Into Skyrim, Elder Scrolls 8 Nirn's Beta

Chapter 29: Dead at Sea?

Chapter 29 - Dead at Sea?Sorex had packed a lot more supplies than I expected. Specially since we didn't travel super far from Solitude. Though it seemed fine since Sorex had rented a small boat.

Viree was looking at the water with some worry. "What scared of a few fish?"

Sorex laughed at my joke, he had a fishing rod trying to catch something as I row the boat. Sorex smirked, "You know I heard of a few stories about sea monsters. Things like the Emperor Crab or the Gagrim Slaughterfish."

I raised my eye to that one, "Gagrim Slaughterfish?"

Sorex laughed, "What you never heard about that one?"

Viree frowned, "It better not be a giant slaughterfish."

Sorex laughed, "Nah, it isn't actually a slaughterfish. It is just called that. It is some kind of shark leviathan that lives in the sea of ghosts. Truth be told it is likely just some kind of sailors tale."

A shark leviathan, eh? Wouldn't it be a wonder to hunt that thing. Sorex continued talking, "Basically the beast has iridescent scales and only appears at dawn. Swallowing trade ships whole! However that is what makes me doubt the story. The only time sailors disappear in the sea of ghosts is due to pirates. Which makes me all the more excited about this ship!"

I pointed at an iceberg, "Is that the island?"

Sorex looked up, and pulled up his fishing line. "Yeah, that looks like the island."

Viree shook her head, "It looks like the whole place froze over."

I nodded, that looked exactly what happened. However I can recognize the shape of the area. "The iceberg seems to be man-made. This is a Lagoon. The rocks there would've blocked the lagoon, hiding the pirates. They had to have docked inside the lagoon and preceded to fuck with some kind of ice magic. At least that is what I am guessing."

Sorex nodded, "Seems about right. Dock over there. We can tie the boat to the tree."

I nodded and docked the ship. Viree helped pull it onto the shore. I paused, "Viree stay out here, we have no clue what could happen here."

She sneered, "I am sworn to protect you."

I knew what she was referring to. "We won't be fighting anything, just set up camp."

She clicked her tongue and I looked at Sorex wandering off. He stopped at a small opening. Sorex looked at me and explained, "As far as I can tell this is the only opening. Unless we walk around the rest of the island."

I shook my head, "Nah, I doubt there is another entrance." I pointed into the passage way. "The ice froze around an arch of some kind. It is likely a shipping bay made by the pirates."

Sorex nodded, "How do we get in? That is a tight fit in."

Sorex likely was small enough to slip in. However I think me and Viree would be stuck if we tried. "We melt the entrance."

Sorex looked at me, "Won't that take a while?"

I shook my head. "Did you pack any salt with you?"

He nodded, "I only brought 2 sacks of salt. I doubt we can melt the ice with salt. Besides I brought it for the boat if it freezes."

I smirked, "I have some vinegar and alcohol. If we mix all three it should create a solution to melt the ice."

Sorex blinked, "How does that work?"

I began walking back to Viree and her makeshift camp. I explained the plan to Sorex, "Basically vinegar and alcohol freeze at different points than water. Combine that with salt, it can melt through the ice. We just have to pour the mixture around the entrance."

Sorex nodded, "Let's get mixing then."

Viree looked at us, "So you figured out a way in? The ice isn't solid?"

We nodded, "Yup." I continued, "The passage is small, so we plan on melting the entrance."

Sorex took out his sack of salt. While I pulled out the wine and vinegar I had. Viree started a fire while I mixed everything together. I looked over at Sorex, "So wanna explain a bit more about this quest?"

Sorex nodded, "So I got that note I showed you right? However odd thing is, I think it a page torn out of a journal."

He took the note out again, "See this side of the paper?"

Viree rolled her eyes, "We can see it was torn."

Sorex frowned slightly, "She isn't any fun. Anyway, the question become who tore it out, why send it to me? Finally what happened here?"

I agreed, "The combination is certainly odd." I smirked, "We will find out though. I got the stuff ready."

This time all three of us went to the entrance.

Viree gasped, "That is small."

Me and Sorex laughed, Viree looked at us, "What?"

I moved forward and started getting to work. "Wow, that is working pretty well." Sorex was looking over my shoulder and it wasn't long until he tried slipping through the entrance. It barely took him a second until he was on the other side.

I called out, "What do you see?"

Sorex called out, "All good!" Viree slipped through next. Once they were through and slid through the opening. It was still a tight fit in places. However I got through easily enough.

I gasped, "Woah! That is a big ship."

Sorex nodded, "I think it is bigger than everything in the Solitude docks."

Viree pointed, "Is that your Journal?"

I walked over and picked up a leather bound book next to an extinguished campfire. This small little area was where someone had their last days at. A slightly mummified skeleton was wrapped in a makeshift sleeping bag.

I picked up the book, and opened it. However before I got the chance to read a ghost figure rose from the sleeping bag. "Who disturbs the dead?"

I slammed the book into the ghosts head and it turned into a pile of ghostly goo. "Huh. So ghosts on the pirate ship. Should've seen that coming."

Sorex laughed, "Wow you reacted fast on that."

I shrugged and reopened the book. Viree looked at me, "Really? You are gonna read that now?"

I shrugged, "Why not? It might have clues!"

Viree rolled her eyes and Sorex started

I raised my head, "I'm in the captains room!"

It wasn't long until Viree and Sorex walked over. "No more ghosts so that's good." I paused and realized Sorex was right.

Viree pointed at the stairs going down. "You check the cargo yet?"

I shook my head, "No was about to read the captains journal."

Viree nodded, "Let's take a break then."

Sorex agreed, "The ship seems safe now. Besides we need to eat and get some rest."

I nodded, "Let's get out of here for now then."