Shadows of Darkest Soul (An Elder Scrolls RP)

[AurianaValoria1]

Velanya Therys, To the Holding Cells

 

Velanya raised her eyebrows. Herbiert and Cheriana she had heard of. They'd made quite a name for themselves at various festivals and archery competitions across Vvardenfell. And they're Blades, too? The Emperor was lucky to have them.

 

As they walked by the lute-playing Orc, she recognized the tune and began humming along. To her surprise, Caius joined in, and the two split into harmony as the group continued walking, the merry melody following the Commander as he led them to the dungeons.

[darkedge42392]

Adrynn Indarys, To the Holding Cells, Fort Floodgate

 

Adrynn trailed along behind the others, half paying attention to what was being said, something about a High Rock Hotshot or something, and half wondering what these Ashlander prisoners were going to say.

 

It's not often Ashlanders are captured by the Legion. They usually try to kill themselves or those attempting to catch them if they feel they could become prisoners. This is going to be interesting for sure, he thought, his ears just picking up a lute playing as they passed by. His ears also picked up Velanya humming along to the tune, and the Imperial, Cassius following her lead.

 

Who are you Imperial? There's more to you than meets the eye, and I will figure it out, he thought to himself, his eyes resting on Cassius's back. Shaking his suspicious from his head, he unconsiously ran his hands up his arms, and the feeling of scar tissue brought his eyes down. So many scars, the result of him refusing healing when he was younger, wanting to carry the battle trophies for the rest of his life. He had done so, and acquired more than a few extra in that span of time. HIs forearms were checkerboarded with fine scars, his chest and abdomen with deeper ones, all telling the story of his life of war and battle. And one distictive marker that he knew he'd never see was the tattoo he got the day he joined House Redoran. It was on his right shoulder blade, intricately designed with the House Redoran symbol and a banner of, "Without Truth, there is no Honor" surrounding it in Aldmeris. He sighed to himself. He was almost a Counciler in House Redoran, and yet here he was, still doing his duty to his House and his land, to keep it safe, not because he was ordered to, but because he knew it was his obligation and duty to protect those he loved and even those who might hate him.

 

His head snapped up as they rounded a bend and got to the holding cells. Resting his hand on the pommel of his katana, he waited patiently. Well, we're here, he thought, his eyes flashing deep red as they beheld the bound Ashlanders.

[AurianaValoria1]

Velanya Therys, The Holding Cells

 

They abruptly arrived at the cells, and she saw the Ashlanders bound and gagged in front of them - they looked just as wild and savage as the ones who had attacked her in the Foyada. Her humming ceased and her expression of mirth was replaced with a stone-faced visage. Her eyes narrowed and met the prisoners' angry gaze with an authoritative glare. They responded with twisting and writhing in their bonds, grunting unintelligibly. They'd been stripped to nothing but loincloths. Judging from the large bloody scabs on their temples, Caius had given them each quite a blow in order to subdue them.

 

Caius's tune stopped as well, and he exchanged glances with Velanya before turning to Adrynn.

 

"Well, here they are. If you can speak Ashlander, have at them. I know I can't, and I doubt the Commander or Velanya here can either. Try to get the name of their leader out of them, if you can. Or their intent. Or their headquarters. Or something. I'd rather not resort to Commona Tong tactics if we can keep from it, but we can and will use them if we need to," he said pointedly, meeting Adrynn's fiery eyes with his own steady, blue-grey ones.

[SoulofChrysamere]

Lecuaro Sulnair Marczon - Fort Floodgate Holding Cells

 

Lecuaro eyed the restrained Ashlanders with the same, steady gaze he gave to everyone else. It wasn't one of anger or of joy, not one of rage or pity, it was the analyst's stare. He was studying them, noting the various tattoos and markings on their bodies. The one on the right had several distinct Urshilaku tattoos. Good, perhaps Serrabinashiah could get something out of that one. The other, however, had a medley of markings and scars all over his person. He was likely an outcast and had had all tribal signs burned off. We could take a chance on him being former Erabenimsun and have Dushauriran take a crack at him. Both of them had fireballs for eyes and he could see their muscles tensing and struggling to escape the ropes that subdued them. If it had been poor-quality rope, they probably would have by now.

 

 

Lecuaro looked at Caius. "I don't know Ashlander, but Serrabinashiah and Dushauriran are Ashlanders...so they should be able to get something. I should go wait in the safehouse for Dar'Krinji and Kriak. The Khajiit can sniff me out and Kriak will surely find me. Until then, if you've learned any Ashlander during your time up here Adrynn, now's the time to put it to use."

 

 

With that, Lecuaro walked out and headed for the safehouse.

