[img]http://koti.mbnet.fi/jonesey/A_mystery_unleashed.png[/img]

A Mystery Unleashed Playground 18

"Well, I'm not hungry," Niran said "I'm going outside to look around a bit."

Anthanes looked up from his practicing of the art of doing absolutely nothing, and grinned. "Suit yourself. I could eat a whole cliffracer..."

When outside Niran went on a stroll. Thinking about what the crazed slaver had said.

Damnit, if only Anthanes hadn't killed him he though while kicking a rock

About 100 paces from the cave he sat down and looked around.

Then a duststorm picked up . .

Shadow had made his way through the Ashlands in a hurry. A plan was forming in his head. He was back on track, this felt exactly like doing the Guild assignments. There were multiple ways to solve the problem, and he had to guess wich was the best. At first, he decided to return to the Rat in the Pot and recooperate, partially because he needed insider information on this mage, and partially because he was getting a little worried as of what concequences his sudden disappearance would bring along. He certainly didn't want to get expelled.
Having entered Ald'Ruhn, Shadow went to the Rat in the Pot and rushed down the stairs.
"Hello, how are you. I hope no harm is done by my absence. Personal stuff, I'm afraid. I need a break from chores for a few weeks at least," he quickly said before the Mastermind could speak a word.
"Nevermind, Shadow," said the superior. "We don't need you at the moment. Take all the time you want, but be back before the end of next month."
"Why?" asked Shadow, now curious.
"Can't say, it's classified," said the Mastermind. "However, I promise you will enjoy this."
"Anyway, I need some information," continued Shadow, sitting down at the table. "Some concerning a mage called Arcyakt."
"And more precisely?"
"I have nothing else."
"Well, in this case I can't help you. I do not know the mage you speak of. However, you should talk to Huleen, a Mages Guild member in Maar Gan. He has a somewhat shady past that is connected to our Guild. He might be persuaded to help you and most cetainly knows more of this matter."
Shadow thanked the Mastermind and walked out of the Guild to get on the next Silt Strider to Maar Gan...

Niran struggled through the storm,accidentally heading in the wrong direction.

"Damn this place," he said coughing while trying to protect his eyes with his arm. Then he tripped and fell, breathing in sand and coughing again, picking himself up he headed in the wrong direction once again finally deciding to rest against a rock that would shield him part-way from the sand storm.

Smart idea Niran, taking a stroll in a sandstorm

The sand storm raged on . . .

Jonacin wandered about the Ashlands near the camp, slaying any creatures that attacked him. He decided to head back to the DAedric Shrine, and see if there was any worshippers hidden in the depths

The rock did not protect him for long, as the big rock was eventually turned over by the wind, he had no shelter from the storm.

He walked aimlessly, not able to see in what direction he was going. By now he was surely miles away from the rest of the group.

Unable to breath without taking in sand he eventually became short on air, and collapsed in the sand.

(OOC:Not sure what to post, really, and it's been a long while since I've visited the Ashlands)

Celia checked the Guar and cart to find some sort of food. Finding some, she offered some to the small girl and Dunmer girl.

Chewing on some bread and avoid looking at 'Arco', she noticed the wind was picking up. "Hey, where did Niran go?" She continued petting the Guar, and squinted to find any sign of Niran.

(OOC: Just check the last posts on the last Playground Thread)

"Think he went out by himself... Think Niran needs some time for his own, aslong as he doesn't die out here" Arco replied to Celia, thought she didn't ask him..

"The ashlands're a bloody dangerous place to be out alone, even for him. Fool's going to die out there with this weather." , Anthanes grunted.

Niran picked himself up from the ground.

How long have I been lying there?

They hadn't come for him . . . why would they?

Did they even notice I was gone for so long?

Of course not, idiot. You should have known, you can't rely on others for help . . . especially them.

You had seemed like a lot of promise to me...

Niran shook his head, now was not the time to think of such things.

He still couldn't make out the direction of the cave. He started off in some direction, hoping it would lead somewhere safe . . .

Jonacin drew his blade from the corpse of the Altmer who had been worshipping at the shrine. The mer had been a spellcaster of average skill, and had not put up much of a fight. Jonacin noticed a door at the back of the room, and decided to push deeper into the shrine

As he walked he thought about much . . about Celia.

What am I going to say, how will I apologize.

You owe her so much, your life even. She saved you when you fell . . remember. Yet you talk to her as if she did nothing.

I know I know, I just don't know what to say. She hates me . . . and she has every reason too, the way I've been acting.

I want to say it, but do I really love her . . . I wish I knew what her reaction might be . . .

Damnit, I wish . . I don't know what I wish . . . .

I wish I could tell her . . I wish I hadn't said those horrible things . . Why is it like this . .

