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Entry 32: Seeking Companionship


EnragedBard

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Disclaimer:  this is that entry I warned you about.  I tried to keep it tame.

 

Hey, it's Destana.  I was going to let Runa talk a little bit and catch us up more on her dealings with the Dark Brotherhood, and what she's been doing in Bruma, but... maybe next time.  I was finishing my tour of the holds to inform them of Alduin's death, and now to tell them about the barrier falling... and to plan a strategy. 

 

Here is my off the cuff to-do list:

- Finish my tour of the holds.  WindhelmFalkreath, Morthal, Dawnstar, Winterhold, Solitude, Riften, Markarth, Whiterun.

- Get Stronger.  Alduin was a challenge, and I know I always have room for improvement.  Also, if I'm going to embrace being a dragonborn, I could seek out more shouts.

- Get the Forsworn.  Do they really want Thalmor ruling over these lands?  Can't be better than the Nords.  The Markarth Jarl said he would be open to a treaty with them.  And we could definitely use Mammoths and Giants against the Thalmor war machine.

- Marry Ulfric, become Queen and him High King, unify Skyrim.  The wedding date it set for two weeks.

- Study the Eye of Magnus.  (Damien is working on this one).

- Ready the holds for war.  (Fenrir and Ulfric are working on this). 

These last few are far down the list (if I have time):

- Go to Cyrodiil and either: Try to get the Empire to ally with us or ensure they don't help the Thalmor.

- Go to Elswyer and disrupt the Thalmor there.

- Go to Hammerfell and ask for aid.  We are united in our hatred of the Empire, and the Thalmor.  After all, a Redguard Queen of Skyrim has to get me something, right?  

- Go to High Rock and ask them.  Can't hurt, right?

 

Whiterun was my last hold, and by this time it was late afternoon.  It'd only been about 12 hours since I started.  What a difference being able to teleport makes!  When I went to Dragonreach, not expecting who to find, I found nobody sitting on the throne.  Olfina told me Vidnar was getting a head start drinking himself to an early grave with the companions, so I figured we could go there.  Runa was still with me (we finally got Averna to go back to the Sanctuary to check up on things).

 

As we walked in, a lot of fresh warriors were milling around, a woman sweeping.  Vidnar was sitting in the corner with a tankard of ale.  In the firepit area, a nord woman and a dunmer started brawling.  Me, being quite the rough cutthroat myself, didn't think a lot of this, but the companions surrounded them and started cheering. 

 

I walked over to Vidnar, "So, hey, is this normal around here?"

"Of course.  It's a warrior's guild," Vidnar replied, "Hey!  I was starting to wonder if you were coming back after you rode that dragon off Dragonreach.  And the dragon attacks have not stopped.  We got one earlier today! 

"Yeah it was blue. I killed it on the way in."

"What's the word?"

"Well, I killed Alduin," I said, "The dragons that are left are fighting to determine who is the next king."

"This seems like... not an improvement," Vidnar said.

"Well, I've thrown my support behind Paarthurnax, who is the dragon that taught me (and Tiber Septim, I might add) the Way of the Voice.  After he brings the other dragons under his will, they should subside.  Until then, I'm going to continue to steer them away from the holds."

"Thank you for that, Dragonborn," Vidnar smiled.

"That's not all.  The Thalmor are planning an invasion, just like I was talking about," I said.  We'd kept watching this fist-fight across the hall as we waited.  

"How much time do we have?" He sighed, like an old man who'd just sat down after a long, long life of warfare who was not ready to stand up again.

"A month.  Ulfric should be gathering his forces."

"Good.  I'll tell Balgruuf," he said, "Tell me, did you come here just to talk to me?"

"Hmm," I thought, still staring at the fight, "To be honest, I wonder if the companions have any knowledge of battle I have yet to learn.  I can defeat legions of normal men, but gods and giants are a different story.  Also, you heard Odahviing say I was going to Sovngarde, right?"

Vidnar turned to me, "Yes, but I wagered it was a jest."

"No jest," I said, "I met Ysgramor, Jurgen Windcaller, and Tsun (who I now know is a demigod).  Point is, during my stay there Ysgramor asked me if I would look in on the Companions.  I think he thought something was wrong with the guild.  But he also said I could help beef myself a little bit.  Even with all there is behind me, I can still improve."

Vidnar looked at me again, not sure if I was joking or just insane.  He finally said, "You should speak with Kodlak if you want to join."

 

Runa smirked, "Hey, so, I think I want to join too.  This looks like my kinda guild."

"You're more of a pure warrior than I ever was," I nodded to her, and whispered, "Go ahead, Listener."

 

We walked around for a while, until we found Kodlak sitting at a table outside his room, sharing a drink with Vilkas (who I only knew because I heard them talking as I approached).

I folded my arms, "Who are the companions?"

