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

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 12:02 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, and have fun!

===

Summary for Loranna:

Loranna is in the Inferno, a tavern in Stormhold. Having just watched the bar brawl between Teleran, Tris, and Ciel, she now is espousing the party go pay Teleran's fines and get him out of jail.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 12:05 PM

OOC Summaries:

Allerleirauh is with the simulacrum and Sen-Yedda in Jazbet's castle. They are wondering what made the unborn child cry.

Doll is also at Jazbet's castle.

Tris - the handsome MALE Breton - is at the Inferno in Stormhold after picking a fight with Teleran, due to the effects of a potion Teleran had taken.

Skein, Dragon, and Tamne are in Daggerfall.

Mirea is in Wayrest.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 12:05 PM

Teleran started the last thread having to beat the amorous off with a stick, it ended with him getting beat up, pesky time limits on those potions. Now he is on his way to jail for brawling with Tris and Ciel. Now things are normalizing. He will get out after a night to cool his heels, but hopefully he can get out earlier.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 22 2005, 12:12 PM

Summary-

Dante, standing on a stairwell, in a towel.

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

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

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 22 2005, 12:14 PM

The First Guard of the Watch was very polite to Loranna, Tris, and company when they went to try to free him, but the Argonians had strict laws. Teleran would have to spend the night in jail, but he could go free at dawn.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 12:17 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 22 2005, 05:54 AM)

Loranna nods politely. "We understand officer," she says, smiling a little. "Is it permitted for us to at least see him briefly? The misunderstanding has us all feeling very embarrassed and we want to let him know there are no hard feelings, even though he has to stay in jail till tomorrow."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 22 2005, 12:19 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 03:57 AM)

The watchmen were obviously worried that there would be more trouble, but they permitted the group to see Teleran, under supervision, of course.

Posted by: lochnarus Feb 22 2005, 12:22 PM

OOC Summary for Lochnarus:

Lochnarus has met Dante and Some of the others in the group at The Inferno and offers to join the party, but the group is wary of strangers, until loch gets his own lustful proposition from Elora....

A Breton barmaid named Elora that make him quickly and unknowingly fall in love for the night theyre together...

The next day loch takes off in search of Dante & crew, only to be assaulted by two Dark Brotherhood assassins by the names of Null and Kravon. They are quickly dispatched and incapacitated, but tell loch that his one-night stand has been taken captive.

On a mad quest to find her, loch heads back to the Inferno to find that Teleran has been up to no good and started a bar fight. Loch sneaks in through the roof and makes his way down the hall, inspecting last night's sleeping quarters for signs of Elora or her captors. Not finding anything he decides to head don to the bar and ask Novia, the head Barkeep and owner if she had seen anything. With nothing from Novia, loch decides to use his tracking ability to locate the persons who have taken the girl. He is now moving along the rooftops of Stormhold, heading towards the nearest Fast travel route in hopes of finding clues....

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 12:29 PM

Teleran sat in the middle of his cell crosslegged with a small stone spinning around in front of him. occasionally climbing to near the ceiling before swooping down and traveling around him. If you looked closely there was a trail of small particles that followed it around. He flew it around his head before looping it around the room. At his belt were three empty scabbards. His eyes tracked the movement of the pebble and he did not seem to be paying attention to what was happening around him otherwise.

In the back corner of the room lay an argonian, clutching a handful of mushrooms while murmuring to himself in his sleep. Crushed mushroom lined the front of his snout.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 12:32 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 06:09 AM)

Loranna and the others, under supervision, arrive at Teleran's cell; Loranna gives Teleran a smile she hopes is reassuring, though again she feels an urge to smack him one or two.

... Well, not the best accomodations, though not much worse than the vaults, she reflects.

"Hello dear," Loranna says to Teleran.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 12:41 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 02:12 AM)

Teleran snaps back into focus. "Hello?" He ventured carefully. "I hope you're not here to tell me to give the recall amulet back. I don't want to stay here in Black Marsh for the next few months. If you are, ask the guards they took it when they took everything else, including my arm."

He stood up, "Are you pressing charges? The guard who brought me in here seemed sure I was going to be in for a long time, but I think they said something about temporary detainment."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 12:49 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 05:21 AM)

Tris wrinkled his nose. He had almost said he wasn't going in to talk to Teleran, then changed his mind.

"Tel, that wasn't very nice, yanking my foot out from under me," he said. "I don't know - maybe you don't mind having only one arm. Me, I think about waking up shaking from the pain in my leg that's not there and not being able to do anything about it, and I wonder how a guy like you could do a thing like that. I guess that's the way Dunmer are raised or something though."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 12:59 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 22 2005, 02:29 AM)

"You're the one who brought up being crippled," Teleran replied sharply. "I don't like thinking about it Tris. I think my facade helps a bit, at least I don't feel pain in my arm that isn't there anymore, not so often.

"I resent the inference that I was cheating, you're too fast for me to beat if you can come at me freely, so I made it so that you couldn't use your speed. Besides it was rather foolish of you to accept the first blow freely. I can see allowing the enemy to make the first move, but that is just asking to be run through. As for why I aimed for your foot; in battle do you not aim for the chinks in an opponent's armor?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 01:04 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 05:39 AM)

"You're the one who brought up being crippled," Teleran replied sharply. "I don't like thinking about it Tris. I think my facade helps a bit, at least I don't feel pain in my arm that isn't there anymore, at least not so often.

"I resent the inference that I was cheating, you're too fast for me to beat if you can come at me freely, so I made it so that you couldn't use your speed. Besides it was rather foolish of you to accept the first blow freely. I can see allowing the enemy to make the first move, but that is just asking to be run through. As for why I aimed for your foot; in battle do you not aim for the chinks in an opponent's armor?"

"In a duel you don't fight all out," Tris said. "I wasn't planning to kill you. I didn't draw my sword. It seemed clear enough that we were using our fists."

He could feel his frustration level rising again; he still hadn't overcome the potion effects. He forced himself to take control.

"Look, the reason everyone's been so nasty to you is that potion you drank, which is your own damn fault. It's finally worn off and now everyone hates you. I'm trying to get past that, I really am. But the leg? That was a low blow, no Breton would ever do a thing like that. I'm trying to think of a good reason I shouldn't just hate your guts, potion or no potion."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 01:17 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 22 2005, 02:44 AM)

Teleran cringed at that last statement, it helped clear up why he had had such disparate experiences over the past days, but he hadn't really considered what it would end up causing people to hate him, and being hated without it would be worse, "A duel? I thought we were fighting a brawl in a bar, not a duel of honor. If you had wished one of those then we should have agreed on weapons and the like beforehand. Besides Ciel didn't exactly fight fair either." Teleran felt the side of his face, it was slightly swollen where Ciel had connected.

"I guess that explains why I was escorted to the rearguard after I drank the potion. I'm sorry about that; I didn't really think it would affect anyone other than me when I used it."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 01:23 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 06:57 AM)

Loranna sighs. "That's the thing that has us all up in arms dear - you don't stop to think how your actions might impact the rest of us," she says.

"We were in a deadly dungeon; any one of us might have needed to fight Oblivion itself for the sake of the rest. That was not the place to be experimenting with unknown potions; what if you drank poison and keeled over, or weakened yourself in the middle of the fight? I'd have had to turn my attention to you, and I may not have been able to in time; Tris and Ciel may have been depending on you to hold the line and you wouldn't be able to do that ..."

"It's the same with the pedestal, the same with the tussle. You didn't stop to think what was really going on, what dangers were probably waiting underfoot, what maiming Tris would do to Ciel and how he'd react ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 01:25 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 06:03 AM)

"In High Rock," Tris said quietly, "We don't fight all out in bar brawls either. They have rules, rules that men understand and follow or expect to be called out as cowards."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 01:41 PM

"Fighting with all your strength is the only way worth fighting. What use is it if you die because you were giving half a mind when your opponent expected three-quarters? Then again, I think of any battle that does not end in death or irreparable injury to the fighters a game." Teleran ignored the implication of cowardice in Tris's statement.

"I'll have to remember that Lor, I have two more of those, different from that one but the same source, you said you were taking up alchemy when we got to Ald Raathim right? Well they should make fine studies. As to not thinking of what will happen, I have promised to work on that, beyond that I won't go drinking things that I cannot identify, and I won't charge the altars of strange places," Teleran said. He would do his best to keep those promises too.

However he continued feeling compelled to defend his use of the potion. "I believed the potion's effects would be beneficial, I mean its not like guards or adventurers or anyone bothers to bring potions into battle that harm their own ability to fight."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 01:44 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 06:21 AM)

"I can show you plenty of homemade brews that only get made because the ingredients were cheap and the maker needed the practice," Tris said. "And a bar brawl isn't murder! What did you think I was planning to do to you?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 01:49 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 07:21 AM)

Loranna shakes her head, lookng to her feet.

"Tel, one very simple rule - you don't fight your friends the way you fight your enemies," she says. "And it's very bad to be the only one in the room thinking the fight going on is a game; that's a good way to insult people and ensure the fight will become anything but."

"You keep saying you've learned your lesson but you say it in a way that sounds like you haven't. We're saying you aren't stopping and thinking, and the words come so quickly from your mouth that one wonders if you really thought things through."

"Look, we are all still angry; the potion yes and to some extent just the simple stress of our ordeal. But all that aside - you are part of the group; we'll fight for you, we'll risk ourselves for you, just as you've done for us. You really want to know why we're all angry? Because in your thoughtlessness, you've been treating us like we're not part of the same group; it's that simple. We're your friends, and you damn near got us killed several times."

Loranna's eyes are moist. "I didn't heal everyone all those times to see them die, especially not to themselves. Just please Tel, remember who your friends are and treat them as such; that's all I'm asking."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 02:03 PM

"They are hardly homebrews that I found, and you looked and sounded ready to skin me and sell my hide to a tanner to make s pair og gloves." Teleran said.

"I know I need to think of the others who I fight alongside, but the first time I fought alongside anyone, was well, it was against that beast at Koal Cave. I've never exactly made friend who were comrades in arms, a few here and there, but most of the time I ventured off alone. No need to worry about the trajectory of the shock spell that an ally might want to use." Teleran paused a bit embarassed. "Dammit, I don't mean to ignore you, but I just compartmentalize the battle, that is your section; if I keep my part clear it'll work out. It's just how I learned to fight, it doesn't matter is that guy over there is charging, the one swinging the sword at you needs attention now. I will try and learn, and I have been trying, whether you will believe that or not.

"I don't intend to die or let others die whom I can save, and I'll try as hard as I can to keep anyone from dying because of me. I remember who my friends are, its just, I don't really expect them to need me, or me them. I know, another thing I need to unlearn, I seem to be coming across a lot of those of late."

Posted by: lochnarus Feb 22 2005, 02:11 PM

Stormhold, near the outskirts of the city

As loch traverses the rooftops, he thinks back to the night before...

After a blissful and extended bout of passion, the two figures slowly laid back and looked to the ceiling of the small room Lochnarus had rented for the night. Elora smiled and ran her fingers through loch's hair, noting that Loch was slightly unkept.

"So, where are you from?" She hesitated to ask, but Loch smiled and raised up on one arm, looking into her eyes.

"Skyrim." He chided.

"No, silly." She slapped his arm slightly "I meant, where in SKyrim?"

"Hehe, A place called Laintar Dale in central-eastern Skyrim. I lived there until I was a young child, when my parent were murdered by rouges while on our way to Windhelm." He saddened at this thought. Elora's eyes widened.

"My parents were killed too, in Colovia. By Orcs on their way to the Imperial City. They riddled them with arrows. I hid. Novia found me not long after and raised me. She's like my mother." Elora was a picture of beauty.

"That why she let you come up here with me, and not say anything about it?" Loch was being sarcastic.

"I'm old enough, I just stay here because I make money off the outlanders. I can leave here whenever I want." She looked resolute in that statement.

"I'm sure you could. You know, I once worked in the Marsh as a 'merchant' of sorts. I used to make lots of money aat one time. Not enough to be considered a noble, but then these lizards are not noble in any sense of the word." They laughed and continued talking for a few more minutes.

"Why are you here? I mean, I dont wish to pry, Loch. What brings you here?" She was looking straight into Lochnarus' eyes. His expression chaged to that of solemnity and he looked at the musty sheets uder which they lay.

"Well, I did some things I likely shouldn't have done, back in Cyrodiil. You see, I'm the type to steal things that belong to bad people. Very bad people. People who kill for a living. I kill them for a living." He pointed to his leather pouch on the chair beside the bed.

"See that? In that sack there is a thing called the Crystal Heart. I think it's important, but I dont know why. I took it from a group of Dark Brotherhood sods who were en route to the Imperial City. Killed all of the fools who were there but the leader, Gorethor...he...escaped. The Dark Brotherhood's been after me ever since." Elora looked at him like she was looking at the corpse of a loved one. Loch knew she had knowledge of the Brotherhood.

"But, why did you take it? You know they are a powerful institution in Tamriel, dont you? Why bring yourself under their mark?" She was childlike in wonder. Loch tilted his head, deciding she was trustworthy enough, being a young girl in one of the farthest places from the Brotherhood feinds' reach.

"I am being...compensated. I have plans, Elora. Another 'party' wishes to possess the Crystal Heart, I suppose it's valuable, maybe even magical. I want no part of the thing. It has no value to me other than my...compensation. May I ask, why are you insterested in me, melady? Have I missed something. That playful look was in Loch's eyes again. Elora smiled, looked up at him and smiled.

"I like you. Never met a Nord I liked. I don't do 'this'...come to a room with anyone. Never have." She blushed.

"Well I like you as well. Tell me, how far have you been from the marsh?"

"Not too far, I once went with Novia and her husband up to Almalexia...That was years ago, and those Dark Elves dopnt like us outlanders much. Alot of stern people live there. Why?" She looked honestly puzzled at this question.

"Come with me when I leave here. I'm leaving for Valenwood soon. I think we would make a fine coup...team, dont you?" He took her chin in his hand.

She stared at him as if not believing him, then shook her head hesitantly.

"I...I don't know. I would love to but...Novia won't like it. I can't just pack up my things and leave."

"Oh, but you could, Elora. You're safe with me. I've been places no one in Tamriel has ever dreamed of. Places with no names, no words to describe them. Come with me, I promise you'll be happy." He smiled and kissed her. Her eyes remained open, tearing up at the thought of leaving her home, even though it was a dank, cramped city on stilts.

After a long embrace she spoke.

"I...need time to think about this. You're in Stormhold for a while longer? I'll...think on it and make a decision before you leave the city." She was having visions of a life outside the Marsh, and Loch could see it in her eyes.

"Sure, I've got things...I need to do on the morrow. We may have company, good and bad. I will wait for your decision. Besides, I've got a night or two left to spend in the Inferno. Let's get some sleep, and then I should leave...I'll be back in the evening or thereabouts, my business doesn't take me far."

She hugged him and lay back on the bed beside him. They drifted off into sleep after some time, Elora deep in thought and Loch not far behind in that sentiment.

What they did not notice was the watchful eye peering through a makeshift hole from the next room...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 02:13 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 06:43 AM)

Tris took a deep breath. "I was thinking more of impaling you on a stick, roasting you, and selling you to the Bosmer over in the corner, to be honest. But I wouldn't have done it."

You should have known that, he wanted to say. But Teleran's excuse aroused more pity than anything else. Whatever else there had been in Tris's life, there had never been a shortage of friends.

"All right," Tris said. "No hard feelings. And I mean it this time. But the leg, that was still evil, you know? Okay. It's finished as far as I'm concerned."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 02:17 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 22 2005, 07:53 AM)

"I'd just been thinking of punching your head off," Loranna admits. " ... Well, either that or grabbing you, twisting you over, crushing your head between my thighs while casting Absorb Health once or twice, then jumping up and smashing yor head into the ground ... but like Tris said, no hard feelings, right?"

Loranna offers a truly warm smile, her eyes twinkling in the light of the jail.

"It's over; we've all learned something. You'll be let out at dawn tomorrow; we'll pick you up and head home."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 22 2005, 02:26 PM

"Thank you, I'm not sure I could be so forgiving in the same circumstances, but I guess that is part of the reason I am here and you are there. You've learned how to do that; I'm still trying to learn." Teleran said. "No hard feelings. I hope I can learn to do that, forgive; but ummm, Tris, food? You were thinking of cooking me? Remind me never to anger you again."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 22 2005, 02:28 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 22 2005, 07:06 AM)

Tris grinned. "I used to live in the same house with Mirea."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 22 2005, 02:31 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 22 2005, 08:08 AM)

Tris grinned. "I used to live in the same house with Mirea."

"Wonder how she's doing," Loranna mutters.

"Well, the sleeping accomodations won't be as nice as the inn but you should be okay; we slept in worse before," Loranna says. "We'll see you tomorrow? I'll treat you to a hot breakfast."

Posted by: Nalion Feb 22 2005, 02:40 PM

Summary for Nalion, Stormhold:
Soon after taking a bath and having a hot meal at "The Inferno", Nalion had retreated to his room and had a good nights sleep. He woke later than usual the next day, there was already light outside. After a short breakfast which he took in his chamber and not in the tavern's common room, he began to work on things he had intended to do for a long time.

After had re-joined the party at Ald Raathim, he had been relying on the generosity of his companions, as he had been destitute and ragged. It was past time now that he started to give them something back for being true friends, to contribute with his own resources to the goals of the party rather than just fighting enemies with spells.

There were still some sheets of paper in the leather case he kept with him. There were also those three Cure Disease scrolls that he had written when he had arrived at Stormhold in the first instance, but haven't been used during their endeavours for the Flamekiss gem. Putting the remaining parchments on a stack besides him, the mage took one paper after the other and began to inscribe them with letters. Before placing the paper back in the case, Nalion put a hand over it and whispered a word to each.

"Fire Leaps At Menacing Enemies,
Burning Obliviously, Leaving Terror."
The script flickered in a terrible red-and-yellow for a fraction of a moment.

"Vision Arched, No-one Is Seen Here."
A greenish light emanated from Nalions hand as he laid his hand upon the words.

"Flickering Lightning, A Strike of Heaven."
Blue-white light seemed to retrace the script, then vanished.

"Charisma, Humility, Admiration, Reverence -- Mindtwist "
Another greenish light flickered over the page.

Nalion continued to write scrolls until he had no paper left then he put ink and quill back, took the bag and left the inn.
His strides took him towards the mages guild where he engaged in bartering. After a time of haggling with the local spellmaker and the enchanter, the scrolls in his leather case were replaced by a small collection of empty soulgems and a mortar and pestle in good condition. His purse, which he kept in a space within his clothes, seemed to be a little fatter, too. It wasn't much, but it was a beginning.

He left the guildhouse and moved out into the damp. With slow strides, he headed back towards the "Inferno", taking in the sight of the city.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 22 2005, 04:09 PM

OOC: The Breton Arynel is in the library at Jazbet's Castle, he is currently with the Simulacrum.

Posted by: Aki Feb 22 2005, 05:35 PM

Summary
Reichi is at the Inferno, making himself warm by the fire....which of course meas getting closer to it that normal. Stupid fire resistances.

