flashback*
4E year 201, one month after the Civil War.
Vhornyak winced as he heard the cries of this Nord man and the sound of his fingernail being separated from the skin. Since they arrived in Morthal two weeks ago, he had been tasked with following this Justicar around while the Thalmor were allowed to go through the Storm Cloak allied holds and look for Talos worship to uphold the White-Gold Concordant.
He had quickly earned the nickname of 'The Inquisitor' due to his brutal techniques and cold demeanour. He was quite good at what he did though. He got a confession out of everyone Vhornyak had to watch him torture. Any other justicar was always accompanied by other Thalmor members. He wasn't sure how he got stuck with this monster but he assumed it was because Vhornyaks mere presence was intimidating to people and he wasn't happy that he was being used as an interrogation tool.
The Inquisitor, who's real name was Volonare Armion, had a Nord man in his late twenties sit on his knees with his hands outstretched in front of him while his wife and daughter had to stand behind him holding their hands own arms in the air. All in their own home. After nearly thirty minutes of this treatment the woman were finding it more and more straining to hold this position and would soon be impossible.
Vhornyak stared emptily trying to avoid eye contact with the prisoners as the Justicar took a pair of pliers to the Nord's fingernail and slowly pulled. He gave credit to this Nord, He was on fourth fingernail. The others could only last two.
"Now again, how many divines are there?" The Inquisitor asked as he painfully started to peel the nails from his fingers.
"Nine. Nine Divines!! No elf bastard can change that." He yelled through pained moans.
His young daughter lowered her arms, both of them had nearly dehydrated themselves crying so much watching their father and husband be tortured.
"Mommy! I can't do this anymore. My arms don't feel good!"
In a panic the mother ran over and to her daughter and grabbed her.
"It's almost over baby! Be tough for mommy!"
"I did not tell you to move! Stand back over there and put your arms back in the air!" The inquisitor snapped at them.
He then walked over to the little girl and kneeled down.
"I'm sorry child. I'm sorry your father is being so stubborn. I'm sorry he's putting you through this. If your arms are tired I can have this beast here nail them to the wall and it would be easier for you" he said to her.
The little girl's eyes grew in horror and she looked at Vhornyak. He grunted in frustration. He was about to nail someone to a wall alright, but it wasn't the little girl.
The Inquisitor than went back to the man and as if he never stopped, he again started to pull on his fingernails
"How many divines?!" He asked.
"Nine! Talos will always guide me! It is nine" he yelled and spat in the elf's face.
The Inquisitor stood up and angrily wiped the spit from his face. He grabbed the little girl and held onto her arms.
"I will make these feel all better!" He said
Ice began to form from his hand on the girls wrist and up her arms, leaving a trail of damaged skin and frostbite everywhere it went. The little girl yelled in pain as it made its way up her elbows and Vhornyak had enough. He unsheathed his axe and got behind the Inqusitor and lifted his axe and just as he was about to bring it down on the unsuspecting elf he heard,
"Enough! Please!" From the nord man.
"Eight!" He said while now sobbing and grabbed and hugged his daughter.
"There are eight. Eight Divines!"
Both of the parents grabbed and hugged their now most likely permanently disfigured daughter.
Vhornyak quickly holstered his axe before The Inqusitor saw it.
"Check the dresser in the bedroom. I have a small statue where I worship. Please just take it. Just leave my family alone." He cried out and consoled his child
"I am so sorry your father put me in a position to where I had to do this. I truly am."
He said to the girl while looking at her father.
He then went into bedroom and despite being told exactly where it was still took it upon himself to destructively turn over every piece
of furniture and every piece of storage in the room. Showing as much respect for their property as he did for their health.
He came out of the room with the small Talos statue in his hand.
"I found the contraband. You will now come with me. Talos shrines are punishable by imprisonment." He told him as they yanked the man away from his children.
He quickly pulled a rope and started to tie the man's hand behind his back while his wife jumped up begging for him not to be taken. Vhornyak slapped the justicars hands away from tying the knot.
"You took his little statue, you made him denounce his god and then crippled his daughter. I think he's had enough." Vhornyak said to him and Volonare put hid hands back into place and continued to tie the knot.
"Why exactly do you think your opinion matters here, beast?" Volonare sneered at him.
"Im really getting impatient with you calling me that" Vhornyak said and got as close as he could to The Inquistor.
"I heard you talking with that Lieutenant. You only have two weeks left and then you leave with honors and a full compensation from the Empire.
