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

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 03:29 AM

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: Issa_Yojimbo Feb 4 2005, 03:30 AM

Summary

Issa got houseplanted

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 03:31 AM

OOC: The Breton Arynel is in Jazbet's office, discussing recent news, specifically that concerning the flamekiss.

Posted by: Aki Feb 4 2005, 03:33 AM

Summary
Reichi got borroed in the Tavern and eventually went to Jazbet's meeting after Kallen told him too.

tohe, Eya, and Camassim ran around as Werewolves, killed some azurites, scared the hell out of some hunters in the woods, chatted with Teleran, when they changed back, got their stuff, and went with Reichi to the meeting in Jazbet's office..thing...

Yeah..

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 03:34 AM

Summary for Loranna:

Loranna had been assigned the duty of distributing the provisions others procured by Aricyn, then continued her magical studies, this time with Dagoth as tutor. She is currently attending the strategy meeting in Jazbet's office, discussing the mission of retrieving the Flamekiss gem.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 03:35 AM

ooc summaries:

Allerleirauh learned from Leseth that the Eidolon, a weapon capable of mass destruction, is in Helseth's possession. It requires the Flamekiss jewel for its operation. The group must set out to the Vaults of Gemin, in Black Marsh, to obtain the jewel - otherwise Jazbet forsees doom for the group. Now at Jazbet's meeting.

Tris faced down Aricyn over his calling himself the "Tiberine." The results have yet to become clear, but Aricyn and Tris are standing in the same room, and so far no one has killed anyone. Now at Jazbet's meeting.

Unknown to Tris, his father Alistaire, Count Sternhart, has written a letter to Elysana revealing that Tris is alive, and describing him and his movements well enough that Elysana can connect him with the mysterious Void Ranger who gave her the necklace after freeing Ciel.

Doll is spying for Allerleirauh in the vicinity of the towers of Dusk and Dawn.

Mirea is following Elysana's movements.

At the guildhouse in Solunastra, Dragon and Skein have a new resident - Tamne, the Azurite child, now adopted by Allerleirauh and Arynel. So far she has attempted to murder them only a few times.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 4 2005, 03:37 AM

Teleran got drafted by Aricyn to help protect the hunters, chased down Tohe Camassin and Eya, killed some Azurites with them and then went to the meeting in Jazbet's office. Right now he is a bit sad that he won't be able to bring Vilyanna with him, but he really wants to get out of Ald Raathim at the moment, some of the refugees took a dislike to him. Besides imminent destruction just isn't that appealing.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 03:37 AM

Summary

Elysana, Queen of Wayrest, is in Dragonstar, Hammerfell, mere days from being home. Many of the soldiers aboard her ship have become sick after traveling through the cold wastes of Skyrim, and are being healed. She is visiting her agents in the area, and about to receive a very interesting letter from Tris's father.

The Queen's troops in Vvardenfell are boarding an armada of twenty ships in Sheogorad to be returned home.

Bosriel, the little dark-haired girl with the hungry red eyes, the Void Vampire, is with Leseth.

Jazbet, the blind, precognitive Khajiit Knight of House Dres, is the host for the group in his estate on mainland Morrowind. Currently the small domain is filled with refugees from the Azurites, but thanks to the efforts of Aricyn, Allerleirauh, and many others, they are produtive, well-organized, and well-armed against the menace.

The Khajiit has come to understand his strange vision of destruction and a burning red diamond on hearing about the Eidolon and the Flamekiss from Allerleirauh. He called this meeting to tell the group that the Flamekiss must be found in the Vaults of Gemin in Black Marsh, before Helseth's men or anyone else can find it. If they fail, all are doomed.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 03:58 AM

Jazbet’s Castle

‘Let me remind you,’ said Jazbet, in response to the suggestions of several in the group. ‘The goal of this quest is to find the gem and hold it. Do not take it upon yourself to find a new hiding place for it, or to attempt to destroy it. We are safe while we hold it away from others, but we will have to make certain we know what we are doing before we proceed from there. It is too important for any one of us to decide on our own.

'Are we agreed that it is best to proceed by boat?'

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 4 2005, 03:59 AM

Dagoth was just listening to what they were planning, as usual.

'We never get a break do we, Loranna? The world just doesn't seem to know when to stop throwing obstacles...'

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 4 2005, 04:01 AM

Summary:
Helseth is in Ebonheart with the Eidolon. He's trying to find where the Flamekiss is found.

Jaster has made his way into the study with the others.

Posted by: Aki Feb 4 2005, 04:01 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 09:48 PM)

"Boat is best, so long as we don't run into any hostile boats..." Reichi replied with a shrug. "Better than marching down there."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 04:02 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 09:48 PM)

Loranna raises her eyebrows a little, but says "As far as I see, boat is best."

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Feb 3 2005, 09:49 PM)

Dagoth was just listening to what they were planning, as usual.

'We never get a break do we, Loranna? The world just doesn't seem to know when to stop throwing obstacles...'

No, it doesn't, Loranna replies. ... Well, that's the way of this new life. Things will have to slow down sooner or later though ... I hope.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 04:03 AM

QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 3 2005, 09:51 PM)

"Boat is best, so long as we don't run into any hostile boats..." Reichi replied with a shrug. "Better than marching down there."

'Teleran asked about parraptons. They wouldn't be able to fly all the way down to Black Marsh, but perhaps it would be good to have a couple of them in the boat, in case they're needed,' Jazbet said and then smiled. 'Provided their mother will allow them to leave for a couple of days. I will have to ask Casts-The-Bones to ask her very politely.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 04:04 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 08:48 PM)

"With a small group, magic is quicker, if we can manage it. Where are the Mages' Guilds, in relation to where we're going?"

Posted by: Teleran Feb 4 2005, 04:04 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 05:48 PM)

Jazbet’s Castle
'Are we agreed that it is best to proceed by boat?'

"I hate boats, so boring..." Teleran muttered under his breath. "Well if we're going lets get to it then, no sense waiting for the end to come. If I'd wanted that I would have just let the Azurites kill my at the trial."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 4 2005, 04:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 3 2005, 08:52 PM)

Loranna raises her eyebrows a little, but says "As far as I see, boat is best."
No, it doesn't, Loranna replies. ... Well, that's the way of this new life. Things will have to slow down sooner or later though ... I hope.

Dagoth's illusion grimaces. 'If we get lucky that is...'

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 04:09 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 09:54 PM)

"With a small group, magic is quicker, if we can manage it. Where are the Mages' Guilds, in relation to where we're going?"

Kallen spoke up. 'There is Mages Guild in Stormhold, which is ...'

He brought down a map from the shelves and unfolded it neatly on the table.

(http://til.gamingsource.co.uk/maps/arena_blackmarsh.shtml -- The Vaults are the little lump just south of Stormhold)

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 04:14 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 08:59 PM)

"That's some distance inland," Allerleirauh said. "Either by boat or overland, the trip would take an unpleasantly long time. Remember that there are Azurites gathering their forces just over the horizon. Does anyone object to going by Mages' Guild?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 04:18 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 10:04 PM)

'Actually the boat trip shouldn't take too long, if you notice the river which runs just east of the mountains between here and Cyrodiil,' said Kallen. Of course, he had never been there, but he knew maps.

'The Mages Guild will be tricky,' said Jazbet. 'The nearest one is ... well, was in Blacklight ... The transportation may still be possible, but it will be a hell of a fight to get to it ...'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 04:23 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 10:08 PM)

Loranna says "Well, it's basically a question of wether we value speed or safety in the beginning part of the journey, then. The boat trip at least will give us a little time to prepare some; brewing potions ahead of time, familiarizing ourselves with basic knowledge of Black Marsh for those of us who have never been there, stuff like that. Close as the Vaults are to Stormhold, we will have to forge overland a bit."

"I still think the boat's a safer option, but if people feel the extra time can't be afforded, then we can try to get to Blacklight."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 04:46 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 3 2005, 09:13 PM)

"Going to Blacklight would mean going directly into the heart of the Azurites, and we're not ready for that. I have two problems: first, I'm not going on a boat right now. I have responsibilities and being over water prevents me from fulfilling them," Allerleirauh said. "Second, I'm not taking Sen-Yedda into a dungeon of legendary dangers, and I'm not leaving her here unguarded. And, Solin my dear -" here she smiled "- you are hardly sufficient guard."

Posted by: Solin Feb 4 2005, 04:52 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 08:36 PM)

His countenance did not change in the slightest. The mer simply gave a short bow and said, "Of course."

"However, I am not going to leave the simulacrum."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 04:55 AM

"Valid points, Allie," Loranna says, frowning; it seemed her friend was starting to spread herself a little too thin, though she didn't choose to comment on that right now.

"If we had a way of communicating with you back here, we can tell you when we arrive and you could join us then, leaving you free to fulfill your responsibilities," she suggests.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 04:57 AM

"We need to make sure the Simulacrum is well guarded, how this is done I leave for one wiser than I." Arynel said. "I believe we need to determine what skills will best suit our exploit for the Firekiss."

The Breton again went silent.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 05:08 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 3 2005, 10:47 PM)

'A good question,' said Jazbet. 'We need warriors, surely, and a mage or two ... And at least one healer like Loranna ...'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 05:12 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 10:58 PM)

'A good question,' said Jazbet. 'We need warriors, surely, and a mage or two ... And at least one healer like Loranna ...'

"The vault surely contains traps; I know magic can be used to sense and bypass some traps but it might not hurt to have someone skilled in the more mundane methods of dealing with those too, if we have anyone with such skill," Loranna adds.

Posted by: Tricrux Feb 4 2005, 05:13 AM

Night-Scar is at the meeting, as he had promised Allie. He has not said anything so far, but h does have some ideas in mind.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 05:15 AM

"I'm not sure what use I'm going to be," Tris said. "I'm not much of a fighter these days, if I ever was, and my magical skills are minimal."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 05:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 09:05 PM)

"I'm not sure what use I'm going to be," Tris said. "I'm not much of a fighter these days, if I ever was, and my magical skills are minimal."

"From what I recall," Arynel said to Tris, "you have a noteworthy punch, and besides, if you weight down this place long enough it might not want to let you go when you are ready to leave."

The Breton chuckled, and then fell silent.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 05:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 09:05 PM)

"I'm not sure what use I'm going to be," Tris said. "I'm not much of a fighter these days, if I ever was, and my magical skills are minimal."

Aricyn smiled secretly at Tris's assesment of his fighting skill.
"Go," he said to the man, "you'll be plenty of use, I suspect."

"I will not be going," he said, in a way that brooked no argument.

"I suggest that you refrain as well, Jazbet," he added, flatly.

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 4 2005, 05:27 AM

"I'll go. I've made sure the this area is secure enough that I won't be needed. And I've been to Black Marsh before, so I know atleast a bit about what to expect." Said Jaster. "Assuming you won't be needing me Jazbet?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 05:30 AM

QUOTE(Attrebus @ Feb 3 2005, 11:17 PM)

Jazbet looked in Aricyn's direction and then towards Jaster. 'I had not thought about staying here,' he said simply, with a frown. 'I think that is out of the question.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 05:31 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 10:20 PM)

Jazbet looked in Aricyn's direction and then towards Jaster. 'I had not thought about staying here,' he said simply, with a frown. 'I think that is out of the question.'

"You are the one who would know," Allerleirauh said. "What do you see?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 05:35 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 11:21 PM)

"You are the one who would know," Allerleirauh said. "What do you see?"

Jazbet shook his head. 'Fortune telling is not the only way for a man to make a decision.'

They were right. But he was never the one to send others to do a job, as Wyrloc was. He himself loaded half the boxes onto the ship at Suran. Let others organize -- he was a man of action ... Or he had been ...

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 05:36 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 09:20 PM)

Jazbet looked in Aricyn's direction and then towards Jaster. 'I had not thought about staying here,' he said simply, with a frown. 'I think that is out of the question.'

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 3 2005, 09:21 PM)

"You are the one who would know," Allerleirauh said. "What do you see?"

"Nothing, if I may be so blunt, Allerleirauh.

"Jazbet, I have respect for your skill, but do you truly think you would be a help and not a burden in such a place?

Your people act as they do at the moment because they feel protected. I would not want them to instead feel abandoned by us.

"And," he added, "I would not want them to lose their Lord to a foreign dungeon."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 05:41 AM

Tris spoke up. He sounded irritated, though his irritation wasn't entirely at Jazbet.

"Jazbet, stop it. The duty you're best suited for isn't always the fun one."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 05:43 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 3 2005, 11:26 PM)

"And," he added, "I would not want them to lose their Lord to a foreign dungeon."

'As they would,' Jazbet said quietly, and nodded. That was a certain vision. He would be killed in Gemin if he went, and so would others who attempted to help him, who he had slowed down ... But there was no reason to go into that ... Again, the Khajiit nodded. That was the way it would be. He would stay behind.

Then Tris's words made him laugh in pure delight. 'Thank you, Tris. You're absolutely right.'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 05:48 AM

Loranna hears the irritation in Tris's voice and wonders if he's telling himself the same line he's telling Jazbet.

She resolves to speak with Jazbet privately when the meeting is over, to comfort him over not being able to go with them - and to explain to him in Nordic Barmaid Terms why even thinking of the idea was silly to begin with ...

Posted by: Tricrux Feb 4 2005, 05:55 AM

Night-Scar finally spoke up.

