The adventures of Arthago chapter III, A Province united Options

[Agent Griff]

Arthago is on his way to Rihad, not to Taneth. Taneth is just a place to stop by and rest on the way to Rihad. It is a big and important city, but Arthago's objectives are related to Rihad, not Taneth.

Pay more attention Mallet, I had higher expectations from you.

[The Metal Mallet]

Right, right. Gimme a break, I read your update at like 3 in the morning after 8 hours of work. My mind might've been a bit slow by then

[jack cloudy]

A who is the best warrior guy discussion. Man, people can talk about that forever.

Oh, and I agree with Arthago. No lively discussions please.

[Agent Griff]

Do not worry Mallet, you are forgiven. Oh, one thing I was always willing to ask you, who is Simion Mandrake and what has he got to with Bloodlust? Just curious because I see these names being thrown quite a lot around the forums. Why couldn't people mention Arthago and the Adventures instead?

~~~
Right from the start I could notice that Taneth was a rather odd city. Since my mission was largely concerned with Rihad I had received little intelligence about Taneth. I already knew that its leader was a pro-Imperial woman named Clavilla and that it was a Forebear-aligned city. I was surprised to see how Imperialized Taneth had become. In the crowds mingling through the main street I could see just as much Imperials as I could see Redguards. There was a main street which ran until it reached Clavilla's castle, and that main street also contained Taneth's bazaar. Around the main street sprang small alleys which led off to houses and smaller shops, alleys to small for three man to stand abreast. Next to the buildings were also wooden scaffoldings on which workers laboured to renovate the traditional light-brown sand-swept hues of the buildings to a more conventional colour. The scaffoldings started from the alleys and worked their way up, giving the city a strange appearance.

Since I only wanted to spend the night in Taneth, I made my way to the nearest Redguard I could see to ask about a cheap, low-profile inn where I could stay. Amid the crowd I could see a middle-aged Redguard with a grizzled beard standing about, as if waiting for someone. I approached him.

"Greetings. Excuse me but would you mind if you..." I was interrupted by the man before I could finish my sentence.

"That necklace...hide it!" he whispered as he looked another way. He was obviously pretending not to talk to me, though I couldn't understand why. I then looked down at my necklace. It was an old necklace which I carried around ever since I left Vulnim Gate for the first time. It was a gift I received one day from my mother, which said she had received it from her mother while she was a girl. It had a small ivory medallion which symbolized some old Yoku god.

"My necklace? Why?" I asked, looking in the other way as well, not wanting to attract unwanted attention. That was the last thing I needed.

"The guards...they'll take it from you and toss you in the Royal dungeons just for wearing such 'blasphemy'. Take it off, quick!" the man whispered once more as he kept looking around. I decided to do as he said, not wanting to draw unwanted attention from the guards.

"That's better, a lot better. You will find that it's not good to be caught wearing anything which is traditionally Yoku in Taneth. Or doing anything traditionally Yoku. Or speaking Yoku for the matter." the man said in a nervous way, finally looking at me.

"But why? What's happened? Why are there so many Imperials here?" I asked, rather confused.

"It's the Queen you see. But I can't say any more. Farewell." He said as he quickly left, grabbing my hand and putting a small note in it before leaving.

I quickly took out the note and read it carefully.

Queen Clavilla has banned everything which has something traditionally Yoku related to it, and is trying to destroy our traditional Redguard culture, imposing the Imperials and their Nine Divines over our traditional Yoku gods. If you want to be part of the solution, seek us out at the "Serpent's Coil" inn in the Lower quarters. Ask for Jon.

Signed,
the Fellowship of Taneth

That explained everything. I knew Clavilla was a supporter of Imperial culture and mannerism, but not quite that much. It seemed my intelligence was outdated. It wasn't really any of my concern and my main objective was reaching Rihad, but it wouldn't hurt hurting Sentinel's political adversaries and gaining a few allies in Taneth while I was at it. I quickly folded the note and put it in my pockets, afterwards turning to Beomir and Belwin.

"Alright men, change of plans. We're gonna wreak a little havok while we're staying here. Follow me." I said, as I started walking in a general direction.

What was written in the note also explained all the scaffoldings and the workers working to renovate the traditional Redguard buildings. They were clearly trying to Imperialize the city to Clavilla's standards. It also explained the presence of Imperial legionnaires inside the city, serving as guards along with some Redguard guards. If I would want to learn more however I would have to make my way to the "Serpent's Coil" inn. In order to do that, I would have to ask someone for directions. Seeing a Redguard in front of me who seemed to be knowledgeable of the city, I approached him.

"Excuse me, do you happen to know where I could find the 'Serpent's Coil' inn?" I asked in a rather polite way. The Redguard turned and looked me over, head to toe, probably to see if I was wearing anything which was Yoku in style.

"Take the first alley to the left and keep going until you reach an opening in the alleys. You'll find a few shacks and a somewhat larger stone building there which has a sign with a snake coiling. That's the inn you're looking for. Watch out though, it's in the Lower Quarters and that's a rather...agitated part of town." the Redguard said calmly, slowing down when he finished his sentence. I thanked him and was off.

The journey through the winding alleyway the Redguard sent me through wasn't as easy as I expected. These back-alleys were more dirty and crowded than the ones I experienced in Sentinel. There were also various shady types about, which more than unnerved Belwin. Beomir however seemed to be right at home. I could see however what the Redguard meant by agitated. There were many poor people and street urchins lying about and begging. There were also some groups of poor people which were rather more "practical" about it when it came to getting money from passers-by. They tried to avoid us however seeing as we were three well-armed travellers which stayed together.

Because of the scaffoldings which were strewn all about the city the alleys were rather dark, and it made seeing more in front of you hard, especially when people hung their dirty laundry right on the street. The spaces between the cobblestones which made up the ground we were walking on was also filled with filth and dirty water. It was something you could feel with your boots while walking on it rather than smell it. That was not to say that the smell wasn't very strong though. Along the way I could also see posters hung on the walls with the Empire's banner and the saying "The Imperials are our brothers" written beneath it. There were also some posters which were vandalized or ripped from the wall entirely.

After what seemed like an eternity of trudging about the same identical alleys we finally found the "Serpent's Coil" inn. It was a somewhat large stone building when compared with the wooden shacks all around it. As the Redguard had described it, it was in a clearing between several larger buildings, seemingly at an intersection between alleys. We approached the door.

As we entered we could hear traditional Redguard music being sung from a band of musicians. We were welcomed with the sight of a large, rectangular common room which was dark even though there were candles on all the tables which provided an odd sense of darkness. It provided just enough light so you could see the person standing with you at a table, and just enough darkness so you couldn't properly see the other tables. Between the odd assortment of Redguards of all ages there were also a few large figures standing at a table and drinking ale by the flagon. As we passed by their table we could see they were Orcs. One of them gave Beomir a glare as he passed. As soon as we reached the bar, I started talking with the publican.

"Good evening. I'm looking for Jon." I said, trying to be quiet enough as not to be heard by others yet loud enough to be heard over the music.

"I understand. Follow me." the publican said as he appointed another bartender to take his place.

We followed the publican through a door behind the bar which led to a smaller private room used to store drinks. There were a lot of wine racks in the room and a table in the middle, a table at which there sat several people, including the Redguard I had met in the main street of the city, the one which gave me the note.

"I'll leave you to your business. I'll call if there's any trouble." the publican said as he went back to his duties. I stood for a while while they all looked at me.

"Why don't you take a seat, m'boy?" the eldest of them asked in a rather gruff voice.

"We hope you weren't followed. That's a big problem these days, getting our members arrested because they're caught illegally possessing Yoku things, or because they're fraternizing with 'heretics'." The man who gave me the note said as a follow-up. I took a seat as they said. So did Beomir and Belwin, rather hesitantly. "I'm Jon by the way. The old one's Bodean. There are others but that's all you should know for the moment."

"I understand. So what are you exactly? A revolutionary movement?" I asked rather curiously.

"Of sorts." Bodean answered shortly.

"To give you the longer story, Queen Clavilla wasn't actually a bad sort when she first came to power. The old Emperor down in Cyrodiil deposed the former king of Taneth for reasons we commoners don't know, and instated his Imperial-grown niece on the throne afterwards. Before the Queen came to power, things in Taneth were down-right miserable. You had to pay rent to the King for almost everything you owned, and that rent was multiplied per person, so unless you were rich you couldn't afford more than a shack unless you dodged taxes and rent all-together. After the Queen came to the throne she repealed the rent law for the poor citizens, making it bearable to have more than a shack again." Jon said, speaking about the times before Clavilla's reign.

"Things were good and all during that period. Trade started growing again, more ships started coming to the harbour, more houses being built and more jobs to go around. The legion and the Orcs also came about by then." Bodean said, rather coldly.

"Orcs? We met a group of them right in this inn. They gave us a rather nasty look and didn't seem pleased to see us." Belwin said, interrupting.

"Aye. Orc mercenaries hired by Clavilla as her personal police-force. Since Taneth never really had a standing army after the Camoran Usurper attacked Hammerfell, the Queen decided to do something about it so she hired all these Orcs. A rather boisterous bunch, though they have skill when it comes to battle. They don't seem to get on well with the street gangs formed in the period when the city was poorer and the rent laws were still in effect. When they're not on duty they loiter about in taverns and inns, getting drunk and filling their bellies." Jon said.

"An undisciplined band of drunken louts if you ask me." Bodean said in a mocking way. It was clear he despised the Orcs.

"If the people of Taneth dislike the Legionnaires stationed here, they certainly hate the Orcs under the Queen's service. Anyway, to carry on with the story, things were all fine and good until the Orcs and the Legion came in increasing ammounts. Then the Queen started her cultural 'war' so to say. She started banning anything which was un-Cyrodiilic, stating that the only things which were proper were Imperial. People tolerated it for a while, until she banned all worship of the traditional Yoku gods and branded all of the priests as heretics, throwing them in the dungeons. Now formal worship of Yoku gods is forbidden and the only gods which are not heretical are the Nine Divines." Jon said, being interrupted by Bodean once more.

"During the bad times people found a refuge in worshipping the Yoku gods like Satakal. It was all they had really. Things have been like this ever since we Redguards came to Hammerfell! Now this Queen tries to take it away from us, calling our religion a heresy and our holymen shamans! It cannot be borne!" Bodean said, almost shouting.

"Bodean can be rather extreme at times, but he is right. Things have gone on long enough. It's time the people fought back, and what better voice of the people than us?" Jon asked, rhetorically.

"Will you join us lad? Will you help Taneth and its people regain their former freedom?" Bodean asked. I stood for a while as if pondering the decision. Of course I wanted to destabilize Clavilla's rule and reinforce the point of view that Lhotun is the one who will save Taneth.

"Of course I will. What nobler cause is there than the freedom of the people? When do we start?" I asked, rather boldly. I almost told them that it shouldn't take more than a few days since I had another kingdom to destabilize in Rihad.

Me and my "noble" pursuits...