I hear the Emperor even comes down and shakes his little soldiers hands when they retire. How special that must be to you, and awful that would be to lose that special moment for misconduct." Volonare said as he looked up at the giant Orc with a condescending twist to his lips and look in his eyes.
Vhornyak backed off and allowed Volonare to continue restraining the man.
"I want this sorry raggedy excuse for a home scoured from top to bottom. I'm certain we've missed something." He said and then took his prisoner and shoved him out the door knocking him to the ground.
"Get up!!" They heard the Inquisitor yell as the door closed behind them.
"Is this why you came here Orc? To slaughter my country men and destroy families? I saw what you almost did. How many opportunities have you had to kill that elf? Instead you let him torture children. This is why I lost my grandfather to the Great War? So those same elves could mutilate my daughter and kidnap my husband?" The woman said to him as she tended to her daughter's wounds.
Vhornyak just continued to stare at this child. This child whose life was forever changed for the worse while we could only stand there.
"He was wrong. You have a very nice home"
He said as he shamefully walked out her front door.
……………..
It was a slow night at the tavern. A couple
of Nord miners sat at one table while Vhornyak sat at the end of the bar next to a wall away from the other two legionnaires who had been sent to Morthal with him and his Lieutenant, Travius.
He wasn't his normal reveling self tonight. He slowly picked through his dinner as he leaned against the wall. He had witnessed Volonare perform many cruel and unnecessary acts over the last couple of weeks but what he did today to that little girl was too much. He couldn't get the image of her frost bitten arm and mortified face out of his mind.
He had barely even touched his ale which sent a clear message to the other legionnaires that he needed his space tonight, putting them all on edge a little bit. Morthal was a Stormcloak territory making the legion not particulary welcome as they were still waiting for the new Jarl and the reinforcements that came with him. The Thalmor were taking full advantage of the situation and outnumbered them three to one. Seeing the Orc in a downtrodden state was simply a safety concern.
He barely finished his Ale and tossed his payment on the table and stood up to leave. As he tuned around he saw Volonare and two other Justicars standing right behind him.
"I gave you an order today. You were to scour that criminal's home for anymore evidence. Yet I find you here. Filling your stomach and drinking when you still have work to do."
Volonare said to him getting closer and closer to his face.
"My work with you is done, Your work with that family is done. Get out of my way." Vhornyak responded and then tried to walk away but the other two Justicars stepped into his path.
"I thought we had set a precedent earlier today did we not? About whether or not your concerns are of any importance?"
Volonare said as he grabbed the back of his armor and tried to pull the orc towards him.
"You address me when I speak to you, Beast!" The Inquisitor demanded.
Vhornyak had enough of this disrespect. He used one arm to swiftly knock both of the other Justicars to the ground and use his powerful
Right hand to grab Volonare by his throat and lifted him into the air and then slammed him against the wall where had just been leaning. He hit the wall with a powerful enough impact that it knocked the taxidermy heads off the wall.
"Go get the Lieutenant!" One of the legionnaires yelled at the other as he nervously drew his own sword and ran to the Fray.
Despite having to gasp for breath, Volonare seemed quite calm and pulled out a dagger and jammed it through Vhornyak shoulder. Causing him to let out a loud pained yell and dropped the elf.
As quickly as he let go he took a wide swing at Volonare who quickly ducked and the fist went through the wall where he had been standing.
He angrily pulled his fist out the wall as the other two justicars had returned to their feet
"This is why we had our country torn apart by a war?! So that orcs and elves can destroy my business?! Get out of my inn, all of you! Now!" The Innkeeper yelled at them.
The Justicars all ran out of the building with the Vhornyak quickly chasing after them. They made it outside the Inn and a Vhornyak found all twelve Justicars in the city waiting out side for him. The Inquisitor had baited him into this altercation from the beginning it seemed, Vhornyak was happy to oblige.
"I suggest you end this aggression beast, less you show everyone just how ignorant you truly are" Volonare yelled to him.
"And when I don't?" He snapped back
As he said this two of the Justicars charged him and he grabbed them both by their heads and smacked them together knocking them both to the ground. A third ran straight at him and was met with one swing of the orcs fist and was knocked out cold.
Vhornyak started to laugh while throwing off his bracers.
"This is what I'm supposed to back down from? How about I make things even."
He then took off his armor chest plate leaving him unclothed from the waste up.
The other remaining Legionnaire followed Vhornyak outside. He would stick with his fellow soldier no matter what but the look on his face indicated this was not a battle he was confident taking on.
Vhornyak had enough of waiting around and charged the Justicars himself. Volonare sent a large trail of ice towards him that tapped around Vhornyaks feet and trapped him in place unable to charge any further.
