Chapter 7: Long Faces, Long Ship, Long Journey

Listen to this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcmn9Vp0go&feature=related while you read the 7th chapter…

Winterhold Docks 8:00am, Mundas

The long ship tugged gently against its moorings as if it were a battle horse eager and restlessly awaiting its rider, impatient for the freedom of open seas.
The crew of the vessel prepared the ship in nervous fashion making sure belongings and provisions were carefully stowed and tied down, checking the riggings and the feel of the rudder, while captain Eysteinn overlooked with calm steady command. A tall thin man in his mid thirties he was bedecked in plain sandy woolen trousers, brown leather boots, a deep burgundy tunic, and a forest green cloak held at the neck with an ornate Trefot clasp of gold, with long flaxen hair and beard, both carefully braided. The captain shot a steady glance with piercing blue eyes to the docks where the ceremony was being held, ‘Gods be with us all.’ ,he muttered under his breath, noting the grim solemnity of the ceremony taking place and the faces in the crowd, all of them overcast, long and sad. Turning his attention back to his unsteady crew, their fear only held in check by the routines of preparation that they had performed a thousand times over, he raised a long pointed finger to Dagr who had carelessly dropped the barrel of mead upon the deck.

“Mind your duties Dagr. I’ll not have you getting careless with that mead…”

“Aye Sir!”, came the quick response from Dagr, who now shifted the barrel into place
and got ready to lash it down.

On the docks, Ullrik stood like resolute stone against the grim and pall faces of everyone that looked upon him, threatening to sink him in the mires of their despair.
Asvaldr noting the tears of the women and even some of the men of the village, spoke in a strong, clear and commanding tone that suddenly silenced the songs that were being played for Ullrik,

“This man...My adopted son…You all know well was once a stranger to this village… When he arrived at my hall on that coldest of winter’s nights, half-starved, half-clothed, bleeding profusely from grave wounds he had suffered mysteriously…He asked simply that we should let him die with dignity and inter his body upon the funeral pyres so that he could rejoin those he lost in the halls of his ancestors…But…I could not in good conscience follow these wishes…For I saw something that still burned dimly behind those pale eyes…A strength of will, character and ferocity I had not seen for some time…I knew the young man that lay before me had yet to live…There were threads of his life that were yet to be woven…”

Grasping Ullrik firmly by the arm as he spoke these words, Asvaldr turned his attention away from the crowd and focused now on Ullrik…

“And now by bloody invitation, he departs from us alone…To an unknown fate and shores by the call of a God no less…We all know you to be a great man Ullrik, but now you’re really reaching to prove yourself…”

Some of the villagers let loose small unconfident smiles and light chuckles at Asvaldr’s jest, save for Asvaldr himself whose pain managed to quickly peer through his eyes but was quickly extinguished with an overly confident laugh as he faced the crowd once more…

“You, Ullrik Heart-Fang, my adopted son, captain of the Ulfhednar, protector of our village have stood by us in the gravest of times, when the marauding bands of Fafnir Fell-Axe tried to take our lives and property, You led the attack, cunning, fierce and focused, surprising his reavers in the woods that surrounded our town, turning his siege into bloody slaughter, ripping them apart with savage cunning as the wolf pack does to the herd of deer…And best of all, dragging That bastard Fell-Axe’s carcass back to our gates, spitting his head upon his own spear at the gates in warning to others, while the rest of his sheit sorry band scattered to the wood like frightened children…”

Recalling their great victory and the man who led them to it, the 40 men of the personal guard of the chieftan, who had been arrayed in tight formation around the docks, their ring-mail armor and silver helms glinting and wolf’s fur cloaks blowing gently in breeze and the light of the sun, suddenly rapped their spears to shield and let out a thunderous call in unison:

“MIKILL ER SA MADUR SEM LEIDIR HEILAGA ULFUR PAKKI!! HOOAH!!”*

Asvaldr spoke again to the mass, now roused out of their solemnity to angry defiance;

“Now my son…Our Son! Go forth and show this bastard god the unmerciful will of the people of our tribe!”

*Icelandic to English translation: "GREAT IS THE MAN THAT LEADS THE HOLY WOLF PACK!!! HOOAH!!!"

