Flogir

Flogir groaned at the news Ian brought. Necromancers are harder to kill then it appears. He was sure this wouldn't make Rann and the others who traveled with him to kill Mannimarco happy. Hell, he wasn't happy about it either.

"I definitely need a drink now..." Flogir mumbled. Their small victory barely mattered now.

Rann

Rann was glad that Flogir became preoccupied with Ian's news instead of his current displeasure with his sister and her lover. He really didn't want to talk about it. All he wanted was to have a nice quiet drink, preferably with Dalrus. He didn't want to spend his time reminding himself of the thoughtlessness of some of his friends.

But on that same note, he didn't really want to think about Mannimarco, either. It angered him more than a little that the sick man (if he could be called that) still lived, and made him feel that he had somehow failed Kirana and Soldin, and that their deaths were in vain.

"Me too," he said wholeheartedly, with a tone of emotional exhaustion clearly evident in his voice.

Flogir

As Flogir made his way to the Tiber Septim, he saw Flint, Voltar, and Altair standing nearby. He waved at em.

"Tiber Septim. We're drinking. Come," he said in a monotone and hurried fashion. Flogir thought he saw Flint stare at him oddly but he ignored it. He didn't really care at the moment.

Issac

Without paying Rann, Amrita, Satyana, or anyone else any heed, he walked through the entrance and upstairs to where the rooms were. Not even bothering in shutting the door, Issac went into "his" room.

Taking the katana he'd stabbed Kirana with off of his belt, he pulled the blade out of its sheath and without thinking, embedded halfway in the coffee table. Issac sat down on the bed and stared at the blade, remembering how the blood of his matron had flowed over it.
The enchantment on it had long since been spent and the table did not burst into flames. The Altmer silently went over all that had gone wrong recently, from Mannimarco's resurection to the problmes he and Satyana had with Rann.

Issac looked up at the sword again, then he laid back on the bed and stared at the cieling. What would you have me do now? He asked the woman gone from the world. How would you work this out? The Altmer lay there, sprawled over the covers, as if waiting for an answer he had to hear.....

Mannimarco

Excitement flowed through Mannimarco as he saw the commander go down through the undead's eyes. He was almost certain that Astratus would die, and the Army would crumble. Suddenly, the blasted vampire appeared, cutting and killing his masterpiece. Mannimarco grabbed a nearby bandit and tore the soul from him, then set the body on fire. Mannimarco cursed in any language he could think of. He turned and walked towards the Silhouette, then decided to approach the lizard man.

"Lizard man, you aren't from around here, are you? It doesn't matter, my only question is this. How does your kind rid itself of those living mockeries known as vampires? The s'wit has ruined my body, and my plans, countless times, and I am frustrated." Mannimarco roared his frustration to the sky. Then he realized something, and a maniacle grin spread across his face. He realised that Kirana had been in Ian, had come in contact with the vampire's soul. Mannimarco left the alien and walked off towards a dark part of the woods.

Mannimarco embedded the gem of Kirana into another undead, and made it so the undead could speak. Mannimarco created the body to the best of his ability, the body only looked gray. He even went so far as to give clothes to the body. He granted advanced muscle movement and heightened perception. He did everything he could, and the body looked to be human. The problem was, there was no blood pumping in the body, no heart beating no air brought in to breathe. The sound came from Kirana's mind, and the undead made no mouth movement. Mannimarco smiled at his creation, and then started to cast spells on the undead.

Mannimarco put a recall spell on the black soul gem. He placed an incantation on the corpse so that if it was touched by a living person, it would burst into flame. He created a leash for the undead, Kirana had freewill, as long as Mannimarco was allowing her freewill and was concious. He cast a spell that would reanimate dead tissue if Kirana attempted suicide. Then Mannimarco smiled, and walked the undead Kirana towards the shore.

Mannimarco ordered two snakemen and a bandit to row the undead across the lake halfway, and then to shout to the wall the following message:

"The King of Worms, his majesty, has honorably asked for a parlay in so much as to grant you noble fighters a gift, for enduring so long. Here is Kirana, former adventureror who stood against our noble King. She was given back the gift of life, and now she walks again! Who has such power besides the King and the Silhouette? Never die again! Join our cause, walk amongst your friends for enternity"

Then Mannimaro told the bandit to make Kirana walk off the boat into the water where she would swim across to the opposite shoreline. Before Kirana got on the boat, he cast a devious spell that required a blood sacrifice from the caster. Mannimarco plunged a knife into his hand and the blood dripped from the wound and dissappated. Mannimarco used the energy to create the last image he saw of Kirana and place it on the undead. Then he sent the snakemen and bandit across the lake with Kirana.

Plys'Iea

The sudden arrival and departure of the Maggot King perplexed the alien warrior, but it also intrigued him. Enough that the creature rose and silently stalked after the necromancer lord. As the sorcerer worked and his treacherous plot was revealed, the alien's blood boiled at Mannimarco's indifference for the sanctity of death.

The dead do not deserve this audacity! He thought angerly as he listened to the message Mannimarco wanted delivered. While Tamrielic was not a language he could speak, the alien could understand it enough that all he couldn't do was speak in it.
However, the warrior did not reveal himself nor did he approach the Silhouette, as he personally doubted his leader would see fit to interfere. I'll watch how this turns out.... Sneaking away, the alien kept his senses stretched to the brink in order to keep Mannimarco and his pawn within his awareness.

Ian

As he waited for Astratus to acknowledge him, Ian gave a start as Mannimarco began putting his scheme together. No, no, NO! Ian silently screamed inside, his hand clenching tightly into a fist. I will destroy you, King of Worms, not even the army around you will stop me from putting you away forever!

Cerpin

Ian, I know how angry you are right now, but you have to calm down a bit. Most mistakes are made when emotions overcome rational thought. Promise me you'll stay rational.

