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

[mALX]

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@ Ghastley - ROFL !! I nearly choked laughing at that, Thank you so much !!!

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@ Acadian - Lol, this read like a special addition of the Black Horse Courier !! Thank you so very much, Acadian !!!

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@ King Coin - You are right, all those files he has on her, none tell about her big mouth, ROFL !!! The line you quoted about the greatcloak was my favorite. This had me rolling:

Point her at the enemy and run!

Thank you so much KC !!!

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@ Jacki Dice - Cats love who they will and refuse to change no matter who feeds them or gives them special "Pounce" treats - that is exactly where I got that from, figured some cat people type readers would pick up on that !!! Thank you so much, Jacki !!!

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@ McBadgere - Oh yeah, you missed a lot if you didn't see how she destroyed Cyrodiil before you came to the forum, ROFL !! Thank you so much for your kind words McB !!!!

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@ Grits - Thank you so much Grits !!! Maxical was quick to point out the assets of having Khajiit around, probably hoping to overcome the next time she irritates him, ROFL !!! Thank you again, Grits, and so hoping your back gets better !!!

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@ Treydog - I am so glad you caught that about Alix's history! All Palaces have their secrets, couldn't let this one be any different, lol.

Maxical's warped memories of history lessons due to her and Delphine Jend's innattention in class are some of my fave parts. In my growing up years her name was Darlene, and she used to whisper her version of school lessons in my ear and get ME thrown out of class for laughing while she sat looking innocent. She was also in our church choir with me and caused me to fall off the tier laughing once in the middle of Sunday service.

Thank you so very much, Treydog !!!

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@ Athynae - ROFL !!! I've been trying to picture that noise and make it, does it sound like Treydog's description of how to say "Haggis?" ROFL !!! Thank you so much, Athynae !!!

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[mALX]

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Chapter 128: Nissy’s Secret


Evangeline interrupted before I could take in Uriel’s words. I turned to Nisaba so she wouldn’t be afraid and was stunned by the expression in her eyes as she stared at Uriel Septim…hopeless love. Nisaba was in love with the Emperor.

Nisaba never saw my frantic hand signal for her to bow before the Emperor so her head would remain lower than his. She would have had to take her eyes from him to see it. If anything she somehow managed to make herself taller, extending her neck and raising her chin slightly…dear gods she looked magnificent.

Her fur was a fiery gleaming velvet after the dust was washed from it. The plain dress she wore may as well been a ball gown, she glided across the floor as if her feet never touched it. My breath caught in my throat at the raw emotion glowing in her eyes…Khajiit can’t hide what they are feeling, and somehow…for whatever reason…Nisaba had fallen in love with the Emperor.

Uriel made a handsome figure in his armor, no doubt of that. His long hair could easily been mistaken for a platinum blonde instead of white with age, especially today with the sun and excitement of battle bringing a glow of youthful pink to his cheeks. His eyes were alive with it. He was vibrant, exuding a virility few younger men could match. Battle brought out the best in him, no doubt of that. Still, something told me it was more than that. I wondered if there was something more about that dream, something Nissy didn‘t tell me.

Evangeline made Nisaba’s introduction to Uriel, beaming as if she had squeezed Nissy out of her own loins just for the occasion. I have to admit to being very proud of her myself. She was breathtaking. And boy did she know how to make a first impression...I needed to learn that.

Uriel’s face held both a tender and compassionate expression as he looked down at Nissy. I felt ashamed for doubting he’d listened when I told him of the women’s troubles. Fathis had been right about him, he did not look at us and see beasts. He took both of Nissy’s hands in his before speaking.

“You and your sisters have my profound and deepest apology for what you endured, and my deep regret that something like this could occur to citizens under my reign as Emperor. It is my conviction that the stolen generations of Cyrodiil's children will not be forgotten, and that those responsible will face a very public end for the suffering they have caused to each of these children and their families.”






***


He waved me forward. “What I say next concerns you as well, Maxical. We have found the cave that the women were held in. Although Malan was gone, we did arrest another man responsible for their captivity…Malan‘s servant Gemellus Axius. He held keys to the cave on his person, proving his access to the cave. He is to be publicly executed after the war ends. You expressed your desire to bring punishment to those responsible in order to compensate Nisaba for the vow you failed to keep. Are you ready for the task?”

I glanced at Nissy before answering, taking her hand and squeezing it. Her expression was muted, but I sensed a little fear.

“I’m ready, Sire. With my bare hands, if necessary.”

Uriel nodded, moving on brusquely as if marking off completed tasks on an imaginary list in his mind.

“Good. Get with my executioner for training. We have a detailed protocol that must be followed. I’ll warn you now that High Chancellor Ocato presides over these. In spite of that I expect you to do your task in a professional manor.”

“Yes, Sire.“

Uriel turned back to Nissy. “As the injured party you may attend the execution and face your tormentor.”

Nissy looked confused…and frightened. She was stiff, rigid. Regardless of Uriel’s presence I put my arms gently around her.

“You don’t have to attend if you don’t want to, Nissy. You and the sisters decide what you want to do. There will be great crowds there, usually the whole city comes when the notice is posted. Vendors sell off their rotten fruit and vegetables so people can throw it in his face, or you can spit on him if you want.”

Nissy shook her head no. Uriel nodded. “There is no need for your attendance. You and your sisters may remain in your quarters if you prefer.”






***


“There is a very specific reason I’ve invited you in particular to my chambers, Nisaba. My strategy for battle tonight is one you gave me. I‘ll be watching it from my dome, would you join me and see your plan in action?”

Nissy inclined her head as if she were the royalty, she didn‘t speak a word. Uriel looked pleased and led her to the window. Maybe that was why I got on his nerves so much, my mouth was always running. Boy did I ever need to learn some things from her.

“Sire, there is something important I must tell you. Nisaba had a dream of you and a dragon. I’m sure it was Akatosh because he spoke of time and destiny. Without seeing you before, she recognized you as the one in her dream when we met at the Talos Plaza.” I nudged her with my elbow. “Tell him about the dream, Nissy. It‘s important he hear it.”

