Beorning Saga, pt 1

Falkreath, Skyrim Region, Tamriel, 4E 165

Kynareth's hammer had pounded the night leaving the Thistles and Mountain flowers bent and dripping with her mercy.  As the fire of the morning crested the Jerall Mountains Farengar wandered out of the farmhouse sleepily scratching, the cold clean mountain air awakening him.  From the farmhouse, typical of the area; two storied with a strong stone base and wooden upper level, the wood smoke issued and his stomach reminded him about breakfast.  Mother was talking to a new arrival and recognition brought a smile.
"Uncle!"
He broke into a run clasping his Uncle's fore-arm in welcome.  Before he could continue  a courier arrived  with a note in his hand.
"I have a message for you..."
The courier grinned, obviously liking this rare announcement message for the mother of Farengar SecretFire and her clan folk.  Farengar's cousin, Kudri WhiteFire, had given birth.  Any birth to the Fire clan was a cause for celebration and Farengar and his folk would raise a glass of the famous Nord Mead to the child. 
The courier who read the note stated
"On this day, the 29th Morningstar, to Kudri WhiteFire of the Bruma guard was born a beautiful boy - Beorning the new member of the Fire clan.  All hail Beorning!"
The courier then hastened to his next destination to deliver the message to other clan members.  The family walked to the kitchen to break fast and celebrate this welcome news.

Briefly staring into the flames of the kitchen fire.   Farengar mused on his cousin, Kudri, remembering their naming & clan welcoming ceremony back in Falkreath when they were little.     He'd been given the name Secret, in addition to his birth and clan names by the priest of Talos who recognised his desire to be a magician.  Kudri all skinny with long red-brown hair had come back from the priest of Kynareth with the name White.  He'd always teased her about being part snow-elf because of the milkiness of her skin.  He'd also teased her about her love for Kynareth over Talos.  She always primly called back that "The Nine are One and Eight & One are Nine".  Even though they only met during clan gatherings held at Sun's Dawn, Sun's Height and Sun's Dusk he realised that he missed her.    Of all his siblings and cousins she was the one that understood him, although he'd never understood her fascination with Kynareth and nature. 
Memories of their last meeting two years ago floated into his minds-eye.
"Hey, hey Farengar how's you?   When you off to Winterhold for magician training?" Kudri's sing-song voice rang in his ear. 
"Kudri, good to see you!   I'm off at Rain's Hand to start with Tolfdir.   I hope we get clear skies and that it doesn't rain the whole way there." Farengar shuddered at the thought.  "What are you going to do now you're of age?"
"The BaleFire has contacts in the Bruma guard so I was going to travel over the passes as soon as they open in Second Seed and start there.   Maybe once I've trained I'll head across the Empire as an adventurer!   I might even join the Mages Guild and be better than you!"
Farengar smiled, that internal knowing smile that earned him his naming
"I don't think so girl-cousin but I hope Bruma is good to you.  Maybe we'll catch up next year or the year after."
His attention returned to the present and the room of his clan...

"So the boy is called Beorning.  May he live to be big, bold and brave.  A true Nord!" toasted his Mother.  She was a typical Nord woman; bold & brassy, plainly dressed today in breeks and an embroidered over-dress with a flowing vine and fruit pattern.
"Aye!" "Beorning!" "Kudri's son!" toasted the others.
"Mother, does anyone know who the father is?" asked Farengar.
The others looked around muttering about how Cyrodiil and the Empire was a right mix of people 
"As long as it's not an Altmer!" 
"A pasty Half-Orc would be ugly, but a good fighter"
"Hmmm I was in Bruma the past year, she was always at the Jerall Inn with a big Nord Battle-Mage, rumour was that he was a Blade from Cloud Ruler Temple.  Can't remember his name though..." 
His uncle Eirik BaleFire was strong, hale and with an energy that belied his years. He travelled a lot as a Merchant Adventurer,  always in conflict with the East Empire Company, he rarely stopped complaining about them.  When he did stop whinging he was the main source of accurate gossip within the Clan.
Not being able to remember a conversation or piece of information like this always annoyed his Uncle greatly and he started stroking his braided salt and pepper beard, then drumming his fingers on his wide sword belt, much to Farengar's  mother's annoyance.  With a swift 'snap' Eirik clicked his fingers;
"Rig - that was his name, no clan name just Rig.  Not sure what sort of a name Rig is.  A big fellow with his share of scars and light grey hair which was strange in one as young as he."

