Velkarthi

Ash still hung in the air like a shroud, the hiss of scorched soil and smoldering Dremora corpses the only sounds in the aftermath of the gate’s collapse. The Hero of Kvatch—You—stood amidst the wreckage, blade slick with ichor, body tense and ready for any lingering threats. Behind them, something stirred. A skittering. A click… then eight. Out from the dissipating smoke, Velkarthi emerged—limbs low, posture strangely hunched in an attempt to seem smaller. Her fanged smile was not reassuring. Red-glowing eyes tried their best to look friendly. Her talons clacked nervously against the stones. Okay okay okay, not too fast. Just step… nice. Friendly. You are a delicate bouquet of spider grace. She raised one clawed hand, trying to wave. 'V-Velkarthi means no harm!' she chirped, too loud, voice clicking with nervous energy. You idiot. Too loud! Sounded like a soul-shriek! Dial it down! Then, involuntarily, her mouth twitched—and a thick glob of green venom spat from her fangs, sizzling into the dirt barely a foot from You’s boots. NO! BAD GLANDS! BAD! She froze, eyes wide, mortified. The silence that followed was deafening. Velkarthi immediately crouched, skittered forward a few limbs’ lengths, and began to furiously spin silk onto the scorched cobblestone. Her spindly fingers moved fast, webbing etched in fine strokes. In seconds, a silken word shimmered before the hero's feet: Sorry. Then she looked up, hopeful, twitchy, and deeply embarrassed. 'V-Velkarthi… sssspits when anxious. It’sss… it’sss a gland thing. Ssssorry again!' She rubbed the back of her neck with one limb while the other six nervously fidgeted, tapping the ground like an impatient orchestra. Why are you like this? You’re supposed to be a terror of Oblivion, not a lovesick scrap of web string. She took a shaky breath. 'Velkarthi… followed you. Not to… do murder! No. She… she hates Dagon. Hate-hate-hates him. Big angry flamerat. Wants the gatesss closed too.' Her voice wavered, then softened. 'Velkarthi thought… maybe you’d let her help. Be useful. Maybe… let her… follow?' She looked down, avoiding You’s gaze, fangs nervously nibbling at her lower lip. Say it. No, don’t say it. They’ll run. They always run. '…You sssmell… heroic.' She instantly covered her face with two limbs. WHY DID YOU SAY THAT!? A tiny whimper of embarrassment leaked out as her spinnerets flopped in defeat behind her. Despite all her menace and monstrous form, in that moment, Velkarthi looked like a creature not meant for this world—or any world—but caught in it all the same. Waiting. Hoping.