User blog:Psychomantis108/The Legend of Nirn: Oblivion's Call - Chapter 2: A Glutton for adventure

Hello everyone, here I am on day four, I think it is of my anniversary week.

Figured now would be a good time to post the second chapter of Oblivion's Call! :D

This chapter is a little closer linked to Reign of Chaos, I hoped to develop the newly introduced characters as they prepare for their journey into the Realm of Domination. Forgive any errors, I did proofread but ther was a lot to get through and it took me all night to proof read, so I'm sure that there's going to be some things missed off. I apologise in advance...

Anyway, let us begin! :D

Chapter 2: A Glutton for Adventure
After a two day walk across Skyrim’s frozen tundra, the group finally arrived at the bridge, leading up to the gateway to the lair of the mastermind behind the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy. The Castle seemed long since abandoned; its occupants either remained hidden inside or had completely vacated the premises.

Agatha paid little by way of attention to that thought and immediately stepped onto the bridge, not remotely troubled by the thought that the Castle’s inhabitants might be expecting her, Lars feared nothing and decided to follow suit as Vampires and Werewolves often considered themselves to be sworn enemies. In fact, that was part of the appeal in this mission, killing a vampire or two… hundred.

Kairi moved closer to Avernus, moving herself closer to him, so that she could whisper, without detection. Not that she had anything damning to say, she just preferred to keep things between them, for now.

“Creepy Castle… Seems like a lovely place to stay the night.” The Bosmer whispered, trying to express her distrust in the place, however, Avernus was difficult to dissuade.

“Ah… There’s nothing to be afraid of, well, except for vampires…”

“V-Vampires?”

“Oh yeah, this is the castle of Lord Harkon, one of histories most feared Vampire Lords and probably the most competent.

Well…

In terms of how close he got to succeeding… No one knows if he did, whether or not he did, the Dawnguard are keeping quiet about it, though they might just be trying to keep everyone vigilant.”

“So… We’re about to find out?”

“I guess so, yeah…”

As Avernus finished speaking, he felt a faint tap on his shoulder, prompting him to turn around to see who it was, Millie, the young Imperial Thief, who he’d spoken to earlier demanded his attention.

“Hey, erm… Millie, again, sorry but did you say that there are vampires in there?”

“Oh yeah, Vampires, Gargoyles, Hellhounds and who knows, we might find the odd ghost.” The Altmer replied, not really understanding why that would trouble anyone.

“Oh… Well, at least Grandma Death won’t be the creepiest thing in the building now…” The Imperial sighed, ever the optimist.

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that…” Kairi pointed out, with a heavy sigh, Vampires and… other monsters were at least somewhat predictable, Agatha was… something else.

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha stood before the large Iron Gate, staring straight at it, with unclear intentions. Everyone stood silently, waiting to see what she planned to do about the large Iron Gate or who she was waiting for.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I hope you haven’t lost the key, locksmiths are quite hard to come by out here.” Jude commented, looking from side to side as he began to grow impatient, seeing that there was nothing but tundra surrounding them.

<p class="MsoNormal">After a brief moment of silence, the cranks of the gateway began to operate, slowly lifting the gate and opening the way for the group, without another word, Agatha stepped inside, letting the others decide if they wanted to follow her or not.

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus put himself forward this time, eager to see what awaited them as it wasn’t every day that somebody got to see what the interior of Harkon’s castle looked like, in fact, nobody had since the Dragonborn set foot in here so long ago. To his mild surprise the castle was empty, not a single soul occupied it, except for dozens of crows that lived up in the rafters, however, no Dawnguard of Vampires were waiting for them.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Altmer could only imagine entering this place with twenty or thirty sun-like burning eyes staring down at you and being asked to make a decision as to whether or not you wanted to join them. Though Avernus himself wouldn’t surrender to such pressure, he wouldn’t even blame the Dragonborn for faltering.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Where is everyone?” Millie asked, immediately following in from behind, uninvited and unannounced.

<p class="MsoNormal">“The Tenants of the Castle will not be with us, I created a little distraction for them…” Agatha explained as she wandered towards one of the back rooms, looking for some privacy, so that she could make her preparations.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Feel free to make yourselves at home…” The Breton suggested, knowing that she wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of them doing so. This prompted Avernus to step towards the dining table that was disappointingly bare.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Got any food in Grandma? I could eat a horse.” Mille requested, getting little by way of reply as Avernus drew an apple from his back pocket and bit into it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Try the pantry.” He suggested before taking a bit out of the fruit in his hand, he hadn’t got enough for everyone, unfortunately. Still, they probably should’ve brought their own, come to think of it, feeding them would probably help them embark on a long journey to self helplessness.

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie shrugged and wandered off as Kairi approached the Altmer from behind, watching as the Imperial Thief slipped into the back rooms, beginning her search.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So... Got any ideas as to how we could pass the time?” The Bosmer asked, she could entertain herself but Avernus’ methods were always more fun, like that time that they got trapped in that old manor house with nothing but an old dining table and a cabinet full of fine pottery to keep themselves entertained. Turns out that the table leg was sturdier than it looked as it made a great bat.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well… We aren’t alone for once…” Avernus pointed out, with a knowing smile, placing his hands in his pockets as he wandered off, searching for that Dunmer from earlier or maybe the silent Nord.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi just watched him walk away; sighing somewhat as she did so, wishing that he let her in on things before they happened more often. The Bosmer, left to her own devices, simply shrugged, sighing heavily as she wandered off, hoping that she could find Millie and strike a good conversation up with her.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi eventually found in one of the back rooms, kneeling before a vanity table and slipping her fingers under it, having a good feel for any rogue pieces of jewellery or maybe something else of value. The Bosmer approached her from behind, immediately finding herself to be greeted by the Imperial’s backside as she moved onto the space where the stool should go, pushing her head towards the back as she did her best to peer around a corner.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, Millie’s ass!” She called out, getting the startled Imperial to jump up and bash her head on the base of the desk, resulting in a frustrated ‘ouch’ as she furiously rubbed her head, turning straight around to see that Altmer’s companion, smirking at her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Urgh… You scared the crap out of me…” The Imperial grumbled, returning to her search, though not as extensively as she somewhat stopped half way.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Y’know, I don’t think you’ll find much food down there.” Kairi pointed out, getting little but an irritated sigh in response as Millie was forced to pull her head from under the table once more.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, you never know…. I found some stale bread in one of the draws and a biscuit in a cupboard.” The Imperial replied, stopping to think about that last one for a moment as she began to doubt herself.

<p class="MsoNormal">“At least I think it was a biscuit… It’s hard to tell, given the mould.” She grumbled, gently scratching the back of her head, which was still throbbing thanks to a certain someone.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Still, I think that there are more obvious places for food.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mmmhmm… I’ll get to them in a bit.” Millie promised, returning to the bottom of the vanity table.

<p class="MsoNormal">“But first, I gotta see if lady vampire dropped her ear rings down the back of this cupboard.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi raised an eyebrow but accepted it, not really caring either way, just so long as Mille didn’t steal from her, Avernus or any other member of the group they’d have no   problem.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So… How’d an Imperial end up in Riften?” She asked, feeling like that was a good place to start, Millie seemingly ignored her and continued to rummage around but eventually humoured her with a response.

<p class="MsoNormal">“By walking… Lots of walking, right up until your soles rot off.” Millie replied, finally emerging from under the desk, looking around and eventually noticing the large, king sized bed on the far side of the room. Without hesitation the Imperial pulled herself up to her feet and wandered over to it, immediately crawling beneath it and feeling around.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, you’re from Cyrodiil, I take it?” The Bosmer asked, not believing that she could be from anywhere else, though she didn’t fit the Imperial stereotype that was for sure.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yep, Leyawiin…” Millie replied, sounding somewhat muffled due to the fact that she had dove deep under the bed, backside stuck up in the air like before.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Like Pilerius but without the tail.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Pilerius?” Kairi asked, wondering what the Imperial was talking about, trying to resist the urge to take advantage of the close proximity between Millie’s elevated butt and her somewhat eager foot.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, thank the Nine, it’s a bloody miracle!” The Imperial gasped, sweeping her hands along he dusty floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You have no idea how many people already know that story, how people still don’t bloody shut up about that stupid lizard. It’s nice to know that there’s someone clueless out there.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oi, I’m not… clueless, just not from Cyrodiil is all.” Kairi replied, taking some offense to that.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Meh, it’s not a bad thing, believe me. Even after the floating city destroyed the bloody place, people can only ever talk about the Divine Crusader, Pilerius.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“That sounds… Erm… Frustrating…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It is, believe me…” Millie grumbled, quickly piping up as she found something, with a hurried ‘oh!’ before jumping up and hitting her head on the wooden bed above her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ow, son of a bi-” She saved herself with a scowl, shaking her head and rubbing it furiously and calmed herself with an irritable sigh.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Find anything good?” Kairi decided to ask as the Imperial re-emerged, still rubbing furiously at the back of her head.

