Unexpected Detour

Kaisa coughed up water from her lungs as she desperately clawed her way onto the beach as the swirling waves tried pulling her back into their mirky depths. Rain lashed at her like tiny blades of ice as they pounded her bare back. Her dress had acted like an anchor in the raging water and had nearly caused her demise. She wretched again on trembling arms as more sea water was expelled from her burning lungs.

"Dammit," She coughed on a tortured throat.

Kaisa crawled another couple of feet until she was reasonably sure she was safe from the water hands trying to pull her under. Groaning she fell onto her back and grimaced as those same icy shards now lashed her face instead of her back. Lightning arced like angry fingers through the boiling dark clouds. She began to shiver as her body temperature dropped rapidly. If she didn't get out of this storm she would be in trouble. Rolling onto her side and through the rain and brief flashes of light she thought she spotted a cave near the shore line. Picking herself up she stumbled towards the cave entrance with a pack she managed to snag from the ship when she jumped over the side as the ship itself broke in half from the storm's fury. Kaisa sighed with relief when the cave turned out to be real and not a figment of her imaginations. Even better someone had been using this small cave as a camp. An old campfire with fresh would stacked to the side and an old bedroll laid out next to it. Kaisa fell to her hands and knees and tried catching her breath as water dripped from her body. Her body continued to quake from the cold and she looked to the firepit. If she didn't get dry and warm soon, she was dead. With shaking hands and breath, she cleared out the old mostly burnt would and stacked fresh wood into the firepit. Extending her hand out she concentrated and after a moment a small jet of flame shot out her palm and ignited the wood. She was not a mage by any means but it was a little-known fact that actually anyone could use magic. She had never been so thankful for her parents insisting she learn some basic spells like fire. Once she was sure the fire was okay, she stripped out of the dress and stretched it out near the fire to dry and huddled over the fire. She laughed over the thought that if they owner of this small camp happened by, he or she was in for a surprise. Aside from her panties she was completely naked. As she rubbed her body to try and breath warmth back into it, she tried to piece together what in oblivion just happened. For two weeks she had sailed around Hammerfell and into the Iliac Bay. Then a storm like she had never seen before came out of nowhere and tossed the ship she was on around like a toy. She had no idea if anyone else had survived or if she was the only one. It didn't really matter all that much, she was alive and she still had a mission. The Legion and the Penitus Oculatus didn't just give up because things got difficult.

A lightning bolt struck near the cave entrance and caused it to collapse, completely blocking it off and sealing her inside.

"Double dammit!" Kaisa shouted as fear began to build at the prospect of potentially being buried alive.

Thankfully the fire didn't go out but at the same time said fire would now quickly eat up her suddenly limited air supply.

"Dibella, your favorite girl could really use some help here," Kaisa said hopefully.

As if the goddess of love had heard her prayer a portion of the cave wall to her right crumbled and revealed a passageway of carved stone.

"Thank you!" Kaisa said cheerfully

With a potential way out Kaisa opened up the pack to see what she had to work with. Unfortunately, it wasn't much, an ebony dagger with belt and scabbard which was a godsend but other than that some very wet cloths and some Septims. Kaisa waited a little while longer for the dress to dry a little more before pulling it back on. It was still a little damp but far better that soaked like earlier. Strapping the dagger to her waist and the pack on her back she cautiously ventured into the corridor. Thankfully the only thing she came across in the first couple of corridors were giant bats which attacked her on sight. They were relatively easy to dispatch and she packed each away in her pack. She wasn't entirely sure where she was and these bats were her only source of food currently. If got to civilization without having to cook them she could take them to an alchemist who could extract a tonic that could cure any disease. One of the unique things about Iliac Bay giant bats. Her luck ran out when she stumbled across a throne room of sorts and reanimated skeletons with glowing red eyes stumbled towards her. Thankfully they were slow and clumsy so she was able to defeat them relatively easily with her much greater speed and agility. More importantly she got an actual sword and shield for her troubles. The weapons were crap being low quality iron sword and mostly rotted wooden shield but it was better than nothing. A door to the left of the throne let her almost face to face with an Imp which resulted in an undignified yelp and dive out of the way of the fireball launched at her dirty but still beautiful face. Rolling out of the way of the second fireball she came up with her dagger and launched it at the Imp and drilling it between its snarling eyes.

"Prick," Kaisa spat while yanking her dagger out of the small monster's head.

When she looked around the room her eyes widened however when she discovered what it was guarding. Hundreds of Septims and a dozen or so rubies, sapphires, and emeralds lay in a pile in the corner.

