The Ebony Renegades (Skyrim)

chapter eighty eight

" Alright everyone we strike at midnight during The changing of the guard they will be completely unaware however this will be a very high risk mission so make sure to watch yourselves and cover each other's flanks. We're going to split off into three units, one unit will return to the fallback position and bring our equipment there another unit will take The high ground and take out the archers and the guards and from there we will go in through both entrances in a pincer formation if we do it quickly and efficiently they won't have any time to react once we get the person of interest we get out of there and this is where the final unit comes in, should any survivors attempt to make a run for it take them down we cannot afford to have the entire embassy rainng down upon us." Ebon-shi instructed in a professional tone which I couldn't help but admire his leadership skills were beyond that of anything I've ever seen before he wasn't just a powerful warrior he was a strategic genius. I chose to go with the group that was invading the keep mainly to satisfy my thirst for vengeance and avenge my comrades but if this person of interest was injured they may require medical attention which I happened to know some really good healing spells during my in-depth study of the art of restoration. I watched as the three units gathered as I volunteered to go with the infiltration unit since I felt I would be most useful there that was before the man wearing the dawnguard armor spoke up. "Excuse me but due to the possibility that once we do this the Dominion will be making their way over this direction I would request to go off somewhere and retrieve my belongings from my Outpost nearby please." The man in the dawnguard armor spoke before Ebon-shi nodded requesting that he take a few people with him as a precaution since a small group would not attract much attention as long as they didn't make themselves look suspicious. The man in the dawnguard armor brought along the man with the dwarven mail armor, the man in the vigilant armor, and the woman in the shadowed netch armor who had twin scimitars. "Boss if all goes well our ETA back here should be about an hour there and back." The man in the dawnguard armor said as Ebon-shi nods signaling them to be quick as before they exited the cave I observed as the rest of the group got ready to make their leave I looked up and my jaw nearly hit the ground when I saw the high elf woman shrink the enchanting table down into a small handheld miniature that looked like it would belong in a dollhouse before stuffing it into her side pouch with a contented smile. I couldn't help but be amazed at the sheer adaptability the high elf had but I didn't have time to think too much about it. I didn't know much about this Pinemoon cave they mentioned earlier however something about it seemed familiar I walked up to the man in the dwarven armor. "Excuse me, but I have a feeling I know pinemoon cave or at least something in that area if you don't mind me asking could you tell me a little bit about it?" I asked as the dwarven armored Breton looked over at me and sat down before starting to speak. "Well from what I understand this is nearby a place called the stone garden, apparently it was a dwarven ruin that was nearby this area and it was said to be one of the most beautiful ruins ever recorded but I heard stories about a mad alchemist doing something there as for what I cannot say but I'd love to see it." He said as I nod as the imperial wearing the daedric armor spoke up. "When we were scouting over there we noticed a group of vampires there, they also had death hounds with them I suspect that they're trying to excavate something I believe it is Paramount that we disrupt whatever they're planning because I recognize them as members of the volkihar clan." The imperial vampire said nodding as the Nord vampire woman next to him nodded in agreement I could tell just by looking at her she was a vampire as well but something about her seemed off granted the one in the daedric armor didn't have the same aura as other vampires I encountered but there was still something off about him too. "So what are we going to do while we stormed northwatch keep you guys going to go clear out the vampire nest?"I asked as the imperial man nodded in confirmation. "Dividing our forces will allow us to do multiple things at once I've been to pine Moon cave before so clearing it out depending how many enemies there are should take less than ten minutes at best. " He said as I nodded. I did whatever I could to help until the other three arrived returning from the dawnguard armored redguards outpost as he called it. I assisted the dwarven armored Breton with loading up cargo into the dwarven horse trailer and was immediately impressed when the high elf woman shrinked all of the horses to be miniatures and put them inside the trailer after feeding them I didn't know alteration of the body on this ground of a scale was even possible. "It makes it easier for us to take our horses with us and not have to worry about leaving them out in the open." The high elf woman spoke as we prepared to split off into groups. True to his word after a half hour the dawnguard armored man came back with him carrying a thick leather rucksack over his shoulder before giving Ebon-shi or not what she returned and the group prepared to split off however before we did Ebon-shi decided it would be a good idea for introductions this way I knew the names of all of my fellow comrades this way I could address them by name. "Well as I'm sure many of you know my name is Erin, I'm at a few of you back at four skull lookout back in the reach a while ago. " I said as the high elf woman spoke up next since I already knew Ebon-shi. "I'm Asadelf, I'm the champion of viermina and a former thalmar enforcer but I abandoned them when I grew tired of their cruelty I'm the battle mage of