Skyrim: Ballad of the Bandit King

[Azena]

The OOC

30 years past after the Dragonborn left Skyrim. New smaller towns have sprouted around Skyrim, budding from the originals. Mostly farms, lumberyards, and/or fishing villages, but recently bandits have been raiding these "outer towns" destroying villages. Kidnapping women and children with the intent to sell into slavery. All of this is being done by one Man or Mer who calls himself "The Bandit King". Nobody knows what he truly looks like, or where he is hiding. The Emperor denies his existence, believing that it is merely a rumor. It is up to a group of individuals to destroy the man behind it all.... if he even actually exists....

Rinn has returned and will be guiding the RP as main GM. I will step down and support as Co-GM. Enjoy the adventure!

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"Good morning, Syrona! A good haul today?" The large bearded man looked up from his work table as the young woman approached. Her long, wavy brown hair was hidden under the wolf fur hanging around her shoulders. Syrona stopped and turned to him with a smile on her face. A younger man came running out of the cottage. Syrona lifted the wolf off and handed it over to him. He took it around his own shoulders and gave the older man a nod. Syrona wiped the fur off of her shoulders.

"Thank you, Garfrig. He was a big one, Herano. We'll have plenty of meat today." Herano laughed and went back to his work. Garfrig and Syrona started back towards town. Garfrig walked close to Syrona, never taking his eyes off of her. She felt a little awkward and looked over at him. He looked away quickly.

"Um...so, you have any trouble out there?" Garfrig meant well, but he had little practice talking to women. Herano usually kept him too busy to socialize with anyone. The pair stopped in front of the Burning Dragon Inn.

"No more than usual. You mind taking that pelt to Tor'gil? I have to pay my tab." Syrona patted the sack of meat she had tied around her waist. Garfrig awkwardly smiled and nodded. He turned and headed down the road toward's the armorer. Syrona walked up the stairs and opened the door to the Burning Dragon. Behind the counter, a pale old woman looked up from her book and smiled at the young girl that had entered her establishment. Syrona crossed the hall, avoiding eye contact with the patrons, some of which were travelers that she did not yet trust.

"Syrona, I hope your hunt was better than the last few days." The last few hunts had yielded less than satisfactory results. It wasn't that she wasn't able to catch anything or that the game was thin, but more that it was absent. The wildlife was bountiful when she had first arrived in Tearstead and now it was like they had all suddenly vanished. She was the only known hunter in the area, which left bandits or supernatural forces behind the disappearance. Syrona plopped the leather rucksack on the counter. The old woman opened it up and looked pleased.

"That should cover it, Engrid. Is my room ready?" Engrid pointed towards one of the doors as she pulled out the bloody carcass and started sorting it out. Syrona crossed the hall and opened her door. She left it open as she set her bow and quiver down. She laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

[Lucius Cypher]

The clanging of a hammer and metal rang out at the smithy as Karnage worked the forge. He was allowed to work there for the day, and after spending a couple of hours the days before mining ore, he wanted to work the metal into something. Not too far away was a box of ingots and leather strips, as well as some gems and other random bits of rocks. Moonstone, Orichalcum, and even a few Ebony as well as other bits from his time. He also found some Geode veins and found himself some rather valuable gems, from rubies to soul gems. Currently Karnage was smelting his ores into ingots as he listen to the fires roar. In the distance, he also heard the song of a bard, but he wasn't close enough to listen. Maybe once he was done here, he'd go and use some of his septims to buy himself a drink and meal. Maybe he'll just move to the next down.

After a couple of hours of smelting, Karnage had himself a nice collection of ingots; Steel, Orichalcum, Moonstone, Silver, Ebony. He also had something that he only wished he knew how to work with, and played with it in his hands; Dragon Bone. He found it while seeking shelter from the blizzard, were he stumbled into a cave invested with bandits. After dealing with them (And salvaging everything he could from them), he found the preserved corpse of a dragon. Well, mostly preserved; the bandits did a number to salvage as much of the corpse as they could, but something told him that none of them knew how to carve a dragon. Still, he took what he could, and he found a sizable piece that he could make something from it. Maybe a dagger. Or even a sword. If he knew what he was doing, anyways. He just put the bone away along with the ingots, as he began to forge some steel into something he could sell here. So continued the hammering and hitting of iron and steel, and after just an hour of time, he had a full set of armor, and enough daggers to arm every man and woman in the village. Now he needed to find someone who would buy all this...

