Exile on 5/5/2003 at 20:09

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Day 16 of Frostfall, Year of the Third Empire Four Hundered and Two.

Exile makes a small tribute to the Mad God, allowing his unscathed access to the neglected ancestral tomb deep in the wastelands of Molag Amur, a land that not so long ago was a small piece of Azura's Coast. Even being so far above the complex, he feels the curse of Sheogorath making him turn slowly insane, much like the curse of Pelagius.

He looked back, watching the nightblades seal the tomb as his fellow notably well armored knights of House Redoran file into the final resting place of one Bolvyn Venim. Passing the ancient trioliths, his men each paid respect and asked for a blessing, realizing that nothing would happen. Long ago had the Tribunal faith been extinguished but a few followers, and long ago had their saints and champions been defiled.

He turned back to his Redoran bretheren and said, "This is what we have been waiting for. The mystics sensed the presence of this horrible creature wandering through the ashlands, growing stronger with each day. If the one known as Tuco has any mind at all, he would attempt to find his way here. Even if he could escape the fresh lava streams and poisonous ash that his entry would create, more barriers face him. Below the Venim Ancestral Tomb is a citadel. Below that citadel lies a stronghold, and within that stronghold lies the remains of Tuco, enclosed in cages of refined ebony."

His men equipped their crossbows and katanas, then slowly put on their armor -- ebony plate laid over the finest mail of the Dark Brotherhood. His two mages began casting curse after curse on the area around the entrance and laying trap after trap within the corridors of the tomb. Exile then drew his weapons -- twin Daedric Battle Axes, each one enchanted with the same curse that Vivec used on any opponent that challenged him. He then put on the Lord's Mail and the Masque of Clavicus Vile, two artifacts that are for show, if anything. The rest of his armor was ebony refined beyond even the strictest limits to classify it as Daedric in origin, and strong enough to make the tenfold gates of Oblivion look as it they were made of Chiton.

Exile went further into the tomb, stopping at the enterance to the most ancient and holy citadel of the Chimer. Dozens of undead warriors, some made completely indestructible by the mist that surrounds the area, some even so great as to escape the curse laid upon the Chimer by Azura. He knew that only one thing could protect them from the wrath of the citadel's inhabitants: he and his men would have to become undead just after the small door leading into the complex, a feat that would be almost impossible to do, even if his mages were the strongest in all the world. He destroyed a section of the ancient wall, discovering that beyond these ancient walls of Chiton and Resin was a great barrier of volcanic glass.

He stopped and sat down, saying to his dozens of troops, "Okay, men. This is fine. If Tuco should come, we can stop him here." Suddenly, one of his men started shaking, as if he had become posessed. When he was asked about what happened, he said that the Daedra Sheogorath gave him a vision -- one approaches by land, a dark force, but one who is also against Tuco. It was obvious that Sheogorath wanted an audience with Exile immediately. He brought out a small triolith and lent a small prayer to the Mad God, before he was transported to the darkest region of Oblivion. After much discussion, Exile finally said, "If he is one who opposes Tuco, do not kill him. However, if this man, woman, or even spirit should even seem as if it were to set off the balance of the Plan, destroy it."

Sheogorath's tone deepened, "The man would probably be willing to ally with us... He is to the East, near the Shrine and Sacred Temple of Azura. No doubt he notices the presence that is just outside the Shrine. It is a testament to his madness that he would ask for her help in dealing with this wretched creature. I will use my power to draw him here once his business with the Daedra is dealth with and he has gained what he seeks."

Exile plunges back into the reality of the mortal plane and says, "Prepare for company. Disable the traps and break out the whiskey."

The year is continued in Sun's Dusk.

Jordana on 5/5/2003 at 21:28

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-The voice of Azura resonated throughout the chamber, as Ryushi remained still in an attitude of reverence. "Brave warrior, you have journeyed far to seek the Star of Azura. But it is no longer in my possession. I gave it to another mortal, a Wood Elf named Jordana Chal, many weeks ago now. If you would bind the dark spirit of Tuco, you must seek her out, and either kill her, or convince her to aid you in your quest."
"Where shall I find this Wood Elf?" cried Ryushi, but Azura spoke no more. Turning, Ryushi left the shrine, deep in thought........

