The Story Of Hajima The Nin Ronin, this is kinda long and addictive maybe.. Options

[jchamber]

I got inspiration from you guys, so thanks. Well here it is. Lemme know whatcha think.

(edited for fluidity, immersion, detail, and character touch up)

Chapter one- the begining
Part One
The Uncertainty

"Owww, my head..... dear Mephala!! What hit me?" I found myself with my face buried in a pillow on a hammock and my head was splitting in two. I can't remember what happened that was making my head hurt so bad or why I am lying down but I did know I wanted the pain to stop.

"Quiet, or the guard will hear you, he can be a mean sort." Said a gruff, deep voice. I turned my head to get a veiw of the guy and as I did so realized that I was on a boat, and that I didn't have a sea stomach as nausea overtook me and spilled my previous meal, which seemed to contain little more than a thin soup that I can't remember eating.

"Hey! Watch it!!" said the gruff voice that was now connected to a muscular dark elf with an ear ring, and scar on the right side of his face that took one eye out. He was wearing nothing but a pair of worn out, undyed, perhaps too used... pair of trousers on.

"Sorry 'bout that, I didn't see you were standing so close, good thing you were a little behind me."

"Yea good for yout health too, how are you besides being seasick?"

"My head is feels like it's going to explode, Several parts of my body feel like they have been wounded, I am still tired, and I haven't the strength to turn over to look at my body to see how bad the damage is."

"Well don't worry you'll be fine, gave that guard a mighty good fight though."

"What? Why is there a guard and just how hard did he hit me on the head, I don't even remember getting on this boat, or why I would be on one.. And why did I fight..."

"Slow down there," the man interrupted. "You are on a boat because that is where the guard put ya, the guard is here because I am a murderer and you have undoubtedly been found guilty of something...not that I am saying you did it, ... whatever it was. When the guard brought you to this boat I am guessing you knew you would get seasick or just wanted to escape and you just about did seeing as it took five guards to help the one you gave a thrashing to bring you down. I didn't see it but I heard it, and about it in good detail. I hear one had a hammer and got the back of your head when the other four were trying to get close enough to you, without getting hurt, to grapple you. I heard alot of scolding afterwards, seemed you were not supposed to be hurt getting on, that guard probably got his status revoked. As for this trip I am guessing we are about halfway there and I would suggest you go to sleep if you can't even turn over. By the way I am Jiub, we can will talk later, when you wake up, for now just rest."

And so I allowed myself to stop fighting the weary weakness that poisoned my mind and muscles and just let go...and soon I was standing in a windy foreign terrain. I had never seen anything like it before, the dirt was red and being picked up in the air, there was also another kind of dirt that seemed to be falling from the sky like a very light sprinkle in the storm of red. Before I could gather any more information about the place I heard a voice in my head of a soft but somewhat resounding tone, "They have taken you from the Imperial city's prison, first by carridge and now by boat. To the east... to Morrowind, fear not for I am watching. You have been chosen"

My shoulder was shaking, I began to wake up...to that gruff voice of Jiub's "Wake up, we're here. Why are you shaking? are you ok? Wake up. Stand up,... there you go. You were dreaming. What's your name? Forgot to ask before you passed out again.

"Owwwwww, I am still really sore, so take it easy on the sholder. Um, gimme a minute I just had a really weird dream.....Um .....BAH why can't I remember....I am sorry I can't remember my name right now, so just call me whatever you want."

"I think you seem like a Ganthar"

"That sounds bad lets go with Hanthimar instead."

"What do I care, it's your name."

"Fine then until I can remember my name we agree on Hanthimar"

"Ok, well, Hanthimar not even last night's storm could wake you, I heard them say we've reached Morrowind. I'm sure they'll let us go!" Jiub said hopefully. "Quiet, here comes the guard."

I could see him coming down the steps at the other end of the lower level of the boat, he looked very serious, but almost comical in that he only had one bracer on and one bracer off. His clothes were dark, but his boots and overvest were lighter. They might provide a little bit of protection...why am I thinking like that, I don't want to hurt the person who might let me go....now he was upon me and began to speak in a light, but very official, voice, "This is where you get off, come with me." I now noticed that the Imperial had some facial hair and was begining to bald, but that was at this point irrelivent. I was more worried about how I couldn't remember my own name. As the guard walked away I was caught up in my own thoughts, trying to remember something. The guard stopped and looked back threateningly.

