Dance of the ja-Kha'jay.
By Lakyan.
Chapter 11 – The Wild Hunt
Year4E2 12th of Hearthfire. Outside the city of Dune, Elsweyr.
"This is really stating to annoy me." Mane Nhad-hatta growled low. His ears lay flat on his skull, and his tail waved rapidly in rage.
The messenger who'd told him of yet another failed attempt at recapturing Dune now lay dead. He'd had a dagger thrown at him, which had hit him as he was too exhausted to move.
"It has been almost a year since the Bosmer jekosiit took my city. And these morons still have not had the sugar to get it back!" The Mane thumped his hand on his palanquin.
His Cathay-Raht palanquin bearers carried him from the hut.
"Your Holiness! Your Holiness!" An Ohmes with a heavily tattooed face ran up.
"What is it?" The Mane asked, impatience obvious.
"The Wild Hunt! The Wild Hunt has been sighted, coming this way!" The Ohmes screeched, terrified.
The Mane's heart sunk further.
"Move! Everyone! Fall back to Orcrest! The Wild Hunt is coming!" He shouted.
All the Khajiit with in earshot dropped what there were doing. Some relayed the message.
"Come on! Move!" The Mane roared, urging his bearers onward.
It was every Khajiit for himself, as the panicked masses ran for their lives. The Mane's bearers broke into a panicked sprint. The Mane gripped his palanquin as tight as he could, because his life really did depend on it. The Khajiit army fled as the Wild Hunt tore apart Dune and all its inhabitants Khajiit, Bosmer or otherwise. The screams of the dying villagers spurred the Mane's army to run faster. And so they fled, scared out their wits, afraid to look back.
Year 4E2 13th of Hearthfire. The city of Riverhold, Elsweyr.
"The Wild Hunt? I'd heard of such things, but I doubted its existence." Jauffre told Lord M'kall.
"Aye. It does exist. Some Khajiiti soldiers were killed by it during the Five Years War. The Bosmer have gone mad, summoning the Wild Hunt against the Mane." Lord M'kall said sadly.
"How bad it the Wild Hunt?" Jauffre asked, having never encountered it.
"The worst thing of all. Hundreds to thousands of rabid mutated Bosmer jekosiit. They consume anything in their path. They will eat you and your men too, if you do not take the threat seriously." M'kall described the phenomenon.
"I shall inform the Empress Regent of the situation." Jauffre said.
"A wise choice." M'kall nodded.
Jauffre readied the necessary enchantments and opened contact with the Empress Regent.
Year 4E2 13th of Hearthfire. Elder Council Chambers, Cyrodiil.
"With the starvation of their people because of the Breton embargo, the Altmer are ready to open negotiations." The messenger addressed the Council.
"Aye. Return to your masters lad, and tell them we are ready to negotiate. They are to be here in the Imperial city in two weeks. Only the Ambassador's ship will be let through the Breton line." The Empress Regent told the messenger, a very young Altmer, yet to learn the ways of politics.
The boy bowed low, and dashed from the Council Chambers.
"And now-" Ri'rassi was interrupted by her pocket growing hot.
She pulled her speaking stone from her pocket. "Yes Jauffre." She addressed the murky image.
"Empress Regent. I have some very dire news. The Wild Hunt had laid waste to the city of Dune in Elsweyr. The Mane and his legions have fallen back to Orcrest, though his army is in tatters due to his unsuccessful attempts at retaking his city." Jauffre explained.
"The Wild Hunt? How?" Ri'rassi asked.
The image changed to a middle aged Khajiit, whom Ri'rassi recognised as the Lord of Riverhold.
"Never mind how Empress Regent, what matters now is how to keep your armies and my citizenry from being slaughtered by the mad Bosmer." The Khajiit told her.
"The Wild Hunt will be after the Mane, seeking revenge for the Five Years War. Your people are safe." Ri'rassi retorted.
