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]

Hey guys! Sorry it's taken so long, but school has kept me pretty busy, but here I am with another update!

As always thank you all for your comments I appreciate each and every one of them

In chapter 6 The emperor prediction of the future came true as he was murdered by an assassin. Before his demise he gave Jihl his amulet with instructions to find a man named Jauffre and warn him about oblivion. Jihl passed this imformation on to Baurus and gave him the amulet so he could fulfil the emporer's dying wish.

Jihl escaped the sewers and found a few handy bits of equipment. She is now en-route to finding and killing Nerasteral

7. Lucky Heather

I bathed in the lake near the sewer exit for an hour and scrubbed my clothes clean. They didn't smell amazing, but at least they weren’t grimy anymore.

I checked my utility belt to see what I had been left with. All ten of the potion pockets were filled; all with a minor restore health potion. The coin purse held eighty gold coins and the extra pocket held fifty lock picks. It was lucky I had the lock picks, seeing as I was, as Faythe once called me 'the unlocking master'. A corny nickname, but it was very true. Unfortunately my sword holster was empty, leading me to regret giving the Emperor's dagger back to Baurus. My shoulder bag was also empty (apart from my map and compass). I worried that my shoulder bag would make too much noise should I ever fill it. I relied on stealth, so I knew it would be a problem; but I would cross that bridge once I came to it.

I looked across the lake and saw an Aylied ruin on an island. Chances were that there would be some kind of sword carrying fiend over there; but as I wasn't in desperate need of one it seemed pointless to even consider going over there.

Once I had performed the minor chores I got dressed and prepared for my journey, although I had no idea what the journey was to be. I knew I had to find Nerastarel and make her pay for what she'd done, but I didn't even know where to start.

"I guess her house would be a good start?" I said to Heather.

"Where does she live?" Heather asked me.

"Skingrad; although as far as I know she hasn't been there since she joined the Resistance two years ago..." I replied.

"Hmm..." Heather thought, "Still, a long shot is better than a short shot... or is it a no shot? I don't know."

I laughed, "I know what you mean."

I turned and saw the Imperial City rested proudly atop a large hill; The White gold tower staring at me with enormity. The white walls shining in the sunlight. A beautiful example of architecture. I was to assume this would be my next stop. Seeing as, luckily, I had a few gold coins in my coin purse I was in definite need of some new clothes.

I started to walk up the steep hill toward the city and decided to start a conversation with my new friend.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but how old are you? Or were you, rather?" I asked heather.

"Eighteen." Heather replied with a blissful joy.

Eighteen? Although I myself was only a year older, that was pretty young; but I've known younger to die before their time.

"So how did you pass away?" I asked her with a soft and caring tone. I didn't want to risk upsetting her; especially seeing as she would always be inside my head.

"Well the low down is a rogue mage tried to kill my parents, but I killed him with a powerful fire spell. It caused an explosion; the only drawback was that the only way to cast it was to use all the casters energy. Although I knew this I cast it anyway."

"So..." I said, not quite sure exactly where she was going.

"So... when I cast the spell and killed the bad guy I basically dissolved into nothing. It really wasn't a fun time."

"Wow..." I said, feeling a lot of respect for this girl, "You sacrificed yourself to save your parents?"

"I guess you could say that." Heather replied quite humbly.

It was safe to say that in the mere minutes I had known her, I was proud to have her as a companion; despite how annoying her voice may have been.

***

Once I reached the city I found myself in the Market District. I was rather nervous around the guards, but I don't think they knew who I was; either that or they simply didn't care.

After some extensive shopping, accompanied with some gleeful encouragement by Heather, I bought myself a new outfit.

A blue silk shirt, a pair of wide, black pants and a pair of leather boots. I ducked into one of the archways and put my clothes on, ditching my old prison wear inside a wooden box.

"What now?" Heather asked me, no doubt eager for more shopping.

"Now we head to Nerastarel’s house in Skingrad-" I told her.

I was immediately interrupted, "WHAAAAT?" Heather replied, shocked.

"What?" I echoed her.

"This is the Imperial City Jilly! Don't be boring with your mission stuff, have fun! Let off steam! Paint the town red!" She insisted.

I laughed, "There will be plenty of time to let off steam once I've completed my mission."

"BORING!" She interrupted again, much to my annoyance. "No, we are going to have fun. You can go to Skingrad in the morning."

"Heather-"

"NO! Fun now, Skingrad later. Okay?" She ordered.

I pondered whether or not to do as she said. For all I knew Nerastarel was at her house right now, but she could be gone tomorrow. Surely it was best to go there sooner rather than later?

But again, what if she wasn't there right now, but would be there tomorrow? And if I went there now to see the house empty I would assume she was long gone, unaware she would turn up the next day.

"ARGH!" I let out a frustrated gasp. "Fine. Let's have 'fun'."

"Yay!" Heather Squealed. "I promise you won’t regret this."

***

What was Heather's idea of fun? Clothes shopping? Nope. Book shopping? Nope. Praying? Not even close. No, Heather had dragged me to the Arena adamant that I bet on a match.

You really like this? I thought, remembering from the book I read that Guardian Spirits could hear thoughts.

"Yuh-huh. It's awesomesauce. You'll love it!" Heather insisted.

I don't know. The idea of making money from a death seems kind of sick to me.

"Oh, BOO YOU!"

What?

"Come on!" She begged, "Just one? twenty gold bet, then we will leave." Her tone then turned childlike, "pleeeeeease?"

I thought for a moment, wondering whether or not this was the best way to spend my time. I only had fifty gold left on me and I wasn’t sure I wanted to waste it. But then again, if I won I would get double my money back; and that would no doubt be able to afford me a nice meal...

Okay, I thought as I started to walk towards the Bookkeeper. Heather screamed with delight. I almost went deaf.

"Welcome to the Arena!" Greeted the Bookkeeper, "Are you here to bet on a match?"

I reluctantly nodded.

"Ask him about the fighters!" Heather ordered. I did so.

"For this fight the yellow team is a female Nord with an iron claymore. She is wearing light armour and a steel helmet." The Bookkeeper informed me.

"And the blue team!" Heather urged.

Shh! "And the blue team?" I asked.

"A male Breton. He is also wearing light armour, but he is using a steel long sword. He is also adept in destruction magic; frost, specifically."

"Hmm..." I heard Heather. She didn't say anything for a few seconds. "Okay! Go for yellow team!"

Really? But surely a skilled destruction mage would be able to take down a melee fighter-

"Yes! I'm sure. DO IT!" She said in that cheerful way of hers.

"Okay," I looked at the Bookkeeper, "Twenty gold on the yellow team please."