Nero peered from his tent quietly observing the Mercenary and his new armaments. His imagination quit fantasizing and begun shaping before him the final essences of his plan.

-he enjoys the armour.
That he does.
-he will enjoy servitude as well won't he?
He will.
-you sound confident little Nero...
I am.
-and arrogant.
Perhaps.
-you know what must be done.
I do.
-then see to it
I shall.

Nero watched the mercenary dance, and tire and wallow. In time he would learn that dancing is what the Autocracy does best. And whether he fights the Empire, or the elements... or perhaps something else, will all be told in due time.

Slings-His-Knives awoke with a start, hus head was throbbing. He crawled out of his tent, looking at the night sky.

I'm up a bit too early...

Slings-His-Knives decided he needed a walk, and to find a good bush to pee by. He stood up, and looked around the camp, everyone was asleep. Slings-His-Knives walked out of the camp, back onto the road. He looked either side of him, then decided to head away from Skingrad. He walked, wihtout anything paticular on his mind. He unsheathed his sword and looked at it. Dull. He sheathed it again.

He saw a nice tree a little way into the forrest he was walking next to, and decided to relieve himself there. He walked towards the tree, before getting stopped by a loud party, walking the opposite way he came. Slings-His-Knives stopped, and turned. He crept towards a bush closer to the road. he went onto the floor, and laid next to it, not moving. A group of legionaires walked by. "Travelling at night, remind me, why are we doing this again?" A legionaire called out. The one at the fron answered, "If we find any autocracy camps, then we will have the jump on them." They all remained silent. Slings-His-Knives counted there numbers, six. He decided he should try and take some of them out while he could. He stood up, quietly, but quickly. His head throbbed.

Damn mead...

He crept behind the legionaire that was trailing behind. Slings-His-Knives decided against using his sword, as unsheathing it would be too loud. He slipped the book out of his pocket, and pulled the dagger out. He replaced the book into his pocket. He did all this within a few seconds. He looked at the armour, looking for a weak spot. There lower back had little armour, and a few openings. He poised his dagger behind his back, and stabbed it through the hole...

The legionaire droppped to the ground, yelling out. The legionaires turned to face him. Slings-His-Knives leapt back, "You die, here and now. For the Autocracy." Slings his knives leapt forward, shoving his dagger into the closest legionaire throat...

Or so he thought. The dagger stopped, like hitting a brick wall. It also made the same sound. "What the..." Slings-His-Knives uttered. He stepped back,, as quickly as his legs took him. He pulled the dagger behind his back, and threw it at the legionaire he'd just attempted to stab. The blade just bounced off.

No... Shield magic. Maybe magic can penetrate it.

The legionaires advanced, slowly, asif toying with him. Slings-His-Knives still knew a small fireball spell, which could stun the legionaires, but it was a long shot. He always svcked at magic. He moved his hand forward, in the proper gesture to summon a fireball. It worked, just. The fireball flew at the front legionaire, making him walk back in surprise. It worked. He thought to the bosmer's story.

This must be the type of legionaires he dealt with, the arrows bouncing off, when they should have penetrated. Only magic seems to work... That and surprise. I must warn the camp

He turned as the legionaires advanced quickly, knowing that he knows there weakness. He sprinted into the forest. He ran for about five minutes, not looking back. He finally stopped, checking around for danger. He was alone. All he had to do now was find the camp. He ran back into the direction he came from, turning towards Skingrad slightly, so that he hoped he was infront of the legionaires. He ran, and ran.

He came to the edge of the forrest, back at the path. He did not know where he was along the road, but he had to take a chance.

I usually have such a good sense of direction.

He turned oppostie the Skingrad way, looking for landmarks, so he could work out his location. He soon fouind he was very near the camp. He ran towards it. Everyone was still asleep.

"Enchanted legionaires!" He called out. "Prepare for battle. Magic is your only effective weapon!"

Pissed. Nero decided that was his mood. An attack on Skingrad, a restless attempt to get some rest, and above all a wounded brother. He quickly re-entered his tent and placed the immense, heavy pauldrons back unto his shoulders and made his way towards Slings-his-Knives.

"How many, and where?" Nero motioned to one of the soldiers and the mercenary. "You want to earn your keep Lucien? Lets see you try out that new armour."

Nero reached into his robes and removed a skull, he grasped it within his hands tightly as he continued his heavy steps towards the argonian. "Let's go!"
He yelled before his hands glowed once more, conjuring beside him a skeleton with a bow and a small quiver of arrows on its back. His other hand gathered more of the strange purple miasma and it coalesced into a second skeleton, this time wielding a massive bastard sword on its small frame.

