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The Elder Scrolls Forums _ Elder Scrolls Lore _ RP: Blue Dawn

Posted by: Loranna Feb 27 2005, 01:51 PM

Hello, and welcome to our Elder Scrolls Role Playing threads, where we adventure and socialize in the vibrant land of Tamriel.

Before we begin, we'd like to clarify a few things:

This is an 'open roleplay' and everyone is encouraged to join in at any time!

'Open' roleplay does not mean 'unorganized' or 'limitless', however. The events in this story are usually planned, and if something BIG happens, you can be certain that it is the result of much discussion between players, usually in the mIRC chat (#Loranna_RP). This is not just a bunch of disorganized individuals doing what they think would be fun for their character at the time.

So, while everyone is welcome to join in, they are NOT welcome to jump in and do big, world-changing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST. Let me be very clear about what cannot be done without permission:

1:
Any action that effects another person's character, for ill or good. Although most people realize they can't harm another person's character without permission, many don't realize that you can't HELP another character without permission, either. Many characters have flaws for a reason. Don't go healing, saving, or otherwise fixing another character without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the player involved.

2:
Any event that would drastically change things that have been done to the world, whether the change is physical (rebuilding destroyed locations), political (converting a population to a new cause), military (killing off all the badguys) or anything else. Almost every situation, good or bad, that exists in the RP was done for some reason. Don't go changing or fixing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the group.

Everyone who is involved in the RP is welcome in the mIRC chat channel #Loranna_RP. If you have a plot idea then you are encouraged to go there and discuss it. If you cannot get on the channel for some reason, or if the player whos character you would affect with your plan is not there, then PM them using this board's PM function. That's what it's there for.

For information on reaching #Loranna_RP via Mirc or Chatspike, look http://www.ravensky.org/irc/.

Not following the above advice will only result in one thing: your post is likely to be completely ignored by everyone as if it did not happen. This is obvously not good for anyone, so please, discuss major events before doing them.

Remember: Secret plans and surprises are seldom fun for anyone else. Before they're revealed they're boring, because nobody knows about them, and afterwards they're just annoying, because nobody knew about them.

Thank you, and have fun!



Posted by: Aki Feb 27 2005, 01:55 PM

Summary

Reichi is in Narsis, at a Tong building enjoying the food, and the Dunmeri girls. smile.gif

Tohe is off at some hunter-type camp, talking with the leader type dude.

Camassim is in Skyrim, weee, snow....

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 27 2005, 01:55 PM

ooc summaries:

Allerleirauh is at Jazbet's estate.

Doll, Dragon, and Skein are at Solunastra in Daggerfall. So is little Tamne, who ran away in the last thread.

Tris, aka Mirror, is flirting with a young Dunmer girl at the Tong headquarters in Narsis, after negotiating to take down the Imperial governor.

Mirea was last seen with Dante, heading back to the Mages' Guild in Stormhold to tell the rest of the party to wait there for the installation of a new Mages' Guild in Ald Raathim. Ooops!



Posted by: Solin Feb 27 2005, 01:57 PM

Summary:

Solin is at Jazbet's keep, focused on a new project of his.

Ciel is with the main group in Narsis enjoying the pleasant singing.

Faril is off somewhere, we haven't heard from him in a long time.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 27 2005, 01:58 PM

Teleran is in the local Tong, enjoying the food and the company. At the moment he is occupied with a beautiful Dunmer girl who has some very interesting ideas for how to spend the rest of the night.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 27 2005, 02:11 PM

Nalion is also in the local Tong building in Narsis, enjoying food an another cup of wine. He's having an interesting conversation with a pretty dunmeri female during which he began to sing tavern songs, but his bed will very probably be only occupied with himself tonight.
Aside from that, the thoughts of a possible assassination doesn't sound good to him, but these are thoughts for another time. This time, it's merriment.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 27 2005, 02:20 PM

Narsis: Tris

Tris and his new companion, the Dunmer courtesan Midali, had come to an understanding. She massaged his back, giggling, and he stopped making demands on her to think of things to say to him.

"I feel like I've been beaten after today's ride," Tris said, smiling. "That's wonderful. It's late, and we want to be fresh for tomorrow's negotiations; perhaps we should retire, with your excellent company."

He caught Ciel's eye meaningfully.


Posted by: Solin Feb 27 2005, 02:31 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 27 2005, 06:00 AM)

Narsis:  Tris

Tris and his new companion, the Dunmer courtesan Midali, had come to an understanding. She massaged his back, giggling, and he stopped making demands on her to think of things to say to him.

"I feel like I've been beaten after today's ride,"  Tris said, smiling. "That's wonderful. It's late, and we want to be fresh for tomorrow's negotiations;  perhaps we should retire, with your excellent company."

He caught Ciel's eye meaningfully.

*




The knight raised an eyebrow momentarily curious a moment then shook his head slightly in mute refusal for his own part, not disaproval.

"I think I am going to retire directly tonight," he said with small slightly skewed smile, still listening to Nalion and the older hostess singing. He had drunk a small amount too much of the evening's spirits at this point. Ciel took one last sip of his drink and then pushed it away.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 27 2005, 02:36 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 27 2005, 07:11 AM)

The knight raised an eyebrow momentarily curious a moment then shook his head slightly in mute refusal for his own part, not disaproval. 

"I think I am going to retire directly tonight," he said with small slightly skewed smile, still listening to Nalion and the older hostess singing.  He had drunk a small amount too much of the evening's spirits at this point.  Ciel took one last sip of his drink and then pushed it away.

*




Tris looked mildly disappointed, but he let Midali show him to his room.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 27 2005, 06:20 PM

OOC: The Breton Arynel is wandering in the wilderness somewhere near the border of southern Morrowind and Northern Blackmarsh.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 27 2005, 08:23 PM

Summary for Loranna:

Loranna is in a Tong-controlled club currently, taking mild enjoyment from a swank dinner with 'attendants'. She has just been shown again that political/business negotiations are not her strong point, which bodes ill for the Imperial Governer the party has just agreed to deal with, as the ashskainned Nord is thinking of keeping any negotiations with him very simple ...

---

Loranna's Fantasized Negotiations with the Imperial Governer:

Governer: You do realize that to harm an Imperial Governer is a crime punishable by death ...

Loranna: (cutting him off) Oh stop that; if we wanted you dead you'd be dead now, so let's keep this brief, yes? Hi, I'm Loranna and these are my friends; we'd like for you to stop the blockade on Ald Raathim. We'd be willing to cut you a deal to make it worth your while, but keep in mind I have a reputation for blowing up whatever city I'm in, so please don't even think of bothering with willy-nillying around with us ...

Tris: (dies of embarrassement)

Ciel: (prepares himself for fighting for his life)

Teleran: ... Loranna? That doesn't sound like the best of tacts ...

Loranna: (by now standing right next to the flabbergasted Governer) So what is it you want? Money, neat collectables, a good word thrown in with a noblewoman you know, various annoying acquaintences discovering the joys of a Loranna Pyrel City Makeover?

All: (sweatdrop)

---

... Maybe you should find some middle ground Lor, Loranna thinks to herself, carefully putting the glass of hard drink down for the rest of the night.


Posted by: Loričn of Silvenar Feb 28 2005, 03:15 AM

Loričn has been traveling with the group and has remained virtually silent. After having eaten for what has seemed like hours, the Wood Elf has had his fill of food. He made great efforts to keep to the meats and avoided the plant based dishes at all costs.

Posted by: Aki Feb 28 2005, 05:21 AM

Morrowind Mainland, Camp belonging to some Hunters who follow Hircine, Leader's Yurt

Tohe nodded to the Leader of the hunters. He was a Dunmer, and covered with several intricate Tatoos, which served as the only decoration, his attire was very pratical. He wore resin reinforced Chitin. Like what Indoril armor is, without the useless ornamentation. Underthat, animal hides and furs. He and Tohe had spent some time talking.

"In return for helping you hound, i ask one favor..." The Dunmer said, smiling lightly.

"What is it?" Tohe replied.

"I ask you give your blessing onto me."

"Uh...well..see the thing i only know of one way to transfer it, and its rather painful."

"You said you had a degree of control, did you not? Couldn't you transfrom and give the blessing, then go on your way?"

"I suspose..."

Several minutes later, a familar heavily scarred Brown Werewolf was running along the plains, and the Dunmer was tending to a rather large bite mark on his right shoulder.

Somewhere in Skyrim

"Aww, %^&*%$$^#^" Camissim excalaimed as he triped. He stood, brushing himself off and looked at what had tripped him. A lump in the snow, many more surrounded it, all the size of men.

He dug in the snow to find an armored corpse. the armor was unmistakeable. The armor of W.H.O.T. Further inspection showed these men had died quite some time ago, and many suffered from diffrent wounds, several were also carefully undressed and cooked. Thjough Camassim didn't know it, these were the Hunters that had confronted Loranna and the others in Sykrim during her journey to Morrowind.

He shook his head. "And to think, if i didn't acquire my curse it might just be me lying there," Camassim said, before continuing onward. "Whot whot whot..."

Posted by: Tricrux Feb 28 2005, 07:01 AM

She was small, shorter than the height of a Bosmer man. There was Bosmer blood in her. Shai had been turned out of her house at the young age of four years. Married Bosmer couples shouldn't have red-eyed children. Her father was furious.

All of her life, she had lived in or around Narsis. She had left on journeys, accompanied by the Teacher, many times. When she had been banished from her own house as a toddler, it was the Teacher who had taken her in, finding her on the streets half-starved and taking her back to his shack on the outskirts. He was a renegade, a hermit. Coming along in his years. He had fed her. Taught her. Kept her like his own daughter. She always thought of him as Father, even though he only ever allowed her to call him Teacher. She had grown, blossomed, flourished into a beautiful mer of 17 years. The Teacher had called her Shai. Never anything longer or shorter. Just Shai, always Shai.

It was when she turned 17, her coming of age, that he told her of her parents. She didn't really care. He was her only father. The townspeople thought that he was a crazy hermit. Shai just adored him.

It was on that same day that he died. The Teacher had been killed by rough bandits. He was too old, not as powerful and potent as he had been once. They had overwhelmed him. She had come back from town that day and seen the Teacher lying there, lifelessly.

That was this day.

She was alone in Narsis.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 07:28 AM

Early morning, Narsis: Tris

"I've never been with a Dunmer before," Tris said sleepily.

At some point Midali's shyness had disappeared, along with her giggles. She smelled of strange Dunmer spices, and some perfume he didn't recognize.

"Had you ever been with a Breton?" he asked. "You don't mind, do you?"

"Never," she said. "I've only been here a little over a month though. They sent me to you as a punishment, but I don't mind. You're not bad looking even if you do have hairy legs, and you're a lot nicer than most of the bosses here. If I got pregnant I'd have to kill myself though. I'm not giving birth to some halfbreed spawn of Molag Bal. But I won't. That's why I pray to Holy Almalexia, mother of mercy."

He smiled and pushed himself up on one elbow, ignoring both the backhanded compliment and the implied insult.

He should have left well enough alone. Maybe he'd been hanging around with Arynel too much.

"Almalexia's dead," he said. "Haven't you heard on the mainland? The Nerevarine killed her."

"Take that back!" Midali said. Her red eyes blazed in the dim light; suddenly she looked completely unlike the shy, sweet courtesan who had shown him to his room. "Lady Almalexia can never be dead, not so long as there are Dunmer in the world to worship her."

"Don't be angry," he said. "I only wondered if you'd heard."

"We're not stupid here," she said. "Lady Almalexia is stronger than ever now that she's not tied to a single body in our world. She rules from Oblivion like the ancestors, helping her people forever. Shrines to Almalexia still grant blessings, don't they?"

"Maybe they grant blessings because of you, not because of her," he said.

She shook her head. "I shouldn't be angry with a Nemer. Of course it's our prayers that keep the shrines working. What is Almalexia but our prayers anyway? She is the Holy One, the one who found a way to wear the mantle of Boethiah."

He smiled. "Forgive me. I didn't realize you were a Master."

"We're not ignorant in the villages like the people of the cities whose beliefs are corrupted by the Imperials," she said solemnly, seemingly unaware that he might take offense. This was one of the things that had always fascinated him about Dunmer; they assumed that members of other races knew they were inferior, and thus wouldn't mind being called inferior.

"You're from the villages, then? How did you end up here?"

She frowned. "My father had gambling debts, so he sold me to Serjo Bradas to cover them. I'm trying to find a patron who will pay the debt so my father won't owe him anything."

"And then what happens to you?" Tris asked. It hadn't occured to him before, though it should have, that the girl was a slave. In fact, the delicate bracelets on both wrists... yes. They were magical. Slave bracers.

He thought of Ciel, wondered what Ciel would think of the situation. Then it struck him, as if someone had dashed a bucket of cold water in his face, that Ciel probably wasn't speaking to him right now. Stupid, Tris. That was what sex did to a man. He was thinking much more clearly now than he had when he came to the room with Midali.

"So, assume you found a patron," Tris said. "You'd go home to your village?"

"Oh, no," she said. "I'd be too ashamed to show my face there. No, I'd try to find another girl, so that we could work together to keep from being kidnapped by the bosses as slaves again, and we'd set up a house in town or something."

He sat up. He hadn't slept much; but he was too angry with himself right now to sleep.

At that moment, across the room, he caught sight of a shadow moving behind the screen. His eyes opened wide, and he lay back down, whispering. "Midali - someone's watching us. You didn't bring me here to be killed, did you?"

Her eyes went wide too. Then she laughed. "No, silly," she whispered. "It's just a few patrons who paid to have a look at the Breton naked."

"Ah, rats," he whispered, reaching for his clothes. Ciel was going to laugh at him, or kill him, one, and he wasn't sure which he'd prefer. "Get dressed," he said. "I'm going to pay off your debt."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 07:48 AM

Early Morning, Narsis

Loranna awoke as she always did, trying to reinflate her whole body. She sat up slowly after a long moment of doing nothing but sucking in air, and let her mind clear of the dreams - nightmares actually.

Writing helped to steady her mind, so she took out her journal and pen ...

Loranna's Journal:

A new dream, this time; I had held hands with one of the pretty Dunmer girls from the night before and Jazbet showed up, saying that he had thought it over and felt he couldn't marry an adventurer who was always traipsing around Tamriel. When I turned to object, he was gone, turned to Bradas, who sneered that I'd kill the governer for him or else I'd never fulfill my promise, and when I shouted invective at him, the girl became the giantess.

I wonder if Dagoth will now suffer nightmares like mine after what we went through; he doesn't actually sleep, but he does have quiet moments ...

I have Tris to thank for last night's lessons though; I'd never really stopped to think about it, but the Tongs probably have influence over some of the people in Morrowind that were hurt by my stint as Incarnate, so eventually I'm going to need to know how to deal with them, if I am to make good what I messed up. I can start by learning to listen more carefully when being asked to do something - and not trying to complicate matters by playing politics. I'm not a politician and likely won't ever be one; I should stick with my strengths. Leave that sweetroll for much later.

... I hope my dream was just silly girlish fears; I worry about things that don't need worrying about, after all.

===

Loranna gets dressed, and heads out of her room to find her companions.


Posted by: w0nders Feb 28 2005, 07:49 AM

Summary-

Dante, is with Mirea, travelling back to Stormhold.

Illidan, hiding out inside a small shack, yay!

Brum, Inzoliah, Merciander, and friends, on an island, somewhere.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 07:57 AM

"Good morning, Loranna," Tris said.

He had just had a heated conversation with Serjo Bradas about the Dunmer slave girl, Midali. Bradas insisted that she was a favorite of an Imperial diplomat whose favor he was trying to court, and thus could not be let go for the price of her contract; Tris had insisted on buying her out, but was worried that the Tong would try to imprison her again as soon as he wasn't watching. He had suggested she travel with them. But she had turned him down and disappeared into the street.

Well, a certain amount of Void Rangering would let him check up on her.

Every Dunmer he encountered this morning seemed to be looking at him too directly, as if they knew more about him than he would have chosen to reveal. His face felt hot.

"Have you seen Ciel?" he asked. "I talked to Serjo Bradas at some length about the Imperial Governor we're after, and to one of the girls of the house about Serjo Bradas. He's an honest man as Tong bosses go, which is to say he won't double-cross us as long as he thinks we're dangerous. So I'm trying to seem dangerous."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 08:02 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 01:37 AM)

"Good morning, Loranna,"  Tris said.

He had just had a heated conversation with Serjo Bradas about the Dunmer slave girl, Midali. Bradas insisted that she was a favorite of an Imperial diplomat whose favor he was trying to court, and thus could not be let go for the price of her contract;  Tris had insisted on buying her out, but was worried that the Tong would try to imprison her again as soon as he wasn't watching. He had suggested she travel with them. But she had turned him down and disappeared into the street.

Well, a certain amount of Void Rangering would let him check up on her.

Every Dunmer he encountered this morning seemed to be looking at him too directly, as if they knew more about him than he would have chosen to reveal. His face felt hot.

"Have you seen Ciel?"  he asked. "I talked to Serjo Bradas at some length about the Imperial Governor we're after, and to one of the girls of the house about Serjo Bradas. He's an honest man as Tong bosses go, which is to say he won't double-cross us as long as he thinks we're dangerous. So I'm trying to seem dangerous."

*





"If we need to seem dangerous just rattle off the names of the cities in Skyrim I visited," Loranna says, frowning for just a moment.

"Good morning Tris," she says, her expresison softening and a happy smile coming to her face. "No I haven't, not yet; you're the first person I've found so far."

She tilts her head. "Is everything okay?" she asks. "You have that look about you that says your mind's racing ahead of your feet."



Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 08:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 28 2005, 12:42 AM)

"If we need to seem dangerous just rattle off the names of the cities in Skyrim I visited," Loranna says, frowning for just a moment. 

"Good morning Tris," she says, her expresison softening and a happy smile coming to her face.  "No I haven't, not yet; you're the first person I've found so far."

She tilts her head.  "Is everything okay?" she asks.  "You have that look about you that says your mind's racing ahead of your feet."

*




"It's the other way around," he said, grinning. "Tris's body is much faster than his poor old brain. I'll tell you about it later. Make these people give you breakfast, we're certainly paying them enough. We'll talk over food."

He patted her shoulder and went to look for Ciel. The staff told him where to find him.

"Ciel?" he said, rapping on the door and opening it in one motion. Damn, he sounded guilty as Oblivion.

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 08:15 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 27 2005, 11:46 PM)

"It's the other way around,"  he said, grinning. "Tris's body is much faster than his poor old brain. I'll tell you about it later. Make these people give you breakfast, we're certainly paying them enough. We'll talk over food."

He patted her shoulder and went to look for Ciel. The staff told him where to find him.

"Ciel?"  he said, rapping on the door and opening it in one motion. Damn, he sounded guilty as Oblivion.

*




The knight looked up from his seat at the small desk that was situated in the chamber. , he had been awake for awhile now. Ciel had been repacking a small pack, there were still a few items strewn across the surface, personal items mostly.

"Yes?" he asked in response.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 08:19 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 12:55 AM)

The knight looked up from his seat at the small desk that was situated in the chamber. , he had been awake for awhile now.  Ciel had been repacking a small pack, there were still a few items strewn across the surface, personal items mostly.

"Yes?" he asked in response.

*




"Everyone's meeting for breakfast," Tris said. "To talk about what we're doing."

That wasn't enough, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. Why didn't you come with me last night? I missed you? Did I make an idiot of myself last night?

Actually he was pretty sure he'd been an idiot.

"Ciel, are you mad at me?" he asked, stepping into the room and pulling the door shut.

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 08:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 27 2005, 11:59 PM)

"Everyone's meeting for breakfast,"  Tris said. "To talk about what we're doing."

That wasn't enough, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. Why didn't you come with me last night?  I missed you? Did a make an idiot of myself last night?

Actually he was pretty sure he'd been an idiot.

"Ciel, are you mad at me?"  he asked, stepping into the room and pulling the door shut.

*




"Mad? No," Ciel shook his head, though, he was rather quiet in his manner.

He carefully placed the last of the items back into the pack and rose from his chair. The time from his early wakefulness had been well spent. He was already well prepared for the day.

"I suppose," he said, "We should go down to meet them too."

He looked towards the door but didn't move, waiting for Tris, who was closer to it.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 08:42 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 01:09 AM)

"Mad? No," Ciel shook his head, though, he was rather quiet in his manner.

He carefully placed the last of the items back into the pack and rose from his chair.  The time from his early wakefulness had been well spent.  He was already well prepared for the day.

"I suppose," he said,  "We should go down to meet them too."

He looked towards the door but didn't move, waiting for Tris.

*




If Ciel wasn't angry, why was his heart sinking?

Not mad, hurt. He would have preferred mad.

"It's just as well we didn't spend last night together," he said, trying to laugh. "The Dunmer were spying on that girl and me. Ciel, I'm such an idiot."

The whole conversation felt horribly familiar. This was the part where he was shamefaced and contrite, and Ciel forgave him, and then they went on for a while, until the next terrible thing he did. Until eventually it all got to be too much and Ciel exploded.

Anything would be better than that. But things seemed to be proceeding inevitably down the same path they always followed.

He turned to go. His hands on the door handle were visibly shaking. He looked at them in wonder, then turned back to face Ciel.

Several long minutes of honest conversation later, the two men arrived at breakfast.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 08:46 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 02:22 AM)

If Ciel wasn't angry, why was his heart sinking?

Not mad, hurt. He would have preferred mad.

"It's just as well we didn't spend last night together,"  he said, trying to laugh. "The Dunmer were spying on that girl and me. Ciel, I'm such an idiot."

The whole conversation felt horribly familiar. This was the part where he was shamefaced and contrite, and Ciel forgave him, and then they went on for a while, until the next terrible thing he did. Until eventually it all got to be too much and Ciel exploded.

Anything would be better than that. But things seemed to be proceeding inevitably down the same path they always followed.

He turned to go. His hands on the door handle were visibly shaking. He looked at them in wonder, then turned back to face Ciel.

Several long minutes of honest conversation later, the two men arrived at breakfast.

*





Loranna looks up from a table laden with Morrowind's answer to a glorious breakfast repast, including several meat-only dishes; she smiles as she sees Tris and Ciel arrive, though her expression is tempered with a bit of concern.

"It took a little explaning, but we've a meal worthy of the price we paid," she says to Tris, motioning to him with her glass of water. "Let's eat, and talk."


Posted by: Teleran Feb 28 2005, 08:48 AM

Teleran came out of his room laughing gaily as the Dunmer girl clung to him, whispering tantalizing tidbits of what she could have done had they more time. His daggers’ sheaths were off kilter as if they had not been given proper care in their replacement. He shook his head at some of her ideas; they just didn’t seem physically possible, but then he had thought that about some of what she had shown him last night. She moved away from him as they neared the dining room and walked away down the hall. As soon as she was out of sight she let her contempt show. “Filthy half-breed,” She spat. “Well, he wasn’t so bad, so long as you ignored his eyes. At least he had some other talents.” She allowed; she looked for a place to clean herself.

