Memoires of Rales Sarethi, A Morrowind fanfic Options

[Remko]

Dear readers, I posted this in the unnamed forum but since you were so kind to invite me here, I thought I'd "grace" you with my drivel. Without further adue, I present you the adventures of Rales Sarethi.

Part I Homecoming

Chapter 1: Seyda Neen.

Day 1

Over thirty-five years ago, I think I was about nineteen, maybe twenty, I got pulled from my bunk in the cell in Imperial City and was told I was to be deported to Vvardenfell immediately. First by carriage and then by boat.
Gods, even up to this day I resent carriage rides, they’re bumpy, dusty and tiresome, I prefer a horseback ride anyday.

The seajourney is pretty much a blur in my recollection, the gentle relaxing motion of the boat made me drift into a careless and refreshing slumber.
I briefly opened my eyes at times the sea was exceptionally rough and I remember a gentle yet compelling voice speaking to me. Can’t remember the words though, just the sound of the voice that stuck with me.

I woke up when a fellow Dunmer, one donning a huge scar across his face, told me we had arrived and that I needed to get off the boat. He called himself Jiub and asked what my name was. I politely answered my name was Rales. I didn’t bother telling him my last name, after all, he hadn’t told his either.
I never saw the guy again after I disembarked. A shame really, he was kind of like-able.

A grumpy Redguard legionnaire ordered me to report in at the Census and Excise office outside. Like I had a choice. On the boardwalk towards the offices, an Imperial officer asked me several random questions, like my race. Like he couldn’t see for himself. Sjeezzz…. I had to refrain myself from rolling my eyes and possibly insulting or upsetting the guy. Instead, I acted like the good Dunmer they wanted me to be, I played along and answered his questions.

After I had satisfied his curiosity he ordered me to report in at the office for my release form. ‘Release form? I was going to be released?’
I could hardly believe my pointy ears at that time. Let me tell you; looking back on what they had me go through, sometimes I wished they had left me to rot in prison. With a straight face I walked towards the rickety wooden structure that was the consensus and excise office. I couldn’t be showing surprise about my release, what if they had made a mistake and changed their mind?

Quickly I proceeded into the building. An elderly Imperial was sitting behind a desk, going through piles and piles of documents. Pre-occupied as he seemed to be, he hadn’t noticed me yet or maybe he was just ignoring me. Perhaps it had been my body-odour? Figuring that was hardly my fault, they were the ones that had plucked me from my cell, dropped me on a boat and had me report into an office without the chance to clean myself up. I shrugged and softly cleared my throat to get his attention, I didn’t want to startle the old man lest he would die from a heart-attack. Knowing my luck, they’d probably blame me and I’d be back where I started, in jail.

The following conversation with the old git almost felt like a job-interview. Socusius Ergalla, the census and excise officer, asked me all sorts of questions; like my starsign, my skills and whatnot. I didn’t have a clue what they wanted with the info but since it was hardly a secret, I just answered them while the Imperial wrote it all down on some sort of form. After the interview, Socusius told me to take my release form (that’s what the form turned out to be) to Selles Gravius where I’d receive orders. I was almost speechless - almost. ‘Orders? Whatfor?’ I remember exclaiming. He just shrugged. Apparantly he hadn’t a clue either. Well, that made two of us so I went to Gravius, hoping he would tell me more.

Halfway to Selles Gravius I got distracted by a hallway behind a sturdy looking wooden door that led to some sort of a basement where I found a variety of items. Some silverware, some bottles containing local booze, an iron dagger and a bag to put in the items I had “found”.
Ofcourse, only then I realised I still had to see that Gravius guy. He would notice me carrying a bag, suspiciously tingling with all sorts of gear a newly released prisoner shouldn’t have yet. I put the bag next to the table where I had found the dagger, checked my release form was still in my pocket and went to see Selles Gravius.

Gravius wasn’t much of a talker and looked like a formidable warrior. In fact; it made me wonder what in Sheogorath’s name he was doing here in this lousy office. When I asked him while handing him the form he almost bit off my head saying it was none of my busines and unpatiently snatched the release form from my hands. He glimpsed me over for a while with one eyebrow raised and ordered me to wait for a moment while he looked up some documents I was going to need. A few moments later he handed me a letter, some gold I quickly pocketed and a mysterious package for a certain Caius Cosades in Balmora, who-ever that may be. I figured I’d find out soon enough and didn’t ask any more questions.