Tuco on 5/5/2003 at 22:29

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His eyes burned red with hatred. His mouth filled with distasteful bile. Anger swelled in his bowels as he sensed someone other than Him had donned his sacred Masque of Clavicus Vile.

((ooc: Even though it's Mask of Clavicus Vile in MW, and Masque of Clavicus Vile in Daggerfall, we'll assume they're both the same, and that you stole it from my corpse...

BTW: where the hell did you two put my sword, robe and axe?))

He knew he was knocked down, he knew he couldn't win without the intelligence and tact he was blessed with. This wouldn't be as easy as killing Vivec, this wouldn't be as easy as defeating Dagoth Ur.

He needed help. He couldn't run through with his Nordic Claymore without being defeated once again.

His secret lair he sought the wealth of armor and weapons that he refused to carry in his previous life, but stowed away.

He found his Daedric Dai'Katana, still red with the blood of many, he donned his Daedric Face of God, he put on a full suit of Daedric armor. He still felt naked without his Robe, he needed it.

Feeling otherwise confident of his power, he calculated he would be near full strength by the time he neared his burial, looking for his belongings. He needs not his remains, they are but flesh and bone.

On his way he experimented with his power, making sure it remained intact. He found he could still crush a man's skull with his vice like grip, he could still slice through an aged oak with his sword in a single swing. He still possessed the endurance, speed, and regeneration that allowed him to sustain great wounds and still function well enough to battle 10 men alone... alone...

Alone he sought out his belongings, but he sensed the great power that held Lilacor captive. He felt the might that he was putting himself up against. No matter, he needed his masque to live. He needed his sword to kill. He needed his robe to look damn sexy.

RyushiBlade on 5/5/2003 at 23:15

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((Eh... I buried Lilacor. As for your robe? Who knows. I guess I buried that too.))

Ryushi surfaced, gasping for breath. He spat out some seawater and managed to get onto a small island. There he took out his prize... The Dragonbone Cuirass. He smiled to himself. He had the armor. The Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw was also his, taken from Malacath long ago.

The Dragonbone cuirass glowed red, alive with the memory of the fire that forged it. It was glad to have a new owner, and Ryushi was equally as glad to have it in his possession. Now... Jordana. If she wouldn't give him Azura's Star, he would have to take it by force. More blood on his hands... But lives were always lost in a war. And Ryushi could feel in his bones that this was to be a war.

Exile on 5/5/2003 at 23:21

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Day 2 of Sun's Dusk, Year of the Third Empire Four Hundered and Two

To keep their sanity, Exile and his troops had been putting their telekinetic abilities to use clearing out a shaft in the volcanic glass barrier surrounding the Inner Chamber. Using their minds, they had driven ton after ton of raw glass from the shaft and refined it into ebony for use in armor. What was left over was used to further reinforce the walls of the tomb and add some necessary living capacity -- impurities in the glass made good use as heavy chests, bookshelves, and even beds.

Exile had been sitting in the same meditative stance for days on end, staying awake throughout the entire time. He had been coordinating the actions of his men and reflecting upon himself. Exile, Knight of the Imperial Dragon and Archmaster of the Great House Redoran... and the closest thing that Sheogorath has to a mortal manefestation in all of Tamriel. His two places of power -- Bal Isra and Ebonheart -- held two artifacts of immense power. Strangely enough, they were both stacks of soul gems. Hundreds of soul gems, each held together with the thread of time itself. The stack at Bal Isra contained the souls of the highest members of House Dagoth. The one at Ebonheart held their equivalents in the Triad Temple. They were used not for some horrific enchantment, but to give the Orcish people the powers they would need some day... A day that Exie had been dreaming about for some time -- A day that will occur on the Twenty-Eighth day of Evening Star, on the Four Hundered and Tenth Year of the Third Empire. The date that marks the beginning of the end of the Third Empire and the start of the Pax Redoran -- The Pax Orsinium -- The Fourth Empire, and the mark of a new age for all of Tamriel. An age of enlightenment. An age of awakening. The age where the Orcs will finally find their place.

