OOC: Let's assume we're all at the keep now.

Almerion



Comfort was usually of little concern to a vampire, though Almerion was now experiencing rare discomfort. He surveyed the halls of the Keep, guards were posted at the entrances collecting names of each man and woman entering and dropping them into a leather sack. Almerion shifted a little on his hard wooden chair, trying to stop his padded stomach pressing against his skin too hard. Mashab shot his Master a sideways glance before turning his attention back to the rest of the room, there was little he could do to help Almerion when so many eyes where on them.

After some time many of the seats in the room filled, the doors closed and silence fell like a veil across the room, every one was listening aptly and with unbridled curiousity. Almerion noted the Jarl's entrance into the room through the back doors to his chambers, a few people bowed their heads to him as he passed, though most did not.

"Greetings to all who heard the call." He said loudly and officially as he took his place on the throne. "As you know, some time ago the ruins of Nchuand-Zel and others like it around the continent and within Skyrim opened up. We do not know why or how but we are interested to find out. Any official attempt at exploring the depths have failed or survivors have simply not returned. After great deliberation, Ulfric Stormcloak -- our beloved High King decided it was not in the best interests of Skyrim and her people to fund expeditions into the ruins when they could be better spent training our armies to defend against the heathen Thalmor who sniff at our borders like hungry dogs. Knowing the possible importance of exploring these ruins, many people petitioned High King Ulfric to change his mind, though few even gained audience with him. One man however, volunteered to offer funding of his own to the expeditions aswell as the training of new soldiers on Ulfrics behalf. This person wishes to remain anonymous at this time. I have great pleasure however, in announcing that tonight, the ruins of Nchuand-Zel will be open for the first time to those brave and bold few who wish to explore its secrets." The Jarl paused for a moment, "I cannot however explain what this expedition entails, I am much too underqualified for such a task, so with my thanks for attending, please allow Calcelmo, the Court Wizard to Markarth, explain further." and with that, the Jarl stood up from his throne, turned on his heel and began walking to his chambers, casting a dark look in Almerions direction as he went.

After a few confused mutterings from the audience at the Jarls hasty and rushed speach followed by his immediate departure, Calcelmo lifted himself from his seat and eyed the audience like a patient teacher until the mutterings ceased. He had a dubious expression on his face that practically announced that this was not planned, "Ahem... Yes, well." he paused for a moment longer, clearly thinking of a speach on the spot was not one of Calcelmos fields of research. "It has been decided that with such a large number of applicants of no portfolio and little recognition that the best avenue should be left to fate to decide. Usually we would send a structured and trained squad though since we have no soldiers at our disposal, we will be relying on the tried and tested methods of lady luck. As you entered the hall, the guards took your name and entered it into a sack. The first group of names drawn from the sack will be exploring the ruins by entering through Nchuand-Zel bellow the keep, the second will be escorted by armed guard to the ruins of Bthardamz to the north. However, any researchers or scholars will remain behind to populate the third and fourth groups, these will follow behind a week after the first two group to explore the ruins in safety and to catalogue any finds."

"Since these groups will be facing the unknown with little structure or command, I do hope you can rely on teamwork and a common goal to overcome any adversity you encounter, should any one be wounded in the expedition, please try to use the supplies provided to tend to your wounds and make your way back to your staging points, there a team of healers will be awaiting should you so need them."

After a few more words to the audience a guard approached Calcelmo with a leather sack from which Calcelmo started pulling our and reading names, Almerion and Mashab hadn't been called simply because they where guaranteed a place in the first team. "Those of you who's named have been called, please accompany me to the staging point in Nchuand-Zel." Calcelmo called once the sack had been exhausted of names.

Mashab helped Almerion to his feet and gripped his upper arm to help him walk, constantly enforcing his image as a feeble old man. They followed behind Calcelmo at the considerate pace the elf set for Almerions benefit, he talked along the way, pointing out this and that in the Keep and eventually explaining how Nchuand-Zel was one of the most important Dwemmer ruins in all of Skyrim, Almerion wondered how Calcelmo had measured this conclusion but simply assumed it was made out of pride in his work than scientific evidence. Eventually they came to the entrance of Nchuand-zel and passed through the gaping doors. Several automatons lay dismantled on work surfaces, traps had been disarmed or restrained with clamps and other devices. Calcelmo stopped at the very bottom of the tomb. "Until no, we believed this is as far as the ruins went, but when the call began, we witnessed this." Calcelmo reached into a satchel on his belt and removed what looked like an old Dwemmer Control rod. "We used to use this control rod to experiment with automatons, but after the call we noticed that when it was placed into the wall socket we initially retrieved it from something spectacular happened." without hesitation, Calcelmo began climbing a small wooden ladder with an expression of sheer pride on his face, he could have just found out his son was emperor judging from the expression. He then held the Control rod aloft and began to screw it into what looked like a golden torch bracket. A few seconds of nothing went by, Calcelmo watched on patiently with a vacant smile and then suddenly, the entire wall began to glow bright and white, the stone it was made of seemed to transform, alter itself to the needs of the control rod until it was gold like the rest of the mysterious Dwemmeri metal around the hall, then it shifted back on unseen hinges, opening up to reveal a long pearl white hallway, illuminated above by glowing crystals, the walls so smooth the could be made of ice.