Kodlak looked at me for a few seconds.  I think he took my reasons for asking immediately, and seemed like a cunning old man.  Playing along, he said, "The difference between a noble band of warriors and a ragged bunch of assassins is as thin as a razor's edge."

"Kodlak Whitemane.  I think I want to join the companions," I said, then I motioned to Runa, "Her too."

Of course he knew me.  We talked at the moot.  But he was caught off guard by this.  He finally said, "You have great strength of spirit.  We will test you, in the ways we have done for hundreds of years."

"Of course," I said, not wanting to get in by my notoriety alone and really wanting to be tested, "What are your tests?"

Vilkas turned to him, "Is that wise, master? I've never heard of this woman."

I blinked.  I'm pretty sure Vilkas did not actually know who I was.

"Last I checked, Vilkas, I am nobody's master.  And sometimes the famous come to us," Kodlak stated, looking at me as he said so, then turning back to Vilkas as he continued, "Sometimes men and women come here to seek their fame.  It makes no difference."

I thought the point was obvious, but Vilkas seemed rather dense.  

"I've only heard rumors," Kodlak said, "How good are you in battle, actually?"

How to answer that, I pondered, "Pretty good."

"I want to see.  Vilkas, take them out in the yard and see what they can do," he said.

 

We walked outside and I elected not to use shouts or magic.  Just brawn.  He pulled out a sword and shield, and I opted for sword and dagger.  We fought for a few minutes, him using tactics akin to mine.  We both advanced and contracted as our opponent moved.  At the end, we were both sweaty, and neither of us had taken much damage.  

"Alright," Vilkas said, "You're pretty good."

"You're not so bad," I said.

He drank a stamina potion and got back out his weapons, "Your turn."

Runa drew the Moonlight Greatsword and swung, banging against his shield a couple times. 

After a little bit of this turtling and dodging he did with me, I could tell Runa was getting frustrated.

"The hell with this," she said, "FUS!"  Vilkas fell to one knee.  "KRII!" She let out a thundering whisper like a serpent's strike.  She swung her blade, knocking the shield from his hand, then brought her blade above his head.

 

"Whoa!" I shouted, both like calming a stampeding horse and being generally shocked.

"I thought assassins were supposed to be calm and controlled," I said.

"I wasn't going to kill him," Runa said, "I just got annoyed at his fighting style."

"Yeah, when did you learn to shout?" I asked.

"It's been five years, mom.  I've had a lot of time to practice.  I learned Marked for Death from the Word Wall at the old Sanctuary and Unrelenting Force from watching you.  But I only know the first word, and only those two," she explained as she helped Vilkas up.  I quickly sifted through my word wall knowledge and directed one of my stockpiled dragon souls to Marked for Death.  It seemed pretty useful.

"Impressive.  Are you the dragonborn?" Vilkas asked Runa.

I slapped my forehead.

"No," Runa said, "She's~" I shushed her.

"We both just know some shouts is all.  I'm surprised you don't know any," I said.

Vilkas chuckled, maybe feeling a bit more humble, "Well, you passed.  Would you do me a favor and take my sword to Eorlund?"

"Sure," I said.  This game of being an apprentice again wasn't going to last very long, but I would play a little bit.

 

I walked up to Eorlund at the skyforge and handed him the sword, "Vilkas asked me to give this to you."

"Hey, I'm the Companions' smith.  That's nice of you to do.  Just don't get pushed around too much.  Everybody's their own man in the Companions.  There've been no true leaders since Ysgramor."

"What about Kodlak?  I thought Harbinger meant leader," I asked.

"He's sort of an advisor of the whole group.  But hey, since you're such a nice person, would you mind doing something for me?" He asked.

"Sure."

He handed me a shield, "Please, take this to Aela.  She's one of the circle, just like Skjor, Farkas, Vilkas and Kodlak."

"Not a big deal," I said.  This time I handed it to Runa.  We found her hanging about in her room, getting ready for bed. Skjor was sitting at her table.

"Ah!  The new whelps," she said, then she turned to Runa as she handed her the shield, "I heard you gave Vilkas quite the walloping."  She turned to me again, "You think you could take him in a real fight?"

"Maybe.  But I don't care for boasting," I said flatly, though without powers, I was beginning to wonder.

"A woman who lets her actions speak louder than words. I like this one," she nodded to Skjor, then yelled, "Farkas!"
"Yes?" He appeared from the next room, a little dejected, like she'd interrupted him from something.

"Can you show these whelps where the whelps sleep?"

He sighed, "Sure."

 

As he walked, he said, "The quarters are up here, just pick a bed and fall in it when you're tired.  Here you are.  Looks like the others are eager to meet you."

Before he walked away, I said, "So, got any stray missions for us to take care of?  I know it's just after sunset, but I'm not really tired."

