A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Adventures, The Truth Behind The Oblivion Crisis Options

[Feralikazam]

Only 4 chapters in but I love that mischievious Khajiit you call Maxical. Definitely my favorite fanfic so far. I'll keep reading.

[mALX]

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@ EVERYONE - I had to take a trip last week, between preparing for it and several emergency puppy issues since - I have gotten behind in my reading. I appreciate you all being patient, and I am catching up A.S.A.P. - hopefully this weekend !! Thank you all !!!



@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian !!! And your plot decoding was exactly on target, these are some Khajiit that Jakben Imbel has "farmed." As usual, Maxical has the target's name wrong, lol.

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@ Foxy - Your jaw! My jaw has been completely in shock from your story - where I thought it was reality it was the plot !! I had to go back and reread and soak it all back up again !! I would have sent you an updated comment on it, but haven't had time due to the trip/puppy/etc. issues here !! You ROCK'd that story, Foxy - I could never have foreseen that plot taking those turns - except one, somehow I knew (or rather I should say I hoped) they would meet in Geneva the minute it was mentioned. That is a thriller and a half !!! I can't wait to see more !!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing it (before the publishing, but I'd still buy a copy !!!) Thank you so much Foxy !!!

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@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC !!! I so appreciate that you caught that one line and quoted it, that was my favorite line in that chapter - and the line the chapter was written around.

Acadian guessed it, but a lot more details will come out in this upcoming chapter. Whatever promise Maxical made to Nisaba in the orphanage will come out eventually. Thank you again, KC !!!

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@ Thomas Kiara - ROFL !!! Thank you so much TK !!! Foxy's Dhertee legacy lives on in our comments even when he is AWOL creating his masterpiece, lol. I love it !!!

Uh, that "Mythbusters" on the internet...they've set it up to look like they are connected with that legitimate TV show, but those are just regular people like you and me, anyone can write in to that site and say they tried something and it didn't work.

More importantly, if you read their description of everything they did wrong and improvised in their ONE time try, you'll know right away it wasn't a valid testing of it.

You can test it yourself on a "friend" (quotations, because they won't be friends long after you make them wet the bed, lol) ** You may want to make sure it is someone you run faster than too, I've found that is an important factor. (Or just call up every girl that was in summer camp with me growing up, lol). It works, believe me, lol.

It was great to see you stopping by !!! AND AWESOME to see that Eclair recipe !!! My favorite dessert !! WOO HOO !!! I'll let you know how mine come out (look for it around Valentines day, lol). Thanks again, Master Chef TK !! - OH! And I'm sorry for getting behind on your story - this trip and new pup have blown my whole week - I def plan to catch up ASAP - trying to get a bunch of reading caught up this weekend !!

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@ Jacki Dice - ... .... ..... SPEW !!!! (Choke ... gasp ... choke ... SPEW !!! ) ROFL !!! I can't tell you how long I was rolling over that - Now if you see it in the story you'll have only yourself to blame, ROFL !!! Thank you so much Jacki, you totally ROCK !!!!!!!!! - I have had a tight schedule, so if I've missed any chapters I will be catching up this weekend !! (barring puppy emergency, lol).

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@ Treydoggie - Thank you so much, Treydog !! (especially for the second comment !!!) That line you quoted about the fragile memory - that was the one line that particular chapter was written around, I am so glad you liked that. It means a lot when you stop by, your support means a lot (and as you know - you are always appreciated !! )

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits !!! I pictured that scene so clearly, knew how I wanted it to come across - but trying to get that vision down in readable form was like ... "urk!" It means a lot that you picked up on it exactly how I wanted it portrayed !!! Thank you so much Grits !!!

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@ McBadgere - Thank you so much McBadgere !!! And welcome to the forums !! I so appreciate you stopping here, and am loving your story as well !!

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@ Athynae - Thank you so much Athynae !!! You aren't overthinking it at all, it has just been so long since the key factors were posted in chapters that they are absolutely hard to rememember months later, lol. A few others have asked as well, so I hope you don't mind if I bold these? :

The three key factors connecting that chapter with previous ones were :

1. Jakben Imbel's farming of young girls in that cave below his house.

2. Vicente's attack on Maxical was interrupted by Jakben Imbel. Jak then wiped Maxical's memory of himself only, (which is why she thinks of Vicente as being behind that song).

3. Jakben told his minion (during the fiasco at the Arena) that he planted a post-hypnotic suggestion in Maxical so she would obey him - which is why she is now getting that "Jack be nimble" song in her mind when he is near.

Jak always plants a connection into every girl whenever he wipes their memories - just in case he needs them in the future for something. With Maxical the reason is so he can get her hooked up with Janus Hassildor, his only hope for an army of immortals so he can rule Cyrodiil (then Tamriel).

Janus Hassildor is the only Immortal vampire. If he gets together with a "chosen" spouse, he will be driven to pass his Immortal line on to her so she can't die. Once Janus does that, (Jak has that mind control over Maxical and can forcibly make her help him build his armies).

Jak could have used any woman that Janus would pass his line onto, (which is why he is grooming Malvulis just in case Maxical doesn't work out) but so far Janus refused to allow his vampire nature - refused to pass his immortal line onto anyone - or even feed on anyone till now.

I so appreciate you Athynae !!! Uh oh, I feel an Athynae poem coming on, lol.

