Anthanes then realized that Anara was still present in the same room and prolably realized just what he was thinking. His skin taking up a shade of dark that seemed to be about the same as a regular dunmer's, the battlemage seemed to try to cast a non-magical invisibility spell upon himself. With little success.

Konrad now also realized Serene could still read his thoughts.

Not again...Will you ever stop with the interfering?! No offence....

"I can´t help it 'Konrad..." Serene cried out.......It´s just coming to me.....I do not want to do it trust me......

She put her hands to her face and sank down on a chair........very very sad

Konrad tutted, tapping his foot.

"So this is how reliable you are in an inn for courage. So how will you be when the battle starts? Maybe you'll see a construct fall apart or get disintgrate...and cry that the scrap metal could have been put to good use? Or if we kill Arcyakt...you'll run away because his blood stained your dress?!" he practically assaulted her, but he said it calmly.

Sel slapped Konrad hard across the cheek in place of Jonacin, seeing as he walked outside.

"You should show more respect for her than that."

Konrad's head snapped back, and for a second he was on the verge of drawing his sword, but he remained calm.

"Hmmmm, why should I have respect for someone who crumbles at her own power. Its like a dog shrinking back at its own bark. Hmmm....funny I chose that as a comparative."

"Power always comes at a price," Fenris said. "One must exercise them with caution. Many tongues have to be gagged, lest their lack of control kill someone instead of greeting them."

Konrad glared at Fenris at his philosophical remark.

"So what book did you get that from? And who read it to you?" he asked, inside wondering why he was trying to cause trouble.

Celia, still embracing mister Kitty, turned her face slightly towards Konrad. "Of course, Konrad wouldn't know about such fear, would he?" she muttered. "I'll bet he would kill people without blinking an eye if he had such great power." She stuck out her tongue at Konrad. "You would be no better than that crazy mage-man who's coming to destroy us, especially with that attitude." She immediately hid behind the large Khajiit, just in case.

Thanks Sel, Serene looked up......sometimes it IS a curse to always know what everyone is thinking...more or less.

"But when it com,es down to dust.....I will be brave and I will fight for us and for the poor innocent people of this town.....I can assure you that Besides I think Jonacin has found something out........

Konrad blinked for a minute, before turning to face celia.

"So me insulting someone...is the same as killing hundreds of innocent lives...?" he asked, then turned round and walked through the door to outside.

"Good Riddance..." Fenris muttered as Konrad left.

Jace slowly opened up his eyes and struggled to get up in a sitting position.
He looked around while rubbing his sore head.

He looked around the deserted island.

"Huh?, what the hell happened?" he swore to himself and got up on his feet

"They.... left without me?" he mumbled still somewhat dazed

"Why yes, they did" came a voice from behind him

Jace turned around and saw his brother once again

"And how would you know that Brink?" he yelled angrily "I still remembered what happened back there in my head!"

Brink laughed and stepped closer to Jace patting him on his shoulder

"Whatever do you mean dear brother? I just came here for a bit of research and found you lying knocked out as a bunch of adventurers departed" lied Brink
"I think perhaps you took a bigger blow to the head than I thought!"

"Well ummm... Where'd they go?" said Jace more confused than ever

"It matters not" Brink smailed "What matters is how we are going to get back at them doesn't it?" said Brink now seeming a little more like he was in the dream to Jace.

"What?, they didn't do anything. I hit my head while... umm... esca- slaying a monster!" Jace said quickly changing his statement to preserve the image of heroism he thought Brink might have in his head.

"That was quite a blow you took wasn't it!" laughed Brink even louder this time "Yes I think you should come with me"

"Whatever" Jace sighed bewildered

And with that they vanished from the island and into Ald'Ruhn.

That blow by Celia had hit him harder than Sel or Serene had ever done. He was trained to stand physical pain but...

He climbed up the walls and looked out over the soon-to-be battlefield. Soon he would be in his element.

"My thoughts exactly." Sel muttered in reply to Fenris's statement.

OOC: who didn't get an item? Megil, Celia, Otik, and...?

Jace unaccustomed to teleportation was severly startled at first but he quickly realised his sarroundings and recognised the dusty town of Ald'Ruhn.