"Hmm.  Sure," he pulled a letter out of his pocket, "I was saving this one for the morning, but if you can take care of it, that's a load off my back. This letter is from someone inside Whiterun.  Needing some muscle.  Just get out there, look tough, show the milk drinkers who's boss.  No more than that.  I won't want to hear about a killing, understand?"

I looked at Runa, "A little different than our usual style, but sure."

 

I followed the letter's directions, and wound up in Dragonreach prison.  There was a door at the bottom that was locked (which I easily picked) that led into a backroom, which led behind a counter in a sewer 'establishment,' I would call it.  This might have been some kind of underground brothel, because there were people just fucking.  I assumed at this point Runa was a little less embarrassed about such things, but she just didn't react, so I walked up to the guy at the counter.

 

"Hey, um.  I'm from the Companions.  I've been sent to resolve a dispute."

The man immediately ran around the iron bars at the counter and growled at me, "You can't scare me into submission!"
I raised an eyebrow.  I wasn't even trying to intimidate him yet.  The patrons and whores started to cheer, 'Fight! Fight! Fight!'

He raised his fists and I ducked under a punch, "Well, okay, guess we're doing this."

"Put up your dukes!" The man swung a couple more times, then I punched him in the jaw. 

He grabbed his chin in pain, then he put up his hands again, "No way you can do that a second~"

I punched him in the nose, causing it to spurt blood.

"C'mon, who taught you how to fight!?" He raised his hands again.

I gotta admit, I'm not that physically strong, but this was comical.  He took another swing, I dodged and slammed my knee into his stomach, my elbow into the back of his head.  I grabbed him around the body and suplexed him.  He got up, face bloody as hell.

"No," I said flatly.

He put up his hands again.

"Are you serious?"

Runa snickered, "Are we taking bets?  I'd like to put two hundred septims on the big one."

"The big one?" I asked, currently degenerating into just punching him in the side repeatedly.

"I think he's shorter than you," Runa laughed again.  When I looked at her, a little annoyed, she waved nonchalantly.

"Tag in!" I shouted, slapping my hand on hers.  She looked confused, but the man seemed to be on board.

He shouted, "I will punch anybody!" And started taking swings at her, which she blocked.

 

Runa pursed her lips.  Years of using increasingly larger greatswords had gifted my girl with much bigger muscles than me.  When he threw another punch, she grabbed his arm and lifted him over her head.

"Stop it before I break you over my knee," Runa said in a cold voice.

I covered my mouth, not able to contain myself in laughter. 

"Fine!  Fine!  I'll take care of whatever you want!" He shouted.

I handed him the note and he started to read, but Runa dropped him like a sack of potatoes.

As we walked out the front door (which was hidden) somebody called to us, saying we could make a lot of money working down there.  Though as brawlers or whores, I wasn't sure.

"I doubt that!" I shouted back.

 

We started to walk back to Jorrvaskr.

"I'm glad you're having fun," Runa said flatly.

"Oh, c'mon.  This is fun!  It's training!" I said, "I assume the jobs will get harder."

A vampire wench was standing outside the crypt and handed me something.  She winked, seeing what I was, and said, "You look thirsty."

It was a chunk of human flesh and a blood potion, with a note attached that had the details of the girl's meat.  Orphan died in a storm. 

I put them in my pack.  I mean, with my Vampire Lord experience I was able to cook human meat into blood, so that wasn't as strange as it could have been to a regular person.

But that was still...weird.  

When we got back to Jorrvaskr, it was nearly midnight and many of the Companions were in the great hall, feasting.  

"We took care of the problem," I said to Farkas.

"Good.  Skjor said when you get done, he wanted to speak with you for the next test.  I don't like making him angry, you better hop to," Farkas replied.

 

I walked over to Skjor, "You wanted to see me?"

"The time has come for your real test.  A scholar came to us last week, telling us about another fragment of Wuuthrad.  He seemed like a fool, but if it is true, than we'd be damned fools not to seek it out.  For this it'll just be you and Farkas as your shield-brother.  He'll be grading you.  Do well and you'll be counted among the Companions.  You," Skjor looked at Runa, "Get some sleep.  I have a task for you in the morning."

Why did he not tell me to sleep?  Was he... one of the sensitive ones?

"Some of us don't have normal human limitations, like sleep.  Runa, right?"

"Yes," she said. 

"Don't worry, your mother will be back in the morning."

"I'm past worrying about her."

"Destana Stormblade," Skjor continued.  So this one knew exactly who and what I was, "Carry yourself with honor."

Perhaps, they were willing to accept someone of unusual character in their numbers?

I looked over, but Farkas had disappeared.  I checked his room, and he was getting his gear together.

"So you're going to be my 'shield-brother' huh?"

"So I'm told," he replied, "Meet you outside."

Runa and I walked over to the long common room before the common bunkroom and I said, "Alright, I'll see you in the morning."

