Ohh, it's so great Kiln.

I have now been reading for nearly three hours to catch up with you....Phew, I must be getting out of shape.

Please Kiln give us more, it's awesome.

Kiln sat there quitely for hours waiting on Rami to wake. Every time she'd roll over or shift position his heart would speed up, it was torture waiting for so long but he could not bare to disturb her rest.

Finally she turned over and opened her eyes so Kiln stood from the chair and moved to the edge of the bed slowly putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him in surprise and then quickly sat up from her bed and grabbed him, holding him tightly.

Rami could tell that he was in pain and she let go and leaned up again. Kiln knew that it would be impossible to cover up the cuts and scars of the things that had happened to him so he slowly lifted his shirt up and over his head, showing his wounds to her. Rami looked at the bruises and marks covering his chest and leaned in close, kissing his mouth softly.

Kiln stared into her soft eyes and pulled her close to him kissing her again and returned to a sitting position and began the questioning about where he'd been and what had happened to him. There was no hostility in her voice, just the clear sound of worry.

He couldn't decide what to tell her and what to leave out about the things that had happened to him so he told her everything, sparing no detail about the torture and pain he'd endured while being held captive by the black hands. He told everything from the nix hound attack to the depressing death of his companion Jinx. He left out only one detail, the fact that he was working with the blades and the dance he'd been forced to do for entry.

As Kiln was about to explain that his task was not yet complete and that he wished to return to finish it Dulnea called down that breakfast was ready. Rami half dragged Kiln upstairs to the table and began telling him of the things she'd done while she'd been waiting on him to return.

Kiln gathered from what she'd told him that her time had been quite boring, mostly consisting of walks through Balmora and watching a few good bar fights but other than that there was little else she'd done.

The discussion was a bit one sided as Kiln was incredibly hungry and ate very quickly, Rami didn't seem to notice or didn't mention it at least. Breakfast passed relatively quickly and Kiln wanted to go for a walk and look at Balmora once again.

Kiln and Rami walked under the wall and past the silt strider to the river, looking into its sparkling waters. It looked so warm and comfortable, reminding him of all the times he'd waded in it rather than paying for a bath.

Rami took his hand as he sat down by the bank of the river and rested her head on his shoulder. Kiln felt more at home now than he'd ever felt before, they sat there for hours just looking at the water and the landscape around them, a scrib thumped its tail on the ground across the river merrily as it ate something on the ground.

This seemed like the perfect time to tell her that he must help York on his quest but he could not find the words, he knew that when he told her she would be sad and dissapointed that he was leaving or perhaps she would ask him to stay. Rami had said something that he could not stand to let her think.

"At least you're done with your quest now."

He could not bare it any longer, sunset was coming and he'd promised York he'd return with word of his involvement by the end of this day.

"Rami, there's something I have to tell you." Kiln said softly

"Yes?" She replied

"I made a promise to York that I would help him finish something....and its yet to be finished." Kiln said nervously

"You mean you aren't done helping York?" She asked sorrowfully

"Not yet, and I've returned to seek your permission to continue." Kiln said

"This isn't a good time for this." She said sadly

"What do you mean?" Kiln questioned

"If you don't return..." She started

"I promise you that I will." Kiln assured her

Rami sat silently for a moment and looked as if she was thinking deeply.

"I don't want our child to be born without a father." She said

Kiln's heart froze, this was wonderful yet terrifying at the same moment. He was overjoyed and unsure of what to say.

"You mean...I'm to be a father? You're sure?" Kiln asked

"The priest says that I am to bear a son." She said

"I love you Rami...but I must keep my word." Kiln said

"I understand Kiln, I just want you to make sure you come back to me in one piece." She said

Kiln pulled her up against him and kissed her over and over again.

"I promise you...I will return." Kiln said

Tears were forming in his eyes though he tried to cover them it was impossible, they dripped down his face and he stood from the river bank, helping Rami to her feet.

Kiln wished he didn't have to go but he was a man of honor and he would do everything in his power not to break his word.

They returned to the tavern and Kiln wished Dulnea good luck in the following weeks as he continued his journey. Kiln kissed Rami goodbye and hugged her tightly, slowly taking the potion from his bag and taking a drink shortly after.

Instantly he was taken into the darkness and back to the spot where the Imperial camp was. York waited near the fallen tree for his return and Kiln joined him there.

