Shards of Broken Emperors/Playground 1, Vvardenfell: Roots of Sve'lkreen Options

[ureniashtram]

[b]
Cyldreen Mon'Cheri[/b]


The Breton pondered about the direction they would go. Should they go north-east to Hla Oad? Or north, to Seyda Neen?

Didn't the Assassin said something about Arrile? Oh, yes. To Seyda Neen.

"North, my good sir," Cyldreen turned his gaze towards Riden. "Now, that we're on the boat, I guess an explanation about the Gemroot is in order. The lizards venerate this object, thinking it as some kind of gift from the Hist. Did I say that already?

Anyway, rumors float around that the skirmish between Stormhold and Thorn suddenly stopped mid-battle! As if Time itself ceased.. If this is the work of the Roots of Svel'kreen, which I lay my suspiscions on, then imagine what it could do!

I also ... heard that most of the fights between the Elves and the Argonians involve slaves. An ... acquitance of mine tells that the slaves were taken off to Gods-Knows-Where. What does the Argoniabn hope to gain at their enslaved kin? Continued slavery is out of the question.

Then, what? Free them? Slave Bracers and all the associated stuff needs some kind of magical key, right? And those keys these days are rare. Unless those reptillians have some kind of power to dispel, or whatever, those manacles then I applaud them for it. If not, and they use other means, well ... This gets interesting."

He finished with a bow, not sarcastic of course.

OOC: I fear that I may be busy in the next few days or so. That means my post will be slightly less from now on. My apologies.

[DarkZerker]

Tess' POV

"Riden, I'm scared..."

I snuggled in his arms as he smirked, "The Great Tess Rysan, scared of a little Morrowind air?"

I giggled and pushed him back, "The infamous Riden Snowe, marrying cute little old me?"

His smile widened as the boat started to sail up north. Riden turned his attention to the Breton, "Cyldreen, to be frank, I don't give a care about a those roots or whatever, I'm here to kill Arrile and have some fun with Tess here."

He sighed, "I'm guessing you never visited Cyrodiil...obvious because lots of Cyrodiil natives know about my...er...exploits there. Many don't know my face but they all know these robes."

I elbowed him in the gut, "Riden, don't tell him!" I snapped. He gave a small kiss, "Don't worry about it."

"Do I owe you an explanation or do you simply don't care?"

[jack cloudy]

Kaye Soscean

Kaye nodded to himself.
"North, that would be...that way, roughly speaking." He muttered to himself, took the other oar as well and began to row.

It wasn't long before the Breton began to tell more of this rootgem of his. To the Redguard's ears, it sounded like a fancy story and a whole lot of connecting random events in a way that could only make sense to the one who came up with the connection in the first place. In this case, that was Cyldreen.
"So what makes you think you can get it? If it has all those fancy tricks up its crystalline sleeves, then wouldn't some random but quite powerful person have already gotten his or her hands on it? Also, I don't think anyone is going to wave around the stone of incredible handiness in plain sight. Might be hard and potentially lethal to find is all I'm saying." He replied at the end of the story.

A sudden wave turned the bow around and Kaye had his hands full with getting them back on course for a few moments, long enough to miss any answer the Breton might have given him. When he felt it was safe to listen in on the conversations again, the attention had already shifted, this time to the assassin, Riden. Kaye sneered.
"Good gods. The man talks about murder as if it is a trip to a tavern for a fun day spent drinking and telling jokes!"

[ureniashtram]

OOC: RL has simply been hectic, damn it! Sorry for the long overdue.

"So what makes you think you can get it? If it has all those fancy tricks up its crystalline sleeves, then wouldn't some random but quite powerful person have already gotten his or her hands on it? Also, I don't think anyone is going to wave around the stone of incredible handiness in plain sight. Might be hard and potentially lethal to find is all I'm saying."

Cyldreen turned his gaze and a glint of amusement shoned on his eyes before being replaced by seriousness. It seems that the Reguard was rather ... perceptive than he lets on.

"Some random but quite powerful person? Unless that person can shapeshift into an Argonian, speak the tongue of Argonia and manages to go to Black Marsh, no. No person or organization can simply waltz through the swamps, tap the nose of whoever leads those lizards and flirt for the Gemroot," he then scoffed. "Even those elves had a hard time with those reptiles. So, why use brute force, when spies and assassins can do the job?" he returned his gaze to Riden.

