Morthal hadn't changed much since the war, as far as Naspia was concerned. Other than their slightly cheerier disposition after the incident with the vampires in a cave not far off. No, Morthal was still pretty much the same, save a few new faces, mainly being the refugees of Windhelm who chose to start new lives elsewhere, rather than try and rebuild what was lost.

"Dragonborn, what are you doing here?" A town guard asked in general surprise.

"We came to speak to the Jarl." She replied, raising an eyebrow at the question. "Am I no longer welcome here?"

"Of course not, Dragonborn." The guard replied, gesturing toward the longhouse. "It's just no one has seen nor heard of any new exploits of yours in some time. What is your business with the Jarl?"

"A little trouble at Fort Snowhawk." Akonus informed the man as they approached the Jarl's longhouse. The guard shrugged and opened the door for them before returning to his patrol. Akonus looked across the firepit at the elderly woman sitting in her throne, obviously deep in thought.

"Dragonborn?" She crowed as she peered across the room at them. "And you brought the Akaviri with you, too, huh?"

"He's no threat to you, Jarl Idgrod." Naspia replied, resting her arm on his shoulder. "I've got him all under control."

Naspia smirked when Akonus rolled his eyes and approached the Jarl. She noticed, as she looked around, that the Imperial representative was still around, likely just to ensure there was a presence in the area.

"And what brings two fabled warriors here today?" Idgrod asked non-challantly. "Do you bring word that a new apocalypse is coming, and that it starts with Morthal?"

"Not quite." Naspia replied with a light shake of her head. "We were unsure of who would be responsible for the security of Fort Snowhawk, but the entire keep has been abandoned."

"Abandoned?" The legate echoed, stepping out, into the main room. "Surely there's a mistake. There's... there's no possible way the Stormcloaks stationed there would just leave their posts."

"They didn't abandon their posts, legate." The Akaviri corrected. "The fort itself is abandoned because the men and women guarding it are dead. Or they soon will be."

"Please, by the Eight, just say what needs to be said." Idgrod demanded.

"The Falmer came up from underneath the keep, Jarl Idgrod." Napsia stated carefully. "Akonus was the one who realized no one was manning the walls of the fort, so we went in to see if everything was alright. We found a lot of blood down in the dengeons, along with dropped weapons. No bodies to speak of, though. Then the Falmer attacked us from a fairly well hiden hole in the wall."

"Falmer?" The legate asked. "You mean those little goblin things?"

"Yes." Akonus replied, crossing his arms. "We killed the ones that attacked us and barred the gates, trapping them inside. We figured you could use a warning about this. Maybe send more men in to retake the fort."

Trinbjol had been wandering through the woods for a few hours now and was, for all intents and purposes, well and truly lost. The voice continued to call out to him, screaming, laughing and bellowing at random times. The voice itself finally quieted down when he came to a cave. Around the entrance he could clearly see bodies, some armored in leathers and furs, some wrapped in cloaks and one with robes like a mage but with armor underneath. Trinbjol knelt down next to the odd one out and grabbed a small necklace off the half frozen corpse's neck. An amulet of Stendarr. With a chuckle Trinbjol drew his blade, tossed the amulet aside and walked into the cave. The voice returned, but this time it was clear.

"Ah, there ya are, mortal!" The voice shouted gleefully. "I've been trying to get yer attention for quite some time, now. Or maybe for a few moments only. Who's counting? Actually, I do believe that's Haskill's job. Anyway, I see you've made it to my lovely vacation home of... that cave. Do us a favor and get rid of the party crashers who seem hell bent on ruining the occasion for my guests."

"I want dinner!" Trinbjol shouted and ran into the cave. He could hear voices ahead of him questioning where the voice had come from. As he sprinted through the dark tunnel, leading into the well lit room before him Trinbjol leaped from the raised rock face, landing on top of a Vigilant of Stendarr and plunging the steel sword of his into the man's chest. "On second thought, I'd like to start with desert!"

"It's another murderous lunatic!" One of the other Vigilants shouted and charged at Trinbjol. The mind shattered Nord pulled his blade from the fresh corpse and blocked the attack, grabbing up the fallen mace and shattering his attacker's shin. The Vigilant fell to the ground with a loud yelp and Trinbjol brought the mace down on his head to silence him.

"That's it, you're dead!" Shouted the last of the Vigilants in the room. The Breton swung a warhammer at Trinbjol but he was more than able to roll out of the way. "Hold still you rat!"

"Only if you sing me a lullaby, my sweet!" He shouted back, swinging both weapons at the man without any attempt of skill. The Vigilant stumbled under the tireless barrage and lost his footing. As the man fell flat on his back Trinbjol jammed his blade into the Vigilant's wrist, pinning him there. The man shouted in pain and began cursing at Trinbjol as the Nord lifted up the fallen warhammer. "Bring me my golden slippers!"

