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POV: Briljof
Making our way to Ustengrav I observed the area around us as we walked. Skyrim was still surprising me daily with how beautiful it could be. Even in areas that shouldn't be like where we are now. Wasn't really marshy like the area we travelled through to get to Winterhold but it was close enough.
The way the sun shone across the area and reflected through the spatterings of trees. The small amount of hazy air that seemed to make the world around us shine. The small noises from the rabbits, foxes and other insects around us adding to the effect. A natural beauty that was hard to find anywhere else. Cryodil had been just a city, Summerset Isles I never wanted to appreciate, Hammerfell was always hard on you, but Skyrim was just beautiful. Could kill you quicker than the rest but it was beautiful all the same.
"Brealla," I called out to her getting a hum in response. "What's the difference between a Master and an Arch Mage?" I had been curious about that since she told me that Arch Mages were on their own level.
"Arch Mages are mages that are masters in every arena of magic. For the three I know; Savos Aren at the College who has Alteration as his main focus. Verient Oniey, a Brenton male, with Restoration as his main focus and Siltanya Elsinor, an Altmer female, with Destruction as her main focus. She's the Thalmor battle master and I've seen her destroy an entire Battalion of men single handedly. Only Oniey prevented the battalion from being completely wiped out.
Arch Mages are the pinnacle of mages. What every mage strives to be. Taking decades if not centuries to get there. There are Masters who are better at certain magics to Arch Mages but in only their chosen focus and even then those masters are rare."
"Dear Talos," I whispered to myself after hearing about Siltanya and Oniey. Savos had given me a peek at what they could do but wiping out an entire Battalion single handedly… Then countering that magic so that they all didn't die. It was as amazing as it was terrifying. Like I had thought earlier in the day, a whole new class of people to be terrified of.
"Who would you say is the strongest?" Serana asked jumping into the conversation.
"Savos," Brealla didn't even hesitate in her answer. "Alteration masters are already rare. An Arch Mage one hasn't been seen in a millenia."
"Truly? Better than one who can destroy a whole Battalion or the one that could save the rest?" my question got a nod from both women.
"Reality is an Alteration Master's plaything. Anything they wish or can imagine becomes possible. I do mean anything too, anything you can think of. If you can, don't ever fight one without help from a whole army," Brealla answered my question.
"How many Alteration Master are around now?" Serana asked as she bent to clip a piece of Deathbell. Deathbell was dangerous in all forms but especially so if it was dry. When it was dry all the poison it held was at the surface and even touching it could infect you. Which made it hard to work into potions as the only way to do so was to dry the flower.
"Besides Savos, two that I know of. Tolfdir who teaches at the college is one and the other is Elenwen, she's an Altmer mage with the Thalmor," I could see the snarl on her face as she spoke before looking to me. "She was the Thalmor at Helgan."
Of course she had to be here in Skyrim. Though my first instinct was to hunt down the woman and kill her. Alteration Master or not, a single arrow to the head or neck will still kill. You can't always be truly vigilant, though the problem would be finding her. That and getting her into a position she would be vulnerable. The whole process would need planning and time especially. Not an easy thing to find while we're dealing with Dragons.
The conversation seemed to end there and we continued our walk to Ustengrav with Serana leading the way. She knew where it was but I made sure to check the map consistently. Even if she knew where it had been, several thousand years since she was there. A lot can change in that time so it was better to have a secondary method just in case.
Just as before, the area around us as we walked was beautiful. It was sort of marred by two stone spirals coming out of hill not far away that weren't natural. Nor did they fit with the area around us. Looking at the map again it looked like they were close to where Ustengrav should be. Serana enforced that thinking by walking straight for them.
A few minutes later we were next to the spires and walked around the hill they were on. Getting to the other side of the hill imprinted on it was intricate stone carvings. Looking between each other and then back at the map this seemed like the place. Serana nodded at the two of us in silent confirmation and we approached the doors.
Knocking an elven arrow in my bow both women charged their magic. Lightning for Brealla and Ice for Serana. With everyone ready I slowly opened the door and peered inside. Seeing nothing more beyond a regular entry hall I went in. Standing up and walking in seeing no traps or anyone waiting for us. Not even a place that could house a Draugr.
