Name:Xerxes Goldmane
Gender:Male
Race:kahjiit
Age:34

Height:6'3
Eye Color:slate gray
Hair Style:long blond mane with braids
Skin Color:light tan fur covers his body


Class:Leonide
Class Focus:combat
Major Skills:blade,blunt,heavy armor,athletics,hand-to-hand,marksman



General Appearance: http://www.mtgstaples.com/mediac/450_0/media/DIR_11601/b7.jpg

Tattoos/Scars:the fur would cover them
Armor:bonemould armor he found amongst a group of slavers he killed
clothing:coomoners clothing (white shirt,brown breeches)
Weapons:the double sided glaive in the picture is his name weapon

misc gear:not much,his speed allowed him to catch deer,and a small cloth bag that is full of gold from the slavers

Spells:none

Mental Description:smart,but quiet,charming,he talks walks and acts with a certain lionistic calm and suavness

Brief History:Xerxes was once a proud champion,but when he challenged the previous Pride-leader to single combat and lost he was exiled,stripped of everything but his weapon he stumbled upon a group of dunmer slavers,slaying all of them he took their armor as a sign of defiance and made his way into cyrodill


OOC:im unsure where ot start,so here i go.


IC:

Xerxes ran on all fours,the laive strapped to his back,he past by trees,leap from rocks all in a blur,ice was beginnig to drop as he made his way through the land,unfamliar as the terrain was, he could still tell that the huge walled structure up ahead was a city, as he neard the town he stood on his hind legs and struted to the Gate looking down on the guard he nodded as the man opened the large doors,In he walked,into Bruma. As he walked the streets he kept stoping the different citizens of the town. and he would ask them simple questions like "What town is this?" or "Where can i feed?" but the locals just went wide eyed and scrambled from his grasp,so he walked aomngst the town trying to find a tavern or inn.

OOC: So do we new players join before the new thread begins or not? I asked this question twice in the advertisment thread and got no answer.

"I'll agree to without the tie." Vivian replied to Mia, holding up the more extravagant black shirt and pants before plucking the bowtie off, and then proceeding to some other room.

As by stage cue, Iris made her entrance into the Great Hall shortly after Vivian's exit, looking around at the assemblage and noting the new face quite quickly. Of course, having the new face ask openly who else was in the 'unit' kind of made his new status even more obvious. His black robe gave off a slightly... hiding presence, though from the few splits in it she got the impression that all he was hiding was a bare chest. She also found his face hard to read, but that was not an unusual feature for an Argonian.

Still, Iris approached with a warm, welcoming smile and wave. "I'm one of them, if by unit you mean mix-matched ensemble of slightly conflicting personalities and mini-dramas that has been placed in charge of saving the world." Iris laughed at her own little joke, before looking him over again. "I'm Iris Marcy, spy for the group. You... wouldn't happen to be good at espionage and investigation, would you?"

A brow arched slightly as Viuven regarded the woman - Iris Marcy. Something about her was... different. True, she was Dunmer, and Viuven knew that Argonians and Dunmer didn't always get along. However, he wasn't sure what it was that made him uncomfortable with her.

She said she is a spy...

"Iris Marcy." Viuven repeated with a slight hiss. He approximated a human smile with a fang-filled curling of the lips, his spines straightening slightly on his cranium. "Be I Viuven-Ru. Not spy, but of stealth capable." The Argonian sat down on the chair again and pulled up his legs as he untied the clumsy boots his feet were encased in. Ordinarily, Viuven would have traveled barefoot. When he had arrived in Bruma, however, he had been forced to pay for a pair of boots to make it through the snow with, otherwise he would have lost a lot more body heat on the way up than he did. In looking at the scales on his hands, Viuven knew he was looking rather dull and slightly unhealthy.

"Do all our best is expected all that can be." He continued, looking up at Iris, "Your speaking of the unit is like much where from I came. Found I have that the best is what we must do as best. No more expect than that, I." Viuven glanced away at the fire, silently cursing his inability to grasp proper grammar. He felt frustration rise in his neck again as he struggled to make himself understood. Jordanna would understand what I mean.

''You sure this will work?'' Burd asked once more, Teegus was becoming annoyed, ''Yes it will work, we cant just march in there and take them all, they would cut us down!'' Teegus grunted as Burd and him were dragging the dead Nord Bandit away from the Mine. ''Heres good enough'' Teegus grunted as they dropped the body down, and began burying it in snow. The Nord was completely naked, wearing nothing besides a set of undergarments, Teegus and Burd had taken his armor and to use for their own interest, which was Infiltrating Plundered Cave and killing of the Bandits, quietly and quickly
Burd stretched his shoulders uneasily in his new Leather armor. ''Lets just hurry this up and get it over with.''

Back at the fire, Burd's last two men stood watch, both dressed in a set of Iron Armor. Teegus had told them to stand watch and try to act as 'Bandit' as possible. He had also given them the key to the Mine.

The first guard, who was known as Derikk sat beside the fire against a boulder, while the other Guard, Yohan stood leaning up against a tree. A sudden sound caught his attention, it sounded like someone walking on the road, and as quickly as he heard, he saw a figure walking down the road, dressed in jet black armor, with a large sack over his back.

He then walked off the street and headed towards the Mine. Yohan stood and walked by the fire, the man in black armor stopped in front of him, with a puzzled look on his face. The man was a Dunmer, shorter then Yohan and looked more skinny. ''Wheres Ra'kel and Gerak?'' He asked. Yohan made a fake coughing noise before answering, ''They inside, we took over their shift'' He said. The Dunmer stared at him, his deep red eyes scanning over Yohan as if he were some sort of prey.

