GRAVE DIGGING
The Harbinger
It is strange watching Eve converse with one of the Princes. Any sane man would be cowering under their power and influence. But not her, she has them bickering and on the edge of snapping. I wish to warn her that this is not wise. But she's been fine so far on her journeys.
"You've come. The draugr infesting Namira's sanctuary are inside." The strange woman addresses us, "I can help you if you wish."
Eve's face creases in worry. She glances at the carriage then the cave. I can tell what she's thinking, we don't need the help but to leave her here with Gabriel might be foolish. Even if he has a great bear to defend him with. "Come with us." She says after short deliberation.
"I was hoping you'd say that." The woman smiles and chills race up my arms. I need to keep an eye on her, something tells me she might double cross us.
What's the plan? Vilkas asks.
I open my mind to both my companions. Fight. But also keep your eye out. I do not trust this woman. Vilkas, you and I will stay at the back of the group, we will let Eve and Brynjolf go first. Aerin, you stay in the center and be ready to wield magic when necessary.
The others agree when I tell them our plan. The woman in bandit armor just looks on me with an unreadable expression. "Let's go." Eve says and takes charge. She runs ahead with Brynjolf and Aerin is left in the center with the woman.
Great, another person to keep my eye on. I have no doubt Aerin can defend himself but if it's a sneak attack he won't see her coming.
Make sure Aerin is safe. I command Vilkas. He gets closer to me but takes up the rear of the group. In draugr crypts it is not uncommon for the dead to rise where you walk but also behind you. This is how most adventurers become overwhelmed.
"The draugr are down here. Foul tasting creatures." The woman whispers. I peer over the incline we are walking down. Sure enough there are five draugr waiting for us. Eve and Brynjolf jump into the fray without care for their surroundings. Vilkas takes the back and I'm readying Grimsever when a powerful draugr shouts at me.
I go flying across the cavern only to fall into the arms of other rising draugr. I yell as they pull on my armor, trying to reveal my weak spots. A firebolt nearly incinerates my hair but kills the one above me. I send Aerin a thankful smile before landing Grimsever right in the neck of the other.
Across from me the great draugr overlord prowls. He is decked out in elaborate Nord armor that great warriors are buried in. It is clever armor, almost as good as my own. It covers the most sensitive areas and is mostly durable to powerful attacks. This is why I go straight for the neck, right below the jawbone.
I yell, run across the way and plunge Grimsever home. The draugr is fighting, trying to shout again to get me away but it is no use. He falls dead at my feet.
The groups is all accounted for so we continue on. Further down the crypt we are assaulted by more low level draugr and another deathlord. That one was difficult to kill but took less time with all of us focusing our efforts on him.
The real challenges are the draugr deathlords we find in the final dining hall. Eve and Bryn take on one, along with the woman, the rest of us are left with the stronger of the two. He stands from the opposing end of the table and shouts.
Me and Aerin go flying. Vilkas stands strong and runs to meet his blade with the axe the draugr wields.
"How do we get him?" Aerin asks, already lighting up with power.
I consider, Aerin could stay on the side and fling magic, or he could change. But then he would be more vulnerable up close. "Fight with flame from here and I will change." I make the decision.
I call to the power. The moon guides me, transforms me. And with Hircine's ring it doesn't hurt nearly as much. Once my limbs have rearranged themselves, I race across the way to bury my claws and fangs into the draugr. He screams but falls dead with the racing of my claws down his torso.
"Good idea." I hear from the other side of the room. A scream sounds along with a smattering of blood. I turn, expecting the woman to be dead but instead I find a great gargoyle-like beast taking on the draugr. Brynjolf and the woman watch on in horror.
I race to their side, did the draugr get another creature to do their bidding?
"It's Eve." Brynjolf holds a hand out to me and I have to stop myself from snapping at it. The cannibal woman is now looking at me in wonder. I hear my companions making exclamations in my mind, but I ignore them and shift myself.
When I'm panting on the ground in my human form, Eve slices the draugr in half. He falls to the ground in multiple pieces. I marvel at the sight, a tall gargoyle, she looks like the female version of Molag Bal if I were to compare her to anyone. Elaborate wrappings that serve as clothing cover her body. Resting on her neck is a beautiful ruby gem. She still has hair, now colored white and braided down the back unlike her normal hair. Her wings are what draw my eye though, they are strong at the bone but flare out into thin membranes. They don't look like they could feasibly lift her off the ground, but I am guessing that is all the work of magic.