"You better do what they say," said Jiub. So I got over my daze and followed the guard. When I got to the door in the floor of the top level a woman behind the stairs said, "The sooner you leave, the sooner we can move on." She was a ....well no better than a female dog let's say....That thought was interrupted by the gaurd from below that was escorting me,

"Get yourself up on deck and let's keep that as civil as possible." I paused for a moment to hate the woman, and the male guard gave me a small light push with a, "On deck now, prisoner" So I headed on up the stairs in front of me. I never could have guessed what I was to find at the top.

This post has been edited by jchamber: Feb 15 2006, 06:37 AM

[minque]

Hey....nice start we have here! It looks promising I´d say....now a friendly comment:

Try paragraphing ..it makes the whole thing a lot more reader-friendly! Also separate a bit more when you write dialogue! So it´s easier to follow who says what!


Apart from that......go for it! continue please!

[jchamber]

Well I wrote it in .doc format and then it had paragraphing, but when I pasted it over it must have been lost. Edit I shall, anyway thanks for the praise. I hope it only gets better for you btw, I have three more segments done, should I let some more people read the first segment before posting them and make you wait for more....or just post the writing as it is finished?



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Yea everyone brings their own ideas about how to look at things and what makes this really neat is that the background is always different, the delivery is also different, I love it. Variety is the spice of life and intellectual stimulus
now I disappear
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v v

This post has been edited by jchamber: Feb 13 2006, 05:22 PM

[Taillus]

It is so interesting how so many people (including myself) can use the beginning of the game as the beginning of their fanfic but it still be so original and different. I like your character and I can't wait to read on. Congrats on having a great story in the works!

[jack cloudy]

Nice start and I'd love to see more. And true, for the strict plotline of character creation, there's a hell of a lot people can do with it in their fanfics. I think that's one of these things that make Morrowind so nice. Freedom, whether it is in the game or in word.

Please post an update soon.

[jchamber]

I am glad that I have been received so well. Thanks for all the support guys and gals. Hope I surprize you some and please you some more.

Chapter one- the begining
Part Two
The Surprize

As I walked up on deck I found myself in an unfamiliar area of coastline. There was a slight fog present as though it had been a chilly night and the morning had brought warmth with it. In the distance I saw a gigantic beetle..thing as big as a house, in fact it was right by a two story building as if to serve as a comparison. There was a hill leading up to the side of the stationary bug with legs the height of three men. directly in front of me there was a redguard that had some metal armor on, but left his legs were open to the attack of a blade...ahh there I go again..I am not supposed to be thinking like that.....to my left there was a small village with maybe a dozen houses. Further to the left I saw a lighthouse and some swamp that had trees growing out of it. "This is where they want you. Head down the dock and he'll show you to the census office, Let's go.... move it along."

At the bottom of the deck I saw the man who had walked up from the closest building, which had a barracaded route from the boat to the door he had come out of. This Imperial had much better armor than the escorts did, fully covered in metal save his joints and face....I don't think I can contain myself, as long as I don't act on these thoughts though I should be fine. Underneath the armor was a red sleeved shirt, but that was all I could see. As I stepped down from the boat I felt the pain that was left in me more accutely and almost fell of the side into the water, luckily the redguard caught my balence, "Thanks for that". He merely grunted to acknowledge he had heard. The man in front of me seemed almost as drained as I felt, although i suspected it was more related to boredom considering his job.

"You've finally arrived, but our records don't show from where, you look like you are a redguard, is that right?" He had a stong voice containing authority.

"Sure." I only halfheartedly replied as I couldn't remember for sure, but he was right, my skin said I must have some redguard blood in me....but it seemed a little light compared to the man behind me who just made sure I stayed on deck.

"Great follow me up to the office and they'll finish your release....head on in"

As I walked in the door of the building that was the census office I noticed that there was a gate to my right. Once inside I saw an old man in front of me and a well armored gaurd to my left. There were a couple tapestries of people who seemed like adventurers, (a mage, archer, and fighter to be more specific) hanging on the walls that I admired before the old man suddenly seemed to take actual notice me, instead of his paperwork in front of him, and stated, "Ahhh....yes. We've been expecting you. There are a few things that need to be done. There are a few ways we can do this and the choice is yours, my name is Socucius Ergalla, and I will be scribing the release papers that will need to be taken to the captain of the guard. I can get the information from you by asking you questions, allow you to write out the answers and then I will transcribe them to official documents, or you can just describe yourself to me, perferably with detail on personal abilities and traits."

