Fedris noticed the refugees in the caravan, it all came to him now.
"I understand, these are refugees which you are escorting to safety, I don't know where though. Please don't doubt my word, I have no means to be hostile towards you. I can do a good job, trust me. But the real reason I'm here is that I met some people who called themselves the Guardians. They slew a band of Legions that tried to take a Breton. They offered me a position in their army. They then left quickly and told me to take the road myself. To test me. I speak the truth and nothing but it Dark elf."
I don't understand why he doesn't trust me.

The Dark Elf laughed to himself and turned around, showing a gentle smile. “My friend, since when did I say I doubted you? And you are not being hostile towards me… it’s just that we are all a little bit…tense around here” He said while pointing with his arm to the caravan. “Well, now that we- “and suddenly it struck like lightning. Did he just say Guardians?

Without changing his facial expression, he moved to him in an amiable stance and padded his right shoulder. “And now that we have introduced ourselves, why won’t you tell me what these Guardians were told you?” he sounded friendly and not at all aggressive.

This is just getting more and more twisted…

“Gaulras, join us, will you?”
“Yes, captain.”

Fedris quickly told the story.
"Well after I showed myself to the Guardians they asked me some questions, I told them how I escaped the Legion city. They were impressed and wanted me to join their band. They told me to go to Hammerfall and wait for further instructions. Although the strange thing is that they told me I would meet another person who is to join them also. I'm not sure, but I think I've found that person. Am I right?"

Impressive deductive ability! He thought to himself.

"Perhaps, perhaps" He muttered more to himself than to Fedris. He got his attention again to him "Tell me, where exactly told they that you should head to? Sentinel?"

Getting to the point might be the right approach

"Captain, I don't like this" Gaulras spoke in a dark voice that clearly showed mistrust.

"Hang on a second; let's give this boy a chance." Apoc's tone reflected respect, he always listened to his subordinates.

"So?" He smiled slightly.

Fedris was getting more uneasy by the minute he said, "I don't know, I'm supposed to go to Hammerfall, that's what they said." He took a step back, "I'm going now, you must be the wrong person. Sorry..."
He walked into the forest and heard the elf shout again.

OOC: I don't know where the Guardians are. Are they really in Setinel? You can stop me if you want in the forest . And forgive the short post, it's hard when post is answering a question.

“Wait, wait!” Apoc shouted. “Gaulras, take care of everything, I’ll be back in a minute, with him, hopefully. Look after the sick ones!”

Damn this kid! He’s a tough one to get…

He ran to him and waved a piece of paper. As he was about to reach him, he told: “Here, read this.”

The letter seemed pretty short:

To the warmage Apoc Dres,

If you read this letter, it means you are trustworthy enough to form part of the Guardians, a group of which you surely have heard of. You will encounter someone that will offer to join your cause. You must join him to get to closer to our meeting point. There will be a handsome reward.

X

Fedris read the letter, it all made sense.
"Well I'll be, you are the man I'm supposed to meet! So can we go together then? I just don't see why your really uptight about this, that's all. Well I'm supposed to go to Hammerfall and someone will tell me where the actual base is. So are you going with me?"
Fedris awaited the answer not quite sure what to expect. He didn't want to get on the wrong side of Apoc, he wanted Apoc to trust him. Fedris didn't like all the questions.
I think he may go with me though...

OOC: Should we meet more of the Rpers in Hammerfall or along the way? I dunno... ideas...

Then, they heard a familiar sound, one that could either save their live or end it. One that would better the clan or batter it. And one, they were not fond of at all yesterday evening. A feint thackawaaaaah... sounded through the air, then the sound of arrow hitting wood behind him. Djar turned to see his comrade with an arrow in his neck pinned to the tree, with a jet of blood bursting from the man's neck.

Dhar quickly turned around to hear the crumbling of branches and an outline of a Bosmer falling from a tree. The Bosmer must've been 30 feet up and fell out of the tree. By then other clanmates had turned to the commotion, and the body of the fallen man was taken away. In the commotion, Dhar turned over the body and read a letter in the pouch of the Bosmer. It read-


These peoples are threatening the mer with destruction and death. These men must die, I will check the names off when they are dead-

*Dione
*Euiden
*Al-Ghazi

Obviously, the assassin had thought he had Dhar. He had fell out of the tree, and thought he nailed the right man. So people were trying to kill Dhar..

OOC-sry really bad, in a hurry

Ceglai, 7:10 am, On the road near the Imperial City

Slowly, Ceglai's sight returned, and he stopped scrambling. Some of the merchant caravan had noticed his faceplant, but seemed to be too pre-occupied with their own travel preperations to pay any attention to him. Two of the guards gave him warning glances, to which he responded with a look and gesture that said 'Do I look like a threat to you?'

