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The Elder Scrolls Forums _ Elder Scrolls Lore _ RP: Morning Star Parade

Posted by: Loranna Jan 17 2005, 09:58 AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For information on reaching #Loranna_RP via Mirc or Chatspike, look http://sekkairc.freewebpage.org/.

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

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

Thank you, and have fun!

Summary:

In the previous installment of this thread ... hoooh boy, where to begin ...

Ahem:

We started to have the Trial, and saw Loranna defy Azura in front of everyone.

We saw Azura all but kill Loranna right there and then and take full control of her body.

We saw Azura THEN demand that everyone bow down and worship her; those who did now have eyes that go from normal to glowing blue, sort of like how Loranna's did, and they can summon a Winged Twilight once a day. Those who didn't are cursed to have the mark of tears on them in their next life and be slaves to Azura's chosen.

We then saw a major fight, in which a lot of people got torn to pieces, Azura got pierced with the Moon Riever after being bound by her True Name, the Ministry of Truth come sailing down only to be blown up by Aricyn's Thu'um, and ...

... well, Loranna survived, barely. We don't know yet if she'll pull through ... and Sen-Yedda has been transfered from Loranna to a Dwemer Simulcrum, crafted by Solin.

And oh yeah - I'm in search of a new avatar now that Azura went back to Oblivion

Part Twenty Seven begins ...

Posted by: stratigo Jan 17 2005, 10:08 AM

Zaldaar held his hands out. Two swords materialized in them. Then his body was covered with armour. Ragner, I need you now. It has begun. Another dunmer appeared next to Zaldaar. "Well this was the most likely future." He said. Ragner gripped his large sword and pulled it from its sheathe. They stood together as a mass of fanatics started towards them. "How many do you think there are?" Ragner asked. "a few hundred probally." Zaldaar replied. Ragner smiled, "Seems a bit unfair. Do you really need me here?" Zaldaar didn't respond. Several winged twighlights flew towards them. Zaldaar raised a hand and blasted one out of the air with a fireball. Ragner pointed his sword at the mass. "Not here, you'd bring the whole city down on us." Zaldaar said. "I don't get to have any fun." Ragner muttered as he charged forward, Zaldaar close behind.

Posted by: Solin Jan 17 2005, 10:10 AM

Ciel pulled himself out of the water and then turned around and grasped Tris’s arm and hauled him free. Wringing themselves off the pair rose to their feet and made their way back to what remained of the trial hall.

Azura’s followers had fled from the site of their goddess’s fall. No one hindered them as they made their way. Survivors were gathering around a small spectacle in the ruins. A small procession was forming. They would depart for Ald Sotha, strangely a refuge from the Daedra Prince’s worshipers.

The knight laughed a sardonic laugh when he saw that Loranna being carried away. It was not directed at her but it drew some strange glances all the same. She stood before the giant and was trampled. The goddess had been banished from the vessel during the course of the judgment and the vessel survived. She would remember her resolution, to fix the ills that she had created now that the powers that be had seen fit to spare her. Not to unlike himself in that regard.

He sighed.

There was Tris on his shoulder. Ciel turned his head and looked at him and then to Loranna. He had returned to Morrowind to bring Loranna to justice. Now he had done that. He stood and returned to watching as the survivors began make ready their departure.

Posted by: Teleran Jan 17 2005, 10:13 AM

Here's what happened to my character's in the most recent iteration:

Teleran: With the group heading to Ald Sotha. In the last iteration, he was picked up by the Ordies for questioning, broken out by Dante, then he got him arm hacked off by a winged twilight in the huge battle.

Tholer Rathryon: He took too long to get to Vivec and got incinerated when the Ministry came down. He's gone, and I don't think anyone is grieving. He was a jerk.

Neither of them has had that great of a time...but I have.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 17 2005, 10:15 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 17 2005, 03:00 AM)

"Is Azura... gone?" Tris asked. "Back to Oblivion, just like that? Or destroyed?"

He knew the story of the Battlespire, though. Azura couldn't be destroyed. She must be home now.

Tris heaved a heavy breath. "I feel relieved, yet strangely... ant-like, that she bore us no malice for bringing Loranna to trial. And now - you did it, Ciel. You did it, it's over. What happens next?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 17 2005, 10:19 AM

ooc summaries:

Allerleirauh is leading Loranna's party to Ald Sotha, in hopes that the new race created by Azura won't pursue them there. She has decided to keep Sen-Yedda away from her mother, but hasn't discussed it with Loranna yet.

Tris and Ciel both survived. Ciel's goal of bringing Loranna to justice has been, for all practical purposes, fulfilled.

Doll is still off the Bitter coast with the band of freed slaves.

Dragon and Skein are at Solunastra guild house.

Posted by: stratigo Jan 17 2005, 10:24 AM

Zaldaar swirled and cut down another blue-eyed fanatic. That made 47. Zaldaar had no idea where Ragner was, as they had been sepperated in the first few seconds. Zaldaar parried another poorly aimed blowed, and guted the dunmer. 48. There were so many of them though. Zladaar was powerful, but he wasn't a god. He could not destroy armies. Or not without killing everything in 10 mile radius. 49. Zaldaar exchanged blows with a fairly skilled assailent. Before Zaldaar could twist one sword in, a glancing blow across the shoulder plate made him step back. As if sencing weakness the hoard pressed towards him. Several blows rained in upon Zaldaar. A few made it passed his defenses, and a couple manged to penetrate his armour. With a scream, Zaldaar slammed one sword into the ground. Bursts of electricity shot from it. several fanatics were fried as they ran forward, while others were blown back by the concusive force. A smile spread across Zaldaar's lip. He now stood in the middle of a 5 feet circle of dead bodies. His enemies hesitated for a minute, then charged forward again. 56.

Posted by: Solin Jan 17 2005, 10:25 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 17 2005, 02:05 AM)

"Can you destroy them?" Ciel asked quietly.

He looked back to Tris, he had a smile on his face.

"Not just me," he said wrapping his arm around Tris's shoulders and giving a squeeze. "We finished what I wanted to do. We're done..."

Ciel glanced at their surroundings. A piece of the Ministry sat nearby still flaming.

"Much has happened here though. I don't know what quite to make of it. The Queen remains, I think, Loranna goes to meet her... fate, and those two creatures still run loose in Void."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 17 2005, 10:35 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 17 2005, 03:15 AM)

Tris laughed a shaky laugh, leaning against Ciel for a moment.

"Leseth's still here, the Queen's still here, and I go from folly to folly, it seems. Ciel, I..."

He straightened, taking his weight on his own limbs again. "I'm going to go speak with the General."

It was time he started using all his strengths. Time to stop treating himself tenderly. For the sake of both their lives.

Posted by: Shardie Jan 17 2005, 10:37 AM

The fate of My (aka Meridia's) Characters

Meridia - watched Azura get banished... her business on Nirn is done...
Maranda - Maranda has currently made residence at the Imperial Provence... after renouncing worshiping Meridia
Daidez - Still in Skyrim, recovering, or stalling, from returning
Shardie - Dead
"he-who-hunts-elves" - Dead
Mysterious Stranger in Red Robe - WHo this stranger is is unknown, however, it seems like Shardie was one of his subordinates...

Posted by: Solin Jan 17 2005, 10:43 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 17 2005, 02:25 AM)

"Alright," Ciel nodded slowly. "To Ald Sotha it is. I will see what I can find out about what is going to happen there. Best of luck, see you soon."

Posted by: Attrebus Jan 17 2005, 10:59 AM

Helseth gave the order. Something had happened in Vivec, something that needed to be taken care of.

The ships slid from the dock bound for Vivec, Helseth on the lead ship.

Posted by: w0nders Jan 17 2005, 01:06 PM

Summary-

Dante, has dissapeared after the large battle, which, he wasn't present for.

Illidan, remains yet to be seen.

Brum & Inzoliah, I'm pretty sure they're still hiding out in the Foreign Quater canalworks.
-------------

Not too far off of the Temple canton, in the water, floated an Indoril clad figure. It drifted, landing on the shore of an Island, not too far east of the St.Olms Canton, that is where the figure regained consciousness.

"Ugh....where am I..? what happened? where is everyone..?" Dante muttered to himself, coughing up a large amount of sea water as he spoke, he slowly stood up and looked over the carnage that was now Vivec. I have to find the others...... He thought to himself, walking slowly and uneasily to the north of this island.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 17 2005, 01:55 PM

Summary:

Elysana, the Queen of Wayrest, silently accompanied Loranna on her various pilgrimages, along with her battlemage Herwyn. She was present when Loranna became Azura. No one knows what has become of her, whether she bowed to the Prince or not.

Jazbet, the Khajiit Knight of House Dres, also accompanied the group, and was present when it all happened. No one knows what has become of him, whether he bowed to the Prince or not.

They have both, for all intents, disappeared in the chaos that ensued.

Posted by: DuneDweller Jan 17 2005, 03:45 PM

It is the aftermath of the battle at the trial...

The area is silent, a kind of mist shrouds the area with the onset of dawn. All have since left the place, all but the dead ones. Then, a small twinkle of light appears in the center of the field, it then gets bigger and bigger. Suddenly a portal rips open and sends shock bolts in all directions! A figure then steps out of the portal wearing a dim white robe. He has a turbin and a shroud surrounds all of his face but the eyes.

"By the gods!" he whispers as the man surveys damage.
"I leave this place for 3 centuries and look what happens! Foolish children, ignorant!"

The figure than waves his arm and chants some ancient words. The mist begins to quiver and change color, then the ground. In an instant the entire are is repaired, it was as if nothing had ever taken place there...ever...

Posted by: Nalion Jan 17 2005, 05:32 PM

Summary for Nalion: Vivec, at the time of the Trial of Loranna:
Nalion's inquiries in the Foreign quarter had been successful so far. He had been informed that Loranna had turned herself to face trial. He just was on the way to the trial hall, seeing it from afar.

Then, Azura's voice rang over the Cantons like a stormwind over the Inner Sea.

QUOTE

YOU HAVE SEEN THE MIRACLES OF AZURA. YOU HAVE HEARD THE VOICES OF HER ENEMIES AND SEE THEY DO HER NO HARM. YOUR FAITH HAS BEEN TESTED AND FOUND STRONG. SHOW IT AGAIN, HERE AND NOW.

People began kneeling, eyes turning azure blue, swearing oaths to their new Lord Azura.
Nalion was knocked back by the voice, then dropped on one knee. His minds' eye saw Azura in all her glory.
Regal. Beautiful. Powerful. Inspiring.
His brown eyes were streaked with a blue shade.

QUOTE

GIVE YOUR OATH NOW, IN MY PRESENCE; TURN FROM THE FALSE GODS OF THE TRIBUNAL AND THE WEAK GODS OF THE NINE, AND EMBRACE ME.

His mouth opened to speak the words.

Pictures and words appear before him.

Nalion saw himself sitting in a Tavern, facing Arynel...
You. When you wonder what your next step will be,
Choose wisely, for it's the only that you can influence and see.

Nalion left Ghostgate, wandering east...
Bridges must be torn,
Chains must be broken,
Burdens must be lifted.

QUOTE

I SHALL SHOW MERCY THIS ONCE, AND STATE AGAIN - GIVE ME YOUR OATH OF DEVOTION. TURN FROM ALL OTHER GODS, ACCEPT MY BLESSING INTO YOUR HEART AND BECOME ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF AZURA. MY SERVANTS SHALL BE YOUR SERVANTS; YOU SHALL ALWAYS WALK IN MY PROTECTION.

The Breton mage shook heavily, but he hesitated.

The blue streaks in his eyes remained.

The Ashlands, Lirielles ghost appeared in front of him...
The bridges to your past have been torn now.

QUOTE

REFUSE AND YOUR FATE SHALL FOLLOW YOU EVEN INTO YOUR NEXT LIFE; YOU SHALL WEEP BITTER TEARS AT YOUR FOLLY AND BE SO MARKED AS THE SLAVES OF MY CHOSEN.

Nalions eyes flare upon this sentence. "No, I shall not bow because of a threat. You claim to be the mercy of your people and yet you destroy them by cursing their friends and allies. This cannot be. I shall not bow to you, demon."

Nalion rose from his kneeling position, the azure blue streak in his eyes vanished.

QUOTE

THEY HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES, AND NOW THEY SHALL MEET THE FATE THEY HAVE CHOSEN FOR THEMSELVES ...

Then, Oblivion broke loose.

Nalion remembered few of the minutes that followed now. His staff whirled, fending off Winged Twilights and those who had sworn their soul to Azura.
He fought for his bare life, but managed to get a hold on a stair.
Then, the Winged Twilights vanished in an instant. Nalions sharpened gaze looked around and saw Aricyn standing above Loranna, sword in hand, finally understanding the purpose of the sword. "Moon Reiver!"

Then, he saw Lie Rock burning...
"No, this can't be true. Vivecs prophecy of the Sermons fulfilled? Its destructive intention awakened?"
Then, the moon exploded with a deafening roar.
The fight began anew, not against foes of flesh and bone but against rock and flame. Nalion dodged the boulders flying in every direction, avoiding the breaking bridges.

Minutes after, he found a place of shelter. His vision was still enhanced and so he could see the figures of the party, crowding around the corpse of Loranna. Then, bitter tears began to run down his face.
He barely understood the appearance of Solin and his machinery and Loranna seemingly rising from the dead. Then, the party left, to the east.
Weary and with his last reserves, he cast an invisibility spell and fled...

Posted by: El_Ahrairah Jan 17 2005, 06:06 PM

Summary for Latius Maltne:

Armigers are trained to be emotionally resilient, in such a way that it is difficult to control them. They had been loyal to Vivec, of course, but now the noble obeisance has shifted to Sen-Yedda. Serethi Indoril had ordered Maltne to relieve himself of Loranna. The reason for this probably lied in the fact that Indoril had become disillusioned with the Temple's support; he misunderstood Saryoni's suicide. Either way, the Armigers were not loyal to Indoril, and decided to quietly make their way to Vivec, where the Incarnate Mother was located.

By the time the Trial had commenced, Maltne had arrived at the city's main bridge. He heard the call of Azura, but shrugged it off, or didn't care about it. Now Azura is banished, and Morrowind is not going to be obliterated, thanks to Aricyn. Maltne is going to follow the Party now and whatever strength of Armigers still remain outside Vivec.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 17 2005, 06:11 PM

Morndas, 17th of Morning Star

Intrepid and victorious! Fear no longer must I have, and consternation cease, the thread unwound and a new one start. Azura has been returned to Oblivion, and the wheel rejoices; I know, I have followed along its contours, tracing over the parts unsought and written the letters on my heart. There is turmoil yet, to be sure, new peoples have arisen, with great power. What will come of them? I cannot say, yet I leave them now, until I am called to return.

I find myself on the shores of Lake Hairan, there is a gracious way about the world, that through fire one arrives at water invariably. Take both with you on your travels; fire and water to be your companions always, and all manner of possibilities born within.

Posted by: stratigo Jan 17 2005, 06:36 PM

Zaldaar went down on one knee. He was bleeding from many wounds and his armour had dissapeared. He had killed 157 of them. It still was not enough. Zaldaar hadn't seen Ragner yet, but by the screams, Zaldaar could tell that he was still alive. Zaldaar thrust forward and speared another enemy. 158. He spun, blocking a blow and cutting another fanatics legs from under him. 159. A lucky blow pierced his shoulder. His hand went numb and one of his swords dissapeared. He cut down the blade and then slashed up, cathing his attacker in the throat. 159. Zaldaar. Blocked three blows coming towards him, then ducked under a blow and thrust up. 160. He felt another sword go through his heel, hamstringing him. He collapsed on the ground. His sight started to fade as the mass pressed in for the kill. The last thing he saw before blacking out was a figure holding a large sword burst into the crowd, smashing them back. Then blackness took him.

