The Elder Scrolls VI: Apocalypse RPG

[DerangedPickle]

Spoiler:

Sorry guys, net trouble.

"Khazakra, I haven't been completely honest about my plan to wait at the shop, we need to go to Rex manor to meet some associates of mine, I just hope they'll wait, I have a carriage outside to take us there."

Antus proceded to quicky pace towards the city gates.

Spoiler:

I know this post sucked, i'm incredibly tired, and running out of things to say until the main story kicks in.

[MurtaghSpector563]

Spoiler:

Okay, now that makes more sense.

So that was just Venim's flashback, and everyone's on the same page now?

Spoiler:

Correct, wouldn't want Venim to miss the festivities.

"Shall we send a signal to the troops below?" Walter asked.
"No," Venim said firmly. "We wait for firm evidence. We have our operatives in there, she will contact us when the.....festivities......start off."
"I hear one of these operative is your wife."
Venim smiled. "That's right, but she can take care of herself."

In the passages of the manor, Monet was walking arm in arm with a tall Imperial agent, Octavius. Octavius was posing as her husband for this venture. Both had concealed small pistols within their clothes.

[Vendetta]

Khazakra felt suspicious of Antus, but continued on with him, concentrating on his magic if he needed to use it soon.

[King Acunasti]

The halls of Rex Manor were large and confusing. The exotic valuables contained within the building could have been priceless. Giant statues made of pure gold, diamond figurines, ancient Ayleid artifacts, finely crafted swords, axes, spears, maces, bows, and guns - all of it together was worth billions…maybe even trillions!

But one of the most notable elements of Rex Manor was the unusually large amount of Franco’s soldiers that marched through the halls. These guards signified the Rex family’s legendary paranoia. Franco in particular was famous for being the most paranoid of all the members of his family. But he had good reason for this behavior. Each of his parents were publicly attacked and slain by Witchhunters when he was twenty. And with the influence of the Witchhunters on the rise, he hired twice as many soldiers from trusted parties and put each of them through intense training to intensify their combat abilities. Rex Manor was almost as well-guarded as a king’s castle.

Eventually, the Sorcerers reached the gigantic golden doors leading to the conference room. Two soldiers standing guard at the entrance slowly opened the doors. The conference room was nearly as enormous as the Grand Dining Hall. A colossal fireplace, accompanied by several torches, brightened the entire room. The marble floor was so shiny that one could see their reflection when they looked at it. Before the entrance was a large statue of a roaring lion. A few yards behind this statue was a long black table that was lined by seventy tall, exotic chairs. The table and chairs looked as though they had been crafted in High Rock.

Franco and Isabel were the first to step into the room, followed by Romulus. “My dear friends,” Franco said to the Sorcerers behind him. “I invite you to enter. Please sit at the table where we shall begin our meeting.”

Franco walked around the golden statue and approached the table. He sat in the large throne at the end of the table. Isabel sat in the chair closest to her husband. Romulus simply stood beside Franco’s throne between his masters. The other Sorcerers began seating themselves as well.

Meanwhile…

Outside of the Manor’s walls, a squadron of Rex’s soldiers made their patrol through the estate’s gardens. With them was a large red dog whom they called “Winchester”. The dog strayed a few yards away from its masters, following a foreign sent that led him to a cluster of bushes at the edge of the property before the iron enclosure. The dog was no more than three feet away from Venim and Walter. It made eye contact with Walter. The dog wrinkled his lips and made a low, dire growl.

[seventhsage]

Sayeal glared at the guards standing before her. In a calm, low voice she spoke, channeling every bit of the energy and calm she could muster. She longed to scream to each of them that Azura was back and they had no reason to guard anything anymore, that the Daedra were speaking to her again. Instead, she closed her eyes, rubbed the bridge of her nose, and really wished the guards would get it together for once and drop the pretenses.

"All of you know exactly who I am, exactly why I'm here, and exactly what your master is doing tonight. I'm not asking to be let in, I'm demanding it. I have information that he needs to hear, but I'm late as it is, so he's likely already started. I will gladly wear a silly mask if you so desire, but I don't have one on hand." She paused for a moment, and an image appeared in her mind, a simple streak of words that she knew the meaning of, but had never used before. She calmly waved her hand across her face, whispering a few short words in her native tongue. She felt the slight tingle as her magics were slightly drained and a slight buzzing feeling as they began to instantly recharge. A small veil, the color of the setting sun, perfectly obscured her features. She spoke a silent thanks to Azura, knowing that she was once again in favor, even if others had lost their way. She calmly gestured to the guards, motioning them aside.

