Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

Chorrol.com _ Role-playing _ The Ghostfence rp: Playground 2

Posted by: minque May 24 2009, 11:37 AM

Welcome to continue in this thread!
http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4213





Posted by: bbqplatypus Jun 6 2009, 08:00 AM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles charged head-on into the fray, locking weapons with a lean, muscular Dunmer with a steel shortsword. He used his broadsword's longer reach to his advantage, but this Ashlander was fast, and good with his shortblade. He parried and deflected Appelles's blows with the grace of a young, yet experienced fighter. Apparently, Apelles had picked a fight with the best swordsman of the group.

The cravaners fought more competently than he had expected. Out of the corner of his eye, Apelles could see Dranas Heleran slicing straight through the torso of one of them. Not bad for a common drug dealer.

This fight, too, was an atypical one. In Apelles's experience, most swordfights were brutal, inelegant, and over very quickly - one fighter gained an advantage over another (usually brought about by an opponent's mistake) and capitalized on it. But the Ashlander was simply moving too fast to leave enough of an opening for Apelles to exploit. And the Ashlander was too busy defending himself from the long reach of Apelles's broadsword to make an attack. There was a time, perhaps, as a younger man, when he might have been fast enough to exploit the brief, fleeting seams in the Dunmer's defense. But the reality was, he wasn't - he would need to rely on his experience and cunning.

Then, the Dunmer finally began to tire - Apelles could see it in his face, and in his slightly slowed movements. Suddenly, he abandoned his defense and made a desperate lunge for the torso. Apelles, surprised, stepped back. The blade barely even managed to penetrate part of the dragonscale armor that he wore. It was but a surface wound - and he had left himself exposed. Apelles plunged his broadsword through the Dunmer's back into his vital organs.

Apelles looked around. The Ashlanders on the ground were all dead. He sheathed his sword, grabbed his bow, and turned to face the remaining archers.

Posted by: Dantrag Jun 6 2009, 06:11 PM

OOC: hope you guys don't mind that i left a few alive; it makes sense to me, and gets things going faster.

Dralas

Dralas was about to let off another arrow, but he held back. With the death of their comrades on the ground, both archers were abandoning their positions and opting to flee.

Dralas let them go; they wouldn't be a threat anymore. He hoped. With the danger gone, Dralas stood up straight and exhaled a great sigh of relief. Relief turned quickly to sadness though, when he looked at the dead on the ground. He sat down on the rock that was previously his cover, waiting for the adrenalin to subside.

"Talk about unexpected," he said to nobody in particular, lighting a hackle-lo. He knew that the caravan had likely gone too far to catch up to now, and didn't even consider it.

Might as well sit for a moment before we all try to walk to ghostgate by ourselves.

Posted by: minque Jun 6 2009, 07:58 PM

Rianne

Rianne hated senseless killing, and she was happy Dralas let two of their folks to get away. She went over to him and gently squeezed his left shoulder, to show him some support. She took his hand with the hackle-lo and inhaled the spicy smoke.

"Yeah, that was unexpected indeed" she said sadly...

I wonder..the caravan is far ahead of us, maybe we should just go ourselves


She looked at Dralas...and made a faint sign, hoping he would understand her thoughts

Posted by: canis216 Jun 7 2009, 02:01 AM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas looked up from the bloodscape at his feet. The archers had melted away, hopefully never to return, and now he was free to feel pain again. And did he ever. His left shoulder was torn apart and bleeding heavily. He walked over to his (miraculously unwounded) guars and fumbled around in one of his packs with good arm. He found a vial the color of alabaster and drank it.

"Ugh," he groaned. The shoulder rapidly began to heal--blood vessels reconstructed themselves, tissues and ligaments found their proper places--it was both soothing and sickening. Inside a minute the gaping wound had been reduced to a modest scar.

Free of his agony, Dranas remembered that he was in the company of others.

"Is everyone alright? I've got a few extra potions for those who can't heal themselves."


Posted by: jack cloudy Jun 7 2009, 08:43 AM

OOC: No problem. This isn't the game where no one ever heard of self-preservation. Fleeing makes sense.

Haz

Haz shook his head as the battle came to an end.
"That was delightfully barbaric. So much for this elegance in bloodshed those elves talk about." He thought.
"No, I'm fine." He then rasped, glad that the deep folds of his robe hid the arrow-wound he'd suffered. He was less glad now for having broken the oath of silence but now that he'd done, he would stick with it.
"If they find out I'm Argonian, I'm dead."

Haz looked at the older Dunmer beside him. Eno was still sitting on his knees, covering his face with both hands.
"This...is insanity. Why did they...why did we have to fight?" The man muttered.
"I think the old one requires healing though. Healing of the mind, not the body."

Posted by: bbqplatypus Jun 7 2009, 09:00 AM

Apelles Velvus

"I have my own, thanks," he half-grunted, pulling a small vial from within his belt. He'd be damned before he took another comestible substance of any kind from Dranas Heleran.

He raised his voice to call out to the rest of the group. "Anyone who doesn't is more than welcome to mine or his. Frankly, we're lucky we weren't all killed. We were fortunate to have been subjected to one of the most poorly-executed attacks I've ever witnessed. Rather surprising to see Ashlanders botch a raid so badly.

"The archers were well-hidden, but just far enough away so they couldn't shoot once their friends got close. That's the stupid part - they didn't need to get close; just block our path. If they'd stayed put inside the foyada and not gotten close, we wouldn't be standing here right now.

"They hadn't counted on us organizing ourselves so quickly - they probably expected us to panic and not try to fight back. They didn't think it mattered what they did. They thought we were weak. They broke Rule #1 of combat: never underestimate your opponent. They also counted on the archers annihilating us quickly. They didn't. But if that guar had died twenty feet closer to the edge of the foyada, they certainly would have. It was luck - luck and stupidity that kept us alive."

He wiped some of the blood off his sword. "We need to catch up with the caravan by nightfall. If we set up camp alone tonight, there's a good chance they'll attack us again. We have no way of knowing how many of them are left - there could be three, or thirteen, or thirty for all I know. And I can guarantee you they won't make the same mistakes they did this time. If they do come back, hey'll come back in bigger numbers - and better prepared to fight. Thanks to those two witnesses, they will know exactly how tough we are, and what our weaknesses might be. We wouldn't stand a chance."

In truth, he doubted that this would happen. The Ashlanders had been routed and demoralized. But he wasn't prepared to rule out the possibility entirely.

"We can make it to Assarnatamat about an hour after the caravan does if we double-time it the rest of the way. So I wouldn't nurse your wounds too long."

Posted by: Dantrag Jun 7 2009, 05:29 PM

Dralas

Despite what Appelles said, Dralas didn't think that the ashlanders would be back. They were rogues, and not part of any official tribe. Rag-tag bands like that didn't have the numbers to spare. They had probably seen most, if not all of that particular group. Dralas knew all three of the archers, but none of the others that lay dead around them. The only explanation he could come up with was that the Shishara brothers were exiled, and joined a group of rogue ashlanders. The Erabenimsun wouldn't be found so far west anyway. Either way, in the world of the caravan, the escort was the authority, so Dralas held his tongue.

With no wounds of his own to lick, Dralas climbed up to where the archers had been to examine the body he'd killed. Up close, there was no doubt. This was indeed Musan Shishara. A few months ago, there were four Shishara brothers. As of now, there were now two dead by Dralas' hand. And two more out there.

But why were they exiled? Were they after me personally or was it coincidence?

He took Musan's quiver of arrows and his canteen. He would have buried the mer, but there was no time.

Posted by: Olen Jun 7 2009, 05:40 PM

Rothan

Rothan waved away the healing potion and cast a healing spell, his wounded arm made it clumsy and he had to cast a second before the gash was reduced to a scab and his ribs were well enough to continue. He sighed and looked at the dead, all ashlanders and none worthy of proper burial.

"I think the old one requires healing though. Healing of the mind, not the body," the pilgrim said. His voice was raspy, from disuse Rothan guessed.

He went to the pair, "Are you alright?" he directed the question to both then looked up, "Is anyone injured, we might want to conserve potions and if it's mild my magic might be enough."

Posted by: jack cloudy Jun 7 2009, 06:56 PM

Haz

Haz nodded in response to the priest's question.
"I'm fine. The archers never hit me." He said, making sure not to hold his arm which still hurt. He then bent down and pulled Eno back onto his feet.
"Physically, the old man is fine. It's only his mind that's ill...or weak." He continued.
"Maybe he'll become better when he's calmed down."

Posted by: canis216 Jun 7 2009, 07:43 PM

Dranas Heleran

"If everyone's alright now we bloody well ought to get moving. I'll have these guars ready to go in just a moment here, and once I'm moving I ain't going to be slowing down for any stragglers, eh?"

Not waiting for any reply, Dranas re-secured his load and gave it a brief inspection. It would work. He took up the leather leads and took a step forward.

"Let's go."

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Jun 9 2009, 01:59 PM

Erna

Erna panted with a grin of manic glee, his chest rising and falling rapidly as the adrenaline pumping through his veins began to subside. After a few moments of standing there, savouring the pure, destructive joy of the short moment, Erna shook his head to try and clear it. He didn't want to enjoy himself too much-his sudden and unprovoked yell of 'Mehrunes Dagon' had nearly given him away, and if it wasn't for the din of battle his travelling companions would definitely have noticed him.

He crouched down next to the corpse of one of the Ashlanders he had killed, poking at the man's crushed windpipe, before getting up and calling out; "Anybody got a potion?"

He would have rather left the few cuts and bruises he had sustained present as a tribute to his master, but he could ill afford to draw suspicion to himself.

Posted by: minque Jun 12 2009, 11:15 PM

Rianne

Rianne handed Erna a vial, a purple one which she took from her backpack. it was a good potent potion, made by herself in fact.

"Here you are" she said politely "it will get you fixed rapidly" she added with a faint smile

Then she looked for Dralas and noticed he'd gone up to the rock where the archers had been. He was standing looking at the corpses. Rianne sensed some awkward feelings and went up to him.

"Did you know him?" she asked...

Posted by: Dantrag Jun 14 2009, 09:10 AM

Dralas

Dralas nodded solemnly, "For as long as I can remember."

His mind was full of scattered thoughts at that moment, and he didn't know what else to say. Maybe nothing needed to be said. He noticed Dranas moving along, and the others getting ready. He finished off his hackle-lo and tossed the rest on the ground.

"I think they're trying to move," he finally said, "Want to help me get Morrie so we can go?"

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Jun 22 2009, 10:00 PM

Erna

Erna gulped down the potion Rianne had given him and nodded his thanks to her as she went off to have heart to heart with her ashlander boyfriend.

He wandered over to his guar, which had stayed where it was during the fight. That was good; it meant that his experiment was working. Just to be sure, hem ran a hand over the tiny, almost invisible runes etched into its back and felt a throb of power from them, instigating a grunt from his guar.

He grabbed the reins and called; "C'mon, let's go!"

Posted by: jack cloudy Jun 24 2009, 09:35 PM

Eno Arval

Eno was still shivering as the pilgrim led him firmly back to his Guar.
"We can't give you time to rest. You'll have to come with us now." The hooded man rasped. If it was meant to be apologetic, it didn't sound like it.

The instrument-maker had been shocked by the sudden battle. There was no way he could deny it. But it wasn't just because of the bloodshed and his response to it, it was also the knowledge that he was the only one who had practically collapsed into a gibbering wreck.
"I shouldn't be like this. I was Redoran once, ALMSIVI! Am I not supposed to be strong of mind and spirit? Just what happened that I become so stressed at the mere thought of combat?" He thought, his body now moving on its own and guiding his Guar, the Kagouti bone strapped to its side bobbing with each step.

He knew the answer to that question of course. Some people could face death while their spirit remained tranquil like the lake that housed Vivec. But others, like him would be swept away in the raging waves of their own fear. He had faced death, and had sunk beneath the waves. That was why he was no longer Redoran, and that was why he had broken down now.

Posted by: minque Jun 24 2009, 11:35 PM

Rianne

"Sure!" She smiled and snapped her fingers twice. The big Guar came shambling towards her, waving its big head

She put her hand on its neck and whispered something in its ear...

"Ok, let's get moving then."

Rianne took out her flute and started playing....

Posted by: Dantrag Jun 25 2009, 02:30 AM

OOC: how fast are we trying to get to ghostgate? i think we should try to get there soon...

Dralas

As the flute played its melody, his thoughts drifted-- mostly towards the past. Back to a time where he and the Shishara brothers hunted together. Musan even saved his life once when they were young. They had accidentally stumbled on a kagouti's nest, and the mother kagouti was none too happy. Dralas remembered being cornered by a steep cliff, and closing his eyes tightly, fully expecting to die. If given another second, the kagouti would have impaled him, but Musan had shown up with an arrow just in time.

And I repaid the favor by killing him. he thought to himself bitterly. So much in life could change so quickly. The ironic thought crossed his mind that Musan had always been far better with a bow and arrow than he.

His mind snapped back to the present, and he stared at the ground. There were hundreds of footprints left by the men, mer, and guars ahead of them, but it was unnecessary to follow them. The foyada was the ashlander equivalent of a road, and it was one he'd seen often. Dralas predicted that it would be a fairly smooth journey from here, assuming his luck would leave him alone for a day or two.

Dralas found this leg of the trip more enjoyable than the previous. Traipsing around with the caravan seemed like living in a moving city, while traveling with a small group such as this was more to his liking.

Posted by: canis216 Jul 4 2009, 09:28 PM

Dranas Heleran

Satisfied that at least some of the party was ready to move, Dranas turned and started walking, and quickly. Probably they wouldn't be able to catch up with the caravan this night, but he wanted to cover as much ground as possible.

He steered his guars around the fallen ashlanders and moved implacably up the foyada.

Posted by: jack cloudy Jul 5 2009, 09:52 PM

Haz

Haz looked at the fallen Dunmer and sneered. He had no love for them and welcomed their death but at the same time, he cursed them for the delay they had caused. Who knew how far the caravan had gotten ahead of them now. And while they'd survived this obstacle, they might not be so fortunate next time. Not to mention that their tools of healing were limited.
"And the fact that I can't use them." He thought, rubbing the wound on his arm.

He looked at the only woman in the group, who was playing a flute.
"So soon after killing their own kind. Have they no love for their own blood brothers and sisters? How barbaric."

He next focussed his attention on the pale one. The man seemed to think himself the leader, and Haz wondered how long it would be before someone would challenge him for that position.
"It doesn't seem as if the others take his word willingly."

Posted by: minque Jul 5 2009, 10:18 PM

Rianne

She walked beside Dralas, noticing his thoughtfulness. She had understood he knew the fallen ashlanders but not to what extent, and reading his facial expression she got a feeling he knew them better than she really wanted to know. Rianne continued her playing, while she looked at the others in the small group.

She noticed resentment from the cloaked figure she noticed before, he probably thought it was unappropriate to play music when there had been killings, killings of her own people, but how could he know that the tune she played was of honor to the dead!

She shrugged and continued walking...

Posted by: jack cloudy Jul 27 2009, 05:42 PM

Eno Arval

Eno had never dared dream that he would ever be glad to see the jagged dark edges of a Daedric shrine. Yet, when his eyes caught the first malevolent peak piercing the sky, he muttered a few words of relief.
"Finally, we're there." He whispered.
"Now all I want is to turn right around and take the first caravan home. No more adventurous journeys through the ashlands!"

As they approached, a few members of the temple approached them, flanked by a pair of Armigers.
"Halt! Who are you and why did you come?!" One of the Armigers shouted. Then, he lifted his helmet to get a better look.
"By the...Hey, are you part of that caravan that came through here not too long ago? It's captain claimed that a small group went back to take over a dead Guar's load, only to never return. Reckoned they'd been slain by wild beasts, or worse. Well, are you that group? If so, praise be ALMSIVI. If not, I have to ask you once more. Who are you and why did you come?"

"Wild beasts? There were Dark Elves, but no one slayed us." Haz muttered in return, so softly that only those closest to him could hear.

"Please...somebody else talk to them. I just don't want to remember that." Eno gagged.

Posted by: bbqplatypus Jul 28 2009, 11:54 PM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles spoke up. "Yes, we are that group. A rogue group of Ashlanders attacked us. Miraculously, we all survived the attack. I doubt we'll be seeing more of them, but I won't rule out the possibility that there are still a few following us.

"Wait, did you say 'passed through?' I was under the impression that the caravan would be resting here for the evening."

Posted by: jack cloudy Jul 29 2009, 07:44 AM

OOC: Good point there. I'll try to work it out.

Random Armiger

The Armiger nodded.
"That is good to hear. You should visit the camp and make your presence known. They'll have to scratch you off the list of losses. Our administrative section, as well as the blacksmith and alchemists are located inside the shrine itself. You need to ascend the stairs of that building over there to find the door. The healer has placed a tent at the bottom of those stairs. We would go with you, but our task lies in patrolling the perimeter." He answered. The man put his helmet back on, while muttering a few curses regarding the uncomfortable object under his breath and then pointed towards the center of camp.

"Well, when I said pass through, I meant that they passed us, the guards. My apologies if I was unclear. I believe that they haven't gone any further yet. Check out the other side of the ruins. I think they set up camp there. Now if you excuse us, we should be going. If there are Ashlanders out there, we'll have to deal with them. Scare them off. Oh, and one more thing. Welcome to the half-way camp, travelers."

OOC: I hope this works. Any objections with the layout of the camp? I figured that for the most part, the camp would be inside the shrine itself because of the shelter it provides, with only the caravan and guards staying outside. I put the healer on the outside because it is hard to go up stairs with a broken leg.

Posted by: canis216 Jul 31 2009, 12:20 AM

OOC: I have no objections to the layout. Seems reasonable enough.

Dranas Heleran

Before setting off to the other side of the ruin to set up camp Dranas decided to drop his armor off inside the shrine for repair. He was a fair hand at repairing most weapons and armor, but working the netch leather of Morrowind was different enough from his training as a youth to make him prefer a professional's work.

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 5 2009, 10:03 AM

Dralas

They arrived at the shrine, only to find that they hadn't really been expected. In fact, they'd already been listed as casualties. Something about that didn't sit well with Dralas, and the armiger's remarks concerning ashlanders did little to help. As usual, though, Dralas kept his mouth shut. In his experience, listeners fared better than talkers.

He lit a hackle-lo, and after a few puffs, handed it to Rianne.

The layout of the camp was simple enough, but no part of it really appealed to him. Services inside, their lost caravan outside on the other end of the ruin.

"Where to?" he asked her. More than anything else, he was trying to speak with her privately, and gave a hand signal that said as much without alerting their non-ashlander companions. The wise woman topic needed to be addressed.

When he'd first met Rianne, she had looked like any other civilized dunmer woman. Then he learned that she was in fact Ahemmusa. Now she was a wise woman? Why was she here? Hopefully she'd be able to answer all those questions as promised. Hopefully she was no mabrigash.

Posted by: minque Aug 9 2009, 09:54 PM

Rianne

Rianne accepted the hackle-lo from Dralas with a faint smile. She understood he wished to speak with her in private and also figured that he had some questions..questions about her acting so far.

Quite understandable, he is one of us, he knows the secret signs and I have revealed nothing...but maybe I should, he seems to be reliable...besides, I have gotten fond of him, he is a good man, I can feel it

"Here, follow me to the eastern side, I know this shrine and there is a cave there which nobody use" she said.

Morrie was left outside the cave and Rianne took a blanket from her backpack and sat down.

"Dralas Lasamsi, because I trust and like you I will tell you a few things about myself, which I sincerely hope will stay between us, at least for the time being"

"I was brought up by the Ahemmusa Wise Woman, Sinnamu Mirpal, and yes Dralas, I know the rituals and things that Wise Women do. It is a fact that I am supposed to be the next Wise Woman of the Ahemmusa, but the time has not come yet, I have not finished my education completely. I still have to learn about life and my people, the Ashlanders"

Rianne silenced, and asked Dralas for another hackle-lo. After lighting it she continued

"I joined this caravan for a number of reasons, but first of all to learn...then of course since I also am adopted inte the Sarethi Family of Great House Redoran and my step-brother, Salyn Sarethi at the moment is doing his duty as an Armiger at Ghostgate, I think it would be a good idea to visit him and offer any kind of help or so...which leads me to my other deep secret..."

Again she was silent..pondering if she really should tell him...

"Ok...this is classified information...I am a member of the Morag Tong! Yes my dear friend I...Rianne am an assassin, and a damn good one if I may say so!"

"So do not fear me, I have nothing but good intentions fo being here, and I hereby offer my services to you, I am a healer, almost a Wise Woman and a pretty good assassin..although I do hate senseless killing, but I am sure you understand"

Rianne stood upp and started walking back and forth, this was the longest speech she had made for quite some time and she was worried that Dralas maybe could misunderstand..maybe, but somehow she figured he would understand and let her in on his mission, she had a pretty good guess of what he was up to and if she was righyt, they would be a good team...




OOC I am on holiday, and will be leaving for Germany tomorrow for a camping trip, so I do not know when or even if I will be able to get online the next three weeks, but I will certainly try! If not, will you please control Rianne for me Danny!




Posted by: jack cloudy Aug 12 2009, 02:55 PM

Haz

With the group splitting up, Haz decided he would find a lonely spot among the ruins himself. As soon as he'd settled down in the shadows cast by a Daedric arch, he rolled up his sleeve to inspect the wound on his arm. The bleeding had stopped by now and it looked reasonably clean.
"Besides, there is no water for cleaning here so I wouldn't have been able to deal with dirt if needed. All I have on me is for drinking and this place is so dry, I'm thirsty all the time." The Argonian thought to himself.

"I'll join back up with the caravan by night. And hopefully no one will ask inconvenient questions. At least I'm rid of the Guar."

Posted by: canis216 Aug 24 2009, 04:50 AM

Dranas Heleran

It hadn't been difficult to find the armorer. A smoking forge will do that. The proprietor was a well-muscled middle-aged dunmer named Gavis. Could he repair netch leather? He could.

"Great. My pauldron here is in a bad way. You think can manage a fix before the caravan's off in the morning?"

The armorer's face assumed a thoughtful appearance. It was the look that Dranas understood to mean, "Yeah sure, I can do it. So long as you pay me double." After a moment of this 'thought' the armorer, Gavis, grabbed a quill and a sheet of parchment and made a few scratches--really hamming it up, Dranas thought. Finally the armorer spoke.

"I reckon I can finish by morning if I work through the night, but overtime like that is going to cost extra, you understand. Say, 50 drakes?"

Of course, all that acting had given Dranas plenty of time to formulate his own bargaining strategy.

"15 drakes, or I'll just fix it myself, Gavis."

The armorer flashed a dubious look. "I know it seems pricey, but for a delicate job like this..."

Dranas cut him off with a raised palm. He held up the pauldron. "Look, I know netch is a pain to fix, but I'm no fool. I can fix this up pretty good in something like three hours, so I know damn well that an experienced fellow like yourself can do it in half the time, and that time damn well ain't worth 50 drakes."

For a moment the two mer were quiet, even as others passed to and fro.

Gavis' face had gone blank. "25 drakes, all up front."

So had Dranas'. "20 drakes. Half now and half when you're finished."

"Deal."

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Aug 25 2009, 10:30 AM

Erna

Now they had arrived back at the ruins, Erna decided his presence wasn't needed. Instead, he took his guar and decided to go exploring.

He remembered the guard's words of advice how the semi-permanent offices and services the camp had were located up some stairs in the ruins, but he knew places like these. They were a maze of tight, winding corridors, strangely out of kilter with the laws of nature. He wouldn't be surprised to find a whole new network of tunnels beneath the surface.

He skirted around the stairs that led up to the offices, looking for another entrance and trying not to attract attention. Eventually, he found an entrance, a wooden door, half rotten with age and partially sunken into the ground. He doubted anybody knew about it, not even the cultists that had once inhabited it. It was not doubt dangerous, possibly with some ancient, and extremely hungry, daedra lurking within.

This would be fun.

Erna glanced around to see nobody was following him, tied his guar to a nearby pillar and kicked at the door. It thudded, but didn't move, so Erna tried twice more before it splintered of its hinges. The soft ash that had covered up the door began to slide slowly in, and Erna crawled through the small gap on his belly, before tumbling through into a corridor. It was dark, except for the light shining through the gap in the wall of dirt and ash that had built up around the door. It would probably take some determined digging to clear his way out of here.

No matter. The digging could wait.

Clicking his fingers to summon a small, sputtering flame in the palm of his hand, Erna raised it above his head and in the dim light, stepped into the dank darkness of the shrine's ancient corridors.

He already felt at home.

Posted by: jack cloudy Aug 27 2009, 01:31 PM

Eno Arval

The group began to split up as soon as the Armigers had left. Eno bid farewell as well and, after tying his Guar to a convenient post, he headed up the stairs. He was certain that there had to be some sort of administrative office in the camp, and he was going to find it.

Inside the shrine, he struggled to make out anything. While there were a few candeliers burning with fire, the walls, the ceiling and even the floor seemed to suck up all the light. It was quite unnerving and Eno half-expected some horrible monstrosity to jump out of the darkness.
"Come on, old man. Get a grip of yourself. This place has been in use by the Temple for months now. The only danger there is is tripping on those bloody impossible to see stairs. Now get a move on." He admonished himself and walked deeper into the shrine.


Posted by: Colonel Mustard Aug 28 2009, 01:54 PM

Erna

The corridors wound around and around in the darkness, seemingly endless and at impossible angles, physics discarded as they wound round each other like the intestines of some colossal beast born within the deepest pits of Oblivion.

As far as Erna could tell, he had only been within the depths of this shrine for a few minutes, yet already it felt as if he had been wandering for hours. He wasn't afraid. He knew that, once recognised, anything within here would grant him passage, should anything remain in these depths. And if it didn't, then he would be killed. No great loss-he'd still win in the long run.

He rounded a corner and then, without warning, found himself within a large hall. Torches in brackets were bolted the eight pillars that supported the cavernous room, their flames a sputtering, dirty crimson. It was what was at the far end that caught Erna's attention.

Behind a great bowl, filled with flame, stood a colossal statue of Mehrunes Dagon. His great axe was in one hand, his spike and barbed blade in the other, gemstone eyes glaring down at the doorway where Erna stood.

The dark elf smiled as he saw it.

"I'm back, master," he said quietly. "And my mission goes well."

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 29 2009, 07:23 PM

QUOTE(minque @ Aug 9 2009, 04:54 PM) *

Rianne

Rianne accepted the hackle-lo from Dralas with a faint smile. She understood he wished to speak with her in private and also figured that he had some questions..questions about her acting so far.

Quite understandable, he is one of us, he knows the secret signs and I have revealed nothing...but maybe I should, he seems to be reliable...besides, I have gotten fond of him, he is a good man, I can feel it

"Here, follow me to the eastern side, I know this shrine and there is a cave there which nobody use" she said.

Morrie was left outside the cave and Rianne took a blanket from her backpack and sat down.

"Dralas Lasamsi, because I trust and like you I will tell you a few things about myself, which I sincerely hope will stay between us, at least for the time being"

"I was brought up by the Ahemmusa Wise Woman, Sinnamu Mirpal, and yes Dralas, I know the rituals and things that Wise Women do. It is a fact that I am supposed to be the next Wise Woman of the Ahemmusa, but the time has not come yet, I have not finished my education completely. I still have to learn about life and my people, the Ashlanders"

Rianne silenced, and asked Dralas for another hackle-lo. After lighting it she continued

"I joined this caravan for a number of reasons, but first of all to learn...then of course since I also am adopted inte the Sarethi Family of Great House Redoran and my step-brother, Salyn Sarethi at the moment is doing his duty as an Armiger at Ghostgate, I think it would be a good idea to visit him and offer any kind of help or so...which leads me to my other deep secret..."

Again she was silent..pondering if she really should tell him...

"Ok...this is classified information...I am a member of the Morag Tong! Yes my dear friend I...Rianne am an assassin, and a damn good one if I may say so!"

"So do not fear me, I have nothing but good intentions fo being here, and I hereby offer my services to you, I am a healer, almost a Wise Woman and a pretty good assassin..although I do hate senseless killing, but I am sure you understand"

Rianne stood upp and started walking back and forth, this was the longest speech she had made for quite some time and she was worried that Dralas maybe could misunderstand..maybe, but somehow she figured he would understand and let her in on his mission, she had a pretty good guess of what he was up to and if she was righyt, they would be a good team...


Dralas

This was a lot of new information to take in. How could a single person have so many allegiances? What if they conflicted one day? Dralas held no love for assassins or the Great Houses, but he knew that everyone had their secrets. Himself included. His opinion of Rianne hadn't changed, only now he knew that Rianne had connections in the 'civilized' world. What were the chances of him meeting such a person at random in a tavern? Dralas didn't think that their meeting was chance.

Everything happens for a reason. he thought, remembering what his mother used to say.

He didn't ask Rianne any more about her past; if she wanted to say more, she would.

"Well," he finally said, "While we're on the subject of secrets, I guess I have my own. I'm no Erabenimsun. Or, at least not anymore. A few months ago I was banished from the tribe for killing my clansmen. They were going to give my ancestors to the Tribunal Temple, and I tried to stop them. I failed, and was shunned. I tracked the bones as far as this caravan we follow, but I can't find them."

Posted by: minque Aug 29 2009, 07:50 PM

QUOTE(Dantrag @ Aug 29 2009, 08:23 PM) *



Dralas

This was a lot of new information to take in. How could a single person have so many allegiances? What if they conflicted one day? Dralas held no love for assassins or the Great Houses, but he knew that everyone had their secrets. Himself included. His opinion of Rianne hadn't changed, only now he knew that Rianne had connections in the 'civilized' world. What were the chances of him meeting such a person at random in a tavern? Dralas didn't think that their meeting was chance.

Everything happens for a reason. he thought, remembering what his mother used to say.

He didn't ask Rianne any more about her past; if she wanted to say more, she would.

"Well," he finally said, "While we're on the subject of secrets, I guess I have my own. I'm no Erabenimsun. Or, at least not anymore. A few months ago I was banished from the tribe for killing my clansmen. They were going to give my ancestors to the Tribunal Temple, and I tried to stop them. I failed, and was shunned. I tracked the bones as far as this caravan we follow, but I can't find them."


Rianne

She heard him out, and nodded slowly. I figured it was something like that and I have a feeling he still is a bit suspicious...of me!

"I see!" she said "And I will help you find the bones, trust me Dralas...hmm Do you believe in destiny? Do you think we were meant to meet, that our fates are somewhat connected? You see I was sent out to join this caravan by my Wise Woman, could there be a chance that she knew you'd be here?"

Rianne lit another hackle-lo and stared out in the darkness

"Whatever happens, Dralas, remember I'm on your side and I won't hesitate to do what needs to be done to keep us safe...but also remember, I do not take lives just like that...!"

Posted by: Olen Aug 30 2009, 04:30 PM

Rothan

As they approched the tangled domes and arches of the ruin Rothan shuddered and rubbed at the mass of scars on his right arm. He'd met the clanfear which did it in the last ruin he'd been into. This one is secure though. There's Armigers everywhere, he told himself. Even so he doubted he'd get much sleep.

Reluctantly he ascended the steps and went inside. The architecture was a strange as it was outside, there was something disorientating about the curve of the walls. Rothan did his best to ignore it and went in looking for the temple representative. Instead he found Eno looking rather tense.

"Hello," he said gently.

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 30 2009, 04:40 PM

Dralas

"There's always a chance that a Wise Woman knows something no one else does," he answered. He didn't say it out loud, but he did feel the tug of destiny around Rianne.

At this point, they seemed pretty far from any enemies. The Shishara brothers wouldn't dare attack a whole caravan, and they'd made no real enemies among their fellow travelers. If all went well, it should be smooth sailing from this point forward.

So why did he feel so on edge? He could sense the same feeling in Rianne. The calm before the storm maybe?

"So you're an assassin that hesitates to kill," he said, "What does it take for someone to deserve death?"