Nisaba’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink under the thin facial fur and her thick lashes shadowed her cheeks briefly. Dear gods shyness was beautiful on her. On me the cheeks would be stained a flaming red and instead of the feminine lashes fluttering, my eyes would have probably bulged like a toad’s. How proud I was of her, of how well she represented herself as an invited guest in his Palace.

I suddenly realized why Nisaba had been so quiet. She speaks Khajiit fluently, but her Cyrodiilic is straight out of the streets and gutters. I failed Speechcraft in school, but Nisaba’s is much worse than mine. Cyrodiilic is not an easy language for Khajiit to get their tongues around. I knew she was struggling with how to put the words as she haltingly began, using her hands to gesture indications of what she was trying to say.

“Nisaba dreamed a dragon that talked. It said Maxical and Nisaba…we were two together always, together in time. We were time. Then I saw Sire‘s face. The dragon said Sire was destiny. But then the dragon switched our places. He said very soon it would happen that Sire would become the time. And when Sire becomes time…Maxical and Nisaba become the destiny.“

“Time and destiny.” Uriel spoke softly, almost under his breath.

“Sire, in that moment I had an odd feeling that Nissy and I had been together through eras in time, or like our destinies were ordained to cross. She felt it too.” I blurted in.

“Your destinies have been entwined for unknown generations, Sir Damien discovered as much in the history of both your parents.”

A chill shivered down my back, I took Nissy‘s hand in case she felt it too. “Our parents? Our real parents?“

Uriel nodded briefly. “We‘ll talk more of this when Sir Damien returns.”

“Sire, twice today I’ve had a strange sensation that the gods were moving pieces into place. What does it mean? What is going to happen to us?”

Uriel turned toward the window, I guessed so we couldn’t read his reaction in his expression. I leaned, straining to see his reflection in the glass. His face looked tense, like it had that day Fathis brought me to meet him. Facing his mortality…Fathis was right about that. He was weighing time, counting its ticking toward his own end.

What did he know that he wasn’t telling? I struggled against an overwhelming urge to cry, was he dying? No one that saw him on the battlefield today would have guessed him to have an infirmity, or even that he was reaching his 87th Birthday in a couple weeks.

Nissy felt it too, her eyes were huge and tearing up. We both wiped our cheeks as he turned back to face us.

“Your destinies are now bound up with mine, and with the fate of Tamriel itself. As for the future, you’ll know your paths when the time comes.”






***


Uriel and Nisaba began discussing more about her dream. I eavesdropped till I was sure nothing new about the dream was being revealed, watching Nissy’s tail curling in slow undulations. The movement of her tail was sensuous…enticing. Having realized her feelings for the Emperor, I suddenly felt like I was spying on her when she may have wanted a private conversation. I turned my back and looked out the window at the empty streets below, embarrassed.

That didn’t mean I actually stopped listening, but I was careful not to be obvious by flipping my ears backward to hear better. I struggled to keep my eyes from bugging out in anticipation of hearing the Emperor in a flirtation with a Khajiit, but was soon disappointed. No romantic talk took place at all, Uriel was asking her about her time in the caves.

To Nissy, it was all she ever knew other than the orphanage. People become accustomed to what they live in when that’s all they’ve known from childhood. Growing up in that cave with all the others, she’d never thought of herself as a hostage till Uriel began talking about the horrors she must have suffered, what he‘d found there.

Uriel had trouble grasping that she wasn’t traumatized, but how could she miss something she never had? Alix and S’Jirra were the same with me over being at the orphanage so long, maybe that‘s why they indulged me as much as they did. I stopped listening in and just watched out the window.

It was odd the streets were so dead, there was no movement at all. Then suddenly there was a surge of movement like a mud slide rolling out from the sewer grates and spreading down the streets, a dark fog rolling directly toward us. My throat closed on a gasp of panic and their conversation stopped.

“Dear gods…there has to be thousands of them! There is no one to fight them, where are the Imperial Army and Legion?” The vampires had rolled to a stop and seemed to be looking around as if wondering the same thing.

“Just watch.” Uriel’s voice was laden with anticipation. As if on cue the vampires suddenly began viciously attacking each other.

“They’re fighting themselves? How did you achieve it without a spell, Sire?”

“Nisaba gave me the idea. They will quickly reduce their own numbers, while we lose not one man.” Uriel smiled briefly down at Nissy before turning back to the window to watch. I slid my arm around her and gave her a hug.

Uriel was right, they were…thank the gods…killing themselves off. It was terrifying to even think about what the citizens had faced those two nights Ocato had ordered them out to fight. There were literally thousands of vampires out there!

Ocato had either made a terrible blunder or Sir Damien had been right saying Ocato was bent on sabotage in hopes Dagon would save him from the vampires when they had wiped out the city. How he needed to die for the lives of those he’d cost in forcing them to fight an impossible war.

For once I didn’t care if Uriel saw my tears, they fell for the citizens that died uselessly. There wasn’t enough manpower in Cyrodiil to win against that many vampires, and those that fought them and lived would only end up increasing their numbers unless they had a way to cure the disease.


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This post has been edited by mALX: Jan 30 2012, 09:54 PM

[Athynae]

Wow and wow!

Poor Max, but even though she doesn't realize it I do think she is beginning to figure it out...

Uriel's face held both a tender and compassionate expression as he looked down at Nissy. I felt ashamed for doubting he'd listened when I told him of the women's troubles. Fathis had been right about him, he did not look at us and see beasts. He took both of Nissy's hands in his before speaking.

"You and your sisters have my profound and deepest apology for what you endured, and my deep regret that something like this could occur to citizens under my reign as Emperor. It is my conviction that the stolen generations of Cyrodiil's children will not be forgotten, and that those responsible will face a very public end for the suffering they have caused to each of these children and their families."

This brought a tear, I just like Uriel more and more...

EEEKKKK! Max as the executioner! NOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE!!!

