I don't own either PJO or TES.
As Njal drew closer and closer to L.A a overwhelming sense of familiarity was burning in the immortal Nord's mind. Not due to being on a seemingly insane quest to fight a seemingly unbeatable foe. That was normal. No this feeling was harkening back to days long before he threw down The World Eater to become who and what he is today. Days when he barely knew any magic barring Destruction and simple Restoration spells and was a brash, quick to anger, honor searching Nord.
Needing to clear his head Njal pulled off into a 7-11 to find and acquire something sweet to snack on. After buying a Butterfinger and a Dr. Pepper Njal exited the store and picked up the sounds of yelling from a house a good ways down the street. They were yelling about what to do about a kidnapped person apparently. Sighing in exasperation Njal made his way down the road to the two story house and knocked on the door. The yelling inside stopped as footsteps could be heard getting closer to the door.
"Now is really not a good time." A woman in her mid twenties with ginger hair and a light skin complexion opened the door. The first thing Njal noticed though was a brand on her arm. SPQR with ten lines underneath it and a Dove above that. A Roman demigod it would seem. Apparently Njal's gaze was noticed as the woman looked at her tattoo and went to address it.
"It's something me and some friends got together. But as I said now is not a good time, so if it's not important can you please leave?" The woman tried to dismiss the Nord but Njal's senses picked up something he hadn't smelt in a long while. A Lycanthrope. Looking down at the woman Njal introduced himself.
"Hello miss, I was passing by and couldn't help but overhear your conversation and I was wonderin- ah screw the subtleties. Look lady I take it a lycan took and or killed one of your friends while you, and whoever else is in the house, are about to do something stupid in order to find them right?" Njal cut right to the chase. The woman's eyes widened and then narrowed as she inspected the giant man.
"How did you know? Better yet, how did you hear the yelling clearly enough to know what we were talking about?"
"I'm just that good. Now like in a missing persons case the first 24 hours are the most vital in a werewolf hunt. If it took your friend, it's for an easy meal next time it changes or when it gets hungry next. So let me get straight to the point, I'm Njal Stormcrown, best monster hunter and killer you will ever come across. Now you want to find your friend still alive? Then tell me exactly what happened." The woman looked rather unsure of what to do, so after persuading her with a minor Illusion spell, Njal was let into the house to go over the kidnapping.
Flashback to 180 years ago
A decade younger looking Njal could be seen entering a small village near the volcanic tundra in Hjaalmarch. He had been appointed by the Jarl's steward to see to a missing persons case near the edge of the hold. Njal's apparel was the Dawnguard heavy armor with a steel long sword next to a silver greatsword on his back. The sounds of his horse's hooves planting firmly into the ground was the only sound in the village as Njal rode in.
"I've seen graveyards with more life than this place." Njal muttered to himself as his horse approached the inn. Dismounting and tying his horse to the post Njal walked into the inn to find the few residents sitting somberly. One man in particular looked the most distraught as he struggled to even take sips from his mug.
"Ho stranger. I would like to have given you a warmer welcome to our town but alas grave tidings are a foot." The bartender addressed Njal from behind the counter.
"Tis a small matter of the welcome. The grave tidings are what bring me here though." Njal replied to the man as he walked to the bar. Handing him the contract given by the steward Njal ordered a mug of mead.
"So the Jarl does know of our strife. Well my friend you'd better talk to Tor over there about it. Tis his wife that is missing after all." The bartender pointed over to the distraught man now identified as Tor. Chugging the mug in one massive gulp, Njal then made his way over to Tor. Tor was a fairly young looking blond Nord male who looked more on the side of being a farmer than a fighter. So when the 7'1 Njal towered over him the man looked rightfully concerned.
"C-can I help you?" Tor asked with a hint of fear in his voice. Njal extended his hand towards the panicked youth and introduced himself.
"Names Njal, and I'm here to help find your wife." The man's eyes lit up as he stood and shook the larger Nords hand.
"Tor. So you will find Iggrid? That's great! Come with me to my house and we will talk about what happened." Tor lead Njal to a small cottage near a flowing stream that faced out into the misty forest. Walking in and seeing it was a fairly poor home Njal wondered why someone would kidnap a woman if it was this obvious they wouldn't get much for ransom.
"My wife went missing two days ago, last I saw of her she was heading down to a meadow near the forest to pick some herbs for dinner. When it had been a few hours I got concerned and went looking for her. I found the basket she was carrying on the ground with the plants strown every which way. I looked for footprints but some bears ended up chasing me away before I could look." Tor explained to Njal.
"What makes you think this was a kidnapping then? Maybe she just ran off." Njal suggested.
"No she wouldn't. I mean, she was with child and there is really no place else for her to go since the damned war took her family." Tor angrily said towards the end.
