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:
Loranna's Roleplay, while an open roleplay where everyone is invited to
join, is not a limitless or unregulated game. There are rules we have set
ourselves that make roleplaying easier and more enjoyable for everyone of us.
Please take the time and read the following guidelines carefully and, more
importantly, act according to them.
1. Have fun!
2. Fun does not mean you can do whatever you want, though.
Let us please clarify some points. 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's be very clear about what cannot be done without permission:
Affecting other characters:
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.
Major Events:
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.
For the purpose of coordinating this RP, backstage fun and discussing current
and future events, we have established a chatroom on chatspike.net, chatroom
#Loranna_RP. We strongly recommend that you have a glimpse in there, since it
is the easiest and most convenient way to discuss characters and settings,
explain rules, plan and give you the background information you need to play in
this RP. If you cannot get on the channel for some reason, or if the
player whose 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.
If you do not have MIRC, you can http://www.chatspike.net/?p=javairc. Enter in
a nickname where prompted and hit Submit. You'll be asked if you want to trust
the signed applet. Hit Yes, and you'll be in the main chatspike channel. From
there, type /join #Loranna_RP You'll enter our chat channel and we can
talk to you.
Here are various other rules, tips and information you should take time
to read before joining this RP:
1. Background History:
Loranna's RP has accumulated a rich background history. Of course, no-one can
know all that has happened in this RP, but it is important that you have at
least an idea about the major events that took place during the last
one-and-a-half years. There are a few posts of Loranna that explain the history
of the RP from her character's viewpoint and a summary of the events in the RP
is in progress, you can find them
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~rhod0091/lrp/temp.html. Another summary is available as
text file from Nalion, please ask via our chatspike channel or per PM to Nalion
for the time being. We are working on a more permanent solution to provide this
information.
The chatroom #Loranna_RP on chatspike is probably the best and fastest way to
get yourself informed about the RP, just ask the moderators and long-time
players there if you need any information. They will gladly help you. It is
also very advisable to read up on the most recent posts and threads to become a
grasp of what is happening right now in the RP. This will significantly help
you in finding a way to join the action and will reduce the probabiliy of
mistakes.
2. Reading and catching up on the RP:
We're a dedicated lot of players, and we love this RP. This means we put a lot
of effort in our posts, do a lot of planning and discussing to create our
plotlines. This requires time and dedication. And we require this of you as
well. This means, take your time to read the posts of the other players and
take the time to catch up on the plot if it progressed while you were away.
This simplifies your rejoin into the action. It is also a sign of respect to
the other players. If you don't have the time to read their posts, why should
they bother with yours, then?
Again, please let me repeat this, for it is very important. If you are not able
or willing to put time and at least reasonable effort in this RP, think again
whether you want to join this RP or not.
3. Gathering information
Gather information about the RP, be it asking in chat, by reading older posts
and getting up to date on the history or by asking via PM. No-one can know
everything, sure, but everyone can ask about what happened. We're glad to
assist! Again, this can not be done without some interest in the ongoings in
the RP, effort and a good bit of dedication.
4. Roleplaying
Roleplaying doesn't just involve making your character say something
(in-character chat). It also has a descriptive element. Motions and emotions of
your character, worries, joys, mimics, movements... we want to see them!
Describe how your character acts, this gives you a better grasp of your
character and will help your fellow players build up a relationship to your
character. It's not only action and big fights we have here in this RP, there
is a major social aspect to it as well.
5. Posting
Try to take your time to post. Yes, we are aware that there are hectic scenes,
like in big combats, where some things move faster, but is it in general a good
idea to look over your post again to check it. Yes, we know it sounds stupid
and obvious, but please care about spelling, punctuation and grammar. They are
not just things you learned in school once to forget afterwards. We are no
decryption experts. Those grammar rules have their meaning, and there are tools
out there to help you(word spell checker for example). Again, the chat is a perfect
way to ask for
time and coordinate with other players if you have problems.
6. Character control / multiple characters
Once more, about controlling characters that belong to other players: You
cannot control a character that is not your own (with a few exceptions, like
having talked to the player of the character beforehand). This means most
of the time the following:
* In combat, you can only try to attack another character, but whether
you hit him or how much damage is inflicted is up to the player of the
character, and only him/her.
* This applies to healing or helping the character as well; feel free to try
and offer help to a character, but let the other player describe the effects of
the healing/helping.
* Especially in combat, you have to work closely with the other players, the
chatroom is the best and easiest method to discuss these things.
Another thing related to this topic is referring or speaking to other
characters whose players are not online. If possible, try to avoid involving
characters when their player is not present. It ties down your character while
waiting for the other player to come back, and you don't know whether the
respective player has other plans when he is back.
Additionally, avoid generating scenes where you involve a character, affect him
with an action and finish the action before the player can react (stealing,
attacking, casting spells or similar actions). Example: No running up to
someone, rob him and run away to safety all in one post. This is a no go.
Controlling multiple characters. We have no written limits on how many
characters you may control; the limit is you. In general, it is very advisable
that you stick to one character when you are new to RPing. When creating a
character, it is VERY important that you consider your character carefully.
Again, this has something to do with effort and dedication. It is generally a
bad sign if you join up, post a couple of posts and then say you are bored with
this character and make a new one. Other players might get annoyed greeting and
introducing their characters to a new character when it is obvious that this
character will not last long because the player gets bored with the new
character. This RP is a social RP as well, and it is very difficult to socialize
with a character that is badly played, where you can see by the style of
writing that the player is already bored with the character and will throw him
away at the next opportunity. RPing is all about characters and your character
is your "representative" in this RP, your voice, your arm, your mind.
Please take this into account when creating and playing your character.
As a general rule of thumb, use only one character until you feel comfortable
with him, can control him, have fun with him and the character is established
in the RP. The rest will run automatically after a while when you get more
confident and experienced in RPing.
7. Secret plans
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. Examples: Your character
suddenly remembers that he has a castles all over Tamriel and calls in troops
to help. Or: Your character suddenly reveals he is a spy of the Emperor and
knows everything.
8. Ingame consequences of character actions:
Morrowind the game was rather lenient when it came to direct consequences after
a character's action. This is not the case in our RP. There are laws and local
customs, and there are guards and other authorities that are there to enforce
them. So, starting tavern brawls, stealing, murdering, open assault and all
other related actions are very likely to be persecuted and punished (this can
go up from your character ending up in jail, being banished or to be executed).
This doesn't mean that there are no murders or thefts in the RP, but it does
mean that if you do that, be aware of the consequences your character will have
to deal with.
9. Additional helpful information:
Please make sure that you read the following post of Allerleirauh
http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=141737&view=findpost&p=2871855,
dealing with some of the above mentioned rules, as well as the hints on
character generation done by Loranna
http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=141737&view=findpost&p=3828224.
Please take the above mentioned rules and information into careful
consideration, they will help you in joining this RP quickly and are useful to
avoid problems. And more importantly: act according to them!
** Not following the above advice will only result in two things: your
post is likely to be completely ignored by everyone else as if it did not
happen and/or you are asked to leave the RP. This is obviously not good for
anyone, so please, discuss major events before doing them and act according to
the rules mentioned above. **
Thank you, and have fun!
===
IMPORTANT: WE HAVE
JUMPED SIX MONTHS INTO THE FUTURE; IT IS NOW SUN'S HEIGHT IN THE RP (i.e.,
July)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/Shardie/mapofmorrowind2.jpg is a map
provided by Shardie showing the current division of territory between the
forces loyal to the crown and the rebels in Morrowind, pre-attack on Ald
Raathim.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/Shardie/MorrowindMap.jpg are the current
borders, post-attack. Note; this map is a work-in-progress.
===
Summary for Loranna: Loranna is in Ald Raathim, where she has just been
given Goranthir's sword Kynarine by Kethiah, and searched Goranthir's recently-restored
ship the Arkavina for the ring he was given back in the Sphere of Kyne, in the
days of the Blue Twilight. Though she worries for her far-flung friends, she is
in good spirits, having had her courage boosted by finding the ring.
Gram, on the other hand, has recently fought Dark Brotherhood assassins in
Firsthold and continues the search for Glacia, a search which leads south of
the capital city of Summerset.
And finally, Dayla has just been visited by her filia Anya,who she has
convinced to help her clean out some of Ashana's old guardians that she herself
lacks power over. Dayla is currently meeting with Reichi to arrange for his
passage to the Bathogorgen sanctuary.
Oh, and Dayla has a huge pet snake, with glossy black scales. I don't know how
but the damn thing is almost as old as she is. And it actually can form
coherent sentences when spoken to by a Bosmer; that snake rocks.[1]
Summary
Sivartus is currently in the sewers of Sentinel, searching for the shield named
Spellbreaker. [2]
*...Summary: Osa is in the sewers of Sentinel, trudging through the slop with Dana's group, searching for where the bloody footprints end...* [3]
Summary
Nalion
Nalion, a male Breton mage, is currently in the Inferno tavern of Stormhold,
reliving memories of the adventure in finding the Flamekiss jewel. Nalion and
his companions are trying to obtain a sample of Hist sap which might help in surviving
the death field Mannimarco has established in the Ephesus region.
Dana
Dana, a Redguard healer and bard, is currently crawling through the sewers of
Sentinel, wishing she was in a bath with hot water and perfume.
Gistral
Gistral, a Redguard warrior, is staying in Ald Raathim, busy with rebuilding
efforts. [4]
Summary: Anya is waiting for Dayla and Riechi to get ready so they can return to the Bathogorgen sanctuary in Cyrodiil. [5]
OOC Summary
Reichi Sari is in Cyrodiil. About to be eated. Mm. Werewolf.
---[6]
QUOTE
[7] She slithers up to Reichi, smiling, her eyes lighting up. "I promise, this will be as comfortable as I can make it," she says. "Just so long as you're not clausrophobic, and even then I can charm you against it."[8]
[9]
"I'm not claustrophobic," Reichi said, standing up. "I'd have
found that out in Gemin. Long tunnel crawl. Not to pleasant. Angry flying
poisonous monkey things behind us and all." Reichi grimaced at the memory.
Damnable little beasts. [10]
[11] QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 25 2006, 11:15 PM)
[12] OOC Summary
Reichi Sari is in Cyrodiil. About to be eated. Mm. Werewolf.
---
"I'm not claustrophobic," Reichi said, standing up. "I'd have
found that out in Gemin. Long tunnel crawl. Not to pleasant. Angry flying
poisonous monkey things behind us and all." Reichi grimaced at the memory.
Damnable little beasts.
[14]
"Oh, there were some of those annoying beasts in the Vaults of
Gemin?" Dalya asks. "My sympathsies. They even made Ashana upset, and
their blood is truly, truly awful; it's like drinking concentrated
nastiness femrented with obnoxious stupidity."
She makes a disgusted-looking face. "I'd sooner eat rocks." Sighing,
she places her hands on Reichi's hips and, with minimal effort, picks him
straight up ...
"Just relax, and enjoy the ride; you'll only be in there for a few
minutes," she says to Reichi, looking over to Anya for a long moment with
an inscrutable expression in her eyes before turning her face back to the
werewolf and opening her mouth wide ...
===
The Sanctuary of the Bathogorgen
The four Dremora hardly even blink as Anya and Dayla reappear within the
entrence chamber, Dayla rocking back and forth gently and smiling, her eyes
closed. [15]
[16] QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 25 2006, 10:51 PM)
[17] Dana followed the footsteps of what she
thought must be the crusader. The dripping sounds came from roughly the same
direction, which calmed her down a bit. While these sounds might as well be
just the normal nasty and stinking liquids that one would expect in sewers, she
didn't really want to take chances, especially if there actually was something
out there that could appear in their backs anytime.
Dana kept a wary eye on her surroundings as she entered the next sewer tunnel,
glad to leave the place of the combat behind her. However, she didn't expect
that they would manage to do this without actually fighting themselves.
[19]
The bloody footprints continue onward, though after a few hundred paces the
blood starts wearing pretty thin, becoming near impossible to follow. Before
that point though, the footprints started becoming irregular, as though the
maker slipped or was dragging his feet. A discarded potion vial crunches under
Dana's foot as she walks by, the glass breaking under her weight.
Broken, bloody arrows litter the floor right around the point where the
footprints become all but impossible to follow. The sound of plopping ahead has
now become the sounds of splashing, as if someone were wading through the sewer
water itself. [20]
[21] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 09:28 PM)
[22] The bloody footprints continue onward,
though after a few hundred paces the blood starts wearing pretty thin, becoming
near impossible to follow. Before that point though, the footprints
started becoming irregular, as though the maker slipped or was dragging his
feet. A discarded potion vial crunches under Dana's foot as she walks by,
the glass breaking under her weight.
Broken, bloody arrows litter the floor right around the point where the
footprints become all but impossible to follow. The sound of plopping
ahead has now become the sounds of splashing, as if someone were wading through
the sewer water itself.
[24]
*...Osa leans down and investigates one of the arrows...in her experience she
thinks its Bonemold...although she could be wrong...*
"I sure hope Bosmeri arent the ones shooting those arrows" is
the only thought that runs through her mind...after searching the immediate
area, a rats carcass catches Osa's sight...
[25]
[26] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 10:23 PM)
[27] "Oh, there were some of those annoying
beasts in the Vaults of Gemin?" Dalya asks. "My sympathsies.
They even made Ashana upset, and their blood is truly, truly awful; it's
like drinking concentrated nastiness femrented with obnoxious stupidity."
She makes a disgusted-looking face. "I'd sooner eat
rocks." Sighing, she places her hands on Reichi's hips and, with
minimal effort, picks him straight up ...
"Just relax, and enjoy the ride; you'll only be in there for a few
minutes," she says to Reichi, looking over to Anya for a long moment with
an inscrutable expression in her eyes before turning her face back to the
werewolf and opening her mouth wide ...
===
The Sanctuary of the Bathogorgen
The four Dremora hardly even blink as Anya and Dayla reappear within the
entrence chamber, Dayla rocking back and forth gently and smiling, her eyes closed.
[29]
Anya watched Dayla intently, not wanting to look away. She remember when Dayla
had done that to her, the sweet murmerings she whispered, despite Anya's
resistance. It was obvious she enjoyed this immensely, but Anya couldn't tell
what was flashing through her eyes.
Anya shook her head and followed Dayla's suit, entering the sanctuary. She
watched her mater for a few minutes, enjoying herself. Finally Anya spoke up,
"Have you had enough, mater?" [30]
[31] QUOTE(One87xe @ Feb 25 2006, 11:32 PM)
[32] *...Osa leans down and investigates one of
the arrows...in her experience she thinks its Bonemold...although she could be
wrong...*
"I sure hope Bosmeri arent the ones shooting those arrows" is
the only thought that runs through her mind...
[34]
The arrows are made of bone, in fact. The fletching has an interesting design,
something which may remind Osa of rumors she's heard of Bosmeri marking their
arrows with distinctive patterns on the feathers.
Osa gets a chance to find out who shot the arrows soon enough, however, as she
accidentally steps on a pressure plate when leaning down, causing two more
arrows to shoot out of the wall toward the party. [35]
[36] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 11:28 PM)
[37] The bloody footprints continue onward,
though after a few hundred paces the blood starts wearing pretty thin, becoming
near impossible to follow. Before that point though, the footprints
started becoming irregular, as though the maker slipped or was dragging his
feet. A discarded potion vial crunches under Dana's foot as she walks by,
the glass breaking under her weight.
Broken, bloody arrows litter the floor right around the point where the
footprints become all but impossible to follow. The sound of plopping
ahead has now become the sounds of splashing, as if someone were wading through
the sewer water itself.
[39]
"Looks like this guy has taken a beating," Sivartus said, looking at
the bloody arrows laying on the floor. "I wonder how long he can keep
going."
[40]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 11:39 PM)
[41] The arrows are made of bone, in fact.
The fletching has an interesting design, something which may remind Osa of
rumors she's heard of Bosmeri marking their arrows with distinctive patterns on
the feathers.
Osa gets a chance to find out who shot the arrows soon enough, however, as she
accidentally steps on a pressure plate when leaning down, causing two more
arrows to shoot out of the wall toward the party.
[43]
Sivartus, about to ask Osa what kind of arrows they were, was surprised when
two shot out of the wall. Reacting quickly, he cast a shield spell on himself. [44]
"Please keep your
hands arms legs and other appendages within the Vampire while in the ride is in
motion..." Reichi muttered, twisting a phrase he had heard used by a Silt
Strider driver once around. A thought came to Reichi, recalling the same Silt
Strider ride, and he smirked.
"Hey!" He called up. "Are we there yet?" [45]
[46] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 09:39 PM)
[47] The arrows are made of bone, in fact.
The fletching has an interesting design, something which may remind Osa of
rumors she's heard of Bosmeri marking their arrows with distinctive patterns on
the feathers.
Osa gets a chance to find out who shot the arrows soon enough, however, as she
accidentally steps on a pressure plate when leaning down, causing two more
arrows to shoot out of the wall toward the party.
[49]
*...the trap is sprung quickly and Osa barely has time to feel the pressure
give before the Arrows are screaming towards her...although she cant dodge the
Arrows in time, the one that managed to hit her is deflected off her Armor and
sent still hurling towards the party...although in the excitement she neglects
to see where the second Arrow has gone...* [50]
[51] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 11:39 PM)
[52] The arrows are made of bone, in fact.
The fletching has an interesting design, something which may remind Osa of
rumors she's heard of Bosmeri marking their arrows with distinctive patterns on
the feathers.
Osa gets a chance to find out who shot the arrows soon enough, however, as she
accidentally steps on a pressure plate when leaning down, causing two more
arrows to shoot out of the wall toward the party.
[54]
A curse came forth from Dana's lips as the two arrows shot out of the tunnel
wall, darting through the air. She was near Osa as she stepped on the plate,
and so Dana saw herself in the path of one of the arrows.
Trying to dodge as fast as she could, she ducked... but Dana was too slow.
However, instead of piercing her heart, the arrow just punched through the
leather armour into shoulder and got stuck there.
With a loud shout of pain, Dana fell to her knee. [55]
ooc: Isidor, male
nord, is on a raft in Firsthold, sleeping.
Ingmar, Isidor's brother, is in Ald Raathim, helping Kethiah with the tavern.
He means to talk to her at some point ...
Tsei, female argonian, is asleep in her uncle's house in Stormhold, Argonia. [56]
[57] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 25 2006, 11:35 PM)
[58] Anya watched Dayla intently, not wanting to
look away. She remember when Dayla had done that to her, the sweet murmerings
she whispered, despite Anya's resistance. It was obvious she enjoyed this
immensely, but Anya couldn't tell what was flashing through her eyes.
Anya shook her head and followed Dayla's suit, entering the sanctuary. She
watched her mater for a few minutes, enjoying herself. Finally Anya spoke up,
"Have you had enough, mater?"
[60]
Dayla opens her eyes, still smiling, but saying " ... Yes, yes I think I
have ..."[61]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 25 2006, 11:44 PM)
[62] "Please keep your hands arms legs and
other appendages within the Vampire while in the ride is in motion..."
Reichi muttered, twisting a phrase he had heard used by a Silt Strider driver
once around. A thought came to Reichi, recalling the same Silt Strider ride,
and he smirked.
"Hey!" He called up. "Are we there yet?"
[64]
Dayla can't help herself; she laughs, a tear of blood coming to her eye.
"Oh Anya, would it be all right if I borrowed him for clearing out other
storerooms Ashana hid elsewhere?" Dayla asks, still chuckling. "This
werewolf friend of yours is simply ..." She shakes her head. "He'd
crack a joke if the Red Rage showed up to blow up all of Morrowind, wouldn't
he?"
[65]
[66] QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 25 2006, 09:46 PM)
[67] A curse came forth from Dana's lips as the
two arrows shot out of the tunnel wall, darting through the air. She was near
Osa as she stepped on the plate, and so Dana saw herself in the path of one of
the arrows.
Trying to dodge as fast as she could, she ducked... but Dana was too slow.
However, instead of piercing her heart, the arrow just punched through the
leather armour into shoulder and got stuck there.
With a loud shout of pain, Dana fell to her knee.
[69]
*...after pulling her head out of the filthy water and gagging like she never had
before, Osa finally notices the injured Dana and rushes to her aid...*
"Oh...I'm sorry Dana, I didnt see the plate" Osa says extremely
concerned [70]
[71] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 10:49 PM)
[72] Dayla opens her eyes, still smiling, but
saying " ... Yes, yes I think I have ..."
Dayla can't help herself; she laughs, a tear of blood coming to her eye.
"Oh Anya, would it be all right if I borrowed him for clearing out other
storerooms Ashana hid elsewhere?" Dayla asks, still chuckling.
"This werewolf friend of yours is simply ..." She shakes her
head. "He'd crack a joke if the Red Rage showed up to blow up all of
Morrowind, wouldn't he?"
[74]
Anya smiled, poking Dayla's swollen stomach, "I have come to the
conclusion he is the most unflapable person I've ever met. Now, mater, you can
enjoy yourself with someone else later. We have a little problem to take care
of, remember? Let him out." [75]
Reeds Saloat,
bookkeeper, part-time adventurer, and hopeless romantic, is trailing his feet
along the water while sitting on the deck of the boat that Isidor is sleeping
in.
Valerius, Leiutenant under Commander Slashes-With-Claws, is training his men
for the inevitable time when the Redorans and Indoril return to finish what
they started with the crabs those months ago. [76]
"Thank you, thank you, I'm availible for birthday parties, weddings, Tales and Tallows parties, ectera, just contact my agent," Reichi quiped. "Note: Performances not suitable for any under the age of eighteen. Parental supervision advised." [77]
[78] QUOTE(One87xe @ Feb 25 2006, 11:44 PM)
[79] *...the trap is sprung quickly and Osa barely has time to feel the pressure give before the Arrows are screaming towards her...although she cant dodge the Arrows in time, the one that managed to hit her is deflected off her Armor and sent still hurling towards the party...although in the excitement she neglects to see where the second Arrow has gone...*
QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 25 2006, 11:46 PM)
[83] A curse came forth from Dana's lips as the
two arrows shot out of the tunnel wall, darting through the air. She was near
Osa as she stepped on the plate, and so Dana saw herself in the path of one of
the arrows.
Trying to dodge as fast as she could, she ducked... but Dana was too slow.
However, instead of piercing her heart, the arrow just punched through the
leather armour into shoulder and got stuck there.
With a loud shout of pain, Dana fell to her knee.
[85]
Sivartus watches as the arrow bounces off Osa's vest and flies toward him,
bouncing off his shield inches from his body. Out of the corner of his eye, he
sees the arrow penetrate Dana's shoulder. Saying a quick, "Are you
alright?" to Osa, he hurries over to Dana.
"Hold still", is all the warning he gave her before planting his hand
on her shoulder and grabbing the end off the arrow, pulling it free. He casts a
healing spell on her, which closes up the hole left by the arrow.
"You ok?" he said, taking a dirty cloth from his robes and wiping the
blood off his hands. [86]
[87] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 25 2006, 11:53 PM)
[88] Anya smiled, poking Dayla's swollen stomach, "I have come to the conclusion he is the most unflapable person I've ever met. Now, mater, you can enjoy yourself with someone else later. We have a little problem to take care of, remember? Let him out."
[90]
Dayla raises an eyebrow, staring at Anya for a moment. Then, she nods.
"All right, out you come," she says to Reichi, poking her own stomach
a couple of times before releasing the werewolf who was officially cooler than
the most frozen glacier in Skyrim.
" ... All right then; are we all set?" she asks as she leads Reichi
and Dayla past the long-suffering Dremora (all of whom manage to give Reichi
the evil eyeball while not flickering their eyes one inch from their thousand
yard stare), through yet another series of crystal-illuminated corridors
(passing the surprised Entrius and eliciting a smirk from Dayla as she mutters
in passing "I hope he has a nice little panic session from seeing you
Reichi; he never could stand unkempt hair") and up to a door secured by
what looks to be a most intricate lock.
" ... It's sealed both magically and with the best locks Ashana could
buy," Dayla explains. "The annoying part is, the magic will renew
itself in a minute even if you use an Open spell, and I haven't yet found the
key." She looks to Anya. "Think you can pick it in a minute or less?"[91]
[92] QUOTE(Sivartus @ Feb 26 2006, 12:02 AM)
[93] Sivartus watches as the arrow bounces off
Osa's vest and flies toward him, bouncing off his shield inches from his body.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the arrow penetrate Dana's shoulder.
Saying a quick, "Are you alright?" to Osa, he hurries over to Dana.
"Hold still", is all the warning he gives her before planting his
hand on her shoulder and grabbing the end off the arrow, pulling it free. He
casts a healing spell on her, which closes up the hole left by the arrow.
"You ok?" he said, taking a dirty cloth from his robes and wiping the
blood off his hands.
[95]
Dana cried out as Sivartus pulled out the arrow, which tore again through her
flesh, leaving a greater wound just for a moment until the healing spell closed
it again.
"Ow.", Dana coughed. "It hurt."
She looked at the healed flesh, then at Sivartus.
"Thank you.", she said with a smile, standing up carefully.
"We should take more care in proceeding now. There seemed to be more than
one trap, judging from the amount of arrows.
Dana investigated the plate Osa stepped on carefully, so that she could
recognize others if she should encounter them.
"Let's go. I'll be fine." [96]
[97] QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 25 2006, 10:09 PM)
[98] Dana cried out as Sivartus pulled out the
arrow, which tore again through her flesh, leaving a greater wound just for a
moment until the healing spell closed it again.
"Ow.", Dana coughed. "It hurt."
She looked at the healed flesh, then at Sivartus.
"Thank you.", she said with a smile, standing up carefully.
