Chapter 15: Karstaag
The airship landed outside the doors to the ruins. The heroes got out of the ship and went to the entrance, he tugged on the doors but they were sealed shut.
"I can't open it." said Argon
"Let me try." said Nerevar
Nerevar tugged on the door a few times but it refused to come loose.
"It looks sealed, let me try." said Sheogorath
He summoned a giant bolt of lightning to strike the door, but it did nothing except cause snow and rocks to fall from above and bury the door.
"Well that's great. What now?" asked Fayen
"There's another entrance, but we have to go through a cave and battle some Reiklings." said Argon
"Well, we don't have any other options. Lead the way Argon." said Garnin
********
Argon had lead the team down a path that went around the ruins and they entered the caverns. The heroes started sneaking as to avoid as much chaos as possible. They were doing pretty good until it came to the first bridge. They were sneaking one at a time in a line across the shaky bridge. It was Argon, Nerevar, Sheogorath, Garnin, and Fayen. Argon, Nerevar, Sheo, and Garnin made it safetly across, but Fayen stepped on a weak spot of the bridge and he fell right through. At the last moment, he caught on to the plank in front of him and he was hanging down, about a hundered feet down his sword was heard clanking on the ground when it landed.
"HELP!" Fayen called
"plops! Fayen!" shouted Argon and he rushed on to the bridge to his falling friend. As he ran across the bridge it started wildly shaking and Argon was almost flung off the bridge.
"Not so fast!" called Fayen who was also thrashing about
"Sorry." said Argon slowling down into a fast paced rock.
Argon reached Fayen and he stuck his hand down and grabbed Fayen's wrist. The arm the Argon grabbed let go of the bridge and grabbed Argon's wrist. Fayen was careful to not let go with both hands, and Argon tugged up on Fayen's wrist and Fayen used the hand that was still holding on to the bridge to push against the plank to assist Argon in pulling him up. Argon managed to pull Fayen up and they both steadied themselves on the rocking bridge.
"You alright?" Argon asked
"Just a little shaken up, but I'm fine." said Fayen
"Sorry about your sword." said Argon reaching a across from him and putting his hand on Fayen's shoulder
"It's fine, it was dull and old anyways. Besides, I still have my bow." said Fayen
Then, silently, a spear was ever so carefully aimed and thrown into the air. It sailed over to the bridge where Argon and Fayen were standing and pierced through Argon's hand and stuck into Fayen's shoulder.
They both screamed in pain and shock as they looked over to see the Reikling that ahd just attacked them. Argon yanked the spear out of his hand and Fayen's shoulder. They screamed in pain again, but they both pulled out a healing potion and drank it. The holes in Argon's hand and Fayen's shoulder instantly closed up. Fayen pulled out his bow and fired it at the Reikling. At the same time, the Reikling through another spear into the air. Fayen's arrow was faster and it hit the spear and pierced right through it. Shards of wood flew across the abyss and the arrow sailed right into its target, the Reikling's head. The Reikling went falling backwards over into the abyss, never to be seen again.
"That was close." said Fayen
"Damn that spear hurt." said Argon
"Huh, that's odd. I thought it felt like a nice warm hug." said Fayen sarcastically
Argon rolled his eyes. "Anyway," he said, "let's get going."
Argon and the team started walking along the slippery ice again but a few minutes later they came to a halt. In front of them was a large group of angry and armed Reiklings ready to attack.
"Oh plops...." said Garnin
"Let me handle this." said Argon slowly approaching the Rieklings
The Rieklings tensed up and pointed their spears and weapons in the direction of Argon.
Argon held his hands up as a sign that he did not want to fight. The Rieklings eased up a little bit when they saw Argon wasn't going to attack them.
"Muwafathoo." greeted Argon in Riekling language
The Rieklings were stunned that this human spoke their language and they eased up even more on their weapons.
One of the Rieklings, the chief, stepped forward. "Baroo?" it said
"We need to get through these ruins and get to the Throne Room." Argon said, "We request your permission to enter."
