FVN Chapter 324: Chapter L: Enveloped
Chapter 324: Chapter L: Enveloped
Chapter 324: Chapter L: Enveloped
(General POV, hours before the assault)
Hundreds of torches burst into light as a group of Dunmer entered a vast underground chamber, illuminating the vast meeting hall that had been the sole source of hope that their current situation would one day change for the better.
And today was the day that change would come.
A veiled woman awaited them as they approached, her kind and somewhat sultry smile barely visible below the thin cloth hiding her face "You've sent the news then?" she asks the lead elf.
The group stops and the leader nods "Aye, everyone who doesn't want to fight is hiding in one of Free-Winter's safehouses."
"The lord will be pleased they are out of harms way." The veiled woman's smile widens briefly before asking "What of those that do wish to fight for their lives? How many have you managed to gather Ambarys?"
"There are some eight hundred of us." Ambarys Rendar, the de-facto leader of the Grey Quarter Dunmer answers with some hesitance "Most of those who could fight have already left to join Lord Dagoth's forces in truth."
Beetle waves her hand "Worry not, my dear. My lord doesn't expect your people to fight on the frontline itself, merely to hold the ground taken in his name."
Many of the gathered elves relax visibly at that. Oh they were more than willing to give up their lives for a better future but none deluded themselves into thinking they were some warrior poet of old.
"Your people will be arriving soon then?" Beetle asks expectantly.
Rendar shifts somewhat uneasily "They will gather before the hour is out."
The agent immediately notices it and leans in "Expecting traitors, are we?"
"No, no!" He shakes his head "It is just that some of them are too young to be fighting."
She puts her hand on his shoulder "At least they will have something to brag about in their later years, no?"
He huffs "If they survive the experience."
"They will." The certainty in her voice does serve to ease his worries somewhat. A light humming noise fills the chamber and her solemn expression twists to a grin then "Ah, it would seem our guests have arrived."
A vast purple circle lights up in the room's center, setting off a flash of light before a portal opens and heavily armed and armored Mer start pouring out from within, quickly followed by row upon row of spider and sphere automatons, even a ballista or two.
"Well, even if we do die, at least the Stormcloaks will die more." Ambarys lets out a strained chuckle as he observes the force before him.
Hours later, just as the sun begun its slow rise to the skies, the vast chamber was filled to near bursting by well over a thousand Mer, many of them talking in hushed tones to distract themselves from pre-battle jitters.
A couple were even tempted to start drinking some... liquid encouragement, but before they could start, and earn a rightful beating for it, the portal lit up once again and all thoughts of doing anything but look at it disappeared in an instant for a presence of such weight descended upon everyone that they may have made the mistake of thinking they were now in the domain of a god.
Most of the quarter's residents had never seen the young elf who had commanded their very future, and even those who did failed to recognize him as he descended into the so-called Pit in full combat regalia, a hawk made of flame on his shoulder and an immense warrior clad fully in ebony at his side.
But even if they could not recognize the person, none were quite so foolish enough as to not understand just who had come to free them of their filth and squalor, even more so as all the soldiers of House Dagoth immediately saluted.
All of them held their breaths, waiting for some glorious proclamation about their futures with baited breath... They should have known better because a moment later the dreadful crown atop Reyvin's head disappeared as his eyes landed on the old innkeeper "Rendar my good man! How have you been?"
Ambarys attempted to keep a serious expression but faltered near instantly and grinned "I've been good Serjo."
They kept exchanging pleasantries for a good five minutes and all the other Windhelm elves could do was gawk at the sheer difference between what they imagined the 'dreaded lord of Dagoth' to be and what they were seeing right now. Their confusion grew even more as the troops did not react whatsoever to the lack of formality.
The lordly elf summoned forth a bottle of some kind of wine and poured a glass for the two of them, seemingly oblivious to all the gawking "So tell me Rendar." He sipped his drink almost daintily "You ready to crack some Stormcloak heads?"
The innkeeper, now thoroughly relaxed, merely shrugged at that "As ready as I will ever be." "And what of you all?" Reyvin looked to the others, making them hide their gawks in near synchronicity "Are you all ready to fight for your futures?"
Affirmative, if not terribly enthusiastic, murmurs spread amongst the crowd.
"I've heard goblins with more enthusiasm than that!" Reyvin taunts.
