The Outsider: Prologue

• Posted by Soneca the Exiled September 24, 2013 - 900 views

  -It's so godamm cold, my scales are starting to accumulate snow, and the water that was dripping down my horns is now completely frozen... - 

  -It's always freezing in dammed wasteland, but your complaining wont help warm me up, say, captain? Is that fine Cyrodilic brandy of yours still half full? - 
  
  Idiots, always complaining with each other. It’s always these two that keep bickering over nonsense. The carriage is full with my own loyal group of soldiers, the position of Imperial captain had it's benefits, but bothersome as any other high end military patent. And the fact that I was now on duty with border control was especially nerve racking.
  
  My platoon is a relatively small strike force, but our skill compensated for our lack in numbers. The idiots sitting in the front seat of the carriage, Ralthos Dral, a dark elf with very thin complexion and a long ponytail of red hair, was guiding the horses and sipping his own bottle of cheap wine to warm himself. While at his side, the Argonian, Deestan. Dark green scales, deep yellow eyes and short pointy horns sticking out from the back of his head, his bow at the shoulder and picking the dirt in his claws with a small knife.

  Ganlon, the Altmer, with his long messy white beard, tired eyes and hermit like hair, was as always, at a corner of the carriage, trying to keep himself warm wrapped around his cloak while murmuring to himself and scribbling at his journal. Laid back and with her head almost out of the carriage, I could hear Sophia snoring, always sleeping when she could, and holding her great sword tightly even while unconscious. The woman was the most stereotypical image of a Nord warrior you can imagine, towering over the rest of us, with her long brown hair, matching eyes and her arms covered in tribal tattoos. She is loud, extremely strong, loud, happy, and loud...
  
  Sitting on the side opposite to the mad elf and the sleeping Amazon, was the rest of my small party. Ricard, Breton with brown hair and relaxed green eyes, was known as the white knight of the legion. Always in a good mood and friendly to everyone he always took care to polish his armor to match the name, an expert at the use of heavy armor along with his mirror shield and enchanted quicksilver straight sword. By his side was Julia, Imperial with raven black hair and penetrating gray eyes, she is adept at fighting with short swords, complemented by destructive touch magic. There are few people in the legion who dare to cross blades with her, even at training. Mainly because of her ruthless and aggressive personality, followed by the fact she never held back in a fight.

  And completing the circle, gazing at the far cliffs, deep in thought was Brennan. Imperial like myself, with his yokudan scimitars at his lap. As tall I, albeit a little darker of skin, he has thoughtful light brown eyes, and a ponytail of dark hair. He's been serving with me for years now, and if there is one person with enough skill to give me a challenge when it comes to fencing, it's him.
  
  -So my dear captain, will you be so cruel as to let me keep getting drunk on this swill, or are you going to share the good stuff? - Said Ralthos
  
  I tossed my goatskin to him, and he avidly poured the contents down his throat. That should keep him from bothering me for a couple of minutes. As the two continued chatting while guiding the carriage I looked around to see if there was any trouble, it seemed quiet, peaceful. It was a cloudy day and the ground was wet from the earlier rain, we were passing next to a lake so I took a good long look at the undisturbed mirror of water at my side. Starring back at me was an imperial captain, atop a black steed, clad in legion armor and with a hood covering most of his face, with deep penetrating black eyes, a dark abyss of pure shadow. Well kept grayish beard and a scar reaching from the right eye to the bottom of the cheek. I'm starting to look old, my hair and beard don't help, now grey strands of a once fierce black mane.
  
  As I raised my eyes I saw a man in imperial light armor running towards us, I noticed my hand at my back griping the handle of my ebony falchion, ready to draw at the smallest warning. I calmed myself, old habits I suppose, and greeted the man.
  
  -Hail captain, I bring a message from the general! - 

  
  -At ease soldier, what does Tulius want now? - 

  
  -General Tulius requests your presence at once captain, the rebel leader Ulfric Stormcloak was captured in an ambush while trying to cross the border to Hammerfell! - 

  
  -I suppose the general needs top notch security for such an important prisoner, where are they heading? - 

  
  -They went through the crossroads you just passed a few minutes ago, in Helgen's direction! - 

  
  -Understood soldier, warn the checkpoint of this change in plans, and good work - 
  
  As he saluted and ran in the direction of our previous destination, I shouted to our carriage in the intension of waking up the tired soldiers.
  
  -Change of plans, the rebel Ulfric has been captured and general Tulius wants us to stand guard over the prisoner; they are currently heading for Helgen, Ralthos, change course! - 

  -Aye aye... - 
  
  As we rushed towards our new destination the crew started to slowly wake up from their daydreams and come to their senses, comments about the possible Imperial victory in Skyrim were starting to emerge, whether positive or negative, they all saw this as a worrying fact, the war was ending sooner than expected, and that could be bad for business...
  
  As we arrived we started to look at the carriages, there were many prisoners, mostly Stormcloaks, but some seemed like regular people, with no armor or Stormcloak colors. Then I saw his cart, him and one of his soldiers, followed by two dirty figures that did not seem to belong with the other prisoners. In the cart was Ulfric himself, gagged and bound so that he could not use his shouts to escape, a blond soldier, praying next to him, an angry little man, complaining about how he should not be there and a girl. She was a diminutive figure compared to the two Nords beside her, had pitch black hair, yellowish red eyes, pale complexion, and even behind the dirt and rags she was in, she was very beautiful. But there was something else, a raw energy that I sensed within her, like an indomitable power, ready to burst.
  
  However I could not have myself admiring her much longer, my crew was already dismounting and setting up the line for the prisoners, I brought my horse closer to Tulius as he was escaping Elenwen's speech about Altmer this, thalmor that... As he began to fill me in on the details about the capture the first prisoner was executed, and as the following people received the same fate, I began to sense something, a great energy at a distance, with the same magnitude of a daedric fiend if not more, than there was a roar that shook the ground and created great gusts of wind. As I looked up I saw wings, and fire...