Necromancer's Dream, A Story of Arvas Options

[Lord Veneficus]

I know, it's short; just bear with me.

Chapter I

Arvas sat in the dim, noisy tavern on the outskirts of the Imperial City. The drunkards stumbled about the room, bumping into tables and spitting curses at the more sober groups of people. Much raucous laughter filled the smoky air as traveling minstrels strummed their lutes and pounded on their drums. The innkeeper was hunched over a dirty glass, proceeding to wipe away the grime caked at the bottom of the mug. He was balding and almost as tall as Arvas; but due to his massive hunch, his head came up to Arvas’s chest. He was slowly swaying back and forth with to the tune of the music.

“Excuse me barkeep, can I have another tankard of beer, please,” Arvas asked, raising his cup up. The barkeep disappeared behind the counter and returned with a somewhat clean mug. He hobbled over to the beer tap and poured Arvas a generous amount. Arvas took the mug and raised it slightly, saying, “Thanks.” He downed the beer in minutes.

His life had recently taken a downfall. He had to flee Morrowind, as he wanted to free himself from the temple. He didn’t agree with all of their beliefs.

A man had stood up, knocking his chair over in the process. His staff glowed with bright blue magicka. No one seemed to care as he screamed into the face of a rather bulky man, who was unfazed by the dark-robed mage in his face. He rather stared off into space. “I…I could… kill ye righ’ now if ye wanted me too, Bjorn.” He stuttered as he wobbled to the door. Arvas stood from the creaky old stool and began for the door. The innkeeper looked at him and said, “Where you goin’ boy? Come pay for this.” He shook the empty mug at him. Arvas sprinted from the tavern, away from the Imperial City.

He entered the fort that he had cleared out a few days ago. It wasn’t very large because it was only built for a captain and several of his men. The beds were ancient and holes were eaten out of the sheets from the many moths that floated about in the darkness. He slumped down into his bed and attempted to sleep, which proved difficult. He was worried that at any moment someone could come in his small makeshift home and take him back to Vvardenfell.

After two hours of tossing and turning, he finally fell asleep, dreaming of one day becoming the greatest sorcerer of the ages…



This post has been edited by Lord Veneficus: May 13 2008, 01:12 PM

[Lord Veneficus]

Chapter VI

Arvas woke from his sleep and went to the reanimation room. Geleborne was at the table, examining the dirty bones of the skeleton Arvas had brought in the night before. Geleborne tensed up, seeming to notice he had entered the room. “Are you ready to try this again?” He asked. Arvas nodded and stepped up to the large table. “Now do as you did last night, except for the excessive vomiting haha.” Arvas scolded at the remark.

He stepped up to the body and placed the tips of his fingers against its skull. He focused his eyes and his mind on his task. The same dark haze shot from his fingers and covered the entire length of the carcass; it slowly rose from the table and assembled itself as it floated toward the ground. The dizziness returned, but Arvas ignored it. The haze lifted and Arvas could see cartilage reforming on its joints; however, he did not let his awe distract him from his work and he kept pushing his magicka into its decrepit soul. Its feet landed on the cold stone floor and a hiss erupted from its gaping mouth.

Arvas stepped back and moved his hand from the skull; it moved to him and a voice sounded in his head, “Hellooo, massster. I am your loyal sservant; myyy name isss Belator. May I forever ssserve under your great command.” Arvas was taken aback; he had never read in his books of a telepathic connection between the raiser of the body and the body itself. Geleborne went to examine the skeletal servant swaying in front of him.

“This is very good, Arvas. You have done well, Jalbert will here about this. Oh, and I meant to tell you that you will have the ability to speak with your servant with telepathy. Of course, by the look on your face, you’ve already had that connection with him,” he said with a smile. Arvas left the room with Belator in tow.

Arvas was standing on the serene coast of the island, staring blankly at the White Gold Tower. Belator had been instructed to stay inside so he wouldn’t attract attention to the guild haven. Bandir hobbled from the door hidden behind a large copse of trees over to him.

“I need you to go to the Wellspring Cave and kill the mages there. They work at the grove making magical staves for the use of the Mages’ Guild. This has been ordered by Lord Mannimarco himself. Do this or face punishment,” Bandir turned and headed for the door; Arvas went in as well.

He and Belator waited until nightfall to go on their assignment. As they were beginning to leave, Belator said, “Massster, would you be ssso kind as to give me a weapon?”

“Yes, here take mine,” Arvas answered as he untied his sword belt and strapped it to Belator’s waist. They left Vilverin and headed down the runed path leading to the Red Ring Road.

“May I assssk you a few quesssstions, milord?” The voice rang out in Arvas’s head, frightening him. The skeleton was lumbering beside him, the steel short sword in his old hand.

“Yes, of course; what is it that you would like to know?”

“Where are you from?”

“Morrowind.”

“I’ve been there before, masssster. It was a terrible placcce; I am assssuming that isss the reassson you are here?”

“Yes, it is. I hated living there; my father was a priest of the Tribunal Temple, always criticizing me for not being more like him, worshiping the Tribunal. He always treated me the poorest of my three brothers: Galvon, Martos, and Travius. He acted as though I were not his son. I stole our family chain mail and fled here in search of more religious freedom and, it seems, I have found it and a new companion.” Arvas and Belator continued having their telepathic conversation all the way to their destination, both learning something different about one another…