Many know Ondusi only through Ondusi's Open Door, a common Alteration spell. Few ever thought about who Ondusi was. He was never a mage known to history, like Mannimarco, Shalidor or Sotha Sil. He preferred to work in the shadows.

You see, Ondusi was a Nightingale, sworn to guard the Twilight Sepulcher. One of the first, in fact. He was around when it was being constructed. Nocturnal kept the Skeleton Key there, as you know. Ondusi studied the Skeleton Key's enchantments. His loyalty to Nocturnal prevented him from stealing it, but he was a master mage, and he figured he didn't need to hold it to gain it's power. From his studies, he invented spells to open locks, and used it as part of his thieving. Then one day, he realized it wasn't just mundane locks that he could open. He unlocked his own hidden potential, granting him the strength, skill and wisdom of a thousand men.

Ondusi then became one of the greatest thieves in history, only rivalled by Rajhin and the Grey Fox. He moved from stealing gold to stealing legendary artefacts. Eventually, he became bored of this, seeking ever more thrills. He used his great magical talent to create portals into Oblivion, where he stole from the Daedric Princes themselves. He stole the Oghma Infinium from Hermaeus Mora's library. He stole Sanguine's bejewelled wine goblet. More and more legendary items were lost by the Daedric Princes.

Ondusi forgot his duties, though. While he was away, the Skeleton Key was stolen by bandits, who were able to kill the other Nightingales in his absence. Ondusi's luck ran out. He was stealing a circlet from Azura's head while she slept, and she woke up. In fury, she had her Winged Twilights imprison him, and all the Daedric Princes gathered up to reclaim their lost artifacts and torture him. Ondusi unlocked his chains, and ran away from the Daedric Princes. He teleported himself into the Evergloam. There he kept a vault, full of all the legendary Daedric treasures he had owned. He inverted his spell and made a lock only he could break, in order to hide from the Daedra. He realized his mistake when Nocturnal manifested herself inside the vault. Ondusi was killed, his soul sold to Molag Bal as a plaything. Eventually Nocturnal would appoint a new generation of Nightingales from her priests who survived the bandit raid. Ondusi's greatest spells were lost, as he only taught a few men before his death. As such, Ondusi's Open Door is the only creation of his that survives to the present day.

Wow, that was really cool.

I like the idea of writing about the actual stories behind scroll names. This makes me wonder; if Ondusi was such a great thief, then what does that make Ekash...?

Great story.