It was odd the streets were so dead, there was no movement at all. Then suddenly there was a surge of movement like a mud slide rolling out from the sewer grates and spreading down the streets, a dark fog rolling directly toward us. My throat closed on a gasp of panic and their conversation stopped.

Um, this could cause nightmares, the way you described it I could see it (shiver)

For once I didn't care if Uriel saw my tears, they fell for the citizens that died uselessly.

*sniff*

This was an emotionally gripping piece Max, it was a wonderful view of Uriel, Nisaba and Max. Can't wait for more.

[Acadian]

A wonderfully touching and emotional episode. Few can bring raw emotion to the surface better than you when you set your talented hands to it, mALX.

’Evangeline made Nisaba’s introduction to Uriel, beaming as if she had squeezed Nissy out of her own loins just for the occasion.’
This was hilarious, clever and brilliantly worded!

’Maybe that was why I got on his nerves so much, my mouth was always running. Boy did I ever need to learn some things from her.’
Poor Maxical. It is so poignant to see her drawing such self-deprecating comparisons to Nissy. Yet, I know it is her nature.

[King Coin]

I would have never have guessed mALX. The Emperor never even crossed my mind. I’m happy Nissy has some traits Maxical lacks. They fit together rather well eh? I wonder if Nissy will become Uriel's Khajiit in the palace to listen.

Maxical doing an execution?

Come on Maxical, you don’t have to eaves drop all the time, do you? At least she made some effort to not be obvious. Oh and I really liked the description of Nissy’s tail moving.

I’m proud of Nissy in this one.

[McBadgere]

*Applauds heartily*...

Bloody brilliant...

I'm so loving this... ...

Your portrayal of Uriel is so brilliant...Soooo brilliant...

Athynae called my fave bit, the apology...Brilliantly moving...

Nice one!!... ...

*Applauds some more*...

[Grits]

I turned to Nisaba so she wouldn’t be afraid and was stunned by the expression in her eyes as she stared at Uriel Septim…hopeless love. Nisaba was in love with the Emperor.

I was not expecting that!! Oh, Nisaba! Your descriptions of the unlikely couple in the next paragraphs was breathtaking. Maxical’s pride in Nisaba makes me love her (Maxical) even more.


“Good. Get with my executioner for training. We have a detailed protocol that must be followed. I’ll warn you now that High Chancellor Ocato presides over these. In spite of that I expect you to do your task in a professional manor.”

Detailed protocol and Ocato? Sounds like one of those disasters Uriel was talking about just waiting to happen.


“Your destinies are now bound up with mine, and with the fate of Tamriel itself. As for the future, you’ll know your paths when the time comes.”

*shiver*


That didn’t mean I actually stopped listening, but I was careful not to be obvious by flipping my ears backward to hear better. I struggled to keep my eyes from bugging out in anticipation of hearing the Emperor in a flirtation with a Khajiit, but was soon disappointed.

A Maxical moment that lightens the mood a little in a very emotional episode. By the end of this, I had a real sense of Maxical, Nisaba, and Uriel actually bound together by fate. The three of them standing together at the window just seemed right.

[mALX]

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@ Athynae - Thank you so much Athynae! You nearly made me tear up reading your comment, I so appreciate your kind words !!!!

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@ Acadian - Aw, Thank you so much, Acadian !!! Now that made my day!

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@ King Coin - Nissy's got it going on, all right. Khajiit can't help their curiousity, I see him having nine listeners in his Palace whether he wants them to or not, ROFL !!! Nissy and Maxical are so opposite each other that they do fit hand in hand, each takes up what the other lacks. So glad you picked up on that. Thank you so very much KC !!!

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@ McBadgere - I'm really glad you and Athynae both singled out the apology - that took forever to do. Thank you so much for your kind words !!!

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@ Grits - I was ready to come pull your doctor's hair out one strand at a time, worried sick about you. I'm so glad to see you on the forum and feeling good enough to comment !!! The last line you quoted was probably my favorite in the chapter, and what you said about it meant so much to hear !!! Thank you so very much, Grits !!! <3

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This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 2 2012, 03:34 PM

[mALX]

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Chapter 129: Of Heroes And Villains



It was terrifying to think of anyone being out there in those streets, the sheer number of vampires…Nissy and the sisters would have been out in it had we not run into them just when we did.

Seeing how violent, how vicious their attacks were on each other…how fast they moved…suddenly all I could think of was that huge pool of Fathis’s blood in the mezzanine deck of the Arena. Whatever hope I’d been clinging to that he was alive was rent from me, and in that moment for the first time I had to face what I’d probably known all along…he couldn’t have survived. All the hope and denial in Nirn would not bring him back.

From somewhere deep inside me a keening began a slow rising toward my throat. I swerved from the window and nearly bumped into the Emperor, strangling the wail before it could fill his chamber. A groan ending on a sob escaped.

“You are in no danger here, it is a good time to learn control over that fear.” Uriel’s irritation was clear. He pointed me back to the window. I forced myself to smother thoughts of Fathis till I could be alone to grieve.

At least I knew Gils was alive, Azura’s seal would have split in two if he hadn’t been. Alix and S’Jirra…I prayed they were snug in the Faregyl Inn and had not been called into service by Ocato. Would he have had the Legionnaires rouse people to the city?

My stomach suddenly lurched. Hannibal had been posted out in the street for that siege on Malan’s mansion! Where was he? Why had Uriel come back alone?

“Where is Hannibal?” I hadn’t meant to shriek, but that’s how it came out. I scanned the room in case I’d somehow missed him. “Is he out…there? I‘m going for him! Give me a sword…”

Uriel grabbed my shoulders, his hands gripping me so firmly that for a split second I wondered if he was going to shake me. He didn’t, but I felt chastised more by his words and the commanding harshness in the tone of his voice than shaking would have accomplished.

“He is doing his duty by Cyrodiil just as you are expected to. We needed every available mage, and Traven is one of the best.” His eyes were storming gray, piercing mine till he seemed sure I had calmed enough not to run out and try to find Hannibal.

