Mercenary Briefing:

In the carnage following the Oblivion Crisis, Tamriel was not rebuilt as its armies had intended. Instead, with the lack of central authority, the most united provinces scrambled for power, wealth, and independence. In a brutal act of retaliation, the bankrupt slavery-dependant House Dres, which had formerly supported King Hlaalu Helseth's ban on the trade of captured criminals and outlanders, called upon its investors to finance the king's assassination. The gears of war began to turn, and as the militia of the Deshaan Plain was rallied the king was slaughtered in his own palace, with Barenziah once again forced to flee to the other side of the continent.

House Dres made an alliance with the ruined House Indoril, and garrisoned Almalexia against the scattered forces of the king and his stunned allies. Unable to assault the fortress-city, House Hlaalu turned its attention to assisting the Redoran in the hopes of them returning the favour, and after initial defeats the Dunmeri army was slaughtered at the Battle of the Velothi Valley. But the Nords were battered, and, deserted by their Orc mercenaries, they fell back across the border.

The Gahkhanvir ae Resdaynia, as it was now called, declared its de facto independence from the empire, and prompted a resurgence of national identity in the province of Hammerfell, where the Crowns staged a grand cross-border raid and annihilated the city of Anvil, cutting communications with Summerset Isle, also believed to have regained its independence.

But the biggest threat to Cyrodiil itself is one that has been largely ignored by the leaders of its southern fortresses, and now the legions of Topal Bay look to mercenaries for their defence. The plan is simple - to launch an invasion into the deserts of Elsweyr against the tribes supporting the Renrijra Krin. Disciplined, valiant mercenaries against untrained, unwilling skooma-dealers is widely seen as a simple task, compared with previous counter-insurgency wars, but as the coup in Elsweyr threatens to spill over the border the mercenaries must think of a strategy, and think of one fast.

Having been sent to capture the Cyrodiilic Renrijra Krin's leader, S'razirr, the mercenaries now gather outside of his last-known location, the abandoned ruins of Sedor, north of the Imperial City, although he is long gone.

Mercenary Resources:

http://downloads.ei-der-zeit.com/images/maps/nirn_edz.jpg
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Ahzirr_Traajijazeri
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:The_Art_of_War_Magic
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Words_of_Clan_Mother_Ahnissi

Mercenary Application Form:

Name:
Race:
Gender:
Age:
Favoured Weapon (Will Be Outfitted With One of These - No Enchantments or Single Enchantment Effect Only):
Backup Weapon (Will Be Outfitted With One of These - No Enchantments Allowed):
Armour:
Equipment:
Useful Skills (Not Combat Related - Can Be Talents or Hobbies):

The mercenary may choose not to equip themselves with a secondary weapon, and may use a title or nickname, and may also provide us, the management and administration of County Leyawiin, with additional information if they so choose provided that they add no more than five sections to this application form.

There is no need for the mercenary to produce a copy of this application form and send it to us, but they must make one and keep it in their possession when on their mission, for easy identification if the Renrijra Krin kick their teeth out.

Mercenary Laws:

1) Mercenaries may not be so insanely powerful that they can cut off each of Mehrunes Dagon's four...arms...with an arrow.
2) Mercenaries may not let their second personalities talk in OOC mode for too long, although such posts are allowed in moderation.
3) There is a limit of 600,000 letters per post.
4) Contrary to Pythonian myth, spam is not, in fact, wonderful.
5) If you think that a player is ubering, has gone over the 600,000 letter limit, or is spamming, feel free to tell me if they've not broken forum rules and the moderators if they have.
6) This was stolen by the Renrijra Krin.
7) Fusozay var var.

Let's get this going! Remember, people, it's never too late to join!

Name: Andi Grunhair

Race: Dunmer

Gender: Male

Age: 27

Favoured Weapon: Elven Short Sword, with green gems in handle and sheath.

Backup Weapon: Elven Dagger, matching the Elven Short Sword

Armour: Light Leather Armor with a green cloak.

Equipment: small flask, coin pouch,

Useful Skills: Surveillance is a hobby of his, yes spying on people. Investigations.

Appearance: Andi is short, with a green ponytail to his shoulders, he has a small scar on his neck from nearly having his head cut off by a crazy Argonian.

History: Andi was a simple farmer's son, until his family were killed by a gang of bandits. Andi found his dead family when he returned to their farm from the town's market. He took all the money and supplies he could carry and left to start a new life. But the way he left, made the local town's authorities suspicious of him so he had to head as far away from his home as he could, and ended up doing any jobs that needed doing.