~~~
Comments are welcome!

[The Metal Mallet]

Well to answer your question Griff, Simion Mandrake is one of my characters in Bloodlust. He's sort of a victim of circumstance and a pivotal character in my story. I should really continue it too, it's been awile since I made an update but that's because I don't have my old job anymore and that's when I did most of my writing.

As for this update: awesome! I have a feeling Arthago might be a bit too bold thinking that it'll be simple to overthrow Clavilla though. If she has Imperials on her side (plus Orc mercs) they could possibly prove to be a formidable opponent. The time factor to also get this done could also prove to be a challenge. The possible chance of a hasty solution could prove to be their undoing. We shall see I guess!

[jack cloudy]

What Mallet said. I just love how Arthago treats this as a small sidejob. 'Just cause I was in the neighbourhood anway'.

[mplantinga]

Just thought I'd say that someday, I hope to get around to reading this story. Since it is already in Chapter III, it looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.

[Agent Griff]

You will have quite some catching up to do Planty. I myself re-read every chapter before resuming the story so I could properly know what Arthago has been doing and have intimate knowledge of past events. Re-reading all the story only took me 3-4 hours so it shouldn't be that hard. Oh, and Jack, you're making me jealous! Your replies to Redrock's "The Last Heir" are gigantic compared to your replies to my story. I must say that he is a rather good writer, and he's new so he deserves helping but still. Anyway, to resume...

~~~
As we stood in the crowded back-room we began making plans. It would be hard, but I had learned a thing or two while being around Lhotun. First thing to do was to properly ruin your political opponent's reputation. Spread nasty rumours about him, slander him, do anything it takes to make him look like a fool in the eyes of the people. Second thing was to take away said opponent's support, whatever that may be. In my case, this support was the Orcs and the Legion. The Legion in itself was too big of a target to take down but the Orcs could be handled. Third of all, and this was something which Lhotun was a very big fan of, take out your opponent proper. Since I was merely passing by and didn't have too many resources I wasn't going to even attempt to assassinate Clavilla. For now, I would have to settle with merely slandering her in front of her own people and instilling a revolutionary attitude in Taneth.

"Well, first of all, have any strange thing been going on in town?" I asked, sparking the discussion. Bodean and Jon seemed to think for a few moments before finally replying.

"If you mean something which might be of concer to Clavilla, and to us, the wife of the Captain of the Guard has recently dissapeared in mysterious circumstances. The Captain of the Guard is also, coincidentally, an Imperial." Jon said.

"Hm, we might use that to our advantage. If we could somehow prove to the populace of Taneth that the Captain murdered his wife we could show everyone how 'noble' and 'civilised' Imperials really are. When was his wife last seen?" I asked.

"After a particularly nasty argument she was saying that she wanted to leave the city. No one has seen her since." Bodean said, in between a few gulps of ale.

"Did she actually leave the city?" Beomir asked.

"I think so, why?" Jon asked in a rather confused voice. I was slightly confused as well, not knowing what Beomir was referring to.

"If so, I might contact a few of my former friends which have a...let's say knack for finding lost things, bodies included. They might be able to find the Captain's wife, if she is truly dead." Beomir said. We all looked at him in a rather impressed way seeing as none of us had really thought of that option.

"And if we don't find her?" Jon asked, rather anxiously.

"Find the body of a woman and pass it off as the Captain's wife, though it might be harder if we were to do so. If we're lucky however, we won't need to do this." I said, as the others looked at me in a rather disgusted way. Being around Lhotun showed.

"Let's hope we won't need to do that." Belwin said, finally breaking the silence.

"Well, after we handle the Captain of the Guard then what?" Jon asked.

"After we ruin the reputation of her allies, we slander Clavilla herself. I've seen several propaganda posters around town. I'm sure we could do something better than that. Make a leaflet and pass it around. Make sure the leaflet properly slanders Clavilla and her odd ways. I'm sure we can think of something. It's not that hard to make preposterous claims, it's hard making people believe in them. If we can prove that the Captain murdered his wife, our slanderous claims can appear much more believable." I said, weaving a plan.

"Great. That only leaves the Orcs." Bodean said, putting particular accent on the word 'Orcs'.

"Well, they are a harder nut to crack. I can't really think of any way to take them out easily." I said with a rather concerned voice. Orcs may have appeared like dumb creatures but they were cunning and tenacious, if somewhat savage and headstrong. That was what made them the most sought-after mercenaries around.

"I think I know how to take care of them." Beomir said in a sly voice. After he said that he started thinking heavily. Nobody said a word, leaving him to think over is words. "You did say that the Orcs had a conflict with the street gangs, didn't you?"

"Yes. What of it?" Jon asked, curiously.

"We could use that conflict to our advantage and take out both the Orcs and the Legionnaires helping Clavilla." Beomir said with a grin. "One of you should go to the Legion's headquarters and give the leader of the Legionnaires an anonymous tip concerning a gathering of the street gangs. A little while after that, another one of you should go to the Orcs telling them that a street gang would be splitting the loot from a profitable heist and that the Legion is already going for it. Knowing Orcs are greedy as hell, they would rush to the place to get there before the Legion does. They get to the place and find it barren besides the Legionnaires, which have been already tipped off."

"And they find each other then stand around, how does that help us?" Bodean interrupted rather rudely. With a glare, Beomir replied.

"Let me finish! Before we tip off either the Legion or the Orcs, one of us goes to the street gangs and tells them that both the Orcs and a number of Leggionaires will be gathered at a certain place at a certain time, looking for loot that isn't there. That would be the perfect opportunity to spring an ambush and kill them all. Since they would be caught by surprise, the Orcs and the Legionnaires would all be killed. Trust me, I've done this before. It's sure to work." Beomir said, ending with a large grin.

"Hm...brilliant plan, except for one thing. How do we get the street gangs to cooperate?" Jon asked.

"You did say that the Orcs and the gangs hate each other don't you? What better way to make them cooperate than giving them the opportunity to completely elliminate the opposing side?" Beomir asked.

"You've surprised me yet again Beomir. I now see why Lhotun hired you for this job." I said with a smile. Beomir had, thus far, proved very useful. Belwin on the other hand hadn't been of much use. I didn't loose faith in him however.

"Well...I have my uses." Beomir replied after drinking some mead from a pewter tankard.

"Now that we have made our plan, I must tell you one more thing, my friends." I said, preparing to reveal to Jon and Bodean who was behind my appearance in Taneth.

"And what may that be, Vilamon?" Jon asked in a curious voice. At the same time, Bodean was looking at me suspiciously while trying to grab a dagger he was obviously hiding in his boot.

"There is no reason to prepare your dagger Bodean, though you may hold it if it makes you feel better. My name isn't really Vilamon. I'm neither a knight-errant, though I am a knight. My name is Arthago, and I hail from the city and kingdom of Sentinel. I am on a mission for my king, King Lhotun son of Camaron. Know that if my plans have any success it is all because of the training and counsel I have received from His Majesty. Know also that he wishes what is best for both Taneth and its people. In due time, I am sure he will rid you of Queen Clavilla." I said, in a rather fanciful speech which I didn't use that often.

"Hm, our friend reveals himself. I was pretty suspicious of the Knight-Errant bit in the first place. I wondered why a supposedly chivalrous knight would use such lowly, dishonourable methods. If these methods have been taught to you by King Lhotun himself I despair to think such a man may one day rule all of Hammerfell." Jon said in a rather disgusted way. It seemed he wasn't a fan of Lhotun's methods. Fair enough, neither was I. I had grown in wisdom in the last years. In other days, I would have simply drawn my blade and beheaded the man for slandering Lhotun's name.

"Leave the man alone Jon. He does what is necessary to maintain his position. It is a cruel world we live in, not the honourable world of your dreams. If you have been taught by King Lhotun himself, I am honoured to be working with you, Sir Arthago." Bodean said in his usual rough voice. This was a surprise. A realist who had no qualm with Lhotun's methods. I was nothing short of amazed.

"Well, now that that's settled I think we should all get a good night's sleep since we have a hard day ahead of us. Revolutionaries like us always do." I said, ending my sentence with a yawn. I was getting tired.

"I've already talked with the publican. Your rooms are upstairs, second and third doors on the right. Be gentle with the furniture." Jon said as he rose from the table.

As everyone left the table, we made our way to our rooms. I was in a somewhat larger room with two beds, while the other room was a smaller one with only a single bed. Knowing Beomir and Belwin didn't quite get along, and that Beomir was prone to getting into trouble, I decided to stay in the room with Belwin. Beomir would have to sleep...and do whatever might come through his odd mind alone. As Beomir took off his robes he put on some pants and a shirt which he used to sleep in. I took off my cape then hung it on a hook near the door. I also hung my scabbard on the same hook. I kept my scimitar next to me, just in case. Belwin gave me an odd look the whole time.

"Why do you keep your sword near you at all times?" Belwin asked, rather curiously.

"I've attracted the attention of some dangerous people during my time in the service of King Lhotun." I said, rather plainly.

"Hm, why you warriors must always have someone to boss you around I'll never understand. Being a mage is much more flexible. People generally leave you alone in some places where mages are considered something ocult, and people treat you with respect and don't start giving you menial tasks in places where mages are properly treated." Belwin said, rather annoyed. He was right however.

"I'm not really sure. I for one have always favoured the notion of the intelligent fighter, and I consider myself as such. For that matter, in the past months I've done nothing a common thug or hired blade would. I've not fought a single battle with anyone, and my blade is almost crying because of it. Most of the time I've been more of an agent to my Lord than anything." I said.

"Well, you are right. You showed your apptitude for leadership and for politics in the discussion with Jon and his friend, I believe it was Bodean, wasn't it? Anyway, not many have such an intimate knowledge of the 'dark' side of politics as you do Arthago. That shows you are quite intelligent." Belwin said with a knowing smile.

"What do you mean by the 'dark' side of politics?" I asked, pretending not to know what he meant. I of course knew that he meant my skill with political subterfuge, but I just liked asking about the obvious.

"Well, let's just say that I'm no stranger of clandestine politics myself. I didn't spend my time in Anticlere peddling potions and learning minor spellcraft you know? The Lord of Anticlere, Lord Auberon Flyte was quite a cunning one. He liked to utilise this type of tactics as well. Enough about my more than shady past however. We should rest since, like you said, we have a hard day ahead of us." Belwin said as he closed his eyes.

"Alright then. Good night Belwin." I said as I did the same. After pondering the plan a bit in my head I soon fell to sleep. It was a long and hard ride all the way to Taneth, and the journey had taken its toll on me. It wasn't even close to finishing however. If the gods were with us, and luck was also on our side, we would be out of Taneth by the third day.