And so, he took his time gathering his spilled alchemy supplies at a calmer pace, taking time to track down every last one and reinsert each into the proper compartment of his shoulderbag. Then, he picked up his bow and checked it over for damage taken in the fall. As it turned out, he had taken more damage than it had.

He was aching and twinging in a couple places, which his medic's mind swiftly dismissed as bruising. Nothing to be worried about; not even worth wasting a potion over.

He suspected he would be in a much worse state if those fighters he'd just escaped managed to catch up to him. If he knew what was good for him, he'd get off the main thoroughfares and lay low for a while.

But what was good for him wasn't what crossed his mind now. Instead, his thoughts strayed back to the comrades he'd left behind, and he was suddenly overcome by guilt. He had to go back; these were mer he'd fought beside dozens of times--in some cases for nearly ten years. He needed to go back and see if any of them could be saved.

He could follow the road. He couldn't walk on it, because he might run into those fighters. But he could run alongside it, through the ruined forest. He was a Bosmer; his people had been trekking through the wilderness since they'd first split from the Aldmer. And he himself was no stranger to hiking through the woodlands. He knew how to find cover if he needed to.

He had just re-strapped the bow to his back when there was a crash down the road. Ceglai turned in time to see the door of a tavern crash outward under the weight of a compact Imperial bandit. A moment later, a tall Dunmer in bonemold armor strode out and smoothly pounded the man on the forehead, and the Imperial slumped to the ground.

Despite himself--despite the pain, guilt, and fear gnawing at him--Ceglai smirked. "A mer after my own heart."

Cautiously, he started toward the Dunmer, and called, "The round-ear got anything good in his pockets?"

Apoc sighed in a relief and gave Fedris a sign to follow him.

“Let’s go together back to the caravan. We can discuss things later on. I need a drink now. Care for a bottle of Wine?”
He looked at him amiably and thought to himself: We better get moving, or else we’ll surely be easy prey.

“Let’s get going, now. YOU!” he shouted to a nearby mercenary “Tell Gaulras to come immediately! We need to move on! Spread the word that we are camping at the third our after night!”

He looked at the horizon and wished he could just slow down the sun a bit more. We only have a few hours from now.

“Listen, Fedris” Apoc said in a very serious voice. “I need your help. Scout for a good hideout where we can camp. Remember that there are sick people amongst us. Ah, and one more thing. NO ONE will be left behind, unless I or Gaulras think its unavoidable, understood?”

That should keep him busy, IF he agrees...

OOC: Right, we should get more Rps along the way.... perhaps if the group takes a detour through Cyrodiil (becuz of more protection) it could bumb into ceglai and the others?

Fedris agreed, "Sure, whatever I can do to help. I'll try be as quick as possible!" He ran off into the darkness of the forest. The trees enveloped around him, but it didn't scare Fedris, he was used to this. It was easier to travel in the terrain he excelled in. There was a path beside the forest which Fedris kept an eye on, he would spot any bandits or soldiers in the woods unseen.

The road to Hammerfall was pretty safe, nobody was in sight.
Later on Hammerfall was in sight, it was getting dark too. I've gone far enough. He ran back and took note that a stream with clean water was the best place to make camp. On the way back however two Legions were on the road speaking.
One of them said, "I know Mason! We have to get to Hammerfall fast! Nobody knows we've found a leak in the Guardians base. I was there you know when they told that Wood Elf. God dammit they were the ones that stabbed me! We have to hurry, no doubt that elf is already there!"

The Legion who spoke was one of the men who were with the Legion soldiers when the Guardians attacked. I have to kill him. If I don't they could find the Guardians!
Fedris took his bow out and stayed low in the grass. A rock was nearby so he threw it at the other side of the road. The soldiers were alerted, they withdrew their weapons.
"Show yourself! That is an order, I am a high ranking-"Dead man. An arrow blasted right through the soldier called Mason's head.
The other soldier who was supposed to be dead before screamed.
"Coward! Show your face!"
And Fedris did, he walked out of the forest holding his steel dagger. The Imperial recognised him, he laughed, "I remember you! You were there when they Guardians stabbed me. So I guess your going to join them. Well I'm sorry but there is only one space left and I'm afraid there's going to have to be a tryout." The Imperial held his sword out, "So, you feeling lucky?"
Yes...

They circled each other and stepped sideways carefully. The Legion struck first, it was a clumsy blow which Fedris could have clipped his nails whilst waiting. He dodged it quickly. The soldier struck again towards the stomach, again Fedris dodged it sideways and then with a quick wisp of Fedris's hands he slashed the soldiers throat. The Imperial looked in disbelief that a Bosmer had bet him. He fell to the ground and died.
Well now it's safe.... He hid the bodies in the forest and then ran full pelt back to Apoc.

