods, and retrieves the soul stone from her robes. Holding it up to me.
"Good. Do you think the two of you can hold the main entrance if they find it? I'd really rather avoid going out to meet them if we have the home field advantage."
Serana gives me a wide grin. She turns away, and holds out a hand. I feel a pulse of mana, and a dark shadow begins to rise from the stone floor. Soon Morokei floats a few feet away bereft of any expression.
Serana turns back to me with a fire in her eyes. "I think we will be more than able to deal with a group of pests."
"Quite." Valerica says. She waves her hand, and the undead form ranks. She waves her hand again and they begin forming a shield wall facing towards the entrance.
Neat trick. I need to figure out how to do that one of these days.
"Come Serana." Valerica says as she reaches a hand into her own robe. "Let us prepare." She pulls her hand free, and I see the Orb of Death resting within it.
Serana moves to assist her armor, and I take a quick look over them.
Serana holds the sickly green stone in one hand, and her sword in the other while Morokei's enslaved form floats behind her. Valerica holds the black Orb of Death in one hand, and is using the other to direct an undead horde armed and armored with the equipment of long dead blades.
Ya I think they got this.
I allow myself a grin, and Godspeed back up the mountain.
"Is everything alright?" Svar asks as I come to a stop next to her.
I nod at her. "Serana and Valerica will handle the main entrance. They've got all the undead and Morokei with them. They'll be fine."
She nods back, and we both turn our attention to the clearing.
In the time I've been gone the scene has changed. The small advance force has probably reported the clearing safe, and as a result, there is a mass gathering of well armed humanoids systematically searching the area. A few of them are blasting spells into the stone of the mountain. Blowing large chunks of rock free.
"Well I guess that removes any doubt about their intentions here." I say.
"Should we attack?" Svar asks.
I nod gravely. "If we don't they'll keep blowing apart the mountain until they get lucky and find a way in. I'd prefer we strike now so Serana and Valerica don't get flanked." I say.
Svar nods, and her scales emerge. Her cloak splits down the middle and forms into her wings.
I follow her example, and enter my lightning form. I also stack several magical shields on both of us.
I hear a bark from my side, and turn to find Mr. Rogers standing there with his sword in his mouth.
I give him a nod, and begin channeling my magic. I stop myself when Paarthurnax speaks.
"A moment please." He rumbles. "Dovahkiin, Durnehviir, you can assist me." The old dragon closes his eyes, and inhales deeply.
Seemingly understanding what he's doing, Svar and Durnehviir do the same.
Just as the silence is starting to get to me, all three open their eyes and look up to the sky.
"STRUN BAH QO!" The three of them shout together.
The combined power of their three voices shakes the entire mountain. I am able to keep my feet thanks to my reflexes, but looking down the mountain I see some of our attackers weren't so lucky.
As our guests pick themselves up from where they are sprawled on the ground, I hear a crack of thunder. I turn to look at the sky with a grin.
I thought I recognized that shout.
Where before it was a relatively calm and clear evening, the sky has become dominated by large dark clouds that rumble as they approach. All of which are crackling with bright blue energy.
Realizing the storm is still building. I quickly channel my magic, and force it up into the clouds.
The clouds spread even faster, and the faint crackling has turned into large blue bolts that snake around the sky in a vicious electrical pattern.
Mr. Rogers barks again, and lights up with the same energy that is gathering above us. His entire form becomes bright blue, and he jumps. I reach out to catch him, when he turns into a large bolt of lightning and joins the storm.
Since when could he do that?
Realizing the Mr. Rogers knows what he's doing, I look back down at the clearing. I'm just in time to see the first bolt fall. It impacts the ground with a mighty *THOOM* and releases a shockwave that sends nearby vampires and mages flying through the air. A second, much larger, bolt follows it and three of the vampires are bisected by a dog shaped lightning bolt.
Holy shit that is cool. Mr. Rogers is the best dog ever, and no one will ever convince me otherwise.
