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Posted by: Loranna Jan 25 2005, 10:59 AM

Hello, and welcome to our Elder Scrolls Role Playing threads,where we adventure and socialize in the vibrant land of Tamriel.

Before we begin, we'd like to clarify a few things:

This is an 'open roleplay' and everyone is encouraged to join in at any time!

'Open' roleplay does not mean 'unorganized' or 'limitless', however. The eventsin this story are usually planned, and if something BIG happens, you can becertain that it is the result of much discussion between players, usually inthe mIRC chat (#Loranna_RP). This is not just a bunch of disorganizedindividuals doing what they think would be fun for their character at the time.

So, while everyone is welcome to join in, they are NOT welcome to jump in anddo big, world-changing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST. Let me be very clearabout what cannot be done without permission:

1:
Any action that effects another person's character, for ill or good. Althoughmost people realize they can't harm another person's character withoutpermission, many don't realize that you can't HELP another character withoutpermission, either. Many characters have flaws for a reason. Don't go healing,saving, or otherwise fixing another character without DISCUSSING IT FIRST withthe player involved.

2:
Any event that would drastically change things that have been done to theworld, whether the change is physical (rebuilding destroyed locations),political (converting a population to a new cause), military (killing off allthe badguys) or anything else. Almost every situation, good or bad, that existsin the RP was done for some reason. Don't go changing or fixing things withoutDISCUSSING IT FIRST with the group.

Everyone who is involved in the RP is welcome in the mIRC chat channel #Loranna_RP.If you have a plot idea then you are encouraged to go there and discuss it. Ifyou cannot get on the channel for some reason, or if the player whos characteryou would affect with your plan is not there, then PM them using this board'sPM function. That's what it's there for.

For information on reaching #Loranna_RP via Mirc or Chatspike, lookhttp://sekkairc.freewebpage.org/.

Not following the above advice will only result in one thing: your post islikely to be completely ignored by everyone as if it did not happen. This isobvously not good for anyone, so please, discuss major events before doingthem.

Remember: Secret plans and surprises are seldom fun for anyone else. Beforethey're revealed they're boring, because nobody knows about them, and afterwardsthey're just annoying, because nobody knew about them.

Thank you, and have fun!

Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 25 2005, 11:07 AM

ooc summaries:

Allerleirauh, a tall, white-haired woman who claims to be a Nord, led adiscussion on what can be done about security in Jazbet's household. It wasdecided, among other things, that strangers didn't need to wander in and out atrandom, and that the local people needed to be armed with weapons capable ofharming Daedra. She intends to dip into the many trophies she has collectedover years of slaying Golden Saints and Dremora. She's now in the stable withJazbet, looking over the parraptons. She doesn't need one herself - Welwas arefast and Void Rangers faster.

Doll, Akaviri girl, is looking for Master Arynel (who, alas, is plagued bycomputer troubles... we miss you!)

Tris, Breton Male, has obtained consent to ride a parrapton, which is beingsaddled for him. He's a little nervous, since he's rather bad at riding horses,but much more delighted at the prospect of no longer limping or relying on the slownessof levitation.

Mirea, Bosmer female, is still spying for Allerleirauh.

Dragon and Skein are still at the Void Ranger guildhouse in Daggerfall.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 25 2005, 11:08 AM

Summary-

Dante, is at the Parrapton stables, awaiting his 'meeting' with the queen.

Illidan, pretty much is doing the same as Dante.

Inzoliah, Brum, Merciander and friends, are doing stuff....
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After atleast five minutes of kneeling infront of a giant insect, both Danteand Illidan were rewarded with a parrapton. "Hmm....all we need now issome saddles, right Dante?" asked Illidan, softly petting the back of thelarge insect, "uh......sure" Replied Dante, his face becomingslightly pale again.
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Posted by: Teleran Jan 25 2005, 11:14 AM

Teleran was a little overexcited by his first sight of theparraptons but now he's managed to reign in his enthusiasm, well not really(but he isn't jumping up and down anymore), and is currently trying to learnhow to care for and communicate with the parrapton that was chosen for him. Theargonian trainer will never want to see him again by the end of this.

"Alright so, what do they eat? How often do they need to eat, How oftenshould I let her rest from flight so she doesn't tire out? How can I tell when shewants to do something, like go lower or higher or eat or rest? How do I tellher what I want her to do for me, like take off, speed up, stop, you knowbasics? Do they have a language I can learn?" Teleran's words came out ina garbled rush that was almost indecipherable.

He had to use a dried guarskin pouch in place of one of his hands for thecommunication unfortunately.

Eventually, he got enough answers to satisfy himself that he would not dosomething too stupid and communicated his wish to mount the parrapton, whichthe parrapton accepted much more smoothly than he had expected after hissomewhat rocky introduction.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 25 2005, 11:18 AM

Summary:

Elysana, Queen of Wayrest, is temporarily out of the story, still on her boatfor Wayrest, with twenty knights and the playwright Baloth-Kul. Her army awaitstheir own fleet to bring them back in Sheogorad.

Bosriel, the little dark-haired girl, the Void Vampire, is watching Llirythexamine something called the Eidolon in Ebonheart. It is an ancient artifact ofmythic power, in the King of Morrowind’s hands.

Jazbet, the Khajiit Knight of House Dres, is hosting the remnants of the paradeof Loranna-Azura. He was blinded in the Coming of Azura in Vivec, but hasprecognitive visions that allow him to cope, somewhat. They are organizing asearch for Azurites, and Jazbet has brought them down to the stables to seetheir transport, sixteen giant wasps called parraptons. In order to ride them,you must approach the Queen, an enormous beast, and be judged worthy of beingtrusted with her children.

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QUOTE

"Thank you," Tris breathed, not taking his eyes offthe massive creature. "Show me how - I don't like not knowing how to dotasks for myself. Are these all female, then?"
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'They're all drones until the Queen decides she needs a mate.'

The Argonian stable master explained to the group the fundamentals. In manyways they were similar to riding horses, gentle nudges were all that werenecessary for them to change direction slightly, harder tugs would turn themquicker.

He also had the riders powder their hands so they were dry.

‘Rub them together when you want to land,’ said Casts-The-Bones. ‘And after youdismount, if you want your parrapton to fly away, rub them again. Then rub yourhands when you want it to return. It will understand these basic orders in thecontext. They’re very intelligent.’

‘Casts-The-Bones has a thousand word vocabulary rubbing his hands,’ saidJazbet, proudly. ‘But that’s good enough for your virgin flights.’
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Posted by: Attrebus Jan 25 2005, 11:19 AM

OOC Summariies:
Helseth is in Ebonheart waiting for more information on the Eidolon.

Jaster, one of Jezbets guards, is with everyone and has a saddle on aparrapton.
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 25 2005, 11:23 AM

Aricyn was well-aware that an average Dunmer could look at thefinest warhorse in all of Skyrim, and think to himself, "You gonna eatthat?"

Here, the tables were turned somewhat. Aricyn looked on the amazing wingedmounts stabled at Jazbet's manor, and though to himself, "Bugs..."

Meanwhile in the Void, Leseth is joining Bosriel in her vigil over theEidolon... and those who study it.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 25 2005, 11:25 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 05:08 AM)

'They're all drones until the Queen decides she needs a mate.'

The Argonian stable master explained to the group the fundamentals. Inmany ways they were similar to riding horses, gentle nudges were all that werenecessary for them to change direction slightly, harder tugs would turn themquicker.

He also had the riders powder their hands so they were dry.

‘Rub them together when you want to land,’ said Casts-The-Bones. ‘And after youdismount, if you want your parrapton to fly away, rub them again. Thenrub your hands when you want it to return. It will understand these basicorders in the context. They’re very intelligent.’

‘Casts-The-Bones has a thousand word vocabulary rubbing his hands,’ saidJazbet, proudly. ‘But that’s good enough for your virgin flights.’

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Loranna smiles, having watched Jaster's earlier demonstration of saddling aparrapton. She hears the excitement in Teleran's voice and feels it herself inher heart.

This wasn't the first skill she had envisioned herself learning in her new,Azura-free life, but it was a good skill to learn. She was going to fly throughthe air soon; her first steps to becoming a new woman would be traced on theair.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 25 2005, 11:27 AM

'Would you help them out, Jaster, and make sure no one crashesinto anything?' Jazbet asked. 'Kallen and I will go organize the guards so wecan have a proper search party.'

With a wave, Jazbet let Kallen lead him into the castle.
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Posted by: Teleran Jan 25 2005, 11:47 AM

Teleran asked his mount to start flying and it obliged himgladly. The buzzing growing to a deafening level as he took off and headed forthe sky.

After a few minutes circling the stables, Teleran said to the parrapton,"I really need to find a bettwer way to communicate with you, this land,take off, return orders ain't gonna cut it." He decided to try something alittle more daring and sent her through a very tight circle into a steep climbfollowed by a dive that stopped only a few meters from the ground, followed bya quick figure eight before coming back to a comfortable altitude and hoveringabove the stables.

"Such reflexes you have my friend," he exclaimed to the parrapton.'Say dagger, you can sommunicate with me in my mind can you form a bridge formy thought to reach her and hers to reach me.'

'I can only speak in your mind because you're my wielder, dolt.'

'Just asking, you didn't even try.' Teleran snapped back before he returned tothe ground and dismounted. He stayed by the parrapton, trying to think of asuitable name for so great a beast.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 25 2005, 03:22 PM

Tris came back from his ride with his fair hair tousled and hisface flushed.

"Nothing like riding a horse!" he reported. "A horse movesaround beneath you, this is perfectly steady. You just have to learn to leanwith it - and hang on to your stomach going down!"

The creatures were fast, delightfully fast. In fact they seemed so superior tohorses, which had a history of disobeying him, that he wondered what the catchwas. No doubt he would learn sooner than he planned to. He was also mildlyagitated at the thought of what would happen if his palms sweated too much.

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Posted by: Solin Jan 25 2005, 03:27 PM

Ciel had knew that the Dunmer rode giant insects, he had riddenon a siltstrider when they had been on Vvardenfell. He had heard about theirwinged mounts but this was his first time seeing them. The knight approachedthe queen and presented himself as if the great insect were a noble Lady ofHigh Rock.

The knight followed Jaster’s example in saddling and mounting one of thequeen’s offspring. The beast began to rapidly beat its wings and smoothly roseoff of the ground. It hovered a bit. Ciel gave it a small squeeze with his legsto indicate to the large wasp that he wished to move forward. With a slightforward tilt the creature took off and up to the air.

The parrapton's legs dangled beneath its body as it flew. Ciel idly wondered ashe circled about, with help from Tris's instructions, how much weight the largewasp could carry in flight.
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 25 2005, 04:16 PM

OOC: The Breton Arynel is sitting on the beach.

Arynel could hear a faint buzzing sound, and the Breton looked up out over thewater--nothing. Turning, the Breton looked up over Jazbet's estate--overhead anumber of giant insects were circling.

"I do believe I've missed dinner, and a good deal more."

Arynel bit his bottom lip, stodd up and stomped on the ground, then whispered astring of power.

He wandered past the waves

And rose above the world known computations

The Breton appeared in the air above the others, and fell.

"I don't suppose you still have a levitation ring?" He called toAllerleirauh.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 25 2005, 04:40 PM

The queen had chosen the mount most suitable for Loranna, to besure, and the saddle had been secured. Loranna climbed into her saddle, andcommanded her mount to rise ...

Rising gave her a brief jolt through her body; not having used levitationspells all that much, the mere sensation of being airborne was itself novelenough to make Loranna's eyes widen, though it was a wonderful feeling. Flushedwith the joy of flying for the first real time, Loranna's initial attempts atsteering were a little wide of the mark, causing the ashskinned Nord's heart toleap into her throat once or twice.

"Whoa there ..." she said at one point, holding on and trying toadjust her course. "Steady there Lor; light nudges and tugs, remember..." She tried again, and after a couple more tries got her mount to turnonly as much as she wanted. Success.

Loranna relaxed a little, settling herself back into the saddle, and triedmaking wider turns on purpose, wanting to make sure she got a feel for how tokeep herself steady in the saddle - and then, after discovering that somemovement actually helped when making quick turns, she practiced a bit to getthe feel for how to lean her weight.

Tme passed; she noted that some of the others had already landed, having gottenthe hang of their mounts well enough. Loranna kept practicing a bit longer,enjoying the feeling of flying through the air ...

At last, she rubbed her palms together and landed, getting off to take abreather. She wasn't expert yet of course but she felt confident she couldhandle herself on a parrapton now.

... Hmm, palms still dry; good, she thought. I wonder if it'sfeasable to keep a store of powder on hand to dry my hands in case they get toosweaty during an actual flight. Have to ask Jazbet, or Casts-The-Bones. ...Hmm; do they name their mounts here, in Morrowind? Have to ask that; thisparrapton is being a sweetheart, putting up with me trying all sorts of things.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 25 2005, 05:02 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 25 2005, 09:06 AM)

OOC: The Breton Arynel is sitting on the beach.

Arynel could hear a faint buzzing sound, and the Breton looked up out over thewater--nothing. Turning, the Breton looked up over Jazbet'sestate--overhead a number of giant insects were circling.

"I do believe I've missed dinner, and a good deal more."

Arynel bit his bottom lip, stodd up and stomped on the ground, then whispered astring of power.

He wandered past the waves

And rose above the world known computations

The Breton appeared in the air above the others, and fell.

"I don't suppose you still have a levitation ring?" He calledto Allerleirauh.

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Allerleirauh, being a sensible sort of creature, was on the ground, out ofearshot of Arynel.

However, Tris was in the air - and he did have a levitation ring. He spun hisbug and swooped forward, at the same time throwing the ring through the air toArynel. For a moment his heart caught in his mouth at the thought that the ringmight simply make a snapping noise and disappear into the void.

But it didn't - it flew straight for the bard. Calculating the severaltrajectories of his throwing arm, the bug's speed, and the bard's fall seemedto be instinctive.

I'm good at this, Tris realized. Now - assuming he catches it...
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 25 2005, 05:08 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 08:52 AM)

Allerleirauh, being a sensible sort of creature, was on theground, out of earshot of Arynel.

However, Tris was in the air - and he did have a levitation ring. He spun hisbug and swooped forward, at the same time throwing the ring through the air toArynel. For a moment his heart caught in his mouth at the through that the ringmight simply make a snapping noise and disappear into the void.

But it didn't - it flew straight for the bard. Calculating the severaltrajectories of his throwing arm, the bug's speed, and the bard's fall seemedto be instinctive.

I'm good at this, Tris realized. Now - assuming he catches it...

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Arynel reached out and snatched the ring as it flew past. The Breton slid itonto his finger and came to a hault midair.

"My thanks." He said.

Arynel headed back towards the ground, at a much more reasonable pace.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 25 2005, 05:13 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 25 2005, 10:58 AM)

Arynel reached out and snatched the ring as it flew past.The Breton slid it onto his finger and came to a hault midair.

"My thanks." He said.

Arynel headed back towards the ground, at a much more reasonable pace.

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Loranna raises her eyebrows at Arynel, muttering under her breath " ...Forges a sword to mark me to the Wheel's eyes, masters walking through theVoid, goes to Oblivion and back ... and does that. ... I don't get it."

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 25 2005, 05:15 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 25 2005, 09:58 AM)

Arynel reached out and snatched the ring as it flew past.The Breton slid it onto his finger and came to a hault midair.

"My thanks." He said.

Arynel headed back towards the ground, at a much more reasonable pace.

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"You might try riding down next time, instead of walking,"Allerleirauh said with a smile. "Did Doll miss you somehow? She wassupposed to be finding you, for the planning meeting. We're getting ready to goout and scour Jazbet's property to be sure there are no Azurites livinghere."
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 25 2005, 05:18 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 09:05 AM)

"You might try riding down next time, instead ofwalking," Allerleirauh said with a smile. "Did Doll miss yousomehow? She was supposed to be finding you, for the planning meeting.We're getting ready to go out and scour Jazbet's property to be sure there areno Azurites living here."

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"Doll?" Arynel began. "No, I never saw her. Planning meeting! Iseem to have missed a great deal."

The Breton slapped himself on the forehead.

"If there are Azurites living here, do we have a plan for dealing withthem?"
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 25 2005, 05:26 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 25 2005, 10:08 AM)

"Doll?" Arynel began. "No, I neversaw her. Planning meeting! I seem to have missed a greatdeal."

The Breton slapped himself on the forehead.

"If there are Azurites living here, do we have a plan for dealing withthem?"

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"The plan seems to involve alarming them with giant bugs,"Allerleirauh said. "We'll have to discuss it with Jazbet. Azurites or not,they're his people and he's their lord. I don't know if he would want themkilled."

In the air, Tris was drying his palms on his trouser legs. It took him severaltimes to get a proper noise by rubbing his hands together, and the parraptondidn't land exactly where he expected.

He vaulted off, and came towards Arynel. If he had been able to see himselffrom the outside, he would have noticed that he was hardly limping, and walkingmuch more upright and confidently than he had since gaining his false limb.However, he wasn't aware of it.

"I need my ring back," Tris said, grinning. "I don't want tofall from up there. You should try that out - it's great fun! Talk toCasts-the-Bones, the stablemaster."
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 25 2005, 05:28 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 09:16 AM)

"The plan seems to involve alarming them with giantbugs," Allerleirauh said. "We'll have to discuss it withJazbet. Azurites or not, they're his people and he's their lord. I don't know ifhe would want them killed."

In the air, Tris was drying his palms on his trouser legs. It took him severaltimes to get a proper noise by rubbing his hands together, and the parraptondidn't land exactly where he expected.

He vaulted off, and came towards Arynel. If he had been able to see himselffrom the outside, he would have noticed that he was hardly limping, and walkingmuch more upright and confidently than he had since gaining his false limb.However, he wasn't aware of it.

"I need my ring back," Tris said, grinning. "I don't wantto fall from up there. You should try that out - it's great fun! Talk toCasts-the-Bones, the stablemaster."

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Arynel slid the ring back off of his finger and held it out towards Tris.

"If you fall fast enough," the Breton said with a smile, "youmight fall right through the ground. Could be just what you need."

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 25 2005, 05:30 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 11:16 AM)

"The plan seems to involve alarming them with giantbugs," Allerleirauh said. "We'll have to discuss it withJazbet. Azurites or not, they're his people and he's their lord. I don't knowif he would want them killed."

In the air, Tris was drying his palms on his trouser legs. It took him severaltimes to get a proper noise by rubbing his hands together, and the parraptondidn't land exactly where he expected.

He vaulted off, and came towards Arynel. If he had been able to see himselffrom the outside, he would have noticed that he was hardly limping, and walkingmuch more upright and confidently than he had since gaining his false limb.However, he wasn't aware of it.

"I need my ring back," Tris said, grinning. "I don't wantto fall from up there. You should try that out - it's great fun! Talk toCasts-the-Bones, the stablemaster."

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Loranna says "I concur; it is a great experience. Might take a bit ofgetting used to if you've never riden a horse but it's not too difficult onceyou get a feel for it."

She smiles at Tris. "Nice flying there, and nice throwing arm too."

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 25 2005, 05:33 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 25 2005, 10:18 AM)

Arynel slid the ring back off of his finger and held it outtowards Tris.

"If you fall fast enough," the Breton said with a smile, "youmight fall right through the ground. Could be just what you need."

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"No," Tris said seriously, "There's a limit to how fast thingsfall. I know; I used to be able to go faster. It makes it possible to reachthings that have fallen far, far down. Where's my little Doll, then? she'susually quite reliable."

Tris said to Loranna, "Let me assure you, that is NOTHING like riding ahorse. I fall right off horses. They wobble from side to side and they bounce.Parraptons are perfectly steady; if you can get used to sudden changes ofdirection, it's wonderful."
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 25 2005, 05:36 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 09:23 AM)

"No," Tris said seriously, "There's a limit tohow fast things fall. I know; I used to be able to go faster. It makes itpossible to reach things that have fallen far, far down. Where's my littleDoll, then? she's usually quite reliable."

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"I do not know." Arynel said. "Hopefully she'll return heresoon."

The Breton's stomach grumbled--he had missed dinner.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 25 2005, 05:44 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 11:23 AM)

Tris said to Loranna, "Let me assure you, that is NOTHINGlike riding a horse. I fall right off horses. They wobble from side to side andthey bounce. Parraptons are perfectly steady; if you can get used tosudden changes of direction, it's wonderful."

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"Oh," Loranna says. "My mistake then ..."

Loranna tries thinking back to the time she and Allie had ridden out toHaflasgar, but she had been preoccupied during that ride and hadn't reallynoted the horse underneath her, other than to ensure she hadn't fallen off.

"Oh yeah - and remember to keep your palms dry if you try ridingone," she adds to Arynel. "You need dry palms to signal the parraptonto land."

" ... I think I'm gonna go practice some more," she adds a momentlater. "I could use a bit more practice on the tight turns and the suddendrops. Talk to you in a bit."

Loranna heads back to her mount and is soon back in the air, showing moreconfidence than her initial efforts displayed.

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Posted by: Shardie Jan 25 2005, 05:50 PM

Maranda in Cydoriil

Maranda followed the stream, and made her way into a clearing... in the middleof which, was a ruined

Posted by: FireMaster Jan 25 2005, 08:21 PM

Erenius in the Imperial City

*Erenius looked about the Imperial City, awed at the changes brought about atit in the past three or four months since he was last in the city duringHearthfire*

"Seems like the city has finally changed for the better and all thatoccurred has been repaired and mostly forgotten," Erenius mutters as hesteps out of the carriage and pays a few coins to the driver. "And thetavern I stayed at that time...stands still, albeit repaired and a few scorchmarks on it."

"Can I help you?" a guard asks, approaching Erenius.

"Just returning here after a great deal of journeying," Ereniusreplies. "Is there something of the matter?"

"Something the matter? Certainly..." the guard scoffs."Apparently much has happened and the Elder Council would like tosee..."

"O! the Elder Council huh?" Erenius says, cutting the guard off withhis words. "Never shall I return to them, they are the ones that preventedme from finishing with Darius; and they certainly locked me up..."

"In that

Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 25 2005, 09:59 PM

Two hours later, after the group has had more practice ridingthe parraptons, Jazbet and Kallen returned. With them were thirty-nine guards,armed and armored.

