Teldryn Sero: Welcome To Solstheim

Two

Teldryn
    I always enjoyed listening to Glover's stories about Riften, the thieves guild, and his brother. The man had a way with words, believe it or not, his tongue was as smooth and as strong as the weapons he forged. Guess he picked it up after all those years with the guild.

   He and I became close friends after he showed me the way around the forge. I'd already known a lot about smithing, but not nearly as much as he knows. After all these years, he's still teaching me.

   "Are you done improving the fit on those bracers yet, Teldryn?" He asked, never taking his eyes off of the grindstone and the sword he was sharpening.

   "Almost, just have to improve the leather on this one... and maybe bend the plate a bit more... to round it out." I looked down at this rather troublesome bonemold bracer and cursed at myself as I went back to work.

"Calm yourself," he laughed, a deep booming sound that was filled with cheer, "Once you're done with that bracer you can go rest. I have to make sure this order gets there in one piece."

  "Order? What order?" I turned to look at him and tilted my head slightly.

   "The Northern Maiden is due to be here in a bit. They offered a very good amount of septims for some good weapons, you know? With the war and everything. Plus, I figured you'd like to finally be able to eat something better than a bit of stale bread tonight." He placed the sword carefully into a crate and turned around with the biggest smile I've ever seen.

   "I don't know what to say, Glover.... You're too kind." Did I say friends earlier? Scratch that. We're more like brothers, born from the flames of the forge.

   "Then don't say anything," He shrugged, "now go, I have to crate the rest of the weapons up and get them down to the dock."

   "I could help y-"

   "No, Teldryn. Go rest, buy some sujamma. You've earned it." He interrupted before shooing me away.

  And with that, I left. I sat in my chair at The Retching Netch and drank my sujamma, enjoying the warmth that radiated through my body once it hit my stomach. It was a fire, but it wasn't the fire I was looking for... Nothing here could ever be stronger than the fire for adventure. Weird that The Northern Maiden is returning so soon, only been about two weeks since it was last at the dock... Guess they really need those weapons.
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Dragonborn
   I leaned against the bow, swaying with the boat as I watched a settlement grow closer and closer. The place was dead, covered in ash and the water was so dark there was no possible way that any type of fish could live in it. It was beautiful still, the sun was just starting to fall and painted the dark gray sky with colors I cannot describe in mortal tongue. how? I cannot tell.

   "There's Raven Rock," The captain called out as he came to stand next to me, "Welcome to Solstheim, kitten." He patted my back and walked away.

  I sighed. It took a lot of sweet talk and three days, but I'm finally here. The captain was reluctant to set sail again due to something strange happening last time he docked at Raven Rock. But I was able to persuade him with some sweet talk, and a fair bit of gold. I listened to the waves as they crashed and swelled against the boat. Strangely peaceful.

  Once we pulled into the dock we were greeted by a rather tall Dunmer (Dark Elf) in royal clothing, who happened to notice me right away and spared no time in addressing that I follow their rules and stay out of trouble.

   "I will stay out of trouble," I assured him,"but tell me... Do you know someone named Miraak?"

   "I'm not sure..." His body went rigid and his facial expression clearly stated that he was slightly confused, "it seems so familiar, but the only thing I see when you mentioned that name is a temple somewhere on the island.... And maybe the tree stone"

   I thanked him for his help and walked across the dock towards the small town. The guards here were rather tall and wearing strange bulky armor, and I couldn't help but stare.

   "What? You've never seen a Redoran Guard before?" A guard barked when he caught me staring. His voice was gruff and had a slightly annoyed tone to it.

   "I'm quite sorry, sir... Just admiring your armor." I bit down on my lip, slightly embarrassed.

   "It's alright, miss. Talk to Glover at the forge, he could set you up with some armor. Oh, and head over to The Retching Netch if the ash has your throat parched." He pointed to a dark curved building.

    "Thank you." He nodded with a small grunt before walking away.

   I headed over to the building he had pointed out. The Retching Netch? must be an inn of sorts. As soon as I opened the door I was met buy a rather friendly, and rather short, Elf that told me to talk to Geldis if I needed anything. We exchanged pleasantries for a bit before heading downstairs, clutching my fists and ignoring the Orc as he glared daggers into my back.

   I was able to find Geldis easily and engaged in a short conversation about sujamma and why his inn had such a strange name. He was rather kind, for a Dunmer, so I was glad to help when he mentioned something about spreading the word of his new mix of sujamma.

   I headed up the stairs again to come face to face with the Orc. I honestly would have liked to avoid him.

   "I don't give handouts, so get lost. Milk drinker." He spat out the insult with a grin, his huge teeth giving him a rather stupid appearance that I couldn't help but laugh at, which caused him to swell with rage.

   "And I? Don't give a skeevers ass about what you do and don't do, Oops." I shrugged before walking around him, sure enough I felt him grab my arm and tug me back towards him. Oh, I'm going to enjoy this.

   "How dare you! I could turn you into a rug faster than you could say "Sujamma" woman!" He was practically fuming with rage, I swear he had smoke forming around his head. I simply smiled and pressed my dagger against his stomach and smirked when his anger faded into surprise.

   "And I could rip you apart faster than you could blink, just by using my voice." I put my dagger away and walked out of the place. I was surprised to hear a voice in my ear and a gentle hand on my shoulder, turning me around.

   "That was really brave of you." he said. He was tall, taller than the Orc. He had a rather bulky set of strange armor, but it was different than the guard's armor with an even stranger helmet. I couldn't see even a sliver of his face through it, not even his eyes. "You're the first one to ever stand up to that big oaf."

   "Thanks? Who are you?" I tilted my head trying to see his face but it was more than useless.

   "Teldryn Sero, at your service. For the right price of course."