The Hero in Disguise, Chapter 1 Options

[Taillus]

CHAPTER ONE - A Consuming Darkness.

I wish I could say that my story was that of a true hero. I wish I could say that in this land, a man that was a hero would get recognition for his selfless acts and would be immortalized. This is not the case. I have the unfortunate curse of not being myself in the most literal sense. My true name is Xander Moorcroft. I WAS an elite Battlemage in the Imperial Blue Lions of Ebonheart.

I was the only man able to bring down the maniacal, cold-hearted killer known only as Taillus. My congratulations and praise were non existent, instead I was thrown headlong into the Imperial Prison in Cyrodiil. In reality I blame no one. The events unfolding were not under control by anyone and I would never expect anyone to fully understand.

I am a prisoner in Taillus’ body. In defeating him, I had to switch our bodies to lock him in Oblivion. Now I am to be punished for all of his violent crimes. I must agree, they procecuted me quickly and efficiently so I do still have faith in our justice system but I would have liked to at the very least find out about my men that as far as I know are still fighting in northern Morrowind…


Today my morning began not unlike any other. I was kicked awake by a mouthy guard that drops a small loaf of crusty bread and a small pitcher of water in my cell and kicks again just for fun before leaving. It is like a violent alarm clock. I can also look forward to my daily harassment by the arrogant Dunmer across the hall. This is the life of a savior at its very finest.

After exchanging verbal blows with my “friend” across the hall, we were both surprised to hear the wooden door above us fly open as a handful of armored guards quickly try and smuggle a figure into the holding cells with us. I knew the elderly man as the one and only Uriel Septim himself.

Why he was down here is far beyond me and what is more mind boggling is that they opened my cell and quickly aided him inside. I know that that my idea of a safe haven for the Emperor would NOT by any means be safe in a cell with a COLD BLOODED KILLER. Give me a break. The Blades must be full of new recruits for god’s sake.

Then it hit me, well if “it” was the flat of a short sword. I grimaced as I felt cold steel rap against my fingers that were holding on to the bar door of my cell. I was instantly ordered to have a seat and was aided in doing so by the armored boot of a female guard. I fell into the corner of my cell as a nice Redguard man held me in place with his forearm. They opened up a passage in my cell that would have been great to know of before hand and was knelt before the Emperor.

“Let this man go. He does not deserve being manhandled.” The Emperor says softly as he motions for his guards to lift me to my feet. If you think I was blown away then you would be severely understating my feelings.

“I have seen you in my dreams young man. I know that you are not who people say you are and you are being tried as a murderer. I have seen in the stars that this is not what you will be remembered for…. But you must excuse me, my time here is limited.” The Emperor explains as a cell wall beside us rumbles below the floor.

“This man comes with us. He is most deserving of a second chance as any man I assure you.” The Emperor explains to his Blades as they walk down the stone passage that had just recently been revealed.

This post has been edited by Taillus: Apr 19 2006, 07:57 PM

[Taillus]

Here's the update as promised. I am also going to use my Finale of Taillus page to go over a few things. I plan on posting screenshots of both men just so it adds to the big picture. Another thing is the pronounciation of the name "Taillus" and how it was meant to be read cause I have some friends and readers of the series asking me...... Anywho, here's the update!

In following the Emperor and his most elite Bodyguards I learned a great number of things. I learned that all of the Emperor’s living heirs had been murdered and now the life of the Emperor himself is at risk.

I knew that with there being no living Ruler, All hell would almost literally break loose. I had to try and aid the Blades to make sure Uriel Septim makes it through this sewer alive. Even though my body was weak with malnourishment I would have to try my hardest to fight with everything I had.

The first attack was horrible. It was so unexpected and we lost a guard. There was so little we could do. The female Blades guard fell to the attack and was dropped lifeless to the stone floor. I managed to take a very nasty blow to the wrist but my prison bracer on my arm saved me. It was either that or the Emperor so I knew my choice before it happened.

I grabbed the blade of the fallen woman who had served Septim well. I knew that we would have to be on our toes or the assassins would win. After being separated, I managed to catch up with the group just in time to defend the Emperor from a fierce attack once again. The assassins were persistent as well as deadly but they failed to get even close to Uriel Septim.

This continued for about an hours time but in the end I must admit, we failed miserably. I watched as the Emperor fell to a robed killer just after he had trusted me enough to give me the sacred Amulet of Kings. I thought he wanted me to take the throne but instead I was to take it to Weynon Priory. I listened hard to the instructions and just as I had put the amulet beneath my tattered clothes, the assassin materialized out of nowhere and skewered Uriel upon his blade.

I watched it all happen and I felt so helpless as the speed of the attack left us all helpless. My feeling of sadness and mourning was quickly replaced however. Replaced by a burst of rage that caused me to lash out and pin the death dealer to the wall behind him with my bare hand on his masked face.

I could tell by this point that I had inherited part of the strength from Taillus from our body switch and for the first time ever, it was being put to good use. Even without the souls I could feel that Taillus was a powerful man. As I palmed the assassin's masked face, I could hear his muffled cries as I squeezed tighter.

With one swift unarmored punch, the assassin's head met the wall with a force that cracked the rock brickwork behind him. The Agent let out a pain filled yelp before I quickly planted my blade into his robe covered chest. The rest of the Emperor’s bodyguards ran in just in time to see the blood spill from the killer.

“No NO NO!! This cannot be! We’ve failed to keep the Emperor alive!” The Redguard howls as he falls to his knees beside the fallen Emperor.

“The Amulet! Where in the stars is it? I cannot find it on his body!?” He screams again before seeing me pull it from beneath my tattered clothes.

“I don’t know why he trusted you so greatly but he was always a good judge of character. Perhaps he can see something in you that we cannot. Regardless, did he give you any instructions?” The Redguard asks as he slowly gets to his feet.

I told him that I was directed to go to Weynon Priory where I could find a man who could direct me better. I was delighted to hear that my criminal record would be erased so it wouldn’t interfere with my travels. Lady luck is finally smiling down on me for a change instead of walking all over me for doing something good.

I made my way out of the sewer network with a small pocket of change as well as some quite crude effects. Weapons and such that I could sell at the very least to make my journey to Weynon Priory an easier one because I needed all the help I could get. I could also visit a smith that might be able to knock these shackles off to make me look a tad less like a hardened criminal.

The one thing that I could not wait for is to get myself a bed for the night in the Imperial Market District and a well earned meal. Today was a pretty good day in the making as long as I didn’t think about the very recent murder of the Emperor of course…..