He finally nodded and headed towards the Door. He pulled out a small key, unlocked the door and stepped inside. Yohan took a deep breath and sat down again. After several more minutes, Teegus and Burd returned. ''Anything?'' Burd asked, Yohan nodded, ''Yea, Dunmer, he just went inside'', Teegus sighed, ''Guess its our turn now'' He gestured his hand, ''Key'' He said. Yohan gave him the key, and Teegus went to the Door and slowly unlocked it. He opened the door and tossed the key back to Yohan. ''You two stay out here, and keep up the act'' Burd ordered, ''Yessir'' Yohan replied.


EDIT: I shortened it, I'll add the rest of the pieces as we go on.

ooc: Peleus, I think you can join now, since a bunch of others are as well. Also, just so you all can see her (I think FC will recall her), here's my third/fill in for Karst while she de-crazies.

Name: Melanarde Annabell Dorayn
Nickname: Mel, Melani
Gender: Female
Race: Altmer/Dunmer [leans towards Altmer]
Age: 131 [looks 25-30, but is more equivalent to 45]

Class: Fire Adept
Class Focus: Magic
Major Skills: Light Armor, Destruction, Alteration, Unarmored, Long Blade
Minor Skills: Speechcraft, Enchant, Alchemy, Athletics, Mercantile
Birthsign: The Lady
Eyes: Red
Hair: Blond and Orange mixed, worn either loosely or in a ponytail. Comes to mid-back.
Skin Color: Pale Orangish-Yellow
Height: 6' 1"
Build: Moderately muscular, but still looks distinctly feminine. Her actual feminine features; the curve of her waist and size of her briasts, are not very substantial, though.

General Description: Melanarde is an elegant sight to behold; her silken clothing flows around her when she moves, occasionally shining in the light, her steps are light and graceful and her movements are fluid as water. Her voice is soft but firm, not commanding, but speaking of someone who expects you to listen to her, she has an exquisite vocabulary and a twinge of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

However, if you look more closely, you'll see she is not your average noblewoman. A glint of silver at the top of her blouse indicates the armored corset she wears, and her body is well-toned and muscled. Under the skirt, mail greaves and a knife slipped into her garter are worn over her strong, nimble legs. The clothes on the outside hide the warrior she truly is.

Primary Clothing: Long, layered silk skirt of various shades of orange, Orange silk blouse with ruffled sleeves, reinforced with leather in the chest, brown leather heeled boots. All have charms on them that make them fireproof.
Tattoo/Scars/Piercings: Elaborate fire tattoo running from her shoulder, wrapping around her arm and coming to her fingertips on left arm, many small burn scars all over her body, small gold navel ring.

Armor: Mithril mail corset worn as underwear, covers chest and torso, greaves of same material and occasionally worn Elven plate gauntlets.

Inventory:

[Pockets]: Embroidered orange handkerchief,

[Medium-sized Travel Pack]: Folded blanket, one week's worth of food, jug of rum, purse of 1000 septims, various personal effects.

Weapons: Daedric Longsword sheathed at hip in similar design to Daedric Shortswords encountered in Morrowind, silver dagger slipped into her garter under her skirt.
Magic: Fire spells of all makes and ranges, flame-based healing spells that she created, various Alteration spells.
History: Melanarde is the child of Elanende and Vedalamus Dorayn, her mother an Altmer, her father a Dunmer. Because of this, she was born with very potent magickal potential and natural resistance to flames.

Her parents were not wed when she was born on the twenty-seventh of Evening Star in the middle of a rainstorm in the basemant of the Bruma Mage's Guild, but the mages that delivered her and helped her mother through labor swore not to tell anyone about this fact for the shame and humiliation it would bring to both parents and child.

Growing up, she usually lived in the Guild hall, spending most of her time as a little girl wrapped up in a blanket, reading by the fire. Through her reading, she gained a vast vocabulary by the age of fifteen and sometimes even had to explain her words to a few of the older mages. She wrote poetry and small stories that entertained and delighted even the most callus of men and she was a sweet, if somewhat bossy, young woman. Due to an unknown flip side of her fire resistance, though, the chill of Bruma often landed her in bed with colds.

As she grew older, her parents and their friends in the Guild trained her, and she took quickly to the schools of Destruction and Alteration, mastering many fire and lock altering spells, and a frost shield spell to keep her out of the sick bed, by the age of twenty-two. She continued her literary studies, poetry and writing as she got older, but her parents worried about the somewhat violent nature of some of her works. She developed an unhealthy fascination with fire as well, and would sometimes be heard screaming as she ripped off a flaming piece of clothing.

At forty-three years of age, she finally left Bruma and her parents, saying it was simply too cold for her, and moved to Skingrad, buying a small home just outside town with the money she'd saved from odd jobs done for the Guild and got a job as a bartender in the local tavern to pay for her own food and clothing.

After a year, she could no longer take the jeering and flirting of drunken tavern goers, though, and took up the blade, taking on freelance quests from, ironically, many of the same people she wanted to get away from in the tavern. After several years of success, she had a manor built in town with her earnings. When she met the count to arrange it, he was taken by her beauty, and as his own wife had been comatose for years, wanted company. He agreed on the terms that she spend dinner him. As they ate later that night, he told her of what had happened to him and how he had become a vampire and gave her an amulet enchanted to protect against Porphyric Hemophilia, saying he could never let such a thing happen to such a pretty woman. He also offered her a position clearing out vampires from nearby caves since the vampire hunters asked too many questions for his liking. Flattered by the treatment he gave her, she agreed, and over the years they occasionally spent and intimate night or two together. She cared for him, but despite sleeping with him, never fell in love with him. Janus, on the other hand, was mad over her.