Turning my attention back to the vampires, I'm forced to give them a little credit. They reacted very quickly to the sky turning against them. The majority of them blur away to find cover, while a few brave idiots raise their arms above them to create arcane shields.
Turns out a magical storm created by the voices of three dragons, a lightning puppy, and a master electromancer can cut through hastily crafted arcane shields like butter. Who knew?
Several of the mages are vaporized within thirty seconds of the storm starting. Some by Mr. Rogers, others just by random bolts.
Once the survivors realize how ineffective their shields are, they follow after the vampires. They charge into the cave that leads into Sky Haven, and I begin to move back inside.
I turn back at the door, and look to the dragons. "Durnehviir, Paarthurnax. Can you keep watch on the outside?"
Paarthurnath nods. "Geh. We will continue to watch the surroundings."
I nod back, then turn to Svar. I hold a hand out to her. "Coming with?"
She cringes for a moment, but shakes her head and grabs my hand. "Drop me off a little ways from the door would you?"
I nod. Dropping a disoriented dragonborn onto the front lines is a good way to get said dragonborn killed.
I reach my other arm up behind her head to support her neck, and Godspeed away.
I leave Svar in the nearmost armory, and after watching her for a second to make sure she'd be alright, speed over to the entrance.
"They're coming." I say as soon as I arrive.
Serana and Valerica both give me a nod, before turning back to the door.
Serana summons her armor, and grows her wings from her back.
Valerica smiles widely, and waves her hand over the Orb of Death. A dark black shadow emerges from it, and falls over Valerica.
Caught off guard, I look over to make sure the thing isn't eating her.
The black mass shifts to look in my direction, and I see Valerica's face peering through the darkness. She grins at me, then turns back to the door.
I open my mouth to ask what the hell that is when a loud boom emanates from the other side of the large face that is the door to Sky Haven Temple.
I shut my mouth and focus on the door.
We can table the demonic shadow armor from a sentient ball of pure evil for later. We've got more important things to deal with right now.
I hear the sound of someone drawing a sword from behind me, and almost turn to strike when I stop at hearing the second sound.
Kwishuuuuuuuu*
I look over my shoulder to see Svar walking down the hall with both blades drawn and her wings and scales out.
She walks up and joins the rest of us just as another explosion shakes the door.
Valerica waves a hand and the undead begin to move forward slowly. They organize themselves into some bastardized phalanx. Ready to strike whatever makes it through before it can reach us.
Another explosion sounds, and large chunks of the door blast away.
I contemplate layering several shields over the door, but ultimately decide against it. I don't have any one-way shields yet, so we wouldn't be able to attack them with shields up either. All it would do is let them see our ambush from a protected position. It would be better to just save the mana at this point.
When I get a chance I need to widen my repertoire.
With a final explosion, the door finally crumbles. Allowing the attackers to swarm into the temple.
The vampires in their group waste no time. Using their supernatural speed to rush through what remains of the door. They are met by the undead, but it's quite clear who is superior as the vampires begin to tear apart the shield wall.
Luckily the undead are just fodder to buy time for our real defenders.
Svar spews flame forth from her mouth, I begin raining down lightning, Serana fires spikes of ice from her outstretched hands, Morokei mechanically creates walls of flame around the approaching undead, and Valerica simply raises her arm. The vampire's own shadows begin to attack them as Valerica channels her mana.
Before long, all of our undead have been ripped apart, but the five of us managed to destroy all of the vampires who charged through initially as recompense. None of us celebrate though, because more vampires and several mages move through the opening. Albeit much more cautiously than those who came before them.
We begin to recreate our kill box, but our enemies respond by spreading out. The vampires speed away in different directions. Some run around to our sides and spread out behind us, and others simply charge us head on.
Svar moves forward to meet them and begins to bisect everything she touches. It's kind of hilarious to watch as one of the vampires brings his shield up to block the lightsaber only for it to be split apart alongside the rest of him.