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@ Feralikazam - GAAAAH !!! You made my day !!! Thank you so much Feralikazam !!!! And welcome to the Forums with "Skor's Revenge" - I am loving it too !!! (just haven't had time to read for a week, away on a trip then trying to juggle a new puppy in a houseful of dogs, lol. - but I vow to try and catch up on everyone this weekend barring any further canine complications, lol). Thank you again !!!

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This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 5 2011, 05:54 PM

[mALX]

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Me and Nisaba walking to the Refuge Camp:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...reenShot923.jpg





****** With his permission, this chapter has a cameo appearance of King Coin's character "Aravi" in it. Thanks KC, for allowing me to share my page with Aravi, and for making such an inspiring character !!




Chapter 116: The Imperial City



With the daylight came a quieting to the battle in the Imperial City, but not a cessation. The vampires would have to go into hiding to keep from being burned up in the sunlight. My guess was that they had gone into the sewers, where the battles continued but the sounds were now subdued rumbles and occasional vibrations in this upper portion of the cave.

The bird Jak perched on the rim of the shaft above me, his piercing eyes peering down at the gathering of Khajiit faces cramming together to stare up at him.

“He’s staying! He’s never done that before!” One Khajiit gasped.

“Nisaba, what does the bird have to do with that song?”

“Whenever the song comes to our minds, He is near.” Nisaba’s voice sounded awed.

I glanced around at the other’s faces, the look of awed wonder was universal. Did they think Jak was…a god?

“But what does it mean? Does the bird bring you something? Like food or medicine?”

“He brings the moonsugar to our tongues, and the song. We all belong to him.”

The moonsugar would only come to their tongues when the one that started them was near. Obviously the bird didn’t start them!

“I don’t understand, he’s a bird! He couldn’t have…er…mated with you. How could the moonsugar come by the bird’s presence?”

“He uses magic to become a man.” The older Khajiit spoke. “I saw him in his man form once. It was in a garden. The song came, and I saw a man with laughing eyes.”

“This one saw him turned into a man.” One of the women said, sticking her thumb into her chest to indicate herself. “His eyes danced like stars in the night sky and the moonsugar was sweet on my tongue. Twas at the music festival. He were talking to you.” Her dirty fingernail nearly touched me.

“Me?” I remembered Vicente talking to me in the line as I gave out rings. That was all the proof I needed that Vicente was the owner of the bird. And if the moonsugar was on all their tongues right now…it meant Vicente was very near, close enough to cause it.






***



“Nisaba, I have to know how you ended up in a cave, why weren‘t you in the orphanage?”

Nisaba’s expression went totally blank. “I don’t know. I remember being at the orphanage in the Compound, then one day I woke up…and I was in the cave. I was there…years. Then one day I woke up…and I was standing in front of the dragon statue.”

“It was the same for this one.” An older Khajiit barely glanced at me before reverting her awestruck gaze back on Jak. “Twas the celebration of the Emperor’s birthday. My brother let go of my hand to climb a tree…see the Emperor better. Then I woke in the cave. Years passed. Then one day I woke to see the dragon statue.”

“You were all together in the cave?”

The older Khajiit that had forced the potion down my throat answered. “We all shared the same cave, but in different years. When our time came, all of us awoke in front of the dragon statue.”

“Different years? But…how did you all meet?“

“The pain of Azura’s seal…that same cry you gave last night. We hear it and know. We go to the statue to find the new sister.”

“Were you alone in the cave for years? Or were there others in there with you?”

Nisaba turned and looked at me, confused. “I was the only Khajiit in the cave. The rest were humans.”

A few of the women nodded. “The others were human.”

A younger Khajiit that I hadn’t heard speak before took the hand of one a little older than her. “We were together in the cave, but a man took her away. One day I woke up at the statue and she came for me.”

“Were there a lot of others…the humans? Were they all…young?”

The heads nodded in a universal show of acknowledgement, but the eyes never left the top of the shaft where Jak roosted.






***


“You were all in the same cave…at different times? Where is this cave?”

Nisaba shrugged. “None of us know, the door was kept locked.”

A sickening shudder went through me and a pain that had nothing to do with the physical. I forced back the cry that would have sounded and fought the tears to keep them from falling. I wouldn’t use the word prisoner to these women, but that is what they had been.

Nisaba said she was in the cave for years…she only remembered the Compound orphanage, not the new one Fathis was supposed to have built. If she never made it to the new orphanage, then she was a child when taken and held prisoner...and before releasing her she had been bred, and remembered nothing. A rage like I’ve never known was consuming me till I thought I could kill Vicente with my bare hands.

“Nisaba, do you have the moonsugar on your tongue right now?”

All the women nodded, Nisaba included. That meant Vicente had to be near. And I had no weapon.

A quick scan of the room showed one badly dinged iron bow and a warhammer that looked like it may split if used. One Khajiit had decrepit greaves on. The rest wore street clothing…Simplicia wore better clothes.

Vicente had obviously abandoned these women. If he was here because my virgin blood was drawing him, I’d have no way to defend myself.

Azura’s Seal is primal. If he brings the moonsugar to these women’s tongues, they will defend him to their death against anyone trying to harm him…including me. There’d be no one to help me against him.

I slipped off Nisaba’s bed and moved away from the shaft. The Khajiit eagerly closed the gap I’d left behind, trying to get a better view of Jak the bird. Their purring had become so loud that an army could approach in full march and go unheard.