Returning to his musings by the flickering light of the wood harmer Farengar slid into a visionary state. Raising itself in Farengar's inner world, out of the fire, was the blinking of a great eye.  Opening to show it's orange iris as if wakening within a great black rock.  The rock resolved to a cliff face, dark, jagged and granite hard.  The eye blinked and a rock slide began, a shape emerging from the rock. 
A great dragon head shape and both eyes turned to stare directly at Farengar as it's mouth opened and a great rumbling murmur began.   It sounded like a distant avalanche that grew in power until words formed
"Doh Vah Kiin"
Farengar shuddered back and fell from his seat so loud and powerful was the inner vision.  He was shaken and his arms automatically raised as if to ward from a blow.   His mother, uncle and the rest of the clan stared at him.
"What's up with you Faren'?" asked his Mother a little concerned although she was used to his odd behaviour at momentous times.
Farengar hastily gathered his wits and made to leave the room to ponder further.
"Nothing, I just got lost in thought."
"Hah!   Thinking eh!  Pity you're not more like cousin Kudri she's an action girl, a true Nord."
"May the boy be blessed of the Nine and be a bright blade during the argument of swords!"

Beorning Saga, pt 2

Cyrodiil region Tamriel, 4E 175. First Seed

Kudri Whitefire looked at the faces around her, mostly Nords like herself, but with a smattering of the other races; Redguards, Bretons, Orsimer, Dunmer and Cyrodiils. They wore a motley bunch of armour leather, studded, elven and glass with a whole range of different weapons and shields. It was all brought together by a common overcoat with the Bruma black eagle on yellow ochre background. To distinguish them from the regular Bruma troops the eagle clasped a red skull in it’s talons. These irregular troops, mostly adventurers whom the war had shorn of a living, were ill-disciplined in a military sense but powerful fighters and Kudri was proud to lead them. Because they were irregulars some generals had questioned their commitment in battle. Kudri knew that this speech was needed after the Imperial losses of the previous year and the vicious Sack of the Imperial City

"Our Imperial Jewel has been raped by those hungry for the bloody slavery of our peoples." She looked into the eyes of all her troops... "We are returning for vengeance!"... "But we, the Bruma Reivers, have to do our blood work first... We must harry and raid... We must throw a black noose round their mages... We must make sure those Dominion dogs know nothing of the battle blizzard that General Jonna brings!". She looked at their haggard, hardened jaws.
"Yes we've had losses over the past years and we've been at the blunt end of a hammering but us Reivers have been the hawks of harrying, have we not?"
"Arrr" assent rumbled like a low mist towards her.
"Did we keep the Bruma road open?", "Arrr" rumbled back. "Did we hack and harry and hit the Aldmeri? Have they come to fear our hawk call? Does the Dominion fear to leave their beds because the Reivers will bring the red ruin to them?"
"Arrr!", "Arr-arr", "Arr-arr!" The rumblings had increased in pitch until the high pitched hawk call that was their battle shout rang out. She knew she had their attention then.
"Our Emperor has a plan and General Jonna, along with the other legions, marches now. We are the light troops, the scouts, the harrowers who will keep those Aldmeri arselings blind to the Mede's might. We'll break our winter camp tomorrow and move back to our spring fighting pattern, your hand leaders will deliver your orders in the morning. Hand commanders to me, troops DISMISSED!"
......... _________ .........

Meara Benirus followed the rest of her hand back to their tent, she looked around at them; Sha gro-Shak "Shaker" a bright green warrior Orsimer, Droma Talylin "Tally" a quiet Dunmer mage-scout and then the Nords siblings Hafon "Hey boy" and Hartha "Hey gal" from Hjaalmarch. Hafon was hand-leader, due to the hard learnt lessons of the early part of the War only Nords could become hand leaders. The Thalmor were masters of disguise, illusion, infiltration and by those under-hand measures had nearly destroyed the Reivers in the first years of the war. Kudri WhiteFire, the pale Nord and her hand had been the only survivors for a reason; they had hard rules based upon the structure of the Dark Brotherhood.
Now the Reivers were strong, re-built upon their rules;
The Rule of Friendship - new members of a hand were introduced by other well trusted members, this also meant that each hand made enormous efforts to ensure the next rule did not need to be enforced. Whilst your hand and friends knew your first name it was never used only a second or nick name was used. The first name was hidden for the Rule of Identification.
Rule of Responsibility - No one gets left behind alive, thus it is each member of the hand's responsibility to ensure that none of the squad could be used by the Thalmor against the Reivers; each member carried a deadly poison to be used if they were taken. Standing orders meant any member of the Reivers seeing another Reiver captured were duty bound, upon pain of death after a court-martial if they failed, to shoot the deadly poison into their comrade.
Rule of Identification - On each meeting you prove who you are, a set of frequently changed handshakes and codes, particular to the hand members, used to ensure that the Thalmor had not impersonated or ensorcelled the Reiver. Sole survivors of a hand during battle were not allowed back into the Reivers and had to leave knowing that they'd not kept their friends alive. Three simple rules of survival in the Great War.
Tally dropped back, as a fellow Anviler, although a Dunmer, and Scout she'd taken Meara under her wing, her nickname was obvious... "Beni let's get some more training in before we head out.". Inwardly Meara groaned her muscles still feeling sore after weeks of hard training, mornings of sword & battlecraft, afternoons of woodcraft sneaking around the woods hunting deer and evenings of magecraft in illusion and conjuration.
Since her arrival at the Reivers the days had blurred in the world of her Hand, the Fiddlers "cos we like playing with ourselves". Most swordcraft sessions involved all the team; 3 on 2, 4 on 1 and battlecraft was against other Hands. This was their secret method, the team tactics employed by each Hand and their joint tactics amongst the Hands. The Thalmor with their fanatic organisation & discipline struggled against the flow and seeming chaos of the Reivers. Or rather, now they did since Kudri had reorganised the Reivers.
......... _________ .........

