continue!
http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3764
crap i knew i messed up on something
forgot the "II" [curse word]
Fixed it for you ~ Wolfie
OOC: Would Salina know of Sadril? I'm not too familiar with who knew who in the first To Heir is Human, so I don't know whether names like Sadril, Brianna or Rahvin would spark anything. I figure the last two names would though, since they were more directly involved with Salina and the child theft. I'll just sorta hesitate Amrita's thought process for now.
Amrita
A sly smile crossed Amrita's lips. She was glad she didn't kill the mer right away; he had her kind of humour.
"Well, Sadril, you like to get right to the personal questions it seems," said, mocking offence. Her expressioned darkened though. "I never met my mother. I lived with my aunt," she said facing away from the party. She abruptly turned around. "Now a question from me. How do you know my name? You guys bounty hunters?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Amrita
Amrita laughed. "That's a new one! I have to admit that," she said, reining in her laughter, "I would've thought that if you know my name you would know that I'm quite a powerful lady. You're just telling me stuff I all ready know."
Amrita sensed that Sadril's phrasing of "different" meant something special. Perhaps his companions had been led along by the more socialble mer.
"I'll bite. Who are these "parties" you speak of?"
Sadril
"Myself, I represent a quite powerful man who seeks to help you gain power in exchange for your aid to him..." he spoke slowly, "My friends," gesturing towards Rahvin and Brianna, "Represent a party who seeks to withhold you from my own, keep you from you true potential, and very possibly kill you.
"So you have three choices here, Amrita." He said with a glint of mischief in his eyes, "You can humor me further and accompany me back to Veric," Sadril hoped dropping the big V's name would help sway Amrita's decision; if she had even heard of him.
"You can follow my friends, one of which may or may not be your heartless mother, and waste away your days aiding however you can." Sadril smiled sickly at the controversy he may have just unleashed.
"And of course you can choose to do nothing, in which case you will definitely be hunted down by Veric, and quite possibly my friend's company."
OOC: Again, I'm not familiar on whether or not Salina knew of Veric or not (I suppose she did) but for the sake of the manner. I'll just let on that Salina told her about Rahvin and Brianna and not Veric.
Amrita
"And I suppose killing all three of you won't stop both your respective parties will it?" she asked rhetorically before snickering. She then gave the female of the group a hard look. "Auntie has told me much about you and Aunt Telina," she said with contempt. "To think I would fall back into your arms after all these years would be foolish. You shouldn't have even bothered coming."
She faced the vampire once more. "I would very like to meet your employer. His aquistion about unveiling my true power has me intrigued. Plus, you seem more hospitable than those two," she said formally.
Plus, should his offer prove useless I don't think it would be much trouble to get out of there. Heck, I might even kill this Veric for wasting my time.
OOC (again): Well that's it for me tonight. Nighty night!
Rahvin
When Sadril revealed his employer, Rahvin shot him a look that combined anger and confusion. Many questions were answered then, the puzzle pieces in his mind coming together. Even many of his memories from twenty years ago made that much more sense.
He said nothing, though. He acted calmly and began to weigh the different options he and Brianna had, based on this new information. Sadril had always been known for flip-flopping sides, but since he was still with Veric after twenty years, that could merely be an act. Sadril may have in all actuality been Veric's most loyal servant. He knew that once Amrita was Veric's Rann and Satyana were next.
Betray my family, Sadril, you'll regret it for the rest of your immortal life.
His face didn't show his thoughts though. He smiled at Sadril and said in an overly cheerful voice, "Good-bye, Sadril. Have a good journey back."
"And Amrita, watch out at night; he likes to feed on anything close."
Mannimarco
Running through the brambles, Mannimarco followed the blood trail. He stopped when he felt a familiar feeling in the area. Mannimarco called out to the open woods, "I feel you there, one of the ones with the tattoo. You are angry that your friend is no more. Let me tell you this. If you interfer with my plans, I will not stop hunting you until you serve me eternally." Mannimarco spun around, thinking he heard something behind him. After a few seconds, Mannimarco took off back on the trail.
Army of Morrowind
They approached the outskirts of the Imperial city, and Commander Astratus noticed that it was evacuated. "Hurry, inside the city!" The bannermen sounded their horns for the charge and the Army of Morrowind descended on the city.
Rann
"And what plans do you have?" he asked the King of Worms in an accusatory tone, "To kill children? Is that your plan?"
He realized that he had given up his position just then, but in reality, couldn't care less.
Kirana
After doubling back to where the fighting had started, she found Satyana and Issac. Hastilly casting a feather spell on Issac, Kirana slung her son over her shoulders. "Rann is being a pain in Mannimarco's neck at the moment; he'll catch up later, but we have to get going now."
Brianna
The sight of her third child created chaos inside her mind. She could feel deep hatred emerging from the young girl with the golden skin...Oddly enough she didnīt feel the same towards her, she merely froze to ice. Brianna had lived a pretty comfortable life with Telina at Dagoth Ur, for many years she was held unconscious but thereafter life was rather good. Telina had been a good friend, and Brianna had healed in body and soul, save for the amnesia of course.
The encounter with Amrita made dark winds blow in her mind. This was the first one of her three children she actually met. The two others were....somewhere out there, and suddenly she was terrified that something would happen to them, before she got to really know them.
She didnīt reply to Amrita, she couldnīt! She turned to Rahvin with a wordless cry for help...
Rahvin, if you have the slightest feelings for me, help me out of this, take me away from that massive hatred!
Brianna felt the world darken around her.....and fell unconscious to the ground
Satyana
The shock of seeing Soldin get killed was the most terrible thing she had experienced, knowing that he probably would still be alive if she hadnīt been so stubborn....
Then seeing Kirana just take issac away from her was more than she could endure...with a tormented scream she sank to the ground covering her face with her hands..
"Issac! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
OOC: So now both of them are out! Hmmm
OCC: uh, Kirana is just carrying Issac on her back. Satyana is supposed to follow them....... honest mistake.
Edit: Good, now will someone kindly delete this post?
Sadril
"Why thank you," Sadril offered at Amrita's comment of him being more hospitable. "And thank you," he said to Rahvin, bowing slightly. The mer's voice and facial expressions didn't show much anger, but it was more than obvious Rahvin bared some hatred toward the vampire.
He walked past Rahvin and the collapsed Brianna, but stopped a few paces behind him, putting them back to back. In a serious tone, though who knew for sure with Sadril, he said, "You'll understand eventually, Rahvin," his volume dropped, "The balance must be kept."
And as quickly as the seriousness had come, it fled. "I'll keep an eye on Rann for you, friend," he bellowed out with a laugh as he continued walking with Amrita.
OOC: im out for the night, gonna see pirates III
Satyana
She didnīt allow herself to pass out, instead she flung herself after the sage, her feet barely touched the ground
"You two, wait for me" she mumbled as she followed them close behind...
Brianna
She wasnīt passed out for more than a couple of seconds, she was instantly awake when Sadril mentioned Rannīs name...Rann, the son she hadnīt even met! And that vamp said heīd look after him? Heīd most probably either kill him or betray him for all that matters. She couldnīt let that happen....and Rahvin neither...
Incredible fury filled her mind, she wanted to exterminate Sadril....
"Donīt you dare, vampire, or youīll really wish you never met me" she hissed with her teeth gritted...
Brianna felt a strange power grow inside her.....
Kirana
"Nice show of theatrics," Kirana muttured dryly. The thought of teleporting occured to her, but in this weakened state she was, Kirana doubted that she could do so with two passengers. Even if it was just myself, I would probably show up ten feet over the tree tops and pass out.... or appear in atoms.
"The Imperial City would be our best bet, everyone will be heading there."
Rahvin
"Just go," he said to Sadril flatly, "Do what you have to."
Just know that I'll be watching.
He turned to Brianna, "Let's go see if we can get some rest in that inn."
Amrita
A dark smile crossed the Altmer's lips as she watched Rahvin and her mother stalk away from Sadril and her. It felt good to hurt and anger someone who had simply abandoned her.
She turned her back on the couple and walk alongside Sadril, who seemed to be having as much fun with the situation as she was.
"So, would you care to tell me more about this employer of yours? If he turns out to be some creep who is just seeking sexual favours, I'm sorry but I just have to kill both of you the most creative way I can think of. And things tend to hurt more when I get creative," she said in a light manner.
Sadril
"Veric is a magickal genius of sorts. Or prodigy may be a better word... You'll see for yourself what he is capable of soon enough," Sadril answered as they walked.
"I assure the last thing he is interested in is women, and if he sought sexual favors I'm sure he wouldn't go out of his way to locate you. Do not worry yourself with creative murder, but just for the record," he leaned in close and looked at her, "You might... Maybe," he stuck his lips out mockingly as he mouthed the word, "Be capable of killing me. On your best day and my worst there is a slight chance you could best me.
"I've seen what you can do with shadows. I share a similar trait, coincidently. I see everything that happens under the veil of darkness. I've seen you take the shape of shadow. It's a nice trick, but regardless; you won't kill Veric. You don't have the power... yet, oh daughter of Brianna. He will end you," Sadril concluded in a half threatening, half playful tone.
Mannimarco
Mannimarco located the Dunmer among the foliage. "Listen here you brat! You live your life without fear of death, masqueraiding among the weak like some kind of condescending saviour! Have you any idea of the horror that spills from your finger tips? That mark hasn't shown its face in ages, and it wields more power than you or I could imagine. I need you alive, that is why I hesistate to try and kill you. Your blood along with the blood of your siblings is needed to unlock Reman Cyrodil's secrets. Dunmer, you need to put aside this pesky squabbling you have with those you find evil." Mannimarco approached Rann, and he dropped his staff on the ground. He walked right up to him and stared Rann in the eyes. "Kill me.....and you kill Kirana, let me live, and thousands will die.......Make your choice." Mannimarco didn't know whether he could unlock the secrets of the skull, but he did not want the Dunmer to know that. And there was something else. Some dark force using a group as a mask. He was somewhere near the snakemen....
Green-Root.
Green-Root ran along, getting increasingly further behind the others with each step.
,,Damn that evil goldskin. I can't run anymore." He cursed under his breath and then slapped himself for his foolishness. He was running next to a streaming river, and hadn't noticed. Without delay, he jumped in and instantly shot forward, easily catching up despite swimming upstream.
Flint Ironwood.
,,Ok, so now that we've broken the dam, what do we do?" Flint asked as they ran. He felt a few stings in his side and noted to himself that he was going to run out of breath soon.
,,Man, I'm old."
OCC: I assume that 'Marco's lair is somewhere in Blackwood.
Ian
Ignoring the necromancers and their wretched projects, the vampire kept moving toward the enterance to the surface.
The sudden light blinded him for a few minutes before he resumed. An hour and another "dry" deer later, Ian finally replied to the mysterious voice.
"So, ignoring the fact that you have never given me a straight answer, what interests you so much about my allies." He caught a familiar scent in the wind and then others as well.
"I would like to know so no unsavory situation insues that creates confusion between you, myself, or my companions."
Karn
He gave a sideways glance at the Altmeri healer tending to Patholos before catching himself and returning his attention to more pressing matters.
Across the lake was the Imperial City. The scouts he'd sent informed him of the Morrowind army within.
"Well, at least it's not just us and a motley gang of adventurers." He muttured.
Around him the Narza'Tai were constructing small rafts to for archers to fire from on the water.
The plan was to use these rafts to keep boats from crossing to the city.
The rest would be fighting either on the City Isle or on the mainaland.
Karn hoped this stratagy would be more ideal for his subordinates than the previous offensive.
He turned again to Patholos, not the comely healer.
OOC: Minque. Amrita could've been basically brainwashed by Salina to think that Brianna abandoned her. Plus the fact that Salina managed to steal Amrita and no real effort was made to retrieve her could make her feel like she was basically abandoned.
Amrita
Amrita grinned at Sadril's comments. Despite his jesting tone, Amrita had a feeling that the vampire was serious. At least it was good to know that she wasn't going to be used in a way she didn't like.
"Well I guess that makes it more a challenge then," she shot back, a sly grin on her face, "I do enjoy a challenge when I hear one."
While she didn't want to actually kill this Veric at the moment. There was always the possibility that she might have to. And just like anybody, there was always some sort a weakness to them. Amrita intended to find out what that was. Just in case she needed.
"Ahh, so you specialize with the shadows too. Care to tell me more about it?" she asked, honestly interested.
Sadril
"As do I," he repllied to Amrita's note on challenges with a sly, suggestive tone.
"I am quite old. Centuries, though you wouldn't know it," Sadril said with a grin, proud of his unaging features. "I can't remember when or how I acquired it, nor do I know how or why I can do it, but I can almost speak to shadows..."
They exited the town of Soluthis and walked along the perimiter of it, though Sadril had no intention of walking back to Veric. "I concentrate on something I want or need, and shadow acts as my eye. Sometimes I think I'm crazy, but it lead me to you. I can also blend in with a shadow, become one with it almost, but I cannot become one, nor move from shadow to shadow as I understand you can."
Cerpin
One of your companions has something that belongs to me. If you swear secrecy in this, I'll slowly answer your questions as you help us both by getting me out of your head.
Ian, on the move with a stowaway
With the voice's information, he quickened to his full speed, nearly unnoticed to unwary eyes.
While the new information held promise, Ian decided to hold the question as to what this belonging was, or its importance.
Issac
The first sensation that hit him was his every limb throbbing from being frozen abruptly and thawing at an equal rate.
Issac groaned, which also was uncomfortable. It took him several moments of blinking to recognize his surroundings.
Rather than ask the first question , or rather the stream of questions, he held his tongue and focused first on dealing with the sick feeling in his stomach and the nausia.
"So," he managed from being draped upside-down and being swung back and forth as Kirana walked. "Where are Rann and Soldin?"
OCC: Ian shall be along shortly for the rescue party (how many of those have we had in this story? Jk.)
PS: Patholos may regain consciousness anytime now. How many unconscious people have we had?