Edited August 27, 2011 by SoulofChrysamere

[Zephyr2011]

Kriak, Fort Floodgate

 

Kriak crushed a small soulgem in his palm to dust and a much smaller version of one of the wraiths from the chase of the commander appeared, half flesh and half seletal, its half-rotten mouth greedily inhaled the small black cloud whispering upward from where the soulgem had been. Kriak asked it for the location of the ashlander Dushauriran. Kriak thanekd te spirit then bid it take its leave. The wraith dissappeared in a small poof of dark smoke and Kriak not far behind it.

 

Kriak entered a small cloister of the fort and saw an ashlander in mostly chitin armor with some thick wrappings to guard against blight and ash storms. "Excuse me, Dushauriran, I need your help and expertise in translating the symbols on this amulet." Kriak held the amulet Lecuaro had given him for the spy to scrutinize. "It was taken from one of the ashlanders that attacked our two most recent guests and the commander believes whoever attacked them is affiliated with the ashlanders who've attacked our fort. He sent me to you to see if you could shed any light on what these symbols mean." Kriak said.

[XanAlderon]

Edward Wildeve, Fort Floodgate, Outside Safe House door

 

The door didn't budge and Edward was left staring at it, maybe he'd got the password wrong... he wasn't known for his memory. Edward felt dizzy and he realized he was in real danger of fainting. Blood rushed to his head and Edward's vision faded to a shifting darkness, he sat down sharply, paining his arm. Cursing, Edward pushed himself towards the wall opposite the door and rested.

 

He resolved to instead wait here for the others.

[darkedge42392]

Adrynn Indarys, Fort Floodgate, Holding Cells

 

Adrynn nodded wordlessly at Cassius's and Lecuaro's suggestions. He did know a bit of Ashlander, but he didn't know if these two were going to say anything. He quietly opened the gate and stepped inside, crouching in front of the two bound and gagged Ashlanders, his eyes blazing a fiery red, even in the shadows of the cell.

 

"Listen, and listen well you two. You are lucky that you are still alive and it would be very wise of you if you actually answered my questions," he said, his voice calm and quiet, but it held a tone that none of the others had heard before. It was the voice of a Redoran Champion, commanding and full of authority, demanding the attention of the Ashlanders enough that they stopped their struggling to listen.

 

Adrynn pulled down the gags of the two Ashlanders and waited for the outburst. None came. Good, they are listening, he thought quietly. "Now, I know both of you can understand me. You wouldn't be Ashlander if you couldn't understand Aldmeris, would you?" He glanced between the two, watching their faces and espcially their eyes. Their eyes would tell him more than their mouths would.

 

"Where did you come from? I can probably answer that myself. Nevermind that. Who is your leader? Why did you attack the fort?" Adrynn asked, his eyes flashing again.

 

"Go off and die you fetching House traitor!" one Ashlander said, struggling to break himself from his bonds. One sharp right hook from Adrynn silenced his voice and struggles.

 

"That wasn't the answer I was looking for, outcast scum," Adrynn spat, hauling the Ashlander back into a seated position. "Now, do you want to try again with the correct answer this time?"

 

"You'll get nothing from me, you n'wah!" the Ashlander spat back, his left eye starting to swell from Adrynn's punch.

 

A small smile crossed Adrynn's face. "Wrong again, outcast. See that Imperial fellow behind me?" Adrynn asked, hooking a thumb behind him to Cassius. "He's got a nastly little dagger and he's waiting to use it. So answer me, outcast, or suffer a far worse pain than you could ever imagine."

 

"Your threats are paltry, House scum," the Ashlander said, spitting at Adrynn's feet. Adrynn hit him again, this time breaking the outcast's nose. "Last chance, Ashlander," Adrynn said, his voice low and dangerous as he dragged the Ashlander up the wall harshly.

 

"Go off and die you n'wah!" the Ashlander said, laughing manically as he said it. With disgust, Adrynn dropped him uncerimoniously onto the cell floor. "Imperial! Your turn."

[AurianaValoria1]

Velanya Therys, Fort Floodgate, Holding Cells

 

Caius and Velanya had watched the spectacle through the bars of the cell, and the latter's hopes for getting any useful information out of these prisoners were sinking fast. If they wouldn't answer to Adrynn, it was even less likely that they would answer to Caius.

 

She suddenly had an idea. There were other ways...

 

"Let me try," she said to Caius as Adrynn emerged from the cell.

 

Caius raised an eyebrow, "You think you can succeed? Go ahead. I'm not really looking forward to this, myself."

 

She nodded and entered the cell, letting the door slam shut behind her. She simply stood there for a moment, looking at the two. The Ashlander whom Adrynn had "interviewed" was the one who had all tribal tattoos removed. His fiery temper and defiance reflected the general attitude of Erabinemsun outcasts, and she was certain she would not be able to get anything out of him. The other, however - the one with intricate tattoos reminiscent of the local Urshilaku- sat in silence, his head down and his eyes dim. Something about Adrynn's altercation with his cell-mate did not sit well with him, and seemed to have taken all the wind out of his sails. It was this Ashlander on whom she decided to focus.

