Tamrielic Adventures: Vol. 2

[Unionhack]

Understone Keep

The duo of Grelok and Teldril made their way to the museum of Understone Keep, which was the most traveled entrance to the massive complex of Nchuand-Zel below the city of Markarth; a ruin that, as of yet, was still mostly unexplored.

As Teldril inserted his key into the complicated lock, he noticed the lock had already been opened and that his key had not been necessary.

[Baloth-Kul]

Dwemer Museum - Grelok
As Teldril was opening the door, Grelok peered over his shoulder to get a brief glimpse of the locking mechanism, in case he needed to pay another visit later. Looks tricky, and...open? Maybe he's forgetful.

Grelok stepped back, looking apologetic as he was just about breathing down the wizard's neck.

[Aarah]

With entry granted by Niralie, Eolwyn opened the door.

She gave the Altmer and Imperial a smile as she walked in.
"You two having this room then?"

[Alarra]

Niralie - Azeet's Leafhouse

"I haven't given a thought to rooms," Niralie answered. "I wanted to scry for Grelok and the Thread."

[Aarah]

Eolwyn - Azeet's

Niralie's answer was more serious than Eolwyn's question intended.

"Me too. That's why I came in here. No time like the present."

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox - Leafhouse

Leaning over into the doorway, she had a very coy smile upon her face, like the fox that she is. "My, my, don't tell me I've missed te best part"

Nammu - Pale Wilderness

The small vial couldn't have been no larger in length or volume than a toothpick. A fragile thing indeed, it couldn't have held no more than a drop.

"None.. That would lend it familiarity... None.. That know how to make it like I..." He pointed at the argonian with his ebony claw "But to that one.. It will keep you living.. Just a while longer.." The old priest made it sound like Sees-In-Shade was stricken with a very foul poison or disease

A faint memory passed to when the elder saved the argonian's life, the lucid reminder growing dim like a scar across one's chest

"Or... If one wanted.. There a plenty that would covet such... 4000 gold.. Could easily sell..." He said it so casually, all the more now that it seemed he was freely giving it to the argonian "That there.. Is your means to life.. It is to you on how your fate shall go.." It was hard to tell if the priest was more of a blessing or curse to those at his mercy

[Minor Edits]

Sees-In-Shade - Pale Wilderness

"Thisss?!" Sees-In-Shade exclaimed. "What am I to do, drop it in my eye? And what isss it fixing? Do I need more, down the river? Thisss mussst be clear asss a sssteaming ssspring."

[Hissien]

Teldril Indalla - Understone Keep

Teldril stiffened at the Orc's hot breath. "Would you be so kind as to give me a touch more room? I'm not good with these dwemer puzzle locks." He said bemusedly.

Teldril did notice that it was unlocked, and was rather worried. The jarl nor himself we're particularly forgetful, unless... The Ring? Perhaps they caught wind... Teldril hesitantly pushed the door open slowly, looking at Grelok intently.

"I would keep an eye out for anything... Unusual. Powerful artifacts can attract unseemly forces..
" He said nodding at the open door, holding it for Grelok.

[Baloth-Kul]

Dwemer Museum - Grelok
A shock raced through Grelok as the court wizard's works sunk in. They're already here.

He cast a suspicious eye towards Teldril, but quickly reasoned what his best course of action may be. "My companions are heading to an inn, I'm not sure which. Can you send a message to them?" Grelok looked aside as he pondered a subtle way to get the message across, without potentially informing all of Markarth. "The Dwemer museum is Hollowed ground."

Grelok looked at Teldril again, silently praying the Dunmeri wizard had no connection to the Hollow Council. "Yes, thank you, my friend, I'll just be a few minutes. I'm certain it's around here somewhere" he announced somewhat loudly. He stepped into the museum, walking calmly, but mentally tracing the distance between his hand and the hilt of his sword. The thief began to survey the museum, looking for any possible threats.

[BetaB17]

Nammu - Pale

It was hard to tell if his expression changed or not, but he certainly looked tired. "This one asks.. Too much.." And yet, he still spoke in spite of that "Yes.. Yes.. That.. For the more delicate of hands.. May crack it's end and sip from it's wound... But.. I suppose one could chew it whole as well... So long as it's essence is ingested.. It matters not then.."

"....Even the greatest of blights can be undone or stalled..." The priest's words carried a sharp omen, dancing around a truth the argonian would not enjoy

[Alarra]

Niralie - Azeet's Leafhouse

Niralie gave Nora a blank, perhaps slightly confused look; she wasn't sure where the jokes were coming from, considering that she and Arellius had been in the room barely seconds before the others showed up and there was nothing in the situation that seemed to lend itself to any such joke.

