Zephyr2011

edited and posted

Ra'Qassar - Skyhaven Temple Ra'Qassar walked with Velanya to the rest of the Blades stronghold. It was eerily... homie to the Khajiit. His own dwelling was a cave hidden in Whiterun hold filled with furniture, trophies and equipment that he had furnished almost entirely on his own. He had required the assistance of a few other individuals to complete his forge, however, it was by-in-large his own creation. The airy, dirty and dank temple reminded him of his own cave and a certain nostalgia washed over him. He remembered all of the hard work that had gone into making his dwelling a home and of each aspect of Whiterun that he had brought into it. He found that he had made the right decision accompanying the group to Karthspire. He spoke up about the gaping hole in the roof, "I am no master craftsman, but I can prepare a temporary solution for our roof until a mason and carpenter can be found. I can also service arms and armor passably well and make furniture. Again, I am no master, but it is better than nothing for now." Galus - Skyhaven Temple Galus found the vampire's plight interesting. It was rare for one to spend so much time and dedications searching for a cure, yet still take the time to assist with other matters. Galus had met a mage who had been afflicted with vampirism and cured. Perhaps when there was a lull, Galus could assist Lucius in this quest of his. The temple was a bit of a mess, that was to be sure, but it was evident that it had been a lot worse and Velanya had done as best she could with her limited resources. "I can sustain a spell to keep the water out for now. If I have to leave the temple it will require some extra preparation, but it should hold until Ra'Qassar can make his remedies or we get an expert." Baltis Llervu - Skyhaven Temple Baltis nodded in approval when Galus lended his own offer to the restoration. Baltis was about to offer the same thing as it happened. The lich figured that he could sustain a much more powerful spell, one that could also keep out enemies, but no one needed to know that. Let the young one get some experience and gain some legitimacy. Baltis had once known perhaps the greatest smith to ever grace Tamriel, he was certainly the greatest in the Empire at the time. Unfortunately though, Imperials die, as did this one over 150 years ago of old age. Baltis had lost contact with most of the outside world about a century ago, keeping to his tower, his charges and his studies. Sadly, he had very few connections with the current world. Virtually everyone he knew was standing in that temple with him. "I'm not the best candidate for recruiter or envoy, Velanya. What would you have me do? My experience with construction is limited mostly to magical fungi rather than wood and stone." The lich felt oddly useless here, other than spellwork, his expertise was quite inapplicable at the temple it seemed and the spellwork was already covered.

Sorry about my most recent post. I left it open for several hours and then finished my post, by which time a couple other posts occurred so I changed it to "under revision," I'll fit something in tomorrow. Go ahead and post if you have something and I'll just write to conform to it, it won't be anything beyond a commentary of the situation really.

Baltis Llervu - Karthspire Baltis felt a sudden surge of emotions, embarrassment, shame, and disgust, it was an interesting cocktail to be sure. As soon as it came, it dissipated. He wasn't sure why, vampire's had never offended him before and he had only ever prided himself on detecting powerful magic users, there was no shame in him not noticing this creature of the night. He could clearly see the hatred in Adrynn though. Baltis almost laughed aloud at the irony of his companion's disposition. Here stood a great Redoran warrior, disgusted and revolted by a vampire, yet now quite tolerant, perhaps even appreciative, of a Telvanni lich. Baltis's lips curled up in a smile briefly in amusement.

Ra'Qassar - Karthspire Ra'Qassar also noted the vampire's origins and at Velanya's question, he chimed in, "This is a vampire, Volkihar I believe." The Khajiit bristled slightly but did not draw his weapon. He had dealt with enough predators to know when they were ready to strike, and vampires were nothing if not predators. He did lay his hand on his dagger though and was prepared to draw it. Even though he knew that the vampire had far better reflexes than a normal man, he somehow felt confident. Baltis Llervu - Karthspire Baltis immediately recognized the man for what he was. He smirked slightly when he heard the vampire confess his profession. "It is a pleasant thing that you realized that. We would hate to half to spill even more blood." This Lucius character was interesting to be sure and had certainly seen his fair share of tamriel, one often did in the unlife. Llervu locked eyes with him briefly to pass a certain sense of understanding between the two.

How I usually approach a problem like this is think of a character I find interesting, (ie: I found Adrynn really interesting in SoDS) and have my character strike up conversations with them (this in turn, lead to Baltis having a lot of past and history with Adrynn). Just try to add little side conversations with people. This will help make your characters more involved and will carry them on into a good role in the RP, it's nice to have another person to reference your character and vice versa. There are some other, more overt ways to do that such as take charge in certain positions (I kind of did that with Ra'Qassar being a hunter and guide so he's taken a fairly prominent position in the RP because of that), but it's also important to know when to step back. (ie: Ra'Qassar becomes much more secondary in the Blades since he's not in charge of them or extremely experienced with their operations.). Once you get a better feel for your own characters and everyone else's you scan start thinking about who would have a conflict or a bond with my character? (again, Baltis and Adrynn) and start interactions with them. It's a little tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it.