It seemed like a strange question, but it was very important. Dralas figured that if he and Rianne were going to be a team, they'd have to be an effective one. He couldn't be guessing about when she'd sit out of a fight and when she'd fight a fight.

Posted by: bbqplatypus Aug 31 2009, 07:59 AM

Apelles dropped his slightly damaged cuirass off at the armorer's and headed toward the administrative area to report.

As he approached, he could hear Salms Ralas having a spirited argument with the administrators. It seemed to be quite important. He stood and waited as they continued talking.

"I'm sorry, Salms," he heard one of them say, "but we simply can't spare anyone from this garrison. Grand Marshal Omayn just took some of our best last week to go guard the construction workers. Attacks at the site are increasing every day. Frankly, we're barely scraping by as it is."

"But...surely you can see that the caravan has the greater need! I know for a fact that this camp has not suffered any significant attacks in months. I just lost seven caravaners and an experienced scout. You know damn well that my outfit is thin on experience." Ralas put his hand on the other mer's wrist. "Sadas...I know Command has been bleeding you dry, and you're running short as well. But I'm willing to make an exchange a few rookies to help you keep this place in order for just a couple of mer with experience."

"I'm sorry, Salms, but my hands are tied. I need to keep these men on standby - Omayn wants me to be ready to ship them off at a moment's notice. I'm not authorized to make any changes in personnel. Besides, Daedra have a tendency to pop up around these places at inconvenient times. You know that as well as I do. Believe me, I'd help you if I could."

One of the other Armigers noticed Apelles standing in front of them. "Is there something you need, outlander?" the visibly irritated Dunmer asked.

Apelles cleared his throat and saluted. "Sirs, Apelles Velvus here reporting to Salms Ralas."

Ralas's eyes widened in shock. He turned to the Armigers gathered around the table, still looking as white as Apelles had ever seen a Dunmer look. "Excuse me, gentlemen...I'll have to leave you for a moment."

Posted by: jack cloudy Aug 31 2009, 12:32 PM

Eno Arval

Eno stiffened and almost let out a yelp at the sudden greeting from behind. He turned around and vaguely saw Rothan's face in the poorly lit hallway.
"Oh, greetings to you sir. It sure is a good thing to have arrived at a place that is actually safe, isn't it? Although I would have preferred an architecture that's...less discomforting to the eyes." He said in response and tried to smile.

"Forgive me for asking, but do you happen to have any experience with places like these by chance? I'm certainly not hoping that these stairs end at the start of some hideous maze. I'm just looking for an administrator, not a chance to get lost forever."

Posted by: Olen Aug 31 2009, 01:37 PM

Rothan

Rothan gave a dry smile. "I've been in daedric ruins twice before, once to preform a rite with ordanators looking after us, the other... well it was less safe," he held up his arm, "Met the wrong end of a clanfear. It was only luck and an intervention scroll that got me out of there. I'm sure this one will be safe though, how well hidden can the leaders be? I think we should be fine just walking this way." He started down the corridor.


OOC: were you intending to get lost? feel free to lose Rothan along with Eno or have them show up at the admin.

Posted by: canis216 Aug 31 2009, 08:42 PM

Dranas Heleran

After he haggled away with the armorer, Dranas Heleran was left with nothing much to do. After quickly setting up his camp and picketing his pack guars he decided to idle away the evening with a casual walk through the encampment. And if he happened to "discover" some new merchandise in the process, well, all the better. And so Dranas wandered through the gathering darkness...

Posted by: minque Aug 31 2009, 11:36 PM

QUOTE(Dantrag @ Aug 30 2009, 05:40 PM) *

Dralas

"There's always a chance that a Wise Woman knows something no one else does," he answered. He didn't say it out loud, but he did feel the tug of destiny around Rianne.

At this point, they seemed pretty far from any enemies. The Shishara brothers wouldn't dare attack a whole caravan, and they'd made no real enemies among their fellow travelers. If all went well, it should be smooth sailing from this point forward.

So why did he feel so on edge? He could sense the same feeling in Rianne. The calm before the storm maybe?

"So you're an assassin that hesitates to kill," he said, "What does it take for someone to deserve death?"

It seemed like a strange question, but it was very important. Dralas figured that if he and Rianne were going to be a team, they'd have to be an effective one. He couldn't be guessing about when she'd sit out of a fight and when she'd fight a fight.


Rianne

"They do, that is correct, and sometimes I know things as well, things that noone else knows"

She gave a faint smile and took Dralas' hand in a firm grip, looking him straight in his eyes...

"Dralas Lasamsi, I'm sure you're familiar with the rules of Morag Tong, we do not kill anyone unless there's writ...And I do not have any writs in my possession right now! My , what you call hesitstion to kill is just that I do not enjoy taking lives per se...Killing for the Tong is different, it's regarded as honorable and I try to see it that way. "

She silenced and took a sip from a bottle she took from her backpack. Then she handed it to Dralas; "Here, it's pretty good brandy!"

"Now listen to me" She continued "We're together in this, ok? My gut tells me it won't be that easy to recover your ancestral bones, there's something special about them, and I can't figure out what....yet! But remember this, anyone who is any kind of threat to you or me, any threat...deserves death. I will stand by your side, I will fight with you, but there can be other ways of dealing with people than just slaughter them, so you must trust me also.. I will never let you down...remember that!"

Rianne leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes.

If I only could figure out what is wrong...somethings gonna happen...and it might not be pleasant

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 1 2009, 04:34 AM

Dralas

"I trust you, Rianne, more than you know," he assured her after a few sips of brandy, "But you do have a lot to learn about the ways of our people. A name written on a scrap of parchment does not make anyone's death more honorable. Honor is found in the way you fight, the reason you fight, and in the way your enemy dies. To us, there is no honor in Tong executions."

Dralas meant no offense, but he felt that it had to be said. Rianne said she needed to learn about her people, and he merely felt the need to teach right then.

He wondered then if Rianne had become too used to civilized living to truly return to her people as a wise woman. He didn't know how long she'd been away from her tribe, but while she was well-versed in many aspects of ashlander culture, she seemed ignorant of many others. Most ashlanders held at least a little disdain for the Houses (though Redoran was admittedly the lesser of five evils) and civilized life in general. Rianne seemed to have adopted a bit of both cultures. Maybe too much of one?

Or maybe not. Perhaps this was a part of the destiny they spoke of earlier. Rianne did serve as his 'interpreter' more often than not when he didn't understand city ways, and he could teach her the ashlander ways. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Apart, well...

Posted by: minque Sep 1 2009, 09:25 AM

Rianne

She nodded. "I know that in my heart, but I had a good reason to join the Tong...ah well I'm gonna tell you the whole story, the nasty life-story of Rianne de Zoete"

She figured she needed more strength to talk abot this so she took a good sip of the brandy, lit another hackle-lo and started talking:

"I had a lucky childhood, I never knew my mother, she died giving birth to me, but Sinnamu Mirpal, our Wise Woman raised me as her own daughter. I learned everything I know from her, she raised me to take over after her. Everything was set, life was good! Until spring the year I was 21! To broaden my education I was allowed to join the hunters of our tribe on their missions to gather food and look for better pastures for our herds of guars. One of these missions went terribly wrong, we were attacked by a group of imperial soldiers!"

Rianne closed her eyes in pain remembering this, she sighed and continued with a voice thick with emotions.

"My clanfriends were slaughtered, and I was taken prisoner. The commander took me as his personal slave, you might imagine what he did to me! He kept me as a slave for a year, then he married me. Then another kind of slavery began. Marcus de Zoete, his name was and he wanter heirs! I didn't understand why he wanted to have a child with a Dunmerii woman, and I never found out the reason for it. Anyway I had no intention to bear his child so I made sure not to get pregnant."

Rianne smiled, "Wise Women know these things you know!"

"Now this refusal to obey my husband and master caused me unspeakable pain, he started to treat me very bad, he hit me, very hard and very often. Sometimes he nearly killed me, I can show you the scars on my body...."

She shrugged and put her arms tight around her, took a deep breath to compose herself.

"I endured this hell of a life for almost two years until something happened that changed my life...for the good I think. It was a big day at the garrison at Gnisis, the imperials had had some military success and there was festivities to be held. I was there, Marcus never let me out of sight, and now the men wanted to eat and drink and...have some fun...with me as it turned out."

"They got terribly drunk and I don't think I need to mention the "fun" they had with me! I nearly died that night, but the urge to survive was strong in me and finally, when the men were almost unconscious, I managed to slip away. I dragged myself out of the garrison and out on the road to Ald'ruhn. I don't remember how I did it, or where I crushed in the middle of nowhere, but I do remember the face of the man who saved me, the man who I owe my life!"

"He was a tall Dunmer, with a tattoo of a black hand on his face and e took me to the Mage's guild in Ald'ruhn, where I was healed and nursed by Edwinna Elbert. After I had recovered, I asked Edwinna who my saviour was, His name is Sethyas Velas and he is a Morag Tong assassin, she told me. So I went to the Morag Tong guildhall in Ald'ruhn and asked for him, I wanted to thank him for saving my life. He wasn't there, but the guildmaster told me that the best way of thanking him was to join the Tong and perform some duties."

Rianne gave a faint smile.

"I usually do as I'm told, so I agreed to this and became a Morag Tong assassin. I stayed at the Mage's guild for some months and performed two "duties" No I can't tell you more about that!, not now anyway"

"One day I was called to Sarethi Manor, there had been an assassination attempt on the Councillor and they had need of a healer. And as I was a trained healer, Edwinna thought it was a good idea of sending me. Serjo Sarethi was pretty badly injured but I somehow succeeded healing him. He is a very kind man and offered me a home as hefound out I actually lived at the guild."

"I spent all in all my last six years among the "others", and I've learned a lot from it, which can be useful...now! But...I'd really like to learn more from you, Dralas, about "our customs" You see, in my heart I'm an Ashlander, and will always be, but my knowledge about the others might be useful for us."

Then she put her hands on his shoulders...

"What I've told you here must remain a secret...."

What a strange relief it was to finally talk about this, now I really can move on, for hearing me out I thank you Dralas, I will protect you with my life

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 1 2009, 05:21 PM

Eno Arval

Rothan's explanation took the edge off the tension that Eno was feeling.
"Well then, praise ALMSIVI you got out of there alive. And you're right, I am getting worked up over nothing. Let us continue on then." He replied as they descended the stairs.

True to the priest's words, they found the actual camp not much further down. It was uncertain just how far the ruins carried, but it was obvious that the temple at least had chosen to settle down as close to the entrance as possible. It was easier that way after all. A simple wall of hardened clay had been erected to seal off the rest of the ruins. Matts lay on the floor, reflecting the torchlight that would have otherwise been sucked up by the Daedric material.

Priests, acolytes, Armigers and even a handful of Ordinators went about their bussiness as the two men reached the end of the stairs.
"Ah, this must be the place. Now I just need to find whoever is in charge of the paperwork here. See if I can join a caravan going the other way. I've had enough adventure for a lifetime."



OOC: I took some liberties here with describing the inside camp and also with leading Rothan down the stairs. I hope that doesn't cause any problems. And I must admit that I wasn't planning on getting lost. I was just using Eno's superstition to draw an image of what I think that the Daedric ruins should be. In-game, they're often just a straightforward stairs-big open hall combo which is kinda boring.

Erna can be in the sealed off section. So if you want to summon some Daedra to cause a ruckus colonel, feel free to have them break through the clay wall.

And one last question, is Apelles inside the ruins or outside? I'm not planning on doing much, beyond wave hi if he and Eno are in the same place.

Posted by: Olen Sep 1 2009, 06:41 PM

Rothan

"Are you sure you want to return? I mean if you just make sure to stay with the guards nothing can really go wrong. They were incompetent not to send any Armigers back with us. And no one was hurt permanently so its just a good story now," Rothan gave Eno a grin.

The bureaucrats were at the back. This didn't surprise Rothan, whether they were simply pushed there or if it showed true dedication to being as awkward as possible he wasn't sure. In this case though it may well actually have been the best place as the clay wall reflected a lot more light than whatever devilry the rest of the ruin was made of. He made his way to a mer in long robes. Rothan didn't know him but he looked like he was in charge of the running of temple matters.

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 1 2009, 08:58 PM

Dralas

Dralas took a moment to light his own hackle-lo as he listened to Rianne's story. He felt bad at first for making her tell it, until he realized that it made her feel better to get it out.

"You're a much stronger person than I," he admitted when she was finished with her tale.

Then she put her hands on his shoulders and asked that he keep it all a secret. He put her hands in his, and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I won't utter a word of what you just told me to anyone," he promised. Though his promise was more sincere than any other he'd made in the past, he thought crossed his mind that he had no other friends to tell.

"Hungry?" he asked with a smile, trying to get them both out of their now-somber moods.

Posted by: minque Sep 1 2009, 10:36 PM

Rianne

Rianne smiled, squeezed his hands, bent forward and planted a kiss on his forehead

"I know" she whispered

"And I'm completely starving!" she laughed "How about hunting down something and cook it?, Where are the others, havent given them a thought for a while"

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 2 2009, 10:17 AM

QUOTE(jack cloudy @ Sep 1 2009, 11:21 AM) *

And one last question, is Apelles inside the ruins or outside? I'm not planning on doing much, beyond wave hi if he and Eno are in the same place.


OOC: Inside in a different chamber. At least, I'd say it's a different one. If you want them to bump into each other, that's fine.



Apelles followed Salms Ralas into an empty chamber of the ruins. Ralas looked straight at him with a penetrating and direct stare.

"How many dead?"

"None, sera. By the grace of the gods, all eight of us survived the ordeal."

"Almsivi be praised…" he breathed, relaxing momentarily. Then, the concern - the panic - returned to his face. "What was it? Was it the ash creatures? It was the ash creatures, wasn't it? Dammit, they're getting farther and farther out, coming more and more often! Surely there'll be more of them!"

Apelles stared at Salms for a moment, surveying his wild, yet sunken and tired eyes, heavy with worry and fear.

He's still haunted by the fate of the last caravan, Apelles thought. Then he spoke. "No…no, it was a gang of outcast Ashlanders."

Ralas's expression of fear turned to one of surprise. "Ashlanders? This far out? The nearest camp is hundreds of miles away."

"I know. My guess is they were probably outcasts, desperate for food and supplies. Nasty folk, those outcasts - I reckon the tribe kicked them out for a reason."

The Armiger relaxed. "Ah, yes...not common, but I've heard of it happening before. Never seen them this far out, though. In any event, it lightens my heart to know you all survived."

"You're telling me. I STILL can't believe I'm standing here." He allowed himself to smile for a moment. "By the way, I overheard that conversation you were having with the administrators."

Ralas shook his head and sighed deeply. "Yes, well…I suppose there's no point in denying it. We Armigers are spread thinner than cuttle on a Hlaalu's morning hard tack. Most of the Armigers escorting the caravan are rookies. We've got precious few experienced officers and a lot of new faces."

Apelles cocked one eyebrow. "Really? This'd be the first I've heard of it."

"The Temple is good at keeping secrets, my friend. The seams won't show as long as we don't run into any trouble. But when we do..." Salms snapped his fingers. "...three hells will break loose."

"Gods' blood..." Apelles gasped. "Then again, I suppose I ought to have known. Why else would you be hiring so many mercenaries?"

"Quite frankly, I don't think we're hiring nearly enough. But the situation is mostly the same everywhere, BUT...Addamasartus has some experienced men to spare. Maybe an officer, some additional men, but most importantly, they've got some experienced NCO's sitting here on their backsides doing next to nothing. I could get them out doing something useful, but instead they're here, keeping watch over this glorified guar stable! And that FETCHER Sadas Drathen knows it, too! But he won't hand them over to me. He's holding HIS personal grudge against me over the needs of the Temple! Over the lives of MY MEN!" He slammed his fist against one of the ornate stone pillars inside the chamber.

Apelles paused for a moment before gingerly proceeding with a question. "If...you don't mind me asking, sera, what exactly does this Drathen have against you?"

"A long story, not worth telling," he replied bitterly. "Suffice to say, it was a number of imagined slights, culminating in the day when the Patriarch appointed me to the prestigious post of head guard at the Tower of Dusk instead of him. It's considered to be a real honor, a test worthy only of the truly strong and pious warrior. Which is why he wasn't chosen, the worthless s'wit."

"Oh. Sounds like it'll be an uphill battle to convince him, then."

Salms' voice went quiet. "Yes, yes it will be. So are most fights worth fighting. And this...war against the Sharmat and his...vile thralls...is a prime example. It's claimed so many of us, stretched us beyond our limits, and the battle has scarcely begun. Sometimes I wonder if I even have the stomach for it anymore. I keep telling myself that Lord Vivec will protect and provide, but..." Ralas sighed and stared out into space for a moment. Then he looked back up at Apelles, his eyes almost dead with weariness.

"Do you know how old I am, outlander?"

"No, I don't."

"I'm seventy-four years old. I have wounds in places I can't even see. Right now, I'm one of the best...but that won't last. I figure I have about three, maybe four good years left before I start to break down. After that...I don't know. Probably forty years of teaching children the virtues of the Seven Graces, before my body takes its final revenge on me for treating it so damned badly. From the cradle to the grave, I will have served Lord Vivec with every breath I've ever taken. I shall sacrifice my body to him.

"And what do I have? Nothing...an Armiger's pay, no true home, no family, and nowhere else to go. Most of my friends seem to be dying left and right. Soon, I won't even have my health.

"Sometimes, I can see my friend's faces - death masks in my head. And I wonder...why Vivec didn't protect them. And I ask, when's he going to save us, if not now? And I wonder if, maybe...it's because...he ca-" He gulped, stopping himself, barely holding back tears.

"I know..." he wheezed, voice quivering, "...that Vivec has a plan. I believe it as an article of faith. But sometimes I wonder if it would be best if I had no part of it."

Apelles could see his body quivering, shaking like an old man without his cane. He could feel the words that were left unspoken upon his lips. Words of doubt and bitterness - an unspoken heresy that he was struggling with all his heart not to believe. His every word conveyed a deep, quaking religious terror.

Apelles put his hand on Ralas's shoulder, unsure of what to say.

"Are you going to be okay?" Apelles finally croaked out.

"I'll...I'll be fine," he answered.

"Are you sure? Because I'm here to help if you need me. We can beat this together. I'll even pray with you, if that's what you want."

"I know," he whispered. "You haven't let me down yet in the brief time I've known you. But I'll be fine. It's just...a bit of officer's anxiety, is all."

Suddenly, he straightened up and stood tall. The tears, the weariness, and any other sign of doubt were gone - he was, for the time being, every bit the confident Dunmer he seemed to be in Balmora.

"Besides," he continued, "we're thin enough on officers as it is. This caravan can't afford for me to quit now. Hell, if we lose any more officers, we might need you to take charge. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back and continue to beg for Drathen's table scraps."

And with that, he both his way back to the main chamber, with Apelles following closely behind, not quite sure if he would ever view him the same way again.

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 2 2009, 07:03 PM

Erna

Hasha Yockhet Payem Roht!"

The challenge rang out from within the depths of the hall, where the flickering, schizophrenic illumination of the bowl's fire did not shine. Erna jumped when he heard the voice, but relaxed when he recognised the language. Daedric.

"Ankyit Geth Iya," he called, mimicking the guttural tones of a daedra.

A figure, wearing jagged, spike heavy armour stepped forwards from the shadow. A long, slender and barbed sword was held with the lazy ease of one who knew how to use it like an expert, its tip held a few centimetres above the flagstone floor. A pair of short horns folded up towards the forehead over its greyish blue skin.

"You speak the tongue of the daedric?" the dremora asked, its fingers drumming along the hilt of its weapon.

Erna nodded.

"You'll find no mortal servant of Mehrunes Dagon as loyal to our master as me, friend," he said.

"What brings you here?" the dremora asked, still glaring at Erna suspiciously. "None have come for many years now."

"Yet the torches still burn," Erna said.

"That is my work," the dremora said. "I am Khallet, Keeper of this Temple's flame. And the guardian of this place, as hopeless as I have been at this task."

"You mean the camp?" Erna asked.

"Oh yes," Khallet said. "I have been trapped here for many years, but I felt them above me, moving in like fleas. Staying and infesting this place, corrupting it with their stupid, petty obsession with order and cleanliness. They are killing this place, and I can do nothing."

The daedra's knuckles whitened as he clenched his fingers around his blade.

"Soon all influences of my master and his brothers shall be gone," Khallet said. "And I will have failed in my duty, most likely on the day when the spells that anchor me here dissipate, thanks to the influence of these mortals. I am trapped here, dark elf. I have have no way out. Yet you have a way in. Where did you find it. Show me, and I shall wreak my vengeance."

"And what will you do?" Erna asked. "Kill a few people before the ordinators banish you back to Oblivion?"

He shook his head and laughed.

"I'll tell you what," he said. "Let's get some friends, huh. There must be some other way out of here, so we can get a little army out. Really make a mess."

"And what will difference will many daedra make compared to one?" Khallet asked.

"Daedra always appear randomly around this sort of place, don't they?" Erna said. "So, we get lots of them. Don't even have to be particularly powerful ones, maybe half a dozen, a dozen clannfears and hungers. COnvince that maybe the daedra aren't happy about a bunch of order lovers moving and taking over. Maybe we can even frighten them enough to make them move."

"Perhaps, but they shall just return," Khallet said.

"Tell me, Khallet, how long have you been trapped under here?" Erna asked.

"Many years," Khallet said. "What news is there of the outside world that is relevant to this?"

Erna nodded.

"Yes," he said. "That makes sense. So, Khallet, I'll tell you what's been happening over the past few years. Believe me, if we can shift this lot away from here we'll make a bigger mess than ever."

"And how is this?"

"I'll explain," Erna said. "But let me put it like this. I think of things in the long term."

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 3 2009, 07:29 AM

Dralas

While the idea of hunting always appealed to him, he wasn't sure it was a good idea in this particular instance. It would require leaving the camp, finding and killing an animal, dragging it back, skinning, cooking... The work didn't bother him but the time it might take did. Dralas wasn't keen on getting left behind again.

He shrugged, "I bet they're all around here somewhere. We should check the common area for food and maybe we'll spot one of them."

Posted by: minque Sep 3 2009, 01:20 PM

Rianne

"Sure! I still got gold and I don't think anyone would say no to a coin or two...maybe they even will get us some food."

She jumped to her feet, took Dralas by his hand and headed for the inside of the shrine.

Posted by: Olen Sep 3 2009, 02:28 PM

Rothan

"Is a priest required for any duties?" Rothan asked the mer in long robes.

The bureaucrat looked at him, "Well other than housekeeping..." he broke off looking at the entrance. Rothan looked back and saw the two ashlanders who had fallen behind with them. "By Vivec," muttered the steward, "Not their type. Why do they have to come here and bother me. Yes I have a duty for you, see what they want or make them go away. Just keep the swits out my sight." He turned back to his papers.

Rothan looked at the pair and wandered what they were up to. What could bring two ashlanders into a temple caravan? He severely doubted it was a sudden vision of faith in Almsivi. He chided himself, what of the grace of courtesy? Clearly the steward was under pressure so it fell to him to offer them welcome. And besides he wouldn't mind asking them about certain myths referenced in the banned book he carried.

He wandered over to the entrance, "You look lost, can I help you?"

Posted by: minque Sep 3 2009, 07:15 PM

Rianne

Rianne gave the man who approached them a friendly smile, she was somewhat aware of that the others in the caravan didn't exacyly love Dralas and herself, the curse of being ashlander she thought.

"Yes, Serjo, you actually can help us by telling where we can find something to eat, we are rather hungry by now"

She gave Dralas a quick glance and squeezed his hand....it felt good to have a true friend, and she really liked Dralas...really liked him!

Posted by: Olen Sep 3 2009, 09:41 PM

Rothan

Rothan returned the woman's smile, "Of course, I'm not certain but I think there are vendors though there," he pointed at a door off the main chamber he'd seen most people wandering through, "I was thinking of getting some myself, please, join me."

He walked over to the door and entered. A few vendors had stalls round the room, there was a bookseller, a smith and a odd looking dunmer pedalling a range of oddments. Opposite them were the food stalls offering a variety of simple fair. In the corner was a temple stall offering some sort of stew, by the smell which filled the room ashyam featured heavily.

Rothan turned to the ashlanders, "I can offer you temple food if you wish." It had been a while since he'd visited the shrine of generosity so he made up where he could.


OOC: again I took the liberty of assuming they would go there (as seemed obvious), if this is an issue tell me and I'll edit and stop doing it

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 3 2009, 10:00 PM

Erna

With Khallet's help, Erna drew the summoning octagon, a shape bordered with jagged and twisting geometrical patterns. Khallet murmured some words and the flames burned higher, their diabolical illumination sending shadows in a schizophrenic, mad dance.

There were a few shelves in the deep dark corner of the hall, stacked high with books. Khallet fetched the ones with the appropriate incantations, Erna found the page he wanted, and started chanting rapidly in daedric,

The summoning had begun.

Soon, hell would be unleashed.

OOC: The summoning can be indefinitely long, so folks can get their characters in place. Once you're ready I'll start the attack. I'm tempted to write it from Khallet's POV too-I've developed a soft spot for him.

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 3 2009, 10:40 PM

Haz

Haz found himself placed before a serious dilemma. At least, it was a serious one for him. On the one hand, he knew that he was safest while he was alone. But that safety only lasted for as long as he remained near the camp, which was something he couldn't do. His target was the building site and to reach it safely, he would have to rejoin the caravan.

"Now I could just stay here and try to join up without a fuss again by morning. But my garb is quite distinctive. They'll recognize me and ask questions. So I should go in and show my presence so that they've gotten used to me again by morning. With the elves mingling about, I might pull it off without blowing my cover." He thought and sighed. It really would be best for him in the end if he just got himself registered. With those thoughts, he ventured into the camp and ascended the stairs to the entrance of the shrine.

Eno Arval

"There is truth in those words but I am just lacking in faith. Maybe they were foolish when they let us go alone. Perhaps it was continuing foolishness that made them travel on without even thinking of looking back. Or perhaps they felt they were completely inadequate to deal with any trouble we might have gotten into. And if they felt that way, then how much safer would it really be to stay close to them?" Eno muttered to himself as Rothan wandered off to speak with to an official looking person.

Eno's eyes swept around the chamber in search of a scribe. He waved a greeting at the two Ashlanders as they came down the stairs and rose an eyebrow when Rothan was apparently ordered by the official to speak to them.
"That man probably wants them to leave because they aren't dressed like a temple-going city Dunmer, yet doesn't want to lower himself to telling them himself. It's a bit of a shame to find such shortsighted people within the temple of ALMSIVI. Those two are good people, I think."

Eno shook his head as Rothan led the Ashlanders to another room and returned to the task of seeking out a scribe.
"Yes? Please hurry it up, I don't have all day." The rather young Dunmer said without looking up when Eno's shadow fell over the parchment he'd been working on.
"If I may have a moment of your time, sir. Would you happen to know when the next caravan leaves?" The instrument-maker asked.
"Tomorrow morning most likely. Straight line to Ghostgate. Everyone knows that. Stop wasting my time, old man."

Eno felt slightly offended at the brusque answer he received.
"No, forgive me for misphrasing my inquiry. I did not mean the caravan to Ghostgate. I meant the caravan to Balmora." He clarified, his voice growing somewhat terse.
Now the scribe did look up, with a mixture of astonishment and contempt upon his face.
"Balmora?! There is no caravan to Balmora, you wrinkly fool! Now go away. I have reports to make." He snapped.

Eno's nostrils flared. Acting upon his rising anger, he slammed a fist down on the piece of parchement, knocking over the scribe's vial of ink in the process.
"Have your parents never thought you the virtues of politeness and respect towards your elders, boy? You won't be making any report till I have received an answer. Now there has to be a caravan that goes the other way. How else are these reports..." He raised his hand and used a handkerchief to remove the ink from his fingers.
"..Ever going to come before the eyes of the Arch-canon?"



Posted by: canis216 Sep 4 2009, 04:57 AM

Dranas Heleran

"Damn it all, there's only some old bones in this pack. Must be the raw material for that Ghostfence. Ain't worth a damn thing to me."

Dranas continued his casual inspection of the cargo, muttering softly to himself as he went. He hadn't found much that he dared take--mostly just some hackle-lo, a little bit greef and sujamma, anything easy to carry, easy to conceal, and easy to sell. Back at his tent he stowed away what he could, rolled up and lit a leaf of hackle-lo, and gazed up at the stars. The moon was getting high--which meant that the repairs to his armor should be just about done. Slowly, he began the short walk back into the shrine.

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 4 2009, 06:41 AM

Dralas

Dralas and Rianne entered the common area only to end up in what seemed to be the Temple's base of operation. Dralas spotted an official-looking priest speaking with another that had a familiar face. The former gave the ashlanders a rather unwelcoming look, while the latter seemed to be genuinely nice enough.

Rianne asked directions, and they ended up with a new companion. At least for lunch.

"You're very gracious," he said to the priest, though he felt bad about taking without having something to give in return, and even worse about eating from the Temple's kitchens. But he'd already been smoking their hackle-lo, and would soon be working for them. What more harm could eating do?

"We've seen each other, but never met. I'm Dralas Lasamsi, and this is Rianne," he instinctively gave an ashlander hand sign, but remembered afterwards to shake hands, as was the custom of most Imperial citizens.

Posted by: minque Sep 4 2009, 07:31 AM

Rianne

She smiled inside when she noticed Dralas' handsign, and then his handshake.

Hmm he do know some customs of the others, good that will probably make things a tad easier

She then took out some gold from her backpack and offered it to the priest.

"Here, allow me to give a donation to the Temple, its from both of us"

There, we can now eat in peace

"c'mon Dralas, let's eat!" she grabbed a piece of bread and then forgot all around her, concentration on the food.

Posted by: Olen Sep 4 2009, 08:15 AM

Rothan

Rothan took Dralas's hand, "Good to meet you, I'm Rothan Sarayn."

After they had helped themselves to food the ashlander named Rianne offered some money. Rothan had noticed she either lacked or didn't tell her second name, but then ashlanders were foreign for all they lived so close. "My thanks, and those of the Temple," he said taking the gold, he would deposit it at a offering bowl later.

For a while they ate in silence. The food awakened the hunger in him and he ate ravenously. Once the edge had been blunted from his appetite he swallowed a mouthful of bread and said, "So what brings you along with this caravan?"

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 4 2009, 10:14 AM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles and Ralas returned to the main chamber and then parted ways. Salms needed to continue to fight the losing battle for reinforcements. Apelles needed to eat.

He made his way to the large room where the merchants and dining hall were. He looked around at the food merchants. He saw a butcher hawking various cuts of hound and kagouti meat. Another merchant seemed to be selling a variety of cuttles and cheeses. Still another sold fruit.

This far from the nearest market, I doubt any of this food is very fresh, Apelles thought to himself. I'd go for something that's already been cooked, if I can get it.

Then his nose turned his attention to the corner, from which the strong smell of ash yams emanated. There he saw a Temple-operated stall serving a hot stew. It looked and smelled nourishing enough, so he threw some coins into the offering basket and helped himself to a bowl and a piece of bread.

Apelles looked around the room. It was crowded with people eating. There didn't seem to be too many good places to sit, and he didn't want to go outside to eat. Suddenly, he noticed three familiar faces sitting and eating near the wall - the two Ashlanders and the priest.

Well, I might as well eat with people I'm familiar with, Apelles thought. Besides, I might even get to know them a bit more.

He walked over to where the three were sitting.

"Excuse me, would you mind if I join you?"

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 6 2009, 05:33 PM

Dralas

Dralas was at a loss as to what to say to Rothan; it wouldn't be the smartest thing to tell a priest that you wanted to take something back from the Temple. Luckily for him, the escort from the guar incident approached the table before he could answer the question.

"There's room for one more. Have a seat," he said to the Imperial, motioning to the empty chair across from him and Rianne, but beside Rothan.

Posted by: minque Sep 6 2009, 07:36 PM

Rianne

She smiled at Rothan, but said nothing at first. Of course she couldn't exactly tell him the whole truth but maybe another version of it.

