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Post by Neo on Apr 14, 2015 20:54:06 GMT -6
"How's the food coming?" Elena calls out, as she enters the large cabin used as both the kitchen and larder. "Our guest needs something in her belly, and soon."
"Just finished!" Ghost calls back, over his shoulder. "Here ya go, Cap. Hot and ready. You gonna eat with her, or with the boys?"
"With her," Elena replies. "The boys can behave themselves for a night, without me having to supervise them. Thanks, Ghost. Love you."
She pecks him on the cheek, and he merely scoffs. "No you don't, you love my cooking. Now scram. I still have to finish dinner for the rest of the crew."
Elena laughs as he playfully swats her away. "You're so adorable when you're embarrassed, Ghost. I'll see you later."
She takes the platter of food and drink and skips back out into the hallway, effortlessly balancing the tray in one hand, immediately running into her Second. "Ah, I was hoping to find you Ra'jirr. I still need to debrief you on what happened in Cyrodiil. But first, I need to tend to our guest. Give me a bit, will you?"
The sly devil gives his signature grin. "Ra'jirr will do as his Lady commands. But, ah... Ra'jirr was only going to lay down. This one had forgotten all about his Lady's vacation, in all the excitement."
Elena shakes her head. "Vacation my skinny golden arse. I nearly died. Twice. Fine, go lay down, cat. I'll find you when I need you."
His grin widens. "Perhaps his Lady would consider joining him, hmm?"
Elena shoots him a playful glare. "Tempting. But I'll have to pass tonight. I'm tired. Maybe some other time."
She walks past him, back into her cabin, to find a newly changed Odette. "Here you are, honey. Fresh seafood stew, warm bread, and hot apple cider."
Elena pulls a night table over to the foot of the bed and sets the platter down, before plopping down next to Elena. "Now, I want you to try and think carefully. What's the last thing you remember? Aside from me, of course."
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 14, 2015 21:57:41 GMT -6
"I hardly remember anything. Before I met you, all I could remember was this face... I see it whenever I close my eyes, staring at me, and I don't like how he stares at me. I get the sense that he never stops staring, like he always watches me... Other than that, I don't remember anything else from before, only what happened later. It's hard to explain, but there is a sort of line separating before and now, and it may not be as clear as I think it is. The moment that I first remember as being part of now, the first thing I know I did-..."
I have to keep all the details in mind in order to explain what happened. I don't want to answer any more questions about it than I have to, so this is my chance to paint the full picture for Elena. I need to do this right, so I can face what happened at my own face from now on.
She took a deep breath to center herself, but her eyes looked distant and almost glassy. Her gaze moved to her hands, then to the Skull of Corruption on the other side of the room, and then to her shoulder before settling back on her hands, as she relived the memory of those first terrifying moments. "The first time that was in that 'now' category had so many things happen at once, and I wasn't able to understand it at first. When I was finally able to realize what I was seeing and what was happening, it was quite late. I was looking down at my hands, and in one I had a short sword, and in the other there was a staff, that one over there. I looked up and saw this woman, but her face wasn't normal, and I knew it. It's like the other one I see, but I don't know what that means yet. She seemed angry, but I didn't see her eyes until later. If I had, maybe I would have seen the malice in them. I was confused, and I started to say something - I don't even know what it was now but that's not what bothers me - and then I felt her hand wrap around the sword, and she pulled it out of my hand. The next thing I knew she turned it against me... But why? What had I done to cause that chain of events...?!"
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Post by Neo on Apr 15, 2015 15:03:22 GMT -6
This 'face' that always watches her... Could he be the vampire she warned me about? But she said the other face, the woman's, was like his... It wasn't normal. Does that mean she was a vampire too? Could there be two vampires?
"It's alright Odette," Elena says soothingly, placing a hand on her knee. "You don't need to remember everything at once. You're safe now. We'll be stopping at Windhelm to resupply, and after that, we'll be returning to Riften. You're welcome to stay at the Guild if you want. Or, if you'd prefer, I'm friends with the Jarl of Windhelm. I'm sure we can find you a nice house in the city, and maybe a position as a Court Mage or researcher. No one would ask any questions, and you could work nights if you're worried about being recognised."