The beast stares back in hatred. I reach for Grimsever but in an instant her form explodes. Blood and flesh fly everywhere, so much so that I need to shield myself. In its place stands a bloodied Eve.
"Sorry, forgot you didn't know about that power." She grins sheepishly.
No, I did. Vorstag mentioned it in his "Ballad of the Night", but I had forgotten. "You don't use it much." I mention.
"Yeah, only in dire situations that call for it." She looks around the room, "This must be the place, right?"
"Yes, you've done it." The woman has the widest smile I've seen on a person, "The shrine is ours now. We need to prepare a grand feast to welcome you all to Namira's coven. I trust that you both are hungry after your transformations?"
I look away from her, I never really like engaging with criminals and I especially don't want to engage with cannibals.
"A bit but we're fine." Eve continues the charade.
"Not to worry. You will have the honor of bringing a fresh kill for the main course. And I know the perfect person."
My companions have found us and now all eyes are on the devilish woman. "Hm, whos' that?" Eve asks.
"A priest, filled with the taste of an easy life. Brother Verulus, from Markarth." The woman grins again. At first glance, her eyes are hollow, but I am starting to see the malice in them. I clench my teeth. This is the priest who was kind enough to let us into the Hall of the Dead.
"Give him some gold. Tell him you need Arkay's help exploring an old cavern for treasure." She continues outlining her horrible plan, "And when he stands in Namira's presence, she will take care of the rest." Her eyes glance over my form. I know what she sees: a woman with barely concealed rage. I keep my opinions to myself and avert my eyes so she can't see how much this angers me.
Eve is as stunned as the rest of us. "We'll see what we can do. Got to go. You're staying here?"
"I must prepare." She glides off the stone we stand on and climbs the steps to the altar. Eve motions for us to follow her up a long winding cave that most crypts have. It's a quick exit back to the overland.
Who's Brother Verulus again? What are we doing with him? Aerin asks.
Mjoll, we don't have to stay and watch this. Vilkas solemnly reminds me.
I keep clenching my teeth the whole way up and don't speak to any of them until the carriage is in sight. Clavicus Vile is passing another teacup to Gabriel as we approach them.
"And how was it? Find any good bodies to feed from?" Clavicus sneers. His dog comes bounding down to run straight to Eve. He then hesitantly approaches us Companions, I noticed he's been taking a liking to us recently.
"Eve." I call to her before she can start in on a long-winded story with the Daedra.
"Yeah? What's up? Sorry about the transformation by the way, should've given you a heads up."
I shake my head in frustration, "No. That is not it. We cannot do this. We can't lead an innocent man to death then the certainty of having his corpse defiled."
I should not have said that. Gabriel turns and throw ups over the carriage and onto the frozen ground. Clavicus Vile breaks out into a fit of laugher. "That's what dear sister asks? I knew she would be cruel, but I didn't know what trick she had up her sleeve! Oh, that is funny!"
"Can you tell her we won't do it?" I ask the Daedra. I am not foolish enough to anger him or defy him. But this is wrong.
He props his head up on his fist. "And? Miss out on another Artifact? If you think we're gonna do that then you've got another thing coming…unless you would want to make a deal?"
"Nope not happening. Ignore him." Eve steps in the way, "Usually there's some sort of loophole with these people. Just trust me on that okay?" She pleads.
I can't shake the feeling that this will go terribly wrong no matter what. But I oblige. I climb into the carriage with my companions and we discuss matters the whole way to Markarth.
If it makes you feel better, he seems pretty old. Aerin says. I give him a withering look.
So, he should be eaten for it?
No, no, that's not what I'm saying. Well, maybe I am but I don't mean it. I mean we need this Artifact or else the world is plunged into chaos.
I know what he's getting at. He sees this man as a noble sacrifice. Ah, Aerin do not disappoint me like that. You know better. We cannot throw one person to the fire for the sake of the others.
But it's certain that everyone will die without this Artifact. He argues.
I think on that. He is correct, this Artifact is necessary, but I vehemently disagree with our methods to obtain it.
Eve said there is a loophole. Vilkas mentions.
