[X] My Assistant

[treydog]

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Frank Herbert, Dune, "Litany Against Fear", 1965

Chapter 11

As I stared into the slowly moving waters of the Odai, thinking about fathers and sons, and the price we pay to be part of a family, I was reminded of a promise I had made seemingly long ago. When I had gone to Hassour Zainsubani to learn all I could of the customs and culture of the Ashlanders, he had mentioned his son, Hannat. He had asked me, if I saw Hannat, to remind him to send word that he was still well and to remember that his father worried about him. And he had told me that, the last he knew, his son intended to map the cavern complex known as Mamaea, west of Red Mountain. If I could not bring myself to speak with my own “family,” at least I could bring reassurance and comfort to someone else’s And I owed much to Hassour- without his guidance I might have made serious, perhaps fatal, mistakes when I first approached the Urshilaku. Although it had nothing to do with the path of prophecy, this was a debt of honor. If, as I believed, I was going to my death at Red Mountain, I would not leave this task undone. In truth, I should have done so long ago, and it troubled me that I had allowed my self-absorption to make me forgetful. As I packed up my possessions and cast a last pebble into the river, I thought what a wonderful thing it must be to have a father who was concerned for you. And then I thought what a great burden it is to have children, who must be allowed to go out into the world and risk their lives.

Despite their name, the Mamaea caverns were not particularly close to the Foyada Mamaea, which ran past Fort Moonmoth near Balmora. Instead, the caverns were in a hilly area about halfway between Gnisis and Caldera. Almost as soon as I had entered the water-smoothed passages, I was attacked by one of the Sixth House cultists known as a “Dreamer.” If these caverns were being used as a base by the Dagoth-worshippers, I feared greatly for Hannat’s safety. That initial attack had warned me, though, so I was able to make use of my bow and my stealth to wage a single-handed war on the Sixth House minions within the outer caverns. In one side chamber, I came upon a sight which almost caused me to despair- a skeletal corpse, with knife marks on the bones that made it clear that the unfortunate had become a meal for the insane cultists. Still, there was no proof that this was Hannat, and so I forged ahead. Besides the Sixth House madmen, I found little of interest in the outer cavern complex. One unexplained mystery did present itself and I will note what I saw, though I still have no explanation. In one chamber there rose a great stone column, surrounded by a pool of water. This edifice seemed to be entirely natural, without tool marks or inscriptions of any kind. Although I levitated to the top, I could not discern any purpose that it might serve. My only thought was that it had been intended to become a great sculpture of some god or demon, such as those that were still scattered about the island. If that were the case, something had prevented the builders from even beginning their work. Regardless, the solution to such mysteries was not the goal I sought in these dim passages, so I attached a fresh bow-string and moved on.

There is little to say of the remaining hours that I spent in those dark tunnels. I slew the followers of the Sixth House wherever I found them, without mercy and without remorse. They attempted to do the same to me, and I accumulated a number of new scars to go with the old ones. My arrows were running low as I picked the lock on one of the seemingly endless slatted gates that divided the passages and spied a figure moving in the shadows. I had nocked an arrow and drawn the bow when I paused. Although the half-naked Dunmer looked much like the Dreamers, there was something about the way he held himself that stayed my hand. Too, he was not armed, not even with one of the clubs those crazed fanatics seemed to prefer. Easing the tension on the bow-string, I called out to him,

“Step forward into the light, dark elf, and give me a reason that I should not kill you.”

He complied and said in a weary voice,

“Death would be a relief to me after having been captive here for so long. And it would be an end to the terrible dreams I have been having since those madmen grabbed me and stole my gear. But do me one favor- after you kill me, seek my father at the Ald Skar Inn in Ald’ruhn and tell him that Hannat died well.”

With a relieved laugh, I lowered the bow and replied,

“I would rather tell my good friend Hassour that his son lives, if it is all the same to you.”

