- 29th of Mid Year, 4E 202 -
The gods have grant my wish. What a glorious quest I've been on. I feel so alive.
I met up with Galmar and several other stormcloaks outside of the old ruin Korvanjund. I actually arrived before them and was heading down into the ruin when a legion soldier stopped me and ordered me to leave. I was glad I was wearing my own armor and hand't switched to the stormcloak armor. I turned and left the snotty brat behind me, and a smile crept across my face. I knew this fellow would be dead by the end of the day.
Once I found Galmar and his troops, he gave an energized speech and got us all raving for imperial blood. I didn't need the motivation, but it didn't hurt either. I could almost taste the coming screams of mercy.
We moved as one down into the ruin, completely taking the imperial garrison off guard. Galmar led his contingent against the first sword-wielding soldiers at the bottom. I noticed a trio of archers up on some stairs on our flank, so I split from the group and went after them. Having good experience under my belt now I know how dangerous it can be to take archer fire while in a deadly melee brawl.
The archers spotted me coming up the stairs but it was too late for them. I let out a mighty shout and sent all three of them tumbling through the air like pebbles down a raging river. I sprinted to the first before he could even gather his wits and put my mace through his skull. The second had just gotten to his feet when I reached him. He drew his sword but never had the chance to use it as I struck him with my shield and finished him with my mace. I was ready to send the third to oblivion when I noticed he was already dead, perhaps from my shout? I'm not really sure, except for the fact that he was dead.
The battle was still raging below me and I hadn't gotten my fill just yet. I jumped down from the stairway right into the midst of flying steel. My ears were filled with yells and screams and clanging metal. But I barely noticed. I was in a fever for the heads of these imperials. I smashed them with my shield and pummeled them with my mace. They fell to my left and fell to my right.
We pushed inside the ruin and found more imperials waiting. I rushed ahead, using my shout once again to knock them off their feet and rob them of their senses. The other stormcloaks swept in behind me and we waded through the ranks of the imperials like they were nothing but air. I was giddy with the violence, in a trance of sorts .. mesmerized by their falling bodies. I couldn't get enough of it. This was the antithesis to feeling the loss of my father .. the loss of my friends .. the loss of my previous life. This was my vengeance .. my retribution .. my salvation.
Further inside we pushed, cutting down one imperial after another. I was soaked in their blood and loving every second of it. I felt like a child at carnival in the summer. I was free and alive and every imperial that fell before me spurned me to find the next.
We eventually came to a narrow corridor and Galmar was sure that the imperials were waiting for us on the other side. He wanted to foil their trap by getting around behind them. No doubt he had noticed, perhaps with some amount of unease, my smile behind my steel plate helmet as I pounded each legion soldier to the ground. He sent me ahead to find a way around the corridor, and I gladly accepted. I had grown tired of sharing the shedding of imperial blood as it was. I wanted them for myself.
I used a side passage and worked my way into the room where the soldiers were waiting for us. Galmar had been correct. I could have used a bow at this point, as I was high above them, but it was too impersonal. My mace would be much more appropriate. I wanted to see the life as it left their eyes.
I spent the next several minutes sneaking all the way around and got right up behind one of the soldiers. With any luck I would kill him outright and draw the others in the room up the stairs behind me. I would have my voice waiting for them.
As planned, all it took was one mighty swing of my mace to crush this nord traitor's spine and bring his comrades running. I stood and awaited their arrival. So eager were they to rush to me and spill my blood. I nearly laughed at them. Galmar and the others were running into the room now, and right on time. I unleashed my voice as the imperials reached the top of the stairs, and they flew back down in a tangled mess of arms and legs.
I ran to them and began dealing out blows before they could even figure out what had hit them. The other stormcloaks joined in and we made short work of those imperial thugs.
With our spirits high we continued further into the ruin. We found an old door that reminded me of the one in Bleak Falls. There was a dead imperial on the ground next to it and I spotted a claw next to him. The fool had tried to open the door but didn't know how. A trap had killed him. I set the door dials correctly and placed the claw in it's place and opened the door. We continued.
After battling our way through draugr of all varieties, we finally came to a room of distinction. There was a raised area and set at it's back end was a throne of sorts, and a draugr sat lifeless in the throne. Galmar sent the others to check the room for the crown but I knew better. The crown would be with the draugr on the throne, and he would no doubt be unwilling to part with it nicely.
I readied an arrow in my bow and let him have it. The draugr rose to his feet as I hit him with a second arrow. Two more draugr burst from tombs on either side of the throne. Galmar and the stormcloaks rushed into the fight as I found an angle where I could use my shout of force. I sent all three draugr flying, and we pressed our attack against them.
Within a few minutes we had killed both of the lesser draugr and lost one of our own. Galmar and I and the remaining stormcloak focused together on the draugr deathlord.
He was a worthy opponent, however. One cut from his sword left me in trouble, and I knew a second would surely finish me off. Before I knew it the other stormcloak lay dead on the ground and Galmar himself was having trouble staying on his feet. I continued using my voice and my mace, but the draugr refused to die. Galmar and I did our best to fight the fiend in waves, leaving each other a bit of time to recover.
And then, as I was charging in to give Galmar a rest, the draugr king shouted at me. I was surprised by it, and was equally surprised to find my mace torn from my grasp. I heard it clatter around behind me, but the room was dark and I couldn't find it. Nevermind the fact that I had an angry draugr in pursuit.
I regained my strength just in time and unleashed my own shout against the evil creature. With him momentarily out of action I ran to the nearest body, that of one of the other draugr, and ripped the ancient sword from his hands.
The fight continued for at least another hour, and I was required to use a health potion on two occasions. Galmar himself nearly died multiple times, as did I. It was a battle of the ages, and it seemed like it might never be won. In the end it was Galmar's hand that ended the fight, and I was thankful for that.
We found the crown on the draugr and I also found another wall with the ancient language on it. I learned a new word, which I will put to the test soon. I feel as if this power will allow me to control time itself somehow. A valuable power indeed.
As it is, I have just awoken after getting some sleep on a bedroll inside the ruin. I must now return to Windhelm with the crown for Ulfric. I only hope he rewards me with a mission to cut down more imperial soldiers.
