Corrupted heart. Options

[canis216]

Niiiice!

[minque]

Ahhh... so many updates......good grief! Took me some time to catch up....You´re an excellent writer Jackie.....great stuff you have here! Great stuff!

[jack cloudy]

And the next chapter.




Chapter 4: The keepers of peace.

Marsh knocked on the door.
,,Are you coming out?” He asked, wondering if he should simply blast the lock instead.
,,No, I’m not. Go away.” Rajn replied from the other side of the securely locked door. The Argonian bared his teeth angrily. It was an instinctive action he wasn’t aware off.
,,It is written in the scrolls. You are coming with us.” He spoke with a growling undertone.
,,So what? Like I care about a moldy old piece of paper.”

The Argonian reeled back as if he’d physically been punched on the snout by an Orc.
,,Moldy old piece of paper?! The Elder Scrolls are the most divine and sacred artefacts in this world! Their wisdom is absolute, their truth unquestioned. If these scrolls predict that you have a role to fulfil, you will fulfil it, with or without your consent!” He shouted at the door. This time, Rajn’s answer didn’t follow as fast as usual. The Argonian’s outburst had intimidated her slightly.
,,You don’t even know for sure it’s me. I’m not the only see-through-walls in the world. Besides, you don’t even know what you’re going to do.” Intimidation or not, she still refused to accept everyone’s faith in the scrolls.

Marsh calmed down slightly, no longer about to explode but still fuming.
,,After you ran away, we talked about that. In Cyrodiil, you revealed to us that you’d been hired by the impostor as a guide. We would like to know where you led him.” He hissed through the keyhole. His claws rapped on the wooden frame. He waited for an answer, an answer that didn’t came.
,,Are you still listening? Those monks back there died for you. Don’t you want to honour their death?” He asked, his anger rising again. A sphere of light formed in his hand, pulsing slightly with each heartbeat.
,,My definition of honouring someone’s death is by not dying myself. Let me guess. If I tell you, you want me to lead you there as well which in turn means that I’ll be hunted by the bad guys.” Rajn answered and opened the door suddenly, poking her head through the gap. She withdrew just as sudden.
,,You nearly blew my head off with that! Put that away!” She shrieked.

Marsh let his spell dissipate.
,,If you had waited any longer, there would no longer be a door worth opening. Now, where did you led him?” He spoke, straightening his back in a way that was unusual and almost painful for an Argonian but usual for a politician who was trying to emit an aura of authority.
,,Uh-huh. First things first. Let’s treat this as a normal job for one thing. If I’m going to die, I might as well get something in exchange for the trouble. I want to get paid. Ten.” The little Bosmer demanded while wagging a finger in front of Marsh’s snout.
,,Ten septims?” The mage repeated a bit flustered.

,,Not exactly.” Rajn stepped out of the room and began to pace back and forth, counting down her demands with her fingers.
,,Ten septims a day. Plus free meals, free rooms at inns, not the cheapest dump you can find but a quality bed. First choice on whatever loot we might find, some time off whenever we visit a village, a city or some other place worth sightseeing. I want some good clothes before we start, a quality backpack, a fine bow and a hundred straight arrows worth their money, no broken tips or ruffled feathers. Ten strings not including the one already on the bow. A quiver, specifically designed for my size not to mention it needs to be comfortable and unable to slip no matter what kind of acrobatics I’m pulling. A steel knife, and whatever else I find during the shopping trip.”

Marsh leaned against the wall, barely listening.
,,Is that everything?” He asked once he no longer heard her talking.
,,Yup.” Rajn said with a big grin.
,,Good, you’re hired.” The Argonian decided and walked away, leaving the girl standing at the door.
,,What? He actually agreed? Drat, I’d hoped he would find my demands impossible and leave me alone. I’m in so big trouble.”


Hot steam rose from the bucket of water as the smith cooled his work for the last time. Gently, like a parent holding a child, he brought up the piece of metal and admired it from all directions.
,,Aren’t you pretty? Yes, you are.” He whispered to the sharp blade. As if he’d only just noticed the other man in the room, the one-eyed Redguard gripped the spear in a more conventional hold and presented it to his customer.
,,There you are, sir. As good as new. I even managed to incorporate the modifications you asked for.” He spoke, his eyes gleaming with pride.

A grey hand embraced the spear’s shaft and lifted it from the smith’s hands. A thumb stroke across the gleaming surface, flipping a barely visible switch. Without a sound, a second blade slid out at the spear’s butt. Another flip, and the sharp metal retreated into the shaft. The thumb felt around for another switch, and now let the blade at the tip retreat inside. Without the blades, the weapon looked like a relatively harmless staff.

This wasn’t why Aran had requested the changes though. His reasoning was that with only one hand to use, a blade at each end would be better. Also, by letting the blades hide inside the spear’s shaft when not in use, he would be able to preserve their edge till he actually entered battle. A pouch filled with rinkling coins switched owners.
,,Good work. As we agreed on, here’s your payment.”

