Bente Storm-Eye

On good days, Skyrim weather was lovely, Bente mused. Of course, as a Nord, frost did not bother her much either, but a clear day, with mild sunshine was more lovely than all the frost and snow the heavens could throw at her. Maybe it was because she was from the south of Skyrim herself.

Either way, she had set up camp early, in the Rift, on her way to Ivarstead to deliver a message to a man there. The sun shone down gently as she tied the last knots to keep her leather tent standing, a circle for a campfire already laid out.

“If you ask me, them Thalmor aren’t right. Banning worship of somebody cause he was once a Man. ‘s Just not right, but who am I to argue, aye?” She took a small sip of ale to wet her tongue, and started talking again.

“Well, I worship the Nine and all, but I do recognize and respect, mind you, the Thalmor’s opinion on Talos. But then again, forcing the whole Empire to stop worshiping one of the Nine? It’s not right. It’s like forcing a Mage to cast a firebolt without magic.” Rasha laughed. She took a final gulp from her tankard, and slammed it to the table with a great big “Awww” 

She then snickered, "That's what you get eh, don't think, I do. My Da always said, girl, think before you speak, but I'm afraid that advice was mostly lost to me." Bente took a bite of bread, and then swallowed it, "Now, my Ma, she said it was both a blessing and a curse, and if only Julianos had bestowed me with a little more intelligence, I'd have made a bard or something, but well, you see about that, eh?"

She shrugged, a broad smile on her face, looking like she had not a care in the world. "You said you had a brother, before, he gone off by himself then?"

What foods do they love, and what foods do they refuse to eat?

What is their weapon of choice, and what weapon do they dislike using the most?

What is their preferred method of transportation?

“Heh, wouldn’t call myself pretty, but I decided after my Ma died that maybe it was time for seeing some more of Skyrim.” She nods, taking another swig of the ale. “Then I heard of the conflict right now. Went to Windhelm to go see if there was something to do for me. I guess I wasn’t suited as much for army life as much as I am for a life of doing all sorts for all sorts of folk.”

Rasha frowned lightly, but followed quickly with a gentle smile.

"My Brother and I were hoping to go to the College of Winterhold. We went to Bruma and stayed the night there. We woke up to the sound of the whole inn being ransacked by Thalmor. They took everyone but the Inn keeper for questioning." Rasha gave a smug laugh after. 

"If you ask me, them Thalmor aren't right. Banning worship of somebody cause he was once a Man. 's Just not right, but who am I to argue, aye?" She took a small sip of ale to wet her tongue, and started talking again.

"Heh, wouldn't call myself pretty, but I decided after my Ma died that maybe it was time for seeing some more of Skyrim." She nods, taking another swig of the ale. "Then I heard of the conflict right now. Went to Windhelm to go see if there was something to do for me. I guess I wasn't suited as much for army life as much as I am for a life of doing all sorts for all sorts of folk."

Rasha laughed. 

"No my dear, I was not a bard. My brother and I are Illusionists. We used very powerful illusion spells to make the crowds see things, in order for entertainment." Rasha watched as she went inside, and not even five minutes later, she exited. Bente offered her a drink, Rasha replied with a smile.

"A Drink aye? On our first date? Sure thing." Rasha joked. She laughed and led Bente to the local inn, a place called the Winking Skeever.

"Now, don't be thrown off by the name, it's a pretty good place to get some decent mead. Probably not as good as any of the Black-Briar, but it gets the job done." She pushed her back against the door as it swung open. She let Bente go in front of her, Rasha's arm wrapping around her shoulder and led her to a stool up front. She sat down next to her, her arms to herself now. The Man at the bar turned to see Rasha and smiled.

"Another girl to lay in bed again, Rasha? What happened to that pretty young thing you had yesterday?" The man asked as Rasha chuckled with him. 

As they reached the inn, she frowned up at the name, before carefully nodding at the other woman, taking her word for it. Surely it wasn't good business to name your inn after a creature as filthy as a Skeever, but you never knew with innkeepers. Some of them had a peculiar sense of humour.

As she stepped inside she noticed the difference with outside, the inn was pleasantly warm, even when still wearing armour, and it was fairly quiet, most folk still bustling around outside. She sat down on one of the stools at the bar that Rasha had led them too, and smiled along as the innkeeper and the other woman joked around.

She peeped up as the man took their order. "Just thanking her for her help, sir. She found the Bard's College for me. Wouldn't have found it without help, and I'd have been stuck in the crowd for days, no doubt going hungry and mighty thirsty." Bente grinned, patting Rasha back on the back, though perhaps a little firm, being used to the more sturdy build of Nords.

"Well, we're here. Do you mind if I wait out here? They don't like me here." She chuckled. 

She also saw a grand castle, presumably where the Legion was stationed primarily. A slight slope down, and then back up again, and they stopped in front of a big stone building, with a courtyard ringed by walls with a fancy looking fence. Nothing of the sort like they had in Windhelm, where it was function, or Riften, where all the fencework was wood, and more meant to keep drunkards from falling into the canal.

"Thank you! And I don't mind at all, after all, you helped me find my way around. I'll just be a tick, don't worry!"

As she entered the Bard's College she was overwhelmed for a moment by the sound of instruments being played in the distance, and voices reciting and doing scales. Not too long after, an older woman noticed Bente looking lost, and after a short talk, she delivered the book, receiving some coin in return.

After a week’s travel, Bente had finally arrived.

"You remind me of myself, before coming to Skyrim." Rasha gestured with a smile, then quickly to a small frown, but picked it back up. She knew she would react to her cold hand, and by now she was used to it. She turned away from her bad began to walk, turning her head and gestured with her hand to follow. She smiled as she began walking North around the crowd. She made sure to have her close to her, by her side.

"Aw, yes. I am from High Rock. Didn't exactly live there, but I did spend most of my life there. I'm only 22, if you can't tell. And trust me, I feel the same way about Talos." She winked, her bright orange eyes revealed from under her hood. 

She nods at Rasha, for a moment puzzled by the bright orange eyes, two dots shining from under the hood the other woman's wearing. She stares, mouth slightly ajar, a slight frown on her brow, then shook her head. "Ah, well, I can never quite tell. I mean, I've never been real good with guessing people's ages, and my Da always told me it's better not to say anything in case you might offend folk. I guess he was right in that, so better safe than sorry, eh?"

Bente quietly chewed on the inside of her mouth as words trickle in. "Oh, no, I'm not in a job of any such kind. I just help folk with all sorts. Two weeks back I helped old man Free-Winter clear out a cave of wolves, paid me good for it too." She nods again, "And now it was a lass in Windhelm, she'd written this book, and wanted it delivered to the College here. So I said I'd take it here for her."