Both women behind me and saw the same thing. Brealla sending a pulse of her sensory magic through the room and area. Shaking her head at me when I looked at her, so we were alone. Shrugging my shoulders and finding another door at the far end of the room we proceeded forward.
We did take a minute or two to grab anything we could find for loot. Which amounted to a few small bits of gold coins. After that we went through the door and entered a hallway. A stony one much like the one from Bleak Falls. There were a few Draugr lined up against the walls but didn't move as we passed them. If they were willing to leave us alone there was no point in disrupting their sleep.
Though not all of them were willing to leave us alone. We made it about a league into the hallway when the first one got out of their little resting spot. It didn't even get fully standing before a bolt of ice caved in their face. However, they weren't alone as eight more got up with them. Half of them didn't even get their weapons out before we killed them but once they had their weapons out, they charged us.
These ones all only had rags on and were easy pickings though. A simple sidestep from me and burying my dagger into their face. The other three that had gotten their weapons out were quickly dispatched by Brealla and Serana. Their help made the fight laughably simple. Wish every fight could be this easy.
When we finished them off we moved on and no more Draugr bothered us. There were a few traps along the way but I pointed them out before we sprung them. Making it easy for us to completely avoid them. It was another two or so Leagues before we finally came out of the stone hallway that we were in. The result surprising Brealla and myself.
Much like Bleak Falls final area this area was covered in green. The sun shining through the roof of the area and was massive. At least a league across from one end to the other. Sprawling vegetation everywhere but no small river but plenty of sounds of animals in the area. On the right there were trees. Only a few but they were there. In the middle of them as well was a stone like structure that when I looked at it sent whispers through my mind.
On the left it looked like the way we weren't meant to go. Stone-like structures and fortifications with the only visible path. There were a few Skeletons in that area but from fighting them earlier, they shouldn't be a problem. Taking aim with my bow and lining it up on a skeleton archer I let the arrow fly. Sailing through the air true it struck the skeleton around the collar bone and its bones all went flying. Weird but I wasn't going to say much more to that.
Aiming at another Skeleton and letting the arrow fly again. The same result from before as the arrow hit its mark exploding the skeleton body. Aiming again at the two final ones, I steadied my breathing and aimed at the moving first. The arrow was released and flew. Watching it fly through the air towards the target was an exhilarating experience for me and satisfying too. The arrow hit right into the head of the Skeleton. Piercing their skull and shooting the head backwards before the body fell to pieces.
Smiling at myself from the result the final Skeleton was sitting in a chair not far from the one who had been walking. Lining up the shot and aiming higher than before because of the distance and this bow's drop. Calming myself and releasing the arrow between heartbeats. Soaring through the arrow and slamming right between the eyes of the skeleton. Exploding on the throne as every bone went flying. All skeletons were dead.
Clapping resounded behind me, and I turned around to see both Brealla and Serana clapping. Bowing at them it was nice to receive some praise for those shots. They weren't the hardest that I've ever made but they were by no means easy shots. Turning around and heading down the path towards the left it wasn't my ending destination. On the far side near the skeleton that had been sitting on the throne there was another path going down to the stone structure where the voices came from.
"I see why you keep him around," I heard Serana mock whisper to Brealla earning a chuckle from her.
"You mean to say my looks have nothing to do with it?" I asked her sporting a hurt look that earned a giggle from Brealla.
"Of course they do," Serana answered in almost a purr as she ran a hand down my arm lightly scratching the exposed skin with her nails. "Just not as much as I thought."
Then she was walking past me and I was admiring the way she walked. Her clothes did little to hide her backside and the exaggerated sway of her hips was enticing… Do Vampires get horny? Was she actually coming onto me or just playing around? It was hard to tell but watching her walk was enticing. That is until Brealla lightly smacked me on the shoulder breaking me out of my trance.
"Eyes up young man," then she was walking past me with the same sway as Serana and I was watching her the same way. Her backside was more hidden by her clothes. The mages robe giving it an extra layer of covering. That's not to say it was any less enticing. Looking at them walk together was a treat. So much so I didn't register what she said for a few moments before it clicked.
"Hey! You're barely older than me," my raised voice causing the two of them to double over in laughter as I caught up to them. "Mean."
They just laughed at my mock pain before continuing their walk. Both making their way towards the single path I had spotted before but not me. While they went that way I went down the other path and to the stone wall. Both noticing me and decided to follow. Neither saying anything as we went down the path. The voices getting louder and louder the closer we got to the stone.