Damnit I'm just jealous . . of Sel, of the rest of them. They can get along, make friends easily . . . I wish . . . I was like that . . .

-------------------
A Little While Later

Up ahead came the sight of a cave, but was it the right one. Looked like it . . .

Hopeful Niran approached, but still he was a distance away, and nearly fell to his knees. It was! He had managed to recognize it through the storm. . .

One problem still remained . .

What to say?

Jonacin went through the door, but the passage ended in a rockfall a short way along. It would seem he had already cleansed all there was of the shrine. He left, and went back to the Ashlander camp to check on Serene

"Serene, do you hear me?"

Azura´s voice filled her mind, but she did not want to wake up, she was terrified of that black void, terrified of the metallic voice that haunted her, telling her that Jonacin was dead, crushed by the evil power for no reason at all, except sheer cruelty. Cruelty and a wish to break her, make her a mindless corpse...ready to be intervened by .......

"Ahhhh!" Serene woke up with a scream, drenched in cold sweat, it was not the black void, it was a brown one, ...but.....but it was warm in here , the warmth coming from a fireplace, and some soft fluffy blankets that were wrapped around her..

Her head ached ferociously, she felt nauseous and did not dare to move her head. She licked her dry lips....."water"....

Ajug was held to her lips and she drank the cold water.........looking around, she slowly realised she was in a tent or yurt of some kind..

"Joncin...." she cried, remembering he was dead......

"Serene! You're awake!" Jonacin ran from where he stood to Serene's side. "Are you ok? Speak to me" he said, as he put his arm around her and held her close to him

when Serene felt the warm strong so familiar arm around her she started crying heavily from relief but also horror. Her tears wet his shirt and she just couldn´t speak.....the terrible memories from the time she spent in the black void had messed her mind up severely......she was beyond the border now, the state of her mind was ........bad

"Serene, it's ok, you're safe now. Nothing will hurt you here. I'll make sure of that" Jonacin said, trying to calm her down

"it was black" she said quietly, wiping her face with her sleeve..."soo black you could almost feel it...."

"I was told you were dead" Serene looked up at Jonacin, the madness faded away from her eyes.." but you are here my love, you are here and that´s all that matters to me now"

She kissed Jonacin......and fell asleep in his arm(s)

Jonacin simply knelt in silence, holding Serene. At first he had been worried her mind had snapped from being imprisoned, but he had seen the light of madness fade from her eyes before she fell asleep

OOC: Got to go to bed now ......g´night


Serene slept calmly to start with, but after a while she got restless and started moving, tossing and turning, she grumbeled and even cried in her sleep...haunted by nightmares...


"oh nooooooooo, it can´t be true"!!!

When Serene started tossing and turning, Jonacin simply held her closer. He kissed her forehead and whipsered to her "Shhhhhhhhhhh my love, it's ok,you're safe"

Sel had lain his now-unfamiliar sword in front of him, bathing the black sphere in a red light. He almost feared to touch it, but even more, he feared what he would have to do should Megil wake up.

He stared at the dark elf who was not so much older than himself, and so far had proved to be a valuable friend. How could he get out of torturing the kindly dunmer without killing Celia? Which choice would be the right one? He thought of Serene then, and how she ahd promised to help him through his past.

Arcyakt appeared then, probably to cause more turmoil in Sel's troubled mind.

"I won't do it." Sel proclaimed to Arcyakt, hoping against hope that he owuld not strike Celia down.

"I will not kill the healer you care so much for - this time. I will, however, torture you. You need a lesson in obedience - one you will never forget." Arcyakt said with a frightening smile.

Sel found himself shackled to a wall, and watched as Arcyakt pierced his stomach with a long, thin blade.

"You will be my slave. My assassin. Your name is no longer Selenil Vendas. you will be called Death, until what you are named after finally comes to realease you from me." Arcyakt said as he twisted the blade. "What is your name?"

"Selenil Vendas." Sel answered with a blood-filled mouth.

He had no idea how many hours, or even days had passed. All he knew was the constant pain. The mad mage would torture him, let him cringe in agony for long lengths of time, and heal him - only to begin the torture once more. He had not yet said what the mage wanted he told himself that he wouldn't, but he knew that he couldn't resist much longer.

OOC: sorry for its length, but I have four days of posting to throw into one post.

Shadow located the hut of Huleen with little trouble. It was a small organic building leaning against the city wall just outside the Maar Gan main gates. After getting rid of an annoying Cliff Racer, he politely knocked on the door. After a while, it was opened, and Shadow saw an old man with long gray hair. He was a breton, but tall nevertheless, taller than Shadow by a head's height.
"And you are?" he asked in a deep voice full of power.
"Someone from your past," said Shadow.
The answer did not please Huleen, as his impression suddenly became more tense.
"A member of the Thieves Guild," Shadow quickly added, not knowing what else was in the mage's past. "I come to ask some information concerning your field of knowledge."
"Ah," the mage said, and Shadow noticed a sigh of relief in his voice. "Come in, then. Let's see if I can help you."
He entered, and the mage closed the door behind him...