Rann

Rann had started to walk towards the Tiber Septim when Mannimarco shouted his proclamation. His hands clenched into fists, and his jaw tightened as he climbed the wall to get a better view of the reborn necromancer. He wanted nothing more than to fire an arrow from Soldin's recovered bow straight into his skull, but he knew that no arrow he shot could possibly make it across Lake Rumare. He felt that he should at least respond in some way, as most of the others on the wall seemed to be dumbfounded.

Actions speak louder than words, he thought, readying himself for what he was planning next, Sorry Kirana.

He brought his bow to bear and knocked an arrow. He couldn't get across Lake Rumare, but he could certainly hit the unholy figure swimming in it. He told himself one more time that Kirana wouldn't want to live as she was now before letting the arrow fly. He hoped the arrow would hit both to free Kirana from her misery (if it was even Kirana) and to make a statement to Mannimarco regarding his vile temptations.

OOC: you can decide if it hits or not, revan.

Mannimarco

Mannimarco grinned as a figure on the wall drew his bow. He sent a message through the link, and it was dripping with sarcasm, "See Kirana, they don't want you around. The group will have killed you twice, one from a child you parented, another from a friend. They think they are doing your memory justice, but tell me, what justice is there in murderers? You may say that I am a fiend, in that statement you would be correct. But, think about this; they killed you to kill me the first time, now, why do they kill you if not for an "honorable memory?"

Mannimarco became angry and sent anger through the link, "I gave you the gift of speech! I gave you a body! I gave you the necessary freedoms needed to communicate with your "friends"! I am not without compassion, that is a necessary trait in my line of work. Why do you think they would pass up a chance to speak with you again, to talk with you? They want to leave you a martyr, can you believe that was your fate from the moment you were born? They want to use you as a cause, as a rallying cause to trigger false emotion! You and I both know that the boy you raised has murdered you, and a Daedric prince would jump at his soul when his day comes. Do you want that for him, girl?"

The arrow flew from the walls and shot across the sky. Mannimarco said through the link, "I would gladly send that boy's soul to Oblivion in my sted, girl, if I ever get my hands on his soul. If that arrow kills you, you may never see him again. You will be permanantly cast into enternal darkness, until the unmaking of Nirm! I can hide the gem, even if they kill me...they will never find you! You must get into the city, experience love again...see his face once more...." And the arrow flew closer.

OCC: She's going to make a tough choice, not just for herself.

Kirana

As Rann's arrow flew towards her, Kirana watched it for a non-existant heartbeat. I'm also sorry, Rann She thought remorsefully. A moment before the projectile struck, Kirana cast an illusion. At the distance she was, no could tell with accuracy what happened, but the real Kirana rapidly descended beneath the surface of Lake Rumare.

The illusion of herself was in the line of the arrow and it moved in sink with the arrow it was knocked backward, and the groan of a zombie substituted a woman's cry. As the snakemen moved the boat into position to pick up the "body," the bandit was mildly surprised to feel nothing as his hand passed through the corpse.
But the corpse lifted twoard the boat, and the bandit was wise enough to pantomime that he was pulling it onto the dingy. Kirana remained below the surface, she could remain here indefinitly, not needing to breath.

For all intents and purposes, it appeared that she had been killed by Rann's shot, but what saddened Kirana was that she had to betray her friends in this way. You were right, Rann, I won't be able to live like this for long.....

Plys'Iea

What happened confused him greatly, his eyes saw the pawn get hit by the primitive arrow, but he "saw" the arrow go through her and couldn't feel the body at all. His eyes widened and the vertical slit pupils within them broadened as well.

Treachery.... The alien concluded, but against whom? Mannimarco or the people held up inside the city? As the boat approached their shore, the Plys'Iea came forward and stared down at the illusion which vanished in a matter of seconds.
The warrior had a sense that many more people than just him wanted to kill Mannimarco. Perhaps I'll be able to feed him to them..... He thought for a moment before letting his scheme slip his mind, that would come later.

Ian

Through his bond with Kirana he knew she'd staged her own death, Ian also felt her remorse. Feeling her again burned out the falmes of rage that had been in his heart. And the vampire calmed down again, I can remain calm, for now....

Shroading himself, Ian made his way to the walls and over them. Intent on locating Kirana, at least having her within sight would maintain an illusion of having her back among them. I will pay Mannimarco back for the hell he's put us all through!

Mannimarco

Muttering through the connection, "Wise choice, girl," Mannimarco eased away from control on Kirana, he made sure that she knew he was aware of her actions, but at the moment, all he needed was for Kirana to be touched by the vampire. Kirana knew that if she was touched by a living being, the undead corpse would engulf in flames. However, since Ian was undead, she could be touched by him. Mannimarco needed Kirana to do three things, and one of them was to touch Ian so he could identify his strain and dead cell level. He also needed a scope of the City, the other undead were dispatched too soon to get a good picture by the vampire. The last thing he needed was for Kirana to nudge the other soul out of Ian somehow, Mannimarco wanted the powerful soul out in the open, so he could absorb the power.

Mannimarco paced the beach, and congratulated the bandit by giving him gold. He called for Prater, the young dead boy, and asked him to locate the Silhouette. Mannimarco's ranks were getting thin, and the long deceased from the tombs and graveyards were rotting. Mannimarco needed fresh dead, and soon. Grinning like a madman, Mannimarco followed Prater towards the Silhouette.

Mannimarco noticed the giant lizard man near the shore where the illusion of Kirana had vanished. He also noticed unconscious clenching of the fist. Mannimarco pondered this, and wondered if it was a racial thing, how could a supposed ally be malign towards trickery and deceit? The Silhouette would probably like to know about the lizard man, but Mannimarco just let it go. However, he did make a mental note to himself to discover all Argonian weaknesses, mental and physical, later after the meeting. He would not be bested by some lizard.

Flogir

Flogir was beside Rann as he watched him fire the arrow that appeared to kill the undead form of Kirana. Flogir turned to the troops.

