Chapter 31: Chapter IV: Extermination (part 1)
Chapter 31: Chapter IV: Extermination (part 1)
As the group entered the cavern they were hit with a rather disgusting smell, a mix of blood excrement and whatever else could be felt even at the entrance.
'This will certainly fuck with our morale the longer we go on' Thought Reyvin as he focused on getting used to the smell by forcing himself to breathe through his nose.
Thorgrim, leading the group from the front raised his hand for everyone to stop as they reached a passage, turned to the mages, and whispered "Anyone of you able to see what is in front?"
Bor whispered back "We could send our wolves but they would be spotted quickly" with Brienne nodding along.
Reyvin quickly added "I can send my hawk forward, he is smaller and far less noticeable" Thorgrim nodded at him and the elf quickly summoned Scorch and sent him forward. They waited in silence for a good minute before the bird returned and unsummoned itself.
"There is a large cavern filled to the brim with Falmer ahead of us, they seem to be busy eating in one large group, we could ambush them but we must be quiet, they have good hearing" Reyvin explained what the bird saw.
The old guard nodded and asked "Can anyone of you mages get close? All of us are in heavy armor and an ambush would fail before it even begins."
The twins shook their heads, they were terrible at being quiet and they knew it. He turned to Reyvin with a hopeful look with the latter sighing "I can probably get off a good initial attack, but you all need to rush in quickly after it begins or I am fucked"
The Nord nodded and assured him "We won't leave you out to dry young man, on my honor"Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Reyvin prepared himself mentally and headed toward the chamber, quickly turning to the guards and whispering "You saw nothing" and casting a levitation.
Everyone gawked at him as he flew up into the air and entered the large cave section, quickly reaching the ceiling he cast a wind-ward and stoneflesh combo, and prepared a fireball in each hand.
Using his third eye to detect the trace of Magicka all creatures possessed he counted about forty of the goblinoid fuckers sitting around a fire and grumbling something in an unintelligible language.
One of the more ornately dressed Falmer seemed to sense something but it was already too late as two large fireballs detonated into the group, disintegrating a couple of unfortunate targets, but killing far fewer of the fallen elves than Reyvin had hoped.
As soon as they heard the noise the Nords charged through the passage, still keeping a robust formation, the twin mages started casting ice shards and shooting the more important- looking Falmer.
A couple of arrows headed for Reyvin who was preparing another fireball, thankfully his foresight saved him as the wind-ward spell simply flung the arrows to his side.
He launched his spell into a group of archers, decimating them. Unfortunately, this was the end of his role as magical artillery, the fireball spell was powerful but far more demanding than the lower spells, he continued observing and started throwing firebolts wherever he saw a guardsman about to be overwhelmed.
The fight lasted for a couple of minutes until a Falmer wearing dwarven metal armor refitted in a Falmer style, riding a massive chaurus charged from the far entrance of the cave, leading a group of twenty more well-armored goblinoids.
The leader crashed into the line of Nords, pushing a large number of them to the ground, but Reyvin was not idle while this was happening, his Magicka reserve was drying out so while sending Scorch to interrupt the reinforcing group for a moment, he positioned himself above the Falmer 'knight?' and unslung his spear.
Sending a prayer to his ancestors he turned off his levitation spell while aiming the spear for the thing's neck.
(Pov Thorfinn)
A fucking cavalryman?! Since when do they have cavalry?!
My father did tell me stories of the Falmer, but they were always said to be barely above goblins.
The massive bug creature crashes into our line and we are thrown about like ragdolls, thankfully our armor saves all of us from an instant death, but many are hurt. I see the Nord mages try and help us, but I know they won't be able to harm the thing.
I steel myself and charge the bastard riding the creature, letting out a war cry I jump up, my sword aiming to take the fuckers head, but he reacts far faster than I would expect a blind creature to do, swatting away my blade like one would a stick, his mount turns to bite my head off and I prepare to join my father in Sovengarde.
When Reyvin of all fucking people appears above the damn things and rams his spear straight through the neck of the rider and into the head of his mount.... what is it with this elf?!
(Pov: Reyvin)
'Holy shit that was terrifying!' I think as I start shaking from the adrenaline of my most recent stunt.
I turn towards the reinforcing group of Falmer, Scorch blowing himself up on them did slow them down quite a bit, but I know the guards won't be able to reorganize in time. I turn toward the twins and shout "Delay them with everything you have"
They both follow my command, not daring to argue in the middle of a fight and send their wolves to harry the incoming Falmer while moving to the front and casting frostbite with all they have, as to slow them down even further.
I do not remain idle either, the guards seem to be reorganizing and taking a formation again, but it is still not enough. I summon my saber and with the last bit of my Magicka I recast an Empowering Stoneflesh and launch myself into the enemy formation.
They may outnumber me but they are far weaker than my magicked-up self and are already taking casualties from my Nord colleagues.
I decapitate one of them and dodge a spear strike, predicting it with my new bloodline ability 'please don't tell me Dagoth was a secret Uchiha for fucks sake' I think jokingly as I dodge another strike and repay the little fucker with a stab through the eye.
The Falmer reorganize themselves and chose to simply throw themselves at me, the familiars of my friends launch themselves into the pile to delay them and I retreat, realizing that my
work was done.
The now back-in-formation Nord guardsmen charge into the enemy line and start slaughtering the distracted Falmer, this fight lasts for seconds only.
(General pov)
Everyone gives a tired cheer as they butcher the last fallen snow elf.
Before people can celebrate further Reyvin immediately speaks up "Everyone check if you got even the slightest cut, the poison they use is fast acting and will kill or paralyze you."
Everyone listens to him without question, which actually surprises the young Dunmer.
Thorgrim, followed by Thorfinn joins him and the old Nord asks "Why do you look so surprised eh? What you did to that bug rider is worthy of a song!" Followed by a cheer from everyone, even the twins.
Thorfinn looked at him for a couple of seconds before offering his hand and saying "You saved my life today, I will remember it"
Reyvin while still taking the offered warrior's handshake shakes his head "You'd do the same for me, there are no debts among comrades" and the Nords cheer once more with Reyvin wincing internally from his cringeworthy words.
They all take a rest while bandaging wounds and applying antidote, the mages focus on recharging their Magicka, which is far faster than it would normally be without the use of
Arcane Ascension.
Due to Scorch being able to come back quickly, it is decided that they would prolong their rest until he regenerates, the scouting will be necessary if there is more of the same waiting for them.
If you have enjoyed reading this toss me a stone.
If you want to support me directly and read a bit ahead do visit my patreon page patreon .com/Rastislav156 (currently up to chapter 15)