The Outsider Act 5: Battle for Whiterun – Chapter 3 - Ricard

  • - Hold! Hold! –

     

    The Cloaks outnumbered and overwhelmed us. Our shield wall showed some resistance at first, but I soon noticed that the black soldiers had systematically aimed for our battle mages, leaving us with little to no defense against their spells.

     

    Julitta lost her nerve, if she had stayed we would have stood a chance, but seeing as Deestan was wounded she made it her top priority to get him to safety. Using her rage to her advantage she was able to overpower the two black soldiers with her massive spear. After she mangled both of them she murmured something to the argonian, seeing as he didn’t respond she started to panic, so she put him on her shoulders and made her way through a small, hidden, metal door next to the main gate.

     

    I’m no novice in the arts of Restoration, and against the two remaining black soldiers I was able to expand a ward over my battalion to guard against their spells. We held out while the Whiterun guard worked behind us to drag the wounded back into the city, even managed to push the Cloak shield wall back, into the drawbridge.

     

    We held our ground while they needed us to, as expected from the Legion’s finest, but we couldn’t hold out forever. When the guards behind us shouted a signal we quickly gave them one last shove and backed off, dispersing to reveal the commander of the Penitus Oculatus. After sneaking the wounded argonian back into the city she came back to aid us, arriving just in time.

     

    The woman had an obscene amount of magicka concentrated between her hands, and the intricate sign showed the firestorm pattern. As the Imperial shield wall backed down the Cloaks saw their new enemy, and started panicking when they saw the flaming woman. The firestorm spell was designed to be the most perfect example of the destruction school. It rampages indiscriminately, sweeping everything away with a wave of flames. A master of the spell can, in theory, aim the wave, but there will always be collateral damage, and I was here to protect our troops from this.

     

    I touched the amulet around my neck, drawing some magicka from the gemstone. Then I weaved the signs for a large ward, one that covered my front, protecting the soldiers behind me.

     

    I’ll never know if she actually managed to aim the main wave, if she did, than she is way more powerful than I thought. The supposed collateral damage managed to put a crack in my reinforced ward, and drained me of all my reserves to keep it up. The Cloak shield wall was crushed, and the soldiers right behind them ran away in panic.

     

    Julitta fell back and ordered the gate to be raised, her soldiers quickly complying. Good, we needed some breathing space…

     

    For now I could leave this in Julitta’s hands, I did not see the bodies of those remaining black soldiers, and those guys had already proved to be troublesome. I need a way to eliminate them, maybe I could use him…

     

    I made my way back into the city using a small, hidden, reinforced door. I need rest. I quickly followed the path to the temple of Kyne; I had been slightly wounded in the battle. My armor protected me from most of the enemy blows, but some of them managed to get past the joints in my armor and hurt me through my chainmail.

     

    The healers were busy, they had been taking care of the other wounded soldiers all day long, and did not seem to pay attention to me while I sat down and started to remove my armor. None of my wounds were particularly deep, but they bothered me anyways, and I’d rather not risk an infection. A priestess with a small basin of water approached me. She used a rag to wash my wounds and then started to weave a healing spell, closing my cuts and giving me a feeling of relief.

     

    - How are you feeling man-whore? – Said a familiar voice.

     

    - Ha! You seem to be in a good mood, decide to get out of your hidey-hole? – I asked Julia; she was covered in the robes of the priestesses of Kyne, helping them with the wounded.

     

    - I like this kind of work, you know I don’t particularly enjoy killing. To heal the ones in need, that puts my heart at peace –

     

    I was relieved to have her take care of my wounds. That would give me some time to catch up.

     

    - How is the Jarl? Sophia and Zoe? Ruby? –

     

    - I’ve assigned Sophia to watch the Jarl’s back, Brennan is also with them so don’t worry. They’re safe. I haven’t heard from Ruby, she seems to have disappeared alongside that housecarl of hers. Last I saw them, they were headed for Jorrvaskr. How are things on your front? –

     

    - Bad, could be worse if Julitta hadn’t been there. I will admit, I’ve never seen such brute force, I mean, I knew she was strong, but not THAT strong. I guess she will always be Lucius's star student. Aside from their overwhelming numbers we would not have had much trouble with the Cloak soldiers. We have the high ground. What’s giving us the most trouble, and what I aim to deal with as soon as possible are some black soldiers that have appeared to aid the enemy – I said, flinching when she put the wet rag over a sore spot.