Outside the blacksmith’s shop, he was surprised to see a dozen of Wayrest guards standing around the door in a semicircle. In the cordoned off area, A woman wearing an expensive dress stood. Red eyes shone at him from under an elegant hood.
,,Aran Geydar, I apologize for not having found the opportunity for a talk sooner.” Barenziah greeted him. The man said nothing, instead choosing to stare at her with an empty expression, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
,,My husband, Symmachus. He died by Jagar Tharn’s treachery.” The Queen of the Dunmer continued. Still, Aran said nothing.
,,Faithful Symmachus, who gave me the greatest pleasure in my life and now my greatest sadness. But before he died, something happened, something I must tell you.”

Now, Aran’s interest had been piqued.
,,Speak.” He spoke with his gravely voice and was silent again. Barenziah was slightly taken aback by his lack of royal manners.
,,Peasant.” She thought, slightly annoyed. Yet, in a land of Bretons, even the lowest Dunmer could be her hero.
,,Some time before this crisis that threatens the empire, a man came to me in Mournhold. I won’t discuss the details except one thing. When he left, he took an ancient artefact with him, an artefact that should have never been left alone. This artefact is the Staff of Chaos. The scrolls didn’t speak about it but I believe it will be important to you.”

Barenziah looked up to see if Aran was still listening. He hadn’t moved. It was odd, how a man so big could be so silent.
,,By all possible means, go to Rihad and request an audience with the queen. Tell her that Barenziah sent you. She knows more about the staff than I do. As your queen, I beseech you to grant my request. For my children’s sake and for Morrowind.” She began to sob as her thoughts wandered back to the man she’d loved, the man who’d died in an attempt to save her home.
,,You are not my queen. The Urshilaku never swore loyalty towards the House Dunmer.” Aran replied and walked towards the guards who separated them from the bustling streets.

Barenziah had stopped crying. The revelation had made her completely forget about Symmachus.
,,You are an Ashlander? The Urshilaku are nothing but bandits and simple murderers!” She shouted, easily heard outside the wall of guards. Aran took a single step forward. His hand flashed through the air, making contact with the woman’s cheek. The loud slapping sound also carried across the streets.

,,Do not insult my tribe! Your title gives you no power in the Ashlands. For generations, we have lived there were you did not. While you’ve grown weak in the soft embrace of your homes and comforted by your false gods, we have endured where our ancestors endured. Even today, we fight against the devil who threatens to consume all. A devil greater than Jagar Tharn! Do not mock us!” He shouted. Towering above everyone else, with his scarred body and muscular build, he looked more like a god of war than a man. As such, the guards made way for him when he walked away, lacking the courage to avenge the woman who was in Eadwyre’s favour. Barenziah looked after him while feeling the swelling bruise with a thin hand.
,,An Ashlander. We’ve put the last hope of Tamriel in the hands of an Ashlander. ALMSIVI, why have you forsaken us?”

[The Metal Mallet]

A worthy portrayal of the Ashlander belief, jack. I loved that altercation! Not to mention Rajn and Marsh's as well. It's all been quite fantastic actually. Great work!

[Black Hand]

Go Aran! My God, I love this Ashlander! Though I like the Ashlanders in general. 'cept for the Erabenimsun, well...their leaders to be more exact.

[jack cloudy]

Ah, the Ashlanders. They're such interesting people. I'm serious about this. They could leave the ashlands and move to the Bitter Coast or the grazelands easy enough. I don't think the House Dunmer would make too much of a fuss about it, as long as the Ashlanders didn't raid anyone.

But no, they stay. That just shows how proud they are. I like them for that reason.





Rajn was rather confused after all that had happened and had no idea what she should do.
,,Ok, let’s get it all down on a list. First, I led this Nightingale fellow into Valenwood. After that, he invited me to escort him to Cyrodiil in exchange for a nice bonus. There, he turns out to be a big important guy and throws me in jail. After going insane and sane again, I get out of there, nearly get eaten, stabbed, burned and eaten again. And now I’m here, stuck with this stupid prophecy that wants me killed.” She grumbled to herself. Quite unusual for a Bosmer, she had no eyes for her surroundings and soon entered the courtyard without even noticing.

,,Not to mention that I’ve lost everything I own, twice. All I’ve got left is this neat dress that jerk gave me, before he turned out to be a jerk. Now what am I supposed to do?” She continued to think aloud, drawing attention to her from the many guards who were hanging around the place, either training or gambling.
,,Ah, got it. I’ll go shopping. But first, I need a victim.” Everyone in the room visibly recoiled. Associating shopping with victim’s was something the roughed men and women were not used to and frankly, their own already somewhat violence orientated imagination did not reassure them.

This action made the girl finally notice where she was. After looking at all those around her, she made her choice.
,,You, I need a bodyguard.” She demanded, pointing her finger somewhere between two of the guards. The two armour-clad men looked at each other for a while, trying to figure out which one of them was the ‘victim’. Everyone knew of the status Eardwyre’s guest’s had and had heard the story of their wet arrival. In short, the Bosmer’s will was their command. When they couldn’t figure out which one of them had been pointed at, the one on the left pulled out a coin and threw it into the air.
,,Heads.” The other immediately called. Both watched the coin tumble through the air, going up before beginning its descent into a waiting hand. A small hand.