I slid quietly into the tunnel, but need not have bothered using stealth. The purring cats could be heard well down the corridor itself.

The tunnel kept twisting and going up rises till I was sure I should have long since come to the room that dropped down into the lower tunnels. Instead it eventually opened into a greatroom. I’d missed a turn somewhere.

Three women were in this room, armored and armed. None wore the parchments around their neck showing their crimes. I backed into then tunnel and yanked the incriminating parchment from my own neck, stuffing it into the front of my pants before heading into the room.

“Hail!” I called before walking closer. In case they drew their weapons I wanted some running room.



The greatroom with the Dunmer women:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...reenShot921.jpg





***


“Where’d you come from?” A Dunmer woman pointed at me.

“Uh…” I started before she broke in again.

“Never mind. Just get up to the men’s camp and tell them you need armor.” She pointed at a tunnel on the far wall.

“I can’t go to the men’s camp like this!” I indicated my bare chest.

She snorted and another woman barked out a laugh. “You’ve got less to show than most of the men. Now move it, Ocato‘s orders. We‘ve all got to go.”

“Go where?”

“Lunch at the Palace, idiot! What do you think? We’ve got to help fight in the Sewers.”

“The Sewers! I…I can’t fight the vampires, I’m a virgin.”

“BWAAAHAAA! Go tell that lie to Ocato and see if he believes you. Now who else is hiding back there where you came from?”

“Er…no one. I just…er…went back there to use the bathroom.” I wasn’t giving away the Khajiit and having them sent out to fight. Without a doubt they wouldn’t give armor or weapons to beasts, and we’d be considered expendable and sent into the most dangerous places.

That I was right about that was proven as soon as I reached the men’s cave. “I was told you’d provide me with a weapon and armor…”

“We aren’t running an armory here, go out on the streets and see what you can find like we did. Then get yourself down to the sewers.” He pointed toward a makeshift door made of crisscrossed boards.




The men’s camp:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...reenShot920.jpg






***


It was humiliating to find that the Dunmer women had been right - the men didn’t even notice my nakedness.

All thoughts of my lacking body were shocked from my mind at the sight that met my eyes as I emerged from the cave. The tall grass of the field was a patternwork of bloody patches; some places trampled or burned. I tried to avert my eyes from the bodies, but every turn of my head revealed another. There seemed to be no where to look away.

Shock…it only lasts till your mind grasps the true horror, that someone you know may be among the dead…Alix. Would he have been called to fight from so far away? My knees buckled and a groan welled up from somewhere deep inside me. But I couldn’t fall, not here among the dead. And I couldn’t be the one to find Alix if he lay amongst these…I’d rather die believing he was home safe at the Faregyl.

Choking back the illness that filled my throat, I tried to run on legs that felt like jelly. The tears stung and burned at my eyes, bringing a blessed blurring to my vision...that the faces of the bodies could not be distinguished.

Stumbling into the outer wall of the City, I hugged the cold stones as if they could offer comfort…somehow they did, something familiar...untouched by the bloody massacre in the fields beyond it.

The gates into the City had been left unguarded, I’d never seen them unmanned before. All the strength I could muster would not budge the heavy wooden doors. Had they been bolted? I threw myself against the door, my pounding as ineffectual as what should have been a shout coming from my throat instead of the mewling that barely reached my own ears.

A cawing sounded above me. Without looking I knew it was Jak. But Vicente couldn’t follow in the sunlight…could he? Panic renewed my strength; this time the shout came. The sound of a bolt sliding was followed by the gate slowly swinging open. I burst through the gap as soon as it was wide enough to fit me, nearly knocking down the Legion that opened it.

His gauntleted hand grabbed my arm and jerked me around to face him, and in a growling voice he demanded, “Let me see your eyes.” With a grunt he released my arm.

“What was that about?” I looked up at him, surprised.

“You going in to fight?”

I nodded.

“Vampires what’s fed looks just like anyone, the sun don’t even bother them. Look in their eyes. Yer bones’ll chill if it’s one of ‘em. We’ve lost a buncha’ good men around ‘ta Arena and Arboretum, they’re thick in there. We men can‘t see nothin‘ fer the smoke that explosion left. Cats, though…you can see through anything. Get you some armor for ye go.“ He pointed to a pile of bodies that had obviously been picked clean of anything useful.






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The bodies:


http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1627/ob...05112232580.jpg



http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/681/obl...05112238018.jpg




http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3257/obli...05112236506.jpg



http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5663/ob...05112236563.jpg






http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4766/ob...05112239115.jpg






The thought of taking from the dead churned my stomach, but had to be more appealing than fighting vampires barehanded and nearly naked.

I passed the pile of bodies he’d indicated and tried another further up the street. It wasn’t much better, any unbroken armor had already been scavenged. I lifted one cuirass.

“Don’t you touch no Legion armor!” The guard shouted.

There was another pile of dead near the circle, something flashed green as I neared it. Glass armor! Very badly damaged…nearly useless. Still…even though it obviously wasn’t my armor that Fathis had given me…somehow I hoped the familiarity of it would give me inner strength in spite of its condition.

The streets were still of movement, sickeningly quiet as if in tribute to the fallen that lay scattered like so much litter on every section of the bloodsoaked road. I moved across the circle and slid onto a crate in the center to dress. It just felt safer having a good view if anyone approached.

