Oasis, my first story Options

[jack cloudy]

Allright, first off. I've only barely reached Balmora in my game and ran around for 2 gamedays looking for Caius, so don't expect too much in the form of knowledge. Also, my computer shouldn't be able to handle Morrowind. I'm using an s3 savage or something like that which I remember to be in the list of unsupported 3d cards. Result, clashing colours, face textures on walls and anything enchanted or some forms of magic make the game hang. I can handle the colours and am attempting to remove the hanging by throwing away the enchantments with the help of a mod.

I'll try to work these hardware problems in the story somehow without having to make my character into a drug addict.

Now for the story. Comments, critics and suggestions are welcome.

Chapter 1: Oblivion or not?
I awoke on the wet floor, feeling sicker than I ever felt before. Holding my head, I looked at my surroundings. Yep, I was still on the same boat. If I had anything in my stomach, I would’ve vomited. I’m not a sailor.

,,Get up, you’ve been sleeping all night. Not even the storm could wake you.” The halfnaked elf with a huge scar on his face said. He was the only other living being in this room, if you didn’t count the rats and the worms. Now what was his name? Oh yeah, Jiub. And about the storm, the storm was what knocked me out in the first place, so it couldn’t possibly wake me up.

,,What’s your name?” Jiub continued. It looked like he had more trouble with names than I do, and I have a lot of trouble with names.
,,Luper Alkad.” I answered.
The elf rambled on that we’d reached Morrowind, wherever that was. And that he was sure that they would let us go. In your dreams, pal.
I was convinced that Morrowind had to be inside Oblivion, just listen to the name. Morrowind, that sounds like something a sick Daedra could come up with.

I didn’t really care where we were. Jails were all the same, no matter where they where located.

,,Quit, here comes the guard.” If I didn’t felt so sick, I would have hit him and said that I didn’t say anything for the last five minutes. He was the one who was constantly talking.

The guard smelled like he’d been drinking all night. How someone could possibly get drunk, or even drink on a boat in that storm was beyond me. Either way, the guard tried to drag me along but I easily pulled myself loose. The guard didn’t even notice and I followed the drunk idiot up to the deck, still cursing my fate for what it brought and feeling dizzy. I hate boats.

When I reached the deck, the drunk guard remained behind. Fine, he smelled bad anyway. A second guard told me to get off the ramp and into the building I could see through the fog. I looked at the village. The place was a mess. The guards really must have been pissed off to take me to this place. Welcome to Oblivion.

Oh well, I guess that’s what they call life. You can’t have everything. I walked off the ramp and started to feel a bit better already. I love solid ground, even if it was as wet and damp as the ground there. Everything was better than the damn boat.

Yet another guard stopped me at the bottom of the ramp. What is it with these guards? They’ve got more guards than villagers it seems. This guy wanted to know where I was from for no good reason. I am a Redguard, shouldn’t that tell enough?! ,,From your dreams.” I answered.

The guard looked at me for a while. ,,Whatever, I’m sure you’ll fit right in. Just go into the office.”

The office looked reasonable. If it wasn’t for the current inhabitants, it would make a nice place. Anyway, an old guy named Social Erratica or something like that wanted me to fill in some forms. The good news was that Jiub was right, they were going to release us! The bad news, the old guy was a freak and this place was Oblivion.

There were three ways I could fill in the forms, pick from a list, fill them in myself, or let him ask a bunch of questions to analyze my personality. See, I told you the guy was a freak.

I decided to fill them in myself. Now I had two choices, to lie or to tell the thruth.

[jack cloudy]

Thank you all for the nice comments. And don't worry, you old vets still do a good job. Besides, some competition keeps a person sharp, I guess.

Back to the story. I think I've finished the first chapter. At least the question that is the title of the chapter (check the first post) has been answered. Should I make a new thread or continue with this one?




With all the things I’d been doing lately, I'd made quite a name for myself. A bit too much of a name. Being famous isn‘t all that funny. This town was well on its way to becoming too small for me. It was time to move on. Too bad, I had some good times here. But people would eventually learn. And I hated the idea of waking up to find everyone outside my doorstep ready to pound my face in.

Tarhiel’s clothes were pretty clean now, so I hung them near the fire to dry. After eating some roasted mudcrab, I read some more in my book before putting out the fire and going to bed.

Next morning, I awoke early. For a moment, I played with the idea of wearing Tarhiel’s hat. Though it looked funny, I decided not to. I felt much safer with a helmet. An awful lot of people had been trying to hit my head lately. I did put on his robe. It looked nice and it was warm. After putting the armour over it and gearing on my weapons, I was ready to leave.