Teleran walked in for breakfast.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 28 2005, 08:52 AM

Illidan’s cabin, previous night-

Night had settled, now the only thing penetrating the ceiling were thin ambient rays of moonlight. Illidan would watch them intently for long moments, often putting his hand out through one, cutting it’s path short. He often wished he could do that type of thing with sunlight again.

Of course, he hadn’t done anything like that since his childhood. When he used to spend time out with his aunty, in her old fishing cabin. She would often whap him across the knuckles with a stick when he used to do it, though. Always calling him a fool, head up in the clouds, she’d say.

He had cleaned himself the previous night, having to dive under the water multiple times to avoid the cultist’s detection. Now he looked ALOT better, considering he was a vampire. He had found himself some new clothes too, although the shirt had a large hole chewed out of the back of it, it was better than what he had on now.

Illidan fetched his umbrella, and left through the old, creaky cabin door. Not once looking back at the blood covered bed sheets. He didn’t quite know where he was heading. He didn’t quite care, either. Anywhere but here would be a great change of scenery.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 01:04 PM

Narsis:

Tris filled the company in on what he had learned from the head of the local Tong.

The Tong leader wanted to be placed in charge of enforcing the tariffs at the landing, an official post, and one which afforded many opportunities for graft. The present governor supported the leader of a rival Tong. The new one, hopefully, would be more amenable.

The governor lived in a manor house near the city. A meeting could be arranged through an associate. The governor had no one near him who could be said to exercise a strong influence on him. He wanted to be promoted out of Morrowind, but it seemed unlikely that the group would be able to do anything to further his plans.

He had old time connections with House Dres; apparently the people who were his friends were Azurites now, and enemies of Jazbet.

Loranna suggested that the party try to make the governor see reason; surely he wouldn't be doing something as crazy as supporting the Azurites if he understood the scope of the problem.

Ciel suggested, jokingly, that they offer to let the governor arrest Loranna as a means to a promotion. At least, they hoped he was joking. The suggestion was not well received.

Tris's thought was that if Loranna tried to make him see reason, the meeting would end in disaster and the man would die anyway, solving all their problems. He kept this thought to himself. However, Ciel whispered in his ear that if they were associated with the murder of an Imperial governor, Queen Elysana would be the least of their problems.

The final decision was that they needed to he able to offer the governor something - some sort of help - in order to make him help them in return.



Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 01:16 PM

It was a few miles to the Governor's estate. The land between the city and the estate was almost entirely field land, harvested months ago.

At a small farm, situated near the road, an apparent scuffle was taking place.

Four armed mer, bearing the colors of the Empire on their chests, were dragging the Dunmer farmer and his wife out of the house and into the small, muddy yard.

A heavyset, richly armored mer stood nearby, arms crossed, watching.

"But," pleaded the farmer, "we've already paid our taxes!"

He was answered by a clout on the ear, delivered by one of the soldiers.

"So you'll pay them again, and not complain!" said the important-looking mer.

"Please Serjo!" said the man's wife as two of the soldiers spread the couple's belongings over the yard, confiscating what valuables they could find.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 28 2005, 01:19 PM

Nalion, Narsis
To say that Nalion hadn't been tempted by the Dunmer girl's offers to spend the night together would have been an outright lie. After Tris' advice to relax and his singing with the older ash-skinned hostess, he felt at ease, shaking off the troubles of the past for some hours. Alarvyne, that was the name of his arm candy for the night, had a finely trained intuition for the change in his demeanour though and began to continue her attempts to seduce him.
As the Breton mage retreated from dinner, Alarvyne took his arm and led him to the room the Tong had reserved for him. The door to the room closed behind them and Nalion turned towards her, just as the light robe slipped from her dark shoulders.

Alarvyne leaned against the door, an inviting smile on her face...

Nalion swallowed hard, but he approached the woman. "No my dear, I cannot do this. I ... I'm sorry." Nalion gently pulled up the robe to cover her. "You'll have a restful night, alone." he said with a smile and kissed her cheek lightly. What Alarvyne didn't see though was the soft green light of a charm spell emanating from his lips. The Dunmer woman smiled and nodded, held tight to the fabric of her robe and left the room.

Nalion was already asleep when his spell wore off and Alarvyne, who was back in her own dormitory, began to utter a fine selection of curses, not at all ladylike, but all directed at him - and outlanders and especially mages in general...

After a restful sleep, Nalion joined the others for breakfast, just a minute before Tris began his report, once more the rather reserved mage.

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 01:29 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 04:56 AM)

It was a few miles to the Governor's estate. The land between the city and the estate was almost entirely field land, harvested months ago.

At a small farm, situated near the road, an apparent scuffle was taking place.

Four armed mer, bearing the colors of the Empire on their chests, were dragging the Dunmer farmer and his wife out of the house and into the small, muddy yard.

A heavyset, richly armored mer stood nearby, arms crossed, watching.

"But," pleaded the farmer, "we've already paid our taxes!"

He was answered by a clout on the ear, delivered by one of the soldiers.

"So you'll pay them again, and not complain!" said the important-looking mer.

"Please Serjo!" said the man's wife as two of the soldiers spread the couple's belongings over the yard, confiscating what valuables they could find.

*




Ciel approached the richly armored mer first. The others seemed preoccupied with searching the farm couple's belongings. It was probably best that they stay that way... for the moment.

"Pardons Serjo," he greeted while looking over the muddy scene. "There seems to be something amiss here. The goodmer said he paid his taxes already, why are you looking for more?"

The knight's tone was level and formal if a bit flat.



Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 01:35 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 07:09 AM)

Ciel approached the richly armored mer first.  The others seemed preoccupied with searching the farm couple's belongings.  It was probably best that they stay that way... for the moment.

"Pardons Serjo," he greeted while looking over the muddy scene.  "There seems to be something amiss here.  The goodmer said he paid his taxes already, why are you looking for more?"

The knight's tone was level and formal if a bit flat.

*





The meeting at breakfast had left Loranna feeling a little out of sorts; for a moment she had felt there was no reaosnable alternative to killing the governer, and Ciel's joke left her blushing and feeling silly to even suggest that the governer had to see reason somehow ...

Must have been Tris's spending the night with that Dunmer girl, she told herself.

The fact that they were going to try and negotiate with the governer left Loranna feeling a tad uneasy as well, given her sterling performance with the Tong the night before. Loranna prayed that the governer would not see her as the de facto leader of the group ...

The scene at the farmhouse makes Loranna frown, and she waits to see how Ciel's apprach works, quietly preparing her spells just in case.


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 01:36 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 05:09 AM)

Ciel approached the richly armored mer first.  The others seemed preoccupied with searching the farm couple's belongings.  It was probably best that they stay that way... for the moment.

"Pardons Serjo," he greeted while looking over the muddy scene.  "There seems to be something amiss here.  The goodmer said he paid his taxes already, why are you looking for more?"

The knight's tone was level and formal if a bit flat.

*




The important-seeming mer looked down his nose at the foreigner.

"There is nothing amiss here, N'wah.

"I am the Imperial Exciseman, not him.

"Move along."

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 01:48 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 05:16 AM)

The important-seeming mer looked down his nose at the foreigner.

"There is nothing amiss here, N'wah.

"I am the Imperial Exciseman, not him.

"Move along."

*




"So you are," Ciel said but then insisted. "But something certainly is. This fine group of mer and men are going to meet with the Imperial Governor. We wouldn't want to bother him over small talk with reports of your poor maners. What is amiss? Perhaps a remedy will be forthcoming. Why are they being taxed twice?"

The knight obviously wasn't going to budge until he got an answer.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 01:52 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 06:28 AM)

"So you are," Ciel said but then insisted.  "But something certainly is.  This fine group of mer and men are going to meet with the Imperial Governor.  We wouldn't want to bother him over small talk with reports of your poor maners.  What is amiss? Perhaps a remedy will be forthcoming.  Why are they being taxed twice?"

The knight obviously wasn't going to budge until he got an answer.

*




Behind Ciel, Tris cocked his head, looking, as usual, very much like a wealthy young nobleman. One who was interested in the answer to the question.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 01:53 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 05:28 AM)

"So you are," Ciel said but then insisted.  "But something certainly is.  This fine group of mer and men are going to meet with the Imperial Governor.  We wouldn't want to bother him over small talk with reports of your poor maners.  What is amiss? Perhaps a remedy will be forthcoming.  Why are they being taxed twice?"

The knight obviously wasn't going to budge until he got an answer.

*




The mer looked the group up and down, then started laughing, far too heartily to be polite.

"You... you're on your way to see the Governor.

"Oh, by all means, do tell him I was forcing these folk to pay their taxes. There might be a raise in it for me!"

He laughed again, and a couple of the soldiers did, as well.

"The polite request for these fine, hearty people to pay their taxes is being made, because their taxes were not received. That is a simple matter, and one that does not concern you."

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 01:58 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 05:33 AM)

The mer looked the group up and down, then started laughing, far too heartily to be polite.

"You... you're on your way to see the Governor.

"Oh, by all means, do tell him I was forcing these folk to pay their taxes. There might be a raise in it for me!"

He laughed again, and a couple of the soldiers did, as well.

"The polite request for these fine, hearty people to pay their taxes is being made, because their taxes were not received. That is a simple matter, and one that does not concern you."

*




Ciel frowned.

"What on nirn made you think I was talking about them?" he said looking very displeased now. "Not recieved? How did you manage to loose their taxes and not end up in the gallows?"



Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 02:03 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 05:38 AM)

Ciel frowned.

"What on nirn made you think I was talking about them?" he said looking very displeased now.  "Not recieved?  How did you manage to loose their taxes and not end up in the gallows?"

*




The mer scoffed, barely cowed by Ciel's angry tone.

"See here, why don't you run along and ask the Governor who lost the tax money. I'm sure it's one of his favorite subjects.

"I'll tell you for free, though, it wasn't me. I collect taxes, I'm not the one responsible for guarding them from crazed Azurites while they're being transported to the Emperor, and I'm blessed that's so.

"Now, and I mean this with ALL due politeness, of course... Shove off so I can do my job!"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 02:06 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 07:43 AM)

The mer scoffed, barely cowed by Ciel's angry tone.

"See here, why don't you run along and ask the Governor who lost the tax money. I'm sure it's one of his favorite subjects.

"I'll tell you for free, though, it wasn't me. I collect taxes, I'm not the one responsible for guarding them from crazed Azurites while they're being transported to the Emperor, and I'm blessed that's so.

"Now, and I mean this with ALL due politeness, of course, Shove off so I can do my job!"

*





Loranna frowns. Azurites grabbing tax money ... nice friends you're supporting Governer.

In the back of her mind, she decides to talk to Tris about this information - after the current situation is dealt with. She keeps her spells foremost in her mind, in case Ciel needs support.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 02:14 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 28 2005, 06:46 AM)

Loranna frowns.  Azurites grabbing tax money ... nice friends you're supporting Governer. 

In the back of her mind, she decides to talk to Tris about this information - after the current situation is dealt with.  She keeps her spells foremost in her mind, in case Ciel needs support.

*




Tris put a gentle hand on Ciel's shoulder with his most disarming smile: good natured, inoffensive, and possibly not too bright.

"My good mer, there may be another way. How much are the taxes? What if I were to make up the difference, would you let these people keep their property?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 02:17 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 05:54 AM)

Tris put a gentle hand on Ciel's shoulder with his most disarming smile:  good natured, inoffensive, and possibly not too bright.

"My good mer, there may be another way. How much are the taxes? What if I were to make up the difference, would you let these people keep their property?"

*




The two farmers dared to look up at Tris's words, wonder on their bruised faces, but the exciseman looked at Tris as if here were a complete idiot.

"Money is money," he says, pulling out a list showing amounts due.

"You want to pay the rest of the sums on this list too, save me a lot of trouble?" he says with a smirk.

The two soldiers unceremoniously dropped the farmer's belongings, leaving them in the mud.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 02:23 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 06:57 AM)

The two farmers dared to look up at Tris's words, wonder on their bruised faces, but the exciseman looked at Tris as if here were a complete idiot.

"Money is money," he says, pulling out a list showing amounts due.

"You want to pay the rest of the sums on this list too, save me a lot of trouble?" he says with a smirk.

The two soldiers unceremoniously dropped the farmer's belongings, leaving them in the mud.

*




Tris quickly tallied the figures in his head. The whole amount was a staggering sum; enough that the Imperial Governor himself couldn't pay it. Apparently the taxes for the whole province were missing.

The excise for this farm alone was a trivial amount; Tris and Ciel had paid more for a single dinner, and not long ago.

"I'll make you a deal," he said. "How many of these were you planning on collecting today? Let me pay you that sum, and you good gentlemer take the day off while we speak to the Imperial Governor. And enough coin for a round of drinks into the bargain. Does that sound good?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 02:25 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 06:03 AM)

Tris quickly tallied the figures in his head. The whole amount was a staggering sum;  enough that the Imperial Governor himself couldn't pay it. Apparently the taxes for the whole province were missing.

The excise for this farm alone were a trivial amount;  Tris and Ciel had paid more for a single dinner, and not long ago.

"I'll make you a deal,"  he said. "How many of these were you planning on collecting today? Let me pay you that sum, and you good gentlemer take the day off while we speak to the Imperial Governor. And enough coin for a round of drinks into the bargain. Does that sound good?"

*




The soldiers behind him whispered amongst themselves.

"Sounds better than spending the day beating pennies out of these rats," the mer said with a toothy smile.

"You've got yourself a deal... IF you've got the money."

He showed Tris a total for the day.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 02:28 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 07:05 AM)

The soldiers behind him whispered amongst themselves.

"Sounds better than spending the day beating pennies out of these rats," the mer said with a toothy smile.

"You've got yourself a deal... IF you've got the money."

He showed Tris a total for the day.

*




"You're cheating me, clever lads that you are," Tris said, smiling. "Well, fair enough. Here you are."

He handed over the money.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 02:32 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 06:08 AM)

"You're cheating me, clever lads that you are,"  Tris said, smiling. "Well, fair enough. Here you are."

He handed over the money.

*




"Right," said the exciseman, "nice doing business with you."

He placed the money in a heavy, sealed box, and the five men headed toward town.

One soldier stooped to pick a bright red fruit out of the farmer's basket, polish it on his sleeve, and eat it as he walked away.

As soon as they were outside of earshot, the farmer and his wife mobbed the group, bowing, scraping, and thanking them with all their strength.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 02:33 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 07:12 AM)

"Right," said the exciseman, "nice doing business with you."

He placed the money in a heavy, sealed box, and the five men headed toward town.

One soldier stooped to pick a bright red fruit out of the farmer's basket, polish it on his sleeve, and eat it as he walked away.

As soon as they were outside of earshot, the farmer and his wife mobbed the group, bowing, scraping, and thanking them with all their strength.

*




"We're glad we could help," Tris said. "What happened to the tax money, have you heard anything?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 02:34 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 08:12 AM)

"Right," said the exciseman, "nice doing business with you."

He placed the money in a heavy, sealed box, and the five men headed toward town.

One soldier stooped to pick a bright red fruit out of the farmer's basket, polish it on his sleeve, and eat it as he walked away.

As soon as they were outside of earshot, the farmer and his wife mobbed the group, bowing, scraping, and thanking them with all their strength.

*





"It's all right; it's the least we could do," Loranna says to the farmers. "Here, let me look at those bruises ..."

Her hands glow with the blue aura of healing magic, as she let's Tris question the farmers.

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 02:38 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 06:12 AM)

"Right," said the exciseman, "nice doing business with you."

He placed the money in a heavy, sealed box, and the five men headed toward town.

One soldier stooped to pick a bright red fruit out of the farmer's basket, polish it on his sleeve, and eat it as he walked away.

As soon as they were outside of earshot, the farmer and his wife mobbed the group, bowing, scraping, and thanking them with all their strength.

*




Ciel smiled and waved down the thanks with the others after watching the five mer walk away.

"Yes, anything would be helpful," he said.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 02:48 PM

The mer does not rise from his knees when he speaks.

"We've only heard rumors, Muthsera, only rumors.

"We paid our taxes, of course! Always on time, too! But this time, we heard that the Azurites had descended on the train as it left for the Imperial City, and took the gold... all OUR gold!

"Their blue eyes be damned to rot out of thier heads! But alas, they cannot be stopped. It is said that Alandro Sul, the Immortal Son of Azura, leads them, and so we are all doomed.

"Ah," he says to Loranna's ministrations, "My thanks to you, Accursed Mother. That feels much better."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 02:52 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 08:28 AM)

The mer does not rise from his knees when he speaks.

"We've only heard rumors, Muthsera, only rumors.

"We paid our taxes, of course! Always on time, too! But this time, we heard that the Azurites had descended on the train as it left for the Imperial City, and took the gold... all OUR gold!

"Their blue eyes be damned to rot out of thier heads! But alas, they cannot be stopped. It is said that Alandro Sul, the Immortal Son of Azura, leads them, and so we are all doomed.

"Ah," he says to Loranna's ministrations, "My thanks to you, Accursed Mother. That feels much better."

*





"Ahh, you're welcome ..." Loranna says, her mind busily both wondering what to make of this new information, and trying to wrap itself around being called Accursed Mother while being thanked for something. "My pleasure, Serjo and Sera ..."

She looks at Tris, her expression clearly emoting Alandro Sul? Um ... eep ...


Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 03:00 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 28 2005, 07:32 AM)

"Ahh, you're welcome ..." Loranna says, her mind busily both wondering what to make of this new information, and trying to wrap itself around being called Accursed Mother while being thanked for something.  "My pleasure, Serjo and Sera ..."

She looks at Tris, her expression clearly emoting Alandro Sul?  Um ... eep ...

*




"Where do I know that name from?" Tris asked as they continued on their way. From the Trial of Vivec, somewhere. He had only read about the trial.

"It looks like the Imperial Governor is in trouble," he said. "If he doesn't get those taxes, he'll be worrying about demotion, not promotion. And there's no way the people can raise the money twice, look at these people. Even if they were willing they don't have the money to give, and eventually the bully boys who work for the excise will figure out their next paycheck is going to be late and refuse to do the job."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 03:03 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 08:40 AM)

"Where do I know that name from?"  Tris asked as they continued on their way. From the Trial of Vivec, somewhere. He had only read about the trial.

"It looks like the Imperial Governor is in trouble,"  he said. "If he doesn't get those taxes, he'll be worrying about demotion, not promotion. And there's no way the people can raise the money twice, look at these people. Even if they were willing they don't have the money to give, and eventually the bully boys who work for the excise will figure out their next paycheck is going to be late and refuse to do the job."

*





"He's mentioned in a book about the battle at Red Mountain as well, if I remember - and in any event he's a powerful person," Loranna tells Tris. "And he's got the benefit of centuries of experience on his side ... but you're right. We have something to offer the Governer now that should make him more than willing to listen to our requests ... if we can get that gold back."


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 03:08 PM

The Governor's palace was a fine place. A high stone wall surrounded the spacious grounds, and it commanded a view of the countryside from the top of a lone hill.

A tall, beautiful building with gilt decoration on its eaves could be seen rising above the fortifications.

Wide stone steps led up to the wall's gate.

The guard at the gate was none too polite, and called for the Watch Captain, who happened to be one of the people Bradas had made arrangements with.

The Captain allowed the group inside, and ushered them to the Castellain, who had recently had a surprising cancellation of outstanding gambling debts. He smiled as he led the odd group to a well-appointed waiting chamber, and disappeared to summon the Governor.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 03:29 PM

Through the thin interior walls, a voice could be heard. It was a rather high, almost hysterical voice, and it was getting closer...

"I don't care if it's the Emperor HIMSELF, I'm not in the mood to see ANYBODY!"

The voice paused long enough for an unheard reply.

"Oh, I HAVE to see them, do I? Well, maybe I don't WANT to, how would that be?"

Another pause.

"Indeed! Fine! YOU find the tax money, and I'LL waste my time in useless meetings that I don't even REMEMBER scheduling!"

The door opened suddenly, and the Castellain appeared.

"The Governor will see you now," he said.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 03:31 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 08:09 AM)

Through the thin interior walls, a voice could be heard. It was a rather high, almost hysterical voice, and it was getting closer...

"I don't care if it's the Emperor HIMSELF, I'm not in the mood to see ANYBODY!"

The voice paused long enough for an unheard reply.

"Oh, I HAVE to see them, do I? Well, maybe I don't WANT to, how would that be?"

Another pause.

"Indeed! Fine! YOU find the tax money, and I'LL waste my time in useless meetings that I don't even REMEMBER scheduling!"

The door opened suddenly, and the Castellain appeared.

"The Governor will see you now," he said.

*




"You lead," Tris said softly to Ciel. They had discussed who would deal with the governor. The others felt that Tris seemed to be a natural at negotiations. That disturbed him, though. He found himself talking in his father's voice.

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 03:34 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 07:11 AM)

"You lead,"  Tris said softly to Ciel.  They had discussed who would deal with the governor. The others felt that Tris seemed to be a natural at negotiations. That disturbed him, though. He found himself talking in his father's voice.

*




Ciel gave a nod to Tris and the Castellain and then stepped into the Governor's chambers.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 03:36 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 28 2005, 09:14 AM)

Ciel gave a nod to Tris and the Castellan and then stepped into the Governor's chambers.

*





Loranna follows the others, wondering how the governer is going to feel seeing the Accursed Mother show up on this, obviously bad, day.


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 03:41 PM

The room beyond was even richer than those they had seen so far. Beautiful prints covered the walls, and through an open door, a beautifully manicured garden could be seen.

The Governor sat on a high cushion, raised above the rest of the room on a polished wooden platform.

He was an Imperial, as usual, but he was dressed in the height of local fashion. His richly embroidered robes fell about his seated body in wide folds, and his hair, carefully combed and dyed a deeper black that it was naturally, fell smoothly over one shoulder in a style far-removed from the close-cropped Imperial standard.

When the visitors entered his room, he nearly lept from his seat.

"Guards!" he shouted, shrilly, and the stamping of armored feet could be heard in the halls.

"Now," he said nervously to his visitors, "don't do anything foolish! I expected you'd show up eventually, although how you got in is a MYSTERY," he said, with a sharp look at the Castellain.

"No need to be hasty, though. I suppose you're here to demand my surrender or somesuch. We can talk, we can talk. No need for violence!"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 03:42 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 08:21 AM)

The room beyond was even richer than those they had seen so far. Beautiful prints covered the walls, and through an open door, a beautifully manicured garden could be seen.

The Governor sat on a high cushion, raised above the rest of the room on a polished wooden platform.

He was an Imperial, as usual, but he was dressed in the height of local fashion. His richly embroidered robes fell about his seated body in wide folds, and his hair, carefully combed and dyed a deeper black that it was naturally, fell smoothly over one shoulder in a style far-removed from the close-cropped Imperial standard.

When the visitors entered his room, he nearly lept from his seat.

"Guards!" he shouted, shrilly, and the stamping of armored feet could be heard in the halls.

"Now," he said nervously to his visitors, "don't do anything foolish! I expected you'd show up eventually, although how you got in is a MYSTERY," he said, with a sharp look at the Castellain.

"No need to be hasty, though. I suppose you're here to demand my surrender or somesuch. We can talk, we can talk. No need for violence!"

