The Adventure Begins (continued)

     The rainstorms that occur in Cyrodil often feel like they are endless downpours of rain falling from the darkest of clouds, or that is how it felt as I left The Imperial City on my way towards Weynon Priory. I was on foot with only a few essential items: my cloak, my bedding, rations of food (enough to last me a week in the forest), my bow and two quivers of arrows, my dagger, and the map that would guide me to my newest of destinations. The cold from the rain seemed to be soaking into the very depths of my soul as I crossed the Imperial Bridge. As I ventured into the small village just beyond the bridge I took a moment to look behind me at the end of my new beginning. This was just the very beginning of whatever adventure had already grasped me in its clutches.

     My map showed me a winding path that would take me through the forest to Weynon Priory which is near the city of Chorrol. The walk to Weynon Priory was painless with. Surprisingly there were no wolves or bandits to give me any trouble. I made it to Priory within a day of leaving The Imperial City. The sun had set several hours before I made it to my destination, which meant that Jauffre would more than likely be asleep by the time I ventured inside the establishment.

     I opened the front door to what I assumed was their sleeping quarters. To my dismay the door creaked loud enough for a whole horde of goblins to hear and awake at my entering. Thankfully there was a kind monk who greeted me. He inquired upon my needs with the monks and specifically asking if I needed anything for my adventures since I clearly looked like one. I explained to him my needs to speak with Jauffre and the urgency upon my request. He kindly took me upstairs where another monk slept on a bed that was located in the loft of the quarters. The kind monk awoke the sleeping monk and briefly explained who I was and what I needed. The first monk gestured for me to have a seat at the table located in the room and took his leave. Jauffre arose from his bed and clothed himself fully, then he took the seat across from me at the table. There was an uncomfortable silence as he stared at me, taking in every inch of my person.

“Um, name is Talisa and I need your help if you are willing.” I stammered and stumbled over the words as I tried to muster the courage to speak to a monk.

Pathetic.

     He shifted in his seat, eyes still not leaving mine, got up from his seat and went to a chest. He took out of the chest a map and a journal and brought them over to me.

“If you are who I think you are then you will need these two items to complete the next journey you must take.” He stated calmly as he took his seat again.

     I skimmed over the material he had placed before me. The map showed several places around Cyrodil that looked like there was an O placed besides them. Not sure what that meant I turned to the journal. Inside I found that the journal had once belonged to Uriel Septum and the last few entries spoke of a son that he had taken away to be raised elsewhere in Cyrodil in case his death was sought by those consumed by evil. 

“I have the Amulet of Kings. Uriel gave it to me right before he was murdered by assassins.” I pulled the Amulet out from one of my pockets and showed him. “He told me to find his last son and close the jaws of Oblivion. One of his bodyguards instructed me to find you because he thought you might know where that son is today.”

“His name is Martin and I do know where he currently resides,” Jauffre informed me. “You have been set upon a quest that will be full of death, blood, and terror.”

“I have no time for a quest. I only want to find Martin and give him the amulet.”

“It is too late for that. You will have to put aside your personal endeavors and give yourself to this quest. All of Tamriel looks to you to save her.”

“No one in Tamriel even knows who I am, much less care if I complete some quest.” I was beginning to become irate with this old, helpless monk.

“You must find Martin, give him the amulet, tell him who he is, and bring him to me.” He added, with a bit of ferocity, “If the assassins and the death of the Emperor have already occurred, then it is absolutely crucial that we act quickly. All of the lives of Cyrodil are at stake. Oblivion must not be allowed to gain full access to our world here.”

     Jauffre took a minute to calm his nerves, arose from the table, approached yet another chest, and opened it.

“I have few supplies that may assist you in finding Martin and we can acquire a horse for you to help speed up your travels.” He rummaged through the chest pulling out potions, weapons, and armor. “Take whatever you need. I will be downstairs.” With that last bit he ventured down the stairs, leaving me alone.

      
     I took a moment to gather my thoughts before looking through the chest and taking the necessities. He had two quivers of silver arrows, a silver bow, and a silver dagger contained within the chest. I took all that I could carry and all that a horse could carry comfortably. I inhaled my next breath deeply preparing my nerves for the inevitable journey I was about to embark on and to quench the fear rising within me.

     My feet and legs took me, slightly unwilling, down the steps as my brain tried to wrap around what I was planning on doing. The fear continued to rise from deep inside of me, my hands shook, and I started to perspire. I was unsure if I was capable of such an adventure, if perhaps the Emperor had gotten the story wrong and I wasn’t supposed to be the one to help. How could someone like me be the person who would save Tamriel?

     A vision flashed before my eyes just as I reached the base of the stairs.
        