Hey Mac, could you post soon? We're a little hung up on your response at the moment. Thanks! Also, I suppose if you're looking for something to do Chrys, we could use Seutin brought closer to Karthspire and the rest of the group if that's at all possible/convenient for you. Danke Mas all!

Baltis Llervu - Karthspire Baltis was mildly surprised that Svarn had spoken to him. Adrynn was about the only one the lich had really talked with one on one. Perhaps his words with Svarn the other night and his own display of power had garnered some respect from the Nord. He replied, "That is Velanya Therys, one of the best soldiers the legion has ever seen, Commander of the Blades, one of the few left after all this time, and champion of Azura, along with her cousin Adrynn. I fought along side her, Iodiria, Faeryn, Adrynn, Sera, Sorin and many others in the lead up to and during the Oblivion crisis. I bear no love for her, but she is a capable warrior and skilled leader. Do not underestimate her, or anyone else here. Even the new blood like yourself, none of us have made it hear without reason." Baltis's tone was flat, emotionless. He did not enjoy singing Velanya's praises, but he would not do her the injustice of lying about her skill and background. As much as they had quarreled in the past, Velanya was a fierce fighter. "I had never thought to see any one of the people who I worked with during the Oblivion Crisis, and now, I've seen almost all of them, and many talented people beyond just them. Something greater is at work here. Let me tell you something, Svarn, this may begin with the Thalmor, but it does not end there. Something bigger is at stake, or else the Lady of Dawn and Dusk would not be maneuvering her pieces together so much." Baltis had some more passion and urgency in his voice now. He despised the Thalmor, but he had theorized that they wouldn't be called together just to deal with the Thalmor, nor could they be brought together if that was the only game afoot. Azura had used them once before to save Nirn, Baltis was sure that she would not use them again if not for the same purpose.

Galus - Karthspire The scene unfolded interestingly. Clearly all of these people knew each other, Svarn, Ra'Qassar, Sandhya, Willis and himself were just the outsiders along for the ride. Regardless of the interesting reunion that Galus had just witnessed, he knew where his duty lay. "My lady, I have dedicated my life to the destruction of the Thalmor, and if joining you is the best way to bring about that end: you have my sword, my mind, and all my being." Galus silently wondered why he had posed it so eloquently. Something strange had gotten into him it seemed. Regardless though, he now had a path, and a leader, one whom he hoped could bring about his ultimate goal. Ra'Qassar - Karthspire "My duty is to Whiterun and Skyrim. They shall never be truly safe until the accursed Thalmor are stopped, I am with you." Ra'Qassar pledged. It made sense, and this would surely be an adventure to remember, perhaps greater than even that incident on Wyrmstooth with Rorik. It was time that he returned to something beyond just hunting and scouting. These last few weeks had shown him that. He could no longer sit idly by, not with his gifts. He had an obligation to do his part. And this was the means. Baltis Llervu - Karthspire Baltis appreciated Velanya's offer of a choice, though they all knew that the reunited companions didn't really have a choice, only the newcomers. It was entertaining really, a lich was one of the only surviving members of the Blades. Sometimes Baltis still cursed Caius Cosades. After the Oblivion Crisis, Baltis got dragged into more missions than he would have imagined - or cared for. Most of them involved dangerous mages and strange phenomena. The Spymaster used his knowledge of Baltis's nature as leverage over him constantly. If Baltis didn't help the Blades, then the Blades wouldn't hesitate to ostracize him and try to bring him down if they knew he was a lich. Now though, he found he actually wanted to help. The Thalmor had plagued the entire continent and it was past time they were brought to heel. "If I wouldn't join you, I wouldn't be here. Just don't try to put me in one of those damned tin cans."

I chuckled and appreciated it :P

Ra'Qassar - Karthspire The Akaviri clad women took Ra'Qassar aback for a moment. He stopped and looked at her, this was who they were supposed to see. "Velanya?" He asked, "We're with-" Ra'Qassar was cut off by Adrynn's appearance and greeting. This was indeed who they had been sent to meet. Ra'Qassar felt rejuvenated after the battle, like somehow he had recovered his lost strength, but this was nothing new to him. Perhaps the adrenaline was still wearing off, he did not know, but he usually he felt rather refreshed after protracted conflicts instead of beat down. There was such a marked difference between his status before the battle and afterward, that combined with the strange happenings at Labyrinthian, gave him pause. Perhaps there was more to himself than he once knew. Baltis Llervu - Karthspire Baltis and Adrynn finished fending off the Forsworn and forged through the mountain passageways. Adrynn hollered at him to don his disguise once more, Baltis was thinking on the same path. He had just finished readying the first spell in his layers of disguise when Adrynn told him to revert. By the time they made it to the others Baltis was back to his "normal" Dunmer self. There in gleaming armor stood Azura's second champion, Velanya Therys. "Well, well, well, it's been a long time Velanya," the lich began, "As per usual, I have come uninvited again, I hope you don't mind." Baltis's lip curled slightly. Although he felt remorse for what happened to Adrynn's wife, he still had bad blood with Velanya. It was strange, they had never openly fought, but there had been a sort of mutual disdain it seemed from the beginning and it festered like a bad wound. Perhaps the fact that they had never settled anything in combat was why Baltis still had no salve for that wound.