Posted by: Aki Jan 17 2005, 06:51 PM

Summary

Reichi had not bowed to Azura. So he had fought, and all that fun stuff. Hes now travelling with the group towards Ald Sotha. He has yet to inform them that the shrine is the local base of Dark Brotherhood activity in Vvardenfell.

Dar'Var is still off with the slaves, blissfully ignorant of the hell that just broke lose.

Tarenen and the Hunters however, are not doing so well. All but two of the Hunters and Tarenen are dead. Corpses lying in the Foreign Quarter Canalworks. Which are currenly without light, as all the candles seem to have been blown out by the attacker.
--------------------------------------------------

They had checked the bodies numerous times. There were indeed several attackers. But he could not figure out why, or how. Why did they attack now? How did so many go unnoticed?

Tarenen slammed his fist into a wall. They had to be friends of Reichi's. "So what have you found out?" he asked of the other two. The scene of carnage was light dimly by a few lanterns now. The city itself was in turmoil, they wouldn't know of this till things settled.

"We found a live one sir!" came a call from one of the other hunters. Tarenen rushed over. The Hunter was holding a wounded man up.

"What happpened here?" Tarenen asked. The other Hunter attempted to heal the wounded man.

"Ambush. a couple Robed figures came out from the stores while we where deciding what do, we knew everyone was at the temple so we didn't know what to do, then something blew the candles out...the only light came when one man suddenly cried out in pain, and fired his Halberd. Then...we saw them, for a moment, then one jumped in the mass of Halberdirs, they all turned and fired upon him, he jumped, they fried themselves," The wounded hunter replied.

"What were they?"

"Werewolves...a brown one, with scars, lots of them, five in a claw pattern raking across his face, looked young. Another was big, black as night. Only saw him because another one was behind him."

"What one?"

"A white one, it was..." the wounded man trailed off. Then closed his eyes. He wasn't breathing.

"What happened? Why isn't he speaking? Did he die?" Tarenen looked to the Hunter who had tried to heal the man. Who nodded.

"DAMNIT! I knew it. That werewolf was involved. Hes going to die. Come, we leave now!" Tarenen cried out and headed up, out of the canalworks. The two hunters followed. They were stopped by a Ohmes Khajiit, Rakshada.

"Tarenen, the Wolf has headed to Ald Sotha, with the others of the group." Rakshada said.

"To Ald Sotha then." He replied.

Soon, Tarenen, Rakshada and the remaining hunters headed off towards Ald Sotha.
---------------------------------------

Reichi meanwhile was travelling with the group. Completely oblivious of the furious Tarenen after him. He wasn't part of that slaughter. He had been too busy slaughtering Azura's followers when she took over Loranna. It was impossible for him to be in too place at once. Impossible to transform in daylight.

Posted by: niceguy5 Jan 17 2005, 07:05 PM

Summary -

His mortal body revealed the scars of the battle. Dane drank two standard healing potions before they started to Ald Sotha. He was also without a shirt only his tan pants were his clothing.

Posted by: Dracodrakonis Jan 17 2005, 07:07 PM

Summary:

The Void:
The 'Weaver' is still watching, his interest in the current events on Nirn are drawing to a close. His goal almost accomplished. One final little detail to work out in this wayward thread.

Ald'Ruhn:
The Lord of Khuul has left Helseth, seeing the spectacular events in Vivec from Ebonheart, and is now in the Council Chambers.

"Clear the Main Hall" he instucts a guard. "Everyone Out but the councilors."

After a few minutes the Council Hall is empty save for the Council.

"Helseth, quite the dangerous fool, still, has offered us nothing to do nothing."
"He wants a show of unity from the houses."
"It is all a game to him, his step-sister, the Queen of Wayrest, is behind much of the trouble. They both are engaged in a deadly game and have chosen Vvardenfell as their playground."

"He is moving on Vivec as I speak."
"Backed by a large force of Imperial Guards."

He relays the Events of Vivec to the council as he knows them. Other reports round off and fill out the details for himself and the Council.

"I suggest we evacuate most of our Canton in Vivec, and our allies there."
"Many of the Ordinators and Priest left are loyal to House Redoran, the Temple is as good as dead, they will need a refuge and we can always use more 'swords and spells'."

"We may want to invite some of our more friendly Telvanni brethran to discuss matters of interest to both our houses."

"Much is at stake, we have a lot to discuss, and much work still to do."
"All Redoran Lords should be summoned."

There is some quiet muttering and then the Council retires for a recess. Messengers are sent out to all the Redoran Lords on Vvardenfell.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 17 2005, 07:18 PM

Dagoth was glad that Loranna survived all this.... okay more glad than is possible to discribe with words. Now all they had to do was get to Ald Sotha....... he was eager to see how Loranna behaved when Azura wasn't inhibiting her.

Posted by: Two-Tails Jan 17 2005, 08:17 PM

A cloaked figure made his way tword Ald Sotha, he knew that was were the others would go, he himself had used it as a hideout a few times. He looked at his left hand, though it was now covered by a chitin gauntlet, he could still feel the burns underneath, along with the horrable memories of his past that had come with them.....

Posted by: FireMaster Jan 17 2005, 10:36 PM

Summary:

Erenius pretty much followed the party in silence, observing everything, but not quite having everything digested just yet. Erenius stood with Dagoth against Azura's followers, despite having not partaken in the main combat, Erenius did have to fight his way through the crowd just to return so he may sleep.
==
[An hour or so after the trial's completion]
*Erenius awoke in his room, his head throbbing*

'What has happened?' he thinks as he dresses and goes to the railing outside his room, where commoner and worshipper alike stood, staring at the Temple canton.

"Something has happened, and I have a feeling that I don't like whatever outcome comes from this..." Erenius frowns, rememberring the past several hours where he watched as Azura demanded they bow before her.

'And I chose against it...' Erenius says, knowing fully the price it brought upon him. "Now I just wonder where they may be going next, or if they have already left."

"Rumor states they be going towards Ald Sotha..." a Dunmer says, packing his things along the railing. "If you are going as well, noble Imperial, I suggest you be ready soon."

*Erenius thanked the kindly Dunmer and went off to pack for the coming trip*
===
[Now, with the main party]

*Erenius stood towards the front of the column, looking upon the rear, noting their numbers slightly smaller than before*

"At last, I have realized my reason for being here at this," Erenius says. "I see that someone wishes me tested..."

*Erenius says more about that, but it is inaudible to the rest nearby due to a loud noise. Erenius scans the area quickly, sensnig something amiss, but likely nothing important...and cause of the sound unseen*

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 01:37 AM

The Arena Canton, Vivec

The set representing Castle Mournhold was very elaborate. Trapdoors, false walls, mirrors and hidden ropes had been set up for the ghost special effects, sophisticated pulleys had been mounted allowing certain rooms to be revealed and concealed. At one point in the play, the walls ooze blood, and hundreds of little packets had been hidden throughout the set for this effect.

Baloth-Kul watched the set being demolished the day of the play's premiere, before one performance had been done. No one would have attended after what had happened -- and anyone who would have would not be as shocked as the playwright would have wished: much more horrifying things had occured in real life in the past few hours. He couldn't follow an act like Azura.

There were many methods of suicide available to him. He thought and thought about the one that would hurt the least.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 03:52 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 06:27 PM)

Roof of the Arena Canton: Mirea

Mirea, the redheaded Bosmer, had been watching events unfold from within the Void. She was starting to relax - so far no one had tried to devour her. And it was fascinating watching the different people scramble to save themselves, from safely outside.

She had been watching Baloth-Kul in particular for the past several minutes. Now she emerged backstage, and followed him up to the roof on tiptoe.

"Hey!" she called. "Are you going to kill yourself? Can I watch?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 03:56 AM

Roof of the Arena Canton

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 17 2005, 09:42 PM)

"Hey!" she called. "Are you going to kill yourself? Can I watch?"

"Why not?" the playwright bellowed very dramatically. "Someone should tell the tale for posterity, how Baloth-Kul turned his back on mediocrity and flew headfirst into ..." He paused, looking the girl over. "You're not planning on eating my body afterwards, are you, Bosmer?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 04:10 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 08:46 PM)

Roof of the Arena Canton
"Why not?" the playwright bellowed very dramatically. "Someone should tell the tale for posterity, how Baloth-Kul turned his back on mediocrity and flew headfirst into ..." He paused, looking the girl over. "You're not planning on eating my body afterwards, are you, Bosmer?"

Mirea wrinkled her nose. "You're supposed to finish a corpse within three days. I'd have my job cut out for me, with you."

She walked to the edge of the canton and looked down. "Headfirst into the pavement? That's not a very good story. Besides, lots of people died today. Probably no one would notice. What's the stuff for inside?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 04:19 AM

Roof of the Arena Canton

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 17 2005, 10:00 PM)

Baloth-Kul touched his belly at Mirea's cruel words. He was very sensitive about his weight.

"The stuff inside was to be the set for a play, the greatest lampoon of contemporary politics ever created. A back-prickling festival of laughter, an indictment of regency and privelege with a great many jokes about flatulence and some gratuitous violence and nudity to make it beloved by the simple people," the great playwright sighed. "O, the tragedy when the destruction of a city means the destruction of Great Art ..."

He paused, took a deep breath and continued: "No one would even notice, is that what you said? My dear girl, I am an artist. When I am dead, my art will live on. And I will probably get a good many more bookings ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 04:26 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 09:09 PM)

Roof of the Arena Canton
Baloth-Kul touched his belly at Mirea's cruel words. He was very sensitive about his weight.

"The stuff inside was to be the set for a play, the greatest lampoon of contemporary politics ever created. A back-prickling festival of laughter, an indictment of regency and privelege with a great many jokes about flatulence and some gratuitous violence and nudity to make it beloved by the simple people," the great playwright sighed. "O, the tragedy when the destruction of a city means the destruction of Great Art ..."

He paused, took a deep breath and continued: "No one would even notice, is that what you said? My dear girl, I am an artist. When I am dead, my art will live on. And I will probably get a good many more bookings ..."

"You should probably jump then," Mirea said. "WHO are you? I'm bad with names."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 04:32 AM

The Roof of the Arena Canton

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 17 2005, 10:16 PM)

"You should probably jump then," Mirea said. "WHO are you? I'm bad with names."

"Baloth-Kul," the playwright said, taking Mirea's hand and kissing it. "You would no doubt know my play 'The Horror at Castle Xyr.'"

He took a look over the side of the canton. He wasn't crazy about heights.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 06:21 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 09:22 PM)

The Roof of the Arena Canton
"Baloth-Kul," the playwright said, taking Mirea's hand and kissing it. "You would no doubt know my play 'The Horror at Castle Xyr.'"

He took a look over the side of the canton. He wasn't crazy about heights.

"Mirea," she said, with a very deep curtsey. "Is that the really gross one? With all the dead people? I liked that. You should write more like that."

She cleared her throat and spat off the side of the canton, then watched the spittle fall. "Three seconds. You aiming for the concrete, or the water?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 06:25 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 12:11 AM)

"Thank you, my dear," said Baloth-Kul with a modest grin and a self-deprecating shrug. "It does my weary heart good to know that -- well, I hadn't really thought about aiming. I'm hopeless with spatial relationships ... The ground I suppose would be ideal. I've always disliked water because I can't swim."

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 06:26 AM

Dante continued to wander, weakly, north of the island, in an attempt to re-group with everyone.

Minutes past, and it would seem he had gained almost no ground at all, not to mention he was wandering quite slowly, suddenly he bumped into something, another living something, causing him to fall back down to the ground.

Dante looked up, and meeting his eyes were to firey blue ones that of Yen, "Hello, Dante..." He snarled, his mouth snapping into a sneer.

Dante staggered back up onto his feet and drew his sword, rather weakly, seeing this, Yen laughed, "You're in no condition to fight...just give up and I'll make you're passing as painless as possible." Dante, didn't answer, not out of an act of courage, but an act of fatigue.

Yen growled and drew his own blade, he lifted it above his head ready to strike...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 06:29 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 11:15 PM)

"Then you should aim for the water," Mirea said, grinning.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 06:37 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 12:19 AM)

"Then you should aim for the water," Mirea said, grinning.

"It would be just my luck if my aim was true this one time,' Baloth-Kul sighed, peering over the edge. "The water looks particularly filthy. Do be a dear, and when you speak of this, tell people I meant to hit whatever I do ... I don't want my death to be any more risible than absolutely necessary ..."

The playwright walked back from the edge, smiled. "A running start, I think is what the situation calls for."

He got into position, tensing his flabby muscles ... four fast steps and that would take him sailing right over the edge into posterity ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 06:51 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 11:27 PM)

"You're really going to do it? Let me get a better spot."

Mirea moved along the railing, looking for a place that would allow her the best view of the pavement below. Then she looked back at Baloth-Kul and wrinkled her eyebrows. Her conscience, which was so fleeting as to barely exist, was struggling to make itself heard.

"You'd do anything for an audience, wouldn't you? So - I guess what I should do now is go away, so you'll stop."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 06:55 AM

(OOC: I hate posting out of character, but it's necessary...

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (That means read it!):
The following is not the opinion of myself, alone. It reflects the opinions of this roleplaying group as a whole.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, and have fun!

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program...

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 06:58 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 12:41 AM)

"You'd do anything for an audience, wouldn't you? So - I guess what I should do now is go away, so you'll stop."

"It is too late, the curtain has risen, remain in your seats," Baloth-Kul said with a wink, and began running. "I embrace eternity! And I spit in the face of medioc -- AHHHH! WHAT AM I DOING?!"

But he ran and he leapt.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 07:06 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 17 2005, 11:48 PM)

Three seconds is not a lot of time, and Mirea's pack was particularly messy. She was sure she had a slowfall scroll somewhere.

She found it, and cast it, as quickly as she could.

In the back of her mind she was wondering what the word "risible" meant. She would have to ask someone, if she remembered.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 07:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 12:56 AM)

It now occurred to Baloth-Kul that his aim had been regrettably good. He was going to land in the water and drown. Typical luck.

It also occurred to him that he was having more time in mid-air to think about things that he expected to have. He knew that Akatosh was famous for slowing down time just before one dies to give a moment to reflect, but this was ridiculous. The boat was coming closer. He should be in the water by now, but … oh Poet, they were going to –

The playwright dropped right through the sail of the boat, which wrapped around him tight as the entire rigging crashed into the water.

‘Man overboard!’ cried the captain, a Dres sailor commissioned to pilot Elysana’s boat to Vivec.

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 07:22 AM

Yen brought his sword down, with a suprisingly large amount of force, Dante brought his own sword up, and parried the strike, the sound of ebony colliding with ebony rung out through the countryside.

Yen brought his sword back again, to repeat the process, as did Dante, this time however, the force from Yen's strike knocked Dante's blade right out of his hand. Dante fell backwards a little, then he began to unsteadily run in the opposite direction, Yen pursueing hastily.

He caught up with Dante and kicked him in the back, sending him crashing to the ground, "Give up now...I promise I'll make it quick..." He chuckled, slowly approaching the fallen Dante from behind, seeing this, Dante seized the oppurtunity and planted his hands in the ground, he lifted his lowerbody up and donkey kicked Yen right in the chest.

