Chapter XII: Celebration

(Reyvin's pov)

When I awoke the next day, everything ached. My body finally had a chance to relax and the combined exhaustion of the days long expedition hit me like a truck.

Deciding to lie down for a bit longer I checked my progress.

[Mag: 210 => 225]

[Str: 11 => 11.5]

[Dex: 12.5 => 13]

[Vit: 14 => 17]

As expected, prolonged combat is a great workout, my Magicka also got a good boost from the quest, the vitality though..... it appears I underestimated just how powerful Kyne's blessing really is, from what I remember in the lore practicing the thu'um did bless one with good health and a strong lifeforce but this much of a boost is surprising, I am only 17 and can probably survive small truck hitting me *Shrug* well you won't hear me complaining.

Deciding to finally stop procrastinating I get up and get dressed. I now also have to take a moment to shave my stubble, sure I will grow a beard later, but the short uneven facial hair of a teen just makes one look unhygienic.

Soon I leave my room with Scorch popping into existence on my shoulder, he has grown larger than before but can still fit there. I sit down in the common room and grab myself a coffee while feeding some nuts to my bird.

It appears I was the first to wake up but the others start joining me not long after, soon everyone is sitting around a table and discussing our experiences.

As I am talking about what we found inside the tower Edrasa asks me "Oh, would it be possible to go over those notes?"

I shrug "Sure, but these are valuable so you'd owe me a favor"

She doesn't even blink before saying "I'll convince my father to make you a staff"

"Deal"

The whole negotiation was almost instantaneous, making some of our friends look at us weirdly.

Now, one might find themselves wondering why would she need my permission to look over the notes? It's quite simple really, we all had to choose our part of the loot, even if there was a lot of wealth to go around and everyone got at least some good old simple cash.

The guards all went with enchanted gear that could save their lives, the twins on the other hand went for as much wealth as they could get, from what I eavesdropped their clan is in dire straights and they want to help them. That naturally left most of the research for me, so I got myself a lot of alteration and restoration notes on the topic of biological modification and lesser racial transformation. Naturally, it was extremely complex magic but they should help me in the future when I inevitably try and become more than a mere Dunmer.

We continue talking about the expedition for a time and then move on to what the rest did while we were slaying gawblins.

Marwyn and Morrigan were the ones to help Sergius with an enchantment order this time, the money certainly made Morrigan reconsider her focus on alchemy, but then she had a dangerous thought, why not both?

Edrasa helped with some healing, just doing the bare minimum as usual.

And surprisingly Tiberius went out and defended some village at the coast from an ice wraith attack, his scamps being very effective against the almost purely ice-form creatures. When I asked him if he finally learned how to at least block spells he puffed out his chest and made a barely stronger-than-basic ward, I spent the next twenty minutes berating him and explaining in great and visceral detail what would have happened to him in the cave with such a shitty defense.

Later in the day, I visited Collete to have my throat checked just in case, my voice was already mostly back to normal but I had to be sure there weren't any hidden problems.

She looked me over for a moment and cast a single spell that made me feel like I was bursting with life and that was that. She explained that my throat has developed some resistance to damage as a consequence of my shouting and warned me not to overdo it again since repeated damage is harder to heal.

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(General pov)

The people of Winterhold were gathered in the town square, many tables were set around a funeral pyre, at the highest table sat the Jarl with his entourage, at the tables closest to them were seated the victorious guards and college mages with the rest of the venue occupied by the rescued Nords and the rest of the residents.

The young Jarl Assur stood up before the gathered people and started his speech with barely hidden nerves "We have gathered today to honor those who sacrificed their lives to save their brethren, and those that finished the honorable quest left to them by their departed brothers. Those who braved a foul cave filled with horrors that had taken our people, but didn't falter for a moment! Those who pushed through even as they were cut and winded, liberating their brothers and sisters from an unworthy fate. Those honorable fallen must be feasting in the halls of Sovengarde with their ancestors and with great pride! So people of Winterhold, join me in celebration of our great heroes without whom our enemies would slay our people and ravage our lands!" He finishes with a rising confidence and emotion, the people evidently agree as they give him a mighty cheer.

The young Jarl turns to his guard Captain "Captain Hjolmir will now give his words to his departed soldiers."

Hjolmir gives his own, more reserved speech. Listing every fallen guards achievements through their life and finishing each and every one with a toast.

Many more speeches follow, with the families of the fallen also giving a few words.

Finally the pyres are set alight and a minute of silence is had.

Soon it is time to praise those still living, the Jarl commends each guard that took part in the expedition, giving rewards and even some epithets to those that earned them.

The Jarl then turns to the twins and after a speech about their deeds declares that their clan is now a friend of Winterhold and they shall be forever welcomed in his halls.

'They sure did work fast on getting that approval' Reyvin thinks upon hearing this 'There ought to be some kind of communication magic that is widely-spread, got to get that one quickly then.'

Finally the young Jarl turns to the only elf that took part "And last, but certainly not least, our friend from across the Velothi mountains, who with spear in his hand and Kyne's breath in his throat protected those whom he had no responsibility to, even at the risk of his own voice forever being lost! By my right as Jarl I have granted Reyvin Flame-tongue the right to own property within my hold." As he said this there is cheer among the crowd, with surprisingly no one seemingly too against the idea. The Jarl continues "And should he continue his honorable service to our people then his reward shall be equally honorable." He raises his cup and everyone makes another toast.

Reyvin raises an eyebrow while drinking his mead 'So they want the only tongue besides Ulfric to be at least somewhat bound to their hold in the future hmm. Well the position of Thane is mostly honorary but they could use my presence as a deterrent or just to flex on other jarls *Shrug* benefits both of us and there are barely any responsibilities that come with the position so I don't mind.'

After the speeches are done, a bard comes before the Jarl and after giving a slight bow begins singing a song he wrote overnight about their grand quest, it was pretty good.

The celebration lasts late into the night with even the kids drinking a bit more than is reasonable.

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