"Oh .." she said vaguely "I figure I could be of some use with the work at Ghostfence, I'm pretty good with herbs and stuff"

Rianne continued eating, but when the Imperial approached them she nearly choked.

Ah great, an imperial lackey! I could loose my appetite for less!

The Imperial asked very politely if he could join them; Rianne's first impulse ws to shout at him to go to some very warm place and then stab him with her knife, but since Dralas obviously thought it was OK she didn't make a move, except putting down her eating-equipment. She felt physically sick and had to struggle very hard to stay put and not show the whirling emotions inside her.

She put a friendly smile on her face...although those who knew her could see that it hardly was sincere.


Posted by: Olen Sep 6 2009, 11:36 PM

Rothan

Rothan recognised the imperial as one of those who’d been with them when the ashlanders attacked. A hired guard probably. He tried not to edge away in distaste, if the temple hired him then so be it but he was still and outlander, and an Imperial at that. Glancing across he saw Rianne was no more pleased with the foreigner than he, she hid it well but she had stopped eating.

He gave the outlander a curt nod before turning back to the ashlander woman, “Apologies,” he said, “Are you temple goers then?” He couldn’t imagine anyone else wanting to give time to the project, but Dralas hardly looked civilised.


Posted by: Dantrag Sep 7 2009, 03:15 AM

QUOTE(Olen @ Sep 6 2009, 06:36 PM) *

Rothan

Rothan recognised the imperial as one of those who’d been with them when the ashlanders attacked. A hired guard probably. He tried not to edge away in distaste, if the temple hired him then so be it but he was still and outlander, and an Imperial at that. Glancing across he saw Rianne was no more pleased with the foreigner than he, she hid it well but she had stopped eating.

He gave the outlander a curt nod before turning back to the ashlander woman, “Apologies,” he said, “Are you temple goers then?” He couldn’t imagine anyone else wanting to give time to the project, but Dralas hardly looked civilised.


Dralas

"We're not Temple goers," he answered honestly, "But the Blight from Red Mountain affects us all. The herds are getting smaller and sicklier, and the hunting grounds more dangerous to travel. Now we rely heavily on traveling merchants, so we come to help the ghostfence effort and earn some gold as well."

He noticed both Rianne and Rothan's aversion to the Imperial, and while he had no love for outlanders himself, he did have a certain respect for this one since they accidentally split from the caravan. The escort had an air of experience about him, and the fight with the rogues proved it. Dralas ate another spoonful of stew. Food had been scarce lately and he couldn't deny his hunger.

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 7 2009, 06:43 AM

Apelles Velvus

"I'm not a templegoer, either," Apelles said, noting the obvious, "and I agree completely. And House Hlaalu does as well, which is why they sent me. You don't need to be a templegoer to know that it's bad for the wildlife, it's bad for business, and more importantly, it's bad for every living thing that walks on the Mundus."

And even more importantly, it's bad for our future settlements and ore prospecting, Apelles thought cynically to himself. Ah, what's the difference, though? I'm doing my duty and saving lives. Besides, the House has always treated me well, even through my skooma addiction. They pay me well, too - very well. I figure the Council can do whatever they want with their slice of the island. Whatever their motivation may be, I'm going to do my job.

Apelles continued eating. He had noted the way the others had responded to him. The priest seemed to have rather begrudgingly accepted his presence (emphasis on begrudgingly). The Ashlander woman made a rather insincere attempt at smiling at him - her mouth smiled but her eyes did not. But the other Ashlander's expression was something he could not read - not entirely friendly, but not as hostile as the others.

Apelles was used to seeing such reactions from the native Dunmer - the Hlaalu tended to be an exception. The Empire was tolerated but not very well-liked - particularly not by the Temple and especially not by Ashlanders. Ironically, after having been to the Ashlands on many occasions, the Ashlanders were probably the people he respected the most out of anyone on the island. To be able to survive there was a sign of admirable strength and endurance.

"In any case, I find it heartening that one cause can unite a band of individuals of such disparate backgrounds."

Posted by: minque Sep 8 2009, 12:03 AM

Rianne

She sat silent, feeling sick when she noticed how Dralas just continued eating, even though she was completely aware of the sensibility in doing it. Food was rare so she should really try to eat more.

"Well that's how it is" she said in a low voice "There are things that can unite different people"

She still felt uneasy in the imperial's company


What if he knows Marcus? What if Marcus sent him to capture me? I swear I'll kill him if I find that out

Posted by: Olen Sep 8 2009, 03:22 PM

Rothan

Rothan listened to the heathen spout about the common good with doubt. The Hlaalu and Imperials shared a passion: wealth, it was why they got on. An Imperial in Hlaalu was something he didn't want to contemplate. The question was how was he on the make.

"Yes," he said, "I'm sure it only happens to be a convenient way to get onto the island. You won't be doing any prospecting will you? Vvardenfell is not open for settlement or trade under temple law, so know that I will be watching you and reporting."

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 8 2009, 03:42 PM

OOC: Eh, Olen - Apelles didn't say the part about settlement out loud - he isn't allowed to in any event. That was his internal monologue, which is why it was in italics rather than quotation marks. I probably could have made that clearer.

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 8 2009, 03:43 PM

Edit: Double post.

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 8 2009, 05:08 PM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles swallowed another spoonful of soup as the priest made his veiled (yet admittedly accurate) accusations. He remained calm - it's not as though it was very difficult to figure out. He chose his next words carefully.

"We are quite aware of that law, and we respect and obey the Temple's authority in this matter. In fact, I have personally reported and even cleared several squatter settlements - near and around Balmora, and elsewhere on the island. My last mission prior to this one was preventing the construction of a settlement in the middle of Molag Amur, of all places. House Hlaalu is not interested in breaking the law - any who did so would certainly be prosecuted."

The part about the squatters actually was true. He had cleared out several settlements - mostly rival Telvanni, but there were a few renegade Hlaalu who were mining and prospecting without the Council's permission. It was good to keep up appearances, and not be too aggressive, lest our hand be overplayed. The nobles stood to gain much more if settlement was opened legally.

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 8 2009, 05:42 PM

Dralas

"So you have the right to force others off the very land that you yourself have no right to?" he asked. It wasn't really his place to speak, but he did anyway. It sounded to him like Hlaalu had already marked the land they wanted so that the moment the law changed, they could be taken.

Besides, the Erabenimsun usually made camp in the Molag Amur region; would Hlaalu be taking the territory in the coming months?

Posted by: canis216 Sep 9 2009, 12:23 AM

Dranas Heleran

The smoke from his rolled hackle-lo blended with torch-smoke as Dranas Heleran stepped back into the shrine and let his eyes adjust to the odd interplay of firelight and daedric geometry.

"Hmph. Getting to feel naked without that damned pauldron on. I bloody well hope these Temple blighters knew what they were doing when they cleared this den out."

Once accustomed to the dim light Dranas wasted no time in making his way to the armorer's stall, where he collected his scrap of netch leather and immediately strapped it on over his shoulder. Now feeling much better, he was free to observe the gathered masses in the common area. Mostly there were just the Temple bureaucrats. He also counted a couple of armigers, and an ordinator in the glossy golden armor that comes standard in that order--pricey stuff, Dranas thought, but hard to move. Still, one could make a fortune selling it in the Heartlands, if one had the right buyer. If one could get any of the armor. If one could get it to port. If one could do all the above without getting killed.

Dranas Heleran was finally (mercifully, one might say, if one were privy to Dranas Heleran's innermost thoughts, which were almost always about commerce) distracted from this line of thinking when he spotted a familiar face. Actually, four familiar faces, to be somewhat more precise. One extremely familiar face and three somewhat familiar faces, to be much more precise. The priest, the two ashlanders, and his old foil Apelles Velvus were all seated together, eating and chatting. Now what on mundus could they be talking about?

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 9 2009, 03:06 AM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles resisted the urge to fidget in his chair. They seemed to be asking all the right questions. As a younger man, he'd throttled people for being that straightforward. Now, as an older, and wiser man, he composed himself for a moment, choosing his words very carefully. And then he spoke.

"Well, we have to follow the law. I've reported other Hlaalu as well. Why should it be any different for anybody else? Besides, the authorities don't seem to object."

He paused to eat another spoonful, then continued, his intensity and focus increasing with every word. "Look, I know my House's reputation. And I know why you're looking at everything I say through the lens of business and politics. But I'm neither a businessman nor a politician. I am a scout and a soldier, and I try do my job as best I can. Yes, Hlaalu has a lot of businessmen. But it also has soldiers and farmers, just as Redoran has businessmen. And it's just as much my House as it is theirs. And I will defend my House, and its honor, to the hilt - just as you would defend your clan," he gestured toward the Ashlanders, "or your Temple." He nodded toward the priest.

"And I'll defend this country, too. I've lived here for twenty years - and I reckon I'll probably die here, too. I'd be just as willing to die for it. Things like loyalty and honor aren't unknown to the Hlaalu. They don't exist in the names of Great Houses, but in the hearts of men and mer.

"So I ask you to believe me - not as a Hlaalu, but as a man - when I say that I haven't come here to defy the Temple or pillage your lands. And despite what you may think, that's not why my House sent me, either."

Apelles exhaled deeply and ate another spoonful. Oddly enough, he had managed to lie about the Council's intentions while still believing every word he'd said.

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 10 2009, 09:19 PM

Khallet

It was done. By Dagon, it was done. He would be free!

Within the hall, the daedra crawled. A trio of clannfears hooted and clacked their beaks, while another three hungers hissed and spat at each other. But they wouldn't attack each other. Not when there was much more delicious prey to be found.

The Dremora turned to the mortal that called himself Erna, and bowed deeply.

"Will you accompany us?" he asked. "Take the honour of battle?"

"Alas no," Erna said. "My duties take me further North."

He mimicked Khallet's bow.

"Glory in death," he said. "Hopefully we shall meet again in Oblivion."

Khallet smiled, before roaring; "Children of Dagon! We shall cleanse this place of its stain!"

The assembled daedra hooted, howled or screamed their assent, and followed their leader in a formation of the most ragtag army seen in Vvardenfel's recent history. After a moment, they reached the wall of thick, claggy ash clay that had kept Khallet trapped for many years. There were marks in there, when he had tried to once dig his way to freedom, but that was long ago.

Now, however, he could be free. With a shriek, the clannfears threw themselves on the clay, tearing great sods of wet earth away with their talons.

Soon, Khallet thought. Soon, they would be free.


Erna

Erna scrambled out of the hole he had dug, and, remembering the guard's directions, hurried towards the central area of the temple, wiping himself clean of dirt as he went. If he couldn't remove it by the time he got to the central part, he could just say he tripped. There were treacherous stones sticking up out of the dirt at random moments, after all.

Hopefully, he should arrive just in time for the fun to start.

Posted by: minque Sep 10 2009, 10:51 PM

Rianne

She had begun to eat again, listening to the conversation around the table, with a stern look at Apelles Velvus

He's a talking type, that Imperial, bla, bla bla, very self-centered, as all of his kind


"Excuse me!" she said loud and clear " Mr Imperial, I do not believe a word of what you just said, you are a skilled lier, as most members of Great House Hlaalu, and like most Imperials. And believe me, I know what I am talking about"

She moved her hands, making sure Dralas would notice...

Watch out he's not to be trusted!

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 10 2009, 11:41 PM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles glared back at the Ashlander woman. "No offense to you, milady," he said between gritted teeth, "but I don't give a damn if you believe me or not."

Suddenly, a loud crashing sound came in from the next room, followed by terrified screaming, and a host of demonic growls.

Apelles stood up from his chair and drew his sword. He had heard these sounds before. "Daedra," he snarled. Then he turned back toward the Ashlanders. "I hope you have your weapons with you. Because we're going to need them."

He turned back and began dashing toward chamber from whence the noise was coming. He had neither his armor nor his shield with him. But he did have a sharp sword, and plenty of targets to drive the pointy end into.

Posted by: Olen Sep 11 2009, 01:15 PM

Rothan

Rothan barely trusted his ears. But there was no denying it, he recognised those snarls: clannfears. He shivered remembering how his last meeting with one had gone. Apelles shouted and ran for the source of the growls. Rothan reached into his bag and raked for for his cudgel. He pulled it out as he remembered it had broken in the fight with the ashlanders. He cursed his sloth in not having it mended. Bare hands it was then, that hadn't worked so well last time.

Who had cleansed the shrine? Daedra shouldn't be appearing like that. He wandered whether someone had botched the ritual, or sabotaged it. It was that or someone had summoned them. He didn't want to go through, but knew he had to, if only to observe for his report and try to help the injured.

He grabbed a table knife and followed Apelles.


Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 11 2009, 03:16 PM

Eno Arval

"There is only one convoy. It goes from here to Ghostgate, then a new one is formed that goes back to Balmora. We don't have the manpower to escort tw..." The scribe's words were cut off by a thump coming from the direction of the clay wall.

Eno looked quizically at the source of the sound.
"Who made that noise?" He muttered. Then, a small piece of the wall crumbled away, and a viciously snapping beak was thrust through the gap.
"Oh, ALMSIVI! What is that?!" An acolyte yelled. Eno felt a shiver run down his spine. Suddenly, the whole place felt icily cold to him.
"Beak, Daedric shrine. Clanfear, most likely. Tribunal, protect us." He thought, remembering the crude sketches his Redoran armsmaster had used.

"Umm, I think we should evacuate, everyone. Come along, boy. Leave the fighting to the experts." The old man added, limping towards the exit as fast as his legs could carry him. He'd nearly been killed by a common Cliffracer in the past. He was not going to take his chances with a Daedra.
"If I can just get out of this place before they break through the wall...I don't want to die!"

Haz

Haz had been carefully descending the stairs when some sort of commotion broke out ahead.
"That's odd. Is there a riot going on? Wouldn't surprise me very much, with all the hatred these Dark Elves feel for their own kin." He thought to himself. For a moment he debated whether it would be wiser to turn around and wait outside till things had calmed down.
"MONSTER!!!" The sudden cry made him stop. Now there was a neverending symphony of panicked screams and...beastly roars. The Argonian realized that it really would be for the best if he turned around. But a morbid curiosity had taken hold of him and made him press on.
"This, I have to see." He muttered as he pushed his way passed the first escapees.

Posted by: canis216 Sep 11 2009, 05:09 PM

Dranas Heleran

Daedra!

Dranas did what any sensible mer would do--he flipped a pair of tables on their sides, hastily arranged a couple of crates, and huddled behind his improvised fortification, sword and throwing stars at the ready.

Cowardly? Perhaps. But then, in Dranas Heleran's view, racing through the dimly lit halls toward an unknown number of daedric foes was foolhardy at best and suicidal at worst.

He glanced over at the ashlanders. What in mundus were they doing?

"Hey, you two! Grab your bows and get the hell out of the open!"

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 11 2009, 05:29 PM

Khallet

Freedom!

Finally, after so many years trapped down in the dank dark, he was out.

Free.

The clannfears had made short work of the earth wall, tearing through it and howling madly. Behind them poured the rest of the daedra, scamps, hungers and scuttling, nameless horrors, born in the deepest pits of Oblivion, tearing through the weakened skeins of reality. On their own, these nameless things were relatively weak, but they were like rats, swarming and overwhelming their foes in a tide of biting teeth and ripping claws.

Khallet roared and pointed his sabre forwards, sending the mob of daedra forward, general of a mounstrous, bestial army.

Their excavations had been heard, and a few of the elves had tried to flee already. Guards had already scrambled to position, and half a dozen arrows screamed through the air towards the daedra. A few clannfears and hungers fell, but they carried on, scamps sending fireballs out at the guards in return.

The battle had begun.

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 12 2009, 06:28 AM

Dralas

While Dralas didn't disagree with Rianne, he didn't have much more time to think on it as the room reacted to a threat. Daedra.

Apelles strode off, sword in hand, and the merchant from earlier shouted at them to grab a bow and find cover. Dralas saw some sense in that, and ran behind a nearby pillar, pulling Rianne along with him.

Fireballs flew, and both clannfear and hungers were pouring into the chamber.

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 12 2009, 08:50 PM

Eno Arval

Eno stumbled as something hit him in the back. He frantically glanced over his shoulder, giving himself a brief glimpse of the carnage that was about to unfold behind him, as well as finding out that his cloak had caught on fire.
"Agh! Get it off!" He yelled, tore the burning fabric from his shoulders and tossed it down at his feet before continuing on his flight to the stairs.

Haz

As he reached the end of the stairs, it became harder to move against the ever increasing tide of panicked mer. A part of him was amazed at the number of people that had made this place their home. With a sigh of relief, he managed to leap to the side when he reached the hall proper. Now that he was out of the turmoil, he could take a calm look at the far end of the hall where the guards had engaged some sort of army of hideous creatures.
"What's this? More of the local Morrowing wildlife?...No wait, that little midget just threw a fireball! These aren't mere animals and they're obviously led by some person in armour. Strange, spiky armour." He muttered under his breath. Then his eyes widened as he saw how a guard managed to duck a fireball, only to have it now heading for the Argonian.

"Dammit!" Haz cursed as he threw up his arms to shield himself from the spell. When the fireball hit, it ate through the robe in the blink of an eye. Undeterred, Haz pushed his arms forward against the flames, bringing them into direct contact with the slave bracers he wore to drain away the magic, as his instructors had taught him. The Argonian scowled as he observed the large gaps in his sleeves. He would have to find something to cover up his bracers soon, preferably scavenged from one of the dead. Though that would mean he would have to get closer to those...things.
"Agh, that makes me angry. Fine, I'll get in, grab some guy's shirt and get out! And if that means I have to poke out an eye or two, so be it! The only thing that bothers me is this robe. I can't move my legs in it." He growled to himself and began to move closer, dashing from cover to cover, usually tables he knocked over to hide behind.

Posted by: Olen Sep 13 2009, 01:29 PM

Rothan

Rothan kept low. There were more daedra than he'd ever seen in one place before. The guards fought them near the opposite end of the hall but they were being hard pressed. Daedra did appear near ruins, but not in numbers like these, this had to be sabotage. He looked around but there was to much chaos to see any faces. The pilgrim was near the back watching. Rothan tried to shout to him to flee but his voice was drowned out, then a fireball emerged over the head of a guard and flew straight for the pilgrim. Rothan grimaced but when it struck the magic seemed to dissipate most of its power. Even so he feared for the pilgrim.

He stood to go to him then saw a guard fall back wounded. Which should he help? Rothan didn't know, really he wanted to run.

OOC: do you want me to push on and bother Haz or leave him be?

Posted by: minque Sep 13 2009, 02:20 PM

QUOTE(Dantrag @ Sep 12 2009, 07:28 AM) *

Dralas

While Dralas didn't disagree with Rianne, he didn't have much more time to think on it as the room reacted to a threat. Daedra.

Apelles strode off, sword in hand, and the merchant from earlier shouted at them to grab a bow and find cover. Dralas saw some sense in that, and ran behind a nearby pillar, pulling Rianne along with him.

Fireballs flew, and both clannfear and hungers were pouring into the chamber.

Rianne

She didn't hesitate when Dralas pulled her along with him, she was a bit taken when she saw the numbers of Daedras coming.

"You lead" she whispered. "I know an extremely powerful spell...though"

She waited for the best opportunity to use it.

Gah, there are too many people around, if I use VC, they'll all go...damn it

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 13 2009, 03:13 PM

Haz

Haz's advance came to a halt when he felt the eyes of several of the tiniest monsters fall on him.
"Ah great, looks like I've been noticed." He muttered dryly, grabbed a pot and tossed it at the small pack, causing it to scatter. He wasn't too worried about the little ones. The big ones could be a problem though. And while he was no general, even he could see that the line of guards wouldn't contain those much longer.

Sooner or later, one of the green lizards or starved looking zombies would get through. He would have to prepare for that eventuality. His hands reached for another pot in case the critters came back while he looked for something that could give him the edge, or at least prolong his life, for if he encountered something bigger. Much to his dismay, he didn't really see anything at first.

That is, till he saw a guard go down under the vicious assault of a Hunger.
"Hmmp, I could borrow that one's sword, not that those are my preferred weapon. Though I'd have to face that thing as well...I'll take the risk." He decided and dashed for the Hunger while throwing the pot, both to gain its attention and to hopefully stun it long enough to pry the sword from the wounded mer's hands.


OOC: Well, Haz is at the moment still moving so probably fine. The guard is not. Using that line of reasoning, I'd say that Rothan makes the guard his priority. Of course, you can also say that they're running towards the same guard.

Also Minque, wasn't Vomica Cruor a spell that required you to touch the victim and caused spontaneous internal combustion in only the touched victim? Since you imply that the current version is dangerous to everyone in the hall, could you please elaborate on this incarnation of the VC a bit?

And dang, I'm not quite sure why Haz is getting himself involved anyway. If he wants clothes, he could have used the confusion to steal some laundry, instead of diving into the midst of things. kvleft.gif

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 13 2009, 03:42 PM

Erna

Erna reached doorway to the central shrine, adopting a suitable look of concern and confusion as he did so. A pair of terrified men in scribe's robes hurried through the doorway past him. One of them was supporting his companion, who had a deep cut along one arm.

Once they were past, Erna stepped inside, before immediately diving for cover behind some crates, deciding that terror was a good one. After he was certain nobody was looking, he peeked his head over the barricades and grinned.

It was utter chaos. A few guards had already been overrun, their corpses shredded by the claws of daedra. There were several of the oblivion spawned creatures dead, but Erna did not care. He knew this attack would be enough to scare the caravan authorities away from the ruins for good, and disrupt the caravans severely. That was what he loved about Mehrunes Dagon. Even if you plan was an utter failure, the fact that it failed would be enough to be a tribute to his lord. Destruction always won.

He saw a pilgrim, still wearing a veil, throw a pot into a small pack of the minor daedra that had come through on the attack with him. They scattered, and the pilgrim took another pot. Nearby, a hunger tore another guard down, and the pilgrim noticed that too. No doubt hoping to grab the man's sword, he dashed forward and hurled his pot the hunger, the heavy ceramic slamming home and sending the thing reeling back, shrieking in pain and stunned surprise.

Erna eyes narrowed, and he watched with a sense of bemused surprise. This would be interesting.

Posted by: canis216 Sep 13 2009, 05:41 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas flung a throwing star at the nearest scamp and immediately regretted it, since the foul little daedra screeched something awful and launched a fireball his way. Dranas ducked behind his fortification just in time to avoid scorching his face.

"Throwing star versus fireball-casting daedra. Not going to work."




Posted by: minque Sep 13 2009, 05:49 PM

OOC: Jack! The VC is also remote controlled see the quote from AMU below!

QUOTE
Serene heard the agonizing screams from the ashlanders who were slain.......a red blazing rage went into her..AZURA! she summoned as she literally flew in the air towards the fighters at the door, her hands outstretched in front of her, purple flames emerging from her fingertips, and the eerie glow from her possession was now visible"Ysbryd ddwylaw, Vomica cruor" she yelled pointing at Anthanes, and watched the white lightning rush through the air and hit Anthanes in the back, the fire started immediately eating him from insideOOC: this spell is a remote-controlled firebite!


Rianne

She prepared for the devastating spell. The heat in her left hand increased and she could spot a very small purple flame on her palm. It was quite some time since she used this spell now and she remembered far too well when the last time was.

Come on you beasts...I'll just cook you!

She didn't trust her accuracy so she wanted to make sure nobody was near her target

I really like to try this!

Posted by: Olen Sep 13 2009, 11:19 PM

Rothan

The pilgrim seemed unhurt by the fireball so Rothan ran for the downed guard. The hunger which had ripped him open advanced to finish him. Rothan half paused then redoubled his speed, the table knife in his hand felt utterly silly, but he gripped it for what comfort it gave. He was almost at the guard when a clay pot sailed past him and smashed into the hunger's head, he didn't waste a second of its disorientation and grabbed the guard's outstretched hand and tried to pull him away.

Before he got a decent grip a scamp threw a fireball at him. He ducked and threw the knife at it but missed. With both hands he grabbed the guard and started pulling him away, but the mer was heavy and his armour didn't slide well against the ruin's floor. "Help," he shouted to any who might be listening.

Posted by: canis216 Sep 14 2009, 01:13 AM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas let the scamp cast another fireball (which he ducked), buying himself a scant moment to summon an ancestor ghost--provided he remembered the spell rightly.

"Ajude-me, avô!"

Dranas found himself staring into the expressionless face of a spectre.

"Don't just stand there!" Dranas yelled, chucking another throwing star at the scamp (which cried in pain, once more). "Get him!"

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 14 2009, 05:42 PM

OOC: Ah, ok. That was before my time though. Which just reminds me that I still haven't read that rp. Anyway...

Haz

Haz grinned with satisfaction as his pot hit the beast square between the eye. That had gone a lot better than he'd expected and he reckoned he'd bought himself a few seconds. That grin vanished when he saw someone else had gotten to the guard before him.
"It's times like these that I hate tunnel vision. I hadn't noticed the priest being here." He thought darkly, his eyes trailing the latest fireball back to its source.
"Help!" The priest shouted. To Haz, it seemed obvious that the plea for aid was more meant for the guard than for himself.
"What a self-sacrificing person. If he wasn't a Dark Elf, I might just start to respect him." The Argonian groaned inwardly.


Another of the midgets was the culprit, dancing around and cackling madly as it formed another flame in its outstretched hands. All of its attention was on Rothan, so Haz found it an easy matter to slide to the left three steps and throw himself on top of it, one hand raised to stiffle the fire with his slave bracer, the other being used to slam the Scamp's skull against the floor with all the weight that a full-grown Argonian could bring to bear.

Otherwordly or not, bone was still bone and there was no way for the Scamp to avoid having its face restructured by the impact with the hard floor. Haz left it laying where it was, either dead or unconscious. Not that he cared. All he cared about was the need to move quickly. His assault hadn't taken only a few seconds, but his eyes had been on the Hunger all the time and he knew that the monster had shaken off most of its surprise. Now its tongue was lashing back and forth as it shrieked in a mad rage. It would be coming for him soon, and although the guard had managed to injure its side during their brief struggle, Haz knew that it was still far faster than him.

"The sword, priest! Give me the sword or we're both death!" Haz hissed at Rothan, running for the man and the guard he was trying to drag to safety. For the moment, the need for deception was secondary to the need to keep his head on his shoulders.

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 14 2009, 06:58 PM

Khallet

Khallet's sword slammed home into the stomach of a guard, the Oblivion forged weapon punching through the mer's chainmail with ease. The soldier fell limp and lifeless, and Khallet kicked the man off his blade, already bringing it up to confront the next target.

There was a shriek from behind him, and he span to a clannfear sail through the air, its chest crushed by a mace. Khallet looked for who could dispatch such an opponent with obvious ease and found him.

He fought with deadly precision and skill, golden and purple armour spattered with daedric blood as he smashed a snarling scamp away with his mace. With reflexes born of years of training, the mer span, raised his golden shield and sent a fireball scattering away. An impassive golden mask turned and saw Khallet, the eyes behind it steely and cold.

Khallet knew the title of this man. One of the most dangerous warriors in all Vvardenfel.

Ordinator.

Their eyes met across the panicked melee and without a word being spoken a challenge was issued.

"Come mortal!" Khallet called. "Test the might of Dagon."

He raised his sabre above his head and charged.


OOC: Minque, are you planning on roasting Khallet with that spell? Only I was hoping to use him later on in the RP (Erna would snaffle him with that gem of his and keep him as insurance). And I've developed a soft spot for him too, and wouldn't mind if he made it out of the RP alive, as I'm hoping to use him again in a later one.

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 14 2009, 07:02 PM

OOC: Well, you very obviously COULD bring him back, since you can't really KILL a daedra, just send them back to Oblivion.

Posted by: Olen Sep 14 2009, 08:25 PM

Rothan

The pilgrim ran past the guard and leapt onto the scamp who'd been preparing a second fireball. As he bounced its head against the ground Rothan noticed that the pilgrim wore a funny looking bracer, almost like a slave bracer but that was unthinkable. An escaped slave posing as a pilgrim? No one would go inland though. The pilgrim's skin showed through burns the dark robe, it didn't look good. Maybe burnt, but they were the oddest burns Rothan had seen. He decided he'd have to have a look at it later.

The scamp lay broken but the pilgrim was already up and facing the hunger which had injured the guard. "The sword," he shouted. For a moment Rothan was confused then he realised the guard still had his sword in a desperate grip. The fingers were tight about it and the guard thrashed. The blood was slick under him. Rothan struggled for a moment but the hunger was looking much improved. There wasn't time so he elbowed the guard's jaw and for a moment the grip loosened. Rothan scooped the sword out and leapt up to give it to the pilgrim who took it. He stepped back a little.

"Go to it," he shouted and readied himself. When the pilgrim had all the hunger's attention he was going to try to stamp its knee.

Posted by: canis216 Sep 14 2009, 11:39 PM

Dranas Heleran

With the scamp distracted by the ancestor ghost, Dranas was freed to extract a vial of poison from his belt. He popped it open, emptied the contents over his blade, and darted out from his shelter. The scamp's head was severed with a single stroke.

A clannfear leaped in to take the scamp's place, claws slashing the air, beak snapping.

Posted by: minque Sep 15 2009, 12:30 AM

Rianne

The hunger that was fiercely attacking Rothan, the man who joined Dralas and her for dinner, was obviously get his target. Now that was nothing Rianne could accept.

The flame in her palm grew a bit bigger, she focused on the beast, terrified to hit Rothan... Then there was that other figure, she recognized him vaguely but couldn't really tell who he was.


She waited for an opportunity to cast her devastating spell...

May Azura be with me in this

There! Now! The hunger got a bit away from Rothan, the other man was closer but not that much


Rianne sneaked a bit closer..."Vomica Cruor" she shouted, pointing at the hunger with her left hand. A thin purple ray of light emerged from her hand and hit the hunger in its side with a poof...

As usual it was spectacular to see the effects of this spell. The hunger's body slowly grew swollen and his scream of unspeakable pain as his inside was turned into ashes was tormenting..

oh by Azura, I did it, ahhhh

Rianne stood absolutely still...watching her target slowly turn into dust

Posted by: bbqplatypus Sep 15 2009, 01:43 AM

Apelles Velvus

Apelles came bounding into the chamber with his sword pointed outward, his eyes focused and intense. Behind him he could hear the sound of snarling Daedra, shattering plates, and bursts of magical flame.

His bow and his armor were both in a footlocker down in the room that served as the barracks - he had only his sword and his hunting knife. And he was charging in like a crazed Nord. Not his wisest decision - yet he was committing to it. There were officers in that chamber that the caravan could not afford to lose, and at the moment, a large number of Daedra were in that chamber.

In the main chamber a number of Armigers and Ordinators alike were fighting to fight off the Daedric horde. Hungers, Clannfears, and a number of small horrors that Apelles could not even name filled the hall. A few of the guards had already fallen before this onslaught.

Amid all the clamor and pandemonium, Apelles saw movement in his peripheral vision that caught his eye. He swung his sword around to meet it.

Then, he received a glancing scratch to his side. He turned and saw a clannfear, baring its teeth at him. He slashed furiously at it, hitting it three times and taking a medium-sized cut to the leg.

Apelles was fighting like a man possessed - not at all as he usually did. He was fighting as he had as a young man - purely on energy and instinct, like an enraged drunkard. He knew not why - perhaps the anger from the heated conversation had clouded his judgment. At the moment, he was not yet exhausted from the fighting, nor limping from his wounds. Yet somewhere, deep in the dark recesses of his mind, he knew it was just a matter of time. But he pushed these thoughts aside for now.

Then he saw it - a tall, imposing Dremora, dressed in spiky black armor and in the midst of separating an Ordinator's head from his shoulders.

Then, he saw Salms Ralas approaching it. They glanced at each other. They would need to take this one down together.


OOC: I'm assuming Khallet is a Dremora. Let me know if he isn't.

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 15 2009, 08:31 AM

Haz

Haz took the sword and held it in front of him awkwardly. The hilt was meant to accomodate only one hand, but the Argonian felt too uncomfortable to hold it in any other way than with both. Whereas before he had cursed his tunnel vision, this time he welcomed it. The only thing he could see was the Hunger and its movements.
"Ugh! Normally I have the element of surprise. This is different."

