Hello, and welcome to my all new fan fiction. This time, I will try and cut down on the description as it makes for a bored author and reader. I shall write straight onto site.


Chapter 1
Blood erupted from Cornelius Valaeus' neck as I deftly tucked my knife away back into my pocket. A job well done - and the last time I would work for anyone. I slipped an arm underneath the man's as he looked up at me in his last few seconds on earth. I smiled at him, then opening up the cupboard door I stuffed him in. After closing and locking the door I stepped smartly out of his house, smiling as I breathed in the crisp morning air. I nodded to an average looking guard and made my way back to the hovel I called home, stopping momentarily to give Cornelius Valaeus Junior two coins to deliver the telegram showing my completion as he passed me (Making care to tell him not to read the letter).

I entered the shack and lay down on my mattress, rolling over to place my knife in the drawer beside my bed. I closed my eyes and drifted into a light nap, the time taken up by a delightful dream taking me over praeries and flying with the birds.

I was abruptly woken by a sharp knock at the door, watching the door slam into the shack wall as a well built man marched into my single room.

"Cassell, I have brought you your payment," stated the muscular man as he threw a small pouch into my lap. "200 Septims, tax free and no strings attached. But I'm sick of being his errand boy - I want some real work!" He whined to me in a low growl. I lifted myself up onto one arm and smiled up at him.
"Ah Linz, you will have to learn patience some day." I told the black man, "But you are right, that was mine and your last job under his workings. When you go back politely and humbly give him your resignation, you know, kiss his feet a few times. He's not a nasty man, he'll let you go. But don't tell him what you're going to do now you are out of his service." I advised him.
"Naturally brother, I am not a fool. I'll go now, but give me 40 of those shiny coins so I can buy the paper and ink." I took my money out and passed him the 40 in the pouch. I watched him leave as I slipped the coins under my pillow.

Leaning out of the window I called to him,
"Meet me at the inn!"
"Which inn?"
"Which do you think?"
With a smile and a wink I closed the shutters and put on my best outfit.

So far so good Konradude, a good start to a potenial hot topic story. Keep it up dude!

Many questions come to mind when I read this. My curiousity is piqued. I'll wait in anticipation for the potential answers.

PS- Starting off a fic with a murder = gold!

I entered the King and Queen Tavern with a cheeky smirk on my face and surveyed my surroundings. Most in the inn ignored me - I did not look overly out of place but for my messy hair, as I had acquired some fine clothing from my various contracts. I strolled over to the bar, slightly shoving aside a small woman with fiery red hair. She was dressed in the manner of her work - extravagant clothing showing a lot of skin. I nodded to the barman.

"Fine evening friend, 2 large ales please." I told him.
"Coming right up, expecting company?" he enquired as he turned round to pour the ales.
"Only Lin..." I started before I was interrupted by a fine left hook by the woman I had gone in front of.
"Oi! Get out of my pub!" started the barkeep, brandishing a shortsword and pointing it at the girl. His hold on the sword was not firm, however, and the blade wobbled drunkenly in the air. As the girl turned to him with her fists still clenched I piped up.
"Leave her be, I'm fine." I stated flatly, getting to my feet with a slight stagger and leaning on the bar. With my free hand I pushed against the flat of the blade with my forefinger, turning it away from its target.

"Do you not know its dishonourable to aim at a woman?" I asked him, a slight smile on my face.
"We were attacked first, friend, remember that. There is no shame in self-defense." he replied sternly. I chuckled slightly and addressed the woman.
"Good evening to you, madam. A good fist you have there. What is your name?" I asked her, standing straight.
"That is no concern of yours, you rogue!" she told me in a soft, but determined, manner.
"I apologise for both pushing you and ingoring you. Do you accept my apology?"
She just glowered at me, and I could not guess what was going through her mind.
"3 beers, she'll have a drink with us, mate." I told the barman.
"Oh no she won't....mate!" She retorted.
"Yes she will, mate. 3 Beers." I ordered then went to an empty table with the 3 ales.

Murder makes a man thirsty. Good start, very enjoyable.

This new female character sounds intriguing so far. Very steadfast. I'll enjoy seeing more.

