My blood's calm. I prefer it boiling.

  • The Saga of Scales: Table of Contents

    Previous Entry: Hell hath no fury.....

     

    28th of Second Seed

     

    A strange visitor came to the stronghold today, an argonian, big one too. Marched right up to the front gate and demanded entry. Mother, always the watchful guardian of Mor Khazgur basically told him to piss off. He demanded entry again, claimed he wanted to trade, was not threat but given his size and our history with outsiders I can’t blame mother. She sarcastically told him if he retrieved an enchanted relic from the nearby forsworn at Deepwood Redoubt. Without a word the stranger turned and headed in the direction she pointed. Poor bastard, that place is a fortress that not even the legion or the stormcloaks are willing to venture. Probably one of, if not the biggest stronghold of those blasted forsworn in the Reach. I believe that green-scaled brute will probably take a few of them down but no one could accomplish such a task and mother well knew that when she told him that. One less outlander to threaten our clan.

     

    29th of Second Seed

     

    The most incredible thing happened today. The argonian, Scales-of-Iron, came back to the stronghold early this morning just after dawn. He threw the gauntlets, fabled to have been forged by our ancestors to these lands and stolen by the reachmen long ago, right over the wall at mother’s feet. Seconds later a massive sack came over the wall, landing with a clatter as it spilled out dozens upon dozens of forsworn headdresses, trinkets, and other remnants of those annoying bastards. Most impressive however (though perhaps most impressive was that throw, that sack must have weighed hundreds of pounds all together and the argonian heaved it over the palisade like it was little more than a log for the fire!) was the head of a hagraven that came bouncing out and rolled just short of my father’s feet as he sat in his chair out front of the longhouse. The argonian, Scales, said nothing and neither did any of us as mother simply unlocked the gate and swung it open with a creak.

     

    That was several hours ago now. I have spoken with him a few times, not many of us in Mor Khazgur these days. I will admit I find myself very interested in the big guy. He is built like an orc, but taller than any among us, even my father, the great chief. After doing some trading with grandmother Sharamph and Shuftharz. Grandmother was most impressed with his skills with alchemy, even showed her a few things with the ingredients he had on him. Shuftharz was equally impressed with his skill at the forge and when she suggested if he was looking for some cheap ore he could head up to the mine and chisel out some orichalcum himself. He simply put down his tools, went to the mine and came back a little while later with a handful of ore that he smelted down on his own and then forged with the skill easily rivaling Shuftharz herself!

     

    I was not the only one that took notice of this argonian seemingly an expert at everything we value here at the stronghold. Father marched up to the big guy and demanded to fight him, fists only and slammed a coin purse down in front of him. Father always was a bit of a hot head and I think he was feeling a little challenged by this outlander. What happened next will be something I think about every night for a long time going forward. In a matter of seconds he took one, two, three massive punches from Larak and barely budged before unleashing a flurry of blows that ultimately knocked the mighty chief to the dirt. Everyone watched in stunned silence. Big guy reached out a clawed hand and pulled father up when the fight was over, blood dripping from father’s nose and mouth but he grinned and handed the argonian the coin. They left for a little while alone to talk and drink, though I noticed the argonian declined any alcohol, asking only for water. Strange, he even went so far as to avoid even sitting near a bottle. Perhaps argonians do not drink? Or cannot? I can’t say I have known any in my time, barely even seen a few. If father knows more from his years with the legion he did not let on.

     

    Thinking about that fight again now…...that argonian is like an avatar of Malacath himself. I would kill a hundred forsworn for father to marry me to a chieftain half the warrior Scales is. If everyone were not sleeping in the longhouse right now I’d challenge the big guy to a wrestling match myself!

     

    30th of Second Seed

     

    I left the stronghold! Mother, father, the others, all behind us a day’s journey. Scales-of-Iron, or Scales as he prefers, talked with me over breakfast this morning, the remains of last night’s leek and potato stew, along with some hard bread. He was very cryptic about the purpose of his journey but asked for directions to Markarth. When I began talking about how I longed to be out adventuring, like him, seeing Skyrim and beyond he told me he simply leave, find my own freedom. I explained how it was my duty to the family to be married to another orc chieftain of one of the other strongholds, that my dowry would help feed and supply my clan for many years to come.  Incredibly he reached into his pouch and produced more coin than I have ever seen in my years and handed it to me simply saying that one could never put a price on freedom.