“He…he’s alive?” A momentary relief flooded over me, then smothered quickly. Hannibal was out there with those vampires.






***


“Come to the window, I’ll show you where he is fighting.” Uriel pointed to an opposite window.

Nissy used her dress sleeve to wipe my cheeks. “Sire not like tears.” She whispered in my ear. I knew that, but couldn’t stop them.

“We carefully spaced those piles of bodies for using area spells, and have mages hidden in each. They have an arsenal of area spells including fire. What you are seeing is a frenzy spell. The vampires will fight anyone in their proximity, in this case themselves. The idea came after Nisaba mentioned that they couldn’t smell flesh when covered by the corpses. A brilliant strategy, Nisaba.“

“Where is Hannibal?” My voice sounded like a panicked child even to my own ears. Right now I didn’t care if I irritated the Emperor, I could barely breath from fear of losing Hannibal too.

“He is in the stack between the gate and the Palace, see where I am pointing?“

“Vampires knocked one down.” Nissy spoke in Khajiit, but pointed to indicate to Uriel.

“She said they…where is the mage?” My voice whined.

“Those dead vampires are rising up and fighting!” Nisaba gasped in Khajiit.

“What’s happening?” I roughly translated.

“The mages are in complete chameleon. We planned for this possibility. They will use reanimation or command spells to draw the closest enemies away from them. He is getting his cover back now, see the bodies restacking?”

“He’s covered again!” I croaked. Nissy clapped, jumping up and down. Uriel smiled down at her enthusiasm and then his eyes caught mine in a long look of…disappointment.

My eyes never left Hannibal’s position all night, they were burning holes through the sockets by daybreak. I never moved from the window in spite of being near to wetting my pants from the need to go so badly.






***


As the morning sun began to rise the stacks of bodies tumbled apart and invisible hands dragged the vampires into piles and torched them till naught was left but dust. That’s when I saw Hannibal. He’d dispelled the chameleon and was gathering the vampire dust from the burn piles into a sack.

“There he is! He’s alive! Forgive me, Sire…” I shot from the room without waiting for Uriel‘s leave.

At the juncture to the Battlemages floor I bumped headlong into Sir Damien. I didn’t wait to find out if I’d injured him, just picked myself up off the floor and threw a “Sorry.” over my shoulder as I continued running down the ramp.

I flung the Palace door open, finally letting the tears fall freely and the wail rise in my throat that I’d held back last night. I could barely see, but through the blur was the beautiful blue of Hannibal’s Arch Mage robes. My arms spread wide and I screamed his name right before tripping on someone in chameleon. They yelled, I flew headlong at Hannibal. My head landed on his nether regions with force.

He was knocked onto his back, the wind blowing forcibly from his lungs. He bellowed out a painful grunt.

“URGH! GMPH!”

“Are you hurt? I’m sorry…ew Hannibal, you stink!”

“Get off…excruciating…” Hannibal gasped, struggling to push me off.

“OW! My hair is caught in the buttons of your robe! Stop pushing! GAAAH! You reek! OW!”

My face was pushed into his filthy robe, every breath whiffed the stench of corpse into my nose. Trying to struggle back yanked my scalp agonizingly. Lowering my head to ease the pain brought my face in contact with the robe again. The odor was overwhelming.

“Stop moving your head! I’ll try to get the hair loose…stop moving, I said!”

Hannibal pushed down on my head and tried to unwind the hair from the button.“

“Let me up, the smell is making me sick! OW!“

“Keep still! GMPH! Move! GMPH! Crushing me...urgh...”










******* Uriel Septim


Uriel turned to Nisaba in disbelief. “She left my presence without being given leave?“

Nisaba hesitated, looking nervous. “Maxical using urn, had to go badly.“

Uriel scowled at the door to his suite standing open. “I see. Some allowance is given in an emergency.“

He glanced briefly at Nisaba, now returned to the window and staring out. It would be best to send both girls to their quarters and get rested before his temper flared around that unfortunate child. Stress and exhaustion were eroding what little control over it remained.

Maxical was a needle that pricked under one’s skin, more than mere irritation. She was intolerable. The infantile behavior over Traven; inexcusable. What rare commendable traits she had were buried beneath mountains of fault. Cyrodiil would never survive her as their Champion, or accept her in the role…but what path can be avoided whose end is fixed by the gods? She needed maturing…immediately. Time was racing by, he could feel it ticking within him.

He tugged the bell rope to call Evangeline, then caught sight of a dark figure moving silently along the corridor. “Foxy! What relief you’ve returned, we have much to discuss. Evangeline should be here shortly to escort Nisaba and Maxical to their quarters.”

Nisaba turned, staring wide-eyed at Damien. Waves of rumblings began coming from her abdomen. Damien eyed her in surprise and choked.

“Surely you recall I had Maxical escort Nisaba to the Palace, why the surprise?” Uriel felt peevishly irritated, even with Foxy. Exhaustion was draining even politeness, he needed to seek his bed and rest.

“Of course. Didn’t expect…in your chambers. Er, I just passed Maxical barreling down the corridor, nearly knocked me down.”

Uriel scowled, grinding his teeth in an ineffectual effort to keep his temper. “She is intolerable, acted the child over Traven from dusk to daybreak as if he were parent or lover to her. She would have charged out through the vampires to rescue him, I very nearly had to shake her before she stopped. School that from her first in your training. What can be taking her this long just to use the urn?”

Nisaba tugged on his arm. “Maxical’s out there.” She pointed.

Uriel’s irritation flared to anger. Maxical had dared run to Hannibal without awaiting his release? His temper teetered on a tenuous string that burned to rage by the time he spotted her. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met his eyes.

“Gods give me strength, what is she doing?” He shouted.

Nisaba moved closer to him and glanced up, giving him an odd look before finally whispering, “I think she’s pleasuring him.”

“What?” Damien pushed by Nisaba, then choked back a laugh. “Well now we know it wasn‘t as parent…Sire.“ Under his breath he mumbled, “The lucky lad.”