The murmurs grow a bit louder then, there is even a shout or two from some of the younger
ones.
He gets up from his seat and all of them feel him stare at them directly "If that is all the zeal you are ready to show me, then you may as well all go home." An emotion of shame comes to all of them unbidden "I came here expecting to find those who are sick and tired of their oppressors walking all over them and what do I get instead?" The shame is replaced with anger "A bunch of pathetic slaves still cowering even as they are given an opportunity to take the future into their own hands!"
"Hey! We ain't slaves!" One of the less intelligent of their number shouts back.
"Then why do you hesitate?!" Reyvin demands "Why do you even now fail to grasp those weapons I have given you with the righteous fury they deserve?!" Once more a wave of anger, but now directed at the Stormcloaks bubbles within them all as many hands reach for swords or axes "Do you expect me to fight for your future with my all if you will not do the same?!" "NO!" A good chunk of the crowd shouts back.
"Are you telling me that you want Ulfric's little army of bandits to keep walking over you!?" He demands, indignation and determination building with his words.
"NO!" The shouting is much greater this time.
But a retreat was not an option either.
My mind made I lowered my shield for a moment and sent forth a spiral of ice at them and
forcing them to pull back behind the walls for a moment "We have to charge them." I say as my men gather themselves in the brief seconds I bought.
"We are with you, brother." Ygrim, the axe wielder declares, ignoring the bolt in his thigh.
"Aye, can't have tha cowards live after killing ole' Bryn." Toothless chuckles painfully as a bolt sticks out of his stomach.
"Forward then!" I grip my sword and shield and the twelve of us still alive start running at the building. We thought then that we would reach our destination and fell them, a foolish determination rising with each step.
And yet fate had other plans, the balconies to our left and right were suddenly filled by elves,
familiar elves some of whom I had once held pleasant conversation with, all of them armed with simple crossbows and armored in leather and chain.
All I could do then was rush forth as quickly as my legs could take me, my men falling behind me to the last as we were showered with bolts. Determined to take at least one of them with me I slammed into the Cornerclub's door with all my might and prepared to run up the stairs
only to suddenly feel like I slammed into a wall.
A wall that was not there before.
I looked up to see twin purple eyes staring down at me from a height that no elf should ever be
blessed with.
My last thoughts were 'that is one big motherfu-' before a fist collided with my face and I
awoke in Sovengarde.
(Reyvin's POV)
"Hey pops." Scorch calls out from my shoulder "Isn't that the 'hey you, you are finally awake'
guy?"
I look down at the corpse Akulakhan had just finished shortening by a head and shrug
"Maybe."
"Poor fucker." The bird cackles.
Davos walks in then "All the patrols have been cleared Boss." He informs boredly.
"Capital!" I clap my hands "To the gates then!"
(Skirnir Stormcloak's POV)
It took me days, but I had finally managed to sneak into the palace after marching wounded
all the way from the fields of Dawnstar, the legionaries and their allies somehow missing my unconscious body as I was buried below a fallen bit of palisade.
A secret passage I found in my youth swiftly let me enter and I found myself slinking through
the familiar halls my once innocent self hand loved exploring when things used to make sense and honor still mattered.
I had seen the effects of this rebellion and observed both sides from a position not many
others could claim, and to my horror I have found that we were in the wrong. My father truly was just another power hungry tyrant, and it was my duty as a Nord to stop him. But as I walked the ancient halls of my family I soon found another reason to fight the
dishonor that now lay upon my ancestors, for Draugr walked by the side of my father's housecarls as if they were brothers in arms. By the gods, father! What have you done?! Almost as if they heard me, two Draugr shifted in my direction and went for their blades.
They called out in challenge with their disgusting voices and a challenge they would have! (Reyvin's POV)
Another poor idiot shatters as I pull my blade back from his friend and slam his face with the flat end of my sword, the small shieldwall shattering before Akulakhan's might as he simply cuts through their iron-reinforced shields with a lazy swing of his glaive. Even the 'totally not disguised Draugr dragon cultists' fall before him with such ease that it makes my blade look harmless by comparison.
I go to pursue the now retreating rebels but a slight reddish hue of magic draws my gaze downwards, through the stone and below the city itself. As I observe the massive ritual circle hidden beneath the battle, all I can think is 'That motherfucker!'
My geological cravings grow with each passing day, FEED ME!
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