Light through Darkness, You asked for it, so here you go. Options

[Thomas Kaira]

It's getting close to Christmas, and I'll be away on Holiday to New York for a few days, so I decided to post this now so that you know I am at work. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Black and White

The suffocating darkness was broken only by the soft blue glows of unnaturally luminescent crystals. The high vaulted ceilings may have leant a feeling of grandeur before, but now felt strangely claustrophobic, as if the walls would close in and crush you at any moment. I was gliding softly through the blackness, guided only by the winking blue lights, following them through what seemed a maze of corridors and passageways.

Suddenly, the walls opened, and in front of me stood a grand chamber, it would have been spectacular had it not been so sinister. The entire chamber was bathed in red light, and strange, black figures were moving about, neither knowing nor caring where their feet carried them. In the center stood a high raised platform, and there another figure stood, emblazoned in armor that seemed sucked the light in from around him, and I was moving towards him. Try as I might, I could not fight the savage need to know whom this man was. I wanted to cry out, scream for help, but my tongue had become iron.

Closer…closer…ever closer I inched, feeling the icy metal flood to my limbs. The figure turned to face me, his eyes glowed a fiery red…


----



Ice cold sweat drenched my face as my head soared from my pillow, my breathing shallow and ragged. Feeling something in my hand, I looked down to see my steel dagger in my hand… how did it get there? Did I pull it out of my pack in my slumber?

I dropped the dagger to the floor, returning my head to the pillow. All a dream, I thought, just a dream, another dream. Calm down Derelas, it’s nothing to worry about. Old news.


----


The Imperial City was only half a day’s journey from Wawnet Inn, as the publican told me over breakfast. Just follow the high street out of town to the Great West Bridge over Lake Rumare, and follow the road from there straight to the gates. It was a lovely clear day outside, and the bridge was not hard to find when I left, the white marble spires framing the road practically burned new holes in my eyes.

The morning bustle was only just beginning as I made my way forth. A balding fisherman was making his way home with his morning catch of some of the biggest Slaughterfish I’ve ever seen. Many of the travelers who slept the night here were gathering their horses and pack mules to continue on to wherever it was they were going. Many others still were filing into the small stores nearby. It was a simple, yet elegant, vista of pastoral harmony.

Forcing my eyes away from the scene, I directed my feet toward the Great Blinding Bridge and made a silent note to thank Y’ffre if I could still see after crossing.

The bridge led to a switchback road up the steep incline of the Imperial Isle, many rocks blocking my view of the city proper. It was just after midday when I finally crested the hill. I was greeted with… more whitewashed walls. It might have been an awe-inspiring sight had I been able to see anything at all, but I ended up having to walk the whole rest of the way with my arm up shielding my eyes because of how brightly polished the marble was. I know this city is supposed to be the shining beacon of the Empire and all, but wow... you think you might be taking this a bit too far? I was quite thankful to finally reach the gates proper, just to be able to see again.

Once I closed distance with the walls, though, the blinding marble gave way to gray granite. Still not to be outdone, the stone was impeccably carved and rose into an imposing Gothic archway housing a raised portcullis and a well-polished bronze gate flanked by two men in flashy steel armor, flaming red feather plumes rising from their helmets… Imperial Legion Centurions.

“Welcome to Cyrodiil City.” One of them voiced to me. They then marched in unison to the great bronze doors and threw them open with an impressive flourish. “Enjoy your stay, citizen.”

I passed through the gates to a scene unlike I’d ever seen before. Instead of the peaceful maritime bustle of Weye, here it was an outright cacophony of voices, footsteps, shrieks, and hoof beats as people large and small jostled this way and that about their daily lives. The huge crowd, from the super-rich in fine linens to the street urchins with no more than stained sack cloth, pattered every which way you could think of past white marble buildings so tall they seemed to wall away the sky. Such a dizzying sight made me begin to wonder if I could ever find the Arcane at all, so I ducked into a shaded back street to pull out my map.

“Looking for something, citizen?” A passing legionary inquired.

“Yes, I’m looking for the Arcane University.” I responded, hoping this guy might be able to make some sense out of this madhouse.

