I had just started that part when I was forced to leave without tying it up and the internet has been down so I couldn't finish earlier.
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The leader rushed quickly to his feet and pulled another blade from his boot, staring at Kiln and his companions, the assassin leader's men moved in front of him to fight.

Kiln knew that the only reason York had inflicted so much damage to the assassins was because they weren't expecting him and now that they were prepared the fight wouldn't be quite so easy, though Kiln felt a bit better knowing that Jinx was beside them.

With a loud and sudden cry the assassins moved forward and swung their blades, each of Kiln's party picked their target and clashed blades. As Kiln blocked the first hit his opponent's blade slid down his and cut deep into his hand, blood gushed but he could still move it and launched an overhead blow down at the assassin, which was blocked effortlessly.

Kiln blocked and slapped away his enemy's blade as carefully as possible but a quick stab made it through and slashed his side. The assassin smiled at the sight of the blood and Kiln was afraid, though he tried not to show it. He moved around the assassin a bit more and could see York and Jinx fighting, York seemed to have his fight under control, Jinx however was struggling to keep his enemy at bay and every attack he threw was stopped by the assassin.

Kiln held his side with his left hand and his sword with his right, he wished the hounds hadn't forced him to abandon his chestplate earlier, or else he might not have been cut at all. The assassin moved in with his ebony blade and rather than stabbing at Kiln like he was expecting, he kicked him hard in the chest.

Confused as to what had just happened, Kiln fell to the ground on his back and looked upwards at the assassin, awaiting the final blow. The assassin drew back his blade to cast the final strike and at that moment, York lost his balance and fell back into the assassin, forcing him to fall towards Kiln.

Kiln raised his blade and the assassin fell onto it, crushing him beneath the weight of the vile smelling man, as the blood ran onto Kiln's stomach relief washed over him. He watched the grin slowly fade from his enemy's face and after a moment Kiln forced the assassin's still body off of him and onto the ground, as he leaned up he saw York finish his opponent and move towards the leader, Kiln quickly looked over to Jinx who was on his back with an assassin on top of him.

The assassin drew his dagger to kill Jinx and Kiln kicked the assassin in the side, knocking him to the ground and he drew back his father's blade, stabbing the assassin in the gut.

After standing from the body, Kiln turned to look at York, who was drawing back to stab the leader.

Jinx rushed to stand beside York while Kiln stood beside the lifeless bodies of the men he'd killed. He looked at York and Jinx, who were both standing above the captain questioning him. Jinx turned in Kiln's direction and motioned for him to come over to them.

"We actually managed to take on the assassins!" Jinx said seemingly surprised

Kiln smiled and took a few steps towards Jinx.

"Strange, I've never heard of them traveling in such small grou..." Jinx started but his chest shot forward and an odd, emotionless look crossed his face as he stopped speaking

Kiln stared at him and then quickly walked closer, trying to figure out what was going on. As he looked at Jinx he noticed an arrow pertruding from his back and with a whizzing sound, another landed, in his chest this time.

"York! Jinx is hit!" Kiln yelled as he grabbed Jinx by the shoulders and began to drag him away but stopped at the sight of what was unfolding in front of him.

Many armored men came over the hill in front of them, no less than twelve men bearing the black hand, too many to fight. York moved to Jinx and Kiln with his double handed blade held up, waiting and the leader stood from the place where York had held him.

"You've both been....like brothers to me...I'm...proud to die beside you." Jinx said between coughs as blood flowed from his mouth

"Just hold on..." Kiln whispered as he looked at the men approaching

Jinx continued to struggle to breathe as he laid there bleeding on the dirt and Kiln's hands.

"It is a shame that we couldn't have met under different circumstances...I'm sure we could've used you...you've fought well...but it is over." The leader said

The men closed in on them and York instructed Kiln to drop his blade and so he did. Two of the armored men grabbed Kiln. Three more grabbed York and held them, waiting for the leader's judgement.

He looked to his men and then to Jinx.

"Leave the wounded one and take the others to camp." He said with a smile as he looked directly into Kiln's eyes

Kiln shook violently attempting to break free and stay with Jinx but a cloth sack was thrown over his head and the handle of a sword struck him, leaving him unconscious.

The assassins took York and Kiln to their lair and left Jinx there by himself to die. The memory of being forced away from his friend as he died haunted Kiln's dreams and there was nothing he could do to save him.
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And so ends chapter 8.
Edit: Fixed errors noticed.(Thanks for pointing those out. )

Awww! what a perfect place to stop! A very nice addition, i am dieing to know what happens to Jinx.... and Kiln and York of course

Just got caught up... again.

Found some places in the story where you seemed to repeat yourself. Like this:



"as he was dragged towards the assassins camp" should be before "Kilns dreams."


Still a great story. Lots of fast paced action in it that can make even the old folks on the forum feel like they are running alongside Kiln.

Chapter 9

Kiln laid in the mud face down with his eyes closed, he felt numb, as he always did when something horrible had happened. He knew that in the shape Jinx was in when they'd left that he couldn't have survived and he wished he'd been there for his final moments.

It had been hours since he'd woken up but he couldn't find it in himself to move until now. He rolled over and forced himself to lean up, examining the room he was in. Apparently the hands camp was inside a large cave Kiln judged by his surroundings.

The room was nothing but dug out mud and rock and the cell was constructed of thick wooden bars and a locked door. There were large cracks between each piece of wood which let light in and showed the assassins drinking and playing pub games of sorts.

A large muddy pool in the middle of the room was his source for water, the mud was all over him, nearly covering his ripped pants, which was all his captors hadn't taken from him while he was unconscious. As Kiln looked about the room he noticed that York was not with him, in fact he hadn't even heard from him since he'd arrived.

Kiln moved up to the pool and began drinking from the water. Upon further examination of his cell he saw a single bucket, which he guessed what it was for from his time in the fort prison, the bathrooms were the same in both places.

There was nothing for Kiln to do inside the cavern but think. He thought of Rami and what she would think of this whole thing if he made it out to tell her, he thought of Dulnea and all the times he'd stayed at the tavern. His thoughts ultimately wandered to his ultimate test, the fight with greed and how he'd prevailed against all odds. Such memories did not comfort him at this time though and his thoughts jumped to finding a way to escape this place.

After hours of thought a man came to his cell and slid a bowl under his door of some mystery ingredient and then silently left. Kiln wondered if the food might be poisoned...but then why would they kill him after keeping him alive this long. Kiln was puzzled and quickly began to feast upon the food. It reminded him much of the prison food but it was much, much worse.

Before he was finished a large nord came to his cell and unlocked the door. Two men came in and grabbed Kiln as the larger one watched in silence. Kiln was overcome by fear. He was unarmed and being dragged up a wooden stairwell some thirty feet above the room and into another, this one had walls and a floor, Kiln imagined that he was meeting with the leader but he was quite wrong.

Kiln tried to look around but was forced down onto a huge metal table and locked down with thick steel clamps. He looked about the room, it was lined with sharp objects, whips, and a hot pieces of metal resting within the steady flame of a fire.

The larger man smiled as he removed several objects from the wall and laid them on a nearby table. The sharp, hot metal was retrieved from the fire and the man began his work. Though the room was a closed room, the screams could be heard from outside it, horrible blood curdling screams.

Kiln tried to think of other things besides the thin leather whip and the hot metal as they landed upon his flesh but there was no earthly thing that could detract his thought from the pain he was experiencing.

He could no longer resist them and he was finally lifted from the table and dragged back to his cell, his head hung down and he was carried by the arms and thrown into his tiny muddy room.

He laid there alone, unable to move from the pain on his back and chest. Though Kiln wasn't usually one to totally give up, he had surrendered to the reality that he was unable to escape, for even if he broke free from his cell, it would still be impossible to rescue York, if he still lived.

Days passed and time grew irrelevant, meaning less and less with each passing moment. There was no hope for Kiln and every three days he was taken from his cell for a round of torture. The guards made it reletively easy for prisoners to escape just so they could hunt them, and there was always at least one man on watch, a single yell would mean death for any prisoner attempting to escape.

Though a few rounds of torture could break the spirit of even the most persistant escape artist.

The guards approached Kiln's cell one day and stood there for a moment talking.

