So here is my attempt at a TES Fan Fic, hope you all like it.


A Life Long Forgotten


Prologue

As the storm outside thundered and roared, and the wind hit against the windows; the light sound of a lute echoed around the tavern. Everyone listened as the handsome looking Imperial, with his long brown hair, and strong Hazel eyes calmly and quietly played his lute. He had a strong build, and had a nicely kept steel sword which rested at his side. It hung from the end of the seat, all the drunks and others inside examining him. The music was calming and easy as the storm outside continued to roar and thunder. It had been several years since the Oblivion Crisis had been taken care of, and now people all over Tamriel were busy getting back to their ordinary lives. Chancellor Ocato, now Emperor of Cyrodiil ruled with ease and trust. It seemed that all of Tamriel was prospering under Emperor Ocato's rule.

The tavern owner quietly handed out ordered drinks, the two bar maidens watched the handsome Imperial play as they were overcome with his handsomeness, and skill at the lute. He was a Bard, and frequented many taverns and pubs. The man was not well known to many, but to the people who frequented the "Inn of Ill Omen"; he was known as "Romulus the Storyteller." For such a young man, Romulus knew many things of the world; and of its history. Some had began to make rumors about Romulus, some saying he was actually a great wizard or mage; and had found an elixir that did not make him age. Others said differently and said he was once apart of the Legion, and that Romulus had travelled all across Tamriel during the Oblivion Crisis; and during his travels of war, he had gathered stories and legends to tell.

There were many other rumors and ideas about Romulus, but not once had he spoken about what he had done or his past. Romulus was a man of few words, and the only time he did speak were the times, that he was asked to tell a story or legend.

As the night continued, and the storm outside the Inn of Ill Omen continued. Romulus finished his third or fourth song, and kindly asked for a pint of Ale. Those around him still silently drank and ate their food. The time was good, and no one dared go outside into the storm; for fear they might catch a cold. It was better for them to stay inside the warm and friendly inn, they had music and plenty of food and drink to heed them.

"Romulus, tell us the story of that Adventurer; what was his name?" A young man said sitting at a booth with some friends. They all had large smiles of anticipation on their faces as Romulus looked up at them. He had a chiseled face, and his strong hazel eyes pierced the men.

"Anix." Romulus said as a bar maiden walked over, and kindly smiled at him as she placed his pint of Ale on the table in front of him. He smiled back, their eyes meeting for only a moment before the young bar maiden looked away. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the light as she walked away. Quickly, Romulus looked back at the men sitting at the table.

"Yes, that is the one. Tell us of Anix, and his adventures into the dungeons of the Alyeids near Cheydinhal. My friends have never heard it." The young man said taking a swig from his bottle of beer. Romulus smiled and nodded, accepting to tell the story.

Before he began, Romulus took a quick sip of his Ale; smiling down at it before clearing his throat to speak. The tavern patrons all looked at Romulus as he was about to begin. It seemed as if everything in the tavern stopped. Everyone had their eyes on Romulus as he started. The bar maidens stood behind the counter with the tavern owner, looking intently as Romulus spoke.

"It was many years ago, just when the Empire was beginning, and Empress Alessia was on her deathbed. A young man by the name of Anix, worked in a field for a wheat farmer. He had no money, or place to call home; and so Anix worked day in and day out for the farmer. But one day, when Anix was secretly resting inside the horse stables of the farmer, he heard a loud crashing sound. It stunned Anix, and he quickly shot up from the hay we was resting on; thinking it was the farmer." Romulus looked at the tavern patrons as he made a crashing sound and shot up from his seat, adding to the affect. "As Anix looked around tired and worried, he saw that there was no one but himself, along with the horses that all stood quietly in their stalls. Not long after, Anix heard another crash; this time he could hear the sound of a groan, and knew it was the sound of steel armor hitting something. So as soon as he did, Anix hurried out of the stables and looked around, listening for the groan. He whispered as loud as he could, hoping whoever it was would hear, 'Hello? Who is there, I can help you.' Anix said looking around. The moon had risen, and stars were scattered all around the black sky. Suddenly another groan came, Anix honing in on the sound of what could have been a man. He hurried over to the consistent groans, and quickly stumbled upon a man clad in well crafted and finished armor. The brush had covered the man a bit, and Anix could see up along the hill there was a horse with no rider. 'Are you alright? How can I help you.' Anix said kneeling down to the man."