I have nothing else to say, since everything has been mentioned before by Lady Syl. I like Ullrik's relationship with his father, or at least it was written to perceive him as father. I like the mysteriousness of the ship departure in chapter 7 and the half-alive prisoner. By all means, keep going. I am interested in this story. You use the italics well these times around. Good work!

Many Thanks my friend...I thought I would explain more of Ullrik's backstory in the following chapters...What do you think of my music choices?

Many Thanks my friend...I thought I would explain more of Ullrik's back-story in the following chapters...What do you think of my music choices?

While I normally use soundtracks and instrumentals to my work, I like the latest one you posted. It has a dark tone to it as well as some australian influence in the latter parts

Whatever sets the mood of what you are writing is good.

Thank you...I feel that the reader should share in my inspiration and Devotchka just seemed to go so well with the 6th chapter...The voyage is going to be rough and long...

SO MUCH TEXT CANT CON CEN TRAAAATE :banghead:

Read one chapter at a time.

Okay, finally got around to it--sorry it took me so long. Might I say, this is by far the best chapter (besides the truly intriguing and mysterious beginning). I loved it. You gave excellent descriptions, the dialogue was strong, and the history you provided was a perfect way to further bring us into the story. Great job! Keep going!

Thank you Sweetheart...Admittedly...I've been quite busy as well...But with a few days off am now working the next chapter...

Yay! Looking forward to it!

I aim to please...

Chapter 8: Seas of Ghosts and Blackness

Listen to this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNMGZzbg39k&feature=related while you read the 8th chapter…

Sea of Ghosts 12:00am, Sundas

The winter winds and storm-ridden seas beat unmercifully against the tiny vessel that struggled valiantly to maintain its course. A tiny flotsam of wood, cloth and timbers set starkly alone against a writhing black tumultuous sea that did its very best to send her and her defiant crew to the salty depths below…

Ullrik seemingly un-phased by the sheer hatred of the seas around him clung tightly to the rigging that steadied the mainmast, eyeing what very little he could see of the horizon and his ultimate destination through the giant cresting waves, rain and sleet which upon fiercely guided winds now blew in sheets, nearly sideways, in his face with angry reproach, the pock-marks of red now giving his pale features a blistered and diseased air. Wrapping his wolf’s-fur cloak tighter around him and placing the hood around his face, Ullrik turned to the direction of the laughter of the crew who mocked the storm and the hateful seas around them…

“She’s in one of her moods tonight!”, stated the second mate to the Captain with a laugh, who in reply let out a knowing ‘Hmph!’ and continued to steer the vessel with steady trained hand on their true heading. The oars pulled in and sail furled up tight, the crew saw to their duties attentively and deftly with purpose and light heart, laughing and joking which only seemed to make the storm around them grow angrier and more spiteful to the men who took no notice of her rage...

As the boat crashed down the other side of yet another 20 foot cresting wave, the men all steadied themselves against what ever they could reach for to secure their footing, letting out a joyous whoop as if this was all merely a game and they were all kids at play. Ullrik, knowing the seriousness of the mission they were on wondered if the ill-fated crew of the ‘Eyvindir’ had laughed and carried on so while riding upon the treacherous Sea of Ghosts to their untimely doom…The myriad possibilities of the perils he had yet to face kept his features grim and steady as he turned his attention back to a horizon that he could not see through the fury of the storm and the waves which formed into sheer twenty foot walls of black, wet death. They had been at sea for two weeks now and the seas had grown more dangerous with every passing day…‘Was this a warning?’, Ullrik thought to himself as he looked down at the frothing waters which spat stinging salt in his face ‘Or was it the anger of the gods for their blatant trespass into waters that should never be traversed by men?’ The Sea of Ghosts was named for obvious reasons. Those foolhardy enough to sail into her open waters away from the safety of land and the coastline were often never seen again…It was said that below her icy churning waters lay vast graveyards of ships and souls who never made their ultimate destinations for this was the true home of the god of the sea, Aegir…An ancient and fierce god of the seas, whose wife Ran, the thief of the sea would cast her net upon any hapless vessels who made foolish trespass into their rightful domain, and with the aid of their daughters, the nine white-clad billow maidens, would drag them violently down to depths into the waiting claw-like clutches of Aegir…Forgotten to the black depths below…Damned for an eternity…

“Not today…”, Ullrik said with quiet resolve while he watched a great crest of froth and foam that almost resembled a beautiful maiden with long white hair to his wind and salt damaged eyesight thrust itself violently against the bow recede and cower away into the depths upon his simple command.