"We should take more care in proceeding now. There seemed to be more than
one trap, judging from the amount of arrows.
Dana investigated the plate Osa stepped on carefully, so that she could
recognize others if she should encounter them.
"Let's go. I'll be fine."
[100]
"I am sorry...and I'll try to be more careful with my investigations"
Osa then wipes the almost formed tears from her eyes before rising back to her
feet and looking towards Sivartus "I guess it's a good thing your
here"[101]
[102] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 11:05 PM)
[103] Dayla raises an
eyebrow, staring at Anya for a moment. Then, she nods.
"All right, out you come," she says to Reichi, poking her own stomach
a couple of times before releasing the werewolf who was officially cooler than
the most frozen glacier in Skyrim.
" ... All right then; are we all set?" she asks as she leads Reichi
and Dayla past the long-suffering Dremora (all of whom manage to give Reichi
the evil eyeball while not flickering their eyes one inch from their thousand
yard stare), through yet another series of crystal-illuminated corridors
(passing the surprised Entrius and eliciting a smirk from Dayla as she mutters
in passing "I hope he has a nice little panic session from seeing you
Reichi; he never could stand unkempt hair") and up to a door secured by
what looks to be a most intricate lock.
" ... It's sealed both magically and with the best locks Ashana could
buy," Dayla explains. "The annoying part is, the magic will
renew itself in a minute even if you use an Open spell, and I haven't yet found
the key." She looks to Anya. "Think you can pick it in a
minute or less?"
[105]
Anya opened her mouth in mock suprise that anyone would doubt her thieving
skills. "Mater, there are two things I know how to do and know how to do
impeccably, picking locks and killing things."
Anya pulled out a grandmaster lockpick, pulling her hair out of her face.
"She really didn't want anyone opening this door..." Anya kneeled
down, and spent several moments staring at and into the lock. Finally, she
stuck the lockpick in slowly, then began to fiddle with it. She wasn't looking
at the lock, relying on feeling and sound to open it.
Moments later, the door clicked and she shoved it open. "And you doubted
me." [106]
"Ever consider,
you know, smashing it? Thats what I did for unpickable locks..." Reichi
suggested. Looking at the door. "And If the door is uncooperative, the
door frame could be removed with some significant effort..."
"But that works..." Reichi added as the door opened. [107]
[108] QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 26 2006, 12:09 AM)
[109] Dana cried out as
Sivartus pulled out the arrow, which tore again through her flesh, leaving a
greater wound just for a moment until the healing spell closed it again.
"Ow.", Dana coughed. "It hurt."
She looked at the healed flesh, then at Sivartus.
"Thank you.", she said with a smile, standing up carefully.
"We should take more care in proceeding now. There seemed to be more than
one trap, judging from the amount of arrows.
Dana investigated the plate Osa stepped on carefully, so that she could
recognize others if she should encounter them.
"Let's go. I'll be fine."
[111]
Watching carefully, the party sees three more pressure plates in this stretch
of sewer which have not yet been set off. The splashing sounds still echo
ahead, closer than before, though after a few minutes they stop.
However, it does not take long to find the source of the splashing sounds; a
wiry Redguard with a thin moustache, clad in worn chain armor and beating a
surcoat and shield with the circle of Arkay on it, is leaning against the wall,
a mithril longsword held in his hand. He appears to be catching his breath, but
upon seeing the party he leaps to attention, his shield up in a defensive
posture and his sword held at the ready.
"Be you bandits and raiders, know that the gods and the crown of Sentinel
can be merciful to the truly repentant; throw down your weapons and surrender
and I shall spare your lives," he says in a rich baritone voice. "Be
you adventurers seeking treasure or excitement, be warned; the path ahead be
fraught with dangers and fierce foes. Turn back now for your own safety."
He watches the party with weary, yet wary, eyes; the group can see the marks of
the arrows that pieced him still on his body, imperfectly healed.[112]
[113] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 10:19 PM)
[114] Watching carefully,
the party sees three more pressure plates in this stretch of sewer which have
not yet been set off. The splashing sounds still echo ahead, closer than
before, though after a few minutes they stop.
However, it does not take long to find the source of the splashing sounds; a
wiry Redguard with a thin moustache, clad in worn chain armor and beating a
surcoat and shield with the circle of Arkay on it, is leaning against the wall,
a mithril longsword held in his hand. He appears to be catching his
breath, but upon seeing the party he leaps to attention, his shield up in a
defensive posture and his sword held at the ready.
"Be you bandits and raiders, know that the gods and the crown of Sentinel
can be merciful to the truly repentant; throw down your weapons and surrender
and I shall spare your lives," he says in a rich baritone voice.
"Be you adventurers seeking treasure or excitement, be warned; the path
ahead be fraught with dangers and fierce foes. Turn back now for your own
safety." He watches the party with weary, yet wary, eyes; the group
can see the marks of the arrows that pieced him still on his body, imperfectly
healed.
[116]
*...Osa is begins to raise her guard as the Redguard takes his defensive position,
finally releasing her hands from the now soaked Scroll she carried...*
"What foes do you speak of Gancolm?" Osa finally says[117]
[118] QUOTE(One87xe @ Feb 26 2006, 12:13 AM)
[119] "I am sorry...and I'll try to be more careful with my investigations" Osa then wipes the almost formed tears from her eyes before rising back to her feet and looking towards Sivartus "I guess it's a good thing your here"
[121]
"It's not your fault," Sivartus said, sensing the guilt in Osa's voice.
He continued down the corridor with them.[122]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:19 AM)
[123] Watching carefully,
the party sees three more pressure plates in this stretch of sewer which have
not yet been set off. The splashing sounds still echo ahead, closer than
before, though after a few minutes they stop.
However, it does not take long to find the source of the splashing sounds; a
wiry Redguard with a thin moustache, clad in worn chain armor and beating a
surcoat and shield with the circle of Arkay on it, is leaning against the wall,
a mithril longsword held in his hand. He appears to be catching his
breath, but upon seeing the party he leaps to attention, his shield up in a
defensive posture and his sword held at the ready.
"Be you bandits and raiders, know that the gods and the crown of Sentinel
can be merciful to the truly repentant; throw down your weapons and surrender
and I shall spare your lives," he says in a rich baritone voice.
"Be you adventurers seeking treasure or excitement, be warned; the path
ahead be fraught with dangers and fierce foes. Turn back now for your own
safety." He watches the party with weary, yet wary, eyes; the group
can see the marks of the arrows that pieced him still on his body, imperfectly
healed.
[125]
"You look to be in no shape to be killing anyone, Gancolm," Sivartus
said, "So enough with your threats. We have spoken to the Temple of Arkay,
and we are here to take back the shield known as Spellbreaker. It seems you got
to the bandits who had it before we were able to. Did you recover the shield
from them?" [126]
[127] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 12:14 AM)
[128] Anya opened her mouth
in mock suprise that anyone would doubt her thieving skills. "Mater, there
are two things I know how to do and know how to do impeccably, picking locks
and killing things."
Anya pulled out a grandmaster lockpick, pulling her hair out of her face.
"She really didn't want anyone opening this door..." Anya kneeled
down, and spent several moments staring at and into the lock. Finally, she
stuck the lockpick in slowly, then began to fiddle with it. She wasn't looking
at the lock, relying on feeling and sound to open it.
Moments later, the door clicked and she shoved it open. "And you doubted
me."
[130]
While Anya was picking the lock, Dayla cast an Open spell on it, and when the
door opens, she says "Foolish me for ever doubting you; I stand
humbled."
[131]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 12:15 AM)
[132] "Ever consider,
you know, smashing it? Thats what I did for unpickable locks..." Reichi
suggested. Looking at the door. "And If the door is uncooperative, the
door frame could be removed with some significant effort..."
"But that works..." Reichi added as the door opened.
[134]
"I once smashed through the doors when I was a hundred and thirty in a fit
of rage over a prank my brothers played on me," Dayla tells Reichi.
"After that, Ashana had my uncles dig up doors from some forsaken hellhole
that not even Ogrims could batter down. And the frame ..." She stops, then
glances over at Anya for a moment.
"Well, the important thing is the door's open now," she continues,
clearing her throat. "Be ready for summoned Daedra and for other ...
things ... Ashana collected over the years. Though not, thankfully, those
accursed winged monkeys."
At that point, however, the air shakes with the force of an inhuman roar, and
the sounds of heavy clanking as an old style iron golem, its hands replaced by
heavy adamantium flail heads, clambers into place, virtually filling the
hallway leading into the storeroom.
" ... Things like this," Dayla says, as the iron golem flails its
arms at Reichi and Anya.[135]
[136] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:19 AM)
[137] Watching carefully,
the party sees three more pressure plates in this stretch of sewer which have
not yet been set off. The splashing sounds still echo ahead, closer than
before, though after a few minutes they stop.
However, it does not take long to find the source of the splashing sounds; a
wiry Redguard with a thin moustache, clad in worn chain armor and beating a
surcoat and shield with the circle of Arkay on it, is leaning against the wall,
a mithril longsword held in his hand. He appears to be catching his
breath, but upon seeing the party he leaps to attention, his shield up in a
defensive posture and his sword held at the ready.
"Be you bandits and raiders, know that the gods and the crown of Sentinel
can be merciful to the truly repentant; throw down your weapons and surrender
and I shall spare your lives," he says in a rich baritone voice.
"Be you adventurers seeking treasure or excitement, be warned; the path
ahead be fraught with dangers and fierce foes. Turn back now for your own
safety." He watches the party with weary, yet wary, eyes; the group
can see the marks of the arrows that pieced him still on his body, imperfectly
healed.
[139]
"We were sent by Father Tralen and Jartod to help you, Sir Gancolm.",
Dana explained. "We know of your mission and the bandits and would be
honoured to assist you. I am Dana."
Dana looked at the knight.
"You are wounded. I am a healer, may I help you?" [140]
[141] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 11:27 PM)
[142] While Anya was picking
the lock, Dayla cast an Open spell on it, and when the door opens, she says
"Foolish me for ever doubting you; I stand humbled."
"I once smashed through the doors when I was a hundred and thirty in a fit
of rage over a prank my brothers played on me," Dayla tells Reichi.
"After that, Ashana had my uncles dig up doors from some forsaken hellhole
that not even Ogrims could batter down. And the frame ..." She
stops, then glances over at Anya for a moment.
"Well, the important thing is the door's open now," she continues,
clearing her throat. "Be ready for summoned Daedra and for other ...
things ... Ashana collected over the years. Though not, thankfully, those
accursed winged monkeys."
At that point, however, the air shakes with the force of an inhuman roar, and
the sounds of heavy clanking as an old style iron golem, its hands replaced by
heavy adamantium flail heads, clambers into place, virtually filling the
hallway leading into the storeroom.
" ... Things like this," Dayla says, as the iron golem flails its
arms at Reichi and Anya.
[144]
Anya crouched and lept back, dodging the flailing arms. She pulled out her bow,
and nocked shock enchanted arrows, releasing them at the golem. "Where did
she get that!" [145]
[146] QUOTE(One87xe @ Feb 26 2006, 12:24 AM)
[147] *...Osa is begins to
raise her guard as the Redguard takes his defensive position, finally releasing
her hands from the now soaked Scroll she carried...*
"What foes do you speak of Gancolm?" Osa finally says
[149]
" ... How do you know my name?" the knight asks, saying automatically
"Sir Gancolm, of the Order of the Circle."[150]
QUOTE(Sivartus @ Feb 26 2006, 12:25 AM)
[151] "It's not your
fault," Sivartus said, sensing the guilt in Osa's voice. He continued down
the corridor with them.
"You look to be in no shape to be killing anyone, or taking on any danger,
Gancolm," Sivartus said, "So enough with your threats and your
warnings. We have spoken to the Temple of Arkay, and we are here to take back
the shield known as Spellbreaker. It seems you got to the bandits who had it
before we did were able to. Did you recover the shield from them?"
[153]
Sivartus's response earns him a glare from the young knight, and Dana can see a
resentment there that was quite more common when she was younger.
"Is that true, Breton?" he asks, turning to look to Dana.[154]
QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 26 2006, 12:27 AM)
[155] "We were sent by
Father Tralen and Jartod to help you, Sir Gancolm.", Dana explained.
"We know of your mission and the bandits and would be honoured to assist
you. I am Dana."
Dana looked at the knight.
"You are wounded. I am a healer, may I help you?"
[157]
The angry flashing in Sir Gancolm's eyes fades at the sound of Dana's soothing
voice, and he bows to her, though his movements betray awkwardness. "My
lady, I see you and our fellow sister of Hammerfell speak the truth," he
says. "If the good Father and my Knight Captain have entrusted you with
aiding me than I accept your aid as a humble servant of Arkay."
He gives a boyish grimace, and says "The wounds are not serious, but as
you have offered, it would be discurteous to refuse. I thank you my lady for
the aid of your magic." Looking to Osa, he continues "I have not yet
found the fabled Spellbreaker; after tracking the bulk of the raiders down in
these sewers I recovered a map leading totheir hideout from the body of their
foul magician. It lies just ahead, but I fear that they have prepared traps and
that any remaining raiders lie in wait, doubtless ready to use the shield
against us."
He frowns. "They will not succeed; I have vowed to recover the shield at
all costs." [158]
Reichi grimaced.
"I hate Golems." He steps back, removing his ring, and activating the
other he had brough along, Hircine's Ring, the armor on his body slowly began
to adjust as the telltale muffled sound of cracking and popping bone is heard.
"Just gimme a second..."
With amazing swiftness, Reichi's transformation progresses to the end result,
and he leapts at the Golem with a feral roar, his armor looking slightly less
protective, if more manuverable. [159]
[160] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 25 2006, 10:35 PM)
[161] " ... How do you
know my name?" the knight asks, saying automatically "Sir Gancolm, of
the Order of the Circle."
Sivartus's response earns him a glare from the young knight, and Dana can see a
resentment there that was quite more common when she was younger.
"Is that true, Breton?" he asks, turning to look to Dana.
The angry flashing in Sir Gancolm's eyes fades at the sound of Dana's soothing
voice, and he bows to her, though his movements betray awkwardness.
"My lady, I see you and our fellow sister of Hammerfell speak the
truth," he says. "If the good Father and my Knight Captain have
entrusted you with aiding me than I accept your aid as a humble servant of
Arkay."
He gives a boyish grimace, and says "The wounds are not serious, but as
you have offered, it would be discurteous to refuse. I thank you my lady
for the aid of your magic." Looking to Osa, he continues "I
have not yet found the fabled Spellbreaker; after tracking the bulk of the
raiders down in these sewers I recovered a map leading totheir hideout from the
body of their foul magician. It lies just ahead, but I fear that they
have prepared traps and that any remaining raiders lie in wait, doubtless ready
to use the shield against us."
He frowns. "They will not succeed; I have vowed to recover the
shield at all costs."
[163]
"They have the Shield in their possesion...Hmm, that presents itself as
quite a problem" Osa says looking towards the location Gancolm motioned
to, then again looking for any signs of presure plates or other nasty traps
"Any ideas anybody?" she asks reluctantly, grasping the Scroll in her
hand and making one last adjustment to both her Armor and Bag [164]
[165] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 12:33 AM)
[166] Anya crouched and lept back, dodging the flailing arms. She pulled out her bow, and nocked shock enchanted arrows, releasing them at the golem. "Where did she get that!"
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 12:44 AM)
[170] Reichi grimaced.
"I hate Golems." He steps back, removing his ring, and activating the
other he had brough along, Hircine's Ring, the armor on his body slowly began
to adjust as the telltale muffled sound of cracking and popping bone is heard. "Just
gimme a second..."
With amazing swiftness, Reichi's transformation progresses to the end result,
and he leapts at the Golem with a feral roar, his armor looking slightly less
protective, if more manuverable.
[172]
"I don't know where she got it!" Dayla says, ducking as the iron
golem's swings miss Reichi and Anya and nearly smash her head in. The heavy
adamantine flails crash into the stone walls ... and leave fewer marks than one
would have expected, suggesting a greater than normal resiliency.
Seeing Reichi move forward, Dayla fortifies his strength and endurance, while
Anya's arrows break agains the iron golem's metal body, but their enchantments
still activate, zapping the iron golem with lightning. The iron golem, seeing
Reichi approach, brings its arms together, trying to smash both flails into
Reichi's sides while engulfing him in a lethal bearhug. [173]
Anya saw the arms come to clash together, and began alternating her arrows. She aimed at the shoulders and knees, sending frost to try to freeze the joints and slow it down, and paralyze, to prevent it from actually hitting the wolfen Riechi. Her arrows shattered and offered no offensive support, but she smiled grimly as she was rewarded with dozens of enchantments flaring. [174]
[175] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:35 AM)
[176] The angry flashing in
Sir Gancolm's eyes fades at the sound of Dana's soothing voice, and he bows to
her, though his movements betray awkwardness. "My lady, I see you
and our fellow sister of Hammerfell speak the truth," he says.
"If the good Father and my Knight Captain have entrusted you with aiding
me than I accept your aid as a humble servant of Arkay."
He gives a boyish grimace, and says "The wounds are not serious, but as
you have offered, it would be discurteous to refuse. I thank you my lady
for the aid of your magic." Looking to Osa, he continues "I
have not yet found the fabled Spellbreaker; after tracking the bulk of the
raiders down in these sewers I recovered a map leading totheir hideout from the
body of their foul magician. It lies just ahead, but I fear that they
have prepared traps and that any remaining raiders lie in wait, doubtless ready
to use the shield against us."
He frowns. "They will not succeed; I have vowed to recover the
shield at all costs."
[178]
Dana smiled in return, moving close to the knight and placing her hands on his
chest. A blue light emanated from her fingers and seeped into the knight,
beginning to heal his wounds.
"There you go, Sir Gancolm.", she said. "We have seen your...
demonstration of skill back in that alley. We are proud to meet such a skilled
fighter. As to the traps... we need to be wary and be aware of our steps and
where we place them. For the one carrying spellbreaker... we do not only have
skilled mages in our group, sometimes, a good pair of swordwielders that work
together can surpass an enemy bearing that artifact." [179]
Reichi used his superior speed to dart between the flails, tucking his tail down to avoid getting it smashed and grabbed. Reichi swung his claws at the leg joints of the right leg, trying to cripple it. [180]
[181] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:35 AM)
[182] " ... How do you
know my name?" the knight asks, saying automatically "Sir Gancolm, of
the Order of the Circle."
Sivartus's response earns him a glare from the young knight, and Dana can see a
resentment there that was quite more common when she was younger.
"Is that true, Breton?" he asks, turning to look to Dana.
The angry flashing in Sir Gancolm's eyes fades at the sound of Dana's soothing
voice, and he bows to her, though his movements betray awkwardness.
"My lady, I see you and our fellow sister of Hammerfell speak the truth,"
he says. "If the good Father and my Knight Captain have entrusted
you with aiding me than I accept your aid as a humble servant of Arkay."
He gives a boyish grimace, and says "The wounds are not serious, but as
you have offered, it would be discurteous to refuse. I thank you my lady
for the aid of your magic." Looking to Osa, he continues "I
have not yet found the fabled Spellbreaker; after tracking the bulk of the
raiders down in these sewers I recovered a map leading totheir hideout from the
body of their foul magician. It lies just ahead, but I fear that they
have prepared traps and that any remaining raiders lie in wait, doubtless ready
to use the shield against us."
He frowns. "They will not succeed; I have vowed to recover the
shield at all costs."
[184]
Sivartus stood by, pondering Osa's question as he waited for Dana to heal Sir
Gancolm. Unable to come up with anything, he waited quietly for the group to
move again, preparing a few spells in his mind that might be useful in the
upcoming battle. [185]
[186] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 12:56 AM)
[187] Anya saw the arms come to clash together, and began alternating her arrows. She aimed at the shoulders and knees, sending frost to try to freeze the joints and slow it down, and paralyze, to prevent it from actually hitting the wolfen Riechi. Her arrows shattered and offered no offensive support, but she smiled grimly as she was rewarded with dozens of enchantments flaring.
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 12:59 AM)
[191] Reichi used his superior speed to dart between the flails, tucking his tail down to avoid getting it smashed and grabbed. Reichi swung his claws at the leg joints of the right leg, trying to cripple it.
[193]
Anya's efforts to weaken the golem's joints prove successful, and Reichi,
backed by Dayla's fortify spells, manages to claw the iron golem's legs badly
enough that it buckles and falls down, unable to support its own weight.
Refusing to die peacefully, it swings at the party again with its arms, but
lying on the floor it's more easily dodged, and Dayla shoots its arm joints
with a combination of cold and shock spells to cripple it totally.
" ... I think there's at least one more guardian in this storeroom,"
Dayla says as the three of them clamber over the remains of the iron golem.
"What though, I don't know. Be careful of traps though."[194]
[195] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:05 AM)
[196] Anya's efforts to
weaken the golem's joints prove successful, and Reichi, backed by Dayla's
fortify spells, manages to claw the iron golem's legs badly enough that it
buckles and falls down, unable to support its own weight.
Refusing to die peacefully, it swings at the party again with its arms, but
lying on the floor it's more easily dodged, and Dayla shoots its arm joints
with a combination of cold and shock spells to cripple it totally.
" ... I think there's at least one more guardian in this storeroom,"
Dayla says as the three of them clamber over the remains of the iron
golem. "What though, I don't know. Be careful of traps
though."
[198]
Anya shouldered her bow and nodded, following Dayla, and keepin a wary eye
about, "I hate these types. I mean, why can't people just use gaurdians we
know about instead of forgotten relics?"
Anya waved foward, smiling at Riechi, "You're faster than me, when you're
like that, still. Just a little bit, but enough. Would you take point?" [199]
Reichi grinned wolfishly and nodded, taking a moment to wretch off a chunk of the golem and hurl it further into the chamber, to see if he can't set off a few traps ahead of time. [200]
[201] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 01:12 AM)
[202] Anya shouldered her
bow and nodded, following Dayla, and keepin a wary eye about, "I hate
these types. I mean, why can't people just use gaurdians we know about instead
of forgotten relics?"
Anya waved foward, smiling at Riechi, "You're faster than me, when you're
like that, still. Just a little bit, but enough. Would you take point?"
[204]
"One of the perks of being immortal, filia," Dayla says, smiling a
bit. "You get to use old tricks on people who never heard of them and
watch as they fall for them all over again. Let a secret lie long enough and
even the most learned hunters will stop preparing against it, thinking it lost
..."[205]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 01:14 AM)
[206] Reichi grinned wolfishly and nodded, taking a moment to wretch off a chunk of the golem and hurl it further into the chamber, to see if he can't set off a few traps ahead of time.
[208]
The corridor becomes a raging inferno; the chunk of iron ends up melting into
slag and the walls get scorched, and the heat is intense enough that Reichi,
Anya, and Dayla can't back away in time to avoid getting half-cooked. An
instant later, a blast of artic cold and a burst of lightning follow, Dayla
barely getting reflect spells up in time to shield the three of them from the
remaining blasts.
" ... Like that one ..." Dayla groans, casting healing spells.
"We're lucky we weren't right in the middle of that blast.[209]
Anya stared in
amazement, her skin burning in pain. "Blasted weakness to fire..."
"Riechi, you mind doing that again... make sure there aren't anymore
traps?" [210]
Reichi grumbled something under his breath, brushing ice crystals out of his half-scorched fur. The Werewolf nodded to Anya, ripped off another hunk of the Golem, and once again hurled it ahead. This time however, Reichi took the time to back up. [211]
[212] QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 01:26 AM)
[213] Reichi grumbled something under his breath, brushing ice crystals out of his half-scorched fur. The Werewolf nodded to Anya, ripped off another hunk of the Golem, and once again hurled it ahead. This time however, Reichi took the time to back up.
[215]
Dayla hurriedly casts reflect spells on the three of them - which proves to be
a wise decision, because the moment the chunk passes a certain point, the raging
inferno returns, followed immediately by the blasts of cold and lightning, and
even backing out of the storeroom entirely doesn't totally negate the effect,
for all three billow out of the room to mushroom around the immediate area of
the door.
"I wish I knew how this trap worked," Dayla mutters, her reflect
spell fading. "Ashana I think just seeped under the door in mist form to
get into here, but none of us can do that ..."[216]
[217] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:30 AM)
[218] Dayla hurriedly casts
reflect spells on the three of them - which proves to be a wise decision,
because the moment the chunk passes a certain point, the raging inferno
returns, followed immediately by the blasts of cold and lightning, and even
backing out of the storeroom entirely doesn't totally negate the effect, for
all three billow out of the room to mushroom around the immediate area of the
door.
"I wish I knew how this trap worked," Dayla mutters, her reflect
spell fading. "Ashana I think just seeped under the door in mist
form to get into here, but none of us can do that ..."
[220]
Anya glanced down the hallway, furrowing her brow. "How long is the
hallway? And how strong of a reflect can you make, Dayla?" [221]
Reichi mentally reflects that Ashana probably could have survived such blasts even if she tripped them. At Anya's suggestion the werewolf grimaces, but drops all fours in preparation. It seemed the only way. [222]
[223] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 01:33 AM)
[224] Anya glanced down the hallway, furrowing her brow. "How long is the hallway? And how strong of a reflect can you make, Dayla?"
[226]
Dayla looks into the corridor. " ... I should be able to sheld us for long
enough, if we sprint," she says, looking at her snake body. After a moment
of deliberation and concentration, she shifts to something resembling a
centuar, if centaurs were half panther instead of half horse.
"Get on my back," she tell Anya.[227]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 01:37 AM)
[228] Reichi mentally reflects that Ashana probably could have survived such blasts even if she tripped them. At Anya's suggestion the werewolf grimaces, but drops all fours in preparation. It seemed the only way.
