Luna Lioria, A Shroud of Light in a City of Darkness Options

[gamer10]

Luna Lioria is a story written from the perspective of a rebellious, and somewhat foolish, young Imperial girl named Luna who decides that she can no longer live with her "controlling" parents, and decides to run off on her own. To where, she doesn't know, and reality ultimately takes her by surprise. This first chapter encompasses her time spent in and around the Imperial City.

Morndas, 6th of Evening Star, Late Evening


I looked about me, the soft glow of the candle on the bedside table comforting as my gaze drifted towards the window, the panes of glass seemed barely able to hold out against the chilling winds that struck it so cruelly.

Glad I'm not a window.

I shook my head, what a silly thought, my exhaustion was getting the better of me and I felt as if I was only vaguely aware of my surroundings.

Not good, not good.

I had to stay awake, but I knew that I couldn't resist the tempting lure of a good nights sleep, and I would eventually have to give up the struggle, the enemy so relentless.

Why not leave in the morning?

My mother and father would never let me leave, let me go. I had to strike out when they were deep in their dreams. To them I was yet a child, but I knew myself to be different. I was fifteen, no longer a child, but not yet an adult. I was in between, the best stage of life for learning and experience.

I picked up my small bag containing some food, and a quill and paper, which I had taken from my mother’s desk. She would not mind I knew, because she would be nearly dead with worry over where I had gone. I felt guilty for this, but I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me as I stepped out the door into the slushy streets of Cyrodiil. Sleep could wait out the night.

The lantern I held in one hand lit the darkness that descended upon me, and it let me see my way around the familiar city.

The great houses, built solid and high, surrounded me, but provided little comfort. I could hardly see them anyway, night had set hours ago.

I had left my parents softly snoring in their bed, as I strode into a new era for myself, an era in my life of adventure. This era, I hoped, would be filled with mystifying times and tribulations for me to explore. Yet I felt wary as well, of what exactly I did not know, but I suppose it was the whole idea of leaving the Imperial Province, and journeying to a foreign land.

The night air was crisp and dry, I stood for a moment just a block or so by my judgment from my home. Gazing excitedly about me, I pondered deeply.

What if I am never to come back?

Brushing the ominous thought aside, I took a step further into the dark.

My hand took the brunt of a brick building and the lantern fell to the ground breaking open upon the icy street as the light I had been so grateful to have faded. I was thrust into the dark city of Cyrodiil, alone and without guidance. This was it, I knew, this was adventure, or at least the start of one. My stomach lurched, I was fearful, for all I had learned, all the knowledge I had gathered to this point, could not prepare me for survival on my own without others. I had no one now, I was really truly alone. The familiarity of the city drifted, and I found that I no longer knew what I thought I had.

Am I alone?

I froze, realizing that there may yet be someone who would see to it that I was not alone, and for the first time as well, I hoped to the gods that I was. The spell of fear I felt quickly left me, in a mere matter of seconds, and I regained most of the confident mental stability I had been overtaken by just a minute ago. The deepening fear had only subsided temporarily, I recognized, and it lingered with me in the back of my mind. It was the kind of fear someone got when they were about to get caught doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Without thinking, and hardly a second passed, my hand flew to my belt and my sword slashed through the air. Someone grabbed my hand, placing their own hand over my mouth. My sword however, contacted someone. I heard a shout of pain, and the collapse of a body. My hand was wet, but from what I could not see in the dark, though I guessed it to be blood.

My heart pounded as I dashed through the streets, desperate to find refuge and hide myself from the terrors that wandered here in the Imperial city.

I was barely aware of myself as I ran, panic had taken over. My sword still swung loosely from my hand as I slowed myself. I contemplated turning around and finding my way home, but I couldn't, I couldn't make myself now.

Eventually I managed to come to a complete halt, but now I was in a foreign part of the city. I had never wandered here before, and I wish I hadn't now.

There was nobody out, but I still felt my skin crawl as a shiver ran from my head to my toes. I stood there trembling, my eyes darting wildly back and forth.

A hand landed on my shoulder.

I spun around and kicked, ferociously attacking my stalker.

"Hold, hold!"

I stopped suddenly as the man kneeled, holding a hand to his stomach, his face a grimace.

"Quite a kick you've got there, is that how you greet everyone?"

I frowned, nearly sick "Do you often sneak up on young girls at night?" I asked accusingly, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword.