Stopping in front of it sure enough there was dragon-speak writing on it. Looking back to Brealla she nodded and walked forward. Seemingly absorbing the information before walking away but there was no transference of knowledge or anything like with the Greybeards or after killing the dragon or finding the one earlier.
"How?" Brealla asked as she turned from the stone and looked at me. I cocked my head in confusion and she continued. "How did you know there was a word of power here?"
"I just heard voices. Same at Bleak Falls," she adopted a thoughtful look before shaking her head.
"We'll have to research that later," I gave her a nod and we went back the way we came up the path.
We got to the single exit path but in it were blades that went from side to side. There were three stones going up to the path and each time we got near one it glowed for a second but nothing visible happened. At least not at first but after a couple minutes of looking at them I noticed that every time they glowed a pair of glades would stop slashing in the path.
It wouldn't matter though. The blades continued to slash quickly after the stones ceased to glow. A process that lasted barely two seconds and was far to fast to make it to the other side without getting cut. Timing the blades to make it through were out of the equation as well. They were too close together to do that. A fact that had me think to the Greybeards.
This whole place was a trial for them. There had to be a way that they would get around this little puzzle. Thinking on the shouts they taught Brealla, they only did two. One to increase her 'Unrelenting Force' and another that shot her a distance. That should work here and I told Brealla so. She adopted a thoughtful look for a second or two before nodding.
Taking her spot a few feet from the first rock, just out of its glowing range. She took a few deep breaths before sprinting forward. Running past the first rock as it glowed and making it to the second making it glow before shouting.
"Wuld!"
She shot forward making the final rock glow as the other two still glowed. Though as she shot forward there was a loud smacking sound followed by an 'oof'. Looking through the path Brealla laid on the ground. Groaning before giving us both a thumbs up. Climbing to her feet shakily before grabbing the handle of the switch and pulled it. When she did the blades stopped swishing through the path and we were able to calmly walk through.
"You hurt?" I asked simply.
"Just my pride," she answered as she cast healing over herself.
Smiling at that we continued through the path. Winding and twisting as we walked through until it just stopped. Walls in every direction we walked so we couldn't make it any farther. Knowing there had to be a way forward the three of us started looking for a lever or anything that would open up the path to us.
Brealla found one and called us over to her before pulling the lever. When she did the walls around us began shifting. Not horizontally or anything crazy, just the wall that was in front of us turned and rotated into the ceiling revealing a path to us. A path occupied by a Draugr. One that got no time to do anything as I grabbed my dagger and threw. Burying the dagger hilt deep into the Draugr's head and punching out the other side. The Druagr dropping like a puppet that had its strings cut.
Strolling forward to pick up the dagger another Draugr came from around the corner and swung its sword at me. I just barely got out of the way, the hallway leaving little room to maneuver. Bringing its sword up horizontal to the ground it thrust forward and again I dodged. Grabbing an elven arrow from my quiver in the same motion and putting it through the eye of the Draugr. Collapsing it as well.
Ripping the arrow out and looking down the hall where the second Draugr had been there was no more of them. With that confirmed I was able to grab my dagger from the previous Draugr's head and continued with Brealla and Serana behind me. If we were going to do this consistently, which was probably, investing in a shield in the future would be a good idea. Didn't need to be a good one, just serviceable for dungeons. Wood and cured leather would work well as it was light enough so it wouldn't affect me for long treks and was durable for this type of work.
Following the hallway path set before us there were a few more Druagr we encountered. Almost all of them taken out by Brealla and Serana's magic with the exception of one. The single archer we encountered that was far enough down a straight part of the hall that it could pin us down. Took me being the bait with a ward from Brealla to get the opportunity to kill it. Her ward catching the arrow and giving me the window to fire back and kill him.
That Draugr was the only one we actively looted since I wanted the arrows. The bow the Draugr had was in remarkably good condition as well. Better than the Imperial one I currently had. Grabbing it and slinging it over my back just in case my Imperial one broke in the future. Though with how good a condition it was in a plan for returning the bow to its former glory was firmly in mind. Thing just needed a new bow string, some wood curing and would be back to perfection. The arrows themselves weren't that bad either. Not as good as the elven ones but that was attributed to age and not function. Whoever made the Draugr their weapons really knew what they were doing.