Satyana
Satyana tried to help Issac, she noticed he didnīt feel all that good so she gave him a strange-looking plant to chew on...
"Come on Issac, try this, just chew it and youīll feel better" She did not want to talk about what happened to Soldin...it hurt too much.
Must focus on the current...have to avoid looking back.....Oh Soldin, your blood is on my hands
A few tears ran down her cheeks and she turned away from Issac, not wanting him to notice...
Issac
The herb tasted awful, but he continued chewing regardless of the outlandish taste.
Issac could have sworn he saw something glimmer on Satyana's face before she abruptly turned away.
His question died in his throat, as he decided against pressing the issue.
Kirana
She noticed Issac stir and Satyana giving him an herb to help him feel better.
Satyana's anguish was apparent to her even without looking at the girl.
For her sake, Kirana decided to inform Issac later without Satyana's presense.
Sadril
Sadril simply smiled at Amrita's request. He removed a yellow amulet from his side pocket, wrapped the necklace around his wrist, and stared at her blankly. In reality, however, he was communicating with his employer.
Veric.
Veric
Altair was off to the side of the action of the dam being taken apart, staying unnoticed by the others, when he received a flood of information.
When Sadril effectively wore the amulet, Veric was made aware of his location, what he was seeing, feeling, even thinking.
What? he replied.
I have found Amrita.
A surprised look crawled upon and latched itself to Veric's face. He turned and walked away from the group and leaned against a tree. Really? I'm surprised.
Yeah... Well believe it. She's here in front of me.
I'll be there in "no time." The last two words were physically spoken from behind Sadril as an Altmer formed out of a faint glow of light.
Sadril stepped aside and place his left hand on the hilt of his katana. "Amrita, Veric. Veric, Amrita."
"Pleased," Veric said with a smile as he extended a hand to Amrita, his features changing from that of an Almter to that of his preferred Breton form.
Amirta
Amrita raised an eyebrow as the Altmer that suddenly appeared turned into a Breton before her eyes. She thought she kept her astonishment in check as she shook the extended hand of the yellow-eyed Breton.
"That's quite a trick ya got there, Veric. It seems the things Sadril said about you were true," she said smirking. She nodded to the amulet Sadril was holding. "Is that some sort of communication device?"
Voltar
Voltar was walking alongside "Altair" when he abruptly removed himself from the party and vanished into the air. The abrupt disappearance took a second for Voltar to register. He looked at the rest of the group ahead of him. It didn't appear that any of them noticed the mage vanish, but it wouldn't take long for one of them to wonder where he was.
Slightly agitated, Voltar grasped his yellow amulet hidden in his pocket.
Veric, I do hope that wherever you went that you return soon. I don't think it's wise to simply vanish without some sort of coverup made first. All ready there are those around us that are suspicious, this does not help. If anyone asks though, I'll just say you fell ill and required some privacy in some secluded spot nearby. Hopefully I'll keep the others from investigating. All the same, I would perfer it if you returned here soon.
Voltar continued walking, a sour expression on his face.
Sadril and Veric
Sadril pocketed the amulet and looked down his nose at Amrita. "Among other things," he answered before turning on his heels and walking back toward town.
Meanwhile...
You're resourceful! Veric shot back at Voltar with his own annoyed tone, not wanting to be bothered with trivial suspicions. Yes, tell them I got sick or I had to take a damn piss or something. It won't be long.
He then called to the departing Sadril, "There's a mark set for you in Cyrodiil," to which Sadril replied with a flip of his hand over his shoulder, rudely waving off Veric.
"Moody little vampire, isn't he?" the Breton asked Amrita. "Don't trust much what he says, but what he told you of me is probably true."
He extended his arm gentlemanly for Amrita to take. "If you'll allow me to demonstrate."
Amrita
Amrita watched the vampire stalk off. "I take it you don't mind him acting that way then, else you would've gotten rid of him a long time ago," Amrita mused as she took the mage's hand.
"Let's be off then."
Voltar
Voltar's sour expression grew more grave. He thought the possibility of increased suspicion warranted a warning. Well it seemed that whatever Veric was up to was quite important for him to snap back like that.
"He better make sure he looks to see if others are watching before he vanishes again," Voltar mumbled bitterly.
OOC: That's it for me tonight. Later folks!
Mannimarco
Acknowledging Rann, Mannimarco took off for the direction of Kirana. He had to stop her and get her back. If she found out how to break the leash that was affecting them both, she could kill him. Checking all his psychic channels, he noticed that his servants observed the Silhouette's Army and the Army of Morrowind moving towards the Imperial City. Mannimarco sent a message to his second in command and he kept on the trail for Kirana. Shouting back at Rann, he yelled, "Dunmer, the pieces are set, the board is in motion. Best not get caught in something you can't control....."
Kirana
Barely realizing the newfound sense of urgency and the rapidly approaching presense through the link, Kirana exhaled sharply. "Great, just what we needed."
Taking the lightened Issac off her shoulder and placing him on his feet, she ordered both her son and Satyana. "Get out of here now, find the others and help save the Empire; I've got my own conflict."
Issac
Recovered from his earlier sickness, he shook his head. "There is no way, we are going to leave while you get captured again, or killed."
Ian
He paused suddenly, bewildered by what he beheld. A trail of blood was flowing uphillat a rapid pace. "What in Obli-"
Ian turned to see a Dunmer in robes come charging after the blood trail.
OCC: Being that Mannimarco doesn't have nearly the same body he had a decade and a half ago, Ian doesn't recognize him as the King of Worms reincarnated.
Green-Root.
Green-Root turned over on his back and lazily swung his tail at just the right speed to keep up. He looked over at the group and almost instantly noticed that Altair was missing.
,,Hah, was about time they left. But his buddy is still here. Weird." He thought. He looked at the progress being made and decided that he could backtrack for a while and catch up again later. It didn't appear as if they were going to move away from the river anytime soon.
The Argonian vanished underwater and raced back downstream.
,,Alright, Altair or what's your name. Let's see what you're up to."
Flint Ironwood.
The stinging in his side began to become worse.
,,Yo, Flogir. Hold it for a moment." He called out and stopped to lean against a tree and catch his breath.
,,It doesn't seem like we're being followed, other than by that scaly Argonian." He said and looked for said Argonian, only to see a greenish blur racing down the river.
,,Ah, crap! He's heading downstream! He's going to warn the army! I knew we couldn't trust him!" Despite being tired, the Breton forced himself to run after Green-Root.
,,If I had any magicka whatsoever, it would be so easy to jump and cut him off."
Mannimarco
Following the trail Mannimarco suddenly became aware of two souls stored in a dead body. A conduit ?, Mannimarco guessed, referencing back to the time when necromancers would use vampires to store souls. Mannimarco turned to the general direction of Ian, and spoke the words to command the dead flesh. After speaking the words, small purple tendrils of energy shot from his fingers and surrounded Ian. "Dead, you are a conduit. You need to serve me. Ecstasy will be given tenfold." The words played over and over in Ian's mind. Mannimarco watched the trail slowly ebb away and pulled his fist to his chest. Surprisingly, the purple tendrils tightened like a cord, and Mannimarco shot off for the trail. Nervousness overcame Mannimarco as he hurried along the path.
Satyana
She agreed with Issac, they couldnīt just leave Kirana. She decided to show her tattoo-
"See this? Itīs got powers, Iīm just not so sure how it would be of any help to you....but I think you know"
Kirana
She shook her head grimly, refusing both their arguments. "The only way to destroy Mannimarco is by destroying me. Given time I may be able to find a way to influence or break that bond, but right now the only options you two have is to either kill me now and save a lot of people from suffering in the future, or to let Mannimarco take me back."
"It may be difficult, but the option that will help anyone is the former." Kirana looked hard at each of them. "Simple suicide won't work, so you two will have to decide."
Issac
Part of him made his hand rest on his katana's hilt, but that was as far as it got before, he stopped it. Kill Kirana to save thousands and get rid of Mannimarco for the time being......
The realization brought forth a truth he hadn't seen before. "Even if we destroy you and Mannimarco one of his servants can just reincarnate him a second time." He whispered, "Killing you won't promise he won't be back again."
Kirana hid her reaction, but Issac knew from growing up with as his matron that she had not thought of that beforehand.
Ian
On reflex, Ian took a step back, but the tendrils ensnared him. The words of the Dunmer rang through his head. His entire body pulsed in reaction to the words and promise of pleasure. Suddenly, Ian realized he had little to no control over his body's actions.
As Mannimarco continued hastily down the path, so to did Ian's body. Leaving Ian to fume over lossing grip on his own body. "Do you have anything to do with this!?" He asked accussingly of the voice.
OCC: How will this affect Cerpin
Veric
"I have my reasons for keeping him around," Veric replied regarding Sadril, "Anyone else and I would have done away with him long ago... Ready?" he asked before a flash of light overtook them both, then blackness.
When the darkness subsided a few seconds later, Amrita would see that she was in a large rectangular room, stone floors, ceiling, and walls. A large, fine, gold embroidered red rug covered most of the floor, muting any footsteps. Despite the presence of castle-esque windows, they offered no light; to look out them would be to look into black abyss. Only torches spaced along the walls intervened shadows. Even their dim light did not reach the center of the spacious hall, leaving a veil of darkness from which Veric emerged.
"Very cozy, isn't it?"
Amrita
Amrita looked around the room, taking it all in.
"If you say so..." she said as she noticed the lack of furnishings and the odd darkness outside the windows.
"Where exactly are we?"
Flogir
Flogir paused alongside Flint to allow him to catch his breath.
"Looks like your age is finally catching up with you, eh?" he said chuckling. He wouldn't admit that he was tired himself.
Flogir looked back when Flint mentioned that Green-Root was on the run.
"Damnit! I knew we shouldn't have trusted him!" he cursed before running past Voltar on his way to catch the argonian.
Voltar
Voltar watched the Argonian swim past him, heading downstream. It didn't take much for Voltar to realize that Green-Root was trying to figure out that he was looking for someone. The others threw a commotion about Green-Root trying to betray them, so he went along with it.
"He is!? Let's roast that lizard!" he cried as he followed behind Flogir and Flint.
Veric
"We," Veric said as he strode closer to Amrita, "Are in a place of my own creation... I can't tell you anymore now..." he stopped awkwardly close to the mer.
"But maybe if we get to know eachother a little better," he placed a hand under her chin, "I can share my secrets with you."
Sadril
Sadril walked into the inn where Amrita had walked out of. He assumed his previous traveling partners were inside, and he stepped in.
Looking around, he spotted Rahvin and Brianna, and quietly made his way over to them.
OOC: danny, if you would...
OOC: Sorry, this will be my last RP post tonight. My bro is in the hospital so I'm not exactly in the mood for RPing at the moment
Amrita
Amrita smacked Veric's hand aside and simultaneously had a crossbow aimed at his face.
"Just give me a reason not to kill you right now, pervert," she hissed as she was offended by the suggestive tone of the Breton's voice.
That vampire is going to pay for getting me into this!
OOC: I'm sorry, man. Hope everything turns out alright.
Rahvin
Rahvin smirked a little when Sadril quietly walked into the inn.
He's a lovable vampire bastarde. he thought to himself, wondering how Sadril could have such terrible luck with such good connections.
"Your new friend abandon you, Sadril?" he asked with a laugh.
Ian
"Alright let's hear it, anything my body does, possessed or not, is my responsibility. And I'd very much like to be in control when ever it does something." He replied
Veric
"What's stopping you?" Veric asked in a taunting tone.
OOC: if you'd like, i can write out the fight scene so as to not tie veric up, PM me, metal.
Sadril
Sadril simply smiled a half-annoyed grin. He didn't answer, simply cut to the chase. "It's a long walk to Cyrodiil, would you like a spell to make things go faster?"
Cerpin
Alright, vampire. I'll explain our situation simply for you before we begin. You see, you have control over your body, in theory. Think of yourself as captain and myself as first mate. This being controlling your body is like a hurricane. Since your first mate happens to be more experienced in this sort of thing, you'll need to temporarily step down.
I'm going to try and take your position now. I need you to fully accept what I am doing no resistance. You'll feel a panicking snesation, and you may feel as if you're dying, but I assure you, you are not. Then, I'll take care of this situation and you can have your body back. But in return, I want you to help me find my own body when this is through...
Ian, nogotiating
He remained silent for a few heartbeats before asking in return. "And how long has it been since you resided in your old body; if it's been years than it's likely that it is less than suitable or has been eaten by some animal."
Cerpin
I don't need my body per se...just a body.
Look, I'll be completely honest; if you're worried about losing your body to me, don't be. I don't want a vampire's body anyway, but I do need your help, so think of it as a bargain between the two of us.
Ian
"Very well, you can do what is necessary I will do my part." He said, 'stepping down' as the soul had suggested.
Cerpin
Cerpin pushed his way past the 'barrier' that kept him form being the main soul of the body. When he did so, he felt light, blissful, and calm. He was in a temporary state of ecstasy, and he knew that what Ian felt was the polar opposite.
Once he had his wits about him, he still felt less than in control, because of the 'tendrils'. They were easily taken care of. Cerpin considered necromancers to be inferior when it came to knowledge of the mind. He thought they should stick to reanimated corpses. This spell was a bit better than typical necromancer magicka, though, on a level of its own. Cerpin knew then whose it was.
The King of Worms, eh? Still no problem.
He began by focusing intently on the tendrils, feeling them crawling about his mind and controlling 'his' body. He imagined them squirming and writhing, entering every crevice and dark place in his mind. Then he suddenly imagined them retracting suddenly, and willed the same while an ancient daedric phrase echoed in the walls of his mind. He repeated the phrase over and over until the tendrils subsided, and the phrase was no longer simply in his head; his lips were saying it along with it now. He had control back. He felt the sweat on his new brow and wiped it clean as he stopped running. He wasn't sure if the exhaustion was from the internal battle or the external running. Either way, he kept on, not wanting to lose Mannimarco's trail.
Would you like your body back now, or do you want me to continue chasing this one?
