Lissa Cristenn: The Redguard Archress Options

[TrisRed]

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the tale of Lissa Cristenn! We shall start with Volume One of her fabulously, as Lissa would say 'awesome-sauce' tale!

But first, a quick introduction to my Redguard Archress.

* * *

For reference, a biography of Lissa is on my profile, but here is a quick intro for new readers

Lissa is a 19 year old Redguard Archress born and raised in the city of Anvil, Cyrodiil.
She is a thrill seeking, tenacious girl with a heart of gold.
She loves her friends and family and adores travelling.

I hope you enjoy reading of her adventures as I have enjoyed writing about them

___

CONTENTS

NOTE: The prologue starts beneath the table of contents. Quick links to the chapters are provided in the contents.

Volume One - Family

Prologue
Chapter One - Hammerfell
Chapter Two - Prison Break
Chapter Three - The Imperial City
Chapter Four - Road to Chorrol
Chapter Five - Reunions
Chapter Six - GOC: Origins
Chapter Seven - We're off to see Oleta!
Chapter Eight - Kvatch
Chapter Nine - Detour
Chapter Ten - Art Attack!
Chapter Eleven - The Tale of Sir Mazoga

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VOLUME ONE - FAMILY

1. Prologue ~ Part 1

Lissa. Get up.

Lissa, You need to get up now!

“LISSA!”

My eyes pried themselves open. The sun was shining through the window. Another sunny day in Anvil. Maelona was standing by my bed, her hands on her hips.

“Do you realise how long I’ve been calling you for?” Maelona moaned.

She hovered over me, grabbed my duvet and pulled it off the bed, leaving my body vulnerable to the cold air.

“You have to get up. Mother wants you to meet her at the Mages Guild before you go and help Dad with the horses.”

“But I had a lesson yesterday. Come on…” I complained, "one lesson a week is bad enough!"

Maelona looked at me, sincerity in her eyes. She sat on my bed, looking me straight in the eyes.

Ooh, she’s serious now…

“Look, Liss, You know what Mother’s like. You know what you want to do in life and that’s good. But Mother wants you to be safe.”

I groaned before making a suggestion to my stubborn older sister.

“Well, you go and I’ll just copy your notes.” I smiled at her, who, after a short space of time had passed, smiled back.

“Come on Sis, the sooner you get it done the sooner you can go and help dad,” she reminded me.

Hmm… suddenly my lessons look all shiny and new!

Even though tending to the horses was not the most thrilling activity, I got to spend some personal time with my dad, which hardly ever happens due to him being away a lot.

Lesson time, go go go!

I rose out of my bed and put on some clothes. All I could find was a blue shirt and a pair of breeches. Not very complimentary, but it was better than going in my pyjamas; even if my pyjamas were ridiculously cute!

“There’s a good girl,” praised Maelona, “now hurry to the Guild because I’ve got to meet Gogan.”

Ooooh, Gogan eh?

“Maelona has a boyfriend!” I teased, puckering my lips to mimic kissing.

She playfully shoved my shoulder to cease my teasing, laughing as she did so,

“Don’t be mean!” she said, “and he’s NOT my boyfriend!”

“Yet…” I replied under my breath, but purposefully loud enough for Maelona to hear it.

Maelona looked at me, hands on her hips, trying to think of a clever comeback.

“Well what about you and Rhano?” she said, “I’ve seen the way you look at him.”

“Ewww… Rhano?” I said, not disgusted; merely disgraced that she didn’t think of anyone better. “Not in a million years!”

“Oh, really? Shame, because I see sparks there!” Maelona joked, at least, I hoped she was joking.

“Seriously Mae, he’s, like, 16!”

“And?”

“HE’S TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME!” I informed her. “He’s practically ancient!”

“Lissa, I’m only teasing!” Maelona reassured me, “just relax.”

I kinda felt a bit angry at Maelona’s teasing; mainly because I actually did like Rhano. I just got defensive to hide my embarrassment.

“Sorry Mae, I didn’t meant to shout at you.” I apologized.