As I was pulling on the cuirass a cawing sound made me jump and spin around. The statue blocked my view of the bird, but I was sure it was Jak. I moved around the circle, buckling the cuirass quickly as I tried to scan the sky to see him…and then froze. The statue was a dragon. It was the dragon statue all the Khajiit women had found themselves at when freed.

The bird Jak had landed next to an open dome window ontop one of the corner mansions, but paused suddenly and turned to stare at me. I ran shrieking for the nearest gate. That had to be Vicente’s lair! Right here in the Talos Plaza!

Running in that armor was nearly impossible. It was made for a man, and much too large for me. Not only was it awkward, it was clanking and loud…but too late to change now. I saw a nearly broken iron longsword and snatched it up, still at a clunky run.




The Dragon Statue:


http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:OB-IC-TalosPlaza.jpg






***


The gate into the Palace district swung open to a scene of chaos. Bodies lay everywhere, too many to count. A swirl of magic blew by me and exploded against a headstone. Destruction magic, was it an Arcane Mage? It took me a few seconds to realize it hadn’t been aimed at me, but at another Khajiit. She was covered in blood, and less than half the size of the man she was fighting…and incredibly lithe and light on her feet in spite of being fully armored. She dodged his magic attacks with ease. Vampires were fast…I wished the guard had been more specific about the eyes, what should I look for?

The man’s magic faltered. The Khajiit leaped forward, her legs like taut springs under her. She landed balancing on toes…dear gods, she was barefoot! In full armor! Was that something vampires did?

Her sword arm flashed in a blur of movement that was all leopard, not the rigid formal blade training of the humans...better. All her movements were smooth and fluid…catlike. Or was it vampire-like?

In seconds the man had an enchanted blade in his hand. He moved like he was on Skooma…dear gods, which one should I help?

The Khajiit’s shield came up to block with what looked like all the power of her body concentrated in the movement…dear gods what a block!

Mesmerized, I slid closer. She was fully a leopard in battle…but using man’s weapons. I wanted to help her even without knowing if she was the vampire…but couldn’t if she was killing an innocent.

Watching the swordplay as I moved forward, I didn’t see the body till I was crashing down loudly onto the bloody street. My blunder distracted the Khajiit. She saw the man‘s sword coming just before it struck. Her blade parried his too late. Just as the blade would have thrust through her she dodged and threw a force block that sounded like it cracked his jawbone. The sword pierced her side.

I started to scramble up, looking up at the man…dear gods he was huge! A giant…Malan‘s? His eyes darted toward me, and in the split second they met mine I felt the blood turning to ice in my veins. Dear gods, he was the vampire, and I may have just cost that Khajiit her life!

I tried to raise the iron sword and it slid from my hands, clattering loudly on the street.




The Khajiit:


http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3127/ob...10271744398.jpg


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This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 29 2016, 09:22 AM

[Acadian]

The bits of story told by the Khajiit women were tantalizing, filled with hints and puzzle pieces.

’The tall grass of the field was a patternwork of bloody patches; some places trampled or burned. I tried to avert my eyes from the bodies, but every turn of my head revealed another. There seemed to be no where to look away.’
Your description and Maxical’s ruminations as she emerged onto the bloody grass field were absolute mALX at her best. Just full of raw emotion.

All the carnage in The Imperial City! Nice tip from that guard to look at their eyes and how the vampires could endure sunlight.

And Aravi! That was indeed our scrapper tearing into that vampire! Magnificent screen and description of her in action. Now you must hurry with the next episode so we can find out how seriously Aravi was injured. Oh my! And Maxical is healing-impaired.

[Athynae]

Thank you for your clarification, sometimes my forgetter works better than my rememberer, actually most of the time. Anyway....

Maxical at her best, and this is another glimpse into the depth of her. The scene with the Khajiit women was fabulous. And the dawning of what had happened sent chills down my spine as I am sure it did for Max.

I have always been awed by your imagery and the scene when she left the cave is yet another piece of prose that left me aghast, poor Max.

Ready and waiting for the next, on the edge of my seat.

Wonderful write, my dear, just wonderful

[King Coin]

Argh! Those poor Khajiit! I just get more and more angry at Jak. Maxical’s confusion is both understandable, but funny because we know about Jak’s abilities.

I thought Maxical had a shirt! I guess the dunmer woman doesn’t think much of the men

The Imperial City is just haunting. This line really drove it home for me: The streets were still of movement, sickeningly quiet as if in tribute to the fallen…

And my favorite part!!! I love what you did with my Khajiit! Your description of her in action is just perfect! I love your distinction between her movements and the vampire’s. You even worked in her preference to go barefoot!

Fantastic chapter mALX! It’s a unique pleasure to see Aravi from another perspective. I cannot wait for the next chapter!

[Thomas Kaira]

Actually mALXie, the real Mythbusters really did test that myth out using cutting-edge sleep sensors in a lab to see when their victim entered REM (fully asleep), the ideal time to plant the bowl (any other time, you'll just wake the victim up). And they ended up having a lot of trouble keeping the subjects (themselves, as usual) from waking up anyways while planting the bowl. And when they finally managed it, the water on the bed was from the bowl simply spilling over.

However, I do not doubt that it works. Just that it's a bit more difficult to pull off than it is made out to be. Anyways, enough prank talk, let's get back to your story!