"Don't listen to that Necromancer's nonsense! If I'm familiar with native Dunmer beliefs; his kind desecrates what you do for your ancestors who are meant to protect your burial grounds! To be alive but not is to be but a slave to the whim of a madmen!"

Flogir motioned to the corpses of undead littered across the battlefield. "Is that what you truly wish to become?" Flogir spat at the ground. "No! Of course not! Do not heed his words!"

Amrita

Amrita was also by Rann's side. "Nice shot!" she whispered enthusiactically in his ear. She had no idea on the importance that zombie previously had with the rest of the party.

Astratus

Commander Astrauts found a healer after the vampire left. He helped the wounded into sickbeds, and came to an awful conclusion. He can't have the dead come back to life, so he issued a mandate stating that any fatality in the coming days must be recorded and removed of its's head, precautionary to the Necromancer across the lake. Until he lay dead, this order must be followed. Astratus wiped the grim of off his clothes and hands, found a basin to wash up in, and looked around for a healer to attend to his personal injuries.

A doctor began to fuss over the injury and Astratus looked around hopefully for the quartermaster. Usually, during long fights with many injured, the quartermaster would bring alcohol for the gravely wounded to relieve the pain of their passing. Astratus needed a stiff drink, and the surrounding area was bloodied and grim. He needed the comfort of a bottle, and the solice that it brings. He needed to forget where he was, and escape for a few moments.

The quartermaster made his rounds as Astratus was cleared by the medical examiner. Astratus approached him, but the quartermaster said that due to the besieged cituation of the city, no alcohol or dry goods have made it across the lake. The quartermaster expressed his concern about the dwindling amount of supplies, and he made a guess as to how many days the city had left before rationing was to be involved not for the soldiers, but for everyone.

Astratus asked the quartermaster about possible supplies or any leads to getting supplies, when a doctor said that bandages were already being made out of bedsheets, sanitizing utensils was done by open flame, and there was practically no ointments or creams for infections or swelling. Astratus wondered if they could send communication to Vvardenfell, or Hammerfall, or even Summerset to receive aid. The pressure of command came crashing down on Astratus, and he felt alone. He called for his lieutenants, and asked them to find the emissaries to the other countries. Astratus craved the drink, but now was not the time.

OCC: couldn't dead soldiers get cremated, it wasn't uncommon (Romans, Greeks, and other ancient civilizations did it).

Plys'Iea

Quietly, the hunter moved off, and dissappeared deeper into the camp, within the misty Great Forest. The thick fog that he encountered reminded him of his species' homeworld, a swampy place where the lesser animals were snapped up in an instant if they failed to flee from death.

And death was the final refuge, where those who had fought could rest undisturbed by the continuing struggles of the living. That was what had been put into the alien's mind by his elders and peers many decades ago, and this shell of a man, this Mannimarco, tore the sleeping ones from their peeace and shackled them to his will.

That was what mostly gave birth to the hunter's hatred of the necromancer lord. The other percentage was the physical weakness of the man, who relied upon his servants to fight for him and depended on that cursed sorcery to give him power and dominance.
That King of Worms was a demon in the alien's eyes, one who needed to be eliminated so this could be done properly.

Dalrus, Tiber Septim


Dalrus had been in the inn the entire time of the battle. She was a fighter through and through, however, she was still a little exausted from her time in the vampire camp. She was a little unconfortable during the argument with Rann and Satyana, however, since she was close to both of them, she thought it best not to make too many judgements. She had assured Rann that she was still interested as he left for battle by kissing him on the cheek, and was hoping he would come back soon to hear how it had gone.

She hated the vampire lord and was determined to be the one to kill him, it was her goal.



The Silhouette, his camp


The Silhouette had watched the struggle from his hillside camp, however, he had not issued the order and would be talking to the commander who did. He was also aware of a reptilian, like himself, in the area. The Silhouette was slightly shorter, though this was hard to tell because the Silhouette seemed to be surrounded by a whispy black robe, that seemed to be neither solid nor gas. The Silhouette was, of course, not Tsaeci, and had been of another reptilian race, larger and more powerful. He was one of twenty that were in Akavir, and the others had all died in different ways. He was thousands of years old and the last of his kind. The most powerful and the most evil, the Wizard of the twenty. In Akaviri his name race was known as the Möldairê, meaning ones from shadow, he would prove that he was truly from the shadow when he finished with this city.

Mannimarco, you must not continue staying near the other reptilian, I wish to speak to him. I also need you to keep up your attacks, keep the city in fear while I prepare for the attack. Up on the north side of the valley you will find a village with a cemetary and freshly slaughtered inhabitants, there should be a few hundred for your use. Do this now! he ordered through the mental link he had forced into Mannimarco when he had given him his body.

Then he looked towards where he saw the Lizard man and suddenly his body seemed to be surrounded in black smoke, his face was still un obscured, but his whole body seemed to trail smoke as it glided quickly up and through the air. Seconds later he arrived near the lizard man.

"I do not believe I personally recruited you, what brings you here?" he said in an almost courteous tone of Akaviri.

Plys'Iea

Realizing the being talking to him was the Silhoutte, despite his surprise, the warrior moved slowly and smoothly to face the war leader. As he brought his long staff down, the Plys'Iea bowed his long head, his lower jaw inches from his chest.

Taking extra care in his pronunciation, he replied in Akaviri. "War Leader, in the many years since I was left behind on this world, I have resided in the Argonian homeland of Argonia. When your armies marched through that land, I decided to follow for a time until I joined them one night at one of the flanking encampments."

The alien raised his head, just enough of an angle that his eyes were no higher than the Silhouette's. "My kin and I arrived at this world almost two decades ago, one of our fleets was to guard a weapon in the making, but our foes destroyed it before it could be used."
He ducked his head down slightly, "In the retreat, my subordinates were slain, and I was left stranded. When I saw your army of Tsaeci, I saw an opportunity to fight again under your command. Such is how I came to be here."

Rann

He nodded in acknowledgment to Amrita's compliment, but it was obvious that he wasn't sure if he agreed with the assessment or not.