Camassim is somewhere in Skyrim by now...

Tohe is..somewhere...

Eya is dead...yup. Raddin killed her, but was forced to flee before he could kill Tohe.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reichi yawned, watching the fire. He looked at his gloved hand. His armor was simple chitin, and now wasn't in the greatest state of repair. Reichi wondered what Argonians had for armor, it would probably be light to meduim in weight. Heavy armors didn't work at all in a swamp. You sunk.

Reichi rembered Argonians were after all, beast races, so unless he planned on getting a special suit made, he'd had to forgo greaves, 'boots' and maybe even the helmet of the armor. Greaves would have a tail hole of course, not something Reichi would get much use out of, and the 'boots' would be footsheilds of some sort. Not very good for protecting his feet.

Though, such an armor would be more apt at not getting destroyed in a transformation. Reichi had a breif image of a armored Werewolf, and grinned. "Heh, Nah," he mumbled.

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 04:12 AM

The Bosmer sat at the table and looked around the room. Quite an interesting bunch, he thought to himself. I wonder if they have any money.

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 04:25 AM

Ciel slowly made his way down the Inferno’s stairs to the well heated main room. He was neatly dressed and had taken time to prepare his appearance. The knight reached the landing and made a quick scan of the common room.

There was Rechi, sitting by one of the numerous fires that gave this place its name and an unfamiliar Bosmeri chap sat alone in the corner. Other than those two the Inferno seemed to be mostly asleep.

With furrowed brows the knight walked over to a sleepy waitress and made a few inquiries. They were mostly about breakfast but, he also asked after the younger Breton man who was involved in brawl last night. She shook her head. Frowning a bit, the knight took a seat at an empty table, not to far from the Bosmeri fellow, and waited for the others to wake up.

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 04:33 AM

The Bosmer called to the waitress and asked, "Do you serve anything to drink that isn’t made from a plant?" He waited a second or two and then continued, "Never mind. Just bring me something to eat."

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 04:37 AM

The Wood Elf turned to the knight seated near him and asked, "So what's your story?"

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 04:42 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 22 2005, 08:17 PM)

The Wood Elf turned to the knight seated near him and asked, "So what's your story?"

“I don’t suppose you were here last night, were you?” Ciel asked shaking his head.

“It’s rather convoluted. I came down here with some friends on a task to help out a few needy souls in Morrowind,” he continued without waiting for reply. “You’ve probably heard of the bad state of things in the north.”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 04:42 AM

The Inferno, earlier:

This time it was the pain that woke him.

Tris had learned not to jerk awake when the pain started. Sometimes it was like stabbing knives. Sometimes it felt as if his leg was on fire. Sometimes it felt like someone was crushing his foot in a vise.

He had asked a healer about it recently, and the healer had told him that although the pains generally got less after a few years, for a while they might even continue to get worse. His leg was there, somewhere, as far as the part of him that felt pain was concerned. He was capable of feeling anything he had felt when he still had a foot.

Only, not having a foot, he couldn't make whatever was causing the pain stop.

Tris had offered to sleep somewhere else so as not to disturb Ciel. But Ciel insisted he could sleep through anything. Which seemed to be true, mostly - at least Ciel pretended to be asleep so as not to make him self-conscious. Except for the times when the pain was really bad, so bad Tris couldn't stay quiet, and then it was nice to have someone else there.

This time though, Ciel really was asleep.

Good.

Tris slid out of bed, slipped on his clothes, and took his boots in his hand. The outside of the window was steamed over from the humidity outside and the heat inside, but he could see tongues of lightning breaking through the darkness.

He found his boots, silently, and holding them in his hand, bent over Ciel and studied his sleeping face. He had considered leaving a message in his journal in case he didn't come back. But Ciel wouldn't read his journal, except as a last resort. He was so honorable it scared Tris sometimes. And being fatalistic in this situation would be fatal. Tris would be back.

Still in his bare feet, Tris slipped silently out of the room.

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 04:47 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 22 2005, 09:22 PM)

As the Bosmer stood up, he grabbed his bow and quiver and headed for the next table. The leather mail he was wearing had seen better days, but it certainly did its job. He set his belongings on the floor next to the knight and pulled out a chair. “You don’t mind if I sit here, do you? Of course you don’t!” The Bosmer sat down at the table. “Bad state of things. . . huh. . . you don’t say. Tell me more.”

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 04:54 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 22 2005, 08:27 PM)

"Have you been out in the swamps too long, Sir?" Ciel turned up the corners of his mouth slightly but they fell again. "I don't mind at all."

The knight looked to see if the waitress was coming back with food yet. She wasn't.

"Primarily, some blue-eyed dark elves but, not just Dunmeri mind you, are causing all sorts of havoc," he continued. "A new temple is rising against the old, or so I've been told. A very xenophobic group, kills anybody without their sort of eyes claiming that they'll serve them as slaves in the next life."

He paused a moment.

"You haven't seen a blonde haired Breton fellow running about have you? About my height."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 04:56 AM

Stormhold, The Inferno

In the comfort of her room, Loranna takes up her pen and starts to write:

Loranna's Journal

I'd never been fond of seeing my friends fight, nor ever been fond of fighting with my friends. Yet, yesterday, I both stood ready to watch two friends fight and myself fought with a friend - and at least some of that aggression seemed to have been needed. Though the bar brawl was still stupid in a way.

Maybe I'm too peaceful a person - though, if I were truly peaceful, would I have drained the life out of those monkeys and fiends, shoved my sword through the fake Dante, been ready to ring Telran's bell for having near gotten Tris killed? There's a violent side to me, and while I may not be as ready to swing a sword as some to solve problems, I am not the pacifist healer that others are. But still ...

===

Loranna puts her pen down, her mind drifting back to yesterday morning:

===

"You saw your old self reflected in the liches we fought," Loranna had said to Dagoth, her expression grim yet understanding.

"My old self?" Dagoth had asked, staring down at his bony hands. "Aye; my old self, yes ... my old self, and my current self." He pointedly did not meet Loranna's gaze.

Loranna's face had curled into a frown. "That's not true dear," she had insisted. "You're not a monster like those were; you're something more ..."

"Am I?" Dagoth had asked, hs tone growing darker as he raised his eye sockets to meet Loranna's gaze finally. "Am I really more than those were? Then why am I fleshless, heartless, without anyone in the world beyond you - you, who others seek to claim ..."

===

Loranna closes her journal; she can finish writing in it later. For right now, some food would be good. She double-checks to make sure the Flamekiss was secured on her, in a place where pickpockets would have a hard time reaching undetected, and steps out of her room to head down to the main area.

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 05:01 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 22 2005, 09:34 PM)

“It’s forests not swamps. You’re a funny fellow.” The Bosmer laughed.

“Havoc? You don’t say. Well, that IS bad news.” The Bosmer smiled at the knight. “Where are my manners? The name’s Lorièn. I’m originally from a place called Silvenar; that’s in Valenwood. Ahh, it’s a sight to behold, and truthfully, I kinda miss it. But that’s neither here nor there.”

The Bosmer smiled once again and continued, “I can’t say I’ve seen a blonde haired Breton running around here or anywhere else for that matter. But if you need any help, I’m the mer for the job. Do you have any money?”

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 05:07 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 22 2005, 08:41 PM)

“It’s forests not swamps. You’re a funny fellow.” The Bosmer laughed.

“Havoc? You don’t say. Well, that IS bad news.” The Bosmer smiled at the knight. “Where are my manners? The name’s Lorien. I’m originally from a place called Silvenar; that’s in Valenwood. Ahh, it’s a sight to behold, and truthfully, I kinda miss it. But that’s neither here nor there.”

The Bosmer smiled once again and continued, “I can’t say I’ve seen a blonde haired Breton running around here or anywhere else for that matter. But if you need any help, I’m the mer for the job. Do you have any money?”

Ciel gave a slight smile and shook his head.

"He can be... dificult to find some times," he said. "Ah, no, thank you. I'm sure everything is fine, probably just went out to see the sights."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 23 2005, 05:09 AM

The Void

Orc blood is the richest, like butter.

Though the Bosmer, Altmer, and Dunmer would find it offensive, all their blood tastes alike, sweet, delicious, fine for dessert.

She hadn’t liked Khajiit blood at all at first, but over time its earthy gameyness had grown on her.

Argonian blood was refreshing, like water from a spring.

The blood of men was either the foulest or the most divine substance in Tamriel.

And now Bosriel had tasted Azurite – and it was even better than the best.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 05:10 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 22 2005, 10:47 PM)

Ciel gave a slight smile and shook his head.

"He can be... dificult to find some times," he said. "Ah, no, thank you. I'm sure everything is fine, probably just went out to see the sights."

Loranna, seeing Ciel with a strange Bosmer, walks over to their table.

"Hello dear, sir," she says, nodding to Ciel and the Bosmer. "How does the day greet you?"

... I almost said path, didn't I? Loranna thinks to herself, suppressing a giggle.

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 05:11 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 22 2005, 09:47 PM)

Ciel gave a slight smile and shook his head.

"He can be... dificult to find some times," he said. "Ah, no, thank you. I'm sure everything is fine, probably just went out to see the sights."

“Well, I hope you find your friend. My offer for help still stands, but my services aren’t cheap. Just let me know.”

Lorièn stood back up, grabbed his belongings, and headed back to the table he came from earlier.

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 05:14 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 22 2005, 08:51 PM)

“Well, I hope you find your friend. My offer for help still stands, but my services aren’t cheap. Just let me know.”

Lorien stood back up, grabbed his belongings, and headed back to the table he came from earlier.

"Fairly well, all things considered," Ciel replies to Loranna. He gave a nod as the Bosmer departed. Briefly the knight considered asking Loranna about Tris but then thought better of it. She had likely been asleep.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 05:16 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 22 2005, 10:54 PM)

Loranna gives the departing Bosmer a small wave. " ... Tris stepped out I take it?" she asks Ciel, eyebrows raised.

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 05:18 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 08:56 PM)

Loranna gives the departing Bosmer a small wave. " ... Tris stepped out I take it?" she asks Ciel, eyebrows raised.

Ciel nodded and shrugged.

"I suppose, he didn't leave a note or message," he said softly.

He looked for the waitress again.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 05:22 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 22 2005, 10:58 PM)

Ciel nodded and shrugged.

"I suppose, he didn't leave a note or message," he said softly.

He looked for the waitress again.

"I see ..." Loranna's expression grows slightly concerned; Tris wasn't usually one for running off like that ...

"He is a capable man, and we're in civilization now," Loranna says, giving Ciel a reassuring smile. "He's probably been taken with an idea for a surprise gift for you and is prowling the shops right now."

Or perhaps something Void-related, she wonders privately, but she didn't think mentioning that was worthwhile.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 05:55 AM

Tris: The Void

The funny thing was he was faster now than he had been. His body was just one of the limits he had needed to learn to slip beyond. Harder for him to see that because he had never thought of his body as a limit. He had loved it. Loving it had led him higher until it finally led him to the Void. And there it had stopped, always, before now.

Maybe that was always the trick, learning to see that the things you loved were your greatest limitations. No, that wasn't right. He wasn't going to believe that the love he felt for Ciel was just another bond to be stripped away. Why not? Because the word 'love' meant more than one thing.

He saw, for a moment that made him reel like looking down a spiral staircase, something true: that his love for Ciel could indeed become a bond, a trap, something that would make him worse instead of better, and it was up to him to make sure it didn't. All things had two sides to them, and it was you who made them what they were. It was the same with his love of his own body. He hadn't been wrong to love his own heart pounding, the perfection of his feet striking the hard pavement on a crystal clear morning when the last stars were fading in the sky and no one was on the streets yet but the sweepers. That had been a good thing, a true thing, and it was wrong to despise it now. But he had turned it into a god, made it more than it was, and then it had blocked his horizon.

True Solunastra:

Solunastra. Not the guild house in Daggerfall. In Daggerfall Dragon would meet him, and he would have to explain himself. Dragon might even try to stop him. The true Solunastra, where he had never before been.

He couldn't have known, never having been there before, that his entrance made the terrain change. The walled garden, the palace, these were Allerleirauh's. Most of the forest, the meadows, the flowers, the glass mountain, were Arynel's. Beneath the ground things hummed that belonged to Solin, and the ocean, which he could not see, was Solin's too. Skein's reflecting pool spread beneath a tree, and Dragon's place was the armory. The terrain shifted for Tris just slightly. The breeze picked up, and leaves danced in it. The walls of the palace gained ramparts. Everything seemed farther away from everything else. And far away, over the hills, where he could not see, a city was founded.

He knew what he was looking for. A particular white flower, which was supposed to ward off Bosriel. He had seen one that Doll carried.

He found the flower, and tucked it in the breast pocket of his doublet.

Here he was again, running off on his own because he didn't want anyone to talk him out of what he was doing. But it was the only possible way. He had learned the lesson about letting other people help him. No, really. But the one thing they couldn't help him do was face his fears himself. He was tired of depending on others to protect him from certain disaster. Tired of life with Ciel being like a rug that might be yanked from under their feet at any moment.

Tired of living at someone else's sufferance. That was it. His life was his own.

He thought for a long time about tactics. Bosriel frightened him, even now that he had the flower. The only thing he had going for him was his speed. The flower was supposed to keep people from falling under her spell. He could get out into the real world faster than she could kill him.

He looked at his reflection in Skein's pool, and gathered his courage.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 05:58 AM

Ald Raathim:

"It seems the others have been gone for quite some time now, perhaps I should see what sights the road has brought them." Arynel thought out loud.

The Breton glanced around to make sure no one was looking, and whispered a string of power

He lept past the limits of scholarly knowledge

He wandered into a realm where such things became obsolete...

The Inferno:

The doors of the smoke and fire filled construct came open and Arynel stepped inside, glancing around the room. The Breton walked towards a table in the corner and sat down.

The Breton wove his arms, and a lute appeared in his hands. Arynel began to play:

Deep down in ol’ Black Marsh
Where the land is wet and the weather harsh
There lives a group of clever creatures
Covered with scales and reptilian features
Who live with ease in the worst of climates
Where other types mope they barely mind it
And what news is that upon their lips?
If it concerns not a lizard it must be of the Hist

Down in the swamps of Ol’ Argonia
A place to catch mushrooms and pneumonia
There lives a group of clever creatures
Covered with scales and reptilian features
They live in a place that many would find quite dreadful
There are biting and stinging things by the handful
And what news is that upon their lips?
If it concerns not a lizard is must be of the Hist

Posted by: w0nders Feb 23 2005, 06:20 AM

Dante returned from the stairs, this time however he was dressed. In his usual attire, which consisted of his filthy scuffed armour. He ordered a flask of mazte for the road, before returning upstairs to collect the rest of his equipment.

Dante returned shortly, collecting his mazte and saying a few quick goodbyes to his companions, and he left. On the path to Ald Raathim, he would search for his brother at the bar once he arrived. He had no doubts about that was where he would be.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 06:22 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 23 2005, 12:00 AM)

Dante returned from the stairs, this time however he was dressed. In his usual attire, which consisted of his filthy scuffed armour. He ordered a jug of mazte for the road, before returning upstairs to collect the rest of his equipment.

Dante returned shortly, collecting his mazte and saying a few quick goodbyes to his companions, and he left. On the path to Ald Raathim, he would search for his brother at the bar once he arrived. He had no doubts about that was where he would be.

Loranna was eating, Ciel having had little more to say. She had briefly wished she could say more for him but didn't know what else she could say, so instead they ate.

Bidding Dante farewell and good luck, Loranna hears a familiar singing in the tavern, and her eyebrows raise. "Huh, what do you know," she says.

Getting up, Loranna walks over to Arynel's corner. "Fancy meeting you here," she says with a smile, "Nice song, as always."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 06:24 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 10:02 PM)

Arynel glanced at Dante as he walked out the door, and then wove his arms, and the lute vanished. The Breton looked up at Loranna.

"Hello, how does the path greet you?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 06:26 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 12:04 AM)

Arynel glanced at Dante as he walked out the door, and then wove his arms, and the lute vanished. The Breton looked up at Loranna.

"Hello, how does the path greet you?"

"I'm alive," Loranna says. "We all are, thankfully. And ultimately succesful in our endeavors too. So overall, the path greets me well enough for now."

"And what of your path? How does it greet you?" she asks. "And how are the others back home?"

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 06:29 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 10:06 PM)

Arynel paused, and bit his bottom lip, after waiting a moment, his expression changed into a smile.

"As for the first part, you see I am here, and in one piece," the Breton said, "As for the second, I think that is a line best saved for the proper speakers."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 23 2005, 06:34 AM

Teleran walked into the Inferno looking a bit disheveled, he had spent the night in prison after all. He had gotten back all of his belongings, though the guards had seemed reluctant to release his daggers to him, but in the end he had ended up with all his belongings back, now he just had to hope that noone had raided his room in his absence.

He headed immediately to the baths and washed thoroughly to get rid of the dank smell of the prison, soon after he was at his room. Apparently luck was with him this time, he looked in to see his spear still in the corner. He headed in and dressed himself in presentable attire before heading to get a meal.

He came downstairs and paid for some food, the Argonian idea of what food for prisoners should be had been ...interesting, and still moving. He wolfed down his food and reclined listening to the conversations around him.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 06:39 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 12:09 AM)

Loranna laughs, heartened by Arynel's humor, and then laughs even harder, enjoying the sensation of being happy, and alive, and not worried about evil lich kings with poisonous winged monkeys softening her up for rubbery corpse-like shape-stealers with a maddening maze of sliding walls and steps.

"That's good to hear, and I think you are right," she says. "Time to round up the troops and start making the trek back for home in a bit."

"Though," she adds, "there's time enough for a drink and another song, if one is willing."

Seeing Teleran, Loranna hands the waitress some septims. "His meal is on me, as is any seconds he asks for," she tells the waitress.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 06:48 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 10:19 PM)

Arynel glances over at Teleran, and then back at Loranna.

"Perhaps another song, perhaps, though not at the moment, I have something else." The Breton said, revealing a small piece of paper from his pocket. "This is not mine, no, far beyond my skills, this is the work of a young Altmer lad."

Having said that, Arynel laid the paper atop the table so Loranna could read it:

Lorna and the Azrites

One day Lorna and some other people came to ald rathum. They were with Jazbut. They rode on the parupors. Then we were scared of the Azrites. Lorna and the other people chas them off. Azrites run like Kajet. We not scared of Azrites no more. Fud was low and clothes and stuff to. We happy tho the Tibrane came. Then Tibrane say he wasn’t him. He have people work and do jobs. People happy now. Tibrane came with Lorna but Tibrane not really Tibrane. Its confusing.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 06:57 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 12:28 AM)

Loranna looks down at the paper, reading. A smile crosses her face and she chuckles at first.

"It's a happy story," she says, turning her eyes downward to read it again.

" ... An Altmer lad you say?" she asks thoughtfully, scratching her chin. She lets her eyes look over the words one more time.

" ... Wait ... me?" she says, touching the paper.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 07:01 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 10:37 PM)

Arynel smiles.