"Will you accompany me Kiln, or have you chosen to stay?" York asked

"Let us leave this camp and make our way to Kogoruhn." Kiln said

"We'll leave soon but first I wanted to tell you something." York said

"What is it?" Kiln asked

"I went to the ashlander camp near where Jinx was stabbed while you were gone...and they told me their warriors had pulled a severely wounded breton from the wilds months ago." York said

"Was it Jinx's body?" Kiln asked anxiously

"That it was." York said

"Did they pay it the proper respects?" Kiln asked

"There was no need." York told him

"You mean...he lives?" Kiln asked

"Yes, though he does not know that we survived and I do not wish for him to. We will see him when our task is complete but for now it is best that he thinks we were killed...I will not risk his life again." York said

"I understand...when will we leave?" Kiln asked

"We will leave soon, making our way through the ruin quietly. We will try to collect the items with as little fighting as possible and then we will leave...there are unnatural things within the walls of Kogoruhn." York said

Kiln nodded and opened the sack which he'd claimed was gold back at the tavern and took the bread from it. He'd given all he had to Dulnea for the hospitality she'd paid him and he had nothing now, gold was not important to him any longer, he would live off what he had and live his life honestly from this point forward. No more stealing from the innocent.

All this was a stunning resolution but he had more important things to worry about, he'd heard of the dangers that were inside of the ancient ruin and he feared them. He spent the next hour training himself with one of the guards, both men clashing blades and attempting to get through to the other with the dulled practice swords. One thing was for sure, Kiln would be ready for the challenge ahead of him.

So Jinx yet lives; this is welcome news indeed. I will look forward to their (eventual) reunion with him. And Kiln is going to be a father; that is certainly extra incentive to return (not that he actually needed an extra incentive). Kogoruhn can be a very scary place; I do hope that York and Kiln donot encounter anything that they can't handle.

Wow! Good that Jinx lives and a nice spin(I can't think of the word so i don't know) that Kiln is a father, another burden. please continue as I love to read more.

Just a short bit before they set off for the ruin, enjoy...
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The legion soldiers cheered as Kiln readied himself to fight with the guard's best fighter and head trainer at the camp. Though the blades were dulled so that you couldn't actually be killed with them, Kiln was still afraid. He was afraid of losing and looking like a fool in front of at least fifteen others, among them was his friend York.

The oldest soldier stepped forward and all the men became silent.

"This fight will be carried out with honor and dignity, the last to remain standing will be called the victor and the first to hit the ground will accept his loss." He announced loudly

He paused for a moment and then looked between Kiln and the guard,

"Understood?" He asked

Both men nodded and Kiln shook the trainer's hand. They stepped back to their sides of the circle and waited on the signal.

"Begin!" The old man yelled out

Kiln stepped forward, watching his opponent carefully as he circled, slowly moving closer. The crowd of soldiers began talking again and their yells blended into a loud noise like that of a schoolyard fight. They all watched carefully, many of them had money riding on the fight.

York watched carefully as well, this was the first time in quite a while that he'd been able to actually observe Kiln fighting without worrying about an opponent of his own.

Kiln stepped forward and stabbed for the stomach of his challenger, making the first move, but his blow was deflected easily by the blade of his foe. His opponent stepped forward and drew his claymore above his head, bringing it down upon Kiln.

As the huge sword came him Kiln held his blade up and braced himself for the blow which landed hard upon his blade. The strength of the hit caused Kiln to lose balance and stumble, nearly falling but he somehow managed to keep standing.

The hit was harder than that of any enemy Kiln had ever faced and now he was playing defensively, knowing better than to attack the man without a plan. He backed up slowly keeping an eye on the smiling imperial coming towards him.

York stood silently listening to the yelling soldiers when one beside him yelled to his friend.

"I've got fifty drakes on Dirk!" The soldier yelled laughing

"I'm not betting against you...that dark elf is in a run for his money." The other laughed

"I'll bet one hundred drakes on Kiln!" York said turning to the soldier

"I'm not betting more than fifty!" The soldier replied

"How about my hundred against your fifty?" York said

"Best bet I've heard all night, I'll take it." The soldier said holding his hand out with a smile

York gripped it tightly and looked him in the eye before breaking away and looking back to the fight.

Kiln moved in closer and as Dirk swung at him he ducked it and as he came back up from it he smacked the dull blade of the sword against the stomach of the brute as hard as he could, then stepped back to admire his work.

It was clear that Dirk confused by the speed of the dark elf by the look on his face and he turned around swinging furiously before actually seeing Kiln again. Kiln stared at his face and waited once more, as the trainer stepped closer.

Kiln stepped back from the next blow but as he got ready to make his counter strike, his opponent brought his dull blade back across and hit him in the ribs with it. This unexpected strike nearly forced Kiln to fall but still he managed to stand even with the pain from the blow to his ribs, the power of the hit nocked the breath out of him and he could barely stand.

