The Story of Taillus, Chapter 6 Options

[Taillus]

* I am sorry if I am moving way too quickly for everyone I am trying to give time to let people read it so in an attempt to make it so much easier on everyone I am hereby limiting myself to only one addition a day I know it will be hard considering now chapter 7 is also ready but I don't want to discourage anyone from reading my story So without further ramblings, here is the beginning of chapter 6! *


Chapter 6 - The Killer Within.

Taillus makes his way to the topside level of the Arena and looks for a seat. He decides to sit close to the arena itself so that he can see all of the details. He was looking forward to seeing what caliber of fighters were entered into the competition and could find himself at an advantage if he could figure out the winner’s fighting styles.

He watched as the spectators began to get antsy at the annunciation of the fighter’s names. From what Taillus could tell, the fighter named Artus was a fan favorite. He watched as the two men walked through opened doors and stand at opposite ends of the arena. The crowd goes eerily silent as both men have three minutes to emotionally prepare themselves.

The one known as Artus stands wearing a full suit of steel armor with a large battle axe and a sturdy steel shield. Artus had taken the liberty to etch a notch into the shield seemingly having one for each man he killed in battle. Taillus quickly counted coming up with an impressive number of twenty three.

The other fighter was a very solidly built Orc. His name was quite hard to announce so Taillus eventually gave up trying to repeat it. Nevertheless, the orc had only a pair of rusted iron greaves and an equally tarnished pair of iron boots. His upper body was completely void of armor and he had a single halberd in his hands.

A man stood at the top of a podium with a large bug shell at his mouth, the way it was shaped allowed his voice to be amplified so that the entire arena could hear him speak, after stating each combatant’s wins versus losses, he raises his hand and signals for both men to begin fighting.

The Orc belts out a bone shaking battle cry as both men charge headlong in each other’s direction. The fighter known as Artus quickly finds himself equipped wrongly for the fight when He ducks behind his shield only to feel the halberd scrape away a piece of the steel armor on his back. The Orc was far too tall for the shield to offer the protection it should have provided.

Artus quickly rolls to the side, abandoning his shield and swings desperately at the abdomen of the large Orc. The orc simply strafes to the side and pierces the fighter’s leg with the superior reach of his halberd.

The man shrieks in pain as he looks to see blood drip from underneath his grieves. The Orc being surprisingly nimble for his size, quickly removes the halberd from Artus’s leg and spins it before him, allowing the blade to catch the fighter in the helm. Artus falls to the dirt covered floor of the arena.

The Orc steps back, giving Artus a chance to get to his feet while laughing a deep, belly laugh and yelling obscenities at the downed fighter.

Artus shakily gets to his feet obviously favoring the leg that had been recently skewered by the Orc’s halberd. He motions for the Orc to continue and he readies his axe. The Orc charges once again but it shocked to see Artus throw his Axe with all of his might. It sails over the shoulder of the Orc, who smiles at his good fortune.

What he fails to notice is that the Axe is on a chain that Artus quickly grabs tightly and spins on his heels before hauling it back to him. The chain loses its slack and reverses direction in mid air. The Orc’s smile fades as he looks over his shoulder just in time to see the axe bury itself deeply in the side of his neck. Artus gives one last pull, bringing the ill fated orc to the ground at his feet.

The crowd cheers loudly and Taillus himself couldn’t help but stand and applaud the quick and clever thinking of Artus. He was going to have to have some tricks up his sleeve in order to remain among the living he thinks to himself before getting to his feet and heading downstairs once again.

[Taillus]

Time went on and Taillus continued to overcome his opponents. He defended his title over and over again, quickly becoming more and more battle savvy with each win. He gained popularity with the crowd and managed to topple each obstacle that he was faced with. Taillus also managed to obtain a full suit of ebony armor from the bits and pieces he earned through defeating fighters…

Within only a single short year, Taillus received an award for holding the title of arena master for the longest time in history. He earned enough to customize his armor replacing the standard gold accents with a better suiting silver and also won the prize of a massive, ebony broadsword. Things were looking up for Taillus and he had just about forgotten about Molag Bal.

Taillus started off his day like many other days before. He headed through the Redoran Canton and was crossing the bridge that led to the foreign quarter to sell some of his most recent spoils when a tremendous headache swept over him.

“No, please no. Not you again! Haven’t you given up on me yet?” Taillus says aloud as he leans on the side of the walkway. The same familiar headache that usually accompanied the voice of Molag Bal was returning after staying dormant for so long. Taillus slams his fist on the side of the bridge as he continues to lean over it. An ordinator looks curiously at him as he also crosses the bridge, making sure nothing happens.

