The Story Of Taillus, Chapter 3 Options

[Taillus]

CHAPTER 3 - Looking Out For Number One.

The partially hidden sun makes its course to the top of the mid morning sky as Taillus again awakens in a foreign town. This was going to be the trend for him as there was nothing about this place that was familiar. The simple fact that people even reside in a place like this perplexes him. Regardless, if it wasn’t for Ald’Ruhn There is no telling where he would be or how living he would still be.

On his way out of the Inn, Taillus stops and knocks on the door where supposedly, Jiub was staying. No response to the knocking again as Taillus eventually gives up and heads towards the exit. On his way out, as Taillus stops to adjust his sack that held part of the bounty from the Caldera incident he is stopped from leaving by the words of the Innkeeper.

“Your Dunmer friend has a message for you my Imperial pal. He says to lose some excess baggage and meet him at the Rat in The Pot Cornerclub.” The man says while curling his nose up at the name of the meeting spot.

“He seems to have a poor taste in location my friend. The scum of Ald”Ruhn meet there and it is not much of a friendly joint. But who am I to judge. I wish you well Imperial. Good luck on your journeys.” The man chimes as Taillus nods while walking out the door.

Taillus quickly trots from building to building looking for a pawnbroker or a tradehouse. He was almost frantic in his search, fearing that another Ash storm would hit. The bare thought of that made Taillus angry, disgusted, fed up and mostly exhausted. He decided that it would be to his advantage to brush up on his Morrowind History, cartography, bestiary and whatever knowledge he could arm himself with. Morrowind was a place you could wind up dead if you relied on the “Learn on the fly” tactic.

Taillus unloads all of his unneeded items and winds up with a very impressive wallet. With the money made from just his half of the loot he could easily go on an equipment shopping spree and wind up with quite the set up. He decided to meet up with Jiub in the Cornerclub to see what the plan was.

At the club, Taillus finds out that the Innkeeper was dead on about the quality of people visiting this place. It reeked of old liquor and skooma but the worst of all were the characters around the place. It make Taillus want to make sure each and everything he owned was tied down to his body in some way considering even the bartender himself looked as if he would rob you blind if there wasn’t a wooden counter in his way.

Taillus spots Jiub in the corner of the cornerclub and shakes the irony from his mind before heading over. He sits at the small table across from his friend who is enjoying stout drink of liquor. Taillus sits across Jiub in the stiff wooden chair and pulls himself closer to the table.

“I see that you made it to Ald’Ruhn Taillus. I didn’t think you’d make it. I am sorry I had to abandon you but you would have done the same thing as I if faced with that scenario. I wouldn’t have been able to carry you along with the weapons we plundered so I took a bag and ran for cover.” Jiub explains between drinks.

“Yes, Jiub that is exactly what I would do, just like I did on that ship in Seyda Neen. You really know how to repay a good deed!” Taillus growls as his eyes give the impression that Taillus was about to reach across the table and strangle Jiub. The old Dunmer simply smiles as he takes another few sips of his drink.

“I took the liberty of talking to a friend of mine that is in tight with the guild of thieves. He made sure that the events that took place in Caldera didn’t happen if you understand me and he also scored us a complete set of House Redoran Gah-Julan Bonemold armor so we can travel with relative ease through the ash storms.”

Taillus heard only one part of that sentence, the part about the Bonemold armor. This made him quiver in fear as he stares blankly at the wall behind Jiub. He felt a flowing tingle as it slid down his spine making him feel cold. He looks up at Jiub with a nervous tone to his voice, hoping he could acquire a different set of armor.

“Well that is very impressive Jiub but is there any armor that I could wear other then that Bonemold stuff. It really gives me a chill and to be perfectly honest. I do not like the idea of wearing old dead bugs.”

Jiub laughs out loud as he almost spills his drink. He pounds his fist on the table as he can barely breathe from laughing so hard. Finally he calms down enough to speak and his face suddenly washes with a look of dire seriousness.

“If wearing armor made from bugs scares you Taillus then I am not sure how we will be able to search for artifacts. Clearly you have never seen a Dremora Lord before. I am telling you Taillus there are things that dwell beneath our feet that could scare you to your grave, and assist you in getting there as well. I will not be able to journey with a man that will turn white when we are in danger. You have to be strong.” Jiub explains as Taillus nods in agreement.

Taillus could not agree more. This childish fear of wearing bug armor is minor compared to the monstrous beings that he will eventually meet. He would have to shake his distaste for the bonemold armor and learn to adapt here in Morrowind. He gets up from the table and goes back to the Ald Skar Inn with Jiub to get suited up in his room. They both equip the Bonemold armor and all of Taillus’ doubts wash away after thinking of how much more protection it will give over his old armor.