He fell backwards and dropped his own sword, rather shocked at what had just happened, he stood up again and charged full force at Dante.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 07:33 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 18 2005, 12:12 AM)

The playwright Baloth-Kul sailed off the Arena canton roof without quite as much grace as he would have liked. Arms and legs flailing, his colorful foppish robe whirling about, screeching in terror, he looked like crippled cliff racer festooned in bright feathers.

When he began to plummet, he noticed the ship sailing up to the docks below, some distance away. It occurred to him they were audience members with cheap seats, far from the action. Still, the more people to witness, the better.

Though he was falling quickly, he did have time to think that he didn’t really want to die. Actually, he had a new play half-written at home, and he didn’t like the character of the witch’s daughter very much. Undoubtedly, it would be posthumously produced, and not really do much for his reputation.
It now occurred to Baloth-Kul that his aim had been regrettably good. He was going to land in the water and drown. Typical luck.

It also occurred to him that he was having more time in mid-air to think about things that he expected to have. He knew that Akatosh was famous for slowing down time just before one dies to give a moment to reflect, but this was ridiculous. The boat was coming closer. He should be in the water by now, but … oh Poet, they were going to –

The playwright dropped right through the sail of the boat, which wrapped around him tight as the entire rigging crashed into the water.

‘Man overboard!’ cried the captain, a Dres sailor commissioned to pilot Elysana’s boat to Vivec.

Baloth-Kul was too far away to see Mirea's face (and besides he was wrapped in a sail) which was a pity - her expression was shocked and astonished enough to warm any playwright's heart.

"Well, I guess I saved the day then," Mirea said, straightening up and dusting off her hands. Who were those guys, with the boat, anyway?

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 18 2005, 07:42 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 01:23 AM)

It took three sailors to drag the sputtering, thrashing playwright-and-main-sail combination aboard the boat. They were not the kindest of rescuers.

'You idiot,' said the captain. 'Trying your first levitation scroll and ran out of juice, did you? The queen will --'

'Queen?' the playwright repeated, his eyes shining.

'Sorry, I meant, her ladyship, Lady Farrine, will have your guts for garters ...' the captain stammered miserably, realizing that it was really his guts at stake now.

A queen in the guise of a lady, Baloth-Kul thought. This sounded promising. It was a good thing he was alive to investigate this matter. A new subject, or a new patroness rose on the horizon, now that Azura's usefulness in that regard has set.

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 07:47 AM

Yen dived ontop of Dante, screaming loudly as he did this, he grabbed a handful of his hair and began to repeadetly slam Dante's face into the ground, he spoke, "Now, that wasn't very nice was it?" He stepped off of Dante and walked over towards his sword, "I told you, act nice and don't struggle, you'll have a quick and painless death, but you just don't want to follow the rules!" Yen picked up and charged at Dante again, the sword held high above his head.

Meanwhile, at Ald Sotha-

"Hey guys! look what I found!" Shouted Illidan, casually strolling around the ruins to meet the group, "I can't quite unwrap this darn thing, can you give me a hand, it's wrapped pretty damn tight" What he was attempting to open up was no ordinary parcel, but a dwemer satchel pack.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 18 2005, 07:51 AM

Arynel sat idly by the shore, stirring the waters of Lake Hairan with a stick. A young Dunmer girl wandered up to him, and began to scrutinize.

“Yes, what is it?” The Breton asked looking up.

“Oh, I am relieved.” The Dunmer said, turning up her nose.

Arynel pursed his lips, eyeing the girl for a moment. “Very good then,” he said with a smile, before turning his gaze back towards the water.

“Mother said to watch out,” the Dunmer girl said, “for the shiny blue eyed people.”

“Oh?” Arynel inquired, not turning his head. “I will be sure to keep a trained eye, thank you.”

“No, no, no.” The Dunmer girl said, wrinkling her nose. “I wasn’t warning you! I was making sure YOU didn’t have shiny blue eyes too.”

“You had only to ask, my dear.” Arynel said, still not turning.

“You call me dear one more time…” The Dunmer girl said with a scowel.

“Ah the deer,” the Breton began, “see how they frolic so merrily about, such as a child on the green grass in spring.”

The Dunmer girl wrinkled her brow, stuck up her nose, and “Hmmphed,” before turning and walking away.

Arynel took a deep breath. The Breton smiled as he stirred up little ripples in the water.

Posted by: stratigo Jan 18 2005, 07:51 AM

Zaldaar's eyes flickered open. He had a terrible headache and his arm was numb. He looked at it. It had a jagged hole in it wich had obviously sever the tendings. He was lucky it was there at all. "So your awake?" Ragner said. "Those fanatics were a nasty bunch. Almost got you before I transported us out of there." "Where are we?" Zaldaar asked. "Where do you think? It was the only place I could concentrate on." Ragner replied. Zaldaar looked around. It was empty. "Well it could be worse."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 08:00 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 18 2005, 12:37 AM)

"Let it be, don't fool with it," Allerleirauh directed. "We may need it some time. And don't go wandering off, this place is dangerous and something might chase you."

They had cleared out the Daedra, as far as she could determine. Still, this was an unlucky place, heavy with the spirits of the dead. Maybe Seht's kin would be gracious to them, for his sake. She had whispered a prayer for the Velothi dead.

Aricyn was with them; but his powerful voice was not helping to direct the stragglers. In fact, it seemed he could barely speak.

She sought him out privately, when they had settled in somewhat.

"This isn't alchemy, just cookery," she said, offering him a bottle. "To ease your throat. You should let me see to those ribs."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 08:12 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 01:50 AM)

Aricyn smiled at her and accepted the bottle. Sometimes being immune to magic had its drawbacks. The liquid in the bottle was thick, tasted of citrus, and was very soothing to his throat.

He took a couple of drinks, set the bottle down, and pulled off his armor.

The much sought after Cuirass he laid carefully at his side. Although its job here was done, he had no intentions of allowing it to disappear back into the mists of legend.

His white chest was bruised from the inside, and looked terrible. He smiled a Nord's smile and said, "It's not so bad."

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 08:15 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 01:50 AM)

"Let it be, don't fool with it," Allerleirauh directed. "We may need it some time. And don't go wandering off, this place is dangerous and something might chase you."

Illidan nodded firmly and gently placed the satchel pack down on a pillar of stone, where he sat next to it, now being careful NOT to touch it that much.

Meanwhile, at Dante's location-

Dante weakly climbed on to one knee, he turned to face Yen and smirked, little did he know that Dante had his hand wrapped firmly around his dagger of Senses, "Now you die!" shouted Yen charging in closer to Dante.

Once he was in range, Dante dived forward, plunging the dagger deep within Yen, "no.....now, you die..." He whispered weakly, Yen looked down at Dante horrified, then let out a scream as the pain finally hit him, he crumpled to the floor, dead.

Dante pulled his dagger from Yen and pocketed it, he walked further north of the Island and retrieved his own sword, sheathing it quickly. Now, to find the others... He thought to himself, walking further north.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 08:19 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 18 2005, 01:02 AM)

"Your skin is whiter than mine is," she said, running her hands gently over his ribcage. "You should be careful to stay out of the sun here, you'd burst into flames like a vampire."

This wasn't literally true; her skin was just as fair. But his seemed more opaque; no tint of pink showed through it.

"Right," she said. "This is hard to do by yourself."

She bound his chest firmly. It would hurt while she did it, but having done it, it would hurt much less when he moved.

"You should sleep if you can," she said. "You're very strong, you'll heal. So - my grand plan has come to fruition, more or less. What happens to yours? I owe you a favor, you know."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 08:26 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 02:09 AM)

He flexed his shoulders approving of Allerleirauh's battlefield medicine, then swallowed another drink of the heavy liquid.

"Everyone within a hundred miles owes me a favor," he said cockily, but quietly. "My plan is the same as it always was, but I think all the players have changed.

He took another drink.

"It's like that rock, though. If I fail, we're all doomed, so I won't fail."

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 08:27 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 17 2005, 10:05 PM)

Illidan nodded firmly and gently placed the satchel pack down on a pillar of stone, where he sat next to it, now being careful NOT to touch it that much.

Teleran wandered over to where Illidan was sitting. "How are you Illidan? I haven't seen you since Balmora. How did you end up here?."

Teleran started prodding the satchel on the pillar of stone, "What is this thing? Is it edible?"

He reached for his dagger to try and cut it open.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 18 2005, 08:28 AM

A gravely voice appeared behind the Breton, “Greetings, outlander.”

“Hello,” Arynel said, turning. “How does the path greet you?”

Three Dunmer—eyes shinning azure—stood, two holding clubs, and one an iron broadsword.

“You’re not welcome here, outlander.” The Dunmer with the sword said.

“Oh, well I am afraid there are very few places I am welcome.” Arynel said. “I settle where I must, and walk the path as I am able.”

“We should kill him now.” Another Dunmer said, pounding his club repeatedly into his hand. “You remember what the goddess promised; whoever we kill will come back as our slave.”

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t make a very good slave.” The Breton said, twisting a bit of magicka into his voice. “I am not much used to labor, not fit for work of any type useful for slavery.”

“Oh, I’m sure we can make do.” The club pounding Dunmer said. “We know ways; we can teach you how to be a proper slave. We are very good with what we do.”

“Perhaps,” Arynel said, “but we shall never know, I think, how it would have turned out. Goodbye, may the path bring you most excellent vistas.”

“Don’t let him get away!” The third Dunmer yelled.

The club pounding Dunmer charged forward, weapon held high, ready to strike. The sword holding Dunmer lifted his arms, summoning a winged twilight.

Arynel turned, and in a single motion—perhaps by instinct—sidestepped the club wielder whilst drawing a sword of his own. In a second motion, propelled by the inertia of the first, the sword made contact with the winged twilight. A wheel of light collected around the daedra, eight spokes, rim surrounding.

They both shattered—wheel and daedra—into nothingness.

The Breton looked up I time to see a gleaming sword edge cutting out the distance to his head. He ducked, and a bit of his hair was sliced off.

A wooden club made contact with his shoulder.

Arynel’s shirt absorbed most of the blow, luckily, but the Breton lost a moment, and in that moment a second club found his thigh, and he fell.

He rolled, using the momentum to pull himself back to his feet. The Breton’s sword bit the air, and sunk into ashen flesh—a club wielding Dunmer fell.

SAVAGE

Arynel turned again, a second club barely missing him, and a second Dunmer fell.

ASSURES

The tip of the last Dunmer’s sword sliced into Arynel’s thigh, and the Breton’s sword through the Dunmer’s neck.

VICTORY

Three Dunmer lay dead, and Arynel whispered a string of power.

The Breton appeared near Ald Sotha, walked in to where the others were, and collapsed.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 08:31 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 18 2005, 01:16 AM)

"We can all be doomed, and no one will care except historians a thousand years from now," Allerleirauh said quietly. "You'd be surprised what the universe will put up with. Remember the Night of Tears? Remember the fallen prince, hope of his people, remember the Protectorate of the Akaviri? Things can get very, very bad and still not fall outside the pale of what is allowed to happen. I feel more tenderly for all of us, including myself, than to let them happen without moving to stop them.

"Tell me - you think the Emperor will fall, and not be succeeded by either of his heirs. My prophetess says the same thing. Who, then? And how did you find him?"

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 08:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 02:21 AM)

Aricyn chuckled, then regretted it.

"I should introduce you some time. I think you'd like him better than you like me.

"I'll say it simply, though; I'm not going to answer you. He doesn't yet know himself, I don't believe. I think that's the way it should stay.

"As for finding him, if you'd met him, you'd understand that. It seems blindingly obvious to me, at least."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 08:39 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 18 2005, 01:26 AM)

"One who inspires loyalty in you must have a strong gift," Allerleirauh said. Her deep set eyes looked dark, in the shadows of the ruin. "Sovereignity frightens me, I have seen what it does to men."

She turned her face from Aricyn to his companion, the old wolf. "How are you, old man?" she said gently. "Tell me, Aricyn: what does he think?"

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 08:39 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 18 2005, 02:17 AM)

"I'm doing fine thankyou, yourself?" His gaze went to Teleran prodding the satchel pack "I don't know what it is, but I was told not to mess around with it, you'd be wise to do the same thing."

He noticed Teleran reaching for his dagger "What are you doing!? no, don't cut it, for all we know this thing could explode on us" He chuckled.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 18 2005, 08:45 AM

Arynel's eyelids slid open, and a sharp pain surged through the Breton's side. He brought his hands down towards his wound, where the blade had cut into his flesh, and cupped his fingers over it. A soft blue light eminated from his hands.

He removed his hands, and the wound was sealed shut--in it's place was a dark, nasty bruise.

The Breton sat up, and turned his attention to the goings on about him.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 08:48 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 02:29 AM)

"He thinks you ask too many questions," Aricyn said with a smile.

"NGRRF."

"Okay... okay," coughed Aricyn, and he took another drink. "He thinks you're right about things getting bad and people still surviving, but he thinks that they don't deserve it, so we should prevent it if at all possible."

"ghrrf."

"And I'll take that 'loyalty' comment as a compliment."

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 08:48 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 17 2005, 10:29 PM)

"Explode? It doesn't look like it could do something like that," Teleran said sliding the dagger back into its sheath. Teleran turned so that his left side would be clearly visible to Illidan, his sleeve hanging limply at his side. Then he cleared his throat and answered the question, "Ahem, other than losing my arm to a winged twilight, surprisingly well. Unless you count the worshippers of Azura who want to kill us all at the moment. Then, I could be better."

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 08:52 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 18 2005, 02:38 AM)

Illidan's jaw dropped "Y-your arm? wow...sorry to hear that.." He said, lightly prodding the area where Telerans arm used to be with his staff, "Azura worshippers eh? what could you of done toget them so angry?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 08:55 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 18 2005, 01:38 AM)

"It wasn't meant as one," Allerleirauh said, smiling. She stood up, and bent to kiss Aricyn on his pale forehead, brushing his white hair aside. "Get some sleep, I'm going to walk the perimeter."

She nodded to Illidan and Teleran, then noticed Arynel.

"Good, I lost track of you in the confusion," she said, sitting down beside him. "It's safer with all of us in one place."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 18 2005, 08:57 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 12:45 AM)

"I wasn't meant as one," Allerleirauh said, smiling. She stood up, and bent to kiss Aricyn on his pale forehead, brushing his white hair aside. "Get some sleep, I'm going to walk the perimeter."

She nodded to Illidan and Teleran, then noticed Arynel.

"Good, I lost track of you in the confusion," she said, sitting down beside him. "It's safer with all of us in one place."

Arynel tilted his head up towards Allerleirauh. The Breton's eyes were blank, and he said nothing.

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 09:00 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 17 2005, 10:42 PM)

"Long story short: Azura asked everyone to bow down and swear loyalty. This group is made up of the ones who didn't. Then she sicced the ones who did swear on us as well as a swarm of winged twilights. Aricyn did something with a sword Moon Reefer, or something like that, took Azura down hard. After that the ministry came down, but Aricyn stopped it before it hit the ground, don't know how he managed that. Anyway, I haven't seen your brother since he helped me get out of Ministry of Truth. I hope he's all right." Teleran said.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 09:00 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 02:45 AM)

Aricyn watched her go, her white hair swaying behind her.

"Gwuf," said the old wolf.

"Yes."

Aricyn took her advice and laid down on the hard black floor, the Cuirass under his head to serve as a pillow.