,,Oh, shiny. It’s mine now.” Rajn said and stuck out her tongue. The man on the left shrugged.
,,I just lost a coin to that little thief. You go, Jonas.” He decided and walked off, probably to fetch himself a new coin. Jonas shuddered and followed Rajn somewhat reluctantly, falling in a few steps behind her.
,,Ok, so she likes to snatch coins from the air. Quite good reflexes I might add. But apart from that, she can’t be that bad, can she?” He reasoned with himself.

One street later, he’d already changed his opinion.
,,Miss.” He called out.
,,Miss.” He said again a moment later, more forcefully. Rajn still didn’t respond.
,,Miss!” Jonas finally shouted. After brushing past one more richlooking woman, the Bosmer stopped in the middle of the street and openly began to transfer the contents of the various pouches she held in her hands into one of them. What she couldn’t use, she simply threw down on the street.

,,Ten successful pilferings in just one street. It’s true what they say. People really let their guard down when a guard is near.” She said to herself.
,,Miss, I’ve been trying to get your attention the moment you stepped out of the gate!” Jonas yelled at the top of his lungs, causing everyone in the street to stop and stare. Slowly, Rajn turned to face him, dug into her pouch and retrieved a single coin.
,,Ah, I’m sorry I forgot about that. Here’s your pay, you’re doing a great job.”

Even in his confusion, Jonas’ hand tried to catch the coin, failing miserably. Before he could bend and pick it up, a beggar had already snatched it off the ground and ran off. Rajn chuckled at the sight.
,,I’m not paying you again.” She commented. The guard’s patience had come to an end and he furiously stomped on the ground.
,,Stealing is illegal!”

A collective gasp spread across the streets. Rajn felt the familiar burn of a blush reach her face.
,,The filthy loose-tongued rat! How am I supposed to make any money like that? I might even end up back in a dungeon. Come on, think!” Frowning, she held up a finger.
,,Not where I’m from. Since I’m in a faraway country, I have to represent my people in the best way possible. In order to do that, I will act according to the accepted customs and standards of the Bosmeri people from Valenwood.” She explained.
,,Ha, take that! You people are not the only ones who can speak noble!”
,,By stealing? You can’t make me believe that stealing is legal in that pile of badly dried firewood.” Jonas retorted with a sceptical frown.
,,In Valenwood it is treated as a simple case of ‘you should have watched your stuff better’. If you can get away with stealing, it’s yours and no one minds. There’s only one thing we do mind about and that is the following. No one calls Valenwood a pile of badly dried firewood! If I had a bow, I would poke an arrow in your guts! Be glad I haven’t found an armory yet!”

Saying no more, she turned around on her heels and stalked off. Jonas whimpered and followed. If she got in trouble, he would be punished severely. It was better to escort a loose fingered, fanatical Bosmer than it was to be crippled and ridiculed for the rest of his life.

Marsh had no idea what was going on in the city at that time. He was in his personal quarters, getting ready for their trip.
,,Hmm, telekinesis orb or fire orb? Perhaps both?” He thought, holding the two crystals in his hands. The door at the end of the room opened without knocking.
,,What is it now, Rajn? I already accepted your terms and I no longer wish to speak about it.” He hissed in a tone that would be described as ‘annoyed’ if one knew the different signs of emotions in Argonian speech.

,,It’s just me. I just returned from the blacksmith. I had an encounter with your queen. Rajn is in the city by the way, mugging everyone she comes across.” Hearing the voice, Marsh turned around, still somewhat surprised at the gravely tone Aran always used.
,,She’s not my queen.” The Argonian replied.
,,Nor mine. I know that she is a temporary ally of Eadwyre. But that doesn’t matter. She wants us to travel to a city called Rihad and question its queen about an artefact known as the Staff of Chaos.” Aran spoke and looked at the two shimmering orbs with a distrusting frown.

Seeing the frown, Marsh put them in his backpack, chuckling inside. He had to admit, he liked the Dunmer, even if it was just because the man was absolutely honest with himself. He never hid his feelings, or his opinions. It was a characteristic he’d come to miss in the arena of politics where there was a dagger behind every smile.
,,Ah, the Staff of Chaos. An artefact infused with the power to transcends this world, or whatever is meant by transcending. Rihad lies in Hammerfell, quite close to Elsweyr and Valenwood. We can stop by easily.” Marsh concluded and now considered the subject finished. Now it was time for a subject he found more important.

,,Aren’t you worried about her? You’ve sworn to protect her yet all she does is jump into trouble any chance she gets. She could be injured or thrown in prison if she goes around to mug everyone.” The creature blinked, fixing its gaze on the man.
,,I know that. What I didn’t told you is that she’s protected by a guard, one who is completely under her thumb. It’s safer to just let her run wild for the moment. Let her use up all that wasteful energy while in a safe haven. We’ll need her to be calm and focussed during our journey.” Aran said and walked out of the door without a warning.

Marsh turned back to his bag.
,,Rajn thinks she’ll be killed, Aran believes that we must be careful and focussed. I must say, I worry about our safety as well.” His eyes fell upon the scroll. To protect their goal from spies, no copies had been made and he would take the original with him. He read the lines he already knew backwards, upside down and in his sleep.
,,That list of people does not necessarily refer to companions but if it does, how are we going to find them? Tamriel is a large place, with many places to hide. No, I should maintain my fate in the prophecy, even though I do not understand. If we won’t find our companions, they’ll find us.” He carefully rolled up the scroll and put it in his backpack.
,,We leave tomorrow before sunrise. I should get as much rest as I can. My body needs it after the exertion I’ve faced and the exertion I will face.”