     A hunter moving lithely through a lush forest seeking its prey. I (the hunter) took my bow from off my back as I approached a bear off in the distance. I could feel my heart pumping fast with adrenaline coursing through my veins. I nocked an arrow in my bow and pulled the string quickly back.

     I aimed.

    Took a breath.

    Exhaled.

    Let loose the arrow.

    The arrow cut through the air and burrowed right through the bear's skull.

     The vision faded leaving a sense that it was less of a vision and more of a memory. Perhaps there was more to my abilities than what I thought possible. I knew then that I had to find some kind of connections to my past as I possibly could.

     The monks stood not far from me with inquisitive expressions as they watched me snap out of whatever had taken hold of me. Shaking my head I approached the monks and informed them that I was as ready as I would ever be. They told me that a horse was outside tied to a post.

“Head to Kvatch. Martin is a priest of Akatosh. You will find him in the church there,” he told me. “Good luck. We will see you upon your return.”

     I thanked them, pulled my hood over my head, and went to mount the horse they had given me. Before riding off for Kvatch I took my map out and marked the city on it. The journey would take me about a day and a half. I needed to get there as soon as I could. The sooner I finished this the sooner I could get to finding out who I was and who I was supposed to be.

     The wind started to gust as though a storm was fast approaching bringing with it a danger no one had ever encountered before.

The Adventure Begins

  

     Darkness surrounded me as I ran through the forest, my heart beat racing, my breath catching without every inhalation. Though my body burned, I knew I had to keep pushing myself further, and further, and further.

There was something in the shadows of this darkness, something lurking that I could not see. It was only showing its presence from behind the trees as I ran quickly past them, so I kept pushing myself to RUN.

Fear-stricken, the trees began to lessen and part. Beyond the tree line was a ledge, a ledge that was coming up far too quickly. Despite my efforts, my body could not stop in time and I spun off the ledge,

falling into a deep,

dark,

abyss.

The sound of the creature was the last thing I heard as I fell to my death.

    

   I awoke with a start and a hand resting on my shoulder, dark brown eyes staring down at me, Owyn.

"It's over kid," he stated calmly. "You won and you put up a great fight."

He stood up from leaning over me, stepping over to the wash bin. I sat up from my bedroll and rubbed my neck, my head was throbbing like I had hit it, hard.

"What happened?"

I mumbled as I tried to control the deep need to hurl all over the living quarters.
Owyn turned to me, a wet rag in hand.

"You passed out right after you dealt the final blow to the Champ... Err, former Champion." He chuckled as he handed me the rag.

Pressing it to my temple, and I nodded. "I remember..." Shaking my head, I continued, "I had a vision."

"A vision?"

I shook my head trying to remember the voice that I had heard and the image that had popped into my head before I had killed the Champion.

"It was a man's voice. I remember him saying 'Talisa' like he was calling to me."

He looked at me with a  strange expression on his face. I am sure he must have been thinking that I had hit my head harder than he had thought. I didn't want Owyn to know that I had amnesia and if this were my name, that I hadn't heard it or known it prior to this instant.

"It doesn't matter." Smiling up at him, handing him the rag. "I am sure it was just the adrenaline getting to me."

I stumbled a bit as I urged myself to a standing position. I leaned against the wall to ease the throbbing in my head and the spinning of the room.

"Well, kid, you're the Champion now. How does it feel to have won?" He was smiling at me, hands outstretched in case I fell over.

"I didn't think it would hurt this much." I joked.

He chuckled and told me he would leave me alone to gain my bearings back. I thanked him as he turned to walk away, his reply was to wave his hand above his head as he turned the corner to his "office."

    I stood alone for a minute, looking around the Blue Team's quarters knowing that it would be the last time I would be here. Sadness overtook me for a minute as I remembered the acceptance I had earned there, these people were proud to be part of my team, though I was unsure if they would miss me once I was gone.
 
    I walked out of the quarters into the training room, walking past the other members training for their next fight. As I passed them a few stopped and congratulated me on my win and how they hoped to be as good as me some day. Yet another moment where I wondered where I had learned to fight the way that I had in The Arena. Shaking off the sinking feeling of not knowing, I turned into the offices to collect my earnings. Owyn was standing in his usual corner speaking with a combatant after a brutal fight he had just encountered. Owyn spotted me and shooed the combatant out of the way, telling him to get some rest and clean himself up.

"Ready for your coin?" He asked me as I stepped up to him.

I shook my head yes, saying, "I need to leave. My next destination is near Chorrol and I need as much light in the day as I can get." He nodded, understanding how adventures like these take up our lives.

He handed me a pouch jingling with coin and asked, "Is there anything that I can say to keep you here to keep fighting and being an inspiration?"

I took the pouch from him and stated "This is something that destiny has decided I must do. There are things happening in this world that I have to find a way to stop."