More vampires charge toward the duel wielding Svar, but Serana draws her own blade and backs Svar up. The two of them watching each other's backs as they kill anything that comes near them.
Seeing that they have the melee in hand, I turn my attention to the mages. Most of them were able to teleport away from the entrance before we were able to kill them, and they have all now started firing spells at us.
I threw up shields around Svar and Serana to absorb several spells that were being fired their way.
With a thought I activate Godspeed once more and charge toward the nearest mage. Drawing Yamato as I closed the gap.
The blonde haired mage doesn't even register my having moved before I leave him in pieces on the floor.
I speed toward the next mage and leave yet another pile of viscera in my wake.
I look for another target, but see all of the mages mostly handled. Morokei is dueling six of them at once, and doing so successfully. Valerica, meanwhile, is smiling like a madwoman as spears of darkness impale a good number of the attackers. With my soul magic I'm able to feel as their very beings are pulled from their bodies and forced into the orb Valerica holds in her hand.
That has the potential to be interesting, but we have more pressing matters to worry about right now.
I refocus, and charge over to where Serana and Svar are fighting the vampires.
I announce my presence by cutting through a female who was about to attack Serana, and I join their deadly ballet without any more fanfare.
Svar is keeping up not only with the attacking vampires, but Serana and I as well. My guess is she used Slow Time while I was slaughtering the mages. She has also dropped Ascalon and is only using the lightsaber, but she is using it to great effect. It makes sense. She has had little to no practice duel wielding, and the lightsaber is much more effective against non-dragons than Ascalon is.
Serana on the other hand has the same manic grin as her mother. After studying her for half a second between my strikes I can tell she's playing with these vampires. She hasn't even entered her Vampire Lord form, and she is still so far above them as to be able to hold back.
I shake my head as I cut through another head.
I legitimately believed we might have an issue with these guys, but we haven't even started trying. Just how strong are we, am I, to be able to fight these vampires without a care?
A terrified scream of, "NOOOOOoooooo….." signals the end of the fight as a mage's soul is collected by Valerica.
I take a moment to look around the area. There are bodies, and parts of bodies everywhere. The entire entryway has been painted red, and there are quite a few burns scarring the stone. Both from magic and Svar's lightsaber.
For all the damage done to the surrounding, my companions are untouched. Well, untouched in the sense that no one has been hurt. Serana has been drenched in the blood of those she cut apart, and can't seem to keep the predatory grin from her features at the presence of all the blood.
Svar's scales have some blood on them, but that is all from Serana's kills or when she was still holding Ascalon. The majority of her own kills were done with a lightsaber, and those cauterize as they pass through material.
As for myself, I'm perfectly clean. A pretty handy benefit to possessing a lightning form is that blood and other things that could get you dirty disintegrate the second they touch you.
That being said…
I walk over to a mage's corpse and sink my fangs into his neck. Quickly draining his entire body. I suppress a blissful shiver as I release the shriveled body and turn back towards the rest of the group.
Even with Gamer's Mind, that much blood in the air is intoxicating.
Svar deactivates her saber, and turns to the rest of us. "What now?"
"Now?" Serana says. She brings her blade up and licks the blood off of it. Closing her eyes as she savors the taste. She opens them once more and turns to Svar. "Now we ensure there are no others lingering outside, and dispose of them if there are."
I think I might have some serious issues.
Upon seeing my vampire girlfriend lick her blade clean of blood while talking to our dragon girlfriend amidst a field of dismembered corpses my first thought was, 'Oh my god that's hot.'
Yep. Definitely have some issues. Oh well.
"We don't stop with that." I say as I pull myself from my thoughts. Everyone looks at me, so I continue. "These fucks attacked our home. I'll be the first to admit I've been pretty lax when it comes to people fucking with us. That stops now. If this was Potema's doing, we burn down Morthal. If it wasn't, we burn down wherever it was they came from. Any objections?"
