The Hunter Ch. 2, Story by Thoron the Hunter a.k.a. Randy Options

[Thoron the Hunter]

Heres the Second Chapter of The Hunter, hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2:The Beginning
I awoke with a start as a noise sounded outside my cabin. Grabbing Savior, uncharged from the two years it had never met a Welkynd Stone, took off my shoes and snuck to the window. As I peered out, I couldn't help
but chuckle at the sight of two sheep racing around no less than fifteen yards from the
door. I sighed with relief as I, still smiling, walked to the cupboard to retrieve an apple. As I began cutting the apple with a knife handy at the table, I started outside to smell the fresh, morning air through my nostrils.

The light wind, blowing on the grass ever so gracefully, can soothe any man, barbaric or noble. I stared into the Jerall Mountains and sighed, "what an adventure that could be, but the next delivery of venison is in three mornings, and I've only got four of the expected twelve deer". Paws scratched the floor behind me as my dog, and only friend, came strolling to my side and sat. He too stared at the Jerall Mountains.

My father was the only Bosmer in my family that spoke fluent Beast Tongue. He had not taught his only son, nor his wife, who was an Imperial that had gone away around my first year. I can't remember what mother looked like or how she acted, but I did not mind, as long as I had my father... which I do no more.


Gnawing at the core of my apple, I grabbed my fur cuirass and patched, rusted iron greaves, readying myself for a long day of hunting. Savior sat on the bed, itching to be used once again. I grabbed a quiver of arrow as well as Savior, and set out for work.

Being careful not to make a single sound, as I was scared of frightening any meat that I crossed paths with, I once again took of my shoes and began walking quietly up a hill. Crouching at the peak, I surveyed the countryside, which looked like no man had traversed in decades. I had spotted movement Northeast of a large oak and investigated further by sneaking down the hill to where I spotted it.

I stared at the deer and reached for an arrow from the quiver of twelve, and held it. Still staring at the doe, I tried my luck by moving in on it, hiding behind a semi-transparent bush thirteen yards away from the animal. Licking the perspiration from my lips, I readied myself, equipping an arrow on the enchanted bow. I held it with my eye parallel to the iron arrow, and sat, waiting for the perfect shot. The deer moved closer to me, but I still itched to get a better shot. I shifted from my stance, which alarmed the deer, but it resumed to nibble on the fresh grass. I once again looked for the best shot, waiting. In moments, the doe moved over diagonally a yard, exposing his vulnerable abdomen, when I released the arrow with deadly accuracy.

I watched the deer fall to the ground with the arrow pertruding from his chest. I walked toward the game, admiring the shot. Leaning and still amazed at the size of this doe, I removed the arrow. I wiped it down, and placed it back in it's quiver, once again making a quiver of twelve. I unequipped my bow and strapped it on my cuirass. Using all of my strength, I heaved the doe and slung it over my shoulder.

Heading in the direction I came, using the oak as a compass, I grew tired quickly. Panting and in need of a break, I dropped the carcass and lied down, staring at the cloudless sky. 'One day, I won't need to hunt for anyone else but myself. I will hunt when I choose and won't have a delivery day. That will be better than this'

I took a swig of wine from my wineskin and pocketed it. I stood, recovered from the break, to bring back the meat, heaving the doe once again.

Soon, I arrived at the cabin, with my dog waiting patiently. I set the deer in the storeroom, along with the other four and sat for a moment on a chair outside. I exhaled, and listened to the chirping birds nearby. The Jerall Mountains caught my eye once again. I just couldn't stop thinking about them. I couldn’t help but wonder what creatures I'd find there, what undiscovered dungeons would be there, or what artifacts lay hidden beneath ruins. I put a stop to the thoughts as I remembered I had to hunt still before I can rest, and drew Savior from my cuirass.

The sky started to darken as the sun started to set. It wouldn't be smart to hunt at night, but I needed the meat badly. I groped underneath my bed for the torch and put it my cuirass. I headed out once again, halting every fifty yards to gaze at the landscape. I kept going in one direction until I saw something to hard to make out in the darkness. I lit my torch and saw what I had seen. Standing before me was a herd of deer. I lowered my torch, able to see from the moonlight. 'Just my luck' I thought as I stepped closer to the herd and equipped Savior and an iron arrow.

I stared at the largest of deer among the herd and steadied myself, peering past a hiding tree. Letting the string go, the arrow darted smoothly toward the large animal, hitting his neck. All the other deer scattered around in all directions. Like lightning, I equipped an arrow and shot. It happened to hit yet another doe in the front leg, forcing it to fall immediately to the ground, squirming. I brought another arrow to the bow and released it into the writhing doe, ending her misery.