Hope to the Nine they don't live to tell why they're beyond Skingrad... he thought.

"Opposite skingrads direction.... west!" H epointed down the road towards the driection he'd just walked. He drew his sword, but knew it wouldnt be much use. "Thats where I last saw them. I had to retreat here, to stop them landing a surprise attack. We should hurry, there probably expecting us, or me, now." He breathed deeply. He'd run everywhere. But he wasn't going to stop now. "Commander Nero, What are your orders?"

He didn't have to think long.

"If magick is all that will affect them, I will be our mainstay for offense, but I will not be able to fend all of them while I concentrate on focusing my attacks. These two skeletal allies will be of use but not for long. If you wish to come and serve then you may but I am not forcing you. You have equal opportunity here at camp. They're may be more of these raiding parties in the area. And we must have someone to watch over Aller. You two!"

Nero motioned over to two of the weary soldiers who already were up and beginning to gather their weapons.

"Accompany me to these trespassers!"

The two soldiers yelled in unison "Yes dear Pariah!" and scrambled to gather at his side.

"Mercenary, I want you to come with me. I have yet to see you in action and that armour is some of the best work I've produced yet."

Inwardly he grinned.

"Let's move out now!" he demanded.

"I will stay with Aller then Pariah, sir. If They attack the camp, I do not think I would be able to fend them off, retreat may be the only option, especially since Aller is wounded." Slings-His-Knives walked towards Aller's tree. He was still asleep. Slings-His-Knives decided to make some preperations. He turned to Walks-On-Air, who was stood up, confused by the noise.

I hope your not to tired...

This was not what Claudius had wanted to hear. His own allys were swiftly approaching their camp and they would not know the difference between him and the rest of the Autocracy scum. They would just as quickly try to strike him down as anyone else but he himself would not be so quick to kill them. It was a difficult choice and he wasn't so sure as to what to do. He got dressed into the rest of his new armor and unsheathed his sword into his right hand and ran towards his horse.

"Wait Commander Nero!" he shouted as he climbed onto his own horse and rode beside him "If magic is all that can pierce through their invisible barriers then what am I expected to do with a sword?"

Although Nero was likely to think of a reason to make him kill them it was still worth a try. At least to avoid spilling his own allys blood.

He looked towards Lucian and smirked.

"You, are going to distract them while I do the flaying. Their magickal makeup won't allow any other tactic."

He waited for Lucian to catch up, he would let the mercenary take point.

A plan was beginning to form in his mind. If he got close enough to the Legion soldiers in melee combat he could try and convince them to flee, It would be their only hope of survival as Neros magical powers would most likely end up slaughtering them where they stood. It would be a long shot though as there ignorance, if they had any, would be the death of them. He did not want them to die, every man counted.

Claudius finally caught up to Nero and rode ahead with Nero behind him.

"Very well Nero, I will draw their attentions in melee combat to avoid them getting close to you. This will leave them open for your attacks. How many are we expected to face?"

Slings-His-Knives walked back to Aller's tree. "Come on Aller, we got to move for now. I don't think the camp is safe, meet me outside."

As quickly as he entered, he left again. Slings-His-Knives walked to Walks-On-Air, and untied his ropes. He didn't Expect aller to walk far, he could ride Walks-On-Air. He walked by of Aller's tree, and waited for him to come down. He looked at the four soldiers left. "Deviants, are you prepared to follow orders from a fellow deviant?"

The four soldiers looked at each other, but one stepped forward, "Depends, what are your plans?"

Slings-His-Knives grinned. "I want two of you at each side of the road, looking out for enemies. If you see one, come to the wishing well. I shall try and think of some sort of ambush we can lay for anyone that tries to attack.

Now, hopefully Aller has some better ideas, I'm all out. My head is still spinning from the ale and mead.

"Okay, we can do that, Slings-His-Knives." The soldiers looked at him, before turning to the road.

Name:Robert Weiss
Race: Imperial
Age: 31

Class: Myrmidon
Faction: Autocracy
Rank: Pariah

Weapons: His father's Akaviri Katana, a dagger concealed in his right boot, and a dirk hanging on his hip opposite of his katana
Armour/Clothes: Robert wears a dented briastplate over top of a regular white tunic and plain beige pants and plain work boots.
Miscellaneous: Robert wears a wedding ring on his left ring finger.

Appearance: Robert has wavy auburn hair that reaches mid neck. He is average in height and has an athletic build to him. He has a slightly pale complexion.
Mental Description:Robert is calm under pressure and friendly to those that show him respect and kindness. He can be rather cruel to his enemies and doesn't hesitate when told to kill a man unless he believes it is truly wrong.

