Elder Scrolls: Interregnum Chapter 4 (Started, Open)

[Derek_the_Dodo]

[Orcish Flashback]

"And that's how I know your brother."

Urgal felt strangely smug He faces his enemies head on, despite being an archer more accustomed to keeping their distance. I daresay he has learned much since that day where we killed the giant. Leaving the stronghold, I was worried he would blame our father, blame me, blame the code of Malacath and abandon it as so many Orismer do for an easy life of thuggery, thievery, piracy, or a whole number of other dishonourable paths.

"I'm pleased you and Kaglar defended a man trying to make an honest living from those shylocks, but tell me, was this the occasion that you were referring to when you said he saved your life? Or have you and him encountered each other on other escapades?"

[Orcish Flashback over]

Urgal looked around, or rather glanced at the village, and saw everything that there was to see instantly, what with it being so small. He walked into the small, poorly lit inn to see it's only two occupants; A tired looking barkeep with whitish grey fur who barely glanced up when Urgal entered, and a slender young Khajiit with ill fitting clothes toying tentatively with the strings of a lute, more out of curiosity as opposed to having any sort of aim to play a tune. He sat down at the bar and surveyed it, picking out a dusty old bottle of Cyrodilic Brandy which he supposed must be better than any sort of moonbooze that was the standard here.

After filling and emptying the small wooden cup twice, another worn out tired old traveller stepped through the doors and sat down next to the orc.

"Brandy Lloden?" Urgal grunted, offering the bottle.

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

"Brandy Lloden?" Urgal grunted, offering the bottle.

"That Cyrodiilic swill?" he sighed. "Hopefully after this we head into dunmer lands and I can get a proper drink." He laughed, and called for a cup anyways. "So, your brother is alive. How do you feel about that?" He smiled grimly. "You seem determined to find him."

 

[Josh123914]

Joncis stepped away from the barman and sat down near Iloden, ''Ok, apparently Orcrest has fallen and Dune is under siege, the ruins of Arenthia are a buffer zone between the Dominion and Valenwood, North Elsweyr has more or less fallen apart. No word on the other provinces. Dro'Araaj must be worried about his family, I can't imagine how he could stay cheery right now'' he said quietly, on the other side of the room was a family of Khajiit with several bags at their feet. They seemed to be refugees.

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

Glancing at the refugees, Lloden stood sharply and went over. He untied his pouch of coins and dropped it next to them. "I don't expect I'll have much use for it. You do, though. It's yours." He turned on his heel, glanced around and made his way back to the bar.
There's a stash near Gideon if I desperately need money at some point. But mostly, I'm not going to outrun Dar Do long enough to need much money.
He sighed, and took a swig. He had a couple dozen coins in his pocket, still, but it made him feel a bit better to give it away.
[sub][sub][sub][sub]captcha: together again. Soon, captcha. Soon. [/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Josh123914]

Glancing at the refugees, Lloden stood sharply and went over. He untied his pouch of coins and dropped it next to them. "I don't expect I'll have much use for it. You do, though. It's yours." He turned on his heel, glanced around and made his way back to the bar.
There's a stash near Gideon if I desperately need money at some point. But mostly, I'm not going to outrun Dar Do long enough to need much money.
He sighed, and took a swig. He had a couple dozen coins in his pocket, still, but it made him feel a bit better to give it away.
[sub][sub][sub][sub]captcha: together again. Soon, captcha. Soon. [/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub]

''What's wrong with you? You're hardly ever charitible.'' Endya said, coming through the door while putting some sharpened daggers into a holster on her waist.

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

''What's wrong with you? You're hardly ever charitible.'' Endya said, coming through the door while putting some sharpened daggers into a holster on her waist.

Lloden laughed. "Ah, you know how it is. People get soft when they start settling down. Not everyone can manage to be stone cold all the time like you, madame."

 

[IFS]

Dro'Araaj watched as Lloden walked over and gave the refugees some money, sighing he walked over to them and checked them over for injuries, using his healing magic where it was needed, he then walked back over to the bar and ordered a drink.

Nothing you can do for them, or the many others like them. Is there even a point in trying?

He downed his glass and called for another, he forced a smile and turned so he couldn't see the refugees, the last thing he wanted was a reminder of what could happen to his family, and if he couldn't change anything what was the point in getting upset about it.

 

[Ruedyn]

Urgal felt strangely smug He faces his enemies head on, despite being an archer more accustomed to keeping their distance. I daresay he has learned much since that day where we killed the giant. Leaving the stronghold, I was worried he would blame our father, blame me, blame the code of Malacath and abandon it as so many Orismer do for an easy life of thuggery, thievery, piracy, or a whole number of other dishonourable paths.

"I'm pleased you and Kaglar defended a man trying to make an honest living from those shylocks, but tell me, was this the occasion that you were referring to when you said he saved your life? Or have you and him encountered each other on other escapades?"