Elena suddenly rises to her feet and smiles. "But no pressure. Take your time and think on it. There's no need to rush. If it comes to it, you can just stay at the Guild until you figure out what you want to do. I have a meeting with Ra'jirr I need to see to, but I won't be gone long. If you're still hungry, I'm sure Ghost would be happy to whip you up a little something extra. That man looooves to cook. If you need me, I'll be down the hall in the common room."
With that, Elena quits the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. She finds the cat already in the common room, playing cards with a couple of the boys. "Heya, Cap! You want me to deal you in?" One asks.
Elena shakes her head. "Nah, some other time. I need some alone time with the cat. Be a dear and give us the floor, will you?"
They shrug and slap their hands on the table, rising to their feet. "Sure thing, Cap. He was cheating anyway."
Ra'jirr merely snickers at them as they leave, kicking his feet up on the table. Elena takes the seat opposite of him, and gives a weary sigh. "... Where do I even begin? I guess the truth is as good a place as any to start. But it's not easy to say..."
Ra'jirr takes a sip from his mug- probably cider- and passes another mug across the table, to her. Elena accepts it gladly.
"Ra'jirr knows not what you went through," the cat says, genuinely serious for once. "But Ra'jirr does know he is a good listener. He has time."
Elena smiled. He could be really sweet when he wanted to. "Thanks, Raj. I suppose... I should begin by telling you what I learned about the events on Solstheim. The Dominion... No, the entire coalition... They were wiped out, supposedly down to the last man. I-it was a fierce, bloody ordeal, and the demons made it sound like they won easily... But I know the truth. I met someone in the sewers beneath Bruma- that's a city in the mountains, not far from the border. He... He was unlike anyone I have ever met. An Altmer, like me, but I think he was far older. He had amnesia, you see. The only thing he remembered was the battle of Solstheim; he didn't even remember his own name, or who he was, or what he did in the battle. But he was definitely there. There's no question about it. The things he said, when I finally got him to open up to me... You know I'm not one to frighten easily Raj, but this... Between the things he told me, and what I saw..."
She takes a shaky breath. "The entire world has gone mad, I tell you. It's like some twisted nightmare, made real. I... I suppose I should elaborate, shouldn't I? Right... Let me start over. It all began when I made the foolish decision to scout out the barrier..."
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 15, 2015 16:23:48 GMT -6
I'm no mage. I was left with skill for magic, but not all the knowledge and spells. I figured that out as soon as I couldn't close that wound myself...
While she pondered the choices she had and how they would shape her new, young life, she began to eat the stew. By the time she had eaten about half of the food, she was warm and exhaustion was beginning to catch up to her. She decided to lay down for a just a little while, just to get a little rest... And just as it normally happens in such situations she had soon fallen fast asleep, though it was not a peaceful one. For the rest of the night she thrashed around in her sleep; it was clear that in the nightmares she was in great physical pain, and those nightmares in turn were going to take a toll on her mental health as well.
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Post by Neo on Apr 16, 2015 9:35:48 GMT -6
5E 1, First Seed, Bruma, two months after the Battle of Solstheim...
The screams were especially bad that night. Maybe a slave had tried to escape, and the demons were punishing everyone as a result. He wasn't sure, nor did he particularly care. All it meant, at least to him, was that the demons were busy, too busy to patrol the streets, and that gave him completely free reign. There might have been a time, once, when he would have cared, when he would have felt differently. He wasn't sure. He wasn't sure of anything really, aside from his own name, and that he was a competent warrior and comfortable in the shadows. He had a vague idea of his race, and the general workings of the world- such as it was- but that was it. His past was a complete mystery to him; he had woken up one night in a grand, sprawling tomb, dressed in ornate black and silver armor, with a sword and crown resting over his heart. The locals- who, for the most part, were scaly demons- referred to the place as Cloud Ruler's Temple, but that name meant nothing to him. The fact he had been buried there- Had he truly been dead? He didn't even know that much- likely meant he was someone of great importance, though who that someone was, he did not know.
