Rikka Northwing: Contract Killer, Prologue: Trapped Like A Rat

• Posted by MarkusMasterThief June 6, 2015 - 795 views

  

  The moon did not shine in the sky that night; deathly black clouds loomed over the mighty land of Skyrim, as a silent shadow leaped nimbly over the streets of Solitude. With graceful agility, the shade perched upon the roof of the Blue Palace and assessed the situation; no guards were positioned outside the perimeter of the building, but they would certainly be standing at the front door. The shade could not let that dissuade her; she had been sent on an assignment to infiltrate this place and assassinate the Jarl herself, Elisif the Fair. For this shade was none other than the serial killer Rikka Northwing, and nothing could stop her from fulfilling a contract. Nothing.

  For what reason the Jarl had to die, she did not care. All she knew was this: the contract would pay well, and the thrill of killing someone so critical to Skyrim's social structure was beyond description. Of course, before actually killing Elisif, she'd have to infiltrate the Blue Palace itself. She leaped down from her vantage point and scaled down the palace wall, until she found a particular window; according to her anonymous contact, this window could be pushed open to grant her silent access to the Blue Palace. And sure enough, Rikka pushed the window open with ease and crept inside, not making a single sound. She closed her eyes and determined the sounds around her; it was quiet in the palace tonight. She'd expected to hear faint snoring, as the palace map provided by her contact indicated that the bedrooms were closely connected on the top floor, but there was nothing to be heard. As she peeked out into the great hall, she noted a second strange detail: there were no night guards, yet her contact specified that the hall would have at least three after sundown. Bizarre...

  Quietly Rikka made her way to Elisif's bedroom chamber, following her contact's map. And sure enough, there she was, lying under her bed sheets like prey in waiting. Rikka's eyes narrowed as she closed the door behind her, and silently walked toward the bed with her sword drawn. Like a deathly wraith she stood looming beside the bed frame, raised her katana up over her head, took aim... ... Wait, she thought to herself, this is too easy... And yes, it was indeed too easy. The open window, the empty halls, the Jarl unguarded... it was all going too perfectly, and she knew it. Suddenly feeling suspicious, Rikka pulled back the sheets of Elisif's bed, and her suspicions were confirmed -- what had been laying under the covers of the bed this whole time were pillows! She'd been set up! It was a trap!

  "Gotcha!" The steward Falk Firebeard spoke behind her, carrying the contract in his hand and revealing himself as her anonymous 'employer'. "It's all over, Northwing! You're under arrest for over 30 counts of murder in Skyrim alone -- including the assassination of Emperor Titus Mede II! You are to be put to death at the executioner's block tomorrow morning, as a wanton murderess and a traitor to the Empire!" Three guards stepped in behind Falk, each drawing their blades. Rikka could hardly process what had just happened -- she should have known this job was too good to be true! The clues were all there and yet she overlooked them anyway! But they hadn't wrapped irons around her wrists yet -- there was still time for her to escape with her life!

  Thinking fast, Rikka discreetly slipped an explosive potion into her right hand and threw it on the floor, causing Falk and his men to reel back in shock. This was the chance she needed! She flipped nimbly over the guards' heads and over the top floor's guard rail, and landed feet-first on the ground below -- only to find herself surrounded by 10 more armed guards as they closed in on her. It looked as if it was all over for her, but she wouldn't give up so easily! With blinding speed Rikka swung her blade at the closest guard's neck, severing the head from his shoulders -- a second guard approached from behind her and swung his sword, but missed and gave Rikka an opening to slice him open at the waist, nearly cutting the man in half -- she leaped up and kicked the third guard's head into a pillar, and threw a black egg filled with crushed glass into the eyes of the fourth -- then the fifth guard managed to deal a blow to the back of her head, disorienting Rikka long enough for the remaining men to restrain her by the arms -- the assassin fought back viciously, but she could not defend herself any longer as the guards beat her into submission... they confiscated her katana, and dragged the weary and bleeding murderess deep into the Solitude dungeon.

  "You'll never see the light of day again! Do you hear me?!" Falk vowed, "It's over for you, filthy assassin! You will be put to death by dawn's light!"