Riden's NEW Journal of Cyrodiil, The new version since my old one got wiped from my computer T_T Options

[DarkZerker]

Um so here I am. I was going to say one month but what the heck, I just started up Oblivion since my Oblivion save file and all my Microsoft Word files were wiped. Thank god I had both my Fallout 3 fan fiction saved on a USB so does my Oblivion ASSASSIN save file.

This is the new Riden Snowe as my new thumbnail and signature suggests. This was actually my first real roleplaying type character. An assassin based off the "Assassin's Creed" games(at least the armor and hidden blade). Since I have better writing skills, it will be better. Bladesong rewrite! Annoying but what the heck.

Chapter One, Corruption is the root of my money.

I looked down at my latest contract given to me by the corrupt Count Regulus of Bravil. Sipping some tea in the local tavern, I readied my weapons. As usual, the target was very paranoid. I couldn't get a good look on the man's face but during one of my stakeouts on a bench nearby, it was clear that he was an Argonian.

I sighed at the Count's racism to beastfolk but shrugged it off, the pay will be amazing. The Argonian started running and I raised an eyebrow.

Behind him were three people in armor flanking him. The Argonian stopped and started talking to them calmly. I didn't get a single word but it was clear what he wanted them to do, Attack anybody following him.

With a grumpy huff, I climbed my way up on the housetops and started following him from above. Even then, I had a few close calls as the man's bodyguards looked up occasionally. I had probably followed him for an hour before the bodyguards left. I got out my secret weapon, the Hidden Blade.

I jumped down a couple feet behind him. As I crept up, the bodyguards started to return. Noticing me, they yelled to the man, "Usheeja! Behind you!" But it was too late. I sank my knife in his throat and laid him down peacefully. I took off running with three very angry bodyguards behind me.

They were pretty determined to kill me. I spent probably a good thirty minutes trying to avoid them before I was boxed into a corner. One of the men swung his battle axe like a madman trying to make contact with me. After the display of madness, I realized that these guards were very unskilled.

Another one with a hammer rushed and came down at me with all his strength. With quick footing, I barely dodged the heavy lump of steel. With the huge power came a long recovery time. Enough for me to slash with my trusty sword, Gwilth. He fell while the other two guards started to question if attacking me was a good idea.

The one with the battle axe charged at me and slashed. Obviously not learning from his comrade, I jumped back and rushed forward with Gwilth. With a thrust, he also fell. The last one with the sword was smart enough to run. Feeling generous, I let him go.

After a small trek through the streets of Bravil, I headed to the castle. The guards immediately stopped me before the Count nodded to let me through. I whispered, "It's done."

The Count nodded and tried not to smile. He grabbed my arm and handed me a pouch with a letter in it. I greedily snatched the pouch and left. When I was safely back at the tavern, I opened the pouch. Inside was a huge pile of gold and a letter sitting on top of the mound. I grabbed the letter and started to read it.

Dear Riden Snowe,
I'm very happy to hear word of your success. I have no more contracts for you and the Dark Brotherhood is after my head since I'm contracting a rogue assassin instead of them. If you have any friends, I'll be more than willing to pay you an extra five hundred gold to bring them here to guard me. Oh and have fun with the 1000 gold I gave you.

Your client, Count Terentius

I smiled at the gold and threw out the letter to keep the "where did you get that gold" question a mystery. The gold weighed me down a bit but it didn't stop me from packing up my weapons and venturing back to the Imperial City, my base of operations.
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Yeah yeah, Kinda redundant and a bit short. Not to mention that the whole "Imperial City" thing was from my last story.

My roleplaying is pretty standard when it comes to the first chapter of my story or in game. I rushed QUITE A BIT. Took me a good 20 minutes to finish off this. Not long...

Remember to Read and Review. R&R

[DarkZerker]

Yes, I will try to incorporate “emotion” into my next few chapters. So this chapter follows up after Riden gets tended to by Tess. Thanks to Acadian and yes even though I spent three hours on my last chapter, it was heavily rushed on the editing part.
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Chapter 4, Flashbacks and a Dinner Date.
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I awoke on a bed that seemed like it wasn’t tended to for years. Tess stared down at me with eyes that conveyed sincere regret and worry. She started to pace around the shack, mumbling to herself.

I tried to get up but some intoxicating force pulled me back down. As my knees hit the floor, Tess ran to my aid. She pulled me up to my feet and sat me down on her bed. She looked very anxious for something.

She finally spoke after a minute of silence, “So how are you?” She asked casually.

“Just dandy…feels like I’ve been drinking fifty bottles of wine.” I mumbled.

Tess simply smiled at me, “Well I’ve been giving you potions I got from an alchemist who passed through here a couple weeks ago. But he suddenly disappeared.”