"By your sugar, they are not. The Mane fell back to Orcrest because it is in the middle of the No-Quin-Al Desert. The Wild Hunt could not survive there. Even in his fear the Mane made the right choice. Riverhold however, rests on the fertile steppes of far northern Elsweyr. We will not be safe here." M'kall told the Empress Regent very matter-of-factly.
"A good point, and something I'd not considered." Ri'rassi told the Khajiit.
"Is there anything you can use against the Wild Hunt?" Lord M'kall asked.
"We can send Arch-Mage Raminus Polus, the Siege Crawler and fifty or so men." Ri'rassi told him.
"Please, I implore you for my citizen's sake, send them this instant." M'kall pleaded.
"I will do what I can." The Empress Regent reassured the distraught Khajiit. She broke off contact.
"Well as you have all just heard, The Wild Hunt has destroyed Dune and Riverhold may be next." Ri'rassi told the Council.
"This is indeed grave news, I shall go with Raminus Polus." Ra'jissan told Ri'rassi.
Ri'rassi nodded to her brother.
The Nord woman snorted. "Running away from your paperwork again, High Chancellor?"
"Of course not. I will work around it. They could use my combat experience, though to be honest, the thought of facing the Wild Hunt scares me. Not even Hircine's Hunt invoked such a terror." Ra'jissan said.
"Alright. Get Raminus Polus and get moving. Perhaps Sir Mazoga would be of use too?" Ri'rassi asked. She knew Mazoga had a secret crush on the Arch-Mage since they returned from Morrowind. It wasn't something the Orc would admit to anyone, but Ri'rassi could tell.
"Right." Ra'jissan agreed and he set off.
Year 4E2 1st of Frostfall. The city of Riverhold, Elsweyr.
The Siege Crawler was in position just west of Riverhold. Raminus Polus was on top of it manning its controls. Jauffre, Mazoga and Ra'jissan stood on either side of the Daedric behemoth, their army stood behind them. Lord M'kall was in the basement of the Chapel of Khenarthi, with not only the citizens of his city, but those from Tardorn Wood and Seaplace, two small towns to the West of the city. The messenger had not returned from Cori Darglade, and was presumed dead from the Wild Hunt. They'd seen a plume of smoke from the day before, and assumed that the Wild Hunt had reached Seaplace, and discovering it empty, tore it apart anyway. The men were watching for Tardorn Wood to get flattened. This small town was located not far from Riverhold at all and they were waiting for the morbid signal to charge the Siege Crawler. Every man that had any inkling of magic was positioned near at the front line, an unusual tactic. But usual situations required such usual tactics. This gave the mages a clear shot of the Wild Hunt. They would need to take as many out as they could as quickly as they could. Only then would they have a chance against the murderous hoard.
There was a sound of crashing wood and logs were seen being flung into the air.
"Now!" Ra'jissan barked.
Raminus Polus began charging the Siege Crawler's attack. Ra'jissan drew out two swords, Trueflame and Hopesfire, their flames flickering eerily in the sunlight. Mazoga drew out her ebony claymore, the two-handed sword almost as tall as she was. Jauffre drew his Akaviri Katana. All the Mages readied their spells, and all the archers readied their bows and aimed.
The Wild Hunt charged around the corner in the road, a mess of hideous mutated beasts. They spotted the army waiting for them, and charged straight at it ready for a feast.
"NOW!" Ra'jissan shouted.
Raminus slammed his fist onto a large button. The Siege Crawler fired, and the flame pillar lanced forward, incinerating a large number of rabid shaped shifted Bosmer.
All the mages loosed their spells, and a great maelstrom of fire, ice and electricity engulfed the parts of the Wild Hunt that were not within the Siege Crawler's beam. The arched loosed their arrows, immediately reloading and firing again. The rain of arrows slew many of the freakish mutated Bosmer.
The Wild Hunt turned on its fallen and began to cannibalise them. This gave Raminus some time to recharge the Siege Crawler. While the machine was charging he let off his own blasts of powerful destruction magic into the hoard.