Romulus kneeled down to the floor, acting out more of the scene. Suddenly a loud banging sound came, and echoed through the tavern. Everyone including Romulus, looked at where the noise had come from. Suddenly another banging sound came, and then another. Everyone shrugged at the sound; believing it was just the wind hitting against the door hard. But they were wrong, suddenly five or so men rushed inside. They were all clad in blackened armor, and what looked like the mark of the Legion.

One of the Legionnaires stepped forward, looking at the tavern owner. The man removed his helmet, the horse hair frill waved a bit. Everyone was in shock, including Romulus who quickly stood up and took his seat where he had been.

"We're looking for a man." The lead Legionnaire said, his face was disfigured a bit on the left side. His skin had been severely burned somehow. And his left eye seemingly rendered useless. The other Legionnaires stood in silence with their helmets still a top their heads as the leader scanned the patrons. Romulus quickly busied himself with his lute, hiding his face from the leader. "You! What is your name?" The lead Legionnaire said pointing at Romulus, his face a bit irritated and angered.

"I am Romulus. Only a simple Bard who travels around, collecting and telling tales for profit and fun." Romulus said looking straight into the Legionnaires eyes. Both men looked at each other, Romulus and the Legionnaire squinting at one another; trying to figure what one another motives were.

"Well Bard, you are coming with us. We have a few questions we'd like to ask you back in the Imperial City. Do not be worried, they are just simple questions and you will be let go as soon as the questions are answered."

"Why me, sir?" Romulus said looking a bit confused. "You could have selected anyone here. I am nothing but a simple bard."

"Do not argue, or I will have you held under the pretense that you were not cooperating." The Legionnaire said with a hearty chuckle. But no one else laughed as Romulus gathered his belongings, and silently stood up. The other patrons were in complete awe and silence as the Legionnaires led Romulus outside, and into the storm which seemed to have calmed a bit.

As the door closed behind them, the tavern continued to be silent. The sound of men mounting their horses echoed in through the door. Romulus was given his own horse, and quickly mounted before the rest of the Legionnaires followed. The lead Legionnaire stared and smiled fiendishly at Romulus as they slowly set off down the Green Road towards the Imperial City.

"What are these questions about?" Romulus said looking at the lead Legionnaire. They were well away from the Inn of Ill Omen now, and Romulus looked back for a moment before returning his attention to the Legionnaire. "And what is your name?" Romulus added looking at the others. The lead Legionnaire raised his hand, and the group stopped where they were. Romulus unknowing of what was happening next; tensed up and then relaxed, as to what his fate seemed to be.

"There are no questions. Do you not remember me?" The Legionnaire said removing his helmet once again. Romulus looked at the man closely, unknowing to who he was. Without a word, Romulus just shook his head; the Legionnaire smiling and dismounting his horse. "Get off the horse, Bard." The Legionnaire said with a tone of quick order. Romulus hesitated for a moment, but did as he was asked; stepping over to the Legionnaire.

I'm sorry, but who are you?" Romulus said straightening his leather vest, and his long white sleeves. His black pants, and boots went well with the rest of his outfit; but the Legionnaire could have cared less about the way Romulus was dressed.

"Well it sure has been quite a long time. But I'm sure if you remember, you'll think differently." The Legionnaire said with a bit of a cynical voice. "During the Oblivion Crisis, you and I along with seven others were tasked with destroying one of the Oblivion gates. We could have succeeded if it hadn't been for Richard and Vincent going off on their own little way. Remember that? Remember who I am? I'm the one you all left behind. I am the one who was ambushed by the Daedroth, and you all left me to fend for myself. You all thought I was dead, but you were wrong!" Romulus looked at the Legionnaire in astonishment. He remember the mission. He and eight others had been tasked with entering an Oblivion gate, and try to destroy it. But they failed after they were attacked by Daedra, and were forced back out.

The Legionnaire smiled cynically, his dirty teeth showing in the moon light as the wind continued to blow. Romulus took a step back, and prepared to defend himself with his sword; but was to late as the Legionnaire quickly unsheathed his own sword, and thrusted it deep into Romulus' right shoulder. Romulus screamed out in pain as he fell to the ground, the sword quickly pulling out as blood began to flow. The Legionnaire smiled and stepped over Romulus, the tip of his sword facing Romulus as he winced in pain from the attack. Before he could react, another Legionnaire dismounted his horse and disarmed Romulus of his steel sword; and hidden dagger inside his tall boot.

