Memoirs of Larz D'Ovakine ~ Wolfskull Cave: Last Rites (spoilers)

• Posted by Guy Corbett January 21, 2012 - 788 views

  My elation at securing the boat coupled with my activities back on the Folly had drained me. I barely made it back to the Inn in the centre of Windhelm. I didn't care that I was in the heart of Stormcloak territory, I just wanted to eat and sleep.

  My dreams of late have come to reinforce the actions of the previous days. Images of sails, seabirds, fog and blood. The flash of blue tingling down my very nerves still. They seemed to cement in my mind the next course of action, on waking, the prevalent image that burned on my mind was a cave entrance shrouded in tree and snow.

  I knew that it was Wolfskull Cave. I needed to honour my promise to Solitude but looking at the sheer distance I had to go made my back spasm involuntary just at the thought of the ride.

  Running my finger along the map I chose to head back past Whiterun. It would be a nice stop off point and I could finally get some coin for turning that Redguard women in. It also meant I wouldn't have to ride through that god awful snow and wind of the mountains to the North. I would ride light just putting my armour back on instantly bit into the sore points of the previous day. I winced manoeuvring so it rested in a new place.

  Not long after crossing the bridge to Windhelm the road cut left over a small ridge and dropped down into a beautifully dense pine forest sprouting out of the many gorges and valleys leading up the road towards Valthiem Towers and Whiterun.  After passing Mix Water Mill on the convergence of a few rivers the road started to climb. 

  Reaching the crest of the hill the roadside dropped away to the right far down to the river that had cut the massive gorge it now flowed along. At the top stood one of the Valthiem Towers. A Nordic stone bridge stretched across the gorge connecting to the other Tower on the far side.

  In front of the main door a small camp fire and cooking pot stood smouldering away in the morning air. A female bandit rose from her perch and demanded I pay 200 gold as a toll. Her expression failed her, eyes shifting left and right, she demanded her toll again. I refused drawing my sword.

  The bout was short bound only in fur and armed with a hand axe the women fell to my blade. I kicked open the door to the tower and ran up  reaching the the bridge across the gorge. Bandits alerted to my presence jostled past the doorways and windows of the opposite tower. Whilst arrows rained down from the archers on the top of the towers. I pressed on further up the first tower dispatching a couple of bandits before charging into the Archer on the wooden platform perched high at the top. He sailed screaming to his watery death in the cold water below.

  I switched to my Bow stretching the string to its maximum tension I let the arrow fly whistling across the gorge into the leg of a bandit on the far side. His arms grasped at the arrow as he lost his footing falling to meet his companion with the same watery fate. The second archer took more tries, he was well camped in his perch atop the opposite tower. Scoring several hits on each other I got the killer shot away first sending the bandit backwards losing his balance and toppling over the rail into oblivion.

  So focused on the battle of arrows I didn't notice the noise of the remaining bandits storming up the stairs behind me. I turned whilst healing to head back down the stairs only to have my way blocked. The bandit chief and his second in command pressed their attack. Having the high ground gave me the initiative, I parryed their blows striking out as they tried to stop themselves tumbling backwards down the stairs. The armour of the bandit chief saved him multiple times from killer strikes and it was not long before they crumpled into a heap at the foot of the stairs.

  The amount of gear I looted weighed me down that I struggled to throw my leg over the saddle. Never was I more grateful for my wonderful steed. He raced me the short distance to the entrance of Whiterun.

  I offloaded all the equipment from Valthiem and used some of the proceeds to forge some new plate armour for myself. The aches from my current set had confirmed the time to get something that fit better. But I took comfort of being in town and wearing my fine cloth to rest my muscles before heading onto Wolfskull.

  I turned my attention to Saadia in the Bannered Mare. Walking to the stairs leading to her room I stopped and steeled myself. Panting heavily I swung round into her room. Startled Saadia stood up

  "Whats wrong?Whats happened?".

  "I failed quick they know you're here and are on their way." I lied.

  "How? They aren't allowed in the hold!" she panicked.