Ra'Qassar - The Reach The days march had gone peaceably enough, they made good time and found no Forsworn until they saw the column of imperials leaving the Reach. Ra'Qassar kept them more on the guard until night fell and they stumbled into the ambush. Ra'Qassar drew his blade and donned his shield. He saw a briarheart and made directly for him. Ducked behind his shield, Ra'Qassar felt the steady ssss-thunk, ssss-thunk of arrows flying at him and lodging themselves in his strong shield. Ra'Qassar bowled the briarheart over, surprising the big Forsworn with his power and ferocity. When the man went down, Ra'Qassar stepped on the Forsworn's windpipe before driving his sword through the wooden heart. Ra'Qassar lead the charge up the hill after Sandhya, slicing and slashing Forsworn as he went. More and more fell to him as he ascended, his cuts were precise, powerful and deadly, lopping off limbs, heads or disemboweling his opponents. Soon he was within the cave. He did not rest on his laurels though, instead he urged his companions onward, "This way! Up into the mountain! We must reach the temple!" He continued forcing his way up the tunnels and past the ancient structures of the Blades, glancing over his shoulder occasionally to make sure his companions were following. Galus, Willis and Sandhya were all close behind from the looks of it, but the others were farther out or out of sight completely. Galus - The Reach The day was completely forgotten when they were ambushed at night. Galus's eyes clouded over slightly as he slipped out of conscience thought and into pure instinct. He drew his sword in his right hand and began blasting enemies with lightning that arched from foe to foe. He loosed bolts over his shoulder, in front of him, and occasionally channeled them into his blade as he helped to clear the way with Ra'Qassar. The Khajiit was a juggernaut, Galus was flabbergasted. Rather than tiring, the Khajiit seemed to move faster, strike harder and take more punishment, a similar thing could be attributed to blood rage, but this was something else. The Khajiit wasn't just hitting his stride he was moving faster than should be possible, it was almost as if the blood of his foes was strengthening him. Galus shook his head slightly to clear his distracted thoughts and went back into his battle mode. He noted Willis's proficiency with spell and blade and Sandhya's incredibly quick movements. Adrynn was slaughtering Forsworn left and right as he charged to the Karthspire, and Baltis, even he was assisting. Baltis Llervu - The Reach They were pushing steadily through the throng of Forsworn, but more were behind them. Baltis found himself side by side with Adrynn who was proving that he had not lost his touch. Baltis aimed to show him that he could keep up as well. Three Forsworn closed in on him and were punished by a giant blade of ice that sliced all of them in half along their midriffs. Others charged and were met with massive spears of ice. One man tried to get around behind him, but when the man went to slice the soft flesh of Baltis's neck, the lich chuckled and let his guise melt away before whirling with mind-numbing speed. The lich was there in all his terrible glory now, his bones were a dark grey, still mottled with bits and pieces of long-dead flesh and unbleached by the sun. His eyes were two fiery orbs of light now rather than the false organic ones and one hand had more flesh than the other with a considerably lighter pallor than the rest of his dark grey meat. Baltis grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him up as the Forsworn slowly turned paler and paler before beginning to turn gray and black. His eyes popped into a thousand tiny shards of ice. Before the body hit the ground, a pale blue glow filled those eyes and the dead retrieved its former weapon before going off to slaughter its former comrades. The sight of Baltis unnerved some of the Forsworn, as they tried to backpedal and flee, they tripped up their comrades. Baltis raised both his hands and then clenched them into fists, summoning a myriad of glimmering spikes, an icy cold death. Baltis and Adrynn slowly worked their way towards the cave, covering the rear. Baltis felt strange, as if with every expenditure of magicka, more replaced it and it flowed faster, surer and more potent. It was a fortunate and beautiful thing as it made the protection of the group that much easier. He laughed heartily when two came at him, the first missed his strike, only to slay his comrade. As soon as the one fell, Baltis raised him and finished the second. Soon there were around a dozen undead Forsworn, brought down by any and all of the companions, raising hell through their living brethren.