'I have news,' said Jazbet. 'The Azurites cannot conceal their eye colornaturally. They must use illusions to do so. I had forgotten that Wyrloc's onearea of magickal knowledge was in that area. So they may try to hide themselvesif they know spells of illusion -- which very few of the peasants do -- but asimple magicka dispel will reveal them ...'

It could be noticed that the remaining guards, though cleaned up, have freshknicks on their armor, as if they've been in combat very recently.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:19 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 02:49 PM)

Two hours later, after the group has had more practice ridingthe parraptons, Jazbet and Kallen returned. With them were thirty-nine guards,armed and armored.

'I have news,' said Jazbet. 'The Azurites cannot conceal their eye colornaturally. They must use illusions to do so. I had forgotten thatWyrloc's one area of magickal knowledge was in that area. So they may tryto hide themselves if they know spells of illusion -- which very few of thepeasants do -- but a simple magicka dispel will reveal them ...'

It could be noticed that the remaining guards, though cleaned up, have freshknicks on their armor, as if they've been in combat very recently.

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"It looks as if you came by that knowledge through practicalexperience," Allerleirauh said dryly. "What sort of trouble can weexpect, then? A local person needs to go with each group, to be sure there areno misunderstandings."
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Posted by: Aki Jan 26 2005, 12:25 AM

Summary

Reichi is watching everyuone else fly the wasp things.

While back on the Mainland, Tohe, Eya, and Camassim have restrained Jean tillthe Daylight returns and he resumes a human form. And Consciousness.
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Reichi had watched those people flying the Giant Wasps. He didn't try one. Heliked staying on the ground, besides, he used shortblades, those were all butuseless on a flying mount, or just about any mount. Reichi was no good with aspear, and only half-decent with a longblade, so those were out of thequestion.

However, running about on the ground and hunting things down was hisspeciallity. When Jazbet returned he stood. If anyone was going out looking forAzurites, Reichi was going to be one .
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 06:09 PM)

"It looks as if you came by that knowledge throughpractical experience," Allerleirauh said dryly. "Whatsort of trouble can we expect, then? A local person needs to go with eachgroup, to be sure there are no misunderstandings."

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"I think the trouble should be pretty self-evident," said Jazbet."From what these men have told me, there have been fights throughout thearea. The Azurites, for the most part, are not hiding their identities, and thepeasants are fighting them as best as they can. Luckily, only a relative smallpercentage of the people succumbed to the call of Azura, but that still meansas many as a hundred Azurites to be dealt with."

Kallen brought out several maps of Jazbet's domain, detailed out to shownoticeable features, such as known ruins, and, in the main village of AldRaathim, the actual names of the families inhabiting each house.

"Things are apparently quiet in the village right now," said Kallen."Any Azurites remaining there have gone undercover. They will only beflushed out with the dispel magicka spells."

"What I'm worried about now," said Jazbet. "Is neighbor turningagainst neighbor. Paranoia. I will be going to the village so that people knowthat the situation is being handled. I shudder to think what would havehappened if I waited even a day or two later before returning home ..."

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:47 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 05:26 PM)

"I think the trouble should be pretty self-evident,"said Jazbet. "From what these men have told me, there have been fightsthroughout the area. The Azurites, for the most part, are not hidingtheir identities, and the peasants are fighting them as best as they can.Luckily, only a relative small percentage of the people succumbed to the callof Azura, but that still means as many as a hundred Azurites to be dealtwith."

Kallen brought out several maps of Jazbet's domain, detailed out to shownoticeable features, such as known ruins, and, in the main village of AldRaathim, the actual names of the families inhabiting each house.

"Things are apparently quiet in the village right now," said Kallen."Any Azurites remaining there have gone undercover. They will onlybe flushed out with the dispel magicka spells."

"What I'm worried about now," said Jazbet. "Is neighbor turningagainst neighbor. Paranoia. I will be going to the village so thatpeople know that the situation is being handled. I shudder to think whatwould have happened if I waited even a day or two later before returning home..."

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"I shudder to think what is happening in other people's homes, all overTamriel," Allerleirauh said. "I've been coddling myself, taking theday off; I should have been writing letters. It will be very difficult for theEmpire to deal with this without understanding what they're up against."

She looked over Kallen's maps. "I'm going on foot - which means thatsomeone with good diplomatic skills should go with me, to explain that I'm notsome spawn of the Wild Hunt." She grinned. "I have a very good nose;it will be helpful to have people both on land and in the air. Aki, I believeyou're very good at tracking by scent as well, aren't you?"
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Posted by: Aki Jan 26 2005, 12:55 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 06:37 PM)

She looked over Kallen's maps. "I'm going on foot - whichmeans that someone with good diplomatic skills should go with me, to explainthat I'm not some spawn of the Wild Hunt." She grinned."I have a very good nose; it will be helpful to have people both onland and in the air. Aki, I believe you're very good at tracking by scent aswell, aren't you?"

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"Yup. Better after nightfall though. Even if my...comuncation skills thenare a bit lacking," Reichi responded. "Though," he pulled theDagger of Senses from his robe. "This can help compensate for that.Increases one's senses, got it from a old breton...who turned out to be atalking dog of a Crazy Dunmer. Though that makes ME sound like the crazy one,don't it?"

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:57 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 06:37 PM)

"I shudder to think what is happening in other people'shomes, all over Tamriel," Allerleirauh said. "I've beencoddling myself, taking the day off; I should have been writing letters.It will be very difficult for the Empire to deal with this withoutunderstanding what they're up against."

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"And I need those weapons from you as soon as possible," Jazbet said,and smiled. "A lot of weight on your shoulders."

Casts-The-Bones brought out two parraptons, one for Jazbet and one for Kallen.He 'talked' to Jazbet's parrapton with his hands, rubbing them together, givingit instructions since the Khajiit would be unable to direct it to the village.

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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 01:01 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 04:47 PM)

"And I need those weapons from you as soon aspossible," Jazbet said, and smiled. "A lot of weight on yourshoulders."

Casts-The-Bones brought out two parraptons, one for Jazbet and one forKallen. He 'talked' to Jazbet's parrapton with his hands, rubbing themtogether, giving it instructions since the Khajiit would be unable to direct itto the village.

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Aricyn had saddled Kynidius, his much more mundane steed, and joined them,mounted and armored.

The old wolf was at his side, looking lean and eager.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 01:07 AM

QUOTE(Aki @ Jan 25 2005, 05:45 PM)

"Yup. Better after nightfall though. Even ifmy...comuncation skills then are a bit lacking," Reichi responded."Though," he pulled the Dagger of Senses from his robe. "Thiscan help compensate for that. Increases one's senses, got it from a oldbreton...who turned out to be a talking dog of a Crazy Dunmer. Though thatmakes ME sound like the crazy one, don't it?"

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"I don't think anyone who's been with us for any length of time willaccuse you of insanity," Allerleirauh said.

"Yes, the weapons. It would be easier to do that now," she said."I will go and return with at least a few. It will take only a fewminutes."

She waved her arms, and recalled - back to her small house in Mournhold. Notthat she needed to be here. But it was easier than long explanations. Fromthere she spoke a string of power and appeared in her own bedroom inSolunastra. Downstairs she spoke to Dragon; the heavy metal doors of the armorywere thrown open, and she retrieved as many weapons as she could readily carry- three glass swordblades, she thought, since they were light and would be easyfor peasants to use, a few ebony spears, and several daedric daggers. Each wasworth more than an entire peasant homestead. She wondered what the consequencesof distributing them would be.

She spoke another phrase of power and returned, leaving Dragon withinstructions to look for Doll.

"There," she said, dropping the weapons on the ground. "Jazbet,it occurs to me that you've never seen me fight. Don't be alarmed."

She drew her many-furred cloak around her, and became a massive creature, witha head like a mastiff, paws like a bear, hind feet like a stag - in fact, morecreatures than it was easy to count, combined into one. When she stood on herhind feet, she towered over the others.

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 01:11 AM

Jazbet was not alarmed by Allerleirauh's appearance. He did notsee it. But he heard the gasps of his men, and he waved his hands to calm themdown. Whatever they were looking at, they had been warned.

'Friends,' said Jazbet, getting on to his mount. 'You know what you're bestsuited for -- interrogating and unmasking Azurites in town, or fighting them inthe wilderness. Take with you at least one of the guards. They are goodfighters, and they know the land. We can supply you with horns or drums, orwhatever you need to communicate ... Jaster will see to it that you have whateveryou need.

If you need me, I'll be at the tavern in Ald Raathim. I must speak to thepeople and offer them reassurance. Good luck, my friends.'

The two parraptons flew up, disappearing over the trees, heading due west.
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 01:12 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 04:57 PM)

She drew her many-furred cloak around her, and became a massivecreature, with a head like a mastiff, paws like a bear, hind feet like a stag -in fact, more creatures than it was easy to count, combined into one.When she stood on her hind feet, she towered over the others.

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Kynidius's flanks shuddered, but Aricyn's horse did not run. To an animal, theWelwa was both death incarnate, and like a mother.

"Those weapons should give a few a fighting chance. Let's arm the actualsoldiers who can fight, then move to the peasants when we have more enchantedweapons."
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 26 2005, 01:14 AM

"Is there a safe haven of sorts?" Arynel interjected. "A placewhere we could move the peasants, while we deal with this?"

The Breton scratched his chin.

"Well, I suppose it's too late for that now."
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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 01:19 AM

After staying on the ground for time Teleran remounted hisparrapton and took to the skies once again flying as high as the parraptonwould take him. The sight was incredible, he could see the land for milesaround, the nearest village appeared to be no more than a few homestead arounda slightly larger building, an Inn perhaps, and if he looked down he couldbarely make out the mer below, and even then they appeared to be no more thanoddly colored specks on the ground.

He came spiraling down to a more reasonable level and flew in little circlesand figure eights for a few minutes, before descending and hovering nearJazbet.

He hardly noticed the buzzing anymore, and the agility of the parrapton in theair had given him some idea of how useful they could make themselves in abattle.
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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 26 2005, 01:19 AM

Dagoth passed by the giant wasps, watching as they became uneasyin his unnatural presence.... as most animals did.

'I think I'll just levitate...'
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 01:21 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Jan 25 2005, 05:04 PM)

"Is there a safe haven of sorts?" Arynelinterjected. "A place where we could move the peasants, while wedeal with this?"

The Breton scratched his chin.

"Well, I suppose it's too late for that now."

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"First," said Aricyn, spurring his mount forward, "we've got tofind out who should be protected, and who should be skewered!

"Good hunting to you, Breton," he said, and rode off.

The wolf sprinted ahead of him.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 01:26 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 25 2005, 07:11 PM)

"First," said Aricyn, spurring his mount forward,"we've got to find out who should be protected, and who should beskewered!

"Good hunting to you, Breton," he said, and rode off.

The wolf sprinted ahead of him.

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(ooc: sorry, Attrebus, I'm 'borrowing' Jaster for a post)

Jaster watched people scurry off in all directions, frowning.

'I thought we were going to go about this in an organized manner,' he scowled.'That was the purpose of the maps, and organizing the guards as guides ...Everyone's running off as if this is a game of hide and seek ...'

He set about organizing the guards and remaining adventurers into groupsaccording to outlined sectors on the various maps.

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Posted by: Master of Nas Jan 26 2005, 01:32 AM

EDIT: Edit pending
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 01:38 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 07:16 PM)

(ooc: sorry, Attrebus, I'm 'borrowing' Jaster for a post)

Jaster watched people scurry off in all directions, frowning.

'I thought we were going to go about this in an organized manner,' he scowled.'That was the purpose of the maps, and organizing the guards as guides ...Everyone's running off as if this is a game of hide and seek ...'

He set about organizing the guards and remaining adventurers into groupsaccording to outlined sectors on the various maps.

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Loranna steps up, asking for a shortblade for defense and a horn forsignalling.

Listening to Jaster, she nods to the guard with whom she's been teamed, andtakes to the air on her mount to help patrol her designated area.

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 01:38 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 06:16 PM)

(ooc: sorry, Attrebus, I'm 'borrowing' Jaster for a post)

Jaster watched people scurry off in all directions, frowning.

'I thought we were going to go about this in an organized manner,' he scowled.'That was the purpose of the maps, and organizing the guards as guides ...Everyone's running off as if this is a game of hide and seek ...'

He set about organizing the guards and remaining adventurers into groupsaccording to outlined sectors on the various maps.

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"We need to make sure that everyone here has the ability to dispell magic,in order to get rid of any possible illusions," Allerleirauh said. "Let'sdistribute the scrolls we have, and the people, as well. I plan to make a listof names, one by one, as we come to people and make sure of them. Remember thatthey intend to be deceptive."

The other scrolls that were distributed were fire scrolls. She wished they hadmore time; Doll would have enjoyed creating a spell to act as a warning signal,and inscribing endless scrolls of it. But between them they had enough to giveat least one pyrotechnic spell of some sort to each party that set out.

Allerleirauh took one of Jazbet's mounted men with her, and set off into thedeepest part of the woods with her nose to the ground, the guard flying above.The guard told her where they were most likely to find smugglers, escapedcriminals, and other people who were more likely to prefer a solitary life inthe wilderness to a social life in the village.
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Posted by: Aki Jan 26 2005, 01:40 AM

Vvardenfell, Khuul

It was day. Jean returned to his normal form. Sleeping soundly. He was beingcarried by Camassim, the Redgaurd. Tohe following at his side. Eya was at theforefront of the group. She had reverted to a human form now as well. She was aNord with long black hair and eyes only a slightly deeper shade of blue thanthey were as a Werewolf. All of them wore robes.

They approached Khuul, it was all but abandoned. Apparently a large group ofthe village had been in Loranna's procession. That, or the Azurites killedeveryone.

In any case, they 'burrowed' a unattended ship, stocked with food and water,and set off towards the mainland.
Morrowind Mainland

Reichi set off, alone, into the wilds on foot. After discarding his robe. Itwas a nice thing, but too clumsy for combat, and definatly too clumsy forrunning through the woods. His common clothing, ring, and collar would have tobe enough clothing.

Unfortunatly, being day, Reichi couldn't rely on his other side's speed andendurance. So he ran, Shortblade secured at his side, the Dagger of Senses inhand.

He of course, forgot to get a horn. So would end up with no form ofcommunicating over long distances until nightfall.
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 01:41 AM

"SERJO! Serjo waits on Falls-like-Rain, please!"

Aricyn reined in his horse and turned. The old wolf slowed as well, lookingannoyed at having to stop.

An Argonian was running to catch up. He (or she, Aricyn could never tell which)was doing a fair job, even in armor and carrying a shoulderload of javelins.

"Serjo, you will need a guide. Falls-like-Rain knows these parts."

Aricyn looked at the Argonian for a moment, then reached down and grabbed thelight-boned lizard up onto the saddle.

The old wolf barked impatiently, and they were off again, heading for thesurrounding hills.
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 26 2005, 01:42 AM

"If I am not needed here," Arynel said, "I thinkI will be going."

The Breton turned and began walking down a path alone.

He turned back to the others, "I already know dispel, save a scroll forsomeone else."
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 01:52 AM

Loranna looks to her partner, a somewhat youngish-lookingarmored Dunmer with a silver longsword; the guard looks at Loranna and frownsslightly.

" ... Just how much fighting experience do you have, sera?" he asks,his voice polite yet slightly dubious.

" ... Not much," Loranna admits, tucking the scrolls provided byAllie away.

" ... Magic?"

"Some light healing spells, mostly."

"I see ..." the guard says, taking the point. " ... My name isDram; the area we're covering is mostly uninhabited; gods willing we'll notencounter much. If we do, let me handle most of the talking and you keep thehorn and scrolls ready."

Loranna nods, wishing she were more skilled right now. "Right ... I'mLoranna. Let's go."

Dram and Loranna take off.
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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 26 2005, 01:59 AM

Dagoth uses an illusion, and walks up to a dunmerbattlemage-like guard.

"You there, I could use a partner to acompany me in my search for thoseAzurites."

"Hmm... you seem to be trustworthy enough. No blue eyes... okay, fine,I'll help you out."

Dagoth looked at the guard with a look that says, 'you are in for a ride'."Okay now, we are gonna have to use levitation... seeing as there aren'tthat many bugs left..."

The guard pulled out a few scrolls. "Ready when you are.'

With that, the're off...

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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 02:00 AM

Teleran took a few scrolls, and flew off immediately. A fewmoments later he turned around, realizing he had forgotten to get a horn. Afterpicking up a horn he took off once again and traveled in an expanding circlearound Jazbet's estate, looking for any sign of mer.

It did not take long before he spotted a small group of them, but when heapproached they greeted him warmly, at least after they overcame their shock atseeing a parrapton, and asked for directions to Ald Raathim. After ascertainingthat they were not Azurites by using one of his dispel scrolls, he pointed themEast.

Before they left he asked the old Breton who seemed to be leading the group whythey had left the road in the first place. The Breton replied that there was agroup of bandits on the road south of Ald Raathim and they had left the road toavoid them. "If they weren't Dunmer, I'd have sworn their eyes shone blue,but that's probably just me imagining things. Everyone knows Dunmer have red eyes."Then looking askance at Teleran's eyes, "Except you, you have blue eyestoo. You don't know those men do you, boy?"

"No. Thanks for the information, just head East and you'll get to AldRaathim in just under an hour." Teleran said.

As Teleran flew off to find the bandits the old man had mentioned he lookedback to see the old man leading the group...West. Sighing heavily Teleran flewSouth over the road.
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Posted by: Solin Jan 26 2005, 02:15 AM

Ciel took a small arm load of scroll and filled his mount’s saddlebags. He waved to a nearby guard to join him with a map and a mount and watchedas he disappeared into the stables. The knight gave a quick smile to Tris whowas nearby. He adjusted the sword on his belt, it wouldn’t do for it tointerfere with the insect’s wings while flying. Such disturbances could havedisastrous results so he tucked his cloak into his belt as well. The guard, adunmer, reappeared on top of his own wasp. Ciel gave a brisk salute, wearing abroad smile on his face, and took to the air in the same moment. He wasfollowed shortly by Tris and the guard. Soon the there parraptons weredisappearing on the horizon.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 02:19 AM

Ald Raathim

At this time of day, the village but a few miles from Jazbet's castle wasalways busy. There was a port generally filled with fishing boats. Depending onthe haul, they might be moving back and forth from the sea to the port all day.Carts filled with saltrice from the plantation and the smaller farms would bumptheir way through town. Some festivals, you would swear you were in the middleof the Imperial City.

Today, all windows were shut, all doors locked. It was as if the village haddied.

Jazbet and Kallen's parraptons landed in the center of the village square, andthe lord of the manor and his seneschal entered into the tavern. The giantwasps floated back into the air to circle the village until they were calledback.

People began peeking out of shutters, looking towards the tavern. What washappening? Slowly, a few brave souls began to emerge, and then others,encouraged, stepped into the village square. They knew if Jazbet hadinstructions to give them, to organize them for an evacuation, it would be fromthe tavern's second story balcony ...
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Posted by: Solin Jan 26 2005, 02:21 AM

Solin realized some what tardily that he should have asked theKhajiiti lord for ink, paper, and soulgems. He glanced at the simulacrum andgave a slight smile. The Dunmer was somewhat skilled in the enchanting arts. Hecould produce replacement scrolls while watching over the simulacrum. Perhapsthere was a servant that could fetch him the required items.
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 26 2005, 02:24 AM

Arynel walked into the village tavern, and took a seat in thecorner.

“What do you want, outlander?” A gravely voiced Dunmer asked, fiddling with adagger.

“Oh, well, I’m a traveler,” Arynel said, “and this is where my travels havebrought me. Tell me, is there any news?”

“Take my advice, outlander,” the Dunmer said, “don’t stick your head where itdoesn’t belong, or it might not stay connected to your shoulders.” Two otherDunmer rose from their seats nearby.

“Oh, I don’t mean any trouble,” the Breton said, “I have heard rumors though,of things happening on Vvardenfell, an incarnate of Azura!”

“Oh, yes, that,” the Dunmer said, “we have heard. There were some thatworshipped her, bowed down to the incarnate before she was killed. They’retrouble, I’d watch out for them if I were you. Bright blue eyes, that’s howyou’ll pick them out.”

“Ah, I don’t suppose you’ve seen any of them of late?” Arynel asked.

The Dunmer chuckled and held up his dagger, he tilted his head towards a bloodsoaked cloth setting on the table. “We know how to deal with the fetchers.”

“Well then, thank you for the warning.” Arynel said, getting up from his seatand walking over to the bar tender, weaving a charm spell into his voice.“Excuse me sir, would you mind if I took the names of your customers tonight?”

“That’s foolish, why would you want to do that?” The Dunmer asked, wiping downa plate with a cloth.

“It’s a very good business practice, or so I have heard.” The Breton said.“I’ll write down the names of your customers, and I’ll give you the list. Takean inventory of customers over a period of a few weeks, and you’ll get a betteridea of what customers come in, and at what times. So, you can organize yourwares and your staff to better suit your customers, and give them more reasonto spend their money here.”

The Dunmer stopped scrubbing the plate. “Well, now that’s—foolish! But I don’tsee what it could hurt.”

Arynel nodded his thanks, and took a seat near the front of the tavern. TheBreton produced two papers and layered them over each other.

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 02:30 AM

Loranna and Dram

The area Loranna and Dram had been assigned was mostly scattered, isolatedfarms, worked by individual families, and seperated by stretches of wilderness.Loranna kept attentive watch as they passed over the less cultivated areas,looking for signs of people living in the wild. Dram, for his part, followedthe map and his knowledge of the land.

They encountered no one until they came to the first small farm in their area;setting their parraptons down Dram knocked on the door of the modest housewhile Loranna signaled for the bare-chested Dunmer farmer toiling in thefields. The farmer and his wife soon stood outside, staring at Dram andespecially Loranna with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension - and inLoranna's case a bit of confusion and concern.

Loranna noted that a spell to disguise herself would be rather helpful to getin the immediate future.

"By authority of Lord Dres Jazbet," Dram said, his tone firm yetcivil, "we have been dispatched to investigate the presence of a new andviolent cult of Daedra worshippers rumored to have recently come into the area.We apologize for the inconvenience but must insist that you allow us to usesome precautionary measures and ask some questions ..."

He signalled to Loranna, who used the first of their Dispel scrolls on thecouple. When the magic subsided, the farmers' red eyes remained unchanged.

" ... Serjo?" the wife asked, her worry on her face, "are we indanger of being attacked?"