Without a word, he quickly walked down from the wall, deciding to go back to the original plan of returning to the Tiber Septim.

The Silhouette, Outside the city


"And glad I am to have someone of more...intelligence than the greater majority of my soldiersss.." he replied, looking at the reptilian's interesting armor, though he passed it off without another thought. The Silhouette had never been addressed in the gruff, but pleasant title of 'War Leader,' he liked it, it was something he would definitely let this new arrival call him. "I am very sorry to hear about the deaths of your comrades," he lied. If he had shown any emotion but fury and cunning, then he would not be the Silhouette, still he did know what it was like. "I too have lost all my kin, they were, like me, taken down by our enemies, though it took many thousands to take down any of us. I am sure the Tsaeci regretted that decision," he said glancing towards the large Tsaeci camp.

Something about this creature did not seem tamrielic, and he did speak very good Akaviri. "You have a name I assume?"

Mannimarco

Sending a message back through the link, Mannimarco said, "It shall be done." He turned away from the approach of the Silhoeutte and found the crypt to the Silhouette's instruction. He summoned en masse the corpses of the dead, and sent them on a shambling course towards the city. He laughed to himself as dead families arose and dead children still clutching their toys hobbled towards the city bent on destruction.

Mannimarco worried about the leash on his life, and called upon ancient memories to find a way to break it. He could find none, and the magic used to create the leash was primal, meaning it was used to create Nirm. The fact that the Silhouette can control it made Mannimarco jealous and afraid. For the first time, he felt like he had no secure backup. His charlatan tricks wouldn't save him if he was obliterated by primal magic. It was the magic souls are made of.

Mannimarco retrieved the skull of Reman Cyrodil from its hiding point, and Mannimarco began to crack the complex magic surrounding it. Mannimarco wished to attain the powerful energy locked away by the first Emperor. Energy given to him by gods. Mannimarco struggled against the fields, and fear slowly grew in his stomach.

Plys'Iea

The alien warrior blinked, then decided not to bother the Silhouette with his lengthy full name. "My original name is not easily understood or remembered, so you may refer to me whatever you wish." Although he didn't trust that the Silhoutte was grieved by the deaths of beings he had neither met nor heard of, the Plys'Iea did not let it bother him.

What he was bothered by was the fact he was stranded here with no way to reach his people or escape himself. At least, I am fighting again, I have something to keep my mind on. The alien said calmly, "I thank you for your condolenses, War Leader. Their struggles are over now, but we must continue on regardless."

The Silhouette, outside the city


"Very well then, I will not bother saying my name either, for it is a curse in my former language and usually kills whoever says it," he said lightly. "Yes unfortunately we must continue on no matter who we lose. It is unfortunate," he again lied, for if it brought you to your goal, losing servents here or there didn't matter. He did become fond of many of his strong warriors, not because of their bravery, but because he saw their abilities as assets and rewarded them accordingly. So it was the skills others used to help the Silhouette, rather than the person himself that pleased him.

"I am letting you do whatever you want, fight the enemy in any way you see fit, just try not to harm too many of my men, and do not kill Mannimarco, he is under my control and though I am not necromancer myself (not that he couldn't, he just never saw the need) he is a useful asset." he made sure to make this clear, for the first time, The Silhouette actually felt excited to have someone new in his army. "Prepare for battle,"

Plys'Iea

He snorted as he rose, "Understood, I shall endeavor to do so." The alien stood at his full hieght, and marched off, staff held tightly in his right hand. Mentally and physically ready for the coming battle.

Kirana

Rising slowly from the water, Kirana noticed the mist rolling in from the east. None of the archers on the walls saw the wet shell making her way through the foliage to a secluded outcropping. Despite the water and the cool breezes, Kirana was unaffected by the cold.

Waiting, she realised how much she missed common things the living did like breathing, Kirana was still inside the soul gem, and whether or not she controlled an undead body didn't change anything. In Ian, she only had emotions and thoughts, but her vampire friend was hundred of times more preferable to the black soul gem.

Rann

Rann walked into the Tiber Septim, feeling tired mentally, physically, and most of all, emotionally exhausted. He immediately spotted Dalrus still sitting in the same seat and decided to fill the seat next to her. He looked into his old empty wine glass, lamenting the fact that it was empty and the bottle was nowhere to be found. It wasn't as if wine was the most potent of drinks anyway.

"We 'won'," he informed her, avoiding the issue of his feud with Satyana and Issac by keeping the conversation on the battle, "But that necromancer I told you we killed is back. The King of Worms, no less."

Dalrus, Tiber Septim Hotel


Dalrus surveyed Rann for a few seconds, making sure there were no wounds or injuries. She gave a look of relief and listened to him tell her about he King of Worms. "That vile man has been trouble for Tamriel for too long, figures he sided with the Silhouette," she seemed incredibly angry about the King of Worms. She leaned in closer to Rann and poured him some wine.

Rann

"I don't really want to talk about it," he said, accentuating that statement by downing the glass of wine in one giant gulp. He felt more than a little guilty about 'killing' Kirana, even though he knew that it wasn't a desirable existence. His attention shifted from the introvertive to the extrovertive, though, when he saw that Dalrus had moved to sit much closer to him.

He put his arm around her, and with a playful smile said, "I missed you."

Flint Ironwood.

Flint grumbled incoherently.
,,Undead, more undead and even more undead. Geez, what kind of sick loser invented Necromancy in the first place? With few exceptions, all undead monsters are evil in my book."

He thought back to the conversation he had with Voltar and Altair while Flogir was off fighting. It was convincing, but Flint couldn't quite shake the accusations Green-Root had made himself.
,,Great, now I'm believing a backstabbing bandit over a distinguished noble. But then again, wasn't I a bandit myself once? And what do we know about Altair?" He thought, feeling frustrated.
,,Yup, I need a drink as well." He spoke out loud.

