Author's Introduction

I have never written much in the terms of 'novel' fanfiction on this site, or even very much at all. Perhaps a few of you have seen my other pieces of work, maybe not. You will all probably be familiar with my old story series, Ancients, of which I only wrote the first novel - or at least, most of the first novel, which was The Ruby of Power. I think I planned to write two more chapters when I realized how terribly bland and repetetive my plot was going to get and that, in two more topics of pretty much the same thing, you would all have lost interest. With that in mind, I gave up on the story without warning and left it at that.

Despite the fact that I don't get out my pen (or in this case Word Editor) very often I do enjoy writing and can be good at it. I am particularly proud of my fictional assignments in my English class, of which I have always gotten top marks for. The reason I don't normally write is because I'm a typically impatient and - dare I say it - lazy person.

However, I've decided to conjure up every ounce of effort I have and work on a new fanfiction, Lichcraft. It's a story that focuses on Necromancy, basically. I plan to tell it in three parts, each one from the perspective of a different character - One is a Necromancer apprentice. We will be documenting her struggle to join the Necromancers Cult and to become a true practicer of the dark arts. The second part follows a power-hungry Necromancer, seperate to the Cult, striving to acheive lichdom. The third part's character is a bounty hunter hired by the Empire to eliminate the second character and stop him from becoming a lich, which would put the citizens of Cyrodiil in grave danger.

Constructive critiscism is always welcome in my few stories, and this one is no exception. Just remember to put a reason why you think it svcks so badly!

Chapter 1 will be up shortly. For now, the anticipation is all yours.

So, you've got my curiousity raised. The premise sounds interesting. All that remains at this point to say therefore is:

When do we get to see the first part?

Now, actually! Just finished putting the final touches on it. I got the idea of displaying the date from The King and I, it looked neat and gave you an idea of the setting.

Without further ado...

Chapter 1

22 Morning Star 3E 433

Though nobody yet knew it, this Morning Star marked the beginning of the last year of the Third Era. In less than eight months, the Oblivion Crisis would be raging on full scale. As if to give warning to the coming cataclysm, 3E 433 had gotten off to a particularly chilly start. In Bruma one could feel the full effects, where even the beggars had wrapped themselves in their outdoor bed's duvet to feel a bit warmer.

One person, however, didn't need wooly clothes, deerskin or a duvet to keep warm. It was sheer excitement combined with nervousness that was keeping her cosy within her black robe and russet felt shoes. Her excitement was due to the feat she was about to perform, and nervousness at the nature of the people she was allying herself with and general fear of the unknown.

A sharp, male voice drew her out of her thoughts.

"Come on, Erissa! You'll be late if you don't hurry up!"

It was Landil, running ahead of her and jeering. Erissa grinned at the fellow High Elf. Landil and Erissa were twin High Elves, brother and sister. They had lived in Anvil for most of their lives, and the two of them, now of age, had left home and parted ways with their parents. But the twins were very close to each other, and ever since taking their first steps into the outside world they had always travelled with each other.

"Now now, Landil. We both know that I could easily catch you if you wanted. And I'm a girl" she smirked.

Landil laughed snidely.

"I bet you couldn't."

"Wanna put it to the test, oh mighty athlete?"

Erissa started to run at Landil. The High Elf yelped and began running forward, before crashing into a Nord lady carrying various groceries from the local shop. Erissa laughed out loud as the High Elf apologised over and over again to the woman, who gave him a cold stare before picking up a ball of cabbage and walking off with her nose in the air. Landil glared at Erissa and scolded her as soon as the woman was on her way again.

"That wasn't nice, Erissa."

"It was pretty funny if you ask me" came her giggled reply.

"We'll see who's laughing when we're out the town gate. I'll be chucking fireballs at you all the way to Echo Cave!"

The two Elves continued their friendly argument all the way out of the North Gate and well into the mountain wilderness of North Cyrodiil. After checking his map, Landil looked around the snowy landscape.

"Okay, we should be starting to near the cave by now. I think it's just down -"

But Landil stopped his sentence right there. Erissa, gave him a quizzical look as she got up to him, then displayed an equal look of shock at the sight displayed before her.

A small, rocky platform was before them. At the back of it was the entrance to the cave, marked by a makeshift wooden door. But around the door, was sheer hell.

Several corpses hung from a rocky outcrop jutting above the platform, their rotted bodies cut and torn by the tight rope entwined around their torsos. Metallic baskets contained a variety of bloodied bones and skulls. More corpses lay on the ground, stakes poking out of their chest as maggots feasted on the green, mottled flesh.