[230]
Nodding to Reichi, Dayla concentrates once more, and weaves her most powerful
Reflect spell ....
"GO!!!" she yells. [231]
Reichi rushed forward, focusing himself on getting to the other side of the corridor as fast as possible. His clawed click against the floor as he sprinted ahead. [232]
[233] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:39 AM)
[234] Dayla looks into the
corridor. " ... I should be able to sheld us for long enough, if we
sprint," she says, looking at her snake body. After a moment of
deliberation and concentration, she shifts to something resembling a centuar,
if centaurs were half panther instead of half horse.
"Get on my back," she tell Anya.
Nodding to Reichi, Dayla concentrates once more, and weaves her most powerful
Reflect spell ....
"GO!!!" she yells.
[236]
Anya lept on, and crouched down to avoid as much of the blasts as possible,
futile as it may have been. "This is suicide..." [237]
Reichi sprints into
the corridor, setting off the spells as Dayla and Anya race after him; the roar
of magic is deafening as the spells hit them and bounce back right into the
walls, literally scorching the stone and shattering it.
Reichi hits a trip wire and Dayla screams as the floor underneath his feet
gives way, for at the speed Reichi is going he makes it over the gap before the
floor has fully fallen away, forcing Dayla to quick cast a slowfall spell to
let her and Anya glide over the gap, propelled by momentum. Then, Reichi hits
another tripwire and Anya and Dayla and he get peppered by needles ...
... but this last trap was meant more for mortals, not armored werewolves and
vampires, and in any event, by that point the three of them have reached the
end of the corridor, the walls they have passed looking almost totally
devestated. Glowing soul gem crystals the size of Anya now stand revealed where
the spells had gone off.
Sighing, Dayla casts some more healing spells, and with a grimace expels the
needles in her body. "Reichi, did any of those hit something vital?"
she asks, loking over at the werewolf. "Anya, you all right?'[238]
[239] QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 18 2006, 08:13 PM)
[240] Talking about Faryon, he has set off for Wayrest by Mages guild... why hes proberly there already...
[242]
The bustling squares of Wayrest were like no bazaar Faryon had ever seen. Here
more than any other place, the merchant-prince ruled. Anything that could be
had anywhere, could be found in Wayrest. From the east up the Bjoulsae River,
or from the west down the Iliac Bay, commodities and ephemera of every variety
collided.
Had Faryon been used to the city, he would have noticed how much it had
changed. It had always been a wealthy, mercantile center, but now there were
nearly as many orcs wandering the streets and selling their goods as there were
Bretons. The alliance between Elysana and Gortwog gro-Nagorm had changed the
culture enormously.
The great royal Dome of Wayrest dominated the skyline. Upon arriving there and
giving his name, Faryon received a much different reception that at the
Imperial Palace, where it had taken him weeks to receive a reception with the
Emperor's son. Only a few minutes went by, and the guard hurried back.
"The Queen will see you immediately," he said.[243]
Anya slid off Dayla, and started plucking needles out of her skin. "Dammit, that hurt. Where's a servile cattle when you need one. Are at least the switch for the traps. I don't want to have to do that every time I want to get in here. I'm fine Dayla, you?" [244]
Reichi shook his head. The werewolf however, makes noise that sound similar to common curse words as he begins pulling out needles out of his body. [245]
[246] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 02:02 AM)
[247] Anya slid off Dayla, and started plucking needles out of her skin. "Dammit, that hurt. Where's a servile cattle when you need one. Are at least the switch for the traps. I don't want to have to do that every time I want to get in here. I'm fine Dayla, you?"
[249]
"I think we pretty much destroyed the trigger for the traps by reflecting
the spells back into the walls," Dayla says, frowning in concern. "I
can summon a cattle for you if you really need to feed; it might not be such a
bad idea if Ashana's left anything beyond the corner here ..."[250]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 02:08 AM)
[251] Reichi shook his head. The werewolf however, makes noise that sound similar to common curse words as he begins pulling out needles out of his body.
[253]
"My sentiments exactly," Dayla says to Reichi, as she helps pull
needles out ofboth of them. And this is just one storeroom. There are
others, but I don't intend to go poking into them until much later ..."[254]
[255] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 06:00 PM)
[256] The bustling squares
of Wayrest were like no bazaar Faryon had ever seen. Here more than any
other place, the merchant-prince ruled. Anything that could be had
anywhere, could be found in Wayrest. From the east up the Bjoulsae River,
or from the west down the Iliac Bay, commodities and ephemera of every variety
collided.
Had Faryon been used to the city, he would have noticed how much it had
changed. It had always been a wealthy, mercantile center, but now there
were nearly as many orcs wandering the streets and selling their goods as there
were Bretons. The alliance between Elysana and Gortwog gro-Nagorm had
changed the culture enormously.
The great royal Dome of Wayrest dominated the skyline. Upon arriving
there and giving his name, Faryon received a much different reception that at
the Imperial Palace, where it had taken him weeks to receive a reception with
the Emperor's son. Only a few minutes went by, and the guard hurried
back.
"The Queen will see you immediately," he said.
[258]
'Very well,' Faryon responded. He was thinking about going for dinner after he
had announced his presence, but all thoughts of that went to the alliance and
its future. He straightened his cloak, 'I am ready to go when you are'
Faryon was indeed surprised at the fast reception. Hopefully this will be a
more productive meeting than the one with the Prince. However, he always kept,
at the back of his mind, who this woman was. She was powerful enough to forces
Hesleth and his mother to flee to morrowind (how he saw it, anyway) she was a
woman to respect, and more importantly, not to underestimate.[259]
Reichi manages a grin at the thought of the trap being destroyed by the reflect spell. Ashana had been smart, but there were obviously flaws in her traps. Cautiously Reichi moves ahead to see whats next once he felt he's removed all the needles. [260]
"We can worry about the other places later, I' just want to get to those books." Anya muttered, following Riechi. [261]
The Royal Dome of Wayrest[262]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 12:19 AM)
[263] 'Very well,' Faryon
responded. He was thinking about going for dinner after he had announced his
presence, but all thoughts of that went to the alliance and its future. He
straightened his cloak, 'I am ready to go when you are'
Faryon was indeed surprised at the fast reception. Hopefully this will be a
more productive meeting than the one with the Prince. However, he always kept,
at the back of his mind, who this woman was. She was powerful enough to forces
Hesleth and his mother to flee to morrowind (how he saw it, anyway) she was a
woman to respect, and more importantly, not to underestimate.
[265]
Two Breton children, a boy and girl, walked past Faryon, together with a
well-dressed, handsome Breton man, who from the look of him was obviously their
father. They were engaged in conversation, and merely looked in Faryon's
direction with a smile as they passed. Though he was not introduced, they were
the Queen's consort and their children.
Faryon was escorted into the dining room, where the Queen sat as food was being
carried away.
"Would you like to eat anything before it's taken away," Elysana
asked. Faryon knew who she was instantly. A beautiful, blond Breton with
confidence and authority which would put Mortillara to shame, and likely rival
that of Queen Mother Barenziah, who, as he recalled, had once been Elysana's
stepmother. "You're from the Alliance, yes, Lord Faryon?"[266]
[267] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 02:24 AM)
[268] "We can worry about the other places later, I' just want to get to those books." Anya muttered, following Riechi.
[270]
Around the bend was another door, like the first, which proved to be as
passable as the first; with a final, relieved sigh, Dayla pushes the door open.
Within the small chamber, gold and jewels glitter; swords and spears of ebony
and daedric steel line one wall while various pieces of armor and clothing are
stashed on shelves on the opposite wall, all glittering with the power of
enchantment.
However, it is the helm that sits on a shelf all of its own that draws
everyone's eye; to Reichi, it would look slightly like the magnificient helm
that he and the others found in the Vaults of Gemin, for it is engraved to
resemble a handsome, bearded male's face, though in place of the laurel wreath
of victory, a horned helm rests on the 'head. The helm almost seems to regard
them, its face at once kindly and yet somehow suggesting that it wishes to
impart some important secret to whoever would wear it ...
"There; the Masque of Clavicus Vile," Dayla says, almost reverently.
She slithers over to the magical helm, reaching for it with a look on her face
like a child finding a new toy. "With this, I can finally contest the
power of Ashana's conditioning over my servants; with this, I can finally take
my rightful place as the Prima Mater of the new and rebron Bathogorgen Clan
..." [271]
[272] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 06:29 PM)
[273] The Royal Dome of
Wayrest
Two Breton children, a boy and girl, walked past Faryon, together with a
well-dressed, handsome Breton man, who from the look of him was obviously their
father. They were engaged in conversation, and merely looked in Faryon's
direction with a smile as they passed. Though he was not introduced, they
were the Queen's consort and their children.
Faryon was escorted into the dining room, where the Queen sat as food was being
carried away.
"Would you like to eat anything before it's taken away," Elysana
asked. Faryon knew who she was instantly. A beautiful, blond Breton
with confidence and authority which would put Mortillara to shame, and likely
rival that of Queen Mother Barenziah, who, as he recalled, had once been
Elysana's stepmother. "You're from the Alliance, yes, Lord Faryon?"
[275]
'It is quite all right, Your Majesty, I thank you for your offer, but I must
decline. I have already intruded on Your Majestys time enough' He bowed low to
one knee, and arose, 'I am Councillor Indoril Faryon, of the Alliance against
your Stepbrothers lofty ambitions' he bowed once more. Elysana was nothing like
he had expected. He had expected a scheming woman who was quite ugly, not the
beautiful queen before him. Apperances could be deceving... [276]
[277] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 01:33 AM)
[278] "There; the Masque of Clavicus Vile," Dayla says, almost reverently. She slithers over to the magical helm, reaching for it with a look on her face like a child finding a new toy. "With this, I can finally contest the power of Ashana's conditioning over my servants; with this, I can finally take my rightful place as the Prima Mater of the new and rebron Bathogorgen Clan ..."
[280]
Anya glanced at Dayla, raising an eyebrow, "This is why you picked this
particular storeroom?"
Anya watched as Dayla slithered over, and she walked towards the pile of
weapons and armor, thinking to replace the shortsword she carried. [281]
Reichi stepped into
the room slowly, taking a moment to observe the room in all its glory. Even
a small chunk of this loot could help Daruhn... he reflected. He then turned
his attention back to Masque. A powerful artifact, to be sure. Though he
imagined it'd like quite silly on Dayla, or any females for that matter. It had
a bearded man's face, afterall.
[282]
The Royal Dome, Wayrest[283]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 12:43 AM)
[284] 'It is quite all right, Your Majesty, I thank you for your offer, but I must decline. I have already intruded on Your Majestys time enough' He bowed low to one knee, and arose, 'I am Councillor Indoril Faryon, of the Alliance against your Stepbrothers lofty ambitions' he bowed once more. Elysana was nothing like he had expected. He had expected a scheming woman who was quite ugly, not the beautiful queen before him. Apperances could be deceving...
[286]
The Queen smiled widely. "How marvelous. Do take a seat, Faryon. I have
been watching your Alliance with great interest, and I know even a little
something about you ... I'm a little offended that no one from your association
came to me earlier. Together, we could have ended that miserable cur's reign
months ago, I've no doubt."
Even while she was talking about being offended and destroying her stepbrother,
the wide, innocent smile was on her face.
"Now, tell me your aims and ambitions, and what you need of me."[287]
[288] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 02:45 AM)
[289] Anya glanced at Dayla,
raising an eyebrow, "This is why you picked this particular
storeroom?"
Anya watched as Dayla slithered over, and she walked towards the pile of weapons
and armor, thinking to replace the shortsword she carried.
[291]
"Indeed," Dayla smirks, giving Anya a sultry, yet almost imperious
look, "that's exactly why. Ashana always believed in taking items that
could contest her power away from mortal hands and keeping them safely locked
away. A pity she never thought to use most of these items; in her arrogance she
prefered to rely on her own innate power and magic."
"Fortunately, that is a mistake I will not make," Dayla says, raising
the helm up to place it on her face. "Soon Ashana's little slaves will
learn who they should really fear ..."
Something in Dayla's tone of voice sets both Reichi's and Anya's short hairs
standing on end.[292]
[293] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 06:54 PM)
[294] The Royal Dome,
Wayrest
The Queen smiled widely. "How marvelous. Do take a seat,
Faryon. I have been watching your Alliance with great interest, and I
know even a little something about you ... I'm a little offended that no one
from your association came to me earlier. Together, we could have ended
that miserable cur's reign months ago, I've no doubt."
Even while she was talking about being offended and destroying her stepbrother,
the wide, innocent smile was on her face.
"Now, tell me your aims and ambitions, and what you need of me."
[296]
'Before I say what I want, please understand that I do not speak of the entire
council, just those who believe that the isolationist views of the other
councillors are the wrong way to go, and that in order to win, we need outside
support. What I am here for, is not to ask you anything, but instead to invite
you to join our crusade to rid this world of the Influence of your Inlaws. For
the first time, your sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law are in
one, easy to reach location, Morrowind. Whilst these three are still alive,
your claim on the throne of wayrest will never be complete. Join with us to
purge the world of thier exsistance!' he said almost going a little overboard [297]
The Royal Dome, Wayrest[298]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 01:02 AM)
[299] 'Before I say what I want, please understand that I do not speak of the entire council, just those who believe that the isolationist views of the other councillors are the wrong way to go, and that in order to win, we need outside support. What I am here for, is not to ask you anything, but instead to invite you to join our crusade to rid this world of the Influence of your Inlaws. For the first time, your sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law are in one, easy to reach location, Morrowind. Whilst these three are still alive, your claim on the throne of wayrest will never be complete. Join with us to purge the world of thier exsistance!' he said almost going a little overboard
[301]
"All right," the Queen of Wayrest chuckled. "Really, I don't
need to be talked into despising Helseth, Barenziah, and Morgiah, Faryon. The
only reason I haven't sent emissaries to your Alliance before is that I didn't
think the group as a whole likes outsiders. Some of your councilors would
rather lose the war than join forces with someone such as me. But I have
considered myself your ally for months, though we have only met just now. So, I
repeat, what are your aims and ambitions? What can I do for you?"
As they spoke, Elysana's war councillor came into the room. She was probably a
she, but undoubtedly the ugliest, toughest-looking orc Faryon had ever seen.
She looked at Faryon with emotionless, beady eyes as she took a seat.
"This is my war councillor," Elysana added, by way of introduction.
"This is Sera Indoril Faryon of the Indoril and Redoran Alliance of
Morrowind. Faryon, this is Beauty."
[302]
[303] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 01:57 AM)
[304] "Indeed,"
Dayla smirks, giving Anya a sultry, yet almost imperious look, "that's
exactly why. Ashana always believed in taking items that could contest
her power away from mortal hands and keeping them safely locked away. A
pity she never thought to use most of these items; in her arrogance she
prefered to rely on her own innate power and magic."
"Fortunately, that is a mistake I will not make," Dayla says, raising
the helm up to place it on her face. "Soon Ashana's little slaves
will learn who they should really fear ..."
Something in Dayla's tone of voice sets both Reichi's and Anya's short hairs
standing on end.
[306]
Anya frowned, furrowing her eyebrows, "Dayla..."
Anya walked over, momentarily disregarding the rest of the treasures stored.
"You're scaring me, mater. Don't do this. Didn't you say you wanted to do
right by me? To do what you thought best for me, well this isn't it..."
Anya reached out, taking a hold of the Masque to take it from Dayla. [307]
I have a bad
feeling. One that explains in detail that shes going to put that on and turn on
us... Reichi thought to himself. Dayla's skills of
persausion were formidable alone, with the Masque he doubted either one of them
could resist. Reichi watched Anya carefully, hopefully she could persuade
Dayla, he could scarely talk in this form. He readied himself should the
attempt go awry.
[308]
[309] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 07:13 PM)
[310] The Royal Dome,
Wayrest
"All right," the Queen of Wayrest chuckled. "Really, I don't
need to be talked into despising Helseth, Barenziah, and Morgiah, Faryon.
The only reason I haven't sent emissaries to your Alliance before is that I
didn't think the group as a whole likes outsiders. Some of your councilors
would rather lose the war than join forces with someone such as me. But I
have considered myself your ally for months, though we have only met just
now. So, I repeat, what are your aims and ambitions? What can I do
for you?"
As they spoke, Elysana's war councillor came into the room. She was
probably a she, but undoubtedly the ugliest, toughest-looking orc Faryon had
ever seen. She looked at Faryon with emotionless, beady eyes as she took
a seat.
"This is my war councillor," Elysana added, by way of introduction.
"This is Sera Indoril Faryon of the Indoril and Redoran Alliance of
Morrowind. Faryon, this is Beauty."
[312]
'It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Beauty' Faryon said, bowing, the Irony
truly getting to him. 'At present, my agents are persuing paths to discredit
the Radicals within house Indoril with a faux attack on Verannis Hall,' out of
a satchel to his side, he pulled out a map, sent just that day by his
Spymaster, of Morrowind, and who controlled what. 'In our most recent attack,
we were lead by the Tribunal (who I am really starting to have suspicions
against) and siezed Omayri and the Septim Gate Pass on the Deshaan Plains, as
your well aware, and Tel Silgrad, hence cutting off the Royalist support from
the land. Our next planned offensive is against Necom, the ancient burrial
crypt of the Dunmeri People. Our current goal is to surround Mournhold, then
Storm the city. Our plan is to capture the king, for without thier monarch, the
Royalist forces will have nothing to fight for, and hence, we can claim them as
true rebels against the rightful government.' he sighed
'Unfortunatly, my visit to the Imperial City was unproductive, I failed to
secure the neutrality of the Imperial Legions, although I secured the
neutrality of the Guilds, this is very much a defeat. Even moreso, I recieved
word that an Altmeri Fleet devistated the port of Tear. At present, we control
the land routes, and we had, after our successful destruction of Ald Raatham's
navy, total sea control. However, with the arrival of the Aldmeri fleet, this
view is in question. If it were mearly Hesleths forces verses our own, we would
be in a brilliant position to win. However, he has many capable
"heros" (and I use that word lightly) supporting him in his unjust
cause. add to that the Imperial Legions in Vvanderfell, the Aldmeri fleet, and
the constant threat of Nordic invasion from the West, we are truly in a bind.'
he took a breath, and continued, 'If we secure the neutrality of the Legions,
my forces, who have to remain at the rear to protect the passes to Cyrodiil can
advance. If we secured the friendship of the Nords, we could remove a large
majority of the army defending Blacklight for an attack on the Ald Raatham
Sailent. If we can remove the Altmeri fleet, we can suffocate thier supply
lines.' he paused and waited for responce. By now, he was standing and paceing
whilst he was talking, ever so often pointing to the map he had placed on the
table at an important point [313]
[314] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 03:16 AM)
[315] Anya frowned,
furrowing her eyebrows, "Dayla..."
Anya walked over, momentarily disregarding the rest of the treasures stored.
"You're scaring me, mater. Don't do this. Didn't you say you wanted to do
right by me? To do what you thought best for me, well this isn't it..."
Anya reached out, taking a hold of the Masque to take it from Dayla.
[317]
Dayla's face twists into an ugly scowl when Anya dares to touch the Masque -
but as Anya's fingers touch the enchanted helm, her expression softens.
"What? But this is what's best ... no? To get everything ordered for you
..."
As Anya touches the Masque, however, she has a realization that, with the
Masque's enchantments, she can finally pursuade Nalion and Dana and all those
others who fear her that she's not a monster, that they have nothing to worry
about from her, that she can drink blood and not fall prey to the bloodlust and
that her powers- and skills! - would be so helpful to helping Ald Raathim and
her friends ...
... all she has to do is take it and tell them what she knows ...[318]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 03:22 AM)
[319] I have a bad feeling. One that explains in detail that shes going to put that on and turn on us... Reichi thought to himself. Dayla's skills of persausion were formidable alone, with the Masque he doubted either one of them could resist. Reichi watched Anya carefully, hopefully she could persuade Dayla, he could scarely talk in this form. He readied himself should the attempt go awry.
[321]
Looking upon the Masque, Reichi realizes something he's understood
subconsciously all along - that he is in fact the coolest person in the world
and, if he'd wear the Masque, he could even pursuade the Daedra Princes to be
more like him. Yep, even Azura. Heck, Hircine might make him the Duke of
Werewolves or something; a Duke of Werewolves could get to see some real
interesting sh...enanigans over the centuries ... [322]
The Royal Dome, Wayrest[323]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 01:31 AM)
[324] 'It is a pleasure to
meet you, Lady Beauty' Faryon said, bowing, the Irony truly getting to him. 'At
present, my agents are persuing paths to discredit the Radicals within house
Indoril with a faux attack on Verannis Hall,' out of a satchel to his side, he
pulled out a map, sent just that day by his Spymaster, of Morrowind, and who
controlled what. 'In our most recent attack, we were lead by the Tribunal (who
I am really starting to have suspicions against) and siezed Omayri and the
Septim Gate Pass on the Deshaan Plains, as your well aware, and Tel Silgrad,
hence cutting off the Royalist support from the land. Our next planned
offensive is against Necom, the ancient burrial crypt of the Dunmeri People.
Our current goal is to surround Mournhold, then Storm the city. Our plan is to
capture the king, for without thier monarch, the Royalist forces will have
nothing to fight for, and hence, we can claim them as true rebels against the
rightful government.' he sighed
'Unfortunatly, my visit to the Imperial City was unproductive, I failed to
secure the neutrality of the Imperial Legions, although I secured the
neutrality of the Guilds, this is very much a defeat. Even moreso, I recieved
word that an Altmeri Fleet devistated the port of Tear. At present, we control
the land routes, and we had, after our successful destruction of Ald Raatham's
navy, total sea control. However, with the arrival of the Aldmeri fleet, this
view is in question. If it were mearly Hesleths forces verses our own, we would
be in a brilliant position to win. However, he has many capable
"heros" (and I use that word lightly) supporting him in his unjust
cause. add to that the Imperial Legions in Vvanderfell, the Aldmeri fleet, and
the constant threat of Nordic invasion from the West, we are truly in a bind.'
he took a breath, and continued, 'If we secure the neutrality of the Legions,
my forces, who have to remain at the rear to protect the passes to Cyrodiil can
advance. If we secured the friendship of the Nords, we could remove a large
majority of the army defending Blacklight for an attack on the Ald Raatham
Sailent. If we can remove the Altmeri fleet, we can suffocate thier supply
lines.' he paused and waited for responce. By now, he was standing and paceing
whilst he was talking, ever so often pointing to the map he had placed on the
table at an important point
[326]
Beauty looked over Faryon's maps, tracing the boundaries and borders with a
thick, warty finger.
"Surrounding Morrowind will be impossible," she said, her voice
surprisingly soft and cultured for so repulsive a creature. "You will need
to draw Helseth out ..."
The orc fell into thoughtful silence, pondering the various maneuvers.
"Yes, you are in need of allies," the Queen nodded, also studying the
maps. "The fortunate thing for you is that political connections are
forever in flux. It was not long ago that I was investing considerably in those
'heroes' of Ald Raathim. They haven't joined Helseth because they like him, I
can tell you that. They have formed an alliance with him for the same reason
anyone does -- he offered them much in return. Have you considered trying to
turn them to your side, rather than destroying them?"[327]
Anya clutched the
Masque tightly, her eyes narrowing and darting frantically. "This... this
is what I need..."
They would know, they would see what she is. How could they not? Her eyes
glared, and she took the Masque. He wouldn't accuse her of anything now, and
she would stop looking at her like Anya was ready to strike her. It... was
wrong. Nalion had every right to worry... her. What was controling her this
time?
Anya dropped the Masque, letting it clatter to the floor. "What the hell
is that thing?" [328]
[329] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 07:44 PM)
[330] The Royal Dome,
Wayrest
Beauty looked over Faryon's maps, tracing the boundaries and borders with a
thick, warty finger.
"Surrounding Morrowind will be impossible," she said, her voice
surprisingly soft and cultured for so repulsive a creature. "You will need
to draw Helseth out ..."
The orc fell into thoughtful silence, pondering the various maneuvers.
"Yes, you are in need of allies," the Queen nodded, also studying the
maps. "The fortunate thing for you is that political connections are forever
in flux. It was not long ago that I was investing considerably in those
'heroes' of Ald Raathim. They haven't joined Helseth because they like
him, I can tell you that. They have formed an alliance with him for the
same reason anyone does -- he offered them much in return. Have you
considered trying to turn them to your side, rather than destroying them?"
[332]
'That, I am afraid, would be an impossible task. Firstly they despise
everything we stand for, secondly, the Alliance leaders, not just the radicals
would never accept it, thirdly, Im not paticually sure that THEY would accept a
deal, even if we ceaded the entire Ald Raatham region to them. It would be
easier to form a treaty with Hesleth than to make peace with them. My plan for
defeating them was to remove Hesleth, and hence, they would have little to
fight for...' Faryon turned to Beauty, 'my Lady, I am interested in what you
suggest to draw Hesleth out into open battle? A ruse? a Fient? I am most
interested.' [333]
[334] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 04:32 AM)
[335] Looking upon the Masque, Reichi realizes something he's understood subconsciously all along - that he is in fact the coolest person in the world and, if he'd wear the Masque, he could even pursuade the Daedra Princes to be more like him. Yep, even Azura. Heck, Hircine might make him the Duke of Werewolves or something; a Duke of Werewolves could get to see some real interesting sh...enanigans over the centuries ...
[337]
Reichi stops for a moment, considering. I could. Couldn't I? But. But what?
Remeber story of one who inherited the mask... He mentally argued. The
woman had done well with it. Until it was taken away and she was kicked out.
Reichi continued to struggle inwardly for several moments.