<p class="MsoNormal">“A coin…” She replied, holding it up for a brief moment before pulling it back down to her side and examining it again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“An… Old Coin…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Can I see?” The Bosmer asked, holding her hand out, having been through a number of Ayleid ruins in her time, she was quite familiar with every form of old currency imaginable. Millie seemed a little reluctant for a few moments but eventually flipped it up into the air, allowing Kairi to catch it and examine it.

<p class="MsoNormal">She took a moment to try and make out the face on it and the writing that surrounded it but after a few moments she finally deciphered its origin.

<p class="MsoNormal">“This coin goes back to the first era…” She uttered in amazement, quickly glancing up.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s… Hard to tell whose face is…” She uttered, getting a disinterested look in response from Millie, who wasn’t sure why she should care about anything other than…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Does that mean it’s valuable?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I… Think…” Kairi replied, not sounding too confident but she got a feeling that it was.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We should take it to Avernus, he’ll probably be able to identify it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It probably belonged to him at one point.” Millie replied, with a smirk as she examined it, glancing up to Kairi to make sure that that didn’t anger her… at least not too much.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s the deal with you and him anyway?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Who, Avernus?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, what does he need you for? Erm… No offense but he seems pretty smart and capable and that, I’d imagine that he’d see you as dead weight.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, he needs me more than most people realise. They don’t know but he’s quite absent minded, that and he likes someone to brag to so…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… So you’re like… Eye Candy.” Millie replied, finally getting it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No!” The Bosmer snapped indignantly, she did far more for Avernus than even he realised, if it wasn’t for her, that daft sod would’ve gotten himself crushed in a trap or shot by a stray arrow or spell. Kairi was essential to his continued existence and she wasn’t just ‘eye candy’ as Millie so crudely put it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I assist him, I guess… Not so much with technical stuff or anything, just when it comes to needing an extra pair of hands or needing someone who’s actually paying attention to the room around them.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I know, I know, I’m kidding!” Millie sighed, resisting the urge to burst into a giggling fit as Kairi as just a little too easy.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Alright ‘assistant’ let’s go and revamp the old coot’s memories…” The Imperial replied, with a smirk, slowly pacing away and pocketing the coin, giving Kairi a   few minutes to think on the conversation before she was forced to run after her.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus wandered around in the docking area, hands sunk deep into the side pockets of his robes as he swaggered about the stone deck, glancing around as if he was expecting it. He imagined that it was be mighty useful having a dock like this, attached to your castle, a port where visitors or traders could have easy access to your castle.

<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed like such a shame that the thing had hardly been used over the past two thousand years, he could only imagine what this castle could be used for and instead it was either a blood den or a military base, neither of which were to his liking. He’d honestly love to have it as his own base of operations, though admittedly it would get mighty cold.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Altmer continued to scan the area for the signs of anything peculiar and it didn’t take him long to find it. At the edge of the long peer knelt a familiar looking Nord, who was knelt, facing the Sea of Ghosts, meditating.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars wasn’t anywhere near the castle right now, not mentally, he was where he always was when he had a moment to think. He was in his tent, with Angela and the baby, embracing them both as he wrapped his large bear paw around her stomach and rested his head beside hers, enjoying the unique smell of her hair with every breathe.

<p class="MsoNormal">Angela was ever so fearsome on the battlefield but she could also be the most endearing thing Lars had ever encountered. He always remembered her moaning a little in her sleep, disturbed by dreams that she could never remember or stimulated by them. Lars often woke up first, being used to waking up at the crack of dawn in order to catch the morning hunt, even on days where it wasn’t necessary.

<p class="MsoNormal">There were so many things about Angela that he didn’t notice until her passing or didn’t care about, so many small things that she used to do for him that he didn’t even address as he took them and her for granted. No Ardwolf was a sentimentalist but he couldn’t help it, especially now that he had nothing…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah, I thought I’d find you out here.” Avernus said, tossing a golden orb up into the air and snatching it before it could fall back down to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thought you’d be the type who’d like the quiet.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And yet you still see the need to disturb me.” The Nord uttered, slowly turning his head back around and glaring at the Altmer. He didn’t need a condescending Altmer looking down on him, in fact, that was the complete opposite of what he needed, a skinny idiot with a complete lack of self awareness to come and crash through his solitary time, with all of the subtlety of a wrecking ball.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you want, elf?” He asked, harshly, almost yelling at him in the process. Avernus stopped rambling and froze in place, furrowing his brow as he stared at the Werewolf, meeting the rage and pain behind his eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">However, Avernus was used to staring monsters in the face and Lars wasn’t a monster, he’d have to do worse than that to scare him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well…” He began, scratching behind his ear.

<p class="MsoNormal">“If we’re going to be going to hell together, I was hoping to learn more about you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I fight with an axe, I can take care of myself and I don’t need much support, I’m not in the habit of relying on it.” He replied before turning back out to the Sea of Ghosts as if the conversation was over. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to satisfy Avernus.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What and that’s it?” The Altmer asked, seeming a little put off as he wandered towards the edge of the peer, taking a seat by the Nord’s side, much to his displeasure.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I know that Nords like to keep things simple but there’s got to be more than you to that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars said nothing, staring out onto the horizon, blinking once before sighing heavily.

<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s all that you need to know…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Nah… Ole Aggie wouldn’t be interested in someone that boring.” Avernus said, dismissing his false modesty.

<p class="MsoNormal">“C’mon, there’s got to be something special about you… Where’d you grow up?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars paused, considering reminding Avernus that it was not his concern but decided to give in and take the bait.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Cyrodiil…” Lars replied, being as vague as possible to dissuade Avernus from talking to him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh? Where abouts?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“County Bruma…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The City of Bruma?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No. Just the County.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… Well, I’m from Alinor, not the city of Alinor, just the region. It’s a lovely place, you ever been?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars just glared at Avernus, hoping that his murderous stare would serve as a ‘no.’ Unfortunately that didn’t dissuade the Altmer, after all, he’d dealt with Kairi’s mother several times, so it was safe to say that he wasn’t afraid of anything.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, you should, if you get the chance…” He said, falling silent at last, leaving Lars to turn his attention back to the sea.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, anything that you want to know about me or Kairi?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Nothing? Combat style? favourite food? Measurements?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Blimey, you really are serious about this whole silence thing aren’t you?”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Werewolf turned his attention to Avernus, looking a little more angry than apathetic.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What exactly do you want me to say?” He growled, just wanting the ponce elf to piss off and leave him to his thoughts.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, that’s the thing about conversation, you’re not supposed to know.” Avernus replied, with a shrug, looking out to sea.

<p class="MsoNormal">“If you want conversation, go and speak to the whore or the Imperial or that Bosmer that you brought with you. I have nothing to say to you.” He said, hoping to kill the conversation there and then.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, really? I would’ve thought that a Werewolf would have some good stories.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars stiffened, slowly turning his attention to Avernus as he stared him down, he had most certainly earned it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You, werewolf… Had to do some narrowing down but I got there in the end. I know that I’m not one, I probably would’ve noticed if Kairi was one, Millie doesn’t have that look behind her eye and Jude has something… darker behind his.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Humph…” Lars uttered, somewhat impressed with the Altmer’s deduction. It was true, the Wolf’s eye could be seen beneath the iris, not literally but sometimes, if you caught the person offguard. He used to see it all the time with his family…

<p class="MsoNormal">“You aren’t as stupid as you look, I’ll grant you that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thank you, my Mother used to say the same.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I wish that I could say the same.” Lars sighed, staring out into the sunset, which was slowly forming on the horizon.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Bah… What do mothers know anyway. I bet you’re brilliant in your own way, intelligence is subjective and all tha-”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I meant that I never knew her!” Lars snapped, sounding a little more frustrated than angry.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh…” Avernus uttered, falling silence as it dawned on him and he realised that his big mouth had landed him in trouble again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars just scowled and looked back out to sea, not feeling like talking to this idiot anymore, not that he did to begin with. Avernus fell silent, returning to look back out to sea, unsure as to what he should bring up next.

