MORE CHAPTER?!
I discretely opened my map and took a look at the road ahead. It seemed that it was going to take awhile. Maybe two days.
My technology addled mind didn't have the patience for this.
Yet I also couldn't let Inigo sit in jail for who knows how long. That rich fucker would probably tie up his release in so much bureaucracy that the khajiit would be a feeble old man by the time he got out.
Gotta love corruption.
My eyes glazed over as I looked around. The caravan had been moving for a little while already, and I noticed a certain mine off the trail. It was an iron mine, right?
Very little iron in it as far as I remember.
Yet that was clearly not the case now. There was a couple buildings surrounding the entrance along with militiamen patrolling around in trios. Men in worker's clothes dirtied with debris and sweat walked in and out constantly. Some had pickaxes in hand. Others were empty handed. One was carrying a rather shiny piece of raw metal. Silver?
Had they struck silver?
That would certainly bring business to the town. Well, even more.
It didn't take long for the lead carriage to pass the mine. This left few things of interest to look at. Once in awhile, there was a cluster of snowberry bushes.
I snagged a few that were within reach. They were used in baking in Skyrim. The berries also had all positive alchemical effects.
There was no way it would actually hurt me.
So, with that thought, I popped one into my mouth. Probably not the smartest decision.
'Sour.' Was my immediate thought. biting into it caused the berry to burst. It was a rather memorable taste. Kind of like a sour cherry almost. Interestingly, the seeds were quite soft. Different from most plant seeds I had encountered in my old life.
Not that it was bad or anything. I loved sour things.
I wolfed the berries down pretty fast before something occurred to me.
Why didn't I feel any different? They had all three of the elemental resistances and fortify enchanting. What's the deal?
Maybe the berries by themselves weren't potent enough to actually do anything? What if the binding of two or more ingredients allowed the effect to be noticeable?
Or what if the key was making an extract?
Eh. Not important right now.
The trip wasn't actually as bad as I had originally thought.
There was a group of goats milling around on the side of the road. One was even chewing on what I assumed to be an iron septim. Damn, even the goats had more cash than I did. Well, that was why I was working.
Since I had the free time, I decided to have a peek at my status screen.
.
(Status)
Thaion
Race: Changeling
Level: 1
Experience: [0/1000]
Perk Points: 1
Age: 12
Title(s): None
Rank: None
Magicka Capacity: 100/100 (Student)
Strength: 11/100
Durability: 4/100
Endurance: 10.8/100
Agility: 8/100
.
This time I took a closer look at the screen.
Hoh?
A stat increase? Not much, but that's nearly one one-tenth of my total endurance. From just running about for a couple minutes, that's pretty good. Though, I had a nasty itchy feeling that it would only get harder from here to properly up my stats. Unfortunate.
But what about that perk point? Is there some sort of...shop? Perhaps a shop with better perks? Or, as I had suspected earlier, will it let me evolve perks?
PING!
[The Perk Shop]
[This screen will take perk points in exchange
for powerful new abilities. However, they will
still apply the logic of the world you reside in
and cannot be from outside the universe.
Once you open the Perk Shop, the options
available will stay until you spend a point.]
The implications of that are...pretty vague. Would it do something crazy like allow me to unlock the Thu'um? Even the possibility was making me salivate. In the game, it was pretty average in terms of usefulness, but in lore?
Shouting people into literal pieces.
Summoning lightning storms powerful enough to blast people to ashes.
Becoming incorporeal.
Breathing fire.
That's not even getting into the fact that there must be many more shouts outside what's available in the game. There's a whole draconic lexicon available for use.
Either way, I'm getting ahead of myself. I went to tap the Perk Shop in my Status Screen, but hesitated.
From the way the tutorial described it, it was a lot like Schrödinger's cat. The perks could be either great or horrendous until I open the shop. What if all of them are about sunlight and then my condition advances three days from now and I fry like a chicken tender?!
Whereas if I wait until my condition finishes it's work, then the perks would be more applicable to my situation. Like the ability to walk around in the daylight.
Or wings. Wings would be pretty handy.
'Time to play the waiting game, then.' I thought as I closed the screen.
The area around darkened as the Sun slowly slid behind the mountains to rest while the Moon came up to watch over the Nirn.
Absolutely breath-taking.
