Oasis chapter 3, In the enemies lair. Umm, mushroom. Options

[jack cloudy]

Oasis chapter 1
Oasis chapter 2

Ok, a new chapter. Let's just see where this goes. I've decided to do a small costume change, the old look got boring.



,,Ah, there you are, Evoker.” I hadn’t even put a step inside the hall, and already the Steward wanted something from me. It made me wonder how they ever managed before I joined.
She dragged me over to Galbedir’s office and waited till the woodelf had left before finally opening her mouth.

,,Tell me, Evoker. Have you by chance come across enchanted weapons or armour?” She asked. What kind of question was that, those things were all over the place.
,,Sure, are you looking for anything specific?” I answered while wondering just what might be so important.

,,Then you must be aware of the fact that no enchanted item seems to be able to hold its charge since a few months back. Only small items, like rings or amulets seem to be safe from it. It is as if something is draining them. Now, I have a very important mission for you.” Ok, so enchanted items couldn’t hold their charge anymore? That sounded familiar.
,,Let me guess, find out who did it and kill him.”

,,No, that would be too hasty. I am convinced that the culprit must be a member of house Telvanni. So I want you to go and join the house. You’ll be our spy on the inside.” Hold on, join Telvanni, the house of psychopathic mages?
,,Are you nuts?! I am already with the mage guild! The guild doesn’t like the Telvanni and the Telvanni doesn’t like the guild. And on top of that, I’m an outlander, how am I supposed to survive longer than ten seconds in their midst?!” I yelled at her face. Now really, this was the most stupid idea ever.

,,Calm down, Evoker. I don’t want the guild to hear this. Now to take care of things, you will be banned from the guild. After your assignment is completed, I’ll get you back in with your old rank, or maybe with a promotion. Skink’s hall in Sadrith Mora will serve as your link with the guild. It is right in Telvanni territory. I want you to prepare and pack. Tomorrow, you’ll leave for the hall in Sadrith Mora. Use the guild guide. Skink will further inform you.” I walked out of the hall with a very confused, and angry look on my face. There went my career as a mage, and I might even lose my life. I could only hope that those Telvanni weren’t as crazy and brainwashed as in mage guild jokes.

Back at my house, I took the time to work out the details. I would be dropped in potentially hostile territory and my only excuse was that I was kicked out of the guild and now wanted to join the enemy for revenge? That was the worst coverstory in history. I decided that a more thorough thing such as a disguise was needed. I had plenty of stuff to dress up with, so I just had to choose.

My new identity would preferably look somewhat magish, so I took Tarhiel’s robe out of the closet. Telvanni supposedly liked shiney stuff, so I replaced my Orcish armour with the new Glass armour I stole from Ghostgate. A Glass staff to walk around with, and my identity was set. I also geared on a Glass longsword for when things got rough. Using a weapon I was unfamiliar with was asking for trouble. I spent the rest of the night removing the markings on my new gear that said who the previous owner was.

Next morning, I got up very early and ate my breakfast enroute to the guild. A quick transportation later, and I arrived in Sadrith Mora.

First thing was to join the house and work my way to the upper ranks. With the skills I had gained during my mage guild career, I would have no problems passing the tests for promotion. That left making friends and making myself known as a loyal house member. How do you do that with a bunch of lunatics?

Sometimes when you don’t know what to do, the bold and direct approach might be the best. So I walked right through the middle of town to the council hall. And any guard who dared to stop me would get a sword in that ridiculous helmet.

[jack cloudy]

Glad you all liked it.
Oh Griff, by the end of the story he'll be likely even more uber than when he freaked out against those Telvanni guards. You have been warned.

Anyway, I decided to keep Baladas somewhat peacefull. If I would have him start flinging spells like in Telendil's story, mine would be ended prematurely. (Or I would have to start with Luper the ghost )
Update time!




,,Good. Now, you can find our friend in Gnisis. There are some other things you might want to do first though. Baladas is a scholar of sorts and specializes in the Dwemer. So if you could find any books on the Dwemer, it might make him a bit friendlier to you. Now if you would be so kind, I have more important matters to attend to.” A little bit later, I found myself outside Vos again.

Gnisis, eh? That was on the other side of the island. Why did people always had to make things so hard? Oh well, it wasn’t like I couldn’t take care of this, it would just take time and money.

I started by recalling back to the mage hall in Sadrith Mora. There, I released the powers in my amulet of shadows to become invisible. After that, I persuaded the guild guide to send me to Balmora. Officially, I had been banished from the guild, so appearing through guild guide would land me in trouble. But being invisible would only tell them that someone had made use of the guild guide, not who. I would draw one hell of a lot of attention to myself, but they wouldn’t know it was me. Perfect.

The Balmora guild guide had just enough time to notice that someone had arrived before I had already performed an Almsivi intervention to the front of the temple. By the time the Chameleon spell wore off, I had already entered my house. I dumped all the books I’d gathered that were written in the Dwemer language in a bag and then activated a second charge of my amulet which held out long enough for me to run to the Silt Strider that took me to Gnisis.

The guards directed me to Baladas but also warned me not to irritate him. Apparently, he had put one of them in jail a while back. One psycho mage who was easily offended. I love my job.

His house was an artificial cave. After knocking politely on the door, I went in. Within three seconds, I’d already wasted a Rat. I hoped this wasn’t a personal pet of his. As I explored the eerily empty house, I ran into a few more of the little critters. Finally, I came to a locked door. I managed to open it with the help of a key I’d found earlier and went through.

What was next might have been a bit embarrassing. Anyway, the moment I saw the scaly figure standing before me with its mouth wide open, I pulled out my sword and took cover behind a few crates, ready to fight for my life. But the Daedroth turned out to be of the friendly sort. It yawned, and walked to a room upstairs.

,,Now please, don’t scare my Daedroth like that!” An angry voice said upstairs. A few seconds later, the Daedroth came back, accompanied by a Sphere Centurion and a Dark Elf. I had met Baladas Demnevanni.

,,You better explain what you are doing here fast before I lose my patience, mage.” He continued, looking very angry. How did he figure out that I’m a mage?
,,I come here on behalf of master Aryon of Tel Vos. He would….”
,,That young fool? It must be about the council again.” Baladas interrupted me. He then turned to his Centurion.
,,Go and fetch those rats he killed on the way in. The Daedroth looks like he could use a good meal.” Oh crap, this guy was getting scarier by the second.

,,Now, since you appear to be rather skilled in the school of Alteration, I might give you a chance. Just get me a couple of books and we’ll talk. I want Antecedents of Dwemer Law, Nchunak’s Fire and Faith and finally, Chronicles of Nchuleft. I am quite sure that you can find all these books in Vivec. Now I’ll give you a few days.” He began to turn, but stopped.
,,Anything else, mage?” He asked. Alright, time to see what my books would do.

,,I have heard that you are a skilled scholar. I was wondering if you know how to read these books I have. I believe they are written in the Dwemer language.” I said and handed over the bag.
,,Oh yes, interesting pictures and Dwemer runes. I am afraid to admit it, but I can’t read it. No one can.”

He opened the last book and his eyes went wide.
,,This, this is written in both Dwemer and Aldmeris. This is the key! The key I’ve been looking for so long! I thank you, mage. While you go fetch my books, I’ll attempt to translate these for you.” Finally, I seemed to have gotten on his good side. When I walked out through the door, I had to step aside for the Centurion that came back with the rats in its hands.

A few Silt Strider trips later, I arrived in Vivec, city of annoying guards and long walks. Maybe I should try to repeat my little book theft in the library at the hall of Wisdom. It would beat paying for those books.