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 VII

“What were you before you died?” Arvas asked. Belator looked at him, his bones creaking with every step.

“I wasss a warrior; I ssserved next to Tiber Ssseptim himssself, the greatessst hero of the agesss. I wasss born a Nord to poor farmersss from the sssouth and I left to find my fortune in the Arena; I quickly grew tired of the unchallenging sssport and enlisssted in the Legion. Tiber sssaw my fighting prowesssss and wanted me to become hissss general; there, I ssserved him until his death.” Belator answered.“I died in my home just outssside the city wallsss.”

“Interesting; well, it looks like we’re here,” Arvas said as he pointed at the tiny cave. The entrance was open and many mages in the skull and cross-bones robes were hovering nervously around it. “Hello, I was sent here to help kill the mages at this cavern.” They all shot glances at him and a tall, thin Altmer strode up to him.

“Who are you?”

“Arvas.”

“Oh, you’re the one who was inducted into the order a few nights ago?” He asked through his dark hood.

“Yes,” he answered. “When are we going to start?”

“Now.” The Altmer sauntered over to the group of necromancers and said, “Come on! It’s time to kill these scum!” They all rushed through the door, leaving Arvas and Belator behind. Arvas followed after them, but as soon as he entered the room, a fire ball flew past his head with powerful force. It blasted a large hole into the cavern wall. A mage jumped through the group of necromancers at Arvas; he readied himself.

Their blades collided, sending sparks flying through the damp air. His legs buckled underneath him, causing him to fall to the rocky floor. He pulled his cane from his belt and hit the man on the shin with it; he shouted in pain and grabbed the jagged wall next to him for support. Then, Belator ran down the hallway towards Arvas and swung his sword at the pained mage. He attempted to block but Belator was very quick and lopped his head off. The man’s body crumpled to the floor and the head rolled down the sloped hallway towards the main room, leaving an ocean of blood in its path. Belator bent over to help Arvas up.

“Thanks,”Arvas said as he and Belator jogged into the large room. The fighting was intense, lightning bolts buzzed through the air and cold winds froze men in their tracks. Tables were overturned, tapestries burned, and dismembered body parts scattered the bloody floor. Arvas saw the Altmer man resurrect a dead mage; its eyes glowed a bright purple as his body moved to the right of the Altmer and fought alongside him.

Several minutes later, the necromancers had defeated all of the mages and had begun to turn it into a new safe haven for traveling guildmates. Arvas had been instructed to stay in the Wellspring Grove. Then, a loud clap rang from inside the cavern; fighting could be heard inside. A necromancer from inside ran into the grove. “It’s only one man! He’s slaughtering everyone; he even killed Tyrius! I’m getting away from this place!” He ran and jumped into the water surrounding the small island. A scream sounded as a man was thrown through the hardwood door into the grove, he did not move; Arvas and Belator dove behind a rock. A man wearing blue robes walked through the dusty opening and touched his finger to the man’s forehead; the man shouted and his limbs froze in mid-air. He searched around and grabbed a large wooden staff from a stone crafting bench and left the grove.

Arvas walked throughout the halls of Wellspring Cave, bodies lie everywhere. Many of the men and women were frozen in place. How could one man kill this many people? Arvas thought to himself. He decided he would return to Vilverin and tell Bandir what happened.