The mysterious man stood in the shadow of the study room where the candlelight could not reach him. His appearance was obscured by a huge hooded robe, and his back was greatly distorted by the curse. The right hand holds a staff carved from the spine of some kind of animal or human. The finger bones are black and covered with bony tumors. The index finger of the left hand wears a ring set with gems.
Clearly, this is a spellcaster.
Harald Silverblood took a step back calmly. "Who are you!" The silver-blooded clan leader couldn't help but aim at the door, trying to attract the attention of the guards. At the same time, he tensed up the strong muscles all over his body, and secretly recited a small spell - a small trick that was not very powerful, but very effective.
However, as soon as the staff in the mysterious man's hand pointed at him, Harald Silverblood immediately fell to the ground in pain. "Harald Silverblood, you have disappointed your master so much -" the weirdo said hoarsely, as if he had not spoken human language for a long time.
Harald wanted to scream, but found that his throat was strangled by an invisible hand. Even breathing became a very difficult thing. His limbs creaked and almost twisted into a ball. His internal organs could not be moved. He was locked tightly, and blood foam continued to spurt out of his mouth.
"The master gave you a task, but you betrayed His trust."
The mysterious man pointed the human bone staff at him while walking out of the shadows, then took off his hood, revealing his extremely ugly and terrifying appearance. "Harald Silverblood, are you prepared to suffer endless pain in Coldharbour?!"
Harald was shocked to discover that the mysterious man was a legendary monster in the countryside-Vamo. And there was an aura about him that was extremely familiar to Harald. He screamed madly and silently, pleading with his eyes.
The blind monster tortured him for a long time, as if this was just an insignificant game, until Harald Silverblood was about to die, he said in that weird voice: "But in memory of your past loyalty, Master I’ve decided to spare you this time!”
The spell on Harald disappeared, and the mysterious man recited a healing spell. Harald's twisted limbs and torn internal organs miraculously recovered. Harald gasped for air, his face soaked with sweat and tears.
He first called Morag Bal desperately, and then asked cautiously, "Are you the master's messenger?"
"I am the master's agent! Idiot!"
The silver-blood clan leader was shocked. In a humble gesture, he knelt down and dedicated all his loyalty and soul to his master. "Praise my Lord! Praise the King of Slavery and Domination! Praise Molag Bal!" he said.
The monster tilted its head, as if wondering whether Harald was worth trusting. A terrifying shadow emerged from the mysterious man's robe, and a terrible fear enveloped the entire house. The firelight on the wall and candlesticks shrank to a small point with the appearance of this shadow. The temperature in the room quickly dropped. Harald's breath condensed into frost.
Harald praised Morag Bal crazily in his heart, calling out the holy name of the Lord of Slavery and Domination, and was so afraid that he did not dare to raise his head.
"Get up." After a long time, the mysterious man said. The aura that frightened Harald disappeared. The flames of the candles on the walls and candlesticks returned to their original appearance, and the room became warm again.
The silver-blooded patriarch immediately stood up obediently.
"I came here this time to bring my lord's order." The mysterious man who claimed to be the agent of the devil said coldly in his hoarse and weird voice: "The plan must be accelerated, Harald Silverblood, and it must be in advance!"
"But -" Harald had countless questions in his mind, but when he looked up and saw the terrifying face of the demon agent, all his words turned into one sentence: "As you wish, my lord."
The mysterious man stared at Harald for a long time, until his legs were weak with fear and his head was dizzy, and then he nodded unequivocally, "Very good." The magician's voice seemed to come from the horizon, ethereal. , and with unsettling fear, "Remember, Harald Silverblood, the Lord's eyes are always upon you."
Then, the mysterious man disappeared, as if he had never appeared.
Harald maintained a humble posture and stood in the darkness and fear for a long time. No one could detect what he was thinking at the time, but in hindsight, Harald Silverblood was indeed involved in the subsequent series of conspiracies. Played an extremely critical role.
However, the first thing Harald did that night was to kill all those who were responsible for guarding that night. The furious silver-blooded patriarch tore their corpses into pieces.