It was almost morning when he reached camp. Fedris ran over to Apoc and panted, "I found a good hideout in the woods with a stream beside it. I cleared the road of two Legions. I'll tell you on the way."

Name: Elissandre
Race: breton
Gender: female
Age: 24
Birthsign: the Lady
Class: healer of sort
Skills: Illusion, restoration, short blades, alteration, alchemy
minors : light armor, mysticism, enchanting, unarmored, survival
Armor : light chain shirt

Physical description
Hair: red
Eye color: green
Height: 5'5"

Current clothing : undyed linen skirt and tunic, traveller's robe (a loose robe of sturdy brown fabric), a pair of good leather boots
Current weapon : dwemer vampire blade ? a dwemer short sword enchanted to drain health and fatigue.
Other possessions :
Ring of Cadra ? a gold-and ruby signet ring, enchanted to permanently restore health and fatigue. Not enough to change the outcome of a fight, but it makes for quick recovery and prolonged efforts. The ring had been disguised to look like a cheap copper signet.
Several restoration potion (fatigue, health and magicka, 3 of each), one fire shield potion
Some basic alchemy equipment (journeyman mortar and pestle)
two petty, lesser and common soulgems (empty)

Bio: Elissandre is the daughter of the now-defunct baron of Cadra, a minor breton domain which had managed to escape the worst of the war, thanks to an open-minded treatment of the local elves. And was ironically burned to the ground in the war's final year, after it should have been safe. The attackers were presenting themselves as a patriot army come to teach an elf-loving noble his duty. And were in fact a mercenary troop whose leader wanted to secure his position after the war's end.

Elissandre managed to escape and lost herself in the mass of refugees drifting to Sentinel. There she ended in the Nine Divines cult, using what magic she had learned and improving upon it to become a healer. Lacking any patronage she was sent to one of the still-running loyalty camps (if the elves were defeated, their loyalty remained problematic). She did her absolute best to make a good job, thinking it her duty to show the inmates that at least some humans were decent enough to deserve their loyalty.

That attitude soon clashed with the camp's brutal and thoroughly corrupt administrations when she refused to let medical supplies intended for the inmates be sold out. And worse tried to pass the information through the Nine Divine's cult. Her not-so-clean superior passed the new to the camp's boss who decided to act.

Several of the camp's guard attacked her one night to silence her. She barely made it out and understood she was no longer welcome. She left the camp and vanished into the countryside, turning to the live of a wandering healer.

Personality : Despite her troubles Elissandre remains a friendly and caring soul, willing to help whoever needs her skills. But she's no longer the somewhat rosy-eyed and trusting soul she had been, having seen more than enough of man and mer's worst to retain faith in any sort of general innate goodness. She despises looters and bandits in general, but reserves genuine hatred for those wretched locusts who destroy settlement after settlement rather than merely stealing what they need. And doesn't care about whatever race they or their victims belongs to.

Current location :
Somewhere near the Imperial City

Dhar, 11:45 PM

Dhar was woken by the sound of a bird's cry through the wilderness. He decided he would not go back to sleep, he would stay awake. It is hard to sleep when you have assassins hunting you down. Then, Dhar decided he would get out of the tent and go to the warmth of the fire. When he got outside, to his suprise, Belanus was awake, walking toward Dhar's tent.

"Hello, sir!" Dhar saluted to Belanus.

"Al-Ghazi, I need you to do me a little favor."

"Anything, sir!" Dhar had a look of passion and of spirit in his orange eyes.

Belanus turned his head around, then spoke again, "We don't really know what's east of here. We need you and your battalion to go and search out the hills soon. We need to know what's ahead of us, what kind of loot and such. Think you can handle it?"

"Yes, Sir!" Dhar replied.

"Then give your men a half hour to suit up and get going. I want to see you out of here before 12:30. Good luck and have fun."

Dhar, 12:40 AM

Dhar shifted his eyes back and forth through the forest, carrying a torch in one hand and the map of County Sentinel in the other. They had traveled quite a bit, and hadn't gotten any resistence yet. Then, Dhar noticed a small entrance to a cave.

"Halt!" Dhar called to his men and held up his hand. His men stopped. Then, Dhar lead the men to the door of the cave. They couldn't go in the cave with their horses, so he had 4 men dismount and come with him into the cave. He had the rest of the men stay outside of the cave.