They nodded, knowing the power of the lady they stood before, and knowing that she was a welcome, though secret, visitor to Rex. In truth, the guards were a bit embarrassed to have detained her in the first place, but appearances had to be maintained at all times, never sure what creatures the master may have watching you. The guards moved swiftly to the side, snapping the rifles to their chests in an improvised, though subtle, salute.

Sayeal nodded, showing the guards the proper respect of one befitting their class. She knew the witch-hunters had a mole in the organization, but even high ranking as she was, she didn't know who. She quickly walked through the gate, moving into the mansion grounds and to the dining room. As she entered, noticing that Rex was getting started, she tapped her side, ensuring that her sword was concealed properly and mentally checked her magical reserves, realizing they were full she calmly took her place at the back of the room, near the support pillar that stood just opposite the door. She tried to catch Rex's eye, to send him some sort of signal, but could not. She decided to allow things to play out and that she would intervene if necessary.

Spoiler:

I edited the earlier post, check it for slight changes, basically, Sayeal is done with the WItch-hunters after meeting the winged twilight. She has wholeheartedly joined the sorcerers, though the witch-hunters don't know that. She is aware of the mole planted here, but does not know who it is. She also is not armed with her pistol, as she just smashed it, but she does have her sword. Sorry for all the edits, still new to this and trying to keep continuity between posts.

[DerangedPickle]

Spoiler:

Sorry for the leap-cut. But I wanted to get this moving.

Shortly after arriving at rex manor, Antus noticed Venim and another man he didn't recognise watching rex manor, crouching beside them and signalling the khazakra to do the same, he asked "So whats the plan?".

[King Acunasti]

Franco had perceived Sayeal’s presence the moment she had stepped into the conference room. He was extremely irritated by the fact that his guards had allowed her to enter as she wasn’t a member of the Rex Sorcerer Clan itself. But he continued as though she was not there.

After whispering something to Romulus, he slowly stood from his throne. “Greetings, ladies and gentlemen,” he began in his deep, seductive voice. “I am most certainly honored to welcome you to this gracious meeting of our brotherhood.”

The majority of the guests respectfully nodded and simultaneously said “Thank you, Grandmaster.”

“Now,” Franco mumbled. “Let us begin. We shall commence our discussion with the current state of the Witchhunter organization.”

“Murtagh Venim!” one of the female Imperial Sorcerers shouted, standing from her chair. She wore a blue mask that was speckled with gold. “The monster was behind the brutal slayings of my sister and two brothers!”

After the Imperial woman sat down, Franco let out a small, irritable chuckle. “Murtagh Venim…” he growled. “The revered ‘captain’ of the rancid Witchhunter organization.”

“He is married to that little Breton [&@%!], Monet!” one of the Altmer Sorcerers added.

“Yes.” Franco replied. “And they have produced a child together. But we have not gathered here to discuss the Venim family tree. We have gathered here to discuss how to burn their family tree down.”

The Sorcerers began laughing and clapping their hands. Franco smiled and raised a hand in order to silence them. “The Witchhunters are nothing but an arrogant faction of hypocrites. They fight to ‘extinguish’ the use of magic from Tamriel itself, yet they themselves are magic users as well. Our kind is misunderstood. They call us Daedra worshippers; cultists. But the Rex Clan is not made up of Daedra worshippers! Do we pray to the Lords of Oblivion? No! Do we build altars in their honor? Of course not! We merely show a form of respect for the Daedric Princes’ influence. And they grant us the use of their power in return.” Franco paused and smiled. “Ladies and gentlemen…I have something in my possession that no man or woman could even hope to understand.”

Franco nodded to Romulus. Romulus raised his arms and gave a strange signal to an unknown observer. Suddenly, the ceiling above began to open up. A large cage began to lower into the conference room by the use of a pulley. The cage was gently set onto the table where each of the Sorcerers sat.

The creature that was inside the cage was purely terrifying.

It was a large humanoid Daedra with gray skin and violent body paint. It had large horns and massive muscles. It roared loudly, revealing a mouth of razor sharp teeth. The creature’s roar sounded like that of a ferocious bear. Its hands and neck were chained together, along with its ankles. The Daedra was completely exposed…yet totally immobilized.

Franco stepped onto the table and approached the cage. “Observe,” he said, tapping the bars of the steel cage with his cane. The ringing of the metal caused the monster to roar loudly in rage. “A full-grown Xivilai.”