Those first few days were the worst. The confusion, the nightmares, the solitude... It had been unbearable. Now, two months later, he looked back on those terrifying days not with fear, or pity, but with a cold detachment. He understood it had happened to him, but he simply couldn't find the energy, or reason, to care. It was the same way he viewed everything else; with a cold, uncaring eye. Why should he risk his own freedom and existence to help slaves who have absolutely nothing to do with him? Then again, they could be his own family, and he wouldn't even know. That, at least, was disconcerting to him. But not enough to convince him to commit suicide. As much as he wanted to die, when those freezing, sleepless nights nearly drove him insane, he simply couldn't do it. He had tried to kill himself several times in those early dark days, but something had always stopped him, something he couldn't name or see. Eventually, he derived a twisted sense of self preservation from it, some sort of sick, perverted will to live, no matter the cost. After all, if he couldn't take his own life, why the hell should anyone else be able to?
He made a meager home in a decent sized cave system, southwest of the temple, that served as both a defensive position and a hiding spot. There were two sections of the cave, and he lived in the deepest part, on a natural rise that overlooked the cavern floor below. It allowed him to see any trespassers long before they saw him, and provided an excellent vantage point from which to shoot- He was quite skilled with a bow- and that gave him some measure of comfort while he slept. Once the confusion had left him, and he grew accustomed to himself and what he could do, he began to venture out into the city at night. It was merely a short jog down the road, and he used that distance to his advantage, learning as much as he could in some futile attempt to remember his past. He used the sewers below the city and the rooftops above to avoid the monsters who called the place home, and in the span of a couple weeks, he grew to know the city like the back of his hand. He graduated from hunting deer and elk with the bow he had taken from the temple to stealing whatever he needed from Bruma's- that was the name of the city- monstrous overlords. They called him Bruma's Ghost, and that's what he became. They knew him from the glint of white and silver they saw in the shadows, just for an instant, before it vanished. The demons laughed it off as superstitious nonsense, which from his limited understanding, seemed highly ironic. But it helped. They didn't believe he existed, and so he didn't. Belief was powerful that way.
But that night, the night of the screaming, everything changed. It was the night he met her.
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Post by Neo on Apr 17, 2015 15:59:43 GMT -6
Varren pulled his cloak tight against the harsh mountain wind as he waited, pressing his body against the chimney and keeping low to the roof. The conditions were perfect tonight; the moons were covered by thick, rainless clouds, the air was bitter and the winds were biting, unsuring few would be out in the streets, aside from the honor guard assigned to greet the mysterious big shot who was supposed to arrive tonight. And with the ruckus in the Mines, nearly all of the demons were preoccupied. It couldn't have been any more perfect if he himself had planned it.
He had been on the way back to his cave after a successful night, only an hour or so before, when he had heard Bruma's illustrious Governor throwing a temper tantrum about a surprise visit from "Lord Orochi". Of course, he had absolutely no clue who this Orochi guy was- nor did he care- but from the way Mr Horny was acting... It must be someone far, far up on the proverbial chain. It probably would have been wiser to let the matter go, but the potential information he could gain from this was worth a little risk.
From his perch on the rooftop of the Governor's castle, he had a clear view of the road leading up to it, as well as the front gate. He could easily see their 'guest' when he arrived, while still remaining hidden, and he could just make out the Governor's voice above the wind. It was perfect. Varren brushes the snow off his gloves and adjusts his mask- a wide strip of black cloth that both concealed the lower half of his face and kept the snow out of his thick beard- as he waits quietly, patiently, just like the wraith they thought he was. He carried only a dagger and his bow, though he had no intention of using either. Even if he had a perfect shot, there was no telling how powerful the guest could be. For all he knew, an arrow could pierce the guest's jugular, and it wouldn't kill him. No, it would be far too risky, and it would start a man hunt that would last for weeks, effectively crippling his food supply. However... If he had a good shot on the Governor, then maybe... If he could get the shot off once the Governor was alone, then it might be possible...
No. What would killing him accomplish? Another would just take his place, and the next Governor might actually be intelligent. There was no point. Now, stealing the Governor's vault key... That might be worth the risk. Now that he knew where Mr Horny kept the key, it was definitely a possibility. And that could easily be blamed on one of the Adjutants... It wouldn't start a month long man hunt, if he played his cards correctly.