The power is a lie... part of him said to the other half telling him to
take it, use it. If I truely am as cool as this thing is trying to persaude
me. Than I do not need such a toy. Such would be only useful to the uncooler
ones. I could do all that without it...could I not?
Reichi advances towards the downed Masque. Flexing his clawed hands. His
demeanor clearly was not that of desire for the object. Unless such desire
involved chucking it through a wall or crunching it into a ball of twisted
metal. [338]
The Royal Dome, Wayrest[339]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 01:53 AM)
[340] 'That, I am afraid, would be an impossible task. Firstly they despise everything we stand for, secondly, the Alliance leaders, not just the radicals would never accept it, thirdly, Im not paticually sure that THEY would accept a deal, even if we ceaded the entire Ald Raatham region to them. It would be easier to form a treaty with Hesleth than to make peace with them. My plan for defeating them was to remove Hesleth, and hence, they would have little to fight for...' Faryon turned to Beauty, 'my Lady, I am interested in what you suggest to draw Hesleth out into open battle? A ruse? a Fient? I am most interested.'
[342]
"Perhaps," Elysana nodded, the smile fading from her face.
"You're closer to the situation than I am. But your method of dealing with
the radicals in your own Alliance struck me as both creative and wise, so I was
curious if, just as you purge yourself of unhelpful elements, enlisting the heroes
could be managed. I still say that they have no emotional commitment to
Helseth. Kill him, and you eliminate a resource of theirs ... but I still think
they would fight you as long as they felt threatened ..."
Beauty waited until her Queen had spoken, and then said. "I would need
some time with you to discuss possibilities. I don't know Morrowind well ...
But I think the King would respond quickly if he thought there was a crack in
your defenses. Invent the illusion of one, somewhere in the south perhaps, far
from where the Altmer and Imperial forces could aid him. And then surround and
crush him there, not in Morrowind ..."[343]
Dayla grabs at the
Masque just before Reichi can get it, though instead of putting it on, she
glares into its empty eyes, the benign smile carved on the faceplate seeming
mocking to everyone who looked at it.
"Of course; just like its maker, the Masque promises you what you think
you most want," she mutters. "And just like its maker, it's the
proverbial honey-tongued devil, and it'll twist your desire into something that
will deny you what you truly want ..."
She sighs. "With this Masque, I could break Ashana's control over Entrius
and the other servants, but that's not what I truly want; that's just a
stepping stone, one I could achieve eventually anyway. You ..." she says,
glaring at the Masque, "you were sitting in here waiting for just such a
moment, weren't you? Did you try using your honeyed tongue on my mater only to
find she was too arrogant even to listen to you? Is that why when I was
wondering how to work around my mater's power I had a flash of inspiration that
she had brought you here months ago?"
"Anya ... forgive me; I used you and Reichi to get to this ... thing
..." Ashana glares at it. "Even now, I hear myself saying, I know
what to expect, and I know there's a way to keep whispers out of my mind,
thanks to the new Wolf Queen's carelessness, but ..."
She shakes her head. "I don't know; maybe we should lock this up again. Maybe
your friends could use it on Mannimarco somehow. But I don't think I'm storng
enough to use this thing without becoming something I don't want to be."[344]
Anya stared at the
Masque, whispers still tugging at her, her fingers groping for it. "It
let's you work into the minds of all things? Such as how Geht commands his
animals, or say, a bosmer?"
Anya glanced at Dayla, something she mentioned catching her attention,
"Wolf Queen...?" [345]
Reichi simply made a smashing gesture with his fist, indicative of how he would deal with it. Then shrugged and mimed out throwing it away as a alternative. It was clear the Dunmer Werewolf had no intention for the Masque other than it being gone. Be it crumpled in a heap, or thrown in some Argonian swamp where the only species that stands a chance of finding it would toss the helm away in frustration that they can't utilize their loot. [346]
[347] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 08:07 PM)
[348] The Royal Dome,
Wayrest
"Perhaps," Elysana nodded, the smile fading from her face.
"You're closer to the situation than I am. But your method of
dealing with the radicals in your own Alliance struck me as both creative and
wise, so I was curious if, just as you purge yourself of unhelpful elements,
enlisting the heroes could be managed. I still say that they have no
emotional commitment to Helseth. Kill him, and you eliminate a resource
of theirs ... but I still think they would fight you as long as they felt
threatened ..."
Beauty waited until her Queen had spoken, and then said. "I would need
some time with you to discuss possibilities. I don't know Morrowind well
... But I think the King would respond quickly if he thought there was a crack
in your defenses. Invent the illusion of one, somewhere in the south
perhaps, far from where the Altmer and Imperial forces could aid him. And
then surround and crush him there, not in Morrowind ..."
[350]
'I believe that to be true. But they see themselves as good citizens. If they
contine fighting against them, and hesleth is dead, I am sure that they could
be declared Traitors to the Empire, and we can bring fowarth Imperal Support
against that rouge state who only exsists to bring War and Misery to the Dunmer
Population. Even if I did offer her everything she wants for peace, she would
still never accept it. I know that, in my heart. However, I will try to secure
the surrender of the Dutchess Pyrel none the less'
then to Beauty, 'So what you sugest is to make them fient an attack?
Perhaps...' Faryon thought for a while, 'If we made it seem we were moving
troops from Narsis to Bodrum, leaving the southern, argonian front open,
perhaps he would attack through that... or even moreso, remove troops from the
Shadowgate pass, and make it seem Kragenmoor is undefended, he would attack
through there?' [351]
The Royal Dome, Wayrest[352]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 02:24 AM)
[353] 'I believe that to be
true. But they see themselves as good citizens. If they contine fighting
against them, and hesleth is dead, I am sure that they could be declared
Traitors to the Empire, and we can bring fowarth Imperal Support against that
rouge state who only exsists to bring War and Misery to the Dunmer Population.
Even if I did offer her everything she wants for peace, she would still never
accept it. I know that, in my heart. However, I will try to secure the
surrender of the Dutchess Pyrel none the less'
then to Beauty, 'So what you sugest is to make them fient an attack?
Perhaps...' Faryon thought for a while, 'If we made it seem we were moving
troops from Narsis to Bodrum, leaving the southern, argonian front open,
perhaps he would attack through that... or even moreso, remove troops from the
Shadowgate pass, and make it seem Kragenmoor is undefended, he would attack
through there?'
[355]
"It will need to be set up carefully," Beauty replied, thoughtfully.
"Helseth is not so great a fool as to fall for an obvious trap ... He must
be led to believe that it is his own ingenuity that detected this crack, not
something obvious."
Another councillor stepped into the dining room, and Elysana saw him at once.
That was something Faryon could not help but notice: the Queen's preternatural
ability to see everything, almost in all directions.
"My Lord Faryon," said Elysana, standing up. "I have other
business I must attend to. But you must stay the night in our finest room.
Tomorrow we can discuss specifics of our plan."
The Queen left the room with the councillor.
"Faryon, I am curious about something," Beauty said after Elysana had
left. "Our Spymaster has been reporting back that these heroes of Ald
Raathim are engaging in some movements against Mannimarco, the King of Worms
... Do you know anything about that?"
[356]
[357] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 04:23 AM)
[358] Anya stared at the
Masque, whispers still tugging at her, her fingers groping for it. "It
let's you work into the minds of all things? Such as how Geht commands his
animals, or say, a bosmer?"
Anya glanced at Dayla, something she mentioned catching her attention,
"Wolf Queen...?"
[360]
"It's is the power to convince and to charm," Dayla says, nodding, a
glimmer of revelation coming in her eyes. "Maybe not like how Geht does
it, but on a level like his, I would imagine. Especially if used by one with
the power to charm animals and men, like you would possess."
"Oh; I mean Elysana," Dayla explains, slithering over and pulling a
decorative belt off of a shelf. "This used to be hers - well, her
servant's, until he got himself crushed ona boat trip to Vivec. Ashana had me
spirit it off when no one was looking. It's a nice little belt; with this and
another like it, the Queen and her servant kept their innermost thoughts hidden
even from Dagoth and Azura. Ashana meant to use it to lay a trap for Loranna
but things moved too fast for her liking so it ended up just sitting
here."
[361]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 04:24 AM)
[362] Reichi simply made a smashing gesture with his fist, indicative of how he would deal with it. Then shrugged and mimed out throwing it away as a alternative. It was clear the Dunmer Werewolf had no intention for the Masque other than it being gone. Be it crumpled in a heap, or thrown in some Argonian swamp where the only species that stands a chance of finding it would toss the helm away in frustration that they can't utilize their loot.
[364]
"Yes we know," Dayla sighs. "But hang on; we're having some
brainstorms here, Reichi."[365]
[366] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 08:35 PM)
[367] The Royal Dome,
Wayrest
"It will need to be set up carefully," Beauty replied, thoughtfully.
"Helseth is not so great a fool as to fall for an obvious trap ... He must
be led to believe that it is his own ingenuity that detected this crack, not
something obvious."
Another councillor stepped into the dining room, and Elysana saw him at
once. That was something Faryon could not help but notice: the Queen's
preternatural ability to see everything, almost in all directions.
"My Lord Faryon," said Elysana, standing up. "I have other
business I must attend to. But you must stay the night in our finest
room. Tomorrow we can discuss specifics of our plan."
The Queen left the room with the councillor.
"Faryon, I am curious about something," Beauty said after Elysana had
left. "Our Spymaster has been reporting back that these heroes of Ald
Raathim are engaging in some movements against Mannimarco, the King of Worms
... Do you know anything about that?"
[369]
'King of Worms? I have been away from Kragenmoor for quite some time now, and
hence out of the information loop but I do remember hearing off a friend I
trust, that a woman in the Dutchess' possie was slain by the King of Worms in
Firsthold. I also believe there is a rumour going around that the former queen
of Firsthold's son is under the King of Worms pay.' he smiled, 'If the so
called heroes of Ald Raatham are taking on the king of Worms, I do hope he
takes out a few of them before going down... Might I ask... isnt the King of
Worms last known headquarters in your Ally, Gortwog gro-Nagorm's territory?' [370]
The Royal Dome, Wayrest[371]
QUOTE(Shardie @ Feb 26 2006, 02:49 AM)
[372] 'King of Worms? I have been away from Kragenmoor for quite some time now, and hence out of the information loop but I do remember hearing off a friend I trust, that a woman in the Dutchess' possie was slain by the King of Worms in Firsthold. I also believe there is a rumour going around that the former queen of Firsthold's son is under the King of Worms pay.' he smiled, 'If the so called heroes of Ald Raatham are taking on the king of Worms, I do hope he takes out a few of them before going down... Might I ask... isnt the King of Worms last known headquarters in your Ally, Gortwog gro-Nagorm's territory?'
[374]
Beauty shook her head, and smiled, revealing off-color tusk-like teeth.
"No, not in Gortwog's territory, but in Lhotun of Sentinel's territory ...
Very interesting."
The war councillor also stood. "You are tired, no doubt. Why don't we
continue this conversation tomorrow?"
A servant appeared at the door to escort Faryon to his room. [375]
[376] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 03:42 AM)
[377] "It's is the power
to convince and to charm," Dayla says, nodding, a glimmer of revelation
coming in her eyes. "Maybe not like how Geht does it, but on a level
like his, I would imagine. Especially if used by one with the power to
charm animals and men, like you would possess."
"Oh; I mean Elysana," Dayla explains, slithering over and pulling a
decorative belt off of a shelf. "This used to be hers - well, her
servant's, until he got himself crushed ona boat trip to Vivec. Ashana
had me spirit it off when no one was looking. It's a nice little belt;
with this and another like it, the Queen and her servant kept their innermost
thoughts hidden even from Dagoth and Azura. Ashana meant to use it to lay
a trap for Loranna but things moved too fast for her liking so it ended up just
sitting here."
"Yes we know," Dayla sighs. "But hang on; we're having
some brainstorms here, Reichi."
[379]
Anya almost smiled as she looked at the belt, "I think this, and the mask,
might actually be useful... If it can hide a person's thoughts from a Deadric
Prince, then it should the King of Worms..."
Anya picked up the belt and the mask, her eyes rippling with emotion, "I'm
sorry Riechi, but I think you'll be having your fun another day." [380]
[381] QUOTE(S'reddit @ Feb 26 2006, 08:57 PM)
[382] The Royal Dome,
Wayrest
Beauty shook her head, and smiled, revealing off-color tusk-like teeth.
"No, not in Gortwog's territory, but in Lhotun of Sentinel's territory ...
Very interesting."
The war councillor also stood. "You are tired, no doubt. Why don't
we continue this conversation tomorrow?"
A servant appeared at the door to escort Faryon to his room.
[384]
Faryon thanked Beauty for her assistance, and was lead to his room. He decided
he would inspect a map of the Illac Bay area before he went to bed. There was
an idea in his head... 'hit the enemy when they are at thier weakest' it would
all depend on Geography, though... [385]
[386] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 05:42 AM)
[387] "Yes we know," Dayla sighs. "But hang on; we're having some brainstorms here, Reichi."
[389]
Reichi stuck out his long tongue, and took on a seat on the floor with a huff.
The werewolf took the chance to relax. [390]
QUOTE
[391] Anya almost smiled as
she looked at the belt, "I think this, and the mask, might actually be
useful... If it can hide a person's thoughts from a Deadric Prince, then it
should the King of Worms..."
Anya picked up the belt and the mask, her eyes rippling with emotion, "I'm
sorry Riechi, but I think you'll be having your fun another day."[392]
[393]
Reichi looked momentarily crestfallen, regarding Anya with puppy-dog eyes only
a Werewolf could pull off right, before dropping the facade and sticking his
tongue out again. [394]
[395] QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 05:06 AM)
[396] Reichi stuck out his
long tongue, and took on a seat on the floor with a huff. The werewolf took the
chance to relax.
Reichi looked momentarily crestfallen, regarding Anya with puppy-dog eyes only
a Werewolf could pull off right, before dropping the facade and sticking his
tongue out again.
[398]
"Reichi, where did you learn this level of control?" Dayla asks,
chuckling. "Never have I heard of a werewolf who could be so ... so
..."
She stops, blinks, and says " ... human." And the she starts to laugh
again. "Or at least as far as one's sense of humor goes."
She looks over at Anya and smiles, looking genuinely elated. "The library,
at least, is not guarded; we can just walk into there." [399]
Anya smiled back, glad
to see her mater more like her new self again. As she passed Riechi, she
muttered playfully, "Stick your tongue at me again, and I'll make you eat
it." She turned back and began walking to the ruined corridor, thankful that
the traps were broken.
Still, whispers lingered in her mind. A nagging question she held. Why didn't
she just make him, them, understand? Make them see? Anya shook her head,
bringing a hand to her temple. No, she shouldn't have to force people. [400]
Reichi just grinned, before hauling himself to his feet, looking ready to visit a nice, safe if a bit dusty, library. [401]
QUOTE
[402] Anya smiled back, glad
to see her mater more like her new self again. As she passed Riechi, she muttered
playfully, "Stick your tongue at me again, and I'll make you eat it."
She turned back and began walking to the ruined corridor, thankful that the
traps were broken.
Still, whispers lingered in her mind. A nagging question she held. Why didn't
she just make him, them, understand? Make them see? Anya shook her head,
bringing a hand to her temple. No, she shouldn't have to force people.[403]
[404]
Once Anya's back was turned to him, Reichi stuck his tongue out again. [405]
[406] QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 05:20 AM)
[407] Reichi just grinned,
before hauling himself to his feet, looking ready to visit a nice, safe if a
bit dusty, library.
Once Anya's back was turned to him, Reichi stuck his tongue out again.
[409]
"You know, you really shouldn't egg on a Bathogorgen Bosmer," Dayla
says as she slithers by Reichi. "Whatever form you take, she can still
make you heel."
She smirks, then shakes her head. "Come on; let's see what books we can
find on necromancy for your Duke's edification. When we've had a chance to let
the Masque's effects wear off we can discuss your share of the treasure here
for your efforts."[410]
Summary:
Kintain Gascolinq is in the Inferno Tavern in Stormhold. [411]
OOC: Summary
Dar'Tessir is in the Inferno in Stormhold, waiting for the time when the party
is to leave. In his mind it couldn't come late enough... Damn rain. [412]
*...Summary: Osa remians still in the absolute filth that is the Sentinel sewers, pondering what the party intends to do about some seiged-in Raiders who possess the Shield Spellbreaker...* [413]
Vaan's Summary:
Vaan is in a sewer. Lush.
Necron's Summary:
Well, let's see:
The basement of the temple was no better than the rest of the building:
windowless, cold, and uninviting. It was a dark down here also, so Necron took
a torch and made his way to the vault through a maze of tunnels and crypts. He
did not meet much company on the way, few people had any reason to be down
here, or any desire, either.
The Vault itself looked unimpressive at first glance, just a square metal door.
The old mer took a key and unlocked it, before having to use his full strength
to push it the heavy thing open slowly. This is where the Temple kept it's
funds.
Through the door lay several rooms, each accessed through another door, this
time made of metal bars, so that one could see what was inside. Necron chose one
of them at random, and unlocked it, this time with a different key.
Once inside, he chose a chest, again at random. Once more it had to be
unlocked, and he began to empty all the septims out onto the table nearby. when
finished, he looked at the bottom of the chest...and had a brainwave.
"Those Septims must weigh a ton together...". Necron swiftly moved
the chest, and placed a few pieces of paper where it had been. Then, replacing
the chest on top of the papers, he refilled it with all the money. It would
take a lot of strength to move it this way (and who would think to look under
it for anything?)
"There, now you wait there until Allerleirauh comes to get you." He
said, before leaving again, locking all the doors, and again having to use all
his strength to close the Vault door.
making his way back up to his quarters, he felt relieved at a job well done,
and sensitive information well hidden.[414]
The Nymph and Noggin[415]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 12:04 AM)
[416] Summary for Loranna: Loranna is in Ald Raathim, where she has just been given Goranthir's sword Kynarine by Kethiah, and searched Goranthir's recently-restored ship the Arkavina for the ring he was given back in the Sphere of Kyne, in the days of the Blue Twilight. Though she worries for her far-flung friends, she is in good spirits, having had her courage boosted by finding the ring.
[418]
Loranna returned to the Nymph and Noggin with Goranthir's ring in hand, and
found that Kethiah had not returned from searching the cellar, but there were
other people of note in the tavern. Hlaalu Morgiah, Archmagister Hannibal
Traven, the undead hunter Charroal Chane, and Magister Zadion were at a table
together. The men stood up and bowed when Loranna came in.[419]
[420] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 26 2006, 04:51 PM)
[421] The Nymph and
Noggin
Loranna returned to the Nymph and Noggin with Goranthir's ring in hand, and
found that Kethiah had not returned from searching the cellar, but there were other
people of note in the tavern. Hlaalu Morgiah, Archmagister Hannibal
Traven, the undead hunter Charroal Chane, and Magister Zadion were at a table
together. The men stood up and bowed when Loranna came in.
[423]
Loranna raises her eyebrows at the sight of such powerful and prestegious
people all gathered at one table; for a moment she feels almost guilty, like
she's arriving late to an important meeting she didn't know about.
Still, she walks over with a smile and nods politely to everyone. "Muthseras,
good day; I trust everything is going well?" she asks.[424]
Black Marsh
The young Argonian apprentice Peel walks into the tvern, wincing a bit at the
aridness and strange smells in the place. He swiftly looks for the members of
the party, saying "Everything's ready; I'll take you to the city gates
where your boats await."[425]
The Nymph and Noggin, Ald Raathim[426]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 06:59 PM)
[427] Loranna raises her
eyebrows at the sight of such powerful and prestegious people all gathered at
one table; for a moment she feels almost guilty, like she's arriving late to an
important meeting she didn't know about.
Still, she walks over with a smile and nods politely to everyone.
"Muthseras, good day; I trust everything is going well?" she asks.
[429]
"Quite well," the archmagister replied, gesturing to a chair which
telekinetically rolled into position for Loranna to sit in it comfortably.
"We were looking for you earlier, but your man Kallen said you were
heading to the wharf. We assumed he meant here."
"The archmagister has concluded his investigation of the Guild, and has
come to say farewell," Morgiah said.
"Good news and bad news," Zadion added, a slight smile on his face.
"It has been determined that it is vital for the good of the Guild that
Ald Raathim has a Mages Guildhouse here, and the archmagister is determined to
increase its prominence and expand on its library and laboratories. The bad
news is that I will not be here to see it expand. I will be going back to
Summerset, as soon as my replacement arrives here."[430]
[431] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 07:02 PM)
[432] Black Marsh
The young Argonian apprentice Peel walks into the tvern, wincing a bit at the
aridness and strange smells in the place. He swiftly looks for the
members of the party, saying "Everything's ready; I'll take you to the
city gates where your boats await."
[434]
Commander Slashes-With-Claws had slept well. the food was great, and the
weather was wonderful. Tsei's family was nice to talk to as well.
He stood wearing his argonian battle armor. His argonian spear on his back,
steel throwing knives on his belt, and so was his glass dagger.
"Everyone keep a watch out when we get into the marsh. Do not touch any
plants, especially the ones with red leaves and gold flowers, they are deadly
poison to softskins just touching them." [435]
[436] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 06:02 PM)
[437] Black Marsh
The young Argonian apprentice Peel walks into the tvern, wincing a bit at the
aridness and strange smells in the place. He swiftly looks for the
members of the party, saying "Everything's ready; I'll take you to the
city gates where your boats await."
[439]
Dar'Tessir begins to grumble in ta'Agra as he puts on his hood and old cloth
poncho (which, admittedly won't help much with the wet) in preparation for the
rain. The only discernable word is "rawlith." [440]
[441] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 26 2006, 06:06 PM)
[442] The Nymph and
Noggin, Ald Raathim
"Quite well," the archmagister replied, gesturing to a chair which
telekinetically rolled into position for Loranna to sit in it comfortably.
"We were looking for you earlier, but your man Kallen said you were
heading to the wharf. We assumed he meant here."
"The archmagister has concluded his investigation of the Guild, and has
come to say farewell," Morgiah said.
"Good news and bad news," Zadion added, a slight smile on his face.
"It has been determined that it is vital for the good of the Guild that
Ald Raathim has a Mages Guildhouse here, and the archmagister is determined to
increase its prominence and expand on its library and laboratories. The bad
news is that I will not be here to see it expand. I will be going back to
Summerset, as soon as my replacement arrives here."
[444]
"Ah ... I see," Loranna says, elated that the Guild was staying, but
with a slightly upset look in her eyes at the mention of Zadion's dismissal.
She turns to Archmagister Traven and says "Archmagister, I thank you for
expanding the Guild here in Ald Raathim and look forward to helping it expand.
If I may inquire though ... is there no way to keep Zadion here in Ald Raathim?
In the short time he has been here, he has already earned the trust and respect
of myself and my companions; I consider him a welcome and valuable member of
our city and a brave mer for his actions in Tel Dresori, and for his help in
sniffing out sload activity on our coasts."[445]
Stormhold, The
Inferno
Nalion stood from the table, turning to peel. His staff and meanwhile dried
cloak were quickly gathered. Drawing the hood deep into his face again, Nalion
joined his companions.
"Let's go then.", the mage said, nodding for Peel and
Slashes-with-Claws to take the lead. [446]
The Nymph and Noggin, Ald Raathim[447]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 07:18 PM)
[448] "Ah ... I see," Loranna says, elated that the Guild was staying, but with a slightly upset look in her eyes at the mention of Zadion's dismissal. She turns to Archmagister Traven and says "Archmagister, I thank you for expanding the Guild here in Ald Raathim and look forward to helping it expand. If I may inquire though ... is there no way to keep Zadion here in Ald Raathim? In the short time he has been here, he has already earned the trust and respect of myself and my companions; I consider him a welcome and valuable member of our city and a brave mer for his actions in Tel Dresori, and for his help in sniffing out sload activity on our coasts."
[450]
Zadion blushed slightly and smiled. "Thank you, your Grace. But the
decision had been made. I will try to come back here when I can ..."
"Zadion is not being punished," the archmagister added with a slight
frown. "I recognize that he has done a lot of good here. The Guild would
not be what it is without him and his leadership. But there are a great many
issues ... By the way, we will be reopening several Guildhouses in Vvardenfell.
They will be under strict instructions to be neutral in the matter of the war,
but I wanted to let you know so it would not be a surprise to you. The question
that remains is whether non-Guild-members should be allowed to transport using
the Guild Guide between enemy territories."
"The archmagister is talking to the Redoran and Indoril about their
preferences in the matter," Zadion said. "But I'm sure you can see
it's a complex issue. On one hand, we believe in freedom to travel where one
likes. On the other, you don't want Alliance agents using the Guild to
infiltrate Ald Raathim; and they don't want your agents in Vvardenfell
..."[451]
Stormhold
Peel leads the party down the winding ramp that leads from the city itself to
the docks below, bounding along in his usual excited gait.
Stormhold's docks were much different from the expansive docks of Ald Raathim,
despite Stormhold being even bigger than the Dunmer city. Rather than harboring
conventional seagoing vessels, the docks were a gathering place for rafts and
canoes, a veritable armada of tiny craft, and for the giant turtle-like
creatures which the Argonians used in place of largo cargo ships. Twosuch giant
turltes were just being loaded as the party arrives, and with a violent
suddenness that catches people off-guard, the dive into the waters and surge
off for their destinations with a speed that belies their massive size.
Two sturdy rafts await the party, two serious-looking Argonians on each
watching the party with calm, patient, probing eyes. They help people load
their gear onto the rafts, while Peel stands on the dock.
"Good luck! Come back again!" Peel says to Nalion as the rafts shove
off.[452]
[453] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 06:35 PM)
[454] Stormhold
Peel leads the party down the winding ramp that leads from the city itself to
the docks below, bounding along in his usual excited gait.