"I thought, perhaps, that it would be best for the subject of such affection to see the work for herself." The Breton said. "It is yours now, do with it what you will. For my part, however, let me say this, throw open the flood gates and let the river run where it will, a new path has been carved, let the bank no longer be an enemy."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 07:06 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 12:41 AM)

Loranna carefully takes the paper, folds it up, and places it in her pocket.

" ... I'd been thinking, while in the vaults," she says, "of something sort of like that - or maybe it isn't and I'm just confusing one thing for another. But I think I should give your words some heed, dear."

She grins. " ... You know, this is the most amazing feeling, knowing someone wrote this," she says.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 23 2005, 07:08 AM

Teleran ordered another meal, but when he tried to pay for it he was told it had already been taken care of by an ash-skinned Nord. Teleran nodded and looked over at where Loranna was seated and wondered at seeing Arynel, 'How the hell did he get here?'

He noticed that they were looking over a note of some kind, maybe it was personal. Whatever it was, it seemed to be good news; Loranna was smiling. He decided to wait until after she and Arynel finished.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 07:12 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 10:46 PM)

Arynel smiled.

"Walk the road as it is given, a path laid out beneath your feet, ever unfolding like a string pulled from a ball of yarn, take the piece that is your own and follow it like a breath of air, lightly so as not to bruise any good blossoms." The Breton said.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 07:22 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 12:52 AM)

Loranna looks thoughtful still, though she smiles again.

" ... I almost fully understand that," she says. "At least I think I do ..."

She shakes her head with a chuckle. "It's not all that complicated a thing; I shouldn't make it more complex than it is."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 07:26 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 11:02 PM)

Arynel smiled again.

"Perhaps it would be better for me to say live your life, or some such thing, some would say so, yes, but not I. No, proper definition is the murder of mystery, the death of mystery is the end of all notions of the majestic." The Breton said. "You see then why I cannot speak so clearly."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 07:32 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 01:06 AM)

"It does kind of lose something when said plainly," Loranna agrees. "Though you do know, some people still won't understand the most plainly said of things? But I do like the mystery, at least some; you're absolutely right in wanting to preserve notions of the majestic."

"But some people ... they'll think you're trying to be clever for the sake of sounding clever, and they'll get all riled up and act silly and not see that you're trying to not just say something, but say something with wonder. And maybe someone will come along and try to point out to them what's going on, but who knows if that will work."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 07:35 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 11:12 PM)

Arynel nodded his head, and took a deep breath.

"You have seen this with your own eyes, this very thing you speak of, you have experienced for yourself." The Breton said. "Yet you see now that I am here before you, and I do say we are not enemies."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 07:38 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 01:15 AM)

"I have," Loranna says, taking a deep breath herself. "I have and I look back now and wonder how I could have felt that way, and know that I am happy that we aren't enemies - may we never need be enemies ever."

She offers Arynel her hand to shake.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 23 2005, 07:41 AM

(The Void:)

Leseth watched as Bosriel ate. The expression on Leseth's black face showed no reaction as her prey's screams ceased with a gurgle.

Bosriel shed the blood from her white dress and delicate white limbs, and it rained down into the darkness.

"You're leaving me again," she said.

"Yes," the deep voice of Leseth replied.

A frown wrinkled Bosriel's tiny brow. "Are you coming back?"

Leseth pulled his black hood over his head.

"That, Little One, is not up to me."

There was a sound like thunder in the Void, and Bosriel was alone.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 07:47 AM

The Void: Mirror

He was as ready as he was ever going to be. He even had a plan for dealing with Bosriel, although truly dealing with her was beyond his authority.

Tris swept through the Void, quicker than thought, quicker than anything, looking for someone in particular.

Leseth had the advantage of home ground. He was in his house in Alcaire, the house whose ceiling opened directly into the Void.

As Tris approached, he saw that Leseth was waiting on him.

"It's me," Mirror said.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 07:47 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 11:18 PM)

Arynel took a breath, and then stretched forth his hand, clasping his fingers around Loranna's.

They shook, and the Breton released his grip and brought his arm to his side.

"There is more still ahead, but it is a start." He said to no one in paticular.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 23 2005, 07:51 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 22 2005, 11:27 PM)

Under the black cloak and black armor, Leseth's legs tensed. The floorboards of the dark, dusty house creaked under the stress, and Leseth launched himself upwards, into the Void.

He hung in the darkness, at the same level as Tris.

Two mailed, bear-like hands emerged from the cloak and pulled the hood from Leseth's head.

He looked at Tris with unreadable, burning red eyes, and he smiled. It was not a smile that made one relax.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 07:51 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 01:27 AM)

Loranna grins.

"It is," she says.

" ... Have you ever been to Stormhold before?" she asks. "It is a nice place, lots to see, though I hear most of the really best sights are underwater. Still, what little I've seen so far has been interesting."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 07:52 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 11:31 PM)

Arynel smiled, but did not answer the question.

"If you could, I'd like to ask you a favor," the Breton began, "Would you happen to have a potion I could borrow? It does not matter what kind."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 07:56 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 01:32 AM)

Arynel smiled, but did not answer the question.

"If you could, I'd like to ask you a favor," the Breton began, "Would you happen to have a potion I could borrow? It does not matter what kind."

"I can do that; wait here a minute," Loranna says, heading back up to her room.

A couple of moments later, she returns, bearing a potion of healing. She offers it to Arynel.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 08:01 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 11:36 PM)

"I can do that; wait here a minute," Loranna says, heading back up to her room.

A couple of moments later, she returns, bearing a potion of healing. She offers it to Arynel.

"My thanks." Arynel said, taking the potion. "I will return shortly."

The Breton stood up and walked towards the door. Once outside, he downed the potion and held it up, holding the opening in the direction opposite the way the breeze went, that is, into the wind. After a few moments, he returned the cork to the bottle, which he stowed away.

Arynel returned to the Inferno and sat down. Reaching into his pocket, the Breton produced a few Septims and tossed them down on the table in front of Loranna.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 08:04 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 01:41 AM)

Loranna gathers up the septims. "Thank you," she says. "What did you need that for, if I may ask?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 08:06 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 23 2005, 12:31 AM)

The Void: Mirror

"I thought my old master in the Mages' Guild was a bastard," Mirror said. "You're a thousand times harsher than he ever was. But I think I've learned what you had to teach me. What do you think?"

He looked at Leseth with new eyes, the eyes he had learned to look through when Ciel died. He was master of strings of states, and he could see many states upon Leseth, protecting him far better than any mere armor or cloak. Leseth could not be harmed by any weapon; he could not be touched by magic. Leseth's strength and speed and grace were all greater than the natural world would allow.

Mirror knew where to find those same strings, and how to use them on himself. But learning strings of power was done in a house that was hard to reach and hard to return from. He wanted to remain Tris, he wanted to be the man Ciel loved. He had made a wish long ago, that Ciel never be ashamed of him, and that wish stayed his hand now.

There was one other thing he could do, though. It would be a pure battle of wills. It would be over in a heartbeat. Perhaps Leseth's will was stronger than his own. But Mirror thought not. Leseth had not been tested before in this particular way. Leseth feared the General, which showed his imperfect understanding of the Void. And - most important - Leseth was unhappy, a tragic figure whose life could never be made better. Whereas Mirror, himself, had at least one good solid reason to live.

"This has been decided where what has been decided must be," he said, and extended his hand, as if to clasp Leseth's. At the same moment he reached for him without hands, in another place.

The two Void Rangers looked into each other's eyes.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 08:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 22 2005, 11:44 PM)

Loranna gathers up the septims. "Thank you," she says. "What did you need that for, if I may ask?"

The Breton looked at her for a time.

"There is more still ahead, but it is a start." Arynel said at last.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 23 2005, 08:10 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 01:46 AM)

The Breton looked at her for a time.

"There is more still ahead, but it is a start." Arynel said at last.

Loranna looks minorly confused for a second, but she smiles. "So it is, I wager," she says. "All right; may it be a start that leads ultimately to a happy end, and another happy beginning."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 23 2005, 08:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 22 2005, 11:46 PM)

The Void: Mirror

"I thought my old master in the Mages' Guild was a bastard," Mirror said. "You're a thousand times harsher than he ever was. But I think I've learned what you had to teach me. What do you think?"

"This has been decided where what has been decided must be," he said, and extended his hand, as if to clasp Leseth's. At the same moment he reached for him without hands, in another place.

The two Void Rangers looked into each other's eyes.

Leseth reached out in return. It was like a grown man grasping a small child's hand. Unlike Leseth's, Tris's hand was warm.

The power left Leseth. He felt himself become vulnerable... Physically vulnerable. He was not surprised. This was what was to be. He knew it, deep in his chest. This was the time Tris learned what was controllable and what was not. This was the time that Tris decided the outcome.

"I am pleased," Leseth's cold, quiet voice said, honestly. "I expected you to take years to learn what you have learned in months. Do you now understand that I cannot have taken from you what you never had?

"Now it is your turn. Are you here to take my life? Will you be happy if you do? Will I notice if you do? Can you?

"I no longer hunt you, Tris Gaerington. This time, you came here by the front door, and so here you belong. Do you need more to be satisfied?

"It is up to you."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 08:36 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 23 2005, 01:04 AM)

Leseth reached out. It was like a grown man grasping a small child's hand. Unlike Leseth's, Tris's hand was warm.

The power left Leseth. He felt himself become vulnerable... Physically vulnerable. He was not surprised. This was what was to be. He knew it, deep in his chest. This was the time Tris learned what was controllable and what was not. This was the time that Tris decided the outcome.

"I am pleased," Leseth's cold, quiet voice said, honestly. "I expected you to take years to learn what you have learned in months. Do you now understand that I cannot have taken from you what you never had?

"Now it is your turn. Are you here to take my life? Will you be happy if you do? Will I notice if you do? Can you?

"I no longer hunt you, Tris Gaerington. This time, you came here by the front door, and so here you belong. Do you need more to be satisfied?

"It is up to you."

Mirror caught his breath, felt his heart beating in his chest.

He felt so foolish. He could have done this months ago. It was that easy. But then again, that was as crazy as thinking you could run a marathon on the first day you started running.

"I never wanted to kill you," Mirror said honestly. "Maybe that's something wrong with me, I don't know. I was never angry at you, it was like the world breathed on me and knocked me over. I just knew I didn't want to be afraid any longer. I feel like - will you let me buy you a drink? We have things to talk about."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 23 2005, 08:39 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 12:16 AM)

Leseth laughed. It could not help but be a chilling sound.

He did not release Tris's warm hand.

"Where, in all the world, would you go that would serve me a drink?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 08:44 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 23 2005, 01:19 AM)

Leseth laughed. It could not help but be a chilling sound.

He did not release Tris's warm hand.

"Where, in all the world, would you go that would serve me a drink?"

Tris laughed too, although a shiver went down his spine.

"I've been around Aki the werewolf, and Dagoth the lich, and Loranna, who's scarier by far than any of the others. I forget that people are never frightened of the truly frightening things. And you're shy, which doesn't help. If you won't come back to the Inferno with me, I'll go into town, and return with a proper bottle of something decent, and we can drink here. We need to talk, about my father, and about Queen Elysana, and about the Flamekiss."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 23 2005, 08:48 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 12:24 AM)

Leseth released Tris's hand.

Again, he was unstoppable. Unkillable.

"Go," he said.

"And return. I will wait for you, and we will drink... and talk."

Leseth dropped through the hole in the world, and into his house.

He lit the candles that had not been lit in years, and built a fire in the unused fireplace.

The people that lived along the East Wall in Alcaire saw new lights in the old haunted place, and locked their shutters.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 23 2005, 08:51 AM

Wayrest

Elysana, the Queen of Wayrest, walked into Herwyn's office unannounced, her soft footsteps making no sound on the rich carpets that lined the floor. She found him buried in paperwork, everything transfered from Ryvad Castellian's secret lair to the new rooms in the palace. Like all parts of the Dome of Wayrest, it was gently curved with no right angles.

"You are up to date on all the spies and their assignments, it seems," Elysana said, startling the battlemage who was now her Spymaster. "You have been working hard."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 08:52 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 23 2005, 01:28 AM)

Leseth and Tris drank, and talked.

When they were finished, Tris ran - he used the image of his foot, it was the pain that had told him it was still there somewhere - very fast, all the way back to Stormhold. He entered through the wall in the room he shared with Ciel. And went down the stairs.

He had brought back a bottle of a nice vintage from Alcaire.

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 09:07 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 12:32 AM)

Ciel was sitting in the common room still. At first he didn't notice Tris's entry as he had been watching the tavern's door. A number of patrons had entered and left since he had risen in the morning. He had eaten earlier and now there was a small drink on the table before him. Eventually the knight did turn his head enough to catch sight of Tris.

"How-" he shook his head and caught sight of the bottle. "Where have you been? and what do you have there?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 09:10 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 01:47 AM)

Tris grinned and flourished the bottle.

"Alcaire's finest," he said. "For us."

He sat down and said quietly to Ciel. "I went to see Leseth. Thought it was going to be a fight, didn't want to scare you when you couldn't do anything to help me anyway. But we worked everything out, I've been drinking and talking with him. Lot to talk about."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 09:23 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 12:50 AM)

Ciel's eyes went wide.

"You what?" he asked shocked and then slumped back in his chair. "And then you drank and talked with him."

The last part was more a confirmation of the words rather than a question. He paused a moment.

"Perhaps we should enjoy that upstairs..." he indicated the bottle but the look on his face told Tris he wanted privacy for a reason other than enjoyment.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 09:24 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 02:03 AM)

Tris went upstairs without argument. He had noticed the look, though. The first words out of his mouth were, "It's okay, I'm okay, he didn't hurt me. Ciel, we don't have to be afraid of him anymore."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 09:34 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 01:04 AM)

Tris went upstairs without argument. He had noticed the look, though. The first words out of his mouth were, "It's okay, I'm okay, he didn't hurt me. Ciel, we don't have to be afraid of him anymore."

Ciel closed the door quietly and locked it. Leaning back against the wall he massaged the temple at the right side of his head.

"It's good that it turned out that way," he began his tone was calm. "But that was dangerous, very dangerous, and you didn't tell me..."

He paused a moment.

"Mara's love, all that we've been through and you didn't tell me. You didn't tell anyone else either."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 10:58 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 02:14 AM)

"I didn't want you to worry about me," Tris said. "And the others might have tried to talk me out of it."

He knew instantly that this was the wrong thing to say.

"I had to face him, he's been hanging over our heads for so long, we couldn't keep living like that. I can't depend on the General for everything, I had to prove I could handle him."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 11:12 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 02:38 AM)

"Why shouldn't they?" Ciel chided. "That was very foolish. You don't think I was worried when I couldn't find you this morning?"

"What if you couldn't and he decided to take your other leg as payment or worse?" the knight continued quietly. "What if that other one had been with him or stopped you?"

He was shaking his head.

"No one. Nobody knew. You might have never come back. We're here to help you not tie you down. What would I do?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 11:20 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 03:52 AM)

"I had a plan for dealing with Bosriel," Tris said. "And I got lucky, she wasn't with him. I'm used to living on my luck, my luck's pretty good. Even when it looks like it's bad it's good. You think I don't know how lucky I am? You can't second guess yourself in the Void, you have to believe in what you're doing. If I had to look at someone who was worried about me, I might have started to worry about myself, and then I never would have been able to do what I did."

He decided, abruptly, to switch tactics. "I'm sorry I made you wait so long. I'm here now, though."

Posted by: lochnarus Feb 23 2005, 11:28 AM

Stormhold, near the western fringe of the city

Loch was restless. He had been searching the city streets for hours looking for any sign of Elora, who he had met and fallen in love with the night before. She had been taken by unknown Dark Brotherhood henchmen (who were after the Crystal Heart loch possessed) sometime after he had left The Inferno tavern that morning. One thing about the Dark Brotherhood, was that they always reported back to the Imperial City before too long. The Marsh wasn't exactly the most accomidating of places for the Brotherhood.

It was more than likely, if Loch knew them right, that they had made camp somewhere outside the city. There'd be horses or some kind of caravan and they would be disguised as merchants to get past the Firstguard and into the city undetected. A matter of location, if he knew the bastards right. They weren't the smartest brotherhood he'd come into contact with.

Loch jumped from rooftop to rooftop, making his way to the edge of the city. Every once in a while a young Argonian would spot a tall, long-haired dark fellow springing across the top of their view, and then quickly he was gone. Not wanting to draw attention, Loch kept himself low and made quick his way toward what looked like the edge of the city, now growing quite close.

At the last rooftop, he stopped and surveyed the sudden wilderness before him. There was Morrowind to the north, and Cyrodiil directly to the east, neither very far from here, a matter of a few miles in either direction. Down below, near the edge of the city, he spotted a small river leading presumably towards Helstrom, the next large city to the south of Stormhold, and then a somewhat overgrown road, which he guessed led to Rockguard to the southwest. There were some travellers coming to the city, and leaving by that road.

Hmmmm. Which way to go.

Loch thought for a moment.

Well, a boat seems unlikely. They want to keep to themselves and not draw attention. The girl would certainly scream and struggle, they dont want that. You better be right, you foolish idiot.

Loch knew the Brotherhood wasn't about to go by raft and carry a captive with them. A road it was then.

Loch pushed hit hat on hard and made his way to ground level, then started off on his way towards Cyrodiil, unsure that where he was going was the way the feinds were going. He had a strong hunch, and when Loch had a hunch, it was never wrong.

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 11:30 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 03:00 AM)

"Luck?" Ciel blinked. "That's never certain. Faith in your own abilities is a good thing, Tris, but absolute belief in something foolish is still foolish. You can't let yourself get drunk on your own power. If you did, then what would you be? A self-styled god of that forsaken place, like that orc, who doles out punsihment on who ever he deems worthy of his wrath?

"I could have waited days, weeks, years even, but, I didn't know and might never have."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 11:38 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 04:10 AM)

Tris was starting to be alarmed.

"This isn't working," he said. "I thought you'd be happy, I'm sorry I upset you. I'm not - how could you even say something like that? It's because I was 'drunk on my own power' that you're even alive. I have to believe in my own ability to make the right decisions or nothing else makes sense."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 11:56 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 03:18 AM)

Ciel slumped back against the wall and slid to the floor with a soft thud.

"Good gods," the knight whispered staring at his hands, particularly the right. "My life..."

He was silent a moment but then looked up.

"NO. I will not to become a slave because of 'gratitude'. Tell me, are you so powerful that you could never make a mistake? Never do a wrong? Tell me what if you do?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 12:04 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 04:36 AM)

"That's not what I..."

Tris stopped, dropped to the floor beside Ciel. "Please. I already apologized. Please tell me what to do to make this stop."

He was still a tiny bit drunk, and now his stomach felt sick. He was having flashbacks, flashbacks of Bryn screaming at him. He was bad at this, that's all, what had made him think this time would be any different?

"I'm not... look, I can't even do this right, now you hate me. What am I supposed to do, stay in a closet for the rest of my life? Please, Ciel."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 12:31 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 03:44 AM)

"No I don't," Ciel said trying to put an arm around Tris. "And no you won't. That's why, I care about you and what you do."