I barely left the hospital in my old life. In fact, before I died, I had been in there for over a year. But that last trip, it was before my condition worsened. They took me out to the countryside. Some old field. It was late. Probably around eight or nine at night in Autumn.
And the sky!
It was so wondrous! Stars everywhere! All little pinpricks in the glowing canvas of the nighttime sky. The Moon too. It fit perfectly in that canvas. In fact, it felt like the focus of the whole image. Pockmarks of meteorite impacts marring the surface only served to enhance the complicated and ethereal beauty.
But despite feeling so far away, so impossibly far out of reach...it blended perfectly with Earth. The horizon falling into the sky above. It made everything seem in reach then. Like it wasn't so far away.
And it took my breath away.
This was the same way, but with the rugged beauty of Northern Skyrim. In a way, it was grounding. My life was this now.
I found myself dawning a small smile as I admired the environment.
It was dark now and the caravan had stopped. People pitched tents and campfires. Meals were cooked and socialization occurred.
I personally lurked around the edges. A few others did this as well. In my case, it was social anxiety.
Their cases? Probably paranoia.
A wolf howled off in the distance, making me jump a bit. I had forgotten animals existed. And...other beasts. It's not just simple bandits we're defending against. Bears, goblins, hell, I think ogres kicked around Tamriel too.
Frightening.
But with all the human activity, I doubt wild animals would actually approach. At least, I sincerely hoped that they wouldn't.
I looked over my shoulder to the several groups around the caravan. The scent of some sort of stew wafted over to me on the wind. My stomach then chose that moment to let me know that I was a little more than hungry. Smelled a lot like chicken soup actually.
My legs carried me over to a group working around a collection of campfires. There was a few pots laid on a table filled with the soup. Bowls and silverware was supplied as well. Actually, wouldn't it technically be ironware? A quick look did indeed reveal it to be made of iron. Of course. Silver would be pretty expensive.
Definitely not fit for a bunch of mercenaries and traveling civilians. Speaking of civilians...
"Getcha hands off me damned bag!" A man yelled to another. One was clearly bigger, but the smaller was evidently stronger. The struggle rapidly devolved into a fist fight. The bigger man took a few solid hits to the torso as the smaller man couldn't reliably reach his face. It only took a single solid right hook to the smaller man's temple to lay him out flat.
"Thieving trash." He spat angrily as he stormed off, his leather backpack now rustled, one strap broken. The crowd that had gathered around parted for the man. Soon, people moved away back to their own little areas.
I approached the downed man warily, my stew bowl in one hand and ironware in the other. "You alright?"
No response.
I nudged him in the ribs with my foot. That got me a groan in response. Good. He wasn't dead.
"Quit your nagging, woman..." He muttered, swiping at my leg blearily.
I back-stepped from his lazy, half-hearted swing easily with a dry look on my face. "I'm a boy."
It was then that he pushed himself up enough to move his head towards me. "You're- oh. You aren't..."
His face rapidly morphed into a dead look. Tears brimmed at his eyes. I could spot little twitches in his face. It didn't take me much effort to guess.
"Wife?"
A shaky nod.
I knew it. Most people didn't think much of me in my old life, but the one thing I could really improve were my observational skills. I saw a number of grieving husbands and wives in the hospital. Watching someone you love so dearly die right in front of you while you could do nothing...I couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like.
Whispers flared up around. They regarded the grounded man with scorn. Apparently thieves were frowned upon in Nordic culture.
But as I looked back to the man, all I saw was someone wounded. His pain resonated with me. The pain of being alone. Of loss.
My humanity demanded I assist him and I obeyed.
"C'mon, up you get." I said, holding a hand down to him.
I took a good look at him as he raised his head a bit. Long, tangled hair that must have been a dark, chocolate brown at some point before it became dirtied. His skin was quite pale, but a normal tone for a nord. His eyes were actually hetero-chromatic; one a startlingly bright green and the other a smooth, dark brown.
He didn't look older than twenty. His body seemed emaciated to be honest. A meal would do him well.
"You-?" He began, reaching for my hand hesitantly.
"I'm here to help you." I said simply as I gestured for him to grab hold.
Eventually, he accepted the help, allowing me to heave him off the ground. Wobbling for a moment, he shook his head. "I thank you, stranger. Most would simply walk past a thief such as myself."
I nodded solemnly. "I figured. But we're more than the worst thing we've ever done."