I nod. That is also correct. Eve is over conversing with the Daedric Prince of Deals now. I wish I could telepathically ask her what this loophole is. But the gift only works with my pack. I'm going to check in with Aela and Farkas. I tell the other two.
My other companions are holding down Jorrvaskr for the time being. Last I checked in with them they were extremely bored, but things will be different now.
Aela. Farkas. I say.
Mjoll! How are things? Her voice comes to me clearly.
Mjoll! I knew you'd never abandon us. Farkas states.
Fine. Having a bit of trouble. Anything new in Whiterun?
Same old, same old. Farkas grumbles. We heard about Winterhold though, you think the Night Mother will be coming here next? I feel his anticipation. A fight for the Hold would be just the excitement these two needed…and it would be their undoing. If all the Northern Holds had been taken so easily then nothing but these Artifacts will stop her.
And then I come back to the problem at hand. I rub my forehead to keep the stress from affecting me. I have a question, a matter to ask you two.
Go on. Aela says.
I pause, Eve never said it was confidential information, but would this leak come back to us?
Mjoll, what is it?
We are with the Daedric Princes as you know, looking for all the Artifacts but this new Prince, she wants us to pay a steep price. I settle for the truth and outline our situation. There is a moment of silence before someone speaks.
Tough. Very tough but he'd be doing something very noble. Farkas says. I sigh, I'm not sure if he truly grasped the gravity of it all.
Sister, I do not envy your position. Is there any alternative? Aela asks.
There might be, I'm not sure what that is yet.
Keep searching. Is all she says. The rest of the conversation is unproductive on this matter. We go over training for the newer companions, forging more weaponry, and the Jarl's plan of defenses in case the Night Mother arrives, or if dragons attack.
It is another hour later when we reach Markarth. Everyone slowly gets off the carriage, as if the stiffness of the long ride was too much, but I know it's from the weariness of what we're about to do.
"Girl, I'll stay here." Gabriel addresses Eve.
She nods, back in her own world and takes the lead of the group. I glance at Vilkas who only nods towards the city doors. Ready?
Not at all.
We will be fine. He says calmly. How can he be so sure?
Markarth is dead today, there aren't many people milling about in the shops but from the looks of it the Silver-Blood Inn was more rowdy than usual. I can still feel the fear in the air over the Night Mother. When we came here to meet with Eve, I asked a local shopkeeper how his business has been. He said it was fine for the most part since Markarth is a popular and thriving city, but less people were traveling nowadays.
It's as if everyone has been waiting with bated breath, wondering if the Night Mother will strike Markarth or Whiterun first. I suppose Windhelm is still in that category but with the Stormcloaks, it is not as desirable as the western Holds.
"Here we go." Brynjolf whispers when Eve pushes into the Keep. I clench the hilt of Grimsever. If I could defend him with this sword from the cannibals, then I would. But Vilkas and Aela are right, we need to wait and see how things will play out before making such an inflammatory move.
"Hey, we're back. We need a priest to accompany us to a tomb. For daedra hunting." Eve addresses the man.
"You are looking for Arkay's protection while you delve some dank tomb, I take it?" He replies, "However, my duties keep me busy in Markarth. I don't know if I can help you."
Eve glances around, consulting with those we can't see. "Fine, how's a little coin talk to you?" She hands him a very large pouch that had to be filled with over a thousand septims.
He takes it and the weight pushes his hands down. "Wow, that's no small amount of coins, friend. I suppose I can come with you for a short venture. Lead on."
My heart sinks with this exclamation from him. How easy it was for him to turn on his duties for a hefty amount of gold. I just watch him pass us with hooded eyes. Vilkas grabs my hand and Aerin starts talking some nonsense to get me to laugh. It does little to clear my mood.
The carriage ride back to Reachcliff Cave is longer than the previous two before it. I keep my head on Vilkas's shoulder while Aerin continues with his stories for all to hear. I waver between listening and becoming engrossed to thinking back to the task at hand. There has to be a way to stop this.
I glance over at the priest. He is sitting with Eve and an undoubtedly invisible Clavicus Vile. He seems very nice, and even though the septims swayed him, he is good at his job. But in the end no matter who he is, he doesn't deserve to be murdered and defiled by cannibals.
