Chapter 10: Chapter X: Slaughter at The Docks and Winterhold hold *Edited*
Chapter 10: Chapter X: Slaughter at The Docks and Winterhold hold *Edited*
Chapter 10: Chapter X: Slaughter at The Docks and Winterhold hold *Edited*
We reach the docks relatively unnoticed, the Argonian workers seem to have all thankfully gone back to their sleeping quarters. The docks are far larger than I guessed and covered in warehouses, so the two or three guards on duty tonight do not notice us.
We find our partners in crime for the night, there are six more of them than before, all equipped with the same gear I saw them carry when we first met. Davos notices us and approaches while handing us all black cloaks. "Good you came, the gangs will be meeting in about ten minutes, from what we gathered there will be about a dozen each, so we must hit them with all we have if we are to have a chance"Nôv(el)B\\jnn
I ponder this for a moment and ask "Should I use magic attacks? I don't think that any of the Nords use pyromancy so it would be harder to hide our involvement"
He thinks for a second and shakes his head "We can always just dress one of the dead ones in some cheap robes, we've also prepared some witnesses among the dockworkers, and besides if I didn't guess you were a mage I'd have no reason to even invite you here in the first place" Understandable, I nod "That's fair enough, what can we expect from the guards, how quickly do they respond?"
"Usually they don't give a shit about what is happening, but now we are going to be making a ruckus in one of the warehouses, so we can expect them to get here in minutes at worst" He explains quickly.
"What do we do after we have dealt with them? I hope you have some plans for a getaway" I question, my voice cautious.
He snorts "Don't worry, me and my group have a bunch of safehouses, but for you, we have prepared a boat at the edge of the docks. While I won't stop you from staying in Windhelm, Azura knows we could use the help, I know that you are just passing by and will be under a lot of suspicion considering you already have some reputation in the city."
Will he try to fuck me over? Is there really a boat? We can always just swim away but that will be very uncomfortable, hmm I have an idea "Can you show me to the boat, it would be better if we stocked it up in advance so we don't have to lug our things while we run?"
He looks at me for a bit, not showing any offense at my distrust, and nods "Sure it's nearby, follow me"
We are quickly shown to the boat and unload anything we won't need in the fight, Morrigan comments how I am finally using my head instead of just rushing forward but I merely shrug at her in response.
I do not regret my recent galivanting one bit, I came here to adventure and adventure I will!
With me still deep in my thoughts I don't notice when everyone tenses up, Durrak shakes me awake and we get ready, the warehouse across from our own is dimly lit, but I can see the insides with relative clarity, only about four of them have any kind of armor, most of them are carrying knives and some axes, it really is just a bunch of city gangers huh, a part of me is disappointed but I won't complain, their numbers are still going to be an issue.
In the corner I see cages filled with grey skinned children witch makes my blood boil, my orc friend almost rushes in but holds himself back, apparently all our nagging about tactics is finally getting into his head, or maybe he just didn't give a shit before and now that there are stakes beyond his own life he holds himself back?
The gangers seem to be talking about distributing the profits, I wouldn't be surprised if they really did kill each other, but that would happen only after already selling the kids off which would be pointless for us.
Four of the elven vigilantes sneak up the sides of the warehouse and set up at the windows while the remaining five including Davos, I suddenly notice a familiar face among them and whisper "Jenassa what are you doing here?"
She turns to me and amusedly says "Well I did say I was visiting family, just not what kind of family" she smiles as she readies her weapons.
I shake my head as we continue our approach, we all set up and get ready, I start casting a spinning firebolt, Morrigan prepares her root traps and Durrak positions himself for a charge, while our companions all aim their crossbows.
The next morning we take a commission to hunt down an ice wraith that has been terrorizing
the local livestock, we find it with relative ease and while it did almost rip Durrak's throat out I hit it in the face with a good firebolt just in time. This earned us some more money and
goodwill. After that we mostly spent our time carousing with the locals and planning out our route, one
of the local hunters even offered to guide us there for a fair price which we accepted, better
not risk stumbling onto something very dangerous on our own, and I do for a fact remember there being a load of Falmer caves around, and from what we learned there are also a bunch of reiklings towards the mountains, hmm I sense some gawblin slaying in the future. Later that day we also got news of a terrible fight erupting in the Windhelm docks, people are saying that some maddened mages from outside the city controlled the poor innocent Nords into killing each other, and people are buying that shit, seriously what the fuck?
We leave early the next day, the road to Winterhold will take us a day and a bit, which means at least one stop and there are no inns this time.
Marching to the snow as a fire attuned creature is an experience I would most definitively wish upon my enemies, seriously its almost like being burned alive but in reverse, thankfully we did buy those cloaks or I would straight up be trying to warm myself with my spells at this point, and I assure you that is a terrible idea.
Morrigan seems to share my opinion of the weather and is shaking even with the cloak, Durrak as is his usual MO is just not giving a flying fuck, seriously what are you made of?!
Our escort doesn't even seem to notice the cold, but that one I can understand he is a Dagoth
damned Nord.
On the road we are spotted by a snow bear, but the hunter instructs us to keep our distance and calmly walk away, they are not aggressive in this time of the year, thankfully we are left alone. The night is an absolute hell for me, the tents are warm but are constantly invaded by cold winds no matter what I do, it is like having a too small blanket with one end constantly being uncovered. Everyone seems amused by my 'overreaction' in their own words, but I am built for volcanoes not glaciers dammit.
The morning comes far too slowly, but thankfully it is a warm day, or well warmer than the previous one anyway. Thankfully we only have some hours of walking left.
Finally after what felt like an age of trudging through snow and cold winds we are greeted by
dilapidated but still standing stone walls surrounding not quite a city, but certainly a town
and behind it I see the college in all its glory, also far bigger than what I remember, but I will
take it all in when I am actually closer to it.
Before we enter I check the progress I made in these couple of days.
[Quest complete, reward granted: stealth-novice]
[Vit: 8 => 8.2]
FVN