Maelona looked confused; probably because she didn’t understand why I was apologizing. To be honest, I didn’t either; she was only teasing.

“That’s okay honey,” she said, hugging me. I think she thought she genuinely upset me. “But jokes aside, you need to go.”

“I know,” I told her. We released ourselves from each other's embrace. I kissed Maelona on the cheek. “Meet up after I help Dad with the horses?”

Maelona nodded, whilst smiling.

“Sure thing.”

* * *

“Now, what do we know about draining health?”

I was sat at a desk in the Guild, tears of tiredness streaming down my face. Mother’s lessons were boring. That’s the only word to describe it. She was adamant that I become at least an apprentice in Restoration before I set out on my adventures, But I was only 14. I wasn’t going anywhere just yet.

“Mother, I know all this. To drain health you have to get up real close to the enemy then BAM, health draining goodness.”

“Well, no, you have to touch the enemy to drain its health. Have you even been listening Lissa?”

There was an awkward silence, but I spoke up.

“No.”

“Lissa!”

“I’m sorry Mother, but I just don’t understand why I have to learn so much RIGHT now. I’m not leaving until I’m 21”

“But what about if you run into something before you leave? An ogre? A TROLL! What will you do then?”

“Run like M’aiq I guess…”

“This isn’t a laughing matter, Lissa! You need to know how to take care of yourself!”

I was shocked. I’d never seen mother this angry before.

“Sorry mother, I just…”

“You just what, Lissa? I’m not asking a lot from you, am I?”

“Mother, I-“

She interrupted me before I could finish.

“No more excuses Lissa.” She had tears forming in her delicate eyes. “Why can’t you understand how important this is?”

“I do, Mother, I really do. It’s just… You’re putting too much pressure on me. My little brain can’t handle it. I want to learn, I really, really do but, I just feel like my brains about to go all ka-blooey.”

Mothers eyes slowly turned from angry, to sympathetic. She walked over from the bookshelf and perched next to me. Her hand touched mine.

“I know honey, I’m sorry. It’s just that I worry. I just want you to be completely safe for when you venture out into the world. If I know that I’ve contributed to your safety, I won’t worry as much.”

I felt incredibly guilty after Mother told me this.

Dang, now I feel super bad…

“Oh… sorry Mother. I didn’t know you felt like that. Ok… I wanna keep going.”

“No, Lissa, You’re right. I’m pushing too much on you.” She stood up, walked over to the coat rack and grabbed my coat. “That’s enough for today. Go and see your Father.”

Mother smiled at me. I ran up to her and kissed her on the cheek, grabbed the coat from her hand and headed to the door. Before I had a chance to leave I was grounded to a halt at somebody saying my name.

“Lissa. Are you all done for today?”

It was Carahil, head of the Anvil mages guild; and the nicest Altmer you could ever meet.

“Yeah, mother let me go early!” I said, slightly exited.

“Ah, well it’s about time! To be honest she gets too passionate about her lessons sometimes. I’m glad Oleta has gone easy on you today.”

“Yeah.” I said, I tried to rush away, “see you later!”

“She only wants you to be safe Lissa, do you understand?”

I spoke up, getting more agitated.

I just wanna go!

“Yeah…” I replied. “BYE!”

I headed towards the door, but yet again Carahil had something to say.

“If you ever feel like you need a breather, just come and see me. I’m sure I’ll have something for you to do.” Said Carahil, smiling that kind smile she has.

“Thank you.” I said, sincerely. “I’ve got to go and meet dad now, so…”

A spark of realisation appeared on Carahil’s face.

“OH! I’m terribly sorry! I sometimes do not know when to be quiet. You go! Have fun!”

I nodded, smiled at Carahil and finally left the guild.

Carahil, sometimes I wish you were my… hmm, bad thought.

I tried not to think about what I just thought as I headed to the main gate to Anvil, which led straight to the stables. Dad owned the stables, and the horses we looked after were beautiful.

But I could never afford one of my own...

“LISSA!”

I turned to see Maelona running towards me. “You left this at home.”

