Morag Tong, The tale of Threndafel Options

[Ahrenil]

This is my first story, atleast as an Elder Scrolls fan fiction, and I shall warn you it is not very good, any and all criticisms are welcome and encouraged. I hope you shall enjoy this simple tale of honorable execution, love, and over the top fight scenes.

P.S I have noticed an error in the copy and pasting from my word to this forum. All 's are now squares, I am correcting it now.

P.P.S Should be done now.

Introduction: The Lizard's Head

Threndafel was an assassin, though he wouldn't tell you, if he were asked his profession he would say he was a tool, and that would be all he would tell you. While this was not nearly as cryptic or secretive as some of his companions felt the need to be, it was suitable for him. For who ever expected a Bosmer to join Morrowind's most subtle and secretive of guilds, the Morag Tong.

And so it was that he found himself, standing in a brightly lit corner of The Lizard’s Head, although the lighting was in comparison to the rest of the grey gloom that the occupants seemed to enjoy. Still it suited Threndafel just fine, and who would expect him to be here for some ulterior motive. He was a Bosmer without a bow, and without any obvious weapon.

He wore simple clothing, a cloth shirt, dyed green and brown with similar leggings. The only item of any seeming worth or note were his boots, they were tough leather, reaching almost to his knees, and to the trained eye it could be seen that there was a small gap, a hole between the sole and the boot, and in the right light something glinted from within it.

His eyes swept the room occasionally as he sipped from his drink, a simple glass of water, although in this bar he was surprised that it did not have something dead floating in it. Still, he was waiting, he wasn’t an elite killer, nothing like the Grandmaster, but he was competent, and he had a few tricks to employ. His current target was one Telvyn Durles, or that was the name he was using and the name on the writ Threndafel kept in his satchel, and he frequented this bar when he wasn’t dishonouring house Hlaalu with his brawls in the street. It seemed like an easy target, but Telvyn had bribed some local thugs to make sure his fights went his way, and from the sound of it they were Cammona Tong.

Threndafel refrained from spitting at the name, they were a despicable group, but his target was the priority, and Threndafel would finish the job. The arrival of his target came shortly after this thought, and was announced by raucous laughter and several black-eyed drinkers leaving quickly. Telvyn bashed the door open noisily, he and his 4 henchmen filling out towards the bar.

Threndafel reached into his money pouch and grabbed a few drakes; he sent them spinning across the floor, and bent as if to pick them up. However what he actually did was grab the small blade he had hidden in his boot, it shone and resonated slightly with magic, and was small enough that he could hide it in his hand. As the Bosmer had expected some of Telvyns friends had bent to pick up the small golden coins he had “dropped”. He staggered over, imitating a drunken fool, mumbling about his gold and his apologies before knocking into one of the bent over men, a Dunmer with a wooden cudgel in his belt. The other mer was knocked over, and his friends turned on the small frail Valenwood native in their midst.

The Bosmer waited until one man had grabbed him by the wrist, too stupid to notice that the smaller mer’s feet were securely planted. With a twist and a pull Threndafel pulled the Dunmer over, kicking him in the solar plexus as he did so. At the same time his other hand swung out, throwing his water in the face of a Khajit, who cried out in displeasure, and then smashing the cat in the muzzle.

Glass shattered and the cat reeled backwards, clutching at it’s bleeding jaw (Much to the Bosmer’s pleasure). However he still had 2 henchmen and his target to deal with. He was here to kill one man, which made things more awkward. But he hadn’t grown up in the forests without growing some strength in his body. His leg snapped out with a short kick to an Imperial’s stomach, doubling him over, however the Bosmer’s foot had barely returned back to his knee before it was sent out again, in a tenser push which knocked the Imperial back and into a clutch of tables.

2 men left, a big Nord who had drawn a wicked looking mace, it was simple in its brutality, a studded steel ball attached to a thick wooden handle, counter weighted with a smaller steel ball on the pommel. As the large man brought his weapon up Threndafel lashed out with his hidden blade, the cut on the underside of the bigger man’s arm wasn’t deep, but the paralysis magic in the blade took over completely. The momentum of the upswing took the giant backwards, his muscles locked completely and unable to break his fall he crashed backwards onto a table. The magic wouldn’t last long, 10-15 seconds if the Bosmer was lucky, and so he turned quickly to his target, fear shone on the Dunmer’s face as this wood elf, so small yet so deadly, slashed twice with his blade, the first cut froze him still, while the second opened his neck, letting his lifeblood flow down his chest.