The wolf immediately decided that a lovely pillow for him would be Aricyn's legs, and he flopped down on top of them.

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 09:09 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 18 2005, 02:50 AM)

Illidan nodded along with Teleran's story "I see....that is all very strange indeed, what's this about Dante missing? damnit, he better not of gotten himself into anymore trouble."

As to not seem rude, he flashed Allerleirauh a wink as a response to her nod, winking was one of his talents, if they could be called that.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 09:12 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 18 2005, 01:47 AM)

Arynel tilted his head up towards Allerleirauh. The Breton's eyes were blank, and he said nothing.

Allerleirauh had been looking forward to seeing Arynel, like a drink of fresh clear water from a swift running stream. She had half held the image in the back of her mind of resting her head on his shoulder while he stroked her hair. They had earned that.

But nothing was ever that easy, was it?

"Arynel," she said gently.

She noticed that his clothes were torn - or rather, sliced. There was blood on them. There was blood on his sword, too. It was still in his hand.

Very slowly, very carefully, she reached out to him, to stroke his hair.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 18 2005, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 01:02 AM)

A light of comprehension flashed in Arynel's eyes, and he shuttered.

The Breton's shoulders relaxed, his eyes went blank again, and the sword slipped through his fingers.

His lips quivered.

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 17 2005, 10:59 PM)

Teleran wondered what Illidan was winking at. "Last I saw Dante had the ordinators fooled, they thought he was an officer of some kind, I think. As long as he stayed out of the ministry he should be fine."

Teleran sat on the other side of the satchel, tempted to cut open a small corner, despite Illidan's warning.

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 09:21 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 18 2005, 03:05 AM)

"I see...very well then, if what you say is true I'll take it that he is still alive and well." Said Illidan, looking up at the sky, shortly his glance turned to Teleran, noticing his expression he pulled the satchel pack closer to his position.

Meanwhile, at Dante's position-

Dante awkwardley crossed a long rope bridge, he could see some Daedric ruins off into the distance.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 09:26 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 18 2005, 02:05 AM)

A light of comprehension flashed in Arynel's eyes, and he shuttered.

The Breton's shoulders relaxed, his eyes went blank again, and the sword slipped through his fingers.

His lips quivered.

The Nordic thing to do would be to slap him, to tell him to act like a man, now that he was one. But Arynel wasn't a Nord; and what she wanted to do was simply to gather him into her arms and let him rest there, as long as he needed, to mourn for what he had lost. She wondered if he would let her.

She had fed deer out of her hand, on twigs. She had scratched the neck of Aricyn's wolf. The way was to go slowly, to feel and to listen, and to stop when anything went wrong.

Carefully, slowly, she put her arms around him.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 18 2005, 09:31 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 01:16 AM)

Soft words eminated out of Arynel's mouth. "Ever green the hills of youth, golden tipped the clouds, floating ever in an azure sea..."

"Stone upon stone, no more it stands, scattered and thrown down."

The Breton's eyes close, as sleep takes him.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 10:03 AM

Ald Sotha

Loranna had been silent ever since she passed out back in the ruined trial hall, though the wounds on her body were at least healing enough to look like they would fully recover, and her breathing had become more regular, like a person sleeping as opposed to a person barely clinging to life.

Occasionally, she stirred a bit - not much, just a twitch of her hand here, or the slight shaking of her head there. Her lips moved now and then but no sound came out. She was alive, that much was certain; what remained of her however ...

===

She was yelling at the top of her lungs. "Not gonna do it, not gonna do it!" she yelled, over and over.

Stupid, stop yelling; you'll make her angry! a voice hissed in her mind. And she knew the voice was right; the giantess didn't like it when people yelled or said they weren't going to do their chores and though you couldn't ever really see the giantess she was always there, right behind you ...

"Not gonna do it!" she yelled again, starting to run. She didn't want to be in the land of the giantess anymore, she wanted to run and play and jump and stare at the stars in the night sky and maybe even grow a tail, tails were nice. You couldn't do any of those things while you were doing chores ...

You've done it now! the voice told her again, and she could tell the giantess was coming after her. There was a sound that wasn't really, the ground didn't stay put under her feet, and her legs felt like they were shrinking which made running that much harder.

She stopped yelling; she was afraid now. The giantess was after her and she was going to get trampled under her foot and no one would ever see her again and she'd never be able to do any of the things she wanted to do. Oh why did she yell and yell ...

... There was a feeling of wrongness, a sense that this wasn't the way things were supposed to be. She had a brief moment where she knew there was a good reason why she was yelling and that even if the giantess got her it was worth it but the feeling didn't last long; there was running to do and the horizon kept stretching further and further away ...

The ground dropped out from under her; the giantess had gotten closer. She fell to her knees and began to crawl as fast as she could. Her skin tingled and it felt like ants were crawling all over every inch of her body on the inside of her skin, cold ants with prickly feet that left her feeling like she was nothing but a bundle of jitters. Still, she crawled.

The ground dropped out from under her again; the giantess was close enough that she could feel her now - cold and searing and her shadow seemed to seep into her and threaten to fill her up to the point where she'd burst like a grape. She was knocked head over heels and rolled a bit, coming to rest flat on her back and looking straight up ...

... into the giantess's face ...

She's gonna get me, she realized, and the giantess's foot came crashing down, and the cold prickly ants inside swarmed until they left all her insides all jittered and cold and pricked and the cold searing presence filled her until she burst - but she was under the giantess's foot so there was nowhere else to go ...

... and then there was the cold realization that this instant, this being crushed and burst and pricked and jittered and everything else, wasn't going away - that this was how she was gonna be forever, stomped into the ground, trapped under the giantess's foot, the giantess filling her to the point of breaking and taking all the running and playing and jumping and staring at the stars and growing a tail away, over and over and over again ...

... and, especially, the yelling ...

the yelling ...

She yelled, but she was crushed ...

===

Loranna's eyes open; her skin is clammy with sweat and her breathing deep and frightened. A few seconds pass as she shivers, the memory of her nightmare still crushing her, pressing any utterance back into her throat.

Slowly though, she starts to realize she's awake, and she calms down - though being in a Daedra Shrine does not offer much by way of pleasant, comforting sights on which to rest her eyes ...

After several moments, she struggles into a sitting position, still shivering. She felt empty and deaf and she her eyes were not focusing too well right now, but she wasn't being hurt so she must be among friends, she hopes ...

Posted by: Solin Jan 18 2005, 10:06 AM

Solin sat with the simulacrum. They were in a secluded corner, two pairs of red eyes in what small privacy the shrine could provide. In front of the mer was a large red hide bound book. It was open; nearly half the pages seemed to have been passed. A small stack of scribbled notes had been removed from the book and lay to one side.

The mer idly stirred coals in a nearby brazier that was keeping the dark nook of the shrine well lit. He read from the book in a low voice. Only the mechanism in front of him could hear his whispers. He gestured to illustrate the subject he was telling of. The simulacrum watched in silence.

During the course of his lecture he suddenly came to a stop and glanced about as if looking for something he couldn’t illustrate with his hands. Unable to locate the object of his search he opens his large pack, no longer filled with bits of the Clock-Work City, and remove a small pouch. Untying the knot and up ending it, he produces several small pieces of an unfamiliar material, at least, unfamiliar to most. They were the size of small rocks with dark surfaces, almost like ebony.

While the artificial being observed as he laid out the pieces first as a line and then radially, in a circle. The simulacrum stopped him, though, when it reached out and placed the pieces back into a line again. The Dunmer frowned and looked as if he were about to say something when he caught Illidian and Teleran in the corner of his eye. Turning to the pair he tells them, “Do not mess with that, or if you do go far away from here.”

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 10:14 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 18 2005, 03:56 AM)

Illidan nodded to him quickly, his eyes darted from him, to the satchel and back again, "What does this thing do, anyway? what is it for?" He asked, rather inquisitively, wanting to have some idea of what the thing was that he had just found.

Meanwhile, at Dante's position-

Dante wandered slowly around the tomb, like a zombie, he tripped over a small stone and down into a very shallow river, producing a very large splash, he looked up, and saw the entrance of the Daedric shrine.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 10:14 AM

Ald Sotha: Tris

Tris had spoken with the General. Now he was waiting for Ciel to return. Ciel was working; no doubt he wanted to be sure the encampment was secure.

Tris hadn't seen the queen. He wondered if she had lived. Surely she hadn't taken Azura's offer. If there was anything good to be said about Elysana, it was that she was a pious worshipper of Akatosh. Or maybe that was just a lie they told little boys in Wayrest.

He saw Loranna sit up - no one seemed to be near her - and instinctively ordered his thoughts for her understanding.

Loranna? It's Tris - we made it...

Nothing. No change in her position, no answering flicker in his mind. He felt awed, and deeply sad, and very relieved, all at once. Of course she couldn't hear him thinking. She wasn't Azura. Just a girl.

He went to her, and sat down awkwardly beside her. Getting up and down was still hard, and crouching was almost impossible.

"Loranna? It's me. Tris. You did it, you fought her and you lived."

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 10:17 AM

Teleran yelped when he heard the voice addressing him, "Ummm, okay." He said, sitting on his hand. For a moment he remained perfectly still, then he turned to the mer, "What does that thing do, anyway?" Hearing the same question from Illidan, he chuckled.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 10:20 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 04:04 AM)

Loranna looks up at Tris, a surprised expression coming to her face. She pats her ears as though trying to clear something clogging them.

"... Tris?" she says, frowning, reaching out with her thoughts to try and catch what he just said. And her thoughts prompty hit the inside of her skull and went no further.

" ... Oh; that's why I feel deaf ..." she mutters, realization dawning. She looks down at her belly and adds " ... And doubly empty ..."

She shakes her head and groans. "Ugh; we won then? What happened after Azura stomped me into the ground? Where are we now - and where's Sen-Yedda?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 10:23 AM

Ald Sotha: Doll

A petite figure in netch leather armor, over a heavy silk skirt in a Khajiit style, entered Ald Sotha, from the back of the room, emerging from deep within the complex. The guards demanded to see her eyes, and so Doll raised her helmet, showing her perfectly symmetrical, dainty features, and dark slanted eyes.

The General sat with Arynel asleep on her shoulder. Doll bowed to her, and passed on. Much had happened since she had left; she had yet to understand it all. Master Solin was the same though. Doll peered into the face of the simulacrim, with its gravid abdomen, and sat on her heels, upright like a little black cat, neatly beside him.

Her work was finished. She had come back to make her report, and to receive new orders.

Posted by: Solin Jan 18 2005, 10:25 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 18 2005, 02:04 AM)

Solin locked eyes with Illidan. "It is as terrible, if not more so, as the weavings of battlemage," he said in response. Solin has seen its like once before whilst in the depths of a Dwemer ruin. The guardians protecting the entrance had been lax and he had slipped in unnoticed. Unfortunately, loaded with his findings he had been unbale to remove the strange satchel.

"That does not belong here," Solin said. "It must have been dropped by some now dead smuggler or explorer. Regardless, one should always treat the legacy of the Dwemer with care, if that is indeed what that is."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 10:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 03:10 AM)

"Aricyn sent Azura back to hell where she belongs," Tris said seriously. He had heard the whole story from the General. "The psijiic, B, had her True Name. She can't hurt you anymore."

He patted her shoulder. He hated sharing unpleasant news, but because he was seen as kind, he often got stuck with doing it. Let Loranna relax without knowing about the new race of Azurites for a while.

"We're in Ald Sotha, resting while everyone decides where to go next," he prevaricated. "And Sen-Yedda - Master Solin saved her when you were cut down. The Redguard Dur'el...um... cut her out of you. And she's inside a Dwemer sort of thing that will protect her until she's old enough to be born."

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 10:33 AM

Teleran decided that from now on he really shouldn't touch anything that he didn't recognize. He relaxed and watched as the strange girl entered. He promptly forgot his earlier decision not to fiddle with anything he didn't understand.

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 10:36 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 18 2005, 04:15 AM)

Illidan nodded, "Indeed..." He exclaimed simply, looking down at the satchel pack, he wondered how he knew so much about dwemer technology, the answer was as simple as the question once it hit him.

Meanwhile-

I....hear voices thought Dante, Familiar voices... Dante pulled himself out of the water and up the small hillside, his face was smeared with blood, as was part of his cuirass, most of it however, had been washed off by the water. He wandered further up and staggered, leaning up against a wall for support.

Posted by: Solin Jan 18 2005, 10:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 02:13 AM)

Solin turned to the new figure. A grin appeared on his face as he recognized the netch armor. “One of the khajiiti now?” he asked after her skirt. “I thought you were a bosmer.”

He gestured to the shrine about them.

“What brings you to my corner of this place?”

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 10:40 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 04:21 AM)

Loranna digests Tris's comments, looking down again at her belly. The still-healing scars were noticable through the tears in her dress, and while she felt empty her figure would need time to readjust.

" ... A Daedra Shrine seems an odd place to rest," she notes. "Almost like tempting fate after what just happened." She gives a small, rueful smile, though she does chuckle a bit with an honest attempt at humor.

" ... We really did it then; we really got Azura back to Oblivion," Loranna says, brushing her hair out of her face. " ... Hahahaha ... we did it ..."

" ... And I lived through it too; I can't believe it but I did," she says, her rueful smile turning more joyful. " ... I'm free; I can do what I've been wanting to do, finally - do it because I want to do it and not worry someone inside me is pulling a string ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 10:48 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 03:30 AM)

Tris smiled. He was thinking about Ciel's belief that Loranna would devote her life to repairing the damage she had caused. But frankly, that wasn't the Loranna he knew - and he wasn't sure that Loranna-trying-to-fix-things was what Tamriel needed, in any case.

"You did right in the end," he said. "You told them the truth, you resisted her to the death. I'm proud of you."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 10:52 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 04:38 AM)

Loranna smiles. " ... Thanks," she says, tilting her head and regarding Tris for a moment.

" ... So, uh ... if it's all right for me to ask, how are you and Sir Ciel doing?" she questions.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 10:57 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 18 2005, 03:23 AM)

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 18 2005, 03:28 AM)

Doll returned Teleran's stare with an even stare of her own. For such a young girl, she had a gaze that was very unsettling. Then she smiled at Solin, wiggling with happiness, becoming an entirely different person.

"I'm an honorary Khajiit," she said. "I even have a Khajiit name, Bhusaran. It means word carrier. Because I was the one who went to fetch the Imperial edict to found the new city. I don't think the Emperor ever saw my letter, the edict was stamped with his seal, but not signed with his name. It went through some other politician who doesn't like Helseth very much. But the freedmen have their own island off the Bitter Coast now, it's directly under the protection of the Empire, not part of Morrowind at all, and they are building out over the ocean, like the city of Vivec. It's going to be beautiful. The Houses have used Khajiit for building, so there are masons and architects and all that are needed. If Urjora can just persuade them to work and not smoke skooma all the time, it will be perfect."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 11:01 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 03:42 AM)

Loranna smiles. " ... Thanks," she says, tilting her head and regarding Tris for a moment.

" ... So, uh ... if it's all right for me to ask, how are you and Sir Ciel doing?" she questions.

"He's amazing," Tris said, very quietly. But he couldn't keep from smiling. "And if we stay here we're in grave danger of being killed, after all this time. I'm not the sort to settle in Colovia, I hate the country and everything about it. But I'm going to try, if that's where he wants to go."