"Lord Dres Jazbet has the situation in hand at the moment, sera,"Dram said with calm authority. "We do have some questions however. Haveeither of you noticed anything unusual in these parts recently ..."
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Posted by: stratigo Jan 26 2005, 02:38 AM

Three glowing eyed fanatics walked toward the crippled dunmer.One of them raised a rusty looking shortsword. They wouldn't need any help forthis one. Suddenly another dunmer burst from behind a rock. He gutted the firstfanatic as the others turned. The cripple however didn't seem so crippled afterall. And two blades had materialized in his hand. One of the fanatics startedto summon a winged twilight before his throat was slit by the so calledcripple. The third tried to run, but a spear of energy impaled him before hegot too far. Zaldaar lowered his hand. Ragner shook his head. There seemed tobe so many of them. That was the 8th group they had encountered. Still thecountry side was crawling with them.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 02:54 AM

Ald Raathim

Jazbet, Kellen, and a small collection of the more respected merchants of thevillage stepped out on the balcony. More and more villagers came into thesquare to hear the Khajiit speak.

"Good people," said Jazbet, his voice strong and clear. "As youcan see, I have returned to you different from when I left. I am blind. But Ido not need my eyes to see the menace facing us.

"Nor do I need to tell you the nature of the threat -- you have seen itfirst hand yourself. I have spoken to some of you in this tavern already, andheard tales of terror, and tales of great bravery.

"As we speak, some of the mightiest warriors in all of Tamriel areaccompanied your own courageous lads and lasses in the Guard, scouring thecountryside for these Azurites.

"Our first goal is to cleanse the land of these dangerous cult members.Our second is to defend ourselves from further incursions.

"In these goals, we must stand together. We must find the scourge where itlurks, and drive it from this fair land. And shortly, every able-bodied citizenwill be given arms and training, so we can defend our freedom and our livesfrom this menace. I know you will not let me down.

"As you know, I am one of you. I do not want to be a warlord and rule youwith a martial land. Some day, I hope soon, we can return to our peaceful ways.As of this moment, however, we at war with a terror from without and within.

"We will prevail."

The crowd cheered. They would do what it took. It was their patriotic duty.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 02:57 AM

Allerleirauh:

At first things went well. Allerleirauh had enough warning as they were nearingpeople that she could return to her human form. When she left each encounter,she became a Welwa again. It was pure pleasure being a Welwa in a strangeplace. The Dawn beast knew instinctively many things she didn't know herself,about the values of plants and the meaning of mysterious noises. She snuffledalong delightedly, absorbing information.

A small family living in poverty on the edge of the mangrove swamp were notAzurites. Allerleirauh could not understand, from her conversation with theguard, why they were there and not in a village - something having to do withDunmer taboos about death of kinsmen. Apparently Jazbet was being dangerouslygenerous by overlooking them and allowing them to squat there.

They rousted a disgruntled Khajiit from a shack barely recognizable as anartificial structure. He smelled of skooma and some form of alcohol which shedidn't recognize, but which made her nose curl. He was not an Azurite either.Apparently he had slept through Azura's call in a daze.

An elderly female necromancer was not an Azurite either. However, Allerleirauhexplored her back room and made a note to explain her behavior to Jazbet. Shesuspected that some of the things there dead should not be. And others shoulddefinitely never have been dug up.

They discovered a cavern full of smugglers. Only two out of ten were Azurites.However, all ten attacked. The two Azurites made the other men braver than theyshould have been - "We have daedra! What do you have?" the menshouted at the guard on the parrapton and the slim Nord woman."This," Allerleirauh replied, pulling her cloak around her.

She tossed her head and pawed at her muzzle for several minutes after they weredead; Daedra blood tasted vile. In future she would prefer her sword to herteeth.

After several more encounters, good and bad, they came to the one that wouldhaunt her.

"Shipwreck," the guard reported, swooping low. "I'll guide youto it. I think everyone is dead though."

It was a small craft. What it had been doing on the edge of Jazbet's propertywas unclear. It hadn't been there long - perhaps one or at most two days.Allerleirauh found a drowned woman in the boat, and a drowned man on the shore,being eaten by - something she didn't know the name for. Yet more giantinsects. They shuffled away as she approached. It was possible more people hadbeen with the ship, and been lost at sea.

She smelled something else, something living. Dunmer, Dunmer child. That wasrare, a scent she barely recognized. Then she heard a clear sweet voice, frombeneath a rock overhang.

"Azura 'tis who rules the skies
for the sunrise never lies
blue eyes make your heart's choice plain
and in strength we rise again..."

The child had blue eyes.

Allerleirauh stood up and returned to her woman's form, so as to be lessalarming to a child.

"I know who you are," the child said, quite calmly. "My mothertold me all about you. You're going to work for me in your next life."

And then the child summoned a Winged Twilight.

"NO!" Allerleirauh cried, in a voice like sounding brass, as theguard raised his spear to dispatch the little girl. He backed off in confusion,but did not disobey her. She destroyed the Twilight, and cast a calm spell onthe child. She carried the child back to Jazbet's estate - no longerstruggling, but still explaining in her pleasant little voice Allerleirauh'sfate in the next world.
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 26 2005, 03:02 AM

After several hours had past and several names had been taken,Arynel walked to the counter, and handed the list of names to the Dunmerpatron. The Breton turned and walked out of the tavern, where his cloak sweptover the table nearest the door, an inscribed parchment was left.

Public Notice:

Of recent, rumors of an ash-skinned Nord claiming to be the vessel of theDaedric Prince of Oblivion, Azura, have surfaced; according to said rumors,said ash-skinned Nord traveled over Vvardenfell, until at last being cut downnear Vivec City. It has been noted that a group of zealous Azura worshippershave arisen, who are known to be extremely dangerous. Lord Jazbet has set towork a plan to flush out the potential trouble makers, but he needs your help;all people of good standing are asked to gather the names of those people, bothman and mer, who may be worshippers of this incarnate; identificationinformation to be explained shortly. Information is to be delivered to LordJazbet at his estate. It is advised that this notice is copied multiple timesand spread around, in order to increase the effectiveness of those servingunder Lord Jazbet, who are concerned for the wellbeing of his Lord’s citizenry.

Identification for followers of Incarnate:

Both man and mer will have bright, shiny blue eyes, though the can be hiddenthrough spells of illusion. It is possible, through the use of a dispel spell,doing so may be a risk of personal safety, and it is advised this is notattempted except as a last resort. Rather, it is advised that all suspiciouspersons be reported. Also, this is not a witch hunt, specific people, i.e.,those who have pledged themselves to said incarnate, are being sought; reportonly those who have been acting suspiciously of recent, those people who seemto be concerned with the recent events involving said incarnate. Finally, it isimportant that all good men and mer refrain from confronting these Azurites—asthey are called—personally, instead, turn in a list of names to Lord Jazbet, orany of his faithful servants.

Posted by: Aki Jan 26 2005, 03:04 AM

Reichi had found a cave. On a rock nearby, the colors of duskand dawn had been painted. A subtle marker to other Azurites. Reichi crept insilently. Holding his shortsword in his right hand and the Dagger of Senses inhis left.

He found the cave to be all but deserted. Save for one guard left which Reichihad dispatched of. Reichi now had the lone guard's rather nice set of chitinarmor. The guard's corpse had been stashed in a crate.

The cave consisted of the entry cavern, which led straight into a rounded offcaven from which three seperate paths branched off. One led to a sleeping,living, and cooking area. Another to a Azura Shrine. The final one led to asmall supply stockpile.

Reichi decided the lone guard had been left while the other headed off, tosearch perhaps, or to harass the local village. Reichi rumanged through thecave. While waiting for the occupants to return.
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Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo Jan 26 2005, 03:08 AM

Issa Yojimbo awoke to screams.

He ran out into the main hall and found a nightmare.

Blood covered the walls, cieling, and floor. Bodies of the dead and dying werestrewn about recklessly.

There stood two Dunmer, dressed in full Orcish armor. But their eyes were notquite right. They glowed a bright blue.

Issa drew his sword. It was a tad heavier than his old sword, and a lot lesseffective, but it would do. He ran at one of the Dunmer, pushed himself off ofa wall, and came down on his opponent's sword arm with his own.

But just before he could slice his assailant's arm off, he felt something holdinghim back. They were talons. He turned around to see the face of a beautifulwoman, but the body of a Lesser Daedra.

The Winged Twilight threw him across the room, flew at him screaching all theway, and attempted to impale him on her claws. Issa Yojimbo thought quickly andcast a powerful spell of Sanctuary.
He closed his eyes in fear and thrust the sword upward.

The Daedra screamed as its Animus was purged from the Mundus. Issa cast a spellof God's Fire at the impaled Winged Twilight to finish it off.

Issa ran at a Dunmer attacker and his blade pierced his opponent's heart. Withhis dying breath, the blue-eyed killer spoke the words of Azura,

Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 03:37 AM

Several farms later, Dram was beginning to grow a littleconcerned; they had yet to find any actual Azurites, which was heartening inits own way, but the last few people they had questioned mentioned seeingstrange shapes in the sky. Loranna and Dram had exchanged looks upon hearingthis news ...

"South of here, you say?" Dram asked the latest farmer they werequestioning.

"Aye serjo," the farmer replied, looking a bit nervous. "The oldwidow Tolmse Drenim is said to live around there, by the lake ..."

"I see," Dram says, nodding. "Thank you for you time serjo;remember to keep your eyes and your weapons sharp. Lord Dres Jazbet shall becontacting you again soon."

As the farmer heads back to his crop, Loranna consults the map. "I'mguessing he means this lake here," she says, indicating the one a couplemiles south of their position.

"Only lake anywhere nearby," Dram says, frowning. "That's openland; we'll be visible coming in ..."

"Not much we can do about it," Loranna points out. " ... If aTwilight tries to cut us out of the sky ..."

"The parrapton will know how to defend itself," Dram says. "Butstay back from any Twilights just the same; I'll handle it."

Loranna frowns a little, but nods. " ... Right," she says, gettingback in the saddle. "Well, no sense in waiting ..."

It took but a short time to cover the distance from the farm to the lake, andboth Loranna and Dram could see a small, poor hut on the shore, and a humanfigure wading through the water.

A moment later, though, another figure appeared - a Winged Twilight. Lorannafelt her chest tighten as the Daedra screamed and flew toward them ...

===

Dram was good but he was still young; his silver longsword flashed through theair as he directed his mount to engage the enemy, but the Twilight had theadvantage in strength. Claws raked at his armor as he thrust and parried,fighting to stay above the Twilight in their ariel battle.

Loranna watched Dram battle for a moment, her expression worried and yet angry.There was no practical way she could fight alongside Dram right now, and usingone of the fireball scrolls she had been given was asking to fry her ownpartner. However, the woman below ...

Loranna turned to take aim at the Dunmer below her, pulling out her scroll -and saw a flash of flame coming her way. The widow Tolmse Drenim evidentallyknew a few spells of her own. Loranna pulled hard to make her mount dodge andfelt her stomach do a loop, but she escaped being flash-fried, and soon sent abolt of flame screaming back at the Dunmer.

It hit, but didn't do much - Dunmer shrugged off flames. However, it gaveLoranna a chance to send her parrapton buzzing downward, her sword raised. TheDunmer Azurite looked up, blue eyes wide ....

Loranna's sword flashed out, and the impact nearly jarred it from her hand -but Tolmse's head went flying. Dram thrust his sword into the Twilight in timeto hear it scream in dismay and be sent back to Oblivion by the death of itsmaster. Battered and bleeding, he swooped over to Loranna.

"Sera?" he asked, seeing the Nord woman looking a bit shocked."Sera?"

" ... I'm all right," Loranna says, taking a deep breath. " ...Just my first real kill in combat ..." Seeing Dram injured, she collectsher thoughts and casts what healing she knows ...

Their day was relatively uneventful after that; none of the other Azurites theyfound got much chance to attack before Dram's or Loranna's sword cleaved them.The two finished their patrol and headed back to the estate.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 03:37 AM

Winterhold, Skyrim

It took hours for Elysana's ship to skirt the massive ice floes in Winterhold'sharbor. At last, it came to dock, where it was met by the harbor master and adozen of the biggest Nord warriors the Queen of Wayrest had ever seen.

Her own twenty soldiers tried not to shiver as they stood behind theirmistress.

'No alien ship is being admitted to Winterhold during this time of trouble,'the harbor master said.

'Take us somewhere warm and bring us food, and the Queen of Wayrest will tell hersecond cousin, your King Oftor, that you did your duty well,' said Elysana,looking him in the eye.

He did as he was bade. Very quickly.

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Posted by: Arynel Jan 26 2005, 03:53 AM

Arynel wandered into a cave, and stumbled upon a group of twoAltmer and three Dunmer—their eyes shone with a bright Azure hue.

“You’ll get out of here quick,” one of the Dunmer growled, “if you know what’sgood for you.”

“It’s too late for that,” one of the Altmer said, “He made his mistake byshowing his ugly face here in the first place.”

A tall Dunmer with bone thin arms charged Arynel with a spear, the Bretonstepped to the side and thrust his arm out, sending out a green paralysis spellwhich hit the Dunmer who had spoken. He swiveled around, grabbing the spearfrom the Dunmer’s hand as the dark elf was turning around. He threw the spearoff further down the cave.

“You n’wah!” The Dunmer screamed.

“Never mind that, you’ll get it later.” An Altmer said, lifting his arms. “Justfocus on killing him!”

Arynel wove his arms, and a green sanctuary aura appeared around him. Momentslater, a fireball flew by, searing the ends of his hair. The Breton’s hand cameto the hilt of his sword.

Three winged twilights materialized in the cave, and flew screaming towards theBreton. Arynel’s sword came into contact with each one in turn, and upon eachcontact a wheel of light was formed, and then shattered—along with the daedrait surrounded.

An iron blade missed the Breton’s face by not but inches. The Altmer lifted hisarms to cast a second spell, and the other Altmer and the three Dunmer chargedin towards Arynel. He glanced down at his sword, it shown with glowing light,in eight hues.

Eight spokes, he choose one.

The two Altmer and three Dunmer seemed to be moving through water. A bladeglided past Arynel, and the Breton stepped back, and brought forth his ownblade.

The world snapped back into rightful speed, and one Dunmer lay dead andbloodied, he had bought an instant, but only that. He stepped to the side asanother Dunmer was devoured by the Altmer’s poorly aimed shockball. The finalDunmer cursed and charged after the Altmer, stabbing him in the chest.

The other Altmer charged after the Dunmer, cleaving his head with an axe, andthen charged towards Arynel. The Breton struck low with his blade, and the HighElf fell.

The Breton wiped off the sword, and returned it to his resting place. He dippedhis fingers in a small pool of water, and chose a second spoke, and then heplaced a moist finger on his forehead.
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Posted by: Aki Jan 26 2005, 03:53 AM

The first Azurite to enter fell due to a shortsword through herchest. The secound and third summoned Winged Twilights. Not the wisest move ina cave, but understandable, given that they probablly hadn't had so much powerbefore bowing to Azura.

The first twilight fell to the Dagger of Senses, the blade embedded itself init's face, sending the Daedroth's animus screaming into the void. Reichi slidthe first azurite off his shortblade and swung at the third Azurite. TheAzurite brought a dagger up to counter, as the Twilight tore into Reichi's newchitin armor. Reichi stumbled and fell, but dug the Dagger of Senses into theAzurite's thigh as he did, the Azurite cursed and fell.

The Twilight descended on Reichi and tried to claw at his face. Reichi sheildedhis face with a arm and struck out blindly. Incidently, this blinded theTwilight, which shreiked and flew off. Reichi finished the final Azurite andthe Daedroth vanished in mid-air.

Reichi, satisfied, walked back towards the estate.
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 03:57 AM

Aricyn and his Argonian guide, who mostly followed the oldwolf's nose, had headed toward the rougher, hilly parts of Jazbet's land.Although they had come upon a few scattered homesteads, and a cave or two,there were no Azurites to be seen. It was turning into an uneventful day.

It was growing late in the day as they struck a stream and followed it to asaltrice mill that Falls-like-Rain knew of.

When they drew near, Aricyn could clearly make out a hole in the mill's clayroof.

"Is it always like that?" he asked the Argonian.

"No, Serjo," he replied, sliding from the horse's back and readying ajavelin.

Aricyn drew his sword, and nudged the horse forward.

Kynidius neighed, and the mill door burst open. A heavy, older Dunmer ran outand took shakey aim at the huge mounted Nord with a short bow.

"Stop right there!" he shouted. "I've killed twice this day,I'll do it again!"

Aricyn's muscles tensed as he tried to make out the color of the man's eyes. Justinside the darkness of the door he could make out a woman and and possibly anadolescent, hiding and watching.

The old wolf had crept along the millstream, and was just getting into positionto pounce on the nervous archer.

"Serjo Ildrim!" the Argonian called, "It is Falls-like-Rain! Weis sent by Master Jazbet! Serjo Ildrim puts down bow, please!"

"Rain?" the Dunmer called, lowering his bow, but still eyeing theNord with a great deal of suspicion. "Rain! Come see what I killed!"

Waving frantically, he motioned the Argonian into the mill. Aricyn followed,being given a wide berth by the Dunmer family.

In the mill, by the creaking and grinding stone, lay a Dunmer man and a black,winged creature, both in a lifeless heap.

The miller was obviously proud of himself, and started to recount the entiretale to the Argonian in great detail.

Barely listening, Aricyn bent to the Twilight's corpes. He pulled a long, crudearrowshaft from its back. The tip gleamed and sparkled green. The head wasfinely-worked glass.

Aricyn turned and held the arrow up to the miller. "Where did you getthis?"

"These?" he said, waving the one just like it that he had aimed atAricyn, "Got scads of them. My boy finds them in the hills all the time.Must've been a battle there ages ago or something."

"Boy," Aricyn said, turning to the youth, "you and I need totalk..."

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Posted by: Attrebus Jan 26 2005, 04:10 AM

Things seemed to be running fairly smoothly. Jaster hadretrieved a sturdy bow and some glass arrows before heading off. The Dunmer hasencountered a few Azurites and easily dispatched them and their summoned WingedTwilights with his bow.

That was when Jaster discovered a group of five cultists. They had alreadysummoned a few Daedra, so this could be tricky. Luckily they hadn't seen himyet. The Dunmer pulled the reigns slightly and started heading almost directlyupwards. Once he had reached a suitable height, Jaster started a slow dive. Hefired two arrows in quick succession - each one embedding in the skull of a cultist.The remaining ran in panic, while the Winged Twilights started heading towardsJaster and his mount. An accurate shot dispatched one, however the other twowere on him. Jaster directed his parrapton towards the first Twilight - it'slegs grabbing it as it's stinger plunged into the Daedra again and again. Theother Twilight was now level with Jaster - too close to use a bow with anyeffectivness. His Ebony blade was drawn as he slashed at the Daedra.

Both combatants traded blows for a few seconds before Jaster's blade enteredthe Winged Twilight's abdomen. That was when the Winged Twilight fell forward,knocking Jaster from his saddle! Jaster managed to keep one hand held to thereign, however, that caused the parrapton to roll over - still embraced withthe Twilight. His mount was getting the upper hand, but it was clear the battlewould be very close.

So Jaster let go.
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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 04:18 AM

Teleran flew above the road for a long time without seeing anygroups that resembled bandits in the least. He had happened upon anothertraveling party, but there were no Azurites among them.

Just as he was beginning to believe thatthe old man had been lying to him, orat the very least had been mistaken, he noticed an assortment of mer encampedupon the shoulder of the road. A Khajiit in a flowing robe came out to meethim. "What do you want?"

"Hello, don't worry, I'll leave you alone , I just have to make sure youaren't hiding some troublemakers." Teleran pulled out the scroll. "Doyou mind?"

"Of course not," the Khajiit replied, but the mer began to draw theirweapons and looked at Teleran as though he was their next meal. A dunmer womanbegan chanting something that Teleran could not make out.

Teleran cast the spell from the scroll and as its effects became seen and theeyes facing Teleran became a brilliant Azure blue. As each mer dropped theillusion Teleran became aware that he was outnumbered by a very large margin.'Guess I should have waited for an escort after all,' he thought to himself, ashe leapt from his mount into middle of the Azurites.

This proved very fortunate for Teleran, as the fireball the Khajiit sent forhim took the first Azurite, a Bosmer, in the back and badly burned a few of thenearer Azurites. This left Teleran free to take out the Dunmer who had beenchanting earlier. As he struck for her she finished her spell and he wentflying backwards, through one of the makeshift tents. As a cry split the airabove he realized that a winged twilight was swooping down upon him.

Just before the twilight reached him a spear appeared through its gut and theparrapton flew by shaking the winged twilight from her stinger. "Thanksfor the gift," he shouted to her before sending a dagger through the airtowards the witch who had sent him flying earlier and watched stunned at itbounced off of a shield shimmering around the witch.

His other daggers found their marks with little problem however and theAzurites seemed to be scattering, but he had lost track of the Khajiit and thatcursed witch was starting another spell. Teleran looked up to see if theparrapton could aid him just in time to see a dispatched winged twilight falltowards him and sent Nehtayem to take care of the winged twilight that hadmanaged to get behind the parrapton.

The last of the winged twilights fell, ipaled simultaneously by a dagger andthe stinger of the parrapton, as the witch completed her spell and sent a plumeof fire streaming for Teleran. Teleran managed to make it out of the way byusing a potion of jump. what he didn't expect, was that the Khajiit wouldfollow him into the sky jumping above even the parrapton. The Khajiit came downat Teleran, thrusting an ebony spear that shone with enchantment downwards ashe came.

Teleran actually felt himself relaxing as the spear split the air towards him,mostly because he realized that the Khajiit had jumped too high, and wassetting himself up for the parrapton. who shortly proved Teleran right bytearing the Khajiit in two as she flew past.

As the spear plummeted to the ground Teleran redirected it, as Teleran's feettouched the ground, the spear hit its target. When Teleran looked at his targethe was stunned to see her still standing. Then he noticed that she was slumped,held up only by the spear that had killed her. Her face fixed in an expressionof denial.

Teleran took a few healing potions from the camp, then took the spear from thenow deceased dunmer woman. He climbed back onto the parrapton and headed backto Jazbet's estate. "I will call you Vilyanna, does that sound good toyou?" he asked the parrapton as she flew home. She buzzed back in what hetook to be an agreeable manner.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 04:19 AM

Tris:

Tris lounged on the back of his parrapton. He was starting to feel comfortablezooming through the air. Even co*cky. Fortunately the queen had chosen well -according to the guard, he was riding a co*cky bug. Very nice then. Interestingthat they all had personalities.

