Grim Tales - The Helm of Winterhold - Fenrir Unbound Book III - Chapter 7
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29 comments
Very worried about Wolfgar and what might have happened!
Brilliant work!
Mmm, and Hircine is still a very sexy beast when he wants to be -- and knows when to dial it down! Whether Erik likes it or not, it makes sense that he's part of Hircine's pack now, through Grim. Nice that Erik's soul is still his own while under Hircine's protection; I suspect that will be put to the test sometime soon. I also liked the awareness of everything that Hircine shared with Erik, and how it enlightened Erik on Grim's perspective.
And I have an inkling about what this Wild Magic might involve (from the story and your post to Jess). I'm sure plenty more will be revealed later; you seem to have something big indeed planned.
Speaking of which, something big and bad indeed must've hit Grim, if Wolfgar is that knocked out! I've seen thundersnow a few times in my life, though nothing quite as bad as what's coming from Saarthal.
Well done again, both pics and story! I can hardly wait to see what's next! The second piece of music was rather fitting to the mood with Hircine, too. (I stopped the first one about 20 seconds in, but I'm still glad I heard it; along with the Yngvild shots, it triggered some wonderful symphonic metal in my head. )
I think Hircine is showing Erik a lot about Grim and what it means to be divine to some degree. What it will mean should Grim decide to take over as Fenrir if he is forced to make a choice ... and what Erik might do if that happens. Give Erik some good insight into Grim's behavior sometimes as well.
The Wild Magic story I have been toying with ever since early August and is just a matter of setting aside the time. The images are doable and would do out at the Reach. If I wanted to recreate the Hunt again would be some work but having done it once I know how. Rather curious to see it with something like Insomnia's CGI or niceENB by Saltr which are intense presets and could create some cool visuals. I won't go into the plans for Wild Magic returning now (per the hint from Hircine) but the story I would be writing would be eons in the past, when mortals first came to Nirn. It would be Fenrir's "creation" story and the healing of the Wolf-Blooded by Fenrir - who becomes their new god and the Wolf-Blooded become the original founding members (clan/tribe) of the Black Wolf Company. It would also provide some major insight into what the future bring to Grim and what he might have to face above and beyond his enemies.
I have seen thundersnow (nice way to put it) I think twice and its pretty epic. We should find out what happened to Grim in two chapters. I alternate tweaking presets with writing to prevent burn out in either. Should be getting back to more writing tonight or tomorrow.
The second piece of music is one of my favorites (and closer to what I listen to in general when I write) although the first one helped with the excitement level.
Gods but that Necromancer was a powerful one! I loved your description of Erik’s initial approach using stealth, then his and Wolfgar’s charge, only to be rebuffed by the nec’s phenomenal power. Nice to see a hero having to dive for cover! And then Erik using his gut instinct to free the spectre from Arondil’s gold was just perfect. He has such a good heart! Tell me, was Arondil and the captive spectre your invention or part of the game (I haven’t done this bit often and can’t remember coming across this… ).
The second piece of music is just gorgeous! It captures Hircine’s realm very nicely I think and added to the otherworldliness of Erik’s… journey. An interesting (and off-topic) note about Erik’s, ah, excitement on seeing the Prince again and Hircine noting this is due to his being Alpha… I’ve just touched on pretty much the same thing in Eyvind’s backstory. I felt a bit concerned writing it as I’m not too sure of pack organisations (Alpha etc) so reading the same sort of thing here in your tale gives me great confidence! (Especially as you’re the authority on weres, packs and wolves)!!
This talk of Wild Magic and the Wild Hunt is deeply intriguing. A little factoid I will put away in the back of my mind for now…
Also concerning is Erik’s soul. The dangers Hircine spoke of surrounding his soul and what exactly does it mean now that Hircine is ‘protecting Erik’s soul’? I appreciate the relationship Hircine, Grim and Erik have but I still don’t trust him. He IS a Prince after all.