I took the question as I didn't know how to answer anything that he wanted to know as I realized I had total amnesia, I couldn't remember anything from my entire life. No people, no events, nothing. His questions seemed rediculous, and I lied on some of them because I didn't want him to know me better than I did, maybe I was just being a little paraniod though. He told me that I would be best classified as a warrior and that meant that I was good in combat, had very high strength and endurance. I should be handy with a long blade, and running in metal armors with a sheild at my side. I should be able to use a couple other weapons as well as fix them up myself, but he didn't seem to mind, or even care for that matter, one way or another what I might be. "Very good, the letter that preceded you meantioned that you were born under a certain sign, and what would that be?

It was at this point I had to admit that I had no idea and that I wasn't really sure about anything about me. "Oh that is very unfortuante and inconveinient indeed. Well, we need to try some things out. Barry get in here." The guard from the boat came in the room, "go to the supply house and get us these things." He was already sitting at his table creating an inventory of a list. His handwritting was magnificient, I could see why he was a scribe of a good position. When he handed the list to Barry he added, "and bring Sellus Gravius if it makes you more comfortable." The list had been different kinds of things, including:

-Imperial shield, steel and studded leather armor and long and short swords
-meat some kind of egg
-an iron halberd, battle axe, hammer, 10 arrows,
-chitin clothes, and a bow enchanted by a rat
-a lot of scrolls


I felt uneasy and thought that the guard might come back with reinforcements wearing the armor, and it must have shown because as soon as Soccucius looked at me he clarified, "This is standard procedure for anyone who wants to see what they are good or talented at, I have no doubt that with your heritage you will be good at using a long blade, but I want you to use everything he brings back and we'll see what is what." So Berry came back with Sellus, who was grumbling something akin to 'second time this week', and Berry was carrying a whole load of stuff, dropped it without passing any grace of form, and turned around to go get more.

"I want you to start by just putting on each kind of armor and tell me how you feel in it, move around in each a bit and see which type you like best, perhaps I will even give you a peice or two"

"That is my men's armor! Don't you go handing it out to jail dirt like him, Socucius." Evidently Socucius didn't get along the best with the captain and I did not want any trouble with him so I stepped in and said, "I don't want any handouts, don't worry about it." This was the wrong thing to say I guess.... because it only insulted the captain, who then got irritated with me. So I kept my mouth shut and tried each type of armor without gaining any level of comfort in any of them I doubt my bruises helped, but irregardless I still didn't seem to move right in any kind of armor, not to mention they were heavy and rubbed in the wrong places. I saw Socucius scribble something down on paper with his quill after a quick dip in the inkwell.

Next thing I did was smell and look at each item of meat and plant stuffs that Barry had brought with him on the second trip. I could only tell half of what most of the things would do if I ate it, like how crab meat would both act as a pick me up and a defense against a shocking blade, but I knew I was ignorent of as much as I knew, if not more. Next I tried to manuver some weapons and see what felt right and familiar, the whole time I was trying to remember something like training sessions or fights I had been in, but nothing would come. I wasn't any good with a shield, but I was very good with the long blade, just as Socucius had predicted. I was able to use the enchanted bow a few times before the enchantment ran out, and my aim wasn't too shoddy either. I seemed familiar with the shortblade too, but to a lesser extent. I kept looking over and seeing Socucius jotting things down, the best part was when I got to hit a guard with my bare hands, I hit him square in the nose and felt something have a little crunch to it, the textile pleasure I recieved from this almost worried me. When I was done the last thing they had me do, which was try to unlock some small chests that felt empty inside, which I was not too bad at.

Finally I got to look at that paper that S. Ergalla had been writing in, it was another form that listed my abilities from best to worst and their were many close calls but it seemed, long sword was my specialty, maybe Socucius was biased, though. Followed by potion making and enchantment use, as well as dodging attacks when unweighted (the guard missed when he tried to hit me back a few times). It said that from observations that my specialty was subtlety and subertfuge, even if it was in a combative manner. My best attributes appeared to be strength and endurance, with a note of high intellect. But far above all of that, geographically and in ranking of importance, is what appeared at the top of the page on the line marked 'name'.....Hajima *o*ok*....part of the family name had been blanked out.

"What is this? Why is this family name gone? I want to know what my name is!" I was on the verge of being able to know my identity and I was excited about it, and desperate. The guards knew that much and drew their swords at my heightened voice in alarm and as a cautious warning to remind me of my position.

