SoulofChrysamere Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) Sorinyarie: The Labyrinthian The steadily parasitic Labyrinthian architecture continued to leech Sorin's magicka away little by little as she followed her comrades into the fray. Knowing that her magicka would best be reserved for the dragon, she minimized her spellslinging when combating the Thalmor and undead. There, in the thick of battle, the Altmer proved that her hands and arms were good for more than just tossing fireballs. Sorin's bladecraft shone as she parried blows from draugr and Thalmor alike and then thrusted her longsword's tip through the slits in their armors. One Thalmor soldier managed to give her a slice on her shoulder, but the drawn blood was a small spite compared to the steel rebuttal he found in his pelvis a moment later. In quick succession, the straggling ground enemies had all either fled or fallen, and the only danger remaining was the great skeletal dragon. The bony beast had suffered a great deal of trauma during the battle, but it still persisted and even returned to the air despite the damage Adrynn had done to its wing. All throughout the fighting, Sorin had felt her magicka being slowly sapped by the Shalidoran citadel, but she knew that she was the only one left in the group that retained any significant amount of magicka. Intent on ending the dragon's threat to her companions, the battlemage readied herself. Sorin sheathed her blade and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Then, she drew in a deep breath and, using her remarkable skills in the Restoration school, channeled a small portion of her magicka throughout her body and used it to unlock the deep, hidden arcane wells that her Aldmeri lineage bestowed. The flow of restorative resistance magic through her being managed to briefly nullify the Labyrinthian's greedy walls, and she immediately began focusing her remaining magicka into her hands. Feeling the power concentrate in her palms, Sorin quickly wove together a fire spell that resonated with power. Once she felt the last of her magicka enter the inferno, the soldier took aim at the flying dragon, who had elected to pester the others some more with skyborne ice shouts. Sorin's eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on the beast and tried to anticipate its movements. She knew she only had one shot. The battlemage's chance came when the dragon circled around and started flying straight over her head. She aimed a little in front of the dragon, and then propelled the fiery arcanix forth with a groan of extreme effort. The dragon flew headlong into the firestorm and let out a palsied shriek as its frame turned black with char and its altitude plummeted. The monster's bout ended quite ungracefully as it barreled headfirst into a wall and fell to the ground as a heap of scorched bones. The instant the spell left her fingers, Sorin had collapsed to her knees in exhaustion - the kind of extreme fatigue that came about when an expenditure of magicka was so lavish that it rendered even the caster's physical body strengthless. The elf managed to stagger to her feet despite her heavy weakness and turned around to observe the status of her friends. Seeing that each teammate still stood, she loosed a relieved sigh. When she looked at the pile of blackened dragon bones, she partly couldn't believe how much energy she had packed into that spell or that she had actually taken the creature down, and yet there the defeated dragon lay. Now thoroughly spent magicka-wise, the charge the residual energies gave the air were almost overstimulating to her. Indeed, that fire spell had been immensely strong, as if the Legion battlemage had conjured Oblivion itself in her hands. Whatever the case, there was no denying that Sorinyarie was an incredibly strong wizard even by her own race's standards. "It's been a long time since I've casted something that powerful." Sorin said wearily as she hobbled over beside Adrynn.===================================================== Suetin Marczon: Cyrodiil - The Silver Road from Bruma It had taken some ingeniously stealthy evasion to wriggle through the warzones in northern Cyrodiil undetected, but the veteran scout's experience guided him through the murk and he eventually found himself forging through the brush beside the Silver Road at a brisk pace. He could see the White-Gold tower through the thick trees and splintered twilight as he moved. In time, he managed to reach the intersection between the Silver and Red-Ring Roads just on the other side of the massive moat that surrounded the Imperial City. Upon discovery that the small Ayleid Ruin of Sercen at the junction had been converted into a Thalmor outpost and that Elven patrols were walking the road in both directions, Suetin was forced into more patient maneuvering. He did finally manage to slink past the elves and reach the moat's shores a ways northwest of Sercen. Rather than waste a trove of precious time by making the long roundabout to the main western bridge that led into the City via the Talos Plaza district, the scout decided to make for the much closer Imperial Prison, where he hoped to access the bridge that connected the prison to the main city. Suetin quickly scurried along the bank and succeeded in reaching the prison. Imperial sentries patrolling the base of the hills surrounding the jail saw the Breton coming from a ways away and called out to him across the water once he was within earshot. His Legion uniform