Legend of the Dovahkin

[kimcora]

Neve slowed her horse in the town. She looked around this quiet town, not a soul on the streets or even stirring. She frowned slightly as the first burned house caught her to view. It looked haunting with the snow covering it and the late afternoon sun casting it in shadow.
She bit her lip, feeling a sudden unease creep over her. "The air feels heavy here..." She told Atrious who had come up beside her.
She heard a door fly open nearby from Jarls home and she jumped a bit when she saw a man on the ground wrestling and beating on a guard. Her horse reared and tried to evade the fighting nearly throwing Neve off if she didn't cling to the reigns.
The men scarmbled out of the way of the hooves.
"What the hell is wrong with you men? Out of the mud the both of ya!" Markus snarled when he saw an Imperial armor on one man.
"You cowards! Saying you'll protect us and then turning a blind eye to my wifes murder! Now my sons missing and you bastards do nothing." The burly Nord dressed in common clothes shouted. Neve saw his face, pale and sickeningly distraught. It tugged at her compassion but she couldn't get her voice out quick enough.
"Hold your tongue villager, this is a Captian of the Imperial forces you are speaking to." One of the soldiers snarled as he pulled the bloody faced soldier off the ground.
"Screw you." The village man spat at the face of the soldier who spoke to him, the blood mixed spit running down the furious man's face. He drew his sword to kill the nord but Neve slid off her horse catching his arm with her good hand.
"Don't! He doesn't know what he's doing--" The soldier threw Neve off, making her land on her ass on the muddy ground. Markus reacted his voice thundering over the group with a powerful boom.
"Drop the civilian! We are not dogs of a pack. Let the man walk." Neve got to her feet, the mud spattered on her feeling gross but she was just glad not to have blood added to the mix. She saw the man was shaking even if he still looked pissed with the soldiers.
"Now explain soldier." Markus demanded of the soldier caught up in the fight and the man nodded around his sore nose.
"The man went nuts. Claiming we are ignoring Morthal's problems. Bad luck had settled over this place and some how its magically the Empire's fault!" He said and a pair of soldiers had to restrain the civilian to keep him from launching himself at the soldier again.
"What is the call to action, Captian?" A soldier asked and Markus looked seriously thoughtful for a long moment.
"Leave it...Our duty is not here." The civilian looked like he'd been punched in the gut, his face paling and him colapsing as the guards turned him loose.
Neve watched the man and looked to Atrious for an answer to what to do. However she felt someone touch her shoulder and she looked up to see it was Markus. "Come on. Leave it be Neve. Let the filth deal with is problems on its own..." He warned quietly, obviously he didn't know Neve's determination or the fact she didn't take kindly to innocent people being called filth. She shook her head pulling away from Markus and went over to help the man up. She glanced at Atrious not knowing what he would do but hoped he was honest about siding with her on things...perhaps it was wrong to want to help this man...but she hardly had the heart to turn him away.
"Can we take you somewhere to get your ribs checked out?" She said and he nodded. "The Jarl...has a healer." He winced clutching his side.

[vamperious]

Atrious watched the scene play out then saw Neve get a determined look as an glanced at him the dismounted. He too got off his horse but went to collect hers and tie it out side the Jarls. He held the door for her and the civilian glancing about at the other Korea as if challenging him- he Kinda wanted a fight at the moment- it might have relived his bordelaise. He went to stand by Neve wanting to hear what the man has to say.

[kimcora]