Varren's hawk-like eyes suddenly snap towards the road, and the idea is pushed to the back of his mind. The procession of demons is much smaller than he anticipated; a dozen or so heavily armored guards, a couple Assassins in dark red and black robes- Varren had seen their kind before, but only rarely- and then the leader, who, surprisingly, marched at the helm. He expected someone so high up to be riding on horseback at least. The fact he wasn't riding said more about the type of demon he was, than his appearance ever could. And the demon's appearance was startling enough. Unlike most of the demons Varren had seen, this one was far more humanoid. He almost looked like Varren, but his skin was a pale, ghostly white, and he was nearly seven feet tall, if not taller. The demon's arms and face were bare and covered in ornate tribal tattoos, but the rest of his body was covered in a glistening emerald armor, that resembled some kind of scales. The demon- Orochi- carried two swords at his waist, and a wicked battleaxe on his back. His eyes were pure black, without any pupils, and his icy blue hair was tied into long tribal braids. In short, he was terrifying.
Varren resisted the urge to curse, as the Governor moved to greet the newcomer. He gave a low, imperial bow, and Orochi spoke in a surprisingly soft voice. There's no way for me to hear them now. Even if I get closer, I won't be able to hear anything worthwhile, not above the wind, and not from this distance. Tsk. There's no point in staying any longer then.
Varren quietly creeps along the roof, around to the back, and once he's in the clear, he climbs down and slips back into the forest, unseen. He scans the area around him, making sure he wasn't followed, but even he doesn't notice the shadow in a nearby tree, curiously watching him.
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Post by Neo on Apr 21, 2015 15:55:14 GMT -6
Varren woke in a cold sweat, his head pounding, his breathing ragged. Something must have... changed when he saw that demon. It must have triggered something deep in his buried memories, for the nightmares he had that night were unlike any before, even those in the early days after his awakening. Instead of merely dreaming of a battle between faceless men, he now saw some of their faces in perfect clarity, and with that clarity, came names. Solstheim, Summerset, Orochi, Dagon, Black Queen... The names came to him, but he had little, if any, understanding of them, save for one.
Solstheim... That's the source of everything. That black island from my dreams... I remember it now, as I remember the battle. I may not have all the answers yet, and most of the details are hazy and unclear, but at least I remember why we were fighting, what we were fighting for... If I go back there, I should be able to recover the remainder of my memories. But, the only question is, how in Oblivion do I get there...?
He shakes his head to clear his thoughts, and leaves the cave to get some fresh air, and check the time. A gust of pleasantly cool air hits him as he leaves, and he looks up at the stars above. They and the moons were in the exact same position as before, and given the little change in light and smell of the air, Varren concluded he had slept for maybe two hours, at most. Unable to sleep again so soon, and with nothing better to do, he grabs his bow and sword and slips back out of the cave, into the night.
-----
The city was calm and quiet, almost eerily so. Varren didn't like it, and that alone set him on high alert. He descended into the vast network of sewers beneath Bruma, using his usual entrance near the outskirts of the city. The sewers were dank and disgusting, yes, but they were an incredibly useful means of travel. The sewers were very old, likely as ancient as the town itself, and they connected to a natural cave system running beneath the town. Varren had scouted the caverns and the deeper levels of the sewer some time ago, in case he needed another place to lay low besides Capstone Cave- the name of the cave he lived in according to an old road marker- but he eventually decided against it. He didn't feel like exterminating an entire nest of trolls and spiders.
Varren made his way through the east wing of the sewers and through a small barred gate that opened up into the much smaller north wing. There was a small storeroom of sorts at the very back of the north wing, likely used by workers when they expanded the sewers- which, again, was made quite obvious by the difference in texture and type of the stone and the fact some parts of the sewers looked considerably newer than others- that Varren used as his base of operations, and a place to store a few essentials, in case he couldn't access his cave in the future. It was blocked off by another barred gate, though most of the metal was rusted and corroded, and the lock no longer functioned. The gate was also concealed by a moldy brown curtain, camouflaged with hanging moss found in the caves below, but that little touch was added by him. He slipped inside, closing the gate behind him, and as he always did, he checked stock of his posessions, to make sure nothing was missing.