"Tell Richard and Vincent hello for me, tell them that their lives were not in vain. And that I, Jonathan Caren will not be seeing them soon." Romulus looked at Jonathan, his shoulder bleeding profusely as he tried to get up. But he had lost to much blood to quickly, and began to black out.

"I will.... take.... Oblivion." Romulus said in a weak voice before blacking out completely. Jonathan smiled menacingly before placing his helmet back on, and mounting his horse. One of the other Legionnaires slapped the horse Romulus had been riding, causing the horse to run off into the woods all around them.

"Leave him to his fate. He will not be returning to us." Jonathan said striking his horse as he and his Legionnaires quickly made off down the road. Romulus laying on the side of the small road, completely helpless to the elements and creatures. Only the gods could decide whether he lived or died.

It was good.. But be careful with the three two to and too. You use to when it should be too a few times, I didn't notice anything else besides a few other grammatical errors that I came across.

Other than that, great story. I don't really see where it's going, though. I doubt anyone would go on a quest for vengeance over a stabbed shoulder.

Well it's not about revenge because he was stabbed in the shoulder. If you had read what Jonathan had said at the end. Then maybe it would have made more sense, on where the story is going to go? But I can't tell you where the story is going to go because that would ruin it of course.

I think that was very well written. Only a few minor mistakes here and there, but nothing that can't be easily fixed. I hope you continue with this tale for I look forward to reading more. Good luck!

Surprisingly good...


I like the plot. I like the flow. I like the immersion.

However, I have a few quibbles with the language.

nicely kept steel sword which rested at his side

What is a 'nicely kept' steel sword? I suspect you meant to say 'well polished' or 'well maintained'. Careful with your vocabulary.

no one dared go outside into the storm; for fear they might catch a cold.

The semicolon isn't needed here. Get rid of it!

warm and friendly inn, they had music and plenty of food and drink to heed them.

you need to put a 'where' in place of the comma. And only LIVING beings can heed, so the last three words of your sentence need to be deleted!

There are quite a few more mistakes in the use of vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar. Perhaps re-reading your posts before you post would be a good idea?

I know that.. It's just that the guy who wanted revenge stabbed the guy in the shoulder... Then what does the guy do? Either die in the dirt or just go back to his life? Because I don't think getting stabbed in the shoulder is a means of a quest fer vengeance. I did in fact read what Jon said at the end, and btw I'm not asking you to tell me where the story's going. It's just I'm canceling the option that the main char will hunt down Jon just because of a stabbed shoulder, because that'd be silly :dance:

@D. Foxy: Thanks for the input, glad you liked it and all. Thanks for the corrections as well. Always willing to know what I can do to better my story.

@Scatmang: Well, you obviously didn't understand what Jonathan was saying. Because if you had. You'd have understood that Jonathan and Romulus both have a history together; and that Jonathan is the one getting revenge.

I told you already that I get that Jonathan was the one getting revenge. But now he has his revenge... And unless there's some dark history between the two, and Jon did something terrible to Rom, then I can't see Rom gettin' up and hunting down Jon over a messed up shoulder.

Scatmang, there is always more the a story than just what the Prologue gives. And in this case, it's the same way.


Chapter I

The sudden screams of women and children could be heard all around, Romulus was suddenly standing in a large field. In the distance he could see smoke, and fire coming from inside the woods. The sky was a dark orange and red. Thunder roared and cracked all around as thin black clouds moved across the sky. Romulus had the fear of worry on his face, he looked down at himself realizing he was clad in the typical Legionnaire armor. But even the strong armor did not seem well kept.

"Come on Romulus!" A voice shouted over to him. He looked, and saw a young blonde haired man waving over to him; sword in hand, along with his shield. Romulus quickly recognized the man. But it was impossible, how could the blonde haired man still be alive. "They're coming for our families!" the blonde haired man shouted as Romulus was suddenly following in a quick running pace. His armor clanked as he ran after the young blonde haired man.

"Richard? What is happening, how did we get here?" Romulus said suddenly seeing himself surrounded by large burning buildings, and bloody bodies of women and children. His stomach suddenly sank at the thought of where he was. Romulus could no longer see Richard, and his long blonde hair.