Major Skills: Swordsmanship, Athletics, Tracking, Acrobatics
Minor Skills: Cooking, Sneaking, Light Armor

The captive lay at his feet with only his undergarments still on him. Robert studied him closely from his seat, his katana lain across his legs. "This one was found scouting the area near Bloodcrust Cave sir." The young Deviant told him, "The man's an idiot to have expected not to get caught so close to Skingrad." The captive was a giant of a man with arms as thick as tree trunks, and if he had been standing, he would have surely towered above Robert. Despite his hardened exterior, Robert could see the fear in the man's eyes and from the paleness of his skin.

"It took three of us to take him down," the Deviant added, "the bloody Imperial killed my best friend as well." Robert knew that the Deviant would have liked nothing better than to kill the man, but Robert did these kinds of things himself.

"Imperial," he said after a long silence, "Do you deny these claims?"

"No," he said bluntly, "I don't deny them. And just for the record, I'd kill each and every one of you if I could." He's brave even in the face of death. Robert respected that.

Robert rose from his seat with sword in hand. "Tell me, which hand was it that killed the Deviant?" The Imperial thrust a large hand at him,

"This one, and it will kill another if it gets the chance."

"Don't be so sure about that." In a single, graceful motion, Robert's katana came down on the man's exposed hand. The Imperial wailed in pain and terror as his severed hand hit the ground. He clutched his arm and rolled on the ground as blood poured from his stump. Another sweep and his katana loped off his foot. He screamed louder then.

Robert turned to one of the Deviants. "Leave him outside the city gates and let him crawl back to where he came from." The Deviant nodded and grabbed the now sobbing Imperial by the good arm and dragged him out of the room, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. Such bloody work. he thought as he went on to clean the blood from his sword.

OCC: Sorry for my absence, I've had buisness to do.

Aller awoke suddenly, hearing Slings-His-Knife's talking to four other Autocracy soldiers. "What's going on, some damn Legionnaire's come around?", aller quickly grabbed his gear as he hopped down the tall tree with ease. The wound seemed to have healed faster, than he had exspected, but it was still a little sore. Aller looked to Slings-His-Knife's who had a questioned and worried look, at least for a argonian, "Where are we going?", the horse made aller look like a dwarf in comparison...

OOC: yay im back, sorry I had camping an exams an other crap that i had to do

IC: -Legion attack of Skingrad-

As he thrust with his spear, splitting the Deviant's (as he had heard they were called) face open. William was tapped on the shoulder, fearing attack, he drew his sabre and reared Ysmir up before realising it was his old friend Groz, an Orc (people often questioned as to why he was friends with an Orc), smiling William cut down the Deviant that was charging at Groz from behind.
'That three you owe me Gro-Karz!' he laughed
'Argh you're not counting that skooma svcker who tried to gut you' growled Groz as he crushed a deviant's chest in.
'It was a Bosmer, a drunk and high Bosm....' explained William before he was cut off by the war horn of the Legion
As a captain somewhere to the right of William yelled 'CHAAARRRGE!' both he and Groz looked at each other and grinned as they knew that the battle just easier.
'WOOO! they breached the wall' exclaimed William
'So that just means more, highly trained soldiers ya hopeless half-breed!' replied Groz (forever playing Devil's Advocate)
'Yeah you'd think so but the Autocracy is full of half-assed strategists and Skingrad is only got their higher-ups in it anyway'
'So'
'Pfft "so" rather eloquent of you Mr. Gro-Karz, but that means easier fight, more loot, and killin' these god-forsaken traitors'
'Arrrrr I hate you so very much Eriksson!' Joked Groz
'And thats why they love me' said William with a wink before turning his mind back to the battle and charging with the mass into the now exposed Skingrad.

Slings-His-Knives looked at Aller. "Legionaires have been spotted. Two soldiers, the mercenry and Nero have gone to take of it. they were enchanted somehow, and only magic affects them. If they attacked, we can't defeat them without Nero. So the other soldiers are watching for any Empire scouting parties. You are still injured, so i need to take you someplace safe. Hop on Walks-On-Air" He motioned to his horse. "And lets get moving"

Robert spun around the soldier with ease and atacked relentlsessly. He backed the now puffing man against the wall of an old house. Finally, Robert saw an opening. He blocked the Imperials blow and thrust his katana deep into the opening of his armor just above the waist. Robert left the man on the ground clinging to life.