The carriage pulls up to the cave right as dusk starts to set over the Reach. Gabriel lays his head in his hands and doesn't budge. We are in agreement he will stay watch outside. We all get out as somberly as before, but the priest is talking erratically. Eve is leading him on, saying there is probably treasure in these caves. I give her a worried glance but find her eyes are darting this way and that. She is as desperate for an exit as I am.
I want to be ahead of the group, charge ahead and shield all the innocent from the daedric like humans inside. But I am stopped.
"Psssst."
Clavicus Vile in the flesh is standing at the edge of the cave with a wicked smile on his face. "Don't tell Eve this but I found a loophole for dear sister."
Vilkas and Aerin pass me at first, they don't see Clavicus. "No, no, I don't want the others to hear. I mean you're the Harbinger. The most important one so you get the most important information!"
I bristle, "What is the cost?"
"Cost? Bah, I'd say it's for free, but nothing is ever for free, is it?" He smiles and flips a septim in the air.
Someone whines next to me and I look down to see the dog Barbas watching me with worried eyes. I pet him. "I need to know the cost."
"Well, let's just say I might need you to run an errand later on. How's that?"
I want to snap at him. I know the Daedric Princes are deceitful and can pull you into their web of lies as easily as a spider can wind up a fly. But the receding footsteps tell me time is running short. And the grin Clavicus Vile is giving says he knows that as well.
"Fine. One small errand to fetch you something at a later date. Without killing anyone or torturing them." I state clearly. He would have to follow these terms and conditions.
"Deal." His grin widens.
"Mjoll." Vilkas grabs my arm. I shake him off. "I'm fine. Tell me the loophole."
"Alright, alright, so pesky! Here it is. Namira's got this ring that supposedly gives you strength when you eat the dead. How that will help fight the Night Mother, I don't know. But think about it for a second. What is the socially acceptable form to eat the human dead?"
I give him a puzzled look before Aerin tries to pull me away. "They're about to meet the cannibals." He whispers.
"One second." The answer comes to me easily, "A werewolf." One would think that would be frowned upon in our society, but Kodlak said the blood of our enemies only extends the bloodlust. And I know Aela is one to follow those rules well.
The Daedric Prince snaps his fingers. "Precisely! She doesn't mind if the cannibals are doing the eating as a sacrifice or the wolf. She never specifically laid out those rules."
I give him a look of hope before I realize, "That doesn't save the priest."
He comically leans over and holds a hand to his mouth as if sending the secret only to me. "Newsflash, she never said who the sacrifice had to be either, just that the priest had to be brought to her. Oh, and before anything. Make sure the priest blesses them from Arkay." He sniggers.
My eyes widen with this revelation and before I can give a proper thanks, I am running into the cave as quick as I possibly can. The others struggle to keep up behind me.
"Who…who are you? What's going on?" The priest asks. Eve and Brynjolf stand next to him as if they are his guards.
"Priest of Arkay. I'm your friend." The woman stands from the banquet table filled with all the other cannibals. Her expression is disgusting, it's as if she is looking at dinner, which I suppose she is.
"You're my…friend." The priest asked in a confused manner.
"Yes. I'm your friend, and I've invited you to dinner." The woman continues in a slower voice.
"I've been invited to dinner…I'm so hungry…" The priest says, I give him a look. He seems to be under some sort of mind control.
"Why don't you lay down and rest, while we get the meal ready?" The woman gently prods him.
"I need to lay down. I'll be just a minute." The priest passes me in a daze. The others look onto him with fear, and cannibals look on with anticipation.
"This is it, let him go sit at sister's altar, after he is 'witnessed' you work your magic." Clavicus whispers in my ear. Eve gives me a look of astonishment before he disappears. I try to convey to her to keep quiet but based on where she looks, it sounds like the Prince has done it for me.
"Come with me. Our feast is about to begin." The woman beckons to Eve to follow her, she does and so do I.
Stay with Brynjolf and watch the others, be ready to defend us if they try to attack us. I say to Aerin and Vilkas. They reply their consent, so I follow the others up the grand stairs to the altar.
The priest is about to lay down when I clench his arm. "They need to be blessed." I whisper. He looks to the woman across from me. "You are blessed by the divine Arkay." He grumbles then he falls soundly asleep on the altar table.
The woman gives me a dirty look but still says, "The meat is on Namira's table. Go ahead, carve." She addresses only Eve. I look to my companion. "Keep her back while I change." Is all that I say before Oblivion breaks loose.