*




Tris thought quickly, then glanced at Loranna, missing the days when she could read his mind. He stepped half a pace back to give her prominence in the group.

Change of plans....

Posted by: Solin Feb 28 2005, 03:46 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 07:22 AM)

Tris thought quickly, then glanced at Loranna, missing the days when she could read his mind. He stepped half a pace back to give her prominence in the group.

Change of plans....

*




Ciel did so as well. The Governor seemed rather focused on Loranna, which, of course, was not horribly surprising.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 03:50 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 09:22 AM)

Tris thought quickly, then glanced at Loranna, missing the days when she could read his mind. He stepped half a pace back to give her prominence in the group.

Change of plans....

*





Loranna mentally gloms Tris and give him the Kiss of Doom, which had left all men and mer passed out helpless before, until Jazbet.

Stepping forward, she fixes the Governer with a steady gaze.

"Yes, we can talk," Loranna says to the governer. "We have a couple of ... requests, to make of you, your Lordship. The blockade of Ald Raathim we would like to see removed, and the positon of Tariff Officer granted to Serjo Bradas."

She smiles. "What say you, your Lordship?"


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 04:00 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 28 2005, 07:30 AM)

Loranna mentally gloms Tris and give him the Kiss of Doom, which had left all men and mer passed out helpless before, until Jazbet.

Stepping forward, she fixes the Governer with a steady gaze.

"Yes, we can talk," Loranna says to the governer.  "We have a couple of ... requests, to make of you, your Lordship.  The blockade of Ald Raathim we would like to see removed, and the positon of Tariff Officer granted to Serjo Bradas."

She smiles.  "What say you, your Lordship?"

*




"Serjo BRADAS?" The Governor said, surprised. "I see... I see.

"I tell you frankly, I would not even consider such a thing, but I have seen what your armies have done to... to their enemies, and I am no fool.

"I want you to know, I hold no ill will toward any of you, personally. I DO hope the feeling is mutual. It's all business, you see. Backs are scratched. Nothing personal."

The guards seemed comfortable with the situation. Obviously they'd been called for such things before.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 04:06 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 09:40 AM)

"Serjo BRADAS?" The Governor said, surprised. "I see... I see.

"I tell you frankly, I would not even consider such a thing, but I have seen what your armies have done to... to their enemies, and I am no fool.

"I want you to know, I hold no ill will toward any of you, personally. I DO hope the feeling is mutual. It's all business, you see. Backs are scratched. Nothing personal."

The guards seemed comfortable with the situation. Obviously they'd been called for such things before.

*





Loranna regards the governer curiously for a moment, but nods.

"We have no ill will towards you, your Lordship," she says, "we merely wish for us to not be antagonistic to one another, as the blockade is threatening to cause. We'd be happy to leave you in peace and go about our own lives."

She gives a small shrug with her hands. "You speak of back scratching; perhaps we can scratch one another's backs. We couldn't help but overhear you a couple moments ago your Lordship, concerning a matter that affects the Empire and its loyal citizens."


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 04:09 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 28 2005, 07:46 AM)

Loranna regards the governer curiously for a moment, but nods.

"We have no ill will towards you, your Lordship," she says, "we merely wish for us to not be antagonistic to one another, as the blockade is threatening to cause.  We'd be happy to leave you in peace and go about our own lives."

She gives a small shrug with her hands.  "You speak of back scratching; perhaps we can scratch one another's backs.  We couldn't help but overhear you a couple moments ago your Lordship, concerning a matter that affects the Empire and its loyal citizens."

*




The Governor blushes noticably.

"You mean the taxes," he says, "Yes, that is QUITE a matter.

"Unfortunately, I still have not the SLIGHTEST lead who might have done such a damnable thing.

He leaned forward on his cushion.

"What, pray tell, are you suggesting?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 04:12 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 08:49 AM)

The Governor blushes noticably.

"You mean the taxes," he says, "Yes, that is QUITE a matter.

"Unfortunately, I still have not the SLIGHTEST lead who might have done such a damnable thing.

He leaned forward on his cushion.

"What, pray tell, are you suggesting?"

*




"Perhaps if the common folk weren't so afraid of you, they might have told you what every one of them knows," Tris said.

"The tax caravan was attacked by Azurites, sent by Alandro Sul, immortal son of Azura. And we're suggesting saving your perky little behind - because that's a lot of money to just stroll off, even for you. And I expect you have a long history of money strolling off."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 04:16 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 07:52 AM)

"Perhaps if the common folk weren't so afraid of you, they might have told you what every one of them knows,"  Tris said.

"The tax caravan was attacked by Azurites, sent by Alandro Sul, immortal son of Azura. And we're suggesting saving your perky little behind - because that's a lot of money to just stroll off, even for you. And I expect you have a long history of money strolling off."

*




The Governor huffed with indignity, especially at the mention of his 'perky behind', but he held his tongue.

"You would do... why, of course you would. Common enemies and all that, eh?"

He laughed a high, unpleasant laugh.

"Fine, then... fine. Consider the blockade lifted... IF you return the tax money, not before.

"Depending on how long that takes you, I'll CONSIDER a post for your... um... friend, Bradas Othril."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 04:18 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 08:56 AM)

The Governor huffed with indignity, especially at the mention of his 'perky behind', but he held his tongue.

"You would do... why, of course you would. Common enemies and all that, eh?"

He laughed a high, unpleasant laugh.

"Fine, then... fine. Consider the blockade lifted... IF you return the tax money, not before.

"Depending on how long that takes you, I'll CONSIDER a post for your... um... friend, Bradas Othril."

*




"How about you lift the blockade instantly and we don't find out what my friends in Cyrodiil think of a governor who loses the tax money?" Tris said. "Bradas... I could care less, really. But we owe him a favor."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 04:21 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 07:58 AM)

"How about you lift the blockade instantly and we don't find out what my friends in Cyrodiil think of a governor who loses the tax money?"  Tris said. "Bradas... I could care less, really. But we owe him a favor."

*




The Governor puffed himself up, but he seemed incapable of holding the pose.

"Fine, fine, you have me over a barrel. I see that you realize that, clever people that you are.

"I'll lift the blockade, of course. You can trust ME.

"You find the gold... it's the EMPEROR'S gold, mind you... and I'll appoint Othril to his coveted office.

"Is that ALL?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 04:26 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 10:01 AM)

The Governor puffed himself up, but he seemed incapable of holding the pose.

"Fine, fine, you have me over a barrel. I see that you realize that, clever people that you are.

"I'll lift the blockade, of course. You can trust ME.

"You find the gold... it's the EMPEROR'S gold, mind you... and I'll appoint Othril to his coveted office.

"Is that ALL?"

*





"There is one more thing I would ask," Loranna says to the governer. "Once we've returned the gold and gotten everything back to as it should be, I think some sort of resitution to the providence of Ald Raathim might be wise. We are not rebels against the Empire, after all; we merely strive against a new and dangerous enemy of the Empire as we will."


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 04:33 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 28 2005, 08:06 AM)

"There is one more thing I would ask," Loranna says to the governer.  "Once we've returned the gold and gotten everything back to as it should be, I think some sort of resitution to the providence of Ald Raathim might be wise.  We are not rebels against the Empire, after all; we merely strive against a new and dangerous enemy of the Empire as we will."

*




"Resti...!

The man forced himself to remain calm, but his face remained a dark purple.

"Of course. Recover the Emperor's gold, and I'll happily discuss what can be done to make up for my unwise conduct toward your little land.

"Now, you really MUST excuse me, I have other appointments, you see. Other important people to meet with.

"Guards! Show our esteemed visitors out."

The Governor smiled in an entirely unhappy way.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 28 2005, 04:34 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 09:13 AM)

"Resti...!

The man forced himself to remain calm, but his face remained a dark purple.

"Of course. Recover the Emperor's gold, and I'll happily discuss what can be done to make up for my unwise conduct toward your little land.

"Now, you really MUST excuse me, I have other appointments, you see. Other important people to meet with.

"Guards! Show our esteemed visitors out."

The Governor smiled in an entirely unhappy way.

*




"Wait one moment," Tris said, smiling broadly. "There's one thing I've been wondering for some time... what, exactly, does 'Daruhn' mean?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 28 2005, 04:35 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 28 2005, 10:13 AM)

"Resti...!

The man forced himself to remain calm, but his face remained a dark purple.

"Of course. Recover the Emperor's gold, and I'll happily discuss what can be done to make up for my unwise conduct toward your little land.

"Now, you really MUST excuse me, I have other appointments, you see. Other important people to meet with.

"Guards! Show our esteemed visitors out."

The Governor smiled in an entirely unhappy way.

*





"Thank you your Lordship," Loranna says, her expression resigned.

Fool, she thinks to herself.

She turns to her companions. "Shall we?"


Posted by: Rhedd Feb 28 2005, 04:39 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 08:14 AM)

"Wait one moment,"  Tris said, smiling broadly.  "There's one thing I've been wondering for some time... what, exactly, does 'Daruhn' mean?"

*




The Governor looked at the young nobleman, completely cluelessly.

"Er... well... it means, let me see..."

The Dunmer Castellain leaned over and whispered in his ear, and the Governor's eyes widened noticably.

"It means, 'Land of Everlasting Fortune'... of course!" he said.

"Now, if you'll excuse me..."

His robes swished as he stood, and with one last look to the guests that had far overstayed their welcome, he left the room.

Through the thin walls, his voice could be heard, "MASSEUR! Where's that masseur! Tell him to make the water EXTRA hot today. I'm under a LOT of stress!"

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Mar 1 2005, 04:49 AM

Dagoth was standing in the town somewhere, oblivious to most of his surroundings. He sensed something different about Loranna other then the obvious. She seemed... stronger... more powerful. Yet he couldn't place exactly how... oh well, he would ask her later. No point in interrupting her.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 1 2005, 06:37 AM

The Breton Arynel arrived in Narsis, his clothes were clean and his belly, though perhaps not as full as he would have liked, was tolerable. He began looking around for a place to retire, and perhaps information concerning the wereabouts of his companions.

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 07:05 AM

As Shai wandered the streets, allowing her sorrow to wash over her. The Teacher was dead. That was almost more than she could bear. She thought back to the lessons on emotion the Teacher had given her. "Do not fight the sadness," he would have said. "Only the tears." But even as she recalled his lessons, she was overwhelmed. Suddenly she was a brute, an animal. All of the discipline was lost on her. Only the sheer muscle memory was left. She became in an instant a deadly loose cannon.

There was a scream to her left. She looked and saw a pretty young Dunmer, in the clothes of a courtesan. Around her were some tough looking rough Dunmer men, surrounding her and trying to knock her unconscious.

For Varin Sarano of the Camonna Tong, it was the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person to his right.

Even the Teacher would have supported this.

If Shai had been in her best emotional state, she would have taunted the men into attacking her. But she was not in that sort of state.

Her eyes flashed a deadly fiery red.

Shai spun away from the scene, and ran in the opposite direction, to a streetside vendor whose stall was backed up against another building. She jumped up into the booth, and hurled a large hunk of guar meat and the thugs. Even as they turned to watch, Shai snapped off one of the wood poles that held up the banner for the stall, used it to vault up onto the adjacent building, and then took a running jump...

Varin Sarano of the Camonna Tong looked up to see a beautiful Bosmeri woman with fiery red eyes, so juxtaposed against the sun that she looked like an angel falling from the sky. Then the angel's stick came down on his head. He fell down unconscious.

Immediately the guard turned his head to see the brawl.

"Damn." Muttered Shai angrily. She needed money now, or else she would end up in jail. Quickly she sized up the unconscious thug, and his three friends now facing her, and the distance she had from the guard. Then she reached for the man's purse, whirled it around into the nearest thug's skull, and kicked him in the chest. He stumbled back into a fruit vendor's stall, splintering himself everywhere along the wood. Now there was a crowd gathered, and the still furious Shai could use that to her advantage. She grabbed the fruity thug and swung him by the legs around into the third of the four, knocking them both into the crowd, which dealt with them. After all, what kind of freaks beat on helpless young women? Of course, the crowd didn't realize the men were Tong. That might come back to haunt them in the future.

There was one man left, and a very angry Shai for him to contend with. She simply launched herself into the air, hands outstretched furiously, and grabbed him in a stranglehold. He turned red and went down, fast.

The guards came by to clean up the mess, and she paid them appropriate compensation from Sarano's purse. Then she turned her attention to the girl she had apparently saved.

"Who were they?"


Posted by: Arynel Mar 1 2005, 07:12 AM

Arynel noticed some commotion nearby. The Breton drew closer out of curiosity, but stayed some distance back. He moved about, trying to get a good idea of what had conspired.



Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 07:16 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Feb 28 2005, 11:45 PM)

As Shai wandered the streets, allowing her sorrow to wash over her. The Teacher was dead. That was almost more than she could bear. She thought back to the lessons on emotion the Teacher had given her. "Do not fight the sadness," he would have said. "Only the tears." But even as she recalled his lessons, she was overwhelmed. Suddenly she was a brute, an animal. All of the discipline was lost on her. Only the sheer muscle memory was left. She became in an instant a deadly loose cannon.

There was a scream to her left. She looked and saw a pretty young Dunmer, in the clothes of a courtesan. Around her were some tough looking rough Dunmer men, surrounding her and trying to knock her unconscious.

For Varin Sarano of the Camonna Tong, it was the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person to his right.

Even the Teacher would have supported this.

If Shai had been in her best emotional state, she would have taunted the men into attacking her. But she was not in that sort of state.

Her eyes flashed a deadly fiery red.

Shai spun away from the scene, and ran in the opposite direction, to a streetside vendor whose stall was backed up against another building. She jumped up into the booth, and hurled a large hunk of guar meat and the thugs. Even as they turned to watch, Shai snapped off one of the wood poles that held up the banner for the stall, used it to vault up onto the adjacent building, and then took a running jump...

Varin Sarano of the Camonna Tong looked up to see a beautiful Bosmeri woman with fiery red eyes, so juxtaposed against the sun that she looked like an angel falling from the sky. Then the angel's stick came down on his head. He fell down unconscious.

Immediately the guard turned his head to see the brawl.

"Damn." Muttered Shai angrily. She needed money now, or else she would end up in jail. Quickly she sized up the unconscious thug, and his three friends now facing her, and the distance she had from the guard. Then she reached for the man's purse, whirled it around into the nearest thug's skull, and kicked him in the chest. He stumbled back into a fruit vendor's stall, splintering himself everywhere along the wood. Now there was a crowd gathered, and the still furious Shai could use that to her advantage. She grabbed the fruity thug and swung him by the legs around into the third of the four, knocking them both into the crowd, which dealt with them. After all, what kind of freaks beat on helpless young women? Of course, the crowd didn't realize the men were Tong. That might come back to haunt them in the future.

There was one man left, and a very angry Shai for him to contend with. She simply launched herself into the air, hands outstretched furiously, and grabbed him in a stranglehold. He turned red and went down, fast.

The guards came by to clean up the mess, and she paid them appropriate compensation from Sarano's purse. Then she turned her attention to the girl she had apparently saved.

"Who were they?"

*




The young Dunmer girl was shaken, with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for getting you involved, this is all my fault," she said. "Now the Tongs will come after you! You'd better get out of town quickly. My name is Midali, I used to work for them until this morning when a patron bought out my contract. They thought they could just pick me up off the street and have the money and me. Well, I'll show them, Acilus Aurrus likes me, if I can make it to the Imperial Embassy, he'll protect me and make them wish they never bothered me!"

Then she smiled.

"I haven't thanked you yet. Thank you. I wish I had some way to repay you and help with the trouble you're in on my account."

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 07:31 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 28 2005, 11:56 PM)

The young Dunmer girl was shaken, with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for getting you involved, this is all my fault,"  she said. "Now the Tongs will come after you!  You'd better get out of town quickly. My name is Midali, I used to work for them until this morning when a patron bought out my contract. They thought they could just pick me up off the street and have the money and me. Well, I'll show them, Acilus Aurrus likes me, if I can make it to the Imperial Embassy, he'll protect me and make them wish they never bothered me!"

Then she smiled. 

"I haven't thanked you yet. Thank you. I wish I had some way to repay you and help with the trouble you're in on my account."

*




Now she started to slow down, cool down. Stupid, stupid, stupid, for losing her head like that. It would be months before she achieved serenity equilibrium again.

"It was me who got involved, by my own choice," she said flatly. "My own decisions."

She mulled over the things Midali had said. "Name's Shai. I've got nowhere to go right now. Why don't I take you to the Embassy? My Teacher always said to finish what you started..."

She looked away, teary.

"Come on, let's go."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 07:41 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Mar 1 2005, 12:11 AM)

Now she started to slow down, cool down. Stupid, stupid, stupid, for losing her head like that. It would be months before she achieved serenity equilibrium again.

"It was me who got involved, by my own choice," she said flatly. "My own decisions."

She mulled over the things Midali had said. "Name's Shai. I've got nowhere to go right now. Why don't I take you to the Embassy? My Teacher always said to finish what you started..."

She looked away, teary.

"Come on, let's go."

*




"You're very brave," Midali said, falling into step beside Shai as they walked to the Embassy together. "Someone with your skill at fighting could easily find employment somewhere. But you really should get out of the city quickly! The Tongs mean business, and they don't forget a grudge. I know! Maybe you can still catch up with the Accursed Mother - her party of outlanders stayed at the Club last night. The man who paid for my contract might even reward you for saving me."

The two of them reached the Imperial Embassy.

Midali gave Shai one of her scarves. "He'll remember this, he said something last night about me wearing too many scarves. He's a Breton, his name is Tris. Tell him you saved Midali, and ask for employment. I know they were going to see the Imperial Governor, perhaps you can catch them on the road. A big party of outlanders, they're hard to miss."



Posted by: Arynel Mar 1 2005, 07:44 AM


The Breton Arynel silently followed behind Midali and Shai. He kept his distance but arrived at the Imperial Embassy all the same.


Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 07:59 AM

Shai was aware of a presence behind her. A Breton, peaceful looking. A bit arrogant, perhaps. She had been aware of him since they had left the alleyway. The scarf Midali had given her was around her waist. Wrapping something around your neck was asking to be choked.

The Breton had to be dealt with...

Shai turned suddenly, sharply, into another alleyway, and sprang up into the shadows, gripping onto the roof of one of the buildings on the borders of it. As she had hoped, the Breton turned into the alley and looked around.

She dropped towards him from the roof.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 1 2005, 08:02 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Feb 28 2005, 11:39 PM)

Shai was aware of a presence behind her. A Breton, peaceful looking. A bit arrogant, perhaps. She had been aware of him since they had left the alleyway. The scarf Midali had given her was around her waist. Wrapping something around your neck was asking to be choked.

The Breton had to be dealt with...

Shai turned suddenly, sharply, into another alleyway, and sprang up into the shadows, gripping onto the roof of one of the buildings on the borders of it. As she had hoped, the Breton turned into the alley and looked around.

She dropped towards him from the roof.

*





Startled, Arynel looked up and stepped back, lifting his hands up in front of him instinctively.

"Hello, what do you want?" The Breton said.

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 08:05 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 1 2005, 12:42 AM)

Startled, Arynel looked up and stepped back, lifting his hands up in front of him instinctively.

"Hello, what do you want?"  The Breton said.

*




She landed softly before him. "I believe I should be asking that question," she murmured.

He glanced down to see her finger at his throat.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 1 2005, 08:10 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Feb 28 2005, 11:45 PM)

She landed softly before him. "I believe I should be asking that question," she murmured.

He glanced down to see her finger at his throat.

*





Arynel regained his composure and attempted to lower the finger at his throat.

"At ease, now, I mean you no harm." The Breton said with a smile, weaving a charm spell into his voice. "I am looking for someone, or rather, many someones, but I am unsure where exactly they are. I can see by the way you carry yourself you are oft to find yourself in the midst of important events, which would most likely be where those I am looking for are."

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 08:12 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 1 2005, 12:50 AM)

Arynel regained his composure and attempted to lower the finger at his throat.

"At ease, now, I mean you no harm."  The Breton said with a smile, weaving a charm spell into his voice.  "I am looking for someone, or rather, many someones, but I am unsure where exactly they are.  I can see by the way you carry yourself you are oft to find yourself in the midst of important events, which would most likely be where those I am looking for are."

*




Important events... Shai thought bitterly. Important events like staying in a hut for most of her life...

"I'm looking for the Accursed Mother," she said, staying calm but hesitant inside. "I have a message for her and her party of noble adventurers."

Posted by: Arynel Mar 1 2005, 08:16 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Feb 28 2005, 11:52 PM)

Important events... Shai thought bitterly. Important events like staying in a hut for most of her life...

"I'm looking for the Accursed Mother," she said, staying calm but hesitant inside. "I have a message for her and her party of noble adventurers."

*





"Ah, well that is something then," Arynel said, "our paths seem to be not so different at the present. I cannot say for sure where they are, but I wonder if that mansion would not be a good place to start looking."

The Breton turned and walked towards the Imperial Governors Mansion.

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 08:18 AM

She followed, and soon they were there. Even as they approached she could see a party of well dressed and armed rugged adventurers, led by one Nord with skin like a Dunmer.

The Accursed Mother.

The Breton would introduce her. The scarf was ready.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 08:21 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Mar 1 2005, 01:58 AM)

She followed, and soon they were there. Even as they approached she could see a party of well dressed and armed rugged adventurers, led by one Nord with skin like a Dunmer.

The Accursed Mother.

The Breton would introduce her. The scarf was ready.

*





Narsis - Imperial Governer's Mansion

The Accursed Mother and her retinue were shown the way back outside by guards, looking about as happy as Loranna felt right about now. Once shown outside the door, the guards crisply turned on their heels and walked back inside.

"Well, that went better than we might have hoped - now all we have to do is figure out where the gold went," she says, her expression conveying her thoughts on the Imperial Governer. She is about to say more when

" ... Hang on; people coming this way," she says, nodding to the sight of a familiar figure and a pretty young Bosmer lass ...


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 08:23 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 1 2005, 01:01 AM)

Narsis - Imperial Governer's Mansion

The Accursed Mother and her retinue were shown the way back outside by guards, looking about as happy as Loranna felt right about now.  Once shown outside the door, the guards crisply turned on their heels and walked back inside.

"Well, that went better than we might have hoped - now all we have to do is figure out where the gold went," she says, her expression conveying her thoughts on the Imperial Governer.  She is about to say more when

" ... Hang on; people coming this way," she says, nodding to the sight of a familiar figure and a pretty young Bosmer lass ...

*




"My question is," Tris said, directing his words to Ciel in particular, "What do the Azurites plan to do with that much money? Or are they just trying to disrupt the province?"

He turned at the sight of Arynel and the young elf girl.

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 08:28 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 1 2005, 01:01 AM)

Narsis - Imperial Governer's Mansion

The Accursed Mother and her retinue were shown the way back outside by guards, looking about as happy as Loranna felt right about now.  Once shown outside the door, the guards crisply turned on their heels and walked back inside.

"Well, that went better than we might have hoped - now all we have to do is figure out where the gold went," she says, her expression conveying her thoughts on the Imperial Governer.  She is about to say more when

" ... Hang on; people coming this way," she says, nodding to the sight of a familiar figure and a pretty young Bosmer lass ...