‘Alchemist…Alchemist…’ I thought, thinking about a traveling alchemist who the Bravil count wanted dead.
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Two Weeks ago. Time travel for the win!
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“Ah yes, Riden Snowe…the ‘famed’ assassin, please come into my magnificent castle,” the Count of Bravil said.

I walked into what really was a magnificent castle. The walls were covered with very fine silk and paintings of armors, previous counts, and even the slum town of Bravil. It seemed that the castle was the only thing that was remotely classy in Bravil.

Most of the guards knelt in the presence of the count but I simply kept my posture straight. The count looked at a steward and he left the room. When he came back, the steward planted a small stool in front of the throne.

I was guessing it was for me and I planted myself on the stool. The Count of Bravil was a notorious criminal but he said he was going to pay well for my “services” to Bravil.

He extended his hand and I shook it, “My name is Regulus Terentius. I’ve called you here because of your ability to make people…disappear.”

The count had a smug look on his face that made me uneasy but I shrugged it off, thinking about the possible payoff. I gestured for him to continue and the old Imperial kept talking, “I have an alchemist friend who didn’t give his end of a deal we had. He’s traveling to the Imperial City right now and passing a small town of Aleswell. Deal with it and you get yourself 2500 gold.”

I nodded, “Do you have any more information?”

The count shook his head, “Sadly I don’t. But there’s somebody who used to be the alchemist’s business partner who lives here in this nice town. I believe he’s a very old Bosmer merchant named Nordinor.”

Blind rage came to me when he mentioned Nordinor but I quickly shook it away.

I shook his hand once again, “You’ll see results in three days.”

The count clapped his hands like a small child, “Very good assassin! You will be under full protection from my guards so don’t worry about getting arrested in Bravil.”

I nodded and gave him a quick “thanks” before leaving the castle of Bravil. As I walked down the path from the castle, the painting of Bravil in the castle came to mind. The streets were just paths of dirt and manure, the shacks were either overgrown, destroyed, or both, and the whole place was full of diseased rats and mice. The only safe places were the Mages Guild and the castle it seemed.

I tried my best to hide my inner disgust of this wretched town but obviously, it still showed as I saw the townsfolk giving me stares. A beggar approached me and started to bug me about how he has no family or something. I really wasn’t paying any attention, the only thing that went through my mind was, ‘Happy thoughts…happy thoughts. Don’t attract too much attention…’

I grabbed and threw the diseased Imperial into a small rock nearby. He tried to crawl away but I was too fast for the beggar. In an instant, I put my dagger to his throat and whispered clearly, “Tell me where Nordinor is…and I might not kill you.”

The beggar looked straight at me with fear, “He’s…out near the stables…” he stuttered.

I pushed him away and ran as fast as I could, driven by the promise of gold but more importantly, some payback for Nordinor.

Sure enough, the Bosmer merchant was there, tending to his horse. I opened the stable doors and approached him. I drew Gwilth and kicked him hard in the back. Nordinor turned back, “What in Oblivion was that for?!” He screamed.

I pointed the light blue blade at Nordinor, “I guess you don’t remember me do you?” I asked calmly, “You know, the man you screwed over during the business deal with Sam?”

Nordinor started crawling back only to be stopped by a tall white horse. He stuttered out a response, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I mockingly laughed, “Well you don’t do you? Well I can refresh your memory real well.”

With a hard right hook, Nordinor fell to the ground. He spat out a glob of blood and stared at me with a glare like the wrath of a god. He came at me with a small kitchen knife, slashing away like it was a toy.

I easily parried it and kicked him hard in the gut, “So now then, on to business. I’m here in search of a traveling alchemist you did business with.”

Nordinor was a coward at heart and he showed his true colors immediately by selling out his former business partner, “He travels through Bravil every week. He’s coming to Bravil today…in three hours.”

I nodded and swiftly kicked Nordinor in the face, knocking him out. Sitting near the stables for three hours was no easy task but it was worth it when a Dumner rode into the city. The black cloaked Dumner was accompanied by a single guard wearing full ebony armor.

I followed the caravan into the city walls. The guards started whispering to each other when I walked in. Waiting for a perfect opportunity, I scaled up some shacks with ease due to Bravils architecture supporting stairs to roofs.

The alchemist sat down and pulled out some potions. When he pulled it out, the guard following him was occupied with chatting to a couple Bosmer girls. I struck like thunder.

Plunging my hidden blade deep within the alchemist, I spoke to his dying figure in whisper, “Know that I do not hate you, I do this out of my own survival. Let your gods take you into their loving embrace when you pass on.”

I laid his lifeless carcass on the ground peacefully while planting a small rose to give respect to the dead. The guard took notice immediately and lunged. Not wanting another confrontation, I ran for it.

