Chapter 3 – The Flood
That evening, a group of seven people left Chorrol, heading northeast along the mountain pass to Bruma. The numbers were not as great as Lando had hoped, but their experience would certainly help Bruma. As well as himself, the group was made from Alaina, the guards Roman Andrias, Marus Teritria and Endrich Amundus, and Viranus Donton and Ralus Odiil of the Fighters' Guild.
"We must ride fast without rest" Lando said as the group mounted up on horses. "It is imperative we reach Bruma before dawn. Roman, you're on point. Ralus, share a horse with Endrich and watch our backs. You've got a bow, use it if we get anything following us"
Everybody showed that they had understood Lando's orders and Roman began to ride swiftly towards the mountain pass that led to Bruma. Lando followed him, Alaina behind him, followed by Viranus, Marus and lastly Endrich and Ralus.
The road was tough and arduous, weaving in and out of the mountains. Grand Ayleid ruins scattered the roadside, and deer, wolves and other wildlife wandered through the trees.
At around 5 o'clock in the morning, Bruma at last came into view. The view of Bruma from the south was nothing short of stunning – the majestic stone walls surrounding the city, against the dramatic backdrop of the Jerall mountains. Behind Bruma, the majestic fortress of Cloud Ruler Temple was just about visible in the dawn light, whilst Dive Rock loomed high above the city to the east. In the clear morning, looking south it was possible to see the Imperial City, Cheydinhall and all the way down the Nibenay valley to the ruins of Bravil.
"Let's hope Bruma fares somewhat better than that" Endrich remarked.
As they approached Bruma, an elderly-looking man in a dark brown robe approached them from the guardhouse near the gate.
"You bear uniforms of the Chorrol guard" he said. "It's good to see you. I see Count Wavrick received our message"
Lando dismounted his horse and shook hands with the man. "Lando Armitage, Captain of the Chorrol guard"
"Jauffre, Grandmaster of the Blades" the man replied. "Your runner arrived yesterday evening. We are glad to lend our aid to fight for Bruma. We have helped save the city once, we shall do it again"
Jauffre was of course referring to the Battle of Bruma – a time when guards from every city in Cyrodiil had allied to defend Bruma against many Daedra whilst the Champion of Cyrodiil made a daring quest into Oblivion to recover a rare Daedric artifact.
"One day, Jauffre, the cities of Cyrodiil will be allied against a new foe, one almost as evil as the Daedra" Lando said.
"Bruma shall join forces with Chorrol… assuming we are still standing by the end of the day, of course"
"They're attacking in snow, up a hill, against some of the finest soldiers in Cyrodiil. Bruma is already safe" Roman remarked.
"Well, let's hope so. We have scouts watching the City for any signs of movement"
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Later that afternoon, Lando had joined the watch around the city walls. Most scouts were watching the road to the south, but there was a small chance the Legion could attempt an attack from Chorrol, to the west. Lando, however, had been positioned facing north, which he felt was extremely pointless considering the only road to the north went straight past Cloud Ruler Temple.
A member of the Blades, a young Redguard, approached Lando.
"I'm your relief, Captain Armitage. Go and take a break" he said.
"I'm sure I recognise you…" Lando said, looking at the Redguard.
"You're not mistaken" he replied. "The name's Baurus, we were both fighting in the Imperial City when Mehrunes Dagon attacked"
"That's right, I remember"
"You probably don't realise but I saved your life. There was a Dremora archer taking aim at you. I slayed him before he could release his arrow"
"Well, if you see any archers taking aim at me tonight, can you do the same?"
Baurus laughed. "I'll try my best, Captain. I just checked, you're not back on watch for another two hours"
"Baurus, I don't suppose you've seen an extremely beautiful Imperial woman with brown hair carrying a bow and arrow and wearing leather armour, have you?"
"As a matter of fact, I have, she's by the south gate with Viranus… Captain?"
Movement to the north had caught Lando's attention. A lone horseman was riding towards the city, and was around 300 yards away, riding down the hill from Cloud Ruler Temple. Baurus trained his eyesight on the horseman.