*




It all happened very quickly. Tris had the scarf, and Shai had a new home among these strange but lovable travelers.

She turned her attention next to the Dunmer half-breed (just like her! she thought with a thrill). He was a year or two older than she was, and strikingly handsome. He had a look on him that read rogue with a good heart. She was instantly drawn to him...even as she noticed the stares that some of the others were giving her - and that he didn't seem to be prone to. Way to go, girl. Fall for the one guy who doesn't ogle at you. She shot a "hard-to-get" look at the others, and then returned her attention to Teleran.

Emotional Control.

Emotional Control.



Posted by: Solin Mar 1 2005, 08:31 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 12:03 AM)

"My question is,"  Tris said, directing his words to Ciel in particular, "What do the Azurites plan to do with that much money?  Or are they just trying to disrupt the province?"

He turned at the sight of Arynel and the young elf girl.

*




Ciel glanced over towards the newcomers a bit alarmed at first but when he recognized the familiar Breton he calmed down a bit.

"The most common soldier doesn't like to fight with out being paid," Ciel said quietly in response. "If that holds true for the Azurites, which may not be the case, then they are cutting away at two problems wih the same blade."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 08:36 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Mar 1 2005, 02:11 AM)

Ciel glanced over towards the newcomers a bit alarmed at first but when he recognized the familiar Breton he calmed down a bit.

"The most common soldier doesn't like to fight with out being paid," Ciel said quietly in response.  "If that holds true for the Azurites, which may not be the case, then they are cutting away at two problems wih the same blade."

*





Loranna turns from Arynel, noting the newcomer - Shai, her name was - and raises her eyebrows at the looks the red-eyed Bosmer shoots Teleran. It seemed that another bird had joined the roost.

"I tend to agree with Ciel - either it's to pay for their own army or else they have some other big plan in mind," she says. "Perhaps renovating the Ghostgate Temple, or rebuilding Vivec, or something even more grandiose. Hogithum does grow ever closer, after all ..."

"In any event, we're not going to let them carry their plans out."


Posted by: Teleran Mar 1 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Feb 28 2005, 10:08 PM)

It all happened very quickly. Tris had the scarf, and Shai had a new home among these strange but lovable travelers.

She turned her attention next to the Dunmer half-breed (just like her! she thought with a thrill). He was a year or two older than she was, and strikingly handsome. He had a look on him that read rogue with a good heart. She was instantly drawn to him...even as she noticed the stares that some of the others were giving her - and that he didn't seem to be prone to. Way to go, girl. Fall for the one guy who doesn't ogle at you. She shot a "hard-to-get" look at the others, and then returned her attention to Teleran.

Emotional Control.

Emotional Control.

*




Teleran looked briefly at the Bosmer girl, not too much different in age from himself, her red eyes marked her as another half-breed, like him. He looked around the countryside, they were searching for bandits after all, even if the bandits in question were Azurites. Not that any but the most daring bandits would strike so close to the mansion.

His gaze returned to the girl and he saw her staring at him. That was disconcerting. He looked away again. When he looked at her out of the corner of his eye she was still looking at him! 'Oh great, I didn't take another one of those potions did I? Or maybe the last one was cyclical-no potions don't work that way. Nobody else is looking at me funny.' Teleran thought.

"I doubt the Azurites need payment, but they do need food, and that costs money. Even fanatics would raid for money." Teleran said somewhat stiffly as he felt Shai's eyes piercing his skull. He added under his breath, "Why is she looking at me like that?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 09:27 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Mar 1 2005, 01:23 AM)

Teleran looked briefly at the Bosmer girl, not too much different in age from himself, her red eyes marked her as another half-breed, like him. He looked around the countryside, they were searching for bandits after all, even if the bandits in question were Azurites. Not that any but the most daring bandits would strike so close to the mansion.

His gaze returned to the girl and he saw her staring at him. That was disconcerting. He looked away again. When he looked at her out of the corner of his eye she was still looking at him! 'Oh great, I didn't take another one of those potions did I? Or maybe the last one was cyclical-no potions don't work that way. Nobody else is looking at me funny.' Teleran thought.

"I doubt the Azurites need payment, but they do need food, and that costs money. Even fanatics would raid for money." Teleran said somewhat stiffly as he felt Shai's eyes piercing his skull. He added under his breath, "Why is she looking at me like that?"

*




"Don't worry, I still think you're as obnoxious as ever," Tris said, with a smile that said he might be kidding or might not be.

"It seems to me that the locals know more about what's happening here than the governor does. We should ask around in the countryside and see what we can find out about who hit the gold, and where they might be taking it."

Or I can search for them in the Void and come back and report what I find, he thought. That was the problem with being a Void Ranger. It was hard to explain your movements and abilities.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 09:32 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 03:07 AM)

"Don't worry, I still think you're as obnoxious as ever,"  Tris said, with a smile that said he might be kidding or might not be.

"It seems to me that the locals know more about what's happening here than the governor does.  We should ask around in the countryside and see what we can find out about who hit the gold, and where they might be taking it."

Or I can search for them in the Void and come back and report what I find, he thought. That was the problem with being a Void Ranger. It was hard to explain your movements and abilities.

*





Loranna nods. "One other thing," she says. "The group that took the gold may be stronger than we are right now - but I can brew some potions to help even the odds. I suggest we split into teams for right now; Tris, if you could come help me get some potion ingredients while the others split into a couple groups, then do some quick questioning around town while I sit down and get to work?"


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 09:42 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 1 2005, 02:12 AM)

Loranna nods.  "One other thing," she says.  "The group that took the gold may be stronger than we are right now - but I can brew some potions to help even the odds.  I suggest we split into teams for right now; Tris, if you could come help me get some potion ingredients while the others split into a couple groups, then do some quick questioning around town while I sit down and get to work?"

*




Tris figured out that that meant 'Come talk to me privately.'

"Yes?" he asked Loranna, when they were far enough from the others to be out of earshot.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 09:45 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 03:22 AM)

Tris figured out that that meant 'Come talk to me privately.'

"Yes?"  he asked Loranna, when they were far enough from the others to be out of earshot.

*





Loranna gives Tris a quick smile, and speaks in a low, quick tone.

"Let's face it; we'd be lucky to scrape together saltrice and bread to make a pick me up snack with the shortages here," she tells Tris. "I was thinking we head back to town, then you turn around a corner and sniff out some missing gold - and maybe stop back at a friendly mage guild to pick me up the following ..."

She lists off ingredients for making various fortifying and restorative potions. "I don't feel like taking chances with this; I mean to brew us some General-strength potions."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 09:48 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 1 2005, 02:25 AM)

Loranna gives Tris a quick smile, and speaks in a low, quick tone.

"Let's face it; we'd be lucky to scrape together saltrice and bread to make a pick me up snack with the shortages here," she tells Tris.  "I was thinking we head back to town, then you turn around a corner and sniff out some missing gold - and maybe stop back at a friendly mage guild to pick me up the following ..."

She lists off ingredients for making various fortifying and restorative potions.  "I don't feel like taking chances with this; I mean to brew us some General-strength potions."

*




"I think that's all a good idea, except the 'head back to town' part," Tris said. "As our new companion told us, the town is a dangerous place right now. Let me talk to the Castellain about setting us up with a room here at the Mansion, and I'll be on my way."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 09:51 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 03:28 AM)

"I think that's all a good idea, except the 'head back to town' part,"  Tris said. "As our new companion told us, the town is a dangerous place right now. Let me talk to the Castellain about setting us up with a room here at the Mansion, and I'll be on my way."

*





"That works," Loranna says. "Let's get working; with luck the gold is still nearby and we'll have it recovered before dinner."

And if we're not lucky, we'll need to head to Vvardenfell and snatch it from under the noses of the New Temple itself, she silently adds. But then, that's why I'm asking Tris to grab me ingredients to make us all walking powerhouses.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 09:58 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 1 2005, 02:31 AM)

"That works," Loranna says.  "Let's get working; with luck the gold is still nearby and we'll have it recovered before dinner."

And if we're not lucky, we'll need to head to Vvardenfell and snatch it from under the noses of the New Temple itself, she silently adds.  But then, that's why I'm asking Tris to grab me ingredients to make us all walking powerhouses.

*




"I think it's beyond unlikely that it's nearby at all," Tris said. "Send one of the other parties to get us some transport - I'm sure they have parraptons here, same as at home. We can use speed potions in a pinch, but they're very confusing if you're not used to them."

He smiled at Ciel. "I'll be back, as usual."

And he was, having talked at some length with a shopkeeper he knew in Daggerfall, and purchased ingredients for a variety of effects, along with notes on how to use them in case Loranna wasn't familiar with High Rock's fauna.

"Big bag full of little bags," he said, heaving the bag to the ground. He had used a feather potion to carry it. "You get started and I'll do some scouting."

He left her, and as soon as he was out of view, disappeared into the Void again.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 10:07 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 03:38 AM)

"I think it's beyond unlikely that it's nearby at all,"  Tris said. "Send one of the other parties to get us some transport - I'm sure they have parraptons here, same as at home. We can use speed potions in a pinch, but they're very confusing if you're not used to them."

He smiled at Ciel. "I'll be back, as usual."

And he was, having talked at some length with a shopkeeper he knew in Daggerfall, and purchased ingredients for a variety of effects, along with notes on how to use them in case Loranna wasn't familiar with High Rock's fauna.

"Big bag full of little bags,"  he said, heaving the bag to the ground. He had used a feather potion to carry it. "You get started and I'll do some scouting."

He left her, and as soon as he was out of view, disappeared into the Void again.

*





"I was afraid of that," Loranna mutters. "All right; see you in a bit."

While Tris was shopping, Loranna spoke with Shai, distracting her briefly from her contemplation of the perfection that was Teleran - at least until it came time for Shai's party to go procure some transportation, at which point Teleran was made the official honor guard of the newcomer, a position most prized among the party.

When Tris returns, Loranna smiles and easily picks up the large bag; feather was one of the powers she granted herself earlier. She heads to her room and soon has her alchemy set laid out, finding she's able to feel the magic in the High Rock fauna easily enough that she only need to glance at Tris's thoughtful extra.

It was time for her to use her power to strengthen others ...


Posted by: Teleran Mar 1 2005, 10:24 AM

Teleran’s eyes widened when Loranna named him to guard Shai, but he couldn’t think of any particularly good reason not to. He voiced no objections and contented himself with muttering under his breath about red eyes boring holes. He motioned for Shai to take the lead with an exaggerated bow. He followed her out to obtain transportation.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 1 2005, 10:33 AM

The farmers and peasants did, indeed, know quite a bit more than the cloistered Governor. It didn't take Tris long to pick up the trail of the gold.

The first sign that he was on the right track were the bandits. Dead bandits. It seems he was not the first to think of relieving the Azurites of the tax money. The bodies of those who had tried lay scattered, where the road dipped into a wooded ravine, rent into pieces and impaled on trees.

The gold itself, in an iron-bound box just big enough for a man to carry and stagger, lie in a tiny storehouse, common bags of grain keeping it company. A group of mer kept it company, as well. Well armed and alert, the stayed always in the storehouse, watching the box, out of sight. There was another, too. One which Tris took at first to be an extra suit of armor, for he sat, crosslegged and fully armored, and he never moved.

The storehouse was part of a small farmstead on the river Thir, a day or two on foot (much less on parrapton) from where the heroes stood.

The original occupants of the secluded farm were slowly bleeding to death in their own cellar, while more watchful Azurites waited impatiently for the ship that would bear the gold to Vvardenfel, and tried to look like simple farmers.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 10:45 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 1 2005, 03:13 AM)

The farmers and peasants did, indeed, know quite a bit more than the cloistered Governor. It didn't take Tris long to pick up the trail of the gold.

The first sign that he was on the right track were the bandits. Dead bandits. It seems he was not the first to think of relieving the Azurites of the tax money. The bodies of those who had tried lay scattered, where the road dipped into a wooded ravine, rent into pieces and impaled on trees.

The gold itself, in an iron-bound box just big enough for a man to carry and stagger, lie in a tiny storehouse, common bags of grain keeping it company. A group of mer kept it company, as well. Well armed and alert, the stayed always in the storehouse, watching the box, out of sight. There was another, too. One which Tris took at first to be an extra suit of armor, for he sat, crosslegged and fully armored, and he never moved.

The storehouse was part of a small farmstead on the river Thir, a day or two on foot (much less on parrapton) from where the heroes stood.

The original occupants of the secluded farm were slowly bleeding to death in their own cellar, while more watchful Azurites waited impatiently for the ship that would bear the gold to Vvardenfel, and tried to look like simple farmers.

*




Tris slipped into the cellar and administered healing potions to the farmers. "Stay here, stay quiet," he whispered to them.

Then he returned to where Loranna was working.

"I found them," he said, explaining what he had seen to everyone. "Bunch of cold-blooded killers, they didn't have to butcher those farmers. They must be pretty tough, they've taken on an Imperial caravan, and there's a small trail of dead bandits who have made the mistake of trying to take them on."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 10:54 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 04:25 AM)

Tris slipped into the cellar and administered healing potions to the farmers. "Stay here, stay quiet,"  he whispered to them.

Then he returned to where Loranna was working.

"I found them,"  he said, explaining what he had seen to everyone. "Bunch of cold-blooded killers, they didn't have to butcher those farmers. They must be pretty tough, they've taken on an Imperial caravan, and there's a small trail of dead bandits who have made the mistake of trying to take them on."

*





Loranna says "Doubtless they figured to pick up a few slaves in the process, and sent them ahead to Azura." Her eyes are closed, and her lips are set in a grim line.

She motions to the potions she has made. "Well, we have the means to make ourselves proof against that now; these potions here can heal you from having your head cut off, and grant unflagging stamina and magicka, for a couple of days. And these here can grant power on par with that of the heroes of legend; I've made some effort to tailor these potions to our individual strengths - speed and grace for our rogues, strength and endurance to our front line fighters, mental strength and fortitude for our mages. All we need now is a plan for attack and we will crush them and their Daedra servants alike."


Posted by: Teleran Mar 1 2005, 11:03 AM

Teleran returned to the mansion with Shai trailing him. “Well, we’ve got Parraptons if we need them. He’s asking triple price if you ask me. He gave me some of this, said it was some sort of pheromone. When I asked what the price would be to ride them without the pheromone he laughed for a good long while. Apparently they attack anyone who doesn’t have the proper scent to them. I don’t remember that from Jazbet’s stable-keeper, other than that the basic commands are the same. I think we’ll be riding two to a parrapton for some of us though; we don’t have time to acquaint people with the commands properly. Not to mention it’s cheaper.

“The stable is a few minutes walking that way,” Teleran pointed southeast. “He sold the scents willingly enough, but he wouldn’t part with the parraptons until he saw enough riders present to control them all.

"If we're done here, then follow me." Teleran left the room again heading back to the stables.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 1 2005, 11:09 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Mar 1 2005, 04:43 AM)

Teleran returned to the mansion with Shai trailing him. “Well, we’ve got Parraptons if we need them. He’s asking triple price if you ask me. He gave me some of this, said it was some sort of pheromone. When I asked what the price would be to ride them without the pheromone he laughed for a good long while. Apparently they attack anyone who doesn’t have the proper scent to them. I don’t remember that from Jazbet’s stable-keeper, other than that the basic commands are the same. I think we’ll be riding two to a parrapton for some of us though; we don’t have time to acquaint people with the commands properly. Not to mention it’s cheaper.

“The stable is a few minutes walking that way,” Teleran pointed southeast. “He sold the scents willingly enough, but he wouldn’t part with the parraptons until he saw enough riders present to control them all.

"If we're done here, then follow me." Teleran left the room again heading back to the stables.

*





"Strange," Loranna says, following Teleran once she gathered her things and distributed the potions to people. "Well, let's move ..."


Posted by: Tricrux Mar 1 2005, 07:20 PM

Shai closed her eyes then opened them again.

Emotional Control.

This boy, Teleran, he would be quite the wrench in the works. The Teacher had never taught her anything about emotions of Love. That was because the Teacher didn't believe in Love. He didn't discourage it, though, just felt it wasn't for him. So Shai had no real idea how to handle it. The method she used with other challenging emotions, like Anger, wasn't working at all. Allowing the Love to wash her over and flow through her was just intensifying it. So there had to be some other way to control herself.

She would have to suppress it, for now. But that couldn't be the way. Suppressing any emotion lead to some sort of explosion eventually. But until she figured it all out, she had no choice...

She took a deep breath, forcing her emotions down into her gut. Since she had lost her control over the streetfight, she wasn't at that state where she had perfect manipulation. To suppress one emotion right now was to suppress them all. She knew that in doing this, in trying to make herself less irritating to Teleran, and trying to make herself a more useful fighter, she was turning herself into a cold emotionless wall of ice, with a furiously burning fire within - ready to be released in a way that it never had before. In the streets of Narsis she had kept enough cool to think. But if she exploded now, she would lose it entirely.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 08:06 PM

Allerleirauh's journal:

Master B,

Appended find an account of all that has befallen me since our last meeting. Peruse it at your leisure.

I have only one question: How is it that I, whom others perceive as so powerful, find myself time and time again alone and helpless? The one task I have set for myself I am failing, or rather, I have no idea where to begin. I mean of course, acting as a mother to Sen-Yedda. A living child I could cradle and feed; a child within a womb of bronze, crying out for sustenance not of this earth - what do I do with her? I cannot summon angels. My strength is of the wrong kind.

Vehk named me Mother, long ago. He knew me, and so it's likely he knew my fear. My children are all long dead.

Solin provides beautifully for the physical welfare of the child, and it may be that his quiet presence is a comfort to her, as it is to me. Arynel - if I were not so distracted I would be afraid for him. I understand Arynel about as well as I ever did, and he doesn't seem happy. In any case he's a child himself.

It was Tamne, the Azurite child whom I have adopted, who gave me the key to understanding what I must do next. Not long ago she ran away from the guildhouse in Daggerfall and I had to retrieve her from a Daggerfall prison, carefully erasing the memories and records of all who had come in contact with her. I tried to impress upon her the dangers of what she had done, how not only was her own life in danger, but she had endangered the very guildhouse itself. If it were revealed that we were sheltering Azurites there would be an investigation and all kinds of trouble might result.

"If you were my real mother, you wouldn't care about that," Tamne said. "My real mother wouldn't care if I put her in danger, she'd die for me."

Well, as it happens her mother is already dead, drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Ald Raathim.

"Now all I have is Azura," Tamne said.

"Azura wouldn't die for you," I said, and the little girl blanched. I think she heard something I said for the first time in her life.

"But I'd die for her, that makes her my real mother too," Tamne said.

There we left it. Skein reports that Tamne cries herself to sleep at night now, which is an improvement, I believe, over the fierce little girl who never cried at all.

What I must do now frightens me.

All my love until I see you again, dear friend.

Allerleirauh

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 1 2005, 09:29 PM

near Jazbet's Castle, Ald Raathim: Allerleirauh

Sen-Yedda was crying again, and this time, they knew why. She was hungry.

Allerleirauh took the simulacrum into the deep woods. She had found a ring of trees there, an ancient ring formed by a giant tree that had died back to the earth, many saplings springing from its shell. Within was a natural dancing ground, where nothing grew, and the sky above shone with as many stars as would fit.

She had asked Solin to come with her. Doll was looking for Arynel, but she couldn't wait for him. If she waited she would lose her nerve. He would either come or not come, all on his own.

She began by telling a tale.

Allerleirauh's Tale of the Sea Maiden

There was a beauty once, with hair like starlight, and a sun on her forehead, and the moon in her eyes. She came down, down, down, and she danced on the strand beside the sea. She came because of Nirn's double nature. When Nirn was torn in pieces, one half of her loved her children, born in such pain, and one half of her demanded that her children, born in such pain, love her. Azura was the shadow of the mother's love, the rim of the hole that can never be filled, for how can children repay their mother when everything they are and have comes from her? And the bright shining light of the mother's love was Mara, whose joy is to give without ceasing, even though the giving consume all her substance.

The beauty loved, and so she came down, and coming down, she met a man, and she married him. She married the man with the ambition to rule all the Starry Heart of the World, and she gave him dominion over all the beasts, and all the mortals, and all the stars, because she loved him. All these things are yours, she said, if you do not misuse me. And he said, I swear I will never misuse you, heart of my heart, light of my eyes. And she said, Thus you have sworn; remember it.

It happened that a child was born to their neighbors, and at the name feast of the child, when all rejoiced, the beauty wept as if her heart would break, and the man said Fie on your weeping, you bring me shame, and he struck her to the ground. And she rose up without a bitter look and said, That is the first blow. Which will you surrender, the beasts or the stars or the hearts of mortals? And he said, Let me be without the beasts. And after that the beasts no longer obeyed him and hearkened to his voice, though he still knew all their secrets. And she said, I wept because of the beauty of the infinite spirit which is imprisoned inside such a corruptible shell of flesh; all his life the child will be tempted by his raging appetites, he will become a thief, and at last die on the gallows. You struck me, yet I knew a thing you did not know.

Shortly thereafter came a day when a kind man, beloved by all, died and was buried. At the funeral, when all mourned, the beauty's laughter rang out like the songs of birds in springtime. The man struck her to the ground and said, Fie upon your laughter, you bring me to shame again. And the beauty rose up with an untroubled brow and said, That is the second blow. Which will you surrender, the stars or the hearts of mortals? And the man said, He who commands the hearts of mortals has no need of the stars; let me be without the stars. And after that the stars no longer moved in their courses to bless his fate so that everything he did prospered, but despite the loss he grew ever more powerful through the agency of mortals. And she said, I laughed because the kind man shines from Aetherius now, blessing all who gaze up at the stars. You struck me, yet I knew what you did not.

In time the man became so powerful that he left his wife and his little daughter and married another, and moved into a great palace, and his favorite advisor was always near, and the man said, You are closer than a brother and dearer to me than the stars.

Years passed and one day the beauty called her little daughter, marked like herself with the sun, moon, and stars, to her side and said to her: You do not remember your father, but he is coming, and when he comes, he will strike me a third blow and I will fall down dead. These three things I give to you, which were brought from above, where gold is true gold. This wheel is good for spinning thread, but look on it and see the Aurbis as it is seen from above. Remember always that you hold the Aurbis in your pocket. This spindle is good for gathering thread, but look at it and see the Aurbis as it is seen from outside. Remember always that you hold the Tower in your pocket. This ring is good for giving to your true love, but look at it and you can see right through it. When you wear it, always remember that wherever you dwell is the center. Alas! Your father comes, and I must die.

The man came home bringing his favorite advisor to see his beautiful, secret wife. The wife went to the advisor and kissed him and embraced him, saying, Oh my husband! At last you have come home.

The man struck his wife to the ground, saying, Fie upon your infidelity! Have you forgotten my face? Now I am ashamed before him who is closer than a brother and dearer than the stars. And the woman rose up with a face no longer placid, not laughing or crying, but blazing like the sun and solemn as the judgement of the stars and eerie as the moon on a still night when you're alone, and she said, That is the third blow. Now I must leave you forever. I embraced your advisor because he is the other half of your own soul that you, seeing, loved, but did not recognize. You struck me, yet I knew a thing you did not know.