"Breaking and entering a vault, eh? Sounds like my kind of job, dont you think?" He leaned back confidently, flippantly. "This is why I came here! This is the sort of thing I was born to do!" He grew serious. "Honestly, though. This is important, and I feel that I could be a big help here. I have done this sort of job before, and it is crucial that this be done quietly, without Helseth ever realizing that we found the gem to begin with." He chuckled. "Imagine, getting the Flamekiss while Helseth searches frantically, and never finds it."

"Count me in."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 06:07 AM

QUOTE(Tricrux @ Feb 3 2005, 11:45 PM)

Loranna gives a small smile. "It's always good to have someone with prior experience aboard," she says. "That is an interesting image; too bad we'll never get to see his face though."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 06:08 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 3 2005, 09:57 PM)

"That is an interesting image; too bad we'll never get to see his face though."

"We hope," said Aricyn.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 06:41 AM

'Do you still intend to use the Mages Guild in Blacklight to transport yourselves to Stormwatch?' asked Jazbet, smiling now from Tris's comment. 'Because, if so, you would be smart to bring some of the Guild members from here along to help you do it.'

Posted by: Dumbkid Feb 4 2005, 06:44 AM

The old Dunmer, known only as Ald-Card-Julan, painted with the proper patterns, and adorned in the proper wear for traveling was steadily moving down the length of the Odai River, the devastated Vivec City to the east. Through the spirits he had learned what had happened, and with his own eyes he had seen truly.

He arrived at the mouth of the Odai, where it was engulfed by the Inner Sea, the old Dunmer reached into his pouch and drew forth a handful of an unknown substance, grounded into powder and mixed thoroughly. He threw it into the murky water, and where it hit there was neither splash nor ripple, but whiffs of vapor rose from the water’s surface. He wove his fingers, and the steam twirled and contorted, forming sigils to match his motions:

AYEM ZYR ROHT AYEMAYEM EKEMMEHT OHT LYR AYEM GETHAYEM EKEMAYEM LYR TAYEM AYEM DOHT OHT OHT NEHT

The old Dunmer finished and lowered his hand, and the steam rippled and contorted and twirled and sang as a thousand silent tongues, Ald-Card-Julan took the most important ones and stuffed them in his mouth.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 06:46 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 12:31 AM)

Loranna frowns. " ... I think the verdict is we're better off taking the ship and avoiding fighting the Azurites," she says. "How long will the journey by boat take, presuming no mishaps?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 06:46 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 3 2005, 10:31 PM)

"I belive that has been decided against, and wisely so, I might add," Aricyn said.

"Reports have suggested that Blacklight is under heavy Azurite influence.

"I would suggest avoiding that place."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 06:54 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 3 2005, 10:36 PM)

"I belive that has been decided against, and wisely so, I might add," Aricyn said.

"Reports have suggested that Blacklight is under heavy Azurite influence.

"I would suggest avoiding that place."

"Perhaps we could split up?" Arynel said. "Some will go by boat, and others an alternative route."

The Breton muttered "mages guild" under his breath, and then went silent once more.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 06:55 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 12:36 AM)

Loranna frowns. " ... I think the verdict is we're better off taking the ship and avoiding fighting the Azurites," she says. "How long will the journey by boat take, presuming no mishaps?"

Kallen looked to the map. "Three or four days. Probably four."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 06:58 AM

Loranna listens to Kallen, while looking at Arynel thoughtfully.

" ... Who here, for whatever reason, can not travel by boat this time?" she asks. "Not just would prefer not to, but is honestly unable to?"

Posted by: Teleran Feb 4 2005, 07:04 AM

"I might go crazy from the confined deck, does that count? I can go by boat, but I would rather not. Though I suppose I won't have a choice will I? Not if I want to go." Teleran replyed. "Are you sure we couldn't just break through to the mages guild and teleport? A few thousand Azurites can't stop us. Besides, its not like we'd be staying long..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 07:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 12:36 AM)

Loranna frowns. " ... I think the verdict is we're better off taking the ship and avoiding fighting the Azurites," she says. "How long will the journey by boat take, presuming no mishaps?"

'There is also a Mages Guild in Tel Silgrad to the south-west,' said Jazbet. 'It is right near the border to the Imperial Province, so the Azurites may not have reached there ... It is a few days by foot, but the parraptons could get you there within a few hours. They can travel that far at least.'

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 07:07 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 3 2005, 10:48 PM)

"It seems," Aricyn said, "that Allerleirauh, Jazbet, Solin, and myself are not accompanying you.

"I believe almost everyone else is perfectly willing to travel by boat."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 07:07 AM

edit

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 07:16 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 12:56 AM)

Loranna blinks, and rubs her eyes a bit.

" ... Well, that would make the boat trip redundant for everyone, if Tel Silgrad is still a free city," she says. "It's certainly a better option than Blacklight; a few thousand Azurites are actually quite capable of stopping me in my tracks."

She gives a small smile. "... Anyone have any strenuous objection to flying to Tel Silgrad, then?"

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 07:18 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 3 2005, 11:06 PM)

Arynel rustled nervously and the Breton looked towards his feet, but he said nothing.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 4 2005, 07:22 AM

Teleran cheers up considerably at the thought of flying. "Come on Loranna, who could possibly have an objection to that?"

Noticing Arynel's reaction he looks over at the Breton. "I wonder what's wrong with him."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 07:24 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 3 2005, 11:12 PM)

Teleran cheers up considerably at the thought of flying. "Come on Loranna, who could possibly have an objection to that?"

Noticing Arynel's reaction he looks over at the Breton. 'I wonder what's wrong with him.'

Arynel looks up towards Teleran, voices something inaudible, and then the Breton turns his attention elsewhere.

"Let us do what must be done." He said flatly.

Posted by: Aki Feb 4 2005, 07:26 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 4 2005, 01:12 AM)

Noticing Arynel's reaction he looks over at the Breton. 'I wonder what's wrong with him.'

"Prolly afraid o heightz," Camassim commented. Reichi disregarded the Redguard's comment and nodded, "If Tel Silgrad has Teleportation to this place, its a much better option. Being to a place before the other guy is usually the best option. Unless the other dies and reveals a dangerous trap in the process," Reichi said.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 07:27 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 4 2005, 01:14 AM)

Arynel looks up towards Teleran, voices something inaudible, and then the Breton turns his attention elsewhere.

"Let us do what must be done." He said flatly.

"I concur," Loranna says. "We should gather up whatever supplies we'll need; spare weapons and clothes, potions, rations ... and do whatever last minute work needs to be done before departing."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 4 2005, 07:30 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 3 2005, 11:17 PM)

"I concur," Loranna says. "We should gather up whatever supplies we'll need; spare weapons and clothes, potions, rations ... and do whatever last minute work needs to be done before departing."

"I will see to your provisions," Aricyn said, and strode out of the study.

The old wolf rose, stretched, and followed Aricyn slowly. He had been enjoying his nap by the small hearth.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 07:36 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 4 2005, 01:20 AM)

"I will see to your provisions," Aricyn said, and strode out of the study.

The old wolf rose, stretched, and followed Aricyn slowly. He had been enjoying his nap by the small hearth.

Jazbet took a breath and smiled. 'He's a bit of a bully, isn't he? Does he have to stay here with me?'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 07:39 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 01:26 AM)

Jazbet took a breath and smiled. 'He's a bit of a bully, isn't he? Does he have to stay here with me?'

Loranna covers her mouth and swallows a chuckle, causing her to chough a bit.

"I'm sure you'll manage," she says in her most encouraging tone to Jazbet. " ... Anyway, it seems we're done for now; it would be good to get some rest while the provisions are being arranged."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 4 2005, 07:50 AM

"Well, I guess I'll just have to get some more clothes, but I can do that easier in town, probably just get some robes, courtesy of the mages guild." Teleran said. "I hope they won't mind."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 08:13 AM

As the meeting adjourns, Loranna takes her leave of Dagoth.

She then walks over to Jazbet, murmuring " ... Shall we talk a bit, dear?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 08:16 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 02:03 AM)

She then walks over to Jazbet, murmuring " ... Shall we talk a bit, dear?"

Jazbet takes her hand, and tells everyone, 'I'll have the parraptons ready for you as soon as you need them. Let me know ... or Kallen if I'm otherwise occupied ...'

With a smile, Jazbet led Loranna down the staircase to his bedroom.

He kissed her quickly and whispered, 'You are certain you want to go?'

Posted by: w0nders Feb 4 2005, 08:19 AM

Summary-

Dante, after sitting around babysitting some burly men all day, attended the meeting in Jazbets office.

Illidan, ........ ...........

Brum, Inzoliah, Merciander and friends, drifting through an endless sorrow.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 08:21 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 02:06 AM)

Loranna kisses Jazbet back, but sighs quietly.

" ... I should be at your side for whatever's coming up next," she says, wrapping an arm around Jazbet's shoulders. " ... But I also should be putting my new skills to use helping those who will need it - especially those who have been helping me all along. I don't know the trick of being in two places at once ..."

She runs her fingers through Jazbet's hair. " ... If this didn't sound so dire, I might have demurred, but ..." She shrugs. "It's important ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 08:34 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 02:11 AM)

She runs her fingers through Jazbet's hair. " ... If this didn't sound so dire, I might have demurred, but ..." She shrugs. "It's important ..."

'I knew that you would go, I saw it,' said Jazbet. 'And I just assumed I would too, isn't that funny? I was never good at fighting, even before I was blind, I can't use magic, and I have the responsibility by my title for all the people in my domain, and it never even occured to me that I would stay here.

'Thank Baan Dar for Tris,' the Khajiit said, chuckling softly. 'Only he would call a quest that we have emphasized over and over again as being dangerous as being 'the fun job.'

'You must make it through alive, you know that, don't you?'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 08:40 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 02:24 AM)

"It's funny, yes," Loranna says, pulling Jazbet closer to her. "And I am going to see to it tonight that you haven't the strength to even think of reconsidering come the morning - but all the same, I understand. I've found myself not quite thinking on the same level as everyone else before, too."

" ... And Tris ... I don't think he was just talking to you," she continues. "But there are other people to bring that up to him later, if it's the case. But yeah, dangerous quest, murky dungeon in dank swamp, Azurites to dodge and King's agents to outpace - and this is the fun stuff."

Loranna chuckles, shaking her head and murmuring "I've no intention of dying in Black Marsh; I've a lifetime promise to keep and people to stand by. I'll come back alive, even if it kills me."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 08:51 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 02:30 AM)

Loranna chuckles, shaking her head and murmuring "I've no intention of dying in Black Marsh; I've a lifetime promise to keep and people to stand by. I'll come back alive, even if it kills me."

'I would like you to have something,' Jazbet smiled, and reached into his pocket. 'It is a bit of magic that will allow you to turn invisible and see in the dark ... like a cat ...'

It was a golden ring with a similarly gold-colored gem in the center, which looked like a cat's eye.

'I want you to have it for those two spells, but it has a third one, if you want it to,' the Khajiit said. 'If you would marry me, you could consider it an engagement ring ... You don't have to give me an answer now, but please take it ... '

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 08:56 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 02:41 AM)

Jazbet can hear Loranna's heart skip a couple of beats.

" ... Um, uh ..." she says, her arm tightening around Jazbet's shoulders enough to remind him that her ancestry does indeed hail from the northern wastes.

" ... You'd been thinking about that too ..." she says, her hand slowly reaching forth to take the ring. "Oh my ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 08:59 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 02:46 AM)

" ... You'd been thinking about that too ..." she says, her hand slowly reaching forth to take the ring. "Oh my ..."

'Just do me the honor of thinking about it,' Jazbet smiled. 'Use it to survive in Gemin, and maybe, when you come back ... we can talk about it a little more ...'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 09:12 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 02:49 AM)

'Just do me the honor of thinking about it,' Jazbet smiled. 'Use it to survive in Gemin, and maybe, when you come back ... we can talk about it a little more ...'

Loranna turns the ring over in her hand, looking at it with slightly moist eyes.

" ... Jazbet ..." she says, her voice cracking a little. " ... I ..."

She sighs, leaning her head on his shoulder.

" ... I will think about it; I have thought about it just a bit already, as I wondered what my future should be," she says, her voice just above a whisper.

"I ... feel unfinished, childish in many ways. I know in my heart this won't be the last time the adventurer's call rings for me; I've simply seen too much to go back to the life I had before any of this. I love you, and I love Dagoth, and I know in my heart sooner or later the way my heart feels about both of you will have to change, if only slightly ..."

She squeezes him again. " ... But even with all that swilring in my mind's eye, you've remained in its gaze. No matter where I end up, I want you to be there, somehow ..."

She takes a deep breath, calming down. " ... We'll have to talk on this at length afterward," she tells him. "There's still parts of me I'm not so sure about, that we should probably touch upon before making such a commitment. And, of course, there's that little matter of us both staying alive through these times, too."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 03:02 AM)

She takes a deep breath, calming down. " ... We'll have to talk on this at length afterward," she tells him. "There's still parts of me I'm not so sure about, that we should probably touch upon before making such a commitment. And, of course, there's that little matter of us both staying alive through these times, too."

'Ah, staying alive, yes, that's the great trick,' Jazbet smiled and kissed and whispered. 'Enough talk, until you return ...'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 4 2005, 09:17 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 03:05 AM)

'Ah, staying alive, yes, that's the great trick,' Jazbet smiled and kissed and whispered. 'Enough talk, until you return ...'

Loranna sighs.