"Joooo Fah!" the Riekling said
"I understand this place is your home and we are just some intruders in here. You have reason to not trust us, but I assure you, we are not looking for any trouble." said Argon
"You intrude our home. Why we believe you no trouble?" asked the Riekling
"Ah, so you understand and speak our language. Good, I don't know too much Riekling." said Argon
"I'm surprised you know any at all." said Nerevar
"Why we trust you?" said the Riekling in its not so perfect understanding of the human language
"Does the name Thirsk Mead Hall mean anything to you?" asked Argon
"Powerful tribe. Well respected by our kind. Leader strong. Leader human. Breton recalls I." said the Riekling
"Yes, that Breton chief is me." said Argon
"You Thirsk Chief? Hail all Chief of Thirsk!" said the Riekling
"Thank you," said Argon "may we please go to the throne room?"
"No. How know you not want take home away?" asked the Riekling
"I promise, I am not looking to start a war with you. My friends and I just need to get to the Throne Room." said Argon motioning to the team
"That one." said the Riekling pointing to Nerevar "He from legend. Ancestors meet him long time."
"Yes, I am the one your ancestors met a long time ago." said Nerevar
"He kill Rieklings." said the Riekling
"I'm sorry, but I didn't just go hunting for your kind, I was attacked and I killed to defend myself." said Nerevar
"Misunderstand do you. You strong, powerful, revered by Rieklings." said the chief
"Really? That's pretty cool, thank you." said Nerevar
"But, you still killed. Why we let you in?" asked the Riekling
"Because, there is a man with the power to destroy the world on the loose. He is causing the world to end, and if it ends everything is gone. We all die. We believe there may be something in there that can be used to stop this man." said Argon
"He's speaking the truth," said one Riekling in the Riekling language to the chief, "I have seen the outside world and it is dying. The sky is darker, the snow is melting, and plants are dying."
"I see...." said the Riekling Chief in the Riekling language
"May we please have access to the Throne Room?" asked Argon
"You may enter, ten minutes. We watch you. Make sure you not take over." said the Chief in human
"Thank you." said Argon
"We lead you there." said the Riekling Chief
The Rieklings turned and started walking to the throne room and the team followed closely behind. Both the the Rieklings and the heroes had their weapons out, just in case one group decided to turn on the other.
********
Both groups poured out of the ruins and were soaked in bright light from the sun above the open-roofed throne room.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would arrive. I have been waiting here for a while, it's a good thing I'm patient." said a man sitting on the large ice throne
"You not here allowed." said the Chief to the man on the throne
"Don't get your furs in a bunch, I was just about to leave." said the man to the Riekling "I just wanted to give these heroes a gift."
Argon finally recognized the man. "You." he Argon said
"Ah, Argon. Shouldn't you be dead?" said the man
"And shouldn't you be out destroying the world?" Argon replied
Apocapher laughed, "Yes, yes I should. But I just wanted to stop by and give my favorite group of heroes a parting gift."
"We're not going anywhere Apocapher." said Argon
"Oh, I know you don't want to. That's why this gift is a parting gift. It is a gift, that will force us to part. In other words, Karstaag is going to kill you." said Apocapher
"If you know that we can't stop you, why are you trying so hard to get rid of us?" questioned Argon
"Because, you keep killing all of my beautiful creations, and it's really hurting my feelings." Apocapher fake cried
"Or, is it becasue you know we can stop you? You know there is something here that we can use to kill you." said Argon
"Look at this. Isn't it cute? He's trying so hard to be strong. But really, he isn't. He doesn't have powers anymore. Now, he is just as normal as any other adventurer. Argon didn't kill Alduin or Harkon or MIraak. He didn't defeat Sithis or Xan. The Dragonborn did. Argon isn't the Dragonborn. Not anymore. Now Argon is a powerless, weak, flawed adventurer who keeps dwelling on the past when he was Dragonborn. He needs the power to survive. Becoming Kriid wasn't so that he could move on, it was to try and stop the pain of no longer being the greatest hero Tamriel had ever known." said Apocapher
Argon was stunned. He stood there with his mouth open in disbelief. Everything Apocapher had said was true. Argon hadn't done any of that, the Dragonborn had. He was no longer more powerful than anyone, instead, he was just a normal guy trying to get over the fact that he had lost his powers. Then he noticed it. In the bottom of the throne was a red gem about the size of his palm. He stared at in trying to devise a way in his head to get it and kill Apocapher right here, right now.
