A Champion's Journey, The Imperial Simulacrum Options

[Verlox]

Prolouge

Ernand Leoriane was greeted to his first sight of the Imperial City as he, along with his escort, crested over Brena's Hill, giving them an unparalleled view of the expansive rain-forest of the Nibenay Valley. The colossal Whitegold Tower, its silvered spire shimmering in the sun, gave promise to splendor. As a Junior Councilman of the Elder Council, Ernand would soon be enjoying that most marvelous of settlements. But the Imperial City wasn't the only site to behold in the great valley of Nibenay. From his perch atop Brena's Hill, the young Councilman could make out splendid villas of alabaster and limestone that belonged to wealthy nobles and Senior Councilors. The great Lake Rumare and its artery, the River Niben, could also be gazed at.

Sir Renard Liseux, the captain of Ernand's guards, moved his horse alongside his master's. "Your Grace, Chorrol is only another hour's ride from here. Would it please you if we bedded down there for the night?" Looking up, Ernand could clearly discern Masser and Secunda, and a few of the brighter stars. The Sun was only visible as a sliver of light on the western horizon. Although he would have preferred if they continued on their journey, traveling by torch-light if need be, Ernand knew that while his men would follow him, they wouldn't like him very much afterwards.

"Chorrol should be fine, Renard." Ernand could tell Renard was pleased by the grin that spread across his face. Signaling to the men, Renard spurred his horse back into formation around Ernand, and they proceeded to Chorrol. A Colovian town, Chorrol was situated in the Highlands on the border with Hammerfell. Founded in the 2703 year of the First Era by Kantus Jerril, the town's first Count. The city itself was rustic, to Ernand resembling the town in High Rock he was born in. Its timber structures were simple, square buildings with one or two floors. Silver Mining was Chorrol's primary trade, but the sheep and goat trade was always booming.

Twilight came and went by the time Ernand and his guards passed through the gates of Chorrol. A sleepy guard pointed them in the direction of the town's inn. It was fortunate that Chorrol was a very simple town, and that the inn received such a prominent position; right off the square. Passing up through the lane, Ernand couldn't help but admire the massive oak-tree that overshadowed the largest of Chorrol's buildings. Dismounting and hitching his horse, Ernand watched his guards tramp into the taproom. He followed more slowly, taking a seat in a corner. After the bar-wench had brought him his beverage, he was joined by Renard. "This isn't exactly the finest of places, eh, Renard?"

"No, sir, it is not," Renard indulged his master, feeling that a Councilman would think any place is trash, "Reminds me of home though, does it not?"

"Aye, that's true. Kambria bears a strong resemblance to this place. Chorrol is certainly warmer, though!" Both men laughed. "Do you think it will rain tonight," Ernand asked as he took a sip of his craythur, "Those clouds looked rather mean."

Renard tapped his chin with his forefinger in thought. "It could. We did have a light sprinkle last night, so it wouldn't be strange if we got some of the water up here in the Highlands."

"Should I expect a delay in travel?"

Renard grimaced. He knew Ernand wanted to get to the Imperial City so he could begin his career, and live the life of Nibenean luxury. Damn...I would be impatient, too, Renard thought to himself. As an older man, however, Renard could look on luxury as a reward, where as he saw Ernand as wanting the luxury as an entitlement, he was a member of the Elder Council after all. "Ernand," Renard rarely used his master's Imperialized name, preferring the formal 'sir' or, in private, his given name of Lochlainn, "How old are you?"

Ernand raised an eyebrow, but answered. "Seven-and-Twenty. Why?"

"You got your whole life ahead of you. Don't let a little luxury spoil you to the rest of the world."

"What makes you think it will?" Indignant, a hard edge crept into Ernand's voice, "I can assure you, Renard, that a Nibenean lifestyle will not 'spoil' me, as you put it." He stood from his seat abruptly, "I must bid you goodnight, Renard. I expect to leave early tomorrow, so be ready to leave by sunrise." With that, Ernand turned on his toe and left the taproom, leaving Renard sitting alone.