He glanced at Amrita.
,,She looks awfully familiar." He noted. He thought he knew from where and decided it was worth a shot to try a bait.
,,Salina's girl." He whispered, just loud enough to be heard.



(OOC: I need to figure out where Green-Root is.)

OCC: Yeah, the Plys'Iea are fair climbers in general, even in their armor they can do more than climb trees. Ian's fought enough undead for the week, the others can try and catch up with his score now.

Plys'Iea

Hidden in the mist, the alien had given up the march to scuttle silently on all fours. His snout close to the ground, he skittered quickly along the wet road toward the Imperial City. While bipedal movement was often faster, the hunter's kind was just as proficient with crawling.

As the creature approached the bridge to the Imperial City, it smelled the scent of rotting flesh and undeath all around. Don't harm Mannimarco, I can accomplish that. The reptilian warrior came to the side of the bridge.
Shifting to a kneeling position, he inspected the stonework, then satisfied, he stood. The alien's long fingers grasped the stone architecture, and the monster climbed halfway up the bridge before changing its course. While the undead used the main walkway, he would crawl on the wall to the other side unnoticed.

The dark shape that was the Imperial City gradually grew larger as the alien continued across the bridge.

Ian

Finally, he arrived at the outcropping, and found the body Kirana was inhabiting. On the whole, the body resembled the scholar Ian had met years ago and had known since then. But there were differences the vampire could detect.

No blood pumped through his friend's viens, nor did her heart beat with life. As Ian joined her in the shadows, he didn't know what to say to her.

Amrita

Amrita had followed Rann and Flogir back to the Tiber Septim. As she passed "Altair" and Voltar, the man with them muttered something. Amrita looked back and fixed the man with a look. Obviously he was one of the members that was around at her birth since he knew about Salina. No matter though. Amrita could make up a story to prove that she was no longer affiliated with Salina's "dark and evil ways".

She waved to the group. "Greetings, it looks like things have been going well for us so far."

Flint Ironwood.

Flint noticed the stare but didn't acknowledge it.
,,Well, that pretty much confirms things. Now I'll just hang back and observe for a while, see how the third one turned out."

When they entered the bar, the Breton instantly spied one last bottle of flin on the rack. He pressed his Telekinesis and drew it to himself before any of the soldiers discovered his find.
,,Cheers." He smiled and popped the cork.

Green-Root.

Green-Root comfortably lay against a wall in the shadows. At the edge of his vision, he could see one of the sewer exits. For a moment he played with the thought of asking permission to perform short patrol outside. He didn't know if Vasha would agree but if she refused, he figured he could offer to loan his spear to Kalsh and have her 'escort' him as a token of trust. But he decided not to.
,,If someone sees me, they'll realize that the sewers are guarded. It's best to let them come on their own time."

OCC: The undead should reach the city before the Plys'Iea warrior, not everyone has to fight them, most of the fighters could be Dunmer soldiers, but at least one person should be involved.

Issac

When no reply came, the Altmer restlessly rose from the bed and decided to that walking through the streets wouldn't be a bad idea. As he exited his room, Issac noticed Satyana leaning against the frame of the door.

Her gaze wandered from his face to the katana thrust through the table. With a sigh, he let the other frame support him, and said. "That blade won't take anymore lives, I can find another."
Satyana's violet eyes studied him before she replied. "It wasn't your fault, Issac, Kirana doesn't blame you for killing her, you don't either." Issac wasn't surprised that his lover had been able to see the heart of his unease.

"The world seems to be going to Oblivion, Satyana. Not only is Mannimarco still at work, but Rann doesn't even trust us anymore. If it weren't for Altair and his highness, the King of Worms, then things would be so much easier." He said, shaking his head ruefully.

Issac could see that his sentiments were mirrored in Satyana, although it was clear that the gap between herself and Rann was more vivid than it was for him. The Altmer lifted his arm so he could lightly caress his lover's cheek.
"Life goes on I guess...." Satyana muttered, they took each other in an comforting embrace, as if to say, "At least we aren't in this alone."

Green-Root.

Green-Root approached the sewer mouth, ignoring the warning stare of Vasha. He poked his snout out and looked around quickly before drawing back and silently crawling back to his hiding place. Vasha visibly relaxed once it was clear that he wouldn't run off.
,,Undead, on the bridge, moving to the gates." He whispered and settled back into a comfortable position. Their place was here, not at the battle that would soon rage.


OOC: Green-Root saw the side of the bridge as well, but our alien hunter was on the other side.

Narza Tai, Vasha

She nodded, without any sign or other form of communication, Sarmath, the Dunmer, dissappeared to inform the sensei. Vasha studied Green-Root for a few moments, "So, you met the Sensei before he came with Patholos to reveal the truth about Sithis to us?"

Kalsh glanced over her shoulder, the blood of a sluaghterfish she was eating soaking her snout. The female Argonian continued to work her jaws, though more quietly so she could hear.

Green-Root.

Green-Root nodded.
,,I did meet him a while back." He admitted.
,,Hmm, this is thin ice here. What if I say that we were both working for the Silhouette at the time, the same being we now oppose? It could prove to be unhealthy for me."

Flogir

Flogir pulled up a seat near Rann and ordered a drink. The barkeep unfortunately informed him that they currently were out of booze. Flogir grumbled and waved him away.

"Great... just great. Now I can't even drink to attempt to perk me up."

Flogir sat in silence, as he had previously ascertained that Rann didn't want to be forced to talk about the rift that had built between him and his sister. If Rann wanted to open up, it appeared that both he and Dalrus were open to listen. He lightly drummed his fingers on the table as he tried to think about better, happier times in his life.

He looked over and noticed that Voltar, Altair, and Flint were together, likely discussing the Green-Root situation. Flogir felt certain that if he was needed, Flint would call him over or relay the discussion to him in the future. Amrita was also nearby that group, and she had a drink!

"Oh I see how it is... only the ladies get the drinks now eh..." Flogir muttered under his breath. The good mood he was working on had vanished.