"By the Nine." Almerion whispered, though not religious, these seemed to be the only words he could manage.

"Indeed." Calcelmo replied, "I cannot wait to go down myself to see what this new disovery means, but the Jarl has been quite persistent that I stay in the safetly of Nchuan-Zel. Now, if you will all direct your attention this way." he finished, walking to an ante-room beside the now vastly illuminated hall, Almerion drew his hood closer to his face and pulled his coat inward, covering himself from the light.

"In these bags you will find all the essential supplies you will need, a few weeks supply of water and food, most of it is cured meats and dry bread but I assure you that in time you will come to savour it, however unappealing it may sound right now. There is also a supply of black ribbons which we hope you will remember to use to mark your progress through the ruins so that you might find your way back or so that our next team might find their way to you and map their way there for future teams. There is little else I can say to you now, but good luck!"

"Hold on!" One man in the small group said. "I was put into group three, I'm clearly capable of handling whatever these dwemmer could throw against us, why does this old man get to go first and not me!" he almost shouted that old man part, nodding toward Almerion in disgust. He was large, burly and clearly missing a few higher brain functions but the overall effect was quite intimidating.

Mashab made to answer the Nord, his facial expression not one of friendly banter, but Almerion managed to cut in before the words left his lips, "Oh, I have lived in Markath for many years just hoping to explore Nchuand-Zel, when I heard of this call, I was desperate to go. I haven't much time left on Nirn, days maybe, weeks if I'm lucky. If I'm not in the first group to go down, I may never get to see the wonders bellow. Would you really wish to deny an old man of his only dying wish?" he paused, waiting for a reply from the dumbstruck Nord who had expected to intimidate Almerion into giving up his place. "Very well then, shall we proceed Mash?"

"After you Master." Mashab replied with a grin that looked more like a grimace to those not familiar with Orc's.

Taliah

Taliah sat at the back of the collected seats in Understone Keep, surrounded by accursed treasure hunters. The Jarl stood up to give his speech, a simple formality. This fustrated the young tribal, for in her clan, there was no need for this. Everyone knew there place, no fancy greeting, you said what needed to be said. The Jarl swiftly left the room and was replaced by Calcelmo.
"Finally, someone competent!" thought Taliah.

He explained that due to the large number of potential explorers, that it was only fair for luck to decide. It was at that moment that she saw the guard who had collected everyone's name at the entrance, approach the old scholar with a leather bag. She had a pretty good guess at what was inside.

Taliah was boiling with rage! Why should these petty adventurers go when there is great danger!? It was when she had sunk her head in her hands when she heard her name being called. When she stepped forward, Calcelmo seemed to recognise her, giving her a welcoming smile. Waiting for the rest of the names to be called was agonizing, but she got through it.

The old scholar escorted the group through Nchuand-Zel, eventually reaching the lowest part of the ruin. Calcelmo then produced a sort of Dwemer lever and inserted it into the wall socket. He stood back in gleeful anticipation, as the wall almost morphed, revealing a seemingly endless hallway of perfect crystalline white.
Taliah was mesmerized. Seemingly, untouched by the vultures that are treasure hunters. The secrets it could hold are unimaginable.

Despite all of this, all Taliah could manage was a breathless gasp.

Abreal, Understone Keep
After Abreal and picked the lock on the keep to get in, she slipped in, and shut the doors quietly. It wasn't too big of a shutting noise, for the group was being rather loud at the momment. She stood in the back, pulling her hood even further over her face when a guard brushed by. Names were being called this way and that. The redguard woman looked annoyed, but stood as her name was called and walked to the front of the room. Abreal's name was not called, but she had of course anticpated this. With more guards than she had almost anticipated she would have to find a more stealthy way of navigating her way to the ruin.

Fjolr sat uneasy in his seat for two reasons. One, the seat itself was slightly too small for him and he could feel it creak the other was the sight of the Jarl and his speech. The look on the court wizards face showed that the act was certainly impromptu. Jarls usually don't act out and this action was clearly sending a message to someone, although who and why escaped him and honestly Fjolr could have cared less. He saw a redguard woman place her head in her hands, out of annoyance of the Jarl or for something else, Fjolr was uncertain. She got up when the name 'Taliah' was called, Fjolr may not have been the sharpest axe in the armory but it was a safe guess to assume that was her name. Something odd struck Fjolr about the woman, this Taliah. As he began pondering why he felt this, he felt the same pull from before. He gently touched his dwemer keep-sake and then he heard his name being called, Fjolr almost fell out of his seat.

He regained his composure and started following the rest of the group, all the while keeping an eye on the redguard. He only took his eyes off her when he heard everyone gasping. As he turned to look upon the large hallway that had opened he joined in the chorus of the others. "Thats... Beautiful..." He barely managed to form the words, for the first time since his first encounter with a dwemer construct Fjolr was speechless.

