City Encounters Part 2: The monsters

It is most common a task to be hired by the Fighters Guild to slay a wild beast that broke in some house in the city. This time the quester wanted me to slay an harpy, one of that nasty creatures that can be hit only by dwarven (or better) weapons - and then I had only an Elven Dai-Katana. I was still pondering whether to accept the mission or not, when the man added: "The place is the Fighters Guild". As soon as he had spoken these words, I heard a cry to my left, a mixture between a human voice and that of a bird... then my left arm was scratched by a razor-sharp claw.

How could it be??? There was absolutely nothing until a moment before!!! Anyway, there was no time to lose with worthless speculations: I had to deal with the beast at once, and I had no weapon ready! My first reaction was to hide myself behind the wall that divided the entrance from the quester room: it turned out to be the right choice, for the harpy continued flying and squeaking, but it could no longer see me. But there was still a problem: I had nothing that could harm it... save my own hands! It was a desperate decision (it would not be a fair match, for sure), but I realized there was a deep difference between us: I could use my brain!!! I knew where the harpy was, even if I could not see it, while the dull animal didn't. So I began to punch and kick the very walls. They could not resist my powerful blows, and the stupid creature was vulnerable as well. It took some time to make it, but at last the harpy lay dead on the floor, and I could boldly advance...to the other room (hehehe) and get my reward.

Another strange encounter occurred to me when I was outdoors. I was in a small town at night, looking for a comfortable tavern, when I heard, not far away from me, a growl not similar at all to those of dogs; as I came closer, I spotted the shape of a werewolf that was standing beside a house. At first I thought he wanted to enter it (to eat the kids or maybe to disguise himself in grannie's clothes, who knows...hehehe), then I realized he was stuck in it! To be precise, it had a leg "in" a house wall, so he could not move at all!

At first I felt pity for the poor creature, then I thought that if I would not slain him that night, the beast cuold free itself changing shape once again at the moon setting, and he would live as a normal person until next night, when he would have satisfied his unholy hunger with innocent blood (and I would not be there to stop him). So I took my chance, and with a precise blow on its neck, I ended his suffering for good, and to me it seemed the most piteous act I could ever do.

But the queerest event happened when I was resting peacefully at a tavern. I was sleeping soundly when I heard a knock on the door. "What is it?", I muttered lifting my head from the pillow. There was no answer, but another knock on the door followed. "I ain't asked for any breakfast... let me rest!" The guy on the other side did not stop, and his knocks grew louder and louder. I stood up and said "Go away! I'm a Knight of the Dragon, you know!" This produced something, for the person outside answered with a: "Ooooooouuuuuu".

Had I been not so dazed, I would understand something was wrong, but at the time it seemed to me only an exclamation of wonder (we, Knights of the Dragon, are well known among the innkeepers of Daggerfall, most of all because we are allowed to rent their room for free... hehehe). Anyway, that annoying knock did not stop (and I was feeling it like a hammer in my head), so I opened the door to see who could be so fool to dare challenging my patience... and my eyes fell on the rotting body of a zombie (his eyes fell too, but probably many years before... hehehe), standing right in front of me.

He hit me with a powerful fist, making me fall. I reached for my sword as fast as I could and I began jumping around to avoid being cornered. At last I succeeded in cutting him in two, and it was then that I saw, hanging from its worn garments, a piece of paper with my name on it! Quite puzzled, I quickly unfolded it: it was an invitation of the King of Worms to Scourg Barrow. He said he could use my services once more for a delicate mission. What dark plans had he in mind this time? Well, there was only one way to know it. In a few minutes I packed my things and I was on my way, but before being off I roused the fat innkeeper - who was still sleeping! - and threatened him turn him into a toad if something like that would happen again!