~~~
That's it for this rather short update. I was in a hurry when I wrote it so I hope you can understand.

[jack cloudy]

Ok, I surrender! You want a longer reply? Then you get one.

First of all, I must say that I like the new Arthago. He now realizes that what he does isn’t what most people call good and noble. But at the same time, he realizes that the threat of a collapsing Empire is quite real and that Lhotun just happens to be a good chance for Hammerfell’s survival despite his harsh ways. He’s now of the opinion that the ends justify the means and I like that.

Also, the political plotting is pretty neat. If I were to write this bit, I would probably have gone right for the ‘assassination’ idea no matter what because I’m just that simple. Arthago thought about it, but realized that the preparation for that would simply take too long. He only has time to sow the seeds, not to reap the harvest.

We also learn that Beomir has more brains than he would make us believe at first. The thing with the captain’s wife and then the Orcs/legionaires/streetgangs was quite ingenious, even though a bit brutal.

Belwyn gets a slight character development, but I can see that his time has not yet come. Though it surprises me that he behaved so disgusted at the blood earlier and now casually mentions he has a shadier past under a ruthless leader. But maybe he was more of a behind the scenes guy rather than up front actiontaker.

So all in all, it was a good update again. Oh, and I guess I would really appreciate it if you replied to one or two of my stories. I’d suggest for you to start with Oasis 2. Not only are you more familiar with Luper than with Rajn and co, but it is also the shorter of the two. Corrupted Heart is much longer and has just begun its second thread in fact.

[Agent Griff]

Wow! This post has made me feel much more accomplished as a writer than most other posts! Thank you very much Jack. You did reveal to me however that I made Belwin sound rather unrealistically earlier, what with the bit where he was disgusted by blood but then you also saved me by saying it may have been intentional. The flaws of my writing method now show. I think it's clear to see that I improvise almost everything as I go along, having only a certain set objective in mind. That's one flaw I'm trying to mend.

And regarding reading other stories, I haven't read any other story for quite some time except the Last Heir and a little bit of Saga of Vvardenfel. I will get around to reading yours though. What exactly is Oasis 2 about? (Except the adventures of Luper Alkad)

[jack cloudy]

Oasis 2 is...how should I put this?

Well basically it began as your good old Tribunal fanfic, with the big difference that Luper wasn't trying to find out about the Dark Brotherhood when he came to Mournhold, he was trying to escape them! So Luper hitched a ride on an airship with a new friend and all seemed to be going well till crap hit the fan and Luper really got sidetracked while the friend landed in jail.

Right now, the backdrop is this really big war between the Empire and Morrowind, with Luper trying to find answers by working as a spy on the Morrowind side. In fact, Helseth and the Dark Brotherhood or Almalexia aren't even on his list as problems right now. Well, Almalexia is, but not because she's a psychopathic murderer.

Yeah, this doesn't explain much. I say you should just read it. The plot is kinda jumpy I'm afraid.


Corrupted Heart is an Arena fanfic, only extra spicy.

This post has been edited by jack cloudy: Oct 15 2007, 08:43 PM

[mplantinga]

I'm finally all caught up, and I'm glad that I took the time. I appreciate the complexity and depth of character shown by Arthago, although the plot is a little more bloodthirsty than I might think ideal. Still, it works quite well for this story, so keep it up.

[The Metal Mallet]

Solid update as usual. Jack basically touched on everything I could've possibly mentioned so he gets the credit due to commenting first.

I look forward to seeing whether or not Arthago and Beomir's plans go well.

[Agent Griff]