Volonare walked over to him. He was pulling at his legs in frustration but could not seem to loosen the grip of the ice trapping his movement. Volonare wisely stopped just outside the arm reach of the orc.
"I was hoping your mind was as strong as your body. I heard so much another you and your friend, the Lieutenant. Two street rats who made quite the impression on everyone in battle. I thought maybe you could handle the ugly but necessary underside of the this world. Seems you're no more than the angry Beast I've named you."
To their left they heard the sound of door being opened with a force. They saw Travius come angrily walking out of the home they had been in earlier. The mother and the young girl followed after him.
Volonare had a mischievous grin on his face.
"Lieutenant, it appears your men…."
"Shut up! What happened to that little girls arms?!" Travius interrupted him with his angry question.
"I do not have to answer to the legion for doing my assigned duties….."
his words again interrupted
"You do when you involve my men! Threatening to nail them to a wall? Making her watch while you torture her father, and then still arrest him after he denounced talos?" Travius shoved him and Volonare was barely able to stay on his feet.
"His confession was under duress, his heart wasn't in it, he only denied his blasphemy because he was in pain and guilt because of what he forced me to do to the child." Volonare said with confidence, baffling everyone, including the other Justicars with his logic.
"If you don't accept a confession under duress the why torture them?" Travius asked.
Travius was outwardly angry but inside he was overcome with guilt. For days now Vhornyak had been trying to warm him about the sadistic behavior of the The Justicar and how he couldn't handle being assigned to him but being a newly promoted Lieutenant, Travius had no real power over the Thalmor, even if Travius was technically in charge during the transition.
"Quite certain I can educate you about why." Volonare said as he charged an ice spell in his hand and swung his fist at Travius.
Travius charged his own fire spell and swung back at Volonare. Both fists met with a loud boom as the two spells neutralized eachother with a cloud of steam. Sending both of them flying back off their feet.
"Shame such power is wasted on an inferior race." Volonare said as they both stood back up.
Travius heard the clicking sound of several crossbows being loaded and looked around and saw the remaining Justicars surrounding him with the crossbows pointing directly at him. He was confident he could take a group of Justicars but not with this many bolts pointed at him and certainly not with one who can match his magical prowess. He had no choice but to surrender.
"Bring me the transport" Volonare said.
The citizens were too afraid to leave their homes but Travius could see eyes peeking out of doorways and windows. He stood up and stared at Volonare who circled him, Travius follows him as he did, never losing eye contact. Neither of them spoke but words were not needed. The hatred stemming from both their gazes sung enough of a conversation.
He was distracted by seeing a carriage being pulled into city streets. The carriage had a steel
Cage build onto it. The man he had arrested earlier was chained to the bars awaiting his trip to Mistwatck Keep. His clothing covered in blood. The Justicars had clearly been beating him.
The horses stopped in front of Travius.
"Your actions here have shown me that the issues of defiance we have here is stemming from the top, From poor leadership. No wonder this beast acts this way when his own Lieutenant shows such dismay for a true authority." Volonare continued to walk in a circle around Travius.
"I have no choice but to hold the Lieutenant responsible for the lack of respect shown here today. The actions of the Beast has left me no choice."
One of the Justicars pulled a glowing metal collar from the storage bin on the carriage. The other started to move in closer to him, making sure he had no where to go.
"Have you ever seen these before? Old magic. They are embedded with a silence spell. Prevents the wearer from using any magic at all. Far too advanced for most human races to handle." He then turned to his men.
"Strip him." He ordered them.
Vhornyak was now yelling, struggling to release himself from this trap. He had never encountered magic so powerful before and was beyond frustrated.
Travius offered no resistance as the Justicars removed his clothing, leaving him naked in the middle of the street. He then felt sick as the cold steel was placed on his neck and he felt all his magic leave his body.
"Remove the prisoner from the cell please. This one is for too dangerous to be locked up with any others." Volonare ordered
"Take a horse from the stables, he can follow you to Mistwatch on foot." He said and one the Justicars grabbed the prisoner.
"On foot?!" The prisoner cried out. "That's two days walk!"
Without acknowledging the prisoner Volonare looked at the Justicar.
"If his complaining persists, remove his shoes."
"Put the Lieutenant in the cell" he ordered and they all lead Travius to the cell on the carriage with the crossbows still pointed at him.
Once they had him inside the cell they had him put his arms out straight behind him and tied them to the bars behind him. His outstretched arms preventing him from being able to lean back. He had no choice but to sit there on his knees with his arms behind him. Volonare then sent a huge ice spike through one of the wheels, completely destroying it and causing the carriage to fall over and the cage to be at an angle leaning towards the ground.
