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

Posted by: Loranna Jan 21 2005, 09:32 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 for Loranna

Loranna is among the party that has just fled the destroyed Ald Sotha, and is heading with them to their eventual destination of Jazbet's estate.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 21 2005, 09:41 AM

ooc summaries:

Allerleirauh is with Loranna, keeping an eye on Solin and the simulacrum, and trying to get the party safely to Telasero.

Doll and Tris are also with the main party. Doll has returned to tagging along with Master Solin like a little shadow, and Tris is with Ciel.

Dragon and Skein are at the Void Ranger guildhouse in Daggerfall.

Mirea is spying for Allerleirauh.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 21 2005, 09:41 AM

Update

Elysana, the Queen of Wayrest, is on a ship cruising out into the Sea of Ghosts, leaving Morrowind far behind, talking the long way home to Wayrest. On board are twenty of her soldiers and one rather poncy playwright named Baloth-Kul. The rest of her army is marching north to set up camp in remote Sheogorad and await more ships to bring them home.

Lord Dres Jazbet, blind and beaten, is with the group outside of Ald Sotha. His visions helped him save Loranna from his house brother Lord Dres Wyrloc, whom he slew, but did not show him that Ald Sotha was about to collapse in the storm.

Bosriel, the little dark-haired girl, the Void Vampire, is with the Void Ranger assassin Leseth. They are interrogating people in the fashion one would expect from creatures without (normal) consciences, attempting to find what became of a device called the Eidolon which Elysana had unearthed. A (late) mystic named Dimatos told them that a guard named Gallymer Faer had told them it was the Queen’s orders to remove the device. They know this is not true, so he is next on the list.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 21 2005, 09:53 AM

Aricyn turned his horse toward Ebonheart, where he intended to meet with the king before rejoining the group.

Once again he thought about the unlikely chain of events that had brought this horse to him, and thanked the Wind.

Kynidius. A very fine name. He hoped the animal lived up to it, for they would have to travel fast to catch up with the group before they left for the mainland.

He was looking forward to meeting Helseth. Perhaps he'd get him to deliver those supplies while he was there...

Posted by: El_Ahrairah Jan 21 2005, 09:59 AM

Now that everyone was ready to move across the waters, the Captain stood himself up in front of all.
To those still standing, Maltne said, “For those of you who have never walked upon water before, the feeling is quite odd. The important thing is to have confidence, and believe that unreality will propel you from the abyss of the sea. Once you start to walk, don’t stop. We have to try and move quickly, because the spell effect won’t last forever. This will take a moment.”

With that, the Armigers began to mouth an incomprehensible iamb of words, which held little apparent meaning. Wisps of purple light emanated from their fingers, until it covered in a dome all those gathered on the beach. Suddenly, the dome collapsed in on itself and with a sound like a distinct “pop” imploded in a blast of purple luminosity. Ebullient stars sparkled on all who had received the spell. Tired, the Armigers stood up and arranged themselves in formation to cross the sea.

Posted by: Meridia Jan 21 2005, 10:03 AM

OOC Maranda is currently residing in the Imperial City, searching for traces of the Red Cloaked man...

For the remainder of the day, Maranda searched around the city for signs of the red cloaked man... at the temple of Arkay, they knew nothing, although rumours of strange things were floating about, strange, blue eyed people being seen in the hinterland... the priest directed Maranda to one of the other temples, perhaps the Talos Cult might know somthing... As Maranda walked through the streets, she heard various things...
"Did you hear Vivec has returned with a massive army to conqour Morrowind?' One woman, her baskets full of foodstuff, said to another... an adventurer who was wandering by noted... 'I heard it might have somthing to do with those blue eyed people that have been seen around...'
'You mean the blue eyed people are the soldiers of Vivec?' The woman said, suddenly dropping the basket in fear... 'I thought they had somthing to do with the Daedric Prince Azura... but if they are the troops of Vivec...'
'Yeah,' the adventurer replied, 'Lord Crassius has offered a 100 gold reward for each head we bring to him... he fears his shares in the East Empire Company will drop if Vivec throws out the empire...'
Maranda just shook her head, and continued to the temple of the cult of Talos...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 21 2005, 10:07 AM

QUOTE(El_Ahrairah @ Jan 21 2005, 02:49 AM)

Allerleirauh had distributed potions of speed and restoration among the company, so that they could run without becoming exhausted, while the spell lasted. The group set out, surrounded by the Armigers.

(ooc: Everyone who was at or near Ald Sotha when it went down has been rescued, healed to the best of our ability, and is being brought along. We'll sort things out later. Feel free to post as if you were with the group all along.)

Posted by: Meridia Jan 21 2005, 10:35 AM

Talos Temple,. Cydoriil City

"Please, donate for the campaign against Lord Vivec's Evil Army of the Undead!" yelled a man in front of the temple, Maranda just ignored him, and made his way to the shrine, the priest, noticing her, began to walk to her, his arms open in greeting,
"Hello, Pilgrim, I hope that the fool out the front did not rattle you too much… he will not listen our pleas for him to move… I have sent someone for the town guard… but I guess you did not come here to be bored to death by our cults affairs… how may I help you?'
'Yes, your grace, I understand that you may be able to help me locate a certain indervidual…'
'Oh? Perhaps the Oracle can help…' he said… 'Whom are you looking for?'
'A red robed man…' Maranda asked…
The priest looked at her scepticly… 'Do you know how many red robed men there are in this town?'
'He was a Nord…'
'that’s a bit better, but it is still a lot of people…'
'He said something strange… "All events are proceeded by prophecy, but without a hero, there is no event…"'
'Ah,' said the priest… 'now that is a clue… that quote is usually associated with Zurin Arctus, there are few in this city who would quote him freely…' he said, as he slowly pushed a donation plate towards her…
Maranda placed in a large amount of gold
'I will see what can be done, young one, might I ask who you are?'
'Me? I am Maranda Bierrne, of Narsis' she said, continuing the lie that she had used all this time…
'I shall be back to you in a few days… my agents will find you…'
Maranda said her thanks, and left the temple, into the town that was being filled ever so fast, with Doomsday rumours…

Posted by: El_Ahrairah Jan 21 2005, 10:52 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 21 2005, 03:57 AM)

Of all of them, Maltne was the first to begin the march. Without any sense of doubt of trepidation, he climbed the waves as if they were steps, and stood upon the water like the solid stone of the Imperial Square. To the religious, faith is what carries people above mountains and under the storms of the world. In accordance with these traditions Maltne was more a prophet than Veloth.

So began the famous march across the sea, a veritable exodus and flight from evil. Explaining how Loranna and her followers were able to escape the multidinuous followers of Azura, they crossed above water to reach the next stage of the journey. Ah, how the magic legacy of such a leg could be told. Some say the party turned into birds, soaring with grace under the waters. Others that they became like the swimming dreugh. The voyage basked in glory, like the exploits of Septim. It was if the world had simply forgotten its rules to watch the weary fugitives. The charge signifies that even the darkest waters may be traversed. History teaches us to be cynical and disilluisioned while events that spark our souls go unnoticed. Let us not forget we may grasp hope in our palms! A vortex of the highest order, transposing light where pain had found Padhome.

Perhaps some god took a fancy and shined his grace upon the shorty trip. All who were involved knew they had been involved in something magickal. For perhaps a few hours the trekkers were marching to their coronations, resemblent in personal magisterial might. The wind seemed to sing:

Spring has come
Bugs stick their faces out of the ground
Birds are eating them

Spring has come
Children go to school
Stray dogs are bearing many puppies

Spring has come
Women face mirrors
Custard pie bakes

Posted by: Two-Tails Jan 21 2005, 03:27 PM

OOC summery:

Two-Tails went alittle crazy after Azura sicked a swarm of winged twilights on everyone who didn't bow to her and nearly got his left arm chared off. He is now stalking Dagoth Lich and the rest of the party because he thinks he can reasemble his broken mind....

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 21 2005, 08:35 PM

The water off Sadrith Mora

The water was calm again, and Baloth-Kul had ceased vomiting. The Queen of Wayrest began again to ask him about his play.

'I like some of the scenes,' Elysana smiled. 'I think your decisions to make King Smellseth extremely flatulent and borderline retarded are sound artistic decisions. On the other hand, you have been cautious in other areas that would appeal to the hoi polloi. It may have been a blessing in disguise that your play as written was not performed. Let me share with you some of my thoughts ..."

The Queen gave the playwright her notes as his new patroness. Though he was not one to take kindly to criticism, Baloth-Kul had to admit that her sense of humor was diabolical.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 21 2005, 10:50 PM

Summary:

Dagoth Lich is following Loranna and the others to Jazbet's estate, staying rather silent until he feels he needs to say anything.

Posted by: Aki Jan 21 2005, 11:23 PM

Summary
Reichi had a battle with Tarenen and the hunters and wound. Albeit without getting pretty wounded in the process. He has since apparently been collected from under the tree he was resting at, healed and is travelling with the main party.

Dar'var is still with the other free slaves, so he won't be mentioned in future summaries unless something happens to bring him back into the story.

Tarenen found Reichi and battled with him. In the process Reichi managed to score what would have been a killing blow, until Tartenen's empty suit of armor fell and the breton was revealed to be one of the Khajiit breeds resembling a housecat. He had been disguising himself with illusionary spells. Tarenen then summarily proceeded to wail on Reichi till Reichi grabbed one of the fallen hunter's halberds and char-broilled the kitty cat.

Tarenen's weapon. A artifact of Mephala, the Ebony Blade now rests with the shrine of Ald Sotha. Lets see those pesky adventurers get it now!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Marching across water was a interesting thing to witness. Even for the user. To see fish and other sea creatures move beneath what to you was a solid surface was unsettling. Reichi thought it was a bit weird and tried to ignore it. He had to the best of his knowledge, been carried off by someone and healed after his fight. He geussed it to be someone who knew of what he was, as most others would have finished him off.

His armor was all but useless now. Someone had gotten his ring back to him as well. He had found the ring secured in his collar when he awoke. It was on his finger now and he intended it to remain that way for some time.

Despite whatever spells and potions had been worked on him, banadages still covered some areas of his body. He knew he had a few new scars as well.

Posted by: niceguy5 Jan 22 2005, 01:23 AM

Summary -

Dane is with the main group, traveling to Jazbet's estate

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 03:40 AM

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

The young Breton man stumbled drunk out of the tavern. It had been a very nice night. Free ale. Free food. Free prostitute. The merchants in this little town knew how to treat a representative of the Queen. They probably would have done right by him had he simply shown the emblem of the Rose, but that system took too long. Gallymer Faer preferred to be frank, explain to them that if they wanted their businesses protected, they better show how much they loved their Queen’s men.

Word had already reached them of the fire at the Wayrest Mages Guild, and he had used it.

“That’s what happens when you aren’t protected,” Faer had said very seriously.

Truth was, it was obviously an accident. Some old fool who should have died long ago had knocked over a candelabra when he was researching … whatever dull thing old wizards study. But it worked.

The sun had not quite risen as Gallymer Faer made his way through the quiet streets to the stable where his horse was being lodged – also free, of course.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 05:18 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 21 2005, 07:30 PM)

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

"That’s what happens when you aren’t protected,” Faer had said very seriously.

Truth was, it was obviously an accident. Some old fool who should have died long ago had knocked over a candelabra when he was researching … whatever dull thing old wizards study. But it worked.

The sun had not quite risen as Gallymer Faer made his way through the quiet streets to the stable where his horse was being lodged – also free, of course.

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

Inside the stables, nothing disturbed the pre-morning silence. The cool night air condensed on the quiet horses as they stood in their stalls, making them shine in the light of Gallymer's lantern.

He collected his saddle and opened his horse's stall, singing drunkenly.

Just as he was about to throw the saddle over the broad back, the stable erupted into chaos. His horse kicked wildly and tried to smash him against the side of the stable, terror in its eyes. Every other horse, too, was whinnying and kicking against their stalls in obvious terror.

The man couldn't help but be nervous. The unexplained fear of the animals was contagious. More than that he was angry, though. The night's entertainment was settling in and all he wanted to do was get home and go to bed. Besides that, his bladder was starting to feel like it was going to burst, and the blasted animal would not let him get the saddle on.

It tried to kick him in the head one more time as he grabbed for the flailing reins. They played a loud game of tug-of-war, but the stubborn horse was winning. It had dragged him across the stable, and with a final jerk of it's neck it tore the reins from his drunken fingers and shot off down the cobble street as fast as it could run.

Gallymer ran after it for a few paces, but he really was going to burst.

He eyed the street up and down.

Nothing moved on the dark narrow street, and all the shutters were closed. He shook his head angrily and walked up to the wall, unbuttoning his trousers.

The racket back in the stable seemed to be quieting down.

Something cold and very, very hard took him by the back of the neck.

"Hello, Gallymer Faer," a quiet, deep voice said in his ear.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 06:08 AM

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 21 2005, 11:08 PM)

Something cold and very, very hard took him by the back of the neck.

"Hello, Gallymer Faer," a quiet, deep voice said in his ear.

The guard gasped and instantly emptied his bladder. He threw all his gold to the ground.

"Don't hurt me!" Gallymer Faer whimpered.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 06:24 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 21 2005, 09:58 PM)

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock
The guard gasped and instantly emptied his bladder. He threw all his gold to the ground.

"Don't hurt me!" Gallymer Faer whimpered.

The man behind him sounded big. The mailed hand around his neck tightened just slightly.

"The mages... You took something from them, for the Queen. Where is it?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 06:31 AM

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 12:14 AM)

"The mages... You took something from them, for the Queen. Where is it?"

Gallymer felt the air grow thin, and he thought he was going to faint. He fought it. As tempting as it was too lose all consciousness, and awake when this was all over, he knew that if that happened, he would never wake at all.

Still, it took him a moment to understand what the man behind him was asking about. Something he took from mages for the Queen? He had done many things for the Queen, some of which involved mages ...

'Th-the artifact, the metal thing? Just recently, or wh-when?' Gallymer stammered. Whoever was behind him didn't sound like he was too patient.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 06:36 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 21 2005, 10:21 PM)

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock
Gallymer felt the air grow thin, and he thought he was going to faint. He fought it. As tempting as it was too lose all consciousness, and awake when this was all over, he knew that if that happened, he would never wake at all.

Still, it took him a moment to understand what the man behind him was asking about. Something he took from mages for the Queen? He had done many things for the Queen, some of which involved mages ...

'Th-the artifact, the metal thing? Just recently, or wh-when?' Gallymer stammered. Whoever was behind him didn't sound like he was too patient.

"Yes," the cold voice said in his ear. "The 'metal thing'. Just recently. Where is it?"

