The Story of Taillus, Chapter 5 Options

[Taillus]

Chapter 5 - Two Is Not Better Then One.

Taillus wakes up to the sound of someone trying to gain access to the top of the guard tower. He rolls over as he opens his eyes before frantically scooting over to sit on the hatch. He can hear the annoyed grumbles of an Imperial Legion guard as he knocks on the wooden hatch.

“By the gods if you do not let me up there intruder we will go outside and ventilate you with a volley of arrows!” An angry imperial shouts as he raps on the door impatiently. Taillus bites his lip as he looks at the hatch between his legs. He quickly thinks about his best course of action. The tower is quite high, but he has had really good luck with falling and not breaking any bones.

He could scale the wall like he did on the lighthouse in Seyda Neen, but the surface of this tower seems much more smooth and he would probably land on his face anyhow. Not to mention he runs the risk of being caught.

“You could kill him my boy. One solitary guard is no match for my harvester of souls! Use the Mace that I have entrusted in you to rearrange that mouthy guard’s facial features. It will get you started on my army of souls!” The evil Molag Bal whispers in Taillus’ head.

“Do you not have any godly duties you should be concerning yourself with? I agreed to your demands but you did not tell me when I had to start.” Taillus growls as he looks again at the wooden hatch. The guard begins chipping away at it with his sword making Taillus panic.

Suddenly it comes to Taillus as if he had read it in a book of things to do in a situation such as this. Taillus clears his throat and kneels on the hatch, lowering his face to the wooden surface so that the guard below can hear him better.

“Could you leave me to my job my imperial friend?” Taillus shouts at the hatch trying to get the attention of the guard.

“I have been paid to clean the leaves and rain water out up here and I cannot do my job when I have guards threatening my life!” Taillus shouts again. He can hear some guards below him conversing quietly with one another and he looks down between his legs hoping that they fell for it.

“Terribly sorry friend. I will leave you to your business but hurry and be on your way.” The guard says as Taillus can hear him descend the wooden ladder and walk away. Taillus has to cover his mouth to contain his laughter as he gathers his things and opens the latch with his foot.

Taillus finds himself once again in the bustling city of Balmora. It seemed that the people had forgotten about his little spat with Molag Bal in the streets yesterday and he decided to check out the local merchants.

[Taillus]

“Great now I have a demon threatening me! I am really beginning to hate Morrowind. I better get suited up just in case he isn’t bluffing. I don’t exactly feel like being a stain on this wall tonight.” Taillus sighs as he looks down at the foot of his bed at his modest armor.

“As if this garbage could keep me alive. I really need to hit a streak of good luck sometime soon.” Taillus growls as he sits up straight.

Taillus rolls off his bed and begins piecing his armor together. He quickly suits up as he looks to the door. A loud bang can be heard from the other side as the wooden door cracks down the middle from the power of what was coming for him.

“I do not like the sound of this. What has Molag Bal sent to knock at my door?” Taillus wonders as he quickly snaps together most of his armor in case he is greeted by a flame antronach or something equally dangerous.

Standing on the other side was a drooling, growling Daedroth and it struggled to get inside Taillus’ room. He hops back on his bed with the steel sword in hand as the crocodile headed monster tears the wall gaining access to Taillus who is trembling in fear. Patrons of the pub that was located downstairs begin to scream in horror as well as the other people with rented rooms. Taillus bats the invading claws of the Daedroth as it backs him to the wall.

“This is madness. I can’t kill this monster!” Taillus thinks to himself as he ducks and weaves the snapping mouth and lethal claws of the scaly green beast. It manages to trap Taillus with his back to the wall and frantically swings its deadly, razor sharp claws at our hero’s upper body. The daedroth eventually manages to get in a solid swipe as it peels through the steel chest plate strapped to Taillus.

Taillus clenches his sword tight as he can feel the claws tear through his shirt as well as flesh beneath the armor of his chest Piece. Taillus yells in pain as the Daedroth rips its claws from his chest, licking its glimmering teeth in hopes it can feast. Taillus’ sight begins to weaken as the massive wound overrides his brain. The pain numbs his entire body and he fights to remain standing.

Taillus watches as the beast takes another deadly swing but misses as Taillus falls into the clothes dresser beside him. He holds on to it to prevent falling down as the Daedroth opens its mouth in hopes of finishing Taillus off.

With the last ounce of remaining strength he has in him, Taillus swings his sword behind him in a desperate attempt to injure the beast, allowing him enough time to get his back away from the wall.

A small smile crosses his face as he can feel the metal of his long sword collide with the Daedroth’s mouth. The monster hisses in pain as it shakes its head. Taillus turns quickly and falls onto his bed. He rolls over facing the ceiling and reaches down to grab his mace. The wound on his chest leaves a puddle of blood on the clean white sheets and Taillus blinks hard, shaking his head hoping he doesn’t black out.

The pain in his abdomen is unbearable as he clenches both the blade and the mace with every thing he has. The Daedroth quickly closes in for another chomp but is met with the business end of the Mace of Molag Bal. The monster’s head is shaken as the sound of breaking bone can be heard. The mace pulsates with a red energy as it flows into Taillus’ body.

Taillus breathes hard as he can feel his every muscle revive. His pulse quickens and his heart pounds against his ribs. Taillus hops to his feet and swings the mace at the Daedroth’s skull once again, this time sending the large beast headlong into the wall beside it. Taillus looks as the mace pulsates once again before sending another charge of energy into his body. His muscles flex hard before increasing in bulk and Taillus feels as though he could lift an Orgrim over his head.

“I will not die here today Molag Bal. Nothing can kill me! Your pathetic pet lizard will fall before my feet along with everyone else that stands before me! You want souls? I will start by giving this pathetic one back!” Taillus yells as he buries the blade of his long sword into the belly of the Daedroth.

The demon roars as a thick blackish red blood seeps from the large wound in its belly. Taillus pulls the long sword up and out of the monster, leaving a deep cut ending just at its battered jaw. He looks down as the beast begins to fizzle, eventually leaving nothing but a bleeding Daedra heart on the floor by his now broken bed.

“If I am your vessel then why did you send something to dispatch me? You must be rooting for my survival or else you will not get your souls.” Taillus says as he sits on what is left of his bed, looking at the floor.

“If you could not dispose of one of my minions then I would have no need for you. But now you know that I mean business and I have many ways to keep certain that you will remain highly motivated to do your duties. Now do whatever it is that you mortals do and waste some time closing your eyes. The sun will be up soon and you will be soon on your way to Vivec to partake in their arena competition. This will condition you for what is to come.” Molag whispers in Taillus’ head once more as Taillus drops his bloody weapons and sits on his broken bed. He lays awake for the rest of the night, staring at the torn and splintered wall leading to his room and realized that eventually someone would be in to visit him wondering about how he or she will be compensated for the damages done.