Then the man begged his wife's forgiveness and asked her not to leave him. She answered him not a word, but went to her bed, and her light went out, and she died. And her daughter went with her father, and was raised as his ward, it being a secret that she was his daughter.

And the man wept sore, and was never after truly comforted, but he continued in power, despite the loss of his command over the hearts of mortals, because of the force of what he had already won. But years passed, and in time there came a day when it seemed all the world stood against him. And he said to his advisor, Alas that I ever struck the third blow! Where shall I find power like that again? And his advisor said, Look upon your daughter, marked like her mother with the sun, moon, and stars. Despoil her, and you shall have power.

And the man trembled, for he feared the laws of man and the laws of heaven, and he loved his daughter.

What are the laws of man? his advisor said. Speak the word, the law is as you make it.

And the man said, Yet I fear the gods, and I love my daughter.

Fear the gods! the advisor said. Do this thing and you will be greater than all the Aedra in the heavens. Why, the laws were made to test us, only when we dare to break them do we become true men. Cast aside the laws of heaven and all of heaven will rejoice. Hasn't this been figured forth from the beginning, isn't it the very gods who forbid it who raped Nir, their sister/daughter, to make the Aurbis? Do as they do, not as they say, and become one of them.

There is still my love, the man said.

And the advisor said, Is there not a greater love between man and wife? Besides, your daughter's duty is to obey you and make you happy; if she will not honor your will, it is your duty to correct her.

And the father looked on his daughter, and she seemed to him very beautiful.

Her mother, before her death, had forseen this day and made provisions against it, that her father might not come near. But the nature of the mother's magic was that the protection would only work as long as the daughter obeyed her father in everything.

Then the father tried to come near his daughter, but invisible hands stopped him, and he cried out in rage. Tell me what stops me from coming near you, and how to overcome it!

And the girl said, It is my virtue, which shines forth like the sun, and it can only be overcome when you bring me a garment woven from sunbeams. So the man went to his advisor, and the advisor summoned up his Daedra, and the garment woven of sunbeams was brought.

Yet still he could not come near her. Tell me what stops me from coming near, and how to overcome it! he cried.

It is my innocence, to which the stars attest, the girl said, and it can only by overcome when you bring me a dress woven of starlight. So the man sent the advisor to the shores where the stars trail their fingers in the water, and they collected the starlight there, and the dress was brought.

Yet he could not come near her. He demanded to know what stopped him from coming near, and how to overcome it.

It is my tears, which shine like silver moonlight, the girl said, and they can only be overcome when you bring me a dress woven of moonlight. So the man called on his advisor, and the advisor sent Khajiit to climb up to the moons, and they brought back buckets full of moonlight, and the dress was brought.

Yet even now, when the dresses made of sunlight, starlight, and moonlight had been brought, he could not come near her. He demanded furiously to know what stopped him, and she trembled, but she could not do other than tell.

It is my mother earth and all who go upon her, she said. And they can only be overcome by a man who hunts each animal that goes upon the earth and takes a piece of its skin and makes it into a cloak of many furs.

Now, the man in his youth had been a great hunter, and now he was lord over many great hunters. The cloak was brought, and the king came at last to his daughter, and though she cried for help to Magnus the Architect and mighty Akatosh and all the Aedra and the two sundered halves of Shor himself and to Nirn the good mother earth, no one came to help her, and she became his wife.

And it is true, after that he had great power. But he had killed the best half of his heart, and his power brought him destruction, for with no heart there was nothing he would not do, and in the end his power gave him no joy.

As for the daughter, she drew the cloak of many furs around herself and became a beast, with the mind of a beast, to have peace from her shame. And she fled into the woods, and she crawled into the hollow of a great old tree, and what happened there belongs to another story. For this is a story about mothers and daughters, about how things are passed down, a tale kin to the tale of the beautiful queen who wished for a daughter more beautiful than herself then tried to kill her. This is a story about gifts and the blessings that come with them, and the curses.

*



Allerleirauh drew herself upright. "Sen-Yedda. It is a terrible thing to be my daughter. But no more terrible than it is to be anyone's daughter born into the Starry Heart of the World, for all are daughters of Nirn. You will inherit the curses whether I will it or no. Now I bequeath you the blessings."

She took out a small nut, like a hazelnut, and opened it. Within were the wheel, and the spindle, and the ring. Three images of Aurbis. Today it was the spindle she needed. She pierced just the tip of her finger with the sharp point of the spindle and cried out, raising her arms to the starlit circle at the center of the ring of trees.

"MEET ME IN THE HIGHEST HEAVEN!" she cried. They were her last words to Vehk, whispered like a parting kiss as he left the world for Aetherius.

The Tower's property is to pierce layers. Poetry, history, truth. Oblivion, Mundus, Aetherius. Birth and life and death. Mind, soul, and body. Layers, many more layers than three, lay between herself and Vehk, the father of this child, in Aetherius. Between herself and Azura, the mother of this child, in Oblivion.

Once, long ago - before Loranna even knew that by taking within herself the burdened spirit of Azura she was making herself pregnant with Azura and Vehk's child - when Azura still spoke in turns from Loranna's lips - at the very beginning of everything, the Hearthfire Ball - Allerleirauh had wished that she remembered more of the gifts of her mother. Her mother had died before teaching her more than a smattering of songs, of recipes, of dances, of magical patterns of embroidery. And Daedra Prince Azura had turned to Allerleirauh and said, When you wear the mantle of a mother again, then you will remember. At the time Allerleirauh had cursed her for her unkindness; the Daedra Prince knew that she was barren, and that her two sons were dead.

Yet here she was, called upon to be mother to a child who already had one mother too many.

"PRINCE AZURA! REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE!"

Three drops of blood welled up from her pricked finger, and she distilled them into the lips of the lifeless simulacrum, where they were taken in, and incorporated into the body of the child, who drew, as all children draw, its substance from the mother.

Then she began to dance.

Hair like starlight, eyes like twin suns, skin that shone like moonlight. Sen-Yedda would be marked in her own way. Princess Starlight, the Nords said, would be born some day to the Dunmer, to lead them into a new age. Allerleirauh danced before the simulacrum as the Barons of Move Like This had danced before the unborn Vehk, in a world that was not quite this world but not make-believe either. Vehk, when he became divine, had remade himself, including his history, and he had given himself teachers. Little Sen-Yedda would be born divine, as well as mortal - the child of Vivec the Tribune and Azura the Prince of Moonshadow, the child of Vehk the mortal and Loranna the barmaid. Already in the womb she had the power to look upon what passed before her, take what seemed good, and make it her own.

Streams of light flowed from Allerleirauh's forehead, from her hair, from her body, and disappeared into the simulacrum. She was tired, so tired. When the dance ended she sank to the ground. This was why she had brought Solin with her, that the simulacrum would not go unprotected.

Her hair was no longer silver - merely grey.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 12:41 AM

A small gust of wind passed through the ring of trees, its fingers grasping at Solin’s cloak. He glanced towards the simulacrum.

A shadow passed over the weary nord as the dunmeri scholar knelt at her side.

“The keep waits,” he said quietly offering her his hand. The gesture might have been strange if it had come from nearly any other Dunmer. “We best be returning.”

He paused.

“Would you like my cloak?” the mer asked with an eyebrow raised as he looked closer at Allerleirauh.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 2 2005, 12:44 AM

Arynel had left the group again, for Doll found him and said he must go. So the Breton left the Imperial Governor's Mansion in secret, and by the trail bereft of markings he returned to Ald Raathim, and found where Allerleirauh and Solin and the Simulacrum were. He heard the story, every word of it, for the words, each one, became like a string of golden pearls inside the void, or a maiden's hair well woven into braids.

Arynel stepped out of the void as Allerleirauh's hair turned grey, and when Solin offered her his hand and his cloak, so the Breton reached out with his arms to offer her his own support.

"Blessed are you for this, a act of a higher road than those beneath our feet. Come, let you be rested and fed, I mean to speak with you but I can spare the words for a time."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 12:52 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Mar 1 2005, 05:21 PM)

A small gust of wind passed through the ring of trees, its fingers grasping at Solin’s cloak.  He glanced towards the simulacrum.

A shadow passed over the weary nord as the dunmeri scholar knelt at her side. 

“The keep waits,” he said quietly offering her his hand.  The gesture might have been strange if it had come from nearly any other Dunmer.  “We best be returning.”

He paused.

“Would you like my cloak?” the mer asked with an eyebrow raised as he looked closer at Allerleirauh.

*





QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 1 2005, 05:24 PM)

Arynel had left the group again, for Doll found him and said he must go.  So the Breton left the Imperial Governor's Mansion in secret, and by the trail bereft of markings he returned to Ald Raathim, and found where Allerleirauh and Solin and the Simulacrum were.  He heard the story, every word of it, for the words, each one, became like a string of golden pearls inside the void, or a maiden's hair well woven into braids.

Arynel stepped out of the void as Allerleirauh's hair turned grey, and when Solin offered her his hand and his cloak, so the Breton reached out with his arms to offer her his own support.

"Blessed are you for this, a act of a higher road than those beneath our feet.  Come, let you be rested and fed, I mean to speak with you but I can spare the words for a time."

*




"Thank you, Solin," Allerleirauh said. She smiled at Arynel. "I have said a day's worth of words today already, but my ears are hungry. I have missed you, heart of my heart."

The three of them returned to the castle, with the simulacrum. Within it, the child no longer cried.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 2 2005, 01:20 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 04:32 PM)

"Thank you, Solin,"  Allerleirauh said. She smiled at Arynel. "I have said a day's worth of words today already, but my ears are hungry. I have missed you, heart of my heart."

The three of them returned to the castle, with the simulacrum. Within it, the child no longer cried.

*





Jazbet's Castle:


Arynel took at breath and looked at Allerleirauh.

“I find I am no good at this, but I suppose now would be as good a time as a moment later, or many, and perhaps a better time than too many moments later.”

The Breton reached into his cloak.

“I have a gift for you,” he said, “It isn’t much, no, far less than many gifts you have been given, by those much greater than I, but it is my gift, the gift of a traveler, something small and unnoticed, that the bandits will pass over and the thieves will not care for, nay but the one, but that is another story.”

The Breton brought forth his hands; in his right was a golden ringlet, taken from a scroll, in his left was a spool of yarn, silver, neither was expensive, or hard to come by, but they were both here, together, and presented.

“The purpose of a crevice is to be the house of a secret thought, the purpose of a pocket is to be a home for something small, and so I bring you something small, if you have the pockets to hold it. I give you first this ringlet—golden—you know its meaning more than I, so I will not speak of it farther than to ask about its ending. I give you next this spool of yarn—silver—you know its meaning more than I, so I will not speak of it farther than to ask whether its purpose is not to hint at a greater walking motion. I would ask that your steps be joyful, and so I ask that you do thusly; take both yarn and ringlet, knowing well the meaning of both, and whenever you find a premonition of joyfulness, tie a piece of yarn around the ringlet, so that whenever you feel joy to be lacking from the world you can take it out and see for yourself that it is not so. Then for each premonition of joyfulness you will tie a piece of thread to the ringlet, so that one day it will be filled and there will be no more room to add another piece of string, and so then there will be room for not but joy inside you. On that day my gift will be given in full, and these things, both ringlet golden and yarn silver will no longer be needed, and may be tossed away.”



Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 01:41 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 1 2005, 06:00 PM)

Jazbet's Castle:
Arynel took at breath and looked at Allerleirauh. 

“I find I am no good at this, but I suppose now would be as good a time as a moment later, or many, and perhaps a better time than too many moments later.”

The Breton reached into his cloak.

“I have a gift for you,” he said, “It isn’t much, no, far less than many gifts you have been given, by those much greater than I, but it is my gift, the gift of a traveler, something small and unnoticed, that the bandits will pass over and the thieves will not care for, nay but the one, but that is another story.”

The Breton brought forth his hands; in his right was a golden ringlet, taken from a scroll, in his left was a spool of yarn, silver, neither was expensive, or hard to come by, but they were both here, together, and presented.

“The purpose of a crevice is to be the house of a secret thought, the purpose of a pocket is to be a home for something small, and so I bring you something small, if you have the pockets to hold it.  I give you first this ringlet—golden—you know its meaning more than I, so I will not speak of it farther than to ask about its ending.  I give you next this spool of yarn—silver—you know its meaning more than I, so I will not speak of it farther than to ask whether its purpose is not to hint at a greater walking motion.  I would ask that your steps be joyful, and so I ask that you do thusly; take both yarn and ringlet, knowing well the meaning of both, and whenever you find a premonition of joyfulness, tie a piece of yarn around the ringlet, so that whenever you feel joy to be lacking from the world you can take it out and see for yourself that it is not so.  Then for each premonition of joyfulness you will tie a piece of thread to the ringlet, so that one day it will be filled and there will be no more room to add another piece of string, and so then there will be room for not but joy inside you.  On that day my gift will be given in full, and these things, both ringlet golden and yarn silver will no longer be needed, and may be tossed away.”

*




Allerleirauh smiled at Arynel. Though her hair was grey, the sunlit rings in the irises of her eyes were as bright as ever. Then she tied a bit of yarn around the ringlet - and put it in her pocket, with the spool.

She was too tired to eat; she fell asleep, sitting up in her chair.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 2 2005, 01:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 05:21 PM)

Allerleirauh smiled at Arynel. Though her hair was grey, the sunlit rings in the irises of her eyes were as bright as ever. Then she tied a bit of yarn around the ringlet - and put it in her pocket, with the spool.

She was too tired to eat;  she fell asleep, sitting up in her chair.

*





Arynel said nothing, but turned and began to walk away. The Breton left the castle and went into the woods, saying:

A ring shinning golden sunlike
Threads silver as the moons
Center there and spokes aligned
Stretching out from the central womb

Up up the paths are shinning
Up up the way is shinning
Up up shinning center
Unfolded like a star

Wheel rimless
Wheel reversed
Either or both
The choice is yours




Posted by: Attrebus Mar 2 2005, 02:34 AM

Issa had been brought to Helseth who began his interrogation immediately. Being in the Vaults with little food and drink had already taken it's toll on Issa, and it wasn't long before Helseth had him singing like a bird in the cold morning air. Members from Loranna's group, of which Issa was part of, had entered the Vaults and Helseth had no doubt that they had succeeded in finding the Flamekiss.

Issa was taken to a cell within Ebonheart - perhaps he could be used as leverage later. In any case, Helseth needed to find Loranna's group again.

This time, they weren't his enemy.

This time, he had a proposition to make.

Posted by: B Mar 2 2005, 03:20 AM

The Imperial Library, Cyrodiil

B sat quietly at a table. He was transcribing texts and cataloging books. He paused and retrieved his journal from inside his cloak.

The Altmer pushed aside the pile of papers and texts and opened his journal. He had received a message from Allerleirauh.

B read the words that she had written. When he had finished, he sat for a moment to think. He wrote his reply:

Allerleirauh,

You are only alone and helpless if you choose to be. You have written to me, have you not? I may not be at your side at this exact moment, but I will help you in any way that I can.

You may not believe as I do, but you are surrounded by those who care about you. Your friends and loved ones that have passed on are watching over you. The voices from the phantom world can be guides to us all—I, for one, have spoken to our dear friend Striker on a few occasions. The spirits are there, reaching out. Open your heart and mind; you’ll be surprised at who will aid you.

I must confess that I know next to nothing about Sen-Yedda. I have not examined her, and even if I did, she would still remain an enigma to me. Therefore, I cannot say whether your actions are correct. But rest assured—and I mean you no disrespect—I have a feeling that she would survive just about anything. So, in a strange sense, you can do no wrong.

This Azurite child that you have adopted sounds like she has taught you a few things. It cannot be easy for you to do, but I believe you are doing the right thing. Stay strong, and follow your instincts.

Please keep my informed. I plan on trying to meet up with you in the next few weeks. There may be some matters to which I need to attend.

My love and guidance to you, now and forever.

~B



Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 09:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 1 2005, 03:49 AM)

"Strange," Loranna says, following Teleran once she gathered her things and distributed the potions to people.  "Well, let's move ..."

*




Near Narsis: Tris

The group mounted their parraptons, after using the scent to identify themselves as members of the correct hive.

It was only about an hour's travel by parrapton to where the Azurites were waiting for the ship.

"Any special plan?" Tris said. "I think 'drink up, swoop down on them, kill, repeat,' sounds good enough."

It was hard to take such an encounter seriously after escaping from the Vaults of Gemin.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 09:34 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 03:11 AM)

The group mounted their parraptons, after using the scent to identify themselves as members of the correct hive.

It was only about an hours' travel by parrapton to where the Azurites were waiting for the ship.

"Any special plan?"  Tris said. "I think 'drink up, swoop down on them, kill, repeat,' sounds good enough."

It was hard to take such an encounter seriously after escaping from the Vaults of Gemin.

*





Loranna says "Just one thing; let's take one or two alive, question them on what the gold is for. No harm in it if we can take them and while I can't read minds I can make them very ... open to badgering."

"The leader is the obvious choice; the rest, finish them quickly as possible."


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 09:35 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 2 2005, 02:14 AM)

Loranna says "Just one thing; let's take one or two alive, question them on what the gold is for.  No harm in it if we can take them and while I can't read minds I can make them very ... open to badgering."

"The leader is the obvious choice; the rest, finish them quickly as possible."

*




"Sounds good to me," Tris said. He felt happy being back on a parrapton.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 09:37 AM

From the air, the farm looked like a simple, quiet farm. It consisted of a long farmhouse, a couple of small outbuildings, a barn, and a small storehouse and dock on the wide, blue river.

Two mer lounged on a porch, looking bored.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 09:45 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 02:17 AM)

From the air, the farm looked like a simple, quiet farm. It consisted of a long farmhouse, a couple of small outbuildings, a barn, and a small storehouse and dock on the wide, blue river.

Two mer lounged on a porch, looking bored.

*




The approaching parraptons made a lot of noise. There was no chance of surprise.

Tris threw back a couple of Loranna's potent potions - one to protect him from injury, and one to up his intelligence and increase his store of magicka, and announced his presense by unleashing a barrage of lightning at the two mer lounging on the porch.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 09:48 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 03:25 AM)

The approaching parraptons made a lot of noise. There was no chance of surprise.

Tris threw back a couple of Loranna's potent potions - one to protect him from injury, and one to up his intelligence and increase his store of magicka, and announced his presense by unleashing a barrage of lightning at the two mer lounging on the porch.

*





Loranna's body sings with the power of the potions she imbibed. Tris, she saw, had already gotten the party started, and she gives a grim smile.

The others inside were likely already on their way out; Loranna circles around to get a good position to fire off Absorb Fatigue spells to leave the incoming reinforcements helpless. Her healing potions had a restore fatigue element, so she knew she wouldn't hurt her firends with this friendly fire.


Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 09:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 01:25 AM)

The approaching parraptons made a lot of noise. There was no chance of surprise.

Tris threw back a couple of Loranna's potent potions - one to protect him from injury, and one to up his intelligence and increase his store of magicka, and announced his presense by unleashing a barrage of lightning at the two mer lounging on the porch.

*




One of the mer below responds to Tris's attack by bursting into flames and falling dead on the porch.

The other shouts a warning, raises his hands, and summons a Winged Twilight.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 09:55 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 01:30 AM)

One of the mer below responds to Tris's attack by bursting into flames and falling dead on the porch.

The other shouts a warning, raises his hands, and summons a Winged Twilight.

*




Ciel swoops in deftly on the back of his parrapton, slashing at the freshly summoned twilight with his silver blade as he passes by. Darting away quickly he circles back to prepare for a second pass if necessary.



Posted by: Teleran Mar 2 2005, 09:56 AM

“I think I’ll go make a new door,” Teleran yelled as he came in low and stopped within reach of the nearest wall. He extended his dagger to the wall and used his magically enhanced abilities to focus all his thought on the point where the dagger touched the wall.

It seemed easier than it had previously so he enlarged the radius to accommodate a parrapton, wood was not as strong as stone after all, before slamming the wall with all the force he could muster. There was a satisfying crack as it blew inwards. Teleran blasted a hole through the other side as he flew past the current occupants of the farmhouse one of his daggers flicked out at the nearest one, but he flew out the other side before it could make it more than halfway to the Azurite.

He wheeled around in the air to take another pass, now holding his spear with a trio of daggers floating around him.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 10:00 AM

Loranna blinks a bit; she had thought Tris's lightning bolt would take out both mer on guard duty at once. Seeing Ciel swipe at the Twilight, she decides to take care of it and the mer in one fell swoop.

It was a simple matter to switch from absorbing a person's stamina to their vital energy; Loranna whsipers "Give me your life, dear," as she points to the second mer, an Absrob Helath spell powerful enough to take down a Dremora Lord in seconds firing off.

The Azurite was lucky; Loranna had taken some pains to make her Absorb spells relatively painless ...


Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 10:07 AM

The Twilight screamed and imploded, the man on the porch breathed his last and collapsed.

There were a handful more Azurites, quickly armed, inside the farmhouse. They all met similarly quick, grisley fates.

Nothing stirred around the storehouse.

Inside, the fully armored Azurite warriors were getting anxious.

"Patience," said a calm, deep voice.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 10:08 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 02:47 AM)

The Twilight screamed and imploded, the man on the porch breathed his last and collapsed.

There were a handful more Azurites, quickly armed, inside the farmhouse. They all met similarly quick, grisley fates.

Nothing stirred around the storehouse.

Inside, the fully armored Azurite warriors were getting anxious.

"Patience," said a calm, deep voice.

*




Tris flew a quick loop on his parrapton to check for anyone else outside.

"That leaves the guys in the storehouse," he said. "They looked seasoned. How are we going in?"

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 10:11 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 03:48 AM)

Tris flew a quick loop on his parrapton to check for anyone else outside.

"That leaves the guys in the storehouse,"  he said. "They looked seasoned. How are we going in?"

*





"If they're seasoned then they'll take advantage of ground," Loranna says. "I say we use long range attacks first, soften them up - Teleran can open the wall for us to do so if need be. We'll engage them close up if we have to after that."


Posted by: Teleran Mar 2 2005, 10:12 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 1 2005, 11:48 PM)

Tris flew a quick loop on his parrapton to check for anyone else outside.

"That leaves the guys in the storehouse,"  he said. "They looked seasoned. How are we going in?"

*




"I quite fancy the roof myself. Hmm, on second thought, do you know where the supports are? Those could be good too," Teleran said. "Then mop-up shouldn't be too much trouble."

Telran flew over to the wall and flew to center himself, he made the area as big as he daredbefore tearing into it with as much force as he could muster. The wall was torn from its place and its wooden frame shattered as it flew inwards.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 10:13 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Mar 2 2005, 03:52 AM)

"I quite fancy the roof myself. Hmm, on second thought, do you know where the supports are? Those could be good too," Teleran said. "Then mop-up shouldn't be too much trouble."

Telran flew over to the wall and flew to center himself, he made the area as big as he daredbefore tearing into it with as much force as he could muster. The wall was torn from its place and its wooden frame shattered as it flew inwards.