With notable exceptions, but now wasn't the time for that sort of talk.
The man stared at me for awhile. "I...guess you're correct."
"I usually am." I replied, surprising myself. Where in the hell had that come from? The man side-eyed me for a moment before a small smirk broke across his lips.
"Ha! Put that to good use then, lad." He looked down to his hands for a moment before forming fists, determination flashing across his features.
"Are you an adventurer?" He asked after a quick look at me. Fair question to ask. Though, I was clearly a bit young to be on my own. At least, that's how I appeared.
"Indeed I am." I said quickly. "Looking to saddle up with me?"
The man seemed to weigh his options for a moment before locking eyes with me. "As a matter of fact, I am. I've grown tired of lying in the mud of life. I need to make something of myself." He announced, his voice rising. It honestly gave me chills. I felt like I was seeing something important.
Well, beyond the ones from the sharp winds of Skyrim.
"That is, if you'll allow me." His voice dropped as he adopted a glint of hope in his eyes.
Well, whose to say no to an extra pair of hands to help?
"Sure thing. Welcome aboard." I said, holding out my hand. "You want money or something? In that case, I don't have much at all."
Luckily for me, he shook his head vigorously. "No, not at all. Just to travel with you. Be included in the songs bards will write of your accomplishments. That sort of thing. Just to leave a mark on history."
I raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think bards will write of me?"
A shrug in response. "A feeling." He said, waving his hand to dismiss the topic. "Either way, Itarus Ingrorinsen, at your service."
"Thaion. No last name if that makes a difference." I introduced myself.
"I suppose my own name means little. None of my family lives. Maybe a cousin in Cyrodiil." Itarus commented.
Cousins, huh? A possible connection to the Imperial heartland could prove quite useful. Maybe that could be handy later down the line.
"Any idea where?"
"Last I had heard from him, in the capital. He claimed to own a general goods store there. Although, that letter was over four years ago, so things may have changed." Itarus explained, moving his hands as he talked. He seemed quite expressive.
I simply nodded. "Perhaps our adventures will take us there one day."
Itarus quirked the corners of his lips. "That might be nice. I was but a boy when I last saw him."
"Mhm." I hummed as I turned back to the table. "Grab a bowl. You could do with food in your belly."
Itarus's gut chose that moment to growl. "Yes, I think my stomach would agree."
"So, why are you out here on this contract?" Itarus asked as he slowly consumed the stew. They had found two tree stumps on the side of the road to sit on.
"I need the septims. I intend to pay bail for someone in Winterhold. A seasoned adventurer. I'm hoping I can recruit him and his services."
Itarus nodded understandingly. "I see. Some grand quest in mind?"
I paused in my eating. Did I even want to share it with someone else?
...Not really.
But what do I say? A pretty standard answer should fly.
"Make sure people remember me. Y'know, something along the lines of Thaion The Great." I said, waving the hand not occupied by my bowl in the air grandly.
"Not bad. Maybe it'll go that way." Itarus said, returning to his food.
I glanced over him, taking note of his clothes. He had absolutely zero proper equipment. I'll have to buy him some or go looting old tombs or bandits. Though, those last two were unlikely to be any time soon. A cheap little knife glinted at his belt but I doubted he knew how to use it properly.
There was silence for a time. Only the scrape of utensils on eating bowls broke the silence.
Oh, and a notification.
PING!
[Sanguinare Vampiris]
The disease that spawns the cursed gift of Molag Bal.
-Time left: Two nights
I barely suppressed my reaction to the notification appearing. Goosebumps rose on my skin and my leg began to bounce.
It also raised a heavy sense of forboding over my condition. Do I cook in the sun? Or is it like Skyrim where I'm weakened?
I'd rather not turn into crispy changeling.
That would also leave me next to no time to get back to Winterhold. Maybe if I sprinted the entire thing but I severely doubted I could manage that. This was a major issue. I could travel under the cover of darkness, but my newest companion may be slightly opposed to saddling up with a bloodsucker.
PING!
[Companion System unlocked!]
[Every legendary adventurer has notable followers! You
will be no different. Companions, just alike anyone else,
will have a relationship gauge. Depending on said gauge,
they could stop following you. Their own moral compasses,
history, and other factors also contribute to this. Your
relationship will rise naturally as you spend time together,
adventure, and complete quests. Doing actions that they
may not approve of could potentially damage your relationship.