"Can you read?" One guard asked the other

"Mum says readin is for fools who can't do anythin else." The other answered

Both of the apparently stupid brutes laughed at their own wit and threw a small red journal into Kiln's cell.

Kiln dragged himself across the cave floor through the mud and opened it. This journal was his salvation from insanity, as he read it he slipped out of the painful reality his life had become and into another place.

"It appears that my entire journey to Vivec has proven to be exactly as I'd guessed...pointless. I can't believe all the useless things I've had to do for this old spymaster...if there is one more informant that I must speak to then I'll...be driven insane."

Kiln imagined himself being outside of this place, he'd rather be finding informants and running useless errands...or even dancing in that horrible skirt...he continued to read from the journal considering he wasn't exactly short on time.

"After a quick strider ride I've finally arrived back in Balmora, perhaps Dulnea will let me stay another night for free..."

Kiln paused for a moment and thought about how York's father had known Dulnea years before...and how he knew her now...it was strange how many times Kiln's path crossed with York's father's.

As he heard footsteps approaching he put the journal behind the wastebucket and sat in the floor. It was time for another round in the chamber.
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I hope this part is as interesting to everyone as it was for me to write it.

yes you practically had me on the edge of my seat, great job kiln and plesae continue

Kiln fought and yelled but there was no use, his strength was fading with every passing day and he found himself yet again in the chamber with the sadistic man called Horden.

The hours spent in torture were the worst of his entire life, and there had been many times he'd been in incredible pain. His spirit and mind hurt along with his entire body and just like every time he was taken from the torture chamber, Kiln was exhausted. You'd think that you would get used to being tortured after some time but it's always just as shocking and painful as the last time.

The guards seemed a bit more friendly than when he'd first arrived, putting him down in his cell a bit easier now than right after he'd killed two of their friends.

Kiln laid in the muddy room plotting some way to escape this dreadful place before the next round with Horden. For the next few days he watched carefully at their schedules and the designated watchmen for each day of the week, trying to develope some cunning plan for escape.

As one of the assassins readied himself to leave and kill some unlucky politician no doubt, he swept his hand across the table and an iron dagger used for cutting their food fell from it. Kiln looked frantically about the room outside, none had noticed this and so he scooted up as close to the wooden bars as he could and pulled the dagger closer and closer with his fingers until he could grab it and pull it inside.

He ran his fingers along the dull blade, there was no way he could kill anyone with this in it's current condition so he went to the back of his cell where a rock stood around twelve inches high and began to rub the blade against it carefully, so no noise was made.

Kiln repeated this activity until the third day, when another torture would occur. The blade was incredibly sharp by now and when the guards came to fetch him he hid it in the hole in the ground containing his drinking water. He felt that he had outwitted the guards and that he had an incredible advantage now that he had the dagger, though he couldn't decide when he would make his escape.

Then started the period of waiting, just when Kiln would get the nerve up to attempt his plans another prisoner would break free and be killed, dealing a crippling blow to what little courage he'd built up and delaying his escape for many days.

By the next round of torture though, he decided that the night after the torture was when he would escape, he'd been here for weeks now and no matter what happened tonight, he would be free one way or another.

For the first time since he'd fought Greed he prayed, the longest and most meaningful prayer he'd ever said. He prayed to every god, goddess, and spirit he could think of just to be sure he had the favor of all of them.

This time when the guards came he went willingly to the torture chamber, even walking without being forced. Horden seemed quite uncomfortable with the smile on Kiln's face before the torture. Kiln decided that when the assassins went to sleep he would open the lock on the door and kill the watchman, to make things better tonight was Horden's turn to watch.

On this day, Kiln walked from the torture chamber to his cell driven only by the will to carry on and the hatred he held towards his captors. He laid down next to the pool of muddy water and then the pain he was in was clear upon his face, though he didn't show it in front of the guards.

Hours passed of the unstoppable pain until night came and the guards fell one by one into a deep sleep until only Horden sat alone on the elevated platform near the door.

Kiln put the dagger into the lock and cut the wire holding the it shut. He slowly opened the door and stepped into the torchlight, moving slowly towards the support beams of the large wooden platform Hadhod sat on.

With the jagged and sharpened dagger in his mouth Kiln climbed the support beams and pulled himself onto the platform behind his most hated enemy and came up behind him.

Kiln grabbed the man's head and slit his throat under his chin and let him down to the floor slowly as to not make any excess noise. Then he turned toward the master quarters to kill the leader for ordering them to abandon Jinx.

This is where things got messy, one of the assassins came running down the tunnel from the entrance with a fearful look on his face. Kiln laid down as quickly as possible on the uprising and peaked over the edge.

"Imperial soldiers!" The assassin yelled between breaths

All at once the men in the cavern got up and rushed to getting their armor on. Kiln could hear a loud banging on the door and after a few hits he heard the wood give way. The imperial soldiers were coming down the tunnel and the assassins now awaited their arrival.

Using the chaos surrounding him he moved up the stairway to confront the leader. He flung the door open and there the man stood looking at himself in the mirror.

"I knew this time would come...though I figured it would be your larger companion that would come for me...I am somewhat surprised that one such as yourself would confront me alone." The assassin said

These words enraged Kiln though he was unarmed and he looked frantically around the room.

"Your blade is on the bed." The assassin said calmly as he picked up his ebony blade from the stand beside the mirror

"Let us end this coward." Kiln said as he drew his blade

Kiln stood there ready to face the leader alone as the clashing of metal could be heard below. The fight between the Imperials and the assassins raged downstairs while a fight of revenge would begin momentarily.
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This is my third update today...I haven't done this many in one day since I first began writing here.

nice escape plan. good luck with the battle against the leader...

Thanks for the recent updates. The assassin sub-plot has been quite interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing the conclusion of the fight with the leader.

I Jonajosa you Kiln (), for another well written piece.

Soo many updates! Where have I been.....missing all that excellent writing.? But now I inally caught up and it´s as good as ever.....Please continue this great story, whenever you could find the time....I like it very much indeed!

Enjoy, or don't your choice.
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Kiln glared at the man before him, the assassin looked strong and dangerous, with years of experience behind him while Kiln had just begun fighting against other people a few months ago.

There was no doubt in Kiln's mind that the assassin had him in strength and experience but perhaps luck would be in his favor today, since it had passed him by in recent times it had to find him sometime.

Kiln stepped forward slowly and held his blade outward and jabbed gently, testing his opponent's defenses. The weak blow was slapped away effortlessly and then countered soon after.

The assassin came in quickly with an upward blow intended to catch Kiln's chin on the way up but Kiln leaned back just in time for the blade to swing past his head and toward the roof of the room. An average opponent wouldn't be thinking about another attack directly after the last, at least being delayed for a second, but the assassin moved in again right after the attack and jabbed at Kiln's stomach.

Kiln brought his blade down and hit the attack away and followed up with a jab towards the assassin, which missed and landed through a steel mug on the table.
The contents of the mug ran over the blade as Kiln withdrew it and swung toward his enemy and stopped about half way with the intention of the mug hitting the assassin, and it did.

The unexpected mug of mazte hit the bloodthirsty man in the face and threw him off balance, this was likely the first time mazte had ever worked in Kiln's favor amidst a fight, usually it just led to him getting beaten until the guards dragged him from the tavern and threw him into the streets. The thought crossed Kiln's mind and a fleeting smile crossed his face.

The assassin came in close grabbing Kiln and pressing him against the wall, reminding him that he shouldn't let his thoughts wander during a fight. The assassin drew his blade back to stab for Kiln but just as he forced his arm forward, Kiln kneed him in the stomach and pushed his blade forwards.

Kiln's blow landed hard on his opponent's shoulder and the assassin let out a loud yell and a long chain of strung together profanities before stepping back several feet and positioning himself in a corner.

Blood rushed from the assassin's deep wound and ran down the wall onto the dirty floor of the room. Kiln was just as surprised as the assassin that his quick strike had made it through and he stood there for a moment before approaching his opponent.

The assassin now stood with his back in the corner of the room holding his blade in his unwounded hand, waiting for Kiln to approach him.

As Kiln looked at the defenseless man, rage filled him and he stepped closer to finish his opponent. Just as his foot landed the assassin's eyes turned from those of a fear filled coward back to those of a murderer and he half jumped forward, stabbing at Kiln's side. Kiln brought his left hand over the assassin's back and pulled him into his father's blade, stabbing it clean through the assassin.

