Skyrim is the property of Bethesda Softworks. I'm sorry to say it team, but this story is almost over. It feels like I'm stalling on going to work after hanging out with a very good friend. As often as I can, I'd like to thank you all for the faves and follows, but especially for the reviews you've tossed my way.
Tullius's army reached the approaches to Windhelm. As the gleaming columns of legionaries marched toward the immense double-gated bridge of Ulfric's city, the 77th Valenwood broke off broke off to the east to establish their camp and the main artillery park in the farms across the White River from the city's quays. Further on, the 25th Colovian broke west to pin down and drive out the garrison of Castle Morvunskar and thus secure the west against a counterattack from the Pale or Winterhold. Last, just out of the reach of the artillery of the defenders, General Tullius and Legate Rikke established their praetorium in the snow-covered pastures south of the town stables.
While half of the 9th Skyrim's soldiers dug the trenches for the camp, the other half waited in battle formation. The odd mage traded desultory fire with his or her counterparts on the city walls. The laboring soldiers threw up the Praetorian Gate opposite the terrifying aspect of Windhelm's protected bridge.
"The greatest man-trap in Skyrim," Tullius pronounced to Rikke and me as the three of us looked on Windhelm.
Jarl Ulfric and his generals had transformed Skyrim's old capital into a ferocious gauntlet to devastate Tullius's legions. The parapets were sheltered by steep-sloped roves of wood painted black. The upright stone eagles and dragon heads peeked out of the recent woodwork. Artillery hidden within the walls flung rocks at the nearby legions, trying the range and hoping to dissuade the Legion's engineers and mages from coming too close. Iron gates blocked each of the bridge's lesser arches, upon which the bravest of the rebel marksmen and battle mages waited for the onset. The roadway beneath those arches and the walls on the sides were thick enough that I guessed that some passage must allow soldiers into and out of the city proper at will. Barriers of all descriptions clogged the road over the bridge. That path ended before the mighty doors of Windhelm herself, flanked by broad towers with many slits and murder holes. The black doors were made of live oak studded with iron. A curtain of steel chains hung down before the door to interfere with the working of the ram already being assembled to breach that tremendous obstacle. Men and women milled about in the shadows above the walls, pointing and practicing their aim.
The sound of mallets pounding on hinges interrupted my appraisal. The soldiers were about to finish assembling the gate of the camp and close it. I stepped within the confines of the new wooden wall and looked back at Windhelm. High above the walls, on a spire atop the Palace of the Kings, a tremendous banner broke open. An awesome blue flag rippled in the strong winds above the city, displaying to the world the bear of Ulfric's noble house and his manly rejection of the Empire's dominion. The legionnaires closed the gate on us with a modest thump.
"So I came. So I see. So I will conquer," Tullius pronounced in the waiting silence.
I sincerely hope the next TES game gets a good handle on large-scale battles. I really do.