Apocapher saw Argon was straing at something and he followed his gaze. He noticed the gem in the throne now also. He reached down, grabbed the gem, and pulled it free from the throne. The Rieklings were shocked. They pulled out their spears and aimed them at Apocapher.
"Oh calm down Rieklings. I'm not your enemy. They are." Apocapher said pointing to the team
Apocapher snapped his fingers and the Rieklings switched their gaze over to the heroes. They aimed their weapons at them instead and prepared to attack.
"Have a nice time fighting to Rieklings. Oh and Karstaag." said Apocapher, "And as for this gem, it will be as if it never existed."
The gem in Apocapher's hand disappeared into thin air. The only possible way of deafeating Apocapher, gone. Vanished right into thin air. Apocapher had made it so that it had never existed. Not only that, but he had made the Rieklings have a rage towards the heroes that they could not explain.
"NO!" shouted Argon
"Have fun." said Apocapher then his dragon swooped in and picked him up in its claws and carried him away
"Son of a bitch!!!!" shouted Argon
"Argon, calm down. We have to deal with the current problem." said Nerevar
"Yeah, we got some rather angry Rieklings who don't look happy to see us." said Garnin
"We come in peace." said Sheogorath to the Rieklings
"I don't think they're buying it. You got any mood changing powers up your sleeve?" Fayen asked Sheogorath
"I may have a few. But they'll probably make them attack each other." said Sheogorath
"Just do it!" shouted Fayen
Sheogorath cast the spell on the Rieklings and they turned to each other, then back to the heroes, then each other, and then the heroes, then each other, then the heroes, they kept doing that and they wouldn't attack either group.
"Sheo, what is going on???" questioned Argon
"It's Apocapher's spell, it's too powerful, mine can't overwrite his, but it will go along side it. But both the attack spells are telling them different things and their minds are spazzing out. They'll keep doing that until they...." said Sheogorath
"Until they what?" asked Argon
All of the Rieklings turned into piles of ash except for the chief who stood bewildered by the attack on his people. Apocapher's spell had won the battle for the chief's mind and the chief turned to the heroes.
"You betray. Me trust you. You humans kill. Now, I kill." said the Chief and he attacked the heroes
Argon picked up the Riekling and pulled his spear out of his hand. The chief kept trying to attack Argon while he was being suspended in the air. Argon put the little guy laying down on the ground and pinned him so he couldn't move.
"I'm so sorry." said Argon and a tear rolled down his cheek. He pulled out his sword and quickly stabbed the Riekling in the heart.
"It's only temporary, as soon as Apocapher dies, you'll come back to life." Argon promised
Then the room started shaking, and in front of the throne there was an explosion, the heroes were all blown backwards and Argon's sword went clattering across the ground. Argon's head hit a rock and he blacked out.
********
A few moments later Argon awoke and saw the heroes locked in a battle against the living, breathing, in the flesh, Karstaag.
They were putting up quite a fight, but Karstaag was beating them. Slowly the heroes started to get tired because of all the dodging, attacking, and failed blocking. A white icy mist floated around Karstaag and the ice shards in the mist inflicted small, constant amounts of damage on the heroes. Fayen was standing back from the battle trying to get a clear shot with his bow at Karstaag but the mist threw off his aim. Fayen kept backing up hoping the shot might get the slightest bit better. He kept backing up until he stepped on Argon's hand.
"Ow!" Argon exclaimed
Fayen was shocked because he hadn's expected to step on Argon, and he definitely didn't expect the ground to yell ow. Freaked out and shocked, he released the bow string and the arrow flew forward, it disappeared into the mist but it hit Karstaag right in the side. Karstaag yelped in pain but he didn't stop attacking.
"Argon, thank the gods you're alive. We weren't sure. Are you okay?" asked Fayen
"Yeah, I'm fine. How long was I out?" asked Argon
"About two hours." said Fayen
"You have been fighting this guy for two hours?!"