"I talk too much," she says. "And I don't stop to think about what I'm saying nearly enough."

At that point, Loranna abandons words; it doesn't hamper her ability to express her feelings though. In fact, it may have even helped make things clearer ...

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 4 2005, 09:36 AM

The Stables

Kallen spoke to the stablemaster, the Argonian Casts-The-Bones, who in turn talked to the queen parrapton.

'Yes,' said Casts-The-Bones. 'She will allow her children to go to Tel-Silgrad. Have each prospective rider approach her as usual, and she will select a steed. When they have arrived and dismounted, tell them to rub their hands, and their parraptons will return here.'

'I don't suppose it's possible for them to wait for the group to return, so they can have a ride back?'

'No, they will need to return here afterwards,' said the stablemaster.

Kallen thanked him. He would have to fly with the group to Tel Silgrad, and see if any of Lord Jazbet's allies were still around who could send word when the group had returned, so they could send the parraptons back for them. He would confirm this plan with his Lordship ... well ... later ...

Kallen smiled despite himself, and set about letting everyone know that the parraptons would be ready for them whenever they were.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 04:49 PM

Arynel silently excused himself from Jazbet's office, once out of view of the others, the Breton whispered a string of power.

He lept past the walls

And fell above the uppermost limits of comprehension

In the void, Arynel made his way where no roads were to be found, at last he exited, and appeared in the Void Ranger Guildhouse.

"Oh, you again!" Tamne said, sticking out her tongue. "Since you're here WITH ME, you might as well do us both a favor AND DIE!"

Arynel turned to Tamne, "And where would that leave us?" The Breton asked. "You'd have to clean up after a dead Breton, that wouldn't be much fun, would it?"

"I'd just let you lie there," Tamne said, "lie there until you rot!"

"Rot? What a dreadful thought," the Breton said, "Lie down dead until I degrade? Surely you can think of a more gentler fate?"

"I suppose if you don't want to DIE to be my slave, you can always start now." Tamne threw a broom at Arynel. "Get to work SLAVE! Or, better yet, why don't you just DIE!"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 05:17 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 02:26 AM)

"I'm not comfortable with the idea of you all flying off to Tel Silgrad without knowing if it's a nest of Azurites," Allerleirauh said. "I'll return presently."

She left the room. A few words of power and she stood in another place.

The Mages's Guild was still in the right hands. Jazbet had been correct in guessing that this place had not yet suffered from major incursions of Azurites.

There appeared to be no reason the group could not safely reach Tel Silgrad on their parraptons and use the Mages' Guild there to jump to Black Marsh.

She returned and relayed the information to Kallen.

Posted by: Solin Feb 4 2005, 05:27 PM

The meeting adjourned, Ciel returned to his chambers with Tris. The knight neatly laid out the gear he would need for the journey into the swamp across his bed. He would need to get a travel pack from somewhere.

“You never finished talking about your duel with Aricyn,” he said quietly as he opened a chest at the foot of the bed.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 05:41 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 4 2005, 10:17 AM)

"We're going, then?" Tris said. It occurred to him as the words left his mouth that maybe Ciel was going, and he wasn't. He didn't voice the thought, however.

"I'm not sure it was a duel," Tris said. "I thought it was a duel when I did it, but it felt more like - a spanking. It was weird, Ciel. Aricyn was spouting the most amazing garbage about Uriel not belonging on the throne, and I lost my temper, and everything got very easy for me. It was - I know I can't lunge like that. I'd fall over."

He couldn't make himself say, I felt my foot move like it used to do. It sounded too silly.

"Jazbet had a Dibellan worship manual in his library," Tris said. "I knew he would, they're like pornography, only respectable. Dibellan saints are always either really racy, like Saint Oenisara the Courtesan, or really boring - Saint Somebody-or-other the Mellismatic, invented a new type of musical notation. Saint Deothur the Shepherd is somewhere in the middle. Lived in some mountain valley which was the only place in Tamriel a certain flower grew. Tiber Septim tried to march his army through the valley and Deothur confronted him, and he went around. Which of course brought the blessing of the goddess on him, so that some general whose name I can't remember didn't do something stupid at the battle. Probably not a true story. But Deothur is the guy whose foot I have, and he faced down Tiber Septim."

Posted by: Solin Feb 4 2005, 05:55 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 4 2005, 09:31 AM)

"Of course we are going," Ciel said with a warm grin. "I don't see any reason that supersedes us going retrieve this jewel."

He paused hefting a small sack out of the chest and setting it on the bed.

“A spanking?” the knight asked subdued, smile faded, a moment. “I would hope he learned his lesson then. Otherwise this whole Tiberine business would become a great deal more disconcerting.

“Well it appears you did lunge like that our doubtless we would be having a different conversation. Perhaps you’re thinking on all the reasons you can’t do what you want to do and letting that get in the way. Your anger just allowed you to forget you couldn’t do it.”

Ciel gave a quick smile as he started to pack away various items.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 4 2005, 06:00 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 4 2005, 10:45 AM)

"Of course we are going," Ciel said with a warm smile. "I don't see any reason that supersedes us going retrieve this jewel."

He paused hefting a small sack out of the chest and setting it on the bed.

“A spanking?” the knight asked subdued, smile faded, a moment. “I would hope he learned his lesson then. Otherwise this whole Tiberine business would become a great deal more disconcerting.

“Well it appears you did lunge like that our doubtless we would be having a different conversation. Perhaps you’re thinking on all the reasons you can’t do what you want to do and letting that get in the way. Your anger just allowed you to forget you couldn’t do it.”

Ciel gave a quick smile as he started to pack away various items.

"He's a cheeky fellow, anyway," Tris said. "Staying here to run the place while we're gone."

He watched Ciel for a little while. Ciel packed efficiently - like a military man. It was tempting to make him pack for both of them.

"That bit about forgetting what you can't do," Tris said. "You'd make a good Void Ranger. I'd better start packing, I guess."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 06:37 PM

Void Ranger Guildhouse, Daggerfall:

Arynel and Tamne had stood starring at eachother silently for a time.

"I suppose I should go then." Arynel said, breaking the silence.

"Good, I want to be ALONE." Tamne said.

Arynel frowned, and shook his head. "I can leave you alone, if that's what you want, but I'm not so sure that will help things."

Tamne glared at Arynel, placing her hands on her hips. "HELP THINGS! How can you...? You can't HELP ANYTHING! What do YOU know about ME?" She stamped her feet, then fell to her knees and started to cry.

Arynel's draw dropped. The Breton bit his bottom lip and put his hands on Tamne's shoulders.

"I HATE YOU!" She screamed, slapping his arms away. "WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE!"

Arynel said nothing, but sat down on the floor next to her.

"Azura will come, she'll kill you, kill you and all the other bad people. Azura will kill you all, or the pretty winged woman, she'll kill you too, both of them. Then you'll come back and be a slave, you'll all be my slaves."

Arynel nodded, and let out a breath. "Is that what you want? For me to die? For people to die, and become your slaves?"

"You're bad people, you're all very bad people!" Tamne said, tears running down her cheeks. "You should die, you all deserve to die!"

The two of them sat silently, Arynel scratching his chin, and Tamne fighting to hold back the tears. At last the Breton spoke.

"I would like to tell you a story, if that is alright?"

"I don't like stories, not YOUR stories anyways." Tamne said, sticking out her tongue.

"You haven't heard any of my stories." Arynel said. "Let me tell one, and then you can decide whether you like it or not."

"I already know I won't like it." Tamne said. "You're one of the bad people, bad people tell bad stories."

Arynel nodded, "I will tell it, take from it what you will."

The Breton began his story

Posted by: Arynel Feb 4 2005, 09:01 PM

Arynel's story: Anzie's Tears

Once, in a time scarcely remembered, which an old grandmother speaks about on rainy nights with all her second generation progeny gathered ‘round, lived a little girl named Anzie. Anzie was beautiful, radiant with Azure eyes like the morning hue, a princess, her father King of elegancy her mother Queen of jovial bliss. Anzie, princess, child of dawn, princess crowned by first light of morning, she was loved and she was happy and she had no tears in her to cry. Anzie learned to dance by watching birds at flight, and learned to sing by mimicking their Magnus mocking versus. She skipped like the wind does, whipping over the grassy fields, and as Magnus dips beneath the edge of the world come dusk she rolled down hills and filled valleys with laugher. In her father’s kingdom she was warm and safe, no harm could come to call; in the buttress of her mother she could sing and dance from start of dawn. She wore a dress of woven poems, and her hair was braided with happy stories, and if ever she had the need, she’d place one in her mouth to tell herself.

Upon one eve, as Anzie lay upon a hill of green under sky so turning, turning as at from day to dusk, she felt her eyelids weigh heavily upon her face, and yawned and quickly fell asleep. She slept all through the night, what dreams she had I cannot say, but slept there on the hill, as she had so many times prior, without a care, no pain was here. She awoke again, some time had past, but so was time, fleeting to the last, and she went on to seek her mother for a bite to eat and a kiss to share. She looked, she looked, over hill and valley, Anzie searched, around all the trees, and every blade that had sprouted, she looked and looked but found no success, her mother was in absence. So Anzie went out, looking to find her father for a bite to eat and a kiss to share; over hill and dale and where the river cut through the dirt, and all its tributaries on all the land, and under all the stones, but he could not be found anywhere.

Anzie was all alone, and she had searched all the day long, so when dusk came she sat up on the hill and she cried, she cried and where her tears touched the ground a flower sprang up, and by morn the hillside was covered with blooms, shiny silver stems and golden blossoms, like stars torn from the sky and scattered on the world. Anzie looked out and saw them all, covering the hill like sparkling diamonds, and reaching out she picked one from the ground and lifted it up to see. It was soft and light in her hands, and fresh and full and beautiful. “What is this thing? How can such a jewel be made, from tears shed on a bitter day?”

The bloom in her hand began to warm, and as it did Anzie felt less troubled. The bloom turned to her, and spoke in a voice not unlike the summer rain, “Who in all the world has had so much joy as you? Truly, your joy has been poured out as tears, and where they have touched the earth, so joy has sprung forth. Go then, over all the world, as you have wept so have seeds of joy been sown, and so those seeds may vanquish all sorrow, and wipe away every tear, all the sadness of the world, for truly, what can be more joyful than to be yourself a messenger of joy, a harbinger of happiness?”

So Anzie looked at the flower in her hands, and saw that it was filled with joy, and saw that when plucked up and held, it could still trembling lips, and bring solace to all who mourn. Anzie beheld the flower in her hands, and saw that it was her joy, poured out onto the world, but she hated it, for she wanted her joy to remain in her, so she rejected the bloom in her hand, throwing it to the ground, where upon that very moment it crumbled into sand, and every flower on the hillside became as dust, and the wind took them to the far corners of the world. Ever since then flowers have bloomed, and where they have people have plucked them up, or left them to lie, or planted them in gardens, and where they are they have brought joy, but even so, they have always withered come end of spring, and so likewise joy is fleeting as the passing day.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 4 2005, 09:17 PM

Summary for Nalion:
One day after Loranna's Trial: Vvardenfell, Ascadian Isles Region

There was no such thing as safety anymore. After the fight with the blue-eyes, that Nalion barely survived, he had cast a spell of invisibility and ran. He thought it was appropriate not to follow the usual traveling routes. Even teleporting and using intervention spells was not possible anymore, as the target points were very probably too well known and surely guarded, either by imperial forces, to whom he may be suspicious or by the blue-eyes, which was worse. The Breton mage couldn't recall to Ghostgate, too, for obvious reasons. Now he really regretted having traded a rather safe recall point in front of the cave of the dog on mainland Morrowind for a more convenient one in the center of Vvardenfell.
Thus, his flight from Vivec took him on a south-eastern path, over the Ascadian Isles south of Bal Fell. On one of the larger, rockier islands Nalion made a provisional camp. The waterwalking and invisibility spells he had needed to dodge blue eyed patrols had drained most of his magicka resources. He had never felt so exhausted before. He dropped his cloak and undresses his shirt and pants to examine his wounds. His body was covered with claw marks from the Winged Twilights, his side ached from a blow of a mace, probably a broken rib. Searching for his pouch of potions, he found that all of them were shattered. Nalion felt his heart sag. He closed his eyes to ease the effort of concentrating and touched his side with his fingertips. At the first and second try, his concentration slipped, but on the third one blue light emanated from his fingers, mending the rib and some of the scars.
He sagged back from the exhaustion and darkness engulfed him...

As Nalion woke, he felt a little bit better. He crawled towards the water, and looked at the face that stared back at him. A half healed scratch on his left cheek would surely leave a visible scar, from his cheekbone to his chin. Another one, a slash on his chest would leave a mark, too. The most important thing though was that brown eyes stared back at him. The mage cast another healing spell, now with less effort, then rose slowly. His muscles ached though and the rib still felt sensitive to movement.
He wished he could stay here for another couple of hours, but felt insecure. And he needed fresh water, so he slowly and under cover of an invisibility spell crossed over to a larger island west of Bal Fell, where he found a small creek. It trickled pleasantly out of the earth, oblivious of the chaos of the world. The place was hidden from prying eyes by some rocks. The mage needed to make sure he was safe, though. Nalion wasn't able to reproduce the feeling he had when his vision grew keen without the Dagger of Senses, so he touched the blade and listened with keener ears to sounds that would indicate blue-eyes in the vicinity. Luckily, this was not the case.
Now, Nalion had some brief time to think about the events he had witnessed... and where he would go from now on.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 4 2005, 10:11 PM

Summary for Nalion:
Some days after Loranna's Trial: Vvardenfell, near Tel Branora, shortly after nightfall

Nalion thought it was best to head east. Despite him being expelled from House Telvanni, he felt that he would have the best chance to get a boat while in Telvanni territory. There was a reason why there are not temples on grounds that was under the rule of Telvanni wizards. He hoped he had not misjudged his former house brothers.