"Appears our transport is damaged and will
Take quite some time to be repaired. You can sit here in the middle of this disgusting town and wait." Volonare said with a smile.
"Four of you at all times are to guard this prisoner. There will be no heroics here, only consequences." He said to his men.
They did as instructed and four stayed behind while the rest followed him. They walked past Vhornyak and Volonare snapped his fingers and the ice all melted and dissipated at once.
Vhornyak immediately lunged at him but stopped when a large ice spike had been cast. The sharp tip touching him in his neck, preventing any further attack. Just enough pressure to piece his skin, a fatal wound if he came any closer.
"It's only natural for a beast to bite. But when one chomps at its master it must be put down." He said to him.
He then leaned into the Orc's ear and whispered.
"Shame you were too much of a coward to drop that axe on me when you had the chance."
"This beast comes anywhere near that cage, burn the Lieutenant alive" he said to his men as he smirked at Vhornyak.
He knew everyone was too afraid to be seen but they were all watching with from hiding spaces.
"We are here under the authority of the White-Gold Concordant. A treaty signed by your Empire, the Empire whose armor they wear. Your heresy of the genocidal king Talos claiming to be a god will Not be tolerated." He yelled so everyone could hear.
"Any further interference with our just cause will be met with the same fate."
…………………………
Five days had past and Travius still remained tied to the bars. He would have been thankful the rain has subsided from the downpour of the last three nights but the waters were washing away the remnants of the Justicars his body and his cage as chamber pot. He could barely feel the pain in his shoulders or his ankles as they have went numb by now. For the entire five days he was unable to stand straight or even sit down. Stuck restrained to this crooked cage. He was given dirty water and stale bread so he could kept alive for Volonare to use as an example for anyone who walked past.
Volonare visited him daily. Every day he would taunt him and beat him with wooden spikes through the cage. Leaving scars on his body that would never go away. Wounds from being poked and sliced. His body frost bitten.
Every day he would be repeatedly asked the same question. He was told two simple words would make it all stop. All He had to do was utter the words, "You, Sir".
However, Travius never once spoke a word to the Inquisitor. He never cried, he never winced. He never showed any signs of acknowledgement at all, which infuriated Volonare. He thrived on tears, on begging, he thrived on suffering and obedience. Travius gave him no such satisfaction.
Volonare had become more and more distraught as each day passed and he did not get the desired reaction from the Lieutenant. Something was different today though.
Volonare waited until dark today before he approached the cage. He had no weapons and none of the petty food or water. Travius had accepted he would never leave this cage, and it appeared today would be his last.
"You will no longer be needed. Leave at once." He ordered his men guarding the cage. They seemed confused but followed with the orders. He did something else he had not done before. He opened the cage and walked in. Then he asked him the same question he asked everyday.
"Who is in charge here?" He asked him.
Travius looked at the ground and ignored him, as he had the last five days.
Volonare made a fist and formed a block of ice around it and struck Travius in his face.
"Who is in charge here?!" He said again. Louder.
Travius remained silent. Refusing to even look at him. He was truck again on the other side of his face.
"WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
Travius remained silent. Volonares frustration boiled over. He began to strike Travius repeatedly. After the twelfth hit the Elf gave up.
Volonare then got on his knees to get on Travius level. He held Travius head up by his hair and put his face so close to his own not even a hair could get between them. This gave Travius the first opportunity he's had in this bound state to defend himself.
Before Volonare could say any words Travius lunged his face forward and bit Volonare on the right side of his face. His bottom jaw caught him right in eye creating a pop and then Travius could feel liquid oozing into his mouth while his top jaw caught his cheek. Volonare yelled in both agony and shock as he felt the teeth dig further and further into his face. He fought to pull him away but Travius grip had five days worth of revenge behind it.
The other Justicars saw this and rushed to help. Once they arrived they foolishly acted by pulling Volonare away and when he was finally released you could hear a tear and a large chunk of flesh separated from his face as Volonare let out a loud scream. Travius then spit the flesh and piece of his eye towards him.
"Your time here is done!" Volonare yelled as he shot an ice spike that hit Travius on the side of his stomach. The ice spike piecing through his skin but hitting no organs. He then pulled his sword and charged back toward him.
"That will be quite enough." They heard from a calm yet powerful voice.
Volonare had clearly recognized this voice as he stopped and sheathed his weapon.
"This animal has blinded me!" he yelled as he turned around as saw Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador.