When they entered the Jarl's hall, they were greeted by guard looking threatening. "Back, the Jarl is not seeing anyone at this hour." Neve shot the men a mean look and went to go around them till one caught her arm, nearly making her trip and drop the guy.
"Stop he needs medical help." She said and the guard pushed her back.
"Did you hear me, I said--"
"Enough, Taurinus." A woman shouted as she came into the room. She was a tall woman, dark skinned with dark eyes. Her pointed ears and greying hair made her realize the woman was a dark elf, the crown on her head showing she was a Jarl. "I know that man." She said parting her guards to see Neve, Atrious and the battered villager.
"Vander, the town drunk." She huffed before motioning to a spare room. "Take him in there, I'll have Idgrod look at him." Neve nodded and helped Vander into the room. Another dark elf woman, this one just younger, she ran and helped him onto the table.
Neve was escorted out of the room with Atrious and sent to stand infront of the Jarl's seat. Neve found the whole procession ridiculous, especially since the old woman was sitting instead of standing to speak with them. Markus had seemingly joined them and he bowed to the Jarl, giving Neve a look to do the same. She bowed very slightly and looked back at the woman with serious eyes.
"Welcome to Morthal...I suspect you were passing through only however..." She said, holding up a hand to stop Markus from speaking.
"I know my town has a bad name amoungst the people of Skyrim due to its recent misfortune. I am no stranger to rumor as well from my friends in Windhelm..." Neve knew what she was eluding to. Windhelm, home to the Storm Cloaks, despised elves, especially the ones trapped within its walls. They were always vocal about it, and most likely spoke out against this Jarl.
"The soldier spoke of these misfortunes...and this man...Vander...he said something about his wife and child?" The Jarl looked to Neve for a long moment, before her eyes slowly shut. For a moment she was still a long while till suddenly she breathed in deeply and opened her eyes.
The exchange was wierd, making Neve step back. However the old woman's lips turned up in a strange smile that spread to Atrious. "You are brave travelers...But foolish to think you can aid this man." She looked back to Neve whose eyes narrowed.
"Why not?"
"This is not a darkness you wish to submerse yourself in child. Your friend here would understand that...Best you take your rest and move on." Neve looked annoyed, her anger building at being dismissed like this. However she understood this was a woman of power and wouldn't speak out against her so openly.
Perhaps it was odd that she cared about this so much, but Neve found the topic sensitive and the injustice was just wrong...

[vamperious]

Standing in front of the Jarl he almost smiled, she was an elf, he liked that. Instead he kept on a poker face as Neve placed her questions. When her smile turned to Atrious he felt himself freeze a little not liking the glance she was giving him as she spoke of him knowing Darkness- yea he understood it quiet well seeing his own father and such being driven insane by his passion but still- he loved the elf. How would she know---unless... Some elves had the ability to see auras- one that was a bit more rare however Dark elves had a knack for it. ."I appreciate your concern however please...Stay out of my aura...I like to keep to my self. However we are skilled enough to know that we can face what ever they have for us. If we get killed for our ignorance then so be it." Atrious commented in a polite tone however it was strong, almost authoritativeness in the beginning. He hated people snooping into his life. "Now please explain whats been going on to my friend here and the Captain." he addressed Markus differently because he had done nothing but irritate him since meeting him. His voice was persuasive however he wasn't trying to be- hew as simply saying it how things were- He knew the consequences for messing with dark matters and he would avoid them when he saw them- if it got too deep he would make them leave.

[kimcora]

The Jarl looked genuinely humored about being called out for her snooping and she let out a favored smile. Neve looked confused but happy that Atrious was willing to help out with this. Though she knew he probably felt forced into this. She would ask him later if he really wanted to leave. She would oblige if he honestly felt against this.
But what was with this talk of auras? The Jarl's smile was odd enough but Atrious noticed something more. She would have to ask Atrious later.
"The hold has recently witnessed a string of misfortune. First there was a fire in a home near town, killed the whole family. And now the youth and young of the village have steadily been disappearing." She looked towards the healing room where Vander was. "My daughter has not yet been targeted by whatever is taking the youth...but her friends have all disappeared. I do not know the full stories. Only that they were there that night then gone in the morning. It started with the local smiths daughter. She disappeared and everyone went looking for her only to discover her male friend the stable hand had also disappeared. The villagers put the pieces together what might have happened...." She shook her head a bit and looked Neve. "The man you aided...he was the most recent trouble. His wife was found dead in the swamps pale as a ghost..., his son, a young man of only 16 went missing yesterday." She motioned to the door. "We know not of what has caused this...but I sense it is something darker than we alone can face. Do you not sense it in the air here? It clings to us like the vile stench of death." Neve blinked not realizing things were this messed up here.
"That is all I really know...the best place to hear information is from the inn up the way. The villagers and family of the missing gather there to discuss their troubles. I'm sure they will welcome help, if your sincere..."
Neve nodded. "Thank you, Jarl Ravencrone." She said but before she could rise, Markus leaned in to whisper to her.
"Neve this is a bad idea. I cannot afford my uncle knowing I aided this woman." Neve looked to Markus, her eyes narrowing. "Then don't. Leave. Atrious and I will help them." She snapped rising and leaving with a switch in her walk.