The remaining people were all completely frightened by this violent and terrifying scene. Only one pair of eyes kept observing the patriarch intently, and then left quietly.
***
From the book "Mad Men" in the Frontier Territory, we learn that the Forsworn are the collective name for certain 'savage natives' who are active in the Frontier Territory. The empire and Nord academic circles believe that these people abuse violence, worship the heretical ancient goddess, and blindly believe in wild beasts and natural spirits that other civilized ethnic groups avoid. But in fact, not all Reachers are Forsworn, and not all Forsworn are barbaric and uncivilized savages.
Known as the 'Ragged King', Medernachi is famous for his enthusiastic acceptance of imperial culture and encouraging young people to go beyond the frontier and expand their horizons. He deeply knows that the Reach people cannot blindly indulge in illusory and visionless hatreds such as 'recovering their homeland' and 'killing all the Nord barbarians'. The Forsworn must be more active in communicating with other races in Tamriel. , integration, and exchange of needs, so as to strengthen one's own race, instead of always acting like this barbaric, primitive, and uncivilized manner.
As a result, due to the enlightened policies promoted by Mednach and his enthusiastic and charismatic leadership, people gathered under his command from all directions. Slowly, the Forsworn tribe under Mednach became more and more powerful. Other tribes were more prosperous and more powerful.
This tribe is based in Druadaqi in the north and radiates to the vast area south of Neixiang Pass, Dragon Tooth Pass, Hammonstor Fortress, and Dragon Bridge. It is the most powerful Rechi tribe in the northern part of the Frontier Territory. . They act more enlightened and kinder. They will have peaceful conversations and trade with business travelers and pedestrians who come to Markas from Daggerfall and Dugu City to trade bulk commodities; they will also let you go calmly when the deal between the two parties fails.
But the same can't be said for the remaining Forsworn. Since most of the Reach people believe in the Prince of Blood and Hunting (Hircine), and the Queen of Souls and the Goddess of Rot, Namira, although there are enlightened leaders like Maidenaki among the Forsworn, there are more low-level people. The Forsworn and some of the chieftains still prefer a barbaric and bloody style of behavior and a cruel and primitive life of robbery.
Among them, the three tribes of Shaping Bone, Raging Palm, and Stone Claw need special attention——
Taking their name from their heritage, the Boneshapers have developed an unusual series of rituals involving thorny vines and saplings. They would tie or plant these vines around the skeleton of the sacrifice.
When they raided or fought, they used the vines to create effigies, shaping the plants into crude mockeries of life. Some rituals also utilize the dead, although necromancy appears to be forbidden among the tribes. But travelers who see their crude clan insignia should be wary.
The Raging Palm tribe tames a stout, sturdy bear for battle. These bears are trained from an early age to be associated with a specific clan or tribal family. It was a matriarchal society, and the tribes imitated their animal companions in many ways.
This particular habit has led to friction with other frontier tribes: the Raging Palm have been known to suppress and absorb other smaller tribes, assimilating them. Women new to the clan find themselves given a great deal of control and freedom, and often enjoy the transition. Male warriors fight adult bears one-on-one and win a place in the tribe by forcing the bears to submit.
The last of the three tribes is the Stonetalon tribe. Although they don't look as aggressive as the two tribes above, they also show some relatively unique and aggressive behaviors. Like Raging Palm, Stonepaw is a matriarchal clan. However, there are very few women in this tribe. Women of this tribe often wear heavy cloaks made of feathers, as if they are sick.
But in fact every cloaked woman in this tribe is a powerful spellcaster. As a result, the Stonetalon are probably the most dangerous of the three tribes.
Because we know that most crow hags are women.
These three primitive and bloody tribes occupy most of the area from Cass Lake to Loristed Town in the south. Business travelers from Snowman and Rift Valley City, and even the southern provinces of the empire, if they don’t want to be suddenly attacked in the uninhabited mountains, If you are hit in the knee by a cold arrow or torn to pieces by a ferocious brown bear or other beasts, it is best to avoid them - or hire a powerful escort to protect your life and property from damage.