Hmm...I think we can start with one more person. But others can join at any time

Name:luna
Race:imperial
Gender:female
Age:30, looks 25
Favoured Weapon (Will Be Outfitted With One of These - No Enchantments or Single Enchantment Effect Only): akaviri katana (dual wielding if it is allowed)
Backup Weapon (Will Be Outfitted With One of These - No Enchantments Allowed): steel shortsword
Armour:shrouded armour, black cloak with hood and mask on lower half of face
Equipment: basic supplys, 1 potion of night eye, leather pouch
Useful Skills (Not Combat Related - Can Be Talents or Hobbies): can walk on her hands and juggle forks
appearence: blue eyes, silver hair, average height and build
bio: fairly agile and good with a blade but absolutley useless when it comes to magic. puts honour above all else, except her mission, prefers giving her opponent a fighting chance. can be cofused with a male when her hood is up.

OOC: Ready when you are! (:

OOC: Then let's get this started! Others can still join if they want!

IC: Dawn on the fringes of the forest. The distinctive white limestone arches and collapsed lintels mark the location of the Ayleid ruins amongst the thick woodland. The fresh-thrown earth, a raw intrusion, bears the flag of the Zelaku Tribe. Although its ashkhan is now alone. No tribe has come to guard her, and through her tears she prays in a kneeling position, fingers in mouth as she turns herself to face the northeastern sunrise. She tried to picture the same scene above the summit of Red Mountain. But even in prayer, she could not imagine even a fleeting glimpse of it.
She could, however, picture her tribe. A mad exultant rush to carry the ramparts, gasping sentries overwhelmed, Imperials fumbling for their weapons, skittering back, clutching entrails - the pride of Cyrodiil bloodied and battered on burning ground. The desire to fight again rose like fire in a gale, and it snowballed, a war cry forming on Ashina's tongue, only the restraint of her faith in Azura holding back the tide. A step behind her, however, made her turn. The first of her companions had arrived, and she quickly came back to the pro-western insanity that the prison guards had called senses.
"Muthsera," she said, holding out her hand. "Who are you?"

Luna's cloak billowed in the wind as she aproaced the ayleid ruins. before she had set off she had decided to have a poke around inside the ruins, assuming she was the first one there. she was mildly suprised when she spotted a dunmer praying nearby. her boot scuffed on the ground as the dunmer rose and turned. "Muthsera" she said holding out her hand before asking her name. Luna shook the hand cautiously, "you may call me Luna" she replied as she used the other hand to lower her hood and mask, allowing her silver hair to fall round her shoulders. "and you?"

IC: Ashina threw her own shawl over her shoulders, and brushed herseld down, before giving her standard introduction that she'd said a thousand times.
"Ashkhan Ashina Zelaku, Priestess of Azura, Lady of the Valley of the Wind. Leader of the Zelaku Tribe in peace and war, by the grace of the gods and fate, follower of Nerevar reborn." It raised Ashina's morale to introduce herself as such once more. It brought memories of the Ashlands back again, but they were quickly suppressed. She knew not why, but she liked the Imperial before her. It was probably her seasoning in prison - she knew she might grow out of it. But for the first time in a while, she felt like she had a decent companion. "Are you alone, or is there a group following you?"

"Well then, I think it's about time I made my introduction" Gandvel said in his gruff demeanor, taking a long gulp from his water-gourd. "Gandvel Drurel, representative of the glorious House Redoran, and Fighter's Guild Protector" His deep gravelled voice and accent easily gave away his origin in Vvardenfell, or at least to the uneducated listener a general Morrowindian accent, he walked with a slight limp as he approached his two new associates, betraying his old war-wound in his ankle. To the passive watcher he appeared like an old veteran, passed his prime, but to the person who his warhammer was flying towards, he was more seen as a skilled warrior who's VERY good at not dying.

"As you've probably guessed, I'm also here on business. Don't be fooled, I have a lot of fight in me yet" He chuckled, his worn tired eyes closing as he lent against a nearby pillar. He contemplated how long this little task would take, he hoped to get it out of the way as soon as possible, maybe the Guild or House Redoran would give him a consultation position, he could even BE the one to hand out those infuriating rat-killing tasks he had been given so many of as a boy. His old, strong face turned into a nostalgic grin as he remembered those days, helping an old lady clean out a nest of vermin. From what he could remember, his last mission involved taking down a remnant of those Mythic Dawn psychos, it was rather electric, to say the last. His hair had stood on end for DAYS after that encounter.