The man felt himself pulled up on tiptoe by the back of his neck.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 06:39 AM

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 12:26 AM)

"Yes," the cold voice said in his ear. "The 'metal thing'. Just recently. Where is it?"

He felt himself pulled up on tiptoe by the back of his neck.

The guard who was so good at intimidating merchants and innkeepers made a noise like an injured kitten. 'Please don't hurt me -- I don't know where exactly. The spymaster Lord Castellian made all the arrangements. It was put on a ship to go east -- I don't know where ... please ... please ...'

Gallymer began blubbering, snot and tears running freely.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 06:48 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 21 2005, 10:29 PM)

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock
The guard who was so good at intimidating merchants and innkeepers made a noise like an injured kitten. 'Please don't hurt me -- I don't know where exactly. The spymaster Lord Castellian made all the arrangements. It was put on a ship to go east -- I don't know where ... please ... please ...'

Gallymer began blubbering, snot and tears running freely.

Charway Heath, Wayrestian Koegria, High Rock

The deep, quiet voice at his ear said, "I believe you."

He felt a very hot, sharp pain in his back. It was suddenly very hard to breathe. Something warm was pouring down the back of his legs. Then another sharp pain, and he couldn't feel his legs.

A very large, black metal hand reached around in front of Gallymer's face. He saw that it clutched a long, bloody dagger. It felt very cold against his throat for a moment.

Leseth carefully picked the man's gold out of the bloodied dirt, intentionally leaving a couple of coins, and was gone.

When housemaid opened the door to fetch the morning water, she tripped over something heavy, and screamed.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 06:58 AM

THE VOID:

Leseth dropped the gold into the endless deep of the Void as he stroked Bosriel's black hair.

"We are getting close, Little One. Your days of imprisonment are nearly at an end."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 07:04 AM

Water walking was a new experience for Loranna, albiet one to which she adapted well enough to keep moving. Seeing the clear water beneath her feet and fish and the occasional Dreugh staring up at her was novel, though at the pace she was keeping didn't allow for her to really take in the sights below her.

It felt strange, not just walking around but out and out running; even with her still distended belly, the feeling of moving quickly was more pleasant than she'd have thought. It felt good to move like this; it was like her newfound freedom was now brushing against her skin with windy fingers, playfully suggesting what else await once she got to her destination. It felt good to feel relatively good again ...

The time past quickly and Loranna could see a shape rising before them, a Dunmer stronghold ...

Posted by: Meridia Jan 22 2005, 07:06 AM

Maranda's Adventures in Cydoriil

The rumours were spreading through the panic striken city like wildfire, some Imperial Troops had been sent out to quell the crowd, but rumours of Vivecs Demonic Army of the Undead Blue-eyed People were everywhere... she had even heard one rumour that Dagoth Ur had risen as a Dragon and was leading Vivecs armies... Maranda, as she sat in the tavern believed none of this nonence, she believed that the blue eyed people had to do with Azura's demise... how, exactly, she could not piece together...

'Is anyone sitting here?' a familiar voice remarked
'Daidez? It has been a while since I saw you!' Maranda remarked as the familiar Dunmer sat next to her...
'So has the mission been a success?'
'Sorta... Azura is back in Oblivion, if thats what you mean... what have you been up to?'
'I got a job as a blue eyed hunter... I made 100 gold yesterday alone...'
'Thats rather good... but watch out for them, they are kinda tough...' Maranda said
'Yeah, but its a living...' Daidez said, finishing his ale... and standing, 'well, those blue eyed demons will not kill themselves, I'm off...'
Maranda nodded, and returned to her thoughts...

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

THE VOID:

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 12:48 AM)

Leseth dropped the gold into the endless deep of the Void as he stroked Bosriel's black hair.

"We are getting close, Little One. Your days of imprisonment are nearly at an end."

Bosriel nodded. She was hungry, but she felt something much stronger. It was hard to categorize -- excitement, apprehension ... She was an unreal creature to the world at large, and reality was a beautiful unreal place to her. For over a thousand years, she had been the dark child, looking through the window, tasting but unable to touch ...

Tamriel would soon be her playground.

The dark-haired little girl with the hungry red eyes smiled like an angel at the thought.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 07:35 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 21 2005, 11:54 PM)

Daedra and Atronachs waved their fists impotently as the company passed Mzahnch. They kept running. In a surprisingly short time, they stepped onto the ashen shore; the ancient fortress of Telasero loomed ahead.

"These places are often taken over by squatters of some sort; I'll go ahead with a few good men and clear it out," Allerleirauh said.

"You're in charge here until I get back," she said, smiling and slapping Ciel on the shoulder.

With several of the Armigers beside her, she climbed the massive steps and disappeared into the tower atop the fortress.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 07:37 AM

(The Slums of Wayrest:)

From the Void, the secret dungeon of the queen was as obvious as Wayrest's marketplace; The hidden entrance in the derilect building, and the dark tunnel descending down to cells and torture chambers hidden beneath the city.

Spymaster Ryvad Castellan's personal office was at the bottom of a long, spiralling staircase leading even deeper under the city streets.

Leseth emerged in the empty office. One small oil lamp hanging from the ceiling revealed the neat, orderly habits of the spymaster. The place smelled of death. Uncountable people had shed their blood and lost their lives in these secret halls.

Leseth's eyes searched the office. There, behind that cabinet, was where the spymaster kept his most secret of documents. Leseth retrieved a metal box from its hiding place and the lock opened at his touch. Inside were papers and letters worth many lives.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 07:40 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:25 AM)

Loranna pauses to rest her legs a little; despite the restorative potions Allie gave her she still felt cramps creeping into her muscles. She had definitely not done enough walking while being paraded about all over Morrowind; from now on, she was going to have to make sure she took better care of herself ...

Rubbing her chest a litttle with an annoyed expresison, Loranna looks around, thinking about how much everyone had gone through. She sees Doll and smiles, remembering she owes the young girl something nice after all. Have to think of something really nice ...

Frowning, Loranna remembers the last time she saw Doll and realizes she has no real clue what became of the slaves. Making her way over to the girl, she smiles, though her face twitches a bit as a twinge of discomfort tickles her.

" .. .Hi; good to see you again," she says to Doll. "How did things go with your travels, before the big mess hit?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 07:43 AM

The Oubliettes, Wayrest

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:27 AM)

Leseth's eyes searched the office. There, behind that cabinet, was where the spymaster kept his most secret of documents. Leseth retreived a metal box from its hiding place and easily broke the lock. Inside were papers and letters worth many lives.

On a dirty little street in the slums of Wayrest, down an alleyway that looked neither sinister nor particularly welcoming, Elysana’s chief spymaster, Ryvad Castellian consulted with the Queen’s Minister of War.

‘She is returning?’ Ryvad said, surprised. ‘Already?’

‘That is the message I’ve received just this hour,’ the Minister, a large brutish Breton of middle age, replied. ‘We are sending a fleet of boats to pick up the army in Sheogorad. Only one of her boats survived, and she is taking that to come home.’

‘How fascinating,’ said the Spymaster. ‘I should really be returning to work, but I thank you for thinking to keep me informed about this.’

Ryvad and the Minister bowed to one another, and then Castellian took the secret passage into his office, the former secret dungeon of the Queen’s political prisoners, the Oubliettes. There were a few assistants he kept on, but the place was large and their spacement was sporadic. From time to time in the dank, cavernous halls he would hear an unintelligible echo, but he knew it to be a bureaucrat, not a ghost.

The Spymaster walk the halls towards his office, his metal boots striking hard against the stone. His true master, the King of Morrowind, would find this new information very useful.

Of course, if Elysana had known that they’d be childhood friends in the court of Wayrest, Helseth and him, she would never had made him Spymaster. Hell, she would have had him executed when she took the throne if not sooner. No, the greatest lesson Ryvad ever learned from his illustrious family, supporters of the crown of Wayrest for generations, was to keep your enemies close and your friends secret.

He turned the corner. Up ahead was the spiral staircase leading down to his office, lined with torches to keep the treacherous walk safe.

It was a good day to be alive. Ryvad Castellian began to whistle.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 07:54 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 21 2005, 11:33 PM)

The Oubliettes, Wayrest

It was a good day to be alive. Ryvad Castellian began to whistle.

The Oubliettes, Wayrest

Leseth heard the sound of whistling in the stair, but he did not hurry. He removed the false bottom of the box and read what was there.

Letters. Some from the Queen, some concerning business even more foul than Leseth's.

Some from Helseth, King of Morrowind.

Letters concerning a particularly odd, large metal object unearthed in the mountains.

Letters with instructions to have it sent to Ebonheart.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 07:56 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 21 2005, 11:25 PM)

"These places are often taken over by squatters of some sort; I'll go ahead with a few good men and clear it out," Allerleirauh said.

"You're in charge here until I get back," she said, smiling and slapping Ciel on the shoulder.

Ciel nodded to the General, Tris often refered to her as that, with a smile as he set a large sack down above the shore’s tide markings. Several of their companions had begun to meander along the sandy coastline. The others, having tired themselves with the journey, were sitting down to wait out the clearance of the fortress.

The knight made his way to the remaining Armigers and told them to set watch. Their skills would prove useful for such work, it wouldn’t do to be so close to escaping the dangerous regions surrounding Vivec only to be ambushed. Having finished with the Armigers he turned back to the supplies. They would need organizing so they could be quickly taken through the propylon.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 08:01 AM

The Oubliettes, Wayrest

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:44 AM)

Leseth heard the sound of whistling in the stair, but he did not hurry. He removed the false bottom of the box and read what was there.

Still whistling, Ryvad Castellian began the walk down the stairs. Even with regular spaced torches, it was easy to slip. He slowed his pace down, though he was eager to hurry, to send word to his Master. Perhaps soon, he would be asked to come to Morrowind itself, now that he had proven himself so useful … He would have to leave Wayrest before long. Elysana was not quite such a fool for him to escape detection as a double-agent for very long …

He stopped and held his breath.

It was not a sound that anyone would identify. A thin, ethereal noise. Not a footstep or a breath – it touched his heart stronger than his ears, but it was a sound that said there was presence.

There was someone in his office.

Moving quickly, but with as little noise as possible, the Spymaster went back up the stairwell. There were two soldiers just down the hall, well-trained, well-armored, well-armed. They were more than a match for anything.

The torch next to him blew itself out.

And then the two on either side of it, and the next two, on up and on down, like a wave emanating from just where he was standing.

Still, Ryvad Castellian, the Spymaster of Queen Elysana of Wayrest and double-agent to His Majesty, Helseth, the King of Morrowind, felt no fear, just surprise.

The fear did not strike him then.

Until he felt the touch of a hungry child reach for him from the Void, so easily accessible on a staircase.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:02 AM

Arynel reached down and picked up a smooth black stone off of the ground. He lifted it up, about half a foot above eye level, it was rounded and smoothed by water running over it over time.

The Breton looked out over the water, and situated the stone in his hand. He swung his arm out in a smooth snapping motion causing the stone to twirl forward, it made contact with the water, rose once, and upon its second contact, went under.

Arynel frowned, then let out a breath, then smiled.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 12:30 AM)

Doll bowed to Loranna.

"I was going to make my report as soon as you had leisure. I did as you asked; no one enslaved the people who were freed. It is a long story, if you would like to hear it."

She began by telling Loranna about the trip through the farmlands below Suran, about the murder of the farmers and the plundering of the croplands, the freeing of still more slaves, the encounter with Imperial soldiers who had been forced to turn tail and run.

"We continued our journey. However, before we reached Ebonheart, the group split into two. Many of the freed slaves no longer wished to return to the countries from which their races came. They had never been there, they knew nothing of the customs; they thought they would be mocked and put to shame. And besides, the pleasant country attracted them, and they wished to stay in Morrowind. Some went on to Ebonheart, and from there, took passage to their homelands, but even more turned to the West, towards Pelagiad.

"I knew then that if I did nothing, disaster would befall our group. So I took a chance and traveled to Cyrodiil. There I have friends who were clients once. With the right persuasion, and quite a bit of gold for expenses, they were willing to talk to the right people for me. When I returned, it was with a promise that my words would be heard, that the Emperor himself, or at least the Council, would consider the plight of the slaves.

"Outside Pelagiad, we were confronted by a company of Imperial soldiers. The Khajiit began to hiss, and the Argonians to keen, but we all knew that there was nothing to be done. Even if we had been strong enough to withstand them, such a crime would bring more and more Imperials against us, until finally there would be nothing that could be done.

"Yet they were not there to crush us. The captain, a magnificent man in armor that shone like gold, stepped forward with a letter in his hand, bearing the stamp of the Emperor himself. It was a charter, a charter for a new city, where the slaves could dwell, and his men were the garrison for the city, on an island off the coast of Vvardenfell which had before been temple land where no one lived.

"I know that this was done to spite Helseth and test the Armistice. The letter said that the new city was a gift to the Incarnate for services rendered to the Emperor; it is my belief that whoever granted the charter misunderstood, and meant the Nerevarine, and not the Incarnate Azura. Such is politics.

"The city was founded with dancing and the Imperial battlemage shooting fire high into the sky. The island is small but there are already pylons being driven into the ocean floor, to bear platforms, like the city of Vivec. It is Freetown, and the law there is that any who set foot within the walls is free forever."

Doll bowed again.

"Urjora had to make a law that any non-Khajiit found with moonsugar would be killed, and any found with skooma, even Khajiit, would be killed, and Khajiit who took moonsugar when he was supposed to be working would be beaten until the blood ran. That was because of Hla Oad, where the smugglers live. There are still smugglers, though, and they will make plenty of money from foolish cats. The Houses hate the new city. The garrison hates the cats and the lizards. But the city will stand, through all of this."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 08:10 AM

Solin sat on a rock perfectly situated to look out over the Inner Sea from the beach. The simulacrum was nearby, hidden under the heavy robes that it wore. He was smiling as he read quietly to himself from a large volume, bound in red hide. A single sheet of notes rested on the dry sand of the beach under a few stones to keep the wind from troubling it. His open pack lay next to it.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:13 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 12:00 AM)

Arynel looked over at Solin.

"Given a pen of proper stature, and page of exact proportions, I suppose you could etch out a path for a fool with feet." The Breton said. "Or at least a word or two of wisdom and advice. What are you studying?"

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 08:19 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:56 AM)

Loranna listens to Doll's story with rapt attention, her eyebrows raising several times.

" ... Doll, you're amazing," she says at the end. "I wish I could be half as resourceful as you are."

She smiles. "Freetown ... someday when all this settles down I'd like to go there; the murder at the beginning wasn't great but ..."

Loranna frowns. " ... Given what they'd suffered as slaves, I think I understand something like that was inevitable. It could have been worse but it wasn't, so in that at least it's good."

