The Shadow Wind, the RP that started more than a year ago

[El Stormo]

Hello everybody! About a year ago, I posted a little story-ish snippet called 'The Death of Lysanna the Nord' on the Elder Scrolls forums. You probably don't remember it, but it was more a joke than anything, to poke fun at the Crash To Desktops. Unforgiven contacted me via PM (this was before I started to think he was an annoying fat nerd) and asked me if I didn't want to join his forum to write a story or two.

I agreed, and posted a 'castrated' version of the short story. GameStar, who was also a member of ES once, replied and the story began. Sadly, GS's writing skills weren't all that and the story began wobblingly and haltingly. Eventually we were joined by Shadow_Paladin, who added another character to the story. This turned out to be a blessing, because the all round level of the story rose and the number of well-written posts increased dramatically.

After my computer fell into disrepair and I was away for a few months (remember?) I forgot all about the story and so did the others. It was only recently that I thought of it, and I decided to contact the old members again to see if we could get the story back up and running. Shadow_Paladin was glad to rejoin (I wouldn't have continued without him), but GameStar turned out to be either unreachable or too lazy to reply. We mourned only very briefly.

After making a few posts, I got the idea of asking a few other people to join, and while I'm writing this, at least one of them is preparing to write his first post. He may look familiar to you, so don't jump when you see the screenname.

Anyway, after the two Rogue's End debacles, I decided to continue the story here, for three reasons:

- I am an Admin here and can cut out the OOC

- This forum is the most stable and most nurturing place to do this

- This place is much more than TMASFS, since the writing members can also hang out here, something they couldn't do there, since it was, well, less fun to be than a clogged privy.

So I'll stop rambling now and post the link to the original story. Then I'll pick up where we left off. If people are reading along with us (and I hope they do), please read the first part before you start reading here. It starts off a bit awkwardly (i.e. GS's sections), but you'll see it getting better and more involving as time passes. I hope you all enjoy this little tale (well, it's not little anymore) and any who want to join are welcome. But send me a PM first ;)


WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

[Eject]

The Dunmer beggar, donned in a tattered cloak and casually leaning against the shaded side of the Gnisis Temple watched the Trio and their young female companion chatter away inside one of the houses. After having watched the days preceding events, he decided it would be in his best interests, if he stayed out of this groups affairs. He wasn't a meddler – though he had a certain unquenchable curiosity which left with more than one unpleasant situation to escape from.

Though today, it was not focused on the small party he watched through the open house door. Rather, the reticent Bosmer skulking behind the building the party stood near, caught his eye. Obviously, the elf's interest in the small group was far greater than his. Oblivious to the ragged mer not to far away, the sneak listened intently to every word which was flew out the nearby window, absently starting at the ground under him and nodding every now and then.

Even his keen elven ears caught little of the distant conversation, though he noticed by the bothered expressions of the others they were in quite a plight. The seemingly hidden eavesdropper made no inclination of departing before the group finished their talk.

His curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to interrogate the Bosmer as soon as he was done listening. After all, he could only be doing a good service if he exposed the sneak to the party... maybe even he'd get a coin for the trouble.

Furper, as his friends called him, rose to his feet with an effortless grace that belied his choice of garment and what it stood for. With an unremarkable wooden quarterstaff firmly gripped, he took a sinuous route to flank the Bosmer.

“Just what was going on here?” That overly curious part of his consciousness wondered...

OOC – Heya.... hope you don't mind if I butt-in. :P

Oh, and could someone please PM me a quick run down of the story. I've only read a few pages back, so I'm not too familiar with what's what and who's who. :) Tx.

This post has been edited by Eject on Nov 27 2004, 05:56 AM

[El Stormo]

Glen remained silent for a while. At length he spoke. "I think we both have a bone to pick with that lot. And it seems our paths lead in the same direction again. So if you don't mind, I guess we can travel together for a while. But I have to warn you, Krag-Tal. These people aren't a typical band of thugs. We may very well simply get our throats slit at night. Or take an arrow to the eye," he said, trying to act cynical but unable to conceal his guilt completely.