Can we be a member of the Tribes the mercenaries are battling by any chance? Or is that what this RP is about, sorry I don't fully understand.

Andi saw the Ayleid ruins of Sedor from the road. "Ah finally" He thought, as he walked through the trees from the road to the center of the ruins. He saw a few people standing there, the people he was now going to be working with. He thought it may be a good idea to look around the area, just incase there was anyone watching them, before he would make his presence known. A lot of Andi's work proved that some types of people, like to have other types of people watched. Anyone who may want their hands in this bread bag, would have hired spies.

He ran quietly around the outside of the ruins. But there was no sign of anyone but those gathered in the center of the place. He thought about watching them for a while, for all he knew they could be hostile bandits. Maybe they heard about what ever was going on, and came here to 'meet' all the people who would be, like Andi, meeting up here.

"Oh, no, thats just stupid" Andi thought, "improbible, but not impossible". They thought for a second, and decided it would probably be pointless, and may even cause his new workmates to dis-trust him, it seems not many people like to be spied apon.

He walked into the ruins and towards the group, "Hello, I am Andi Grunhair" he said, removing the hood of his green cloak. "I assume you are all here about the job at hand, yes?, well anyway, Andi's my name, Surveillance and Investigations are my game, well games. But not actually a game, its my profession".

He sounded like a cheap weapons salesman, you know those ones that stand around in the street with a stall or cart, saying that the streets are dark and dangerous and that you need a weopon to protect yourself from being mugged, and they 'just so happen' to sell swords at low, low prices. The weapons are probably stolen anyway.

Andi had no idea why he was here in the first place. He was working for a private investigation compay, when his boss told him that he was wanted for a special oppertunity. He hadn't been told what he was to be doing, only to meet his new 'friends' here, at this location. It was all very mysterious, Andi liked mystery.

"So, can somebody please tell me why we are here? My employer didn't really give me any information about the work".

Gandvel turned to the newcomer and grinned, ANOTHER Dunmer. This was shaping up to be a very grey team indeed, but he secretly thanked whatever God was listening that he didn't have to work with any Altmer. He had no problem with them, but they tended to look down their noses at people like him. He lightly pushed himself off the wall and onto his feet, and offered Andi a hand to shake. "Greetings, I am Gandvel Drurel" He said this with a slight smile, vaguely amused by the overdone introduction of his supposed new companion. "As far as I can tell we're here on a routine mission, if it was extremely important we would have been called to White-Gold Tower to meet with the Elder Council themselves".

He pondered this, what WAS he here for anyway? The Fighter's Guild had been very vague on the subject of what he'd be doing, these days he found it best to only know the bare essentials, he would have gone to House Redoran for mere instructions, but unfortunately they were in a spot of bother what with the situation over in Vvardenfell, which had meant he was forced to come here, to Cyrodiil. The only thing they had mentioned was that it was very important, and out here in the middle of the wilderness, with dark clouds far on the horizon, those words were much more foreboding then they had initially seemed.

His old bones felt tired in the heavy armour that his once youthful self could have done back-flips in, was he too old for this? He should just retire, he only had ten or fifteen years left, his family didn't have a particularly long life-span like the regal Dunmer families, which tended to live for at least two hundred, thanks to some sort of requirement the spouses of them had to meet. But he stood as upright as he could with the gash in his leg still a constant ache, and looked as strong as the strength within him aloud. He took another gulp from his gourd, and started to realize that he had been taking more of those gulps lately. He got dehydrated far more quickly, hopefully he wouldn't be going anywhere too warm in this little escapade.

When he was handled the letter containing his assignment, Gavin was indeed surprised. The Legion was rather silent towards him lately and he certainly did not expect a mission. Why did they pick him in the first place? It seemed that the Legion representatives had been rather oblivious to the existence of it's senior members and definitely did not provide them with assignments. However big his distrust towards this matter may have been, his thirst for commotion was higher. Ironically, he already was tired of relaxing. He prepared for the journey ahead and departed his lonely cabin.

The trip took longer that he had anticipated. Rain thwarted his journey numerous times and his preference of the forests to the roads certainly didn't speed his journey. Finally, when he emerged from the woods, he could see the ruins of Sedor in the distance. He could also recognize the blurred images of his, as he assumed, soon to-be companions. They must have seen him too and so it was no surprise, that when he arrived they already were aware of his presence.

"Hail. I am Gavin. Gavin Arus to be precise. Do I assume correctly if I say that you all are here concerning this certain... issue, with Renrijra Krin?" he said when he reached them, offering his hand to the nearest person.