Kiln withdrew his blade and pushed his dying enemy from it and letting him fall hard to the floor. The assassin smiled and laughed slightly as he gasped for air, looking up at the ceiling as the smile faded and he stopped breathing. It was finally over, Jinx's death had been avenged and now he could leave this place.

He knew something was wrong when he turned to the door but he didn't realise exactly what it was for a few moments. Apparently the final strike from the assassin which Kiln was sure he'd moved from in front of had cut his side, the cut was not deep or even long but it would serve it's purpose.

Kiln stumbled back and sat onto the bed on the side to the left of the door, he could feel the poison taking its effect on him already and he noticed the blades had stopped clashing downstairs. He wondered which group had prevailed, the imperials or the assassins, but there was no way he could find out.

His body felt heavy and he laid down on the bed, staring at the roof of the room. Kiln's vision blurred and a tingling feeling moved into his stomach, the most advanced form of fear surrounded him and his thoughts moved to his death. He wondered if his friend York would continue his journeys after his death or if the deaths of two close friends would stop him from fulfilling his quest, whatever it was.

The thoughts flooded through Kiln's mind and he tried to sit up from the bed but everything was so heavy and he was so tired. He'd given up, accepted his death as he laid there the room seemed to move around him and he could hardly see anything, the door to the room slammed opened and he heard an armored man come inside the room and then yell out the doorway of the cavern.

"We've got a live one!" A clear imperial voice yelled

The man ran up to the bed and looked down at Kiln, though he couldn't make out any of his features.

Darkness closed in and Kiln passed out.

Moments later Kiln found himself in the streets of Ald-Ruhn standing at the door of his home and entering the doorway slowly. His father was sitting in the chair in front of the table crying again. It had been a few months since the blight took Kiln's mother and his father had started to drink, alot.

Kiln stayed at his best friend Lenas' house to avoid his father while he was
drinking and walked the long road home the following day. Kiln opened the door slowly and walked inside. His father turned from the table and motioned for Kiln to sit at the table across from him. Kiln reluctantly sat down, thinking he would be scolded for not coming home the night before but that was not the case.

"Kiln, this blade has been in the family for a long time." His father said as he put his hand on the blade

Kiln sat and listened patiently.

"It's been handed down through our family for generations from father to son before death and soon it will be yours to keep and hand down to your son." His father said

Kiln sat there listening to his father and after he'd finished his speech, Kiln went outside and played until nightfall. After hours of playing with Lenas and a few other boys a strange feeling came about him and he wanted to return home, it was a feeling he'd yet to experience before and this worried him. He started the walk home in the darkness to speak with his father.

An excellent fight scene. I'm glad to see that Kiln prevailed, but I do hope the Imperials take good care of him. I hope they don't think he's an assassin...

A little background on Kiln and why he...well just read it for yourself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kiln slowly opened the door of his home and stepped inside looking around slowly, the candle on the table dimly lit the room and it was nearly burned out. Kiln's father laid on the floor next to the bed.

Kiln moved closer and got down on his knees, gently pushing his father to try and wake him but his father would not wake. He pushed harder and harder on his father but he could not be stirred from his slumber. The wind blew through the open door of the room and the candle went out, leaving him in the darkness.

He withdrew his hands quickly at the feel of a foreign liquid, it was warm and had a thick feel to it, he wiped it off onto his pants and grabbed his father's arm. With all the strength his arms could gather he turned his father over onto his back.

Kiln couldn't see much, the moonlight was the only light that filled the room. Even as he saw what was before him he couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it. His father's eyes were locked open, staring at the roof of the home and Kiln looked lower, at his father's chest.

The family blade was buried deep into his father's stomach, the single stab had been dealt by his own hand by the blade which had saved the lives of many of their family. This beloved blade had helped Kiln's father to take his own life.

Kiln laid his head upon his father's chest and cried. All the things that had mattered most in his life had faded away and now he was left only with a feeling of sadness. The tears poured from his eyes as he sat beside his father's lifeless body. He'd cried for hours and hours until he could cry no more and all that was left was emptyness.

With all the madness surrounding him he stood from his father's body and pulled the gold handled blade slowly from its restingplace. He wiped the blood from the blade and took the gold from the cup on the desk, glancing at his father one last time before turning away.

Kiln sniffed to clear his nose and wiped the remains of the tears from his eyes as he stared out the door into the moonlight wondering how something like this could happen on a night so beautiful.

Now that there was no reason for him to stay here he would leave this place before the guards discovered his father was dead. The guards would likely blame him for his father's death, even say that he himself had stabbed him. Just being inside the house was more than he could take so he left, leaving the door standing open behind him.

He walked past the strider port towards balmora to be away from the memories of this town. One thought bothered him and he wondered what he'd done to deserve these things happening to him.
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Kiln awoke in a cold sweat, a mass of men could be heard laughing and talking around him. He opened his eyes slowly and stared straight up. He could see the night sky, filled with stars shining brighter than he'd ever seen. It had been months since he'd seen the sky or even breathed the fresh air.

Kiln sat up and looked around, he could see many imperial soldiers sitting around a campfire and beside him laid one of the assassins with his hands bound. Kiln's hands were free however so he pushed himself onto his knees and got to his feet. His legs shook from the dream he'd just woken from, he was still quite shaken from his childhood memories and to help things out he couldn't tell where he was or which direction was which.

A guard noticed him standing and sat down his mug of ale.

"Ah, he's finally awakened!" A guard yelled in a friendly voice

The others turned and looked at Kiln, they knew he'd killed the leader of the assassins and there was a look of respect in all their eyes, a sort of silent applause.

Kiln couldn't stand well and he fell onto his back.

"The poison is still taking its effect...don't worry you should make it." A guard said

The night sky faded into darkness as Kiln lost consciousness once again.

The plot thickens. It would seem that the family blade has quite a history. I do hope we'll come to understand why Kiln's father took his own life. I am glad that the Imperials see Kiln as a good guy; I am looking forward to Kiln's conversation with them once he awakens.

Even with this great story I´ve been awfully neglective..I´m so sorry! It´s a great story and I hope you will continue writing it!

Ahh it´s a sheer luck we have dear mplantinga who always comment so nicely on every story!!

I just picked up on your story and I have to say that it's great. Don't worry to much about the sentence structure or punctuation, the first cave painters didn't and that did not diminish their art. I can see through Kiln's eyes and that's what makes a great story. If you keep writing, we'll keep reading. Thanks.

Very well done Kiln, please continue your story

It has truly been a pleasure to write for all of you, thanks for your comments.
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Kiln could hear a faint voice seemingly mumbling as he started to awaken once again.

"The poison is quite deadly but he seems to have a strong will to survive so it is possible that he might make it." One guard said

"What of his companion, has he returned?" A younger voice asked

"No, we haven't heard from him since he left to look for the body of his friend." One replied

Kiln turned his head to the left and looked out across the endless dirt and hills around him and then slowly pushed his arm behind him and forced himself to sit up. He looked around at the sleeping soldiers, only three sat up on watch, all of which were talking loudly and drinking.

Slowly, Kiln pushed himself to his feet and stood for a moment to gain his balance before he walked slowly towards the group of guards that sat on a fallen tree looking over the camp.

"Awake again? Come on over and have a bite to eat friend." The oldest imperial said

"Sit and tell us of your adventures Kiln." The younger guard said holding out a mug of mazte and offering him a slice of hound meat

"You know my name?" Kiln asked as he accepted the food and the mug

"We served at Fort Moonmoth under Larrius' command until his corruption was discovered, then he was given a choice between imperial prison or leading the hunt for the black hands and obviously he didn't choose prison and we were the prison guards so we were forced to help him." the young guard said

"Interesting that he is even alive...I'm sorry to change the subject but I must know...I was traveling with a large nord named York, do you know where he is now?" Kiln asked between drinks

"He left to search for the body of one of your fallen comrades but we haven't heard from him since." The guard said suddenly turning his head toward the darkness

York came over the hill into the light of the fire and took off his helmet, sitting it on the ground next to his feet and hanging his head.