In the White City Magister Phaegol listened to General Naarifin with rising glee; a chance to prove himself to the Dominion high command as well as blasting those lesser Talos worshipping races. The evening was looking up. Naarifin finished
"I need you to wreck the Reivers and discover what Titus is planning."
Phaegol led a Thalmorion of troops; mostly Bosmer with an Altmer elite core of battle-magi. He was typical; pale, light haired, tall with a straight narrow nose, long pinched face with eyes also narrowed giving a supercilious look. This was only intensified when discussing the non Elven.
The Reivers had gained a fearsome reputation in 4E 174 by harrying the Thalmorions during Titus II's escape from the Imperial City. No quarter was given nor expected by the Reivers and the Altmer had learnt to respect their elusive combat prowess. It infuriated and insulted their Elven Supremacist sensibilities, hence there would be great kudos to the Magister who destroyed them.
Phaegol had built a unit based on closely ordered conjured elementals supported by Bosmer archers and a phalanx of battle-mages, conjuring the front rank of elementals, behind. They had well drilled battle tactics defined for all terrains and circumstances. Command and control was how he ran things. Of course the reason why the Dominion was superior was that humankind were weak, the Reiver’s traitor he'd secretly secured was proof of that.
The traitor sent intelligence via encrypted message returned by Bosmer controlled creatures. He knew they had been wintering in the Bruma Caverns, expanded into a military base and was awaiting the latest report.
......... _________ .........

Beorning Saga pt 2 - Meara 1

Note : For the attention of Magister Phaegol
The Reiver’s phalanges are dipping into Fingerbowl’s Cave.

Meara’s Diary : 20th First Seed

Hey Gal gave us the orders this morning. At first light we moved south towards somewhere called Fingerbowl Cave. It should have been simple enough, the early scouts Hey Gal said, indicated that there might be some skeletons and ghosts, simple to handle really. It was good to be moving out in my light chainmail, glass shield, with my ancestral Katana on my hip and staff of lightning on my back. That was the best part of the day even though there was a light rain. We were with four other hands; The StrongArms, FlytingStaves, Talos' Terrors - nicknamed the TT's because they were all girls and finally the Lightning Strikes. Shaker grumbled the whole way about having to share the fighting with other hands until Hey Gal finally had enough and bounced a silence spell on him. Shaker seethed under his studded leather armour, his Thalmor gloves clenching and boots stamping. His armour and boots were all dyed a dark green making him look like some malicious quivering tree. We all laughed until, in mock anger, he pulled out his Orsimer Warhammer. Tally just wore a deep purple Robe of Shielding, which complemented her Dunmer skin. When she stood next to Shaker she looked like some bizarre shadow of him, but with a staff of firebolts and a short sword. Hey Boy & Hey Gal both had a steely look to them; Hey Boy in full heavy Carved Nord armour but he moved more easily in it than some of the mages who had no armour. Hey Gal had light Mithril armour enchanted to muffle all movement, she could move as silently as a snake and her strike was twice as deadly with her epic Elven bow of shocks. Wearing the Reivers tabard I really felt like a part of the hand, maybe a little finger.