Ian
The sensation accompanying detachment from one's body was every bit as bad as his "partner" had told him. Still, Ian couldn't elaborate on exactly how it felt, but the earlier description was well enough. Once, the other finished regaining control of his body, Ian needed only to think for one moment.
"Let's see where the King of Worms is going in such a hurry.... and needing a vampire to aid him.." He said, "then I'll make good on my side of our bargain."
Green-Root.
Green-Root shot through the waters at speeds that rivalled Flint's infamous jumping. After only twenty seconds, he was already approaching the busted dam again.
,,And still I haven't seen him." He thought as he slowed down to a halt, his tail sweeping madly to fight the innertia he'd built up.
,,It is as if he disappeared from the land entirely. Strange, and suspicious."
He had now come to a halt.
,,Oh well, time to head back before anyone notices I've been gone. Knowing them, they're likely to go all paranoid. Don't want them to get any bad ideas." He turned around and saw a few specks come running in the distance.
,,On second thought, trying not to make anyone notice was a stupid idea anyway. I'll wait and see what they do. If they get too aggressive, I'm afraid I'll have to run for it." He reasoned. He consciously kept his spear tied to his back so as not to make a hostile impression. He waited, anxiously.
,,Maybe I should just run. Flogir might listen to reason but this Voltar. He knows that I don't trust him and he knows that I know that he can be ruthless regarding his secrets. Any chance for him to get rid of me he'll grab with both hands. My words are a treat to him."
Flint Ironwood.
Flogir rushed past the Breton at full speed. Voltar soon followed, slightly slower. Flint admitted defeat and stopped. He was both too old and too tired for any chases on land. His domain was above the clouds and for the moment out of his reach.
,,Go on ahead! I'll catch up as soon as I grabbed some of those herbs and used them to patch myself back up. Shouldn't take longer than a minute or two!" He shouted as he eyed some of the plants growing nearby.
,,I can restore my fatigue and hey.......even a part of my Magicka. Good, then I can squeeze one, maybe two jumps out."
Ian
Now that the chilling sensation of being disembodied had passed for the most part, Ian was able to better precieve what was happening. "I take it you know of Rann then? There has to be something important about this belonging of yours, and I doubt it is something sentamental like a family heirloom. So that leaves some sort of artifact or item of magical qualities."
"I'm trusting you more than I would most people; I expect you to do the same in return."
Mannimarco
Feeling the tendrils sever, Mannimarco turned and stopped following the trail. He turned and faced Ian and Cerpin, and he set to work on a spell that would confuse the astoundingly powerful vampire. Mannimarco's tendrils were given to him by one of the Akaviri Mages from the first Era. Still, more surprising, was the fact that Rann had continued to follow him. Dismayed at the amount of enemies he had collected at the given time, Mannimarco crafted two unique spells that coincided with each other. For Rann, a psychic message and an aura of confusion that a Mage would have trouble with. Mannimarco hoped Rann hadn't come to the awareness to use his dark power to counter the spell. Mannimarco started another spell that he had learned. It was a strange spell, and it had a complex lattice of energy. Mannimarco laid a message inside the lattice to tell the extremely powerful vampire what for. The spell erased the barrier of one's soul in your own body, and old Mages used to use this spell to confer with Aedra, before it would kill the body of the caster. Setting the spells floating in the air in front of him, Mannimarco turned and followed the blood trail once more. "Girl," he said through the leash, "Do nothing rash."
Flogir
Flogir came to an exhausting stop. They were at the dam once more. Surprizingly, no forces of the Silhouette appeared to have made their way towards the dam. Beside the waterlogged ground, Green-Root stood in a passive stance.
"What are you doing down here? We're supposed to be getting away from the army right now!" Flogir said angrily at the Argonian.
Voltar
Voltar pulled up beside the Nord as he asked his question.
"Obviously, he's trying to inform the enemy on our whereabouts. The lizard's a no good turncoat. You do remember that he originally fought for their side correct?" Voltar said incredulously, hoping to instigate an aggressive reaction in the Nord.
OOC: Just one post tonight I think. I got an annoying cough and some sleep would probably help with getting rid of it.
Jo'Puma
Jo'Puma walked randomly through woods, atleast it seemed. He was goin through his own little path he made up and memorized, though slower than roads, was much safer. He rarely encountered anything, or anyone. But after the invasion of Cyrodil, the city seiges, and great armies around the Imperial City, it seemed different. Like as if something might come at him and attack. This gave Jo'Puma an odd feeling. He was afraid of death. Not that he though his life was too precious, or that he was too scared to face his fate, but he didn't like the idea of it. Not too many do.
He found himself looking behind him alot, like someone was fallowing him, regardless of how obvious no one was. "Why am I so scared?" Jo'Puma asked himself outloud.
Green-Root
,,Obviously I am trying to find a missing member of our party. The ambitious politician, Altair, to be more precise. If I was trying to warn that army, do you really think I would stop here and wait for you?" Green-Root hissed back.
,,I am reckless, but not that stupid."
Sadril
Sadril lead Rahvin and Brianna outside, trying to get away from the public eye, before he took Rahvin by the shoulder with one hand, and hooked his arm under Brianna's while clutching the amulet in the other. He gave the yellow jewel a squeeze before the three of them were off in flash of light, as was becoming commonplace in the little town of Soluthis.
It was obvious to Sadril that wherever Veric had placed the mark, he had not been there personally. This was indicated by the fact that the three of them appeared in the woods about four feet in the air. The short fall wasn't the only odd thing about the recall.
The trio appeared behind a Khajiit. Sadril stood still for a moment after landing to see if they were heard by the cat. He assumed they were, as their arrival wasn't exactly a stealthy one.
(OOC the khajiit is Jo'Puma *winkwink*)
Jo'Puma
Jo'Puma stopped in his tracks, and looked from the corner of his eye. He could see someone, or something, in the back of his eye. He eventualy turned around, and saw three people. Not sure what to do, he said, "Hello.."
Army of Morrowind
As they fortified the city, Commander Astratus notified all his troops about the battle plan. They were to hold each ring of the Imperial City until it would collapse. Then they would withdraw deeper into the city as a secondary force from outside spills into the taken ring. A pincer effect, an old military tactic, and Commander Astratus had complete confidence in his soldiers. The problem was, there was no hero bold enough to lead the secondary force. Without guidance, the soldiers would do something stupid. Commander Astratus paced around the makeshit command center and wondered if he could trust his liuetenants.
Jo'Puma
"We're somewhere Sotuhwest of the Imperial City. Why?" Jo'Puma didn't see very much hostility in them, and this made him more comfortable around the three. "Do you need to go somewhere?"
Rahvin
"Nowhere in particular," he answered truthfully, in fact, he wasn't quite sure what the next move was after Amrita was already located and allied with Veric by all appearances.
"Anyway, I'm Rahvin," he said to the Khajiit, extending his hand.
Jo'Puma
"Jo'Puma..." the khajit lightly griped Rahvin's hand. "Besides an exact location, what are you looking for?"
Karn
As the preparations continued, Karn decided to make his way to the city, to see this army of Morrowind with his own eyes. Because Patholos was unconscious, Karn could not leave the camp under his supervision.
Thusly, he gave the job to one of the senior Shadow Eaters, citing that his absense would be temporary, emphasizing the short length and that he simply wished to be certain the camp was in good hands during said absense.
Climbing the city walls, Karn followed the path his scouts had described to the letter. They'd even told him where to find the grappling hook they had used. Jumping silently from rooftop to rooftop, the sensei was looking down at Green Emperor Way in hardly any time at all.
Using a climbing rope he's brought, Karn repelled down the inner wall and found passage to the central tent. His footsteps were barely audible over the background noise. Karn strode confidently into the tent's entrance.
Ian
Suddenly, he lost his sense of orientation. Ian felt a heartbeat of ecstasy which was promptly replaced by a dull throb in his left shoulder. Reflexively, he willed his right arm to rub the bruised spot..... nothing.
Ian tried again, but as if the muscles in his right arm had turned to lead he couldn't make it budge. Confused, he grunted, but no sound came from his mouth. Experimentaly, Ian attempted to flail, but discovered that only his left arm and right leg obeyed his commands.
What is going on? He thought more to himself than to his body-sharer. (I do not think that is a word.)
Cerpin
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don't do anything else! his mental communication was the quivalent of a shout.
Alright, he broke down the barrier with his spell; Mannimarco is no amateur when it comes to knowing obsolete and obscure spells.
Cerpin knew a spell to counter, but with their current leadership issues, he wasn't sure how it would play out. If he could quickly teach Ian the spell though, and the both did cast it simultaneously...
Alright, try to say these words out loud when I do: En sjel lede, en sjel følge. En sjel fungere, en sjel tro. En sjel lede, en sjel følge.
Can you remember them well enough to say them with me?
Rann
Rann kept on running, but the confusion spell hit him quite unexpectedly. All of a sudden, an burly-looking orc with a large battleaxe came charging out of the brush alongside him to block his way.
Rann skidded to a halt quickly and swung his sword at the orc, but his sword hit thin air as its target disappeared.
Some kind of illusion?
A werewolf came next, lunging straight for his throat. Rann dove to the ground, covering his face. He laid there for a few short moments, expecting ferocious bites and clawing, but nothing happened. He looked up; nothing was there.
Definitely an illusion.
He tapped some of his power again to cast a powerful dispel effect on himself, and as a preventive measure, he cast reflect as well. He cursed under his breath at the loss of time, and started running again. He spotted Ian standing there awkwardly, and stopped again.
"Where'd Mannimarco go?"
Ian
"En sjel lede, en sjel følge. En sjel fungere, en sjel tro. En sjel lede, en sjel følge." It took a few tries, but Ian finally recited the lengthy incantation by memory. It didn't help matters that many people he would lament for losing were in the sights of the greatest necromancer Tamriel had ever know.
"En sjel lede, en sjel følge. En sjel fungere, en sjel tro. En sjel lede, en sjel følge..... Alright I'll start when you start."
Cerpin
En sjel lede, en sjel følge. En sjel fungere, en sjel tro. En sjel lede, en sjel følge. he recited it perfectly with Ian, and added a few words alone at the end.
It worked like a charm, and the Cerpin's solo finish put Ian's soul as the leading one.
All is well, now explain to the young one and get your a**es moving.
Ian
Turning to Rann, Ian relished being in complete control of his entire body again. "Azura's blessing, I'm never going to take this for granted again."
"Rann, he's not too far ahead of us; follow me."
Kirana
"Hearing" Mannimarco's advice did nothing to ease the situation. Clenching her fists, Kirana ordered. "Issac, just do it! Even if Mannimarco isn't destroyed permanantly, my life is a song to save the future generations for a little longer!"
Issac
Seeing Mannimaco rapidly approaching reinforced Kirana's demands. Even as his hands grapsed his remaining katana, Issac couldn't believe what he was doing. Still, the long, curved akaviri blade rose to be level with his left shoulder, ready for the single thrust.
"I'm never going to be able to live with myself after this." He breathed, the blade blurred, aimed for Kirana's heart.
Brianna, landing "on" a kitty
"Uhhh", she grunted when she hit the ground just behind a big furry Khajiit...The kitty sounded pretty nice and since she always have had a soft spot for kitties she smiled at him saying
"Good Day to you Mr Khajiit, Iīm Brianna, I..ehh..I sort of belongs to him" she said pointing at Rahvin
Satyana, terrified
She gasped when she realised Issac really was aiming at Kirana....
"Oh Issac...is it really necessary to end her life? If I used ..If I used my...my...VC instead, maybe Kirana could live?"
OCC: Issac's blade is already in motion.... just a split second before its task is done.
Ian
While not able to see the group ahead, Ian caught sight of Mannimarco. Without thinking, the vampire lunged at the necromancer, closing the gap in moments. His good shoulder aimed to hit Mannimarco between the shoulders, his right hand gripping his left to guide the wrist blade to its target.
Flint Ironwood.
Seeing that the group had stopped, Flint chose to walk to them. He nibbled on some of the herbs he'd found, cursing the foul taste.
,,At least it's working." He noted as his magicka reserves began to replenish slightly.
Green-Root.
Green-Root was ready to swim away. He was losing the argument.
,,As I already said, why wait for you? If I was going to meet an informant, having you around is the last thing I need. And ok, I admit I might've just asked. So tell me, where is Altair right now? What is important enough to make him leave right now?"
Jo'Puma
He took a couple steps back from the girl when she fell infront of him. "Um...okay. Hi. Could one of the three of you awnser my question?" he didn't mean to sound rude, but Jo'Puma hates not knowing what's going on.
Jo'Puma
"I was coming from there, if you follow me I could take you, if you'd like. I wasn't exactly going anywhere in the first place, so I don't mind going back."
Voltar
"Where is Altair?" he said, repeating the question. "Well, if you want to actually know, which I bet you don't truly wish to seek. He was feeling ill so he told me that he needed some time to himself in the woods off to the side there," he said pointing to a forest that was about a 20 minute walk away.
"I'd also like to add that it's not our fault you're inept at making a sneaky getaway. You only waited here because you knew you were caught," Voltar said convincingly.
Flogir
Flogir listened to both Voltar and Green-Root voice their sides. It was only now that he realised that Altair was in fact, not with them. Of course, he could all ready have rejoined Aenora and the others who didn't follow them. He was having a difficult time in figuring out who was telling the truth.
"This is all too much! How the hell am I to figure out which one of you are telling the truth?" he growled.
OOC: Hopefully the answer to Flogir's question is obvious enough
Amrita
Amrita gaped as the entire room contorted and shifted, leaving Veric hundreds of feet away from her.
"That was hardly fair!" she shot back at Veric's comment.
Well if range isn't going to work. I'll settle for doing things up close
She unsheated her longsword and quickly closed the distance between herself in the Breton. Immediately she engaged the spell caster with a serious of crossing sword attacks.
Veric
As Amrita closed the distance with her sword drawn, which she did so quite speedily, Veric drew his own Dwarven Longsword from under is robe. He was capable of blocking the first two of Amrita's slashes, but she proved to be a quicker swordsman than he.