She was accompanied by The Legion's General Tullius and two dozen legion soldiers escorting the new Jarl to the hold.
"Last I saw you had two eyes. Make the best of it. Gather your belongings and head to my embassy." She said with pure professionalism despite the intensity of the situation.
"He must pay for this transgression." He cried.
"Gather your belongings and head to the embassy." She calmly repeated.
General Tullius was not as poised and was reeling with anger as he saw one of his bravest soldiers chained to a crooked cage covered in fecal matter and blood with a silence collar on his neck. He ran into the cage and cut the ropes and Travius body fell limp onto the ground. His muscles atrophied from being tied in this horrible position for days.
"Get a healer, now" he yelled at his own men.
………………………..
Two days later Travius awoke in a bed with someone leaning over him tugging at a wound on his abdomen. The last thing he remembers was the tastes of elf's eye and wasn't sure where he was. His instinct kicked in and he tried to push the whale away but he was too sore and pained to do much of anything.
"Easy, easy, soldier. You still have a couple
Open wounds. That elf did quite a bit of damage." He heard
He felt at ease when he realized it was a Priest of Arkay replacing his bandages. He didn't recognize this room at all but seeing the cleanliness and the decor let him know he was certainly not in the drab confines of Morthal any longer.
"Where am I?" He asked the priest.
"The Blue Palace. You've been asleep for nearly two days. I don't blame you either." He said as he started to clean up the dirty bandages.
"Thankfully we were able to prevent any of your wounds from coming to rot. Spells were able to
close most of them. You're going to have some permanent scars as well. I would imagine your back and shoulders are going to be bothersome for quite some time. Overall, you'll be back to yourself in no time though. You're a strong young man."
"Is he talking? He's awake ?!" He heard excitedly from outside the door.
The door flung open and Vhornyak quickly stepped into the room and hugged Travis as he laid on the bed. He had been standing guard
over Travius room since they arrived.
"Hey now, gentle big man!" Travius chuckled as he tried his best to hug him back.
"I feel like a mammoth stepped on me"
Vhornyak reached into bag and pulled out a black briar mead.
"I'm sure you need this"
"I would recommend some water first. Would
Probably do you some good to walk around. That would probably be more helpful to him than a mead right now" the priest said as he walked out the door to give them some space.
"Tullius wanted to see you when you woke up. I'm Sure you're hungry though. Let's go get you some thing to eat" Vhornyak said
Travius sat up in the bed and gathered himself for a minute before Vhornyak helped him stand up. He almost felt woozy as he hadnt been in a standing position for well over a week at this point.
Vhornyak grabbed his clothes and helped Travius keep his balance as he got dressed. They took a few steps around the room to help remember his legs and they head out the door and to the dining area.
…………………………..
Vhornyak was almost stunned as he watched his friend eat. This maybe the first time since he was a child in the Stronghold that he had ever seen someone eat more and with speed than himself. Makes sense after not having eaten in a week.
General Tullius walked in and Vhornyak stood up quickly and gave him a military greeting. Travius started to slowly stand up until Tullius stopped him.
"No need for that Lieutenant. I know your intent. I'm sure you need to eat." The general said to him.
"That's your second glass of water. It's time." Vhornyak said as he opened a black briar mead and laid it on the table.
"I'm not sure that's the best thing for me right now." Travius said as he smelled it. It did smell great to him.
"You're going to want it. I'll be right outside." Vhornyak said as he patted Travius on the shoulder and walked out of the room.
"You look pretty damn good Lieutenant, all things considered." Tullius said as he took a seat across from Travius.
"I just need to get out in the training yard and move around a bit. I'll be armoring up soon enough." Travius said with a youthful optimism.
"You're quite the young man, Lieutenant. I hope you know that." He ran his hands through his silver hair.
Between his friend's statement and Tullius tone Travius realized this conversation was not going to be a pleasant one. He took his friend's advice and took a sip from the mead.
"You got him good, The Inquisitor, as you call him. The Ambassador didn't allow him any treatment for several hours apparently. Elenwen has the emotional expressiveness of a boulder so you can never really tell but I think she was mad." Tullius said trying to lighten the mood.
"When you bit him you destroyed his eye beyond repair. I couldn't began to recite the medical terms the priests were using but his eye is almost solid black now, he completely lost his vision from it. No known healing spell of potion was going to repair that. The Ambassador's delay in treatment saw to it that the chunk you took of out his face will leave him an ugly scar around it. You should see it."
"I'd prefer not too. Nothing good will happen for anyone if we meet again." Travius said as he took another sip.