After a lengthy chase through the grimy streets of Bravil, I was safely at the castle. The Count was the jolliest old man I’ve ever seen when I returned. He spoke excitedly, “So is he dead? Well is he?”

I nodded and held out my hand for payment. The Count dropped a medium sized pouch. I peered inside to see a mass of glimmering gold coins.
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Present Time
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I remembered the whole scene. The alchemist I killed has saved my life…quite ironic. Tess eyed me with concern, “Riden? You okay?”

I nodded, “Yeah…and I think you might have guessed it but Jongeron is dead.”

She sighed, “Yes…I feared it was the truth after you came in with a horrible wound. I have to confess, you’re the most selfless and courageous man I’ve ever met….sorry. I know you’re still intoxicated from the ordeal with the creature and here I am rambling in front of you…”

I cut her off, “No it’s fine.”

Tess sat down next to me, “You’ve been there for me the moment I met you, I don’t know why you do this, I mean you’re a mercenary right?”

I nodded and she continued, “I don’t know why you helped me without once asking me for any reward. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I want to get to know you better Riden.”

I smirked a little and went back to my neutral expression, “I’d like to get to know you a little better Tess.”

It seemed that was the right response. Tess immediately leapt up from her bed, “How about dinner, you and I?” She suggested.

“That would be lovely.” I said, “Will 9:00PM work for you Tess?”

She nodded and said, “Great! I’ll close up shop early today.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Today? How long was I out?”

“Just one day. Don’t worry; I’ve been taking good care of you while you were out cold.”

I thanked her and tried to head out. Tess blocked me and gently pushed me back on the bed, “No…you’re not fully healed and I don’t want you getting out there and getting killed,” she said, then she put on a sly smile, “Besides, I need some company you know.”

I nodded and took a quick look at my gear which was neatly placed near a row of cupboards and shelves near the back of the shack. Tess took a quick notice at my gear and said, “Never seen a mercenary wear gear like that. What company do you belong to?”

I sighed, thinking if I should really reveal my true profession to her. I decided to just play along, “I’m not in any company. I take contracts from anybody who has the money.”

She just replied with an “oh” and got to work with some meat. The chopping of the meat and the occasional sounds coming from Aleswell started to drive me crazy. I hated being cooped up in a confined space and the small insignificant sounds made it even worse.

Three hours passed and no end to the sounds came. Tess came over to my bed rest and proudly announced, “The food's done! We’ve got just an hour left until it’s all cooked and ready to eat.”

“Tess, I do have a question to ask you. I’m sorry if this offends you but you don’t look like a shopkeeper…” I said.

She had a big grin on her face and then giggled, “Well you aren’t the first person to say that. It’s true…running a shop felt very different and harder than I imagined.”

“What did you do before?” I asked.

She seemed genuinely irritated by the question. “Does it matter?” She snapped.

“I meant no offense Tess, just asking.” I muttered.

She looked a little saddened and just smiled through it, “Sorry…I just don’t want to talk about it.”

I nodded and started to lie down on the bed. I felt myself drifting off into sleep until a loud bashing sound was heard. Tess looked as scared as ever and I felt myself instinctively limping to my gear.

I grabbed my Royal Dagger. As the sounds of bashing started to increase in frequency, I gripped the hilt of the steel dagger. The bashing stopped and an eerie silence fell upon the cabin. Then the door flew open and another Orc, much like the one that nearly killed me appeared with a large war hammer.

Tess was frozen with fear and the Orc exploited it. It hit her straight in the arm and then started pummeling her. I mustered all the strength I could and plunged my dagger, “Hope you burn in hell…” I whispered to the dying Orc.

Then, three Imperial Legion foresters also burst in. All of them noticed me instantly and pulled their bows on me while I snatched Gwilth to attack. "Assassin!" One of them shouted.

All of them wore basic chainmail and had flimsy wooden bows but I knew these foresters are amazingly accurate with bows. I sheathed my sword and explained what happened with the Orc.

The foresters understood and one approached me, “Listen, we can get your friend some help but we need your help in clearing this town of these abominations.”

I smiled and worked my way out of Tess’ shack into the center of the village. The forester who approached me before started to bark out orders, “Alright men, we need to purge this city of these monsters, me and the assassin will go to the tavern while you two go to the houses,” he announced.

“Let’s do this…”
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This was in reality the longest chapter as of right now. I started this chapter yesterday night and finished it off this morning. Oh and before anybody says anything, obviously the foresters would notice an assassin. After all, they are trackers.

Bladesong rewrite? Well I guess, I didn't spend a lot of time editing this and instead spent more time refining it the first time through.

This post has been edited by DarkZerker: Jul 24 2010, 10:55 PM