Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
Multi Quote Post
Add Reply
A Life, Forgotten; The Tale of an Amnesic Bosmer, in Skyrim
Topic Started: Jun 27 2016, 02:03 PM (392 Views)
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Nicely done, Kane! Heh. I forget about Fjola and Christer - because I don't do Mistwatch often.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Andra Hawksdaughter
Member Avatar
Jarl
 *  *  *  *  *
Ooh, the tension builds! Very good Kane!! Loved the arrow delivered notes! :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Areial
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Not one of my favorite dungeons... the bandit's usually gang up... very nicely done!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kane
Overlord
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Entry #32


The western tower smelt of death. A reeking odor filled the around Khalor as he sneaked through the door, and down the curved corridor. He could hear two more bandits pacing back and forth, incessantly rambling on about their lives. Further in, he found where the acrid smell was coming from. A dead woman lie in a heap in a cell on his left, with blood spattered shackles hanging on the wall behind her. The note on the table nearby indicated that she went down fighting, having not been pleased with her abduction. What a shame, thought Khalor. At least she gave them something to think about.

He continued on, and soon found himself at the base of a curved stairway, complete with patrolling bandits. Khalor peered around the corner to get a handle on the situation, and noted that the first one seemed to be walking up and down aimlessly. A discreet knife thrust handled him, but the second bandit turned at an unfortunate time. He spotted the elf, and drew the long greatsword from his back, charging down the stairs. Khalor strafed out of the way of the oafs swing, and buried his poison laced dagger into his back, ending the fight. Luckily, the other two bandits below heard nothing, and Khalor headed up the stairs, down the hall, and out onto the next balcony.

It was now fully dark out, and Khalor could no longer see where Marc was. He scribbled another progress note, and loosed it down to the surface, before heading into the eastern tower. A curious sensation filled Khalor as he walked the curved hall of this tower, glancing here and there. He had the same feeling of familiarity that grabbed him on the road above, as he had gazed down at the Mistwatch Towers. This time though, it was a much more powerful feeling of deja vu, and it hearkened his mind back to the dream he had many days ago. Could this be....


Khalor's thoughts were interrupted as an armor clad women walked out of the towers central room and turned to face him, "All right, snowback. Who are you, and what are you doing in my tower?"

He stared intently at her face, and he knew without a doubt, that it was the face from his dream. The face that beckoned him into a room, with the promise of a long night filled with passionate sex. Khalor lowered his hood, "I think you know exactly who I am. And I would assume that you are Fjola."

Her face paled," You.... No. This can't be. They assured me you were dead. That I would never see or hear from your treacherous hide again! How is this possible? And why do you assume? You know damn well who I am."

"I do know who you are, but only just. Your crew did quite a number on me, even if they didn't finish the job. The result is me standing here with only hazy memories of you, and everything else before has been forgotten," said Khalor. "I may have lived, but I remember next to nothing of my life before then, thanks to you."

Fjola spit on the ground. "You deserve worse than this, turncoat."
"That's the second time you called me a traitor," said Khalor. "Why is that?"
"Because that's exactly what you became. After our raid in Riften, I could tell something had changed in you, and my suspicions were correct when I found a note hidden in your belongings. You were going to sell us out to the Jarl and her men."

This surprised Khalor. Evidently, he'd had his change of heart before he was left for dead, and in fact, was the reason he was here now, as the enemy of the bandits he once helped to lead. It was also why his love interest had ordered him to be executed. A warm surge of emotion filled Khalor's soul as the last remnants of darkness finally filtered out, and the words of Azura echoed in his head. Ask yourself this; is it worth throwing away all that you have achieved by seeking vengeance on that scum? For that path will only lead you back into the darkness that you have since emerged from.

He took a deep breath, and continued, "I have no interest in you, or this life any longer. But, your husband, Christer, is downstairs. He tracked you here on rumors of Mistwatch's foul deeds, and hopes you are here."

"Christer? He's here? I left that old scab a long time ago. I have no need for that man, and I'd die before I went back."