Galus - The Reach Galus took an average sized helping, enough to sustain him, and some of the extra root vegetables the Khajiit had gathered. He settled in near the fire and ate his food quickly but quietly. He still didn't say much, and when he finished his meal he unrolled his mat near the edge of the dome and slept apart from the others, partially because of his new-found shyness and partially because with his frayed nerves, his still awake companions would stop sleep from coming to him for a very long time if he lay near the fire. Baltis Llervu - The Reach Baltis took a small portion of the goat as befit someone of his slight build and a slightly larger portion of the root vegetables. He knew the alchemical uses of every one as well as their immediate effects if devoured, most were subtle, but a skilled mage and alchemist could enhance them greatly with the right spells. He picked at his food, noting Adrynn's gaze on him, eating small bits of meat at a time so that his "digestion" was less obvious. As each morsel slid down his gullet it was incinerated with a small gout of flame. It gave no outward physical signs, but a skilled mage might detect the energy put off by his spells, though the mage would have to concentrate hard to detect anything beyond the glacial mist that was his aura. Once he finished his meat, Baltis consumed the vegetables and herbs, this time though, they were encased in ice for storage rather than destroyed. Even in life he ate his food one thing at a time so it certainly wouldn't appear any stranger than that to anyone else. The lich smiled slightly when Adrynn asked him to take first watch. Baltis rose from his finished meal, "Certainly. I'll rouse you when you are needed." A light danced slightly in the lich's eyes, the playful spark of jest. Baltis went to the mouth of the dome and sat near a rock, as silent as the stones themselves and slowly, one couldn't discern the difference as the darkness and mild chameleon spell took hold. The lich stared unblinkingly into the night, noting a pair of wolves running, their red tongues lolling out of their mouths tasting the air for the scent of some goat or deer. A great owl flew whisper-quiet from a massive pine tree to pounce on a field mouse of some sort and a flock of bats squeaked through the night as they ambushed moths and flies. Ra'Qassar - The Reach When the food was doled out, Ra'Qassar took his own portion, fairly modest, then dressed and salted the meat before hanging it higher above the fire to cure it. There wasn't much left but it could provide some nice energy between camps. His task complete, the Khajiit readied his bedroll and climbed in, still in his armor with his sword next to his right arm and his dagger under his balled up cloak. He slept with one hand atop his chest and the other underneath his pillow, both weapons at immediate access should danger come, but it never did. Baltis Llervu - The Reach The watch was uneventful, other than a desperate pack of wolves bringing down a bear cub and then having to deal with its mother. That was far off though, nearly half a mile from the camp. Baltis judged that it was about an hour before the rosy pink dawn would be heralded by the ever lightening shades of grey and finally make her appearance. The plan was to set out as soon as the sun peered over the edge of the horizon so Baltis returned to the cave and spoke to Adrynn. "It's time Adrynn, make yourself ready then we'll rouse the others." Baltis had never had any intention in letting Adrynn stand watch for any length of time, but if the Redoran was awake before everyone else was, it would appear that the Redoran had taken a watch after all. Appearances could be everything.

Ra'Qassar - The Reach Ra'Qassar listened intently to the back and forth of his companions, he hoped that this tension wouldn't last. It was bad for morale, and they would need all the morale they could get. Somehow, hearing about these tragedies made him feel incredibly saddened, Adrynn and Svarn had both lost families, Baltis something else it seemed, but what, or who? Ra'Qassar pitied them, but simultaneously he had a pang of self-pity: he had never been close enough to anyone to have those connections. The Thane had always been a bit of a loner, he had a few friends, but no fast companions that he broke bread and salt with regularly or sat and talked with for hours on end, or visited with whenever possible. Everyone had always been distant to the orphan. It was a curious thing, he was dull to the pain of loss, yet knowing that that kind of pain had never been possible for him was hard. He could attribute it to a great many things, but above all it was his fault. His own doing for being reclusive and preferring the tundra to the cityscapes and preferring his tools to people. Adrynn's question brought him out of his reverie and Ra'Qassar shook his head slightly as if to clear his mind. He parted a section of flesh on the goat that he had been basting in its own grease and wild mountain herbs such as thyme and small onions. He judged the meat cooked through, "It is ready Dunmer, if you all would line up, we can all fill our bellies and get some sleep." Ra'qassar proceeded to portion up the meal and hand it to his companions as they approached.

Baltis Llervu - The Reach The Nord's hatred for the forsworn was quite justified, Baltis knew. However he couldn't help but shake his head as he stood and drew himself to his full height. "You want to face them alone? Fine, face them. Kill three, kill five, kill twenty. But what will happen? Not only will they have killed your wife and child but they will have killed you. Are those scores the same that killed your family? No. If you want them to pay, then live let every breath you draw be your vengeance. Then, when you have the forces and the power, come down on them like an iron fist and wipe them from the face of Nirn. But your death now will mean nothing to your wife and child. Live, Nord, live so that your family may live in your heart and so that their deaths will not have been in vain." Baltis's eyes flashed with a bright light behind them, partly just his passion and partly his magickal being. "Your life is a gift, and if what you say is true about watching your family die, then you were only just spared from the same fate. That is another gift in and of itself, do not squander it as others have." Llervu didn't really know what had come over him. He suspected it was the rush earlier that had brought back the memories of his own family, of his apprentices, of his friends, of his retainers, of Kriak, of Ayra, of Garila, of Salms Andares, of everyone. Perhaps the precious nature of life was what he was truly meant to find in this new harrowing journey. Whether he had a connection with Svarn, or any of the other companions, he had to make sure that no one squandered the gift of life as his apprentice had, as he had.