She nodded and went into the room.

I turned to find a woman scowling at me.

"What's up?" I said, unaffected.

"Nothing."  Her name was Njata, I remembered.

"My, it's a pleasure to meet such a capable warrior," I said sarcastically.

"I'm still trying to figure out why Skjor let you in in the first place," Njata said.  

"Well, why did you join?" I asked.

"So I wouldn't have to answer stupid questions from idiots."

I shook my head, "Okay then."

 

Then I walked out.  Farkas and I traveled to Dustman's Cairn, only a stone's throw away, it still being in the middle of the night.

The place was crawling with draugr.  I did my usual thing - stealth, but the first room had four draugr, who all immediately saw Farkas and attacked, so we were drawn into a battle.  These were strong draugr too - not the mid level ones who spam Unrelenting Force, but the high-level ones who use magic cloaks and magic weapons, and are tough!  Let the training begin, I smiled. 

 

I fought one in melee while Farkas fought another.  I blew the other two back into the room with a full FUS RO DAH!  When the first two fell, Farkas tanked while I picked them off with a bow.

"Hmm," Farkas said, "You're pretty good with shouts."

"And stealth, if SOMEONE would hang back a little bit," I said, "Though I don't know if that constitutes honorable to you guys."

"Noted," he said.

We continued on, fighting hard draugr.  I found a chest and tried to open it, only to have my first encounter with a mimic!  It sprouted legs and big teeth and bit at us.  Fortunately, it wasn't as hard as I'd heard (not even as hard as the draugr in this ruin).  Recently, these dudes had started popping up in ruins, though there was no record of them existing before recently.  Either secret, or caused by the Dragon Break.

 

We continued until we reached an old Nord sacrifice altar.  

"See if you can find a way to open the bars," Farkas pointed toward the door leading further in.

I walked into an alcove, ransacked a treasure chest (being careful this time) and found a lever to open the door.  I pulled it, and it did!  But it shut me in the alcove room.

Farkas hurried over and looked through the new portcullis that'd trapped me in, "Now look what you've gotten yourself into.  No worries.  Sit tight and I'll find the release."

He looked in the opened door, but while he was, several armored men came out of nearby hiding places.

"Farkas!" I yelled.

"You guys from the Silver Hand?" He growled.

"Killing you will make for an excellent story!" One of them said.

"Sure he's one of them?" Another one asked.

The first one responded, "He's wearing the armor, so he's a Companion.  Either way, he's outnumbered."

"Yeah, I am.  I didn't want to have to use this," Farkas said.  And his voice turned into a roar.  He grew fur and got taller, his muscles bulging and his arms elongating into claws.  I must say, I'd never seen a werewolf transform before.  He ripped them limb from limb in such a gruesome fashion that I swear some of the blood splattered through the bars and got on me.

Werewolf Farkas ran off and then the portcullis opened.  He approached, back in his human form.

 

"So, hey.  What was that?" I asked, knowing full well what it was.

"It's a blessing given to come of us.  We can be like wild beasts."

"So is this some kind of werewolf cult?  Are you going to make me a werewolf now?"

"Oh, no.  Only the circle have the beast blood.  Prove your honor to be a companion.  Eyes on the prey, not the horizon," Farkas replied.

 

I stood there thinking for a moment as I looted what had originally been bodies.  Did Skjor know what I was, or had he been referring to himself and his folk?  In the back of my mind, also, I could feel a strange sensation.  When he transformed, it was like a general aura.  A hot, powerful... something... I was more curious than I was willing to admit at that moment.

 

"We should keep moving.  Still got the draugr to worry about," Farkas snapped me out of my stupor, and we continued on.  

 

From there, more Silver Hand continued to harrow our footsteps, though they also fought the draugr as we did.  It was like they were seeking Wuuthrad as well.  I guess they are also a warrior guild but focused on a specific purpose. We fought our way to the end, and finally came to a small hall, and a throne room.  As I peered around, I counted.  The walls were lined with coffins, three thrones in the back and one in the front, each with a powerful draugr sleeping.  If all these dudes woke up at once, this would be trouble.

 

"Hey, um, can you transform at will?" I whispered, wondering if he would during this fight.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, what then?" I asked.

"Do you... um.. like skeever liver?" He asked awkwardly.

"Umm... what?"

"If you're looking to talk, talk with my brother, Vilkas.  Here's all you need to know.  I'm a werewolf.  Blood runs hot.  The beast blood is fearsome and dangerous, but bad for the soul."

I thought about if whether VL or WW was worse, then I spat, "So I heard transforming makes you want sex.  Is that true?"

"Um... I prefer to handle such things on my own," he replied, even more awkwardly.

"So, do you need to use your hand or something?  Does it distract you when you're trying to fight?" I asked curiously.

"What do... huh?  We should not be talking about this right now.  We have draugr to kill!"

