Mephala's Maiden: Black Rose Clan Options

[Black Hand]

Hey guys, this isnt a divergence from the main story I have, but rather, I have been trying out a new type of character on my X-Box, a custom class 'Geisha' after seeing the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' Recently, and I gotta tell ya, its a lot of fun. Something different to be sure. It inspired this. Enjoy. (I hope.)


“Who was that lady, Sera?” asked Sayuri, looking at Edryno Arethi, her current matron in House Hlaalu.

“No one, get back too your duties, Retainer.” Edrnyo replied, twirling the Black Rose in her hand, a deathly pale in her face, she had been delivered the death message and was in no mood to speak.

Sayuri, the young Bosmer girl had been adopted by House Hlaalu after her parents had been murdered by a Telvanni Mage whilst in Sadrith Mora, and one of the Merchants traveling in his own ship to trade, took pity on the little crying girl, dropping her off in Balmora, and told Nileno Dorvayn of her plight.

She remembered the tsking of Nileno, and the warmth of her palm as she rubbed her cheek affectionately. She was given clothes and a bed, and place to sleep, and she was put to work, alternately being trained in House Hlaalu’s favored skills, for three years she served mostly as a serving girls, performing menial tasks, and occasionally as a thief, or a decoy. She loved it, as it seemed to coincide naturally with her gods-given talents.

Bratheru Oran, Edryno’s lover took the rose from her hand, and threw it on the ground, smashing it underneath his leather boots. His expression showed that of rage and helplessness. Sayuri would not bring it up again for three weeks, but one day, when Edryno gave her a key to her house, and told her that she would be gone for several weeks, she finally explained, as she had never held anything back from her adopted daughter for long.

“Do you remember that Rose, Sayuri? The black one?” she asked, as Sayuri nodded her head, remembering the vivacious Altmer that had delivered it, dressed in exquisite clothing and wearing Telvanni Bug Musk.

“You’ve been chosen, and are being taken from me, under the pain of death, I cannot refuse. The Black Rose Clan is taking you, and you will serve them. I…I am leaving to speak to them, and perhaps negotiate an alternative. But seldom will they refute a selection.”

“Black Rose Clan? Matron, I don’t understand!” Sayuri said nearly on the brink of tears.

“You know of the Morag Tong? They worship the Great Daedra Mephala, the Dark Matron of Murder, Sex, and Secrets. They are a small faction within the Tong, dedicated to the second part of that. Whereas most assassins are dark, aloof, and grim in nature, a Black Rose, or a Dark Petal, also Thorns or Mephala’s Maidens, rely more on Personality and Agility. As every rose have five petals, so does the Clan. When one ‘wilts’ away as they call it, either killed, or grows to old too become pleasing to men, another must be chosen to take their place. You, because you are born under the Sign of ‘The Lover’ which gives you more agility, and the power to freeze people, will become the newest petal in the Black Rose.”

Sayuri’s eyes tried to no avail to hold back the tears of confusion and frustration. For the second time in her life, she was to lose her family. Edyrno ran her hand through the childs raven dark hair, and embraced her, attempting to comfort the shaking Bosmer.

“I know, I promise everything will be all right…”

[Black Hand]

Sayuri returned to her position, staring with apprehension at the creature as it began to speak.

”Daughters. We welcome a new member to our fold, blessings on you Sayuri. You have performed my tasks for you well. “ The creatures voice was both male and female, like two poets reciting prose in perfect harmony.

”Your hate, the blood, the tryst. It was all delectable. Now, I have a new task for you. Go to the city that was your home. There you will find a man in your house. You will know him, as he will know you. He seeks to upset the plans of a deceiver with deception, and I am pleased. Assist him. Approach me once more, so that I may bequeath you with a token that might assist you as well.

She did as the creature bade, and stepped closer to the abomination. The hands falling on her shoulders, filling her with revulsion, the eyes seeing into her very soul it seemed.

”Take this ring, mortal. So that it may deepen the shadows in which you hide.” The Mother said as she dropped a silver band encrusted with topaz, and engraved with exquisite designs.

The face then became twisted, pain showing visibly through its expression, the features of the possession began to fade and the body of Genvieve fell to the floor in a heap.

A few hours later when Genevieve recovered, her pale, sweaty skin reflected the torchlight that Anssi held, as Dralsie and Errisa tended to her with spells and potions. Sayuri twirled the ring that the Mother had dropped into her hand. Genevieve’s eyes glinted with recognition, and a slight smile.

“She has given you the ring of surroundings. You should feel quite proud; she wants you to succeed in her latest scheme. I held that ring once, as did Errisa.”

”What is its purpose?” Sayuri asked.

“It is an enchanted ring. Quite useful to people like us. Literally a ring of surroundings, it’s to blend into your environment, move around unseen, with a spell stronger then mere invisibility, sudden movements, and speech does not dispel its effects. What did she say?”

“That I was to meet a man that was in my house. She is pleased with him and his deceptions it would seem, and I am to assist.”


“Than it is time you acted as a full member, Mephala may use riddles sometimes, but its just to move a piece in her direction. Speak to your old caretaker. And watch.”

“Watch what?”

”Watch Mephala’s scheme unwrap itself before you. Damn it, little girl! How well did Mephala choose her newest priestess? You are as free to interpret and enact her desires as I am!!” Genevieve yelled, and then fell back to her stone bed, her hand going up to her head.

“She needs rest, as well as the rest of us do. Sleep now, Sayuri, we will depart this place in the morning.” Dralsie said amiably to Sayuri.

She nodded, and lay down on the stone floor, using her thick robe as both bedding, and blanket.
Thinking to herself that it was so cold in here, and wondering why that would be in the middle of Molag Amur.

After an hour or so of watching Genevieve’s slow, steady breathing, she felt the blackness swallow her consciousness, and she drifted off into a world of shadows, dancing firelight, and nightmares.

This post has been edited by Black Hand: Jun 6 2008, 06:47 PM