Deep in the night, in Eadwyre’s bedroom, a hushed conversation was held.
,,I’ve heard the news from my men. They’ll keep quiet. What do you want me to do?” One shadow whispered.
,,Stop him, at all costs. Kill him if needed. He must not leave this city alive.”

[The Metal Mallet]

Oooo, cryptic. I wonder who's lurking in the shadows...

[jack cloudy]

Aran sat on his room’s bed, his legs folded underneath him and his spear resting in his lap. His mind wandered through his past, reliving hope and despair. Happiness and sorrow. One scene stood out, the one he’d witnessed so many times.

Red eyes broken, blood gushing from an open wound. He leaned heavily on his spear and surveyed the carnage around him. Pale men in heavy armour stood around him, their weapons forming a deathly cage.
,,Give it up now, barbarian. The riches these lands hide belong to the East Empire company from this point. You are not wanted here. If you lay down your spear, I’ll let you leave.” A fat man dressed in an expensive robe said from behind the soldiers.

Aran glared at him.
,,I’ll remember you.” He spat, his knees beginning to tremble due to the bloodloss.
,,I won’t remember you. You’re just another red-eyed devil to me. Now get out of here.” The fat man ordered, wiping the sweat from his brow with a silken handkerchief.
,,Never!” Aran shouted.

He lunged forward, driving the tip of his spear into the unprotected face of one warrior. Even as the chitin tip tore through soft flesh, he forcefully pulled it free and stabbed it into the wrist of the warrior on his right. Releasing the spear with one hand, he spun it around him in a circle, forcing everyone near to step back. In doing so, they’d created an opening. He stepped to the right, following the path of his spear. He reversed direction, finding a throat. Another turn, cutting through a knee. He finished off the disabled man with a quick thrust into his side.

Everyone had now retreated out of his range. Aran thrust his spear into the ground again, leaning on it once more. He’d reached the end of his powers. One last charge, that was all he could manage. The fat man looked at the new corpses that littered the already death filled battlefield. There was no care in his eyes, no sadness for the men who’d died to protect him, nor was there an expression of victory. Only boredom.
,,I don’t have time for this. Die, devil.” He spoke with a yawn. His hands flew up, dropping the handkerchief which flew away on the warm breeze.

His hands gestured, forming a circle, an arrow, a triangle. Unknown words left his mouth. Then, just when the Dunmer narrowed his eyes, fire flashed from the pale hands and shot towards him, engulfing him in a blazing nightmare.

Aran’s eyes shot open. Outside his window, a dog barked. He looked at the stars for a while, pondering his past.
,,I’ve grown in a land that is best described as an inhospitable monster that weeds out the weak. That’s where you made your mistake, by attacking me with fire in a land where fire is in the wind’s breath.”
He got up from his bed and walked to the window, looking out over the city which in his eyes, could’ve been located in an entirely different world.
,,First Cyrodiil, now Wayrest. My hunt has led me far, taking the greatest step after my prey bled out his life on the sands of the arena. The end of the hunt has only put me on the path of a greater hunt. Not as hunter, but as prey. What is my destiny? Where will it take me?”

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft sound. The sound of a lock clicking. He turned to face the door but did not walk towards it.
,,They locked the door. Apparently, someone wants to keep me here.” He concluded. A corner of his mouth twitched upwards.
,,Bad planning.”

He leaned out of the window, looking around till he saw what he was looking for. Being claustrophobic and used to great heights, Rajn had chosen to sleep on the balcony. The Dunmer had protested against her choice at first, claiming that the balcony was an open structure and she could fall off. She’d ignored him, and done her own thing as usual. Now, he was actually glad she did that.

He moved back into his room, looking for something. When his search turned out to be unsuccessful, he moved back to the window and threw his improvised projectile. Instantly, he was rewarded by a few colourful profanities being flung in his direction.
,,Hey, I was having a nice dream. And now you’ve interrupted it by…..throwing a smelly boot at me!” She yelled at him. Aran brought a finger to his lips.
,,Someone locked the door to my room. Wake up Marsh, and then open the door to my room. We’re leaving earlier.” He whispered.
,,Oh, and throw my boot back.”

Rajn sputtered for a bit more, threw the boot at him as hard as she could and vanished into her room. Aran returned to his bed and continued his meditation. Half an hour later, he heard voices from beyond the door.
,,Miss, you aren’t supposed to run around with a bow. Especially not during the night.” A gruff voice said, probably coming from a guard who had been guarding the door.
,,But there are rats under my bed! Big rats, I tell you! Who is in charge of keeping this place clean? Go get the Housemaster, now!” Rajn shrieked in an annoying Bosmer tone. Aran could already imagine the frustration the guard faced.
,,I’m busy. You should ask someone else.” He replied.