<p class="MsoNormal">“My Clan is dead…” Lars said, seemingly out of nowhere, prompting Avernus to look up with a degree of confusion, which quickly formed into sympathy.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m sorry…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No you aren’t, no one is. To you they were just savages in the woods…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“To me their loss is is a loss to the world…” Avernus corrected him, it was true, it physically pained the Altmer to know that somewhere, somehow, a piece of the world had been lost. A culture, even as primitive as a tribe of Werewolves could never be duplicated. Even vile goblin clans were precious to him and the thought of losing one of them bothered him on some level.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You’re still alive though, keeping it going? Fighting the fight and all that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars kept his focus ahead of himself, watching a gull fly out on the horizon, refusing to say anything for a brief moment, until he chose the right words.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve lost the will to fight… Fighting would achieve nothing, I can achieve nothing.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… Now that’s not true, you can achieve a lot in the time you’ve got left. Might not be the same, might not be as good or it might be better but either way, you can still achieve something. You just need to put yourself out there, maybe talk a little more…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars gave a faint laugh under his breath, something he hadn’t done in years.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I didn’t used to talk before…” The Nord pointed out, it was true, one of the things that made him and Angela work was how talkative she was compared to him, it was a great contrast that worked as her voice often filled his silence.

<p class="MsoNormal">Now his silence was empty and no words could fill it, every word he heard was like a small bottle of poison being poured into a bath, an inadequate that was poisonous to ingest.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, tell me about your clan.” Avernus asked, hoping to keep the conversation going for a bit longer.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Altmer winced a little, not knowing what to say to that, he really was a closed mouthed grump wasn’t he?

<p class="MsoNormal">“My people did not go through hundreds of years worth of lineage for your curiosity, elf.” Lars added in a harsh, bitter tone.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… But who will know of your lineage if you don’t share it with anyone else?” The Traveller asked, prompting Lars to fall silent, not caring to explore the topic any further.

<p class="MsoNormal">“My lineage is written in blood, told to spread fear into the hearts of our enemies. Not to entertain the idle fancies of poncy High Elves like yourself!” The Werewolf growled, finally raising his voice, to the point that it echoed throughout the harbour.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Now, I’ve asked you to leave at least four times now.

<p class="MsoNormal">Now…

<p class="MsoNormal">Get

<p class="MsoNormal">Lost!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus froze for a bit, looking a little concerned but decided to act according to the Nord’s wishes, not wanting to get punched or smacked in the face for the fifth time that week. He pulled himself to his feet, placing his hands back in his pockets.

<p class="MsoNormal">“As you wish…” He uttered, slowly turning away and wandering off, leaving the last Ardwolf to his devices.

<p class="MsoNormal">To be fair, that had gone better than most of his attempts in the past, that might be up there as one of the greatest.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars, however, was not amused, he kept his focus on the horizon, sighing heavily as he hung his head and sighed, wondering if Sheogorath had sent that elf to torment him for his weakness. It wouldn’t surprise him in all honesty, though he couldn’t help but feel like he deserved it.

<p class="MsoNormal">Still, at least that Altmer gave them one advantage, he’d never met a man capable of talking a Daedra to death.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi lead her new Imperial friend through the castle as they searched for her mentor, if she knew him as well as she thought that she did, he would’ve explored every possible area that this castle had to offer. Well, except for the library of course, he’d have to search through that, one book at a time and knowing how fast he could flick through a book, he’d get through a quarter of it by sundown.

<p class="MsoNormal">She stepped up and followed the hallways through the library, looking for any sign of Avernus as she stepped inside, however, to her surprise she didn’t find Avernus there, instead she found the Dunmer, Jude, flicking through an old battered book.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Aver- Oh… Sorry, I thought Avernus would be here, y-y’know, the Altmer?” The Bosmer said, though Jude didn’t bother to look up as he casually turned a page over.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He’s outside, looking for the Nord I’d imagine…” The Dunmer uttered, slamming his book shut and throwing it back over his shoulder, not even bothering to watch as it flew over his head, spinning 360 degrees in the air and landing with a thud on a big pile of previously launched books.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He doesn’t strike me as the type who knows to leave well enough alone.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Nope, that’s true… Always prodding things to get them to work but he’s not all bad, once you give him a chance.” Kairi shrugged, trying to be fair with the Dunmer.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t recall saying that he was ‘bad’ at all…” Jude uttered, sitting himself up and rubbing his hands together to warm them up.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m pretty much the same.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh? Two Avernuses? I don’t think that the universe could handle the one…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ha, don’t worry, I’m not that much like him…” The Dunmer replied, with a smirk, leaning back in his chair, with his arms folded.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I am so much worse…” He added, in an excited whisper, which left both Kairi and Millie uncomfortable, prompting them to look back at one another.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So… Jude wasn’t it? What can you tell me about yourself?” The Bosmer asked, trying to kill off the awkwardness by getting the Dunmer talking again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I could tell you a lot but I’m not sure that you’d want to hear it all. I’m a graduate at the Arcane University, they had to demolish an entire forest to get my criminal history on paper and I’m pretty skilled as a spellsword and that’s me being modest by the way, I once killed the champion of Windhelm with broom and a bag of rice.” As he finished talking, he realised that that last point might require some further explaining, sadly he didn’t feel like talking about it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s… not as exciting as it sounds…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So Agatha wanted you, because she needed someone who could kill a man with a mop?” Millie asked, though she thought that it might be more to do with the fact that he’s well educated, skilled and bat s*** insane.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Not many mops in Cold Harbour girly… And it usually takes a little more than cleaning utensils to kill a minion of Molag Bal’s.” The Dunmer paused, thinking on it a little as he leant forward, bringing his hands together.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Tell me, why are you here?” He asked, looking straight at Kairi.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Excuse me?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Your skills, background? I mean, I could say why everyone else is here but you…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I am Avernus’ assistant, we work as a team.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ooooh… I see, you’re needed for his morale.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And to remind him to put socks on in the morning, yeah. He’s clever but he doesn’t half miss the bleeding obvious.” Kairi grumbled, not appreciating being called ‘useless’ by a man who should probably have been thrown in the loony bin several years ago.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, I don’t know, you could have other uses… I don’t want to underestimate you, I just wasn’t sure as to what you were good at.” Jude shrugged, quickly standing up and turning around as he was bored with this conversation.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… The day is falling and night will soon arise.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I take it that you’re a night person?” Millie asked, taking a seat at the other end of the table, getting the Dunmer’s attention for a brief moment as he turned back to shrug at her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I suppose…” He uttered as his face turned back to the window, staring out onto the horizon as he thought on it a little.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It is easier to get away with things at night… You know that as well as I do.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“True but I still prefer the day, I like being able to see where I’m going.” Millie replied, with a shrug, she had more than a few indentations along the bone of her shin from where she had bashed it, wandering around in the dark.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t ever know where I’m going…” Jude replied, placing his hands in his pockets and turning back to the others, giving them another shrug.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Every morning’s different to me, I wake up and I want something, go to sleep and forget what I wanted… I don’t sleep anymore, I prefer to be on my feet, I prefer consistency.” As the Dunmer finished he stepped into a light hearted jog or a run before leaping onto a nearby chair and taking a seat.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Anyway.” He said, deciding to kill the conversation there and then, he didn’t like whimpering over feelings or any of that old bollocks. He preferred to keep himself distracted and there were so many distractions in this castle, the most prominent being these two.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you make of old lady Agatha?” He asked, curious as to what the consensus was about her, prompting the Imperial and Bosmer to glance at one another, unsure as to what they should make of the weird crow lady, who picked them up. She scared the crap out of both of them but didn’t seem to be harming people, well, as far as Kairi knew at least, Millie couldn’t really say the same…

<p class="MsoNormal">“We… Haven’t decided.” Kairi replied, speaking on both of their behalves, considering that that seemed like the most logical answer at this point.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What about you? You seem…” Millie paused, unsure as to how she should finish that sentence.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I don’t know, just kind of… informed and that.” She said, hoping that that was a good enough save.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude smirked, knowing what they wanted to say but going along with that anyway, he preferred it that way.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agatha Tira… The Crow lady of Cyrodiil…” He recalled, much to his companions’ amazement.