He softened his tone.

"No one is perfect. No one can avoid every mistake. You have to do the best you can even if that means asking for help. When the mistake does come up you make your amends."

The knight sighed.

"The Void and its mysteries are beyond me for the most, if not entire, part and in truth it scares me, and not to some small degree," Ciel said. He patted the floor boards. "This is where I run. We have to live with that."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 12:42 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 05:11 AM)

Somehow, some way, the argument hadn't ended with either one of them walking out, or throwing things, or threatening suicide. Tris felt sure it wasn't anything he had done that had saved the situation.

"Ciel, I'm so sorry," he said, burying his head in the older man's chest. It was several minutes before he felt capable of speaking again.

"I don't know," he said finally. "I think I have to be able to talk to you about the Void, even if it does scare you. Because I don't know where the limits are, I don't even know where they should be. Look at Arynel, he doesn't even make sense anymore. And Solin, but then Solin was crazy to start with. And the General - she seems in control, but that's the thing, she has too much control. She doesn't have much fun, most of the time. I can't steer by my own heart, my heart seems to lead me wrong every time. I have to steer by you, like navigating by the stars. And maybe that's even crazier and maybe it terrifies you but I can't help that."

He took a deep breath, and wiped his eyes. "I won't... sneak off like that again. It's... disrespectful. Treating you like one of the ants. And you're not. Neither one of us are."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 12:55 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 04:22 AM)

"We'll work with what we have, mutually," Ciel smiled a little. "Thank you."

He leaned forward and gave Tris a quick kiss on the forehead and a hug to show that he didn't harbor any feelings of resentment.

"Did you say that bottle was from Alcaire?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 23 2005, 01:03 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 23 2005, 05:35 AM)

Tris turned the label towards Ciel, and smiled.

He was afraid to say too much. Afraid to say, I can run to Alcaire whenever we want now.

"Leseth... I was going to say, he's not all bad. But he is pretty damned bad, to be honest. Talking to him over a couple of drinks, like a buddy, he still scares me with the things he finds to say. And Bosriel is still out there, and he's not really in control of her. But we aren't being hunted anymore. Not by Leseth. And that's cause for celebration."

He grinned.

"Now all we have to worry about is Elysana."

Posted by: Solin Feb 23 2005, 01:10 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 04:43 AM)

"Indeed it is," he said smiling wider now. "And the Queen, well, when you put her next to Leseth, she doesn't seem as bad."

Posted by: B Feb 23 2005, 01:58 PM

Lorièn

Lorièn had left the common room some hours ago in search of work. Since the Wood Elf had been in town, business had been slow. What good is being a mercenary if no one will pay?

His most recent job was a gem: he was contracted to clear out a bunch of rats in some old lady’s closet. The idea of exterminating a few rodents felt somewhat demeaning, but Lorièn was desperate for money. Since the job paid 150 gold, he couldn’t pass it up.

He had knocked politely on the woman’s door, and she had asked him to come inside. No sooner had she shown him to the storage closet, the Wood Elf had his arrow nocked. The closet door was opened, and Lorièn had entered; the frightened Breton woman quickly closed the door behind the elf. Lorièn had had no trouble spotting the rodents: the closet had been well lit. Who in their right minds lights their closets when they're not in there? Are they afraid that their clothing and supplies are afraid of the dark? It mattered little, and actually, it had made his job easier. Lorièn had taken down the ferocious enemies with a few well placed arrows.

After he had finished, the Wood Elf exited the closet carrying two dead rats. On the way out of the house, he had collected his gold pieces and asked if he could keep the rodents. Later that day, Lorièn had dined on rats.

The Bosmer sighed, "Perhaps I should lower my fees and my expectations. It’s either that, or I’ll have to start working for free." The thought of lending his services for little to no compensation made him feel uneasy. But the thought of slaying rats and living on them made him feel worse.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 23 2005, 04:53 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 23 2005, 12:31 AM)

(Wayrest:)

After being told many times over, Herwyn Brand had finally broken the habit of standing and bowing when the Queen entered the room. He looked up at the sound of her voice and smiled warmly.

"Obviously I need to be a bit more alert if I'm going to be Spymaster for long, your Majesty," he said with a laugh.

He had set aside his armor and tabard that marked him as a Battlemage, and instead wore a rich but unadorned tunic that said nothing about the position he now held.

"It's not so much to deal with as I expected."

His statement was at odds with the huge stacks of paper that covered his desk and the surrounding floor.

"My predecessor's... lack of loyalty, makes stepping into his shoes a bit harder, though, I admit."

"Oh," he said, shuffling through a large stack of papers, "here is a list of all those being interrogated at the moment. Those on suspicion of treason, at least."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 23 2005, 05:00 PM

Arynel had been sitting silently for a time, scratching his chin and tapping on the table top. At last the Breton stood up and headed over to where the merchants were.

Arynel used the money he had, which was not much, but enough, to buy a scroll of fortify luck, held together with a small golden ringlet. The Breton also bought a ball of silver colored yarn.

Afterwards, Arynel returned to his seat.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 23 2005, 07:27 PM

Wayrest

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 23 2005, 10:33 AM)

"Oh," he said, shuffling through a large stack of papers, "here is a list of all those being interrogated at the moment. Those on suspicion of treason, at least."

Almost every name on the list was familiar to her. Many were people she had at one time considered loyal.

"Of course, with Ryvad pursuing Helseth's agenda not mine, some of these people may be innocent," the Queen said simply. "Obviously, more research is necessary."

Elysana sat down, "I need you to track down a man named Tris Gaerington."

She handed Herwyn the papers included in the letter from Count Sternhart, documenting Tris's movements through High Rock and Skyrim. "I believed I had him assassinated, but it seems I was wrong. The creature you saw with me in my room in the tavern in Vivec failed me and lied. I would know Gaerington's location, who his allies are, and what he is doing. Then we can proceed with a plan for rectifying this situation."

Posted by: Aki Feb 23 2005, 08:33 PM

Reichi wondered how Arynel had gotten hear. He hadn't seen him come in, and it was a distance from Ald Raathim to Tel Silgrad, then a teleport from the mages guild in Tel Silgrad to here. After that, Arynel would have had to figure out where the group was. It was rather baffling the Breton would go through so much trouble, and have nothing of importance to tell of. Then again, Reichi didn't know how Arynel had really gotten here.

The Dunmer got up and got himself some food and drink.

Somewhere in Mainland Morrowind...

Tohe slowly stirred, rising on his right arm, for some reason he couldn't feel his left arm, and his chest and back didn't have any feeling either. A quick examination of his surrounding showed that he was in a tent of some sort. The tent was primitive, bone and animal hide, smelled like Kagouti. At the center of the tent was a fire, and at the edges were arrayed several bags made of animal hides.

Tohe then realized that he was bandaged with thin strips of hide saturated with some green substance. That was probably why he couldn't feel parts of his body, they were numbed. He hoped the gree substance was intended to heal him, in any case, he was going to have several more scars.

A elderly looking dunmer man walked into the tent, dressed in varied animal hides. Some looked like they came from outside morrowind, others had to come from morrowind, and some were to old to tell. The Dunmer saw that Tohe was awake and smiled. "Ah, you're alive afterall, good, i hoped i wasn't wasting my medicines, they're so hard to come by," the Dunmer said.

Tohe blinked then asked, "Why did you save me? Where am i?"

"Well, you are in a camp belonging to some followers of Hircine, the Hunter. Because you are one of those blessed with his Lycanthropy is why we saved you," The dunmer replied, sitting down on the dirt 'floor' of the tent. Of course, that explained why they had saved him, and why this place was so primitive. They were hunters, and worshiped the god of the hunt, they used only what they aquired through the hunt. This man must be an exception. Perhaps he was the 'priest', or something. Tohe doubted many animals had body parts with restoritive alcemical properties.

Tohe nodded. "What happened to Eya? Where is she?"

The Dunmer frowned. "Eya? Oh; you must mean the other Werewolf. I am sorry, she was dead by the time we got there..."

Tohe remained silent, and hung his head. "What of the hunter?" he asked, his voice spoke of his sorrow and his sudden want for vengeance.

"He escaped, that we found you is pure luck, or perhaps, fate. But i must go for now, and alert our leader. He wished to speak with you." the Dunmer explained, then exited the tent.

Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo Feb 24 2005, 01:41 AM

SUMMARY:

Or, more accurately,

WHAT THE HECK HAS BEEN HAPPENING:

During the groups expiditions in the Vaults of Genim, Issa Yojimbo decided to loot around for more treasure. In the dark, he slipped and fell down a deep shaft.

He now lies at the bottom of a great maze.

---------------------------------------

Issa puts his hand to his head and finds that his forehead is bleeding.

"Ugh...what happened..."

He stands up and looks around where he is.

A great iron hallway twists, brances, and winds around the bottom of a deep cavern. There are strange runes marked on the walls. They intersect and split like some great maze.

"Man...I need to get out of here."

He begins twirling and juggling the sword to be transported, but instead of the glyphs on the sword glowing, the runes on the walls gyrated, and Issa remained in the Cave.

"What the heck?"

Issa began to walk down the passages, turning this way and that, winding down the halls for hours. Every few twists, he would get the feeling that he was walking in circles.

Hours passed, and Issa saw nothing but the cold iron stare of walls covered in runes that seemed to laugh at him, and the powers of his Prophet's Edge.

And here he walks deep withing the Vaults of Genim, in a Maze of Iron.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 02:41 AM

Teleran walked over to Loranna when her conversation with Arynel quietened, “Thank you for breakfast Lor. You know, you really didn’t have to do that. You’ll have to let me buy something for you; I’m indebted enough to you as it is, I don’t need to owe drakes to you on top of that." Teleran grinned, he would never be able to pay her back for everything. "Umm, I was just wondering, well umm, you saved me twice from death with your healing so I was thinking that maybe, if it isn't too much trouble, you could teach me a simple heal. I could patch myself up and you could save your magicka for when it really is a matter of life and death, or for more important things like freezing flying monkeys.”

Teleran laughed at himself; why the hell was he feeling so nervous? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been in a much worse situation just yesterday. It struck him then that this was the first time that he had actually asked for a boon without it being blatantly obvious that he needed it; it was easy to ask for healing when the alternative was death. Foolish pride. ‘Add another to the list of the things to unlearn before I get someone killed,’ he thought to himself. That list was growing disturbingly long.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 02:43 AM

Arynel looked up at Teleran.

"How does the road greet you?" The Breton asked with a welcoming smile.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 02:48 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 08:21 PM)

Loranna turns to look at Teleran, her expression friendly for a second before turning to a frown. " ... Oops, sorry," she says, shaking her head. "Dear, I told you I'd treat you to breakfast for the trouble we all put you through - even if you did bring a lot of it down on yourself, silly. You don't have to worry about paying me back for that."

... Nor did Arynel either, Loranna realizes as she's talking, causing a small frown to reappear for a second. ... Then again, Arynel is Arynel and he has his own way of doing things ... eh, worry about that later when Tel's not waiting on you Lor.

"I can show you a couple basic healing spells, sure," she says, motioning for Teleran to sit down. "Nothing too fancy, but a basic heal for yourself and another for others, just in case."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 02:56 AM

"With everchanging faces, Arynel," Teleran replied. "Really? Thanks Lor! I hope I can pick it up quick enough, wouldn't want to inconvenience you too much, I'm sorry if I do, we can always do it at another time for your convenience."

'Alright stop apologizing now,' he told himself, 'you didn't do anything wrong this time.' He sat downand looked at Lor, "Umm, I know a lot of spells involve hand motions, do you think my arm will be a problem?"

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 02:58 AM

Lorièn had spent the whole day looking for work, to no avail. He decided to return to the Inferno.

The Bosmer entered and looked around the room.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 02:59 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 06:36 PM)

Arynel smiled.

"Ah yes, let each one climb his own mountain in his skyward searching, and each will say his way is best, be it hand or voice or rolled up paper." The Breton said.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 03:06 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 08:39 PM)

Arynel smiled.

"Ah yes, let each one climb his own mountain in his skyward searching, and each will say his way is best, be it hand or voice or rolled up paper." The Breton said.

"For example," Loranna says with a grin, "I will say my current means work pretty well, and I've been using a shortsword in one hand and gesturing while incanting with the other. So what I can teach you will work for you, though you'll have trouble using your spear and trying to cast."

She scratches her chin thoughtfully. "We could also look into getting a ring enchanted for you with healing magic; those are fairly useful and would give you what you're looking for - though I'll still teach you a couple spells because it can't hurt to know them."

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 03:08 AM

Lorièn grabbed a table in the corner and listened to the conversations.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 03:22 AM

"Hmm, yeah an enchantment would work too, maybe a fortify enchantment, I think that's what Tris used, yeah that effect was infinitely enjoyable, even if it left me feeling a little out of it. Oh yeah before I forget, or drink them, these are the two potions I was talking about, don't have a clue what they do, but you said you were going to do something with alchemy, so I figure you might be able to figure out some use for them." Teleran said, looking rather more excited than was warranted in this situation. He looked oddly at Arynel, then back to Lor, "Does he ever speak plainly? I mean its something to do with magic obviously, ways to cast I think, but if he talked normally you wouldn't need a bloody decoder every time he talked."

Teleran snapped his mouth shut, if he kept on like this Magnus would leave the sky and he would still not have learned anything about healing.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 03:32 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 07:02 PM)

"Healing..." Arynel began, leaning back in his chair.

"I fear that I am no expert in the matter, though I know a few spells myself." The Breton began. "I do think, though, that in order to heal one must establish that something is in fact broken, and in need of fixing, which can present itself in all manner of forms, some more readily perceivable than others, though potency is not necessarily related to ease of discovery. Afterwards, the correction of whatever percieved wrong would be the obvious course of action, in my mind, what that is would be circumstantially relative. My meaning here, that those with ears well tuned will know already, is that wounds come in a regiment of forms, and each requires a different method, though all succumb to the same set of mercurial processes."

The Breton paused, and smiled. "You see then why I speak as I do, I wish to save my breath."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 03:46 AM

"To my knowledge you have never saved breath, only used it." Teleran remarked lightly. "You don't have to talk in circles every sentence do you?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 03:47 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 09:12 PM)

Loranna frowns a little. " ... Well, that is one way to look at it," she agrees. She turns to Teleran.

"For the spells I'm about to teach you though, we're going to assume that you've already established something is amiss - this is a spell to heal wounds, and you likely can see the wound on yourself or the other person. Other ailments - diseases, poisons, other ill effects - are beyond these spells, though if you practice the forms I'm going to teach you, you'll find later that you'll have a fair idea of how other curative magic works."

"But for right now, the important thing for you to worry about is the technique of shaping your magicka to close an open wound, replenish lost blood and knit broken bone. I find it helps to visualize the person as whole as I cast, the wound closing itself before my mind's eye as I close it through magic. I'll start first with a cantrip, actually ..."

Loranna lowers her voice and demonstrates to Teleran the proper way to gesture, the proper words to chant, to shape his magicka for the purpose of fixing a small cut. "Try that first; sucesss breeds more success, so once you got that I'll show you the other spells."

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 09:26 PM)

"To my knowledge you have never saved breath, only used it." Teleran remarked lightly. "You don't have to talk in circles every sentence do you?"

"Less asking Arynel why he speaks the way he does; more practicing what I'm showing you," Loranna says to Teleran. "One mystery at a time, Tel."

Posted by: Aki Feb 24 2005, 03:51 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 09:12 PM)

The Breton paused, and smiled. "You see then why I speak as I do, I wish to save my breath."

"Cutting corners never solved anything," Reichi commented offhandedly, muching on a chunk of some kind of meat. Reichi didn't ask what the meat came from, he probably didn't want to know. With his luck it probably came from gaint worm or something.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 03:52 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 07:26 PM)

"To my knowledge you have never saved breath, only used it." Teleran remarked lightly. "You don't have to talk in circles every sentence do you?"

"Circles?" Arynel began, smiling.

"Seldom do I speak to decieve, or rather it is unneccesary and merely an after affect." The Breton said. "Walk the path at the edge of the world, leaving behind not but a caress of memory and wind all visions into song, placed in your mouth like the language of the wind. I speak so the birds will understand."

The Breton looks over at Reichi. "Cutting corners? The picture is no longer frame-bound, the world has spread over the limits it was once held within."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 04:03 AM

Teleran looked down in chagrin, then looked back up and watched What Lor was doing and listened to the words she spoke, he started trying to imitate the movements and syllables, the movement came easily enough, he got them right almost immediately; the words, on the other hand, he slurred quite badly the first few times and it took a while before he could repeat them fluidly enough for a spell and he still didn't get the words exactly right that often.

The shaping magicka that she described seemed vaguely familiar to him, though he had no idea why that should be, and with little effort he managed to access it. Though shaping it as she suggested was quite draining, even though he was not actually healing anyone. The magicka seemed to want another shape and he had to keep forcing it into the one he wanted.

"Is it supposed to be this tiring?" He asked Loranna.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 04:09 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 09:43 PM)

Teleran looked down in chagrin, then looked back up and watched What Lor was doing and listened to the words she spoke, he started trying to imitate the movements and syllables, the movement came easily enough, he got them right almost immediately; the words, on the other hand, he slurred quite badly the first few times and it took a while before he could repeat them fluidly enough for a spell and he still didn't get the words exactly right that often.

The shaping magicka that she described seemed vaguely familiar to him, though he had no idea why that should be, and with little effort he managed to access it. Though shaping it as she suggested was quite draining, even when he was not actually healing anyone. The magicka seemed to want another shape and he had to keep forcing it into the one he wanted.

"Is it supposed to be this tiring?" He asked Loranna.

Loranna gently corrects Teleran on his enunciation, and says to him "Well, admittedly, casting with one hand isn't the easiest way to do this, and it is something new to you. But you're getting the hang of it, and it should get easier with more practice. Try that a few more times, while I go run to my room and grab you a couple restore potions; when I get back I'll see about teaching you a stronger version, one that will heal minor wounds."

She heads up to her room and returns a couple moments later, potions in hand.

"You look like you're still straining there Tel," she says, frowning. "Is it getting any easier?"

Posted by: Aki Feb 24 2005, 04:13 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 09:32 PM)

The Breton looks over at Reichi. "Cutting corners? The picture is no longer frame-bound, the world has spread over the limits it was once held within."

Reichi sighed. "Arynel, one could understand ME at night better than that," he said, shaking he head.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 04:16 AM

QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 23 2005, 07:53 PM)

Reichi sighed. "Arynel, one could understand ME at night better than that," he said, shaking he head.

"I speak so the birds will understand." Arynel said. "Fly, if you have wings for it, the wind is yours to take."

The Breton turned his attention to the woodgrain of the table.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 04:17 AM

"A little bit easier though it still seems harder than it should be; you did say this was just a cantrip, didn't you Lor?" Teleran said before he tried another casting. "It doesn't stay in the shape I want it to."

Teleran's arm fell to the ground with a reverberating clank. He stared at it in confusion, "That hasn't happened before."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 04:19 AM

Tris rode down the bannister into the room and landed at the foot of the stairs, gracefully, on one foot. He wasn't levitating at the moment.