Uriel glared at him, rage boiling into his throat. “I find no humor in this, Foxy. Traven is no lad, he may get removed from his post for this! And her! This is what Cyrodiil can look for in their Champion, on the steps of the Palace? This is intolerable!"






***


Nisaba’s frightened face caught his eye and he choked off his tirade. “Nisaba, find Evangeline. Tell her to escort Maxical to her quarters immediately. She is to remain there till sent for. You may return to your room as well. Have Evangeline bring a tray of food, if you are hungry.” Uriel waited till the door shut behind her to speak again.

“Poor child must be starved, did you hear her stomach rumbling?”

Damien continued watching the scene below as he answered. “That wasn’t hunger, Khajiit make that purring noise for various reasons. I find it quite a pleasing sound; soothing, and a great stress reliever. Many Royals have Khajiit sleep on their feet and backs, not just for warmth. The purring actually keeps nightmares at bay, they call them ‘Dream-Catchers‘.”

Uriel turned to Damien, surprised. “I’ve heard that term, on a visit to High Rock. All the Lords Manor servants were Khajiit. We’d retired for the night, but the Noble’s shout to ’Bring the Dream-Catcher’ woke me. Maxical thought Khajiit in the Lords Manor acted as house spies.”

“They do. Khajiit will do anything their master bids, and can never be bribed against him. They take loyalty personally.” Damien glanced briefly at him before turning back to the window.

“She said that as well. She’s a disaster, Foxy. She lacks self discipline, and without it she‘ll not accomplish her task and prevail. Time runs short before she’s needed, start her training immediately when this war ends.”

Damien made a choking sound, answering without turning from the window. “Er, I have a little known intensive training facility, with your permission it’d be best to bring her there. No distractions.“

Uriel waved his hand. “Done. Why are you still watching? Surely she’s not still out there?”

“Traven’s stamina must be legendary! I wouldn’t have suspected at his age...and with Evangeline trying to separate them, too! A bucket of water thrown would work, cats notoriously despise water.”

“She’s a catastrophe, Foxy. So few commendable moments. Each time I see a flicker of hope she douses it with escapades such as this. I can‘t expect Cyrodiil to trust where I cannot.”

“Erect a statue in her honor. People accept eccentricities from famous individuals if they slip up occasionally. She clearly lacks self control, my intensive training will cure that quickly. Why wait till the war ends? I can see her safely away, it would ease your stress.”

“As great a relief as it would bring, I have need of you here. I desperately need rest, and have given your men orders in the field today. Without their presence, I require you guard my chambers. Let no one disturb me.”

“Yes, Sire. Er, orders?”

Uriel exhaled, pushing his thumb against his temple. “The sewers, remember? Driving those creatures to the Arena, sealing off the other sewer accesses. Plans we made just yesterday!”

Damien’s sigh almost sounded relieved. Uriel ground his teeth.

“What could possibly…forget it. I‘m overwrought, exhausted.”

“Forgive me, Sire. I have been without sleep myself.”

“Just tell me now if you are too tired to guard my sleep.”

“I could never be that tired, Sire. You may rest easy.” Damien patted his sword hilt, moving purposefully to the vicinity of the chamber door.


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This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 3 2012, 07:17 AM

[McBadgere]

Oh my God that was brilliant...

I needed a good laugh... ...

There was a moment when I thought "I'd slap her meself." and then she went barrelling out and into Traven's...Wossnames...And I was holding my sides...

And then later, Sir Damien's comment about Traven's stamina... ...Brilliant!!... ...

This bit made the hairs on my neck stand up btw...

Uriel grabbed my shoulders, his hands gripping me so firmly that for a split second I wondered if he was going to shake me. He didn’t, but I felt chastised more by his words and the commanding harshness in the tone of his voice than shaking would have accomplished.

“He is doing his duty by Cyrodiil just as you are expected to. We needed every available mage, and Traven is one of the best.” His eyes were storming gray, piercing mine till he seemed sure I had calmed enough not to run out and try to find Hannibal

Brilliant chapter mALX...

Absolutely my fave so far...And to top the last one is going some...

A wholehearted Nice One!!!...

And a hearty applause...

*Applauds heartily*...

[King Coin]

Aww, Nissy is so sweet to Maxical. I wanted to smack the emperor.

Brilliant plan, if absolutely disgusting. Things must be dire indeed if they are resorting to necromancy. Maybe that’s a loop hole though depending if you consider vampires to be living or not…

Aww sht Malan's on the move.

Oh my… please Maxical, don’t throw up on him… What position too.

I hope Nissy has it figured out.

Wonderful chapter!

[Acadian]

This was wonderfully done. Maxical was certainly full of raw emotion throughout.

I hope she is wrong about Fathis.

‘but what path can be avoided whose end is fixed by the gods?’
This is so very much the fatalistic Uriel Septim we all recognize from the game.

“I think she’s pleasuring him.”
Ya know, as Maxical was describing positions required to have her hair so caught up in Hannibal’s robes, I imagined that it must appear exactly as Nissy described.

‘The purring actually keeps nightmares at bay, they call them ‘Dream-Catchers‘.”
Another wonderful piece of Maxical lore!

Uh oh. Looks like Uriel’s sending Maxical off to Damien’s reform school for recalcitrant kitties.

[Athynae]

OHHH nice one!!! Nissy was great with Max, poor Max, can she even be taught to control her impulses? Bless her heart as they say down here.

HILARIOUS!!! It was very early to be laughing that hard, the good thing was I didn't have to go wake the kids for school...I woke them up laughing so hard...wonder how many times that will work?

Damien? Nissy? Does she know? What will she do? Who will she tell? The plot thickens....

More and more and more....pretty please, with a pair of scissors on top to cut Max's hair loose from the buttons of the stinky robe???

[Grits]

Damien made a choking sound, answering without turning from the window. “Er, I have a little known intensive training facility, with your permission it’d be best to bring her there. No distractions.“

Oh NO!! Nononononono!! RUN, MAXICAL!!