That was the best part of the day. By afternoon we arrived at the cave, creeping from gully to gully, through the ferns. That was when it all went wrong. A group of Bosmer hit us from the left with a volley of arrows. Some quick healing and it was into the fray to realise there were many more Bosmer ahead and to the right of us. They had control of Mountain Lions, Wolves and Timber Wolves which launched themselves at us from all sides. Our diligent hand training, that I whined about when we were roped together for group combat, meant in practice we kept a fluid movement to absorb the attacks, isolate attackers and re-group to take them out one at a time. Always moving together, a single organism, supporting and healing each other we kept our shape but had to evade rather than battle. I was happy with the shield and staff work in my left hand, my ancestral Katana slicing in an arc taking wolves, lions and Bosmer apart. With my staff casting lightning to distract their archers we came into a glade, the animals were mostly dead by now. Then arrows started to rain down. I felt myself grabbed around the waist and lifted behind a tree, there was the thud of shafts in the bole and ground where I'd been,
"Time to get out of here" I heard Shaker's gruff Orsimer voice softly in my ear, "'member the drill. Us heavies'll lead, move with Tally to cover and sweep."
Tally flicked a finger and I moved behind and to her left. Conjured a Flame Atronach and charged my staff before we hit them, Shaker and Hey Boy swinging their big weapons in the middle, me and Tally providing shock and flare with the live wraith that was Hey Gal floating around leaving a trail of twitching corpses in the brush. It was neat and I only had to bolt down a few healing and magicka potions before the last of the Bosmer were down. We'd lost track of the other hands until we broke out of the glade. We came out of the glade to the north west of the cave entrance and realised how many of the Aldmeri forces there were. The TT's, Flyting Staves and Lighting Strikes had formed a wild, spinning circle of metal and magicka striking out with flailing fury at the elves that almost surrounded them. No one was still for a second, evading and executing attacks at the same time ahead it seemed like a similarly whirling barrage of stones were hurling themselves at the people of the hands. During the moment we caught our breath the Thalmor conjured Storm Atronach's fell to become a still, randomly generated rock garden so the Hands took a breather before the next assault. The Staves spotted us and signalled for us to join them at the same time that Hey Gal spotted the StrongArms who'd become isolated, like we'd been earlier. With a nod of her head we East headed towards them.

The StrongArms hadn’t fared as well as us, and two of them were isolated and taken out by a combination of Bosmer archers and Atronachs summoned by the Thalmor. Some of the Wood Elves had moved in to loot their bodies already. Spotting the other three of them in trouble we fought back in, Tally launching Firebolt after Firebolt at the Bosmer, I proudly matched her strike for strike. Dodging the darts, launching lightning and then looking for Tally, the few minutes felt like an age of conflict and all I could do was focus on not dying. Hey Gal must have smoothly disappeared whilst Shaker and Hey Boy lifted their heavy bows on the Thalmors moving in to wipe the StrongArms out. Our fire'n'shock strategy drew the Thalmor towards us. They sent their Atronachs in, it didn't look good until Hey Gal stabbed their masters from behind. With the Thalmor dead the Bosmer lost heart (or was that the fear from Hey Gal) and retreated. I ran in and laid hands on a good looking Nord lad with an Ice Helm, he was crouched down a bit stunned. He smiled and held out his arm, his firm calloused hand gripped mine as I pulled him up. Hopefully I gave him my quirky smile
"I'm Saffsir, thanks" his returned smile warmed me. I told myself to stop silly lusting and concentrate on the battle.
After that we organised a retreat. Saffsir with his Redguard Strong-Arms working equally to defend and block. The enemy didn't seem keen to chase as soons as we left the gully leading towards the Cave. Re-grouping with other hands to the North of the Heartlands, Saffsir and Hey-Gal sidled off with the Hand leaders from the Staves, TT's and Strikes to talk. I liked the look of Saffsir but, as to the rules, I stuck with our hand for the walk back to base (although when I look at him I start thinking to Malacath with the bloomin’ rules). A retreat also meant no looted bodies which meant we were a glum group trudging into the food hall tonight.

Beorning Saga pt 2 - Meara 2

Cyrodiil region Tamriel, 4E 175. First Seed

Meara’s Diary : 21st First Seed

Back to training today. The WhiteFire was locked away with the hand leaders most of the day. After the morning's battle training Tally pointed out the other members of WhiteHeat; The Whitefire's hand. First we spotted 'Juicy' a Dunmer like Tally but her exact emotional opposite. She’s an outgoing flirt, always stunningly dressed in black leather armour usually with flame red trimmings and accessories, the rumour was that she was a renowned assassin. Out in the training cave we spotted 'Danvil' an imperial mage who had, Tally told me, a wicked temper (Darkstride’s all right really, he knew my Da but I can’t let on to my hand as it’s the rules not to reveal your guarantor). He was training with the Nords 'BB' and 'Bolgar', BB had a huge Battleaxe whilst Bolgar favoured the Greatsword both wore scaled armour and had those Nordic horned helmets. The two Nords were double teaming Danvil and getting through his shield spell, Danvil's temper then showed itself when Bolgar rapped his bottom with the flat part of his blade. Danvil obviously thought he was superior to the 2 Nords and when they kept getting through he was going to teach them a lesson. His hand came up to cast some huge destruction spell
"Danvil don't you dare!" The WhiteFire appeared and demonstrated her battle voice.
Everything stopped, Danvil lowered his hands glaring. Then the mood passed and he laughed
"Sorry boys, you almost got me there..."
BB & Bolger looked at each other, let a deep breath out and BB winked at Danvil
"Alright old man you would've had us if we weren't training."
So even for the WhiteHeat's sometimes training can get out hand! I felt better about getting aerated the other day with Shaker during training.
For dinner we finally got our hands on that Nord Mead brought in a couple of days earlier, it was a great dinner. I think Rosso, one of the Strong-Arms we rescued, made it; as the Strong-Arms were now not a full hand they were relegated to camp duties for a week or two until they could train up the new members. There always seemed to be a few spare recruits waiting for a hand. The Aldmeri Dominion certainly has it’s enemies. I am so glad Darkstride spoke to the Whitefire and I am now one of the Reivers. I think I'm truly a member of the Fiddlers now.