"I couldn't find him...the months that we spent in that prison...the animals probably got to him." York said

Kiln hung his head and the guards stopped speaking and looked to the ground out of respect for the one who was lost.

York stood from his position and looked at Kiln.

"You have served beside me for quite some time now but where I am going I cannot ask you to follow." York said

"You do not have to ask me...I would follow you to the gates of oblivion." Kiln said standing from the tree

"You very well may if you choose to follow me...I've been tasked to go into the ruins of Kogoruhn and retrieve three items. The chief of one of the tribes asked me to bring him Corprus Weepings, a cup with the mark of House Dagoth, and the Shadow Shield from deep within the ruins to prove to him that I am the incarnate." York said

The guards looked at eachother and then back at York.

"You are the one who claims to be the Nerevarine? You are braver than I am nord. If word gets out about this then you'll have the temple to worry about as well." The oldest guard said

"I know the consequences of my actions but I believe that I am the incarnate and will do what I must to prove it." York said

Kiln looked at York and thought of how much his life had changed, he'd gone from a notorious thief to a noble warrior on the path to unite Morrowind along with his friend York. Though he also thought of his woman and how she would feel about all of this.

"I must speak with Rami before I agree to go along with you York." Kiln said

"We do not have the time for you to travel all the way back to Balmora, we must leave within the next two days." York said

The older of the guards stood and looked between them.

"I may have the answer to your problems Kiln." The old man said as he commanded the youngest guard to go and get their mage transport.

"Thanks but I would have no way to get back after I went to Balmora." Kiln said

"Take these potions...I've been saving them for some time now but I think you should have them. Take them and drink from the mark potion now. When you wish to return drink from the potion marked 'recall' to bring you back." The old man said handing Kiln the potions

"Thank you sir, this means a lot to me." Kiln said shaking the old man's hand and accepting the potions

"Spend the day with your woman and return tomorrow night with the news." York said

Kiln bowed his head and drank from the mark potion. Kiln watched the mage as he wiped his tired eyes and began chanting and waving his hands. The mage touched Kiln with both hands in the middle of his chest and split second of pain shot through him as if he'd been hit hard in the chest before he flew into the darkness of magical travel.

Those short moments seemed like full minutes before he arrived at his destination in the mage's guild. He was reminded of just how much he hated mage transport.

He left the small reception area and made his way outside, he looked around at the peaceful city as the sun had just began to rise. This was his home, where he truly belonged yet he was compelled to go with York to help him succeed and survive on his journey.

Kiln returned to reality from his thoughts and walked to the Eight Plates, slowly opening the door and stepping inside. As he turned the corner he saw several of the drunks sitting at the table with their heads down and a few more sleeping on the floor of the tavern. Dulnea was cleaning up and did not see him come in.

"Excuse me miss but could you get me a glass of your finest...actually...make it the cheapest." Kiln said having used that line many times before as a joke

Dulnea knew it was him and she turned quickly, dropping her broom and grabbing him.

"I'm so glad to see you're alright boy...Rami is downstairs asleep. I've been letting her stay for free." Dulnea smiled and kissed him on the cheek before turning and going to the counter

Dulnea had been like his mother for years, watching over him and allowing him to stay at the tavern without paying but now he had much money and could pay for all the times he'd stayed.

He pulled a large bag of coins from his pack and laid them on the counter.

"I said I'd pay you back for all you've done for me." Kiln said with a smile

Dulnea opened the bag and marveled at the gold in the bag, moving it around slowly with her fingers, she smiled.

"Well you're twelve gold short but I guess I'll let you by this time." She laughed and pushed the bag away

"Take it, I have plenty for myself." Kiln said pushing the bag back to her and taking out another

"I earned every bit of it." He added thinking about the black hands

She took the gold and stashed it in a large sack behind the counter.

She began pouring drinks and preparing a meal.

"Rami will be up soon." Dulnea said

Kiln went downstairs and sat in the chair across from the bed, watching Rami sleep. Soon she would wake and he would have a lot of explaining to do.
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Enjoy.

Wow.... great update Kiln. good point that jinx would be gone after those months in the "prision" please continue, like I said earlier it was great.

An excellent update. I enjoyed your description of the magical transport; it certainly sound like a very disturbing experience. It was also nicee to see the way Kiln behaved in Balmora; he certainly is turning out to be a top-quality gentleman. I'll be looking forward to following Kiln and York as they get back to the Nerevarine quests.

Ohh, it's so great Kiln.

I have now been reading for nearly three hours to catch up with you....Phew, I must be getting out of shape.

Please Kiln give us more, it's awesome.

Kiln sat there quitely for hours waiting on Rami to wake. Every time she'd roll over or shift position his heart would speed up, it was torture waiting for so long but he could not bare to disturb her rest.

Finally she turned over and opened her eyes so Kiln stood from the chair and moved to the edge of the bed slowly putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him in surprise and then quickly sat up from her bed and grabbed him, holding him tightly.

Rami could tell that he was in pain and she let go and leaned up again. Kiln knew that it would be impossible to cover up the cuts and scars of the things that had happened to him so he slowly lifted his shirt up and over his head, showing his wounds to her. Rami looked at the bruises and marks covering his chest and leaned in close, kissing his mouth softly.

Kiln stared into her soft eyes and pulled her close to him kissing her again and returned to a sitting position and began the questioning about where he'd been and what had happened to him. There was no hostility in her voice, just the clear sound of worry.

He couldn't decide what to tell her and what to leave out about the things that had happened to him so he told her everything, sparing no detail about the torture and pain he'd endured while being held captive by the black hands. He told everything from the nix hound attack to the depressing death of his companion Jinx. He left out only one detail, the fact that he was working with the blades and the dance he'd been forced to do for entry.

As Kiln was about to explain that his task was not yet complete and that he wished to return to finish it Dulnea called down that breakfast was ready. Rami half dragged Kiln upstairs to the table and began telling him of the things she'd done while she'd been waiting on him to return.

Kiln gathered from what she'd told him that her time had been quite boring, mostly consisting of walks through Balmora and watching a few good bar fights but other than that there was little else she'd done.

The discussion was a bit one sided as Kiln was incredibly hungry and ate very quickly, Rami didn't seem to notice or didn't mention it at least. Breakfast passed relatively quickly and Kiln wanted to go for a walk and look at Balmora once again.

Kiln and Rami walked under the wall and past the silt strider to the river, looking into its sparkling waters. It looked so warm and comfortable, reminding him of all the times he'd waded in it rather than paying for a bath.

Rami took his hand as he sat down by the bank of the river and rested her head on his shoulder. Kiln felt more at home now than he'd ever felt before, they sat there for hours just looking at the water and the landscape around them, a scrib thumped its tail on the ground across the river merrily as it ate something on the ground.

This seemed like the perfect time to tell her that he must help York on his quest but he could not find the words, he knew that when he told her she would be sad and dissapointed that he was leaving or perhaps she would ask him to stay. Rami had said something that he could not stand to let her think.

"At least you're done with your quest now."

He could not bare it any longer, sunset was coming and he'd promised York he'd return with word of his involvement by the end of this day.

"Rami, there's something I have to tell you." Kiln said softly

"Yes?" She replied

"I made a promise to York that I would help him finish something....and its yet to be finished." Kiln said nervously

"You mean you aren't done helping York?" She asked sorrowfully

"Not yet, and I've returned to seek your permission to continue." Kiln said

"This isn't a good time for this." She said sadly

"What do you mean?" Kiln questioned

"If you don't return..." She started

"I promise you that I will." Kiln assured her

Rami sat silently for a moment and looked as if she was thinking deeply.

"I don't want our child to be born without a father." She said

Kiln's heart froze, this was wonderful yet terrifying at the same moment. He was overjoyed and unsure of what to say.

"You mean...I'm to be a father? You're sure?" Kiln asked

"The priest says that I am to bear a son." She said

"I love you Rami...but I must keep my word." Kiln said

"I understand Kiln, I just want you to make sure you come back to me in one piece." She said

Kiln pulled her up against him and kissed her over and over again.

"I promise you...I will return." Kiln said

Tears were forming in his eyes though he tried to cover them it was impossible, they dripped down his face and he stood from the river bank, helping Rami to her feet.

Kiln wished he didn't have to go but he was a man of honor and he would do everything in his power not to break his word.