 

I paused, wondering if Ysgramor wanted me to cure these guys.  Werewolves were definitely not what he had in mind when he started the Companions.  But, of course.... I could satisfy my curiosity too.

"Let me make this easy.  Do you find me attractive?  I could help you," I said.

He shook his head, "My mind is clouded with thoughts of the hunt.  You should back down, before you get hurt."

"The hunt.  That's one thing to call it," I said, "We're in for a big fight.  I just need to know you're with me in there."

"Of course, shield-sister."

 

I still wasn't sure how Farkas would take me transforming into a Vampire Lord, so I decided a cunning strategy was in order rather than raw power.

I aimed my bow and shot the sleeping draugr on the single throne in his head, then again in the neck,  killing him.  And the masses started to wake up.  Farkas charged in to engage.  I inwardly sighed, knowing that would trigger everything at once.  I pulled out fire arrows and aimed at the left throne, shooting him in the head and setting him ablaze.  I was still hidden, and the coffins to the left and right were breaking open now, charging at Farkas.  As the stepped in front of the door I shouted, "FUS - RO - DAH!" And blew them into the room.  

 

The left throned draugr wasn't dead, and in fact, blew Farkas off his feat with Unrelenting Force.  

"TIID!" I shouted, Slowing time, and charged through the horde, to the back of the room.  I ran left to the stairs to get a vantage point from which I could rain death, but then I turned to the back of the room, absorbing the word wall.  The second word of fire breath is 'Inferno,' I smiled.

 

Several of them knew where I was now and charged up past the lords to me, to which I responded, "YOL - TOOR!" Blasting them with fire breath.  I engaged the Nerevarine's Bow and went invisible, raining arrows down on the mook-level draugr.  I turned my head, and realized at the top of the stairs was the entrance to another burial chamber and several more powerful draugr had entered the room.  This was going okay - but just barely - and now it was going to go badly.

 

"Why don't you transform?" I yelled.  

"I can't use it so close together!" He yelled back, cleaving through draugr.

"Great!" I said, still not wanting to transform myself.  

One of the new draugr summoned an Ancient Frost Atronach, and casted a frost cloak.  I used a mix of Slow Time, Marked for Death and Unrelenting Force, as well as hit-and-run, and the battle dragged on for a long while.  Two of the mid-level draugr stunned me while the high level guys laid into me.

Finally, Farkas was backed into a corner and he realized he was ready to go again.  He roared into his wolf form, and proceeded to rip the few remaining draugr before him to shreds. 

He walked up behind the last two- high level guys now threatening my life, and ripped the first one's torso in two.  Then he pounced on the second, ripping him limb-from-limb, saving my dark ass.

As I sat there, looking up at him, his fevered breaths were like growls of a wild beast.  

 

A deep, almost demonic voice sounded from his throat, "You said you wanted to help me out, right.  Do you still?"

I could feel myself shaking, whether in fear or anticipation.  I nodded, slightly, and he picked me up, carrying me over to the altar in front of the word wall.  I fell to my knees, and he grabbed the back of my head, forcing that giant dick that'd just been hanging, into my mouth.  Of course, it didn't get very far, but he forced it in for a minute until I couldn't take it anymore and I pulled back off. 

 

He closed his eyes... and his fur turned back into skin.

"You ... have a lot of self-control," I said.

"Still interested?" He asked.

"Oh yes," I said, and I laid down, but it seemed like he still wanted to continue what he was doing before.  I put my legs up, and he leaned his weight on them and forced himself back into my mouth.  This time... much smaller and more manageable, but still rough.  He didn't stop there, though.  When he pulled out, he laid his head on the altar as he pushed the fragment of Wuuthrad out of the way - landing next to our packs.  I climbed on top of him and slid onto him.  I finished us both quickly, knowing there might be more draugr waiting for us.  We laid there for a few minutes, with our heads against the small plate Wuuthrad's fragment was laying on.

 

"We should talk about this," I said.

"The... sex?" He asked.

"Nah.  Sex is like water to me.  Have a little every day and you'll be healthy," I said, "About the companions being werewolves."

"What about it?  You don't need to worry.  We won't force you into being one.  And we won't harm you when we transform.  All of us have a lot of control," Farkas said.

"That's a whole can of worms for another day," I said, "Have you... ever had sex in that form before?"

"Okay, okay.  I get it.  You're curious.  Maybe we can talk about this again later.  We need to get back, for now," he said.

I figured as much.  We picked up the fragment and headed out.  It was sunrise.

Farkas yawned, "Man, I'm going to take a big nap when we get back."

So werewolves do need sleep.  So Skjor maybe might indeed know what I am that doesn't need sleep.

We got back to Jorrvaskr and Farkas told me to check back in a little bit.  I walked out back and found Runa, training with some of the other recruits. 