Beorning Saga pt 2 - Meara 3

Meara's Diary : 23rd First Seed

I am truly a Fiddler now. It was such a surprise the initiation, a drum lesson, just the Hand in our quarters and who knew they all played lutes! The music of the four of them playing was truly wonderful. We sang Ragnar the Red, The Oblivion Gates and Grandfather Frost. Hey Boy taught me two basic drum rolls and how to keep the beat, so that I can play along. They all like my singing voice too. It's our Hand secret.

Note : FAO Magister Phaegol
Forty fingers crawl towards Fort Caractacus.

Meara’s Diary : 27th First Seed

I think I've sat here crying for an hour now, I can't believe it. What in Sheogorath happened? On the 25th we headed out south west almost towards Kvatch, then looped round to the south. We moved with the TT's and the WhiteHeat's. The TT's were singing again and I thought the other night was a rarity - they invited me to join in but Tally winked and whispered that it wasn't my voice they were interested in and they weren't vampires so it wasn't my blood either! They wore matching looted Elven Armour with white Samite cloth underneath, matching sword and shields too so they stood out from the other hands who were a raggle-taggle of mixed armour, weaponry and styles. Tally said to ignore any rumours they were vampires; these usually came from men from the other hands who'd been spurned and couldn't believe the TT's were rivals for a girls affection rather than the objects for their desire.

The WhiteHeat were amazing, barely visible, moving across the land like Will -O-Wisps but fast as well. Their style didn't match but the quality of their gear did. All clean and enchanted, they almost glowed with wealth and health. It made them stand out, according to Shaker, The Whitefire said there's no point in leading if no one knows you're leading and that she led from the front. He'd seen her during the retreat from the Imperial City and started waxing lyrical, or the Orsimer version of it, about her battle prowess. Orsimer lyrics seemed to concentrate on blood, bits of gore and maybe the poetry didn't translate well into Imperial. The Whitefire was certainly an inspiration in how she moved though.

As we headed South the White Gold Tower became visible, not quite as White and Gold as when I first saw it, taken there by my parents when I was just a little'un. Mage blackened from war and with rumours of Daedric deeds occurring in the upper levels, it seemed to have lost much of it's lofty awe-inspiring beauty. It could just be that it was how I felt now the Aldmeri were there. It used to just glow at night with an eldritch power, or was that my childish imagination? Now it was dully grey as we neared our destination; some old Fort in the Heartlands. It's funny having a series of armies tramp over the countryside has certainly made travelling at night safer - all those hunting predators, like bandits, thieves and wolves, had either been killed or cleared. During the march we came across a solitary Imp and it was similar for the TT's and WhiteHeat. In hindsight it was almost too quiet, not even any Aldmeri troops.

We'd just passed Aleswell and were anticipating meeting the other 5 Hands, The Whitefire said three had circled the opposite direct to us, via the South East, and the other two moved directly forward. The High Helms and Shor'd Up were waiting for us, the twin moons Masser & Secunda were starting to set and dawn was nearby. We waited for an hour for the others to arrive then one of the High Helms, a Khajiit, spotted them south of us, downhill and deep in the gully, closer to the Fort. The WhiteFire arm pumped the signal to move out and we sneaked south too. Forty fighters in eight hands! We expected to take the Fort as a bridgehead towards re-taking the City. I assume the aim was to take it and then reinforce as thorn in the Thalmor's side. Who knows! I'm just here to fight and earn a reputation. I often wonder as I hold the hilt of my Katana whether it really did belong to the Hero of Kvatch like Gramma told in her stories.

A shuddering noise tore the air as we neared the other three hands. A blood red shimmering door with a gold light edging the entrance rent the air and a horde of Dramora their horns and daedra eyes blazing, their black and gold armour glowing with the light of Oblivion. Caitiffs with their superiors, Kynreeves and Markynaz, came through the door bringing with them Scamps and Flame Atronach's. The three Hands ahead of us fought well but were over-whelmed fighting bravely to the death. I heard Hey Gal mutter to Hey Boy
"Dark Thalmor Wizardry, it seems they've got into bed with Morag Bal. I wonder what they traded for this..."
before the first Chain Lightning fired out from the Fort. After that The WhiteFire herself brayed out the call to rout. The worst of the calls it was 'Every Hand for itself. See you back at base.' We all looked at Hey Gal whose hands signalled East, fighting wedge. Hey Boy and Shaker went to the south side, blocking and fighting a rear guard with a bunch of Dremora whilst Tally and I started clearing the way East. Hey Gal as ever, seemed to disappear, appearing behind a huge Markynaz who was attacking Shaker. She took his head off.