Galus - The Reach The journey had been a fairly pleasant one thus far, though no one had spoken much. Thankfully, no trouble had beset them in the wilds, the noise they made alone was enough to keep most wild animals at bay. And the bandits, if there had been any, thought better of attacking such a well equipped group. Now though, they were in the Reach with something like 30,000 foemen, Thalmor and Forsworn, crawling the hills. The mage's tale was a mildly interesting, Galus figured Dagon had his hands in it, but doubted whether the Prince would give up his mantle so easily. The orc would probably die after serving his purpose rather than obtain his crown. Rather than speak up though, Galus kept his slightly sulky silence. He was not out from under the shroud of suspicion himself yet. That was a point of bitterness and animosity for him. The group didn't know Baltis, could not know Baltis, and yet they let him carry on like a normal human being. As if the monster was anything close to human. Adrynn's speech had been stirring. It spoke to the perils of their situation and of what must be done should they encounter trouble. Galus knew he could not withstand their numbers if they were in the thick of a large army, but he could thin them and help to either push the party forward, or cover their rear. The brand on Adrynn's palm made Galus blink and squint, as if to verify that what he was seeing was real. There truly were greater powers at work here. Ra'Qassar - The Reach The Thane listened to the wanderer's story. It was a song he had heard before, some apprentice, supposedly ignorant of their master's intentions, seeking out the master to bring them to justice. The motives varied with the names and so did the validity of the tales. The orc could be a great threat, but if Ra'Qassar's well trained ears had not heard anything about him in the province, he doubted that this Kr'ohr woul trouble them on their mission. Still, he felt obliged to let the mage know about the orcish strongholds, "I have traveled far and wide, mage, I hunt and trade with some of the Orcish strongholds but have heard nothing of your necromancer, perhaps they have though. The nearest one is Dushnik Yahl to the Southwest. I do not believe this monstrosity is in Skyrim, however." Ra'Qassar nodded in agreement with Adrynn, and then with Sandhya. Ra'Qassar was not a coward, but he knew that in war, advantages were everything and stealth was more his domain than the front lines. He had been a Scout, an agent and above all, a hunter. He would see them to the Karthspire, all alive if that was possible, and he made a mental note to attempt to coerce Svarn if that was necessary. When Adrynn revealed his brand, Ra'Qassar felt nothing. He had had no knowledge of the brand, no word about it, no hinting, but somehow it did not surprise him. Perhaps it was one of Rorik Wind-Bane's tales from the Dark and his companions during the Oblivion Crisis. Baltis Llervu - The Reach Baltis knew this Kr'ohr gro-Lestim, the Orc had been meddling in Morrowind for a time, searching for artifacts and such, but that was long ago and Baltis suspected that he had heard of a far younger Kr'ohr than the mage had. Baltis didn't know much about him, other than his obsession with Daedra, particularly the Prince of Destruction, and his lust for power. The former had been a trait common with Baltis many years ago, but he had since let that pass. The Orc was accomplished now if he had been able to steal so many souls, but that did not mean he was a master. Baltis almost hoped they would cross paths so that he could test this budding necromancer's mettle. Baltis was fortunate that he could control his facial expressions so well when Adrynn mentioned necromancers rising and falling, else he would have been grinning like a fool. The lich had never fallen, not when he was rousted from the council, not when the Red Year came, not when the Argonian Invasion followed, not even when his house had been obliterated - almost obliterated. That was another order of business he still needed to finish. Baltis had stood the test of the Telvanni, the ages and the Daedra, and still he stood. He enjoyed watching Adrynn force himself to not stare at the undead mage. He was beginning to like Adrynn. He had felt pity for him for so long, it was refreshing to have some kindness and kinship seep in. The man's reflexes may have waned over the years, but his tact had not. Despite the Dunmer's temper, he still had some surprisingly diplomatic skills, Llervu had noticed. Adrynn took care not to hint at Baltis's nature or that of Galus. A gesture the lich appreciated deeply. Svarn's brash bravado irked the lich. He sympathized with Adrynn's annoyance with the young and reckless. The two dunmer had lived a long time, and not by being vainglorious either. He lacked the words to sway the young and foolhardy, however, so he left it to Adrynn's more commanding dialect. Baltis hoped they wouldn't have anyone act stupid and play the hero. But there was always someone. Hopefully their luck would hold and Adrynn and Baltis could cover whoever's stupidity got them in danger. The covering for the rest of the group was probably best left to the one who couldn't die. When Adrynn revealed his palm, Baltis felt the damp, electric tension in the air, felt that earthy aroma just before a storm when the skies are green. More than that though, he felt a torrent of power flowing through him, like a flick of his wrist could destroy the mountain. I hope you appreciate this irony as much as I do, Azura. I am well aware of your plight, my child. It felt like a sunrise heralding a new dawn- a dawn of understanding and strange possibilities. I am no child of yours. Perhaps not now, but you were once, and you may yet be. A sunset kissing a warm sand beach, giving way to the mysterious dusk, enveloping mystery and wonders. Perhaps he owed Kriak and Adrynn more than he had even thought. It had been a long time since he had felt what it was like to have a soul.

