The Hero in Disguise, Chapter 4 Options

[Taillus]

Ok ladies and gentlemen, I feel bad for neglecting this story for any stretch of time so I have decided to give you all a fair chunk of the chapter to make me feel better. It is a large read but I hope it will be worth your time. Tell me what you think

My shaking hands felt around me for my lost blade. I watched as Taillus drew in deep breaths obviously glad that he finally tracked me down. I still had no clue how I was going to even scratch his armor but I knew I was going to have to hurt him somehow. I could feel the blood rushing from my limbs and face, making my body cold as ice even in the oftentimes overwhelming heat of Oblivion.

“There will be no talking…No speech and no bragging. I will kill you after torturing you longer than you can stand plain and simple.” Taillus growls as he watches me on my knees not even two feet away.

What troubled me the most is that he seemed to be free of the mocking voice of Molag Bal inside his head. If this was so, then he would be free from interruption allowing him to fully focus on ripping me to shreds. The very thought of engaging him in battle made my skin crawl. Every wound he caused, every injury dealt at his hands began to pain once again as I slowly climbed to my feet. I grabbed my katana and held it tight, hoping my fear wouldn’t cause me to drop it again and I looked squarely into his blood red eyes.

I watch as he unbuckles his cuirass as well as unlatching a pauldron and sleeve of his armor. The whole sleeve of his Daedric armor falls to the floor beside him, rattling between us. I remembered that he preferred using only half of his armor because it shows his cockiness and allows him to move better. My theory proved correct when the whole cuirass fell off his chest before Taillus cracks his neck in anticipation.

Just as I was about to launch a surprise attack, Taillus attempted the same. He lunged forward, catching me totally unawares and sending me sprawling backwards with a speedy backhand to my face. His speed was unbelievable and his strength was exactly as I remembered if not even greater. Just as I stopped rolling from his introductory attack, I watched with my head spinning as he leapt in the air, hoping to crack my skull more than likely.

I was barely able to roll away and I gasped in horror as his armored gauntlet plowed through the rough black tiles of the floor splintering the thick rock like tiles in an explosion of debris. Thick rock dust clouded the both of us after the attack allowing me to quickly scramble back to my feet once again but without even missing a beat, I watched as the silhouette of Taillus broke free a large piece of the floor and hurled it like a jagged Frisbee on a direct course for my neck.

I ducked as quick as I could and felt the sting of the rock tearing through my armor as it peeled away the plating that covered my back but that was the least of my worries as Taillus burst through the cloud of dust and kicked at my head as I was dodging the floor piece. I managed to raise an arm in defense but it hardly mattered. I could feel the bone breaking in my forearm before Taillus picked me up by my neck and tossed me at the wall behind me.

This was impossible. How am I even going to survive this, let alone defeat this demon. Taillus was finely tuned and bent on my destruction…but maybe not as finely tuned as I had originally thought. I watched after coming to my senses as he approached me but quickly brought his hand to his mouth before coughing violently. I could see blood trickling from his fingers as the coughing continued.

Taillus was looking really sick, and as underhanded as it was, I thought that catching him while in this state might be my only chance. My mind scrambled for a spell that would come in handy but spells have been incredibly hard to conjure ever since Taillus and I switched bodies. I was going to have to learn to come out of this rut if I ever wish to see the light of day in Cyrodiil again.

I managed to remember a lightening spell that could potentially put him down for the count. It was a spell I used to light up Nord Barbarians back in Northern Vvardenfel. I thought for a second as I ran towards Taillus who was still coughing badly. I smiled victoriously as my hands lit up blue with magicka before releasing large tendrils of electric energy that wrapped around Taillus making him convulse in pain.

It was still not enough as I was met with a blast of his own magicka in retaliation. Blood trickled down the side of his mouth as he practically roared while a large wave of fire energy screamed in my direction. Without even thinking, I closed my eyes remembering a fire protection spell and held out my hands to meet the spell wincing as it rolled around my body. I could feel heat but my protection spell must have worked because the wall behind me was charred badly. I should have been baked where I stood.

I must say that Taillus brings out the best in me. Fighting literally for ones life would probably bring out the best in anyone but it is as true as it gets. Fighting him was forcing me to remember the spells I was unable to conjure otherwise and all of this quick thinking and instinctive moves revived my knowledge, revived my entire library of spells I worked so hard to memorize!