He shook his head again and told me that if I must, then he wouldn't keep me any longer. Before I left, Owyn told me about how the last step in The Arena is to become the Grand Champion and that he thought that if anyone could beat the Orc that it would be me. I thanked him again, turned and walked up the steps that had taken me down into a world I thought I might not be able to become part of.

Before I left for Weynon Priory I stopped by a couple shops to get the best armor, and weapons I could buy. I also grabbed a map of Cyrodil and marked Weynon Priory on it to help aid me in this adventure...

Rain started falling from the sky like teardrops as I ventured across the Imperial City's iconic bridge. I knew that this journey would be challenging, though then I did not understand how true that would be, but I hoped that during any part of it that I might find out who I was and where I came from. The voice saying my name came back to me.

That is where I would begin once I had a chance to investigate. That is where my beginning would be, the new beginning....

To be continued......

The Arena

    

     The water slushed beneath my feet as I walked across the Imperial City to enter myself into the Arena as their newest combatant. The rain eased to a sprinkle as I pulled the gates to the area of the arena where freaks go to watch two people murder each other. Just beyond the gates sat a chest, unguarded, on top of a table. It would be a shame to leave that coin all by itself to go to some murdering jerk, I thought as I looked around for lurking eyes. After I was satisfied that no one was watching or was even close enough to see what I was doing, I kneeled down, pulled out my lock picks, and worked the lock loose. Inside the abandoned chest was 500 coin. That would help with buying some arrows and a new bow. I also needed to get a small dagger just in case someone decided they wanted to find out what my breath smelled like.

     After my bit of thievery I turned toward the entrance to the pit: the place I could be calling my last possible sanctuary. I squared my shoulders, pushed the door open, and walked down the steps into a dark, dank room. There were two men, one orc, one elf training as I entered the first room. To my left there was a room with two doors with a wall spaced between them. I took my chances and went into the second door. Inside that room I found a nord woman training on her hand to hand with a bag that hung from the ceiling. There was also a man, a redguard who had seen better days, standing off to the side. He had a gruff look about him that almost made me second guess my decision to become a combatant. Regardless of how I felt, I knew I had to push through this and get as much coin as I could muster up. I sauntered up to him, his glare that reached my eyes made my blood turn cold, and I took my stand three feet in front of him.

"I want to be a combatant" I softly said to him.

   All confidence had left my body from that glare that had been delivered into my soul. He stood there staring at me for what felt like forever, until he threw his head back and roared with laughter. I stood there trembling all over, just waiting for him to stop. I started to get angry. Who was this man to tell me that I could not do something that some puny human could? As he continued to laugh, I reached to my quiver of arrows, my fingers touching the ends of the arrows gingerly knowing how each one spoke to my blood. I counted to three before I pulled the arrow from its house, readied it, and pointed it directly at his left eye. My sudden movement and obvious threat stopped his laughing instantly.

"I think we can both agree that I deserve at least a bit of a chance. I may be small, but I am quick and highly skilled with a bow." I managed to muster up the confidence I had lost earlier.

    Gaining back his composure, he asked me to lower my weapon and calm down. He told me the rules, laid out the chances of survival, but made it clear that if I were to win that it would be a great feat. Once he was finished giving me the rundown, he handed me a heavy raiment to better protect myself. The armor was expensive, tight, and easily the nicest thing I would be wearing for some time. That is, if I could keep myself alive for long enough.

    After I was dressed and ready to go I went back to Owyn to see about my first fight. He told me my rank was a Pitdog, the lowest of ranks, and briefed me on my opponent: a female elf with a longsword. Owyn expressed his doubts in me surviving my first battle and my skills in a fight. I was determined to prove him wrong. I turned away from him, away from my fellow Blue Team, and headed up to the arena by way of the Red Room. The room that had been painted with blood of the Yellow Team from years of the Blues slaughtering them. My hands started to shake, my eyesight started to blur, and I thought I might throw up. I walked, numb, through the last door up the stairs to the gate, and listened to the spectator give his speech. Before I was ready, the gates lowered and the elf started to charge towards me; her weapon drawn. I was so overcome with what I was doing that I had trouble reacting in time before she sliced my arm with her sword. The searing pain brought me back to reality. She lunged towards me again but that time I saw her move, dodging and rolling out of the way. I quickly got out of her sword's range, pulling my bow from my back. I quickly aimed and let my arrow fly from my bow to her face where it pierced her skin, skull, and brain right between her eyes.

She fell quickly.

   The spectator and the crowd cheered for my win as I walked back to the Red Room, back to Owyn. I turned the corner to see Owyn talking to one of the other members of Blue Team. When he saw me he turned to me and told me that he would be more impressed with my kills once I looked like I was going to throw up on my opponent and I raised in rank. So I kept taking on the Yellows and spent my time between matches practicing with my bow, using a small dagger, and my footwork. The nausea never really went away as I climbed in rank, destroying the Yellow Team's mates, but I learned to control it.

