- Middas, 16th of Heartfire, 4E 201 -
It's been nearly an hour and still I can't calm my heart. What a story today will be for my grandchildren. The day I .. Hrisskar the 3rd ... completely on my own ... managed to defeat a band of brigands I wouldn't have dared make eye contact with just a month ago.
After an extra day of rest in Whiterun I made my way back to the stronghold. The archer was still patrolling the bridge between the towers when I arrived. With the utmost of care I moved from rock to rock and snuck into the roadside tower. Once I made it to the doorway that led out to the bridge I hesitated. I had to make sure I didn't spring my attack on the archer until she was as close as possible. Otherwise she would fill me with arrows as I tried to reach her, and worse, she would call out the brute and his bodyguard. My stomach turned just thinking about his massive magical sword.
I crouched by the doorway, barely allowing myself to breathe. As I was trying to figure out how to time my attack, the bandit showed me the way. As it turns out, a shaft of sunlight poured down the ramp from the bridge to the doorway. When she reach the end of the bridge I could see her shadow arrive. Not to be too impatient, I waited for her to leave and come back a second time. Then I sprung into action.
Barely had I taken a step when I heard her call out. "Is someone there?" she asked, a fleck of concern in her voice. I burst through the doorway in a full sprint with my mace ready for blood. She was already backing away and notching an arrow for me. I had already assumed she would manage to get at least one arrow off before I could reach her, so it was little surprise when I felt the burning pain from her first shot. But then I was on top of her as she struggled to free her dagger. Too late. With a powerful overhead swing I dropped her like a sack of potatoes. Even I was surprised that she fell with a single strike.
But I didn't have time to relish in my kill. From the tower on the opposite side I saw the bodyguard with the axe run out onto the bridge. He had blood in his eyes and a tight grip on the axe as he sprinted toward me. I had no plan for this. I had only thought as far ahead as killing the girl. I readied my shield ... and then .... the brute with the sword appeared on the bridge behind his guard.
Now I knew what to do. Run. I was pretty sure I could handle the guard, but there was no way I was sticking around for a fight with the both of them; especially not on a bridge high above an icy river. I considered using my fear shout, but I just couldn't. I wanted to use it for offense, not defense. That was the only way I would ever win this fight.
So I ran. Down the the ramp and into the tower ... down the steps of the tower ... down the road. Well, I tried to run. My sprint and attack of the archer had sapped me, and I was already out of breath when the bodyguard first appeared on the bridge. So I as best I could I 'ran' away.
They were behind me until I managed to cut up the mountainside to the cliff I originally used to spy on the fortress. They must have lost sight of me in the trees. I waited on the cliff edge until I saw the bodyguard, far below me, entering the tower. I then retraced my steps and made my way back to the tower.
To my surprise and horror, the brute was still out on the road and he ended up spotting me. I turned and ran again and he followed. This time I didn't stay up on the cliff, but continued past and quickly made my way down the other side to the road. I then ran back up the road to the tower and waited.
But as I waited I realized I might have the perfect opportunity at hand. With any luck, the bodyguard may have just gone back to the second tower by himself. He may not have realized that the second chase had taken place.
As quickly as I dared, I made my way into the tower and out to the bridge. I was anxious that I might be trapping myself, with the bodyguard in front and the brute leader behind. But I also felt a sense of urgency. This might be my only chance to separate the two. I reached the second tower and took a look back across the bridge. It was late evening now and the darkening sky wasn't much comfort. But I didn't see a barbarian with a huge sword running my way so I took relief in that.
I made it up one set of stairs before I heard the bodyguard. He had apparently heard me. My sneaking ability is fairly poor, so I wasn't surprised. My mace and shield were already prepared for battle before the bandit turned the corner. It was a tougher fight than I expected, but I put him down.
Once again, though, I couldn't relish in my kill. I knew the bandit leader would have to be returning very soon, and I needed a plan fast if I was going to survive the next ten minutes. I quickly ran down the stairs and checked the bridge, half expecting to see a shadow with a shimmering sword running to finish me off. But the bridge was as clear as the night sky.
I turned and quickly toured the tower, looking for any good spot to lay an ambush. There weren't any I could see. At least nothing that was going to give me a distinct advantage. I was nearly at the top of the tower when I started to get a plan in my head.
The tower was fairly dark, and as long as avoided the candles I could probably wait in the doorway at the bridge and remain unseen. I could then poison my bow, which already has magical frost damage, and the moment the bandit leader appeared on the other end of the bridge I could launch a sneak attack. I would then fire arrows into him as he ran across the bridge, and switch to my mace as he got close. My mace would already be treated with a paralyze potion I had purchased in Whiterun. After a single strike I would freeze the bandit and finish him off before he could recover. That was the idea for the plan, anyways.
But I just had to go to the top of the tower. I was right there. I took the final step and peered over the edge. To my absolute horror, the bandit leader was right below me, halfway across the bridge already. He spotted me right away and drew his sword with a yell. As he dashed towards the tower my mind raced. My whole plan was a wash now. Within seconds he would be upon me and I would be dead.
With no time left I scrambled to find my bottle of paralyzing poison. I could hear the brute's footsteps crashing on the stairs of the tower, bringing my doom closer every second. Finally I managed to get the poison on my weapon just as he appeared below me.
Without hesitation I charged him and struck first. His body seized up and he fell slightly against a nearby wall. I went wild. Over and over I struck him with the mace. But the paralyzing potion was only good for a few seconds. After just a handful of hits he recovered and lifted his massive sword against me. I raised my shield, trying to buy myself some time to think. I had to find a way to trap him so I could use my voice against him. Behind me was the top of the tower, so I just needed to get on the other side of him.
His sword crashed down on my shield and the pain was almost unbearable. I did my best to ignore the tendrils of shock damaged that crawled across my body. As much as it hurt it was even more horrifying to actually see it. But I took the blow and was able to step past the brute. Just as he was about to hit me a second time, and likely finish me off, I parted my lips and sent fear into his heart.
He turned to run but I pressed forward to block his escape. Once again my mace crashed against his armor over and over. As luck or fate would have it, I was able to push him into a small covey I hadn't noticed before. He was unable to run or even move, and could do nothing but take my strikes.
As my arm grew weary he finally submitted. I considered it for a brief second, but the contract in my pocket was for a dead bandit leader ... so I smashed his skull with a final, powerful blow. I was nearly shaking the moment it was over. I couldn't believe he was actually dead. His massive sword lay on the ground next to him, completely harmless now.
As I write these words I'm still in the fortress. I could make the trip back to Whiterun in the middle of the night, but there is a bed here and I'm exhausted. I'm going to fall on this pillow and have a hero's dream tonight.