Luckily, the deer were light, so I threw one over each shoulder, stopping frequently to adjust the weight. I soon became weary and burdened and dropped my wineskin near a tree to recover it tomorrow. I traveled further with the cabin in sight now, my footsteps being the only noise of the night. I walked around back to the storeroom and place the dead deer inside, then went into my house. I stripped my clothing and lied in bed, eager for the next day to come.


I awoke amongst fog and a series of voices speaking a tongue I could not understand. The words grew louder, and louder, and LOUDER. I clapped my hands over my ears and yelled "WHAT DO YOU WANT"? The voices grew louder than ever, my ears popping and head aching. The room began to shake and I fell to the floor and grabbed Savior. "WHO ARE YOU"? The shaking grew worse and the voices, louder. I took an arrow and loaded my bow, then shot it ferociously at the door... and all fell silent.

I stood, horrified and afraid, waiting.

A mist appeared in front of me, an eery mist. A solid form then appeared out of the mist...my father!? I stood and couldn't help but cry, just cry. He then said with a hoarse whisper, "Thoron, I don't have much time. I'm restless and need to rest. For two years, I have tried to contact you in every way but the result was futile. Alas, I can speak to my son". He paused for a moment, smiled a frightening smile, and continued, "Bandits have invaded my burial place, a cave called Capstone. I need you to go there and take care of those who disturb my peace.

"Here are specific instructions that you need to listen most carefully carefully to.

"Behind the Statue of Pit Fighter Morhihaus in the Arena District, there is a rock with moss grown on it. Cast any Illusion spell on it and the rock would disappear, so make sure no one is watching, but where the rock was, should be a bag of gold. I kept this just in case of times I needed it. This, Nirya aided me by casting a powerful invisibility spell that can only be broken with Illusion.

"Talk to Raminus Polus in the Arcane University, Arch Mages Lobby, and tell him 'Aragorm held a Savior on Fire', which will automatically unlock the gates to the University. Go to the arboretum and talk to an Argonian about Capstone Cave, which she'll mark on your map, South of Cloud Ruler Temple.

"My last order is to use that money for any needed equipment, and a horse for your travels.
You must go soon, before the bandits dismantle any more of the cave....."He started to clutch his throat and gag. My father fell to his knees, shaking and gagging, until he quickly evaporated into the air. I stood, horrified, staring at where the opaque man had been just moments ago. I thought and tried to recollect what had just happened.

I was still in shock when the walls and floor began shaking once again. I needed to leave! I grabbed Savior and headed for the door. Grabbing the handle, I pulled the it. It was stuck. I pulled harder but the result was the same. I stared back at the bed, shaking worse then ever when I noticed that the room was getting smaller. I looked around, trying to find a way out. I sprinted to the window and looked outside. Where am I? I stared out at the nothingness that surrounded me. The blackest nights could not even relate to this. I looked back at the other three walls, which were inching ever closer. Grabbing an arrow and equipping it, I shot it as I did before, nothing happened. I tried once more but that was as pitiful as the last attempt.

I looked around, and kept spinning, looking at one wall at a time. This is unreal! It can't be happening! The walls pushed all that was around it towards the center, leaving only a yard of space for me. I jumped on the table and looked around once again, my heart racing and fear taking over me. The walls got closer, and closer. Crack! Sounded the wood of chairs and the table where I stood splintering by the force. I yelled and closed my eyes until I felt a sharp pain surround me...

I awoke, screaming and shot up out of my bed. Sweat trickled down my body like a river. I felt my chest and face, nothing had happened. It was all a dream.

This post has been edited by Thoron the Hunter: Dec 7 2006, 01:18 PM

[The Metal Mallet]

I second Jack's comment and would like to add that the detail you add to things is very nicely detailed. I look forward to more. It looks like he'll reach the Imperial City quite soon. I really want to see what his father has kept hidden away.

[Thoron the Hunter]

thanks Jack and Mallet... i'm sorry it's taking a while.... things are pretty busy in the real world but i'll start the next section today.

This post has been edited by Thoron the Hunter: Jan 20 2007, 05:30 PM

[Thoron the Hunter]

I finally have it! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5: Reaching an Out-of-Reach Destination
The soft breeze of nightfall filled the air on the long bridge over Lake Rumare. The slow-moving clouds hovered in the air over the Imperial City’s sleeping residents.

Evening had taken over day as I, Thoron the Hunter, traveled over the long bridge in search of the Arena District, where my journey may start, or where it may end. With no way to tell, I halted adjacent to a flaming torch and stared at the blazing flame’s inner core. The wood that burnt represents me in a way. It may choose to extinguish the flame, or keep it burning.

Tired and hungry, I sat in that very niche and removed the shirt from my bare chest to the hard cobblestone. Reaching into my sack, I pulled out a portion of venison and cut it in two, using the sharp arrow head from my quiver of fourteen. Inserting an arrow into a half-portion of venison, I roasted the meat upon the flame of the torch.