Business was slow. Lucilia was allowed to sing and service the Burning Dragon Inn, but traffic wasn't very great. Most of the patrons stayed only for the drink or to return to her room. She made about 20 gold so far when a patron requested her to play a song on her lute, and that's about it. 20 gold could buy her a room and a meal, but she needed at least 60 gold minimum to travel to the next town and buy any needed food and supplies, but she'd like to have more. But for now, Lucilia sat alone in the Inn, drinking what was left of her cheap mead. After she finished her bottle, Lucilia wondered around, snooping through some rooms. She saw one woman in the room, and Lucilia knew her as the hunter who came to town. Too bad Lucilia might not be able to eat anything she brings in. While she lingered outside the hunter's room, Lucilia broke out into song. "A word in your ear if I may..." Lucilia strummed her lute and cleared her throat. There was a new song she heard along the road, and she wanted to see how someone might react to it.

"Well met, stranger
Elated to make your acquaintance
Now, may I entertain you with some quotations-over-cadence?
You see, I bear some rare amazing information
And you look like someone who is used to strange situations
There is a hidden portal within the Bard's College
I was brought through, an immortal to impart knowledge
About an other-wordly form of Redguard sonnet
Where took a thumping drum beat and said bars on it"

[Reececr]

Ragnar had his spoils from a good day in the wilds, he had caught a rabbit down by the lake and had gathered some herbs and wild vegetables to cook it. But even at that it was quiet, there weren't as many birds flying and chirping, he hadnt seen any game for a good few days now. He could quite put his finger on it but something was wrong. He paused by a small stream that fed into the lake and filled his canteen and washed his face. The water refreshed him and he made his decision. He was going to head to Tearstead, he would maybe be able to find out from their what could be going on and if their was something wrong. He knew the general direction of the village and trekked towards it moving at more of a jog than a walk, he felt he would be better getting there by nightfall considering it was mainly plains and he was exposed and in the open.

After a good few hours worth of walking he noticed the smoke from a couple of chimneys in the sky and could tell he was getting close. In the distance he could see the settlement. It had sprung up from nothing to become a thriving hub and was only getting bigger. As he neared the place he decided to slow his pace somewhat. He realized he was hungry but he couldnt stop now, so he quickly ate some of the wild vegetables raw and the made him feel slightly better. Washing it down with the fresh stream water he had collected earlier as he casually strolled into town and into the inn.

[VeilOfMaya]

The air was humid and cold out in the wilderness outside of the village. Tythis was practicing his Destruction Magic, launching lighting bolts at the trees nearby, cracking off branches and incinerating leaves. He had always preferred shock spells, thinking that ice spells are too sadistic for his tastes and fire magic is too clumsy for his tastes.

"Ahh. I do love the smell of lightning charred pine trees in the evening." Tythis chuckled out loud.

After about an hour of practicing magic, he strolled down the path back to his home in the center of town. His home also happened to be the local Alchemist. As soon as he got home, he checked his stocks of potions and poisons. He was running low on Magicka potions. He got his ingredients; Creep Cluster, Elves Ear, and Giant Lichen, an assortment of each. He began to change them into potions.

"Some people drink mead before bed, I practice magic and mix some potions." Tythis chuckled. "I know I'm an odd one."

After that, he relinquished his robes and layed on his simple bedroll and let sleep watch over him.

[Lord Wraith]

The road was lined with a thick forest to either side of it as Aramis Flynn rode down the path which tree roots sought to strangle. The horse he had "borrowed" from a Nord Merchant began to hesitate with each forced step as Aramis continued to urge it on. Putting away the gold coin which the Nord had also "strangely lent" Aramis, the Bosmer pulled out his lyre and began to strum while riding. He hoped the music might calm the beast between his legs as he made his way further down the path. Not much more than a hundred yards ahead, he could see where the trees parted and gave way to the plains that he planned to travel over.

Still the horse continued to hesitate, until suddenly it charged forward with a loud whine. Howls could be heard from the brush behind Aramis as four wolves came out of the underbrush. Barely holding onto both horse and lyre, the Bosmer barely managed to keep a hold as the horse went to full gallop heading for the plains. Tucking his lyre back onto his belt, Aramis drew forth his bow, notching an arrow and letting it fly. Sadly the only think he managed to hit was a tree as the wolf leaped forward snapping at the horse and himself. Notching another arrow, Aramis focused his breathing while feeling as one with his weapon. As soon as the next wolf jumped at him, he let the shaft fly. The arrow hitting the wolf directly in the eye, easily killing the beast. However Aramis' celebration was short lived as another wolf jumped clear over the horse causing the animal to buck him off. Landing roughly on the grassy plains, he felt his bow slide from his grasp.