They returned to the tavern and Kiln wished Dulnea good luck in the following weeks as he continued his journey. Kiln kissed Rami goodbye and hugged her tightly, slowly taking the potion from his bag and taking a drink shortly after.

Instantly he was taken into the darkness and back to the spot where the Imperial camp was. York waited near the fallen tree for his return and Kiln joined him there.

"Will you accompany me Kiln, or have you chosen to stay?" York asked

"Let us leave this camp and make our way to Kogoruhn." Kiln said

"We'll leave soon but first I wanted to tell you something." York said

"What is it?" Kiln asked

"I went to the ashlander camp near where Jinx was stabbed while you were gone...and they told me their warriors had pulled a severely wounded breton from the wilds months ago." York said

"Was it Jinx's body?" Kiln asked anxiously

"That it was." York said

"Did they pay it the proper respects?" Kiln asked

"There was no need." York told him

"You mean...he lives?" Kiln asked

"Yes, though he does not know that we survived and I do not wish for him to. We will see him when our task is complete but for now it is best that he thinks we were killed...I will not risk his life again." York said

"I understand...when will we leave?" Kiln asked

"We will leave soon, making our way through the ruin quietly. We will try to collect the items with as little fighting as possible and then we will leave...there are unnatural things within the walls of Kogoruhn." York said

Kiln nodded and opened the sack which he'd claimed was gold back at the tavern and took the bread from it. He'd given all he had to Dulnea for the hospitality she'd paid him and he had nothing now, gold was not important to him any longer, he would live off what he had and live his life honestly from this point forward. No more stealing from the innocent.

All this was a stunning resolution but he had more important things to worry about, he'd heard of the dangers that were inside of the ancient ruin and he feared them. He spent the next hour training himself with one of the guards, both men clashing blades and attempting to get through to the other with the dulled practice swords. One thing was for sure, Kiln would be ready for the challenge ahead of him.

So Jinx yet lives; this is welcome news indeed. I will look forward to their (eventual) reunion with him. And Kiln is going to be a father; that is certainly extra incentive to return (not that he actually needed an extra incentive). Kogoruhn can be a very scary place; I do hope that York and Kiln donot encounter anything that they can't handle.

Wow! Good that Jinx lives and a nice spin(I can't think of the word so i don't know) that Kiln is a father, another burden. please continue as I love to read more.

Just a short bit before they set off for the ruin, enjoy...
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The legion soldiers cheered as Kiln readied himself to fight with the guard's best fighter and head trainer at the camp. Though the blades were dulled so that you couldn't actually be killed with them, Kiln was still afraid. He was afraid of losing and looking like a fool in front of at least fifteen others, among them was his friend York.

The oldest soldier stepped forward and all the men became silent.

"This fight will be carried out with honor and dignity, the last to remain standing will be called the victor and the first to hit the ground will accept his loss." He announced loudly

He paused for a moment and then looked between Kiln and the guard,

"Understood?" He asked

Both men nodded and Kiln shook the trainer's hand. They stepped back to their sides of the circle and waited on the signal.

"Begin!" The old man yelled out

Kiln stepped forward, watching his opponent carefully as he circled, slowly moving closer. The crowd of soldiers began talking again and their yells blended into a loud noise like that of a schoolyard fight. They all watched carefully, many of them had money riding on the fight.

York watched carefully as well, this was the first time in quite a while that he'd been able to actually observe Kiln fighting without worrying about an opponent of his own.

Kiln stepped forward and stabbed for the stomach of his challenger, making the first move, but his blow was deflected easily by the blade of his foe. His opponent stepped forward and drew his claymore above his head, bringing it down upon Kiln.

As the huge sword came him Kiln held his blade up and braced himself for the blow which landed hard upon his blade. The strength of the hit caused Kiln to lose balance and stumble, nearly falling but he somehow managed to keep standing.

The hit was harder than that of any enemy Kiln had ever faced and now he was playing defensively, knowing better than to attack the man without a plan. He backed up slowly keeping an eye on the smiling imperial coming towards him.

York stood silently listening to the yelling soldiers when one beside him yelled to his friend.

"I've got fifty drakes on Dirk!" The soldier yelled laughing

"I'm not betting against you...that dark elf is in a run for his money." The other laughed

"I'll bet one hundred drakes on Kiln!" York said turning to the soldier

"I'm not betting more than fifty!" The soldier replied

"How about my hundred against your fifty?" York said

"Best bet I've heard all night, I'll take it." The soldier said holding his hand out with a smile

York gripped it tightly and looked him in the eye before breaking away and looking back to the fight.

Kiln moved in closer and as Dirk swung at him he ducked it and as he came back up from it he smacked the dull blade of the sword against the stomach of the brute as hard as he could, then stepped back to admire his work.

It was clear that Dirk confused by the speed of the dark elf by the look on his face and he turned around swinging furiously before actually seeing Kiln again. Kiln stared at his face and waited once more, as the trainer stepped closer.

Kiln stepped back from the next blow but as he got ready to make his counter strike, his opponent brought his dull blade back across and hit him in the ribs with it. This unexpected strike nearly forced Kiln to fall but still he managed to stand even with the pain from the blow to his ribs, the power of the hit nocked the breath out of him and he could barely stand.

The trainer stepped closer as Kiln hunched over and held his ribs to make the final blow that would take the dark elf to the ground. Dirk pulled his blade up and swung it down hard, same as he'd done before but this time Kiln was expecting it and had been waiting on him to make that mistake again.

The dull piece of metal swung in vain as Kiln stepped forward past his opponent and hit the imperial in the back of the legs with his blade forcing him to fall to his knees and Kiln finished the fight with kick into his back which took him to the ground.

Kiln smiled and stood above the huge imperial who slowly got back to his feet and turned to face him. Kiln stepped forward and shook hands with the trainer, breathing heavily to try and fill his lungs with air once again.

"Perhaps you're more dangerous than you look." The trainer said letting go of Kiln's hand and turning to walk away

The imperial stopped after a few steps and turned around and smiled.

"Or perhaps it was just luck." he added turning and walking towards the fire

Kiln rejoined York as the soldiers began to go back to what they were doing. The only soldier that waited around was the one who'd made the bet against York.

As York waited on the soldier to count out the fifty gold he drank a mug of mazte and after a few minutes the soldier left to go back to his duties and York stood from the ground.

"We'll leave now...if we're lucky they won't see us coming in the darkness." York said

Kiln grabbed his blade and they began the long walk toward Kogoruhn.

Here's the next update for those who are still reading, enjoy.
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The wind blew savagely and whistled around Kiln as he followed York towards Kogoruhn, shielding his eyes from the sand carefully and wrapping a piece of ripped cloth around his mouth and nose to filter the air. He could tell they were getting closer to the evils of the ruin and red mountain itself by the increasing intensity of the violent red sandstorms blowing in the air.

York trudged on, seemingly unphased by the storms but Kiln was bothered by them. After hours of walking in the sandstorms he began to hear whispers like those of which he'd only heard in his dreams. The voice told him to serve his master and to meet him on the slopes of red mountain.

Kiln knew by this time that he was barely on the edge of sanity as things were and once they entered the ruin he would be tested even more. Perhaps it was just the fear of the ruins that was starting to get to him but the sandstorms grew stronger and his strength grew weaker.

It was just as he was about to tire and rest when he saw the black stones standing, past the wall of red sand and dirt he could scarcely see the ruins ahead of him.

York quickened his pace and began moving up the steep stairway in front of him, Kiln followed closely behind watching carefully for foreign movements in the dustcloud around them.

Kiln could see something edging closer and closer to York and so he stepped into the way, it was a person, clearly a dark elf male and he was now coming toward Kiln with a mindless look in his eyes. The elf looked void of life, insane and tortured, only able to serve the bidding of his master without thought or emotion.

The elf swung his club at Kiln but it was easy to sidestep. This fight would be pointless, this entranced dreamer was clearly out of it and Kiln could see no point in killing him, instead he picked up a bone off the ground and waited on the elf to come back into view.

The dreamer came close enough that Kiln could see him and swung his club at him again. The blow was easy to duck and Kiln used the bone he'd picked up to hit the dreamer in the back of the head, nocking him unconscious.

