The Story of Trey- Chapter 5 Options

[treydog]

How do we forgive our Fathers?
Maybe in a dream
Do we forgive our Fathers for leaving us too often or forever
When we were little?
…
If we forgive our Fathers, what is left?

Dick Lourie, from How Do We Forgrive Our Fathers in Ghost Radio

The only reason I knew that I had been born during Frostfall was an entry at the local Temple of Kynareth having to do with my mother's burial. Under 3E 408, the chronicle stated: "Riassa, Breton hedge witch. Died in childbed, Frostfall. Male child, healthy. Father unknown. Child placed with Greldig and wife, at Foaming Flagon Inn." I only learned that much after I had learned to read and do simple sums. Then, when I turned 15 (as I was able to determine from the dates in the chronicle), the powers of my birthsign began to manifest themselves. I was able to open locked doors with a touch and to sense the locations of creatures, keys, and enchanted items. The alchemist who taught me my letters explained the significance of these abilities and confirmed that my sign was The Tower. There were no "official" celebrations of my birthdays, of course. After I learned the proper month, I would treat myself to a gift - usually a potion made from local plants, or a book if the peddler happened to have one I hadn't read- bartered for some of those same potions. It was not until much later that I was to find that the exact date of my birth, precise even to the hour, was known. In fact, it was known to none other than Uriel Septim VII, himself. As for information about my (probable) father, that came from the inn-keeper, usually when he referred to me as, "You bastard son of a thieving bard." Apparently, I was following in my father's footsteps when I took the contents of the cash-box and disappeared into the night.

Once I learned of my birth month, it became my habit to spend part of my "birthdays" planning, dreaming, considering my past and future. So, as the first day of Frostfall dawned, I considered the past year, particularly the last couple of months. I had come far since I took that nap in the park in the Imperial City- both geographically and in terms of professional advancement. I was in good standing in a couple of guilds; I had joined the Tribunal Temple; and had been "volunteered" into the Blades. Somehow, it wasn't enough. Even if I had friends in those factions, I was mostly just another worker. And with advancement in the guilds would come responsibility. If I advanced too far, I would rarely be able to get out in the world. Thieving was a game for a young man- I could continue for many years, but my reflexes and eyesight would betray me some day. It was also clear to me that I should expect to be in Morrowind for a long time to come. When I was first hustled off the boat in Seyda Neen, I had assumed that I would be able to go home in a few years. But where was home, now? Certainly not the inn in High Rock. Perhaps I could become one of those eccentric old alchemists who lived in a tower in the wilderness and blew things up about once a week. But that sounded awfully lonely. Home was supposed to be the place where you had family, where people were sorry to see you go and happy to see you return. As I reviewed all the bits and pieces I had heard about Morrowind, I remembered that the Great Houses sometime adopted "outlanders" and considered them the same as blood-kin. The idea of being part of a family brought a strange lump to my throat- I had been many things in my short life, but "family" had never been one of them.

If I were to join a Great House, I would need to think it through carefully. You could only ever have your name entered in the lists of one House; even if you were later expelled, the others were forever closed to you. Through conversations with Caius and others, I had gleaned this much- Hlaalu was the House most closely associated with the Empire. They valued many of the skills that I possessed. House Redoran was the most traditional and most honorable. They were considered a "warrior" house. House Telvanni was composed of ancient wizards, and was considered elitist. Only highly skilled mages should consider attempting membership or advancement. The first thing I decided to do was to narrow it down to two- it would be easier to decide. Although I enjoyed Alchemy, and my Illusion and Mysticism were improving; I was not really a wizard. Also, as I understood it, the Telvanni were mostly based on the eastern side of Morrowind. I had grown somewhat fond of the area around Balmora and Vivec. So- that left Hlaalu and Redoran. Besides their interest in commerce, Hlaalu was reputed to be highly corrupt. In fact, some whispered that House Hlaalu was the real power behind the Camonna Tong. Redoran took their ideas of honor very seriously and applied them rigorously- I had to wonder how an unreformed and unrepentant thief would fit in. As I understood it, to get very far in a Great House, an outlander needed the support of a councilor. The only answer was research- I would find the names of the councilors for the two Houses and talk to them.