"... I never really followed politics; something I'll have to remedy someday, but it sounds like this time things worked out for the good. Things sound like they'll be tough at first especially with all the Azurites around ..."

Loranna frowns. " ... Actually, that may end up being too much for the new city ..." she mutters, before shaking her head.

" ... Or maybe not ..." she says, trying to remain somewhat optimistic.

"... Well, I lived through all this thus far; if I manage to live through this long enough to get to safety I'll make good on my promise. Might be a while though, while I get my feet back under me ..."

Loranna figits her legs uncomfortably. "Darn cramps ..." she mutters.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:27 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 01:09 AM)

"Anyone can be resourceful," Doll said. "You just have to learn to repress your gag reflex and not mind bad smells."

She smiled an unreadable smile.

"How are you feeling? The girls I worked with got rid of babies all the time, it's hard at such a late time."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 08:27 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:03 AM)

Solin glanced up from his pages which began fluttering in the wind. He closed the book and set it aside.

“A few well inked pages,” Solin replied, smile unabated. “About love, to be telling.”

“A fool with feet?” he rasped, not so much a question. “Perhaps. Does the fool have some place he wants to go?”

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 08:29 AM

Telasero, Andasreth, Gnaar Mok, boat, home ...

Jazbet sat by himself on the ashen shore, trying to force his vision to come, as his blind eyes, hidden beneath a fold of cloth, stared out at nothing.

Talasero. There would be fighting. Of course. Nothing too disastrous.

Andasreth. Nothing. It was all dark.

Gnaar Mok. That was what troubled him. He did not know what he was seeing. It was blood. It was death. But who? And how? And if it was preventable, what could be done?

He concentrated harder, and ignored the visions that came to him about the boat and home ... He must understand ... He must do his part ...

The Khajiit felt his breath grow shallow as he reached deeper into his visions towards the face and form of death ...

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 08:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 02:17 AM)

Loranna frowns. "Um, well, now that I'm not overwhelmed by realizing I'm still alive or nearly being killed twice over or running across a lake ... I'm kind of sore up here and I've got cramps ..."

A look of dull realization comes over Loranna. " ... It gets worse before it gets better, doesn't it?"

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:30 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 12:17 AM)

"I believe his knowing would disqualify him from being a fool, would it not?" Arynel asked in jest.

The Breton took a deep breath.

"Love, an intriquing prospect, dare you speak of it to me?"

Posted by: Meridia Jan 22 2005, 08:34 AM

Maranda's Adventures in Cydoriil

Maranda walked the streets near the palace... the guard had set up a tempory morge where the bodies were stacked before being taken to be burnt far from the Emperors eyes... the riots had only just been contained... and a sence of panic had fallen over the city... A child ran up to the pile of bodies, and pulled a dead woman's dress, 'Momma, momma!' he sobed to the body... things were getting out of hand... surely the Authorities would have told the people the truth... but what if these rumours were better than the truth? thought Maranda, as a white robed man approched her
'Greetings, Maranda, the Priest sent me. We have uncovered some information on the Lunar Cult...'
'the what cult? Oh you mean the red robed guys...'
'Indeed,' he said, looking nerviously at the guards and the pile of bodies, 'perhaps we should go inside and talk?'
'A briliant idea,' she said, as she followed the white robed man into a nearby chappel... they sat down on a pew together, and begain to talk in whispers...
'The Lunar Cult is a cult of Shezarr, or Lorkhan... they have been around for quite some time, and during that time, thier philosophy and goals have changed quite significantly... the cult seemed to drop off the face of the earth at the begining of the third empire, but recently, we have seen signs of it rising again.. it could be them...'
'Anyone else?' Maranda asked
'Yes, the ruler of Solitude's agents are known to have red robes, it could be one of them... however, I have no Idea why they would be interested in events in Morrowind...'
'And? You make it seem like there is somthing else...'
'There isn't' he said nervously
'And where will I find these people?' Maranda asked, ignoring the obvious lie
'The Lunar Cult? I would say out in the hinterland, ask around some of the towns, I do not know which. Solitude? Ask around the Skyrim Mission,' he said, slowly standing and leaving
she sat there and wondered... she needed to get out of this town, and the Lorkhan Cult was the best option at the time being... she decided to head to the hinterland...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:35 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 01:19 AM)

"It will go away in a few days," Doll said. "Heat helps. At least you're not crying all the time, like some girls."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 08:39 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 02:25 AM)

"It will go away in a few days," Doll said. "Heat helps. At least you're not crying all the time, like some girls."

Loranna raises her eyebrows at Doll, a small, rueful smile playing on her lips.

"Actually I do cry an awful lot; it's just that nowadays my tears tend to be more for the mess I've made and the people I've hurt rather than just myself," she says. " ... Or for those moments when everyone's happy too," she adds, frowning thoughtfully.

"Truth be told even without Azura in me my emotions feel like they're on a runaway horse a lot, but I guess that's to be expected; it's getting a little easier dealing with it though."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:20 AM)

"I believe his knowing would disqualify him from being a fool, would it not?" Arynel asked in jest.

The Breton took a deep breath.

"Love, an intriquing prospect, dare you speak of it to me?"

“My eyes haven't yet pulled all the words from the ink,” Solin responded looking back down to the book. “It is simultaneously frightening and wonderful, above the rest.”

He hesitated a moment.

“I… I would not say more,” the mer sighed finally. “Yet.”

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 08:45 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 21 2005, 11:51 PM)

The Oubliettes, Wayrest

Still, Ryvad Castellian, the Spymaster of Queen Elysana of Wayrest and double-agent to His Majesty, Helseth, the King of Morrowind, felt no fear, just surprise.

The fear did not strike him then.

Until he felt the touch of a hungry child reach for him from the Void, so easily accessible on a staircase.

The Oubliettes, Wayrest

Leseth noticed that the whistling had stopped.

He finished reading the letter in his hand, an interesting one from Helseth, explaining how blame should be placed on the Queen's captain, Liris, in order end his life at the Queen's hands and thereby weaken the growing cult of Azura.

He placed each letter carefully back where it belonged in the box and returned it to its hiding place in the wall. The hole also contained a small rodlike device, obviously magical. Leseth correctly surmised that it was the method the spymaster had used to send his correspondence to Morrowind.

A soft thump on the stairs, unexpected but unmistakable, caught his sharp ears.

Leseth smiled a small smile, and left the cabinet which hid the secret compartment slightly crooked. That would make it easier for the Queen's men to find when they investigated Lord Castellan's demise.

(Above, in the Slums of Wayrest:)

One of the many vagabonds that called the dirty streets near the Oubliettes home ran waving his arms, frantically, towards a passing stranger.

"Mayonnaise!" he yelled at the passerby, nonsensically. "Mayonnaise!"

The confused citizen threw the bum a coin and quickened his pace.

Bending down to pick up the coin with grubby fingers, the bony old man proclaimed smiled a toothless smile. "I have a mad pash for hats," he happily proclaimed to himself.
(OOC: Don't ask. ^-^)

(The Void:)
Leseth smiled at Bosriel. Removing one of his ebony gauntlets, he carefully wiped a red smudge from her porcelain face.

"We go to Ebonheart," he said.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:52 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 12:33 AM)

Arynel nodded, and smiled.

"Speak, friend, there is a saying," the Breton began, 'The sage who suppresses his best aphorism: cut off his hands, for he is a thief.' Speak, my ears are open."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 08:53 AM

Gnaar Mok

Jazbet was there, though he knew he wasn’t. All around him was fire, but it didn’t hurt him. Except it burned his eyes, which was madness. He had no eyes.

Through the flames he could see the charred corpse of someone. Who was it? He couldn’t see through the smoke and flames whether it was male or female, man or mer … As he reached his hands into the fire, to touch it and find some identifying mark, the flames melted away to the familiar gray nothingness of his blind world.

‘Who is it?’ he cried, standing up on the ashen shore. ‘Who is going to die?’

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:56 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 01:43 AM)

"Easy, fellow," Tris said, standing up - he had been resting to take the weight off his stump - and approaching the shouting Khajiit carefully.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:00 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 02:46 AM)

"Easy, fellow," Tris said, standing up - he had been resting to take the weight off his stump - and approaching the shouting Khajiit carefully.

'There's going to be a fire,' Jazbet said breathlessly, turning his head in the direction of the voice. 'In Gnaar Mok. Someone is going to die ...'

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 09:02 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 02:43 AM)

Loranna looks over from Doll to see Jazbet, and says " ... Pardon me one moment dear ..."

Hurrying over to Jazbet and Tris, Loranna says soothingly "It's okay Jazbet; you're safe with us here now ... here; let me take your hand ..."

Slowly reaching for Jazbet's hand, Loranna says "It's all right ... just relax."

A fire ... Loranna thinks. That doesn't sound good ...

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:05 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 02:52 AM)

Jazbet grips her hand a little tighter. 'We need to get inside. There will be trouble here. Azurites coming swiftly. They don't see us yet ... but they will ...'

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 09:05 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:42 AM)

Arynel nodded, and smiled.

"Speak, friend, there is a saying," the Breton began, 'The sage who suppresses his best aphorism: cut off his hands, for he is a thief.' Speak, my ears are open."

Solin raised his hands. About to say something, he is cut off before the words form by the shouts of the Khajiit.

"Death?" he asked rising from his seat. He backoned back for the simulacrum to follow him as he made his way down the shore to the disturbance.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:06 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 01:55 AM)

Jazbet grips her hand a little tighter. 'We need to get inside. There will be trouble here. Azurites coming swiftly. They don't see us yet ... but they will ...'

Allerleirauh emerged from the top of Telasero, flanked by the Armigers. None seemed injured, or even breathing hard.

"Not pretty in there," she called to the group. "Little Sixth-house shrine. But nothing we couldn't clear out. Might want to hold your nose, though."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:07 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 12:55 AM)

Solin raised his hands. About to say something, he is cut off before the words form by the shouts of the Khajiit.

"Death?" he asked rising from his seat. He backons for the simulacrum to follow him as he made his way down the shore to the disturbance.

"What is this?" Arynel asked rhetorically.

The Breton headed off down to the source of the commotion.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 09:07 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 02:55 AM)

Jazbet grips her hand a little tighter. 'We need to get inside. There will be trouble here. Azurites coming swiftly. They don't see us yet ... but they will ...'

Loranna looks up to Allie. "That won't be a problem," she says. "But from what Jazbet says, there's blue-eyed company heading our way. Let's make haste."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:13 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 02:57 AM)

Loranna looks up to Allie. "That won't be a problem," she says. "But from what Jazbet says, there's blue-eyed company heading our way. Let's make haste."

Jazbet nodded frantically. 'Hurry, hurry, they're almost here ...'

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:14 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 01:03 AM)

Jazbet nodded frantically. 'Hurry, hurry, they're almost here ...'

"We should seek shelter," Arynel said, "Perhaps they will pass us over..."

The Breton's hand unconsciously crept towards his sword handle.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 09:17 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 01:03 AM)

Jazbet nodded frantically. 'Hurry, hurry, they're almost here ...'

Ciel directs a few men in the gathered crowd to start gathering supplies from the small pile that had formed. He grabed a pair of large sacks and threw one over his shoulder.

"There's nothing at all left in there?" he asked Allerleirauh, indicating the propylon chamber with a nod.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:19 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 03:04 AM)

"We should seek shelter," Arynel said, "Perhaps they will pass us over..."

The Breton's hand unconsciously crept towards his sword handle.

'If we stay and fight, some of us will die,' Jazbet said quickly. 'Loranna and Tris and me. You will be grievously injured, before they are all slain. Please, I can see it. We only have to get inside and they will pass us over ...'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:19 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 02:07 AM)

"Nothing alive," Allerleirauh said. "And no need to linger, I have the index to get us out of here. Come on, then."

The Armigers brought up the rear as the party hurried up the steps to the entrance to Telasero.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 09:21 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 03:09 AM)

"Don't worry dear; we're not staying to play with the Azurites," Loranna assures Jazbet, helping him up the stairs as she follows along with the party.

Cramps and soreness could be ignored a little longer.

Posted by: Teleran Jan 22 2005, 09:22 AM

Teleran heard a khajiit scream, followed by frenetic activity as the supplies were gathered up and everyone hurried towards Telesaro. Teleran picked up a sack of supplies and ran to the propylon chamber.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 09:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:09 AM)

Solin gave at glance back to the sea from the battlements as the men and mer began to pile through the chamber's door. He shook his head and went to join them, leading the simulacrum by the hand.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:25 AM

The unmistakable march of footsteps could now be heard. And a black cloud of Winged Twilights filled the air.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:30 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 02:15 AM)

The unmistakable march of footsteps could now be heard. And a black cloud of Winged Twilights filled the air.

"Stop gawking and get inside!" Allerleirauh snapped at the laggers.

When all were inside the chamber with its swirling lights and disturbing hum, she activated the index. There was a wrench, and a blur... and then the warm wooden walls of Caldera's mages' guild. Another wrenching blur and they were in a propylon chamber nearly identical to the one they had come from.

Except without demons everywhere.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:32 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:20 AM)

"Where are we?" Arynel asked.

The Breton stepped out of the propylon chamber.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 09:33 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 03:15 AM)

The unmistakable march of footsteps could now be heard. And a black cloud of Winged Twilights filled the air.

Loranna glances back just as she enters the chamber ...

"To think if I hadn't become the Incarnate I'd probably be one of them now ..." she mutters darkly ...

... and then, they're whisked away from the forces of Daedra and Azurites. Loranna continues to hold Jazbet's hand, waiting for Allie and the Armigers to pronounce it safe to step out.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:33 AM

Jazbet breathed heavily.

'Sorry to frighten everyone,' the Khajiit grinned. 'If you could have seen that future we just missed, you would have moved much faster ... But Tris, you would've fought well. Glad it never happened.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:37 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 02:23 AM)

"Heh, if you saw me fighting well, you might want to doubt your vision!" Tris said, smiling. "A fire? What are we supposed to do about it?"

"What's this now?" Allerleirauh asked.

A hiss and a thunk, and an arrow struck the floor just past her. Allerleirauh cursed and spun. Andasreth had its own local population. Bandits, looked like.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 09:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 03:27 AM)

"More trouble," Loranna says grimly, helping Jazbet back to a less 'open to bandits' position.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:39 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:27 AM)

A hiss and a thunk, and an arrow struck the floor just past her. Allerleirauh cursed and spun. Andasreth had its own local population. Bandits, looked like.

"There is no need for this," Arynel said, lacing his voice with a calm spell. "Stow away both bow and blade, no need for blood to spill today."

The Breton wove his arms, and a green sanctuary aura appeared around his body.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 09:43 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 03:27 AM)

"Heh, if you saw me fighting well, you might want to doubt your vision!" Tris said, smiling. "A fire? What are we supposed to do about it?"