"The letter that perceded you was from the Emperor himself and even he does not know any more than what is on that paper, but feel free to swim back across the inner ocean and ask him....just as soon as we finish up your paperwork." My heart and head fell as I realized that it would probably be quite a while before this matter was settled, until then I would just try to remember as much I could. It was in this moment that I remembered the dream that had come to me the night before. The guards were putting their sword back in their sheaths as I asked for my papers to be stamped and completed.

"How would you describe your position and occupation then Hajima?"

"Wonderer."

Edited for fluidity, character tweaks, storyline adjustments, and various other minor alterations of comfort to the eyes...like candy....

This post has been edited by jchamber: Feb 15 2006, 09:02 AM

[minque]

Ahhh very good! This was much easier to read, paragraphing makes wonders! Now this story itself is getting better and better.....It´s amazing how ppl can vary the in-game story-line into quite different stories...you never know what comes next...and yet you do know! But it´s different approaches !

good job!

[jchamber]

were you surprized by the class name? or by the new character "creation process"? I kinda liked that little twist but I think I got a little wordy and drawn out maybe. I am glad you liked it,... you never said whether I should post as much of the story as I have done or let you read a section a day...I have about three times more than i have posted here done so far...And I am still writing for at least an hour a day none stop, usually a couple hours. This story is still FAR from over too. I think you will be REALLY surprized in the middle...I am guessing it will arrive in about the 5th chapter, something await, anticipate, and to keep the reading current for...I am such a tease.

[jack cloudy]

Stop teasing. Nah, just kidding. I can wait. But please keep posting. I enjoyed the bit in which your character got to try everything out.

[jchamber]

Took an extra day to edit everything just a little bit so that things move smoother, I made some changes to the first two posts so if you read them b4 this was posted you might wanna glance over it again.

Chapter one- the begining
Part 3
Initial Arrangements and Exposure.


So I had gotten off to a rough start with the guards in the excise office but I now started off as a free man, with some instructions on paper from the "Personal Secretary to the Emperor" which really means that it's from the Septim himself somewhere along the line. So I guess I had better do what I am told for now since I have nothing better to do and only 87 septims release fee as pocket jingle. I decided to learn about this new place that I was in, I had even forgotten to ask what the name of the village was. So as I walked out of the office I looked around to see who I might be able to ask about the area. The first person I saw was a scrawny wood elf, he seemed like a person who would be quick to help another...especially if some persuation were used. As I started to walk up he not only noticed me but ran up to me with his eyes darting back and forth...he seemed outright terrified that something was watching him or going to jump out of nowhere and get'em, "Have-you-seen-a-ring-with-an-inlaid-green-stone-cut-witha-rectangle-flat-top? They-stole-it-again-I-have-some-friends-I-can-have-make-it-worth-your-while-to-give-it-to-me-or-find-it-if-you-don't-have-it-I-can-" Holy mushrooms this guy was talking fast and at the rate he was going to pass out if he didn't take a breath.

"Shhh ok, ok chill out and slow down. First off I want to know all about this place, but I don't have anything in the way of rings, maybe we can work something out, now who stole your ring."

"Will-I-get-it-back? Itsa-family-heirloom-and-I-can't-lose-it, damn those guards, When-I-get-my-ring-back-I-am-going-to-move-and-and-and"

"HEY! Chill out the guards took your ring? Where might they leave things they don't want found?"

"*inhale....Exhale* ummmmm wweeeeellllllll...maybe they would put it where they could keep an eye on it, but not in their pockets. The first time they took it one got caught by the local tax collector and he got the guy kicked out of the legion. So it will probably be hidden in a public spot where any thief could have dropped it so it wouldn't be traced back to them in a proof sense. So that is where to start..anywhere you can go."

"You still haven't told me about this town. What's here? Who are the big names? Where do I go to get food and a bed?"

"Ok, not much here but my friend Arrille will put you up for free as long as you're helping me out by being here. You can get some food and drink in the upstairs part of his building. Elone is the barkeep, she is a very good listener and is seeing if she hears anything about the ring from drunken guards. The new tax collector will be a big nameas soon as he arrives. Two guys you already met, Sellus and Mr. Ergalla, are the ranking officers here in Seyda Neen. Anything else you want to know?"

"Yea, why don't you know who took your ring in the first place...that would make this a whole lot simpler, not to mention quick."