"Calm yourself. Now can you show me this meadow? A couple of bears are nothing to me and maybe we will find a trail your wife or her captor left."
Jump back to the present.
Njal was crouched down near a shed at the back of the house looking and smelling for signs of the missing person. Tammy and Oliver, the two former Legionaries in the house, stood behind him while he worked. The man taken was named Joseph and apparently him and Tammy were dating, while Oliver was his best friend and former Cohort buddy.
As Njal searched around he picked up the scent of blood from one of the panels of wood on the back of the shack. Starring closely he noted that the wood was splintered in the area above the blood. Something hard had been slammed into the wood and bled.
"Joseph carry a weapon on his person at all times?" Njal inquired to the two onlookers. Tammy shook her head and let out a sigh.
"No. After we left the Legion the need to always have a weapon on us seemed…..useless. Plus Joe was never one to be constantly ready for a fight. Why?" Tammy asked.
"Indent here, was thinking maybe Joe put up a fight with a blunt weapon. But now it seems he was smashed into the shed and began to bleed." Njal stated as he looked at the blood on the shed and where Joe would have landed if Njal's theory was correct. Sniffing out the scent of the blood Njal made his way through the yard and towards a small creek bed down into a small wooded area. Stopping at the creek Njal focused on differing the scent from the shed to one that would have been drug through the water. After a few moments of sorting Njal picked up the ideal scent further down the creek by about 100 yards. The creature was dragged him through the creek on purpose.
Now was it to try and make sure if they called the police and a K-9 unit was sent they wouldn't find it. Or maybe Joe was still putting up a fight and drowning him seemed like a good idea to the beast. Either way Njal was still on it's trail with Tammy and Oliver in tow. As they made their way further and further down the creek bed the woods and brush began to get more dense. It was to the point where it looked more like a thick swamp from Louisiana then a forest from California. Coming to a divergence in the stream Njal saw a small opening in a small hill. Approaching and looking into the hole Njal immediately could tell there was a lot of death and decay down that particular path. Sniffing the air and once more sorting through the scents Njal detected Joe's, albeit faint and growing fainter.
Njal stuck his head down the hole and looked left, then right for any traps or triggers for an alarm system the beast might have set up. Seeing none Njal summoned forth Starfang, to the surprise of the other two, and climbed into the hole. His eyes, much like a wolves, operated just fine in the dark and he was able to make out claw marks leading up and down the tunnel. Turning to his two tag alongs Njal made a head motion as he began to crawl into the beast's lair.
Flashback 180 years ago.
Njal and Tor stood outside a cave that had been hidden by a collapsed tree near a geyser in the volcanic tundra. After killing the bears, Njal had noticed a blood trail accompanied by what looked like drag marks that lead them through the tundra and ideally to the lair of Iggrid's captor. Drawing his silver greatsword Njal began to walk into the lair, paying no heed to any potential danger. Stepping into the cave Tor followed Njal closely and was nearly decapitated when a spike emerged from a wall to their right. Njal's reflexes had been fast enough to allow for him to push Tor out of the way while he only had a minor cut on his forearm.
"Accursed traps. You still alive or am I going to rescue a widow?" Njal muttered to Tor. The skinnier man groaned, but did get up.
"A little warning next time would be appreciated" Tor mumbled as he looked at the spike that nearly killed him.
"Someone set up a trap here. That means there is someone calling this place home. Let's say hi." Njal told Tor as he moved further into the cave.
After a few more hundred feet the light from outside was replaced with that of torches and the remains of bodies, both fresh and skeletal, could be clearly seen. Njal could feel Tor getting more and more afraid as the pressed further into the cave and could tell the slightest thing would set him off. Eventually they came to an opening that held a cistern from an old Nordic ruin. A cage on the far end of it held a blonde Nord woman covered in scrapes and cuts as she lay in the corner of the cage.
"Iggrid!" Tor yelled as he sprinted towards his wife. He slammed into the cage as Iggrid stood to embrace him through it.
"Tor you found me! Thank the gods you're here, now hurry and get me out before that thing comes back!" Iggrid cried panicked as her eyes darted around the room, looking for signs of who ever took her. Njal and Tor both looked around the room in chests and near what looked to be a makeshift sleeping area made from a cow's hide, but found no key.
"Did the person who took you have the key?" Njal asked the woman who could only shake her head.
"I don't know. But that thing is no person. Tis a werewolf like from the legends, oh I thought it would kill me outright when it saw me but it took me here instead." Iggrid explained. Tor looked even more frightened at the mention of a werewolf while Njal looked back to the caves entrance, wondering if the monster was out hunting at the moment. He had yet to meet a werewolf so this would be a fun fight.
