Shadow in Darkness, I'm trying again. Options

[seerauna]

Okay, I'm going to try this again. This time I'm doing Dark Brotherhood making it a little easier, because I like assassins so much. Black Hand is my inspiration with his wonderful tale of Sethyas Velas. Anywho, hope you enjoy this one.



Leyawiin, Near the Five Claws Lodge
I tensed instinctually as I pulled the bowstring back, matching the bow’s own tension. My heart pounded as I released it, for I was releasing an arrow meant to kill an innocent person. The Argonian Weebam-Na was destined to die for something he didn't even know had happened.

When the arrow hit the Argonian's scales, I was surprised by the intense force behind the arrow. Normally arrows did not make it past a couple inches. Mine slammed into his throat, it went all the way through to emerge, barely visible, out the back. I flinched away from the gruesome scene, appalled by what I had done.

I scurried to retrieve my arrow and fled to the relative safety of a nearby inn. To anyone standing nearby I seemed relaxed as I sat at a table, but really my muscles were so tense I could barely move. As near as I was to the bar it wasn't quiet, but even so everyone could hear the sudden bloodcurdling screams that came from outside.

I rushed outside with the rest of the people at the inn along with much of Leyawiin, as much to see the results of my handiwork as to not blow my cover. A woman was standing next to the body of the unfortunate Argonian.

“Bejeen, what did you do!” One man yells, his voice sounding strained. Bejeen, whose face before had only the single emotion of terror, now showed a mixture of anger, shock, and the ever-present terror. Several other faces mirrored hers.

“I did nothing to my husband! Why would I? He is the only one that took in a lonely starving maid…” Bejeen trailed off sobbing.

“No.” My sudden statement surprised even me. “No, she didn’t do this. What reason would Bejeen have to kill her husband? To me this looks like the work of the Morag Tong, which as far as they are from here isn’t very likely, or the Dark Brotherhood, which is much more likely. You might want to find the killer or you might have a string of assassinations on your hands.”

I paused momentarily to take a quick breath. “Don’t blame Bejeen for something she cannot control. That would be the worst thing for you to do.” I said, my voice gradually growing fainter until it was barely a whisper, I walked as fast as I possibly could from the throng of onlookers.

I went back to the inn I had fled to. I asked the publican if she had any rooms left. One look at my face had her quickly giving me the key to a room upstairs.

“Okay…” She trailed off.

“Shadow Kear.” I supplied her with my name. Although it probably wasn’t a good idea, I was past caring.

I walked upstairs and collapsed on the bed, my emotions taking control. Guilt suppressed any of the joy of the kill I might have felt before. My horrified mind repeated one question over and over. What had I done?

The feeling of sweet relief as the black abyss of sleep swept over me was drowned out when I fell into a dream of the previous day’s events, of what had led me to this murder.

I was walking through the town of Leyawiin repairing gear and restocking supplies as needed for my adventuring habits. I saw an Argonian walking in my direction. It was clear he wanted to talk to me. My lips formed the beginnings of a snarl.

“What do you want lizard?” I hissed at him. His appearance made my otherwise pleasant, if sometimes cold manner, unpleasant and rude.

What he was about to say was drowned out by a sudden urge to stab him with the dagger hidden beneath my armor. This Argonian would die.

In a rush of fur and claws I was running, running from the sudden bloodthirstiness that had engulfed me. My emotions were primarily horror and a sadistic glee at the thought. I ran from my glee.

I woke covered in sweat. The dream had been so lifelike it could have been happening at that moment. The last thing I wanted was any more surprises.

So imagine my now familiar and unwanted surprise when I found the Imperial that would later lead my life in a direction I never wanted it to take, standing at the foot of my bed.

EDIT: Took some of Illydoor's crit and fixed the beginning up a bit.

This post has been edited by seerauna: Apr 20 2009, 01:16 AM

[seerauna]

Here you go Trey! Yes, your puppy dog eyes work perfectly . A longer update this time hope you enjoy it!



"What are you doing?" The guard shouted again. My mind was gradually disentangling itself from the mind numbing panic. "You do realize that you let your horse run off into the woods where anything from a wolf to a bear could attack it?"

