Bab 501: Meanwhile Back Home (1)
This chapter and the next follow the Main Cast of Winterhold. I have been reworking on the Novel's System for the other characters and defining their powers after two years of their absence.
But today is a special day not only for the start of the new Volume but for the arrival of a new S+ Rank Hero on P4TRE0N. 👑 @Watoru Ngametua 👑
Also, big thanks to our new Patrons:-
@jaimis (D rank)
@Magnus Veje Olsen (D rank)
@michael james scott wedgeworth (E rank)
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« Narsis, Morrowind - 4th of Morning Star (January) 4E 201 »
♪ Twinkle Twinkle, Little Shit ♪
♪ How I'm happy I killed it ♪
♪ Along the throat you pass the knife ♪
♪ Stab his heart and take his life ♪
♪ Twinkle Twinkle, Little Shit ♪
♪ How I'm happy I killed it ♪
♪ When the light of the eyes is dim ♪
♪ When the soul is trapped in a gem ♪
♪ Grab the head and rip it off ♪
♪ For the bounty and to show off ♪
♪ Twinkle Twinkle, Little Shit ♪
♪ How I'm happy I killed it ♪
*Applaud*
*Clapping*
*Cheers*
"Amazing, Lady Boss."
"That was superb!"
"Best performance EVER!"
As the team of men and women started cheering after listening to the bloody lullaby, the addressed performer was walking at them carrying a head in each hand.
"Thank you, thank you, guys. Enough with the cheap ass-kissing. We're all friends here. Now hurry up and clean this mess, you little bitches."
"Yes, Lady Boss."
The bloody scene was lit by the moonlight and the hundred or so bloodthirsty warriors, bearing the emblem of the Dragon and Crescent on their armors, started chopping off the heads of the bandit fort they just raided.
This was how the [Dare Dragon Mercenary Corp] conducted business.
Becoming one of the most fearsome mercenary groups operating in the No Man's Land south of Mournhold, their presence brought a lot of stability in Narsis and Mournhold as well as a lot of disturbance to the ones who didn't profit from their actions. Still, their appearance was a true fright as their success rate was terrifyingly perfect adorned with the heads of their enemies.
But today was a special day nonetheless.
The reason?
Well, it is pretty simple. The most artistic, moody, and bloodthirsty figure of the Dare Corps was personally here to supervise the raids or in other words, to commit atrocities against the Argonian Marauders raiding the Dunmer land.
That figure was standing in her trademark smooth chitin armor that defined here lean figure, her raven black hair and her eyes of mismatched colors. All those features were screaming the name of the infamous Second Woman of House Dare, Jullanar.
"You are one fearful girl, young Jull."
Calling her, a woman in a noble lady's clothing walked down from a large carriage.
"Granny, you came!" Jull gasped as she saw the old woman and started running towards her.
"The blood! The blood!"
"Oh! Sorry, granny. Clumsy me! Do you see? I have more heads for you, did I do fine?"
"Ah, yes… you did well indeed."
"Yaayyy!" Jull jumped in celebration throwing the heads away. "Now, will you tell me more stories?"
The Old Woman of Mournhold laughed gently as she patted Jull's head. Seeing Jull's psychopathic smile ever so bright, the Old Woman sighed and spoke.
"Fine, what do you want to know?"
"Your story with the Nightingale?"
"Come on! I indeed loved Nightingale but this is the story where I get led by the nose. I am not fond of it myself." The Old Woman replied.
"Oh! Okay…" Jullanar became disheartened.
"How about something better?" The Old Woman said with a sly smile.
"What?"
"After you left this morning, a certain young lady came to the casino and delivered a message to you."
"Who was that?"
"Imperial? Looked like a rich girl with a noble domineer."
"Ugh!" Jullanar rolled her eyes. "It's that Vittoria bitch."
"Indeed. She left this message for you." The Old Woman passed a sealed scroll.
"I don't like Vittoria."
"She said it is from him."
*Snatch*
Jull instantly snatched the scroll while the Old Woman was smiling at her with an obvious grin. As Jull opened the scroll, her smile widened and her face became so bright.
"My little psycho, missed you dearly! YAAYYY!" Jull read the first part out loud then jumped around and hugged the Old Woman.