"Tor, we are going to set a trap and ambush the beast when it returns. Now help me sharpen some sticks." Njal ordered Tor as the two began to set up a jury rigged spike trap.
Several hours had passed since the trap was set up and Njal was growing very impatient. He was nearly about to go and wait outside the cave but the sounds of clawing coming from the entrance let him know the monster was here. The massive black furred creature leapt into the cistern and began to sniff around, obviously noticing something was amiss.
"Now!" Njal yelled as him and Tor pulled a rope that dropped the spike trap from the ceiling and onto the monster. Wooden spikes impaled the creatures back as it let out vicious cries of agony and pain. Njal charged the down creature with his greatsword but he had vastly underestimated the monster strength as it swatted him aside and across the room while removing the spikes. Slamming into a far wall, Njal was dazed for a bit as he saw Tor rush forward and the be promptly ripped in two by the monster.
Iggrid's screams filled his ears and the werewolf's as it walked over to the cage and ripped the door off like a bit of moldy wood. Grabbing the screaming Nord woman the beast took a massive bit that severed her head and dropped the body to the floor. Njal's anger skyrocketed at the deaths of Tor and Iggrid as he rose to fight the werebeast.
The monster lunged forward at far faster speeds than Njal thought possible and tore a chunk of flesh off of Njals side with it's claws, bypassing his armor almost entirely. Seeing another swipe coming Njal rolled underneath the incoming arm and brought his sword to the monsters leg with a slice. The creature buckled at the silver's touch and let out an agitated howl. Swatting Njal several yards away as he tried to swing again and limping to its feet the werewolf was growing more and more angry at the intruder.
Njal rolled as his back hit the ground and landed in a kneeling position facing the beast. The creature lunged forwards again, with every intent on taking Njal's head off. But as it approached the Nord one word changed the course of the fight.
"Fus" The Thu'um slipped from Njal's lips and sent the werewolf careening into the wall of the cave. Njal rushed the heavily dazed monster and lunged with his sword into the creature's heart. The monster let out a pain filled howl and embedded it's claws into Njals sides, trying to take the young Nord with it to the grave.
"Arrgh." Njal let out a blood filled gargle as he glared at the monster with more venom than even he thought he could muster. He was not used to being this wounded and it was taking a toll on his body. The werewolf tried to bite Njal's head as the two were locked together, but Njal wrapped his hand around the beast's snout and held it shut. Glaring into the monster's yellow eye Njal opened his mouth and gave the creature it's doom.
"Yol" The fire emitted from Njal's mouth melted the creature's head and some of the stone wall behind it as the massive body of the werewolf slumped down with a loud thud. It's claws still in Njal's sides, the Nord took his sword and removed both arms with one clean swipe. He didn't know any healing spells above the novice one nor did he have any potions barring lesser healing. Neither would save him from the blood loss of ripping out the claws. Limping out of the cave Njal ventured back to the village to give the people the good news of the werewolf being gone, and the bad of it costing Tor and Iggrid's lives.
Back to the Present
Njal led the two former legionaries further through the cave as the snuck up onto a ledge that overlooked a small underground…..base for lack of a better word. There were many different sleeping bags around several fires and a wooden table littered with notes and documents. Chained to a post in the dead center sat a blond haired man in his early twenties, dry blood could be seen from the side of his head. Njal took it that this was Joseph as Tammy and Oliver's breathes both caught at seeing their friend.
Njal lept from the ledge and cast muffle on the way down to stop any sounds from being detected. Sniffing the air Njal could detect the scents of 15 people coming from further down in the cave. Tammy and Oliver both made their way down by climbing as the daughter of Aphrodite or in the case Venus sprinted over to her boyfriend. Oliver in tow looked at Njal and back up the 30 foot ledge he had jumped from and just shook his head in a manner that expressed he knew he didn't want to know how, or why that just happened. Running over to his friend as well Oliver looked at the wound on Joe's head as Tammy tried to untie him.
"How did you guys find me?" Joe muttered weakly. The signs of struggle were obvious with bruising and tears all along his body.
"Shhh, don't talk. Save your strength for when we get you out of here and back home." Tammy told him as she hugged him with tears in her eyes. Njal would have found the scene sweet but the fact the 15 people were rapidly approaching made him look at the young, retired, Legionaries and issue an order.
"Take him and leave now." Njal said as he set Starfang across his shoulder and awaited the enemy to come to him. To the Legionaries credit they were able to make a bit of distance but carrying a wounded man is no task suited for fast paced running. The room was quickly filled with 15 Lycanthropes, all looking incredibly pissed. They snarled and roared as they surrounded the group and cut off the escape route the Romans were intending to re-use.