I have had it with people fucking us over. We're strong enough now to push back, so we're going to run them over with a goddamn tank.
Valerica gives me an approving nod, Serana's grin widens, and Svar shrugs.
Morokei continues to float and stare straight ahead.
"Question." Svar says suddenly.
The three of us turn to her, and she turns to me.
"If we're going on a revenge spree anyway, can we stop by Whiterun to kill Farengar and Delphine?" She asks hopefully.
The corner of my lip pulls up as I reply. "That's a fantastic idea."
"We will deal with this later." Serana says as she brandishes her sword. "We still must search the surroundings for any others."
"I've got it." Svar says. She takes in a breath and shouts, "KORAAV!"
Her eyes pan over the entrance, and out where the old Forsworn camp was. She shakes her head as she turns back to Serana. "There's no one…" She suddenly leaps forward with her arm outstretched.
I send out a pulse of soul magic to see if there is anyone left around us, but come up with nothing.
Svar's fingers close around something a few steps behind Serana, and she slams it into the ground. "Drop. Your. Spell." She growls out.
The air underneath her hand shimmers slightly and reveals one of the mages with Svar's hand wrapped around his throat.
"Well hello there." Serana says sweetly as she strolls over. "It seems we have a rather gifted illusion mage in our midst." She leans down over the struggling man. "You wouldn't mind if we asked you a few questions now would you?"
"I'll tell you what you want as long as you promise to let me go!" He gasps around Svar.
I raise an eyebrow at him. "You are aware we don't need your cooperation right? You kind of blew up our front door, so I'm not exactly feeling very compassionate towards you right now."
He turns to me with a sneer. "Torture won't work on me! I only feel pain when I want to."
Well shit. His heart beat indicates he's telling the truth, and that's definitely within the realm of possibility for a talented illusionist.
I sigh. "Fine. We'll let you go if you answer our questions."
He shakes his head back and forth as far as Svar will let him. "I can tell when people are lying. You have to promise to let me go or I won't tell you a thing." He spits out.
Seriously? Am I really having to put up with this?
Just for curiosity's sake I stab Yamato down into his leg.
He doesn't even flinch.
Shit. Guess he actually doesn't feel pain.
"Fine." I say. "I want your leader's head more than I want yours. If you tell us what we want to know, I'll order everyone to let you go. Deal?"
He studies me for a moment, then grins. "What do you want to know?"
"Who sent you, and how did you find this place?" Valerica immediately breaks in.
He shifts under Svar in order to look up at her. "Potema. One of our scouting parties got attacked by werewolves near the cave. We figured that was where the pack called home. Potema wanted more soldiers after Solitude, so she sent us to kill and raise the wolves."
"What happened at Solitude?" I ask.
"We attacked, and we lost." He says. "We lost bad. She wanted to bolster our forces with the wolves. Only there aren't any werewolves here. It's just you assho…" He's cut off as Svar cuts off his airway. He doesn't react in any way, but his voice is cut off.
"Without the sass please. Where is Potema now?" I ask.
Svar loosens her grip, and the mage turns to me. "I don't know. She took her pet and went off somewhere to get other allies. She only told us to be ready with the wolves as soon as she got back."
I suppress a groan. Are we really going to have to play hide and seek with this lady? And I really do not like the sound of, 'other allies'. Hopefully it's nothing more significant than a pack of werewolves.
"Who is this, 'pet'." Svar growls at him.
"I don't know who she was, but she all but belongs to the queen now. She was turned when we first took Morthal." He answers.
Eh, she doesn't sound all that important.
"This can't have been your entire army." Serana says. "How many of you are left in Morthal?"
"I don't know the exact number, but there's at least a few thousand. Our group was relatively small because we were only expecting wolves. Not whatever the fuck you guys are that you can just change the damn sky!" He says.
Valerica looms over him. "Those are the numbers you possess in Morthal, but what of here? Will there be a second assault?"