Coupled with the orc bandits, homeless beggars and horse thieves who came from the Dragon Mark Mountains, it can be said that although the Andor family controls Markas, dangers are everywhere in the vast and primitive frontier territory.
4E173, night starry moon.
19th.
On the sixth day after the war broke out, Mednach finally led his tribe to Markas, a city with deep walls and strong walls.
It is said that when Mednaki saw that the leaders of other tribes were so unwise and allowed the blood of their tribes to flow crazily under the ancient Dwemer city with deep walls and strong walls, they were so angry that they held a meeting that only tribal leaders could attend. Meeting.
At the meeting, Mednach had a fierce quarrel with the leaders of each tribe, and then the Tattered King angrily returned to his tent.
Naipold saw the Tattered King sitting behind a simple but sturdy log table without saying a word, and couldn't help but ask: "Pariko (the meaning of leader and lord in the ancient language of Rich), what did the council say?" Naipold had beautiful short brown hair, the sides of which were shaved according to custom. There is a thick beard on his chin and lips, and his eyes are deep. He is Mednach's deputy and one of the most trusted men of the Tattered King.
The big man behind the table raised his head, and a bitter smile appeared on his weathered and determined face. "What else can I say?" Mednach slammed the table. There were several topographic maps of Markas and the city guards on it. The defense map, the slender brush made of goose feathers, the ink bottle, etc. jumped up one after another. "Their minds with only muscles left only have a strong attack! A strong attack! Or a strong attack!" The ragged king said desperately: "But they can't see the blood of our people at all. Half of it has passed in this meat grinder-like siege!"
Mednach has thick blond hair and a beard. His strong body is only covered with a leather armor and a cloak sewn from the fur of a saber-toothed tiger. Two muscular arms are clearly exposed.
"Maybe they think this will please the Bloody Prince!" Naipold said after a long silence.
"Uricanbeg {Uricanbeg, that is, Hircine. The prince of blood and hunting has many aspects, among which Uricanbeg, the huge stag who always pursues prey and destroys, is one aspect of this cruel demon} encourages hunting and killing, But at the same time, we should not forget the swift fox in the forest."
Here the Tattered King said a slang that only people or scholars who really delve into and understand the culture of the Reach people would understand.
In the culture of the Reach people, or the Forsworn, the swift fox is also called 'Gulibeg', which is the cunning and calm side of Hircine. In this form, Hircine in the form of a fox would confuse mortal hunters, sending them running in circles until they became so confused and mad that they followed him over cliffs or into pathless mire. He may fill you with such rage that you can only follow him, or, he may notice how clever you are and teach you his tricks.
Naipold closed his mouth and fell into a silent sigh along with Mednach.
It was at this moment that an evil shadow broke into the Tattered King's tent. It flew around the pointed roof, and after confirming its target, it fluttered its night-like wings and landed on the table.
The ragged king stood up suddenly.
Naipold looked around vigilantly, but found no sign of the enemy. The raven pecked its feathers gracefully, its dark eyes reflecting Mednach's surprised face.
Therefore, Mednach knew that this was the messenger of the 'ally'.
Ignoring his deputy's dissuasion, he took a piece of paper with some information written on it from the black crow's paw, and after reading it, he meditated for a long time alone under the candlelight.
Naipold gave the messenger a certain reward-a few juniper fruits and then let him go.
"Pariko," he said, "what is this?"
Mednach didn't answer. Instead, he stood up with a solemn and disdainful expression, "I need to go out." He said to his deputy, "While I'm away, you need to help me block the requests of those who want to destroy my plan, but you must not cause any trouble. The suspicion of these people.”
Neipold asked about the whereabouts of the ragged king, but was ordered to stick to his post.
Then, Mednach left the camp alone.
He did not alert anyone, but quietly walked through the noisy and fanatical tents and bonfires, and under the cover of magic and night, he emerged from the camp of the Forsworn army.