"Well this is the sixth time they have stolen it. The first time I knew who it was because he just brutily took it from me and laughed at my inability to take it back, which is why I was able to get him sent home, because the guy had it in his pocket. The second time they picked my house doot open when I was gathering seawater and the local mushrooms for a stew, Elone found out it was on my roof, not the easiest place to get it back from since my roof can't hold a persons weight. Third time they took it they somehow pickpocketed it from me, found it in some swamp water in the forest, how lucky I was to fall down the hill that day. Fourth time they got it when I had too much to drink and had passed out while walking from Arrille's back to my house, but they did put me in front of my house. Fifth time they got it from my pants while I was taking a bath in the stream, they left in is a barrel between the two census buildings then and a nice man who, not unlike yourself got off an Imperial Guard Ship from a Cyrodiil prison. I decided to hide it in a nearby tree stump that time but they must have found it because it isn't there anymore and I didn't remove it and I haven't been drinking so I would remember if I had."

"Wow, I can see why you wanna move. The guards here seem to do less guarding and more than their share of theft, dishonorable layabouts....I might have to do more than find your ring before I am satisfied with this situation, and as long as I am involved this is going to be done in my way." Not that I knew what my way was, but it sounded good and I didn't intend to let someone who couldn't hold onto a silly ring tell me how to do anything. "Now let's talk about what I can get out of this other than a free bed and a cheap supply of food."

"I didn't say anything about foo....oh I will see what I can do about it, I am sure it can be done. Tell ya what if nothing else I will make you some of my famous homemade strew for free. I can also talk to Arrille about giving you a break on anything that he is selling from his weapons and such, might even get him to agree to teach you a spell or two if your interested."

"I don't know that I care to start trying to learn spells, seems like a waste of time when you could just as easy hit someone with a bow before they have time to cast one at you, I am already low on money can you offer me any for this job?"

"Sorry I make almost nothing myself, I give Elone the day off once a week and sell my strew at Arrille's but there just isn't much money in a little port town that doesn't do sea-trade, I heard that Processius, the tax collector, was thinking about changing that so we can get some inflow, not a very popular idea though considering he was dead less than a week afterward. I miss him because he used to make it so that everyone was equal."

"Alright I will take this contract but I am going to work in secret so I can't be seen with you again until I have recovered the ring. When I have the ring I expect you to be ready to leave town because you don't wanna be here at the rate things seemed to be going, also make sure that your friends don't let anyone know that they are familiar with me."

"So you don't want the cut on prices? That's strang-"

"Yes I want the cut, but just have them give the money that is the difference to you and I will get it from you right before you leave, consider that your guarantee that I will not leave until I have done this. On my honor you can believe I will hold up my end of the bargain, now go talk to the others in private."

With that I began to head off on a self guided tour of the town. There were only about ten buildings total so it was quick with alot of grunted "how do ya do, outlander." It was more of a statement than a question, which means they saw me I had been seen, but they didn't really wanna talk. That was fine by me. The guards however had more of a nosy manner about them, they seemed like they just wanted me to move on and would interrigate me should any trouble arise. Unfortunately for them, and maybe me, I was intending to start some very soon.

[Kiln]

It took me some time to get to this story but I finally did and it's very interesting. A new spin on the character creation process and a character that seems to have a much different personality than most others. The writing is organized well and there aren't any flaws that I could see. Good job and keep up the work.

[jack cloudy]

I'm innocent, I didn't took the ring! *whistles innocently while looking at the clouds. Walks into a tree a few seconds later and drops to the ground.*

Wow, Fargoth the fast-talk dude. This is a nice story. Please go on.

[minque]

Yayy..very nice and amusing description of Fargoth!....I liked it very much..really! I´m more and more impressed of the way you´re writing, it´s plain good ya´hear?

So a nice update would be appreciated....

[jchamber]

ack, I was on vacation at my cousin's and his computer is usually in use. I had a hard time posting an update due to some finishing touches to the material I wrote the first day that I was writing, which is the first four posts and a little more.
I am sorry about the wait on the update, I really hope that was the longest break I will have to take for a long time. and now the mystical update


Chapter One- The begining
Part Four- The Troublesome Tradehouse Trailer Trash

After getting an idea of the guard patrol routes, schedules, and where people frequented, and also where everything was in relation to each other I still hadn't seen that man's ring, awww crap I forgot to ask his name!! between not asking the town's name and his I was begining to think that my memory loss was due to the fact that I just decided not to pay any attention to anything.

Well in any case it was starting to get dark and look like rain would fall, so I headed over to Arrille's place. I was getting a bit hungry as well. As I was about to walk in the building a guard was heading out and just about fell off the ledge of the half wraparound porch before I grabbed him. He was not just half in the bag but about nine tenths there, I decided he needed an escort and I decided I should be the first person to offer.

