AUTHOR'S NOTE: This may be a bit different from what you've read in the past but I was thinking of ideas and thought this would be a good experiment. Enjoy
----------------------------

For years a terrible disease has gripped all of tamriel. A taint, some would say, has infected hundreds of thousands of organisms, ranging from mere insects to men. There is no official name for the taint so many simply call it infection.

Infection has many strange effects. The most obvious being the fact that those infected are man-eating monsters. They have red eyes and, on men, their veins bulge. They have improved reflexes and senses and are much faster and stronger that they were before they were infected. They are, however, much less intelligent and are easily tricked and trapped. They seem to dislike the light somewhat but they can tolerate it. It has also been found that they can go weeks without food or water.

So far the infected have managed to destroy many cities and towns and, since infection is spread by being bitten or allowing their blood to get into your body, this has greatly increased their number.

Reports indicate that the infected are currently moving toward the imperial city of Ebonhart on the island of Vvardenfel. The current commanding officer of the imperial fort in Ebonhart is Captain Natheus Miraleus, a Knight errant and a very experienced soldier. He was too busy preparing for the attack to notice that there was something else going on in the city. Something much more dangerous than any attack by the infected... if they were hostile. They were making plans of their own.


Grand Council Chambers, Ebonhart

"...but sir, it makes no sense. You want me to leave the gates open for the attack?"

"Do not question my orders, astheus, just follow them. Do as I ask." said Captain Natheus.

"Yes, sir..."

I listened from the spiral staircase as the captain argued with his men and went over his plans. He was going to leave the front gates of the city open so that the infected would go for it rather than surround the city. He could focus his archers and mages there and kill them in large numbers. Plus he didn't have enough archers or mages to cover the entire perimeter of the city. It seemed like a wise plan indeed...but he hadn't the knowledge that I had of the city. I knew what to do.

I sat for a moment waiting for everyone to exit the main room of the chamber then, hastily but silently, ran through the room and out the door into the night. My red eyes were the only things visible once I entered the shadows. I was wearing a black hooded cloak which covered my entire body. Strapped to my right thigh was a dagger made of a black metal which I had my entire life.

I ran, half-crouching, through the shadows into a dark alley near the local pub. I walked to the end of the alley and reached into the dirt, feeling for a ring with roughly the same circumfrance as a mug. I found it and dusted the dirt away to reveal a trapdoor. I lifted it open and hastened inside, closing it behind me. I was in the entrance hall of a great complex built under the city.I was greeted by my dear friend Alcho, a nord who was...the same...as I.

"Peleus, we have a problem. Come with me." he said.

"What is it?"

"Someone found us. We have captured him and waited for you to return before taking anymore action."

"How did he find the trapdoor? Didn't Thales put the dust back over it?" I asked

"Apparently the man is a drunk who wandered into the alley to leak his lizard and happened to do it all over the door, revealing it. So, naturally, he opened it and was greeted by a tranquilizer dart. We tied him up and he has been unconcious since." said Alcho.

We had reached the room where the man was tied to a chair and I woke him. He looked around for a moment before turning to me and, upon looking at my face, began screaming at the top of his lungs...

...Called vampirism?

Or that's what it sounds to me...

"Shut up, fool!" I yelled in his face. He got quiet.

I pulled off my hood to reveal the face of a handsome young imperial at the age where he looks his best. My features were flawless except for one thing, my eyes. They were a bright red color and gave me a very piercing stare which could make anyone uneasy.

"I don't believe i'm using my manners.." I said, walking across the room to a table on which sat a pitcher of water and two glasses. I filled them both and walked back over to the tied up man and, after untieing his right hand, offered him one. He took it and hastily drank it.


"Should you be so trusting? How are you o know that I haven't poisoned this drink? But then again I have done nothing to prove myself untrustworthy. Not that this is of any importance to someone like you." I said before taking a small drink from my own glass.

"Where am I?" The man finally asked.

"You are in a secret underground facility which also happens to be my home. You have intruded on my privacy and therefor must be killed." was my reply.

"W-what...but I-I di--"

I let out a small laugh and said, "I'm only being humorous. You needn't worry for you will be returned to your home without any memory of this place or conversation so if you would like, ask me some questions."

"I-I have seen many men walk through here, imperial, nordic, and elvlish, and even the eyes of the imperials and the nords are red such as yours and yet none of you seem hostile. What are you?"

"I do suppose that to answer this question I would have to tell quite a bit about myself..I do not mind this seeing as I have not had a good conversation for quite a time. But if you could very kindly excuse me for a moment I would like another glass of water." I said as I walked to the table, refilled my glass, and took a chair with me as I went back to the man.