bought him a bit of cordiality from the watchmen, but their crossbows remained trained on him. "Halt! State your name and business, soldier!" The lead guardsman barked. "Suetin Marczon, Scout of the Imperial Legion! I come bearing a message!" Suetin replied. The identification partially soothed the guards' suspicions, but they kept their crossbows up. "A message for who, exactly?" The sentry inquired. "Confidential! Look, this is an important letter and neither the sender nor the recipient are going to be very happy if it doesn't get delivered. If you'd like, you can send a boat over and I'll come show you the seal!" Suetin responded. The patrolmen briefly chattered amongst each other before consenting to letting the scout across. Once Suetin was on the shores of the prison isle, he produced the letter for the men to see. The head guard inspected it briefly, and although the mark's design wasn't a common one, there was no denying that the seal was genuine. "Alright, you can go on ahead. Forbent, go with him so the guys at the gates won't harass him any." The man said. "Yes, sir! C'mon, follow me." the Redguard soldier ordered, motioning Suetin along. Thanks to Forbent, Suetin was able to enter the city without difficulty and he quickly wound his way into the Palace District. It had been a long time since he had seen the palace and the Green Emperor Way up close, but his mission allotted no time for a reverie. The scout found the vacant mausoleum of which Gregor spoke and ventured inside. Just as the elderly necromancer had said, the only three objects visible in the sparse lanternlight were a crude wooden table with a lectern, a matching chair on the far side, and the ceiling lever that operated the simple bell contraption. Suetin warily advanced and pulled the lever twice. Each pull sent a shrill, droning chime throughout the vicinity, which proved to be much larger than the limited illumination that the lanterns offered.================================ Serrabinashiah Masseribalit: The Wilds of the Reach When Serra returned from her firewood foraging with an armload of satisfactory kindling, she saw the pile of juniper branches that Faeryn had amassed. She shook her head with a snicker, set down the firewood, and walked over. "You're a city boy, Ordinator." Serra teased as she clasped him on the shoulder and knelt beside him. "Here, you just take these branches and simply slide them in between the branches on the tree you're going to sleep under. Make sure you make it thick enough to keep out a good portion of the rain if a storm comes." Serra said as she demonstrated the technique by weaving the gathered branches. "Now then, let's finish it together." Edited August 1, 2013 by SoulofChrysamere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mythicdawnmaster Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Thanking both of her companions for their words and gifts of magicka alike, Sienna shakily arose to her feet as the well-oiled links in her chainmail bent. Drawing Wrath with a grimace she ciphered power from the evil artifact, the combined potency of it's blessing and Adrynn's magicka giving her the fuel she needed to carry on the battle, and with a cry she rushed off into the fray once more, cutting down skeletal minions, all the while attempting to stay out of the undead dragon's icy reach. It's rather ungraceful demise had the elderly warrioress ducking for cover as bones shattered, splintering off from it's collision with the wall as charred shrapnel, a few stray pieces finding their way into the heavy metal of Sienna's plate. Walking over to the mound of char and bone, she nudged the fractured skull of the beast with her foot, and signalled her thanks and relief to Sorin, that it was truly dead this time. ---- The chime's vibrations unsettled gathered dust that clung eagerly to the walls of the neglected crypt like moss, floating about the chamber softly and gathering around the flames. For a long moment there was nothing but silence, as the sound of the chime died completely there was yet more of the same eerie silence... Footsteps. Out of the passageway at the far back of the chamber came a figure clad in fine silken robes, black as night and clasped with a ruby brooch, the figure broke through the barrier of dust and emerged into the candlelight. Strands of curled raven hair visible only by their satin quality in the light escaped the confides of a wide, steep hood, that just about hid the ruby-red eyes that burnt brightly beneath. Amaranth lips curled into a visible smirk as Morgiah set herself down with the airs of a royal, taking in the sight of the Breton scout before her. "Unless you've paid a much needed visit to Galathil in Riften Gregor, my staff has changed. I trust you come bearing my letter then? Don't tell me... the old man saw your young body as more fit and able, capable of delivering it far faster than he?" She began to chuckle, then settled her eyes upon Suetin's face as her rapturous words finished. Her voice was one of power and femininity. "You look familiar to me, along with my letter, be so kind as to give me your name." One perfectly manicured hand extended gracefully, fingers ajar for the scout to hand her the scroll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AurianaValoria1 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Not wanting to let the elves get too far ahead, Sandhya spoke up, "The Thalmor left by way of this hole...we must follow them, quickly!