He and Ciel seemed to be along to provide muscle for the guard as the guardwent into farmsteads and spoke to the people there. Anyone missing? No. Anyonesick? Not really, serjo, thanks for your concern... Anyone acting strange? Notreally, serjo. Mind if we cast a spell just to be sure?

It was routine work. Tris cast the dispell, Ciel stood ready in case anythinguntoward happened, and the guard smiled and apologized for the inconvenience.Nice fellow. His face had an entirely different color and texture from thefaces of Vvardenfell Dunmer.

They had relaxed into light conversation by the time they approached the fifthfarmstead. Tris noticed something odd about the way his parrapton was behaving.It seemed to be humming at a different frequency.

"They are agitated," the guard said. "They have a keen sense ofsmell."

"You two wait here," Tris said. "I'm going to float in for acloser look."

Using his levitation, he approached the farmhouse. What he saw made him shakehis head in amazement.

"There's a Winged Twilight in there," he reported to Ciel and theguard, resuming his seat on the parrapton. "And... it's doing laundry. Ithink it saw me but it didn't raise the alarm. It gave me... more of a painedlook."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 04:21 AM

Flashback

The Void

He was sleeping. So beautiful. Bosriel reached forth, and her telekinetic touchran through his hair like a cool breeze.

The bard Arynel had rolled onto his side, and she could see -- though no oneelse could -- the mark. He was healed, but he was hers. The Void Vampire smiled,and she felt her hunger grow. She had been trying to be good in CastleEbonheart, but now, with so much death throughout Morrowind and elsewhere, whowould notice if a few more people were found missing?

The Akaviri girl had appeared without warning. She and Bosriel, the little girlwith the red eyes and the flowing black hair had stared at each other for aninfinity that was the beat of a fly’s wing.

Then Bosriel had her and began to feed.

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Posted by: Attrebus Jan 26 2005, 04:26 AM

Quickly Jaster let go of his sword and grabbed his bow alongwith an arrow. He didn't have much time, and he had to be accurate. The dunmerwhistled to the parrapton and it let go and started heading towards Jaster. TheTwilight has now exposed enough so Jaster fired. The arrow wasn't as accurateas he hoped, however, it was enough to slow it down. A second arrow finishedthe job, just as the parrapton caught up to the falling Jaster. The dunmerreached out and grabbed onto the saddle and mounted it as best he could. The groundwas so close that he could almost reach out and touch it - but the parraptonpulled level just in time.

It was a simple matter of dispatching the remaining Azurites and retrieve hissword after that. Jaster also attended to the wounds of his mount. They wouldrequire more attention when they returned, but for now they weren't too bad.

Jaster moved to the next area on his list.
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Posted by: Solin Jan 26 2005, 04:40 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 08:09 PM)

Tris:
Using his levitation, he approached the farmhouse. What he saw made him shakehis head in amazement.

"There's a Winged Twilight in there," he reported to Ciel andthe guard, resuming his seat on the parrapton. "And... it's doing laundry.I think it saw me but it didn't raise the alarm. It gave me... more of a painedlook."

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“Laundry?” Ciel asked disbelieving.

The guard gave a harsh raspy laugh and said, “Well then, perhaps it’s best weput it out of its misery.”

The dunmer relayed his wish to his mount with a slight application of pressure.Quick in response, the bug flitted closer to the small cluster of farmbuildings. Ciel followed close behind.

The wasps’ buzzing must have been audible inside the stead. The three mountedfigures must have been enough to dissuade a head on confrontation. It was notlong before a pair of figures darted away from the farm into the countryside.The screeching of the lesser daedra became audible. Their masters must havesent them to cover their escape.

Ciel spurred his mount forward and pointed indicating he would handle at leastone of the twilights. His silver blade came free of his scabbard in an instant.The guard hefted a spear and pointed after the fleeing mer below. “Someone besttake care of them two,” he yelled over the buzzing.

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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 04:40 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 08:11 PM)

Flashback
The Void

The Akaviri girl had appeared without warning. She and Bosriel, thelittle girl with the red eyes and the flowing black hair had stared at eachother for an infinity that was the beat of a fly’s wing.

Then Bosriel had her and began to feed.

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(The Void, a few hours ago:)

There was thunder in the Void, and Leseth was there. He hit the embracing girlslike inevitibility itself.

Limp, Doll started to fall into the endless black. Leseth swooped and gatheredher up in his arms.

His eyes were flaming as he looked at Bosriel. He bent his head and smelledDoll's lips. She still lived. His shoulders relaxed somewhat.

"Go," he said, very quietly, to Bosriel. "Go back to Ebonheart.I will join you there presently, and we will free you from this place."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 04:50 AM

(The Void, a few hours ago:)

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QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 25 2005, 10:30 PM)

"Go," he said, very quietly, to Bosriel. "Go backto Ebonheart. I will join you there presently, and we will free you from thisplace."

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Bosriel's face was contorted in a snarl, blood streaming from her lips,spattering on her white robe, dropping into the nothingness below.

For that moment, she was not a little girl, even in appearance. She was theVoid Vampire, a monster driven only by hunger and rage. She was the predatorwhose meal had been interrupted at the moment of ecstasy.

Then she blinked.

'I -' she began, but no apology would do. She bowed her head, and flew rapidlyaway, swallowed up by darkness.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 04:55 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 25 2005, 09:30 PM)

“Laundry?” Ciel asked disbelieving.

The guard gave a harsh raspy laugh and said, “Well then, perhaps it’s best weput it out of its misery.”

The dunmer relayed his wish to his mount with a slight application ofpressure. Quick in response, the bug flitted closer to the small clusterof farm buildings. Ciel followed close behind.

The wasps’ buzzing must have been audible inside the stead. The threemounted figures must have been enough to dissuade a head onconfrontation. It was not long before a pair of figures darted away fromthe farm into the countryside. The screeching of the lesser daedra becameaudible. Their masters must have sent them to cover their escape.

Ciel spurred his mount forward and pointed indicating he would handle at leastone of the twilights. His silver blade came free of his scabbard in aninstant. The guard hefted a spear and pointed after the fleeing merbelow. “Someone best take care of them two,” he yelled over the buzzing.

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"I'll take them," Tris shouted, spinning his parrapton in the air andzooming after the fleeing people.

It shocked him how little he liked leaving Ciel to fight Twilights. He knewthat Ciel could take two of them out. He had seen him take on dozens, in thecrowded hall of Loranna's trial outside Vivec. And he had seen him afterwards,with his left arm in shreds, hanging useless at his side, his body dripping waterfrom the harbor and blood in equal quantities.

"Stop it," he told himself, out loud, sweeping his parrapton underthe canopy of the forest. The fleeing couple had, sensibly, separated. Theywere older, probably married, simple farmfolk. He rubbed his fingers againstthe throwing knife he held in his hand - he could put it through the man'schest, easily. Or he could dip down beside him and kick him to the ground, andaccept his surrender.

Far behind him, he heard the terrible shrieks of the twilights these people hadsummoned, fighting Ciel.

The blade left his fingers, and the man fell, clutching the spouting hole inhis breast. A moment later, Tris sent a second blade through the back of hiswife's skull.
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Posted by: Shardie Jan 26 2005, 04:58 AM

Maranda in Cydoriil

After what seemed like hours, the stone door opened, and an old man walked out
'You must be the high priest?' Maranda asked
'Indeed. I am Curio Setrius, high priest of the Lunar Cult. You have a questionto ask me?' Setrius said
'Indeed I do... do you have any old nord worshipers?'
'Now thats a silly question, of course we do...'
'Then, do you have any who lhave been to Cydoriil city in the past few weeks?'
Setrius thought about things for a moment... 'Come with me...' he said, leadingher into the cave
As they walked through the dark passages, the priest chatted to her, 'I havenot sent anyone to Cydoriil... but I sence... somthing about you that seems...familiar... So I am willing to help... please, sit...' he said, directingMaranda to a chair
'Thank you, I have a new found respect for Shezzar worshipers, now...' Marandasaid as he told her story...
Setrius sat and listened paitently, intill she was finished...
'Very well, I shall tell you this. The person you currently search for is inWinterhold, in Skyrim.'
'What? Do you know him?' Maranda asked suprised
'Sort of...' the priest said, as Maranda took out 100 gold pieces as a guestureof thanks. That night, She returned to Chorrol, to make her way to the Kingdomof Winterhold, in Skyrim
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 04:59 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 25 2005, 08:40 PM)

(The Void, a few hours ago:)
Bosriel's face was contorted in a snarl, blood streaming from her lips,spattering on her white robe, dropping into the nothingness below.

For that moment, she was not a little girl, even in appearance. She wasthe Void Vampire, a monster driven only by hunger and rage. She was thepredator whose meal had been interrupted at the moment of ecstasy.

Then she blinked.

'I -' she began, but no apology would do. She bowed her head, and flewrapidly away, swallowed up by darkness.

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(The Void, a few hours ago:)

Leseth watched her go. If one knew what pity looked like on that monstrousblack face, they would have recognized it then.

He looked down at Doll's unconscious form, and whispered a string of power.

Emerging in his own tiny, dark house in Alcaire, he laid the young girl gentlyon the dusty bed and placed his bear-like hand on her forehead. He whispered aspell. The wounds at her neck closed and her eyelids fluttered.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 05:07 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 25 2005, 09:49 PM)

(The Void, a few hours ago:)

Leseth watched her go. If one knew what pity looked like on that monstrousblack face, they would have recognized it then.

He looked down at Doll's unconscious form, and whispered a string of power.

Emerging in his own tiny, dark house in Alcaire, he laid the young girl gentlyon the dusty bed and placed his bear-like hand on her forehead. He whispered aspell. The wounds at her neck closed and her eyelids fluttered.

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Doll opened her eyes slowly. She had been having the prettiest dream... of alovely young playmate, in a pretty room full of nice things. A pretty child'sroom, a rich child's room. That room had been pink and scarlet and black, withgreen iced cakes and elaborate wall hangings, and a sweet little bed, just forher.

She was understandably confused when she awoke. So she lay still, to get herbearings. She was on a bed, yes, but not a nice little bed. She was on a bed inthe ordinary world, in a room fireless and cheerless, and over her loomedsomeone who could only be Leseth. He was touching her. Behind him she could seewhat should have been the ceiling of the room but instead was a doorway into nothingness.

Suddenly she was terrified of her dream, which had seemed so nice.

Her instinct was to protect herself. And this she did by smiling, a very demuretiny smile, and saying:

"OH! Where am I? I feel so dizzy."

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Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo Jan 26 2005, 05:08 AM

Issa Yojimbo rode a stilt strider from Suran to Khuul.

He was sitting in the back of the giant bug's hollowed out shell, playing a fatlute he had found in Suran.

He found that he liked the lute, and played it quite well. In the few short hoursit took to get to Khuul, he had developed a strong liking to the instrument,akin to the one he had for his old sword. Granted, he could no longer performmagick spells beyond the realm of reality, nor could he travel through the Voidwith this fat lute, but at least he no longer felt helpless.

Suddenly, the stilt strider stopped. The driver told Issa to get off. Theyweren't in Khuul.

A platoon of Imperial Knights, lead by Felix Felices demanded to see someonenamed "Issa Yojimbo".

"Yeah, that's me...can I serve the Emperor's finest?"

Felix glared at the half-Dunmer. "We are to take you back toCyrodiil."

They were all mounted on horses, with an extra one for Yojimbo.

----------------------

Soon, they were on their way to Ebonhart Port, where a boat to the Mainland waswaiting.

Issa played his fat lute all the way there.

He had found a joy that he hadn't had since....

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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 05:09 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 08:57 PM)

Suddenly she was terrified of her dream, which had seemed sonice.

Her instinct was to protect herself. And this she did by smiling, a very demuretiny smile, and saying:

"OH! Where am I? I feel so dizzy."

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(Leseth's house, Alcaire, present time:)

Leseth quickly withdrew his hand and stood back.

"You are safe now. You are in my home.

"It is my fault you were attacked. Forgive me.

"I should take you back," he said suddenly.
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Posted by: Solin Jan 26 2005, 05:13 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 08:45 PM)

Far behind him, he heard the terrible shrieks of the twilightsthese people had summoned, fighting Ciel.

The blade left his fingers, and the man fell, clutching the spouting hole inhis breast. A moment later, Tris sent a second blade through the back of hiswife's skull.

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Ciel slashed at the twilight’s flapping wings. It flitted sideways nimbly,dodging the swing. Screeching, it came back at the knight, talons extended,ready to rend flesh. Fighting a flying beast from the back of a flying mountwas far different from fighting on horseback.

Having far more experience in aerial combat, his guard companion fair betterthan Ciel. He flowed through the air after the second daedra. Smooth gracefulspirals and rolls, it almost seemed fanciful. The spear point never waveredfrom its target through all the dives and climbs, even when the beast turnedback to rake at the mer’s face.

The parrapton responded to the dunmer’s command without hesitation. Blinded bythe sun momentarily, the two combatants separated. The twilight had lost trackof her foe but her eyes now locked on Ciel, still struggling with her partner.She began to dive, ready to slash at the knight’s unprotected back when thespear point pierced her back. Gravity tore her free from the weapon’s bladedtip, crumpling in the air she fell to the hard ground below.

The guard spat after the falling corpse and turned to help Ciel, who was nowbleeding from half a dozen nicks and cut administered by his opponent. It wasnot long before she joined her companion on the ground.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 05:15 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 25 2005, 09:59 PM)

(Leseth's house, Alcaire, present time:)

Leseth quickly withdrew his hand and stood back.

"You are safe now. You are in my home.

"It is my fault you were attacked. Forgive me.

"I should take you back," he said suddenly.

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Doll was racing through her memories. She remembered the General sending her tofind Solin and Arynel; she remembered speaking to Solin. And then she had seenthe pretty child - that was real, wasn't it? Of course it was. That wasBosriel. She was so frail, she looked like a ghost or a spirit.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she said, with a smile like aflower opening to the sun. She sat up, experimentally, and found that althoughshe was very cold, the cold seemed to be in the room itself and not in herbones. "I've never been to Alcaire before. I'm Doll - but you probably alreadyknow that. You know everything about us, don't you?"
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 05:18 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 09:05 PM)

Doll was racing through her memories. She remembered the Generalsending her to find Solin and Arynel; she remembered speaking to Solin.And then she had seen the pretty child - that was real, wasn't it? Ofcourse it was. That was Bosriel. She was so frail, she looked like a ghost or aspirit.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she said, with a smile like aflower opening to the sun. She sat up, experimentally, and found that althoughshe was very cold, the cold seemed to be in the room itself and not in herbones. "I've never been to Alcaire before. I'm Doll - but you probablyalready know that. You know everything about us, don't you?"

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(Leseth's house, Alcaire:)

"I watch everyone," Leseth said, unaware of how disturbing thatsounded.

"Again, I regret putting your life in danger. I should watch morecarefully."

The huge monster seemed almost tongue-tied.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 05:22 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 25 2005, 10:08 PM)

"I watch everyone," Leseth said, unaware of howdisturbing that sounded.

"Again, I regret putting your life in danger. I should watch morecarefully."

The huge monster seemed almost tongue-tied.

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"It's good that you watch over us," Doll said. She extended onedainty hand. "The General has work for me; will you take me back?"

It was patently absurd that she, a Void Ranger, would need to be takenanywhere. But she didn't mention that. Besides, he would protect her from thechild in the Void. At the thought, she shivered, almost imperceptibly, and afaint shadow came into her eyes.
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 05:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 25 2005, 09:12 PM)

"It's good that you watch over us," Doll said.She extended one dainty hand. "The General has work for me; will youtake me back?"

It was patently absurd that she, a Void Ranger, would need to be takenanywhere. But she didn't mention that. Besides, he would protect her from thechild in the Void. At the thought, she shivered, almost imperceptibly, and afaint shadow came into her eyes.

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(Leseth's house, Alcaire:)

Leseth extended his own mailed hand, nearly four times the size of Dolls, andgently helped her to her feet.

Covering her with one huge arm, he crouched, making the floorboards bend, andlept into the ceiling that was not there.

They rejoined the world in Doll's warm room, in Jazbet's castle. Leseth sat hergently on her feet.

"Tell the General," he said quietly, "that I am trying to makethings right with the girl."

He bowed slightly, and with a crack like thunder, he was gone.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 05:33 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Jan 25 2005, 10:03 PM)

Ciel slashed at the twilight’s flapping wings. It flittedsideways nimbly, dodging the swing. Screeching, it came back at theknight, talons extended, ready to rend flesh. Fighting a flying beastfrom the back of a flying mount was far different from fighting onhorseback.

Having far more experience in aerial combat, his guard companion fair betterthan Ciel. He flowed through the air after the second daedra.Smooth graceful spirals and rolls, it almost seemed fanciful. The spearpoint never wavered from its target through all the dives and climbs, even whenthe beast turned back to rake at the mer’s face.

The parrapton responded to the dunmer’s command without hesitation.Blinded by the sun momentarily, the two combatants separated. Thetwilight had lost track of her foe but her eyes now locked on Ciel, stillstruggling with her partner. She began to dive, ready to slash at theknight’s unprotected back when the spear point pierced her back. Gravitytore her free from the weapon’s bladed tip, crumpling in the air she fell tothe hard ground below.

The guard spat after the falling corpse and turned to help Ciel, who was nowbleeding from half a dozen nicks and cut administered by his opponent. Itwas not long before she joined her companion on the ground.

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Tris:

"I took out the two Azurites," Tris reported. The expression on hisface was strained, but his words were breezy. "Shall we?"

The day continued as it had begun - routine work, punctuated by moments ofshock and sudden confusion and bloody death. They found one farmstead where theentire family had been killed. The murderer was somewhere. Ciel poked andprodded and gave opinions; they set out again. In another house the farmer'sfamily had been killed and the house was inhabited by a hired laborer, whom theguard knew and called by name. That sort of thing. Three witches walking alongoutside of town, on the road back, who tried to flirt with them, then tookoffense at the notion of a dispell being cast.

By the time they got back, Tris had killed several people. Enough that he wasno longer particularly bothered by the first pair. Not being bothered botheredhim even more than being bothered, but his mind wouldn't stay on the subject;it kept veering off.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 07:24 AM

Illidan and Dante slowly trecked through the sky, the Parraptonshumming loudly as they hobbled towards a small farmhouse in the distance, fromtheir position it looked normal enough. But upon further inspection they foundthe door to be kicked in.

"Let's check this one out..." Murmered Illidan, rubbing his handstogether making the large insect lower itself to ground level. Dante nodded andtoo, rubbed his hands together....but, instead of landing the Parrapton beganto spin in circles.

"What the!? no, land!" shouted Dante, rubbing his hands togetherharder, causing the beast to spin faster. Eventually, after about five minutesof cursing, nudging, rubbing and confusion, the insect finally set itself downon the ground, allowing Dante to dismount it.

"Okay, let's go Ill-......Illidan?" He asked, searching around theoutside of the farmhouse, he noticed somebodys feet thrashing about from behindthe corner of it, "Illidan!" Shouted Dante, drawing his sword andsprinting around the corner to find Illidan.....laughing?

He was laughing so hard that no sound was escaping his mouth, Dante frowned,sheathed his blade and dragged him to his feet, "Shutup, let's check thisdamn house out already."

The two made their way into the house, almost immeadietly they were knockedback by the pure stench, "Ugh.....damn, what died in here?" AkedIllidan, pinching his nostrils shut with his fingers, "That" repliedDante, pointing to atleast 3 corpses, all Dunmer, there eyes had supposedlybeen gouged/cut out, by the attacker.

Dante went over to a nearby table and lit a candle, barely illuminating thedesk he was looking over, from behind Illidan a closet door burst off it'shinges and through the darkness of the room, the form of a Khajiit could beseen leaping out of it.

Illidan screamed shrilly and dropped to the floor, the Khajiit beginning totear into his back, "Damnit!" Snarled Dante, drawing his blade andreadying the horn he had gotten earlier. "FWAAAOOOOOOOOMMMMMM" Thehorn rung out through the country side and had a slight defeaning affect on thefarmhouse.

Almost instantly, the Khajiit turned it's attention to Dante, and readieditself to pounce.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 07:46 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 26 2005, 01:14 AM)

Illidan and Dante slowly trecked through the sky, the Parraptonshumming loudly as they hobbled towards a small farmhouse in the distance, fromtheir position it looked normal enough. But upon further inspection they foundthe door to be kicked in.

"Let's check this one out..." Murmered Illidan, rubbing his handstogether making the large insect lower itself to ground level. Dante nodded andtoo, rubbed his hands together....but, instead of landing the Parrapton beganto spin in circles.

"What the!? no, land!" shouted Dante, rubbing his hands together harder,causing the beast to spin faster. Eventually, after about five minutes ofcursing, nudging, rubbing and confusion, the insect finally set itself down onthe ground, allowing Dante to dismount it.

"Okay, let's go Ill-......Illidan?" He asked, searching around theoutside of the farmhouse, he noticed somebodys feet thrashing about from behindthe corner of it, "Illidan!" Shouted Dante, drawing his sword andsprinting around the corner to find Illidan.....laughing?

He was laughing so hard that no sound was escaping his mouth, Dante frowned,sheathed his blade and dragged him to his feet, "Shutup, let's check thisdamn house out already."

The two made their way into the house, almost immeadietly they were knockedback by the pure stench, "Ugh.....damn, what died in here?" AkedIllidan, pinching his nostrils shut with his fingers, "That" repliedDante, pointing to atleast 3 corpses, all Dunmer, there eyes had supposedlybeen gouged/cut out, by the attacker.

Dante went over to a nearby table and lit a candle, barely illuminating thedesk he was looking over, from behind Illidan a closet door burst off it'shinges and through the darkness of the room, the form of a Khajiit could beseen leaping out of it.

Illidan screamed shrilly and dropped to the floor, the Khajiit beginning totear into his back, "Damnit!" Snarled Dante, drawing his blade andreadying the horn he had gotten earlier. "FWAAAOOOOOOOOMMMMMM" Thehorn rung out through the country side and had a slight defeaning affect on thefarmhouse.

Almost instantly, the Khajiit turned it's attention to Dante, and readieditself to pounce.

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Loranna and Dram had completed their patrol and were heading back when theyheard the sound of the horn.