Having been through that, - what I still consider a bureaucratical ordeal - as I went to retrieve my bag, I suddenly remembered there was a rainbarrel outside I hadn’t looked into. I had little gold and a dagger but no water, no food, no nothing so anything I could find would be useful and most of all; for free.
Turned out it only contained a ring with some engraving. Unfortunately I couldn’t make out what it was saying so I put it in my pocket, again wandered through the offices with an air like nothing was out of the ordinary, fetched the bag and made my way into Seyda Neen.
I was my own man again. I was free to go where I wanted.

***

My first steps outside were, well, quite frankly, disappointing. You’d expect a town with the main docks into Vvardenfell would be a big, prospering town. Suffice to say it wasn’t.
As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. Most of the houses were run-down, shabby shacks, trading was limited to one tradinghouse and a swamp surrounded it so flies swarmed the town.
I won’t even mention the smell.

Still, I was in Morrowind, I could finally look up relatives I knew to still live here. My mother had told me plenty of stories of her and her cousin Athyn playing together. I couldn’t remember which town though, but from what I’ve been taught, the Sarethi family is well-known and shouldn’t be too hard to track down.

My sense of pride prevented me running off to find them right away, I could hardly arrive wearing nothing but the raggedy clothes, looking like a bum. I wanted to make a name for myself first. I wanted them to be proud to hail back a long-lost relative
For now, my pride would have to wait, I had more pressing matters, like finding somewhere to stay the night.

While looking around and - metaphorically speaking - sniffing up the atmosphere a Woodelf came upto me grinning child-like. The chap introduced himself as Fargoth and extended his hand which I grabbed. From moment one I knew I was going to like this friendly little fellow. Turned out he had been bullied and his family heirloom, a ring, had been taken from him. He told me it was magical and allowed the wearer to heal himself.

‘Would it have engraving, like this?’ I remember asking him while pulling the ring I had found in the barrel outside the office from my pocket and held it in front of his nose. Fargoth frantically shook his head and told me that was the one.
I was happy to give it back to him. Trinkets are easier to find than good friends and the gods know I could use some friends being a stranger in a strange land.
Singing happily he wandered off but not before he told me he was going to tell his friend Arrille a kind Darkelf had returned his ring to him and how happy he was to have it back.
I simply smiled.

My rumbling stomach made me aware that I needed to find something to eat as well. After some asking around I soon found out Arrille’s establishment was the only tradehouse around. If I wanted to survive any trip outside of town, I needed some sort of protection, I needed armour and a weapon and some supplies so I headed off to Arrille’s.

Politely the High Elf, Arille, greeted me and was quick to realize I must have been the stranger that had given Fargoth his ring back. He confirmed what I suspected, Fargoth was slightly retarded, he had the mind of a child and was almost chronically happy.

I removed the items from the bag I wanted to sell and displayed them on the counter in front of Arrille. We came to an agreement, he would gladly take all the items from my hands and I would buy the chitin cuirass, pauldrons and gauntlets, some food, a couple of useful spells and some scrolls. Even with those purchases I had more gold in my pocket than when I had entered the tradehouse. I had kept the dagger.
Then it hit me, I still didn’t have a real weapon, the iron dagger I had kept was hardly any more use than as a butterknife.
In the excitement I had forgotten to buy a real weapon. I double backed into Arrille’s and bought a chitin bow and some arrows.
Now I was set to face whatever was coming to me in the wild, or at least, that’s what I thought at that time.

I nibbled on a Kwama egg on a loaf of bread and adressed some inhabitants. Some locals mentioned Ergalla Socucius was looking for a missing tax collector, Processus Vitellius.
I wasn’t really feeling like heading back into the Census and Excise office, I had just left the damn thing, I decided to do some looking around myself. How hard would it be to find an Imperial tax collector?

Since it is always a good idea getting at least an idea where someone missing could hang out, I asked around for him. Ofcourse, blabbermouth Fargoth had heard rumours the Dunmer in the watchtower, Thavere Vedrano, was the only being able to stomach him. Apparantly, the guy was somewhat obnoxious. It was a start so I headed off to the lighthouse when in the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of something shiny – a weapon perhaps? – in a hollow stump. It cost me a pair of wet feet and trousers getting the item from the stump but it was well worth it. The enchanted axe would get me quite some gold, I never cared for axes, they are too heavy and too encumbring, so I intended on selling it but it would have to wait until I solved this mystery.