It wasn't like he expected to defeat her in melee combat anyway, which is why he had a shield spell primed. Alteration being his strong point, Amrita's third swipe glanced off of his barrier.
Veric used the split second the interruption granted and cast an average lightning spell, aimed at Amrita's blade rather than her person. Veric wanted to lure her into trying her hand at magic, or just to see what other tricks were up her sleeve.
Rann
Rann stopped, sword at the ready, when Ian tackled Mannimarco; he wasn't sure what happened, as wrist blades were involved, but he was ready for most anything.
Aerona
Aerona was more than worried about the fast approaching army, especially since she didn't think they would take too kindly to a deserter.
Flogir, Green-Root, and Voltar were a ways away, mere figures on the horizon. She lifted her skirt and ran in that direction, wanting to see if she could get things moving.
She came upon the scene breathing heavily and unaware of the current situation.
"They're getting closer," she said, pointing in the direction of the Silhouette's army, "I think we should get going."
Amrita
Amrita cursed her thoughtlessness as her sword bounced off the shield spell Veric had erected. His lightning attack launched the sword from her hands.
Springing backwards, Amrita launched a dispell spell with a fireball chasing closely behind it towards Veric. She then invoked an elemental resistance spell upon herself in preparation for any further elemental attacks made by the Breton.
If he wants to trade spells, so be it!
Green-Root.
,,This would normally be the time and place where we both yell 'trust me!'. But I'm not going to do that since it would be rather useless anyway. Make up your own mind, Flogir. Decide for yourself." The Argonian said to Flogir before sneering at Voltar.
,,Being caught? That is simply laughable. If I didn't stop, you wouldn't have been able to catch up with me in days. The only one who can keep up is that Breton, and he's taken to walking with the lovely lass Aerona."
Flint Ironwood.
Flint frowned when Aerona caught up with him.
,,You should've kept running." He noted but also agreed to her observation of the army.
,,While I hate to say it, no one came after us at first. But now that you two have been yelling at each other in plain view, a dozen snakes have taken the decision to come after us now. While we can probably take that many if we keep it a ranged engagement, I prefer running."
He then unsheathed his blades and aimed them at Green-Root.
,,Like it or not, you're coming with us where I can keep an eye on you. I've got enough Magicka now to kill you before you've finished one swipe with that tail."
Mannimarco
Wrestling with Ian, cuts slashed around Mannimarco. Seeing the dead creature confused Mannimarco, after all, Mannimarco laid a powerful spell onto the vampire. Disregarding his pain that shot like fountains of magma around his body, Mannimarco used his staff to buffer Ian off of him.
"Liak Mor'Repit!" Mannimarco swore. Then using ancient magic from the first era, he shot life from the plants and animals in the area into Ian. Waiting for the life to counteract with the dead cells, Mannimarco shot bolts of cackling black energy into the surrounding area. Jumping to his feet, Mannimarco took off for the bloodtrail.
Kirana, last moments
The steel blade found its target, its very tip thrust through her chest and emerged from her back. Pain lanced through her like a spear of fire, but despite the agony the scholar managed to smile reassuringly at both Issac and Satyana.
Kirana used the last remnants of her strength and will to speak. "Than.... thank you both...... Don't.... let my passing... hurt you." She looked between the two of them, her face losing its color. "One death.... no matter whos..... should ruin.... anoth-"
Kirana crumpled as her strength ran out; her dying expression was one of content satisfaction.
Issac
As soon as his katana pierced his mother, Issac's resolve vanished, his hands let go of the hilt, but the deed was done. Seeing that what he had done was real, the Altmer fell to his knees, shuddering at the audacity of what he'd wrought.
Though he barely managed to hear Kirana's dying words, he understood, but he couldn't cope with her death. I killed her! The woman who raised me to be who I am now! I.... I actually went through with it....
Issac knew Kirana didn't wish for her death to ruin their lives, but the guilt was eating at him in a frenzy. Her death won't ruin mine, I ruined hers and my own!
Satyana
She sank down beside Issac, feeling his grief deep inside . She did not speak, just held him tight in her arms. Satyana was a devastated as he was, after all Kirana was his mother! She had not known her mother but she could very well imagine how this affected him.
She started to chant very silently....hoping his pain would diminish a bit, if he was aware of her presence..
Mannimarco
Seizing up and remaining still, the King of Worms knew what had just been done. "Girl, why did your friends do this to you?" Mannimarco sent through the link, but it was as if the message flowed into nothing. Mannimarco tried in vain to capture the soul of Kirana, and tried to send it to Ian. Grunting in external and internal effort, Mannimarco used every ounce of magick he knew to prevent the soul to fly to the heavens with the Aedra. Blood sweat poured from the necromancer, and he directed the soul right into the form of Ian. "Must...not...die..." Mannimarco gasped, and he began to see black swirls in front of his eyes.
"You bastarde...You'll pay...." Mannimarco yelled at the air, for he now was blind. Mannimarco used what remaining power he had on Mundus to reanimate Kirana's body. "Taste the wrath of the dead...." And Mannimarco fell over in a heap.
Issac
He could hear Satyana soothing voice so near; her arms wrapped around him. Her presense helped him enough to cease crying and regain clarity. Emotionally, he was still very shaken, but the hysterics had passed.
"Than- thanks, Satyana...." He managed to cough as his throat had become tight due to his sobbing. Then in his blurry sight, he saw something move. Hastily he wiped his eyes, only to see one of the most disturbing things possible happening.
Kirana's reanimated body rose, it tore Issac's katana from where it had impaled its chest. "Meridia...." Having missed Mannimarco's final anger-filled tirade, Issac had not been at all prepared for this.
"Satyana." He whispered as he rose, rousing her to the new horrible face of reality. For now the revulsion and anger of such desecration of a loved one's remains banished his grief. "It looks like Mannimarco's treachery has ended.
Kirana, soul (How many souls will be tagging along in Ian's body before this is over? Everyone who dies?)
One moment her essence was swift on its way to the proper place of the deceased, the next Kirana realized she was..... somewhere she wasn't supposed to be. "Where am I!?"
Ian, the official vampire soul carrier
When Mannimarco faltered in his assualt, Ian chanced a glance toward where he'd been going. His eyes widened when he witnessed Kirana's "end." Turning to Mannimarco again, the Imperial finally understood what had happened.
No sooner than he'd breathed a sigh of relief that the King of Maggots was gone when two things occured. Firstly: he heard the distincly familiar voice of his former partner and friend echo through his consciousness.
Before Ian could fully appreciate what had taken place, the fallen body of Kirana rose again.
"Kirana?" Ian did not pursue the reanimated corpse immediately, the astonishment that Kirana was inside him demanded more attention.
OCC: So, Ian for the moment will not take part in the fight. Will Rann please aid Issac and Satyana? This soul carrying situation is rather ridiculous, but amusing at the same time.
OOC: Ian is turning into a trash can for souls.... anyway
Mannimarco's Essence
Dispersing......that is the purpose, become Nothing.....,..... Wait, the fiery door! I AM NOT READY! SAVE ME PLEASE! I'VE DONE NO WRONG! PLEASE NO! NOT THE DOOR!
Anguish is bliss compared to the pain It is going through right now, Anguish is heaven, the pain wont stop....
A familiar pull, somewhere......, Girl?.....TAKE ME BACK! PLEASE! Disparity! Torment!
Mannimarco's Body
The form gradually sank into the ground along with his belongings and his staff. The ground began to die around Mannimarco's melting form and everything darkened.
Mannimarco's Essence
Magicka flash.....All the souls I have sent from Mundus, and those I have made stay....There! There is the boy I annihilated.....Judgement again! NO! SEND ME BACK! BACK FROM THE DOOR!
Cerpin
Welcome, Kirana, to my humble abode. It's quite comfortable, I think, despite the fact that there is no feeling here...
Rann
Seeing the apparrent shock in everyone else, Rann quickly dispatched Kirana's animated form to prevent any further injury.
He dislodged his katana from her chest and dropped it to the ground in disgust. He knew it wasn't Kirana but it still felt wrong.
Tears started to well up in his eyes, both for Soldin and for Kirana, but he held them back, barely showing that their deaths affected him at all.
"I'll go back and get Soldin's body. They both deserve a good burial," he said solemnly.
OOC: There's nothing left of Soldin.... he was annihilated
Menhrunes Dagon
"Finally, the illusive King of Worms has come to pay me a visit." Mannimarco twisted in unseen agony as tendrils of pain shot through his form.
"You were quite a problem on Mundus, Mannimarco, and the other Daedra have been itching to get their hands on the infamous "King of Worms."
Mannimarco felt utterly defeated, nothing could help him. Although, there was the Girl..., he thought he could try it.
"What are you attempting, you pitiful excuse for a King? You aren't worth Kingship over maggots you whelp!"
Mannimarco felt the connection on Mundus. They hadn't yet killed Ian or he hadn't rid his body of Kirana's soul. Hopefully, he didn't know how.... Mannimarco smiled as ancient words for transcending planes rolled across his mind. He smiled.
"Prince Dagon, forgive me for being ever so rude, but you bore me with your senseless banter." Mannimarco recited the words and felt the senstation of falling up and down at the same time. Moments later, Mannimarco materialized into the clearing, but not in the form he desired. Since his body was already returned to the earth, he could only watch from the shadows. And those who could see him were scare. The Dunmer with his tatoo and his siblings, Ian the vampire with many souls, and the pitiful Patholos, who clung to life. Dismay filled Mannimarco, as he realized he couldn't cast any spells, talk or even command what he once could. He was a shade of life on Mundus, he was his own collection of used atoms. He was useless.
Rann
Rann walked slowly back to the place where Soldin was killed. There were no remains of the young boy, there was only the bow that Rann had given him lying on the gound. He had forgotten the fact that his body had been disintegrated; that fact only made Rann feel worse.
Rann picked the bow up and slung it over his shoulder.
I'll kill some werewolves for you, kid, he thought sadly, wondering if the dead really could hear when the living addressed them. He hoped so.
Issac
When Rann suggested burying Soldin and Kirana, it gave him much of his normal clarity back. However, Issac remembered gravely that Kirana was more inclined to cremation than burials. But before he started, the Altmer noticed that Ian had returned once again.
Oddly enough, his adoptive father had not said a word nor made his presense clear for several minutes. Issac gave a start when Ian dissappeared from view. Though it wasn't surprising that Ian would wish to be alone after what had happened, Issac wanted Ian to be nearer as opposed to farther than normal.
"Kirana traditionally perfered cremations over burials," he mumbled. Issac would have said more, but the words died in his mouth.
Kirana
She gave a start (or would have, had she still been flesh and blood) when someone actually answered her in the void. "Who are you? And what is this place really?"
Ian
Once a sufficient distance away, Ian came to a halt. He shut his eyes and aimed his awareness inward. "Kirana, I know you want answers, but you'll have to be patient for the time being."
"This is my body, and according to my friend whom you've already met, because I am technically dead, my body can be used to store other people's souls. I don't know how you ended up in me rather than Aetherius, but now my body has three different souls in it."
Addressing his other hitch-hiker, Ian requested. "I don't have the appropriate time to explain all this, so will you answer anymore of Kirana's questions to the best of your ability?" Without waiting for a reply from either, Ian brought his attention back to the world around his body.
Kirana (great, RPing between two of my own characters, how awkward)
"Ian!" But she felt the Imperial turn his attention away from her. If anything his explaination made less sense than her soul being trapped somewhere between Mundas and Aetherius. Had she been able, Kirana would have sighed explosively at being ignored.
"So, can you give something more specific?" She asked the other soul.
Mannimarco
Wandering was the main purpose of Mannimarco now, and his connection to Mundus faded in and out. The most he could do at the moment was amplify his shadowed essence, to make himself appear darker. Only those that could see him could view this anyway. Mannimarco sighed, a began fiddling with old magick to try and bring himself back.
After a while of unsuccessful toying, Mannimarco witnessed some very odd happenings. One, when an object in Mundus died, the essence of the being, its soul, would flicker in the odd existence where Mannimarco exists. Two, whenever magicka was pulled from the waves and currents of Mundus, and the magicka passed in the path Mannimarco was occupying, the Magicka would scatter Mannimarco all over the area, like dropping a glass bottle. By force of will, Mannimarco solidified himself over time, but the process was ardous.
The third and most interesting thing was that Mannimarco saw the magicka coursing through the caster. He observed this by watching a small rabbit die by incineration from one of the snakemen casters. He would see the currents shift, and careful not to be in the way, watch the magicka collect in a person. Mannimarco guessed that the more you used in a shorter span of time, the less you are able to pull down magicka for yourself.
Mannimarco approached the figure of Rann from behind, and followed him to the area where Soldin was annihilated. The faintest of hints of Soldin coursed throughout the air. Mannimarco quizzically looked at the figure of Rann retrieve the bow and walk off. Mannimarco followed.
Rann
Rann walked slowly back towards his companions. His mind was on their recent losses, but for some reason the hairs on the back of his neck were raised. He looked back multiple times, thinking he had a follower, but nobody was there. Thinking nothing of it, he walked on, and rejoined his friends.
He heard Issac say that Kirana had wanted to be cremated and considered using his gift to light a magical fire, but decided against it; it was Mannimarco's energy that he had absorbed, and he refused to use such tainted magicka to put Kirana to rest.
"I'll gather some firewood for her then."
Army of Morrowind
Forgetting one thing in the defense of the city could mean its downfall. The possibility of a seige seemed most likely but, Commander Astratus didn't think there would be one. His lieutenants were sure of it however. Commander Astratus paced the small command post in the Imperial Temple. "What army hell-bent on destruction would beseige one of the strongest cities in the world?" he asked his lieutenants. Some saw the logic, others still adamantly refused to come to terms with fighting snakemen.
After a few hours, Commander Astratus went out for a drink. He and his best friend and First Lieutenant Brion went to a small home with a tavern sign painted on the door. Brion was a Nord and served as a bodyguard and command relay during battle. He was trustworthy and smart. Commander Astratus sat down in a small table by the fireplace and withdrew his last bottle of flin. "Doing that to yourself is foolish" Brion said, shaking his head. Brion ordered a honey ale and sat opposite of the Commander.