“You’re in Talos Plaza," the legionary told me, indicating a gold sign nearby:

“Talos Plaza. IMPERIVM AD VITAM AETERNAM”

“Just follow Septim Way through Talos Plaza, take a right on Green Emperor Way, follow it around until you reach Stendarr Loop, and it will take you straight to the University.”

Follow who-da, take a right on what-da until I reach where-da? Thankfully, the guard noticed my blank look and handed me a new map, this time of the city itself, and noted everything he told me on it.

“Thanks.”

“We’re here to serve.” The guard brought two fingers to his helmet in salute before clanking away. I started to wonder why guards weren’t this helpful all the time, given my experience at the customs office on my way in from Valenwood, but soon did a double take. This was the Imperial City, after all. The Empire does have an image to maintain.

It took another hour just to find Green Emperor Way. I got lost twice in the crowds and at one point found myself filing my way down Septim Ave. rather than Septim Way, causing me to mumble curses under my breath for the Empire’s shameless lack of originality as I turned back. I eventually fought my way through the chaos of Talos Plaza, and the astounding noise of the crowd died instantly as I crossed the threshold of Green Emperor Way, giving way to a subdued, formal silence, and I felt a strange, liquid-like sensation pass over my skin, probably a spell to help keep the noise out.

“Please show your respect for the Imperial Palace by keeping your voice down.” A guard in blazing white armor decorated with dragons told me as I entered, and I joined the now near-silent crowd making their way along the road. Most of the time my view of White Gold Tower was blocked by the many high-rising buildings, mostly fine hotels and apartments for the city’s wealthiest citizens surrounding the Palace Road, but every so often I would pass a colossal iron gate barring the way to the Palace proper, and was able to steal a glance of the immense structure beyond the veil. It seemed to rise forever towards the heavens, perhaps ascending to touch the face of Aetherius itself, the marble walls were so well polished and maintained it was no wonder I was blinded on my way in, and almost completely blocked by the rest of the city, I could make out the royal graves. Such a sight, already breathtaking from here, must inspire awe when seen from outside the walls; a way of saying: “We are the most powerful society in this land today. To challenge us is to challenge the will of the Nine themselves.”

I felt myself smiling faintly as I turned onto Stendarr Loop.


----


Two shrouded figures crested a flight of stairs bathed in crimson light, where another shadowy figure sat upon a throne of black stone signaled them halt. They obeyed, and then sunk into a low bow.

“What news?” His voice rang with command as he spoke.

“Derelas just arrived yesterday.”

“And now?”

“He left for the Imperial City this morning.”

The cloaked man frowned, this might complicate things a bit; our kind is not welcome there. But no matter, he won’t stay forever.

“What else did you discover?”

“He’s searching for them, and he wants the Mages Guild’s help.”

Mages Guild? The shadowed man smiled, his red eyes lit aflame with amusement at the very idea. The Mages were fools. They had no idea what they were allowing to happen under their very noses. To think they could keep us at bay locked away like dogs. They would be in for a rude awakening, and soon.

“Good. Keep an eye on him. I want to know the instant he leaves.”

“As you wish, Lord.”

The two shrouded figures bowed again, then turned to leave themselves. The red-eyed man smiled to himself. Soon the pieces would be in place. The 433rd Year of the Third Era would soon become forever etched in history.

This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Dec 31 2010, 06:44 AM

[Thomas Kaira]

@naughty haute: The main reason I skimmed over the quest in the fic is the same reason I skimmed over it in the game. How could I possibly explain fishing in the form of waving a sharp metal stick at a swimming mouth of teeth while underwater? The quest made absolutely no sense at all, therefore I hook into it, I make it done, I briefly explain how, and that's that.

@mALX: Kind words indeed! Thank you for that!

@SubRosa: Better make sure Pappy isn't reading this, then.
As for your nit, there was never supposed to be a comma in that sentence, so I've reworded it slightly to make that seem more apparent.

@TheOtherRick: Thank you.

@Acadian: How would you like my personal Osso Bucco recipe? (sent you a PM). Quill-canary is my specialty, after all!

