Teldryn Sero: Welcome To Solstheim

One

   Ugh... Another nightmare. I sat up in my bed at The Retching Netch, my body aching with every stretch and twist of my strained muscles. I know that I need to stop overworking myself, but I need the gold desperately or else I'll end up sleeping in the ashes, and I'm not to crazy about that idea.

   I placed on my helmet and adorned my Chitin armor before heading out of my rented room and stopping at the bar to get some bread and maybe a bottle sujamma to sustain the relentless pounding in my head before limping my way upstairs.

   Every small piece of me is hoping that today I will finally get a break, that everything I've been doing will pay off and that someone will finally hire me to be their mercenary. I live for adventure and it's all I crave, besides a decent night of rest and maybe even a woman one day?

   Solstheim is a hard place with many wretched creatures and the people are filled with pride, nobody here wants, nor needs, a mercenary. They all know how to handle themselves in their own ways. I could travel alone and save myself the trouble, but what's the point of destroying your enemies if you have no one to celebrate with you? Now don't get me wrong, I have lots of very supportive friends. But I hate being alone outside of town in all honesty. Nobody should die alone out there, especially by the hands of those wretched ash spawns. I leaned back in my chair with a sigh, allowing my body to finally relax, the chair is far from comfortable... But I've had worse.

   "Teldryn, are you sure you can pay for that?" Geldis inquired as he leaned on the stone ledge surrounding the stairs, I didn't even hear him come up. His voice had an unusual gravel tone to it. He must have just woken up.

   "Of course, Geldis. Here," I stood up and walked over to him before handing him a few gold septims, "I didn't wake you, did I?"

   "I've been awake for hours, searching for new ingredients for my sujamma." He shrugged before heading back downstairs.

  This is everyday life in Solstheim. Work all day, work even harder at night, and today I will work with Glover Mallory at his forge, always more armor to be made and the guards will pay good price for a better blade or an armor repair.

********************************

  It's late in The Bannered Mare. Whiterun is good in its own ways, but it's never been a great city. I headed outside after a long night of celebrating a successful mission. My sight slightly hazed from the strong ale, in the distance I could just make out two quite bulky men wearing what must have been robes along with very strange masks... Definitely not from around here. My stomach tugged as they walked closer and I instinctively placed my hand on the handle of my ebony dagger before piping up a short, and rather confusing, conversation with them.

   Sure enough, they attacked me, but I was ready. Quickly avoiding their attacks and thrashing out a few good cuts of my own. I was able to dispatch of them quickly, even though I was more than a bit drunk. They had claimed to be looking for a "False Dragonborn" which is quite surprising for I am the dragonborn and far from being a fraud. I found a letter in one of their pockets ordering them to board a ship and take it to Windhelm, to search for and to kill me. The note mentioned a "Miraak" and "Solstheim." Looks like it's time for another adventure, I smirked to myself and stood up. The dizziness quickly hit and I fell on my ass.

  "Alas, I will have to travel tomorrow for I am entirely useless today..." I carefully stood up and headed back into The Bannered Mare to rent a room for tonight. Solstheim will have to wait, but I know the hangover has no intention to wait... Tomorrow will be hell.

   I awoke the next morning and grabbed my few belongs: war hammer, dagger, gold, a few gems, and the key to my home. I put on my armor and set out to Windhelm to board the Northern Maiden. The walk was long and I was attacked by a few wolves, some spiders, bandits... The usual. Once I got to Windhelm I talked to the guards about Solstheim and Miraak. None of them knew who Miraak was, but they all knew about Solstheim. They called it the "Dunmer place outside Morrowind" hmm. I waked out onto the docks, the Argonians didn't even mind me, too busy with their work I'm guessing.

   "Hello, is this the Northern Maiden?" I asked a man that was fixing the mast.

  "Aye, this is the Northern Maiden, and I? I am her captain."

  "Good, I was wondering if you could take me to Solstheim." He tensed, looked at me with fear and anger filling his eyes.

  "No, get lost. I'm not going back there! Not after what happened last time!"

  "What happened last time?"

  "Two strange men in robes with unusual masks boarded the ship, that's all I remember before the whole crew blacked out. We woke up when we were pulling into the dock, but the men were gone."

  "Well, you owe me then. Those two strange guys that you brought here? They tried to kill me."

  "Oh, I-I'm sorry lass. I'll take you there, but if anything is to happen to my men or to my ship during this journey, will most definitely be on your hands."

  "I'll pay you for any trouble we come across, just take me there as soon as possible." I shoved a rather heavy coin purse into his hands. He shook the bag as he grinned.

  "Men, set sail to Solstheim at once!" He leaned in closer to me, "Pleasure doing business with you lass."