Here's the next part of Arthago's tale. Enjoy!

~~~
As I stood lazily in my bed I could see Belwin going about the room looking for something. It was still early morning and I didn't have it in my mind to get up yet. I was always somewhat lazy when it came to getting up early. When I was a child and my father was training me to become a knight, he always relished in waking me up early by pouring cold water on me. It always got me up from bed and instantly ready to change my clothes. After the morning training session which involved fighting with both a blade and a mace, with or without a shield, for extended periods of time, I would have to learn something about Tamriel's history. My father always said that a knight not versed in lore would be like a bard which couldn't sing. I never disagreed with him and, lo and behold, his training got me far. Very far. Being a Marshal in one of the most important knightly orders of the Iliac Bay was something to respect. Returning to the present, Belwin approached me once he found what he was looking for.

"Come on Arthago. It's time to wake up. Beomir just came and said he was going to meet his contacts. Bodean and Jon are also waiting downstairs." Belwin said rather eagerly as he opened the door and left the inn room.

I quickly got up and slipped into my traveling clothes, carefully strapping the scabbard of my scimitar to my belt. I made sure that my armour was well protected in a locked chest before leaving the room. As I got down to the common-room I saw Belwin sitting at a table together with Bodean and Jon. The inn was practically empty besides a few of the occupants which were having breakfast. An odd silence was about, when compared to last night's commotion. The band of singers was also gone. I went to the table where my three companions were sitting and took a free seat. From the empty seat which had a half-empty plate of food on it and the empty mug next to it, I could predict that Beomir had also had a hasty breakfast before leaving to meet his contacts.

"Good to see you're awake Arthago." Jon said in a neutral voice. "I hope you had a good night's sleep."

"How can you sleep well at night when you know this witch of a queen hounds you on the street with her guards?" Bodean said in a rather upset voice. This man seemed to be annoyed all the time.

"Well, today we put our plan into action. I think we should start discussing who to send to all the organizations we have to talk to." I said, initiating the discussion about the plan. I was in a hurry so no point not to be frank about it.

"I will go to the Imperial Legion." Belwin said rather boldly. Jon and Bodean looked at him in an odd way since he had spoken before they had.

"Well, I agree. Sending someone who is a Redguard might prove a bit suspicious. Someone neutral, like a Breton, would be more suited for the job. You could also use a few subtle charms to make them more appreciative of your suggestions, Belwin." I said. Jon and Bodean both nodded.

"I'm glad I have your trust. When should I leave? And most importantly, where must I go?" Belwin asked, looking towards Jon.

"We should wait for Beomir to come back from the woods nearby and see what's the status on the Imperial Captain's dissapeared wife. After he comes back, and we discuss how we should start spreading rumours about the Guard Captain, you should wait for nightfall before leaving. That way, if the street gangs really are to ambush the Orcs and the Legion, they can do so under the cover of night." Jon said in a rather brisk fashion. "You can find the headquarters of the Legion near Clavilla's castle, in the Upper Quarters which are in the north of town. Generally look for cleaner streets with less people on them and they'll lead you to the Upper Quarters. Nobody except nobles and rich merchants live there, so there shouldn't be any problems."

"Now that that's sorted out, we should talk about who is going to talk to the street gangs and the Orcs. I think that Beomir fellow should talk to the Orcs. They seem to have much in common." Bodean said in a rather grim way.

"Something you have against him?" I casually asked while leaning back in my chair.

"I, for one, think these Nords are no better than the Orcs. Bloodthirsty killers the whole lot of em'. In such times however, one must do whatever he can to sustain himself, even if it means associating with Nords or Orcs. So be it however." Bodean said with a rather cruel smirk.

"Well, I agree with sending Beomir to speak with the Orcs, since a Redguard would make them suspicious as well, but that still leaves the street gangs. Who is to go and convince them to actually ambush the Orcs and the Imperials?" I asked in a rather unconfident way. I wasn't really sure who would be fit to go to the street gangs.

"Hm, I don't think I would be well suited to going. I've had some scuffles with their members in the past. Scum, through and through. It's hard to see how they could be convinced, except by way of bribes." Bodean said in a rather pessimistic way. I had money given to me for bribes and other expenses, but it was for use in Rihad, not in Taneth. For now, good old persuasion would have to do. Since Jon seemed just as hesitant as Bodean to volunteer, it seemed that I would have to be the one to negotiate with the street gangs.

"Since you two don't seem to anxious to volunteer, I'll do the 'honours'. Besides, I've done my share of negotiations in the past, how hard could these thugs be to convince?" I asked as I stood up from the table. The others all looked at me with doubtful eyes, especially Jon.

"They can be rather stubborn." Bodean said in a bored way. "Nothing you can't handle though, from the looks of you."

"There have been some rumours however." Jon added in a rather frightened way. He seemed to fear for my safety.

"What rumours?" I asked in a concerned voice.

"Well, I did say that the street gangs were in a conflict with the Orcish mercenaries. This conflict hasn't been just a verbal one; it has also been a very physical one. Lone Orcs have been attacked and killed on the streets late at night. One time they even tried attacking an Orc patrol but the Orcs managed to escape after leaving a few of the thugs in a pool of their own blood. They have some skill with easily concealable weapons, especially daggers." Jon said in a worried way.

"Bah, I once got into a knife-fight with one of em' thugs and he barely got away with his life. Even my mother has more skill with blades, and she's 50!" Bodean said in a rather boastful way. From the start I seriously doubted his claims.

"That thug would have been the last one standing if he hadn't been dead-drunk by the time you got into an argument with him. Drunk as he was he could barely stand, let alone swing a knife around. He did leave some scars on you though." Jon said in an almost mocking way, which managed to anger Bodean.

"Well, he was a little drunk. Well, more than a little drunk. But still, he was pathetic! He barely managed to leave a few small cuts on my arm and an awkwardly aimed stab at my leg. I would have beaten the living daylights out of him even if he was sober!" Bodean said, almost shouting. If I didn't know better I would have said he was drunk.