   After going through over half of the Yellow Team, I decided I was good enough to become Champion, which meant that I would have to kill the Yellow Team's best. I told Owyn that becoming Champion was my goal and he seemed excited that I wanted to do that. He confided in me that if anyone on the Blue Team could defeat that nord, it would be me.

   I finished off the rest of the Yellows, now with ease after my weeks of training and battling. I was then ready to take on their Champion and claim that title for my own. I didn't know what I had done in the life I had forgotten, but I knew this would be the greatest thing I had thus far accomplished.
I went to the sleeping quarters for the night before my last battle. I would either come out victorious or I would no longer be part of this world.

   In the night, a dream came to me. In the dream I was walking through a forest tailing a person, a man. As I followed him through the forest, I noticed my dream-self was laughing, though I did not know why. The man never turned to where I could see his face. The dream faded as we came to a ledge, a river down below, and a waterfall at the top. A beautiful sight to behold with someone I obviously trusted. I awoke dazed and confused as to what the meaning was behind the dream. Pondering the vision, I fell back asleep.

   The next day I felt rested, ready, and calm despite what was soon going to be awaiting me in the Arena. I went to Owyn for what felt like the last time. His eyes were more red than usual and he cleared his throat continuously while filling me in on what was going on. He told me that it would be me and a pig against three members of the Yellow Team: a swordsman, an archer, and a spell-caster. It would be a challenge and if I survived, IF, then I would be known all over Cyrodil. I would be famous for becoming the Champion of the Arena.... The elf woman who was just imprisoned for a crime she did not remember committing.

   The moment came for me to head up to the Arena. As I walked through the Red Room, I thought back to the vision I had had the night before: following a young man through the forest and laughing. Perhaps that was a glimpse at the life I had before my crime, perhaps it was just my mind playing tricks on me. I met the pig up at the gate as the announcer gave his speech for me for the last time. It was longer than usual, talking up the Yellow Team's cleverness on gathering up three of them against me. I was not going to allow this to waver me. To calm my nerves, I counted the number of breaths before the gate lowered.

One... The flash of a smile crossed my mind.

Two... Curly, brown hair twined in my hands.

Three... Pained brown eyes as I walk away.

Four... The gates lowered, bringing me back to the arena.

I readied my bow, I took my stance...

Five... The gateway cleared.

   I let an arrow sing through the air. I hit my first target, the Champion, in her left shoulder. She staggered back as I ducked from an arrow that swiped past my right ear. The pig was going to work on the spell caster as I took on the swordsman and archer. I ducked again as the Champion took another swing at me. I had been too slow and took a hit to my left forearm. I unsheathed my dagger, ducking again, turned around, and stabbed the Champion in her right side. This kept her down long enough for me to finish off the archer and to see that the pig had been successful with the spell caster. All that was left was to finish off the Champion. I turned to her, she was still doubled over in pain, I looked into her eyes, triumph ringing in my ears, steadied an arrow on my bow.

   Before I let loose the arrow I heard a man's voice in my head, "Talisa, you have skill that I have never seen. Don't waste it... We will see each other again."

  The voice faded as soon as it had come. I shook my head, clearing it, as the Champion took a stance, turned to rush me, and fell from my arrow that hit her in her throat, blood gushing from her mouth and the hole the arrow left.

It was over...

The Beginning

     The smell of moist grass, and a river nearby, was the first smell that hit me as I pushed open the last gate that led from the sewers to my freedom. I took in deep breaths of the fresh air that spilled into my lungs. I took a few steps away from the gate and looked around to see where I was. There was a creek directly in front of me with mountains beyond it. To my left was forest that led to... somewhere. To my right was a small, hidden path that led to the towering walls of a large city. Something deep down inside my mind told me that the city is called The Imperial City, that it is the capital of Cyrodill. As I started along the path I hoped that my amnesia was only temporary and come back to me before I got too far on my new journey. What if I had a family and I had left them, abandoned them and had been sent to prison? Surely if that were the case I would feel it deep down inside of me. Shaking those depressing thoughts I quickened my pace.

     It was still raining as I entered The Imperial City. Raindrops slipped over my hood, the wind sending water streaming down my face. As I wiped them away trying to see beyond two feet in front of me. Of course it would be a downpour once I freed myself from the never ending sewers, I thought.
   
     After searching the markets for a good five minutes I came across a market that seemed to have what I was looking for. Basically just a simple shop to sell all of my stuff to make a little bit of coin. I had to eat somehow.

