Riel Stories Epic

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 3.3[10]

Of Burning Deaths

 

Olisha nodded. "While that amount of resources is generous, I would suggest that we could use a psychic tracker of some kind or maybe even a psiomage. A couple of tracking dogs, along with their handler, would be good. Down in the Shades (of the Imperiarna Undercity) tracking anything is difficult. Working down there gets progressively more difficult with every passing year. Even those who were born there are getting more nervous and are abandoning areas. We could use more guards, clerks and some other specialists. I suggest that while we are focused in the Shades that we could make other gains for both the mageborn and the Slayers Guild such as the gaining of much more information."

 

At first the Elders frowned hard at her but then, as she finished off, they visibly softened at the idea that the mission might gain some useful extras.

 

Shasma, the other Elder who was a woman that Olisha was wary of, nodded. "We will see what we can do, given that the Slayers Guild is involved in a wide range of other important missions."

 

Shortly after that Olisha departed, wondering why she felt a sense of disturbance with what had taken place. Was it with something she 'sensed' with one of the Elders? If so, which one?

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Zero 2.1[39]

Of the Orbis Observing

The Orbis observed something swirling, malignant, not fully formed as it disintegrated even as it materialized. It lay at the edge of Mundus and endlessly tried to get through the Boundaries of Mundus with out success. Yet even as it did so it began to have a tiny amount of success. It was the Nameless Enemy and it came from Zero Space beyond the reality of Mundus. It was older than time and always rotting even as it renewed itself. It was impossible and yet it existed. It was wrong, all wrong! It sought the mageborn but, more importantly, it sought something that the mageborn had taken from it.

The Orbis observed unease ripple through the ranks of the Divines and the DaedraGods along with others of 'divine' power and those that served them.

The Orbis observed the return of the Eternal Champion to Tamriel, she arriving in the secret settlement of Hawkhaven. There she once more took the shapeform of the Hero Demidivine Jadekia Esforsh. Others came there to assist her being four Eternals who took the shapeforms of Hero Demidivines with the permission of the Thirteen Divines. The Demidivines were demigods of the Divines being part divinity and part mortal.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Two 1.1[12]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

"The most dangerous thing about Hawkhaven is that it looks, on the surface, to be a typical settlement of Cyrodiil." Jadekia sat on a chair of a large two level house looking down at the main street of the town. From there one could easily get the false impression that Hawkhaven was quite small. "You would know, by just looking at them, that many of the citizens are solidified ghosts or day walker vampires or things that could not exist in Tamriel proper. As for the humans, they are not quite human as such are in Tamriel proper. That is for a few visitors both brave and crazy enough to come here seeking knowledge, magical artifacts or other things that they should not have."

RedSonja, who wore quite skimpy chainmail armor, did not look impressed as she sat on another chair sipping expensive wine from a fancy goblet. Then she made the goblet, now empty, vanish with a soft sparkling shimmer. "As long as one does not eat the local food or drink the local drink or, especially so, the local water."

Xena frowned at the redhead, RedSonja. "Are you going to put some more clothes on?"

RedSonja frowned back. "Look who is talking; you could not manage to show more bountiful cleavage as you are."

Xandia was examining her bow. As an Amazonite she wore nothing but a loincloth and webbing of leather belts dotted with pouches and other useful items. "We are all going to have to put more on, except for Jadekia who has on what would be seen as typical leather armor for the Septum Empire."

Gabrielle shook her head as she stood there in a leather leotard that was also not very modest. "Yes, we will have to wear more but that is not what we need to be talking about. Why are we here in Hawkhaven, a place that feels somehow twisted of nature?"

Jadekia sighed. "We are here to meet the LittleFatMan!"

Xandia frowned softly. "I would rather be in a large bathtub full of warm soapy bubbling water."

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Two 1.1[13]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

With a sparkling shimmer the five of them were naked in large bathtubs full of soapy hot water, each bathtub being on four large legs and have three taps to provide more water (cool, lukewarm and hot). Translucent screens curtained off each bath. The LittleFatMan was sitting on a comfortable armchair smiling warmly but his eyes were closed. He was being polite for his outward shapeform was but a strong illusion and the real entity did not need such eyes to observe all. Except that he was beyond such things as being 'interested' in women, even Demidivines.

 

The LittleFatMan nodded as if pleased. "You are beautiful, fit, healthy and immortal or even eternal. Hawkhaven is under danger for something, that should not exist, is trying to get into Mundus. It is trying to do so through way of Hawkhaven that is linked to the Testing Halls of the Gods. First of all it must send through lesser threats to create a 'bridgehead' that it can exploit. You need to destroy those lesser evils, if you must, and make sure that the bridgehead is never created. I will what I can to assist."

 

He snapped his fingers and there were two graceful household nymphs, in silken robes, with each Demidivine massaging scalps and washing hair. "Hawkhaven is one way for the Nameless Enemy to get into Mundus but not an easy one. The very exotic nature of Hawkhaven, and the greater realm of Narzkia, makes will make it harder for its minions to utilize their full powers here; they will also be more vulnerable and will truly die if they are killed here.