I then explained that I had come to Mamaea specifically for this purpose, and that I would be glad to take Hannat wherever he wished to go. For his part, the young Dunmer explained that he would be satisfied if I could simply escort him safely from the caves. He could offer me no reward, having been robbed of all he owned, but he promised me that his father would honor the debt. We were soon breathing the fresh air of the West Gash and Hannat thanked me again and reminded me to see Hassour. He shook my hand and said,

“Tell him that I am well, and I will come to him as soon as I can. I have no token you might show him, but tell him that I ‘blossom anew beneath tomorrow’s sun’—he will know who has sent you.”

I suppose I could have left it at that- gone to Ald’ruhn and given Hassour the good news. That had been my intent, after all. But I had not checked every part of this Sixth House outpost and I could not leave without doing so. A part of me has always rebelled at the idea of leaving a job unfinished, even if it is unpleasant. Too, it seemed to me that part of my destiny was to cleanse these foul warrens and drive the minions of Dagoth Ur out from every hole in which they lurked. So it was that I turned back into Mamaea to finish the job. The worst encounter I had was with the “keeper” of the shrine deep inside the cave. Not worst because she was a fierce warrior, but because she was there voluntarily. Unlike the Dreamers and the ash slaves, Zula was a “normal” Dunmer. She was there not because of the Dreams, but because she had made a conscious decision to join the cause of Dagoth Ur. I searched the area of the shrine and found several interesting items, including a Daedric helm inscribed “The Face of Inspiration.” I wasn’t sure what the demonic visage was intended to inspire, other than nightmares, but it was a valuable piece of armor, so I packed it away. There were also some filthy boots that I almost let go; some fortunate impulse made me wipe away the grime- underneath it, they were made of ebony. Finally, there was a dagger which fairly vibrated with magicka. Recalling the seductive song of the sword Fury, I examined the dagger with great care before picking it up. At last, I knew that I would have to take the chance of touching the blade if I were to “read” the magicka. As I closed my fingers around the hilt, the weapon seemed to almost leap into my hand. For a long moment I seemed to be seeing through the eyes of others, who moved through shadows and struck in alleyways and audience chambers, then slipped away. As my vision cleared, I knew what I held. This was the legendary blade of assassins, the Fang of Haynekhtnamet. As I had done with Fury, I wrapped the Fang carefully and put it away securely. A weapon like that was a drug, the more one used it, the more he would want to. I had no desire to lose my soul in that way.

I cast Recall, leaving nothing in Mamaea but the corpses of the Sixth House minions and the sighing of the wind. When I reached Ald’ruhn, I walked with a light step, knowing that I carried good news. I soon found Hassour at his accustomed table in the Ald Skar, where I told him of my encounter with his son. When I quoted the bit of verse, he jumped up from his chair and grasped both my arms. Then he spoke with quiet emotion,

“You have spoken with my son? Indeed? He blossoms 'anew beneath tomorrow's sun'? That is my son. And you have rescued him from a terrible fate, if that is his message. He owes you a debt of gratitude, and I am proud to pay that debt. Who can place a value on life? But please accept these five pieces of raw ebony, rare and valuable. And from me personally, accept this, my own personal blade, and this, the ring from my own finger. May these gifts bless you, as you have blessed my son.”

It was then that I understood far more about what it was to be a father. And I knew that, no matter what might become of me, Athyn Sarethi would never turn his back on me. A true father loved his children, always.

This post has been edited by treydog: Aug 29 2010, 10:32 PM

[treydog]

When I handed Falura the clothes and the perfume, the Dunmer girl’s face lit up like a spring sunrise. She ran her hands lovingly over the fabric and lifted the stopper from the perfume bottle to take a cautious sniff. She practically danced as she ran inside to change. When she emerged from the building, her transformation was almost complete. Except for the delighted expression on her face, and the way her hands kept reaching to touch the clothing, she was the very picture of a high-born Dunmer. She exclaimed,

“These clothes! They are divine! Such perfume! Only the very rich can afford this! I shall do everything I can to please you and my new master…that is, my gracious lord and husband-to-be. Come! Let us go to the Zainab camp and meet this Zainab lord. When we reach his yurt, you can tell me more about my bridegroom.”

When the flood of words ceased, she stood poised like a racehorse, as though she were prepared to run all the way to the Zainab camp. With a bemused smile, I gave her my arm, as befit someone escorting a fine lady, and we set out.