     I entered the Three Brothers Trade Goods and walked up to the first brother, Tertullian Verus. He mentioned how I must be new to the area, and made a comment about another merchant causing problems. Was he trying to give me hints to inquire about this other merchant? After selling my extra goods, getting plenty of coin to last me a few days, I started to walk out the door when Tertullian said that things would be better if someone would take care of the troublesome merchant. I paused, my hand resting on the door handle. I could leave, it would be easy to just leave, or I could make a bit more coin by helping them. They seemed nice, I thought. Turning around I looked at Tertullian and asked him to give me a little more information on this other merchant. He told me that Jensine would have more information and would be willing to pay some good gold if I were to solve the problem. I told him I would go speak with her. He seemed elated that I agreed to help.

     I found Jensine's shop a few doors down from Three Brothers Trade. I entered timidly, unaware of what I was digging myself into. Jensine turned around as I walked through the door. Jensine, the Nord, told me that her prices were not going to be changing any time soon, even if others thought they could get away with lower prices. She muttered something about stolen goods, and about the city being overrun by thieves. Her voice had a pitch to it that surprised me considering her race.
I did not mention the mutterings, but asked her about the troublesome merchant.
"You must be talking about Thoronir, the little creep," she stated bitterly.
I told her that if he was the one Tertullian discussed with me, that it must be him.
"Damn right it is. The little woodelf..." Pausing, she did not finish that statement when she realized that a woodelf is exactly what I am. I acted like I did not hear her soon-to-be racist statement, and I asked her where I could find this Thoronir. She told me to go a little bit further up in the square, the name of his shop is Copious Coinpurse. She said the last bit with a sneer on her face, these people clearly did not like this man. As I was leaving I told her that I would not be back until I had substantial evidence proving Thoronir's guilt.

    I left Jensine's shop and looked around. Before continuing my Thoronir mission, I needed to find a shop with a better bow that I could purchase. I quickly found A Fighting Chance where I purchased a steel sword and a steel bow, with an extra quiver of arrows to add to my collection. I did not get anything too expensive as I did not have much coin to spare.

     Carrying my new shiny purchases I walked around the corner of the square to find Thoronir's shop, Copious Coinpurse. Seemed to suit his supposed illicit items. I entered the shop with an open mind. I found racks, shelves, and barrels overflowing with merchandise. There was so much stuff that I almost did not see Thoronir standing behind his counter near the back of the store. He greeted me cheerfully, happy to see yet another customer. 
"Welcome, welcome!" he said to me cheerfully with a toothy grin on his face.
I greeted him back with much less enthusiasm. He asked me what I was looking for and ensured me that he would have it. I told him that I was investigating the allegations against him regarding him as thief. He blanched and said, "Stolen goods? They think my goods are stolen? How dare they!"
Thoronir did not react the way that a thief would act. Instead he was clearly offended that he was being accused in such a way. I apologized and told him it must have been a mistake.
I left the shop quickly, leaving Thoronir to get over his anger.

    The accusations must have come from somewhere for the other shop keepers to believe it so strongly. With this in mind I waited near his shop to keep an eye on when he left it.
Being small had its advantages when I needed to go about unnoticed.

   A memory came to me in a flash of me following townspeople around the town I grew up in. I would hide in the shadows, and go whole days completely hidden out of anyone's sight.
Shaking the memory from my mind, I set off shadowing Thoronir. I stalked him through the marketplace, and then to a well hidden garden between two buildings. I watched him from behind a stone wall that separated the garden from everything else.

     Soon after we arrived at the garden a tall man with blonde hair showed up. Him and Thoronir greeted each other; this man must be his source for all of his merchandise. They spoke softly, but I could pick up bits and pieces of what they were saying. I heard mention of a "schedule" and "items." So maybe Thoronir did acquire stolen merchandise. I knew I had to follow the blonde haired guy in order to figure out what was really going on.

     Once they were done conversing, each of them went a different direction to exit the garden. I followed the tall blonde out of the garden area. I was close enough at one point, as we were entering the middle part of the city, to pickpocket him. I was curious to see what such a mysterious character would have on him. Interestingly enough he had a magic short sword tucked away where the guards could not see it and inquire upon it.