She was holding the jade necklace she bought me for my sixth birthday. My most treasured possession.

“Oh, thanks, where’d you find it?”

“Under your pillow. You need to take care of it. It’s magic, you know.” She smiled and handed me the necklace.

“It sure is Mae. I gotta go see Dad. See you later.”

We exchanged hugs and Maelona ran back towards Gogan. They were sitting by the big oak tree opposite the Mages Guild. Maelona spent all her time there. It seemed a bit boring to me. I headed to the main gate to get to the stables when I was stopped yet again by somebody touching my shoulder. I turned to see Rhano behind me, that cute grin on his face.

“Lissa, are you busy?” he asked.

I stared at him. His gorgeous face, his beautiful eyes, his soothing voice, his slim, yet, muscular body…

“…No.” I replied.

“Good, because I need a favour.”

“Yes!” I agreed.

“You don’t even know what it is yet.” Rhano said, smiling.

“Oh… um n-no I don’t do I? Um… haha- what is it?” I asked, nervously.

Brilliant Lissa, made a fool of yourself!

“Well my dad wants me to go to that old abandoned manor by the chapel and pick up some… stuff. Wanna come with?”

Do I want to go to an old, freaky, smelly, scary, haunted, abandoned manor with you?

“…Okay!” I replied.

* * *

“Here it is!” said Rhano, holding a strange looking dagger.

We managed to climb into the manor through an old window. The manor was dark and dingy… and smelly. Cobwebs covered the dank walls of the shabby house. We walked through the sitting area, through the dining room (which reeked of rotten food), and into a small foyer where there was a door leading to, what I can only assume was, the basement, and a large staircase leading to the second floor. Laying on a table at the foot of the stairs was the dagger.

“What is that?” I asked.

“It’s my mother's enchanted dagger.” He answered.

“Oh. Why did she leave it here?”

His face turned solemn once I asked that question.

Did I say something wrong?

“Are you ok?” a asked, concerned.

Rhano sat down on the staircase and I perched next to him.

“My mother came into this house to rid it of the ‘ghosts’. She was on a contract for the guild and she… she came here and… she…”

I could see that he was getting upset, but being as macho as he was he didn’t allow himself to cry.

“Did she die here?”

Rhano turned to look at me. He slowly nodded his head with tear filled eyes.

"How?" I stupidly asked. I was met with no response from Rhano; much expected due to the inappropriate nature of the question.

Suddenly I had a realisation.

“Why would your dad send you in here knowing she was… killed, here?”

Rhano said nothing.

“He didn’t send you in here, did he?” I asked.

Rhano shook his head. He turned to look at me.

“I’m sorry for lying. I just wanted something to remember her by, you know? Dad told me that her dagger was lost and I just…. I’m so sorry.”

He began to cry. I respected him for crying, letting his feelings out like that. I hugged him, to comfort him.

“It’s okay…” I said to him.

* * *

“Sorry honey but the horses are all sorted.”

After Rhano let out his grief, we left the manor. He headed back to the fighters guild to see his father, Azzan, and I headed to the stables.

“Oh… That’s ok. I’ll go back and see Mother, then.”

“Actually, I had something else planned.”

My eyes lit up.

“Ooh, what is it?”

Dad laughed.

“Now if I told you that, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

I was incredibly exited. Not only was I spending quality time with my Dad, but he had an amazing day planned. Things were looking perfect.

* * *

Dad and I went on a little journey along the Gold Coast. It was about as exciting as getting pinched by a mudcrab, but I loved it. I was with my dad. We were walking along the coast, the sun burning its gaze into our skin when Dad suddenly stopped in his tracks. My attention met with what caught his; a young Bosmer girl being chased by what I could only assume were bandits. Dad unsheathed his mighty war hammer.

"Honey, go back home. Daddy's gotta take care of somethin'." His tone was serious. Mine was not.

"But Daddy, I wanna go with you. I'm not scared."

He knelt down to my level. His eyes met mine.

"I know you're not, honey, but do this for me. Ok?"