"I'm drunk, though I don't look it," he announced, cheerfully. "Arynel? Is that you? Come here, I owe you one. More than one. Someone cast cure poison on me, my head is spinning."

He put his arms around Arynel from behind and kissed the top of his touseled head, then slid into the chair next to him, grinning.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 04:21 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 23 2005, 09:57 PM)

Loranna frowns. " .. I think we should put off further lessons for now, then," she says. "It looks like your having trouble keeping your arm in place and trying something else. You might want to just go and get an enchanted ring and use that; those don't require much concentration to activate ..."

She hands Teleran a potion anyway. "I'm gonna go get something to eat; you ought to take a break for a bit, let your mind relax. We'll talk to the Mage Guild about enchanting a ring for you when we go to head home."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 04:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 07:59 PM)

Arynel's eyes went wide for a moment, and then the Breton's lips stretched into a smile.

"You ask me to go to you, and yet you come sit by me, which is it? Ah, but nevermind what should not be minded, let those strings without purpose be forever untested. How does the road greet you, friend?"

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 04:26 AM

Lorièn continued to watch and listen.

OOC: Now, my new character has a face thanks to some old work by Allie and Rhedd. Thanks, Allie and Rhedd!

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 04:27 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 09:02 PM)

Tris shook his head, smiling. "I haven't a clue what you just said. Wasn't kidding about the cure poison, I'm too drunk to cast it right now."

He leaned over and said into Arynel's ear, in a whisper, "I just got back from Alcaire."

He winked, and turned his attention to the food on the table.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 04:28 AM

Teleran took Loranna's advice and took a break from trying to cast the spell, he picked up his arm and placed it where it usually hung. A few moments later he removed his hand and it hung there like it had before. He looked at it in confusion; what had happened there? He blocked out the conversation Arynel was having. He was supposed to be resting after all, not straining to understand riddles.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 04:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 08:07 PM)

Arynel's jaw dropped, but he quickly regained his composure.

"What on Nirn have you been..." He began, but stopped to let Tris eat.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 04:46 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 09:09 PM)

Arynel's jaw dropped, but he quickly regained his composure.

"What on Nirn have you been..." He began, but stopped to let Tris eat.

"No one here knows cure poison?" Tris said, tearing off a chunk of bread. He leaned back in his chair and called to the waitress. "Fetch me a cure potion, darlin."

"It's easy, just like always," he said to Arynel. "I got the first idea of it in the sphere of Dibella. It doesn't matter which way you go up, all roads lead to the same place if you follow them far enough. You could start by loving music and end up knowing all the secrets of heaven. Or loving, I don't know, breadmaking. But I'm me, and so I had to be kicked in the head hard before I finally got it."

Tris caught sight of the Bosmer in the corner watching them hungrily. "Come sit down, fellow," he called. "This cheese comes from a cow, and I'm sure these good people can rustle up something dead. Dead animal, no herbs or spices, girl, you hear me? And I'm paying."

He smiled at the little fellow. Right now, Tris was friends with the world.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 04:47 AM

Ciel descended down the steps at a lively pace. He held onto the railing until he had reached the landing where he took a quick glance around the common room with a grin on his face. Satisfied in his survey he walked over to the proprietor and inquired about hot meal.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 04:51 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 08:26 PM)

Arynel turned and nodded towards the Bosmer, then returned his attention to Tris.

"Tell me, friend," the Breton began, "what did you get, when all was finished?"

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 04:55 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 09:26 PM)

Tris caught sight of the Bosmer in the corner watching them hungrily. "Come sit down, fellow," he called. "This cheese comes from a cow, and I'm sure these good people can rustle up something dead. Dead animal, no herbs or spices, girl, you hear me? And I'm paying."

He smiled at the little fellow. Right now, Tris was friends with the world.

The Bosmer got up and joined his new friend. “Thank you for the offer. I’m new in town and looking for work. Forgive my bluntness, but what happened to you?”

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 24 2005, 04:56 AM

Flashback 1: Four Days Ago

Ald Raathim.

A cool wind blew. Kethiah, chief assassin of the Morag Tong, went to Jazbet’s room in the early morning hours, but he was not asleep. The vision were too vivid. Though no servant saw or heard her, Jazbet did.

“I can confirm it. Your visions are true,” she said, and he nodded.

Allerleirauh, Aricyn, Solin, and the others who remained in the castle were summoned to war council in Jazbet’s office.

The mood was dark. The odds were not in their favor.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 05:05 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 09:31 PM)

Arynel turned and nodded towards the Bosmer, then returned his attention to Tris.

"Tell me, friend," the Breton began, "what did you get, when all was finished?"

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 09:35 PM)

The Bosmer got up and joined his new friend. “Thank you for the offer. I’m new in town and looking for work. Forgive my bluntness, but what happened to you?”

"I got my best friend back," Tris said to Arynel. "The rest is all langiappe."

He smiled at the Bosmer. "You mean my leg? A giant black Orc ripped it off and gave it to the Queen of Wayrest."

He felt safe in telling the truth. No one would believe it.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 05:07 AM

Loranna had been eating a quick meal, and was almost going to offer Tris his cure spell before he made such unnecessary. To be honest, his exuberant joy was somewhat stunning, and Loranna found herself slightly mesmerized by how happy he seemed.

Hopefully, when they got back home, she could make Jazbet that radiantly happy; she herself felt sure she would be to see him again.

Finishing her meal, she walks over to her friends. She smiles politely to the newcomer and sits back down.

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 05:07 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 09:45 PM)

"That sounds interesting. You must lead an exciting life. And I thought my life was exciting! Do you need any help?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 05:15 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 09:47 PM)

"That sounds interesting. You must lead an exciting life. And I thought my life was exciting! Do you need any help?"

"Our lives are a little too exciting for most people," Tris said. "But you're doomed now, that's the way it works. People who touch us are sucked into the vortex like glue."

He frowned, and took another slug of cure potion.

"Stick to us like glue, I meant to say. What is it you're good at? And do you mind if we cast a dispell on you?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 05:16 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 10:55 PM)

"Just what did you have to drink Tris?" Loranna asks, smiling a bit despite herself. She readies herself to cast Dispel on the Bosmer should he acquiese.

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 05:18 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 09:55 PM)

"Hmm, I guess you could cast dispell or datspell on me if you want to," Lorièn replied. "I guess you could say that I do a little bit of everything. I fight battles, I deliver packages, I give. . . umm. . . messages to people—and they usually get the ‘point’—and I could even escort you from point A to point B. Of late, the only thing I’ve done is kill a couple of rats. But if the price is right, then my bow’s for hire."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 05:20 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 09:58 PM)

"Ah, a punster, we shoot those in High Rock," Tris said, grinning.

"You're an archer then, we can always use another archer. Any good with locks and traps?"

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 05:26 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 10:00 PM)

"Ah, a punster, we shoot those in High Rock," Tris said, grinning.

"You're an archer then, we can always use another archer. Any good with locks and traps?"

"Thanks. I'm not very good with locks, and I try to avoid most traps. Let's see. . . besides a bow, I can handle a sword and shield. I'm pretty agile, and I know a thing or two about Restoration. Like I said, there’s not much I won’t do."

"Now comes the real question: Is there any money involved. Some gems, perhaps?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 05:28 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 11:06 PM)

Loranna finishes casting her spell. "Alas, I cannot dispel his humor," she says with a wink to Tris. "But there is no trickery hiding his eyes from us."

"I agree with his attitude toward traps though," she adds.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 05:32 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 10:06 PM)

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 23 2005, 10:08 PM)

"Three square meals and expenses guaranteed," Tris said. "Plus the unmeasurable benefits of hanging around with beautiful ladies and beautiful gentlemen, whichever you prefer. And we'll be the last ones standing when the Azurites kill everyone else. I imagine we can arrange some form of cash payment, but no one else here is getting paid."

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 05:35 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 10:12 PM)

"That's fine. I've chased dreams for a lot less. I could tell you a tale or two. Do you have time for a story?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 05:37 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 10:15 PM)

"That's fine. I've chased dreams for a lot less. I could tell you a tale or two. Do you have time for a story?"

"We always have time for a story," Tris said, smiling.

Under the table, he reached out with his good foot and tickled Loranna's foot.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 05:37 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 09:15 PM)

"That's fine. I've chased dreams for a lot less. I could tell you a tale or two. Do you have time for a story?"

Arynel's expression grew brighter and a smile stretched across the Breton's face.

"If you have a thread to spin, do weave it, I am quite fond of well knitted wordings."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 05:41 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 11:17 PM)

"We always have time for a story," Tris said, smiling.

Under the table, he reached out with his good foot and tickled Loranna's foot.

Loranna starts just a little, and covers her mouth to hide her giggle. She lightly baps Tris's foot with her own, though judging from the corners of her mouth she isn't really complaining.

As Tris you're too much, she thinks. I wish I could still tell you that with just my mind; I could tease you with an image of Ciel in this one outfit I remember from a most handsome man ...

She smiles at the thought, her grin now unable to hide behind her hand.

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 05:42 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 10:17 PM)

"We always have time for a story," Tris said, smiling.

Lorièn thought for a moment and then began to speak, “When I was a young mer, my father told me a tale that would forever shape and guide my life. It was a glorious story about the mighty Auri-El. He told me how Auri-El led the Aldmer against the armies of Lorkhan. How the Aldmer tracked Lorkhan, and Trinimac, Auri-El's greatest knight, struck Lorkhan down, reached into his chest, and tore out his Heart.”

Lorièn paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and then continued, “Even though Lorkhan was unmade, the Heart could not be destroyed. So Auri-El fastened it to an arrow and let it fly into the sea.”

The Bosmer smiled, making sure the man was still listening. After a second or two, he spoke once again, “Ever since the day my father told me that tale, I swore that I would find Auri-El's Bow. I was going to dedicate my life to that endeavor. At the time, I could handle a sword fairly well, but I wasn’t much of an archer. From that point forward, I decided to dedicate my studies to the bow. For what good would Auri-El's Bow do me if on the day I found it, I could not use it?”

“I spent the rest of my life with a bow in hand. I would shoot arrows from dawn to dusk and sometimes until dawn again. I became quite the archer. Don’t get me wrong: I’m no ‘Bourlor,’ but I am quite good, if I do say so myself.”

The Wood Elf paused and stared at his listener. “Am I boring you?” he asked. “Of course not! I’ll continue. . . Well, I spent the better part of my life trying to find the blasted thing. I came close once! I tracked its owner to a village in High Rock. When I came upon the man, I asked him if he would part with the artifact; I told him I would pay him handsomely. He didn’t take to kindly to my offer, and before I knew it, we were having words. Soon our words became an all out fight.”

By the look in the Bosmer’s eyes, one could tell that he was getting to the good part of his story, at least he thought so. “He hit me with his fist and took off running. So, I began chasing him through the woods, dodging his arrows, and in turn, he was dodging my shots. Eventually, he tired and I knew my time was at hand.”

“In a matter of seconds, I had fired off three arrows from my bow. The first missed its target by a fraction of an inch, the second grazed the man’s ear, tearing away some cartilage, and the third buried itself deep within the man’s shoulder. Auri-El's Bow fell to the ground!”

“I pulled my sword and charged the wounded man, but he saw me coming and reclaimed the Bow. He managed to fire off one last shot; I dove out of the way just in time. The man’s wounded shoulder caused him to wince in pain. He had fired his last arrow. As I came closer, my hopes were doused. Apparently, the last arrow that he had fired caused the Bow’s store of energy to expire. Auri-El's Bow had left the man—and me—only to reappear somewhere else in Tamriel.”

Lorièn sighed. “I was this close!” The Bosmer made a sign with his thumb and index finger to apparently show just how close he had come. “Last I heard, the Bow was somewhere in Morrowind, but that was a few years ago. I thought about tracking it down, but with my luck, I figured it would have already gone.”

Lorièn sighed once more. “The nearly impossible dream. I guess I'll follow you around for a while. Perhaps my luck will change.”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 05:45 AM

"The last I heard an armiger at the Tower of Dusk and Dawn had it, which means it could be anywhere now," Tris said. "The Towers have been replaced with the New Temple of Azura, and many of the Armigers no longer serve Vivec. Ah well, you'll find it if it's meant to be. I always felt sorry for Lorkhan though."

Posted by: B Feb 24 2005, 05:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 10:25 PM)

"I guess you're right about things being meant to be. I guess we'll see."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 05:52 AM

QUOTE(B @ Feb 23 2005, 11:30 PM)

"I guess you're right about things being meant to be. I guess we'll see."

"That's all we can do sometimes," Loranna says with a small smile. "But for what it's worth, I hope you find it someday. And I'd be happy to have you travel with us while you look; as Tris said, another archer is always welcome."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 05:56 AM

"Walk the path as it is given." Arynel said.

The Breton leaned back in his chair.

"Can the water be any clearer?" He asked, though did not, perhaps, expect a vocalized answer.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 07:36 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 23 2005, 10:36 PM)

"Walk the path as it is given." Arynel said.

The Breton leaned back in his chair.

"Can the water be any clearer?" He asked, though did not, perhaps, expect a vocalized answer.

"Right, I'm no longer drunk, and you still don't make sense," Tris said, grinning. He could see why Allerleirauh was fascinated with the young Breton; if it weren't for Ciel, he'd see if Arynel could be seduced, just to find out if he talked like that in bed.

Tris smiled at Loranna. He and she needed to have a private conversation at some point. "I'm sorry for blowing you off earlier," he said. "What was on your mind?"

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 07:40 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 11:16 PM)

Arynel starred at Tris.

"How joyous is your confusion," the Breton said, "I am quilty of a crime for which no punishment can suffice, then, if a single bird has taken flight."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 07:41 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 01:16 AM)

"It's all right; we all had a lot on our minds," Loranna says to Tris. "And I was just wanting to tell you about the native that was feeling me out, which I mentioned already and which you already answered."

She pauses for a bit, thinking back to yesterday; a trace of concern comes back to her eyes, and she rubs a ring on her hand - an ebony ring which Tris hasn't seen her wearing before, up till recently.

"But everything seems to be going well now," she says, the concern passing as her smile returns. "We're going home soon, we're all more or less in one piece, and we're even meeting new people already. It's a good day."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 07:51 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 23 2005, 11:07 AM)

Wayrest
Elysana sat down, "I need you to track down a man named Tris Gaerington."

She handed Herwyn the papers included in the letter from Count Sternhart, documenting Tris's movements through High Rock and Skyrim. "I believed I had him assassinated, but it seems I was wrong. The creature you saw with me in my room in the tavern in Vivec failed me and lied. I would know Gaerington's location, who his allies are, and what he is doing. Then we can proceed with a plan for rectifying this situation."

(Wayrest:)

Herwyn took the papers from the Queen and looked them over carefully. Behind his kind eyes, his mind was working. Working to see the connections between Count Sternhart and the Queen, and the father's motivations for coming to the Queen with this matter.

He smiled, trying to drive the vision of the horrible black monster out of his mind.

"I'll put it on the top of the stack!" he said, patting the papers as he layed them on the desk.

"Give me but a couple of days, your Majesty, and I will have some news of him. My apologies, but I don't yet have everything running quite as smoothly here as I'd like."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 07:56 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 24 2005, 12:20 AM)

Arynel starred at Tris.

"How joyous is your confusion," the Breton said, "I am quilty of a crime for which no punishment can suffice, then, if a single bird has taken flight."

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 12:21 AM)

"Right, pardon me Loranna, but sometimes these things are necessary," Tris said, pushing back his chair.

He leaned over, and grasping both of Arynel's shoulders firmly, gave the young man a big, enthusiastic kiss on the mouth.

When he pulled away, there was a strange look in his eyes. Sheogorath really did kiss him. No wonder he doesn't make sense.

Then he flashed the grin again and turned back to Loranna.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 07:59 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 01:36 AM)

"I understand dear," Loranna says, smiling a bit; Tris was so confident in his manner she couldn't help but feel a touch wistful that she'd someday feel comfortable being able to express herself like that, without confusing herself or others.

She raises her eyebrows at the look in Tris's eyes, though.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 08:01 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 23 2005, 11:36 PM)

Arynel sat paralyzed, his jaw hanging down from his mouth. At last the Breton shook his head, and wiped his sleeve across his lips, making an awkward face, as if he had just eaten a lemon. He took a deep breath, and put forth a more presentable expression.

"I do say, for all the world to love would be such a joy, yes, but this I think may be more than I am apt to handle. Very well though, let be what will."

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 24 2005, 08:08 AM

(Wayrest:)

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 01:31 AM)

"Give me but a couple of days, your Majesty, and I will have some news of him. My apologies, but I don't yet have everything running quite as smoothly here as I'd like."

“Organizing my spy network is no simple task,” Elysana nodded, rising from her chair. “It is not unlike ruling the kingdom. You must know everything that is happening, but do not do everything yourself or you will be overwhelmed. Yes, this is a priority, but so is the situation in Orsinium. And Daggerfall must be watched as well.

“As for the Gaerington inquiries, I think you’ll find my spy in the Imperial City, Lady Gecilia Quinta Dominitius, Countess of Briel, Baroness of Rymm, and proprietress of the finest house of prostitution in Cyrodiil to be very useful. She knows everyone. And in Skyrim, I would rely on my agent at the Fighter’s Guild in Snowhawk, Fargul the Red.”

The Queen left the Spymaster’s chamber, “Keep me apprised, Herwyn.”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 08:17 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 24 2005, 12:41 AM)

"It's usually a mistake to take me seriously," Tris said, more gently, to Arynel.

"You've been playing with that ring and sighing all this trip," he said, very softly, to Loranna. "And now you have another ring. Tell me, when did Jazbet ask you, and what did you say?"

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 08:17 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 23 2005, 11:48 PM)

(Wayrest:)
“Organizing my spy network is no simple task,” Elysana nodded, rising from her chair. “It is not unlike ruling the kingdom. You must know everything that is happening, but do not do everything yourself or you will be overwhelmed. Yes, this is a priority, but so is the situation in Orsinium. And Daggerfall must be watched as well.

“As for the Gaerington inquiries, I think you’ll find my spy in the Imperial City, Lady Gecilia Quinta Dominitius, Countess of Briel, Baroness of Rymm, and proprietress of the finest house of prostitution in Cyrodiil to be very useful. She knows everyone. And in Skyrim, I would rely on my agent at the Fighter’s Guild in Snowhawk, Fargul the Red.”

The Queen left the Spymaster’s chamber, “Keep me apprised, Herwyn.”

(Wayrest:)

Herwyn rose from his chair and bowed, despite himself.

"Of course, your Majesty."

As the Queen left his office, he sat back down and again looked over the new papers. He wondered what kind of man could want his own son dead.

He dipped his pen and began the first of many letters.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 08:21 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 01:57 AM)

Loranna mutters "Yeah; definitely miss the telepathy right now ..." under her breath.

Equally softly, she answers "He asked right before we left, and he and I both agreed we'd talk it over more when I returned - but I did say I was thinking about it seriously."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 08:22 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 01:01 AM)

"You'd be crazy not to," Tris said. "He's a wonderful man. And he loves you."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 08:27 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 02:02 AM)

"You'd be crazy not to," Tris said. "He's a wonderful man. And he loves you."