The two Elves were so entranced by the awful sight that they didn't notice the old Breton walk up behind them.

"Greetings, High Elves."

Landil and Erissa both jumped a mile before turning around to see the Breton, dressed in black robes with a yellow symbol of a skull on the front.

Noticing their interest in the scene before them, the Necromancer smiled.

"It is beautiful, isn't it? Soon, these corpses shall all be used for our cause. Absolutely nothing shall be wasted. The dead are there to serve, and the reason you are here is because you share this philosophy."

The Elves both nodded slowly and cautiously. The Breton smiled.

"Good. Then you shall come inside with me."

The Necromancer walked up to the door and opened it. He held it open for the Elf twins and gestured inside. Once Landil and Erissa were safely within the cavern, the door was closed with a rickety groan.

The initiation had begun.

Good opening. If I was to be picky, there are two minor points I'd pick up.

1. There's no real sense of place or setting. All we know is they've found a cave outside of Bruma, and that it's cold. A little more detail there wouldn't have gone amiss.

2. The dialogue is terrific in one way. Natural and believable, and gives a great sense of the relationship they have between each other. However. Two youngsters on their way to join necromancers? Would they be so playful? I would have thought they might be more nervous and apprehensive, not only of the people they were going to meet, but also in case anybody in the town figured out what they were doing. What I wouldn't have expected would be for them to wear black robes in the middle of the town, and cause a scene by bumping into people.

Anyway, enough of the nitpicking

I was right before, the premise is a good one, and I'll be following this with interest to see how you develop it. I'm certainly curious to find out what the initiation might consist of.

Keep it coming

More please!

Here's chapter 2. It's a little short so I'll probably make chapter 3 part of Audeiu's story as well.

Chapter 2

22 Morning Star 3E 433

Midday was approaching. The sun, being at it's highest in the sky, was giving off every ray of heat that it could to the frosty, ice-choked Cyrodiil of 433. The grand Imperial City gave off all the splendour of the day - The entire island was layered with a thin sheet of slush, as fresh snow decorated the magnificent White Gold Tower. The city was beautiful in it's own right, but today it was astonishing. Audeiu Ponius couldn't help but stop and admire how the snow fitted in perfectly with the white Ayleid architecture.

The Imperial, still with his head turned in the direction of the isle, gave his reins a tug and the midnight black horse he rode on broke into a trot. Even the lake bank south of the Isle had little spots of slush here and there. This was the last of it a south-bound traveller would see - Cyrodiil would have to be frozen over before you'd ever see even a speck of snow in Blackwood or the Southern Nibenay.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Audeiu kicked the horse's neck gently and set off at a gallop north-west, towards the huge, stone bridge that spanned the water between the west coasts of the City Isle and the outer lake bank. Legion guards walked up and down the whitened stones endlessly. What a boring job, Audeiu thought sadly. His job, now. That was interesting, because it entailed only hunting and no mindless patrolling. Besides, living in the Imperial City for so long made you take the beauty of it for granted.

Passing the guards without further interest, Audeiu neared the Chestnut Hardy Stables, slowed down his horse and got off it. He opened the gate into the paddock, ushered the black horse in, closed it and walked into the small shack nearby. An Orc woman was sitting inside, eating her lunch.

"I'll pay you ten gold Septims to take care of my horse for the night.", Audeiu said quietly. He was a skilled warrior, but not really much for conversation.

Snak gra-Bura chewed her mouthful of what seemed to be peculiar venison, swallowed it, then replied,

"Yeah, okay. Your horse'll be fine with me.""

Audeiu nodded, thanked the woman and walked outside of the shack. The town gate was literally right next to the stable. Audeiu nearly passed straight by the gate guards before one of them, a rather overweight guard, stopped him.

"You got business here, sir?" he asked loudly.

Audeiu turned around to face the fat guard.

"Yes. I have got a note from Chancellor Ocato, requesting that I go to see him at the Imperial Palace.""

The guard snorted.

"Them elves are all the same. Living in big palaces and talking snobby. Old Ocato aint never gonna be High Chancellor, believe me. Everyone else is a way better ruler than him. And nicer."

"Forgive my colleague" the guard of normal weight interjected. "You go right on ahead sir, he's probably just had one or two many beers down at the lodge."

Audeiu shrugged, walked up to the gate, and opened it into the cold, midday air of Talos Plaza.

I don't consider myself good at reviewing things, but this has kept my interest from it's introduction. Very good descriptions, the character's feel real. I don't know what else to say.

And it continues. And it continues to look good too.

Ok, two things to get out of the way first.