Posted by: Teleran Jan 18 2005, 11:08 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 12:47 AM)

Teleran dropped his eyes when she turned away. 'Who is she? She doesn't look like anyone I 've ever met before, and her eyes, I don't think I've seen eyes like that in, well, ever.' He only caught a few words of her conversation with Solin, something about Emporers and Khajiit. He looked at the floor in front of him, dazed.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 11:10 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 04:51 AM)

Loranna raises her eyebrows a bit. " ... The natives are pretty sore at us for what we just did, huh?" she asks.

" ... Well, you may discover something in the country that will appeal to you," she says philosophically. "Times and tastes change. Or maybe the two of you will hit upon some other place that calls out to both of you."

She sighs, smiling a bit. "He is amazing," she concurs. "The more I think about it the more I end up feeling happy for both of you for having found each other."

Posted by: Solin Jan 18 2005, 11:10 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 02:47 AM)

“A city?” Solin asked with honest curiosity. “Does it have a name?”

The mer pictured the island of Vvardenfell in his mind and then surrounded it with the Inner Sea. There were a number of suitable locations for such a town.

“I’m going to have to visit someday,” he broadened his grin into a smile. “You’ll have to show me around, of course. I don’t imagine that they’ll enjoy the company of a dunmer too much. Nor dunmer much them.”

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 18 2005, 11:15 AM

Aricyn found that getting rest harder than he would have expected. Everytime he fell asleep, he would let loose his usual, roaring snore... and promptly wake himself up from the pain.

The old wolf had no such problems.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 11:16 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 18 2005, 04:00 AM)

"Some day a long time from now we can walk there together," Doll said, smiling. "The city has a fancy name in Khajiit. But everyone else calls it Freetown. The edict was funny... it said the Emperor was granting the charter as a favor to the Incarnate for services rendered. I think they thought 'the Incarnate' meant the Nerevarine, not Azura. They don't care much about Morrowind, I don't think. But it's a beautiful place, if you happen to be a mosquito."

She shifted her weight to lean comfortably against his side. "You figured it out," she said, looking at the simulacrum. "I knew you would."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 11:21 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 04:00 AM)

"Every bad thing has good things mixed in with it," Tris said.

Now, if I had my foot back, everything would be perfect.

He didn't say that, however. It sounded too much like begging for pity. Instead he said, "What about your tastes? More romantic starlight dances with Sheogorath, more blowing up cities? Or are you going to find a nice bar where they like their exotic dancers VERY exotic?"

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 11:33 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 05:11 AM)

Loranna's face becomes very serious for a moment.

" ... The doG has already stated," she says quietly, "that the last waltz is to be his. Wether my insane defiance of a Daedra Prince who could obviously stomp be under her foot without even trying counts as said waltz is still uncertain; I'm going to deal with that loose end when it comes, and try to remember what Allie has told me."

" ... As for what comes next for me, I haven't figured that out yet - not the particulars at least. I'm going to keep my promise, and if need be take the rest of my life to fulfill it, but ..."

She gives a small shrug. " ... I wasn't kidding when I said I was going to take it slow to learn how to do it right this time. I've been through a lot but I'm not yet ready to really try and repair the damage I've done to lives and livlihoods, and I suspect there are multiple ways I could go about doing so anyway, some more suited to my tastes than others."

"For right now, I go and learn more about the world I just finished tromping over so thoughtlessly, see how I've grown from all this and see what I can realistically do. And see where promises and relationships made over the course of my journey take me - I need to talk to Allie about Sen-Yedda's upbringing, see how things are now between me and Dagoth and Jazbet ..."

" ... Say, have you seen Jazbet around - the Khajiit I was so obviously sleeping with on the boat voyage?" Loranna asks Tris. "I don't see him around here ..."

Aricyn's latest snore catches Loranna's attention and she frowns when she sees the Nord's pain.

" ... Azura hit him pretty hard, huh?" she asks Tris.

Posted by: Solin Jan 18 2005, 11:35 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 03:06 AM)

Solin laughed. He had visited a many parts of the Empire and seen some very beautiful locales. Morrowind was not, however, without its own such beauty.

“A part,” he said quietly looking over to the simulacrum, it watched him back. “I needed to do it, so I did what could be done. At least I think I did. I cannot recall much of it to be honest.”

He shifted his weight to get in a more comfortable position.

“There is more left to be done though. Sen-Yedda must be taken away from here. To someplace safe and hidden where these blue-eyed daedra worshipers cannot find her. ”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 11:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 04:23 AM)

Tris shied away from being the one to explain that Allerleirauh had no intentions of allowing Loranna to have anything to do with Sen-Yedda's upbringing.

"Um, no," he said, in answer to Loranna's last question. "He had to blow up the Ministry of Truth. Otherwise it would have fallen and taken out the entire city of Vivec. This way - it just took out PART of the city of Vivec."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 11:44 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 05:28 AM)

Loranna stares at Tris for a moment as if he just said Aricyn had laid eggs to stop the maurading armies of three-legged ardvarks from overrunning a fruit cart.

"Tris," Loranna says in a calm, even tone, "between what you have just said and the things you have yet to actually answer, you are leaving me with the distinct impression that once I dropped out of the picture all hell broke loose in a big way. Are you not telling me the whole story because I only just got back up and am not even fully on my feet yet?"

She frowns. " ... Or did I do something while out of it that suggests I'm not as free of Azura as we hoped I'd be now?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 11:47 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 18 2005, 04:25 AM)

Solin laughed. He had visited a many parts of the Empire and seen some very beautiful locales. Morrowind was not, however, without its own such beauty.

“A part,” he said quietly looking over to the simulacrum, it watched him back. “I needed to do it, so I did what I could. At least I think I did. I cannot recall much of it to be honest.”

He shifted his weight to get in a more comfortable position.

“There is more left to be done though. Sen-Yedda must be taken away from here. To someplace safe and hidden where these blue-eyed daedra worshipers cannot find her. ”

"You should take her home," Doll said, as if that were the answer to everything. "No one knows where we live. Besides, the Guild house is built to be defended."

Posted by: Solin Jan 18 2005, 11:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 03:37 AM)

"You should take her home," Doll said, as if that were the answer to everything. "No one knows where we live. Besides, the Guild house is built to be defended."

"That sounds good," Solin said. "I'm sure Allerleirauh would be pleased by that. I'll have to mention it to her when she is not occupied."

He was quiet as he turned his attention towards the pair sitting alone.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 11:50 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 04:34 AM)

"You're fine, I think," Tris said. He laughed. "At least I hope so! If Azura can withstand the Moon Reiver, we're all in serious trouble."

He smiled at her. He had pretty eyes, pale greyish-green with flecks of gold.

"I just thought you deserved one day without having to wake up to all sorts of problems. Let someone else worry for a little while. Yes, people are dead and maimed, people are mad at us, we blew up yet another city, and disaster's on the march. Worry about all that tomorrow."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 12:00 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 05:40 AM)

"You're fine, I think," Tris said. He laughed. "At least I hope so! If Azura can withstand the Moon Reiver, we're all in serious trouble."

He smiled at her. He had pretty eyes, pale greyish-green with flechs of gold.

"I just thought you deserved one day without having to wake up to all sorts of problems. Let someone else worry for a little while. Yes, people are dead and maimed, people are mad at us, we blew up yet another city. and disaster's on the march. Worry about all that tomorrow."

Loranna raises an eyebrow at Tris, and a slow smile creeps across her face.

" ... All right; I can accept that," she tells Tris. "I'll take your words at face value; later though, even if there's nothing I can do about whatever mess now exists, I would like to know what exactly happened. It was my body calling down hell and perdition on everyone after all."

She frowns a bit. " ... I'm not going to worry what happened to Jazbet just yet. I'll get some strength back before I start worrying if he got killed or worse in the disaster. Worrying's not going to help me get better any faster and it sounds like we'll all need all our strength pretty soon."

She looks at Tris again. " ... The last time we talked," she tells him, "I let myself get angrier than I should have. You and Sir Ciel caught me at the point where I was starting to think that I could actually stop the madness by speaking up but I hadn't quite shaken the idea that I was truly trapped yet. I had a fair bit of anger at myself for having brought all this about and your outburst kind of brought it all out ... I'm sorry for having lost my temper with you like that. You didn't deserve me getting snappish."

She shrugs. " ... Though you did inadvertantly help me get that anger out, too ... not that you asked to do so, but I'm grateful for that as well as for helping me finally make the decision I'd been wanting to do since ... well, for a while."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 18 2005, 12:05 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 18 2005, 04:50 AM)

"I'm sorry too," Tris said. "I felt like a heel afterward. I'm not used to being angry at people, I don't handle it very gracefully. But none of that matters now. You died, remember? You can be a new person, and maybe we'll turn out to be friends."

He smiled, a very serious smile, and kissed her on the tip of the nose.

Posted by: Meridia Jan 18 2005, 12:06 PM

It was a somber day... Maranda sat at the bar of this nameless tavern in the Imperial City, a glass of water at hand... she did order some flin, but she did not like it that much... she sighed, and went to place her hand on her Signet Ring... before realizing she had thrown it away at Narsis... yes, her hand moved to the sword by her side... a strange man in a deep red robe sat next to her as she did this...

Posted by: Loranna Jan 18 2005, 12:11 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 05:55 AM)

Loranna giggles slightly.

"I'd like that," she says to Tris. "I promise I'll try to be a bit more circumspect with my feelings this time around. Your comment about my destroying hearts has been on my mind a lot lately and I'm going to try and not do that."

She looks around the camp once more, her eyes lighting on Allie and Arynel.

" ... Heh," she says, smiling. "For what turned out to be a rather destructive tour of half of Tamriel we seem to have had a lot of relationships come out of it," she comments. "It's enough to almost make this place seem romantic - almost."

Posted by: Meridia Jan 18 2005, 12:59 PM

The red robed man ordered a flin, and turned his old, Nordic face to Maranda and flashed a grin...
"Things cant be that bad, lassie,' he said
'Why cant they be that bad? I have abandoned all that I have followed for the past five years... it feels... it feels like my life up to this moment has been a waste...' Maranda said, tears falling from her eyes
'Oh? In what way has your life been a waste?' he asked, before taking a long swig from his bottle of flin, and continuing, 'What you set out to do has been done, Maranda, the threads of Prophecy have been completed... the Prince of Moonshadow has returned to her realm...'
Maranda noticed this and immediately reached for her sword... but she could not move her hand for some reason... she looked at the old Nord... fear in her eyes...
'Who... who in Oblivion are you?' Maranda said in a shaky voice... the other patrons of the tavern just ignored the two of them... after all, they were not speaking very loud...
'Who am I?' he said, Maranda could have sworn she saw a tear in his eye, 'We have a mutual acquaintance...' his hand touched a silver locked around his neck almost uncontinuously as he said this... and, realising that he had done this, he quickly placed his hand by his side, and stood...
'You know,' he said, turning to leave, 'A wise man once said, "Each event is proceeded by Prophecy... but without a hero, there is no event..." tell me, Maranda, who is your hero?' the man left Maranda standing there, mulling over the words the stranger said... strange they seemed familiar... where had she heard them before? 'Shardie...' she whispered, before running out onto the street... the man was no where to be seen...

Posted by: w0nders Jan 18 2005, 01:24 PM

Dante staggered along the outside of the shrine, using the wall as a support, So.....tired.... One of Dante's flaws was never carrying potions with him, he'd always try to remind himself but it never would sink in, this flaw was alot more prominent now than it ever was.

He regretted it, but he always found a way out, so he merely shrugged it off, this time however, he began to have doubts, that there wasn't going to be a way out. He looked down the river, where the boats should of been, but they weren't, Dante suspected that everyone had taken off, and he was now alone, lost, and forced to fend for himself against a new-found enemy.

"So....tired....." He repeated, very weakly, he didn't know how much longer he could wander these ruins. He closed his eyes as he still walked, the feeling was pleasent, slowly but noticeably, his pace slowed and his limbs shook, he fell to the ground unconcious......or heavily asleep.

Posted by: Two-Tails Jan 19 2005, 06:03 AM

The cloaked figure lurked in the shadows watching the group, wishing he could join them, the people he used to call "friends." But he knew he coulden't, he had to have this time alone to sort through his broken mind, and the Horrors that were his memories.......

Posted by: Loranna Jan 19 2005, 06:55 AM

Despite her earlier assertions, Loranna can't help but wonder what has happened to Jazbet; in a way, not being told what had happened makes things a little worse, for she has no idea what possible fate she should be hoping he managed to avoid ...

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 19 2005, 07:23 AM

"That's what's left of my fleet," said Elysana, shaking her head. She couldn't help but smile. "One ship. With a broken sail."

Behind her on the river bank stood her men. Hundreds of them, wearing the scars of battle with the winged twilights. They had found a place some distance from Vivec to meet. Some had died in the fight, and a few had bowed to Azura and become the enemies of their brothers, Akatosh only knows why.

Lord Dres Wyrloc was there too. "You're abandoning us?"

'There is nothing any person of reason can do in this madhouse of a province of yours. Perhaps there never was, but certainly not now. You will likely get your wish, Wyrloc, if these Azurites grow in number to fight Helseth ... but you may wish you hadn't."

If Elysana had her choice, she would send the entire army home now. It was all a game, and she knew when it was time to walk away. Unfortunately, with but one boat, the army was marooned.

"Take the army up north, toward the area they call Sheogorad. I'll send a fleet to pick you up there,' the Queen of Wayrest said to Lord Faril. 'And I'll depart as soon as the ship this fool crashed into is fixed."

The fool she was referring to was Baloth-Kul, the playwright, finally in dry clothes but nursing a terrible cold. Still, he shrugged and smiled. He had had worse introductions to royalty before. And no one could resist his pitch to be a patron.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 07:34 AM

Arynel lay sleeping next to Allerleirauh where he had been for quite some time. The Breton stirred, and his eyelids slid open.

"I," he began, looking up towards Allerleirauh. "I've lost myself."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 07:45 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 12:24 AM)

Arynel lay sleeping next to Allerleirauh where he had been for quite some time. The Breton stirred, and his eyelids slid open.

"I," he began, looking up towards Allerleirauh. "I've lost myself."

"Funny," Allerleirauh said, smiling, "I seem to see you right here."

It wasn't a smile of happiness; she knew what he meant. She rubbed his back gently, with one hand.

"The dirt of the world gets on everyone. It got on Tiber Septim - he killed his best friend. You lost a precious treasure, certainly... like the princess in the story who bent over a stream to drink and lost the kerchief with her mother's blood on it, and so fell into the power of her handmaiden. But the you who lost it is still here. Your center is in a different place than you expected, that's all."

She did not say - it would have been like a knife through his ribs - I think you made the right choice. I'm glad you are alive now, and not whoever it was you killed.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 07:53 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 11:35 PM)

"I am afraid I am not skilled enough in lying," Arynel said, "to go on, as if this had never happened.

"There's a world turning around me, and it's drunk off the blood of my hands. What now? I am not...I am lost."

Arynel's hand moved towards the handle of the sword, trembled, and then returned it's resting place beside the Breton's body.

"Any semblance of innocence is an illusion of naivety, bring forth a soft hand, and the world will bite it off, bring forth a testimony of blood, and the blood will yield to blood, fire to fire."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 08:05 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 12:43 AM)

Allerleirauh shivered. Don't become too much like Vehk, she thought.

"Poets use the lamb as a symbol for innocence and gentleness," she said. "But they're mistaken. A lamb isn't innocent, it's simply feeble. It couldn't hurt anyone if it wanted; there's no moral choice involved."