“Traven’s stamina must be legendary! I wouldn’t have suspected at his age...and with Evangeline trying to separate them, too!

OMG, I’m not supposed to laugh this hard!!

This was such a great chapter, back and forth between raw emotion and hilarity. Yikes, I was afraid that Foxy training was too good to be true! Now I have to hang my hopes on Nissy's purring.

[YvetteJeannine]

Hello....


I am so, so, sorry if I am a bother to you...I know you have many people to reply to, and many questions to answer...

I have some questions, tho....I am hoping against hope they'll be answered

I remember reading your story (as well as a few others that were written at that same time...Buffy, and one other, that I cannot remember). I know that the last time I checked in, Maxical was in a coma in the castle..and the audience was holding (our) collective breaths as to what was going to happen to her; was she to become a vampire, or....well....what??!!!!!.

Then.....I broke my foot......

I could not get to my computer at the time my foot was broken, but I DO remember ONE of the authors of another story (there were three very popular stories going around about the same time as Maxical's [Buffy's, and one other I am SO ashamed to tell you I cannot remember, only that I was very captivated by it....I am hoping you will know what it was] wrote to me and said that he, and perhaps some of the other authors were going to another site.

At that point, I lost track of all THREE wonderful stories. I must say, I MISSED Maxical!!! I wonder if you have ANY idea just HOW much you captivated people, and not only made this game come ALIVE; but, created such a masterpiece of FanFic out of it!

Well, getting to my point.........

Did you create any more chapters after Maxi was in a coma, and the members of the Mages Guild were trying to come up w/ an antidote (I fear to tell you that I have not played this game in SO long...after playing it for almost a year straight; EVERY DAY....I stopped playing, and I cannot remember some crucial details of your story)???? What happened to Maxi?? Did you finish the story?? Do you know of what happened to the other authors/stories of that time??

BTW: I just wanted to thank you for creating such a great piece of fanfic. I hope I hear from you. I will be eagerly looking for your response!!

Thanks so much!

YvetteJ

[Jacki Dice]

They yelled, I flew headlong at Hannibal. My head landed on his nether regions with force.

Ouch.

Hannibal pushed down on my head and tried to unwind the hair from the button.

...wait a second... If anyone saw, it would look like...

Nisaba moved closer to him and glanced up, giving him an odd look before finally whispering, “I think she’s pleasuring him.”

Oh.....

It was a hilarious chapter! And I've still got my Team Fathis flag up!

..
....
Hey wait a second! That Foxy...!



This post has been edited by Jacki Dice: Feb 4 2012, 07:12 AM

[mALX]

*

Hello....


I am so, so, sorry if I am a bother to you...I know you have many people to reply to, and many questions to answer...

I have some questions, tho....I am hoping against hope they'll be answered

I remember reading your story (as well as a few others that were written at that same time...Buffy, and one other, that I cannot remember). I know that the last time I checked in, Maxical was in a coma in the castle..and the audience was holding (our) collective breaths as to what was going to happen to her; was she to become a vampire, or....well....what??!!!!!.

Then.....I broke my foot......

I could not get to my computer at the time my foot was broken, but I DO remember ONE of the authors of another story (there were three very popular stories going around about the same time as Maxical's [Buffy's, and one other I am SO ashamed to tell you I cannot remember, only that I was very captivated by it....I am hoping you will know what it was] wrote to me and said that he, and perhaps some of the other authors were going to another site.

At that point, I lost track of all THREE wonderful stories. I must say, I MISSED Maxical!!! I wonder if you have ANY idea just HOW much you captivated people, and not only made this game come ALIVE; but, created such a masterpiece of FanFic out of it!

Well, getting to my point.........

Did you create any more chapters after Maxi was in a coma, and the members of the Mages Guild were trying to come up w/ an antidote (I fear to tell you that I have not played this game in SO long...after playing it for almost a year straight; EVERY DAY....I stopped playing, and I cannot remember some crucial details of your story)???? What happened to Maxi?? Did you finish the story?? Do you know of what happened to the other authors/stories of that time??

BTW: I just wanted to thank you for creating such a great piece of fanfic. I hope I hear from you. I will be eagerly looking for your response!!

Thanks so much!

YvetteJ

Yvette !! I recognized your name from the Bethesda forum! I am so sorry to hear about breaking your foot! How painful that must have been! Bless your heart!

I remember you well! You made an AWESOME model of what your Khajiit would look like if you were making them! It looked like clay, but I think was made on the computer.

You are a lot like me, I am happiest when delving into history, research. I did a lot of digging into the Elder Scrolls lore for the story, and other research as needed to run a fine line between reality and the fantasy of the game world.

I am so pleased you liked the first story, that means a lot to hear! This is a link to that story, go to the bottom of the page and there will be links for the newer chapters :


http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1056626-a...i/page__st__180


We all moved over here after the forum change at the Bethesda forum two years ago. Almost as soon as we did, my X got cancer and died shortly thereafter. I was really just not able to write for a long time during and after his illness, and ended up dropping that story without finishing it. I'm sorry about that - but thank you so very much for your kind words about it!

Although the story wasn't finished, it does go on for quite a ways past her coming out of the coma.


This story (the one on this site) is not the same as the version over at the Bethesda forum. Maxical is the same in this story, (same family and background, etc); but the story began changing from the time she joined the Arena in this version.


*

The other two stories you were reading at the time were Buffy (that story has been moved over here in its entirety) ; and the other story you were reading avidly over at the other site was Teresa - (that story has also moved over to this site in its entirety)


I hope your foot is better, and so glad to see you back!

*

This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 4 2012, 07:44 AM

[treydog]

Trying to amend my "quot-o-matic" ways, besides which I am laughing too hard to see well enough to copy and paste.

Chapter 128

Simply wonderful description of Uriel- reminding us once more why he is the Emperor.

Maybe that was why I got on his nerves so much, my mouth was always running. Boy did I ever need to learn some things from her.