Jazbet smiled, but thought You did fight well in the future I saw. And if you saw the same look I saw on Ciel's face when you died, you would not be laughing now. Thank Jephre it was not a future that would happen now ...

'I do not know what can be done to stop the fi --' he began when the chaos broke out. Again, he cursed his vision -- why did I not see this? Like Ald Sotha, I miss the biggest disasters ...

Posted by: Teleran Jan 22 2005, 09:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 21 2005, 11:27 PM)

'Local bandits,' Teleran thought, 'It would be really disheartening if we escaped the Azurites to fall at the hands of bloody bandits.'

They used bows, that was easy enough to fix. He tore the bow out of one's hands then nocked an arrow from the same bandit's quiver and shot his friend in the side of the head just as the first bandit's scream was cut short by Nehtayem whistling through his throat. The iron dagger leapt among the tmost tightly knit group of bandits and took one's throat, before vanishing into another's chest only to reappear behind him and be joined by Nehtayem to continue their vicious dance among the bandits.

Teleran had as yet not moved from the the propylon chamber. and only exited once the rout was well underway. An arrow that streaked for him suddenly broke asunder, the pieces twirling into the space behind him. Nehtayem returned to his hand. and he leapt at the ones who remained.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:53 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 22 2005, 02:40 AM)

More bandits, hearing the commotion, entered the chamber at a run. It was a silly thing for them to do; Allerleirauh took out three with one blow of her greatsword.

The Armigers and Teleran swiftly dispatched the ones who remained.

"Much better!" she said. "These holes always do attract rats. At least these ones weren't diseased, like the last lot."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 09:56 AM

Loranna raises her eyebrows, looking at the dead bandits on the ground.

... Sigh; I'm going to need to learn at least how to keep that from happening to me, she thinks, turning to Tris and Jazbet.

"Our best bet in my estimation? We keep our time in Gnaar Mok to a minumum so as to have fewer chances to catch on fire," she says with a shrug. " ... And I probably should borrow a cloak from someone; I'm distinctive and have a reputation here ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:00 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 03:46 AM)

"Our best bet in my estimation? We keep our time in Gnaar Mok to a minumum so as to have fewer chances to catch on fire," she says with a shrug. " ... And I probably should borrow a cloak from someone; I'm distinctive and have a reputation here ..."

Jazbet took off his filthy, mud and blood sodden hooded cloak, and handed it to her.

"I'm sure it's not very nice," the Khajiit smiled.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:03 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 02:50 AM)

Jazbet took off his filthy, mud and blood sodden hooded cloak, and handed it to her.

"I'm sure it's not very nice," the Khajiit smiled.

"We could put a sack over your head," Allerleirauh said, smiling. "Everything I own is drenched, I'm afraid. Now. We're just a skip from Gnaar Mok, the way I would go if alone - over the mountains, flying, and then over the water, walking. On foot it's a little bit farther."

Posted by: Teleran Jan 22 2005, 10:04 AM

With the bandits defeated Teleran retrieved his daggers, and took one or two silver daggers that the bandits had, after all, it never hurt to have too much ammunition, even if it was reusable.

Then as he came upon the bandit who had taken his friend's arrow through the skull. He was wearing some wellmaintained steel armor, pity he had decided hot to wear the helm, otherwise he may have lasted longer. Teleran's face brightened as he pulled the left pauldron and gauntlet from the corpse. He knew exactly what he could do with these. The pauldron and gauntlet floated where his left arm had been. As he walked out of Andasreth only the most perceptive would notice that there was something odd in how his left arm moved.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 10:05 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 03:50 AM)

Jazbet took off his filthy, mud and blood sodden hooded cloak, and handed it to her.

"I'm sure it's not very nice," the Khajiit smiled.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 03:53 AM)

" ... Why not?" Loranna says with a smile and a chuckle. "Sacks are the in thing this season, I hear."

She nods to Allie. "We all go together then, or should one of you go ahead first, just to see if the place looks volatile? Jazbet did see flames in this town after all."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:08 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 03:53 AM)

'I don't think you were outside when I said I had a vision about Gnaar Mok,' Jazbet said to Allerleirauh. 'There will be a fire, very big, all along the docks ... And someone, at least one person, one of us, will die ... Unless the future can be changed somehow, that will happen.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:10 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 02:55 AM)

Loranna takes Jazbet's cloak, remembering Doll's words about being resourceful from just a short while ago.

" ... For this trip, it's perfect," she says, hoping Gnaar Mok wasn't the sort of place to pay much mind to a tattered and besotten woman in a cloak. She puts it on and pulls the hood over her head to obscure her face.

Ignoring her slight cramps, she takes Jazbet's hand and squeezes it reassuringly. "Thank you."
" ... Why not?" Loranna says with a smile and a chuckle. "Sacks are the in thing this season, I hear."

She nods to Allie. "We all go together then, or should one of you go ahead first, just to see if the place looks volatile? Jazbet did see flames in this town after all."

"I haven't heard this," Allerleirauh said. "Jazbet, what do your visions tell you about what we can do? Sending people in two parties may be safer, or even more dangerous."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:11 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 03:55 AM)

Ignoring her slight cramps, she takes Jazbet's hand and squeezes it reassuringly. "Thank you."

"I can feel that,' the Khajiit whispers. 'They say a blind man gains new strength in all his other senses, including the sense of touch. I can feel your whole body through your hand. Tell me when we're somewhere safe ... and private ... and I can help you relax the pain ...'

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:14 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:00 AM)

"I haven't heard this," Allerleirauh said. "Jazbet, what do your visions tell you about what we can do? Sending people in two parties may be safer, or even more dangerous."

Jazbet concentrates and shivers.

"I see many dead if the party is split in two ... Only one body that I can see if the party stays together. I'm sorry. I've been trying to understand what happens, but it won't come to me ..." The Khajiit grimaces with frustration.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 10:14 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 04:01 AM)

While casting her eyes about for a sack, Loranna grimaces ever so slightly.

" ... That would be nice, yes," she says, " ... but Sen-Yedda was cut from my womb and my body hasn't totally recovered yet, so relaxing is fine ... to a point."

She leans closer to whisper " ... For now; once I'm fully recovered though make plans to be off your feet for a week or so ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:22 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 04:04 AM)

She leans closer to whisper " ... For now; once I'm fully recovered though make plans to be off your feet for a week or so ..."

'Thank you,' Jazbet whispered back. 'For the first time, a nice vision ... I see it, but since for the first time you can't read my mind, forgive me if I decide to keep it a surprise when it's going to happen ...'

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 10:24 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 04:12 AM)

Loranna smiles, and her hand quivers a bit with mirth. However, she says "One thing at a time my dear kitty; first we get out of here alive, and then we get ourselves used to this new world we inhabit. Then, we fulfill your vision."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:29 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 03:04 AM)

Doll tugged gently at Jazbet's sleeve. "You say your senses are sharp," she said, almost in a whisper. "Are they sharp enough to know what I have in my pocket? Don't be angry, I'm just asking."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 04:14 AM)

"You will be surprised how quickly ..." Jazbet begins, and then shakes his head. "I'm not going to give anything away. And besides, like you said, there are slightly more important matters at hand. But only slightly. After all, there must be reason why we fight to survive."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:33 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:19 AM)

Doll tugged gently at Jazbet's sleeve. "You say your senses are sharp," she said, almost in a whisper. "Are they sharp enough to know what I have in my pocket? Don't be angry, I'm just asking."

"I'm a Khajiit," Jazbet laughed. "I've known what you had in your pocket as long as you've been here. But, no thank you. That is the only vice I've managed to resist."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:37 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 03:23 AM)

"I'm a Khajiit," Jazbet laughed. "I've known what you had in your pocket as long as you've been here. But, no thank you. That is the only vice I've managed to resist."

"It's not always a vice," Doll said. "For Khajiit, anyway. They take it to make visions stronger and clearer."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 10:37 AM

Loranna watches Doll and Jazbet converse, thinking to herself Oh yes; I've plenty of reasons to fight to survive now love ... you, Dagoth, Allie and everyone else ... and my promise.

And myself, as well. Lots of reasons ...

She smiles to herself, but raises an eyebrow at Doll's suggestion.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:40 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:27 AM)

"It's not always a vice," Doll said. "For Khajiit, anyway. They take it to make visions stronger and clearer."

'It addles the brain too,' Jazbet laughed. 'You've seen the addicts. I don't want to be talking like -- "Do you have sugar for Jazbet, Serjo? Jazbet neeeds his sugar.'"

He turns to Loranna. "Though perhaps, this once, I should try it ... Just so we know what awaits us in Gnaar Mok?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:46 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 03:30 AM)

'It addles the brain too,' Jazbet laughed. 'You've seen the addicts. I don't want to be talking like -- "Do you have sugar for Jazbet, Serjo? Jazbet neeeds his sugar.'"

Doll frowned. "If this is important, and the vision is just within your reach..."

"Doll. Stop," Allerleirauh interrupted her. Moon sugar was sacred, one of the most sacred things in the world. But she had seen more than once what could come of it when it was used improperly. And Jazbet had grown up in Morrowind, not Elsweyr. "Jazbet, try again. Tell us what will help."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 10:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:36 AM)

Jazbet thought a moment.

'I should touch each of you," the Khajiit said. "When I touched Loranna just now, I saw ... well, a vision of her future. If someone here is doomed to die in the fire, I should see it ... That will be something to know ..."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 10:54 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 04:40 AM)

Loranna looks at Allie. "Worth trying," she comments.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:57 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 03:44 AM)

Loranna looks at Allie. "Worth trying," she comments.

Allerleirauh took Jazbet's hand in hers, and pressed it against her cheek. He might think touch was important... as a Nord, she believed breath was even more so. And hers moved, gently, against the back of his hand.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 11:02 AM

Ciel took a look at Tris. Did he really want to know if something terrible was going to happen to one of them? If it was not the fate he desired could he change it? He recalled the Khajiit’s words on the ashen beach. The blue-eyed Azurites came. Taking in a deep breath, he stepped forward to wait for the Khajiit.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 11:07 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 04:52 AM)

"Get into a circle," Jazbet said.

When the group had shuffled itself around into a rough circle, the blind Khajiit knight walked from person to person, touching their hands and their faces lightly. For some, he saw brief flashes of a future full of triumph and glory. For others, sadness, trouble … He was careful not to show any reaction, good or bad ... It was not fair to tell people their fates unless he had to ... and he was only looking for one event.

Touching Allerleirauh’s face, he stopped.

“I see you in the fire,” Jazbet said, his voice slightly dreamy. “No, you would not die, but you’re … on fire … You’re burning, badly, oh, it hurts, but you're trying to … You know whose body it is … You know the person is dead, but you must get through, and touch him or her … I can see part of the sign on the building, though it’s mostly blackened … Wait, Druegh-jigger's Rest …”

The Khajiit tried again to reach into the vision and see the figure, but, again, it vanished.

“It makes no sense,’ he says. “One of us will die in Gnaar Mok unless the future is changed … But I do not see that death on anyone here.”

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 11:10 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 04:57 AM)

"Allie, have you any acquaintences in Gnaar Mok?" Loranna asks, her brow furrowed in thought.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 11:14 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 04:00 AM)

"Allie, have you any acquaintences in Gnaar Mok?" Loranna asks, her brow furrowed in thought.

"No," Allerleirauh said. "But I know that inn. It's a particularly low place, a haven for smugglers. The sort of place you go to hide from the law. No one would go there otherwise."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 11:17 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:04 AM)

"No," Allerleirauh said. "But I know that inn. It's a particularly low place, a haven for smugglers. The sort of place you go to hide from the law. No one would go there otherwise."

Jazbet stopped short at her words, his breath becoming shallow. 'He is hiding. But they've found him. He's drugged ... he can't fight them ... They've set fire to the place ...'

The Khajiit grabbed Allerleirauh: "We have to be there now! It's about to happen!"

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 11:20 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:04 AM)

"No," Allerleirauh said. "But I know that inn. It's a particularly low place, a haven for smugglers. The sort of place you go to hide from the law. No one would go there otherwise."

Loranna frown becomes more pronounced; she tries not to think too much on the idea of Allie burning, lest worry prevent what little sense she has from working.

"So unless we couldn't get a ship out of the town otherwise none of us have any reason to be there," Loranna muses.

Jazbet had said someone would die in this group unless the future was changed, but he didn't see that death on anyone ...

" ... Maybe simply knowing this future has already given us enough to change it, and that's why you can't see death on any of us?" she asks aloud.

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 05:07 AM)

" ... Or not ..." Loranna says, feeling her heart starting to pound in her chest. She puts a reassuring hand on Jazbet's shoulder.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 11:21 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 04:07 AM)

"Solin, Doll, come," Allerleirauh commanded. "Jazbet, follow as you can with the others. Loranna, explain - but keep my secrets."

She turned and gave Loranna an intense look. Then she spoke a string of power, and vanished.

Doll glanced at Solin, then dashed out of the room. Outside was the refuse of the bandits' lives. She found a good place, and ducked into the Void.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 11:25 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:11 AM)

" ... Allie and her friends are good at magic meant for moving around quickly," Loranna explains, figuring that was the easiest way to sum things up without going into what she knew of the nature of the Void.

"... All right; everyone, get your things together. Sir Ciel, Sir Malte, you are the senior warriors here; we await your marching orders. We may be fighting the fire depending on how things play out."

She takes Jazbet's hand.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 11:27 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 03:11 AM)

Solin watched as Allerleirauh vannished. He turned to Tris and said, "This is precious," he indicated the robed simulacrum, "Watch it well."

The mer clutched the string the Nord had spoken and followed her.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 11:28 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 05:15 AM)

She takes Jazbet's hand.

'She must move quickly,' Jazbet whispered to Loranna. 'The future is still true. He will die.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 11:30 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 04:17 AM)

White-faced and trembling, Tris slammed his fist into the stone wall of the ancient fortress. His knuckle immediately began to swell. He would heal it, but not this instant. The pain was something he needed to keep himself sane.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 11:31 AM

Gnaar Mok

No one was watching, and those who were would swear they were never there. The six assassins surrounded the building, torches in hand, and touched the rough dry surface. Flames smoldered at first and then began to spread, reflected in the gentle water of the quai.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 11:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 03:15 AM)

Ciel almost winced at the mention of his name in public. He hoped no one there recognised it. The Dibellans gave him a name to use with his new looks but he hadn't spread it around much prefering to keep his identity, even the false one, as secret as possible.

Keeping his face as composed as possible he nodded.

"Time to get going."

Unnoticed, a man, the same man who would have taken Wyrloc's now submerged possesions, in the back of the group hid the surprise on his face with his cloak.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 11:39 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:20 AM)

Loranna looks at Tris in surprise - and then her face becomes a mask of horror and anger.

