Lutherus Sotasius - Chapter V, Part III

  • THE JAGGED CROWN (PART ONE)
    From the Journal of Lutherus Sotasius. Date of Entry: Heartfire, 2nd, 4E, 201.

     

    Praefect Oaken-Heart was incredibly grateful for Lutherus' bravery. He had not expected his return from the Sightless Pit with his troops alive and in fighting condition. For the Praefect, nothing made him more prouder than his troops, whom he'd spent years prior molding them from the undisciplined Auxiliaries they were, into fine soldiers they were today. For this, the Praefect ensured that Praefect Ottius would know of Lutherus' action at the Sightless Pit. "I have sent a runner." He said. "Ottius will know of your conduct under my temporary command. Praefect Ottius chooses to to use fear to equal respect, but there is nothing that old salt loves more than a soldier with talent." Lutherus knew all too well regarding his Commanding Officer's choice of demeanour.

     

    "Praefect Oaken-Heart." Said Lutherus. "There is something you must know about the Sightless Pit. When me and Cienna were down there...there were these...things. Pale white creatures with no eye-"

     

    "Falmer." Interjected Praefect Oaken-Heart.

     

    "...No, not Thalmor. These were not-"

     

    Praefect Oaken-Heart chuckled. "No lad, not Thalmor. Falmer. F-A-L-M-E-R. The hideous offspring of the extinct Snow Elf race, or so I've heard."

     

    "I also noticed scaly black insects, the size of man down there too."

     

    "Aye. Domesticated Chaurus. Pets of the Falmer. Can devour a single man in an hour. Breed by the hundreds too."

     

    "Breed? That explains these then." Replied Lutherus, as he pulled a Chaurus Egg from his satchel.

     

    "Oblivion! Give me that!" Said Praefect Oaken-Heart, snatching the egg from Lutherus and throwing it into the campfire. "Is that the only one you have?"

     

    "No!" Replied Lutherus. "I have more in-" Before Lutherus could finish, Praefect Oaken-Heart instinctly grabbed Lutherus' bag, took each Chaurus Egg and threw them also onto the fire. Pips emerged from the eggs, indicating that their insidious contents were being destroyed.

     

    "Never ever EVER, do that again." Warned Praefect Oaken-Heart. "Those damn Chaurus Eggs hatch anywhere between 10 to 50 Chaurus at a time."

     

    "I'm...so sorry...Praefect."

     

    "Don't worry about it lad." The Praefect observed the fire once more, ensuring the hollow eggs melted by the heat of the fire. He then delegated the task of dousing the flames to one of his soldiers, as he mounted his horse. "I am going to Helgen with my troops, and take up the garrison duty. It will take a few days, two at the most before we are settled. You need not accompany us, Auxiliary Lutherus. In fact, this came for you, about an hour ago, whilst you were at the Pit." The Praefect handed Lutherus a parchment, the wax seal of the Empire securing the fold. Lutherus opened the letter.

     

    "I've been recalled to Solitude by order of Praefect Ottius." Said Lutherus.

     

    "Must be something big in the works I suppose. You should get going lad, wouldn't want to keep Ottius waiting would we?" Replied Praefect Oaken-Heart as the campfire was doused, giving him the indication to depart with his men. "Safe travels, Auxiliary. And thank you."

     

    "Thankyou Praefect. Safe travels." Replied Lutherus, as the Praefect and his Guard moved on to Helgen. Lutherus, still accompanied by Cienna, took to looking for a road with her, somewhere in this miserable valley that would lead them to Solitude. They decided the best decision for them would be to scale the valley, where they could use the height to their advantage to find a road below. "What I wouldn't give for that bloody cape now." Remarked Lutherus, as the blistering cold snow broke with every footstep.

     

    "Join the club." Retorted Cienna, earning a few chuckles between the two. As well as feeling the cold, the two were also starting to hunger, the only food they had been able to consume that day was their morning breakfast back at Riverwood. Praefect Oaken-Heart had long run out of sustainable rations, and neither had the equipment to build a camp fire for cooking as well, so the two's only real option was to head to Solitude, where the company of Ottius' men waited for them.

    They soon found a road, and by complete chance also noticed a single person embarking on it. Hoping this person either had directions to Solitude, or even bread, Lutherus carefully manouvered down the mountain to talk with the traveller, Cienna following suit. "Excuse me! Traveller!" Said Lutherus.

     

    "Mm? Yes?" Replied the stranger.

     

    "Would you perhaps have any idea where we are? We're trying to get to Solitude." The stranger, a Bosmer Elf sympathetic to the Empire's cause, was happy to provide directions to the Imperial soldier. But when asked about the possibility of nourishment, the stranger was unfortunately empty handed. Regardless, Lutherus thanked him for the directions, the Bosmer Elf indicating that the path he was on would lead them straight to Solitude, but would also pass by Winterhold. "We'll stop by in Winterhold and get some food then." He said, observing the massive College of Winterhold in the distance.