 

RedSonja spoke. "What resources would you give us to assist our fight?"

 

The LittleFatMan smiled. "It is not all about fighting, as you should know by now, RedSonja. I have altered this two level structure so that is now far more than it was. It is transdimensional now and filled with resources. As you are bathing, your bodies are being adjusted, enhanced, to allow you to deal with the threats more easily. Even the Eternal Champion needs such changes to deal with the minions of the Nameless Enemy. Only your first actions are here in Hawkhaven. Then you must go to the Shades of the Imperiarna Undercity. I will be here, in Hawkhaven, for some hours. When you are finished with your baths I will meet you in the main dining room.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Two 1.3[14]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

The LittleFatMan vanished away with a soft sparkling shimmer. The Demidivines relaxed to enjoy their baths. After they had finished, they dressed in silken house-robes and made their way to the large fancy dining room. The house was two levels from the outside but was now much bigger on the inside than the outside though far from vastly so.

 

The LittleFatMan sat at a big round table where there was plenty of food, drink and clear, cool water. He sipped celestial wine from a large, ornate glass and then talked. "You all know much of Hawkhaven but you must learn even more; please be very careful in your investigations. Find the Lake of Ever Laughing Tears, find the missing Fifty Thousand Genuine Fakes, discover where Master Juno dwells, seek the Path of Oldest Hawkhaven and Awaken the Hawkhaven Guardians."

 

They knew he would not tell them anything more of what he had spoken of, at least not directly so, but with a sparkling shimmer a stack of ancient good condition tomes appeared on the table top.

 

The LittleFatMan sipped some more celestial wine, a sniff of which would kill a mere mortal, and then he sighed. "I will sit here comfortably while you complete your meal. Each of you will have a single sip of celestial wine and then sleep while having special dreams; when you awaken I will be gone but you will be better prepared for what is to come. I will protect you while you sleep."

 

That is what happened!

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 4.1[15]

Of Burning Deaths

Samsal went to the very core of the Shades and to a charity centre that was a shop, a shelter, a cafeteria and more. The Sisterhood of Compassion, of the Nine Divines, served up goods and services with assistance of the Imperium and funds from the Emperor's own treasuries. Despite increasing funding, and more workers, the pressure on the Sisterhood was getting stronger with every passing day.

Samsal passed over a golden finger-ingot to a tired looking Daughter Compassionate, the lowest rank of the Sisterhood, and the woman went off to deposit the donation. She would also inform the Mother Compassionate that Samsal was there to talk. Samsal noted that there were armed, armored, guards at the centre which was something that would have been an impossible a year before that. The guards were of the Sisterhood of the Shield and looked wary for there had been a violent incident only an hour or so before.

A man had gone wild, had attacked another man with out provocation, and then had died as he his body had burned away. Samsal had become interested as soon as he had learned of the incident through the whisper networks. Now he hoped to gain more information for the Sisterhood knew a good deal about what happened in the Shades; they had to do so and picked up much anyway.

Mother Compassionate Tetherisa was tough but there was something warm about her, buried below the surface, that the Guild Slayer picked up and appreciated. She seemed to like Samsal though most folks were wary of Guild Slayers thanks to their well earned reputation for hardness. They even saw his generosity, with donations, as just a way of gaining more information from the charity.

She sat behind her large wooden desk and pushed a cardboard file-folder at him that was rather thick as it was filled with sheets of hand written reports and notes. "The more disturbing is the picture. Skooma addicts are being offered half price, new type skooma that is supposed to be much more pleasurable than the normal poison."

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 4.2[16]

Of Burning Deaths

 

The infamous Crimesters Guild dominated the Shades, where even the Thieves Guild could not go. The Crimesters were behind the making of skooma, and other addictive antisocial drugs, in sweatshops using cheap labor. Skooma, mindflower, marija and other drugs were processed, even grown, in Crimesters home zones. Yet there had been no official reports, no unofficial whispers, of the Crimesters Guild making any 'new improved skooma'.

 

Tetherisa frowned hard as Samsal opened the file-folder and began to read the contents. In an amazingly short time he was done and he was even more concerned.

 

He spoke. "The Crimesters Guild are not only not behind the new skooma but are trying to hunt down those behind it. They are concerned that somebody is trying to break their monopoly and will spoil their supposed 'good reputation' of selling safe skooma. Well, they do sell safe skooma at a price that even most Shaders can afford. It says that even the Crimesters are having difficulty trying to find out who is behind the scheme. The Shades Sheriffs Office is concerned as is the Investigators Guild and many others, including your own people of the Orders of Faithful Service. I noted the guards before as I first entered."

 

The Mother Compassionate gave a sad frown. "I would never predicted that such a thing would have to be done, even down here in the Shades. There are the reports of bizarre, and terrible monsters, being seen close to the Dark Temple Zone and of people vanishing. The number of sightings of rats, goblins, and other critters has gone down."

 

"I will need to talk to some goblins that I know along with hoblins and others." He scratched his chin. "The Shades Sheriffs Office is still semiofficial only. I wonder if the Emperor will get around to changing that as he has been requested to do."