After a pause I nodded, my eyes obviously showed my disappointment. Dad kissed my forehead, rose to his feet and chased the Bandits.

After Dad was out of sight I headed back to Anvil. But then I stopped. I needed to know that Dad was ok, so I turned back around and ran in the direction my Dad had gone. I was disobeying his orders, and I didn't care.

The fresh footprints in the sand led to a solitary cave, which I entered without fear. All I could see was black. All I could hear was the lonely sound of water dripping from above. All I could feel was suppressed fear.

I grabbed a torch that hung loosely from the cave wall. Luckily, I knew a minor flare spell, courtesy of my overprotective mother, so lighting the torch was no big deal. It was big, though. I looked like an idiot holding it. The moment the heavy torch was lit, horror filled my body and caused my skin to freeze.

Bodies. Lots of bodies.

The bodies of the bandits, bodies of villagers... and the body of the Bosmer girl. The fear on her face terrified me. She looked so scared. Her eyes were haunting. The smell was horrible. Some of the bodies could have been there for days, or weeks, or months! That was a horrible thought.

What kind of monster could have done this?

But then I noticed something. Dad was nowhere to be seen.

And the dead had large bruises planted on their bodies. The weapon Dad took into the cave with him could easily have made them.

Only one question filled my head.

Did Dad do this?


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This post has been edited by Rihanae: Jan 17 2014, 04:08 PM

[TrisRed]

SubRosa: Thank you for the comments! Yes, the Aliss scene was a bit of a spanner in the works! First everyone is enjoying a meal; then Aliss massacres them all ;P

Acadian: Like always, thank you for the comments! and yes, Rihanae and Lissa relationship is, to say the least, rocky to start with, but i'm sure it will improve Thank you for the nit with the names. there's so many characters i get confused! haha

King Coin: haha, i'm glad you enjoyed the spontenaity of Aliss's massaacre!

PREVIOUSLY: After Aliss's attack, they decide that it is safe to talk to her again, but they are wrong as she brutally murders everyone bar Lissa and Jak, who manages to kill her in time. However, before she died she mentioned the name Leinahtan. What could that mean?

For her 19th birthday Lissa was given a stone whihc enables her to talk to her guardian spirit, Rihanae, and a reading by Jak's friend Falvor, who tells Lissa that she muct go back to Cyrodiil or people will die. Lissa decides that she will go back and leaves Jak, accidently calling him daddy...

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5. Chapter 2 ~ Prison Break ~ Part 1

I woke up; my head was pounding. I stood up off the dirty, concrete floor and took in my surroundings.

Prison.

Darn. I thought it was just a dream.

Apart from my Guardian Stone, which I smuggled in my hair, I had nothing to my name. No money, no weapons, no lipstick. It was awful.

I noticed a small table with a single stool in the corner of the clammy cell, a single ray of light beaming across from a sorry excuse for a window. I sat on the stool, thinking about why I was in this mess.

That’s the last time I stowaway in a first class carriage. It’s a bit of a severe punishment though…

Reality didn’t even hit me. I just sat on the stool, thinking about how awful my clothes were. A cloth shirt
with disgusting trousers.

And the colour! Eurgh...

It was not the best outfit in the world, but it was better than nothing.

Actually no, I would rather wear nothing. I guess I’m l lucky that no-one is around to see me wearing-

“Why, hello there pretty Redguard! Aren’t you a fine example of the female form!” There was male Dunmer stood in the cell opposite mine.

Eww…

“One of the guards owes me a favour. I could have you moved into my cell in minutes… if you like.” The sleaziness in his voice was more of a turn off than a turn on. I tried to ignore him, but the persistent Dunmer just carried on with the flirting; if that’s how he spoke to women, I’m not surprised he ended up in prison.

“It’s not often you see a Redguard with a figure like yours. Your beauty oozes, little one.” He continued. The fact he called me ‘little one’ creeped me out even more. I continued my thrilling action of sitting on the stool, only for my personal time to be interrupted by a certain spirit.