"Why are we here?" asked Jace asked Brink

"Isn't it obvious?, your "friends" are here." Brink replied with negative emphasis on the word "friend"

"Oh, oh yeah that's right" Jace smiled "Now to get back at those villains... OR I'M NOT JACE MOONBLADE!" Jace yelled heroicly

"Keep it down!" hissed Brink "We don't need every Redoran and his guar knowing your here!"

"Why's that?" Jace asked innocently

"Or every in town will look to the source of the sound and see Jace Moonblade!, you would then create a crowd and give away your position as well as he slowed down by all the people in your way!" Brink lied to Jace while building up his ego

Konrad glanced back behind him and saw Jace, for someone reason shouting his head off then talking to himself. He leapt down, rolling and coming to a halt by Jace.

"Hello, did we leave you on Alt Daedroth then? Yeah...I was going to say something..." he mumbled, scratching his head.

Jace with a confused look on his face turned around to face Brink "You sure they attacked me?" he asked as he was scratching his head

"Yes I'm quite sure they did" Brink said crossly "Attack him! Kill him!" he urged

Konrad looked over Jace's shoulder to the man urging Jace to kill him. Konrad wasn't worried by this, but wondered why it was happening.

"Why exactly do you want to kill me?" he asked, drawing his blade slightly.

What was I thinking?

"What?, No no no, nobody is going to kill anybody!" Jace blurted out quickly

"Brink, what has gotten into you? I can quite clearly recall these people aren't who I or you originally thought they were!" said Jace to Brink angrily "And if your going to insist on being so rude and commanding me to murder my new friends then I'm going to have to ask you to leave" he added politely

Brink just stared at Jace fuming "Fine then... obviously my ploy didn't work... You seem to be a bit less stupid then last time... or maybe I just underestimated how easy it is to lie to you... Whatever the case you can just die with them you disobediant little pawn!"

Brink then pushed Jace back and knocked him into a wall with telekenesis then vanished.

Konrad watched the dissappearing mage then laughed, wondering what the hell just went on.

"Whatever...everyone's in the rat's whiskers or something like that. I know where it is anyway, come on." he called to Jace, leading the way to the Rat in the Pot.

"Parly?" Alton stammered, quiet confused, "But.. Yes Arkyact.." The hooded knight, covered his face and walked off into the silent battlefield.

The first of the cantons had been sunk, only bits remained cresting above the water. This produced an uneven walkway, albit not spaced close enough for a normal man to jump, but perfect for one growing in such evil powers.

Alton knew that the guards of the other cantons saw him, but he obliviously darted from one building piece to another. Eventually he found himself 20 yards away from the first canton.

What are your terms Arkyact?

The army was getting uneasy, they couldn't trust the silence that followed the demolistion of a canton.

megilwalked to the lower cantons and began to give orders to push the men further back into vivec. he then began to pace again.

a messenger arrived saying something about a man walking through the ruins.

I guess they weren't expecting resistance, so they have decided to try a diplomatic approach. How very unlike Arcyakt.

Mage

Complete surrender, or death. Arcyakt answered. He didn't want the city destroyed, but if that's what they decided, so be it.

Ha, Arkyact, I know this commander wouldn't accept anything but death. Oh how I wish to fight him on the open feild...

"Parly!" Alton screamed out, making sure to keep his face covered.

Megil, was walking towards where the soldiers had seen the man. eh heard the man scream out parly, but couldn't see him.

"Show youself" megil yelled back at the man, "or you have no deal. If you want to do this in a nonviolent fashion then we will do it out in the open."

Alton stepped out of the fog that was slowly clearing, "You here me, you see me, now parly"

He wrapped his cloak up around his face, as to conseal his identity, yet show that he bore only but his sword.

Diplomacy, and why did they teach us that at the academy?

Anthanes sighed relief as he seemed to go ignored by the rest of the group.

Now, how to do this.. Must be a bit hrm.. subtle. Gah, it's blatantly obvious already...

Jonacin had cheered up by the time he reached the Rat in the Pot again. He went inside and sat down beside Serene, then pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.

Megil looked down at the cloaked figure, he then walked back into the canton and remerged on the same level as the commander.