     I followed him until we came to what appeared to be his home. I watched from afar as he entered and searched around for a good spot to camp out, hidden, while I waited for him to leave. I knew I needed to search his house to get a better idea of whom I was dealing with.
After waiting for hours he finally exited his home, and walked off. I was half tempted to chase after him and confront him, but my gut told me that I would learn all that I needed to learn from inside his home. After he was out of my sight I ventured over to the door, pondering how I would get inside. When I tried the handle it moved and turned underneath my hand. Why would he leave his home unlocked? I wondered. Unless he knew I was following him and wanted me to find out what was inside. I knew it was a trap from that moment, but I had to see what was inside. I pushed open the door and went inside. The house was small with a table in the corner, a few chairs along the wall, stairs leading to the bedroom upstairs, and a door leading down into the basement. I knew that if I were someone with something to hide than it would be hidden where the light does not touch it. I timidly went over to the basement door, this one was also unlocked. I stepped down the stairs eager to see what was being hidden down there. I turned the corner to see pools of blood on the floor, bone meal, shovels, and a manifest. The man's name was Argamir. The manifest had the names of the recently deceased inscribed on the pages, where they were buried, and what they had been buried for. My heart racing as I realized that those items must have been what was lining Thoronir's shop, and he had no idea. I looked to find the last detailed name in the manifest. I was going to stop Argamir from stealing any more items from the dead. I hastily left the basement and headed toward the next burial site, hoping to catch Argamir in the act.

     I went to the cemetery and found an unsealed tomb. At that moment I was happy that I had pickpocketed Argamir earlier, at least he would be somewhat unarmed. I pushed open the tomb door and slipped inside. I got far enough down the tomb to hear a commotion of digging and voices. I came across Argamir and a man he must have recruited to help him dig up the filthy merchandise. Argamir must have heard me come inside because he started talking, addressing me with what he was saying. He told me he knew that I would find out what he was doing sooner or later. That is why he left those clues in his basement and all the doors unlocked. He told me that this next grave was currently empty, but that it wouldn't be for long.

    My heart raced. Adrenaline began to pump through my veins and I became more aware of my surroundings than I ever thought I could be. I reached over my shoulder to grab an arrow from the quiver on my back. As Argamir and his friend ran towards me, I lined up my bow and arrow to shoot his friend in the heart. Once I had the shot lined up I let the arrow fly. It spun through the air and with a slight squish and a shot of blood from his chest, it found its home. The man fell to floor with a stunned look on his face.

My first kill.

   Argamir paid no attention to what had happened to his friend, but continued to rush me. I had enough time to pull out the dagger I had stolen from him before he reached me. He lunged towards me with a short sword in his hand, taking swipes at my face. I ducked his first attack, but was not fast enough when he came back around. His blade slashed through my thin armor and connected with my skin. The pain shot through my arm and felt like it had seared itself throughout my entire body. I let a scream rush out of my mouth as I tried to get away from him. I knew he had far more strength than me. I had to get a grip and use my small stature to gain the upper hand on him. With blood pouring down my arm I waited for him to come at me again. When he did I stood my ground. I crouched low enough to bring my blade around me and thrust it into his gut as he loomed above me attempting to stab me from up high. Once the blade made purchase with his organs, blood came rushing out of the wound, and Argamir stopped in his tracks. I took a step back to watch as he hunched over the blade, looked at me with shocked eyes, and fell to the floor. Once I knew he was dead I let my body topple to the floor, my head resting on the cool ground. The walls and floor were spinning out of control as I rolled over and emptied the contents of my stomach. I had never seen so much blood, nor killed a man before. Was that who I am? I killer? A fighter?

    I lay on the cool ground until my body felt like it had recovered from the shock of the fight. I knew I needed to get my wound checked and cleaned, but I had to speak with Thoronir about what had happened, and let Jensine know that Thoronir was innocent.

   I went to Thoronir first and showed him the manifest. He was shocked and devastated. He had no idea that Argamir was doing that and he told me he would dispose of the items at once.

   My next stop was at Jensine's. I had picked up a shovel with the grave's dirt on it to show her as some sort of proof of Argamirs sick game. I told her about the manifest and how Thoronir was not behind the diggings. She believed me and was happy to hear about Thoronir being innocent. She thanked, and paid me.

    I left Jensine's with a full heart. I knew I had done something worthwhile. My head felt dizzy and light from the adrenaline finally easing itself out of my blood stream, or lack of blood may have been making me feel that way. I wondered around until I found a place to rent a room for the night and get myself cleaned up. As I was laying in bed that night I felt a sense of connection to the mystery and the fight that had occurred to me that day. I knew I was good with weapons and fighting. Maybe it was something I had done before the prison. Whatever it may have been I knew I needed more coin for my main priority; getting to Weynon Priory. I decided that the following morning I would head over to The Arena and become a contestant. I drifted off as I thought about what it may feel like to become the Grand Champion.



 

The Sewers

Stepping between my cell and the cave that led to some unknown ruins felt like the first step towards a journey that I was unsure I signed up for. I followed the guards and the Emperor Uriel at a distance, because I did not want to get in the way or a be a burden, forcing them to change their minds about allowing me to live. The damp cavern was a short distance between the prison and the ruins that it connected to. They turned down some stairs into another room before I even got to the steps. As I descended the stairs I heard swords drawn and a commotion in the other room. I quickened my pace only to reach them as one of the guards bent over the leader's body.

She was dead.