1. A question.



Does that mean he's in the Legion? I'm assuming that's what you mean, but I wasn't at all sure. If he is, then wouldn't he get his horse cared for without paying? And wouldn't he be in some sort of uniform so the guards would recognise that he was one of them?

2.

Bit on the clumsy side, just keep it simple. Just say "the slimmer guard" or "the thinner guard" or "his colleague" etc etc.

Curious about all these plot threads you're opening though. I look forward to seeing where this is going

I'm glad you're enjoying it!

No, he isn't in the legion. I meant it to mean that he was using his job as an example of how much better it was than being in the Legion.

The story looks good so far. My only criticism is that your signature detracts from the mood the story is trying to set, just because it is so massive and jarring.

I feel like as i am reading, a dude is shouting at me from the bottom of the page and trying to get my attention while all i want to do is finish the chapter.

Consider it gone

It is actually a lot better now. I can read the story in peace, and Mister Shouts patiently waits for his turn to be read.

Im loving the story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:flamethrower: :spotted owl:

Chapter 3 is here. Introducing the final 'protagonist', if you like.

Chapter 3

22 Morning Star 3E 433

Peric Sylbenitte grumbled at the next set of instructions on the hardback book. It was one of those old, dusty books, the sort that you find locked in an iron chest at the back of an abandoned church in a land nobody had heard of. That was exactly where Peric had got it, except everybody knew where Skyrim was.

The instructions read:

"Leave the body of an elf, twice as young as your age, in a stagnant pool of water for seven days. Tie it down and reanimate it after these days have passed, because the flesh must not leave the water. Collect 0.4 pints of the water in a vial and seal. The water must not leave the vial until boiled with the Fire of Undeath."

I'd better get to work then, thought Peric. If he'd known all this would be so difficult, well? he'd probably still do it. But that didn't stop his annoyance with the whole ritual.

Peric placed a small bookmark in the tome and walked over to a blank, stone wall. He pushed a stone slab, opening a small square crevice next to it. The Breton placed the book inside, closed the crevice and walked out of the room.

He was sure, with the diversity of Cyrodiil, somebody would fit the bill. And a very unlucky person that would be.

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"Audeiu Ponius. Welcome."

"Good afternoon, Chancellor. You wanted to see me?"

Standing in Elder Council chambers, anyone would be amazed by the enormous hall and it's splendid architecture, curving into a dome towards the roof. Audeiu wondered how the Council managed to keep their heads level whilst discussing the endeavours of the Empire, doing so in such a fantastic example of Ayleid history.

"Yes, Mr. Ponius. We believe we have a special assignment for you. Tell me, have you encountered Necromancers before?"

Audeiu frowned.

"Why, yes. On one of my first huntings I got on the wrong side of the cult. I have always made sure to keep out of their way since."

"This does not concern the cult." replied Chancellor Ocato. "We have discovered a different one, separate to the cult."

The young Imperial raised an eyebrow.

"Necromancers are weak and cowardly. The only reason the cult is of any political importance is because they're grouped together, like a school of tiny fish pretending to be a larger creature, in an effort to portray more power than they actually have."

"You are forgetting that there were powerful Necromancers. Mannimarco disappeared many a year before, and since then no more of any significance have made too much of a nuisance of themselves. Only the cult, a group of weaker ones, ever openly engage with the Empire and thus is their reputation born."

"But this has changed." continued Ocato. "This Necromancer is a powerful one, and is attracting more attention than he may like or even knows of."

"Why aren't they being more quiet about things? Necromancers aren't very popular" mused Audeiu.

"Because this man is focusing on a very demanding goal. He is trying to achieve lichdom."

This time, both of Audeiu's eyebrows shot up.

"Lichdom!?" he cried.

"Yes." Ocato said, "Please calm down."

Audeiu nodded, but still looked shocked.

"Liches normally keep to themselves" Ocato continued. "But this is an insane Necromancer. He doesn't want Lichdom for power or knowledge alone. He wants it to destroy Nirn and, ultimately, Mundus."

"Destroy the entire realm?" gasped Audeiu. "Why?"

"His mind has been contorted by dark magic to believe it impure. Tainted, if you like. By what, only he can tell."

Ocato paused to allow for a reaction, then continued.

"Lichdom alone will not give him the capability of destroying an entire realm or protecting himself in doing so. But he will still be a great danger to Tamriel and, if he learns of the true capability, the entirety of Mundus. We need you, Mr. Ponius, to find and kill this Necromancer before he can threaten the population."

Audeiu paused.

"And my payment?"