I downed the last of my ale, then slammed it on the table and stared at Linz and the mysterious (And rather annoying) woman.
"So, down to business. If we're going to be working together we'd better get to..."
"Working together?!" The woman interrupted me, half standing up. "What in the right mind makes you think we'll be..."
"We'd better get to know each other." I interrupted bluntly. She huffed, and sat down again.
"Brother, where do you get your confidence from...?" asked Linz, shaking his thickly built head with a smirk on his face.
"Why, my stunning looks of course." I retorted, then turned back to the woman. "So....what's your name?" I asked.
"My name is still none of your business, but I have decided to tell you. I am Flavia Florentino, or Flo for short." She told me, showing the hint of her first smile.
"Well Miss Florentino..."
"Mrs." she interrupted again sternly.
"I implore you to stop interrupting!" I told her with a slight raised voice. "Now, Miss Florentino, follow us to the back room...." I told her as I stood and walked to the back of the bar.

I pulled out a keychain from my jacket and picked a rather worn, but new, key. Placing it in the lock of a small wooden door I turned it and walked in. I let Linz and Flavia in, then slammed the door shut and relocked it. Turning back to the pair I heard Flavia gasp as she saw what was inside. The room was covered from floor to ceiling in various fauna, and in the centre stood a large fountain. Sitting around the room were half a dozen men, playing various forms of poker and smoking long clay pipes of skooma. Plucking a pipe from the man nearest to me, Eddie, I offered her it. She took it, and inhaled deeply.
"How bland." she stated, before handing it back to Eddie.
"Aye, Skooma prices have risen dramatically after the import laws were tightened. We water it down with a mix of water and beer." I told her, wandering around the room. All the time Linz stayed near Flavia, he was a quiet man around strangers and kept wary of her.

"Welcome to my home from home, and to my 7 disciples." I told her, motioning with my arms.
"You speak as though you are a saviour." she told me, slight scorn playing on her lips.
"Oh how little you know..." I responded, chuckiling slightly. She did not know what to say to this, merely biting her lip.
"As I was saying, my 7 disciples. Linz, my business partner and brother. E..."
"But you have different skin colour!" she exclaimed, once again interrupting me. I clenched my fists by my sides.
"Again you persist in undermining me, but I shall forgive you this once. We are not blood brothers, but the same woman took us in, so we are brothers - whether you like it or no." I told her. She nodded. I carried on.
"This is Eddie, our second in command. He arranges anything that needs any literal input - clever lad he is. This is Fr..."
"Oh that reminds me brother! I have the paper and ink!" cried Linz, adding to my frustration.
"Gah! Very well, give them to Eddie. Eddie, I want All the posters you can make out of them, you choose how to phrase our message." I instructed.
I carried on naming the rest of the disciples, then bowed to Flavia.

"...And I am Cassell. The leader of this operation. The time will come very soon where I shall be name on ever man's - and more hopefully woman's - tongue." I told her, rather pompously. She snorted, and I chose to ingore it.
"Basically, I want you to meet us at midnight in Chorrol, in the cemetary. There will be a meeting there in 5 days - as you will see from the vairous posters that will be put up in the city and in Chorrol. You may leave us now and never think about us again, but I would be very pleased if you came. It would be in your best interests naturally." I told her - then without waiting for a response strode through the door and back to my shack to get some sleep.

This "meeting" sounds interesting. I wonder what's going to happen at it? I guess I have to be patient to find out. Ohwell...

Excellent work so far Konrad.

Thanks for the comments. Keeps me going

3 Days were spent preparing for the meeting. The posters were put up, stating 'For every man who is in want of an adventurous business, meet in the.....". Word of mouth was spread, until a large proportion of the city knew about the meeting. You may think that most would dismiss it, but as my name as the master assassin in the city is well known the town was in uproar. What we had not forseen however, was that so were the guards...

The final 2 days we spent packing and travelling. I did not plan to return to the city in a while, so moved everything in my house into one, rather small, satchel. The last day passed without much ado and we arrived in chorrol at 11 on the night of the meeting.

After the group wandered round to find a place to stay, we went to the cemetery quarter of an hour before midnight to set up.


At midnight, a trickle of young males turn into a stream of men, teenage boys and young children - all coming to see what the fuss was about. Women, in all their sensibility, stayed home - but I was looking for one particular woman who was not showing. At 5 past, I made my appearance.

