Crystal Fire, A Backalley Story Options

[Priest of Sithis]

Introduction:

In the days of Uriel Septim, there was a family living near the capital that would grow the finest vegetables this side of Vvardenfell. These vegetables, however, weren't widely known. The family was content, and the mother and father were proud of their son and daughter.

There came a day around the son's seventeenth birthday, that the father decided to share something with the family. So, that night, near their small fire, the family listened to what the father began to say. "It began as a competition," he said, "a competion, among gods. You see, the gods grew tired of their planes of Oblivion, and the Aedra were inquisitive as to how the Daedra were doing. So, before the creation of mer, the gods walked Mundus." The daughter was spellbound by the story, and the son cocked his head in interest. The mother smiled and lay back, closing her eyes in imagination.

"When the gods met, there was confusion, because the gods had no way of distinguishing who was better. They thought, Should the Daedra rule Aetherius, and the Aedra Oblivion? Who is to keep these boundaries in check? So they talked and schemed and one god, a certain Prince of Oblivion decided to make material objects to allow the borders never to be questioned." The father looked around, and each member of the family looked back at him.

"The gods wanted their own planes to themselves, but they wanted to be able to govern the soon to be mer, so they created Crystal Fire." The father emphasised the two words, and astonishment was written all over everyone in the family. "Crystal Fire allowed the gods to travel to any realm they desired, but, it was dangerous. So dangerous, that they had to hide it. An evil entity not part of the Divines or the Princes emerged, and he wanted Mundus for himself." The daughter asked, "Who emerged, father?" And the father simply replied, "Sithis."

"Sithis brought with him the Void, which swallowed everything into it. The gods were worried that Sithis would destroy everything that they had created, so they used Crystal Fire to seal Sithis off from Mundus. The rumor is, Sithis is circling just outside the stars, right now, ready to swallow you into the Void." After the last word, the father sprang at his daughter, and she jumped, then giggled as he hugged her close.

"You see, the gods were smart, even though they couldn't get along. They stopped an evil that could threaten everything." Then the father smiled and stopped. But the son, who was still interested, asked, "What did the gods do with the Crystal Fire, father?" The father looked back at his son and then looked at the fireplace. "Some say the gods destroyed it, but that wouldn't go with the story, now, would it? No, I believe the gods hid it on Mundus so Sithis would never find it and threaten the gods with the Void."
The father then said, "It is late, time to sleep," And he laid his daughter down by the fire. "I will see you all in the morning for your chores and breakfast. Goodnight," And he kissed his daughter on the forehead and went to sleep next to his wife.

[Priest of Sithis]

Chapter 2:
Shadows and a Sword

Derrick stretched his arms and legs, and ran his fingers through his firmly combed hair. Most women around the town said that he was handsome, but he was not one to focus on women. No, he thought, there are more important things at the moment. Derrick donned his leather jerkin and greaves, he went down into the basement of the second story bookstore, where his sister was already prepared. She said, "Derrick, tie my back, will you?" Derrick moved to tie the back of his sister's shirt. She was the clutch in the plan.

Elle was supposed to call on the town guard, and ask him out for a drink. Observation of this guard showed he was unmarried and an alcoholic, not to mention a racist and atheist. This guard had been plauging the town for three months now, and Derrick was the last straw. After tieing the last knot, Elle turned to Derrick and kissed him on the check. His sister looked the part, and now it was time for his preparation.

In a room next to the closet, Derrick went through a meditation, done before every heist. Derrick donned a small black "face-hood" and and tight doublet, black as night. His trousers were made of enchanted silk that made no noise when rustled, and his shoes were horse-hair slippers, enchanted to prevent sound. He recited a old thieves poem that he picked up from a book:

"What's yours is mine and whats mine is fine,
because just recently, it had been yours,
Shadows are strange, helpful little things,
Take nothing that needs be carried through doors."

Laughing to himself, and tieing his gloves tight, he tried to sneek downstairs. The sun had gone down and his sister was waiting for him, patiently. He jumped from the top stair and grabbed a rafter, then snaked his way through the rafters until he came to a spot just above his sister. He changed grip on the rafter from his hands to his feet, and slowly bent down until his face was just behind her head. He was just about to tap her on the shoulder, when she turned and tugged his down from the ceiling. "Gotcha'!" She said.

Laughing, Elle said, "I heard you when you changed positions, your knee creaked."
"You lie, you have the amulet on, and I know it...Give it here!" Reaching for the amulet, Derrick lunged a bit too far and Elle tripped him.
"Too slow!" She taunted, dangling the amulet in front Derrick. All of the sudden, two gloved hands encircled Elle, and held her fast. A low gravely voice asked, "What's all the ruckus? I'm trying to sleep!"

Derrick smiled when Brake lowered his sister and he came down from the ceiling. Derrick asked, "How did she not know about you, with the amulet and all?" Brake shook his head. "Another time, Derrick, when you become a Master Thief." Derrick sighed and Elle noticed that Brake was prepared for a heist as well. She asked, "Where is your job, Brake?" And he said, "Look for yourself."

Elle walked over to a dusty corner of the bookstore, and pulled out a dillapidated old tome entitled, "Soldiers of the Night, A Thieve's Trusty Sidekick." She turned to the last page, and saw a small note, which said:

"Emperor's Consulate in town. 2,000 for acquisition of a certain, Ring of Forebearance. No ties, fence at Guro's."

Elle said, "Big payoff, no split?" Brake smiled and said, "I would take you with me, but this job is much too dangerous. Maybe next time..." And Brake bowed low, then spang out the door and into the night. Derrick said, "With that money, I could leave this town and go somewhere..." And Elle just sighed and refasted her amulet around her neck. She said, "By the way, Thronor is done with that letter-opener of yours, might want to pick it up on your way out." Derrick muttered a thanks, and left out the door. He thought to himself, It's not that small, Thronor calls it a sword,...