Jihl of Hart Options

[Heather V]

Hello

I'm Heather V and this is pretty new for me. I'm an avid user of the Bethsoft forums under a different names and loved all the FanFics that were posted on there. But when I decided to post my own, following some pretty handy advice I was led here, and I'm glad I was!

This first part is somewhat a data dump, but to me it is just the perfect way to introduce my character and show a taste of what she is like. I hope you enjoy it Hehe

INTRODUCTION

My name is Jihl. Some know me as Electra, others know me as the Shadow, but my name is Jihl.

I’m in prison. Cool, huh? NO. It’s not. It’s rancid, putrid, infested and lots of other negative words ending with ‘D’. It’s vile and disgusting, but this is home now.

How did I get here I hear you ask? Maybe you didn’t ask, but I’m going to tell you anyway.

I used to be a member of an elite group of rebel fighters called the Hart Resistance. What did we do? We fought the fights that nobody else would. It’s that simple.

There was this one fight, though, and it was bad. Very bad. People died, and the wrong people lived.

All because of a necromancer named Nerastarel.

She was bad. Well, at first she was bad. She used to just do little things like raise the odd skeleton every now and then, but then her power grew too great. She got a taste for it. Soon enough she wasn’t just ‘Bad’. What she was didn’t even have a name.

It’s funny isn’t it? Someone who you once loved like a sister can change just like that. The feeling you once had can vanish. I have no idea how that can happen. It just does.

So yeah, I’m stuck in this cell in what I can only assume is the Imperial City and it is NOT fun.

I don’t know if I’ll even get out.

Although I do know one thing; should I get out Nerastarel will pay.

That I’m deadly sure of.

This post has been edited by Heather V: Aug 31 2012, 09:14 PM

[Heather V]

I love that you all love Jihl's flirting with Baurus! And thank you all on your kind words regarding Jihl and her backround story! mALX the screenie is kinda misleading. Jihl actually had light brown hair, but the quality makes it look red and Colonel Mustard and Acadian thank you for the nits!

In chapter 5 Jihl explained to Baurus why She was sent to prison, and also gave him some brief information about the Hart Resistance; namely telling him about Nerastarel and her late friends Faendil and Faythe. The chapter ends with a minor attack from assassins that the group manage to defeat.

6. The Beggining of the end?

"NO! It's been locked!" Glenroy bellowed as we reached the gate we were supposed to use to escape the ruin.

"What does this mean?" I asked him.

"It means we're trapped!" Glenroy replied venomously, as if the question I asked was idiotic.

I noticed Baurus had a troubled expression on his face. "Is everything going to be okay?" I asked him.

"I don't know..." He replied, He glanced over his shoulder, scratching his head in ponder, "Okay, follow me."

Baurus started to walk toward an empty room that we all spotted whilst walking to the gate. Glenroy stayed to try and pry the gate open as the Emperor and I followed Baurus to the empty room. Once we were all inside, Baurus took a look around.

Once he was sure everything was safe he raised a request, "Jihl, could you wait here with the Emperor whilst Glenroy and I look for a way to open that gate?"

I nodded, "Okay..." I said weakly.

I knew deep down that we weren’t just trapped, but this whole set up was obviously a trap. The room with the gate was easily larger than the room Renault died in, and the fact that our only means of escape was impenetrable meant our odds for survival didn't look good; should there be an ambush.

I knew that the end of our journey in the ruins would be bad; but I still wasn't sure how bad it would be.

When Baurus headed back into the gate room I stopped him, "Baurus, wait." He turned to look at me. I took him to one side away from the emperor "I don't like this..."

"I don't either," Baurus said.

"What if I gets bad? What if this is the moment the assassins have been waiting for?" I added. "Those other attacks were bad, yeah, but they were minor. What if they were just wearing us out so the final attack would be an easy victory for them?"

Baurus sighed, "Then we will be ready for them.” He then placed his hand on my shoulder. “But you have to protect the emperor. He trusts you implicitly... and so do I."

I smiled gently and then put my hand on his; quickly removing it, though, once I realised what I was doing. Baurus began to walk away again, saying, "Don't let me down!" as he disappeared into the gate room.

I watched him closely as he walked away.

"He will be fine, Jihl." The Emperor assured me. "He is strong. He has the heart of a lion and the strength of a bull."

I smiled and turned to face him. "I know, but what if something happens? Will I be enough to protect you? I am nothing but a tiny woman."

The Emperor laughed, "You are more than a 'tiny woman' Jihl, you should not degrade your own self worth with such dribble." He smiled warmly, "You are Electra of the Hart Resistance. You alone have fought hundreds of men and lived to tell the tale. You are one of the strongest people on Nirn. Surely you should be aware of this?"

His words made me feel invincible. He had such confidence in me. Did I deserve the praise he had given me? I wasn't sure. Although I was curious about how he knew so many things about my past.

"Do not be afraid Jihl, as I am not." He said to me. Something in is eyes told me that he was certain of something. A knowing look that wouldn't share its secrets. But I knew.