The candles around me flared to life, showing my body and mouth. The upper portion of my head was covered by a hood. Raising my arms to their eye level, I addressed them.
"Welcome my bro..." I started, until I was interrupted by a snort of a laugh at the back...So she had come after all. "Welcome my brothers." I repeated forcefully. "You have all come looking for adventure, fame, or something to quench the boredom of your dull lives. I can give that to you. But you we are all overshadowed by him. We cannot escape him. We are....controlled by him. He controlled me for the longest time in higher ways than you will know, but I recently broke free. I ask you all to fight for your freedom." I told them calmly, and a murmur ran through the crowd.

"But to do this, you must throw morality out of the window. The people who we will fight, you will have believed were the good of this world. This is wrong...they are the evil that infects it. To become free, you must obey me. I will guide you along the right path. Any of you willing to do this will follow me back to the church. I order none of you, yet. Go if you please." Many men nodded, stepping forwards slightly, while the young and the children decided better and ran away. It was then that we all heard a great cry of rage - which was the unmistakable battle cry of the men I had encountered many times in my last line of work.

It was the Emperor's personal guard!

An interesting story so far. I am quite curious to find out why the Emperor's guard have decided to crash this little party.

Maybe a missed assassination attempt? Really, he should have known better than making all that noise about his meeting. Walking around the city silently selecting candidates would be better, though slower. Not that I mind. He is just hilarious!

It definitely seems our protagonist has an ego about himself to think he wouldn't catch the attention of the guard by putting up posters. Gotta love a guy with ego though, makes for an enjoyable read.

I wonder who "him" is... A few ideas come to mind.

My knife slipped out from my sleeve into my hand in an instant, as I leapt into the nearest tree. The Royal Guard charged into the cemetary, swords brandished and circling the crowd. To my horror they all struck out at the nearest males, killing 4 or 5 and wounding many. The others all cried out and got closer together, sheilding each other. From the surrounding crowd of guard a prominent figure stood forwards - a sneer emblazoned on his face.

"I have here a warrant to slaughter every one of you, the new disciples of Cassell. But you have an option, either you die...or you give me your leader. Which will it be?" he called, bringing out a scroll. There were murmurs through the crowd, but none of them had see me hide. Distressed enough, I leapt out to stand a few metres behind the leader. I spoke.

"Ozon Slazer. I am here. I hear you've been looking for me." I told him, while he kept his back turned.
"Cassell. You finally decided to show yourself for once." He told me.
"It's my job not to." I retorted.
"You will be taken to the prison for a few days, then there'll be a public hanging in this very cemetery. At least you won't have to go too far."
"I'll go willingly, just let these innocent men go." I ordered. He snorted, but motioned to his guards to make a gap and allowed the prisoners free. I dropped my knife on the floor and stepped up to him, keeping my hands forwards, ready for any attacks but prepared to go silently.

....

Bruised and broken, I was flung into a dingy and damp prison underneath the castle. I shouted at them, but they jeered and left me wrecked on the floor.
"You don't know who you're dealing with!" I screamed at them through the bars before lying in a heap and weeping silently.

"Oh I think we do. We've worked with you enough!" the Royal guards joked.

It would appear that having a public meeting was a really bad idea. Perhaps now that he is in prison he'll figure that out.

You know when you have an ego when you say something like this when it seems very certain you are defeated.

Of course, I could always be proven wrong... Cassell is quite the character though. I wonder if the royalty will have sometime special in store for him or maybe his brother will bust him out.

As I didn't do one yesterday, I shall do two today.

5 days later, with 15 failed escape attempts I was marched solemnly down to the cemetery - through the centre of Chorrol. People stared at me in my rags, but none laughed or jeered. Pity? Maybe, but I'd guess they knew how meaningful I was. As the front guard opened the gate I struggled against my ropes, kicking out at the guard behind me before wrapping my rope handcuffs around the gate-opener's neck. I pulled tight, thinking I had got the better of them all, before something I had not forseen happened.