"He got what he deserved I say. Your scars are on your body. Most people will never see them. But him, they will always see his eye. He will be reminded of what he did with every person he sees." Tullius spoke
"Aye, Just like that girl he maimed." Travius responded
"You know it was one of his Justicars that got Elenwen's attention? Within a matter of a day he crossed two separate lines that even his own men thought should have been respected.
Now don't get me wrong, they weren't the least bit concerned about what he was doing, he just gave them bad optics by doing it so brazenly.
He's getting another chance to do it again. He's being given his own outpost in Riften. We wanted him shipped back to Isles but they were wanting you to accompany him. Maven Black-Briar has been appointed the Jarl of the Rift. She already has about as much power as the Queen. He behaves like that in her hold and he'll lose more than his eye." Tullius said.
"You guys seem awfully solemn just to tell me he got moved. I heard one of his men mention that he is the Ambassador's brother. I assumed off that alone he wouldn't face much consequence." Travius spoke as he finished the last of his food.
"Well, now we're to the reason the big fella told you to drink." Tullius paused as if he was contemplating if he really wanted to sit even say it.
"Your scars and the condition I found you in spoke all the truth I needed but unfortunately it's not all my decision. Most of this is out of my hands.
Both the Legion and the Thalmor questioned people seperately. The citizens of the town were not cooperative with any of us. A former stormcloak territory had no desire to take a side with The Legion and certainly not the Thalmor.
One person did though. An innkeeper who is very unhappy about a hole in his wall. He's the only real witness we had. His story is that the orc struck first in the Inn. He then chased them outside where he assaulted a few more justifies before he was restrained.
He then claims that when you entered the scene you also struck first by shoving Volonare. He did admit that he did not hear the exchange with you and he also said he felt like elf antagonized the orc. Now, and I really hope you do, do you have anything to refute those statements?" Tullius asked him
"I have no idea what happened in the tavern, and yes, technically I laid hands on The Inquisitor First. I had just seen what he did to that little girl and let my emotion get the best of me." Travius said with a slight bit of realization.
"What did the other two legionnaires have to say? They were both in the tavern, one of them even came to find me." He asked the general.
"They both deserted. They must of been afraid of the Thalmor. We found one of them had fallen on his own sword not far from town. The other is missing and will be punished accordingly if found"
"The Justicars found a Talos shrine in that girls home. He asked the orc to inspect the rest of the home, a routine procedure when contraband of any kind is found, and the orc refused. Were you aware of this?" Tullius asked knowing each and every question was creating a fog of tension around the room.
"Stop calling him The Orc, his name is Vhornyak. And no, this is the first time I'm hearing of this." Travius had a curt tone to his voice now.
Tullius frowned and sighed.
"The Justicars searched the home themselves. When they did, they found a basement that the family was hiding an access to. In that basement they found the fifteen storm cloak soldiers they were hiding in there. Along with the plans they had to assassinate the new Jarl and take control of the town."
Travius let that sink in for a moment. That would
of been a huge failure on his part. Even if they were unsuccessful. That would have been grounds for a demotion.
Tullius spoke again.
"That's not all. The Justicars searched your barracks as well. They found skooma in your foot locker. Now, skooma we can simply confiscate and slap you on the wrist. What we can't just ignore was the pure moon sugar and the JoySnow."
Travius heart sunk. He had no idea what to say and just sat there dumb founded.
"Where did you even find Joy Snow? It's so rare the Empire hasn't even wasted the ink to officially prohibit it" the general asked.
"You and your men refused orders that were covered under both the guidelines of the concordant and of imperial law, we found multiple illegal items and you permanently disfigured and partially crippled a Justicar. "
Tullius gave him a second to respond but Travius was still speechless.
"We came to an agreement that you acted on behalf of the little girl and will consider that your eye for his eye. You broke some serious guidelines of the concordant. Initiating violence with Justicars while performing legal duties is not something they were willing to let go of.
They wanted you in prison but we were able to talk them down to something where you still can maintain your freedom. You're both being discharged from the legion. Without honors.
Travius, that means no pension, no officers bonus and no soldiers funeral when that day comes. Your service records will be erased and all titles and accolades stripped from you."
They both then sat there in silence. Travius toyed with imaginary food on his empty plate. He then finished his mead before finally spoke.
"Three days. Three days is how long you told me personally that I would be there until my reinforcements arrived. We were there for a month. You left us there in a populace with no leadership who hated us."
"Delays are an inevitability." Tullius spoke in his defense.
"We were outnumbered by Justicars three to one. You left me with that psychopath for a month." Travius spoke with a raising tension in his voice.