"Be careful there, Good thing I was here to grab you, do you wan..." it was at this point that the guard seemed to really notice me and then rudely interrupted.

"Shut up! I woulda been ffffffine if I 'ad gone over, it's a shortcut to my housth...jus' gonna walk now vo. ew goin' in zatch dere place watch the suwama ets goaaaaaahhhhh...... bbbbllaaaahhhhh oh god..., eh wha' was aye 'ayin'?" and with that he went to the ground and passed out. I thought that the right thing to do was help him out or at least call another guard but I didn't much care about him and he had been hostile mannered so I decided to kick him off the edge of the porch...after all that would get him closer to home. And with that I walked in the pub/inn/store of Seyda Neen.

Aside from a bit of noise from upstairs that blended together into a small hum, Arrille greeted me warmly with a smile and "Hello, I am Arrille and this is my trades house I believe someone mentioned you would be stopping by, isn't that right?" I nodded and said nothing to indicate my desire for silence on the matter.

"Is there a room available still? and is it too late to get some food? oh I want some kind of drink too, if it's not too much trouble"

"Well it just so happens that the, not a, room is right upstairs. That will cost you 30 gold peices for you, seeing how you probably don't have much money in the first place I will let you pay me back whatever you can't pay today later on this week as you find the funding."

In a very hushed wisper and a swift look around to see if anyone had come around from upstairs I glared at the man as I explained the situation to him, "I don't want you to do anything for me that you wouldn't do for any other person who came in on a boat, so just keep our little arrangement quiet and act more like you usually do with strangers."

"I think you misunderstand outlander, I constantly run into people that have just arrived by boat and I treat them all with kindness and generosity, in fact I have a good standing with a couple people in the community which makes it so that just about every person that comes to town stops by and buys at least a new pair of gloves as a suvenior of their trip here and away again. I think I would have less sales if I was mean, don't you agree?"

"Of course, you are a fine businessman of foresight and wisdom, I apologize for my rudeness. My name is Hajima and I am just passing through Seyda Neen, I will take a short break here before I go to my destination, which is Balmora." Wow, that sounded corny and patheticly overworked, but I wasn't going to let him make me look like a jerk or as uncivilized as soon as I arrived, I've been planning things that require some finesse and friends and once I make a plan I do what needs done to make it a success, although I doubt I had planned to leave from Cyrodiil considering my attack on the guards. Oh well I just made myself a liar, now I live with it. I am going to have a little talk to that little guy...Oh yea I should ask about him...but my secrecy is more important for now. I handed the man the 30 septims from my belt pouch.

"Excellent, well here is the key and you will find the cook upstairs, she will also provide you any drink she has the ingredients for, though I would limit it to single ingredient mixes as she has a bad taste for balencing more than one."

"Thank you very much, I suppose I will see you in the morning."

"No, thank you. Sleep well Mr. Hajima." His last remark again made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, but if that is how he always talked I should just take it in stride. So I decided to stride on upstairs to see a happy looking Nord in Imperial armor. He glanced over at a man in a long robe at the table nearest him, perhaps these two were secretly communicating something....there goes the hair on my neck again...perhaps I am being paranoid again though.

"Hold your horses there outlander, I wanna know what you are doing in my presence without any cash out for me, when I am not eating or drinking anything. Let me tell you how it works around here.....any outlander who passes by a guard who isn't spending money, eating, drinking, or otherwise busy must give that guard at least five septims or they get to have their clothes taken until that outlander is taken into custody for public nudity. I assume you barely have more than five septims after your food money so I will take the minimum amount from you, cough up that coin pouch there if you don't have it." Well I had allowed alot of things to go unbothered for the purpose of being a normal member of the background of this town, but here is where I draw the line.

"That is openly corrupt and is intollerable, I won't pay you for anything without recieveing something I need and I don't need anything from you."

"Acctually there is a very dangerous bandit group nearby that hates outlanders, they are morrowind's fundamentalist-types, but I have some pull with them so I guess I could put in a word to keep you from being attacked, that means it's a protection fee that you DO need."

"Nah, that's ok. I will be fine without your services so have a good evening." and with that I brushed passed him, only to have the robed man step in front of me to block my path.

In a soft, reserved voice that almost sounded pained the guy simply said, "You shouldn't go making trouble like that, I won't allow you to move on without paying the man."