The trainer stepped closer as Kiln hunched over and held his ribs to make the final blow that would take the dark elf to the ground. Dirk pulled his blade up and swung it down hard, same as he'd done before but this time Kiln was expecting it and had been waiting on him to make that mistake again.

The dull piece of metal swung in vain as Kiln stepped forward past his opponent and hit the imperial in the back of the legs with his blade forcing him to fall to his knees and Kiln finished the fight with kick into his back which took him to the ground.

Kiln smiled and stood above the huge imperial who slowly got back to his feet and turned to face him. Kiln stepped forward and shook hands with the trainer, breathing heavily to try and fill his lungs with air once again.

"Perhaps you're more dangerous than you look." The trainer said letting go of Kiln's hand and turning to walk away

The imperial stopped after a few steps and turned around and smiled.

"Or perhaps it was just luck." he added turning and walking towards the fire

Kiln rejoined York as the soldiers began to go back to what they were doing. The only soldier that waited around was the one who'd made the bet against York.

As York waited on the soldier to count out the fifty gold he drank a mug of mazte and after a few minutes the soldier left to go back to his duties and York stood from the ground.

"We'll leave now...if we're lucky they won't see us coming in the darkness." York said

Kiln grabbed his blade and they began the long walk toward Kogoruhn.

This post has been edited by Kiln: Feb 14 2006, 12:03 AM

Here's the next update for those who are still reading, enjoy.
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The wind blew savagely and whistled around Kiln as he followed York towards Kogoruhn, shielding his eyes from the sand carefully and wrapping a piece of ripped cloth around his mouth and nose to filter the air. He could tell they were getting closer to the evils of the ruin and red mountain itself by the increasing intensity of the violent red sandstorms blowing in the air.

York trudged on, seemingly unphased by the storms but Kiln was bothered by them. After hours of walking in the sandstorms he began to hear whispers like those of which he'd only heard in his dreams. The voice told him to serve his master and to meet him on the slopes of red mountain.

Kiln knew by this time that he was barely on the edge of sanity as things were and once they entered the ruin he would be tested even more. Perhaps it was just the fear of the ruins that was starting to get to him but the sandstorms grew stronger and his strength grew weaker.

It was just as he was about to tire and rest when he saw the black stones standing, past the wall of red sand and dirt he could scarcely see the ruins ahead of him.

York quickened his pace and began moving up the steep stairway in front of him, Kiln followed closely behind watching carefully for foreign movements in the dustcloud around them.

Kiln could see something edging closer and closer to York and so he stepped into the way, it was a person, clearly a dark elf male and he was now coming toward Kiln with a mindless look in his eyes. The elf looked void of life, insane and tortured, only able to serve the bidding of his master without thought or emotion.

The elf swung his club at Kiln but it was easy to sidestep. This fight would be pointless, this entranced dreamer was clearly out of it and Kiln could see no point in killing him, instead he picked up a bone off the ground and waited on the elf to come back into view.

The dreamer came close enough that Kiln could see him and swung his club at him again. The blow was easy to duck and Kiln used the bone he'd picked up to hit the dreamer in the back of the head, nocking him unconscious.

Kiln turned back as something grabbed his arm, he drew back to swing the bone but it was only York, motioning for him to come along. Kiln dropped the remains of some long dead adventurer and stood in the courtyard.

"Kiln, we'll need to split up and find the items. Meet me back here when you're done searching." York yelled over the whistling of the storm

Kiln did not like the idea of seperating but he nodded his head and did as his friend asked. He decided to enter the building farthest to the right and entered slowly, carefully looking around the dark room.

The room was lit by a single torch and the shadows around the edge of the room were Kiln's sanctuary. He moved as slowly and quietly as possible, watching for enemies. He froze still when he heard a loud, raspy voice from near the torch.

"Is someone there?" It hissed

Kiln started to move again and he stepped on a small rock, next to what looked like a person's shirt. The shirt was wet and he picked it up, along with the rock. Kiln moved slowly toward the other side of the room to get behind the creature and after a few moments he arrived to his destination.

From behind the creature he could see the cauldron and some corprus weepings the creature had dropped onto the floor but the torch was right beside the cauldron.

Thinking quick, Kiln threw the rock to the other side of the room, making a loud noise for the creature to follow. As it got further away from the torch Kiln ran at it with the wet shirt in hand and wrapped it around the flame, extinguishing it instantly.

Then he removed the shirt and swept up the corprus weepings inside of it, running for the exit. As he left the door he could hear the creature inside coming for the door quickly so he picked up the club from the sleeping dreamer and wedged the sharp handle under the door, trapping the creature inside.