A guard to the left of me quickly flicked up his sword, then slashing downwards he cut my left hand off! I cried out in agony, falling backwards in a heap. I clutched my stump, swearing profusely as the blood flowed copiously from my wrist. The guard pulled me up slightly only to clean his sword, then threw me back on the floor for my escorts.
"You won't need two hands in the afterlife, criminal." the guard told me, sheathing his blade and walking back into the crowd that had amassed in the cemetery.

Still staring at my ex-hand, I was dragged onto my feet by my two escorts and pushed forwards into the cemetery. Slowly staring upwards from my arm I saw the entire gallows in all there morbid glory. I grumbled to myself, giving in to the guards as they pushed me up the wooden steps and onto the block. I merely scanned the crowd, seeing if I knew anyone as the hangman tied the noose around my neck.

Oh and how I knew them! And how I despised them. Every single one of the disciples I had hanging on my every word was in the crowd, staring up at me. I cursed them under my breath as I looked some more. I saw my brother... he was crying softly to himself as he was supported by Eddie. They were not looking at me, and I was about to call them until I got a tap on the arm.
"Tight enough?" asked the hangman.
"So-so...I've had better." I replied, giving what I expected to be my last smile as I faced the front again. The hangman strolled over to the lever for the block beneath me and pulled quickly with a grunt.

The trapdoor was released and I fell....straight through and onto the floor! Looking up I saw my severed rope, and a crossbow bolt jammed into the wooden support. I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw a hooded figure leap across the hole I had fallen through - presumably to take out the guards. Not wasting my opportunity I leapt up and staggered to the nearest wall. Flopping over it I lay down in a large bush and drifted into a heavy sleep - the blood from my arm seeping into the ground beside me.

So he lives for now but has paid the price with the loss of a hand. Someone better find him quickly though, that amount of blood loss could very well be lethal if not looked after.

I'm curious to find out who his savior will be. I have an idea who they might be, since they weren't mentioned when Cassell was looking out across the crowd.

Chapter 2

I awoke hazily, slowly opening my eyes to a slit and peering upwards. I had expected sky, but was met by a ceiling a few inches above my nose. Used to hiding in very small places through my line of work I was not startled, but smiled and slowly shifted my head sideways to look at my room. The entire place was wood panels, and cramped even with only a small chair and a small table inside it. On the table was a small bottle of brandy, and on the chair sat Miss Flavia Florentino! She was asleep, her head resting on the table near the brandy and her hands flopping limply by her sides. I chortled, then swung my legs round and slid out of bed.

Finding myself without any clothes I looked around hastily, but found nothing. Using my initiative I pulled at Flavia slightly and let her drop into my arms, then pulled off her shawl before laying her back. Wrapping it around my waist I set off around the house to look for someone else. Hearing music above me I climbed a ladder and pushed open a trapdoor and clambered out.

My entire group of disciples were lain drunkenly around a table, laughing and telling jokes. It seemed like a celebration. I called Linz and walked up to him.
"Linz, my brother! What has happened? Who rescued me?" I asked feverishly, slapping him around the face.
"Brother! Cassell! Can't you tell? Your saviour has been by your side in a vigil for 5 days after she saved you from the gallows! But not without a price eh?" he told me, motioning down to my left hand.

Looking down, I let out a cry and fell back onto the floor. Somehow I had managed to get from my bed to there without noticing the lack of a hand, but now it all came flooding back. at the end of my arm there was merely skin around the wrist - it had healed quickly in 5 days with the special herbal lotion Flavia had used. I slowly got to me feet, then faced my brother.

"Aye...aye. Ah well, so where are we?" I asked him, looking around slightly.
"Why, nearing Leyawiin on the Lower Niben." He told me nonchalently, taking a swing of ale.
"We're in a boat?!" I cried.
"Obviously, unless they've invented a floating house."
"It's just....why are we on a boat and not in the Headquarters?" I asked him.
"Ahh, you won't know. The entire city is in uproar. There's riots all over the place, everythings ablaze. The massacre in the cemetery and then your escape has caused political upheaval. I don't understand the ins and outs of it but basically you're to blame. Most people in the city want you dead, except for the poor. So we had to leave." he informed me.
"Oh goody." I replied.

I quickly changed, then hung tight until we arrived at Leyawiin. but who we met at the docks was not who I would have expected in a quiet town by the sea...