There is no limit on how many companions you may have,
however only specific entities can be classified as a companion.
You are able to examine a companion's character sheet,
inventory, magic screen, and other such things freely.
However, if something is related to something such as a
quest, information may be limited or hidden.]
[New Companion: Itarus Ingrorinsen]
Oh. No limit you say? I could think of a few ways to abuse that. Though, the block of text took a good moment to read through.
Let's see here, 'Itarus's character sheet?'
.
(Status)
Itarus Ingrorinsen
Race: Nord
Level: 4
Experience: [0/4000]
Perk Points: 0
Age: 26
Title(s): None
Rank: None
Magicka Capacity: 0/0 (Non-Magical)
Strength: 12/100
Durability: 7/100
Endurance: 14/100
Agility: 10/100
.
Alright then. Seems...alright. This must be the relative average of the nord race. I could probably get him to be quite the warrior...hopefully. That's the idea anyway.
`Next, skills...` My eyes skimmed over the rather limited selection of skills. He really had nothing of note. Mainly things such as sprinting, thievery, and a particularly low level archery skill. He was even non-magical! He'd have to be a pure warrior rather than a hybrid class. Enchanting could definitely solve some of those weaknesses though.
Speaking of...
"Know anything of enchanting?" I said suddenly, surprising my follower.
He met my gaze with a raised eyebrow, then a shake of the head. It showcased rather ratty hair. He'd need a good bath when they got to Windhelm. The next words nearly made my heart stop.
"What's enchanting?"
Enchanting was what really helped the player characters get to the next level. Even pure warrior classes used enchanted gear, whether they bought it or made it isn't important.
Itarus had waited in silence for me to answer. Do I tell him? If he hadn't even heard of it, that raises more questions. Having a high level in a skill would cause citizens to have certain lines when you pass by. Them commenting on a high enchanting level means they've heard of it and know what it is. What could have possibly caused that knowledge to disappear?
A white-lie maybe? Allow myself plausible deniability?
"An ancient form of magic. I heard of it from a wizard in a place far away." I explained quickly. Despite the cold, I felt a bead of sweat roll down my face. Apparently lying wasn't one of my skills, even white-lies.
Thankfully though, he bought it. Itarus simply made a face of understanding. "Why do you want to know about it? What does it do?"
My face twitched as I thought of a way to explain it. The lore was pretty damn complicated. All sorts of alchemical and magical ingredients along with the soul of a sentient being.
Or just smashing an item and a shiny rock together for Skyrim.
Alright, another vague, airy answer. "It is the process of imbuing an item with a magical effect. Something like a flaming sword."
A smirk broke across Itarus's face. "Right, just like children's stories? You're telling me a guy with a long beard and a funny robe can make a sword light on fire?" He replied, holding in laughter.
My face didn't shift from my blank expression. "That's...exactly what I'm saying."
"Ha! Next you'll tell me dragons are real!" He started coughing as he laughed, struggling to hold it together.
Before I could stop myself, my mouth opened. "Actually-"
"BANDITS!" A powerful voice boomed from the front of the caravan. Both I and Itarus were startled out of our conversation, our gazes snapping to the front.
Huh? Out here? If I recalled correctly, there were no major gangs in this part. I opened my map briefly, checking out the surrounding area. Then my eyes landed on it.
A fort built into the side of the mountain. That was...new. It seemed to have a rather small courtyard but I'd wager it was bigger on the inside.
I closed my map and stood up. "Stay back. That knife won't do much." I said to Itarus as soon as he stood with me. I wasn't eager to give his physical abilities a test drive in conditions as these.
"And leave you without someone to watch your back? I think not. I'll figure it out, trust me." He said smoothly, waving off his concerns.
Without the time to argue, I could only make a face of annoyance before hustling towards the lead carriage.
Crisp fallen snow crunched beneath my feet as I kept to a light jog. Itarus wasn't far behind me. Hopefully the caravan leader can talk the bandits away. If there are too many, we won't come out of this without loss.
"What do we want? Come on old man, we're bandits! We want your fuckin' money!" A rough voice yelled. I put on some more speed before coming to a skidding halt, kicking up some snow. Itarus came to a stop just behind me.
Despite the situation, I relished in the feeling of having full lungs, filled with natural air. Not air conditioning, but the outside world. It was a rush I wouldn't forget.