Rolling onto his back, Aramis turned over just in time to throw his armored hand up and block the snapping jaws of a wolf, using all of his strength he managed to toss the beast aside. Another wolf decided to try it's luck going at the Bosmer's legs only to be met with a swift kick. Recovering, Aramis' swordhand flew to his blade, drawing the Nordic weapon from its sheath. He neatly sliced the head clean off of the stunned wolf before turning to the last two. Swinging his curved blade around into a reverse grip, he charged forward. One of the remaining wolves met his charge, leaping at the Elf only for Aramis to bring about his sword arm and neatly toss the wolf aside using it's momentum. The toss was quickly followed by a sword slash up the beast's belly spilling its innards onto the plains. The last wolf raised its head and howled at the smell of death before retreating back into the woods.

Wiping his blade on the fur of the fallen wolf, Aramis looked around for the steed he had been riding only to see it far in the distance heading towards a small town. Sighing, he wiped down his armor quickly before sheathing his blade and retrieving his bow. It looked like he had a bit of a walk ahead of him.

~~~

Walking in to Tearstead, Aramis saw opportunity for both adventure and profit. This was a perfect little frontier town, new and in need of men like him. And of course the women out here likely hadn't seen a man who could handle a blade nearly as well as he could. They would be spoiled with him in town. But that was not the matter at hand, the matter now was to find his "borrowed" horse. Looking around, Aramis wondered if any of the townspeople would have saw his horse wander into town. None the less if it wasn't here it would be at a nearby body of water. It was definitely time to chat up the people.

Hearing the sound of a hammer meeting steel, Aramis knew that meant a smith was hard at work and in a town like this the smith was like the life blood. If anyone knew anything it would be the smith. Following the echoing sounds, Aramis made his way to the smith's forge seeing an Orc hard at work over the ingots he had likely smelted himself.
"Excuse me kind Sir! Yes I was perhaps wondering if you had seen a horse. A fine steed, nice hindquarters, you might even find it tasty looking! A colour blacker than a cold night. I believe it wandered this way." He paused, wondering if his comment about eating horse would offend the Orc or not. Aramis loved a challenge but a duel with an Orc would like leave him with a broken blade, broken ribs and a stoutly bruised ego. "And if you haven't seen the horse might I ask where I could find a nearby water source. Perhaps a stream, river or lake?"

Finishing his words, Aramis took a look around, taking his eyes away from the spray of sparks coming from the smith's hammer. Noting the location of the inn, he turned back to the Orc to await his answer.

[Rinn]

A low rumble steadily made its way towards Tearstead. The sounds of horses and wagon wheels echoed across the open plains as a voice echoed over the eerily silent town. A single guard on the utmost top of the lookout tower attached to eastern wooden gate was heard above all else. "BANDITS! AND GIA-ARRGH" a flaming arrow hit the guard square in the neck. Falling backwards and toppling over a makeshift pig stable three stories below.

Suddenly a volley of flaming arrows blanketed the sky as if the sky itself turned into the pits of hell. Arrows landed everywhere, igniting the rooftops of the log homes quickly. In merely minutes, the entire eastern gate was engulfed in flames. People running for their lives in terror. Children crying and women screaming for help. The town guard quickly took action and got their gear ready near the eastern gate for what was to come. "Stand ready!" The captain said with about twenty of his faithful men behind him, Equipped with only basic gear and a handful of archers.

Suddenly a gigantic rumble came closer to the gate by the second as a gigantic tree trunk with a large stone tied to the end came crashing down on the wooden gate like it was made of paper. Turning it into splinters. Behind that gate was something they were not expecting. "Its a GIANT!" One of the guards screamed before seeing the gigantic club bat him away like an insignificant pet, his lifeless corpse landing twenty feet away. Behind the giant was about twenty bandits with various weaponry and ten mages that started to cast paralyze spells on the nearby women and children. Leaving them for the bandits to drag away while the guards were busy taking on the behemoth.

Towards the western gate near the Burning Dragon Inn, you could see people fleeing for their lives, women and children alike. The men guarded the doors as they attempted to fend off any bandits, but the bandits were heavily armed with swords, axes, and chainmail coverings. The townsfolk barely had pitchforks, woodcutting axes, and the occasional sword not to mention almost no armor.