She was silent for a long moment, thinking of innocence and the loss of it. "Vehk's wrong, I know he is. Him and his black hands. There is such a thing as innocence. It's like a riddle, and no one has solved it yet. Be humbled, my beloved, for you met today a very old ogre. But don't be nothing."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 08:08 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 18 2005, 11:55 PM)

Arynel sat in silence, his gaze sweeping from Allerleriauh, the inside of the ruins, and back to Allerleirauh again.

"What do I do?" The Breton asked.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 19 2005, 08:16 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 01:58 AM)

Arynel sat in silence, his gaze sweeping from Allerleriauh, the inside of the ruins, and back to Allerleirauh again.

"What do I do?" The Breton asked.

"You live," said the hoarse voice of Aricyn. He had grown exhausted of trying to rest, and walked up to the two. His pale chest heaved under the bandages, and he gave Allerleirauh a smileless wink.

"I know... you don't think I have anything worth listening to to say on this subject, don't you?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 08:18 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 19 2005, 01:06 AM)

"I would have said almost the same thing," Allerleirauh said. "What I did - at your age - was to hide in a hole like a wild animal. What I do now is to tend the wounds of those more injured than myself. But that only restores the illusion of purity, not purity itself."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 08:21 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 12:08 AM)

Arynel sat silently, and then nodded to Allerleirauh.

The Breton turned towards Aricyn. "Speak..."

He reached out a trembling hand towards the sword, and drew it in towards his side.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 19 2005, 08:31 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 02:11 AM)

Arynel sat silently, and then nodded to Allerleirauh.

The Breton turned towards Aricyn. "Speak..."

He reached out a trembling hand towards the sword, and drew it in towards his side.

"This might not sound... gentle, Arynel, but this isn't a gentle subject."

He sits down by the Breton and takes a drink of Allerleirauh's medicine.

"Firstly, you aren't special. The only man who doesn't feel like you do right now when he makes his first kill, is what we call a 'monster'. If a man has a brain in his head, he's going to know that the other man is just like him; a man with a sword, praying to live. If a man has a soul, he'll care.

"Secondly, you were wrong. When you think you have lost yourself, you were wrong about who you were. You may not like who you are at the moment, few men do, honestly, but when an enemy came at you, you chose to swing instead of die. You live now, and they do not, and that is who you are. You aren't a monster, though. You know what you've done.

"This is why in my country we don't consider you a man until you've taken a life. Do you see how your understanding of the world... and yourself... MUST change now?

"I know, you think Nords are murderous barbarians. How many Nordic drunks do you think drink to forget the looks of terror on dead men's faces?

"You have just entered manhood, Arynel. It's not fun, but you aren't alone in it."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 08:38 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 19 2005, 12:21 AM)

Arynel opened his mouth as to speak, but no words came.

The Breton slowly slid the sword back into its resting place on his belt.

"Every rite of passage is murder of the worse magnitude, for the victim begs for it to be so, and if he does not, it forces itself upon him."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 19 2005, 08:41 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 02:28 AM)

Aricyn frowned and smiled at the same time, and looked at Allerleirauh.

Right, his eyes said, you reply back to that one.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 01:28 AM)

"If this is truly a rite of passage, you're not quite done," Allerleirauh said. "Clean your sword before you put it away."

She knew a secret - something Aricyn didn't know. Many, many men didn't feel anything like what he had described at this moment. Many. Interesting that he didn't know that. He was capable of surprising her, too.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 19 2005, 08:45 AM

Loranna and Tris had, for a time, run out of things to talk about, and the Breton had left Loranna to get some more rest. With a tired smile, she watched him head off, closing her eyes and sitting quietly.

Up till now, she remained seated, eyes closed, though what rest she was getting was purely physical; her mind hadn't stopped since she woke up and first heard Tris calling to her.

Something really big must have happened; Aricyn had blown up the Ministry of Truth, the party was sitting in a Daedra shrine acting like a tired dog licking its wounds under the table, even Dagoth was unusually quiet. Loranna tried imagining what could have happened while she was out of it ...

The Ministry of Truth was going to hit Vivec; I remember a Sermon about that, Loranna thought while she sat alone. What was it ... the rock would remain in the sky, its original intent intact, and would come down if the people ever lost their love for Vivec ... so, either Azura pulled down the rock herself or she got everyone to stop loving Vivec. ... Oh ... my ... either way is bad ...

Somehow though, Loranna doubted that Azura just reached up and yanked the rock down all on her own; it made more sense to her mind to reason that Azura got people to foreswear Vivec instead. That meant ...

That means more than likely she made some big show of power and got everyone to love her instead. ... I wonder what she did ...

She tried to figure out what Azura might have done, but came up with little; whatever it was though, there was a fight. Probably a big one; Loranna didn't see Azura just sitting back and letting Aricyn charge up to her with the Moon Riever, and she knew Allie and Aricyn alone could take down most anything. If things were bad enough that they had to come rest at a Daedra Shrine, then Azura must have put up one heck of a fight indeed ...

... which left her wondering, with renewed vigor, what had happened to her companions that she hadn't seen thus far, in particular Jazbet. Did he get killed in the fight? Did he simply get seperated and was trying to find them? Had he gone nuts at the sight of her being attacked - or, perhaps, at the sight of Azura getting attacked - and thrown his energy into resisting her friends?

... Or ...

Just what did he think of what happened? I told him as much as I dared tell about what I was going to do; he knew I and Azura were at odds, right? I did mention that, didn't I, or hinted at it?

... Just what did my body do when I was out of it; just what show of force did Azura make, to turn a whole city against their beloved god?

She had figured that, once she was her own woman again, she would have to re-evaluate where she stood with Dagoth and Jazbet. She had presumed, though, that the question was more one of wether she would live to be able to do so; maybe that's why he wasn't here. Maybe he thought she was dead, hadn't seen she had survived. If there had been a big fight, the retreat was probably less than orderly; he may not even know she had survived ...

Loranna rubs her temples, groaning under her breath. She was getting worried now, and there wasn't anything she could do to remedy the situation. She had no real idea what had happened yet, she was still a little too tired to be exerting herself, her mind was still somewhat shaken by the nightmare she had recently had ...

I've gotta calm down; this isn't doing anything good, Loranna tells herself, wishing very strongly that she could still hear and send thoughts.

... Jazbet ... where are you; please be okay. Please don't be dead, outside or inside ...

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 08:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 12:33 AM)

Arynel sat silently for a time, and then his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Clean..." The Breton began, searching for more to say.

His eyes dimmed. "Perhaps I am fooling myself. I do not think it could be that way. Clean..."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 19 2005, 08:53 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 02:40 AM)

The old wolf hobbled over and nosed Arynel's hair.

"Who is?" Aricyn said. "Welcome to the world."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 08:55 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 01:40 AM)

"If it is the Wheel, my beloved, it was bloody before you ever touched it."

Allerleirauh had no idea what had made Arynel's eyes light up so - but she hoped the light would return. There were limits to how much she could help him, and she suspected she had reached them.

"We should get these people fed," she said. "And then we should get moving. Or at least decide where we're going next."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 08:56 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 19 2005, 12:43 AM)

The old wolf hobbled over and nosed Arynel's hair.

"Who is?" Aricyn said. "Welcome to the world."

Arynel nodded.

"There are many things I must ponder now." The Breton said. "Clean your sword..."

He turned towards Allerleirauh.

"You don't expect me to tell these people where to go next, do you?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 09:00 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 01:46 AM)

"Why not?" Allerleirauh said, smiling. "But I was thinking out loud, really. In any case I'm the only one here who can cook."

That was what she did now - wondering how many thousands of years it had been since this place was filled with the homely scent of mortal food.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 19 2005, 09:02 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 02:50 AM)

"THAT'S what you need, Arynel." Aricyn said, standing and slapping the man's shoulder.

"No one can be melancholy after eating Allerleirauh's soup!"

The old wolf wandered off to see if he could 'help' cook.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 19 2005, 09:04 AM

Eventually, Loranna stops trying to figure out what had happened, what had become of Jazbet, what was happening to the first man in a long while who had made her truly happy in the bedchamber ...

Loranna shivers; the feeling of ants crawling under her skin from her dream was returning, lesser than she remembered in intensity but not pleasant to feel just the same. She opens her eyes and takes a deep breath, and slowly, she tries to stand.

Her legs weren't as weak as she thought they might be but neither were they at full strength yet; Loranna got up slowly and with effort. But rise she does and with a rumbling, growling yawn she stretches, getting her muscles back into motion.

Allie, Arynel, and Aricyn were sitting together, talking; she wonders if she should go over to them right now. She hasn't much idea what to say and with a flash of recognition that brings tears to her eyes almost she understands that, bad as she feels right now, bad as what she just endured was ... they went through as much or maybe even more.

... Is there anything I can say to them? she wonders. A barmaid, trying to encourage a princess, a Tongue, and an Arynel?

... Sigh ...

Loranna slowly starts walking over to the others, wishing she had her staff still for support. That's when she notices the smell of Allie's cooking.

" ... My timing is surreal," she mutters aloud.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 19 2005, 10:49 AM

There was an unusual sound on the plains. A dull clip clop clip clop.

A figure on a horse, of all things, galloped into camp.

A horse? Yes, a brindled stallion with a beautiful black mane.

"Greeting from House Dres," said Lord Dres Wyrloc. "It took me some time to find you ... Though I suppose that was the point ...'

To the unspoken question, he answered, 'The horse was a parting gift from the Queen of Wayrest. I gave her my honor, and she gave me ... a horse.'

By the way, there's quite a thunderstorm on its way. It might be smart to get inside.'

And indeed, creeping over the horizon like a dark shadow were black clouds and flashing lightning. A storm was definitely on its way.

It had already struck Vivec.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 19 2005, 04:52 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 03:39 AM)

"A storm..." Allerleirauh said, going to look out. "I wonder what he's angry about. You'd think he'd be happy."

It could be an ordinary storm, courtesy of Kynareth. But it didn't feel like one. Or she supposed it could go the other way - the madness of the countryside drawing out Sheogorath, rather than the other way around.

"I hope her majesty gave you a bag of oats," Allerleirauh said. "Or your parting gift may not live long. I think we have some dried peas, and you're welcome to them as long as they last."

She did not say 'I told you so,' or any variant thereof. What would be the point, now?

"The weather does look ugly. Come in, and welcome."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 19 2005, 06:59 PM

Arynel silently filled a bowl with some of Allerleirauh's soup. The Breton blew air over the liquid's surface, in order to cool it. He sat in silence, sipping down the soup. When he was finished, he placed the small bowl on top of a wooden crate.

"I will take my leave now." Arynel said, standing up. "I will return to this place when I can. If you are not here when I get back, I will find you."

The Breton wove his arms, and a soft green light formed, then dissipated. He whispered a string of power

He left behind the stones...

He wandered past the mortal ideology and into the divine providence of mercy and justice...

In the void, his cloak became a map of the heavens.

Inscribe your name on a field of stars, using the letters of the world: AKTSH, ARKY, DBLA, JULNOS, KNRTH, MRA, STNDR, ZNTHR.

Arynel stepped out of the void near the Void Ranger guildhouse in Daggerfall.

Posted by: Aki Jan 19 2005, 11:06 PM

Enroute to Ald Sotha
Tarenen growled, hacking at the foliage in his way with the Ebony Blade. Whenever a native beast wandered by or had the guts to attack Tarenen, the two remaining hunters, or Rakshada, he vented his rage on the poor beast.

Behind him he noticed the storm clouds, but continued on. He could see the spires of the shrine now.

I will not be denied...
-------------------------------
Ald Sotha

Reichi wandered about the shrine. He could have sworn that the Dark Brotherhood still owned the shrine. Perhaps they had cleared out in a moment of wisedom they realized that Azura was coming, and all hell would break lose.

Reichi's thoughts turned back to Vivec. He wondered what the Morag Tong would be doing, Mephala worshipers in a city filled with blue-eyed Azura worshipers. He geussed, and hoped they made a stealthy retreat. While he was no longer of them, he still had friends among them.

He sighed and headed outside to get some fresh air. Seeing the storm clouds, he REALLY hoped they had left.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 19 2005, 11:07 PM

Dagoth was filled with joy at Loranna's survival.... but he knew that it would be awhile before she could handle any telepathic contact..... so he waited. He waited until he was alone to speak with her.

Posted by: stratigo Jan 20 2005, 12:30 AM

Ragner walked into the ruins. The smell of food waifed from them. Well it seemed he arrived at the right time. He walked toward the area were the group was. "Hello everybody." He grinned.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 12:39 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 10:42 AM)

""I hope her majesty gave you a bag of oats," Allerleirauh said. "Or your parting gift may not live long. I think we have some dried peas, and you're welcome to them as long as they last."

She did not say 'I told you so,' or any variant thereof. What would be the point, now?

“He’s called Kynidius. I don’t know what it means – something Imperial about child of the wind or some such thing … Certainly fast, and seems to like the vegetation of Morrowind well enough, particularly hackle-lo leaf,” said Wyrloc, dismounting, and patting the horse’s flank.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 10:42 AM)

"The weather does look ugly. Come in, and welcome."

“I take it you have investigated the ruins already and cleared out any, ah, native spirits?”

Posted by: Arynel Jan 20 2005, 01:23 AM

Arynel silently approached a large building, a sign on the mantle above the door pictured a tipped chalice, and a red liquid pouring out. The Breton looked from side to side, took a deep breath, and walked inside.

"Welcome child." An old Breton said.

He was old and wrinkled, and tall. Even hunched over his head sat a foot higher than Arynel.

"But look at you, child, you're filthy, and your clothes are scarce but rags. I think that you have been off on some journey, have you not? Ah, the young, I was once too, ages ago. what you need is a warm bath, and something to ease your aches and pains. Perhaps you came to the wrong place, the temple of Dibella is further down the street."

The old Breton chuckled.

"No, this is where I mean to be." Arynel said. "I have wronged another, and seek reconciliation."

"Well then, child, you have indeed come to the right place. Have no worries though, Stendarr is merciful. Speak, tell me of your crime."

Arynel took a deep breath. "I was attacked by three Dunmer, and was forced to kill them, for sake of my own life."

The old Breton nodded, and then placed his hands on Arynel's shoulders. "My child, you have committed no crime. Even we, servants of Stendarr, god of mercy, have our order of crusaders, the use of the sword is not confined to evil. Bear ye no guilt, child, neither man nor god can hold you accountable."

The old Breton dipped his fingers into a large bowl on a nearby table, and before he had time to react, placed an speck of oil on Arynel's forehead.

"You, child, are annointed. You have taken life justly, and still you lament, though you bear no mark of guilt. Let your pain cease, truly Stendarr's mercy is in you."

"I..." Arynel began. "I must tell you I am not what you would call...religious." The Breton unconsiously brushed his fingers over the spot on his forehead to wipe of the oil.

"Nonsense. I am not asking you to join us, no, that is my calling. I instead tell you what I see, that you have acted in accordance with his divine will, and you have no guilt in this offense. But look now, you're filthy! Go on down the street and get yourself cleaned up, and your clothes mended."

The old Breton turned around, and Arynel walked back out the door.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 01:27 AM

Loranna looks up from her meal, watching Lord Wyrloc and Allie talk. When the Dres noble had shown up, questions had sprung to her mind, but her rumbling stomach insisted she feed it before doing anything.

With some hot food in her belly now, Loranna feels better, and she patiently waits for a chance to ask Lord Wyrloc about Sir Jazbet. It occurs to Loranna however that Jazbet's absence is a bit ominous. If Jazbet had been part of Wyrloc's group, wouldn't it have made more sense for a knight to be sent to search for them than for a lord?