Khalor sheathed his blade, "It's your call." As he turned to leave, Fjola drew her weapon behind him. Turning around, the long Dwemer blade shown brightly under the torchlight. "You're not leaving here alive, elf. I'll see to that end myself. Nobody betrays me like you have, and lives to tell the tale."

She darted forward as Khalor drew his elven longsword, and the two blades locked furiously in combat. The duel raged back and forth for long minutes, with each of them trading blows and parrying thrusts. Khalor was at a disadvantage in his leather armor, which was being torn to pieces as his sword blows glanced harmlessly off Fjola's plated steel armor. He shook off a ruined bracer and pressed on, until she drove her sword into his side. Khalor gasped in shock at the ungodly pain and warm sensation spreading across his stomach. As he dropped his sword to the ground, his enemy withdrew her blade and pushed him to the ground, ready to deliver the final blow. But, Khalor had one last trick up his sleeve, and as Fjola crouched down to slit his throat, he plunged his trusty dagger into her neck.

As his forlorn lover fell backwards in death, Khalor used what strength he had left to cast a burst of healing. It was enough to let him crawl towards the balcony door, leaving a smearing trail of blood in his wake. Pushing his way outside, he once again wrote a hasty note and fired it all the way down to the courtyard, before falling unconscious.

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

Marcurio was sitting around a makeshift campsite when another arrow buried itself in the earth nearby. With a gasp of shock, he unwound the blood spattered note,

Need help. Highest balcony.

"Bloody hell!" shouted Marc, as he grabbed his gear and bolted inside the keep.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Andra Hawksdaughter
Member Avatar
Jarl
 *  *  *  *  *
Oh excellent Kane!! I haven't gone to Mistwatch in years, I think I only did it once, but I sure hated that woman! Good to know he changed his ways BEFORE being forced to. That had to feel good to him. :D :clap:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Wow. He had a change of heart and life - and that's what got him bashed enough to lose his memory! Wow.... and Marc to the rescue! But Marc isn't a stealthy sort - hope he's got enough magic to take care of all the bandits Khalor slithered by!

EXCELLENT, Kane!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kane
Overlord
 *  *  *  *  *  *
:thanks:

K needed some complete closure, I think. I had intended to ignore Mistwatch, but he said otherwise.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I think he was right....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kane
Overlord
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Entry #33

As the door shut behind him, Marc dropped into a crouch and headed inwards. Much to his surprise, he was hailed down by a farmer, just before moving onto the next chamber. Marc questioned him about why he was here and discovered that this was the man Khalor had agreed to help. "Stay here, Khalor is in trouble. Hopefully, we will see you on the way out." Before continuing, he cast his invisibility and muffle spells to avoid detection from any of the lingering bandits. Progress is easy when one is nigh undetectable, and Marcurio was soon climbing the last set of stairs up to the eastern tower's balcony.

Marc stepped out into the moonlit stone to find his elven friend lying in a pool of his own crimson blood. He rushed over to his side to check his vitals. "By the Eight, he's still alive...." But, it still looked bleak for Khalor, who was cold to the touch and still oozing blood from the wound on his side. Marcurio propped his head up and poured a strong healing potion down his throat, and began casting his healing spells. The wound began to bind, and the color drained back into his face, but Khalor remained unconscious for the time being.

Having done all that he could, Marc began setting up a campsite on the balcony for them. He headed into the tower to look for supplies, and was taken aback but what he saw inside. The floors were bathed in blood from the fight between his friend, and the mysterious bandit woman. Shocked at the sight of it all, he wondered how this much blood could be shed by two people, and realized how close to death Khalor actually was. He knelt down beside Fjola and pulled the dagger from her neck. "That elf's luck never ceases to amaze me." Further in, he found decent living quarters complete with food and supplies. I need to bring him in here, thought Marc. He'll rest far more comfortably on one of these beds.