He carefully moved towards the city, hiding in the shadows as well as he could, clutching his dagger of senses, as he smelled a fire to his right. He had to investigate it, else he would have unknown persons- or even enemies - in his back when he approached the town further.
He cast an invisibility spell and closed in on the fire.
The mer that was sitting there had glowing red eyes. And he looked familiar.
"Traven Marvos..." Nalion thought in surprise, took a step back and stumbled. His invisibility was lifted immediately.
The Dunmer jumped up, drawing a short blade and leapt at the Breton mage... successfully. The short blade just halted an inch from Nalions throat.
"Who are---... YOU!" Red eyes widened with recognition. A cruel grin showed on his face. "Now, Breton s'wit. You're the last one I expected to meet here. I'll guess I'll still owe you one for that beating you gave me these years ago in Mournhold..."
Nalion swallowed hard "Wait...!"
The blade moved closer to Nalions throat as a shrill shriek interrupted the 'conversation'.

A blue-eyed Dunmer stood on the crest and pointed at Traven, and his winged twilight leapt over a nearby hill, sharp fangs and claws aiming at Traven's own head. The blade at Nalions throat faltered a bit, and the mage took his chance.
A telekinesis spell thrusted Traven back, just a second before winged claws could rip off the Dunmer's head. The Twilight shrieked in anger as it swept by. A second later, a sizzling blast of fire caught the daedroth in its back, sending it to Oblivion.
At the same time, Traven got back to his feet and sent his blade towards the blue-eye, hitting him in the chest.

Traven took a deep breath and turned to Nalion, now weaponless, but still wary and with a frown and a question on his face. "Why? I was about to kill you..."

"No one deserves being killed by them." Nalion answered cautiously, got up, but still thought back to the blade at his throat.

"You saved my life when I was about to take yours. I don't like you, to say it bluntly, but I still owe you my thanks for that, I guess." the member of House Hlaalu muttered with a raspy voice, eyes cast down.

"At least I know now that you're not one of them!" Nalion replied, somewhat relieved. "If we could agree on not killing each other, we might find a way out of this misery..."

"The enemy of my enemy is your friend, eh?" Traven asked curiously. "Well, I'll tell you something. Don't think Tel Branora here is safe when one of these blue-eyes is so close about. I wanted to sneak in, steal a boat and head for the mainland. Maybe it's safer there. Couldn't get in though, those wizards annoy me."

"Thanks for your openness. I appreciate that." the mage answered. "I think if we team up, we can manage to get a fishing boat that is good enough to cross the Inner Sea. Maybe some spells can help... What do you think?"
Nalion stretched out his hand towards Traven.

The agent looked at him thoughtfully, slightly tilting his head. "I suppose it might work..."
A rough dark-skinned hand met Nalion's own pale one.
"Truce?"
"Truce."

Posted by: Aki Feb 4 2005, 10:40 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 4 2005, 03:26 AM)

Reichi, Tohe, Camassim, and Eya arrived at the stables. Considering the finite number of parraptons, it was best to use as little as feasible. Loading one parrapton down with four beings was a bit much, so they aproached the queen in groups of two, and were given their Parraptons.

Reichi and Tohe shared one, Camassim and Eya the other. Because of the group's collective in experience, they checked with the Argonian stablemaster on how to fly the parraptons, and took them for a short practice run.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 4 2005, 11:21 PM

Interlude: Tel Branora / The Inner Sea
The fisherman that woke early to begin his day's work was quite surprised when he found that his boat, that he was sure he had tied fast to its pole the other night, was gone. A lone rope was dangling from it, cut by a sharp knife.

The sea voyage was fortunately calm. During the voyage, Traven told Nalion how he came to be near Tel Branora and how he resisted Azura. In exchange, Nalion told a little about himself and his background, but carefully spared out key elements.
Traven and Nalion arrived at the mainland in good time.

Mainland Morrowind
Gathering information was a challenge, but if anything is truly free to roam over borders, cultures and friend and foe alike, it's rumour, rumour of a little village in Dres territory, resisting a seemingly overpowering foe...

"No, I won't go there, Breton. I just escaped the gross of those blue-eyes on Vvardenfell rock, I won't enter a new battlefield. Nah, do what you want, I stay out of that..." Traven said angrily.
They had discussed the matter of joining the rebel force repeatedly after they had heard the rumours.
"I was there, Traven, I saw it. I felt it. I can't just stand aside. I've lost people that are dear to me. I don't know where they are, nor whether they still live. I saw them head east, in the direction of Ald Sotha. Then I heard Ald Sotha was destroyed." Nalion answered.
"I have to do at least something, and if I can help some people who fight against the blue-eyes, I have to go there. I can't hold you. You have to go your own way. I'll head for this village now. Are you with me?"

Traven inclined his head in thought. "No, I won't. I'll head to Cyrodiil, seems calmer there. You're capable, Breton." The Hlaalu retainer pursed his lips, then looked into the mages eyes. "Take care." Traven took his few belongings and half of the provisions, gave Nalion a curt nod and headed southwest, towards the border to the imperial province.

The Breton mage gathered his own belongings and made his way to the rebel village, with the name Ald Raathim.

Ald Raathim
Several days later, a breton arrived at Ald Raathim, weary, with sore feet, covered in the dust of the road. He wore a ragged robe, only traces of blue hinted at its original colour. His brown hair was unkempt, his eyes of the same colour were half covered by the lids. A ragged beard covered a thin but visible scar on his left cheek. The bag slung over his back seemed to be empty. The staff he held looked a bit dented at the steel tips, but the blade of a dagger that was stuck loosely in a cloth that was wrapped around his waist was polished and gleamed when the light touched it at the right angle.
Suspicious faces greeted him, wary, mistrusting. Several people around touched their weapons.

"I do not wish you any harm." Nalion called. "May I speak to your leader?"

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 12:12 AM

Teleran gathered his belongings, mostly daggers of varying quality and a few healing potions, and walked to the stables with his bag slung over his shoulder.

As he walked in he noticed that a couple of parraptons were already in the air. He laid his bag down and approached the queen, under much better control this time than when he had first approached her. The queen acknowledged him and Vilyanna came to his side.

A few moments later he was in the skies. He flew aimless circle reveling in the freedom of flight, but the moment turned bittersweet when he remembered he would not experience flight again for a long time, at least, not after this last trip to Tel Sigrad.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 5 2005, 12:32 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 4 2005, 04:11 PM)

The hands that seized the ragged Breton were not exactly gentle, but not rough either. Jazbet's border patrol had stopped waiting for permission to cast dispell on refugees.

The border patrol had never encountered someone born under the sign of the Atronach, however. The first two spells were absorbed; only on the third did the Dunmer woman reading off the scrolls pronounce herself satisfied.

"Everyone wants to see the leader," she said. "The Tiberine and Lord Jazbet are busy. Go register in town and get yourself some food and blankets and a place to sleep, you look like you need it."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 5 2005, 12:44 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 4 2005, 03:11 PM)

Suspicious faces greeted him, wary, mistrusting. Several people around touched their weapons.

"I do not wish you any harm." Nalion called. "May I speak to your leader?"

Aricyn sat astride Kynidius in the cool morning light as the refugees assembled in Ald Raathim's market square. The little village formed the center of an impromptu town of tents that stretched for miles in all directions.

The people had brought two men before him.

The first had been caught red-handed stealing food and gold from another.

The second had received shipments of saltrice and kwama eggs from his private estate to the north, and had begun selling them at prices more fit for a queen's jewels.

Aricyn heard the grievances against both men. If they had been villagers, he would have given them over to the authority of their local lord, but both were refugees, not vassals of Jazbet.

He gave his judgement, and the crowd cheered. Aricyn knew what sort of justice Dunmer expected from their leaders.

Within minutes, the two men swung on ropes from the tavern balcony, their necks broken by the drop.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 5 2005, 12:52 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 4 2005, 11:22 PM)

Despite having been handled quite roughly, Nalion felt refreshed from the magicka flowing into his body. His mind was equally stressed as his body from the travel and nearly continuous casting of spells.
He straigthened his clothes that were dishevelled by the guards, then he looked at the guard abruptly.
"Tiberine? What? No, no did you just, you mean... huh? And Jazbet?" the mage exclaimed surprised, his face a mixture between question mark and dumb astonishment.
The name Jazbet sounded familiar, as if he had heard it before, but he couldn't pin it down where...

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 4 2005, 11:34 PM)

Just as he was about to head over to register, he saw the two men hanging from the balcony, Aricyn standing near.
His eyes widened in surprise and Nalion quickend his step, a greeting on his lips.
"Aricyn! Is that you? What are you doing here?" Remembering the two poor souls, he added with a frown "What, what happened here, why? An execution? Were they blue-eyes?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 5 2005, 12:59 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 4 2005, 04:42 PM)

A pair of Dunmer soldiers, well-equipped with ebony-tipped spears, moved quickly to stop the Breton, but Aricyn held up his hand.

"Nalion? Is that you, man?"

He dismounted and the crowd parted as he walked to the Breton.

"You look terrible.

"Get this man some food," he said to a nearby Dunmer, "and go to the castle and tell them to prepare him a proper room!"

"It looks like you have a story to tell, and not a cheerful one at that."

Posted by: Nalion Feb 5 2005, 01:08 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 4 2005, 11:49 PM)

"You don't know how it feels to see a friendly face after all that happened." Nalion said relieved, finally relaxing from the tension that had kept building up over all these days.
"No, my story is not cheerful. Yours doesn't seem to be, too, but you definitely fared better. I still can't believe what happened at Vivec, I saw you leaving the city with the others after, after, you banished Azura. I feared the worst." A thought came to his mind. "Are some of the others here, too? Allerleirauh, Arynel, Solin, Reichi, you know? What's with Loranna? Is she... dead?"
Questions seemed to flow over Nalions lips that he nearly forgot to thank Aricyn for the shelter. Taking care of that, he looked in the direction of the castle. "That way?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 5 2005, 01:17 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 4 2005, 04:58 PM)

Aricyn had gathered the people this morning to tell them something. Something important. But with the thieves, and now Nalion's arrival, events seemed to be against him, at least now... at least that's what he told himelf.

"Yes," he said to Nalion, "this way."

He walked with him the mile or so to the castle. A polite distance behind them, a Dunmer led his horse.

"That's a lot of questions at once," Aricyn said through a smile.

"Firstly, everyone you mentioned is here and safe, for the moment, including Loranna. The sword was meant for Azura, not for her, and she is entirely recovered, as far as I can tell. Not infested with Azura, and not pregnant, but recovered.

"These are the Dres Khajiit, Jazbet's, lands. All of these people," he said, motioning to the many mer and men who stopped working long enough to bow or salute Aricyn as he passed, "are refugees from the surrounding countryside. We've worked hard to make this place safe from the Azurites."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 5 2005, 01:25 AM

Void Ranger Guildhouse, Daggerfall:

How Tamne reacted Arynel’s story the Breton could not discern, but she seemed docile enough after that, perhaps relieved, perhaps too devastated to speak. Although not one himself for making conversation, Arynel made a number of attempts, albeit sparse, to end Tamne’s silent streak, but aside from the occasional death wish or protruding tongue, the little Dunmer girl remained staunchly defiant.

Feeling somewhat awkward, Arynel made use of his lute, to which Tamne would clamp her hands down hard over her ears, and scrunch her nose up in disgust. On a few scattered occasions when the Breton seemed to be paying more attention to his lute than to the girl, Tamne would ever so cautiously let open a space between hand and ear, and then quickly snap it shut again.

Arynel left the guildhouse at one point, pawned off a few versus for a handful of Septims, and returned with a small box filled with assorted puzzle pieces, which Tamne quickly discovered were easily adapted as throwing weapons for no good Bretons. The two found themselves setting on opposite ends of the room, whether Arynel’s stay at the guildhouse had a positive effect on Tamne the Breton did not know.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 5 2005, 01:28 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 12:07 AM)

Nalion joined and walked besides Aricyn.
"That is very good to hear." Nalion felt his spirits rising. "This village, though crowded, seems rather organized. You did a good job as far as one unskilled in warfare can determine. Ah, now I remember, Jazbet was the Khajit in Lord Dres Gaors entourage. He was a knight, right? And those 'Azurites' as you call them are those who fell under Azura's spell. blue eyes, accompanied with twilights. Yes, that makes sense."
Now that the Breton was a bit more informed about the current situation, he began to briefly sketch out what had happened to him the past days. They slowly approached the castle.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 5 2005, 01:36 AM

Jazbet's Castle

Loranna had woken early, with slightly more gasping than usual. Rubbing her temples and trying to banish the image of Azura in a bridesmaid's dress cheerfully stomping her flat after a lenghty shouting match over how to hold the wedding, she sits up and gathers her wits.

Jazbet was still asleep for the moment; kissing him tenderly, Loranna let him sleep. He would doubtless see them all off, and she ... needed to talk to people, and get her things ready ...

