The adventures of Arthago, My first fan fiction so be gentle Options

[Agent Griff]

So, just that you know, this is my first fan fiction ever. I have done backstories for my Oblivion characters before but this will be different. It will also be from a First Person perspective, something I'm experimenting with for the first time btw. So here we go:

In the year 400 of our curent era, in the stronghold of Vulnim gate located to the North-East of Sentinel, I was born. My mother was a humble peasant girl who barely reached the age of 18. My father was a knight in the Order of the Candle, a great man, who many looked up to. Some could say that I had an easy life up ahead, beeing the son of a noble warrior but I can firmly deny their claims. My father was a perfectionist, always was, always will be. He always wanted me to strive to do the best I could in all my affairs. I was forced to join the Knights of the Candle at a fragile age. I was trained and chiseled in a warrior with knowledge of etiquette and various other skills. I was mainly a fighter though, I never was much of a diplomat.

When I reached the age of 15 my father gifted me with a horse of my own. I called him Whisper because he was quite quick and very quiet for an animal of his size. He wasn't much of a war horse though and always craved for my love and care. I figured that if I ever went into battle on his back I should dismount first to meet my enemies. My life went on in the same way until I reached the age of 18 years old.

At my eighteenth birthday I was greeted with the news that my father was found dead somewhere to the east of Vulnim Gate. It was a great tragedy, my mother was devasted. She wasn't worried for the death of her husband as much as she was worried that she would loose her social standing. That terrified her so. She was always the ambitious sort that clinged to whatever inch of power she could. She realized that she was going to have to take a job after the death of my father. She didn't have a great many skills. She knew how to spend money very well but didn't know many ways of making it. She got married to my father before she could complete her studies. She could have been a merchant but she was forced to work at a tavern.

After a few years of working at the tavern she must have caught some ilness from a traveller. Whatever happened she died a few days after and I was left completely alone, with no one to help me anymore. I was going to have to decide what to do and that had to happen fast or else I would end up some beggar on the street, and I know that my father wouldn't want that.

This is the end of the first part of the story. I hope you liked it and I also hope that I will receive some feedback.

This post has been edited by Agent Griff: Mar 4 2006, 09:07 AM

[Agent Griff]

I won't keep you all waiting with the upcoming duel. Here it is! And btw, Telendil, Arthago hasn't got any ideas to join House Telvanni in the near future. Too much insane wizards for his personal taste.


I couldn't even get as much sleep as I got in the inn's old bed. I spent the whole night worrying about the upcoming duel with Raccan, the Counts champion. Raccan, such a scary name. I spent the whole night thinking what tactics I should use or what armour my opponent was going to wear. I couldn't even get one ounce of sleep in this damn bed. I think I was the first man to get out of bed in the whole manor. I quickly put my under garments on and made my way to the oasis right next to Count Duadeen's estate. I was sure that the cool water was going to refresh and calm me. I spent a quarter of an hour bathing in the cool water after which I made my way back to my room. Kaye, the Count's retainer, was waiting for me there.
"You're here! I thought you ran off." he said with a relieved voice.
"Of course I'm here! What do you think? That I'm some woman that runs off at first sight of danger?" I said in a slightly annoyed voice.
"Well, Raccan has that effect on many warriors." responded Kaye.
"Raccan? The count's champion right? Is he that fearsome?" I said in an unbelieving voice.
"You question Raccan's strength? He once killed a wealthy noble with his five man escort and all. He has the strength of five grown men!" said Kaye in a fearful voice.
"If he's such a murderer how come he serves the Count?" I asked.
"The Count saw that he was such an accomplished warrior and paid for him to be released out off prison. Raccan's been with the Count ever since. The Count's library, with all of its rare texts, has been built on the back of Raccan's force." said Kaye.
"I'll believe it when I see this 'Ogre' with my own two eyes!" I said in a very annoyed and slightly fearful voice. I mean, how can any man be that damn powerful? Impossible I tell you!