Being the count's employee and bedmate came with its fair share of bonuses as well; she was given a daedric longsword he'd been keeping as a collectible and was made mithril armor that could fit easily and comfortably under her clothes, specially fitted to her body, and often wears the armored corset as underwear despite the coldness of the metal. In her free time, she studies the workings of fire magicka, and has, through many years of literally painful research, manged to make her body and clothes fireproof, and develop healing methods using flame energies. One side-effect of this, however, is that she gets sick from cold very easily and must keep warm at all times. Later, in boredom, she also got herself an elaborate tattoo on her left arm of flames, and pierced her navel.

Personality: In business and to those she doesn't know, she is manipulative, often insulting, and very self-centered. She will do about anything to get her way and always makes sure she gets the most out of deals, even if she has to do things that are less than morally sound to get them. She rarely gets angry, but uses taunts and insults freely with those she dislikes.

To friends, though, she is witty, cracks jokes, and is very relaxed and casual. Those who she invites into her home receive the finest of hospitality and are given nearly full access to all the commodities of her house, including her magickally heated and run shower and bath and are often served meals during their stays.

On her own, she often shuns clothing altogether and relaxes either in the bath with a book or someplace near [or in] the fireplace. She makes it no secret that she does this, however, and occasionally even answers her door completely nvde or in thin nightclothes or undergarments, or leaves a note on the door for people she's expecting to come in while she's in the shower. Some think she gets a sort of twisted joy out of the shock on people's faces when she does this, and they are most definitely correct.

When out in the community, she often spends time reading in the sun on harasses the churchgoers. On occasion, she stops by the tavern for a glass of rum.

Other Traits/Oddities:
- Obsessed with having her things neat and arranged
- Flesh and hair are immune to burning; sometimes relaxes in her fireplace
- Can be very blunt and insensitive at times, but at others is compassionate to a fault
- Often rash and impulsive, occasionally to the point of arrogance
- Is a totally different person once you know her than she is when conducting business
- Obsessed with fire
- Flesh, clothes and hair often smell faintly of burnt wood due to her habit of 'fire bathing'
- Extremely vulnerable to cold

Misc Skills [non-combat]:
- Exquisite cook; she's made meals for the count himself before
- Can use magicka to repair broken items. Cannot restore missing parts or sharpen weapons, however
- Persuasive, though not exactly smooth about it
- Makes perfume out of herbs for herself

ic: Karst watched the newcomer, listening to him explain about being a Shadowscale, whatever that was. What caught her ear was the mention of the Brotherhood. She darkened a little at hearing mention of those who wanted to make her their plaything, ears drooping and body slumping against the wall a little more than leaning on it. Am I ever going to get free of this? Or am I just doomed?

Karst got lost in her mind for a minute or two while Mia and Vivian talked, only snapping back to the world as he said he'd wear the black set without the bowtie and left. She perked up a little when Iris came in, but not enough to make it unnoticeable that she wasn't feeling as good as she was five minutes ago. Zant hadn't looked at her since Viuven's display so he hadn't noticed. He smiled at Iris's explanation in reply to the Argonian's question.

"It's true; we're not much of a unit, really. I'm part of them, and so's my sister here." He said, motioning at Karst, who smiled lamely and waved. "I'm Zan'Tarre, Zant for short."

It wasn't until just now that Karst really realized what Iris had asked the newcomer. She felt a little miffed at not being asked, but thought that maybe Iris had forgotten she was good at stealth, seeing as most of what the Dunmer had seen her do involved putting arrows and blades in things and not sneaking around. Stepping off the wall, Karst looked to Iris, though her eyes once again lacked the lively sparkle they normally had. "You said you needed help with espionage? I was a thief most of my life; I can help." She offered modestly.

OOC: I was leaning on my hand for a straight hour, now its all pink. Its kinda creepy D:

IC:

The inside of Plundered Mine was a long narrow hallway, dozens of torches were hooked up to the walls. ''Ok'' Teegus said calmly, ''Follow my lead, and try to act as-'' ''as Bandit as possible, yes I know'' Burd said.

Teegus smiled and began his journey through the hall way, as he neared the end, it split into two ways, Teegus decided to go left. It led him, to where he thought was the Armory, and dining area. There was one Bandit in the Armory, inspecting the weapons and Armor. Teegus wasted no time, he entered the Armory, with Burd following behind him. The Bandit in the Armory looked up and nodded at the two, obviously not caring who they were. Teegus nodded back and walked behind the Bandit, snatched a Dagger on a Sword rack. The Bandit was inspecting a Chainmail vest he held in his hands. Teegus nodded to Burd, who then snuck up behind the Bandit and quickly grabbed hold of his arms, forcing them behind his back. Before the Bandit could shout or struggle, Teegus walked forward and plunged the dagger into the bandit's gut, then twisted it sideways, the Bandit groaned and fell to the ground. Teegus holstered the dagger onto his belt. ''One down, who knows how many to go.''

He reached over and grabbed several more Daggers, Then searched the dead Bandit, he pulled out another small key from his pocket and grinned. ''Armory Key'' He chuckled. ''We're just going to the leave the body here?'' Asked Burd. Teegus stood and showed him the Key, ''Yes, but were going to lock the door''.

OOC: I never actually been to the Plundered Mine in Oblivion, so don't yell if I don't get it's correct Interior...