@all: as you may have noticed, now that I have set up the main characters and made you like them, things are getting darker now. This will continue, as this story is planned to follow a basic three-act arc.

next:We arrive at the Cheydinhal guild, and deal with a certain corrupted magister...

Chapter 3-3: Falcar

“Yes, is there some astoundingly important reason for you to waste my time, Associate?”

The venom in the Altmer’s voice was palpable. I had finally arrived in Cheydinhal after four more days on the road. I was tired, my feet ached, and so did my back from lugging this rucksack around. The last thing I needed right now was another Altmer so full of himself that if he took one more breath of hot air he’d be floating.

“Sorry to intrude, Magister, I just wanted to ask if you have any Recommendation tasks available,” I replied, struggling to keep my bubbling temper under control.

“You?” The Magister scoffed, “If I were to give Recommendations to just anyone, some worthless Associate like yourself could go and blow up the Arena! What makes you think you’re worthy of a recommendation from me?” His words stung, and I now found myself fighting a strong urge to put my fist into his overbearing face.

“Falcar!” A voice cried out indignantly, carrying the telltale hiss of Argonian. The Altmer in front of me then shut his eyes tightly in exasperation.

“Fine,” He then answered, opening his eyes, “because Deetsan is so insistent, I might have something for you. I need you to go round the back of the guild hall and retrieve a ring of mine from inside the well.”

“How did it get down there?” I asked.

“You are talking when I am talking, Associate; do I look like I have time to deal with your insipid queries? Just bring that ring back, and I’ll consider your request.”

Why did I find that so hard to believe? Was it the excessively self-righteous attitude, or perhaps that he seemed to treat everyone around him as a noble would a beggar? It was hard for me to tell, but what I did know was that I didn’t last five minutes with this guy without coming to hate his guts. Perhaps he would warm up in the end, though, like Teekeus did? I figured it was worth a shot.

“Ah, you’re learning, good,” Falcar’s gratingly proud voice shook me out of my thoughts. Apparently he had confused my silence for assent, which only served to make me dislike him even more. “Now, since Deetsan seems to have taken a fancy to you, she’ll provide you with whatever assistance you may need. Now leave me be, I have far more important things to do than chat with you right now.” With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared through the basement door.

Deetsan, as it turned out, was indeed Argonian. She had a look in her eyes I could just make out to be concern, and perhaps a fleck of anger, as I walked over to the small desk she was sitting at.

“I’m sorry you had to be welcomed to our guild that way, Associate. Falcar can be quite unfriendly to our newer members at times,” she explained to me, gesturing to a chair beside her.

“I noticed,” I replied, taking the empty seat before continuing, “he said you’d be able to help me with his task.”

“It depends on what he told you to do,” Deetsan answered. I proceeded to explain his request.

“…so, I don’t really know why he thinks I would need any help for that, but…”

“Stop,” Deetsan’s hissing voice broke the air like a cracking whip, but it was not a low hiss of anger… it was high-pitched. Was that fear? “Don’t tell me he gave you the same task he gave Vidkun!”

“What? What happened to Vidkin?” I asked. This was getting more and more ominous with every passing minute. When I first entered the guild hall the tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Deetsan also looked genuinely afraid in the brief glance I caught of her after her outburst over Falcar’s bullying me. I already knew very well that he preferred the iron fist approach to running things, but there was something else to him, something that made my neck hairs stand on end whenever I looked at him.

“Nobody knows,” Deetsan replied to my question, “All we do know is that Falcar asked him to do the same thing he just asked you to do, and we never saw him again.”

“So I take it I should be extra careful when investigating that well?”

“No, I’m suggesting you don’t do anything, at least, not until I’ve spoken to Falcar,” Deetsan replied heatedly. “The risk to your life is too great.”

I had to admit, she had a point. If the task I had now resulted in the disappearance of another mage, it might not be a very good idea to just jump into that well and go searching for the ring.

“Hang on…” Deetsan suddenly chimed, “let me see that ring on your finger.”

