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Two Sides of the Coin
Written in the style of Tavi Dromio

Another busy winter evening at the King's Ham, and the drinks were flowing moreso than normal, to chase off the chills. Regular patrons Hallgerd and Garaz were doing an admirable job of keeping their stools held down to the cold floor when Xiomara came in, dragging the frigid night breeze in with him. After several choice words from the patrons closest to the door to close it in a hurry, Xiomara assumed his normal position with his clubmates. “Damnation, I've never felt a winter like this!” Garaz guffawed. “Skin too thin, Xiomara? Maybe you should invest in some furs instead of your greef habit!” “Oh, shut up.” Xiomara retorts while nursing a mug of said substance. Hallgerd just grinned like a boy at play. “You would never survive in Skyrim, friend.” “Or Bruma for that matter.” Garaz added matter-of-factly. “Speaking of the latter, have I ever told you the story of Arnora and Jorundr?” Hallgerd gave a look. “Oho! Taking over my duties, are we?” Garaz chuckles. “Just this once, old friend.”

Well, not too long ago (Garaz begins, taking a long draft from his mug to keep his throat wet) there was a couple of wannabe thieves, Arnora Auria and Jorundr, roaming the countrysides. Most never heard of them, since they only made small hits; Ten gold here, twenty-five gold there. Then one day, Arnora got the bright idea to waylay an armed Imperial escort containing the tax collections of the area they were presently in. Full armored guards, mounted patrols, the works. Jorundr told Arnora several times to just knock them out, nothing lethal.

“I can see where this is going!” Xiomara sung. Garaz gave him a sour look that just left Xiomara smiling.

While Jorundr did what he said they should do (Garaz continued, ignoring Xiomara's mock smugness) Arnora did not, slaying a guard almost because she could. With no more targets in sight, the duo took a noticeable cut of the collections and ran as far as they could, as fast as they could. Eventually, they stopped outside of Bruma, set up camp. Arnora told her beau that she was going foraging for supplies, which he believed. Not long after she left, the Bruma City Guard stormed their tiny campsite, hauling him away, but not before he moved their stash to another spot. Arnora returned and was fuming at that last turn of events, left to brood and plot on how to get the rest of her money.

Hallgerd made a noise. “No honor among thieves, huh? Now tell me, old friend, how does this happy tale tie in with Bruma? Or anything, for that matter.” “Patience friend, we're getting there.” Garaz contimued.

Arnora had retreated to her newly purchased home in Bruma in order to plot her revenge when the how finally came to her in perfect timing: A wandering adventurer had come to town, ignorant of the goings on of the city. She let slip the woe she was experiencing, which was enough to garner our hero's attention. After seeking her out and getting all chummy with her, Arnora gave the stranger her spin on what happened: That it was Jorundr that killed the guard, and the raid was a random event that happened just as she left camp. In order to get her money, she needed to get the location from Jorundr.”

Xiomara gave a 'Aha'. “And who better to use than a fresh face about town?” “Well, it took a bit more that that.” Garaz continued.

Our stranger hero went to the Bruma dungeon to have a chat with Jorundr, but the Nord revealed nothing, fearing that the newcomer was in cahoots with Tyrellius, captain of the Bruma Guard. No, the only way to earn Jorundr's trust was to be sitting right in jail with him. So our hero did just that. Watching the stranger get flung into the cell was enough for the Nord, who told the hero the truth; That Arnora is the killer. Jorundr was prepared to remain in prison, but if the stranger showed proof that Arnora was 'dealt with', then he'd reveal where the gold was stashed. Upon leaving jail, the hero returned to Arnora.

“And killed the wench?” Hallgerd chimed in, just as Garaz was going to speak. “That part is up for discussion, but what matters, is that the stranger hero left her home with the proof needed:”

Arnora's necklace, a gaudy trinket that was unmistakeable. Seeing in in the hero's hand made Jorundr's spirit soar. He happily revealed where the chest was hidden; Not even twenty paces past Bruma's north gate. As things go, it what not the end of this tale, as Tyrellius waited by the chest. The crooked guard assailed the hero as to 'tie up loose ends'. The fight ended with Tyrellius' death, and rightly so. After stuffing purses with the gold, our hero remembered what Tyrellius said about loose ends. Fearing the worst, the stranger returned to Arnora, only to find her dead. Fearing the worst again, the hero fled Bruma that moment.

“I don't get it” Xiomara stated. “What is the ever-present lesson in this criminal drama?” Hallgerd coughed. “Simple: When you need assistance with matters of the heart, never turn to the kindness of strangers.” Garaz buried his face in his hands as Xiomara burst out laughing. “No more stories from me....”

