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]

be wary of your reflection Furan... it holds the secrets of your soul...

I blink back tears as I look at the river, it is nirns blood that is forever pulsing and moving along the lands. Never stopping or pausing, only moving in different directions.
My reflection stared back at me today as my master’s voice returned from memories that I thought I had buried. I had to admit that I was different.

My head that was shaved bald last time was replaced by an unbound waterfall of jet black hair. The Tang mo tribes believed that long hair was a symbol of bravery and strength and so after a few months with them I decided to let it grow.

My red eyes that was once so wild and lustful for adventure had reached a stage where they were tranquil; calm, as if they had seen too much. Memories stirred as my shaking fingers touched my face, 3 ripe scars against my cheek; I gained those trying to protect a small Tsaesci village from what they called the Boot-Khan. It was the size of a bear with the strength to match. Its head and neck were that of a crimson snake while the rest of its birdlike body was blazing with shining golden feathers that no blade could cut through.

It would talk to its victims with the voice of a young woman, leading them away from the village and into the shadowy forest before consuming them in a fit of unnatural hunger.
I could still hear the monsters screams when I closed my eyes and my own to match it.Light stubble grew along my cheeks like a blanket, hiding the scars like a defiant shield.

“Furan...or is it Nuraverine? Are you going to keep looking at your reflection all day or are we going to get moving?” I turned around with a small grin.
“Don’t use my other name Haeil you know you can’t pronounce it”

He just grunted in response, throwing me my rucksack with one fluid swing of his right arm. With a smile I caught it, strapping it to my back with a click.
We were in forest land now for four days; the coast was abandoned as we began to move west toward Vvardenfell.

Trees stretched far above us, a forgotten sea of green and a rich rusty autumn red. Some the trunks were thicker then houses as they held leaves the size of face fans. Birds fluttered overhead like warrior poets, fighting and screeching with tragically beautiful songs, claiming the ancient skies for themselves as the danced in the air above us. The sky was their epic stage.

With every step we heard the small rustle of a frightened animal making its way deeper into the woods.
That’s the type of thing that I missed when I was on the sea, the wild and untamed beauty that you saw anywhere in Morrowind.
“So what’s the plan?” Haeil asked as I tore my eyes away from the treetops. I looked at him for a moment with my eyebrow raised as I thought about it. Where exactly should we go?

The Imperial city” I said finally after a few minutes.
“We keep going west, reach the coast... take a ship to the other side of the mainland and then to Cyrodiil... The Emperor was the one who funded the Akavir trip...he’ll want to know exactly what happened... as well as that argonian pirate ship that attacked us.” I thought about it for a minute, remembering old Uriel Septim with his loose white hair and blue eyes that seemed to look straight through you, the type of stare of a man who has seen more than a mortal should.
Haeil nodded with a sigh. “That’s going to take another month...at least, but then where?” his voice was little more than a crackle now as the question began to set in.

I shrugged softly, “It doesn’t matter.” I whispered as we began to walk my tone bringing Haeil’s voice to a sudden hush. Closing my eyes softly I began to listen around the forest, the boundless singing of birds and the sound of drops of water the size of puddles which fell down to the ground with the simple movements of creatures far above. So peaceful, the music the chirping until...

“AAAARRRRRRRGH” my eyes snap open as Haeil begins to move quickly before me.
It was when I looked through the thick bushes along the edge of the road I saw the screams creator.

He was a Dunmer, his silvery grey hair running down to his knees as he fought three hooded warriors. They each wielded a long swords but the mer didn’t seem to care as he fought with his bare hands, the crimson robes that wrapped his body moving quickly as he jabbed and punched his attackers.

Fire suddenly leaped out of the mer’s hands as it wrapped itself like a whip over one of the warriors. I could feel the heat rub against my face as I watched the steel armour melt away before leaving a heavily burnt reptilian corpse.

More argonians? This is just insane.

The other argonians took advantage of the time while their comrade slowly died, wrapping a bronze amulet over the mages throat; his screaming voice turning to a shocking silence. One of them raised his sword to finish the job before Haeil and I pushed through the bushes with a loud rustle.

One of the argonians stepped back as I took four strong steps forward with my short-sword drawn. Haeil wrapped his tail around the other, his fangs cutting through the steel as if it was made of scrib jelly. The two argonians screamed as they both hit the floor, their bodies landing with a soft thump.

Satisfied, Haeil moved over to the bodies, his hands moving through their pockets and satchels easier then water going into a bucket. With a sigh I turned to the mage who was lying on the floor with his eyes closed.

The robes he wore were made of silk, died the darkest crimson while the simple bronze amulet around his neck refused to come off, the strong smell of magic coming off it that made me feel a little dizzy.
But it was then that I noticed it, a black snake that stretched along his right arm. Its mouth was open as if it was about to snap at something while its tail curled around his thumb.
To most people it was known as the mages oath, a silent seal. But it was also the code of obedience, a symbol of loyalty to his masters.

The mage was a Telvanni.

This post has been edited by Fiach: Mar 19 2010, 07:47 AM