Slipping the ring Jazbet gave her back on her finger, Loranna makes her way back to her room, where she dresses in a suit of leather armor she had purchased for herself, and checks what little equipment she has to her name. Silver shortsword, buckler, pack and healer's kit and belt for holding pouches and potions - said potions to hopefully soon be supplied ...

Packing some paper, ink, and pens, Loranna heads outside, wandering around the beach for a bit. Mentally, she starts yelling for Dagoth, hoping he's listening.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 5 2005, 01:39 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 06:26 PM)

Dagoth a faint yelling in his head. 'Loranna? What's going on?'

He could tell that it must have been serious if she was yelling like that...

Posted by: Loranna Feb 5 2005, 01:44 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Feb 4 2005, 07:29 PM)

Dagoth a faint yelling in his head. 'Loranna? What's going on?'

He could tell that it must have been serious if she was yelling like that...

Loranna's tone sounds distracted.

... Um, we need to talk a bit, she says, looking at her new ring. Come by the beach, please?

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 5 2005, 01:46 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 06:34 PM)

Loranna's tone sounds distracted.

... Um, we need to talk a bit, she says, looking at her new ring. Come by the beach, please?

'Of course love...'

Dagoth searched for the mark spot he put near the shoreline, and recalled to it.

'Okay, I should be by the North part of the beach now...'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 5 2005, 01:50 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Feb 4 2005, 07:36 PM)

'Of course love...'

Dagoth searched for the mark spot he put near the shoreline, and recalled to it.

'Okay, I should be by the North part of the beach now...'

Loranna walks over to Dagoth, smiling a bit in greeting. Dagoth can see she's wearing a new ring.

... Um ... Loranna says, realizing she has no real idea how to broach the subject. She briefly notes she has yet to fully master the lesson Arynel just told her, before deciding on trying for a direct but hopefully gentle approach.

... Jazbet and I talked some last night, after the meeting, she tells Dagoth. He ... asked that I consider a proposal of his.

She rubs the ring with her fingers.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 5 2005, 01:51 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 4 2005, 05:18 PM)

Aricyn listened to his story, marveling that he made all this way alive.

"There goes Loranna now," he said to Nalion, pointing, "You can see by her running that she's recovered well-enough."

Aricyn showed the Breton into the castle, and put him in the care of the friendly staff. They were already making up a room for him, and the kindly cook was making him some, no doubt tastleless, soup.

"Everyone is preparing for a journey today. They're going into Black Marsh. I am sure they would welcome you, or you can stay here and regain your strength."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 5 2005, 01:53 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 06:40 PM)

Dagoth's illusion looked a bit... curious. 'Does it have something to do with that ring you're wearing? Whatever you have to tell me, don't make it hard on yourself by hesistating...' He said with a bit of concern in his voice.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 5 2005, 01:59 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Feb 4 2005, 07:43 PM)

Loranna pauses for a moment, staring at Dagoth like he just told her the sky is blue. She then looks like she just realized she needed to be reminded the sky is in fact blue, and then like she's ready to beat herself black and blue.

Yes; he asked me to marry him, she says. ... And the ring also has some enchantments to help me get through our upcoming quest but that's incidental no matter what the hell I was thinking last night when he first said it ...

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 5 2005, 02:02 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 06:49 PM)

Dagoth just kinda standed there, his illusionary and skeletal mouth both hanging wide open. 'Marry?! ... what does that do to us?'

He was more then alittle shocked here.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 5 2005, 02:05 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Feb 4 2005, 07:52 PM)

Dagoth just kinda standed there, his illusionary and skeletal mouth both hanging wide open. 'Marry?! ... what does that do to us?'

He was more then alittle shocked here.

"I don't know, but I don't intend to say anything one way or the other until I figure it out," Loranna says, not realizing she said that aloud.

Her shoulders slump. " ... I told him I love him, that I see him in my future, but ... we all need to sit down and talk this over, before I say anything definite."

Posted by: Nalion Feb 5 2005, 02:09 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 12:41 AM)

Nalion looked after Loranna, but his attention quickly turned to Arycin and the castle. And more to the prospect of a bed and a hot meal.
"Thank you once more, Aricyn. This welcome is way more than I dared to imagine." The mage looked around and put his staff in a corner of the room that was just being prepared for him.
"A mission into the swamps? What is going on there?" Nalion asked.
Aricyn began to explain him the most important reasons why they needed to go to Black Marsh.
Nalion nodded thoughtfully. "Well I guess it's decided then. If there is a chance I can be more helpful than burden, I will go with you into the swamps." He longingly stared a short while at the bed.
Meanwhile the food was brought in. Eagerly, he began to eat, tearing at the bread with his teeth and nearly burning his tongue on the hot soup. In his haste, and due to the fact that a half-burned tongue isn't very good at tasting food, he didn't realize that the soup was rather .. dull.
As he finished, he excused himself and began preparations for a small, but hopefully resting nap. Before he was about to get to a short nap, he asked that he should be wakened as soon as the party started to leave.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 5 2005, 02:12 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 06:55 PM)

Dagoth was still kinda in a semi-stupor. 'Umm... just... wow... this is gonna need alot of talking about... wow...'

His illusion had that kinda 'extremely surpirised/shocked' look.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 5 2005, 02:23 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Feb 4 2005, 08:02 PM)

Dagoth was still kinda in a semi-stupor. 'Umm... just... wow... this is gonna need alot of talking about... wow...'

His illusion had that kinda 'extremely surpirised/shocked' look.

Loranna takes a deep breath, and slowly reaches out to take Dagoth's hand in her own.

"Yes, it will," she says softly, squeezing his hand.

It was hard to think of what exactly to say after that, but Loranna tries to say something anyway. " ... Things will work out, dear ..."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Feb 5 2005, 02:25 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 4 2005, 07:13 PM)

Dagoth embraced Loranna mentally. 'I hope so Loranna... I truly hope so.'

Dagoth just hoped that if she married Jazbet, it wouldn't take her away from him... or him from her...

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 5 2005, 02:59 AM

*Erenius looked about his small room, a vast improvement over his previous places of rest over the several nights previous*

"But they could certainly do better..." Erenius mumbles, stowing his things before leaving his room again to wander the grounds. "And things havent made any sense at all...none of it, save that which I've already pieced together."

*Erenius goes down the stairs from his chambers, then out through the main hall before leaving the tower, shaking his head, trying to make sense of all that the entire time*

'Too much, and little reason for this to be happening, or so it would seem...' Erenius mutters, noting the stored provisions and such in a corner. 'And what is the meaning of all these supplies. It's like another trip is planned, but to where, and why?'

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 04:59 AM

After climbing as high as he could on Vilyanna he found himself over two other parraptons. He couldn't identify the riders from this distance, but he decided that the only ones who would have parraptons were Jazbet's guards, or one of the group he had arrived here with. He plummeted from the sky and streaked past them in a blur. He came up past them a second time and identified the riders, not guards thankfully, a guard might have seen to it that he never got near a parrapton again for that stunt. "Hail, friends, how are you Reichi? Eya? Camassin? Tohe? You know its much more fun if ride one to a parrapton."

Teleran looped around the parraptons before climbing and coming down in a corkscrew. He finally stopped and hovered, waiting for a response.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 05:04 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 4 2005, 10:49 PM)

"Its to make sure theres enough Parraptons for everyone, Tel," Reichi responded, bringing his Parrapton up, after Teleran. "Besides, I wouldn't exactly trust Cammassim or Tohe flying these things."

Tohe, who was behind Reichi, bapped him on the back of the head. Camassim merely grinned. "Ow," Reichi mumbled, rubbing his head.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 05:18 AM

"But they're missing out on so much. Want to go for a spin, Vilyanna could beat both your parraptons hands down. I'll even bring enough weight to make up for not having an extra person, well not enough to make up for Camassin, but equal weights anyway." Teleran stated.

Now Teleran was doing loops around Eya's parrapton, grateful that the saddle allowed him to stay on the parrapton when upside down.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 05:24 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 4 2005, 11:08 PM)

Eya's parrapton apeared to be tempermental, and lashed out with a free limb at Tel's parrapton. Reich grinned, "A race you say? Heh, i'll show you," Reichi said. "You're on."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 05:33 AM

"How about you Eya, you in?" Teleran grinned. "Alright I figure we race from here to the river I chased you lot down past, and back if you wish. Vilyanna will give you both a whipping. We'll start after a loop around the keep, agreed. Lets start then."

Vilyanna buzzed lazily to the other side of the keep, expecting Reichi's and Eya's parrapton mounts to follow.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 05:36 AM

Both Parraptons followed after Vilyanna, and Teleran. Both rider's were grinning.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 05:42 AM

Teleran waited for the other two to catch up, when they did he yelled out to them, "Alright when you can see that tree again we start the race, if you've got any questions, keep up so you can ask."

They came around the estate and Vilyanna burst off the line. The race was begun, Teleran grinned madly as he gained some altitude and glanced back quickly to see where Reichi and Eya were.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 05:45 AM

Reichi had dove low, using the weight on the Parrapton to pick up speed, the Parrapton fled low over the tree tops. Reichi was begining to get a bit ahead of Teleran. Eya had decided to remain level with Telerean and was gaining on him, albeit slowly.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 05:53 AM

Teleran watched Aki move ahead slightly. "You'll hit the ground if you keep that up Reichi, forest ahead!" Eya was gaining that was no good, but he continued upwards, the ceiling for how high a parrapton could maintain flight was a few dozen meters above where he was now, then he would lose some speed if he forced Vilyanna that high. He didn't a second later Teleran was coming down at a velocity that put his earlier swoop to shame. He grinned down at Aki as he passed him.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 05:57 AM

Reichi cursed, and directed the parrapton to pull up. Eya meanwhile, climbed a few meters, then followed suit after Teleran, swooping after him, and nearly breaking even with him. Reichi continued to gain on the both of them, cursing more.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 06:06 AM

"Language, Reichi, watch your @#$%ing language," Teleran yelled back, Eya was still gaining, 'how am I going to lose her, hmm, Lets see if I can make her take a swim.' Teleran grinned the river was already in sight, much faster than the previous day, no weaving after the werewolves this time he supposed. He urged Vilyanna to go faster and went even lower, just grazing the tops of the tallest trees.

Jus a few hundred meters until they got to the river.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 06:08 AM

Eya maintained her height, Reichi however was made level with Teleran by this move. Eya was begining to get ahead of Teleran. Reichi was gaining faster now.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 06:12 AM

Teleran saw Eya edge ahead of him and grinned to himself, '3...2...1...now!' Vilyanna spun almost in place as she reached the edge of the river and shot back in almost the same trajectory she had come in on. She gained speed and altitude cutting in front of Eya and accelerating away.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 06:17 AM

Reichi rose, flying higher than the others, until he reached the Parrapton's flight cieling, at which point he dove, cutting in front of Teleran with a lucky gust of wind. Eye muttered something unintelligeble, and tried to manuever around Vilyanna.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 06:21 AM

Teleran maneuvered into Reichi's slipstream and matched his speed. Vilyanna buzzed angrily at being held back in the slightest, but continued along, rising slightly above Reichi's parrapton.

Teleran tried to figure out what it was that Eya had just muttered.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 5 2005, 06:22 AM

Dante let out a sigh; it wouldn’t be too much longer until they left for that dungeon. He wondered where everyone had ran off to, namely Illidan…he hadn’t seen him for a very long time. But he thought nothing of it; Illidan had disappeared for days on end multiple times beforehand.
-----------

A dark island, somewhere-

“Do you swear loyalty to your new master…?” A shrill voice asked. It’s face hidden by its hood. “I’d rather know the name of whom I’m serving, before I refer to him as my ‘master’” He scoffed back, staggering as his feet began to fall about each other.

“Listen…” Snarled the cultist, clutching his hand around Illidans’ throat, before leaning in and whispering something inaudible. Illidan let out a hiss of his own once the cultists’ grip softened, something, which had become second nature with his new-found life-style.

The two made their way through a large arched door to the room where this ‘master’ stood on his raised platform, “Illidan….”

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 06:25 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 5 2005, 12:11 AM)

Reichi rose to block Teleran, while Eya's parrapton passed beneath them. Reichi frowned, one on one, this was easy, but with three parraptons, this was proving to be a challenge.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 06:31 AM

Teleran broke from Reichi's slipstream, dove and followed Eya, dropping into her slipstream now. Villyanna was pleased to be able to use her speed, but was disappointed when she stayed just behind. 'Just a little longer Vilyanna, just a little longer...'

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 06:32 AM

Reichi dropped down, following after Teleran, yet again. Eya urged her Paarrapton onward. Meanwhile, Tohe wondered if getting the Parraptons worn out by racing was a good idea.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 06:36 AM

The estate came into view and Teleran let Vilyanna go at full, the buzzing rose to a crescendo as Vilyanna blasted past Eya and headed for the goal. 'With Vilyanna going all out they win't be able to catch up again. Vilyanna did a slight swoop to pick up even more speed. Only a few dozen to the finish now.

Vilyanna put on even more, determined not to be caught by the others.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 06:38 AM

In addition to being tempermental, Eya's parrapton was also very competative, and took off at full speed after Vilyanna, catching up rapdily.
Reichi sighed and urged his Parrapton to do so as well, it tried, but rather half-heartedly.