Poor Maxical- everywhere she turns, she sees people she WANTS to emulate. She does not see how her nature makes her unique.

Facing his mortality…Fathis was right about that. He was weighing time, counting its ticking toward his own end.

Great writing there!

That didn’t mean I actually stopped listening, but I was careful not to be obvious by flipping my ears backward to hear better.

And that is the Maxical we know and love.

Chapter 129

Maxical’s fears for Hannibal and her family were wrenching. And in his response- and his strategy- we see another part of what makes Uriel a commander.

And then we have the return to the Maxical we know. “You’re alive! Let me give you a head-butt to the… nadgers. You stink!”

And then- of course- the way it looks from the windows, even to the normally more perceptive Foxy- but of course... that is not Foxy, is it?

Many Royals have Khajiit sleep on their feet and backs, not just for warmth. The purring actually keeps nightmares at bay, they call them ‘Dream-Catchers‘.”

[mALX]

*

@ McBadgere - Thank you so very much McB !!! Your comment really made my day !!!

*
@ King Coin - Urk, I thought of that too because it is probably what I would have done, lol. Thank you so much KC !!!

*
@ Acadian - "recalcitrant kitties" - ROFL !!! Thank you so very much Acadian !!!

*
@ Athynae - Thank you so much, Athynae !! Now that's what I like to hear !!

*
@ Grits - Urk, I hope you didn't get yourself in pain, but I did hope some laughter would cheer you up Thank you so very much, Grits !!

*
@ Yvette - It was so good to hear from you again! Thank you so much for stopping by Yvette, it was a wonderful surprise !!!

*
@ Jacki Dice - Your comment had me rolling !!! (Team Fathis - I do too !) Thank you so much, Jacki !!!

*
@ Treydog - Thank you so much, Treydoggie !!!! I appreciate that a LOT !!!! (especially the blurred vision, lol)

*

[mALX]

*





Chapter 130: Malan



******* Malan impersonating Damien “Foxy” Reynard


The delicious scent of Maxical’s blood was a beacon, beckoning him and navigating Malan’s feet through the maze of the upper Palace. As each floor was passed he found his surprise growing to shock at the empty state the upper floors were in. No one stopped him, no guard even questioned his presence in this part of the Palace!

He reached an entry that could only be to the Royal Quarters by the heavy security lock. The powerful aroma of virgin blood was overwhelming beyond that door, nearly screaming its presence. After the unbridled sating at the music festival his nature responded instantly to the closeness of that odor, the pressure of it urging his fangs to extend and harden. He struggled to control his nature, but a dribbling of hot juices was already starting to flow into his mouth.

“Not to touch, no lad…not to touch. Get her to Hassildor, don’t even taste…” He muttered under his breath, trying to force his fangs to recede. They wedged only partially into the sheath of his gums. Drat!

Malan slipped back down the hall to the first doorway into the inner rooms. A loud strangled snoring was coming from within…and almost intangibly faint thoughts, a woman‘s mind…good gods, she was going to assassinate Ocato! Of all things, not now while he was within a hands reach of his prey. The last thing he needed was guards swarming these corridors.

Malan eased into the room without a sound, his arm slowly raising to cast. She must be stopped…just for now, at least. There she was, an old Breton woman standing right over Ocato’s bed. Malan hesitated. There was no doubt she felt pure hatred toward Ocato, but was she actually going to kill him? Her thoughts were jumbling through decades of standing just as she was now, imagining the ways she would kill him…if only she dared.

He couldn’t take the chance she’d garner the courage while he carried out his mission, that was sure. Malan cast a heavy fog of sleep and paralysis over the two of them, lest Ocato wake to find him there. He slowly eased the bedroom door shut and turned the latch, then felt the Breton woman’s hands and body for weapons. She had none, but could be a mage.

All it would take would be a delay in capturing the white Khajiit, and this one to suddenly find the guts to go through with killing Ocato…no. She was a wild card, one he’d have to put under his control. The fewer loose ends the better, especially when creeping about the Palace with Uriel’s Law activated and his name on the wanted posters.

He also needed to feed before going after the Khajiit. His hunger had been awakened by the scent of that damned virgin blood, the only way to keep from taking her en route would be to feed before he approached her.






***


Malan eyed the wrinkled prune face of the Breton woman…good gods, she must be ninety…but it was her or Ocato. A feeling of queasiness left a sour taste in his mouth. Blood thinned and slowed with age…or Ocato’s. His stomach began actively churning.

Hassildor better appreciate his sacrifice, and he’d be sure to tell him about it. He kicked Ocato off the bed, scooping up the Breton woman and stretching her across it.

Her blood flowed agonizingly slow, either from age or the paralysis spell…like feeding off human cattle or the bottled stuff, lukewarm and stagnant. It may curdle in his stomach. There was never satisfaction in drinking sleeping blood, it was strictly for need and left a strong feeling of frustration afterward. He may be forced to feed on Ocato if he couldn’t get this one’s blood moving.

He lifted the skirt of her dress, moving his hand into the pants beneath till her blood began to change its rhythm. His lips closed down over the vein in her neck and she gave an involuntary shudder. The pulse was moving well now. Malan eased onto her, sinking his fangs deeply into her neck. As an afterthought he tugged his access open and entered her, sating both his needs. He slowly ran his lips and tongue over the puncture holes on her neck when he was finished, breathing a healing on them that was instantaneous.

Her body had felt surprisingly youthful, at odds with what he’d expected. Malan raised the dress the rest of the way up to look. Her skin was the thickness of a much younger woman. He cupped a breast…it didn’t sag with age, but was fully rounded with toned flesh. Instead of the angular hips of the elderly she had a soft padding of fat around her abdomen…she couldn’t be even fifty years old. It wasn’t age slowing her blood, but the paralysis spell.

The contrast of that lined face spoke of tremendous suffering, obviously Ocato had been the cause of that pain. Whatever Ocato had done to this woman, Malan couldn’t let her take that revenge on him till he was gone from here with Maxical.

