The air is getting crisp out. After being forced to leave my cave I had taken shelter in for nearly two months I have been wandering the barren southern landscape of Skyrim. I stumbled into a small dismal town they called Falkreath were I overheard several men speaking of a violent murder of a little girl. They tried to shoo me away when they saw my condition, but I was persistent until they at last told me that the killer was a man locked in the town's dungeons. He was as I had expected, inhuman The whole situation had reeked of Magicka or else I would have never investigated. After a mild charm spell had been cast on him the man was more than willing to explain to me that he was indeed a werewolf, but for some reason he was very unwilling to disclose he was cursed by Hircine. Hircine is, as far as my knowledge of Daedric princes goes, supposedly a friend of were wolfs and all creatures of the hunt. I questioned the man once on this matter but his resistance was too strong, and I felt that strengthening the spell was an unnecessary expenditure of my energy.
Regardless, the man offered me the cursed ring which Hircine and 'gifted' him and asked that I slay the great white stag which roamed the area to summon Hircine, and then straightway return the ring to the Daedric prince. Typically I would be unwilling to lend aid to a stranger, especially one was so deeply entangled in Magicka I do not fully understand. But something about the man's plea, and the chance that I may be able to confront the Prince of the Hunt, obliged me to say yes.
Hunting down the stag was not as difficult as I had imagined it would be. After lacing my daggar with the poisen of the vile frostbite spider I found a bushy spot where I could hide. The man had told me the area where the stag came to drink, and sure enough, he had not steered me wrong. I heard the great beast step softley into the clearing. I held myself back though until I could smell it near me, and to my great luck it stopped mere feet away from me to lap up the cool water.
After the beast lay dead at my feet it was only a matter of moments before I heard Hircine's voice. He congratulated me on my victory, particularly pleased that I had managed the job so smoothly without any form of vision. His next request however put a sour taste into my mouth, he wished me to prove my ability to hunt by finding the werewolf who I had spoken to in the prison and slaying him as well. I told Hircine that I would, but never in my head was I able to agree to the arrangement I may play with black magic, perhaps I have killed a few innocents as well. But I have never gone back on my word. I promised the cursed man that I would intercede on his behalf and not even the Daedric prince Hircine had any ability to make me change my mind.
I left the Daedric prince thinking that he had just sealed his wayward werewolf's fate. It was not to be, however. I found the werewolf hiding in small underground barrow, near where Hircine had told me he might be. Inside were a few hunters, most were bloodied and several were already dead. They told me that the werewolf had ventured further in, and looked at me in shock when I nodded and continued after the beast alone.
In fact I did not have to walk for long. The man found me. He was wary, as he should have been, I'm sure that he had guessed Hircine desired him dead. I calmed his fears however, and offered him my help in clearing the barrow of the remaining hunters. It was an easy task. In fact most of the hunters turned tail and ran when they saw the mighty feral beast and the blind Elven necromancer leaping at them from the darkness. The ones that didn't move fast enough were slowed by my magic and then shredded by the ivory claws of my companion.
After the brief battle the werewolf thanked me quietly and then left me. I suppose he didn't want to wait around long enough for me to change my mind. I was a bit concerned as I exited the barrow, afriad that Hircine would be waiting outside, furious at my blatant lie.
I did hear his voice the moment I stepped outside, but it was not angry, in fact he sounded jovial at my turning of the hunt upon the hunters He finally accepted the cursed ring from me and exchanged it with one he said may someday bring me greater prowess in the hunt. I did not understand, but I thanked him and moved on.
Right now I am reclining on a dirty bedroll I found near a burning fire which is nestled under a stone wall near the barrow. It began to rain almost as soon as I got here so I was very grateful for the shelter. There were a few men and one woman who must have been calling this their home but I heard them running noisily through the rain and used a shock spell to kill them before they even reached their destination. I will not stay here for more than a day. I must return to Falkreath so that I can attempt to get some money out of them for 'avenging' the girls death. I need supplies badly.