All of the Sorcerers were completely taken back by the presence of one of the most powerful Daedra of Oblivion in the conference room.

A squadron of twenty soldiers marched into the room and each pointed their rifles at the Xivilai in an organized fashion, just in case the Daedra tried anything. Isabel was greatly frightened, but she knew her husband and his soldiers had everything under control.

The Xivilai’s beaming eyes stared at Franco. Franco stared right back. The creature breathed heavily and shook his wrists in an attempt to escape from the chains, but he failed. Franco chuckled. “Xivilai are unable to speak.” Franco continued. “But their power is nearly limitless. Even in Mehrunes Dagon’s destructive Deadlands, these monsters are among the most feared organisms in the entire realm. But by the use of unbreakable chains and certain enchanted tools, I have restrained his power and made him unable to even cast a minor spell.” He tapped his cane against the bars of the cage again. The Xivilai let out another enraged roar, but it was still unable to move. The Sorcerers laughed.

“Beautiful…” Franco whispered to himself.

Amidst the loud noises of laughter, clapping, and the monstrous roars of the Xivilai, Romulus slowly approached Sayeal without drawing any attention to himself. “The Master is not pleased with your presence here.” he told Sayeal. “It’d be best if you departed as soon as possible before he becomes angry. He’s not the same as he used to be, Miss Bourdabas.”

[Leyyuce]

Leel shook his head as Sayeal made her entrance into the manor, unaware of her motives at the moment. He began to slowly continue on his way from the location, purposely taking only very slight steps; he was still a bit curious as to the event and wished to linger a while.

[seventhsage]

Sayeal was in complete awe at the sight of the Xivali. Even those of her race, highest regarded of all the races in the areas of magical might feared the Xivali. She suspected some trick, so she very softly spoke a quick dispellation, though minor, it would tell her much. The Xivali didn't blink, didn't turn towards her, and didn't, which she had suspected the most, turn into something else. She felt sad at the stupidity of a former friend and comrade. Though she didn't belong to his sorcerer clan, her pull toward the lady was much too strong to simply pay lip service to her, they had worked together much over the past years, using her connections to the witch-hunters to feed him information. To see what he was now doing, attempting to tame one of the greatest creatures known in oblivion, second only to the individual Daedric lords and ladies themselves, made her sick. She was just about to turn to leave when Romulus stepped before her.

“The Master is not pleased with your presence here.” he spoke calmly, but with authority. She opened her mouth to speak, to warn him about the infiltrator, but he merely continued as if she weren't there. “It’d be best if you departed as soon as possible before he becomes angry. He’s not the same as he used to be, Miss Bourdabas.”

The use of her formal title brought back memories she had long since repressed. She remembered the feeling of spellweave as it slid easily into her former husband's chest. She froze for a split second, shocked, and replied back, her eyes narrowed and her eyes cold,

"I can see that. This may be the first time I've entered a private meeting, but it will also be the last. I came with a purpose, one that is now lost. Tell your master that he would do well to choose his next moves carefully, I have it from a highly reliable source that something is coming, something that will likely leave people like him as heaping piles of ash on the floor. Those who play with powers beyond them, and the creature in that cage is well beyond him, draw anger from the Daedra Lords. They are not content to sit on that anger."

With that she turned and walked from the room. She stormed by the guards near the front gate and nearly ran headlong into Leel.

She drew back, her hand sliding instinctively to her sword before realizing who it was and then nodded her head toward him.

"what brings you here?" she spoke, her voice still tight from the anger flooding her veins.

[MurtaghSpector563]

Spoiler:

Sorry for the leap-cut. But I wanted to get this moving.

Shortly after arriving at rex manor, Antus noticed Venim and another man he didn't recognise watching rex manor, crouching beside them and signalling the khazakra to do the same, he asked "So whats the plan?".

Walter pulled Antus down.
"SHH! Do you want them to see us?"
Murtagh looked around at Antus. "We are about to move in. You know how these guards are. Brains like Mudcrabs, and reflexes even worse. Those "Bayonet" things they carry pack a nasty punch, though...."
Walter grinned, drawing and locking his revolver. "So does this."
Venim, unsmiling, rose to a crouch. "Move to the front gate."

[MurtaghSpector563]

Franco had perceived Sayeal’s presence the moment she had stepped into the conference room. He was extremely irritated by the fact that his guards had allowed her to enter as she wasn’t a member of the Rex Sorcerer Clan itself. But he continued as though she was not there.