"Of course, Councilor. Your will is my command."

*

His entrance into the Imperial City was even greater that he imagined it would be. At the bridge, Ernand and his escort were met by the other two members of High Rock's councilors. They greeted their new compatriot with much warmth, proclaiming that High Rock was well served by having the scion of the Leoriane as a member of the Elder Council. Ernand in turn acknowledged their greetings with a smile, but had to ask where his benefactor, Ria Silmane, was.

"She had business to do for the Emperor, Ernand. As you know, that traitor, Tharn, was executed some months ago. For a time, the position of Imperial Battle Mage was empty, left vacant by Tharn's death. Emperor Uriel, in his wisdom, had Madame Silmane appointed in his place. We hardly see her anymore; always off doing one thing or another for His Majesty." Ernand nodded that he understood, but inwardly he wished that Ria had been their to see his entrance into the Imperial City.

The councilors escorted Ernand and his guard through the streets, giving them a condensed tour of the Imperial City. With the air crisp and cold, the councilors cut the tour short when they arrived in the Elven Gardens District. They pointed out to him the location of the High Rock Councilor's Manor, and then left the younger man for their own villas in the country-side.

"Unpack our belongings," Ernand told his guards, "I'm going to have a rest." The manor was a small, but comfortable, building of three stories. The lowest floor was a large hall made from receiving guests and dining. The second floor was dedicated to housing the occupant’s personal guard. And the third floor was the Councilor's Chamber. It was here that Ernand found himself after he mounted the stairs.

The chamber was very spacious. A large, four-poster bed was against the wall for sleeping. There were numerous coffers and chests, and their was even a writing desk. It was a object on the desk that first drew Ernand's attention, and he moved to investigate. The object was a small letter written on tan paper. Picking it up, Ernand read--

To his most Esteemed Lordship, Councilor Ernand Leoriane
Greetings,

I apologize in advance for not being able to greet you on your entrance into the city. The Emperor had a very important matter for me to look into, and I was unable to get out of it. I promise that we will soon see each other. If not in private than in the Palace.

Your Friend,
Ria Silmane, Imperial Battle Mage

Dated Seventh of Sun's Dawn, 3E 395

Ernand smiled at Ria's letter and put it back onto the desk. Moving over to a nearby shutter, he flung it open to gaze out over the Imperial City. Things were good.

**

This post has been edited by Verlox: Mar 19 2010, 02:40 AM

[Verlox]

Chapter Three: The Adventure Begins

Splashes of hot color invaded the darkness that was Ernand's dreams. Deep reds and bright yellows spiraled into a sickening orange. Unconsciously, the young man struggled against the tide of color that threatened to drown him, seeking to return to the comforting shores of oblivion. Fighting, the color began to recede. Darker and darker it grew until, at last, Ernand had returned to the peace of shadows.

A loud slam jarred Ernand from his sleep. He snapped his eyes open, only to shut them tightly again when they were confronted with a burning light. While his eyelids kept the shine away from his eyes, it did little to actually get rid of it. When they finally adjusted, he opened them slightly to confront the reality of his situation. The searing light turned out to be nothing more than a lone candle that flickered weakly in the muted darkness that surrounded it. Rising from the damp floor, Ernand stumbled over to the beacon. Leaning against the platform that the candle sat on, he buried his head in his hands, wincing when he accidentally passed over a nasty cut on his forehead.

"Oh, yeah....That's infected...." Groaning, Ernand lifted himself up onto the platform, taking a seat next to the dying candle. Gently lifting the candle, he raised it high so it could light more of the room. It was not successful, but he was at least able to discern the character of his prison. It was a rather small room; the walls were damp, covered in fungus and grime. The floor was very much the same, and Ernand knew that, even in the low light, that his toga was incredibly dirty. Not far from him, to his right, was a door of thick metal bars. From beyond this barrier, he was able to hear the sounds of moving water, and the chittering of rats. Grimacing, Ernand questioned, "What is a jail cell doing in the sewers?"