I stacked everything I didn’t need with me in a chest and made sure I had both the door and the window locked. I doubted anyone would break in. My treatment of Fargoth left an impression, even the guards were careful around me.

,,Good morning. Why walk when you can ride?” Maybe cause I’m afraid of heights? I took a peek at the passenger cabin while letting the big bug’s master wait. It looked secure enough, so I decided it was probably a better and safer bet than walking who knows how long through the wilderness.

,,Just take me someplace away from here.” I said.
,,Balmora it is, then. 27 septims and I would prefer if those were paid up front.” After handing over the coins, he extended a small wooden bridge and allowed me to cross over to the Siltstrider.

I should’ve known. I hate boats and I hate Siltstriders. The bug went from side to side as its mighty legs carried it across the landscape. It was more than I could handle. The bugmaster saw it and handed me a bucket. ,,Don’t worry. Many outlanders have this problem on their first ride.”

We arrived in Balmora a few hours later. I got off as soon as the beast had stopped moving. It felt good to have solid ground under my feet. I heard a small splash as the bugmaster emptied the bucket. I definitely would avoid taking another ride if it wasn’t necessary.

Balmora was huge! I could barely see the other end of it. It was also a big change from Seyda Neen. Stone buildings, bridges, real streets and a big river right in the middle of it.
I walked down the series of stairs that led to the Silt Strider station. First up, a drink.

I decided for the first pub I came across, which was a place known as the Council club. It sure was a big step up from the tradehouse. Hopefully they had some good stuff.

,,One Cyrodillic brandy, please.” I said to the bartender and sat down at one of the few free tables. A few minutes later, I still hadn’t received it. It was suspiciously quiet also.

A quick glance revealed that everyone was staring at me with open hostility. What was going on here? ,,Hello, I asked for a Cyrodillic brandy.” I tried again. At least I got a reaction this time.

,,We don’t serve your kind, Outlander scum.” Now what?
,,Hey, I just asked for something to drink, pal. This is a pub, so can I have something or what?” I was getting angry with this guy.

,,Leave my establishment, N’wah. I don’t want your smell to pollute this place.”
Now I was really mad and getting ready to pound his head in. Several weapons pointed at me made me reconsider.
,,Forget it, I don’t need anything that has been touched by a filthy Dark Elf like you. I’m outta here.”

Once outside, I took out my sword and carved “Mudcrab kissing Dark Elves, beware.” In the door. After throwing a fireball at the flag hanging outside, I left the area before a guard would notice.

I lost my appetite and instead walked into the nearest shop I came across. I was lucky, the shop’s owner was a Khajitt.

,,How may Ra’Virr help you?” Not to mention quite friendly. I leaned in closer. ,,Would my friend like to aquire a few samples of the sweet food from the night?” His eyes grew big.
,,Ra’Virr will buy your fine goods.” Great, someone to sell my moonsugar and Skooma to!

I left the building many septims richer, as well as leaving a happy Khajitt behind. I noticed that although large, the chance of getting a legal place to stay would be astronomical if I had more scenes like the one in the Council club. My best bet would be to take an unoccupied house.

I found my answer in a small and poorly maintained house. It looked like it had been unoccupied for months. Lockpicks weren’t needed so I just went in.

Too bad it turned out to be inhabited. ,,Who are you and what are you doing in my house?!” An old man jelled at me. He reminded me of Jiub. They both wore nothing but a set of pants. I still wonder where they got their resistance against cold from.

And he was a drug addict too. A barely concealed Skooma pipe was lying underneath the bed. Damn, I really didn’t want to sleep on a rock again.

Time for some major improvising. ,,Imperial Drug Patrol! You’re under arrest! Now get your lazy bottom over to the nearest fort and report yourself!” I shouted in my best guard imitation.

,,What does the empire want with an old sugar-tooth? Are you coming with me?” Damn, it looked like some brain cells had survived the smoke.

,,Of course not! I am here to arrest your supplier! I know he arrived here this morning by Siltstrider and sold his drugs to a trader in this city! You can go alone. Now leave!” I just hoped this would work.

But no, he still didn’t listen. ,,You don’t look Imperial. Where’s the uniform?”
,,I’m wearing a disguise, fool! How else do you think I can catch criminals like you? Now start packing!”

The man laughed. ,,Then what’s the name of the nearest Imperial fort?” Great, this was not good.
,,We call it Impierock.” I tried. It didn’t work for the man now really started laughing.
,,Impierock?! That’s ridiculous!”

I had enough. ,,Alright! So I’m not Imperial and there is no Drug Patrol. Now are you leaving or what?!”
I didn’t knew how long I’d been unconscious after that. Anyway, that taught me not to underestimate halfnaked men. Man, that guy could punch.