After killing the Draugr the rest of our journey through the dungeon was smooth sailing. We encountered no problems with only the occasional trap that I pointed out to Brealla and Serana. Eventually making our way through the dungeon until we got to another hallways. Almost identical to the one before the final spot in Bleak Falls. Only difference was that the door was opened but the spiders were there.
Before I could do anything there was a squeak behind me and fireballs started flying over my shoulder at the spiders. Crouching down and getting out of the way as fireball after fireball kept coming. Exploding the spiders and scorching almost the entirety of the hall. Leaving some of the spiders no more than ash. They kept up for a solid minute, far longer than was needed before they ended.
Looking back to who had been firing the fireballs Serana was there with Brealla. Who was lowering the Vampires arms down. Serana's face was paler than it had been before. Small specks of sweat on her brow. Breathing heavily she extinguished the fire still there in her hands even as they were lowered by Brealla. She then adopted a sheepish look as she saw both of us staring at her.
"I hate spiders," was all she said as she flattened out her dress and walked forward leaving us behind. Brealla and I exchanging looks before following her.
Walking past the charred and ashen remains of the spiders we stepped through the opening. The moment we were all through it slammed shut. A door shooting upwards from the ground. We exchanged glances before going forwards.
There was intricately cut mountains along the two sides of the path with water pouring out of them. The water stayed the same level so the water was either being recycled or pushed out somewhere. At the end of the path there was what looked like a tomb and a stone hand was sprouting upwards up from it. That was where the horn should've been. Instead there was a folded piece of paper.
Brealla, obviously angered at the runaround, stalked up to the paper and snatched it. The moment she did the whole place shook and the water from the fountains stopped draining and instead began to rise.
"FUCK! Look for an exit," I shouted to the other two and they began to do just that. Running around the room looking for anything that could be an exit I found said exit. Being on the left side near the wall of the place and shouting for the other two they saw me and sprinted over.
Into the exit we went sprinting through as water began to lap at our heels before there was another wall. Knowing they wouldn't put the path there without a way to open it we started looking for a handle. With darkness surrounding us in the tunnel it was hard to find it before Brealla cast Magelight. That made it easier for us to see but we still didn't find the handle for another minute. By which time the water was up to our ankles.
Grabbing and pulling the handle the wall slowly raised itself and we sprinted out. Finding ourselves back at the entrance hall. Not caring to be pissed about that we sprinted towards the exit and got out. Didn't even bother to look back and see if the water was still coming after us. Sprinting outside immediately to the brisk evening air.
The sun was almost completely down and wouldn't be long until it fully was. All of us stood silently. Enjoying the fresh air before I decided to check out the entrance. Being too late to build a suitable shelter for the night we had to find shelter and Ustengrav would be perfect if it wasn't filled with water. Opening the entrance we had run out of and inspecting that there was no water anywhere.
Looking to the women I waved them over with the door open and we all entered. All of us grabbing anything that could burn so we could make a small fire to keep us warm for the night. Brealla and I would have nothing besides the fire and the wolf skins to keep us warm for the night. Serana would just have the fire. A side effect of leaving the horses by the other dungeon. There was nothing we could do about it now and we'd have to get them in the morning.
We could have gone to get them but didn't sit right with me to do so. With still so little known about the wilderness of Skyrim it would be safer for us to hunker down. Neither of them voiced complaints at that and just went with my decision. It helped that once they had magically started the fire I took out a few strips of meat. Always kept them on me just in case for situations like this. Both heating up the strips before biting into them.
"What's the note say Brealla?" the moment the words were out of my mouth she scowled. A feeling I agreed with, coming all this way only to have it taken before we got here was annoying. If we hadn't gone to Winterhold we might've beat whoever took the horn. That's not to say though that I couldn't find a single track leaving the place when we arrived. Whoever took it was a master and had plenty of practice at avoiding being tracked. I wouldn't mind learning from them in the future.
"Just asks me to go back to Riverwood and rent the attic room at the Inn," I was a moment away from stating that there had been no attic before it clicked. The message was code.
"We'll leave in the morning but we'll have to go back for the horses first," I stated getting a nod from her. "As for you Serana. When do you want us to get you back to your home?"