Once he had his friend resting in the warmth of the tower, he cast a few runes by the door and in the hallway, in case any bandits got nosy. Afterwards, Marcurio returned to the living quarters, said a prayer to Mara and Stendarr before retiring to bed himself.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Andra Hawksdaughter
Member Avatar
Jarl
 *  *  *  *  *
Damn close call! Hurray for Marc!! I always feel bad for the farmer though....

Great updat again Kane!

Errr, updatE, that is, :D
Edited by Andra Hawksdaughter, Nov 18 2016, 06:11 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Whoa - I wasn't thinking about invis and muffle! Great job Marc - and Kane too!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Areial
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Oooff thankfully Marc got to Khalor in time!! great update!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kane
Overlord
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Entry# 34

You have done well, Khalor. Your journey has not been an easy one, but you have found the redemption you sought. For the first time in a long age, I see an elf that is untroubled and free of any ill intent. And what's more, you ended the scourge of Mistwatch without enacting the revenge I warned you of. Return to my shrine in the mountains, and I will guide you into your future.


Khalor awoke from his dream, opening his eyes for the first time in nearly a score of days. He was comfortable and warm in his bed, and he lay there for a while pondering on Azura's words. After a few minutes, the elf rose from his bed and looked around at the scene before him. Marcurio was asleep in a bed across the way, and a merry fire crackled and popped in the fireplace at the room's center. His eyes moved over to the hallway, and the sight of the blood spattered walls and floors brought everything back with a rush, as Khalor realized just how close to death he had been. He slid on a pair of boots near the bed, and began walking around, bending, and stretching. Everything seemed to be in order, and the elf didn't seem to have any lasting effects from his wounds.

Marc heard the noise and woke from his slumber, "About bloody time you woke up. It's been nigh on twenty days since your foolish endeavor. How are you feeling?"

"Well, I don't feel any worse for the wear. Seems to have healed up rather nicely, actually. I suppose I owe you quite a bit, don't I?"

He grinned, "Bah, don't dwell on it. I'm sure that in due time, we'll break even. Somehow our dealings always seem to put us in too much danger."

"No arguments there," said Khalor. He glanced over at the body of Fjola. "Does Christer know?"

"Know what?" asked Marc. "About this woman? Why does that matter?"

"Because this woman is Fjola. Leader of the Mistwatch bandits, his lost wife, and my former lover. She was the person I had to thank for my lack of memories, as well as being left for dead." Khalor paused, as he looked down at her. Oddly enough, he had a feeling of remorse... And pity. "Before we fought, she cleared up another matter too, Marc. It would seem that I had my change of heart before I was dumped on the side of the road."

Marc was staring intently at him. "Are you saying that..."

"Yes. It seems I was on the cusp of turning over Mistwatch to Laila and her men, before Fjola found me out. I had no intentions of fighting her after learning that, and would have just as soon walked out of here forever. But, she didn't intend to let me survive again."

Marcurio said nothing. He seemed just as stunned as Khalor had been, when Fjola told him of the truth. Khalor continued on, "Which reminds me.... Azura popped into my dreams again, and would like us to return to her shrine. It would seem that she is able to help me, now."

"Well, let's get going, then!" said Marc. "We shouldn't keep her waiting."

"Not yet," said Khalor. "First, we talk to Christer. After that, I still intend on visiting Solitude for the first time."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Glad you're tying up those loose ends.... I like it! Great read, Kane!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kane
Overlord
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Entry #35

After packing up all their belongings, Khalor and Marcurio began the long descent through the towers. Combined, the two of them finished off the remaining bandits with ease, finally cleansing the land of the ruthless bandits. Khalor found it odd that none of them had bothered to come and see where Fjola had been for twenty days, but Marc reasoned that they were all probably afraid of her. "Happens all the time," said Marc. "They worry so much about pissing off the boss, that they don't bother to intrude on them." Shortly after, the entered the northern tower, and descended the stairs to wear Christer had been hiding. Khalor had just begun to wonder if he was still there, when heard that all too familiar voice ring out.

"Hey, who's there?"