"And I love him," Loranna tells Tris simply.

"I do need to sit down and talk to him seriously about this," she continues. "It's still a major decision, even though I know it's what I want."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 08:30 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 01:07 AM)

"And I love him," Loranna tells Tris simply.

"I do need to sit down and talk to him seriously about this," she continues. "It's still a major decision, even though I know it's what I want."

"Oh for Mara's sake," Tris said, laughing. "Do you think major decisions are made by talking seriously? If you're not crazy enough about him to throw yourself off a cliff, don't do it. You'll never be any more in love than you are now."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 08:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 02:10 AM)

"Tris hun, I once made a decision out of love just like that," Loranna says, laughing a little herself. "I'm still a little overcautious from that one"

"I see Jazbet and I having a life together, as husband and wife," she assures Tris. "I can almost see myself being the mother of his children too, someday ... even have a tentative name in mind for my first daughter. But the road to getting there is still uncertain; the birds need to fly a bit more before they reach their ideal nesting spot."

She pauses, and looks at Arynel briefly. "Um, I think I just mixed metaphors not meant to be mixed there," she mutters to Tris, ducking

Posted by: Arynel Feb 24 2005, 08:38 AM

Arynel looked at Loranna, his expression vacant.

"You do not know who I am." The Breton said, turning his attention to the woodgrain of the tabletop.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 08:39 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 01:16 AM)

"You're supposed to learn the right lessons, for the right situations," Tris said. "My parents had an arranged marriage, I know what it looks like to be with someone who's good for you in all the practical ways. Love won't be put in a box; if you try, you'll just kill it. And if you died tomorrow, or he died, you'd wonder your whole life what the hell you were waiting for."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 08:41 AM

(Four days ago, off the coast near Ald Raathim:)

The Dunmer captain rested his foot on the bow of the lead longship and scanned the coastline with his blue eyes.

"It is as they said; those mangroves will keep us from making a mass landing."

The woman beside him was covered in strands of beautiful beads and metal. At every move they tinkled like bells.

"And it is as I said, nothing stands before the power of Azura."

The man scoffed as the woman turned, tinkling, to the proceedings on the main deck. There, a dozen naked women walked slowly around an intricate design drawn on the deck. In the center of the design, a red-eyed Dunmer man struggled against his bonds.

The tinkling woman strode through the ring of witches and took her place in the center of the circle. She took out a small, sharp knife, and chanting ancient words, long forbidden in the Empire, began to cut the man. She started at his feet, making cuts only an inch or two long, and worked her way up.

Blood ran across the wooden deck and smoked where it touched the arcane design.

The sky became a sickly mauve, and slowly... very slowly... the sea rose and swallowed the mangrove forest. So slow that it seemed one only imagined it, the shore retreated from its familiar banks.

The captain smiled. By dusk, he would be able to land.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 24 2005, 02:18 AM)

Arynel looked at Loranna, his expression vacant.

"You do not know who I am." The Breton said, turning his attention to the woodgrain of the tabletop.

" ... Sorry," Loranna mutters quietly, feeling like she just annoyed Arynel a bit. She turns back to Tris.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 02:19 AM)

Loranna is quiet for a moment, thinking on what it must be like to be in an arranged marriage, what the children must feel if the parents don't have the spark of love for one another ...

She reaches a hand to put on Tris's.

"... We're heading home soon, yes?" she asks. "As much as I like the sights of Stormhold, there's things waiting for us back home ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 08:50 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 01:23 AM)

" ... Sorry," Loranna mutters quietly, feeling like she just annoyed Arynel a bit. She turns back to Tris.
Loranna is quiet for a moment, thinking on what it must be like to be in an arranged marriage, what the children must feel if the parents don't have the spark of love for one another ...

She reaches a hand to put on Tris's.

"... We're heading home soon, yes?" she asks. "As much as I like the sights of Stormhold, there's things waiting for us back home ..."

"We should go," Tris said. "To the Mages' Guild, then."

He smiled at Arynel. "I keep telling everyone you're Cuddles the Bard, but they don't believe me. You need to wear fewer clothes, like Vivec. If you have no pants, people take your poetry more seriously."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 08:53 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 02:30 AM)

"Please don't say that around me dear," Loranna says to Tris, bapping him lightly on the back of his head. "You'll make me think of other people without pants and I'll be absolutely dreadful to be around all the way back from Tel Silgrad to Ald Raathim."

She gets up. "I'll go get my things; I'd been thinking of checking the Mage Guild in Tel Silgrad for a nice magic robe to wear over my armor. There's time enough for that I think while we wait for the parraptors."

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 08:58 AM

Teleran had been quietly trying to use the healing cantrip while the others were talking, the magicka still wouldn't stick in its prooper shape. He had gotten enough practice with the words that they came almost without thought to his lips as he repeated them under his breath, barely audible even to himself. Every time he thought he had the magicka formed right though it would go back on itself into its initial form. He finally got it to stick and he felt the magicka flow out properly, now that he felt it, it was actually a pitifully small amount, even if it was more than he thought a cantrip should have taken.

His arm clanked to the ground. He looked at it in surprise, now why would it do that. "Oops..." he said. "Well I got it to work Lor." He said as Loranna left the table to gather her things. He picked up his arm and replaced it.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 09:06 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 24 2005, 02:38 AM)

Loranna smiles at Teleran. "Good," she says. "When we get back to Ald Raathim, I'll see if I can show you some more - or maybe you can talk to the Mage Guild, see if any of them can offer you training for how to do both your telekenesis and the spell at the same time."

When Loranna returns, she's arrayed in her Starhlim armor, a simple cloak worn over it to keep from attracting too much attention. Her pack is secured and she looks ready to go.

Posted by: Sheogorath Feb 24 2005, 09:14 AM

Flashback: Four Days Ago

Ald Raathim

Jazbet saw the blood tide rising to the east. He saw the sky turn black with Winged Twilights to the north. He saw the armies plow through the forests to the west. And within his land, he saw the spells of the Azurites surging through the peasants’ simple gravesites and burial mounds, forcing the ancestors to awaken and attack their descendants.

Blood and darkness and death was rising in his domain, with blue eyes.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 09:32 AM

(Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

Aricyn rode to and fro among the ranks of men. Men with armored breasts, shielded arms, and frightened faces.

To the west, smoke from the burning forests filled the air.

"You knew this day would come!" Aricyn's voice echoed across the hills. "This day comes to all men who count themselves lucky. Yes, lucky I say, for how else does a man know his true worth than by measuring himself in a struggle for his life?

"Look to the North and to the East! Do not be afraid! See them come. Count them. Know their number, for that is the number of them that will die this day!"

Spears slapped shields, and voices roared. They had once been farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. Today they would be soldiers.

Vendis Kriir the carpenter had once been an artillerist in the Legions. Lately he had set his hammer to catapults instead of cabinets, and the heavy machines were hauled out and entrenched on the hills overlooking Ald Raathim.

Mercede Reeve had once sewn fine hose for noblemen. Now the banners which were the work of her needle were unfurled in the dim sun, and the field bloomed like a garden of flowers with their colors.

This would be a day long remembered.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 09:38 AM

Ald Raathim, four days ago:

Allerleirauh had called Mirea back, to carry messages from one group to another. Doll was serving with one group as a mage. At the head of another column, Dragon waited.

She had done all she could to provide for the welfare of the people of Daruhn - it was her opinion that if someone insulted you, you should turn the insult into a badge of honor. They had potions, they had scrolls. They had enchanted rings and amulets. There had been many, many dead Twilights lately, enough that every peasant with a wedding ring or a favorite brooch now had a potent item of magical protection.

The troops had ebony weapons and glass weapons and dwemer weapons, and many of them had armor.

Every useful herb had been plucked and transformed into potions of healing and protection.

These were the arts of peace, which she was skilled at. Now it was time for the arts of war.

The tall, slender, silver-haired woman drew her many-furred cloak around herself and became a massive creature of fangs and horns and claws and hooves, a creature made of many creatures, a thing of the Dawn Era.

She was a Welwa.

She swung her black, heavy muzzled, horned head towards the horizon and scented the breeze.

Posted by: lochnarus Feb 24 2005, 10:02 AM

Miles west of Stormhold, in the swamp, night

Running. For hours. From the onset of dusk until well into the night. Sounds of swamplife breaking into Lochnarus' eardrums like thunder in the night. Loch was sweating and straining to see in the darkness, keeping clear of sinkholes and treacherous terrain. Soon, he'd reach the Cyrodiil border. A matter of hours, if he could keep up the pace. The road had turned into masses of swamp grass and vines not long after loch left the city, so he'd taken to the path of least resistance for most of the night, keeping his bearings by the starlight, which would occasionally be shrouded in clouds. The Dark Brotherhood kidnappers couldn't be far, maybe a day and a half ahead of him if they'd left quickly after taking Elora.

Faster now. Morning was not far off, a few hours at most. Crossroads had begun to appear, and signs of farmlands were appearing...distant lights of houses would occasionally shine through the trees. Onward Loch went.

Before morning came, it would be time to steal a mount.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 10:07 AM

Ald Raathim, four days ago:

Solin stood atop the cliff that over looked Jazbet’s lagoon. He wore the netch leather he had purchased what seemed like so long ago in Ald Ruhn. His red eyes watched the risen tide and ships were fast approaching from the east skimming over the submerged mangroves. A fleet coming over the sea like the rising sun. The Dunmer waited ready, he knew his talents well, they had been trained for this.

He had entrusted the Simulacrum to Arynel along with the wardings and protective traps now in the Khajiiti lord’s keep.

This moment had been prepared for, skilled craftsmen had come from Ald Raathim to fortify the doors of Simulacrum’s chamber which were locked with the strongest spell the mer knew. If an assailant survived the entry a massive flare would alert all.

There were well armed men arrayed behind fortified positions on the shore below. Their readied weapons glittered like a metalic ribbon. The landing would be hard on the invaders.

Archers ducked behind rocks and small walls waiting for the incoming twilights, each had a quiver of fine arrows of the same materials as the weapons of the men below.

Mages too positioned in key locations on the cliffs, like Solin, ready to dispense their magicks where it was most needed.

A number of Jazbet’s parraptons buzzed overhead each carrying a man in strong but lightweight armor, a spear, and whatever combined skill they both possessed. They would hold the skies clear for at least a little while.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 10:08 AM

(The Mage's Guild, Stormhold:)

Pulchinus had come through the Mage's guild from Tel Silgrad, something he seldom did these days, owing to his age. This was important, though. He had to find Lord Jazbet's friends and warn them.

Where were they?

He didn't dare leave the guild. If he did, he might miss them in the city. No, they were certain to come here eventually... if they survived their adventures.

The old man stood, literally wringing his hands in front of his portly belly.

The door creaked open, and Pulchinus recognized friendly faces. He let out a breath that felt like it had been held for hours.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 10:12 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 03:48 AM)

Stormhold

The walk form the Inferno to the Mage Guild had been without any major incident, and Loranna noted to herself that someday, if time permitted, Stormhold was another place to which she should return and see at her leisure. But now was not the time; Jazbet awaited, Allie awaited, home awaited.

Pulchinus stood out among the Argonian members of the Mage Guild in Stormhold; Loranna's eyes were immediately drawn to the elderly figure, and her eyebrows went up with worry at the sight of his demeanor.

"Hello, we've returned," she says with a polite smile. " ... Is ... aught all right?"

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 10:19 AM

Teleran had run off to get his spear and gather his things when he saw Loranna reenter the bar prepared for travel. He topped off his magicka supply with a potion. He kept thinking back to what Lor had said about learning to cast both a telekinesis spell and a restoration spell at once, he had never really considered telekinesis to be a spell, he thought of it as more a part of him like an arm or a leg. Once he had gathered up his things he came back to rejoin them at the table.

He saw the portly man from the mages guild, and looked at him wondering what he was doing there and why he looked so worried. They had Flamekiss didn't they? "Hello," he greeted him.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 10:21 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 01:52 AM)

"No ma'am. No. Things are not all right, I'm afraid."

Pulchinus stopped wringing his hands and started explaining.

"There's been some trouble up North, see. Imperial Governor of the East March had declared Jazbet... and you all... rebels. Says you're breaking Imperial law by refusing Azurites their religious freedom guaranteed by the Emperor."

"Ooh, I'd like to be there when the Emperor himself gets his hands on that man!"

He took a moment to control the disgust in his voice.

"No one is allowed in or out of Jazbet's desmesne. It's being enforced by Imperial troops. They're blockading all the roads, burning nearby farmland, the whole deal.

"The way you came isn't safe for your return. I came to warn you all."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 10:26 AM

Ald Raathim, four days ago:

Doll's troops had the job of taking care of the dead, and those who raised them.

None of the people with her - mostly Dunmer - had been born mages. But with the right combination of amulets and rings, all of them could fly through the air, shield themselves from attack, turn undead, and hurl deadly enchanted javelins from above down on the ghosts rising from the grave.

Skeletons were easier to kill. For those, they had silver-shod staffs and hammers, enchanted to increase the battle skill of those who used them.

"Save your potions until you need them, but don't save them too long!" Doll cried. "They won't raise you from the dead, remember. Now, let's go send your ancestors back to their proper resting places, and avenge this insult!"

Doll herself concentrated on the enemy necromancers. Beneath her helmet, the young girl was smiling. It felt good to test her skills.

The necromancer started with a fireball. Doll laughed and absorbed it, and used a spell to silence him. Then she finished him with a blast of lightning.

Beneath her, howls and groans rose from the disturbed earth, but the former peasants of Jazbet's territories did not flee.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 10:31 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 04:01 AM)

Loranna stands, more shocked than any lich king or winged poisonous monkey could hope to ever make her. Nordic features and ashen skin combine into a mask of utter, confounded, baffled anger.

"He did WHAT!?" she demands rhetorically, shaking. " ... That lousy ..."

She take a moment to compose herself. " ... Forgive me, good sir; thank you for bringing us this warning ... but now ..."

Now I find Arynel and keep myself from strangling him for not mentioning this little fact earlier and we figure out how we're going to get back home without causing an incident, Loranna thinks to herself with a smouldering anger at stupid Imperial governers ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 10:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 03:11 AM)

"Hush, Loranna, that sort of thing happens when money changes hands," Tris said. "You think he's been governor of these people for that long without forming alliances? And," he said, lowering his voice, "Arynel didn't come that way, you know."

He took a deep breath. "Well, most of us have Marks set there. But not all. And we've picked up a couple of new people. What do we want to do? If anyone knows about us, there may be people waiting at Tel Silgrad."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 10:38 AM

(The Mage's Guild, Stormhold:)

"Well, I'm just glad I caught you in time, I am.

"I'm heading home. Not much I can do. If I were a year or two younger, though, I'd grab a sword and help you cut your way through, I would!

"You all be careful. Any friends of Lord Jazbets are good people. I wouldn't want to hear anything happened to you!"

He nodded once more, then went to discuss his travel arrangements with the Guild Guide.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 10:46 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 04:18 AM)

Loranna's eyes still flashed with annoyance, but her tone is calmer. " ... Yes, of course," she says quietly to Tris, turning away from the others. "Which probably means they don't know about this at home yet, either."

She considers. "Well, let's take a tally of who doesn't have a Mark set, for one," she says. "There are several ways to get around the blockades, after all; some would be more suited to certain people than others. We can also try to arrange for help from within Ald Raathim to get our people back in, and ask Arynel too ..."

She frowns. "Would help if we knew just what the blockade forces were like, of course ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 10:52 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 03:26 AM)

"Um," Tris said. "I think I can manage that."

He turned to Ciel. There was never any privacy to say the things that needed said - not with Loranna, not with Ciel, not with anyone. He wondered what it must be like for Loranna, having been telepathic and missing it now.

"I used to be a spy," he said, shrugging. "I guess I am again. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Posted by: lochnarus Feb 24 2005, 10:52 AM

Cyrodiil's border With Argonia

Dawn had begun to break. A picture of morning dew and greyness fell over the Marsh's northwestern border with The Imperial Province. A farmhouse, neat and orderly prodding it's way out of the mangled trees and brush. A stable full of animals. And a large horse, which was not saddled, but Loch knew how to ride bare-back. He looked around at the quaint farm and then quickly bounded into the stable. The horse was not startled, probably happy to have company. Loch slowly came up to it and raised a hand to make sure it was broken-in and not ready to stomp him into the ground. The horse looked at him and offered it's greeting, a mere look of boredom. Loch stroked the horse's forehead and took a quick look around...no saddle in sight. Bareback would have to do for now, until he could reach a town and buy one. He quietly walked around to the horse's side and proceeded to mount up. The horse gave little resistance and in no time loch was atop the horse. Seeming to be a well trained horse, it gave no signs of caring and seemed ready to go outside with it's new rider.

Nice place. Hope they won't miss her.

Loch reached into his pouch and took out a few septims, then tossed them onto the ground where they'd be found by the owner.

"Well, old girl, time to go." He took a rope lying nearby and fastened it around a hard leather strap he had with him to serve as a bit, then tied it around the horse's head, letting the horse take it into it's jaw...which the horse knowingly did, then spurred the animal towards the entrance and let loose his heels. Immediately the horse knew what to do, despite being a bit uneasy at having no saddle. They quickly traversed the small fence around the stables and were off towards Cyrodiil, towards Loch's destiny.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 10:57 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 02:32 AM)

Ciel nodded in response.

"Go on, I'll be waiting," he said with a small uneasy grin. "Use your head and stay away from too much trouble."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 10:58 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 04:32 AM)

Loranna looks at Tris, and smiles. Of course; he dashed a couple of times in the Vaults, he moved with all his old grace and poise earlier in the Inferno. He had learned to run again, and that meant he could check on the blockade himself.

Nodding slightly to him, she says "See you soon dear," and turns to check with the others, to see who didn't set a Mark before leaving Ald Raathim.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 11:05 AM

Ald Raathim's eastern shore, four days ago:

The fleet's escort, the winged messengers of Azura, came first. Clouds of them, in some places one could not see through to the sky beyond. There’d be many more of them yet to come.

The unfolding first engagement was a sight to behold. Screeching filled the air as the daedric servants closed the gap between themselves and the waiting forces. The waiting parraptons seemed so few in comparison.

Solin watched as the first bolt of lept from the ranks assembled to meet the clouds of the terrors. First one, then two, a dozen, and then innumerable as the first volley of missiles was unleashed from the cliffs. The mer smiled as the prismatic display exploded in the sky and then formed a ball of white glowing light. He hurled the mystical power at the thickest cluster in the sky.

A bright white flash lit the mangroves momentarily, the cluster remained though. The Dunmer breathed a deep breath as he felt the pleasant if somewhat intense rush of the absorption.

A moment passed.

Then he tossed a multi-hued bolt at the same group and smiled again as clear sky appeared where they had once been.

Now to repeat the process.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 11:16 AM

(The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

Aricyn sat astride a restless Kynidius. Beside him, the soldiers of Daruhn stretched out across the line of hills.