I had finally distanced myself from the sudden heart-wrenching fear. “I’m sure the horse will be fine. That was a wild stallion that I found back near the Imperial City. I’m sure that he’s capable of fighting off anything that attacks him. Now, I am going to continue on my way.” I turned my back on the guard and walked swiftly towards the city gates.

I heard him mumble something about rude cats and misleading signs. I considered turning around and giving him a piece of my mind then safely decided against it. I wanted to get into the city, not kicked out of it.

As I reached out my hand to knock on the wood the gates started to creak slowly open. I looked up, craning my neck to see the top of the wall. I couldn’t see anyone. Mystified, I turned my attention back to the gate, which had just finished opening.

So many mysteries and secrets that Cheydinhal held, not the least of which was the Dark Brotherhood in all likelihood. I slipped into the city earning myself a disapproving glance from the guard posted there.

I walked slowly forward, confused as to where the abandoned house might be. I had never been in this city before preferring the open woodlands to a closed-in city.

Yet another guard walked past me. How many guards did this place have? An idea suddenly occurred to me and a slow smile slid across my face. I turned to the man behind me.

“Excuse me mister? Do you know where the abandoned house is? It’s the one that many people say is haunted.” He looked suspicious and obviously curious. “I’m researching haunted houses across Tamriel and I’ve heard many tales about this one.” I added making my face look as innocent as possible. His face cleared.

“Yes, actually I do. Take the left path and follow it until you see a rundown old house on the left. It is across from the chapel.” He seemed friendly enough now but I would stay cautious until I had made it into the Brotherhood’s headquarters.

“Thank you sir. You’ve been very helpful.” I turned and took the left path and easily found the old house. There was a guard across from it though, guarding another, smaller house. He might be a problem. I would have to find a way to distract him… The thought trailed off as I started to rack my brain.

A thief trying to pick his way into a locked house provided me with a solution. The guard spotted him, and abandoning his post ran towards the surprised and unfortunate thief. Thanking him silently in my head I swiftly pulled out a pick and tried to unlock the door. I cursed but didn’t stop in my endeavors when it broke, simply pulling out another.

Finally the door swung open and I slipped through the smallest space possible. I heaved a sigh of relief when I stepped into the cool air of the musty room. I took a long careful look around my surroundings. Lucien had said go to the basement but I didn’t trust the enigmatic black cloaked man at all and was being careful.

I didn’t see anything so I snuck forward and opened the door into the basement. There was nothing here either. I began to relax. In a standing position I walked toward a large hole in the wall. Brushing away the cobwebs with my tail, I continued down the corridor. At the end of the short hallway there was a door just as Lucien had said there would be.

I knocked on it gently, ever aware of what could happen if this was a trap. “What is the color of night?” a voice asked me, the echoes bouncing off the walls eerily. An involuntary shiver ran through me.

I realized I had been holding my breath and let it out slowly. “Sanguine, my brother.” I replied. There was a sense of finality in the words and I felt suddenly and completely committed to this organization of assassins. The sensation was not completely pleasant.

The door creaked open and faintly I heard the words welcome home bounce off the walls. There was an Argonian walking toward me. Inwardly I grimaced I should have known that there would have been one here. Spotting another, I amended the thought to more than one.

The one that had been walking stopped and smiled showing rows of sharp white teeth. “Hello, my name is Ocheeva.” I nodded my and replied, “My name is Shadow Kear.”

She nodded back busily. “ Yes, yes Lucien has told us all about you.” I felt a moment of consternation. What exactly had Lucien told them? Of my bad attitude was a good guess. After a moment I decided I didn’t care and went on listening to Ocheeva.

“I am the Mother for the Cheydinhal Sanctuary. It is always a pleasure to welcome a new Dark Sister into our ranks! Truly the Night Mother smiles upon her trusted daughters! You stand now in our Sanctuary. May it serve as your home and a place of comfort and security when the need arises.

“When you’re ready to start, go and speak to Vincente Valtieri. He handles all assignments for the new recruits. But before you go, please accept this gift from your new family. A unique set of armor lighter than the Void. But I’ve kept you long enough. Vincente is waiting. You’ll find him waiting in his quarters. Go now, my child, and may Sithis go with you.”