Loranna frowns. " ... First one we've heard today ... someone must havefound something big ..."

Dram rests his hand on the pommel of his sword. "Let's goinvestigate," he says. " ... Be careful; you've been doing fairlywell but we've only faced one or two enemies at a time so far. Stay on theoutskirts of a melee and pick people off like you did with that witch."

Loranna nods, and the two fly to the source of the horn.

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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 07:53 AM

As the horn's cry rent the air, Vilyanna wheeled in the air andheaded towards its source. As they came nearer Teleran noticed two otherparraptons ahead of him and followed them in.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 08:00 AM

"FWAAAOOOOOOMMMMM" Cried the horn, yet again, Dantereadying himself as the Khajiit began to slowly pad around on the floor, as tofind a suitable chance, not taking it's eyes off of Dante's throat.

Meanwhile up the stairs of the farmhouse, a small group of atleast threeKhajiit sat in a circle enjoying a large amount of skooma that they hadpossesion of, strangely not being able to hear the noises coming from beneaththem.

Dante raised the horn to his mouth again, He took a large breath as it reachedhis lips, he tilted his head upwards and realeased it again"FWAAAAOOOOOMMMMM" needless to say, the Khajiit found this theperfect oppurtunity to strike and lunged forward, leaving two tiny scratchmarks on Dante's cheek, the Khajiit crouched back down and waited for anotherchance to strike.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 08:07 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 26 2005, 01:50 AM)

"FWAAAOOOOOOMMMMM" Cried the horn, yet again, Dantereadying himself as the Khajiit began to slowly pad around on the floor, as tofind a suitable chance, not taking it's eyes off of Dante's throat.

Meanwhile up the stairs of the farmhouse, a small group of atleast threeKhajiit sat in a circle enjoying a large amount of skooma that they hadpossesion of, strangely not being able to hear the noises coming from beneaththem.

Dante raised the horn to his mouth again, He took a large breath as it reachedhis lips, he tilted his head upwards and realeased it again"FWAAAAOOOOOMMMMM" needless to say, the Khajiit found this theperfect oppurtunity to strike and lunged forward, leaving two tiny scratchmarks on Dante's cheek, the Khajiit crouched back down and waited for anotherchance to strike.

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Parrartors were fast, and Loranna and Dram - and their new flying companion -soon found the source of the call. Dismounting, they cautiously approach thefarmhouse ...

" ... A Khajiit ... and no Twilights or other forces in sight ..."Dram notes as he and Loranna step just inside the farmhouse, his brow furrowinga little.

" ... Oh great," Loranna sighs.

Dram draws his sword, and stepping forwad he calls out to the Khajiit"Surrender betmer! Show us your eyes in the name of the lord of theselands, Dres Jazbet!"

Loranna remains near the door, standing to the side of it. She readies a dispelscroll, while keeping an eye out for other attackers.
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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 08:10 AM

Teleran jumps from Vilyanna's back to land beside the farmhouseand then follows the two he spied earlier, Loranna and one of Jazbet's knights,into the farmhouse and sees Dante fighting with a Khajiit. At the mention ofeyes Teleran jerks his head away in reflex, before remembering that this is howto spot Azurites.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 08:17 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 01:57 AM)

Parrartors were fast, and Loranna and Dram - and their newflying companion - soon found the source of the call. Dismounting, theycautiously approach the farmhouse ...

" ... A Khajiit ... and no Twilights or other forces in sight ..."Dram notes as he and Loranna step just inside the farmhouse, his brow furrowinga little.

" ... Oh great," Loranna sighs.

Dram draws his sword, and stepping forwad he calls out to the Khajiit"Surrender betmer! Show us your eyes in the name of the lord of theselands, Dres Jazbet!"

Loranna remains near the door, standing to the side of it. She readies a dispelscroll, while keeping an eye out for other attackers.

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The Khajiit's head darted to the source of sound, oddly enough so did the otherKhajiits upstairs, out of yet another small room up the stairs another fiveKhajiit burst out, nine of them in total, almost as if they had gathered asmall army.

The original Khajiit jumped forward onto Dante, stadying itself it launched offof his chest and sunk it's claws into the soft wooden ceiling, it slowly yetagiley scurried across the room towards the newly seen group of people, itscurried across until it was directly above Dram, looking down at him the groupwould notice his eyes looking quite normal. Despite that it still attacked,dropping from the roof with it's claws out, ready to cause some damage.

Dante fell back onto the table, extinguishing the candle he had earlier lit, heregained his composure and ran to Illidan, he began the tedious task of tryingto wake him.

The Khajiit upstairs had readied themselves for a battle, an amount of themwere wearing a Cuirass, of different materials, others had grabbed the nearestweapon, the best of which being a spear, the worst being a cleaver.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 08:41 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 26 2005, 02:07 AM)

The Khajiit's head darted to the source of sound, oddly enoughso did the other Khajiits upstairs, out of yet another small room up the stairsanother five Khajiit burst out, nine of them in total, almost as if they hadgathered a small army.

The original Khajiit jumped forward onto Dante, stadying itself it launched offof his chest and sunk it's claws into the soft wooden ceiling, it slowly yetagiley scurried across the room towards the newly seen group of people, itscurried across until it was directly above Dram, looking down at him the groupwould notice his eyes looking quite normal. Despite that it still attacked,dropping from the roof with it's claws out, ready to cause some damage.

Dante fell back onto the table, extinguishing the candle he had earlier lit, heregained his composure and ran to Illidan, he began the tedious task of tryingto wake him.

The Khajiit upstairs had readied themselves for a battle, an amount of themwere wearing a Cuirass, of different materials, others had grabbed the nearestweapon, the best of which being a spear, the worst being a cleaver.

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Loranna casts her dispel scroll as the candle gets extinguished, and she andDram have time to see the Khajiit's eyes turn glowing blue ...

Dram sidesteps the pouncing Khajiit with little trouble, silver longswordlashing out; the Khajiit hits the floor minus one clawed hand and roars inpain, to be cut short by Dram's sword as it smoothly runs through the Azurite'schest.

Dram casts a light spell to let people see more easily as he deftly steps overto Dante and Illidan, asking " ... Are there others?"

Loranna hears commotion upstairs. "More are coming," she says,readying her shortsword.

"Get your wounded friend out of here," Dram commands Dante."You, with the spear, get ready to help me hold the enemy back. Loranna,fall back and help heal the wounded man. We'll try to keep them inside here,where they can't easily summon their pet Daedra."

Loranna moves to help Dante carry Illidan out. "Come on ..."

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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 08:46 AM

"Very well sir knight, but I'm not too good at takingorders, mind if I do a little more than 'keep them inside'." Teleranlaughed as flourished his spear. "Get out of here Illidan, I'll coveryou."

Teleran turned to the stairs as the first Khajiit came in and started to movetowards them his spearpoint coming up to meet the nearest one.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 09:00 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 02:31 AM)

Loranna casts her dispel scroll as the candle gets extinguished,and she and Dram have time to see the Khajiit's eyes turn glowing blue ...

Dram sidesteps the pouncing Khajiit with little trouble, silver longswordlashing out; the Khajiit hits the floor minus one clawed hand and roars inpain, to be cut short by Dram's sword as it smoothly runs through the Azurite'schest.

Dram casts a light spell to let people see more easily as he deftly steps overto Dante and Illidan, asking " ... Are there others?"

Loranna hears commotion upstairs. "More are coming," she says,readying her shortsword.

"Get your wounded friend out of here," Dram commands Dante. "You,with the spear, get ready to help me hold the enemy back. Loranna, fallback and help heal the wounded man. We'll try to keep them inside here,where they can't easily summon their pet Daedra."

Loranna moves to help Dante carry Illidan out. "Come on ..."

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QUOTE(Teleran @ Jan 26 2005, 02:36 AM)

"Very well sir knight, but I'm not too good at takingorders, mind if I do a little more than 'keep them inside'." Teleranlaughed as flourished his spear. "Get out of here Illidan, I'll coveryou."

Teleran turned to the stairs as the first Khajiit came in and started to movetowards them his spearpoint coming up to meet the nearest one.

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Dante nodded to Loranna, and hoisted Illidan over his shoulder, the three ofthem made their way outside onto the surprisingly soft grass and placed Illidandown, Dante sheathed his blade and looked to Loranna "How good is yourknowledge of healing spells?"

The first Khajiit took Teleran's spear to the chest, it's Chitin armour barelymanaging to save it from the blow, it readied itself and lunged towards him, aniron saber gripped tightly in it's paw. The second Khajiit bolted down thestairs and leapt forward, barrelrolling in the air it positioned itselfbeautifully as it attempted to bring it's cleaver down on Dram's shoulder.
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Posted by: Solin Jan 26 2005, 09:03 AM

Solin sat at a writing desk in one of Jazbet's small librariesaway from the fighting that was occuring on the lord's land. Before him wereseveral rolled sheets of parchment, neatly tied so they wouldn’t unroll. Theremnants of his work were all gathered into a small pile tucked out of the wayon a corner of the desk. The Dunmer scratched away on the open scroll in frontof him.

The simulacrum was in the chamber with him. Its presence was confirmed by thehumming of its internal workings. Solin could tell where about it was withoutglancing so accustomed was he to the sound.

He finished his work on the current sheet and slid it to one side waiting forthe ink to dry completely. Not stopping a moment he dipped the tip of his peninto the bottle and began on the next.

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 09:12 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 26 2005, 02:50 AM)

Dante nodded to Loranna, and hoisted Illidan over his shoulder,the three of them made their way outside onto the surprisingly soft grass andplaced Illidan down, Dante sheathed his blade and looked to Loranna "Howgood is your knowledge of healing spells?"

The first Khajiit took Teleran's spear to the chest, it's Chitin armour barelymanaging to save it from the blow, it readied itself and lunged towards him, aniron saber gripped tightly in it's paw. The second Khajiit bolted down thestairs and leapt forward, barrelrolling in the air it positioned itselfbeautifully as it attempted to bring it's cleaver down on Dram's shoulder.

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Loranna sets her lips in a determined line. "Not that great," sheadmits, "but I can at least halt the bleeding and close some of thesewounds. If you have any healing magic or potions, give me a hand."

Loranna chants her healing spell, and slowly the bleeding stops and some ofIllidan's wounds close up. Loranna doesn't pay much heed now to the fact thatwithout Azura her limited magic is even more limited, being too busy healing.

---

Dram, seeing Teleran charge forward, sighs, a lightning spell on the tip of histongue. So much for his plan to zap the first Azurite to come charging throughthe door and slow the others down a little. Advennturers seldom had any realgroup discipline, he notes philosophically.

However, the cleaver-wielding Khajiit presents Dram with a great chance to usehis lightning spell anyway; with a gesture and a word he shocks the Khajiit ashe steps to the side, cleaver chipping off a piece of his pouldron. Theblue-eyed feline growls a curse in his native tongue and swings at Dram again,with wild strength; Dram steps back once to avoid a swing, parries a secondwith a strong movement, and prevents the third from landing by running theKhajiit through.

A third Khajiit, however, manages to get past both Teleran and Dram, depsiteDram lashing out at the swiftly-moving Azurite and opening a gash in its side.Cursing, he yells out "Loranna, incoming!"

---

Outside, Dram's yell jolts Loranna out of her healing chant, and she grabs hershortblade, seeing the wounded Khajiit barrel out of the house and come leapingtoward her. Instinctively, she ducks down and holds her blade up, and theKhajiit ends up opening his belly as he sails past, his claws tearing throughLoranna's hair as he passes.

Loranna staggers a little but gets to her feet, looking over to see the Khajiitwrithing. With a muted " ... Sorry dear," she puts the betmer out ofits misery ...

Standing near Dante and Illidan, Loranna hisses " ... Heal him if you can;that's all I can do now ..."

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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 09:23 AM

Teleran spun to avoid the Khajiit's lunge, but the saber manageto get through the joint at his elbow between his pauldron and his gaunlet.Teleran's 'arm' snapped backwards at an unnatural angle, snapping the blade ofthe saber as it did so. Teleran smacked the betmer with the shaft of his spearas he completed his spin and finished him when his gauntlet surged forward andtore through his ribcage.

As the first one falls Teleran lets his dagger take one of the Khajiit that waspast him in the back and stabs at the next one to come into view with hisspear.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 09:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 03:02 AM)

Loranna sets her lips in a determined line. "Not thatgreat," she admits, "but I can at least halt the bleeding and closesome of these wounds. If you have any healing magic or potions, give me ahand."

Loranna chants her healing spell, and slowly the bleeding stops and some ofIllidan's wounds close up. Loranna doesn't pay much heed now to the factthat without Azura her limited magic is even more limited, being too busyhealing.

---

Dram, seeing Teleran charge forward, sighs, a lightning spell on the tip of histongue. So much for his plan to zap the first Azurite to come chargingthrough the door and slow the others down a little. Advennturers seldomhad any real group discipline, he notes philosophically.

However, the cleaver-wielding Khajiit presents Dram with a great chance to usehis lightning spell anyway; with a gesture and a word he shocks the Khajiit ashe steps to the side, cleaver chipping off a piece of his pouldron. Theblue-eyed feline growls a curse in his native tongue and swings at Dram again,with wild strength; Dram steps back once to avoid a swing, parries a secondwith a strong movement, and prevents the third from landing by running theKhajiit through.

A third Khajiit, however, manages to get past both Teleran and Dram, depsiteDram lashing out at the swiftly-moving Azurite and opening a gash in itsside. Cursing, he yells out "Loranna, incoming!"

---

Outside, Dram's yell jolts Loranna out of her healing chant, and she grabs hershortblade, seeing the wounded Khajiit barrel out of the house and come leapingtoward her. Instinctively, she ducks down and holds her blade up, and theKhajiit ends up opening his belly as he sails past, his claws tearing throughLoranna's hair as he passes.

Loranna staggers a little but gets to her feet, looking over to see the Khajiitwrithing. With a muted " ... Sorry dear," she puts the betmerout of its misery ...

Standing near Dante and Illidan, Loranna hisses " ... Heal him if you can;that's all I can do now ..."

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Dante nodded abruptly, he turned to Illidan and remembered he didn't know anyspells, so he grudgingly stood again and drew his sword.

Only three of the four remaining Khajiit had bolted down the stairs, the firstof which bearing no weapons or armour, the ones after it both bearing steellongswords.

Meanwhile, upstairs...the fourth Khajiit cast an Illusion spell on itselfcovering up it's natural eye colour, it scooped up it's spear and slowly openeda window, he silently crept out and noticed Dante with his sword drawn. The cathissed loudly and summoned his winged twilight, the pair of them lept down fromthe rooftop and charged towards them.

"Look out!"
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 09:45 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 26 2005, 03:21 AM)

Dante nodded abruptly, he turned to Illidan and remembered hedidn't know any spells, so he grudgingly stood again and drew his sword.

Only three of the four remaining Khajiit had bolted down the stairs, the firstof which bearing no weapons or armour, the ones after it both bearing steellongswords.

Meanwhile, upstairs...the fourth Khajiit cast an Illusion spell on itselfcovering up it's natural eye colour, it scooped up it's spear and slowly openeda window, he silently crept out and noticed Dante with his sword drawn. The cathissed loudly and summoned his winged twilight, the pair of them lept down fromthe rooftop and charged towards them.

"Look out!"

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Inside, Dram engages the first Khajiit to reach him while holding his ground;Dram's silver longsword clashes against the Khajiit's steel blade. Swords danceback and forth as the two exchanged blows, and Dram noted with a smal grin thathis current opponent had some skill with swordsmanship.

Fortunately for Dram, however, the Khajiit didn't have enough to overcome him.The Azurite did get in one or two blows, the first of which left Dram's sideaching from the impact and the second of which left his left arm with a longred line, but a moment later the steel longsword went flying, and a secondlater so did the Khajiit's head. Both hit the ground at almost the same time,the headless body srashing to the floor seconds later.

The unarmed Khajiit makes for the sword; seeing this Dram moves to stop him,and with a single thrust another Khajiit hits the floor ...

===

The sight of the Winged Twilight makes Loranna's heart race; Illidan was stilldown and she wasn't up to fighting one of these things in the open, whiledismounted ...

However, Dante was there, and for the moment Dante was the focus of theTwilight's and the Khajiit's attention. The Khajiit, she could deal with.

Loranna ducks, evading a wild swing, and with a low stab pokes at the Khajiit'slegs; she is rewarded with a howl of pain, which almost drowns out the agitatedbuzzing of the mounts. Angered, the spear-wielding Azurite turns and lunges atLoranna, nearly overturning her.

Loranna gets pushed back, a snarling betmer closer to her than she ever wishedto experience; she twists as the spear rakes her, crying out as her side isslashed. A powerful and lucky swipe knocks her sword from her hand and theKhajiit lunges for her chest.

Instinctively, Loranna twists and grabs the shaft of the spear, and for amoment she and the Khajiit are locked in a contest to see who will get theweapon - the ashskinned Nord girl, or the snarling Azurite.
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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 10:01 AM

Teleran's thrust was redirected by the Khajiit's long sword, butit didn't manage to get it back in time to block the gauntlet smashing into hisskull. Teleran raised his spear to finish him, but realized that the betmer wasno longer moving.

He looked around and seeing that there were no more enemies inside, he checkedAzurite's pulse, "Still with us, huh? Well I wouldn't get too used to it."Teleran said, as he turned to tell Dram that he had a live one, the betmer gotup and clawed at Teleran's back.

Screaming in surprise Teleran turned the Khajiit into a pincushion, fourdaggers stood out from his chest and the saber's blade went through his skull.The long sword he had dropped, pinning his arm to the floor. Teleran walkedgingerly outside to call Vilyanna so he could get a healing potion from hissaddlepack.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 10:12 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 03:35 AM)

The sight of the Winged Twilight makes Loranna's heart race;Illidan was still down and she wasn't up to fighting one of these things in theopen, while dismounted ...

However, Dante was there, and for the moment Dante was the focus of theTwilight's and the Khajiit's attention. The Khajiit, she could deal with.

Loranna ducks, evading a wild swing, and with a low stab pokes at the Khajiit'slegs; she is rewarded with a howl of pain, which almost drowns out the agitatedbuzzing of the mounts. Angered, the spear-wielding Azurite turns andlunges at Loranna, nearly overturning her.

Loranna gets pushed back, a snarling betmer closer to her than she ever wishedto experience; she twists as the spear rakes her, crying out as her side isslashed. A powerful and lucky swipe knocks her sword from her hand andthe Khajiit lunges for her chest.

Instinctively, Loranna twists and grabs the shaft of the spear, and for amoment she and the Khajiit are locked in a contest to see who will get theweapon - the ashskinned Nord girl, or the snarling Azurite.

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Seeing Loranna go after the Khajiit, Dante turned his attention to the WingedTwilight that was now swooping towards him, the Twilights' attack was dodgedgingerly by Dante as he rolled beneath it's claws.

He sat up on one knee and removed an ebony throwing star he had kept away in aneasy to access nook in his armour. He quickly sent it hurtling towards thewinged twilight which was now beating it's wings powerfully to slow itselfdown, the monster wasn't to happy when it felt a throwing star fly through oneof it's wings.

It screeched loudly, and swooped down at Dante again, this time however heclutched tightly around one of the beasts legs as it flew back up. Dantequickly thrust his sword into the twilights stomach sending it back toOblivion, unfortunately, it also sent him crashing to the ground beneath him,sending up a cloud of dust.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 10:22 AM

Ald Raathim

This had to be the worst part.

That was what Jazbet kept repeating to himself. This had to be the worst part.Going door to door, interrogating people like it was some sort of inquisition, routingout people, casting spells to find illusions, executing so many people, some ofwhom had simply made the wrong decision at the moment when Azura had comingcalling. They were not bad people. They were people he knew.

They were the funny guys he told jokes with. They were women he had slept with.They were mothers, they were priests, they were good people he couldn’t take achance with.

It had to be better when he was killing people he didn’t know. Invaders, thatwas the war he wanted to have, if he had to have one.

Once again, he was glad he was blind, and he refused to see his visions. TheKhajiit did not want to see the faces of his people, the ones he had sworn toprotect, at the moment he had them killed.

At the tavern, he drank deeply.

Overhead, the wasps circled.

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 10:25 AM

Dram looks at Teleran with a bemused expression. " ... Niceattack," he says, glancing at the pincushioned Khajiit. "Why don't we..."

As Teleran heads outside, Dram mutters under his breath " ... go check onthe others?" He follows Teleran, his sword still in hand.

===

Loranna stares into the blazing blue eyes of her enemy, seeing a murderousrage, and feels anger rise up in her. Enough was enough; this ended now.

Inspiration hitting her, Loranna suddenly lets go; the Khajiit snarls invictory and lunges forward but Loranna was already sidestepping, the Khajiit'sinjured leg getting kicked hard as she evades the spear. Yelping in pain, theKhajiit stumbles, using his spear to try and catch himself ...

... and in that moment, while the Azurite is off-balance, Loranna raises thehorn slung at her side and smashes it down on the Khajiit's head; once, twice,three times. The horn shatters after the third hit but the Khajiit goes down,and a brief check reveals he won't be getting up.

Dram and Teleran come out in time to see Loranna use her magic to staunch thebleeding of her wound, and head over to Dante and Illidan. Dram remarks "... Ouch; that was a good horn." Growing more serious, he says"Right; heal up and take stock, everyone. We'll need to check the rest ofthe house out once we're restored."

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Posted by: Teleran Jan 26 2005, 10:32 AM

Teleran came outside just in time to see the Khajiit go down andhe thought to himself, 'Glad I don't need to fight anymore, It feels like heshredded my back real good.' Vil flew over to him and allowed him to get apotion from his pack. As he drank deeply he felt the flesh knitting itselftogether again. Then he realized he had left his weapon's inside. So he calledthem to himself and resheathed them.
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Posted by: Shardie Jan 26 2005, 10:44 AM

Maranda in Skyrim

Maranda steped out of the Mages Guild in Winterhold, a white wolfskin fur coataround her and looked around... where would that red cloaked man be? She wouldtry near the palace... in the temples, the local taverns... who this red robedman was was... the Shezzar priest said she could find him here, but where? Shemade her way to the palace...
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 10:45 AM

Ald Raathim

Already the town had come alive, simply on the news that so many dangerous cultmembers had been killed.

The people were in a mood for celebration. They played their traditional songsin the square beneath the moons, which were showing bright tonight, as if tomark the occasion.