The Siege Crawler fired again, and more of the mutated Bosmer were incinerated. There was a break in the mages attack, many drinking potions to restore their magicka. The Wild Hunt took this opportunity to charge toward the army. The mages fell back, and the soldiers moved forward, arming themselves.
Ra'jissan slashed Trueflame at a jelly-like snake, which burst into flames. He thrust Hopesfire at a huge toad-like creature, which fell to the ground twitching as the electricity coursed through its body.
Mazoga swung her claymore, cleaving the heads from many god-faced centaur-like animals. She yanked her sword back up and stabbed a creature that only vaguely reminded her of a Minotaur.
Jauffre was fighting with the true spirit of the Blades. He hacked and slashed and stabbed his way through many foes.
Raminus punched the button to charge to Siege Crawler, then fired as many shock spells as he could into the maelstrom below, careful not to hit anyone on his side. The Siege Crawler fired and wiped out another good number of mutated Bosmer. No more hideous beasts came around the bend in the road.
Raminus looked around. Their army was slowly losing its numbers, but the Wild Hunt had even less. He fired a powerful shock spell at a beast that had just about torn Mazoga in half. She looked up at him gratefully, and swung her claymore decapitating another beast. Raminus ran down the length of the Siege Crawler, firing his spells at ever monster he could see. There were strange semi-metallic beasts everywhere, which were tearing at the Wild Hunt, but which were also being attacked by their own army.
"Not the metal ones!" Ra'jissan shouted over the sounds of battle.
The Arch-Mage felt his pocket grow warm. He pulled out his speaking stone.
"Not Now!" He barked to whoever was on the other end, and rammed the stone back into his pocket.
"Raminus! Look out!" Mazoga shouted, but she was too late.
Raminus jerked his head around and was struck by a tentacle from a large insectoid creature. The landed on the ground on the opposite side of the Siege Crawler from the beast, but the monstrosity went around. Raminus stood shakily, and faced the beast. The beast clicked its mandibles greedily and charged. Raminus raised his hand and filled the beast with electricity. The beast shook the attack off, and slammed into Raminus, knocking him down. Mazoga leapt at the beast, and with a swing of her claymore, not only nearly took Raminus' head off, she hewed off the creatures legs. The beast crashed to the ground, where Raminus finished it with the most powerful fire spell he could conjure in his panic.
"Thank you. Now throw me back up!" Raminus pleaded.
Mazoga shrugged and took the Imperial into her arms. She threw him with all her might, and he sailed up, crashing into the side of the Siege Crawler. He began to slide, but managed to catch one of the spines protruding from the machines top. He hauled himself up and ran to his control panel.
Another wave of the Wild Hunt rounded the corner in the road. Raminus hit the Charge button, and threw his destruction magic at the hoard. The remaining archers and mages took aim and fired.
The Siege Crawler fired again, incinerating many hideous mutated Bosmer in its conflagration. The Wild Hunt advanced, and Raminus charged the Siege Crawler again.
Suddenly, the Wild Hunt was being shot by arrows from the side. Raminus looked around. Standing on a ridge was Modryn Oreyn, and all the men he could muster.
They poured down the bank, and plunged into the thick of the Wild Hunt. Many of them were slain, but many more survived as they cut their way to the other side. Just as the last man climbed up the bank on the other side of the road, the Siege Crawler fired again, obliterating all traces of the Wild Hunt.
Raminus leaned over the control panel of the Siege Crawler, fatigue taking him. The last of the freakish creatures was destroyed and what remained of the army looked dazed, as if they couldn't believe they'd won.
Ra'jissan sheathed his two swords, and guzzled down half a restore fatigue potion before Mazoga stole it and glugged the rest of it down. Jauffre just sat down and began massaging his sore joints.
"I'm getting too old for this." He sighed, before he himself drank one of those revitalising potions.