“The maidens call for you, Ullrik!” said Eysteinn with a laugh, noticing the events taking place upon the bow of his ship…“Methinks they take a shine to you!”, The crew laughed
heartily at these words, and Ullrik let a thin smile touch his lips...

It was then that Ullrik felt an unseen hand upon his shoulder…It burned the point of fire slowly spreading like a cancer into his heart, whereupon, he heard a voice in his ear…This voice was not all friendly, gentle or comforting though...It echoed through Ullrik’s brain to the point of excruciating pain, seizing his mind and muscles into stiff contortion, the sound of the words like grating thunder echoed and shook his very soul…

“Look for the Raven that shall appear on the bow in the coming red dawn and guide you to my realm…Come to me, Ullrik Heart-Fang…Take your place at my side as my most blessed hound…Gifted above All others before or since…”

The pain too intense to bear struck him down like lightning upon the deck…Blackness followed…

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“Ullrik! Ullrik! Are you alright!?” , came the voice of Eysteinn, who shook him vigorously…

“What…Happened?” Replied Ullrik with uncertainty…

“You’ve been unconscious for an hour…What happened?”

“He spoke to me…”

“Who!?” Replied Eysteinn quizzically with a worried look.

“Hircine”, said Ullrik, his left hand massaging his temple, then running his hand to the back of his head, trying to shake the pain of a headache that beat through his skull as loud as a drum. Eysteinn and the other members of the crew shot puzzled worried looks at each other at the mention of the name, all knowing the Hunter of Men. Eysteinn, now noticing the fear that had started to grip his crew, quickly called them to action…

“That’s quite enough standing around…Get off your lazy lady-like arses and tend to your duties you wretched sea dogs!” With these harsh words tinged with the comfort of
Command, the crew snapped to their duties with smiles and disapproving nods…

“Bjorg…Mieli!! Unfurl the sail and the rest of you sons of [censored]s get to the oars!”, Snapped Eyteinn…The morning sun shown bright brilliant red, setting the morning haze alight like fire and fury, and reflecting off of the now still crimson waters that just hours before were doing their best to eradicate the tiny vessel and her crew…With unsteady grip and footing, Ullrik slowly rose and composed himself, his massive left hand still trying to massage the pain away from his head…

“What the Fuu…?”, said one of the crew, who pointed slowly at the bow of the vessel

“Quaark!”, came the response which startled the crew out of their duties…On the bow sat a massive black raven, shooting a sidelong glance studying the crew with an air of haughty confidence…“Don’t harm that bird!” came the quick word of Ullrik whose eyes were locked with the raven’s dead black eyes…but hearing the unsheathing of knives and axes from behind him…

”It comes to guide us to His lands.”

Hell yea! Hircine's realm soon! Can't wait. And the blackout part was a good scene. Same thing that happens in Bloodmoon. Great job! I plan on writing about Hircine's realm, but not for a long time.

just so you know, i like your idea of giving songs to listen to while reading the chapters. i had the same idea for the coast, because i listen to music when i write. i was going to add them in after i had it finished, however. still, great minds think alike. (:

Thank you...It just seemed fitting for me to place the music I was listening to while I wrote the chapters...Given the setting (Skyrim), I sometimes have had to search quite a bit to find the right song that
fit the mood of what I was about to write...

Ooh, it gets even better now as they approach their destination! I love the addition of the raven--is that from lore or Bloodmoon? I haven't played either of Morrowind's expansions, and I don't know much about TES lycanthropy and Hircine... :unsure:

Kudos, my friend!

Well, in Bloodmoon there was a raven that happened to be a Witch from Glenmoril. The witches of Glenmoril worship Hircine and perform sacrifices when someone wishes to cure their Lycanthropy.

Ooh, ravens and sacrifices... Sounds bloody exciting!

Oh yes!

Working on chapter 9...

We will be waiting! I want to see the potrayal of Hircine's Realm! I always find myself reading that particular part in "Infernal City".