You stupid, STUPID girl!!! she thinks loudly enough to make her ears nearly emit steam; realizing she just uttered Sir Ciel's name in public, without thinking. All because she was trying to do what she thought was the right thing and get things moving ...

... Let's hope Elysana's ears aren't in our group ... she thinks to herself, terror and shame having burned her spine hollow.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 11:43 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 04:28 AM)

Ciel almost winced at the mention of his name in public. He hoped no one there recognised it. The Dibellans gave him a name to use with his new looks but he hadn't spread it around much prefering to keep his identity, even the false one, as secret as possible.

Keeping his face as composed as possible he nodded.

"Time to get going."

Unnoticed, a man in the back of the group hides the surprise on his face with his cloak.

"Oh no," Tris said under his breath, suddenly hearing the conversation in his head. "Did she...?"

"Come, you," he said to the simulacrum. It moved to follow him. Good then.

It wasn't Ciel's name at all that had upset him. He had barely noticed. It was - being left. While all the others jumped into action.

He felt ashamed of himself for thinking of himself first. But even knowing that Ciel was in deadly danger now, the pain of watching Doll dash from the room at the General's command was worse.

He spoke the words to heal his hand, and followed the others.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 11:43 AM

(Gnaar Mok:)

Aricyn was pleased. The horse did live up to its name. He was looking forward to seeing the looks of surprise on everyone's face when they found that he had beaten them here.

He ordered another drink. The place was a complete dive, but it certainly had good ale. A freak shipping mistake had given them a whole case of Nordic Mead. It was almost like being home, except for the bugs and the heat and the stench.

The innkeep, if you could call the shack that he sat in an 'inn', was a nice enough fellow. He was amazed by the old wolf, and although his attempt to make a new friend failed, the grizzled beast still gobbled down the fresh meat he offered.

Aricyn was getting very sleepy. His ribs still ached, and it had been a hard ride.

He took his choice of hammocks and stretched out, the old wolf beneath him. He thought, momentarily, that sleeping in the same room with a bunch of drunken men would seem even more like home, but the place seemed to have cleared out. It looked like he'd get peace and quiet instead.

Well, he had some time before he expected Allerleirauh to show up with the party in tow.

His eyes closed all on their own.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 11:45 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 05:28 AM)

"Time to get going."

'Yes,' says Jazbet. 'Very quickly.'

He feels Loranna's body shudder. The Khajiit doesn't know why -- fear? The pain? He smiles at her, but he knows it is not very reassuring. The man will die. The dock will burn. There will be no boat for them.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 11:48 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:33 AM)

There was little she could do now, but Loranna slows her pace some with Jazbet's hand in hers, wanting to be close to the rear of the group so as to watch if anyone tries to break off from the party.

She leans very close to Jazbet and whispers Love, I just put two men's lives in potentailly deadly peril due to my own stupidity. I know we've asked much of you already today but please - can you see any visions of anyone in this group now wanting to deliver news of the men I named being alive to anyone?

Loranna prays her terror is unfounded ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 11:49 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 04:21 AM)

Doll stepped out from the shadows of the manor house. She saw the men, and the fire.

Allerleirauh - General Light - appeared inside the Dreugh-Jigger's Rest. The air was thick with smoke. She went to her knees, blinking, trying to keep her eyes from clamping shut involuntarily.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 11:52 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 03:39 AM)

Solin, following Allerleirauh's lead appeared in the Rest a moment after she did.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 11:58 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 05:38 AM)

She leans very close to Jazbet and whispers Love, I just put two men's lives in potentailly deadly peril due to my own stupidity. I know we've asked much of you already today but please - can you see any visions of anyone in this group now wanting to deliver news of the men I named being alive to anyone?

Jazbet shook his head and squeezed Loranna's hand. 'I'm afraid I can't,' he whispered. 'It's not like reading minds. I can't tell intention. I can only tell what fate has in store at this moment ... And if we don't get away from Vvardenfell soon ... It won't be kind to anyone. The two men you feel you hurt will not be hurt any worse than the future I see now for all of us ...'

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

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 05:48 AM)

Loranna feels the loss of her telepathy keenly at this moment.

" ... All right," she whispers back. "... I'll ... just keep my eyes open."

Loranna's skin crawls, much like it did in her dream. She feels a sick certainty that she had in fact put Tris and Ciel in danger, and now all she can do is watch the group carefully and hope she is able to catch the vital detail to prevent disaster from falling.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 12:03 PM

Groping blindly, Allerleirauh touched something - a rug? No. Warm.

"Solin, take the wolf!" she cried.

It was easier to breathe on her knees. But she could breathe later. The shack was tarred, it was going up quickly.

She found the sleeping man's body and took it in her arms. There was a door, somewhere. But instead she threw her body at the weakened wall, and through it.

Outside, Doll readied a paralysis spell for the people who had set the fire - then changed her mind. "FIRE! FIRE!" she screamed. And cast, instead, a frost spell. At the fire, which had started to spread.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 12:03 PM

Gnaar Mok

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 05:21 AM)

No one was watching, and those who were would swear they were never there. The six assassins surrounded the building, torches in hand, and touched the rough dry surface. Flames smoldered at first and then began to spread, reflected in the gentle water of the quai.

The fire spread to the roof. It was catching fast.

The six assassins saw the new arrivals and took up position. They hadn't expected a real fight, but they were ready for one.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 12:09 PM

Solin searched the ground a moment and then found the beast. Clutching it in his arms he lifted. It was heavy. Suddenly there was the noise of splintering wood and a billowing of smoke through a newly formed hole in the wall of the inn. Flames were found the new supply of air and licked at it greedily. He would be fine. The fur of the wolf was a hazzard. The Dunmer cleared his mind. Bolts of ice formed in the air about him and then immediately rushed at the wall. They hissed violently as the fire melted them but, there was a satisfying sound of more splintering wood upon their impact.

Solin took the opening and ran through the hole in the fire.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 22 2005, 12:13 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 05:52 AM)

" ... All right," she whispers back. "... I'll ... just keep my eyes open."

'Loranna,' Jazbet gripped her arm and started. He laughed. 'He -- Aricyn is not going to die this day ... There is still danger. The boat may burn, and we may all be trapped --" he shook his head, no need to go into all the gruesome details of their future. "It might be all right. It might be. There are suddenly multiple futures ...'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 12:15 PM

Doll:

No one was fighting the fire. Doll's cries were met with flat stares, from Dunmer who had clearly been paid in advance for their losses.

The assassins threw their torches to the ground and drew their weapons. The dry moss leaped up like tinder.

Doll screamed words of magic, and cast the largest paralysis spell she could. Before it struck she was running forward, her nasty little poisoned glass blade in her hand.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 12:18 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 22 2005, 06:03 AM)

Loranna's terror subsides, slightly.

" ... They trusted me with their lives and in a moment of unthinking I may have tossed them to the wolves, love," she says quietly. " ... This is me realizing I just broke a promise and a trust ..."

I should have asked them for their fake names ... she thinks to herself.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 12:24 PM

Allerleirauh:

Allerleirauh laid the limp body on the ground. Aricyn, it was Aricyn. He was breathing shallowly, and his body was completely relaxed; he was even drooling. She started to fumble for a healing potion, then realized it would do no good. Aricyn couldn't be healed with magic.

"He got out!" one of the assassins shouted, the voice muffled by the mask so that not even the race could be told. "Someone's helping him!"

Allerleirauh rose, trembling with fury, and pulled her cloak around herself, transforming into a giant beast from the Dawn era. A moment later the assassin who had spoken lay flopping like a fish, his spine broken by her teeth. She turned to the next, tossing him in the air and batting his head.

Doll plunged her knife into the belly of another, then saw the look in the General's eyes and ran backwards, away from the conflict. She had never seen the General in a rage. But she knew that Nords in such a state were dangerous. And she had seen, in that instant, no human warmth in the Welwa's eyes.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 12:27 PM

Solin laid the wolf down as gently as possible given the circumstances. Unfortunately it was just short of being dropped. He coughed, the fire was still raging.

There were armed men. He was dizzy. A green flash of light washed over him as Doll's spell impacted the assassins.

Where had Allerleirauh gone? Some of the men were nearby. Solin raised his hand and let loose a cascade of energy. White streaks of lights leap from his outstretched fingers towards his targets. The first impacted with a dull concussive boom which threw the unfortunate impactie away like a rag doll. His fellows lost their footing and fell to the ground but they were unharmed.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 12:32 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 05:17 AM)

"Master Solin, help me! The fire is spreading!" Doll cried. She stood silhouetted against the flames, between them and the harbor, as if she would stop them with her little body. But that was not her intention. Instead white light flared around her hands, and the waters of the harbor leaped up behind her like live things. She flung them at the fire.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 12:44 PM

The burning shack lit the small coastal town like a giant torch. Shadows danced like madmen confusion reined. The Welwa had their attackers in good hand… or claw as it seemed.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:22 AM)

The boat! It needed to be saved. Solin concentrated and soon he added his own skill to combating the flames. He attacked the flames at their source. The Dreugh-Jigger’s Rest was an inferno. Summoning a massive frostball in a flash of shining blue light, he launched his assault. The very weakened wall of the structure collapsed bringing the roof down on top of it. Tendrils of ice spread in all directions across the ground, over rubble, and up the remaining walls. The original source of the flames fanned no more offspring on nearby buildings.

Solin turned his attention to assisting Doll’s efforts with his own telekinesis. These buildings were not as gone as the inn and it wouldn’t do to be as extreme in the extinguishing of the flames.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 01:03 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 05:34 AM)

The burning shack lit the small coastal town like a giant torch. Shadows danced like madmen confusion reined. The Welwa had their attackers in good hand… or claw as it seemed.
The boat! It needed to be saved. Solin concentrated and soon he added his own skill to combating the flames. He attacked the flames at their source. The Dreugh-Jigger’s Rest was an inferno. Summoning a massive frostball in a flash of shining blue light, he launched his assault. The very weakened wall of the structure collapsed bringing the roof down on top of it. Tendrils of ice spread in all directions across the ground, over rubble, and up the remaining walls. The original source of the flames fanned no more offspring on nearby buildings.

Solin turned his attention to assisting Doll’s efforts with his own telekinesis. These buildings were not as gone as the inn and it wouldn’t do to be as extreme in the extinguishing of the flames.

The Welwa finished with the assassins... and turned to the citizens of Gnaar Mok, the ones who weren't fighting the fire. They had not moved to stop Solin and Doll from extinguishing it, but neither were they leaping to save their own houses. Shacks really. Not much worth saving, except for the docks. A little bit of money would pay for a nicer life somewhere else.

The Welwa dashed at the gathered people. They screamed, and scattered. One moved too slowly.

Solin and Doll won their battle, against the flames. Doll turned to look at the General. Her delicate hand raised to cover her delicate mouth.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 01:19 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:53 AM)

The flames were died leaving the mer and his companion to turn their attention to the rest of the town. He turned back to Doll after seeing the Welwa.

“His wolf may be worse off than he,” he said quietly to Doll. “I had no chance to check the animal, could you tend to him?”

The Dunmer padded forward towards the dawn-beast. His boots stepped through blood matted weeds but he retained his footing. He passed gore splattered trees and bushes till he was close by.

“Enough,” he said firmly, loud enough for the creature to hear him.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 01:28 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 06:09 AM)

Allerleirauh:

There were only a handful of voices in the world that could have reached her at this moment. Fortunately Solin's was one of them.

She turned her massive head towards him, eyes blank with fury, muzzle dripping with gore.

And then straightened, tearing the skin from her face, and became a woman again, wearing a cloak of many furs.

"Solin," she said. "Damn everything. I've killed them all, now we can't ask who they were."

The old wolf had been drugged. Doll cast a spell which healed him, and cured him.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 01:31 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:18 AM)

Allerleirauh:

There were only a handful of voices in the world that could have reached her at this moment. Fortunately Solin's was one of them.

She turned her massive head towards him, eyes blank with fury, muzzle dripping with gore.

And then straightened, tearing the skin from her face, and became a woman again, wearing a cloak of many furs.

"Solin," she said. "Damn everything. I've killed them all, now we can't ask who they were."
The old wolf had been drugged. Doll cast a spell which healed him, and cured him.

The old animal's eyes opened slowly, then he caught the scent of blood and smoke. He lept to his feet and saw Aricyn lying motionless nearby. Snapping ferociously at Doll's outstretched hand, he ran to the Nord and sniffed his hair intently.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 01:38 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:18 AM)

Allerleirauh:

There were only a handful of voices in the world that could have reached her at this moment. Fortunately Solin's was one of them.

She turned her massive head towards him, eyes blank with fury, muzzle dripping with gore.

And then straightened, tearing the skin from her face, and became a woman again, wearing a cloak of many furs.

"Solin," she said. "Damn everything. I've killed them all, now we can't ask who they were."
The old wolf had been drugged. Doll cast a spell which healed him, and cured him.

The mer glanced over the dead. “So it appears.”

He turned back to what had been the Dreugh-Jigger’s Rest.

“He might know,” Solin nodded towards Aricyn’s limp form. “But to judge from his state… most likely not. He best be tended to soon.”

The Dunmer walked towards where Doll and the wolf sat leaving fresh prints in the dirt.

“How is he?” Solin inquired after the wolf.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 01:41 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 05:28 AM)

The animal straddled Aricyn's body and stood over him.

It bared its teeth and growled deeply at Solin.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 01:42 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 06:28 AM)

"Angry," Doll said.

"Hey, old gentleman, you know me," Allerleirauh said softly, to the wolf. "Solin, there is no 'tending' him. This is Aricyn, on whom no magic has an effect, even benevolent magic. Pray he recovers on his own. He's young and strong and he should."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 01:45 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:32 AM)

"So it would appear," he replied to Doll.

The mer walked over to a clean patch of grass and wiped his boots down.

"There are other forms of healing than magic," Solin said. "But yes."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 01:56 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:32 AM)

The old wolf's hackles raised, and he snapped in everyone's direction.

Looking at Allerleirauh intently, he stepped carefully over Aricyn and sat beside him, allowing the Nord woman to approach. He still growled though, just to make sure no one tried anything.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 02:06 PM

It took a little under two hours for the rest of the party to arrive in Gnaar Mok. There was still a boat, and a dock for a boat. There was no longer an inn, however, and the people who had fled had not returned.

Aricyn was resting inside a shack that had survived the conflagration, with Solin, Allerleirauh, and his wolf seeing to him; Doll stood guard outside.

The party sat down to wait while the boat was readied for departure.

Tris gave the simulacrum into Solin's care. He had been silent all during the long walk.

Now he found a quiet corner, and sat down.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 02:20 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 05:56 AM)

The party sat down to wait while the boat was readied for departure.