When I woke up, I saw him leaning against the door, reading a letter. ,,Ah, so you’re awake. Now I do appreciate it that you delivered the package, but please don’t try that again next time. I like this place.” Package, did he mean the damn thing the Imperial captain from Seyda Neen wanted me to deliver? So I had found Cain Cossack.

,,Whatever, Cossack. I’ve done my job so can I get out of here?” I grumbled. I really wasn’t in a good mood.
,,First, the name is Caius Cosades. Secondly, no. The emperor has personally instructed me to introduce you to the blades.”

,,Sorry, but I already know how to handle a sword, thank you very much.” He shook his head.
,,No, not a sword. The blades. His majesty’s spy-service. You’re part of it now.”

What? I thought I hadn’t heard him well. Me, a royal spy? I just came out of prison!
,,What have you been smoking?! Why would I do that?”
The answer was ridiculous, typical of the empire. ,, Skooma. And you are a civilian of the Empire. As such, it is your duty to serve the emperor.”

,,Why would I care about your emperor, your stupid empire or even you?!” If this was a joke, it wasn’t funny.
,,I’d appreciate it if you just accepted it.” He calmly responded.

,,Well, I just happen to have a problem with that and I bet you don’t know about it! Now if you get away from the door, I could get out of here!” People who stay that calm always got on my nerves.
,,Yes, I do know your problem. Your problem is that you are an unsocial, greedy, honourless, rude scumbag of a bandit with no sense of right and wrong. On top of that, you’ve been in jail from since you were eight awaiting a trial that never came. Now, fifteen years later, you are dropped here with no one to boss you around. I am surprised you even found your way here without getting eaten by something.”

He paused for a second. ,,You can’t just walk away from this. If you do, every single Imperial soldier will come after you. Every bounty hunter will come looking for the biggest bounty in history. And you will be branded a murderous fake god by the Tribunal which will get every citizen of Morrowind to join the hunt.” I had to admit, he came with some damn good arguments.

,,So I die if I refuse, and I live if I accept? Wow, now that’s original.”
,,It’s not that simple. If you screw up, you’ll die anyway. But you’ll at least stand a chance. And you can get quite wealthy by the end of this.” He pulled a bag out of his pocket. ,,Here, 200 septims. Go buy something better than that Chitin stuff of yours. I suggest Bonemold, though you will need a bit more to fund a whole set.”

,,I don’t have much of a choice, do I? Fine, I’m in. So what are your orders, sir?” I asked with a voice that dripped of sarcasm.
,,First, go buy some combat gear. Then work on your cover. Freelance Adventurer is a common profession. Join a guild. You are a Redguard, so I suggest you join the Imperial Legion, though you’ll probably prefer the Fighter’s guild. Come back when you’re stronger. I’ll have some orders waiting for you.”

He then finally let me out. I did buy a whole set of Bonemold as he suggested. It was heavier than Chitin, but it made Chitin look like paper.

But I still hadn’t lost that rebellious attitude. So he wanted me to join the Fighter’s guild? Good, then I would become the head of the mage’s guild instead.

,,Greetings, how may the mage’s guild be of service?” The Dark Elf steward asked me. I got straight to the point.
,,I want to join. I hereby swear I’ll not steal from, kill or otherwise harm a fellow member of the mage’s guild. I’ll perform my duties and work for the guild.”

,,You, a Redguard? It is rare to see a Redguard who wants to join. Most of them only propose it when drunk or as a joke. But you are different. I sense the magicka gathering around you.” She was in silent thought for a moment. ,,Very good, you are now a member of the guild. Feel free to use whatever you find in the equipment chest down the hall and to make use of one of the beds.” I thanked her, looted the chest and went to catch some sleep. A hairy paw woke me up.

,,Stranger, wake up. You must help Ajira.”
,,What, what time is it?” I mumbled only half awake.
,,Wake up, it is morning.”

I opened my eyes and focussed them on the Khajiit.
,,Who are you?”
,,Khajitt’s name’s Ajira. Ajira is apprentice of the guild’s head. Stranger must find mushrooms for Ajira.”

So she was the apprentice of the local head. Doing a favour for the Khajiit would probably earn me a favour from the guild’s head. I asked her a few questions about the mushrooms and was pleased to hear that they could be found in the Bitter Coast Region. I was familiar with that area as Seyda Neen was there.

I was back on the road one hour later. The sun was shining, I was free and on my way of becoming rich. Morrowind was far from paradise, but it definitely wasn’t Oblivion. And the emperor with his spies? He could burn in Oblivion, for now.