When the snarling beast leapt, Haz performed a clumsy swing that was both executed too soon and too high to hit, leaving him unbalanced for when it would strike. The Hunger's tongue shot out, striking at his shoulder and burning yet another albeit tiny hole in his robe with its acidic saliva.
"Missed, I guess this is it then. Heh, such a pathetic fate." Haz thought as he waited for the inevitable. But fate had other plans.

The Hunger's screams changed in pitch dramatically and it collided with him not as a killer, but as a dying, popping, burning piece of meat and bones. Haz instinctively pushed it away from him and threw himself backwards, away from it. Before him, the thing that had been about to kill him was turning to ash. The Argonian felt the urge to puke. The sight wasn't the most horrible, it was the smell.
"What...just happened?" He mumbled, shaking his head. With a frown, he brought himself back to more urgent bussiness.

"Anyway, let's get out of here now, priest." He said as he tucked the sword behind his belt. Hopefully the blade wouldn't cut through his clothes anytime soon.
"You risk your life to save your kin. No matter my hate for you, I admire such actions. So, I guess I'll help this time." He thought and bent down to grab the guard by the legs.

Posted by: Olen Sep 15 2009, 08:45 AM

OOC: I've described the effect of Vomica Cruor, tell me if I'm wrong and I'll edit (or do it yourself)

Rothan

Rothan shied away from a beam of purple light which passed his head. What in oblivion? he thought. It struck the hunger he faced and the daedra stopped advancing. Rothan backed away, he had no idea what the magic might do. The hunger's body began to swell and it roared pain. Rothan backed away further, this was powerful and nasty magic, he wanted to glance behind to see who had cast it but the writhing hunger held his gaze with morbid curiosity. It's skin split like an overcooked ashyam and steam rushed out in a fetid burst, then more gashes opened and he saw its insides were smouldering. Ash began to fall from it then suddenly there was only dust.

Rothan stared in shock for a moment then rushed back to the fallen guard before another daedra could fill the hunger's place. Looking back he saw Rianne had been watching the spells effect. Had she cast it or merely observed? He didn't know and the guard needed help.

Then the pilgrim was there. Rothan grabbed one of the guards arms and the pilgrim took the other. As they dragged him away towards the enterance of the cavern Rothan noticed the pilgrims arms again, the robe had been burnt by a fireball and the bracer showed through clearly. It was a slaves bracer, there was no doubting it, and the pilgrim had very odd skin. Very odd. Perhaps the pilgrimage was for a cure.

At the back of the chamber Rothan dropped the guards arm and looked at the wounds. All his stuff was in his pack, he patted his robes pockets and was relieved that he had left a bit of resin mixed with corkbulb in a packet. For a moment he fiddled with the guard's cuirass straps but they were slick with blood.

"Do you have a knife?" he asked the pilgrim.

Posted by: canis216 Sep 16 2009, 01:47 AM

Dranas Heleran

The clannfear's claws raked through the air, seeking flesh--but were met with a poisoned steel blade instead.

"RRRAAARRRRGGGHHH!"

The daedra staggered back with a pained growl, only to be pursued--a gashed arm here, a slash across the chest there--until it fell to the floor, banished to Oblivion.

Dranas' ancestor ghost was clawing at yet another scamp--was until the ghost dissipated and was replaced by a neck-severing shaft of steel. Dranas was feeling the blood lust rise within--echo of those chaotic pirate days--and he forgot all thoughts of shelter. He paused only to pour more poison over his blade, then rushed into the melee.

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 16 2009, 02:17 AM

QUOTE(canis216 @ Sep 15 2009, 08:47 PM) *

Dranas Heleran

The clannfear's claws raked through the air, seeking flesh--but were met with a poisoned steel blade instead.

"RRRAAARRRRGGGHHH!"

The daedra staggered back with a pained growl, only to be pursued--a gashed arm here, a slash across the chest there--until it fell to the floor, banished to Oblivion.

Dranas' ancestor ghost was clawing at yet another scamp--was until the ghost dissipated and was replaced by a neck-severing shaft of steel. Dranas was feeling the blood lust rise within--echo of those chaotic pirate days--and he forgot all thoughts of shelter. He paused only to pour more poison over his blade, then rushed into the melee.


Dralas

Dralas watched the merchant abandon cover and rush in. He helpedd the mer where he could, putting a few well-placed arrows into a number of clannfear.

Rianne was beside him still, casting spells. She was helping the priest, he knew, but on the other hand there was a couple of nasty-looking hungers getting close to them. And a dremora made himself known. the leader of these daedra perhaps?

He dropped his bow in favor of his sword then, to deal with the hungers. One ran for him, the other went straight for Rianne...

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 16 2009, 07:08 PM

Haz OOC: Eno is probably somewhere outside by now or at least a good way up the stairs. I'll deal with him when it's appropriate again

Haz pondered the question he'd been asked. While he didn't have a knife, he was quite certain he could just bite through those straps with some effort. That however, would be unreasonably foolish.
"All I have right now is the sword. But that is far too unwieldy for such a job." He replied as he carefully pulled the weapon from his belt. He looked at the blade for a moment, knowing fully well that the priest would not appreciate it if he wasted time.

The sword was of decent quality, but the quality of the steel was probably a bit low, if his resources had been accurate. With a mental shrug, he put it over his knee and managed to break it, leaving only a solid hand of steel protruding from the hilt. It had been poor steel indeed.
"Here, it should be usable now." He grunted as he handed over the sword.

While watching Rothan's work, he attempted to stretch out his sleeves to cover the bracers as much as possible. It didn't really work.
"I should have ignored him and ran off with a carpet or something."

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Sep 16 2009, 07:24 PM

Khallet

Khallet stormed through the melee, sabre raised above his head and roaring in rage. He covered the ground between him and ordinator in moments, and swiped down. The mer's shield sprang up and clanged against Khallet's sabre, rocking back against the impact but holding his ground. Khallet's own weapon bounced off the golden coloured metal, and he bought it to bear just in time to stop the ordinator's own swiping mace.

The daedric metal bit down on the steel of the ordinator's mace handle, holding it in place for a moment, and Khallet loosed one hand from his sword's handle to swing a vicious punch into the ordinator's face place.

The mer reeled back, blood streaming from the crumpled holes that were the mask's nostrils, and stumbled over the clannfear he had dispatched but moment ago. Khallet slammed an armoured, spiked elbow through the mer's chestplate, sending him falling to the ground.

Khallet raised his sword in order to swipe down on the ordinator's neck, but the mer had other ideas and swung his mace from his prone position on the floor. Khallet leapt back to avoid his ankles being shattered and the ordinator used his momentum to roll away and pull himself to his feet.

The only problem was that Khallet's sword was still in reach.

Before the ordinator could bring his mace or shield up to defend himself, Khallet's sabre swooped in and took the mer's head off clean at the neck. For a moment the ordinator stood there like a grisly statue, blood spurting from the stump of its neck, before it crumpled to the ground.

Khallet wiped his blade clean on the purple cloth that poked through gaps in the ordinator's armour, and readied his weapon for the next challenger.

Posted by: Olen Sep 17 2009, 12:20 PM

Rothan

Rothan was surprised by the pilgrim breaking the sword in half but was more than glad to take the shortened piece. He was half aware of the pilgrim trying to pull his ruined sleeves down but ignored him as he slipped the broken sword under the straps of the guards cuirass and slit them. He lifted the breastplate off and tutted at the mess underneath. Rothan knew enough about healing but the cuts to the guard's side were deep and needed a skilled healer. The best he could do was to stop his patient bleeding out before someone could have a proper look.

He tore a length from the guards shirt and gingerly pulled the wound open. The guard moaned and struggled a bit, Rothan ignored him and lifted the skin apart. It was as bad as he'd feared, the hunger's foul claws had taken filth into the wound, he balled the cloth and looked to the pilgrim, "Hold him, he won't like this." Then h scrubbed into the wound with the cloth to remove as much of the dirt as he could and to refresh the stale blood with fresh. It bled anew but after a couple of moment he drew a sticky strand of the resin from its paper packet and pushed it into the wound and pulled the skin together. Once he'd worked his way all along the bleeding was much lighter.

To finish he put his hands over the wounded side of the torso and drew on some magic. As he built the spell in his head he lost it and it dissipated. He breathed but keeping calm with a battle so close was impossible. He offered a quick prayer to Sotha Sil and tried again. The spell was weak but at least there was some healing.

Rothan sighed a heavy breath and sat back, "He needs a better healer, but he won't die soon. Think we should take him outside." He tried to look the pilgrim in the face as he spoke but couldn't keep his eyes on the dark cloth which hid it, they kept slipping down to the bracer. That is a slave bracer, how did a slave end up on this?

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 19 2009, 02:51 PM

Haz

Haz nodded.
"That would be for the best. We can't guarantee his safety while here. Those things are too close." He hissed, pointing at the fight he'd been watching. He took hold of the guard and lifted him onto his shoulder.
"Let's get out of here before we join him on the floor."

Posted by: Olen Sep 19 2009, 03:31 PM

Rothan

The pilgrim, or whatever he was, was stronger than Rothan had expected and simply hauled the guard onto his shoulder so Rothan lead clearing a way through the detritus left in the wake of the evacuation. Behind them a fireball seared the ceiling. He did what he could to help on the stairs but suspected he was as much in the way as he was useful. Outside the pilgrim propped the guard on the ground a short way from the entrance and Rothan took another look at the wound.

It was stable and fiddling with it now would do as much harm as good so he stood and held out a hand to the pilgrim, "Thanks, I'm Rothan Sarayn, priest. What's your name?"

Posted by: minque Sep 19 2009, 11:16 PM

Rianne

She was so absorbed by the effects of her spellcasting so she didn't see the hunger coming for her until its sharp teeth dug deep into her side.

The shock and loosing of a lot of blood made her sink to the ground.

Death is not a big deal really! Easy I'd say

The magnificent gallery of teeth was the last thing she saw, before everything turned black

"Dralas?" she whispered with her dying breath

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 22 2009, 09:45 PM

OOC: Err, there aren't any healers nearby for as far as I know. Even if she survives, she might be feeling the after effects for the rest of the rp.

Haz

Haz cursed himself for getting involved. This was the last thing he wanted. First would be his name, then all the other questions would follow.
"Haz Andrethi, from the mainland." He replied and, after some hesitation, shook the priests hand.
"He's seen too much already. I should really kill him now and blame one of those monsters." He thought to himself, already knowing that he wasn't going to.
"Pah, I can't kill him, not now. Doing so, would mean I rewarded his bravery with nothing but spite. I'll have to find the lies to please him. But if he gets too close later...I'll have to kill him after all."

Eno Arval

Eno was sitting outside, his back pressed against a broken off pillar. When he saw the priest and the pilgrim emerge from the shrine, carrying what looked to be a corpse, he shivered.
"OH, ALMSIVI. Please, protect us." He whispered.

Posted by: Olen Sep 23 2009, 11:22 AM

OOC: Haz could always knock a rock over Rothan's head if he doesn't want to answer (or if he says too much and needs some convenient amnesia). Needn't kill him, just put him down for a bit.

Rothan

Rothan looked at Haz for a moment wandering what the best way to bring up the subject was. It was a bit awkward but he needed to know so he decided to be blunt.

"That's an unusual bracer you have there, unusual to see on a dunmer anyway, and I'd think unseen on a pilgrim..." he paused, the pilgrim had just helped with the guard. What was the right thing to do? "You've been helpful though, I'll bear that in mind." He tried a smile.

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 23 2009, 04:55 PM

OOC: I don't think we should trust Haz's ability to strike just hard enough to cause amnesia, yet soft enough to not crack open Rothan's skull and spill his brains all over the place. tongue.gif

Haz

Haz's worst predictions seemed to have come true. The only question that could have been worse would have been. "Why is an Argonian pretending to be a Dunmer?"
Several possible lies fled through his mind, but in the end he settled on pretending to be from some backwater half-forgotten village somewhere. Which wasn't all that far from the truth.
"These bracers are part of a local tradition. It is customary for pilgrims to surrender all they own but the chains of their faith during their pilgrimage. As a symbol of this, we wear the bracers of a slave." He said slowly.
"A local variant on the Dark Elf religion that's slightly different from the island variety? I'll stick with that, I guess."

"And it doesn't surprise me much that you have never seen one of us before. We are just a small village, bothered by aggressive foreigners. It took gifts from everyone and many years of saving just to pay for my journey. The Pilgrim may surrender his own possessions before embarking, but he can't row across the sea by himself. And traveling by boat these days does not come cheap."
That hadn't been a lie. It had taken plenty of bribes in the right places, and some threatening with poison and daggers, before his journey to Vvardenfell by means of smugglers had been arranged.

Posted by: Olen Sep 24 2009, 12:40 PM

Rothan

Rothan had heard some stories of the insane heresies on the mainland but hadn't given them any credit but this one was one of the oddest. Who would pose as a slave for a pilgrimage? It was certainly irregular. It also explained the oddities.

"Oh," he said, full of concern, "I'd heard that there is confusion on the mainland. I suppose you can't help being brought up in heresy but please, accept my offer to show you the true path of devotion. You've shown that you're heart is good, but such beliefs are misguided. When we reach the dig you should join me in prayer and offer the correct devotion."

For all he deplored the heresy Rothan felt a little hypocritical saying it. The book he had gave him thoughts he knew were blasphemous.

Posted by: jack cloudy Sep 25 2009, 08:05 PM

Haz

Haz nodded absentmindedly.
"That would be helpful, yes. No doubt a priest from the island follows a more...purer form than a priest at the swamp's borders." He said.
"I really can't afford the risk. But that's alright. When we arrive, I'll be able to hide among the slaves."

Posted by: Dantrag Oct 1 2009, 07:38 AM

Dralas

Dralas had a hard time with his opponent. The hunger's long claws kept Dralas' sword at bay, and kept his feet moving. A claw raked across his cheek, and another his chest. He saw Rianne go down out of the corner of his eye. Dralas swung recklessly; he was getting impatient. The hunger impaled Dralas' arm with one of those razor-sharp fingernails, but at the expense of getting stuck.

The ashlander's chitin blade went clean through the hunger's wrist, and Dralas cringed as he pulled out the claw. The hunger had no hand, but it wasn't finished yet. It charged him once more, trying to tackle him. Dralas held his sword pointing forward, and the daedra impaled itself as it fell over top of the dunmer.

He kicked the thing off himself and got to his feet quickly. Finally able to come to Rianne's aid, he realized he may have been too late. Another hunger was on top of her unconscious form, its vicious teeth aimed at her throat.

OOC: I'll finish this later. kinda tired.

Posted by: Olen Oct 13 2009, 11:44 PM

Rothan

The guard was breathing steadily and seemed more asleep than comatose so Rothan stood and turned to Haz, "He's not going to die very soon and there's no more I can do with him. We should go back and see if anyone else has been injured."

He turned to the entrance and noticed Eno cowering against a pillar, "Can you watch this guard?" shouted Rothan, "We're going in to see if anyone else needs aid." He steeled himself as he made towards the door of the ruin again without checking to see if the pilgrim followed.

Posted by: jack cloudy Oct 14 2009, 12:07 PM

Haz

Haz shrugged but didn't move from where he stood. For all he cared, he had done his part and going back in would just be foolish.
"Umm, shouldn't you...help him?" Eno stammered nervously. He too, hadn't moved. Haz growled angrily and shook his head.
"Speak for yourself!" He snapped back, only to reprimand himself right away.
"I can't let my anger get the best of me. Besides, if that priest finds out he's down there alone, he'll blame me. I just can't win these days, it seems." He thought.

"You heard the priest. Guard the soldier. If I come back and see that you're still cowering behind the rocks wetting yourself, I'll make you wish you had let yourself be eaten by one of those things instead of fleeing. So do as you're told. Because I do not bluff, coward!" The Argonian added and ran back for the entrance of the shrine, hoping to catch up with Rothan before he found out that his 'companion' had hesitated.

Descending the stairs as fast as he dared in the gloom, he noticed with worry that the sounds of battle were still loud enough to drown out his footsteps.
"I wish I hadn't broken the sword. But how was I to know that after fleeing, we would be leaping right back in like a brainless monkey?"

As he reached the end of the stairs, so did he reach Rothan.
"Alright, we're here. See anyone we can help? Maybe we should split up." Haz said as he let his eyes wander. Both the number of Daedra and Dunmer had fallen considerably. In a corner to the left of him, amidst a pile of rubble that might have been a closet, an Armiger sat on the floor, one arm bent at an unnatural angle, the other casting magic to support his comrades who were still fighting. To the right of him, A Dark Elf was struggling with a Hunger, very close to another bleeding body. Haz's eyes widened and he pointed.
"Hey, weren't they with us when we got attacked by..." His tongue struggled with the unfamiliar word "Ashlanders?"

Eno Arval

Eno shook his head. Part of him was still trying to break free from the panic, the other part simply couldn't belief that a pilgrim of all people had just threatened him.
"By ALMSIVI, why did I ever leave my home? To look for adventure? Hah, more like terror!" He muttered, but sat down next to the still unconscious guard.



OOC: Ok, we're in. Now let's hope Dantrag comes on and resolves the situation so we can work with it. Anyway, I'd say we go with Dralas fighting the Hunger for now.

Posted by: Olen Oct 15 2009, 11:46 AM

Rothan

The shrine was in chaos, there were considerably more corpses, both dunmer and daedric, than there had been but fighting still raged. Rothan sought about for where help was most needed, and most easily delivered. Then Haz pointed out the two ashlanders who had been with them when they were attacked. One fought a hunger, trying desperately to hold it off the woman who lay on the floor bleeding. Rothan thought about helping the man against the daedra but he didn't trust his skill and the woman needed urgent help.

"She needs us," he sad to Haz, "Quickly." He started towards Rianne.

Posted by: jack cloudy Oct 15 2009, 10:39 PM

Haz

Haz nodded, but bent down to pick up a stool before following. While even more awkward to wield than the sword had been, the weight in his hands was reassuring. They quickly made their way towards the two Ashlanders, relatively unhindered by the battle. It was almost a miracle, but the Armigers had so far managed to hold the line with only a few minor breakthroughs, somehow.

Nearing Rianne, Haz's eyes began to skip back and forth between the woman and Dralas. Maybe it would be better for him to strike down the Hunger from behind first. Dralas seemed to be holding his own so far, but the Argonian was not yet sure of the man's skills in battle. Fighting kin from afar was one thing, fighting a vicious monster hand-to-claw was another. If Haz helped out first, it would give them some measure of safety while the priest attempted his healing skills on Rianne.

On the other hand, with the two moving back and forth, he didn't dare risk an attack. He might hit the Ashlander instead of the Hunger, which would surely spell the man's doom. It wasn't that Haz cared, but even now he could not forget his place. Witnesses would not look kindly upon his mistake.


OOC: Yeah, first pots and now a stool. Instead of mentioning poisons (not that he knows Vvardenfell flavours), I should have given him improvised weaponry instead. I mean, that's pretty much what he's doing here. kvleft.gif And uh, depending on whether or not Dantrag gets on quick to resolve the fight with the Hunger, I'll either have Haz get dragged along by Rothan into helping Rianne, or bash in the Hunger's skull.

Posted by: Dantrag Oct 17 2009, 09:13 PM

Dralas

The hunger had done something to Rianne, Dralas just couldn't figure out what. All he knew was that the blood and Rianne's lack of movement made it look bad. With a swift prayer to his grandfather, who was known for his luck, Dralas dropped his sword and charged the thing head on.

The tackle was successful and the hunger was now pinned on the floor away from Rianne's limp form. Dralas saw out of the corner of his eye what he hoped was help coming his way; the two priests. The hunger was struggling, and Dralas was struggling himself to keep from being mauled. Dralas was trying to reach the dagger in his boot, but it was easier said than done with a writhing monster underneath him.

Posted by: minque Oct 18 2009, 02:25 AM

Rianne

Oh the light! I want to go there..how beautiful...

Something prevented her from heading towards the bright light in the end of the tunnel...something strong, an ancient soul, or was it just a dream? She had to go back...

Wih a gasp Rianne opened her eyes to the real wold. The intense pain in her left side told her that she was alive so far...

In her dim consciousness she noticed the priest, Rothan was it? and another man doing something to her...something that hurt! But then...she felt the ancient spirit...fill her soul.

"Dralas?" she wispered, knowing he was present.

He must have an open mind so the spirit can dwell in it..

"My bag!...green leaves...heart-shaped...make a paste from them...stop bleeding...hurry!"

She struggled very hard not to faint, she needed to stay awake she needed soo much to stay awake

Posted by: jack cloudy Oct 19 2009, 06:39 PM

Haz

Haz was completely at a loss. When the woman cried out however, his mind was made up.
"What is she saying? Probably delusional from pain and bloodloss. Still, she's conscious, so the wound must look worse than it actually is. Alright then, the priest can handle it."

"You help the woman, I'll aid the man!" He yelled at Rothan as he dashed the short distance to where Dralas and the Hunger where fighting on the ground. As it was, both man and monster were evenly matched limb for limb, but Haz doubted that the Dark Elf had an answer to the thing's acidic tongue. Just by pinning the beast to the floor, he would not be able to achieve victory.
"Pull your head back, Elf!" The Argonian shouted at Dralas, hoping that the man would take the hint and give him a clear shot at the Hunger's skull.

Still, there was no time to wait for a response, so Haz swung the stool down, albeit slightly slower than he would have if there was only the Hunger to worry about. Hopefully he would hit the right target and hopefully he would stun it.

Posted by: Dantrag Oct 21 2009, 09:10 AM

Dralas

Dralas did as urged and leaned backwards, just quickly enough to allow the stool to pass over him. Right into the daedra's skull.

With the danger gone, he scanned the ground for Rianne's bag. He snatched up the leaves and handed them to Rothan.

"Use these. I think they can help her," he explained.

Next he found his abandoned shortsword. The battle wasn't quite over.

OOC: EDIT: i wrote arrow instead of stool for whatever reason. sorry.

Posted by: Olen Oct 21 2009, 02:24 PM

OOC: What killed the daerda? I thought Haz was going to lamp it with a stool.

Rothan

Rothan dropped to Rianne's side as Haz attacked the hunger. She was bleeding heavily and saying something about green leaves. He ignored her and looked at where the hunger had bitten her. The wound looked messy and blood poured from it. He tore back the shirt, I need water to wash this.... There was none. He put his hands against it and tried a healing spell but he had spent most of his magic on the guard and it was weak but he hadn't the energy to try again so he resorted to holding the wound shut.

There was a crash behind him and he saw the hunger fall with its head mangled. The ashlander man, Dralas if Rothan remembered correctly, passed him some leaves and said they might help. He looked at them critically, they were heart-shaped and not an ingredient he recognised but it was all he had. He thought for a moment, he had no idea of how to apply them. A tea? A paste? Or was it more subtle - burning or needing distillation? No, he thought, the ashlander man had known so it would be simple. And there was no chance of tea so paste would have to do. He moved so only one hadn held the wound shut and picked up a small piece of shattered pottery in the other and began crushing the leaves. Once the paste was smooth enough he took his hand off the wound. More blood dribbled out but he smeared the paste in as best he could then tried another spell.

Posted by: jack cloudy Oct 21 2009, 10:34 PM

Haz

Haz grinned from behind his mask at the sound of wood hitting starved flesh and bone. He'd almost missed, but the Dark Elf's reflexes had been excellent and prevented any accidents. The Ashlander did not wait to finish it off with the dagger he'd been reaching for, instead diving for some sort of bag from which he procured some sort of herbal cure that the Argonian did not recognize.

Haz smacked the stool two more times into the Hunger's body for good measure, kicked it once and then sat down on the bloodied stool. He kept an eye on the fighting, but did not try to join in. As far as he was concerned, he'd cracked enough skulls for today.
"Quite sturdy furniture, and quite lethal. Just what I needed."

"I'm no healer, so I'll let you treat the wound till we can carry her outside." He said in Rothan's direction. Sitting so close to a battlefield, he didn't dare take his eyes off the action for a moment.

Posted by: minque Oct 21 2009, 10:51 PM

Rianne

The incredible pain diminished quite a bit as Rothan rubbed the paste of green leaves into her wound. She was able to focus on other things than her tormented body.

"Ahh, thank you" she said to him, trying one of her more attractive smiles on him. Then she looked around, looked for Dralas...

"Dralas? are you ok?" She stayed lying down for a bit, no hurry, they were all there, and if necessary she would manage to cast her spell again...at least that's what she thought.


She looked at the figure sitting on the bloodied stool...

"Impressive " she smiled

Posted by: jack cloudy Nov 3 2009, 10:01 PM

Haz

Haz turned away from the fighting. It seemed that the woman had regained most of her wits. While he wasn't sure if she was still delusional or not, he thought it might be safe enough to move her now. She was looking at him and smiling, which unnerved him quite a bit.
"Can she see my face? No, I'm certain my eyes are hidden by the shadows of my hood. I should be safe." He thought, subconsciously bowing his head.

"Alright, I'd say I toss the lady onto my back and we get out of here like a pack of scared young...whatevers. I don't like this place one bit." He said, only barely managing to catch himself from naming a distinctly non-native species of animal.

He glanced back at the fighting again. Almost all of the Daedra had been either slain or forced back by now and it looked as if the Armigers were going to achieve a victory, albeit a costly one. However, that would only be if the black armoured stranger would fall in the next few moments. And looking at the growing number of corpses around him, Haz seriously doubted they would be so fortunate.
"Quick, before the spiked one comes for us." He added urgently, leaping up from the stool which tipped over on the floor with a loud clatter.

Posted by: Olen Nov 3 2009, 10:48 PM

Rothan

Rothan nodded, "I'd rather not risk moving her but given the circumstances... Yes it would be safer for us all." He went to take Rianne's legs, "Get her arms," he said, "I'll see if I can get a potion, or at least some ingredients, outside."

The fight was dying down and looked like it would be over before he would finish tending the ashlander woman's wound. Rothan was secretly glad he wouldn't have to enter the ruin again.

Posted by: minque Nov 4 2009, 12:06 AM

Rianne

Rianne whined silently as they lifted her. She was by no meand fully healed and the pain was still there. However she realised they had to get out of there....

"Dralas!, please see to him..where is he? Is he okay?" She was truly concerned

Posted by: jack cloudy Nov 9 2009, 03:06 PM

Haz

Haz looked over his shoulder. Dralas, no doubt the man who'd fought the Hunger.
"Hey! We're leaving! Don't get left behind!" He shouted at the Dunmer, before picking up Rianne with the priest's help.
"The man is alive and standing. Worry for your own sake instead of his." He rasped to the woman as they carried her towards the stairs, as fast as they dared.
"No really, why did I even bother to warn him? Just let him rush into the thick of battle while we flee. It would be one thorn out of my side if he died."

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Nov 20 2009, 10:41 PM

Khallet

Khallet smiled a rabid grin of pure, bloodthirsty joy as his blade slammed home on the ordinator's neck, oblivion-forged steel ripping through sinew and bone. For a moment, the corpse stood there, limp as a half-stuffed ragdoll, before falling to the ground, mace clattering from useless, dead fingers.

Khallet surveyed the scene in front of him, looking for-

The impact was so sudden, so hard, he barely knew what was happening until he was bowled to the ground, his sabre skittering away across the floor.

Almost immediately he scrambled to his feet, just in time to see a large, thick bladed knife descend towards his throat. Acting purely on instinct, he grabbed, somehow managing to stop the descending edge. He looked up, into the eyes of an Imperial, a young one. Hate burned within them, some kind of maddened frenzy that he had not seen outside of the most bloodlust fueled worshippers of Boethia, or his own master.

Khallet twisted and loosened his grip, sending the young man tumbling away. He scrambled towards his own sabre, hoping to finish the fight; the man was unarmoured, and either unprepared for a fight, a master of the blade or a fool. Either way, he would die.

But first, Khallet had more pressing issues to deal with. He scrambled to his knees, reaching out for his sabre. He stretched forward, fingers closing around the hilt.

He screamed in agony as an armoured boot slammed down on his wrist, bone cracking. Khallet gasped, vision blurring in pain. Instinctively, he looked up, to see a dunmer snarling back at him, blade ready to slam down into his heart.

He scrabbled with his free hand for something, anything, sweaty blood coated fingers slipping over the ground. Suddenly found the handle of the ordinator's mace, his fingers closing over its smooth, ebony handle.

He swung upwards wildly, the heavy weapon moving slowly under his sudden weak strength, but it was enough. It slammed into the dunmer's hand, the warrior giving a yell of pain and instinctively stumbling away.

Khallet dragged himself to his feet, mace in his good hand, black blood dripping from his shattered wrist. But he knew he was beaten. He was fighting with his weak hand, his wrist was an inferno of agony and the loss of blood was already making him dizzy.

From nowhere, the Imperial's knife smashed into his chest, punching through his armour, spearing into his heart.

He collapsed, gasping, head spinning. Already, he could feel the very particles that made him up beginning to unravel, dragging him into oblivion. Colours that had no name clawed at the edge of his vision, silent voices screamed of impoverished luxury. The vision of a field of burning hot ice flew before his eyes.

And then it was gone.

Darkness. Nothing. All gone, a tiny, smooth walled cage.

Khallet roared in rage, clawing and grabbing futilely at the walls of his new prison, but it was fruitless. Wherever he was, he was trapped again, denied the possibility of returning to his home.

Erna smiled and tucked the glistening soul gem within his pocket, smirking at his own cleverness. It had been child's play to work a soul trap spell into the summoning, and then cast it on Khallet, and then wait for him to get himself killed. Now he had an extremely angry daedra with him-the perfect insurance should things go awry.

The dunmer glanced around the room, noticing the daedra were already beginning to become depleted, and decided it was time to go. No point falling victim to his own tools.

Posted by: Tellie Nov 27 2009, 08:20 PM

James

James awoke with a grunt as something ran past him. And after two seconds of complete fog in his mind he picked up on the screams of panic. Sure never mind not trampling the sleeping guy.

Angrily he got to his feet and marched towards where he could hear sounds of a big fight, honestly if someone had gotten drunk and knocked over an Orc or perhaps a Nord's ale he'd kill said person for interrupting his sleep.

His thoughts of revenge were stopped when he noticed the deadra doing a terrific job of beating up Ordinators. "Bugger, hehe I'll just go back nice and quietly", he mumbled mostly for himself. He backtracked as silently as he cold when he bumped into something. Something wearing a rather spike set of armour, and lastly it was alive.

Turning slowly he realized that he stood before a rather big Dremora. Honestly James stood at a respectable 6'2 but his head barely reached the chest of the massive Daedra. "Crap", he mumbled and prepared to flee when the muscled arm of the Dremora clamped around his throat and lifted him up so that they stood eye to eye.

"Y-you know...you s-sh-should have k-killed me when y-you had the chance" James managed to gasp. Then he gathered up his magic and released it through his hand as a blinding flash of light so strong that it burned out the Dremora's eyes.

It's ethereal screams echoed around the ruins as it tried to douse the flames. James after getting air back to his lungs went over to the Dremora which was twisting around in pain. He jumped onto its back and grabbed its neck in the nook of his arm and pulled for all his worth, while pushing down with his knee as hard as he could.

With a sickening !CRACK! the Dremora's neck broke and it quickly turned into dust afterwards.

"Serves you right", he quipped at the rapidly vanishing dust.

Posted by: canis216 Nov 29 2009, 04:44 AM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas had cut through a half-dozen scamps and another clannfear before he noticed that the horde was dissipating--low in numbers and in spirit. He applied one last swab of poison to his blade, slashed yet another scamp across the chest, then went over to aid a pair of armigers fighting the last of the hungers. Within moments it was over.

It was only then that Dranas discovered that he was bleeding (though not badly) in four places, and that his armor was once again in a bad way.

"Damn it all, I just spent 20 drakes getting this kit repaired!"