"If you're helping me on this .. quest, then I suggest you give Arrile a quick death. We've a lot of things to do in the coming days," he pondered if he forgot something and remembered the high elf.

"What about you? Is there a reason for you to be in Morrowind?" he asked.

[DarkZerker]

Riden's POV

Tess visually grimaced at the thought of another job and I leaned back a bit on my seat, "Of course, I'm not one to be slow."

I started to speak but Tess cut me off, "What about me? I think I'd just slow you down..."

I sighed again, "Tess, you'll be coming with us. I know you're a great fighter, just a bit...nervous when it comes to the real deal."

She took a glare at Cyldreen, "You say you're a spy...have you worked for a Province or some band of mercenaries?"

The winds started to pick up and I saw the whole of Morrowind come into view much better, even able to see some buildings, "We're coming close, let's wrap up the conversations quickly," I leaned closer to Tess and whispered reassuringly, "You'll do great in Morrowind, just get ready for anything."

[Dantrag]

Nelacar

Nelacar rowed with the others towards the small town of Seyda Neen. They were smart enough not to row the boat directly to the docks, and they beached the boat in the swamplands not far from the town. There was enough tree cover to hide them from prying eyes, and they could (hopefully) walk into Seyda Neen without suspicion of being connected to the ship stranded in the sea.

He helped the others pull the boat up before gathering his things from it. He needed to stop somewhere for supplies, but knowing that Riden was here to kill the trader, he was loathe to stay in Seyda Neen.

I need to separate myself from these fools. Were it not for the spy's knowledge of the roots, I would be gone already.

Cyldreen's quest for the roots was the best lead Nelacar had gotten, and even though he had reservations about traveling with his current companions for much longer, he felt he had no choice.

I would likely be forced to betray them in the end if I want to use the Roots... he put the thought in the back of his mind for the time being. He would have time for those plans later. There were more pressing issues at hand.

[ureniashtram]

Cyldreen Mon'Cheri

The Breton made a noise at the back of his throat as he hauled a rather heavy bag. He was beggining to wonder if it was hours before they landed. If so, then they should rowed faster. Cyldreen preferred his skin pale rather than sunkissed, a childhood habit that he had since Orsinium.

Orsinium. I wonder if negotiations between Morrowind and Orsinium could be made? Surely with the might of the Pariah Folk backing up the Dunmers' influence, they could do things alone they cannot?

He shook his head. This particular thought vanished at the back Cyldreen's head, but not completely forgotten. For now, he should plan his next move.

Information gathering. What place better to do that than the city of Vivec? Hmm .. if I get my hands on a rather ... open-minded politician, I'd get the thing I need. But fir now, there's the matter of the Assassin and his target. For now, let's pack.

This things could take a while. And after this, I should go to the nearest Imperial Fort. The Seal that kinky Emperor gave should be advantageous.

EDIT: OOC: Incase you guys forgotten, the emperor gave Seals to the mercenaries he hired, of which they can use to get help from the nearest Imperial Fort should they find themselves in desperate times. I'm sure I posted it earlier.

This post has been edited by ureniashtram: Sep 10 2010, 06:40 AM

[DarkZerker]

Tess' POV

I watched as the rest of the people came to shore and reached the village of Seyda Neen. Geo always sent letters about how boring this place was, but he was just like his father, bored when it comes to small towns.

I giggled a little bit from the small memory and then saw the old man walking around the village. I quickly nudged Riden a bit, "There's your target I think."

He shot a glare at the man and then smiled at me, "Thanks dear."

Riden's POV

After I thanked Tess, I free ran towards my target. A couple villagers looked at me with pure confusion and Arrile's face showed pure horror.

Before I reached my target however, using a small invisibility scroll, I chose to disappear. Arrile looked around and nervously shook his head, obviously thinking it was an hallucination. Carefully scaling a small house was easy, then after the invisibility wore off, I leaped from the top.

Arrile was completely taken by surprise and he tumbled to the ground. Raising my right hand, I plunged the hidden blade into his throat, then smiled, "May you have the youth in Death, Rest in Peace."

Tess grimaced and I returned to her side, "Let's get going."

This post has been edited by DarkZerker: Sep 11 2010, 12:29 AM

[jack cloudy]

OOC: Two things. One, Arille is male. Two, I'll have to improvise now but no big problem.