Kiln knew that it wouldn't hold him for long and he moved to the largest building and entered. To the left and right were long hallways and there was no wrong way since Kiln had robbed one of these places before he knew that they both led to the same place, he chose left.

He walked around the corner slowly watching for enemies and saw a stairway leading deeper into the ruin, either there were no guards on this floor or they were all on the right, neither of which mattered other than he needed to remember this on the way out.

Kiln continued on through the door and right when he entered he saw the flame atronach glowing ahead of him, it was facing the other way, giving Kiln an advantage. He moved closer to it and rather than stabbing it in the back, which it might survive he put his left hand on its shoulder and took his blade out, slitting its throat.

As soon as he did this he was annoyed with himself, his left hand was in severe pain from the heat of the atronach and the body fell, bursting into a puddle of flames at his feet, he was lucky to have stepped back in time to miss being engulfed in flame.

He thought of the stupidity of his actions and waited a bit for the body to burn away before continuing into the next door. A rather large fat creature stood near the next door, there were chairs and tables stacked randomly around the room.

Kiln spotted the slight glow from a small piece of metal on one of the tables so he moved closer. It was a key, likely to the door beside the huge creature wearing a robe so he took it. There was no logical way past the creature other than to fight it so he moved closer and closer, trying to sneak up on it but it turned around.

The creature whispered quickly and sent a strange spell toward Kiln which he barely dodged, it hit a chair behind him causing it to shatter into splinters. Kiln had found himself a spellcaster, one thing which he could not have a fair chance against.

Kiln weaved in between columns and rows of chairs, listening to wood explode and fall behind him all the while. The creature stopped firing the spells and slowly walked around, patroling the room in search of Kiln but he was hiding under a table, waiting on it to pass.

Just like he'd wanted the creature passed him and he put his blade into its back causing it to fall and turn to dust. Kiln was relieved and he continued toward the door wiping the sweat from his forehead and face before inserting the key into the lock and opening the door.

Inside were several other doors, this room was a dead end and appeared to be a cell room. Kiln opened the first door and found the body of a recently deceased hero, this was one of the famous adventurers who had been traveling Vvardenfell killing vampires and bandits but he, like so many others had met his end at Kogoruhn.

The next cell contained another one of the adventurers, also sharing the same fate as her partner. And so Kiln approached the last cell to check if there was another body and slowly opened the door. Through the small opening a sword came forth and past Kiln's head, slightly cutting his cheek.

"You'll never take me! I'll die first!" Said a strong redguard voice

"Calm yourself friend, I'm here to help you!" Kiln said slowly stepping back from the door and letting the man open it

"At last you've come, we must find my companions." The small redguard said

"They are gone, killed by the creatures within these halls...what is your name?" Kiln asked

"They call me Red, as the imperials call us redguards, my true name is of little importance." He said sheathing his blade

"Alright Red, make your way out of this place and wait for me at the entrance, when you reach the stairway go left...I still have to find the damn cup." Kiln said

"Wait...who are you? And what cup do you search for?" Red asked

"I am Kiln, warrior and adventurer. I search for a cup bearing the mark of house dagoth." Kiln answered

"All this over a cup? Something is seriously wrong with you friend." Red said turning to walk away and then looking back

"I took a cup from downstairs before I was captured...I was almost across the bridge when I got hit by a club...perhaps its still in the same room." Red added before turning and leaving

Kiln took a jug of mazte from his pack and took a few huge gulps before he returned to the hallway. He stood there staring at the bridge from the hallway. Momentarily he would enter the room and go down the ramp to the ground floor in search of the cup but there would likely be alot of opposition so he readied his blade.

Maybe fighting drunk was a bad strategy but it had always served him well in the past so he took another drink before continuing out onto the bridge.

This post has been edited by Kiln: Feb 16 2006, 05:58 PM

Oh great kiln. i like the idea of him becoming a father.

I was so relieved when I heard that jinx was alive, so thanks for another wonderfull update.

Gah! I didn't comment on your last addition, but Yes nice additions and who is this Red character.... hmm

I edited the end of the last update so this whole thing would be a bit easier to write and understand.
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As Kiln stepped onto the bridge and looked off the edge he could see the cup on the floor on the right side of the room. Things would be a bit harder since Red's crew had been through this place already, many dreamers had been posted to keep watch over the room. The dreamers stood together talking in a circle to the left, there were way too many to fight at once, even for a veteran like Kiln, he was skilled with his blade but not that skilled so he would try to sneak around them.

The cup was on the opposite side of the room as the dreamers but it was bright in the room and Kiln didn't know for sure if he could get to it without alerting the guards.