He couldn't keep it up. the pain was searing through his body, threatening to take him, but Arcyakt was a master at holding him at the brink of death, and Sel was not dead yet.

Sel knew what Arcyakt was doing, and he couldn't think of a way to resist. The mage wanted Sel to lose not only his name, but his very identity. Arcyakt wanted to turn him into a slave. And Sel knew that he would succeed, if he couldn't protect himself.

He focused his mind through the constant pain, trying to lock his memories, his feelings - his very identity away, so that he could give in to Arcyakt without losing himself.

He couldn't lock it. Serene could.

Serene.... Sel said to Serene mentally. Help.

(OOC: So, is Niran back, near the cave right? If he isn't tell me, and I'll edit)

Celia decided to stay outside with the Guar and wait for Niran to return. Or at least she hoped he would return. Hopefully, he hasn't left the group, but, with Niran, you can never be too sure.

It became windy and Celia shielded her eyes with her hand as bits of sand flew around her. It wasn't too bad from where she was, but, further ahead from her view, it was very difficult to see anything.

She squinted. She thought she saw a kneeling figure in the distance, but perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Just in case, she waved to the figure. Maybe it was a lost person or an unfortunate adventurer. Well, whoever he is, Celia hoped he was not an enemy. She waved again, and tried calling without choking on sand, "Hey, over here! Come over here!"

Niran heard shouting, that was Celia's voice!

He looked forward as well as he could before sand got in his eyes, there was someone standing outside the cave, just a little ways off in the distance.

He continued forward, going as fast as he could against the storm.

What is she doing outside in this weather?

(OOC: Her eyes must be playing tricks on her, Niran isn't kneeling, it was an expression. No you won't have to edit, your post is fine. At first I had posted that the storm had already died down, but I edited my earlier posts.)

Arco tok his scimitars and stepped outside in the storm, seeing someone in the far distance...

"It's Niran!... I think." She covered her mouth with a piece of cloth before venturing forward towards the figure, which was heading towards them. She turned her head slightly and had to walk sideways to avoid the sand blowing in her eyes. She picked up speed and ran towards where she predicted the figure to be.

It was Niran.

She reached her hand out to Niran several feet away. "Come on, Niran!" she called, her voice muffled by the cloth. "Run this way!"

Arco followed up to Niran in the storm.. It wasn't much of a challange for him, he grabbed Niran by the arm and helped him up. He started to walk back fast to get Niran back into the cave...

"Get some water for him Celia" Arco said to Celia as he carried Niran to the door..

(OOC: He is definitely not going to carry him, how about drag him along by the arm.)

Niran was helped up by someone, but couldn't tell who.

Niran saw Celia wave her hands out in front of him as he got closer to the cave and he grabbed them, pulling her in behind him as Arco helped him along.

He stumbled into the cave coughing.

Fenris handed Niran a bottle of Brandy. "Drink up, you need the liquid," he said. "I didn't get any water in town. Water is easily dirtied and often carries diseases. Would suck to die from crappy water, and i doubt the stuff here is any good. Fit only for guars."

(OOC: In Medieval times, everyone drunk alcohol or milk, water often had diseases and viruses, not good at all for drinking, at least, human drinking. I doubt the world of TES is any different)

Niran shook his head, he didn't drink alcohol.

"You-didn't-get-water?!!" He asked between coughs hoping there was something else, then he remembered.

He took the flask from his belt and drank from it.

Then he looked around, still a little disoriented from the storm. He blinked several times.

(OOC: If TES is anything like what you said, Celia's dead... I mean, all she drinks is water. She hates alcohol, because of bad stuff that's happened in her past due to drunkeness... No wonder Morrowind had so much alcoholic drinks!)

Celia patted Niran's shoulder. "Are you allright? I mean, you've been out there for a really long time..."

She scowled at the Nord's word. Only Brandy? She would rather die than drink any alcoholic stuff...

Niran turned to look at her

"Well I'm fine now, thanks." Niran said looking at her for a few seconds without speaking before turning back to Fenris "Well Fenris, I thank you for taking the groups health into consideration, but some of us don't drink brandy."

Anthanes, who had been quite silent and seemed to have been busy doing nothing, grinned.

"Good, that leaves more for me. Welcome back, Niran."

Let's hope you don't get drunk, we'd have a demon worshipping magician going around crazy He thought, but only said

"I could sure do with something to eat now though." Niran said looking around for food, and after finding some he sat down and ate.