"Now to begin the story. My name is Peleus, I am an imperial who was born shortly after infection began. As anyone who has kept track of time knows, infection has been about for 17 years. I am 16 years old. I am what some would call a hybrid, as are the rest of the people in this complex save you. My mother was infected while she was pregnant with me and, since the innfected can literally smell the taint of infection within your bloodstream, she did not kill me when she gave birth. For some strange reason I was not fully infected..I had very bad anger problems, however, and would kill pretty much anyone who saw me as anything different than an imperial or anyine who made me even mildly angry. I also have many of the strengths of the infected and few weaknesses." I paused to take a small drink of water.

"For example, my reflexes and senses are far greater than those of...normal...men. I am also much faster and a bit stronger...far stronger now since I am very active and enjoy building my muscles. Among my weaknesses is my anger which, thanks to personal training, is now under my control. It takes quite a bit to anger me but when I finally do get angry I do terrible things. It is not something I am proud of. If you have not noticed already my intelligence is also greater than that of most men. Only the oldest and wisest of mages may outwit me."

"How is this? You have infection in your bloodstream." The man said

"My mother, before she was infected, was a mage. She was quite possibly the most intelligent woman in all of tamriel. My father was a master assassin for the emperor.”

“How do you know this? You said your mother was infected when she gave birth.”

“My father had followed my mother until I was born, then he took me in and I lived with him until I was 5. The infected attacked our house and left me alone because of my blood. After that I lived alone until I met Alcho at 10. That showed me that there were more like me in the world and we then went looking for more. We found nearly 50 more like us.” I replied

“So what do you plan on doing now?”

It's something like vampirism. but that's not quite it. Vampires actually have their wits about them. They are intelligent and they have white eyes. Plus they don't eat people, they suck their blood.

Pretty nice anyway. I'll be curious about the advance.

(One last guess: Are they creatures that are called 'Ghouls' in some other lore's?)

The "Taint" sounds oddly like the infection from that film 28 Days Later

I was waiting for someone to get it. That is what I based it on, yes. There are a few surprises, of course. I'm not really getting into the plot of the story yet.

I sincerely apologize to anyone who has taken even the slightest bit of interest in this story but I really don't know where to go with it so I think i'm just going to start another. Once again, I apologize.

ohhh, dang, whenever i find a good story they close up shob before they get far...

Well if anyone thinks that I should continue with this then I can probably think of something. I just couldn't think of anywhere to go with the story.

Due to recent insiraption I'm going to continue with this story. I've been thinking all day and I may have something here.
---------------------------------

"Enough questions." I said, turning to Alcho, "Have his mind wiped and send him home. Meet me and the others in the mess hall afterwards."

"You got it."

I then stood and exited the room, making my way to my room. I entered and took off my cloak, revealing a black outfit similar to that of the Dark Brotherhood, the only difference being the grey infinite symbol of our "clan" on the chest. I removed my shirt to expose a body of medium size and a rather muscular build. I then put on an exquisite shirt and changed my pants as well before putting on my white robe, which I wore every time I addressed the people. I then tucked my dagger into the robe and left the room, making my way to the mess hall.

I ate a small snack while waiting for everyone to enter the room. Once everyone had arrived I walked onto the stage on the left side of the room and called for silence. The room got quiet.

"I have heard the plan of Natheus. He will draw the infected to the front gates and kill them in large groups. They are bound to stumble upon the few entrances to the city that the imperials don't know about. We must defend those areas for the sake of our home. I will put together groups and assign each group an ares to guard. If anything goes wrong or if the infected penettrate the walls you are to abandon your posts and make your way to the underwater caverns of the city. There we will regroup and return to help the imperials." a few hands were raised. I pointed toward a male dunmer.

"Yes, Jaz?" I asked

"Where will you be?"

"I will be with Alcho on the battlements. We will be watching all activity in the city and will alert you if there is a breach in the walls. I will also have the pleasure of picking off the infected with my bow." I said with a smile.

"When are the infected expected to arrive?" asked Jaz

"Within two to three hours, so I advise you eat your fill and prepare for battle soon."

"One more question, Peleus."

"Yes, Jaz?"

"You remember those ten bottles of brandy you lost to me in a bet about a year ago? I've yet to find them" he said with a sly smile on his face

"That's because I never gave them to you. That bet never took place."

"It took place, you were just too drunk to remember." he said, falling out of his seat as if drunk.

"Eat your fill, everyone. And Jaz, your drinking privileges have been reduced to shein." I said, struggling to keep from laughing. Jaz looked up at me with a look that said "haha, very funny."

As everyone began to eat I returned to my room to meditate a bit before the battle.

I am glad you chose to continue the story. The story feels well thought out, and superbly executed. I do hope we get to see more of this story.

Thank you, I really don't plan n giving up on this story and will have another update within the hour.

Yay!! Take a jona.

yeah? hmm still waiting though.....but if you wait for something good....