Sinks His Tail

Sinks His Tail was getting very annoyed. The aragonian had made its way through the dirty crowd and was now telling his name to one of the guards, something that was proving far harder than anticipating. "What's your name lizard?" the nord had said and Sinks somehow managed to keep calm and reply. However it was just his luck that the guard was either unusually stupid even for a human or half deaf. "Skins Tails?" "Sinks His Tail" the aragonian repeated resisting the urge to bury his knife in the idiot's throat. "Skins His Tail!" caused the Sinks to simply nod and wish that Aragonians could get drunk. It was the lack of tail that made humans so difficult, he mused as he waited for the elf to finish his speech. But then khajit also lacked tails and were equally annoying.

Sinks's head perked up as he heard the names being called. It would have irritated him to no end to have one of the pathetic treasure hunters take his place. A redguard woman was called and then "Skins His Tail!""Sinks His Tail" he muttered as he joined the first group. Finally all were called and the altmer led them through ruined halls until they finally stopped in front of the wall. People began to mutter but Sinks waited patiently as the elf toyed with a rod causing the wall to change color and turn into a door? "Impressive " the aragonian said calmly.


Atheleen

The tall elf hummed as he rode towards the Dominion camp. He was going to uncover the dwemer's greatest secrets and gain their knowledge. He was going to be a council member in the Grand Council of the Psijic. He was going to stand atop Crystal-Like-Law, the tower being rebuilt prouder and taller then ever looking over a land where the wise ruled. Under his guidance time itself would be unbound. And it would all begin today. Not even his second in command, a Thalmor watchdog if there ever was one managed to iritate him as he ordered the large crates that he had brought all the way from Tel Fyr unpacked and took a dwemer instrument from the smallest one. The spidery contraption wraqed itself around its hands and suddenly he could hear the tiny clinks of elven armor, the grass moving under the wind as he focused downwards hearing the shape of the stones. He went further hearing the color of the dwemer walls and the smell of oil and then he found it. "There!" he pointed and daedra were bound as shovels wielded by elven warriors as they removed the dirt and finally uncovered a large golden door. Atheleen placed the contraption back in its place and then activated the tonal cutter that a quartet of mages had assambled making a mental note to thank Fyr as the sharp tones went through the metal like knives through butter and then he grinned as the door fell and he could look inside.

Leo Lucius, Silver-Blood Inn

"One more round!" yelled Leo as he was talking with a young Nord female by the counter.

"So, as I was saying, the giant started brandishing his club! So I rolled between his legs, jumped on his back and cut his hear off! As he was holding the side of his head, two mammoths came running down the hill in my direction! I ran at them head on with my sword in my hands, and that's when three dragons..."

Leo stopped abruptly with his obviously embellished stories. He had that feeling, as if he knew he was late for something but he didn't know what. He was trying to track the sequence of events that led him there, quickly going back through each step in time.

"Aaah, lovely Hertha. Her friend. An orc with shiny tusks. The boring elf. A hooded Nord's smile. An imperial very well equipped. Probably equipped for..."

"The expedition!" said Leo out loud as he frantically looked around. All of those that he thought were going, weren't there anymore.

Leo threw a handful of Septims over the counter and before anyone could count them, he ran out. Leo was angry at himself. It wasn't the first time that environment made him forget something important and he knew it probably wouldn't be the last.

Understone Keep

Leo got to the gates and he could see, by the guard's body language, he was preparing to bar his way in.

"Halt!" said the guard. "The Jarl's already talking! No one goes in!"

"I was attacked by a thief! Where are the guards when you need them?" complained Leo.

"Oh, you see, with all the men in the keep, we're stretched too thin. Did you get a good look at him?"

"I'm late because you're stretched too thin, surely you wouldn't keep someone in this predicament, from attending the meeting, especially after I spent days traveling to this fine hold."

"Well, my orders are..."

"Tell you what, we both had a long day, we're both tired, the last thing we need are small problems like these. Here's 20 Septims and we can go on with our lives."

The guard hesitated. He looked at the coins, then looked around to make sure no one was looking. He then grabbed the coins and said: "You're lucky they haven't drawn the names out yet. What's your name?"

Leo told the guard his name, the guard nodded and he got in. He walked into a big hall where an elf was speaking. He recognized the Imperial, the hooded Nord and, of course, the one with the shiny tusks in front. "I wasn't imagining it, then. Some people brushes them, that one polishes them." he thought while he subtly slided into a seat trying not to draw any attention to himself.

The elf explained the selection method and then was given a bag with the names. "I hope those 20 Septims were well spent..." thought Leo. His name was said while he was still laughing at the elf saying "Skins his tail" out loud. The lizard with the unfortunate name didn't look happy to hear it though, Leo found that intriguing. Most would want to be on the first group, that's where the chances of stumbling into the most precious items are higher.

The group was assembled. It was a most diverse group of people, as Leo expected. There were new faces there, like a young redguard that seemed way too interested in this place for her savage appearance; and a Nord with some kind of Dwemer artifact around his neck.

There were others he didn't recall being named. The shiny tusks and an old Nord, barely able to carry his own weight, one with a dying wish apparently.

Leo stood patiently as the elf opened the passage, he was still trying to recover from all the mead he just took. He kept looking at his reflection in the dwemer metal to make sure his hair was just about right.