Tally and I meanwhilst engaged three Kynreaves at first. I called upon Dragon Skin and went for them with the Katana, parry, strike, step forward, strike, strike, parry... one down. Tally kept her distance and cast Ice Storm, I jumped back to avoid the blast and then rushed back in slicing the other two weakened Kynreaves quickly before we moved onto the next group of Dremora blocking our way. Hey Boy and Shaker to our right, Hey Gal covering our left and ensuring no one got in behind us. It was minutes of fighting to break through and into clear wood before we ran almost straight into some Bosmer. The Bosmer surrounded WhiteHeat. We hit them en-masse, they didn't expect us. I fired lightning, grabbed my blade and went in bashing one with my shield before spitting him/her. I think I might've helped The Whitefire, I'm not sure, these battles are different to adventuring as they are so chaotic, all I'm trying to do is hit the enemy and not hit my friends. I am pretty sure I did save her though.

Anyway we carved them quickly and carried on running, trying to turning North and head back to base. It was a running battle with Dremora popping up until Hey Gal called a halt in a gully.
"We've got some Thalmor Wizard chasing us, we can't lead him to the base so we have to make a stand. Beni you're injured near that Hunter's hut, Hey Boy you and Tally are tending her. Shaker you're to wait by the entrance and signal when that Wizard's in. I'll be near you."
It was not a great, cunning plan. Just simple and effective, relying on Thalmor arrogance. Gratifyingly the Thalmor came straight in; a Wizard with a couple of warriors, not even sneaking just marching in. Shaker called the attack "Arr-Arr, Arr-Arr" in our high Hawk-call. He went straight for the Wizard not giving him a chance to summon more Dremora. Tally, Hey-Boy and I fired magical bolts & arrows at the other two, as did Hey Gal. They fired back some but two against four left them with no chance. We looted their bodies and turned North.
Note to self, chin up my gal stop those tears what would Da say ‘get practical’! I'm going to have to replenish my potion stocks with the money from the loot.

Beorning Saga pt 2 - Meara 4

Meara’s Diary : 28th First Seed

Slept most of yesterday after getting back. Today was a rest day, all of us pretty quiet. Tally, myself and Hey Gal sat and chatted about inconsequential things, trying to avoid the subject of the battle. Hey Gal said the Reivers had had the upper hand a few weeks ago which is why we started moving down into the Heartlands. Tally started wondering about a spy, perhaps it's her Dunmer nature. I started worrying that it's something to do with my arrival. I know I'm not a spy but what if I'd brought something by accident. Tally comforted me and came over to check all the stuff in my chest. She couldn't find any sort of scrying or spying magic amongst my clothes, necklaces, bracelets and rings.

I wore my (only) dress, the nice soft shoes and my best sapphire silver necklace. All just for dinner, knowing that Saffsir will be watching. It was nice to dress and feel like a girl again. Tally made me blush teasing that if Saffsir didn't want me the TT's would.

At least I managed to trade some of the gold and armour for healing and magicka potions. Stamina potions are quite easy to make, Gramma taught me but the ingredients for the other potions are harder to find. At least it kept me busy and not thinking about flamin' Fort Caractacus. Time to take the dress off now and back into my breeks and undershirt. Lay my armour out and sharpen my blades. Fortunately the Support Hand Wizard, Grimble, re-charges magic items for free.

Meara’s Diary : 29th First Seed

Some happiness at least today. It was The Whitefire who I helped out, she came and thanked me today. She said my slaying helped the WhiteHeat get away. In front of Shaker and Hey Boy too. They gave me a hard time in training now I'm the 'Whitefire kindling' but I kept my own. I must be getting stronger to parry their blocks!

Meara's Diary : 30th First Seed

Boethiah's buttocks, bugger, bugger bugger... the other hands have thought like Tally. There's a traitor in our midst. Then like hammers they've sliced to the source; the new girl. Shor's stones why me? I got a real cold shoulder in the training yard from them. I almost cried when Saffie did too but I kept the sobs in and trained harder. Hey Gal and the rest of the hand believe in me, or at least they said so.