There were three other bodies lying on the stone floor, dressed in red hoods and red robes; the Mythic Dawn. They must have been the assassins the Emperor spoke of earlier, the ones that had murdered his sons and were now after him. The older male guard (I believe his was name Glenroy) told the Emperor the grave news of her death. Despite that, they needed to keep going if they wanted to keep him safe. I walked over to them, but Glenroy told me that I could not follow, that I needed to stay behind them. I was disappointed but mostly afraid.

I had never been alone in a dark place before. My nervousness started to arise deep within the pit of my gut. My hands became clammy and started to shake. I had to get a grip as this was a life or die situation and I was not about to die. Despite my fear, I had a weapon. A rusty sword I had picked up from one of the corpses. I had no armor (only my prisoner rags). Nothing to protect myself against anything that wished for my death. I started pacing the musty, dark room I was in. The door they took earlier had locked behind them. From what I could gather that was the only way out. That was my thought until the wall began to crumble. I readied my sword as two rats, the size of small children, came rushing towards me. I wacked at the rats as hard as I could until they lay at my feet, a pool of blood oozing from beneath them. I stepped over their dead bodies and into the room beyond the hole in the wall. Inside was another section of the cave I had been in earlier. The cave apparently surrounded the ruins. I could probably follow the cave and find a way out that way. As I went through the room I came over a skeleton. I pried a bow and a quiver of arrows from the poor soul's grasp, along with some armor to better protect myself with. Nearby I found a key on a goblin's body that luckily opened the door that lead out of that room.

Along my way through more rooms, I found rats and loot. I knew once I got out that I would need to have coin in order to get myself anywhere from here. Which meant that I needed to look for as much as I could, and carry as much more. I fumbled through most of the cave before coming to more frequented area. Frequented by goblins that is. Up to that point there had been only rats. Rats I could fight, goblins however were another story. As I entered the goblin area, I saw one just beyond a stalactite. His back was facing me, which gave me the opportunity to sneak around behind him. I followed behind him until he came to a stop by his camp, in which he had built a fire and was roasting a rat on a spit above it. I positioned myself, readied my bow, took an arrow out of the quiver, aimed, and let my shot loose. The arrow landed in the back of his skull making a satisfying "crunch". His body slumped to the ground as his life left him. I searched his camp area for more loot, coming across some apples and bread. My stomach growled. When was the last time I had eaten?

I slew several more goblins along the way before I reached yet another hole in the wall, this one leading back into the ruins I had been in before. As I climbed over the broken ledge that was once solid stone I heard voices. I crept along the wall as low as I could, hiding from whomever was around the corner. When I peeked around the corner and looked down, I saw the Emperor as well as his two guards. They walked briskly through the room, stopping abruptly near the exit as they heard commotion from a walkway above them. Two more cultists came appeared from a hidden door from up above and attacked the group. I know I could have waited for them to kill the assassins off quickly without getting involved, but I felt that I owed the Emperor for sparing my life. As the two guards used their bodies to shield any attacks against the Emperor, I jumped down from my position and let my arrows fly into the assassins bodies. I did not stop until their corpses fell, lifeless, to the ground. I lowered my bow as the two guards came at me, swords drawn. "Stand down Baurus and Glenroy. We need her" he commanded. His voice sounded full of wisdom; a voice that you cannot help but listen to. After they had lowered their swords and gone to check the perimeter, he approached me. He told me that he believed in the Gods and that they guided him through his life. It was through the stars that he learned of the hour of his death. He asked me what I believe, but I didn't know (and still don't, for that matter). Do they guide us and shape our lives? Have they shaped mine? He did not seemed pleased with my little knowledge in the Gods, but he continued on to tell me that my path was important. He told me, gravely, that I could follow them a little while longer, until the end.

Glenroy took point, the Emperor behind him. Baurus turned to me and told me to make myself useful as he handed me a torch. "Thanks but I have my bow," I said defensively as I dropped the torch. We went through several more hallways and empty rooms with broken stone all along the paths. Twice we ran into the Mythic Dawn, but they proved to be no challenge for two soldiers and my bow.

Through several winding corridors and hollow rooms, we finally came to the last room that hosted the end to the ceaseless ruins. Glenroy went ahead to scout out the area, to make sure we would not get ambushed. After searching ahead he waved us on. We reached the gate that was to be our way out only to find it locked and barred from the other side. Despite our efforts we had fallen prey to yet another ambush. Panic began to creep up my spine as we rushed to another door and room that we hoped would lead us away from the inevitable battle. Unfortunately that room was a dead end, we were trapped like rodents. Glenroy told me to stay with the Emperor and protect him with my life. Leaving me, the prisoner, with the Emperor as they rushed off to fight the assassins. A moment passed before the Emperor approached me for the last time. He told me that the Amulet of Kings could not fall into the wrong hands, and that I needed to find someone by the name of Jauffre, that he would know where to find his last heir. I trembled from the very tips of my hair to the last cells in my toes as he handed me the Amulet. His last words to me were for me to "close shut the jaws of Oblivion."