Larry Wall - Silver-Blood Inn.

"You want a room, or a drink?" grumbled the innkeeper, his eyes narrowing as Brick took obvious offence. Brick reached into his black overcoat and produced a small amount of coins and placed them onto the counter.

"Drink, you got any wine?" He replied, his thick cyrodiilic accent ringing through. The barkeep nodded and walked towards a dusty shelf, he pointed to a few choice bottles, none of them were perticularly enticing, "I'll take the blue label." Brick coughed up and waited for the barkeep to uncork it and provide a glass. He still had a long day.

Leaning against the counter, he reached into his backpack and provided a small journal. Nchuand-Zel he thought, curious about what it was, he'd never seen it and he'd definitely not heard about it. He sipped the wine, a tinge of excitement running down his spine.

Almerion

The halls shimmered as he walked down them, he and Mashab carrying a bag of supplies each, Almerion had a few mortal meals just for show, he guessed he'd give the to the others if theirs ran out. He had no use for food after all. "Perhaps we should wait and plan our investigation before going in." Mashab said loudly to those behind him and Almerion, Calcelmo was briefing the research party now and paid little attention to those he'd already given instruction's to.

"Pointless." Almerion replied hoarsely imitating an old man's voice. "We know not what to plan for, contingencies will have to suffice in place of tactical approaches." It wasn't the only reason he didn't want to stop and talk, he cared nothing of the survival of the others, they where just fodder to him. He simply didn't want to delay the expedition further.

The shimmering hall seemed to be endless, Almerion could spot no turns or doors in the distance, simply endless light. The floor seemed to react to touch, brightening a little under ones food. Even the usually modest and hard to impress Mashab seemed lost for words. Almerion paused to examine his surroundings, he could barely see the entrance to Nchuand-Zel now he'd moved so far in, but neither could he see the end to the hall. "Something seems... unusual." Almerion muttered as he strengthened his resolve and began to move onward again. He placed his free hand against the right wall and stroked it as he walked, allowing the pads of his supple fingers feel for detail as they glided across the surface. Not a single bump, crack or tell tale could be felt -- it was as if the walls had never been build by the hand's of craftsmen, it was like they had been forced into existence to embody the perfection of the architects of the world, flawless and pristine like virgin snow.

He pushed on with Mashab at his back. Every now and then he'd look over his shoulder, he couldn't see the doors they entered through now, nor could he hear Calcelmo's surly voice. He took a moment and leant against the wall, taking out a pigskin of blood to stave off his hunger. Mashab imitated him and drank deeply from a flask of water, the flask wasn't well suited for an orc to drink from however and a small amount of it escaped from his lips and dripped onto the floor. "Oops." Mashab muttered, moving to press the water away with his foot, but Almerion shot out his hand to stop him. "Look!" Almerion said, pointing at the trickle of water. "It's moving away from the entrance and toward the wall."

"Yeah, so?" Mashab said, oblivious to the vampires point.

"Then that means we're on a gradient, the floors actually a very shallow slope, so shallow you can't even notice it by standing or walking on it. That's why we can't see the end or beginning of the halls, the walls must be built on a curve, a giant spiral perhaps. So large we'd have never realised until we got to the end." Almerion marvelled at his own realisation, eager to explore further. "Whomever built this place truly was a genius."

"The Dwarves you mean?" Mashab said in reply.

"I'm not so sure." Almerion muttered to himself. "Come, make haste."

Leo Lucius, Entrance of the ruins

"Neat!" exclaimed Leo as the path was lighting up under their feet. The excitement of exploration and hidden treasures was coming back to him. He felt like a little boy with a new toy, his eyes were wide open as he looked for anything valuable and he had a silly smile on his face.

The old man and the Orc were pushing forward, ahead of everyone else. Leo couldn't understand why they'd do that, that didn't seem reasonable if the old man wanted to keep his fragile life. "Maybe he doesn't", thought Leo. "Regardless, he'll just slow us down otherwise... maybe letting him go ahead is a good idea after all."

The long, uneventful walk, was boring Leo. He slowed his pace so he'd be side by side with the Redguard.

"Hey sixy!" said Leo, unaware of her nature. "Don't worry, if the bad guys catch you, just scream for Leo and I shall save the damsel in distress!" he said, hoping she'd find that funny.

Larry Wall - Understone Keep/ Nchuand-Zel

Sipping on the wine brought back familiar memories, memories which were never his but he claimed them nonetheless. Memories of greatness, battle and glory, of overcoming his physical weakness and saving the damsel in distress. Urgency filled him, Nchuand-Zel he thought, stuffing the wine into his satchel and gulping the remaining in his glass. By Akatosh I'll be late. He remembered the speech he was meant to attend, the yarl was apparently going to invite everyone to explore the new city.

Unlike the rest of the explorers, Larry assumed - He had a direct invitation. The Imperial Library had requested that a few experts be dispatched to the unexplored site. Larry wasn't a first choice, a fact he'd never admit in his current state. The bartender eyed him suspiciously as Larry flaunted out of the bar, an odd site to all.