I stared out into the still Lake Rumare and pictured the dream once again, as vivid as ever.
How can I do all this just being a lonely hunter? My father must’ve had a reason for me to leave the old shack, not just for ridding his tomb of bandits, but for something else, though I cannot think of what it might be.

I removed my eyes from the lake and watched my slowly-cooking venison. Once the venison was cooked, I brought it to my mouth and chewed the gamy meat. The idea that my father, Aragorm, wanted me to get to his tomb for something more than he had mentioned, didn’t excite me, nor did it frighten me. The thought brought a shiver to my spine as I gazed into the flame, taking another bite of venison. Maybe he just wanted to show me his Imperial Legion Tomb. I didn’t want to think about it any longer, as I scoffed the meat down and placed my head upon the ground, lying Savior right beside me. I drifted off to a deep sleep, having dreams of when I was a child, spending time with his father. I dreamt of the day my father had taught me how to work the prison. He placed the hard, uncomfortable iron bracers onto my wrists and place me in a cell.
He said, “I hope you never have to be in here ever, unless your dealing with a prisoner”.
But I felt like I was in that cold dark cell lit only by a single torch in one corner.


Birds trilled as I picked my head up to find a morning sun rising slowly in the east, over the Imperial City. I picked myself up and sat on the edge of the niche, as I, still trying to shake myself of all sleepiness, picked up the shirt and placed it upon my back. With dreams of night still buzzing around within my head, I equipped savior and strode onward toward the great Imperial City Gate.

As I took my last few steps on the cobblestone, now stepping of stairs, I stared in amazement at the beautifully carved door, just as I did as a boy.
With the stare interrupted by a guard, he said, “Hurry along, we don’t have all day”. I nodded and placed my hand upon the reinforced iron door. The texture had changed since I last felt it. The guard opened the door at ease and I scurried inside.

It was just as I remembered it! The stone walls, the same plants, the same pools of water!
I said to myself, “it’s good to be back..” and continued onward, moving through the Talos Plaza District, into the Elven Gardens District. I was immediately greeted by another Bosmer and a Dunmer, when I saw a sign that read, “The King and Queen Tavern”, and walked through the wooden doors.

The place was large, yet not too large. Musty, but not overwhelming.
I stepped to the counter and asked, “How much is a pitcher of mead”?
She replied, “Fourteen gold pieces. Anything else”? I shook my head as she switched from wiping the counter down of grime to drying wet pitchers with another similar looking towel. She turned around and filled a tall silver pitcher to the brim with mead. I reached into my pack to find less coins then I expected. I felt around and counted only sixteen gold coins. I didn’t want to spend almost all of my gold, so I thought bartering may need to be used here.
“How about you only fill half a pitcher for six gold coins”?
She stared hard at me for a long time and blurted, “Seven”. That did sound reasonable. I counted seven coins and placed them on the counter, and, in turn, she poured half of the mead into a smaller beaker and started to drink. I had never seen a female drink before.

I picked up my half-pitcher of mead and began to drizzle the cold liquid down my throat. I placed seven coins on the counter of the drinking women and strode out the door. Once I set foot outside, I poured the mead into my recently-empty wineskin and laid the iron pitcher upside-down at the doorstep.
I headed to the nearest guard and asked, “Can you point me in the direction of the Arena District? My memory is a bit rusty”. He took it too literally and pointed with his finger, southeast, and without thanking him, I took off for the heart of the Imperial City, The Palace District.


As I walk the hard cobblestones, my clogs protecting my feet from the occasional sharp edge, I came to the massive door of The Palace District. The guards thumped their sword butts on the wall signaling the doorman to open the iron door. I hopped inside and followed a road until I came to The Palace and I sat upon the floor and gazed at it’s beauty. I remembered the countless times my father had told me of his ventures through The Palace Doors, and meetings with the Emperor, Uriel Septim VII. I wish he were still alive today to tell me of those meetings.

Once I had stopped staring at the marble palace, I took a swig of mead and continued on, heading around The Palace and stopping at the eastern door. I think this is it! I stepped to the door watched through a crack between the two doors as they opened harmoniously. I’m finally here! The place where I would frolic and have mach fights with the arena combatants. Watching my step making sure that I didn’t fall down the two steep stairs, I made my way to a guard.
“This is the Arena District. Right?” I asked the guard at the door.
He nodded and spoke a single word, “Aye”.
Excitement had taken over me and I jolted to a large iron statue. I looked up at Morihaus’ face and couldn’t help but shed a tear.

I turned to the rocks around it regaining sense and remembered that I have to find a mossy rock. I found moss, and what a massive rock it was! Half the size of a full-grown Imperial it stood with a layer of moss wrapped around it. The spell I bought better mean you only need to rub that mixture into your veins once...

Alluring Gaze!