Ice, Blood and Ash, a Skyrim adventure

Raevyn Finds a Companion

I walk into the Retching Netch, and I am bombarded with different smells. The scent of Sujamma, sweat, ash yams and brimstone accosts me, but it is a familiar scent. This is the scent of my people's hardships. I look around, seeing an Orc known to me as an Orc with a deathwish, with his Dunmer bodyguard. The next table over is a person covered head to toe in chitin armor. I literally can't see any patch of skin or color of eyes to determine his race. Geldis is downstairs, behind the bar, talking to a patron. "Raevyn, its great to see you! Its been so many years!", he amiles, coming around the bar to embrace me in a sttong, warm hug. "Geldis, its always good to see you. How is my namesake doing? I couldn't stop by the shop to see him.". He knows I'm talking about Reyvn Sadri, whose name isn't spelled the same, but is pronounced the same. I took my adopted families spelling, while he took the Sadri's spelling. "His shop is doing good, but he has a minor dilemma that you may be able to help with. But that's beyond the point, what are you doing here so unexpectedly?". I roll my eyes, "Its a long story, but I have time.", I explain to him exactly what happened, and why I am here. After the whole story is woven, every patron in the bar is avidly listening, unsure if the story has ended, so I finish up with, "and here I am." The patrons are awed, like the Nords were, but for different reasons. The question on every ones tongue is "How did the Nords accept that their savior is an elf?" I chuckled, and replied, "They took it surprisingly well. They didn't seem to care my race, but cared more about my abilities. Or what they could be, at least." One person, the person armored in chitin, asks a question. His voice is rough, blatant and alluring. Like black velvet. "How are you to travel through the Ash wastes, with barely more than the armor and weapon you carry?" I glared at him, incensed that he would see through my facade of strength, and so quickly. But I have never been one to lie, and I told him, "I was hoping to find a sword, either for hire or nay, to accompany me. I have seen that this island has changed since my last visit- and I intend to make it to my Master Neloth unscathed."

He presses his fingers to his chin, and Geldis speaks first- "That there is Teldryn Sero. Since you left, he is the best Spellsword in Solstheim. Possibly all of Morrowind.", and Teldryn adds- "for a price." I flip a septim at Geldis in thanks. I head over to Teldryn and pull out a seat.

"What's the price?", I ask. "500 septims, no less. You'll be amazed at my prowess. I won't disappoint.", he replies. I contemplate the consequences, though I can see none. I pull out my coin purse, and count 500 septims. No less.

He counts them in turn, and places the coin in his coin purse. "Lead on!" he tells me, and I like the way he says it. So sure of himself. Well, I think to myself, we will see your prowess tomorrow, when I head to Tel Mithryn.