['Nother flashback]
Anruin smiled faintly,

"That's a different story, one I'm not willing to share today. I'll tell you at the next campfire." He gets up and walks to his tent.

[flashback over]

Anruin strolled around the markets, noting nothing of interest, until he saw a man in a black hooded robe working on a garden. Anruin approached him,

"A bit hot for that isn't it?" The man looked up, an Imperial with red eyes,

"Anruin?" He asked before taking a drink out of a strange, red potion. Anruin froze and stared at him.

"Amiel? You were bitten by a vampire..." Anruin drew his blade,

"No, wait! Step into my house first if you're going to kill me, otherwise that Senche that's been watching us might step in." Anruin looked over his shoulder, and sure enough one was prowling around, "Fine, but no funny business." they went inside.

 

[Josh123914]

After a bite to eat at the inn, Joncis and Enthir left and waited on the others near the fork in the road. The path would be long but at least they won't have to hack and slash their way through this time, Endya was following them, suddenly she was pulled in behind one of the farm houses.
2 Dominion soldiers were there, one of them was the Khajiit that got away in Torval ''You're under arrest, we've been following your group since you left the city'' the Altmer said, Endya rolled her eyes and prepared a knife. ''The last time someone tried this his two friend ended up dead in an alleyway'' she said menacingly. The Khajiit took out a mace and was ready to strike...

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

snicker snack

Lloden was following Endya out when she was grabbed by the dominion goons. He sighed, and followed them. He drew his silver sword.
"Hold up there, friends. Not sure you know just who you're-" He started, distracting the goons, when Endya rammed her knife into the khajiit's eye socket, twisted it out and buried it in the altmer's chest. "-messing with." Lloden finished with a sigh. "Do you have to be so brutal, m'lady? Surely there are less painful ways to kill them?"
They followed the rest of the group out of town, chatting amiably about the most efficent way to kill a khajiit.

 

[Derek_the_Dodo]

"That Cyrodiilic swill?" he sighed. "Hopefully after this we head into dunmer lands and I can get a proper drink." He laughed, and called for a cup anyways. "So, your brother is alive. How do you feel about that?" He smiled grimly. "You seem determined to find him."

Lloden laughed. "Ah, you know how it is. People get soft when they start settling down. Not everyone can manage to be stone cold all the time like you, madame."

"I wish we could all be as generous," Urgal said pouring Lloden another cup "I'd take a glass of flin over this, and certainly over moonjuice any day. First bar we find if and when we get to Morrowind, Lloden I'll let you show off some more of your generosity."

Urgal swished the fiery liquid around his mouth before gulping it down.

"I made it my quest to find Kaglar again one day the moment I left home at the start of my new life. Since then, I've kept him close to my heart, but... I've betrayed him."

He toyed with the round burnt amulet,

"I was very young, and very angry. I didn't realise how the world worked and told myself I would break mountains down to find him, no one would stand in my way, I would stop him becoming... any number of things that haunted me, that he may turn to after being unceremoniously banished from his home. But I betrayed him with my complacency, I lost the passion that I had when I thrust my hand into the fire to retrieve this very amulet. The burns healed and I sat around taking easy money for odd jobs in the imperial city, forgot what it was to be an Orc, to live on the edge of society and shun the comforts of civilisation, to fight for survival against the hardships thrust upon us. To live."

He detached the orcish arrowhead from its place just above the black disc and placed it firmly into Llodens hand.

"And now I hear tales from Anruin, Kaglar seems to keep his pride and his natural sense of honour, and all that is left is to see him for myself. But this arrowhead, you yourself can see Lloden; is made with such a high class of Orichalcum Ore and craftsmanship, aimed with such precision as to miss by a whisker, in the middle of a heavily fortified Dominion dock albeit almost deserted. It can't have been anyone but Kaglar. And I'm left as confused about his status and disposition as ever. Was it a warning? A threat? Some sort of message? Whatever it is, it has fuelled my ambition, and reminded me of why I fight, and behave in the manner that I do, with Malacath guiding me..."

Urgal trailed off. He had meant to give Lloden a short answer, and was surprised that he had used him as a wall to bounce his thoughts and feelings against. Urgal moved towards the exit.

"We'll talk later elf, let's get back to the road."

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

[before murder death times, obviously]

"We'll talk later elf, let's get back to the road."

Lloden turned the arrow over in his hands. It was well crafted, obviously expensive. Unless Kalgar was a smith, it was likely that he wasn't so honorable as Urgal thought. He handed it back, and stood to leave.
Kaglar sees his brother. He fires an arrow at him. A warning? Maybe. A message, I think, though. It's orcish. It was a good shot, and it was within inches of killing him. There's a lot to be read here. He was telling Urgal, all at once, that he hadn't abandoned orcish ways, that he harbored no ill will towards Urgal, but would kill him if need be. But I don't know him well enough to say that for sure. Just thinking.
He followed Endya out of the inn, with Urgal close behind him, when Endya was grabbed.