"Alright you want a parley, you may have one. what is it you wish to discuss? terms of your surrender perhaps."

Ha! Arcyakt thought to Alton. This man is quite funny. His thoughts suddenly grew serious. I don't like jokes. He said flatly.

Tell him that if he doesn't surrender, I will be forced to crush every canton. If that happens, many women and children will die, and it will be on his shoulders.

Shakur and the five soldiers he had consulted. Shakur stopped halfway walking to Sel, while the soldiers walked in different directions, talking to numerous people. "I feel her presence" Shakur said to himself, he could feel Azura strongly here. "Me too, this may get interesting, for it would seem Azura is giving these friends of your's items of great power through dreams. Interesting, that Sel character seems to have something for you too. Azura is still good to you and you should and do show thanks. When the battle comes, kill some in the name of your lords and masters please, otherwise you would sound greedy".

Hircine finished talking with him, and Shakur was alone in his thoughts, though Serene could always make good mental company. Shakur started thinking about the battlefield, but not about the constructs or the soon to be dead, but about how he would bring Arcyacts half dead body to the hunting grounds. Then the thought emerged, "what if I let Hircine use me as a doorway, and he hunt Arcyact here?".

Jace got up and brushed the dust from his clothes completly mystified by Brink's erratic behavior. Although a bit confused as to why he had been at arms to slay his companions just a moment ago.

This had been quite a confusing (couple?) (of) day/s for Jace and he had never very often expressed so much emotion around people he hardly knew.

(OOC: Jace is pretty shallow, showing any emotion at all besides faked bravado and strong headed optimism counts as alot)

He started feeling somewhat depressed.

Has brink gone insane? What about me?, I'm nothing but a disgusting wannabe hero...

Hands in his pockets he took a stroll about town

What about these townspeople?, How much do they really care about me?

He walked over to a dunmer women who was fiddling around with a basket of what looked like kwama eggs.

"Hi" he said plainly to the women "Oh umm Hello there. Is there something you need?" she replied looking confused and somewhat nervous.

"You don't know who I am do you?" he answered ignoring the women's question

"Well umm... no I don't... Should I?" said the women now looking a bit more nervous her eyes looking to either side of him slowly.

"No. No I don't suppose you should..." was Jace's answer quite flatly given as he trudged off through the sand swept town

Why should they know of me? What have I ever really done for them?

He entered into the Rat in the Pot and looked around. All the people Megil introduced him to were here. But... where was Megil?

"Hey umm Where is Megil" Asked Jace quietly to whoever would listen.

Serene answered Jonacin´s kiss with all her heart......at that moment she was completely happy, her arms was wrapped around hi neck and she enjoyed every second of it...

A quick vision came for her......Jonacin and her, a house, the tapping of little feet...and she felt an enormous strenght flow through her, it was magic......brilliant..somehow she knew they were going to outstand the coming ordeal.......somehow.....

Yes Arcyakt, but I believe he will not be persuaded to easily..

Alton ingnored the comment of surrender that the commander made and asked, "What did emotions over-came you when when you saw the great Canton fall?" He said it loud enough for the soldiers on the higher teirs to hear him, "Anger? Fear? Despair? All these things are difficult to control, and even more difficult when the shadow of obscurity covers up motives of your actions. Tell me, what happened to the refugee's that came to seek protection in Vivic?"

"emotions... hmm disgust seems fitting." Megil said with a look of disgust as he thought about the things this man was willing to do, for assumed glory, "you sentenced the refugees to death, they were a threat, a weapon, I could not allow them into the city." not regretting his actions.

"Disgust? Ha! Amazing how you think that yet you care not for the soldiers that will die because of your actions! What will you do when the last of the cantons crumble under the magick under Arcyakt? What will you do when they cry to you for help, yet you turn a deaft ear upon them?" Alton could clearly see eveyone now on canton, "Bodies for the meat grinder?'

"Stop with this $#!7, what is it you want, if all you have come to do is to insult me, then you're wasting your breath. Wht makes you think that I care not for the men, have I not stood on the front lines with my troops, risking my own life. Tell me then, what it's like to be a puppet, you think you control that army, but you didn't make them retreat did you, you have no power."