After whispering something to Romulus, he slowly stood from his throne. “Greetings, ladies and gentlemen,” he began in his deep, seductive voice. “I am most certainly honored to welcome you to this gracious meeting of our brotherhood.”

The majority of the guests respectfully nodded and simultaneously said “Thank you, Grandmaster.”

“Now,” Franco mumbled. “Let us begin. We shall commence our discussion with the current state of the Witchhunter organization.”

“Murtagh Venim!” one of the female Imperial Sorcerers shouted, standing from her chair. She wore a blue mask that was speckled with gold. “The monster was behind the brutal slayings of my sister and two brothers!”

After the Imperial woman sat down, Franco let out a small, irritable chuckle. “Murtagh Venim…” he growled. “The revered ‘captain’ of the rancid Witchhunter organization.”

“He is married to that little Breton [&@%!], Monet!” one of the Altmer Sorcerers added.

“Yes.” Franco replied. “And they have produced a child together. But we have not gathered here to discuss the Venim family tree. We have gathered here to discuss how to burn their family tree down.”

The Sorcerers began laughing and clapping their hands. Franco smiled and raised a hand in order to silence them. “The Witchhunters are nothing but an arrogant faction of hypocrites. They fight to ‘extinguish’ the use of magic from Tamriel itself, yet they themselves are magic users as well. Our kind is misunderstood. They call us Daedra worshippers; cultists. But the Rex Clan is not made up of Daedra worshippers! Do we pray to the Lords of Oblivion? No! Do we build altars in their honor? Of course not! We merely show a form of respect for the Daedric Princes’ influence. And they grant us the use of their power in return.” Franco paused and smiled. “Ladies and gentlemen…I have something in my possession that no man or woman could even hope to understand.”

Franco nodded to Romulus. Romulus raised his arms and gave a strange signal to an unknown observer. Suddenly, the ceiling above began to open up. A large cage began to lower into the conference room by the use of a pulley. The cage was gently set onto the table where each of the Sorcerers sat.

The creature that was inside the cage was purely terrifying.

It was a large humanoid Daedra with gray skin and violent body paint. It had large horns and massive muscles. It roared loudly, revealing a mouth of razor sharp teeth. The creature’s roar sounded like that of a ferocious bear. Its hands and neck were chained together, along with its ankles. The Daedra was completely exposed…yet totally immobilized.

Franco stepped onto the table and approached the cage. “Observe,” he said, tapping the bars of the steel cage with his cane. The ringing of the metal caused the monster to roar loudly in rage. “A full-grown Xivilai.”

All of the Sorcerers were completely taken back by the presence of one of the most powerful Daedra of Oblivion in the conference room.

A squadron of twenty soldiers marched into the room and each pointed their rifles at the Xivilai in an organized fashion, just in case the Daedra tried anything. Isabel was greatly frightened, but she knew her husband and his soldiers had everything under control.

The Xivilai’s beaming eyes stared at Franco. Franco stared right back. The creature breathed heavily and shook his wrists in an attempt to escape from the chains, but he failed. Franco chuckled. “Xivilai are unable to speak.” Franco continued. “But their power is nearly limitless. Even in Mehrunes Dagon’s destructive Deadlands, these monsters are among the most feared organisms in the entire realm. But by the use of unbreakable chains and certain enchanted tools, I have restrained his power and made him unable to even cast a minor spell.” He tapped his cane against the bars of the cage again. The Xivilai let out another enraged roar, but it was still unable to move. The Sorcerers laughed.

“Beautiful…” Franco whispered to himself.

Amidst the loud noises of laughter, clapping, and the monstrous roars of the Xivilai, Romulus slowly approached Sayeal without drawing any attention to himself. “The Master is not pleased with your presence here.” he told Sayeal. “It’d be best if you departed as soon as possible before he becomes angry. He’s not the same as he used to be, Miss Bourdabas.”

Monet, near the back of the spectators, winced as they began to talk about her husband. But at least they feared him: that was a good sign. And so they should.
She felt a crawling horror as they began to speak of her daughter. Three years old. These people were monsters. She considered stepping forwards and shooting Rex in the face.
Then Octavius took her hand and squeezed lightly. She looked into his eyes, and saw a clear message there:
Watch. Wait.
And so she would.

And then the Xivali. She watched the creature stir in its cage. For the first time in Five Years, she felt.......doubt. Her husband was born to slay the Daedra, of this there was no question. He had taken out Scamps, Daedroth, Hungers, Spiders and too many Dremora to count. But this thing was new. And a spellcaster.
This frightened her.