Viuven stood and turned to face Zant and Karst, nodding once. He figured Karst had caught his name already among the few times he'd repeated it. What troubled the tall Argonian was the connection Karst had with the Dark Brotherhood. He had noticed her expression turn downtrodden the moment he'd said the word Brotherhood, and though Viuven was no genius, he could put two and two together. Most of the time, anyway.

He loosened his robe to let the heat flow more freely against him and turned his crimson gaze on the two Khajiit. "Knew I once a Khajiit. Not friendly as much as you two, though. Difficult to understand him sometimes... and werewolf." Viuven's lips cracked in a human smile, "Expect little can we if help expected from every opportunity, though." What Viuven wouldn't mention was how little he actually got along with that Khajiit lycanthrope... or that the Khajiit had caught lycanthropy in the first place because he was [censored] by a werewolf.

As they left, Teegus closed the door shut and made sure he locked it before moving on. Next room was a small dining area, or well, thats what Teegus thought. It was a small wooden table with a few cupboards, and food piled everywhere. Maybe it was food storage. Teegus and Burd entered, unaware that there were two Bandits in the room. These two did not recognize and immediately drew weapons and moved towards Teegus. They moved fast. But Teegus moved faster. In the blink of an eye he withdrew a dagger and lobbed it at the first oncoming Bandit, the Dagger hit him in the chest, ripping through his clothing, skin and flesh, and penetrated his heart. He gasped and crumpled to the floor, blood already flowing from is mouth and nose.

Burd manged to tackle the second Bandit and slit his throat with his Steel Shortsword. Teegus nodded at him, and the two left the room. But before they continued on, Teegus was curious, he closed the Food Storage door and stuck the key into the Lock, he then tried to open the door but was unable to.

It was locked. Teegus smiled to himself and continued on.

The next few rooms they encountered before the dead end were empty, they headed back to the to the where the other path way was, the right path. On this route they encountered a Ginormous room, which had barely enough light. ''Must have been where the miners worked'' suggested Burd, he was proably right, the room had a small railway on it, with several large wagons lay, rusting. Immediately a small group of Bandits noticed them, ''Trespassers!'' One yelled and charged at Teegus with a large Warhammer. Teegus growled, ''Seems like we'll have to take them at once!'' He drew his Longsword and ran forward. The First Bandit with the Warhammer was a Female Ork, dressed in Steel armor, she swinged the giant hammer at Teegus. But due to its massive size, she struggled slightly. The Hammer of doom came centimeters from Teegus's skull, he quickly dove over to the side and swung his sword into the Ork's hip.

SCRUNCH!

The blade sliced through the steel armor like a a Knife through jelly and penetrated deep. The Ork yelled in pain and fell to her side. But it hadn't killed her, she struggled to get up, but Teegus did her the favor. He brought his sword up and stabbed it into the Orks chest. With a sickening sound of Metal and Flesh being slice, the Bandit lay still. ''Burd!'' He yelled, and looked around him. Burd had charged further then Teegus and was fighting a larger Ork with a mean Looking axe. Teegus ran forward, running past two other Bandits that had suffered the fate of Burds Blade, a bandit jumped out of the darkness behind Burd, and charged towards Teegus. Teegus grunted angrily, he didn't have tome for this! He yanked out another dagger, and threw at the Bandit. The Bandit, either didn't see the Dagger, or didn't have enough time to get out of the way. The Dagger traveled through his armor and into his shoulder, he cried out in pain, and fell to the ground, releasing a large volley of curses.

Teegus's attention turned back to Burd, then he saw the Bruma Captain of the Guard drive his the tip end of his sword into the Large Orks chest, then twisted his sword sideways, in a fast, violent motion, to make sure the cursed Bandit was dead.

Four Bandits lay dead on the cold stone floor, ''Job well done, friend'' Burd called out, and began walking over to Teegus, ''I think that's all of them'' Teegus said, ''There aren't anymore doors or pathways in here, so I think we got em all.'' Burd looked behind Teegus and noticed a Bandit grasping his shoulder on the ground not far behind Teegus. ''Besides him'' He pointed out.

OOC: Hope that's not too much to read

And no, I'm not a fast typer, I've just got this copied down on a .txt file.

"And that's why we still have Adeth. We can only expect each person to do their best, after all. But I think he can do better than he has been." Iris sat down in the other chair as the Argonian sat and began to remove his boots. A worry-crease formed on her face as she noted his scales seemed an unhealthy greyish tinge. But she expected he already knew this, and that was why he was by the fire.

When Karst offered to help, Iris looked over her shoulder to the girl, looking her over before frowning and turning out of the chair. As she rose to her feet her body turned to face the Khajiit, and then she approached and embraced Karst. She didn't speak until she'd withdrawn from the embrace.

"Karst... you, well... haven't been yourself lately." She vividly remembered the last incident in the Oblivion Gate, and Karst would likely notice the slight tightening of grip the dunmer had on Karst's clothing as the memory returned. Iris' grasp on the girl is what kept her from going over that edge, into the fiery pillar in the center of the tower. "I want you resting, Karst. For at least a day. You need it more than anyone else." She paused to let her words sink in before adding one resolute note. "And I won't take no for an answer."

After a quick peck to the cheek, Iris turned around. "As for you, Viuven-Ru, if you are up for it I am planning a trek out, which will likely involve some battle and spying. I've got Adeth, Paulus, and a Khajiit-who's-name-I-can't-recall coming with me. We probably shouldn't have a fourth, but if you want some action we could use it as a sort of break-in mission I suppose, since you're new."