A Lycan, larger than the others, emerged from the tunnel the lycans came from. This one had red eyes as opposed to the normal yellow ones and was covered in all black fur. It stared at the demigods in amusement, but frowned when it saw Njal. Taking a few sniffs of the air the red eyed werewolf spoke.
"You are not of my pack." Njal let out a single laugh and smiled back at the lycan.
"Nay, nor do I wish to for they will all be soon enjoying Tartarus."
"Oh? And what makes you think that one rogue werewolf and a couple retired and injured Romans with no silver will do to Lycaon, the First Lycanthrope, and his pack?" Lycaon asked with a sense of amusement as the pack of lycans began to move closer and closer to the group. Well they were, but lightning shot from Njal's hand outright disintegrated 6 of them as it arced back and forth amongst the werebeasts. All parties stopped dead and stared at Njal with wide eyes.
"That….and this." Njal said with a large smile as he shot sprouts of fire from his hands burning a few lycans and forcing the rest back. The fire near the Romans parted and gave a passage back up to the cave entrance as it held back the Lycanthropes.
"Go." Njal said as the three demigods got the hell out of dodge before things really escalated. Seeing it's hard earned meal being taken away a lycan lept over the flames and lunged for the demigods. Oliver jumped in front of Tammy and Joe and was given a large gash across his chest. Before the monster could finish him off though a large blue, white and black sword blade found itself in the beast's head. The purple glow of a soul being absorbed emerged from the lycan's body and into the blade.
Njal looked on as Tammy and Joe looked over Oliver's fatally wounded form and tried to help him. The six remaining lycans and Lycaon began to circle him with predatory eyes. Lycaon gave a motion to kill Njal as the werebeasts rushed the Nord. Fast as the lycans may be, they were no match for Njal's speed, strength and ferocity as he quickly butchered the six poor lycans with Starfang.
"Your pack is quite the pathetic bunch." Njal told Lycaon.
"How!? Your blade is not silver." The former king roared.
"No, but it is made from an ethereal metal, the bones of some demigod dragons, demonic heart empowered metal, and enchanted to high hell. It kills anything regardless of what it is. Besides, not the blade you have to be worried about." Njal said as he embedded Starfang into a nearby rock and cracked his neck. The sounds of bones popping emerged from Njal as his jaw shot forward as his body began to twist and bend. Njal's already giant figure grew even more as he sprouted fur and began to transform into a werewolf.
Lycaon stared at the much larger werebeast with a slight sense of respect, while the demigods, well Tammy as she was the only non close to death one, looked on in terror. Letting out a howl that echoed through the cave and far into the countryside outdoors, Njal rolled his neck as he got used to being a werewolf again after so long.
"Ahh, this is what happens when you don't change for 80 some years." Njal spoke as he cracked more of his bones. Lycaon seeing an opening lunged forth to take Njal by surprise, but was swatted like a fly. Growling as he picked himself up Lycaon turned to claw at Njal but was grabbed by the head and lifted up. Then slammed back down head first into the rock. Up and down, up and down, up and down he went. The rock gave way before Lycaons face as the former king swiped Njal's arms to get released. He got his wish and then some as Njal dropped him and delivered at swift punch to his head on the way down.
Snarling with rage Lycaon only saw red as he charged the Nord, clawing with all his might. Red was the only thing he saw so the catching of his arms and the swift removal from his person did not register for him at first. Being slapped by them did though. Njal proceeded to rain down blow after blow using the severed arms of Lycaon. Seeing as he wasn't bursting into dust Njal sighed as he began to transform back. Lycaon saw the Nord in human form aprroach from his prone position on the ground, golden dust dripping from his face. Silver may be the only thing that can hurt him as far as the demigods knew, but they never had the ability to apply the proper amount of blunt force trauma.
"This is goodbye Lycaon. For now anyways." Njal said as he stared at the glaring werewolf.
"Yol Toor." The immense fire burned Lycaon's body away before the former king could even acknowledge what was being said. Grabbing Starfang and walking over to the three Romans, Njal saw Joe and Oliver on the brink of death. Tammy stood in front of them, an Imperial Gold sword drawn and pointed it at Njal. A golden light shot past her as she saw their wounds heal instantly. Looking back to the Nord she saw he was already at the top of the ledge and walking away.
"I trust you can find your own way home right?" She heard Njal yell then a bright purple flash happened. Tammy dashed to where he had been and saw no signs of the Nord or where he could have gone.
"Who was that?" Joe asked as he walked up behind her, looking no worse for wear. Tammy looked at her boyfriend and shrugged.
"Don't know, but he did get you back and that's all that matters." She said as she hugged her previously lost boyfriend. This was the kind of stuff that made them retire in the first place. Well that and the weird death cult that had moved in next door.