The Hero in Disguise, Chapter 3 Options

[Taillus]

Ah Chapter 3. It starts getting alot better from this point on in my opinion but I will let you all decide for yourselves. I am also thinking of doing a double post tonight so I can make up for not being able to post tomorrow. Enjoy everyone!

Chapter 3 - Don't forget about the amulet!


As my demanding training regiment slowed down and I could feel as though my combat skills were back where they should be I decided that I would check in on Jauffre and Martin. I am afraid that I may have neglected them a tad but I knew that it was for the better. I would be of no use to anyone without my skills sharpened.

I was quickly told that I should go see Baurus in the Elven Gardens of the Imperial City. I knew him as the Redguard Blades member that was with me at the time the Emperor died. I was to go visit him in hopes that he had found any small piece of information on the whereabouts of the Mythic Dawn.

I agreed to pay Baurus a visit and see what he has turned up. Hopping on to my horse once again and setting off along the roads made me realize why Silt Striders were so popular in Vvardenfel. It would be another long ride to the Imperial City but I would be able to run without worrying about people to protect.

I managed to track down my friend in question and at first glance, he angered me. Not very convinced that he was looking too hard because he had his redguard boat plopped down on a barstool having a drink but I thought that it wasn’t up to me to keep tabs with him and as far as I could tell, he was off duty.

I sat down on the stool beside him and smiled. I knew he remembered me and something told me he was expecting me but something was on his mind. He seemed to be preoccupied but he let me in on what was happening…well he kind of let me in on it.

“I am going to get to my feet and walk away. The man behind me will do the same. I want you to follow him following me so we can see what he is up to.” Baurus said quietly before getting up off his stool and walking down into the basement of the Tavern.

I watched as the man did exactly as the Redguard predicted and followed him beyond the door. I decided to wait a second before getting to my feet. I had a nod of approval from the bartender or owner of the tavern as he agreed to watching my bag full of equipment for me without saying a word.

I rushed into the basement and to my amazement, I saw Baurus trying his best to fight off a Mythic Dawn agent. The Redguard Blade member’s akavari katana was on the floor feet away and the Mythic Dawn agent had a short blade to his throat. I figured that enough was enough as I grabbed the robed oaf by the hood and pulled him from Baurus. He swung madly at me but was quickly stopped by a jolt of crippling shock magicka from my fingertips.

I could feel his body convulsing before he fell to the ground before us as the shock effects still crackled around his body. I then used a touch magic that increased the poor fool’s weakness to magicka greatly. He yelped in pain before giving up completely and expiring.

“I knew he was Mythic Dawn! I knew it!” Baurus said as he checked the body. He managed to pull a book from the Agent’s robes and asked me to take it to a contact he had in the Arcane University. An Argonian woman who had a great deal of experience with the Dawn and would prove quite useful in figuring out the contents of the book in question, as well as a possible use for it as well.

[Taillus]

I just had to post this tonight! I thought it was the clever Xander at his best. This should just about carry us into Chapter 4 too! Happy Reading everyone!


As I ran through a tunnel that was labeled as the one leading to the barracks, I knew that things would soon get much worse. I could see some figures up ahead meaning that I was about to be blocked from both sides. I wasn’t really up for being flatfooted so I thought quickly and decided to boost my strength and speed with a fortification spell.

I must say that unarmored, cloaked idiots do not fare well against a man running about as fast as a deer with the plowing force of a minotaur. After I trampled the pathetic few that were in my way, it was due time to deal with the ones that were still able to chase me. As I passed another room in the barracks, I noticed in the corner of my eye some food as well as some large barrels.

I had to stop them for just a few seconds. I needed enough time to make sure I could escape this place. I had a plan and it was my only hope. I extended an arm to the hall containing my pursuers and focused another blast of magicka. Luckily my aim was dead on causing the trio of men taking the lead to fall hard from a paralyze spell. The falling dawn agents tripped others and within seconds created a congested Mythic Dawn blockade.

I chuckled to myself at the sight of the poor fellows subject to that magicka. They looked so helpless as their legs gave way to paralysis and they crumpled to a skidding halt as others tripped and fell onto them. I had no time to consider how amusing it truly was. Soon enough they would push their way through the tunnel and catch me.

The reason I had to stop in this next barrack hall was that there were barrels propped up on wooden stands. I could tell by the symbol burned into the wood of the barrel that I was looking at something that would completely turn the tides for me. Cyrodillic Brandy!