In the dim light from the torches, the 5 soldiers advanced through the cave. The encountered 2 unarmored male Dumners guarding a small wooden door, who drew their swords and were mercilessly slaughtered. They were obviously guarding something inside the door. When the men opened the door, they noticed about seven men, 4 children, and 2 women. They, were humans, not mer. Those Dumner must had been guarding these civilians as prisoners. Several of the prisoners looked up at the men with weary eyes. Dhar walked up to a man sitting on a log.

"Who.. Who are you?" The man questioned Dhar.
"Dhar Al-Ghazi, we can release you, you can be free."
The man slowly shook his head, "No. No...."
"What?"

Suddenly, Dhar caught a glimpse of a tiny brown slit zooming through the air. Dhar felt the warm, sticky, blood in his face to see the man fall to the ground with an arrow in his back.

Six unarmored bosmer bowman emerged from the darkness, ready to fight, ready to kill.

"Chaaaaarge!" Dhar screamed, and his men rushed in. To Dhar's suprise, the prisoners joined in the fight against the bowmen. Dhar slashed one bowmen, and saw one of his men fall from an arrow in his abdomen. The man fell on his knees, then his face hit the ground. Dhar wizzed around to see one of the Bosmers readying an arrow to shoot at Dhar. He pulled the string, and Dhar started running towards him. But then suddenly, a chair hit the bosmer in the right side of the head, knocking him into a fire pit. The Bosmer burned to death, his armes flailing.

In the end, all six Bosmer were dead, 1 of Dhar's men died, and only 2 men, 2 childeren, and a women survived. The chair that hit the bosmer that saved Dhar's life was thrown by a child. The prisoners said that that was all of the bandits and they said the exit out of the cave was in the right corner of the "room" they had been fighting in. Dhar had the prisoners follow them, and lead them out of the cave to free them and let them go to Sentinel. When Dhar climbed up to push the trap door open, it wouldn't budge.

Apoc, 5:00 AM

The warmage was giving orders to his second in command and his men, when, suddenly, he heard a noise behind him. He turned around and saw Fedris, who told him he found a good hideout and that he killed two legions. Apoc knew he was talking about legionnaires.

He smiled and answered in a voice which appeared to be a bit sarcastic: “By all means, you didn’t have to kill for me! Only scouting, remember? I hope you’ll get it next time. My orders were clear. I suppose that you disposed of the corpses, at least.”

This Kid will get us in trouble if he keeps taking action when he has NOT to. It’s good that he killed them, though, they could have found us. And it proves that he can fight. IF he says the truth, of course. Apoc was always very suspicious about people, he didn’t even trust Gaulras completely…. But he was very good at hiding his intentions.

“It’s a good thing that you killed them, though." He continued talking in an amiable tone. "I have to tell you something, but it can wait until you fully recover. Care for some Wine?” he was holding a bottle toward him.

OOC: sry for delay :S

Varus, Near the outside of the Imperial City, 7:10 AM

Varus looked down at the man on the ground, unconcious. The imperial would probably stay that way for a while. Varus turned around into the Tavern to see several dumbfounded faces staring at him. Some looked angry, but Varus knew none of them had the courage to stand up to a man who so easily disposed of one of their own. Varus turned around knowing this and looked back at his victim.

From a distance he heard the sound of a bosmer, "The Round-Ear got anything on him?" Varus looked to see a young basmer limping towards him, even the bosmer moving cautiously despite his outwardness. So fear of me now extends further than man. he thought.

Varus shook his head, "He's all yours." Varus said. He walked towards the side of the tavern and sat down, taking out one of his rations of food that consisted of some old vegetables and venison. Taking a bite out of a crunchy carrot, he looked at the bosmeri boy.

"Kinda odd a lone bosmer kid is limping around looting imperials other people have already beaten." Varus stated calmly, not even looking at the bosmer, rather focusing on his morining meal, "Why are you out here?"

Elissandre - West of Imperial City, 6.00 to 7.10
The morning light filtered through the sparse foliage of Elissandre's shelter for the night. Little more than a depression on the ground surrounded with bushes, but conveniently located on a minute island on a stream. It's only safety had been in the concealment and the water removing her tracks, but it was the best she could find. She had thought Hammerfell had been bad, but Cyrodill was worse. But there's at least on point in favor of Cyrodill. With population as sparse as it is now, whatever vermin comes out tends to be in penny packets. Hammerfell tends toward wholesale. Be they the nobles bullyboys, the Commission's enforcers or the damn tribes. They've kept fat robbing the elves ? loyalty pledge or not. But now that they've killed most of them they're turning on anyone who looks like he's something worth a drake and isn't already claimed as some higher-up's beast of burden. Or even do it just for the fun of it...