Kaye Soscean

Kaye was worn out from the rowing by the time they'd reached shore.
"Ugh, I never was a sailor in my youth and I definitely won't become one now." He grimaced while massaging his sore shoulders. As of now, he mostly desired to rest and have nothing to do with his 'companions anymore'. On the other hand, he also felt responsible for the events that had ocurred up to this point. If anything, he would like to repay his sins in some way, no matter how slight.
"I should warn that person who this Riden fellow wants assassinated. Now what was the name....Ara....damn, can't remember. But I'm not going to ask either, that would be just suspicious. Tsk, I need more time. I have to keep him out of Seyda Neen so I can give a warning." He thought and shook his head.

"Hey, it might be best to camp out here for the night to see what happens. Never know if they actually saw our little boat come to shore. It would be really inconvenient if....Bloody rats on a stick, those two ran off already!" He finished and shot a glance over his shoulder.
"Those stupid good for nothing...I've totally had it with that guy and his attitude. Stay here out of sight while I go after them!" He called out as he gave chase, despite already knowing it would be too late. From what he'd seen so far, Riden was not the man for carefully investigating his prey. The moment they would come into contact, the assassin would charge and strike, consequences be damned.
"And in a small village like that, he might just get away with it too. Do places like these get a proper guard detachment or do they rely on fishermen and hunters playing militia?"

[ureniashtram]

Cyldreen Mon'Cheri


The spy snorted and scoffed.

I'm beggining to wonder if taking that Assassin along is a good idea. On one hand, he's a force to be reckoned with but on the other hand he's rather impatient and, from what I've seen, acts without thinking. Never a good combination if you murder people for a living, if not on a quest of great importance.. To that kink-lover Septim anyway.

He turned his from the bag beneath him to the running form of the Redguard. He whistled.

" ... Well, my pa always said that if you wany something done.. Do it yourself or," he muttered under his breath. "Hear about it for the next decade or so afterwards."

He returned to his work and considered the option of camping for the night. While it might shield the group from unwelcome company, or worse a patrolling group of Ordinators, one can never be sure about nature. Plus, the swampland that surrounded where they landed gave Cyldreen some.. anxiousness.

My scouting heart is getting on my head again. Would it hurt if I scouted this area, check to see if there's any threat? How about food?

He considered this one. He resisted it. Adventure can wait if the camp is properly erected and safe, and plus he was sure that he brought a sack filled of salted meat with him.

I simply love outdoors. Give me a warband of Orcs, unforgiving snowy mountains and a stinky city then I'd certainly feel at home.

[DarkZerker]

Tess' POV

I sighed as Riden simply cleaned the blood off his small blade and grumbled, "You know, I remember when you actually investigated a target instead of killing him out right."

Riden looked flushed for a bit before chuckling, "I'm still the youngest assassin that is high enough up that I can boss around other assassins Tess, and our band of rogues don't...really talk first."

I grumbled once more as a small gust of wind started blowing from the north with heavy clouds, "Um guys, I think it MIGHT rain...but I don't know any weather patterns in Morrowind so..."

Riden's POV

I rolled my eyes a bit. Tess was going on about something that most back in Cyrodiil didn't care to hear other than our son, myself, and a couple sailors. Sailors...just a couple hours ago, there was a huge massacre, and I enjoyed having a little fun with my Jian sword.

I started to set up our tent and got ready as the Morrowind sun, or at least a semi-dim light in the sky started to set. After the tent got set up, I turned to Cyldreen, "Mind setting up the fire?"

After a small while, Tess came over to me and smiled, "Geo is somewhere in Morrowind you know."

I smiled back, "Maybe we'll meet him on our journey?"

She playfully punched me in the arm and looked up at the dark gloomy sky, "Maybe...I hope he's alright."

OOC: EPIC FORESHADOWING.

[minque]

OOC: Too fast! Gah, It would have been better if the darn assassination had been more ..planned! Now I also need to change plans...yikes!



Serene

Serene was sitting by the lantern, on top of Seyda Neen Lighthouse, as always at this time of the day. She had lived in the town for several years now and she knew all the inhabitants. The reason why she came to Seyda Neen was a well kept secret. She never spoke about it and the people in town had stopped asking.