Over twenty-five men in a mixture of regular clothing, furs, leather pads in places and a few metal plates stood on the road in front of the caravan.
In fighting stances were fourteen people in much higher quality armor of various races. While the bandits stood rather lazily, the adventurers were far more disciplined. One man was an absolute mountain of muscle and steel. Full metal plate protecting him in a pretty high gothic style. The plate was dark grey. A tabard was over his body displaying a symbol of some sort. Some eagle with a spear and shield in golden yellow. The tabard itself was a deep blue. A grey fur cape dangled from the man's shoulders by a chain.
Gripped in his hands was a massive warhammer. The shaft was wrapped in dark brown leather and had studs scattered around. The end was capped with some sort of trinket on a chain. A small silver skull. The head of it had two ends. The front was a flat square with a skull emblazoned onto either side of it. The back was instead a spike with what seemed to be quite a sharp end that glinted in the moonlight. The flat side had rather shiny studs, like silver. Even that little must have been pretty pricey.
Did I mention the man was seven and a half feet tall? Because he is. He towered over literally everyone. The bandits didn't seem eager to get close to him.
"And it's my job to protect these people. You want their possessions? You go through us." I heard the caravan leader say. I couldn't see him thanks to his height, but I looked defiantly at the bandits. Maybe it wasn't worth it in the long run, but as much as I thought about it, I couldn't bear to go back on my word like that. Not like this.
A mutter of agreement passed through the adventurers. The bandits looked a bit less sure now but the leader stepped forwards. He was a Nord of about average Nord height, being roughly six foot. Dirty blonde hair was on his head alongside a greasy smirk that screamed of ignorant confidence. Crooked teeth populated that smile alongside a lecherous look he threw at a few of the female adventurers.
Overall, somebody I had zero interest in getting to know.
He let out a rather large laugh in response. "If that's what you'd like, old man." His hand rose up and he made some sort of signal. My blood ran cold as a man in a robe stepped out from the shadows alongside the side of the road and let loose a fireball right at the carriage.
My hand went to my sword faster than I could think and I was charging the bandits. A bolt of panic ran through me as one swung his chipped iron sword at me in a sloppy manner. Running on the original inhabitant's memories and instinct, I parried the blow. The man's arrogant smirk was offset by a look of surprise as I lunged forwards with my offhand, striking him in the throat.
A crack rang out as he dropped his sword and fell to his knees. Without thinking, I followed it up with a thrust into his gut.
"Trash." I spat as I placed my foot on his chest and kicked him off the blade. The sounds of battle were in full swing as I re-focused on the mage in the back. He had sunk back into the shadows of the trees, evidently waiting for his magicka to recharge. Must have been a novice. Going off the proximity to the college, a failed student.
He used his dark robes to blend into the environment but he couldn't escape my sight. I had broken through the bandit line and began running at him. If he got another fireball off, he could probably vaporize quite a few people. Stopping him was paramount.
Steps behind me told of Itarus following me quite closely. As much as I didn't want him to be risked until he had proper gear, the back-up was welcomed. Though, we weren't moving fast enough. The spellcaster had began putting his hands out, charging another spell, this time aimed at the group of people fighting. Orange light swirled around his hands as he channeled his magicka.
What to do? I had to do something!
My eyes ran over the ground, looking for something to throw until I came across a baseball-sized piece of rock. I nearly fell over scooping it up but I held it in my offhand, winding my arm back and giving it a mighty heave towards the hooded man's head. Would it arrive in time? He seemed to be almost done.
"HEY!" Itarus screamed at the man. He jumped, his gaze snapping over just in time to catch the rock on his forehead. His head swung back, a trail of blood in the air as he fell into the snow.
Huh. Quite the hit.
We both came to a quick stop, turning on the spot to look at the battle. Evidently quality wasn't everything.
"RAAAAAH!" A bandit screamed, swinging an battleaxe down onto a downed adventurer. The man's leather padding gave way, the iron battleaxe finding purchase in his guts. It was quite the brutal scene.
Farthest from them, the largest of the adventurers was struggling to keep up with so many opponents at once. However, it seems they had mostly blades and no blunt weapons. That's something at least. They could have rushed him but going by a man whose face was crushed on the ground, they decided that was too dangerous. Right now, he was probably the most valuable fighter. If we could free him up, they could turn on the other bandits and save the other adventurers.
