The Story Of Taillus, Chapter 2 Options

[Taillus]

Chapter 2 - A Bold Move.


Taillus wakes to the sound of dishes clattering below him. He remembers getting a room and as it seems the people downstairs are getting ready for another day. He slowly sits up in the soft bed and rubs his eyes. This will have been the very best sleep he has ever had in quite some time.

He wonders if Jiub took his advice last night and is actually thinking about Taillus’ offer. Truth be told, he could really use some help and he truly trusts Jiub. They have been through a lot together and Taillus would really appreciate his company. Taillus looks around his small confined room and smiles. It made him forget for one moment that he was just recently dropped off in Morrowind so he could be of “service” for the Emperor. The very thought made him sick to his stomach.

Taillus leans towards the floor and reaches under his bed. He rummages with one hand as the other one stayed planted on the rough, wooden floor to keep him from falling. He searches for one thing specifically and pulls out a package with a note tied to it. It was the package he was supposed to deliver to Caius Cossades in Balmora. Frankly, he really could not be bothered and he decided that he was going to scrap the whole idea. The less he had to do with the Imperial Legion and the Emperor, the better he would be.

He also wrestled with the events on the boat yesterday. Why did the captain of the ship just surrender Jiub? Why did he just order his men to stand down? It perplexed him and made him wonder why the emperor himself let him go. Nevertheless, Taillus rolled out of bed and began to get dressed. He suited his armor and hung his sparkblade by his right side before throwing a pack full of his other possessions over his shoulder. He remembered that he paid the innkeeper last night so that meant that he could just up and leave today.

Taillus opens the door to the Tavern and Inn and quickly brings a hand to block the mid morning sun from hurting his eyes. It was going to be a warm one today he says to himself as he walks down the stone steps to the dusty ground below. Taillus was amazed at the size and overall improvement that Caldera was over Seyda Neen. There were shops scattered about, the homes were of a much better quality made from a chalky grey slate with thatched straw and wooden bracers as opposed to the crude wooden shacks of Seyda Neen. The ground was actually dry and not swampy at all and the people seemed to be a tad nicer to Taillus as he wanders through town.

Taillus looks around, checking the names of the local shops but he mostly scans the streets for any sign of Jiub. He was really hoping to find him before he went on his way. As he traversed through Caldera, Taillus noticed something intriguing. The guards here were dressed in a gold colored armor that seemed to be made from hollowed bug shells. Large bug shells at that. This made Taillus quite uneasy in two ways. The first being that there must be bugs around that are big enough to make armor out of, and secondly that people actually wear armor made of gigantic bugs. The very thought of seeing an insect bigger then a common house fly sickened him and he quickly ran from the local guard trying not to vomit.

The city was bustling as the vendors opened up shop and the villagers went about their daily routines. Kids left their homes to go play by the water with wooden swords and shields and the city guards watched over everything making sure things were in order. It seemed like a nice system, unless of course you were one that was not in good standing with the law.

Taillus eventually made his way to a shop that seemed quite promising. It was a blacksmith that seemed to have a quite well run shop. Taillus entered quietly and realized he wasn’t in Arille’s Tradehouse anymore. This man had decently high quality weapons and armor. As he viewed the man’s collection of helms and shields on display, his attention brought him to a full, freestanding set of that hideous bug armor.

Taillus looked the armor over closely and noticed that it was very practical. Bonemold as it was called, seemed to be very hard but also quite light considering the protection that it would provide. The mask was interesting and it did look quite intimidating. Overall a very good choice for the local law enforcers in town. Taillus looked up at the helm once again, marveling at the quality of the armor when he could see a set of eyes open from within the helm.

“Can I help you with something, Outlander?” a gravelly voice says from the confines of the armor as Taillus just about hits the ceiling with his head in shock. Taillus stood, trembling about as petrified as a scrib threatened to be sat upon by an overweight Ogrim. The shop owner laughs hysterically as the suit of armor comes to life before them.

“That is one of the city guards, Outlander. He watches over the shop with me to ensure no one takes anything. His armor is not for sale.” The store owner chuckles as Taillus places both hands on his bent knees to catch his breath. As Taillus turns to leave, he can hear a voice coming from upstairs. Looking over his shoulder, Taillus could see a familiar face from within the shadows. He recognized it as being Jiub but he was dressed quite differently.

Taillus went upstairs while the guard and the shop owner were talking about Taillus and his recent scare and met Jiub. Jiub wore a dark set of leather armor and a band of cloth wrapped around his head that covered the bottom half of his face.

“You’re planning on looting this place, aren’t you Jiub? Is this why you were sent to prison?” Taillus asks quietly while Jiub looked over some scrolls that he had unraveled on the floor.

“Yes I am going to steal from this man, but no this is not why I was imprisoned. Now shut your mouth and either help or get out of here!” Jiub demands in his raspy old voice.

“What is it that you want me to do, Jiub?” Taillus asks while he still looks over his scrolls. The old Dunmer man looks up at Taillus with a look of amusement in his eyes. Jiub stands up and gathers the scrolls. He hands one to Taillus and lets it open in front of him.

“This is a scroll of invisibility. I want you to activate it after you leave the store. Exit the front of the shop and discreetly walk around back. There is a door leading back to this room and I will let you in. If they see you leave then they will not suspect you. Next, after I let you in, you will go back down stairs and stand in front of the guard. I will go behind you and loot the place like mad. This will make my chameleon spell lose its effect but I will run to escape. Do not lay a hand on the guard as it will make your spell lose effect as well, but lean into him as he comes after me. This will give me enough time to leave with the items. Stand aside and let him come after me then go out this back door and meet me by the river that flows by Caldera. This is where we will make our escape.”

Taillus listens carefully to the directions and is sure things will work. He rolls up the scroll and heads towards the front exit of the shop. He nods to the shopkeeper as he pushes the door open and walks discretely towards the back. He is let back in by Jiub just as the spell begins to take place and Jiub activates his own. They both silently head down stairs and Taillus takes his place in front of the guard.

Taillus can feel the breath of the man in the Bonemold Armor as it flows from under his helm and he can almost hear his heart beat from being so close to the man. He cannot see Jiub at all any more and in looking at himself he can barely tell where he is. Just as the first item is lifted off the shelf, the shop owner begins to yell.

“Hey, what is this! Someone stop that man!” He yells as Jiub slowly comes to view. The guard in front of Taillus attempts to run but catches an elbow to the head knocking him back into the corner. Jiub grabs about as much as he can hold and heads to the door. Just as it opens, the shop owner fires a crossbow that pierces Jiub’s armor at the right shoulder knocking him down and spilling himself as well as all of his newly acquired items all over the ground below. The shop keeper attempts to load the bow again but Taillus’ attention is averted by the guard that now struggles to draw his sword. Taillus quickly runs up the stairs and out the back door.

He is met there by Jiub who has a look of pain in his eyes as blood trickles down his back from the wound of the crossbow. He quickly reads a spell that locks the back door and they sprint towards the water. They both run through town in hopes that the lock spell will keep them occupied for a short while.

"You did well young man. I may not have made it if it wasn't for your help. These items will make our lives looking for artifacts much easier and we can be on our way to riches in no time!" Jiub yells to Taillus as they run through town.

They race through the Streets of Caldera, dodging villagers and knocking down the ones that get in their way. They can see the river at the edge of town as they continue running and hop over the small children playing near by. Both Taillus and Jiub land in the flowing water as the current carries them out of town.....