He surveyed the damage more closely. He could fix it himself, he concluded, given six hours to spare. And he'd have that time... would have it so long as he let the repairs wait until he reached the Ghostfence. Was it worth the risk? He decided it was.

That train of thought concluded, Dranas scanned the wreckage from the fight. Everyone looked badly beaten of course, including Apelles Velvus, who'd been unlucky enough to join the row unarmored. And then there were the dead--that's what really caught Dranas' eye. In particular, one poor fellow who'd fallen in his very very fine glass armor. Sure would be a shame to let that go to waste, Dranas thought. He strode over to the fallen figure with a purpose, ignoring the sudden appearance of a young, tall Breton. Forget combat--now it was time for commerce.

Posted by: Dantrag Nov 29 2009, 07:14 AM

Dralas

The fight was dying down, but Dralas nonetheless held his sword ready as he walked alongside the trio. Rothan and the pilgrim were carrying Rianne to safety, but if they came across trouble, the hunter was the only one with a free hand.

They ran (or moved as quickly as possible while carrying a person) through the dark corridors that led to the other side of the ruins where the caravan rested outside. No monsters hindered them, but a small group of guards shoved past them to clean up the few remaining daedra.

When they made it outside, the sunlight hurt Dralas' eyes; a result of time spent in the darkness of the ruin. There was a number of dead and wounded laid out in rows on the grass. The daedra did their work well, it seemed. A few priests and alcemists milled about, tending the patients. They put Rianne down among them.

"How do you feel?" he asked her.

OOC: if i moved things too fast, i'll edit. i just didn't see much else to do inside.

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Nov 29 2009, 12:37 PM

Erna

Well, it was done, and Erna was pleased.

It was a good plan, as his spur of the moment ones went. The cramped, confined room had become a killing ground, and even though the guards were now dealing with the last of the daedra, the damage had been done.

The temple would be considered a no-go area, and without a doubt the caravans would avoid it, putting yet more pressure on the fence, which, if the rumours Erna had heard were true, was already struggling. As well as that, he had reclaimed Mehrunes Dagon's territory-hopefully his master would notice and there would be a reward.

He clambered up the stairs, into the sunlight, and smiled.

Today had been a good day.

Posted by: jack cloudy Nov 29 2009, 07:14 PM

Haz OOC: I really need to think of something to do for Eno one of these days. Meh, he'll probably end up sitting at camp listening to other people's stories. Maybe he should pick up writing and become a chronicler or something. Anyway, back to our scheduled piece of Argonian.


With the Ashlander's help, Rothan and Haz got away unscathed. Haz left the choosing of their path to the priest, who knew better than him when it came down to finding other healers. In the end, Rothan led them outside, to a place that had both become an improvised ward for the wounded, and a morgue. Still following Rothan's directions, Haz managed to lower Rianne down to the floor in a way that would put minimal strain on her injured body. He hadn't even let go of her arms when Dralas knelt down beside her to ask her how she felt. The Argonian shrugged, happy to let the woman have all the attention. Perhaps now he could get back to what he should have been doing in the first place, finding something with which to cover his slave bracers.

Originally their glow had been hidden by some simple paint that was meant to be washed off with water once at Ghostgate. But the Scamp's fireball had managed to burn that off. Haz concluded that the bustling chaos all around him, and everyone's focus on the wounded and the dead, was the only reason why no one had really noticed. Well, no one except Rothan.

The Argonian's eyes surveyed the scene as he stood next to the two Ashlanders. What caught his eyes was a roll of bandages that had fallen from one healer's bag. Seeing as how it was now dirty with ash and he still had other bandages, the healer had carried on towards his patients without slowing down. Haz made a quick check to make sure no one was watching what he was doing, before scooping it up.
"This will do. And besides, I can always say I got injured in the fighting if anyone asks." He thought as he began to wrap the bracers with the bandage, shielding his actions from any potential observer with his sleeves.

Posted by: minque Dec 3 2009, 11:10 PM

Rianne

She was mostly conscious when she was carried away from the fight scene by Rothan and the pilgrim.

Who is he? and what is that shining thing on his arm?

Then Dralas showed up and she forgot about everything else. When he asked her how she was, she was tempted to say OK for a second, but she surely didn't look as she was anything near ok so instead she whispered:

"I'm alive...that's all that matters, but please could you take out the worn and dirty parchment from my backpack....read the runes for me, you'll recognize them when you see them..please Dralas..it must be you who reads them..."



OOC: Yes Rianne noticed the bracelet on Haz' arm but she still hasn't actually seen what it is. If you're not ok with this I'll edit!

Posted by: jack cloudy Dec 4 2009, 05:47 PM

OOC: Well, he did carry her so it's not odd at all that she would catch a glimpse or two of the glowing arm decoration of doom. So no need to edit. With that said....
Eno

Eno had done as he'd been told, or threatened more accurately. He stuck with the unconscious soldier, till some clerks unceremoniously picked the man up and carried him over to the improvised healing office. Now Eno was loitering at the edge of the camp next to his Guar. He had taken out the Kagouti bone and continued the long job of hollowing it out, grateful for the distraction.

"Hey, you!" Someone shouted. Eno dropped what he was doing and looked up, the panic returning in his eyes. He was convinced that the Daedra had broken through and this man was here to tell him to run.
"Get your Guar ready. We're moving by nightfall." The Dunmer continued. Eno now saw that he was wearing the robes of a temple official. At least the crowd behind the man seemed unaware of a rampaging horde of monsters. Maybe they were safe after all.
"Nightfall? But we can't do that. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there at night?" Eno stammered.

"Do YOU have any idea how dangerous it is if we stay?" The priest countered, turning towards the other members of the caravan as he did so. "As the temple's representative of this camp, I command everyone who is able to walk to prepare themselves. Take everything you can carry, prioritizing food supplies. Leave behind all jewelry and other weight that is unneeded for your survival. Do not question my orders! We're leaving by nightfall."


OOC: Good enough? If you guys had rather have someone with a different profession take charge, then let's just assume that this guy is just relaying orders.

Posted by: Tellie Dec 4 2009, 09:27 PM

QUOTE(jack cloudy @ Dec 4 2009, 05:47 PM) *

OOC: Well, he did carry her so it's not odd at all that she would catch a glimpse or two of the glowing arm decoration of doom. So no need to edit. With that said....
Eno

Eno had done as he'd been told, or threatened more accurately. He stuck with the unconscious soldier, till some clerks unceremoniously picked the man up and carried him over to the improvised healing office. Now Eno was loitering at the edge of the camp next to his Guar. He had taken out the Kagouti bone and continued the long job of hollowing it out, grateful for the distraction.

"Hey, you!" Someone shouted. Eno dropped what he was doing and looked up, the panic returning in his eyes. He was convinced that the Daedra had broken through and this man was here to tell him to run.
"Get your Guar ready. We're moving by nightfall." The Dunmer continued. Eno now saw that he was wearing the robes of a temple official. At least the crowd behind the man seemed unaware of a rampaging horde of monsters. Maybe they were safe after all.
"Nightfall? But we can't do that. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there at night?" Eno stammered.

"Do YOU have any idea how dangerous it is if we stay?" The priest countered, turning towards the other members of the caravan as he did so. "As the temple's representative of this camp, I command everyone who is able to walk to prepare themselves. Take everything you can carry, prioritizing food supplies. Leave behind all jewelry and other weight that is unneeded for your survival. Do not question my orders! We're leaving by nightfall."


OOC: Good enough? If you guys had rather have someone with a different profession take charge, then let's just assume that this guy is just relaying orders.



James.

James shook his head at the stupidity of the priest, really moving at night, with daedra and the Divines knew what else after them. Angrily he moved over to where the priest stood, it was practically his civic duty to try and dissuade them from leaving.

"Listen, I realize that you must have been one of the unfortunate ones when it came to distribution of intelligence, but why do we have to move at night when we have a perfectly defendable daedra ruin to stay in...for the night at least".

OOC: Yes he is cranky after being nearly trampled and killed.

Posted by: canis216 Dec 5 2009, 10:31 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas was limping back to his camp (he'd managed to heal his wounds, but now was sore from exertion) when he overhead the Breton berating the Temple priest. He couldn't resist piping up.

"Hell, it's going to take a couple hours anyway for all these slackers here to get set to leave--and that's ignoring all the wounded we've got to deal with. So I'd suggest both of you quit your bellyaching and see to your own gear. I don't want to get all my outfit ready and then have to stand around and wait."

Satisfied that he'd been heard, Dranas lit up a hackle-lo (easing his aching body, if only a little) and walked away.

Posted by: Tellie Dec 5 2009, 10:57 PM

QUOTE(canis216 @ Dec 5 2009, 10:31 PM) *

Dranas Heleran

Dranas was limping back to his camp (he'd managed to heal his wounds, but now was sore from exertion) when he overhead the Breton berating the Temple priest. He couldn't resist piping up.

"Hell, it's going to take a couple hours anyway for all these slackers here to get set to leave--and that's ignoring all the wounded we've got to deal with. So I'd suggest both of you quit your bellyaching and see to your own gear. I don't want to get all my outfit ready and then have to stand around and wait."

Satisfied that he'd been heard, Dranas lit up a hackle-lo (easing his aching body, if only a little) and walked away.


James.

James gaped in self righteous outrage, here he was exercising his talented wit at the unuspecting Temple prist and then some...twit had the gall to show up and berate HIM...that just wouldn't do.

"That's...completely beside the point", he yelled at Dranas retreating back. "Not my fault that other people have unpacked their stuff for some reason", he continued to mumble for himself.

Now even more grumpy he tore into the priest again. "Well, have your steaming pile of ineptidue that you call a brain come up with a decision yet or do require me to bring out parchment and ink so that I may draw a crude sketch of my suggestion?"

Posted by: jack cloudy Dec 6 2009, 09:43 PM

Priest.

The priest was now fuming. That someone, or rather three now, had dared to talk back to him was bad enough, but that one of them was an outlander of all things was just too much.
"Was your advice requested? I think not, Outlander! And even if it had been, you are in no position to give it. In case you haven't noticed, this here is not your nice, hospitable and oh so convenient homeland! This is Vvardenfell and if you had been born here, you would know what's best and what's not. But since you aren't, your only options are to stay with those who do know and do what they do, or go off on your own and see your lifespan significantly reduced. Now if you are willing to take MY advice, I suggest you get ready for the journey because if you are still sitting on your....posterior when we're ready to leave, then you may find out just how safe this ruin is all by yourself. I hope you'll enjoy it!" He snapped at the Breton, who was the most obnoxious of the bunch in his mind.

Eno

Eno shook his head.
"Well, there go my wares. Come on, youngster. Don't agitate him any further. He is a priest after all. And the temple is...close with those who guard us." He muttered, hoping that James got the hint. There was always the possibility that those Daedra hadn't just come out of nowhere, but had rather been summoned at the moment the caravan was weakest. With everything that had happened, all the people, friends and colleagues who had died, he knew that the choice to seek someone, anyone to blame for it all was a tempting one. And if so, who better to blame than a loudmouthed outlander? Eno himself preferred not to think about what could happen if they had a summoner in their midst.

The first impression he'd received of James wasn't a good one either, but it had convinced him that the man was if anything, at least not a summoner. He was too blunt for that.

Posted by: Tellie Dec 6 2009, 10:14 PM

QUOTE(jack cloudy @ Dec 6 2009, 09:43 PM) *

Priest.

The priest was now fuming. That someone, or rather three now, had dared to talk back to him was bad enough, but that one of them was an outlander of all things was just too much.
"Was your advice requested? I think not, Outlander! And even if it had been, you are in no position to give it. In case you haven't noticed, this here is not your nice, hospitable and oh so convenient homeland! This is Vvardenfell and if you had been born here, you would know what's best and what's not. But since you aren't, your only options are to stay with those who do know and do what they do, or go off on your own and see your lifespan significantly reduced. Now if you are willing to take MY advice, I suggest you get ready for the journey because if you are still sitting on your....posterior when we're ready to leave, then you may find out just how safe this ruin is all by yourself. I hope you'll enjoy it!" He snapped at the Breton, who was the most obnoxious of the bunch in his mind.

Eno

Eno shook his head.
"Well, there go my wares. Come on, youngster. Don't agitate him any further. He is a priest after all. And the temple is...close with those who guard us." He muttered, hoping that James got the hint. There was always the possibility that those Daedra hadn't just come out of nowhere, but had rather been summoned at the moment the caravan was weakest. With everything that had happened, all the people, friends and colleagues who had died, he knew that the choice to seek someone, anyone to blame for it all was a tempting one. And if so, who better to blame than a loudmouthed outlander? Eno himself preferred not to think about what could happen if they had a summoner in their midst.

The first impression he'd received of James wasn't a good one either, but it had convinced him that the man was if anything, at least not a summoner. He was too blunt for that.


James.

James sighed and pinched his nose, really was he the only one in this bunch who possessed an intelligence higher than that of a rat?

"As you wish your worshipfulness", he sneered to the priest before turning to the other man who had adviced him to shut up, albeit in a nice way at least.

"Very well, its for the best I suppose, must not hurt his mind with big words...name is james by the way", he said to Eno.

Posted by: Dantrag Dec 7 2009, 05:31 AM

QUOTE(minque @ Dec 3 2009, 05:10 PM) *

Rianne

She was mostly conscious when she was carried away from the fight scene by Rothan and the pilgrim.

Who is he? and what is that shining thing on his arm?

Then Dralas showed up and she forgot about everything else. When he asked her how she was, she was tempted to say OK for a second, but she surely didn't look as she was anything near ok so instead she whispered:

"I'm alive...that's all that matters, but please could you take out the worn and dirty parchment from my backpack....read the runes for me, you'll recognize them when you see them..please Dralas..it must be you who reads them..."


Dralas

Dralas soon figured out why he had to be the one to read the scroll, as the incantation was in the language of the ashlands. He spoke the words, and watched as the magicka did its work. Rianne seemed better almost immediately, and he smiled at her before looking up to see his helpers.

The priest was still with them, but the pilgrim had already went his own way. Dralas spotted him crouched among the wounded.

"Thanks...Rothan, was it?" he said, trying to remember the dunmer's name, "I don't know if we could have made it out without you and your friend."

Posted by: jack cloudy Dec 7 2009, 07:48 PM

OOC: Now that I think about it, wasn't Dralas injured as well? Stabbed in the arm by a Hunger?

Eno

Eno felt inapropriately amused at James insistence on taking a final stab at the priest. So he made a little bow to the man.
"Eno Arval, a pleasure to make your aquaintance." He replied, before looking at the Kagouti bone he was still holding.
"Well, I suppose this counts as too heavy and not required for survival. It's a shame really, I was looking forward to the months of work on it. Ah well, such is life." He said with a shrug, and unceremoniously dropped it in the dust.
"So we're abandoning this place. While I admit I'd rather not stay here another second, leaving at this point is indeed, about as foolish as staying. And I'm not just saying that because of the regular dangers, but also because it appears that a good half of the caravan had decided to celebrate their arrival at the half-way mark." He noted, castinga glance over his shoulder.
"The healers had better find some way to sober everyone up quick, or things will only get worse."

Posted by: Tellie Dec 7 2009, 08:46 PM

QUOTE(jack cloudy @ Dec 7 2009, 07:48 PM) *

OOC: Now that I think about it, wasn't Dralas injured as well? Stabbed in the arm by a Hunger?

Eno

Eno felt inapropriately amused at James insistence on taking a final stab at the priest. So he made a little bow to the man.
"Eno Arval, a pleasure to make your aquaintance." He replied, before looking at the Kagouti bone he was still holding.
"Well, I suppose this counts as too heavy and not required for survival. It's a shame really, I was looking forward to the months of work on it. Ah well, such is life." He said with a shrug, and unceremoniously dropped it in the dust.
"So we're abandoning this place. While I admit I'd rather not stay here another second, leaving at this point is indeed, about as foolish as staying. And I'm not just saying that because of the regular dangers, but also because it appears that a good half of the caravan had decided to celebrate their arrival at the half-way mark." He noted, castinga glance over his shoulder.
"The healers had better find some way to sober everyone up quick, or things will only get worse."



James.

James smiled, here was a man of his own taste...that meaning nothing more than not being an inbred swine, and he could appreciate a good insult.

James Pathertrory is the name...sneaking about is the game, and the pleasure is mine Mr.Arval...though if these inept sheep are stupid enough to drink a Nord under the table after an attack like this then they deserve to enjoy the fruits of the next morning...though I suppose I could mix up a healing draught that tastes bad enough that they'll shudder at the mere mention of alcohol for years after".

James shrugged for himself as he dragged out his alchemy set from a bag that shouldn't be able to even hold a potion flask.

"So should we add an extract of warm liquid Kagouti droppings, or fresh troll vomit for some nice seasoning?"

Posted by: Olen Dec 7 2009, 08:56 PM

Rothan

"Yes it is Rothan," he said nodding to the ashlander, "You must remember that the temple teaches compassion, even if the ordinators sometimes," he paused, "focus elsewhere."

He turned his attention back to Rianne and was surprised by the power of the healing spell the scroll had contained. "How are you?" he asked Rianne. Half turning to Dralas so he spoke to both he asked, "What was the plant you gave me, it had green heart shaped leaves? I didn't recognise it."

The woman seemed to know about healing, and the scroll hadn't been made by some idiot conjurer...

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Dec 7 2009, 10:37 PM

Erna

Well, it was over. A pity really, come to think of it.

Still, the damage had been done. Hopefully he could get people in enough of a panic about daedra possibly coming back that he could get them moving. The chances of them breaking through the walls of reality were actually fairly small, but people were jittery and on edge after the attack. And if a caravan was picked off whilst travelling then it would only add to the strain the construction site was suffering.

He might be killed, but that wouldn't be the end of the world. He was smart, he could slip away from an attack. Hell, worst case scenario, he had a common target with the temple; some of the blight-creatures were smart, and he could probably persuade them that he could lend a hand.

Still, he needed to get the caravan moving.

He went and found his guar, grabbing the creature's reins, before moving round to the temple's open yard where a frantic looking priest was trying to get things organised.

"Excuse me sir," he called, loud enough to be heard. "When are we moving?"

OOC: Yes, it's the same priest that Rothan and James were talking to.

Posted by: minque Dec 8 2009, 12:30 AM

Rianne

"I'm much better, thank you!" she smiled at Rothan "I do know some useful things now and then" she continued

"Those leaves...eh they're growing near the Ahemmusa Camp, our Wise Woman has always used them for healing wounds...deep wounds, and you did the right thing by crushing them into a paste..maybe you, too, know some useful things now and then?"

She noticed there was some paste left and took it in her hand to warm it up.

"Dralas! Come let me put this on the wound in your arm!"

She then turned to Rothan;

"I don't know about that Breton, he makes me feel uneasy, but that's maybe because he's just that...a Breton. Anyway if you would be so kind and help me...maybe you could find some water? I'm planning to prepare some drinks for us..."

While she had been speaking to Rothan she also rubbed the green paste into the wound in Dralas' arm. The ashlander didn't say a word, even though she knew it hurt, but with the ain came relief...or was it the words she whispered afterwards?

muskler, dra er samman

That done she took out a black, somewhat shimmering bottle from her pack...and looked at it sternly, while she once again whispered some words, nobody but Dralas would understand, but maybe he didn't hear. He was sitting on the ground, all silent...

Well if this won't pick us up, nothing will! I hope he'll find water...this must be diluted

Rianne smiled faintly...at nobody

Posted by: Dantrag Dec 8 2009, 03:06 AM

Dralas

Dralas let Rianne tend his wound, but he also let his mind wander. He didn't know what caused the daedra attack, and he doubted anyone else did. Dralas suddenly remembered that he'd dropped his bow inside the ruin as he watched those around him rush to get things packed and moving again.

We left Morrie at that cave, too...

Rianne said something, but he didn't know exactly what. He did know, however, that he felt much better all of a sudden, and he wasn't about to be punished for losing Temple materials.

"Thanks," he said to Rianne, stretching his newly-healed arm as if testing its functionality, "We need to get Morrie, though. I'll go fetch him and meet you back here."

Posted by: Olen Dec 8 2009, 11:31 AM

Rothan

"I don't know about that Breton, he makes me feel uneasy, but that's maybe because he's just that...a Breton. Anyway if you would be so kind and help me...maybe you could find some water? I'm planning to prepare some drinks for us..." said Rianne.

Rothan wandered which Breton she meant as he turn to fetch water then he saw Eno and a man he didn't recognise arguing with a priest. He didn't blame them, though he could only see the back of the templeman's head he thought he recognised the mer as being a bit full of himself. He took a closer look at the Breton then shrugged. There was nothing he could see wrong but there was something about the ashlander he couldn't quite place.

He started off to get a skin of water from the healers and vaguely wandered what sort of drink Rianne had meant. Was it some ashlander custom? Either way he intended to accept, not just to show courtesy but if he got the chance there were a couple of ashlander legends sourced in the heretical book he carried which would be wrong, of course, but nonetheless he wanted to confirm himself. When no one was listening, of course. He picked up a waterskin and a healer glanced up but saw his robes and ignored him.

When he arrived back where the ashlanders had been he noticed Dralas had gone. "Water," he said handing the skin to Rianne.

Posted by: jack cloudy Dec 8 2009, 10:11 PM

Eno

Eno winced.
"Ugh, both sound horrid enough to make the dead fly up and strangle a racer." He said.
"Which I suppose, might be the whole point. Although, I believe they started drinking before the attack. Since the guards managed to contain the Daedra to the shrine itself, I bet these fellows never even noticed a thing. Lucky them. I envy them." He rambled on, watching James work with his questionable ingredients.
"Or maybe I don't. Yes, I definitely don't."

The man chuckled despite himself. Somehow, James attitude was refreshing. He felt himself getting caught up in it.
"If it's horrible things we're looking for, I've got a good two dozen flutes in my bags. Fine pieces of craftmanship if I might say so myself, but never ever let the maker himself play them. That should provide an alternative tool if you run out of....droppings and vomit."

The priest with no name

The priest looked up from his doings. It wasn't the first time he'd been asked questions regarding the evacuation but unlike the other times, this one was worded politely.
"Totally unlike that miserable outlander." He thought to himself.
"When do we leave? If all things go right, we should be ready to move in two or three hours, good sir. If you would happen to require help gathering your goods, please don't hesitate to enlist the aid of one of our clerks."


Posted by: Colonel Mustard Dec 8 2009, 10:37 PM

Erna

Two or three hours? It would be nice and dark then, perfect.

"Excellent," he said, smiling. "Thank you very much."

It seemed that Erna's work had been done for him. Of course, the chances of them being actually attacked were small, but there was chance.

Still, even if it wasn't, the fun would really start once he reached the Ghostgate.

Posted by: Tellie Dec 8 2009, 11:10 PM

QUOTE(jack cloudy @ Dec 8 2009, 10:11 PM) *

Eno

Eno winced.
"Ugh, both sound horrid enough to make the dead fly up and strangle a racer." He said.
"Which I suppose, might be the whole point. Although, I believe they started drinking before the attack. Since the guards managed to contain the Daedra to the shrine itself, I bet these fellows never even noticed a thing. Lucky them. I envy them." He rambled on, watching James work with his questionable ingredients.
"Or maybe I don't. Yes, I definitely don't."

The man chuckled despite himself. Somehow, James attitude was refreshing. He felt himself getting caught up in it.
"If it's horrible things we're looking for, I've got a good two dozen flutes in my bags. Fine pieces of craftmanship if I might say so myself, but never ever let the maker himself play them. That should provide an alternative tool if you run out of....droppings and vomit."


James.

James grinned at Eno. "You my friend is one unique person...in a good way of course, now I'll go with the droppings today and save the vomit for another occasion".

What followed were a few minutes of furious brewing before James poured the potion into a small flask. Amazingly enough the potion was completely odourless so no one should suspect anything. Briefly looking around for his first victim James grinned as he spotted the priest and then walked over.

"Pardon my good sir but I realized that I spoke hastily before and was quite rude as well, instead I should have listened to your wisdom...may I beg your forgiveness with an offer of fine spring water bought in Mournhold's grand temple and blessed by Almalexia herself?"

James held poured out some of the potion in a cup and held it out towards the priest, hopefully the careful flattery about the temple and of course obvious stroking of the man's ego would fool him into drinking it.

OOC: Imagine the worst smell and taste you can and multiply it with ten and it should give you an inkling to how bad it tastes...though it should give them an amazing rush of strength and clear the mind to sharp levels. Have fun with the explanation of the taste Jackie

Posted by: minque Dec 9 2009, 11:43 PM

Rianne

She was satisfied with her healing of Dralas' arm, it worked out well, and Sinnamu Mirpal would have been pleased with her.

"Ok, you go and get Morrie, I'll fix some fortification for us"

She noticed in the corner of her eye that the Breton did some alchemical experiment...

I wonder...he's just so strange, I'm a bit afraid of him actually

When Rothan returned he had a whole skin full of water with him..

"Excellent! Now open it up so I can pour this in it!" Rianne added just a few drops of the liquid in the black shimmering bottle to the water. A grey thin smoke appeared at the opening of the skin.

She smiled, now they were set.

"Ok," she said in a somewhat higher voice. "Come here everybody, I got something for you, to pick you up"

She then turned to Rothan "Would you like to be the first to try?" she asked him politely

Behind her she noticed some commotion.

Is it Dralas???



OOC: This potion is, on the contrary to James' very well tasting. In fact it makes you want more! It's effect is not as dramatic as James' might be...but it lasts a loooooooooooooooong time. It's naturally an ashlander secret

Posted by: Olen Dec 10 2009, 01:23 AM

Rothan

Rothan looked uneasily at the smoke which still drifted from the skin's neck. He dismissed any idea that Rianne was trying to poison the caravan off hand but was still curious.

"What is it?" he asked, "A stimulant I assume but what? I've never seen hackle-lo tea smoke before," he paused, "But if it's safe then yes I'll have some. I think I'll want it by the end of tonight." He took the proffered skin and waited for a response.


Posted by: minque Dec 10 2009, 01:34 AM

Rianne

Rianne smiled, she was familiar with others being suspcious of her drinks and other "things"

"No, no, it's not hackle-lo! Then again I do have that stuff also, no this is made from a special variety of ....a common flower, but I can't tell you which one. But you can trust me this will actually do you good! Taste good as well!"

"I suppose you won't be more releived if Dralas would tell you it's ok, you donät trust us ashlanders, do you?"

Posted by: Olen Dec 10 2009, 11:45 AM

Rothan

"After this morning I hardly think you can blame me for having doubts," he said. Was Rianne so different from those that had attacked the caravan? Somehow yes. He took a swig of the potion. It tasted flowery and ever so slightly sweet, like a lady's perfume but not so overpowering. He could feel it taking effect too. A mild burn in his muscles and a feeling of alertness, like hackle-lo but with none of the jitters which often accompanied it.

He passed the skin back to Rianne, "That's good stuff. Would any ashlander know how to make it?"

Posted by: minque Dec 11 2009, 04:35 PM

Rianne

She smiled at Rothan...

"No...just Wise Women and their students..."

Posted by: jack cloudy Dec 13 2009, 08:09 PM

Priestly guy

The priest looked up, a sneer already forming on his face. A sneer that made place for a pleasant smile upon hearing the Breton's apology.
"So even that stupid Outlander can learn. I should accept his gift with grace." He thought.
"I would be honoured with such a gift. Please, do not worry yourself. It is the nature of ALMSIVI to be forgiving, an example as to what we must aspire to become." He said as he accepted the cup and brought it to his lips.

SSSSCCERRRRREEEETTTTCHHHH!!!!! (OOC: Really painful sound)

So appalling was the sudden sound that the priest dropped the cup in shock.
"What in the name of....Cut that out, old man!" He snapped at Eno. The instrument-maker lowered the flute with an innocent expression.
"Ah, most sorry. I just felt like performing some music. I hope I didn't bother you?" He humbly spoke.
"That's no music! Not even Ur would aprove of such madness!" The priest shouted back. It was then that he noticed the 'spring water' that had been spilled onto the ash.
"And look, you made me waste the holy water!"

Eno took on a suitably ashamed expression.
"Ah, most sorry." He mumbled.
"Just make sure you never try to make this 'music' again!" The priest snapped one last time before stomping off. As soon as he was out of earshot, Eno dropped the act and shook his head.
"Seriously, James. Do you have a dead wish? As far as flattery goes, that would have worked just brilliantly...if it had been average not necessarily blessed water. But with that stuff...were you planning on making him think you're an anti-temple poisoner? If you want to feed it to anyone, feed it to the drunks. Don't feed it to the guy who would surely have the nearest Ordinator turn your skull to mush." He scolded the Breton. Then, he shrugged.
"Ah well, at least he believes it was holy water. So he won't be going out of his way to harm you out of spite now."


OOC: I know, I chickened out by not giving myself a chance to describe the taste. I just thought that the last thing James could use was having the priest dislike him even more.




Posted by: Tellie Dec 13 2009, 10:04 PM

QUOTE(jack cloudy @ Dec 13 2009, 08:09 PM) *

Priestly guy



So appalling was the sudden sound that the priest dropped the cup in shock.
"What in the name of....Cut that out, old man!" He snapped at Eno. The instrument-maker lowered the flute with an innocent expression.
"Ah, most sorry. I just felt like performing some music. I hope I didn't bother you?" He humbly spoke.
"That's no music! Not even Ur would aprove of such madness!" The priest shouted back. It was then that he noticed the 'spring water' that had been spilled onto the ash.
"And look, you made me waste the holy water!"

Eno took on a suitably ashamed expression.
"Ah, most sorry." He mumbled.
"Just make sure you never try to make this 'music' again!" The priest snapped one last time before stomping off. As soon as he was out of earshot, Eno dropped the act and shook his head.
"Seriously, James. Do you have a dead wish? As far as flattery goes, that would have worked just brilliantly...if it had been average not necessarily blessed water. But with that stuff...were you planning on making him think you're an anti-temple poisoner? If you want to feed it to anyone, feed it to the drunks. Don't feed it to the guy who would surely have the nearest Ordinator turn your skull to mush." He scolded the Breton. Then, he shrugged.
"Ah well, at least he believes it was holy water. So he won't be going out of his way to harm you out of spite now."


OOC: I know, I chickened out by not giving myself a chance to describe the taste. I just thought that the last thing James could use was having the priest dislike him even more.



James

James sulking at the wasted opportunity turned to relief once he thought about the situation. "Thanks, I must have acted a tad to hasty...it's just that I get so depressed when proof of man and mer-kind's ineptitude is constantly thrown in my face".

"Still I'll take your words into consideration and start to help these 'misguided' souls, say would you mind following me and play some music to brighten up their day?"

OOC: No prob, there is still a load of drunks to sober up.

Posted by: Olen Dec 14 2009, 11:06 PM

Rothan

For a moment Rothan couldn't speak. He looked at the ashlander woman carefully, "So your a Wise Woman, or studying to be one?" he asked, "Perhaps, in a place less..." he paused for the word, "Open to eavesdropping I might ask you some questions?"

The ashlanders passed stories from wise woman to wise woman, its how their history was told. There were some major discrepancies between the stories and his doctrine in certain areas which distressed him, if perhaps he heard the story fresh, as it were, it might settle his mind.

Posted by: minque Dec 15 2009, 12:06 AM

Rianne

She looked carefully at Rothan and smiled to his astonished looks

"Yes, I am studying to be a Wise Woman, and have been doing that for as long as I can remember, the wise women are chosen when they are very young. You are welcome to ask me a question"

She did remember her good manners....

Posted by: Olen Dec 15 2009, 01:14 AM

Rothan

Rothan paused, was it wise to ask here and now with so many priests about? No. But would he necessarily get another chance? It was too good to miss, and it wasn't heresy to hear if the tales were true. Maybe they were all fabricated by the heretics.

"You have legends," he started, knowing he would have to be careful, "Or at least I've read you have, about the origin of blessed Almsivi's power. I believe these are different to our writings and would like to hear them." He held up a hand to forestall any protest, "I do not ask as a test or as perhaps the ordinators would, I am simply interested. Interested and troubled, you seem to know much of our culture for an ashlander so I would also ask where you believe the truth lies."