*





Loranna wonders idly if the Imperial Governer will complain overmuch about the incidental damage once his fat is out of the fire.

As soon as Teleran has cleared a path for them, Loranna raises her hands and releases an area effect Absorb Fatigue spell, nodding to Tris and the other mages to let loose their own attacks as well.


Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 10:23 AM

Ciel, lacking adequate spell power, hangs back on his parrapton waiting for the others to clear the breach. He watches the prismatic display as he prepared to move forward.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 10:24 AM

The storehouse wall came down, and took a bit of the fragile building's roof with it.

A couple of the occupants were injured in the blast; one was trying desparately to remove a piece of splintered timber from his calf, but the rest, six in all, rushed from the ruined building, each throwing a long, wicked spear at an attacker before drawing swords and large chitin shields.

Behind them, on the iron-bound box, sat an unmoving suit of glistening red armor, the helm of which was the face of a sneering devil.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 10:27 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 03:04 AM)

The storehouse wall came down, and took a bit of the fragile building's roof with it.

A couple of the occupants were injured in the blast; one was trying desparately to remove a piece of splintered timber from his calf, but the rest, six in all, rushed from the ruined building, each throwing a long, wicked spear at an attacker before drawing swords and large chitin shields.

Behind them, on the iron-bound box, sat an unmoving suit of glistening red armor, the helm of which was the face of a sneering devil.

*




Tris swiveled quickly to the side and caught the spear as it shot past him, laughing with pleasure at his own speed.

Magic would have been more effective, but he couldn't resist showing off by hurling the spear right back at the attacker.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 10:33 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 04:04 AM)

The storehouse wall came down, and took a bit of the fragile building's roof with it.

A couple of the occupants were injured in the blast; one was trying desparately to remove a piece of splintered timber from his calf, but the rest, six in all, rushed from the ruined building, each throwing a long, wicked spear at an attacker before drawing swords and large chitin shields.

Behind them, on the iron-bound box, sat an unmoving suit of glistening red armor, the helm of which was the face of a sneering devil.

*





Loranna dodges, but not quite well enough; the spear thrown at her catches her in the arm, finding the spot right above her bracer which doesn't quite cover flesh.

A yelp of pain escapes Loranna's throat; her potions keep the wound from being incapacitating but the pain of getting hit isn't lessened. She also now has a spear imbedded in her arm, which will make casting harder.

Back in Stormhold Loranna had learned a couple basic armor and weapon eater spells, even though she had not yet mastered Destruction well enough to use them effectively - they were meant to be used once she got more practice. However, with her current potion strengthening her will, she could make the spell work through sheer effort. She mutters the words and grabs the shaft of the spear, weakening it enough for her to snap the shaft and pull the pointy end out through the other side. The wound closes immediately.

"That stung," she growls at the Azurites, raising her hands and preparing Absorb Health spells to greet them.


Posted by: Teleran Mar 2 2005, 10:34 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 12:04 AM)

The storehouse wall came down, and took a bit of the fragile building's roof with it.

A couple of the occupants were injured in the blast; one was trying desparately to remove a piece of splintered timber from his calf, but the rest, six in all, rushed from the ruined building, each throwing a long, wicked spear at an attacker before drawing swords and large chitin shields.

Behind them, on the iron-bound box, sat an unmoving suit of glistening red armor, the helm of which was the face of a sneering devil.

*




Teleran looked down the length of the the spear as it came at him. At the last second his gauntlet came up to snatch the spear out of the air, before the haft was torn apart and the pieces were thrown aside. A stahlrim dagger flew in the direction the spear had come from as the pieces of the spear fell to the ground.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 10:37 AM

Ciel's parrapton flitted around the hurled spear and brought him closer to the mer. He held his sword raised as the insect quickly closed the ground, with a quick crushing blow swung at the elf's head the parrapton turns suddenly swinging around in a long circle for a second run.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 10:43 AM

An Azurite fell from a spear in the neck, another met his end at the point of an icy dagger, and a third watched his body from a distance as his head bounced across the lawn.

Three down, three to go.

Without warning, the suit of armor moved. It sprang from its seat on the iron box, rested for a heartbeat against the storehouse wall, using momentum to defy gravity, then lept at Ciel's swooping parrapton.

Ciel pulled the beast in a tight turn, completely changing direction, but that was exactly where the demonic foe had aimed. There was a flash of steel and the one-winged parrapton crashed gracelessly to the ground.

A second later, the red-armored form landed in a graceful crouch, some yards away.

"Vermin," he said.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 10:46 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 03:23 AM)

An Azurite fell from a spear in the neck, another met his end at the point of an icy dagger, and a third watched his body from a distance as his head bounced across the lawn.

Three down, three to go.

Without warning, the suit of armor moved. It sprang from its seat on the iron box, rested for a heartbeat against the storehouse wall, using momentum to defy gravity, then lept at Ciel's swooping parrapton.

Ciel pulled the beast in a tight turn, completely changing direction, but that was exactly where the demonic foe had aimed. There was a flash of steel and the one-winged parrapton crashed gracelessly to the ground.

A second later, the red-armored form landed in a graceful crouch, some yards away.

"Vermin," he said.

*




Tris whispered an oath and shot lightning from his fingertips at the red-armored figure, resisting the impulse to rush in and try to reach Ciel.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 10:47 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 02:23 AM)

An Azurite fell from a spear in the neck, another met his end at the point of an icy dagger, and a third watched his body from a distance as his head bounced across the lawn.

Three down, three to go.

Without warning, the suit of armor moved. It sprang from its seat on the iron box, rested for a heartbeat against the storehouse wall, using momentum to defy gravity, then lept at Ciel's swooping parrapton.

Ciel pulled the beast in a tight turn, completely changing direction, but that was exactly where the demonic foe had aimed. There was a flash of steel and the one-winged parrapton crashed gracelessly to the ground.

A second later, the red-armored form landed in a graceful crouch, some yards away.

"Vermin," he said.

*




Ciel rolled from where he had cleared the wounded insect and sprung to his feet somewhat less gracefully than his attacker, blade still in hand. The red-armored figure was in front of him some small distance away. The knight hefted his blade and made ready to see which of the nearby foes would advance upon him first and watched as a bolt of energy came screaming towards the red-figure.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 10:50 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 04:23 AM)

An Azurite fell from a spear in the neck, another met his end at the point of an icy dagger, and a third watched his body from a distance as his head bounced across the lawn.

Three down, three to go.

Without warning, the suit of armor moved. It sprang from its seat on the iron box, rested for a heartbeat against the storehouse wall, using momentum to defy gravity, then lept at Ciel's swooping parrapton.

Ciel pulled the beast in a tight turn, completely changing direction, but that was exactly where the demonic foe had aimed. There was a flash of steel and the one-winged parrapton crashed gracelessly to the ground.

A second later, the red-armored form landed in a graceful crouch, some yards away.

"Vermin," he said.

*





Loranna had only barely seen the suit of armor move, and when she fully realized what had happened, Ciel's mount was already hitting the ground.

Ciel's gonna need some help, she thinks, looking frantically; the knight seemed to have landed without injury, as far as she could see. She looks to the three remaining grunts; they would help her help Ciel right now, by giving her energy to give to Ciel.

"You three - give me your speed," Loranna commands, casting one of her newer spells at the lot of them. Each feels the power of Loranna's spell sap their natural fleetness, leaving them sluggish and ponderous.

Loranna feels the absorbed energy surge through her body; she gathers it, adding some of her own mystical strength to it, and then yells "Ciel! Take this!" as she gestures, granting the stolen speed to her comrade.

Posted by: Teleran Mar 2 2005, 10:55 AM

Teleran was diving for another chitin-clad warrior, when red-armored demon took down Ciel’s parrapton. He retrieved his dagger as he flew down to tear through the Azurite with a spear thrust. He saw his foe slow as he neared but wasted no thought for that as his spear bore down on the Azurite.

He left the spear to follow its path while he rose to get a better view of the fiend that had struck with such blinding speed. Nehtayem glinted wetly from its earlier trip as he surveyed the storehouse for the next enemy.


Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 10:55 AM

The red-armored figure did not move as Tris's lighting hit him. The whips of blue energy rippled over the surface of the armor for a moment, then shot skywards, back to Tris.

Only then did the figure turn. It raised the hand that did not hold the glittering, graceful Daedric katana. Deep, ugly words of magic came from the sneering mask.

Tris felt the familar pang of confusion and regret that accompanied the loss of enhanced intelligence. Loranna suddenly felt very slow, very weak, very vulnerable, very... normal.

Below, victims of Teleran's dagger fell with a thud.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 11:00 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 02:35 AM)

The red-armored figure did not move as Tris's lighting hit him. The whips of blue energy rippled over the surface of the armor for a moment, then shot skywards, back to Tris.

Only then did the figure turn. It raised the hand that did not hold the glittereing, graceful Daedric katana. Deep, ugly words of magic came from the sneering mask.

Tris felt the familar pang of confusion and regret that accompanied the loss of enhanced intelligence. Loranna suddenly felt very slow, very weak, very vulnerable, very... normal.

Below, victims of Teleran's dagger fell with a thud.

*




Ciel's eye's widen as he watches the bolt turn back at Tris. His boots pound against the dirt as he runs forward to engage the red-armored mer as he cast his spells. As yet unaffected by his foe's magic, the knight is still very quick, something he chooses to take advantage of while he retains it.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 11:07 AM

Tris had a few trinkets that reflected magic himself; it was one of the things he had always taken for granted, growing up as a rich boy.

But they didn't reflect nearly all of the lightning which struck him now. He could smell his flesh burning, and for a moment it was hard to catch his breath.

He tried to think about what to do next, but thinking wasn't working for him right now. Well, the hell with it.

He vaulted off his damaged parrapton and sailed to the floor, using levitate, drawing a throwing knife.

Reflect this, you bastard!

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 11:12 AM

The red-armored man watches with disinterest as the last of the Azurites fell.

Slowly it turnes to face Ciel's charge, every gesture reeking of contempt.

Patiently it waites for Ciel to close, then smoothly sidesteps his first swing, and his second, and parries his third, but only for the sake of amusement.

Ciel's foe does not seem to him to be faster, nor is he outwitted. The red-armored figure seems to simply expect each blow, even before Ciel's arm moved.

Being this close, Ciel could see into the sneering helm. Inside, only a fiery fierceness met his eyes. There was no man, only a Daedra.

In a sickenly effortless motion, the red swordsman stepped to Ciel's side, blocked his blow, and pressed his sword to the ground. Ciel did the correct thing, shifting his weight and dislodging his sword from the trap. This sudden movement was timed perfectly. Tris's flying dagger struck Ciel's right shoulder.

With incredible power, it went straight through, embedding itself in the breastplate of the surprised Daedra.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 11:18 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 04:35 AM)

The red-armored figure did not move as Tris's lighting hit him. The whips of blue energy rippled over the surface of the armor for a moment, then shot skywards, back to Tris.

Only then did the figure turn. It raised the hand that did not hold the glittering, graceful Daedric katana. Deep, ugly words of magic came from the sneering mask.

Tris felt the familar pang of confusion and regret that accompanied the loss of enhanced intelligence. Loranna suddenly felt very slow, very weak, very vulnerable, very... normal.

Below, victims of Teleran's dagger fell with a thud.

*





Loranna feels her power leave her, a sensation that brought back memories of being drained by her own double back at Gemin. She had prepared herself to resist her own preferred attacks, but not a Dispel effect ...

Stupid, stupid girl; what would be a mage's first line of attack against another mage? She should have thought of that ...

She had made more than one of her original enhancing potions, and she still had a spare strong healing potion made as part of her original research. However, most of her enhancing potions were stowed in her backpack; wait, there was one on her belt, right? An extra she figured she'd carry loose, since her pack had been getting kind of full ...

Loranna fumbles for a second, the shock and fear of being so easily chopped down making her nervous ... then she tells herself to stop that, that she managed to get through tough times without the benefit of her new power and she'll get through this one too, just pick yourself up girl and get back to being the healer like you're supposed to and stop thinking about how weak you feel right now because you're not weak, you're a hero and your friends need you ...

The potion she had put on her belt was much weaker than the ones she had made; it was an earlier effort, and only enhanced her intelligence to a decent but much weaker degree. Still, it was something, and she had a normal restore magicka potion or two on her belt still; she could still help her friends.

Tris was hurt; she'd have to use a more managable spell and be careful to pace herself but she could do this. Loranna raises her arms and casts a restore health spell at Tris, mentally noting that next time, she make sure everyone has backup potions. Tris healed, she looks to see who else needs help.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 11:24 AM

Oh, the hell with all of this, Tris thought in dismay, seeing his dagger strike Ciel. The Daedra seemed to be faster than he was; was that even possible?

He made a quick rush, and was in the Void.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 11:25 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 02:52 AM)

The red-armored man watches with disinterest as the last of the Azurites fell.

Slowly it turnes to face Ciel's charge, every gesture reeking of contempt.

Patiently it waites for Ciel to close, then smoothly sidesteps his first swing, and his second, and parries his third, but only for the sake of amusement.

Ciel's foe does not seem to him to be faster, nor is he outwitted. The red-armored figure seems to simply expect each blow, even before Ciel's arm moved.

Being this close, Ciel could see into the sneering helm. Inside, only a fiery fierceness met his eyes. There was no man, only a Daedra.

In a sickenly effortless motion, the red swordsman stepped to Ciel's side, blocked his blow, and pressed his sword to the ground. Ciel did the correct thing, shifting his weight and dislodging his sword from the trap. This sudden movement was timed perfectly. Tris's flying dagger struck Ciel's right shoulder.

With incredible power, it went straight through, embedding itself in the breastplate of the surprised Daedra.

*




Perhaps the only reason the knight did not drop his blade as the dagger passed though his arm was the effect of the healing potion he had drank earlier. Still it hurt, bad.

Ciel danced back from the daedra left hand clutching his shoulder as the wound closed.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 11:27 AM

The monster took the opportunity to pause and remove the blade from his chest. The lull also gave him ample time to raise the empty hand again, and a roaring fireball engulfed Loranna's parrapton.

Posted by: Teleran Mar 2 2005, 11:31 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 01:07 AM)

The monster took the opportunity to pause and remove the blade from his chest. The lull also gave him ample time to raise the empty hand again, and a roaring fireball engulfed Loranna's parrapton.

*




With the last of the azurites down Teleran looked for the red-armored warrior and saw it perfect parries and was shocked as Tris’s dagger flew into Ciel’s shoulder then into the breastplate of the Daedra. “Obviously my normal tactic won’t work,” he muttered to himself. His daggers sheathed themselves before he grasped his spear and leapt to the ground. He began sprinting towards the red-armored Daedra almost as soon as he hit the ground.

He slowed a little outside of range; he didn’t want to hit Ciel by rushing at the daedra and missing. He tried to see an opening in the battle for a quick spear thrust. He had come in on the wrong side though Ciel was between him and the daedra. He decided to give a play with the daggers after all, one rose from its sheath and flew towards the daedra, a little slower than usual, but he wanted time to react in case the fiend moved out of the way or Ciel moved into its path. He cursed his delay as a fireball left the monster's hand.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 11:35 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 05:07 AM)

The monster took the opportunity to pause and remove the blade from his chest. The lull also gave him ample time to raise the empty hand again, and a roaring fireball engulfed Loranna's parrapton.

*





Loranna cries out in agony as she and her now dying mount are immolated; swiftly the two plummet to the earth ...

However, for this, Loranna at least has some sort of preperation; as she's burning she rubs Dagoth's ring, and a regenration spell kicks in. It wasn't as good as her super healing potion but it was enough to fight off the damage of being burned and hitting the ground hard, and let her get up and beat off the flames.

Loranna gets back up, her eyes blazing; this monster had to die, and now. Ciel and Teleran were engagin it in melee, and with her weakened right now there was only so much she could do - but there was one thing ....

Casting reflect upon herself - and telling herself that from now on, in any major combat, to put up defenses against magic before engaging the enemy - Loranna raises her hands, casting the same spell she had used on the Azurites a moment ago on the monster, trying to absorb its speed and grant it to Ciel.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 11:43 AM

As if knowing what Loranna was about to do, the red-armored demon cast again, and magical silence blanketed Loranna. She did not hear her own voice as she cast her failed spell.

Another effortless dispel, and Teleran's dagger dropped to the ground like a dead fish. His arm followed suit with a clatter.

The sneering, demon-faced mask raised as laughter echoed from it.

"See how I toy with you, fools?

"The gold shall go to Azura, and I shall suffer no thieves.

"That one..." he says, pointing his sword at the angry Loranna, "The Betrayer. She shall go with me to Azura as well.

"The rest of you... Crawl away tiny maggots, before I am angered!"

The eternally sneering mask laughed again.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 11:48 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 04:23 AM)

As if knowing what Loranna was about to do, the red-armored demon cast again, and magical silence blanketed Loranna. She did not hear her own voice as she cast her failed spell.

Another effortless dispel, and Teleran's dagger dropped to the ground like a dead fish. His arm followed suit with a clatter.

The sneering, demon-faced mask raised as laughter echoed from it.

"See how I toy with you, fools?

"The gold shall go to Azura, and I shall suffer no thieves.

"That one..." he says, pointing his sword at the angry Loranna, "The Betrayer. She shall go with me to Azura as well.

"The rest of you... Crawl away tiny maggots, before I am angered!"

The eternally sneering mask laughed again.

*




"The thief is going to make you suffer," Tris whispered, manuevering behind the Daedra.

Another mad rush, and he was on him, thrusting with his ebony shortsword, at the thing's back. He picked his moment and trusted his speed; Ciel could not possibly change position quickly enough to be in his way this time.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 11:52 AM

A moment too late, the demon sensed Tris's plan. He spun, and caught an ebony sword in his side.

The demon roared a roar of pain, and, wrenching the weapon from Tris's hand, lept from the bloody grass to the peak of the storehouse roof. He reached back and withdrew the ebony sword, letting it fall to the ground below.

"Now..." it said with a raspy voice, "I am angered."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 11:54 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 05:23 AM)

As if knowing what Loranna was about to do, the red-armored demon cast again, and magical silence blanketed Loranna. She did not hear her own voice as she cast her failed spell.

Another effortless dispel, and Teleran's dagger dropped to the ground like a dead fish. His arm followed suit with a clatter.

The sneering, demon-faced mask raised as laughter echoed from it.

"See how I toy with you, fools?

"The gold shall go to Azura, and I shall suffer no thieves.

"That one..." he says, pointing his sword at the angry Loranna, "The Betrayer. She shall go with me to Azura as well.

"The rest of you... Crawl away tiny maggots, before I am angered!"

The eternally sneering mask laughed again.

*





Loranna was scared by now; it seemed painfully apparent now that a higher ranking Daedra was their enemy. No wonder the Azurites had gotten the gold so easily ...

But at the same time, Loranna felt angry - angry at the monster for making her look so weak and foolish after having a breakthrough, angry at herself for not having anticipated how her enemies could humble her new power, angry at the Azurites for thinking they could just have a fiend from Oblivion go and steal the lifeblood of the people of Morrowind ...

Not today, fetcher, she thinks to herself, her hand wrapping around the hilt of her blade. You can play all your tricks, make me helpless as a babe - but I'm not going to let you walk all over me ...

Her eyes narrow, and her Starhlim shortsword clears its sheath; she levels it at the Daedra and gives a snarl that would do her Nordic heritage proud, her thoughts clear as day to any with half a brain:

You want me, then come get me you lousy s'wit!

She was hopelessly outmatched of course, but she wasn't giving up without a fight.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 11:59 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 2 2005, 03:34 AM)


Not today, fetcher, she thinks to herself, her hand wrapping around the hilt of her blade.  You can play all your tricks, make me helpless as a babe - but I'm not going to let you walk all over me ...

Her eyes narrow, and her Starhlim shortsword clears its sheath; she levels it at the Daedra and gives a snarl that would do her Nordic heritage proud, her thoughts clear as day to any with half a brain:

You want me, then come get me you lousy s'wit! 

*





The daedra turned to Loranna. Still silenced, she had not spoken aloud, but the demon spoke to her.

"How brave of you, Betrayer. Do you have some trick I do not know of?" It laughed.

"I shall come then, and I shall take you, as you wish."

With a red flash, it lept from the rooftop and advanced on Loranna, sneering, of course.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 12:01 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 05:39 AM)

The daedra turned to Loranna. Still silenced, she had not spoken aloud, but the demon spoke to her.

"How brave of you, Betrayer. Do you have some trick I do not know of?" It laughed.

"I shall come then, and I shall take you, as you wish."

With a red flash, it lept from the rooftop and advanced on Loranna, sneering, of course.

*





Loranna smiles grimly.

No dear - nothing you haven't seen yet, she assures him, stepping back and taking up a defensive stance.

She had her pendant of resisting magicka still; she activates it as she falls back.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 12:01 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 04:39 AM)

The daedra turned to Loranna. Still silenced, she had not spoken aloud, but the demon spoke to her.

"How brave of you, Betrayer. Do you have some trick I do not know of?" It laughed.

"I shall come then, and I shall take you, as you wish."

With a red flash, it lept from the rooftop and advanced on Loranna, sneering, of course.

*




Tris had figured out that the Daedra could read minds.

Well, good luck with that. He hardly knew what he was thinking from moment to moment.

And the Daedra, jumping, had left him with the gold.

He grabbed the huge chest - too big really to carry, but he didn't need to walk - and activated his recall amulet.

His last words to the group were, "FORGET THE DAEDRA, I GOT THE GOLD!"

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 12:02 PM

Suddenly ignoring Loranna, the demon turned with a snarl. It's hand raised and the remains of the storehouse exploded in flame, but it was too late.

Momentarily confused, the sneering mask turned back to Loranna.

Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 12:04 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 03:41 AM)

Tris had figured out that the Daedra could read minds.

Well, good luck with that. He hardly knew what he was thinking from moment to moment.

And the Daedra, jumping, had left him with the gold.

He grabbed the huge chest - too big really to carry, but he didn't need to walk - and activated his recall amulet.

His last words to the group were, "FORGET THE DAEDRA, I GOT THE GOLD!"

*




Ciel looked towards Tris at the moment he disappeared in a flash of light. He fumbles for his own amulet.

"Friends, I think it best that we withdrawal!" he shouted.

Shielding his head from bits of burning debris as the storeroom explodes he activates the enchantment.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 12:08 PM

The sneering mask laughs. He is within striking distance of Loranna's unarmored neck when suddenly, with a smooth motion, he sheathes his sword.

"Well," says the calm voice, "My work here is done. I am certain we will meet again, Betrayer."

With a sound like a thousand voices screaming in pain, there is a crimson flash, and it is gone.

Only a small patch of scorched grass remains.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 12:13 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 05:48 AM)

The sneering mask laughs. He is within striking distance of Loranna's unarmored neck when suddenly, with a smooth motion, he sheathes his sword.

"Well," says the calm voice, "My work here is done. I am certain we will meet again, Betrayer."

With a sound like a thousand voices screaming in pain, there is a crimson flash, and it is gone.

Only a small patch of scorched grass remains.