"That's right," she agreed with Eolwyn, looking back at the Bosmer. "I suppose I might as well get straight to it, then." She put on the Ring of Sanguine Unseen Wisdom and cast a scrying spell, first looking for the Thread.


Khazi-daro - Near Dawnstar

Khazi took the fold of paper but did not ingest the contents it held. She watched the old one answer the lizard's questions, suspicion on her face.

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox - Leafhouse

Nora quickly returned a similar look to Niralie, buffered now as she stood in the doorway with both fists upon each hip "W'at? I just didn't wanna miss it when it ha....". She didn't exactly get to finish her statement, what with the mage bearing her ring

In a sudden frantic burst of energy "Wait wait wait wait wait" very frantic, as she hurried herself in and closed the door as fast as she could. Not slamming it, mind ya, but she very clearly wanted it closed. She may not have acted it, being caught so off guard, but discreet was a goal to strive for here

Nammu - Pale Wilderness

Khazi would of found the paper fold easy to claim, with next to no response coming from the priest. His pipe still burned however, idle as the noxious fumes passed her breath

[Hissien]

Understone Keep

Teldril watched Grelok enter the museum, calling upon his talents of conjuration he attempted to summon a specter of ages past, a ghost. "Go to the Jarl, and inform him that the museum has been broken into, and that Grelok and I are going to investigate." The Dunmer said to the spectral being.

Teldril considered carefully for what his next move would be, deciding carefully, he sniffed the air. Calling on the powers of his being he attempted to sense any Intruders.

Hidden:

I know that was technically two actions, and if the spell fails just consider the command phrase he used a failure too

[Baloth-Kul]

Understone Keep

Into being came a sickly green apparition, with shifting, twisting features that resembled the human form. It floated through the nearest stone wall, and instinctively, Teldril knew that the ghost was carrying out his wishes.

An unheard shriek on the other side of perhaps 30 feet of stone and metal, however, would indicate (to only the omnipresent) that the ghost had adhered to its task perhaps too well, as spirits were not so well known for their subtlety.

Inside the museum--most notably and impressively--were several Dwemer automatons in varying states of ruin. Cogs and gears sat neatly arranged, as the displays were still being put together. One Dwemer sphere sat in pieces, coated with a layer of dust, while a Spider was well-polished, and looked to be nearly completely reassembled. Various display cases, bookcases, and antiquities filled out the rest of the room, which seemed to resonate with potential, as if the very stone knew what wonders and history were housed within its walls.

Something was indeed amiss. While Grelok was plainly visible, Teldril could sense that there was somebody else within the museum. At the other end of the room, near a pile of scrap.

Azeet's Leafhouse

As Niralie cast her spell, things proceeded normally. In her mind's eye, she saw a ring, carried in a pocket. She saw an elf--a Dunmer. She saw a familiar figure--a particular Orc. But she felt something else--

Perhaps you should read your tea leaves first, hm? Check that the stars are aligned?

A familiar creeping sensation washed over all in the room--a wave of euphoria and intoxication, pulsing outwards from where Niralie stood. Inhibition was a burden far too heavy to be worth carrying, so why not simply discard it?

As skooma courses through the body of a sugar-crazed cat, so too did Niralie feel a presence flowing through her from where she wore the ring. Up her hand...up her arm...this sensation was foreign, and yet its every coursing turn felt so very intoxicating, until...

"To coin a phrase...this isn't exactly thinking outside Azura's Box, is it?" Niralie spoke to all within the room, her now mirthful voice filling all present with raw pleasure. "If it were as easy as casting a few spells, this wouldn't be much of a game. No. Fortunately, your Orcish friend has already found the Thread...but that's not all he's found. How exactly did he put it?" The high elf tapped her finger on her lips as she seemed to be lost in thought, before smiling coquettishly. "The Dwemer Museum is Hollowed ground."

The ring slipped from Niralie's finger and fell to the floor. As each of those present exhaled, they would feel the sense of intoxication leaving them, Niralie included--though in her case, the difference left her wanting, as though she was now lacking something. (Aside from the ring on the floor.)

A shout came from the common room of the teahouse. "Hey, I ordered honeyberry tea, and this is...brandy! ...Alright!"

Niralie's tea had darkened, and now had the fragrance of a strong liquor rather than tea.

[Alarra]

Niralie - Azeet's Leafhouse

Niralie - realizing with shock the full extent of what had just happened, and yet still wanting that feeling continue - looked down at her cup for a moment, lifted it to her lips, and began to drink.

[Aarah]

Eolwyn - Azeet's

Eolwyn shook her body after the feeling of intoxication left her, as if shaking off something that shouldn't have been there.

"Brrr...damn.......Princes!" She curbed her words.

"You alright?" The Bosmer looked at Niralie, checking if she was herself again.