"You don't say," the lizard, apparently called Krag-Tal, muttered. "I know these people too, Glen, in case you don't remember."
"You're right," the Nord began, "But I still feel I have to mention it again. Most of these people were my comrades once, and no one knows better what they're capable of than themselves and I."

An uncomfortable silence fell. Kayla looked at the ground, trying to look as invisible as possible. Eventually it was the Argonian who broke the silence. "And what about you, Galvas? I assume you'd rather stay here, but in case you were planning to join, we'd gladly have you."
"I don't know about that," Glen said abruptly. "Who is this guy anyway? I'm not travelling with someone I don't know."
Krag-Tal slowly turned towards Glen. "He's one of the people who just saved your life back there, you thankless dolt," he said quietly. But the sharpness in his voice was clearly audible.
The Nord gave an irritated sigh. "Then how about introducing us?"

Galvas cut in. "Don't you worry about getting to know me. I'm not coming with you anyway." He turned to the lizard and said apologetically, "This is where I belong Krag-Tal. I'd gladly go with you if I didn't have my home, and if I didn't believe my daughter could come back any day."
Krag-Tal spread his hands, palms out, as if to say, 'don't worry about it'.

"By the way," the Nord said, clearly showing his annoyance and, pointing at Kayla, "Who in Oblivion is this?"
Galvas shifted in his chair uneasily. His eyes went to Kayla's, but she returned a look that begged him to introduce her himself. He cleared his throat. "Do you promise to let me finish before you say or do anything?"

Krag-Tal just sat motionless, but Galvas seemed to know that the Argonian agreed. The Nord leaned back in his chair and waved his hand dismissively. "Y'know, when people start like that, you usually just know that they'll say something that's either terribly stupid or terribly disastrous. But what the Hell, let's hear it."

"Thank you," Galvas said, but he looked unconvinced. He cleared his throat again. To Kayla it was a good sign, because it meant he was nervous, and that meant that he did seem to care about what they did to her, or at least a little. "I uh... caught this girl trying to steal something just before you were attacked, and sh-"

Glen laughed. "She was stealing something? Is that all? Did you have to be so dramatic over that?"
"You promised to let me finish," Galvas rumbled sternly. "Will you let me do so, or will I have to give my explanation with you constantly interrupting with inane comments?"
The Nord sat bolt upright in his chair. "Look here, chimney-sweep! I'll say what I bloody well want and when I bloody well want to say it!"
"Glen," the Argonian said quietly. "Shut your mouth. What in blazes is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me is that we're wasting our time listening to this junk!" he shouted, but then he seemed to calm down, and he resumed his posture from before, leaning back in his chair and looking away. "Ah, as if I care. Go on, say what you want to say. Then we're out of here."

Galvas sighed audibly. "Very well. Like I said, I caught this girl trying to steal. She was dressed in nothing but dirty rags and she looked like she hadn't eaten in days. Her face was dirty and she -"
"My heart breaks," Glen interrupted sarcastically. Kayla tried to melt through her chair. This was going completely wrong. The Argonian might be convinced to spare her, but the Nord would be impossible to sway.
Galvas fixed his gaze on the Nord and continued. "What it comes down to is that this girl didn't have anything except the rags on her back. And when she saw a mass of treasure, hiding in plain sight, how could she have resisted?" The Nord's look became wary. He was suspecting already. If the Argonian already knew, he wasn't showing.
Galvas paused and looked at the Nord and the Argonian. "Remember that you've both promised to stay calm. But what she was trying to do was take the things from your dead friend."
The Argonian merely looked away, but the Nord's glare became freezing death, as she'd expected. But miraculously, he kept silent.
"When I caught her, she immediately returned everything she'd taken," Galvas lied, "and when you were attacked, she was brave, and smart, enough to realize it was her chance to redeem herself, at least a little. Remember that she saved your life, Glen and Krag-Tal."

"Finished?" the Nord barked. "What do you suggest we do? Let her go free because she's such a poor wretch who did us a nice favour by 'saving' our hides?! No, my friend, the penalty for corpse-looting is death, and the ones to decide are always the next of kin to the victim! Which means us!" He stabbed a finger at Kayla. "And I don't care how poor, or adorable, or doe-eyed she is, she's not above the law."
Not a single person had spoken to her directly yet. Tears were burning in her eyes, but she fought them with all her strength. She wouldn't lose what little dignity she had left to these men.
The Argonian remained silent.