Plys'Iea

As the first zombies approached the city gates, he dropped to the moist ground. The alien moved off and to the side, reaching the main walls in a matter of seconds. With its acute sense of smell, the warrior could smell the soldiers, and their fear and borderline hopelessness.

Let us get rid of any doubt in their minds about how bad their situation is..... Growling lightly as the guards at the gates noticed the undead horde, the hunter began scaling the wall in the same fashion as he had the bridge.
The top of the battlements grew nearer and nearer, anticipation filled the beast......

Guardsmen, on the wall

The sudden stench of decay hit the guardsmen full on. He leaned over the wall to vomit and saw hundreds of the dead shambling towards the city. He was about to yell when incisors tore through his jugular vein, and the guardsmen coughed the last breath he would ever take out of his lungs. The undead did not feed on the body, however, the undead each had a singular purpose, kill.

Astratus

A odd thought occurred to Astratus as he searched his personal belongings for alcohol. He found a few bottles of Brandy, a present from the Nerevarine himself, and a case of sujamma that had a slight hint of apple spice in it. Astratus had his own methods of brewing sujamma, but he let the professionals do their job. Astratus looked over his alcohol, then searched deep inside himself, finally coming to the conclusion that the soldiers needed it more than he did. He ordered that the sujamma be taken to the Tiber Septim and distrubuted by rationing. He then sent two of his three bottles of Brandy to the doctors to use as a sterilizing utensil. Astratus sighed, then uncorked his last bottle of alcohol and went outside his tent.

When Astratus opened his mouth to swallow, he tasted decay and almost gagged. He looked around and decided to check the wall. He saw three soldiers with torches yelling and pointing, and Astratus felt a little worried. One, he was in no mood nor did he have the energy to fight anything that could be attacking the city. He would become and instant fatality without the strength to combat the enemies. He had to find the Narza'Tai before the city collapsed, when he bumped into the man without the eyes.

Patholos

Rising from his bed, Patholos had made his way around the city to find the weaponsmith. He muttered a recall object spell and the dagger he left in the clearing at Heroe's Hill materialized in his hand. He asked the weaponsmith to attach a small but durable chain to the dagger, and then to fashion it to Patholos's bracer. The weaponsmith said it would take a while, but it would be ready in the morning. Patholos paid with Flin, which he had brought with him from the lair. Patholos left the weaponsmith and went to look for Karn. His wounds from the fight had healed, but he was still sore and tired. He stumbled upon the Commander with alcohol in his hands, and Patholos spat in disgust. All of the sudden Patholos smelled death, and Patholos turned his gaze to the wall. His vision showed death all around the outside of the city, and one formidable foe what seemed to be leading them. Patholos turned to the captain and said, "Rally your troops, the Dead are attacking!"

Patholos sped down the road, yelling for Karn.

Karn

When one of the sentries on the rooftops contacted him, and spoke of an attack by more undead and Patholos' request for his presense, Karn immediately, ordered spellcasters back to the surface, along with groups armed with enchanted weaponry.

After giving the necesary orders, the sensei himself vanished in the black cloud used by the magical members of the Narza'Tai to teleport. Rather than appear where his lieutenant was, Karn appeared instead in the Tiber Septim.
He took in the weary group for several moments before shaking his head, dismissing the thought of them taking part. Without any explaination, the assassin lord departed to where his lieutenant was supposed to be.

As the dark smoky cloud dispersed, he looked around to find Patholos approaching.

Patholos

Breathing heavily, Patholos approached Karn. He said, "Sensei, the dead are attacking. There are not enough of the Commander's troops at the attack point to hold them." He took a deep breath and said in a low voice. "There was some strange creature there as well, something possibly from Oblivion. I have never seen anything like it before." Patholos breathed deep again.

He said to his Sensei, "Sensei, I am weaponless and in no shape to fight. If we send Family to fight the dead, we could loose too many to maintain functionality. I think we should find other methods of warfare." Patholos tied tight his blindfold, and stretched his arms out. He said, "If I must fight, I will die beside my Family. We seek vengeance on the dead for their attack on our Family. Your will, Sensei..."

Astratus

Seeing the pale mer leave disheartened Astratus. The dead were going to be in the City at any moment. He yelled at an officer carrying the sujamma towards the Septim, "Belay that order, officer! Send word for all available fighters at once. We are under attack!"


Mannimarco

The energy inside the skull was almost his, yet he felt that if he activated it, it would alert the Silhouette and cause Mannimarco to lose his gain. The Silhouette's magic was primal, and almost impossible to break. He had to think what was the opposite of primal magic. Everything has an opposite, so if primal was the basis of everything created, then what was the opposite of creation?

One thought came to Mannimarco, and it dealt with the pale mer. "Sithis," He said to himself. The Void was the key, yet he had no access. He had to find the mer...

OOC: Okay, i know lot of twists, but hey, its rp, anyway, Mannimarco going for power boost to split from Silhouette and attack the City and the Silhouette with the dead. Making this a fatal three way. Also, the skull might be used to access the void, sacrificing power for freedom.

Voltar

Voltar nearly jumped to attack Karn when he appeared, but he quickly left without any of the members in their party truly reacting to his sudden arrival.

Hmm... it appears that they do not think him as an enemy anymore. This could prove to be troublesome since he knows of Veric's abilities...

It was only a few moments before a soldier from Astratus' army barged in demanding those able to fight to report to the walls. Apparently the undead were attacking again. Voltar withdrew his staff. He looked to Altair.

"Well, master. I think it's about time for us to participate," he said and both he and Altair headed off.


Flogir

When he heard what the soldier said, Flogir quickly rose from his seat. "Good! I need to release some pent up frustration on these foul vermin! I didn't even get the chance to kill a single one last battle. Count me in!"

He quickly followed Altair and Voltar out of the door and towards the scene of the battle.


Amrita

Amrita stayed in her seat as the soldier explained the situation. She drink her flin in a casual manner but she kept a keen eye on Rann. If he went, she would go and watch his back for him.