I quickly used my buffed strength and speed from my fortification spell to heave one barrel on each of my shoulders and ran through the next hall. I had secured the book within my robes for good measure and I looked behind me as they were beginning to catch up to me now but it really didn’t matter any more. They will all rue the day they messed with the Blades, more so they will regret ever coming in contact with me!

I could see the exit of their lair and the wooden door to the outside world was only a short distance away. I smiled as I let the barrels of brandy drop off my shoulders and fall behind me. In one swift movement, I leapt into the air while turning to face my assailants. A surge of magicka swelled in my opened hands as I pointed my palms at the barrels.

“This is for Uriel Septim you hooded scumbags!” I yell as an earth shattering blast of flame magicka screams into the halls. It collided with the barrels causing an explosion that collapsed most of the barracks as well as trapped or killed all of the Mythic Dawn agents that were following me.

I landed hard on my upper back and skidded across the stone floor of the cave entrance. The force of the explosion propelled me several feet so I could only imagine what it had done to the agents that were almost in point-blank range. I slowly got to my feet as the wind was knocked out of me and I headed for the exit. After the events that had unfolded in that lair, I felt so refreshed, so rejuvenated and so alive.

I was not one to get a thrill from killing a man. In fact I would hate myself for killing a man unless he deserved it but this, knowing that I ended the lives of such vile, fowl people, knowing that I had taken the lives responsible for killing the emperor made me feel immortal.

I headed back to Cloud Ruler Temple eager to give Jauffre and Martin the news as well as the Mysterium Xarxes so he can work on getting us another chance to take the amulet back. Things were really getting intense but I had to say that we were definitely making some progress. I was actually beginning to think that we would end up successful.

Back at the Blades Head Quarters, I presented Martin with the book. He told me that he so greatly appreciated me doing everything I have done and he really felt sorry to keep sending me on errands but I seemed to be the only one capable of doing these things. I informed him that it would be a waste to send others to do such jobs. I reminded everyone that before Uriel Septim was assassinated, I was just another man waiting to die in prison.

Martin was polite in saying that everyone makes mistakes and I know that not a single man here would believe me if I just suddenly told the story of me saving Vvardenfel. It would be a waste of breath so I thanked him and went to the west wing of the Fortress and rested for a while…gods know I needed the sleep…

As I slept in the room that was provided for me, I could see Ebonheart again in my dreams. It was like the vision I had in the caves some time ago. I could still see Taillus in my body, giving a rally speech to a number of men. The sky was a deep red and black and I could hear thunder in the distance.

Unfortunately I could not hear his speech. I was in the crowd but his voice was muffled and distorted. He did have the support of every person in the crowd however and they were all cheering his name, his real name. This is perplexing, what does it all mean? Why are these dreams haunting me?

I woke up in a cold sweat. I expected it to be like my last dream with him acting as though he was me but I distinctly heard the crowd cheering Taillus. I was going to end up going mad unless I could figure this all out.

The next morning I was greeted by Jauffre, He knelt beside my bed and shook my shoulder. He informed me that Martin had made a great number of important findings and that he wished to speak to me. I decided that it would be best if I went to see him right away.

“Good Morning Xander, I have made a great number of discoveries. The good news is that I may be able to gain access to where Mankar Camoran is hiding. In doing so, we can eradicate him and get the amulet back. The only bad part is that I need two things. We will have to acquire the armor of Tiber septim…an artifact that no one has laid eyes on in a great number of years.

The other artifact is a powerful item known only as a great Welkynd stone. I know you have seen minor ones but it is said that after the pillaging and theft of most of the great stones, only one remains in Cyrodiil. There is a great ruin a distance away from here. It is there that you will find the stone.

As for the Armor of the great Tiber Septim, you have to travel to where it rests, in a shrine turned ruin on the other side of Cyrodiil. We will need these items to be collected before I can go any further.” Martin explains as he sets the Mysterium Xarxes on the desk before him.

I agreed to track these artifacts down and was about to leave to my room to collect what I needed for the journey when a young blades member burst through the door. He instantly gained the attention of the entire room and he stopped for a brief second to catch his breath.

“A messenger from Bravil… He came to me to say that a gate to Oblivion has opened just outside of the city gates. It only took seconds for daedra to come spilling out. We have to send help right away!” The young man says as he still struggles to catch his breath.

“We cannot spare any defense here at the Temple so I will go myself. I will have to get the artifacts at a later time.” I state as I sprint into the west wing and gather my equipment. I get approval from Jauffre as I burst through the door of Cloud Ruler Temple and I hop atop my paint horse and speed to the aid of Bravil.