[Olen]

Good stuff. I like the informal fun style. You really catch morrowind to, the sense of exploration and alienness of some things. Nice and smoothly written too.

apparatuses - I found this a bit odd, it is strictly correct so perhaps it's just my accent but I've allways used apparatus as an uncountable noun. Just jarred me a bit really.

Nice stuff, I'm interested to see how joining the legion goes.

[Remko]

Good stuff. I like the informal fun style. You really catch morrowind to, the sense of exploration and alienness of some things. Nice and smoothly written too.

apparatuses - I found this a bit odd, it is strictly correct so perhaps it's just my accent but I've allways used apparatus as an uncountable noun. Just jarred me a bit really.

Nice stuff, I'm interested to see how joining the legion goes.

Thanks you for the praise! I wanted to write a fan-fic that MW fans immediately recognised. I think I've succeeded in that.

AFAIK apparatuses is correct. Saw it spelled like that on the UESP too. Perhaps the "-es" is silent that's why you never noticed


Chapter 4: Legionnaire

Day 17

Two days after my run-in with the ladies at the pond, I arrived in Gnisis and proceeded to the fort. The “fort” was hardly more than a wall into a mountain with some beds and a storage room and it was utterly devoid of soldiers and activity.
I was in the wrong place. I wandered through Gnisis and noticed soldiers entering and exiting a large building. Thinking that must be the barracks, I entered the building and started asking around.
The Legion’s commander, General Darius was to be found in the Madach tradehouse, in the center of town, an Orc legionnaire told me.

I left the barracks and headed off to the tradehouse. The place was bristling with people. I made some short inquiries by just mentioning his name:’Darius?’
‘Downstairs and straight ahead,’ the proprietor told me.

Politely I introduced myself to an Imperial clad in gold-coloured armour, his stature and armour were indication enough to me this would be the Legion’s commander, and stated I wanted to join the legion.
‘Do you think you have what it takes to represent and uphold the honour of the Empire,’ he asked me.
‘Yes sir,’ I firmly answered.
‘Well then, recruit. Report in with Optio Bologra for your uniform and return to me for orders.’
I saluted as I had seen the Legion do in Cyrodiil, wheeled around on my heels and marched to the barracks for my uniform.

‘So, you’re back,’ the same Orc I had spoken to earlier, rumbled in their typical way.
I nodded and said the General had ordered me to get my uniform from Optio Bologra.
‘That would be me, drillmaster Optio Bologra,’ Optio said and handed me an Imperial ring-mail cuirass.
‘Now, get out of here. Report with the General.’
‘Yes drillmaster!’

‘Why are you not in your uniform?’ the General roared.
“I.. I euh..,’ I stumbled over my words. ‘I haven’t got around to it, General Sir,’ was the honest answer.
‘I’ll let it slip this time because you are a new recruit, but from now on you will wear your uniform at all times, understood recruit?’
‘Yes. Sir!’
As quick as I could I changed my light Chitin cuirass for the mail cuirass.
‘Now, are you ready for orders?’

Another yessir later I was briefed upon my mission.
I was to retrieve a land deed from a Dunmer woman who had lost her husband in the local eggmine.
The Legion needed the Zabdas land deed for an additional dock so the town could finally reached by ships and that I shouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
I could see it being useful to the Empire but I couldn’t help but thinking bullying a widow out of her land didn’t seem honourable at all. Had I made a mistake joining the Legion?
I put my prejudice aside and decided to investigate on it first before expressing my opinion.

Widow Zabdas’ house was just west out of town. It didn’t take me long to reach the location.
The area was lovely, it was nearby a river and the surrounding pastures were green and lush. Several Guars were grazing happily on the fields.
The calmness of the area was highly in contrast to my state of mind. I really wasn’t happy with my mission. I swallowed a lump in my throat and knocked on the door.
‘Go away,’ was what I got.
‘Muthsera Zabdas, I wish to speak to you concerning your husband.’
‘Will it take long?’
‘No, not really.’
‘Well, allright then. Come in.’

She opened the door, offered me a seat and asked me to state my purpose for being here.
I explained the Legion had send me and that they wished to acquire her land. The Legion would provide her another place to live. I didn’t know if they would but if there was some decency left, they would, I was sure. Ofcourse I didn’t tell her the General hadn’t mentioned an alternative house at all. There and then, I made up my mind that if the Legion wouldn’t, I’d take care of that myself.