"No rush for now. My father has waited this long. He can wait a bit longer for me to return," which got me thinking. I didn't know Vampires could have kids. Before I could ask though Brealla did for me.
"How is he… your father? I don't think Vampires can have kids," Brealla asked hesitantly. It was probably an intimate subject and the way Serana kind of curled in on herself she was right. It wasn't that noticeable but since we were looking at her we both noticed her do it.
"They can't. He was my father before turning."
"Didn't know Vampires would turn multiple people in a family. Your father must've pleaded for your life after he turned," that seemed to be the wrong thing to say as Serana scowled. Her eyes blazing red for a moment before turning back to their usual amber.
"He didn't. It was gifted to him," that confused me but looking at Brealla whose eyes were wide with shock set me on edge. "I'm a daughter of Cold Harbor."
Brealla gasped as her thoughts were apparently confirmed. She made to put a comforting hand on Serana's shoulder but was waved off. Whatever being a 'daughter of Cold Harbor' meant it must've been long enough for Serana to get over. That's not to say I wasn't curious. Never in my life had that term been used around me. Books or otherwise.
"What's being a daughter of Cold Harbor mean?" I asked getting a mild scowl from Brealla for apparently being insensitive. Serana cut off whatever she was about to say by raising her hand.
"It's a ritual to become a Vampire… My family was obsessed with it at one point and after performing the ritual we became Vampires," there had to be more to it but from how Serana talked about the experience, that course of thinking didn't seem a good thing to pursue. At least not until we knew each other better and longer than a singular day. Especially as Brealla seemed sympathetic to her. Whatever the ritual involved was personal on several levels.
"I'm going to sleep," I ended the conversation there and curled in on myself. The wolf skins and the fire keeping me warm. Brealla and Serana stayed up longer but for how long was unknown to me. Sleep came remarkably easy for me.
Waking up later it was a bit of a treat to see food cooking over the fire. Serana stoking the flames as Brealla slept on the other side. Nodding to her in thanks I grabbed the strips of meat and ate the food. Brealla got up soon after me and took the food as well. Once we had finished our food, we grabbed our meager supplies and left Ustengrav.
The early morning air a bit brisker than usual on this day. Not so much that we needed extra furs but brisk all the same. The small lakes around us misting in the air from the differing temperatures of the air and water. A single finger in said lakes telling me that. The water was exceptionally warm. Had to be an underground heat source.
The scene was hauntingly beautiful as with everything aroun Skyrim seemed to be. However, here it was more of the mystery with it instead of the entrancing beauty the rest of Skyrim held. Like there was something hidden around every corner and within every piece of mist. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike and then kill. Everything about the situation had me on edge with the mist around.
We eventually made it out of the mist covered area and into the woods. It wouldn't be long until we found the horses now. Especially once we found the main road and made our way back it to where Brealla and I had gotten off. A gentle breeze at our backs as we walked. A sign of good fortune for those travelling. However, seems the Gods had other plans as not far in front of was a squad of eight Thalmor and a singular hound with them.
"And you said they wouldn't find us," Brealla snidely remarked. I just hung my head.
"We left the horses where they were for a whole day and spent a whole day in two separate dungeons. With that much time they were bound to find us, especially if their base was near Winterhold. Nothing to do about it, into the woods," I walked into the woods as the Thalmor spotted us and started sprinting our way. They were still far enough to be a good two or three minutes at full sprint so that was good enough to get into position.
The women hid themselves within the trees deeper into the forest while I climbed one of the trees closer to the road. The gentle breeze within the forest would hide my scent from the hounds well enough from the hounds. Especially so while I sat on a branch two men high from the ground.
The gods seemed to smile upon me a little as I heard the Thalmor sprinting and arrive. They were inexperienced and were trying to get us as quick as possible so we couldn't escape. A solid plan when there's nowhere to hide but with a forest, not so much. Their increased heartrates from the run and the anticipation will blind them to how I'm hiding. This wouldn't be the first or last time I used this tactic.
And sure enough they entered the forest with fervor. The hound leading their way into the forest. Six of the eight Thalmor with the hound running into the forest. The hound hovered around my tree for a moment before catching Brealla and Serana's stronger scent and moving on. The six Thalmor following behind.