Ria, who'd been working on a training dummy nearby, turned to me, "Hey newbie, wanna go on a hunt together?"

"Uh, sure."

"How about now?"

"I'm waiting for them to figure out if I made it in or not," I said, "Runa, wanna come?"

"Nah, I have my test in a couple hours," she said.

"Okay Ria, let's go," I replied.

I followed her to the common bunkroom and she got her stuff.  While she packed she said, "There's supposed to be a bear roaming the plains nearby.  Not really sure what that's about, but it's close, so I figure we can have you back soon."

 

I realized at that moment she looked a lot like Njata, they could be sisters, but she was the polar opposite when it came to temperament.  

We set out onto the plains.  As I passed by the broken-down watchtower, it reminded me of the first time I killed a dragon.  A few guards passed by while I reminisced.  THIS was that watchtower.  I could even hear the roars like it was only yesterday.

 

Oh, wait, those are real roars!  A dragon swooped down, and the guards engaged it.  I joined, with Ria helping out.  As I chased the thing around, I heard the trumpeting of a Mammoth.  I turned to find a party of giants and mammoths approaching, which immiediately charged for the guards.  Sighing, I pulled out fire arrows and used Slow Time to fill the first mammoth with arrows.  By this time the guards had finished the dragon, and were helping with the mammoths.  One guard got launched by a giant, to which I used full-power Unrelenting Force and launched him into the air, breaking his legs as he came down.  Then, I got shot.  I turned... to find... dawnguard.

 

"ARRRRRGHHHH!" I shouted, "Leave me alone!"

The five dawnguard went down easily, then I turned to find the guards fighting the final mammoth, and I helped them.  I healed them.  I turned to find Ria had already walked off toward the bears' zone.  I looked over the plain, and found several men waiting there.  

Hired thugs.  They were waiting.  Like they were waiting their turn to attack me.

"Shor's Bones, guys.  Do you really want to fight me?  I mean, how long have you been standing there?"

"Only a couple minutes.  Oh, are you the target?  We're here to teach you a lesson!"

"What lesson is that?  That a dragon, three mammoths, two giants, five dawnguard and before that... SEVENTEEN powerful Draugr (at once) were not enough to stop me, but you will be?  That would certainly be an unexpected lesson."

They started to slash at me, but they could barely even hurt me.

 

"You know what?  Here's a lesson," I stepped closer and kind-of looked upward, "FUS - RO - DAH!" And they all launched vertically into the air.  

I walked toward where I'd seen Ria heading.  She was standing outside a dilapidated shack with no roof.

"So what's this bear business?  I honestly am not sure now a regular predator could survive in a plain with so many apex predators and human hunters," I said, exasperated.

"He's inside, but he actually seems friendly.  I think he's trapped," Ria said, "Makes me wonder the validity of my tips."

"So, wanna free him?" I asked.

"Well, I just had an idea pop into my head," Ria bit her lip.

"I don't know if I like where this is going."

"I hope you won't think I'm crazy, but I was just thinking that since this bear seems friendly... could I possibly have sex with it."

"Are you sure?  This is a wild animal with no self control, no concept of how small you are. That seems very dangerous," I said.

"Nah, it'll be fine.  Would you do me the favor of spotting me?  You know, keep me safe."

"I can't believe I'm doing this," I sighed, "Okay.  Fine.  Fine."

"Thanks, well, here I go," Ria said.  She walked in, and the bear was friendly, almost seemed domesticated.  (This is where I was wondering what if this was just a random sentient bear, via magic or otherwise, who had a naked woman approaching him and he was just playing dumb and letting it happen).

She played with his giant bear penis for a minute, then rubbed his belly until he rolled over on his back.  Then she climbed on top of him and slowly worked her way onto his massive girth.  

I was fairly disgusted by this, but it was like a freak show.  I just couldn't look away.  They finished after a few minutes, with much yelling and roaring.

 

She slipped her hide armor back on.

"So... how do you feel?  You ok?" I asked.

"Well, it felt amazing.  That was a new experience.  Large.  Much better than Torvar."

"Yeah... that was something else alright," I said, then I walked over and broke off some of the boards from the side door.  The bear walked out the newly bigger hole, disappearing into the wild.  

"Let's.... get back to Jorrvaskr," I said.

"Thank you for keeping me safe," Ria said.

 

I decided I wanted to stop by the rich part of town for some light burglary, to clean my mind of all the things I'd seen and done in the past 24 hours.  I decided I might play a joke on Vidnar, so I picked the lock on the Graymane house.  I heard people talking upstairs, though I didn't really know any of them.  When I slipped into the room on the left, a man saw me immediately.  

"Hey!  What are you doing in here? I bet the Battleborns sent you!" This was Avulstein Graymane.

"Nope.  Just a garden variety robbergirl.  But I know Vidnar, I was just playing a prank on him," I smiled at him, "Why so tense?"