"No, don't!" The Vigilant shouted as Trinbjol brought the hammer up and then back down on the man's chest, leaving it embedded within his ribcage. The Vigilant tried to breathe and soon found himself drown as the blood pooled in his lungs. Trinbjol let go of the hammer and proceeded further into the cave, weaponless at this point, following the sound of a final, concerned voice.

"So the frail little monsters managed to take the keep right out from under them?" One of the guards demanded as the legate retold the tale. "What were they doing up there?"

"They were ambushed." Naspia told the assembled soldiers, holding her hands up in an attempt to quite them. "That's what the Falmer do. Skulk about in the shadows and lash out at people when they don't expect it."

"Well we'll just have to return the favor, then!" Another guard shouted, getting a roar in response from the rest of the guards.

"Alright men, you have your orders." The legate stated with a nod. "The Dragonborn has agreed to lead you to the keep and help you in retaking it. Show those knuckle dragging cave rats how we handle situations like this!"

The guards cheered once more and as soon as Naspia and Akonus began walking down the road they formed up in neat columns and marched in behind them. As much as the Dragonborn would hate to admit it, part of her had missed the feeling of a blade in her hands. Conjured weapons didn't hold a candle to the beauty of Dawnbreaker, but it still brought back some of the good feelings she had, fighting against evil monsters and vanquishing them.

The Vigilant had her war axe drawn and ready, her back to the shrine at the end of the room. Trinbjol looked down at the Imperial woman and waved politely, as though greeting a friend. When she didn't wave back he shrugged and slowly walked down the steps, leading to the shrine.

"So how many of you did it take to kill my men up there, hm?" The Vigilant demanded, raising her axe as Trinbjol got closer.

"All of us." Trinbjol replied, pointing to himself. "Are you the voice? The one who promised me dinner? Of course not, you don't sound like him. In fact, you're not a him... Are you?"

"There is no voice here, lunatic!" She snarled, dropping into a defensive stance. "Merely one loyal servant of the Divines and a murderer and if you think I'm worried just because you managed to kill my fellows, you're mistaken."

"I thought I was mistaken once." Trinbjol replied casually as he walked around the Vigilant, giving her a wide berth as he approached the shrine. "But I was wrong about that."

The Vigilant didn't attack, trying not to tempt fate and face someone who just dispatched three of her comrades if she didn't have to. She simply watched the insane Nord looking up at the shrine of Sheogorrath. His hand came up and wrapped around the cane the statue leaned on.

"Can I borrow this?" He asked of the statue with a pleading look in his eyes. "It's rather dapper. Really? You mean it!? Thanks!"

Before the Imperial could ask what the raving lunatic was on about her jaw dropped as the Nord pulled at the statue and came away with a staff in his hands, while the stone cane was still right where it was supposed to be. The Vigilant took a step back, holding the axe out in front of her instinctively. She couldn't be positive of what power the staff held but if it was Daedric then it couldn't be good.

"A question, I present to thee, m'lady." Trinbjol stated, turning back to the Vigilant and bowing ever so slightly. "Do you have the means to make the dinner I was promised? Or are we wasting one another's time?"

"I..." The Vigilant stammered, partially unsure of how to proceed with a man like this and partially distracted by the unknown staff pointed directly at her. "I'm afraid I don't have anything with which to cook."

"What a shame." Trinbjol muttered as he turned to leave. "Oh, the voice told me he wants you to go."

"I'm in the middle of purifying this offensive homage." The Vigilant stated as she crept up behind Trinbjol now that his back was turned. "I can't leave until I'm finished. I won't be long."

"I suppose that's fair." He replied, whipping around and thrusting the staff in the woman's direction. She fell backwards just as a bolt of purple energy flew forth from the tip of the staff, striking the axe in her hand. The weapon immediately exploded in a shower of golden coins, raining down on the two of them. "Now you've gone and made a mess."

The Vigilant attempted to crawl backwards as Trinbjol approached and when her back met with the shring of Sheogorrath she desperately shielded her face with her hands, even though she was positive it wouldn't save her. The insane Nord pushed her hands to the side and knelt down next to her, placing a free hand gently on her shoulder.

"There, there." He cooed, gently rubbing her shoulder with his thumb. "We've all had a rough day. Me with no dinner. You with no dance. It'll be okay, though."

"You're a mad man." The Vigilant snapped and brought her iron plated fist into the Nord's face. Trinbjol recoled with a laugh, dropping the Daedric weapon as he fell backwards. The Imperial quickly grabbed the staff and pointed it at the Nord just as he was standing up. The innocent smile peeking out through the blood soaked mouth gave the Vigilant a nervous shiver. "May Stendarr's mercy be upon you, for the Vigil has none to spare."