"Anyway, boasts aside, where can I actually find these guys?" I asked.

"Well, pretty much on any side-street in the Lower Quarters. I know of one tavern near here which is owned by a man rumoured to have dealings with the street gangs. You can start from there. The tavern's name is the 'Least Liked Hound' and the owner is a man named Dak." Jon said, summing up where I could find members of the street gangs.

"Very well then, best not to tarry, since time is of the essence. Let's hope that until I'm back, Beomir will return as well." I said as I rose from the table and left.

"If you come back, that is." Bodean added with a grim smirk. Belwin looked at the man in a rather annoyed way after he said those words. I didn't pay any attention though and left the inn.

As soon as I opened the door I was back, out and about around Taneth. The small clearing in the shacks in which the "Serpent's Coil" was located seemed an open meadow in a forest of dark buildings now with the coming of day. Since it was still rather early most of the people in town were still asleep. I found a beggar nearby however whom I asked for directions. He was wearing some torn up pants and was sitting all huddled up in a corner. He smiled as I approached him, a very opportunistic smile however. If he had a weapon on him he'd surely hit me over the head and steal everything I had. Thankfully, he didn't.

"Greetings. Could you tell me where the 'Least Liked Hound' inn is?" I asked in a rather wary way. Knowing he was a beggar he would probably ask me for something.

"Some food for my kids might refresh my memory sir. We've been starvin' since the Queen locked up my brother for being a priest of Satakal." the beggar said, trying to put on an act of being pitiful. I quickly threw him 2 Septims. His face lightened up as he gathered them up from the ground.

"Up that alley-way, second turn to the left. Thanks kind sir!" the beggar said as he began counting how many coins he had gathered. He opened a pouch which revealed a lot of coins of various sizes. He did so carefully so that nobody could see him, but I could get a glimpse of his money by turning my head quickly when he wasn't looking in my direction. Lucky beggar.

The tavern was pretty easy to find, being situated near the "Serpent's Coil". Right near the entrance were a few shady types who appeared to be standing guard. They gave me an odd look as I approached, one of them entering the inn before me. I had to be on my feet, unless I wanted to wake up with a dagger at my throat and a palm on my mouth. I carefully approached the door, pretending not to pay the Redguards who were standing about any attention. After a few tense moments they stopped looking at me and carried on discussing something of importance to them. I entered the tavern, somewhat calmer. It was all but empty, except a few people standing about at some tables and talking. The tables were old and decrepit, one good kick could have splintered one entirely. So were the chairs. Suspicious eyes all targeted me as I approached the bar. The publican didn't seem to be paying any attention to it though. He was idly cleaning some glasses.

"Greetings." I said with an awkward smile as I approached him. "I'm looking for Dak."

"Speaking." Dak said in a bored fashion.

"Um...I came here about...how should I say this?" I said in a pretty nervous way. I was unsure how to ask him about the street gangs.

"Do you owe me money? If not, scram. Or, sit down and have a drink. Either option is fine with me." Dak said in the same tone. At least he was straighforward about it.

"Well, I don't exactly owe you any money, but I have a very interesting proposition for your business partners, and for your fine self." I said, trying to make him curious. He looked at me with dull eyes.

"If you're another member of the Guard trying to make my tavern appear as an unlawful venue, you can take your offer and shove it right up your backside, Redguard." he said in an agressive tone. It seemed my message didn't have the meaning I was intending.

"I'm no member of the Guard, but it will be your loss to consider me one. If that's is your will, I won't oppose it. A good day to you." I said in a last desperate move, trying to make him open to discussion. As I turned, I started walking towards the door. After a few moments, I heard a voice.

"Wait a minute." Dak finally said, after waiting a few moments. "Maybe I was too rough on you. Come with me in the back room."

I silently followed him behind the bar and into a small back-room which seemed to be a kitchen of sorts. There was also a door in this back room which lead to a small chamber which was lined with hooks on the walls. On one of the hooks I could see the ghastly image of an Imperial hung by the back of his head. Dak noticed me looking at the dead Imperial then smiled.

"Don't worry about him. He was a former business partner who came to me with a scam. When I found out about his little scam, I had a word with him. As you can see, he got hung up in the details. Now...go ahead and name your offer." Dak said with a crude smirk on his face. He obviously though that the sight of that Imperial would intimidate me. I had seen worse in my days though.

"I knew you'd reconsider." I said, smiling that my move had paid off. It was a very slight smile however, coupled with a feeling of fear. "I represent a certain faction which does not wish to be named, yet it works in the interest of Hammerfell and all Redguards."

"What does that have to do with me?" Dak asked.

"I happen to have heard of a conflict you and friends have with the Orc mercenaries present in this city. The Imperial Legion has also been encroaching on your affairs more than you find pleasant. I have a solution for your problems." I said, trying to speak in a mysterious tone.

"Cut the small talk, what are you proposing?" Dak asked in a rather impacient way.

"I can arrange for an opportunity to severely weaken both the Legion and the Orcs in one fell stroke. The plan has already been set in motion, as a matter of fact. All that is needed now is that you give your word of cooperation." I said, eluding the subject once more.

"Hm, it sounds interesting enough. You're still being too vague though. What exactly does your plan involve? Be more specific and I'll give you a proper answer." Dak said. He appeared interested enough.

"Well, alright. Let me explain. Several of our agents have already infiltrated both the Orcs and the Legion, and have convinced them to head off into a specific spot at a specific time of the night. At that specific time, both the Orcs and the Legionnaires will be standing idly, expecting to find a gang of thieves unloading their loot after a succesful heist. That would be the perfect time for an ambush. All that is needed is a willing and able company of men ready to set off the ambush. That's where your organization comes in." I said, explaining the plan.

"Fair enough. You mentioned some agents however. If this job is so important to you, why don't you pull it off yourself if you're representing such a powerful faction?" Dak asked.

"We do have some agents, yet they are not enough to succesfully put an ambush into effect. They are also ill-fitted for combat, rather for infiltration and subterfuge." I said, trying to give an excuse for the reason we couldn't do this alone.