"We had no way of knowing he was that unhinged." Tullius said back
Travius stood up and grabbed his empty mead
Bottle.
"I was left outside in a cage to rot. To be poked and prodded and beaten. I was in that cage for longer than I was supposed to have waited for my reinforcements. Did you know they use me body and my cage as their chamber pot? All of them, every one of those sicophants. You ever had another man piss on you? Have you ever had another man take a shit and throw it on you while your tied up like a rabid animal?" Travius through the bottle across the room in frustration
"Now, calm down son, I…."
"No! Don't you dare call me that! Im
No one's son! No one ever had or ever will call me that! Especially not from someone like you."He was begin long to feel a stress on his wounds and sat back down.
"I lived my whole life growing up In the squalor that highbrow folks just like you created. I grew up in the ugly underside of you and your Empire. Treated as a flea by people like you. I became a product of my environment and you decided I was too dangerous for you. So you shipped me off the kill in a war created by your own incompetence.
You said yourself Vhornyak and I tipped the scales to victory. Do know how I accomplished that? Do you have any idea how many people I killed for you? I can't even say their faces haunt my dreams because not even a deadric prince has the mental fortitude to withstand the amount of memory needed to remember that many faces! I'll remember his though."
His anger rising up in him and a flame started to appear in his hand almost beyond his control.
"You will withdraw your threatening manner immediately Lieutenant!" Tullius yelled at him
"I'm not your Lieutenant anymore, remember?! You left your Lieutenant to rot in a cage as a plaything for the Thalmor!"
"I'm not saying this is right Travius! You think I don't know we failed you? That I failed you?!
Now put that flame away before you fail yourself!" Tullius authoritatively ordered him.
Travius eyes began to swell. He had used every bit of his willpower not to breakdown in tears.
They both showed each other enough mutual respect to remain quiet and let the other cool their boiling nerves.
"For what it's worth. I'm sorry. If it were up to me I'd dock your pay for the drugs and give you the titles and the command you earned and deserve. It's not all up to me though. Despite my own titles and my shining generals armor, a lot is not up to me."
Tullius then tossed a key on the table toward Travius.
"I have secured funds for three nights for you and the orc….for you and Vhornyak…to have food and a bed at the inn here in Solitude. Allow you time to figure out your next move. Before you go, I have someone here who wants to speak with you. I beg you to hear him out. Not just for the good of yourself or of the Empire, but for all of Tamriel."
"I hope one day the Empire will earn your forgiveness." Tullius then signaled for someone as he walked out.
Travius sat alone at the table for several minutes, staring at his empty plate and trying his best to ignore the aching wounds all over his body. Finally he heard someone walk in and looked up at a large older Nordic man, somewhere in the middle of the size of Vhornyak and Himself. He was wearing Vigilante of Stendarr armor. His long beard nearly touching his rib cage and his long blonde hair pulled into a tight pony tail. Travius could sense the powerful arcane energy radiating from the strange man.
"Travius Velsala, the Mighty Orphan Flame." He the man said in a thick Nord accent and almost thunderously deep voice.
"Whatever it is you want to sell me on, calling me that stupid nickname will not help your cause." Travius snidely remarked.
"I think you'll learn to appreciate it one day."
The nord reached his arm across the table to offer a handshake to Travius.
"Pleasure to meet you Travius. My name is Jorgensen Wind-Shield."
Travius stood up and shook his hand. Something about this man seemed different. Everything about him indicated power without even trying.
"I've heard alot about you and your friend Vhornyak, everyone has. You were the most prolific soldiers of that war. A civil war in Skyrim and the legends born from it were an Imperial and an Orc, two men from Cyrodill, who were only there to avoid jail.
I'm sure you've heard the rumors of dragons returning to Skyrim, attacking city and villages."
"Aye, I thought it a rumor until I saw one flying in the distance while I was locked in a Thalmor cage. Had they not of already been talked about I would have thought I was hallucinating. Seems to be just another addition to the myriad of issues Skyrim has." Travius said
"I also heard what happened out there in Morthal. Imperials aren't really the leaders they think they are." Jorgensen said, he had no concern if anyone heard him.
"Listen. I'm not quite sure who you are or want you want with me but I don't think you came here to talk about rumors and politics." Travius said
"Aye, If I were you I'd already be on my way Riften for a barrel of mead and a whore on each arm. We can cut to the chase my boy. What do you plan on doing now? Now that Legion stripped you of your earned future?" Jorgensen asked him.
"Head back home. Where I belong." He said quickly.