"Well, it's my brother, Thorvald.  They had him locked away, and if they find me here, I'll disappear too!  I'm not going to let that happen."

"What can I do to help you?" I felt like helping this guy might cleanse my soul a little.

"Those damned Battleborns, they know something.  Bunch of Imperial-lovers.  They're hiding it.  You're a burglar, right?  Maybe if you could find proof in their house?"

"Eh, sure.  Robbery for good," I said, "I'll be back."

I walked over to the Battleborn Manor, stealthily, and picked the lock.  I expected the house to be empty because it was the afternoon, though I was wrong.

I crept into the room immediately to my left and found a woman sleeping in the bed, and a man, standing and just staring at himself in Imperial Armor.  What a weirdo.  I walked upstairs and found a man milling about in iron armor.  I engaged invisibility from my bow and searched his things, coming up with nothing special.  I walked around for a few minutes, finally realizing there was an office off the first bedroom I'd checked.  But that man was standing right in my way.  I engaged invisibility and jumped over the bed in what would've been full view. 

 

Then I slipped into the back room and got a writ that says Thorvald is in a Thalmor prison from General Tullius!  Wow!  That dude has been in prison for years!  And these bastards have known and not told the Graymanes.  I walked out of the office, seeing the weird dude still admiring himself in Imperial armor and I decided against killing him in cold blood.  But I did take out a blackjack (that I have almost never ever used) and clubbed him in the back of the head, knocking him out.  The woman in the bed started to get up, but I engaged my invisibility again.  She looked around and didn't see the man laying just past the foot of the bed.  Then she went back to sleep.  I stepped up and pickpocketed her.  Then, since I was thirsty, I drank some blood.

 

I left, and returned the writ to Avulstein, "I know where your brother is, but you're not going to like it."  I showed him the writ.

"That means..." He got a dark look.

"He's probably dead.  But if not, I can go check it out for you."

"I can get a group of men together and storm that place," he said.

"I think... I'd like to take care of this."

"Are you saying you're going to stealthily break him out or find evidence of his death peacefully?"

"No, I'm beyond peace with the Thalmor.  I just don't want you guys to see how I murder the lot of them," I said.  I walked out of there.  But really, I wasn't planning on doing it just yet.  It was definitely now on my list (because, who needs another Thalmor prison from which they can draw soldiers when they invade?)

 

And sidebar, how many goddamned Thalmor prisons are they hiding in Skyrim?  I know of three or four so far, do I hear five??

 

When I approached Jorrvaskr, Farkas was waiting at the front door and said, "Where have you been?  They're waiting in the yard."

Not wanting to answer where I'd been, I said, "Okay.  Let's go then."

 

The circle was lined up in the yard.

Kodlak started as I approached, "Brother and sisters of the circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold.  This woman has endured, has challenged, and has shown her valor.  Farkas, would you fight beside this woman?"

"I would stand at her back, that the world might never overtake us," Farkas said.

"Would you raise your sword in her honor?"

"It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes."

"And would you raise a mug in her name?"  Kodlak asked.

"I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories."

Kodlak nodded, "Then the judgment of this circle is complete.  Her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of distant green summers.  Let it beat with ours, that the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call."

And the circle shouted, "Let it be so!" 

They then called Runa over and performed her ceremony the same way.

"You're part of us now, girls," Kodlak said to us, "Hopefully you won't disappoint."

 

I nodded, then the group dispersed.  It was nearly nightfall again at this time (gods, this was a long ass day) and I decided I was actually going to sleep after a drink at the Bannered Mare.

About midnight I returned to find the yard dead silent, and a finger tapped my shoulder.

I turned to find Esmeralda, that vampire wench who'd given me the blood and a note.

"I wanted to give you a gift," she said.  Another gift?  What a strange woman.  She raised her hand and cast a green-tinted spell on me.  I fell, paralyzed.

"Mmmmff," I struggled against not being able to feel anything.

"From all the 'feral' vampires out there that don't see your 'New Way' as a good way," she ripped my armor off.  Pulling her own clothes from her, it revealed a strap-on.  She plunged it deep into my ass, and I was limp, unable to resist.  Then she thrusted, cupping her hand over my mouth to stifle the already paralyzed screams.  She did this for about five minutes, using her free hand to recast paralysis on me over and over, while the fake cock rubbing against her brought her to orgasm.  Then, dropping me in a heap, she walked away casually.

 

I was seeing red when I came to.  I was through being fucked with, both literally and metaphorically.  I engaged my newish senses that let me know where all the nearby beings were.  Then I followed.  

 

When I found her, she was walking into the crypt.  I wondered if she thought I was going to just take this.  She obviously didn't know me at all.  I snuck in behind her and as soon as I saw her, like a shadow I got up behind her and put my fingers around her throat.