Chapter 9: Green Is The Color…

Listen to this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kZ0REBJ4ms&feature=feedlik while you read the 9th chapter…

Sea of Ghosts 10:00pm, Morndas

“Captain…You’re not seriously going to steer us into that? Are you!?”

The second mate didn’t remove his gaze from the massive wall of iridescent green fog that churned restlessly no more than 100 yards before them as he spoke these words…All hands, including Ullrik stared uncomfortably in silent awe of the mysterious sight that ran from horizon to horizon with no end in sight…All was silent…Even the black waters seemed frozen and deathly still…

The raven that had been guiding them was now perched impatiently again upon the bow and let out a loud “Quaaark!”, as if to decry them for their cowardice and hesitation at what lay before them. Shaken out his paralytic state by the challenge made by the bird, captain Eysteinn broke his attention and focused upon the raven with angry suspicion, but directed his words to Ullrik:

“Ullrik…Can I speak with you a minute?” Eysteinn, now directed his attention back to the fog, directing Ullrik to the back of the long ship with two gloved fingers away from the ears of his men whose very senses were heightened to stiff focus for anything that might appear out the silent glowing green morass before them. Ullrik, noting the courteous discomfort of the captain, made his way to the aft of the long ship in a confident but hurried fashion…

“What is it captain?” Asked Ullrik, leaning in close to the captain.

“Never in all my days upon the sea have I seen anything such as this…”, Eysteinn replied, gesturing with a wildly waving hand to the fog “…I can’t in good conscience lead My Ship…My Men…Into that giant green glowing [censored]-fart!”

“My destination…” Ullrik cut himself off seeing the stern quick temper that began to brew behind Eysteinn’s eyes when challenged in command, then asked, ”What do you propose then...Captain?”

Noting the disrespectful tone behind the query, Eysteinn responded sharply; “You can either turn around with us…Or…Take a lifeboat with a few provisions to see you through to your destination.”

Ullrik growled beneath his breath, but knowing the captain to be immovable in this issue responded…”Fine…You know my decision…” Eysteinn quickly looked at Ullrik with a questioning study as if looking at a madman for the first time, then called out:

“Ready the lifeboat!”

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The lifeboat rocked gently in the silent waters against the vast long ship like a baby seal nuzzling its mother…The raven had now taken mount upon the bow of the lifeboat, sensing the continuance on the little vessel of the journey it needed to guide…

“Ullrik…There are enough provisions on the boat for two weeks if rationed properly. The tent lies to the bottom of the boat on the right-hand side…There are four torches tucked away with the tent and a lit lantern that you can already see placed on the bench…And the men, thinking as I do that you surely go to your death, have given me leave to spare three gallons of mead as a departing gift…Please be safe…” Eysteinn then grabbed Ullrik by the shoulder and gave him a long steady look,”…And may the winds show you fair course back home my friend…” Ullrik reciprocated the gesture, grabbing Eysteinn’s other arm and taking firm grasp of it…”Thank you my friend…May the skies be clear and stars be bright to set your course by…And may the winds be ever gentle upon your back to see you and your crew safely home.”

With these final words, Ullrik silently shook the hands of the awaiting crew and deftly maneuvered himself into the awaiting lifeboat. The second mate then used the grab-hook and pushed the tiny vessel away from the mother-ship…

“Goodbye My Friend…Stay ahead of the pack, keep your wits about you and watch your [censored]! You owe me and my men a good stiff drink in Winterhold when all of this is over!”

With a single wave back to the ship Ullrik then grabbed the oars and began to row a steady course towards the fog…

With a pause when he reached the vast green wall Ullrik took a deep breath and proceeded into the unknown, all eyes on the ship he had left behind watched intently
from a distance and began to fade out of sight in the foggy green haze that consumed the tiny boat in its maw…

Ullrik continued on deeper into the haze that reduced visibility to view just his hands slowly and steadily working the oars..

“Could you please hurry up?” Suddenly came a lilting dusky feminine voice from behind…

Good chapter. Not much has happened, but that is alright when setting up an inevitable scene. I wonder who the female was depicted in the end. I also noticed Ulrik's bad temper flash against the captain.

Yes...Ullrik is very http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1m2BAg2Sc...