The Hero in Disguise, Chapter 1 Options

[jack cloudy]

Nice, you get the thrill for adventure flowing through my blood.

[Taillus]

I thought I would add another update considering it may be a couple of days before I can get to add more. Without further hesitation.....

As I exited Chorrol and left Jauffre to watch the Amulet, I was treated to the excited voice of the balding tubby man that I had met earlier as I was heading off to my next destination. He allowed me use of his horse for travel to Kvatch but I had to decline. Unless the heir had his own horse which I was thinking he didn’t, it would be quite difficult to control a horse with such an unstable weight.

I was sure to thank Prior Maborel before leaving and I made sure I had what I thought I needed before setting out to get in contact with Martin Septim. I decided that even though it would take me almost twice as long, I would be better off to take the main road. Walking aimlessly through the wilderness right now is grounds to get myself killed. This way I would get to visit another city on my way and maybe see if their local Fighter’s guild had better equipment.

Only a short time had passed since I had left Weynon Priory when something ahead of me caught my eye. A rustling of bushes made me a tad defensive and with good reason. I was shocked to see what I was seeing only minutes out of town…

“One hundred gold or your life you Imperial scum!” a nasty Khajiit hisses as he draws an iron short-sword. He steps toward me with the blade catching the last rays of the falling sun.

“Please, don’t hurt me! Take everything I have but don’t hurt me!” I wail like a ninny as the bandit grins before closing in on me.

“Let us not try any funny business and Ra-Jiil won’t bury his blade in your neck.” The bandit growls as he comes ever closer to take his prize. With a quick grin I pull my short sword from its home at my side letting the handle as well as my armored gauntlet catch him in his leather armored chest.

It was a non-lethal move I had learned in close quarters combat training through the Blue Lions. It was used to ready your weapon while giving your foe a chance to surrender and give you space to think.

I could hear the wind escaping his lungs as he gasps hard. With a flick of my wrist, my blade shows business side upward and I swing it hard letting it collide with his shoulder. If the leather of his cuirass wasn’t as tough as it was I might have taken his arm clean off. Luckily I didn’t hurt him too badly but he knew I meant business and my blade was able to cut through his armor and cleanly slice into his furry flesh beneath it.

The Khajiit wailed in pain as I pulled my blade from the wound. He gripped his shoulder and dropped his sword. As the bandit dropped to his knees I decided to kneel down with him.

“Guess what pal? One-hundred gold or your life the choice is yours. I decided to give you the choice since you were kind enough to do the same.” I explain as I rest my armored hand on his injured shoulder to help me to myself to my feet.

The Khajitt cries out in pain again as I pick up his sword and toss it into the high grass off the side of the trail. I bet this poor guy is going to rethink his career choice after today but in all honesty as angry as I was that this can happen not far from a town gate, I had no intention of killing him. He was probably just down on his luck and decided that this was an easy way out. Everyone makes mistakes and I will be sure to have him learn.

“Get to your feet…what did you call yourself? Ra-jiil? I am not going to kill you or take your money but we are going to wait around for a road guard so he can have you spend some time in Chorrol’s prison for ambushing people on the street. There are many ways a man can provide for his family. You spend so much time…. AAAAAH” My speech was cut short by an interrupting dagger being jabbed into my hip. I should have known.

Some people just cannot be taught how to change. Some people just cannot break away from a life they have been used to for so long. I guess this guy is going to have to pay a price that is quite permanent. I really did try but in the end when a choice has to be made between my life and his, well I am quite biased.

The Bandit lunged at me after pulling his dagger from my thigh. He tried another swing but was only bumped aside by my shield. I countered with a quick swing of my blade that found its mark cutting though his leather cuirass yet again. Blood stained the area by his abdomen as he looked up at me in pain. I really did not want to kill him but he just didn’t stop swinging.

He acted like I was a vicious madman but I had clearly given him a chance to surrender. With one final swing I fear his wounds had gotten the best of him. After losing so much blood he gave up on the dusty road before me and breathed his last breath. I decided that I would drag his body off the road so it would not gather too much attention and I relieved him of his more valuable items.

As I got about half way to Skingrad, I realized that when I got there it would only be half way to Kvatch. At least I would be fit and well exercised. I also got a collection of wolf pelts that would make a Nord cry. I thought of wolf pelts to be the natural currency and of course killing those hungry beasts would be better then trying to outrun them any day.

Skingrad was a good choice as I once again enter through a large set of double wooden doors. A place to rest, rejuvenate and repent for killing that bandit. I had a hard time dealing with killing a man whose only crime was being desperate, and robbing people, and probably harming people emotionally as well as physically. Well ok, I don’t feel all that bad about it now and really all it means is that I have stopped it from happening to someone else.

But I did manage to reinforce my inventory. I managed to barter once again which was something I was getting increasingly better at and as I laid my head on another comfortable Inn pillow for the night as well as let my hard earned meal settle I knew that I was ready for anything that could be thrown at me in Kvatch…

[Agent Griff]

Oh great! Xander's first encounter with a highwayman. Those guys are tricky little buggers but, is it just me or is Xander getting a little soft? When he arrived to Seyda Neen in Taillus's tale he seemed to be more tough. Did prison soften him up? Anyway, I liked the update. This story is getting more back on track by the day.

[Taillus]

Well I thought the biggest thing that would soften him up aside from being in prison for a number of years (cause hero in disguise happens more then 3 years after the Taillus story.) the fact that Xander has been fighting with the fact that he was thrown in prison for saving Vvardenfel.

Not to mention that he is in a foreign place, in a foreign body and isn't sure what still works as far as magicka and skills go. Taillus' body was larger then Xander's by default and the body was used to swinging large weapons.

He is no longer a man of status and holds no rank with any guild or faction and is released from prison just to head out again to put his life on the line.......

He will get out of his shell here in no time Griff, don't you worry!

[Agent Griff]

To be honest, if I would have been thrown in jail for saving a whole nation I would get mad at the world and become a villain or something just like Taillus used to be. But Xander seems to be better than me (figures, he's a story character, these guys are almost always perfect, well except Taillus who was corupted by a Daedric Prince)

[jack cloudy]

I liked the updates. Xander is on his way to clear the name of his body, which is a good thing seeing as he is stuck with it for a while.

Griff, not all story characters are perfect. I like the ones that have weaknesses. Here's a list of my own.

Luper Alkad: Rude, and easily distracted by the idea of loot. He also has a small problem with the people in charge.

Aureus Lucis: Ok, he is an Uber god and damn good for his age, but there are things he doesn't like to talk about. Not to mention that he kind of freaked out in the vampire lair. (Notice the difference in how he talks.)

Jana: Geez, a though one. Well, she hates vampires, herself for being one and she tends not to think before rushing into something. (Entering a vampire's lair, bad idea.

Jack Cloudy (yes, I based my name on this forum on a character from a bad story of mine): He hates aliens, is surrounded by aliens and he finally has a few problems with controlling his god powers. He is a god in the allmighty, immortal kind, but he doesn't know it and tends to cause trouble at the worst moments.

Umm yeah, I'm getting off-topic. Good story, Taillus. Too bad the bandit didn't want to listen.

[Kayla]

Excellent story! Keep the updates coming!

[Agent Griff]

Is my Arthago the perfect knight? He has some quirks, he's not quite the do-good knight of old tales and epic poems isn't he? At the moment he's being an assassin just to get the money to take care of the upkeep of his house. Anyway, I hope the next update will be even better!

[minque]

Very good Tai! Woah....it´s very enjoyable....you do have talent for this you know!