Ahnaressu's Travels Ch. 8 Options

[Dantrag]

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Chapter 8

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A dunmer of about nineteen years stared at the Odai River as the wind blew his long, thin, black hair across his face. His arms were thin, but taut with muscles, a trait gained from years at the forge. He had worn black leather boots, brown pants, and a black overcoat covering his light grey shirt. His fierce red eyes took in everything around him. he watched the dazzling reflections of the trees on the surface of the water, the movements of a scrib, and he felt the presence of the mer walking towards him.

"Hello there. young lad." the elderly dunmer began. "Would you happen to know where to find a young dunmer by the name of Ahnaressu?"
"Actually, I do." said the young elf. "But might I ask why you want to know?"
The elderly mer continued. "I have need of his services. I am old, I will need help getting to my annual pilgrimage to Ghostgate."
"When do you need to get there?"
"Tomorrow."
"Meet you here at dawn. I will escort you to ghostgate then."
The old priest laughed. You had me fooled for a moment, but I knew who you were all along."
Ahnaressu began to walk back towards town and yelled behind him, "Remember. First light."

Ahnaressu had started a mercenary-like business about two months ago, having quit his old smithing job at the Razor Hole. When he started the business, he had hoped for exciting jobs from collectors of artifacts, great houses, guilds and the like, but being based out of Balmora, he usually got jobs escorting priests wanting to go to various shrines. He chuckled to himself whenevr he thought of the time he escorted a priest to the House of Earthly Delights in Suran - without revealing the priest's identity. He made more money than he did working for Thorek, and he had the added bonus of getting out of the monotony of "civilized" life.

When he had saved up enough money, he rented the top half of a house on the west side of the river. He, Cali and Relgar all shared the little house and it was a large improvement from the room in the temple, and less pressure on Ahnaressu to join the ranks of the temple doctrines.

Ahnaressu walked into the house he rented. Having only rented the top half, he always ended up carrying things up the steps for Cali.
"Ahnaressu!" Relgar yelled happily when he saw his older brother walk through the door.
Ahnaressu suddenly became a young child again when he yelled, "Relgar!" and ran towards his brother.
They ended up wrestling, the seven year old Relgar emerging triumphant while Ahnaressu played dead.
Cali laughed, just as she did every time she saw the two brothers together. She turned away from the brawl for a moment to check on the soup, tasting a sip before deciding if it was ready or not.
"Okay, boys, time for dinner."
Relgar jumped off Ahnaressu and quickly sat down at the table. Ahnaressu slowly got up and brushed himself off before seating himself.
The two males in the house rubed their hands together in anticipation of the food. Cali served them and sat down herself.

After dinner Ahnaressu went to sleep in preparation for the next day's short trek to ghostgate.

[Dantrag]

minque has wored wonders. THANK YOU MINQUE!!! you get a cake. -> :cake:

enjoy.
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Ahnaressu used the short break in the fight to wipe the sweat from his face. He was not used to fighting wizards, but was glad for the practice. Knowing what the enchantment on his sword was would help, but he would have to do without it.

Neloth came at him, his staff swinging from left to right, at a downward angle. Ahnaressu dodged the swing by diving to his right, and stabbed his katana into the opening on Neloth’s left side. Neloth cringed, but his magical shield took the brunt of the blow, so the stab caused a minor gash.

Satisfied with his hit, Ahnaressu went back on the defensive. He would let Neloth attack, and counter when he saw an opening – it had worked so far.

Neloth attacked yet again, but this time with a lightning bolt. It was quite impossible to dodge a lightning bolt, even for a warrior of Ahnaressu’s speed and agility. His electricity knocked the young ashlander to the ground, his hair standing on end.

Ahnaressu got up quickly, a bit dazed from the shock. His strategy wouldn’t work, he realized, not with lighting in the picture. Ahnaressu charged Neloth, faking a stab to his own left, and Neloth put his staff in the perfect position to defend the attack, had it been an actual stab. Instead, Ahnaressu pulled his sword back, and slashed Neloth’s left arm.

The wounds on Neloth were minor, but they hurt nonetheless. Ahnaressu noticed from his facial expressions that it caused him pain to swing his staff and move certain ways. That could be used to an extreme advantage. Neloth’s left would be an easier target than his right.

Ahnaressu jumped towards the telvanni yet again, this time, pulling a double feint. He faked left, and then right, before finally slashing Neloth’s left side again at a downward angle.

“Are you done?” Ahnaressu asked with a smirk.
“Hardly.” Neloth answered while casting another fireball Ahnaressu’s way.

Ahnaressu rolled to his left, and went at Neloth again, his sword swinging a barrier in front of him. Neloth had no idea of how to block the raging blade, so he put his staff up vertically in front of his face to offer himself some meager protection. Ahnaressu smiled as he hit the wizard’s staff with his katana and swung it around, throwing it out of Neloth’s grasp. It landed several feet away.

Ahnaressu leveled his glass blade, putting its tip against Neloth’s neck.

“I win.” He said, breathing heavily.
“Good fight.” Neloth said. “But I believe that I am the clear winner here.”
Ahnaressu understood a moment later when a daedroth put its scaly claws around his neck. Acting quickly, the ashlander flipped his sword in his hand and stabbed backwards, impaling the creature’s heart. The daedroth disappeared in a mist.

He looked back in front of him to see that Neloth had picked up his staff and was ready for more.