Viuven frowned slightly. He wasn't a glory hog, nor was he somebody who reveled in combat. It was a necessary evil, and not to be enjoyed. That was the way Viuven looked at it. He stood barefoot and crossed his arms slightly. "Having just returned from journey long expect you me to go beat up who knows what?" Viuven was already shaking his head, "I need rest. Just one night with fire, and better expect me. Tonight... give me time."

The Argonian finally found what it was that seemed to touch him badly about Iris. She said earlier she was a spy, but it was more than that. She moved like an assassin. Viuven had seen enough and avoided enough to learn to spot one, and it was obvious to him now that at one point, Iris had used her stealth to kill. But more than that... She looks like a monkey.

The thought bolted into his mind faster than he could banish it, and soon the thought of Iris' unusual facial structure wouldn't leave his thoughts as he suppressed a laugh. She looks like a monkey! Well, they all do, but her more than most!

Mia nodded as Vivian went to get changed, leaving the healer standing there with Iris and the others. Iris was planning something, but even Mia didn't know what was going on. Maybe it was because she already was going out tonight, but from overhearing some of a conversation from the blades, it sounded like some of the people who had captured her, ones working for the Mythic Dawn agent Xio were still trying to find a way in.

Her eyes narrowed at this, and darkened slightly at the thought of missing out on making the ones who changed her life pay dearly for their miserable lives, but tried to control herself from not going out and doing it herself. She had a night planned, and was not going to have it ruined with bloodshed. Sighing, the Breton went in front of a nearby mirror and made sure for the tenth time already that everything was perfect.

OOC: LOL! A monkey! What an interesting thought that is... And now you have gotten me trying to remember what times she explicitly used her stealth to kill... *sigh* with a character with as much history as her forgetting things is too bloody damn well easy. Or maybe I've been inactive so long... hmm...

IC: "I'd figured that, but I was hoping for a better stealth assistant, just in case. I've already got enough brute force, and hopefully I won't have to use any of it." Iris replied with a shrugging gesture, before slumping herself back into the chair and looking at the fire.

Another reason not to bring Karst. She's as volatile now as I've ever known her. The last thing I need is her snapping on those Mythic Dawn and shooting a hole through one of them before we can even try a more peaceful method of getting them. I'll likely be straining myself trying to paralyze them... I can't afford to be paralyzing her as well. Iris thought, one hand over her chin as the elbow rested on the side of the armchair.

"Some people are always itching for a fight, and would use one to warm themselves up or some ridiculous excuse as that." Iris remarked out of the blue as she plucked one of her blouse sleeves, her thoughts having moved to the new Argonian over time. She looked over at him as he seemed to be stifling a laugh, or maybe a cough. Argonian faces were always a challenge for her to read. "At least I can say now you aren't irrational. I'd rather stay here than go out there. Too dang cold, nothing like Vvardenfell at all."

It was around this time, when she seemed on the verge of rambling, that she caught something in the corner of her eye and frowned, before turning full around in the seat so only a bent leg still rested on the cushion to look at it better. Her jaw dropped at the sight and she rose on that leg, looking over the back of the chair. "Vivian... where did you get that?!"

If Dunmer had a more noticeable blush, one might have noticed that Vivian was very much borderline blushing thanks to Iris' exclamation, and the fact she'd even been there. He was standing there, dressed in a rather finely spun black set of pants, and a matching black highwayman's shirt, that looked far too lavishly decorated and noble for his tastes. He'd already looked uncomfortable walking in with it on, Iris wasn't helping. "Karst... gave it to me."

"Why?" Iris raised an eyebrow quizzically, just before noticing Mia there for the first time, and eying her up. Her ruby eyes flicked from brother to priest's girl, then back again, before a knowing smile crept onto her face. She adjusted herself so she was sitting on both knees on the chair, and crossed her arms over the back of the chair, resting her chin on her forearms. "Have fun." That knowing smile failed to leave her face. He's not living this down at all.

"Um... thanks." Vivian replied, for once looking genuinely unnerved. He'd been in a gate of Oblivion, shot Dremora in the neck, and seen his own friends dying; but still his own sister knowing and scheming scared him more than any of that. When she was younger she was easier to predict. He mentally sighed.

OOC: And I can't help but feel that since my hiatus... the personalities of Iris and Vivian have changed a bit more than is proper. It's disturbing me, and I think gives me all the more reason to get myself in bed now.

ooc: Remember, FC, Karst slipped a little present into Vivian's back pocket when she hugged him earlier for him to use on the date. :hehe:

ic: When Karst offered to help, Iris turned and looked at her, then rose and approached her. Silently, her Dunmeri friend embraced her, and when she let go, she still held onto her shoulders. "Karst.. you, well.. haven't been yourself lately." Iris said to Karst, and instantly her posture drooped a little with the knowledge that she was going to be turned down in the next sentence. The way she addressed her sounded apologetic in an almost motherly way, and Karst felt Iris's fingers grip her a little tighter. Something painful flickered behind the ruby eyes a moment and the Khajiit had to wonder what was going through her friend's mind. "I want you resting, Karst. For at least a day. You need it more than anyone else." Iris went on, then waited a moment before finishing with, "And I won't take no for an answer."

