Metalborn in Skyrim

Dain knelt beside him, inspecting the ground. "Tracks," he said, pointing to faint impressions in the dirt. The footprints were crude, their shapes uneven and distorted, like they'd been made by bare feet twisted by years of unnatural wear. "Forsworn."

Kael nodded, his jaw tightening. The Forsworn were notorious for their brutality, but the presence of claw marks and scattered remains suggested something darker was at play. "They're heading that way," Kael said, gesturing toward the hills. "Let's go."

The trail led them higher into the hills, where the air grew colder and thinner. The trees gave way to bare rock, and the wind howled through the crags, carrying with it a faint metallic tang. Kael's breath misted in the air as they climbed, and he swallowed a brass bead to burn warmth, letting the stored heat spread through his body to stave off the chill.

After an hour of following the tracks, they crested a ridge and came upon a Forsworn encampment. The crude tents, constructed from animal hides and wooden stakes, were arranged in a loose circle around a smoldering fire. Bone totems and bloody symbols marked the perimeter, a clear warning to any intruders.

Kael crouched behind a boulder, peering at the scene below. Three Forsworn warriors patrolled the area, their painted faces grim and their weapons crude but deadly. Kael could see movement within the tents as well—shadows that hinted at more foes hidden from view.

"Three guards," Kael whispered. "There's bound to be more inside."

"And the Hagraven," Dain added grimly, his voice low. "If she's here, this won't be easy."

Kael flexed his fingers, feeling the reassuring hum of his stored strength and speed. "Stay close," he said, his voice steady despite the nervous energy coiling in his chest. Magic wasn't something he was eager to face, even with his powers.

Dain nodded, his expression serious. "Ready when you are."

Kael gripped the steel coin in his hand, his eyes locked on the patrolling Forsworn. The guards moved in erratic patterns around the camp, their crude weapons slung casually over their shoulders. Kael knelt behind a boulder, calculating his approach as he turned to Dain.

"I'll take the one closest to us," he whispered. "You handle the one near the fire."

Dain nodded, his face serious. "And the third?"

"We'll deal with him together," Kael replied.

Kael placed a steel coin on the ground near his feet, burning steel and pushing against it. Simultaneously, he started storing into his iron metalmind, storing some of his weight to make himself lighter. The reduced resistance sent him rocketing forward in a burst of speed. The air whistled past his ears as he closed the distance to the first guard, his sword arcing in a precise strike.

The Forsworn's body crumpled, but Kael was already moving. He planted another steel coin in the dirt and pushed off, flaring pewter to steady his landing. His lighter weight let him move faster, his movements a blur as he circled around to the second guard. The Forsworn turned, startled, but Dain was faster, sliding in with his dagger and taking him out in a single clean motion.

The third guard shouted, raising a crude axe as he charged forward. In an instant, Kael tapped his steel metalmind, the stored speed surging through him. His movements blurred as he darted to the side, narrowly evading the wild swing of the axe by mere inches. Before the Forsworn could recover, Kael reappeared behind him, his sword arcing in a swift, precise strike that pierced through the man's torso, the blade emerging cleanly from the front. The Forsworn crumpled to the ground, his weapon clattering uselessly at his side. 

Kael exhaled slowly, wiping his blade clean as he turned to Dain. The other man hadn't moved, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes darting between Kael and the fallen Forsworn. "What in Oblivion did I just watch?" Dain asked, his voice breaking the silence, raw with disbelief.

Kael hesitated, unsure how to frame an explanation. "I... have some unique abilities."

"Unique?" Dain barked out a short, incredulous laugh. "You call that unique? You were flying around like some Daedric sorcerer! People don't do that, Kael!"

Kael sighed, his expression tightening. "It's not magic. At least, not the kind you're thinking of. It's... complicated."

"Complicated?" Dain ran a hand through his hair, his fingers trembling. "I just watched you move faster than I could blink and jump like a gods-damned bird! I think you owe me more than 'it's complicated.'"

Kael's jaw tensed. "I can't explain it all right now. It's not something most people would understand."

"Well, try me!" Dain snapped, pointing at the dead Forsworn. "Because right now, my brain's telling me I just teamed up with some monster birdman straight out of a bard's cautionary tale."

Kael held his gaze, his voice low but firm. "I'm not a monster. I've got… gifts, and I use them to survive. To help where I can. That's all you need to know for now."

Dain stared at him, his breathing unsteady, his brow furrowed in thought. Finally, he shook his head, muttering under his breath. "I swear, the Divines are laughing at me right now."

Kael allowed the silence to settle before stepping past him, his tone softer now. "Look, I get it—this is a lot. But we're in the middle of Forsworn territory, and there's a Hagraven somewhere out there. We don't have time for this."

Dain took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Fine. We'll get through this. But after it's done, you're explaining everything."

Kael nodded. "I'll think about it."