"Funny story," I said, "I had an experience when I came to Skyrim where a bunch of guys raped me a bunch of times.  The guy who started it had a paralysis spell like yours.  Want to know where he is now?"

"Where?" She asked.

"Somewhere in the Sea of Ghosts.  But I don't think I'm going to make killing you as elaborate as killing him.  In my dealings as a Volkihar Vampire, I've developed a lot of 'extra' powers.  One of them is that I can bite vampires and make them my thralls.   I can also drain vampires and take their power.  Before that though, did you think you were going to just get away with that?  Did you at least have a backup plan?"

She shook her head stupidly.  Maybe she's used to getting what she wants because she's a vampire.

I bit into her neck and drained her life.  Before I finished, with my free hand I cast a frost spell on her, and when she was wavering over the precipice of life, her body started to freeze.  Then, I punched a hole through her chest, which caused her to shatter into a million pieces.  Her head was all that remained.

 

 

Spoiler

Pretty bad episode, on the same level as Dungeon-a-thon.  I did nearly get raped by draugr twice (I went into the downed animation but Farkas saved me).  Had about a million things trying to kill me.  Then the Random Sex mod decided it would take a swing at me.  No forcegreet, no nothing, just "This woman is now having sex with you," no consent given.  I spiced it up with dialogue, which is the only reasoning I could attach to it.  But it did actually make me a little mad when I happened, and yes, I did obliterate an NPC for that.  It was convenient that she did approach me earlier with blood.

 

I reached 100 Lockpicking from breaking into people's houses.  My Sneak is already like 110 or something (Uncapper)

 

I guess, more power to Sexlab Confabulations or Solutions or whatever for Ria's little sidequest.  I know Amorous Adventures is responsible for me having some dialogues with the circle and hitting on them.  I'm sorry if I offended anybody here.  

 

 

Destana32.jpg

Edited by EnragedBard

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I am not quite sure why you would consider this entry "pretty bad". You gave your audience a fair warning, and this is LL after all. As I see it, it was just plenty of action and little story. Aside from D. joining the companions, that is. If anything, it seems rather fitting, because the companions QL always seemed rushed to me. As in: you join and a day or two later you go and do the Dustman's Cairn quest.

So, D. finishing this part in a day or so is nothing unusual.

Of course there is the elephant in the room: D's and Ria's beastly bedtime encounters. Honestly, I found the way you handled them to be somewhere between cuddly and comical. Since I could not help, but picture a big, blushing, awkward, uncomfortable werewolf (in beastform) during the scene at the end of Dustman's Cairn. Basicly, like a dog, who did a bad thing and now master is yelling. Or in this case: moaning.

And Ria: She does have a vanilla dialogue line about "killing" a bear the day before. Make's you wonder, if it was the same type of killing, as it was here. So in short: No offense taken.

What raised an eyebrow, however, was the note, that the vampire wench handed Destana, along with the blood potion. Immersive Wenches really went there. I did not expect that. If anything, I found that more disturbing then the beastly shenanigans.

 

To end on a positive note: I liked Vignar's reaction to Destana telling him, how she met all those mythical hero's in the literal nord afterlife. Like: "Are you screwing with me, woman?" and then "Screw it, I am too old to get upset over this." That was amusing.

 

p.s. If your "pretty bad " comment ment, that the DC quest was pretty tough, then ok. I can see your point. Playing a stealth focused character, and having Farkas with you, is not a good combo.

Edited by HM1919
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I'm not the one who is likely to be shocked for so little. The scene with the bear and Ria comes from the confabulation mod. When I do this little quest my pc also has fun with the bear. She ends up enjoying sex with all sorts of creatures because of all my mods.
When I'm in a northern ruin and my followers (3 women) are harassing my pc a bit too much for sex, when I meet an enemy group (doesn't matter what kind) I press the "surrender" button, to trigger a good gang-bang, to sexually calm them down.
Having Wartimes-a daughter tale, as a start of the game, followed by Survival, troubles of heroine, confabulation, Deviously enslaved, lola, SD+ and many others, the poor dovakhiin becomes quickly addicted to sex.

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Well, thanks. ? This was a 'dip the toe' experience. A Forsworn Story soon. 

 

I also thought the Companions thing was waaay too fast.  I'm finding a way to justify it here because most the circle doesn't know who she is (there wasn't TV in Skyrim). But when they do find out it's a reasonable leap to ask her to be Harbinger (since she's proven, and has met Ysgramor).

Edited by EnragedBard
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What just happened in this episode is nothing compared to what will happen in "forsworn story". There will be a lot of creature sex, rape, and other atrocities.  "A forsworn story" is very violent. I've already done this mod, I loved it. Delzaron is releasing a new version of this mod, a little less buggy I think.
If you install his new version, it will allow me to see if it works better. I wanted to test it.

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