[Baloth-Kul]

Azeet's Leafhouse

Niralie found her cup was no longer filled with tea, but with a fine brandy--the sort one might expect to burn the throat, but it went down oddly smoothly. It tasted like the Imperial City she once called home. Busy, sophisticated, full of power. Before she knew it, the cup was dry.

Roadside Inn

As Kat bit into the grilled leeks, they tasted oddly sweet--very sweet, almost invigoratingly so. The goat's leg tasted as if the divines themselves had basted it with beer, rich and intoxicating. The sweetroll had a filling--a crisp red wine, that seemed to well complement her meal. All the while, her small flagon of alto wine never seemed to quite run dry. Kat was in a trance of sorts, feasting and drinking compulsively, her body moving of its own accord, while her mind busily swam with thoughts--not all of them her own.

Now where might you be going, hm? I would have thought an honorable Nord--and a healer, at that--wouldn't abandon her companions to seek the comforts of home. Fun fact; bottles were made to carry drinks. Why not carry one with you, and rejoin them? After all, the green one is walking right into an ambush as you sit here, enjoying your meal. Take the rest to go--or stay and feast yourself into the floor. Be mirthful. This day might be your last, what with the Hollow Council hounding your every move. Hahahahahahahaha!

[Alarra]

Niralie - Azeet's Leafhouse

Niralie continued to stare at her now-empty cup, still absorbing what had just happened. "I... think so," she said in response to Eolwyn.

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox

A resounding shiver overtook Nora as the first wave of that deviant's presence befell them, but quickly she sturdied her spirit. Unsure how to feel about it so, whether revolted or panic, but she was slowly getting use to this demon's influence and the frequency of their encounters.

However, none could trike her harder as the warning that demon offered 'The Dwemer Museum is Hollowed ground.'. Her heart nearly shipped it's beat, and a cold panic crept through her veins. She would of lost her balance, had she not held an arm to the wall to brace her so

Then, as if that cold panic slowly tangled itself around her heart, and with shaken strength wrapped around her throat "Nira.... W..where is Grelok... Again?" There was plea of hope or disbelief there, but the answer was already known. The thief was in dire danger once more

[Alarra]

Niralie - Azeet's Leafhouse

Niralie finally looked up when Nora spoke. "When I scryed him, he was with a Dunmer. The Thread - a ring - is in a pocket... I'm not sure whose, but it's near him. Based on what Sanguine said.... I'd assume he's in the Dwemer museum."

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox

As each word caused her to flinch in anticipation, the final confirmation was all that was needed to break her so. As if acting purely from impulse, the skaal hurried for the door with undying speed. The look of concern drenched her so

[Hissien]

Understone Keep


Teldril now thoroughly roth for someone was invading his territory, snuck in as quietly and walked behind Grelok.

"Look there, behind that pile." Teldril whispered into Grelok's ear and pointed.

He ran through his list of spells, deciding on the perfect one, readied a paralysis incantation I'm his mind attempting to charge the spell.

[Velvet LeChance]

Arellius Afer III - Azeet's Leafhouse

Arellius had remained tight-lipped in the initial moments of Nora and Eolwyn's arrival, not offering much of any reaction to the jibes. As Niralie moved to begin skrying, he was tempted to leave. No-one have ever quite explained the purpose of their mission: there was threads, Sanguine was involved, and Nirn was at stake - or at least something to that affect - but most impotant to him was that the enemy was identified and he had a good idea of who to be swinging his blades at. He was glad he didn't leave.

As Sanguine's voice erupted from Niralie's body - though whether it was quite Niralie's at that moment was debatable - he took a step back, suddenly aghast by the whole scene. For a moment one might have even spotted a flicker of concern in his concentration. But he quickly crushed such feeling and steadyied himself against the weakness that, for a moment, had almost captured his spirit. He listened, uncertain of the meaning until Nora spoke. Understanding followed a moment later.

He was swiftly after her as she left, hand gliding over his blades.

[Aarah]

Eolwyn - Azeet's

Eolwyn wasn't so quick to leave the building as Nora and Arellius. Instead, she remained in the inn.

"The Dwemer Museum? Right."
She looked down at the seated Altmer.
"You good to go? Take a minute if you need it. I'll go rally the troops and we can plan our actions enroute."

Without waiting for a response from Niralie, Eolwyn left the room to join those still positioned at the front of house.
"We need to get going. Both our target and our enemy are nearby. Let's go."

[Alarra]

Niralie - Azeet's Leafhouse

Seeing her companions begin to leave helped to bring Niralie back to the present. She wondered if there'd be any effects after Sanguine's influence, or if the alcohol she realized she'd just downed would affect her at all. She reached down and picked up the Thread, and then tentatively cast a light spell to check her current capability of using magic.