The Risen Alchemist, Just something I decided to belt out. Options

[Scrooluse]

Prologue

Idly tending to his small and rather spartan home, the Alchemist happily gardens the myriad of flora he had planted a season earlier. While not holding an overly large amount of business, he did indeed enjoy a brisk trade in fine quality potions. His robed body seen milling about behind the small waist-high stone wall area beside his quaint cottage. Humming contentedly to himself a tune of firm origin he nods occasionally to the odd traveller, his skilled hands not missing a beat as he harvests vital ingredients.

His day was like any other, outside the town of Vivec, located near the main road with a hand carved sign stating his trade to perhaps attract attention. Sweeping his chestnut hair from his piercingly blue eyes he chances a small break. Setting his harvest basket aside he rests his arms on the stone wall and gazes out at the horizon. Within moments his moment of serenity was kindly intruded upon by a rather weary looking Dunmer leading a rather tired looking pack guar. With a gently friendly and heart-warming smile the Alchemist offers the traveler a rest, knowing he has come far due to the traces of dirt on his clothing and that upon his pack guar.

With gratitude in the Dunmer's eyes he speaks, the voice the thick rasp that seemed very prevalent among almost all Dunmer males "Thank you Cyrodiil. An alchemist? I think I just might have a bit of time to see your wares, after all it is the least I can do for your kindness." The Alchemist smiled warmly and led the traveler inside. Wordlessly showing him various vials and philters, elixirs and draughts. After a small purchase of a few potions that instill renewed vigor the traveler extended his hand out toward the Alchemist, at once it was gripped and shook heartily. Taken aback by the strength the Dunmer spoke again "Quite a firm grip you have, Cyrodiil. Alchemy wasn't your first profession... was it?"

For the first time the Alchemist spoke, his voice deep and rich, very pleasing to the ears. It was a voice that was very charming and held a strong note of confidence and command. "No, no my friend I cannot say that it is. But through it I have found contentment, it brings me a sense of peace I did not possess in my earlier undertaking." To this, the Dunmer felt his curiosity blossom like a flower after a long winter. "Well, would you mind telling me what it is you used to do?"

"It would be my honor to relay to you my tale. To know me, you must first know my past." Motioning to a small orb set upon a small stand beside a small and modest desk the Alchemist spoke again "If you will, simply touch the orb with your fingertips and all will be known." Having a moment of misgiving, the Dunmer looked into the icy blue eyes of his host a moment longer and then finally conceded. Stepping to the orb he laid his fingertips upon it. Though while not physically departing the world, his mind drifted into the memories of the Alchemist. Soaring through a misty haze the Dunmer found himself elsewhere... in another time... where the Alchemists story begins.

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Chapter One: The Beginning

It was in the scant starlit countryside he sits, a vivacious young Altmer beside him, their fingers entwined and their lips greeted together in a deeply loving kiss. After moments of such tender gesture they draw back. The Alchemist's eyes peering deeply into her glittering ones as a gentle smile forms upon his lips and his voice softly speaks out "Oh my dear, I've longed to be with you, the days of our parting have been maddening. I ached to have just one last eve with you before.." unable to finish his statement the Altmer pressed an elegant finger to his lips and spoke in an elegant, sweet tone "Calm your thoughts my dear Tavion. I know it greatly pains you to be aware that I am arranged to be married in the following evening. But please know that my heart will always cherish you.” In the moonlight the pair stayed. As dawn slowly crept upon them they tearfully parted ways, the young Altmer’s last words to the one called Tavion being “For as long as the sun rises and sets, I will hold the memory of our time together close to my heart.” Torn inside, Tavion makes his way to the docks he knows his loves ship will depart from and gently sets two flowers into the water, accompanied by the soft patters of tears that send the calm surface rippling.

Just as oddly as the Dunmer came into the memory, he found himself being hurtled back out of it. Standing idly and looking at the orb, he turned to look at his host “Interesting tale, but it still doesn’t explain your muscle or other things about you.” With a soothing smile Tavion casually replied back “But, my tale does not end there; you simply viewed perhaps the saddest part of my life in that period of time. Saddest perhaps, but not the most painful. There yet remains far more to be seen.” Watching the alchemist turn attention to cleaning what the Dunmer recalled as being an alembic he turns his gaze back to the odd orb. Far too curious to simply leave he presses his fingertips back and finds himself careening through the hazy mist once more…