While all the chaos was going on, a man standing atop a chariot, surrounded by caged wagons stared blankly at the horrific scene as if it was merely a rainy day. The man wore a long black cloak made of various furs and scales. A vest of dragonbones snuck its way into view as it protruded between the various fur wrappings on his arms and legs. All accenting the fur lined crown made of dragonbone atop his head, covering his face with the mask of a white wolf. This was a man of legend, a man of stories told to scare little children, a man that was called...

THE BANDIT KING

..... Or was it?

[Reececr]

Ragnar awoke to the screams and he was up and out of bed in seconds, grabbing his gear he drew his bow and knocked an arrow as he stepped outside the Inn. There were screams of terror, and men in their death throes. In the distance he heard the roar of a Giant, this wasn't good, they were outnumbered and their was nothing he could do about it, only try and save as many as possible. He seen the mages stunning the women and children and something snapped within him. He saw red and decided to make a stand, he would save as many as he could and then hunt down the bastards who got away.

He loosed an arrow into the back of a bandit who was standing over a youngish looking man... a boy even. The bandit slumped down and the boy ran and Ragnar sighed. Who could do this he thought to himself. The town was lost but he could at least offer cover to those trying to escape it. There was 50 yards between him and the nearest bandits and they hadn't noticed him in the commotion. Kneeling down he stuck four arrows into the mud and nocked one loosing it into a bandit catching him in the stomach. He fired the other four, two hitting their mark and two catching shields. He hoped he hadnt been noticed as he dropped back trying to guide more villagers out of town as a semblance of calm returned to him but he knew he had to do more.

[Azena]

Syrona was awoken by the smell of smoke before anything else. She bolted out of her bed and entered the hall of the Burning Dragon. It was empty now except for Engrid emerging from her stairs. She was carrying an old crossbow and loaded a bolt as she walked by. She paid Syrona no attention.

"Engrid, what's going on?" She received no answer. Engrid was focused on something and Syrona wasn't about to miss out on what. She turned back and grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows. She notched one just in case and followed the old innkeeper out the door. The smoke was thick and blanketed the town as the buildings around her burned. It was quickly becoming more apparent what was happening. The people of Tearstead were fleeing to the west. Whatever was happening was coming from the east. Syrona ducked her head under the low hanging cloud of smoke and ran into the chaos. She dodged multiple villagers until a large body ran right into her.

The fur was warm on her skin as the large man tackled her to the ground. He was no local of Tearstead and carried the obvious look of a bandit. The town was under attack by this thug and likely others. Syrona tried to toss the man off, but he was far too large for her and easily pinned her down. His knees pressed deep into her shoulders and she had no where to go. He raised his axe high above his head, a hungering look in his eyes as he licked his lips. A crimson mist escaped his lips and a the lust in his eyes quickly disappeared to a bleak nothingness. The steel glinted just under the deep red that soaked the tip of a the sword. Then, it vanished. The bandit toppled over and a hand reached down for hers.

Garfrig easily pulled her to her feet and Syrona wrapped her arms around him. For a second, that was all there was. The chaos had gone. It flooded back as he pulled her off and looked into her eyes. His were overflowing with fear. She couldn't help to wonder if it was because of what was happening or because of how close she came to tasting the end of hard metal.

"We can't hold them. You have to run! Go to Helgen, I'll meet you there." Syrona heard the urgency in his voice, but couldn't find the will to move. She knew what he meant. She was to tuck her tail between her legs and make for safety while he bought her time. His last words were a lie. He had no intention of meeting her. It didn't matter to him as long as she was safe. This boy, Syrona hardly paid him any mind and he was willing to give his life for hers. He didn't wait for his answer. Garfrig ran back into the chaos and quickly disappeared from sight in the thick haze.

She couldn't move. It wasn't really happening, it couldn't have been. Not now, not to her. The haze got darker. A shadow in the smoke stood larger than any building. It's roar echoed through the streets of Tearstead. She felt the wrinkly hand on her shoulder. It gave her a slight push, but her instability made it easy for Syrona to fall to the ground. Engrid appeared in front of her as Syrona's bottom soaked in the mud, warm with the blood of so many, and the elderly woman shot her crossbow into the shadow. The painful roar pierced the ears. Then, Engrid too ran into the darkening battlefield. Her friends were giving their lives and she could not move. A stick in the mud, as it were.