Ocato seemed to cringe slightly at this, but Audeiu passed it off as imagination.

"You will be rewarded with one thousand septims upon your successful return."

One thousand septims, thought Audeiu. He would be loaded. He could get all his old equipment replaced and have enough left over to last him a month.

Audeiu turned away, before a thought struck him.

"What is this Necromancer's name?" he asked.

"Peric." replied Ocato. "Peric Sylbenitte."

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As I said, that's all the characters introduced. Being the main villain, Peric will not be having much chapters to himself, but it will be an enjoyable challenge trying to write out his insane mind.

The instructions in the book were inspired by the lichdom rituals in Dungeons and Dragons, in case you were interested.

Hope you're enjoying the story so far.

My favourite character is the necromancer.

Very promising :tops:

Chapter 4 has finally arrived. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

22 Morning Star 3E 433

Echo Cave was an awful place. Amidst the darkened caverns carved out by who knows what and the muffled poundings of the blizzard raging far above them, one could see pink, blinding flashes of light, hear the awful moans of resurrected bodies, and smell the morbid stench of the dead being carted around the labyrinth.

When Erissa and Landil had decided upon joining the Necromancers, they had never known it was this disgusting. They had envisioned it as a bunch of teenaged Elves mucking about and using telekinesis on skeletons because they were too squeamish for zombies. But despite the stories about the 'cowardly cave people' that they had always been taught about, they soon learnt that the organisation they were joining was a group of cold blooded magicians, who wouldn't hesitate to kill anybody who stood in their way and puppeteer their body for whatever purposes they saw fit.

They walked through cavern after cavern, each one containing shrines of dark rituals, or historic carvings upon the wall, or Necromancers lecturing about Black Soul Gems. One room contained massive piles of corpses - The smell in there was unbearable.

Eventually they came to what seemed to be the end of the cave. The passage opened out into a massive chamber, the size of which was only rivalled by a cavern containing carvings of Necromancer history far behind them. A large moat cut through the middle of the room, with bone-decorated bridges leading across it to a platform, which in turn was decorated with large red standards emblazoned with the Necromancers Cult symbol and two warm fires.

Already there was a female Khajiit, dressed in only sack cloth trousers and a shirt of the same material. She greeted them as they approached.

"Greetings, Elves." she said. "Are you joining too?"

Erissa nodded.

"This is Landil, and I'm Erissa. We're brother and sister."

The Khajiit looked a little relieved.

"Glad I'm not the only one, this place makes my fur stand on end. I'm Adanji, by the way." she replied, in the rasp that the Khajiit adopt. The three shook hands and paw, before the Breton, the one who had greeted them outside the cave and who had been standing before them, quietly cleared his throat.

"Ahem? now that all the formalities are over and we've all arrived, we should begin." He said it quietly, but the echo in the cave magnified it so that every syllable could be picked up.

"I am Robent Dilbor, but you shall refer to me as either Sir or Adept since you are only initiates. I will be your initiator and trainer in the true ways of Necromancy as Mannimarco taught us. Do you understand?"

The trio nodded. Robent acted fairly cheerful, but a child could see through it like glass - there was something evil hidden behind that smile. This was a man you didn't want to cross.

"Good." he continued. "You will be accepted as a true Necromancer once you have completed a few, ah, simple tasks."

Judging by the way Robent smiled gleefully at the sheer mention of the word, Erissa was sure these 'tasks' would be a lot harder than the old Breton was letting on. Landil was looking nervous already, but Adanji wasn't backing down so easily and was standing proud as ever. Not wanting to look weak, Erissa followed the Khajiit's lead.

The Adept seemed disappointed by the unaffected reactions of the females, but continued on.

"The first task will start immediately, and is by far of the least dangerous. I will need to give your magical ability a little test."

Robent waved his hand, and telekinetically moved a large target to the back of the cave.

"Line up." he said simply.

Landil, relieved that the first task was in his area, got into line calmly. Erissa was more nervous, however. What would happen if she failed?

"I want each of you to perform a Hailstone spell on the target. You should all at least be Apprentices in Destruction."

First up was Landil, who pulled off the icy barrage on the target with ease, which was torn to shreds by the spell. Robent nodded and motioned him to the back of the line. Then it was Adanji, who concentrated for a second before firing an equally adequate spell, peppering the hay even more. Finally, it was Erissa's turn.

The Elf reached deep into her mind, shouting at every neuron to prepare the greatest spell she had ever performed. She could feel the energy rising, so she channelled it all into her hand. Cold with the icy orb, she blasted it into the target, which was thrown apart so badly it could have been disintegrated.