 

Velanya knelt in front of him, sliding her gauntleted hand under his chin and forcing him to look at her. She met his ruby eyes and they gazed back fearlessly, but he kept his silence. She could tell he was young...even younger than she. His black hair was shoulder length and lank. His build suggested he was a hunter, and not a warrior.

 

She knew the Urshilaku were more versed in Imperial Common than other tribes, and so she asked clearly in Cyrodiilic, "Why did you attack this Fort?"

 

He was silent for many moments, but she kept up her unwavering stare into his eyes. He finally spoke, barely above a whisper, "Promise...of...glory. Urshilaku in need."

 

"Glory?" she leaned closer, "What glory?" She kept her grip firm on his face, "Explain. I don't understand."

 

"Glory...of the Nerevarine," he said, "Moon-and-Star...promised this land....returned...to the tribes."

 

The Nerevarine? Was the Nerevarine behind all of this?

 

"The Urshilaku," she focused on his next tidbit of information, "what do the Urshilaku need?"

 

"Need," he replied, and suddenly his eyes filled with something other than hatred and defiance. This was what she was hoping...that she could hit something close to his heart.

 

"Need. Need...everything," he continued, "food. Water. Clothing. Our guar were taken...we were starving..."

 

Velanya closed her eyes. So it was desperation. She had suspected something like this could have been a possible motive.

 

"Then men came...came with the Nerevarine. Promised food. Promised land and glory. Promised honor restored. So hunters and warriors and Gulakhans joined them. Ashkhan Sul-Matuul refused. Wise Woman Nibani Maesa refused. They are starving now. They are...probably dead," he choked a little, and Velanya loosened her hold, letting her hand drop to her side. She certainly hoped Adrynn and Caius were listening.

 

After a few moments, she pressed, "Where did the hunters, warriors, and Gulakhans go?"

 

At this moment, the other Ashlander went nuts, yelling something repeatedly in Aldmeris. It seemed like he was trying to drown out any answer his fellow would give her. In response, she gave him a quick kick to the groin, and his rantings abruptly stopped.

 

"Where did they go?" she repeated.

 

His voice came out so quietly she could barely discern what he said, "To the east....to the old stronghold. The House of Dagoth. Kogoruhn."

[SoulofChrysamere]

Lecuaro Sulnair Marczon - Fort Floodgate, Blades Safehouse

 

 

Lecuaro walked into the safehouse, which was now back to how it was before the attack. He walked into the small meeting room and took a seat at the head of the table. The tapestries and low lighting had a somewhat calming effect on the man...and he laid his head down on the table for a moment. I wonder if they're having any luck with those Ashlanders. -- he thought. At this notion, he slipped his talking stone out of its pocket.

 

 

"Hey, Cassius. It's me, Lecuaro. Those Ashlanders talking?"

==========================================================================================================================================================================

Mini-Character: Dushauriran Allibaranud - Fort Floodgate

 

 

Dushauriran was jostled from his thoughts by a deep voice. He turned to locate the source and saw a very tall, dark-skinned, Dunmer-like man walking his way saying something about translating symbols on an Ashlander amulet. He glanced down into the man's hand and saw the amulet. Well, that's definitely Ashlander. -- he thought as Kriak stopped in front of him and handed it to him.

 

 

Dushauriran held the amulet in his hands and studied the markings and designs intently. After a minute or two, he spoke.

 

 

"They're Erabenimsun markings. The ones up top say 'The n'wahs will die', and this large one in the middle means 'Freedom'." A slight chagrin came across his face upon seeing the bottom of the amulet. "Looks like there were more markings here at the bottom, but this gash's made them unreadable."

 

 

At this comment, Dushaurimun walked up to Kriak and Dushariran. "Hey, Iran, whatcha got there?" He asked, nodding to the woodsman.

 

 

Dushauriran looked up at his friend. "Oh hey there, Imun! Perfect timing." He said gleefully. "This fellow right here needs this Ashlander amulet's symbols translated. I made out the big one in the center here and these ones up top, but I can't read these bottom ones with this big cut right here."

 

 

Dushaurimun let his friend finish before replying. He could already tell what his next question was going to be and decided to make the suggestion himself. "Well, that's actually quite a common marking pattern among the Erabenimsun. I still have mine on me right here so I can check, but I already know that the bottom lettering reads 'Cursed be those who invade our lands.'" He said as he pulled his personal amulet from his pants pocket. "Yep, I was right. That amulet's exactly the same as mine, and you can still see enough of those bottom markings to match them." He confirmed.

