The Return of Sithis, Volume 1: Awakening

Surprisingly enough, the rest of his time in the old Dwemer ruin was relatively peaceful. Sure, Dragur still hounded his steps, and he had to shut down a Master Centurion or two, but nothing on the level of that accursed Priest. Varren had heard about the Dragon Priests when he was a mere boy, forced to take history lessons against his will, but he never expected to actually see one. Let alone fight one. Maybe his knowledge of history isn't so up to date anymore, but he's fairly certain a Dragon Priest hasn't been seen in eight centuries. Could this somehow be connected to the war with Sithis? Old Haydin would probably know more, considering he was alive when the Last Dragonborn killed the World Eater... If old Haydin himself is even still alive.

He intended to mention the encounter to Elena when he got to Riften, but when he finally made it to Riften, and the Ragged Flagon, nearly two days after parting ways, the Guildmaster had other plans, and the thought was soon forgotten. Riften was an interesting city to be sure, and he kinda got the feeling it hadn't changed much in the past millennia. If ever. It was an old city, built on the shores of a large lake. The city itself was raised high above sea level, set on wooden walkways and boardwalks, and a busy canal ran beneath the city, exiting into the lake. The Thieves Guild, located beneath the city streets in the sewers, was an interesting place, and far busier than Varren had expected. At first glance, the Ragged Flagon seemed more like a bustling merchant's square or grand market, rather than a den of notorious thieves. Peddlers of all shapes and sizes haggled goods of every type, Argonian firebreathers and Redguard snake charmers performed by the waterside, and he glimpsed odder sights, like a drunken duel between two elderly men with long white beards dressed in red and white suits. Unfortunately, Varren didn't have much time to appreciate the insanity of the Flagon, as Elena whisked him away almost immediately. Still, he wasn't complaining.

"So, you get the job done?" Elena asks sometime later, smiling.

Varren arches his eyebrow. "You think I would be here if I hadn't?"

Elena gives an earthy sigh. "So dramatic... Though I suppose you're right." She sighs again. "As much as I'd like to keep you all to myself, we got stuff to do. Like training. And getting you outfitted. And... Stuff."

Varren actually laughs, something he hasn't done in a long time. "Whatever you say, milady."

An hour later, after introducing him to all the higher ups in the Guild and giving him the tools of his new trade, Elena leads him into the Ratway Vaults, for training. When he asked her why the Vaults, she only replied it was because his training needed to be... Expedited. Little did he know, the Guildmaster of Thieves was every bit the taskmaster as Nocturnal herself.

"Well..." Avenicci blushed a bit as he continued half-carrying Lorelei.

"Got it." Avenicci smiled a little as he worked forward with Lorelei. "It's not often that I get to help a pretty lady."

"You should do that more often. Who knows? Some good might come out of it." Avenicci replied as the city came into view.

"Yeah." Avenicci nodded a bit as he stopped and set Lorelei all the way down. "You're heavy you know. I mean, not like that! It's your armor, I think."

"I just stopped to let you down." Avenicci tried to defend himself. "I can make a bandage to stop the bleeding. You know some Restoration spells, right?"

Siegemund had to admit that he was a bit jealous of the Last Dragonborn. He recalled reading a book about them and how they fought dragons. "Wish I could." He sulked momentarily. "Whatever you're thinking you probably don't want to." Nephle quipped.

"I'm sure I want to fight a dragon." Siegemund insisted, revealing what he was thinking moments prior. The sound of dragging caught their attention and they turned to area skeletal hand reach out from the inky darkness in front of them. "It can't be." Nephle paled. Siegemund squinted and watched as a skeleton garbed in very few armor and a sword and shield stepped out.

"Raghhhh." It rasped, taking a step forth. "Nope, not a dragon priest, but a Draugr Thrall. Weakest to be exact." He identified. "Good, no way they could be alive after all these centuries anyway." Nephle raised her bow.

The Thrall let out a rasp roar and leapt into the air ready to bring down its sword. Stardust intercepted it and Siegemund let his left leg fly, kicking the skeleton back.
Two arrows hit the undead making it stumbled, yet it charged forth again.

Before Nephle could draw her short sword it had already lunged and landed a punch to her face. She hit the ground rolling painfully. The thrall pounced and she smashed her feet into its cranium. The thrall went flying back as he rolled to her feet nursing her jaw.

"Next time someone's says a person with no muscle can't pack a punch; will be told to meet a thrall." She said bitterly. The thrall turned its attention to Siegemund and threw its sword. Siegemund sidestepped, but it managed to cut one of his sleeves on his Longcoat.

"Really?" Siegemund asked in disbelief, gesturing to his ripped sleeve. Before he could say something else the thrall rushed forward and landed a punch to his stomach.
Luckily, it barely hurt at all and Siegemund grabbed its arm.

He delivered his own punch and a snapping sound was heard as the undeads head flew into the air. The skeleton flailed around wildly and it was only then Siegemund remembered he had learned one spell.

He let loose a rather weak fireball, but it did the job all the same. The skeleton finally crumpled to the ground lifelessly."I'll never look at a skeleton the same again." Nephle sighed.

"Exactly." He agreed. This place had to serve as an ancient Nord burial for such a thing to appear. "Wish I knew restoration magic, but it looks like when we return you'll have to find a priest he said sympathetically.

Nephle's jaw seems to already be swelling and she rolled her eyes, "I'll be fine. A little pain never hurts anyone." She remarked. "If you say so." Siegemund shrugged.

They stepped forth into the darkness an as surprised to see a few torches on the wall. "Something tells me this heads deeper." Siegemund remarked, stepping forth cautiously. More dragging could be heard further down and the duo shared wary looks.

"I might as well stick to my short sword." The imperial whispered. Siegemund gave a nod, as he was the first to descend downwards.

"It's...hard to take it off, okay?" Lorelei said quickly. "It's just too inconvenient to try here, so let's keep moving, please."

"Stop that!" she said as she slapped his hand away using her good arm.