The seat of House Hlaalu was Balmora; I had already spoken with Nileno Dorvayn after I had "avenged" Ralen Hlaalo's murder. With that in mind, I recalled back to Balmora and went to the Hlaalu Council Hall to ask about the Great House. Nileno gave me a copy of the Yellow Book of House Hlaalu, which listed the names of the councilors. She also offered to give me the "inside scoop" for a bribe of 50 drakes. I had sold a few excess ingredients to raise money after my book-buying spree, so I paid the graft. My 50 gold bought me the information that Crassius Curio was the councilor to see if I wanted anything. He was located in Vivec, with a manor house at the top of the Hlaalu enclave. House Redoran was based in Ald'ruhn, so I had Masilinie teleport me there. A Redoran guard explained that all the councilors maintained homes or quarters in the Manor District "under Skar." It turned out that Skar was the hollow shell of an absolutely huge "Emperor crab," and that it housed the Redoran Council Hall as well as most of the councilors' manors and the finer shops in Ald'ruhn. The person to talk to was someone named Neminda, who could be found in the Council Hall. She turned out to be a Redguard, who identified herself as a Drillmaster and Recruiter for Redoran. Her manner was somewhat abrupt until I complimented her eyes, after which she warmed up nicely. Perhaps those romance novels were good for something, after all. She gave me a copy of the Red Book of House Redoran, which listed the councilors and their residences. She didn't request a bribe, but did say that Athyn Sarethi would be the best person to talk to about House Redoran. I followed her advice and visited Sarethi Manor. The Redorans were a stiff-necked bunch, but polite and informative. I still wasn't sure how well I would get along with a bunch of warriors and crusaders, so I went to Vivec to see Crassius Curio.

He may have been a powerful councilor in a powerful House, but Crassius was a peculiar fellow. The first thing he said to me was,

"Call me Uncle Crassius."

Odd, but I supposed I could put up with odd. Then he called me "sweetie" and "dumpling." That went beyond odd, straight past peculiar, and over to the extreme side of weird. I had met a few people who I wished would call me pet names- this heavyset Imperial with a beard was not one of them. Although my skills were far more suited to Hlaalu, I just couldn't bring myself to join them. It went beyond Crassius- their association with the Camonna Tong also made me nervous. Then there was their attitude that it was acceptable to do anything to achieve an advantage or make money- including being involved in the slave trade. Even though I was a thief, I had some scruples. For one thing, I wouldn't steal from or plot against my own people. The same couldn't be said for House Hlaalu- I wondered which Hlaalu councilor Ralen Hlaalo had crossed. The avarice and backstabbing of Hlaalu reminded me painfully of the “foster family” I had abandoned in High Rock. After due consideration, I chose House Redoran, even though it would be the harder path. Their concept of honor made more sense to me and I would work to learn the skills they valued. I wanted a chance to prove that not all "outlanders" were Imperial oppressors. Most of all, I wanted a chance to become part of a family for the first time.

[treydog]

Almost from the time I had arrived on Morrowind, I had been tripping over the Camonna Tong. If I was not running head-on into the organization itself, I was being entangled in its influence. They were behind most of the corruption and violent crime on the island. And now they were threatening the Thieves Guild and, by extension, me. Maybe the Dark Brotherhood was out of reach in Mournhold, but I knew right where I could lay hands on the Camonna Tong. It had taken me far too long, but I had finally learned that I couldn't run from bullies. It was better to face them- even if it meant taking a beating. A beating was better than living in fear. And what was the Camonna Tong but the biggest, meanest bully around? It was time for them to learn that I would not be pushed.