*





Loranna opens her mouth, her voice returned. "Would you believe that was exactly what I intended to happen?" she asks the scorched earth, laughing weakly.

She then slumps, feeling very, very weak. " ... Let's get going before I pass out from fright, shall we?" she asks her friends, trembling - from fear, from residual anger, from the sheer outragousness of Tris's bold, impetuous move ...

Walking over to Tris's fallen blade, Loranna picks it up. "Time to go tell the Governer his gold's been found and will be returned in ... a little while ..."

Maybe Tris is already bringing it back, she thinks as she looks at her dead parrapton and grimaces.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 12:21 PM

Ald Raathim: Tris

Their recall point was in Ciel's old room in Ald Raathim. Tris set the chest down, threw his arms around Ciel, and said, "That got pretty crazy, huh?"

The chest of gold sat there - looking at him. He bit his lip.

"Ciel, tell me a good reason we shouldn't just keep it, and let the corrupt, nasty governor go to Oblivion."



Posted by: Solin Mar 2 2005, 12:31 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 04:01 AM)

Ald Raathim:  Tris

Their recall point was in Ciel's old room in Ald Raathim. Tris set the chest down, threw his arms around Ciel, and said, "That got pretty crazy, huh?"

The chest of gold sat there - looking at him.  He bit his lip.

"Ciel, tell me a good reason we shouldn't just keep it, and let the corrupt, nasty governor go to Oblivion."

*




Ciel smiled and shook his head.

"He would just tax the pesants more," he said. "Like that poor famer couple."

The knight gave Tris a pat on the back.

"Very crazy, a job well done by you," he continued. "Grabing the chest while he was busy with Loranna. He knew where I would swing before I swung and he stripped enchantments off everyone quite handily. I had a shield..."

Ciel sighed.

"Back when I chased Loranna and the others across Skyrim," he continued. "Nestal had a similar one, mine was painted with a rose. Red and green on a white field. It could turn spells like that creature was casting aside with ease. I left it in the tower as I went to meet the Queen.

"Strange things one thinks about in combat," Ciel smiled. "No we need to return the gold so it can be given over to the Emperor and to keep good faith so that the blockade here stays lifted."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 12:35 PM

near Narsis: Tris

Shortly afterward, Tris returned the gold to the governor's mansion, then went looking for his sword. It was missing; hopefully the others had picked it up. He ran into them on the way back to Narsis.

"I have news from home," he said. He left out all but the most salient fact.

"There's a new Mages' Guild in Ald Raathim," he said. "With a guild guide. Go back to Narsis and everyone can get home from there."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 12:43 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 06:15 AM)

near Narsis:  Tris

Shortly afterward, Tris returned the gold to the governor's mansion, then went looking for his sword. It was missing;  hopefully the others had picked it up.  He ran into them on the way back to Narsis.

"I have news from home,"  he said. He left out all but the most salient fact.

"There's a new Mages' Guild in Ald Raathim,"  he said. "With a guild guide. Go back to Narsis and everyone can get home from there."

*





Loranna had renewed her enhancements on the way back to Narsis, and when Tris returns she listens to him, mouth slightly agape. Gradually though, her expression turns to a sardonic grin.

" ... NOW they tell us!" Loranna says, breaking out into a fit of laughter. " ... Well, what do you know? Oh Tris dear, you dropped this ..."

She hands Tris his blade; Tris can see that the gears are still turning in Loranna's head. "Guess next time we ought to assume the enemy can in fact put up a fight, huh?" she asks ruefully.


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 12:45 PM

Ald Raathim:

The party paid the guild guide at Narsis and emerged inside the brand new Mages' Guild in Ald Raathim.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 12:52 PM

(Ald Raathim:)

'Home' was not exactly like they had left it. The mage's guild was new, of course. Two heavily armed Nord warriors guarded it's doors.

Outside, men and women, with new looks of grim determination... the look of veterans... still cleared debris from the shore.

A new stable, this one for horses, and a proper smithy, were being built just outside of town.

The prevailing attitude was one of excited victory and, at the same time, quiet contemplation.

The biggest shock lie at the castle; Lord Jazbet lay in a coma, having had a vision that he had not shared before collapsing.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 01:04 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 06:32 AM)

(Ald Raathim:)

'Home' was not exactly like they had left it. The mage's guild was new, of course. Two heavily armed Nord warriors guarded it's doors.

Outside, men and women, with new looks of grim determination... the look of veterans... still cleared debris from the shore.

A new stable, this one for horses, and a proper smithy, were being built just outside of town.

The prevailing attitude was one of excited victory and, at the same time, quiet contemplation.

The biggest shock lie at the castle; Lord Jazbet lay in a coma, having had a vision that he had not shared before collapsing.

*





Loranna walked out of the Mage Guild and stared in surprise; the Ald Raathim she had left just - how long had it been? She somehow lost track of the exact time - was no more; in place of the small village turned refuge camp was the foundation of a new city, or at least a new town, and frightened faces yearning for hope were replaced by people who had known pain and suffering, and fighting for their very lives. Loranna caught some snatches of talk about the conflict that had taken place shortly before, and she shivered a bit, thinking on how her friends were fighting while she was in the Vaults ...

The news of Jazbet struck her somewhat hard; she'd been telling herself since the Vaults that she was going on so she could go home and tell Jazbet she wanted to be his wife, and now that she was here ... and for all she had learned during her adventures, none of it could help Jazbet now.

All she could do was to stay by his side, and talk to him, tell him of what she had done and hope that he could hear her and that her voice, her feelings, her touch would help bring him back to wakefulness. Upon reaching the castle, that was her first act, and now she sits by Jazbet's side, her hand on his, saying " ... We made it, my love; we all returned alive, even with new friends met on the journey ..."

Her eyes moisten. " ... Even like this, you're still beautiful; I've so much to tell you ..."

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 01:13 PM

(Ald Raathim:)

"They've returned! They've brought back Flamekiss!"

The shout reached Aricyn's ears long before the Nordic messenger reached him and bowed.

"They've returned with Flamekiss."

"So I've heard," Aricyn said with a goodnatured smile. "Go find Allerleirauh, she'll want to be informed."

He wondered to himself why Allerleirauh didn't already know of the homecoming. Where had she been today?

Aricyn, accompanied by an unfamiliar Nordic woman, met Loranna in Jazbet's chambers.

"He's been that way for two days, now," he said. "Don't worry, he seems comfortable enough, and he's collapsed before. I'm sure he'll be fine," he added, trying to sound encouraging.

"I assume you've found the Flamekiss?"

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 01:18 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 06:53 AM)

(Ald Raathim:)

"They've returned! They've brought back Flamekiss!"

The shout reached Aricyn's ears long before the Nordic messenger reached him and bowed.

"They've returned with Flamekiss."

"So I've heard," Aricyn said with a goodnatured smile. "Go find Allerleirauh, she'll want to be informed."

He wondered to himself why Allerleirauh didn't already know of the homecoming. Where had she been today?

Aricyn, accompanied by an unfamiliar Nordic woman, met Loranna in Jazbet's chambers.

"He's been that way for two days, now," he said. "Don't worry, he seems comfortable enough, and he's collapesed before. I'm sure he'll be fine," he added, trying to sound encouraging.

"I assume you've found the Flamekiss?"

*





Loranna looks up to Aricyn, a smile coming to her face despite her evident worry. Silly girl that she was, she hadn't even stopped to take off her armor before hurrying to Jazbet's side ...

She was different; the young, unsure girl was still there in her, but there was a growing confidence in her posture, a knowing in her eyes that came only from weathering hardship and surviving deadly peril. She nods in greeting to the unfamiliar woman, and answers Aricyn:

"I know; I've seen him collapse before. He'll be all right; he's strong."

Her hand drifts back to Jazbet's. " ... He has us too ..." she adds, her tone softening.

"Yes, we found it," she continues, her tone regaining strength. " ... Is Allie around? She'll want it ..."


Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 01:20 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 2 2005, 04:58 AM)

Loranna looks up to Aricyn, a smile coming to her face despite her evident worry.  Silly girl that she was, she hadn't even stopped to take off her armor before hurrying to Jazbet's side ...

She was different; the young, unsure girl was still there in her, but there was a growing confidence in her posture, a knowing in her eyes that came only from weathering hardship and surviving deadly peril.  She nods in greeting to the unfamiliar woman, and answers Aricyn:

"I know; I've seen him collapse before.  He'll be all right; he's strong."

Her hand drifts back to Jazbet's.  " ... He has us too ..." she adds, her tone softening.

"Yes, we found it," she continues, her tone regaining strength.  " ... Is Allie around?  She'll want it ..."

*




"I've sent for her," he said, simply.

He turned to leave, but stopped.

"Glad you're all home."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 01:21 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 2 2005, 05:58 AM)

Loranna looks up to Aricyn, a smile coming to her face despite her evident worry.  Silly girl that she was, she hadn't even stopped to take off her armor before hurrying to Jazbet's side ...

She was different; the young, unsure girl was still there in her, but there was a growing confidence in her posture, a knowing in her eyes that came only from weathering hardship and surviving deadly peril.  She nods in greeting to the unfamiliar woman, and answers Aricyn:

"I know; I've seen him collapse before.  He'll be all right; he's strong."

Her hand drifts back to Jazbet's.  " ... He has us too ..." she adds, her tone softening.

"Yes, we found it," she continues, her tone regaining strength.  " ... Is Allie around?  She'll want it ..."

*




Allerleirauh entered the room.

The first thing they noticed was her hair, which seemed dirty at first glance. But it wasn't dirty; it simply no longer shone. It was grey, no longer silver, and it made her smooth, uncreased features look both older and younger.

She had been asleep; she still looked tired.

"Welcome, Loranna," she said, embracing her and smiling.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 2 2005, 01:24 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 05:01 AM)

Allerleirauh entered the room.

The first thing they noticed was her hair,  which seemed dirty at first glance. But it wasn't dirty;  it simply no longer shone. It was grey, no longer silver, and it made her smooth, uncreased features look both older and younger.

She had been asleep;  she still looked tired.

"Welcome, Loranna,"  she said, embracing her and smiling.

*




Aricyn instantly noticed the change in Allerleirauh's appearance. For some reason, it made him unimaginably sad. He had no idea why he felt that way, but he said in a hoarse voice, "Well, here she is," and hurridly left the room.

With a worried look, the Nordic woman followed him.

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 01:26 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 07:00 AM)

"I've sent for her," he said, simply.

He turned to leave, but stopped.

"Glad you're all home."

*





"Glad to be home," Loranna says honestly, grinning. "Glad you all lived through all the excitemnt I've heard about."


QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 07:01 AM)

Allerleirauh entered the room.

The first thing they noticed was her hair,  which seemed dirty at first glance. But it wasn't dirty;  it simply no longer shone. It was grey, no longer silver, and it made her smooth, uncreased features look both older and younger.

She had been asleep;  she still looked tired.

"Welcome, Loranna,"  she said, embracing her and smiling.

*





Loranna's eyes widen in surprise, but she embraces Allie immediately, smiling back; her eyes shine with happy tears.

"Allie dear, what have you done?" she asks fondly, touching the Nord's hair. "Has my silliness finally turned you grey after months of trying?"

She squeezes Allie tightly; she had missed Allie as much as any of her friends, and just seeing her again brought warmth to her heart.

Speaking of which ... " ... We have the Flamekiss," she says, letting Allie go and reaching under her cloak. She produces the pouch in which Tris placed the legendary gem and holds it out to Allie, cupped in her hands.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 01:31 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 2 2005, 06:06 AM)

"Glad to be home," Loranna says honestly, grinning.  "Glad you all lived through all the excitemnt I've heard about."
Loranna's eyes widen in surprise, but she embraces Allie immediately, smiling back; her eyes shine with happy tears.

"Allie dear, what have you done?" she asks fondly, touching the Nord's hair.  "Has my silliness finally turned you grey after months of trying?"

She squeezes Allie tightly; she had missed Allie as much as any of her friends, and just seeing her again brought warmth to her heart.

Speaking of which ... " ... We have the Flamekiss," she says, letting Allie go and reaching under her cloak.  She produces the pouch in which Tris placed the legendary gem and holds it out to Allie, cupped in her hands.

*




"Is there anything I need to know about this?" Allerleirauh said, taking it.

"As for the hair... if you stand still forever, you don't get very far."

She touched the hand of the sleeping Jazbet, gently. "I'm worried about him, but not as much as I am worried about what he might have seen. I think it's when he tries to reject his visions that they overwhelm him. He's very strong; he'll wake when he's ready."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 01:37 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 07:11 AM)

"Is there anything I need to know about this?"  Allerleirauh said, taking it.

"As for the hair... if you stand still forever, you don't get very far."

She touched the hand of the sleeping Jazbet, gently. "I'm worried about him, but not as much as I am worried about what he might have seen. I think it's when he tries to reject his visions that they overwhelm him. He's very strong;  he'll wake when he's ready."

*





"The gem is at least somewhat sentient, from what we saw," Loranna tells Allie. "Or at least it's very good at trying to get someone to claim it for itself; we overcame its seduction by firmly stating that we all were claiming it, no one person. So long as it remains enclosed in the pouch though, it should be safe to handle; I haven't heard the gem's voice since we left the Vaults."

She adds " ... If you do take it out though, the gem is very, very bright to behold."

She pauses. " ... We also recovered a second artifact; a helm the likes of which an Emperor would wear, which claims that only the worthy may wear it."

She looks down at Jazbet. " .. .He has me, and he has you, and he has his loving servants and his people," she says. "He'll be all right; I'm still going to stay by his side, but he'll be all right."

Loranna lets out a soft sigh. "So much happened; has it only been weeks since we left? I feel ten years older myself; you're right about standing still ..."


Posted by: Allerleirauh Mar 2 2005, 01:42 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Mar 2 2005, 06:17 AM)

"The gem is at least somewhat sentient, from what we saw," Loranna tells Allie.  "Or at least it's very good at trying to get someone to claim it for itself; we overcame its seduction by firmly stating that we all were claiming it, no one person.  So long as it remains enclosed in the pouch though, it should be safe to handle; I haven't heard the gem's voice since we left the Vaults."

She adds " ... If you do take it out though, the gem is very, very bright to behold."

She pauses.  " ... We also recovered a second artifact; a helm the likes of which an Emperor would wear, which claims that only the worthy may wear it."

She looks down at Jazbet.  " .. .He has me, and he has you, and he has his loving servants and his people," she says.  "He'll be all right; I'm still going to stay by his side, but he'll be all right."

Loranna lets out a soft sigh.  "So much happened; has it only been weeks since we left?  I feel ten years older myself; you're right about standing still ..."

*




"There was a battle, there's a lot to tell. Aricyn's woman is here, you saw her a moment ago. They aren't exactly in love, more like old comrades who sleep together. She came at the head of a troop of Nords and she says more are coming. And the Azurites are doing something at Ghostgate that makes little Sen-Yedda cry."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 2 2005, 01:44 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Mar 2 2005, 07:22 AM)

"There was a battle, there's a lot to tell. Aricyn's woman is here, you saw her a moment ago. They aren't exactly in love, more like old comrades who sleep together. She came at the head of a troop of Nords and she says more are coming. And the Azurites are doing something at Ghostgate that makes little Sen-Yedda cry."

*





"Let us sit and talk then," Loranna suggests. "Perhaps Jazbet will hear us."

She smiles, and the two women begin recounting their experiences since they last saw one another.


Posted by: Dinylos Mar 2 2005, 04:36 PM

With the blockade lifted a small but steady stream of merchants and traders have begun to poor into the starved domain of Daruhn, determined to bring their goods to the wanting market.

Gidar Neras whipped his cart to a halt. He had already been stopped once that day by a guard with a scroll who checked his eyes. The merchant looked over Ald Raathim surprise apparent on his face. A number of foreigners had taken up residence on the edge of town. Burly Nordic men could be easily picked out of the crowd.

Gidar turned to the mer closest to him, a fellow merchant who had only recently arrived himself.

“What an overrun sty,” he said with a demure rasp. “Have the Northmen invaded again? At least they brought their own food.”

Gidar wondered if the savages could be persuaded to part with one of the horses. Such a tasty feast that would be.

Posted by: Dumbkid Mar 2 2005, 04:43 PM

QUOTE(Dinylos @ Mar 2 2005, 10:16 AM)

With the blockade lifted a small but steady stream of merchants and traders have begun to poor into the starved domain of Daruhn, determined to bring their goods to the wanting market.

Gidar Neras whipped his cart to a halt.  He had already been stopped once that day by a guard with a scroll who checked his eyes.  The merchant looked over Ald Raathim surprise apparent on his face.  A number of foreigners had taken up residence on the edge of town.  Burly Nordic guards could be easily picked out of the crowd. 

Gidar turned to the mer closest to him, a fellow merchant who had only recently arrived himself.

“What an overrun sty,” he said  with a demure rasp. “Have the Northmen invaded again?  At least they brought their own food.”

Gidar wondered if the savages could be persuaded to part with one of the horses.  Such a tasty feast that would be.

*





Ceilar Faeryn shuffled the oversized pack on his back and adjusted the straps, then turned his attention towards Gidar.

"Filthy northern S'wits, filthy N'wahs." The Dunmer cursed in a gravely voice. "They'll have to pay extra if they hope to get ahold of any of my wares, the stinking fetchers."



Posted by: Tricrux Mar 2 2005, 06:34 PM

So. This is Ald Raathim. Shai stepped out of the Mage's Guild and into the refugee town, her new home. She was feeling a little more relaxed after fighting the Daedra and Azurites. In the heat of the battle, she had seen visions, memories of the Teacher. The shock and horror had worn off now. She could remember his teachings. So even though she wasn't in complete Control, for she never had been and neither had the Teacher (just very close) she was able to remember the Path to reach that state. So she slipped away from the battle on the farm, standing back. She knew it would be too dangerous for her to fight - she would be frenzied and crazy, and do more damage than good. She knew this because the Path was with her now.

Away from the farm, Shai sat down and began to meditate. She thought about eacn of her emotions individually, the ones that were troubling her.

Why was she sad? Because the Teacher was dead. But he would not have wanted that. It was his time to go from the world. He couldn't have died without submitting - so he had left because she was of age. Not a curse, but a final blessing.

Why did she love? Because it was natural, because she was young. Love brought too much emotion into play in battle, but maybe that wasn't so bad. The Teacher had always said to let your emotions guide you. So perhaps this business of Love would make her stronger. Not a curse, but a blessing.

Why was she angry? Because she had bottled up her sadness, and it was driving her crazy. Because she had watched the thugs beat up the Dunmer girl. Because there was a new emotion haunting her that she did not understand. But those were all resolved now. So there was no need for anger. She let it all wash away...

----------------------------------------------------

At the castle, she was introduced to the staff by the rest of the party. A Khajit serving girl led her up to her room. "This room belonged to Marein Night-Scar," whispered the girl. "A half-breed like your self, called himself Night-Scar because of the huge, terrible scars that stretched across his body, you know. Yes, poor Marein. He died in the Vaults of Gemin."

"Died?" repeated Shai.

"Yes, died, miss. That's what is speculated around the servants, yes. He never came back, and not a word was spoken. We think he died."

So, this was here new home. Luxurious, happy...but very dangerous. Very dangerous indeed...



Posted by: Nalion Mar 2 2005, 06:58 PM

Nalion, Ald Raathim

In the very brief time he had spent at Ald Raathim before he set out with his companions in search of the Flamekiss, Nalion had almost no time to take a deeper look at the village and Jazbet's estate. The recent changes though were obvious. Armoured men guarded important doors or patrolled on the streets. The wreckages of ships in the bay, the scorch marks on trees, palisades and grass, the trampled ground of the battlefield and the stray arrows spoke a more than plain language. A few inquiries made among the guards and in the tavern and the Breton mage knew the details of what had happened in the village those last days.

He nodded gravely. Victory had been achieved, though not without losses, but still, the brave people here had preserved their rock of hope against the onslaught of the tides of twilight. How long that victory would hold, Nalion did not know. The best thing would be to be prepared for more struggles.

He returned to the estate after a few hours of walking. His steps did not lead him to his room, but to the library. The dim room with its bookshelves gave off an aura of wisdom. His fingers trailed slowly along the back of the folios, his head was slightly tilted to read the titles inscribed on their backs. Some of them looked like if they had remained untouched for quite a while, as the thin layer of dust indicated. Some showed recent use. The Breton mage took a scroll out of the shelf, seemingly at random, and moved over to a nearby table in a corner of the library. Several pieces of unused parchment, ink and quill and an unlit candle were placed upon it. Nalion looked at the candle and after a whispered word, the wick catched fire. At first, the flame was unsteady, but then the candle gave off consistent light.

Nalion sat down on a chair and began to read. At times, he took some notes on a piece of parchment. There was no sound in the library except the rustling of paper and the occaisonal sneeze when the dust of a book tickled the mages nose.

***

Nalion had forgotten time and space. For now, the library was his mundus, time was irrelevant to him. He almost felt like he was back in his own tiny library in Tel Uvirith, when once again an ashstorm raged outside and he had time to dedicate himself to his studies. One thing was different though. He wasn't the rather oblivious mage anymore, oblivious of the events outside of his own confined space he had created for himself. What he had seen and done during the last months had changed him. He had seen horrors of a thousand midnights, but at the same time found shelter, protection and comfort with the group he had traveled with the past months. The group? His companions? No. It was more than that, they were friends. Friends whom he had entrusted more than just his life, who in return had relied on his abilities as well. But the dangers were not over yet, he had a feeling that everything would eventually lead towards a point where his skills as yet would not suffice and that would be the moment where he would fail his friends.
He first realized this as Loranna began her training in Alchemy. If he wanted to prevent this moment of his failure, he had to grow more into this task, to hone his skills, to acquire new ones. He had already taken the first step in the Mages Guild in Stormhold, what he did now was the second stride.

These and other thoughts roamed through the mages mind as he continued his work.

The candle he had lit had burned down to only a small stump of wax and the flame flickered and went out. Not bothering to rise and get a new one, the familiar blue-white ball of light he had used in the Vaults of Gemin appeared after Nalions whispered word and an almost casual gesture. Several books were piled up one upon the other in front of him. The scribbled notes the mage had made in his tiny script encompassed several pages now. He was not done yet, though...

Posted by: Aki Mar 3 2005, 12:35 AM

Reichi meanwhile, wandered through the woods near Ald Raathim. The scent of blood was strong enough that a human nose could weakly precive it. When he grasped the Dagger of Senses, the varied scents of the blood of all races, of those who fought here, died here, and won here. Footprints, spatters of blood, lost or destroyed weaponry and pieces of armor, all told of the battle that occured here. Of those that fled, and those that followed.

Reichi contemplated the battle with the Azurites for the money, and the red armored Daedra. He had stayed back; he couldn't have attacked the Azurites, the Parrapton left him unable to use shortblades effectively, and when the Daedra had attacked he had observed. Now Reichi had devolped a strategy for that beast, it read minds, so the natural method of dealing with mind readers was to flood your mind with images, noise, and all sorts of things, to throw the mind reader off. If he could read one's mind like a book, then make the book illegible.

