Tamrielic Adventures: Vol. 2

[Per]

"Urgh, so that's why they taste like dirt," Per grumbled. "Remind me not to eat any more potatoes. Dirt Tubers..."

[Eltee]

Outside Vivec

"You'll ruin every food for yourself if you think about it too literally, Land-Horker." Llela teased gleefully.

[Per]

"Mmmh, Horker," mumbled Per, licking his lips. "Now that would be something."

[MARS]

Outside the city

"I don't think we'll be eating anything just yet," Llevana spoke up. "Lookie there." She pointed at the entrance of the colossal ziggurat: Raylis and (part of) the Suran band emerged from the gates of the foreign quarter.

"That's a mighty coincidence, don't you think?"

Gates

Raylis noticed the trio, just as Llevana had noticed him. Bewilderment was visible in his expression for a moment before he he caught himself and straightened his features. Without changing his pace, he approached.

[Eltee]

Outside Vivec

"We seem to attract the queerest sort. Of coincidences, I mean." Llela said, stretching.

[Per]

Outside Vivec

Per looked distrustfully at the newcomers. "These people again? Just another band out to ruin my dinner." He looked to his companions for what they should do as the strange man approached.

"Actually, I call shenanigans on this being a coincidence," he added sagely.

[The SheoDovah]

Psyfalia remained silent and followed Raylis whilst keeping her hands in her pockets. Her patentience was starting to fade as a result of the withdrawal starting to kick in.

[BetaB17]

The orc raised an eyebrow when he heard the little 'girl' speak "Huh? And what makes you think Maurzol would willingly travel with the likes of 'em? Your sweet n all, lil miss, but Malacath would disown me if I abandoned my pride." His voice spoke, with a hint of dissatisfaction due to the turn of events

[The-Shadow-One]

Katien looked up at Maurzol and then put her hand on his chest. "P..Please.. f..for me..?" She asked softly, almost whispering it. "I'd feel.. a lot safer.. w..with you.. p..please..."

[BetaB17]

The orc looked down at her, at first disbelief, then a sign. He grumbled his voice before he talked and crossed his arms "I guess.. maybe.. we could share the same journey.. but only for a time.." the prideful orc bitterly said, unable to even bare his teeth to one so innocent. He could not bring himself to look her in the eye, ashamed that he could be swayed. If he was some milk-drinking pup.. maybe a small flush of cheek could of been

[CBR JGWRR]

Outside Vivec.

Sinyail spoke. "Raylis! Leaving already? It's just I need to inform Mavon Drenim of a slight change of plans..." His voice trailed off. "Mind, you have time, you appear to have lost a few of our little group."

[Alarra]

Outside Vivec

Niralie stared in disbelief at the group ahead. They're alive! She recognized Llela, Llevana, and Sinyail from when the group had first gone to the guardhouse. When Raylis had said that they'd chosen to remain behind at the guardhouse, she was sure that had meant they'd been killed.

It took her a bit longer to recognize the Nord man, but as she replayed the long day's events in her mind, she remembered him and glared at him suspiciously. He was the one who'd been helping Arellius. He seemed to be on good terms with the two Dunmer: had he fooled them by pretending to be friendly, as he and Arellius had done earlier before attacking them? Did the others know what he was capable of? She had to warn them.
As they drew nearer, she pointed accusingly at him and called to the small group, "Keep your eyes on that one. He was working for that Nord woman who attacked us. He and Arellius" - she gestured toward the Imperial, since the Dunmer probably didn't know his name - "tried to kill us when you were still inside."

[MARS]

Outside Vivec

"Yes, we're leaving right away," Raylis said in response to Sinyail's remark. "We're being followed, remember. Besides, our captain isn't willing to wait."

Meanwhile, Llevana couldn't suppress a smirk at Niralie's distrust. She was right to question Per's motives of course, considering her perspective, but it was comical to her regardless. "Well, go and explain yourself, you old rogue," she said to the Nord.

[Per]

Outzide Vivec

Per, for one had just noticed Arellius' presence. He let out a nervous laugh while eyeing his former partner carefully. "Ehe, why would I need to explain anything if you've teamed up with the other man who supposedly tried to kill you."

He turned his attention to Niralie and smiled reassuringly. "In fact, I seem to remember the whole thing rather differently. I was actually doing my best to prevent Mister Tough Guy over here from killing any of you." He cleared his throat loudly and added: "But that's just my view of happened, and what in oblivion does old Per know..."

"Also, Arellius, friend. I don't think Gudrun'll be paying you. I mashed her head into a stew. Sorry."

[MARS]

Llevana let out a loud laugh.

"I guess at least your time with that hag gave you a bit of sense for one-liners."

[Alarra]

Outside Vivec

"Prevent him from killing us?" Niralie burst out incredulously. "You asked if it was time to attack us and that resulted in a blade at our throats! And you certainly didn't bother stopping him from trying to behead us." She crossed her arms tightly in front of her, a nervous movement that unconsciously made her feel safer. She was ready to say something else - what that might be, she wasn't sure - but then it hit her, what he'd last said, and she paused. He'd killed the Nord woman? It must be true; Llevana seemed relaxed and completely unbothered by his presence. No matter what the Dunmer thought, though, the Nord - Per, his name was - hadn't done anything to convince Niralie.
"For the record," she added after Per addressed Arellius, "'teamed up' is subjective. I assure you that I don't want him here."