And then that ending… what the Hell are you doing to me!! Wolfgar down for the count? Grim in some dire danger? Argh!!! Talk about cliffhanger! Gunna come across the water and slap you one…
Seriously, a great chapter hon. One of the best I’ve read from you (I realise now how much I love what you’ve done with Erik – I think he’s become my favourite of your characters).
And I adore him in that armour too… sexy.
As you noted - when reading stories spaced over a year or longer ... can be very hard to remember all the details. While I remember most of it myself, since I am always thinking about it, I do have to go back and check details sometimes. But there are reasons for Erik's ring and Hircines blood as well as Wolfgar and Fenrir and these are part of it. A while back I knew I would want to change Wolfgars fur now and then so figured it only made sense to work it into the story. Plus it makes sense - Fenrir is King of all Wolves on Nirn - as in all wolves. Fenrir can become any wolf he wants. Wolfgar, being half-breed, can just take on some of the characteristics.
Glad you liked the music. Maybe not a perfect fit but I did choose both of them on purpose to match as much as I could the "feeling" I wanted. The story with Arondil and the ghost is actually in the game. If you take the soul gem from the pedastal then the ghost(s) will attack Arondil for you. I altered it a little to "destroy" the gem instead. Grim does that all the time - destroys soul gems. He finds them evil and horrible. In "my" world destroying the gem frees the soul to go to the Dreamsleeve or wherever they belong and removes the "husk" from the Soul Cairn.
While there is dispute that modern dogs in a human family follow the same principles as the wild wolves the overall structure of the wild animals still seems to be solid. Usually a pack hierarchy from Alpha to Omega, with the mated alphas leading (most wolves mate for life). Of course younger wolves will always test things and try to move up in rank. Humans do the same thing they are just less open/honest about it (i.e. backstabbing at work as one example). In the story with Erik, Hircine would have sex with him primarily to show dominance - not much different than the old days when vikings would rape their conquered enemies, including the men. Although in this case it wouldn't be as violent and there might be some pleasure in it but certainly no love or real emotion - more just primal sex.
Glad you are enjoying Erik and his vagabond armor - he will probably only wear it when I do winter quests. Between being Nord and sharing Grim's blood he is cold resistant but not nearly at the same level Grim is so he needed a bit more coverage. Warmer weather he will go back to his other outfits.
As for the cliffhanger ... well I learn from the master
Now for an off-topic post on wild magic and a little bit of spoiler. Excuse the typo's as I am typing fast :p
I have read about a half-dozen books/series that touch upon wild magic including Dungeons and Dragons the game. It can be explained many ways but the core is that it is unpredictable and wild, the caster is never really sure what will happen when they call it. It often has some cost as well - the cost depends on the author in most cases. The more you pay the more powerful the effect. Often the cost is reflected in what is being asked for. Wild Magic is neutral and chaotic and primal. It is sometimes thought to be "self-aware" in the way that the "Force" was in Star Wars lore.
Now how I use it in TES Lore. First CHIM (in TES lore) is the state where one reaches god-hood and remains self-aware. You have evolved to the point that you are a god and are able to manipulate reality to your will. The stage after that is AMARANTH. This is when you give up CHIM to sleep and create a Dream. This dream becomes a child universe of the existing one. Meaning if Rathe were to get CHIM and then reach AMARANTH the Dream he would make would inherit "genes" from the existing TES universe. Yet it would not vanish if the parent universe went away because the child is its own unique Dream. I will stop there before I write a book.
The take away is this - where does the power of the CHIM go when the entity goes to sleep and makes a new Dream (universe)? To me that is the Wild Magic of the TES universe. Think of it as a Lucid Dreamer. It is the unconscious mind of the Dreamer. When that person becomes the Dreamer there body, soul, power becomes the Universe. Tapping directly into that power is tapping into Wild Magic and that magic is chaotic and unpredictable because it comes from a dream and the unconscious mind ... yet there is also a sort of awareness to it at the same time.