 

 

"Well that's great. To be honest I never really spent much time looking at my old amulet...and now it's lost somewhere out there in the wastes." Dushauriran said.

 

 

"Well then, it's a good thing I held onto mine then, isn't it?" Dushaurimun gawked as Dushauriran handed the amulet back to Kriak.

 

 

"There you are, sera. If you need that written down, the healer just down the hall right there should be able to spare a bit of paper and ink. His name's Wynseld Arierma" Dushauriran said.

 

 

Dushaurimun started to walk off, but the stopped as a thought entered his mind. "Sera, I've heard a few rumors that there's a couple Ashlander prisoners in the holding area...is that what this is about? If it is, perhaps I can help with translating. Imun too if he's up for it." He said to Kriak.

==========================================================================================================================================================================

 

Mini-Character: Serrabinashiah Masseribalit - Fort Floodgate Bunk Room

 

Serrabinashiah looked at the markings on the amulet. There were three rows of them, but they appeared to say one thing. She remained silent for a bit before answering.

 

 

"These signs are Urshilaku. It's a rare type of amulet among my former tribe. These markings all collectively spell out one phrase: 'above all things, even honor, lies survival'. It's only given to the highest-ranking members of the tribe...and it's only issued during times of hardship." She said as she handed the amulet back to Dar'Krinji.

 

 

Serrabinashiah then had a thought. "Khajiit...I've heard from some of the other men here that there's a couple of Ashlanders from the army earlier today being kept in the holding cells. Is that why you brought me this? And if they are there...maybe I could help translate if they're Urshilaku." She said.

 

Edited August 27, 2011 by SoulofChrysamere

[AurianaValoria1]

Caius Cosades, Fort Floodgate, Holding Cells

 

Velanya finally emerged from the cell. He watched as she closed the door and then leaned against it heavily. She closed her eyes and asked, "Did you hear that?"

 

"No," he replied, "the responses were too quiet. Did you get anything out of them?"

 

"Oh, yes," she answered, opening her eyes and meeting his gaze, "hit the jackpot, in fact. But you're not going to like it."

 

He exchanged looks with Adrynn, whose brow furrowed as he listened to Velanya. Caius pressed her, "Good or bad, what did they say?"

 

"Well, I didn't even try with the scarred one. But the other is definitely Urshilaku, and he spilled the beans," she began. She looked back over her shoulder at the prisoners, "Apparently, the reasoning behind the Urshilaku involvement is desperation. The tribe is starving. Someone or something decimated their guar herds, and a group of men conveniently came along offering much-needed food and water in exchange for service...all with promises of honor and glory for the young men of the tribe. The Wise Woman and the Ashkhan refused the offer. I guess they suspected treachery. But it was too good to pass up for the hunters and the warriors. Especially considering the size of the lure..." she trailed off, and it seemed she was having trouble believing what she was saying.

 

"What was the lure?" Caius asked, not certain he himself wanted to know.

 

"Driving the outlanders out of Morrowind, of course. Restoring the lands and the old ways. Part of some Prophecies we've all become accustomed to in the past couple of years," she said pointedly.

 

Oh, gods...no...

 

She continued, a weak smile on her face, "Our enemy is based in Kogoruhn, home of House Dagoth. And their leader is the Nerevarine."

 

 

 

Velanya Therys, Fort Floodgate, Holding Cells

 

The look on Caius's face was one of shock, disappointment, anger, and sickness all melded into one. Suddenly, he slammed a fist into the wall with such force that the stone he struck cracked.

 

"Damn him!" he shouted, "What did he do? Hm? Run off to Akavir for reinforcements? Is that what he's got at Kogoruhn? Are these Ashlanders just cannon fodder, and he's going to bring out the bad boys after we're weak? I should have known that part of the Prophecy couldn't be ignored," The Spymaster ran his hands through his silvered hair in frustration.

 

Adrynn's mouth had dropped open a little, his eyes as wide as saucers. His silence could have been in shock of the news, Caius's response, or both.

 

Finally, Caius sighed, leaning against the wall, "Well. That's something. Probably not everything...but something. Maybe Lecuaro's Ashlander spies can get more."

 

At that moment, a muffled voice came from Caius's pocket. He reached in and produced a small stone, which asked in Lecuaro's voice, "Hey, Cassius. It's me, Lecuaro. Those Ashlanders talking?"

 

Caius hesitantly spoke into the pebble, "Adrynn wasn't successful with the scarred up one, but Velanya got something big out of the Urshilaku."

 

He paused, then continued, "You're not going to believe me. I'm going to tell you anyway, but you're not going to believe me. Our enemy is the Nerevarine, and he has a base at Kogoruhn."