"Yes, yes. I know you are happy."
Jull left the Old Woman when she had enough with her celebration and soon returned to the letter. Word by word, she was reading as slow as she could to elongate the time while reading this letter and immerse herself in every second of it.
Still, as soon as the sweet words ended, Jon's letter started to become filled with instructions and important information. Soon, the sweet smiling expression on Jull's face changed into a serious solid one.
"What's wrong?" The Old Woman asked.
Jull barely managed to get her eyes off the letter and looked at the Old Woman.
"Nothing. I have a very important mission and I need to return to Skyrim." Jullanar said hurriedly.
"Jon has a job for you?"
"Yes… finally." Jull's face turned from its solidness to an unbelieving expression.
"So… he is returning?"
"Soon."
"And is there anything you'd like my help with?"
"No, thank you, granny. In the time being, I'll stay in Mournhold for another week then depart. From now on, a patch of Dare Troopers will arrive every month to replace the one stationed here. I will be operating in Riften and Falkreath for the time being." Jull said.
"Riften and Falkreath? Great, I still have some friends in Riften if you need something." The Old Woman said.
"Thanks, you too granny should contact me if you need anything."
"*Giggles* I'll take you up to your offer."
The two couldn't help but reveal some of their true colors to one another and laugh mischievously. Jullanar was getting really well with Queen Barenziah.
Yet before she moves, Jull burnt the letter with her and scattered its ash. Among Jon's family, only she was the one responsible for his darker side. His agent of shadow.
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• Name: Jullanar Dare
• Titles: ???, Second Lady Boss, Brewer of Disaster
• Race: Elf (Dunmer)
• Age: 19
• Level: Mid Flame Heart Formation
(Game Level: 53)
• Class: Master Arcane Ranger
• Energy: 4478/5388
• Condition: ???
• Bloodline: Firemane (Titanborn, Fireborn)
• Birth Sign: The Shadow
• Blessings: Dibella, Asura, Boethiah, Mephala
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***
« Saarthal, Skyrim - 11th of Morning Star (January), 4E 201 »
"Hya!"
*Tink*
"Hya!"
*Tink*
"Hya!"
*Tink* *Crack*
"Huff! Huff! Phew! This was… demanding!" The large shadow of a man cracking the rocks of a mountain was reflected on the heavy snow. The man himself seemed exhausted after taking a look back at the amount of stone-breaking he went through.
The Quarry of Saarthal outside the walls of the city was an open and quiet place this time of the year when the quarrymen go work inside the mines. Thus, all the work here would be done by those who are tough enough to do this risky job of breaking stone in the middle of the stormy winter.
"How is going, Lad? Just say the word and I'll make all this tedious training stop. We can go to someplace warm and start playing with fire together."
"No thanks, Uncle Jonrad."
"Suit yourself."
The previous conversation was between two of the most remarkable faces in Winterhold, Jonrad Firemane, the current acting Lord of Saarthal and Wulfur the Forgemaster, the Right Hand man of Thane Alina.
"Stop pestering the lad and mind your own business, husband." Coming closer to the spot where Wulfur was, Hilda Firemane appeared on her Frost Dire Wolf, Ylva.
Wulfur ran to her and picked up the deer she was loading on Ylva's back.
"How is your progress, lad?" She asked.
"I cleared a few more meters in the mountains, Master?"
"Sledgehammer or Pickaxe?"
"Sledgehammer of course."
"Fine, switch to the axe this time. I want you to smoothen the surface like the back of a baby's butt."
"… Fine, Master."
"Don't give me that face, that's the best way to strengthen your Aura. The mountain is the perfect foe, it will never back down or wear off. Keep hitting it and let out those hearty shouts."
"Alright, Master."
Ylva walked away as Hilda went off it and took the deer to skin and gut it.
"Lazy bums, come and help." Hilda called.
"Just give us a second." Jonrad replied.
As a singular who doesn't fit the word "bums", it was quite understandable that there was another bum alongside Jonrad's. This was the other person sitting opposite to him across the stone table.
"What's wrong, Moonblade? Ran out of moves already?"
"Shut your trap, Firemane."