There was a loud thunk. Aran looked up and saw an arrowhead sticking through the door.
,,I hate rats! Just get the guy before I get angry here!” Aran smiled and shook his head. When words alone didn’t work, intimidation did the trick.
,,Alright, I’m already going! Don’t be such a hothead! And I so don’t want to know what you’re like when you’re angry!”
The guard ran off, his boots echoing each time they touched the floor.

Rajn had the door open within just five seconds. She retrieved the arrow from the door and examined it for damage.
,,Hey, there a small crack here. I hope you’re happy now, you’ve made me ruin a perfectly fine arrow.” She whispered annoyed. Her eyes shone with amusement however.
,,You like doing this, don’t you?” Marsh commented as he strode into view. He then looked at Aran who nodded.
,,Ocsdros, Jike bei.”

The familiar green smoke enveloped the fading features of the Ashlander.
,,A small bit of advice, don’t go slapping Barenziah, even if you have all the right to do so. The ability of a noble to keep a grudge is infamous.” The Argonian hissed.
,,Now let’s leave. I know a secret passage that should get us out of the city without being seen.” He continued and led the way.

,,You slapped her?” Rajn asked as they walked after the mage.
,,Yes. Barenziah does not like Ashlanders and the feeling is mutual. It’s quite similar to your hate for Khajiit I must say.” Aran answered. Marsh looked over his shoulder, his teeth bared.
,,Shut up, you’re weakening your invisibility. We have several weeks of travel ahead, don’t start causing trouble at the start.” He warned.

[The Metal Mallet]

.... And the journey begins. Cue the epic travelling music!


Great work as usual Jack. These characters are always so much fun to read.

[jack cloudy]

And do you know what else travelling does? It provides a perfect excuse to jump back to our little bloodthirsty kitten, just in time to watch the fun begin.




In the sweltering heat, he could barely see the stone walls rising up from the sands. His tail swished from side to side as he stood on the road, gazing upon the gates.
,,So this is Rihad.” He noted, already beginning to hate the place just because of the weather. It was simply too hot to enjoy whatever beauty it might conceal. Weather or no weather, hate or no hate, he’d arrived at his destination. Now he just had to find the sanctuary. Easier said than done, seeing as how no one knew the location of any other sanctuary but his own. There were a few people lucky enough to know of more than one sanctuary, but no one knew who they were. But there was still hope.

,,Seeing as how I’m wearing our traditional garb, it’s likely that they’ll attempt to make contact soon.” The Khajiit reasoned with himself and walked through the gate, watching the guards from the corner of his eyes, just in case they tried something. Fortunately for the Redguard, he did not pay any particular attention to the assassin who walked past. Inside the city, Ra’trith was assaulted by the smell of human sweat everywhere.
,,Just why exactly did I chose to go to a desert? It’s hot, it stinks and I get sand between my toes.” He grumbled to himself. He had no answer for that so he dismissed the question.

The Khajiit walked around the city at random, sticking to the shadow for as much as possible. Even in the shadow the heat was murderous, in the open sun it would kill him in just ten seconds. As time went by, he became aware of being followed. A pair of feet, moving when he moved, stopping when he stopped.
,,Ah, the contact. Now I’m supposed to act as normal and wait till he surprises me. I have no interest in games. Not in this pit.”

The Khajiit spun around and grasped the poorly dressed Redguard around the throat with his hand, letting the claws sink through the skin slightly.
,,Out with it, before people notice and I have to kill you.” Ra’trith snarled. The other assassin gulped, his eyes wide open.
,,Behind the chapel, through the well. You’ll be tested.” He whispered. Ra’trith released his grip and watched with mild amusement how the Redguard felt his wounds.
,,See you there.” The Khajiit hissed and walked away, heading towards what was unmistakably the chapel.
,,If that’s the best they have, it shouldn’t be that hard to achieve the highest rank.”

The well had dried up years ago and was now little more than a ring of broken rock. However, this was contrasted by the high hedges growing all around it and even above, cloaking the area in a cool shade that felt like paradise to Ra’trith’s overheated body. The hedges also served to hide whatever happened here from the prying eyes of the people on the streets.
,,The bringers of death hiding under the chapel of the goddess of love, how ironic.” The assassin snickered and walked over to peer into the well.
,,Now what was this about a test?”

The leaves above him rustled in a nonexistent breeze. Ra’trith bared his teeth in a bloodthirsty grin. He reared back, narrowly dodging the black dagger flying up out of the well.
,,How nice, some fun.” He thought pleased with the turn of events and threw himself forward, catching the dagger in midair and throwing it back down the well before landing on the other side. A scream echoed from below as an assassin found his death. One down, an unknown number to go.

A bow emerged from the hedge ahead of him, an arrow already nocked. At the same time, the leaves above him rustled again and now split open to let something pass. Ra’trith stepped around the arrow, then spun around and kicked the assassin who’d dropped from above. Ribs snapped, being driven into the lungs with tremendous force. It was a lethal wound, but Ra’trith wasn’t done yet. He followed the path the dying assassin had taken, wrenched the sword from his hands and delivered a second crushing kick against the throat, changing the cloaked man’s path so he too dropped into the well. He then spun around and threw the sword at the hidden archer who was still in the process of drawing a second arrow from the quiver. A red fountain colouring the leaves red told the Khajiit he’d hit his mark. Three down, zero to go.