“I told you that you shouldn’t have stowed away. Look what has happened now.” Rihanae said.

“Well if you gave me some helpful advice rather that keep quiet, I wouldn’t be in this mess; would I?” I replied, frustrated.

“But even if I did give you some advice, would you listen to it?”He had a point.
I probably wouldn’t have taken his advice; I would have thought it was a stupid suggestion. If I was completely honest with myself I would say that I was a bit freaked out about the whole guardian spirit thing. I didn’t mean to push Rihanae away, but I just wasn’t used to having a pushy Bosmer in my ear all the time. It wasn’t my idea of a party.

“Now, what are you going to do about him?” Rihanae said about who I can only assume was the Dunmer.

“Hmm… wait till his back is turned and throw this cup at him?”

“I doubt it will go through the gates.”

“Why? The gaps are big enough?”

“I know, but I have it’ll just bounce right back off and collide with your face, and we don’t want that now!”

It was nice to see Rihanae joking for a change; at least I thought he was joking.

“But you do need to do SOMETHING about him.” Rihanae insisted.

I thought about what Rihanae said and I stood up from the stool and walked over to the cell door, staring the Dunmer in the eye.

“Oh, I do hope you’re not talking to me, because if you are, when I’m released, I’ll have you singing the falsetto quicker than you can protect yourself. Do you understand me?”

“Oh, the Redguard has fire in her. I like that.” Suddenly the Dunmer stopped speaking. His attention turned to the sound of soldier walking down the prison steps. “Oh here they come! To take you away!”

I panicked, slightly. These soldiers sounded quite terrifying. I heard the voice of a female, who sounded very uptight. I knew before I saw her that I wasn’t going to like her. Before long the soldiers, three of them, were standing by my cell door. There was a man standing behind them. He wore very royal looking robes. His hair was white and his face was old.

“What are they doing?” I whispered to Rihanae.

“I don’t know. Just do as they say and… try NOT to do anything too… Lissa.”

I froze in the spot where i stood, not knowing what I was going to do from that point onward.

“WHAT!? What is this prisoner doing here! This cell was supposed to be off limits!” shouted the female soldier. She may have been very forthright, but at least I was prettier than her.

“You. Stand by the window. Now.” said another soldier. A male Redguard. A young male Redguard. I did what he said and walked over to the window. I tried to look as attractive as I could, but that was a challenge when you were wearing an empty potato sack. The soldiers walked over to a wall in the far right corner of the cell.

“Now the passage should be over here. There is a loose brick which is a secret switch. Ah, here it is.” The female soldier said, pushing a brick, causing the wall to open. As this was happening, the old mane turned his attention towards me.

“You. I’ve seen you before. In my dreams…”

“…Thanks?” I replied, slightly confused. Was he flirting? Or was he senile?

He turned back towards the soldiers, “She comes with us. No questions.”

“I think you need to ask him some more question’s before you go with him. You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for.” Said Rihanae.

“Like what? Asking him why I’m in jail to, you know, pass the time?” I whispered back sarcastically.

I looked at the guards, who looked as if they were ready to protest, but they resisted.

“Yes, Emperor.”

Emperor!?

“Wow, plot twist!” I whispered to Rihanae.

“Okay, you can trust him!” Rihanae, informed me.

The Emperor, again, turned towards me.

“Come with us.”

An early release AND the Emperor is speaking to me? Wow…

* * *

I followed the party through the ruins of what appeared to be some sort of tomb, I wasn’t to sure. The architecture was like nothing I had seen before. It was quite large, and I was tempted to shout just to see if it echoed, but I thought that wouldn’t go down well with the soldiers.

“What’s going to happen now?” I asked Rihanae.

“I don’t know. They’ll either let you go free as soon as you leave this ruin…”

“Oh!” I smiled.

“… or they’ll kill you.”

“Oh…” I frowned.

We continued walking. I began to whistle a delightful tune to amuse my self, but i was met by the glare of the female guard.

“Soo… why are we escaping? Is there trouble brewing?” I asked, not to anyone in particular.