[Per]

Outside Vivec

Per squirmed from the Altmer's outburst and gave her a guilty look. "Well, uh... prevent might not've been the best word... It was more, eh... subtle than'at." Again he let out a nervous laugh, and furrowed his brow. His exact recollection of what had happened outside the guardhouse had faded from his memory, overshadowed by the reunion with Gudrun and his friends. The main detail that stood out to him was a mouth-full of mud. "Y'know... delaying tactics and the like... But I most certainly didn't want to see you, or any of y'all, dead," he concluded apologetically.

[Eltee]

Outside Vivec

Three Gods, this couldn't be more awkward. Llela thought, rubbing her eyes.

Hidden:

Random observation for the old crew: You can totally go to Nagastani in ESO, which is kind of awesome.

[Velvet LeChance]

Arellius Afer III Vivec Corridors, Perturbed.

Arellius had remained silent as he took it all in. Per had betrayed them and their cause: that had been expected. Gudrun was dead: unfortunate, but another expectation he'd long since resigned himself to. The Elf he tried to kill wanted him gone: expected, and her continued pettyness laughable. His Dunmeri target being alive came as a small shock, though her being or not being mattered little much now with Gudrun dead. He gave a short shake of his head as he added it all up: he'd laid down his past alliances and allegiances, it all mattered little to him now.

A short sigh broke from his lips. "I'm goin't'keep on headin' t'tha ship," followed a wearisome grunt. "Yis can come find me when yer finished yer squab'lin." He didn't wait on a response, continuing onwards.

Hidden:

I'm sorta busy at the moment.

[The-Shadow-One]

Katien looked up at the orc, a semi-smile on her face. "T.. Thank you... M..mister Orc.. You are most.. Kind." She murmured softly, extending her hand to take the orcs. "W.. We gotta catch up to the others"

[MARS]

Llevana stopped laughing as she realised that the situation was a little more than comically tense. She approached the Altmer and put a friendly hand on her shoulder (the uninjured one).

"Listen," she began, hoping that Niralie wasn't so invested in her suspicions that she'd turn against her as well. "I know you have reasons to be cautious, I understand that. I would do the same in your place. I still don't trust Raylis," she shot him a glance; he was avoiding her line of sight while walking behind Arellius towards the pier down below. "But I know Per. We've been running together a while; he's trustworthy. You might think that my long exposure to him has clouded my judgement, again I understand, but I saw him bash Gudrun's head in with my own two eyes. We were all on the verge of death. Llela there wasn't even conscious, I could barely stand on my feet. If it weren't for that Nord we'd all be dead and she'd still be walking around like nothing happened. So if you trust me, you can trust Per. Arellius and Raylis however...they seem pretty chummy to me right now."

[Alarra]

Outside Vivec

Any reply that Niralie would have given Per was interrupted by Llevana approaching her. She tensed as the Dunmer touched her, but didn't push her away, ashamed that the day's events had made her so jumpy. After Llevana spoke, Niralie didn't respond for several moments, still watching Per with a wary frown. He seemed regretful of his actions, and Llevana certainly spoke highly of him. She looked back at Llevana and sighed. "All right, I'll take your word for it that he doesn't mean the group harm. But after what happened today, he has to earn my trust back."

She went on: "Raylis and Arellius definitely aren't working together, from what I've seen of them. I don't trust Arellius - that much goes without saying - but I would say that I do trust Raylis. I've been around him more than you at this point, you know." It was stated as simple fact; she wasn't trying to imply that she didn't trust Llevana, just explain her view on Raylis. "He saved our lives by helping us out of Suran when those soldiers were trying to kill us, and he got us all here safely - even the weakest of us, who were slowing the group down. I'd be dead now - most of us might be - if not for him."

[MARS]

Llevena took her hand of the Altmer's shoulder and took a step back, standing next to her.

"I've no doubt that he wants to keep everyone alive and deliver us to this..."organization". I just don't know what will happen once we're there. We'll be at their mercy. Regardless, we don't have any options. Those masked soldiers; they're still after us. We could see them from time to time as we were traveling. I think it's best we all got on that boat, now." With that she went back to her old companions and let out a long, tired breath.

"She won't try to kill you in your sleep," she said to Per. "You're welcome."

[The SheoDovah]

"By the nine!" Psyfalia exclaimed after seeing the Llevena and co. She was glad that they were still alive but did not trust Per one bit. After listening to Niralie's exchange with the dunmer, she said "I'm glad you're all alive but let's get to the bloody boat before he shows up and gets us all arrested. We can catch up once we are away from here." She looked around and realised Katien was missing. "Wait, where's Katien?" She asked everyone with concern in her voice.

[MARS]

Raylis stopped in his tracks and looked back as he heard Psyfalia's exclamation.

"Is she still not here? Gods damn it all, this is starting to get ridiculous!" He seemed really agitated. The stress of the situation just didn't want to let off, it seemed. "If someone would please try and get her, I would be much obliged. Try to get the Orc too; I know he's thick as day-old porridge but we can use him. I'll go and stop our captain from leaving without us."