Kiln turned back as something grabbed his arm, he drew back to swing the bone but it was only York, motioning for him to come along. Kiln dropped the remains of some long dead adventurer and stood in the courtyard.

"Kiln, we'll need to split up and find the items. Meet me back here when you're done searching." York yelled over the whistling of the storm

Kiln did not like the idea of seperating but he nodded his head and did as his friend asked. He decided to enter the building farthest to the right and entered slowly, carefully looking around the dark room.

The room was lit by a single torch and the shadows around the edge of the room were Kiln's sanctuary. He moved as slowly and quietly as possible, watching for enemies. He froze still when he heard a loud, raspy voice from near the torch.

"Is someone there?" It hissed

Kiln started to move again and he stepped on a small rock, next to what looked like a person's shirt. The shirt was wet and he picked it up, along with the rock. Kiln moved slowly toward the other side of the room to get behind the creature and after a few moments he arrived to his destination.

From behind the creature he could see the cauldron and some corprus weepings the creature had dropped onto the floor but the torch was right beside the cauldron.

Thinking quick, Kiln threw the rock to the other side of the room, making a loud noise for the creature to follow. As it got further away from the torch Kiln ran at it with the wet shirt in hand and wrapped it around the flame, extinguishing it instantly.

Then he removed the shirt and swept up the corprus weepings inside of it, running for the exit. As he left the door he could hear the creature inside coming for the door quickly so he picked up the club from the sleeping dreamer and wedged the sharp handle under the door, trapping the creature inside.

Kiln knew that it wouldn't hold him for long and he moved to the largest building and entered. To the left and right were long hallways and there was no wrong way since Kiln had robbed one of these places before he knew that they both led to the same place, he chose left.

He walked around the corner slowly watching for enemies and saw a stairway leading deeper into the ruin, either there were no guards on this floor or they were all on the right, neither of which mattered other than he needed to remember this on the way out.

Kiln continued on through the door and right when he entered he saw the flame atronach glowing ahead of him, it was facing the other way, giving Kiln an advantage. He moved closer to it and rather than stabbing it in the back, which it might survive he put his left hand on its shoulder and took his blade out, slitting its throat.

As soon as he did this he was annoyed with himself, his left hand was in severe pain from the heat of the atronach and the body fell, bursting into a puddle of flames at his feet, he was lucky to have stepped back in time to miss being engulfed in flame.

He thought of the stupidity of his actions and waited a bit for the body to burn away before continuing into the next door. A rather large fat creature stood near the next door, there were chairs and tables stacked randomly around the room.

Kiln spotted the slight glow from a small piece of metal on one of the tables so he moved closer. It was a key, likely to the door beside the huge creature wearing a robe so he took it. There was no logical way past the creature other than to fight it so he moved closer and closer, trying to sneak up on it but it turned around.

The creature whispered quickly and sent a strange spell toward Kiln which he barely dodged, it hit a chair behind him causing it to shatter into splinters. Kiln had found himself a spellcaster, one thing which he could not have a fair chance against.

Kiln weaved in between columns and rows of chairs, listening to wood explode and fall behind him all the while. The creature stopped firing the spells and slowly walked around, patroling the room in search of Kiln but he was hiding under a table, waiting on it to pass.

Just like he'd wanted the creature passed him and he put his blade into its back causing it to fall and turn to dust. Kiln was relieved and he continued toward the door wiping the sweat from his forehead and face before inserting the key into the lock and opening the door.

Inside were several other doors, this room was a dead end and appeared to be a cell room. Kiln opened the first door and found the body of a recently deceased hero, this was one of the famous adventurers who had been traveling Vvardenfell killing vampires and bandits but he, like so many others had met his end at Kogoruhn.

The next cell contained another one of the adventurers, also sharing the same fate as her partner. And so Kiln approached the last cell to check if there was another body and slowly opened the door. Through the small opening a sword came forth and past Kiln's head, slightly cutting his cheek.

"You'll never take me! I'll die first!" Said a strong redguard voice

"Calm yourself friend, I'm here to help you!" Kiln said slowly stepping back from the door and letting the man open it

"At last you've come, we must find my companions." The small redguard said

"They are gone, killed by the creatures within these halls...what is your name?" Kiln asked

"They call me Red, as the imperials call us redguards, my true name is of little importance." He said sheathing his blade

"Alright Red, make your way out of this place and wait for me at the entrance, when you reach the stairway go left...I still have to find the damn cup." Kiln said

"Wait...who are you? And what cup do you search for?" Red asked

"I am Kiln, warrior and adventurer. I search for a cup bearing the mark of house dagoth." Kiln answered

"All this over a cup? Something is seriously wrong with you friend." Red said turning to walk away and then looking back

"I took a cup from downstairs before I was captured...I was almost across the bridge when I got hit by a club...perhaps its still in the same room." Red added before turning and leaving

Kiln took a jug of mazte from his pack and took a few huge gulps before he returned to the hallway. He stood there staring at the bridge from the hallway. Momentarily he would enter the room and go down the ramp to the ground floor in search of the cup but there would likely be alot of opposition so he readied his blade.

Maybe fighting drunk was a bad strategy but it had always served him well in the past so he took another drink before continuing out onto the bridge.

Oh great kiln. i like the idea of him becoming a father.

I was so relieved when I heard that jinx was alive, so thanks for another wonderfull update.

Gah! I didn't comment on your last addition, but Yes nice additions and who is this Red character.... hmm

I edited the end of the last update so this whole thing would be a bit easier to write and understand.
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As Kiln stepped onto the bridge and looked off the edge he could see the cup on the floor on the right side of the room. Things would be a bit harder since Red's crew had been through this place already, many dreamers had been posted to keep watch over the room. The dreamers stood together talking in a circle to the left, there were way too many to fight at once, even for a veteran like Kiln, he was skilled with his blade but not that skilled so he would try to sneak around them.

The cup was on the opposite side of the room as the dreamers but it was bright in the room and Kiln didn't know for sure if he could get to it without alerting the guards.

Kiln moved across the bridge slowly to the other side where the ramp led downstairs to the cup. He was almost half way to the other side before one of the dreamers noticed him and all six of them ran toward him. Kiln took off in a dead run, it seemed insane to try and make a run for the cup but it was something he had to do so he half slid down the ramp and fell off the end landing face first and rushing to his feet.

The dreamers came toward him quickly as he started running again and grabbed the cup off the ground without stopping and turning back to the ramp. By then the dreamers had branched out so that he couldn't get past them to the ramp. The insane and naked dark elves made their way toward hims with their clubs and from behind them came a yell.

Some of them turned to look and behind them stood York, he'd come in the door opposite of them and was behind the dreamers with the shield. The door behind York opened and even more of the dreamers emerged from behind him, ones that had been following him.

Kiln pulled his blade and dropped the cup for the moment there were at least nine now and York ran to him bashing one of the dreamers to the side with the shadow shield.

Two against nine seemed like bad odds, they would be surrounded and overtaken by them. The dreamers moved all at once toward them and Kiln managed to kill one before three piled on top of him and began hitting him with their clubs repeatedly.

The blows weren't very dangerous, luckily the clubs were made from wood but they still kept Kiln from getting to his feet, York was having as much trouble on his part, he couldn't wrestle the elves off of him and both of them were pinned to the floor, unable to get free.

One of the elves on top of Kiln stood from him and began yelling madly with pain and on the bridge above them stood the redguard Kiln had freed. The dreamer fell to the floor with a dagger sticking from his back and two of the others broke away and headed for Red.

Kiln used this time of confusion to stab one of the elves holding him to the floor and throw his body off onto the ground, luckily none of them were armored. The other stood from Kiln and pulled his club back for a more powerful hit but Kiln kicked him to the floor and got to his feet quickly.

York was still getting worked over by several of the dreamers and he'd dropped his weapon from the pain so he was unable to defend himself. Kiln swung his blade and slashed two of the attackers across their backs causing them to fall off of his companion.

Kiln looked to Red as York threw the remaining two attackers off and grabbed his blade, stabbing both of them. Red had killed one of the dreamers but his axe had been dropped from the bridge and he was trying to push the other off the edge and did so successfully.

Red dusted off his hands and ran down to retrieve his axe, the last dreamer ran back through the door and deeper into the ruins.