The air to the North swirled and writhed with uncountable winged twilights; servants of Azurite masters. Nearly a league from where Aricyn stood, across level fields, stood the enemy army, arrayed in line, spears gleaming in the afternoon light.

Aricyn turned his face, made fiercer than normal by deep blue swirls painted across his eyes and mouth, toward the men behind him.

"Bring up the archers!" His army needed no trumpets. His voice echoed off of the hillsides.

Three-score of men came forward bearing bows and enchanted arrows.

Their leader, a Dunmer who had made his living, until yesterday, as a hunter, approached Kynidius's flank and said, "My Lord, the distance is at least three times too far for the farthest shot, and a dozen times farther than I'd like to try to kill a man."

Aricyn smiled with blue lips. "You fight with the Tiberine's blessing now, man. Have faith."

The Dunmer bowed and readied his bow.

"Draw!" Roared Aricyn, and as one, the archers knocked arrows and drew back their bows. The men aimed high at the sky. They aimed at nothing, knowing their arrows would only hit earth a scant quarter-mile from where they stood.

Aricyn whispered a song to the Kyne, and She listened.

"FIRE!"

There was a whistle of arrows, and a rush of wind. A cap or two, belonging to the bowmen, followed the arrows into the sky, driven by the sudden gust.

Far away, far beyond the range of a man's voice, the Azurites waited as their Daedra gathered overhead.

The grass in the fields rippled like waves on the sea.

Sixty arrows struck home, and sixty Azurites died.

Overhead, sixty Winged Twilights returned to Oblivion in black implosions.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 11:17 AM

Stormhold Mages' Guild: Tris

More than an hour later, Tris returned.

"They're waiting for us in Tel Silgrad," he reported. "Spy in the Mages' Guild there reported on us traveling through the first time. We can't go through that way, we'd be cut down one at a time as we came through the guild gate. I don't know why they let Pulchinus through, maybe they don't know his relation to Jazbet.

"As for the barricades... I don't think it will be a problem for our group, as long as we stay off the main road. The Imperials are spread pretty thin. I don't think they're all that enthusiastic about supporting the Azurites, except on paper, to be honest. It's a long trip out of Black Marsh without the Mages' Guild at Tel Silgrad, though. What are we planning on doing?"

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 11:23 AM

The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 04:56 AM)

Aricyn sat astride a restless Kynidius. Beside him, the soldiers of Daruhn stretched out across the line of hills.

Baro the Imperial barkeep stands at the front of the ranks of men, knees shaking and palms moist with the sweat of fear. His ebony armor clanks with his trembling, and his sword wavers in front of him.

“May the Gods protect us.” He quietly mumbles, watching the archers.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 11:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 04:57 AM)

Loranna considers.

"Well, we should see how far we can get with the guild guide, cut down our travel distance as much as we can," she says. "We'll look at what cities we can reach and decide which offers us the most favorable route while avoiding the main roads. We should take a bit of time here to let people stock up on whatever they think they'll need for the trip, and buy any enchantments they may want with their loot while we're at a guildhouse. I know one of us has been thinking of getting a ring enchanted at least."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 11:40 AM

Ald Raathim, four days ago: Allerleirauh

Her job was simple: kill whatever crossed her path. Aricyn had offered her men. She had turned them down. Having others with her meant only that she had to worry about them.

The Azurite armies advancing through the forests to the west were seasoned warriors, but they had never seen anything like her before.

The Welwa was black, she was spotted, she was striped and stippled, golden and bay. She had horns, she had hooves, she had antlers and tusks and claws and canines. She was the embodiment of Nirn's anger at being forced to bear life. She was a creature from a time when mortals and gods and animals were not yet separated into categories, and forms were not set.

She bayed, and the rivers rose up out of their banks and started walking.

She howled, and a mist descended on the forest.

She screamed, and birds flew from the trees to blind the advancing soldiers.

She didn't need Jazbet's army, she had her own.

When all were assembled, she raced forward in swift, galloping leaps. She launched herself through the air, and tore a fully armored Dunmer in half. Then she shook herself and charged again.

The mist chilled and terrified the soldiers; the water took the ground from under their feet. The wild boars tore out the backs of their knees and gored them in the stomach. The little birds sang a battle hymn.

The Welwa laughed, and cried in a tongue no human or elf understood: "Onward, my friends! Cleanse the foul taint of Oblivion from our sweet land!"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 11:51 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 04:04 AM)

"I'm thinking what we need is water breathing enchantments," Tris said. "I remember where the only other Mages' Guild within easy reach of Jazbet's estate is. It's in Blacklight. And we can't go there either. These Argonians say you don't ride mounts above the water. I wonder what they do ride - underwater."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 11:58 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 05:31 AM)

"Well, huh; what would life be if things were easy?" Loranna says with a frown. "Water-breathing enchantments it is, and were in just the right place for that. Time to spread around some of our new drakes on the guild's quality water breathing items, everyone."

As it turned out, the Mage Guild in Stormhold had a number of water-breathing enchanted items for the discerning adventurer, ranging from helms to daggers to belts to rings to potions and scrolls, and the enchanter was only too happy to customize a favorite item with a water-breathing enchantment should people balk at the selection provided - and perhaps the good sirs and madam would like to puruse the Guild alchemist's selection of potions for their journey as well, or look at some of the other quality items their enchanter has made for every occasions - and of course, guild members in good standing would benefit from the usual discount ...

===

Sadly for Loranna, who had been thinking of buying a Flamemirror robe for herself, the only real robes the Mage Guild carried here for smoothskins were either Robes of Water Breathing, Robes of Swift Swimming, Robes of Aquatic Adaptation, and oddly enough Robes of Stalwart Stamina. However, they did carry robes in a lovely shade of blue which matched her eyes, so she felt at least minorly satisfied in that regard.

Jazbet's ring still provided her with invisibility and night eye; Dagoth had thoughtfully given her a ring of healing for those times when she was stuck in narrow spaces and needed to not die on people. She had one bracelet of protection, another bracelet just looking to be enchanted, and her star pendant. She traded ebony broadsword and glass axe for a levitation enchantment on the bracelet and a resist magicka enchantment on the pendant, and carefully counted her remaining money, stocking up on some potions and reserving herself enough to get at least a halfway decent alchemy set later, she hoped. She still had some jewelry left, but she still planned on giving some as gifts to people, so she tucked those away.

When her purchases were complete, she put her cloak over her new robe, and took a second to look at herself. Not too bad, she thought.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 12:15 PM

(The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

"FIRE!" Shouted Aricyn, and moments later, sixty more Azurites fell.

Clouds of dust rose to the North. The enemy was now on the move. They obviously weren't intending to bear the impossible volleys forever. Still, a league was a very long way to charge.

The Twilights above came much faster. It seemed that for every one that burst into black flame and fell into Oblivion, there were two more. The sky was black, and the wind filled with their screaming.

Aricyn was in no hurry to engage. The enemy outnumbered his tiny army seven or eight to one, not counting the Daedra above. He expected those odds to be a bit more even before swords were crossed.

He raised his hand, and the archers lowered their bows.

Spurring Kynidius forward, Aricyn sang to the Wind.

The sky darkened. Lightning flashed above. Snow from the mountaintops blew into the lowlands on wild, untamed air.

Like a living thing, the gale attacked the Twilights. Lighting scorched them, rain assailed them, and wind ripped their wings from their bodies.

The men below were left simply to watch. Aricyn watched as well. For the moment, the battlefield belonged not to men, but to Gods. Aricyn had agreed to the bargain; Goddess would confront Daedra Prince, and man would confront man.

When Kyne's work was done, Aricyn's army would face the blue-eyed men across the field.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 12:15 PM

The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

Baro looks over and sees a fellow Imperial shaking worst then he is. Baro taps him on the shoulder and parts his lips in a half hearted smile.

“Hey fello, you’re looking pale. We’ll win this battle.” Baro says in his best optimistic voice.

The shaken imperial reflects back the same solemn smile. “It’s hard to think positive at a time like this.”

“Well, lets make a deal.” Baro says, as the fellow Imperial looks intrigued. “You watch my back and I’ll watch yours.”

The Imperial gives a little shrug that shifts his armor. “Why not? Deal.” The imperial lowers his broadsword and extends his hand. “Elbert.”

“Baro.”

The two shake hands, as the sun shines on the soldiers of Daruhn

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 12:22 PM

Four Days ago, Solunastra: Skein

"Turn, turn, and turn again," Skein whispered, watching the spider traverse its web in the garden outside the Void Ranger guildhouse in Daggerfall. It was too cold here for spiders, at this season of the year, but magic kept the garden warm. The spider moved from the inside to the outside of the web, filling in circles of sticky threads, after it had created the framework of supporting threads.

Skein put her finger through the web without touching it. The spider stood up, alarmed, and waved its two front legs at her. Then it turned to the side.

On a distant battlefield in Morrowind, near Ald Raathim, an Azurite commander cursed. His reinforcements seemed to have gotten lost somewhere. Or maybe it was his orders that had miscarried. In any case, an entire company had gone missing.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 12:23 PM

Ald Raathim's eastern shore, four days ago:

The great booming voice of Aricyn echoed off the cliff faces. A young dunmer man listened and then looked out to sea for his position atop the cliff. The ships were in range. Carefully he lifted another of his charges from the carefully secured stash and carried it over to the waiting catapult.

The bulging, lightweight leather sack was secured by its drawstrings to a weighty stone. It was a gift from the mighty Tiberene, no, the young mer shook his head without thinking, his servant, to help destroy the coming menace. The commander, a older mer skilled with numbers point towards one of the first ships and barked a few short commands. Putting his back into the large siege weapon, the younger mer helped bring it slowly about.

Solin stood at his same vantage point. The ships were approaching the risen shoreline. Their decks bristled with men ready to leap out once they reached shore. Close to the fleet’s heart, one ship’s deck did not. A circle of Azurites stood on the deck. Glowing light and smoke billowed from the witches’ ship. A sudden flurry of spell power was unleashed from the oncoming ships and the air crackled, charged by the warring forces.

The Dunmer waved to a passing parrapton which promptly landed. A few short words and it was in the air again flying through the chaotic storm towards the other mages.

“Fire!” the artillery commander shouted.

The arms of the siege weapons were released and the small leather bags flew into the air.

The first missed by a wide margin, splashing down in the water off the side of its intended target, a second fell directly into the midst of the armed soldiers on the deck of another ship. The resounding echoing of Aricyn’s stored shouts quickly became deafening. Peasants standing on the shore were showered by water gouted high into the air, bits of wood, and the occasional foe.

There were still more ships coming, which quickly changed course and steered clear of the floundering and capsized ships that remained of the first wave.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 24 2005, 12:25 PM

Teleran practically sprinted to the Mages Guild, he knew what he wanted to get done, he pulled out two items, a silver-colored ring set with an emerald and the dagger he had recovered from the Altmer's corpse, the two items he thought to be able to carry the most enchantment in the pack, though they were far from the most grandiose.

As soon as the enchanter was free he bought the most powerful souls he could afford to enchant the two items, the more powerful soul filled the dagger with a fortification enchantment to aid in casting spells; the ring shimmered with the restoration enchantment on it. It would not be a replacement for an actual healer if worst came to worst but it would allow him to heal up from relatively major injuries enough to avoid breaking from battle for healing.

He went to get one of the premade waterbreathing items, the potions he had would not last an entire journey. He decided on an amulet with a fairly large sapphire in it, but also a plain chain. He paid for it and realized that he had not looted nearly so much as he had supposed from the Vaults, the enchantments had eaten through his resources much faster than he had thought they would.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 12:31 PM

The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 05:55 AM)

Spurring Kynidius forward, Aricyn sang to the Wind.

The sky darkened. Lightning flashed above. Snow from the mountaintops blew into the lowlands on wild, untamed air.

Like a living thing, the gale attacked the Twilights. Lighting scorched them, rain assailed them, and wind ripped their wings from their bodies.

The men below were left simply to watch.

Elbert and Baro watch the tremendous battle unfold.

“Wow, look at that.” Baro says before he turns to look at Elbert. “Ever think about learning magicka?”

“Nah,” Elbert looks to the sky. “but I’m kinda wishing I did.”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 12:36 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 04:38 AM)

Stormhold, present time: Tris

"Loranna, you spend money like a poor person," Tris chided. "You know why poor people never get any richer? Because they're afraid to spend money. You can make potions worth a thousand times the cost of a good alchemy set before we make it back to Ald Raathim - just let me raise your intelligence for you, and you'll see."

He didn't notice that he was giving Loranna one of his father's favorite lectures. Of course, his father's other favorite lecture was the one about always saving a portion of your money, no matter how poor you were - and that lecture Tris hadn't taken to heart nearly as well.

He put down his money for the finest alchemy set the guild offered, which was a good one - Argonians were exceptional at alchemy.

"I'd buy you a ring to remember me by, but you're all out of fingers," he said, smiling. He wondered if the new ebony ring was Dagoth's. "Maybe I should buy a ring for your nose, so we can lead you around by it when you seem inclined to wander off. Or a ring for your toes, so you can dance for us. Or - here - try these."

They were rubies, which he thought looked better against her dusky skin. Delicate earrings, rubies set in platinum.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 12:39 PM

(The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

Aricyn heard his own voice echo, like cannon shot, from the beach. He had been hoarse for three days after that, but it sounded as if it was worth it.

Above, the last of the Daedra imploded with a scream.

The Azurite army hesitated, but only for a moment. Their numbers were still overwhelming. Only a few hundred yards away now, they charged.

"Close ranks!" Aricyn's voice bellowed. Behind him armor clanked and swords were drawn.

"Archers! Fire!"

Unguided by Kyne's wind, the arrows fell where they may, killing and injuring Azurites at random.

Two more volleys, and the enemy, now getting slightly winded, was within easy charge distance.

"Archers, Hold!

"Flanks! Engage at will!"

Aricyn saw the great, golden lion of a man that commanded the right flank lead his troops in a wide arc around the enemy.

Aricyn himself stood the center, and for the first time in the battle, he opened his mouth in earnest...

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 12:46 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 06:16 AM)

Loranna blinks a bit, a surprised and happy smile stuck on her face. "Tris, you shouldn't have ..." she started to say - right up until his comment about the nose ring, which causes her to nearly lose her balance from laughing.

"I am so going to hurt you later for that," she mock-threatens. "And I'll learn how to dance just to wear toe rings and dance for you all. But oh mercy these are lovely ..."

She leans forward and kisses him quickly on the cheek, and then says, in a more serious tone "I actually had been planning on trying something like that with potions; I figured out how Allie must do it and have been meaning to sit down and ... well, start making some storng potions of my own. I'm useful now but I felt my limitations back in the Vaults keenly at times ..."

She didn't quite say And I was thinking of trying to do it myself, though Tris may be able to see her wrestling with the idea - after all, he wasn't offering to tell her how to do something she hadn't figured out herself.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 12:53 PM

The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 06:19 AM)

"Archers, Hold!

"Flanks! Engage at will!"

Aricyn saw the great, golden lion of a man that commanded the right flank lead his troops in a wide arc around the enemy.

Aricyn himself stood the center, and for the first time in the battle, he opened his mouth in earnest...

Elbert and Baro stare at the giant Nord standing in front of them and try their best to cover their ears from the blast of Aricyn’s voice. The Nord finishes and Baro looks to Elbert.

“This is it.” Baro croaks. “You got kids?”

“Two. What about you?” Elbert quickly replies back.

“None, but I got a wife.”

The two turned to look at each other and exchanged a glance. An unspoken oath had passed between them, if one made it out without the other, they would inform the others family about the fate of their loved one.

Baro and Elbert raised their swords and took battle stances.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 12:55 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 05:26 AM)

"Come here, it's about time we had that talk," Tris said, grasping her by the arm and leading her to an unused summoning room. He shut the door behind them.

However, once they were alone, he seemed shy.

It couldn't be that he was coming on to her... he wasn't shy about that sort of thing.

He took a deep breath. "Loranna, you silly girl. You know I love you, right?"

But it wasn't a come on line, after all.

"When Ciel died... I wasn't too far gone not to notice the look on your face. You came in a moment too late to understand. He died, girl. He came back to life. He didn't need your healing, and that's why. All the way from dead is a long enough way that from there to fully healed isn't worth mentioning. It's silly to worry about being useful. We're all here, nothing can happen without us. I don't know what I'm saying. I must sound as ridiculous as Arynel."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 01:03 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 06:35 AM)

Loranna blinks. " ... He ... died ... and came back ..."

She leans forward, her arms wrapping around Tris, even though the moment when he would have needed the offer of comfort was by now long past - she couldn't help it; Tris's love had died and even though he had come back that was a knife through anyone's heart, as she knew.

"I love you too Tris - you and Ciel and pretty much everyone we know," she says, slowly letting Tris go. " ... My god, are we really ..."

She shivers a bit. "Ciel died and he came back. You're running again. We found the Flamekiss depsite having nary a clue when we started looking how to reach it. Is this what you mean, when you say nothing can happen without us? Or am I sounding even more ridiculous now than both you Bretons put together, dear sweet Tris?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 01:08 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 05:19 AM)

Ald Raathim, four days ago: Dragon

The commander of the right flank was Dragon.

He had turned aside a man earlier, an Imperial, a barkeep. The poor man had looked disappointed. But Dragon couldn't use him. It was no good if the spokes in a wheel got up and wandered off. The fellow smelled of CHIM, and so he belonged somewhere else, under someone else's command.

It had been more than 20 years since Dragon used his battlefield skills. He was used to working with untrained men; often the Imperial Legion had picked up support from local militias. He was used to fighting terrible monsters - what else were Orcs, if not monsters?

He gave his orders and they manuevered. No. Not like that. The left, that unit was fresher than he'd expected. That certainly had been a lucky shot on the Azurites' part. Ach, peasants. In another minute it would be a rout. Damn blue-eyes.

Dragon watched, unphased, as dozens of his men fled and were cut down.

Then he began again. There was no crackle of magical energy, no trembling in the earth or rumble in the sky, to mark the dragon's passing. He simply started over with the same men he had seen killed the first time. Like opening your eyes after a good night's sleep.

This time the Azurites weren't so lucky. This one was a keeper.

Swinging his heavy Dwemer sword, Dragon charged into the battle, and the men around him followed him. They saw that he was lucky, luckier than the odds allowed. It gave them courage.

He would lead them to victory, and past it, alive.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 01:17 PM

(The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

Aricyn watched as the center of the enemy line fell away like rain. Red rain. The front rank disentegrated under his word, and so did the second and the third. The fourth was broken like waves on rocks, and the fifth convulsed and fell. Onward it went, until Aricyn could see the mountains beyond the field in front of him, unobscured by Azurites.

He charged, and the men behind him followed. They drove themselves like a spike into the Azurite army, dividing it in two parts.

Within moments, they were surrounded, the fighting was bloody and furious, but Aricyn saw Dragon's men close in from the right. He had worried for them for a moment, but he must have been mistaken. They were fine, and doing quite well.