"C'mon. We got to save the big man." I said, running towards him and the five bandits around him.
Their swords couldn't pierce his armor and they were too afraid get close enough to peel the armor off. Meanwhile, the armored man didn't dare show his back to them, so he couldn't rush and slaughter them. A perfect stalemate.
At least until Itarus and I showed up.
Wordlessly, I drove my blade through the first bandit's spine. His legs went limp like a puppet with its strings cut. Itarus had grabbed a smaller bandit from behind and slit his throat. Crimson blood sprayed across the crisp snow in a grand arc.
The nearest bandit to me turned, surprise painted plainly on his face. "A kid?!"
He had forgotten the armored man.
With a grunt of effort, the warhammer crashed through the top of his skull and absolutely flattened him. I blinked, somewhat surprised that I felt nothing at watching a man get squished. Adrenaline maybe? Surely. I felt no distress right now. If anything, I felt...at home. Completely calm.
"Fuck this, man! Let's run!" A bandit called, promptly ditching combat. He was followed by many of his comrades. Combat quickly quieted down. Just the sound of heavy breathing and crunching snow.
I watched the bandits flee into the forest. Judging by their path, they were running towards that fort I saw on my map. Must be a rather sizeable bandit outpost. If Skyrim logic were anything to go by, perhaps forty or more? That sounds about right. It would definitely be something to check out at a later date. Preferably with a nicely-sized force of my own.
A large, heavy hand landed on my shoulder with a clank of armor. I turned to see the large man looking down at me. "Thank you, lad. You've saved me. If you hadn't then I might be but a corpse stripped of my belongings and left to be forgotten in the snow." His voice was deep, very deep. Incredibly bass. He sounded how I imagined vikings of old sounded to be honest.
"I...just acted. Not much thought." I replied after a moment. It wasn't wrong. I had stepped forwards before I fully processed the situation.
A grunt of agreement met him. The armored man's voice practically made his bones vibrate as he spoke. "You know, many great leaders have said similar things. Old Nord legends speak of Tiber Septim saying such things before he became the leader he was."
I blinked in surprise. I had read every book in Skyrim cover to cover. None of them had ever mentioned something like that. Not one. But then again, if the entire continent had changed, whose to say a few measly books couldn't have been written also? What difference did it make? Though, mentioning that made a feeling stir within me. Something unfamiliar.
"Excuse my rudeness. I should have introduced myself." The armored man said, putting his warhammer down on the ground on its head. He reached for his helmet, undoing the various straps to take it off. It revealed a gruff-looking man who was perhaps twenty or so. Despite not looking that old, I saw years of experience in his bright green eyes. A blonde stubble grew on his face alongside dreadlocks that were braided into one organized tail at the back, tucked away for utility. His face was quite square, making him look almost exactly how I pictured a viking to be.
"Grimmolf of Clan Iron-wolf." The man said, nodding in respect.
I blinked once again. That clan I didn't recognize. Once again, something unheard of. "Thaion. No family name." I introduced myself with a similar respectful nod.
The armored man hummed softly. "A shame. A lad such as you deserves folks to foster that spirit. I noticed you target the bandit wizard with your ally. As well as when you first stepped out of the line and slew that man who blocked you. Your ability is commendable."
The crunching of snow behind me signaled Itarus's presence just behind me, watching the conversation wordlessly. I bet he could see my anxious response.
Unused to the praise, I automatically began to withdraw into myself. Unconsciously, I began tapping my foot. "It was nothing special. Surely someone else could have accomplished it."
"Do not compare yourself to others. Only to the you of days gone. That is what matters. Putting yourself down accomplishes nothing. Stand proud for your achievements." The man corrected instantly. He seemed to be very much the warrior type.
"Either way, enough delay." He said, slowly sinking to one knee with his helmet under his left arm and his right hand in a fist over his heart. "It is tradition for my clansmen to pledge themselves to the first ally to save them in combat. To guard their lineage to our last and beyond."
I nearly had a heart attack as he began speaking. Seriously?! What luck did I have? Backing away, I watched in awe as Grimmolf made his oath.