A few minutes later, Commander Astratus brought up the Dagoth Ur incident accidentally by making a remark about the rashes on a man's face that had just walked into the tavern. Brion, who had also lost his wife during the Dagoth incident, shuddered and the pair came to a mutual agreement to finish drinking in their own tents.
Laying in his hammock, refusing the inns around town, Commander Astratus called for the doorman. Commander Astratus told the man the plan for the war, and that if there were no more heroes in Cyrodill, then the Army would be destroyed. Commander Astratus told the man to find all the possible soldiers for the army, and to take a detachment of cavalry with him. The man nodded, slightly confused, but left the tent for the stable just the same.
"If there is hope, it is with the people of this Empire..." Commander Astratus said before falling asleep.
OCC: Karn has been waiting in the doorway for quite awhile no, POS.
Issac
"I'll light the fire." He replied to Rann. A tiny fire forming just above the palm of his hand.
Jo'Puma
Jo'Puma nodded, and walked around the group of three, back to where he just came.
Amrita
Amrita couldn't help but smile as Veric decided to light the room with limited torches once more. His only chance of defeating her was based on the fact that there were no shadows for her to dissolve into. With the current arrangements, Amrita now had the shadows to use once more. She only needed to get to one side of the descending column.
Firing a distracting shot with her crossbow, Amrita launched herself in the direction of the shadows. Once landing in the darkness, she immediately became one with it, masking herself from all vision.
Let's see if he can stop all of this...
Amrita quickly fired off a dispell spell, a weakness to magicka spell, and topped that off with potent poison spell and a couple of trailing crossbow bolts to clean things up.
Flogir
Flogir grinded his teeth together. With the serpents coming he had no time to figure things out.
"I'm going with Flint on this one; you're staying with us," he said forcefully. Voltar looked up to the sky in dismay. "We'll deal with this once we take care of those snakes."
He turned to Flint. "Or do you think we can make a run for it?"
Veric
When Amrita's dispell hit, the everything in the room flickered and went in and out of focus. Veric appeared to strain and concentrate for a moment. The room regained its real-ness, but Veric was forced to accept both the weakness to magicka and the poison spell. The crossbow bolts were expected, however, and Veric leapt to the side causing one to miss completely and one to graze his side.
He landed in the still rising water, reaching about a foot deep, though when he stood he appeared to be completely dry. The column in the center of the room had completely descended and in its place stood Veric, the water rising faster now. His constitution was faultering slightly from the poison, but he figured he could last a few more moments without treating it.
"Your dispell almost broke the link to this place. Had I not resisted it, we both probably would be doomed to a void right now... You impress me though," the Breton continued, spinning in place as if watching the shadows in the four corners of the room. "Leaping to and fro the shadows. But it still has one obvious weakness."
He snapped his fingers and the light from the torches grew in magnitude and the room illuminated as the larger one had done before. The shadows were vanquished, and Amrita would be revealed.
Rann
Rann returned shortly with an armfull of firewood, and went back for a few more loads. When he was confident in his pile of wood, he took a step back to leet Issac light the fire. He also figured that either Ian or Issac would want to do the final honor to their fallen friend, so he stopped his work there. He hoped that their burial would be somewhat quick, though; there was still the Silhouette's army to deal with.
Rahvin
As Rahvin followed Jo'Puma towards the Imperial City, he looked over at Sadril.
"You think maybe we could actually get some rest this time?"
He pondered over whether or not he should stop travelling with Sadril, especially after his newfound allegiances, and he still hadn't made up his mind. Veric was, after all, after his son and all of Brianna's children...He had always known that Sadril wasn't the most loyal being in Tamriel, but he hadn't figured him to be the most disloyal.
All in all, though, he decided it would be better to keep an eye on the vampire, no matter how disloyal.
Sadril
"Doubtful," Sadril answered plainly, finding it a bit odd that Rahvin was actually speaking with him, and even odder that he was speaking back.
The reason for his answer came into view within a short time. As the four exited the woods they found an Imperial City that was fortified with troops. Though most were probably hidden in the interior, there was definitely a military force present within the city.
"Looks like somebody's preparing for war. I wonder who."
(OOC: sped things along, hope its ok)
Patholos
Rolling onto his side, Patholos awoke on the cold floor. The Narza'Tai were are sleeping. Luckily, the madness had not returned to him yet. Quietly he got up and walked over to Karn.
Flint Ironwood, at the dam.
Flint shook his head.
,,Right now, I'm too tired to run for a long time. Let's do this like with the werewolves. I'm going to bury them under a telekinetic barrage with my sword, you handle any snake that manages to get too close. I'll start blasting once they're an arrowshot away. Fortunately they're all melee-types." He said while silently cursing the need to keep an eye on the backstabbing Argonian.
,,Afterwards, I'd say we speed it to the Imperial City. That's where they're going. We could do a lot of good at thinning their ranks if we set a few walls to crumble or something. I'm not an expert on siege warfare."
Green-Root.
Green-Root shifted his weight. It looked like he would have to sit this battle out. The Breton would not trust him if he joined their formation for battle and on his own, he was no match for the Akavir.
,,I have lost their thrust so Voltar has won this game. Fine then, I'll escape when they're focussed on the snakes. I wonder how the Imperial city is faring."
OCC: Can we please skip the eulogizing, just skip to travelling to the IC, I'm really not in the proper mind to write something like that without being a bit..... sloppy.
Ian
He spotted the young ones in the clearing already finished constructing a funeral pyre. Ian paused, uncertain whether to interupt and try to convince them that Kirana's soul was inside him and order them not to burn her corpse.
Kirana was unaware of her body's fate; Ian realized that even if Rann, Satyana, and Issac did believe him and didn't think he was insane, Kirana's body would hardly prove portable. Add to that, by the time Kirana could recieve her body it would have been dead for long enough to no longer be suitable.
The Imperial decided to avoid speaking about Kirana's continued existance, for all it mattered she was dead. From the years of experience with her, Ian knew Kirana would never consider living in a foriegn body, so in the end she would perfer to go to Aetherius.
Issac
Kneeling down to place the flame at the bottom of the pyre, Issac lit the firewood. As the fire grew, he stepped back to look mournfully upon the figure lying on top of the platform.
Karn, standing in Commander Astartus' tent
Apparently, neither the doorman nor the Dunmer commander noticed the black-clad figure standing beside the door to the tent. As the commander had fallen asleep (and Karn thought it disgracful to shake him awake like some lowly peasant), the Dunmer assassin began to investigate the Commander's armor and weapons, not concerning himself with being quiet.
Inspecting the mer's shield, Karn slammed his fist against the metal, causing the item to clang loudly. The sensei noticed his fist had made a tiny dent in the alloy. I doubt anyone will notice something that small....
Rann
Rann put a hand on Issac's shoulder, "Let's go," he said as he started heading back the way they came, hoping to rejoin the others.
Aerona
She wasn't usually one to interrupt when people were making plans, but she felt the need to this time.
"Why are we even considering fighting them?" she asked, "Just take refuge in the city before they kill us all."
The mass of snake-people that were sent after them for breaking the damn was more than enough to kill their small group ten times over; odds she didn't like at all. Fleeing to the Imperial City where war preparations were being made seemed to make the most sense.
OOC: just trying to herd everyone to the IC
Ian
He gave a start when Rann placed a hand on his shoulder. Issac nodded, silently, in turn placeing a hand hand on Satyana. Both followed closely behind Rann.
Ian
The vampire kept the threesome within sight, but did not move any closer. He devided his attention between matching the young ones' pace and being aware of conversation in his own head.
OCC: Kirana is waiting for a response, Cerpin can be cryptic or otherwise secretive if he wants.
Cerpin
You're residing in Ian's body right now, along with myself. The necromancer didn't want you dead, for whatever reason.
Kirana
The last part of the explanation made the most sense. "Mannimarco, I commanded Issac to kill me so the necromancer would die too.... If I'm not dead, then he can't be gone either....."
Ian
"Well, he's not in me at least, so maybe he's just floating around in Pergatory right now." He mused.
Satyana
She followed Issac and Rann, didn't say anything, but she was thoughtful as she walked behind them, knowing Issac's grief and also sensing Rann's.
Strange, he seems to have more feelings for Issac's mother than his own.....
Brianna
She didn't trust the vamp...but Rahvin was another thing. She decided just to go along she really hadn't much choice if she wanted to survive long enough to meet her children.
Flint Ironwood.
,,Don't be so pessimistic, miss. Cause that's my job. Now we'll be able to do this, as long as we keep them at a distance. And I would run if I could. I'm just too tired and my Magicka is blown. The swords don't help much with running. And even if I did have Magicka, I can't jump very far while dragging all of you with me." Flint told Aerona.
Green-Root.
Green-Root saw one last chance to regain their thrust. These people were the only ones who could stop the complete destruction of Tamriel it seemed. He really couldn't let them be betrayed by Voltar.
,,Then walk away. I will provide a suitable distraction."
Flint Ironwood.
Flint raised his blades as he prepared to lash out with them.
,,You? Why should I trust you?" He said angrily. The Argonian's reply was without emotion, so it seemed.
,,You have no reason to thrust me, yet no reason not to take this gamble. Defeat this group, and another shall come. You can't fight them all. If you let me distract the first group, you can all retreat."
Flint stepped back.
,,Two who are in favour of retreating right now. What's the opinion of the rest of the gang? Make it snappy, those snakes won't wait for us to make up our minds."
Aerona
She didn't know what was going on with Green-Root, so she silently opted for his plan, though she didn't understand Flint's logic in the least.
"If you're too tired to run, how can you possibly hope to fight? Besides, I can cast a few restoration spells on you all..."
OOC: of course he cares more about Kirana than he does his own mother; he's never met her!
Rann
Rann walked along, and within a few silent hours, the Imperial City was in sight. Night had fallen, and he figured it would be the best place for them all to rest both mentally and physically. He hoped that Flogir and the others had the same idea.
"Let's head to the city. Then we can rest up and help in the fight."
Rahvin
Rahvin knew what they were fighting. He didn't know it was called the Silhouette, but he did know that it was the same disturbance that Rann and the others had been sent to investigate some time ago.
"It's the disturbance," he said aloud in answer to Sadril's question.
Amrita
As Amrita appeared once again, she tried to mask her annoyance of the lack of shadows.
"Well I'm glad to know that I can at least get some admiration of my skills from you," she said in an irritated fashion as she stared down at the knee deep water. "Thanks for getting me wet."
She calmly walked over to where her longsword landed and picked it up. Turning back towards the Breton, she fixed him with a sour look.
"This is all a test isn't it? Even if I did manage to kill you, I would simply be destroying myself in this place. Plus, you seem more content in defending yourself rather than attacking," she said in the same irritated tone.
"You picked a dangerous way in trying to provoke me mage... But I have to admit, killing you might be beyond my abilities right now," she said in a complete manner. Knowing that she was in a lose-lose situation had taken the fight out of her.
Flogir
Flogir squinted his eyes and judged the number of enemies heading their way.
"There's too many of em for us to take on. What I suggest is this: Aenora you give us a nice little fatigue restorative while Flint here can use a few telekenetic blasts to cause some chaos among their ranks. That should buy us enough time to make our way to the Imperial City. No need for distractions then," he said, giving Green-Root a pointed look.
Voltar
"I can assist Flint as well with some telekenesis as well. I also been saving a scroll for a situation much like this," Voltar said as he withdrew a scroll. Only Voltar knew that the scroll was simply blank. He would cast a firewall wide enough to cause enough hindrance to the enemies but before than he would light the scroll on fire to make it appear that he simply used the scroll to do such a thing. No one here seemed gifted enough in magic to know the difference.
Commander Astratus
Jostling awake and wiping the grime from his eyes, Commander Astratus noticed a man garbed in full black along with another man with a cloth band around his eyes.
Coughing and straightening up, Commander Astratus motioned for the pair to sit down on his floor mats. To be hospitable, Commander Astratus sat down promptly and folded his hands in his lap. He unbuckled his sword and laid it on the floor next to him.
"I have a proposition for you, and you may yet agree to it." Commander Astratus thought that with the world in imminent danger, persuasion would be easy. "As you can see, this city isn't well enough off by itself, and it is too vulnerable on the waterways. Supposedly these snakemen can swim, which doesn't work well in our favor." Commander Astratus took out a small container from his inner pouches. He opened the flask and a strong smell of sugar cane and brandy filled the room. "You don't mind if I drink, do you?" But without waiting for an answer, Commander Astratus took a long pull, and recapped the flask.
Pulling out a small diagram of the Imperial City, Commander Astratus circled chokepoints and easily defendable positions once the outer ring is taken. "Thats the plan, gentlemen, let them take the outer ring and have our secondary force sweep in. "Hammer and Anvil." Pretty decent maneuver that always works against a superior force." Commander Astratus waited for a response.
Karn
When Astratus took a long swig of booze, Karn's eyes narrowed inperceptively. Despite personal misgivings, the Dunmer saw no immediate flaws in the plan. Again with sewers, he thought sourly.
"My compatriots and I have our own strategy, in conjunction to this tactic." Karn began, "Our number are hidden on the southern shoreline. I may only suggest that our 'specialists' do not get a job best left to infantry."
Issac
Casting aside the oppressive sense of grief, Issac nodded to Rann. "Yes, that's probably where everyone is headed. Let's just hope it's allies who got there first, not the Akaviri."
He glanced down at his katanas, the thought that Kirana's blood had been spilled on one was disturbing. Her blood will be the last to stain it, I can replace it. "Ian's probably not too far, I'm sure he'll meet up with us later at the Imperial City."
Rann
Rann looked back when Issac mentioned Ian, but shrugged it off when he wasn't there. Ever since he became one of the undead, he preferred to stay in the background, which was understandable.
"Doesn't look like there's been a battle, so I'd assume that the city is occupied by men and mer rather than tsaeci."
