Stuck In A Room II

[Dirty Spaceman]

"No!" Pete cried out in concern, and shot two fireballs in quick succession at the Clannfear clone. He rushed towards it and Anya, shouting "Look out!" to the Blade girl.

[Musicman247]

Pete
The fireballs impacted the beast, knocking it off course just enough to miss hitting Anya straight on, instead knocking the girl into Pete with its side.

Naomi
The fireballs knocked the clannfear into the path of Naomi.

[baratron]

Martin nodded in the direction of Tyson and Saren. "Xivilai. Take out that Storm Atronach. Then bring the mortals to me. Do not harm them, even if they attack you."

He wondered whether it would be completely stupid to wave at the others and shout "Don't be scared! They're with me!"

[Musicman247]

The Xivilai obeyed Martin's order, running over to the storm atronach and engaging it in battle.

The creature made of boulders held together with energy sent a bolt of lightning toward the Xivilai, who blocked the energy with his greatsword. It kicked the storm atronach in its midsection, sending it sprawling, its rocky legs shaking the ground around it with each frantic step as it tried to keep itself from falling over.

The Xivilai dashed toward the rock monster, climbing up onto its chest and knocking it down with a terrible crash. Martin's summon swung its blade at the downed creature, taking its head off in a single swipe. The rocks tumbled away fro each other, the energy that had bound them together dissipating.

The Xivilai turned to Tyson and Sarn. "Come," it said. "Sssseptim hasss called for you." It then turned back to Martin and led the way to him.

[Eltee]

Naomi slashed at the scorched little dinosaur thing, her katana getting stuck in the crest above its head.

[Musicman247]

Naomi
The clannfear yelled out in pain as the sword sliced into the ridge of its skull. It shook its head violently, knocking Naomi to the ground, her sword still stuck in flesh and bone.

The clannfear turned quickly and raised up on its hind legs, its front legs directly above Naomi. The front legs began their rapid descent toward the young lady.

[Eltee]

Naomi let out a frightened yelp and rolled to the side.

[Musicman247]

Naomi
It wasn't enough. Naomi felt the front claws of the clannfear touch her skin as it tried to crush her. And then something strange happened. The clannfear began to melt, or dissappear, starting with the legs that had barely touched Naomi. The entire clannfear fell down, seemingly passing through Naomi as the Skull of Corruption's spell wore off and the creature disappeared.

[Eltee]

Naomi gasped for breath and felt her chest, astounded by the amazing fact that she was still alive.

[Avron the S'wit]

Emily surveyed the chaos with a small frown and a nervous shifting on her feet. In her moment of uncertainty and fear over the situation, once she'd thought about her family back home - now long dead, she thought strangely - and how this would have never come to pass on Earth, she almost, almost, wished that the straight faced Blade she'd befriended was nearby.

Instead she shook her head and, when her eyes reunited with Naomi, started toward her, her bravery renewed by concern for her fried.

[Musicman247]

As if by magic Emily caught a glimpse of a familiar face as a Blade's helmet fell off from the swiftness of his movements, his sword slicing through a pack of scamps that had surrounded him. Most of them didn't even realize they were dead until they took their next step and their head or upper body fell off.

Sebastien nodded grimly at Emily. "How have you fared?" he asked, coming alongside her.

[Avron the S'wit]

"I'm still alive," she said, not entirely jokingly. The reply was a bit delayed as she observed the man's skills and gave pause, still so startled by the ease in which he could wield such power. With all her practice and battles she could not hope to ever do as well. She lifted her sword in her hand, shifting her gaze toward the Blade. Even though she had been lucky so far, she proudly exclaimed, "Guess I learned a thing or two!"

[Musicman247]

Emily
"Indeed you did!" said Sebastien, allowing one side of his mouth to rise in a half smile. "And I am glad to see you are still alive, although I am not sure any of us will survive this day. We may triumph over these Daedra, but there is still their Prince to deal with, and for the life of me I cannot fathom how to stop the immortal being."

Sebastien looked around, and seeing no other monsters to tend to, sheathed his sword. "We should return to Martin," he said, taking Emily's hand and beginning to lead her by it.

[Avron the S'wit]

Emily's heart jumped in her chest, half from joy and half from terror over how they would win the battle. She lifted her eyes up toward the thing that challenged them - and what a bit thing it was - and its presence above the city buildings, giving a shudder. I wonder where I go, when I die here, she wondered, not sure which world's laws on the afterlife reigned for such a wayward traveler like herself. The girl bit her lip and let herself be lead along toward the others, her sword trailing in her hand a few inches above the ground.

"I'm sure Martin will know what to do," Emily murmured. And she hoped that was true.

[Believe]

"What the [&@%!] just happened...." Tyson muttered to Saren, before taking her hand and leading her after the..... Big grey-skinned thing.