Currently Larry was a god, a warrior, a menace in everything he wasn't otherwise. He gripped his sword hilt confidently, staring at everyone as he waltzed towards Understone Keep. He glanced upon it, his once intelligent eyes now wondered where the castle had come from, who had made it and by who's authority.

Stumbling into the keep, Larry quickly made his way towards the site entrance, he'd poured over every map of the castle to know the place subconsciously, so much so his other self could find his way there without a single mistake. He winked at the ladies, nodded to the men and scoffed the children, all things Larry would never do, but this wasn't Larry who was walking and talking now.

Abreal, Understone Keep
Abreal discided to make a move. On a table near her were a pair of miner's clothing and a napsack. She quickly ran over and grabbed them. She pulled the miner's clothes over her armor, making it look as if she had the miner's clothing on, and not showing a hint of the suspicious armor she wore underneath the miner's clothes. Then she was able to move freely throughout the crowd, without raising the guard's interset. As she waited for the next group to move, she threw smiles at some of the men, and when one man winked at her, she winked right back at him.

After Fjolr regained his composure he focused his attention on the redguard women from before, she wasn't here for the same reasons as the others. He knew she came for the same reason as him and this made him slightly uneasy. Whatever was down there was either very dangerous or very valuable and in either event he knew it should be left alone. He just couldn't resist the urge to see what was making him feel that pull, maybe the redguard thought the same? The curiosity of why the redguard was there was too much too bare.

He gave her one more quick glance before an imperial made his way over. Fjolr could only hear what he hoped to be a joke, he sighed, "This is gonna be a long trip..."

In the Depths of the World


It moved through the illuminated rooms with purpose and zeal, though everything was darkness to it. The vibrations from it's own footsteps providing enough sound to guide and sense, it's fierce nose detecting naught but it's own putrid and familiar odour. Others where with it, but far behind, none had it's energy or will. It called and the creature answered, like it's brethren. It called and they came running.

The walls opened up and welcomed it, it's useless eyes open as if seeing, but blind to the beauty it could not behold. Something shouted in it's heart, a fierce primal thing urging it onwards, only calmed by the shortening distance. It's feet bled more with every step, but it did not waver from it's path. The white pale flesh stained red with fatigue, but it did not relent from it's onslaught as it's brethren did. Corridor after corridor, room after room. Even the ones who stank of metal ignored it, they knew it's purpose, they knew it's resolve and dared not interfere.

It dropped it's weapons, the chitin pounding against the smooth floor with an ungraceful clank. It didn't need it, not now. The call was almost answered.

Taliah, Untouched Chambers

Slowly, Taliah made her way through the corridor, which she now noticed was on a slight curve, adding to its smooth flawlessness she could feel as her fingers ran across the wall. She still struggled to speak, instead she felt calm, but still excited at the prospect of discovery. Now Taliah wasn't much of a scholar, she wasn't a scholar at all, but the prospect of the Dwemer fascinated her and she wondered if the corrior she was now walking down was even Dwarven! Maybe this was a fresh discovery for even the Deep Elves themselves!

During her thoughts of wild theories bouncing around her head, she noticed a gruff Nord eying her, but not in the way most of the men here eyed her. He seemed to know that she wasn't here for treasure and she thought the same of him. It seemed that they were both truly being pulled by the Dwemer's call.

Taliah's glances at the Nord were interrupted by a typical treasure hunter full of himself, the type who was eying her in the tavern.
"Hey sixy!" said Leo, unaware of her nature. Don't worry, if the bad guys catch you, just scream for Leo and I shall save the damsel in distress!"
"I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself," said Taliah, wrapping her hand around the hilt of one of her scimitars. "And I think I know why you're here. Just another one of the treasure hunting rabble!" Taliah almost snapped the words out, now slightly regretting the aggression in which they were spoken.

Ardis & Yorrick, Markarth Market

Yorrick set down his pack, then the pack he had taken from Ardis. While not as high as most parts of Skyrim, Ardis was still unaccustomed to the altitude. Ardis was doubled over, leaning himself against a building, gasping, yet seemingly unable to stop talking.
"I still don't know-wheeze-how you can just keep-gasp-keep walking, Yorrick." He finally pulled himself upright with an unnecessary groan. "If I wasn't fully sure you were a Nord, I'd swear you were a Dwemer construct." A weak grin stole across his face with the last words. Another attempt to get Yorrick to smile. Between questions of his past, one sided discussions of modern day Nordic politics, and trying to show off the collection of gadgets he carried in his pack, Ardis' unsaid quest was to get Yorrick to smile.
As per the usual, Ardis was met with a stone still visage, plastered on what was nothing short of a less foul-smelling troll.
"Come on Yorrick, I know you want to smile. You even laughed a little just down the road when I fell, and you picked me up one handed."
Continued silence was all Yorrick responded with. Then the slightest twitch of the right side of his mouth.
"See, were on our way to a smile. Now give it all you've got."
Yorrick picked up Ardis' pack and handed it over. He looked towards Understone Keep, and started forth. Passing by Ardis, he grated out "I know what my smile looks like. I don't feel like scaring the entire city of Markarth to their homes today."
Moving with a sight limp, Yorrick was able to match Ardis' fatigued, yet still quick steps as they started towards the excavation site.