‘First, the Legion murders my husband and then desires my land as well?’ She was furious.
‘Murdered?’ I murmered. The General hadn’t mentioned anything about a murder. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Yes, murdered,’ she yelled. ‘My husband was one of the most experienced miners around. I don’t believe for a second he had an unfortunate accident as that foul beast says. I will never, ever, relinquish my land,’ she spat.
I had obviously overstayed my welcome. I got up, greeted her politely and walked back to the tradehouse with a heavy heart. I was torn between my duty towards the Legion and my own personal feeling of right and wrong. How was I going to explain this to the General?

The General turned out to be a lot more understanding than I could have ever hoped.
When I briefed him with what widow Zabdas had told me, Darius ordered me to investigate the miner’s death and complimented me on being discrete. He could see a bright future for me with the Legion, he concluded and dismissed me.
I can’t express how relieved I was. There was honour in the Legion after all!
The best place to start the investigation would be the eggmine, east of town.
Again, I was investigating a murder.

A short walk later I encountered a Dunmer guard outside the eggmine who said no-one was allowed to enter. When I told the guard I was here on Darius’ orders he unlocked the gate.
‘Just be careful, the Kwama queen has contracted a Blight-disease.’
At that time I had no idea what a Blight-disease was but I knew diseases so I took his advice to heart and thanked him for his warning.
I investigated the entire upper level of the mine and asked the workers what they knew or had seen. None of the workers knew anything and had seen just as much. I suspected one or two to be lying but I couldn’t prove it. There was nothing else to do for me but investigate further.

Had I known Kwama warriors were that territorial, I would’ve been more careful.
As soon as I set foot through the door into the lower level, lightning forks seared passed me, barely missing me. There were too many for me to handle so I raced past them. A bit farther, an Orc legionnaire barked at me to get out of this place and that I had ten seconds to do so. He was leaning leisurely on an axe the size of a small child and muscles, thick as boatropes, were flexing under his green skin. I muttered some excuse I can’t even remember and ran towards a door, leading even further down. Facing this Orc in battle would be my downfall, I was certain.

The moment I stepped through that door, I froze. An apparition, nearly transparant, floated above an underground river. I readied my sword and prepared for battle.
Slowly, the ghostly figure floated towards me but not in a threatening way at all.
From experience, I knew ghosts never came close, they kept their distance and flung nasty spells to you. This one didn’t. Instead, he started talking.

‘Have no fear, I won’t harm you. Listen to my tale and do as you will afterwards.’
I nodded briefly in agreement and the ghost continued:’My name is ….Zabdas, I was a miner here untill ill fate came upon me. A quarrel with a guard was my downfall.
The murderer’s axe is still lying with my broken body, proof that I was struck down innocently. Retrieve this axe, and let justice prevail so my weary soul can finally find peace.’ Upon his last words, the apparition moved to the side and pointed towards the underground river. I followed his lead an peered into the river. Underneath the surface I could see a corpse and an axe. Sofar, the ghost had spoken the truth.

It was too deep to dive into with my armour on, the weight would surely drag me drown and I’d die a horrible death.
To prevent such a gruesome fate, I undressed and left all my gear on the embankment and dove in to retrieve the axe. While I was under, I checked the corpse for proof as well. I didn’t find much although in the victim’s midsection an axe-wide wide gaping wound was a sign he had been struck down with an axe. Judging the depth of the wound, he had been struck hard. I suspected the poor fellow had died instantly.
The words the widow Zabdas had spoken arose violently.
‘As that foul beast says,’ she had concluded her rant. Had she meant the Orc in the other room?

Having found the proof I needed I scurried back to the tradehouse, past the ill-tempered Orc and the even worse tempered Kwama warriors.
‘This is Lugrub gro-Ogdum’s axe allright.’ The corners of Darius’ mouth turned downwards in a sad grimace.
‘How could he have betrayed the Legion? He is one of my finest,’ he murmured in a melancholic monologue.
Lifting his head he said:’Recruit, you will have to execute the traitor but do try to find out why he has betrayed his duty first.’
‘Yes Sir!’ I saluted and marched out his office without displaying any of my doubts about the mission I had received. How was I, a lowly recruit, going to defeat a highly revered legionnaire and one of the Legion’s finest warriors? Once more I had doubts about my choice joining the Legion. I needed to think this all through. In my own time. Hoping it wouldn’t be considered desertion, I left Madach tradehouse and Gnisis. I had enough of orders for a while.

This post has been edited by Remko: Mar 24 2010, 12:21 PM