"That sounds like a threat and I don't like the sounds of it, but I have no intention of paying someone for nothing, taxes pay for this guy's salary, and from what I have seen he doesn't really deserve it, you seem to be a person that might understand that."

"No, you will go back downstairs until you figure out how to behave." I was begining to see how this was going to go, so I went back downstairs to talk to Arrille and see what could be done by him as owner of the building.

"Hey can you hear that chatter I am getting from the guard and robed man?" I asked as I turned around the corner at the bottom of the stairs.

"Well I am guessing that you were asked to pay a customary outlander tax, but there's nothing I, a lowly merchant, can do. I would have most of the town against me and then I would have a much harder time making a living. You wouldn't want me to be in that situation would you?" Well there was no way I could argue with that. Arrille had all the best qualities of a merchant including a way with words that I couldn't match. It seems I would have to handle this is a my own way, and at the moment I was tempted to go upstairs let the guy start trouble with me again and kill him after I had established self-defense, but first I wanted to see if there was a non-violent way to do things so that no one would ever have to pay an 'outlander tax' again.

This post has been edited by jchamber: Feb 22 2006, 09:07 AM

[jchamber]

ack, b/c I edited the previous post the thread didn't update to say that there was new material present....so here this is...also I forgot to mention that I really hope that my story helped you, minque, with your inspiration that you mentioned in your last post on serene chapt. 4, it made me feel.....some kind of good, don't quite have the word for it...maybe this is the first time I have felt pride. I don't understand pride, being raised in a strict christian home pride was discouraged. Whenever I accomplish anything in life I always think that I could have done it better or that there is someone who has done everything I have done but three times better and they did it in less time and were even more determined than me at w/e it is. and the things I accomplish are always overshadowed by others or the person I did it for barely notices or it is only something I managed to do because I was gifted at it and that somehow diminishes it quality and value.

On the flip side of the coin I have periods of time where I am extremely arrogent, almost to the point of obnoxiousness. But oddly, it is a pride-less arrogence, it might not make since but it is true. I really hope that I got the material to flow how I wanted in this last post as I have had alot of trouble keeping the original version and the newer modified and improved on seperate in my head. Let me know if I slipped up anywhere and I will fix it, I accept long lists of every single grammer, spelling, puctuation, and story problem at my e-mail, lol.....I really hope no one is quite that bored, but lemme know about flow issues without hesitation plzzzz!!!!!

[minque]

Haha! This was a really amusing one! I liked it a lot..hehe the funny way Hajima handled that drunk guard made me laugh.....and I enjoyed the way you described Hrisskar...quite special.....

Yaaa yaaa, you´re a very good writer and I do hope to see more of this amusing story!

[jchamber]

Haha! This was a really amusing one! I liked it a lot..hehe the funny way Hajima handled that drunk guard made me laugh.....and I enjoyed the way you described Hrisskar...quite special.....

Yaaa yaaa, you´re a very good writer and I do hope to see more of this amusing story!

hmmm at the rate you are going I think you are going to find that I am a surprise specialist
ok I am done making happy faces. lol. I am happy I gave you something to smile about.

[jchamber]

.....ouch, I was hoping for someone else to comment on the last update, but I just can't hold out on you guys, I am eager to post the material I have been working on. Hope you like it. Plz post comments, it is the fuel of my motivation to keep going. I don't mind criticism, so feel free.
Chapter One-The Begining
Part Five - The Heist

"Well how can I go to my room tonight without paying that guy, Arrille?"

"Tell ya what, don't you worry about it. Just take these five gold and hand it to him and tell him I said to leave it be at that." Arrille replied as he extended his outstretched fist, which seemed to be an unfamiliar position to his hand after all the open palming he must do at the trade tables.

"Well, I will see you in the morning then." I grudgingly conceited defeat to a long day's wear and tear.

"Thata lad, you are a smart one. I will greet you as I do my own family when next we meet then." I didn't understand what he meant by that but I wasn't in the mood to talk to him anymore...he was starting to get really annoying with that higher-than-you style of talking down to people, while not really saying anything insulting. So once again I climbed up the stairs and this time I gave the annoying guard his toll-fee of 5 gold coins and went off to the other side of the room,, passing the robed man, an attractive redguard woman, a lizard-man, and an Imperial on the way. Once I saw the door to my room I turned back to the others and asked, "Which one of you makes the food here? And could I take it in there with me?" as I pointed to the doorway.