End chapter one
So far this is what there is. Look for chapter two shortly after the posting of this one, I’ve been bitten by the muse bug tonight for some bizarre reason *looks in Minque’s general direction*

[Scrooluse]

Chapter Two: The Changing
As the Dunmer plunged himself back into the memories of the Alchemist, he suddenly finds himself standing before an imposing figure. Heavily armored and bearing the crest of the Crusader upon the chest, he finds himself taken aback as he looks at the unmistakable blue eyes of the very man he just finished speaking to. However the eyes weren’t the gentle and benevolent ones he had come to initially know; they were hard and shrewd. His face, while still very pleasing to gaze upon had a definite ferocity within it now, a cold defiance toward what he battled against. Now a spectator in the memories, the Dunmer simply observed it unfold…

Tavion strode along the fields of kummu landscape, the fair Lake Amaya at his left. Alert and vigilant he kept a hand defensively upon the pommel of an ebony broadsword as his other arm gripped a shield. His armor clattered and hissed with each step, causing him to seem even more imposing a defender. Casting a look ahead he narrows his eyes and approaches a small encampment of men, knowing their reputation as highwaymen toward pilgrims and traveling merchants. While under no acting authority of the Imperial Legion or other forms of law enforcement, he still took matters into his own hands. With a greeting to the three, he finds himself under their suspicious eyes, scrutinizing him heavily. Speaking calmly, as if chatting about the weather and other trivialities he speaks “You do understand you are now in far graver danger than you understand. For your crimes against those unable to defend themselves, you have garnered my attention. I am far less than amused by your antics, but I am willing to strike a deal.”

Looking at the armored man as if he were stark raving mad, the trio turns to look at each other before bursting out into raucous laughter. One, sporting violently red hair stands up and looks the stranger in the eye before petulantly spitting at his feet and sneering “Best be on your way, n’wah. Before you find yourself face-down in that lake over there.” Unfazed by the lack of courtesy, Tavion simply looked in pity at the one who spoke to him “My terms of the deal are you return what you have waylaid from others and oath never to do such acts again, and I let you go.” Met with more peals of laughter the other two stand up and form a rough semi circle around him. Leering unpleasantly they speak among each other as to how much the armor would fetch, already speculating the sword alone would gain them a fortune. It was the moment Tavion had been waiting for, he was now within ability to act.

In a smooth upward arc, the arm that bore his shield connected solidly with the chin of the red haired Dunmer in front him, the shock and brute force of the blow lifting the unsuspecting brigand into the air and some four feet back, stunning and leaving him with both a severely bloodied face and an addled mind. In the same action as the sudden shield strike, Tavion’s sword was drawn. With explosive force he thrusts it directly to his right, sheathing the sword in the stomach of the one on his flank. Without giving a glance to the mortally wounded Dunmer he deftly twisted the weapon before withdrawing it and sending a tremendously crashing blow upon the one to his left. The strike was a dire one, cleaving deep into the flesh followed by a large spurt of vital life essence, silhouetted in the sunlight the blood seemed to be cast of purest silver before pattering lightly upon the grassy ground. His eyes never having left the Dunmer he struck with his shield he is still keenly aware that the one pierced through the stomach has dropped to his knees and fallen backward. With a cold push of his shield he shoves the fatally wounded one off his blade, hearing the body collapse heavily as it sprawls out upon the ground.

Pointing his blade in front of himself, Tavion advances suddenly and swiftly, bearing down upon the dazed criminal. The metallic rustle of his armor having become infinitely more intimidating to the surviving highwayman. The brigand, scooting backward upon his bottom, desperately tries to back away from the hellish sight. Halted only when he presses hard against a rock. Closing his eyes he swallows hard, preparing to be brought before the chill embrace of death. Bringing the sword to within inches of the Dunmer’s face Tavion quietly speaks “I will spare your life, but I want you to let it be known to all who are like you that I shall not stand against actions like yours. Go, lest I release my already fragile grasp of mercy and give you the same fate as your associates.”

With a cold gaze, Tavion watched as the horrified survivor fled. Once the moment of chaos was over with he turned to survey the damage and see what he could gather and turn in to the nearest Imperial garrison. As he made his way toward his destination point, he mused that darker things loomed in his future; that he felt in his heart that his actions of the day would merit a far more sinister repercussion…

End chapter two
Well, here we are definitely seeing a deep side of conviction, I plan on bringing this to a head in the next chapter, hopefully folks will still been keen to read onward.