"I don't understand the last words you said but you seem honest enough. If you'd have been with the Guard my men would have gutted you the moment you stepped inside my tavern and you would have joined that Imperial back there. Very well then. I'll spread the word and have my men ready. When will the ambush take place?" Dak asked with a grin. It was a grin of revenge however. Revenge he was going to get for all the hardships the Legion and the Orcs had caused him.

"My own men have yet to set out and 'warn' the Legion and the Orcs about the supposed gathering of thieves. When night sets in however, they will go. It's best to have your men ready before night comes. Have them sit quietly at the spot and wait for the Orcs and the Legionnaires to come. When they're both at the spot, and wondering where the loot is, pounce." I said, explaining how Dak should arrange his men. Hopefully, he would listen.

"Very well then. Where exactly is this spot?" Dak asked in a curious tone. I simply handed him a note written by Jon, detailling where the ambush would take place. He looked at it with a quick glance then smiled. "Aye, I know this place well enough. Is there anything more I should know?"

"No. I'll be leaving know if you don't mind. I hope your men at the door won't be giving me any trouble." I said as I left the small back room. Dak followed me and resumed to tending glasses and mugs.

"If they would have given you trouble you'd have been dead by now." Dak said simply as he looked down at his glasses.

"Or the other way around." I said, smiling as I left. I could hear Dak laughing behind me.

"You sure have a sense of humour Redguard! Off with you!" he said, during bursts of laughter.

Now that the street gangs had been handled, I eagerly returned to the "Serpent's Coil" to anounce Jon and Bodean of my exploits. Hopefully, Beomir should have also returned by then. The short trip back to the "Coil" was uneventful and I soon found myself stepping inside the large common rooms. I could see Jon waving at me from the door to the back-room where we first thought out the plan. I was quick to follow him inside the back-room. I hastily took a seat at the small table inside, where Bodean, Jon, Belwin and Beomir were also sitting. Beomir's simple cloth tunic was dirty and torn in places, with some dried leaves and twigs also sticking out of his long hair. He had just returned from the forest, by the looks of him.

"Greetings, I hope I didn't miss something." I said, eager to hear what Beomir had to say.

"No, Beomir just arrived. He was going to tell us about his forray in the wild." Belwin said with a smile as he looked at Beomir. He was eager to hear what news Beomir brought as well.

"Well, as I was saying before Arthago arrived, I was stalking about the forest with these two trackers who were friends of mine, freshly arrived from Falkreath. Red-blooded Nords both of them. Anyway, we were looking through the forest but all we could find were some bones left by wild beasts and the odd animal droppings. After a few hours of pointless wandering, one of my friends, Valgeir was his name, finally gave a shout. He had just found something. I rushed to the place where he was standing. At his feet, was a fine corslet bearing the arms of Taneth. It was bloodied. We continued our search however. Soon we found other signs of a despicable deed. A bloodied sword, a rusted helm and a pair of gauntlets shattered beyond repair, dried blood coating them." Beomir said with an eager voice as he recounted his tale.

"Fitting evidence, yet did you find a body?" Jon asked, anxious to hear more.

"We kept on looking for one more hour. My other friend, Thorsten, kept finding separate tracks. One pair was that of a heavy, mailed, pair of boots. The other pair was soft and almost invisible to the untrained eye. The tracks kept going as if in a chase. We lost the trail several times until Valgeir found the remains of a struggle, and a body. It was the body of a woman. Judging from what we found, she had used a large branch as a weapon against her attacker. The branch had been cleaved in two however." Beomir said, finally smiling after he finished his tale.

"I think we have our culprit." Belwin said in a calm voice. He never seemed to get over-enthusiastic about things.

"The signs all point in the same direction. The murder of a woman by a guardsman of Taneth. But was that guardsman the very Captain of the Guard?" Jon asked in a rather rhetorical way.

"Well, look for yourself and tell me if this is the armour and weapon of a regular guardsman." Beomir said as he stood up and heaved a large sack on the table. Inside, was the corslet and the blade they had found in the woods. I took the blade and examined it. It was made of fine steel, a kind unlike most swords. The edge was coated with a layer of silver. That meant that the weapon was custom-made, and very expensive. It obviously wasn't the weapon of a regular guardsman.

"This blade is of very fine craftsmanship. It couldn't have belonged to a regular member of the City Guard. See the edge?" I said as I held the blade close for everyone to see the silver coated on the edge. "This is a very expensive blade to give to a minor guardsman. So is the corslet, by its appearance."

"I think it's very obvious what happened. The honoured user murdered his wife then hid the evidence in the woods. He also was too foolish to hide it propperly, from the looks of things. I can surely say that we have a culprit on our hands. I'll start writing those propaganda leaflets right away. I think it's fitting for the people of Taneth to know what kind of a man their Guard Captain is." Bodean said in a despising tone.

"Well, we were lucky. We found both a body and the evidence regarding who did the crime. Now, the only thing left to do is to pay a visit to the Orcs. We were thinking you should go Beomir." I said, changing the subject.

"Great. Countless hours of wandering about the forest and looking at the ground for tracks can become very boring, very fast. Let me change my clothes and I'll be on my way. Perhaps there will be some fighting as well." Beomir said with a grin as he left the table to change his clothes.

"No fighting Beomir, we don't want to blow our cover! Just talk, alright?" I said, trying to warn Beomir not to ruin the whole operation. A dissapointed grumble was the only answer I received yet it was enough.

With the Street Gangs ready to spring the trap on the Legion and the Orcs, everything which was now needed was for someone to actually tip the two groups off about a gathering of thieves which would split their loot. Belwin was already preparing to leave, and so was Beomir. All I had to do was to wait. Hopefully, the next day we would already be on the road to Rihad, leaving Taneth behind us in its new, revolutionary state. Good plans however always had a history of not working at the last moment. Hopefully, this one would. It had little consequence however if our plan would succeed or not. With the events which had already been placed in motion, Taneth would be shaken to its very foundations.
~~~
That's it for this rather long chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

