Battle Of Wills

As I am here, in the mages guild hall of Leyawiin, recuperating from the travel, I give out an urgent warning to all unsuspecting travellers along the Niben river. Especially those, that like me no not have any battle magics to speak of. If you see a bright light, run for the hills.


It was a simple plan. Saddle up Priority, take the road south along the Niben, arrive at Leyawiin and ask for help. But like all simple plans, there was a nearly fatal flaw involved.

This fatal flaw manifested itself, as I came upon the old bridge, halfway between Bravil and Leyawiin. From a distance, I could already make out a strange light that illuminated the bridge. Thinking it would be a torch from a patrolling guard or maybe another clueless bandit, I dismounted and sneaked closer. All I could see was a floating ball of light, in a yellow-greenish colour.


Having travelled through the Niben bay several times, I had already heard stories of these creatures that lured traveller into the swamps late at night. This one would not. I readied my bow, notched my finest Dwarven arrow, took aim and let fly.

This resulted in a rather cranky Will'o'Wisp.

As it sped towards me, it turned invisible. I am a good shot, but invisible targets are beyond me. Especially if my arrows seem to do no harm. So I pulled my sword, Elven, that ought to do some damage. The creature reappeared a few metres away, so I lept forward and struck it with my sword.

This resulted in a rather bored Will'o'Wisp.

Note to self. When all weapons fail, do not stand still and ponder the situation.

The Will'o'Wisp seized the opportunity to blast me with several arks of lightning, leaving me weak kneed and thoroughly confused. Not too confused, luckily, to run away.

The following battle was long and exhausting. I discovered that the spell I had learnt long ago in Skingrad would hurt the creature. So I ran through the wood along the road, the ball of light trailing me, ever so often casting back over my shoulder and praying that I could get another spell off before it stopped burning and became invisible again.

I worked pretty well. With the creature defeated, I went back to where I left Priority. However, with the light of the Will'o'Wisp gone - either burning or its own eery glow - and the battle having lasted well into the evening, I overlooked a particularly malignant root protruding from the ground.

So I am lieing here, at the mages guild in Leyawiin, recuperating...

More on how to catch Will'o'Wisps for use as a late night reading lantern, how so stab people using sharpened crutches and the latest proof that Mehrunes Dagon played dice with Oblivion coming soon.