‘When will I get my weapons to kill the wretched usurpers to our land?’ askedone merchant Jazbet had previously known to be the quiestest, most peaceful manin his village.

‘Soon,’ said the Khajiit, returning to his drink.

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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 10:48 AM

Dante walked back into the farmhouse, noting the corpses aroundhim he tried his hardest not to slip on the blood that now coated the floors,he made his way back to the desk he was searching before the whole attack hadhappened, he found some scrawled notes, obviously written by the Azurites,jibberish to Dante, the only thing worth looking over was a diary he found, heassumed it had belonged to one of the owners of this estate, before his orher's untimely end.

He made his way across the room to a small pantry, opening it he wasimmeadietly met with a barrage of falling weaponry, out of the large assortmenthe found 3 silver weapons, which he assumed could help once the group had armedeveryone accordingly.

Next was upstairs, making his way unsteadily up the stairs which were riddledwith Khajiit corpses the first thing he spotted was the furniture that wasturned over, mattresses were covering the floor as was small amounts ofmoonsugar, even in their new religion they still retained there love for thatstuff.

Around the upstairs area he found more scrawled notes, some more forms ofweaponry and armour, in alot worse condition then the ones he saw downstairs.After a 10 minutes search the place it began to creep him out, so he left."Nothing in there that is really worthy of note" He stated, emergingfrom the front door with the scrawled notes and the diary "But I'm goingto study this diary's entrys if that's alright" He added.

Not too far from the group, Illidan began to stir.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 10:53 AM

QUOTE(Shardie @ Jan 26 2005, 04:34 AM)

Maranda in Skyrim

Maranda steped out of the Mages Guild in Winterhold, a white wolfskin fur coataround her and looked around... where would that red cloaked man be? She wouldtry near the palace... in the temples, the local taverns... who this red robedman was was... the Shezzar priest said she could find him here, but where? Shemade her way to the palace...

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Winterhold, Skyrim

Elysana, in truth, had never liked her second cousin, Orthor. He was a terribledrunk and a famous sex fiend, two traits she had never suffered from, among themany evils she had been accused of.

The Queen of Wayrest, swathed in the furs that were her gift, stepped out intothe courtyard. Throught the civilized modes of discourse, she had heard fromher court that the insurrections of Azurites, largely from witches and otherunusual characters, had been dealt with. She was finally warm and well-fed. Sowere her men.

When the rivers were a little more clear, in a day or two, they would pass onsouth.

Elysana wasn’t tired yet, but she wasn’t in the mood for a Nord drinking hall.She stood out in the courtyard, and looked at the two full moons, Jone andJode, Masser and Secunda ….

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 10:58 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Jan 26 2005, 04:38 AM)

Dante walked back into the farmhouse, noting the corpses aroundhim he tried his hardest not to slip on the blood that now coated the floors,he made his way back to the desk he was searching before the whole attack hadhappened, he found some scrawled notes, obviously written by the Azurites,jibberish to Dante, the only thing worth looking over was a diary he found, heassumed it had belonged to one of the owners of this estate, before his orher's untimely end.

He made his way across the room to a small pantry, opening it he was immeadietlymet with a barrage of falling weaponry, out of the large assortment he found 3silver weapons, which he assumed could help once the group had armed everyoneaccordingly.

Next was upstairs, making his way unsteadily up the stairs which were riddledwith Khajiit corpses the first thing he spotted was the furniture that wasturned over, mattresses were covering the floor as was small amounts ofmoonsugar, even in their new religion they still retained there love for thatstuff.

Around the upstairs area he found more scrawled notes, some more forms ofweaponry and armour, in alot worse condition then the ones he saw downstairs.After a 10 minutes search the place it began to creep him out, so he left."Nothing in there that is really worthy of note" He stated, emergingfrom the front door with the scrawled notes and the diary "But I'm goingto study this diary's entrys if that's alright" He added.

Not too far from the group, Illidan began to stir.

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Dram goes to investigate as well, his expression dismayed. " ... We didwell to find this place and break them before they could gather any morestrength - or less sugar-addled members," he says, turning to Dante."Lord Dres Jazbet will doubtless wish to have that diary and those noteslooked at by Kellan; hang onto them if you would please. I'm sure if you askthey will share the information learned therein with you; it may be of concernto us all."

Healing potions were distributed, and soon the only marks of battle were thetattered, bloodstained tears on peoples' clothing and the dents in their armor.Loranna retrieves and cleans her sword, and picks up the pieces of the brokenhorn.

"Let us give these poor souls what internment we can," Dramconcludes. "Then we shall head back to the village tavern; our work heretonight is finished."

===

Loranna is quiet as the group flies back to Ald Raathim, thinking about heractions today. Part of her is grateful she didn't get herself killed.

... Well, I now know that if forced to fight for my life I am ready to killto defend it, she thinks to herself. I wonder if this is a good sign; Isuspect I'll be forced to kill again in the upcoming months before thingssettle down.

Still ... she was alive, as were her companions. There was some solace to betaken from this.

Arriving at the tavern, Dram and Loranna enter, Loranna's eyes seeking outJazbet almost immediately. Dram nods to his fellow guards as the two make theirway to Jazbet's table.

"My Lord," Dram says.

" ... Jazbet ..." Loranna says.

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 10:58 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 25 2005, 10:19 PM)

(Leseth's house, Alcaire:)

Leseth extended his own mailed hand, nearly four times the size of Dolls, andgently helped her to her feet.

Covering her with one huge arm, he crouched, making the floorboards bend, andlept into the ceiling that was not there.
They rejoined the world in Doll's warm room, in Jazbet's castle. Leseth sat hergently on her feet.

"Tell the General," he said quietly, "that I am trying to makethings right with the girl."

He bowed slightly, and with a crack like thunder, he was gone.

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Doll wanted to take a bath, to get warm, to sit in front of the fire and read abook. But the General would be looking for her by now.

She found the General outside, speaking to Jazbet's men.

"Where is Jazbet?" Allerleirauh asked. "I have, as you see, asmall problem. His judgement is needed here."

The calm spell she had placed on the Dunmer child had worn off long before; thechild had bitten and kicked her, and then subsided, her blue eyes glowing withwrath.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:03 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 04:48 AM)

"Where is Jazbet?" Allerleirauh asked. "Ihave, as you see, a small problem. His judgement is needed here."

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'In the village, at the tavern,' the guard said. 'We will take this child.Don't worry, she won't be harmed.'

The girl found biting armor to be difficult, but satisfying.

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Posted by: Shardie Jan 26 2005, 11:14 AM

Entering the Palace district, Maranda had a quick look around.fires burnt from the towers of the palace, wandered up to the guard at thepalace gate
'I am searching for someone, I think he works in the palace...'
'And what might his name be?' the guard said
'Umm... I know he has a red robe... and is an old Nord...'
'Red Robe, Old Nord? Then you must mean old Radrid...' the guard said
'Ah, yes, Radrid was his name... I (err) have an appointment with him...'
'Ah, I get it,' the guard said, a perverted smile coming across his face 'hehas been rather upset for a while, I don't know where he is... but the clerk inthe palace itself should know, just go through the Courtyard... and, you willhave to leave your sword here...' the guard said, as Maranda handed over hersword.
She did not like the exuse she used... but she managed to get in... shewandered through the Courtyard, staring at the moons...
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 11:16 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 03:53 AM)

'In the village, at the tavern,' the guard said. 'We will takethis child. Don't worry, she won't be harmed.'

The girl found biting armor to be difficult, but satisfying.

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Doll gave her report to the General, leaving out no details of her encounterwith Leseth, and his message.

"Child, you've had a long day, haven't you?" Allerleirauh said toDoll, smiling. "Go and rest. Master Arynel arrived on his own; no harm wasdone, and I'm glad you're well."

Doll found, though, that she couldn't rest. If she slept she might have baddreams. And the servants in the house were all busy; if she wanted a bath, shewould have to heat and carry water herself. She ventured into the library, andfound Master Solin there, working on scrolls. Soon she was lost in the world ofmagical inscription as well.

Tris and Ciel returned with their mounts. "I need a drink," Trissaid, shortly. "In fact I need three drinks, in rapid succession. Afterthat I will take stock and consider a fourth drink."

Since the parraptons were known not to like drunken riders, they returned themto the stable and set off for Ald Raathim, Ciel on foot and Tris flying. Theirnew companion, the Dunmer guard, went with them.

Allerleirauh's journey to the tavern was simpler. She whispered a string ofpower and pressed through, inside a back room, then walked to the front. Jazbetwas there; so were Loranna and the young Dunmer who had gone with her earlier.

She nodded to Jazbet, then realized with a chill that of course he couldn'tsee. It was very easy to forget, he was so self-possessed.

"Jazbet, Loranna, hello!" she said. "I gave my report to yourseneshal, Jazbet. But there are a few matters I should discuss with you, atyour leisure."

At your leisure, she had added, not because the matter wasn't urgent; butbecause she was suddenly afraid for him. Not for the first time, she hated theworld and what it did to heroes.
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 11:18 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 02:43 AM)

Winterhold, Skyrim

Elysana wasn’t tired yet, but she wasn’t in the mood for a Nord drinkinghall. She stood out in the courtyard, and looked at the two full moons,Jone and Jode, Masser and Secunda ….

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Herwyn Brand couldn't think around Nords. He couldn't think while drunk, andbeing around Nords was synonymous with being drunk.

He was, like many Battlemages, quite large for a Breton, but the last giant toknock him down as an excuse for a slap on the back had almost gottenincenerated. Herwyn thought that was a good indicator that he should get someair.

He stepped outside, blowing his hands warm. It was a bright, lovely night. TheQueen was there.

As a Companion to the Queen, he did not bow. If that were required, he andothers in his position would spend their entire lives on their knees.

"You Majesty," he said, announcing himself, "do you desireprivacy?"
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:21 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 04:48 AM)

"My Lord," Dram says.

" ... Jazbet ..." Loranna says.

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Jazbet turned towards the two.

'Good evening,' he said. He was not slurring his words, but he was right on thecusp of having too much. 'Would you care for a drink?'

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:25 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 05:06 AM)

"Jazbet, Loranna, hello!" she said. "I gavemy report to your seneshal, Jazbet. But there are a few matters I should discusswith you, at your leisure."

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'I am at my leisure currently,' said the Khajiit with the darkest of smiles. 'Ihave executed twelve of my subjects today. Now is a time for a drink.'

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 11:27 AM

Dram nods a little. "Some greef would be good; it's been along day," he says. "I am happy to see you have come through todayunharmed, Lord - and you as well, sera," he adds with a slight bow toAllie. "My report I should make first though, before I drink."

"Hi Allie," Loranna says, giving a sad but grateful smile; she hadn'ttruly thought Allie would be in much danger but seeing her was a bit of acomfort.

"Er, I'll just have some light wine please," Loranna says, looking atJazbet with a slight frown. She holds out her hand to touch his.

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QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:15 AM)

'I am at my leisure currently,' said the Khajiit with thedarkest of smiles. 'I have executed twelve of my subjects today. Now is atime for a drink.'

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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Loranna's expresion remains as it is, but she feels a cold chill touch herspine at Jazbet's words and expression.

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:29 AM

Winterhold, Skyrim

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QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 05:08 AM)

"You Majesty," he said, announcing himself, "doyou desire privacy?"

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'I don't think I would get privacy even if I wanted it,' the Queen smiled. 'Iam not alone.'

She gestured casually to the woman also in the courtyard.

'Have you eaten enough? Are you warm?'

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 05:17 AM)

She holds out her hand to touch his.

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Jazbet feels Loranna's hand and holds it tight.

'Tell me your report,' the Khajiit says to Dram. 'I am not too drunk to hearit.'

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Posted by: Shardie Jan 26 2005, 11:36 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 08:19 PM)

Winterhold, Skyrim
'I don't think I would get privacy even if I wanted it,' the Queen smiled. 'Iam not alone.'

She gestured casually to the woman also in the courtyard.

'Have you eaten enough? Are you warm?'

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<![endif]>

Marandas gaze was intterupted,for a moment, as her eyes glanced towards thetwo, 'Oh, I do not eat... but I am very walm, thankyou' Maranda replied, holdingher white Wolf fur cloak close to her, 'A lovely night to gaze at the moon..'she said, casually, 'cold but lovely... you would not happen to know where Ican find the Officers Quarters?' she asked
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 11:36 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 03:19 AM)

Winterhold, Skyrim
'I don't think I would get privacy even if I wanted it,' the Queen smiled. 'Iam not alone.'

She gestured casually to the woman also in the courtyard.

'Have you eaten enough? Are you warm?'

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>

Winterhold, Skyrim

Herwyn bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty is always too concerned with me. I am content, thank you.Nordic halls are never lacking for food, and I am as warm as I can be withoutbeing at home."

He hesitated, then spoke again, "Your Majesty, you once told me that Icould ask any question that I wished of you, and although I said I wouldn't, Ifeel myself compelled to ask, at least for your opinion...

"I hear news of Daedra-worshipping fanatics from many places, even ourhome...

"Are you pleased with the results of our trip to Morrowind? Were yourMajesty's purposes served?"
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:41 AM

QUOTE(Shardie @ Jan 26 2005, 05:26 AM)

'Oh, I do not eat... but I am very walm, thankyou' Marandareplied, holding her white Wolf fur cloak close to her, 'A lovely night to gazeat the moon..' she said, casually, 'cold but lovely... you would not happen toknow where I can find the Officers Quarters?' she asked

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'No, I don't,' said the Queen with a smile, and complete lack of modesty. ' Areyou a prostitute?'

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QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 05:26 AM)

"Are you pleased with the results of our trip to Morrowind?Were your Majesty's purposes served?"

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Elysana's eyes turned to Herwyn, and said, without speaking, One moment, andI'll tell you.

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 11:41 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:21 AM)

Jazbet feels Loranna's hand and holds it tight.

'Tell me your report,' the Khajiit says to Dram. 'I am not too drunk to hearit.'

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Dram nods and stands respectfully, his tone professional.

"My Lord; Loranna and I searched the area assigned to us, and discoveredsix Azurites - three farmers, three hermits. All proved violent once discoveredand all were slain in battle; I have the names of the dead as well that theirfarmlands may be properly seen to."

"Upon completing our patrol, we responded to the warhorn of Dante andIllidan, and discovered them in a farmhouse that sheltered nine more Azurites.When we arrived the battle was just beginning, but in the end all Azurites wereagain slain. Dante recovered some documents from the farmhouse, and he has beeninstructed to present them to the seneschael for study."

Dram's tone gradually softens during his report, remaining mostly professionalbut showing some understanding that his lord would find this news painful,despite the necessity of what happened. "Though we had sustained somewounds in our efforts, all of us are safe and recovered."

Loranna squeezes Jazbet's hand, wanting to take him into her arms but holdingback - for now.

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 11:43 AM

Enough for one day, and too much, Allerleirauh thought. Sherested a hand on Loranna's back, gently, for a moment.

But things would not improve until they were fixed. Tomorrow would bring a newallotment of problems.

"My report, then. You have a necromancer on your property,"Allerleirauh said. "Not an Azurite. But something you might want to know.There were Azurite smugglers on the coast, who are dead now. And there was ashipwreck. I believe the vessel, though small, had come all the way fromVvardenfell, looking for us. There was a survivor, who recognized me. She'sback at your castle now. A child, a young Dunmer child."
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 11:45 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 03:31 AM)

'No, I don't,' said the Queen with a smile, and complete lack ofmodesty. ' Are you a prostitute?'
Elysana's eyes turned to Herwyn, and said, without speaking, One moment, andI'll tell you.

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Winterhold, Skyrim

Herwyn was suddenly much more alert. When he had spoken, he had thought theother woman in the courtyard to be a trusted handmaiden given to the queen byher cousin.

He was shocked to find that this was not true. Shocked, and a bit wary,especially after the Queen's message-laden glance.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:52 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 05:31 AM)

Dram's tone gradually softens during his report, remainingmostly professional but showing some understanding that his lord would findthis news painful, despite the necessity of what happened. "Thoughwe had sustained some wounds in our efforts, all of us are safe and recovered."
Loranna squeezes Jazbet's hand, wanting to take him into her arms but holdingback - for now.

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'Thank you, Dram,' Jazbet said, somewhat coldly. 'I knew you would have thestrength to carry this out. These were your people as much as mine, as I knowit was much more difficult for you to do, as for me to hear. Please, have adrink on me.'

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QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 05:31 AM)

"My report, then. You have a necromancer on yourproperty," Allerleirauh said. "Not an Azurite. But something youmight want to know. There were Azurite smugglers on the coast, who are deadnow. And there was a shipwreck. I believe the vessel, though small, had comeall the way from Morrowind, looking for us. There was a survivor, whor*cognized me. She's back at your castle now. A child, a young Dunmerchild."

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The Khajiit started at the word 'necromancer.'

"Thank you,' he said. "It sounds like you too could use a drink. Butthis child ... Does she seem to understand?'
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Posted by: Shardie Jan 26 2005, 11:53 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 08:31 PM)

'No, I don't,' said the Queen with a smile, and complete lack ofmodesty. ' Are you a prostitute?'
Elysana's eyes turned to Herwyn, and said, without speaking, One moment, andI'll tell you.

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>

Maranda smiled delightfuly, 'Oh, no. I just have to discuss with a certianofficer about an indervidual... ' she said, clenching her fist, and doing agood a good job at hiding her anger, or so she thought... 'I shall ask someoneelse then,' she said, slowly looking around the courtyard
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 11:57 AM

Loranna smiles a bit as Allie touches her back, and thesilver-haired Nord can feel the tension in Loranna's muscles, and feel it relaxslightly. At the mention of the Dunmer child though, Loranna feels apprehensionset in once more. She gently rubs her thumb across Jazbet's knuckles, notwanting to squeeze any harder lest she hurt him by accident.

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QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:42 AM)

'Thank you, Dram,' Jazbet said, somewhat coldly. 'I knew youwould have the strength to carry this out. These were your people as muchas mine, as I know it was much more difficult for you to do, as for me tohear. Please, have a drink on me.'

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Dram nods slowly. "Thank you," he says, his tone respectful. Alliemay notice a brief flash of a troubled gaze in Dram's red eyes though.

Dram excuses himself to go claim his mug of greef, wishing there were news hecould offer his lord that would at least dull the edge of today's madness.Perhaps an answer would come to him with the help of his drink; Dram's brainhad yet to come up with anything all on its own.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:01 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 04:42 AM)

'Thank you, Dram,' Jazbet said, somewhat coldly. 'I knew youwould have the strength to carry this out. These were your people as muchas mine, as I know it was much more difficult for you to do, as for me tohear. Please, have a drink on me.'
The Khajiit started at the word 'necromancer.'

"Thank you,' he said. "It sounds like you too could use adrink. But this child ... Does she seem to understand?'

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"Thank you; I'm not drinking, at present," Allerleirauh said. "Ifind austerity comforting. She understands as a child understands. She wassinging a child's hymn to Azura when I approached her. She summoned a Twilightto attack me. But she is too young to form her own opinions; she's simplyparroting the opinions of her elders. Her parents were both killed in theshipwreck; she is alone, but she shows no sign of fear; she was resolute in herattempts to kill me."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:02 PM

Winterhold, Skyrim

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QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 05:35 AM)

He was shocked to find that this was not true. Shocked, and abit wary, especially after the Queen's message-laden glance.

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As Maranda moved away, the Queen felt free to speak to Herwyn.

'Did everything proceed as I planned? No. Do I think it was a complete victory?No,' Elysana said, smiling. 'Am I glad I went? Oh, yes.

'Are you still having nightmares?' she asked.

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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 12:05 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 03:52 AM)

Winterhold, Skyrim
As Maranda moved away, the Queen felt free to speak to Herwyn.

'Did everything proceed as I planned? No. Do I think it was acomplete victory? No,' Elysana said, smiling. 'Am I glad I went?Oh, yes.

'Are you still having nightmares?' she asked.

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Herwyn nodded respectfully at the Queen's answer to his question, and smiledjust a bit, too.

"It sounds weak of me to say 'yes', your Majesty, but I do not doubt thatthat will remain the answer for the rest of my life. I do not understand how weescaped from Vivec, and I do not believe I truly wish to."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:07 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 05:51 AM)

"Thank you; I'm not drinking, at present,"Allerleirauh said. "I find austerity comforting. She understands as achild understands. She was singing a child's hymn to Azura when I approachedher. She summoned a Twilight to attack me. But she is too young to form her ownopinions; she's simply parroting the opinions of her elders. Her parentswere both killed in the shipwreck; she is alone, but she shows no sign offear; she was resolute in her attempts to kill me."

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Jazbet listened. He was sober suddenly.

'Should I talk with her?' he asked, very unlordly. 'Do you think ... she isbeyond redemption?'
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 12:10 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:57 AM)

Jazbet listened. He was sober suddenly.

'Should I talk with her?' he asked, very unlordly. 'Do you think ... she isbeyond redemption?'

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Loranna squeezes Jazbet's hand just a little harder, looking to Allie. Alliecan probably tell what Loranna is thinking - that she herself managed to proveredeemable, even after having taken Azura into herself ...

... but still, just because she herself did, didn't mean this girl would ...

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:10 PM

Winterhold, Skyrim

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QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 05:55 AM)

"It sounds weak of me to say 'yes', your Majesty, but I donot doubt that that will remain the answer for the rest of my life. I do notunderstand how we escaped from Vivec, and I do not believe I truly wishto."

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'Do not repeat this,' Elysana said, her voice low. 'But I will have thoseterrors, for the rest of my days too. But do you consider our excursion afailure? I am curious why you ask. Please, speak freely.'
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:12 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 04:57 AM)

Jazbet listened. He was sober suddenly.

'Should I talk with her?' he asked, very unlordly. 'Do you think ... she isbeyond redemption?'

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"I don't believe that of anyone," Allerleirauh said quietly."Much less a child. At the risk of sounding like Arynel - the chains arenever so strong as our masters wish us to believe they are. Loranna escapedfrom much tighter bonds. It's possible to free yourself from anything, if you'rewilling to sacrifice."

The tone of her voice, and not just the volume, had dropped, as she spoke.There was a dual meaning to her words. She wanted to talk to him - but not infront of Loranna, and certainly not in front of a crowded taproom full of peoplehe knew.
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Posted by: Shardie Jan 26 2005, 12:12 PM

Maranda, wondering who that rude woman was, finally found theofficers quarters, and woke the sleepy clerk, Radrid was, apparently at atavern just outside of town. Thanking the man with a handful of gold, andrealizing she was running low on money, she headed for the Dead Wolf tavern,reminding herself to visit the bank before she left...
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 12:14 PM

Aricyn entered the tavern looking tired, but pleased.