 

[Ruedyn]

Anruin sat and listened as his old friend spoke. He had laid out some bread reserved for guests, and Anruin pecked at it hungrily.
"So, you're the leader of this town?"
"Yes, and no residents here were infected by me. My potions help me control my urges."
"Good. Have Thalmor bothered this town often?"
"They have. They become my thralls, and do farm work."
"Sadistic, but they deserve it." Anruin sighed. "You sound innocent. Perhaps I'll come back and visit when I retire. Seems like a nice enough place to live." Anruin got up to leave, before turning around,
"One more question, are the other members of the group vampires?" Amiel paused,
"Yes."
"And is she still alive?"
"...Yes"
"More work when I'm done then." Anruin left and rejoined his group, and remained silent near the back.

 

[Josh123914]

The group were gathered at the fork in the road and moved left this time. The dusty path seemed alive, even though it wasn't an official road they passed a caravan soon after joining it, to the right was a small mountain and to the left was the lightened forest and steep valley of the xylo river. Further upstream forest was gone and it seemed became much more arid.
By evening the group came across a cave. ''By tomorrow we'll be at the Sanctuary,'' Enthir said, sitting down on a rock, ''We should clear out that cave nearby. It could be filled with bandits or animals''Endya told them, readying her weapons ''I'll go too, in case it's more than just a pile of rats'' Joncis said, checking if the others felt up for it ''anyone else?''

 

[Ruedyn]

The group were gathered at the fork in the road and moved left this time. The dusty path seemed alive, even though it wasn't an official road they passed a caravan soon after joining it, to the right was a small mountain and to the left was the lightened forest and steep valley of the xylo river. Further upstream forest was gone and it seemed became much more arid.
By evening the group came across a cave. ''By tomorrow we'll be at the Sanctuary,'' Enthir said, sitting down on a rock, ''We should clear out that cave nearby. It could be filled with bandits or animals''Endya told them, readying her weapons ''I'll go too, in case it's more than just a pile of rats'' Joncis said, checking if the others felt up for it ''anyone else?''

Anruin raised his hand, blade drawn.

"I'll go."

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

''I'll go too, in case it's more than just a pile of rats'' Joncis said, checking if the others felt up for it ''anyone else?''

Lloden nodded, and strung his bow. "I'll help out."

 

[Josh123914]

As the group headed into the cave, they noticed mining equipment scattered around the floor, among it were some silver ore, Enthir picked up a few and began to transmute them into gold. Further down the passage they into a clearing. along the narrow walkway were ore veins and down a large ramp further underground led to 3 passages to the left, right, and centre.
On the ground were half a dozen bodies , the workers still had shovels and buckets in their hands.

''Could it have been poisonous air from the mine?'' Endya asked, covering her nose with part of her robes. ''I think it was something else'' Joncis said, prying a bloody pickaxe from one of the miners. ''See? Blood, from the looks of it some tried to fight'' down the ramp towards the 3 tunnels was a body of a bandit. Enthir inspected the body, gashes around his back, looks like a few of the miners could fight. ''We'll split up to clear the tunnels, no point in camping out if bandits are lurking around.'' he said. ''I'll take the centre, Joncis will take the left and whoever can put up with Endya take the right passage'' Enthir cast a ball of light and began to walk, Joncis cast his flame atronach, its glow alone lit the corridor, while Endya took a torch.

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

Endya took a torch.

Lloden followed silently after Endya. He was on edge. In caves, his bow was mostly useless. He had two swords now, of course, but he was still barely decent with them. If he and the lady were surprised, he wouldn't be terribly useful.

 

[Ruedyn]

Anruin fell in behind Enthir,

"Hey, what do you think did this? Bandits usually try to clear the bodies. My gues goes towards Goblins." He spoke quietly, but enough for him to hear.

 

[Josh123914]

Anruin fell in behind Enthir,

"Hey, what do you think did this? Bandits usually try to clear the bodies. My gues goes towards Goblins." He spoke quietly, but enough for him to hear.

''Well, goblins aren't normally found this far south, but I'd imagine the bandits would try to at least clear their friend away.'' Enthir responded quietly, Enthir stopped. leading Anrion to knock into him. Enthir knelt down and searched the miner's body, he found a note:
Khar'ja,
I think we're onto something here, one of the men were digging and struck at one of these walls. Fascinating, it seems to be ancient, as if the ground had swallowed this place whole. I'll have this sent tomorrow unless anything new crops up.
Der'ja

''Swallowed whole? interesting'' Enthir mumbled, stepping over the body and continuing down the passage.