She was a healer and mage and she had been an asset to the town. She was well known and highly respected. She lived in the lighthouse, tending to it day and night. The former lighthouse keeper, Thavere, was too old now, and almost blind, and since she was one of those who helped Serene when she came to Vvardenfell so many years ago, she took over Thavere's duties.The old dunmer was still living in the lighthouse, though...

This afternoon she noticed a boat arriving in the harbor, a strange boat, not expected, so it alerted her senses quite a bit. Several men and a woman was among the passengers..

What are they doing here? I have bad feelings about it

Her old friend Arrille came out of his store and looked up as usual to wave at her....

Then suddenly everything happened very fast...

A man and a woman, apparently from the boat, approached Arrille, the woman said something to the man and then all of a sudden the man disappeared, and Arrille fell to the ground gasping for breath. Blood gushed from his throat...

"NOOOOOOOOOO" she cried out , quickly grabbed a purple vial and hurried down the stairs. When she reached the lifeless body of her friend he didn't breathe anymore...

She looked around but the man and the woman was not there ...

"I will avenge you!" she cried!!!!

[jack cloudy]

Kaye Soscean

His lungs were on fire by the time he reached the outskirts of the village. It hadn't been too far of a run but for the Redguard who had already been tired out by rowing the boat, it felt like he'd ran a marathon.
"Riden! Get your behind back here right now, youngster or I will personally spank you so much you won't be able to sit for a week!" He shouted in gasps as he stumbled into town. However, he saw to his despair that his fears had been correct. It was too late to warn anyone of the assassin. All that was left was a corpse to mourn, lying right in the open in the midst of the street.

"Dammit! My fault...I just can't do a single thing right, can I? Agh, old fool of a man. I should have never let him out of my sight." He whimpered and collapsed to his knees.
"Such a failure. I'm just a failure. My father, his father and all the fathers before. Heh, if they saw me now, they would be disgusted."

[Dantrag]

Nelacar

Riden ran off to shed blood, and Kaye followed to try to stop it. Nelacar, on the other hand, found a nice stump to sit on for a moment.

It wasn't long before Riden and his wife returned, notably without Kaye.

"Where's the redguard?" he asked, "If the trader is dead, and he hasn't returned, it's likely that guards may be intruding on our little camp here."

[ureniashtram]

[i][u]Cyldreen Mon'cheri[/u][/i]

There was something... wrong about the air, Cyldreen thought. There was also an eerie silence, save for the Altmer asking the Assassin about something. The Breton didn't pay attention though, for his eyes were glancing to and fro.

Silence.. Birds not singing.. And the sudden thick air... A predator approaches or is it prey?

The spy stood up and reached for his war-axe. He hefted and fidgeted with it, cautious eyes searching something out of the ordinary at the forest infront of him.

Even after the Blight, the Home of the Ill-Fated Elves is dangerous still.

[saqin]

Sa'Quira

I looked up the steep slope down which I'd fallen. The blood was oozing from a wound on my side, and I reached into my pack to get a healing potion only to notice that they'd been broken during the fall. Then I heard the barking from behind a ridge, nix hounds. I took the bow from my back and cursed, the string was off.

I'd just bandages the wound temporarily when the hounds appeared over the ridge, and I sat still looking at them. One of the hounds barked something that could be an order, and all of them looked down at me. Five large hounds. I might have had a chance if the bowstring had been whole, but in my wounded state, I wouldn't have been able to fight them of with simply my dagger. So I took a firm grip around the bow, and ran for it before the hounds had time to attack. But they where after me the next moment. I managed to hold a fast enough pace for them not to catch up with me, but they weren't getting behind either. There was no way I'd survive this on my own. Then I realized something, the hounds where quiet.

I dodged as one of them leaped at me, hit it in the head, and continued my wild run. Another sprinted and bit me in the arm, but I squirmed away from it and thanked Akatosh for my high fatigue. It was decreasing quickly though.

Glancing over my shoulder when the hounds sacked after momentarily, combined with my tiredness, I tripped, and more or less fell into a camp that I hadn't noticed before. But I heard the hounds charging at full speed again, and stood up with my dagger drawn to face them. I simply noted the fact that there was a breton, a high elf and two imperials in the camp. The bandage around my first wound was soaked in blood, and that did not bode well.

[DarkZerker]

OOC: Alright, I'm doing another POV switch back to Third Person so...bear with me.

Tess

"Riden...what's going on?"