"Whatever must be decided must be decided by the both of you, Glen. Krag-Tal? What say you?"
The creature didn't reply for a while. At length he turned to her and asked, "What's your name, girl?"
Kayla began to speak, but only a rasp came out. She scraped her throat and said quietly, "Kayla."
"Well, Kayla, Glen has a point. The law states that corpse-looting is punishable by death by hanging." Having been part of the Legion, he knew the laws of Gnisis to the letter. "In fact, in this city the law even states that corpse-looters must be hanged from the walls of the prison building until they've decayed so much they fall off by themselves."
Kayla barely contained a whimper. Being hanged was bad enough, but having your body hanging from the city walls, naked and rotting, was just that much worse.
"But, unlike Glen," the Argonian continued, "I do respect your coming to help us, and I'm sure that if Glen would lay off the boasting, he'd say we probably wouldn't have survived without you two. I have to admit that I'm tempted to turn you in to the authorities," he paused for effect, "but on the other hand, I don't think we can ignore what you did for us. Coming to our aid was probably not the easiest path you could have chosen." He looked at Glen. "So I say we commute her sentence, compliant with the Law on Settlements, of course, and turn her death penalty into a Life Debt."

"A Life Debt?!" the Nord shouted incredulously. "You can't be serious! Look at her! She'll probably collapse the second we hang a backpack on her! As if this thing isn't dangerous enough, you want to burden us with her as well?"
"So what do you suggest?" Galvas said patiently. "Sending her to her death?"
Glen hesitated. "She tried to steal Lysanna's things. I feel really sorry for her, but it's the law and she has to face the consequences."
"And since when does an outlaw like yourself care so much for the law, Glen?" Krag-Tal snapped.
"If it's the law you're interested in," Kayla said, the first time she'd spoken except when she said her name, "then you should know that you both have a Life Debt towards me, since I rescued you from that lizard." She immediately realized her error and corrected herself quickly, "Argonian. No offense. I can call this debt due at any time. Now, for instance." She spoke feebly and timidly, but it was better than staying quiet.
The Nord laughed. "Foolish girl," he smirked. Not even a Life Debt can protect against a death sentence! Do you think that'll free you?"
"Free her? No." Krag-Tal said. "But she can invoke her debt to make us spare her. If the law applies to her, it applies to you as well. I suggest we settle the matter this way. Kayla comes with us until the time we consider the debt paid."
Galvas nodded. "I believe this is a much more humane solution than giving her over to the courts, and a much more beneficial one at that. I think she has more to offer than you realize. She knows how to use a knife and she seems to have a good medical knowledge as well."

Glen got up, toppling his chair to the ground, and stomped outside. "You do whatever you wish! But so long as you remember that I'm not even doing so much as lifting a finger to save your skinny ass, girl! You can get eaten by a Daedroth, for all I care! Not that anything would have much to eat with you! I guess I'm the only one who still gives a damn about what happened to Lysanna!" So that had been the woman's name.
He slammed the door closed and Kayla burst into tears.

[Lanvis]

The two priests held their breath as the door to the Gnisis temple closed, a nervous silence hung in the air for a few moments as both mer stared intently at the door. Finally a synchronised sigh of relief was let out by the two mer. They began walking back into the main body of the temple; each of the mer wore a blue robe with golden seams and intricate golden lace around the neck. The main room in the temple was being cleaned and prepared for the evening service, acolytes and laymen hurried around laying down prayer mats, laying new offerings at each of the shrines and dusting the walls and floors.

The mer walked straight through to a side room which served as the two priests study and office. As he closed the door behind him Aluarh's face broke out into a smug smile, his companion Zemstas wore a more puzzled look which only increased when he saw his friend's expression. Aluarh swept over to the cabinet at the back of the room and pulled out a set of intricate keys from a fold in his robes and swiftly unlocked the two locks that held the door of the cabinet shut and pulled out a full bottle of flin.

"Now I appreciate that anytime that our young protégé is out of the temple it is cause for celebration but drinking because he has gone to check on a few victims of a brawl?" Zemstas said cynically.