“I was also thinking that you could use a new blade as well. Taillus. That Sparkblade helped us back with the slaughterfish but we will need to rely on something a bit more powerful.” Juib states as he passes over a weapon that makes Taillus simply wide eyed.

“This is a long blade that I have had imbued with three minor enchantments. It will cast a fire spell; an ice spell as well as a lightning spell dealing very minor damage alone, but tied together along with the swing of your sword could prove to be quite devastating. I call it the element blade. It was a gift from my friend here but I am afraid that it is not my style in weapon. I think that you will be best suited to it.”

Taillus nods as he grips the sword with both hands. He stares into the blade mesmerized by the enchantment. Three different colors swirl magically about the metal as hues of blue, red, and yellow tint the blade every few seconds. It was beautiful in a deadly sort of way and it made Taillus smile knowing that he had this at his side when times got tough. He looks up as Jiub straps a long, thin blade to his back and also tucks a dagger into the confines of one of his boots. Both men seem to be very well suited and actually well equipped as they pass by the Inn keeper before heading out into the city.

Taillus bids farewell to the city that he promised himself he would never visit again. He enjoyed the hospitality of the Ald Skar Inn but knows that if he ever experienced an ash storm again he would more then likely take his own life. Taillus and Jiub make their way though the city quickly so that they will not be caught in the House Redoran Armor. They make their way through the gates of the city and are soon well on their way to the first temple, cave, or ruin they can find....

[Taillus]

They both head to where the entrance of the building seemed to be and they arrive at the bottom of a fairly large set of steps. By this time, the ash storm had let up just barely and it was mostly blocked by the hill to their right. Jiub lifts his helmet off and fastens it to his side opposite his short sword. Taillus follows soon after with the same procedure.

“This is a Daedric ruin Taillus. It is probably filled to the brim with worshippers and lesser daedra. It will be dangerous but the spoils can be great if we look hard enough. Don’t expect riches beyond compare but this is as good a start as any.” Jiub yells as he tries to be heard over the weakening but still fierce ash storm.

Both men fight exhaustion as they ascend the dark colored stone stairs leading to the entrance of the Daedric ruin. As they reach the final steps they are greeted by a doorman of sorts. A large flaming being stands at the top of the stairs almost waiting for our hero’s arrival. This massive being stood well over six feet tall and was engulfed in a flowing fiery magma that was contained in a human-like form. It had dark black boots and gloves that were evil and sharp as well as a dark black mask that would make the most fearless warrior orc cry in fear.

The Flame Antronach roared as a ball of fire quickly formed in its hands. It hurled it at the surprised men and they both dive to the side to avoid the magicka. The ball of fire explodes as it hits the stairs sending a shower of hot molten liquid down the stairs. Taillus looks over to Juib as they both wish they kept their helmets on and Taillus draws his sword as well as a Redoran Bonemold shield that he had strapped to his back.

“You get behind that thing while I keep it occupied. I will draw its attention away and you bury that sword in its back!” Taillus yells as the monster quickly bounds down the stairs after them. Jiub nods as he ducks under the Antronach’s arm while Taillus takes a mad swing at the demon.

The flame antronach quickly blocks the elemental blade with its black, claw filled hand and it growls as it takes a step backward while charging another fiery attack. Taillus quickly raises his shield as the flame magicka consumes it. Taillus can see the flames as they flow on either side of him. His hand gets increasingly hot due to the shield receiving the brunt of the attack.

He decides that enough is enough and as soon as the magicka dies out he charges, dropping his shield and takes a mad swing at the flame demon. The charge of the three enchantments expel as he hits the antronach in the helmet producing a flash of red, yellow and blue. The monster falls from the uneven surface of the steps and the force of Taillus’ attack.

Taillus looks to the top of the stairs to see Jiub standing with both arms crossed as he just watches the action. Taillus fills with anger seeing how he is always forced to do the dirty work. The monster gets back to its feet and begins charging another magicka attack but Taillus swings one more time in a fit of rage and drops the beast with one final attack. The Flame antronach howls as its body loses its ability to contain itself and it spills over the side of the steps to the ground below. The black mask bounces down the steps making a distinct sound as it hits each one before finally settling on the ground.

“Thanks for the assistance Jiu…” Taillus says as he realizes mid sentence that Jiub is gone. He pounds his fists into the stairs in anger before picking up his sword and running into the Daedric ruin.