"I do not know, Lochlainn."

Ernand screamed, and flung himself to the ground. In his panic, the candle sputtered out, shrouding the entire cell in darkness. It did not stay that way for long, however, because the room then filled with a bright, white light. Raising his head up and opening one eye, Ernand was met with the visage of his friend, Ria Silmane. Unlike a spell of Light, when propelled a small ball of brightness above the caster, the light that shined around Ria seemed to emanate directly from her. Shaking his head and scratching his eyes to see if he was just hallucinating, Ernand looked again, and Ria was still standing there, a look of deep melancholy on her ethereal face.

"Ria..." Ernand began carefully, "What are you doing here? Where am I?"

"You are imprisoned, deep below the Imperial City. You are being held here until your trial for murdering me."

"What?!" Ernand's mouth dropped in shock. "Murder? Wait..." He shut his eyes and shook his hands in front of him, "Let's take a step back." Taking a deep breath, Ernand spoke again, "So...You're...No longer among the living?"

"You say it as if you would offend me, Lochlainn. But yes, I am dead." The look of melancholy on her face became even worse, a sight that tore at Ernand's heart.

"But how? What happened? Did one of Tharn's assassins get to you?"

Ria shook her head. "No. Tharn himself did the deed. He drained the life right from my body. I know not how, but he has gained great power since he first started this simulacrum of his."

Ernand slumped back against a wall, staring vacantly into the air. He had some trouble processing the fact that Ria was dead, and that he was going to be blamed for her murder. But what he had the most trouble wrapping his mind around was why his friend was appearing to him now. Was it an attempt on her part to allow him to go to his grave in peace? No, Ria wouldn't do that sort of thing. A woman so lacking in sentimentality wouldn't bestir herself often to give a man peace. Gathering himself, Ernand tilted his head to look over at Ria. Even though he was sure no other person dwelt down in the hole he was in, he kept his voice at a loud whisper. "Ria...Can I ask why you are here?"

A brief smile crossed Ria Silmane's ghostly face, and she moved to kneel next Ernand. "Tomorrow, you are to be led out to be executed."

"Thanks for telling me. You have an excellent ability to comfort people, did you know that?"

Ria's brow shot down. "Now is not the time for making light of things, Lochlainn. Let me finish speaking." Raising her hand, Ria began to make a swirl in the air. Slowly, a form began to take shape resembling a paddle, or a piece of wood used to churn butter. "This is the Staff of Chaos. Tharn used it to imprison Emperor Uriel in a realm of his making, and assumed his form. Because the staff cannot truly be destroyed, he shattered into eight pieces, and cast them across Tamriel. Just as the staff is tied to the land, so to does the land rely on the staff to keep peace. All the wars that have been plaguing Tamriel can be tied to this device."

Ernand held his hand for Ria to pause. A look of deep thought was set on his face, and Ria's spirit waited patiently for her friend to speak. "How do you know all this, Ria? Did Tharn divulge all this information to you in some monologue that the villains in stories make all the time?"

Ria laughed sadly, "Alas, no. He did monologue some, but not about this. But when you leave your mortal body behind, many things become clear."

"Well, then. Continue."

Ria nodded. "I have learned that if the staff could be reassembled, then a portal leading to the Emperor's prison could be opened. I have come to you, in hopes that you could retrieve the fragments of the Staff of Chaos."

Ernand's brow shot up in surprise. He wasn't quite sure how he should react to Ria's request. Does she fail to realize that I'm stuck in a dank hole in the ground? He kept this thought to himself, not wanting to antagonize his friend. "I would gladly serve you, Ria. But how, pray tell, do you expect me to quest for the staff if I'm stuck in this prison cell?" Ernand looked on in surprise when Ria pointed her hand at the burnt out candle. His sense of reality quaked as he slowly saw the melted wax form itself into the shape of the key. But the truly amazing thing was when the wax key changed, becoming a shining key of pure ruby. "What in the name of Zenithar....."