Meara's Diary : 1st Rain's Hand

Things have been getting worse, the mutterings, black looks and spitting but at least I'm accepted as a Fiddler... otherwise Shaker and the rest of the hand wouldn't have squared up to the rest. Hey Gal used her battle shout on one of the TT's in her anger. It got so bad that The WhiteFire herself came down, she said the diplomatic words "there's no proof of a traitor. Just because Beni's new don't blame her.". Damning with faint praise, almost. Maybe it's me but I got the feeling she did believe it, after all I did save her
p.s Shor's bones The WhiteFire does believe in me, yippee. She came to our cave after dinner gave a pep talk, all the Fiddlers are one of my best hands...Beni saved me...yadayada then took Hey Gal aside. After she left Hey Gal barred the door and told us we were on lock down until tomorrow night.

Note : FAO Magister Phaegol
Muddy prints on the Kvatch Road.

Meara's Diary : 3rd Rain's Hand

What have The WhiteFire and Hey Gal been cooking up? Weird night after night and day locked down in our cavern. After dinner Hey Gal told us to get ready for a mission, then she gave us invisibility potions and we had to sneak out of the Reivers base. She had a hard face when we got out, it matched the hard pace she set westwards, any questions were met with a hard glare. The we moved south coming to the typical rolling country of the heartlands. It was then Hey Gal gave us our orders. We were to take some place called Beast's Maul. If the Aldmeri were not there we were to clear the place and wait for the regular Legion troops to occupy it. If they were then we were to head north and warn the Legion. We crept through the underbrush to the cave entrance, a normal wooden doorway and underground. The usual fungi and mosses hanging from the stalactites. Tally pointed out various large Minotaur's. We split into two's, Shaker and me moved to the left, Tally and Hey Boy to the right waiting for Hey Gal's signal. Hey Gal fired flaming arrow and we took them...easy. Nervously we checked the other caves, more Minotaur's some Spiders, an Imp and a Sprite. All easy as we hit each one hard and with numbers. A few shocks from my staff and then Shaker would step in to finish the beast off. Even so after the last couple of battles we felt twitchy and kept watch at the entrances. It was a long night waiting until we heard the Legion 'creeping' up on us. Hey Gal became all military formal, saluting and saying 'sir' when she handed over to the Legate. With that we headed back to base. An uneventful march, war does clear the bandits and wolves from a land.

Hey Boy made fun of his Sis' the whole way back about the sir thing. We were all happy, easy loot and I didn't use a single potion.

The base was conspicuously empty when we got back, even the support Hands were gone. Hey Gal said it was all part of the plan, very strange. Tally and I, as usual, had nattered and came to the conclusion that we'd proved I'm not the traitor. We didn't dwell on what the Legion might have done had the Dominion turned up... I don't think it would have been nice for me. Then we got to wondering why we were alone and couldn't work out why and Hey Gal has a vicious tongue when annoyed.

Meara's Diary : 4th Rain's Hand

We think we’re going to go crazy, we’ve been locked in again all day and there are only so many songs you can learn to play with all of us. We’ve practiced until our fingers bled, then played knucklebones but that led to arguments and Hey Gal had to give her brother a slap. We trained too, magic, archery and swords until we were dog tired and wolfed our food down.
Then we heard sounds towards the end of the day. Another Hand had come in, from their Imperial armour and winged helmets it looked like the G Wings.

Meara's Diary : 5th Rain's Hand

We awoke to find that another Hand had come in overnight. Hey Gal got us up at dawn and we wandered into the great cavern where we saw them, dead on their feet by the looks of it, the StrongArms had arrived. We came in from one doorway and the G Wings another doorway. Between us we were ordered to guard all 5 doorways, in pairs. All of us were looking nervously around, the tension was high and all coming from the look on Kudri’s face…

She started off quietly with an apology, she was sorry we’d been sent out without knowing what the mission was or where we were going. Then she looked around us all, staring with her deep blue eyes into our souls. Backing up the tone of her words before motioning to the Hand Leaders; Hey Gal, G and Saffsir moved to step behind the WhiteHeats who had formed up behind Kudri. I’d never seen blue eyes turn red before, well only in a Dunmer witch, not in a Nord. Her voice crackled with anger and hurt “We have a traitor in our midst and you unfortunate Hands have been pawns in my game. Four Hands left, only three have returned and only one person betrayed them!” She turned swiftly and pointed at “BB”, “Grab him!”
Hey Gal and G were ahead of her words, this was a planned move, Saffsir had a sword in his back. “Later we will give due honour to our dead Thunder, Quinty, CoolHand, Skinny and Curly of the FlytingStaves who have died at the hands of our enemies. Only one person, besides me and Thunder knew where they were going. The same for each of you, I only ‘accidentally’ left one of my hand able to find out where each of you were heading. Danvil” Kudri faced him “you had the opportunity to see where the Fiddlers were going, Bolger you and Juicy had the chance for the G’Wings and StrongArms. That you three Hands took your targets uneventfully, StrongArms bumping into that patrol was just bad luck, meant you’d not been betrayed.”