Ra'Qassar - To the Reach Ra'Qassar eyed the stranger up and down, inspecting him. He was a man of slight build, Breton. He did not look exceptionally strong physically, nor did he carry himself as such, rather he looked slightly bookish and like a mage. The group was near the Smuggler's Den and he noticed that the man came down the path from the road. Ra'Qassar listened patiently, noting how little the mage divulged of his purpose and how vague his requests were. The Breton wanted to travel with them eh? He was one and they were many, that was good, but he knew better than to let the stranger take the lead. He might claim to be lost, but that's a lie easily told. Baltis Llervu - To the Reach Baltis averted his gaze from the stranger as he approached so that the lich could conjure up his eyes. No need to go tipping this newcomer off to his nature yet. It was best to keep an ace in the whole for this sort of thing. Liches had a tendency to put people on their guard. The man reeked of magic and sorcery. This one had a slightly acrid aura with a melodious undertone. Destruction and Restoration, the two opposites. They fought for control in this man it seemed. He had, at least at one point, been a righteous man, now vengeance dripped from his magicka signature like a festering wound. Baltis misliked the Breton immediately. His sword was another point of disdain for the lich. Silver, he found, was a metal carried most often by the overly self-righteous and the misguided vigilantes. The man wanted to travel with them. Baltis noticed that Ra'Qassar glanced off at the other head of the game trail they had been following and smirked slightly to himself. He voiced his opinion quickly, "Well then Breton, by all means, accompany us. Thane, lead the way if you please." Baltis tried to imply his intentions heavily to the Khajiit, but found no need. They thought alike in this matter. If the imbecile is a bandit and means us harm, he won't have friends waiting for us along this game trail. He'd be hard pressed to spring a trap. Let's see if Adrynn picks up on this as well. The Khajiiti Thane marched off along the game trail, Galus and Baltis followed in his wake, leading the others. --------------- Ra'Qassar - The Reach The group had traversed the remainder of the game trails without incident. They passed Rorikstead earlier in the day. They were making good time to Karthspire, but now the going got tougher. It had been nearly two days since they met the mage along the way. Ra'Qassar raised his hand and called a halt. He began to gather lumber and set up shelter. There were rocky crags everywhere, and a suitable overhang from a nearby cliff. It was a defensible thing. The overhang revealed a small opening, upon further investigation, however, it opened into a rather large, dome-like structure that could quite comfortably house them, yet, there were no further caves that extended into the belly of the mountain from which they could be attacked. They could not survive a long siege, but if there were that many assailants, they wouldn't fair better anywhere else. He quickly had the fire blazing merrily and he was dressing a goat he had brought down nearby. Best that they save their rations for where the food got scarcer. They would need a good meal to start this.

yeah, by no means does this mean that you should post for every single day that we are travelling just to say that we are travelling, I'm just throwing this out here to give a reasonable time scale, just "eyeball" it. There's no need to bust out a ruler, map and calculator every time we pick a destination. For example, my post will span multiple days. This doesn't mean that these days didn't happen, just that nothing important happened.

So Chrys and I were discussing the size of Skryim to determine lengths of travel. We figure that Skryim is around the size of the state of Texas. So Skyrim is about 630-650 miles East to West and 600-630 Miles North to South at its widest/longest points. For travel times, take into account that in "rugged" terrain (hills, mountains etc. this doesn't account for total bushwacking through a forest though mind you), a backpacker can manage around 20 miles per day, from sun up to sun down and upwards of 30 in easy terrain. So keep that in mind. That being said, with a half day to get out of the mountain pass of Labyrinthian and a day of travel afterwards, the group is around the stream just north of Smuggler's Den. Another day would see them to Rorikstead, a half-day later the reach and after that 5-7 days of mountaineering or 2-4 days of road travel to Karthspire barring unforeseen complications.