Imps, Daedroth, and other terrible creatures were all around as well. Romulus tried to attack, but his arms were numb and did not respond to what he wanted them to do. All Romulus was capable of, was running and looking around. Smoke was everywhere, making Romulus cough as he finally spotted Richard and another Legionnaire fighting on the chapel steps.

"Richard!" Romulus yelled trying to get his attention. "Richard, I'm coming. Do not-" Suddenly Romulus was thrown to the side, and crashed against a burning house. The impact had put Romulus in a daze, and he could not hear or see straight.

"Romulus, let's get going." Another voice said, this time it was not the sound of Richard. But of Jonathan. "We have to get these people to safety, they'll die without our help." Jonathan said pulling Romulus up off the ground. After a moment, Romulus regained his senses and saw that he was no longer in the burning city. He looked around, the sky was no longer a dark red and orange. He looked down, and saw that he was riding along a road with Jonathan, Richard, and who he quickly realized as Vincent. None of them spoke, and when Romulus tried to speak. No words came out, it was as if he was a mute.

Suddenly the sound of cries echoed as Romulus stood in a room. He looked at the furnishings in the room, realizing it was someones bedroom. The cries continued, and Romulus turned to them; seeing a man in his bed laying there, his face unrecognizable as another man thrusted his sword into the man laying in the bed. Both of their faces were hard to recognize as the man with the sword thrusted it once again into the man laying down.

"Stop!" Romulus said holding out his hand to the man with the sword. But neither man responded to Romulus' plea. All he could do was stand and watch as the man in the bed was stabbed repeatedly by the man with the sword, suddenly the man in the beds face appearing. It was Richard, he had aged a bit; but he was still recognizable with his long scar across his left cheek he had suffered during the Oblivion Crisis. The other man, Romulus suddenly realized as Jonathan. He was seeing the death of his old friend, by the hands of a man both of them though to be dead, and forgotten in Oblivion.

"You have no more worries old friend, I have cleansed you of all worry and doubt. Now sleep in peace." Jonathan said with a menacing tone of voice. Richard could not reply as he coughed up blood that we was slowly choking on. Romulus looked in horror and sadness that his old friend had died in such a terrible way. He quickly looked away as he shielded his eyes with his hand, and then took it away as the cries and gurgles were no more.

Romulus looked up, and saw he was no longer in Richard's bedroom; but was now standing in a small living area. A small fire burned in the fire place, and a red headed man sat beside it in a large chair. His head deep inside a book which Romulus could not point out. He quickly realized it was Vincent, as Vincent had lost right pinky finger to an Orc blade while he was touring in High Rock.

Romulus knew what was happening, and why he was here. This time, Romulus could say nothing as the door to the house opened, and Vincent lowered the book and looked to the door. It was raining heavily, and thunder and lightning cracked and boomed outside. A dark figure walked in through the door way, Romulus knowing it was Jonathan.

"Who is it?" Vincent said standing up from his seat, and grabbing the fine Steel sword he had kept after the Oblivion Crisis. "I demand to know who you are?" Vincent said unsheathing the sword, and throwing the sheath to the floor. The steel sword glistened in the light from the fireplace. Vincent stood at the ready, his face giving a bit of a snarling look at Jonathan.

"Do you not remember your old friend, Jonathan?" The figure said stepping into the light. The door on its own suddenly closing. Vincent's face suddenly shot to fear and terror as he could not move. "Do not worry Vincent, I have not come back for just you. There are still two others I must take care of. You are lucky. You will not have to suffer like the others shall." Jonathan added as he quickly shot to Vincent, still stunned and frozen.

From underneath Jonathan's cloak, the glint of a sword appeared and was quickly unsheathed as it rose and connected with Vincent's neck. Without a word or sound, Jonathan turned and watched as Vincent's head slowly fell off, and landed on the floor between his feet. The lifeless body fell to the ground; Jonathan smiling as he cast a quick spell, increasing the fire to a uncontrollable burn. Suddenly the curtains and the rest of the house were ablaze. Romulus was suddenly outside the house of Vincent, watching in the heavy rain as the house burned to the ground. He could hear the sound of a horse, and saw Jonathan riding off into the woods. The horror of seeing his friends deaths, was hard for Romulus. He looked around, and suddenly everything went black. He could not hear, see, or say anything. Everything was black and dark, nothing could be said or done.