The left flank closed in as well, aided by the sloping hill in their charge.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 01:19 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 05:43 AM)

Stormhold, Mages' Guild, present time: Tris

"Without the hero, there is no event. That's Zurin Arctus speaking, the Underking. Allie has met him, or written letters to him, at least. He knows what he's talking about. Like it or not, Loranna, you're a hero. You can't be useless. You can be terrible or glorious, monstrous or delightful, or maybe both at once, but not useless. This is what Arynel means when he talks about birds, except, well, Arynel has a different way of putting things from the rest of us. Arynel has problems you can't even begin to wrap your pretty little head around, and that's one of the reasons I love you."

Tris smiled. "So, yeah, what you said. About the Flamekiss, and me, and Ciel. But what I really mean is, don't be jealous. Your true magic, your real magic... it's not this piddling stuff you've learned here. It's something deep and wonderful, and I wouldn't be without it for the world."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 01:28 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 06:59 AM)

Loranna stares at Tris for a moment, her eyes blinking. Slowly, her mouth opens.

" ... I have been monstrous, and still have that in me," she says quietly, " ... But I still love you all, and I still ..."

There was a quiet sense of growing comprehension; a smile gradually came to her face. "All this stuff we're wearing, all these spells we know - they are really child's play aren't they? Compared to what we can do, what you and Arynel and the others already do - and maybe, even those are not the limit ..."

She was a hero; it was that simple. She wasn't useless because by definition a hero wasn't useless. Only she could make herself useless, by giving up being a hero - and she didn't want to do that.

She hopes Jazbet would be up to marrying a hero.

"You're right; I can't understand the problems Arynel worries about," she says, nodding her head. "And I probably don't want to either - but that's not to worry about now. I should start learning how to use my real magic ..."

"These child's toys - are they worth using as a starting point?" she asks Tris. "... Listen to me; I'm calling something people dedicate their lives to a child's toy. I must sound like a ... like a haughty barmaid."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 01:33 PM

Ald Raathim, four days ago: Welwa

The Welwa stalked through the misty forest, seeking out the remnants of the invading Azurite soldiers. She stepped over a drowned man in ebony armor, face down in a puddle. She sniffed, lifting her muzzle, then plunged forward, snorting in fury, to find three Azurites crouched in the shelter of a huge, fallen tree.

"No! OH AZURA, PLEASE SAVE US!" screamed a Dunmer girl, as the Welwa's tusks tore her in two pieces. Allerleirauh took the second soldier in her maw and tossed him into the air, catching him on her antlers, and flinging him, dead, to the ground. The third one smelled of urine. Allerleirauh paused.

"Ask Azura to save you again, maybe she'll listen this time. Or maybe she won't. That's the way with Daedra," the Welwa said, in a low, throaty rumble.

The Dunmer soldier, however, said nothing, he only gasped with wide eyes. After a moment she trampled him into the soggy ground.

There were a few more Azurites left alive, hiding in the woods. But only a very few. The Welwa set out stalking them, belly low to the ground, through the mist.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 01:35 PM

The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 06:57 AM)

Within moments, they were surrounded, the fighting was bloody and furious, but Aricyn saw Dragon's men close in from the right. He had worried for them for a moment, but he must have been mistaken. They were fine, and doing quite well.

The left flank closed in as well, aided by the sloping hill in their charge.

Baro had the right idea, get behind the bulky Nord and finish whatever he doesn’t kill. Elbert was right behind him watching Baro’s back just as he promised. Baro made sure that nothing got past him to touch Elbert and if it did Elbert saw it.

They where back to back and fighting like true solders. Who would think that a few months eariler Baro was serving drinks, and Elbert was selling clothes.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 01:43 PM

(The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

It was all simply too much for the Azurites. They might have the blessing of their Prince, they might still outnumber the enemy four-to-one, but here there was only death for them, and they ran.

Aricyn drew his greatsword, but he found only the backs of terrified enemies.

The Azurites were funneled from three sides, but they were not contained. Their numbers were too great for that. They fled out of the open flank, toward the mountains.

There they knew that their companions were making their way though the rocky trails, leading a great company of swordsmen, hidden, to the very walls of Jazbet's castle.

Aricyn called for a halt, and ordered the army to form ranks, but they weren't an army of veterans. They weren't an army of Nords. They were tailors and brewers and carpenters, and they had tasted victory.

Off they ran, hacking their foes down from behind, breaking into a mob of individuals, and heading for the rough foothills.

Aricyn did the only thing he could; he rode with them.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 01:43 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 06:08 AM)

"Very haughty," Tris said, grinning. "But as long as the drinks arrive on time, I don't mind. And that's the thing, Loranna. No one knows why we're here. But we have certain things set before us; maybe the game is a bad game and we're supposed to kick over the table and run away. That's what High Elves think, as I understand it. Maybe the game is so good, you're supposed to play forever, even after you die, in Sovngarde, the way some Nords think. What I think is that it's just a shadow of a greater game. But until we get to the place where that game is played, I don't see any reason not to have fun here. We're children; aren't we allowed to play with toys?"

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 01:46 PM

Ald Raathim’s eastern shore, four days ago:

Landing parties from the new front line of ships were already arrayed in a series of smaller boats of varying construction and size.

A small lull was washing over the scene, although the battle was not yet through. Winged Twilights circled back in the air and the ships pressed forward.

Many of the mages Solin had picked to cast from the cliffs had depleted the charges on their amulets, rings, and scrolls and were falling back to the shore line where ranks of peasants waited for the proper application of magicka.

The witches’ ship was glowing brighter. Frenzied chanting could be heard faintly behind the noises of the continuing battle. Flashes of purple like picked soldiers off the decks of their respective ships seemingly at random. Soon dozens of them were floating free in the air.

The defenders on shore waited.

The defenders in the air did not. Parraptons darted in and out of the oncoming swarm of blue-eyed soldiers. Faster than their foes the riders mounted on the insects escaped mostly unharmed, although, Solin watched as a poor mer was pulled free and dropped to the high waves of the tide bellow.

Solin finally left the cliffs. Borne by a levitation spell, the mer flew towards the witches’ ship alone. No one needed to hear what he had to say.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 01:48 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 07:23 AM)

Loranna's face becomes almost radiant; her tearstreaks catch what light is in the room to suffuse her face with an ethereal glow.

"Children should run and play and learn about their world for when they become adults, yes," she says. "Just so long as they don't hurt each other ... but of course some children will do that. But we can at least try to be responsible enough not to ruin the game for the othet good kids, and for the bad kids ..."

She closes her eyes and chuckles. "There's a Welwa and worse waiting to spank them - and maybe us too. Oh Tris why did it take crawling through a series of deathtraps for me to figure this out? Or is the path important enough to the goal that you shouldn't shortcut it too much?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 01:48 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 06:23 AM)

Ald Raathim, four days ago:

"RALLY TO ME!" Dragon shouted.

He saw Aricyn's forces, chasing after the routed Azurites. Crazy. They were strung out all over the place. He hoped the Azurites didn't have hidden reinforcements. In any case there was nothing to be gained by joining the mad rush. His job was to keep any Azurites who still had organization enough to fight from piercing through their lines.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 01:53 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 06:28 AM)

"You know," Tris said, putting his arm around her, "I'd kind of like to know why it took losing my perfectly good foot and the love of my life for me to figure it out, myself. I can give you the scholarly answer: Lorkhan failed at CHIM so we would know how not to. He made the Arena as a school. But I'm not sure I think quite that kindly of Lorkhan. I think Lorkhan wanted to see how it would all turn out, and he didn't much care who got hurt."

Tris laughed. "That Breton bard owes me a drink, I just explained CHIM to Loranna."

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 01:55 PM

The Plains North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 07:23 AM)

It was all simply too much for the Azurites. They might have the blessing of their Prince, they might still outnumber the enemy four-to-one, but here there was only death for them, and they ran.

Off they ran, hacking their foes down from behind, breaking into a mob of individuals, and heading for the rough foothills.

Aricyn did the only thing he could; he rode with them.

Baro watches the fleeing Azurites.

“Look!” Baro yells. “They’re retreating! We’ve done it! We’ve won! Ha, ha!”

Baro swings his hips and does the closest thing he can do, in full ebony armor, to a dance. Elbert joins in on the awkward looking celebration.

“I told ya buddy, we would make it.”

Baro and Elbert hear a call for a halt and begin to stop.

“Keep going lets teach these bastards a lesson.” A man Baro recognized as one of his bar regulars yells to him.

“Come on, Elbert!” Baro yells in triumph to his new friend. “We’re winning! Keep fighting!”

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 01:58 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 07:33 AM)

"That Breton bard owes a few more things to some people," Loranna laughs. "Still, wether for our education or his amusement, Lorkhan made all this for us possible, right? That's enough reason for me to at least be thankful he did; I don't even want to imagine an existance that doesn't have you, or Jazbet, or Allie or Dagoth or even poor innocent Teleran, who's the perfect child in a man's body."

" ... Tris, there's something I've thought once or twice, late at night before my dreams finally overtake me," she says. "Do you mind if I say it to you, just between you and me for right now? I might tell someone else later, but I've been ... curious to at least say it, just to hear it aloud."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 02:02 PM

(The Foothills North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

The ragtag army on their heels, the Azurites continued to flee into the mountains.

The sound of battle rang off of the hillsides and through the valleys, and, some distance ahead, another blue-eyed commander removed his helmet and listened.

Quietly, he ordered his elite swordsmen into the hills just above a wide green. Battle approached, and they would be ready.

Moments later, the routing Azurite army passed their brethren, and the swordsmen poured down on the disorganized pursuers.

What was, moments ago, a decisive victory, was now quickly to become a massacre.

Aricyn roard in frustration and layed into the new enemies with his sword.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 02:05 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 06:38 AM)

"Say it," Tris said, smiling. "I'm listening."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 02:10 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 07:45 AM)

"Say it," Tris said, smiling. "I'm listening."

Loranna takes a deep breath. " ... You know, if Vivec hadn't gone and blasted Azura like he did last Hogithum, most of all this may never have come to pass? ... Not that this negates my own culpability in letting Azura use me as her vessel of course, but still ... you know what I mean?"

Loranna sighs, shaking her head. "I'd been scared to say that aloud for a long time now; I'm not even quite sure why - well, other than the fact that Allie probably would have scalded my ears off with the resultant tongue-lashing for saying it, so I thought. But you know? I'm not even sure if it really matters anymore, or even if it ever did - at least as far as I'm concerned. My life is my own now, as it's always been if I'd just realized it; why complain?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 02:14 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 06:50 AM)

"Vivec is Vivec, and Loranna is Loranna," Tris said. "Believe me, I've heard all about His Lordship. He's a hard act to follow. In the end he did what he needed to do - take revenge for the death of his family - and he did it from the depths of his mortal heart, not for us, not for anyone but himself. He left us a map, if we want to follow it, but the question is, do you want to go down his path? Silly girl, what does it matter what Vivec did? You might have found something even more stupidly destructive to do, like being possessed by Namira, if Vivec hadn't blasted Azura at Hogithum."

Posted by: Lorièn of Silvenar Feb 24 2005, 02:16 PM

Lorièn had spent the night looking for supplies. He had some gold left, but much of it was spent on his new equipment.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 02:21 PM

Ald Raathim’s eastern shore, four days ago:

They tried to intercept him as he approached but one by one their levitation spells disappeared without so much as a fading glow and they fell screaming to the water as the mer whispered a phrase here and there.

roht-ekem-meht-oht-veh...

The vessel’s captain howled at his sailors and any mer who had not summoned a twilight before did so now. They too were ripped from existence with a phrase to the shock of their masters. Solin wove the flows and formed a ball of cold. Frost at first, the ice crystals coalesced and formed a larger single crystal which grew as the cold did. Finally when he could see his own breath misting before his eyes he hurled the sphere at the stunned onlookers. The wooden planks of the ship shattered like glass as the spell passed through.

...hefhed-hefhed-ekem-cess...

The first was followed by others and soon there were several holes in the ship’s hull.

Grabbing a vial from his belt and downing it, Solin flitted over the deck of the ship. Restored he stripped the witches of the defenses and hurled white tendrils of light.

...meht-oht-vehk-ekem-ekem...

A series of concussive booms rattled the nearby fleet as the witches were cast overboard. Finally clear, the Dunmer landed on the deck.

The still somewhat distant shore showed signs of conflict, lines of battle had formed along the length of the exposed coastline.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 24 2005, 02:23 PM

The Foothills North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 24 2005, 07:42 AM)

The ragtag army on their heels, the Azurites continued to flee into the mountains.

The sound of battle rang off of the hillsides and through the valleys, and, some distance ahead, another blue-eyed commander removed his helmet and listened.

Quietly, he ordered his elite swordsmen into the hills just above a wide green. Battle approached, and they would be ready.

Moments later, the rushing Azurite army passed their brethren, and the swordsmen poured down on the disorganized pursuers.

What was, moments ago, a decisive victory, was now quickly to become a massacre.

Baro saw his old bar regular slice down a fleeing Azurite and turn a corner leading to the mountains. Seconds later he sees that same men tumble back down the mountain, headless. Before he could react the Azurite swordsmen was on Elbert and Baro. Elbert didn’t have time to scream before his arm was severed at his shoulder. He immediately fell to the ground, shaking and holding what was left of his arm.

Baro got enough of his wits to clumsily parry the Azurite’s second strike. The force of it was tremendous. It unarmed Baro and knocked him to the ground. Baro had been training for months but he was still just a barkeep with a sword. Baro faced this reality all too soon. He was face to face with the enemy and he didn’t stand a chance. The Azurite raised his sword and aimed for Baro’s neck. The blade found its mark and Baro’s head bounced on the rocky mountain floor. Elbert lay next to Baro, in shock from his missing arm. He slowly dies from blood loss.

The battle continued and the loss was treated like the rest... it wasn’t noticed.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 02:24 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 07:54 AM)

Loranna shrugs. "You're right; I just wanted to say that out loud at least once," she says.

"Let's not worry about the past doings of other people now; we have our own lives to lead, our own joys to pursue and our own weights to bear," she adds. "And the best of companions with whom to share our journey, and a whole wide world full of wonder and challenge, waiting for us to go out and play in it. Who cares who's going to try and stop us? We'll just smile and nod and scoot away or slap thier hands if we have to ..."

She pauses, deflating a bit. " ... We'll do what we have to, just like those before us did; whatever the reason for why we ended up on the path we did, we're here now."

She looks back to Tris. " ... Thank you for sitting down and talking to me about these things; I feel a lot better now. I still worry some, but I have more faith that everything will work out all right in the end - and I'm eager to see just what I am capable of doing now. Wanna see what I can do with some alchemical reagents with a little fortifying of my mind and some wild ideas I've been cooking up over the past few weeks?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 02:31 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 07:04 AM)

"Get your things set up and I'll cast on you," Tris said.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 02:34 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 08:11 AM)

"Get your things set up and I'll cast on you," Tris said.

Loranna grins, her fingers fluttering. "All right; hmm, this room's kind of cramped for table space though, let's go back out to that siting area and claim a table or two. I'm itching to try a few formulae ..."

She Picks up her stuff and opens the door, letting Tris go first with a smile.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 02:38 PM

(The Foothills North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

Aricyn thought, not for the first time in recent days, that there was a reason he wasn't the Tiberine.

He watched as good men fell, bloody, to the ground. On some level, he was sickened by the fact that he felt no danger, himself. All around him, though, men lost thier lives to one, stupid, overconfident mistake.

Dragon had reined in his unit at the foot of the hills. He should have been able to do the same.

A horn sounded in the hills, higher up in the mountains. It was not the brassy sound of a metal trumpet, but the rich sound of a true horn, and it was answered by another.

The Azurite before him fell to a short-shafted arrow, and Aricyn turned to look.

Horsemen came down the mountain. Straight down the side of the mountain, like goats, their little shaggy ponies charged. The huge warriors on their backs, looking too big for their mounts, fired arrows from short bows until they were in among the Azurites, then they drew broad axes and set to work in earnest.

The makeshift army of refugees fought as best as they could, and the horsemen fought like ones born with blades in their hands.

With renewed vigor, Aricyn spurred Kynidius into a charge and joined his countrymen.

In short order it was over. The only blue-eyed men still standing were Nords.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 24 2005, 02:41 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 24 2005, 07:14 AM)

Tris smiled at Ciel, who was reading a book.

When Loranna had her apparatus set up, he whispered a string of power to increase his own magicka, then cast spells on her to increase her intelligence.

Couldn't he have simply fiddled with Loranna's intelligence directly, using strings of power? Perhaps. But it felt wrong to do it, tampering with the nature of his friend. Better to do it this way.

"There you go," Tris said.

Posted by: Solin Feb 24 2005, 02:49 PM

Ald Raathim’s eastern shore, four days ago:

A flash of bright golden light and Solin’s formerly empty hand wielded a cruel looking mace. The mer, clad in his netch leathers, lifted the hatch and descended below deck even as the ship began to rapidly tilt.

The captain of the closest vessel gave a startled shout as the ship that had been the center of their sea born magicks began to list towards his.

While he had been looking for more witches, Solin only found a helpless dunmer dying from what looked to be more than a half-hundred long cuts. Quickly he removed an intervention scroll and healing vial from his belt and shoved them into the prisioner’s hands.

Finished with his search Solin returned to the now very tilted deck of the ship. A quick glance towards shore revealed that the invaders were being pushed back at several points. Many of the landing craft were inflames.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 24 2005, 02:50 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 24 2005, 08:21 AM)

Loranna cracks her knuckles, feeling once again the expanding of her intelect from a fortify effect. "Right; now then, let's start with a simple formula; I'll need ten parts each of the following ..."

Ingredients were not a problem to procure; Loranna still had money even if Tris didn't feel like paying for them himself. She soon gets to work, jotting down a few notes as she mixes ingredients together and muttering softly to herself.

She knew that potions varied in strength depending on the skill and intelligence of the alchemist. Magnitude and duration both varied according to these factors, and the equipment used. She also knew that a skilled alchemist could tinker with the magnitude and duration of a potion; how many would-be alchemists looked at their saltrice and whickwheat concotions and wondered how they'd ever match an offically-sancitioned potion of healing exactly in all respects? What Loranna wanted to do, however, went beyond that ...

The first batch of potions came out succesfully, though Loranna says "Right; those were for practice. Now ..." Drinking those potions down, she calls for ten more parts of the same, and ten parts of other ingredients as well ..

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 24 2005, 02:52 PM

(The Foothills North of Ald Raathim, Four days ago:)

A rider approached Aricyn. The fact that it was obviously a woman, even under the gore-coated mail, was not as surprising as the fact that she rode Aricyn's little brown pony.

He calmed the high-strung Kynidius and smiled at the familiar figure. The blue woad and red gore on his face made the expression ghastly.

"You're late."

The woman removed her helm, and two long, copper braids fell over her shoulders.

She smiled warmly.

"We're early. Gunnar is late. He's a day or two behind us."

"Tell me later," said Aricyn.

They reformed the men, and side-by-side they led the column of horsmen and footsoldiers down the valley.

There were still enemies that needed felling by the seashore.

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 24 2005, 02:55 PM

And locked.

Continued here:
http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62280