"Yeah, I knew he was tough, but I didn't think he was this tough. Nerevar says he's stronger than last time he faced him. He thinks Apocapher may have upped his strength or something." said Fayen
"plops I'm gonna help out. Where's my sword?" asked Argon
"No, you're injured. I'm not letting you go fight him." said Fayen
"Don't waste your breath Fayen, you know you can't stop me from fighting. Now where is my sword?"
"Here," said Fayen handing Argon his sword "I picked it up after you went down."
"Thank you. Give me a hand?" asked Argon
Argon reached his hand up and Fayen grabbed it and pulled him to his feet.
"Thanks. Now, I have a frost giant to kill." said Argon
"Becareful." said Fayen
Argon raised his sword up and ran at Karstaag.
"Hey ugly! Remember me?" Argon shouted
"Dragonborn. Finally, I get my revenge on you for killing my ghost. And I get revenge on Nerevar for killing me. This day just keeps getting better." said Karstaag
"Well I hope you enjoyed the fun, because your day is about to get a whole lot worse." said Argon
"I don't think so!" shouted Karstaag
Karstaag turned his full attention to Argon and he whacked him into the air with his hammer. Argon went flying up. One hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred feet into the air! Then Argon started falling as quickly as he had come up. There was no chance of survival this time. Death had finally caught him, now there was no way back. He was going down, down, down, in a few seconds he found be a pancake. He closed his eyes and thrust out his hands and legs and allowed himself to die. He felt the ground hit him. The rough, warm, jagged, and pointy ground sticking into his face. But he wasn't dead, and since when was the ice warm? And since when was it rough jagged and pointy? And how did the sudden sideways wind get in through the walls? Argon opened his eyes and sat up. Down below him a dark shadow had been cast over the throne room. The heroes and Karstaag were all looking up at where Argon had just been hit up. Argon looked at the shadow and instantly recognized the form. The wings, the body, the tail, and the head. The Argon looked down at where he was sitting and recognized the red scales. He had been caught by a dragon, but not just any dragon.
"Odahviing!" shouted Argon
"Hello Dovahkiin." said Odahviing
"Not anymore, I lost my powers." said Argon
"The Divines told me. But powers or not, to me you are still the Dovahkiin." said Odahviing
"Thanks Odahviing, that actually means a lot. Wait, the Divines sent you?" said Argon
"Yes, Akatosh seeked me out and when he found me he told me what was going on. He sent me to assist you in this fight. They haven't stopped watching you. I'm glad I got here in time to catch you." said Odahviing
"That makes two of us." said Argon
"It sure does. Now, how about we take out this frost giant." said Odahviing
He said that in a way that made Karstaag sound like a regular frost giant. Not some great and powerful king. It made him sound like just some regular, easy to kill frost giant. And Odahviing proved it too. He swooped in and picked Karstaag up in his mouth. He let out a burst of flame that burned Karstaag's head and killed him. He then flung the corpse out into the ocean.
Odahviing landed in the middle of the throne room and Argon got off of his back.
"Boy, am I glad you came along when you did Odah." said Nerevar "I was afraid Karstaag was getting to into the reunion."
"How's about you open that door for us so we can get out and get on our ship." said Fayen
"That might not be such a good idea...." said Odavhiing
"Odahviing...." said Fayen
"Okay, okay, stand back." said Odahviing he let out a burst of flame that melted the ice doors and the snow that had fallen in front of them.
The heroes went over to the ship which had been wrecked and trashed beyond repair. There was a little message written on the side of the ship. It said:
In case you survived, which I doubt you did,
I decided to give you another present.
~Apocapher
"Now how are we supposed to get around?!" shouted Garnin
"Ahem." said Odahviing and he motioned to his back with his head
"Oh. Right. We have a dragon." said Garnin
"Climb on. I'm going to fly you to the Temple of the Divines in Solitude. The Divines wish to speak with you about the coming battle with Apocapher." said Odahviing
The heroes climbed on and Odahviing flew them to the temple. When they arrvied, they slid down Odahviing's wing which he outstretched onto the wall of Castle Dour. He then flew up and landed on top of the temple and waited for the heroes. The heroes opened the door and went inside.