Threndafel took the man’s money pouch, heavy with coin and threw it to the startled barman.
“For the damage to your bar” the elf said, his voice was clear though not particularly strong. And then he was gone, he stopped the first Ordinator he found, and presented his writ of execution. The eyes behind the mask regarded him coldly, but he sent him on his way. He was now to return to the Grandmaster for his reward, a promotion, and the possibility of another contract.



Chapter 1: A Change of Scenery

Threndafel’s journey back towards the Arena was uneventful at best, a cold rain poured down for the ashen sky, drenching him as he trudged across the bridge that connected the Telvanni canton and the Arena, from there it was a short walk down the rain slicked ramps to the waste works.

He was stopped once on his way down to the arena storerooms, and a quick explanation of him making a delivery was enough to ease the Ordinator, obviously new to the canton since he had questioned someone on the way to the Morag Tong headquarters.

Once inside the store rooms it was an easy matter of placating the rats, they always made good practice when he had his bow with him, but today he just wanted to get back into the halls, and so he simply commanded them to stop, his natural Bosmeri affinity with nature changing his words into something the primitive animals could understand.

Threndafel closed the trap door above him and descended into darkness, he held out his arms obediently as he was searched. Then there was the soft glow of magic as the door was locked above him and light shone back into the underground corridor. Before him stood an Orc and a Dunmer, the Dark Elf dressed in robes of crimson and blue while the Orc wore light netch leather armor yet carried a large imperial issue claymore.

“Rogdul, Minnibi” Threndafel greeted each of his fellow Guild members with a short bow.
“How’d it go tree hugger?” asked Rogdul, his rough attitude covering the playful competition the two assassins had built up. They’d joined the guild within 3 days of each other and been given their first contract as a joint operation.
“He’s dead, house Hlaalu won’t be shamed by him any longer” Threndafel said with a shrug “And there’ll be several Dunmer and a Khajit seeing the healer soonish”
“None seriously wounded I hope” chipped in Minnibi, he had always been a stickler for the rules and had completed every contract he’d been given by only harming his target.
“No, just a few bruises, and one bleeding face and possibly a Nord with some stiff joints” Threndafel murmured, rolling his neck. “Now can I see the Grandmaster? I’d like to report my success”
The two other Tong nodded and stood back, allowing the Bosmer to pass, they knew that the Grandmaster would not appreciate being kept waiting. Especially when his own house was involved.

The Grandmaster, no one knew much about him, though the stories were legendary. All that was for certain was that he was of house Hlaalu, and he was a Dunmer. Otherwise it was open to speculation. Some said Vivec himself had chosen him to head the Morag Tong, gifting him with the greatest skills with poisons, knives, bows and stealth. Others said that he held every thread of the Webspinner, and had collected them for Mephala herself. Whatever the real case may have been, he was an expert assassin, skilled enough to have killed the previous grandmaster, and have survived for so long without being killed himself.

Threndafel bowed low to the head of the Tong, but he always kept his eyes up, watching the knife belted at the other man’s waist. He remained almost doubled until the Dunmer noticed him and bade him stand up straight; still he barely came to the mer’s shoulders.
“Threndafel I’ve been expecting you, I know you wouldn’t be here unless the target is dead, tell me how did you do it?” asked the Grandmaster, his eyes scanning the Bosmer for any motion, his arms folded into the sleeves of his robe.
“I struck him in the Lizard’s head, I had to knock down his guards, and then I paralysed him and slit his throat” the Wood Elf stated, a certain amount of pride breaking through his cold tone.
“Were you seen?” inquired Hlaalu, his eyes never staying in one place for more than a heartbeat, you did not live as long as he did in this business without being paranoid.
“I was, he stayed inside the cantons and otherwise travelled under heavy guard, I had no place to strike with a bow, and a shuriken wasn’t certain enough to kill him” Threndafel admitted, his eyes lowering slightly.
“Fool” muttered the Grandmaster “Now you’ll be unable to work in Vivec, not until you fade from people’s memories” He turned from the assassin, though his eyes travelled to the mirror at the back of the room and Threndafel knew he was being scrutinised even now. “How about a change of scenery then?” asked the Grandmaster, a small smile, barely a twitch of his lips, breaking across his face.
“Sir?” Threndafel looked up, this was new, and the Bosmer wondered what the Grandmaster had planned.
“We’ve had a contract given to us, but our target has fled Vvardenfell, since you’re known well here, how would you like to take some time out of the country?”
“Well…sir it…” Threndafel stuttered slightly, his thoughts turning to his native Valenwood, and his past there.
“I’m sorry did I phrase that as a question?” The Grandmaster’s voice had suddenly grown cold. “You are going to complete this contract” There was a glint of steel and suddenly the Grandmaster had a blade to Threndafel’s throat, the Bosmer hadn’t even seen him move. “Or do I have to remind you of your rank? Or maybe you feel yourself to be better than me, to be worthy of my position?” hissed the Dunmer
“No Sir, I was simply concerned, my return to Valenwood would be, unpleasant.” Stammered Threndafel, trying to move his neck as little as possible, he knew if the Grandmaster had been the smallest bit more powerful, or had placed his blade a little more to the left, Threndafel’s jugular would’ve been opened there and then.
“I know that fool, I know your reasons for coming here. She is in Cyrodil, or so we have been told. She killed the last Morag Tong sent after her, and so we are sending you.” Suddenly the blade was gone, and the Grandmaster was back where he had been, calm and collected as ever. “Go now, you should be able to catch a boat from Ebonheart, get your writ from the table and go”
“Yes sir” whispered Threndafel, bowing low, visibly shaken. And then he turned and walked away, trying to repress his bodies need to run, run as fast as possible and climb the nearest tree for safety, he was a professional. The writ in his hand held a simple name, “Falana Hlaalu”.

