» Sat May 28, 2011 10:12 am I've been an on-and-off regular for the past eight years (I frequent this forum whenever I start playing Morrowind or Oblivion), and I started playing Morrowind again today after a long hiatus.
While I'm back on these forums, I would like to share the story of Sa-heb the Impaler.
Orvas Dren never told Sa-heb where his mother was purchased from. His mother never told him, either, probably because she died giving birth to him in the slave shack.
Sa-heb grew up on the Dren plantation, not knowing anything about his origins besides the fact that he was born under the wandering star. He knew this because he was very obviously stricken with the Star Curse. He could concentrate his very vitality into a quick-spreading poison. After a few "accidents" in his early days, Dren ordered that Sa-heb be made to wear gloves at all times, even when he went to bed at night.
Long days of working in the fields, under the hot, Ascadian sun made Sa-heb quite strong and also hot-headed. So much, in fact, that when he was 16, he attempted an escape. The plantation was surrounded by guards, but the field itself was watched by one orc. Sa-heb's old companion, Hides-His-Foot created a distraction by pulling on the tail of Ahzini, another slave. The orc heard Ahzini's yelp and marched over, ready to lay down some discipline.
That's when Sa-heb wrestled him to the ground. He swiped the orc's keys, unlocked his bracer, and ran as fast as he could before the orc could get back up. He jumped the wall and splashed into a big lake. It was the first time he ever swam in his life, but it felt so natural and right. He rocketed to the bottom of the lake, knowing none of the soft-skins could follow him down there.
That's when the slaughterfish attacked! They came from all angles, biting him and weakening him. He was forced to swim to the surface, where he was met by a gaggle of guards.
Now, it is important to note, at this point, that when Sa-heb was eight years old, Dren went away for a week-long expedition to the mainland. His friend, Hides-His-Foot, always had a talent for stealth, and this was his opportunity to snatch some real fancy stuff from the master's bedroom. Among Hides-His-Foot's loot was an old book, which Sa-heb bought from him for a bottle of greef. How Sa-heb obtained this greef is a story for another time.
From this old book, Sa-heb learned how to cast a shield spell and, at this moment, surrounded by armed guards, Sa-heb found the perfect opportunity to use it. Sa-heb closed his eyes, chanted the magic words he remembered, and opened his eyes again to find a beautiful, twinkling aura surrounding him. Unfortunately, it was only a five point shield and the guards were able to tackle him without effort.
When the guards brought Sa-heb back to Dren, they asked whether they should lock him back up, or kill him. Dren laughed and said, "if the boy wants to fight for his freedom so badly, then let him." Orvas Dren then donated 1500 septims to the Arena in Vivec. Along with this gold, Dren also shipped Sa-heb and one other slave, a dark-elf, named Flavys to the Arena. He requested that the two slaves be made to fight and that the winner should be allowed to walk free out of the Arena, and into the world.
At this point, it would be important to note that Sa-heb also happened to know a healing spell. When he was ten years old, he was wrestling, one day, with Hides-His-Foot in the slave shack. He accidentally knocked his friend's head into the corner of the wooden table. Hides-His-Foot fell to the floor and began to cry, blood squirting out of his head. Sa-heb thought quickly. He knew a shield spell, and healing spells are in the same school, so maybe he could improvise. He concentrated hard on the incantations, customizing the phrases based off the limited understanding of Daedric he had gained from that old book.
After a few failed attempts, Sa-heb cast a spell that phased through Hides-His-Foot and restored the luster of the wooden floor underneath him. A few more failed attempts, and he did it! A successful healing spell! On himself, however.
The orc was forced to pay a healer to fix Hides-His-Foot out of his own pocket, so that Dren wouldn't find out. The orc didn't let Sa-heb eat anything for three days as punishment.
So, the first thing Sa-heb did when they threw him in the Arena, was to finally yank off those gloves after so many years of wearing them all day and night. The other slave lunged at Sa-heb with his sword, and Sa-heb touched him on the shoulder. The curse immediately took effect and the life began to rapidly drain out of Flayvs as well as out of Sa-heb.
Sa-heb quickly cast the healing spell on himself, which had failed him six years ago. He, then, ran around in circles, avoiding his opponent's sword until the curse claimed his life. Sa-heb didn't hear many cheers, and he looked up at the rafters to notice that the few spectators who had come to see the fight, had stopped paying attention by this point. He exited the Arena, picking up a dagger and a pair of boots off the floor, on the way out.
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I will post a couple more episodes over time and see how many people are interested in watching the story unfold.
The story I just posted is basically the first few minutes of a game I started today. The alternate beginnings mod and the "welcome to the arena" mod made the arena scene possible. (I chose battling in the arena as my opening) The stuff before that is backstory I made up. More of Sa-heb's backstory will be revealed as the story goes on. Besides that, most of the story will follow my gameplay with some fabricated dialogue and encounters for dramatic purposes.
The second episode is shorter and I will probably post it later tonight.
Anyway, http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v620/thelobo/ScreenShot0.jpg?t=1271380962 is Sa-heb in his ripped-up slave pants as well as the cuirass and spear that he will gain in episode two.