Striding over to Jazbet, and without waiting to hear what was being discussed,he said, "No Azurites left alive in the hills. We only saw one, actually,and one of your people had already killed that one. Maybe things aren't so badin these parts afterall."

He smiled.

"Oh, and I found these," he said, dropping a rather large bag ofdirty glass arrowheads on the table.

"Mead!" he bellowed in Nordic fashion to the barkeep.
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 12:17 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 06:02 AM)

"I don't believe that of anyone," Allerleirauhsaid quietly. "Much less a child. At the risk of sounding like Arynel -the chains are never so strong as our masters wish us to believe they are.Loranna escaped from much tighter bonds. It's possible to free yourself from anything,if you're willing to sacrifice."

The tone of her voice, and not just the volume, had dropped, as she spoke.There was a dual meaning to her words. She wanted to talk to him - but not infront of Loranna, and certainly not in front of a crowded taproom full ofpeople he knew.

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For once, Loranna seems to pick up on Allie's intent without the need fortelepathy.

" ... Jazbet, Allie, if you'll excuse me," she says, squeezingJazbet's hand, " ... I think I should go rest now. It was a pretty longday for me; please excuse me."

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:23 PM

Ald Raathim

Jazbet smiled in Aricyn's direction, making a signal to the barkeep that allthe mead the Nord ordered was to be on his tab.

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QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 06:02 AM)

"I don't believe that of anyone," Allerleirauhsaid quietly. "Much less a child. At the risk of sounding like Arynel -the chains are never so strong as our masters wish us to believe they are.Loranna escaped from much tighter bonds. It's possible to free yourself fromanything, if you're willing to sacrifice."

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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'But you cannot afford second chances for everyone,' said Jazbet. 'Jephreknows, I have killed some of my favorite people tonight. And this child, I donot even know. I could order her killed without seeing her, and never think ofher again ...'

He showed no emotion in his face. It was astonishing, his change from drunk topainfully sober.

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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 12:24 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 04:00 AM)

Winterhold, Skyrim
'Do not repeat this,' Elysana said, her voice low. 'But I will have thoseterrors, for the rest of my days too. But do you consider our excursion afailure? I am curious why you ask. Please, speak freely.'

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Winterhold, Skyrim

Herwyn looked up at the moons. He was rather young for a Battlemage, buttonight he looked older than usual.

"I only wonder, your Majesty... Daedra are far worse enemies than KingHelseth. I hope that we did not stir a hornets nest, with our assistance to theIncarnate's cause, that will sting us too badly in the end.

"I, of course, trust your Majesty's judgement in these matters. I ask onlyso that I may understand where my own judgement is flawed."
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:29 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:13 AM)

Ald Raathim

Jazbet smiled in Aricyn's direction, making a signal to the barkeep that allthe mead the Nord ordered was to be on his tab.
'But you cannot afford second chances for everyone,' said Jazbet. 'Jephreknows, I have killed some of my favorite people tonight. And this child,I do not even know. I could order her killed without seeing her, andnever think of her again ...'

He showed no emotion in his face. It was astonishing, his change fromdrunk to painfully sober.

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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"Walk back with me," Allerleirauh said. "The night air is sweethere, it will steady you. You can see her and decide for yourself."

She offered him her arm. "You're right. You are not a god, nor a redeemer.You must balance your compassion for those who have sworn to Azura with yourcompassion for those who might be hurt by them. Your responsibility must be tothe innocent, before the guilty. It's not easy. But you are not alonehere."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:33 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 06:19 AM)

"Walk back with me," Allerleirauh said."The night air is sweet here, it will steady you. You can see her anddecide for yourself."

She offered him her arm. "You're right. You are not a god, nor a redeemer.You must balance your compassion for those who have sworn to Azura with yourcompassion for those who might be hurt by them. Your responsibility must be tothe innocent, before the guilty. It's not easy. But you are not alonehere."

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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A tear ran down Jazbet's face. Apparently, though he did not have eyes, hestill had that capacity.

'I know, and I know my responsibility,' the Khajiit said, as they walked intothe night. 'But it is not a nice world we live in.'

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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 12:40 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 06:23 AM)

A tear ran down Jazbet's face. Apparently, though he didnot have eyes, he still had that capacity.

'I know, and I know my responsibility,' the Khajiit said, as they walked intothe night. 'But it is not a nice world we live in.'

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Loranna watches Allie and Jazbet head off, her eyes slightly moist. Part of herwants to follow, but she heads to her parrartor instead. Allie wanted to speakwith Jazbet without her right now.

Worn out as she was, the ride back to the stable was no problem; she didn'teven notice that by now parrartor riding was nearly second nature. She bid hermount good night and promised to see him again soon if she were able, and shemade her way back to the castle, her mind full of images of Dunmer childrenwith glowing blue eyes.

Something told her tonight's rendition of the dream-giantess was going to startoff much shorter than she was.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:42 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:23 AM)

A tear ran down Jazbet's face. Apparently, though he didnot have eyes, he still had that capacity.

'I know, and I know my responsibility,' the Khajiit said, as they walked intothe night. 'But it is not a nice world we live in.'

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>

Allerleirauh waited until they were out of the village, beyond the good-naturedshouts of greeting of Jazbet's people, and walking past dark fields, to reply.

"It's a beautiful cruel world," Allerleirauh said. "We aren'tsupposed to keep standing up; the gods want us to stay knocked down properly,when they knock us down. Jazbet, something's been troubling me. Your eyes...what do you remember?"
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:43 PM

Winterhold, Skyrim

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QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 06:14 AM)

"I, of course, trust your Majesty's judgement in thesematters. I ask only so that I may understand where my own judgement isflawed."

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>

'Why do you think we've made enemies with daedra?' asked Elysana. 'Azura, whosecause we've supported with blood and gold?'

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:51 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 06:32 AM)

"It's a beautiful cruel world," Allerleirauhsaid. "We aren't supposed to keep standing up; the gods want us tostay knocked down properly, when they knock us down. Jazbet, something's beentroubling me. Your eyes... what do you remember?"

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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'Everything,' Jazbet replied after a pause. 'I remember everything. You want toknow ... what?'

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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 12:52 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 04:33 AM)

Winterhold, Skyrim
'Why do you think we've made enemies with daedra?' asked Elysana. 'Azura, whosecause we've supported with blood and gold?'

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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"I don't claim to understand the mind of a Daedra, your Majesty, but ourblood and gold does not seem to have made the blue-eyed servants of Azura passover Wayrest.

"I am sure that you are much better informed than me, your Majesty, butfrom what I have heard the disturbances in Wayrest are minor, at most. I stillcannot help but be troubled, though, that our actions in Morrowind may have hadsome part in calling an enemy to our own land where one did not exist before.

"Pardon my forwardness, your Majesty. You did tell me to speak freely.Although I am well-aware that that request sometimes preceeds a deathsentence," he said with a smile, "I cannot help but followorders."
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Posted by: Attrebus Jan 26 2005, 12:55 PM

Jaster entered the tavern. He had finished his search and madesure his wasp was attended to. He ordered a drink and sat in a darkened cornerto observe.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 12:56 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 06:42 AM)

"I am sure that you are much better informed than me, yourMajesty, but from what I have heard the disturbances in Wayrest are minor, atmost. I still cannot help but be troubled, though, that our actions inMorrowind may have had some part in calling an enemy to our own land where onedid not exist before.

"Pardon my forwardness, your Majesty. You did tell me to speak freely.Although I am well-aware that that request sometimes preceeds a deathsentence," he said with a smile, "I cannot help but followorders."

<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
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'The disturbances in our lands are minor, and the disturbances in the land ofour enemy are major,' replied Elysana, pulling her furs closer around her. 'Itis a victory. Albeit, for now, a small one.'

She smiled. 'Your death sentence is temporarily commuted.'

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 12:59 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:41 AM)

'Everything,' Jazbet replied after a pause. 'I remembereverything. You want to know ... what?'

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The fragrant night air seemed suddenly colder. She took several more stepswithout a pause, then stopped, and turned towards him, still holding his arm.

"Perhaps I don't need to know anything," she said. "I want youto know what I have thought. Secrets are a burden, and you have enough burdens.So, listen, and reply if it will lighten your heart. It's too convenient thatyour eyes were gouged out completely. No one does that in the midst of abattle. Someone did that on purpose - because your eyes were the wrong color. Idon't know who, or which color that was. Does it matter? Oh, Jazbet. I'm sorry.It breaks my heart."
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 01:10 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 04:46 AM)

'The disturbances in our lands are minor, and the disturbancesin the land of our enemy are major,' replied Elysana, pulling her furs closeraround her. 'It is a victory. Albeit, for now, a small one.'

She smiled. 'Your death sentence is temporarily commuted.'

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Herwyn bowed, smiling but serious.

"My thanks, your Majesty. I am too fond of my head.

"You look cold. Shall we go back inside? Freezing cold or Nordic drinkingsongs; it is a difficult choice, if you ask me."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 01:10 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 06:49 AM)

"Perhaps I don't need to know anything," she said."I want you to know what I have thought. Secrets are a burden, and youhave enough burdens. So, listen, and reply if it will lighten your heart. It'stoo convenient that your eyes were gouged out completely. No one does that inthe midst of a battle. Someone did that on purpose - because your eyes were thewrong color. I don't know who, or which color that was. Does it matter?Oh, Jazbet. I'm sorry. It breaks my heart."

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'It needn't,' replied Jazbet, only looking forward, as if he could see the roadahead.

'We've seen each other naked. I did not plan our swim to seduce you, though youare an exceptionally beautiful woman, but because it meant, to me, as a simplemetaphor, truth. Unadorned, unashamed, naked truth.

'I made a mistake.

'I confused the goddess for the woman. I have done this before ... I thought tobow before her, meant to bring down the kingdom. I realized my mistake, butonly ... only later ...

'My eyes were torn out by a Winged Twilight, as I said. But under my orders.

'I am nevertheless dedicated to bringing down the Azurites, though I am onemyself.'

Jazbet continued looking forward, for though he couldn't see Allerleirauh'sface even if he had eyes, he did not wish to even pretend.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 01:14 PM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Jan 26 2005, 07:00 AM)

"You look cold. Shall we go back inside? Freezing cold orNordic drinking songs; it is a difficult choice, if you ask me."

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'Yes, let us go in,' said the Queen of Wayrest, her hand on Herwyn's arm. 'Aswe've discussed, there are many difficult choices, but sometimes you take thebest you are given.'

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 01:16 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 06:00 AM)

'It needn't,' replied Jazbet, only looking forward, as if hecould see the road ahead.

'We've seen each other naked. I did not plan our swim to seduce you,though you are an exceptionally beautiful woman, but because it meant, to me,as a simple metaphor, truth. Unadorned, unashamed, naked truth.

'I made a mistake.

'I confused the goddess for the woman. I have done this before ... Ithought to bow before her, meant to bring down the kingdom. I realized mymistake, but only ... only later ...

'My eyes were torn out by a Winged Twilight, as I said. But under myorders.

'I am nevertheless dedicated to bringing down the Azurites, though I am onemyself.'

Jazbet continued looking forward, for though he couldn't see Allerleirauh'sface even if he had eyes, he did not wish to even pretend.

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Allerleirauh embraced him, rubbing her smooth cheek against his silky one, andkissed his blindfold.

"You are something very important," she said. "An example. TheAzurites themselves don't know that they can turn against their mistress. Iwon't tell this to others, if you wish it kept secret. But you might considerthat."
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Posted by: Rhedd Jan 26 2005, 01:19 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 05:04 AM)

'Yes, let us go in,' said the Queen of Wayrest, her hand onHerwyn's arm. 'As we've discussed, there are many difficult choices, butsometimes you take the best you are given.'

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"That is why I am happy I was not born a king," Herwyn said, offeringhis arm and leading the Queen back into the warm, smokey hall.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 01:24 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 07:06 AM)

Allerleirauh embraced him, rubbing her smooth cheek against hissilky one, and kissed his blindfold.

"You are something very important," she said. "An example.The Azurites themselves don't know that they can turn against their mistress. Iwon't tell this to others, if you wish it kept secret. But you might considerthat."

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Jazbet hissed. 'I do not wish to be an example!'

The Khajiit backed away from her, though he could not see where he was, he knewthe path enough to know where was tree and where was path.

'Dres Gaor was a fine example, and he sacrificed himself to prove it,' he said.'I am alive. I will not be an example. I am a man.'

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 01:35 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 06:14 AM)

Jazbet hissed. 'I do not wish to be an example!'

The Khajiit backed away from her, though he could not see where he was, he knewthe path enough to know where was tree and where was path.

'Dres Gaor was a fine example, and he sacrificed himself to prove it,' he said.'I am alive. I will not be an example. I am a man.'

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"Forgive me, Jazbet," Allerleirauh said. She wasn't sure sheunderstood him. But there was very old pain here, which she had touched byaccident, as well as new pain.

"It's been a long day," she said. "If we must misunderstand eachother, let us not fight. I meant no harm; and perhaps you know more about thisthan I do. I would rather free the Azurites than kill them; that is all I mean.I will do all I can."
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 01:43 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 07:25 AM)

"Forgive me, Jazbet," Allerleirauh said. Shewasn't sure she understood him. But there was very old pain here, which she hadtouched by accident, as well as new pain.

"It's been a long day," she said. "If we must misunderstand eachother, let us not fight. I meant no harm; and perhaps you know more aboutthis than I do. I would rather free the Azurites than kill them; that isall I mean. I will do all I can."

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Jazbet continued on the path, trying to smile though it was hard. As he walkedhe said, 'We are the same, and I will consider you a friend forever. However,you can choose not to bring arms to my people as you promised ... you candecide not to visit the families of Lord Gaor and Lord Wyrloc as you said youmight ... but the obligations I have must be fulfilled.'

The Khajiit turned to face her. Though he could not see, he knew he was near toher. 'What do you want? What will make you happy?'

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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 01:46 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 06:33 AM)

Jazbet continued on the path, trying to smile though it washard. As he walked he said, 'We are the same, and I will consider you afriend forever. However, you can choose not to bring arms to my people asyou promised ... you can decide not to visit the families of Lord Gaor and LordWyrloc as you said you might ... but the obligations I have must be fulfilled.'

The Khajiit turned to face her. Though he could not see, he knew he wasnear to her. 'What do you want? What will make you happy?'

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The question caught her by surprise. Her first answer was, I don't know. Butwhen she opened her mouth, something else came out.

"I wish my sons were alive again," she said. "There is aprophecy about that. It's not something I can do, or touch. So I do... otherthings."
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 01:51 PM

Half-way through their very slow travel back towards Jazbets'estate, Dante removed the journal from the pouch he was storing it in, he ranhis gauntleted fingers along the hard leather cover, it felt rather new, notworn at all.

Out of curiosity, he flipped it open and quickly scanned through the pages,only having 31 entries just proved the suspicion of it being a new book,scanning further along the pages that followed the final entry, they weresmeared with dry blood and more of the Khajiit azurites strange scrawlings.

He flipped back to the page holding the first entry, undoubtedly the first pageof it. A sweet smile spread across his lips as he read the ridiculously shortentry.

Brara Mencele's journal, first entry:

Dear diary, diary is a rather silly name for you isn't it? yes, well...maybeI should give you a name, yeah, a name is something you could use, would giveyou your own personality. But what name? that's a tricky one, maybe you wouldlike the same name as my mother? no, that would be rather silly. Oooh! I know,I'll name you after my dearest huband, then give you to him for his birthdaynext year, that would be a rather nice gift I think. Well, I better get startedon dinner, signing off...

B.M-

Dante found that message rather odd, not only naming a journal, but, he wasunder the suspicion that most people filled diaries with the happenings oftheir days, maybe it was just this entry that was like that, he flipped to thenext page and began to read.

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 02:06 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Jan 26 2005, 07:36 AM)

The question caught her by surprise. Her first answer was, Idon't know. But when she opened her mouth, something else came out.

"I wish my sons were alive again," she said. "There is aprophecy about that. It's not something I can do, or touch. So I do... otherthings."

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The Khajiit also opened his mouth, but he quickly closed it. There were visionshe saw, dancing before his eyes, about these very sons ... But he rememberedhow uncertain these visions were ... And how, in truth, he truly likedAllerleirauh, and did not want to hurt her, like she had hurt him. On any otherday except the one where he had arranged for the death of a hundred people, hewould have wanted her frank opinion. He might still laugh at it, but still.

But tonight, there was no laughter: 'I forget sometimes that you're human. Manypeople do, I'm afraid. Loranna particularly. Now that I can't see you, Iidentify your voice as that of someone from beyond, a Goddess I suppose ...

Maybe because we saw each other naked, we must be truthful to one another. Thatin itself could be a blessing or a curse, but let us make it a blessing.

'I told you that in Vivec, I made the mistake of confusing the goddess for thewoman. I have resolved to myself not to make that mistake again. I will do whatneeds to be done, without ideology, without calling on a higher source. If I mustslay a child because she has blue eyes, I will do so. Call it hypocrisy. Callit reality. I hope to meet with your approval, but that is not required.

I have told you the one secret I have ever kept from you. I suspect you havemany others. Do what you will, and I will do the same.'

Jazbet continued down the path into the dark. Eventually, he reached home wherehe was brought in to his bedroom.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 02:13 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 06:56 AM)

The Khajiit also opened his mouth, but he quickly closedit. There were visions he saw, dancing before his eyes, about these verysons ... But he remembered how uncertain these visions were ... And how, intruth, he truly liked Allerleirauh, and did not want to hurt her, like she hadhurt him. On any other day except the one where he had arranged for thedeath of a hundred people, he would have wanted her frank opinion. Hemight still laugh at it, but still.

But tonight, there was no laughter: 'I forget sometimes that you'rehuman. Many people do, I'm afraid. Loranna particularly. Nowthat I can't see you, I identify your voice as that of someone from beyond, aGoddess I suppose ...

Maybe because we saw each other naked, we must be truthful to oneanother. That in itself could be a blessing or a curse, but let us makeit a blessing.

'I told you that in Vivec, I made the mistake of confusing the goddess for thewoman. I have resolved to myself not to make that mistake again. Iwill do what needs to be done, without ideology, without calling on a highersource. If I must slay a child because she has blue eyes, I will doso. Call it hypocrisy. Call it reality. I hope to meet withyour approval, but that is not required.

I have told you the one secret I have ever kept from you. I suspect youhave many others. Do what you will, and I will do the same.'

Jazbet continued down the path into the dark. Eventually, he reached homewhere he was brought in to his bedroom.

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You have just told me your ideology, Allerleirauh thought, standing in thedarkness. And it's a better one than you probably guess.

She did have other secrets. And it was time for him to learn them, if they wereto work together. But not tonight.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 02:31 PM

Dante read the next pages of the journal intently, a number ofthem actually missing pages, he came to the thirtieth entry, one of the pageswhich was still in decent condition, he had liked what he had read in it sofar, no mention of the Azurites at all, this entry however, told things in adifferent light.

Brara Mencele's journal, thirtieth entry:

Dear Lleven, something awful has happened today, last night at dinner myhusband mentioned that he was being hassled down by the mill, he told thestrangest story, something about blue eyed Khajiit. My husband isn't usuallyone to back down from a fight, but this time, it was different he said, theytried to follow him home, he told us that he managed to lose them. I've beenseeing strange things too lately, as I think back I recall seeing a blue eyedDunmer down by the marketplace, he was rather frightening. and now today, ourson was supposed to be coming home for the first time in years and he hasn'tshowed up, he was supposed to be here last week, we've been very worried abouthim, well, that's enough for now, I better get to bed, Signing off.

B.M-

Dante swallowed heavily, then turned the page.
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Posted by: Arynel Jan 26 2005, 04:34 PM

After much travel, and several run ins with Azurites andinnocents alike, Arynel came to Ald Raathim. He was not bothered here, theplace was in motion, the people joyous. There was food and drink and merrimentto be had.

The Breton walked into the tavern, and silently took a seat on a table in theback.
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Posted by: Allerleirauh Jan 26 2005, 05:10 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Jan 26 2005, 03:35 AM)

Ald Raathim

Already the town had come alive, simply on the news that so many dangerous cultmembers had been killed.

The people were in a mood for celebration. They played their traditionalsongs in the square beneath the moons, which were showing bright tonight, as ifto mark the occasion.

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Ald Raathim: Tris

Tris had stopped after three drinks, after all. Now he was singing with newfriends, his pleasant, unsteady tenor a little fuzzy around the edges and veryamusing to the raspy-voiced Dunmer. They taught him their songs, and in returnhe taught them a Breton one, which he realized, halfway through, was probablytoo risque for Dunmer taste. He plunged ahead and finished to a chorus of laughterand shouts.

These people weren't heartless - they were doing the same thing he was. Tryingto raise their spirits, to feel like warriors instead of peasants. He was apeasant too. Despite their ready cash, his family were farmers and sailors, notnobles, if you went back far enough.

Someone bought him a fourth drink, and philosophy began to recede into a blur.

He smiled, watching Ciel. Ciel wasn't the sort to join in the singing, but heseemed content as a member of the audience. Now Ciel was no peasant. He was aknight from a family of knights. Probably it was all easier for him - the waysome people were born strong, or good at archery, or good at running.

Tris was glad to have someone to help steer, when it was time to return to thecastle.
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Posted by: w0nders Jan 26 2005, 05:13 PM

Dante let out a large sigh as he noticed that the page bearingthe final entry posessed a rather large tear in it, and what was left had driedblood covering it, although what he could see would be hard to read, it wasn'timpossible.

After many minutes of reading as best he could he decided to re-write the entryon a blank piece of paper which had found its way into the pouch.