"I, Grimmolf of Clan Iron-wolf, pup to the clan, grow to be a wolf. I pledge my life, mortal and immortal, to Thaion, savior of my life. I swear allegiance to him and his line. To protect and serve in life and death. Thus, with this oath, do I solemnly pledge myself to you, Thaion. All-Father, witness my oath. Strike me down if I dare break my word. " The man swore, keeping his head down in patient anticipation.
I, on the other hand, lost focus on his words. It was one thing to have a companion, it was a whole other thing to have said companion swear their immortal soul in your name. Absolutely nuts. All for saving him from bandits? Seriously?!
Though, as the seconds ticked on, my mind caught up the situation and stepped forwards. Backing away must have been pretty rude, if not a form of denial. What choices did I have? I could say no. But why would I deny the opportunity at a free pair of extra hands? The hands of an absolute unit no less? That would be like saying you don't want Chuck Noris on your zombie survival team!
I formulated a response as quick as possible as to not make my newest companion believe I rejected him. "I accept your oath, Grimmolf."
Promptly, he rose to his feet, a small grin on his face. "I apologize for springing this onto you, but it is clan tradition. I was nearing the age at which I would have to return home. Its something of a mark of shame. Even being a pup at my age is abnormal."
"I see." I said. I wasn't paying attention to his words as much as I was waiting for the-
Ping!
[New Companion: Grimmolf of Clan Iron-wolf]
There it was. I'd check out his character sheet in a bit. For now, it was time to figure out what was going on. Though, my companions decided to mingle first.
"Nice to meet ya. I'm Itarus." His other companion introduced himself with his hand out. Grimmolf gripped his hand firmly, shaking it.
"As you heard already, Grimmolf of Clan Iron-wolf. I suppose you also follow Thaion?" The much larger man greeted.
He was answered with a nod. "Yes. I have a feeling about him. Maybe I'd get called crazy, but I think he's got quite the future ahead of him."
Grimmolf fixed a piercing stare on me. It took quite a bit of willpower in order to not fidget. "I see what you mean. Good eye."
"I like to think so." Itarus replied easily.
The crunching of snow alerted the three to another. It was the caravan master. A small man wading through the snow.
"Thank you for not deserting. Taking out that spellcaster likely saved us." The caravan master said, nodding to each of them individually. "However, we still have a number of wounded. A few bandits struck at the citizens behind us. Disabled the adventurers protecting them. I have emptied out a wagon at the back of the caravan to carry the wounded back to Winterhold. It will need guards." He reached into his pocket before pulling out a letter and handing it to me.
"Go with it and give this to the guild master. He'll give you full pay for the assignment, no fees or hassle." He explained before turning away and beginning to walk back to the caravan. People milled about making minor repairs to the wagons and emptying out the lead one as the fireball destroyed it. "Be wary. Perhaps more bandits dwell along the roads. May the gods watch over you." The small man said, disappearing behind a wagon.
That...makes things significantly easier. Well, sort of. I can get Inigo out of jail, but I'd still be turning into a bloodsucker. I don't have much of a choice but to tell my Itarus and Grimmolf about my condition.
Re-focusing on my companions, I gestured to the wagons. "Don't want to hold up our wards, right?"
"No, definitely not. Though, if you don't mind, I think I'll borrow some equipment from these bandits." Itarus said before setting upon the two bandits on the ground near them that weren't reduced to a paste. The third was...well, almost a different state of matter really.
A deep hum followed this. "Better than what you have."
I watched Itarus loot the bodies with little concern for the former owners. To be fair, they were bandits. Who cares?
He manged to snag some leather arm guards, the right with a metal plate fixed on top, shoulder guards, and various straps and things which held pouches and what not. Even some knee pads. His companion was basically wearing trash, but it was better than regular clothes.
"Well, now that that's done, let's get those people home." I said, beginning to walk to the back of the caravan as the caravan master instructed. The letter was tucked deep in my coat, keeping it safe. After all, without pay, this was virtually meaningless.
159 days since the last update. Uhhhhhhhh...I plead the fifth? No real excuse here. This sat in ye ole doc manager for about that long. Hope you guys enjoy it though! As always, feel free to drop a review about what you think, whether you're praising my work or dogging on it, any outside opinion helps a ton.
Join the discord so I stop waiting so damn long to update! Badger and bully me freely, make suggestions (which I do read mind you), hang out, check out the sneak peaks at whats in the works, or just check out the concept art that I use for inspiration for characters!
Discord invite: discord gg / T9sPwzGbMp