I took the armor carefully, marveling at its light weight. Finding a silent place I changed into the armor thinking I would have to find a place to put my items. I wandered into the back halls of the Sanctuary meeting many of its inhabitants.

With my luck, it would obviously have to be the second Argonian I met first. “I welcome you to our family and this Sanctuary. May you find yourself at home here, in the loving embrace of the Night Mother.”

I smiled back tentatively, unused to being greeted with such warmth. “Hello, I am Shadow Kear. What’s your name? I just got here and you’re the first person I’ve met besides Ocheeva.” Maybe the Argonians here weren’t as bad as others I had met.

“Of course I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Teinaava and Ocheeva is my nest mate, we are twins. Lucien has told me much about you. You don’t seem to have such a bad attitude to me.” He sounded teasing, and a smile was twitching at the corners of his scaled mouth.

If it would have been possible to see it under my fur, my cheeks would have been scarlet. I kept the silence I had cultivated over the years, fur prickling in embarrassment.

“You probably need to go along to Vincente don’t you? I’m sorry for keeping you.” He started to rush away. He left before I had a chance a say a word. I shrugged and headed to Vincente’s quarters.

Before I made it there, I was stopped by another Khajiit shuffling down the hallway. He barely looked up to acknowledge my presence. His only comment was, “Filthy housecat, keep away from me. Ugh, and look at that fur.”

I frowned. Normally another of my kind would have stopped and at least greeted the other. Shrugging, I walked away from the distasteful Khajiit. Vincente beckoned me in when I finally managed to make it to his room.

“Ah, here you are. So good to finally meet you.” He said as I stepped through the doors. I almost took a step back in my surprise at his appearance. It was, disturbing to say the least. “Warmest greetings to you. I trust you’ve already spoken to Ocheeva?” I nodded my assent and he continued.

“I am Vincente Valtieri, I provide assignments to all new family members. Please do not let my appearance… unnerve you. The needs of the Dark Brotherhood come before my needs as a vampire.” I realized that this was the reason his face looked so disfigured.

“Now if you’re ready to get to work, I can provide you with you first contract.”

“I believe I am ready for a contract.” I said carefully, disguising my feelings about taking another innocent being’s life. It still disgusted me even thinking about it. Vincente went on to explain what a contract is. After that though, he told me what I was about to do.

“I’m not sure how you feel about pirates but you’ve got to kill one. A captain in fact, surrounded by his crew. Interested?”

I almost instantly cheered up. A pirate was not an innocent person, I could work with this one. “Sure, I’ll take the contract.” After all, no one would care if a pirate suddenly went missing, unless it was the crew, and I doubted they would alert the Watch.

“Excellent,” Vincente continued cheerfully. “Here is what you must do. Go to the Waterfront District of the Imperial City. There you will find a ship named the Marie Elena. Board the ship and find its captain, Gaston Tussaud. He’ll be in his cabin. Eliminate Tussaud in any matter you see fit.

“The pirates have been moving a lot of cargo onboard lately. You may be able to smuggle yourself on in one of those packing crates. Oh, and one more thing. Get in the habit of asking your fellow family members about any current contract. Their insight may prove invaluable.” The vampire finished and waved me off.

I decided that asking Teinaava about my first contract could prove helpful. The Argonian was likeable in a way I couldn’t describe. I went to find him.

He was reading a thick book in a chair set next to a small bookcase in the left corner. “Teinaava?” I spoke his name quietly, not wanting to startle him.

He looked up, seemingly unsurprised. “Hello Shadow. What brings you to me?”

“I was wondering if you could provide me with any information about my first contract. Have you heard of the ship the Marie Elena?” I asked him some instinct telling me that he probably had.

“The Marie Elena you say? I’ve seen that ship. There’s a unique balcony at the stern. My guess is that it leads to the captain’s cabin. Could be useful.” I flashed him a rare friendly smile.

“Thank you I think I’ll go see what I can find out in the Imperial City. Goodbye Teinaava.” I turned to walk away. I steeled my nerves. I had a pirate to kill.