Keep that in mind for a moment. The other important point is that each time a new Dream is made it inherits properties (think of DNA) from the Universe that birthed that entity. That is why the Princes exist in all Dreams - they are part of the DNA of the Universe and can never be destroyed. But they can change - as genes mingle and mutations occur and some may become dominant while others become recessive.
So how does this tie into Hircine and my story with Wild Magic I am going to write? Well the Forsworn use to worship the "Old Gods" but we don't really know who they are. The Old Ones/Old Gods are gods that existed in past Dreams. Over time their "genes" became less dominant and have faded away, existing only as dead cells in a way. At the time of the current TES Dream (Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, et al) all of the Old Ones are just dead memories and Wild Magic iis forbidden - when the entity made the current Dream (as they have some control as they make it and enter sleep) they removed all memory ... but they can't change the actual DNA ... and one old god, the Eldest God, remained. He only remained, however, because one clan of the Forsworn remembered him and followed him, the Wolf-Blooded race.
But then the Hagravens showed up and they wanted power and hated animals and nature. They corrupted the Forsworn and tried to make them turn towards evil. Only one tribe resisted, the Wolf-Blooded, and so the Hags tried to kill them all. Their leader begged the Eldest God to save them ... but the Eldest God was almost a dead memory by then ... but he was still a God. So he sacrificed what little he had left of self-awareness and energy to summon the forbidden Wild Magic.
It happens that when he did Hircine was on a Bloodmoon Hunt. The Wild Magic, like a dream and ever unpredictable, used what was at hand and took over the Hunt and Hircine making it forever more the Wild Hunt. It was then Hircine who created his first versions of werewolves by transforming the Wolf-Blooded with his own blood. These creatures were then able to fight off the Hags and create their own tribe forever more separated from the other Forsworn. The price was steep though. The wolf-blooded were cursed into the form and filled with blood lust. However the Elder God left them a prophecy that some day someone would come who would free them and become their new god in his place (that would be Fenrir of course). The other cost was that the Hagravens themselves learned of this power and wanted it for themselves and thus they made a deal with Hircine to be able to call upon his power in regards to the werebeasts.
So that is the premise of the story itself ... I won't write anymore though as I want to save the actual story for a nexus post not a comment
That's a fabulous explanation and a very intriguing premise. I too have come across "wild magic" in various fantasy books but mostly in connection to earth magic (like wild elves who have a connection within the earth). It's a great concept about CHIM and Dreams (even if it will take me some time to completely wrap my head around it). I suspect you and Farvat could discuss this concept at length!!
The question is; will this wild magic be a force of good in your universe... or will it take on a life of its own and become something that even Hircine cannot control? You've got me intrigued dear and I so wish you'd hurry up and write Grim's novel!
Anyway, love the images and writing, and especially how you've been handling Avrein's inner struggles between what's right and wrong. Sure he's arrogant (most elves are), but it looks as if he's finally coming to the realization that his sister's a megalomaniac bent on the destruction of all half-breeds, and anyone else foolish enough to get in her way. Domina obviously has no love or even any caring for her half-brother, and sees him as only a tool to be manipulated whenever she deems necessary. I certainly hope for Grim & Friends' sakes that Avrein makes the right choice, as difficult as it may seem. Sometimes freeing yourself from emotional enslavement, even if it means abandonment from your peers, or death, is the only salvation.
Domina is twisted (I do right "high" fantasy style which means over the top characters) but she is actually interested in the Thalmor idea of restoring a golden age. Just that she feels it was destroyed (as do many Thalmor) by humans - so best to get rid of them and the corrupted half-breeds as well. But relative to the Altmer she is looking out for their best interest. She would rule of course
Avrein has tended to be an emotional cold-potato but recently (with Tegan) that is no longer the case. He is coming to a lot of realizations. He still thinks Altmer are generally superior and that Thalmor may be right that a golden age can only be achieved with them at the top of it ... but he doesn't agree with Domina's policies on genocide or that the end always justifies the means.