Legionaires poured into the city through the now open gate. Robert cursed softly and turned to his Deviants. "Get inside the houses!" he commanded, "At my mark, spring out and attack any Legionnaire you see!" The Deviants scrambled into the nearby houses and shut the doors firmly and closed the draqes.
Robert was the last to hide away.

Within a few minutes Robert saw a group of eight Legionnaires making their way up the now deserted street except for the few dead soldiers. The Legionnaires proceeded cautiously down the street with swords in hand. When they finally were within range, RObert cupped his hands and shouted out the open window, "NOW!"

Robert and his Deviants sprung out from the houses and onto the startled Legionnaires. The soldiers were dead before they even knew what was happening.

A dead soldiers lay at Roberts feet as well as seven others. Robert raised his bloody sword towards the gates, "CHARGE!"

William skidded to a halt s he saw eight Legionnaires cut down in front of him, luckily his talk with Groz had kept him far enough behind so that he was not wiped out with the rest of the unlucky bastard who got routed by the enemy.
'Groz, Men if we keep going we'll get destroyed by them, let's cut down this side street and avoid them, their Pariah is obviously very well trained, I'm not going to risk your lives on
what could easily be a suicide mission, we'll avoid them, pick off some of the smaller troops and wait for the reinforcements, they got to use the Magik armour so if anyone is going to
risk there lives it'll be them.' whispered William
'But Sir that's un 'onourable that is' replied a young Nord
'Thorsson isn't it? It may be but we can do more harm to the filth by staying alive, and none of us have Magik armor so we can't rush them Let's Go' explained William

Aller hopped onto Slings-His-Knife horse, and squinted at his wound, "I know somewhere we can go, its out of the way of any Leggionaire hunting party, so we should be safe, Its a cave, that an old Old Bosmer live's in, he can help us gather some magical weapons and potions", aller held his wound while he pointed to the south east. Slings-His-Knife's knoded, and the two headed off...

Robert couldn't help but smile when he saw a few men hesitate to come near him and his Deviants. His men were already charging forward when he decided to join them. Soon he was fighting again.

The Legionnaire hammered Robert with vicious strikes which he blocked every time. After a short time his shoulders began to ache uncomfortably from the attack. This was when he decided to go onto the offensive. Robert blocked another swing and slammed into the attacker with his shoulder, using all of is weight against him.

The soldier stumbled backwards but quickly regained his balance just in time to stop Robert from splitting his head open. Robert swung again and again until finally he was able to slide around the soldier in a single graceful movement and swung as hard as he could at the back of the soldier's neck. Only to be stopped by some force, not even an inch away from the man's neck. Shields! Damn them they've got magikal shields!

Robert took a step back ducked as the soldier's sword whirled around. That's when a fireball caught the Legionnaire square in the chest. The soldier looked up in surprise at the Deviant that was now pelting him with fireballs.

The man doubled over after a short time, then rolled over on his side and died quietly. Robert stood and brushed the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand then looked to the Deviant who just saved his life.

"Thank you," he said to the Altmer, "I owe you my life." The Deviant smiled at him then. "Now, how about we continue this battle."

William looked back just in time to see Thorsson get eviscerated by a Pariah, then he heard the screams of the other few soldiers who had decided to stay and fight.
'There was nothing you could do mate' said Groz
'I know but they're still dead and I'll have to tell their families that it was my fault' replied William
'... You there, mage set up that trap once we get into the sewers, we don't want them following us'. Growled Groz to a nearby Altmer
'Y-yes Sir but I w-won't be able to t-turn it off, luck-kily that means it wi-ill kill all who en-nter the sewers no m-matter how good of a mage they are' stuttered the mage
'Good they won't be able to follow us, ...very good' replied William
'Alright boys into the sewers'

OOC: I know that Skingrad doesn't have any sewers in TES IV but hey who cares
OOC part II: don't know what the trap does except kill people who enter the sewers after them so umm.. yeah if someone enters the sewers afer my boys then you can feel free to make up what lethal thing it does

OOC:My computer broke, so I'm giving Slings-His-Knives something that will keep him imoblised for a while. So feel free to carry on, and when mycomputers fixed, I'll have him 'Wake up'.

IC: They walked for what seemed only a few minutes, but they had gotten far. without realsing it, Slings-His-Knives had been jogging while making the horse ganter next to him. "We're making good time, no?" He grinned to Aller, before realsing his feet were looking up beneath him. Slings-His-Knives looked behind him, to see a snake holding onto his calf. "[censored] it!"

Slings-His-Knives pulled the dagger out of his sleeve and stabbed the snake. Before Slings-His-Knives knew it, his arms began locking up aswell. "Go without me Aller, I should be fine. Just leave me. Take me to a lake."