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Faeryn followed Serra's instructions as best as he could and, with her aid, finally produced what might function as a decent shelter. It was a bit small, but it would do. "Well," the Ordinator stepped back and crossed his arms as he inspected their work, "Now that's finished...what next?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macman253 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) Felix and Svarn stood amidst a growling pile of Draugr and Skeletons, Felix parried and countered with a pair of black armored Draugr while Svarn cleaved through three skeletons. The pair sweated heavily and exhaustion began to envelope them, but as their stamina began to dwindle the numbers of foes also fell. "Get down!" Felix yelled, Svarn dropped to a knee as Felix extended his staff to it's full length and spun it and himself as hard as he can, the hard metal staff caving in the skulls of two Draugr and turning three skeletons heads into white powder. Svarn stood and smashed the pommel of his axe into the face of a Draugr, "Nice work!" Svarn said before headbutting another Draugr and caving in it's face. Felix flung a dagger into the eye-slit of one of the armored Draugr's helmet, the Draugr went stiff and fell back limply. The second armored Draugr took the opportunity and drove his sword deep into Felix's right shoulder, Felix let out a howl of pain and dropped to his knee. Svarn turned to see Felix down and the armored Draugr picking up a discarded sword and raising it high, preparing to finish off the wounded Imperial. Svarn dropped his axe and quickly drew his recurve bow and knocked a pair of arrows, he drew back the string and let out a whistle. The Draugr looked to him and Svarn loosed both arrows, one imbedding in the dead heart of the Draugr the second penetrated the thick iron helmet and went clean through the brain of the undead warlord. Felix pulled the blade free of his shoulder and tossed it aside as he stood with the help of Svarn. Felix looked to see the skeletal dragon finished off by the Knight, a wash of relief came over him. The horror in this cursed Cairn was finally defeated. Svarn saw the Khajiit woman pointing to a hole and grabbed his axe. Felix nodded and followed as they both ran after the Thalmor. Edited August 1, 2013 by Macman253 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr2011 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Ra'Qassar ran to the whole where the Thalmor had escaped and took off after them, leading the way. "Follow me!" It was not hard to follow the elves as burnt bodies and scorched stones were everywhere along their path. Fortunately for the group, nearly all of the draugr had been destroyed by the Thalmor or were wary of approaching, so Ra'Qassar ran along unhindered. As they progressed he could tell that they were gaining. The scent of soot and smoke grew stronger as he ran. He was positive that they had flame cloak spells and that was how they had made such good time. It did not matter though. The companions were fresher and had less dangers to face than the elves had had. ------------------------- Galus was still dripping from the water in the strange cave system. Now he lead the group through the hall of stories. He hoped to the nine that there was some sort of escape route at the end of all this. He didn't expect any mercy from people who would sooner aid the undead than the living in that chamber. His four companions came up panting an short of breath near a large stone doorway. This was it. He could feel it. The throne room, the place where the dragon priests had held court. Beyond these doors would lie something more horrible than the dragon. He only hoped that beyond that lay salvation. ------------------------ Ra'Qassar waded through a stream in a great cavern, glancing over his shoulder to see if the rest of the group was following. He trudged on, hot on the trail of the Thalmor. The cavern gave way to the ruin once again, a hall of stories wasn't far. He knew they were getting extremely close. The hall was open all the way and through it he could see the five Thalmor puzzling at a different sort of door. Ra'Qassar held up his hand as a signal to stop not far from the Thalmor and he drew his bow about 30 yards from the elves. "Your justice is at hand, Thalmor scum." He said in a low growl. ------------------------------ Galus turned to see the hodge-podge group approach, two khajiit, a dark elf, a high elf, two imperials and a nord. An interesting lot, to be sure. But, he knew that his little band could not take them. Their magicka was exhausted, or nearly so. They had let down their cloaks some time ago, but were still drained. Galus began to ready his energies, preparing to loose some spells when all of a sudden the door behind them rumbled and shook before exploding in a barrage of stony rubble. He jerked a look over his shoulder. His companions were all still alive, but two had sustained injuries from the blast, dust clung in the air as four sets of those pale blue, icy eyes peered at them. Between those though a face emerged. ----------------------------- Baltis lowered his hand, whisps of destruction magic still clinging to it. "Ah, so you're the Faramel lad. I imagined that you might keep the Thalmor close at hand. I had never guessed that you would be working with the Thalmor though." A dangerous smile played across Llervu's lips as his minions spread out in an arc. ---------------------------- Galus's eyes widened slightly, but at the stranger's comment his eyes narrowed. Suddenly a massive swirl of red energy was around him, leaping hungrily at everything around him. His companions stared at him in horror as he raised both hands. Four great fiery orbs leapt from his fingertips and spun angrily at each of the other Thalmor. With their magickal resistances lowered by the cloak spell, the elves burned. Their skin was like paper, their flesh gave way like bundles of twigs and their bones like pine bows. As the screams of his command echoed in the hall, Galus turned to face the dark elf completely. "I'm not." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkedge42392 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Adrynn had stumbled and followed after the others as they followed the passageways down deeper into the ruins. He had reached into his pack and drank as many of his magicka restoration postions as he could find. Slowly but surely, he had felt his magicka return. Power flowed through his limbs as he caught up with the group. Though still physically weary from the earlier battle, he now was able to cast a few spells. Finally, they reached the Hall of Stories and caught up with the Thalmor. There were only five left. Ra'Qassar had drawn his weapon and aimed it at the Thalmor. Adrynn drew his sword as well, intent on helping finish these accursed Altmer. But before they could attack, the great stone door that the Thalmor were blocked by suddenly exploded from the inside, flinging rubble and smoke everywhere. Adrynn felt a sharp and sudden stab of power. The cold that had plagued him throughout the Labyrinthian returned with a vengeance, and now he knew why. He stood up slowly and watched as the Thalmor commander slew his own troops at the taunt of the Dunmer with no eyes. Slowly, Adrynn walked forward. His fury crashed over him like a total and complete typhoon with each step. His vision was tinted in a dangerous shade of red. He stopped halfway between his companions and the Thalmor. He raised his sword and pointed it at the Dunmer mage. His grip was white knuckled in sheer fury. "Baltis, I told you the next time I saw you, I would kill you, lich!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr2011 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Ra'Qassar was a little startled by the events that transpired, but he suddenly acted on instinct. He felt like his blood was on fire for some reason. He loosed his shaft towards the lich before switching to his sword faster than he had ever thought possible. He was a total blur. He charged the Thalmor with his blade held high. Dimly aware that his sword was a blazing inferno. --------------------- Baltis's smirk faded when the Faramel child killed his companions, and disappeared completely when Adrynn stepped forth. Something inside him had still clung to some feeble hope that they might be able to reconcile their differences. Even though the lich had no love for the Redoran, he also had no quarrel with him, and he didn't hate Azura enough to kill Adrynn merely out of spite for the Daedric prince. He sighed slightly and prepared himself. The Khajiit surprised him. The arrow sang as it whirled toward him. It was fortunate that he had left up his own cloak spell. And a fierce bolt of fire engulfed the arrow, disintegrating it mid-flight. The spell was one of Baltis's own designs. Instead of a constant field of elemental energy, it was a network of awareness that was linked to a well of energy. As soon as something entered the radius, the chosen element rushed forth to do battle with it. It was more efficient than most cloak spells and far more subtle. Then the Khajiit was on the Thalmor. Baltis's eyes widened when he saw the flaming sword, but that was not the shocking part. The Khajiit's arm was drenched in blood and it was dripping from the cat-man's hands. Could it be? ---------------------------- Galus barely had time to react. The arrow flew past his head towards the lich, he only just whirled in time to see the Khajiit charging him. He felt warm for some reason, but it also felt like the light had vanished from the world, despite the fire. It was not oppressive. It was like a young child being swaddled, loosing sight of the world, but also being comforted, safe, secure. Galus prepared his best ward spell but suddenly the blade stopped mid swing. Before he could even cast a spell. ---------------------------- Ra'Qassar blinked. He slowly became aware that his arm was bleeding and his sword was still engulfed in fire. Save for a part about one third of the way up the blade. The red flames seemed to have turned to stone. That stone was clenched in a heavy, dark fist. That fist was attached to one of the tallest men Ra'Qassar had ever seen. His armor was almost completely black, but hide fine white etchings and scroll work here and there amidst fearsome spines, grooves and plates. The man was over six foot tall, muscular but not overly so. He had the lean look of a hunter, but his eyes spoke of a wary soul, like an old warrior who had seen too many battles. Those eyes were the deep crimson of blood fresh from a wound. They were set in a well tanned, slightly craggy face that was framed by shoulder length, jet black hair. Somehow this man, this being had caught his flaming sword and did not feel heat nor steel from it. ----------------------------- Baltis balked. He was at a loss for words for the first time in nearly his entire life. It wasn't possible. This couldn't be. He was dead. And if