Jonrad and Sigurd, the fathers of Jon and Alina respectively were looking at one another with eyes full of rivalry. Wulfur looked back at the seeing the chessboard they made him sculpt out of stone and sighed in regret.
As the camera took an approach to them from above, it appeared that the chessboard was dumped to the side as the two switched to playing Cards. Wulfur's regrets were right on the spot.
Sigurd went down with a buff card making his vanguard cards exceed the value of ten each. As a unity, he had 3 cards each with the value of 12 gaining 20 points in one move and surpassing Jonrad who was in a tie with him.
Jonrad sneered as he played his next card without hesitation. It was a [Dragon Priest (9) {Scorch}]. A Champion card is good and fine but the value of 9 wouldn't affect Jonrad's situation much. Still, a scorch card meant that the top cards of a certain enemy lane would be eliminated and that meant the three cards of the value of 12 for each in Sigurd's vanguard lane. Sigurd may have gained 20 points last move but with Jonrad's retaliation, he lost 36 points while Jonrad went up by 9.
"Ahahaha! Are you even doing your best, Moonblade?"
"…"
"I'll take back that old Cyrodilic Brandy you took from Tyr. I will avenge my cousin."
"Challenge accepted, Firemane."
Jonrad became excited while Sigurd showed a calm indifferent attitude.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Name: Jonrad Firemane
• Titles: King of Ash
• Race: Human (Nord)
• Age: 57
• Level: ???
• Class: Grandmaster Dragonknight
• Energy: ???
• Condition: Extremely Delighted
• Bloodline: Firemane (Titanborn, Fireborn)
• Birth Sign: The Serpent
• Blessings: Shor, Totem Dragon, Boethiah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Name: Sigurd Moonblade
• Titles: Moonblade Patriarch, Icy-face Hottie
• Race: Human (Nord) {Akaviri Ancestry}
• Age: 57
• Level: ???
• Class: Grandmaster Frost Duelist
• Energy: ???
• Condition: Extremely Bitter
• Bloodline: Moonblade (Serpent-Born)
• Birth Sign: The Mage
• Blessings: Shor, Kyne
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The two were kept playing while Hilda was busy processing his prey and Wulfur walking back to his training spot.
In the past two years, Wulfur was busy with his training and work. After Jon departed by a few months, he was wed to Bjorna Firemane and got blessed with a child together calling him Beowulf son of Wulfur, a healthy boy with strong lungs and loud cries.
He had this drawing on a parchment paper for his wife and kid that he keeps close and looks at it whenever he is working or training, nothing would bring him greater pleasure. Still, what would complete this pleasure is the presence of his brother next to him.
Since the day Jon left, Wulfur was always restless. A few months ago, he wanted to take a month and travel south to where Aela met Jon but the one who stopped him was Alina. Even though her words were enough for him to let go of the idea, Wulfur always thought that Jon would need him and there was a reason for that.
One day, Aela came to Winterhold telling a story about Jon when she encountered him in Hammerfell. She said that Jon disappeared in a dark portal then appeared after a few seconds. As she described it, he was pale and his beard seemed to have been overgrown. Jon had his infamy with portals and time manipulation but these were the things he would brag about the most, not to keep silent about them like that.
Wulfur stayed but his heart never went to rest since that day.
No one is just fine after disappearing and appearing in a second while spending a lot of time in God knows where.
Thankfully, Aela said that Jon was alright after some time of rest. He returned energetically and told some portal jokes before dismissing the HoonDing Alliance and disappearing somewhere.
Anyway, Wulfur had to get his head off the negative ideas. Thankfully, Hilda was here and as his Combat Mentor, Wulfur was put under an overwhelming amount of training to match what is said about Jon's current powers.
The famous mercenary called Krilon defeated the Worm King Mannimarco in the most terrifying showdown of Combat and Magic ever witnessed in the last decades. All of Tamriel heard the rumor but no one really knew that Jon was Krilon. According to Vittoria Vici, the Imperial Court blocked all the leakage of such information branding it as top privacy only for Jon Dare to reveal, they claimed that this is a favor to not reveal the secret identity of the Hero who seemed to have preferred to remain anonymous only known as Krilon. Of course, the Imperial Court wasn't a charity to do such a thing, Jon's popularity seemed to be a threat outside Skyrim especially after the fact that he stole the title of the Grand Champion right under their noses.