Taillus quickly ran to the mangled Daedroth skeleton and pulled free the daedric broadsword that he obviously used a time ago to dismiss the previous keeper of the Sigil Stone. He uttered something mildly witty along the lines of needing the weapon back if the ill-fated Daedroth didn’t mind and I sprinted forward in hopes to catch him flatfooted as he was releasing the blade.

I was met with a harsh elbow to the collar bone stopping me in my tracks and almost bringing me to my knees in pain while also allowing him the few seconds he needed to release his broadsword. I had to think of how easy this would be if it wasn’t for Taillus. A Daedroth as a Sigil Stone bodyguard would have only been a minor setback, this…this was catastrophic! I managed to sidestep and dodge the swift attacks from Taillus noting that he was obviously still shaken from his recent coughing fit. I had to wonder what was happening in that body of his but had little time to piece anything together as I was quickly beaten with the flat of the broadsword as punishment for not keeping my mind on the fight.

My broken arm was really keeping me out of the game and I was sure he broke something other than my cuirass with his last attack as well. I was in danger of losing my life but I knew it wasn’t going to be quick just as he promised. I was certain that my body was going to give up soon under the sheer power that is Taillus but just as he was about to take another swing, the doors that I had only minutes before used to gain entry to this room flew open revealing my Nord friend.

“Let my friend be you filthy Daedric Demon!” The Nord shouts as he points his blade in our direction. I rolled my eyes as Taillus turned on his heels to meet the source of the comment. A smile creeps across his face before he burst into hysterical laughter. I had to say that I couldn’t blame him. The Nord was hardy and tough but I am sure Taillus at ten years of age could have had him begging for mercy.

“Terribly sorry friend. I apologize sincerely for pummeling your friend. Let me make it up to you both by giving up.” Taillus laughs as he walks toward the Nord. The leader of the Bruma army quickly realized the caliber of my tormentor as a black miasma crept around Taillus’ body revealing a brewing fear attack. Taillus was going to scare the Nord to death! I had to end this quickly. I shouted to the Nord, ordering him to throw his amulet in my direction. I quickly grabbed a jagged, broken rib from the Daedroth skeleton and sprinted to catch the airborne amulet.

The Nord hauled off his amulet and tossed it over Taillus’ head. I readied a spell as I ran at them and cast it as soon as he turned around to catch the soaring piece of jewelry. Taillus was surprised with a quick and intense light magic that blinded him, He cried out in pain before covering his eyes in an attempt to shield himself from the burning light that robbed him of his sight giving me just enough time to catch the amulet, whip it around my neck and let it charge.

Taillus frantically swung at me but without knowing where I was, he was easy to avoid, Just as the light spell wore off allowing Taillus to see, the familiar red of the strength fortification from the amulet circled my body. With not even a second to spare, I jumped, pulled back my usable arm that was armed with the broken bone of the Daedroth and buried it deeply into Taillus’ right shoulder.

The force of the action along with the fortification of my strength made the bone sink deeply into his non armored skin. Taillus screamed in agony as more blood trickled out of his mouth. I decided to take advantage of the still active enchantment by planting a few good punches at his abdomen and to my amazement, the mighty Taillus went down for the count.

My arm was still broken, and paining badly. Plus I was certain that my ribs have suffered as well as my shoulder blades and back. Taillus had definitely done a number on me but I was still standing and he was not. It was a better ending than I could have ever wished for and now it was time for me to grab that Sigil Stone and get out of here. The Nord and I both went up the winding catwalk and stood before the stone. It was finally over and was time to leave this place.

“Who was that beast of a man my friend?” The Nord asks shakily as we crested the top of the catwalk to meet the waiting Sigil Stone, our way out of this nightmare. I told him vaguely that he was an old “Friend” who was more dangerous than any other living mortal man. The Nord questions him being mortal and with good reason, I was barely sure he was still human myself.

I motioned for the Nord to grab the Sigil Stone while I drowned myself in healing magics. It was unlike me but unless one feels the pain caused by Taillus then I would suggest not judging. I also felt that the Nord deserved to finish closing this gate considering him even making it here was astonishing I gave him the honor and he nodded before quickly snatching the stone from its perch obviously as eager to escape this place as myself.

[Taillus]

So here we are, another update but just remember with Clash of the Titans well on its way and due to begin any time I may have to slack on this story a tad to make full certain that the Clash goes on without a hitch. Jack has been doing an amazing job hosting and organizing the event and im sure it will be flawless but I think it is our duty as active writers in this forum to see to it that this event goes as strongly as it possibly can. But without further ado...