<p class="MsoNormal">“She’s been kicking about for a while, has a different reputation with each part of Tamriel, some believe her to be an ill omen and others think of her as a guardian of sorts.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And… Who’s right?” Millie asked, getting the feeling that it was the former.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Both of them and none of them, until I met her, I thought that she was aimless and mad… Didn’t think that her old mind could plan things, least of all deep expeditions into the realm of the Prince of Domination.” Jude replied, seeming unsure himself, in truth he was one of many sceptics who denied the Witch’s existence. A woman who was involved with the Tharn Crisis, The Warp in the West and the madness that took hold in Falkreath a few months back. Gods, he wished that he could have been there, people turning into pigs and running amok, glorious!

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet he ended up meeting her in person, she saved his life but didn’t even think twice about putting him in danger. He got the feeling that there was far more to her than even he or Avernus could comprehend and that few people, if any know of her true motives.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Why do you think she wants to go to Coldharbour?” Kairi decided to ask, figuring she’d collect as much data on the subject as possible to report back to Avernus with. However, all that Jude could give her in response was a simple shrug.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Not sure.” The Dunmer answered, honestly as he leant back in his chair and sighed, pondering on it a little.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I mean, her family do have some history with Molag Bal, that much I know but that probably doesn’t stand today… I mean, it could but it was over a thousand years ago, that all of that happened. It’s possible that she wishes to explore it, like she did the Deadlands, about two hundred years ago.

<p class="MsoNormal">Or perhaps she’s just decided to go on holiday and needs someone to carry her luggage, I don’t know.” Jude shrugged, not feeling all that responsible for the old biddy’s ambitions.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wait… you said that she has… ‘history’ with Molag Bal?” Kairi interrupted, not liking the sound of that, just what had Avernus gotten her into this time?

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude simply shrugged, thinking on it a little as he scratched his head, trying to think of the best way to phrase it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well… The story goes that way, way back, during a great war in the second era, there was an old Git by the name of Professor Tira, who apparently foiled one of the Prince of Domination’s plans. Turns out the king of schemers isn’t as good as he makes himself out to be. Anyway, the story goes that Bal declared Tira as an enemy and thus his blood was ‘corrupted.’ For me, this is where the story turns into a myth, because I’m pretty sure that there are more logical ways that it could’ve happened.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry…” Millie interrupted, stepping in as she felt like she was being left behind at this point.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What ‘could’ve happened?’”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Dunmer grinned and leant back in his chair, bringing his hands together, he liked being in this position, it made him feel clever.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I’ve never tested it but apparently Agatha… and any Tira’s blood is poisonous to vampires. Potentially fatal, even to the strongest of those beasts, a single drop of it could have one of those beasties puking their guts up for hours.

<p class="MsoNormal">Not sure whether or not I believe it but I don’t really think that that part of the story is false. The bit that I have issue with is where Agatha comes into it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The two women just stared at him, awaiting him to explain himself further, Jude just continued, realising that he wasn’t going to get a prompt.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agatha said that she has unfinished business with Molag Bal but as far as I’m aware, her family haven’t been at odds with Bal for centuries, which means that the old crow probably has something else up her sleeve.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Like what?” Millie asked, taking a step forward, though the Dunmer could only shrug.

<p class="MsoNormal">“The hell if I know.

<p class="MsoNormal">It’s exciting isn’t it?

<p class="MsoNormal">Knowing that we’re marching into hell as expendable pawns, not even knowing the reason that we’re going in there.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah…” Kairi murmured, folding her arms and glancing down to the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">“‘Exciting’ isn’t the word that I’d use…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, whatever word you’d use, that’s the kind of situation that we’re in now. I think that it’s best to make the most of it.” The Dunmer sighed, pulling himself up to his feet and jumping up, rolling his shoulders back as his whole upper body was starting to stiffen.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Right, that’s enough history for today.” He said, gently pushing past them as he began to leave the library, however, he stopped as he found himself coming face to face with that Altmer from earlier, the two of them glanced to each other as they crossed paths but neither of them said a word before breaking their gaze and Avernus stepped into the library, waiting for Jude to leave before he started talking.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So… Creepy old castle, how’re you liking it?” Avernus asked, hoping to distract them away from what they had just spoken about.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi shrugged, glancing around at the many dusty books that surrounded her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We’ve stayed in worse places, at least this one has a roof and doesn’t have ghosts wandering its hallways.” Kairi smirked, folding her arms and eyeing Avernus up and down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, except you maybe.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, for once I’m… nah… wait… Agatha’s… yep, still the eldest.” Avernus sighed, even with an old woman on board her was still an ‘old fart’ as Kairi delicately put it. He wasn’t that old in Altmer years, middle aged perhaps, mid-fifties or so if he was to compare it to Altmer years.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh well, at least the building is older than you are for a change.” Kairi smirked, getting Avernus to look around, deciding that she had a point there…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, not often I can say that these days…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie began to feel herself fading into the background, as a result, the Imperial quietly left the room, hoping to pursue that Dunmer and find a little more out about him. Somehow she couldn’t help but get the feeling that the two mer wanted to be alone…

<p class="MsoNormal">She stepped out and let the door shut behind her, half way through one of Avernus’ chuckling fits, the door felt back onto its hinges with a mildly loud ‘bang’ resulting in Avernus immediately snapping out of it and fixating his attention on his companion.

<p class="MsoNormal">“The Dunmer, what did he say?” Avernus asked, getting a confused look from his companion as she raised an eyebrow, Kairi looked back over to the door before returning her attention to her Altmer.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Not much… Just about Agatha and the other Tiras, why she’s after Molag Bal and… Well, that’s about it really, why, who is he?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Jude.” Avernus replied as if it was supposed to mean something.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m not sure if he recognises me but whether he does or not, we could both be in a lot of trouble.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Bosmer couldn’t help but tilt her head in confusion, narrowing her eyes as she awaited an explanation, Jude seemed a little… unhinged to put it lightly but he didn’t seem dangerous.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you mean?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The last time I saw Jude, we were trapped in a ruin, like Auridon but… Well, this one was a little newer, a lot newer actually.

<p class="MsoNormal"> We were overwhelmed… Split up by a sea of creatures, forcing us to flee down the corridor that we were confined to. Mine lead back up to the surface, his lead…” The Altmer paused, trying to think of the best way to end that sentence but he struggled.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Well, I thought it lead to his grave but… Now I’m not so certain, I think that it might have lead to something else, something inside the ruin… Maybe the thing that the Ayleids were trying so hard to protect.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “And that is?” Kairi asked, looking both curious and concerned at the same time.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Immortality.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> -

<p class="MsoNormal"> Jude stepped out of the library and wandered through the hallways of Volkihar Keep, returning back to the banquet hall, he peered inside to see Lars at the large oak dining table at the center of the room, enjoying a loaf of bread to himself, embracing the silence that could only be possible with the absence of that Altmer.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As the Dunmer was about to enter the dining area, he felt something lightly tap his right shoulder, prompting him to glance over it, only to find nothing there. He then proceeded to thrust his left elbow backwards, lightly hitting Millie in the ribs.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Argh… D-Dammit!” She yelped, bursting into a giggling fit, she was asking for it, to be fair. She stepped around the Dunmer, her grinned back to her, gently nursing the bruise that was surely to have appeared on her upper abdomen.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “You’re more awake than I thought.” She said, vigorously rubbing it before lowering her hand, finally straightening her back.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “I’m always awake, more opportunity for escape if you are…” Jude smirked, stepping into the dining room, much to Lars’ frustration.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Escape?” Millie asked, following him over to the nearest table as he took a seat, the two of them proceeded to place their feet on it, the Vampire Lord who owned the place could suck it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Yeah, from prisons or awkward social gatherings… Though, during those, I prefer to play pranks and get lost in the stampede of people trying to escape a stink bomb that smells like an eggy fart.” The Dunmer grinned, placing his hands behind his head as Millie began to chuckle.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Or spiking the non-alcoholic drinks.” The Imperial suggested, remembering that one as being a classic.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Or replacing the carvery pig with a shaved rat.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Millie began to laugh uncontrollably as she heard that one, she only wished that she had a chance to do it at some point, given how many skeevers were kicking about…