Larry Wall - Site Corridor Entrance

His footsteps pounded the ground as he half ran towards the site. He didn't know Zel very well, but he often looked at the maps and read the reports from explorers. He continued to gulp down the wine, grabbing the bottle firmly in one hand and his diary in another. He began to feel elation, passing the various destroyed constructs which had previously been used for research. All his life he had wanted a practical experiment, to be on the front lines of discovery and all his years spent reading were finally paying off.

When he came to site entrance, he couldn't help but stand bemused. Infront of him was a corridor and one unlike he had ever seen. "Hello?!" He called down, his voice unsteady as he pondered if he was going the right way. He touched the cool surface and tried to remember ever seeing Dwemer use such a material. His heart began to beat faster as he realised this place was special.

He could hear voices down the corridor, the sound of boots echoing towards him. Without hesitating he confidently broke into a strut and headed swiftly at them.

Sinks His Tail

The aragonian was nervous. He could conceal it, he actually did conceal it but the vastness of the hallways, the huge intimidating expanse of the chamber, the very size of the building made him feel small and weak, just a weak hatchling. Sinks His Tail trusted his instincts and this time something was wrong, very wrong, almost wrong enough to make him turn back. But he trusted his logic more and the fact that the corridor was unlike anything he had seen didn't mean that it was dangerous. It also didn't mean that it wasn't but Sinks His Tail could handle a lot of danger. He just didn't know if he could handle whatever the ancient builders could throw at him but then if things got ugly he could probably survive. After all you don't have to outrun the predator but the slowest runner and Sinks thought that he was thougher than at least four fifths of his fellow explorers. The lithe aragonian put a hand on one of his daggers and brought his thoughts back to the tailless mercenaries surrounding him. He wasn't focused on anything until he heard the word "water" and thus distracted he approached the speaker, an old man that was explaining something to an orc. The duo was weird but it was the human's words made him frown. Maybe not dwemer? If they weren't dwemer than what were they? Knowledge was power and power meant safety so he decided to speak for the first time since the group entered the caverns.

"Why wouldn't they be dwemer old man?"

Leo Lucius, Untouched Chambers

Leo saw the Redguard gripping the hilt of a sword. He could tell she was serious, not the usual inn-kind-of-girl he was used to talk to. The irony of him, being stabbed by a female, wasn't far from his head either. "If someone is going to kill me, it will surely be a woman!" he thought, as he wondered how far he could go with this.

"I'm sure you can... Still, I got your back!" Said Leo with a smile. "Plus, treasure hunting isn't all that bad, right? Unless you're the treasure, then you'd better watch out!"

Even Leo could tell how cheesy the comment was as soon as those words left his mouth. "What's wrong with me? I'm way better than this!" he thought as he tried to remember how much he drank at the inn.

He slowly started to get some distance between the two, actually worried she might snap.

"Maybe she'll just forget about it..." he thought.

Taliah, Untouched Chambers

When the Imperial, Leo, saw her hand reach for her scimitar, he seemed to falter, not expecting that reaction, but his comments still continued.
"I'm sure you can... Still, I got your back" said Leo with a smile, but Taliah could see the slight nerves behind his grin. "Plus, treasure hunting isn't all that bad, right? Unless you're the treasure, then you'd better watch out!"

The last comment was so pathetic it was laughable, but the young tribal kept her tongue. This Leo seemed to be disappointed with his failed "pick-up" lines, and slowly backed away, looking worried, eyes still drawn to her scimitar. She hadn't realised that she still had a tight grip on her blade which she quickly let go of.

Her mind cast back to the Nord, they seemed to have a silent understanding that they weren't here for treasure, they were here for something else, but neither of them knew what. Despite his menacing appearance, Taliah approached him.
"Hi. I'm Taliah." She let out a nervous chuckle, drew a deep breath and relaxed. "Look, I've noticed you eying me, but not in the same way most of the other men here have been." She looked at the man known as Leo. "I suppose it'd be good to speak to someone with someone who isn't solely focused on filling his pockets with useless trinkets. So what's your story?"

Almerion


Almerion paused when the raspy voice of an Argonian spoke up from behind, he made eye contact with Mashab who gave him the smallest of nods to tell him that his eyes where blue in present light. "Old man? There's still life in me yet young one." Almerion said to the Argonian after sparing him a cursory glance. He'd always been fond of Argonian's after spending some time in their home province as a fresh young vampire. "As for the Dwemer, this is indeed in line, if not slightly more advanced, with their craftsmanship. I'm just not convinced yet, that's all. But we'll see."

"Always the skeptic, my master." Mashab said with a roll of his eyes to the younger Argonian. Almerion carried onward, his walking staff tapping against the floor with every second step. "You'll get used to him" Mashab added, though not out of his Masters earshot.