[quote=Dantrag]He couldn't keep it up. the pain was searing through his body, threatening to take him, but Arcyakt was a master at holding him at the brink of death, and Sel was not dead yet.

Sel knew what Arcyakt was doing, and he couldn't think of a way to resist. The mage wanted Sel to lose not only his name, but his very identity. Arcyakt wanted to turn him into a slave. And Sel knew that he would succeed, if he couldn't protect himself.

He focused his mind through the constant pain, trying to lock his memories, his feelings - his very identity away, so that he could give in to Arcyakt without losing himself.

He couldn't lock it. Serene could.

Serene.... Sel said to Serene mentally. Help.[/quote]


Serene sat up in fear, the nightmare she had , had just been clear to her, it was a cry for help...and it was Sel......but what a strange thing to ask for......to lock his mind to hide his identity and memories from himself....in order to prevent ...to prevent..the EVIL power to take possession of it...


She rose to her feet...closed eyes....focuussss......a faint chant came from her lips, the only word that was heard was.."Selenil.....Selenil..be strong, "

She shivered....she forced his mind put very hard pressure on it, she could hear the man moan in agony,,,,,moooorrree pressuree

"Serene, are you ok?" Jonacin asked when she suddenly sat bolt upright

It hurt, but no more or less than his torture. It was done. Sel thought a quiet thank you to Serene.

Arcyakt pulled another torture intrument from his midsection.

"What is your name?" he asked for the thousandth time.

"Death." Sel gave in.

"Good." Arcyakt said, smiling that smile again.

"Selenil.......I´m here " she chanted, "give your mind to me, I´ll keep it here, safe, Selenil.....come to me"

Her hands over her head,,grasping for support, finding Jonacin´s hands...getting strength from him......

A purple aura started forming around Serene.....

Jonacin noticed the purple aura forming around Serene, and gripped her hand tighter. He hoped she wasn't going to be possessed by Azura again, because the last time she nearly died

No, leave it in me. he protested to Serene. I still need it. Just put it away somewhere in my own mind, please.

He let go of it all, hoping Serene would still store it in his own mind, just not accesible.

"Tell me again." Sel heard as he stopped concentrating.

"Death." he replied, spitting blood.

Serene noticed the resistance fron Sel to let her store his memories....meanwhile Azura slowly filled her with her dominating powers...

She decided to try remote hypnosis.....with a quetioning gaze to Jonacin asking him to lend her some strength she started the hypnosis..


"Selenil....your mind is blank your memories are locked up inside your brain, you don´t have the key, I have the key......."


[b][i]"Selenil, Narro haud veneficus"she chanted in a thunderous voice, it echoed over the vast landscape..rolling away like the tide....

Serene fell to the ground drenched in cold sweat....

"Now he´s safe, his memories are locked up, and he can´t even speak a word" Serene sighed as she fell into -jonacin´s arms

"Hold me" she said..."just hold me tight"

Arcyakt asked again.

"What is your name?"

Sel looked up at the mage, confused.

"I must have broken your mind too much..." Arcyakt said with another smile. "Come, Death. I will teach you everything you need to know."

Arcyakt unchained the empty shell that was Sel and led him to another room.

Niran threw whatever it was down on the ground

"Damnit, this stuff is the worst I've ever tasted. How do these people stand it?!!"

Standing up he sighed and leaned against the wall of the cave.

What the hell am I doing in a place like this, how did I convince myself to ever come with these people??

OOC: might as well make it so Sel can talk again...

Mage

Arcyakt took Sel's head in his hands, and chanted softly. A glow came from his hands as the mage imparted knowledge to the dunmer.

His slave would be intelligent, as well as skilled with a blade.

Arcyakt imparted his lost knowledge of swordsmanship back to him as well.

"Death." Arcyakt said. "I have a task for you."

"What is it?" Death asked.

"You will track down these people." he said, pointing to a mirror showing Niran, Celia, Fenris, and Anthanes in a cave. "And kill them." Arcyakt stood, and fetched Sel's altered sword(purposefully leaving the dagger - the slave didn't need too many reminders of who he really was), as well as some new clothes.

Death looked at the people, especially Celia, and couldn't help but think something was significant about them...his master has a duty for him, though, and any curiosity was soon forgotten.

Death grabbed the swordbelt and strapped it on, and began putting on the black assassin's garments. "Where do I go to begin?"

"There." Arcyakt said as he pointed to another mirror. "Go north from there and you will find them."

Death walked through, and soon found himself in a sandstorm. North. he thought, covering his face and trudging on. He owuld not fail his master.

Niran could hear the sandstorm continuing outside.

"Well, it probably won't stop for awhile, lucky we're inside."

He sat outside of the cavern door, playing with the amulet at his chest. Where did it come from? He stood to go inside, but heard voices.

He promptly sat back down in the sandstorm - he would wait until everyone was asleep.