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Wasn’t easy that, y’know… I had to grow the rat, so that it was fat enough to pass off as a pig and then had to tenderise it just right, so that it, in some way, resembled one. Amazingly, no one figured it out, instead they fired the chef for buggering up the pork.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Really? Damn… Poor chef…”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Nah, not really, he managed to escape the wrath of the reject rats.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “The… What?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Oh, well, y’know when I said that I had to grow it right? Well, I had a dozen or so gluttonous rats kicking about, the failures, they were either too fat, too scrawny or too… ratty… so in the end, I just unleashed them all onto the party full of people, made a great distraction for the get away.” The Dunmer said, proudly, relaxing a little more.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Oh? And what were you trying to get away from?” Millie asked, knowing fully well that it was an act of theft or possibly even murder, knowing him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “My in laws, didn’t want them to catch me sneaking out of the reception, now did I?” Jude ended in a chuckle, the look on that skinny Altmer’s face as her wedding gown was nibbled on by rats as her guests fled in droves to escape them. The rat meat buffet and the crude addition to one of the wooden statues on the wedding cake.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Jude was actually still impressed with himself for finding such a small piece of wood, painting it purple and then seamlessly gluing it onto the little Dunmer figurine, it looked very convincing.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Sadly, his bride to be didn’t see the humour in it, she sent a letter to his house the next morning, stating her intent to ruin him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Nord, who received it must’ve been very confused…

<p class="MsoNormal"> Before Millie could ask him about it further, the heavy clunk of the castle’s front door interrupted them as Agatha re-appeared. Nobody had noticed her approaching the front door, though she probably flew in as a bird.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As she appeared, both Jude and Millie put their feet on the floor as if their mother had returned home and they feared the consequences of being caught with their feet on the table. Though, to be fair, Agatha was pretty intimidating to most, even a mad man like Jude.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Comfortable?” She asked them as she approached the dining table, gently placing a hand on the chair in front of her, pulling it back and taking a seat.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Believe it or not, you two are the first mortal beings to set foot in this castle for the best part of… twenty years.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Shame that we weren’t here, back then.” Jude sighed, seeming genuinely disappointed as he sat back on his seat, taking his chances by putting his boots back on the table.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “What a party that was…”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “You mean a massacre…” Agatha corrected him, somehow seeming disgusted with his love for violence and blood lust.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Bah, the two are synonymous.” Jude shrugged, glancing up to the ceiling as he put his hands behind his head.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “So… When’re we going? To Coldharbour I mean, not that this place isn’t nice but…”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Soon…” Agatha corrected him, sounding annoyed by his enthusiasm.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “First, you’ll need to rest and gear up for the coming trials ahead, I’ve assigned you quarters and left you a gift in each of them. Armour that I feel will best suit your… talents.” The Witch explained, getting the Dunmer to slowly sit up, looking intrigued.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Ah… So you do love us afterall.” He grinned, gently patting the table as he rose to his feet, looking over towards Millie.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “C’mon kid, let’s see what’s waiting for us.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Kid!?” Millie asked, indignantly.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “I’m not that young!”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Pfft… I’m Over two hundred years old, once you get past the one hundred mark, everyone looks like a ‘kid.’” Jude shrugged as Agatha shook her head.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Don’t be fooled, he is barely fifty years old, he spent most of those centuries in stasis… Not actually living them.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Dunmer shushed the Breton as she was kind of ruining his image, not that it was impressing Millie to begin with, in fact she preferred them younger.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Alright ‘gramps.’” The Imperial said, wearily, rising to her feet and rolling her shoulders, with a sigh.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Lead the way…”

<p class="MsoNormal"> As Jude lead his Imperial companion out of the room, Avernus quickly showed himself, he stepped into the dining hall, seeing only Agatha sat at the end of the table. Looking from side to side, the Altmer approached her, taking a seat opposite her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Ah, you’re back… Have a nice stroll?” He asked, getting a light smirk in response as he pulled his chair in closer.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “I did very little walking but yes, it was… productive.” Agatha shrugged, placing her gauntleted hands on her lap as the Altmer studied her, wondering if she knew or not…

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Ags…” He began, looking back over his shoulder before leaning in, making sure that he wasn’t saying this too loud.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Do you know, who he is?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Agatha just looked at him blankly, with an almost angered look as she thought on his impertinent question.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “I am fully aware…”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “You brought him back?” Avernus asked, his tone darkened as if he to was growing angered by the Witch’s response, though she didn’t seem remotely threatened by it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Not exactly…” She replied, looking up to the now vacant hallways opposite, where moments ago, the Dunmer had left through. After a moment, she turned to Avernus, making eye contact with him.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing"> “He preserved himself in an Ayleid stasis casket, my Daughter, Lilly, accidentally freed him.” The Breton explained, raising her right arm and resting it on the table as she rhythmithically drumming her gauntleted fingers on the table.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Unintentionally of course… I didn’t know that he was free until I discovered that dozens of the caskets had been opened throughout Nirn.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“How many?” Avernus asked, growing concerned at that news, so many ancient beings slept in those caskets, some benevolent, others… less so.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNormal">“I am unsure… Nobody knows truthfully, though I wouldn’t be too concerned, Lilly found that prolonged sleep resulted in death. The Ayleid that she found had long since died, it would seem that the stasis seal was a little more temporary than they’d hoped, it wasn’t designed to keep them sleeping for thousands of years and thus it failed them.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude, on the other hand, has only slept for a few hundred years, for him it was an afternoon’s nap.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And now you’re bringing him with us? Trust him with our lives? With Kairi’s life?” Avernus growled, seeming enraged by her inability to care for the consequences of her own actions.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I do not trust him… Though I trust his desire to fight, to kill… I imagine that it should keep him docile, until I have no further use of him.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And then?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I haven’t decided… I suppose that we can call this a field test…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And what if he fails this ‘field test.’” Lars called out, rising to his feet and glaring at the two of them from across the room, marching over to them both.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What if he turns on us?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Then I’ll kill him.” Agatha said, shortly, glaring at the Nord as if she didn’t appreciate his questions.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s taken me years… Centuries to organise this expedition, I’m not about to risk it for anything. Anyone who tries to stop me will either die or serve me as a thrall. Mad or not.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus’ eyes widened, the way that she spoke, it made her sound like Harkon...

<p class="MsoNormal">What happened to the frizzy haired young girl that he met in the Summerset Isles? That cheeky know it all, that could barely control a crow, was now possessing dozens of them, ordering them to tear her enemies apart.

<p class="MsoNormal">A girl who was once damaged by any loss of life was no so willing to destroy or corrupt it for her own gain, a sight that he did not expect, when he met her, so many years ago…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agatha…”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton witch turned away, heading back to the front door, she’d talked enough and there was much to do. She decided to return to the withered garden, where she would continue to prepare for her journey into Coldharbour.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You should get to sleep, tomorrow morning we leave this world and march into hell itself.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agatha!” Avernus called after her, jogging to her side and pressing his forearm against the front door, blocking it and closing it shut.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You don’t have to do this…” He whispered, he didn’t know what this was about but being exposed to Coldharbour was probably not going to help.

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha just glared at him, taking the handle on her side of the door and pushing it open, marching off onto the bridge and out into the cold, once more.