To Jon mischievousness, Wulfur didn't have much time to catch up. He needed to balance between his family and his training to be once again on par with his battle partner.
Hilda's training was the simplest of simplicity and her style suited Wulfur like none other. She said, "Find the hardest thing and go beat Oblivion out of it."
She, of course, said that while pointing at the mountain, Hilda was as honest as ever.
"Ehem… I've been looking for you, got some… *heek*"
Out of all the words and phrases that could interrupt someone's line of thoughts, the forbidden to one were said. Not only Wulfur who reacted by raising his Pickaxe but even Hilda, Jonrad and Sigurd were glaring daggers on that person who appeared out of nowhere and said those scary words.
Meanwhile, the person in question went down on her knees from fear.
"It is me, people, it is me!" She shouted.
"Ms Vici?" Wulfur and the others reacted to the familiar face they know.
"Hello…" She said swallowing her saliva.
"You should have said that first, girl." Hilda scolded her and returned to butchering the deer.
"What are you doing here Ms Vici?" Wulfur put down his pickaxe and went to her."
"I was… looking for you, Wulfur." She and traced her thoughts before speaking them.
"I didn't know you are in Winterhold."
"I just arrived from the East. But the storm was strong so we took the Wayward Pass instead of Fort Kstav's."
"Storm?" Wulfur tilted his head.
"The one we are in right now?" Vittoria shouted her lungs out but apparently, no one was aware of her suffering.
"Nords! Scary!" She said as she forked out four scrolls of her bag.
"For Wulfur, for Lady Hilda, Lord Jonrad and Lord Sigurd." She said.
"The Head of the EEC in Skyrim is delivering messages by herself now?" Wulfur was taken aback.
"From Jon."
She only needed to say that to find herself besieged from the four cardinal directions by four towering Nords each extending his hand.
"Here!" She meekly handed over the scrolls each and went on her way. "I'll go deliver Alina's."
Meanwhile, the four were dead silent. Jon's sworn brother, Jon's Mother, Jon's Father, Jon's Father-in-law. None of them heard a word sent from Jon in a year and a half till today.
Everybody silently opened his letter and read. At first, they had worm expressions on their faces but soon it turned serious.
"I assume we all received the same message." Jonrad said.
"That's a lot to process." Wulfur thought.
"He wants the Moonblade to secure Winterhold's west, buy the lands near the borders with The Pale and build a fishing village and a dock with a small Garrison." Sigurd said.
"Where?"
"At the north at Broken Cape in Hsaarik Head. He wants the village to be worked on as soon as possible." Sigurd said.
"Jon rebuilt Saarthal and now Hsaarik Head? This is the historical location where Ysgramor and the First Companions landed from Atmora. This is huge." Wulfur gasped.
"The Empire won't like it. Jon is already so famed." Jonrad concluded.
"But according to the letter, this is about to happen soon. We should expect a lot of refugees and keep the work and the payroll running even in Winter." Wulfur said.
"Good, this will help our economy and give it one good boost. Also, the Expedition Teams should go and train in some ancient tombs. Jon wants to conduct a large expedition once he arrives." Hilda said.
"I'll speak with Trudvar and Mjoll." Wulfur said.
As the unusual work rush that popped up all of a sudden, Winterhold's Winter this year was bound to be busy.
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• Name: Hilda Firemane
• Titles: Bloody Hilda
• Race: Nord (Human)
• Age: 54
• Level: ???
• Class: Grandmaster Warden of Blood
• Energy: ???
• Condition: Normal
• Bloodline: Firemane (Titanborn, Fireborn)
• Birth Sign: The Warrior
• Blessings: Talos, Kyne, Totem Wolf
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Name: Wulfur
• Titles: The Chief, The Forgemaster
• Race: Human (Nord)
• Age: 19
• Level: Mid Flaming Heart Formation
(Game Level: 55)
• Class: Master Warden of Arms
• Energy: 3473/5588
• Condition: Tired
• Birth Sign: The Lord
• Blessings: Talos, Tsun, Totem Bear
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