Elissandre shivered as her thoughts dredged up the memories. The worst there from her family's death, but her narrow escape from corrupt brutes who passed for guards of the loyalty camp and later a party of the mounted looters had been harrowing enough to come close seconds. The bastards claimed to be from the Hammerfell Raiders clan and as such entitled to consider anyone in the province as part of their property, to use as they saw fit. Which in my case was gang [censored] me to 'correct my attitude', then selling me to a brothel... I hope can get away with that because they're tithing to the Emperor or one of his lapdogs. Otherwise it would mean Octavious isn't reigning beyond the walls of his capital.

She shook away her bleak thoughts returning her mind to more wordly concerns. She rummaged through hr bag, fishing out some hardtack and a thin strip of smoked meat which were all she had eaten for the last few days. With some blackberries picked from the nearby bushes and water from the stream it wasn't much of a breakfast, but it had to suffice. She had still enough for maybe two days more but was nearing the bottom. Fortunately the tall shape of the White Gold Tower had told her she was near the Imperial City. Even if it had been ransacked and ruined in the fighting, enough of it should remain to let her get much needed supplies. And fortunately her healing magic was a renewable and widely accepted currency.

Once done, she resumed her trek, following what had once been a paved road but was slowly succumbing to neglect and weeds.

About one hour later she finally reached her destination, the poorly repaired wreck of a tavern standing at the great bridge's landing. From this close the City was an eyesore and seemed to betray her hopes. Nobody seemed to be still living there. Which was odd, even in it's wrecked conditions the City should offer enough salvageable riches ? or mere equipment ? to fill a lifetime of recovery. And the islands and canols offered a promise of safety, arable land from the numerous parks and other attractive features. Maybe that attractiveness is the problem, with band of wannabe salvager fighting over the place and preventing anyone from staying...[OOC : I've gone for the PGE's description to describe the city proper]

She stopped as she noticed three peoples standing in front of the tavern. One downed bald imperial ? with the built of a fighter and a scruffiness that denied legitimate trade. The other two were elves, one dunmer wearing a Morrowind-styke armor, the second a bosmer who's haphazard mix of armor spoke of banditry as loud as the human's old leather. She noticed both of the elves had retained the tip of their ears. Which meant they had never pledged loyalty to the Empire. Which didn't augure well of their reactions. Too late to run, and maybe they're still decent peoples. It's not as if they had roughed up someone who didn't deserve it.

She headed toward the tavern, keepig her expression carefully neutralto the pair but already reviewing spells in her mind, getting ready to protect herself if they displayed hostile intentions.

Ceglai, Near the outside of the Imperial City, 7:12 am

"What's it look like? Scavenging."

Ceglai relaxed as the Dunmer showed no outward sign of hostility--in fact, the other mer sat down and started eating. Ceglai noticed that this other mer was also a free one (untethered by the Loyalty Clause)... but one could never be certain who to trust these days.

Set at ease, the Bosmer loped the rest of the way to the downed Imperial, ignoring the twinge of one of his ankles that probably gave him the 'limp' the Dunmer referred to. He crouched down and started rooting through the Imperial's pockets. As he did so, his actions automatic and well-practiced, he studied the other mer.

The mer seemed to be the typical Dunmer that Ceglai ran into: ashy, thin, and hardened. This one had a distant, haunted look about him; Ceglai had seen plenty of that look in the loyalty camp he'd grown up in, in mer one 'persuasion session' away from prostating themselves before Sheogorath. He was twice Ceglai's age; the Bosmer shivered to think what the Dunmer had seen in that time. His traditional Dunmer armor rang well with Ceglai's own traditionalism; it was good to see mer still fighting for who they had a right to be.

By themselves, his hands located and pocketed a handful of coins and a smattering of travel rations (ugh, dried fruit). He popped a piece of salted boar meat into his mouth and stuffed the rest of the animal products into the proper compartments in his bag.

Around the meat, he said, "You beat up on him because he's a Man, a bandit, or both? Because I need to head back west a couple leagues, and could use an extra sword in case there's trouble. I left some friends of mine in a tight spot, and they'll need me to patch 'em up."

He idly glanced down the road, only to do a double-take. There was a human woman heading toward them, looking at the two of them with a very deliberate neutral expression.

He was instantly back on the alert: he narrowed his eyes, jumped to his feet, and drew his bow. He'd seen expressions like that before: whenever a camp staff member wanted to seem unthreatening to a prisoner, they wore that expression. It gave the victim a false sense of security... lured them into the trap. The most deadly was when it came from a mer who'd had their ears clipped, posing as a potential ally. Ceglai never trusted that expression on anyone without pointed ears.

This woman seemed generally unthreatening. She was fairly small, and wore travel wear typical of perhaps an apprentice mage, or a priest. The wicked blade she carried, however, was enough to set off alarm bells. His stance was ready for both a fight and flight, depending on what she did. He dearly missed having his comrades at his back; he wasn't sure how well he'd fare alone in a battle.