"Rotten bug..."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 06:47 AM

'Just a few more meters, just a few more...' Teleran thought. He heard the buzzing growing behind him increase in intensity as a parrapton bore down on him, but he did not spare the time to glance back as he urged Vilyanna to go faster, 'Almost there.' He saw Eya's parrapton begin coming up beside Vilyanna and they were across the line. He doubted that there was a whit of difference between the two parraptons, but since Eya's parrapton never actually took the lead even after they crossed the final boundary, which was ill-defined to begin with, he yelled "Told you I'd win! What are you doing back there Reichi, taking a breather?"

Teleran brought Vilyanna in to land near the stables before leaping off, exuberant.

Posted by: Aki Feb 5 2005, 06:53 AM

Eya and Reichi's parraptons set down nearby. "That was a tie," Eya said as she leapt off her parrapton. Reichi meanwhile, climbed off his and sat down on a nearby tree stump, muttering. Camassim dismounted, his dreadlocked hair was noticabley blown back from his face. Tohe remained on the parrapton, trying to get it to take off. Reichi had made sure not to tell him.

Posted by: Dumbkid Feb 5 2005, 06:55 AM

The Old Dunmer found himself near Bal Fell; better, he made his feet to find that place. A purposeful chant of “AE PADHOME AE ALTADOON” kept the daedra at bay, but did not help with the pestering blue eyes, whose ghost names he carved in the ash, filling the spaces with bonemeal and whispering secrets for the spirits to tell; he was soon alone in the ruin.

Inside he brought forth the proper tools from his pouch, and drew ceremonial lines of cosmic significance inside the ruin, and at the proper intervals he would stop and chant a word to the spirits no modern tongue can decipher, this was no grandiose display, but a delicate balance of beauty and terror; tinkling spirit bone bracelet for ancestors who fell in war, bonemeal for ancestors who fell in peace.

Once finished, having drawn the proper lines, the old Dunmer removed his clothing, laying down the netch leather moccasins, loin cloth, and leggings, laying down the many-boned breastplate, he walked the path which he had drawn out, stopping at the appropriate places to offer up praises and whole scriptures in a single word, that is to say a world myth wound in a letter of ambivalence.

The old Dunmer reached the appropriate position, and with a spoken word sounding not unlike a thousand modern tongues singing at once the drawn lines burst into flames, flickering fires of colors known and unknown. Reaching out the old Dunmer took from the inferno a string: LORNA AE ALLRLR AE ARYNL AE SLN AE ARCYN AE DRL AE MN-REVR AE SIMLCRM AE AI ALTADOON.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 5 2005, 07:10 AM

"Fine, fine, a tie then." Teleran conceded. "still, how much fun was that? Though I suppose we should let the parraptons rest now." Teleran walked around the grounds of the estate, bouncing on his heels.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 5 2005, 11:13 AM

Jazbet woke up. He reached over and spoke her name, but he realized Loranna had left ... Well, they had agreed not to talk about what he had suggested until she had return from the Vaults of Gemin.

The Khajiit knew that he needed to wish the adventurers well on this most essential mission.

He dressed in the clothing that he never had felt comfortable in, and still did not, but he felt the occasion merited it, if any did. A midnight blue robe with a black fur color with the crest of House Dres embazoned on the back. It was as formal and as somber an ensemble as he possessed.

So dressed, he went out to the stables, to bid the adventurers a safe journey to Tel Silgrad, and from there to Stormhold, and the Vaults of Gemin.

Posted by: Nalion Feb 5 2005, 09:07 PM

The true worth of a sleep in a real bed can only be appreciated when one has experienced its lack.

This and other thoughts roamed freely through Nalions mind as he was having a restful and most important, a peaceful sleep.
As he awoke, he felt as refreshed as if he had had a week's sleep. The bowl of fresh, clear water that stood on a small table and which he used excessively, added to this feeling.
The new-looking clothes that an attentive servant had placed on a stool fit him well and soon he was clad in simple brown trousers and a brown-and-black shirt. Sturdy and seemingly reliable boots added to his appearance. He buckled on a belt, and put his dagger of senses into a sheath at his side.
His few other belongings were quickly stuffed in his bag which he placed on the stool, ready for immediate departure.
The Breton mage left his staff where he placed it the other day and stepped out of his room to have a look around.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 5 2005, 09:27 PM

Daggerfall: Dragon

Dragon had turned down the Fighters' Guild offer of a bounty for every Azurite head he brought in. However, a simple visit to a nearby cavern brought him up against several Azurites hiding from the law.

Killing people had never bothered him. Particularly people who attacked first and asked questions later. He supposed that was yet another part of his personality that had gone missing, along with the part that tied him to a single passage through time. There were too many people in the world, far too many stupid people, far too many mean people. This was just pruning.

Five Azurites, three middle-aged women and two effete, civilized looking men. Probably some witchcraft reading circle from the city that had never thought beyond how amusing it was to do something clever and illegal. He waited several long slow beats of his heart before responding to their charge, to give them plenty of time to summon their Winged Twilights. Easy money. He had a sackful of greater soul gems just waiting to appreciate in value. The trick was taking out the vicious, powerful Daedra before harming the more delicate mortals who had summoned them. He wasn't using his usual Dwemer broadsword, but a Daedric blade enchanted to cast soultrap on contact and christened Twilightbane.

He had just taken the second Twilight when one of the women, screaming, plunged a dagger into his forearm. Dragon tossed his head in annoyance and cleaved her skull in two.

There was a flash, and the sound of her soul being sucked free and into one of the gems in his sack.

He wasn't sure, so he killed the other four. Sure enough, five greater soul gems in his pack, vibrating with identity, heavy with the souls of Bretons. Well. Not Bretons. Azurites. Didn't Azurites fall under Arkay's protection? Maybe not. Obviously not. And why should they, when Azura had called on them to forswear all other gods? They had deliberately placed themselves outside the reach of Arkay's blessing.

"The General will want to know this," he said.

The General had indeed been interested. She had taken the five gems from him with a look of concern. No doubt she would be too tender-hearted to use them for enchantments. Dragon sold the Twilight souls to the Mages' Guild and returned to the Guildhouse.

After washing the grime of adventuring away, he joined Skein for dinner. The little Azurite girl, Tamne, ate with them now. She seemed pleasant enough - quieter. As the table was being cleared, she surreptitiously removed the silver salt cellar, shaped like a boat, and tucked it behind a chair. Dragon noticed the theft but said nothing.

The salt cellar reappeared later in Tamne's room, lying on its side on the edge of the carpet, surrounded by bits of wood. The child herself was being bathed by the housekeeper.

"What's she done here?" Dragon asked Skein, who was more clever than he at snatching meaning from random patterns.

"Can't you tell?" Skein replied. "It's a shipwreck. Those are her parents lying dead. Those are the insects who came to eat them. There is the mangrove forest in which she hid."

"Then where is she?" Dragon said.

Skein simply shook her head, a troubled look in her dark eyes.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 01:40 AM

Allerleirauh:

Loranna was right about one thing - she had been stretching herself too thin.

Right now she was sitting in what had long been one of her favorite places to sit; atop the dome of Vivec's palace in Vivec city. Here she had always been able to hear Vehk's whisper, even after he had departed.

"My father gave me the sun, moon and stars," she said out loud. "My mother gave me - different gifts. You - we spoke of children, you and I. I feel you peeking through my window still, though I cannot hear your voice. Who is she, your daughter, and do you care what I do for her? Help me, sweet lord."

No answer. Not even the shouting of Ordinators far below. Vivec's city was dead now.

"What are you doing up here?"

She turned, startled to hear another voice, and nearly slipped off the roof. It was Doll.

"I have my report from the Towers of Dusk and Dawn," Doll said. "I'm not going back there ever again. Red Mountain is a cursed place, a terrible place. Step outside there and you can end up someplace that never was, someplace that never should have been."

"Rimmen is the same way," Allerleirauh said. "I'm sorry, I didn't think."

"They caught me," Doll said. "Nearest the leaders they have a Temple guard who have given themselves over to the will of Azura and can sense people's thoughts, the way Loranna could. Only, unlike Loranna, they aren't afraid to use it. I had to run for my life. I'm not sure where I was and how I came back, but it wasn't by the usual way."

Beneath her icy composure, the Akaviri girl seemed truly shaken.

"I hope you weren't hurt," Allerleirauh said, taking her hand.

"No."

The two women looked at each other in silence, and then Doll resumed her report. When she had finished, they returned together to Jazbet's castle.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 6 2005, 02:13 AM

Void Ranger Guildhouse, Daggerfall:

Arynel did not know if his relationship with Tamne had improved, but the Breton was not skilled highly in such propsects. He bid his leave, that is to say he snuck out when he thought no one was looking, as not to have to leave behind an unneccesary goodbye.

He wrote a quick peice of prose, selling it off for twenty five Septims. The man shook his head in bewilderment, to which the Breton replied: "A seed of wisdom sewn within, will a seed grow proper if it is not fully covered by good dirt?"

Whether the vendor knew the meaning of this or not, Arynel left the book store with a handful of Septims, and returned to Jazbet's estate via the Void.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 6 2005, 02:28 AM

Book Sold to Vendor in Daggerfall:

Frivolous, how frivolous this grandiose display of kings and queens and nobles all going ‘bout the day. The wealthy they get richer, all dressed up like festive turkeys, the poor they go on as they were, with help of Zenithar’s mercy. Lament, lament the falling star, the devils kiss to fray every thread entwined as one, time well spent is time unclaimed. Haughty pomp and drama leister, the armored swimmer skewered, take a flower when you greet her, as they say in orated apertures. Lewd and crude and festive, and not without a bit of lascivious pretense, vastly indigestive, the tales they tell of recent. Courtesy and proper fashion, are telling signs and prompt details, telling signs of caution, and social mores soon degrading.

Frivolous, how frivolous this grandiose display of kings and queens and nobles all dancing night and day, whilst the common townsfolk, bakers, tanners, all, work and sweat all the day long, ‘neat Magnus shinning strong. The wealthy they get nice and plump, just like the year end ham, the poor they keep on working, with aid of Zenithar’s hand. Lament, lament, the day is done, the night is crawling near, no more time for laboring, the time for rest is here. So go on now as you were, let end the passing muses, no need have you to question, the path the world so chooses. Go on now just as you have, and tomorrow will you also; happy will you not be to follow the road before you?

T H E E B S Y O W O L C N I U T S H N A A F L P D L A
H S N W E M A F , A E O A O R R ; R W R T T F O I L T
E O B O C E M O T D A M L N T A T E O E I H , F N U I
P G Y R O R A L H S R E L T H V H A U V O E S F T M O
A I T L M E P L E O B S U O E E E D N E N S T A O I N
T V H D E L T O R C E A S F R L T U D L O E E N I N .

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 03:02 AM

Allerleirauh sang to herself as she passed through the halls of the castle. She hadn't had any luck in finding Jazbet so far; she thought she'd check in with Solin and the simulacrum in the library.

The song wasn't one of her own - it was Arynel's. Or at least, the words were his.

"Every moment a coiled eternity
Played out in the murmurings of passing days
A song so played and sung by those who know
And a note of my own to the silver capped mountain..."

Thus singing, she rounded a corner and came face to face with Arynel. She blushed, and stopped in mid-song.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 6 2005, 03:05 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 06:52 PM)

Upon seeing Allerleirauh, Arynel smiled in spite himself. The Breton made no remark of the song, but greeted her warmly.

"How does the road greet you, friend? It's been hard and winding for the longest time, and I see that it goes on as such for quite aways. I do not think, though, that it is without some semblance of serenity."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 6 2005, 03:07 AM

Candlemass, High Rock

The little village of Candlemass was on the Bjoulsae, a day by boat to Wayrest. To the north-east was the Kingdom of Evermore, to the south-east, the Hammerfell Kingdom of Skaven. It was a idyllic place, a little clearing of trees along the banks of the river, with nothing much of interest for merchants or adventurers, except for a temple, a Benevolence, dedicated to Mara.

As if protected by the Mother Goddess, Candlemass had clement weather year round, though today there was frost on the grass and the windows.

It was here Elysana, the Queen of Wayrest, met her children.

Tymona took after her father, Elysana’s consort. She was four, but extremely formal, polite, and deferential. She kissed her mother’s cheek, and did not speak unless spoken to. When asked, she said she was enjoying herself, and the Prioress said that she was a delight.

Eadwyre, Elysana’s son, was nine. When the Queen had seen him last, he had been crying, furious with her for leaving him behind. Now he threw himself into her arms, eager to tell her all of his adventures. The Prioress had been less effusive in her praise of him. Eadwyre was emotional, impulsive, stubborn. Elysana couldn’t think where he had gotten those traits, unless it was from his namesake, his grandfather. Perhaps he had been like that at that age. Perhaps, Elysana thought with a slight smile, she had been like that herself.

The children and the Queen spent several hours together, and then their belongings were collected, packed, and the three of them boarded her ship to continue the voyage to Wayrest.

Elysana reread the letter from Count Sternhart on the way, touching her necklace instinctively as she did.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 03:12 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 5 2005, 07:55 PM)

"I'm anything but serene," Allerleirauh said, still blushing. "In fact, I'm not sure why I'm singing - except that I somehow enjoy the feeling of impending disaster."

So - he was serene now. And she was 'friend'. And so she didn't say she had missed him, and his mere presense in the same space with her made her feel like someone waking out of a long sleep.

"I spoke with Dragon," she said, coming quickly to the first of many points of business. "What do you make of this?"