Although I was largely ignorant of women, even I had enough sense to know that Falura would NOT wish to ruin her new clothing swimming to the mainland. Therefore, I purchased passage for both of us to Vos. From there, it should have been a relatively easy stroll to the Zainab camp. And, if distance had been the only obstacle, it would have been a pleasant walk. However, there was the abundant wild-life of the Grazelands to contend with, most of which had no objection to varying its diet by adding myself or Falura to the menu. During that trip, I was treated to a first-hand demonstration of the Dunmer girl’s toughness and determination. I also earned my first few gray hairs, when she charged an Alit barehanded. The way she smacked the beast on the snout and yelled, “Shoo!” would have been amusing if it weren’t for the fact that it could have killed her in one bite. Besides that fact that I didn’t think Kaushad would accept a bride who arrived missing some important parts, I liked the girl. I ran up, thrust Falura firmly behind me, and finished off the confused reptile. A small smile came to my face as I realized that Kaushad had no idea what he was getting himself into. With that I began to feel better about the whole thing. We reached the camp without further incident, mostly because I ran ahead with my Daedric sword to “discourage” any other creatures that might have fancied a taste of “Telvanni bride.” As we stood outside the ashkhan’s tent, I told Falura that he was rather conceited, but also seemed to be a good leader. His people were prosperous and seemed contented, so he had to be doing something right.

Before I announced our presence, I gave Falura a few moments to straighten her clothes, arrange her hair, and otherwise perform the magic that seems innate to all women, which allows them to look as if they have just arisen from peaceful contemplation. When she was satisfied that all was ready, she gave me an imperious nod, which was somewhat spoiled by a trace of her grin. As I looked at her, shining like a new penny, I suddenly felt very old. For Falura, life was an adventure that was just beginning. That being the case, I decided that a proper entrance was essential, so I grasped the flap of the tent and flung it open as she schooled her face to regal stillness. In a loud voice, I proclaimed,

“Great ashkhan Kaushad! I have returned, bringing you the finest daughter of great House Telvanni. A delicate flower, yet with steel at her core, fit to bear the children of the puissant Zainab chief.”

Seeing as I had managed not to choke on that particular load of guar-droppings, I continued in the same vein,

“The choice was not easy, for the wily Telvanni sought to trick me with myriad stratagems. Each was determined to outdo the others in the competition to attain an alliance with the worthy Zainab. But I knew for whom I worked, and foiled their plots. I present to you Falura Llervu, daughter of Andrano Llervu, Lord of Tel Llervu.”

With that, I stood aside and bowed low to Falura to indicate that she should enter. And enter she did. She glided into that drafty, smelly yurt as though it was a palace…a palace that she owned. She gazed at the ashkhan, who was momentarily at a loss for words, placed an imperious hand on my lowered head, and spoke,

“I thank you, good Trey, for safely conveying me here. And this fine man, he is to be my bridegroom?”

Then she lowered her eyes and bowed her head as if in submission, speaking low so that only I could hear,

“He is very distinguished-looking, isn’t he? A bit severe, perhaps, but the lines on his face, there, show that he likes to smile. Oh, sera. I think I will be very happy.”

I was glad that I had not risen from my own bow, for it allowed me to conceal the momentary watering of my eyes. Caused by a bit of stray ash, I’m sure.

Even Kaushad was momentarily struck speechless by the vision of Falura in all her finery. The Telvanni Bug Musk didn’t hurt, but I choose to believe that what stunned the ashkhan most was the sheer vitality of his new bride. Anyone who spent any time around Falura was soon infected with her enthusiasm and her determination. Finally, Kaushad managed to remember himself and stop staring.

“This is my new bride? I am very pleased with your gift, Trey... though she is not so generous in the hips as I would like. I promise to make her a happy bride, and to do her honor as a high-born Telvanni lady. And, as I have said, I will now name you Zainab Nerevarine, War Leader of the Zainab, and Protector of the People. I must also give you the Zainab Thong, an enchanted heirloom of the tribe, which shall be a sign to all Dunmer that the Zainab have named you Nerevarine.”