He breathed heavily after his exertion. With nothing left to kill, his bloodthirst was fading, to be replaced by a nagging discontent.
,,That guy hiding down in the well managed to scream. I must be losing my touch.” He thought to himself and his grin re-emerged. There was still one person left to kill. A guard who had managed to take three steps after hearing the scream. Three steps which brought him to the entrance of this small lush hideout. Three steps to his death.
,,I heard a scream wha….” The guard was rudely interrupted by Ra’trith’s Blade of Woe driving into his skull.

He retrieved his dagger and returned it to its sheath. After that, he waited. Half an hour later, a man dressed in the clothes of a wealthy merchant entered the small garden. His eyes looked around coolly, his face splitting in a crooked smile upon seeing the red blood still dripping from the leaves.
,,So he wasn’t a true Brother after all. Good work, everyone. You can come out now and collect your payment.” He spoke in a hushed tone. The leaves above him didn’t even rustle when Ra’trith dropped down, landing on his shoulders and driving him into the ground.
,,Here’s a bit of advice. Don’t test me when I’m in a bad mood.” He hissed in the man’s ear.

[The Metal Mallet]

Ahhh Ra'trith! I was eagerly awaiting his return. A what a return it was!

A very fun read I must say!

[jack cloudy]

Short one!


A scorpion crawled out from under a loos stone and made its way over to the reddened sand. It stopped at the edge of the bloody mess, as if it was contemplating the change that had occurred in its territory.
,,What’s the meaning of this?” The false merchant whispered, spitting out a mouthful of sand as he did so. He knew that alerting the guards would only lead to more trouble.
,,You decided to test me with some of your friends, I killed them.” Ra’trith explained, a malicious snarl on his face. The prone man could not see the snarl while his face was being pressed into the sand.

,,You killed them?! Impossible! Those three are the best assassins in Hammerfell! A well-trained Brother can evade their attacks for a short moment, but he can’t retaliate at the same time! And even then, you weren’t supposed to kill them!” He sputtered, nearly choking on the warm sand. He felt how the Khajiit’s claws dug into the back of his neck for grip and hauled him up. The change in position was too unexpected for him to respond. A moment later, his chest painfully collided with the well and his face was pushed down so he could watch down the shaft.
,,See for yourself. And if they were supposed to live, you should have warned me. I would have stopped after breaking their bones then.” Was all Ra’trith said.

When he peered down into the well, he realized that this outrageous claim was no more than the truth. The bottom of the dry well was reddened by blood he could not see in the darkness, though the smell rising up to meet his nose told him it was there. The few rays of sunlight which managed to reach all the way down reflected on the chain armour of a guard, and on two traditional Dark Brotherhood clasps. His thoughts wandered to the blood covering one of the hedges. He managed to glance that way and this time, he saw something new. The bloodsoaked hilt of a sword. A sword he knew. Not only had the Khajiit somehow slain three of the finest assassins in the province as well as a guard, he’d actually used their own weapons to do it!

,,Who are you?” The false merchant asked with a quivering voice. Ra’trith released his grip and allowed the man to face him.
,,The embodiment of darkness.” He answered and watched with pride how the man’s eyes gleamed in recognition of the title.
,,The embodiment of darkness. I always thought that it was just a legend, that no one could be this good. I see how I was wrong. I am Pelagius, the Listener of Hammerfell. I extend a formal invitation to our Hand though there is a matter that needs to be taken care of first. You have killed three of your fellow Brothers. This cannot go unpunished. You know the traditional price for this act?”

Ra’trith sneered at the mention of ‘punishment’. The traditional punishment was death.
,,As you just said, I killed your three best assassins without experiencing any problems. Do you honestly believe I would fear anything else you might throw at me? Not even Sithis would be able to stop me.” He countered. Pelagius nodded.
,,True, the Dark Brotherhood is not capable of executing you according to the ancient rules. However, the Listener is in the position to propose an alternate form of punishment. I would like to present you with a task, a murder. You’ll be paid, though at a lower rate than usual.” The Listener offered.

Ra’trith shrugged.
,,Only if I know who the client is.” He spoke which made Pelagius frown. It was unusual for a Brother to know the client. Then again, it couldn’t do any harm.
,,Very well. The client would like to remain anonymous though I am sure I can trust your silence. The man who has offered us this contract, along with a sizeable sum, is Jagar Tharn.” He revealed.

The Khajiit let out an instinctive growl.
,,Jagar Tharn. He’s bribed the Brotherhood to betray me. Working for him is not what I want, yet it could prove to be a valuable source of information. If I know what he’s up to, I’ll know how to kill him.” He reasoned with himself.
,,Fine, I’ll take the offer.”

Pelagius descended down the well.
,,Good, our sanctuary is through here. I’ll have the corpses cleaned up before anyone becomes aware of our presence here. In the meantime, I want you to go north, to Stonekeep. There, you will meet an Orc warlord. He’s Tharn’s accomplice. Question him for further information.” He shouted upwards. Ra’trith walked away from the well, contemplating his new mission.
,,This reeks of betrayal. I’m sure it is yet another trap. Good, observing the trap is the first step on the path of avoidance. Or the path of retaliation.”