[vamperious]

Rising he nodded in acknowledgment. Standing he left the room with neve, he had an idea o what this could be casing it but he was very unclear- he needed some more information. He went with ehr to the Inn and when he entered it got strangely quiet. That made him frown, heading up tot he inn keeper. "Miss- I was wanting some information on whats been plaguing this town. My companion and I wish to help." He said in a calm voice wondering what exactly they thought about the situation.

[kimcora]

The inn keeper looked pale as a ghost when Atrious spoke to her. It was bery obvious by the atmosphere here that everyonewas very distrustful of the two. Neve felt a glare on her back and she looked over to see a child being ushered to a back room. Did they think they could be involved with whatever this was?
"We're trying to help..." She said softly and a man from a nearby table gave a disgusted noise.
"And why would you want to do that? You're an outsider!"
"Probably just here like the last one, to extortion money out of our pain..."
"Leave! What can your kind do?"
Neve felt the building pressure of trying to keep her anger in check getting the better of her. She gritted her teeth, her nails digging into her palms painfully.
"We're helping because it's wrong what is happening here and because we're not heartless enough to shove aside your own--Vander--like the soldiers wanted to." She looked to the woman that said things about her kind and her lips twitched into a sneer. "My kind? honestly you make that kind of distinction to a person who offers you help. I want no pay, neither does my ally. We simply wish to find a way to end this...to help you get back your families..." She said hitting the heart of her feelings of her subject. She didn't like it when kids got involved with things, especially when they were torn away from their families like that....
The room fell silent for a long moment before the inn keeper spoke up. "We're not sure what it is. But we know nothing has been the same here since the solstice...You see Morthal used to have a healthy ammount of visitors...mages mostly because of apothacary shop just across the way. Anyways, the Solstice festival came around and we got the usual crowd. But that night a fire caught in the house just up the way Hroggars. His wife and little girl died in that fire...Anyways after that people started going missing, namely all the youth. No one over the age and only one woman of decent age was taken and found dead..she was pale as ash, her throat all torn to pieces. We thought it was a wolf or something but wolves stopped coming here after the solstice, infact most animals disappeared." She looked around the room then found a face she was looking for.
"Danie said she saw something prowling the streets the other night. A lone figure. No sex to be determined but, she said it was looking at the Jarl's Hall..."
"The Jarl's daughter is the youngest woman left." A man said, one who looked similiarly pale and tired. Neve put a hand to her mouth and looked to Atrious.
"We thought it strange that the Jarl's daughter wouldn't be touched. But Ingrod hides away all day and night healing the sick. Perhaps that is all that has kept her safe." None of this was adding up. If they suspected someone then why weren't they setting up a watch to find who it was?
"We've set up watches but they still seemed to take someone..." Someone else threw in and Neve bit her lip looking puzzled.

[vamperious]

Atrious frowned when they only listened after Neve yelled back at them. They had singled them out as a 'kind'. He didn't want to help them any more- they were no better then anyone else in Wind helm... racist bastards with out hearts. Frowning to himself he knew he was being bitter and that would not help them get back what they have lost. Taking a deep breath he looked to Neve he had heard of some people- well creatures that take children however he wasn't sure what to call them. He listened carefully to the things about the strange figure walking the streets- he was curious about that himself. Casting his eyes about he looked at a man sitting at the bar- backs to them- almost ignoring the situation totally.

[kimcora]