A very interesting predicament for those Khajiit, as you have found the perfect way to make that lore you developed about Khajiit romance and love become the perfect curse. Now Vicente has turned Maxical's own kin against her, and she finds herself in a catch-22. Killing Vicente (if he was the starter, at least) will mean Azura's chain will be severed for each and every kitty down there. As you described previously, there is no experience more traumatic to Khajiit than for their soul mates to die. Often they follow just to make the horrible pain of the severing of Azura's chain end. But, to save them, Vicente must live. Live so he may continue to accost and devour the innocence of young girls as he does.

He is a man who must die... but to kill him would potentially kill and certainly torture so many others I cannot find either decision to be a good one. Let a pedophile and rapist continue his desecration, or kill him and doom every Khajiit whose innocence he stole.

We are in gray territory here. Morals can have no part to play in such a situation. You must simply take one and live with the fallout. I sincerely hope I never have to make such a choice in my life.

[McBadgere]

Loved it!!...Fantastic...

While I'm not sure saying I loved the description of dead bodies and massacare and whatnot is really done...

I loved it!!...

Love the screenshots...Almost makes me want to buy it for the PC and...*Winces*...Get some mods...*Runs of to shower, feeling so unclean*...

Nice one!!...

(Must read more of KCs story...Excellent Khajiit...)

[treydog]

The Khajiiti’s description of their enslavement is some of the most powerful writing you have ever done- and that is saying something.

My knees buckled and a groan welled up from somewhere deep inside me. But I couldn’t fall, not here among the dead. And I couldn’t be the one to find Alix if he lay amongst these…I’d rather die believing he was home safe at the Faregyl.

Did I say “powerful” above?

She was fully a leopard in battle…but using man’s weapons. I wanted to help her even without knowing if she was the vampire…but couldn’t if she was killing an innocent.

And Maxical finds another "sister"- one who fights as she never even realized she wishes she could. And then to leave her- and US(!)- hanging, not knowing if her sword-sister is live of dead....

I am shaking after this one.

[Grits]

“He brings the moonsugar to our tongues, and the song. We all belong to him.”

Oh my gosh, that is horrifying!!


“The pain of Azura’s seal…that same cry you gave last night. We hear it and know. We go to the statue to find the new sister.”

And that is even more horrifying, and heartbreaking, and rampage-provoking!! But now Maxical will have to worry about all of these Khajiit women if she kills their um, starter, unless she can find some vampire juice fountain for all of them.


She snorted and another woman barked out a laugh. “You’ve got less to show than most of the men. Now move it, Ocato‘s orders. We‘ve all got to go.”

OK, now that was just mean!


“The Sewers! I…I can’t fight the vampires, I’m a virgin.”

Says the topless Khajiit. Even in the middle of all this drama, she is so endearing.


The whole part where she was running through the bodies was very powerful. Even thoughts of home can’t comfort her, since now she’s also worried about Alix.

And then, ARAVI!! Oh my goodness, she is awesome! I was mesmerized too, it is so great to see her in your story! But with a stab wound?! Argh! Cliffhanger! This is a fantastic chapter. Filled with raw emotion but still action-packed as Maxical pushes herself forward, far beyond what such a charming prankster should have to endure.

The screenshots were great! It's so sad to see the IC that way. It looks just as weirdly quiet as you describe it.

[mALX]

@ Acadian - I know this is a special day for you, one that is precious in your memory - so Happy Birthday !!! I baked you a cake and will put it on the Birthday thread. Thank you so very much for your kind words !!!!

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@ Athynae - Thank you so much Athynae !!! And starting up again after a three month delay - it was my fault everyone had trouble remembering it, I really should have posted an update first, lol. <3

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@ King Coin - I can't thank you enough, not just for your kind words - but for the loan of your beautiful Khajiit Aravi for my story !!! Thank you again, KC !!!

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@ Master Chef TK - Thank you so much TK !!! Your insight into the problems of killing the one responsible for farming those girls is dead on. If Maxical kills the vampire, those women will become her enemy, not to mention the unendurable pain for them. Thanks again, TK !!!!

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@ McBadgere - Thank you so much, McBadgere !!! KC's Khajiit has her story in videos, here is a link to his thread - the story begins a couple vids in, and is well worth watching !!


http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4695


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@ Treydog - Thank you so much, Treydoggie !!! You always manage to find the line that fueled the chapter, in this one it was the line about preferring to die believing Alix was home safe - Thank you so much Treydog, that meant a lot to hear from you !!!

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@ Grits - Thank you, Thank you, Thank You !!!!!! Your kind words mean tons to me, and you caught every nuance I'd hoped would be picked up on - You ROCK Grits !!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 10 2011, 05:38 PM

[mALX]

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Chapter 117: While the Cats Play



*** D. Foxy has graciously agreed to the use of his characters Damien "Foxy" Reynard and Sneakers in this episode.

There is also a cameo appearance of King Coin's character "Aravi" in it. Thanks KC, for allowing me to share my page with Aravi, and for making such an inspiring character !!



******* Emperor Uriel Septim


Uriel himself opened the door of his Royal Chambers, startling the young man scrubbing the corridor floor. The little Bosmer’s eyes bulged as he took in the full regalia of the Emperor and he scrambled up from the floor, tugging the grubby cap from his head.

“I must speak with your boss immediately.“ Uriel was barely finished speaking before he had returned to his chambers, closing the door on the gibbered, “Yes Sire.”