The item he then gave me was an amulet hanging from a guar-hide string. It was clearly an ancient heirloom, enchanted to allow the user to detect animals at some distance. Although the spell was of limited use to me, the value of the item was in what it symbolized- I had been named Nerevarine by two of the four tribes. And I still wasn’t sure if that was a blessing or a curse.

[davion]

Do you take notes when you play the game or can you just remember it all? Because you hit every mark on the "T". Great job i love reading your stories Treydog, keep up the extreamly good work



Love Peace and Chicken Grease

[Soulseeker3.0]

Great Treydog. and davion, love peace and chicken greese???

[minque]

Trey..Trey...TREY! You did it again! Got me caught deep down my spine...


S.G.M

[treydog]

So it was that I came to find myself named Nerevarine of the Zainab. What a strange path it was that led me to buy a slave and deliver her as a bride to a person I did not much like…and to be more or less happy about the whole situation. Making my way back to Bal Isra to rest and prepare for the next stage of my quest, I realized that, in some ways, I had been guilty of treating slaves as objects, too. Instead of seeing them as individuals, I had only viewed them as symbols of a practice I despised. Although my feelings about slavery had not changed, I understood that the feelings of those held in bondage were far more important than my own. I gave myself a few days to repair my equipment and refresh my potions, then returned to the Grazelands to see how Falura and Kaushad fared. During our short time together, I had come to see the young Dunmer woman as something like a cousin or sister- someone whose happiness mattered to me. So, although the Zainab camp was some distance from the Erabenimsun, I still made it a point to stop by. I was relieved to see that she still seemed as happy and energetic as ever, even more so when she managed to draw me aside and say,

“Thank you, Trey. I am very pleased with Ashkhan Kaushad. He is good-looking, clever, and rich, although a bit full of himself, like all men. Thank you for being my matchmaker and benefactor, and I hope you will return to visit when I have brought many fine sons and daughters to Ashkhan Kaushad.”

Just as I was congratulating myself on the success of the deception, she went to visit with Sonummu, leaving me alone with the ashkhan. Kaushad took a moment to make sure no one could overhear and then spoke in a low voice,

“Outlander! Do not think me such a fool. Of course I realize you have tricked me. I do not mind. In fact, I think you are very clever to hoodwink the chief of the Zainab, and I think that maybe a clever Nerevarine is not such a bad thing at all. Besides, now I am MUCH happier with this fine young woman than I would have been with a stuck-up Telvanni lady. And here is a little gift. From me. Perhaps when you wear it, you will think of Falura Llervu and me.”

With that, he gave me a very fine shirt- a wedding gift befitting someone who had stood as matchmaker. We had a good laugh together and parted on much better terms.

The Erabenimsun camp was far to the south, in the desolate Molag Amur region. It was a land of ash and steam, where the wind seemed to blow constantly. Few plants grew there, and I wondered what could induce a tribe to live in such inhospitable surroundings. The camp was not much better than the surrounding area, with dry, cracked earth and barren rock all around. There was a tension in the camp, as well, due to something more than the constant wind or the presence of an “outlander.” The people seemed on edge, and eyed each other as warily as they did me. Remembering the warning from Nibani Maesa, I sought the wise woman to discover what counsel she could provide. Manirai was not old, as the Dunmer measure such things, but she was weary. Her voice seemed devoid of hope or joy or anything else but resignation. When I spoke to her regarding the prophecies, she simply said,

“Yes. I know of your claims and of the prophecies. None of that matters, for Ulath-Pal and the war-loving Erabenimsun will never name you Nerevarine. Be careful of the ashkhan, for he and all his supporters are treacherous and will not honor the laws of courtesy.”

In the same colorless tone, she went on to tell me that hard times had come to the tribe with the ascension of Ulath-Pal. He and his supporters loved nothing so much as raiding and warfare, neglecting the need to hunt. So, even as the ashkhan grew richer, the tribe dwindled and starved. At last she told me that she would speak plainly. She asked me to kill Ulath-Pal and his supporters, Ahaz, Ahu-Ahhe, and Ranabi. Then we could ask Han-Ammu, the son of the previous ashkhan, to lead the Erabenimsun. Han-Ammu would in turn follow Manirai’s advice and name me Nerevarine. Of the events which followed, I have little to say. Ulath-Pal and his followers were as treacherous and dishonorable as I had been warned. They were not, however, as well versed in the art of fighting as I. In a very few minutes, the Erabenimsun were short an ashkhan and three gulakhans. My skills with weapons had been purchased at a great price in blood- my own and that of others. Greater still was the cost to my soul. It seemed that each death diminished me; if I was forced to kill many more, there would be nothing left of me. And, as it turned out, dealing with Ulath-Pal and his supporters was only the beginning of my problems with the Erabensimsun.

