derkathus is der-kay-thus

Kleera – Redguard, female

Sorax – Nord, male

Minedrahl – Bosmer, male

Hag – Female Race Unimportant

Sorax’s Wife – Female

Player happens upon a party of 3 adventurers standing over a witch. She is kneeling on the ground as if preparing to be executed.

All right, hag, any last words?

You’re going to let her speak after what she’s done?

It’s the right of any mortal.

And what about Derkathus? Did this hag give him his say?

Sorax is right, Kleera. We don’t have to stoop to their level.

And besides, I want to hear her beg.

Hmph.

So, hag, what of it? Anything to say before we send you to the Gods?

7 days.

What’s that? Speak up, witch!

In 7 days, a fog will descend on all your houses. It will consume your livestock, your spouses, your children…

Sorax, for the love of Talos, shut this hag up, right now!

(talking louder and over the others)...and it will continue for all eternity, until the four of you are bound to the void!

Sorax kills the hag.

Well, that was disappointing. I thought she’d at least offer us gold.

Monsters don’t fear death. And they have no understanding of mercy. It was wrong to let her speak.

Perhaps you’re right. But either way, she’s dead now. Derkathus’ soul will have peace.

forcegreet

This isn’t your concern, stranger. Best you move along.

Who was this person you executed?
She was a witch. Gods only know the evil she’s wrought, but she won’t be a nuisance any longer.

Who are you people?
We’re witch hunters. We fight to cleanse the land of their foul sorcery.

Are you the leader of this group?
I suppose you could say that. Although it’s been some time since we’ve gotten together like this.
But when I heard what happened to Derkathus, I didn’t have a choice but to avenge his death.

Who is Derkathus?
An old Argonian friend of ours. A few years back a lot of us quit the group to stay home and raise a family.
Derkathus, he was more of a loner. So he kept up the fight on his own.

Hellos

Derkathus was a fool, but he was also a friend. Shame what happened to him.

I would’ve enjoyed watching this hag plead for her life. 

Hags and their curses. My children drink rotmeth for breakfast. There’s nothing in this world that can kill them.

Poor Derkathus. He could’ve settled down like the rest of us, but he loved the hunt more than any woman.

I hope my husband doesn’t find out about this. I promised him when we married, no more adventures.

Player wanders around, eventually sees Sorax on the docks arguing with his wife.

I don’t understand Sorax, why can’t you come with us?

It’s complicated. But right now you need to get on that boat and stay with our son.
If the gods will it, he may live to see the dawn.

And what about you?

Don’t worry, I can take care of myself. It’s the boy that needs you.

What the boy needs is his father, alive and well. You’d do good to remember that.

Aye, love. I will.

Hellos
Our son took ill recently. Sorax blames himself, but I have no idea why.

I’ve sent him to a healer, but I came back to check on my foolish husband. Gods only know what he’s planning.

Forcegreet

Oh, it’s you. Strange that we meet again, given the circumstances.

What’s wrong?
My son, he’s taken ill. And worse yet, I think it might have to do with what happened that day.

You mean with the witch?
Aye. My boy takes after his mother. Never been sick a day in his life.

 

Relax. There’s no such thing as curses.
If you asked me that a few days ago, and every day prior, I would’ve agreed.
But right now my son is on the brink of death, and not even the healers know why.

A witch’s curse is a powerful thing.
I’m starting to think you’re right. Whatever dark magic she’s spun, it’s poisoned my son.

You’re going to have to be more specific. There are a lot of days in a year.
So you don’t remember. You were there the day we killed a hag, but she cursed us with her dying breath.
Now, my son bears the brunt of that sorcery.

Are you sure this is related to the witch?
Yes.  But there’s only one way to be sure. We have to find the others. If their houses are in peril, then we’ll know for sure.

What happened once you returned home?
A few days after I got back, I started having nightmares.
Visions, of a black fog descending on Dawnstar. But the entire town was suffering from nightmares, so I didn’t think it was related.

Where can we find the others?
I’ve already taken care of it. We’re to meet at the same spot we executed the witch. In the woods, north of Stonehills.
We should hurry. My son doesn’t much time.

idles

I didn’t tell my wife about the curse. She’d think I was crazy.

The Redguard and the Wood Elf have families too. If they’ve been spared, then it’ll prove this isn’t the hag’s doing.

Let’s hurry. Every minute we waste puts my boy’s life at further risk.

meet with others, Kleera is irate

Sorax you fool! You brought this plague upon my house!

So it’s true then. Was it your husband?

He’s not my husband anymore! He’s a bloody corpse!

What happened?

(angry, but fighting back tears and getting gradually more somber) He was working the mill, same as always. Ten years we’ve been married and he never got so much as a splinter.
But the other day a log got jammed, and he went over to inspect it.
Then the mill just turned on, like it had a mind of its own.

It could’ve been an accident.

(gets angry again) And what about the Elf’s children? Was that an accident too?

No…is this true?

Yeah. Carawen, my first born. Playing with the family dog of all things.

My son has taken ill as well. 

You see? It’s the curse! It’s poisoned all our houses, and there’s only one way to end it!

draws weapon

Hold on. There has to be another way…

Hate to say it, but Kleera is right. We talked it over, and you’re the strongest among us. 
Which means you’ll have to die first.

Wait, you don’t want to do this!

They attack Sorax, player and Sorax kill the two. Sorax stands over there bodies, clearly distraught over killing his friends.

They were wrong, you know. Killing me wouldn’t have helped.
Even if they had given themselves to the crows, the plague would haunt our houses forever.
She said there were four…four who had to die for the curse to be lifted.
And even with my death, I only count three.

turns to player.

I’m sorry, friend, but it must done. I only hope for the sake of our houses, that both of our lives end here!

attacks player, quest completes.