"I do the cooking, but all I am going to make at this time of night is omletes with some bread because I am about to head home, and if you want it I need ten septims before I start the heat going." Said the redguard woman, who I then handed the charge. As I waited for the meal to finish I asked about some of the region and where things were at, learned a good bit about the area before I went into my room for some quite meditation on the days events and what I would have ahead of me the following day. As I finished my meal I made sure not to let myself feel too comfortable after that confrontation earlier. With that thought I let my awareness melt into the dark of sleep. I made a mental note that I had already lost half my money and that this was going to be a problem soon.

I awoke the next morning to a hideous surprise! I was chillily nude, and all my money was gone. 'I know what happened, that robed guy prolly cast a sleep spell on me and those two took all my stuff for giving them a hard time' I thought to myself. I just couldn't figure out how they got in without the key that was in my room with me, which I had used to lock the door. Perhaps that lizard-man had been a thief that was in on their little operation as well. Well first thing to do was get up and start looking for those three. I wraped the sheets around my body and headed out the door. The sun was up above the clouds that were allowing rain to fall upon the ground outside but evidently the cook hadn't showed up yet for her work. The entire upper part of the building was empty so I rushed/ran downstairs to see if Arrille was around. He seemed to have been here, but was no where to be seen at the present. I walked out the front door and found where everyone was at....right outside of the door.

"THAT'S THE OUTLANDER WHO CAME IN NOT A MINUTE AFTER DEOTRIUS LEFT!!!!!" This was the last thing I heard before I had a headache in the back of what seemed to be a prison cell, as I saw bars in front of me. I must have been hit in the head yet again.......this was begining to get old and repititious. I realized then that there were other people in my cell.

"Errr, how long have I been in here?" I was looking at one of the two lizard-men that were in the cell with me, the cat-person was not awake to talk to.

"You are being here for longer than a finger's height of the sun, muthera." Wow, some of the things that I had heard since arriving in Morrowind were truly baffling. I hadn't asked Arrille what a family welcome was going to mean, and I ended up in here....I was not about to go through that mistake again.

"How long is that? Is it less than a day?"

"Oh yes, much less. I would thinks it be abouts one thirds the time between meals here."

"And just where is here? how did I get here? How long have you been here? and Why are were here?"

"Muthera asks many questions.....I know not much, but guards of Seyda Neen carry you here, I have been here for a half red moon. Our silent friend here has had his tongue lost to him and has been here since before me. Too bad he can't talk or write, makes me talk to little kitty kitty here, but now you are here muthera."

"Yea well I would rather be not here, so don't get too used to me being about."

"About whats?"

"Nevermind" I had no idea how to get out, but dark, damp, and barred were not my dream home's description. hopefully the kitty would know more about the situation. At this point in my thoughts I was interrupted by a guard from outside my cell and a little down the hall. "Where is this, and why am I in prison?!" I demanded from the Imperial.

"You be quite, MURDERER! You better learn the rules here faster than your cell mate did or you are going to be here for alot longer. Your sentence for now is to do labor for two weeks if your behavior is good, and then you will be released. You are really lucky, normally murder nets a much much longer sentence. Because it was your first offense and because the man you killed could have been drunk to the point of passing out. You might have been given a trial if the guards hadn't already pegged you as a trouble maker the night before. In any case I don't really care what anyone's story is and because of your short sentence I would just do the time and leave. If you leave now you will have only your rags you are wearing now, if you wait we will give you meals and a few septims to get you away from here and stop causeing us trouble."

And so it was that I spent two weeks in a prison with a mute lizard, which I learned preferred to be called Argonians after he almost gutted me with a sharp claw, an annoying talking Argonian, and a very strange kitty, who said to call it "the kajiit flower." I tried to pretty much do as I was told and it paid of because on exit I found that I received 20 gold, enough for a stilt strider ride to Balmora they assured me. I knew I had long over-postponed my Emperor-appointed duty, but I still had business in Seyda Neen before I headed out from the port town. Turns out that the prison was only a mile from Seyda Neen hidden in the side of a hill that was only used by the guards of my favorite little port hamlet.

As I walked into the town I went straight to the ring-guy's house. I figured I ought to find out if he had found his ring yet or not, and ask him what had went on in town after I had been towed away. I got to the house and opened the door only to see a guard charge out at me full force with his sword drawn out and pointed at me.

[jack cloudy]

Had a bit of bad luck there. So the smugglers are actually the local prison guards? That's an interesting view. I like the story so far, keep it up!

[minque]

Aye...it´s getting more and more interesting here.......can´t wait to see how this will continue!