He stopped, there was something powerful in letting his thoughts outside the confines of his mind. It made them real, and he couldn't deny them at will. He shivered slightly and glanced to make sure they weren't overheard.

Posted by: Dantrag Dec 28 2009, 09:00 PM

Dralas

Dralas returned, with Morrie the guar on a leash behind him. He knew nothing of the current conversation, but he did notice that Rothan looked a little tense.

He busied himself by securing Morrie's cargo, and pinched a bit more of the Temple's hackle-lo. He sat on a rock and began rolling the leaf while he listened and waited.

The rest of the caravaners were also packing up to leave, but there was no telling how long it would take to get this number of people moving again after such a crisis.

Posted by: minque Dec 29 2009, 03:35 AM

Rianne

Rianne felt awkward, she knew she wasn't allowed to speak of her Tribe's legends, since she wasn't really a Wise Woman yet, she still had to take the rites before she could actually practise. She sighed.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you what you want to hear" she answered Rothan "I'm not a real Wise Woman, I'm just studying to be one, but the fact that I know a little bit of your culture is that I've been traveling a lot and there were visitors to our camp, and since I like to speak to people I learned a lot"

In the corner of her eye she noticed Dralas approaching...with Morrie all set and clear, that was indeed a relief!

"Dralas! good you're here, I reckon we've got allour gear and we shuld be ready to leave"

Rianne went over to her friend and asked if she could have a hackle-lo

"I'll really need one" she muttered

Posted by: Dantrag Dec 29 2009, 08:30 AM

Dralas

"We can share this one," he said, taking a breath of smoke before handing it to her. He noticed ordinators milling about, telling people to fall in line. It wouldn't be long before one came their way. Up ahead, the caravan was already on the move.

Dralas looked at Rianne, who was passing the hackle-lo back to him, and glanced back up to see a bonemold face staring at him.

"Finish gathering your things and start moving," the ordinator said in a raspy voice, "The journey to Ghostgate is not easy, but follow orders and we'll all get there alive."

Dralas nodded to the guard, took another puff, and gave the last of it to Rianne.

He stood with a sigh and grabbed Morrie's leash. No part of him wanted to resume the journey just yet. He was still tired from the first leg and stressed from the fight; their stay at the halfway camp had been less than restful. He wasn't the only one, he knew. Many caravaners were dragging their feet, while others could barely keep their eyes open. Not to mention that the majority of them were still terrified from the appearance of daedra.

There was no more stalling. The caravan moved, and they all went with it.

Posted by: minque Dec 29 2009, 11:45 PM

Rianne

Rianne finished the last of the hackle-lo, and thought about how to get more of that stuff, but there would be opportunities she thought.

Looking at her appearance she was a tad worried. The long thick shirt she had borrowed from Dralas was now pretty dirty and also stained with blood, but there was no time to think more about that, she was happy to even have a shirt!

So she started walking beside Dralas and Morrie...silently singing a tune

Her hand happened to touch Dralas' when they held Morrie's leash, Rianne took the opportunity to squeeze it very short, Dralas would understand...she looked at him and smiled...

Posted by: jack cloudy Jan 6 2010, 06:55 PM

Fastforward quickly to the forward construction site, aka ghostgate.

The caravan marched and marched, resting only when they could march no more. Perhaps in the hands of other men, the leaders would have realized that the chance of Daedric pursuit was slim and if it happened, not even the Ordinators and Armigers would be rested enough to provide stiff resistance. Yet the leadership was gripped by fear and at the edge of madness, and would hear no pleas for a calmer pace.

When the caravan arrived at the construction site, it was a sorry sight. While its numbers were far greater than expected and its arrival nearly a full two days ahead of schedule, exhaustion had reduced most travelers to a subdued mob whose only wish was to rest, and not rise from their slumber for days.


OOC: Ok, that's my forward post. Feel free to suggest alterations and stuff.

Posted by: Dantrag Jan 7 2010, 08:25 AM

Dralas

Dralas lifted his weary eyes to finally see their destination. It was far from pretty, but it did offer the promise of rest soon to come, and that thought kept Dralas' feet moving.

Lines were formed (again) and they waited to be seen. Assignments and reassignments were made, and the Temple made sure that its goods were returned. He and Rianne stuck together as usual, and after a long time standing, his turn finally came.

"Name?"

"Dralas Lasamsi,"

"It says here you were entrusted with Temple supply sacks. Do you have them?"

"I do," he unstrapped the ties holding the sacks to Morrie. Two workers took them away while the clerk scribbled. Dralas gave a small sigh of relief, as there had been no notice of his small hackle-lo theft.

"Almost done here," he said, pausing for a moment to read, "It says here you signed on for construction, but your first choice of work was scouting, correct?"

Dralas nodded.

"Hmm...still no escort slots open, so I will assign you to a construction team," he flipped through a few more pages, "Alright, you will need to report to the eastern barracks. Normally, you would go tomorrow, but we got word that your caravan encountered some trouble, and since you're all early anyway, the decision was made to allow you all to rest. Be there at dawn, three days from now."

"So I'm done?"

"Just one more thing. You are worker number 4907. Remember this number, as you will need it when you come back here for your pay."

Posted by: Olen Jan 7 2010, 02:50 PM

Rothan

While the rest of the caravan went to return temple supplies or to report to superiors Rothan was left feeling unneeded. The march had been tiring but he hadn't suffered nearly as much as the least fit and, anyway, felt restless. He decided to take a look around the construction site.

It nestled in a bowl in the hills gouged by the fires of the great crater in Red Mountain whose ash blown slopes dominated the view to the north. He shivered to think what lay within and was glad it was north and they would not have to lie in its shadow. The ground was ashy mainly but in places edges of twisted rock reached upward as if writhing, frozen in their agony. It was a bleak place for dark thoughts.

Only the deep foundations of the keep they were building which was to be the only portal through the fence had any look of permanence, the other structures were mainly glorified tents with the occasional larger structure hastily thrown together in cheap wood. He glanced back the way they'd come, a deep gouge in the landscape marked Foyada Mamaea with a few narrow paths climbing away from it up the mountains. A larger valley, though still dark and narrow, led towards Ald'ruhn, but it was off limits, too dangerous. On the other side the foyada continued toward the shrine of pride, why it was to be left within the ghostfence he couldn't imagine, but so it had been decreed.

Eventually he decided that, for appearances, he should go and see the head priest, though with the unexpected influx of people he wasn't sure who that was now. A pair of banners flapping listlessly on the breeze marked a long wooden building as a temple so he made his way north towards it.

Posted by: minque Jan 8 2010, 07:36 PM

Rianne

Rianne was close behind Dralas in the line. She nodded thoughfully when she heard he was assigned to construction instead of being an escort, which was his wish.

So finally it was her turn.

"Name?"

"Rianne de Z..., nevermind, just Rianne"

"Ok I need your full name, woman as it says here" the officiant answered grumpy

"Rianne de Zoete, and I have my temple supply sacks right here"

"hrmpff, you better have, it's your darn responsibility"

Rianne stood silent as the officiant resd the papers...

"you signed up for healing and alchemical sercvices I see here, but we haven't got a apothecary here yet so you'll have to join a construction team for the time being. i'll sing you up for the samt team as the other...ashlander!"

He spat that word out, obviously he wasn't very fond of ashlanders.

"If you think you can cope, it's hard work ya know, woman" he grinned evilly

Rianne didn't answer, her face totally numb. Not in thousand years she would admit his attitude and words hurt her.

"My working number please?" she asked calmly

"4908"

Rianne nodded and left the counter. Looking up Dralas.

"Looks as we're going to work together" she smiled

Posted by: jack cloudy Jan 8 2010, 10:49 PM

Haz

He wouldn't admit it to himself, but he was tired. However, no matter how great the fatigue in his bones was, there was no time to rest. As they'd reached the construction site, the attentiveness of their guards had fallen tremendously and the other travellers seemed to be either occupied with bureaucratics or their own exhaustion. He would never get a chance like this again. The time had come for Haz Andrethi to vanish, and the time had come for Has-no-tail to uneventfully lose himself among the slaves.

Still under the guise of a pilgrim, Haz walked over to the north side of the camp, where the shrine was located and more importantly, where few people wandered at the moment. The Argonian moved swiftly passed the actual shrine while the other pilgrims in the caravan were still dutifully waiting for their turn to hand over their equipment. As for him, most of his load had already been handed over to that trader and what he had left, he would never hand over to the Dark Elves. Any blow to the oppressors, no matter how small, was a victory in his mind.

Having ventured beyond the edge of the camp, he became more wary. The great number of guards posted at the northern perimeter had not gone unnoticed. They had to be there for a reason, even if their attentiveness regarding an unassuming pilgrim heading towards a small shrine had been rather lacking. If he encountered anything dangerous, like more ashlanders or more of those monsters from the half-way camp, he would have no choice to run.

"Best option would be to throw everything, clothes, possessions of Andrethi and supplies in a stream of molten lava. But I'll have to walk too far from the camp to find one. A fire's smoke would draw the attention of the guards, so I can't do that either. I guess I'll have to bury it deep beneath the ash. A poor choice, but no one should come to this particular place and the winds will blow away all trace of my footsteps. Then, I'll have to infiltrate the mass of brothers and sisters that are being used." He thought to himself and thrust his claws into the ground.
"I saw them working on the foundations of this ghostfence to the east. If I approach at nightfall, I should be able to bypass the guards. Even if they do notice me, why would they respond? I'm only a slave, after all."

Posted by: Dantrag Jan 9 2010, 08:25 PM

Dralas

Rianne smiled at him, but Dralas could tell that the clerk had gotten under Rianne's skin a little.

"Couldn't have worked out better for us, could it?" he laughed a little bit, "That s'wit wanted us gone so bad he doesn't even know how much he helped us."

He was glad that he would be working with Rianne, but he was much more interested in the next few days of rest than the coming months of hard labor.

"Anyway, I'm hungry and tired. Looking to fix both problems."

Posted by: Olen Jan 9 2010, 11:17 PM

Rothan

When he reached the makeshift Temple building Rothan discovered that it would be hard to report his arrival to the head priest, or to anyone else. The place was in uproar. He looked at the harried-looking clerks and red faced officials in confusion for a moment before cornering a junior secretary.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Go away," replied the young dunmer.

"I am a priest, just arrived. Who is in charge here?"

"Ha. Your guess is as good as mine. Serjo Salethrin was, at least officially, but now your caravan arrives attacked and nobody knows," he gestured to the chaos surrounding them, "Salethrin still claims the charge but the Ordinators are twisting his arm and the priest who headed the rest stop at Assarnatamat is technically his superior. In short only the Buoyant Armigers aren't claiming control of anything except themselves, not that the Ordinators agree."

"What of the foreman?"

"He leaves well enough alone, builds the thing and leaves the politicking to the others."

"Who do you think I should report to?"

The clerk snorted, "Might as well be the Armigers seeing as that would annoy everyone, but you want my advice? Wait for it to blow down a bit then report in a couple of days."

"Thanks," Rothan nodded. It sounded like the High Priest in Balmora had been right.

He made his way back outside and looked back down at the encampment. His stomach rumbled and the ache in his legs was building not he wasn't walking. He started down towards the area where most of the living tents were and where there was a scattering of food stalls.

Posted by: minque Jan 10 2010, 12:30 AM

Rianne

"Hungry, are you, Dralas?" she laughed , playfully patting him on his shoulder. "Well so am I and we'll need to remedy that first of all"

"I wonder...if it would be time to look up my "brother" Salyn...or maybe not yet, anyway there are some food stalls over there..and oh my that nice priest is heading our way...let's go there ok?"

Rianne glanced at her clothing, then at Dralas, they really needed to fix that as well. Working with construction is a craving job and they most certainly had to fix some more clothes otherwise....ewww

Anyway she was glad to work with Dralas...in fact he still was the only one she felt totally comfortable with...

"Come on, let's grab something to eat!"

Posted by: Dantrag Jan 11 2010, 08:56 AM

Dralas

Dralas agreed and they approached the nearest stall. A young dunmer served the food to a long line, while an argonian slave worked over a large cauldron preparing more of the stuff.

While they stood in line, he waved to Rothan. They hadn't spoken to the priest since the departure, and Dralas wondered if he would have more insight into what was actually happening here.

"Next," the young dunmer said loudly, "Do you have a bowl?"

Dralas moved forward and shook his head in answer to the question. A small wooden bowl was put in his hands. It was warm, and the stew inside smelled of alit meat. Alit was not appetizing game, and what it lacked in taste it made up for in toughness.

At least it's filling. he told himself.

"Keep it," the server said, "If you don't have a bowl a week from now, you don't get served."

The hunter nodded and waited for Rianne to be served, standing in amazement at the substandard conditions they found themselves in. Bad food, scarce supplies, and terrible organization seemed to be the nature of things here. Not even a bowl could be spared.

Posted by: jack cloudy Jan 12 2010, 10:06 PM

Eno Arval

Eno's first act upon arrival was less than elegant. After presenting his Guar with its feeding bag and making sure it would get through the night in good health as well as making sure it couldn't run off, he merely fell flat on his back and lay there, staring at the sky.

The journey had been horrible for him, especially since his crippled leg had started to act up. As it was, he was barely capable of walking even with his staff and till the muscle cramp subsided, he decided he would just stay where he was and deal with the proper regulations, such as turning over supplies, later.
"ALMSIVI knows I'll be giving everybody else the time they need to reorganize. Adding to the chaos just won't do. Ah well, at least I saved some bread. I won't have to go anywhere till morning." He muttered to himself as he began working on a bit of bone he'd found next to the path earlier this morning. The attention his work demanded from him was a welcome distraction from the ache in his legs.

Posted by: minque Jan 14 2010, 12:33 AM

Rianne

Rianne observed how Dralas got his food...and the bowl with a grimace on her face. Conditions here was reall not so good, but she had no expectations so she decided to keep her low profile and just smiled kindly at the server when she got her bowl with alit-stew.

"Yuck, luckily I'm hungry enough not to throw this away" she whispered to Dralas, as she took a mouthul of the stew. "It's ok considering the options" she continued with a smile

"We need clothes...oh there's Rothan!" She waved at the priest

After finishing her meal she took out some hackle-lo

"Want some?" she asked Dralas

Posted by: Olen Jan 14 2010, 12:29 PM

Rothan

Rothan took the ashlanders' waving as an invitation and, after getting a bowl of what in the past might have been ashyam, wandered over to join them.

"It's good to be here..." he looked around the blasted landscape, "Probably. Place is in turmoil though. How did signing up go for you?"

He wanted to hear as much as he could about what was going on for his report, whenever he was able to make it. Something just didn't feel quite right in the camp. He shook his head at his malaise and took a spoonful of the grey mush in his bowl. He grimaced - it was as vile as it looked.

Posted by: minque Jan 18 2010, 09:39 PM

Rianne

Rianne smiled at Rothan...

"Well it seems as we're going to do some hard work here...construction they said, but that's ok.hehe that rude officiant didn't think i would cope...but I'll just show him!"

I wonder...that leg of his really need some attention Rianne had noticed Eno slumping to the ground, obviously he was too tired to fulfill his registration, or was it merely his leg that hurt so much? Rianne's urge to help and heal made her worried about Eno.

"Maybe I should give him a hand? he looks just worn out" she asked Rothan "would he mind you think? some men are so proud that they just won't accept help...at least not from a woman."

Posted by: Olen Jan 19 2010, 08:32 PM

Rothan

"He'd probably be okay with it once he realises you know your stuff," Rothan replied, "The attack before the ruin really shook him up though." He had no idea how Eno had fared after the main attack and felt guilty for not finding out. There was the pilgrim too, he had said he would lead him in prayer.

"Have either of you seen the pilgrim?"

Posted by: Dantrag Jan 20 2010, 08:45 AM

Dralas

"The wound looks to be an old one," Dralas said, still speaking of the instrument maker, "I don't know if healing magicka would do much good."

"The pilgrim? The silent one, you mean? I haven't seen him since just after the daedra attack. It's easy to get lost with so many people around, though. I'll bet he's just trying to get settled in like the rest of us."

He took his first bite of the stew and held back a grimace. It was sustenance though, and he'd had worse.

"So Rothan," he asked after a particularly tough chew, "Do have any specific assignment here?"

Posted by: Olen Jan 20 2010, 12:05 PM

Rothan

The question caught him off guard, he'd thought it was obvious, but then the obvious was untrue. He didn't buy either ashlanders' reason for being there either. There's all too much hidden here, he thought.

"I'm here as a chaplain," he said, "To help with the faith and minds of the workers and perform any duties required as a priest, but also just to see the site." Another half-truth, but should he reveal more? The ashlanders had no love of the temple, that included him, but equally it might meant they had no alliances in the camp. Probably. Yet.

The silence dragged, "I'm also," he said and paused again, "Keeping an eye out for the unusual. Things are chaotic, they shouldn't be. If you see anything out of place tell me, not anyone else, come to me first," was he being paranoid? Possibly but he hadn't liked the disorder in the temple, if there was a power struggle he wanted to report it before they had time to cover anything, "Now why are you here?"

Posted by: Dantrag Jan 21 2010, 08:55 PM

Dralas

"I'm partly here for the work," he answered, choosing his next words carefully, "Partly here to take back what's mine."

He trusted us with a secret, so I may as well do the same. With his connections, I may actually find what I'm looking for...

There was still some danger to telling, though. Rothan was still in the employ of the Temple, and could likely have him locked up for trying to steal Temple property. Dralas took a breath, and gave Rianne a quick glance for support.

He finally began, "It is a known fact that the Tribunal are relying on the power of the ancestors to keep Red Mountain caged in. My family's tomb was raided, and generations were taken from their resting place, all in the name of this wall. Religious differences aside, I think you can see why I want my forefathers excluded."

Posted by: jack cloudy Jan 21 2010, 10:56 PM

Haz

The work had been done, Haz Andrethi was no more. Or rather, he had never existed. Has-no-tail stomped together the ash that now covered his former belongings. More ash would blow in to cover that soon enough and by morning at its latest, it would be as if no one had ever been to this place.

"Now then, it is time for the second part of the operation. To infiltrate this acursed place and tear it down, one way or another." He spoke softly to himself as he turned on back to the camp just beyond the hills. He was not going to pass by the shrine again, nor use the main gate. Instead, he hoped to slip in among the other slaves when they returned from their torment, exhausted by the brutality of the environment and the cruelty of their captors. The Argonian's hands yearned for a Dark Elven throat to crush as he looked upon the alien structure looming up from the ash.
"All built by us. All of it. By us who didn't want to. Us who had to. What 'right' do they claim to abuse others?" He growled.

But the hatred he felt at the moment was not like the one he usually felt, the burning coals that threatened to consume him in a raging fire. No, it was tempered somehow by a feeling of awe. He wanted to destroy that structure but at the same time, it was massive, ascending so high that its top disapeared within the deep gray clouds. It seemed more like the work of a god than a group of workers and an even larger group of slaves.
"Just what do they want with this? Is this all just a temple for the worship of their false gods? No temple of the Imperials is this...great. Not even the forts of the Legion compares."

Posted by: Olen Jan 22 2010, 07:31 PM

Rothan

Dralas' words troubled Rothan. The mer had as good as said he was there to steal temple goods, but equally was he wrong to? Rothan paused, "I can guess where such things are kept," he said, "And unlike you I am in a position to confirm that guess without arousing much suspicion. But it's heresy and I won't. I should have you locked up, but neither will I do that. I suspect things may get interesting if the power struggle continues, I may need allies."

He took another mouthful of stew. He didn't notice the vile taste this time.

Posted by: Dantrag Jan 22 2010, 09:32 PM

Dralas

Dralas did well to keep a level head. What did this priest know of heresy? Had the House dunmer forgotten so much about their heritage? Being made into a ghostfence was no laughing matter. As an act of sacrifice, one might ask that his relatives use a bone or two to power a fence after his death, but rarely the entire body. That was generally a fate reserved for those who were dishonorable in life.

But the priest wasn't going to put him away, and admitted to needing allies. Dralas knew from previous experience with Rothan that he had a good heart and a solid head on his shoulders, despite being a priest of the Tribunal Temple. Besides, he had saved Rianne's life back at the ruin, and that wasn't something Dralas would soon forget.

"Allies aren't free," he said, taking a moment to scrape up the last of his stew, "But friends are. I can tell that you are reluctant to help me, and I respect your reasons, just as I can see that you respect mine. Maybe in time, friend, we will better understand each other."

Posted by: minque Jan 22 2010, 11:47 PM

Rianne

Rianne listened to the conversation between Dralas and Rothan without interfering. She was a bit stunned that Dralas revealed his reasons to be here to the priest, she didn't think he would do such a thing.

She gave Dralas a sign by very lightly touch his shoulder, so he would know she was supporting him whatever would happen.

This stew really taste awful!!

"My reason to be here...really...is because my brother is here already and I'd like to be of some assistance to him. Besides I guess this place needs a healer.."

She smiled faintly and finished the last of her food with a shrug.

Then she took out some hackle-lo and rolled it thoroughly.

"Here!" she offered both Dralas and Rothan, before she lit her own

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Jan 25 2010, 09:20 PM

Erna

"Name."

"Holshin Verath," Erna lied, using the name shown on the form held by his murdered victim.

"You got your supplies?" the clerk asked. He sounded bored; clearly he'd gone through this routine dozens of times today.

"Right here," Erna said, tapping the sack strapped on his guar's back with a smile.

"Good, put them in the pile," the clerk said. "Says here you're assigned to construction, Serjo Verath. Your work number's 4045, alright?"

"Got you," Erna said. He did as he was told, removing the sack strapped to the back of his guar and placing it on the pile and taking the papers that the clerk handed back to him.

He took his guar outside, and decided on a course of action. First of all, destroy the papers he had for his murdered alias before word got from here to Balmora and use the ones he'd forged, and then he'd take a look around here. No point toppling a pillar if it wouldn't bring the building down, as one of those amateurs in the Mythic Dawn had once said.

And he had a damn big building to bring down.

Posted by: Olen Jan 29 2010, 06:23 PM

Rothan

Rothan nodded to Dralas, "Perhaps we will. I am glad you call me friend, I think we will all be glad to have as many as we can."

He put aside his spoon closed his eyes and drank the rancid stew straight from the bowl as quickly as he could. When he'd recovered he turned to Rianne, "Your brother?", he inclined his head questioningly.

Posted by: minque Jan 30 2010, 12:45 AM

Rianne

Rianne looked at Rothan, trying to decide whether she would tell the truth or not. He just might find it odd that she had a brother among the buoyant Armigers...Even if it only was a foster-brother

"Well, yes, my brother, that is my foster brother is Salyn Sarethi, if he's known to you"

There! Ok, it was out....

He must wonder....

Posted by: canis216 Jan 30 2010, 07:54 AM

Dranas Heleran

It wasn't until nightfall that Dranas was finally able to settle in. There was the typical bureaucratic strife, of course--lines to be stood in, construction equipment to be checked in, bribes to be paid--and then there was work--setting up camp, feeding his guar, picking pockets, and most important of all, finding buyers.

That final process started when Dranas noticed one fellow struggling to light his hackle-lo. Closer inspection revealed the usual symptoms--bags under the eyes, a case of the shakes--and Dranas, of course, had the cure.

"You look like you've been working hard on this here project, serjo."

The mer jerked erect, startled, eyes darting about. But he essayed a shaky smile before replying, "Working us like slaves, they are. And the real slaves got it even worse. I'm alright though, just taking the edge off."

Dranas came closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "Aye, the hackle-lo is good for that. But sometimes it isn't enough, know what I mean?" He emphasized the point with a soft elbow to the ribs, then opened the palm of his hand to reveal a small brown vial. "You do know what I mean, right?"

The mer smiled, this time broadly. "Precisely, friend. Precisely."

It hadn't taken much longer to conclude that business, and drum up a little more. The Ghostgate was looking to be a profitable venture, Dranas thought as he made his way toward a group of diners. As he grew closer, he saw some familiar faces.

Posted by: Olen Jan 30 2010, 08:28 PM

Rothan

Rothan hadn't heard of anyone by the name of Salyn Sarethi, but that alone told him Rianne's brother was not a priest or associated hanger on of the temple. He frowned, the name sounded Redoran, though of course might not have been, that, and that he had an ashlander sister excluded the Ordinators. A worker then? Or an Armiger. Rianne was a puzzle, that much was certain but he doubted it was one he would solve, and she seemed genuine, or at least not outright dangerous.

"If I can help let me know," he said.

He glanced over and saw Dranas looking carefully at the diners from the shadows beyond the fire and waved.

Posted by: canis216 Jan 30 2010, 09:14 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas saw the priest wave, and finally decided to amble up to the fire. Now that business was concluded he remembered that he was hungry and pulled a hunk of scrib jerky out of his satchel. He bit off a hunk and then sat down.

"Rothan, was it? What do you think of our camp here? Seems a touch chaotic." He neglected to add the rest of his thought to conversation. A little bit of chaos wasn't bad for his business, but the priest and the ashlanders didn't need to know that.

Posted by: jack cloudy Jan 30 2010, 09:34 PM

Haz

The Argonian had found temporary relief behind the very structure he had come to destroy. At the moment, all stray thoughts of wonder had been erased from his mind, leaving only the cold heart of a saboteur. Fortunately for him, instead of building a new section of wall, the work for today was apparantly the covering of the internal structure on a piece of wall whose framework had already been finished. If he leaned out beyond the edge of the wall, he could see the group of slaves at one or two stonesthrows away.

The slaves were made up of both both Argonians and Khajiit, along with a two or three of Orcish blood. Or at least he thought they were Orcish. They could have been unusually large and tailless Argonians. It was hard to make out the details in the encroaching darkness of the setting sun.
"But what Argonian would cut off his tail? One like me would do it, but I know that I am the only one of the pact that came here. Must be Orcs. If I could manipulate their temper towards the guards." He thought to himself as he directed his eyes to the guards that stood watch over the slaves.

They looked like Ordinators, judging by the armour, but they were not as well equiped as he'd expected. They wore a simple scarf instead of their helmets, and there were no shields either.
"Then again, they do spend all day watching unarmed slaves. Comfort is a bigger priority than being prepared for a hostile and fictional army. All day watching. I'll have to slip in when the slaves are between two groups of observers. These here will be able to know something is wrong as soon as they count one head too many."

As he continued his silent observation, he noticed that the guards were discussing amongst themselves, along with pointing at the crimson glow over the horizon. Realizing that they were preparing to finish up, Haz prepared to move. Just then, he senses movement from the direction of the main camp. Another group of guards were marching towards the one he'd had his eyes on. These at least were wearing their helmets, as well as freshly lit torches.
"They're going to make the slaves work till deep in the night?" Haz whispered to himself, feeling his anger rise. But at the same time, he realized this was an opportunity. The first group of guards would pay no attention to the slaves as soon as they were relieved. The new group did not know the numbers and even if they did, they were sooner to see it as an administrative error than a threat. If anything, he bet they would be happy with one slave more.

When both groups of guards were facing each other, going through whatever ritual they had for the changing of the guards, Haz dashed in from the shadows and got in among the slaves. He could feel a few eyes on him, but he hushed all comments with a quick gesture of his hand. He did not know if he'd been understood or if they simply didn't dare talk with the guards near, but not a word was said.
"Infiltration complete. Now let's see. I need to grab this shell, trail glue around its edges and press it against the wall? That's what everyone else is doing. I'd better do the same."

Posted by: Olen Jan 31 2010, 07:51 PM

Rothan

"Yes," replied Rothan, "Things aren't as organised as they should be, I couldn't even report in. I'll give it a couple of days for things to calm down. How was registering for you?"

He paused to watch a pair of pilgrims pass on the main track through the camp, "And have you seen anything of the pilgrim whose guar died? I've not spoken to him since the ruin."

Posted by: canis216 Jan 31 2010, 09:04 PM

Dranas Heleran

"Registering wasn't too bad, I suppose," Dranas said, "but then I've seen about the worst that bureaucracy has to offer, trading all over mundus like I have."

He paused to bite off another hunk of jerky.

"Funny you should mention that pilgrim. I dropped off some of that Temple gear he'd been hauling"--Dranas neglected to mention that he only did so after pilfering some material away, blaming the loss on one 'Haz Andrethi'--"but never did see him in line. 'Course, I'll admit to being busy. 'Always be closing', as they say on the Gold Coast. So maybe he ended up at the back of the line and I just didn't see him. He's probably around here somewhere."

Posted by: Olen Feb 8 2010, 05:04 PM

Rothan

With his belly filled, even if it was with awful stew, Rothan realised how tired he was. He could probably have taken a bed in the temple's own housing, had he registered, but he hadn't. The night was clear enough and there wasn't enough wind to stir the ash much so he decided he'd sleep under the stars. He nodded goodnight to the others at the fire and wandered briefly through the ramshackle dwellings until he found a sheltered corner by a shed full of construction materials and lay down on his bedroll. In moments he was asleep.

The sun was late in breasting the tops of the mountains which flanked the foyada and it wasn't until it's rays touched his face that Rothan woke. He stood and stretched the knots from his muscles and looked around the camp. Many labourers were already finishing their breakfasts and heading off but others were also just waking. Must be whatever shift system they have, he thought, I must find out about it.

He had a quick wash then headed back to where he'd eaten the night before, though not to the same stall, and got himself some kwama eggs which had seen better days but weren't too foul. He stood and ate and thought about what he should do that day.

Posted by: Dantrag Feb 10 2010, 03:30 AM

Dralas

Dralas began his typical morning routine with the burning of hackle-lo. He sat a good distance from the camp, watching people mill around. There were hundreds of bedrolls scattered around the food stalls, all from the same caravan, no doubt. Dralas figured he wasn't the only one without bedding until two more days passed and he reported to the workers' barracks. The caravan had three days of rest, sure, just no real place to sleep.

Luckily, Dralas had a lifetime of wilderness experience, and was no foreigner to sleeping outside. He had found a small nook between two boulders outside of the camp, and it provided just enough cover for a few hours of rest. Unfortunately, the night had plagued him with strange dreams, and he didn't feel very rested. Dralas had always been very sensitive to the presence of spirits, and they refused to let him be while sleeping. He ran his hand through his matted hair until he found one particular bead that was woven in. He carefully pulled it out and examined it.

It was his father's knuckle, fashioned into a bead and given to him by his mother as a charm. Just by holding it in his hand, he could tell that it was at least partly responsible for his dreams.

I guess I won't rest until you do. Well be patient, spirits, because there is a lot of work left for me to do.

Posted by: jack cloudy Feb 11 2010, 10:45 PM

Eno Arval

Eno was still sore all over when he woke up next morning. Still, he had to admit to himself that he felt more rested and healthier than he had been for days. He was somewhat surprised at that.
"Well but then again, this is the first time in a while that I don't need to run along with a bunch of able-legged youngsters. It makes sense if I look at things from this perspective." He muttered to himself while he attached the feeding-bag to his Guar's mouth. As he joined the beast in breakfast, he let his eyes wander over the camp. The qeue at the administrative complex was shorter now, and more relaxed.

"I should be able to register in a bit. Then I'm finally done with this whole endeavour. I'll take the first caravan home as soon as it leaves. Shouldn't take too long now that there are more people. Someone needs to be kept informed in the big cities after all. I should so look into procuring some locally cooked meals. Aside from the fact that hard traveller's rations get rather tiresome, I will run out of them far too fast if I restrict my diet to them."

Posted by: Olen Feb 13 2010, 05:02 PM

Rothan

Another mer wandered up next to him as he ate his breakfast, "Morning," he said, his accent reminded Rothan of Gnisis, certainly it was Wast Gash.

"A clear one Vivec be praised," he replied.

"You come in on the caravan yesterday?"

"Yes."

"Are the rumours true?"

Rothan smiled, he'd wandered why he was being spoken to. "Depends what they are, there was an incident at the old shrine though, yes."

The mer's eyebrows went up, "Hmm, that's bad stuff that. Name's Edril," Rothan shook the proffered hand.

"Rothan," he replied.