Despite the fact Uriel must remain isolated in the Palace, he had dressed out fully in the new Dragon armor Fathis Aren had given him not a week past. At his side was strapped a ceremonial silver shortsword in an overly ornate sheath. It was no wonder the Bosmer had goggled, Uriel thought.

Other than the excess of decoration the sword was an excellent weapon…had he been going into the battle. With that thought came a heightening of frustration. He burned to drive the vileness from this city with his own sword, be where a warrior should be…not suffocating in the security of this tower watching his city destroyed.

The full lengths of glass that lined the dome of his Royal Chambers had always been a source of pleasure…now a sour taste rose in his mouth as he couldn’t turn from the scene below. A birdseye view of the battlegrounds in the streets…what he had sought to preserve them from with his law.

“Uriel’s Law.“ The vain pride of his youth…thinking he could strike fear into the hearts of creatures that possessed none. Only Traven had foreseen this war.

If Traven hadn’t already published that rant about necromancers amassing to take power in Cyrodiil he may have been heeded rather than being dubbed paranoid. He did seem to see conspiracy everywhere, but he‘d been right in this prediction.






***


The Crimson Scars had vanished with the rising sun, but Malan’s giants continued to materialize like vaporous ghosts emerging from the air itself. What secret had they to brave the light? This many could not all be sated by feeding…

In rage he watched another soldier fall to them, this one wearing the armor of his own Imperial Army. His fists clenched in frustration. "My guards are strong and true, but their might can’t prevail with an enemy they cannot see."

Too many decades had passed since he‘d seen war, his mind and heart had lost their immunity to the abomination of it. "Men are but flesh and blood." He reminded himself of his father’s admonitions that had brought him through the horrors of his first battle.

Akatosh had warned there would be blood and death before the end, but if the Khajiit lacked three years to be of age…why had the sign come so soon? Once again the feeling niggled within that time was of the essence. If his calculations were in error…

Uriel turned slightly from the window as a light cadenced knock sounded. “Sir Damien Reynard! Enter, please.”

One eyebrow raised as Arch Mage Traven proceeded in behind Damien. He gave Traven a brief enigmatic glance before addressing Damien.

“What news have you, Foxy? Have you learned the Immortal’s reason for being here?”

“I have. It is not something as easily resolved as I had hoped. He has come seeking his chosen.” Damien paused, retrieving the officially sealed document from Fathis and handing it to Uriel.

“All these dead, the city destroyed…if that is all he wants, let him have her and put an end to the bloodshed. This war cannot continue to save one, we are losing hundreds of fine men in opposing him.”

“His chosen is the white Khajiit, Sire.” Damien’s soft voice was barely audible. His eyes registered the irony of his words through the slits in his full face mask. He waited for Uriel’s signal before continuing.






***


The weight of that pronouncement had no impact. Uriel had guessed that would be it…known it would be. The dark lords were already lining up, taking their positions for the real battle ahead…he could feel it, see it in his dreams. Once again the nagging thought returned…if the Khajiit lacked three years to be of age…why now? Uriel signaled for Damien to continue.

“Dagoth-Malan is here in the Imperial City, as we suspected he came once the Immortal left his lair. Malan is using a powerful illusion magic you will recognize…the same Jagar Tharn used to impersonate yourself. He witnessed the trap being set for the Immortal and called his army.”

“Yes, I witnessed the illusion myself. He came to the Palace just as we planned… but in the guise of Fathis Aren. Had I not been forewarned of the imposture…the young Dunmer Gils forced his way into my chambers to warn me. Ocato received a black eye in the scuffle, but…oddly liked the lad in spite of it.“

Damien’s lips twitched slightly before responding. “Ahem. Yes. So then, how was he able to escape the trap?”

“The Battlemages trusted their eyes instead of orders. They hesitated to kill what they saw as Fathis Aren, a Court Official. Malan broke the window and leaped from that great a height. One would assume the fall would have killed him.” Uriel tapped his fingers rapidly on the table before signaling Damien to continue.

“It didn’t kill him, he returned to the Arena. Malan has Fathis Aren. If he is impersonating him, he‘ll have to keep Fathis alive…”

Damien acknowledged the relief in Uriel’s eyes with a nod before continuing. “Just as Tharn had to keep you alive. But where is he being held, that is the question.”

“How were you able to detect the imposture? Fathis has been my friend and advisor since he was a lad, and I found it hard to believe it wasn’t him…till he was unable to give credentials. The likeness was uncanny.”

“Just as I had trouble discerning Tharn’s imposture of yourself. In my profession one must notice the usually…unnoticeable things. A person’s posture, mannerisms, speech patterns. But that was you, someone I knew well. I didn’t have that luxury with Fathis Aren. I was also lucky enough to be forewarned it was not him.”






***


“Forewarned? By whom?”

“The Khajiit. It seems she sensed the subtle differences. She crawled across the top of the Arena to alert us, nearly fell off in the explosion. I had no choice but to release the Immortal to save her.”

Uriel nodded and waved his hand for Damien to continue.

“Traven saw through the illusion as well as the Immortal. When he learned Malan’s identity he would have killed him had he been free at that time. Malan was injured in the explosion, but escaped…if I am not mistaken, as a large bird.”

Uriel glanced up quickly. “The Battlemages said they saw a large bird as well.“

Damien nodded and made a quick note on a small pad of parchment.