The white robed assassin pulled Tess in and stared out into the forest, "Apparently...Cyldreen sees something...and I won't be one to think that he's wrong."

She nodded and waited for a little bit before looking up, "Honey, there's nobody there."

Riden

Tess insisted on there being nobody there, but he knew better. "Tess, this is MORROWIND. Of course there would be something."

The bushes rustled a bit and Riden pulled out his throwing knife, ready to attack the potential threat.

Sure enough, the largest beast the pair has ever seen came stomping out. It looked much like an Alit but only about 1 and 1/2 times bigger. Then a second one came out.

Tess shuddered under his arms and Riden turned to Cyldreen, "Whatever you're going to do...do IT FAST."

[ureniashtram]

[b]Cyldreen Mon'Cheri[/b]

"Nix hounds! Watch for their tusks or whatever it is thats by their mouth! Especially with their leader, those who are alphas of the pack ar-" the Breton never got to finish his warning as one charged at him, tusk leading the way. If he had bows or anything that can deal death at a great range, he could've slaughtered it before it got twelve feet but supposes that an axe can do a good, if not a messy, job. Besides, the pistols were packed in a box. Prying the container open in the middle of an ambush would simply be foolish and unbecoming of a spy.

Steady.. Wait for the right- Now!

He side-stepped to the side, crouched in a sitting position and with a swing from his axe, he cleaved the Nix hound's feet. It fell face first, rolled on its head and fell on its back. Blood and bits of bones exploded in a mist of dismemberment, and it showered the Breton's face. He made no attempts to wipe it however, instead revelling at the pain he just caused at the beast. He smiled, stood up and changed to a defensive stance. It was at this time that he noticed a Khajiit with a dagger. Since its back was facing him, he wasn't sure if it was a man or a woman.

Focus! Don't dwell on irrelevant matters right now! Focus!

He made sure that there were no other beasts lurking about, ready to pounce on an unsuspecting back. When he was sure that there were no Nix hounds lying for another ambush, he tore his gaze to back to the group of beasts in front of him..

And saw not one, but two hungry rushing to their potential meal. The breton scoffed at the simple minded creatures and, in hopes of delaying them, threw his axe with a maniacal cackle.

"You're hungry, aren't ya dogs?! Well, heres your dinner!" in anybody's ears that might've sounded juvenile, but for the spy it provided fuel for his building fire of rage. To his twisted delight, his steel axe found itself embedded on one hound and in the process the dead animal flew backwards, crashing into its hunting companion.

To my spear! Where is it anywa-there it is!

His personally-crafted spear rested on a tree-stump, and he immediately ran for it hands reaching like a child with a toy.
-------------------


This post has been edited by ureniashtram: Sep 17 2010, 03:49 PM

[saqin]

Sa'Quira

I didn't move when the first nix hound rushed past me as it obviously held no interest in me. I heard the shouts of someone, probably the wood elf since it came from his direction.

Then one of the nixhounds turned at me again. Two of the others rushed of for one of the persons behind me after I'd heard the noice of the first one being killed. The fifth hound didn't focus on me either, it to looked on someone behind me. I didn't think of it more though, because the hound that had turned to me now leaped towards me.

The hound landed on top of me, I managed to avoid the head and cut at it with my dagger. Keeping it's head away from mine, I managed to push the dagger into it's chest and turn the dagger around. The hound squirmed for a bit, and tried to bite and claw at me, but after a while it turned limp.

I was panting hard by then, but somehow managed to get the beast of me.

[DarkZerker]

Riden

The assassin threw all of his throwing knives and sure enough, it impacted the rough hide of the beasts and downed one but more simply took its place. He scowled and took out his Royal Dagger, ready for Close Quarter Combat.

"Tess!" He yelled and threw a similar dagger towards her. She caught it gracefully and started to get ready for the fight ahead.

Geo's POV

OOC: I discussed this in the planning thread but he's not a permanent character, merely just for a couple scenes.

The young assassin rested on top of a tree until he heard shouting and saw a Khajiit in a scuffle between the local beasts of the forest, "Ah...I have bad luck today..." He grumbled before he nicked an arrow in a very old bow and fired at the Khajiit just after he pulled the beast off. It missed and hit the ground next to him.

Scared of retaliation, he quickly headed back to Seyda Neen by tree.

This post has been edited by DarkZerker: Sep 19 2010, 07:13 AM