"Calm down miss, I didn't mean you any harm." The man looked up and grinned maliciously, I noticed, though his face was hardly visible, "You can stop shaking."

I took a few steps back.

The man's smile disappeared, "Now hold on a second, you wait right there!"

I turned in a hurry, and dashed off, only to get several feet before backing up again, as a man passed out of the shadows.

"You heard him," the strange man said, he held a sword in hand, "Stay right there."

I unsheathed my sword and lunged, luckily taking the stranger by surprise. The man didn't have time to dodge as the blade passed through him. I drew it out, and the body collapsed to the ground. Once again I found myself scurrying through the city.

It was sick; I knew what they would do to a young lady such as me, the pervasive nature of the drunks out this time of night.

I was freezing; the snow was coming down fast, wetting my clothes.

I must find somewhere to wait out the night.

Where?

I collapsed on the street, the ice and slush viciously biting at me as I pulled my knees to me and placed my head on them, noticeably shaking and shivering as my breath came in short gasps.

What am I, a child? Giving up so easily.

Yes, a child .

The world seemed so cold, both literally and metaphorically, and I had to struggle to hold my tears back.

The grim cruelty of reality took me, and I can't recall when or even how I managed to drift off into sleep as the freezing cold continued to assault me.

[gamer10]

Chapter 2


Over the oceans dark waters, above the planes and deserts of Tamriel, a spirit pondered.

“Isn’t this lovely?” he asked himself mockingly, not really expecting an answer.

“Yes, it is,” came another voice, its tone sweet and desirable.

“Luna is quite the adventurer, isn’t she?” the second voice asked.

“No, she’s a foolish young girl who’s going to end up in a lot of trouble.” The first said smugly, as if this was perfect. “She should go home.”

“Now, now, what about our plan?” Asked the second voice.

“What, that nameless, worthless, little boy. Things aren’t going as planned, he wasn’t supposed to befriend her, it will make this whole thing difficult.”

“When the time comes,” the second voice stated, “He will remember who he is, and will serve us once again. That girls blood will cleanse immortality from me, and I will once again be able to live among the mortals.”

“Why you are so jealous of mortal women I do not know, but you’ve heard my warning. Once you are a mortal you shall never return here. In fact,” said the first voice, “You aren’t even sure if Luna’s blood will bring you to a state of mortal capacity.”

“I’m sure of it,” hissed the second voice now, sweetness all but gone, “She is the one.”


Fredas, 17th of Evening Star

Eleven days now, gone by. I saw Edward gaze longingly up at the sky as the raindrops pitter-pattered on the deck of the ship.

“What’s the matter Edward?” I asked him, the familiarity of the question causing me to smile, though the situation didn’t fit it.

“Nothing, just the rain, that’s all.” The gloomy, dark sky was, I agreed, demoralizing.

“A little rain never hurt,” I told him, and the wind picked up as I said it. “C’mon, lets get below deck where it’s warm.” I finished, taking a hold of his arm and dragging him along, he much rather preferred to be on the deck, but I couldn’t let him catch cold.

Below deck I trotted over to my sack of clothing, and changed, Edward turning away so as not to embarrass me, but – I cared little for privacy now. There was no place private enough aboard this whole ship.

“Edward, you should really put on some dry clothes or you’ll get sick,” I said worryingly.
“I’ll be fine Luna,” he said dreamily.

I strolled over to him as he lay in the hammock, and stared grudgingly into his eyes.

“I’m serious Edward, if you don’t change-“ But I stopped as a smile spread across Edward’s face.

He sat up then and I backed away. “Luna, don’t you worry. You worry to much.”

He was right, I did worry far too much, but who was he to tell me that, what was so wrong with me caring.

“Fine,” I grumbled fiercely, pushing him down onto the hammock so that he was in a lying position again, “See if I care.”

He sat up hurriedly and reached out a hand to talk hold of my wrist as he stood, “Luna, I didn’t mean it like that.”

I wrenched my hand away and turned to face him, my eyes blazing with amassed anger. “How the hell did you mean it then Edward?” I cried out, “What’s so wrong with me caring about you?”

He looked hurt. “Luna, can you not see I am a young man, I just don’t need someone worrying about me right now- its not that I don’t want you too. Damn it all Luna, I just can’t care about you the same way you can about me, that’s why.”

I swiped a tear from my cheek, my anger not subsiding. “Why not?”

“I don’t know how.”

With that he turned away from me and stood silent, and, unable to speak to him now, I threw myself down onto my hammock and drifted into sleep.