While I rode the strider to Balmora, I checked my supplies; my armor and weapons were fully repaired and charged; I should have enough Restore Health potions to see me through, and I could use Almsivi Intervention if not. Most of all, I had an unquenchable rage, a fury burning at my core, that had been kindled when I took the first blow from my "foster father" back at the inn. For most of my life, I had been careful to keep the fires of that rage damped down, to never let it escape. Now, instead of trying to dampen the flames, I fed them. Every blow I had taken, every insult I had been forced to swallow as a "charity-case bastard," all the indignities of being arrested and sent to this gods-forsaken island, all of it was fuel for my resolve. In that moment, I became the avatar of vengeance for every slave, every victim, every oppressed Khajiit or Argonian on Morrowind. Fury did not have to mean madness, though. There were five that had been marked to die; four were left. The smith I had dealt with when I solved Ralen Hlaalo's murder; that left the scout, the savant, the thief, and the pawnbroker. They would all be at the Council Club. If I simply went in swinging my sword, I might very well fail. And even if I survived, the result would probably be a death warrant- every guard's hand would be against me. I would need to isolate them and goad them into attacking first. My instincts told me that the thief and the scout would likely be the most dangerous, the ones with weapons expertise. So I would need to find Vadusa Sathryon or Madrale Thirith first and get them away from the others. That cold calculation contrasted with the fire that raged in my soul as I entered the Council Club and went downstairs.

In the bar area were Sovor Trandel, the Savant; Vadusa Sathryon, the Scout; and Marasa Aren; the Pawnbroker. The fourth person in the room was the bartender, so where was Thirith? I ignored the people in the bar for the moment and went on into the lowest level of the club. Before I started anything, I needed to see the lay of the land. That proved to be a fortuitous choice, for there at the bottom of the ramp was Madrale Thirith, just stepping out of a small bedroom. The hallway was isolated and I was between her and the exit. This should work to my advantage, provided I could keep all the others from coming in behind me. I honestly don't remember what I said to provoke the Camonna thief into attacking me- whatever it was, it worked. She may have been a competent thief, but she could barely use the sword she carried. Even though her blade was enchanted, she hardly injured me before I struck her down. That first blood-letting only increased my fury. I seemed to hear a voice in my head, saying, "Kill them all. Let no one escape." Silent as death, I made my way back up the hall to the doorway at one end of the bar and scanned the room.

Unfortunately, I could not lure any of the others away from the group, so I got into the most defensible position I could and began making insulting remarks just loud enough for Marasa Aren to hear. I said something about House Hlaalu being the result of the unnatural mating of a guar and the Hlaalu founder; I bragged about killing Thanelen Velas; I even asked her what she wanted to do with the dead body of Virith downstairs. Finally, she had had enough and charged at me with her fists clenched. Unfortunately, the other two saw what was happening and joined in. Only Sathryon had a weapon, though, and the other two got in his way. I could swing at any one of them without worrying about it, while they had to avoid hitting each other. It was brutal and it was bloody and it ended quickly. I left them where they had fallen and walked out the door without a backward glance. It was time to go to Fort Moonmoth and see a man about a bloodbath.

Larrius Varro was his usual self- the only sign that he was at all pleased was a slight lessening of his perpetual frown. It was just as well, in my state of mind I would have probably punched him if he had laughed and joked. But no, Varro was a man who understood what it took to do the hard things. He knew there was nothing here to joke about. He handed me a Ring of Surroundings- the Emperor's "little present," and then, because I had managed the job without "creating any problems of a legal nature," he gave me a book from his own collection. That surprised me so much that I think I might have sounded almost civil when I thanked him. As I left the fort, I gave serious thought to tossing the Emperor's "present" into the Odai River. But in the end, I kept it. I put it on a chain and hung it around my neck as a reminder of the chains that emperors and empires put on us all. A man may believe himself free, may even live his life as if he is free; but, one day, there will come a pull on the chain and he will have to go where it takes him. I still have that ring. And the chain. And I still remember. Please the gods, someday I may be able to forget.

Here Ends Chapter 5

This post has been edited by treydog: Mar 11 2023, 06:10 PM