The Purification (In the version of ImperialKhajiit)
Written by: ImperialKhajiit

I ran from Leyawiin, back to the Abandoned House of Cheydinhal, and ran inside the doors.
The regular voice was said and I said “Sanguine, my brother” and entered my happy place. The Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary my favorite place to be, including my best friends and my worst enemy, M’raaj-Dar. He has always done anything but disrespect me. As I entered the sanctuary the only thing on my mind at the moment was the look on the guards face when he saw Adamus Phillida fall dead in the pond with my Rose of Sithis in his back.

When I approached Ocheeva, she looked at me and thanks me. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a piece of parchment telling me to get 1100 gold pieces from the treasury. She looks at me again and smiles. She congratulates me on a job well done. She pats me on the back walks away teary eyed after handing me a letter and telling me not to show it to anyone.
“Never seen her cry” I thought to myself “I must be making her proud” I like giving my self positive thoughts.

I opened the letter and it read with messy writing: “Eliminator,
You have served the Dark Brotherhood well in the short time you have been with us. Indeed, the rate of your advancement has been rather remarkable. Now the Black Hand itself is in need of your abilities.

You must proceed with all haste to my private refuge in the ruins of Fort Farragut, located in the forest northeast of the Cheydinhal Sanctuary. When you arrive, we will discuss the nature of your special assignment.

I cannot stress to you enough the importance of your swift arrival at Fort Farragut. There are unseen powers working to unravel the very fabric of the Dark Brotherhood. The Black Hand is counting on you to prevent this disaster.

Do not share the contents of this message with anyone at the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, including Ocheeva, and make no mention of your journey to Fort Farragut! Also, be warned -- my refuge within Fort Farragut is guarded by denizens who will attack any interloper on sight. Get through these rotting sentinels and you will surely have earned the right to visit my private sanctum.
Lucien Lachance”

I then felt the affection of moving on, but missed this place. I then realized why Ocheeva may be crying. Maybe she raised other students this high up and knew I was off to another place. No, I thought, she was proud of me for becoming this great. I talked to all my friends in the sanctuary. Word spreads fast here I realized. Everyone knew I received a note from someone. I didn’t say bye to them, it would make it to obvious.

I had my closure with everyone. Especially, M’raaj-Dar, I bought everything he had and sold him all my junk. I looked at him in the eye and called him what he has been calling me.
I said, “I may not have as much dirt in my fur than you, but I am not any housecat. If anyone is the housecat it is you. Your spoiled and that makes the feline. You are a housecat”
I spit in his eye and snickered.

I exited out of Cheydinhal and ran to Fort Farragut, my robe and hood flowing in the wind as I ran as fast as my khajitt legs could take me. As I traveled I approached some deer and took them out with my we and made my self some fatigue potions with my mutton I got from earlier that day. I took them, and ran some more. I discovered a tree which seemed to be a beautiful tree with flowers sticking from the roots around it. I saw a porthole in the tree. I went down it and turned around.

I then saw my friend, the great Lucien Lachance.
He gives me a smile of sorrow and looks me in the eye. “There has been treachery within our sanctuary.”
He tells me, “I am ordering you to perform purification.” He stopped.
He says to me, “You seem concerned, sit down and I will finish what I have to say.” I accept his offer and sit.

He says, “I need everyone in the sanctuary dead.”
I was greatly scared, “Do you, are you serious. Kill my friends. I won’t do it.” I said. He looked at me in the eyes and stared for about thirty seconds. His lip fidgets.
He says, “Tenet 3: Never disobey or refuse to carry out an order from a Dark Brotherhood superior. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.”

I stood up and said, “Tenet 5: Never kill a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.” Lucien Lachance took his hand and pushed me down back in my seat.
“All tenets have been removed from this mission, but I will not let you put this down”. He gave me ten apples.
“These are poisoned apples. Use them to your advantage.”

I left, walking; I climbed up the ladder and walked to the sanctuary. I stepped in and passed Teinaava reading Biography of the Wolf Queen. I stopped and turned around. Teinaava was so indulged in his book he didn’t see me switch the apple.

I talked to him for a bit. He was talking about an argonian named Scar-Tail, a renegade shadow scale. I became interested in his story. The reward seemed great, the boots of bloody bounding. Teinaava took a bite of the apple. He collapsed to the ground, after ten seconds of me staring at him tearing.
He said, “Are you okay?” he then fell, dead. I walked away.

I looked at my hand made list. I crossed off Teinaava. I thought to eliminate Gorgon gro-Bolmog.
“He should be training right now,” I thought to myself. I walked into the training center. He was the only one in there. I took out the Perdition's Wrath, and slammed it to the ground, and hit him over the head with the axe. He fell dead, his head in half. His name was off the list, and I waited.