A few seconds or so after they left me the rearguard walked into view. They were both dressed in Justicar robes but couldn't tell anything else about them. Neither were recognizable to me, just generic Justicars. Probably low-end ones at that as they were put on this detail which usually would've had next to no chance at succeeding.
"So, we are going after Pinky," the slightly smaller of the two spoke as they reached hearing range. Gods did I hate that fucking name.
"According to Elenwen and Ancano yes. Two confirmed sightings, he's in Skyrim. Unusually sloppy of him," the taller one spoke with an older voice. Might not have been two rookies then. An older one for sure, younger one might be an apprentice then.
"Do we have any information on the women with him? They don't look like the usual ones the reports said he would have traveling with him," the younger one asked.
"The redheaded one is a mage and possibly the Dragonborn the Nords are talking about. We don't have confirmation on that as our informants were not at the watchtower and only have hearsay to go off of. As for the other one we have nothing on, Ancano didn't mention her. It matters not in the end either way, they will fall and the men can have their fun with them," always hated rape. Saw it on both sides in Hammerfell as well and didn't let it slide. Would've gotten me in a lot of trouble with Hammerfell forces if the witnesses didn't die as well.
"This whole thing seems a bit sloppy for him though, don't you think," the younger one asked. Before the older one could respond I heard Brealla shout.
"Krii!"
Both the Thalmor's heads snapped to the sound. Knowing this was my best opportunity I put my dagger in my mouth and jumped off the branch. Firing an arrow while airborne. The shot bounced off the older ones hood but held enough force to make him stumble backwards. After the shot landed I reared back with the bow and swung it into the younger one's chin snapping his head to the side and sending him to the ground.
Rolling with the landing and grabbing the dagger out of my mouth I jumped at the older one. Tackling him to the ground I didn't hesitate and buried the knife hilt deep into his eye before he could do anything to defend himself. Leaving it there and charging the younger one, my ax in hand. He tried to fight me off with a Bound blade.
The blade did him little good in the end. Even as a Thalmor and years my senior he spent to much time studying magic and not fighting with a blade. Man didn't even try and use his free hand for magic. Inexperience in actual fighting and panic stopping him from doing so. Regardless, the fight ended when I knocked his blade to the side with my ax. That left him completely open but capitalizing with the ax wasn't possible but his legs were open.
My foot found itself putting his balls into his stomach and the man squealed in pain. His sword disappearing as he lost concentration as he held his crushed balls. That opening was so bit no one would have missed it and I certainly didn't. Burying the ax in the man's face before ripping it out leaving the body. Retrieving my dagger and discarded bow before rushing off to find Brealla and Serana. The tactic might've been cheap but worked and nothing was off limits in a real fight.
A task that was inordinately easy. The stench of blood, charred flesh and melted metal being a clear indicator on where to go. Took me all of a minute before finding the first body, their armor melted to them. Abad way to go. The other bodies were in better shape but that wasn't saying much with how they were killed. One looked completely frozen, another was shocked to death as she was still twitching, the final two were literal husks, completely drained of their blood
By the time I found them there was only one Thalmor left standing and he was behind a tree facing me as Serana and Brealla stood on the other side of it. Man was so scared he didn't even notice me until he heard the sound of me shooting an arrow. Didn't even have time to react before it went straight through his mouth.
"Aww, but he was going to taste so good," Serana gave a whine as the body dropped.
"You shouldn't play with your food," I admonished her. She just rolled her eyes.
"I wasn't going to drain him. Just wanted to see if he would give us any information. Seeing as I have next to none about this Era it was a good idea even if he had nothing new for you two," I couldn't exactly say that she was wrong. Not the best idea however. The Thalmor would've known that and bargained for his life with that to stay alive long enough to try and escape us.
"Can't do anything about it now. I'm sure once we get to a city you can use a Library and find all you need," Brealla stated. Seemingly placating Serana for now. "Found out what my new shout does by the way. Glad I didn't try it on you."
"What's it do?" if a mage like Brealla was saying that then I truly needed to be thankful.
"Makes you weak to all types of attacks and completely negates any and all enchantments the Thalmor had on their weapons and armor," that was downright terrifying. It made Brealla already more of a powerhouse then she was and that was just one word of the shout. Imagining what all three could do made me shiver with dread.
There we are. Hope y'all enjoyed.