Kiln moved across the bridge slowly to the other side where the ramp led downstairs to the cup. He was almost half way to the other side before one of the dreamers noticed him and all six of them ran toward him. Kiln took off in a dead run, it seemed insane to try and make a run for the cup but it was something he had to do so he half slid down the ramp and fell off the end landing face first and rushing to his feet.

The dreamers came toward him quickly as he started running again and grabbed the cup off the ground without stopping and turning back to the ramp. By then the dreamers had branched out so that he couldn't get past them to the ramp. The insane and naked dark elves made their way toward hims with their clubs and from behind them came a yell.

Some of them turned to look and behind them stood York, he'd come in the door opposite of them and was behind the dreamers with the shield. The door behind York opened and even more of the dreamers emerged from behind him, ones that had been following him.

Kiln pulled his blade and dropped the cup for the moment there were at least nine now and York ran to him bashing one of the dreamers to the side with the shadow shield.

Two against nine seemed like bad odds, they would be surrounded and overtaken by them. The dreamers moved all at once toward them and Kiln managed to kill one before three piled on top of him and began hitting him with their clubs repeatedly.

The blows weren't very dangerous, luckily the clubs were made from wood but they still kept Kiln from getting to his feet, York was having as much trouble on his part, he couldn't wrestle the elves off of him and both of them were pinned to the floor, unable to get free.

One of the elves on top of Kiln stood from him and began yelling madly with pain and on the bridge above them stood the redguard Kiln had freed. The dreamer fell to the floor with a dagger sticking from his back and two of the others broke away and headed for Red.

Kiln used this time of confusion to stab one of the elves holding him to the floor and throw his body off onto the ground, luckily none of them were armored. The other stood from Kiln and pulled his club back for a more powerful hit but Kiln kicked him to the floor and got to his feet quickly.

York was still getting worked over by several of the dreamers and he'd dropped his weapon from the pain so he was unable to defend himself. Kiln swung his blade and slashed two of the attackers across their backs causing them to fall off of his companion.

Kiln looked to Red as York threw the remaining two attackers off and grabbed his blade, stabbing both of them. Red had killed one of the dreamers but his axe had been dropped from the bridge and he was trying to push the other off the edge and did so successfully.

Red dusted off his hands and ran down to retrieve his axe, the last dreamer ran back through the door and deeper into the ruins.

"Coward!" Red yelled

York looked to Kiln.

"Who in oblivion is that?" York asked

"He calls himself Red...he's one of the ones that have been killing all the vampires around Vvardenfell." Kiln replied

"Where are his companions?" York asked

Kiln just shook his head from left to right and looked to the floor. York picked up the cup from the floor and walked up to Red.

"Come with us, we could use your strong arm in the coming days." York said

"Perhaps it was meant for our paths to cross, I will travel with you until its time for me to move on." Red said

"We need to leave now." Kiln said

They half ran toward the ramp and started to cross the bridge toward the exit as more dreamers emerged from the door below, it was apparently a very large ruin filled with worshipers.

Kiln ran as quickly as possible behind York and Red, trying to keep up. Kiln slammed the doors behind him to try and slow the dreamers down but he could hear footsteps coming close behind them.

As they were leaving the ruin a hooded creature grabbed Kiln's arm and before he even felt the touch his vision turned black and he saw a dark elf in a large golden mask staring at him, bidding him to come closer and join him. The vision cut before he grabbed the hand of the man, York drew his sword from the gut of the ghoul and forced Kiln to come.

They left the ruin and hid in the entryway of a ancestral tomb nearby to escape the dreamers. It had been a close call and the dream ran over and over in Kiln's head. York talked quietly with Red but Kiln didn't pay attention to what the conversation was over, he was much too occupied with his thoughts.

"I saw him." Kiln said

"I don't understand." York said

"It was the devil himself...Dagoth Ur." Kiln said slowly without looking up from the floor

"You're starting to worry me with all the strange dreams you've had of late...perhaps you're taking the blight." York said looking at him

"No...just too much to drink I suppose...we should stay here for the night and head back for the ashlander camp in the morning." Kiln said

"Yes, what supplies do we have left for the night?" York asked

Kiln dug through the bag carefully in search of food.

"A half jug of mazte and a single piece of bread." Kiln said

They split the bread evenly and passed the jug of mazte around until it was gone. This was the closest Kiln had been to being care free in some time, mazte tended to make him forget his problems, he tried to read from the journal but his vision was much too blurry, perhaps if he had time in the morning he would read from it a bit.