They walked on, and crossed the bridge to enter the city. They found the gates closed in front of them and archers on the wall aiming for them.
"Hello, there," Rann greeted, "We're looking for some shelter, and maybe a fight with some Akavirian bastardes."
OOC: since the army of morrowind isn't in the city yet, we'll just say that a small portion of the City Watch stayed behind...wanna take over the random guard for me?
OCC: Curse, my avoidance of double-posting, the army is there already. Karn, Patholos, and Commander Astratus are all planning in Green Emporer Way (the place around White Gold Tower, AKA, the Imperial Palace).
Issac
"Akaviri," he corrected quietly, amused.
Army of Morrowind
A single soldier marched toward the gate when he heard a young man yell from the otherside. He stopped close enough to evaluate them. "Well, I don't see you three as untrustworthy, but I'll have to clear openning the city gates with my superior."
Turning he shouted to one of the runners of the army. "Tell the Commander that three young mer are at the gate, and clarify if I have permission to open the gate or not." The messenger went to meet the commander.
"This city was evacuated some weeks ago," He muttured to the three on the other side of the gate. "So most of us are soldiers of Morrowind, the rest are guardsmen sent from Chorrol by the Countess Valga."
Rann
"Shut up," he muttered to issac jokingly about the grammatical correction, "I'll say what I want."
Then he listened to the guard silently before responding, "So...where did everyone evacuate to?"
Army of Morrowind, soldier
Beneath his helmet, the Dunmer grinned ever so slightly in amusement at the grammatical error and correction. "To the Western Cities, some went farther, to Hammerfell, but most didn't want to leave Cyrodiil if the didn't have to."
Looking over the great green landscape he could see why. A figure clad in white-gray robes strode up from where the three before him had come. "Oi, odd fellow that one...."
Ian
Being that the town guard or army would be less than hospitable if they had a vampire in there midst, he had tied a piece of white cloth to obscure most of his face. His slightly bleached eyes were still visible, but he reasoned that the guards would buy an excuse like a birth-defect to be the case.
He nodded to Rann, Issac , and Satyana, but said nothing.
OCC: dang, I forgot to mention his vampire-affected eyes were still visible and thatwas what the excuse was for.....
Rann
Rann suppressed a laugh at Ian's appearance, and acted as if he'd never met the man before in his life. He returned the nod, but kept conversing wiith the guard.
"Yeah, he probably got mauled by a bear or something," he said just before Ian reached their midst, "So how long does it take for this gate to get opened?"
Cerpin
I'm glad you decided to follow them Ian. The young dunmer has something that belongs to me...
Satyana
She was glad to see Ian again....but there was something odd about him, as if he wasnīt his real self....Satyansa shrugged and waited patiently for the next move. Rann was talking to that guard...She moved closer to Issac
"Is Ian ok?" she asked him silently
Issac
He also returned Ian's nod. When Satyana approached him and asked about Ian, Issac whispered. "Are any of us alright after all that's happened?."
After a moment, he spoke again, more seriously. "Yes, but only a little more odd than usual. He does have to deal with vampirism and everything we have to."
Army of Morrowind
The soldier's eyes held on the man's odd-looking eyes for a few moments before replying to the fellow Dunmer. "It depends, only a minute to actually raise it, but the Commander has to give permission first."
Despite himself, the Dunmer rolled his eyes. "It all depends if the good commander is sleeping a drink, drinking, or just depressed. Don't get me wrong, his judgment is great in a battle, but it's rather degrading to have a drunk for a leader."
Satyana, still confused
"yes...but, heīs not himself! Thereīs something very strange with him....canīt you see that my love?"
She took Issacīs hand and held it tight
"It frightens me"
Issac
"I... I'm afraid not, Satyana," He said after a moment. "But I do trust you."
He clapsed both hands around hers, and whispered. "Is there anything else you can sense, anything?"
Satyana
"I...I sense another soul...another mind, very near Ian..itīs possible itīs inside him.He...eh...might be possessed..or anything.Iīm not sure but I do know there is another mind present...or even more than one..."
She covered her face in her hands....
This is really frightening....how can it be possible?, There is another mind inside Ian, it has taken over him but why canīt anyone else sense that?
Ian
"I take it that whatever you want, Rann will not miss it?"
Kirana
She was bewildered by the sudden plotting that clearly implicated Rann in some way. "What is this about a belonging of yours? And how would Rann have it?"
Issac
Another mind inside Ian's head? Issac didn't know enough about that kind of prospect to judge whether that was possible or not.
Wrapping his arms around her shoulder he whispered. "Until we know more there's nothing we can do, so let's keep an eye on Ian for the time being. There's no need to be afraid...."
Rann
"So...do I actually have to wait on this drunken commander, or can we make exceptions here?" Rann was still being nice, but it was obvious that he was getting impatient.
Noting that Issac and Satyana were embracing behind him, he pointed over his shoulder at them with his thumb, "You'll have to keep watching this if you don't get them a room..."
Cerpin
It's a glove. It think he carries it in his pocket, so I doubt he even uses it to keep his hands warm. he communicated to Ian, ignoring Kirana altogether.
Soldier O' Morrowind
"Of course, I could just let anyone in." He allowed for a pause in which he suddenly said. "If I wanted to risk getting demoted or lose my position. A good soldier follows orders, as long as their effective, but then this one is only a minor annoyance."
When Rann pointed to the couple, the mer chuckled. "Most of us are using the barracks, so there should be some room in the inns. But most of the civilians took their belongings with them, so I wouldn't expect the tavern would have much in stock, or at least not much in the way of good alcahol..... or regular drinks."
"Some would probably enjoy watching them; you'd be surprised how many might pay a brothel a visit while on the war march. It helps them cope with being pushed hard, take their sorrows out out on the girls."
He shook his head, "But I'm an honest soldier, don't drink, don't sleep with some girl who I doesn't even know, and I have a clean conscience."
Flint Ironwood.
,,Ok, sounds like a plan. Here goes!" With those words, he swung down the two katanas and two forces of telekinesis shot forth. The one of the Storm dislodged an outcropping of rocks and sent them tumbling down the hill, making them crush and smash any of the Akavirir that were too slow to notice the threat and dodge. The Blade was more direct, slicing through scales and carving into swords like an blade of wind. The group lost all cohesion. Part ran while another part continued their charge.
,,Two more shots, then I'll scram! Start running now!"
Green-Root jumped back into the river and waited. Once they began to run, he would follow at the same pace. If they fled the riverbank though, he would have to go to the Imperial city by himself. He wasn't fast enough to keep up on land.
Voltar
As soon as Flint began casting his telekenetic spells, Voltar began tossing some of his own. Two nearby trees were torn from the earth and hurled into the attacking snakemen. Mimicing that the action drained him. Voltar withdrew the "scroll".
Voltar muttered some foreign sounding words before lighting the scroll with a weak fire spell. Quickly following that, Voltar cast his massive firewall spell. Flames 8 feet high suddenly erupted from the earth, seperating the snakemen from themselves. The wall easily covered a kilometer in distance.
"Now that's some scroll," Voltar said, a rare grin on his face before it returned to it's normal passive state, "Now I suggest we get going..."
Kirana
She fumed silently as the other soul ignored her concerned questions about this private matter it had with Ian.
Ian
"I'll take my time." He replied to the soul. Ian returned to control again and noticed Rann speaking with a Dunmer in bonemold about letting them inside the city. He also noticed Issac and Satyana, but any discomfort about their relationship had worn off by now.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Ian closed his eyes, willing to wait patiently all night to be let in. I'm almost due for another feeding.....
Veric
"She's smart too," Veric said to himself. "Don't think of it as a test more than an initiation," he answered as the water level reached their chests. "It's less of a chance to see what you can do as a chance to experience what you can do," the Breton continued as the water parted from center of the room and disappeared into the walls.
"And I apologize for any confusion."
Commander Astratus
Belching and standing up, Commander Astratus nodded in conjunction with Karn's idea. Just then, a small Bosmer who's only use was for running information stumbled into the scene.
"Ca- Ca- Ca- Commander Astratus Sir! Requesting permission to allow the permission of unknown mer into the city Sir! Oh bother, that came out wrong,..... there are three mer and a person of unknown origin outside the gates wanting to be let in." The Bosmer lowered his head and stood at attention.
Commander Astratus smiled and then replied, "As long as they aren't speaking with a lisp, I'll take all comers!" Commander Astratus waited for the joke about the Akaviri Snakemen to sink in, but it never did. "Come, I'll meet them myself." Commander Astratus then called back to Karn just before leaving, "Feel free to make yourself at home. And go ahead and draw out your strategy and we can join our plans."
Karn
He nodded as Astratus left, moving immediately to the minature map of the Imperial City and the region around it. Dipping a quill in the nearest inkwell, he placed the Narza'Tai camp on the southern shore and copied a set of positions based on the maps scales of longitude and latitude.
Ian
"You would be wise to place more emphasis on patience..... Nothing that you're prepared for comes rapidly." He replied, as if giving a lecture.
Dunmer Soldier
He clicked his longsword out, examining the steel blade before pushing it back into its sheath. "I'll keep that in mind, lad." The Altmer seemed to glance up when the Dunmer uttured the words pertaining to his lover and whores.
The soldier glanced back to see the messenger leading the Commander through the gate to Green Emporer Way. "Well," He muttured. "Looks like you folks are lucky.... or unlucky, seems ol' Astratus deems your entry important enough to deal with personally."
Possibly anticipating the commander's order to let them in, the Dunmer nodded to the burly Nords stationed at the gate's cranks.
Issac
He hadn't heard all of Rann's conversation with the guard, but the part Issac had heard didn't put him in the most amiable mood. Still, all he did was fix the soldier with a glare and nothing more.
Kirana
"So this is what this bargain is about? Giving this person a body to get him out of your head?"
Cerpin
'This person' happens to have personal business with the vampire here; I'd appreciate it if you would mind your own. And just for your information, since you're here, Kirana, you can't just 'pass on' like you're thinking. You either live forever with the vampire here, or you find your way out. I don't want to be here forever.
Rann
"I get to meet the drunk in person?" he asked with mock enthusiasm, but cut it out quickly, realizing that might not be the best way to gain entrance to the city. And he especially didn't want to be pinned between the city walls and an army of snake people.
Sadril
Sadril, Brianna, Rahvin, and Jo'Puma circled the Imperial City for only minutes before they reached the grand bridge to take them over Lake Rumare. In the near distance stood another group of misfits waiting around at the foot of the gate. At first, it was hard to make out who they were, though as the four neared closer...
Flint Ironwood.
They ran, till they were sure they'd lost their pursuers.
,,Nice trick, that was." Flint muttered.
,,Alright, time to wrap things up. We're going to the Imperial City, right now."
(If you want to talk some more, go ahead. If not, I hereby officialy grant permission to warp to the IC.)
Rahvin
As they neared the city gate, he realized that the group standing there included Rann, Satyana, and a couple others that had been sent from Chorrol so long ago.
"Well, Brianna, there's two of your children," he said as they continued walking; they still had a little bit of distance to cover before they reached them.
OOC: I don't mind a warp to the IC. Do we want to get there at the same time as the rest? Because if not I'll edit this post.
Flogir
After ample amounts of running, Flogir's party finally slowed down. The Imperial City was not far off at all. In fact, he could make out that quite a few people stood outside the gates, awaiting entry into the city.
"Hmm, didn't Kirana say that the Imperial City was abandoned basically? From here it looks like there's an army occupying it," he mused aloud.
If anything, that was a good thing though. They would need an army to defeat that which was marching behind them.
"I think we should catch up to those people up there and get in when they do," Flogir stated as he started jogging. He thought he heard one of the members behind him groan.
(It's fine by me.)
Flint Ironwood
Flint groaned. He was really tired.
,,Man, first thing I'm going to do is find a place to crash." He grumbled when Flogir told them to run again. The Breton made a mental calculation and figured that he had plenty of Magicka for a short hop. He cast the spell and leaped into the air, covering the distance in a few seconds.
,,I'm too tired to hop around like a frog, but it beats running. Hi, gang." He said as he landed within shouting distance.
Green-Root.
,,An army? This is interesting." Green-Root hissed, secretly wondering where they'd come from.
,,We'd better keep running. That show-off cheated again by flying. Say, do you think they have left any booze here?"
Flogir
Flogir looked back at the Argonian. "Beats me. But if I know armies, which I should. There's likely a few who find solace in the bottle, so there's bound to be something to drink there," he said sombrely since he knew he was one of the types to find solace in the bottle. As he got closer to the gate he realized that the group was Rann and company.
"Oi! Is that you Rann?" he called out, grinning. As he got closer though he realized some of Rann's company were missing. Flogir's grin disappeared. "Soldin and Kirana didn't make it?" he decided to ask bluntly.
Voltar
Voltar kept to the back of the group, his attention focused on the going ons between the two reuniting groups. Voltar frowned at the mention of Flogir's question, yet inside there was a slight swell of interest.
Looks like Veric won't need to return that book... he thought.
He felt no need to introduce himself once more. Rann and the others who went with him had all ready met him earlier with "Altair".
Ian
The man in white robes turned to the newcomers, if anyone had seen, his eyes brightened in recognition. "Nice to see you two again," He said to Rahvin and Sadril. Ian then noticed the woman beside Rahvin.
For some reason, Ian could guessed who she was and from what he'd heard it wasn't someone he wanted to be involved with. His eyes lost some of their glow, he did not address the woman. Suddenly, Flint appeared, much to Ian's continued pleased surprise.
It would seem everyone is showing up for the endgame.... He mused.
Issac
He heard the other group approaching, and caught "two of your children." Issac turned his head, hearing Ian greet Rahvin and Sadril. There was a woman in the threesome who bore some resemblance to Satyana.
"'Tyana, I think you're about to meet your mother." He whispered, patting her on her shoulder to indicate the newcomers to her."
Rann
Rann looked back to see Flogir approaching after hearing his name shouted. He smiled and shook the nord's hand, but then Kirana and Soldin were brought up, and his expression become more solemn.