Stormhold's docks were much different from the expansive docks of Ald Raathim,
despite Stormhold being even bigger than the Dunmer city. Rather than
harboring conventional seagoing vessels, the docks were a gathering place for
rafts and canoes, a veritable armada of tiny craft, and for the giant turtle-like
creatures which the Argonians used in place of largo cargo ships. Twosuch
giant turltes were just being loaded as the party arrives, and with a violent
suddenness that catches people off-guard, the dive into the waters and surge
off for their destinations with a speed that belies their massive size.
Two sturdy rafts await the party, two serious-looking Argonians on each
watching the party with calm, patient, probing eyes. They help people
load their gear onto the rafts, while Peel stands on the dock.
"Good luck! Come back again!" Peel says to Nalion as the rafts
shove off.
[456]
The giant turtles were no new sight for Nalion, in fact, he had already ridden
on one. A wet and straining, but kind of funny experience.
Nalion waved to Peel as the boat left the docks. "Take care!
Farewell!"
Taking his usual place in a ship or boat, the prow of the raft, looking forward
and into the swamp. [457]
[458] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 26 2006, 06:31 PM)
[459] The Nymph and
Noggin, Ald Raathim
Zadion blushed slightly and smiled. "Thank you, your Grace. But the
decision had been made. I will try to come back here when I can ..."
"Zadion is not being punished," the archmagister added with a slight
frown. "I recognize that he has done a lot of good here. The Guild
would not be what it is without him and his leadership. But there are a
great many issues ... By the way, we will be reopening several Guildhouses in
Vvardenfell. They will be under strict instructions to be neutral in the
matter of the war, but I wanted to let you know so it would not be a surprise
to you. The question that remains is whether non-Guild-members should be
allowed to transport using the Guild Guide between enemy territories."
"The archmagister is talking to the Redoran and Indoril about their
preferences in the matter," Zadion said. "But I'm sure you can see
it's a complex issue. On one hand, we believe in freedom to travel where
one likes. On the other, you don't want Alliance agents using the Guild
to infiltrate Ald Raathim; and they don't want your agents in Vvardenfell
..."
[461]
Loranna bows lightly to Archmagister Traven. "I understand,
Archmagister," she says humbly. "Forgive my questioning of your
wisdom; Zadion has become a good friend to me."
Loranna nods thoughtfully. "The issue is a complex one, I grant you.
Certainly, no one wishes to have spies just come in through the Guild Guide,
though even restricting travel to Guild members might not be enough to
eliminate that threat." She frowns a bit. "Much as I don't agree with
the Alliance's policies, though, I think it's a good thing that there is still
some travel and communication between their lands and our own; it gives faint
hope for peace eventually."
"Well, at least, a peace that doesn't involve one side totally killing the
other," she adds.[462]
Slashes gets on a raft, he could swim, but why waste the effort and be tired if something should happen. [463]
Dar'Tessir joins the others on the rafts. He is nervous at first, he never did like boats, but found that it was sea-worthy and he relaxed. At least Dar'Tessir isn't in the water. [464]
The Nymph and Noggin, Ald Raathim[465]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 07:45 PM)
[466] Loranna bows lightly
to Archmagister Traven. "I understand, Archmagister," she says
humbly. "Forgive my questioning of your wisdom; Zadion has become a
good friend to me."
Loranna nods thoughtfully. "The issue is a complex one, I grant
you. Certainly, no one wishes to have spies just come in through the
Guild Guide, though even restricting travel to Guild members might not be
enough to eliminate that threat." She frowns a bit. "Much
as I don't agree with the Alliance's policies, though, I think it's a good
thing that there is still some travel and communication between their lands and
our own; it gives faint hope for peace eventually."
"Well, at least, a peace that doesn't involve one side totally killing the
other," she adds.
[468]
"Wise words, your Grace," the archmagister beamed approvingly.
"Of course, there are others who will need to be consulted about this, but
I will keep you apprised."
Hannibal Traven and the silent Charroal Chane rose from the table.
"We will be going now, no need to walk us to the Guild," he added.
"It has been a pleasure, Duchess Dres Loranna Pyrel."
They left, leaving Zadion and Morgiah behind.
"Glad that's over," Zadion sighed, taking a sip of his drink.
"It went better than could be expected," Morgiah nodded.
[469]
Black Marsh
The dark waters which give the province its Imperial name churn and bubble as
the rafts make their way through the murky swamp, both from the constant
rainfall above and from the movements of unseen creatures and currents below.
Still, as the Argonian raftsmen push skillfully through the swamp, the group
can see that the marsh is not totally black; the lush vegetation that surrounds
them is a riot of greens and blues, and occasionally bright reds and yellows
appear in the verdant expanses. Countless insects hover in the air, avoiding
the rafts thanks to the burning of strange-smelling fungi in hollow spheres,
but presenting an ever-shfting interplay of colors and sounds as the party
forges on.
Twice, long reptillian beasts with massive jaws float to the surface, staring
hungrily at the group; more than once, everyone feels the rafts lift a bit as
something underneath bumps them hard enough to rattle the small vessels. And several
times, the Agonians guides stop, and look to each other, talking in hushed Hist
before turning the rafts around and taking a different path.
It is many long hours before the rains stop, having finally petered out from
downpours to drizzles to mists along the way. The rafts pull up to a patch of
dry ground, covered in ferns, and one of the guides calls out loudly in Hist. A
moment later, there are two distinct voices replying back.
"Hears the Whispers is coming," the Argonian says, looking to Slashes
With Claws. "He will speak to you, marshbrother, about your quest." [470]
[471] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 26 2006, 06:57 PM)
[472] The Nymph and
Noggin, Ald Raathim
"Wise words, your Grace," the archmagister beamed approvingly.
"Of course, there are others who will need to be consulted about this, but
I will keep you apprised."
Hannibal Traven and the silent Charroal Chane rose from the table.
"We will be going now, no need to walk us to the Guild," he added.
"It has been a pleasure, Duchess Dres Loranna Pyrel."
They left, leaving Zadion and Morgiah behind.
"Glad that's over," Zadion sighed, taking a sip of his drink.
"It went better than could be expected," Morgiah nodded.
[474]
Loranna inclines her head to the departing mages. "The pleasure was all
mine, Archmagister, muthsera. I hope to see you again. Nine watch over
you."
Once they were gone, Loranna orders a mead for herself. "Indeed," she
says to Morgiah. "I'll miss you though Zadion; what were the
Archmagister's reasons if I may ask, or are you not privy to those?" [475]
[476] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 07:59 PM)
[477] Black Marsh
"Hears the Whispers is coming," the Argonian says, looking to Slashes
With Claws. "He will speak to you, marshbrother, about your
quest."
[479]
Slashes nods to the raftsman, replying in Hist, "I am honored that he
would speak to me." Slashes deftly hops over the edge of the raft into the
marsh. He takes a few steps forward and waits for Hears-the-Whispers. [480]
[481] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 06:59 PM)
[482] Black Marsh
The dark waters which give the province its Imperial name churn and bubble as
the rafts make their way through the murky swamp, both from the constant
rainfall above and from the movements of unseen creatures and currents
below. Still, as the Argonian raftsmen push skillfully through the swamp,
the group can see that the marsh is not totally black; the lush vegetation that
surrounds them is a riot of greens and blues, and occasionally bright reds and
yellows appear in the verdant expanses. Countless insects hover in the
air, avoiding the rafts thanks to the burning of strange-smelling fungi in
hollow spheres, but presenting an ever-shfting interplay of colors and sounds
as the party forges on.
Twice, long reptillian beasts with massive jaws float to the surface, staring
hungrily at the group; more than once, everyone feels the rafts lift a bit as
something underneath bumps them hard enough to rattle the small vessels.
And several times, the Agonians guides stop, and look to each other, talking in
hushed Hist before turning the rafts around and taking a different path.
It is many long hours before the rains stop, having finally petered out from
downpours to drizzles to mists along the way. The rafts pull up to a
patch of dry ground, covered in ferns, and one of the guides calls out loudly
in Hist. A moment later, there are two distinct voices replying back.
"Hears the Whispers is coming," the Argonian says, looking to Slashes
With Claws. "He will speak to you, marshbrother, about your
quest."
[484]
Nalion stepped off the raft, having spent the last hour admiring the landscape
- dangerous, yet beautiful - and paying attention to the beasts that inhabited
the murky waters.
The rain had ended a while after they had left Stormhold, but it was still damp
and moist. Nalion pulled the hood of his cloak back, then waited patiently for
Hears-the-Whispers, letting Slashes-with-Claws take the lead in the
conversation. [485]
The Nymph and Noggin, Ald Raathim[486]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 08:03 PM)
[487] Loranna inclines her
head to the departing mages. "The pleasure was all mine,
Archmagister, muthsera. I hope to see you again. Nine watch over
you."
Once they were gone, Loranna orders a mead for herself.
"Indeed," she says to Morgiah. "I'll miss you though
Zadion; what were the Archmagister's reasons if I may ask, or are you
not privy to those?"
[489]
"Lack of neutrality, as you might expect," Zadion replied, shrugging.
"Or at least the appearance of lack of neutrality," Morgiah
suggested.
"No, I am partisan in this war," Zadion corrected her. "The
archmagister could see through that right away. And concessions had to be made
if the Guildhouses in Vvardenfell are to be reopened."
"And you're the sacrificial lamb," Morgiah said.
"So it would seem," Zadion nodded. It was interesting to note that
Zadion did not seem overly distressed about being removed from the Guild,
particularly as worried as he had been about it and the fate of the Guild
before the meeting. "But it will be a few weeks before my replacement
arrives, and until then, I have permission to aid you on the matter of
Mannimarco. Whatever you need, you only have to ask."
[490]
Dar'Tessir follows Nalion and Slashes-With-Claws off the rafts. He had spent the trip marveling at the number of ways someone could die in the marsh as they became avaliable. Drowned, sucked in, eaten by beast, eaten by plant, infected by insects, poisoned by plant... [491]
[492] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 07:06 PM)
[493] Slashes nods to the raftsman, replying in Hist, "I am honored that he would speak to me." Slashes deftly hops over the edge of the raft into the marsh. He takes a few steps forward and waits for Hears-the-Whispers.
[495]
Two burly-looking Argonians, clad in loincloths and bearing Argonin spears,
emerge from the foilage silently, taking up positions to either side as a third
Argonian steps forward.
His scales were breathtakingly blue, with streaks of green and black; though
his horns were worn with the signs of age, and his eyes were milky and
unseeing, he carried himself with a dignity and nobility that immediately
commanded respect. Even the insecant buzzing of the insects seemed hushed when
he came out.
"I am Hears the Whispers," he says in Hist, turning directly to
Slashes With Claws as he speaks. "Marshbrother, come forward; speak to me
of your times in the world beyond our swamps, and of these warmbloods who would
take for themselves our very life's sap." He beckons for Slashes to follow
him back into the foilage.[496]
QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 26 2006, 07:09 PM)
[497] Nalion stepped off the
raft, having spent the last hour admiring the landscape - dangerous, yet
beautiful - and paying attention to the beasts that inhabited the murky waters.
The rain had ended a while after they had left Stormhold, but it was still damp
and moist. Nalion pulled the hood of his cloak back, then waited patiently for
Hears-the-Whispers, letting Slashes-with-Claws take the lead in the
conversation.
[499]
One of the Argonian guides whispers to Nalion and the other warmbloods
"You must stay here with the raft. If you wander from the raft, you will
be killed."[500]
[501] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 26 2006, 07:12 PM)
[502] The Nymph and
Noggin, Ald Raathim
"Lack of neutrality, as you might expect," Zadion replied,
shrugging.
"Or at least the appearance of lack of neutrality," Morgiah
suggested.
"No, I am partisan in this war," Zadion corrected her. "The
archmagister could see through that right away. And concessions had to be
made if the Guildhouses in Vvardenfell are to be reopened."
"And you're the sacrificial lamb," Morgiah said.
"So it would seem," Zadion nodded. It was interesting to note
that Zadion did not seem overly distressed about being removed from the Guild,
particularly as worried as he had been about it and the fate of the Guild
before the meeting. "But it will be a few weeks before my replacement
arrives, and until then, I have permission to aid you on the matter of
Mannimarco. Whatever you need, you only have to ask."
[504]
"Interesting that the Guildhouses in Vvardenfell were closed first, yet it
was the Alliance that protested our Mage Guilds were becoming partisan,"
Loranna remarks dryly. "I wish now I'd have thought to complain before
they did; the early atrocities the non Dunmer kicked out of Vvardenfell
suffered have been swept right under the rug." She sips her mead
thoughtfully. "Still, it could have been a lot worse; certainly it sounds
like you're not being demoted or eriously reprimanded, Zadion."
At the mention of Mannimarco, Loranna lowers her mug, saying "Aye; already
my friends have gone off on several quests to petition aid from the Temple of
Arkay, and from the Argonians in Black Marsh. I've also put in a request to the
Temple of the Tribunal, explaining our need and asking if the sacred Swords of
Saint Meris might once again be used to fight un-natural evil, but I've yet to
hear anything back from them." She pauses, looking into her mug as if
debating what else to say. "We've also recently recovered some items of
Goranthir's; I am not yet sure how they might help us but I believe they could
help somehow. I've also been wondering how best to use the information Nalion
found on the nature of contracts; it seems a trifle ... optimistic to hope that
simply telling Mannimarco the contract is totally null now will work."[505]
[506] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 08:22 PM)
[507] "I am Hears the Whispers," he says in Hist, turning directly to Slashes With Claws as he speaks. "Marshbrother, come forward; speak to me of your times in the world beyond our swamps, and of these warmbloods who would take for themselves our very life's sap." He beckons for Slashes to follow him back into the foilage.
[509]
Slashes-With-Claws gives a propper Argonian gesture of greeting, befitting
Hears-the-Whispers status. He introduces himself, "I am Hesek, former
soldier of Helstrom and Thorn. The warmbloods know me as
Slashes-With-Claws." Hesek follows Hears-the-Whispers.
Talking in Hist, Hesek tells him of what he came about being in Morrowind. He
tells about joining the Ald Raathim army when he learns of their lady’s
anti-slavery position. He tells about the raid in Narsis, where many enslaved
were freed. Hesek talks for a while, informing the old Argonian of all he can.
Occasionally Hears-the-Whispers would ask a question, Hesek always answered
truthfuly, he did not want to anger the wise Argonian, and Hesek was sure that
he could tell if Hesek lied.[510]
The Nymph and Noggin, Ald Raathim[511]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 08:31 PM)
[512] "Interesting that
the Guildhouses in Vvardenfell were closed first, yet it was the Alliance that
protested our Mage Guilds were becoming partisan," Loranna remarks
dryly. "I wish now I'd have thought to complain before they did; the
early atrocities the non Dunmer kicked out of Vvardenfell suffered have been
swept right under the rug." She sips her mead thoughtfully.
"Still, it could have been a lot worse; certainly it sounds like you're
not being demoted or eriously reprimanded, Zadion."
At the mention of Mannimarco, Loranna lowers her mug, saying "Aye; already
my friends have gone off on several quests to petition aid from the Temple of
Arkay, and from the Argonians in Black Marsh. I've also put in a request
to the Temple of the Tribunal, explaining our need and asking if the sacred
Swords of Saint Meris might once again be used to fight un-natural evil, but
I've yet to hear anything back from them." She pauses, looking into
her mug as if debating what else to say. "We've also recently
recovered some items of Goranthir's; I am not yet sure how they might help us
but I believe they could help somehow. I've also been wondering how best
to use the information Nalion found on the nature of contracts; it seems a
trifle ... optimistic to hope that simply telling Mannimarco the contract is
totally null now will work."
[514]
Loranna, the soon-to-be-former-magister-of-Ald-Raathim, and the
former-queen-of-Firsthold ordered more drinks and continued the discussion,
hoping all was well with the adventurers across Tamriel on their various
quests.
(OOC -- Outta here for a couple hours at least) [515]
[516] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 07:22 PM)
[517] Two burly-looking
Argonians, clad in loincloths and bearing Argonin spears, emerge from the
foilage silently, taking up positions to either side as a third Argonian steps
forward.
His scales were breathtakingly blue, with streaks of green and black; though
his horns were worn with the signs of age, and his eyes were milky and unseeing,
he carried himself with a dignity and nobility that immediately commanded
respect. Even the insecant buzzing of the insects seemed hushed when he
came out.
One of the Argonian guides whispers to Nalion and the other warmbloods
"You must stay here with the raft. If you wander from the raft, you
will be killed."
[519]
When Dar'Tessir saw the burly Argonians he was taken aback by their size and
surprised by their dress. He had lived in Senchal all his life and didn't have
his more tribal cousins to the north to compare to them. He was quite impressed
by Hears-the-Wispers' presence and the respect he seemed to cultivate.
He turned to the threatening Argonian and replied in ta'Agra, "How kind
and hospitable of you," partially because he was annoyed that Argonians
never seemed to speek Tamrielic unless directly adressing
"warmbloods," partially because he was annoyed that he was wet, and
partialy because he was annoyed he wouldn't be going inside out of the marsh
and the insects. [520]
[521] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 07:33 PM)
[522] Slashes-With-Claws
gives a propper Argonian gesture of greeting, befitting Hears-the-Whispers
status. He introduces himself, "I am Hesek, former soldier of
Helstrom and Thorn. The warmbloods know me as
Slashes-With-Claws." Hesek follows Hears-the-Whispers.
Talking in Hist, Hesek tells him of what he came about being in
Morrowind. He tells about joining the Ald Raathim army when he learns of
their lady’s anti-slavery position. He tells about the raid in Narsis,
where many enslaved were freed. Hesek talks for a while, informing the
old Argonian of all he can. Occasionally Hears-the-Whispers would ask a
question, Hesek always answered truthfuly, he did not want to anger the wise
Argonian, and Hesek was sure that he could tell if Hesek lied.
[524]
Hears the Whispers asks many questions indeed; questions of life among the
warmbloods, of their customs and habits, of the great war that goes on in
Morrowind and how Argonians fit into it. He is still asking questions as he
leads Slashes into a simple hut, and motions for Slashes to sit and continue
his talking.
Time seems to have less meaning in the hut, the moments simply lazing on by;
still, it is quite some time before Hears the Whispers is satisfied and motions
for Slashes to cease speaking. For a long moment, the blind Argonian stares
upward, as though listening, his sightless eyes resting on a curious spear with
a head seemingly made from a giant tooth carved into a traditional Agonian
spearhead.
Finally, Hears the Whispers speaks.
"There are many strange sounds that reach my ears, many strange scents
that reach my nose," he says. "The scent of blood is heavy in the
north, and the sounds of battle spill over into our lands. Far to the west, I
can hear the wailing of warmbloods lamenting, and catch the whiff of death.
Everywhere, I hear and smell signs of conflict, of killing, of tulmultuous
times."
"Yet, this is the nature of the world-egg, and always has been," he
continues. "And the warmbloods do not understand what it is they are
asking for. They see this one threat to what they know, and they do not see the
deeper workings of the world-egg. How can we allow our very life's sap to be
bled for them, when they can not see what it is they are asking?" He looks
directly toward Slashes now, his sightless eyes almost unnerving.[525]
[526] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 07:46 PM)
[527] Finally, Hears the Whispers speaks.
[529]
"And what would you have otherwise?" Tsei asked, speaking up from her
seat in the hut. "The warmbloods to wait and learn the workings of the
World-Egg before you help them? The King of Worms grows stronger every day. How
do you know he won't effect the Marsh?" [530]
[531] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 08:46 PM)
[532] "Yet, this is the nature of the world-egg, and always has been," he continues. "And the warmbloods do not understand what it is they are asking for. They see this one threat to what they know, and they do not see the deeper workings of the world-egg. How can we allow our very life's sap to be bled for them, when they can not see what it is they are asking?" He looks directly toward Slashes now, his sightless eyes almost unnerving.
[534]
Slashes spoke with only respect in his voice, "It is true that the
warmbloods do not know, or respect the Hist as we do. I do not hear the
world-egg, but perhaps faint fleeting moments few and far between. But would
the destruction of such a menace not be to the betterment of all?" [535]
[536] QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 26 2006, 07:51 PM)
[537] "And what would you have otherwise?" Tsei asked, speaking up from her seat in the hut. "The warmbloods to wait and learn the workings of the World-Egg before you help them? The King of Worms grows stronger every day. How do you know he won't effect the Marsh?"
[539]
"Marshsister," Hears the Whispers says, turning to the sound of
Tsei's voice, "You have lived among the warmbloods a long time; their ways
have become your ways, my ears tell me."
Though his words sounded accusatory, his tone was not; if anything, it was
thoughtful.[540]
QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 07:56 PM)
[541] Slashes spoke with only respect in his voice, "It is true that the warmbloods do not know, or respect the Hist as we do. I do not hear the world-egg, but perhaps faint fleeting moments few and far between. But would the destruction of such a menace not be to the betterment of all?"
[543]
" ... The world egg has been cracked before," Hears the Whispers
says. "About you two, I can hear the faint echoes of that which sprang
forth from this exact cracking. Perhaps ..."
He considers. "Even the long-lived Altmer do not truly hear the inner
workings of the world egg like we do; our way has ever been to watch and to
wait, knowing that whatever happens, a solution will present itself in the
fullness of time. Ever has it been the way of the warmbloods to act, heedless
of the consequences of their actions to the world egg. Yet ... perhaps, it is
meant that our patience be mated with the warmbloods' action. Are you both not
children of the Root, yet do you not both move with the speed of the
warmbloods? This is new to me, and yet ... perhaps it is good."
"Still ... to give the warmbloods our life's sap, I must see that they
share the same echoes I hear now in you two," he concludes, rising.
"There is a task I would ask of these warmbloods; should they succeed,
then I shall aid them." [544]
[545] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:05 PM)
[546] "Still ... to give the warmbloods our life's sap, I must see that they share the same echoes I hear now in you two," he concludes, rising. "There is a task I would ask of these warmbloods; should they succeed, then I shall aid them."
[548]
"As I had expected. I did not expect to receive such a thing as the sacred
sap without something in return. Please, tell us what you want of us." [549]
[550] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 08:13 PM)
[551] "As I had expected. I did not expect to receive such a thing as the sacred sap without something in return. Please, tell us what you want of us."
[553]
"Deep in the marsh, there is an old nesting ground of the Wamasaii,"
Hears the Whispers says. "A shrine was built there, to honor the great
Wamasaii that nested there. Over the centuries though the Wamasaii have moved
on, and the shrine lay still, no longer used to protect their eggs ... though
the Wamasaii do not forget their old nesting grounds."
"But recently, the shrine has been defiled. Warmbloods have taken it over
and use it now as a nesting ground for evil schemes. The stench of death hangs
over the shrine and the Wamasaii are surely angry. If your friends would
cleanse the shrine of this evil, and honor the memories of the Wamasaii, then I
will do this thing that they ask."
He rises, and takes down the spear with the carved tooth head, presenting it to
Slashes. "Long ago, warmbloods from the North slew a mighty Wamasus, and
took one of his fangs as a trophy," he says. "But they took but the
one fang; after the battle, we children of the Root found the body of the slain
one and lamented, but the Wamasaii took a second fang from the fallen and from
it made this spear. In giving it to us, they sought our pledge to remember
them; in accepting it, we have agreed. Take this spear now, that the Wamasaii
will know you as the ones chosen to honor our ancient agreement." [554]
[555] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:21 PM)
[556] Take this spear now, that the Wamasaii will know you as the ones chosen to honor our ancient agreement."
[558]
Hesek stands and approaches to take the spear, he can see that the head is
similar in shape to his own spear. "I am honored to bear this spear, and
will fulfill the quest which is before us."
Hesek takes the spear. A jolt of power surges through his body, his muscles
spasm slightly. Almost losing his balance he takes a step to keep upright. His
own skills in magicka helping him to resist the jolt he manages to keep a firm
grip on the spear. [559]
[560] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 08:30 PM)
[561] Hesek stands and
approaches to take the spear, he can see that the head is similar in shape to
his own spear. "I am honored to bear this spear, and will fulfill
the quest which is before us."
Hesek takes the spear. A jolt of power surges through his body, his
muscles spasm slightly. Almost losing his balance he takes a step to keep
upright. His own skills in magicka helping him to resist the jolt he
manages to keep a firm grip on the spear.
[563]
Tsei's face shows little surprise as Slashes with Claws is shocked by the
spear.
"So, you just want us to go and clear out the warmbloods? Sounds easy
enough." [564]
[565] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 08:30 PM)
[566] Hesek stands and
approaches to take the spear, he can see that the head is similar in shape to
his own spear. "I am honored to bear this spear, and will fulfill
the quest which is before us."
Hesek takes the spear. A jolt of power surges through his body, his
muscles spasm slightly. Almost losing his balance he takes a step to keep
upright. His own skills in magicka helping him to resist the jolt he
manages to keep a firm grip on the spear.
QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 26 2006, 08:37 PM)
[570] Tsei's face shows
little surprise as Slashes with Claws is shocked by the spear.
"So, you just want us to go and clear out the warmbloods? Sounds easy enough."
[572]
Hears the Whispers regards Tsei once more, but does not say anything.
"Then go, and may you succeed in your task," he says. "My
helpers will show you to the hidden shrine; remember, the Wamasaii are gone,
but they do not forget. The warmbloods who defile the shrine do not know this;
may their ignorance be their downfall."[573]
[574] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:42 PM)
[575] "Then go, and may you succeed in your task," he says. "My helpers will show you to the hidden shrine; remember, the Wamasaii are gone, but they do not forget. The warmbloods who defile the shrine do not know this; may their ignorance be their downfall."