Right hahaha, I get cunfuddled sometimes. Idk why I was thinking the character was Auriana Velanya instead of Velanya Therys. (other than that's your name on here haha). I probably botched some other names and such at other points, mah bad. :P

Okay so: From here, the group met with a few more characters, Adrynn and Faeryn, two Dunmer veterans from Morrowind, the former Redoran, the latter an Ordinator. The group headed towards Whiterun, their common destination where they met Sorin (she has a longer name than that that I can't hope to spell correctly, she is an Altmer Imperial battlemage) and Sera (I also can't spell that correctly and Ashlander turned Imperial Scout). Here, the group split slightly. Sera and Faeryn headed to the Reach towards the Karthspire while Adrynn, Sorin and the rest of the gang you've met headed towards Labyrinthian where the rest of the Thalmor lay. Meanwhile: Auriana met Seutin, an Imperial Scout and descendant of her long dead companion from Morrowind, Lecuaro. Auriana is attempting to restore the Blades. She sends Seutin with a letter to Morgia (a mysterious woman with great influence in the Imperial City). He is on his way back while Auri tries to restore Skyhaven temple a little on her own. Also Meanwhile: the lich, Baltis Llervu (undead Dunmer) is exploring Labyrinthian building a small squad of undead things to help him in his searches and in general starts to settle in. The Thalmor arrive, lead by Galus Faramel (Altmer battlemage/wizard) under the alias Sinderion of Summerset. Their progress is slow and their casualties high. The main group arrives in Labyrinthian and encounters the Thalmor fighting a massive skeletal dragon. The undead are destroyed and the Thalmor flee. When the tiny group of Thalmor survivors reach a mysterious door, the group catches up to them and Baltis Llervu destroys the door and confronts Galus. Galus kills his command. Before Galus reveals that he is a spy, Ra'Qassar attacks him in a blood fury, somehow summoning flames about his sword. Galus is saved by a mysterious stranger, Kriak the Dark, who has a past with the lich, Sorin and Adrynn leading to a brief reunion and the presentation of Baltis's phylactery to Adrynn who hides it for safekeeping in a pocket realm of Azura, ironically making the warrior's former foe truly immortal. After this, the group heads outside where wounds are licked and magicka replenished. Here, Adrynn, Sandhya, Ra'Qassar, Sorin, Svarn, Galus and Baltis (I think that's everyone?) make for the Karthspire themselves and are not far along the road twixt Labyrinthian and Whiterun. The rest of the gang is making their way towards Whiterun to inform the Jarl that the Thalmor threat is no more and (presumably) to claim the bounty on the Thalmor band.

Ra'Qassar was feeling much better, he was a little surprised though. He had always been a fast healer, quick to re-energize and nigh tireless. However, the last time he had been to Labyrinthian he had been left lethargic and drained for several days afterwards. He wondered why it was different this time. He hoped the lich might be able to help him understand that. But for now, he had much to think on and he settled into his usual position at point. As they exited the great snowy pass that encompassed Labyrinthian, Ra'Qassar thought it might be a good idea to run an alternate route by his companions. "There is a network of game trails from here to the Reach. I know them well and they may get us there faster and help us avoid some of the larger Forsworn encampments. The trails may be a little rough at times though and if we are are caught unawares no help will be forthcoming on the way." Ra'Qassar was fine with either road or trail marching, but he felt more comfortable amidst the tall prairie grasses and the dappled sunlight left on his skin by trees overhead. The choice was more up to his companions though, so he left it to them. ------------------------- Galus stayed as far away from Baltis as possible. His blood boiled being anywhere near the monster and it was all he could do to not lash out. He did however add to Ra'Qassar's option, "The main Thalmor encampments in the Reach are along the roadways or south of the Karth river for the most part, we could expect significantly less trouble from them if we follow these game trails I suspect." ------------------------- Baltis kept a steady stride with Adrynn, observing the group. He could feel the anger and hatred rolling off of Galus and the mingled suspicion and curiosity of Ra'Qassar. Adrynn was more enigmatic, but he sensed a tension had begun to flow out of the grizzled war veteran. The other Khajiit, Sandhya, she was a jovial sort, but a very self-preservationist one. He could tell that she was constantly assessing the situation, she made sure she was on the winning side. Ordinarily he might think that that warranted close watching, but they were not fighting a Daedric Prince. They were the winning side, one way or the other. Some of the others were more difficult to read or he just plain didn't bother to. There was only so much he should concern himself with. He smirked a little when Galus shifted farther and farther towards point with Ra'Qassar to get away from himself. Forgiveness was not in the boy, he was his father's son, that was a certainty. Baltis just hoped that he wasn't a fool like his father was as well.