Into the room walked Antoinetta Marie. I thought she may have been the culprit.
I looked at her in the eye and said, “You are the reason, I know it.” I punched her in the gut and took Gorgon gro-Bolmog’s ebony war axe and hooked the bottom blade into the back of her neck and ripped, dividing another brain into two parts.
I crossed off her name and thought to myself, “This feels good”.

I took the axe and thought there was something wrong with me. I was a killer, but it was for Sithis, and it felt good. I looked at the blood on my axe, and then down at the unsuspecting corpses on the ground.
“I love my job.” I said out loud. I picked up Antoinetta Marie’s silver dagger, gave it a twirl, and then sheathed it.

Telaendril came in next. I didn’t feel like talking, I took the silver dagger and threw it at her chest it stuck in. She went to her knees in pain, not dieing. I came over and pulled an arrow from her pouch, and stabbed her next to the dagger. I took another arrow and stuck it in her temple, then watcher her fall. I picked up her steel bow and arrows. I crossed her name of my sheet.
“Four down, three to go.

I walked to Vicente Valtieri’s quarters, and then thanked him for his help. My emotions changed, and then I said,
“Why did you offer vampirism to me? Did you want me to suffer? Do you see my face? It isn’t pale. It means I was forced to take blood from another. You are probably used to it, filthy animal.” He seemed angry he calmed himself down.
He said, “There is a cure you know.” He smiled at me.
I smiled back. “Thank you,” I said to him. “A cure you say. They have cures for almost anything now. Though, do you know what they don’t have a cure for?”
“And what would that be my friend?” He asked.
“A punctured heart!” I yelled. I took the long sword from his holder, and brought it up his body and into his heart, and ripped it out. He fell to the ground. I smirked and cleaned the sword and rested it across his body.

What is wrong with me, I thought. My emotions keep changing. Honor, dishonor, respect, disrespect, murderous thoughts, and generosity. I need a better job, I thought. My mind then came with the thought; I’m going to make this a fun time. Can’t wait to kill… I’m doing it again, I thought.

Ocheeva, my friend, I thought as I went to the entrance of the sanctuary. Ocheeva was on the ground, dead, next to Teinaava. Two bites out of the apple. I thought about what could have happened. I came to the assumption he may have seen Teinaava on the ground, and took a bite of the apple. I cried. I sat down and cried for about a half hour. I stood up and crossed off the name of Ocheeva and got the list wet of my tears.

I walked. I went up to M’raaj-Dar. This is what I was waiting for, the death of the ‘housecat’. I saw him standing where he sells his goods.
I went up to him and said, “You filthy son of the Nine, I swear you’re going to die you housecat.”
“Well... I guess I just want to say I'm sorry for the way I've treated you in the past. I mean, look at you! The things you've accomplished! You've obviously proven yourself a valuable member of this Sanctuary. So let's start over, shall we? I know from now on, you and I are going to be great friends! Now, is there something you'd like to buy or sell?" He said. I felt dizzy. My head was pounding.
I told him, “You will not see me again.”

I thought, more, more, and more. I didn’t know what to do. My life was going down. North, I’ve learned to always go north, be positive, my life is not going south. I looked north. I have heard about that place I thought, Gnoll Mountain. Highest place I know. I walked, for a few days. Didn’t eat, I wasn’t hungry. I reached the top of Gnoll Mountain. I looked down. I looked behind me.
I screamed to the world, “May Talos bring you to damnation, Sithis!” I jumped off the edge.

Valund grew up in a small village in Skyrim where they lived off the land he lived with father. He was taught how to hunt with a bow and how to skin an animal. He loved his father he was loving and caring. But oneday when Valund was 12 years old he came back from gathering to find his entire village had been massacred. But he did as his father always told him be strong there's no need for tears. So he knew what to do he had an uncle in Cyrodil in the city of Bravil so he took a dagger and a bow and headed to Bravil the quest took him many days but he finally found in his shack in Bravil dead.

So Valund wandered the strange city for a few months living on the streets and killing rats to eat so he didn't starve. Until oneday he found an orphanage so he went to the orphanage the head master of the orphanage let him in and gave Valund a place to sleep. But not long after Valund found out the head master wasn't such a nice lady at all she would beat the children and make them clean. Everyday Valund would wish he would get taken by a rich family but it never happened he never got picked. He lived miserbly for a long time.

Until he was 15 he and he and his friends from the orphanage by the names of Philip Croix,Vilem Drethi and his best friend Ireunhart the Brave decided to run away from the orphanage. And live on the streets here he learned fast how to fend for himself while living on the streets and his friends always had his back but life was tough in the slums they had steal and fight just to get by they would spend their days scrounging for gold coins and every once and a while doing small jobs for the local crime guild members that's how they would earn most of their gold by doing jobs for the Red Hand Guild.