[577]
"It was an honor to be able to speak with you Hears-the-Whispers. May your
claws always be sharp." Hesek left the hut.
He examined the spear closer. The shaft was wood, but it had an interesting
feel, and that shock...
The head was indeed the fang of a creature as the wise Argonian had said. It
was sharp, and ready for use if need be. Hesek would use his spear though, not
wanting to dirty such a sacred weapon.
He approached the rafts, and when he arrived he explained what they were to do.[578]
[579] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 08:50 PM)
[580] "It was an honor
to be able to speak with you Hears-the-Whispers. May your claws always be
sharp." Hesek left the hut.
He examined the spear closer. The shaft was wood, but it had an
interesting feel, and that shock...
The head was indeed the fang of a creature as the wise Argonian had said.
It was sharp, and ready for use if need be. Hesek would use his spear
though, not wanting to dirty such a sacred weapon.
He approached the rafts, and when he arrived he explained what they were to do.
[582]
Nalion had been leaning on a pole, watching the guardians. He left the idle
position as Slashes-with Claws and Tsei came back. The mage listened carefully.
"So the Fang of Haynekhtnamet has a twin...", he said as
Slashes-with-Claws had finished, admiring the weapon in his hand.
"If the shrine must be cleaned, then it has to be done. We need the sap.
Mannimarco threatens life, and it concerns not only us humans or mer, but
everyone. Even the thriving life here in the Marsh."[583]
[584] QUOTE(Slashes-With-Claws @ Feb 26 2006, 08:50 PM)
[585] "He approached the rafts, and when he arrived he explained what they were to do.
[587]
Dar'Tessir was swatting at flying insects when the Argonians arrived. He
listened to what Slashes had to say and responded, "The task sounds
straitforward enough to Dar'Tessir. Let us go, the sooner we cleanse the shrine
the sooner Dar'Tessir can leave this swamp and brush the water, bugs and mud
out of his coat." [588]
[589] QUOTE(apocolipseLater @ Feb 26 2006, 09:02 PM)
[590] Dar'Tessir was swatting at flying insects when the Argonians arrived. He listened to what Slashes had to say and responded, "The task sounds straitforward enough to Dar'Tessir. Let us go, the sooner we cleanse the shrine the sooner Dar'Tessir can leave this swamp and brush the water, bugs and mud out of his coat."
[592]
The two burly Argonians comment to each other in Hist about Khajiit and their
inability to handle the swamp, with some bemusement.
"This way," one of them says in accented Tamrielic. "Be wary;
predators are about."
The Argonians walk into the foilage, pausing only to let the party catch up
with them. The group can see that there are in fact trails hidden among the
ferns, but with all the plants in the way, it's hard to see far ahead. The two
Argonians however seem to know their way perfectly.
An hour passes as the party is led along a winding path, only the guides able
to maintain any sense of direction, when suddenly, the Argonians pause, raising
their spears. Their noses sniff the air, and one mutters "Something
unnatural approaches ..."[593]
[594] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:08 PM)
[595] An hour passes as the party is led along a winding path, only the guides able to maintain any sense of direction, when suddenly, the Argonians pause, raising their spears. Their noses sniff the air, and one mutters "Something unnatural approaches ..."
[597]
Hesek, Slashes-With-Claws, stops just behind their guides, the Wamasus spear in
his hand. He sniffs the air, trying to make out what it is that is approaching.
His tail waves back and forth with heightened tension. His left hand goes to
his knife belt, he was a good thrower with either hand. [598]
[599] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:08 PM)
[600] The two burly
Argonians comment to each other in Hist about Khajiit and their inability to
handle the swamp, with some bemusement.
"This way," one of them says in accented Tamrielic. "Be
wary; predators are about."
The Argonians walk into the foilage, pausing only to let the party catch up
with them. The group can see that there are in fact trails hidden among
the ferns, but with all the plants in the way, it's hard to see far
ahead. The two Argonians however seem to know their way perfectly.
An hour passes as the party is led along a winding path, only the guides able
to maintain any sense of direction, when suddenly, the Argonians pause, raising
their spears. Their noses sniff the air, and one mutters "Something
unnatural approaches ..."
[602]
Nalion straightened instantly and looked around with a wary gaze. With the
flicker of a hand and a whispered word, a shield surrounded the Breton.
"Unnatural?", he asked.
The mage prepared a spell formula in his head... [603]
[604] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:08 PM)
[605] The two burly
Argonians comment to each other in Hist about Khajiit and their inability to
handle the swamp, with some bemusement.
"This way," one of them says in accented Tamrielic. "Be
wary; predators are about."
The Argonians walk into the foilage, pausing only to let the party catch up
with them. The group can see that there are in fact trails hidden among
the ferns, but with all the plants in the way, it's hard to see far
ahead. The two Argonians however seem to know their way perfectly.
An hour passes as the party is led along a winding path, only the guides able
to maintain any sense of direction, when suddenly, the Argonians pause, raising
their spears. Their noses sniff the air, and one mutters "Something
unnatural approaches ..."
[607]
Dar'Tessir knew they were talking about him, or thought he knew, he was getting
a little paranoid. During the walk he had sipped at a Resist Disease potion,
just in case.
"Perfect, something more unnatural than the rest of this swamp." He
used his Beggar's Nose, the spell granted to him by the Tower to locate the
thing or things. [608]
Tsei readied a healing spell, and waited to see what was unnatural. [609]
Crashing through the
ferns come five skeletal creatures - once Argonians, from the looks of them,
bearing spears. Dar'Tessir's nose warms him just in time to avoid their initial
lunge out of the foilage, their eyeless sockets staring blankly at him as their
spears miss their mark.
The two Argonian guides hiss curses and move to engage, and the five skeletons
split up, one each rushing Slashes, Nalion, Dar'Tessir, and the two Argonians.
Despite their lack of musculature, they are surprisingly strong and hardy.[610]
[611] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:29 PM)
[612] Crashing through the
ferns come five skeletal creatures - once Argonians, from the looks of them,
bearing spears. Dar'Tessir's nose warms him just in time to avoid their
initial lunge out of the foilage, their eyeless sockets staring blankly at him
as their spears miss their mark.
The two Argonian guides hiss curses and move to engage, and the five skeletons
split up, one each rushing Slashes, Nalion, Dar'Tessir, and the two
Argonians. Despite their lack of musculature, they are surprisingly
strong and hardy.
[614]
Tsei readied an absorb health spell, and shot it at the nearest skeleton,
before casting shield on the person nearest to her, which happened to be
Dar'Tessir. [615]
[616] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:29 PM)
[617] Crashing through the
ferns come five skeletal creatures - once Argonians, from the looks of them,
bearing spears. Dar'Tessir's nose warms him just in time to avoid their
initial lunge out of the foilage, their eyeless sockets staring blankly at him
as their spears miss their mark.
The two Argonian guides hiss curses and move to engage, and the five skeletons
split up, one each rushing Slashes, Nalion, Dar'Tessir, and the two
Argonians. Despite their lack of musculature, they are surprisingly
strong and hardy.
[619]
Nalion stretched out his hand to the skeleton approaching him, pointing at it
and incanting the spell he had prepared. An eyeblink afterwards, a sizzling
blast of flame seared through the humid air, fiery fingers trying to engulf the
skeleton. [620]
[621] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:29 PM)
[622] Crashing through the
ferns come five skeletal creatures - once Argonians, from the looks of them,
bearing spears. Dar'Tessir's nose warms him just in time to avoid their
initial lunge out of the foilage, their eyeless sockets staring blankly at him
as their spears miss their mark.
The two Argonian guides hiss curses and move to engage, and the five skeletons
split up, one each rushing Slashes, Nalion, Dar'Tessir, and the two
Argonians. Despite their lack of musculature, they are surprisingly
strong and hardy.
[624]
Hesek does not bother throwing a knife, the simple steel blade would have
little effect on the undead Argonians. Having no time to change weapons he
attacks with the Wamasus spear. Dodging, spinning, and thrusting he tries to
get a hit on the undead creature while avoiding being hit. Luckily his armor
should be able to take any inicdental hits from their spears. [625]
[626] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:29 PM)
[627] Crashing through the ferns
come five skeletal creatures - once Argonians, from the looks of them, bearing
spears. Dar'Tessir's nose warms him just in time to avoid their initial
lunge out of the foilage, their eyeless sockets staring blankly at him as their
spears miss their mark.
The two Argonian guides hiss curses and move to engage, and the five skeletons
split up, one each rushing Slashes, Nalion, Dar'Tessir, and the two
Argonians. Despite their lack of musculature, they are surprisingly
strong and hardy.
[629]
As Dar'Tessir dodges he takes out his dagger.[630]
QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 26 2006, 09:31 PM)
[631] Tsei readied an absorb health spell, and shot it at the nearest skeleton, before casting shield on the person nearest to her, which happened to be Dar'Tessir.
[633]
With the extra time afforded to him by the protective shield Dar'Tessir casts a
paralysis spell at the reptilian skeleton bearing down on him and moves to
attack it with his dagger. [634]
The two Argonian
guides wrestle with their undead foes, neither gaining an advantage over the
other as of yet - though the live Argonians seem to be giving up ground,
neither seems to be anything but angry at such blatent desecration.
Nalion's spell blows the arm clean off of the skeleton attacking him, causing
the spear thrust to go wild and glance off his shield.
Tsei's spell hits the skeleton advancing on Dar'Tessir, thus when he strikes at
it with his dagger, the bone he hits breaks, having been made brittle from
Tsei's magic. Tsei feels herself growing stronger, though there's a strange
feeling of malaise for a brief second as the energy animating the skeleton
flows into her.
Slashes-With-Claws takes a spear blow on his armor, but his own counterstrike
provides satisfying results - as with a roar the enchanted spear's head
crackles with lightning, which dances along the entire ribcage of his foe,
blowing it back and devestating it. It collapses and does not move.
Being mindless, the surviving skeletons simply press their attack ...[635]
[636] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:44 PM)
[637] Tsei's spell hits the skeleton advancing on Dar'Tessir, thus when he strikes at it with his dagger, the bone he hits breaks, having been made brittle from Tsei's magic. Tsei feels herself growing stronger, though there's a strange feeling of malaise for a brief second as the energy animating the skeleton flows into her.
[639]
Tsei yells to Dar'Tessir, "Get out of the way!" Before she casts a
frost spell at the advancing skeleton, freezing it in it's track, and leaving
it open for Dar'Tessir to strike. [640]
[641] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:44 PM)
[642] Slashes-With-Claws
takes a spear blow on his armor, but his own counterstrike provides satisfying
results - as with a roar the enchanted spear's head crackles with lightning,
which dances along the entire ribcage of his foe, blowing it back and
devestating it. It collapses and does not move.
Being mindless, the surviving skeletons simply press their attack ...
[644]
Hesek, seeing their guides having trouble charges one of the skeletons, the
spear swinging in the unpredictable, yet almost dance like, pattern he had been
trained to use in the Argonian army. The spear lads a blow on the skeleton, a
surge of electricity causes its upper body to explode in a shower of bone
splinters. [645]
[646] QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 26 2006, 09:47 PM)
[647] Tsei yells to Dar'Tessir, "Get out of the way!" Before she casts a frost spell at the advancing skeleton, freezing it in it's track, and leaving it open for Dar'Tessir to strike.
[649]
Dar'Tessir dodges Tsei's spell and smiles. He procedes to take the skeleton out
in a more stylish way than necessary to take out his frustration at the marsh.
He leaps on to the former Argonian's shoulders and off those strait into the
air, falling down on it and stabbing his dagger into its skull with the force
of the fall as its body crumples under the blow. [650]
[651] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 09:44 PM)
[652] Nalion's spell blows the arm clean off of the skeleton attacking him, causing the spear thrust to go wild and glance off his shield.
[654]
The skeletal Argonian blocked Nalion's staff with his spear, pushing the mage
backwards. The skeleton, empowered with magickal strength that were at least as
strong as human muscle, brought its full weight to bear on the mage, snapping
at him with long bleached teeth. A skeletal tail lashed out, aimed for the
mage's feet and off-balanced him. The mage toppled backwards. Nalion barely
managed to hold on to a ribcage and pull the skeleton down with him. For a
moment brown eyes met empty hollows as the fell together, then Nalion managed
to grab the Dagger of Senses. With a savage thrust upwards, Nalion drove the
dagger into the skeletal head, ripping it apart from the spine.
The magic that held the bones together vanished in an instant, and as Nalion
touched the ground, a pile of loose bones fell down on him.
The mage, quickly freed himself from the bleached remains and stood up again.
"Where's Reichi when you need him?", he muttered as he looked up for
other enemies. [655]
The remaining skeleton
thrusts at one of the guides, who suddenly grabs the offending spear and pulls,
causing the skeleton to stumble forward. The second Argonian wastes no time,
smashing his tail into the skeleton's spine while the first Argonian whips its
tail into the skeleton's skull.
The poor undead's head going sailing past Tsei to land in a fern.
"They came from the shrine ..." one of the guides says, pointing in
the direction from which the skeletons emerged. "We must hurry, before the
one who made these makes ... others."[656]
[657] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:01 PM)
[658] The remaining skeleton
thrusts at one of the guides, who suddenly grabs the offending spear and pulls,
causing the skeleton to stumble forward. The second Argonian wastes no
time, smashing his tail into the skeleton's spine while the first Argonian
whips its tail into the skeleton's skull.
The poor undead's head going sailing past Tsei to land in a fern.
"They came from the shrine ..." one of the guides says, pointing in
the direction from which the skeletons emerged. "We must hurry,
before the one who made these makes ... others."
[660]
Nalion looked in the direction the Argonian was pointing. "I see. We need
to hurry then. This is why we fight Mannimarco, so that creatures like this do
not walk so easily."
Nalion picked up his staff that he had to drop in the fight, then joined the
Argonians. [661]
Sanctuary of the
Bathogorgen, Cyrodiil
After the farcas in the storeroom, the cattle and servants remained
conspicuously away from Reichi, Anya, and Dayla. Resealing the doors behind
them with magic, the three made their way to the library, a room that dwarfed
the library in Loranna's castle twice over.
Dayla leads Anya to one of the large shelves of books, each one bearing the sign
of the Bathogorgen on the spine and cover. "The history of our tribe, the
secrets of our shapeshifting abilities, clan lineages ... everything that
Ashana saw fit to preserve is here," she says, smiling a bit. "She
didn't like to throw much away; even books written by clan members she
considered useless and weak she kept, on the off chance that someday it might
come in handy, or even just to have around to gloat over."
Pointing to another large shelf, she says "Those are the necromantic
texts; some of them have been written by Mannimarco himself, before his
ascension into godhood. I've never really looked through them much, though I at
least know more or less what's there."
She goes on, pointing out with evident satisfaction the volumes on enchanting and
alchemy and all sorts of magic, including magics specific to vampires.
"Not all of these books are written in Tamrielic, but I have translation
guides, some of which I made myself when Ashana first started tutoring
me," she tells Anya. "If nothing else, this place will give you a
good leg up on learning other languages, living and dead." [662]
Anya followed Dayla,
noting which books seemed important, which would prove to be useful, and which
seemed to tickle her fancy. The list of books in this sanctuary alone astounded
her, rivalling Slyvos' library, which she had merely glimpsed on her visits to
him. After Dayla had shown her the various collections, Anya made her way to
the books on her tribe, the Bathogorgen curved triangle prominent.
"Riechi, would you look- er, you still have claws. Well, if you see a book
that might help us, could you point it out? I have a few things of my own to
look at."
Anya ran her hand over the books, pausing to select one that outlined their
skills, strengths, powers, weaknesses, and disadvatnages. [663]
Reichi looked around the library, the collection was impressive, extremely so. He ignored the shelves on various magicks, Reichi wasn't very adept with magic, thus they carried little interest. [664]
QUOTE
[665] "Riechi, would you look- er, you still have claws. Well, if you see a book that might help us, could you point it out? I have a few things of my own to look at."[666]
[667]
Reichi nodded and wondered over towards the necromantic texts and began
scanning through the ttiles for anything that seemed useful concerning the
current situation with Mannimarco. Though he made a note to check specifically
for books written by Mannimarco later. Get to know the enemy a little better.
[668]
Dayla brings Anya a
few slim books, to use to translate the non Tamrielic texts, then goes over to
help Reichi pick out the books Mannimarco wrote himself. Flipping through some
of the necromantic text, she frowns thoughtfully, setting various volumes
aside. Occasionally, she goes over to help Anya understand a particularly wordy
passage, and Reichi will notice Dayla watching Anya studying with furtive looks
of pride while burying her nose in Mannimarco's study notes.
Eventually, though, Dayla shakes her head and says "These are probably the
best books out of the lot; I think some of them discuss something like the
death aura but I don't know the subject well enough to confirm. I did find
references to the unliving diaromas I found at the Barrow though, so there must
be something useful in here."
Slithering over to Anya, she asks "How is your hunt going, filia? Find
what you're looking for?"[669]
[670] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:02 PM)
[671] Slithering over to Anya, she asks "How is your hunt going, filia? Find what you're looking for?"
[673]
Anya glanced at her mater, "Well, it's kind of boring, or redundant. But I
did find a few interesting things, about how Bathogorgens past used their power
to improve their combat, and a really neat one on a thief. And this...
interesting one from a dibellan."
"They only give me an idea though, nothing I can do at the moment." [674]
Reichi nodded and
carefully flipped through one of the newer looking one, skimming through the
text and grimacing at a few of the more graphic illustrations of some
necromantic ritual or minion. Eventually getting fed up with the text, Reichi
closed it and placed it back with the others.
[675]
[676] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 11:08 PM)
[677] Anya glanced at her
mater, "Well, it's kind of boring, or redundant. But I did find a few
interesting things, about how Bathogorgens past used their power to improve
their combat, and a really neat one on a thief. And this... interesting one
from a dibellan."
"They only give me an idea though, nothing I can do at the moment."
[679]
"Ah yes; that one," Dayla says, smirking a bit. "Ashana knew
him, she said; she always talked about how he wasted his time trying to
perfectly mimic everything he lost from mortality, yet she always had a fond
look in her eye when she spoke of him - and he was the only one of her brothers
she spoke of at any length at all."
"It's a good book to read if you're planning on perfecting your ability to
fool mortals with your disguises," she says, "though even using
everything in that book, you still can't fool another vampire to your true
nature. Though, Ashana liked to let other clans think we could ..."
She frowns, muttering "Actually, she always acted like she herself could,
but then this is Ashana we're talking about."[680]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 11:16 PM)
[681] Reichi nodded and carefully flipped through one of the newer looking one, skimming through the text and grimacing at a few of the more graphic illustrations of some necromantic ritual or minion. Eventually getting fed up with the text, Reichi closed it and placed it back with the others.
[683]
"Too much Reichi?" Dayla asks, looking over to the werewolf with a
bemused grin. "I never took to necromancy myself either; too much
perfectly good blood used to scrawl sigils and circles instead of sating my
thirst, too much making minions that I'd never be able to feed from that aren't
noticably better than a summoned Daedra." She sighs. "And too many
people who get too deep into it going more than a little mad, too."
"Anyway, we've found everything we could that could help you and your
friends face Mannimarco," Dayla says, changing the subject. "Shall we
head back tothe storeroom and see about your rewards for helping me crack the
place open, and for keeping me from falling under the Masque's spell?"[684]
[685] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:26 PM)
[686] "Anyway, we've found everything we could that could help you and your friends face Mannimarco," Dayla says, changing the subject. "Shall we head back tothe storeroom and see about your rewards for helping me crack the place open, and for keeping me from falling under the Masque's spell?"
[688]
"That Masque is dangerous... Yes, let's go back, there were lots of nice
pieces of armor, and weapons. I wouldn't mind taking a peek." Anya stood
up, carefully placing the texts back on the shelves. [689]
Reichi nodded and stood up. There was plently to choose from in that vault. So much treasure, so little time. That and a lack of means to carry all the loot out was a constant bane to adventurers everywhere. Of course, with the right loot, even the smallest amount was worth lots. [690]
[691] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 11:30 PM)
[692] "That Masque is dangerous... Yes, let's go back, there were lots of nice pieces of armor, and weapons. I wouldn't mind taking a peek." Anya stood up, carefully placing the texts back on the shelves.
[694]
The glowing soulgem crystals still glowed with an inner light through the
damaged walls as the two vampires and the werewolf move through the blackened
corridor into the storeroom.
The gold, gems, weapons, and armor still gleam in the light of the illuminating
crystal, just waiting to be be looked through.
"Hmm ... you know, I'm going to have to get these walls fixed, and set up
some new defenses," Dayla mutters, picking up a handful of gold and gems.
"Maybe Entrius will stop stonewalling me on Ashana's investments now that
the place actually needs fixing up ..."[695]
[696] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 10:40 PM)
[697] "Hmm ... you know, I'm going to have to get these walls fixed, and set up some new defenses," Dayla mutters, picking up a handful of gold and gems. "Maybe Entrius will stop stonewalling me on Ashana's investments now that the place actually needs fixing up ..."
[699]
Anya ran her eyes along the weapons and armor, noting the enchantments and
quality, "I don't like Entruis, I'd just get rid of him..."
She paused when a set of matching sword and dagger caught her eye. [700]
Reichi searched
through the piles of loot for some interesting items. Something out of the
ordinary, rather than just another enchanted daedric weapon or a big ol'
diamond. Then he noticed a pair of familar looking pauldrons. Not familar in
the sense he'd seem them before, but that he had seen the style before.
They were the missing pauldrons to his set of armor. Reichi grinned wolfishly,
and wondered how they came to be in this vault. Then again, Bathogorgen were
shapeshifters, they might have had a applicable use for them. [701]
[702] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 26 2006, 11:44 PM)
[703] Anya ran her eyes
along the weapons and armor, noting the enchantments and quality, "I don't
like Entruis, I'd just get rid of him..."
She paused when a set of matching sword and dagger caught her eye.
[705]
Dayla notices Anya looking at the simple yet elegant ebony blades, and says
"Those were Her Fangs. Ashana's swords; my older brother Fox used to tell
us stories of how she used them in the purge of the bloodline, back when he was
still young. Never seen Ashana use them myself, but they're supposedly
enchanted to be extensions of your fangs. Striking someone with them is like
drinking from them - and Ashana knew the trick to making those she bit stop
resisting."[706]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 26 2006, 11:50 PM)
[707] Reichi searched
through the piles of loot for some interesting items. Something out of the
ordinary, rather than just another enchanted daedric weapon or a big ol'
diamond. Then he noticed a pair of familar looking pauldrons. Not familar in
the sense he'd seem them before, but that he had seen the style before.
They were the missing pauldrons to his set of armor. Reichi grinned wolfishly,
and wondered how they came to be in this vault. Then again, Bathogorgen were
shapeshifters, they might have had a applicable use for them.
[709]
Ashana blinks in surprise at Reichi's find. "I never knew those were in
here ..." she says, going over to the shelf bearing the logbook for this
storeroom. She flips through the pages, murmuring " ... Oh; Fox found them
sometime in the last age. Wonder why they just got tossed in here? I'd have
thought Dramachus at least would have been interested in studying them
..."
[710]
[711] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 26 2006, 11:02 PM)
[712] Dayla notices Anya looking at the simple yet elegant ebony blades, and says "Those were Her Fangs. Ashana's swords; my older brother Fox used to tell us stories of how she used them in the purge of the bloodline, back when he was still young. Never seen Ashana use them myself, but they're supposedly enchanted to be extensions of your fangs. Striking someone with them is like drinking from them - and Ashana knew the trick to making those she bit stop resisting."
[714]
Anya gripped the short sword in her right hand, and the dagger in her left.
With a few practiced, experimental swings, she tested their balance. They moved
with teh greatest of ease, feeling even more an extension of herself than her
training made her normal blades feel. "Her Fangs? I wonder why she would
ever toss them aside. Well, they're My Fangs now. Who's Fox..." [715]
[716] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 01:02 AM)
[717] Dayla notices Anya
looking at the simple yet elegant ebony blades, and says "Those were Her
Fangs. Ashana's swords; my older brother Fox used to tell us stories of
how she used them in the purge of the bloodline, back when he was still
young. Never seen Ashana use them myself, but they're supposedly
enchanted to be extensions of your fangs. Striking someone with them is
like drinking from them - and Ashana knew the trick to making those she bit
stop resisting."
Ashana blinks in surprise at Reichi's find. "I never knew those were
in here ..." she says, going over to the shelf bearing the logbook for
this storeroom. She flips through the pages, murmuring " ... Oh; Fox
found them sometime in the last age. Wonder why they just got tossed in
here? I'd have thought Dramachus at least would have been interested in
studying them ..."
[719]
Reichi shrugged putting the pauldrons on, the armor automatically morphing to
suit his form. He wondered who 'Fox' and 'Dramachus' were. Fellow Bathogorgen,
undoubtably, but which ones? There were the three or so with Dayla back on
Vvardenfell, one of which who had died before Anya, shaka and Reichi arrived on
scene, and then there were the two who had impersonated Sotha Sil and Vivec.
[720]
[721] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 12:08 AM)
[722] Anya gripped the short sword in her right hand, and the dagger in her left. With a few practiced, experimental swings, she tested their balance. They moved with teh greatest of ease, feeling even more an extension of herself than her training made her normal blades feel. "Her Fangs? I wonder why she would ever toss them aside. Well, they're My Fangs now. Who's Fox..."
[724]
"Honestly, by the time I was turned, I think she was bored with physical
combat," Dayla tells Anya. "Until she impersonated Almalexia I never
once saw her wield a weapon other than to occasionally spar with Fox; she let
us do her fighting for her. Probably she put them in here until she felt
interested in fighting again."