A mother, carrying her newborn child, ran past. A burly man following quick behind. He held the same hunger that Syrona's attacker did and she knew this man was not the husband. She rolled onto a knee and re-notched the arrow to her bow before letting it fly. It pierced the man's leg and he fell to the ground. It took all Syrona had to pull herself to her feet and run to the man. His face locked on to her own as she hovered over him and raised her bow. The contact of wood against bone shook her hands, sending a tingling sensation up her arms. The body laid motionless on the floor and the fire was burning inside Syrona's heart.

[Lucius Cypher]

Karnage's work was cut short when he heard the shouts of the villagers. At first, he was going to reply to the man that entered, but at least, directed him to a source of water. But now it was time to close shop. Karnage packed his things into his box but before he slipped it on, he thought for a moment. He would need to get out, but... A sigh escaped his mouth. This wasn't his fight; he was only here to get some work down. Karnage slipped the straps of the heavy metal chest over his shoulders, and used the rear entrance to leave the smithy. The Bandits have yet to reach this location, and he wasn't going to stick around to fight for some village. Right now he needed to put some distance between this place and the himself.

Lucilia's song was cut short when she heard the sounds of screaming. Some of the patrons of the inn, and the inn keeper herself, armed themselves with bows and crossbows. Lucilia didn't quiet know what was going on, but she knew it was trouble. If it was just some small pub brawl, then she might have stuck around and watch, but after a quick glance outside, this was more then just a brawl. This was a raid. "Oh sod." Lucilia put away her Lute and took out her crossbow, loading a bolt in it, but she wasn't going to fight, she was getting out of there. but before she left, Lucilia took the time to loot the now empty bar; underhanded sure, but she's not exactly living in the lapse of luxury. She took whatever gold she could, a couple of bottles of drink, and a few slabs of venison, and bolted out the back door. She was running away from the carnage, but she couldn't escape all of it; a bandit ambushed her, armed with two axes. He nearly cut down Lucilia had she not jumped back, but his eyes were filled with barbaric lust. She was about to lunge forward had she not sent a crossbow bolt into his shoulder, causing him to drop his axes and yell in pain. Lucilia then smashed the stock of her crossbow onto the bandit's head, quickly searched the body for valuables (A couple of jewels) and flew the town.

[VeilOfMaya]

The sounds of the townsfolk screaming quickly woke Tythis, he speedily got up and donned his robes and black hood. Before he left his room, he casted a quick Stoneflesh spell, surrounding himself with an magical film that shimmered in the dim firelight. Snagging his pack, his enchanted ring, and some important alchemy ingredients, Tythis moved with haste through the front door of his home.

"Hmm. This is not good, not good at all." Tythis thought to himself.

There were patches of fire on the ground where the foliage was lit on fire by fiery arrows. I look to my left and I see a Giant fighting through the town guard.

"Great. Just great. Archers with flaming arrows, bandits, and a giant. You know, I actually liked it here. It's a nice little village, or at least it was a nice village...." Tythis thought aloud, before he heard the sound of someone running at him. He quickly turned around and charged a duo of Lightning Bolts before noticing a large bandit with a think, unkempt beard running at him, his warhammer over his head. Tythis managed to avoid the deadly blow by a small margin. "Last mistake." Tythis thought to himself, before launching both of the bolts at the mans ribs, sending him into the bloody mud covered ground.

Tythis leaned up against a corner and casted another Stoneflesh spell. "I could stay here and attempt to help the village defend itself, or I could save myself and flee. Tythis thought to himself, before deciding that he would help the villagers escape into safety. Out of the corner of his eye. he saw a duo of guards about thirty yards away to his right that got separated from the main force fighting off four bandits, armed with chainmail vests, war axes, and swords. "I can't let those men die like that." He said, charging up two more lightning bolts and sending both of them at the two closest bandits. One of the bolts struck the man it hit in the back of his right knee, putting him in the dirt. The other bolt managed to hit the other man in his sword arm, crippling it for a long while. The guards noticed Tythis trying to help them, and their resolve raised a little bit. One of the remaining bandits hit the left guard in the arm, disarming him of his shield. By the time Tythis reached the guard, they had dispatched the men. The healthier one approached me and said, "Hey Dark Elf, are you going to help us defend the town or are you going to abandon us?"

"I will help. This is my home." Tythis said adamantly.
"Good, follow us, elf." The man said to Tythis, an he did as he was told, and followed the guards into the remains of the town.