He shakes his head. "We're it. It was supposed to be a slaughter, so we didn't bring that many of us."
Svar snorts. "It was a slaughter."
The man wisely keeps his mouth shut.
So Potema attacked Solitude, is off somewhere getting backup, and we've got a few thousand undead to kill. Good enough.
"Alright." I say. "You've held up your end." I turn to my companions and say, "Valerica, Serana, Svarline, you are hereby ordered to let this man go."
Valerica scoffs.
Serana chuckles.
Svar grins.
The mage's face pales as he realizes the situation he's in.
Wording is a bitch ain't it buddy?
Serana hums. "This one is rather strong Dusk." She says contemplatively. "He will not do anything for my mother and I, but you might receive something beneficial from him."
I furrow my eyebrows and look at her. "What do you mean?"
"Drink." She says. "You will know what I speak of after."
I shrug and move toward the pinned mage.
"You fucker! I'll fucking kill you you fucking mon…" I cut him off as I sink my fangs into his neck and begin to drain him.
There's something to his blood that I've never tasted before. Something delicious.
I hurriedly drain the rest of him, and lean back to take a breath.
You have drained a powerful creature!
Vampiric Form [Wolf] unlocked!
Perk [I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own] added!
I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own
All illusion spells and effects are 30% more effective
Quest Complete!
[Uninvited Guests!]
It seems your secret base is not as secret as you thought! Someone's found you, and they're in a bad mood!
Objective- Defend your home!(Complete)
Bonus Objective- Defeat your attackers!(Complete)
Bonus Objective- Ensure no damage can be done to Sky Haven(Failed)
Rewards- 2 Gacha Coins
Bonus Rewards- 1 Gacha Coin
I turn to Serana with a blood drenched smile. "That was good."
She nods. "I am glad. Now," She turns back to Svar. " not that I don't trust him, but would you mind ensuring he was the last of them."
Svar smiles, and her scales begin to fade as her cloak knits itself back together. "Already done. I checked the second I incapacitated him. There's no one left."
A happy bark draws our attention back to the entrance.
Mr. Rogers is trotting through the viscera and severed limbs of those we killed earlier with a big puppy smile on his face, and his sword in his maw.
This image would be dark as hell if he wasn't such a cute dog.
…
Okay. It's still dark as hell, but it's made better by the cute dog.
I scratch behind his ears once he's close enough, and turn to the rest of the group. "So I guess we're burning Morthal to the ground now."
"And Farengar." Svar chips in.
I nod. "And Farengar."
Serana looks at us in confusion. "Who is this Farengar, and what did he do?"
Svar growls. "Tried to chain us, and turn us into his own personal weapon against the dragons. He needs to die."
Serana studies her for a moment before nodding. "Yes. We will deal with him, but we should all rest and make preparations first." She turns to Valerica. "Will you be coming with us mother?"
Valerica smiles at her. "Of course daughter. Even if I did not owe you all that I do I would accompany you. I do not respond well to threats against my family. Besides," Her eyes shift to the orb in her hand. Where before it was black with the faintest purple glow, it is now bright purple with the faintest black hue. "I have just collected the souls of every attacker who made it into the temple. It would be a shame to waste them."
Umm, what?
Didn't that thing need entire cities full of dead people to make a single skeletal dragon? Well I doubt whatshisface was as good a necromancer as Valerica, and I doubt a peasant's soul is equal to that of an Elder Scrolls vampire.
I'm just going to be very happy she's on Serana's side, and ignore the issue until it becomes my issue.
Svar retrieves Ascalon from where she discarded it and cleans the blood off of its blade. "This is a good sword, but from now on I'm only going to use it against dragons. The lightsaber is better in almost every other situation." She turns to the rest of us. "I'm going up to talk to check on Paarthurnax and Durnehviir. Are we leaving in the morning?"
"If everyone is ready then sure." I reply. "We could wait a day to get ready though."