This in turn, however, has made him start looking a the Thalmor side a bit more as well. Especially now that he knows he is a half-breed and one of the "inferior" races himself. So he is going to have to make some choices soon - either hide who he is and stay with the Thalmor or decide that he is either neutral ... or on Grim's side.
The necromancer's lair was really scary.The tactic that Erik and Wolfgar chose was perfect. When I play Skyrim I prefer the bow and stealth with this type of weapon is very useful. The necromancer himself was a hideous monster and got what he deserved. I shudder when I think of what his victims had to endure. And then Hircine. I know most of princes have a really bad reputation. But somehow Hircine always impressed me. I think he genuinely likes Erik and his recognition of Erik´s victory was sincere. Just wondering what Hircine plans. It seems to me that he is planning something.
Thank you for sharing with us the next chapter. I can not wait to see the continuation of your wonderful story.
I will say I had some fun with the hunt (not to wreck immersion but I played that entire part as Erik not as Grim - meaning Erik was the main character not a follower) because I am not normally a bow person. Grim is very melee focused (not out of honor but simply because he finds it more exciting - he is a creature of the hunt after all). So Erik did most of the bow work and Wolfgar did the tanking.
You understand Hircine correctly. I know the Princes are considered more like " Demons" in out terms but I do not see them that way. I prefer the idea that the Aedra are the more ethereal gods - the mind, air, creativity, thought. The Daedra are the blood, the physical, the emotions. More primal and base. Hence the Princes often represent a darker side of life but many of them represent better emotions (although I do see some, of course, as pretty much pure evil). Hircine, to me, is just a primal force of nature and represents the Darwin idea of nature - the strong survive. That is how nature works. It can be cruel and harsh but that is how nature is. Yet nature has its softer side as well, as do animals. Anyhow point being Hircine is indeed honorable, sincere, and direct than most princes. He is not above trickery but he doesn't lie or force others like some princes do. Still he does have some plans but over all they are not directly harmful to the lads.
Thanks again for your comment, it is much appreciated!
Good to see that Erik can come out of Grim's shadow a cope so well (with a little help from Wolfgar) .
Lovely interplay between the two of them and great meeting with Hircine!
I think Erik was right to stay with the ailing Wolfgar, even though it means that Grim is in danger. As the saying goes: "He big enough and ugly enough to look after himself!" Not that he's ugly, but you get my meaning!
Love your comment about Grim and a few might call him ugly anyhow ... but perhaps not to his face. Still things can't be to good in Saarthal and it was bad enough to put Wolfgar into a coma. They are pretty closely linked so it suggests Grim is in a pretty bad way.
I admit I was looking forward to read about Erik adventure with Wolfgar and I was very intrigued and curious about Hircine's appearance... That was amazing! First of course I couldn't help but laugh aloud at Wolfgar's bossy attitude... the picture of Erik as a turtle moving in tundra was hilarious! Also loved Erik's witty answer about not giving Wolfgar any treats for his teasing. They make an awesome duo, those two and help each other to cope with Grim's absence i have a feeling that if they weren't together being all alone both Wolfgar and Erik could fall into depressing state of mind, since Grim is a crucial part in their lives.
And it is great what tactic Erik and Wolfgar chose to pass through the undead infested ruins, with Wolfgar as a scout and Erik wielding a bow and in fight with Wolfgar covering him from dangers that he might not see. Still it was apparent how they both missed Grim, though I think Wolfgar is trying to be a leader, given his bossy behavior!
The necromancer's lair was described perfectly and it gave me chills, imagining being in such dreary and dark place. His experiments were disgusting and if i recall correctly, he was quite a pervert, considering what did he do with the bodies and ghosts of those he had captured...
