Trey In Mournhold, Chapter 1 Options

[treydog]

Trey in Mournhold


Foreword (a portion)
By Quintinius Axibiades, Senior Librarian


The following narrative is copied from a manuscript discovered in the Vvardenfell province of Morrowind. The verifiable events noted in the original indicate that it was written sometime after 3E 427. Of the purported author, little is known. As the manuscript was discovered at Bal Isra, near the outpost town of Ald’ruhn, some credence may be given to the writer’s claim that he was a member of the so-called “Great House” known as Redoran. On the other hand, a great many books and papers were discovered at the same locality, so this piece may simply have been part of a collection. The narrator’s reference to himself as integral to a particular barbarian prophecy is an example of a plot device designed to increase interest in the story. Given the sensational and fantastic nature of some the events described, the writer most probably hoped to turn a profit by writing a popular fiction woven around known personalities and events. As far as can be determined, that hope was not realized, as no other versions of this manuscript are known to be extant.

The writing itself, while literate (barely), is not that of an educated or scholarly individual. It is plain, even crude at times; perhaps the early work of a young scribe with too much imagination and inadequate supervision. As noted previously, the first person perspective and the author’s penchant for claiming to have been present or even directly involved in events of great significance point to an attempt to capitalize on the common masses’ taste for the sensational and the scandalous, particularly when it involves royalty and the gods. The anti-Imperial tone of the piece suggests yet another possibility- that the writer was some type of Dunmeri agitator and that this tale is an attempt at allegory. Ultimately, the identity of the author or authors is of little moment; history has rightly placed this “Trey of High Rock” on the midden heap and gone on to more important matters.

Regarding the events described in the manuscript, it is left to the careful scholar to draw his own conclusions. Our purpose is to preserve all examples of the written word, no matter how doubtful the veracity or merit of a given piece. Those with a serious interest in Imperial history are directed to the official “Histories” for accurate information.

As to the physical properties of the paper, ink, &c ………



Chapter 1

For reasons which will become clear, I hesitated for many years to write the full story of my time in Mournhold. However, I feel that the right of my family to know everything outweighs the risk of premature discovery. Much time has passed since the events I am about to relate, but an enemy can have a long memory and an even longer reach. It is as much to protect my family as to tell the true story that I turn once more to my journals. The tattered, stained pages carry me back to a time when the idea of a family was as distant as the stars, when the idea that I would have any future at all was questionable. You see, someone wanted very much to kill me….

I had been unceremoniously carried off to Vvardenfell; told that, willing or not, I was a member of the Blades; and advised to “get some seasoning before I got myself killed.” With great reluctance and even greater complaining, I proceeded with the business of learning to stay alive on that frontier island. Numerous bandits and native creatures tried to cut short what I intended to be a long and profitable existence. Worse yet, I had managed to annoy the local criminal organization, as well as to draw the unfavorable attention of servants of the mad demigod, Dagoth Ur. To add that last bit of spice to my already overfull plate, someone had set the Dark Brotherhood upon me. Because that last seemed to me to be the province of the Imperial Legion, I went to them to seek assistance, just as any righteous citizen should do. The Empire’s response, in the words of Apelles Matius, Military Governor, could be summarized as,

“The Dark Brotherhood, eh? That’s too bad. You should probably do something to solve that problem. And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Although that was no more than I had expected from the Legion, it nevertheless enraged me to the point that I decided to do just the opposite. Rather than investigate the Dark Brotherhood, I decided to ignore them, to go on about my business as if nothing had happened. That might have worked if my business had not involved annoying all those various groups I mentioned earlier. In fact, I did more than just annoy the Camonna Tong; I destroyed their outpost in Balmora. The carnage there did not satisfy me, though, and I vowed to dedicate my remaining days to hunting down every member I could find of the criminal enterprise. Before I could put that plan into effect, fate intervened in the form of a Khajiit slave named Rabinna. That unfortunate creature was being used to smuggle the illegal drug, moon-sugar, by the expedient of having her swallow the packets. When she reached the buyer, he would murder her to retrieve the drugs. Her “owner” mistook me for the escort who was to take the slave to her bloody fate. Desiring to hurt the Camonna Tong in any way possible, I did nothing to correct that misperception. However, as soon as I had discovered the truth, I took Rabinna to the Argonian Mission in Ebonheart, a place where she assured me she would be safe. When I left the mission, I wandered the Imperial port, wondering what I should do next. The smell of the sea air and damp stone awoke in me a deep melancholy, perhaps accentuated by the release of the rage that had possessed me for several days. If I was not going to engage in a suicidal vendetta against the Camonna Tong, it might be wise to absent myself from Vvardenfell for a time. No one had any hold on me for the moment, but where could I go? My wandering steps had brought me to the doors of the Grand Council Chamber and I remembered a name- Asciene Rane. She was the mage who could get me to the mainland, to Morrowind’s capital. Due to the Blight, all ships from Vvardenfell were under quarantine; no one from the island was allowed onto the mainland. But if Asciene could get me to Mournhold, I might be able to find my way out…and go anywhere that my feet could carry me.