[The Metal Mallet]

A diabolically cunning creature Ra'trith is, yes? It gives me shivers how calculating and dangerous he is. Great work!

[canis216]

Aye, the khajiit is indeed cunning, diabolical, deadly, and many other adjectives with connotations related to cleverness or murderousness. Indeed, indeed.

[Dire Cheesecake]

Hm, he's also a bit of a cocky punk though isn't he?

[jack cloudy]

No update, I need to work it out first.

All I wanted to say was this: Yes, Ra'trith is a bit arrogant but it is all justified. He's good and he knows it. In game terms, he's very high level.

[jack cloudy]

I should've known that this would be a bit harder than I initially expected. There is not a whole lot to do in a city if your character is the most antisocial murderous honoured user around. Nevermind, I think I managed quite well.





Before he could leave on his quest for personal vengeance and a good bit of money, he had to eat. It was becoming a bit of a habit for him, to enter a city, kill a few people, get the task of an assassination and leave again without a chance to rest.
,,I really should change that. I can’t keep running forever without tiring. Especially in this heat.” He noted with cool self-knowledge.

His eyes scanned the city for potential food. The sun blazed overhead, baking the streets in the climax of boiling air known as noon around here. Ra’trith noticed quickly that he was the only one left on the streets. Everyone else had vanished into his or her residence, trying to escape the sun. Even most of the guards had left and the ones who remained all stood in the shade of an overhang, sweating like a mountainstream.

Something slithered in the sand under his feet as he passed one of the guards. He’d just been wondering why the small niches these tanned warriors hid in had a tiled floor. Now he knew why. He swiftly crouched down and gripped the snake just behind the head. His grip tightened, squeezing the life out of the poisonous creature. After a minute or two, the creature’s death throes ceased and the Khajiit took it with him into the nearest tavern. To the shock of both the proprietor and the customers, he publicly sat down at a table and sliced off the snake’s head.

Cutting the death creature into small pieces, he ate it and threw the bones on a small pile. The only bit he spared were the glands containing its poison. His cold assassin side scolded him for this public act yet another part of him delighted in the disbelief and morbid interest of those around him. He gestured towards the proprietor who approached, a look of disdain on his face.
,,Are you going to clean that mess, sir?” Was the first thing the short man asked once he reached the table. Ra’trith lazily looked at the bloodstained bones and grinned, showing his equally bloodstained fangs for all to see.
,,Not a single hair in my fur even considers it. I want a vial, about the size of a finger.” He replied and after a short time pondering, he flipped a single coin on the table.
,,And as an extra bonus, I’ll tell you that raw snake is a true delicacy. Just don’t eat the head, it’s poisonous.”

The bartender eyed the coin. Inside, he fought the old battle between keeping up his reputation and simple greed. In the end, greed won and he snatched up the coin while waving to a waitress to clean up the mess. He returned to his place and began to rummage around under the bar, hopefully for the vial.

In the meantime, the waitress had made her way to Ra’trith’s table with a large plate which she used to scoop up the bones.
,,Haven’t seen your kind before. Aren’t you a k….kho…khan……cat thing?” She asked with what was probably supposed to sound polite but completely missed the effect.
,,Interested in that which you don’t know?” Ra’trith inquired. He was already tired of the conversation before it had even begun yet until he got his vial, he would not move from his table. Now he could simply kill everyone and search for the vial himself, but there were too many in one room to kill silently and in the end it would not be worth the trouble.

,,Just curious. So, what do you do for a living?” The Redguard continued, oblivious to all the physical signs of annoyance the Khajiit displayed. Though it had to be said in her defence that few people were aware of the subtle ear and tail movements that marked a Khajiit’s mood. With Elsweyr just about on the other side of Tamriel, the number of people who knew had dropped to near zero.
,,Do you know the saying, curiosity killed the cat? There is another version. The cat killed curiosity. I am a hunter, and you’d do best not to ask about my prey.” The assassin warned. Finally, the waitress got the clue and left him alone. Ten minutes later, the proprietor had found the vial and deposited it on the table.

With the arrival of the vial, Ra’trith renewed his show. He cut open the glands and carefully let the poison drip into the vial. Once he’d finished the task, he left the shrivelled glands on the table and left the tavern. The stay in the cool tavern had rejuvenated him and he went straight for the gate. The guards complained loudly at the need to open the massive doors in the heat. Ra’trith passed through and set out on the road.
,,Now, Stonekeep. If those drunks I overheard in the tavern are correct, it is directly north of here.”

[The Metal Mallet]

There's always plenty of material to use with a creepy antisocial character when they have a Voice in their head constantly bothering them! Unfortunately Ra'trith doesn't have that, though this update was indeed interesting.

[Black Hand]

Sorry for the lack of postings Jack! I have been keeping up with the story, you're doing marvelously! Please, please, please, keep it up!

[jack cloudy]

Yet another storyline? Maybe.
And I'll get an agent update out tomorrow, I promise.