“Do NOT ask questions, prisoner!” Warned the Redguard guard. I kept my mouth closed.

We continued walking. It was rather boring, but I couldn’t complain; literally. They’d kill me if I did.

“Rihanae, what is going on? Do you know why we are escaping?” I asked the surprisingly silent spirit.

“Unfortunately I do not have a clue.” He told me. I didn’t know whether he was lying to protect me from the truth, or he genuinely had no idea what was going on.

“I notice you appear to be talking to yourself?” said the emperor, who was walking in front of me. I was slightly shocked… and embarrassed.

“Yes, I… um. I’m slightly insane.” I tried to convince him. “Woo! I’m crazy, like… real crazy!”

Probably not a great idea trying to tell the emperor you’re insane in his bodyguard’s earshot, Lissa.

“Do not worry; I also noticed the gem you clutch in your hand. A guardian stone, is it not?”

I was surprised; mainly that he knew about guardian stone. I thought they were a one off thing.

“Yes, it is. I’m sorry that I… well, lied about my mentality.” I said. The Emperor laughed, and the Redguard guard turned around, scowling at me slightly.

“Emperor…” he said. The Emperor made a hand gesture which must have meant ‘keep walking’, as the guard did so.

“Why don’t you tell me about you Guardian spirit?”

The emperor is interested in ME? Wow…

“Well… he’s a bosmer. Was a bosmer I mean. He’s called Rihanae.”

The Emperor looked interested in what I was saying; I began to wonder whether he had a GS himself.

“Trust him, Lissa. Believe me when I say this.”

I looked at him, slightly confused.

“Um… okay.” I replied.

We walked into a large space, the sound of our footsteps bouncing against the echoing walls.

“Wow…” I said to myself.

Suddenly we were attacked from all around us. There were men in red and black armour trying to attack the Emperor. The soldiers readied themselves for a fight, while I tried to keep the Emperor safe, mainly by hiding with him in a dark corner.

The battle was intense. Blood splattered the walls of the ancient building, but soon enough all the bad guys were dead… but so was the female soldier.

“Captain Renault…” grieved the Emperor. She may have been a stuck up idiot, but she fought well.

“Emperor, we have to keep going.” said the Redguard soldier, and then he turned to me. “You stay here.”

"Oh, but…"

The emperor looked at me and smiled. “Do not worry, this is not the last we will see of each other. We will me again… before the end.”

Morbid much. And I’m going to be all alone in a ruin crawling with assassins. What an excellent way to spend the day.

I looked at the smiling emperor and nodded. The party walked through a gate at the far end of the room, leaving me on my own.

I sat in the large room for a while, before walking over to the body of Captain Renault. I wasn’t that horrified at the fact I was sat right next to a dead body.

After what happened with Aliss, this is nothing.

I thought the decent thing to do would be to close her eyes to make her look more at peace. After I did so I noticed her Blade in her hand. It had her name inscribed on it.

I’d better keep hold of this. They may want it back.

Suddenly Rihanae spoke, he sounded quite excited.

“Lissa, Look over there. That wall is weak. You can knock it down.” said Rihanae.

I noticed the wall of which he spoke and, as he said, it was weak. I readied myself and shoulder rammed the wall. I could feel if moving, but I needed more power. After repeating my actions a few times the wall crumbled, to reveal a dank and stench ridden cavern.

“Good job my spirit friend!” I congratulated him for noticing the walls flaw.

I looked back toward Captain Renault. I was upset about the fact that she would be left here all alone. She could have had a family, kids and friends; but now she will just be left to rot in the ruin.
I couldn’t let my feeling get the better of me so I continued through to the cavern.

I strolled cautiously through the cavern, spotting something that peaked my interest. A skeleton wielding single bow and a quiver of about two dozen arrows attached to its back, which also wore a full set of what appeared to be leather armour. I wasn’t even remotely bothered about touching, and breaking, the skeleton, I was just happy that I was finally armed.

Now to get out of this hole!

This post has been edited by Rihanae: Mar 10 2013, 10:36 PM