     

    "Won't the Praefect be upset?" Questioned Cienna.

     

    "Not if he doesn't know." Replied Lutherus, with a slight grin. They soon arrived at Winterhold, and entered the warmth of The Frozen Hearth, the local tavern. Lutherus purchased a feast of Goat Roast, Eidar and Goat Cheese, Sweetrolls as well as two Honigbrew's for his and Cienna's consumption, quenching their long lasting hunger pangs. They stayed longer than usual in the Tavern, warming up by the roaring fire in anticipation of returning to the bitter cold outside. They left the tavern and continued on to Solitude, although Lutherus longed to stay. Here he was at the one place he came to this Northern land for, yet due to his pressing obligations within the Empire, it seemed so close yet so far. Lutherus found it hard not to look back on it, as he left the village.

    "How does anybody survive out here?" Questioned Lutherus, as the night time wind rolled in.

     

    "B-B-Beats me!" Shivered Cienna in response, as she held her hand close to the torch she was carrying. They eventually found their way to a mining camp and given the deteriorating weather conditions, plus still being quite the way from Solitude, Lutherus and Cienna elected to stay there the night and continue early next morning. The miners, fresh from a day of labor down in the mines were kind enough to vacate some tents for Lutherus and Cienna, but in being paid 200 Septim in return, from Lutherus' pocket. They left early next morning, thanking the miners as they left. Dwindling rations on the pair's end required them to make it to Solitude on this leg, their only other option would be to starve before freezing to death in this weather. It was still very cold in the morning, but the skies were absent of the torrential snow Lutherus and Cienna struggled through the night before, making the navigation to Solitude much easier. They finally arrived at the Imperial stronghold two hours later, to the sound of the tolling bells of the busy Empire Trading Port below the city. Lutherus and Cienna were hungry and cold, and so before reporting to Praefect Ottius the pair elected to get breakfast at the local tavern - the Winking Skeever. The pair ate the food paid for by Lutherus quickly, to prevent Praefect Ottius from waiting much longer. They would find him inside Castle Dour, the massive Fortress that governed Solitude.

     

    "Auxiliaries Sotasius and Cienna reporting as ordered. Praefect!" Said Lutherus, giving the Imperial salute.

     

    "Good. You're finally here." Said Praefect Ottius in return. "Auxiliaries, this is Legate Rikke. Chief Lieutenant of the Imperial Legion."

     

    "Well met, Auxiliaries." Said Legate Rikke, introducing herself. "We have an important task ahead of us today."

     

    "What task, Legate?" Asked Cienna innocently, whilst also admiring the Female's position of power and jurisdiction.

     

    "Our spies within the Stormcloak ranks have gathered information pertaining to a Stormcloak Expedition at Korvanjund, believed resting place of King Borgas, the last wearer of the Jagged Crown." Said Legate Rikke, as the Auxiliaries at her disposal looked on in interest. "This ancient relic possesses important significance to Ulfric's rebellion. If he gets his hands on it, it will surely challenge Imperial control over Skyrim. We are going to Korvanjund to retrieve this artefact before he does."

     

    "How do we know the Jagged Crown is at Korvanjund?" Asked Lutherus with concern.

     

    "We don't." Replied Legate Rikke. "We are basing this off of what our agents in Windhelm have heard. For all we know, it could be a lost cause but at the same time, our sentries at Korvanjund have reported increased Stormcloak activity there. So, if there's something they're looking for down there, we will put an end to it. Auxiliaries! Make ready for immediate depature, gather what gear you need from the Smithy, and meet with Praefect Ottius' battalion outside the city. Dismissed!"

     

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Comments

3 Comments   |   The Wolf Of Atmora and 1 other like this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  November 8, 2016
    Hmm interesting. In my story the General has agents in Windhelm as well. I can't help but wonder...... 
     Now this is probably my preference but i try to avoid actual times as no one carries watches or clocks.   
     Your...  more
    • Dean Morrison
      Dean Morrison
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Hmm interesting. In my story the General has agents in Windhelm as well. I can't help but wonder...... 
       Now this is probably my preference but i try to avoid actual times as no one carries watches or clocks.   
       Your line. ...  more
        ·  November 9, 2016
      I was wondering about the practicalities of o'clock! Thanks Sotek :)
      • Sotek
        Sotek
        Dean Morrison
        Dean Morrison
        Dean Morrison
        I was wondering about the practicalities of o'clock! Thanks Sotek :)
          ·  November 9, 2016
        There are a few chapters where I time things. One such method I use are Hour candles. 
        Imagine a candle which will burn in say, three hours. If you mark the candle into six equal segments then every segment which burns is half an hour. Soon in ...  more