[i]Scratch, Scratch, Scratch[/i] 

Nanine sat on a hill overlooking the main gate to Skingrad, the familiar sound of her ink quill pen moving across paper filling the air. Her armor was still on, as she was expecting the Dwemer to arrive any day, and her sword carefully kept in its sheathe, for all the world another mercenaries unnoticeable worn blade. She didn't want to attract the kind of desperate attention openly carrying ebony would bring her. Her backpack remained beside her, as she had no tent of her own to use and didn't trust the honesty of scared and hungry people. Down below, another group of those same people were turned away, their relief and hope turned to crushing despair and fear. Another group of scared civilians adding to the tent city outside the walls of Skingrad. A tent city that was growing larger, more chaotic, and more desperate by the day.  She shuddered to think what would happen if the Dwemer reached Skingrad in its current state. 

The massacre that would ensue would make Imperial City look like a mere game. She understood the logic behind denying this many refugees entry. It was doubtful that Skingrad could even protect itself from the coming threat, much less sustain and protect the hundreds that were seeking safety there. [color=skyblue][i]Still, if you're going to be defeated anyways, there is no sense in being defeated and known as the cruel bastard who let the innocents get slaughtered outside his walls first.[/i][/color] She could only guess that the Count had a plan that he thought would save the city, or at least himself, when the Dwemer came. And that plan didn't include the refugees.

Her pen finally stopped, finishing with the latest drawing in her book. It was a Centurion from the assault on the Imperial City, a modern one she supposed the term would now be. Rather than a pure drawing (though she had several in her book of those), this was an analysis of what she had seen and remembered during the invasion, her blessing and her curse of memory allowing her to easily recall the screams, the airships, gleaming metal, blood, and the burning stench that filled the air whenever the Dwemer or the Centurions would fire their strange new weapons. Notes surrounded the drawing, pointing out differences between the old and the new, asking questions to look into, and expanding upon things she noted upon having time to reflect rather than run away through dark tunnels and shrouded woods, after she had lead as many civilians as she could to Galius, the sergeant of the Imperial guard who promised a secure route to the lake.

Her summoned Daedroth swimming through the water with its powerful limbs had attracted some concern from those running with her, and the attention and some pot shots from the Dwemer behind her, but everyone was too concerned with saving their own lives and the lives of their loved ones to be too bothered, especially when she banished it back to Coldharbour when they successfully made it to the other side. And so it was she had made her way to Skingrad with many of the other survivors, only to find that the Count had locked his gates to them,and had no intention of letting anyone inside. 

Now all Nanine could do was wait, with the rest of the desperate refugees, and hope that either the Count suddenly had a change of heart or the Dwemer decided Skingrad wouldn't be worth it. Somehow, she doubted either would happen. Looking down at her clinical drawing of the enemy, she felt a strong sense of despair and doubt wash over her. There were no historical records to study for this. No ancient wars and battles to draw preparation and counter strike ideas from. Not even a modern culture to guess combat tactics from. The Dwemer were back, even more advanced than before, and no one was ready to deal with them. There was nothing to even prepare for dealing with them. Right now, looking over the sea of hopeless people, with the ruins of another invaded and destroyed city at her back, this felt like the end of the Empire. Perhaps of all the independent nations of Tamriel.

She shook her head, forcibly dispelling such dark thoughts. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the tree, lifting one hand. Lighting crackled in her finger tips, leaping from finger to finger, as she drew on the comforting presence of magic to calm herself. [color=skyblue]"Focus. Focus. If they can bleed they can die. If they can die they can be beaten. There's a way. There's always a way."[/color] She dispelled the lightning as she opened her eyes, looking back down at the drawing. [color=skyblue]"You could use some color, and I could use some practice."[/color] Reaching into her backpack, she drew out a petty soul Gem, the gem gleaming with the trapped energy inside. Placing soul gem on the drawing, she muttered to herself. [color=skyblue]"Alright, remember the enchantment, let it fill you on a primal level."[/color] She always felt silly talking to herself like this, quoting a book that only covered the bare basics of enchanting, but it did help her focus. 

[color=skyblue]"Now draw on the power of the gem, and use it to make your enchantment work."[/color] She felt the power in the petty gem surge into her, spreading out onto the page, taking the shape she desired, bringing to life the magical effect she had chosen. It was working! [color=skyblue][i]Maybe I am getting the hang of this. Its not so bad no-[/i][/color] Her feelgood inner monologue was stopped as she felt the energy of the gem freeze. The gem itself shook. [color=skyblue][i]Oh no.[/i][/color] Nanine hurriedly tried to refocus, regain the control she had over the spell, but it was too late. With a loud [b]crack[/b] the gem broke, and the enchantment failed, leaving her with just a broken pretty rock and a feeling disappointment. [color=skyblue]"I really thought I had it that time."[/color] Nanine shrugged, reaching back into her pack. It wasn't like she had anything better to do than try again.

Another three broken petty soul gems later, Nanine's disappointment gave way to irritation and she looked over towards Skingrad with a scowl scowling. [color=skyblue]"If I had access to the Arcane Enchanter in there, there wouldn't be a problem. But noooo, the count has to seal the gates because he's got the spine of a rabbit and the intelligence of a Horker!"[/color] She threw her latest failure onto the ground next to the other two, huffing. After a few minutes of silent frustration and trying to glare her drawing into taking the enchantment she wanted, she sighed heavily. [color=skyblue]"Well, that concludes today's practice. Might as well see if I can help anyone in the camp. Better than sitting here, wasting soul gems."[/color] Collecting the three broken ones and shouldering her pack, Nanine made her way back down to the camp, aimlessly picking a direction and part of it to wander into. It was filled with refugees, someone would surely need at least basic first aid, or perhaps what hunting she could do with her magic.