"Good to meat you, a priest I presume. Exactly what we need..." Edril stopped as if he hadn't meant to say it aloud, "What about the ashlander army which attacked?"

Rothan shook his head, "Hardly and army, only and few and they just hit a few of us who stayed behind. I was there and I'll tell you all about it if you do me a favour."

"What?"

"Why do you not want more priests, and is organisation really as poor as it seems?"

Edril looked uncomfortable, "Well..."

"Don't worry, I need to know. What's said here won't be repeated. You have my word."

"Fine then. The two are the same question. There's too many people thinking they're in charge and too few actually doing the work. They're pulling in different directions but they all have mandates to do what they're doing. You could hardly make a bigger disaster if you tried." He breathed, "And the supplies are poorly ordered, either not there or in the wrong place, ordered wrong."

Rothan nodded, "Any particular people?"

Edril shrugged, "How would we know, we get our orders, we do them. Even if it is digging up work that was done the other day to make foundations."

Rothan nodded again, "Thanks... that's most interesting... Now you wanted to hear what happened..."

Rothan finished his breakfast as he came to the conclusion of a story, which while not strictly untrue, was vague enough to keep people guessing. He made his excuses and wandered into the jumbled tents. Something was wrong. Someone, or ones, weren't doing their jobs as assiduously as they should have been, tussling for position. But he was shocked it had slid this far. All he had was the rantings of an angry labourer though, he needed something more concrete.

He made his way through the crowds heading to start their shifts and towards the administrative section.

Posted by: jack cloudy Feb 17 2010, 10:24 PM

Haz

Haz was awakened by the steady rythm of the wardrums.
"What is the meaning of this? Is the camp under attack?" He thought, trained reflexes rising him from his light slumber to full awareness in an instant. He looked around but saw only the usual number of guards outside the slave's pen. None of them seemed surprised or even merely uneasy at hearing the sound. The same thing could be said for the other slaves. They woke up as he did, but somewhat slower and with only the usual measure of fear any slave would feel in this place. The Argonian matched their pace, slowly lifting himself up from the ground while pretending to be somewhat groggy but used to this moment.

"Must be a regular call then. Wait, there are the drums, right next to that tent. It's a wakeup-call for the slaves. They must use a different rythm during a real emergency. Hmmph, I might just find out what rythm that is in a few days." His train of thought continued.

"Alright, you beasts! Form up in line for breakfast. Don't linger about, you lazy maggots! Construction work is scheduled to commence in ten minutes!" A guard barked, waving his hand at two clerks bringing a pot of...Haz didn't want to know what it was. The smell was horrible, even to the nose of one born and bred in the marshlands of Argonia. He also noticed with some worry that the pot, while enormous, was far too small to give every slave a proper meal.
"But then again, we are mere animals in their eyes. Their own kin has a higher priority when it comes down to meals. No doubt the pot only contains the left-overs mixed together. Besides, a hungry slave is a weak slave. Especially with these Orcs, you don't want their muscles to be bulging with the fat of a five-course diner."

Haz purposefully positioned himself near the end of the line. He had been privy to plenty of meals during the journey and felt that he needed the nutritional value of this...sludge less than his many brethren. At least for now. He knew that he would need to keep himself well-fed so he had the stamina to perform his duty. At some point, he would be forced to procure an alternate source of food to keep his body in peak condition.



Eno Arval

Spartan as it was, it did not take Eno long to finish his breakfast. The flipside of the matter was that it was a barely filling breakfast as well. The old man swiped the few crumbs from his lap and stood up, wincing slightly at the creaking of his joints.
"I'm really getting too old for sitting on the ground. But enough of that. I'd better take my bags and go register at the...err...at the office." He muttered to himself. Scarcely a moment later his eyes widened slightly when he couldn't find his bags anywhere near him.

"Wait, where did they go? I'm sure I put them on the ground right next to the guar last evening. Yes, I'm sure of it. I even took out the flute and some tools from them." He frowned and rubbed the back of his head.
"It's simply not possible that I've misplaced them. But still...where are they? Hmm, I guess I really did misplace them after all then. Odd...I don't see them lying any further away. There are some bags, but they're not mine. I clearly marked them...Maybe next to one of the other campfires? Oh hey, there's Rothan. I'll ask him. Maybe he's seen them." The man continued, still mumbling to himself. The priest walked by slowly, but with a clear purpose and little eye for those around him.

"He looks busy though, maybe I shouldn't disturb him. Oh, if he doesn't have time he can just say so."
"Excuse me, sir Rothan! Could I have a second of your time to ask you something? It won't take long, I promise!"

Posted by: Olen Feb 22 2010, 09:05 PM

Rothan

Rothan looked when he heard his name called, he saw Eno waving him over and turned towards the older man. Searching the administrative section could wait.

"Yes sera? What is it you look worried?" he would have left it there but he spoke before thinking, "You haven't noticed anything out of place since you arrived have you? It's seemed a bit disorganised to me."

Posted by: jack cloudy Feb 23 2010, 03:03 PM

Eno Arval

Rothan's question caught him off-guard.
"Anything out of place you say? Well, I'm not sure I could help you with that even if I did saw something. This is my first time on a constructionsite this big so I don't know what is in place and what is out." He said apologetically.
"Or...perhaps your problem is related to mine. You see, I am looking for my bags. They're nothing special, just the standard brown ones everyone holds but I'd marked mine with a red scarf. They held the supplies I was carrying for this project, along with my journal, most of my food, some other personal assets. Anyway, the contents aren't that important, other than the journal. I am positive I put them down over there last night but I can't seem to find them anywhere. It could be that someone picked them up, mistaking them for his own...although I doubt he would have missed the scarf. It's got my family's name and crest sewn into it."


Posted by: Olen Feb 23 2010, 09:00 PM

Rothan

Rothan paused, chasing after bags wasn't exactly what he'd planned, but it was an excuse to have a look at the supplies. "Could be," he said, "I can't imagine anyone would want to steal them, unless they'd lost their own perhaps... And idea what was in them?"

He turned back towards where the temple administered the site and the incoming goods, "We'll have a look. Might even be that they still have the scarf on them." He started up towards the low building.

Posted by: jack cloudy Feb 25 2010, 05:34 PM

Eno Arval

"Ah, what was in it? As I said, not much. The supplies I was to deliver for one and I suppose they matter the most. If they've just been taken in then I have no complaint, other than the desire to see that a clerk has properly written it out on a form somewhere. Other than that, some minor trinkets and my journal. I would really like my journal back. I can't ply my trade without making use of the notes I've written down over the years."

He followed the priest towards the temple-run area.
"You have my gratitude. I'll keep an eye out and notify you if I see anything odd. It is only fair to return a favour, after all."

Posted by: Olen Feb 26 2010, 01:19 PM

Rothan

"Thank you," said Rothan as they approached the store. It was a roughly made building with a stone lower story which had wooden extensions jutting from every side and even a smaller second floor which looked as if it had been added as an afterthought. He briefly wondered if any magic was involved in holding it together but discarded the idea, it would have been easier simply to do a better job. The front entrance was thronged with labourers queueing for supplies, clerks trying to order the recent influx of sacks from the caravan, which was still continuing at a queue on the far side. A few guards stood looking bored and smoking hackle-lo and through it all bureaucrats moved filling in and passing around forms and generally adding to the feel of disorder.

"I think," said Rothan with a grin, "That it may be faster to see if we can find a more direct way in. Especially seeing as neither of us is registered yet."

He started off to the side and round the back of the store, there was bound to be a back door or loading hatch, or even a window. Though whether Eno would be willing to use the last option was another matter. He needed Eno there though, it was an excuse for a good poke around and would draw less attention even if anyone did realise they weren't meant to be there.

OOC: are you expecting to find Eno's sacks?

Posted by: jack cloudy Feb 27 2010, 09:39 PM

Eno Arval

Eno followed Rothan while casting a glance at the queu. He'd thought the lines would be shorter today, but they seemed just as long, if not longer than yesterday. And it also looked like the clerks didn't quite know how to write down the required information, judging by the impatient shuffling of feet of everyone around. It looked as if the only thing that could disband the line would be lunchtime.

"I think, that it may be faster to see if we can find a more direct way in. Especially seeing as neither of us is registered yet." Eno pulled his eyes away from the queu.
"More direct? Well, it almost looks like you could go straight through the wall. And I mean this without using that spell, what was it called?...Passwall I think it was, a simple yet descriptive name. Anyway, I'm not an expert on architecture, but the nails in the wood look rotten and twisted and the walls...I can peel out the cement between the bricks with my fingers. Not the most sturdy structure this is." He replied with a chuckle.
"Although all jokes aside, I do hope they take more care with the fence. Wouldn't want that one to come down when there is a stiff breeze. It could kill dozens of workers."

They rounded the corner leading to the backside of the building, conveniently taking them out of sight of the clerks, the ones standing in line and the guards. One boyant armiger marched briskly by on his patrol and disapeared behind another building. He only gave a cursory glance to the both of them. Eno assumed that Rothan's garb had been enough of a reassurance to the man.
"Ah look, a back-door. I wonder if it's locked?" Eno thought out loud. The backside of the building was unadorned. A few horizontal slits near the top of the first floor provided the interior with a meager amount of light. The only other significant feature was the door, which didn't quite fit the gap in the wall it was supposed to cover. If he wanted to, he could easily slip his hand inbetween the crack between door and wall, though fortunately for the building's security, little else. After a short hesitation, Eno did just that, feeling for the doorpin.
"Might as well check. Shouldn't take long. Lessee, there is one pin...the upper one connected to the handle. Now if I can feel the second one that is connected to the lock, the door's locked. If I don't...it's open."


OOC: I think we could find the scarf discarded on the floor but it would be best if we can't just identify Eno's bags. That way we keep his reason for actively investigating. As for the door, do you want it to be open or locked? I think we might as well keep it open. If people need to move supplies, it would be a hassle to get through the crowd on the frontside and besides, guards are supposed to keep trespassers away normally.

Posted by: Olen Mar 1 2010, 03:57 PM

Rothan

Rothan glanced over his shoulder as Eno tryed to work the latch. He only hoped there was no one inside to see the hand emerge but it was too late to say anything. The rear of the building was unguarded anyway and there was no one to see from outside. A moment later Eno gave a grunt of satisfaction as the door swung open. Rothan peered into the gloomy interior but saw nobody. He stepped inside.

There were crates everywhere piled in crooked stacks with sacks shoring up their bases. From the opposite end of the room which appeared to be all of the rear extension the impression of movement filtered under an ill fitting door. Must be the main office through there, he thought. He wandered over to the nearest crate and prized a loose plank free. Rusty pickaxes filled it. A sack under it was full of desiccated muck-sponge.

"This looks like the storeroom," he said, "Now to find where they've put their new arrivals." And to have a good look at any paperwork I can find... He set off into the shadows and tried to keep some crates between himself and the door whenever he could. The few he looked in were full but their contents had always seen better days. Potions looked spoiled, or at least on their way, tools were rusting and food stale. He supposed it was just the long journey there.

Posted by: jack cloudy Mar 1 2010, 08:03 PM

Eno Arval

"Ah, just one pin. Alright then, let's open it and see what's on the other side." Eno grunted with satisfaction and pulled the door open. He waited for Rothan to enter before following and closing it behind him. Inside, he set off in the opposite direction from Rothan for a crate on the far end of the room. He rapped his knuckles against the wood softly, receiving the dull thump in response that told him the crate was well-filled though with what, he couldn't tell.
"Probably tools of some sort. Anyway, I came here for the bags." He thought.

Eno left the crate be and now focussed on one of the sacks lain down at its base. Meanwhile, Rothan had already checked out several crates and bags himself.
"These potions have seen better days." Eno heard him mutter. The bag he looked in was filled with Kwama eggs, smelling half-rotten ones.
"Eww, didn't anyone hand these over to the chef before they spoiled? When was the last time someone was in this room anyway?" He wondered.

"Same here. It certainly doesn't look like the stuff they keep here has only recently arrived. Maybe we're checking the wrong pile or maybe...we should wait till one of those clerks come bring in one of the new bags and ask him. Although, the conversation would be awkward. Besides, for all I know they just drop them somewhere in the office and only move them to the storeroom later on the day when they're not so busy. Or there could be more than one storeroom. Shouldn't there be a list somewhere with the contents and placement of supplies in this room somewhere? I'll see if I can find a ledger lying around." He called to Rothan with his voice lowered to a bare whisper. While he didn't know the reason, the priest seemed like he wanted to keep their investigation a secret. It didn't matter. Eno had always been quick to trust people, perhaps too quick, so he felt no reason not to be discreet for Rothan's sake.

Posted by: Dantrag Mar 5 2010, 11:50 AM

Dralas

Still lost in thought, Dralas' eyes locked onto a strange dot on the horizon. He continued watching, knowing very well what it was. His hackle-lo was too short to bring to his lips so he tossed it to the ashen ground before finally standing up. The dot was closer now, but he knew he still had ample time before it was a problem.

He jumped down from his rocky perch and found Rianne still sleeping in the shelter.

"Wake up," he said, gently shaking her shoulder, "I think we should go back to the camp. There's a herd of cliff racers coming this way."

Cliff racers didn't usually bother large groups of people, but would have no qualms about harassing two lone travelers. They would be safe enough there, plus, he wanted to get better acquainted with the construction site.

Posted by: Olen Mar 8 2010, 06:44 PM

Rothan

It was a while before Rothan found what he was looking for. As he wandered past more dusty crates he saw the ledger lying near to to door to the main room. He motioned over to Eno to be quiet and then crept towards it. It wasn't that he wouldn't be noticed if anyone chose to open the door, but no one had so he suspected they wouldn't, unless they heard anything. Once there he scooped it up and walked as quickly as he dared over to Eno.

"A ledger," he said positioning himself so a crate hid him should anyone look in, "Perhaps the supplies were marked?"

He opened it to find rows of figures detailing supplies checked in and out and money paid. Nothing leapt out to him as he glanced through, though it was going to require some study. The stock rotation left a lot to be desired, Rothan wasn't sure it could have been done worse. It needed study, but he also wanted something to check it against. That meant going further into the store and if anything was worth having he was willing to bet it would be upstairs. Without a cellar that would be most like the temple. But he needed Eno as an excuse...

"I don't think your supplies are in here, perhaps we should check other rooms?"

Posted by: jack cloudy Mar 10 2010, 08:36 PM

Eno Arval

Eno let his eyes wander over the room one last time before answering.
"I agree. I haven't seen anything that looks like either my bag or my scarf. Actually, I haven't seen any scarves at all." He whispered. A fleeting shadow passed beneath the door leading to the front area of the building.
"I'd say we better slip out the back. I doubt the staff would apreciate seeing us come out of the storage room. Though with the back door we'll have to pay heed to the guard. He would likely raise the same kind of objections the staff would upon seeing us exit." He added.

He pressed himself flat against the wall, grimacing slightly over the uncomfortable posture, and listened intently.
"I...don't think I hear footsteps outside, but it is hard to tell. All the commotion out front makes it hard to hear. And ash has always been good at dampening the sound of feet."

Posted by: Olen Mar 15 2010, 10:20 PM

Rothan

"I don't see how we can know if anyone's there," replied Rothan, "I think it's probably best if we walk as if we're meant to be here. It's not like skulking is going to hide us anyway."

He pushed the door open and stepped out into the stirring ash. He took a moment to look around and tried not to look hurried. The only person who could see them was standing a way off guarding a pile of supplies and Rothan wasn't sure he had seen them. Either way he didn't react.

"It's fine," he said, "I think we should check another extension. That older looking one perhaps," he pointed to a wooden wall half engulfed by a newer addition, the planks were bleached white by the sun but their crevices showed red ash, "It might even have a way to the top floor. Do you think you could do that trick with another door?"

Rothan was almost sure the top floor would hold the records. The temple wrote everything down and kept it all, any inconsistencies would be there, but he needed some time to study them. Ideally without rising too much suspicion. It had crossed his mind that he was making too much of it. But something was out of place and there was certainly bad management. How better to serve the ghostfence than to have whoever was failing in their duties replaced?

Posted by: minque Mar 17 2010, 12:07 AM

QUOTE(Dantrag @ Mar 5 2010, 11:50 AM) *

Dralas

Still lost in thought, Dralas' eyes locked onto a strange dot on the horizon. He continued watching, knowing very well what it was. His hackle-lo was too short to bring to his lips so he tossed it to the ashen ground before finally standing up. The dot was closer now, but he knew he still had ample time before it was a problem.

He jumped down from his rocky perch and found Rianne still sleeping in the shelter.

"Wake up," he said, gently shaking her shoulder, "I think we should go back to the camp. There's a herd of cliff racers coming this way."

Cliff racers didn't usually bother large groups of people, but would have no qualms about harassing two lone travelers. They would be safe enough there, plus, he wanted to get better acquainted with the construction site.


Rianne

She immediately woke up when Dralas shook her shoulder, she jumped to her feet, prepared for defense, but felt somewhat embarrassed when she saw it was her friend

"Gah, Dralas, please don't scare me like that...I didn't hurt you did I?"

She usually managed to hit somebody when she jumped like that...

Then she heard the cliffracers, their terrible scream. She grimaced and followed Dralas without a word.

I'll stand by you...all the time

Posted by: Dantrag Mar 17 2010, 09:36 AM

Dralas

Dralas hadn't been expecting such a violent reaction from Rianne, and narrowly avoided getting hit square in the jaw. It was a side-effect of the assassin trade, he realized, and let it go.

"Not hurt, just...surprised," he answered, feeling slightly less exhausted after that little fright.

They walked back to the camp, and Dralas presented his bowl at the food stand. They got their slop and sat down. As he looked around, most everyone was staring at them, either with hostility, curiosity, or both. It bothered Dralas much less now than in Balmora; it was silly to try to make an ashlander seem out of place in the ashlands. He ate slowly, as there was little to do until it was time to work in a couple of days, and the food wasn't great either. He did plan on making good use of the downtime though, by getting some rest, taking a short break from all of his scheming, and enjoying his company.

"Look," he said, pointing towards the sky, "The cliff racers are going the other way."

Below where he was pointing walked two people, though they were too far away to recognize. They went from one storehouse to another, and Dralas wondered if any bones would be kept in such places. Then he remembered that he wasn't scheming.


Posted by: jack cloudy Mar 17 2010, 09:40 PM

Eno Arval

Eno shrugged.
"Point taken." He muttered as he put up his best bored expression. If looking purposeful was too hard, then making whatever you were doing look like boring routine bussiness was always a good second option. At least, that's how things went in his line of work.
"I could do it, but it's only a quick way of checking if its locked or unlocked. I'd say I might as well just twist the doorbolt and try opening it. If it's locked, too bad." He answered to the priest's question.
"And either way, doing that would be less unusual than sticking a hand between the doorframe. Could always claim we picked the wrong door on accident if someone asks." He added softly.

As they walked over to their next target, Eno looked it over as much as he could without actively looking as if he was looking. He thought he managed by only moving his eyes while keeping his head fixed on the door. This section certainly looked as if it had been there for a while. Better built too, even though the combination of sun and ash had eroded any protective paint off the wood.
"I wonder, did they only get so sloppy architectural-wise recently? Maybe it's because the workers are now focussed on building the actual fence rather than setting up camp." He wondered out loud then turned to Rothan.
"Well then, shall we?" He asked as he put his hand on the doorknob. The grit of ash prickled his skin and he suspected that the reddish grime had gotten in the lock as well.

He twisted his wrist, grimacing at the rough sound the mechanism made. He had been right and the doorbolt could use some cleaning and oiling but it still worked and like the door from before, it wasn't locked. The old man began to wonder if there were any locked doors at all.
"Not as if there is much of a threat from thieves. Nearest place to sell any ill-gotten goods is days away. And only a fool would venture out into the Ashlands alone. A fool, or an Ashlander. One would die, the other...what reason would he have for stealing anyway?"

Posted by: Olen Mar 18 2010, 09:49 PM

Rothan

Rothan felt a little embarrassed as Eno simply pushed the door open. He stepped inside before the older mer could, he was fairly certain he would be able to talk his way in but Eno had seemed less used to such things. Inside was similar to the other store, but drier and with better packed goods. More valuable, Rothan assumed. He stood still as movement caught his eye. A clerk disappeared through a door opposite them into the main office room. Next to the door was what he'd been looking for. A rickety stair led up to a small door onto the second story.

Rothan paused for a moment, would Eno's packages be here? Perhaps and he did have that duty. Really the top floor should wait until night when it was most likely to be empty, but it was a risk. If he was caught now he could just claim to be lost, it wasn't particularly convincing but the door had been open so it was enough. Yes, he decided, a quick look around the room then it would be time to try upstairs.

"I think we should have a look to see if your stuff is here," he said to Eno, "If not perhaps there will be records upstairs..." he paused. It wasn't really fair to use Eno like this, "I'd rather like to see them anyway," he added.

Posted by: jack cloudy Mar 21 2010, 10:46 PM

Eno Arval

Eno eyed the stairs.
"Feel free to go on ahead. I'm not much of a climber and I have a better idea of what my possessions look like than you do. While you're inspecting the upstairs area, I'll just check out this room. That way we can cover more ground as well." He said as he walked over to the first set of bags. He did not open them, instead simply restricting himself to probing the contours of its contents by pressing his fingers against the outside.
"hmm...not this one."


OOC: I think I'll have him find the scarf here. But the bags will have already been moved to one of the worksites.

Posted by: Olen Mar 29 2010, 02:44 PM

Rothan

Rothan gave Eno a nod, "Fair enough, I'll see if I can find any trace of your bags in the records," it was a weak lie but he hoped it would be enough to not appear outright untrue. He turned and strode up the narrow stair. At the top he laid an ear against the door for a moment. No loud noises though it was hard to hear much over the wind in the gaps. Here goes, he thought and pushed the door open.

Inside was a small room full of cluttered scrolls, ledgers and piles of paper. A flimsy door stood opposite and warm lamp-light glowed under it. He doubted he could hide so instead he moved quickly. The nearest piles of paper were all names and records of workers: pay, details, sometimes comments. He didn't know anyone he suspected so he ignored them. The next held piles of temple details, rituals done, requests for artefacts and blessings. Mundane accounting as far as he could tell, there was so much of it he wouldn't have time anyway. The next shelves held more unrelated texts, whoever did the archiving here either had a very complex system or a very good memory.

Footsteps creaked in the next room. Rothan offered a quick prayer for more time and made his way to a desk in the corner. A few leaves of paper lay next to two ledgers, one he recognised as similar, if not identical, to the other stock ones he'd seen. The other was different though and was filled with characters he didn't recognise. Some sort of code he thought, but who kept books like that? He flicked though to the most recent entries and two bits of paper floated out.

More footsteps from the other room then sounds of muffled conversation.

Hurriedly he snatched up the two sheets. The first looked similar in format to the final two columns of the book and had the other symbols copied under the common ones. Someone had been putting it into code. It said that there was already too much mortar at the site of one pillar but that they needed bones to power it before more could be done. The other ledger was confused there and the second sheet was an order for more cement to be delivered. This was concrete, and exactly what he needed. A short time studying it, a quick confirmation that the stocks were in disarray and whoever was responsible could be removed. He secreted the ledger in his robe.

He was hurrying out when a shelf caught he eye. It had a few scrolls noting artefacts which were suspected lost on Red Mountain. One entry was circled in red. He bent to read it but saw no more than something about a sounds when the door behind him burst open.

"Hello, what are you doing here?" said a voice. Then, "Guards!"

Posted by: jack cloudy Mar 30 2010, 02:21 PM

Eno Arval

Rothan nodded and vanished to the upper floor. Eno was well aware that unless given a few hours to pour through everything, the priest's odds of finding anything regarding his possessions were slim. On top of that, Eno doubted that his name had actually been marked anywhere to identify them. Besides, he had the feeling that whatever Rothan's reasons were for accompanying him were more important than his own so it wouldn't be surprising if he prioritized whatever he was looking over the instrument-maker's plight.

Eno shrugged casually at his own thoughts and renewed his focus on the search for his bags. He moved around the room clockwise, poking bags as he went, ignoring the crates for the moment. It wasn't long till his foot brushed against something soft, not the false softness of the baggs with their hard contents, but something that easily gave way to the side of his foot. He looked down to see a red scarf made from expensive wool.
"It couldn't be..." The man muttered and bend down to pick it up, wincing at his aching knees as he did so.
"Yes it is, that's the Arvel crest embroidered into it alright. Then would the bags next to it be mine?" He wondered.

"Hello, what are you doing here?" said a voice upstairs. Eno froze and his heart skipped a beat. "Guards!"
"Rothan! Someone must have walked in on him. Oh dear, how to help him?" He thought. He had little time to think any further as the door leading outside flew open and a pair of Armiger's burst into the room. They looked at him with a deep frown. To Eno it was clear that they knew that he hadn't been the one who called for them. But then who did?

"Who are you?" The one on the left asked with a tense voice.
"Me? Well uh, I'm Arval." Eno stammered, just as confused as they were as he tried to find some way to not get arrested.
"Oh, but that's probably not what you meant, good sir. I'm Eno Arval, assigned to worksite 4. Our foreman requested an extra bag of nails, some more ingredients for the morter, paint, two hammers and four more wooden boards. I've got most of the stuff, these two bags are all that's left." He added quickly.

"Worksite 4? I thought that place was finished." The Armiger continued, before gesturing at his partner.
"Check the other rooms, hurry! Start in the back room." He ordered.
"Hey, I'm not the one who organises here. All I know is that the foreman ordered me to get the goods, and he wants them fast. Nothing's finished till he says it is, as far as I'm concerned. That's all." Eno threw the scarf around his neck and picked up two of the bags that could be his.

The Armiger relaxed slightly, though only slightly.
"Right then. Did you hear the shouting?" He asked next.
"Yes, it came from...upstairs. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to be going." Eno replied meekly and walked out of the door.
"Sorry, Rothan. I gave you some time to come up with an excuse of your own, but I'm afraid that is all the help I could give."

Posted by: Dantrag Apr 2 2010, 05:31 PM

Dralas

Dralas and Rianne had nearly finished their morning breakfast when two Armigers sat down near them, though not too close. Dralas idly listened to their conversation while rolling a hackle-lo.

"Something's wrong, I'm telling you. Nobody can go into his office anymore, and all his orders are written now. I don't think I've seen him come outside all week. No one has."

"Don't overreact. Maybe he's not feeling well so he's staying in."

"Maybe, but things are getting worse here, and the overseer is doing nothing."

"It's out of our hands. All we can do is follow orders."

Dralas lit the hackle-lo, and looked elsewhere so his eavesdropping wasn't obvious. The little rumor spoke volumes about the camp and its bad state of affairs, and the hunter made sure to remember the information.

Posted by: minque Apr 3 2010, 01:41 AM

Rianne

She heard those Armigers conversation too, but didn't reveal she did, her eyes widened a bit...

The last sip of tea ran down her throat and she made a sign to Dralas; Can I have some of that hackle-lo?

Things were weird here and she had a feeling something nasty would happen.

Puffing her hackle-lo she sat silent beside Dralas, like a well brought up Ashlander girl, but her inside was chaotic

Posted by: Dantrag Apr 4 2010, 08:03 AM

Dralas

Dralas passed the leaf on Rianne's request, still listening to the armigers' conversation. They spoke of lighter things now, like when they were scheduled to go home. Nothing else of value.

When they had gone, he finally spoke, "What do you make of all that?"

Posted by: Olen Apr 4 2010, 10:00 PM

Rothan

Rothan turned to see a thin dunmer in a brown robe standing in the door glaring at him.

"Sorry sir," he said trying to sound genuine, "Is there a problem."

"What are you doing in my office. How did you get here?"

"Your office?" Rothan decided that playing ignorance was the only option, "Sorry I thought this was where details of where shipments were received were? You see my friend's bags went missing and I thought I might discover their whereabouts."

"What have you been looking at?" there was an edge in his voice.

"Nothing I just-"

The door behind him flew open and two burly Armiger's burst in. "Sir?" said the first to the robed figure.

"I just discovered this man here alone without permission."

"I had permission," lied Rothan before the guards could reply, "A clerk said i could look around for them."

"And where is the owner of these bags?"

"Downstairs, his leg-"

"Is this true?" the question was directed at the lead Armiger.

"No sir," he replied, "There is only a labourer down there getting supplies." Rothan cursed inwardly.

"Well", said the robed dunmer, "I think we had better discover what you've seen."

"I only just got upstairs, you must have heard the door or something. I'd just looked at that shelf to see if there was some sort of system before you arrived."

"Ah, perhaps that is not so bad. Lost artefacts?"

"Yes," Rothan noticed the man sounded less agitated, "I confess I read one, it seems to be nearby. A bell of some sort?"

The figure nodded, "You pair, escort him to my public office. I will be down momentarily."


The two Armigers glared at him and pointed down the stair and Rothan followed the first with the other behind. It wasn't as if he was going to run away, where could he go. He wasn't sure how badly he'd blown his cover yet, but he suspected that it might just about pass. This time.

"Who was that?" he asked.

The lead Armiger peered at him, "Athaso Vules, he's in charge of the temples logicstics here."

"Ah, I only just arrived."

"Hmmf, then you should know that he likes to be in control, and is. This place would fall apart without him."

"Yes," said the other Armiger, "No one else could keep on top of those books."

Rothan just nodded as they proceeded through the chaos of the main room and into a small side office.

OOC: I've given an NPC a name, if it doesn't suit I can edit.

Posted by: minque Apr 4 2010, 10:50 PM

QUOTE(Dantrag @ Apr 4 2010, 09:03 AM) *

Dralas

Dralas passed the leaf on Rianne's request, still listening to the armigers' conversation. They spoke of lighter things now, like when they were scheduled to go home. Nothing else of value.

When they had gone, he finally spoke, "What do you make of all that?"


Rianne

She turned to him, her dark red eyes were thuoghtful, slowly shaking her head...

"I'm not sure but I have this weird feeling, something is wrong, very wrong...I think he might be dead...or there might be an imposter.or...or. I think maybe maybe we should investigate things"

"It might be dangerous but my gut is telling me we can't just sit and do nothing"

She took out her waterbottle "You want some?"

Posted by: Olen Apr 5 2010, 11:47 AM

Rothan

Athaso Vules, the head bureaucrat, kept Rothan waiting in the sparse office with the guards for some time. It gave him time to ponder what he'd seen upstairs. The ledger needed study, somewhere private ideally. But the upstairs room he'd seen was functional in the extreme, and the office was equally spartan. So what was Vules doing? Not lining his own pockets, not here at least but Rothan couldn't think of another motive.

The chain of thought broke with Vules entering the room in a flurry of robes. "It seems," he said, "You broke into my archives and illegally read temple documents. You wear the robe of a priest yet I do not recognise you. You had best explain yourself?"

"I arrived yesterday in the caravan."

"We have no record of a priest."

"I'm yet to register."

"Hmm," Vules stroked his short beard, his face bent into a smile, slowly as if unaccustomed to the activity, "It is a crime you know, even for a priest, spying on the Temple. But," he held up a hand to forestall comment, "Perhaps you weren't to know and the damage has not been to severe. From your tone when you mentioned reading of the howling bell you felt it would be best recovered? I can see an ideal opportunity for you to... redeem yourself."

"Yes?"

"You are unregistered, this is ideal as you shall not be missed," the way he said it made Rothan wonder at his meaning, "Go to this place and recover the bell and this little incident can be ignored."

Rothan considered replying in defence but decided against it. Obedience now might leave him freer to investigate Vules later, and truth be told, he rather wanted to retrieve the artefact. "Very well, may I request supplies from the store."

"Yes, but we can spare no guards. You must find you own people to accompany you, and I expect you to leave tomorrow. That will be all." He strode out of the room.

Rothan turned to the guards, "Gentlemen I must be about my business if I am to leave tomorrow."

"Very well..." replied the first guard, "Look," he lowered his tone, "Ser Vules did not say this. There are strange rumours about the area that old fort lies in. Be on your guard and almsivi be with you."

