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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
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Ankeddi Alf'agar: Anki's Search
Topic Started: Sep 24 2016, 07:41 PM (649 Views)
Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Ankeddi 14:

So I was off again home for a bit first. I took a grim sort of pleasure that so much of what needed doing, needed doing in Falkreath....

The guard yodeled me in. I understood Siara’s winces at the noise - but I rather liked that they announced the family. But suddenly, I heard others behind me, and turning with swords nearly out.... I saw it was Siara, Andur, Elgial and Deni. They rushed in behind me, and Siara snapped at the guard “Hold your tongue dammit! Anki, it’s good to find you here, though what god set that in train I have no idea. We need to have everyone in a conference immediately.

“Deni, run get everyone together down the mine. We CANNOT be overheard....”

Hmmm. There was something - uneasy - going on. I just took Benica and their horses off to the stables, and untacking as quickly as I ever had, then giving each a good rub-down and bait of grain, I made sure they all had water, and headed for the mine.

I was last in, having taken the time to deal with the horses. As I closed the mine door behind me, Siara looked up and nodded. “Good. Sit please, all of you. Here’s the problem....”

As she detailed the meeting with the three daedra, I saw looks both of interest and horror on faces. I was thinking it was pretty bold of her to have gone against the prince - before she knew Sanguine would help.... Well, that was neither here nor there....

“So, those who have no real affiliation with me and mine can stay to work the diggings. But all others will need to remove to the Castle for now - and I don’t know how long it may be before it’s safe to return.

“You’ll find the Castle to be - far more.... luxurious.... than the Ridge is - even with the improvements we’ve done! Deni knows how to travel there, and will start sending you a few at a time in the morning. Pack everything you want to take - there’s no real need to scant on things. Now, set about the packing, please. The sooner we’re all out of here, the better. Anki, a word with you, if you don’t mind.”

So I stayed behind until Siara, my brother, and I were the only ones left. “So then. It’s a good thing you have this place out of the way, I’m thinking.”

“It is. Someday the entire tale will be told, everything in its proper place and time. But for now.... Will you go too? It would be a help to Selalla and Deni.”

“I - can’t. I’m on the leg of a quest to undo the wereblood. The targets are here in Falkreath....”

“Ah. Well, be as safe as you can. Once you’ve done with it, leave word with Dengeir - we’ll have someone checking with him on a regular basis, especially since some of the miners will stay here.”

Andur and Siara enfolded me in hugs. I hugged them both, and then headed for a bed. Tomorrow I’d have to suss out the Glenmoril hagravens.
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Grits
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Thane
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Darn that Farkas, he gave my first DiD character Brynja a vampire job. At level 3. RIP Brynja.

The Companions questline always gets me emotional. I love it. It's a joy to see anew through Anki's eyes.
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Yeah, the quest line itself is interesting enough to keep me involved.... but I just get heartsore about Kodlak.... Thanks, Grits!
Edited by Serethil, Oct 16 2016, 10:06 PM.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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I answered this in the other thread, but oh Sere, it's wonderful!!! And freaking scary!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks sis! Yeah - this could go either very very well.... or EXTREMELY badly.
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Areial
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Just settled and up-rooted again.. even though it's a needful thing, it's still gotta be hard on some.
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Serethil
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Ankeddi 15:

Gloom settled over me. This wasn’t going to be easy - and while I hadn’t expected it to be so, I also hadn’t expected a cave. I’d expected something on the nature of one of the ruined towers - a couple of stories, a few rooms, some nasty hagravens.... Caves weren’t my idea of a good time - I hated closed-in, breathless, dark places. And of course, having to deal in the dark with the hags....

Well, hiding outside wouldn’t get it handled would it girl? So I slithered as quietly as possible into the cave’s mouth. Waiting a few minutes, I let my eyes gain some dark-acuity. Too bad I couldn’t do this as a were.... but it wasn’t the time. I could quite well understand why some of the Companions took to Hircine’s way - because if you could stand the affliction, the ability to change at will would be priceless. But I just wanted shut of it. As soon as ever possible....

The cave mouth dropped me out into a tunnel with a turn to the right. I crept quietly along - and then suddenly heard noises behind me. I froze, and then slid into a little cul-de-sac into darker shadows. But suddenly my head understood my heart - it was Andur and Siara!

What in the twenty-three hells were they DOING here? I hissed, and they stopped, and waited until I reached them. I pushed them back to the cave mouth and outside before (I hoped) the hags were alerted. And then “What are you two doing here? This is no place for a pregnant woman!” Oops.... not politic, Anki. Not at all....

But my sister in law just grinned as Andur said, “Exactly what I told Selalla. You can tell they both listened to me.”

“Selalla sent us. Well, she really just wanted to send Andur. But I’m NOT staying behind. I’m FINE, dammit! This babe is MONTHS away. So stop worrying over it.” She glanced at my brother and sighed. “All right. I will stay behind and try not to have to close with anything. Will that suffice?”

“It will have to I suppose. Had anyone told me having a shrew for a wife....” Alarm crossed his features as both of us laid hands to swords. “Nah nah. I don’t mean it!”

We laughed and shook our heads. Men. “Well, then. I can say with perfect truth I’m glad for the company. I purely HATE caves.... and this one looks to be even darker than most - probably the hags like it that way....”