Aluarh's smile grew even wider as he poured the expensive liquid into two green tinged glasses. "Don't you see my friend? What does Alfairan always go on about?" Zemstas's eyes narrowed as he accepted the glass of flin, "A life of adventure Zemstas, a life spreading the words of the Tribunal to anyone who will listen to his babbling and they are very few." Aluarh downed the liquid in his glass and began refilling it. "That boy would even try and preach to Dagoth Ur if he didn't get lost on the way to Ghostgate."

Zemstas chuckled but he still looked quizzical, "How will talking to a few street brawlers convince him to lead that grand life?"

"These were not a few brawlers though; these were two groups of adventurers it seems, my sources who reported the fight to me says that there are siblings on either side. The side that lost are about to get a visit from our young layman, one of their party died and the other three were all in the hands of Vivec before the other side seemed to vanish, They didn’t bring any of the injured to the temple but I’d guess that the services of a healer travelling with them wouldn’t go amiss,” If it was possible Aluarh’s grin grew even wider, “I have therefore given our accident prone, would be priest permission to travel with them if they accept him and with the charisma spell I put on him they will surely accept him.”

The two mer clinked their glasses after a toast, a toast to never having to worry about Alfairin setting fire to their precious Sermon of Vivec ever again.

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

Alfairin paced nervously outside the house, he had already been to the wrong house twice and had learnt that people didn’t enjoy being labelled street brawlers even if the one doing the labelling was in a priest’s habit. The Dunmer ran a hand over his bruised, ashen cheek and clutched his bag of meagre possessions all the closer, all he had was a prayer book, a couple of healing scrolls and a torn map of Vvardenfell showing the major cities and not a lot else. Still this was his dream, he was going to travel the island, preaching to all that he met; perhaps he would become a warrior priest like those in the stories that he had read.

A stupid smile filled his face at the thought of him smiting evil for the Tribunal as his right hand rapped lightly on the door of the house he had been told to visit.

[El Stormo]

Glen slammed the door closed and turned around angrily.
"And what do you want?!" he barked at the fellow standing before him.
"I was- " the man began, but Glen promptly cut him off.
"Y'know what? I don't care what you're doing here, you buffoon! Stand aside!"
"But - "
"Didn't I tell you I didn't care?! Now piss off before I make your face symmetric!" With that, Glen stomped off towards the town.

[Eject]

As the Nord stormed out the house, (and nearly attacking a surprised priest in the process) Furper took after the Bosmer, who abandoned his spot under the window and lightly followed the furious Nord. Promptly he assumed the stumbling tread of a weak beggar when the elf searched his surroundings, the sneak casually dismissed the rag of walking cloth and proceeded after his target.

Furper pursued, but halted momentarily when he caught sight of Alfairin, that clumsy priest. He often watched the young layman performing his duties at the temple. Furper himself helped put out the flames when Alfairin set some of Vivec's Sermons alight... He couldn't help but wonder what his business here was, and he would have stayed to find out had it not been for the steel dagger sheathed at the Bosmer's belt that he saw the elf stroking, just ahead of him.

He hated to meddle. But the teachings of his faith, and the oaths he took after taking up the life of a Monk compelled him to intervene. Nostalgia of a different time washed over him. Just a few months ago the thoughts of hiding his order's robes under a tattered cloak and living a paupers life seemed preposterous. No longer – now, if it wasn't for the sense of duty which binded him, he would have gladly let the Bosmer handle the burly Nord as he pleased.

Monk, Pauper, Rebel – he was all of these, and yet none of these. For now, he would simply be a Samaritan. If the leery elf just ahead endangered the angered Nord he would play the interposer, aiding however he may, as was his duty.

Furper quickened his pace...

[Shadow_Paladin]

The Argonian sighed and turned to face Galvas, who was trying, and apparently having some difficulty, to calm down the whimpering girl. "Look," the Dunmer was saying, "he didn't really mean it. Don't worry about it; he's just a pigheaded Nord with no respect."

Krag-Tal shook his head and decided it was time to give the girl an offer of some sort. "Ok, look...Kayla," he started, "Glen's not usually that much of a bastard. He's just short tempered and really isn't very happy with what happened to Lysanna. But don't let it get to you."