Khalor turned to Marc, "Be ready if those goes south. I'd don't want to kill the poor man." The Imperial nodded in assent, and readied a Calm spell.

As they entered the antechamber, Christer hailed them, "What news? Why isn't Fjola with you?"

"I found her at the top of the highest keep, Christer. Turns out she wasn't kidnapped...she came here and joined of her own accord, eventually rising to be the leader of these scum," said Khalor. Christer stared at him in disbelief, apparently at a loss for words. "I had to kill her, Christer. She attacked me as I tried to leave."

"What? My Fjola would never... You monster! I'll kill you for this!" He charged at the two of them, but Marc was ready with this spell, and once he calmed down, they turned to head back out into the world. But, not before Khalor placed Fjola's ring in Christer's hand. "Good luck."



The sun shone brightly down on them as the two friends made their way west on the road above Mistwatch. Making excellent time, they soon found themselves resting at Darkwater Crossing. After eating lunch, and swapping stories with the locals, the road beckoned once more and they continued on towards the west. A ways up the road, Marc noticed that something seemed to be bothering Khalor again. "Something on your mind, friend?" Khalor said nothing for a moment.

"I s'pose you could say that. When I returned to Riften, I had forgotten to tell you something during my haste to get back on the road." Marc looked at him questioningly.

"Oh? What's it this time?"

Khalor reached into his bag, and pulled out the pockmarked beacon he'd found in Brittleshin. "I stumbled across this on my journey to Whiterun." He tossed it to Marc, "What do you make of it?"

"Dunno," said Marc. "It feels magical, though. Definitely an artifact of some kind."

"Well, when I grabbed it, and unnecessarily loud voice rang out to me. It was a woman's voice for sure, but I have no idea who. She told me I needed to return this thing to her temple, and that 'I would be the instrument of her cleansing light'."

"Well, that sounds ominous," said Marc. "Did she say where the temple was?"

"Aye. Mount Kilkreath." Marcurio looked at him, with his jaw dropped open.

"By the Eight, you bloody elf! That's Merida's temple. The Daedric Lady of Infinite Energies!"





Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Out of the frying pan.... Excellent, Kane! The few times I've done Mistwatch, of course, the girl has had to kill Christer - that's one of the things I always hate about it, and one of the reasons I don't do it much....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kane
Overlord
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Entry #36

Marc had been silent for the last couple hours. Kahlor didn't like it, so he tried to break the ice, "So, this Meridia business...." His friend shot him and icy glare, but Khalor ignored it, "Are we in for a rough time?" More silence, this time with a long sigh afterwards.

"It's hard to say. She's considered good Daedra by most standards, but we're still dealing with powers way beyond our control. And if she's chosen you, then there's no way your getting rid of that beacon."

"I thought as much," said Khalor. "Look, I don't want to keep dragging you into these situations. If you want to just meet me in Solitude, I understand. I can go this one alone, it is my own doing after all."

Marcurio looked over at him, "You should know by now, elf, that we're in this shit together. I may not like it, but I won't abandon my friend."

Khalor nodded with a smile, and they kept on their journey. When they reached the Whiterun Stables, Khalor told Marc to wait for him there, while he ducked into the city to see if he was still being sought after. Walking around the city, nobody seemed to care a bit about who he was. It seemed that his name was clear everywhere, and this bolstered Khalor's spirits. They were quickly dampened however, by some pompous ass raving about the 'Cloud District'. Whatever that was, it took every ounce of Khalor's patience to not knock him out cold. After selling some junk in the general store, he made his way back out to Marc.

"Looks like I'm in the clear throughout Skyrim," said Khalor. "Nobody batted at eye at me in there."

"Good. Let's get going, then. We've got a long hike up to Dragon bridge."

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

It was an uneventful trip. Something that pleased both of them, after all they'd been through, and what was to come next. Dragon Bridge was a quaint little town that Khalor found himself enjoying. The Four Shields Tavern was a nice, warm tavern to relax in for the night. Kilkreath wasn't much further, and they needed to be well rested before heading up to it. Khalor looked over at Marc as they ate their dinner, "What do you reckon we're going to find in that temple?"

