Mephala's Maiden: Black Rose Clan Options

[Black Hand]

Hey guys, this isnt a divergence from the main story I have, but rather, I have been trying out a new type of character on my X-Box, a custom class 'Geisha' after seeing the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' Recently, and I gotta tell ya, its a lot of fun. Something different to be sure. It inspired this. Enjoy. (I hope.)


“Who was that lady, Sera?” asked Sayuri, looking at Edryno Arethi, her current matron in House Hlaalu.

“No one, get back too your duties, Retainer.” Edrnyo replied, twirling the Black Rose in her hand, a deathly pale in her face, she had been delivered the death message and was in no mood to speak.

Sayuri, the young Bosmer girl had been adopted by House Hlaalu after her parents had been murdered by a Telvanni Mage whilst in Sadrith Mora, and one of the Merchants traveling in his own ship to trade, took pity on the little crying girl, dropping her off in Balmora, and told Nileno Dorvayn of her plight.

She remembered the tsking of Nileno, and the warmth of her palm as she rubbed her cheek affectionately. She was given clothes and a bed, and place to sleep, and she was put to work, alternately being trained in House Hlaalu’s favored skills, for three years she served mostly as a serving girls, performing menial tasks, and occasionally as a thief, or a decoy. She loved it, as it seemed to coincide naturally with her gods-given talents.

Bratheru Oran, Edryno’s lover took the rose from her hand, and threw it on the ground, smashing it underneath his leather boots. His expression showed that of rage and helplessness. Sayuri would not bring it up again for three weeks, but one day, when Edryno gave her a key to her house, and told her that she would be gone for several weeks, she finally explained, as she had never held anything back from her adopted daughter for long.

“Do you remember that Rose, Sayuri? The black one?” she asked, as Sayuri nodded her head, remembering the vivacious Altmer that had delivered it, dressed in exquisite clothing and wearing Telvanni Bug Musk.

“You’ve been chosen, and are being taken from me, under the pain of death, I cannot refuse. The Black Rose Clan is taking you, and you will serve them. I…I am leaving to speak to them, and perhaps negotiate an alternative. But seldom will they refute a selection.”

“Black Rose Clan? Matron, I don’t understand!” Sayuri said nearly on the brink of tears.

“You know of the Morag Tong? They worship the Great Daedra Mephala, the Dark Matron of Murder, Sex, and Secrets. They are a small faction within the Tong, dedicated to the second part of that. Whereas most assassins are dark, aloof, and grim in nature, a Black Rose, or a Dark Petal, also Thorns or Mephala’s Maidens, rely more on Personality and Agility. As every rose have five petals, so does the Clan. When one ‘wilts’ away as they call it, either killed, or grows to old too become pleasing to men, another must be chosen to take their place. You, because you are born under the Sign of ‘The Lover’ which gives you more agility, and the power to freeze people, will become the newest petal in the Black Rose.”

Sayuri’s eyes tried to no avail to hold back the tears of confusion and frustration. For the second time in her life, she was to lose her family. Edyrno ran her hand through the childs raven dark hair, and embraced her, attempting to comfort the shaking Bosmer.

“I know, I promise everything will be all right…”

[Black Hand]

Sayri was taken to a mushroom Villa of sorts on the Island. Clearly a Telvanni, Errisa had the place furnished with the finest of luxuries and tapestries, the shelves were lined with books and alchemical equipment. On some walls, rare weaponry was prominently displayed, including a complete Daedric Akavir weapon set, all four weapons completed the series from the Dai-Katana to the Tanto. Sayuri’s hand reached out to touch one of them, while Errisa looked on with a matronly gaze.

“Sera, I have never seen anything so..exquisite! How have you managed to afford all this?” Sayuri exclaimed.

“Most of it was inherited from my former ‘Sister’. The Clan does not stay in one place for very long. Speaking of which, as I will soon begin your tutelage, we will now refer to one another as such, Sister…. I am now your family, Sayuri.”