The girl stopped crying for a moment to sniff dejectedly. Krag-Tal continued, "Let me make you a deal." This seemed to get her attention.

"Let's forget about crime and punishment for now. I could turn you in, yes, but I won't; you're not useful to anyone if you're rotting in a cell somewhere."

She noticeably relaxed and he went on. "Now, what do you say if you went with us? These guys are bad, dangerous criminals, I know. But, they're likely to have some pretty hefty bounties if they're as dangerous as Mr. Temper Tantrum says they are. It seems that you have some...experience with the, ah, underworld, shall we say? How about you come with us, help us out and we'll give you a share of whatever we accumulate during the process. How's that sound?"

Krag-Tal smiled inwardly, as he had her where he wanted her. She would be very hard-pressed to refuse an offer like that. Sure, she would be safer not going, but who's to say how long it would take the law to catch up to her? Or what if she got involved in a gang war or some sort? No, the best option was to go with them. She'd even get some money out of it...

[El Stormo]

Kayla sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Galvas winced when he saw it. "So you want me to tag along? What for? You two are obviously people who know how to fight and kill. I'm just a... " Her voice trailed off and she sighed. "I just don't get it. And experience with the underworld? You can't be serious. It's not like I'm part of a gang or anything."

"May I?" Galvas asked Krag-Tal. The Argonian made a 'go ahead' gesture with a scaled hand. Galvas drew breath for a moment and then said, "Look. Maybe you've never learned how to fight, but you certainly know how to do it. You got the better of a creature that trained and fought all his life, if I'm correct, Krag-Tal?" The Argonian nodded.

"We were both there. If you hadn't been there, he would have cut me to strips with one hand behind his back."
Galvas raised a hand. "True. But that's not what I'm trying to say. What I'm getting at is that that leap you took was something that takes courage. And when you dodged that stab, even though it did get you, you showed that you have innate reflexes. Now, if you would let your abilities develop, you'd be someone that can hold her own in a fight as well."
Kayla snorted. "The courage I had was very easily found when you keep in mind that I would be dead if I had hung back."
"Yes, yes, yes, I know," Galvas said impatiently. "But it was there. That's what matters."

Kayla sighed. "I don't know."

"And another thing," Krag-Tal said. "If you had let us try to heal you, there wouldn't have been a you left, most likely."
Kayla gave a slight chuckle. "That's true. You three probably couldn't bandage your own toe if you dropped your sword on it."
"That's what I mean. I don't think you're magically apt," he paused to let Kayla answer, which she did by shaking her head, "but you do seem to have learned how to treat injuries. I'm not a healer, and Glen's healing spells aren't all that either. And when I take a bolt to the stomach, I'm happy when there's someone around who can pull it out without taking my stomach with it."
Kayla shrugged.
"Where did you learn to heal like that? It's not a very common skill among guttersnipes. No offence."
"I'll tell you when we're on the road. We'd get bored otherwise," Kayla said, managing a smile.

"So you agree then?" Galvas asked eagerly. "Wonderful! You can keep the clothes you're wearing. I'll even give you some extra with it. And I'm sure Krag-Tal and Glen will have a few gold to spare to get you some equipment."
Krag-Tal nodded. "Goes without saying."

"But what about your daughter? Won't she need her clothes?"
Galvas fell silent. At length he spoke. "I don't know if she'll ever need clothes again."
Kayla wisely didn't ask further. Perhaps Krag-Tal could tell her later. "So... I hope you volunteer to tell your friend Glen?" she asked Krag-Tal.
The Argonian sighed. "I suppose that will have to be me, yes."

Galvas stood up and looked at the door. "Can we help you, sir?"
Krag-Tal and Kayla whipped their heads around. A mer in priest's robes had slowly and timidly walked into the doorframe.