the group I primarily specialize in fire and lightning destruction magic I also use one handed weapons although I gave mine to my partner so I'm using an elven mace as a substitute until I can find a better one I also collect staffs." The high elf woman who introduced herself as Asadelf spoke up as the wood elf huntress who was currently sitting on a rock sharpening her spear looks down at me before speaking up I recognized her from one I met a few of them at four skull lookout. "I'm Gila, on the champion of the daedric prince Hircine I'm also the scout and Hunter of the group my specialty is archery along with one handed I used to use a double-headed battle axe along with a war hammer and a mace but all that extra equipment almost got me killed so I dropped those in favor of my new hide shield and war axe, and before you ask yes I'm also a lycanthrope."the wood elf woman called Gila spoke flashing me a look from her golden eyes confirming that she was a lycanthrope. The argonians spoke up next the one wearing the black and red leather armor. "My name is Severin, I Am The Listener of the dark brotherhood and the champion of the daedric prince Mehrunes Dragon, I specialize in stealth archery and daggers although I use a custom Kusarigama that was formerly a daedric crescent way back from the Oblivion crisis." The argonian assassin spoke as I nodded looking over to the khajiit who was currently sharpening a pair of ebony daggers before looking up at me. "You can call me Shadow-step, I Am one of the heads of the thieves guild in riften I'm also the champion of the daedric prince Nocturnal much like Severin I specialize in stealth archery and one-handed." Shadow-step said as the Red guard woman who was currently loading up what appeared to be a small wooden frame with a metallic barrel sticking out the front that I've never seen before I noticed she had another one sitting beside her. "I'm Sabrina, I'm the alchemist of the group and the champion of Sanguine, I specialize in dual wielding one-headed weapons although I also have a shield and a ebony war axe that I use for a boarding axe I also have two miniature Arquebus weapons that Gentu made me." Sabrina said before cocking the barrels to the weapons backwards to what I presumed to be the firing mechanism before holstering them behind her back facing downwards. The next one who spoke up was the Nord in the madness armor and boy did that armor suit him perfectly because this was a madman. "Heya I'm Suvvan I am the champion of Sheogorath and Jyggalag I primarily specialize in two-handed but I also recently picked up a bow so I'm learning archery, SO I CAN SHOOT FLYING CHEESE WHEELS HAHAHA!" I visibly pale seeing the madman and realizing just how much force he had behind him of all of the daedric princess Sheogorath was by far the most dangerous in my opinion because he unlike the others he was completely unpredictable so I decided it would be in my best interest to not piss him off. The imperial with the daedric armor spoke up next I noticed that he had a masked necromancer hood on him which immediately told me he was a necromancer of some sort. "My name is Tully, I am the champion of Molag bal and a Vampire lord I specialize in two handed, one handed, and conjuration as well as the art of necromancy." Tully said as Serena went next "I don't expect this to mean much to you but my name is Serana I am a pure blooded vampire called a daughter of Coldharbour, I specialize in one handed and destruction magic." Serana said crossing her arms while leaning up against the wall. The imperial woman with the blades armor spoke up next. "I'm Myra Silver-tongue, I'm The illusionist and hagler of the group, I'm the champion of Clavicus vile and I specialize in one handed, blocking, and archery." Myra said as the dwarven armored breton I was talking to earlier spoke up. "I'm Gentu, on the champion of Meridia and Peryite I'm the mechanic of the group I'm also one of the two Smiths that make the weapons and armor. I specialize in blocking, one handed, two-handed, and restoration." Gentu said as Yamma spoke up. "I'm Yamma I'm the other blacksmith of the group I'm also the champion of Malacath I specialize in two handed, one hand, and blocking." The orc said as the snow elf spoke up next her voice gentle and kind "I'm Lianya Frostborne, this is my brother Salazar. I specialize in Frost destruction magic primarily, I also use a two-headed long sword, one handed, blocking, and archery. I'm the holy knight of Aurei'el. My brother specializes in alteration and one handed, although he is blind he uses his alteration magic such as detect to life or detect undead as a separate pair of eyes." Lianya explained while her brother just sat there at her feet resting his head on her lap and a beautiful moment of sibling affection. The one in the dawnguard armor spoke up next. "My name is Vladbram, I'm not the champion of any deity or anything of the sort, I'm a vampire hunter my father is the leader of the dawnguard. I specialize in two-handed, one handed, block, and restoration." Vladbram said as the one in the vigilant armor spoke up next. "I'm Bowen, on the last member of the vigilant of stendar who survived the assault on the Hall of the vigilant mainly because I wasn't there. I specialize in two handed, one handed, and restoration." Bowen said as the one in the dwarven mail spoke up I'm Zed, I'm another scout, my specialty is one handed and archery." Once they had introduced themselves we prepared to split off into groups Tully, Serana, Lianya, Gentu, Vladbram, and Bowen went to Pinemoon cave to clear out with the vampire occupants. Gila, Severin, Shadow-step, and Zed went out first down towards northwatch keep sticking to cover as I found a place where they could easily take shots and take out the North watch archers. Meanwhile the rest of us quietly head behind the rocks and waited this was going to be a very dangerous close fire mission, but I wasn't afraid.