The time of these artifacts had already passed, however. The souls had been degrading ever since that infamous day in 3E326, when Vivec had been captured in the artifact that now resides in Ebonheart. That same gem is now almost empty, but the Exile's people could not benifit much more from the gem anyway, as they had already reached their peak. That is, to say, unless one more soul could be captured -- a soul so terrible as to only fit in both of the artifacts combined. If that soul was in existence, and could even be bound to *BOTH* gems, the Fourth Empire could be founded almost without bloodshed.

"The time for us will come, but for now, it is just an inert dream," he had said at the beginning of his Plan. The same words that Sheogorath heard, and, just out of his love for irony, will almost certainly grant. A large ash storm was brewing up on the surface, and, with the aid of his two mages, Exile watched. The storm was notably large, extending from the ruins at Tel Branora to Maar Gan and Pelagiad, including all points inbetween, including, most notably, Ebonheart.

The wind carried the words of Sheogorath, "Ryushi, you must go... Go to the Venim Tomb... Men of ebony wait for you... Daedra bid you... Your enemies curse you... Come back to the Shrine of Azura and utter my curse, Atanis Solothi Sheogorath. Travel to Ebonheart and look in the garrison of the steel pillars, of the opressing blade... Travel to Bal Isra, where the fate of your enemy will be sealed!" The image of Venim Ancestral Tomb is burned onto his retinas, and he begins to bear the curse -- and blessing -- of Sheogorath. A blessing that grows stronger as he gets closer to the body of Bolvyn Venim. However, he determines to go about this his own way, and seek out Azura's Star.

Day 12 of Sun's Dusk, Year of the Third Empire Four Hundered and Two

Exile drifted slowly to sleep. He had met the realization of the Plan, and he could finally rest. He felt the spirit of Tuco drawing closer, and, when he had awakened, came to another realization: The soul of Tuco could be the one powerful enough to crush the Empire and fulfill his Plan. By now, the tomb had become a huge chamber of glass and ebony. It had all the comforts of his Redoran Stronghold. Suddenly, he felt a great disturbance.

"Armor... I need more armor... Men! Where are the corpses of Venim's guards? I need an ebony chain and 20 plates of Dwemer iron. Use alchemist's measures for the helm and cuirass." Exile's men gathered the raw ingredients, and the master armorer started grafting the Dwemer plate and his original ebony plate onto the fine ebony mail. It would be a long process, but he sensed that it was worth it, because a powerful presence had just passed Bal Isra, headed toward Ald'Ruhn. It was Tuco.

Sheogorath sent another message through the storms, "Ryushi... The time is drawing near... If not for your own affairs, seek out the twin artifacts! Bring them to the Veneim Ancestral Tomb, the place where your destiny will be made! " Two distinguishable stars burn in the sky, and form two huge spheres of fire that only Ryushi can see... The images of Bal Isra and the twin artifacts placed firmly in his mind, he continues on, searching for Azura's Star...

Day 14 of Sun's Dusk, Year of the Third Empire Four Hundered and Two

Tuco arrives at the ancient burial grounds of Sheogorath's failed incarnates, a strange mix of Daedroths and Humans, and a huge Dwemer device similar to what was found int eh Clockwork City and in Kemel-Ze. He sits down and quickly realizes that he was at the wrong tomb. The earth around the burial fields spews forth flame and brimstone, and Daedra rise from their unmarked graves. The sound of steam flows forth from the place, and Tuco raises his weapon...

The ground above Tuco's buried sword and robe burns with fire, and they are both transported into the Innter Chamber, without the knowledge of Ryushi, Exile, or Tuco. Exile's men stop mining the area for volcanic glass, and the shaft that they had almost completed is not inactive. Venim Ancestral Tomb had been fully excavated, and Exile's armor had been complemented. Even if his mobility had been severely limited by the armor, he could now withstand a blow as if he were invinvcible. This Tuco -- if he were to come -- will die. And his remains will once again be placed in the Inner Chamber. And if he should rise up again, he will meet the same fate.

Sheogorath's Curse is lifted from Ryushi and he slowly regains his senses. He comes to Balmora, the ancient home of the Tribunal faith and the somewhat less ancient set of power for House Hlaalu, an old symbol of power in Vvardenfell that collapsed upon itself by mysterious means... The lucky lockup in sight, he enters, searching for the star of Azura.

The year is continued in Evening Star

There, Ryushi, you happy? I had to destroy an entire subplot just to make it so that you can get a soul gem...