"He's Nordic, a missionary by the looks of his clothing"
"I used to have a friend with eyesight like yours" Lando said. "Open the gate but keep an eye on him"
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Jauffre cautiously approached the Nord, who sensed Jauffre's concern and removed his robe, revealing a tattered shirt and trousers underneath. He was unarmed.
"I merely come with word from Skyrim" the Nord said to Jauffre. "Azura came before our leaders telling them that Bruma was in need of aid, and that we should help them. Our leaders accepted. We cannot spare you any soldiers but our Greybeards are doing what they can to swing the balance in your favour. Just in case anything, you know, out of the ordinary happens, you know what's going on"
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Lando found Alaina, on watch with Viranus Donton by the south gate. He approached her and placed his arm around her.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine. What was that all about?"
"We've got the Nord Greybeards on our side. I don't know who they are…"
"It's the Nordic term for a wizard" Viranus said. "They're normally quite old, and when have you ever met a Nord without a beard?"
"Never" Lando said. "And that includes the women!"
Viranus and Alaina burst out laughing.
"Watch what you say, Captain! They're on our side now!" Viranus said.
Lando took Alaina away to one side. Viranus tried to make it look like he wasn't listening in, but they both knew he was.
"Stay with me in the battle" Lando said to Alaina. "We seem to be quite effective when we fight together"
Alaina grinned at Lando. "What you actually mean is that I constantly save your hide when you take on more than you can handle!"
"What about when you first found me? Who killed those bandits?" Lando retorted.
"I suppose" Alaina said. "Either way, we watch each other's backs, right?"
"Right" Lando said, placing his arms around Alaina and holding her close to his body. Alaina leaned forwards and gently kissed Lando on the lips.
"It's cold today, even for Bruma" Lando said. "I wonder why?"
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Two hours later, Lando was preparing to go back on watch, and was walking towards the north gate, when the bell in the chapel tower suddenly began ringing, loudly and rapidly. It was an alarm. Lando spun round and began running back towards the south gate, where Jauffre intercepted him.
"We've just sighted the Legion! Two hundred strong, half an hour away if that!"
"Two hundred?" Lando said in shock. "We haven't a chance!"
"But we will fight anyway. I am prepared to make sure Bruma's downfall is worthy of the history books!"
"And my men will help you" Lando said. "We need to get all our ranged soldiers up on the battlements, and damage them as much as we can before they reach the city walls"
"Yes. And we cannot send any soldiers out of the gates to fight as you did in Chorrol. The risk is too great"
Jauffre ran off to the north to assemble all the archers he could, whilst Lando returned to the south gate.
"Two hundred men in half an hour!" Lando shouted as soon as he was within earshot of the guards assembled by the gate. "All marksmen to the south battlements now!"
There was commotion as people began to make their way to the battlements and ready their bows. But there was another sound underneath it – a distant, rumbling sound.
"What in the Nine is that?" Viranus said. "It's getting louder!"
"It's coming from the North!" Lando said. "Ralus, come with me! We'll go and investigate!"
Lando and Ralus, the Fighters' Guild man, began to run along the battlements to the north. As they did, the roaring got unbearably loud until there was an almighty crash as something slammed into the north wall with tremendous force…
…and an enormous surge of water reared up over the North wall!
"What in Oblivion is going on!" Ralus said. He turned and began to run as fast as he could towards the south gate. A wave of water gushed over the north wall and began flowing down the three tiers of the city. The north gate began to creak and groan under the strain.
"Everybody get up on the battlements!" Lando yelled. "Open the south gate!"
"Open the gate?" Viranus shouted back at him. "The Legion are about to attack? Have you lost your mind?"
"Just do it, you fool!" Lando bellowed back. Viranus and another guard swung open the large wood and metal doors, then ran for their lives up onto the battlements.
What happened next was nothing short of incredible. The north gate gave way and was blasted from its hinges as a raging torrent of water careered through the archway into the city. The flood raged through Bruma, cascading down the terraced northern half of the city in spectacular waterfalls, all being funnelled out of the south gate. Here, the torrent met the water that had flowed around either side of Bruma and gathered into an enormous foaming wall of water, which roared down the mountain. Straight into the advancing Legion army.