Having made things too hot for myself in Vvardenfell, a trip to the city of Mournhold suddenly seemed to be just the thing. Somehow, the idea of poking my nose into the Dark Brotherhood’s business conjured visions of frying pans and fires, but one risky venture seemed as good as another. Before I went to Asciene, I reviewed what little I knew of the Dark Brotherhood. It wasn’t terribly comforting, but did give me some ideas. Unlike the Morag Tong, the Brotherhood worked strictly for money. Since they accepted some portion of their fee up front and the rest upon completion, they would keep trying until they succeeded- or until they were …discouraged. I also reminded myself that they were hired killers, which meant someone had done the hiring. And that individual was someone I very much wanted to meet. Thus it was that two of my primary motivations- vengeance and escape- came together.

Asciene was more than a little curious about my reasons for desiring transport to Mournhold; in fact, she was rather suspicious. Rather than attempt to weave a convincing lie, I told the truth- I had been targeted by assassins. At the mention of the Dark Brotherhood, her impassive expression slipped and genuine concern showed in her eyes. Warning me that the Dark Brotherhood was not to be taken lightly, she agreed to transport me to Mournhold whenever I was ready. In addition, she gave me a note for Effe-Tei, the mage who could return me to Ebonheart. Thus it was, that I arrived in Mournhold, armed with nothing more than a sword and a thirst for answers.

[Dantrag]

TREY IS BACK!!!!

I love you treydog. *hugs*

Now that I read it...

Good start! Though nothing much happened, it is a very good intro - Can't wait to see what's next!

This post has been edited by Dantrag: Aug 1 2005, 09:01 PM

[Kiln]

YEAH! Very good, I was happy when I saw this...my writing's got nothin' on you man.

[Florodine of Hlaalu]

good intro, i think trey has come back with more of a vengeance, oh and dantrag mars volta rocks!!!

[Mazuk]

Very nice Trey. Good Job will be looking for an update.

[Dantrag]

oh and dantrag mars volta rocks!!!

Indeed they do.

And once again, all other stories take the back burner...(in a good way of course)

[Zelda_Zealot]

Of course, as soon as my internet goes out treydog posts again... Oh well, at least I got to read it.

[Fuzzy Knight]

YES! Great Trey, now we can have Trey fighting Almalexia and goblins, and getting Trueflame.. The start of the story is very well, also great writing.. You also have good ends too, very very very very nice!

Now as you have started on Tribunal, we cant leave out Bloodmoon can we.. Think Aki is gonna love that..

[Soulseeker3.0]

YAY!!! Trey's back telling stories! good start, I liked the Forward

[Kell-Reevor]

Welcome back Trey, you scared the hell outta with that disappearing act you pulled.

Nice work with the story (as usual). Will eagerly be waiting for more.

[Konji]

Will we then see the OB main quest, and expansions?

[minque]

Oh all my dreams have come true......a Trey-sequel, what a wonderful welcome-home-present.....

[Wolfie]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! MORE TREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[treydog]

When entering a new town, the wise thief has a couple of choices: the preferred option is to arrive quietly, unnoticed by the populace and the guards; failing that, a confident, “I-have-every-right-to-be-here” entrance will suffice. What you do NOT want to do is arrive in a puff of smoke and land face-first in a flowerbed in the antechamber of the Royal Palace. That is particularly true if your previous experience of “Royal and Imperial plants” has been less than satisfactory. The best that could be said of my arrival in Mournhold was that I managed not to wound myself with my sword. Shaking off the disorientation of the teleport magic as best I could, I straightened my robe and looked around the room. Besides the ornately decorated walls, the room contained the planter I had almost landed in and an Argonian in mage’s robes. When I staggered over to him, he introduced himself as Effe-Tei and stiffly asked how he could be of service. This was a bit of luck; I gave him the note from Asciene Rane, which improved his disposition greatly. He provided some general background information on Mournhold- the most significant item was the fact that the “goddess” Almalexia and Helseth, the “King” of Morrowind, both resided in the city. Moreover, the King and the Temple were not getting along too well at present. Helseth was trying to consolidate power and turn his office into a true monarchy; the Temple and the more old-fashioned of the Dunmer preferred the traditional government by council. As usual, it was about power- who had it and who wanted it. So the King and the Temple were circling like two stray dogs that have come across a juicy bone. Neither wanted to rush in and risk an attack- but neither was willing to back away.