She placed a greater soul gem into his hand. It was thrumming and alive with the soul it contained - the soul of an Azurite woman, born a Breton. Not very powerful, as souls went; but more so than the soul of a peasant, for she had been a witch.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 6 2005, 03:17 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 07:02 PM)

Arynel exmined the soul gem, twisting up his mouth like he had eaten a lemon. He turned his attention back to Alllerleirauh.

"It's an Azurites' soul," the Breton said, "I suppose their souls are not protected. Very well, my judgement is the same either way, that is none before its requirement."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 03:36 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 5 2005, 08:07 PM)

"I don't think I can bring myself to use it," Allerleirauh said.

"That's the first news. The second news - I heard from little Doll. She's in her room resting. We should find Solin, perhaps he'll be able to shed some light."

Solin was in the library again, with the simulacrum. Allerleirauh looked into its eyes - it seemed almost as if it wanted to speak to her.

"Doll brings word of the situation at Azura's temple," she said. "I'll need to speak to Jazbet, of course. But I wanted to talk to the two of you first. First, it's difficult to Ranger in and out of Red Mountain, because the place isn't stable. It's like Rimmen. She describes having to return home by an outside path - that is very disturbing, even for someone with experience. Second, it's her opinion that assassination of the leaders is not the answer, because in this case the leaders - the abbot of Holamayan is now the Archcanon, and Nibani Maesa is with him as a seer and advisor - are the moderate ones. They mean well. They are simply following a mistaken path, because they have seen Azura overthrow Vivec's lies. Third - they intend to fulfill the rest of the prophecies of the Nerevarine. They want to drive the N'Wah from the land. That includes you, Solin - N'Wah has a new meaning now, anyone who isn't an Azurite. Already they have sent warriors to intercept the tribute payment from Hlaalu, which is the only House still paying taxes. They also say that everything created by Vivec shall fall, and that the fall of his city was the first sign. Since the Armistice was his work, that means its days are numbered."

She paused and took a breath.

"The Azurites have a special band of elite warriors, drawn from among those who used to be Armigers. You saw some of them at the Trial. They have the ability to read minds as Loranna used to, which makes plotting against the Azurite leaders tricky. The Telvanni have apparently decided to pitch in with the strongest party, and they are within Red Mountain now, creating - something. Doll thinks a giant soul gem. And the last thing. There is a massive bronze colossus of Azura which rises from within the crater. It's not a new Numidium, just a statue. But because of its size, and because it's made of different plates, it groans every morning and evening as it heats and cools from the sun. It can be heard, apparently, for quite some distance. Nibani Maesa takes it upon herself to interpret its groans as the words of Azura."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 6 2005, 03:43 AM

Kallen’s parrapton flew lightly over the tree-tops, approaching the castle of Jazbet, until it arrived at last, landing at the stables. Casts-The-Bones led the wasp back to its mother while Kallen approached Jazbet.

‘Good,’ said the seneschal. ‘I was afraid everyone would have left already, milord.’

‘They will be here soon,’ smiled the Khajiit. ‘They know how urgent this is. But they each have preparations to make. I would not want them to rush in in a disorganized fashion. Were you able to find Pulcinius?’

‘Yes,’ said Kallen. ‘He will greet them when they arrive in Tel Silgrad and when they come back. He will give them shelter and help if they need it, and send word to us when the parraptons should be sent to pick them back up on their return.’

‘Good lad, thank you,’ said Jazbet.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 03:44 AM

Aricyn again had the stableboy saddle Kynidius. Some horses would have been very tired, by now, of being ridden around all day long. Kynidius had more energy than he needed, however, and had pranced in his stall when he saw the boy coming with the saddle.

Aricyn wasn't nearly so eager for the ride. He had something to say to the encampment, and although it weighed on his heart like a mountain, he was none to eager to see the looks in their eyes when he relieved himself of its burden.

Again he had someone run ahead to the village, and again the entire populace was there to hear his words. Last time he had come to organize them into an efficient community, and their lives were much improved. They waited in awe to see what great thing would come next.

Aricyn didn't see any familiar faces. They were probably all preparing for the journey south. That wasn't a bad thing, he thought. They could gloat later.

He rode Kynidius around in a tight circle, and then spoke...

"Hear me," his words were quieter than usual.

"You have come here seeking guidance and protection, and I have given it to you. You have, in return, given me your sweat and blood, and by that your lives are better.

"But, hear me now, you have called me Tiberine," the last word rang on the hillsides, and the wind began whistling through the trees.

"Know that these times are blessed indeed, for the Tiberine walks the soil of Tamriel!" The crowd interrupted him with cheers.

"... but I am not he."
The cheers died, but it was not immediately obvious what they had changed into.

"I am, like you, but a servant of the True Tiberine!

"You know me. You know that I have banished the Daedra Prince Azura. You know that I have spoken, and my word alone has halted Lie Rock in its path. You know that by that word, many of you stand here alive today, but know this; I am to the Tiberine as a worm is to an eagle! I come merely as a herald for his splendor!"

Aricyn had thought this would be harder, but the words came naturally to his tongue. A cool, refreshing wind spun through the crowd, and his words echoed off of the sky like the words of Kyne herself. His heart swelled in his chest, and he knew that now, at least, no man could best him with a sword.

"Let us continue to serve in the Tiberine's name, and secure this place against the armies of evil! Let us continue to stand together, and prepare for him a proper welcome!"

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 6 2005, 03:49 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 09:34 PM)

"Let us continue to serve in the Tiberine's name, and secure this place against the armies of evil! Let us continue to stand together, and prepare for him a proper welcome!"

The crowd felt to silence. They looked to one another, not even whispering.

Finally, a young man, a fisherman, asked, 'When will the true Tiberine be coming, o lord? For what date do we prepare a proper welcome?'

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 03:54 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 5 2005, 07:39 PM)

Aricyn smiled widely, and looked through the crowd to the young fisherman.

"The Tiberine moves in his own time, good man, and I do not know his mind. I feel the end and beginning of things as we know it is very near, though, don't you?

"Isn't this always the way; That light comes in the darkest hour?

"Well, where I stand, the hour grows very dark."

Posted by: Solin Feb 6 2005, 03:56 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 07:26 PM)

Solin was in the library again, with the simulacrum. Allerleirauh looked into its eyes - it seemed almost as if it wanted to speak to her.

"Doll brings word of the situation at Azura's temple... They want to drive the N'Wah from the land. That includes you, Solin - N'Wah has a new meaning now, anyone who isn't an Azurite..."

Solin couldn't contain the short sharp laugh the rose in his throat. It peirced the air momentarily and the mer reutrned to listening.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 07:26 PM)

She paused and took a breath.

"The Azurites have a special band of elite warriors, drawn from among those who used to be Armigers. You saw some of them at the Trial. They have the ability to read minds as Loranna used to, which makes plotting against the Azurite leaders tricky. The Telvanni have apparently decided to pitch in with the strongest party, and they are within Red Mountain now, creating - something. Doll thinks a giant soul gem. And the last thing. There is a massive bronze colossus of Azura which rises from within the crater. It's not a new Numidium, just a statue. But because of its size, and because it's made of different plates, it groans every morning and evening as it heats and cools from the sun. It can be heard, apparently, for quite some distance. Nibani Maesa takes it upon herself to interpret its groans as the words of Azura."

"Politics Telvanni," he said with a strange half-pleased, half-disgusted smile. "Catastrophic warfare, most certainly."

He rose from his seat and knelt in front of the metal vessel of Sen-Yedda. The Dunmer leaned close to the Simulacrum as if listening for an imperceptible change in the inner mechansims.

"I cannot help but wonder what they seek to catch."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 04:01 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 5 2005, 08:46 PM)

Solin couldn't contain the short sharp laugh the rose in his throat. It peirced the air momentarily and the mer reutrned to listening.
"Politics Telvanni," he said with a strange half-pleased, half-disgusted smile. "Catastrophic warfare, most certainly."

He rose from his seat and leaned close to the Simulacrum as if listening for an imperceptible change in the inner mechansims.

"I cannot help but wonder what they seek to catch."

"I have wondered that too," Allerleirauh said. "Especially given this."

She offered Solin one of the soul gems with a captured Azurite inside.

"There's more. They say that their new theocracy will be led by Sen-Yedda. They are sending out scouts even now, trying to find her. And they are meeting with the Dark Brotherhood and the Morag Tong to put Marks on us all. I don't believe the Tong acts against itself, so they may find themselves rejected - but the effort was made."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 6 2005, 04:05 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 09:44 PM)

"Well, where I stand, the hour grows very dark."

The crowd shuffled back to their work. Unlike before, where they seem united in their adoration of the Tiberine, now they seemed more fractured.

'Why did he lie to us?' was one whisper. 'Why did he say he was the Tiberine before?'

'He didn't lie,' came the response. 'He simply did not deny it before.'

'Yeah, not a technical lie, but still ...'

'He is still a powerful warrior who will protect us ...'

'On whose authority did he hang the men before? Jazbet's, the Emperor's?'

'Will he kill Jazbet too, as a thief?'

'Quiet.'

'How are we supposed to welcome someone when we don't know when he's coming?'

'He's right. It's the end and beginning of things. I can feel it too.'

'So can I.'

Though there were still many questions, the crowd did not abandon their organized activities. There was simply nothing else to do, and though Aricyn may not have been the Tiberine, he was still too intimidating a force to approach.

Posted by: Solin Feb 6 2005, 04:09 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 07:51 PM)

"Intriguing," Solin said accepting the gem. He turned it over, tapped it a few times and studied it a moment feeling its vibrations.

He stopped as she continued.

"I have no fear of either guilds, at least for myself," he said glancing back to the metal mer next to him. "Perhaps it is time we arranged for a more complete safekeeping."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 6 2005, 04:11 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 5 2005, 07:59 PM)

"That would be a wise idea, I think, even without the guilds' attentions." Arynel said. "But where to take it? Do either of you have a suggestion?"

The Breton looked at Solin and Allerleirauh.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 04:14 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 5 2005, 07:55 PM)

Aricyn watched the crowd. The reaction was better than he had expected this morning, but still, at the moment, it seemed disappointing. Only because his own heart was so much lighter, though. He wished there was some way of conveying the security he felt, knowing what he knew.

Regardless, he had, for once, done the right thing. It was up to the universe to live up to its side of the bargain, now.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 04:14 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 5 2005, 09:01 PM)

"That would be a wise idea, I think, even without the guilds' attentions." Arynel said. "But where to take it? Do either of you have a suggestion?"

The Breton looked at Solin and Allerleirauh.

"The only truely safe place is the True Solunastra, and I wouldn't want to take an unborn out of the world," Allerleirauh said. "I don't want it in my house in Daggerfall, either. Because it would put our safe haven at risk. I think the only safe place is where we are. And we might as well be here as anywhere."

Posted by: Solin Feb 6 2005, 04:14 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 5 2005, 08:01 PM)

"That would be a wise idea, I think, even without the guilds' attentions." Arynel said. "But where to take it? Do either of you have a suggestion?"

The Breton looked at Solin and Allerleirauh.

"I can imagine a few places where safety from interlopers could be assured," Solin responded, "However, other hazards would be worrisome as well as the location's difficult accessibility."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 04:18 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 09:04 PM)

Although Aricyn hadn't seen his face in the crowd, there was one familiar person who hadn't yet left for Tel Silgrad.

Tris slipped out of the audience and waited beside the road back to the castle for Aricyn to pass. He was late and no doubt Ciel was wondering where he'd run off to.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 04:23 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 08:08 PM)

Wondering if the crowd's opinion would be different come tomorrow, Aricyn turned Kynidius back toward the castle. The horse was reluctant to return to the stable, as always.

Tris waited for him by the road.

He slowed to a halt and smiled at the young man.

"I owe you a thank you," he said, honestly.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 04:26 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 09:13 PM)

"Dunmer stink," Tris said. "They wouldn't know a True Emperor if he squatted and shat on them. You're wrong about old Uriel, want to know why?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 04:27 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 08:16 PM)

"Dunmer stink," Tris said. "They wouldn't know a True Emperor if he squatted and shat on them. You're wrong about old Uriel, want to know why?"

Aricyn's smile widened.

He patted Kyidius's neck, trying to keep the horse from turning back to the village as he spoke.

"If you have words sufficient to tell me, yes. I'd like to know why."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 04:32 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 09:17 PM)

Aricyn's smile widened.

He patted Kyidius's neck, trying to keep the horse from turning back to the village as he spoke.

"If you have words sufficient to tell me, yes. I'd like to know why."

"Because Uriel's there, he's doing the job right now. He holds the whole business together. He's given his life for it. He spent ten years imprisoned in a pocket dimension, for mercy's sake - I know you know that much history, even if neither of us are old enough to remember it. Five wars in ten years. Even I know that, and I spent most of my time in class sleeping. That's why you're wrong about Uriel."

Tris shifted his weight. "This Tiberine fellow, though - you really don't know when he's coming?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 04:37 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 08:22 PM)

"Should I?

"Maybe I should. Maybe you're right about Uriel. Maybe none of us will live long enough to see the day the Ruby Throne supports the weight of a true Emperor...

"If I were you... by the Wind, if I were Uriel, I'd be happy to see him when he does come.

"I'll tell you truthfully, though. He's in Morrowind. Right now.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 6 2005, 04:40 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 5 2005, 09:27 PM)

Tris's jaw clenched; he turned his head, and looked down the road, just to be looking anywhere but at the shining head of the man towering above him on the horse.