This post has been edited by Ahrenil: Feb 28 2009, 05:20 PM

[Ahrenil]

Thanks for the feedback guys, looking back I know what you mean with the numbers Olen, thanks and I think i've managed to avoid it with this chapter (bad habits die hard though) And I know what you mean The Bean, I wasn't particularily happy with my Eno Hlaalu and so I decided to leave his actual identity open, perhaps theres a new grandmaster in town.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next chapter, any more feedback would be much apreciated.

Chapter 2: The Akatosh

Ebonheart, Threndafel had never liked it. The high stonewalls had always felt suffocating to him, and the simple military made him edgy, the place was a killing ground, a large open space surrounded by towers gave the purpose vantage point from which to pepper someone with arrows, and the narrow walkway to the keep meant a single man could defend the bridge from an attacking force.

And it never stopped raining.

Docked there was a surprisingly large vessel, it was a large wooden boat, tall with white sails, with the imperial insignia woven on. Painted in red across it’s hull was the Akatosh and the figurehead was of a dragon, rearing up with as if roaring. The captain appeared to be bartering at with a group of travelling minstrels, the captain recognisable since he appeared to be carrying the shiniest cutlass and was wearing quite a large hat. Eventually the minstrels gave up and sat in a corner of the dockyard, and Threndafel’s ears managed to discover that they were beginning to compose quite a colourful song about the shipmaster.

Threndafel approached the man a bit more warily, the man’s temper was high but from his gestures to the crew and their movements Threndafel guessed that the Akatosh was leaving. “Captain!” Threndafel called out, jogging slightly to catch the man. “Captain!”
“What?” the man declared, turning on him. He was a big Nord, with woad painted across his face in what Threndafel could only assume was meant to be a threatening pattern. “What do you want Wood Elf? Because I swear if you don’t make it quick you’ll be in the water minus your legs.”
“I want passage on your boat” Threndafel declared, staring the man straight in the eye.
“It’s a Galleon boy,” declared the Nord “You can tell by the balcony at the stern, and why would I give a worthless thing like you passage?”
“I can help out, I’m a good climber and a good shot” Threndafel declared “What’s more I’ve got some skills with alteration…” the Bosmer trailed off as the captain stared blankly at him arms folded. “And I can pay?” tested Threndafel, the Captain’s eyes brightened with interest
“You’re on, call me Cap’n Bearblade”

3 Days into the trip Threndafel had stopped throwing up, much to the delight of the crew who had first found it amusing and later a safety hazard. He had taken to climbing the rigging and the mast to the crow’s nest, and with a bow he had stolen from the ship’s hold he had began to practice his archery. The crew had first been baffled when slaughterfish were found with strange arrow like protrusions, but later came to accept it as one of the less weird things they’d seen.

Another 5 days into the trip and the ship was skirting the coast of Hammerfell, rocky cliffs rose up on the horizon on one side while the open waves rolled out seemingly endlessly. Threndafel had only begun to appreciate the beauty of the ocean when a fireball almost took his head off. He rolled away instinctively, dropping into a crouch and checking his surroundings. More fireballs raked the decks, none setting anything a fire but they were scaring the crew.