Gandvel gave his hand to the newcomer and shook it gladly, seeing another veteran enter the circle of Mercenaries. He gave the Imperial a quick hand-shake and introduced himself, "Gandvel Drurel, Fighter's Guild Protector and representative of House Redoran" He noticed the man had a strong and firm hand-shake, the sign of an honest man, as he had come to learn over the years. He noticed the bow and was relieved to find that it was a professional bow, not one of those gaudy augmented things the young hot-headed adventurers carried around nowadays. He couldn't stand those types.

"I believe that's why we're gathered here, yes" He said with an honest and confident face, disguising the fact he was ignorant to the entire business. He really needed to start asking for those writs the younger members received, or at least start keeping some sort of journal of what his superiors told him. It was pathetic, it honestly was, he would RUN the Fighter's Guild if it weren't for all the politics involved in getting ahead. Gandvel was always an honest man, something which turned out was, to his surprise, a major handicap in politics.

He squinted in the afternoon sun, it felt good to be in a sunny place that didn't bring insufferable heat with it. "In fact, when everyone arrives we should be given a full briefing on the matter" He said this again with a false look of honesty and confidence, when really he had no idea what was going in. But he was going for a good first impression, so he had to keep it so that it looked like he knew why he was here. He didn't know why, but for some reason he always felt when working with others it was important that you made a good first impression, because soon their lives may depend on you, and you want them to be confident if it does pan out like that.

Andi was just looking around, suspiciously. He had a really awkward feeling, that perhaps the group were being watched. He had always been the one doing the watching, but he knew what it was like to be watched, and he felt that way right now.

He saw the next member of the group arrive, and rushed over to say hi hastily. As he passed Ashina, he said quick and quietly, "Don't look around, I think we're being watched". He rushed over to the man and said "Hi there, I'm Andi Grunhair, pleasure to meet you friend".

Andi's father had the mentality that 'a stranger is just a friend I haven't met yet'.

Andi thought that was just stupid in the world where half the population are killers and thieves. But Andi had the same personality, anyone who didn't pose an obvious danger or hostility to him, he thought of as a friend. Occasionally it would bite him on the ass, a 'friend' would steal a job or cheat him in some way. But that didn't stop Andi in seeing that not everyone was scum. But his job proved a lot were, but not all.

Ahh now he knew he was not the only one in the dark about their reason for being here. "Thats a marvelous idea Gandvel" he said smiling, excited at the fact that he may actually be told what was going on.

"If only, Gandvel," Ashina retorted. "If we weren't given a briefing before they sent us to find S'ravir, we won't be given one now." She pasued, waiting for everyone's attention. "I've searched the ruins. The Khajiit has fled, and I'm no scout." Her eyes flicked from one of her companions to the other. Mostly Dunmer, or outlanders bred in Morrowind. An interesting selection. "We need to make a plan. Any suggestions?"

"Well first, tell me this; What is Mr. Sravir's profession? I presume it's outside the law, or they wouldn't be sending a near regiment of forces to these ruins" He looked them over, clear disdain on his face. Why did they keep doing it? Crime REALLY didn't pay off except for the Legion and Mercenaries paid to STOP crime. They all got caught eventually, it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when. He started to think, tracking down this guy? This will take longer than he expected. Why couldn't the s'wit just stay in the damn ruins instead of having to go run off somewhere? Then again, he wasn't looking forward to retirement, he'd probably spend MORE time around the guild-hall, just talking to newbies and old friends. He better savour the action.

Luna stood towards the edge of the group greeting the people as they arrived. when she heard about the khajiit she instictively put her hood and mask up and instantly regreted removing them, when you did what she did you tend to make a lot of enemies so hiding your face is one of the best defences, she just hoped that they were not lurking nearby. her usual plan of blending in wouldn't realy work in large numbers, a single stranger on there own wouldm't draw much attention but a whole group of them were bound to get noticed. she looked at the ground and sighed as she began to think of a plan.

Reaching into one of the pockets on his armor, Gavin pulled out a crumbled paper. After flattening it hastily, he glanced it quickly and then proceeded to show it to his companions, pointing to one particular word. Capture.

"This I find most important. Apparently, those organizing the expedition want us to capture this S'razzir, not kill him." he explained. "Either way, we'll need to search for him. And if this place indeed is empty, I guess our best effort would be to search for any kind of trails." However, Gavin had the feeling that S'razzir was already far away and not that he had departed only recently. He kept this remark to himself though, waiting for the possibility of a better plan emerging.