<p class="MsoNormal">He had no idea, she had to do this, to see it through, not for her sake but for the one person who mattered to her more than any other, her only priority in life.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lilly…

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi examined the armour that Agatha had left her, on her bed, seemingly impressed by the craftsmanship. Avernus, however, hadn’t touched his as the man didn’t like to deal in weapons or armour. Instead, the Altmer just lay on his bed, hands resting on his stomach as he stared up at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So…” The Bosmer began, giving the armour a small shake as she folded it back up again, ready to put it on her desk for tomorrow morning.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Any advice for tomorrow?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Not that I can think of…” The Altmer uttered, slowly sitting up and scratching his head.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, don’t eat anything, that’s always a good one.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Really? Good thing you said, Coldharbour vegetation sounds incredibly appealing…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, don’t knock ‘till you try it.” The Altmer replied, keeping his eyes fixed on the ceiling as he rested his hands on his stomach. Kairi couldn’t help but sense that something was wrong, prompting her to approach him and carefully take a seat next to him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Avernus… What’s up?” She asked, gently lying down beside him, though he didn’t seem to notice. The Altmer appeared to be deep in thought about Agatha and this ‘Jude’ as he called himself now. He began to wonder if he would have to change his disposition to Agatha’s quest, instead of trying to help her, he should perhaps be trying to hinder her.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Altmer slowly rolled over to face his companion, glancing back down to the bed sheet.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Things… Aren’t as I thought they were…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wh-What do you mean?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agatha… She isn’t as I remember her…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi couldn’t help but frown in response to that, he’d met the Breton before? He neglected to mention that…

<p class="MsoNormal">“So you two golden oldies go way back, I take it?” The Bosmer teased, trying to keep things light, Avernus didn’t usually keep secrets from her… who was she kidding, he definitely did but nothing that would endanger her life. He was just… absent minded.

<p class="MsoNormal">“All the way back to the third era…” He whispered, glancing over to her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Back when Tharn took the Emperor’s place, making a mock empire ran by demons and his lackeys… It didn’t last, even without our intervention, someone would’ve seen that he was running the country into the ground and would’ve helped us overthrow him.

<p class="MsoNormal">There were… I’m not sure now, around twenty of us. An Imperial lead us, Talin… ‘the Eternal Champion,’ then there was Agatha, Zaydate, Nissa, Scire, Vordel… And him…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Him?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Jude… A madman…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You said he had a different name back then?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Aye…” Avernus replied, uttering his response under his breath, though he didn’t sound like he wanted to iterate further.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just… Keep your eyes open, don’t trust anyone but me, okay?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ha… I don’t anyway Avernus, though Millie doesn’t seem so bad…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah…” The Altmer agreed, in a faint whisper, another fly caught in the web. Another worm plucked from the dirt, by the crow…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well.” He announced, rather quickly as he rolled away from her, turning his head towards his candle as he slowly raised it, blowing it out and extinguishing half of the room’s light in the process.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We need to be up early tomorrow, Gods know how early we’re talking.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“She said early, though for old people that probably means something else… like 5AM or something.” Kairi shrugged, glancing up to her own candle, not really appreciating the darkness.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Awww… You don’t think so, do you?” Avernus whined, sighing heavily as he kicked his boots off.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Better not be, I’m not very good, when I’m groggy…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Heh… Better than most…” Kairi pointed out as she turned over to her candle, moving her face a little closer to it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“G’night Avernus…”

<p class="MsoNormal">With that she blew out the flame, with one quick blow, cutting out the light and leaving them both in the dark. The Bosmer pulled herself back down, so that she was lay beside her mentor, staring up at the ceiling, through the dark.

<p class="MsoNormal">From the sounds of it, Avernus didn’t have a good feeling about this whole thing, anyone with any sense would have fled by now, gotten on the first rowing boat back to the mainland but not Avernus…

<p class="MsoNormal">Not her…

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha stood before her masterpiece, a levitating interdimentional portal, a purple sphere that hovered four feet off of the ground, spanning a width of six feet and a height of eight. With the use of a Sigil Stone, her own blood and a long list of common, rare, legal, illegal, benign and dangerous ingredients, she had managed to open a stable gateway to ColdHarbour.

<p class="MsoNormal">She was glad that this house had the means to create a portal inside its cellar, making it a lot easier, using the small rift made by Serana, that lead to the Soul Cairn. The Breton witch stared into the darkness of the gateway, having little knowledge of what was on the other side. All she knew was from extracts, books of survivors from the raid in the Second Era, Veran Tira’s personal diary and an old battered leather bound book Flaccus Terentius. The latter did not survive the trip…

<p class="MsoNormal">As the Breton observed her work, she heard the doors behind her creak as her people entered, followed by a loud bang as one of the doors was thrown open, slamming against the wall.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oi, Grandma!” A voice echoed, Millie’s voice as the Imperial marched up to her and shoved one of her grubby fingers in the old Witch’s face.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What kind of wakeup as that? Bloody crows, trying to peck my eyes out!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha gave a light smirk, finding herself to be a little amused by the Thief’s tragedy.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Perhaps they were trying to pry them apart.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie scowled, her face covered in scratches, eyelids heavy from lack of sleep, she looked pretty shell shocked as she didn’t usually wake up before 3PM.

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha looked over her shoulder to see Lars, in the far corner of the room, dressed in ancient, traditional Nordic Armour, with two large horns sticking out the sides of his helm. Only Lars knew that it was his Father’s armour, a once proud man, driven to his demise over his dreams of petty revenge.

<p class="MsoNormal">Next to him stood Jude, who had shaved his head once again and was now armoured up in the tough, resilient gear that Agatha had left him. She had gotten armour suitable for people of all talents, rogues, warriors and spell casters, special crafted to suit their individual needs.

<p class="MsoNormal">Well, everyone but Millie, who appeared to have forgotten hers.

<p class="MsoNormal">As Avernus and Kairi entered the room, she decided that now was a good time to begin, she waited until everyone was stood still and was silent, folding her arms as she pondered on what to say.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You are stood in the most precarious place any man or woman has stood since the Oblivion Crisis, when I last ventured into the Realm of Oblivion. The last time I was there, it was a true summary of the word hell, volcanic lakes all around, monsters crawling out of the walls and the floors…

<p class="MsoNormal">However, from what I’ve heard, this is much worse…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So this is… What? Morrowind Bad?” Jude mocked, folding his arms and smirking a little as he thought on it, he wasn’t afraid of anything, at least of all something without a face or a conscience. Agatha, however, was not in the mood for his attempt at humour and just continued on, without addressing him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You will face many varieties of monsters, large, ogre-like creatures, the fearsome watchers, Dremora, Clannfear, Daedroth. Each chamber will throw you greater and greater horrors at you, from Coldharbour itself and stragglers from Nirn. There are many ways to serve Molag Bal and deception is his most powerful weapon.

<p class="MsoNormal">I will not lie, when I say that there is no guarantee of your safety, I am absolutely serious. I have no idea what waits for us, beyond that portal, besides miles of barren landscape and a hostile environment.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie stood, idly by as she scratched her head, wondering what in the hell was supposed to be in it for her at this point.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Though, I promise something else…

<p class="MsoNormal">For every fallen soldier beyond that gate, lies a treasure. For ever mystery, there will be an answer. For every axe, there will be a beast. For everything that Nirn fails to give you, Caldharbour will surely provide.” The Breton went on, hoping to appeal to everyone in her group as she did so.