Captain Bearblade stormed on deck, fury painted on his face. “Looks like someone’s decided to raid the Akatosh lads!” he yelled, drawing his silver cutlass. Threndafel could see the sun shine off it, and deeper, as if in the depths of an endless well, the glints of lights on the enchanted blade.

Suddenly a vessel materialised a few hundred feet away from The Akatosh, lined on it’s rails were a large number of Bretons, and behind them were several Argonians and Redguards, it appeared the Breton mages had covered one side of their ship with a spell of chameleon, and managed to sneak up on the larger Galleon. Threndafel did a quick head count, the ship was smaller and sleeker, meant for speed not transportation, and so the crew numbered only seventeen, while the Akatosh’s numbered in the twenties. Still the mages would make it a much more difficult battle, unless someone managed to prevent them casting any spells.

“Captain, I’ll be back in a moment” Threndafel yelled, sprinting below deck to grab the bow he had stolen and a quiver of arrows, it was a fine bow, a laminated series of Minotaur plates and good Valenwood grade wood. While he was forbidden by his religion to cut down any trees himself Threndafel felt no qualms about using what he could find. As he emerged back on deck the two ships had begun to exchange attacks. At the moment the Akatosh’s crew were simply throwing javelins, nothing effective, but the smaller Breton ship, which Threndafel could now see to be called “The Underflow”, were still firing magical bolts, more danger lightning was now being launched at the Akatosh to avoid damaging the hull.
“Where did you get that bow!” roared the captain as Threndafel appeared back on deck, his quiver clipped onto his belt on his right hand side, the bow gripped in his left hand.
“No time to explain, you’ll be thankful afterwards” Threndafel shouted back, before leaping onto the rigging and beginning to climb. Seeing him the Underflow began to fire at him, laughing and shouting at him as they did so.

Threndafel reached the crow’s nest, kneeling down below the sheltering wall as he fitted an arrow to his string. He needed to make The Underflow want to finish this in close combat, or they’d simply bombard the ship until the crew was dead. The Bosmer waited until the next volley of magical missiles had passed his head and then stood, bow drawn taught to his cheek as he sighted along the line of the arrow. He had little need to aim up due to his height and angle, but the wind direction would’ve been a problem. Threndafel chose his target carefully and fired, the arrow smashed into one of the Mage’s hand, sending him spinning backwards, the bolt of lightning he had been about to unleash lost direction as the Breton lost concentration and exploded in on him, sending him jolting across the deck and between the rails into the ocean.

The Underflow’s crew stared in shock for a moment, in which another crewmember, this time and Argonian holding a wicked serrated blade, fell gurgling as it’s life seeped out of it’s neck. A new barrage of more dangerous magic passed over Threndafel’s head, several fireballs singing his hair, but his purpose was fulfilled, and now the Akatosh was in distance, grappling hooks grabbed the Underflow’s rail and slowly the ships were dragged closer, the thick ropes had been oiled near the grappling hooks head so they couldn’t be cut, and they were too thick to burn through easily. Then the close fighting began and Threndafel could only watch.

Captain Bearblade had a well-earned name, as his sword struck a ferocious red guard armed with a katana a loud roar echoed across the decks of both ships as the magic in the blade exploded into sound, both intimidating the fighters and knocking back the man as it did so. As another charged him Captain Bearblade spun, his hand outstretched, he glowed bright yellow for a moment and the enemy blade bounced off his skin, and then his hand connected with the Argonian’s neck, as he turned away Threndafel could see that were the two men had connected there was now only frost and ice, the Arognian collapsed and Threndafel lost sight of him in the melee.

After the battle Bearblade ordered his crew to sink the opposing ship, they had lost 5 men but the Underflow had lost more, and Bearblade’s outrage at the pirate’s audacity left no room for argument. He sought out Threndafel a little later, a small hint of admiration on his face as he found the Bosmer leaning against the rails looking out towards the sun.
“You shoot well lad, I’m glad we had you with us” Bearblade grunted “I’ll skip your cost for this voyage, since yer more or less saved our skins, but I want me bow back just in case it was enchanted to be lucky and you turn out to be a miserable shot.” And then the larger man was gone.

2 Days later Threndafel was standing on the docks of the Imperial city, staring up to where White Gold tower shone pink in the sunset. He had to find the Morag Tong contact in this city, though he didn’t know how, and hopefully whoever they were would allow him to find his target.