He truly wondered why York's father had abandoned his quest to become the Nerevarine before its completion and knew that somewhere in the journal was the answer. Kilns thoughts wandered to Tiren and all that he'd done in his life leading to his death, in an ancestral tomb. It was meant for Kiln to find the body and meet up with York and Red, all this had happened by fate, perhaps Kiln would survive this ordeal after all.
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As my story approaches its end I feel somewhat sad because this fanfiction is what I've been doing since I joined here and once I'm done it will be strange

This post has been edited by Kiln: Feb 16 2006, 06:54 PM

Heey....start another one! you are a very good writer it would be great with a sequel...like treydog did!


I´m going to re-read the complete story of Kiln now.....

Well it will be strange when you finish, You'll have alot more time on your hands i'd bet... well great update Kiln, i am eager to know why York's Father quite and how its going to end.... is Kiln the real Neverine(sp?) it almost seems that way, he is having the dreams/visions and not York.

This post has been edited by Soulseeker3.0: Feb 16 2006, 11:02 PM

Oh NOOOOOO, is the story of Kiln almost finished.....Oh dear, please follow minkeys advice, and start a new story or make a sequel like Treydog.

But I guess it will be kinda strange when you suddenly get more time....hey you get more time to read and comment on other peoples stories ( yea right, like you'll ever need that, as you're doing fine in that aleredy ).

But I love this story, as I believe I've said before. I also wonder why Yorks father abandoned his quest to become the nerevarine...surely something fishy is going on.

Just to mention it: You know that the city of York was actually a Norwegian viking city named Jorvik, in the beginning, before the vikings was driven from England, I just said this, so that the other people out here who maby did'nt know, Norway was once a GREAT nation. He He.

Great work, Kiln. Lots of updates, more than I can keep up with, but I'm still very impressed with what I've read (and am still reading).

It's coming to an end? Then I feel I must agree with the others and encourage you to start another. Though I might still be trying to catch up with this one, lol.

Hey! Don´t believe her! Sweden was the GREAT nation.....hehe......or was it not? Nevermind Oven, you heard us......you start planning a sequel huh!

Hey Minkey...I'm not saying that Sweden has never been a great nation... I only said that Norway have been a great nation.....Technically Norway, owns about half of Antartica...so beat that one Sweden...hehe

Well about the story, please update soon Kiln, as I'm running out of nails to bite...I need some nails to bite, since the story is so exiting...and as said I'm running out of nails to bite...hey wait a minute.

* runs to by boyfriend, and starts biting his nails. hehe*

I know Tellie dear! I know, I was just trying to get attention! Of course Norway is greater than sweden....b
faar better economy f.ex!

oh and can I borrow some nails from your boyfriend? I´ve used up mine and hubbie´s and the Cat won´t let me chew on his claws!

So Mr Oven.....see what you did with that amazing story of yours!

I'm not sure if I'll do a sequel or not, I've considered it but perhaps when this story is finished I'll be done. I probably won't get Oblivion for a long time and stories about Morrowind will be outdated when it comes out so I just don't know...anyways enough of this, back to the story.
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Kiln awoke to the whispers of the tomb, he was used to the faint voices flowing through the halls of the place from all the years he'd spent robbing graves. It seemed almost calming to him to hear the voices of those long gone around him, the soft indistinct talk of the spirits.

He stood from his resting place atop the stairway and opened the doorway leading outside slowly looking around. The ash storms had let up, at least for the moment the air seemed clear but before they made it back to town he knew that he would endure another harsh storm filling his nose and mouth with sand and dust.

Kiln turned back to his companions and noticed a paper that York was holding, he'd apparently fallen asleep reading from it. Slowly, Kiln pulled it from his hand and opened it.

The page was written by York's hand and it appeared to be some sort of checklist for becoming the nerevarine labeled "Translation of the prophecy"... it was written in York's hand and strangely only the first thing was checked off, "Outlander born of uncertain parents on a certain day under a certain sign". The second thing was left unchecked, "Become cured of Corprus".

Kiln remembered the time he'd been exploring a cave off the coast and some creature deep within had cursed him with a disease, he'd had to go all the way to the hall of Fyr for the cure...he wondered if perhaps...no there was no cure for corprus so he cleared his mind of these thoughts. One thing was for sure, if York hadn't gotten corprus then he was not the nerevarine.

As he read the paper he noticed something he had not noticed before, the date of birth of York and the star he'd been born under were recorded at the top of the page. Kiln was filled with a numb feeling, it was exactly the same for both of them, Kiln had been born on the same day of the same month under the exact same sign but he'd been born years before York.