Slings-His-Knives put his knife back, and swallowed hard. Walks-On-Air was now dragging him along.

This could be it for me...

Aller tried to hold the argonian with all his strength, but the argonian passed out and was "dead" weight. He layed the argoinian on the ground, as he made the horse lay down so he could get back on, and place the argonian on as well.

Aller had a hard time placing the unconcious argonian on the horse, but he finally got Slings-His-Knife's on, and aller hopped on, as he kicked the horse towards the cave. The only sound, was that of the forrest, and the creatures that live and died.

Hopefully the mage will be able to heal him? aller thought as they continued to make their way to the cave, that was'nt as far as he thought. The cave was small, more of a child's hideout to those who were not small enough. Aller slid off the horse, grabbing Slings-His-Knife's by the shoulders. The argonian slid off right into aller's chest, knocking him over and somewhat pinned. Aller used his skill's to call the horse over, and pull the argonian off him. Aller walked over to what seemed like a rock door, but was really a small gate.

"Uncle, I need your help..." a voice came from the cave door.

"Who is that, is that Allerleirauh I hear knocking at my front stoop?"

"Yes uncle, it is me Allerleirauh, I come in need of assistance, a argonian and myself are injured!"

"I told you that I never wanted to return to this place, after what you did!"

Aller lowered his head for a moment, "Please uncle, it is the most important that this argonian and I get some attension to our wounds!"

No voice returned, but the sound of the door opening. Aller grabbed the argonian and dragged him towards the door, "Uncle please forgive me of this insult of not informing you of my coming", the bosmer shook his head, "Do not worry, I'am not insulted by this, it is the wounds that worry me!", aller handed Slings-His-Knife's over to his uncle, as he tied the horse to a distant tree.

The bosmer lifted Slings-His-Knife onto a table, that only reached halfway across the argonian's body. Aller walked into the room catching his breath as his uncle looked over at him, aller kneeled down bowing his head as he still cought his breath, "Uncle, I'am greatfull for your acceptance. I'am indeed in debt to you", the bosmer walked over placing his hand on his shoulder, "Rise my gracious warrior, you have indeed proved yourself time and time again, you are not in debt to me. What you have done is a great trusting act", aller stood-up, as the bosmer looked at his wound, "When did you get this?", aller looked down at the wound and then returned his attension back to his uncle, "Yesterday, I was stalking some Legionnaire's and then they spotted me, I tried to fight them, but they had some sort of magical armor that would not be pierced by regular weapons, only magical weapons I'am told can pierce the armor", the mage sat aller down, as he grabbed a small bottle from his table, "Here take this, it shall heal your wound before the day is over. But as for your friend, what is his affliction?", aller took swig from the bottle, "He was bitten by a snake just outside the cave, he fell unconcious before I could get him here", the mage walked over to him and checked his wound, where it began to bleed, "It will take me sometime to gather the appropriate ingrediants, but I should be able to heal him, stay here for the night, while your friend is here?", aller shook his head, "I cant, I must return to help in the battle near Skingrad...", aller was interupted by his uncle, "You have joined with the Autocracy? why would you have done that?", aller's brow lowered at the question, "I have'nt joined them, I was wounded and needed help, I just found them by accident", the mage shook his head, as he continued to inspect the bite, "I've told you countless times, NOT, to get involved with either the Empire or the Autocracy, neither side has gain's for the people of Cyrodiil, only for personal gains", aller bit his lip, and took a swig from his bottle, as he sat there...

-Skingrad Sewers-

As the remaining squad was led through the sewers by a Skingrad native, a Wood Elf archer, William began to wonder.

Why did that son of a [censored] have to invade us, what right does he have? asked his vengeful half.
Admitadley they did refuse to recognise his genius potions. rebutted his more 'nice' side.
Argh, He brought it upon himself.
True but you might of done the same thing.

Appalled by his thoughts William brought himself out of his head to realise they had stopped and were observing several corpes in different stages of putrefaction.
'Guess the rumours about Janus Hassildor were true eh?' joked Groz

'Don't joke Groz they're far too fresh to be from Janus, and there neck's aren't bitten, this Autocracy is cannaballistic.'

As would be expected the men, and woman, were revolted. The Wood Elf less so, but she had left Valenwood for a more.. civilised life
Look where that got her.
We've all got our problems.
All brought on by that betraying filth.

'All right soldiers keep going'

'But Sir were are we going' asked a young Redguard

'Where ever this Wood Elf deems safe, now move your ass or you'll end up like those boys who stayed behind'