     

    - Black soldiers? What’s so godamm special about them? –

     

    - Nothing at first, aside from their quality armaments. But they are exceptionally trained. They’re excellent fencers, extremely agile, and expert mages. Two of them managed to jump over the drawbridge, and lower it to allow the passage of the Cloaks. I managed to quickly form a shield wall to hold of the Cloaks in the bridge, while the commander exerted her plan. Two of the four black soldiers were killed, along with an entire Cloak cohort. The bridge was raised and now I’m here –

     

    - Hmm, what are you doing here exactly? – She asked, her tone suggested that she knew what I was planing.

     

    - We need to deal with those soldiers before they present any more trouble, I need to wake Him up – I said while she finished with the last bruise.

     

    - Are you sure? I doubt Lucius would approve you using one of his most powerful weapons without his supervision. Most of these methods are untested you know? –

     

    - I don’t have much of a choice, against those bastards he is our best bet, plus, we can’t just let the poor sod just sit down and do nothing while we have all the fun – I said with a slight smile, I’d need all the luck I could manage…

     

    I got up and turned around, taking a good long look at Julia’s lovely grey eyes. She had a scornful face, but it also hid a glimpse of slight amusement. She smiled a small grin before facing the other way and proceeded to heal another needy soul.

     

    After leaving the temple I headed to Breezehome a small house Lucius kept inside the city. After I had arrived in town with Ganlon he began to feel nervous, so I told him to rest until we were in need of him, that time finally came.

     

    While turning the key and opening the door I remembered the occurrences that brought us here. Since Lucius hadn’t called for me since the events that took place after my capture I had been taking care of Ganlon and his estate, advancing my research of the dragons from the old texts. Lucius had arrived a few days later, telling us to hurry to Whiterun, while he galloped northwest, towards High Rock.

     

    Ganlon obediently packed his things when Lucius said that, he had a knapsack ready for a trip, and also hugged a huge wrap, looking around suspiciously to see if anyone would appear to steal his things.

     

    I walked in and found the elf sleeping on a chair, still holding tightly to that wrapping. I gently nudged him in the shoulder and he woke up slightly startled, but calmed down after seeing it was only I.

     

    - Wake up old friend, we need your help – I said while looking into his wide opened eyes.

     

    - Yes… Yes? Yes! I mean… What is happening? – He asked, his dirty white hair falling over his anxious almond eyes while he did.

     

    - There are some bad guys out there coming to hurt the good people of this city – I said in a soft tone.

     

    - We don’t want that… - He whispered to himself, only loud enough for me to barely hear him.

     

    - Do you understand where I’m getting at? Amongst those bad people there are some really strong ones, ones that I can’t match, will you help me? – I asked, keeping my tone very softly, and giving my plea all the emphasis I could manage.

     

    He nodded rapidly and got up, his frame looked surprisingly fragile, and the fact that he was always wearing clothes that were too large for him along with his hunched posture made him look very small. I signaled for him to sit back down while I pulled out a small razor. He obediently did, and I removed his hood, revealing a large, dirty white mane. He stayed very quiet while I shaved it off, along with his long beard. Once he was completely bald I had a good look at his face for the first time in years.

     

    He had very rough features, completely statuesque in their form. His eyes were always wide open, but without the beard covering the traces of his mouth his look seemed like one of fury, it honestly scared me a bit. His look was frightening, but he was still not ready for combat. I reached for his knapsack and grabbed a scroll, made by Lucius especially for this situation.

     

    The scroll was fairly small, much smaller than regular ones. It had a small bit of glue in the end that opposed the intricate rune drawn on it. I stuck the piece of paper at the back of his neck and released some magicka into it to activate the pattern.