  "I'm not sure how but they have found a way. Quick I have a horse for you at the stables. Stick close to me and I will get you out before they arrive."

  Saadia cursed as she grabbed a Knapsack and stuffed belongings and clothes into it before following me out to the stables on the edge of town. As we ran up to the Barn Kematu the Alik'r leader stepped out from the shadows of the barn. Before either of us could do anything Kematu shot a blast of green magic at Saadia paralyzing her sending her falling to the ground like a felled tree.

  "Thank you stranger at last we have her. Here is your reward. We shall get her back to Hammerfell and she will pay for selling out the other noble families."

  Kematu assured me she would be kept alive before getting back and shook my hand in thanks again. I looked back at the Alik'r men bundling the women into the back of the wagon as I headed back on the road towards Solitude and Wolfskull cave.

  I traced the same route to Solitude as previously only this time to my joy the cave was up on the snowy mountain tops of the ridge on the approach to Solitude. Tying my horse up two Skeleton guardians made themselves known confirming I'd found the right entrance.

  The tunnel of Wolfskull was narrow and tight. Twisting on its self past noise traps. Ropes of bones that when clumsy enough rattle against one another alerting the inhabitants of the cave. I went undetected as I came to a chamber with a large sink hole to one side of the uneven floor. Two necromancers battled with a Draugr blasting spells at one another I remained safely hidden by the shadows.

  I let an arrow go before charging out of the dark sword raised high. I tripped on the uneven cave floor tumbling forward and to my horror I clattered down the sink hole. Unhealthily crashing onto the rubble that once was the ceiling. It took me a few moments to come to my senses. I rolled off the rumble and tried to get the air back in my lungs.

  Scanning the chamber there was no way I was getting back up the  sinkhole. On the side of the chamber an opening led down a tunnel I could feel a wisp of a breeze of air indicating a possible way out. The dark tunnel led round to an outcropping high up in an enormous cavern. From the high vantage point I saw a fort with towers had been built inside the cavernous space. It was such a big space there was room still for more. Blue ethereal light swirled round the ancient stone pocket focussing on the top of one of the towers. As I gazed at the spectacle voices echoed a chant of evil promise, of resurrection and dark power. A queen of the wolf, of dark magic, Potema. 

  The Necromancers chants seemed to raise before the voice of the Wolf Queen herself boomed around the space. She knew I was there and championed her followers to stop me before she had returned. I stood entranced momentarily before becoming aware of movement below. Mage and undead pressed on my location. I looked around and found a passageway that led down to the base of the fort and tower.

  As long as I kept the distance down the Necromancers where not much good when it came to close combat but the Draugr helped. I quickly went through a number of potions as I worked my way through the flesh and bone of the defenders. The blue light still swirling lighting up the faces of their demise.

  I found the doorway into the tower leading up to the convergence of blue light. The main group of Necromancers put up a valiant last stand, I was pushed to my very last ounces of strength as I struck the final blow into the Ritual Casters body. The blue light stopped and silence engulfed the darkening cave. Stumbling round I found a lever that dropped a bridge leading back out to the chamber in the cave near the entrance. 

  Again I failed to keep track of time it was pitch black and howling when I returned to my horse. I made quick time back to Solitude and the warmth of the Winking Skeever before the blood of my foes froze to my armour.

  The next morning I dressed in my fine clothes a headed back to the Blue Palace. I greeted Falk and bowed to the Jarl before telling them what happened in the cave.

  "Potema!You have done us a greater service than you know. If the wolf queen had been able to return it would of been everyone's end." Falk thanked me whilst handing me a reward. 

  "Did my letter get away safely?" I enquired.

  "Yes Larz I took it personally to the Falconry. It went by bird a few days ago we haven't had a response yet though."

  "Thank you Falk, please pass on my gratitude to Elisif." Shaking his hand once more I turned to leave before pausing as an idea entered my mind. Maybe I could us this new found fame and hopefully fortune to my advantage. If I could get enough notoriety I would be swimming in requests and septims and before I knew it sailing down the coast to be with my family once more. 

  I turned back to face Falk and offer my services to the hold of Solitude to what ever end.