 

Tetherisa shook her head. "You mageborn created the Shades Sheriffs Office; I have always wondered why."

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 4.3[17]

Of Burning Deaths

Samsal did not bother with the usual mageborn denials. "It gives us mageborn a greater influence on the Shades, allows us to give our young people more extending training and gives us a chance to pay off some more of our big dark karma debt. Our people once did something very evil and we are still paying for it though it happened a very long time ago. It is also dominated by one mageborn faction that is not totally friendly with the faction that dominates the Slayers Guild, a faction that I am not part of though I am a Slayer; the same is true of Olisha, my sister. That is all that I can say on the matter."

The Mother Compassionate looked surprised. "You have said very much, for a mageborn. Are you immortal?"

He shook his head and wondered why he was daring to say so much, knowing his people would punish him heavily if they knew what he was doing. "We are cursed, gifted, to be reborn with our people and with inherited knowledge, skills, special abilities and memories. We grow stronger with every successful rebirth but we risk being distorted with every rebirth. We rarely have new generations of children born who must begin largely from scratch though they do gain some memories, skills and so forth. We are paranoid about the one we call the 'Nameless Enemy' and have good reason to be so but I think that it is time that we opened up to a chosen few and gained assistance from others. We could be part of a mutually beneficial alliance."

Tetherisa tapped her fingers on her desk, a mildly annoying sign that she was doing some deep thinking. After a moment she smiled richly at him. "I will meet with certain individuals and discuss the idea with them. As for now there is the fact that a large number of the recorded victims, so far, were seen close to the Dark Temple Zone at one time or another. They were either there when offered cheap, improved, skooma or went there after being offered the same."

Finding it odd that Tetherisa asked him no more questions about the mageborn, he responded. "We mageborn only came to the Grand Imperial City about 200 years ago, which is not much time by local standards. So we have much to learn about the Dark Temple Zone."

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 4.4[18]

Of Burning Deaths

 

"Very few know, or even want to know, about that place. Most of its temples have been 'lost' or destroyed or sealed up. Only some are used by what are considered harmless fringe cults." The Mother Compassionate shook her head. "There are whispers that the Imperium might have the whole Dark Temple Zone evacuated and heavily sealed off. The Templedom (of the Nine Divines) wants it to be so. We have some records on the zone but the ones you need to talk to are of the semiofficial Investigators Guild."

 

Samsal had only little to do with Guild Investigators as they had only moved to Imperiarna (the Grand Imperial City) some twenty years before. It seemed that they had learned much in those two decades, in the process making some powerful enemies but also some strong allies. The Slayers Guild had exchanged some valuable information with them but its attempts to gain such information for nothing had mostly failed. Samsal, like a few other Guild Slayers, had no real respect for the majority of Slayers Guild Elders.

 

Samsal passed over five golden finger-ingots. "A discrete donation not to be known by the Slayers Guild."

 

The woman smiled and nodded. "We, of the Orders of Compassion, have picked up that there are growing tensions inside the Slayers Guild. Perhaps you need to talk with the Guardians also."

 

Before he could say how hard that was, the woman passed to him a simple printed business card (done by a steammagic printing machine by the looks of it) with some information on one side. Even as she did so, he realized that she was linked to the mysterious Guardians or was even of them. He was wise enough not to say anything openly about the Guardians. She gave him an odd smile before he departed with one of his half smiles.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 5.1[19]

Of Burning Deaths

 

The twisted humanoid figure half sat, half floated, in the strange tank arrangement of softly bubbling red tinted waters. On the surface of the liquid was a thin layer of red-pink foam that bubbled also. Because of the relatively small amount of light in the corner of the chamber, where the tank assembly was, the figure was largely hidden in its details. For this the three visitors were very grateful but they kept such thoughts to themselves or at least they tried to do so. They also tried to hide their identities beneath black masks and hooded robes.

 

The twisted voice spoke out from the tank in a mocking fashion in Imperial Cyrodilic, the language of the elite class of the Septum Empire that largely dwelt in Imperiarna itself. "I know who, what, you are so please cease this foolish mortal game of yours."

 

With reluctance the three figures did so, revealing one woman and two men. The woman was the Empress herself, Caula Voria, who was beautiful and a wondrous person in public. In private she was monstrous and full of unpleasant traits, was ambitious and greedy. The Emperor had long tired of her though with her he had sired three sons except that now the Emperor suspected that at least one of the Imperial Princes had been fathered by another man. The identity of the biological father remained a secret.

 

The beautiful Empress scowled at him. "I suspect strongly who you are, what you are, Jagar Tharn. At least you were that one and not some abomination floating in a tank of watered blood in order to survive."

 

"To think that I advised the Emperor that you would make a fine Empress." The former Imperial Battlemage laughed harshly before speaking again. "The Emperor, the Imperium, is catching up to all of your crimes. What will happen when the complete truth of the Imperial Princes comes out. In truth none of them will be accepted by the Dragonthrone because none have pure enough the Dragonblood in them. They are not of the Dragonborn. You are mageborn, yes, but I doubt that the general mageborn leadership knew of, or supported, your actions."

Edited February 4, 2014 by Maharg67