"Coward!" Red yelled

York looked to Kiln.

"Who in oblivion is that?" York asked

"He calls himself Red...he's one of the ones that have been killing all the vampires around Vvardenfell." Kiln replied

"Where are his companions?" York asked

Kiln just shook his head from left to right and looked to the floor. York picked up the cup from the floor and walked up to Red.

"Come with us, we could use your strong arm in the coming days." York said

"Perhaps it was meant for our paths to cross, I will travel with you until its time for me to move on." Red said

"We need to leave now." Kiln said

They half ran toward the ramp and started to cross the bridge toward the exit as more dreamers emerged from the door below, it was apparently a very large ruin filled with worshipers.

Kiln ran as quickly as possible behind York and Red, trying to keep up. Kiln slammed the doors behind him to try and slow the dreamers down but he could hear footsteps coming close behind them.

As they were leaving the ruin a hooded creature grabbed Kiln's arm and before he even felt the touch his vision turned black and he saw a dark elf in a large golden mask staring at him, bidding him to come closer and join him. The vision cut before he grabbed the hand of the man, York drew his sword from the gut of the ghoul and forced Kiln to come.

They left the ruin and hid in the entryway of a ancestral tomb nearby to escape the dreamers. It had been a close call and the dream ran over and over in Kiln's head. York talked quietly with Red but Kiln didn't pay attention to what the conversation was over, he was much too occupied with his thoughts.

"I saw him." Kiln said

"I don't understand." York said

"It was the devil himself...Dagoth Ur." Kiln said slowly without looking up from the floor

"You're starting to worry me with all the strange dreams you've had of late...perhaps you're taking the blight." York said looking at him

"No...just too much to drink I suppose...we should stay here for the night and head back for the ashlander camp in the morning." Kiln said

"Yes, what supplies do we have left for the night?" York asked

Kiln dug through the bag carefully in search of food.

"A half jug of mazte and a single piece of bread." Kiln said

They split the bread evenly and passed the jug of mazte around until it was gone. This was the closest Kiln had been to being care free in some time, mazte tended to make him forget his problems, he tried to read from the journal but his vision was much too blurry, perhaps if he had time in the morning he would read from it a bit.

He truly wondered why York's father had abandoned his quest to become the Nerevarine before its completion and knew that somewhere in the journal was the answer. Kilns thoughts wandered to Tiren and all that he'd done in his life leading to his death, in an ancestral tomb. It was meant for Kiln to find the body and meet up with York and Red, all this had happened by fate, perhaps Kiln would survive this ordeal after all.
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As my story approaches its end I feel somewhat sad because this fanfiction is what I've been doing since I joined here and once I'm done it will be strange

Heey....start another one! you are a very good writer it would be great with a sequel...like treydog did!


I´m going to re-read the complete story of Kiln now.....

Well it will be strange when you finish, You'll have alot more time on your hands i'd bet... well great update Kiln, i am eager to know why York's Father quite and how its going to end.... is Kiln the real Neverine(sp?) it almost seems that way, he is having the dreams/visions and not York.

Oh NOOOOOO, is the story of Kiln almost finished.....Oh dear, please follow minkeys advice, and start a new story or make a sequel like Treydog.

But I guess it will be kinda strange when you suddenly get more time....hey you get more time to read and comment on other peoples stories ( yea right, like you'll ever need that, as you're doing fine in that aleredy ).

But I love this story, as I believe I've said before. I also wonder why Yorks father abandoned his quest to become the nerevarine...surely something fishy is going on.

Just to mention it: You know that the city of York was actually a Norwegian viking city named Jorvik, in the beginning, before the vikings was driven from England, I just said this, so that the other people out here who maby did'nt know, Norway was once a GREAT nation. He He.

Great work, Kiln. Lots of updates, more than I can keep up with, but I'm still very impressed with what I've read (and am still reading).

It's coming to an end? Then I feel I must agree with the others and encourage you to start another. Though I might still be trying to catch up with this one, lol.

Hey! Don´t believe her! Sweden was the GREAT nation.....hehe......or was it not? Nevermind Oven, you heard us......you start planning a sequel huh!

Hey Minkey...I'm not saying that Sweden has never been a great nation... I only said that Norway have been a great nation.....Technically Norway, owns about half of Antartica...so beat that one Sweden...hehe

Well about the story, please update soon Kiln, as I'm running out of nails to bite...I need some nails to bite, since the story is so exiting...and as said I'm running out of nails to bite...hey wait a minute.

* runs to by boyfriend, and starts biting his nails. hehe*

I know Tellie dear! I know, I was just trying to get attention! Of course Norway is greater than sweden....b
faar better economy f.ex!

oh and can I borrow some nails from your boyfriend? I´ve used up mine and hubbie´s and the Cat won´t let me chew on his claws!

So Mr Oven.....see what you did with that amazing story of yours!

I'm not sure if I'll do a sequel or not, I've considered it but perhaps when this story is finished I'll be done. I probably won't get Oblivion for a long time and stories about Morrowind will be outdated when it comes out so I just don't know...anyways enough of this, back to the story.
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Kiln awoke to the whispers of the tomb, he was used to the faint voices flowing through the halls of the place from all the years he'd spent robbing graves. It seemed almost calming to him to hear the voices of those long gone around him, the soft indistinct talk of the spirits.

He stood from his resting place atop the stairway and opened the doorway leading outside slowly looking around. The ash storms had let up, at least for the moment the air seemed clear but before they made it back to town he knew that he would endure another harsh storm filling his nose and mouth with sand and dust.

Kiln turned back to his companions and noticed a paper that York was holding, he'd apparently fallen asleep reading from it. Slowly, Kiln pulled it from his hand and opened it.

The page was written by York's hand and it appeared to be some sort of checklist for becoming the nerevarine labeled "Translation of the prophecy"... it was written in York's hand and strangely only the first thing was checked off, "Outlander born of uncertain parents on a certain day under a certain sign". The second thing was left unchecked, "Become cured of Corprus".

Kiln remembered the time he'd been exploring a cave off the coast and some creature deep within had cursed him with a disease, he'd had to go all the way to the hall of Fyr for the cure...he wondered if perhaps...no there was no cure for corprus so he cleared his mind of these thoughts. One thing was for sure, if York hadn't gotten corprus then he was not the nerevarine.

As he read the paper he noticed something he had not noticed before, the date of birth of York and the star he'd been born under were recorded at the top of the page. Kiln was filled with a numb feeling, it was exactly the same for both of them, Kiln had been born on the same day of the same month under the exact same sign but he'd been born years before York.

Kiln wondered for a moment if he might be the nerevarine himself but quickly dismissed it, he was native born to Morrowind and he knew his parents which ruled out him being an outlander. He had been victim to many visions though which were unexplained and he was unsure of why they had come to him.

York moved a bit and Kiln sat the paper down where it belonged. York was just an imperial spy, perhaps the legend of the nerevarine was just an old superstition like many of the temple believed, so many had believed themselves to be the incarnate before and all were disproved.

As York woke he grabbed the paper and tucked it into his pocket before sitting back down. Red sat in the corner mumbling some strange and disturbing insults to his enemies as he slept.

"Half brained horker...bite me will ya...I'll tear off your arm...scrib sucking..." Red mumbled as he rolled over in the corner

York wiped the smile from his face and leaned over, shaking Red a bit to wake him. Kiln stood again from his place and looked to his companions.

"Alright we need to get back to the ashlander camp soon so we can find out what we do next." Kiln said dully

York stood from his place and Red followed as they left the ancestral tomb. The weather was clear and warm outside, though something felt strange to Kiln about not looting the tomb behind him he didn't know how his companions would have reacted and so he continued on silently.

The trip back was going to be much easier than before without the ash storms and the worries they had endured. Kiln's mind was occupied by the fact that when they returned they would be reunited with Jinx and things would get back to the way they should be with the addition of Red if he chose to follow them at least.

Kiln thought back to the times when he had sat with York and Jinx around the fire telling stories of their former years and laughing together as they drank the cheap dull mazte. He was overjoyed at the thought that Jinx still lived and could not wait to see him once again, York shared the same happy look as Kiln as they lugged their heavy equipment with them toward the camp.