Neve noticed Atrious tensed up some and she sensed it had something to do with the earlier comments. She had to admit she was pissed but then again, these were Nords they were dealing with. THey were innherantly bitter against elves for whatever reason. For their looks, for their history with the Thalmor and as the originals of skyrim, or perhaps just because they needed something to turn their anger on. Two wrongs didn't make a right, and she understood that the first way to combat the ignorannce was to do something about it. Besides, the children shouldn't suffer for their parents ignorance.
"Is there any connection with the children? You said Ingrod stays indoors alot...so perhaps these children adventure around the village?" The men and women looked around before another spoke.
"Well they're children, they roam. But not far from the village."
"Then what was the order of children taken?"
"Strangely enough...it was youngest to oldest." The inn keeper said and Neve nodded.
'Picking off the weakest first..' She thought and shook the thought off. She drummed her fingers on the bar before she gave a sigh. "Then if its been observing the Jarl's home it is only right to assume that's where it will strike next. Get together a watch and be ready for it."
"That's the problem, the cold here is too bitter at night to stay out there. We'll freeze and besides the thing never comes if we're out there. It will wait until we leave or give up."
Neve frowned then an idea hit her.
If frigid temperatures were all they were really worried about then perhaps she could help.
"I'll do it then. I like the cold anyways." She said and a woman shook her head.
"You'll catch your death out there." Neve gave a prideful frown. "I'll be fine, just point me to a good lookout point." She patted her arrows for emphasis.
"Atrious, you up for some late night watch?" She asked, not sure if he would accept since he seemed pretty off put on this.

[vamperious]

Atrious smiled at Neve," Always, I have heating charms..." He said with a smirk. He went outside then- hew anted out of the hostile air- it was getting colder out but it kinda felt nice against his warm face since he was angry. He wasn't mad at them just their words...They were hated, singled out, and judged before they would even be known- he was lucky enough to look like his enemy- he hated it some days.

[kimcora]

Neve kept up with Atrious since she hardly wanted to take on a room of Nords by herself. The chill didn't do anything for her, almost like her nerves were just dead to the cold. She would shiver however in a while but even that was rare unless she was soaking wet like before.
"Look I know I kinda dragged you into this but...even if this isn't the most friendly of places...I still feel they need help even they're too stupid to realize it." She said her eyes on the snow and then on the soldiers that had taken to the outpost nearby. That was where Markus was cowering no doubt. "So got any ideas what we're up against?" She asked, since Atrious seemed to have a better sense for things than she did. He was the one that really seemed to plan better than she did.

[vamperious]

"Well there are a couple of things...It will depend Neve...Don't worry I don't want the young to suffer for the ignorance or the bitterness of their elders..." He pulled a vial form his belt and shook it up- it gave off a small yellow glow giving off heat. He put it in his hands and smiled at her looking about for a good spot." There on the bridge just there- we can get on top of that building- we can get a good view of the main street in front of the Jarl's." He figured people would leave them be and see if they were dead in the morning.

[kimcora]

"Good I was worried that it was a bad idea..." She muttered something odd for her since she didn't normally admitted to being wrong. However in this situation she didn't know exactly what to expect. She observed the route he pointed out and she nodded. It took them a little bit to get on that roof but when they did she perched on the corned, her eyes taking in everything around.
"Atrious can I ask what happened back in the Jarl's hall...the stuff about the auras?" Atrious seemed put off back there and she wanted to know if this Jarl lady was someone not to be trusted.

[vamperious]

He smirked T her question," the Jarl is a darker with the ability to read auras . She can sense things about our past from reading it- for exams- my past is just shy of dark and dangerous- she mentioned that however she has never met me before. It's a talent some elves get..." He said in a calm quiet voice. His voice was like a teachers when he spoke . He didn't care for thu Jarl here but the people needed help. " wht do you think about these problems?"

[kimcora]

This talk of auras and reading them intruiged Neve. She had heard of witches doing things like this in Riften and Mara priestesses healing the auras of the sick, but never reading someones past from an aura...she couln't help the curiousity it left her with to know what her own aura was like. It was a small rather childish desire that she kept locked away, one that longed to know about her own past before the Khajiit had found her. Or perhaps she could explain those weird nightmares she had always had...
But Atrious's aura being dark and dangerous because of his past did stike a bit of worry and curiousity in her aswell. She knew he wouldn't openly tell her about his past and she wouldn't pressure him to, not until it became something important to a situation to know.
When asked about her stance on this problem she huffed with a light tired smile. "This talk of darkness makes me think this is not just a person involved. Perhaps magic of some kind to cloak their appearance or to accomplish all this? I don't know. But why the young? And it seems if its been watching the Jarl's home...it seems to have a sense of where these young ones are...It doesn't add up." She said biting her lip as a breeze carried over her, brushing her hair into her face before whipping it away.