"Keep moving, Breton," he growled, showing his teeth.

Fedris took the wine and it down in one. It was immediately brought back up out his mouth. "Blarghh" He wheezed and then asked, " Water will be fine thanks. My apologies for killing the two Legionnaires, I heard them speak, here's the story."
"Well remember when I said the Guardians killed the Legions chasing somebody and the day they met me. Well on of them managed to survive and overheard them telling me to go to Hammerfall. I couldn't let them find the location of the Guardians so I had to kill them. Forgive me. They will not be found I hid the bodies well."

Fedris was exhausted, he told Apoc, "If you don't mind I really need some rest, I'll speak to you in the morning." He bowed to Apoc and lay on the grass. Wow, I'm onto something big here! Never had Fedris thought that he would be fighting against the entire Legion. He was also glad that he had made a new friend, Apoc. They would travel to the Guardians together.
Fedris closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly. He dreamed of the Legion burning his family to death, then when he was escaping the Legions grasp.
It was a bad night again.

Varus, 7:12 AM

"You beat up on him because he's a Man, a bandit, or both? Because I need to head back west a couple leagues, and could use an extra sword in case there's trouble. I left some friends of mine in a tight spot, and they'll need me to patch 'em up." The Bosmer asked, Varus cathcing a hint of eagerness in his voice. Kid's a bandit. A man hater too. Varus looked at the Bosmers pointed ears, Hmm... He probably had to go through loyalty camp. I can see why he would hate men. It's a shame that the empires action towards elves has created such a hatred within them. Becoming the same killing monsters they swore to kill. Varus shuddered.

The monster I became at the Imperial City

"For one," Varus stated, still looking at the food, "I fought him becuase he would do the same to me had I struck first. Not because he was a man or bandit. and it sounds like your looking to meet back up with your bandit comrades and go kill more men. Am I right? So your going to go kill men that werer so cruel to those you love, who took everything you know from you." Varus looked up, Giving the Bosmer a cold stare in his eyes.

"Haven't you, then, become exactly what you have hated all your life? By killing the men, your not accomplishing anything. Your just proving them right about elves. If I lead you back to the bandits, what will that do for you? you will live in your hatred and in a couple years a legionarre or fighters guild operative or maybe, if your lucky, a guardian will come and end you and your bandits existence."

Varus shrugged, "If you want me to, I'll help you find your way back to the bandits. I'm not going anywhere important. But really think about what I said before going back. If you change your mind, your welcome to travel with me until you get sick of me and hate my guts. Either way, I'm fine." varus said, then noticed a Brenton woman approach the front of the Tavern, The Bosmer attempting to be threatening to her.

Varus laughed, "Really, kid, your trying to scare away the brenton with your teeth?" varus laughed again and then looked at the woman, "I wouldn't suggest going in that tavern. Terrible patronage." Varus said, pointing towards the unconcious bandit. "And the imperial city is a hellhole, full of scum, sick, and poor refugees. Only reason I'm going there is I need to resupply. And... Personal reasons." Varus said calmly, finishing his vegetables as he did so.

"You don't looklike the type who would be hanging out around here though. What brings you here?" Varus asked, in a way where it sounded as if Varus really didn't even care about why she was there.

Guy 7:12 am

Guy had seen the flash from where he stood, still leaning up against the caravan, but then it had been hard to miss. He'd stared after it for a few seconds before, like most of the mercenaries, turning back to idling around whilst he waited for the convoy to get moving. There didn't seem to be any immediate threat to him or to Attilus and so he was unconcerned by whatever was going on.

Attilus on the other hand seemed fascinated. The Imperial had looked up from berating the workers along with everyone else as the flash had broken through the intense confusion of the caravan, unlike the rest of them he remained staring off towards the bridge, caravan forgotten. Guy watched the merchant with some mild interest as his facial expression moved from wonder to curiosity, taking a rather long and complicated route via confusion. Behind him the worker who he'd been punishing began to slink off, grateful for the reprieve. Guillaume however, was not so lucky.

"Guy, with me please"
Attilus was obviously exited, he had a look on his face that betrayed the fact that he'd had as much combat experience as Guy but was far less cynical, this was an adventure!

"But... the cart?"

"Ohh the driver will deal with that, now come"

Guillaume sighed, and followed Attilus through the crowds towards the bridge,
I never knew we had a driver..
He continued to push through the colourful throngs of hectic business, fighting hard so as not to lose sight of Attilus, it wouldn't do to lose favour over something as simple as staying close to the client. It was a minute or so before the crowds thinned and he and Attilus emerged out in front, on the lip of the bridge, amongst the Caravan Master's own hirelings. They were a tough looking lot, professionals to a man and well out of Guy's league and he felt the need to place his hand on the hilt of his sword as he attracted a few guffaws

"By the Nine!"