Apart from the roar of the water, there was no sound. Everyone watched the event unfold in stunned amazement until Roman broke the silence.
"I'd say that's another victory…"
Midnight, Bruma town centre
"Damage to the town was minimal and we can have the gates repaired long before Avidius can launch another attack" Jauffre said. "Thank you very much for your help, soldiers of Chorrol"
"It's not as if we did much" Marus said as he mounted his horse.
"Maybe not, but it was good to have allies in any case. You're sure your men will not remain for the night, Captain Armitage?"
"No, we must get back to Chorrol" Lando said. "Count Wavrick fears another attack may be imminent. I think he's wrong, but we've been ordered to return as soon as we can"
"What do you think happened?" Alaina asked Lando as the group rode out of Bruma. "Where could that much water have come from?"
"Who knows" Lando replied. "There could have been a landslide into a lake up in the Jerall mountains. It can cause enormous floods like that. It's been known to happen before"
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As the group rode along the road back to Chorrol, it began to snow. This was a common occurrence in the northern parts of Cyrodiil, but as they headed further south-west the snowstorm did not cease. The blanket of snow quickly became thicker, and soon the horses were finding it too difficult to move through the snow.
"We must stop and find shelter!" Lando shouted over the noise of the howling wind.
"I saw a cave entrance just up the hill to the north!" Ralus called. "We should make for there!"
The group dismounted their horses and began to lead them up the hillside to the cave entrance. Lando reached it first. He tried the worn wooden door that was covering its entrance, but the rusted hinge had long since seized up. He threw his weight against the door, ripping it off its hinges.
"We're in" Lando said to the group. "Roman, Marus, Ralus, help me secure the cave. The rest of you, get a fire started and see what supplies we have"
Marus and Ralus drew their bows whilst Roman unsheathed his sword.
"Wait!" Alaina called to them before they walked into the cave. She handed Lando a silver amulet glowing with an ethereal light.
"I helped Angalmo make it when we were in Chorrol, and he let me keep it. It will shine like the sun when anyone wears it"
Lando thanked Alaina and placed the amulet around his neck. Immediately a bright light flooded through the cave entrance, strangely not seeming to emit from anywhere in particular. With this, Lando ran into the cave, followed by Roman, Marus and Ralus.
They emerged in a small cavern, with shallow rockpools scattered along its floor, and cairn bolete mushrooms sprouting near the water.
"Mushrooms for breakfast, then" Marus remarked.
In the light given off by Lando's amulet, a small opening leading to another part of the cavern was visible.
"We should investigate" Marus said. "I'll go on point"
Marus ran into the opening, Roman following, and Ralus and Lando bringing up the rear. Suddenly a bloodcurdling roar of pain came from the opening.
"Marus has been hit!" Roman shouted. "We've got archers!"
"Get him back here!" Lando ordered. "Ralus, engage them!"
"I've got a Night-Eye potion!" Ralus said as Roman began dragging Marus back into the cavern. Marus had been hit in the chest, and the arrow had pierced his leather armour.
Ralus drank half of the Night-Eye potion and gave the rest to Lando. Lando took Alaina's amulet off, plunging the cavern back into darkness, save from the dawn light flooding through the small entrance to the cavern. Roman dragged Marus into the light.
"Alaina! Get down here now!" Lando shouted. He took Marus's bow and a few arrows and followed Ralus through the small tunnel.
The cavern they came out in was enormous, vaulting up to a height of a few hundred feet, and was covered in ornate rock formations. Most striking, however, was that there was a fortress built into the western wall of the cavern. And on the battlements, two zombies stood with bows. Now Lando's light had been extinguished, they could no longer see Lando and Ralus. But Ralus could see them, thanks to his potion, and skilfully bought one of them down with an arrow. Before the other zombie had time to realise what was going on, Ralus hit it with another arrow.
"It's clear" Ralus said.
"There could be hundreds more in there" Lando said. "This is the kind of place where Necromancers gather. It isn't safe"
"We are fighters, Lando! Surely we can make it safe?"
"We are too few in number. No-one knows how large that fort could be inside. We must continue, either until we find shelter or until we reach Chorrol"