Haa-Rei the Marsh Ranger Options

[hazmick]

Chapter 1.0

I ran from the Merchants Inn as fast as I could. Holding tight to the precious bounty I had wrapped in cloth, ignoring the angry shouts behind me. I dipped into an empty side street and paused to look around before examining my prize, a large loaf of bread covered in melted cheese. Deeh would not believe that I had stolen some food without his help, I couldn't wait to get back to Leyawiin and tell him.

The bread was warm out of the oven and tasted delicious as I hungrily crammed it into my mouth. Before I could finish, I heard a rattle of armour and a wall of iron in the shape of a legionnaire crashed down the alley towards me. My hand found the hilt of my dagger but I decided against fighting this particular soldier. If only I had a bow.

“Stop right there pondscum!” his voice was like thunder and echoed about the grubby walls surrounding me. The only exit was behind me. I made a run for it but the soldier was too fast and grabbed my arm in a bone breaking grip.

“I assume you don’t have 5 septims?” This time his voice was lower but still sounded loud in the cramped alleyway.

I quickly swallowed the bread in my mouth, “I…no,” my mouth was dry and my voice croaked, if I was a man or mer my face would be bright red with embarrassment and fear.

“Come with me,” The soldier secured the irons tightly on my thin wrists, cutting off the circulation. Minutes later we arrived at the imperial prison, it’s walls were darker than those of the other city districts and corpses in various states of decay hung from atop it’s large spire.

Once inside I was lead down a short tunnel, light seemed to fear this place as it grew darker and darker the deeper we descended. One of the rusty cell doors was open, I assumed this was mine.

Sure enough on reaching the cell, an iron clad hand grabbed me by the neck and pulled me closer to the soldier.

“ I hope you rot, criminal scum,” His voice was a low growl with an edge of disgust which most people had when talking to me and the other beggars. The soldier threw me into the cell, my head colliding with something hard. Everything went dark.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Aug 17 2010, 03:56 PM

[hazmick]

@ All: thanks for reading, enjoy.

Chapter 1.1


I awoke to the smell of mould and decay. My head felt thick and my left temple throbbed from where I’d collided with what appeared to be a table. I was still wearing my sack cloth pants and shirt. The prison was kind enough to give me some shoes.

Sitting up slowly, I looked around. The walls were made of dark, grimy stone. The floor was of a similar material and had patches of straw here and there, presumably for use as a toilet. The door was made of thick iron bars and there was a small window high up on the wall opposite the door. It did nothing to clear the air and only a small amount of light made it through. Rusty chains hung from the ceiling to my right and bones were scattered on the floor to my left.

I stood up slowly, my legs were shaking as I crossed the small room and sat down on the stool, there was a jug and cup on the table in front of the stool but the water looked as stale as the rest of the room. I noticed some blood on the corner of the table and raised my hand to check my head wound, there was dry blood attempting to form a scab but other than that I was in top shape.

My eyes drifted across the hall from my cell. A white haired Dunmer man stood in the shadows

“Hey lizard, it must break your heart to be so close to the water, knowing that you’ll never get to swim again…” A smirk played across his thin lips.

“What do you mean?” I replied, trying to sound brave.

The Dunmer continued, “…sometimes when they let us in the yard, you can hear the sounds from the lake. The boats, the gulls…”

I didn’t reply but he carried on talking, his voice sounded more menacing, “You’ll never get to swim again, Argonian. Don’t worry though, you’ll be dead soon enough.” He laughed as he stepped back into the shadows. A cold shiver ran up my spine.

The sounds of jangling keys and armour reached my ears. It was coming from the steps outside my cell.

My mind raced at my oncoming death, what horrors might await me at the hands of the merciless guards. Perhaps the Dunmer was right and I’d never swim again.

Three soldiers in heavy armour reached the bottom of the steps; they were surrounding an old man in a rich looking robe.

One of the soldiers reached my cell. A female Breton with pale skin and brown eyes, she spoke with authority to the other soldiers.

“What’s this prisoner doing here, this cell is supposed to be off limits.”

Another soldier stepped forward to answer, “Must have been a mix up with the watch, I…I…”

“Never mind, get that gate open.” The Breton spoke again, this time in a hurried tone.

I watched as the gate swung open and the soldiers stepped into my cell. The Breton woman walked to the side of my bed and pressed a stone on the wall. The bricks swung back, revealing a dark passageway.

The old man that the soldiers were protecting stepped forward to talk to me. His shoulder length hair was grey and flecked with white. His creased face looked tired but his blue eyes were alert and watchful.

“You, I’ve seen you. You were the one from my dreams. Then the stars were right and this is the day.” His voice was soft yet had an edge of power. “My blades are leading me out of the city using a secret escape route. By chance, that route leads through your cell.”

“Who are you?” I asked, trying to keep eye contact.

“I am your emperor, Uriel Septim. I serve Tamriel as her ruler, by the grace of the nine.” His eyes sparkled and he stood up straight, showing a large red stone set into a gold frame. The Amulet of Kings! He really was the Emperor.

“Come on sire, we must keep moving.” The Breton woman placed her hand on the Emperor’s arm, leading him through the hole in the wall.

The remaining soldiers followed the Emperor and the Breton into the passageway, leaving me alone in my cell.

Taking a last look at the mould and rot, I quickly followed them down the passageway. The earthy tunnel soon gave way to a room of white stone, dust and cobwebs covered every surface. The sound of fighting came from a neighbouring room. I carefully headed down the small stone steps.

I emerged into a large room that was similar to the first but with two sets of steps. Several bodies littered the floor, people dressed in red robes and hoods. One body stood out from the rest, the Breton woman.

The Emperor and his two remaining guards were at the bottom of the steps, heading through a small wooden door.

When I caught up with them, one of the guards turned to me, he was a Redguard. "Stay here prisoner, don't try to follow us." His voice was kind, yet strong. I decided not to argue as the group passed through the door, I heard it lock behind them. Great, I was stuck.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Aug 14 2010, 05:18 PM