"Fox ... you'd know him as the False Vivec," Dayla explains.
"Next to Ashana, he was our best fighter; he was also Ashana's oldest
remaining filia, him and Dramachus, the False Sotha Sil." She gives a
shrug. "Both of them she turned before she purged the bloodline; I always
got the impression they were only a few centuries younger than her, but it
could have been as much as a thousand years or more. Fox always made it sound
like they weren't that far behind Ashana, but the truth is, neither of them
were anywhere near her. Neither could take mist form as ably as she could,
neither could drink blood or use magic in mist form like she could." She
laughs a bit. "But they were physically strong and had powerful reserves
of magicka, and Fox knew fighting and Dramachus ... well, even Ashana couldn't
keep up with Dramachus when he got interested in something."
"You know, somewhere in Skyrim, there's a hidden lair someplace that's
probably crawling with the prototypes of those giant crabs?" she asks,
grinning a bit. "Dramachus wouldn't let anyone in there; he wouldn't even
tell anyone the place existed but we all knew it was there somewhere. Who knows
what's going on in there right now ..."[725]
Reichi listened intently. More of those crabs? That could be useful. He imagined the Alliance's reaction when faced with their own machines, and likely without ones of their own to fight them off. He grinned. It would be worth checking out sometime. The prototypes could even be compared with the finished models that had been captured in Ald Raathim. Something to pursue once Mannimarco was dealt with, perhaps. [726]
Anya shook her head,
listening to Dayla's talk. "Why would you wish to purge an entire tribe?
What an arrogant woman." Anya smiled grimly, "And now she's dead.
Well, now they're all dead. It's only us two..."
"So you have no idea where Dramachus held his lair? That's a shame, as
bright as he's held to be, it would have been quite a find." Anya slipped
Her Fangs into her belt, blinking her eyes. She was starting to feel the onset
of hunger. Well, she could hold out for a while before it started to annoy her,
and longer before it turned into a necessity. "Dayla, what about other
sanctuaries? Anymore that might be worth looking or are they just safehouses.
Actually, what about you? Did you have yourself a personal little lair to call
your own?" [727]
[728] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 12:50 AM)
[729] Anya shook her head,
listening to Dayla's talk. "Why would you wish to purge an entire tribe?
What an arrogant woman." Anya smiled grimly, "And now she's dead.
Well, now they're all dead. It's only us two..."
"So you have no idea where Dramachus held his lair? That's a shame, as
bright as he's held to be, it would have been quite a find." Anya slipped
Her Fangs into her belt, blinking her eyes. She was starting to feel the onset
of hunger. Well, she could hold out for a while before it started to annoy her,
and longer before it turned into a necessity. "Dayla, what about other
sanctuaries? Anymore that might be worth looking or are they just safehouses.
Actually, what about you? Did you have yourself a personal little lair to call
your own?"
[731]
Dayla shrugs. "I couldn't tell you; I wasn't alive back then. To hear Fox
tell the tale, it was a war for survival, each of Bathogorgen's filia
struggling against each other. He said it was all Bathogorgen's doing, pitting
his filia against one another for his own amusement. Dramachus, whenever he
bothered to talk about it, simply said Ashana felt the tribe as a whole was
becoming too big, threatening our one major strength - our invisibility among
the other tribes. And Ashana ... well, she never gave any reasons for it at
all. She just talked about it as though it were obvious all along it was going
to happen."
"There's a smaller sanctuary in every providence," Dayla explains.
"Ashana, Fox, and Dramachus set up old Velothi Propylon chambers in a hub,
with this one being the center. Then there's other safehouses I don't know
about, yet; Ashana, Fox, and Dramachus set them up. Myself ... well ..."
She shrugs, muttering "I thought about setting one up in Vvardenfell once,
back when I was considering trying to work myself back into the Magribash. I
ended up abandoning the idea though; mostly I bounced between this sanctuary to
spend time with Shaa and the Skyrim and High Rock ones when I wanted to
hunt."[732]
"Then there's me,
with my small mine and three servants. So there are potentially dozens of
places to find... Well, it's not like I have nothing but time on my
hands." Anya said, talking mostly to herself.
"I suppose it's a good thing that Ashana had the clan gutted. I really
don't want to view a world with so many of our kind, even with what I know of
vampires." Anya mulled over the way Dayla spoke about the tribe. She
wondered what was in store for her, the last filia of their clan. Anya glanced
at Riechi momentarily before turning to Dayla, "Um, Dayla. What do you
plan to do now. With the Bathogorgen clan, I mean." [733]
Interesting.. Reichi thought to himself as he listened to Dayla. She was mabrigash. That would explain the snakes.... Reichi remebered something about Mabrigash and a 'ghost snake' or something to that nature. A spell of some sort. [734]
[735] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 01:23 AM)
[736] "Then there's me,
with my small mine and three servants. So there are potentially dozens of
places to find... Well, it's not like I have nothing but time on my
hands." Anya said, talking mostly to herself.
"I suppose it's a good thing that Ashana had the clan gutted. I really
don't want to view a world with so many of our kind, even with what I know of
vampires." Anya mulled over the way Dayla spoke about the tribe. She
wondered what was in store for her, the last filia of their clan. Anya glanced
at Riechi momentarily before turning to Dayla, "Um, Dayla. What do you
plan to do now. With the Bathogorgen clan, I mean."
[738]
Dayla sighs. "For right now, the tribe lies low. I'd just as soon not
attract attention to the fact that the Bathogorgen still exist at all,"
she says. "Though ... well, I know Ashana's weren't the only eyes in Ald
Raathim, and friendly as Kingston is, I don't really expect him not to mention
us in passing."
"But yes, we lie low, we figure out the full extent of Ashana's
infrastructure and make it our own, for right now. Even if I don't share
Ashana's goals anymore, it seems a crime to let all this potential power and
influence just sit around and rot," she explains, watching Reichi
carefully. "But I don't intend to have any more filia yet, nor do I think
you should yet either. When you've grown stronger in the clan's ways and I've
grown more used to controlling our resources, then together, I hope to start
building the tribe back up. Thinking over how my brothers and I were ... well,
much as I loved them, I think the clan pretty much stagnated as a single
bloodline."[739]
[740] QUOTE
[741] But yes, we lie low, we figure out the full extent of Ashana's infrastructure and make it our own, for right now. Even if I don't share Ashana's goals anymore, it seems a crime to let all this potential power and influence just sit around and rot," she explains, watching Reichi carefully.[742]
[743]
Reichi raised a fuzzy eyebrow, obviously curious as to the sudden attention.
The werewolf glanced over his shoulder to make sure his tail wasn't wagging so
much as to be polishing the treasure behind him, or something similarly
attention grabbing. Satisfied that it wasn't, Reichi turned his thoughts toward
Bathogorgen's future. Rebuilding. It didn't sound so bad so long as the clan
didn't try anything like what it had been under Ashana's reign, or what the
Diodata did.
Afterall, despite being on the opposite side, and impersonating Sotha Sil,
Reichi had to admit that given eternity, Dramachus had managed to copy the
Living God's work well. [744]
Anya held silent for a
while, mulling things over. She had never considered a filia or filio of her
own at all, and was probably the one thing even the friends supporting her
would argue adamantly against. She had just barely gotten a working
relationship with her own mater.
Riechi's response still midly suprised her, despite how long she's known them.
Most people would have been irrate, at best, for a vampire to spawn more
however far in the future it was.
"I whole-heartedly agree that the lowest profile is best, it's something
I've tried to live by at any rate. And with such an extensive network in place,
I- we can do so much more. But a filia of my own.... that's something I've
never considered at all..." [745]
[746] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 02:12 AM)
[747] Anya held silent for a
while, mulling things over. She had never considered a filia or filio of her
own at all, and was probably the one thing even the friends supporting her
would argue adamantly against. She had just barely gotten a working
relationship with her own mater.
Riechi's response still midly suprised her, despite how long she's known them.
Most people would have been irrate, at best, for a vampire to spawn more
however far in the future it was.
"I whole-heartedly agree that the lowest profile is best, it's something
I've tried to live by at any rate. And with such an extensive network in place,
I- we can do so much more. But a filia of my own.... that's something I've
never considered at all..."
[749]
Dayla smirks at Reichi, shaking her head. "I still can't get over how
utterly in control of your wolfen side you seem to be," she says.
"Many vampires could learn a thing or two from you, I wager."
Turning back to Anya, she says "The urge comes after a while, though it
seems different for everyone. Fox claimed he never had the urge at all, but Fox
was a liar about just about everything. Myself ... well, after about a hundred
years I started feeling the urge to take a filia, though with Ashana's rules
hanging over us, I squelched it - until recently. One of the other bloodlines
wrote a study on it; it's in here somewhere if you're really interested."
She shrugs. "Some of the olden Bathogorgen liked to do nothing but sit
around and write books of esoteric knowledge, it seems. Though we should be
grateful they did; right now this library more than anything is our hope for
the future. I think I'm going to make one of my standing projects be
translating the older texts into Tamrielic; when we start rebuilding the tribe,
it'd be easier if I didn't have to teach them Velothi and Aldmeris just so they
can read half their clan history."[750]
[751] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 01:26 AM)
[752] Turning back to Anya, she says "The urge comes after a while, though it seems different for everyone. Fox claimed he never had the urge at all, but Fox was a liar about just about everything. Myself ... well, after about a hundred years I started feeling the urge to take a filia, though with Ashana's rules hanging over us, I squelched it - until recently. One of the other bloodlines wrote a study on it; it's in here somewhere if you're really interested."
[754]
Anya frowned darkly, her thoughts souring quickly. "I'm going to have the
urge to make a filia no matter what? To take someone's life and ruin
it..."
Anya shook her head, forcing the unwanted thoughts to disipate, "I'll be
sure to make good use of the books."
Anya looked at Dayla, "We should be thinking about heading back, maybe. I
really should get the information we learned to my friends. I'd think we'd need
to wait for the hours to pass for Riechi though. Maybe... maybe even stay a
little longer, if you have any extra rooms. If Riechi doesn't mind of
course," Anya glanced at him with almost pleading eyes, "We could
spend a little bit mulling through more resources. And... I would like to spend
some more time with you, Dayla." [755]
[756] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 03:26 AM)
[757] Dayla smirks at Reichi, shaking her head. "I still can't get over how utterly in control of your wolfen side you seem to be," she says. "Many vampires could learn a thing or two from you, I wager."
[759]
Reichi couldn't help but grin at the small irony of being complimented on his
control when he had to check to make sure his tail was behaving itself. He
pushed that thought aside as he listened. Fox lied about almost everything, eh?
No wonder he was made the false Vivec. It was fitting, in a way. [760]
QUOTE
[761] Anya looked at Dayla, "We should be thinking about heading back, maybe. I really should get the information we learned to my friends. I'd think we'd need to wait for the hours to pass for Riechi though. Maybe... maybe even stay a little longer, if you have any extra rooms. If Riechi doesn't mind of course," Anya glanced at him with almost pleading eyes, "We could spend a little bit mulling through more resources. And... I would like to spend some more time with you, Dayla."[762]
[763]
Reichi shook his head, making a vague sort of 'go ahead' gesture with his hand.
[764]
[765] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 02:40 AM)
[766] Anya frowned darkly,
her thoughts souring quickly. "I'm going to have the urge to make a filia
no matter what? To take someone's life and ruin it..."
Anya shook her head, forcing the unwanted thoughts to disipate, "I'll be
sure to make good use of the books."
Anya looked at Dayla, "We should be thinking about heading back, maybe. I
really should get the information we learned to my friends. I'd think we'd need
to wait for the hours to pass for Riechi though. Maybe... maybe even stay a
little longer, if you have any extra rooms. If Riechi doesn't mind of course,"
Anya glanced at him with almost pleading eyes, "We could spend a little
bit mulling through more resources. And... I would like to spend some more time
with you, Dayla."
[768]
Dayla stiffens, trying to keep a hurt expression from coming to her face; her
tail flicks back and forth as she nods woodenly, saying "Of course, of
course ..."
At Anya's mentioning of staying longer though, her eyebrows go up, a more
hopeful light coming to her eyes. She looks over to Reichi questioningly.[769]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 27 2006, 02:48 AM)
[770] Reichi couldn't help
but grin at the small irony of being complimented on his control when he had to
check to make sure his tail was behaving itself. He pushed that thought aside
as he listened. Fox lied about almost everything, eh? No wonder he was made the
false Vivec. It was fitting, in a way.
Reichi shook his head, making a vague sort of 'go ahead' gesture with his hand.
[772]
A bemused smile comes to her face. "The cattle and servants have food
here; Entrius usually takes care of it, and I forget who the cook is, but if
you can survive on deer steaks for the night Reichi then we can feed you."
Her smile turns into a thoughtful frown. "Though, uh, there's really only
one or two guest rooms and they're more suited for converting new cattle than
for a simple night's sleep. The decor might be a bit off-putting." [773]
Anya smiled, and
uncharacteristically hugged the furry Riechi, "Thanks Riechi."
Anya walked over to Dayla, if somewhat hesitantly, still coming to grips with
her feelings, "Well, we do have some time before Hircine's Ring wears off,
and Riechi can actually use a room. Is there anything else you think I should
take a look at, while we're in the library, mater?" [774]
[775] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 03:55 AM)
[776] "The cattle and servants have food here; Entrius usually takes care of it, and I forget who the cook is, but if you can survive on deer steaks for the night Reichi then we can feed you." Her smile turns into a thoughtful frown. "Though, uh, there's really only one or two guest rooms and they're more suited for converting new cattle than for a simple night's sleep. The decor might be a bit off-putting."
[778]
Reichi shrugged. It had been a long while since had deer. But it was good. He
couldn't help but wonder how Entrius would react to seeing him in this state,
or what the decor of the geust rooms was like. Maybe like something out of a
torture chamber. [779]
QUOTE
[780] Anya smiled, and
uncharacteristically hugged the furry Riechi, "Thanks Riechi."
Anya walked over to Dayla, if somewhat hesitantly, still coming to grips with
her feelings, "Well, we do have some time before Hircine's Ring wears off,
and Riechi can actually use a room. Is there anything else you think I should
take a look at, while we're in the library, mater?"[781]
[782]
The werewolf just smirked. He could actually prematurely end the transformation
by slipping his ring back on. He had done it before. But where was the
fun in that? [783]
[784] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 03:06 AM)
[785] Anya smiled, and
uncharacteristically hugged the furry Riechi, "Thanks Riechi."
Anya walked over to Dayla, if somewhat hesitantly, still coming to grips with
her feelings, "Well, we do have some time before Hircine's Ring wears off,
and Riechi can actually use a room. Is there anything else you think I should
take a look at, while we're in the library, mater?"
[787]
" ... I think maybe we could go over some of the things I showed you last
time," Dayla says. "Maybe see about working on maintaining subtle
details. Maybe talk about what you've read and where you'd like to go with your
power."
She smiles, her eyes shining.[788]
QUOTE(Aki @ Feb 27 2006, 03:10 AM)
[789] Reichi shrugged. It
had been a long while since had deer. But it was good. He couldn't help but
wonder how Entrius would react to seeing him in this state, or what the decor
of the geust rooms was like. Maybe like something out of a torture chamber.
The werewolf just smirked. He could actually prematurely end the transformation
by slipping his ring back on. He had done it before. But where was the
fun in that?
[791]
Dayla summons Entrius, who regards Reichi with a raised eyebrow. "Yes my
Lady?"
"See to it that master Reichi is fed and accomodated for the night,"
Dayla says. "He and Anya shall be leaving in the morning."
"... Of course, my Lady," Entrius says, turning to look at Reichi and
saying "This way if you please ..."
As Entrius is half-way out the library, Dayla smacks her head and calls out
"Entrius - deer steaks will do. No need to pick someone to die."
Entrius stops in his tracks. "Ah; very good my Lady," he says, though
he gives Reichi a smothered odd look. " ... Follow me please ..."
"That would have been embarrassing ... not to mention frightening to the
cattle," Dayla mutters, shaking her head. [792]
Anya smiled, bemused.
She couldn't help but think of Kingston's words. Dayla, after all was said and
done, was a predator. All three were predators, come to think of it, and odd
pack of friends to be sure.
"Well mater, I learned over some interesting things. I have to say two
areas have caught my fancy so far, three if you want to be picky. I've prided
myself with being able to hide from almost anyone... at least until I met those
good folk at Solunastra. But to loose yourself in a crowd so thoroughly, it's
simply amazing. It's the problem about making convincing details, as I can only
change color well enough."
"And, well, I read some interesting things where past members went beyond
mere claws for combat. I would love to learn to forge my body into a
weapon." Anya poked Dayla's scaly tail with her foot softly, "Mostly,
I just want to know why changing into a favored shape is considered beyond my
abilities though, maybe show me the details of how you shape your tail." [793]
[794] QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Feb 27 2006, 03:28 AM)
[795] Anya smiled, bemused.
She couldn't help but think of Kingston's words. Dayla, after all was said and
done, was a predator. All three were predators, come to think of it, and odd
pack of friends to be sure.
"Well mater, I learned over some interesting things. I have to say two
areas have caught my fancy so far, three if you want to be picky. I've prided
myself with being able to hide from almost anyone... at least until I met those
good folk at Solunastra. But to loose yourself in a crowd so thoroughly, it's
simply amazing. It's the problem about making convincing details, as I can only
change color well enough."
"And, well, I read some interesting things where past members went beyond
mere claws for combat. I would love to learn to forge my body into a
weapon." Anya poked Dayla's scaly tail with her foot softly, "Mostly,
I just want to know why changing into a favored shape is considered beyond my
abilities though, maybe show me the details of how you shape your tail."
[797]
"Someone is impatient," Dayla says, chuckling and shaking her head.
"Taking a favored animal form was something of a rite of passage for my
generation; it showed you had mastered size changing, different forms, long
term control ... it's the culmination of several skills, all rolled into one.
And it takes a while to pick them all up, no matter how fast you are at
learning."
"Though," she admits, her tail flicking back and forth, "you are
an exception in many ways ... let's see what we can do ..."[798]
*...Summary for Osa:
she remains still in the sewers, preparing herself to engage the Raiders...*
<ooc>...with any luck I'll be around for most of tonight...cross your
fingers and say three "Hail Mary's"...<ooc>
...edit: notice how I'm post #187...that means the phases of the Moon are just
right...fear my power...mhhhaaa... [799]
Summerset: Bourrill[800]
QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 24 2006. 4:48 PM)
[801] Summerset: The River
to Bourrill
Erenius, Reeds, Isidor, and Gram in their race to find Glacia Rysleire finally
found a link in a servant girl named Thrandra at the Rysleire Manor. Though the
girl claimed that Glacia was in Lillandril, the heroes decided to follow a
different path first, knowing that Thrandra has a cousin named Himble, a
fisherman with a family “down south” in Bourrill. After dealing with a trio of
Dark Brotherhood assassins who were scoping out the Manor, they began making
inquiries about Bourrill.
There was no Mages Guild transport to Bourrill, of course. Nor, they
discovered, any roads. Bourrill was a village on an island in the river, about
half a day’s journey, and there was no other way to get there than by fishing
boat. After talking to several fishermen who at first thought they were joking
(“No one goes to Bourrill, what do you think there is to do there?”), they
found an Altmer fisher by the name of Quilge willing to transport them.
The skiff brought them out of Firsthold into the southern forests, which were
an astonishing change from the beautiful but very unnatural cityscape they had
been in.[802]
QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 26 2006, 12:48 AM)
[805] ooc: Isidor, male nord, is on a raft in Firsthold, sleeping.
[807]
As the skiff had floated southward, the river had twisted and turned, and
finally widened, so the shores could only just been seen on either side. Night
had fallen, and the riparian islands were looming up in the distance, always
floating above the water, not resting on it. The stars came out with
magnificent brilliance and the wind was soft and cooling.
There was no time any more, just the skiff and its passengers drifting along.
“That’s Bourrill up ahead,” said Quilge, but there was no discernible
difference between the pile of lightly forested rocks in the river, and any of
the others they had passed. It did occur to them that if one wanted to
disappear and not be found, this would be a good place to do it. They had not
passed another fishing boat in some hours.
Quilge brought them to the island, rowing standing up, pushing instead of
pulling. He seemed absolutely tireless, moving his heavy burdens about at will
with deft and almost imperceptible movements of the wrist.
As he turned around the island, Isidor, Reeds, Erenius, and Gram saw that there
were other similar skiffs anchored in the rocks, but there was no sign of
anyone. The trees, wild, curling, and thick, like giant vines defying gravity,
blocked off the secrets of the island of Bourrill from any on the water. [808]
[809] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 01:41 PM)
[810] Summerset: Bourrill
As he turned around the island, Isidor, Reeds, Erenius, and Gram saw that there
were other similar skiffs anchored in the rocks, but there was no sign of
anyone. The trees, wild, curling, and thick, like giant vines defying
gravity, blocked off the secrets of the island of Bourrill from any on the
water.
[812]
Isidor woke up, as they pulled closer to the island.
"Well," he said, sitting up right, "this is one place you go if
you don't want to be found ..." Turning to Quilge, he said, "Any idea
how to get through there?" [813]
Bourrill[814]
QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 27 2006, 05:01 PM)
[815] Isidor woke up, as
they pulled closer to the island.
"Well," he said, sitting up right, "this is one place you go if
you don't want to be found ..." Turning to Quilge, he said, "Any idea
how to get through there?"
[817]
"Just squeeze through," Quilge grinned. "You can't miss the
settlement. It ain't like it's a big island ... So, you want me to wait for
you, or you got a way back?"[818]
[819] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 04:08 PM)
[820] Bourrill
"Just squeeze through," Quilge grinned. "You can't miss the
settlement. It ain't like it's a big island ... So, you want me to wait
for you, or you got a way back?"
[822]
Isidor grimaced. "Well, nothing a fireball couldn't fix ... And yeah,
stick around, we'll need you." [823]
[824] QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 27 2006, 04:24 PM)
[825] Isidor grimaced. "Well, nothing a fireball couldn't fix ... And yeah, stick around, we'll need you."
[827]
Gram looks around, yawning and stretching his legs. Something about the
atmosphere in Summerset had lulled him into a doze; he half-felt like he was
daydreaming this tiny little island.
"Nothing a good northern wind couldn't fix ..." h mutters.[828]
Erenius too leaves the
small vessel, stepping to land, glad the trip had finally ended.
"I take it this is it then," Erenius says, wonderring just who would
place a village in the middle of the relative nowhere that was Bourrill's
surroundings. [829]
Bourrill[830]
QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 27 2006, 05:58 PM)
[831] Erenius too leaves the
small vessel, stepping to land, glad the trip had finally ended.
"I take it this is it then," Erenius says, wonderring just who would
place a village in the middle of the relative nowhere that was Bourrill's
surroundings.
[833]
The men squeezed through the trees around the periphery of the island, and they
found themselves in a clearing, composed of massive boulders tumbled upon one
another. The small community of fishermen consisted of little more than a dozen
shacks built on the rocks, under the shelter of the flowering twisted trees
that grew between the cracks between the boulders.
Altmeri children peeked out from their play among the boulders, looking at the
four curiously. A couple fishermen walked over and asked whether they were
lost.
[834]
[835] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 05:11 PM)
[836] Bourrill
The men squeezed through the trees around the periphery of the island, and they
found themselves in a clearing, composed of massive boulders tumbled upon one
another. The small community of fishermen consisted of little more than a
dozen shacks built on the rocks, under the shelter of the flowering twisted
trees that grew between the cracks between the boulders.
Altmeri children peeked out from their play among the boulders, looking at the
four curiously. A couple fishermen walked over and asked whether they
were lost.
[838]
"No, we're not lost." Isidor replied, smiling at the children, and
thinking of his own. "We're looking for a man named Himble,
actually." [839]
[840] QUOTE(One87xe @ Feb 26 2006, 12:45 AM)
[841] "They have the Shield in their possesion...Hmm, that presents itself as quite a problem" Osa says looking towards the location Gancolm motioned to, then again looking for any signs of presure plates or other nasty traps "Any ideas anybody?" she asks reluctantly, grasping the Scroll in her hand and making one last adjustment to both her Armor and Bag
[843]
"We break through the door and deliver justice to the remaining
raiders," Sir Gancolm says grimly. "The simplest plans are the best,
for they leave little to go astray."[844]
QUOTE(Nalion @ Feb 26 2006, 12:57 AM)
[845] Dana smiled in return,
moving close to the knight and placing her hands on his chest. A blue light
emanated from her fingers and seeped into the knight, beginning to heal his
wounds.
"There you go, Sir Gancolm.", she said. "We have seen your...
demonstration of skill back in that alley. We are proud to meet such a skilled
fighter. As to the traps... we need to be wary and be aware of our steps and
where we place them. For the one carrying spellbreaker... we do not only have
skilled mages in our group, sometimes, a good pair of swordwielders that work
together can surpass an enemy bearing that artifact."
[847]
"Indeed," the knight says, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the
traps. His wounds close, though the look of fevered determination remains in his
eyes. "Thank you; your magic is strong, my Lady."[848]
QUOTE(Sivartus @ Feb 26 2006, 12:59 AM)
[849] Sivartus stood by, pondering Osa's question as he waited for Dana to heal Sir Gancolm. Unable to come up with anything, he waited quietly for the group to move again, preparing a few spells in his mind that might be useful in the upcoming battle.
[851]
"I shall take the point," Sir Gancolm says once he is healed,
stepping forward. "Prepare yourselves; the final conflict is but moments
away. May Arkay bless us and protect us this day."[852]
[853] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 06:18 PM)
[854] "I shall take the point," Sir Gancolm says once he is healed, stepping forward. "Prepare yourselves; the final conflict is but moments away. May Arkay bless us and protect us this day."