The Vigilant thrust the staff the same way Trinbjol had done earlier and was rewarded with a sharp, lingering pain that caused her to drop the weapon in turn. Trinbjol stepped forward and planted a boot in her ribs before picking the staff back up and giving it a concerned look. When the Vigilant looked back up at him he drove the end of the staff into her face, breaking her nose instantly. The Vigilant tried to defend herself but unarmed as she was the Nord easily overcame her tactic of covering her face with her arms. Again and again he brought the staff against the woman's face until she lay in a heap on the ground, wimpering. The Nord grabbed a handufl of hair from the back of her head and forced her to stand. He looked down at the blood smeared, nearly toothless grimmace of the Vigilant, one eye swollen shut and the other constantly blinking away blood that rolled down from a cut at the top of her forehead.

"If I may be so bold..." Trinbjol murmured, a blush highlighting his cheeks. "You look absolutely breath taking."

The Vigilant struck Trinbjol in the stomach and the Nord stepped back, coughing a bit as he brought the staff down on the back of the woman's head. The Vigilant fell down, barely able to remain conscious and looked up in terror as the Nord thrust the staff at her again. Trinbjol watched as the woman instantly shifted into the form of a rabbit.

"Oh boy oh boy!" He shouted, grabbing the turned rabbit by the scruff behind its neck. "Now... are you food or a new friend?"

Trinbjol stared at the rabbits bruised face and missing teeth and sighed. He carried her back to one of the dead Vigilants and grabbed up the knapsack he carried. Dumping the contents out onto the ground, Trinbjol gently set the rabbit inside and left a small opening for her to look out of.

"I can't eat you..." He muttered with a sigh. "You tell the best jokes. Let's go get you fixed up, hm?"

With that the insane Nord carried the transformed Vigilant out of the tunnel, the mystical staff in his hands, and began whistling a sone that had no tune whatsoever.

Fort Snowhawk was just as abandoned as when Naspia and Akonus had left it. No Falmer stirred in the shadows. There weren't even any signs of them in the tunnels. The guards had all begun complaining, expecting a fight only to have to work on sealing the tunnel up.

"We'll need some heavy stones to get that thing sealed properly." One of them said.

"Yeah, and there's plenty outside." Replied another.

"How are we supposed to get them in here, exactly?" Asked the first.

"The hard way." A third guard stated.

"Well while you figure that all out I'm going to have another look inside the tunnel." Akonus told them as he walked in without warning. Naspia ran up behind him and followed him inside, tugging at his shoulder. "What? You don't want to come down?"

"Of course I don't!" She replied as though the quesiton had been insane. "They're..."

"Scary?" Akonus teased, catching a slap on the arm. "Terrifying, then."

"They're creepy." Naspia said, glaring at the Akaviri. "And I'd rather not antagonize them anymore."

"Then let's take care not to antagonize them." He replied, stepping into the massive opening. The whole tunnel had been scorched black by the fire spell he'd cast the day before and there were charred corpses all over the place, which didn't surprise him in the least. What did surprise the Akaviri was the furthest Falmer corpse. It's legs had been caught in the inferno, that much was certain, and its face had gotten some burns, too, but it wasn't scorched black as if it had been directly exposed.

Akonus flipped the dead Falmer over and saw that the back of its skull had been caved in and its arm was severed.

"What are you looking at?" Napsia asked, tiptoeing around the dead Falmer as if they were going to jump back up and attack her.

"Something killed this Falmer after my spell wounded it." He replied and began walking further in.

"Akonus?" Napsia hissed. "By Talos, do you have to go farther into this nightmare world?"

"I just want to see if..." Akonus stopped when he came into a new room. There was a decomposing body strapped to a table, its innards removed. Dozens of serrated, blade-like devices were scattered on a table next to it. Naspia covered her mouth and nose, the smell nearly overpowering her. Akonus knelt down next to another Falmer corpse and inspected it. "This one's arm is snapped... and there's multiple stab wounds in its back."

"You think someone came in here after us?" Naspia asked, looking down at the Falmer from a distance.

"No, otherwise why leave the axe in the main gate, barring it shut? I think one of the guards survived and killed the two Falmer we found just now."

"Where would he be now, though?"

"I couldn't say." Akonus replied and shook his head as his eyes drifted back to the gruesome scene on the table. "If I had to wager any sort of guess I would assume they grew desperate when we barred the doors and tried to find a way out further in the tunnels."

"Poor soul..." Naspia whispered and grabbed Akonus' arm. "Come on, let's get out of here before any of them show up alive."

Akonus nodded and the pair headed back for the keep, though Akonus took one last look back at the slaughtered guard. He was tempted to stay down, underground and slaughter the wicked creatures like lambs, but ultimately Naspia was in charge and she had no desire to stay.