[Soulseeker3.0]

nice but short, which isn't bad.

[Channler]

Trey, if your story's were a woman, I'd make love to them

[minque]

Ah!!! What a nice twitch with the Falura-Kaushad relationship! Hehe that ashkan is a clever one also!.......
And the killing in the Erabenimsun...aww poor Trey, now then give him a break, from all that killing.....What he needs right now is a nice lady to be friends with..or maybe even fall slightly in love with...


My god how this story get my imagination flowing freely...
don´t ever let it end..

S.G.M

[Elongar]

[quote=minque]What he needs right now is a nice lady to be friends with..or maybe even fall slightly in love with...[/quote]

I was expecting that.....

Very nice addition - like always.

[minque]

[quote]I was expecting that..... [/quote]

You were? :shocked:

[Elongar]

[quote=minque][quote]I was expecting that..... [/quote]

You were? :shocked:[/quote]

Teehee, perhaps I know you better than you think!

[minque]

[quote=Elongar][quote=minque][quote]I was expecting that..... [/quote]

You were? :shocked:[/quote]

Teehee, perhaps I know you better than you think![/quote]

You DO???? :confused:

[Soulseeker3.0]

[quote=minque][quote=Elongar][quote=minque][quote]I was expecting that..... [/quote]

You were? :shocked:[/quote]

Teehee, perhaps I know you better than you think![/quote]

You DO???? :confused:[/quote]
yes we all do thanks to those camr, ah, ah, i mean, well i got to go.

[minque]

[quote=Soulseeker3.0][quote=minque][quote=Elongar][quote=minque][quote]I was expecting that..... [/quote]

You were? :shocked:[/quote]

Teehee, perhaps I know you better than you think![/quote]

You DO???? :confused:[/quote]
yes we all do thanks to those camr, ah, ah, i mean, well i got to go.[/quote]

Now there! WHAT exactly do you mean by that? All I said from the start was that Trey need some love and peace in his life huh...so what on earth do I have to do with this...hmmm :embarrassed: :paperbag:

[Soulseeker3.0]

[quote=minque][quote=Soulseeker3.0][quote=minque][quote=Elongar][quote=minque][quote]I was expecting that..... [/quote]

You were? :shocked:[/quote]

Teehee, perhaps I know you better than you think![/quote]

You DO???? :confused:[/quote]
yes we all do thanks to those camr, ah, ah, i mean, well i got to go.[/quote]

Now there! WHAT exactly do you mean by that? All I said from the start was that Trey need some love and peace in his life huh...so what on earth do I have to do with this...hmmm :embarrassed: :paperbag:[/quote]
LOL

[Elongar]

I didn't mean it that intimately, you stupid people!!!! What I meant is that I have seen the same comment before, after another of treydog's additions, and I was expecting the same thing here again!

[Soulseeker3.0]

[quote=Elongar]I didn't mean it that intimately, you stupid people!!!! What I meant is that I have seen the same comment before, after another of treydog's additions, and I was expecting the same thing here again![/quote]
sorry can we not have fun?

[minque]

[quote=Elongar]I didn't mean it that intimately, you stupid people!!!! What I meant is that I have seen the same comment before, after another of treydog's additions, and I was expecting the same thing here again![/quote]


ok...no offence..just wondered....and I was joking...I think I knew what you were getting at......but wanted to tease you a little....

so everything´s ok??? :ashamed: :embarrassed: :paperbag:

[Elongar]

There was just a hint of sarcasm in my reply too......

[minque]

[quote=Elongar]There was just a hint of sarcasm in my reply too......[/quote]

oh great! I hoped so....never want to annoy or hurt someone....