The Breton stared at the target for some time, before clapping his hands together.

"Excellent, young Erissa. Excellent. You will be a valuable addition to our cause, I see."

Landil glared at her, but Erissa just smirked and turned back to Robent.

"You have all performed well. I have no doubts that you shall continue to flourish in the rest of the task tomorrow." Robent said, making Erissa go slightly cold. She could only hope that the Divines were with her when she was tested on the rest of the schools tomorrow. That is, if the Divines didn't turn away from her in disgust because of who she was now affiliated with.

Good but the ending came to sudden and in the wrong place.

Sorry for the delay, we've been having visitors round. Anyway, Chapter 5 at last!

Chapter 5

23 Morning Star 3E 433

Audeiu Ponius left the Imperial City the next day to find Snak gra-Bura in the horses' paddock, standing next to Audeiu's black horse with her hands on her hips, facing the horse and frowning. She looked at Audeiu as he entered the paddock, looked back at the horse and simply held out her hand.

"Thanks." she said simply, after Audeiu placed the golden septims into her palm.

Audeiu looked around, rather surprised.

"Where are all the other horses?"

The orc grunted.

"Escaped."

Audeiu, realizing how long the fairly one-way conversation could go on, decided not to press for details. Instead he saddled his horse, mounted it and galloped off towards the bridge.

The guards were already on duty. A few of them looked at him jealously, knowing that he must be some kind of adventurer. The Imperial couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction - not that he was ever on the wrong side of the law, but the guards tended to get in the way of his assignments, either by attempting to help when he didn't want them to or by just being plain stubborn when he asked for it.

Today the sky was rather cloudless and sunny, and some snow was beginning to melt away. Large patches of wet grass poked through the thin slush on the banks, and the bridge towers dripped icy cold water onto the stone brickwork. After his horse stepped out onto the muddy bank, Audeiu steered it to the right, leading northwards. A few red mudcrabs were scuttling about the bank, snapping their claws angrily as the horse passed by. Various deer were frolicking about the shady copses.

Suddenly, Audeiu stopped the horse.

What had that been? The Imperial was sure he had seen a vague, slinky shadow crawling through the undergrowth. A low growl confirmed it, and seconds later a fully grown timber wolf burst from the shrubbery, jaws gnashing together madly.

The horse neighed with fear and bucked. The time Audeiu had spent clinging onto the horses back was taken advantage of by the wolf, which rushed up to the hind legs and bit the right one. This time, Audeiu fell off as the horse bucked and galloped away, limping. The wolf howled and pinned Audeiu to the ground, before it lunged for his throat, it's mouth dripping blood and froth. Audeiu yelled and grabbed the wolf's head with both hands, pushing with all his might. But the wolf was still edging closer to his neck. It was a strong wolf. Impossibly strong!

Just as all hope seemed lost, the sound of an arrow being fired rang. The wolf stopped, ears up, as an arrow landed close by and buried itself within the earth about a foot away. Another arrow was shot, but this time it hit home. The wolf yelped and stumbled away, a large arrow embedded into it's left hind leg.

An Imperial walked up to him, a bow by his side.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Audeiu nodded weakly.

"Thank you. You saved my life." Audeiu replied. The man simply shrugged as Audeiu lay there panting, before Audeiu asked, "What was that thing?"

His saviour grimaced.

"It's a disease." he said, staring off into the undergrowth. "They say it came from the north. It's a lot like rabies, but worse. Apparently, it's undeath related - I think that seems a bit far fetched, but it's nasty enough to be plausible."

Audeiu thought about this. Undeath related?

It's not important, he told himself. Focus on the mission.

"Who are you?" Audeiu asked the man.

"Leonde" the man said, before moving on quickly. "Are you going to Bruma, by any chance?"

"Yes" replied Audeiu.

"Same" said Leonde. "We're both well armed, but if we're going to the disease's home grounds perhaps we should stick together, aye?"

Audeiu nodded.

"Great!" replied the man, grasping Audeiu's hand and pulling him upright.

"What about my horse?"

"I've got my own. It should be able to take two."

It looked like this Leonde could come in quite useful for Audeiu's mission. The horse was a white (or grey) one, meaning it was a little slower than Audeiu's, but it would have to do. Audeiu climbed on behind Leonde and they set off at full gallop.

Looking around from the horse's back, one could see the slinky shadows of diseased wolves sneaking through the undergrowth, snarling and dripping froth from their hungry jaws.

This assignment was going to be harder than Audeiu had previously thought.

I enjoyed that i wonder what will happen next