     

    The energy flowed around his head and into his orifices. Eyes, ears, mouth and nose were filled with the strange green energy. His body quivered and trembled, and then he stood up quickly, like he was startled. He was not Ganlon anymore, now he was someone much more dangerous. The elf stood without his hunch, revealing he was much taller than me. He also removed his old cloak, like he was repulsed by it. He is very muscular, not something you’d see everyday in an Altmer, a mountain of flesh that hulked over me.

     

    He looked at me with confusion, and before I could react he advanced and lifted me by the neck with only one hand. I struggled to breathe, but in between breaths I managed to say a few words.

     

    - I’m… Friend… Please… Mercy… - I breathed heavily when he dropped me on the floor, looking up I could see a look of confusion and fury. – Wait, please. Envy? Are you there? –

     

    The elf realized what I was doing a little too late; he dived for me again but stopped midway when a mask of pure blackness started to spread over his face. Tendrils of shadow hugged his skull and fell over his shoulders, forming a thick, hair like substance while a face formed over the shadows.

     

    The eyes are bright green, and very wide. Its mouth is small and its lips appeared to be sealed, sewn shut by black strings. The creature looked at me and spoke directly to my mind, its lips refusing to move.

     

    - Why did you wake me up human? – The voice was muffled, and it spoke with both Ganlon’s and another. – What does the Master require from me this time? –

     

    - Shit… Dammit Envy, your vessel almost killed me… -

     

    - I could care less for your well-being, and besides, aren’t we on a timer? –

     

    - Not this time, you’ve at least a day or two before the rune fades. Lucius drew the symbol with his own blood this time –

     

    - Good that he didn’t use a cheap substitute this time, I’m tired of the Master’s experiments – They said before turning away from me and picking up his vessel’s wrap, and slowly opening it.

     

    It is a beautiful curved greatsword, made of pure ebony. It has a wonderful golden trim spiraling around its hilt, then climbing over the blunt side of the weapon. Envy held it with both his hands, feeling the ancient, raw power of the blade. Then putting it aside to speak with me.

     

    - What is the plan human? We Imagine you wouldn’t call this half if you weren’t truly desperate – Said Envy in a mocking tone.

     

    - Laugh all you want entity, your master ordered you to follow the commands of the one who applied the rune to your vessel, me – I said in a “matter of fact” tone

     

    They sighed and sat down, crossing the vessel’s legs, assuming a position of deep concentration.

     

    - What are the orders? – They asked

     

    - The situation is as follows: Our enemies are the soldiers wearing the blue colors. Reds and yellows are on our side. You have two targets; both of them wear black leather armor with masks hiding their identities. They’ve been trouble for us since the start of the battle, almost turning the tide by downing the drawbridge to the city. Kill them. Other casualties are meaningless –

    They nodded, then took a deep breath. As the vessel breathed the mask started to recede, shrinking back into his skull. I’ve seen the process before; it consists of a complex illusion the entity known as Envy casts upon the target’s mind. The target becomes unaware of the presence inside him, all while Envy puts a desire into his mind, in this case, the desire to kill the black soldiers, and the obedience to follow my orders. Envy isn't a fighter, but his elven vessel is. I just need him to aim that monster in the general direction of the Cloaks.

     

    Envy’s vessel stood up, his eyes were now a deep green color, the only characteristic that he kept from his other self. He held that greatsword again, feeling comfort in it’s ancient strength. He was ready.

     

    - Come then old one, as you’ve always said, the best techniques are passed on by the survivors…

Comments

2 Comments
  • Soneca the Exiled
    Soneca the Exiled   ·  June 12, 2014
    Ha! I know what you mean friend, I have shit loads of original characters in this story and that sometimes confuses the reader, especially since some of them have similar names. I have been making a list of all of the characters by order of chapter, along...  more
  • adds-many-comments
    adds-many-comments   ·  June 12, 2014
    Loving the series soneca and how you've put nice twists on the storyline. My only problem is I'm feeling abit lost at some points in it, like I've missed something even though I read it all. Its probably just me. There are a lot of charactors aswell but t...  more