20demayo Chapter 74: Chapter XV: Shadow over Rorikstead (Part 2)
Chapter 74: Chapter XV: Shadow over Rorikstead (Part 2)
Chapter 74: Chapter XV: Shadow over Rorikstead (Part 2)
We all take a minute to gather ourselves before approaching the closed gates of the small town.
While I walk I get a notification.
[Quest issued: Resolve the mystery of Rorikstead] [Reward: Minor Nord Paragon trait]
Very useful in the future. Not like I really needed all that much motivation after Mephala indicated that this would help me, but any bit extra is nice.
One of the armored housecarls yells "Open the gates, the Jarl approaches!"
There is some movement behind the walls and the sturdy wooden gate is quickly opened, letting us into the settlement.
Seeing as it was the evening, most people were finishing their work for the day and spending their time relaxing or socializing so as soon as we entered we gathered quite the crowd.
I instructed Davos to not show himself and snoop around while we talk to the residents. Our procession makes its way to the center of Rorikstead and after waiting for most of the residents to gather around, the Jarl speaks "People of Rorikstead, I have come to you bearing good news."
He makes a pause to build a bit of suspense and continues "The raiders who unjustly attacked you and pillaged your homes have all been slain by the one standing next to me."
The people react as you would expect them to, some cheer while some lament that the raiders couldn't have been dealt with sooner.
A middle-aged Nord man, dressed in rich clothes, approaches us and asks "And who is this elf that killed those bastards?"
Everyone goes quiet and I speak up "I am Reyvin, known as Flame-tongue to most Nords. I met the raiders while exploring the mountains and after realizing who they were I naturally decided to punish them all for their crimes."
There is excited murmuring among the crowd, but the man who I presume is Rorik raises a doubtful eyebrow "You slew all of them by your lonesome?"
I smirk "I am a skilled battle mage, they were no threat when attacked from a great distance."
He frowns "They had a mage among them as well.."
"Barely an apprentice" I scoff.
"That 'Apprentice'" He spits the word out "Killed five of my men."
Pushing down the instinct to mock his men I say "I am truly sorry to hear that he did, but I do not lie when I say that he was nowhere near a threat to me."
Rorik sighs and shakes his head, then gives me an apologetic look "Sorry, the attack has left us all under great stress, and hearing that those who hurt us so much died to a single man is... less than believable."
Balgruuf cuts in "I vouch for his words."
Rorik's eye twitches "Then that is all I will say."
The Jarl once again gathers everyone's attention by clapping his hands "While my friend here slew the raiders, he also decided to retrieve your stolen heirlooms." He turns to Rorik and points to the sacks his guard carried in while saying "Please, distribute them among your people."
The leader of the town nods gratefully and quickly starts handing out the known belongings to the excited families of Rorikstead.
I stand next to the Jarl and half-whisper "They all look like they would be quite willing to speak in their jubilation, after we disperse have your men ask around for rumors while drinking. Should abate some of their suspicions."
He doesn't react but for a small barely-perceptible nod.
Balgruuf goes on to promise that everything will be done to stop such a tragedy from happening in the future and informs them all that he will be staying in the town to make sure everything is in order.
The people are naturally welcoming to their Jarl and a small feast is soon prepared for all of us. I also noticed Rorik frown when his people invited us... curious.
Soon we are led into the local tavern and the guards spread around, starting conversations with the locals. The Jarl sits with Rorik and they talk about administrative affairs while sharing a drink.
I try to talk up some of the residents, but besides the thanks and cheers, I get nothing.
A bit later I take a walk around the place, getting grateful glances and words of praise along the way, soon I find a worried looking man that looks familiar for some reason.
I approach him and cough slightly to get his attention, he turns to me and it clicks why he seemed familiar. This is Lokir, that idiot that gets himself shot by the Legion after being captured with Ulfric.
He gives me a pensive look and asks "What does the great hero want with me?"
I shrug and take a sip of the wine in my hand "You don't seem to share the jubilance of the rest of your folk, why is that?"
"Why do you care?" He asks.
prepared for him.
I follow along, casting muffle and using a scroll of invisibility from my depleting storage. We
make our way to Rorik's longhouse and I slip into the Jarl's room after Irileth and Hrongar
enter.
They all take their seats and are about to start talking to each other, but are scared almost to death by me suddenly appearing without a sound.
A sword flashes out of its sheath and I barely manage to summon my staff to stop it, seeing
the one holding the blade I snort "So quick on the draw housecarl... what if I wasn't fast
enough?" Irileth scoffs "Oh please, I could have stopped the strike at any time. Do not do that again, I have been rather twitchy since coming here."
"As you desire madam" I mock bow.
We all take our seats to discuss our findings and I let the Jarl go first.
He shakes his head "I tried prying into Rorik's business, but that is exactly what he called it before refusing to talk about anything he wasn't strictly required to by custom." Hrongar speaks next with a frown "The local women tend to die during childbirth but that is
all I got." Irileth merely shakes her head "They wouldn't speak to me at all."
"Maybe you scared them all away with your sword" I snark and her eye twitches.
I clap my hands theatrically and say "I have had far more luck. One of the residents said that
the number of childbirth deaths is not merely a tendency but it is unnaturally high." everyone frowns at my words.
"I also learned that the local healer constantly gives lacking excuses for their deaths, and
when I approached him to speak he tried using illusion magic to make me want to leave the place as soon as possible."
Balgruuf frowns "And what of Rorik?"
"He has been seen leaving the town with said healer from time to time, and once even returned bloody, that is all I learned about him."
"How can you be sure that they speak true?" Hrongar asks with understandable skepticism.
"His wife is due in a couple of days, he is very worried about her fate and would do anything
to save her, so I secured his help in leading us to wherever the two presumed cultists go every night." I assure him.
They all turn quiet for a bit, mulling over my words. Balgruuf asks "So, what is our next move?"
"Before we go on, Davos please come in" I interrupt.
Irileth frowns as my retainer slides in through the window quietly. I see her hand jerk for her
sword and smirk, making her eye twitch again.
"You called boss" Davos asks with what I know is a smirk.
"I want you to follow the healer Jouane Manette and try and glean whatever you can from
him, when you get all you can, return before sunrise."
He nods and leaves the same way he came in. Balgruuf frowns "And what will we be doing in the meantime?"
"Waiting" I shrug and summon the booklet Eorlund gave me.
The others frown but seeing as there really isn't more to do than wait they all relax after a bit.
Roses are red, violets are blue, the sixth house needs more sleepers, and powerstones too.
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