He answered Flogir's question with a shake of his head. There was no more time for any other such words, as he spotted his father and Sadril coming, accompanied by a strange woman.
"I guess the gang's all here."
Flogir
Flogir returned the gesture and patted Rann on the back in a gesture of sympathy. "At least I hope you took care of that necromancer," he said. Flogir figured that he wouldn't see Rann unless the necromancer was defeated, especially since the monster managed to kill Soldin and Kirana.
"So who is occupying the city?" he asked, decided to switch topics
Rann
"Well, judging by the bonemold I'm seeing everywhere, I'd say it's an army sent from Morrowind to help us out. But if you'll excuse me for a second, I'm going to go speak to my father," he said, pointing to the three approaching figures.
He excused himself from conversation with Flogir and walked over to speak wit his father.
"Fancy seeing you here," he began, "This your newest two-day lady friend?" he asked, motioning towards Brianna. He also gave Sadril a short nod, showing that he acknowledged the vampire's presence.
Rahvin
Rahvin had been about to answer Brianna, when Rann suddenly approached them, carrying along his wise remarks.
"Actually, Rann, this is your mother."
OOC: I'll give minque a chance to let Brianna say something before I start RPing with myself too much.
Sadril
Sadril nodded back to Rann, "Glad to see you're still alive," he noted as he walked past Rann and dove into the group of people before him. Sadril lifted his head up high and took a great breath through his nose. "Alright. who are the vampires?" he called out to the group.
"I smell three," he added more quietly. They're fledgling, still. Two haven't been dead for long. One is much older...
OOC: three? Ian, Aerona and....?
Aerona
"Me," she said softly in answer to Sadril's question, not wanting to be heard by the guard and denied entrance to the city.
OOC: tenek.
Sadril
Sadril, hearing a female answer his call, stepped swiftly to put himself in front of the owner of the voice. Seeing she was a Dunmer only provoked him more to kneel before her, take her hand and kiss it. "Sadril," he smiled, showing the tip of his fangs, "And you are?"
Sure it was a bit over the top, but the buzz of battle hanging in the air got Sadril excited and in a over-the-top mood.
OOC: are they in the IC, or still outside the gate?
OOC: outside the gate; arastrus has to come let 'em all in.
Aerona
After Sadril kneeled in front of her and kissed her hand, she glanced around quickly to see if anyone was looking. Unfortunately, it seemed that they were.
"Aerona..." she answered, retrieving her hand as quickly as she could without toally offending the strange vampire. Vampires still scared her quite a bit, despite her being one; she still hadn't quite grasped the reality of it all.
Commander Astratus
Following the Bosmer messenger to the gate, Astratus nodded in attention to the guard at his post. "Do they seem like they are the type to help?" Commander Astratus asked the guard at his post.
After a short conversation with the guard, Commander Astratus nodded and watched as the gate slowly opened. He gazed for the first time at the people outside the gate. Commander Astratus immediately felt uncomfortable standing alone in front of the crowd of people. Motioning for two guards to his side, Commander Astratus strolled briskly to the front of the collective group.
"My Name is Vercius Astratus, and I command this army you see here. I trust you all have seen the petitions for "glorious heroes" or "unlimited gold" that have been circulating throughout our march. I'm sorry to say that we have no money for you, who's to say that you won't be dead tommorrow," Astratus stopped, noticing the vampires, gave a sudden shiver, and then continued, "Or prisoner to the snakemen?"
Pausing, Astratus pondered over all the people assembled in front of him. What struck him most was the fact that these people seemed like everyday people. Astratus continued, "What has befallen us now is no longer a small threat to a province or city, this is an army bred for annihilation! You must think that the Imperial City is a safe point for all refugees, but you are mistaken, the City is just a buffer to allow the most refugees to escape westward or northward. The city is populated by less than one hundred non-soldier types. They are well aware of the risk of death and they have accepted that. We can accomodate you, but there are no gaurantees on food or water. It is a sullen thing, waiting for death to rear its ugly head, and the sand in the hourglass taunts you with every falling of it."
Astratus produced the flask from earlier and drained the contents. Wiping his face and straightening his jerkin, Astratus cleared his throat and said, "Welcome to the Imperial City, make yourselves at home. If you wish to fight, submit your name and "skillset" to either one of my Brigadier Generals." And with that Astratus turned around and walked back into the City.
Ian
When Sadril kissed Aerona, Ian crossed his arms and gave the Dunmer vampire a look that wasn't definitely any emotion, but spoke of disapproval. "Sadril," he said simply. "I'm the second."
Slowly, he raised on hand and pulled the piece of cloth off, seeing as the less subtle vampire strains were here as well. He turned to Astratus, "And the commander and I have already met."
Sadril
Sadril listened to the commander's monologue, and noted his reaction when his eyes crossed any of vampires in the group. Then when Ian spoke up, he turned to him. "And you, another one who has not been dead for very long."
He leaned in closer, "How do you like it?"
Ian
Turning back to Sadril, he replied. "Vampirism has its advantages, but it isn't without its curses." Yes, I'm having to get used to a lot. Ian shrugged slightly, "It's not too different from any other change that can happen to someone."
"My kind is not yours Sadril," he reminded, reffering to their different bloodlines.
Tenek, catching up
Not too far upwind from them, a figure brushed off most of the dirt from his clothes. "Note to self, never wake up snakemen when being chased by animals." Tenek muttured to himself.
Striding up to the people by the gates to the Imperial City, Tenek recognized the group he'd encoutered earlier. However, he kept his mouth shut seeing as a bunch of soldiers were nearby. Approaching the Argonian from earlier, he handed over the shredded remains of the bag he'd taken.
"Erm, the meat didn't survive.... Let's keep it at that." He muttured, If the next two bags I steal don't have gold in them I'm going to be out of my mind!
Sadril
Sadril sneered, "I could tell that long before I saw you." He then turned from Ian, and, purely on a hunch, moved behind the nearest Inn away from the watch of the military men.
Really big one, sorry.
-------
Ian
Watching Sadril dissappear for a few moments, Ian also split off from the group. He made his way to the Temple District, taking a faster route through Green Emporer Way. As he navigated through the tents of the army, Ian spotted a familiar mer in black armor.
Karn
No sooner had the agent spotted him that the Dunmer met his gaze. Ian's appearance caused a bit of inner conflict within Karn. He still had a score to settle with the Imperial, but personal vandettas were unbecoming of leaders.
Slowly, he set down his mug and began walking out of the cluster of tents, knowing Ian would follow. When the Imperial met him in the Southeastern graveyard, Karn spoke first. "So, it seems fate is rather insistant, wouldn't you agree?"
Ian nodded, glancing up at the star-filled sky. "One might imagine it wants one, or perhaps both, of us dead before it gives up." The vampire looked at him with partially narrowed eyes. "I can tell you didn't come here with the intents of fighting for the Silhouete or affecting their victory."
Karn let silence give Ian his answer, finally the Imperial spoke again. "But even if we happen to be allied, even if everything was forgiven, the road will only continue until one of us is dead."
"Yes, there must be an end to the constant struggle," he agreed. "When the Akaviri are eradicated, and if both of us survive the battle, we will put this mortal conflict to an end, once and for all."
Both enemies stood silently, the moment stretching on. Karn broke the eternity, reaching into his cloak to pull out a yellow amulet. He offered it to Ian. "This was given to me by the mage in the cave weeks ago. This amulet will allow for communication over any distance with the man. That mage is more than he appears; if he wants something out of this conflict, it would be wise to keep that something out of his grasp."
Ian inspected it sceptically. "I think it might also serve another purpose, but I have no knowledge of it."
Before the vampire could either thank Karn or give the amulet back, the Dunmer assassin turned and walked off without another word.
If that trinket is all I think it is, perhaps it will prove useful, otherwise, I'm glad to be rid of it. Karn went back to the tent to collect Patholos before returning to the Narza'Tai. The battle plans had already been drawn out, whether the Morrowind Commander liked them or not, Karn refused to position his followers in a less optimal spot.
Green-Root.
Green-Root dropped the rags to the ground.
,,Looks like you had a good time. Too bad about the rat." He laughed.
Flint Ironwood.
,,Ah, this time I am not making a mistake. That is Brianna. Geez, doesn't anyone in that family ever age?" Flint thought and then whispered to Flogir.
,,Family reunion. I'd say we leave them alone for now. Maybe we should go meet that Brigadier General and get ourselves signed up? Not that that would do us much good. From what I've seen, we don't exactly fit in an army."
Tenek
"You've got that right!" He laughed with the Argonian. "Anyway, so what exactly is going on?"
Issac
He heard the woman's name was Brianna, and apparently she was Rann's mother, and therefore Satyana's as well. Issac caught the part about wanting to meet her children on at a time, so there was no reason to follow them or just sit here.
"Well, we might as well try and find an inn for the night." After all, everyone else wants us to find one.....
Rann
"Let's go then," he said, walking alongside Brianna into the city. He saw a guard patrolling the streets, and grabbed his arm to get his attention.
"Know where we can get some drinks?" he asked.
"Uh...the old Tiber Septim Hotel is popular with us guards. Their cellar was huge; there's probably something left to drink."
Rann nodded his thanks before heading towards the Talos Plaza District. The city was eerily empty;when he lived here with Sel a few years ago, it was usually bustling with energy night and day, but now it was desolate and quiet with only the footsteps of soldiers to break the silence. He wondered if Sel had evacuated...
Rahvin
Rahvin didn't follow Brianna and Rann. He figured that he had spent time with Rann for twenty years and Brianna deserved her time too.
"Rann wasn't too much trouble was he?" he asked Flogir as he walked up to speak with the nord.
OOC: was it Flogir or Ian he asked to keep an eye on Rann? I forget.
Aerona
Aerona stood there in confusion as Sadril just casually walked off without another word to her after that odd display of his.
"Who was that?" she asked anyone who might have been listening.
Sadril
As Sadril exited the alley opposite from where he entered, Veric called to him, "Oh, and Sadril?"
The vampire looked over his shoulder at him as he continued, "If you get the chance, kill Karn for me, will you?" Sadril nodded and walked out of the alley, which happened to be behind the Tiber Septim hotel. Realizing his reason for being so moody, he walked off in a random direction to find something to drink.
Veric
Deciding it best to put himself somewhere where he had an excuse to be, Altair cast an invisibility spell over himself and walked lazily through the streets. He called out to Voltar, Where are you?
OOC: I forget too, Dantrag, but I'll assume it's me.
Flogir
"Maybe you're not fit for an army, but I served the Kvatch Garrison for years. I'm used to the military life my friend," he said to Flint. He then noticed Rahvin approaching, "I'll meet up with you later, Flint. I gotta talk to Rahvin, then sign myself up. I'm sure I'll find out which inn you guys will be staying at."
After dismissing himself from Flint he answered Rahvin's question.
"Well, he did have a few arguments with a few of our party members. But that's bound to happen under the stressful situations we were placed under. You might want to check up on how he's doing though... We had a run in with a necromancer, well the necromancer I guess you would call him. Mannimarco. He captured one of our party members so Rann took a small party to retrieve her. I think they defeated the necromancer, but they lost the captive and a youngster that decided to go with Rann," he said, summing up the journey as quickly as possible.
"Anything else you want to know about?" he inquired.
Amrita
Amrita stood in front of the mirror until Veric left the field of view. She then stepped through and found herself in the alleyway inside the Imperial City. Instinctively she became one with the shadows and peered around the corner of the alleyway. She nearly jumped as her mother walked past with a young Dunmer beside her. She noticed that the both of them had the same colour eyes.
Well well well... So that's what my brother looks like. Maybe we'll have to talk someday soon, perferably not in front of mother though. She doesn't approve of me, she thought before snickering mentally.
She began to tail the two, keeping to the shadows so as not to reveal herself.
Voltar
Volar picked up the mental message from Veric. Instantly, the stress of the earlier situation ended. He gripped the amulet in his pocket and responded.
"I'm still outside the gates of the Imperial City. It's the Lake Rumare Entrance."
Brianna
She walked along beside her son. The Tiber Septim Hotel looked quite ok, and she sat down and let Rann order the drinks. She didnīt care what to drink, as long as it contained some alcohol, she felt she needed that...
Brianna decided to let Rann begin the talking, she wouldnīt want to seem like a fuzzy mom, she was more interested in him...as a person...her son!
She shivered, even though the room was pretty warm, she felt cold and tucked her coat tighter round her
OOC: _Yes she did, and she looks like http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/SigourneyWeaver-149Brianna.jpg....now...quite a good looking woman , right?
OCC: I am almost certain it was Ian (not because he's my character), but anyway, it's fine if we play it like Flogir was to watch over Rann. As I remember, Ian said (fourth playground, I think, just after Ocato was assasinated) he had sworn (to Rahvin) not allow the younglings to come to harm if he could avert such harm.
Ian, wary
He stared at the amulet for an unmeasured amount of time before pocketing it. For once he trusted Karn was actually aiding him, or at least the group. Resuming his original course, Ian made his way to the Temple of the One, to the statue of Akatosh.
He circled the dragon god's stone form reverantly. The vampire knew that the gods existed and had done much to and for mortals, therefore respected them as powers to be reckoned with. Ian said nothing as he continued to circle it.
Sadril
Sadril wandered his way to the Temple District. He kept his eyes open for someone who would suite his tastes; generally any young beautiful female wandering about, though none were to be found in the practically deserted Imperial City. Walking through the Temple District he caught scent of Ian. Though he did not pursue the Imperial, Sadril was curious as to what he was up to.
Veric
I'll be there in a minute. Altair moved to another back alley, removed his invisibility spell, and emerged with a confused and worried look on his face. He moved quickly past the group of travelers who had barely made it through the gate and up to Voltar.
"Voltar!" he called, throwing his arms up, "Thank the Nine you are alright!"
Voltar
"Master Altair!" he said, acknowledging the "Altmer" before walking over to him. "So you made it here before us it appears. Now we can officially say that everyone is here..." he paused, "Well, everyone who could make it."