The familiar feeling of transporting back from Oblivion is a feeling that I will never forget as long as I shall live. The sickness of being spun by the ankles by a titan ogre for minutes on end is possibly the only reasonable description in my eyes. You come back dizzy, disoriented and sick to your stomach worse than any other time you can recall. My Nord friend and I are catapulted back to the gate’s entrance and we roll to a stop at the feet of the remaining soldiers from Bruma who had been fighting as hard outside the gate as we were while inside.

“Congratulations men, you have succeeded! We are victorious!” A nameless fighter shouts as two other armored men help us to our feet. A smile crosses my face as I notice a few armored men from the Blades had quickly rushed to aid the city in my absence. I also saw a third body that had come from the closing gate. It was our archer friend and miraculously enough, he was stirring. I thought that I might still be in a less-than-stable state of mind but my eyes were not deceiving me, the young archer that I had watched fall to his death was apparently alive and well.

The Nord was quick to question his state and we were relieved to hear his fall was stopped short when he managed to grab a rope that was dangling a decaying corpse by the neck along the side of the middle tower. I remembered that this was an all too common sight in Oblivion and it serves as warning to any intruders. I congratulated him on his luck and expressed my joy that he was still among the living before the three of us were cordially invited back to castle Bruma for a note of thanks from the countess herself.

After receiving a well deserved pat on the back I was also invited by my Nord friend to a local inn where the bar was offering free drinks to the saviors of the city. I knew I had plenty to do but I wasn’t about to turn down spending some time with the two people that had risked their lives to go along with me all just to learn how to close gates themselves. These two men were braver than most and I wanted to make sure that they knew that!

The night flew by us as we talked about our lives and what brought us to where we met at the gate. I was intrigued by the stories I heard and while all agreed that my battle with Taillus and how I managed to switch bodies and trap him in hell was by far the most…interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the trials of others and how they overcame them.

The Nord, who I now know as Dimir grew up right here in Bruma and once saved the whole city from a pack of starving wolves. The patrons of the bar vouch for the story by saying that he didn’t even feel he had time to dress in his armor, he simply ran outside in the freezing cold in his underwear and a hand axe, the wolves didn’t stand the slightest chance.

I also learned that Dimir had raised the young wood elf archer after finding the infant on his doorstep abandoned late one night. The wood elf that chose the name Cerwin himself when he was five years of age grew to be a perfect compliment in battle to his adoptive father. Dimir was the frontline fighter while Cerwin watched his back with a hawk’s eye aim and a perfect proficiency with a bow that is second to none.

The pair had defended Bruma from many evils over the years and have definitely made names for themselves. They knew that in learning how to close the gates to Oblivion, they were now fully prepared for anything that hopes to harm their fair city and for that I commend them. Just as I was about to leave and head back to my small room at Cloud Ruler Temple, I was approached by the innkeeper who wished to see me stay in town overnight at no charge. I was given the finest room the inn had to offer as well as means to clean myself up and a change of clothes while my garments were cleaned by the inn staff and my armor was repaired and polished by the local smith. I had to say that these people really knew how to make a stay comfortable but I felt badly for them refusing to take any sort of compensation.

I was informed that this is how they treat heroes and that I was certainly worthy of the title. The Inn keeper also continued to say that money wasn’t as important here and that helping your neighbors was far more favorable than striking it rich. I sighed, wishing the majority of the cities here were like that but it seemed that no one could function without the familiar glitter of currency. I decided that there were more potent evils than this and that I would have to let it all go as to not bring myself from this good mood.

As I finished cleaning up, mending my broken and sore body as I soaked in a wooden tub full of hot water my mind began wandering as it often does. I wondered how things will be now that I know Taillus is alive and relatively well. I was positive that my attack that brought him down didn’t kill him, I was smarter than that. What scared me the most was in knowing that he really didn’t belong in Oblivion. So did that mean that he was kicked out with the destruction of that gate? Rules are rules after all and I am sure no exceptions are made in that case; and in that case, this means that Taillus may very well be roaming the country side as I sit here thinking about it.

The very thought made my bones ache and I shivered in fear despite the almost scalding water I was in. I had no time to be pampered here and while I enjoyed it thoroughly and appreciate the work in mending my armor, I was going to have to leave tonight. Taillus probably never sleeps so I am going to have to find someone who can tell me where exactly he is hiding so I can do the best I can to strike him down…somehow!