[mplantinga]

It's good to see the plan being put into action. I hope Beomir doesn't annoy the Orcs too much during his visit.

[jack cloudy]

Nice, very nice.

There is only one thing I keep wondering though.
Did Beomir really find things the way he described them, or did he 'help fate' a bit? (By arraying the branch for example)

[The Metal Mallet]

Now comes the very important stuff. I'm still wondering whether someone will screw up or not. I guess I'll find out soon.... Excellent update as usual.

[Agent Griff]

After a rather long hiatus, Arthago's adventure shall begin anew. Ahem. Until another hiatus sets in at least.

~~~
I was woken up in a rough manner from my bed. I could feel Beomir's large, rough palms shaking my shoulders violently. He was also shouting at me rather loudly to get up. He had already gotten dressed for the road and he had his long, bearded axe in his hand. He also seemed quite alarmed, despite at first I couldn't see him properly because of the darkness. When I woke up I instinctively put the dagger I had in my bed against his throat and Beomir seemed quite surprised to see me move so fast under such sudden conditions. I was true to my word however when I said that I slept with a blade in my bed.

"Get up Arthago! Quick, there's no time to loose!" Beomir kept saying as he almost pulled me out of my bed. He backed up a little after seeing the dagger at his throat but soon came back close. Belwin was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Belwin?" I asked in a confused voice.

"He went invisible as soon as they came and he's nowhere to be found now. Quick, there's little time to explain!"

"What's happening? Who's here?" I said, as I strapped on the scabbard of my scimitar. I also looked around for the pack in which I held my armour. Based on what Beomir was about to tell me I would decide if I would try to fit on at least some pieces of armour on me, in case of a confrontation.

"The law! Clavilla's men! They've found out about us and our plans and now they're here to arrest us." Beomir said with an alarmed voice uncharacteristic of him.

"Damn! They found out about the plan? How did the ambush go?" I asked rather hastily as I fitted on my gauntlets. They had leather gloves inside them so I could put them on comfortably without the rest of my armour. Sadly enough, the only other piece of armour I could fit on were the greaves which protected my lower leg. I realized this exactly when I wanted to fit on the pieces of armour defending my upper leg, called cuisses, which had to be laced up to my arming vest, which had specialized leather thongs used to fasten different parts of armour to the body. Without an arming vest, few pieces of armour could be properly fitted on, besides the gauntlets and some defense for the lower legs. These would have to suffice.

"The ambush went on just as we planned it, the Orcs and the legionnaires sent are all dead but it seems that we've had a traitor among us." Beomir said with a grim voice.

"Who?"

"I don't know but now's not the time to be askin' such questions Redguard! We must find a way out of this tavern."

"Clavilla's men are at the front door? Are they inside the tavern?"

"No...not yet at least."

"We must find Bodean or Jon immediately, they're our only way out of this building, and this city as well probably." I said as I finally drew my sword ready for any combat.

"Jon's disappeared just like Belwin so that only leaves Bodean." Beomir answered as he raised his axe as well.

"Then let's go. The back room is probably the best room to go to if we want to find him. There must also be some exit in case Clavilla's men ever came to search the building. Bodean or Jon must have thought about that." I said as I opened the door and left the room. Beomir cautiously followed.

I could hear the guardsmen shouting from outside the building. There were some windows in the hall-way we were passing through to get to the common-rooms but I didn't try to look out any of them since Clavilla's men surely had bows pointed at the building. Soon enough we reached the common-rooms. They were almost full of people but they were all too afraid to leave the tavern. Someone had barricaded the door with tables and broken chairs before I had woken up. I gave Beomir a quick gaze after seeing the barricade.

"A little defenses never hurt. Besides, their patrons had drunken quite enough." he said as he gazed quickly at the mess of upturned chairs and tables.

The patrons all noticed us yet they were too terrified to do anything. By the looks of the situation, they all though they would be arrested and thrown in the dungeons or worse. The door to the back room where Bodean and Jon usually stood was locked from the inside. Beomir however 'unlocked' it the old-fashioned way after I hopelessly tried to open the door by using the handle. The room was a mess as well. The table and the few chairs in the room were all upturned and close to the door. Beneath the table, I could notice a small trap-door which had been used a little while ago.

"It seems the Fellowship of Taneth really had thought of everything." I said with a smile as I knelt near the trap-door.

"Except this." Beomir said with a rather calm voice.

Before I could reply I heard a loud crash and the sound of cracking, burning wood. Someone had blown the door open. For good measure, Beomir barricaded the door to the back-room as well with the upturned table and the chairs thrown about. As we scurried inside the trap-door we could hear the sound of many heavy, armoured feet entering the tavern and indiscriminate shouting and screaming. As I stood and listened carefully, trying to understand what happened, I could feel Beomir's hand on my shoulder.

"We should get going Arthago. There's little time to loose."

"Yes, wait just a moment, I wish to know how the Guard discovered us." Despite running seemed like the best option, and it really was, I didn't want to have a company of Taneth watchmen on my back for the rest of the journey to Taneth.

After a few more moments of tense silence in which all I could hear was Beomir's breathing and the sounds caused by the commotion in the common-rooms up above I could actually hear some talking from upstairs. It was faint I could make out an Imperial speaking loudly.

"They've locked themselves in here...don't pay...traitor...until...their heads...call the...hunt them" the Imperial said amid the scuffle that was going on inside the common-rooms. I remained perplexed when I heard that we had a traitor in our midst. A firm shake from Beomir soon woke me up from my day-dreaming however, thinking who could have been the traitor.

"Arthago! Come on already!"

"Time to go, we've heard enough." I said hastily as I started looking around our surroundings.

We were inside a dark chamber dug into the ground beneath the back-room. We were standing right next to a wall while the chamber went on behind us, forming into a tunnel. Since we had nowhere else to go, I decided that following where this tunnel was the best option we had. Better than returning to the tavern at least. By the talk of that Imperial it also seemed that we would be having company. It also seemed Clavilla was truly angry with out attempt to weaken her grasp on Taneth.