Uriel rapped his knuckles on the desk as if he‘d come to a decision. “We have no choice, the Khajiit must be protected. He cannot be allowed to get her into his lair, this has to be stopped now. I want her brought here immediately. She will have to be housed with the Battlemages for protection…”

“Er…Sire?” Hannibal faltered to a stop, obviously shocked he had interrupted the Emperor.

“What is it Traven?”

“I’m afraid if she is housed with Ocato, she may not be able to contain herself from killing him.”

“You exaggerate…”

“That’s no exaggeration, Sire.” Damien’s eyes glittered briefly with humor through the slits in the full face mask. “Although that would resolve the other issue.”

Uriel’s face relaxed its tension just as briefly in acknowledgement of the joke. “Then we must house her in the Royal Quarters. You’ll have to increase your security here.”

Damien nodded, but Hannibal’s face paled visibly.








***


“What is it, Traven? You‘ve gone positively ashen.”

“Sire, I…don’t think you realize what you may be exposing yourself to, housing in the same quarters with Maxical. She is never injured in her…accidents, but those around her can rarely say the same.”

Uriel exhaled slowly, irritation at these interruptions beginning to build. “That discussion must wait. It is urgent we discover the exact date of birth for the Khajiit. What news have you, Foxy?”

Damien pulled a small dossier from his inner pocket and stretched the parchment out so Uriel could read the coded notes as they discussed them.

“The Legion report said the bodies of her parents bore slave tattoos. Notice the coloring marked for the male was black. Very unusual. Only one black Khajiit was mentioned crossing the Shadowgate Pass checkpoint to Cyrodiil, but it was almost five years prior to her parent's death. Here is the report."


"Crossing on foot to Cyrodiil: Four Khajiit freed slaves traveling together, coupled. Proofs shown, travel documents in order. Blackest cat I’ve ever seen, big. One female ready to pop and drop. Other two nondescript. One newborn without travel papers; no man's land birth. Father registering it in Cyrodiil."


“Three years before Maxical's birth. No sibling was found with the bodies, that is odd. Why would they undertake such a trek on foot, and with child?“ Uriel looked perplexedly at the date listed as Damien’s gloved finger indicated it.

“That was immediately after you outlawed the use of Recall Scrolls in Cyrodiil and banned the use of magic to travel between borders.”

“That law was created to secure the borders from threat, not make pregnant women walk the most dangerous pass in Tamriel. It was imperative then…even more so now. What could have been important enough to undertake such a journey in that condition?”

Damien shrugged. "No travel papers were found on the parents, it was assumed they were destroyed in the attack. Consider this, Sire. The age on Maxical's records was an estimate made by the Legion based on her size, which even now is considered small for Khajiit."

"We must know! That three years is crucial!" Uriel turned the parchment and began scanning the next coded page, reading aloud.

“Confirmed both couples also crossed the Septim’s Gate Pass from Morrowind together. All showed ‘Freed Slave’ identifications from Hlormaren, Bitter Coast. Names given were S'Vandra and spouse Shivani, S'Renji with spouse Nisaba..." Uriel glanced at Damien. “Which are her parents?”






***


“I don’t have that information yet. I have a man in Balmora investigating Hlormaren's records, another in Cheydinhal. An albino infant may have caused a stir that would be remembered. We haven’t found any information on where the other couple settled.”

“On foot and greatly with child entering the pass, this other female would have delivered while crossing.” Uriel mused aloud. He had crossed that pass on horseback many years back, it had been a long and dangerous trek.

Uriel went back and scanned the first page quickly. “This Shadowgate record is at the entrance to the pass, where is the information from the checkpoint as they left the pass in Cyrodiil?”

“There are no records of them entering Cyrodiil. The guard at the entry point said that the Cyrodiil gate has never been manned that he knows of.”

Uriel’s brows snapped down, unable to believe what he’d just heard. “I want all borders secured immediately, and a report on which ones have not been.”

His cheeks burned with the rage he was feeling. This would explain how the Crimson Scar returned to Cyrodiil. How many other orders were not being carried out? Had Ocato become so lax…or had he deliberately left the borders unmanned to make his plots fall more easily into place?

Damien was scribbling rapidly on the pad in front of him. Traven was looking like an owl that smelled a rabbit. Uriel turned to the window to regain control.

On the street below him a battle was raging between a very adept Khajiit and what appeared to be a mage. As Uriel watched, the inter-district gate pushed open and as if conjured by his thoughts…there was the white Khajiit, clumsily stumbling toward the Palace.






***


Of all the champions Akatosh could pick, why her? For possibly the thousandth time he silently pled Akatosh for some miracle that would change that bumbling girl into a champion worthy of Cyrodiil…or offer another.

“Foxy.“ Uriel pointed toward the window. “The white Khajiit is below in the street. Send your man to fetch her up.”

Uriel continued watching the one valiant Khajiit battling for the safety of his city…while his champion hid behind a tombstone and watched, not even trying to help.

His mouth swirled with mucous he had to force himself not to release in disgust. As Damien slid from the room, Hannibal moved to the window.

“Why is she not helping? She is a wonderful sight to see with a sword…” Hannibal’s chatter sounded nervous and defensive.

Uriel’s teeth gnashed together and his hands tightened into fists as he watched the girl trip over a body and fall flat on her face, costing the other Khajiit an injury.