"The reason I asked" Gandvel said, leaning against the pillar again, "Is because if any of his crimes involved selling certain illegal items to certain people, these people might be willing to make a comment as to where he might of went" He stretched his back around slightly, then said "Or would at least be able to point us to one of his other contacts who WOULD know where he's gone" This plan wasn't because of his intelligence, which if anything was about average, but he had seen similar cases at the Guild be solved this way. It was an old method, but an effective one.

"And so be it, I promise not to lay a finger more than nescessary on this Khajiit, but if he attempts to attack any of us I'm sure we will defend ourselves as long as he keeps on trying" This was said somberly, his tired face serious and cold. He believed in, basically, an eye for an eye, and if any of them died during this mission then he'd make damn sure that the s'wit who did it would get his, even if it was the Khajiit they were meant to capture.

"I think, if we get this person, we should tie his legs and pull him along the ground behind a horse" Andi said 'I have done this before and it can be a very entertaining way to transport criminals".

He looked around at the group, "I don't know why we haven't been told much. But it is curious to me, that we would all be sent out here with so little information".

Andi was starting to feel uneasy standing in the middle of the ruins. The more he thought about this, the more he thought it could be a setup of some sort. He looked around at the surrounding trees, and decided to go on a short walk, just to make sure there wasn't anyone watching them. He drifted past Gandvel and said quietly, "I'm going to have another look......around".

He quietly walked, or crept into the surrounding trees, almost like a ghost. That was the last the group saw of Andi Grunhair (for a while).

Luna sighed again and started walking twards the entrance of the ruins "if anyone needs me i'll be in the ruin" she said without looking back. she aproached the door and pushed against the stone. slowly it swung open and she steped inside. the air was cooler inside and the dull lights cast long shadows. she crept down the steps drawing her katana as she went. the corridor looped round to the left, her footsteps echoing in the empty halls. her foot sunk into the ground as a giant blade swung down, she cursed and rolled forward just as the blade cut the air where she was just seconds ago. there were sevral clunks as more blades began to fall and forced her to sprint down the corridor and out into a large chamber. she stopped to catch her breath, she had been careless and it had already almost cost her her life.

Her eyes sweeped the room, a few weykled stones still sat high in there pedestals illuminating the room. to her right was a passage that had been blocked by a cave in. she was about to leave when she noticed that the far corner of the room was completley dark. cautiously she advanced keeping an eye on the floor looking for any traps. she felt along the walls and found an oppening in the rock. everey one of her instincts screamed at her to turn around but her curiosity got the best of her as she uncorked her last potion of night eye and gulped it down. she blinked as the potion took effect and she could make out the hidden arch. more steps led further down and she soon found herself in a tomb. sevral sarcoughagus lay round the edges but in the center stood a raised pedestal with a daggers hilt sticking out of it. she grasped the handle and pulled. all she could tell abut the blade was that it was smooth.

a shallow rasping sound came from behind her and she rolled to the side just in time for a frost bolt to come shooting past. she whirled around and met face to face with a wraith. it launched another frost bolt her way as she dodged again but this time it caught her cloak and ice formed where it hit. she gulped, this was one powerful wraith. she barley dodged anther blast, her katana took the hit and frsted over leaving her hand numb and causing her to drop it. damn she thought, she was defenseless, she had no enchanted items and her magical skills were non-existant, to make matters worse the potion was starting to wear off and it was getting harder to see. she cursed under her breath just as she remembered the dager clutched in her other hand.

she threw it just as the wraith let off anther blast. the blade pierced its head and exploded in a ball of fire but it was to late to dodge the frost bolt. it hit her straight in the chest and sent her flying. she heard a sickening crack as her right arm hit the pedestal and felt a wave of cold spread across her torso. she heard voices as she fell to the floor, the newly revealed varla stone lighting the room. she passed out in agony.

"We certainly are not going to make any progress if we start dividing this soon." Gavin sighed. Two of his new companions already went away and he wast left standing at the ruins with two others. Sitting himself on one of the smaller scattered stones, he opened his water flask and took a gulp. He looked around and continued: "While I certainly value the endeavour to scout the surroundings for any possible hostiles, I don't see any sense in rummaging about in the ruins, when already one of us explored them. He looked at Ashina. "Certainly, you would have told us if you found some..." he left himself unfinished as loud sounds from the inside interrupted him. He jumped to his foot and glanced at his companions. "What by the Nine Divines was that?!"