     

    What happened next was a whirlwind of giving father the money, packing, and leaving everything I have ever known behind. Already we have run into bandits, sabres, and a bear. Nothing stands before Scales and lives it seems, at least things he wishes to destroy. He fights like an orc, a bruiser, unafraid of combat unlike those weak men and elves. Watching the argonian fight makes my blood boil and I still maintain this hulking beast must be Malacath himself given physical form, come to test this land’s strength. Given what I have seen so far I think he will be found wanting for challenge, even in Skyrim.

     

    Next Entry: An Orc follows to the Death

Comments

11 Comments   |   Legion and 4 others like this.
  • SpookyBorn2021
    SpookyBorn2021   ·  August 24, 2017
    I really like the kind of change in Scales here, or at least how he's portrayed. The change from him being just a beast that the previous character was hunting into a bit more of a...I wouldn't say morally good, but a more 'human' character so to say. It'...  more
  • SpottedFawn
    SpottedFawn   ·  August 20, 2017
    Great chapter, could this be the start of a fun new dynamic duo? I'm starting to feel sorry for the Forsworn. And yay for more female Orc characters.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  August 20, 2017
    Awwwooo
    ......
    Yea, I have to say it... This by far has been my favourite chapter.  Like Legion said, to see a character through the eyes of a NPC really worked here and at the same time a nice insight into Orc  culture.  more
  • Paws
    Paws   ·  August 19, 2017
    No price, freedom. Although we don't get Scale's thoughts on that and see that gift given through Orcish eyes, I like to think Scales was motivated by something more than his own past here. Will we see him and Borgakh together again at some point? Mutual ...  more
  • Legion
    Legion   ·  August 18, 2017
    So, first of all -- really great title. 
    Second, I think I found an error:
    "After doing some trading with grandmother and Shuftharz."

    Thought I'd let you know. 
    Third! I really liked this. I really ...  more
    • Amornar
      Amornar
      Legion
      Legion
      Legion
      So, first of all -- really great title. 
      Second, I think I found an error:
      "After doing some trading with grandmother and Shuftharz."
      ...  more
        ·  August 18, 2017
      Thanks Legion, nope not a mistake, I believe Borgakh would refer to her family like they are family like you or I would which means her she would say grandmother not Sharamph the alchemy vendor and wise woman of the clan, but still refer to Shuftharz (Lar...  more
      • Legion
        Legion
        Amornar
        Amornar
        Amornar
        Thanks Legion, nope not a mistake, I believe Borgakh would refer to her family like they are family like you or I would which means her she would say grandmother not Sharamph the alchemy vendor and wise woman of the clan, but still refer to Shuftharz (Lar...  more
          ·  August 18, 2017
        My concern was that it's not a complete sentence, so it was a bit rough to read. Can I ask what inspired this story though? I'm just curious. 
        • Amornar
          Amornar
          Legion
          Legion
          Legion
          My concern was that it's not a complete sentence, so it was a bit rough to read. Can I ask what inspired this story though? I'm just curious. 
            ·  August 18, 2017
          I'll throw Sharamph's name in that should make it easier to read. Thanks Legion! The story? I just decided I wanted to play an argonian finally and trying to play with some different ways to share here via journals, poems, etc. I also wanted to have the a...  more
          • Legion
            Legion
            Amornar
            Amornar
            Amornar
            I'll throw Sharamph's name in that should make it easier to read. Thanks Legion! The story? I just decided I wanted to play an argonian finally and trying to play with some different ways to share here via journals, poems, etc. I also wanted to have the a...  more
              ·  August 18, 2017
            An illiterate character, huh? That's a pretty cool rp angle. Of course CC would come up with that. I like it though, so I hope that "TDB" is soon.
            • Amornar
              Amornar
              Legion
              Legion
              Legion
              An illiterate character, huh? That's a pretty cool rp angle. Of course CC would come up with that. I like it though, so I hope that "TDB" is soon.
                ·  August 18, 2017
              Have you read the other entries in the story?
              • Legion
                Legion
                Amornar
                Amornar
                Amornar
                Have you read the other entries in the story?
                  ·  August 18, 2017
                I haven't -- that probably explains my interpretation of the story. I see the TOC link now, so I'll start on those in the mean time