“He must have struck her with a spell!” Hannibal lurched forward, pressing his face to the glass to see better.

Uriel silently fumed. He was entrusting Cyrodiil to that clumsy spoiled child, when that other Khajiit was what was needed.

Hannibal was watching him closely, and reading his stance accurately by his words. “She is not what you may think, Sire.” Hannibal turned back to the window.






***


The other Khajiit had killed the mage and was now healing Maxical. Uriel glanced at Hannibal before turning back to the window. Foxy and Fathis had both voiced concern that Traven had grown too attached to the Immortal to be objective. Uriel had no doubt that they were correct.

“Traven, I think you should see this ‘document’ that Fathis carried with my seal on it.“ Uriel pulled the folded parchment back out and opened it so Traven could see. It was totally blank.

“It’s blank? Fathis…lied?”

“At my command and Sir Damien Reynard‘s suggestion. Your loyalty to the Immortal…explain yourself.”

Hannibal’s cheeks purpled.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Mar 6 2013, 05:02 AM

[Grits]

I am amazed by the many facets of Uriel Septim in this chapter. I love the way you portray him. I admire his urge to get out there and defend his people with his own sword. I have to respect the way he recognizes and regrets his own role in the war. Plus if Damien shares a joke with him, then he must be all right. Then I was fuming over Uriel’s assessment of dear Maxical as he watched his champion watch awesome Aravi kill the vampire, even though I can see where he’s coming from. He couldn’t have known what she was thinking from all the way up in his tower. I was quite relieved that Aravi was not only fine after the battle, but able to give some Mara’s Mercy to Maxical. Hannibal did not help his case with Uriel by speaking up for Maxical, but I wanted to hug him for it.

Akatosh had warned there would be blood and death before the end, but if the Khajiit lacked three years to be of age…why had the sign come so soon? Once again the feeling niggled within that time was of the essence. If his calculations were in error…

Oh crap, now I really feel bad because of what’s eventually coming…


Uriel’s face relaxed its tension just as briefly in acknowledgement of the joke. “Then we must house her in the Royal Quarters. You’ll have to increase your security here.”

Damien nodded, but Hannibal’s face paled visibly.

It just gets better and better when the three of them are interacting.

The Khajiit couples crossing into Cyrodiil from Morrowind was welcome information, especially the date. It seems that Nisaba and Maxical were connected even before the orphanage. I'm so curious about their past.

But the biggest thing for me in this chapter was the beautifully complex portrayal of Uriel. I’m in awe!

[Acadian]

“Then we must house her in the Royal Quarters. You’ll have to increase your security here.”
Damien nodded, but Hannibal’s face paled visibly.’
Uh-oh. This is gonna be trouble! There goes the palace!

’Of all the champions Akatosh could pick, why her?’

I’m so glad that Aravi survived, and what an interesting way to portray it – from Uriel’s perspective.

I wonder if they’ll figure out that Shivani is Maxical’s mother?

And Hannibal looks to be in a Septim pickle now.

This was great fun!

[King Coin]

Heh, the emperor knows who is in his employ and who is in someone else’s employ. Lol.
Foxy’s turning out to be a vry complex character as well. Not the assassin I first thought at all.

Hmmm… Is Hannibal nervous about the emperor seeing Maxical? I would be!

I really like that this whole chapter is from Uriel’s perspective. I’m with Grits though, I was feeling defensive for Maxical when he compared Maxical to Aravi. He must be under a lot of stress though. It’s not everyday you get to sit high in tower and watch the people you are sworn to protect get slaughtered.

Oh, Traven has some tough questions to answer now.

Great chapter mALX!!

[treydog]

And Uriel makes an appearance! Woo Hoo!

Too many decades had passed since he‘d seen war, his mind and heart had lost their immunity to the abomination of it. "Men are but flesh and blood." He reminded himself of his father’s admonitions that had brought him through the horrors of his first battle.

Excellent insight into Uriel’s past- and what the years have taken…

The weaving of the lore of the Imperial Simulacrum into your story is simply brilliant.

Names given were S'Vandra and spouse Shivani, S'Renji with spouse Nisaba..." Uriel glanced at Damien. “Which are her parents?”

Oh wow!

Traven was looking like an owl that smelled a rabbit.

“Yoo Hoo! Chancellor Long-Ears? I have a present for you….”

And poor Uriel wondering how Akatosh could have made poor Maxical the Champion. Yet- we know her heart, as he does not- yet.

[Zalphon]

I like the Screen-Shots, they help me imagine what you're going for (a picture kind of does that, huh?)

And...

When the Emperor gets involved, we know something's going down!

[McBadgere]

*Robert is ashamed*...I missed this...Damn...

URIEL bleedin' SEPTIM!!...Oh-ho-hooo yes!!!...

I'm really enjoying this...Believe it or not... ...

Looking forward to more...Will keep up...Promise... ...

Nice one... ...

Fair dues...Everyone rocks around here!!...

[Athynae]

Caught up with Max again....and it just continues to get better and better. Getting perspective from Uriel's point of view was wonderful although he shouldn't judge Max until he knows her better.

Great write mALX, thank you for sharing.

[Destri Melarg]

I just knew you were going to be up to page seventy by now! I guess real life and Skyrim has us all by the, um, hair. I can't begin to tell you how much I have missed Maxical. I will re-aquaint myself as soon as I can.