<p class="MsoNormal">“From what I have read of Coldharbour, the key to survival is to dominate your environment and to do everything in your power to avoid it dominating you. You will be in the greatest group possible for such an expedition into the unknown, the odds are not against you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone paused as they considered their options, Lars and Jude couldn’t care less, Avernus was going in and Kairi would go wherever he went, which left it down to Millie…

<p class="MsoNormal">The Imperial paused for a moment, in spite of the fact that she was probably at risk of getting killed or worse, she got the feeling that she could profit from this expedition. Not only could she get gold and trinkets from the expedition but she could also nab herself some alchemical ingredients and sell them for a good bit of gold. Provided that the cheap shop keepers didn’t sting her…

<p class="MsoNormal">Again…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, might as well get this over with…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good… Come now, there is no time to waste, the portal is losing stability by the minute.” The Breton Witch insisted, quickly turning back to the portal as she began her stroll into Oblivion. She stopped, just short of the portal, turning to the side and staring her people down.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude shrugged and took the initiative, looking forward to the change in weather, the hot fiery lakes of the Deadlands were sounding incredibly preferable to Skyrim’s frosty air. The Dunmer stepped inside the portal, quickly disappearing inside his comrades followed behind him, the most reluctant of which was Millie, who shuffled in at the back.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">In the blink of eye, the old cellar transformed into a fully fledged forest, dark, twisted, gnarled and decaying, with a constant frost in the atmosphere. Millie stumbled out, like a drunk falling out of a tavern, after hours, almost falling to the floor before regaining her balance.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Imperial slowly looked around, finding herself both awed and terrified by her surroundings, Coldharbour was so barren and bare, yet so… alive. It resembled Nirn, if Nirn had been horrendously corrupted, the moons and sun had been destroyed and blight had taken over the land…

<p class="MsoNormal">As she breathed in, she couldn’t help but notice the scent, like a flowery perfume…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Woah…” She said, slowly turning around as she got a panoramic view of the realm, quickly turning back to Agatha.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Something smells good…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha couldn’t help but smirk, turning her attention to the Imperial as she did so, this part was always the most fun.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I wouldn’t get too attached to that scent, child…” She warned, much to Millie’s confusion.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you…” Half way through asking her question, Millie got her answer, she immediately choked on the decayed air, feeling a few bubbles of vomit in the back of her throat, which she quickly swallowed back down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s gone off, whatever it was!” She gasped, noticing that everyone else but Agatha was wincing at the vile stench of rotting flesh, which forever scarred their noses.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You’ll get used to it.” Agatha said, though it wasn’t very assuring, few could get used to the scent of rotting flesh.

<p class="MsoNormal">“This realm assaults your senses, whenever possible, your nose won’t be much use here, I’m afraid…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie sighed, great, only two minutes into this s*** hole and already it sucks, she could hardly wait for the next two minutes, where she’ll probably find out that the air is poisonous or something…

<p class="MsoNormal">“So…” Jude began, looking around at the bleak and desolate wasteland that surrounded them, the hints of horrors slowly creeping on the horizon, a haunting, clammy atmosphere that made every hair on his arm stand on end.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Where’s the nearest Tavern?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha slowly scanned the horizon as well, stopping as she saw the answer to his question, she smirked slightly as she gestured towards the horizon to her left.

<p class="MsoNormal">“About six miles that way…” She replied, slowly turning towards it and beginning her trek, the others followed, not having much of a choice really.

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus and Kairi lingered at the back, like the big kid that he was at times, Avernus seemed to swagger about, like he owned the place, showing every single impossibility a huge grin as Kairi followed alongside, folding her arms and huddling herself up as she shuffled along.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s… F-Freezing out here…” She whispered, glancing up to Avernus, whose robes kept him warm, they were probably enchanted, the snide git.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I think it was warmer back at the castle…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, it is Coldharbour, the clue is in the name…” The Altmer replied, with a smirk, continuing to walk along with his hands in his pockets.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Though, strictly speaking, you aren’t actually cold… It’s more like your skin is crawling.” He went on, always happy to reassure, when he could.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, good… Because that’s a whole lot better…” Kairi shuddered, glancing around at the forest-like layout of the place.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I wasn’t really expecting it to be like this…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Like?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Like… a forest… I know it’s dark and clammy and that but it’s still just a forest, isn’t it? It’s like we’re back home, just with crappy light and a chill…” The Bosmer uttered, glancing up to the void-like sky above, longing for stars or a sky full of clouds…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, that’s because this is a sort of… mirror universe, well, not really but that’s the best way that I could describe it. This place has everything that Nirn has or had… not sure if it’s an exact copy or perhaps a sort of capture of a bygone age. It has the White-Gold tower but I’m not sure about the cities and other landmarks.” The Altmer explained, glancing back over to his companion with a smile, he enjoyed knowing more than everyone else.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Which is why it made a prime candidate for the ‘Realm merge’ back in the second era. Back when the two worlds were about to collide… We fought back though, said no against perfume/fart breath atmosphere and relit the dragon fires.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kairi nodded, she kind of stopped paying attention at ‘landmarks,’ still that was pretty weird, the thought of an exact copy of Nirn, just existing in the dark…

<p class="MsoNormal">It was inhabitable to, though not many would wish to inhabit it.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude wandered, a little distanced from the rest of the group, slowly looking from side to side as he examined his surroundings. It was a little lacking of colour, other than purple and a bit black… He somewhat liked dark colours but a bit of red or something would definitely spruce the place up.

<p class="MsoNormal">As he pondered on the potential improvement of this place, Jude clapped eyes upon a small creature, that ventured from beyond the wilderness. A small, devil-like creature, that was prowling the nearby territories for scraps. Banekin were powerful creatures in large groups but individually they were pretty weak, in small groups they were either scavengers, moving in on the scraps of a greater Daedra’s kill or pilot fish, a warning of something larger to come.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude, knowing none of this, spied an opportunity, a dash of red…

<p class="MsoNormal">He drew his bow and an arrow, taking aim at the creature as it continued to sniff the ground, scouring the earth for anything valuable or edible, until it looked up and saw the Dunmer stood before it. I threw its head up and growled, a low snarl, that broke out into a shriek, which was quickly stopped with a silver arrow to the face, stopping it outright, knocking its head back and sending it keeling over, landing on the floor with a thud.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jude smirked, appreciating his addition to the colour scheme of the landscape and the fact that he’d bagged himself a daedra, which he could skin, cook or whatever else you do with a dead Banekin. If you can eat a Dremora’s heart, it was probably possible to eat a dead Banekin or at least its eyes…

<p class="MsoNormal">The Dunmer picked it up by the tail and strapped it to his belt, letting it hang from his hip as he tied its tail into a knot and removed the arrow from its forehead. He rejoined the group, who seemingly didn’t notice his absence, everyone but Millie, who looked down to his hip with some degree of disgust on her face.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Urgh… What’re you going to do with it?” She asked, pulling a face, prompting Jude to smirk. Regular people could be so squeamish, they wouldn’t last ten minutes in his demented world.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Dunno, if it’s edible, eat it. If it’s valuable, sell it and if I can’t find a use for it, I’ll put it in Kairi’s bed.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie chuckled, bursting out into a laughing fit, that she’d like to see, despite not having anything against the Bosmer, the prospect of her waking up to a dead Banekin was just too funny.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Dammit Jude, you are wicked…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Heh… I get that a lot…” The Dunmer muttered, scratching his neck, gently as the two of them stepped over a raised root, that blocked their path.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So…” Millie asked, realising that she didn’t know much about Jude at this point, nobody did really.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Where’re you from?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Erm…” Jude paused, he honestly didn’t have an answer as he couldn’t remember, it was too long ago…

<p class="MsoNormal">“All over, I guess… I’ve spent most of my time in Cyrodiil, I think I grew up there…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You think?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I dunno… I had a very strange childhood, never stayed in one place for too long and during my teenage years, I was always on the run. Then I went through my… maturing years and that got me into more trouble.

<p class="MsoNormal">So… As I said, live in a different place, every night for ten years and you try telling me where you started. I mean, I remember a bit of it, it was a village… I think, a nice little stream running through with a little bridge to match. I liked the little bridge and the little stream, shame that people dumped their p*** and s*** buckets into it though.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie smirked, shaking her head as they walked along, glancing up to Agatha. Her saviour and possibly the cause of her demise…

<p class="MsoNormal">“I grew up in Riften, the p*** and s*** dumping capital of the world.” The Imperial replied, fond thoughts of her homeland slowly resurfacing to her memory, the smell of the canal, the groans of beggars and the shrieks of violent lunatics as they yelled their violent vows after her, swinging whatever sharp or blunt instruments they could get their hands on.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah yeah, Riften… I went there once, got mugged three times in one day.” Jude replied, remembering the experience fondly, for him was but a courteous bow before a dance, a dance that involved a lot of blood shed and brutal beatings.

<p class="MsoNormal">Somehow his fondness of the city didn’t put Millie at ease, she decided not to ask as it was better that way.