Sorry about my lack of posts, school starting up has had me pretty occupied. I should be able to post tonight though

As they exited the ruins, Baltis deposited the unconscious Ra'Qassar near the fire, pleased to see his color returning rapidly. For good measure, Baltis cast a spell upon the Khajiit that left him with a blue-purple aura for a brief moment before dissipating. It was a variation on the spell that Baltis had used to defeat the skeletal dragon and also absorb magicka from the stones themselves. The spell bestowed the gift on Ra'Qassar, allowing his strength to replenish even faster. He stood next to Adrynn as the Redoran spoke with Ra'Qassar behind both of them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Galus sat quietly as Adrynn spoke. Slowly he felt his blood start to boil. No one understood. How could they. And so when the Dunmer finished speaking, Galus stood and spilled his guts. "I will not start a new life, but I will pick up an old one. I was never a Thalmor, never. No matter how much they thought I was. For years I have worked with them. I know every fortress in Skyrim and every one of their commanders and garrisons. I know the Thalmor plan to conquer Skyrim and then the rest of Tamriel. I am not Sinderion of Summerset, the traveling Magus the Thalmor thought I was. I am Galus Faramel, the last descendant of the line. My family has only ever known two true foes: him-" He pointed an accusing finger at Baltis, "and the Thalmor. I will not rest until I see every Thalmor Justiciar dead. All I have done, I have done for the good of the Empire, and this is only the beginning." He ripped the collar of his cloak along with the metal signet of his rank and threw it into the fire with disgust. "That is for the Thalmor." Now he reached beneath his cloak and produced his amulet: an Amulet to Talos, "And this is for Skyrim." He let it fall onto his chest, plain for all to see for the first time in years. It had reminded him of what he was fighting for for a long time. His rant was less charismatic and articulate than his normal speech, but it came from the heart. He had never told anyone. He had lived a lie for so many years just to topple the regime. Not even his uncle knew. But now, finally he was free. He had planned to leave after this latest attack on Whiterun, had been hopeful when his command was followed by such a determined group of Thalmor hunters. He had never dared hope that they would be heading to the Karthspire, that could only mean one thing: the Blades. And the Blades would be fighting the Thalmor, so much the better for him. He had not died in that ruin, he had been reborn like some great phoenix rising from the ashes. ---------------------------------------- Ra'Qassar stirred in the middle of Adrynn giving some speech to the group. He flexed his arm, the pain of feeling returning to the nerves was stinging, but also a pleasant sign. He wasn't entirely sure how he had ended up here, but he slowly rose while the Thalmor was speaking. He head little and less of what the light skinned mer was saying, but got the gist of it. He was always for the Empire and her people, a double agent. When he had finished, Ra'Qassar approached Adrynn, "You and these fine people have helped secure Whiterun for now. Her immediate danger is over. If Whiterun is to stay free, however, these Thalmor must be destroyed for good and all. I will go with you Ser." ----------------------------------------- Baltis frowned at the Faramel boy's hatred towards him, that would require some explanation at some point as well. He had much and more to answer for. One archenemy turned friend, only to be replaced by a new one with no huntsman to stay his wrath. He sighed slightly, but was pleased at Galus's overall message. It boded well for the boy and the group. When Ra'Qassar rose, he was pleasantly surprised at how quickly he recoverd, this man is a strong one. He was even happier by Ra'Qassar's choice to accompany Adrynn as well, Baltis could hardly keep both promises to Kriak if Ra'Qassar and Adrynn parted ways. "I'll come along as well Adrynn, though you likely guessed at that," he chuckled.

Baltis took the offered hand. His heart felt lighter after that. He had not expected the war veteran to be so quick to forgive him, but it had been 200 years. Kriak also always had an interesting affect on people. "I wish I could have saved her, I wish I could bring her back. That memory still plagues me. As you said though, nothing can undo what happened. To new beginnings Adrynn. Let us honor her memory with our present and future, perhaps then we shall cease to be broken men." For that was what they were. Adrynn's world had been shattered when everything was taken from him in the Oblivion Crisis and Baltis, well, if he hadn't been broken he would never have even met Adrynn. He had loved his apprentice, the son he had never had, nor would ever be able to have. The young man was his pride and joy, not the fastest learner but one of the most passionate people he had ever met. The lad was dedicated and always eager to learn and to please. They had worked together for several years when he vowed to return with a powerful artifact that would prove himself worthy of becoming a Telvanni Wizard. Baltis had warned him, tried to tell him to be careful, that there were better ways, safer ways. But the boy would not hear it. He had never liked the company of the rest of the Telvannni and refused to wait at their beck and call to earn his advancement. What he had not understood was the peril of searching for the Bittercup. Baltis had wanted to help him, but knew that if he interfered, the council would never accept him. He waited as long as he could, and as long as he dared before journeying to Dagon Fel and then to Ald Redaynia. He had found the body mere hours after his apprentice fell. He had still never confided in anyone about his grief. He had thought of telling Kriak, but had always had a sense that the hunter had larger troubles on his mind. ---------------------------------------- Galus examined the rest of the group, feeling a stranger amongst them. They didn't stare at him, but he felt like he could feel hatred rolling off of them. He did not regret anything. It was for the good of Tamriel, it always had been. But would these new companions ever understand? He had betrayed the Thalmor, and killed the men and woman who had defended him with their lives, how could they ever trust him. He sat on his heals staring into the fire. He vaguely became aware of a Khajiiti woman next to him, "What's your story Khajiit?" He asked, a weak and forced attempt at conversation he knew, but he had to start somewhere.