The young feline had been just about to argue back when Iris had added that last bit with a resolute tone. With that addition, Karst knew she'd be accomplishing more by banging her head against a cupboard than by trying to convince Iris to let her come along. When Iris had made up her mind, she'd be damned if she was going to change her decision, and Karst knew that. With a sigh of defeat, Karst nodded and walked over to one of the tables a few feet away in the main hall after Iris had pecked her on the cheek. She rested her chin on her furry forearms and sighed morosely. The others were going out and doing something, while she was going to be stuck here doing nothing. If she was doing nothing, she was useless. And Karst hated being useless. Lowering her ears and curling her tail up into her lap, the little Khajiit stared at a small, furry black spider as it walked along the surface of the table.

How wonderful it'd be to live as simply as you. She thought at it, reaching over to poke it. The little arachnid turned around to face her, front legs up and fangs bared. She moved her finger from side to side, the spider rotating like a turret to watch her, before she tucked her arm back in under her chin. It watched her a moment longer before going back to whatever it had been doing before. Karst sighed again and stared at her knuckles, the sigh blowing air on the spider and making it scurry off. Should I just tell her that I want to do this to be helpful one last time before I retire for a bit? Would it make any difference? Karst wondered, then grunted. Probably not. Iris is as stubborn as I am.

With that, she just sat there, staring alternately at the wood and at her knuckles and ignoring the world around her. She felt terrible that she was going to just up and leave them, but the alternative was that she might lose her mind and kill them all. She'd rather feel bad and have them miss her than have them in danger from her. And Karst, being who she was, couldn't help but think that they might just be better off without her there anyway.
_______
Zant struggled a little to understand the partially backwards way that the Viuven spoke, silently thanking the Gods that Tamara had taught him and Karst Cyrodiilic as well as Ta'agra when they were young. He got the gist of it all, though, and couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be afflicted with lycanthropy. He dearly hoped he'd never know.

When Karst asked to help and was turned down by Iris, she seemed to fall back into a state of melancholy. It broke his heart to see her like this, but somehow he doubted she wanted to be fussed over right now either. Torn between wanting to help Karst and not wanting to make her feel smothered or insulted, Zant opted to be safe and let her be. Instead, he turned to Vivian when he walked in and smiled.

"Well, I'll be damned. You look good, Vivian. Where did Karst get an outfit like that though, I wonder?"

OOC: Meanwhile, in Plundered Mine! (:P)

IC: Teegus turned around, ''Oh! Him, yes him, I forgot about him'' He smirked, the walked over to the Bandit.

Teegus grabbed the Bandits hurt arm and dragged him to a boulder and propped him against it. The Bandit, was a Dunmer, and wore Jet black armor, he cried out in pain, and released more curses. ''Ok, heres how its going to go'' Teegus said, ''You cooperate, you live, you dont, you die'' The Bandit squirmed and fidgeted, but Teegus held him in place. ''First, who do you work for?'' The Bandit remained silent. Teegus started to become a little frustrated, so he curled his fist and hit the Bandits injured shoulder. The Man yelled in pain, but refused to tell, Teegus repeated the method, still nothing. He sighed, then grabbed a rock on the ground. The Bandits eyes opened wide in terror, just as Teegus was about to smash the rock into the Dunmer's shoulder he cried out ''Stop! I'll tell, I'll tell!'' Teegus smiled, ''There, we're making progress''. He leaned forward, ''You were saying?''

The Dunmer hesitated at first, ''We work for the M-Mythic Dawn'' He spat out. Mythic Dawn? Teegus had heard of them, a bunch of idiots that worshiped Deadra or something like that. ''Why are you working for them?'' Asked Teegus, still clutching the rock in his Palm. The Bandit lowered his head before speaking, ''We're.......We're spies...'' He said, sounding ashamed. ''Spies?!'' Burd blurted out, the Bandit continued, ''We were sent here to spy of Bruma's defenses'' Burd was puzzled, ''Why?''

Instead of answering, the Dunmer made one last attempt and threw himself at Teegus, but Teegus was ready for it, rock still in hand, he hit the Bandit on the head, a loud crack sounded off, But it wasn't the rock.

''I must relay this news to the countess!'' Burd said. Teegus looked disappointed that he had to kill the Bandit, he wasn't finished with him. ''Yea, lets get out of here''.

The gossip soon became fairly boring, apparently the count was going to assemble a large group of people to help the heroes of Kvatch and company. Tim dreamt about signing up as he lay against a tree, he smirked to himself as he thought about his heroic journey's across Tamriel, slaying evil and romancing beautiful women. He giggled at the thought of maybe having a squire under him, and full armour, and maybe a sword that wasn't rusty or broken. Hell, even hot food every evening would be more then enough.

A hand to his shoulders brought him out of his dreamstate as he looked into the eyes of four, rather menacing looking teenagers, Tim stepped back in fear and surprise, he hadn't expected it, "Well, well, look who we caught." Hissed an Argonian as it reached for it's pocket; no doubt to withdraw a weapon. Tim didn't waste anytime and quickly sprinted away, knowing the boys were quick on his heels. Godamnit! he cursed as he rounded a bend and nearly slipped up on ice, he was nearly at the castle gate.. If he could get close to the guard then he'd be alright, the boys wouldn't touch him if he was around a trained warrior.

But just as things started looking up a stone crashed into the back of his head causing him to fall. He fell hard into the ground and bumped along the cobbled steps for a few meters before he stopped, his head seared in pain and he had broken his right arm. He screamed in pain and could feel hands groping him, he could feel them taking his bread; he resisted but met a quick punch to the face. The world swirled in a mixture of pain and the smell of blood; it was intoxicating and it only took a couple of seconds before he lost consciousness..

ooc: Anyone in bruma town fancy Rping? if so, now's a rather good time to play the good Samaritan. ;D

Xerxes,tired of wandering enteres a tavern, the balzing hearth giving off heat. Xerxes crosses the room and sits down on a barstool, the wooden perch squeaks out under the sudden weight. Xerxes asks the bartender (a fat orc with thinning hair) for a bed. The orc grinns and hands Xerxes the key. Xerxes hands the orc a few drakes and looks about the room. waiting for something to happen,He rummages in his sack for a strip of deer jerky,pulling it out he bites into the tough strip of meat and eats it with a bored stare that takes in everything.

