Listen To THe Sound Of The Ashlands, Chapter 1->The Return Options

[Fiach]

Note: This is my first bit of serious fan-fiction, so please be patient with me xD
I would really appreciate it if whoever reads this give me their opinion on the story, as well as any ways that I can improve, which is something that I'm very passionate about.
But without any delay, let's begin.

Prologue

“So you’re planning to go through with it?” Sul-Matuul asked.

“Yes”

The old Ashlander sighed, his hand moving slowly against his withered face.
For a moment I began to pity the old mer. Age had paled his dark skin to the point that it was nearly like that of a imperial, his red eyes turning blank with his years.

He was sitting near the centre of his yurt, his body in its squatted form somewhat resembling an old flower. But he still held his staff proudly, and carried his head high with grace. Well at least he did before I entered his yurt this cold Last seed morning.

“I would like you to reconsider” Sul-Matuul said. With a groan I sat down beside him, my fingers playing with the dusty floor. “I don’t think I can this time my friend” I whispered, “I’ve been here for nearly 5 years, I’ve done a lot here but Morrowind....it just doesn’t need me anymore..”

Sul-Matuul slammed his fist against the ground, but I tried not to flinch, “don’t be foolish Lord Nerevarine” he growled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “You have so much more to do here, Morrowind is your home, and it’s where you’re destined to be!”

Sadly, I shook my head. “Everything will be ok Sul, I mean with you, Vivec....”
“Vivec is a traitor and a fool” He spat, “He should have had the decency to kill himself the day the others fell.”
I shook my head and rose from the ground. “He has the best interests of Morrowind in mind Sul.” I whispered. “The boat to Akavir will be leaving tomorrow... I have to be on my way.”
“Nerevarine!” Sul-Matuul growled, “Morrowind needs you, please don’t abandon her.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but then I noticed droplets of water against the dusty floor. The old mer was crying.

My courage failed and without another word, I turned around and opened up the small yurt skin door, into the world beyond.
As I travelled along the coastline I began to feel the thud of my heartbeat against my throat, a feeling that had escaped me for so long, Excitement and adventure.
I suppose I should tell you a little of myself before I begin my true story, although most of it I’m sure you already know.

My real name is Furan Saris, and I was born in Highrock, according to the local priests there, my mother was an ashlander who fled morrowind, but since she died when I was born, I guess I can’t really be sure. I was taken in by the local chapel of the nine divines, an experience that thankfully, I’ll never go through again. I learned to read and write, but at the cost of my dignity. I was trapped there, at least until he came to see me.
A man arrived at our village one foggy morning, he was a mage, but one that was not connected to any of the local guilds. It was safe to say that he caused a bit of a commotion in the town. He used his magic to entertain, summoning ponies and warriors that arrived in a plume of fire, his mana stirring and creating wonders before my very eyes. I spent days begging him to take me on as an apprentice, as a means to escape this life. The old man, who saw my mana levels agreed.

We left, I learned what I needed to learn, but after less than 4 years my master caught a chill and died. Magic stopped being an idle fancy and more of a means to survive, I was skilled at illusion and acrobatics, which helped me pilfer items from some of highrocks finest. But one night I tried to steal from a mage and I was caught.
Beginning my journey to Morrowind, which started the story every dunmer child grows up learning, the tale of the battle of the red mountain.

To foreigners of our shores this is where the story of the Nerevarine ends, the oblivion crisis set in and people forgot about the land of the dunmer people.
But I think that it is time that I continued the story.

The story of when the Nerevarine returned.

This post has been edited by Fiach: Feb 26 2010, 11:14 PM

[Fiach]

Barrel hauling... imagine one of the most soul crushing jobs that you could possibly do, with the added bonus that every muscle in your body hurt afterwards. But seeing as there was less than half our original numbers on the ship at this stage, it was very important that we all did our part.
The barrels were made of wood from a tang-mo forest, with iron rivets dug deeply to stop them from falling apart. They were filled to the brim with spiced meats, biscuits, ale, everything that was just heavy enough to make me wish that I tried to build up my strength more during my time in vvardenfell.

As I moved another barrel, the wooden boards beneath me creaked from the strain as sea air and the spices from the below me made my eyes water.
“Are you ok?” said a voice behind me.
It was Rull-Ban, a tang-mo warrior who I met 2 years earlier when I was exploring the jungles.
She was just over 2 metres, her small brown head just poking over the barell that she was holding.
“I’m fine” I coughed dropping the barrel on deck, her green eyes flashing with concern.
“Maybe you should rest....” I shook my head softly, taking off my shirt to try to escape the beating sun above me.
Rull-Ban smiles with her monkey face,
“Who’s...” My mind goes blank as the spicy smell rushes up my nostrils.
“Sadrith Mora” I whisper, the sound rolling off my tongue like an exotic fruit. I was standing on the top of Wolverine hall, the results of a successful levitation spell and the fact that one of the guards was passed out near the entrance...Imperials...you had to love them.
The waves crashed against the Cliffside, the salty air rising above me as I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
“Is this your first time here?” whispered a voice. I nodded and turned around. She was an Imperial,no more then 19 with a light pale face and dressed in netch leather armour. Her eyes, fierce emeralds seemed to cut straight through me as we looked at each other.
“How did you get up here lady?” I asked, my voice having a small bite to it that I didn’t actually intend to show. The girl ignored it and pointed over to a part of the roof that dipped a little.
“Some good acrobatics skills and thanks to crappy imperial architecture...” She smiled and gave out her hand.
“I’m Abigail”
I took it and shook it.
“I’m Furan Saris”
She looked at me then and gave me a mischievous glance. “Well Furan Saris, I’m getting the impression that you are a man without fear...”
I frowned, where was all this coming from?
With a smile she pulled out a brown cloth sack... My eyes widened, it was my coin purse...but how did she...
“I picked your pocket when your back was turned” She smiled, Abigail nodded to the edge of the roof, it led straight down to the sea, with several jutting rocks breaking through the lashing waves.
“Let’s see how fearless you are...” She whispered and without another word pushed herself off the edge and down onto the rocks below.
I stay there for a moment, shocked. But I looked over the edge and smile.
With a hesitated breath I ran before jumping off the edge.
I open my eyes and look over to Rull-Ban,
“Sorry, what did you say?” I muttered.
Rull-Ban looked over to my shoulder and pointed to my sweaty right arm.
“You have a tattoo there...Tell me, is she your mate?”
I look down on my arm to see it.
Abigail is written there in the darkest ink so that it gleamed brightly against my ashen skin.
I smiled.

“You could say that” I whispered.

This post has been edited by Fiach: Mar 13 2010, 06:17 PM