Tris gave the simulacrum into Solin's care. He had been silent all during the long walk.

Now he found a quiet corner, and sat down.

Solin accepted the simulacrum with a look of relief on his face. He had been worried while waiting. Nothing was likely to happen to it in the group’s hands but still it was better for it to be in his hands again.

Ciel made sure the supplies were once again piled with care. He kept looking over his shoulder now and again while making sure everything was well ordered. The feeling of being watched was something he could not shake. He had to tread careful now.

The supplies had finished being neatly gathered and the wait commenced. The knight noticed Tris by himself away from the others. Ciel made his way around the bloody scene of the fight and seated himself next to the young man.

“Something the matter?” he asked settling into position to wait. He looked concerned if a little distracted.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 02:34 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 07:10 AM)

Tris laughed, one short burst. "Everything."

He hadn't been looking at Ciel. Now he did. The tension went out of his body; his tightly-contained expression dissolved.

He reached out and took Ciel's hand, holding it tightly, out of sight of those passing by. He lowered his voice. "The lack of privacy is driving me insane. I think everything would be all right if we could just be alone together for fifteen minutes."

He laughed again.

"Maybe a little longer. Ciel, she said your name, and the stupid thing is, I didn't even notice - I was too busy tearing myself to shreds. What happens when you try to run all different directions at one time? I can't take this. I thought I could and I can't. I should never have tried to be around the General, it's too soon. Maybe it'll always be too soon. I want to go home."

The word home, as he said it, took on an entirely different meaning.

"You don't know, and I can't explain. I was a god once. I could go wherever I wanted to go and nothing could touch me. I'm so miserable. And you're so wonderful I almost forget sometimes, and then it hits me in the face all over again."

His hand, holding Ciel's, tightened painfully.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 02:57 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 06:24 AM)

"Maybe a little longer. Ciel, she said your name, and the stupid thing is, I didn't even notice - I was too busy tearing myself to shreds. What happens when you try to run all different directions at one time? I can't take this. I thought I could and I can't. I should never have tried to be around the General, it's too soon. Maybe it'll always be too soon. I want to go home."

The word home, as he said it, took on an entirely different meaning.

"You don't know, and I can't explain. I was a god once. I could go wherever I wanted to go and nothing could touch me. I'm so miserable. And you're so wonderful I almost forget sometimes, and then it hits me in the face all over again."

His hand, holding Ciel's, tightened painfully.

Ciel arched his eyebrows and forgot about the rest of the group at Tris’s laughed.

“But you did talk to her, and you are taking it,” he said back. “And that is good. Particularly now that my name is known.”

He placed his free arm around the young man’s shoulders and gave him a squeeze.

“You can’t run forever, Tris,” he said softly. “There’s a difficult time where you have to face the gho- the ghosts that haunt you. Akatosh, it feels better having faced one of my own but I have more to see too.”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 03:12 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 07:47 AM)

"You're going to make me start crying," Tris said, a little brusquely.

"I never told you what the General said to me. She said I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself and go back into the Void. She said if I wanted my foot badly enough I'd find a way to get it back. And she said that I didn't train myself to the level I reached as a runner by giving up when things were hard. She's probably right, she usually is. But it doesn't make any sense to me and I want to break something."

He laughed again; his better sense was telling him that he should push Ciel away and behave respectably in public, if only for Ciel's sake, but instead he leaned against him.

"I want everyone to feel sorry for me; it doesn't seem like a lot to ask, does it? I've had a rotten time. I don't want to be strong and courageously face my troubles; I'm tired."

But despite his words, he was still laughing, and it was turning into real, heartfelt laughter, not the bitter laughter that had begun the conversation.

Don't leave me. If he said the words out loud he really would start crying. If Leseth comes for you, I want to die too.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 03:30 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 07:02 AM)

He laughed again; his better sense was telling him that he should push Ciel away and behave respectably in public, if only for Ciel's sake, but instead he leaned against him.

"I want everyone to feel sorry for me; it doesn't seem like a lot to ask, does it? I've had a rotten time. I don't want to be strong and courageously face my troubles; I'm tired."

But despite his words, he was still laughing, and it was turning into real, heartfelt laughter, not the bitter laughter that had begun the conversation.

Don't leave me. If he said the words out loud he really would start crying. If Leseth comes for you, I want to die too.

“But where does that get you?” Ciel asked. “It just leaves you where you were before, or worse you might accept it.”

He felt Tris lean against him and he nodded. He was laughing a good laugh.

“It’s alright to be tired,” he said. “It’s alright to find rest, you have friends who will help you if you stumble. I’m here too.”

The knight smiled at that.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 03:40 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 08:20 AM)

"So when do you get to rest?" Tris said, grinning. "If you lean on me we'll both fall over."

The terrible blackness was gone; he had confessed the wickedness of his heart, and Ciel hadn't thrust him away. He felt almost drunk with relief.

Suddenly he sat up. "You know, it's not until a weight's taken off your shoulders that you realize how much you were staggering under it... I haven't been thinking clearly."

Somehow, his journal had survived through his being swamped by the falling Ministry of Truth and nearly swallowed by Ald Sotha. Within a parchment case, it was even dry.

"I'm going to make a paper airplane," he said, grinning. "Why wait for something to go wrong? Maybe there is someone here who cares about your name, someone who's going to go scurrying off to the Queen. Let's tell Leseth to step on his head."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 03:51 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 07:30 AM)

"So when do you get to rest?" Tris said, grinning. "If you lean on me we'll both fall over."

"I'm going to make a paper airplane," he said, grinning. "Why wait for something to go wrong? Maybe there is someone here who cares about your name, someone who's going to go scurrying off to the Queen. Let's tell Leseth to step on his head."

Ciel snorted back laughter at first and then broke into a full on laugh unable to hold back any longer.

"That's a good idea," he said with a broader smile than before. "A very good idea. I never looked at it in that light before."

He paused a moment quieting.

"Leseth is a strange monster, isn't he?"

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

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 08:41 AM)

"He's not a monster," Tris said. "I forgot that, and it worked to my disadvantage. But I remembered it when I saw his eyes, when he said he'd go live on a farm in Colovia if he could. The General tries to be kind to him, but it's hard even for her. He's not the sort of person you want in your house. She told me she was ashamed of herself - when she threw open the Guild again, she forgot to tell Leseth. He lives very quietly in Alcaire, and no one sees him for decades, and then something like this happens and he goes to work. It must be a miserable life."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 04:10 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 07:51 AM)

“It’s not hard to imagine - With what he did to - I mean...” Ciel trailed off. “And yet he spared my life.”

He was silent a moment.

“A miserable life,” he stated. “Dragon stopped him with a name. Angelina.”

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 04:27 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 09:00 AM)

"That's right," Tris said. "I remember you told me. For the love of Angelina. Crazy old Dragon."

He sucked in his breath.

"Angelina was the daughter of a shopkeeper in Alcaire. Leseth never goes out in the daylight when people are on the streets, and you know our shops in High Rock aren't like Vvardenfell shops, open at all hours. Even a monster has to shop sometimes, he's not a thief. Angelina used to open the family store for him. He must have... apparently he got confused. That little bit of human decency, he mistook it for love. He thought she loved him. She of course didn't think of him one way or the other.

"She was taken by vampires - killed, rose as a vampire herself. And then Leseth was hired to go and kill her. He didn't know who she was until after he killed her. He trapped her soul, to keep her with him forever. He still has it in a soulgem, keeps it with him all the time. His one true love, a little shopgirl who didn't even know his name.

"The General went there, and asked questions, to make sure - to make sure he didn't, you know, rape some village girl or something. That's the way we treat him. And we're the closest thing he has to friends, or family. He's who-knows-what, part Orc obviously, but he was raised by Ayleid. And then they kicked him out when he got too big. He's mostly alone. He frightens everyone."

Tris had been making creases in paper as he spoke. Now he stopped, running his finger along the edge of a page, his expression grave and quiet.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 04:38 PM

Loranna had been watching the whole group like a hawk ... or at least a really intent sparrow ... ever since she had made the mistake of uttering Sir Ciel's name. She had stayed by Jazbet's side, feeling terrible for worrying him, but something in her refused to let herself off easy. She had acted without thinking and ...

... No, that wasn't quite right, she realized as she approached Gnaar Mok. She hadn't acted so much as reacted since she woke up from her nightmare and realized she was, in fact, still alive. Frome there, Wyrloc's revelation of Jazbet's death, Wyrloc's deception and Jazbet's eyeless but heroic return, the destruction of Ald Sotha and the dash across the lake, the strongholds, and now this ... and her body recovering from an aborted pregnancy to boot ...

It didn't excuse her from the harm she may have done Ciel and Tris, and part of her still railed with anger at how now, even Azura-less, she still threatened to hurt those around her without even trying, but it did put things into a bit of perspective. She'd need to learn to be extra careful when mentally fatigued from now on, remember that the little details are the ones that get you in the end, maybe consider learning a more practical way to watch a crowd than to slip to the rear and start watching everyone like a hummingbird ...

She should probably talk to Allie about this; Allie would probably either rail on her, stare disapprovingly, or something to that effect, but this was important, and ... and ...

... Sigh; maybe I should just take Jazbet's words to heart. At this moment, we're all in such deep trouble what's this one extra thing? No one's left the party from what I've seen and we're all gonna be on a boat for a while; any ear of Elysana's gonna be stuck with us a little longer, so there's time to work out a plan.

... Yeah, plan ... good things, plans. Should learn to make good ones soon.

Loranna les out her breath, feeling a little better. She continues watching the party and holding Jazbet's hand.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 04:48 PM

Ciel didn’t say anything. He just sat and digested the story.

It was not a happy tale, for certain. The knight was unsure how to feel about the Void Terror.

A farm doesn’t seem like much to ask out of life.

There had been something else behind those steps in Colovia. Leseth hadn’t been alone.

Then there was the imprisoned girl he mentioned in Suran. Ciel let out a sigh.

“He wants to save that girl from the Queen,” he said quietly recalling the conversation.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 04:53 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 09:38 AM)

"Yes. The General thinks so too. The real question is, why not come to the General for help? She's not judgemental, she's helped him before. There's something else going on here. That part makes me nervous."

Tris smashed the final crease flat and lifted his paper dart.

"Product of many years of boredom in grammar school," he said. "I can't conjugate a verb, but I can make a hell of a paper dart."

He flicked his wrist. There was a sound like someone snapping his fingers. The dart vanished.

"Now," Tris said, smiling. "The next one will have words on it."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 04:57 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 08:43 AM)

"Yes. The General thinks so too. The real question is, why not come to the General for help? She's not judgemental, she's helped him before. There's something else going on here. That part makes me nervous."

Tris smashed the final crease flat and lifted his paper dart.

"Product of many years of boredom in grammar school," he said. "I can't conjugate a verb, but I can make a hell of an paper dart."

He flicked his wrist. There was a sound like someone snapping his fingers. The dart vanished.

"Now," Tris said, smiling. "The next one will have words on it."

"It's a good question," Ciel replied with a grin as the dart disappeared. He was always impressed with Tris's ability to throw things so fast.

"How will he find them?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 05:04 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 09:47 AM)

"It's a good question," Ciel replied with a grin as the dart disappeared. He was always impressed with Tris's ability to throw things so fast.

"How will he find them?"

"Either he's watching us, or he's not, in which case I don't care if he finds them. He caught my pin, though, when I threw it into the Void. I guess he smells things. It's his home. He's so far beyond me, in terms of what it means to be a Void Ranger, that there's no comparison."

Tris was thinking about other people who were far beyond him. People who saw things differently, and might be able to explain them so that he could understand. Like Arynel.

"I haven't been using half of my resources," he said. "This will work, Ciel, I know it."

Impulsively, not caring who saw him, he kissed Ciel. Not on the mouth, but just under the ear, at the back of his jaw. A part of Ciel he particularly liked.

"I'd better get up and walk around," he said, eyes twinkling. "I'm becoming ill-behaved."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 05:11 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 10:54 AM)

Loranna's sparrowlike watching catches Tris at just the right moment to see the kiss, and she ends up smiling a bit.

As she looks elsewhere, she then stops, her eyes widening, as she thinks ... Waitaminute, I just exposed Sir Ciel in public and they're kissing. ... Mwahat?

Loranna's silver tearstreaks usually make her look sad or ethereally pretty; right now though they make her look ... almost comedic.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 05:17 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 08:54 AM)

Ciel went red-then burst into laughter.

"You best," he said between the bouts of mirth shooing Tris off with waves of his hands. Rising from his own seat he said, "I best go and see if they're messing around our meager supplies after they were all ready to go."

He was still laughing lightly as he walked away towards the Armigers that had gathered around the pile of equipment and food.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 05:26 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 11:07 AM)

Hearing Ciel break out into laughter, Loranna feels her head start to spin a little.

... Er ... um ... either they're taking this really, really well, they know something I don't, or I have somehow misjudged things in a real big way ...

... I did just put both their lives in danger, right?

Loranna wonders if the doG showed up when she wasn't looking, then snorts at herself; now she was getting silly.

... So, do I try approaching them and asking what's going on, and recieve the reaming I deserve, or do I just sit here and keep watching everyone like ... well, like I've been doing for the past couple of hours.

She glances at Tris.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 05:36 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 10:16 AM)

"Yes, I'm still mad at you," Tris said, smiling, and walking over to Loranna. "That was quite a stunt you pulled. I knew what I was doing when I put our lives in your hands, obviously."

The smile widened to a grin. Frankly, anger would have been less alarming.

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 05:41 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 11:26 AM)

Loranna's eyebrows raise slightly, but her expression remains quiet and sombre.

"Obviously," she says, letting her breath out. " ... Guess even when free I'm still not trustworthy."

Anger would have been less alarming; it would have been the expected reaction ...

She frowns. " ... You've had a devious brainstorm, haven't you?" she asks. "Something really clever, one for the bards to tell later."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 05:42 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 10:31 AM)

"Yes I have," Tris said, still grinning. "And wouldn't you like to know what it is, you little blabbermouth?"

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 05:50 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 11:32 AM)

"Yes I have," Tris said, still grinning. "And wouldn't you like to know what it is, you little blabbermouth?"

Loranna frowns. For a long moment, she's quiet.

" ... It'd probably not be wise to tell me till it's too late," she says at last, her eyes flickering over the rest of the party.

" ... Mrerf; no sign yet. You want me to bring this up to Allie and ask her help or you two want to deal with the problem and my punishment yourselves?" she asks quietly.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 05:55 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 10:40 AM)

"Punishment? Do I look like your daddy?"

Tris laughed.