Reichi looked up, the Sun was setting, he quickly flitted out of the woods and sat down to watch the sunset. The sun cast an orange, and red glow about the sky as it set, turning the ocean crimson, it was rather peaceful and beautiful to behold.

When the sun set, Reichi watched the moons rise. Masser was first, the massive red ominous moon, like a moon that was be the background of a picture portraying the end of the world. Next came Secunda, smaller, and greyish white. As the moons rose, stars slowly winked into existance, as night overtook day.

"Hello Mr. Sari..." boomed a voice behind Reichi.

Posted by: Teleran Mar 3 2005, 02:04 AM

Teleran wandered through the camp for a half-hour, marveling at how much it had changed and grown from when he had last seen it. Before the refugee camp had seemed merely the last stop on the road, a place where many had come expecting their roads to end. The changes wrought over the past few weeks were amazing. They were warriors determined and organized, craftsmen busy at work to make what was needed, little effort was wasted; while it was growing into a city, at the moment every enterprise was focused on strengthening the defenses of Ald Raathim made it seem almost a fortress, being reinforced rather than a burgeoning city. The shore was still littered with the debris of a battle recently fought, and many were engaged in salvaging what could be salvaged and clearing everything that could not be.

Teleran was headed from the tavern to the castle when he ran into someone he recognized from nights previous. The man who had led those who jumped him that night and later tried to poison him, one of the hunters who had refused to meet his gaze; that was where Teleran recognized him from. Some of the others that he recognized from those events trickled into view and arrayed themselves behind him; they were far fewer than they had been in previous encounters. Teleran tensed expecting a fight as the man approached. Instead the man stopped short of Teleran and looked him over before slowly extending his arm. “I owe you a drink, or a dozen. We put you through hell back then, no way to change that.”

One of the Dunmer in the crowd muttered angrily, “I don’t care if he is an Azurite or not, he is still half-breed vermin and I won’t-” his voice ended in a yelp as one of the mer beside him punched the air from his lungs.

Teleran reached out to take the offered hand hesitantly, “Thanks for the offer; I’ll see you around, still organized as hunters?”

“No, we’re scouts and skirmishers,” The man said proudly. “Best in the province if I do say so myself. Still I do feel bad about our, ah, earlier transgressions.”

“You’re forgiven, just don’t go trying to kill me again, even for old time’s sake,” Teleran grinned, this was certainly a change for the better. “Don’t go getting into trouble without me.”

Teleran walked to the castle to see if Night-Scar had recalled back, he hadn’t been in the bar and Teleran doubted he would be working in the smithy or the stables. He went to the room that Marein had inhabited before leaving for the Vaults. “Night-Scar?” He called as he opened the door to the room.

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 3 2005, 02:12 AM

Shai was lying idly on the bed, letting her mind wander, when Teleran walked in.

"Night-Scar?" she repeated. "They told me he had died at the Vaults of Gemin...I'm sorry, Teleran, I thought you knew..."

She paused awkwardly. It was difficult to sympathize over a man she had never known, but he seemed to be a friend of Teleran's.

"Maybe he's alive, they just told me he hadn't come back..." her voice trailed off.

Posted by: Teleran Mar 3 2005, 02:24 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Mar 2 2005, 03:52 PM)

Shai was lying idly on the bed, letting her mind wander, when Teleran walked in.

"Night-Scar?" she repeated. "They told me he had died at the Vaults of Gemin...I'm sorry, Teleran, I thought you knew..."

She paused awkwardly. It was difficult to sympathize over a man she had never known, but he seemed to be a friend of Teleran's.

"Maybe he's alive, they just told me he hadn't come back..." her voice trailed off.

*




"Died? I don't think he did, he was there then he wasn't. I thought he might have recalled after finding something that he couldn't carry around the Vaults. Of course he did have a crown welded to his head, which can't be good for you. I doubt he's dead, though if he didn't recall to here... I'll believe him dead when I see a corpse." Teleran said. "His scars started glowing strangely before he vanished, probably got himself in over his head with whatever it was."

"Enough of that topic I think," Teleran shook his head as though to dispel it from his mind. "So how do you like Ald Raathim? It's grown a bit since I last saw it. How did you hold up in the fight at the farmhouse? I well, I lost track of you, I don't think I make quite the best guard. I'll have to work on that."

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 3 2005, 02:29 AM

She smiled softly, wistfully. "I couldn't fight. I slipped away. See, I was afraid of what I could do if I were pushed too hard...Normally I'm not like this. It's just...just recently I've lost some control over my emotions, you know? Some...things...have come up." Don't go there, not with him!

She avoided that road as deftly as she could. "I left the farmhouse to meditate, try to get a better grip on myself. I just thought - well, if I got angry I wouldn't know what I was doing...do more damage than good..."

Posted by: Teleran Mar 3 2005, 02:40 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Mar 2 2005, 04:09 PM)

She smiled softly, wistfully. "I couldn't fight. I slipped away. See, I was afraid of what I could do if I were pushed too hard...Normally I'm not like this. It's just...just recently I've lost some control over my emotions, you know? Some...things...have come up." Don't go there, not with him!

She avoided that road as deftly as she could. "I left the farmhouse to meditate, try to get a better grip on myself. I just thought - well, if I got angry I wouldn't know what I was doing...do more damage than good...

*




"Don't worry about things like that, just don't charge to the front every time and keep track of friend and foe. I'm still trying to learn that." Teleran said lightly. His tone became more somber as he continued. "You shouldn't fight against your emotions; that only makes it more difficult to control them when they burst. Keeping them holed up just makes you go crazy, you lose any chance to relax. What kind of things? Nothing too serious I hope.Can I help you with any of these things?"

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 3 2005, 02:45 AM

If she was upset, she refused to show it. Instead, she tried as she always did to possess her anger and fear, and then let them fall away.

"You know what the problem is, Teleran?" she said icily. "You know what the problem is? Let me tell you what the problem is, Teleran. Let me tell you. Come here..." She led him to the doorway. Her tone changed, suddenly, from biting to wounded. "It's you, Teleran. It's you."

And she closed the door.

Posted by: Teleran Mar 3 2005, 02:53 AM

Teleran blinked in surprise as the door was slammed inches from his face. "What the hell did I do?" He muttered, before knocking on the door hard enough the vibrations threatened to tear the door apart. "Would you mind explaining that last part!?! How exactly am I a problem?"

He looked down the hall to see one of Jazbet's servants staring at him like he was mad. Teleran looked down in chagrin. He stopped smashing the door with his fist and talked a bit quieter, "What the hell did I do?" He said again as he slid to sit beside the door. He let out a deep sigh and reclined against the wall.

Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo Mar 3 2005, 05:20 AM

Issa Yojimbo sat motionless and half-naked in his cell in the Ebonhart prison.

His body was covered in scars from the torture, and his mind was scarred from the betrayal of his friends.

His red hair was now scraggly and sweaty, he was helpless and alone.

In another room where his weapons were kept, the Prophet's Edge was pulsing. The pulse seemed to travel throughout the entire fortress.

The pulse epicentered from Ebonhart, but made it's way throughout Tamriel.

Issa's part in the scheme of things to come was about to begin.

But for now, he had to undergo a mental trail.

Alone in the dark prison cell.

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 3 2005, 05:50 AM

Some hours had passed. Shai opened the door to her room. Teleran sat slumped outside.

"You're still here," she murmured, surprised. "Why?"

Posted by: Teleran Mar 3 2005, 06:06 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Mar 2 2005, 07:30 PM)

Some hours had passed. Shai opened the door to her room. Teleran sat slumped outside.

"You're still here," she murmured, surprised. "Why?"

*




"You wouldn't give me an answer. So, what gives? What is your problem with me?" Teleran said rising from the floor. "I hope whatever it is, I can make it at least make it easier for you to bear. If you're going to be fighting alongside us, you'll have to at least learn to at least be able to tolerate me. I've already had people distrusting me because of stupid mistakes I made and I'd rather not repeat that experience for something I can't figure out. If you feel you can't tell me, fine, but you better be able to put it aside when we go into battle."

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 3 2005, 06:09 AM

She shook her head. "It's not that I can't tolerate you, Teleran. It's something else. Never mind...come on in, maybe I can make up to you the confusion I've caused you...I can't tell you what it is that's bothering me, Tel - can I call you Tel?"

"Let's talk about something else. Something more pleasant. Tell me about your childhood, maybe?"

He signaled her to go first.

She smiled wistfully, trailing back to her very first memories...

----------------------------------------------------------

I remember my family. Mother, Father, the perfect embodiment of a loving couple. For the first few years of my life, they thought my eyes were red because of some sort of disease. But I remember the day when my eyes started to really glow. That was when Father got mad.

They were Dunmeri eyes, you see? In the middle of Morrowind, a Bosmeri couple with a half-Dunmer child. So they fought. Eventually they decided it would be best if I had never happened. They abandoned me in the streets of Narsis.

I remember when the Teacher found me - that's all he ever called himself, just "the Teacher" - and took me to his home. The townspeople were afraid of him, they thought he was a crazy old hermit. But to me he was a new Father.

For thirteen years I worked with the Teacher. Meditating, Running, Swimming, Fighting. It was always him I fought, and always him I lost to. Until one day, not too long ago, when I beat him in a fair fight. Nailed him flat with my finger too his throat without getting angry or breaking a sweat.

I remember everything he taught me. About life, about living. About how to win a battle, and how to win a debate. How to change someone's emotions. How to handle your own. He told me about the state of mind he called Control. He told me that when you reached Control, you were the master of all your emotions, but the oppressor of none.

There's one thing he told me that I love above all else:

Do not fight the sorrow; Fight the tears.

That meant so much to me. It meant, don't question your emotion but don't show it either.

Control was mostly natural to me. I could manipulate my emotions and it made me deadly. I could wash away the anger that was clouding my vision, or direct it into my legs for a hard kick. I had the run of my emotions, you know?

And now, now I've lost that. What I used to have naturally I have to try for now. I have to work and strive to reach that same level, and because I'm working and striving so hard I can't do it...

--------------------------------

She looked up at Teleran. She realized suddenly how much of herself she had just opened up to him, and wasn't surprised.

Posted by: Aki Mar 3 2005, 06:11 AM

Reichi turned to face the voice, he was greated with the sight of an elderly, but very healthy looking Nord male. A thick scruffy white beard covered most of his face and long white hair cascaded from his head. Brown eyes stared down at him. The Nord had a faded red tattoo of a Wolf's Paw on his forehead, and was dressed in armor as black night. the Armor looked recently repaired, and several scars remained on it, claw marks. The Nord drew an Axe that had the word "Wolfsbane" inscribed on it in Daedric, and a blade of silver. there was no mistaking his identity, it was Raddin the Wolf, leader of the WHOT.

Reichi stepped back, he of course, didn't know who this guy was, only that he was armoured and just drew a axe with a silver blade and a ominous sounding name. "What do you want with me?" Reichi asked. The Veteran werewolf Hunter grinned, "I want to finish this once and for all, Wolf. Too many have fallen for this, and i have decided to take matters into my own hands and slay you Werewolf. I have seen...others of your kind, i cannot let your number remain unquelled," he said.

"Others...you don't mean..." Reichi said, his mind already had worked out the possibilities, and they were grim.

"I have dealt with one of your Werewolf friends and managed to badly wound another, the one i got was a white one, not pure white like you've reportedly said to be. Had blue eyes."

"You...killed...Eya, you...." Reichi anger rose, and he balled his hands into fists.

"Eya?" Raddin asked, blinking, "No, no no no no, it can't be," Raddin shook his head as he said this. "Tell me 'Wolf, what do you know of this Eya?"

Reichi grimaced, he was too curious to not give out information. He wanted to know how the Hunter knew Eya. "She was a Nord, she had long black hair and blue eyes, and was skilled in unarmed and unarmored combat. Why?"

Raddin's face paled. "Did she tell you her last name..?"

"Once, it was...Brasteir."

Raddin dropped his Axe and fell to his knees, then to his hands and knees. "No, that can't be possible...."

Raddin the Wolf, Raddin Brasteir realized what he had done. "What have i done....By the Gods, No..." he gasped out. Then he did something Reichi never would have expected him capable of, the Nord wept.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 3 2005, 07:09 AM

Arynel had been off on his own, wandering through the woods and beaches around Ald Raathim. He had not seen the party members return, but was not suprised that they had. The Breton returned to Jazbet's castle and went to look for Aricyn.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 3 2005, 07:12 AM

Aricyn was, for once, completely alone... except for the old wolf at his feet. It was a rarity these days. Aricyn had to go out of his way to be alone.

He sat near the small creek that ran out into the mangrove-filled bay, carefully polishing a sword that did not need it.

He looked up at Arynel's approach.

"How does the road... how does that go again?"

He smiled widely.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 3 2005, 07:28 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 10:52 PM)

Aricyn was, for once, completely alone... except for the old wolf at his feet. It was a rarity these days. Aricyn had to go out of his way to be alone.

He sat near the small creek that ran out into the mangrove-filled bay, carefully polishing a sword that did not need it.

He looked up at Arynel's approach.

"How does the road... how does that go again?"

He smiled widely.

*





“How does the road greet you?” Arynel said with a smile. “Or any number of variations, the wording not so important as the meaning. Like so many things worth saying it means many things at once, but foremost it means ‘how are you?’ and to that I say I am as fine as can be expected.”

The Breton reached into his cloak. “I have something for you, if you would take it.”

Arynel drew forth a potion bottle, devoid of liquid, and held it out in front of him.

“It is a wind, or a bit of one, perhaps a bit too wet, and the odor may leave some to be desired, though I find it hardly noticeable, or at least I hardly noticed while I was there to get it, I have not opened it since that time, fearing it may escape and leave me with nothing to give. In any case, I have stored up a wind in a jar for you to do with as you please, perhaps to let it go again, I do not know, I am not knowledgeable of wind, except to know when to pull my cloak tighter around my shoulders, and when to seek shelter when it blows too hard, and which way to face when hiding from beasts with well formed noses. In any case, I think perhaps this is a new wind, at least that is my hope, a new wind you do not have yet, and I give to you to do with as you please. Perhaps, though, it is not a new wind, I do not know; if so then very well, I offer it still, and without hindrance.”

“Ah, now I find I speak too much, there is no use of rambling, and so I will still my tongue for a time.”


Posted by: Rhedd Mar 3 2005, 07:36 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 2 2005, 11:08 PM)

“Ah, now I find I speak too much, there is no use of rambling, and so I will still my tongue for a time.”

*




Aricyn sheathed his sword.

"Having seen the effects of your gifts to Loranna, any sane man would run at the sight of you bearing presents, Breton.

"So, let me see if I have this right... Forgive me for being slow, but I don't speak Poet... You have gone and caught a wind in a bottle, have you? From where does this wind hail?"

Posted by: Arynel Mar 3 2005, 07:38 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 11:16 PM)

Aricyn sheathed his sword.

"Having seen the effects of your gifts to Loranna, any sane man would run at the sight of you bearing presents, Breton.

"So, let me see if I have this right... Forgive me for being slow, but I don't speak Poet... You have gone and caught a wind in a bottle, have you? From where does this wind hail?"

*





Arynel nodded slowly. "Yes, you have it right," the Breton answered. "It is from south of here, from Black Marsh."


Posted by: Rhedd Mar 3 2005, 07:41 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 2 2005, 11:18 PM)

Arynel nodded slowly.  "Yes, you have it right," the Breton answered.  "It is from south of here, from Black Marsh."

*




"Well," Aricyn said, taking the small bottle from Arynel, "if you're trying to kill me, I suppose I should be flattered.

"Tell me why you think it's special, and why you bring it to me."

Posted by: Teleran Mar 3 2005, 07:42 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Mar 2 2005, 07:49 PM)

She looked up at Teleran. She realized suddenly how much of herself she had just opened up to him, and wasn't surprised.

*




“Half-breeds aren’t welcomed anywhere, too much different in us. Your teacher said to fight the tears, huh? Waste of effort in my opinion, if you don’t let them some out sometime it’ll just build up, best way to release, though releasing them in the middle of a battle would be a bad thing. Control? Yeah, that’s important, just make sure they don’t control you, that increases your strength too, but you lose control,” Teleran finished almost too quietly.

“Well, fair’s fair. You told me your story, now I’ll tell you mine.” Teleran started in a stronger tone. “My father was a traveler, a mercenary too. This stahlrim dagger, he gave it to me when I was a kid, has an enchantment on it so even a scrawny kid can take down an armored knight if he hits the right spot. Only thing I have left of him now...”

Teleran trailed off. “He used to go off to do odd jobs for people, came back with wondrous tales of villains and heroes. The last time I saw him, he said he was going to Solstheim to deal with a frost giant; Karstaag I believe the name was. He used to go there often; got along great with the captain there. When I was younger he used to bring me and my mum there, not that time though; my mother never did like the cold and she wanted me to grow up among Dunmer.

“It was just about that time she tried to get me to learn how to act in polite Dunmer society; she planned on making me a proper member of House Redoran. As you can imagine, that didn’t work out too well, the other children looked down on me and the adults treated me like dirt. At first I tried to learn everything better than my peers, but they just laughed whenever I made an error. That’s about the time I started learning how to use my abilities, telekinesis and thievery; those are the two areas in which none of them could touch me. If they wouldn’t let me win their game, I just had to change the rules. They started avoiding me like the plague, not that that helped any, that just meant I had to practice working at greater distances. Anyway, not too long after my father died my mother went off to find him, she froze to death in the forests. When word filtered back to Ald-Ruhn they were only too happy to take that as reason to kick me out, they had only been keeping me there because despite my transgressions and her eccentricities she still had power in the House.

“I was exiled to the Ashlands, I think they expected me to die. Anyway, I ended up meeting a hunter; he took me in and taught me how to hunt, what it meant to hunt. WIthout him I would probably have died in weeks. He taught me how to fight, helped me refine my abilities with blade and bolt. He kept trying to teach me the spear, said it was the natural weapon of the hunter, but I insisted on my daggers, he still taught me the spear though, which has proven useful lately. I spent the next few years in the Ashlands finding food where I could, raiding Daedric shrines and making a nuisance of myself to the upstanding citizens.

“When word reached me of the Parade I jumped on it, I wanted to find adventure like in the stories my father told, of course I always omitted the ending. I’ve learned a lot more in the few months with this group, than during the years on the Ashlands. I’ve close to given my life in battle more times than I want to remember, I owe Loranna a couple lifetimes I think, I’ve also almost gotten people killed, and fooled with potions I should have left well enough alone. I’m still learning about how things should work and I’m still making mistakes. I’m doing what I can now, but no matter how hard I try to do things for people, you can only judge me on what I actually do. If I’ve done something to offend you, I will fix it. I promise that.”

Teleran laughed slightly at himself for his tone, “Sorry, for being so long-winded. I am not sure if that made much sense either, first time I’ve tried telling that to anyone. So can you tell me what is bothering you? Or at least how to make it less of a problem?”


Posted by: Arynel Mar 3 2005, 07:46 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 11:21 PM)

"Well," Aricyn said, taking the small bottle from Arynel, "if you're trying to kill me, I suppose I should be flattered.

"Tell me why you think it's special, and why you bring it to me."

*





"Why is it special? Because I say it is so, but only while it was in my hands, and now that it is in your hands you may say whether it is special or not, and if you must the why of it also." Arynel said. "And why do I bring it to you? I have brought it to bridge a rift, and so we may have no ill portents between us."

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 3 2005, 07:53 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 2 2005, 11:26 PM)

"Why is it special?  Because I say it is so, but only while it was in my hands, and now that it is in your hands you may say whether it is special or not, and if you must the why of it also."  Arynel said.  "And why do I bring it to you?  I have brought it to bridge a rift, and so we may have no ill portents between us."

*




Aricyn stood and raised an eyebrow.

"Your gifts aren't known for 'bridging rifts', but I thank you just the same. If that's its intent, then this bottle has already shown it's worth.

"You should know, though, that a handshake works just as well, where I come from."

Aricyn held out his wide, white hand to the Breton.

Posted by: Arynel Mar 3 2005, 07:55 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 11:33 PM)

Aricyn stood and raised an eyebrow.

"Your gifts aren't known for 'bridging rifts', but I thank you just the same. If that's its intent, then this bottle has already shown it's worth.

"You should know, though, that a handshake works just as well, where I come from."

Aricyn held out his wide, white hand to the Breton.

*





Arynel reached out with his own hand, clasping his fingers around those of the Nord. They shook, and then released.

"That is all," the Breton said, "I think I will be going, unless you have a word for me also."

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 3 2005, 08:02 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 2 2005, 11:35 PM)

Arynel reached out with his own hand, clasping his fingers around those of the Nord.  They shook, and then released.

"That is all," the Breton said, "I think I will be going, unless you have a word for me also."

*




A wicked grin crossed Aricyn's face, and he reached out and grabbed the small Breton in a huge bear hug, lifting him off of the ground.

Setting him back on his feet and ruffling the man's brown hair, he said, "There. Now don't you feel better?

"I should probably be getting back to the castle. I think I've hidden out here about as long as I can get away with."

Posted by: Arynel Mar 3 2005, 08:05 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Mar 2 2005, 11:42 PM)

A wicked grin crossed Aricyn's face, and he reached out and grabbed the small Breton in a huge bear hug, lifting him off of the ground.

Setting him back on his feet and ruffling the man's brown hair, he said, "There. Now don't you feel better?

"I should probably be getting back to the castle. I think I've hidden out here about as long as I can get away with."

*





Arynel's eyes went wide for a moment and the Breton smiled, and then put forth a small smile.

"Do as you will, I think also will return to the castle, though I think my feet are anxious and my heart wishes to please. Oh, my apologies, I mean to say I will return later, but for now I'm going to take a walk."

Posted by: Tricrux Mar 3 2005, 08:07 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Mar 3 2005, 12:22 AM)

Teleran laughed slightly at himself for his tone, “Sorry, for being so long-winded. I am not sure if that made much sense either, first time I’ve tried telling that to anyone. So can you tell me what is bothering you? Or at least how to make it less of a problem?”

*




She had softened considerably through the past few hours of soul-sharing. "That's the time first I tried ever tell anyone to too." She stumbled. Having never been in a similar situation, she was in a complete overload. Her mental cogs were screeching and snapping.

"Well, I guess I should leave," she chuckled nervously. "Hah, no, nevermind, this is my room! Teleran Bye!"

He left, confused.

Posted by: Rhedd Mar 3 2005, 08:10 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Mar 2 2005, 11:45 PM)

Arynel's eyes went wide for a moment and the Breton smiled, and then put forth a small smile.

"Do as you will, I think also will return to the castle, though I think my feet are anxious and my heart wishes to please.  Oh, my apologies, I mean to say I will return later, but for now I'm going to take a walk."

*




Aricyn smiled as he watched the man walk away toward the shore.

He held the small bottle up to the sun to look in it.

"Poets..."

Posted by: Loranna Mar 3 2005, 08:12 AM

With the party safely at home - well, mostly - the topic comes to a close ...

To be continued!

LOCK ON!!!

Loranna

Posted by: tegger Mar 3 2005, 08:12 AM

Continued http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65336. smile.gif

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