[MurtaghSpector563]

Murtagh walked up to the front gate casually.
One of the guards, a young Bosmer, looked up.
"HALT!" he cried enthusiastically, aiming his Bayonet at the approaching Witchhunters.
Murtagh continued to advance calmly, ignoring the weapon aimed at him.
"HALT!" the Bosmer repeated, the enthusiatic look gone from his face. By the time he had summoned the will to pull the trigger, Murtagh had snatched the rifle from him, snapped it under his knee, and tossed the two parts away.
The Bosmer wet himself, backing away and blubbering.
Murtagh towered over the tiny Mer. "Let us in."
"N-n-n-n-n--"
Murtagh grabbed him by the neck.
"AUGH! YES!"
He unlocked the gates. As soon as they were inside the walls, Walter turned and smashed the Bosmer's brains in with one punch.
Murtagh turned and looked at the two others.
"Move in silence. We are here to kill Daedra, not pick a fight with some rent-a-cops."
"Understood," Walter replied.
"Then follow me," Murtagh said. He glanced down at the amulet he was wearing. It glowed green, and Murtagh vanished. Walter did the same with his own amulet, becoming invisible.

[Leyyuce]

"I could ask you the same thing", Leel said, a bit more harshly than he had intended. He laughed a bit, easing the tension, then spoke again.

"Excuse me, Sayeal, I must sound like I'm trying to be your father. I was walking by, and I noticed you enter the mansion." Leel glanced at the impressive structure, then turning back to meet Sayeal's eyes with his own.

"It's perfectley alright if you would wish not to share."

[DerangedPickle]

Antus took two rings from his pocket and handed one to khazakra.

"If you're coming put this on and stick with me." He then turned invisible and followed Murtagh.

[Vendetta]

Khazakra took the ring from Antus put the ring on. Still suspicious, he used his magic to look into Antus's mind a bit and got a rough idea of what was going on.

[King Acunasti]

A squadron of ten of Rex’s soldiers slowly and attentively approached the body of the fallen guard at the gate. Each of them immediately raised their weapons and prepared for an attack. “Alert the Captain!” said one of the squadron’s sergeants. “There is an intruder on the property!”

__________

The noise in the conference room was great enough to drive someone deaf. Franco raised a hand. “SILENCE!!!” he boomed with a demonic scowl.

Every one of the Sorcerers went numb, including Isabel Rex herself. Franco was undoubtedly one of the most frightful men in the Imperial City. He had a terrifying personality that oppressed terror upon those surrounding him. Even the Xivilai went silent and turned to the masked Breton man standing over the table.

Franco lowered his hand. “Such noise is unacceptable.” he muttered.

“Sweetheart,” Isabel said to her husband in her soft, comforting voice. She began to stand from her chair. “Perhaps you should-”

Franco instantly turned his head in the direction of his wife. His eyes were blazing. Fury was raging through his veins. “Isabel…” he growled. This was all he had to say. Isabel immediately sat down.

Romulus rocked from foot to foot in his nervousness. Franco was almost never angered with Isabel. His rage rarely reached such a state.

An Imperial Sorcerer leaned over to Monet. “Have you ever seen anything like this?” he whispered to her. “The Grandmaster is angered with Isabel Rex! I have never seen such fury!”

[seventhsage]

Sayeal nodded her head at Leel and lied smoothly. "It's nothing major, I was attempting to speak with Mr rex about supplying a shipment of specialized weaponry for the witch-hunters, but I was turned away by his servant. It appears I am no longer welcome after interupting an important meeting." She felt bad lying to him, he had always treated her fairly and was someone she considered a friend, but he was a gun-smith, and by definition, someone closely associated with the witch-hunters. She could hardly tell him the truth. She was about to ask him another question when a loud crunching sound echoed out from nearby.

It was a sound that she had only heard once before, when she plunged her sword into her former husband's chest, it was the sound of a bone crunching. She moved to the side, pulling Leel off the path with her. She heard a vaguely familiar voice, but before she could place it, she sensed a presence nearby. Trusting her instincts and realizing that something invisible was nearby she calmly crouched down into the bushes along the side of the path, holding a hand over Leel's mouth. She drew Spellweave, and moved off to the side, waiting for what or who ever it was to move along. When she was realitively sure it was gone she moved on, back along the trail to the entrance gate. She noticed the dead body lying there, dressed in the suit of a Rex guard. She turned to Leel and spoke softly.