Guy's attention was jerked back to Attilus at the man's exclamation, he could, vaguely on the other side of the bridge a couple of people... elves? Must be, one of them was certainly a Dark Elf. They were standing over the body of a man. Guy looked on in wonder, he hadn't thought elves were allowed to bear arms.

"Why aren't they doing anything to help? You can't let those pointy eared bastards get away with this!"

Attilus was appealing to the men behind him, they simply laughed at the merchant, Guy nearly joined in; a mercenary did his job and no more, if it wasn't already in the contract then it'd cost extra.

"Guy! You do it!"

The humour died in the Breton's throat at the words.
"Wha... me? But why?"

"I'm not going to let a couple of Mer do this outside the Imperial City, prove you're worth my money."

"But that's-"
"Not in the contract? Fine, then I'll end it"
There was a gleam in Attilus' eye and Guy suspected that the Imperial was more interested in trying out his new toy than saving anyone from bloodthirsty Mer and he really couldn't afford to lose the contract...

"You owe me an extra 50"
He said, turning out onto the bridge.
"What a [censored], he'd better pay me"
It was a long walk to make alone Guy mused as he stalked forwards, back to his weasel of employer. The bridge had been one of the first things to go down during the last siege of the Imperial City and it had never quite been repaired, the Breton found that he was being forced to dodge bits of rubble that were still falling off even now. It was enough to make him wonder why the bridge was still in use although he knew the answer, it was a symbol of defiance, the locals could never let the Mer know that they'd done any lasting damage. It was ironic that by showing such defiance towards a defeated enemy they revealed how much the citizens had feared the the elves.

He was approaching the pair now and Guy was getting nervous, the could see the man lying on the floor and he was unmistakably a bandit. The two men standing above him also seemed to be well armed, he was out of his depth... What made matters even worse was the appearance of a genuine civilian, a Breton woman; coming from the other direction.

"I wouldn't suggest going in that tavern. Terrible patronage."

Guy caught the line as he approached the group, there was something about the Dark Elf's tone as he addressed the woman, he sounded jaded, uncaring. For Guy it was somehow worse than if the Mer had started spewing threats, this man was a professional... It was to late to go back now though and his livelihood depended on this. He stepped boldly forwards, trying hard to ignore the fact that the hand on his sword hilt was bone white and shaking.

"Would you mind... er stepping away from the Imperial and the young lady"

The Dunmer sighed resigned at the view of the Woodelf sleeping. It looked like he was having a bad dream he couldn’t avoid to relive every night. Poor guy…

“Captain, all your orders are being taken care of at the moment. The high elf family is recovering from the sickness, but the infection has spread to several of our members. “ Apoc noticed the unrest in his voice.

“What is it, Gaulras?”

“Sir, my brother and I would follow you until the end, but the soldiers morale is dwindling swiftly away. Some mercenaries do sympathize for you, but the majority is scared, like…” “Like?” “Like all of us, Sir. We reached Evermor and is has been completely annihilated! And now this elf! I don’t know what to think anymore…”
Apoc turned to him and looked him intensively in the eyes. “You are right” he sighed again and sat down beneath Fedris. “I also am doubting that we could survive another week with such a high number of casualties and such circumstances. But we have to carry on!” He looked up to him with a serious face:

“I know you are thinking to leave with the other men. I don’t blame you. You are better off alone, anyway. Let me ask you something, not as a Captain, but as a Friend. Don’t go. Look at these people. Men, mer, they are BOTH dying and BOTH suffering from the same. I couldn’t care less if they are men of mer. And they don’t have money to pay our service. I know that killing is a fair thing these days. If you have to survive, you have to kill. That’s the life of a mercenary. But letting die is something completely different. Here are more than hundred lives at stake. There is the line between being a mercenary and being a cowardly monster!”

“Sir we-“

“You and everybody else knew the circumstances and accepted them. I don’t know about you, But I’ll stick with the caravan until we-“

“SIR! We never wanted to leave! I was just telling you the men are really starting to get nervous, nothing more, you should talk to them. By men I am referring to both men and mer, Sir!”

“Oh!” Then things aren’t that bad after all.

“I am sorry I was doubting you loyalty, Gaulras. Get some rest. I’ll take this watch."

“Thank you, Captain. Good night”

A few hours later the sun was shining and already at a very high point.

Apoc poked Fedris: “Let’s get moving!” he said, in a rough, military way. He wasn’t being mean, though.


OOC: We need to meet the other one way or another. I suggest we find a way to land near the imperial city. Perhaps teleportation?