"This is it, isn't it? This is when you die..." I said. I couldn't sugar coat it; I respected him to much for that.

The Emperor nodded. "I am certain, but I am also certain that my death is not the end; it is only the beginning."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?"

"I do not know-"

Just as he said this I heard battle cries from Baurus and Glenroy in the gate room. My bad feeling was right; a horde of assassins were attacking. The moment I noticed this I grabbed the emperor’s arm and took him to a dark corner in an attempt to hide. I peeked around the corner to see if any assassins were about to enter our room, but it seemed none had.

"Take this," The Emperor said, quickly removing the large, diamond shaped amulet from his neck and giving it to me. "Take this to Jauffre in Weynon Priory outside Chorrol. Tell him now is the time to get my other son."

"What?" I asked him, bedazzled by the clump of information the Emperor was giving me.

"Tell Jauffre the jaws of Oblivion are going to open-" The Emperor started, but before he could finish he crumpled to the ground. I looked to see a small dagger had been thrown into his head, blood oozing gently from the wound.

"SIRE!" I screamed, kneeling down to try and help him, but it was obvious it was too late.

I looked to my right to see an assassin appear from a secret door in the wall. I stood up and stared the assassin down. "You son of a mudcrab!" I said threateningly, gritting my teeth.

The assassin slowly started to come close to me. He wouldn’t say anything, and didn't even react when I took my bow and an arrow and aimed it at his head.

"The Emperor was a good man. An honest man." I prepared to fire, "You aren't going to live to regret this!"

As the assassin charged at me I released the arrow, hitting him right between the eyes. He fell to the floor, dead, his armour disappearing to reveal just another petty little man hiding behind summoned metal.

Baurus then entered the room and looked at me. He looked beaten and slightly bloody. I couldn't look him in the eye. I felt too ashamed.

"Jihl?" He said to me.

"I'm so sorry," I pathetically pleaded for forgiveness. "I couldn't protect him..."

Baurus then looked at the emperor and ran toward him, "NO! SIRE!"

I watched with tear filled eyes as Baurus futilely tried to shake life back into the Emperor. Baurus soon stood up.

"I think you need to go..." He said with an unfeeling tone.

"What?" I said, insulted, "That's it?"

"I failed. The Emperor’s dead. There's nothing more to do..." He said. He looked so sad. He felt like a failure; when in fact it should have been me feeling that way. "You need to get out of here, Jihl. It's too dangerous. I don't want any more needless deaths."

I completely ignored his order, "You didn't fail," I said, approaching him.

"Of course I failed," He replied angrily. "First Renault, then Glenroy… and now the Emperor." Baurus said. I was saddened that Glenroy had passed; the battle in the gate room must have been quite heavy.

I gazed into the brave Blade's eyes. They were full of sadness and despair. Everything this man had fought for was gone; and he blamed himself. I had to do something to give him some kind of purpose again and make him feel a bit better.

"Here," I said, producing the amulet the Emperor had just given me.

"What are you doing with that?" Baurus asked me with a slightly accusing tone.

"The Emperor gave it to me just before he died. He asked me to give it to Jauffre and to tell him to get the Emperor's 'other son'. Then something about the jaws to Oblivion opening." I pushed the amulet to Baurus."I think it's a good idea for you to fulfil the Emperor’s last wish."

"Other son? What do you mean?" Baurus asked me, confused.

I gently smiled, "These are all questions you should ask Jauffre. It's your responsibility now, noble Blade."

Baurus looked at me, then at the amulet. He took the amulet and looked at it for a moment. He then smiled at me. "Thank you."

I smiled back, then took a risk and hugged him and was glad when he hugged me back. His body may have been clad with armour; but it still felt warm. It felt safe.

I released my grip and took one last look at the emperor. I then slowly turned to leave; although I had no idea where I was to go.

"What are you going to do now?" Baurus asked me.

I looked at him with a look of determination, "I'm going to find Nerastarel and I'm going to kill her."

***

Before I left, Baurus told me to continue through the passage the assassin came through until I reached the sewers. Once in the sewers I was to continue until I reached a large gate which would lead outside. He told me to go into a chest by the gate left there for emergencies and take whatever I would need.

Once I found the chest I took a utility belt which had a coin purse, a sword holster, a pocket for lock picks and ten individual potion pockets. I also took a shoulder bag, a compass and a map; although it wasn't just any map, it was enchanted. A small red light on the map indicated where I was; which would me handy during my travels if I ever got lost.

Once I got everything ready I walked through the gate and continued until I was outside.

I was finally free. The sights of Cyrodiil laid bare before me. I was out of the sewer and ready to start my life anew. After I found Nerastarel.

"Where do you think she will be?" said an unseen voice.

I knew exactly who was speaking to me; it was my guardian spirit. I read that when a Guardian Spirit spoke to you it sounded like a person was speaking right into your ear, despite nobody actually being there.

"I don't know..." I replied, inviting her to tell me her name.

"Oh, sorry; my name's Heather." She replied.