OOC: Well, My merc is on his way back to Bruma, so perhaps he could step in

ooc: Uggles! *hugz* I'll save yer little Tim.

ic: Melanarde walked through the snowy streets of Bruma, shivering even with the Frost Shield she had up on her self to keep out the chill. Her heeled leather boots clomped through the powder for a minute as she came in the front gates, a look of boredom and misery in her red Dunmeri eyes. A hand encased in Elven plating reached up and flicked a rogue lock of orange hair that'd escaped her ponytail out of her eyes and sighed. The elf was about to walk into the local Fighter's Guild hall to warm up when something caught her attention, something that sounded like a fight. Finally, something interesting. By Mara this place is a boring hole.

Mel's flame colored skirt swished around her ankles as she tromped through the snow towards the sound her ears had picked up. Upon arrival, she saw a group of teenagers of various races beating up what appeared to be a little beggar child. A mere half second after a fist met his face and knocked him out, a fireball hit the Argonian in the arm. It wasn't enough to blast his arm off, but it was more than enough to scorch his scales and make him hurt. The boy hissed and looked up. He was about to make some threatening comment about how whoever did that had better run when he met with the pair of angry rubies that stared back at him.

One other kid's eyes widened and he yelled. "She's got a Daedric sword, man! You know how much we could pawn that for?!"

The Argonian looked at him as if he was mad and glared. "Did you see what the [censored] did to me? Screw that, man!"

"We could eat for years! We could by a house! I say we jump 'er. She can't take all of us." Another suggested.

Mel strode over, drawing the sword in question from her hip, her other hand holding a ball of flame. "Try me, punk." She growled.

"Shove off, noble! You don't tell me what to do!" The first kid yelled defiantly. He was rewarded by being picked up by the collar and lifted off his feet to Mel's eye level, six feet off the ground.

"I can do whatever I damn well please, smart-ass." The Altmer spat in his face, "And I'm telling you four to take a hike." Mel tossed the kid butt-first into a snow pile and glared at the others. "And I suggest you do it while you still have legs to run with." She added with a grin. The kids bolted.

Sheathing her blade, Mel scooped up Tim in her arms and walked into the Inn, set him down while she ordered a room, then brought him in and laid him down, making sure he was tucked into bed and that the fireplace was burning to keep the both of them warm. She took off her gauntlets and stroked his hair gently with her golden fingers as she sat on the bed next to his side.

ooc: Off to lunch. Be back later.

Tim awoke abruptly, he saw a female elf standing over him, a rush of adrenaline pumped through him and he shot back, placing himself firmly against the wall, he hit his arm against a bed post and winced as he gripped it, "Wh.." he started but was too scared to finish. His eyes staring at the woman. He didn't dare speak unless she would punish him, and he didn't dare move unless she killed him. This is it. he thought as tears began to well up. He groped his corner, hoping to find some sort of exit through which he could escape, but somehow, he felt that this dunmer lady with a daedric sword would be the end of him...

OOC: Damn you Aulakauss! You beat me to it!



IC: Yohan and Derrikk were in high spirits to see their Captain unscathed, ''I was beginning to think the Bandits got ya'' Yohan joked. Teegus grinned, ''They were smart enough to tell we weren't Bandits, but I think most of them never had any weapons training''. Burd stepped in, ''We don't have much time for talk, we need to get to the countess ASAP''

It felt terribly good to be back into Bruma, it felt peaceful, in a strange sort of way. I think I might stay here for bit... Teegus thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. I could use a vacation...

Teegus stood in the County Hall, leaning against one of the pillars. Burd was bust informing the Countess of what they found. Bandits working for Mythic Dawn. Teegus went over it in his mind, it sounded far-fetched, but it sounded like the most plausible way of spying.

Spying as a civilian, may raise a few eyebrows, but as a Bandit, it would probably be perfectly normal. Teegus felt his stomach lurching, crying to him for food. He had not eaten in almost a day.

He heard a set of footsteps, and walked onto the carpeting. There was Burd, back in his Guard Armor, followed by a very tall man, carrying a small bag.

''I have good news, and bad news'' Burd stated. Teegus shrugged, ''Good news first'' he said. Burd then pulled out a small sack that was tied to his belt. ''Your gold payment, fifteen hundred, just like we agreed'' Teegus smiled and took the sack, and tied it to his own belt.

The tall man then stepped forward. He was incredibly skinny and had a very gaunt face. ''I'm afraid to inform you, that the Khajiit prisoner you captured is dead'' He stated, with no remorse in his voice. ''The arrow punctured deep into his spine, It was only a matter of time''

''The countess has also ordered for me to keep the guard on full-alert'' Burd was speaking now. ''We dont know if theres other other spies in the area, but we wont take the chance''. Teegus shifted uneasily, ''Well, atleast we cleared those Bandits away before they could do anymore harm'' He said. Burd nodded, then turned and walked away, the Tall man in pursuit. Leaving Teegus alone with his thoughts.

Several Minutes Later-

The Door to Olav's Tap and Tavern swung with a loud creak as Teegus stepped in, he then made his way past several people before locating Olav.