OOC: I'm sorry about taking the liberty of giving Krag-Tal a few lines again, but I'm just trying to keep up the pace. If some lines bother you and you want them changed or scrapped, by all means tell me. Same goes for Lanvis - if you think Alfairan should not walk in timidly, let me know. :)

[El Stormo]

"Bunch of bleeding hearts," Glen muttered to himself as he stomped down the hillock. "Taking a sewer rat along when we should drown her in a puddle." He stopped and thought. Maybe he was a little hard on the woman. She had tried to steal Lysanna's things, true, but perhaps hunger and deprivation did such things to people. Ah well, no matter. He still disliked her going along, because she was pretty useless, if for nothing else. He had reached the centre of the town and sat on a stool on a terrace. He needed a Mazte.

[Eject]

With a mug of drink firmly in hand, the Bosmer crossed the floor to near where the Nord sat. “'Ey, we doesn't serve free drinks 'ere.” The barman shouted to Furper as he came in.

“Would you not even spare a cup of water for a poor man?” He bespoke calmly. The chubby Imperial behind a the high bar grumbled, and reluctantly passed a goblet of water down the table, obviously fearful of appearing uncharitable in front of his customers. Furper thanked him and took a seat at the end of the bar from where he could see the Bosmer shuffling past the tightly packed tables. The empty stool afore the Nord seemed to be the elf's destination.

Too late, he thought, when the Bosmer reached down to his waist and leaned forward just as he passed the Nord's table. “No! Look out behind you!” He called to the Nord and without hesitation he sprang forward, the quarterstaff he pretended to be leaning on spun wildly and clubbed a bewildered Bosmer in the head. Furper would have been pleased with himself had it not been for the seven feet of Nord which rose up aside him and stretched out two slender blades, both poised dangerously at his throat.

“Another one of you thugs, is it?” He warned before Furper was forced to twist his staff and narrowly deflect two quick slashes. He was grateful his staff was enchanted, otherwise he would be holding nothing more than a chair leg now. Furper danced back and kicked outwards to enter into a gyrate, all the while using his staff to block blow after blow. At last he reached the end of the floor and the begging of the dirt path. He kicked some dust into the large Warriors face and used the momentary lapse in the fighting to roll down the terrace landing and dash between the houses for safety.

Yet again his meddling got him in trouble but he decided it best to curse at himself later. Furper was always perceptive, and today in that short fight he hadn't failed to notice the tattoo of a strange bird at the back of the now unconscious Bosmer's neck...

This post has been edited by Eject on Nov 28 2004, 04:48 PM

[Lanvis]

Alfairin tensed as the three turned to look at him, each of them stared intently at him. This was his big chance, his chance to set off down a road of glory, he would be known throughout of the land as one of the great orators of this age. He would be known as a Priest of the Three, spreading the words of the Tribunal not only across Vvardenfell and Morrowind but across the entire continent. The shining light that was the words of the Tribunal would bring the darkness of the world out where all could see it! At the moment however he couldn't get his words out.

"I, well," The Dunmer's jaw wagged but no more words came out. The young elf's face became more and more frantic and suddenly all the words came flooding out, "You were in a fight, not acceptable in Gnisis, Alaurh says either I get to travel with you or he calls for a group of ordinators to take you all to the Ministry of Truth,"The mer continued without taking a breath, "I was told some of you were injured so I brought healing scrolls to help, we would have come to help you all after the fighting but we were in afternoon service which is the most important service as I'm sure you all know." It was only now that Alfairin stopped to take a breath. "So where are we all going next?"

[Shadow_Paladin]

OOC: If this doesn't make much sense, it's kind of early, and I'm tired...

The Dunmer priest whom had just barged into the house stood before the trio, mouth ajar, with a look of earnest need of approval in those red eyes. Somewhat like a puppy when they want to get their way. Krag-Tal barely suppressed a laugh and waved his hand in dismissal.

"Look, good sir priest, I'm not sure you can help us all that much. But, as you say, it IS true that the Ordinators might bust us for fighting during your little service."

The priest's eyes widened as he realized that perhaps, even though he had spewed it all out too quickly, this group might take him with them. He could preach across the land, gaining glory wherever he went, spreading the good words of the Tribunal with him.

He straightened up a little bit, and assumed as much of a righteous air as he could muster. "O-of course, sir. Yes, that is what you must do. To redeem yourselves in the eyes of the holy Tribunal, you must let me come with you."