“Aye. Selalla said Bettala had a vision, saw you in a tight dark place, and that’s why your mother sent us - she said you’d hate being in such a nasty place, and didn’t want to chance you getting so tense-strung you’d upset your reaction time.”

I shuddered. I really did hate this sort of cave-warren, but damn. I didn’t want to be responsible for Siara and the babe being at risk.

She touched my arm. “Worry not. I will stay back and use arrow-fire if there’s enough light. I promise.”

Well, at least she was going to be sensible. And with that thought I winced. I knew exactly how I was going to feel in a few years when I would be in like case, and told off to stay out of the way.... “All right, let’s get this done. Um. I have to.... take their heads....”

The shock on their faces was like the shock in my own mind about it. Barbaric.... but then, what had been done to the Companions - and to me - was equally so. As so many times in our world, a repayment in kind was required. But it sat ill with all of us, I knew. We would not cavil at killing the hagravens - but butchery.... it was what it was, but we would detest the necessity.

So - we set about it.
Edited by Serethil, Oct 20 2016, 07:48 PM.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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That's one thing about changing my settings, cave and dungeons are DARK. I can feel for Anki, I'd be as creeped out as she is, and I like caves! Of course, the ones I've been in didn't have hagraven witches! I'm so glad Siara and Andur showed up! Lovely but scary update! :D
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Serethil
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Thanks sis! I.... find I really can't - detail the whole thing. The couple times I've done it in game.... well, I'm just revolted. So.... it'll be a "gloss-over".... There's some things I just don't want to describe.
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Areial
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Very nice... having someone with you in a place that upset's one is a great thing.
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Rick
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I love the tension....oooooh I wish you would describe the juicy bits hee hee!
I should send the Contessa in with you....she loves laying the smack down ;)

Looking forward to the next one....
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Serethil
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Sorry Rick. I really am not into wholesale head-lopping.... kill 'em clean fine, but not butchery. Yeah, it's part of the quest.... but - just ick.
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Rick
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Yeah....at some point....and I will warn you in advance so you can avoid seeing it in your minds eye,

The Contessa is gonna get her hands on some unfortunate and this time...I WILL be detailing the unpleasantness....because in a sense being here is so we can let that kinda thing roll (mostly) without restraint.

Look how sexy everything has become now we all realise the freedom....and I write what she shows me......so thats also going to include the kinda stuff that make people feel....you know...uncomfortable......especially me :X
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Serethil
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Ankeddi 16:

I felt... filthy. As if I’d bathed in the blood and organs of the hags, and probably the entire populace of the realms of Oblivion. I wanted to - well, I couldn’t even think about that. If I did I WOULD vomit all over the place.

My saddle bags held five Glenmoril witch heads. I would have to replace the bags - I wouldn’t be able to ever use them again for anything “normal”. I was pathetically grateful for Andur and Siara - they had kept me from disintegrating completely. Now we held each other tightly - they were on their way back to the Castle, and I must needs ride hard for Whiterun.

My eyes filmed with tears as they disappeared toward the Falkreath portal. I wanted this done. I wanted to be whole, and free of the infection. I wanted to feel as if I was a normal member of the family again. So many years.... so much hiding.... I took a deep breath, wiped my eyes, blew my nose, and set out for Whiterun.

I walked into Whiterun just before midday the next day. Heading up toward Jorrvaskr, I noticed that people seemed to be very quiet, and many folk were standing around near Jorrvaskr. I started up the stairs, and realized Tor and Aela were kneeling - next to bodies.... Silver Hand from the look of them. My heart started to pound as I ran the rest of the way up, and threw the doors open.

Vilkas stood in front of me. “Where were you when we needed you? Kodlak.... they killed him.”

“I was - doing something Kodlak sent me to do. I’m sorry I was not here to help.” The tears spilled out of my eyes and I would not hold them back.

He shook his head and after a moment said “We’re going to make them pay.” He pointed out on a map where he intended to go.... a place called Driftshade Refuge. "We’ll take vengeance for Kodlak, and retrieve the fragments of Wuuthrad. We’ll leave in the morning - prepare yourself.”

Well, I won’t say I was really prepared. I raged inside at Kodlak’s death, no matter that I’d been doing what I was told, by the Harbinger himself. I - ached - to make his last wish a reality, to give him Sovngarde instead of the Hunting Grounds. If I couldn’t rid myself of this evil, I would still do my best to give Kodlak the peace he so richly deserved.

I don’t pray often. I never have. But I prayed this night, to every Divine out there: just let me send Kodlak’s soul to his long home, to the Hall of Heroes. Whatever else happens.... just give me that.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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That scene, coming back to find Kodlak dead....it always makes me cry.
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Serethil
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Yeah. There are some things in this game....
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Areial
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very nice read... I both love and hate that part.
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Rick
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Beautiful Sere (sniff)
For me its not the finding him dead bit
Its the oh so very moving funeral pyre scene
But...
Um....How come Anki gets ill at the sight of decapping Witches...
But shes ok to savage Siddgeir into unrecognisable gore?
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Serethil
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Siddy was personal. The witches, while one of the things she was required to do for Kodlak, weren't. Therefore while she would have been okay with just killing them cleanly, the butchery upset her.
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Serethil
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Have to take a little hiatus here while I play through this again....
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