Spare Steel Sword, set of Leather Armor, check... Lockpicks, potions, check... Coin Purses, Glass Bow, Staff of Magelight, torches... Quill, Ink, Parchment... Good, everything's here. I'll need to restock on food soon, however...
Varren silently berated himself when he realized he had just taken inventory in the dark. His eyes were so used to darkness now, that he rarely noticed the difference. He moved to light a torch he had rather cleverly mounted on the wall, and as light fiiled the dark room, he took inventory again. When he was finished, he checked his findings one last time, comparing them to the notes in his pocket. There was no doubt about it. A single apple was missing.
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Post by Neo on Apr 22, 2015 19:56:17 GMT -6
After triple checking everything was secured, Varren left in search of the intruder. It was probably pointless- whoever stole that apple was most likely long gone- but it was that same pointlessness that confused him so, and made him search. Why steal only an apple, and leave the valuables untouched? If they were from the town, there was nothing Varren could do, since he couldn't openly confront the thief. He would have to steal the items back, and they would be expecting that. So then why? There was only one thing Varren could think of that would explain it...
Fortunately, he didn't have to search for long. He had just turned the corner onto a side passageway when he heard footsteps behind him. They were light, soft, and barely audible; the footsteps of someone trained in stealth. Most wouldn't even be able to hear them, but Varren did. There was no one physically behind him, but he merely attributed that to an Invisibility spell. He pretended not to notice and kept walking, leading his stalker through all manner of twists and turns and bends, until he eventually 'stumbled' into a popular hangout for Trolls. But if his hunch was right, his stalker wouldn't know that...
The Trolls caught his scent and came for him, two of them bumbling out of the darkness, big, nasty hairy creatures. But before they could reach him, Varren slipped into a nearby crevice that he could squeeze into, but the much larger beasts couldn't. Just as he expected, they immediately turned to the other direction, smelling someone else not far away. You may be able to conceal your body, but you can't hide your scent, or the sound of your footsteps on stone. You can muffle them, but that will not fool the ears of an elf, nor will it fool someone who knows the same trick.
The Trolls completely forgot about him, roaring and charging at the prey they could reach, and his stalker let out a foul curse. Varren's steely expression briefly faltered, showing some small trace of surprise. The voice was soft and smooth, and it clearly belonged to a woman. Against his better judgement, he left his hiding place, just in time to see his stalker effortlessly decapitate both Trolls. He was even more surprised by her appearance. He had figured his stalker was an escaped slave who had stolen a tome from one of the demons and was scared and hungry, likely the same slave who had caused all the commotion earlier that night, and he had originally intended to leap out and save him- or her- from the Trolls. He wasn't so indifferent or cruel that he would intentionally lead an innocent to their death. But this woman was obviously no slave, and she could clearly take care of herself just fine.
She seemed to be a member of his own race- an Altmer- and she was covered from crown to toe in ornate battle armor that had clearly seen a lot of use. Her armor appeared to be light, and designed mainly for concealment, but Varren could sense the powerful enchantments on it, and even with his amnesia, he could tell the armor had been crafted by a master. Her weapons- A sword and bow, like him- were no less impressive.
"Who are you and why are you following me?" Varren demands, his voice rough, and deadly quiet.
"For the love of Akatosh, is this how you treat all your guests?" She says in exasperation, sheathing her sword. She then throws back her hood and turns to him, revealing long white-blond hair and a black face mask, covering only her eyes and nose. He also had a better view of her ears, which at least confirmed she was an elf.
Varren kept his hood up. "Only the ones who steal from me and stalk me. And you didn't answer my question."
"I was curious," she answers, brazenly taking a half eaten green apple out of a pocket in her cloak. "Sheesh, it was only an apple. I was hungry, and I can't exactly waltz into the local Inn. Cut a girl some slack."
Varren ignored the second half of her answer. "Curious about what? Me? Why?"