Dain gave him a long look before finally moving forward, his dagger still in hand. "Next time, just warn me if you're going to turn reality on its head, yeah?"

Kael laughed faintly. "...I'll think about it."

The tents they passed were a nightmare of stench and shadow. The air inside was thick with the reek of decay, a noxious mix of rotting meat and old blood. Bones of various sizes were scattered across the floor, many of them human. In the dim light of a brazier, Kael spotted the Hagraven crouched near an altar, her grotesque figure illuminated by the flickering flames.

Her clawed hands gripped a gnarled staff, the runes etched into it glowing faintly as she chanted in a guttural, rasping voice. The sound made the hairs on Kael's arms stand on end.

The Hagraven's head snapped up, her beady eyes locking onto Kael. She let out a piercing screech and raised her staff, summoning a ball of flame in her hand. Kael flared Pewter, helping is reaction time to avoid the incoming attack. The fireball streaked toward him, and he dove to the side, pushing off a steel coin to propel himself clear of the blast.

"Flank her!" Kael shouted to Dain as he drew his sword.

Dain darted to the left, his dagger gleaming in the firelight. The Hagraven hissed, slashing at him with her claws and forcing him to retreat. After getting some distance, Kael took the opportunity to push off another coin, closing the gap between himself and the creature. He flared pewter again, his muscles surging with power, and drove his blade into her side.

The Hagraven shrieked in pain, her gnarled staff swinging wildly as she unleashed a powerful wave of force. The impact sent Kael sprawling backward, but he rolled with the momentum, coming to his feet in a fluid motion and steadying himself. Seizing the opportunity, Dain hurled a knife that struck true, burying itself in the Hagraven's throat. Her screech was abruptly silenced, but the dark gleam in her eyes suggested she was already attempting to heal.

Kael acted quickly. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled his sword through the air, burning steel and flaring it to push the weapon with immense force. The blade streaked towards her, embedding itself deep in the Hagraven's chest, precisely where her heart would be. The creature staggered, her twisted form collapsing to the ground in final, unnatural silence.

With the Hagraven dead, Kael and Dain methodically searched the camp. The remaining Forsworn were nowhere to be found, leaving only the aftermath of their dark rituals. The central tent was the most disturbing, its walls lined with bones and crude symbols painted in blood. The altar in the center was stained dark red, surrounded by fragments of human remains.

Kael crouched near the altar, his stomach twisting at the sight. Among the debris, he found a tattered journal, its pages filled with jagged, uneven handwriting. He flipped through it, skimming the contents.

"It's a ritual," he said grimly. "They were trying to summon something."

"Summon what?" Dain asked, his tone cautious.

"I don't know," Kael admitted, his brow furrowing. The pages were filled with rambling descriptions of power and vengeance, but there was no clear mention of the entity they sought to summon. He gestured to the bones scattered around the altar. "Whatever it was, it required sacrifices. Lots of them."

Dain's expression darkened as he glanced around the tent. "No survivors, then."

Kael shook his head. "Just bones."

The weight of the discovery settled over them as they continued their search. The other tents contained little of value—some food, crude weapons, and the occasional trinket—but nothing that shed further light on the ritual.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Kael and Dain stood outside the camp, their breaths visible in the cold air. The distant howling of wolves echoed through the hills, a reminder that the danger wasn't entirely gone.

"What now?" Dain asked, sliding his dagger back into its sheath.

Kael stared at the horizon, his jaw tightening. "We take this journal to the Jarl. He needs to know what was happening here.

The journey back to the village was quiet, both men lost in their thoughts. The battle had been won, but the journal's implications lingered heavily in Kael's mind. The Forsworn and their Hagraven were gone, but the ritual hinted at something larger—a threat that might not be contained to this one camp.

They reached the village after nightfall, the warm glow of the tavern a welcome sight. Inside, the villagers gathered around Kael and Dain as they recounted their findings. The mention of the Hagraven and the bones in the camp brought looks of horror, while the news of the ritual left many uneasy.

"You've done us a great service," the barkeep said, sliding a mug of ale toward Kael. "The Jarl will hear of this I assume?"

Kael accepted the drink with a nod. "He needs to know everything," he said firmly. "This wasn't just a group of bandits. The Forsworn were trying to summon something, and they weren't far from succeeding."

As the villagers began to disperse, Dain clapped Kael on the shoulder. "Well, that was an adventure," he said with a grin. "What's next for you?"

Kael sipped his ale, his gaze distant. "First, I'll report to the Jarl. After that… we'll see."

Dain raised an eyebrow. "You might want to consider a sidekick. Someone to keep you out of trouble."

Kael chuckled softly. "I think I already found one."

Dain grinned. "Good to know. Just don't forget to share the spoils next time."

Kael allowed himself a faint smile as he leaned back in his chair, the warmth of the fire easing the tension in his muscles. For now, the village was safe—but he knew the journey ahead would only grow more dangerous.