He cupped the woman’s chin, lifting her face up to his and breathing the spell into her. Malan carefully scanned her mind, removing any memories of him before putting her under his control. The inner suffering…that was from the loss of a child, though what part Ocato played in that Malan didn’t care to dig deeper and find out. It was not his concern, he just wanted to get Maxical and leave.

Malan’s first instinct was to send the woman to fetch Maxical, that would be the safest route. His second…it hit him in a flash. The lax security that allowed him access to the Royal chambers of the White Gold Tower was due to this war. Any other time the guards would be crawling these corridors. The opportunity to see Uriel’s private chambers may never come again. How could he leave without seeing the very rooms he’d spent a lifetime dreaming of ruling from? He had the Breton woman unlock the door to the Royal Quarters, then pilfered the key from her.




***


The odor of Khajiit struck him powerfully as soon as the door opened…way too strong to be just one lone Khajiit. There could be only one reason the Lords Manor would be filled with Khajiit…the Emperor was using Dream-Catchers!

Malan’s nature was tingling his senses in a way he hadn’t felt in decades. Momentous opportunity…in his lifetime there had been none greater. Extreme care, intricate planning…no time for either, because Maxical was barreling toward him.

She plowed into him before seeing him, he couldn’t even be sure she had spotted him then. If she had, she showed no surprise to see him in the Lords Manor. With a raft of Khajiit up here no sense going into chameleon, they would smell him and alert Uriel. He’d have to wing it, think on his feet.

He felt an initial flutter of fear when Uriel spotted him, it quickly turned to shock. Uriel was waving him in…eagerly! Malan was impersonating the most notorious assassin in Tamriel…and the Emperor was not just welcoming him, but anxious for his presence in his chambers?

Uriel immediately began treating him not only to confidences, but to the uncensored workings of his mind…his thoughts. Malan dug his fingernail into his palm, surprised to feel the pain of it. He wasn’t dreaming this. Had the gods finally turned their favor toward him? Or maybe it was the Daedric Lords, who knew. He vowed to erect a shrine to whoever it was.

And then there was Nisaba. Seeing Nisaba with the Emperor was the final confirmation Malan needed. There was no doubt now that one of the gods…or Daedric Princes…was taking a hand in his future. No doubt at all. Of all Khajiit on Nirn, Nisaba. She was sealed to him by Azura herself. She would not only keep the secret of his identity, but would fight to her death to defend him. Malan felt a trembling shiver through him…his nature had been right. This was a momentous opportunity.

The full extent of how momentous was not even realized then, not till Uriel ordered him to take Maxical off his hands. His immediate thought was without question, bring her to Hassildor. Then suddenly it struck him…he didn’t have to do that. He didn’t need Hassildor anymore.

Over fifty years of placing all his hopes into Hassildor…a waste. His plans put on hold waiting for Hassildor to leave his lair or just once act on his nature and make someone, anyone…so Malan could use them to build the immortal army he would need to gain rule over Tamriel.

Yet here he was, in the Emperor’s private chambers, being treated as a trusted confident! The power, position…everything he’d dreamed of and planned so long for was his for the taking. Whether to just put the Emperor’s mind under his control or imprison him in his lair and impersonate him…it mattered not how. He had no need of immortal armies with the throne already in his hands, and it would be.

Hassildor had been his greatest error, but this…this would be his greatest triumph.






***


Malan stood at the window as if watching the Khajiit pleasuring Traven, but he was barely seeing the scene below. What he saw instead was the massive numbers of his own troops that had died in last night‘s battle, piles of them being burned. How had he lost so many? Calculating quickly what he could see below and those that died in the Arena the first day…at least a third of his army lost so far.

This war was Hassildor’s fault, all done to protect him. Malan silently vowed that once the throne was his, Hassildor would pay for those fifty wasted years and every one of the dead below. There was nothing he could do now to prevent more losses of his troops, he would not leave this Palace till it was in his control. If an opportunity arose though, he would send word to his army to retreat to the lair. Let the Crimson Scar keep the battle going and lose all their men.

Uriel spoke, breaking his train of thought. It took nearly a minute for his words to sink in, something about an important task Maxical was to perform for Cyrodiil…Maxical? Malan turned from the window in surprise. The child would more likely destroy Cyrodiil, and Uriel obviously knew that…then why use her? What was going on?

He’d learned Uriel was not using the Khajiit as Dream-Catchers, Malan would change that quickly. But what other purpose would he have for filling his Manor with Khajiit? Why were they here?

In case he chose to impersonate the Emperor, Malan began memorizing Uriel’s gestures and movements, the way he spoke, his tones and intonations. He honed in on Uriel’s thoughts, he’d best know everything Uriel should and everything Damien would. He’d made some blunders already and couldn’t afford to make any more, Uriel may become suspicious.









******* Maxical


Evangeline looked distracted and upset as she escorted me to the quarters. I had to stop and bathe the stench of Hannibal off me, and she just slumped on a bench and waited without speaking. She wasn’t herself at all. When we got to the room, I drew her in by the arm.

“Come in for a while and sit with me, Evangeline. Tell me what’s wrong.” I sat down on the bed and patted it. Evangeline sank down beside me looking like she may cry.

“I can’t find my key to the Lords Manor, it has to have been taken from me somehow. After I noticed it gone, I checked the security door and it was unlocked. And Ocato…he woke on the floor, swore someone had attacked him in his sleep.”

“Evangeline, this is serious. If someone took that key, the Emperor is in danger.”

“It is dire! Sir Damien’s men and the Battlemages have all been gone since yesterday evening.”

“We have to do something.” I turned to the connecting door and called, “Nissy!”

Immediately Nissy and the sisters hurried in, proving they’d been eavesdropping with their words. “Sire in danger?”

“Big danger. We are supposed to be protecting him, we need to do something.” I didn’t have any idea what. To my shock, and I think to Evangeline’s as well…Nisaba and the sisters took charge with military precision.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 8 2012, 01:17 AM