"I believe we are as prepared as we can be." Serana says.
I give a questioning look to Valerica, and she nods.
"Alright then." I say. "Tomorrow it is." I turn to the red mess and let out a sigh. "We'll just have to clean this up when we get back."
"Allow me." Valerica says as she steps forward. She raises her hands, and several of the bodies reconstitute themselves at her command. "I will create new undead and ensure the area is repaired by the morning."
"Thank you mother." Serana says, then turns to Svar. "Finish with the dragons quickly. You are the only one present who truly requires rest."
Svar nods, and walks off.
Serana turns to me, and motions in the direction of our room. "Shall we?"
I fall into step beside her, and we head to bed.
Serana cleans the blood off of herself with magic, then lies down next to me. Svar returns to us before too long and does the same.
We'll sleep for now, but Potema just declared war on us. We won't be the ones to regret that fact.
Tomorrow.
Interlude: Potema
We have been travelling for three days.
Longer than I would have hoped, but my Crone is still recovering from her punishment.
It seems to have been worth it at least. She now carries out my orders with no hesitation, and is almost eager to please me. Time will tell if the conditioning will fade over time or if it is permanent, but for now it will do.
We have arrived after all.
I look out from my place at the shore and stare off into the ever changing mists. To anyone with any magical ability it is apparent this place is protected by a powerful enchantment, but it has somehow remained undisturbed all this time.
A small smile makes its way onto my face.
It may very well be that all who discover it are killed viciously.
I turned to the four guards who accompanied my Crone and I. "You will remain here until we return. Do not follow us."
The four immediately bow in acknowledgement, and I walk forward. My Crone at my side.
We mount the rickety boat, and my Crone begins to paddle us out into the water.
"Which way?" She asks.
I point directly ahead, and she follows my direction.
I'm not sure how long we spent in that mist. Likely part of the enchantment affects one's perception of time, but we did make it through.
It was quite amusing to watch my Crone's eyes widen when the castle was revealed.
Looking at it myself, I can truly say it is an impressive structure. Even the Blue Palace is not as eye-catching as this lonely castle to the north of Skyrim.
My Crone brings the boat to a small dock, and we disembark.
I lead her across the gargoyle adorned bridge until our path is barred by an iron gate.
"You're not welcome here." An elderly voice calls from behind the gate. "Leave now."
"I may not have an invitation, but I am an old friend and I will not leave. Tell your master the Wolf has returned."
I hear a sceptical snort from the other side, but the man walks off. Presumably to do as I ordered.
"What is this place?" My Crone asks once we are alone.
"The home to powerful beings who were ancient even during my time." My answer causes her eyes to go wide.
She moves to ask another question, but she is interrupted by the iron gate being drawn up.
"You are to proceed inside." The same voice says. "Don't try anything."
I chuckle as I walk past him.
He underestimates my sense of self preservation. Only a fool would attempt anything within these walls.
My Crone and I enter the keep and find ourselves at a balcony overlooking a grand room. There are two long tables set parallel to one-another. At each table sit well dressed men and women with red eyes, and calculating gazes.
Atop the tables, where one would usually find wines, bread, and venison, there are instead people. Living people. They have several puncture wounds along their arms and legs, and they groan softly.
I ignore all of this. My eyes focus on an imposing man standing at the head of both tables. He has flowing black hair, and a well trimmed chin beard. He has angular features, and deep crimson eyes.
I smile once I see him, and begin walking down the steps to greet him.
"My guardsmen said something quite interesting to me." The man speaks out. His voice filled the room in its entirety. "His words could mean two quite different things. Both of which are equally impossible. Either a werewolf has not only discovered my location, but also traversed my island's mist, or a woman has risen from the grave after over two hundred years."
I come to a stop at a healthy seven paces from him. I feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me as I speak. "Hello Harkon. It has been quite some time."
His lips pull up into a wide grin. "Potema. How good it is to see you again."