he wasn't dead he was back in his own realm. This was not possible. ----------------------------- "Put down your sword Adrynn." Kriak the Huntsman said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkedge42392 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 The ebony longsword slipped from Adrynn's nerveless fingers. It clattered to the floor with the unique ring of ebony striking stone. Impossible! He walked to the hunter, his eyes refusing to believe what they saw. Baltis, and Adrynn's fury toward him, compeletely disappeared at the reappearance of Adrynn's old companion. The Redoran finally reached the Hunter, his eyes sweeping over the other man. Kriak still looked the same. As if he had never aged. Yet there was more behind his eyes since the last time Adrynn had seen him. It was obvious that he had gone through struggles of his own. "I saw you die, Kriak. When you handed me the Sigil Stone and pushed me into the fire, I saw the Dremora impale you," Adrynn said, quite vividly remembering that horrible day when Adrynn and Kriak had gone into an Oblivion Gate, but only Adrynn returned. Adrynn's mouth pressed into a hard line, and his face fell into a scowl. "Why have you never shown yourself till now? It's been over two centuries since then, and I've mourned your death along with almost all of our former companions. The only ones who still live are Velanya, Serrabinishiah, Sorinyarie, and Faeryn. Where have you been, Kriak?" Adrynn took a long glance at Ra'Quassar and then at Baltis. He glanced back to Kriak. "And why are you here now?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr2011 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Ra'Qassar's blade ceased blazing, the mysterious man released it, and Ra'Qassar grasped just how much he was bleeding and how exhausted he was. His eyes flickered a bit, and then darkness consumed him. --------------------- Galus's heart was still pounding from the attack and the stranger's sudden appearance. He sighed heavily from relief and felt completely drained and exhausted. He sank slightly and had minor tremors. He stared blankly as he watched the Khajiit pass out and the stranger called Kriak catch him. ------------------ Baltis approached warily. He knew Adrynn might attack him, but he didn't care. The huntsman had been the only member of that group so long ago who had hadn't despised him and hated him. He said nothing, but he regained his composure. Suddenly he became dimly aware of a massive font of power. It was enigmatic, but also familiar. It felt like a rumbling cloud in the distance with static bursts of mystery and ambition. the sockets where his eyes would have been widened immensely. No! Not only is he here, but he has it?! How?! -------------------- When Ra'Qassar collapsed, Kriak caught him and gently lowered him to the ground before casting a light healing spell to stop the bleeding. That would be enough. He then turned to Adrynn. "You saw what you thought you would see. You, of all people, should know that not everything with me is what it seems." He sighed. "200 years? That's how long it's been here? I returned to my realm and have been there for the last thirty years. Time passes differently in my realm than in this one. I have been fighting a war Adrynn. And that's why I am here now. I need to recover a pair of artifacts for my brethren to restore peace to my realm." He paused for a long time. "And I need to return another." He produced a small hour glass with crimson sands and what must have been gleaming silver construction ages ago. It seemed to hum with some ancient power. He pressed it into Adrynn's hand. "If he should need stopped, you can do it. But it will cost you your life. Both of you shall be stronger for its presence, but both of you are in danger for it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkedge42392 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Adrynn accepted the strange hourglass with a look of confusion. Kriak's egnimatic words mixed with his own weariness and shock at seeing the huntsman only served to muddle the Redoran's mind even further. "What -" he started, then caught the look Baltis gave the hourglass. Then it clicked. The phylactery. Of course. In this small object, concealed in its depths by the lich's magic, lay Baltis's very soul. An overwhelming urge to crush the damned thing overtook the Redoran, but he quickly shoved the notion aside. It wasn't worth his life. Looking Baltis straight in his non-existant eyes, Adrynn took off his left gauntlet, set the hourglass against his moon and star brand, and pushed. The hourglass sunk into the brand, finally disappearing as Adrynn closed his hands together completely. He ignored the searing pain that shot through his arm from using that kind of magic. It had been a long time since he had used Azura's gift of transporting through Moonshadow. And even now, after he had put Baltis's Phylactery there, he wasn't sure how he did it. This is why you wanted me to come to Labyrinthian, isn't it, Azura? he asked silently, his gaze never wavering from Baltis. Indeed so, my child. Trust your companion, and trust me. Baltis will have a part to play in the coming weeks. Whether you can see it now or not. Adrynn didn't reply, but walked over to his sword and scooped it up, sheathing it. "Very well, Kriak. Are you going to stay with us, or are you needed in your own realm?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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