"We need to leave. Something is here, something that is likely not human. I leave you free to make your choice, but I go." without waiting for him to decide she moved back through the gate and walked along the path. She stopped approximately 100 yards from the entrance and crouched. She watched carefully and noticed the second contigent of guards arrive and inspect the body. She thought she had heard Leel following her, but it was likely that he had fallen behind. She continued to watch. She had done as Azura commanded, attempting to alert Rex, but he had refused her. She would do as she had intended in the first place, she would watch and allow things to play out.

[DerangedPickle]

Antus felt a slight sensation in the side of head, simply dimissing it as a headache, he cast a small shielding spell around khazakra and himself.

[MurtaghSpector563]

Venim, invisible, strode up to the main entrance.
He produced a good-quality lockpick and an old probe from his coat and began to work on the locks and traps on the door.
After a minute of failure, Walter stepped forwards and simply kicked the doors open.
"Ah," Venim muttered.
They walked into the manor's entrance hall. One of the guards, an Imperial, was slumped against the doorway, snoring gently. Venim took hold of the guard's neck and squeezed. The man's eyes flew open, his mouth worked, and his neck snapped. After a minute, he stopped struggling, and Venim released him, setting him back into his slumped position. He appeared to be asleep.
Walter looked at Venim as they both became visible.
"What now?" the Redguard asked.
Venim scratched the unblemished side of his face. "I will check the cellars. Our spies reported strange noises from below. It's likely where he hides his Daedra. You two go into the meeting, try and contact Monet and Octavius."
Walter looked at Antus, beckoned and walked down the hallway, becoming invisible again as he did.
Venim looked around, and saw a trap door on the far side of the hall. He went to it, lifted the cover, and dropped down into the Basement.

=============================================================================

Monet glanced at the Imperial Sorcerer who had spoken to her.
"I wonder what vexes him so?" she replied, effortlessly slipping into an Aristocracy accent.

[Vendetta]

Spoiler:

The mind thing is supposed to be unnoticeable... Ah well ^.-

"It is better than sitting for a long time and explaining what is going on, isn't it?"

[DerangedPickle]

Spoiler:

My bad then. I'll edit later on.

Antus drew his revolver and followed Walter down the hall, beckoning for Khazakra to follow him.
"What are we looking for here" Asked asked Walter, keeping his voice low and checking that Khazakra was still behind him, cocked his revolver.

[Vendetta]

Khazakra drew his rifle, readying himself if he had to fight

[Leyyuce]

Leel followed as close as he could behind Sayeal; she moved more deftly than he, however. As she paused, so did he, crouching low, pressing himself to the ground.

[MurtaghSpector563]

Spoiler:

My bad then. I'll edit later on.

Antus drew his revolver and dropped into the basement with Walter beckoning for Khazakra to follow him.
"So, what are we looking for down here?" Asked asked Walter, checking that Khazakra was still behind him and cocking his Revolver".

Spoiler:

Venim went into the basement alone. Walter's leading Antus to look for Monet.

[King Acunasti]

The basement was gigantic. It was cold, dark and filled with barrels, chests, and wine racks. But at the very back of the basement behind a large barrel of salt, a section of the stone wall appeared to be darker than the rest. Was it a hidden entrance to another section of the basement? Perhaps it could be pushed in?

__________

The bell atop the soldiers’ barracks at the very east edge of the property began to ring loudly. Soldiers marched across the stone paths and combed through the gardens with packs of dogs and rings that were enchanted with detect life spells. The drivers of the guests’ carriages were utterly confused. They scurried back to their respective carriages and climbed up to the seats.

The entire Rex Manor was on lockdown.

__________

The Imperial Sorcerer shrugged. “I am not sure.” he said.

Then the bell began to ring outside. Soldiers were marching across the entire property. A regiment of fifty guards advanced into the Manor. They were more organized than the Imperial Legion itself.

The Sorcerers were shocked by the noise. This had never happened before. They were frightened.

But Franco grinned at the sound of the bell. “Right on time…” he murmured to himself. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a customized Rex Industrial Standard .48 pistol. Raising it above his head, he fired. The gunshot immediately gained the Sorcerers’ attention. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Franco began, waving his pistol about. Two of his soldiers climbed onto the table. They unlocked the Xivilai’s cage and began to removed the chains, braces, and collars from the Daedra’s body. “There is a total of fifty-eight members that are involved with this blessed clan.” Franco continued. “Yet sixty individuals sit within this room. Two filthy spies spoil this convention with their presence!” The Breton man smiled. “And this Daedra is going to sniff them out.”