His life ended shortly after uttering those words to me as an assassin came behind him through a concealed door and cut him down. I froze as I watched the Emperor collapse so close to me. His hour had come. The assassin approached me, dagger drawn. I unfroze soon enough to drive three arrows into his heart before he could even attempt a swing at me. I stepped over the body of the murderer and fell to my knees beside the Emperor. I took his hand just as Baurus came into the room. He was sweating profusely and was covered in blood. He stopped abruptly when he saw the Emperor's body. I could see the pain the sight of the dead Emperor caused him. Though we had only known each other for a short time I felt overwhelmed with empathy for him. I wanted to bring the Emperor back if only to never see the pain in Baurus' eyes. Overcoming his shock, Baurus searched the Emperor's body. He asked me what had happened to the Amulet. I told him what the Emperor had told me and instructed me to do. Baurus told me that if anyone knew about another heir that it would be Jauffre. Baurus told me how to find Jauffre, gave me a key, and told me to escape through the hidden door. He stayed behind to watch over the Emperor's body.

As much as I wanted to stay and make sure Baurus went unharmed, considering the fate of Glenroy. I knew I now had a mission. I ran through the sewers as fast as my legs could take me. I snuck past several goblins and rats, but finally I saw the light at the end. Splashing through the sewer I opened the gate to my freedom, the gate that led me out into the world that I knew I had to save. My journey had just begun.

Waking Up

     Do you ever get the feeling, right as you wake up, that you do not know where you are or how you got there? That was the feeling that washed over me as I became aware of my surroundings. They were grim, dirty, and musky. A cell. I lay on a cell floor, dirt coating my worn prisoner garments. Laying there I tried to remember how I got there, but nothing came to me. My memories were a black, looming cloud that was laughing at me as I tried to remember what had happened. Frustrated I clambered to my feet. A window lurked at the back of my cell.

    Turning towards the cell doors I saw chains hanging from the ceiling, they were dirty and unused. I walked, my hands outstretched, to the locked door that kept me from running. As I approached it I heard movement in the cell across from me, another prisoner. I reached the door as he began speaking to me. He spoke of my impending doom, as we heard voices approaching the cells he told me they were coming for me, and that I was going to die.

    I stood, watching the stairs, waiting to see who the people were coming our way. My hands began to tremble, and I broke out into a cold sweat. I didn't want to die in this cell, I wasn't ready. The voices got closer, and I could make out a bit of what they were saying. Something about a 'sire' and about getting this 'sire' to safety. They came around the bend of the stairs, three guards, and someone dressed in expensive clothing. Someone of great importance.

    The female guard turned towards my cell and took a step back in surprise when she saw me, it could not be that I looked intimidating, standing there helplessly in rags. She questioned one of the other guards as to why I was in that cell, mentioning that it was supposed to be off limits. The older of the two men answered that it must have been a mix up with the watch, he seemed unable to give her a clear answer. Frustrated she told them to just get it open. The male who spoke earlier motioned to me and told me to go over by the window. Not wanting to die I complied. I shuffled towards the back of my cell by the window as they opened the cell door. The female came through followed by the older male guard, then the man dressed in royalty's clothing, and the youngest male came through last, closing my cell door behind him. The older male gestured at me and told me to stay put and to not make any sudden moves. He had a long sword sheathed by his side. He would think me crazy to make a move against three well armed, clearly, trained soldiers.

    Suddenly the man dressed royally looked at me; he let out a small gasp. Confused, I met his gaze. He told me to come closer, so I took a hesitant step towards him.

"I have seen your face," he said to me.

 How could he have seen my face if I had never seen his before? As I went to reply, he stated that he had seen me in his dreams and that the stars had spoken to him. He told me that this must be the day, he asked the Gods to be with him, and he warned me that my path would be filled with blood and death.

If I thought I had been frightened beforehand, I was mistaken. The fear overwhelmed me. What had he seen?

"Who are you?" I asked, unsure if I really wanted to know the answer.

"I am your Emperor Uriel Septim," he stated with confidence.

   The female guard interrupted our encounter and told him that if they wanted to leave that they needed to go now. Turning back towards me, Uriel told me to be safe. He then followed the female guard through a secret tunnel that had materialized after she had hit a hidden button to open it. The others followed faithfully.

   I let them go ahead of me for a time before heading after them. I wanted to know what life he had seen me leading. What was he talking about? Why was I there? Following them was the only way I would get any answers to my questions. I fearfully took the first steps toward a journey that I never dreamed I would live.