Then again, she had been known to use faulty reasoning before. Still ...

The brewing storm makes Loranna look upward briefly, but she turns her attention back down to the people around her. She nods to Ragner when he shows up and gives Dagoth a small smile.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 20 2005, 01:35 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 06:17 PM)

Dagoth would smile back..... if he could.

'Are you okay Loranna?' Dagoth asks telepathically, trying to restrain his mind from being too imposing.... no where sure he is doing a good job.

Posted by: stratigo Jan 20 2005, 01:39 AM

"Hello Loranna. Have you any food to spare. I can't remeber when I last ate."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 01:41 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 19 2005, 07:25 PM)

Dagoth would smile back..... if he could.

'Are you okay Loranna?' Dagoth asks telepathically, trying to restrain his mind from being too imposing.... no where sure he is doing a good job.

Loranna hears Dagoth's words in her head; despite knowing she no longer can, she reflexively reaches out to embrace his thoughts with her own ...

... which works as well as one would expect.

She couldn't touch Dagoth's thoughts the way she had before; it was like being trapped in a locked room and only being able to hear his voice from the outside now. Without meaning to, she winces, sorrow and anger and pining all mixing together to turn her thoughts to a meloncholy hue.

... Hi ... yeah, mostly ... she says, her tone less than convincing.

QUOTE(stratigo @ Jan 19 2005, 07:29 PM)

"Hello Loranna. Have you any food to spare. I can't remeber when I last ate."

Loranna blinks. "Um, actually, this is Allie's cooking," she says. "I think there's still more though ..."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 20 2005, 01:46 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 06:31 PM)

Dagoth senses her attempts to reach for him, and inwardly sobs because it is no longer possible.

'Truthfully, how are you dealing with being free of posession? Cause you seem..... different, in a good way.' As he says this, he tries to wrap his thoughts around her's.... without squeezing too hard for her recovering mind to handle.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 01:55 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 19 2005, 07:36 PM)

Loranna tries to clear her mind to answer Dagoth, when his thoughts wrap around hers. Part of her has an image of herself without arms, being held by him but unable to hold him back, but another part of her feels ... almost like she did before.

The memory of the time they bared their souls to each other returns, bringing with it a touch of the sensations they had felt. Closing her eyes, she can almost see herself back in the place Dagoth took her, that time so long ago - no, no truly that long ago, but it felt that way.

She wasn't telepathic anymore; she'd never be able to share her thoughts with Allie the way she had up till now, never be able to reach out and touch Jazbet's mind or hug Dagoth quickly yet tenderly like she had come to do. It was gone ... well, maybe not forever; the world was a big place, but it was gone now and there wasn't any way to just get it back.

But, right this moment, the memory of the time her soul and Dagoth's touched gave her comfort. The telepathy was gone, but this feeling wasn't; Azura was gone, but this feeling wasn't ...

... I'm doing okay, Loranna answers, her eyes moist.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 01:56 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 07:17 PM)

With some hot food in her belly now, Loranna feels better, and she patiently waits for a chance to ask Lord Wyrloc about Sir Jazbet. It occurs to Loranna however that Jazbet's absence is a bit ominous. If Jazbet had been part of Wyrloc's group, wouldn't it have made more sense for a knight to be sent to search for them than for a lord?

Leading his horse into the ruins, Wyrloc sees Loranna and shakes his head, smiling sadly.

"I did not anticipate ... events as they happened," he said. "Are you well?"

Posted by: Arynel Jan 20 2005, 02:02 AM

Arynel approached a familair building with many doors. The Breton was clean, and his clothes were mended.

He took a deep breath, and walked inside the guildhouse. Once inside, he sat down by the fire, and closed his eyes.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 20 2005, 02:03 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 06:45 PM)

Dagoth feels Loranna's sadness at what she can no longer do.... and wishes he could do something about it. But that was not something he could do. He could also feel the memories rising to the surface of her mind, for she was unable to hide them any longer. The thoughts made him almost smile...... if he could.

'You are thinking back to that moment aren't you? A moment I wished could have lasted forever..... but now we are gonna need to adjust to the loss of the abilities Azura gave you. I am just glad you survived..... you seem different. Or I could just think that because I never met you before you were posessed by Azura?'

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 02:10 AM

Loranna discovers, thanks to Lord Wyrloc and Dagoth, that one of the other abilities Azura had granted the silly little bar wench was an increased ability to multi-task multiple conversations - or else that her head was still a little frazzled.

"Er, one moment my Lord," Loranna says, ducking her head into a quick, embarrassed bow.

Er, yes, she says to Dagoth, blushing mentally. ... Dear, we really need to talk at length but I don't think I can handle two conversations right now. Mind if I speak with Lord Wyrloc for a bit?

" ... I'm doing as well as can be expected," she tells Lord Wyrloc, returning his sad smile. " ... I'm afraid I didn't anticipate events happening as they did either, from what I've been hearing from the others."

She looks hesitant for a moment, then says " ... How fared J ... your people, my Lord?"

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 20 2005, 02:11 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 07:00 PM)

Dagoth just mentally nodded, knowing that it might be alittle too much for Loranna to handle.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 02:13 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 08:00 PM)

She looks hesitant for a moment, then says " ... How fared J ... your people, my Lord?"

"We are scattered to the four winds," said Wyrloc cooly. "The Queen of Wayrest has pulled her support. The Azurites and the King both want us dead ... Not well do we fare, I'm afraid, not well at all."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 02:21 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 08:03 PM)

Loranna looks down for a moment, hoping Jazbet is all right ...

" ... Wait; Azurites?" she asks. " ... Wait a minute ..."

A look a dawning realization comes over Loranna's face. " ... Azura got the whole city to swear their love for her, didn't she? Or damn near all of of the city ... and she called them all to attack the unbeliever, didn't she ..."

Posted by: Aki Jan 20 2005, 02:23 AM

Reichi sat on a slab on Daedric stone outside the ruin. It was dusk now. The storm was still approaching, or leaving, Reichi wasn't sure. He wasn't paying it much mind. Instead he was contemplating recent events, while watching the sun go down and the sky darken.

He heard a howl sound in the distance and looked about. That better be Aricyn's Wolf... he thought to himself.

Posted by: stratigo Jan 20 2005, 02:25 AM

Ragner sat and listened in on various conversations. Well it seemed things were getting back on track. Now who did Zaldaar say had the ring again?

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 02:26 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 08:11 PM)

"Sorry, I thought you would have known, or at least been told by now," Wyrloc frowned. "That's a fair summary of events. Her supporters are called Azurites: I imagine you'll be seeing them soon enough. The city is in chaos, and all our allies have either abandoned us or are too stunned to know what to do ... Like I said, not what I had anticipated. More fool, I."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 02:36 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 08:16 PM)

Loranna sighs. "I hadn't been told, though I half-suspected just from what I've heard," she says, frowning.

" ... I don't think this is what any of us had anticipated," Loranna says sadly. "I fear even my best-intentioned and most beneficial acts since starting this whole mess have just turned things upside down."

... And now I'm nothing more than a barmaid with a lot of painful memories and a promise that looks like it will take three lifetimes to fulfill, she thinks fiercely. I have a LOT of work waiting for me once we get to a more secure location than this Daedra shrine ...

" ... I'm sorry for what I've brought down upon us," she says quietly, the words sounding hollow even to her ears - but she still felt she needed to say them. " ... I'm nothing more than the bar wench I was prior to taking Azura into myself now but Allie and the others may be able to suggest something to help you in your current crisis, if you haven't talked about this already with them."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 02:49 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 08:26 PM)

" ... I'm sorry for what I've brought down upon us," she says quietly, the words sounding hollow even to her ears - but she still felt she needed to say them. " ... I'm nothing more than the bar wench I was prior to taking Azura into myself now but Allie and the others may be able to suggest something to help you in your current crisis, if you haven't talked about this already with them."

A peal of thunder from the storm shook the very ground, and Wyrloc's horse Kynidius whinnied nervously. The Dres Knight stroked its side, trying to calm it down as the first drops began to fall.

"We all have good intentions," Wyrloc said quietly, not looking at Loranna. "I suppose your friends are trying to spare you the details of what transpired, so you do not know about the plague of Winged Twilights that fell on the city ... and what befell my brother Lord Dres Jazbet ... "

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 02:53 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 08:39 PM)

Loranna feels her insides fall into a pit when the thunder hits.

" ... They probably were, but even good intentions can't make the world go away," Loranna says, equally quietly.

She walks up to Lord Wyrloc, her eyes moist but her expression determined. " ... If it would not cause you too much distress my Lord, I would ask to know ... just what befell the city, and your people, and your brother Lord Jazbet ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 02:58 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 08:43 PM)

She walks up to Lord Wyrloc, her eyes moist but her expression determined. " ... If it would not cause you too much distress my Lord, I would ask to know ... just what befell the city, and your people, and your brother Lord Jazbet ..."

"The distress is only the beginning, there is much more pain to come to this land," the Dunmer said, meeting her eyes. "Many of my men turned to Azura, and are my enemies now. The others fled ... or died. I don't know how we will return to our territories, but that is where I am bound for when this storm passes ... As for Jazbet ... He was a good man. I was proud to call him my house brother, though he was a betmer, born a slave ... He was strong, but not a fighter. The Winged Twilights simply tore him to shreds."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 03:14 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 08:48 PM)

Loranna's mouth opens, but no words come out at first; her eyes widen slowly ...

" ... Jazbet ..." she whispers.

Loranna's mouth closes, and her eyes close, then open again, sorrow, anger, and regret visible briefly within. But, she calms herself, and nods respectfully to Wyrloc.

" ... I grieve for the loss your House and you have both suffered," she says quietly. "What has been taken from you can never be replaced; may the memories of those who have been lost remain in our hearts and ... and ..."

She stops. " ... The fancy words weren't all mine either, who am I kidding? My Lord ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 03:21 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 09:04 PM)

She stops. " ... The fancy words weren't all mine either, who am I kidding? My Lord ..."

Wyrloc nodded. "I am tired and perhaps more frank than it is kind to be. Once I have some food and some rest, and get out of this rain," he said, looking up, and wiping his face. "We should talk again. I do have some thoughts about how things may be made better which I would discuss with you. Until then, Godd -- Loranna ..."

He bowed slightly, and led his horse into the ruins to shelter.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 03:24 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 09:11 PM)

Loranna bows back. "My Lord," she says, letting the weary mer head inside.

Loranna takes a deep breath, and finds a spot to herself to kneel down, close her eyes ... and deal with what she had just learned.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 03:56 AM

Wyrloc left Kyndius in the courtyard of the ruins, tied to a post. It was a gentle creature, and though the storm made it nervous, he knew it would not try to run away.

The Dres Knight had never been to Ald Sotha before, but he knew its reputation. He unsheathed his sword, and the black blade glowed slightly in the gloom, helping him find his way. It was eerily quiet, undisturbed, though he knew many a fool had met his death in its halls. He passed the magnificent statue of Mehrunes Dagon, and continued on. There was no fooling himself: he felt that he was being watched. And doubtlessly he was, by the daedra who made their home there.

It was only his nerves not his blade that were exercised by this trek. He found his way up to the highest tower, and there, with a full view of the surrounding land, confident that he would not be ambushed, he ate and slept.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 04:23 AM

Loranna thinks of Jazbet, of the happy moments they shared in each other's arms, of the laughter they shared before and after they finally made love, of the way his fur felt against her cheek - not very kissable but eminently nice for snuggling and other things ...

She thinks of the easy laughter Jazbet had for most everything in life, of the strength in him that let him rise from being a slave to being a knight - a knight in the very house that enslaved him but that was all the world he had, was it not? Where else would he have gone, without someone to take him there to begin with?

She thinks of the concern in his eyes when he saw her face grow sad, of the way his heart struggled to keep his more selfish side from overwhelming his honest, noble intentions. She thinks on how amid a sea of supplicants and worshippers he had been one of the few to see she wanted really just to be herself, not the goddess on a pedastel.

She thinks of all this ... and then, she thinks of Jazbet being set upon by Winged Twilights, sharp claws tearing into him, the look in his eyes as he felt himself being ripped asunder ...

... I didn't tear him apart, but he died because of me - he was there because of me to begin with, she thinks to herself. So in a way I might as well have killed him - he who I loved like I love few others. ... So, Nord-Demon, defier of Azura, newborn girl of a dead fool whose dreams of being a heroine led to naught but death and chaos for everyone ...

So, what do you do now?

Sorrow mixes with anger, both of which wash through her. She clenches her teeth and balls her fists, shaking a bit from the force of her feelings.

Well? Answer the question ...

Her feelings couldn't sustain themselves for too long; maybe she was still too tired. The anger subsides, the sorrow dulls down - not leaving but blending in with the background.

" ... Honor his memory. Keep my promise. Give back what I can ... and learn how to keep these things from happening again."

Her eyes were full of tears but Loranna ignores them. She stands up, letting her fists unclench. " ... It changes nothing and everything ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 04:39 AM

The rain was still light, sporadic, but sunlight was drowned out by the dark clouds overhead. The wind whistled in high tones and lightning arched across the sky ...

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 04:50 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 10:29 PM)

The rain was still light, sporadic, but sunlight was drowned out by the dark clouds overhead. The wind whistled in high tones and lightning arched across the sky ...

Loranna looks up to the sky ...

She didn't quite feel ready to talk to Dagoth or the others just yet, but she didn't feel like getting wet, either. Loranna looks around a bit ...

There was an outcropping of rock which was just enough to keep the rain off her head if she sat down under it, and was far enough away from the main group to afford her the privacy she still felt like keeping. Loranna makes her way to the outcropping and settles into a seated position, looking up at the highest tower of the shrine and letting her thoughts meander for a bit.

Posted by: Solin Jan 20 2005, 05:00 AM

Wyrloc was not alone in slumber. The dunmeri sorcerer lay near the metal mer, who was ever watchful, after having eaten a good meal. His fitful sleep was undisturbed by the storm so far. Red eyes moved beneath ashen lids, dancing to visions that only played out in his mind. It seemed like the first chance he had to dream in a long time. They were uncommon to him, at least from his perspective. He could not recall many that he had and recently, only those that invovled gears.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 05:01 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 10:40 PM)

Loranna makes her way to the outcropping and settles into a seated position, looking up at the highest tower of the shrine and letting her thoughts meander for a bit.

Wyrloc walked slowly across the courtyard to the rock outcropping, the wind catching his cloak as he tried to wrap it around himself. It had grown so dark -- it was practically night in the storm. But he was sure that he saw her by herself. And he was right.

"I saw you from the tower," the Dres knight said, joining Loranna. "Perhaps you don't want company, but it is dangerous for you to be alone here."

Posted by: Aki Jan 20 2005, 05:03 AM

Reichi didn't move from his spot on a slab of Daedric stone. He yawned and watched the storm.

Posted by: Two-Tails Jan 20 2005, 05:04 AM

The cloaked figure watched Loranna to the rock outcroping and made his way to some shadows closer to her, careful not to be detected. He just wanted to keep an eye on her, she was one of the few people he still recognized.....

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 05:04 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 10:51 PM)

Loranna looks up at Wyrloc, frowning a bit.

" ... You have a point," she says, slightly annoyed at herself for ignoring something like that. " ... Should head back to the main group then I guess ..."

