Aldis I
Solitude was quiet that morning as I set off for the palace. The young, High King would have a busy day of petitions and peasants, foreign dignitaries and politics. Of that, I was not jealous. I would spend all day pacing back and forth in front of the new recruits of Skyrim's Fourth Legion. I was second in command of Skyrim's forces, serving directly under Legate Rikke.
I needed to focus on shield work. The Legion could take more than most forces because we let the enemy beat their selves on our shields while we hack them up with our swords. Although, if the elves came back we would be screwed. Our shields weren't enchanted and our grouping together would be busted apart by the fireballs thrown by the mages of the Dominion.
We were at peace, but everyone was still preparing for war. At my last meeting with Rikke we had talked about battle plans against the Thalmor depending on where they attacked from. If their golden ships came from the Northern seas, or from the passes of Cyrodiil or High Rock we would have a plan. It was my job to train these farm hands and miners into Legionnaires.
"Captain Aldis. Captain Aldis." A voice called out from across the courtyard. A young Breton wearing the Imperial light armor of the scouts and couriers ran up to me. Fist striking chest she gave me the salute.
"At ease, Private Morrard. Report." I nodded. I tried to learn anyone's name who made it through basic and was stationed in Solitude. Morrard had normally served as the go between Rikke and myself.
"High King Torygg wants to see you, sir." She nodded. Well this was peculiar. I normally did not get word from Torygg. I called the men to attention and sent them for a lunch break. "One hour break. Be back here training in one hour. No getting drunk." I looked to some of our newer Nords. "Get back here and do a warm up run. Sweat out anything you shouldn't have eaten." Fist to chest. The soldiers responded and entered Castle Dour for their grub. Turning back to Private Morrard I followed her to the Blue Palace.
Inside was the regular royal court. Torygg sitting slouched on his throne, the way he had seen men like Ulfric Stormcloak do as a boy. Falk Firebeard stood with his arms crossed leering at us as we approached. The court wizard was also close at hand. Her glowing eyes revealing her true nature. On Torygg's right stood his housecarl, Bolgier Bearclaw. The Thanes of the court milled around, discussing amongst themselves what was happening. An Imperial commoner stood nervously in front of everyone.
"Captain Aldis." Torygg rose from his seat.
"My Jarl." I took to a knee. The private following my example. When we stood I dismissed her to her duties.
"Varnius Junius, of Dragon Bridge. Repeat what you have told the court to Captain Aldis." Torygg told the Imperial.
"I swear to you, unnatural magics are coming from that cave! There are strange noises and lights! We need someone to investigate!" He began to shout. It was not a rude shout, but one of panic.
""Then we will immediately send out a legion to scour the cave and secure the town. Haafingar's people will always be safe under my rule." Toryyg proclaimed proudly.
Falk rolled his eyes and the vampire stared blankly at the Imperial farmer. It was like she had not heard Torygg's claim. I would not tell him that a legion would be an inefficient way of handling the situation. The Fourth Legion was all of Skyrim's Imperial soldiers. To send an entire legion would be ridiculous overkill.
"Th...thank you, my Jarl thank you." Varnius stammered. He meekly bowed his head and backed away from the King.
"Your eminence, my scrying has suggested nothing in the area. Dragon Bridge is under imperial control. This is likely superstitious nonsense." Sybille's eyes never left Varnius. She looked at the man the way a starved dog looks at a cat.
"Perhaps a more... tempered reaction... might be called for?" Falk suggested.
"Perhaps you are right. Captain Aldis, would you send an extra detachment of men to Dragon Bridge?" Torygg grinned at me. He may have asked but it was no real question. He was just polite.
"Yes, my Jarl." I nodded my head.
The man began to panic. "B…B…B… but what about the cave?"
"I will have someone take care of the cave as well Varnius, you can rest easy. You're dismissed." Torygg told the man. Varnius looked relieved when he turned to leave the Palace.
"Captain Aldis, would you lead a group of men to this Wolfskull cave and investigate if there is anything going on?" Torygg turned his head to me.
"Of course, I will only need Adventus, and Ahtar." I replied.
"Well see to it. Falk will make the arrangements for your men while you are away." The High King told me and with that I knew I was dismissed.
Several hours later, we had killed the skeletons guarding the cave. With undead guarding the place, and not even draugr at that, I knew that something was up.
We entered the first chamber and took out the undead sentries. Darker things were to come if the "easy to kill" sentries were undead. No wonder the common folk were scared.
As we progressed further through the cave we fought our way through several waves of necromancers. After wave on wave of dark mages attacking us, undead attacking us, hell everything attacking us, we came to a hole in the ground. There was nowhere else to go but down.
Ahtar did not hesitate. He jumped right through the hole. His axe ready for someone to stick their head out. Adventus and I looked to each other to see who would go next. He nodded to himself and jumped and /I followed as soon as I was clear.
I had just gotten my bearings when several purple streams of energy began pouring from the very walls of the caverns. The dark cave was lit with the arcane light giving off a purple glow. I turned to see what would have been a castle in more ancient times, but now stood in ruin. The unworldly glow also illuminated the many necromancers we would fight through on our way.
When we made it through the many people here trying to do Divines knows what a loud voice called out.
"Wolf Queen. Hear our call and awaken. We summon Potema!" A loud voice called out.
"We summon Potema!" A chorus of people chanted. Okay, freaky cult was not in the job description.
"Long have you slept the dreamless sleep of death, Potema. No longer. Hear us Wolf Queen! We Summon You!" The first voice called out again.
"We summon Potema!" Again with the chants. I did not get paid enough for this.
Adventus shot a sentry off a walkway above the stairs we needed to climb. We entered the next room and fought off the occupants. Ahtar buried his axe in someone's neck, almost beheading the bastard. Tough luck he didn't.
Then a voice that sent chills down my spine called out.
"Yes! Yes! Return me to this realm!"
"As our voices summon you the blood of the innocent binds you Wolf Queen!" It was the ring leader of the cult.
"Summoned with words. Bound by blood." Came the cult.
"What! What are you doing?! You fools! You cannot bind me to your wills!" The disembodied voice shouted. How does something shout without a body? How does something talk without a body? Damn magic. Damn the mages who twist things.
"Summoned with words. Bound by blood." Seriously. If I could beat my companions to killing the weird cultists I would. From the looks on Adventus' and Ahtar's faces it would be a close race.
"You ants don't have the power to bind me!" The voice of Potema Septim laughed.
We made our way around the final bend killing four more necromancers when we heard her voice again. "Something is wrong. There is an intruder." Seriously woman? None of us were sneaking. We were not being quiet and trying to surprise her.
At the top of the tower, we found the ritual master in the middle of some occult symbol with a ball of blue energy coming from her body and those of dead around her. Looking out across the cavern I saw that all the people we had killed were giving off this energy. I walked up behind the woman.
"For crimes committed against Skyrim and her people I sentence you to death." My sword ran through her stomach. The purple glow died as the light left her eyes.
We returned to Solitude where we each gave an after action report to the court of Torygg. Falk did the usual speech, "we did the hold such a great blessing." It was garbage. What mattered was that Torygg's throne was safe. For now…