“What, this?” I asked pulling off the silver ring Aelwin gave me, “It was a gift from a fisherman down the way of Weye. What’s so important about it?”

Deetsan didn’t reply immediately, she was deeply concentrated on the ring… which I noticed was now glowing. There must be more to the thing than being just a simple memento. When Deetsan finally looked back up at me, she wore an expression of shocked amazement.

“Why didn’t you tell me this ring allows you to breathe underwater?” She inquired indignantly.

“Seriously? I didn’t know anything about that, how did you find out?”

“I’m Argonian, I know my water breathing quite well,” Deetsan replied, handing the ring back to me. “Well, this changes everything. I’m going to go have a chat with Falcar over how he treated you. Since there’s no danger to you down in that well anymore, I’d like you to go down there and investigate.” She then reached into her pocket, pulled a small key off of a key ring, and handed it to me. “If you find the ring, please bring it back, and if you find Vidkun…” she turned away, a very uneasy look in her eye, “… just let me know, okay?”




----




Okay, Deetsan, just be calm, keep a straight head, and everything will be fine… I think.

Deetsan had pondered everything she wished to say down to the last word on her way downstairs, so why did she now find it so difficult to knock on his door? Every time she tried to stand up to him, her courage faltered every single time she reached this very spot, and it was now, too.

Stay calm, keep your scales straight.

But what will he do to me when he finds out what I want to say? It wouldn’t be the first time he exploded, and there’s no doubt he will now.

Courage, Deetsan, remember courage. Your conviction cannot be shattered by his fists.

Okay, I’m ready now, she thought. She moved her fist over the door, and rapped it thrice.

“I do hope this is important enough to be worth your interruption…” Falcar’s voice rang through the cracks in the wooden paneling of the doorframe as his footsteps grew closer. The force with which he threw it open nearly made her flinch, but Deetsan quickly recovered herself.

“Oh, it’s you,” Falcar stated bluntly, but looking no less irritated, “well, what is it?”

“You treated that poor Associate back there very roughly, just now,” Deetsan began, hoping to the Gods that he would not notice the rehearsed quality of her voice.

“So?” Falcar countered, “They need to be set off on the right foot, you know. Being a member of this guild is no small matter.”

“Yes, but…” Deetsan tried to begin, but Falcar quickly cut her off.

“That is all,” Falcar concluded, waving his hand in dismissal. “If this is all you wish to discuss, it’s not worth my time.”

“Well then make it worth your time,” Deetsan boldly replied, her voice now a low hiss of anger. “You are driving people away from us with your attitude…” she had a lot more to say at this point, but Falcar quickly cut her off.

“Now you listen here,” he said, his voice rising, “I’m am the Magister here, so what I say goes! I don’t give scamp’s claw what you think, I’ll run this place the way I see fit; clear?!”

“Well, turns out I do have a problem with your leadership,” Deetsan argued back, abandoning pretence and allowing the many years of seething hatred for this overbearing dictator to come forth, “Why is it you punish anyone who sets one toe out of line as severely as you do?! Why do you persistently ignore the needs of our lesser members, who are the very life blood of this guild?!”

“BE SILENT!” Falcar roared, “I will not tolerate such behavior under my watch! Leave now, and hope I don’t have you thrown out of this guild for good!”

“You should have reported Vidkun’s disappearance to the council, you monster,” Deetsan found her voice was shaking now, “I should’ve turned you in the moment you tried to pretend it never happened.”

Falcar proceeded to turn very red. “Oh, I see…” Falcar began, his voice crackling with electricity, “…so you are going play it that way, then.”

He then silently walked up to Deetsan… and slammed his fist into her chest.

“YOU… INSOLENT… LITTLE… TADPOLE!” He raged, accenting every word with as strong a punch as he could muster. “You have no idea what you are getting yourself into! Your precious Guild will not stand to see the light of day without me! You’re days are numbered, you know!”

He then threw the winded and utterly shocked Argonian to the ground, “You have no idea what you’ve just unleashed, mark my words!” With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He left Deetsan on the floor clutching her stomach, breathing heavily, and her face shining with tears.

This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Feb 6 2011, 05:11 AM