But back to his friends he hung out with a crowd most would call undesirable but to him they where his best friends yeah they where rough and tumble kids but they where his friends. They would get in fights sprawl rooftops and steal things but that was just the way life was in Bravil it wasn't easy. So after while his friends got to know him as a pretty good fighter so they where all thinking hey maybe we should hold fights with other kids and bet on Valund well they started to do this and sure enough Valund was great he won against everyone just like his uncle and thats how he earned the name Vicious because when he would beat them he would beat them half to death he just had sometype of rage inside of him that once it went off you couldn't stop it.

Valund is now 18.This is his last fight before he gets to face the champion Agrum gro-Agrob a hulking orc who has never been defeated. But thats for later lets focuse on the fight at hand Valund is an an alley with people all standing around him and he's staring down this very large Nord by the name of Hisin The-Gruesome but he's waring Hisin down he's starting to get tired he can see so Hisin throws a punch to Valund's face Valund ducks and finishes him with an uppercut. All his friends cheer it also happens to be his 18th birthday so after they go to the tavern and buy drinks while their drinking Agrum and his Clan of orcs happen to walk through the door and Agrum sits right next to Valund and says im gonna crush you when the fight comes then leaves. By this Valund is very angry but his friends tell him to save it for the fight. So finally the day of the fight comes he walks down the stairs to the basement where it's ment to be held. Then walks through the crowd of peopl into the center of the circle and sees Agrum standing there with a grin on this face then Valund puts his hands up then Agrum pauses a second then swings a crushing blow to Valunds eye where it starts to bleed then Valund punches Agrum in the mouth and Agrum starts to bleed but he smiles then starts repeadidly swinging on Valund untill he beats him to the ground then Jumps on top of him and starts to beat him again then pauses for a second and looks at the crowd and as he opens his mouth to say something Valund headbutts him then flips Agrum to the ground and starts to repeatidly beat and headbutt him until he no longer moves then everyone starts to cheer he is the champion of the slums. Him and his friends go out and celebrate. Now that he is the toughest man in the neighborhood he is very well respected and he and his friends aren't so poor anymore.

A few days after Valund becomes champion he is walking around town and an Imperial in fine linen approaches him and says i've heard about you and I would like you to join my guild immediatly Valund knew who he was it was Vinnus Valodius he was the leader of the strongest crime guild in Bravil the Red Hand Guild.So Valund immediatly jumped at the offer and accepted because he always looked up to these guys when he was a child he strived to be like them and now he could. So he was initiated and then started of as a low level member whose job was to just sit around with other guild members and make sure no rival guilds would come on their turf and he was quite good at that the few times they had a problem Valund would beat the rivals senseless now after a year of doing this Valund rose in rank and was now extorting business owners and all three of his friends had now joined and where low level members.

By now he was 21 years of age and was now a higher up in the Guild and now sold skooma to people in the slums so it's like any other day he's standing in the alley selling to customers while Philip watched the left side of the alley Ireunhart watched the right and Vilem watched from the balcony and after the day was over he went to Vinnus and gave him his cut of the gold and was headed for the door when Vinnus stopped him and told him he had a diffrent job the next day he said he needed him to kill someone he said that if he did this he would rise in rank so Valund accepts and tells him about a new upstart Guild of skooma dealers that was trying to move in on their turf he gave him the information on them where they hung out what they looked like.

So the next day he woke up got his crew all together and one extra guy who Vinnus sent to help an Argonian by the name of Scar-Face who was one of Vinnus's best assassins anyway he got together with them and they started to plan they had to take out 6 guys 2 Dark Elf's they where the leaders the Vinlethi twins they where the main targets. The rest where less important but still needed to be murdered so they planned it they knew exactly where they where going to be at a local tavern where Vinnus was paying the owner to look the other way and to make sure nobody else was there but the Vinlethi twins and their guild.Finally the time had come it was midnight Valund got his dagger slid it into his sheath and he and the rest of the guys walked to the tavern where Vilem covered the back door and the rest walked through the front door as they walked in Valund was greeted with a punch to the face by one of the twins then the fight broke out everyone took out there daggers including the rival guild and there was a giant fight and the last thing Valund remembered was him cutting one of the Dark elves from the rival guild and hearing him scream then after that everything went black.

When Valund awoke he was on the floor of the tavern in a puddle of blood when he looked to his right he saw his best friend Ireunhart laying next to him eyes open and a slit through his neck. than as Valund stood up he started to look around and he saw everyone else he had brought with him also dead every one of his friends dead then he felt something warm running down his cheek it was blood was cut but that didn't matter everyone was dead the only one of theirs that was dead was one of the twins how could this be they where all dead and but he knew what he had to do he had to get out of their fast out of Cyrodil so right then and there he decided he had to go back home to Skyrim so he got a few things together and headed for Skyrim.