Brara Mencele's journal, thirty first entry:

Lleven, the upmost terrible thing has happened today...we, found our son,murdered on our front porch, the corpse looked rather old, so it couldn't ofhappened soon, w[un-readable due to blood] He also was missing both his eyes,this is such a terrible disaster, what will[un-readable due to blood] Myhusband, he took up his axe and went looking for the murderers, I had reallywished he hadn't done such a foolish thing, leaving his wife all alone, what isto come of[un-readable due to blood] He has been gone for a very long time now,Not too long ago, a guard came around asking if we had seen anything strangelately, I didn't dare tell him the truth, he might suspect that *I* had killedhim, the last thing I want is to have any more trouble come our way. Hm,another knock at the door, maybe it's the guard coming to check back...[This iswhere the page had been torn off]

Dante would of liked to of read more, though he doubted there would of beenmore to it after the tear in the page. He scanned through some of thescrawlings on the other pages before folding up the re-written document andplacing it back into the page he had copied it from, he placed the journal backinto the small pouch and sighed, they had finally reached Jazbet's estate andbegan to touch down at the ranch.
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 26 2005, 07:14 PM

*Erenius looks about the ashen wastes; fatigued fromsomething...a voice constantly beckoning him forth, farther into the barrenlands, to someplace*

'You shall do as needed here until I call for you...' a voice calls intohis head. The voice of an Elder Councilman likely. The voice calling to himincessently with that same set of words all night as his eyes decieve Erenius.

'[i]You call me? I shall answer; if only as a polite gesture and not one ofservitude...[i]' Erenius replies in his thoughts.

*The discussion of minds continues for a short while before Erenius awakessuddenly to darkness in his room*

"The Council calls!" Erenius mutters as he dresses himself in hisfinest clothes; knowing fully what must come next. "At last; events havecome full-circle and I must return to Darius' manor; in whatever condition itmay be in. Rumor is that it had burned after Hearthfire...if so; all thebetter. Otherwise, I must prepare."

*Erenius looks out the window of his room towards Darius' residence. Whether itwas the current residence of him or not, or its state, was unknown...but hispurpose of enterring the estate was clear*

"That goblet the Council wanted long ago must be taken and given tothem!"
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 26 2005, 07:14 PM

[Double Post]
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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 26 2005, 11:36 PM

By the time everyone was done with what they were up to, Dagothand the guard that had accompanied him were on their way back after killing afew Azurites.

"Well this is where we part. Farewell... what did you say your name wasagain mage?"

Dagoth just gave him a serious look. "I didn't...." and he walkedaway, looking to see how Loranna's hunt went...
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 26 2005, 11:43 PM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 05:26 PM)

By the time everyone was done with what they were up to, Dagothand the guard that had accompanied him were on their way back after killing afew Azurites.

"Well this is where we part. Farewell... what did you say your name wasagain mage?"

Dagoth just gave him a serious look. "I didn't...." and he walkedaway, looking to see how Loranna's hunt went...

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Dagoth will find Loranna in her room, practicing with a healing cantrip andlooking like she has a lot on her mind.
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Posted by: Aki Jan 26 2005, 11:53 PM

Reichi's Azurite hunt hadn't stopped after leaving the cave. Ashe made his way back to the estate a rather large Khajiit had dropped on him. ACathay-Raht. It had been waiting in the trees like the leopard it so closelyresembled.

The cat had knocked him down, but Reichi rolled to the side, seeing the nightsky and both full moons he had gone with his normal plan for nightly combat.Reichi had removed his ring.

Now, because of that, Reichi learned that the old rumor that Khajiit, eventhose who didn't use Moonsugar, had a oddly sweet taste to them was quite true.Reichi feasted on the Khajiit. While he had transformed rather often in thepreviious days, he had never feed, just killed. The lack of feeding had begunto catch up with him, he needed to do it.

When Rechi had finished he set out again for the estate. Having learned anotherthing, chitin was a flexible armor, It hadn't been ruined in thetransformation. Reichi slipped his ring back on and resumed his normal formbefore setting out however, leaving the Khajiit's now gutted corse lying in theforest. He stopped to wash of in a small stream, then continued, it was okay toshow up covered in blood, having the blood covering your mouth in such excesshowever, would raise eyebrows.
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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 26 2005, 11:55 PM

Ald Raathim

It was a new day, and the village which had been so dead had sprung back to life.The fishermen and farmers, merchants and peasants were back, conductingbusiness as they had always done. There had been a tone of celebration thenight before, but now, the atmosphere was a more sober, realistic optimism.

There was a strange new word being whispered about. No one knew who coined it,or what it truly meant, but the persistant rumor was that Lord Jazbet had anally of soon-to-be-legendary status. An outsider of great power and vision.They called him The Tiberarine.
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 27 2005, 12:12 AM

*Erenius wanderred across the bridge towards Darius' estate,passing a rather large mob of people preparing something...*

"I hope only that they shall prove enough of a..." Erenius mumbles,cut off as a series of shouts and screams resonate from the crowds.

"...Fire!...Estate...Darius..." was all Erenius could discern fromall that; but realizes that this is his chance to finish.

*Erenius quaffs a potion of Still Breath and enters the flaming estate,immediately recognizing the atrium and ballroom just off the entrance*

"And that means that the secret passage I used should be...here!" hemutters, removing some panels from the wall and going through the passage, theservant's quarters and other areas he had seen but once during his time withDarius at the party; and even then when he was not supposed to be there.

"And this is the library..." Erenius says triumphantly aloud as heenters; bewildered that a great deal of servants were still there, trying tosalvage artifacts.

*Erenius enters the library and walks amongst the chaos almost unnoticed;servants and others moving about hurridly*

"...we must make these things ready to send to Darius wherever he may beor chooses to go next," a servant shouts.

*Erenius realizes that this event may very well be what he needs, and goes toone who seems to be an overseer of the effort to remove the various items fromthat room*

"Sir! I am here on behalf of Darius himself," Erenius lies.

"Yes?" the overseer asks, choking on the smoke as it starts to creepinto the room from the passage Erenius had just used.

"I am here because Lord Darius wishes to ensure that an important goblet,clad in Ebony and of Dwemer make, survives this..." Erenius continues inhis false facade.

"That goblet hasnt left the room yet...should be on shelf 'eight' at thetop of it...I shall fetch a ladder if you-" the Overseer says.

"Unnecessary...I'll get it myself, time is of the essence for you,"Erenius says, his Parthian shot as he runs off to the mentioned book-case andclimbs up it roughly; breaking several shelves before reaching the goblet andcoming down.

"Gotcha!" Erenius mumbles, content at finding the object, yetrealizing he must find a way out now.

*Erenius then remembers the various trinkets of destruction he bought from theMages Guild in Vivec before the events began in Gnisis that lead him here*

"Hope this is enough," he mutters under his breath as he casts thescroll of ice at a door, sending it crashing down, Erenius dashing through itbefore its destruction was fully realized.

*Erenius casts a cantrip of his that sent him back to the Temple of Stendarrnear the Imperial Palace*
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Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo Jan 27 2005, 12:41 AM

NOTE TO DEVS: This post contains referance to the Dragon Break. Ifyou want this changed/deleted, just tell me. Any comments are also welcome

Cyrodiil

Issa Yojimbo arrived in Cyrodiil, capital city of all of Tamriel.

He had been to the Imperial City once as a very small child, but that he couldnot remember.

He followed Felix Felices and two of the most extravagantly ornamented guardshe had ever seen to the Imperial Palace, where a man dressed in a flowing bluerobe decorated with red and white dragons came out to meet him.

"You are the man called Issa Yojimbo? We have much to discuss, and littletime. Follow me."

Later, in a room filled with shelves of books and papers and ledgers that waslit by a single candle, Issa was talking with the man who introduced himself asDansius Piscellum, clergyman of the Order of Moth Priests.

"Lately, we have recieved news from Morrowind that the Incarnate of Azurahas been freed from her posesser, and shortly after that, cells of AzuraCultists have been appearing all over the area, and they are spreading. We haveread in the Elder Scrolls that soon, these cells will be active in every cornerof our Empire. They will also grow in power, and will begin to take violentaction against anyone who does not worship Azura. This seems similar to the RedMountain Crisis, but I can assure you that it will be much worse.

"The reason we came to you is a strange one. One of our Moth Priests seemsto remember having a colleague with the name of Issius Iogimbus. Maybe you wererelated somehow? No matter. However, when one of our guard units defended asmall villiage just south of here, they were attacked by a group of blue-eyeddunmer. One of them was weilding this..."

At this point, Dansius pulled out a sword wrapped in cloth. As he uncovered it,Issa Yojimbo's eyes got wider.

It was his sword.

"There were glyphs shining a bright blue on the blade. Our Moth Priestsnoticed that they were in the same style as the ones that appear on the ElderScrolls. They read 'Issa Yojimbo the Edge of Prophecy'. Issa Yojimbo is not avery common name, so it wasn't long before we found you."

Issa grabbed the sword, and a fiery light filled the room. Papers blew allaround, and the door swung open. The light went into the rest of the Palace.Soon, three Moth Prests entered the room, saying

"The Elder Scrolls have spoken. The time is come."

They lead Issa to the main hall, then into their offices, past a secret doorthat lead to a hallway down to the Elder Scroll Chambers. They passed the doorto the Scrolls and continued down the hallway to a dead end. One of the priestspressed in a brick which made a glyph appear on the wall. The four walkedthrough the glyph on the wall into a room that seemed to be made of stars. Asingle podium stood in the center ofthe room. The podium glowed brighter asIssa and the sword got closer.

When Issa was about a foot from the podium, the colors in the room negatedthemselves. The 'stars' fell and surrounded the blade, which Yojimbo quicklylet go of. The Moth Priests began chanting. One of them turned to Yojimbo, andsaid

"When the Elder Scrolls tell of an Event, the Event will happen. However,sometimes people decide to ignore prophecy. Sometimes, in order for the Eventto happen, things must be changed. Whoever created the Scrolls obviously knewthat. Your sword was created for that purpose. It will fulfill a prophecy ifthere is no one left to fulfill it. Or, it could change the world around it tofit the prophecy. No one can control this power. It happens if it must. Some ofus think that this sword caused a Dragon Break at one point, but we can't besure. The sword is mystical. It manifested itself as a Katana to get when itneeded to go; into your hands. Now you will see the sword as we found it.Behold the Prophet's Edge!"

There floating above the podium was a great blue sword, glowing with silveryglyphs running up and down the blade. There seemed to be wings on the hilt, asif this weapon were something divine. When Issa grabbed it, he realizedeverything: Those words that day were not Azura's. They were prophecied to besaid. Azura just happened to say them. Azura was now the enemy. One of the mostpowerful enemies anyone would ever face.

The blade seemed to weigh nothing, but when he brought it down in a slice, itweighed more than anything in the world, as if Mundus itself was swinging thesword, but it instantly felt light again. It took awhile, but Issa found thathe could juggle it as well as he could in it's katana form.

And so that night, Issa stood in the Capitol City with brand new equipment.

His admantium helm was polished and reinforced. His old, rusting, stolen RoyalGuard's cuirass was reforged and painted a deep blue and black. His long blackundercloak was rewoven and ornamented with blue dragons. Strapped on his backwas the Prophet's Edge. On his waist were two specially made katanas for hisfighting style. In his arms was a brand new fat lute, which he played walkingdown the street to the port. Issa Yojimbo was, in a sense, a new man.

He knew he didn't have to worry anymore. Whatever happened to him has alreadybeen ordained by the Elder Scrolls.
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Posted by: stratigo Jan 27 2005, 12:50 AM

Ragner and Zaldaar also made their way back to the group. No onewas expecting them. Ragner had dissapeared a while ago, and Zaldaar haddissapeared before they fled Vivic.
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 27 2005, 01:04 AM

*Erenius walks from the altar at the Temple of Stendarr near theImperial Palace, his newfound artifact tucked in his satchel at his side*

"And so comes the moment of truth," he mutters, enterring the ElderCouncil's meeting chamber.

"At last you have come, Erenius...none of us expected you to return afterrunning off with the Incarnate and her entourage," the lead Councilmansays evenly, without emotion. "You bring us something, show it to us, forit is long overdue. Dark times are upon us, and your actions have only made itworse."

"I can explain everything, if you would just listen," Erenius sayd.

"Then speak," a gray-haired Dunmer says kindly, motioning him tospeak.

"Very well then..." Erenius says, explaining his actions, and theirreasons. "...and thus, I felt my actions best at the time, whether youbelieved so or not."

*murmuring erupts from several of the councilors*

"I see you tried to do good in the short-term, neglecting the long,"Erenius is told. "Thus, hand over the artifact long overdue, and we shallsend you out to the former Incarnate's location where you shall join her partyagain!"

*with that, an aura surrounds Erenius and he is depositted at Ald Raatham, atthe village's square*
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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 04:33 PM)

Dagoth will find Loranna in her room, practicing with a healingcantrip and looking like she has a lot on her mind.

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Dagoth finally reaches the most likely place to find Loranna... her room. Heknocks on the door, giving her the mental query 'can I come in?'
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 27 2005, 01:15 AM

*Erenius stands up at the village square, confused*

"I know I was at the council hall for the Elder Council, but nowhere?...without my weapons, armor, gold, belongings?" Ereniuss says,confused.

*A large pile of things then falls beside him*

"Least they have decency," Erenius mutters, placing the potions,scrolls, and miscellanious items into his satchel, his coin into hiscoin-purse, and donning his blade, leaving his armor in the bundle it was ininitially as he carries it out of the square towards a second largeestablishment, likely that of the party.

"Wherever I am now, this certainly isnt Vvardenfall, yet it certainly isstill Morrowind, and I doubt that the events have transpired well..."
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 01:16 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 06:56 PM)

Dagoth finally reaches the most likely place to find Loranna...her room. He knocks on the door, giving her the mental query 'can I come in?'

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Loranna looks up from her restoration practice, her expression brightening alittle. One moment ...

Letting Dagoth in, she gives the disguised lich a hug. Hey there; everythingall right, yes?

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:18 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:06 PM)

Loranna looks up from her restoration practice, her expressionbrightening a little. One moment ...

Letting Dagoth in, she gives the disguised lich a hug. Hey there;everything all right, yes?

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Dagoth looks at Loranna appraisingly... 'You don't seem to be hurt... so yah,everything's fine. You look like you had a rough time out there.'
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 01:25 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 07:08 PM)

Dagoth looks at Loranna appraisingly... 'You don't seem to behurt... so yah, everything's fine. You look like you had a rough time outthere.'

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Loranna hesitates a second.

" ... I'll be okay," she tells Dagoth. "Just the work today was... not really my forte."

Loranna's tone suggests she's understating at least a little.

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:27 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:15 PM)

Loranna hesitates a second.

" ... I'll be okay," she tells Dagoth. "Just the worktoday was ... not really my forte."

Loranna's tone suggests she's understating at least a little.

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Dagoth embraces her mind a bit. 'Your deameanor suggests that you experiancedsomething you wish you hadn't needed to do...'
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 27 2005, 01:31 AM

*Erenius looks about the village as he makes his way to thegroup and their less than grand location*

"Least people seem to not be following us, or at least not nearly asmany," Erenius says, content at not needing to feed over five thousandmouths at the procession's peak. "Maybe coming here in such a fashionwasnt such a good idea...some tact and caution should be employed liberallyhere until I arrive with the rest."

*Erenius stops and watches as a few guards pass him before continuing along thepath, finally arriving near the camp of sorts set up*

"Finally," Erenius says, sitting down before rolling his eyes."Now what?"

*several guards approach him*
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 01:34 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 07:17 PM)

Dagoth embraces her mind a bit. 'Your deameanor suggests thatyou experianced something you wish you hadn't needed to do...'

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Loranna holds Dagoth in her arms.

... I'm not a warrior, she says. I can fight, a little, if I have to,and I know the way things are now I'll probably have to fight for my life andmy loved ones soon ...

... But I don't think I'm the one to be going out banging on doors andexecuting people like we did yesterday. I did it because I thought it had to bedone and I wanted to help, but ... I think I ought to work on being helpful inother ways now, instead.

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:37 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:24 PM)

Loranna holds Dagoth in her arms.

... I'm not a warrior, she says. I can fight, a little, if I haveto, and I know the way things are now I'll probably have to fight for my lifeand my loved ones soon ...

... But I don't think I'm the one to be going out banging on doors andexecuting people like we did yesterday. I did it because I thought it hadto be done and I wanted to help, but ... I think I ought to work on beinghelpful in other ways now, instead.

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Dagoth continues the mental embrace, and begins to return it physically aswell...

'The horrors of death are indeed, well, horrifying when one does itthemselves... your nature inclines you to help rather then kill... anotherquality that makes you the Loranna I love...'
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 01:41 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 07:27 PM)

Dagoth continues the mental embrace, and begins to return itphysically as well...

'The horrors of death are indeed, well, horrifying when one does itthemselves... your nature inclines you to help rather then kill... anotherquality that makes you the Loranna I love...'

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Loranna frowns, her thoughts becoming hard to make out.

" ... Lot of people need help right now," she says quietly. "Notjust immediate, tangible help either ..."

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:43 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:31 PM)

Loranna frowns, her thoughts becoming hard to make out.

" ... Lot of people need help right now," she says quietly."Not just immediate, tangible help either ..."

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Dagoth tilted his head in a bit of confusion.

'The help they need... what kind do you think the people really need?'
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 01:45 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 07:33 PM)

Dagoth tilted his head in a bit of confusion.

'The help they need... what kind do you think the people really need?'

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" ... Help remembering they're ... "

Loranna pauses, thinking. These next words didn't sound quite right but theywere all that came to mind.

" ... they're mortal. And have hearts still."

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 27 2005, 01:48 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Jan 26 2005, 07:21 PM)

*several guards approach him*

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They look him in the eyes, and speak politely but with authority. "What isyour business in the domain of Lord Dres Jazbet?"

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:48 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:35 PM)

" ... Help remembering they're ... "

Loranna pauses, thinking. These next words didn't sound quite right butthey were all that came to mind.

" ... they're mortal. And have hearts still."

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Mortal... something Dagoth hadn't been for longer then he can remember...

'Mortals tend to think they are cabable of doing anything, which doesn't endwell... and a truly heartless existance isn't worth having... I see your pointlove...'
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Posted by: FireMaster Jan 27 2005, 01:50 AM

*Erenius turns to the guard*

"The Elder Council has depositted me here," Erenius replies."However, I know not where 'here' is. All I know is that your Dres Lord isan acquaintance of mine, and if he is here, the others are as well in alllikelyhood."

*Erenius says no more, awaiting to see how the guards respond to it*
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 01:52 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 07:38 PM)

Mortal... something Dagoth hadn't been for longer then he canremember...

'Mortals tend to think they are cabable of doing anything, which doesn't end well...and a truly heartless existance isn't worth having... I see your point love...'

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Loranna sighs, feeling she missed the point somehow.

"No, it's not ..." she says, pausing to look Dagoth in the eyesockets.

" ... Who do you see right now?" she asks suddenly.

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Posted by: Sheogorath Jan 27 2005, 01:54 AM

QUOTE(FireMaster @ Jan 26 2005, 07:40 PM)

*Erenius turns to the guard*

"The Elder Council has depositted me here," Erenius replies."However, I know not where 'here' is. All I know is that your DresLord is an acquaintance of mine, and if he is here, the others are as well inall likelyhood."

*Erenius says no more, awaiting to see how the guards respond to it*

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"We will be happy to escort you to his lordship's castle," said theguard captain. "I must ask you to submit to one test we are administeringto everyone, native and visitor alike, to guard against infiltration by theAzurites."

Another of the guards takes out a scroll. "It is a spell to dispelmagicka, such as illusions. We must make certain you are who you appear to be.Will you submit to it?'

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 01:57 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:42 PM)

Loranna sighs, feeling she missed the point somehow.

"No, it's not ..." she says, pausing to look Dagoth in the eyesockets.

" ... Who do you see right now?" she asks suddenly.

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Dagoth looks at Loranna, and says without hesitation, 'I see before me a womanwho isn't completly sure of who she really is... someone who is growing up fora second time... someone I love... and someone who needs a bit of help...'
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 02:02 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 07:47 PM)

Dagoth looks at Loranna, and says without hesitation, 'I seebefore me a woman who isn't completly sure of who she really is... someone whois growing up for a second time... someone I love... and someone who needs abit of help...'

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Loranna feels her eyes moisten again.

She hugs Dagoth, her embrace not quite enough to crack bone but strong just thesame. She leans her head against his shoulder blade, her eyes closed.

" ... Someone who some other people need too," she says quietly."Someone who loves you too ... but you're right ..."

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Posted by: Arynel Jan 27 2005, 02:06 AM

Arynel silently walked out of the tavern and into Ald Raathim.

The Breton said nothing, but slowly swiveled his head from left to right,taking in the goings on around him.

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 02:10 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 06:52 PM)

Loranna feels her eyes moisten again.

She hugs Dagoth, her embrace not quite enough to crack bone but strong just thesame. She leans her head against his shoulder blade, her eyes closed.

" ... Someone who some other people need too," she saysquietly. "Someone who loves you too ... but you're right ..."

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Dagoth hugs Loranna back, physically and mentally. 'I guess I'm one of thosepeople... so is a certain Khajiit... wow, I'm making sense to both of use foronce... but unfortunately, I think we will need to talk to others about ourproblems once in a while... I'm sorry dear, I just remembered I have to pick upa few things... we can talk again some other time.'

He leaned his head on Loranna's forehead, gave her one last squeeze, and gotup. 'Later...' He saw her smile, then he left the room to finish what he neededto do...
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 02:17 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 08:00 PM)

Dagoth hugs Loranna back, physically and mentally. 'I guess I'mone of those people... so is a certain Khajiit... wow, I'm making senseto both of use for once... but unfortunately, I think we will need to talk toothers about our problems once in a while... I'm sorry dear, I just rememberedI have to pick up a few things... we can talk again some other time.'

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Loranna is quiet for a moment, but slowly lets Dagoth go.

" ... All right," she says. " ... I'll talk with youlater." She looks at Dagoth and slowly a small smile comes to her lips."Take care."

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Posted by: Dagoth Lich Jan 27 2005, 02:20 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Jan 26 2005, 07:07 PM)

Loranna is quiet for a moment, but slowly lets Dagoth go.

" ... All right," she says. " ... I'll talk with youlater." She looks at Dagoth and slowly a small smile comes to herlips. "Take care."

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Dagoth nods. 'I will dear... I will... just be careful. You never know whensomething is gonna happen...' He started out the doorway...
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Posted by: Loranna Jan 27 2005, 02:22 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Jan 26 2005, 08:10 PM)

Dagoth nods. 'I will dear... I will... just be careful. Younever know when something is gonna happen...' He started out the doorway...

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Loranna watches Dagoth leave, and then heads out herself, intending to go findJazbet ...

===

... and I'm going to call for a lock on this topic and start a new one.

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