"No, your punishment, if you get one, will be the look on my face when I fall on my sword after he dies. Understand me? I'm not even that mad at you. I knew what you were like on the front end."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 06:01 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 11:45 AM)

"Tris dear if you looked like my daddy I'd tell you to shave," Loranna says, utterly deadpan.

A few seconds later, she starts to smile a little.

" ... You know, I've been staring at everyone here for the past two hours, ready to throw myself at anyone who looked like they were about to slip off?" she asks. "And I don't even have that dagger your heart left me back in Gnisis anymore; I was thinking of just throwing myself at their knees and hoping my extra weight would bring them down or something."

" ... I'm tired of being a danger to everyone I care about," she adds. "I just want to get out of this land and somewhere where I can get this head of mine screwed on straight, learn how to stop being an idiot. And no falling on your sword or I will personally grab you before you hit the ground; you're too sweet to die."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 06:12 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 10:51 AM)

Tris cocked his head; a smile flickered around his generous mouth.

"I died once already," he said. "It's a lot of work. Loranna, you do need to learn better sense. Even barmaids need better sense than that, or the other barmaids get in fights with them and pull their hair out.

"I guess Azura's been doing a lot of your thinking for you. That makes you like a child. Let's just try to keep your mistakes from hurting anyone until you learn a few things."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 06:14 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:02 PM)

Loranna grins, but then she gets an odd expression for a moment.

" ... You remember the moment between you dying and being reborn?" she asks Tris suddenly.

Posted by: niceguy5 Jan 22 2005, 06:16 PM

Dane walked to the dock, the wooden planks creaked.Dane kneeled on one knee. He unsheath his sword and placed it on his lap, it was blunt but sharp enough to fight whatever was going to happen here.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 06:19 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 11:04 AM)

Loranna grins, but then she gets an odd expression for a moment.

" ... You remember the moment between you dying and being reborn?" she asks Tris suddenly.

Tris looked at Loranna thoughtfully, trying to understand.

"I'm still working on that reborn thing," he said. "New parts of me keep hurting, like limbs waking up from sleep. So I guess I don't know what you mean."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 06:23 PM

Arynel turned to Loranna.

"What you need to do, I think," the Breton began, "is get some rest, first of all, build up your strength. Then, when you've got some of your footing back, find out what really happened, take an estimate on how much damage was done. Then, find out which of those things you can do something about, and which you can't, you can't bring people back to life, for one. Those things you can help with, well, I'll leave that up to you."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 06:25 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:09 PM)

"Now there's a novel thing; usually it's me not understanding what everyone else means," Loranna says with a light grin.

Then, she sobers. " ... It's probably actually a good thing that you don't understand what I'm talking about," she tells him. "I was referring to a specific moment when you're still dead but not yet reborn - but aware just the same, somehow. Stuck between the two states of being, as it were."

She looks like she's going to say something more, but hesitates, looking slightly shy.

" ... Sorry; my mind's been all over the place since I woke up and realized I was in fact alive to wake up," she says apolegitcally. "I'm afraid I've been less thinking and more just reacting to things, or going on impulse - like the one that made me ask you that."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 06:32 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 11:13 AM)

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 22 2005, 11:15 AM)

"Arynel's right, Loranna," Allerleirauh said. "You need to heal, and take stock. Fixing things takes resources, and you have very few, personal, financial, or otherwise. Repairing broken things takes money. Repairing the sort of damage that's been done to people's souls takes stories. Through disaster, learning. Or something like that. Good may yet emerge from all of this in the end."

"What you said just now made sense, bard," Tris said to Arynel, very quietly, moving close enough to speak in a low voice. "Stop that at once! I need you at your craziest. Remember when you were just a wee thing, shivering like a winter bird in the Void, and I cracked jokes with you and tried to make you feel at home? Please, help me now, tell me how to find it again."

Posted by: Loranna Jan 22 2005, 06:36 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:22 PM)

"Arynel's right, Loranna," Allerleirauh said. "You need to heal, and take stock. Fixing things takes resources, and you have very few, personal, financial, or otherwise. Repairing broken things takes money. Repairing the sort of damage that's been done to people's souls takes stories. Through disaster, learning. Or something like that. Good may yet emerge from all of this in the end."
"What you said just now made sense, bard," Tris said to Arynel, very quietly, moving close enough to speak in a low voice. "Stop that at once! I need you at your craziest. Remember when you were just a wee thing, shivering like a winter bird in the Void, and I cracked jokes with you and tried to make you feel at home? Please, help me now, tell me how to find it again."

Loranna nods to Tris and Arynel. "You're right, and I know this too," she says. "One of the few things I figured out on my own before now ..."

She looks at the two of them and wonders what they're talking about; she decides not to worry about it and thinks on what they've both said.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 06:39 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 10:22 AM)

"What you said just now made sense, bard," Tris said to Arynel, very quietly, moving close enough to speak in a low voice. "Stop that at once! I need you at your craziest. Remember when you were just a wee thing, shivering like a winter bird in the Void, and I cracked jokes with you and tried to make you feel at home? Please, help me now, tell me how to find it again."

"Wavering words bear the virtue of water," Arynel said, "but islands may be more useful, when someone is drowning."

The Breton's expression changed slightly.

"Find it again? What have you lost? Any path left behind becomes a foundation, and any new road embraced becomes another letter, you just need the right words to write with."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 06:43 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 11:29 AM)

"Foundation? I'm falling!"

Tris looked at Arynel quizzically. "Crazy on cue, you are. You must have been kissed by Sheogorath. I don't have any words, I never used words. Only running, and my blood, and my very own heartbeat. Please - I don't even know where to start looking."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 06:47 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 10:33 AM)

Arynel nodded. "How often we hammer out our own shackes, link together our own chains."

"You ran." The Breton said. "Why? Why does running get you into the void?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 06:55 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 11:37 AM)

Arynel nodded. "How often we hammer out our own shackes, link together our own chains."

"You ran." The Breton said. "Why? Why does running get you into the void?"

Tris's heartbeat, as if it knew it was being talked about, was beginning to accelerate. He found he was breathing faster. Talking about it was pain, an almost physical pain.

"The world couldn't keep up with me," he said. "I don't know why I ran. I guess because it was something I did well, and my father hated it. It took me into another world. It wasn't... growing up to take over thirty-eight percent of Iliac Merchantile and Shipping Guarantors."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 07:02 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 10:45 AM)

"The world couldn't keep up with you." Arynel said. "That's the right of it."

The Breton expression rose in pitch some.

"Don't you see? When the world couldn't keep a finger on you, it let you go. That's what got you into the void, running was just your paticular outlet. That's not important, the secret is to realize the prison isn't there. Do you understand me? It's a trick question; if you say no, you've gotten nowhere; if you say yes, you've defined, and thus confined, your own potential, and thereby eliminated your chances at breaking free. Instead, say my very recognition of the world-prison becomes an invitation to escape."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 07:06 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 11:52 AM)

"I don't understand things like this, you can say words all day long and it means nothing to me," Tris said. "I never sat still in school. I understand with my body, not my brain. My body used to know how to get into the Void and now it doesn't anymore."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 07:13 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 10:56 AM)

Arynel nodded, scratched his chin, and looked up towards the cieling, then back to Tris.

"Hit me." The Breton said. "Hit me as hard as you can."

He whispered a string of power under his breath

He left behind the inconsequential reality

Yet he moved not one iota in geometry

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 07:17 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:03 PM)

"You should be warned," Tris said, "Dragon says I hit like a Breton."

He closed his eyes a moment, then opened them and swung his fist as hard as he could towards Arynel's solar plexus, putting the weight of his body behind it. It was, despite his words, a nice solid punch - and it spun him off balance slightly, because he still wasn't used to balancing on one foot and one artificial leg.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 07:19 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 11:07 AM)

The punch was fast, faster than Arynel was ready for.

But that was the point.

Arynel was thrown back from the force of the punch, and he grabbed Tris as he fell...

Through the wall.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 07:27 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:09 PM)

The punch was fast, faster than Arynel was ready for.

But that was the point.

Arynel was thrown back from the force of the punch, and he grabbed Tris as he fell...

Through the wall.

Tris gasped as the cold of the Void closed around him. He instinctively levitated. He was clinging to Arynel; now he released him.

"Leseth is going to kill me," he said. "And I still don't know how to get Out by myself."

His voice, in the echoless Void, sounded very small and sober.

His heart was pounding so hard that he could feel it.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 07:30 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 11:17 AM)

Arynel grabbed Tris by the shoulders. "Your mind can complain all it wants. You said it yourself though, your body got you into the void, and it's your body that's learning now."

He twirled, and the two Breton's were thrown out of the void...

They were in the Guildhouse. Solunastra.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 07:41 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:20 PM)

Tris landed on his hands and knees. He knew where he was before he looked up, from the smells. From the feel of the polished stone floor.

"Oh," he said, not picking himself up immediately. Someone was moving, standing up from the high backed chair. Dragon. Tris had tears in his eyes.

Dragon stood a moment, looking at Arynel, then clasped Tris in his arms, kissing the top of his blonde head.

I have to get back, Tris realized. Ciel. I have to get back to where I was.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 07:43 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 11:31 AM)

I have to get back, Tris realized. Ciel. I have to get back to where I was.

"Then go." Arynel said. "Punch through the wall, and follow your fist of through. When you want out, pull back your punch."

The Breton took a seat by the fireside.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 07:57 PM

(THE VOID:)

The two men had not beenalone. Not by far. Part of the endless darkness had coalesced nearby, as if to greet them.

The huge armored form of Leseth hung in eternity, his cloak billowing out behind him. His face was unreadable as he watched the two men leave as quickly as they had come.

A delicate, brightly pale little girl emerged from behind his cloak and floated near his shoulder.

"That was the one I told you about," she whispered in Leseth's long ear.

"Go to Ebonheart," he said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I will join you shortly."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:09 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:33 PM)

"Then go." Arynel said. "Punch through the wall, and follow your fist of through. When you want out, pull back your punch."

The Breton took a seat by the fireside.

"I can't," Tris said.

"Doesn't work that way, lad, you know that," Dragon said, letting him go.

Dragon was right. Tris looked at the massive stone wall of the music room, and forced himself to know that it was really like paper, like nothing. Seen from the Void it wasn't anything at all. He was so much realer than it was.

Tris stood up, balanced himself, and threw his best punch at the wall. He felt bones crack in the back of his hand. He made no sound though. He set his teeth and punched again. This time he cried out, raggedly, and then threw himself at the wall, his whole body.

"Tris!" Skein screamed, rushing into the room. "Drink a healing potion first, you can do it as many times as you need without hurting yourself!"

"A healing potion would mean that I expect to hit something," Tris said grimly. His forehead was bleeding. He wiped the blood away.

Half an hour later, he sprawled, dazed, shaking his head to clear the ringing in his ears, too stunned to rise and continue. He waved Skein away. If he didn't have the physical pain, he would be able to think clearly, and that was the last thing he wanted right now.

He stood up, reeling, and found himself in Dragon's arms.

"I have to get back," he whispered. "I have to. Arynel, damn you, get me back."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 08:09 PM

Leseth watched from the Void.

He remembered how Mirror's boisterous singing used to make everyone smile at the New Life festival. Leseth never attended, but sometimes he had watched, from the Outside. He had heard that the General had missed Mirror this year.

With a crack like thunder, Leseth entered the guildhouse. His mailed feet rang on the music room floor.

His cloak was thrown back from his ebony shoulders, and he nodded his head politely to Dragon and Skein.

He bent down on one knee, like a lion bending to feed, and gently slid one arm around Tris's chest.

"Come," the quiet voice said. "Let us get you back where you belong."

He helped the battered man to his feet, and turned to stare at Arynel.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:12 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 11:59 AM)

Arynel ignored Tris, and got up out of the chair. He turned to face Leseth.

"What do you want?" The Breton asked.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 08:16 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:02 PM)

Arynel ignored Tris, and got up out of the chair. He turned to face Leseth.

"What do you want?" The Breton asked.

"Want? I come and go as I please, here," the cold voice replied.

Leseth wrapped Tris in a fold of his cloak.

"You think I am heartless. That is a mutual opinion."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:18 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:06 PM)

"Want? I come and go as I please, here," the cold voice said.

Leseth wrapped Tris in a fold of his cloak.

"You think I am heartless. That is a mutual opinion."

Tris was almost certain he had a concussion. Lights and colors were dimmer, smells sharper, and he felt sick to his stomach. Leseth smelled stranger than anyone he had ever met; he stood wrapped in his cloak, clinging to him, face pressed against his chest, and felt no fear, only the terrible pain of longing for the Void.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:20 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 12:06 PM)

"Want? I come and go as I please, here," the cold voice replied.

Leseth wrapped Tris in a fold of his cloak.

"You think I am heartless. That is a mutual opinion."

"I saw you nearly kill a man." Arynel said. "What else should I think?"

The Breton's eyes shifted to the bulge in Leseth's cloak, and then back to the dark orc's face.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 08:20 PM

Gnaar Mok was empty despite the small band’s presence. The shacks were no longer smoldering. Ciel strode the length of the dock. The supplies were in good order, stowed away safely out of sight. Other members of the group lounged around idly waiting for the ship to appear to take them away from Vvardenfell. Tris wasn’t among them. He hadn’t seen him since they had last talked. The knight frowned. He had last been seen talking with Loranna and Arynel.

Concerned, he began checking the deserted shacks on docks to see if the young man had ducked away in one to get away from the crowd.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:24 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:06 PM)

"Want? I come and go as I please, here," the cold voice replied.

Leseth wrapped Tris in a fold of his cloak.

"You think I am heartless. That is a mutual opinion."

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 01:10 PM)

"I saw you nearly kill a man." Arynel said. "What else should I think?"

The Breton's eyes shifted to the bulge in Leseth's cloak, and then back to the dark orc's face.

"Damn you, Leseth," Dragon said. "Go back to Oblivion where you came from, and take that hell-child with you. I know her name now and I don't fear her. When the General sees you she'll skin you and make your hide into a backpack."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 08:27 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 12:10 PM)

"I saw you nearly kill a man." Arynel said. "What else should I think?"

The Breton's eyes shifted to the bulge in Leseth's cloak, and then back to the dark orc's face.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:14 PM)

"And what else should I think of you, young one?" Leseth asked quietly of Arynel.

At Dragon's words, he turned and stared at him for two beats of Arynel's heart.

"Come," He said softly to the reeling man in his arms.

There was a sound like a single beat of a heavy drum, and Leseth and Tris were gone.

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 08:27 PM

A pair of eyes watched as Ciel searched from shack to shack on the docks. Every now and then the knight's cloak stirred just so in the wind. It would dance back revealing a blade. A silver hilt and guard. The watcher was certain.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:29 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 12:17 PM)

Arynel opened his mouth as if to speak, then snapped it shut again.