<p class="MsoNormal">She turned and looked to the left, peering out into the woods as she did so, she couldn’t help but notice something on the horizon…

<p class="MsoNormal">Dozens of tiny creatures, like Scamps but even smaller, were gathering at the base of the trees, watching from afar… It would seem that that Banekin had friends…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Erm… Guys?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Agatha stopped and slowly turned back, sensing the concern in the Imperial’s voice, prompting everyone else to stop and peer off.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It looks like they’re scouting us out, planning their attack.” She informed them, though she got the feeling that most of them already knew.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, doesn’t that mean that we should… Y’know, get the hell out of here?” Jude asked, getting a mere shrug from Agatha as the things were but a triviality to her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It would be advised to pick up the pace, yes…” She concluded, carrying onwards into the Wilderness. The others drew their weapons and followed suit…

<p class="MsoNormal">Millie got closer to Jude, figuring that he’d be the best person to stand with, in the event that the Banekin decided to attack. Though with those numbers, they’d be swarmed in seconds and that’s assuming that they don’t use their magic.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars kept his attention on them, glaring at the creatures with a strange look of admiration. They were vile creatures but they were at least smart enough to hunt in packs, like little wolves…

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus ensured that he and Kairi were closer to the group, neither of them were confident that they wouldn’t be left behind, would it come to that. Lars continued to watch, narrow eyes peering through the window between the black painted lines between his cheek and his forehead as he glared out across the woodland…

<p class="MsoNormal">They weren’t just watching, they were doing something, gathering, preparing…

<p class="MsoNormal">Charging…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agatha!” The Nord snapped, turning as soon as the group of Banekin combined their energies to blast at the group with a large ball of electrical energy, the power of which was like a powerful mage’s thunder storm. Agatha quickly spun around, extending her gauntleted arm as the projectile hit, exploding into a large ball of electrical energy, that sent the loose dirt on the ground kicking up into the air, creating a smoky atmosphere…

<p class="MsoNormal">As the dust cleared, Agatha stood at the center of the group, hand extended, with a powerful ward shielding the group, a ward that she quickly dispelled as soon as the dust died down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Do we run or attack?” Millie asked, glancing back over to her Breton guide, who just stood at the center of the small dust storm, watching as the Banekin began to toddle over to them, fists charged with electrical energy.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Run or attack!?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll take both!” Jude answered, raising his bow and firing an arrow across the landscape, which quickly found its way to its tiny Daedric Target.

<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as he finished firing, Kairi and Avernus rushed around his back, sprinting ahead as they blasted spells and silver arrows at the creatures, followed by Lars and Agatha, who were followed up by Millie and Jude.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Keep going North.” Agatha panted, knowing that she couldn’t outrun the Banekin but that she could outfly them. She then leapt into the air and within the blink of an eye, she morphed into a murder of crows, all of which flew up into the sky and seemingly abandoning the group.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Did she just ditch us!?” Millie called from the back ranks, slacking on the shooting as her concern took priority. Jude didn’t care, he was having a field day, he raised his bow and arrow and fired a shot, hitting a Banekin square in the eye.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, yes… maybe? I don’t know but she told us to go North, so that’s what we do!” Avernus called, keeping up the electrical attacks at the back ranks.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Lars, you go at the front, Kairi, Millie and Jude in the middle, I’ll go at the back!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Who died and made you the Queen of everything!?” The Dunmer replied, indignantly, not that he cared, he usually ran away in situations like this and watched with a bucket of raisins as his comrades were torn apart. Oh how much fun he had in the army…

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just get in the middle!” Avernus snapped, turning around and bringing his arms up, creating a huge tidal wave of lighting energy that shaved a huge line right down the middle of the Banekin horde.

<p class="MsoNormal">As Lars ducked under a tree of some sorts, he got a better look of the path ahead… Was that? No, it couldn’t be…

<p class="MsoNormal">“There’s a city ahead!” He called, ducking again and charging onwards, that’s all that they needed to know. The City was a strange phenomenon, it wasn’t corrupted like the rest of the place, like it was a part of Tamriel, torn from its surface and dumped right in the middle of this forest…

<p class="MsoNormal">As Kairi and Millie emerged, they followed suit, the Bosmer, however, stopped and checked to see if her mentor had made it. Both Avernus and Jude were lagging behind a little but were doing a number on the Banekin horde.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars ran ahead of everyone, running up to the front gate and pounding it with his gauntleted hand, stepping back to ensure that they were going to let him in.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Open the gate, we have refugees out here!” He called, getting little by way of a response as Millie and Kairi appeared behind him, reducing their sprint to jogger’s pace until they came to a complete halt.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Y-Yeah! There’s six of us! One of us an old woman!” Millie called, hoping to argue for their case.

<p class="MsoNormal">“And a sick old man!” Kairi added, with a smirk, feeling a little proud of that one.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars growled and thumped the gate, taking a step back before kicking it, with enough force to splinter a layer of its surface.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I know that you can hear us! You’re sentencing us to death! Let us in!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually, Jude and Avernus arrived on the scene, prompting everyone else to look around as the Banekin began to emerge from the wilderness.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Millie take over!” The Altmer snapped before looking to Kairi and Lars, nodding to instruct them to do the same as he approached the gate.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Look, I know what you’re thinking but we are capable warriors, we have a powerful mage… two powerful mages travelling in our group! We can help you repel the Banekin!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“They’re getting closer!” Lars warned, drawing his axe and getting ready as the horde charged down the hill, though his words fell on death ears as it really was a statement of the obvious.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please, I know that you can hear me and I know that you’re scared but we can do this if we do it together, please! You can’t let us die!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Avernus, break it down!” Millie snapped, raising her bow and firing an arrow at the horde, Kairi followed suit and Jude stepped away from the door, not being a very good diplomat.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please, just open the gate! We’re cornered, there’s hundreds of them! Two of them are barely adults, please!”

<p class="MsoNormal">As Avernus’ cries fell on deaf ears, Jude stepped forward and fired another shot, glancing over to Lars, who seemed to be concentrating on something…

<p class="MsoNormal">Three arrows at a time flew through the air and hit their marks, straight in the forehead, killing them instantly but it was never enough, no amount of death or pain would act as a deterrent against the demonic creatures as they drew closer and closer, like the coming tide.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Avernus, give it up and help us!” Kairi snapped, firing another arrow at the nearest Banekin in the horde.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Altmer had fallen silent, resting his arm and his forehead against the large wooden door as he shivered, he hadn’t meant to bring Kairi out here, for her to be torn apart on the doorstep of an impossible city…

<p class="MsoNormal">She was twenty eight… To a Bosmer, that made her barely a child… And yet, here she was, facing her death as it came to her in the tens of thousands, all because of his foolishness.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tightening his fist, Avernus turned around, charging up two lightning bolts in his hand as his fear and rage fuelled him, he blasted the nearest Banekin, with enough energy to vaporize the little bugger on the spot. He recharged and blasted again and again, resulting in four Banekin being slain every four seconds.

<p class="MsoNormal">This, however, wasn’t enough… they were still dangerously close and would be upon them within the next thirty seconds. Realising this, Avernus had to change his battle tactics, he took a step back, blasting another ball of energy at his foes and vaporizing them, just as something large leapt over his head.

<p class="MsoNormal">An eight ft tall wolf threw itself into the Banekin swarm, swiping at them with his almighty claw and taking out seven at once. It roared in fury as it threw itself forward, once again, crushing them beneath his feet, scratching them with his huge claws and even picking the odd one up and crushing it in his bone shattering jaws.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lars too down thirty, maybe even forty of them before the Banekin were able to adapt but once they did, they all leapt on him, zapping him with small electrical currents, which were like Tasers, being used over and over again on his already scorched flesh.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Werewolf was brought down on one knee as he continued to slash at the creatures, his companions did their best to shoot the creatures off of his back but considering that the arrows were silver, if they made any mistakes, Lars would surely perish.

<p class="MsoNormal">Either way, the wolf was being swarmed, in fact he could barely be seen after a minute or so as he was completely covered in the creatures as they bit, scratched and burnt away at his flesh.

<p class="MsoNormal">Avernus turned back to the gate, knowing that it was now or never, he threw his arms out and screamed with as much might as his lungs were capable of.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Help us, please!”