He got what he deserved and I am very glad that Erik managed to free necromancer's slave... without her it would be tough continuation of already hard fight, which necromancer gave to both Erik and Wolfgar... apparently such sorcerers shouldn't be underestimated.
And now to the most intense and exiting part... I've thought that the battle with necromancer was intense, but how wrong I was given Hircine's behavior! I know that most Daedric princes have a reputation of great liars... but not Hircine. I got a feeling that his compliments to Erik upon his victory were genuine ones and it seems he has developed certain care and fondness for Erik ever since their last encounter. By the way... Twilight Forest looks amazing, here it looks darker but such look s even more fitting for Hircine's domain, I think.
And considering the encounter between Hircine and Erik... oh, that was very hot and intense! The whole exchange between them was masterfully written and the sexual tension there was palpable! Poor Erik apparently couldn't control himself, his pleading tone to Huntsman to stop such temptation has said it all... I don't really blame Erik, Hircine can be such Mr. Charisma when he wants to and apparently he had a great fun showing his dominance in that way too. Glad that Hircine was satisfied with just that, seems like Erik wouldn't put much of a fight if he took it further but I am very happy that he didn't. It would hurt both Erik and Grim, I guess, even if this is not about love but if I was in their place I would feel hurt anyway.
In any case, Hircine is up to something, I think this is not only about Erik, but about Grim as well. He wants to help Erik and I believe him in that, since Hircine cares for his pack, it is true, but I fear his protection of Erik's soul might come up with a price, since Hircine had no habit of letting go of his prey if he is interested. With Daedric Princes there is always a price, but at least Erik is protected from other Princes unless of course they will try to tempt him somehow... at which they are very good. It seems that Hircine feels that some great changes and new treats are coming, thus his actions towards Erik...
God to know that despite everything Erik and Wolfgar left the ruins with the thing they looked for yet the scene with Wolfgar later gave me another chills. I imagine Erik's horror, seeing his friend in such bad shape and knowing something bad has happened with Grim with no meas to help him! At least Erik manged to help Wolfgar and I am terribly curious at what possibly could have happened with Grim to cause such reaction of Wolfgar! hope that Grim will be fine, since Wolfgar thankfully did not die yet whatever happened in Saarthaal seems like bad news. and maybe I am wrong, but terrible weather has also tied with what happened with Grim, since he has an ability to affect weather... ever since his encounter with Kyne.
Thank you very much for sharing your awesome work and I will be looking forward for continuation!
I think you are right on them being alone. Wolfgar especially has a hard time being away from his pack - he seldom feels complete with out Grim around and Grim feels the same way. At least they have their mental connection to help cope with that. Erik does his best to keep himself busy when alone but I think he also felt better with Wolfgar along. Wolfgar, of course, wanted to test his position in his small pack (the three of them) and suspect he sees himself a step above Erik *grin*.
You have an excellent memory Nataly - Arondil is a pervert and his journal showed that. Erik was pretty appalled - he could only think of the girls back in Rorikstead falling under such control and was determined to end it. Glad you enjoyed the battle scene with the Arondil.
Also many thanks for the Twilight Forest! It was extra dark for two reasons. First I was using FadingSignals tree mod which makes all the trees 1.5 times bigger - and that blocked out a lot of light but made the place feel like some magical primal forest and was perfect. Second I was using Insomnia CGI ENB which tends to be a darker ENB then my usual ENB.
Also worked great for Hircines private meeting with Erik. Wolfgar doesn't really understand all the subtle layers - to him Hircine is just the big Alpha who scratches his ears so he was pretty content. I suspect if Erik was not with Grim he would also enjoy having his ... ears ... scratched by Hircine. Erik, well hard to say. The point I wanted to make with that, however, is that Hircine is a PRINCE. All caps. He is not some powerful mage or even just another Daedra. He isn't as easy to ignore or block out as that cute guard at the tavern. It was meant to imply that Hircine was in control of the situation. Sure afterwards there would be much trouble and anger and heartache ... but at the time Erik was pretty much under his "spell". You are right Grim would feel hurt except Hircine was partly right - Grim would understand Erik could not resist. Still knowing something doesn't remove the emotion - intellectually he could have accepted it but emotionally it would have hurt. Yet Hircine really doesn't want to antagonize either of them needlessly. To him it is just another form of a hunt (and often I think people see getting someone to sleep with them as a form of a hunt).