Elisssandre 7.12 AM
When the bosmer issued his threat, Elissandre didn't flinch. With magic dancing in her mind, the almost finished spell ready to be unleashed at the drop of hat she felt reasonably safe. And somewhat angered by his attitude. The same nonsense that started the war and kept it going for one century and a half... And there's still plenty of idiots wallowing in it.

She dropped the mask a bit, letting anger drown any hint of fear. Knowing it wasn't the smart thing to do, but tired of scurrying through the woods like a mouse. "I'm not looking for a fight and don't care about what you're doing. But I'd prefer you to stay out of what I'm doing in return."

She relaxed a bit as the dunmer, seemingly possessing more experience and less hatred spoke to calm him down, warning her about the tavern. "Like you, I'm looking for supplies. Not many shops around. And as I said to your friend it will suit me perfectly if we all keep away from each other's toes today."

When yet another person involved itself, announced by the small clinking of his coat of mail, Elissandre stepped back a bit to keep everyone in sight, unsure of what side he would pick. As her eyes drifted over the young man she felt some worried noting his youth and the way he was gripping his sword hilt. Even if she was barely older than him she felt a lot more world-savy than him. Probably from that caravan back on the bridge, sent to size him up. Scared out of his wits and eager to prove himself. Ready to do something brave and stupid and end with up with someone killed. Not on my watch.

With a short whisper she completed and unleashed one of the spell she had been reviewing. The magic of illusion flowed from her and reached the bystanders, throwing a blanket of calming magic to dampen the fear and anger of everyone. The spell wouldn't hold for very long , but she hoped it would be enough to defuse the situation. "I don't think you'll need that sword. I'm arriving, these two seems about to leave." She looked down at the unconscious bandit, sprawled on some leftover planks from the door "And that one is passed out from a tavern brawl. I don't think there's any cause for trouble.". Carefully keeping her tone light and confident, as if everything was perfectly safe and normal.

Sorry guys, school is getting in the way of me posting here. I have to quit. Really sorry guys, I've been trying to keep up but. Nah.

Bye.

Ceglai, 7:13 am, Outside the Imperial City

As the Dunmer spoke, Ceglai wilted, the reactionary anger seeping out of him.

No, it wasn't true... he wasn't anything like the Men who had imprisoned him and his family. He killed quickly, cleanly. They had reveled in the elves' pain. Ceglai poisoned his victims so that they died quickly... the humane way. It was completely different.

And the Men deserved to die, Ceglai had no question about that. He was a healer; as far as he was concerned, he was ridding Nirn of a deadly plague. Only once the infection was purged could Tamriel heal itself again.

But it did seem like only a matter of time before he was cut down, didn't it? What good had he and his comrades been doing, going after small caravans? Wiping out the race of men one cowering refugee at a time? And now that most of them were...

...no, he didn't know that. Some could have survived. He had to get back to them.

The Bosmer turned as the soft creak of leather and mail armor came behind him, and saw a swordsman approaching from the caravan. As the man asked, "Would you mind... er stepping away from the Imperial and the young lady?" Ceglai tensed up again. Surrounded, his instincts screamed. Trapped.

No, no, not trapped. I have an escape route and an armed ally.

Don't want to be trapped, can't be caught! Never again!

He struggled to control his rising hysteria. Sure, he could see that the newcomer was scared, but so was Ceglai.

Then, he felt a calmness flow over him. It was unnatural... alien. It couldn't have come from him. His eyes snapped back to the woman, even as the calm washed over him. Was... she doing this? He'd experienced Illusion magic before; some of the elves he'd fought beside had had some experience with the magic. However, they had always used Rally and Frenzy spells... never Calm. After a moment's hesitation, Ceglai embraced the effects of the spell. This was not the time, nor the place, to lose his self-control.

"I don't think you'll need that sword. I'm arriving, these two seems about to leave," said the woman. She indicated the bandit at Ceglai's feet. "And that one is passed out from a tavern brawl. I don't think there's any cause for trouble.".

It seemed she meant it. In fact, it seemed all of them meant it when they said they didn't want trouble. Ceglai was the aggressor here. He was the one they were trying to diffuse.

Ceglai swallowed the lump in his throat and, against his better judgement, replaced his bow on his back. His hands were shaking, but most of his tension was eased. In its wake, he was struck again by guilt and worry. The attack... his band... An overbearing sadness threatened at the back of his mind, some nasty little voice telling him that they were already dead.

He purposefully turned back toward the Dunmer--but kept the two humans in his peripheral vision. "Look, I don't need to be preached at. I just... I need to get back. I'm their only healer; they'll need me." His voice cracked at the end, which he swiftly cleared his throat to hide.