I just gotta prove my worth to him and keep him liking 'Altair' because of that, she thought idly as she caressed the hilt of one of her crossbows within her cloak.

Plys'Iea, on the battlments

Careful to avoid the soldiers' attention until he reached his hand over the edge of the wall, the warrior rolled over into their midst. All of the elves heard the dull metallic thud, however the wall was quite narrow, and all stared at the hulking beast that leered down at them.

Before the closest soldier could react, the lifted him into the air by the throat and kicked the elf solidly off to the paved streets beneath. The next elf in line unsheathed his broadsword and swung at the nightmarish monster who had just killed his friend.
But the alien warrior grabbed the blade mid-swing and held it tightly, its tough hide refusing to cut despite the sharpness of the edge. Moving the blade, still being held by the wielder slightly away to the right, the Plys'Iea leaned forward and skrieked just inches from the Dunmer's helmet.

So narrow was the walkway that the other two Dunmer couldn't attack without fearing harm to their comrade. The elf whose blade he had firmly gripped in his large hand continued to strain against the strength of his one arm.
Meanwhile, the elf's companions seemed transfixed by the demonic creature, the the cold stare of the animalistic yellow eyes in the light fo their torches. Abruptly, the Plys'Iea warrior ceased its terrifying shriek and shifted its grip further down the broadsword's blade.

With the added leaverage, the alien swiftly plunged the point throughy the gap in the bonemold helmet. Since the blade was still held by the alien, the Dunmer's body remained suspended, blood gushed from the slit and soaked the cloth around elf's neck.
The corpse crumpled limply when the monstrous warrior released his grip on the primitive blade. One of the Dunmer now had the mind to yell for help, but his pleas were cut off as the Plys'Iea's massive hand enveloped his head.

The final watchman stared horrified between his suffocating brother and the frightening creature looming over him. Rather than find out what the elf might have done, the alien warrior brought his staff down and the mer's face was smashed by the flail end.
The insistant struggles by the suffocating Dunmer began to annoy him, so to end it, the Plys'Iea suddenly jerked his hand and snapped the mer's neck. Pathetic, they do not deserve to be called warriors..... The alien thought to himself as he left the dead corpses to search for more worthy foes.

Karn

He nodded, taking in the development, one of the spellcasters appeared, they had a habit of knowing when and where they were needed at times. Karn turned to address her. "Have those who are fighting stick to high vantage points with one spellcaster to each group, should the enemy get within an unsafe distance have all family in peril moved to another position."

The Sensei added to the departing mage. "And use area effect spells of fire, combined with the flamable materials to create barriers and shift the advantage in our favor. Don't leave anything to chance, caution cannot be any more crucial than right now."
Nodding in acknowledgement, the mage left the two alone. "Patholos," The sensei said turning to his lieutenant. "You must do what you believe is the right action, if you choose to fight the same rules given to our brothers and sisters apply to you. If you decide to go below, then aid the alchemists, we'll need every resource we have to get through this."

Rann

Rann stood up at the 'call to arms', knowing that if he didn't go, he'd wonder what he could've done to stop anything that went wrong.

"Coming this time?" he asked Dalrus, but didn't really wait for a response, as the rest of the group seemed to be leaving without them. He slung his bow and quiver over his shoulder and began walking out of the hotel, handing the bottle of wine to the nearest sitting soldier. He spotted Amrita sipping her drink and gave her a short wave before falling into step beside Flogir.

Aerona

Aerona made the split second decision to join the group, thinking to help the wounded where she could. She hoped that she could save some lives, and hopefully, with her help, most of the wounded would fight again.

She ran to catch up to the group, forcing herself between Rann and Flogir, feeling pretty safe with either one.

Kirana

The silence stretched for awhile, the animated corpse realized how much better vampirism was than undeath. While both were very similar, vampires still breathed and were more alive than any zombie, no matter how well-crafted.

Kirana could tell her friend was grieved to see her confined to this crude vessel. But through the subtle bond between them, her awareness of Mannimarco's influence was his as well. While neither knew what exact measures the King of Worms had taken, they knew a few.
Still Ian did not speak to her, nor could Kirana find any words to tell him anything he didn't know already.

Ian

Looking for a heartbeat into the eyes of the physical shell that Kirana was confined to, Ian gave his old friend a remorseful look. In the blink of an eye both wrist blades were in position and then the undead torso was cleved into three pieces, and the vampire grabbed the black soul gem out of the air.

His hand gripped the crystal tightly, as if hoping that such a measure would keep Mannimarco from reclaiming his hold upon it. Ian then cast a humble dispell, clinging to the hope that something so basic would stop the powerful King of Worms.

Cerpin

Break the gem. Let Mannimarco recall an empty vessel. Once you've done it Kirana can choose to rejoin us in your body or to pass on.

OCC: Mannimarco can recall the gem just as Ian is about to destroy it.

Ian

With this new knowledge, the vampire tossed the gem into the air. As it flipped, Ian channeled more fire magic into his right blade while drawing it back at the same time. The blade wavered, heat radiating from its surface.

As the crystal slowed to the top of its arc in the air, Ian struck as fast and powerfully as he could. His wrist spike was the only part of his arm visible as it accelerated. Time seemed to mock the vampire.....

Amrita

Amrita waved back as Rann passed her. She placed her drink aside and calmly followed Rann and the others at a distance. She did have a hand ready on one of her crossbows should the need of instant protection be needed.

"Let's hope they face something competent enough to get close to us this time..." she muttered.


Voltar

Voltar arrived at the scene first. He noticed that Karn and Astratus were nearby. It seemed that they were pointing to a wall where a large, reptilian-like beast stood. It seemed to cast the soldiers on the wall away like ragdolls. The creature intrigued him though as it wasn't anything he had seen before, and he felt his knowledge of beasts of Tamriel was quite extensive. He noticed a robed mage was heading to the wall. He also noticed Flogir and the others arriving.