Krag-Tal's eyes gleamed with amusement, even though his face didn't show any. "I suppose that we have to take you with us, at least for a while," he said, "We don't need any trouble with the law; especially not the Ordinators. Now, please, let us spend the rest of the evening here, and you can go back to the Temple and maybe prepare a little better."

Note to Lanvis: if this is too far out of character for Alfairin, let me know, I'll change it.

[El Stormo]

"Uhm," Kayla said hesitantly, "are you sure this is a good idea?" When she saw the priest's face becoming anxious, she hastily added, "Not that I mind myself, but Glen will be -"
"I'll deal with Glen," Krag-Tal said calmly.
"All right. I'm sorry I said anything. I know I've just joined this group too," she said apologetically. "It wasn't my intention to interfere or anything."
"That's quite all right. You're a part of this group now, and that also means you can say how you feel about things."

"Oh. Okay. I wasn't really sure about what I could and couldn't say..." Then she turned to the priest. "I'm Kayla, but that's not really important." She indicated the Argonian, "This is Krag-Tal. I'm sure he'll have more interesting things to say than I do." And then, to Krag-Tal, "In fact, there's still a lot I need to know too. Like who it is you're looking for. And where you think they are. And who you are." She shrugged. "Things like that."

[Shadow_Paladin]

Krag-Tal gazed at the girl for a moment. "Oh, is that all? Well, normally, I wouldn't tell you, of course," he started, "but since it'll be different this time, there can't be any harm in prior knowledge."

"First of all, you already know my name, so I'll skip that part. I'm nobody important; I'm just a mercenary trying to make my way in life. Used to be part of the Legion, but that fell out." He conveniently skipped over the part about Larius being murdered and his quest for vengeance had had him tossed out of the Legion like so much scuttle. It was a personal matter that he and Galvas had to deal with on their own time.

"Second, we're going after some kind of shadow group within what I guess to be the Cammona Tong. The 'Tong is the most dangerous criminal element in Morrowind, and are based on Vvardenfell. They deal in everything from slaves to Dwemer artifacts to illegal drugs, to assassinations. Just don't confuse those assassinations with the legal ones of the Morag Tong; they're picky about that sort of thing. I even ran a couple contracts for the Morag Tong, but they're a little brutal for me. Skulking in the shadows like wraiths while their enemies have no chance at defense. Hmph. Anyway, the Cammona Tong is everywhere, and some say they've even got members in the Great Houses, so they're not just going to go away anytime soon."

He paused for a moment to think about what he should and shouldn't tell her, then continued, "We're going after this group to, hopefully, get some money out of it and because," he lowered his voice to just barely audible and leaned toward the girl, "my brother is there. I need to see him again and I want to know what those monsters have done to him to make him part of such a soulless bunch of devils."

He sighed and shrugged. "That's why we're going. But there's bound to be plenty to see and do as we look for these people. As long as we're careful of those Daedric worship shrines and the old Dwemer ruins, we should be ok."

This post has been edited by Shadow_Paladin on Nov 30 2004, 09:27 PM

[Lanvis]

"Hold Argonian, speak no more!" Alfairin screeched.

A grin formed on Krag Tail's snout, "I just had." He replied with a chuckle.

"I said stop!" Alfairin's screech grew even shriller. "I cannot believe the words that you uttered not a moment before, a little service," the angry priest said incredulously, "no service to the Three can ever be considered a small act." Alfairin's eyes glazed over, his arms were beginning to straighten and raise as he spoke. "The Tribunal listens to every prayer and they send the answer back to believers. The answer floods into your mind like light into the eyes of a newborn babe or the first drops of water to a man who has had none for a year." The mer's eyes were now closed and his mouth was curled in a contented smile. "No service is small, not in the heart of a true believer or in the eyes of our Gods, everything we do we know that they are watching us for they are the defenders of the Dunmer, they protect us from those that try to lead us astray and above all they will love us and warm our hearts."

Alfairin's eye's snapped open. "nothing that is done in the service of the Tribunal is small, nothing. None of you have ever felt the hand of a true God reach into your soul and propel you towards their cause. You would not know."

Alfairin realised what he had done and grinned, he looked like a frightened guar to be perfectly honest.