If my interest was in gaining access to the seats of power, I should speak to Tienius Delitian, Captain of the Royal Guard. If I sought treasure and adventure, the sewers provided a quick way to find both. In fact, the current city was built on top of the ruins of “Old Mournhold;” those ruins provided excellent opportunities for “salvage.” Well, I had no desire to have any interaction with the Royal Guard, let alone their Captain. What I did need was information, and the only place to find it was out in the city. The trick was to find someone knowledgeable who wasn’t too closely aligned with any of the factions. Even so, I would have to be careful- I couldn’t just march up to a complete stranger and say,

“Hello. My name is Trey and the Dark Brotherhood is trying to kill me. You know where I might find them to discuss that issue?”

While such an approach might have the virtue of simplicity, it would surely draw a great deal of unwanted attention from the assassins as well as the guards. Even though I hadn’t always been terribly smart, I had made sure to don a robe to cover my “borrowed” Dark Brotherhood armor. After all, if Mournhold really was their base, it wouldn’t take long for them to find out about a Breton parading around in their kit. Their criticism of that fashion statement was likely to be pointed…and permanent.

The first person I encountered in the courtyard introduced himself as Calvus Horatius, mercenary. For the reasonable sum of 250 drakes, he would guard my back, carry my loot, and generally make himself useful. He appeared to be an honorable fellow and I remembered a time or two that I could have used some help…. But I tended to have enough trouble taking care of myself in a fight. Then too, he didn’t look all that stealthy, what with his steel cuirass and tower shield. And I might not want a witness for everything I might do- even if he was loyal, there were potions and spells that would make him talk. It was better for me to continue as I had started- alone. An examination of the rest of the courtyard showed doors opening onto the Guard quarters, the Imperial Cult shrine, and an Imperial Legion Depot. There were also large gates that gave access to the Temple district and Mournhold’s central plaza, the Brindisi Dorom. What I needed to find was a tavern. Besides beds and drinks, they tended to serve information. Calvus told me that the best bet was a place called the Winged Guar, which was located in Godsreach, the residential district.

The tavern was a far cry from the frontier watering holes I had become accustomed to on Vvardenfell; it looked more like a mansion than a bar. I hoped the prices wouldn’t be equally fancy- all I needed was to get arrested for vagrancy. Still, it wouldn’t necessarily cost me anything to ask a few questions. Sometimes, the questions people won’t answer tell you as much as the ones that they will. Deciding to start on the upper floor and work my way down, I had what seemed to be a stroke of luck. The first person I spoke to was an Altmer named Hession who turned out to be the owner. After telling me about the bill of fare, she gave me a shrewd glance and said,

“Despite the robe, I can see that you are armored, and you carry yourself as if you know your way around. Would you be interested in a little work?”

It seemed that the usual bouncer, an Orc named Grub, had failed to show up, so she needed a replacement. All that was needed was someone to circulate, make sure everyone was happy, and deal with any obnoxious drunks or other “undesirables.” Naturally, I agreed. This was exactly the sort of opening I needed- it gave me an excuse to talk to everybody and to hang out in the tavern without drinking. Better still, if I did a good job, it would get me in Hession’s good graces. It would be hard to find a better source of information. Whenever you start to think that things are going well, prepare for the worst. Apparent good fortune is just Fate’s way of setting you up.

[Kiln]

Very nice to see an update Trey. You have a very definative writing style.*Applause*

[Florodine of Hlaalu]

nice new update once again you seem to bring small quests alive, and incorporate them into the main story

[Soulseeker3.0]

great job Trey!

psssttt! are these new??

[minque]

treydog...my hero. it´s a pleasure to have you back writing more about our great hero....
A quote i especially like:

The best that could be said of my arrival in Mournhold was that I managed not to wound myself with my sword.

so utterly..."trey-ish"--........


Oh and yes Soulseeker those are new! enjoy!

[jonajosa]

expecting a longer wait... now I will so much to catch up on when I get back.

*shakes fist*

[Channler]

Awsome! Not sure how I missed these earlier today...