[856]
Shaka sent his will through the Spear of Bitter Mercy, and a Storm Atronach
appeared. There was a thump as air was displaced by the massive golem's
arrival.
"If it's all right, Sir Gancolm, my Atronach will be not far behind you.
If he takes the brunt of any traps, so much the better; and he can help smash
any door in addition to our magicka."
The summoned atronach waited impassively. As always, Shaka wondered when seeing
its eyes just how many wheels were turning behind them. There were legends of
atronachs capable of speech, but Shaka's summons had never shown that ability.[857]
Bourrill[858]
QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 27 2006, 06:17 PM)
[859] "No, we're not lost." Isidor replied, smiling at the children, and thinking of his own. "We're looking for a man named Himble, actually."
[861]
"That's me," said one of the men, a gray-haired Altmer with a
weathered, sunburnt face. "What do you want?"
Isidor noted that several of the men were carrying hooks and clubs on them, not
holding them menacingly, but they seemed ready if need be.
[862]
[863] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 05:18 PM)
[864] "I shall take the point," Sir Gancolm says once he is healed, stepping forward. "Prepare yourselves; the final conflict is but moments away. May Arkay bless us and protect us this day."
[866]
"Lead on then," he said, adjusting the potions in his robe for quick
and easy retrieval. He had thought of a few spells that might be useful. He set
his mind on them as he waited for the knight to move.
"Let us see what resistance these bandits offer." [867]
[868] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 05:46 PM)
[869] Bourrill
"That's me," said one of the men, a gray-haired Altmer with a
weathered, sunburnt face. "What do you want?"
Isidor noted that several of the men were carrying hooks and clubs on them, not
holding them menacingly, but they seemed ready if need be.
[871]
Isidor noted the clubs and hooks, but knew that Gram, Erenius, Reeds and
himself were capable fighters.
"We want to know if you know about a girl name Glacia, who might be around
these parts." [872]
[873] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 05:46 PM)
[874] Bourrill
"That's me," said one of the men, a gray-haired Altmer with a
weathered, sunburnt face. "What do you want?"
Isidor noted that several of the men were carrying hooks and clubs on them, not
holding them menacingly, but they seemed ready if need be.
[876]
Gram's senses come more alive at the sight of the hooks and clubs, his
warrior's blood stirring him to wakefulness. Simple fishermen posed little
threat to life and limb, but slaughtering the people of this town was the
farthest thing from Gram's mind. Hopefully it wouldn't come to a fight, but if
it did, Gram schooled himselfto use but his shield, not his axe.
Fortunately, Gram trusted to his incredible Nordic charm; he flashes Himble a
smile and holds out his hand in greeting. "Well met good sir; Gram Pyrel,
called Gram Twilight Slayer and Gram the stalwart, at your service, and these
be my fine companions, Isidor, Erenius, and Reeds Solat. We come lately from
Firsthold indeed seeking your council on the whereabouts of Glacia, good friend
to your cousin, who even now is sought by the Dark Brotherhood at the behest of
the Count Trielle to return her to him."
[877]
Bourrill[878]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 07:05 PM)
[879] Gram's senses come
more alive at the sight of the hooks and clubs, his warrior's blood stirring
him to wakefulness. Simple fishermen posed little threat to life and
limb, but slaughtering the people of this town was the farthest thing from
Gram's mind. Hopefully it wouldn't come to a fight, but if it did, Gram
schooled himselfto use but his shield, not his axe.
Fortunately, Gram trusted to his incredible Nordic charm; he flashes Himble a
smile and holds out his hand in greeting. "Well met good sir; Gram
Pyrel, called Gram Twilight Slayer and Gram the stalwart, at your service, and
these be my fine companions, Isidor, Erenius, and Reeds Solat. We come
lately from Firsthold indeed seeking your council on the whereabouts of Glacia,
good friend to your cousin, who even now is sought by the Dark Brotherhood at
the behest of the Count Trielle to return her to him."
QUOTE(Stargazey @ Feb 27 2006, 07:04 PM)
[883] Isidor noted the clubs
and hooks, but knew that Gram, Erenius, Reeds and himself were capable
fighters.
"We want to know if you know about a girl name Glacia, who might be around
these parts."
[885]
Himble did not take Gram's hand, and merely shook his head. "Sorry,
someone told you wrong -- ain't no one here by that name --"
A young woman in a gray robe stepped out from behind a rock. "Reeds?"
She lowered her hood. It was Glacia. "It's all right, Himble. They're
okay."[886]
[887] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 06:09 PM)
[888] Bourrill
Himble did not take Gram's hand, and merely shook his head. "Sorry,
someone told you wrong -- ain't no one here by that name --"
A young woman in a gray robe stepped out from behind a rock. "Reeds?"
She lowered her hood. It was Glacia. "It's all right, Himble.
They're okay."
[890]
"So, it seems our search is over," Erenius muses, turning his attention
to Glacia after looking the rest of the group over warily.
'But it still doesnt answer a number of questions, least of which being why.
It'll wait till later I suppose,' [891]
[892] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 05:09 PM)
[893] Bourrill
Himble did not take Gram's hand, and merely shook his head. "Sorry,
someone told you wrong -- ain't no one here by that name --"
A young woman in a gray robe stepped out from behind a rock. "Reeds?"
She lowered her hood. It was Glacia. "It's all right, Himble.
They're okay."
[895]
"Glacia?" Reeds asks, his voice coming out numerous decibles softer
and a number of octaves higher than what the rest of his body wanted. He moved,
almost as in a dream, to Glacia, then flung his arms around her. "I
thought you'd been...." Was all anyone could make out before Reeds breaks
into a mixture of laughing and tears of joy. [896]
Bourrill[897]
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 07:42 PM)
[898] "Glacia?" Reeds asks, his voice coming out numerous decibles softer and a number of octaves higher than what the rest of his body wanted. He moved, almost as in a dream, to Glacia, then flung his arms around her. "I thought you'd been...." Was all anyone could make out before Reeds breaks into a mixture of laughing and tears of joy.
[900]
Glacia was frozen with surprise as Reeds embraced her. “By Auriel, I didn’t
think you’d – How did you find me?”
Then she held him tight.
“Good friends to my cousin,” Himble smiled. “Thrandra told you where to find
us? Where is she?”
[901]
[902] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 05:48 PM)
[903] Bourrill
Glacia was frozen with surprise as Reeds embraced her. “By Auriel, I didn’t
think you’d – How did you find me?”
Then she held him tight.
[905]
Reeds just held Glacia, enjoying the moment and knowing that she was safe... [906]
Bourrill[907]
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 07:50 PM)
[908] Reeds just held Glacia, enjoying the moment and knowing that she was safe...
[910]
"I was going to go to Ald Raathim," Glacia said, her face buried in
Reeds's shoulder. "But they would have tracked me down there. Someone at
the Mages Guild would have talked. It seemed safer to take the long way ... But
when we tried to get into a city, they were looking for me there too ..."[911]
[912] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 06:48 PM)
[913] Bourrill
Glacia was frozen with surprise as Reeds embraced her. “By Auriel, I didn’t
think you’d – How did you find me?”
Then she held him tight.
“Good friends to my cousin,” Himble smiled. “Thrandra told you where to find
us? Where is she?”
[915]
"Actually, she told us to go everywhere but here," Gram
explains. "Your cousin is a loyal friend, sir, and has endured much to
keep Glacia's whereabouts safe. However, she forgot to tell your competitors at
the harbor to keep quiet about you, sir - and I got a fish out of the
bargain."
A merry smile dances on Gram's lips; he always did like it when his wits paid
off in the end.[916]
[917] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 05:55 PM)
[918] Bourrill
"I was going to go to Ald Raathim," Glacia said, her face buried in
Reeds's shoulder. "But they would have tracked me down there. Someone
at the Mages Guild would have talked. It seemed safer to take the long
way ... But when we tried to get into a city, they were looking for me there
too ..."
[920]
"You're safe now..." Reeds said to her, "If you want to stay
here, we won't tell anyone, but we can also take you to Ald Raathim... if you
still want to come, that is." [921]
[922] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 06:55 PM)
[923] Bourrill
"I was going to go to Ald Raathim," Glacia said, her face buried in
Reeds's shoulder. "But they would have tracked me down there.
Someone at the Mages Guild would have talked. It seemed safer to take the
long way ... But when we tried to get into a city, they were looking for me
there too ..."
[925]
"Then I suppose, that if you wished, taking you back with us to Ald
Raathim would be very much out of the question," Erenius observes,
considerring other possible options should his belief hold true. There was
always the route the Altmer navy took, or an overland journey through Valenwood
and Cyrodiil, but both would take too much time. He promptly pushed both
suggestions aside in his mind, searching for a fourth option amongst his
thoughts. [926]
Bourrill[927]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 07:55 PM)
[928] "Actually, she
told us to go everywhere but here," Gram explains. "Your
cousin is a loyal friend, sir, and has endured much to keep Glacia's
whereabouts safe. However, she forgot to tell your competitors at the
harbor to keep quiet about you, sir - and I got a fish out of the
bargain."
A merry smile dances on Gram's lips; he always did like it when his wits paid
off in the end.
[930]
Himble grinned, and slapped Gram on the back, taking his hand now. When it was
obvious that they were friends of Glacia's, he was no longer the grim,
gray-haired Altmer, but a jovial oldster.
"Aye, she sent word that she had some visitors she sent on a wild goose
chase over the pavillions of Firsthold," he chuckled. "Hope you
enjoyed the tour. There weren't no way of knowing who you was, you know ...
Anyhow, you gonna take Glacia off our hands? Sweet girl, but she don't even
know how to bait a line ..."
He looked over at Glacia and Reeds fondly, a broad grin on his face.[931]
[932] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 06:55 PM)
[933] Bourrill
"I was going to go to Ald Raathim," Glacia said, her face buried in
Reeds's shoulder. "But they would have tracked me down there.
Someone at the Mages Guild would have talked. It seemed safer to take the
long way ... But when we tried to get into a city, they were looking for me
there too ..."
QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 07:01 PM)
[937] Bourrill
Himble grinned, and slapped Gram on the back, taking his hand now. When
it was obvious that they were friends of Glacia's, he was no longer the grim,
gray-haired Altmer, but a jovial oldster.
"Aye, she sent word that she had some visitors she sent on a wild goose
chase over the pavillions of Firsthold," he chuckled. "Hope you
enjoyed the tour. There weren't no way of knowing who you was, you know
... Anyhow, you gonna take Glacia off our hands? Sweet girl, but she
don't even know how to bait a line ..."
He looked over at Glacia and Reeds fondly, a broad grin on his face.
[939]
Gram grips Himble's hand strongly, saying "A fine tour indeed, with
excersice for everyone. And yes, if the lady is willing, we can take her back
with us. The Duchess of Ald Raathim happens to be my daughter, and a
dyed-in-the-wool romantic herself; we four stout men will escort the Lady
Glacia back to Ald Raathim."
"... All we have to figure out now is which mage guild to take for the
trip," Gram mutters. [940]
Bourrill[941]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 08:07 PM)
[942] Gram grips Himble's
hand strongly, saying "A fine tour indeed, with excersice for
everyone. And yes, if the lady is willing, we can take her back with
us. The Duchess of Ald Raathim happens to be my daughter, and a
dyed-in-the-wool romantic herself; we four stout men will escort the Lady Glacia
back to Ald Raathim."
"... All we have to figure out now is which mage guild to take for the
trip," Gram mutters.
[944]
"Nowhere in Summerset or Valenwood," Himble replied. "The Count
has property there, and they'll be looking for her that close to Firsthold
..."[945]
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 07:58 PM)
[946] "You're safe now..." Reeds said to her, "If you want to stay here, we won't tell anyone, but we can also take you to Ald Raathim... if you still want to come, that is."
[948]
"Like Himble said," Glacia laughed. "I'm no good at
fishing."[949]
[950] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 06:14 PM)
[951] Bourrill
"Nowhere in Summerset or Valenwood," Himble replied. "The Count
has property there, and they'll be looking for her that close to Firsthold
..."
[953]
"Won't a disguise work?" Reeds asks, lifting his head to look at the
group, "with ash or something similar she could pass as a Dunmer, couldn't
she?" [954]
Bourrill[955]
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 08:15 PM)
[956] "Won't a disguise work?" Reeds asks, lifting his head to look at the group, "with ash or something similar she could pass as a Dunmer, couldn't she?"
[958]
"Depends on who the Count has looking for her," Himble replied,
shrugging. "How well does he know you? If we disguised her, but he had his
men looking for you too, it wouldn't do much good."[959]
[960] QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 07:15 PM)
[961] "Won't a disguise work?" Reeds asks, lifting his head to look at the group, "with ash or something similar she could pass as a Dunmer, couldn't she?"
[963]
"Considering the Count's put the Dark Brotherhood on her trail, it'd have
to be a damn good disguise to fool them," Gram points out, "and if
she had access to such a disguise, well she'd probably be in Ald Raathim by
now."[964]
QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 07:14 PM)
[965] Bourrill
"Nowhere in Summerset or Valenwood," Himble replied. "The Count
has property there, and they'll be looking for her that close to Firsthold
..."
"Like Himble said," Glacia laughed. "I'm no good at
fishing."
[967]
"Then our best bet is Hammerfell, or High Rock," Gram decides.
"Preferably on a boat that won't be attracting much notice from the dark
hoods - for we did bloody their noses some in Firsthold and they are famed for
their long memories."
"So ... where to find a boat to take us north," Gram asks, grinning.
[968]
Bourrill[969]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 08:22 PM)
[970] "Considering the
Count's put the Dark Brotherhood on her trail, it'd have to be a damn good
disguise to fool them," Gram points out, "and if she had access to
such a disguise, well she'd probably be in Ald Raathim by now."
"Then our best bet is Hammerfell, or High Rock," Gram decides.
"Preferably on a boat that won't be attracting much notice from the dark
hoods - for we did bloody their noses some in Firsthold and they are famed for
their long memories."
"So ... where to find a boat to take us north," Gram asks, grinning.
[972]
"I'd take you, but my boat's not really built for sea travel," Himble
grinned, and then his smile faded. "So, you did have a run-in with the
Brotherhood ... Thrandra warned us that they were about."
[973]
[974] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 06:21 PM)
[975] Bourrill
"Depends on who the Count has looking for her," Himble replied,
shrugging. "How well does he know you? If we disguised her, but he
had his men looking for you too, it wouldn't do much good."
[977]
"He's got the drak brotherhood looking for her," Reed said to him,
"Although he might be looking for me. If I took a different way out, and
Glacia was with Erenius, Gram, and Isidor, disguised as a Dunmer, they might be
able to pass without notice. Although if we use the guild we should make
several jumps just in case." [978]
[979] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 07:22 PM)
[980] "Considering the
Count's put the Dark Brotherhood on her trail, it'd have to be a damn good
disguise to fool them," Gram points out, "and if she had access to
such a disguise, well she'd probably be in Ald Raathim by now."
"Then our best bet is Hammerfell, or High Rock," Gram decides.
"Preferably on a boat that won't be attracting much notice from the dark
hoods - for we did bloody their noses some in Firsthold and they are famed for
their long memories."
"So ... where to find a boat to take us north," Gram asks, grinning.
[982]
"Right, so maybe heading south, towards Alinor or Sunhold would be
best," the Imperial says, speaking again. "That, disguised as a
Dunmer with a robe, hood, and cloak, might just be enough to get onto the docks
and find us a ship there." [983]
[984] QUOTE(FireMaster @ Feb 27 2006, 06:29 PM)
[985] "Right, so maybe heading south, towards Alinor or Sunhold would be best," the Imperial says, speaking again. "That, disguised as a Dunmer with a robe, hood, and cloak, might just be enough to get onto the docks and find us a ship there."
[987]
"Or a guild guide, if we can manage it." Reeds said, "Perhaps
some sort of diversion, get the Dark Brotherhood to go on a wild goose
chase...?" [988]
Bourrill[989]
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 08:34 PM)
[990] "Or a guild guide, if we can manage it." Reeds said, "Perhaps some sort of diversion, get the Dark Brotherhood to go on a wild goose chase...?"
[992]
"It would have to be a big distraction," Glacia said quietly.
"Thrandra said the Mages Guilds would the first place they'd expect me to
leave by ... "[993]
[994] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 07:41 PM)
[995] Bourrill
"It would have to be a big distraction," Glacia said quietly.
"Thrandra said the Mages Guilds would the first place they'd expect me to
leave by ... "
[997]
Gram considers the situation for a moment. "Hmm ... well, an idea comes to
my mind now, though it is risky and puts Thandra in the breach ... but I
suspect that the dark hoods are watching her closely as well, and if we were to
make a big enough show of pressing her for information and she were to flee
..."
He shrugs. "Though I hesitate to ask a young serving girl to so openly
bait Tamriel's most feared assassins," he says. "But short of setting
fire to a landmark I'm not sure what else would be big enough a
distraction."[998]
[999] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 07:47 PM)
[1000] Gram considers the
situation for a moment. "Hmm ... well, an idea comes to my mind now,
though it is risky and puts Thandra in the breach ... but I suspect that the
dark hoods are watching her closely as well, and if we were to make a big
enough show of pressing her for information and she were to flee ..."
He shrugs. "Though I hesitate to ask a young serving girl to so
openly bait Tamriel's most feared assassins," he says. "But
short of setting fire to a landmark I'm not sure what else would be big enough
a distraction."
[1002]
"True, but then again, a ring or amulet of chameleon should suffice. She
sticks close to us, we transport ourselves out, she's in the locus, off we go,
Glacia aboard with us," Erenius suggests, realizing how outlandish it
sounds only after speaking it. [1003]
pie... [1004]
Bourrill[1005]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 08:47 PM)
[1006] Gram considers the
situation for a moment. "Hmm ... well, an idea comes to my mind now,
though it is risky and puts Thandra in the breach ... but I suspect that the
dark hoods are watching her closely as well, and if we were to make a big
enough show of pressing her for information and she were to flee ..."
He shrugs. "Though I hesitate to ask a young serving girl to so
openly bait Tamriel's most feared assassins," he says. "But
short of setting fire to a landmark I'm not sure what else would be big enough
a distraction."
[1008]
"They are watching the house?" Himble shivered. "Thrandra wasn't
certain ..."
"It would certainly attract the attention of the Brotherhood to make a
scene there," Glacia nodded. "But if you were the Brotherhood,
wouldn't you just keep some agents watching the Mages Guilds of Summerset,
regardless of other distractions? There are that many of them ... I don't know
what to do ... I guess that's why I just stayed here."[1009]
[1010] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 07:57 PM)
[1011] Bourrill
"They are watching the house?" Himble shivered. "Thrandra wasn't
certain ..."
"It would certainly attract the attention of the Brotherhood to make a
scene there," Glacia nodded. "But if you were the Brotherhood,
wouldn't you just keep some agents watching the Mages Guilds of Summerset,
regardless of other distractions? There are that many of them ... I don't
know what to do ... I guess that's why I just stayed here."
[1013]
"They are, I fear; that's where we first saw them," Gram confirms.
"And true, fair lady, I would; I was thinking though of trying to make a
scene at the Mage Guild itself, if at all possible. Say, take Thandra
there and force her to take us to where you're 'hiding', lure the agents into
following us, then you slip away ..."
He frowns. "Though, that sounds too complicated. Bah! Perhaps we should
eschew sublty at this point and simply walk into the Guild to return. So what
if they try to stop us? If they raise a hand against you they'll find axes and
swords aplenty to disuade them and my shield is broad enough to cover you as
well as myself from harm."[1014]
[1015] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 07:06 PM)
[1016] "They are, I
fear; that's where we first saw them," Gram confirms.
"And true, fair lady, I would; I was thinking though of trying to make a
scene at the Mage Guild itself, if at all possible. Say, take
Thandra there and force her to take us to where you're 'hiding', lure the
agents into following us, then you slip away ..."
He frowns. "Though, that sounds too complicated. Bah!
Perhaps we should eschew sublty at this point and simply walk into the Guild to
return. So what if they try to stop us? If they raise a hand
against you they'll find axes and swords aplenty to disuade them and my shield
is broad enough to cover you as well as myself from harm."
[1018]
"I like your idea Gram," Reeds says, "use us as a distraction to
let Glacia slip to Ald Raathim as a dunmer... that is," Reeds looks at the
Altmer still in his arms, "if you still want to come with me?" [1019]
Bourrill[1020]
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 09:10 PM)
[1021] "I like your idea Gram," Reeds says, "use us as a distraction to let Glacia slip to Ald Raathim as a dunmer... that is," Reeds looks at the Altmer still in his arms, "if you still want to come with me?"
[1023]
"Of course I do," Glacia smiled. "Where else am I going to
go?"[1024]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 09:06 PM)
[1025] "They are, I
fear; that's where we first saw them," Gram confirms.
"And true, fair lady, I would; I was thinking though of trying to make a
scene at the Mage Guild itself, if at all possible. Say, take
Thandra there and force her to take us to where you're 'hiding', lure the
agents into following us, then you slip away ..."
He frowns. "Though, that sounds too complicated. Bah!
Perhaps we should eschew sublty at this point and simply walk into the Guild to
return. So what if they try to stop us? If they raise a hand
against you they'll find axes and swords aplenty to disuade them and my shield
is broad enough to cover you as well as myself from harm."
[1027]
"But Thrandra is all right, isn't she?" Glacia's smile faded. "I
don't want to put people in danger ... If they know where I am, they'll find a
way somehow ..."[1028]
[1029] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 07:14 PM)
[1030] Bourrill
"But Thrandra is all right, isn't she?" Glacia's smile faded. "I
don't want to put people in danger ... If they know where I am, they'll find a
way somehow ..."
[1032]
"Glacia, my firends and I have taken on far worse than the Dark
Brotherhood before," Reeds said to her, "If you don't want to go
back, than you don't have to. I would rather die than to see you being taken
back by Count Terilite, the dark brotherhood, anyone." [1033]
Sentinel, the sewers[1034]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 05:18 PM)
[1035] "We break
through the door and deliver justice to the remaining raiders," Sir
Gancolm says grimly. "The simplest plans are the best, for they
leave little to go astray."
"Indeed," the knight says, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the
traps. His wounds close, though the look of fevered determination remains
in his eyes. "Thank you; your magic is strong, my Lady."
"I shall take the point," Sir Gancolm says once he is healed,
stepping forward. "Prepare yourselves; the final conflict is but
moments away. May Arkay bless us and protect us this day."
[1037]
Dana took up a position in the middle, eyes wide and alert. She checked her
armour, which was rather dirty with splashes of whatever substances there were
down in these stinking parts of the city. The only tear in her leather garments
was the hole which the arrow had made minutes ago.
She held her glass longsword with her right, to have her left hand free to cast
a healing spell at her companions if necessary.
"Let's get this done then, and be careful about the bearer of
Spellbreaker. Perhaps someone can cast reflect on us as well? I fear I do not
know enough to cast it over everyone here...", she said, turning into the
direction Gancolm headed. [1038]
[1039] QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 06:18 PM)
[1040] "We break
through the door and deliver justice to the remaining raiders," Sir Gancolm
says grimly. "The simplest plans are the best, for they leave little
to go astray."
"Indeed," the knight says, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the
traps. His wounds close, though the look of fevered determination remains
in his eyes. "Thank you; your magic is strong, my Lady."
"I shall take the point," Sir Gancolm says once he is healed,
stepping forward. "Prepare yourselves; the final conflict is but
moments away. May Arkay bless us and protect us this day."
[1042]
"Well," Athaso said stepping up seemingly out of nowhere from the
rear position he had taken during the trek through the sewers, "Let's
break down that door then," he finished with a faint smile. [1043]
[1044] QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Feb 27 2006, 08:14 PM)
[1045] Bourrill
"Of course I do," Glacia smiled. "Where else am I going to
go?"
"But Thrandra is all right, isn't she?" Glacia's smile faded. "I
don't want to put people in danger ... If they know where I am, they'll find a
way somehow ..."
[1047]
Gram gives Glacia his best reassuring smile. "When we left Firsthold, your
family and Thandra were still all right," he tells her. "Well then,
if it's keeping others from getting in trouble for you, then the best bet is to
be brazen. That way they'll know that they've lost the race. We shall head
back, defend ourselves if need be, and once in Ald Raathim we'll introduce you
to my daughter, who can doubtless use her influence to convince the Count to
give up the search."[1048]
Bourrill[1049]
QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 27 2006, 09:19 PM)
[1050] Gram gives Glacia his best reassuring smile. "When we left Firsthold, your family and Thandra were still all right," he tells her. "Well then, if it's keeping others from getting in trouble for you, then the best bet is to be brazen. That way they'll know that they've lost the race. We shall head back, defend ourselves if need be, and once in Ald Raathim we'll introduce you to my daughter, who can doubtless use her influence to convince the Count to give up the search."
QUOTE(stargate525 @ Feb 27 2006, 09:16 PM)
[1054] "Glacia, my firends and I have taken on far worse than the Dark Brotherhood before," Reeds said to her, "If you don't want to go back, than you don't have to. I would rather die than to see you being taken back by Count Terilite, the dark brotherhood, anyone."
[1056]
"I told you I do want to go there, more than anything," Glacia
replied to Reeds unhappily. "But Terilite won't give up, no matter what
... And even if we're safe in Ald Raathim thanks to the Duchess, he'll take his
revenge on Thrandra and everyone in Bourrill if he ever finds out they helped
me ..."
She shook her head. "I've been a fool. I should never have left. I've
caused too much trouble already."
And with that said
... LOCK ON! [1057]
* in a puff of red smoke, this segment of the tale ends * [1058]
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