"Have you found any lodging yet?"
Veric
Veric judged by Voltar's additional "everyone who could make it" and the lack of Kirana presence that she had been lost in their trek to the city. He considered it no large loss as he answered, "I'm sure we could find a place to stay over at the Tiber Septim."
Altair had an excuse set up for getting to the Imperial City so fast, but decided to keep to himself unless someone asked him about it.
(OOC i gotta go, you can get them to the inn if youd like.)
Rann
He 'ordered' the drinks by hunting down a few guards that helped him fill a couple of mugs. The inn had once been the epitome of a wealthy hotel, but now it was badly kept, deviod of pretty barmaids, and full of drunken guards.
"So," Rann began, staring into his mug of ale when they finally sat down, "Why'd you wait twenty years?" He didn't mean for the question to sound accusatory, but he couldn't help putting a little edge on it.
Rahvin
"No more questions here. A drink and a bit of rest would be nice though," he said, "Before we have to fight hordes of attackers."
Aerona
Feeling a bit left out now, she decided to join the conversation between the strange dunmer and Flogir.
"Where are we going to get some rest?" she asked, immmediately placing herself in the conversation.
Green-Root.
,,So, want to go to the waterfront? I know a good shack." Green-Root said to Tenek.
,,I don't want to go to that hotel, too crowded."
Flint Ironwood.
Flint said goodbye to Flogir and sought out one of the brigadier generals.
,,Flint Ironwood. Skillset is this: Winds of the heavens." He said and wandered off in search of a place to crash. The Dunmer scratched his forehead in confusion.
,,Winds of the heavens? Must be some kind of priest. We don't need undead banishers."
Flint took a random empty house as his resting place. Unlike the others, he was more in need of a good sleep than a good drink. And sleeping was impossible with a whole gang of drunken guards.
Patholos
Excusing himself from the room where Karn was planning, Patholos walked the breadth of the Inner Imperial City. The vision he was "gifted" with showed a grayscale imitation of the Imperial City. Patholos stooped to look at a flower, showing no color or hue.
Strolling down the road and looking at all the monuments, Patholos watched a vampire walk into the temple of Akatosh. Intrigued, Patholos walked in after him. Molag Bal was the patron of vampires, so what was this vampire doing in the temple of Akatosh?
Watching the vampire stare reverently at the statue, Patholos emerged from the shadows, and asked Ian, "You were a servant of Akatosh? Tell me friend, How did you come by this disease?"
Commander Astratus
Returning to the room where Karn was at work, Astratus didn't even notice that Patholos was gone. Turning to Karn, Astratus donned his son's helmet, and garbed himself in his ceremonial armor. He then strapped the giant sword, "The Cause", onto his back. He grabbed the flagstaff of the Army of Morrowind and tied it to the belt of his armor. The white ponytail on Astratus's head spilled out the back of his helmet and he untied the knot. The white hair fell loose and Astratus turned to Karn.
"I trust you, I don't know why, and my culture says against it, but I trust you just the same. There is something about imminent peril that bonds people to one another. I go out to make a rally to my men. Will you have everything prepared for your side of the battle?"
Astratus looked intently into Karn's eyes, and he grabbed Fists and Teeth, the heavy hammer that his son had made for him. Turning the hammer over in his hands he said again to Karn, "Fight hard, serjo, and may we come out victorius."
Astratus walked out of the room, and all the air of drunken swagger that usually accompanied Astratus was gone. He was solemn as stone. As he strode towards the Temple of Akatosh, Astratus told all his men to bring guards not on duty to meet at the Temple.
Grim-faced and steady, Astratus walked on through the whispers of the mercenaries in the Army. Some saying, "There goes the drunkard," or "His hangover is done, he's going back for more." A cold gaze he sent them, and some quieted, while others returned the stare.
Ian
He turned to the pale Dunmer. "No, I've never been a worshipper of any god." Ian returned his gaze to the dragon statue. "I did know the man who became this statue though."
"The gods are what they are, whether one wastes his time worshipping them is irrelevant." The vampire paced. "I do believe that the gods have a certain respect that is due to them, for they have influence and power."
"As for my vampirism, one of my allies was a vampire sensei of the place I was trained at in childhood. It was only when I returned months ago to petition their aid that he ever showed me true respect." Ian finished, speaking without regret. "I allowed for our sparring match to turn me, now the burden of that decision is mine to bear."
He paused as the sounds of boots meeting stone became audible.
Flint Ironwood.
He couldn't sleep, not with the marching feet all over the city. With a large amount of frustration, he broke into the Arcane universaty and grabbed as many restorative potions he could find.
,,You know, these things are unhealthy if overused." He mumbled as he felt his fatigue vanish and his magicka reserves fill.
With that out of the way, he chose to walk about the city, to ease his frustration. Near the temple of Akatosh, he came upon a huge crowd of soldiers. The Breton scaled a nearby wall and from there he looked out over the crowd. He had to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating from the potions.
,,That's Astratus? Wow, maybe he isn't such a pure loser after all."
Tenek
"Sure, I wonder if there's anything worthwhile here." He muttured that last part more to himself. Tenek suddenly jumped forward, and completed three successive front flips before stopping to take a theatric bow, a boyish grin on his face. "Let us hasten to this shack before someone comes wanting to get my signature."
Ian
Exiting the temple with the Dunmer, he noticed Astrastus at the head of a large group of soldiers. At the refreshing sight of a very sober Astrastus he nodded respectfully.
Karn
After failing to find his lieutenant, he countinued to search for Patholos. It was then that Karn noticed the small parties of soldiers heading toward the Temple District. Curious, he hastened to follow them.
Flogir
Flogir nodded at Rahvin's answer. And then turned to Aerona.
"Well... hmmm, I'm not quite sure where we could stay..." he looked around and noticed that Voltar was talking with the reunited Altair, "Hey Voltar! Where you headin' for the night!?" he called out.
"Tiber Septim Hotel!" came the reply.
Flogir shrugged his shoulders. "Tiber Septim Hotel it is!" he said jubuliantly and began ushering the others to follow along.
Amrita
Amrita trailed Rann and Brianna to an inn. She stood outside and peered out of the window her two family members. She couldn't help but think how odd her family was. Salina had never been too forthcoming about her siblings, likely because she had only seen them as new born infants, but Amrita knew she also had a sister.
She remained outside, cloaked in the shadows as she comtemplated her next action.
Rahvin
Rahvin walked with Flogir and Aerona to the Tiber Septim Hotel.
As they entered, he immediately noticed Brianna and Rann having a chat, so he chose to leave them be. Instead, he made a gesture to another table in the other direction, inviting Aerona and Flogir to have a seat with him.
"We may as well have a drink or two before we sleep," he said, sitting down.
Aerona
Aerona sat at the same table as Rahvin, obviously ill at ease. She needed to feed, but she still felt the need to deny her newfound immortal nature. She hated feeding; it made her feel vile and wretched, not to mention disgusting.
Drinking blood? she thought te herself as a shiver of revulsion went down her spine.
Green-Root.
Green-Root led the way, through an unused and relatively clean sewer.
,,I don't want to deal with the guards." He explained.
,,You know, I'm thinking of sitting out this fight. They won't miss a single spear used by a crippled Argonian and I don't want to die. I'll just take a nap at the bottom of the lake or something. After this blows over, I'll see what I'll do next."
Tenek
"Fighting a war isn't my strongpoint.... but I guess we can't let those snakemen-things take over Tamriel either." Tenek shrugged.
"I guess I could just stab an akaviri here or there and dissappear before anyone comes to kill me." His eyes passed over Green-Root's spear. Nice, silver too..... "There might also be something valuable to be found amongst all the dead bodies..."
Green-Root.
Green-Root thought for a moment. Tenek had a point, and he knew it.
,,Well, the bridges aren't that big. Think the snakes will try to swim? If so, I'll show them how they really should use a scaly tail to fly. I'm not good on land but in water, nothing beats an Argonian with a big spear." He said and took out its spear. At his command, the smooth silver shifted into jagged Daedric.
,,And my spear being really sharp is an advantage as well."
Tenek
He gave a start when Green-Root pulled off his spear and it suddenly changed to Deadric. A smile came a across his face. "I really need to get a sword that does that!" Then he calmed himself down and replied. "And nothing can beat Bosmer in the trees, not even Khajiit."
Rann
"It's been...interesting to say the least," he answered, "I grew up in Chorrol with my dad. I lived here for a while too, with a dunmer named Sel, but then I left his place to live with...someone else."
He took a sip of his ale before continuing, "I really don't know what to say; I can't really summarize twenty years of life."
OOC: I don't really see how it could be. We've already established that Rann's is from Rahvin's bloodline and Satyana's is from an ashlander wise woman or something .I think we should just leave them as is; that way each child has a special power. Rann with his tattoo, Satyana with hers, and Amrita with shadow-walking.
Rann
"It's from my dad's bloodline," he said about the tattoo, hoping to explain away Brianna's unexplained fear, "He has the same exact thing if you look closely. He tries to hid it a bit more than I do."
He looked at his own marking, suddenly remembering that it had been growing. It had stopped now, to his relief; he supposed it was because he had released all of the magicka he'd absorbed.
OOC: ok, thatīs fine with me!
Brianna
"Ok...it just resembled...something I once saw"
She finished her drink and looking into the mug she continued:
"So what about your sister.....was that her together with that Altmer?, She doesnīt look like you at all....."
OOC: Brianna doesnīt remember much from before the childbirth, she has no idea about the three-daddy-thingy
edit(minque): Sorry, about Issacīs race..edited![
OOC: I think Issac's an altmer...
Rann
"Satyana? She's only my half-sister, but you know that better than me, I'm sure. And yes, she's with Issac, if you couldn't tell by the hugging and kissing."
Issac
"Well, the closest inn to us is the Tiber Septim." He finally answered himself. "Might as well go there anyway, it's where everyone else is."
As he had expected the highest-standard tavern in the Imperial City wasn't so grand after being a bandoned for gods know how many weeks. Still it wasn't as bad as some places Issac had been to before.
Flogir
Flogir pulled up a chair beside Rahvin and looked around. The hotel itself was quite bare and perhaps a little dusty from it being underused for the last few weeks. Other than that, it still seemed comfortable enough.
He took a sip from his ordered ale. He sighed in satisfaction as the brew hit his stomach.
"I definitely needed this after going through what I've been through the last few weeks," he said reflectively. His pleased expression soured a bit. "Of course, it'll be short-lived knowing that that army is basically right on our doorstep. I plan to enlist and help out this army too. My thinking is that if the Imperial City falls, the smaller cites don't stand a chance... You'd think they would make some changes after the Oblivion Crisis. You'd think they would realize that we need a stronger unified military instead of all these private garrisons. Because when you think about it, all the Counts and Countesses are under the Imperial Council. The Imperial Guard should outnumber a private garrison in each city!" Flogir uttered in frustration.
He then realized that perhaps he went a little overboard and look apologetically to the others.
"Sorry 'bout that," his attention turned specifically to Rahvin, "Looks like you've been busy yourself. You brought some extra company along and I wouldn't mind hearing about how that came to pass."
Voltar
Voltar held the door to allow Altair to enter. Voltar followed behind him and surveyed the bar.
Rann and his mother were at a table of their own, having an intimate conversation it appeared. Flogir, Aerona and the newly met, Rahvin sat at a separate table. Voltar also sensed another presense outside the hotel but when he looked, he saw nothing. He also didn't detect an invisibility spell either.
Odd... I might keep on 'eye' on that, he thought as he turned to Altair.
"So, where shall we sit?" he asked, waving him hand across the room.
Commander Astratus
Amassed were nearly half of the soldiers in the army, and nearly half of those in undergarments. The respect held for Astratus was somewhat jealously inspiring to others. Very few people could boast to have fought beside the Nerevarine, but Astratus never boasted.
"Men, ...., Brothers, I called you here in hopes of relaying an important message to you. In all my years of warmongering, I have never came upon a foe such as this. We are the stone that the mason's count on when they forge and empire, we are the rock which breaks the tidal wave, we are the foundation to which the very survival of humanity depends on!"
Astratus waited for his words to sink in, then he began again. "Brothers, we all know that death is inevitable. No being lives forever, and yet, by our courageous efforts, this battle will live on in the annals of history. If fate conspires against us, and the snakemen succeed, they will forever know the fear that was put into them by the Army of Morrowind!"
Astratus paused, then began to walk amongst the troops. "I am not gifted with superior intelligence, amazing prowess on the battlefield, hell, I'm not even as strong as some of those bastarde Nords over there!" With that, laughter ensued, and the Nords Astratus was pointing at had just joined the Army before the Army left Vvadenfell.
"Heed me, Men and Women of the Empire. Blood and bone and steel will mix in this battle, and I will be at the forefront with you! When death approaches, laugh at it, and travel to your heaven with fire in your blood! We will not falter, brothers, and we will never give in!"
Astratus held his banner high, donned his son's helmet, and yelled, "HELL FROM RED MOUNTAIN!"
The chant was echoed throughout the city, and it faded into the countryside.
Ian
He didn't take part in the chant that followed the Astratus' speech, after a minute Ian departed. The vampire didn't know what he was searching for, but he could always just say he was trying to find something to feed on.
Issac
He and Satyana sat down in one of the few vacant tables not too far from where Rann and Brianna were talking. As Issac sat, he realized that the Imperial City would probably be lacking in foods better than the rations that the Morrowind Army had brought with them.
Oh well, there are people that eat like this regularly. He thought to himself.
OCC: As long as the reply comes it doesn't really matter.......
Issac
When he noticed Rann wave and motion them to come over, he nodded. Issac sat one seat down from Rann, letting Satyana sit beside her brother.
Veric
Altair nodded to a table off to the side. They moved under the attention drawn by Commander Astratus' speech and sat at the secluded table.
"So," Altair said in a lower tone slightly resembling Veric's, "My apologies for leaving so unannounced. What have I missed?"
Time for lockdown....
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)