Sayuri’s dark eyes became enraged. “Don’t you dare call me that! Don’t you ever think that I am anything like you! Maybe you have me for now. But Ill find a way out of here soon enough!”

Errisa simply smiled, and slowly walked towards the girl. Her towering form intimidating the little Bosmer, and Sayuri shrank in her shadow. With but a flick of her wrist, Errisa had Sayuri turned around, the cold glint steel against her throat.

Errisa whispered out the short threat. “If you do, then I’ll have no choice but to kill you, and everyone you love, sweetie. You don’t want that. And whether you believe me or not, neither do I. You see. My real sister was killed to teach me the consequences of betraying our secrets, and breaking our laws. I pray that you learn from my mistakes.”

With a gasp, Errisa released Sayuri, the Bosmer put her hand to her throat and looked up at Altmer. Pain was in those eyes. Real pain. With a flick of her fingers, the dagger disappeared, and Errisa made her way to the bar area, and poured out two drinks.

“I know you’re a tad young for wine. But you may as well get used to it early on. You will need to develop a tolerance for alcohol, as well as knowing how to drink.” She said handing the crystal goblet, to which Sayuri clasped between her hands, and took a whiff of the contents.

Errisa shook her head, with a slight laugh. “No, Dear. Like this…” she said, holding the goblet with one hand, the three lower fingers wrapped around the stem, and the bottom bulge of the container between her thumb and forefinger, Sayuri copied her movements almost exactly.

“Good. Not bad for a first try. Now, sip…little bits at a time, and for Mephala’s sake, don’t slurp!” she said demonstrating.

Sayuri’s curiosity prompted the first question that would begin her training. “Why does the Black Rose kill people, if there is a Morag Tong, what is the point of the Clan?”

Errisa sat down on a stool, and her green eyes began to swirl with some semblance of life, as she looked into faded memories of when she was first told the story.

“Long ago, The Morag Tong was composed of Chimer, the Velothi Dissidents who abandoned the Altmer civilization for Morrowind. During their exodus, there was little need for the Tong to have internal laws, or customs. And they largely acted as spies and assassins externally. That is, they focused more upon their enemies, then inside the clans.”

”In fact, the original members of the Morag Tong, which means ‘Foresters Guild’ were just that: Foresters. Hunters. Bows for hunting down prey, daggers for skinning. Mephala saw a completely new purpose that they could serve, and founded the Morag Tong as we know it today. In fact, the original Moraga worshipped Hermaeus-Mora, Mephala’s brother. It is said some even worshipped Hircine.”

“What is not commonly known, even within the Guild, and has connections to the schism between the Dark Brotherhood and the Morag Tong, was that Mephala intended for a Matron to watch over the guild always, the Night Mother, as you have undoubtedly heard of. This has changed, as the Male-dominated society of the Dunmer changed the practices of the Tong from a religious order, to a much more….business-like atmosphere.”

“The Black Rose makes certain that the Religious aspects of the order, that is, murdering in the name of Mephala, and having a strong feminine presence remains true. Our sphere, is Murder, Sex, and Secrets. Secret Assassination in the throes of passion is most pleasing to our Matron. Even the Morag Tong has need of our special talents once in a while. We are pleasant to men. We become their deepest fantasies, keeping them on the brink of madness and pleasure, and when the moment is true, we strike like hidden vipers that we are. We are Mephala’s female side of her dual nature.”

Sayuri could scarcely believe what she was hearing, and her face became deathly pale. “You want me to , to…become a murdering mother of mine?” she nearly cried out.

“No. We are not prostitutes, for we seldom sleep with men for money. We take lives in the name of justice; we are priestesses of a darker shade. Outsiders may look upon us with fear and disdain, and yet, they cannot look away. For we are, what in their souls, they yearn for most. We are free, free of emotion, free of love, free of fear.”

Sayuri dropped her glass in shock, the dark red hue of the liquid soaking into the rug beneath the barstool.

Errisa tsked. “That was one of my finer rugs, been in the clan for at least three generations…”