"If he survives this place long enough my dear boy." Almerion called back with a chuckle. "How on earth can my old bones carry me so far in front of you all, hurry up I say, and do it quick!" he called a little louder, his voice echoing slightly in the hall. A few more taps of his staff later and Mashab was back at his side. Almerion was growing tiered of his impersonations of an old sage like man, and wanted so much to be back in his own identity before long, but in the presence of these strangers it would be a foolish gambit. Mashab seemed to sense this and muttered under his breath, "It won't be long now, we'll split off as soon as we can." but Almerion merely shook his head, there was no wisdom in leaving the safety of numbers.

"At last, I thought we'd be walking in a straight line forever." Mashab breathed as they finally spotted the end to the hallway not ten metres ahead of them, at the apex of the curve. Almerion quickened his already forcibly slow stride. When they finally broke out of the exit, all they found was stairs, a vast chasm with a circular stair well leading all the way down. "Oh my." Almerion said aloud. "I suppose caution would be our ally today?"

"It would seem that way." Mashab said, his eyes squinting to make out a bottom to the pit.





At the heart of the world



LOSYRE, LOSYRE UVA UL VE U'ELI

Come, come to me my child.

The voice shouted out through the chasms around it, a dead language known to none but the speaker, booming through the halls of this city that hid in the bones of the world. But a sweet whisper spoke to the creature running through its mind, seductive, the voice of a thousand concubines kissing it's nape, a chilling but tempting voice.

JUR'UL UL, EY'V RA'HAS GHE'S EY'R CH'EIN, EY'V RA'HAS DISAR EY'R OLA EY'R AVSA UR S'ILA UT'AH

Join me, I can make you great, I can give you back what you lost for so long.

It ran and ran, trying it's best to please the spectral voice, sprains and cuts and bruises did little to slow the desperate creature. Desperate to please; desperate to reclaim and bent on revival. It ran so fast that it came so close to plummeting to it's death so many times. Others where behind it, screaming with joy at the voice, singing in tongue at the whisper. But their leader, it ran in silence. Filled so with determination it nearly manifested as dead weight.

Then at long last, the voice spoke again, abandoning it's dead language for something new and unfamiliar to it.

Do you think yourself worthy?

The creature didn't say a word, it simply dropped to it's knee's. Ears strained, listening for a presence it knew was near by.

Do you wish to reclaim the honour so long lost?

It bowed it's head in remorse, wishing it could speak back.

Then reclaim what is yours, drink deeply my child.

The presence was infront of the creature now, without it knowing or sensing its movement toward it. Something soft and eternally beautiful touched its chin and encouraged its face back up. Lips parted to greet the cold rim of a metal goblet, it did what it was told and drank deeply.

Ardis & Yorrick, Understone Keep

Walking towards the gates with several other likely explorers, Ardis and Yorrick could almost blend in with the crowd. Except for the fact one was a garishly dressed Breton, and the other a more frightening than average Nord. None the less, as they continued their approach, Yorrick, above most heads in the crowd, saw the guards turning away prospective adventurers in droves.
"It seems we may be a tad late," came Yorrick's low, rasping voice. "Which is unfortunate. You said I'd get half the earnings from selling this story."
Ardis' brow tightened for a moment, then relaxed. "Don't worry. I may have a plan."
As they approached the gates, a guard came forward to likely deny them entry. Before he could get out his word, Ardis had jumped on the brief moment of him drawing breath to holler.
"Ah, good, the High King sent men to guide us straight to the site. My friend and I thank High King Ulfric for this unneeded kindness."
The guard, momentarily stunned by unexpected, and apparent preordained guests, stood with his mouth hanging open. He recovered his sensibility quickly.
"Now see here, sir, whatever you are here for, turn back. You won't be warned twice."
Yorrick, not taking kindly to a guard threatening him and his pay, prepared to move forward. Ardis' hand on his stomach stopped him, along with a quick conspirators wink.
"Good friend, please call me Ardis Simmons, freelance writer for all of of the Empire. This is an occasion that needs me and my expertise. Who else have you let past do you think could properly sum up the discovery of a lost Dwemer city. Likely none. They need me down there, the people need me down there, and due to a very large and unpleasant Nord behind me," Ardis closed the small distance between him and the guard and whispered, "You need me down there." Ardis pulled his head back, and gave the guard a serious look.
Unprepared for the sudden reminder of Yorrick, the guard jumped slightly at the sight. Behind Ardis' back, with Ardis focused on the guard, Yorrick allowed his face to split into a grin. Burn tissue twisted, his pale eyes glared out from behind his ruin of a nose, and surprisingly white teeth blended into his stubble.
"Are you threatening a guard, citizen?" The last word came out choked.
"I wouldn't dream of it, my friend. Only I point out that though I may not, he certainly may," Ardis intoned, motioning toward Yorrick. "He looks quite intent on getting in," Ardis began to turn, and Yorrick replaced his grin with his usual stone face.
The guard moved to the side, noticeably paler, even for a Nord. He moved to another guard, whispered quickly, and returned to the pair. "Follow me, friends."
"Wonderful," Ardis said with a smile. "I cannot wait to talk with Calcelmo before we enter the city. What is it called, again?"