"I take it back, you're a bloody saint!" Kaisa said as she eagerly stuffed the treasure into her pack.

This would make her mission much easier, if she sold the gems, she would have a nice fat coin purse to fund her efforts. Exiting the room, she made for the door on the other side of the throne and found a dead orc surrounded by shattered skeletons. Judging by his condition he had died recently and given his age, Kaisa guessed this orc had reached the end of his days and left his clan seeking a glorious death.

"Rest well old warrior, I pray you found your glorious death," Kaisa whispered as she began stripping his armor from him.

It would be way to big for her but once again it was better than nothing. Once she got to Daggerfall she could get a blacksmith to resize and she would have some very good armor. Kaisa also tossed the crap iron sword and rotten wooden shield in exchange for the orc sword, shield, bow, and quiver full of arrows. Offering another whispered prayer of thanks to Dibella, Kaisa strapped the armor to her as best she could over her dress but it hung loosely on her slender frame. If she had to fight something serious, she would still be in trouble as the lose hanging armor would probably do more harm then good. Thankfully she didn't find anything serious besides a couple of more bats and another Imp. Due to her having a bow now the Imp was a lot easier to take down. Finally stumbling out of the ruin of the castle she found herself looking at the massive Iliac Bay with the sun sitting about midafternoon on the horizon. Looking to her left she saw lights spilling out of windows from a small village. Sighing with relief she headed toward the village hugging the shore. Stumbling into the inn just to the right of the village gate she plopped down on the stool in front of the inn keep who looked at her with concern. She new she looked like absolute hell and probably smelled it to. Before he could tell her to get out, she dug some Septims out onto the counter.

"Water…please," She croaked.

"Yeah sure," he said quickly placing a cup of cool water in front of her.

"Thank you," Said pushing her Septims towards him.

"Keep your money, water is on the house," he said with sympathy coloring his voice and face.

"Again…my thanks," Kaisa said gulping the water down and sighing with relief.

"Forgive me my curiosity but what happened to you?"

"Shipwreck, I think I'm the only survivor," Kaisa said downing the refilled cup that the inn keep was kind enough to give her.

"By the gods! Do you need anymore help, bed, food…blacksmith," he said eyeing the armor literally hanging from her slender body.

"Information if you could. I was supposed to meet a woman at the inn in Glenpoint, a Lady Magnessen, is this the inn of Glenpoint?" Kaisa asked looking around at the fairly busy inn and the patrons who were looking at her with a mix of confusion, suspicion, and wonder.

"Yes, she was here but had to leave. She asked that I give you this when you arrived," he said handing her a letter

"Thank you."

Kaisa unfolded the letter and quickly read it.

Kaisa Alierius,

Please forgive my inability to meet you at the appointed place. Something came up and I had to relocate to the Isle of Betony. I await your presence there, please be swift as I will not be able to stay long. Once again please forgive this burden I was forced to impose on you.

Sincerely, Lady Magnessen

Sighing she pocketed the letter and looked at the inn keep tiredly.

"How long would it take to get to the Isle of Betony?"

"If you hire a boat, an hour tops."

"My thanks," Kaisa said getting up and leaving a couple Septims on the counter as she headed for the door.

An hour later she stumbled into the inn and in this late hour there was only a few patrons in the inn. Which made it relatively easy to spot a likely suspect for Lady Magnessen and trudged over to her. When her eyes found her, they widened in surprise and she gasped in shock.

"By the gods what happened to you!?"

"Crazy storm, shipwreck, nearly drowned, found a ruin, stuff tried to stab me, stabbed them back," Kaisa mumbled, to tired for full sentences.

"I see. Well in any case, I got a safe house prepared for you in Daggerfall. Once you get there get settled in and restocked."

"Any leads for me?"

"Not much I'm afraid. The ghost of Lysindius raves about revenge so that is why we suspect his death was not as the royal houses say."

"So how do I pursue this?" Kaisa said hiding a yawn behind her hand.

"I suggest presenting yourself as a mercenary to the Daggerfall Royal family. They are always eager for nameless mercenaries to do their dirty work. It's only a matter of time before they let something slip in regards to Lysindius."

"Sounds good."

"Wait here, let me get you some food and then I will arrange for a hot bath and a room, you can make your way to Daggerfall in the morning."

"I love you," Kaisa said dramatically as she yawned again.

Lady Magnessen laughed as she got up and waved the inn keep over.