''Narune!'' He said cheerfully, and stood up from a table. ''Hello Olav'' Teegus replied, and tossed him a gold coin, Olav caught it and chuckled, unaware that Teegus used it as a distraction to swipe an apple of the table. He proceeded to his rented room, and sat on the bed.

He stood back up and began inspecting his things, making sure none were stolen. Once he made sure of it, He moved to the corner of the room, and picked up what seemed to be an ordinary silver axe. He grasped it in his hand, and held the apple closely to the blade, it barely came into contact with the blade before it was sliced into two pieces. Teegus chuckled with delight, and grabbed the sliced apple. He propped himself on the front half of the bad, and was sitting against the wall.

He placed his Axe on the bottom half of the bed, and began to enjoy his snack.

OOC: I never knew I could make so many spelling errors, Lol

ooc: I'm home again! And finally rid of the atrocious keyboards they have in my Computer Lit class. God I hate those split ones. "Better on the hands!" they say. "Easier to use!" they advertise. All I see is the molestation of a perfectly good piece of technology.. /grumpy

Sorry about that, Jerod, but I needed an excuse to get her in there and this was perfect.

Also, forgive me if I'm being slanderous, but I'm assuming Olav's has more than two bleeding rooms.

ic: When the boy woke up suddenly, his reaction wasn't quite what Mel had expected. He bolted up, scuttled into a corner against the wall, whacking his arm in the process, and proceeded to stare at her in terror. Cautiously, Melanarde let her Frost Shield spell fall and leaned over towards him.

"No, no. It's okay, kid. You're all right now. You're safe. Those jerk punks aren't going to bother you here; you're in an inn." The Altmeri woman explained in a soft and motherly tone, her red eyes looking him over carefully. He looked scrawny, dirty and severely underfed, the whole of it combined with his current state of cowering pulling at her heart. Brushing some hair from her face again, Melanarde adjusted her blouse and smiled kindly at the young man.

"You don't need to be afraid of me. I'm not going to hurt you. Here.." Reaching over slowly so as not to alarm him, she touched his bruised face gently, her own unique brand of healing magicka flowing into him. The skin would get warmer and the flesh would mend in a mere second. "C'mon, don't look at me like that, kiddo.." She said, a little annoyed at his fearfulness but not wanting to seem annoyed lest she make it worse. After another glance at his clothes, she recalled he'd had bread that the kids had made off with when they ran and had an idea. "Say, you look hungry. Can I get you something to eat?"

Tim relaxed as soon as the woman spoke, her voice was kind, and nothing like he had expected. Her touch was cooling and she even offered him food. At the mention of food he reached into his pockets and searched for his bread, instead; he had produced crumbs, he leant forwards and sniffled, they'd taken it. He felt like despairing and running out into the cold in search of the boys who took his last chance of getting some decent food this month.

He looked at the woman again and wiped a tear, "Yes Ma'am." He answered, "I haven't had a real meal in, a long time." She looked rich; which either meant he might be able to get a job if he acted nice, or he could steal her purse when she wasn't looking. He then remembered the longsword and decided it was probably a good idea not to go anywhere near her purse.

Melanarde smiled as the boy relaxed. She pulled an embroidered orange handkerchief from a pocket in her skirt and handed it to him, the letters M.D. stitched on in a lavish font.

"Here, wipe your eyes and blow your nose, then lie down and keep warm, okay? I'll go fetch you something." She told him, then turned in a quick twirl of skirt and went out, heels clicking on the wood and hand in her other pocket, counting a few loose coins before puling them out and setting them on the table next to Olav. "Here. I'm gonna go cook something."

The Nord looked at her oddly, then cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. "Wha-- Hey! Wait a minute!" He cried, running after her. "What're you doing?"

Mel turned and set a hand on her hip in a mock act of haughty annoyance. "I think I told you, Olav. You.." She waved dismissively at him with one hand. "..do whatever it is that you do."

"This is my Inn, dammit, woman! How do I know you're not going to burn the place down?!" He demanded, evoking a little burst of laughter from Melanarde.

"Oh, trust me. If I was going to burn this place down, I'd have done it already. Just.. worry your head on something else, okay, dear?"

Olav blinked. "Dear? What the hell? Whatever.." The Nordic innkeeper gave up and sighed, but immediately turned around and yelled after her as she walked down into the kitchen. "You burn anything and I'll kill you!"

"Shush." Came the reply, and she flicked a coin at him, the septim flying at him to strike him in the nose. He went and sat down to grumble while she made a quick meal. Before thirty minutes had passed, the orange-garbed Altmer left with two large bowls of beef and vegetable soup and a loaf of bread tucked under her arm. Walking into the room, she kicked the door shut behind her and sat down at Tim's bedside, handing him a bowl of soup and setting the other down along with the bread on the table. Looking at the street child, nodded to him.

"Here. I used to cook for the Count of Skingrad, so it oughta be decent food. Bread's all yours." She told him before taking a sip of her own bowl of soup.

Tim's face became a look of delight as he looked at the warm food, "Oh ma'am!" He said, stunned, "This looks amazing." he added as he looked at the soup. He felt like diving his mouth into the soup and drinking it but knew it wasn't proper.. He broke a piece of the bread off and dipped it into the soup, his mouth watered as he began to chew on the fresh loaf. He smiled to himself, "I don't think I can pay you for this ma'am, I have no money and no job. But I am willing to work off a debt." He added, as he eagerly dipped another piece of bread into the delicious soup. He'd never tasted food quite like this, or atleast, not in a year or so when a friend of his father's had come to town.