She takes a bite out of the apple and noisily crunches it into oblivion before speaking again. "I dunno. Maybe cause you're the only one in this entire city, probably the whole bloody province, who isn't, you know, a foul smelling demon? You also have some pretty snazzy armor, some pretty nice thief skills, and an expensive ebony sword at your side. You kinda stand out like a mammoth in Riften, friend. But if it makes you feel better, I'm sorry about the apple. Would you like it back? You can have it, I don't mind."
Varren simply glared at the girl. She was already starting to annoy him. "No, thank you," he replies dryly. "You may keep it."
"Are you sure? It's very good." She takes another bite.
"Is there a point to this?" He asks, gritting his teeth in irritation. "Or are you still here just to annoy me?"
She finishes the apple, and gives a wide, unsettling grin. "I really don't know what you mean. But I think I'm going to tag along for a while. You intrigue me."
"I suppose I should feel honored," he says sarcastically, starting to walk away, back towards the old storeroom. She immediately followed him, humming along happily to some tune that only existed in her obviously warped mind. She wasn't even bothering with stealth.
"Would you please shut up?" Varren growls, a couple minutes later.
She laughs. "Oh, don't be such a Cave Bear."
The sound of her laughter only confuses him more, making him highly uncomfortable. It was an alien sound to him, and he didn't like it. Back at the storeroom, he finally gave up trying to chase her away, and sat down on his lone bedroll. She plops down in front of him and proceeds to mercilessly torture him with quiet, unrelenting curiosity.
Finally, he gave up. "My name is Varren. There. Does that satisfy your curiosity? Now leave me in peace."
She refused to budge. Instead, her grin only widened. "Aww, don't be like that. I'm not bothering you that much, am I? You can call me Elena, if you like. It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Mr Cave Bear."
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Post by Neo on Apr 22, 2015 22:00:40 GMT -6
Back on the Guild ship, Elena decides that's as good a place as any to stop for the night. She leans back in her chair and finishes her mug of cider. "We'll leave off there for the night, Raj. I'm tired and I need to check on our guest. See you tomorrow."
He only nods and bids her good night, as she gets up from the table. Elena takes her empty mug back to the kitchen and heads back to her room. She finds Odette fast asleep in the spare bed, and sighs. It's no wonder she was exhausted, with everything she's gone through...
Elena slips out of her armor and takes a quick shower, before changing into a simple pair of black leggings and a sleeveless white shirt. She slides into her sandals and walks out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her. Elena pads softly down the hall and heads up above deck, the cold ocean wind immediately blasting her in the face, causing her long hair to billow around her. Only the skeletal crew was still up and about, alternating between keeping watch and playing cards. They acknowledged her with a brief nod and a "Evening Captain", and she smiled.
She walked up to the edge of the ship and looked out over the Sea of Ghosts. Her smile faded a bit, and her brow furrowed in worry.
What he said still bothers me... But I remember my promise. As soon as we get back to Riften, I'll pool all the Guild's resources into looking for the Scrolls. Just make sure you keep your own promise, Cave Bear. I don't like being kept waiting.
Elena stayed out on the deck for another hour before she finally returned to her quarters.
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Post by Neo on Apr 23, 2015 14:30:07 GMT -6
A couple days later, the Lady Gale sailed around the northeastern corner of Skyrim, and the sprawling city of Windhelm came into view. It was a vast, ancient city that had weathered countless centuries and wars. In a way, it was the embodiment of Skyrim itself. The city's walls stood tall and proud, no matter what life threw at them. The twice former capital of Skyrim... It was truly a beautiful city.
Elena stood out on deck with the majority of her crew, as well as Odette, beside her. The sky was clear, the weather temperate, and the wind gentle. All in all, it was a beautiful day. Elena smiled, and then turned to her crew and began barking orders. The preparations for docking began immediately, with everyone excited to get on land for a few hours.
The crew's enthusiasm made Elena's smile widen. Still... Something seemed off. Elena turned back towards the city. The ship was just starting to enter the canal... But...
Elena's eyes suddenly narrowed. Where is everyone...? There's no one on the docks, and it's not like we're unannounced... I sent word to Jarl Nelod days ago. There should already be a party waiting for us...