Kiln wondered for a moment if he might be the nerevarine himself but quickly dismissed it, he was native born to Morrowind and he knew his parents which ruled out him being an outlander. He had been victim to many visions though which were unexplained and he was unsure of why they had come to him.

York moved a bit and Kiln sat the paper down where it belonged. York was just an imperial spy, perhaps the legend of the nerevarine was just an old superstition like many of the temple believed, so many had believed themselves to be the incarnate before and all were disproved.

As York woke he grabbed the paper and tucked it into his pocket before sitting back down. Red sat in the corner mumbling some strange and disturbing insults to his enemies as he slept.

"Half brained horker...bite me will ya...I'll tear off your arm...scrib sucking..." Red mumbled as he rolled over in the corner

York wiped the smile from his face and leaned over, shaking Red a bit to wake him. Kiln stood again from his place and looked to his companions.

"Alright we need to get back to the ashlander camp soon so we can find out what we do next." Kiln said dully

York stood from his place and Red followed as they left the ancestral tomb. The weather was clear and warm outside, though something felt strange to Kiln about not looting the tomb behind him he didn't know how his companions would have reacted and so he continued on silently.

The trip back was going to be much easier than before without the ash storms and the worries they had endured. Kiln's mind was occupied by the fact that when they returned they would be reunited with Jinx and things would get back to the way they should be with the addition of Red if he chose to follow them at least.

Kiln thought back to the times when he had sat with York and Jinx around the fire telling stories of their former years and laughing together as they drank the cheap dull mazte. He was overjoyed at the thought that Jinx still lived and could not wait to see him once again, York shared the same happy look as Kiln as they lugged their heavy equipment with them toward the camp.

By the way the sun was Kiln estimated that they would arrive at the camp by sundown and he was right, just as the sun dropped over the hill he could see the yurts standing with a fire blazing. Jinx sat by the fire with the tribesmen eating and drinking as Kiln and his companions made their way into camp.

Jinx had yet to see them and Kiln was glad, he wanted it to be a surprise so he crept up quietly and sat down beside Jinx who didn't seem to notice.

"Pass me the mazte friend." Kiln said with a half smile

Jinx picked up the jug and turned to hand it to him. Kiln could tell that he did not expect to see him or York again by the look in his eyes. York and Red sat down beside the fire as well and they all swapped stories with the ashlander warriors as they drank to better times ahead and the fulfillment of the prophecies.

Kiln was the only one who knew that York was a fraud, the others wanted to believe in it so badly that it was real to them, York was the nerevarine, in their eyes at least.

York had convinced everyone that he was in fact the incarnate, even his friends had been fooled by his act but could Kiln really judge him? He'd just been following his orders...or perhaps in his denial he actually believed himself to be the incarnate. Either way he had yet to fulfill the corprus section of the prophecy and he'd apparently lied to the ashlanders telling them that he'd been cured of it.

This was a rather elaborate hoax put together by the empire's spies and nearly everyone had fallen for it for a while...even Kiln.

This post has been edited by Kiln: Feb 18 2006, 09:10 PM

Sure you can Minkey, he have plenty left.

*drags my boyfriend over to minkey, who starts to bite frantically on his nails*

Good Kiln, your story is getting more exiting all the time, keep it up, and update soon as my boyfried is going to run out of nails very quickly.

Dang the fan fiction section has been more dormant than usual in the last few days...anyways on to the story.
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The others had drank and drank some more but Kiln only pretended to drink, spitting the mazte out onto the ground after the jug got back around to him. Refusing the drink would be an insult to the tribesmen so he filled his mouth and waited for them all to look away before spitting it out, he wanted his thoughts to be clear.

Jinx sat beside Kiln yelling merrily and telling stories from his childhood and teenage years. Kiln had blocked out as much of his childhood as possible because of the death of his mother and his father. His father had been unable to cope with her death and had taken his own life because of the state of constant sorrow he'd been in since she'd died. Though he'd taken precautions his mind did wander back to his younger years and he couldn't help but miss his parents and friends.

Kiln had set off for Balmora to make a new start, the boy he'd been had died with his parents and he had become perhaps one of the most famous thieves in history though he'd had no association with the thieves guild. He remembered the times he'd played in the streets of Ald-Ruhn, times long gone now that he would never be able to return to.

Perhaps with the coming of his child he would settle down and give up the life of adventure for a safer profession, maybe start his own shop or use the fame he'd gathered from this to start up his own guild of adventurers where he could just sit back and watch them grow as the leader.

Kiln loved his woman and when this was all over he would be glad to return to her.

He broke from his thoughts and pulled the journal from his pack, he would catch up on the reading he had missed, he opened it to the place he'd left off and skimmed for something interesting.