"This key will unlock the door of your prison." The light from Ria dimmed briefly. Taking a step away from Ernand, she covered her face with her hand. "I have been here too long. I have used much of the power holding me here to form a Shift Gate not far from this place. It will take far away from the Imperial City. I know not where."

Ernand was holding the ruby key in his hand, only half-listening to Ria. His mind was quickly calculating how much this key could be pawned for. However, when he heard his friend say something about a Shift Gate taking him away, his head snapped over to look at her. "If I escape, I will likely be a wanted man. People all over the continent will be looking for an Ernand Leoriane. How do you expect me to retrieve the Staff of Chaos with an army of bounty hunter dogging my trail?" The light shining from Ria dimmed again, this time almost going out entirely. Ernand could barely make out his friend's form, and he began to panic. "Ria? Ria, what happened?"

Ria voice came from the darkness in an almost inaudible whisper. "I have burned away your face from the name Ernand Leoriane. No one, not even Tharn himself, will know the face of the man accused of murdering me. I will not be able to come to you again for sometime, Lochlainn. Make for the Shift Gate." Ria's voice began to fade away, and the last thing Ernand heard was, "Go forth....in the name of the Emperor....and with my blessing." Then Ria's light was no more, and the young Breton was left alone in his dank cell once again. The enormity of the situation struck him hard, but he felt emboldened by the former sorceress' faith in him. Focusing his energy, Ernand raised a spell of Light. Then, taking the key, he inserted it into the doorway. Hearing the click, he flung the door open and dived into the winding tunnels of the Imperial City Sewers.

When one is underground, time means little. Ernand was never to know how long he wandered the rancid tunnels, clubbing rats with the key he held in his hand. But time did pass, and soon he saw before him the shining light of the Shift Gate, just as Ria had promised. Approaching the swirling mass of color and light, Ernand attempted to pass through it. As he neared, however, a great booming voice sounded, reverberating throughout the tunnels.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!

Struck by the simplicity of the question, Ernand responded, "My name is Ernand Leoriane." Nothing happened. Shocked, Ernand stood for a minute before the voice sounded again.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!

Ernand waved his arms in the air, chanting his name as if it was the incantation to a powerful spell. Once again, nothing happened. Utterly frustrated, the Breton stamped his feet on the ground. If anything vermin had been sneaking up on him, the stream of profanity, which he hurled at the twisting Shift Gate, likely frightened them away. After minutes of cursing, the great voice came again.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!

Ernand didn't respond for sometime. Staying silent, he just glared at the Shift Gate, refusing to answer. It wasn't until he realized that Ria had been the one to put this portal there that Ernand grasped the answer to the gate's question. Apparently Ria hadn’t lost her sense of humor in death. Sighing, Ernand muttered, “I am Lochlainn.” A great thundering noise shook the sewers as the mass of color swirling together until it was nothing more than a shining ball of white light. It then leapt out at him, encasing him, drawing him away from the darkness.

*

Ernand moaned as he turned over, crushing leaves beneath him. In his hand, he still held the ruby key, caked in brains from using it to bash rats. He breathed in deep, detecting the smell of wood in his nostrils. Grinning, the Breton opened his eyes, only to be faced with the point of spear directing right at his throat. Raising his gaze, he looked into the very angry-looking eyes of a Bosmer clothed in a heap of hides. Moving his gaze from side to side, he could see more elves appearing, some from the trees above, other from the undergrowth around his prone body. Swallowing, Ernand gave an embarrassed grin and said, "Howdy..."

**

This post has been edited by Verlox: Jun 2 2010, 03:55 AM