In general the meeting was for just what Hircine said - to offer some protection over Erik's soul. Grim and Wolfgar already have that type of protection being who they are. Hircine has his own motives of course ... but he has yet to reveal them to anyone. As i wrote in another comment he is overall neutral but protective towards his pack. That at least means his own plans are probably not evil or bad towards Grim and Erik. It is also connected to Wild Magic (which we discussed a bit off-line and that will make more sense if I find time to write that story).
The weather is totally tied to Grim and a little to Kynareth herself who is not pleased with what is happening but she can't interfere directly (as we know none of the Aedra can) except for playing with the weather and sometimes acting through her priests. So extra bad storm between the two of them!
All I can say is that a lot of stuff is happening at Saarthal right at that moment ... and well can't say more than that. Big thanks once again for the comment and so pleased you enjoyed the story!
You managed to reflect that slightly haunting feeling of how those ruins are nearly deserted, signs of one living there but no sound of footsteps or echo of voice, those gruesome signs of one's unfortunate fate found among the ice, I can understand why her felt that tickle of fear. Interesting that his ring suddenly changed its behavior as he was about to open that door, that bite warning him of a danger beyond as it had not done before, seems his watcher was a little worried in that moment. Was great to see how well Erik and Wolfgar work as a team against quite dangerous foe, one could really feel the intensity of that battle. They were lucky to have that unusual source of help, that ghostly woman pleading to be freed from her servitude of one so cruel, summoning what power she could to weaken the necromancer.
He sure went from one odd place to another as he appeared among the forest of Hircine's hunting grounds, you described the sounds her heard wonderfully, that odd call of an owl hidden among the branches of a tree, the soft din of insects, the trickle of water, could almost hear them. Hircine sure does seem to like to toy with others with that aura about him though it is good that he is not too cruel about it, backing off when Erik asked him to. I do wonder once again what his plans for him are exactly, speaking warning about dangers to his soul, giving Erik a glimpse of his senses, of that world so different as seen by Grim.
Seems danger was near even after they stepped out of those ruins with that sudden wave of pain making both fall to the snowy ground, I wonder what it is telling them about what may be happening to Grim. It is worrying the effect it has had on Wolfgar, him not shaking off the pain as Erik had, leaving him vulnerable as that storm like an angry beast approached. Great to see the care that Erik has for Wolfgar, knowing that he has to do his best to get him though that storm, sure sounds like it will be a long night for him. A very intriguing chapter, looking forward to the next
I wonder if Honey Stripes wishes she could change her fur color and patterns to fit in with the surroundings
Outside of story context that quest has it so you can take control of the soul gem and the ghost fights on your side against Arondil. I just altered a little to give better context to the story. It would have been nice to have her chat with Erik afterwards and tell some of her story ... but time and space again. Glad you liked the fight scene though!
I didn't want to spell out at first that only his soul had been moved to the forest - I let that be a bit open to the reader until the ending. I enjoyed writing a lot of that - the part of the forest and night and later what it was like to be connected to the living world.
Hircine does have some plans for Erik and Grim (and Wolfgar) but at the moment he is keeping his own counsel. Our only clue is perhaps something to do with Wild Magic ... which will be a flashback story for Fenrir himself and his origins if I find the time to write it .. but perhaps more on that in the future.
A bit of a cliffhanger I know and I guess we will have to wait and see what is happening to Grim in Saarthal in future chapters. Many thanks once again for the kind words Alexi.