An Argonian's Account, Haa-Rei's adventures in Cyrodiil Options

[hazmick]

Chapter 1

The room was furnished as most high ranking Imperial offices were – dragons everywhere. Dragon curtains (red), dragon floor mat (red), dragon banners (red). I wouldn't be surprised if the guards outside were wearing socks (red) with little dragons on them.

“So we just need to go over a few things here,” the clerk’s piping voice interrupted my thoughts. He studied the notes in front of him “you were born 3E 408?”

“Yes.” I wasn't half as nervous as I thought I’d be, but my mouth was almost too dry to speak.

“Our first official record of you is not until 19 years later. An Imperial prison transport fished you out of the Inner Sea of Morrowind and took you to the port of Seyda Neen. Yes?”

He didn’t look up from his notes, instead arching an enormous grey eyebrow. There was more hair on those brows than on the rest of his head.

“Yes.” Though my mouth was still dry my hands were now clammy. Please gods don’t make him go in for a handshake when this is done.

“Your occupation is listed here as ‘adventurer’. You also seem to have aided the Twin Lamps organisation, among others.” He licked a bony fingertip and turned the page. “This is around the time that you officially joined the Imperial Legion, rising to the rank of Agent.”

“That’s right.” My face reddened slightly when he looked up at me. Apparently a ‘yes’ would suffice.

He took a sip of his drink, a dark gold substance, and winced slightly as it went down. How anybody can enjoy that sort of thing was beyond me. I much prefer tea.

Looking back to his notes, the clerk continued listing various people I’d met who were considered important enough to have an opinion. Mainly guild leaders and Imperials.

I managed to steal a glance at the page, most of which was concealed with black ink.

“Well this seems to be in order. On account of your previous work for the Empire and the skills you have at your disposal, I have no doubt that you will do some good with us.” He stamped my file for approval with an official looking dragon stamp (red).

I grinned widely (any display of emotion towards humans must be greatly exaggerated) and thanked him as he shook my hand firmly.

“Welcome to the Blades, Agent Haa-Rei.”

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:03 AM

[hazmick]

ghastley - Yeah I've always found it worrying that an army of assassins managed to wander into the heart of Imperial power without anyone noticing. I decided the Blades would be a bit more...competent in Haa-Rei's tale.

Acadian - I'm glad you liked the fog. I hadn't decided on the weather until I booted the game up for reference and the weather rolled in. As for the head spines, I've spent many a long hour watching Haa-Rei wandering Tamriel, and Argonian physiology is already so interesting I thought I'd add a touch more.




Previously - While walking the streets of the Imperial City, Haa-Rei was alerted to an attack on the Emperor's family. Ever the hero, out Argonian Agent leaped into action...


Chapter 20

The main building of the Imperial Prison looked like a miniature version of the White-Gold Tower. Perhaps a quarter of the size, with thick walls around the base that made it look positively impenetrable. Several red-robed corpses had already been hoisted up onto the walls for all to see.

“I’m not sure if I should be impressed by how quick these gaolers work…” I mumbled to myself.

Knight-Captain what’s-his-name’s directions were almost so vague as to be meaningless, and there didn’t seem to be any immediate danger in this part of the prison. My only choice was to head inside, but not before I grabbed a set of keys from a nearby table. It’s amazing what you can find just lying around.

The prison didn’t cover much ground on the surface, but below ground the areas where the prisoners were located covered a very large space. The largest section was just below ground, and the well-lit and ventilated cells held criminals ranging from small-time thieves and drunkards to those involved in assault, fraud, or lollygagging. The guards had locked this area down for now and responded to my questions with blank stares until one of them helpfully pointed in a general ‘downwards’ direction.

The lower area of the prison was much smaller – perhaps half a dozen cells. The smell was the first thing that hit me. There was no ventilation or plumbing down here, and the only source of light came from a small grate in the wall of the nearest cell. This area of the prison was reserved for the worst criminals – murderers, rapists, traitors. The guards seemed content to leave these prisoners alone.

My attention was drawn to the cell with the grate, the only unoccupied cell. At first glance it was completely ordinary. The stone walls were suitably cold and cheerless, the floor was covered in rushes which looked as if they’d never been replaced, and a set of rusted chains hung from the low ceiling to complete that ‘you’re going to die in here’ look that no prison cell should be without. The only thing that was missing was…a wall.
A large section of the wall had opened, like a door. I opened the cell with the keys I previously…acquired…and went to investigate. The wall/door led to a short tunnel, beyond which I could see the pale white stones of an Ayleid ruin.

“The plot thickens…” I continued my personal commentary as I carefully moved through the tunnel.

I wasn’t all that surprised to find Ayleid stonework under the city, and the idea that there was a secret escape tunnel was more exciting than anything else. My excitement was short-lived however, as I entered the first room.

The room itself was rather small. A large pillar stood in the centre and was flanked by stairs on either side. A wooden door at the far side of the room was the only non-Ayleid piece of architecture. What got my attention, however, was the blood. The stairs were slick with it, and the walls were likewise spattered with viscera. A heap of red-robed corpses lay at the bottom of the stairs, and another corpse lay to one side.

A Blade. Her silver armour was chipped and scarred, and a large wound on her throat dyed her upper torso red. The markings on her shoulder indicated she was a Knight-Captain. Her sword was nowhere to be found, and I assumed that her comrades would have taken it with them. From her fair, slim face I guessed she was a Breton, but I wasn’t sure what Bretons did with their dead so I dragged her back up the stairs as carefully as I could and laid her in a more dignified position. Unable to do anything else, I moved on.

The door was locked, and none of the prison keys would open it. Thankfully some rats had burrowed through a large section of wall off to the right, and someone had killed them before moving off in that direction. I readied my bow before following in their footsteps.

Whoever had killed the rats had had a very interesting time. An entire tunnel system, some Ayleid, some…not, lay beyond the wall. The corpses of giant rats and (what I assumed to be) goblins, were scattered here and there. I also stepped in some bits of foul smelling flesh which could only have come from some sort of undead, but the creature itself was nowhere to be seen as I paused to clean my boot on a bit of rubble.

I was thankful that the person I was following had been so thorough, as it allowed me to think in peace as I walked. The Blades warriors are the elite bodyguard of the Septim family. The only reason one would be in a place like this…

I was so busy thinking that I almost missed the drop. The tunnel I’d been following ended abruptly in a drop of about six feet which led back into the Ayleid ruins - another room full of red-robed corpses (and I was relieved to see that they were the only corpses in here). I quickened my pace as I carried on through the tunnels and rooms, seeing more and more red-robes as I went.

As I exited into the largest room, I saw another silver corpse. The open room branched off in two directions, a gate to the right and a tunnel straight ahead. There was a shocking number of red-robed bodies arrayed in a semi-circle around the tunnel entrance, and it was here that the Blade also lay. Even with his armour on you could tell that he was muscular, and his face was frozen in a gruff expression of defiance. The body had been laid out with care, and he looked rather noble despite the nicks and rents in his armour. Just like the first body, this fellow’s sword was nowhere to be seen.

Then a voice called out from the dark tunnel and I drew my bow, an arrow nocked and ready.

“Talos.”

“Plaza.”

Well then. Time to get some answers.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:12 AM