He wasn't particularly happy about following what he thought was a demon, but it had spoken to them, and it had used Martin's name...

[Eltee]

Naomi stood up, a bit uneasily. Her heart was pounding hard enough that she thought it was going to explode. She had thought the little dinosaur was going to stomp her ribs in!

She looked around, and saw her friend, hand in hand with Sebastien. The Canadian teen smiled weakly, deciding that she shouldn't intrude. Yet.

She tried to spy Aaron.

[baratron]

Martin drew himself up to his full height, surveying his motley troops. While waiting for everyone to arrive, he spoke out of the corner of his mouth. "Aaron... I feel entirely foolish speaking to my armour, but you assured me that you could hear me even in this form. Are you ready to attempt the plan that we agreed, once everyone is inside the Temple? If so, then... change me into the Emperor's robes."

He hoped Aaron wouldn't choose this opportunity to show off his sense of humour. Apparently there was a book from Earth called The Emperor's New Clothes about an emperor who was so vain that he was persuaded to buy "clothes" that were completely non-existent. It had taken quite a bit of explanation for the man from Nirn to understand. "He thought the clothes were magic? But you don't have magic like we do!"

Martin had no desire to appear naked in front of everyone; although he knew that if Sanguine was still watching, he would appreciate it.

[Kerr]

Roman went over to Martin. He felt sorry for the man who was about to die. Then again he did sound like Sean Bean so it was hardly a surprise.

[Dirty Spaceman]

Pete, who had fallen over when Anya was knocked into him, sat up and breathed a sigh of relief that the Clannfear clone had disappeared just in time.

"Are you okay?" he asked Anya, turning to look at her.

[Musicman247]

Naomi
Aaron was all around her, and on her, as everyone's armor was made of him.

Martin
Martin's armor melted and shifted to form the flowing robes of the Emperor on Maetin's body. The young Septim must now realize that Aaron was literally draped over every inch of him, and if he had been worried that Aaron would leave him naked, then there was nothing between Martin and Aaron's bees.

Pete
Anya wiped the blood from her face angrily. "Stupid Daedra, always bleeding at the worst times!" she allowed herself to be helped up by Pete. "What did I miss?"

[Kerr]

"You're wearing Aaron aren't you?" said Roman. He wondered what would happen to Aaron if he was hit by wabbajack. Would only that part hit change or would all of him change?

[Musicman247]

Soon everyone was gathered around Martin, waiting for his orders.

[baratron]

Martin stood in the Temple of the One wearing the Amulet of Kings and Imperial robes, yet he still felt like the same terrified priest in a ragged robe who'd run through the streets of Kvatch looking for survivors. If the outfit was supposed to give him confidence, it obviously wasn't making as much difference as people expected. Was it so surprising that he felt the same? - after all, this was simply an extension of that same job, only multiplied from a city to an entire Empire. Either way, it would be over in the next few minutes.

He addressed his followers, taking care to make eye contact with everyone, trying to keep his voice steady. "As you know, Mehrunes Dagon has broken through the barrier that separates Oblivion from Mundus. Relighting the Dragonfires will have no effect now. Either it will do nothing at all, or it will re-seal the barrier with Dagon inside. I'm not sure which would be worse.

Now that he's in Mundus, the only being with enough power to remove him is another immortal... They say that the Septim Emperors have the soul of a dragon. I... I don't know if that's true. But I could smash the Amulet of Kings and call upon Akatosh to redeem the pact made with my ancestors. The price for that would be my life."

Martin bowed his head for a moment, then looked up and smiled at everyone, sadly. "I don't know about you, but I don't want to leave Tamriel without an Emperor. We'd replace decades of Daedric terror with decades of civil war. I suppose I might have a son tucked away somewhere from my wild youth, but I don't even believe that myself. Even if I did, he would be a [&@%!] heir of a [&@%!] heir... There would be wars about his right to rule. And I know it was enough of an adjustment for me to have to come to terms with being the Emperor at my age - I wouldn't like to do that to a ten year old child."

This was the part he didn't want to have to explain. He hoped the others would understand. "Fortunately, I don't have to call upon Akatosh because there is another immortal here. Unfortunately, it means that some of you will have to say goodbye to your friend. I think... you should all have that chance, but the... the longer we wait, the more people are getting killed outside these walls."

[Eltee]

Naomi's heart sank.
He can't... He can't mean...

She placed a hand on her chest, on the featureless, light, close-fitting armour.

"Aaron?" she asked weakly.

She felt dizzy.

[Musicman247]

"I've lived over two thousand years. I guess that makes me immortal," Aaron whispered into Naomi's ear. "I guess it's time to atone for my mistakes. Do what I can to make sure no one else dies."