"You were wrong before," he said, finally. "I could feel it in... I could feel it in my bones. Now you're not wrong. So. Will that mad creature carry two people? Give me a lift back to the castle."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 6 2005, 04:41 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 5 2005, 08:30 PM)

"The extra weight might calm him down a bit!" Aricyn said with a laugh.

He held out his hand and easily pulled the Breton onto the horse's back.

They set off for the castle at a subdued trot.

Posted by: Dumbkid Feb 6 2005, 08:26 AM

The guards were no trouble for the Old Dunmer, he merely lifted a hand and whispered a spirit word long past remembrance, and they forgot not to let him pass. He came to Ald Raathim because it was where he knew to go, the place his feet knew before they touched the ground, and his mind before his voice could say its name.

Crossing the Inner Sea had not been a challenge, no; the spirits were ever vigilant when called by their proper titles, and the watery path became as stable as a dirt road when one knew the proper ghosts to beckon. His ceremonial netch leather loincloth, leggings, and moccasins, along with his many-boned breastplate were covered by a common cloth robe as to not draw unnecessary attention, indeed, to draw unintended eyes was to invite disaster.

The world was at a fulcrum, he knew this to be so; he had divined it from spirits shapes and the whispers of ghosts who had forgotten all but the truest sentiments of mortal revelatory happenstance. The world was at a fulcrum and he drew closer to an axis of change, there was a terror in all directions, and the eye was not calm.

The Old Dunmer sought no one yet, the time was not right, the spirits had not yet taken the right hue for him to go that way. Instead he took refuge in an inn, giving nought but a word in payment, but a word only a fool would deny; his very namesake: Ald-Card-Julan.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 6 2005, 09:04 AM

5 planks of wood, somewhere in the sea-

"..."

"You want to play rock, paper, scissors?" Asked a cultists, clenching a fist and turning to face Brum.

"..."

"C'mon! anybody? it's a mighty fun game once you get into it!" The other cultist's face beamed as he clenched a fist of his own and began to shake it up and down in unison with the other.

"..."

Brum promptly slapped one of the cultists upside the head, Merciander using the same technique on the other. "Ouch..."

"..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 7 2005, 02:29 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 5 2005, 09:33 PM)

'Not at all, serjo,' said Kallen. 'Everything is arranged. Shall I go and see if anyone needs my help with their preparations?'

Jazbet nodded, and the seneschal began making inquiries.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 02:40 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 6 2005, 08:19 PM)

'Not at all, serjo,' said Kallen. 'Everything is arranged. Shall I go and see if anyone needs my help with their preparations?'

Jazbet nodded, and the seneschal began making inquiries.

Kallen shall find Loranna on her own in town, having left Dagoth a short while ago to go procure herself rations, potions and scrolls for her journey, and to set a Mark in her room for emergencies. The ashskinned Nord girl is uncharistically reserved, and greets Kallen in a slightly subdued tone.

"Hello again dear; I'm all right, just making sure I have all the supplies I'll need. Or think I'll need ..."

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 7 2005, 02:52 AM

Jaster made his way to the parrapton stables. He had made some repairs to his armour and made sure his equipment was in top condition. Jaster's bow was across his chest, and his quiver contained Glass arrows. His Ebony sword hung from his belt. His well used backpack contained a few provisions and potions. He was used to travelling light - something he could afford to do being a ranger. He would obtain more food and make more potions if needed.

Also, the Dunmer brought with him a few mark and recall amulets he'd acquired during his adventurer days. If anyone didn't know the spells, they could use these to set a mark and recall back once the 'key' was retrieved.

Jaster sat in the sun and waited for the others to arrive.

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 02:57 AM

*Erenius leaves the tavern where he had spent the last night drinking and speaking with the few locals who frequented the establishment after finding he had been knocked out by some idiot throwing a chair across the room, missing his target, and hitting him instead*

"Someone should do something about adding padding all around the chair," Erenius groans, rubbing the back of his head.

"And why is it do I find myself just in these situations constantly, sleeping or getting knocked unconscious for excessive times?" Erenius mutters, discontented. "I do have better things to do."

*Erenius walks across the square and finds himself at the market, buying some food for himself, seeing as how the food at teh castle is far from appetizing save the baked goods, which were quite appetizing and warm*

"And they better not be having just dry goods here, they should have some nice, moist food as well, seeing as how the stuff here isnt supposed to be kept for more than a day or two," Erenius says, buying a bag of food, and a crate of dried goods in the event he needed those.

'Better safe and let it rot than need it and never have it around,' Erenius thinks as he makes his way back to his room, nodding to Loranna as he passes by.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 03:04 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 6 2005, 08:47 PM)

Loranna nods to Erenius as he passes by, then blinks and looks at him again. "Erenius! ... You survived," she says, a grin breaking out on her face briefly. "Thank ... well, it's good to see you dear; I hadn't heard about wether you made it and ..."

Loranna stops, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 03:11 AM

*Erenius stares for a moment, before taking a quick bow*

"Well, I have infact survived," Erenius says. "I am here, at your service as always, ready to give more of my meager purse to your whims, and my skills as well."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 03:17 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 6 2005, 09:01 PM)

Loranna frowns, "Erenius dear, I'm not the Incarnate Mother anymore," she tells him. "Azura's back in Oblivion where she was meant to be all along; I'm just a girl caught up in the madness caused by the Azurrites, trying to help the people who helped me all along and hopefully someday to start giving back what I messed up in the world."

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 03:32 AM

"I am fully aware of that, Loranna," Erenius replies calmly, despite seething that Loranna would think he was ignorant of all that. "Instead, I have served you, and not Azura in the fullest...and so I shall continue, unless you have reason for me to stop. And as for the Azurites...I have a feeling that your Khajiit friend, Jazbet, is in on it...not sure why, but that hunch gnaws at me, and I figured I'd try to speak of it to someone who would likely listen instead of fully dismiss...it..."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 03:37 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 6 2005, 09:22 PM)

Loranna gives Ernius a strange look. " ... Jazbet in on it?" she asks, frowning. "That seems ... strange, given everything that's gone on ..."

... What the heck could make him think that anyway? Loranna wonders.

" ... Well, er, if you're still interested in serving," Loranna says, looking like the idea is still somewhat novel to her, "some of us are about to go on a mission to Black Marsh to retrieve a gem that is the key to a powerful artifact. I think we wouldn't mind having another stout sword arm, if you were interested."

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 03:41 AM

*Erenius thinks on it for a moment, rememberring the several raids into Blackmarsh he did to catch Dunmer slave traders while stationed at the border between Cyrodiil, Morrowind, and Argonia*

"Hmm...I'll join," Erenius says. "I could use it, and I figure you may wish someone who was in the area before...long story, but one I shall tell if interested."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 03:47 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 6 2005, 09:31 PM)

Loranna gives a small smile. "All right then," she says. "Let's go find Kallen and see about getting you some transportation. We'll be heading for the nearest mage guild to cut down on walking time."

" ... And, well, I haven't ever been to Black Marsh so I am interested ..." she adds.

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 03:49 AM

"Very well then. Sooner we get going, and get away from this place, and the constant utterances of 'daruhn', the better..." Erenius says, realizing that now he was aware of it, he was hearing the word more often.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 7 2005, 03:53 AM

Tris vaulted gracefully off the back of Aricyn's horse and thanked him for the ride. Hopefully Ciel would be waiting for him at the stables, instead of out searching for him.

He was.

"I know, and I'm sorry, I had... someone I needed to talk to," Tris said, smiling. "Are we ready to go now?"

Posted by: Solin Feb 7 2005, 03:55 AM

Ciel leaned against the stable wall as he waited for Tris to arrive. His gear hung neatly on nearby pegs, waiting to be loaded onto a parrapton when the journey began.

When the young man arrived he pushed off the wall and greeted him with a smile.

"Yes," Ciel said. "There abouts anyways."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 03:56 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 6 2005, 09:39 PM)

Loranna frowns. " ... Long story associated with that; better not to worry about it now," she says. "Anyway, the stables are just up ahead. We'll be going by parrapton, and they're pretty easy to fly on if you don't have a fear of heights."

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 04:05 AM

*Erenius follows Loranna, into the stables*

"And just what are these creatures?" he asks to noone in particular, realizing that if he wanted to ride one of these things, it would be quite a process likely.

Posted by: Dumbkid Feb 7 2005, 04:07 AM

The Old Dunmer man, flesh painted in ceremonial markings, lower body covered in netch leather leggings, loin cloth, and mocassins, upper body covered by a many boned breast plate, appeared in the stable, and stepped towards loranna.

He said nothing, but did not take his eyes of the Nord woman.

Posted by: Aki Feb 7 2005, 04:07 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 6 2005, 09:55 PM)

"Parraptons," Reichi said, looking up from where he had been sitting. "You planning on riding 'em?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 04:09 AM

Erenius can hear the buzzing of the parraptons even as he and Loranna enter.

"That would be them," she says, indicating the giant wasps. "All of them the children of the queen, whose approval you'll have to seek in order to fly on one of her clutch. They're quite intelligent, and perceptive; approach the queen with respect. The Argonian Casts-The-Bones can tell you more."

She nods to Reichi, and feels eyes on her. Turning, she notes the Dunmer man. "Er, hello," she says, not recognizing this person off-hand. "What can we do for you, serjo?"

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 04:11 AM

*Erenius nods to Loranna, acknowledging her comment as he turns to Aki*

"Guess I have little choice, Reichi," Erenius replies, turning towards him. "And have you learned to ride this thing?"

Posted by: Dumbkid Feb 7 2005, 04:14 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 6 2005, 09:59 PM)

She nods to Reichi, and feels eyes on her. Turning, she notes the Dunmer man. "Er, hello," she says, not recognizing this person off-hand. "What can we do for you, serjo?"

The Old Dunmer says nothing.

He whispers a word indecipherable, and rattles his spirit bone bracelet; he whispers another lost phrase, and throws a pinch of bone meal into the air, where it bursts into flames. The whisps of smoke twirl and contort and there is a thing not unlike the wind which the Old Dunmer reads like a book.

The smoke fades, and he reaches into his pouch, producing a small object, a mirror, which he hands to Loranna, and then promptly disappears.

Posted by: Aki Feb 7 2005, 04:14 AM

Reichi blinked, he didn't recall giving this man his name. "Uh...yeah, but not all that well," Reichi replied to Erenius.

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 7 2005, 04:17 AM

"Maybe so, and it will be a while till I can pilot the insect with confidence, but I guess sooner is better, especially if we set off soon..." Erenius says, realizing that he may not have enough time before they leave, if they insist on rushing the preperations as they are.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 04:17 AM

QUOTE(Dumbkid @ Feb 6 2005, 10:04 PM)

Loranna stands for a moment, wondering what just happened.

" ... Er, when was the last time anything like that was a good omen ..." she asks aloud, fiddling with the mirror in her hands.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 7 2005, 04:45 AM

Teleran walked merrily into the stables, bouncing on his heels, a few moments after the old Dunmer had come in and disappeared and saw Loranna fiddling with a mirror. "Hi Loranna. Where'd you get that shiny mirror?" He said as he walked in. Then he saw Reichi and a man he was talking with. How you doing Reichi, any better at flying astride a parrapton yet or does Eya still beat you by half a mile? I remember seeing you in Gnisis Imperial, but I can't recall what you were doing, do you follow Azura or have you yet sense enough to avoid that?"

Teleran continued to walk around the stables humming along with the buzzing of the parraptons.

Posted by: Aki Feb 7 2005, 04:51 AM

Reichi smriked, and replied with a "Maybe." Then he realized that the others had been of doing other stuff for awhile. "Hmm..wonder where they are..."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 7 2005, 04:58 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 6 2005, 10:35 PM)

" ... Some Dunmer gentlemer just gave it to me ..." Loranna says, tucking the mirror away for now. Later, she'd ask someone more knowledgeble in such things if they knew what it might signify.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 7 2005, 05:07 AM

"Some strange Dunmer, no blue eyes I hope. Oh well, as long as it doesn't do anything bad it'll be fine," Teleran grinned at the redundancy of that statement. "Haven't seen them around Reichi, maybe they stopped by the place the hunters put their catch when they brought it in, though I don't think anything that went in stayed for more than a half-minute, if that. Too many people, not enough food." Teleran shrugs, "I'll be glad when we leave for Black Marsh, its getting too crowded."

Posted by: Dumbkid Feb 7 2005, 06:33 AM

A knife image cuts through the mirror in Loranna’s hand, an image of a thousand terrors and memories from lives who had run their course. A row of trees like palisades limbs branching out forming a canopy like so many yurts in the ash torn wastes. A cliff edge, like a blade slicing through reality, the first tree fell, greeted by a rumbling below like so many threads that should never be woven. One by one, each tree fell, enveloped in flames and cries of torment, so many threads to fill the Inner Sea are cut short and casts aside, into the inferno. The last image a little Dunmer boy, weeping seated next to a skeleton, his flesh rots and he becomes a corpse, his flesh carried off in the wind and he becomes a thing of bones, skeleton, and that too is blown away and he is dust, windswept like the feather always out of reach.

The image is gone, and the mirror reflecting not but the world without.

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 7 2005, 06:42 AM

"We ready to leave?" Asks Jaster as he finishes strapping the saddle to the parrapton. "I've brought some Mark and Recall amulets for those who don't know the correct spells. Feel free to use them before we go. And don't forget to take the Recall amulet with you."

(And locked at 200)