Roughly at the same time, yet so far away from Rihad that the city’s name was unknown here, a young man woke up. He took a single look out of the window and sighed. Exactly two minutes later, he bolted down the stairs, grabbed an apple from the kitchentable and ran out through the door.
,,You forgot your jacket, dear!” A woman shouted after him. He stopped, cursed a bit, turned around and ran back to his house.
,,Thanks, mum.” He spoke as he snatched the jacket from his mother’s hands and ran off again. Shaking her head, the woman went back inside.
,,He actually overslept. Normally he’s always up and about an hour before sunrise. I wonder why, really.”

He stopped his mad dash at the other side of the small village. His feet had led him to the town’s only tavern, the lucky horse.
,,You’re late.” The Proprietor snarled the moment he entered the door. The man shrugged and left out through the back, where the stables were. There, he moved about to perform his task of feeding and brushing the horses, sneezing every few seconds.
,,I’m allergic for these mules and I land a fricking job that has me touch them all day long. Just what’s wrong with my life?” He complained inwardly.

A new smell reached up to his drooping nose. An unpleasant smell, one that was usually associated with organic waste products. Also known as horse dung.
,,Ah, frickity frick! I hate this place, I hate this job and I fricking hate horses!” He shouted and levelled his gaze on the brown pile near his feet. The pile began to shift, the individual pieces of smelly slime tumbled over each other. Then, it shot up high into the air. When it was only a small dot in the blue sky, it exploded, devoured by an internal flame.
,,Much better. They should train these monsters not to deposit their stuff in the stable. Do they have any idea how hard it is to clean the damn place? Achoo! Frick!”

While the young man was wasting time with his inappropriate and explosive cleaning techniques, his mother was cleaning the windows in a much more peaceful manner. She was interupted in her activity by the sound of rinkling bells. Smiling, she put away the piece of cloth she’d been using and dug into the basket near the door. As she’d already expected, a clean white envelope had appeared. One look at the silvery edges and the golden wax sealing it told her enough.
,,It was about time you sent us a letter. You haven’t written in months.” The paper rustled as she opened the envelope and began to read the letter inside.

Dear Serena,

I apologize for not writing sooner. All I can say to defend this neglect is the chaos here. I’ve been so busy, it’s as if I’m living the life of two men! Well, maybe I am. I barely get time to rest. I suppose we’re lucky that sleeping is something our family was never good at. We’re always awake, living a busy life.

But enough about my petty excuses. How are you doing, down there at Seneth? Since I’m so late with this letter, I’m probably too late to say goodbye to Aureus. By now he’s probably returned to his project in Argonia. When he visits, could you please tell him I’ve found a potential client in the Colovian Highlands? Give him my regards and best wishes. When things calm down here, I’ll have to try and travel to meet you. A family reunion would be nice, don’t you think? I’ll bring over some Cyrodiilic recipes and ingredients. Then we can make a fabulous meal to celebrate.

I hate to tell you this, but I’m also writing for business here. I’ve got a certain key in my possession. It is of extreme importance that I give it to you. I wish I could tell you what it’s for but I can’t. I’m sorry, but there are things more important than family. This key is more important. I’ll send it to you in two days. Guard it well.

Of course, I can’t just drown you in bad news, can I? Like with a lot of things here, it’s supposed to be a secret but I believe I can tell you. Remember that you wrote me two years back about Novis’ interest in Magicka? He had been quite successful at schooling himself in the art of changing the shape and properties of objects, if I’m correct. I’ve managed to subtly bring this knowledge into the hands of several experts and after months of debate, they’ve reached their conclusion. Unfortunately, work caught up to me so this warning might be a little late.

Today, two Royal Battlemages will arrive. I’ll be brief about it. Novis has formally been invited to the Battlespire for a full education programme. For someone who has never received formal training before it might be hard, but I have full confidence in him. Our family is colourful, but that just makes our blood even better. I happily await the day that he’ll take his proper place among us, and the day that he’ll surpass me and his father. But don’t tell him, it would spoil the traditional prank.

Ah, annoying politics. An ambassador from Valenwood just arrived. He wants our support in the upcoming war with Elsweyr. My agents have reported the arrival of the Elsweyr ambassador as well who most likely has the same request. Choosing between barbaric mer or overgrown cats, this will be hectic. I have to go.

Thanis

She smiled, overjoyed at the news. Her own son, a Battlemage in the finest order of Tamriel. Now she surely had the right to brag about her child.
,,Just wait till Aureus hears this. He’ll leap a hole in the sky.” Her smile faded as she realized something else.
,,For tonight’s meal, I’m going to need a few bits of Crabmeat, Ironwood nuts, Mutton and some spices. That will mean three hours in the kitchen. Oh dear, I’ll feel it in my bones tomorrow.”

Two men sat at a table in the lucky horse. They politely ignored the attention directed at them. While their garb was nothing special, their faces were. They were the only two who did not have golden skin.
,,So, when do you think we’ll act?” One asked, carefully taking a sip from his beer.
,,Do you have to ask? Tonight, like we always do.” The other replied with a chuckle and lit up a sigar.
,,I hope the others have been successful. Some must be quite tricky to reach. Especially the Argonian. I pity Kadis and his wife. That buginfested swamp really must be hard on them.” He added. A dim explosion sounded through the room.
,,Novis! Blow up one more thing and I’ll lower your pay!” The Proprietor shouted. The two men laughed softly.
,,We have a winner.” They concluded most satisfied.