She looks at Lord Wyrloc for a moment. " ... Unless you wanted to say something, my Lord, while we were here?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 05:12 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 10:54 PM)

She looks at Lord Wyrloc for a moment. " ... Unless you wanted to say something, my Lord, while we were here?"

QUOTE(Two-Tails @ Jan 19 2005, 10:54 PM)

In the dark, outside of Loranna's sight, a cloaked figure rises from another outcropping of rock. Two-Tails can see it walk slowly, uncertainly, towards Loranna and Wyrloc.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 05:19 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 11:02 PM)

"I hadn't planned on discussing this quite yet with you," Wyrloc nodded, and looked around into the darkness. "But perhaps this is the sort of discussion that should be had with some privacy."

He took a seat next to Loranna and sighed. "I want you to know this. I bear you no ill will. I know I was ... well, a little surly before ..."
In the dark, outside of Loranna's sight, a cloaked figure rises from another outcropping of rock. Two-Tails can see it walk slowly, uncertainly, towards Loranna and Wyrloc.

Loranna shakes her head. "You, like everyone else here, have been through Oblivion and back," she tells Wyrloc. "I understand everyone's surly and frayed right now; heck, I'm a little surly with myself even."

She gives Wyrloc a small smile. "At the very least, you're still alive; I'm grateful for that. I can take a little bluntness; I probably deserve it to a degree."

Posted by: Two-Tails Jan 20 2005, 05:22 AM

ooc: Well, you just ruined the suprise...

ic:
Two-Tails watched as the other cloaked figurer make it's way Tword Loranna, he made his way from shadow to shadow, he would not let her be harmed, for the lich's sake....

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 05:24 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 11:09 PM)

She gives Wyrloc a small smile. "At the very least, you're still alive; I'm grateful for that. I can take a little bluntness; I probably deserve it to a degree."

Wyrloc nodded sadly. "Yes, I am still alive."

Suddenly, his sword was unsheathed and its edge pressed to Loranna's neck. His eyes had turned bright blue.

"Do you deserve this?" the Dres Knight hissed. "This is my plan for saving Morrowind. I meant it when I said that I bear you no ill will, but while you still live --"

He stopped, mid-sentence. His eyes were open in pain and surprise.

Behind him stood the cloaked figure, standing on uncertain feet in the dark, holding a blade wet with blood.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 05:28 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 11:14 PM)

Wyrloc nodded sadly. "Yes, I am still alive."

Suddenly, his sword was unsheathed and its edge pressed to Loranna's neck.

"Do you deserve this?" the Dres Knight hissed. "This is my plan for saving Morrowind. I meant it when I said that I bear you no ill will, but while you still live --"

He stopped, mid-sentence. His eyes were open in pain and surprise.

Behind him stood the cloaked figure, standing on uncertain feet in the dark, holding a blade wet with blood.

Loranna curses herself for a fool, even as her heart quails. She became very still, feeling the edge of Wyrloc's sword tickling her throat ...

Sensing Wyrloc's sudden pain, Loranna turns her eyes and head as much as she can, her arms slowly moving to try and push Wyrloc away from her ...

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 05:30 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 11:18 PM)

Sensing Wyrloc's sudden pain, Loranna turns her eyes and head as much as she can, her arms slowly moving to try and push Wyrloc away from her ...

Wyrloc falls back, dead, his sword dropping to his side.

The stranger in the soaking wet, blood-streaked hooded cloak stands still for just a moment before dropping to his knees. His own sword falls to the ground.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 05:33 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 11:20 PM)

Loranna's hand shakes a little, but she takes Wyrloc's sword in her hand, hefting the unfamiliar weight.

Drawing the sword up into a defensive position, she calls out to the hooded person. "Show your face please ... and thank you."

After a second's pause, she adds " ... That is you, right?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 05:36 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 11:23 PM)

Drawing the sword up into a defensive position, she calls out to the hooded person. "Show your face please ... and thank you."

After a second's pause, she adds " ... That is you, right?"

"You sound ... unharmed. Thank Jephre. I didn't know if I'd be too late ... I had to follow what I could ... see ..."

It is Jazbet's voice beneath the hood.

The cloak still covering his head, he drops unconscious into the mud.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 05:40 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 11:26 PM)

Loranna allows herself three seconds to react as her heart demands.

" ... You crazy kitty, I'm going to make you meow all night long for this one later."

Then, she lets what practical side in her take over and drops to his side, pushing off his hood, casting what healing magic she knows ...

... Damn it, I KNOW I learned healing magic before Azura ... come on spell, work damn you, work ...

... and examining his wounds, to determine if she should carry him into the camp or bring Allie to him instead.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 20 2005, 05:44 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 19 2005, 11:30 PM)

... Damn it, I KNOW I learned healing magic before Azura ... come on spell, work damn you, work ...

... and examining his wounds, to determine if she should carry him into the camp or bring Allie to him instead.

Jazbet is unconscious, breathing, but irregularly.

His clothes are bloodied and torn by dozens of claw marks. Wyrloc had not lied. The Khajiit knight had been torn to shreds – only not fatally.

Jazbet’s once handsome face is very white, and torn by two savage slashes forming a lopsided X: one from his left temple to his chin, and the other intersecting it. It was this second one that gouged out his eyes. He is blind.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 05:52 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 19 2005, 11:34 PM)

Loranna realizes there's nothing more she can hope to do with the weak healing magic she knows; Jazbet needs help and needs it fast.

She didn't have telepathy and it seemed Dagoth was giving her privacy, so calling out to him wouldn't do much good. Yelling at the top of her lungs would only wake the whole camp, and leaving Jazbet here while she ran for help seemed a bad idea too.

Gently, she picks Jazbet up, adreneline providing her the necessary strength. With swift moving yet slightly rubbery legs, she brings Jazbet into the main camp, her mind sparing the dead Wyrloc only one thought:

... Foolish dear, assasinating a barmaid won't save your country, no matter how you've been taught.

Posted by: Attrebus Jan 20 2005, 06:04 AM

*Vivec*
A strange storm made getting to Vivec take a bit longer than Helseth would have liked. The city of Vivec was in utter chaos - Winged Twilights and Fanatics were running over the cantons. The Ministry of Truth had seen better days.

"Why am I the only one that saw this coming?" Helseth said to himself.

"Karrod. Set up a perimeter to contain the chaos in Vivec. Make sure nothing escapes - the use of extreme force is permitted. Do not enter the city just yet."

Karrod just nodded to the King before directing the troops.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 07:20 AM

Allerleirauh had been working - taking stock of supplies.

Wyrloc was an outlander; he wouldn't know about the Ash-gut that would kill his fine horse if he let it eat hackle-lo. There were some foreign foodstuffs; not enough.

People were behaving entirely too casually. She needed Aricyn's strong voice; no one was listening to anyone else. They all felt they could wander in and out at random.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 07:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 20 2005, 01:10 AM)

Loranna comes into the camp, Jazbet in her arms.

"Allie," she calls out as she carries Jazbet in, "healing supplies please, fast."

Loranna's face has a most inscrutable expression ...

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 20 2005, 07:29 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 20 2005, 01:12 AM)

Loranna comes into the camp, Jazbet in her arms.

"Allie," she calls out as she carries Jazbet in, "healing supplies please, fast."

Loranna's face has a most inscrutable expression ...

Aricyn hastily sat his steaming bowl of soup down and went to see who had been injured... and by what.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 07:30 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 20 2005, 12:12 AM)

Loranna comes into the camp, Jazbet in her arms.

"Allie," she calls out as she carries Jazbet in, "healing supplies please, fast."

Loranna's face has a most inscrutable expression ...

"Is that... Jazbet?" Allerleirauh said, turning. "Loranna, are you crazy? We're in a Daedric shrine, don't go wandering off alone."

The harsh words died in her mouth as she saw Jazbet's wounds. She took his shoulders and together the two women laid him down.

"Does he - wake him up if you can, Loranna. Does he have the eyes - somewhere? I know it's a terrible question but it's important."

She held a vial of healing potion in her hand. If she used it now, he would be blind forever.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 07:32 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 20 2005, 01:20 AM)

"Yes, I am crazy," Loranna says in a tone that suggests she'd cheerfully eat nails right now. "Oh; Wyrloc's corpse is over by a rock outcropping over there. Someone ought to go get it."

Loranna begins searching Jazbet. " ... Looking now ..."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 20 2005, 07:40 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 20 2005, 01:22 AM)

Aricyn put his large hand on Loranna's shoulder, and gently moved her away from the grisly job.

The old wolf started sniffing Jazbet's limp form intently, checking his pockets, his hands.

Aricyn wiped the blood from the handsome face with his thumbs, and carefully inspected the wounds.

"Whrf."

"His eyes are gone," he said grimly, looking to the wolf.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 07:43 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 20 2005, 12:30 AM)

Aricyn put his large hand on Loranna's shoulder, and gently moved her away from the grisly job.

The old wolf started sniffing Jazbet's limp form intently, checking his pockets, his hands.

Aricyn wiped the blood from the handsome face with his thumbs, and carefully inspected the wounds.

"His eyes are gone," he said grimly, looking to the wolf.

"All right then, there's no time to muck around," Allerleirauh said, forcing the unconscious man to swallow the potion. Instantly his wounds began to mend. Unconsciousness gave way, one would presume, to sleep. The torn lids healed - but rested over empty sockets.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 07:48 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 19 2005, 11:49 AM)

Daggerfall: Solunastra Guildhouse

Within the Void Ranger guild house, things had been uncommonly quiet lately. Skein and Dragon, both private people, hardly spoke to each other, even at meals, though they enjoyed each other's company. Tris used to tease them that they should get married.

At the present time, Skein was reading. And Dragon was polishing, which is what he did when he wanted to distract himself. He had polished all the leather items in the house. Allerleirauh's extra boots shone like mirrors. Now he was starting on brass.

"Heard interesting things about you," Dragon said, at Arynel's entrance. "Seems I was above my place, teaching you swordsmanship. Perhaps you'll teach me, eh?"

Skein looked up from her book and gave Arynel a brief, penetrating look, then returned to her reading.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 07:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 20 2005, 01:33 AM)

Loranna watches as Allie heals Jazbet, her expression stony but her eyes troubled.

... Oh Jazbet ... she thinks.

" ... " She couldn't think of anything to say; yelling would feel better but seemed pointless overall, crying would do nothing, trying to talk would be an invitation to babble ...

"I'll watch over him while he sleeps," she says. It seemed the only logical thing to do.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 08:00 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 20 2005, 12:40 AM)

"Be here when he wakes. Come away a moment, I need to talk to you," Allerleirauh said. Something was troubling her; instinctively she forced the thought down, then realized that Loranna could no longer snatch thoughts out of her head.

"Wyrloc is dead? What happened?"

She sent men out to bring the corpse inside. No sense attracting... whatever they might attract, here.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 20 2005, 08:01 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 11:38 PM)

Arynel glanced over at Skein, and then turned his attention to Dragon.

"I would not fancy myself as a swordsman." The Breton said. "I did what was necessary. I lament for blood spilt, and now I continue on, leaving the deed behind me."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 08:04 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 20 2005, 12:51 AM)

"Blood? What are you talking about, child?"

Dragon set the brass andiron aside and sat up in his chair, looking at Arynel closely.

"I was speaking of a sword like a lantern, that spilled no blood. What's happened since then?"

Skein continued to read. Or pretend to read.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 08:07 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 20 2005, 01:50 AM)

Loranna follows Allie, taking a deep breath.

"Wyrloc and I had a brief conversation before he went to rest for a bit," she explains. "He mentioned that the big fight everyone's alluded to had Twilights, and that Jazbet had been torn to pieces by the Daedra during the battle. Near as I can tell thinking back now, he thought that the truth."

"Distraught, I went to compose myself; during that time Wyrloc came back and asked to speak of me about trying to deal with this situation. His plan for fixing things consisted of a sword through my throat, but we both learned Jazbet wasn't dead after all."

Loranna grimaces. "My healing magic wasn't doing much of anything; Azura's smiting has left me more out of it than I realized. I brought Jazbet back here ..."

Loranna sighs. " ... Go ahead and chew me out for being so stupid; better to get it said now instead of waiting. I'll just anticipate your words anyway if you wait."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 20 2005, 08:07 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 19 2005, 11:54 PM)

Arynel unconsciously glanced towards Skein, and then settled once again on Dragon.

"I was attacked by three Dunmer." The Breton said. "They no longer live. It was not my choice, but I did what was necessary. Do you understand me, now?"

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 20 2005, 08:07 AM

(CYRODIIL:)

Melenia Sarculla was what polite people in Nibenay referred to as 'a witch'. She was never too fond of that term, however. She preferred to think of herself as a handmaiden of the Queen of the Night Sky.

Handmaiden or witch, it meant that she spent her days in the village tending her bees, and at dusk... all night long on the holy days... she would sneak out of the village and head for the great rock on the hillside. There she would disrobe, and along with thirty or so women from the surrounding villages, she would sing the praises of the Daedra Prince Azura.

That was, until yesterday. Yesterday her Queen called her. She was just going to deliver honey to Angallus the Miller when she heard the voice. It was stong and terrifying, but very reasonable. It was what she had been waiting for her whole life.

Calmly, she had left the honey in the road and headed for the great rock on the hillside. She knew others would be there too.

Today she stood on the hill, looking with bright blue eyes at the rising smoke which marked the location of the surrounding villages. She smiled as the piercing shriek of a Winged Twilight sounded overhead.

Her life would be a bit different, from now on.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 08:19 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 20 2005, 12:57 AM)

"Ah, I'm sorry, lad," Dragon said. "If it were up to me, no young man would ever have to learn war again. But still, if you must, it's good to be the one left standing."

He looked as if he might say something else, then changed his mind. Instead he stood up and rested his hand on Arynel's shoulder.

"I'll be in the armory, if you want to practice later," he said.

When he was gone, Skein looked up from her book, and waited.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 20 2005, 08:20 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 20 2005, 12:09 AM)

Arynel watched Dragon disappear behind a door, and then turned to Skein.

"Hello." The Breton said. "How does the path greet you? Or should I say, which way do the threads go?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 08:21 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 20 2005, 12:57 AM)

"No, if you were with Wyrloc, you should have been safe enough," Allerleirauh said. "How much else of what he said is lies, then? Is all Dres against us? And Elysana as well? I thought - I thought all our enemies were easy to pick out, now."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 20 2005, 08:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 20 2005, 02:11 AM)

Loranna considers, thinking back to what Wyrloc had told her.

" ... Allie, quick Dunmer question," she says. "Right when Wyrloc put the sword to my throat his eyes changed to a bright blue - is that some sort of revenge oath-granted ability or something? I've never heard of a Dunmer doing that before."

" ... As for how much else he said that was lies ... I don't know. I get the impression he was telling the truth when he said Elysana was pulling her support from Dres and the King wanted them dead, but then I may just be reading more into his plot to kill me here."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 20 2005, 08:25 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 20 2005, 01:10 AM)

Arynel watched Dragon disappear behind a door, and then turned to Skein.

"Hello." The Breton said. "How does the path greet you? Or should I say, which way do the threads go?"

"They don't know, you realize," Skein said. "The three you killed. They weren't awake; they don't even notice. In the otherworld they spin and spin and will be spun again into new forms, and never know your name or even their own names. It's no excuse, for each of us can awaken - senseless murder is the wrong lesson to take from it - but it's a consolation."

She seemed to be ignoring his question. Or perhaps she wasn't.

Posted by: Attrebus Jan 20 2005, 08:29 AM

You know the drill.

To be continued...
http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48725