"Sure. Assuming you make it across the border. The Legion can call it diplomacy all they want but they abondoned you. The Thalmor will always have eyes on you. You disfigured the Ambassadors Kin. They won't let that go.
Besides that, Home? What's home? A bedroll in a sewer? A room at an inn where you can drink away your memory in that cage? You and I both know how that goes. You'll wind up back in the same life that got you here to begin with.
No one knows you there like they do here. All they will know is you were a soldier who left the Legion with no honors. No city will accept you as a guard with your past. The fighters guild won't even consider you. Mages guild has no interest in soldiers, especially one that had more potential than them.
You'll either be a criminal or a laborer. You're a handsome charming man when you want to be. I'm sure you'll find a you a woman in a tavern one day who comes to your bed one day and stays because her belly grows.
You could live an average life there. Rent an average home. Work an average job. I think we both know that life will kill you faster than the underworld will.
I can offer you something greater. Something worthy of your talents. Not only can I offer you the recognition and admiration of the people that you have earned but I can offer you riches and a sense of purpose that no military ever could."
Travius knew he was right. Especially about the Thalmor. They were certainly going to be seeking revenge.
"You're not average and you know that. Neither is Vhornyak. You are protectors. You are justice seekers." Jorgenson then pulled out a dragons claw and handed it to Travius.
"I'm sure you've heard people speak of the Dragonborn?" He asked him.
"Of course. They say he has the blood of a Dragon, that he absorbs their souls and speaks their language, magic with his words." Travius said in a condescending tone
"You don't believe them?" Jorgenson asked.
"I don't deny the existence of anything, but you Nords like to drink and tell tall tales sometimes." He replied
Jorgenson laughed.
"You're not wrong boy. I hear he's ten feet tall and a cock made of dragons tail. Or maybe he's a middle age man with the Vigilantes of Stendarr. Maybe he knows not just of the real threat of dragons but of all the monsters and horrors in the world that must be stopped and he knows despite his gifts he can't do it alone. So he sits in Solitude asking a tarnished hero to save the world with him."
"Come with me and be my soldier and your life will get better. I've heard that before,l listened, and I have a body full of scars and a mouthful of elf shit to show for it." Travius said as he started to stand up to walk away.
"No, no soldiers are needed. You won't wear any banner or crest unless you choose. No one else's armor will be forced on you. You won't work for me, you'll work with me. I don't need a soldier, a warrrior or a fighter. I need the kind of man who bites his captor in the face and takes a chunk of his flesh. I need a survivor." Jorgensen made one final plea to him.
Travius turned around to him.
"I need you to answer something for me. I see that glowing enchanted mace you have in your side. Why didn't you yield it as your countrymen fought eachother?"
"I've known Ulfric Stormcloak for decades. I do
believe he cared for Skyrim but I think he was misguided about how to help her. Over time he let his bigotry become too much a part of cause to appease his men. Used his hatred of all elven races as too much of a scapegoat for our lands Ill's.
He may have succeeded in conquering the elves in Skyrim but hateful people never stop being hateful. Even without elves he would have found an enemy with his own people. He truly hated the Thalmor, as most do, but he never saw how
Much he was like them.
The Emporer had no choice but to engage after Ullfric killed the king. This I can understand and would have done myself. To their credit, they did try to reason with Ulfric but the Legion itself has lost its soul.
Merely days before I discovered the gifts of my blood, I was returning home from a mission in Morrowind. I happened to be crossing the border while the Legion had sprung a trap for Ulfric. When I was found they only saw a Nord who wasn't with them and took me with Ulfric and his men to Helgen.
When we arrived in Helgen we were taken to a chopping block. One of the Legionnaires even pointed out that I was not with them but they insisted I be executed anyway. They had no idea who I was, they just knew I wasn't one of them. That was enough for me to lose my head. Of course, a dragon attacked Helgen before I was beheaded and now here we are.
So which side should I have fought for? The misguided bigots who would have eventually destroyed themselves anyway or the one ones who tried to take my head because of it was the most convenient option?
I would have fought for Skyrim and her people as I'm hoookg to do now. Neither one of them had my goals as far am I'm concerned." He said
Travius could see his sincerity and knew this man had not only his own, but everyone's best interest in mind.
"Ok, Dragonborn. I will fight with you, under the condition that Vhornyak stand with us as well." Travius said to him proudly
Jorgensen curled a large smile.
"He's already loaded both your belongings on my carriage."
Jorgensen then stood up to walk out with him.
"Now, I believe you have some healing to do at the tavern, on the General's tab I hear."