The Breton turned to Dragon. "You say you know her name?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:31 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 01:19 PM)

Arynel opened his mouth as if to speak, then snapped it shut again.

The Breton turned to Dragon. "You say you know her name?"

"Her name is Bosriel," Dragon said. "I found it in an old book. She died a long, long time ago."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:34 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:21 PM)

"Her name is Bosriel," Dragon said. "I found it in an old book. She died a long, long time ago."

"She died?" Arynel inquired. "I am moved to question that assertion, for obvious reasons. What do you know about her."

The Breton began rubbing his wrist.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:36 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 01:24 PM)

"She died?" Arynel inquired. "I am moved to question that assertion, for obvious reasons. What do you know about her."

The Breton began rubbing his wrist.

"Child, go after him," Dragon said. "I don't believe you are heartless, but you're entirely too casual with other people's lives. If you want my report, speak to the General."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:39 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:26 PM)

"Child, go after him," Dragon said. "I don't believe you are heartless, but you're entirely too casual with other people's lives. If you want my report, speak to the General."

Arynel nodded.

He whispered a phrase of power.

He left behind the guildhouse

He took hold of a passing stream of light, following it to its source, and beyond.

Inside the void, the Breton began looking for Leseth and Tris.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 08:45 PM

(Gnaar Mok:)

With a soft thump, Leseth appeared in a gloomy abandoned shack. Not far away, Ciel was searching for Tris.

He unwrapped his cloak from Tris, and steadied him on his feet.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:48 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:35 PM)

(Gnaar Mok:)

With a soft thump, Leseth appeared in a gloomy abandoned shack. Not far away, Ciel was searching for Tris.

He unwrapped his cloak from Tris, and steadied him on his feet.

"Gnaar Mok?" Tris whispered. Everything was still spinning.

"Leseth," he said urgently. "I was going to send you a letter - Loranna spoke Ciel's name aloud today. I don't know if any who heard it are in the Queen's employ, I wanted to tell you before anything happened. Leseth - the little girl. Let us help you if we can. We are not enemies."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 08:49 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:38 PM)

Leseth frowned.

"You should find a healer," he said, and was gone.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:51 PM

"Tris." Arynel said, lifting a finger above his head.

The Breton closed his eyes and brought the finger down onto a thread of light, which he began to follow. He traced over its edge, around its curves, it looped here and there, overlapping one thread, passing by a second.

Arynel's eyes popped open, he turned, and left the void.

He stepped out into Gnaar Mok.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 08:56 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 01:41 PM)

"Arynel," Tris said. "I'm sorry I cursed you. For my own fault. What color is this?"

He held out a vial. It was a blue vial. A healing potion.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 08:58 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:46 PM)

"Arynel," Tris said. "I'm sorry I cursed you. For my own fault. What color is this?"

He held out a vial. It was a blue vial. A healing potion.

"Your curse," Arynel began, "like water, running off and down into the drain."

The Breton looked at the potion.

"Blue. Why do you ask?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:04 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 01:48 PM)

"Your curse," Arynel began, "like water, running off and down into the drain."

The Breton looked at the potion.

"Blue. Why do you ask?"

"Everything went out a moment ago, like the shades being drawn," Tris said. He drank the potion, slowly, and wiped his lips. The bruises on his hand and arm were already fading.

"I see why she loves you. You're as hard as she is."

Tris put an arm around Arynel's neck, pulling him close, then released him.

"Thank you. I'd better go find Ciel."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 09:08 PM

Geon watched the knight disappear into the shack. It had to be Lord Ciel. He looked different but he had the right mannerisms, the way he moved, and stood. The Breton murder crept towards the shack. There was a crack in the boarding, he could peer in through it.

Ciel was thorough in his search for any sign of Tris. He checked behind barrels and crates for anything he could possibly find. A strip of cloth, a splotch of blood, anything. Geon shifted his weight to avoid cramping up for sitting in the same position too long… and the boards of the dock creaked. Ciel took a sharp intake of breath. His eyes meet Geon’s. Just his eyes.

The Breton realized that he if he could get away without Ciel seeing his face that he could still escape complete detection.

The door to the shack burst open as Geon leapt from the dock to the wet coast bellow. All he had to do was reach the swamps, then he could hide. He daren’t look back, if Ciel saw his face it would be the end of him.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:08 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 12:54 PM)

Arynel said nothing, but stood silent for a time.

The Breton shook his head, and walked into where Allerleirauh and Aricyn were.

He leaned over, and whispered in Allerleriauh's ear. "Bosriel. What can you tell me of her?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:12 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 01:58 PM)

"You," Allerleirauh whispered. "Where did you take Tris? And what were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that in front of all these people?"

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:15 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:02 PM)

"You," Allerleirauh whispered. "Where did you take Tris? And what were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that in front of all these people?"

"The guildhouse." Arynel said. "As for the others, hawks always see the mice, but the mice seldom see the hawk. They're always busy minding their grass and their dirt."

"What do you know about Bosriel?" The Breton asked again.

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 09:19 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 12:58 PM)

The door to the shack burst open as Geon leapt from the dock to the wet coast bellow. All he had to do was reach the swamps, then he could hide. He daren’t look back, if Ciel saw his face it would be the end of him.

The swamp stretched out and devoured a hundred yards of land where it met the sea. There, the trees were thickly hung with moss, and Geon was sure he would be able to lose his pursuer. The mud was thick, though, and as he entered the muck, the knight behind him on dry land closed the distance.

There was a sound like a thunderclap. The assassin, quite literally, did not know what hit him. The water burst like it had been cannon-shot, and the man was lifted off of his feet by a towering black form.

"You are a very loyal man," a cold, deep voice said to him.

Leseth grabbed the man by the face with a single bearlike hand. Two of his mailed fingers plugged the man's open mouth, and Leseth strode towards the water, carrying him at arm's length by his head.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:21 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 02:05 PM)

"I know that, I wrote the book on that, but there are vultures hereabout, not just mice."

Allerleirauh stood. "Did he WANT to be at the Guildhouse? You'd better come with me and sort this out."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:23 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:11 PM)

"I know that, I wrote the book on that, but there are vultures hereabout, not just mice."

Allerleirauh stood. "Did he WANT to be at the Guildhouse? You'd better come with me and sort this out."

"I'm sure the locals are quite familiar with invisibility spells." Arynel said offhandedly. "They'll assume that's what happened, because it makes sense with what they know."

"He's not at the guildhouse anymore." The Breton said. "He's here, nearby."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:27 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 02:13 PM)

Allerleirauh's anger vanished in an instant. She looked at Arynel with wide open eyes. "It worked, then? Oh, Arynel."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 09:30 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:09 PM)

Unable to formulate a response do physical obstruction Geon did the only thing he could do given the present circumstances. He drew the blade at his waist from its scabbard and hacked violently at the arm that held him. The dagger caught the mail and glanced off several times. At last the point became lodged in a kink and broke with a Snap! Geon kicked and let loose a muffled scream while continuing to beat against the monstrous arm with his hilt.

Ciel splashed into the swamp after the fleeing man but stopped dead at what he saw. The spy was held by the head by the large, black-mailed figure. He was making a terrible noise. The pursuant knight could only surmise that Leseth had received Tris’s letter.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:30 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:17 PM)

Allerleirauh's anger vanished in an instant. She looked at Arynel with wide open eyes. "It worked, then? Oh, Arynel."

"No." Arynel said. "Leseth brought him here."

"But he's learning." The Breton said. "Doors are intriguing, because they are the semblance of a promise, if you have the right key for the lock."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:39 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 02:20 PM)

"No." Arynel said. "Leseth brought him here."

"But he's learning." The Breton said. "Doors are intriguing, because they are the semblance of a promise, if you have the right key for the lock."

"Leseth? Arynel..."

Allerleirauh surrendered the battle. Arynel would tell her what he wanted to tell her, when he wanted to tell her.

"Bosriel. Did you see her again?" She reached to touch his face, but saw nothing untoward in his eyes. "Dragon gave me a report on her, full of carefully footnoted references, in his beautiful handwriting. He could be a scribe. What all those words amount to is that a child by that name died at the end of the first Era, and legends of a evil spirit with that name in High Rock persist to this day. There is very little to go on."

Posted by: Rhedd Jan 22 2005, 09:41 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 01:20 PM)

"I will be certain to tell your queen," Leseth said as he marched steadily nearer to the shore, "how very loyal you were."

He took no notice of the man's flailing attempts to harm him. The broken blade glanced harmlessly off both his heavily armored arm and his bare face.

"I will tell her," continued Leseth as the salty water became thigh-deep, "how you obediently followed the orders of Spymaster Castellan, and were one of his most loyal spies."

He ignored the man's teeth biting down on his fingers.

"I am certain she will be pleased."

He plunged the man up to the chin in the warm water, and smiled.

Within moments, the slaughterfish had found his kicking legs.

Farther back in the swamp, Ciel could hear a high pitched whine, like an injured bird, escaping from around Leseth's fingers.

It took some time before Leseth released the head, letting it bob on the water's surface for a moment, then sink to meet the ravenous fish.

Leseth looked up and his eyes locked with Ciel's, then with a thunderclap he was gone.

The water rushed in to fill his absence.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:42 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:29 PM)

The Breton nodded, then smiled. "She's a bit old for me then."

"I see Dragon is a master of both sword and pen." Arynel said. "I give him my respects."

Posted by: Solin Jan 22 2005, 09:50 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 22 2005, 01:31 PM)

Leseth looked up and his eyes locked with Ciel's, then with a thunderclap he was gone.

The water rushed in to fill his absence.

Ciel didn't need to investigate further to know that the man he had been pursing was dead. He climbed out of the swamp and began a slow walk back towards Gnaar Mok.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 09:54 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 02:32 PM)

The Breton nodded, then smiled. "She's a bit old for me then."

"I see Dragon is a master of both sword and pen." Arynel said. "I give him my respects."

"Dragon is a master of many things, including his temper, and his tongue," Allerleirauh said. She rested her hand for a moment on Aricyn's chest, which rose and fell more deeply and regularly now. The wolf, which lay with its head on Aricyn's belly, opened one eye and made an unhappy sound, halfway between a whine and a grumble, but did not otherwise object.

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 09:59 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:44 PM)

"The Chancellor of Exactitude was perfect to look upon from every angle..." Arynel said.

The Breton looked towards Aricyn. "How is he?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:02 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 02:49 PM)

"The Chancellor of Exactitude was perfect to look upon from every angle..." Arynel said.

The Breton looked towards Aricyn. "How is he?"

"Drugged. It's hard to know for certain, but my Welwa's nose tells me he'll be all right. Someone went to a great deal of trouble to kill him - someone who knew his weaknesses. I wonder what he and Helseth found to say to each other."

Posted by: Arynel Jan 22 2005, 10:04 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 01:52 PM)

"I wonder who..." Arynel began. "Well no matter, he is safe, and his health will return."

"The question is," the Breton asked, turing to Allerleriauh, "what do we do next? Have you any thoughts, or are we to wait?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:06 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 22 2005, 02:40 PM)

Ciel didn't need to investigate further to know that the man he had been pursing was dead. He climbed out of the swamp and began a slow walk back towards Gnaar Mok.

Tris:

Tris asked the men at the dock if they had seen which way Ciel went, and got half a dozen different answers. He didn't bother struggling over the marshy ground. Instead he took to the air. It was much easier to find people from up here. Soon he spotted a lone, familiar figure, trudging determinedly towards Gnaar Mok.

He swept down and landed.

It would have been much sweeter to return under his own power. But the power to inspire pity in Leseth was surely worth something. And he was here, that was the main thing.

He put his arms around Ciel, without a word. There was no one to see them, not even a mudcrab.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 22 2005, 10:12 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 22 2005, 02:54 PM)

"I'm becoming fond of the advice of this cat," Allerleirauh said, nodding towards Jazbet. "He saved Aricyn from a fire. If taking the boat here and travelling to his estate sounds good to him, I'm all for it."

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 23 2005, 01:03 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 22 2005, 04:02 PM)

The ‘cat’ stood facing the water, breathing the air. It was perfumed with soot, but he could smell the sea. What he wanted to do was swim. That was what he always did, for exercise, for peace.

But it was too dangerous now, being blind. The Khajiit knew there would be slaughterfish in the water and dreugh, and he would not know they were there until he felt their attack. Better to wait until he was home.

Jazbet pictured it, home. A small keep on the cliffs, overlooking the sea, with a gently sloping path down to a small rocky beach. It was a plantation house, though worked by peasants not slaves, big enough to house twenty comfortably, and then there was the village of Ald Raathim only a few miles away. That too was his domain. It was only a few stone buildings, some modest shops, and a tavern that made the best food of anywhere in Morrowind …

The Khajiit didn’t know what awaited them there. There were too many possibilities now. Visions washed over visions like a restless ocean, some of them sweet, and some of them … very frightening …

Jazbet concentrated on the sweet images, and smiled.

Before anyone else, he 'saw' the boat come in.

Posted by: Aki Jan 23 2005, 01:35 AM

Gnaar Mok

Reichi sat on the docks, feet dangling in the water. He no longer had his armor, he had replaced it with some common clothing and a robe he found in one of the commoner's empty houses. The robe was green and had a sagely air about it. Reichi was far from a sage though. He did however, keep his Daedric shortsword out, ready to spear any slaughterfish or dreugh dumb enough to attempt biting his feet,
----------------------------------------------
Cyrodil

"Tarenen was a Khajiit you say? Interesting. But the Werewolf got away, and there seem to be others as well. Not to mention losing the majority of the W.H.O.T elite, this is gonna kill us in costs unless you we can salvage the equipment." Raddin the Wolf said, he was the WHOT leader, and a skilled veteran Werewolf hunter. A harsh and militant man.

Rakshada nodded. "Yessir, but its gonna be hard, as i've told you, Vivec is a madhouse." the Ohmes responded.

"Very well then, get MY horse ready, i'll deal with the Werewolf myself." Raddin stood, grabbing something from his desk and stuffing it into his pocket. "My armor as well. And my Axe. Also, tell Afinhager he has control of the WHOT until my return. Now, where was it last sighted?"

"Ald Sotha sir, but they seemed to be fleeing Vvardenfell, and perhaps Morrowind, a wise idea, all Oblivion is breaking loose."

"Fine then, get me the map aswell, i'll find him."

Two Hours later, the Old Nord had set out for Morrowind. The Hunters hoped he never did return. Raddin and Tarenen were the harshest comanding officiers of the WHOT. Afinhager, Raddin's brother. Was quite benovolent in fact.

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 23 2005, 01:48 AM

ooc -- I sent a request to have this thread locked, and started Part 30 ...

Posted by: Hungry Donner Jan 23 2005, 02:05 AM

By your powers combined, this thread is over 200 posts!