"Hard to say," replied Marc. "From what I remember, Meridia despises the undead. Couple that with what you told me of your encounter with her and that beacon, it sounds like we may be in for some zombie control. Hopefully, that's all, too. I'd hate to run into something worse."

"What could be worse than hordes of the undead?" asked Khalor. "That seems to be pretty dire already."

"Necromancy."

Khalor hadn't considered that. If there was necromancy going on at the heart of this matter, it would be pretty bad, too, if a Daedra is concerned with it enough it to recruit help in dealing with it. He was beginning to get a bad feeling about this matter, and as he settled into a fitful sleep, it gnawed at his subconscious.

Dawn seemed to come too fast for the two friends, and after a quick breakfast, they were back on the road once again. Kilkreath really was fairly close, and not longer after leaving Dragon Bridge, they headed up the northern fork in the road, towards a worn set of stairs carved into the mountain side. Meridia's temple was an impressive size, but it paled in comparison to Azura's statue. Khalor began to wonder what the next step was, but before he could converse with Marcurio, that all too familiar voice rang out in the morning sky.

"LOOK AT MY TEMPLE, LYING IN RUINS. SO MUCH FOR THE CONSTANCY OF MORTALS, THEIR CRAFTS AND THEIR HEARTS. IF THEY LOVE ME NOT, HOW CAN MY LOVE REACH THEM?"

"That was....unsettling," said Marc. "You weren't kidding about it being a loud, booming voice."

"Tell me about it. Just imagine that hitting you in the middle of a cave, as your shoulders deep in a chest." They climbed up to the top of the altar, where Meridia's statue stood, her stone arms raised in the air. A receptacle of sorts laid at it's base, and Khalor lowered the beacon gently into it. A bright. blinding white light shone all around them as a beam of energy shot upwards into the sky. Khalor felt his feet leave the ground, as he was elevated high above the temple, and all of Skyrim, for that matter. An intense ball of pure white appeared in front of him, high in the sky.

"It is time for my splendor to return to Skyrim. But the token of my truth lies buried in the ruins of my once great temple, now tainted by a profane darkness skittering within. The Necromancer Malkoran defiles my shrine with vile corruptions, trapping lost souls left in the wake of this war to do his bidding. Worse still, he uses the power stored within my own token to fuel his foul deeds. I have brought you here, mortal, to be my champion. You will enter my temple, retrieve my artifact, and destroy the defiler. Guide my light through the temple to open the inner sanctum and destroy the defiler."

"It doesn't really sound like I have a choice in the matter," said Khalor.

"But a single candle can banish the darkness of the entire Void. If not you, then someone else. My beacon is sure to attract a worthy soul. But if you are wise, you will heed my bidding."

"I'll do it, then."

"Of course you will. I have commanded it! Go now, the artifact must be reclaimed and Malkoran destroyed. Malkoran has forced the doors shut. But this is my temple, and it responds to my decree. I will send down a ray of light. Guide this light through my temple and its doors will open."

Seconds later, Khalor found himself back on the altar, watching as beam of light shot into the temple. Marc put his hand on his shoulder, "Are you alright, Khalor?" The elf turned to him and nodded.

"I'm fine, but your fears are confirmed. We're after a necromancer."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Serethil
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Yeah, I don't like THIS one either! Heh. Well told, and good luck there, guys....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Andra Hawksdaughter
Member Avatar
Jarl
 *  *  *  *  *
Ooh, caught up, and oh the revelations! Khalor is lucky to have a good friend in Marc. Welll done Kane, and now I get to see another's version of Meridia, rather than doing it, hehe. I really like Khalor and Marc! :clap:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Areial
Member Avatar
Et'Ada
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Awesome updates...they seem to go from one problem to the next with barely a pause!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Single Volume Epics · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Theme created by Sjaelen Auren from Zathyus Networks Resources