Fjolr wasn't surprised by the tribal redguards response to Leo and he silently agreed with her stance on treasure hunters. As they entered the new room, which was more perculiar than the last, he noticed something he didn't expect, the redguard was approaching him. "Hi. I'm Taliah." She let out a nervous chuckle, drew a deep breath and relaxed. "Look, I've noticed you eying me, but not in the same way most of the other men here have been." She looked at the man known as Leo. "I suppose it'd be good to speak to someone with someone who isn't solely focused on filling his pockets with useless trinkets. So what's your story?"

Fjolr returned her question with a look both cold as stone and slightly curious. "Fjolr Bear-Heart, call me Fjolr. Your right about me, the stares and such..." Fjolr caught himself thinking again, for all his time journeying into ruins with others and all his time running with bandits he never enjoyed talking, oddly this time was different. "You're also right about my pockets, I have no desire for common trinkets. If it's dwemer, I've seen it. The constructs, the armor, weapons, tunnels, machines... You name it, I've seen it. Not that I fully understand it, but I've seen it. This tunnel, is different. The stairwell, chasm, the very ruin feels different. This calling..." Fjolr stopped himself, he didn't want to make it too obvious to the others why he was there. He sighed and continued "Well, let's just say I'm here for adventure."

The second he paused he felt the same pull from before but stronger, whatever was doing this, they were getting closer. He gently tapped his dwemer gear once, trying not to make it too obvious, and asked Taliah, "And what about you? You're not here for treasure, thats obvious now, so what are you here for?"

Larry Wall - Untouched chambers

Under the effects of his other persona, Larry quickly came upon another group of adventurers. With pace he bounded into the, "Ahah!" he called out, "More lackey's for the call, eh?" He snorted a laugh before eyeing Taliah, "Hah! I wouldn't mind exploring that! Wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into those sweetrolls if you know what I mean!" He laughed out again, arrogance dripping off of every word. "Larry Wall is the name, and you best not be forgetting it! Not often do I meet my fans," he looked towards Taliah, "but I'm a generous guy." He grinned cheekly and looked to Fjolr, the man who Taliah seemed to be talking to.

"Hmmm, the barbaric type eh?" He scoffed, "Don't blame you! We all need a good thrill once in a while." He made a slightly disgusted face before turning towards Leo, "So, my brother, it's not coincidence that the only Imperials here are the handsome ones!" He laughed again, his bold voice ringing out along the hallway. "If ever any of you need Dwemer translated, explained, or just some company." He winked again to Taliah, "Just come by and chat."

Had the other side of Larry's personality known about his grand entrance, he would probably have fallen on his sword. The once polite, if not awkward Scholar was now a raging lunatic who was lying his way to the grave.

Leo Lucius, Untouched Chambers

The Redguard seemed to be resisting the urge to react to Leo's comments. He wasn't expecting a nice reaction anyway so its absence was a welcome outcome. She began talking with a Nord, one that has been close by the entire time. "Willing to talk with the brute just to prove me wrong, huh?" He thought, oblivious to any reason a woman would choose the company of anyone but Leo.

A voice came echoing from behind the group. An imperial that looked out of place in this first group of adventurers. He looked a little out of control, gathering everyone's attention with outrageous comments to the Redguard. Leo couldn't control his laughter, this Imperial's arrival made him feel more at home now than he ever did in this Northern environment.

"Just my kind of Imperial!" said Leo as he put his hand over the new guy's shoulder. "You'll be fun to hang around with! Plus a Dwemer expert? That'll come in handy!" Leo laughed. He got closer and lowered his voice, "We should stick together in this place."

Taliah, Untouched Chambers

The Nord turned with a face of stone and Taliah was worried that he would get violent, but it softened slightly in to a look of curiousity to the Redguard's relief.
"Fjolr Bear-Heart, call me Fjolr. Your right about me, the stares and such..." The Nord paused. He didn't seem that used to talking. "You're also right about my pockets, I have no desire for common trinkets. If it's dwemer, I've seen it. The constructs, the armor, weapons, tunnels, machines... You name it, I've seen it. Not that I fully understand it, but I've seen it. This tunnel, is different. The stairwell, chasm, the very ruin feels different. This calling..." Fjolr stopped himself. Whether he thought he would seem crazy or he didn't want to reveal his intentions it didn't matter. Taliah had a pretty good idea on what he meant. He sighed and continued "Well, let's just say I'm here for adventure." Fjolr gently touched a small Dwemer mechanism on a necklace, quite discreetly, but Taliah noticed. "And what about you? You're not here for treasure, thats obvious now, so what are you here for?" said the Nord, Fjolr.

"Well I'm from the Alik'r desert in Hammerfell as you could probably tell," said Taliah, brandishing her tribal appearance. "And why I'm here is mostly down to the Dwemers Calling." She said those last two words in a purposefully similar way to Fjolr while she gave him a look screaming 'I know'.

Taliah then peered down at the Dwemer mechanism. "That necklace..."
Before she could continue, a loud Imperial stormed down the pristine corridor they had just left and started making the most outrageous comments to most of the group including herself and Fjolr. She thought that she'd better not start another argument with another idiot. It wasn't a surprise that Leo put an arm around his new "friend" and welcomed him to the somewhat group.
The tribal rolled her eyes. "Treasure Hunters..."