“Not now Molag, I have a fight to win in mere hours. Please find another ambassador, I have found my calling here and I do not wish to leave!” Taillus whispers as he grips his head with both hands. The pain increases as his eyes water and he grips tighter almost to the point of pulling out his hair.

“I have given you a sufficient amount of time to teach yourself the art of battle. Now it is time for you to fully surrender yourself to me. I want you to travel to the town of Suran and seek out my Shrine. You will summon me there on the twentieth of Evening Star. I will show myself to the Mortal plane and I will direct you to the object you need to begin my enslavement of the people of Morrowind.” Molag Bal booms.

Taillus continues to grip his head with both hands as Molag Bal instructs further. The Ordinator continues to watch as Taillus leans over the guard rail of the bridge in pain. Taillus is stunned by the fact that the Daedric prince has called for him once again and the pain in his head was quickly driving him into a frenzied state.

“Listen here you coward! It is easy for you to bark orders from another plane of existence but remember that I can send back any of your messengers. I refuse to do your bidding and I refuse to leave the city of Vivec.” Taillus breathes as his forehead throbs. Taillus leaves the comfort of the guard rail as he stumbles into the Foreign Quarter, the Ordinator following close by.

“If you do not listen to me Taillus I will make sure that your last few days among the living will be filled with nothing but pain and suffering. I will make your head pound until you end your own life, then I will torture you here in Oblivion. Now either you do as I ask, or I unleash a wave of Daedroths to feast upon your flesh.” Molag Bal booms.

Taillus looks down as his shirt begins to feel wet. The pain of his scar emerges as blood drips from the tear he received from the Daedroth in Balmora. He gasps in horror as he stumbles through the crowds. His head pounds harder and harder as he clenches his teeth and hits his own head with his fists.

His surroundings begin to blur and spin as Taillus quivers in pain. He falls to his knees as people only step around him to get where they are going. The Ordinator watches closely, hoping to receive back up to remove Taillus from Vivec.

“Get out of my head! I will not help you! Do you hear me!! I will not help you!!” Taillus screams as the pounding in his head only increases. Taillus coughs loudly, becoming hoarse from yelling but still no one comes to his aid.

“These people do not care for you Taillus, they only have themselves in mind. No one has even checked on you. They could not be bothered and they simply walk over you. Do these people deserve to live? These inconsiderate flesh beings are only good for one thing, to fuel us and help us increase in power. Start our reign of terror and the pain stops.” Molag Booms from within Taillus’ head.

“I...I can’t! I wont! I…” Taillus is interrupted by more pain still as it doubles in intensity. Taillus writhes on the floor as people still choose to avoid him and walk around him as he continues to lie before the merchants of the Foreign Quarter.

“Get up Outlander. You are scaring the commoners and you must leave. This is an order! Get up you crazed madman and leave now!” the Ordinator shouts at the downed Taillus. Taillus slowly and painfully struggles to his feet with no help from anyone and stands before the Ordinator.

Taillus’ hands shake in agony as he stares into the golden mask of the Ordinator. He can see his own reflection in the mask, barely able to recognize it. His eyes were bloodshot and red, his face was pale and sickly looking and dark bags underlined his eyes.

“I order you to leave here at once. Take the nearest boat out of here and never return. I will only say it once.” The Ordinator says as he begins to draw his sword. Taillus smirks as he grabs the hilt of his broadsword that was strapped to his back. Before anyone could realize what had happened, Taillus had removed his blade, sliced it diagonally before the Ordinator and turned around.

As Taillus walked towards the exit of the Foreign Quarter, The Ordinator falls into two bloodied pieces. The merchants and commoners that were once almost ignoring the events taking place were now screaming in horror. Taillus breathes heavily as the pain begins to lessen dramatically as he slides his ebony broadsword back into its haven.

“Tell the dunmer that operates the small boat a short distance away to take you to Suran. If he claims that he does not go there on his usual route, threaten him until it is his usual route. Discover where my shrine is and I will tell you my wishes. It will not be long my son until you have more power then any other living being in Morrowind.” Molag Bal whispers as Taillus heads out of Vivec.

And that marks the end of Chapter 6... Sadly only three more chapters to go at the most. The story is almost done but this paves the way for Xander in Taillus' body in Oblivion. Thanks for all of the pointers, praise and fun!