Blood of the Kyn, Volume II Options

[Dantrag]

Click for Volume I

The start of Volume II; where stuff actually starts to happen. Enjoy.

Chapter 1 - Tensions

I am lost. Azyrek recited the words in his mind as he stood in the center of the Plaza Brindisi Dorom, in front of a beautifully sculpted pair of statues. He looked around one time to make sure there were no prying eyes.

His lips finally moved to form the words, and he felt a slight rumble beneath his feet. He heard rock grinding rock and looked down to see one slowly descending. It was large enough to stand on, so he did. The dremora slowly fell into darkness on a magickally suspended stone.

Azyrek could see nothing in the darkness, but he could tell that he had reached the bottom of whatever pit the Brotherhood had sent him to.

"We've been expecting you, Brother," he heard, just before a torch was lit, "Welcome to Bamz-Amschend. Cemented over when the Plaza was repaired, but the Dark Brotherhood laid claim."

Azyrek could tell from the accent that his 'brother' was a native dunmer, though his face was masked.

"Thank you, Brother."

"I will show you to your room soon. First, you must follow me."

Azyrek followed the mer, and in the torchlight could see that they were in an old, old place. He had never seen any ruins such as these before. Judging by the machinery, they had to be from the dwemer. A stark contrast to the old Ayleid fortresses he would see in Cyrodiil. They went further down and eventually into a tunnel. The metal and stonework disappeared, making it obvious that it had been dug long since the dwemer walked the halls.

They came to a door, and the other assassin stood by it.

"The Speaker awaits you, Azyrek."

Azyrek opened the door to find a surprisingly homey room. The floors were wooden, though the walls were those of a natural cavern. There was a bed in the back corner, and to his left was a crackling fireplace. Arranged in a semicircle in front of it sat a sofa and chairs. On the sofa was another dunmer, who sat with his hands in front, hidden under the folds of his black robe. Much like Azyrek often did, he had a hood pulled low over his face.

"Greetings, Murderer. Vicente send word of your success and promotion. It seems Sithis and the Night Mother favor you."

Azyrek gave a slight bow. Noting that this dunmer was not native. It sounded like a dark elf from home would.

"I know you're weary from travel, so I will be brief. You are never to enter this Sanctuary again. The name of your first target is Temis Alam. He goes by the name Ras here, performing magick in the Bazaar. He is Morag Tong and I want him dead.

"Once he is dead, we will contact you. We have arranged for you a place to hide and begin your destiny."

"So...I have to leave now?"

"No, stay the night, and prepare tomorrow. You will leave us when night falls. Farewell, Murderer. The Night Mother expects great things of you."

Azyrek took his cue, said his goodbyes, and left the room. The dunmer was still outside the door with the torch. They walked further into the tunnels, and Azyrek was shown his room. It was nothing but a bed and a table with a jug of water, but it was all he needed. Too tired to think, he laid down and went to sleep.

This post has been edited by Dantrag: May 19 2010, 07:02 PM

[Dantrag]

Chapter 3 - Following his Footsteps

Rinori emerged from the inn, with her last few comberries resting in her hand. She popped them into her mouth one by one, as she approached the Mage's Guild house. She entered to see a wood elf woman at a desk, scribbling tirelessly on a piece of parchment. Rinori stood patiently, waiting for her to come to a pause in her work.

She kept standing. And standing. She chewed her last berry. The bosmer kept writing. Rinori was fed up with waiting, and waved her hand back and forth between the mage's eyes and the paper.

The lady finally raised her head, revealing a look of bewilderment, as if she had just seen the world for the first time.

"I hope you aren't too busy," Rinori said with a bit of sarcasm.

"I'm so sorry, Sera. I've been working on this research..." the little lady said, "Anyway, I am Farawen, at your service. What can I help you with?"

"My name is Rinori. I'm looking for a friend of mine. Nevis up the road said I should look here."

"Is you friend a mage here? I have the records of our-"

"No, no, no. He would've only been here a few days. Had any strangers spending a lot of time here?"

"Not very many visitors come here, unless they're with the Guild..." she said, resting her chin on her hand while she thought about it, "There was someone here a few days ago, but I doubt you would've known him."

"Try me," Rinori said.

"He never gave a name, but we made him work for his guild guide services. He was...(how do I put this?)...not entirely of our world."

Rinori smiled, now she was getting somewhere, "That's him. Half-dremora, right?"

Farawen laughed, "Yes, exactly! It took us quite some time to figure that out. He's an interesting test subject, but not the most cooperative. He's actually the center of my research. Do you know him well?"

"Probably better than anyone else," she answered, saddened by the thought.

Farawen's eyes lit up, "What luck!" she exclaimed, "If you could convince him to come here, I could learn so much more! He didn't really like us studying him, but we can work out some sort of pay-"

"I'm sorry but I don't think that's possible."

Farawen's excitement died instantly, "Oh. Well if you're looking for him, we did send him to Mournhold finally. We can send you there today if you wish."

"No, thank you. What exactly is your research about?"

"Oh my, where to begin!" Farawen said, excitement present in her voice again, "At first we thought he was errantly summoned by one of our apprentices, then we thought he was a dremora that had passed through from Oblivion, so we sort of...forced him to let us study him. We did all the wrong tests, and since your friend was none too happy about being a part of our experiments, he kept quiet. It wasn't until the very end of our time together that I figured out what he truly was. A half-dremora! I don't think a single case of this has ever been recorded in all of history. There have been theories, of course, but no hard evidence. Really, miss, if you could bring him here, or take me to him, I could bring a lot of knowledge to Tamriel."

Rinori shook her head, "I told you it's not possible."

"Why not? If there's anything either of you needs in return, I can arrange it."

"Please, don't ask again," Rinori said, feeling water rising behind her eyes, "There's nothing I can do."

"But I-"

Rinori slammed her fist on Farawen's desk, "He's dead, alright? Dead!"

This post has been edited by Dantrag: Mar 31 2011, 05:00 AM