She gives the order for a full stop, to hold the ship's position, and turns to Odette. "Can you sense anything amiss? Your instincts have always been spot on."
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 23, 2015 17:55:03 GMT -6
"The dock is large, so there must be many ships that visit Windhelm every week. But there's no one there. Surely there are many people employed to work at the docks, and it's unlikely that they ever take a holiday. If they went on strike, there would still be some people around trying to pick up the slack, wouldn't you think? There are many red flags in this picture, but no clear explanation for why. There's no damage to the city from what we can see, and unless I'm blind, deaf, and have no sense of intuition, there's no Oblivion Gate. This feels like a wonderful setup for an ambush. But now, the question is who could be behind this? It would take a lot of power in order to stop all work at the docks since the city would lose a substantial source of revenue," she answered.
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Post by Neo on Apr 25, 2015 12:55:49 GMT -6
Elena bit her lip as a bad feeling trickled down her spine. She signaled the helmsman to discreetly begin reversing course, and that signal alone immediately set the crew on high alert. The sails were quietly unfurled again, and the ship was quickly made ready to leave. Meanwhile, Elena scoured the port with the hard eyes of a thief used to betrayal, forcing aside her personal feelings, at least for the time. She looked at the situation with a cold impartiality, and quickly realized Odette was right. This was the perfect setup for an ambush. Elena prayed with all she had that she was wrong, and trained her bow on the Windhelm bridge, that crossed above the port, leading to the front gate of the city.
If he... If he really is behind this, he'll have placed archers there, likely equipped with fire arrows... That will be the bulk of the ambush. Then a ground troop, probably a platoon of heavy guards, will come in from the docks, effectively catching us in a deadly pincer. This kind of ambush... It's not used for taking prisoners... Oh gods, please no... Please let me be wrong...
Unfortunately, she soon realized she wasn't. The hammer fell as soon as the Lady Gale began to visibly change course. Elena noticed the glint of steel and hint of light in the guard holes in the bridge- designed to allow the Hold guards to monitor the port from above- a few moments before the first volley flew. She gave up all sense of subtlety, and let three arrows fly simultaneously, while shouting at her crew.
"Red alert!!!! We're under attack, boys!!!! Everyone who can fight, grab a weapon and get to your stations!!!! Those who can't, get your sorry behinds below deck NOW!!!! Helm, get us the hell outta here!!!!"
The ship turned sharply, as Oblivion itself broke loose. Three guards tumbled from the bridge into the icy water below, pierced by Elena's arrows, but that barely dented the overall volley. Dozens and dozens of fire arrows lit the afternoon sky, and Elena screamed for everyone to hit the deck. No one was hit by any of the arrows on the first go, thankfully, but Elena quickly realized that's because they weren't aiming for the crew. She cursed, as miniature infernos sparked along the deck. Fortunately, they were lousy shots, and somehow managed to completely miss the mast and sails.
"Damn!!! They're trying to sink us!!! Everyone who can't shoot or use magic, get those damn fires out!!! Ra'jirr, where the hell are you?! I need you!!! Help me intercept the next volley!!!"
The cat was by her side in an instant, bow already drawn and loaded. Between her and Ra'jirr, they were able to take out another twenty guards before the next volley was in the air. Instead of immediately hitting the deck, Elena risked firing a Chain Lightning spell(One of the only Destruction spells she knew), that took out about half of the volley. She hit the deck hard after that, practically throwing herself down, while Raj remained standing, his twin blades of lightning whirling around him like his own miniature hurricane, slicing any arrow that got near him in two.
Elena surveyed the chaos once more, and realized her friend was no longer by her side. "Odette, where are you?! Are you alright?!"
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 25, 2015 22:38:13 GMT -6
"I'm a bit busy trying to dispatch the archers, but I assume you would count that as being fine. But you need to think, Elena! Is there anything else we could do that could help us take them out faster, or provide some other kind of opening?" she said as she took cover to avoid some incoming arrows before returning a few of her own using a bow she had picked up from the stash of extra weaponry.