After the conversation with Kaye, I fitted on my armour and took my new scimitar then made my way to the makeshift arena that was built especially for the duel. I entered through a door into the round arena and saw that there were some spectators. Count Duadeen and a few of his retainers were watching. The other door soon opened and I saw a giant of a man step into the arena. He was twice as tall as any man I had ever seen. At his size, he could spit on my head if he wanted. He stepped into the arena slowly with lumbering steps. He was carrying a great two-handed battle-axe made of steel. He was wearing little armour: a lamellar hauberk made of bronze with a leather vest underneath, a pair of leather bracers at his hands, some common pants and a pair off tanned leather boots. In comparison to me he was lightly armoured. I was wearing iron plate mail and was wielding a steel scimitar. If one of my blows were to connect to his armour, my sword's blade would pierce right through his bronze scales.

I approached him and we saluted each other. We then took ten paces back and prepared for combat. The Count gave the symbol for the duel to start. I approached Raccan with careful steps, and tested him with a blow from my scimitar. I thrusted my scimitar in the direction of his left foot, but Raccan had pretty good skills and blocked my thrust with his axe. He caught my scimitar in his axe's blade and almost threw it out of my hands. Good thing I pulled it out of his grip quickly, else the duel would have ended before it even begun. He then began raining blows on me. I evaded them as well as I could and even tried to parry them with my scimitar but to no avail. This behemoth could just as well break my sword with a few of his strikes. I didn't have any shield but I don't think it could have helped me much.

Raccan raised his axe over his head, preparing to strike me with all of his force. The only defect this man had was the fact that he was slow and tired quickly. I quickly ran out of his way, then ducked to evade his following blow. He then raised his axe again and I rolled out of the way. I realized that I couldn't beat Raccan with brute strength alone, I had to use my head. I tried a false slash that would get him off guard first. I slashed in the direction of his right shoulder then quickly pulled my scimitar back before Raccan could catch it in his axe's blade. I then spinned and landed a blow on his left foot. The scimitar penetrated his leg deeply and slowed him down even more. I quickly pulled my scimitar out of his leg. Raccan raised his axe for another chop at my head. I saw that his right hand was left wide open and tried to slash at it as I evaded him. The trick worked, and Raccan right arm and left leg were now both bleeding abundantly. Raccan retreated a few paces and let me come to him. I approached and he then surprised me by pushing his wooden axe head into my stomach. He then punched me and knocked me on the ground. I was down and Raccan raised his axe for the final blow. I was not as slow as he expected though and slashed both his legs in a wide arc.

He then fell to his knees and dropped his mighty axe. I looked to Count Duadeen with an arrogant look that made him go pale. His mighty champion was defeated! How could this happen? It wasn't possible, oh he was such a gifted killer how could it happen? I confirmed it to him that his warrior's time had passed with a final slash of my scimitar that severed Raccan's head. The duel was won! It was the second time I ever killed someone but I strangely felt good about it. I felt proud of myself for slaying such a mighty opponent. Count Duadeen approached me.
"I see you are quite a warrior Arthago. I would like to make you an offer." the Count said in a smooth voice.
"What kind of offer Count?" I inquired. As if I didn't know what he was going to say. Oh please join me Arthago!
"I would be honored if you were to enter my service as my champion." said the Count.
"I wouldn't. I'm sorry Count but you already know where my loyalties lie and you can't change that. Now, if you would be so kind, please give me those papers that showed you had ownership to the land." I said in an arrogant voice.
"You make a firm deal knight. Kaaye!!!" shouted the Count.
The retainer soon appeared with the papers. After taking my farewells to the Count and praying for Raccan's soul, I mounted Whisper, my horse, and made my way back to Sentinel to receive my reward for slaying such a giant.


~~~
I hope you've liked this update and I also hope you've enjoyed the fight scene. I've tried to follow Wolfie's texts in search of the best fight scene. I hope you've enjoyed reading the fight scene as much as I did writing

This post has been edited by Agent Griff: Mar 11 2006, 04:53 PM