The anger faded and sorrow took her face, the rest of the room had stone, stern faces except for BB whose head was shaking in the resignation and desperation of a man who knows his head is about to leave his body. “We all know the rules of the Reivers…” Kudri let the thought hang in the air like Damocles Sword “but I need to know how and why BB. Will you tell us?” BB looked up, the struggle in his mind showing in his face.

• ”What’s the point? My family will die now, as will I.”
• “It doesn’t have to be that way, if the power those bastard Aldmeri’s have is over your family.”
• “You don’t know Phaegol, he’s got them hidden away deep in Oblivion and the only entrance is deep in Aldmeri occupied Cyrodiil. He’s also one of the most ruthless, cunning and ambitious Thalmor.”
• “If he’s so ruthless why have I not heard of him?”
• ”You will do once he has become Naarifin’s right hand and he’s close, with just one more task to do.”
• ”Which is?”
• ”Your destruction.”
• ”That isn’t going to happen. As I see it you only have one chance to save your family and that is to work with us. All the other options leave you dead and them to die unmercifully at the hands of that evil Aldmeri. We can all work to help them, if you will help us. Once we have them, the aim is to kill this Phaegol. Then you will be able to leave for exile in Solstheim with your family.
• BB looked sullen and kept silent.
• ”This is a one time offer, you will have from now until sunset tomorrow to decide.” She nodded at her Hand leaders “take him to the cells. The rest of you make preparations for an endgame with this Phaegol. We cannot let him think he will get away with turning one of our Hand members.”

What a turn around! The rest of the Reivers came and apologised to me. We then ate and went to prepare potions, armour and food. The sound of weapons sharpening ran through the halls.

Beorning Saga pt 2 - Meara 5

Magister Phaegol returned to his library in the old Arcane University buildings that mimicked in mini scale the White Tower of the Imperial City. As his Dominated servant entered he glowingly thought back to the long tortuous days the previous occupant, a high ranking officer in the Penitus Oculatus, had enjoyed under his personal ministrations. He had gained much information over those pleasurable days with the Redguard Mage, feeding parts of him as treats to his Bosmer captains. Finally he had Dominated the ruined mage to become his servant. Phaegol continued to smirk as the blind, mute and crippled ex-occupant of the building brought in a tray of fresh fruit & nut sweet treats. It was his midday meal and he picked delicately until a screeching call interrupted him, in the window was a hawk with a letter,
"My most esteemed and honoured Magister..."
A typically obsequious Bosmer start muttered Phaegol
"We regret to inform you that we have not captured the Whitefire. In the battle too many of the Reivers appeared and we took severe casualties, particularly amongst the Justiciars. The Reivers took casualties too, I'm sorry to say that we couldn't keep any alive for you.
Your servant, Vivheim"
Phaegol tossed the note into the table by the fireplace and called for Justiciar Salwehr
"Salwehr, it seems we must travel to the Doomstone and summon Ruma for her rumours."
"As you will Magister, must we summon that Camoran fool again?"
"Indeed we must. The Whitefire is not caught and if we wish to stop leading these Bosmer boltheads we need to impress the General."
"And we keep the prisoners in our false paradise?"
"Agreed, is it not amusing that a copy of the Mysterium Xarxes can only create a false Arcadia. If only that fool of a BattleBorn knew that his family live in my fools paradise."
Phaegol glanced up at the bookshelf holding his copy in reassurance. He enjoyed living in his residence at the ex-Arcane University and had been pleased to discover there was a copy of the Mysterium Xarxes locked away whilst torturing his new servant. It seemed just that he should gain the last known copy of his great Uncle Mankar Camoran's possession.

Dusk was falling and the mist was rising from Lake Rumare at the Tower Doomstone as the Magister, Justiciar and their Thalmor guards arrived. Phaegol's body moved with grace and certainty as he completed the Summoning of his dead relation, her shimmering wraithlike form converged out of the mist
"Cousin Ruma I would converse with you."
"Why do you bring me from the Oblivion halls of my master Mehrunes?" came the far away, but still hard voice
"I wish to use your foresight with which to further the cause of our mutual master."
"There are Aedric forces that hide much of the future and the Whitefire herself from us but I can tell you this. You will meet her in your Ass's Arcadia some days hence where you will also meet a descendent of the Hero of Kvatch who brought ruin to my father, your Uncle."
"How many days?"
"Three at the earliest, although it may be longer."
"So I should just go and wait for them?" there was a hysterical edge to Phaegol's voice, "I cannot do that! The General will flay me."
"That is your Tamriel problem, not mine. Mehrunes I come...." the voice faded as the mist drifted, merging to scrub her outline from the air.
Phaegol turned and strode away.