Modryn Oreyn counted how many men he had left, and approached the Siege Crawler. He spotted the Arch-Mage looking the worse for wear, and climbed up.
"Arch-Mage?" He asked, shaking Raminus gently.
After receiving no response, Modryn tipped back Raminus' head, and tipped a restore fatigue potion into the Arch-Mages mouth. Raminus choked, spitting most of the potion back on Oreyn's face. He took the potion from Modryn and drunk it back.
"Thank you, my friend." Raminus told the Dark Elf.
"Don't mention it. You needed it more than me anyway." Modryn said, jumping from the Siege Crawler.
Raminus followed suit, and soon everyone was standing in a loose group.
"Alright men. We have won a great victory here today." Ra'jissan congratulated.
"But it is not over." He continued, eliciting groans from some of the men. "Valenwood has attacked us. We have a day, maybe two, before the Mane learns of our victory, and he'll move to retake Dune. Not if we get there first, I say." Ra'jissan told them.
"Jauffre." Ra'jissan called.
"Yes High Chancellor?" The old man asked.
"You take 25 good men, and stay here defending Riverhold. The rest of us will march to Dune." Ra'jissan told him.
Jauffre returned a grateful look.
"Send word to the garrisons at Fort Strand and Fort Istirus. All three armies will march on the Bosmer city of Arenthia. From there we can take Falinesti, which should be coming north by Hearthfire." Ra'jissan told his men, who scurried off to obey his orders.
"Modryn, Raminus and Mazoga. I' m returning to the Imperial City. The Elder Council will have my hide and resignation if I leave them again. Especially during negotiations with the Altmer. It's likely that I will not be returning to the battlefield." Ra'jissan told his three friends solemnly.
"Just leave it in our hands. We can take care of things." Raminus Polus said.
Modryn and Mazoga nodded.
"Right, may you walk on warm sands." Ra'jissan used recall and vanished.
"Well you've certainly become a lot more confident in your abilities since I saw you last." Modryn commented to the Arch-Mage.
"I just hope that confidence lasts." Raminus told his friend, shooting a worried look west, toward their next conquest.
Year 4E2 1st of Frostfall. The Elder Council Chambers, Imperial Palace, Cyrodiil.
"Thank You Ambassador. Welcome back to the Empire." The Empress Regent Ri'rassi shook hands with the Altmer ambassador, after successfully negotiating the High Elves return to Imperial Rule, and lifting the embargo.
The Altmer turned and left, with his escort.
Ri'rassi sat down at the Council Table, where only one or two other Council members were present.
"I think that went rather well." Word-Weaver commented.
"It did, I only wish I knew the status of the Wild Hunt situation. I could have killed the Arch-Mage by contacting him during battle. I hope they are alright." Ri'rassi said sadly.
"You nearly did kill him. If Mazoga hadn't been there Ocato would have to take back his old position." Ra'jissan's voice echoed into the chamber.
"I-I. I will apologise to Raminus when he returns to the Imperial City." Ri'rassi looked at her toes.
"Never mind. He's unfazed by the ordeal. Modryn Oreyn showed up in the nick of time. Saved all our hides that did." Ra'jissan sat heavily in one of the chairs around the table.
"I'm pleased Modryn Oreyn showed up. I told him to go to your aid after the incident with Raminus. What is the current situation there?" Ri'rassi asked.
"Jauffre and a few men are keeping Riverhold, while the rest move to capture Dune before the Mane gets a chance. I have left orders with Modryn, Raminus and Mazoga to march on Arenthia. From there we could have a clear shot at Falinesti." Ra'jissan laid out his plans.
"So when are you planning to leave us again, High Chancellor?" Word-Weaver asked, an accusing tone in his voice.
"I'm not. I do realise I have been neglecting my duties as High Chancellor, and I do not want to disappoint Ocato." Ra'jissan told the few present council members.
Word-Weaver nodded in acceptance.
"Council dismissed." Ra'jissan told them firmly, before going to see Ahnassi and their newborn daughter.