"And you," Rothan nodded and left the room. One day to prepare and expedition? It was madness, he didn't know anyone in the camp and didn't trust those who might follow him. It would need to be those from the caravan, if he could persuade them that was.


OOC: canis if you want now would be an ideal time to approach him

Posted by: canis216 Apr 5 2010, 02:10 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas Heleran was in a fine mood. Making a sale was good for that. He wandered about camp for a while--rather aimlessly, to tell the truth--until he found himself among the Temple offices. It was there he saw the priest, Rothan, looking awfully troubled.

"If you don't mind me saying so, you look like you could use a drink, Sera Rothan."

Posted by: Dantrag Apr 6 2010, 07:39 AM

QUOTE(minque @ Apr 4 2010, 05:50 PM) *

Rianne

She turned to him, her dark red eyes were thuoghtful, slowly shaking her head...

"I'm not sure but I have this weird feeling, something is wrong, very wrong...I think he might be dead...or there might be an imposter.or...or. I think maybe maybe we should investigate things"

"It might be dangerous but my gut is telling me we can't just sit and do nothing"

She took out her waterbottle "You want some?"


Dralas

"I have a bad feeling too," he said, "But we need to know more before we can do anything."

He was taking a sip of Rianne's water when he had a thought.

"Rothan did want us to tell him about anything unusual. Perhaps this rumor is exactly the kind of thing he's looking for. I wouldn't know where to find him, though..." he said, making a quick glance around the camp as if he might find the priest.

Posted by: Olen Apr 6 2010, 05:02 PM

Rothan

"Perhaps," said Rothan, "But there is no time. I was hoping to meet you though," he paused. Dranas had been on of the better fighters and, although he didn't intend to run into trouble, the Armiger's warning was best heeded. He needed to sell the idea to Dranas and had a good idea of how to, "I've been tasked with recovering an artefact for the temple, I had a little issue with the person who leads the organisation here. I would be pleased if you would help me." He paused to let it sink in.

"I can request some supplies from the stores, I'm sure if they aren't used they would not be missed," Not with the book-keeping here anyway, "And these old forts can often have other treasures which we are not tasked with recovering..." he let the implication hang. "We leave tomorrow," he added.

Posted by: canis216 Apr 7 2010, 12:08 AM

Dranas Heleran

"Ha!" Dranas answered. "You'd make a priest of Zenithar proud, serjo, if you don't mind me saying. I should say no--such a hard sell could only mean that you suspect trouble and want my sword at hand. But I'll be damned if I'm not curious. What's this artifact supposed to be? And why do they need it here?"

Posted by: Olen Apr 11 2010, 07:09 PM

Rothan

Rothan looked at Dranas with a confused expression, "What do you mean why do we need an artefact? Did the divine tribunal not gain godhood through questing and wisdom?" he paused, according to a certain book in his possession this was untrue. Of course the book was wrong but some of its arguments were proving hard to refute. He started speaking again, hoping he hadn't been noticed too much, "We must collect such artefacts that they can be properly revered and studied. And I must say it might ease things between myself and Serjo Vules.

"As for trouble I don't expect much, just the usual ashland wildlife. However it pays to be well prepared, and I wouldn't fancy facing a pair of alit alone if I could avoid it. The artefact itself is called the howling bell, some sort of instrument I believe. So are you in, it promises to be good for your soul and potentially your wallet."

Posted by: canis216 Apr 11 2010, 10:47 PM

Dranas Heleran

"Well now, I don't know much about the Tribunal, but I do know something about Ashland wildlife. I reckon I could help you out with that. So yes, I'm in."

Posted by: minque Apr 11 2010, 11:23 PM

Rianne

"We need to find the priest, you're absolutely right, but where is he?"

Rianne looked around, very carefully...






OOC: So where is he? tongue.gif

Posted by: Olen Apr 11 2010, 11:23 PM

Rothan

"I'm glad to hear it," Rothan started walking down towards the camp proper and away from the temple building. The stolen ledger was heavy in his pocket. He thought it was for the best that they were leaving the following day, with luck before it's disappearance could be noticed.

"What supplies will we want? The fort is quite close by, it shouldn't take much more than half a day to get there," said Rothan as they walked. He paused for a moment, "You haven't come across anything... unusual have you?"


EDIT OOC: Got ninja'd there. They're (assuming canis doesn't mind me moving dranas) somewhere near the camp area, probably not far from where they can get travelling things (unless we have to go back to the temple building for them). I think about half a day to the fort/cave is about right?

Posted by: canis216 Apr 12 2010, 12:00 AM

Dranas Heleran

"Anything unusual?"

It was an odd question, Dranas thought. And hard to answer. He mostly kept to his own business, and that of any competition. And lo, was there competition.

Was there too much?

"I might have seen something, but I can't be too certain. In the merchant business, I've seen some things. Gotten to know some shady types." Dranas paused. "Smugglers, for example. I've seen a couple."


Posted by: jack cloudy Apr 15 2010, 07:50 PM

Eno Arval

Eno sighed. He felt like a coward and hated himself for that.
"What happened to the old honour and courage of Redoran? I can't even face a single figure of minor authority before I start quaking in my boots. And what for? It wasn't as if they were going to accuse me of high treason or something. Eno, you good for nothing knucklehead." He berated himself as he absentmindedly walked through the camp. The bags he'd picked up had turned out not to be his in the end. Instead of the ingrediënts for plaster he'd expected to find, they were filled with twisted nails, an old pot and even two pieces of the same broken sword. Scrap iron, basically.

He stopped and looked down at the bags in his hands. He really should return them, especially since someone might come asking questions about the building-site he fabricated in his hasty, too hasty, improvisation. But the same fear that had made him run off with them kept him from turning on his heels and return them.
"Agh. I don't know how, and I don't care...but I have to somehow repay sir Rothan. I did just abandon him after all and if there is even one shred of honour left in me, I will need to find a way to undo my treachery!"

Posted by: Olen Apr 15 2010, 08:26 PM

Rothan

Rothan shook his head, "Doubtless there's smuggling and pushers, that's the gurads problem. Tell someone official if you're sure. No, I more meant things which seem out of place or poorly run. Like have you noticed no one seems particularly pleased to be here? Though I can't say I like the place so it's probably just that." He smiled, "Never mind, if you see anything tell me. What supplies do you reckon we'll need?"

He was looking over the the outdoor storage, with luck they could avoid the main building and just take directly. He saw Eno with two bags but looking strangely despondent given he seemed to have found his luggage. Rothan waved him over.

Posted by: canis216 Apr 15 2010, 11:56 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas was momentarily surprised about Rothan's lack of concern with smugglers. But then, the priest didn't know them as he did. Dranas opened his mouth to explain, but then thought better of it. He'd be revealing too much of himself.

"Supplies? So long as the artifact isn't too big for one man to carry on his back, I'd recommend traveling light. If you think the bell's too big we might take a guar, but I'd rather not risk picketing one out alone in the ashlands while we dungeon-dive, if it can be helped."

"As for what to carry, I'll be sticking with my steel, my throwing stars, and a few potions. You may not be expecting any opposition, but if we do I always find it best to preserve the option to run in the opposite direction with all due haste."

Posted by: Olen Apr 18 2010, 05:09 PM

Rothan

"Ha, yes. Running is often a good option. I should think one person could carry the artefact though," said Rothan, "So I'd agree about travelling light. We should be able to requisition a few potions and some food without much difficulty. I'll have to get myself a new weapon too, I lost my old mace on the way here."

"What about ashstorms? I hear they can be bad out here, I might try to persuade those ashlanders to accompany us too..."

He looked up and noticed Rianne and Dralas standing not far from a food stand. He waved to them too.


OOC: are people ready to approach them yet?

Posted by: minque Apr 20 2010, 11:57 PM

Rianne

Rianne noticed someone waving at them...

" Dralas! There he is, the priest I mean, come on, let's head over, shall we?"

She took Dralas' hand and approached the priest and the three others




OOC: Two Ashlanders coming right up! wink.gif

Posted by: jack cloudy Apr 21 2010, 11:09 AM

Eno Arval

Eno was so preoccupied with his selfloathing that he didn't see anything beyond his own two feet. So he didn't notice that Rothan was actually standing not too far off, nor did he notice Rianne and Dralas walking by him.
"My life, what good is it to anyone? Yet it is all I have, all I have to give. My life, and these two hands. Yes, when I meet sir Rothan again, I will put my life and my hands in his. If I ever see him again. I hope he didn't get dragged off to be executed or something. I mean, it was quite obviously that even if what we were doing was legal, those upon whose territory we tresspassed would not have seen it that way."


OOC: I'll wait for my turn. Also, I'm not good at this angst thing.smile.gif

Posted by: Dantrag Apr 22 2010, 04:07 AM

Dralas

Dralas and Rianne walked towards the priest, her hand in his. On the way, they crossed paths with the instrument maker. He seemed preoccupied in a depressed kind of way. His name escaped Dralas, but the ashlander greeted him anyway.

"You alright?" he asked when they came close enough, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Posted by: Dantrag Apr 22 2010, 04:08 AM

Dralas

Dralas and Rianne walked towards the priest, her hand in his. On the way, they crossed paths with the instrument maker. He seemed preoccupied in a depressed kind of way. His name escaped Dralas, but the ashlander greeted him anyway.

"You alright?" he asked when they came close enough, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Posted by: canis216 Apr 22 2010, 04:46 AM

Dranas Heleran (Still speaking with Rothan)

"At the very least we can make some use of their archery skills--I don't need to tell you how frustrating it is to wave a sword at those damned cliff racers. As for ashstorms... just find a cave or a niche in the rocks."

"And did you say that you mislaid your mace? I can help with that, you know. As a matter of fact, I just happen to have a fine steel mace of Nordic design, plated with silver mined from the base of High Hrothgar and enchanted with frost, the essence of Skyrim. If you're interested, I'm certain we could come to reasonable bargain."


Posted by: Olen Apr 22 2010, 10:51 PM

Rothan

Rothan laughed, "I'm sure you could. I didn't so much mislay the last one as break it over a skull, it wasn't well built but I don't like heavy weapons. But as to your offer, no, I think I shall see what the Temple supplies can provide."

He glanced over to where Dralas and Rianne had been and saw they had met Eno who looked rather unhappy now Rothan took the time to notice. "I suppose we'd best ask them if we're to leave tomorrow morning." He started towards the ashlanders and the old instrument maker.

Posted by: minque Apr 23 2010, 12:22 AM

Rianne

Rianne also noticed the old man's unhappy face.

He gave me that flute, he's a kind man, I wonder what's wrong with him, his heart aches..I can see that

"Eno is it, right?" Rianne gently touched the old man's shoulder

"Is there anything I can do for you?"


She squeezed Dralas' hand for a moment...

Posted by: jack cloudy Apr 23 2010, 05:03 PM

Eno Arval

The sudden touch shook him out of his lamentations.
"Eh, who?" He stammered as he turned. The two ashlanders, Dralas and Rianne stood there, with a hint of worry on their face.
"Ah sir, lady. I hadn't noticed you. Please forgive me." He said apologetically as he bowed to the two.

"And well, I haven't seen a ghost, not in decades at least. But one might say I am troubled." He continued. He didn't quite know why, but it felt good to speak about his folly, even if only in general terms.
"You see, I have been a fool and made a terrible mistake. A mistake of honour, loyalty and trust. I've let a good man down when he needed me to stand with him. However much I would appreciate your help though, this is something I must rectify myself. Speaking of which, you wouldn't happen to have seen sir Rothan, would you? The priest we travelled with for a while?"


OOC: Yeah, he's really been ignoring his surroundings. tongue.gif Rothan is right over there, you blind dude!

Posted by: Dantrag Apr 28 2010, 08:14 AM

Dralas

I don't know what he's done, but the desire to put it right is honorable enough.

"He's headed this way," Dralas answered, pointing a short distance away, "I take it the priest can help you solve your problem?"

Posted by: Olen Apr 28 2010, 07:25 PM

Rothan

When they got to where the ashlanders spoke with Eno, Rothan noticed how upset the instrument maker was. He also overheard Dralas say something about a priest.

"Sera," he said, "What is the matter. The Armigers didn't give you too much trouble did they?" He hadn't noticed Eno around after he was found so assumed he had been fine. Now he worried he had been wrong.

He gave the ashlanders a nod before waiting for Eno to reply.


OOC: I moved Dranas, if that's not what you want I'll edit

Posted by: jack cloudy May 1 2010, 08:10 PM

OOC: Wasn't there a rule of 200 replies maximum per thread? Not that I mind really, it's easier to keep track of a single thread honestly.

Eno Arval

Eno was quite surprised at finding out that Rothan had been less than a stonesthrow away.
"Sir Rothan! I...well, they didn't give me much trouble, though I wish they had. I should have just kept those guards occupied for your sake instead of making myself scarce at the earliest convenience. I cannot say how sorry I am." He stammered. Then he steeled himself and took a deep breath.
"Though I do not have any honour, nor am I worthy of your attention, I do beseech you. Let me assist you in your endeavours any way I can. I do so swear right here at this moment, with these fine fellows as our witnesses," He spoke without a single tremble in his voice.
"That I will stand by your side till the time that I have paid for my failure and betrayal a hundredfold. Whether come Ice or Fire, Ash or Poison, Fang or Steel, I will aid and protect you till my flesh be reduced to dust and my bones buried among my ancestors. May ALMSIVI strike me down if I do break this oath."


OOC: A bit over the top perhaps. Ah well.

Posted by: canis216 May 1 2010, 08:53 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas barely restrained himself from laughing. "Well, Rothan, it looks like you've got another member for our little party of adventurers," he said, straining to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

OOC: This might be a good spot for an ashlander to jump in and ask, "What party of adventurers?" or something to that effect.

Posted by: minque May 1 2010, 11:43 PM

Rianne

"Adventures?? what kind of adventures do you have in mind?"

Rianne sounded a bit off saying that, she had a bad feeling about all this..

I'm not sure we'll get out of it alive!

Posted by: Olen May 2 2010, 10:45 AM

Rothan

Rothan felt Dranas quivering with mirth as Eno's tirade finished. He blinked, it wasn't at all what he had expected, anger at being used as an excuse to see the books possibly but not guilt.

"Peace Sera, I quite understand that you did not want to cross the authorities and in truth I shouldn't have left you there. However my look upstairs was most," he puased, "informative. You should not feel guilty for leaving a situation you were uncomfortable with."

He turned to include both Eno and the ashlanders, "Adventures is a strong word, but I have been tasked with recovering a temple artefact called the howling bell. It may be of some interest to you Eno as I understand it is of a musical nature, as for you," he turned to the ashlanders, "I sort of hoped you might be willing to help, you know the terrain much better than I do."

Posted by: Dantrag May 3 2010, 09:52 AM

Dralas

"Where do you need to go?" he asked. He was supposed to be working on the wall soon, but if the Temple would make an exception for him to go fetch an instrument, he'd take the chance simply to leave the camp. This job probably paid better, too, though he cared little about gold. Dralas saw it as an opportunity to make a connection. Perhaps the Temple would allow him to take his ancestors as a reward. If not, maybe a favor to Rothan would get him a step closer to stealing them back.

"And what's so special about this bell?"

Posted by: Olen May 3 2010, 06:55 PM

Rothan

"There is an old fort a bit north west of here," replied Rothan. "It appears that the bell was last recorded there and there is no evidence that it will have been disturbed. As for why it's special, I believe it was involved in a miracle by some minor saint who's popular up Maar Gan way."

He wondered how far he should trust the ashlander, they already knew he wasn't exactly what he appeared and he knew a bit about Dralas. He lowered his tone slightly, "The other reason is that I want to be out of the camp by tomorrow lunchtime." Or earlier, he thought, they'll notice that ledger is missing sooner or later and I'd rather not be here then.

"Anyway," he said, his tone bright again, "We'd best get whatever supplies we think we'll need."

Posted by: Dantrag May 4 2010, 06:44 AM

Dralas

"Do you have access to supplies? You need two things to roam the ashlands: a weapon and water. Lots of water. And I would need a bow. Mine was lost in the ruins when the daedra came."

He then stopped for a moment to look at his and Rianne's stained and worn garments, "Get us a few sets of clothes too and I'll help."

Dralas wouldn't volunteer for Rianne, but he was selfishly hoping she would come along. He still didn't fully understand civilized people, and something about Dranas made him wary. It would be nice to have someone he could trust.

Posted by: canis216 May 4 2010, 02:22 PM

Dranas Heleran

"Anything you can't get out of the Temple's stocks, you can surely get from me. 'Course, my wares ain't quite free, but they're reasonably priced for bartering and in good condition. I can guarantee that."

Posted by: jack cloudy May 5 2010, 09:48 PM

Eno Arval OOC: I should really think of something for Haz to do in the meantime. Bloody hell, it took me over ten seconds just to remember his name. tongue.gif

Eno was rather relieved to find out that Rothan had come through his ordeal just fine and didn't even blame him. Still...
"Sorry, but once sworn, an oath cannot be undone. I'd like to follow through with it, if it's all the same to you." He said, weighing the bags in his hands. On the one hand, he should return them. On the other, it was junk he was carrying, junk no one would use. There had even been a scrumpled note tied to their necks, stating that the contents were to be returned to Balmora for sale to a used goods store.

Dralas had been quite firm when he stated the need for both water and more importantly, a weapon. Seeing as how he was born and raised in the Ashlands, Eno saw no reason to doubt his claims in the slightest. There was a sword, broken though it might be, among the goods. The instrument maker was no fighter, but having a weapon, any weapon, would help raise his confidence.

For a moment, Eno thought about attempting to buy one from Dranas, only to realize that with the loss of his bags, practically all of his funds had been lost with them.
"Well, I'll just pretend I bought this pile of junk with my money. And I think I can fix that blade, well enough to last a while at least. I'll just have to borrow a forge at the workshop once we're done here." He thought.

"For water, I did notice a few mages walking around who seemed to be specialized in the creation of ice. Ice once melted is water. Might be how the temple manages to handle the thirst of so many people out here. We could ask them for a few canteens full of water. We also need food. In that regard, I still have some rations. Should be enough to last us a day's march."

OOC: I figured that a well would be very unlikely at our location, and carrying tons of barrels of water would be awkward. So...magic?

Posted by: minque May 7 2010, 09:56 PM

Rianne

Rianne smiled. She listened to the conversation between the men, without interfering. Not like her at all...not a bit, but she had decided to let Dralas speak for her. It was tradition among their folks...Now the fact that she was a Wise Woman apprentice wasn't common knowledge....so

She gave Dralas a faint sign, telling him she would stand by his side...

"Water is essential, but we can't carry too much, it would slow us down...now I know of some plants that can be used...they grow around here...I've noticed that"

She looked at her torn shirt, the one Dralas gave her back in Balmora....

Mmmm I'd really like something decent to wear...

Posted by: Olen May 8 2010, 10:38 AM

Rothan

"The fort might well have a water source," said Rothan, "It must have done at some point, and if you say there are plants," he nodded to Rianne, "then I am glad you are with us." He said the last bit as a question though by what she'd said he assumed she intended to join them.

"We can get some stocks here anyway, certainly waterskins, food and the like. As for a weapon and clothes," he nodded to Dralas, "I dare say I could convince them to lend you a bow and I doubt they'd notice if you forgot to return it. For clothes it would probably depend on the clerk. I could definitely get some as a member of the temple but they'd be basic. Think of it as extra payment, if you want anything fancy I dare say Dranas could cut you deal." He smiled.

"Shall we go and see what we can get?"

Posted by: minque May 9 2010, 09:57 PM

Rianne

"Good idea, let's go.You coming Dralas? I'd like some warmer clothes, I've been freezing for quite some time now"


Posted by: jack cloudy May 11 2010, 12:00 PM

Eno Arval

Eno nodded.
"That all sounds fine to me. Let's go now while most people are still at the construction site. That way we won't have to deal with a crowd of hungry and tired people." He said.

Haz

Much to Haz's surprise, he'd been sent to the exact same spot he'd used to infiltrate yesterday. Only this time, they were ordered to dismantle the very same wall they'd built.
"No wonder those freaks keep stealing slaves. If they can't make up their mind on where to build, they'll never get done." He thought as he ripped a plate free from the scaffolding. The glue held up pretty badly which apparantly was also the reason they were tearing this down. One of the advantages of being a slave was that one practically became invisible. Oh sure, if he made a ruckus he would get the whip, but no one bothered to keep their voice down or hide their secrets as long as he acted his role and kept quiet. Not that what the foreman was complaining about was much of a secret. Still, it did give Haz a few ideas of his own.

"I keep telling you, those stupid 'volunteer workers' can't be trusted to keep the bags and pots properly sealed. They're not professional constructors, they're just people who try to get in a favour with the temple. So they open up the pots, scoop up more glue than they need, and then leave it open for the next guy who comes around. Then ash get's in the pots and ruins the glue." The foreman complained to a clerk.
"So just run back and tell him that I can't build anything with faulty materials. I suggest he makes a public announcement or something and rams some proper conduct into everyone's heads."

Posted by: Olen May 12 2010, 06:59 PM

Rothan

"Good call," said Rothan and started towards the temple suppliers. He could probably have got a better quality of goods had he gone to the main building but he wasn't sure he would be welcome back there so instead made for the shack which distributed inexpensive necessities to the labourers.

The clerk looked up boredly, "Yes?"

"Tomorrow we are going to recover the howling bell in the name of almsivi. We require the goods necessary to do so."

"Go to the main building."

"No, what you have here will suffice. I personally need a light mace or hammer that I can use as a weapon, two waterskins and provisions for two days... oh and some clothes."

The clerk pulled out a sheet of paper, "This would be quicker if you all told me what you need," he muttered.

Posted by: Dantrag May 12 2010, 08:42 PM

Dralas

The clerk wanted each of them to tell what they needed. When it was Dralas' turn, he recieved a bow, a waterskin, two tan shirts made of light cotton, and a pair of thick brown pants.

He familiarized himself with his new weapon while he waited for the others. The bow was sturdy enough, though not expertly made. It would do until he had the time to fashion a new one. He packed his new clothes away in his small pack, and slung the waterskin over his shoulder.

It would be time to leave soon, and Dralas wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Posted by: minque May 15 2010, 02:38 AM

Rianne

She got herself a warm tunic made of thick brown wool, a robe and two waterskins. Also she asked for some extra arrows, maybe she could prepare a few with her secret poison to make them more effective.

When equipped she went over to Dralas, lit a hackle-lo and waited...

"want some?" she offered him the joint with a faint smile

Posted by: canis216 May 15 2010, 03:30 AM

Dranas Heleran

While the clerk was distracted helping the ashlanders, Dranas helped himself to a few extra throwing stars, figuring that they could hardly be missed among the disorganized supply cache. Briefly it occurred to him that he could well get them for free if he asked--but he put down the thought quickly. By just taking the weapons he was saving the clerk a considerable investment in time and effort, after all.

Posted by: jack cloudy May 15 2010, 02:19 PM

Eno Arval

Eno calmly waited till it was his turn before stepping up to the counter.
"Ah yes, a waterskin, two candles and a portable lantern to put them in, please." He requested.
"I think I've got everything else I need already. And I doubt someone was polite enough to leave some torches or other lightsources at our destination." He chuckled when the clerk returned with his items.
"Alright, I'm done here. If there's nothing else that needs to be done, I'll excuse myself and make some more preparations for myself. Where will we meet before leaving?"

Posted by: Dantrag May 15 2010, 08:05 PM

Dralas

He and Rianne stood outside the shack, smoking their leaf while the others got their supplies. The hunter's eyes were looking up. The skies had been clear all day, and the wind was still. There were no overt signs of that changing, but the ashlands often had a mind of its own. Dralas knew that Rothan wanted to leave by lunchtime. Personally he hoped to leave as early as dawn, before the ashlands decided to kick up dust again.

He heard Eno's voice drifting from inside, wanting to know where to meet.

"You're sure you want to come?" he asked Rianne, passing her the hackle-lo, "I don't mean to always drag you into my troubles."

Posted by: Olen May 15 2010, 09:26 PM

Rothan

"We might as well meet at the north guard post, as for when... I had said before Lunch but I have nothing to do and would happily make that earlier," said Rothan. Would rather make that earlier, he thought, he didn't think he'd sleep well that night.

"I doubt I'll do anything more today. I'll go and get some of what passes for food here now if anyone fancies joining me. Then an early night I suppose."

Posted by: minque May 15 2010, 10:06 PM

Rianne

She took the leaf from Dralas looking him straight into his eyes;

"Please! I'll stand by you all the time, trust me, you hunter of the Erabenimsun, my mission is to aid you all the time! Gah, you're my kin you and me , we are of the same kind, never ever ask me again if I want to follow you or not, you damn well know I'll never leave you..not now!"

She turned away for a second, not wanting to show the tears forming in her eyes.

Then she kissed him...quickly and subtle

Why doesn't he understand? We have to stick together....





Posted by: canis216 May 16 2010, 12:39 AM

Dranas Heleran

"The earlier we leave the better, far as I'm concerned. Weather this fine surely can't last." Dranas chewed on a strip of kwama jerky. "And again, if anyone wants to barter for anything special--or at least better than that Temple junk--best to do it now. I've got plenty of good stuff, but when we hit the trail it stays here in this camp."

Posted by: Dantrag May 18 2010, 07:00 AM

QUOTE(minque @ May 15 2010, 05:06 PM) *

Rianne

She took the leaf from Dralas looking him straight into his eyes;

"Please! I'll stand by you all the time, trust me, you hunter of the Erabenimsun, my mission is to aid you all the time! Gah, you're my kin you and me , we are of the same kind, never ever ask me again if I want to follow you or not, you damn well know I'll never leave you..not now!"

She turned away for a second, not wanting to show the tears forming in her eyes.

Then she kissed him...quickly and subtle

Why doesn't he understand? We have to stick together....


Dralas

Dralas hadn't expected such an emotional response, but even in his surprise he didn't pull away from Rianne's kiss. She looked up at him, and he wiped a tear from her cheek.

"No more tears," he said, tugging on a bead in his hair, "It's settled. We'll go together, you and me."

It was an old tradition among ashlander children for a boy to adorn a pretty girl with a piece of jewelry, and it was what Dralas did now. With a sheepish smile he gently took a lock of Rianne's hair and wove the bead into it. Though somewhat juvenile, it was no less heartfelt, and Dralas thought now that he should have done it back in Balmora, when he'd tried to give her a roasted rat instead.

Posted by: jack cloudy May 19 2010, 06:58 PM

Eno Arval

Eno nodded.
"I think I'm set. Unless...Sir Heleran, you wouldn't happen to have any fine tools would you? I'm talking about small knives, a pincer or two and a delicate scissor. I don't see much purpose for them on our journey tomorrow, but I lost my old set somewhere last night and I'd like some replacements to get me started with my craft again."


Posted by: canis216 May 19 2010, 11:43 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas thought for a moment. "Ay, I think I ought to have what you need. In my trade a fellow's always fixing up things and whatnot. I can go back to my camp and fetch the stuff. Probably set you back 8 drakes for a set of four knives--sharper than a clannfear's claws--1 drake for a two pair of pincers, and 3 drakes for a pair of very fine scissors. You bartering or paying gold?"

Posted by: jack cloudy May 20 2010, 04:09 PM

Eno Arval

Eno thought for a few seconds before answering. He didn't need four knives really, though if they were as good as the merchant said they were, having a few spares would be handy.
"I only have nine drakes total at the moment. However, I could make up the debt by providing you with some of my products in due time. I won't promise any masterpieces, not without the references in my journal, but I can create some good quality instruments using whatever I find in the wilderness, if I do dare say so myself. Regardless, I'd like to see the wares first before buying. No offense, but my needs are quite specific."

Posted by: minque May 21 2010, 10:21 PM

QUOTE(Dantrag @ May 18 2010, 08:00 AM) *



Dralas

Dralas hadn't expected such an emotional response, but even in his surprise he didn't pull away from Rianne's kiss. She looked up at him, and he wiped a tear from her cheek.

"No more tears," he said, tugging on a bead in his hair, "It's settled. We'll go together, you and me."

It was an old tradition among ashlander children for a boy to adorn a pretty girl with a piece of jewelry, and it was what Dralas did now. With a sheepish smile he gently took a lock of Rianne's hair and wove the bead into it. Though somewhat juvenile, it was no less heartfelt, and Dralas thought now that he should have done it back in Balmora, when he'd tried to give her a roasted rat instead.


Rianne

She was all smile, she knew about that tradition as well, alhough she hadn't had so many young boys giving her things at all. Maybe because she normally scared men or boys away, she was not exactly a sweet timid girl, she had an attitude when she was younger and then she joined the guild og Wise Women because of her magical skills.

She didn't speak, just gave Dralas a sign that she acknowledged his gesture...

"Good! let's go and see if that barter-guy has got something useful, the old man is talking to him right over there"


Posted by: canis216 May 23 2010, 11:16 PM

Dranas Heleran

Dranas showed the instrument maker his tools--knives of case-hardened carbon-steel (forged by the finest Orc metal-smith in all the Wrothgarian Mountains , he said), and pincers and scissors of the finest stainless. After a modest bit of haggling (mostly Dranas trying to figure out the precise worth of one of Eno's instruments), an accord was reached.

OOC: This fine by you, Jack? Note the lack of any pesky "quantity" details, so we can ret-con more or less at will.

Posted by: jack cloudy May 24 2010, 09:10 PM

OOC: sure. Looks good to me

Eno Arval

While Eno doubted that the knives were actually crafted by Orcs, (they seemed too good for that) on the whole he was quite pleased with his purchase.
"Yes, as soon as I find some raw materials to work with, I'll get right down to bussiness and craft some fine instruments."

Posted by: Olen May 26 2010, 09:57 AM

Rothan

Rothan left the others bartering with Dralas. He thought perhaps he should have picked up a better weapon than the masons' hammer the store had given him but then what was really going to be living in a long abandoned fort? Possibly rats but then his hammer would be sufficient, at worst it might be haunted but he couldn't afford silver weapons and spells would suffice. I bet Rianne knows a thing or two about putting down ghosts too, he thought.

He reached the food-stand but realised he hadn't got his bowl so headed back to where he'd left his pack and decided he might as well sort what he was going to need. He didn't want to travel too heavy so put aside everything but the food, his travelling cloak and a change of clothes. As he put it aside he realised that leaving the dissident pamphlet he had been studying was probably a poor idea so pushed it in along with the stolen ledger. If someone finds this.... It did leave any space for the hammer so he'd just have to wear it.

He took his bowl and made his way to the food-stands hoping to find something somewhat more edible this time.


OOC: is there anymore bartering to be done? If not shall be begin the following day?

Posted by: jack cloudy Jun 1 2010, 08:27 PM

Eno Arval

With one last swift pull, he finished the knot just as the sun burst free from the horizon. The Dunmer had not slept well that night, plagued as he was by fear for the ashlands. He knew that they would only be gone for a day or two at most, and that the chance of a repeat of last time's events were so slim they might as well be ignorable. Yet still, cold sweat would break out on his skin the moment he thought of setting foot outside the camp.

"Come on, Eno. This is no time to be frozen by panic. You made a vow and crawling back now is unaceptable. Besides, that bell sounds quite interesting. Surely you would like to see it firsthand, and find the answer to your question of whether there is any magic in this artefact sir Rothan spoke of, and whether this magic comes from the bell itself, or from the music it creates?" He said to himself.

Just to grant himself some more courage, and to see if his plan had worked, he swung the wooden shaft he held around a few times. The idea was born both out of a lack of funds as the simple desire to make something, anything with his two hands. As such, he'd crafted himself a simple spear out of the combination of the short staff he used for walking, wax from one of the two candles he'd requested as a makeshift glue, the broken sword's blade as the tip and finally his family scarf. The end result was an improvisation that would give nightmares to any real weaponsmith and likely to lose the blade within the first three blows. Still, the man was satisfied with the results.
"This should do. The basics of spear usage are easier to master than a sword and put an emphasis on keeping distance as much as possible, both factors I appreciate."

Scarf fluttering in the morning breeze, Eno gathered his belongings and set out to find the rest of the group he would be travelling with.

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)