"Flogir! I suggest you and your party deal with the undead. That creature up there appears to be a bit too dangerous to deal with melee weapons, unless you wish to pepper him with arrows," Voltar called out over the screams of pain and horror before quickly heading in the direction of the mage.


Flogir

Flogir greeted Rann and Aerona as they caught up with him. "Time to have some fun!" he said before seeing what they were dealing with.

Once they got there, Flogir couldn't help but gape at the creature upon the walls. It was monstrous! He only nodded dumbly at Voltar's suggestion before he snapped out of it. He turned to Rann.

"I'm not very talented with a bow so I'm going to take Voltar's suggest. I'll see you on the wall if you choose the same." With that he was off, charing up the steps to the wall. All ready undead minions were shuffling they way around. Withdrawing Iceshard, Flogir charged into them, bellowing a war cry.

Rann

Rann appeared torn for a moment, but finally made his decision. That monstrosity obviously discouraged the soldiers, and if a few souls stood up to it, there was a good chance that others would join in. Nobody, not even that beast could deny the power of numbers.

He followed Voltar until they stood face to face with the alien creature. Rann's knuckles turned white as he gripped his katana tightly in anticipation.

Aerona

Aerona did her best to stay out of the fighting while still keeping Flogir in sight in case she needed his protection. She went to work healing the many injured soldiers that littered the wall, while keeping an eye on the dead ones, hoping that they wouldn't rise against her.

Flogir

With one wide, horizontal swing, Flogir managed to take down the first undead in front of him. Needing to give himself some room, he kicked back the nearest zombie back into the horde the was beginning to form around him. A decomposing head began to emerge over the wall to his right, so Flogir kicked it. A sickening ripping sound was made as the head was ripped away from the corpse. The thing still tried to climb up though.

"That! Was! Not! What! I! Was! Looking! For!" Flogir yelled each word with a stomp on the climbing corpse before it finally fell off the wall. By then the horde was pressing on him once again. He used wide swings to keep them away though.

Soon the undead in his immediate vicinity had cleared somewhat, he noticed that Aerona was nearby, but Rann now stood before the lizard thing. "I hope he knows what he's do-" he mumbled was cut off as a zombie knocked him over. He soon found that two more stood above him.

Plys'Iea

Looking down from the battlments, the alien warrior noticed the group of individuals who had just arrived. Leering down at them, he picked out bits and pieces of Tamrielic that he understood. Some of the undead were climbing the walls, but atthe rate they were going and the amount who lacked the ability to climb effectively, meant that the gates must be opened if they were to enter the city in large enough numbers.

Jumping down to the street, the Plys'Iea swiftly moved to the mechanisms that controlled the gates, normally it would take two men working in together in order to utilize it, but the alien turned the wheel enough that the a large gap between the ground and the bottom of the gate presented itself to the undead.

As the first zombies flooded in through the new opening, he turned his long snake-like head to gaze at the adventurers. Leaping close enough so they could hear him, the warrior pointed at a random person, a young Dunmer.

In Akaviri the monster hissed, "Your reckoning is at hand. Come face me, I will offer all of you who fight well deaths worthy of true warriors!" When he finished, he roared, crouching down, his spines flaring upwards rigidly. Then the alien launched himself toward Rann, arms outstreched jaws wide open to reveal his fangs.

Rann

Since the monster decided to call him out beforehand, Rann saw the charge coming. He quickly sidestepped the charge, realizing that his smaller frame wasn't one that would withstand such a charge. In the same motion as his dodge, he spun around to land a hit on the monster's back. A hit that obviously did no damage.

Rann realized his mistake, and knew that he'd have to think quickly if he wanted to survive the counter that was sure to come. Unfortunately, he was in quite a vulnerable position.

Aerona

Aerona noticed Flogir's position, and not knowing many offensive spells, she put a strong shield spell on Flogir, knowing that it would buy him the time he needed to get back up unscathed.

Voltar

Voltar cursed as the beast leaped from the wall in order to open the gates. He looked to the mage beside him. "We need to get that gate closed! Quickly!" he shouted at him before casting a firewall on the opposite of the wall to temporarily hold back the undead that had not entered the streets yet.

Once completely with that, he heard the beast speak in Akaviri. It was challenging Rann. Using the increased power of the Staff of Worldly Demise, Voltar placed a potent Shield spell on Rann, hoping that would suffice until he got the gate closed.

Amrita

When Amrita appeared the lizard beast had began to charge Rann. Great, now I gotta save him from that!? she cursed before withdrawing her crossbows. She fired, the poison tipped, armour piercing bolts at the lizard. She hoped the hide of that thing wouldn't stop them. For all she knew the creature could be immune to poison like the Argonians.

She readied a shadow shard, wondering how potent this creature's mind would be to her temporarily increased "powers".

Karn

Seeing this new creature, Karn immediately made two assumptions. There were clear differences between this being and Argonians and Akaviri snakemen. The armor it wore was of some design he could not identify. All of these unknowns forced Karn to make a decision born from his original opportunistic self, study the unknown.

This meant he had to watch as it fought his current allies, something that was unusually hard for him to accept, they were indisposable at this point. I will intervene if necessary, He concluded.

Plys'Iea

Having fast enough reflexes, the alien noticed the Dunmer sidestepping and prepared for his reaction before he completely passed the elf. His spines detected the tiny projectiles one of the females fired, but they richochetted off of his heavy armor.

Having prepared to missed, he first cancelled out his downward movement by slamming his hands into the pavement. Then his legs kicked out to launch him upward again, flying towards a nearby building. Just like with the pavement, the alien used his momentum to plant himself on the vertical wall long enough to change direction.
Flipping backward, he gripped his staff and reversed back toward the group. Shifting in mid-flight, the warrior sailed toward the Dunmer again, swinging his staff for a two-handed strike. Even if he missed, the strength of the hit would likely send a few pieces of stone shrapnel flying.