"Hahaha, puppet?" Alton laughed, "If that is what a general is then so be it. Oh, and what of Vek? Hmm, wait, wasn't he killed already? Ahh, yes that is it, the great warrior poet is dead. Not that he would of helped you anyway. Hmm, but you don't care do you oh great commander." He grinned slightly, "May I suggest that before you play war, learn to control yourself. Enough."

Alton clasped his hands behind his back, "You are defeated, I know your not the dumb type, why waist the lives of these valiant defenders? I would consider full surrender if I were you. Nothing more, nothing."

Arcyakt, you might want to start preparing a spell...

"deafeated? the city still stands, and defenders still live. Is this what you hve come for, to discuss my surrendering? We have proved to be a thorn in your side and instead of fighting till destroyed you come expecting us to surrender? I see no reason to agree to unconditional surrender, unless its your surrender of course."

"Hmm, well you've chosen your fate.." Alton turned around and made his way back to the army.

Brave? I think not... Foolish? Sheogorath(SP) worthy. Wait... perhaps that was the entity I felt. Poor lad. Anyways Arcyakt, my diplomacy has failed, I give it unto you.

OOC: I'll be gone for a few hours so dont post to much without me

Megil glanced back at the man, he then turned around and approched the nearest of is commanders, "Prepare the men for war again" he strode past the man and approached a glum woman,

"So tell me guild guide, how are the other cities?"

she looked up, tears running down her face,

"Balmora and Sadrith More have fallen, as has caldera but the one to Ald'rhun has been in heavy use lately."

Megil thought for a moment, he then motioned to one of teh sylphs that always followed him,

"I want you to travel to Ald'rhun and tell me what is going on there."

The sylph simply nodded and then vanished as the guild gudie sent her to ald'rhun.

Otik was wondering the town when He saw a sylph appear at the door of the mages guild and he ran over to it, "hail, do you bring news from Megil?"

As the sylph wandered otu fo the mage's guild and onto teh street, women kept giving her stange looks while husbands, men and boys could not take their eyes of her. she ignored the looks, and glanced around the bustling town as guards darted back and forth, usually turning back to get another look at the creature. She nervously walked out into the open and began to look for the people in charge of this army, she jumped back in fright when Otk first approached her, but quickly recomposed herself,

"news? no I bring no news, I have instead come seeking news of this place so that i may report back to my half-brother."

she stared teh man up and down, as usually most men told her anything without her having to ask,

"...Well" she snapped, when he didn't speak.

"well umm don't know the specifics but I think I got a ruff(sp) outline of everything, I know they reinforced the gate, buried some grenades under the ash and" Otik paused when he noticed the Sylph had a look of confusion on her face, "oh I'll show you" Otik dug one out of his pack, "These explode when they hit something or if you pour the contents out what ever touches it istintaniously catches on fire" He put the grenade back in his pack

"We also have the guards from the nearby fort fall back here and I think thats 'bout it. If you want somemore info You can find Fernis and most of the others in the Rat in the Pot right over ther" Otik pointed and waited for an answer.


(OOC if I missed something someone yell at me)

"Otik?" Jace said Jace now a bit annoyed "Where's Megil? What's happened to him?, and who's she?"

OOC: Sorry I have to go now

"hwhat? Oh ummm Jace right? Yeah Megil is in Vivec. I don't think he's lost yet and umm well this is a sylph. A half-brother, I mean sister, sorry, to megil and she wanted to know about the defenses of the city."

the sylph eyed the new man in front of her with minor interest.

"defenses you say, well what are they like, how many men are defending this city, and how large is the opposing army.? sha asked,"

"wow lots of questions, Well from the other battles I fought i know we are going to be out numbered. I know we have mabey a thousand people, I don't think there were that may people here in Ald' rhun before we got here. I'm thinking the enemy arny will be around 5, mabey 10k of renewable dwemer constucts and undead. follow me we can hold a conference with everyone in the tavern. Otik left and the sylph reluctantly followed Otik into bar and found there group, "hey guys this is a sylph from Megil's army wanting to know of how large the the armies are, both our's and the enemy's and the towns defenses"

"A SYLPH?!" Anthanes paced over to Otik. Damnation, not another one of those aquatic wenches... "I'd not trust her. Who says she's not a spy?"