"What do you think that guy meant with someone hunting us?" I asked Beomir after a short while.

"The only thing it could...a bounty hunter." Beomir said with a grim voice. It wasn't his usual rather careless and laid back demeanour as well, it was something much more concerned.

"Is it...bad?" I asked in a rather obvious way.

"I've had run-ins with bounty hunters before and these guys are always hard as hell to avoid. I think it could be easier to avoid a Daedric curse, than it is to evade a good bounty hunter. And judging by this witch's money, I don't think she would be pleased with second-best." Beomir said. It was for the first time that I could feel genuine fear in his voice.

"So we're in trouble...again." I said matter-of-factly. "And do you happen to know who is the best bounty hunter?"

"Some bloke called Old Leo used to be the best bounty hunter but I'm not sure who's the best one now. Old Leo got killed in an odd fight with a weird guy he was hunting. Either that or he retired, I don't really know but that's how most stories go. Let's just hope we don't end up making this guy famous."

"How so?"

"Well, imagine how famous this guy will become if he manages to kill both a knight of Sentinel and a Nord mercenary. Hopefully, he'll just end up being another one of those guys who tried to outdo Leo and found himself on the wrong end of a sword or a spear."

"Hopefully. Still, after we find where this tunnel leads we have to find Belwin." I said, returning the discussion to what really mattered to us.

"Why do we really need that snotty Breton? All he's good at is talking on and on about what he did back home and how he dislikes my ways. Why would we need him? I mean, we have all we need, us two. We're two good warriors who know how to handle ourselves. We can make end's meat in Rihad with or without Belwin." Beomir said. That was the first time Beomir openly showed disdain for Belwin around me.

"No. We shouldn't abandon Belwin here. He's helped us on this journey ever since it began. He also saved your life when he could have done nothing and stood idly by while we were fighting. You owe him your life and now, when things get tough and you start losing faith in yourself, you propose we leave him behind." I said with a determined tone as we kept trudging on through the tunnel.

"All he'd do would be to slow us down Arthago! You know that very well yet you choose to lie to yourself just because of some imaginary use you find for the upstart. The only use I could find for him would be as carrion for crows."

"That's enough Beomir! My will is set and that is my final word on the matter. You either abide by my decisions which, ultimately, represent the will of King Lhotun or you leave. Either way, your presence won't be sorely missed if you choose to leave." I shouted, getting angry at what Beomir was saying. He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned and started staring straight at me. Despite the darkness, I could almost feel his anger.

"Do you hear that?" he asked as he stood motionless.

"What?" I asked, pretending to be confused. In reality fear started surging throughout my veins and I slowly grasped the handle of my sword in the darkness.

"Exactly that, Redguard. The silence of darkness and the silent roar of ground closing all around you. People who have been buried alive are very familiar with that feeling. Pray to your gods that you never experience that feeling firsthand but I promise that you will if ever you shall speak like that to me again. Understand?" Beomir asked in an aggressive fashion. I could almost feel him raising his axe against me. After a few moments of silence I could hear him taking a step back.

"What's stopping me from killing you where you stand?" I asked, slowly. I slowly unsheathed my blade as I said so, trying to mask the sound with my words.

"Your conscience."

Immediately after Beomir said those words I could hear his axe hacking through the air down towards my head. I had unsheathed more than half of my sword however by the time he was done talking so I quickly unsheathed the rest of it and raised it into a guard position in one fluid motion. Since there was little room to maneuver and even less light to see anything I had to guess where the axe stroke might fall. I raised my blade into a position called the "Eagle's Guard" holding it parallel to my body slightly in front of me. The blade ran horizontally across my body so as to act as a wall against Beomir's strike. Before I had time to even move back a few steps I could fell his heavy axe striking my blade. Luckily I had placed it right in the way of his axe and because his axe had a bearded blade I used it as leverage to push away his axe from me.

With a strong push I heaved his axe into the nearby wall then, as I stood, I made a quick pirouette to close the distance. Using the momentum given by the pirouette I pulled my blade as I ended the pirouette, thus ending it with a slash aimed for Beomir's head. The momentum gave the horizontal slash force yet Beomir had retreated out of instinct. Not quick enough however. My blade made contact and I could soon hear him fall down, screaming in pain. I also felt blood on my face yet it was none of my blood, since I wasn't wounded.

As I approached Beomir I could hear that he was still alive by his loud screams of pain and curses. Raising my blade so as to give him a final blow I could see that his face started to light up. Literally. I had slashed him with my sword across the face and he was bleeding badly. Soon enough I could see almost all of Beomir as if a candle was nearby. I could see the whole tunnel much better actually. I soon discovered the reason why. The guardsmen had broken inside the back room and had found the trap-door. They were now inside the tunnel and they had torches with them, hence the light.

"Another time Beomir!" I whispered quickly as I grasped Beomir's axe and tried to throw it towards the guardsmen.

The axe was too big and unwieldy to throw so it hit the ceiling of the tunnel in flight then fell to the ground. Cursing my attempt to throw an axe I quickly fled, leaving Beomir in a pool of his own blood. I ran with all my speed towards the end of the tunnel and I felt I was going faster with each step I made. The adrenaline and fear from the sudden clash with Beomir was probably the cause of that. As I ran I felt as if there was no end to this damned tunnel yet I soon found that there was. One of my strides found no ground to step. So did the other. Thus I found myself in a pool of dirty, smelly water. I was still underground however.

Things had just gotten a whole lot wetter.
~~~
I hope you like this update made after my considerable break. Anyway, comments are welcome!

[jack cloudy]

Woah, that was quite something. Arthago and Beomir got into a scuffle, Belwin is gone, as is the resistance. Oh, and we've got a chase on our hands. Big stuff happening here.

[The Metal Mallet]

Another revival of this thing, great!