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Post by Neo on Apr 26, 2015 11:42:14 GMT -6
Elena only had to think for a moment before she saw the opening they needed. She leaped to her feet, threw down her bow, and began to cast. "Odette, Raj, I need cover! This spell will take a bit to cast, and I won't be able to dodge any arrows without interrupting it!"
It's time to bring out the big girl... No more mister nice Guildmaster. You mess with my family, you get the tusks... friend or no.
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 26, 2015 12:11:46 GMT -6
"Alright!" she called back and then she began to move towards Elena's location.
How long is it actually going to take her to cast that spell?
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Post by Neo on Apr 27, 2015 19:28:39 GMT -6
Almost there... Just a little longer.... Now!
Elena's hands glow a fierce crimson as they move in a slow, intricate pattern, and she drops to her knees, slamming her palms into the deck. A giant explosion of red light erupts from her, sending a massive shockwave across the harbour. The shockwave passes harmlessly over her allies, but visible chaos erupts on the bridge, sending every guard in the vicinity screaming for their mommy. Elena immediately leaps to her feet, just as the Lady Gale finally reverses course and begins pulling away. By the time the guards recover, the ancient city of Windhelm is already fading into the horizon.
"Get all the injured below deck!" Elena barks, turning to her crew. "Raj, I want you on lookout! Helm, set course for the southern corner! We make for Shadow's Vigil!"
A chorus of "Yes Capn" and "Yes Ma'am" greet Elena's orders, and she turns to her friend, her expression softening considerably.
"Odette, are you all right?"
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 29, 2015 16:52:10 GMT -6
"That was a very risky scenario," she said, and despite how bizarre her behavior seemed given the serious peril they were just in, she smiled. "I loved every minute of it. The rush is indescribable. You know Elena, I think I could get used to this kind of life."
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Post by Neo on Apr 29, 2015 18:02:48 GMT -6
Elena stifled a laugh, and raised a single eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?" She tried her best to sound skeptical, but ended up failing miserably and grinning instead. "You've always been one for adventure, my friend. You just don't remember. I know I already offered you a spot in the Guild, but let me do so formally. As the current Guildmaster of Skyrim's Thieves Guild, I formally invite you to join our humble family. You will have your own room, a warm bed and plenty of food, a safe place to stay, and above all, you'll be among friends. You'll also have more adventure than you can handle. Well, whaddya say? You don't have to worry about shacking up with us, either; we aren't your typical brand of thieves. We only steal from those who can afford it, and those who deserve it."
Elena thought for a second, then added, "I also might have a special job for you, once your memories have healed a bit. It probably won't be for a couple months, but I need someone to look into something... Magical. I would do it myself, but I don't know how long the job will take, and I can't leave the Guild unattended for too long. This is a... High stakes job, so it will definitely offer you quite a bit of excitement."
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Post by GX1997 on May 1, 2015 18:40:12 GMT -6
"I accept, though I must insist on one thing," she said, her expression turning serious, almost grim, "My memories have not returned. Each night I find myself having nightmares, and somehow I feel more and more distanced from my memories which each nightmare. It's beginning to take a toll on my mind. If I keep waiting to remember, to be the person I was before... I'll lose my mind. So I want this to be a fresh start. If I'm not going to be who I was again, I don't want people to remind me of it. I'm going to find out who I'm going to be now, with these new experiences and state of mind. I even want a new name. I just can't go on with these nightmares torturing me with a world that's no longer mine, a life that's no longer mine, and the thoughts that are no longer mine... Everything seems so much darker now than how it used to be, so I don't think I could handle knowing what I used to have. In my current mental state, it might even kill me."
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Post by Neo on May 1, 2015 20:12:53 GMT -6
Elena's own expression turned grim. "I'm... Glad you told me, though I wish you had told me sooner. I understand. What do you need from me? I will do everything I can to help you. But... I am not well versed in healing magic, and my Illusion magic is mostly geared towards combat, and concealment. It might be wise to seal away your memories permanently, but I have no idea how to do so. Hmm... We can try visiting the Vigilant Outpost in Riften. It's near where we're going, and if the Vigilants themselves can't help you, they may be able to point us to someone who can..."
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