Nice to see that Cassell didn't bled himself to death and that he's somewhere realtively safe (ships can always sink ).

I want to know who he's going to meet at the docks. Sounds like a former employeer, but that's just a guess.

I imagine you didn't expect to see this guy again!


Standing sentry like and alert were 9 horses - but the people who were on them were what worried me. At a smaller, slick white horse was a teenager around 15, and he reminded me of someone. Then it clicked. He was Cornelius Valaeus junior!! Sitting on a large, but tired looking horse was Ozon Slazer - my rival and enemy. Behind the pair were 7 men, who seemed a strange hybrid of wild forest men and imperial guard. i was shocked by this spectacle to say the least, but as my boat bumped against the pier I stepped off it smartly followed by my 7 disciples. Most of them were still drunk - and ready for a fight - but they knew this wasn't just a brawl.

"Cassell...This boy has told me of the brutal murder of his faher - and he has reason to believe you did it." Ozon told me with a sneer as he moved his legs a little and sent his horse trotting towards me slowly.
"You know full well I did it Ozon...it was going to either be me or you. Thankfully he realised that my approach would be better. You're worthless to him Ozon." I told him defensively. I knew I had the upper hand.
"It should have been me!!" He screamed at me, losing his temper. As he looked back to the incredibly confused and frightened boy however he regained his composure. "Ahem...You are to be arrested for the murder of Cornelius Valaeus. Do you have anything to say before we arrest and or kill you?"
he asked me. I ignored him and faced the boy.
"I apologise for killing your father. I know this won't make you think any differently, but I was acting under the orders of my - and his - master. Now...Let battle commence!" I shouted, brandishing my sword with the rest of my disciples and standing ahead of Ozon.

Ozon and the child both spurred their horses and charged straight at me. I stood firm, readying myself as they got nearer. As they both brought down their swords to kill me I rolled to the left - under the smaller of the horses - and lodged my sword deep into its flank. The pony reared, knocking of its rider and circling away. The boy was flung into the river, who then struggled back to shore and breathed shakily on the bank.

Ozon had come around for another charge after missing me and once more sped towards me. finding myself unarmed after leaving my daggers on board ship I was in a predicament. I could do naught but dive out of the way as he charged past - his sword slipping through my shirt and cutting a gash in my left shoulder. I cried out, but scrambled back into a standing position as he wheeled around the battlefield.

Elsewhere my disciples were fairing better. At the initial charge they had all taken a horse and dispatched of it with a single blow, dismounting their opponents and bringing them to their own level. One of Ozon's men had been crushed and killed outright and another injured in the legs and unable to move - but 5 of them were still intact and got up shakily. They grouped together, bringing up their shields and peering out over the top of them. The 7 disciples all stood in a semi-circle around them, weighing them up. Linz then took it upon himself to smash up their defensive formation, slipping a huge hammer from his back and swinging it around himself. Coming up close to his enemies he swung it in a vicious arc into the centre of the men - killing another and breaking many shields. the disciple cheered and charged back into battle.

As Ozon came around at me again I thought fast, but could find no possible way of doing what I needed to. Finally it clicked, and I put my plan into action. As he came near I again dived to the right, but stuck out a hand, thus grabbing onto the reins and getting pulled along. This was not without a price however, as my shoulder was popped out of its socket and it took all my years of hardening and all my willpower to stay on. Kicking up I swung onto the back of the horse, then headbutted Ozon lightly on his helmet.
"Hello, friend. You acted good for the kid - but did you really have to nearly hang me back in Chorrol?" I asked him, as I tried to click my shoulder back.
"Ahh, I knew you'd get out somehow. Although I was fearing I'd have to kill you right here!" he told me jokily, steering his horse into the woods near the battlefield. We leaped off the horse and he helped me with my shoulder, then we observed the last of the battle as we heard a cheer.

All 7 of my disciples had their arms raised in triumph - some of them looking slighgtly battered, but fine. The boy had fallen unconscious at the bank and Eddie ran to help him back into the town...to get rid of him while we set ourselves up. They then hurried over to our hiding place and we sat together.

"Right, time to sort everything out." I told them.

Oooo very sneaky, Ozon is actually with Cassell, very interesting. I wonder what this organization they are both with is about. I'm sure we'll find out soon.