"Today I noticed something very peculiar, a man has been following me lately, at first I thought nothing of it but now that I think of it he's been showing up at random in the same places as me for days, I recall seeing him several times but I didn't put it together...he's following me but I'm unsure why. Perhaps he's a thief or a spy...either way, tomorrow I'm leading him into the alleyway behind the shops in Balmora for a little talk."

Kiln pauses and turns the page.

"Things worked out as I'd planned today...nearly anyways. I went down the alleyway turning the corner and picking up the stick I'd hidden moments before, as my stalker came down the alley to turn the corner swung it as hard as I could and hit him in the face. I grabbed him and started to interrogate him...that's when I found out that there were more of them. Two men stood behind him and as I turned to exit the alley two more grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. After they worked me over pretty good they told me that I should abandon my quest for the emperor before my son got hurt."

As Kiln reads the last bit he glances at York and then back to the page reading on.

"I tried to tell them that I didn't have a son but they seemed to know more about my past than I did...I wish so much that I could remember my past. I was never really told what I'd been imprisoned for and I wonder if I'd done something horrible back in the imperial province...I guess I'll never know but if I have a son I must find him. Forget this task for the emperor, let his assassins hunt me. I'll get back to it when I find out more about my son if I truly have one that is."

After a quick drink of mazte he started to read more but stopped as Sul-Matuul emerged from his tent and breathed the fresh air, a woman stepped out behind him and went back to her own tent. Kiln quickly wiped the smile from his face and sat silently.

Sul-Matuul came forward and sat beside them waiting patiently for the artifacts he'd asked for to be shown to him. York pulled the cup from his pack and sat it on top of the shadow shield beside him before waving to Kiln to show the corprus weepings.

Kiln opened the ragged shirt he'd wrapped the weepings in and held it forward. Sul-Matuul leaned away from them slowly.

"I am impressed by the three tokens you've brought to me. You may keep them, simply seeing them is enough. You have passed the test and I shall give to you the secret of the third trial 'In the cavern's dark Azura's eye sees and makes to shrine the moon and star.' This is the third vision and you must travel there, to the sacred cavern and look for the moon and star." Sul-Matuul paused for a long moment to let them process what he'd just told them

"Where is the entrance to this sacred cavern?" Kiln asked

"The entrance lies in riddle: 'The eye of the needle lies in the teeth of the wind
the mouth of the cave lies in the skin of the pearl
the dream is the door and the star is the key." Sul-Matuul said

"What in oblivion is that supposed to mean?" Kiln was dumbfounded

"Do you always let your servant ask the questions for you?" Sul-Matuul asked York

"He is not my servant, he's my friend and ally. My comrade and brother in arms but you are right, it is my place to ask the questions...so how do you find this place?" York said slowly

"This riddle is Wisdom's Test. Take counsel of the wisdom of the tribes, and you shall find the way. Seek the Cavern of the Incarnate. Gain the moon and star, and bring it to Nibani Maesa. Take with you my blessing, and the blessing of our tribe, Malipu-Ataman's Belt." Sul Matuul said as he presented the belt to York

York took the belt and put it on slowly. Kiln stood from his place by the fire beside his friend as Jinx and Red stood beside them. They would make their way to the cavern and then they would find out if York really was the nerevarine or not. Kiln wanted to read the journal more, he really felt as if he was on to something but instead he waited as York asked around for some time about the riddle.

Finally satisfied he gave them the directions and they all began their journey to the cavern of Azura. They must wait until the crack of dawn for the door to open and if they missed it they would be forced to wait for an entire day before trying again.

They were nearly there now according York anyways, they'd gone past the teeth of something...Kiln couldn't remember what and looked for a pearl or some such garbage before finally reaching the path to the door, they approached and then sat down to wait. It would be a long wait before they could enter and the ash storms had just begun.

Kiln pushed his back against the stone door of the cavern and covered his face with a piece of cloth, holding it tightly over his eyes, nose, and mouth to filter the air. It would seem like forever before the storm was over, it could be days or minutes, either way it would still seem like an eternity with the strong winds and sand hitting Kiln's exposed arms. He sat there thinking about if York would be able to open the door or not.

He'd heard that the ring had an enchantment on it that would kill anyone who wore it if they were not the incarnate and this worried Kiln but perhaps the door wouldn't open for anyone that was not the incarnate and they could all go home, ending this journey...he hoped that would be the case.
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Sorry about how short it is but I hope you enjoy it anyways.

Oh come on... the biggest cliff hanger ever! I want to know what happens in the cave! *shrug* beggers can't be choosers(sp?). great story Kiln and I wait to see another update.