I fall to the ground with the Ring of Hircine, changing faster than I have before. The woman screams and shouts sound from down below. But the men are keeping the other cannibals at bay. When I rise as the White Wolf, the woman gives me a look of pure terror.
I shove the priest from the altar table with the top of my head and pull the woman back to it by her shoulders. She is screaming and reaching for any weapon she can, but it is too late. I tear her throat out, letting the blood and flesh run down my own. I hope it is enough.
"Good Child, eat some more." A voice says from up above. I recoil at the idea of feasting more on the dead. But it is our only chance. I pull the woman onto the table and go for her stomach, blood and flesh mingle with each bite. I only look up right before I reach her organs. I have some limits.
"White Wolf, I am Namira, the Lady of Decay. Your consumption of blood and bile of Arkay's own is pleasing to me."
I retreat from the altar. The woman is absolutely flayed alive on it. It is the scene of a murder but also the scene of a butchering. I shake and against my own will, transform back into my human self.
"I give you my ring. Wear it, and when you feast on the flesh of the dead, I will grant you my power." Her voice seems to boom from above, I fall to my knees in the presence. By all the gods, what have I done?
The woman before me, dead on the table, is not an innocent woman. But did her crimes justify her end? Is that how anyone should go?
Eve lays a calming hand on my shaking shoulders. I'm not exactly sobbing, just frightened in the gravity of it all. "Here. She wants this for you."
She holds out a ring to me. I never saw the exchange, but I suppose she showed herself to Eve and gave her the ring. I take it in numb hands. More words are exchanged among them. Eventually, Eve helps me to rise and turns me back to the entrance.
Down below the carnage isn't much better. I keep that image to help myself. All the cannibals down here were as torn and bloodied as the woman up above. "Mjoll, are you okay?" Vilkas meets me at the beginning of the great banquet table.
"I'm alright." I lie, "The priest is still up there. Someone needs to get him" I remember.
Aerin begins to run up the stairs. I want to tell him not to fear with what he sees but he is gone before I can say anything. So, I open my mind to his. In come a flood of images from above. The bloodied woman, Aerin's shock and extreme fear, it is poignant. The extreme emotion that I caused. But then he glances over her and finds the sleeping priest no worse for wear.
"Come back, Mjoll." Vilkas shakes me again, "Are you alright? You don't seem it."
"I'll be fine." I say again, as if the voice is not my own.
"Take her to the carriage, get her warm, some food." Brynjolf addressed Vilkas. Before I can protest, I'm scooped up in his arms and carried outside.
"I am not cold. I can't get cold." I whisper to him. Everyone knows the White Wolf was born and forged in the frigid frozen north.
"You might not feel it, but you are." Is all he says.
When I'm good and bound up in the carriage, and have a bellyful of food and water, however precarious it is, he speaks to me again.
"How'd it go? Did the priest make it?" Clavicus sits next to me with bright eyes and on the opposite side from Vilkas. My companions don't see him. If the Princes weren't with us, if this weren't normal, then I would assume I'm hallucinating.
"He is safe." Is all I say. But then, "I forgot how much blood someone has. To kill them with fangs or a blade is easy, but to tear them apart. To actually want to eat them…" I keep my voice quiet, so the carriage driver doesn't hear.
The normally jovial and pretentious Prince grows somber. "Indeed. That is dear sister's calling though. Sounds like you did it. Just rest assured it was the cannibal, who has committed atrocious crimes in your eyes, and not the sweet innocent priest." He pats my knee.
When he leaves and the others come back, I keep those words close to my heart. Especially when I see the priest, happy to be awake and done with the cave. "Need to get back." He addresses the crowd in the carriage, "That was a fun side trip. Thank you again for the coin, it will go to good use in the Hall of the Dead."
I keep my eyes on his face. It very well could have been him. It would have been easy, but I was graced with a far better alternative. I feel the second ring on my finger. I don't know how we will use it, but for everyone's sake I hope we won't need it.
Cicero's Journal Entry
11th of Sun's Height, 4E 202
Cicero keeps writing…so many entries. But he must scribble this thought down before we see the Innkeeper! What if Mother wants the Redguard as her second in command? Instead of sweet Cicero?!
Could it be? Would she? No. Surely not… Mother needs someone fast and strong with her. Or else she would have asked the Redguard with her to the Thalmor Embassy.