By the way the sun was Kiln estimated that they would arrive at the camp by sundown and he was right, just as the sun dropped over the hill he could see the yurts standing with a fire blazing. Jinx sat by the fire with the tribesmen eating and drinking as Kiln and his companions made their way into camp.

Jinx had yet to see them and Kiln was glad, he wanted it to be a surprise so he crept up quietly and sat down beside Jinx who didn't seem to notice.

"Pass me the mazte friend." Kiln said with a half smile

Jinx picked up the jug and turned to hand it to him. Kiln could tell that he did not expect to see him or York again by the look in his eyes. York and Red sat down beside the fire as well and they all swapped stories with the ashlander warriors as they drank to better times ahead and the fulfillment of the prophecies.

Kiln was the only one who knew that York was a fraud, the others wanted to believe in it so badly that it was real to them, York was the nerevarine, in their eyes at least.

York had convinced everyone that he was in fact the incarnate, even his friends had been fooled by his act but could Kiln really judge him? He'd just been following his orders...or perhaps in his denial he actually believed himself to be the incarnate. Either way he had yet to fulfill the corprus section of the prophecy and he'd apparently lied to the ashlanders telling them that he'd been cured of it.

This was a rather elaborate hoax put together by the empire's spies and nearly everyone had fallen for it for a while...even Kiln.

Sure you can Minkey, he have plenty left.

*drags my boyfriend over to minkey, who starts to bite frantically on his nails*

Good Kiln, your story is getting more exiting all the time, keep it up, and update soon as my boyfried is going to run out of nails very quickly.

Dang the fan fiction section has been more dormant than usual in the last few days...anyways on to the story.
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The others had drank and drank some more but Kiln only pretended to drink, spitting the mazte out onto the ground after the jug got back around to him. Refusing the drink would be an insult to the tribesmen so he filled his mouth and waited for them all to look away before spitting it out, he wanted his thoughts to be clear.

Jinx sat beside Kiln yelling merrily and telling stories from his childhood and teenage years. Kiln had blocked out as much of his childhood as possible because of the death of his mother and his father. His father had been unable to cope with her death and had taken his own life because of the state of constant sorrow he'd been in since she'd died. Though he'd taken precautions his mind did wander back to his younger years and he couldn't help but miss his parents and friends.

Kiln had set off for Balmora to make a new start, the boy he'd been had died with his parents and he had become perhaps one of the most famous thieves in history though he'd had no association with the thieves guild. He remembered the times he'd played in the streets of Ald-Ruhn, times long gone now that he would never be able to return to.

Perhaps with the coming of his child he would settle down and give up the life of adventure for a safer profession, maybe start his own shop or use the fame he'd gathered from this to start up his own guild of adventurers where he could just sit back and watch them grow as the leader.

Kiln loved his woman and when this was all over he would be glad to return to her.

He broke from his thoughts and pulled the journal from his pack, he would catch up on the reading he had missed, he opened it to the place he'd left off and skimmed for something interesting.

"Today I noticed something very peculiar, a man has been following me lately, at first I thought nothing of it but now that I think of it he's been showing up at random in the same places as me for days, I recall seeing him several times but I didn't put it together...he's following me but I'm unsure why. Perhaps he's a thief or a spy...either way, tomorrow I'm leading him into the alleyway behind the shops in Balmora for a little talk."

Kiln pauses and turns the page.

"Things worked out as I'd planned today...nearly anyways. I went down the alleyway turning the corner and picking up the stick I'd hidden moments before, as my stalker came down the alley to turn the corner swung it as hard as I could and hit him in the face. I grabbed him and started to interrogate him...that's when I found out that there were more of them. Two men stood behind him and as I turned to exit the alley two more grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. After they worked me over pretty good they told me that I should abandon my quest for the emperor before my son got hurt."

As Kiln reads the last bit he glances at York and then back to the page reading on.

"I tried to tell them that I didn't have a son but they seemed to know more about my past than I did...I wish so much that I could remember my past. I was never really told what I'd been imprisoned for and I wonder if I'd done something horrible back in the imperial province...I guess I'll never know but if I have a son I must find him. Forget this task for the emperor, let his assassins hunt me. I'll get back to it when I find out more about my son if I truly have one that is."

After a quick drink of mazte he started to read more but stopped as Sul-Matuul emerged from his tent and breathed the fresh air, a woman stepped out behind him and went back to her own tent. Kiln quickly wiped the smile from his face and sat silently.

Sul-Matuul came forward and sat beside them waiting patiently for the artifacts he'd asked for to be shown to him. York pulled the cup from his pack and sat it on top of the shadow shield beside him before waving to Kiln to show the corprus weepings.

Kiln opened the ragged shirt he'd wrapped the weepings in and held it forward. Sul-Matuul leaned away from them slowly.

"I am impressed by the three tokens you've brought to me. You may keep them, simply seeing them is enough. You have passed the test and I shall give to you the secret of the third trial 'In the cavern's dark Azura's eye sees and makes to shrine the moon and star.' This is the third vision and you must travel there, to the sacred cavern and look for the moon and star." Sul-Matuul paused for a long moment to let them process what he'd just told them

"Where is the entrance to this sacred cavern?" Kiln asked

"The entrance lies in riddle: 'The eye of the needle lies in the teeth of the wind
the mouth of the cave lies in the skin of the pearl
the dream is the door and the star is the key." Sul-Matuul said

"What in oblivion is that supposed to mean?" Kiln was dumbfounded

"Do you always let your servant ask the questions for you?" Sul-Matuul asked York

"He is not my servant, he's my friend and ally. My comrade and brother in arms but you are right, it is my place to ask the questions...so how do you find this place?" York said slowly

"This riddle is Wisdom's Test. Take counsel of the wisdom of the tribes, and you shall find the way. Seek the Cavern of the Incarnate. Gain the moon and star, and bring it to Nibani Maesa. Take with you my blessing, and the blessing of our tribe, Malipu-Ataman's Belt." Sul Matuul said as he presented the belt to York

York took the belt and put it on slowly. Kiln stood from his place by the fire beside his friend as Jinx and Red stood beside them. They would make their way to the cavern and then they would find out if York really was the nerevarine or not. Kiln wanted to read the journal more, he really felt as if he was on to something but instead he waited as York asked around for some time about the riddle.

Finally satisfied he gave them the directions and they all began their journey to the cavern of Azura. They must wait until the crack of dawn for the door to open and if they missed it they would be forced to wait for an entire day before trying again.

They were nearly there now according York anyways, they'd gone past the teeth of something...Kiln couldn't remember what and looked for a pearl or some such garbage before finally reaching the path to the door, they approached and then sat down to wait. It would be a long wait before they could enter and the ash storms had just begun.

Kiln pushed his back against the stone door of the cavern and covered his face with a piece of cloth, holding it tightly over his eyes, nose, and mouth to filter the air. It would seem like forever before the storm was over, it could be days or minutes, either way it would still seem like an eternity with the strong winds and sand hitting Kiln's exposed arms. He sat there thinking about if York would be able to open the door or not.

He'd heard that the ring had an enchantment on it that would kill anyone who wore it if they were not the incarnate and this worried Kiln but perhaps the door wouldn't open for anyone that was not the incarnate and they could all go home, ending this journey...he hoped that would be the case.
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Sorry about how short it is but I hope you enjoy it anyways.

Oh come on... the biggest cliff hanger ever! I want to know what happens in the cave! *shrug* beggers can't be choosers(sp?). great story Kiln and I wait to see another update.

I have just read the last post and I like you style. It will take like a freakin' month to read all the older material to catch up though....is there any chance I might find a summary of events, in any level of detail from anyone? I post a summary after each chapter in my own story, just a thought I had near the time I finished writing the first chapter, which was three days before I finished posting it.

Sorry man, I don't have a summary of it mostly because I'm too lazy to take the time to make one and if I did write one then what reason would anyone have to read the story from the beginning anyways? Sorry, hope you understand.
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After quite some time of sitting the storm weakened and stopped around them.
Jinx trudged up the the top of the hill and stood beside them.

"It was hard to track you in the ash storm but gladly none of you bathed this morning." Jinx laughed

"Glad you could make it." Kiln said

Kiln stood, wiping the dust from himself before removing the cloth from his face and looking to the sky. It was dawn, it was time for York to test himself against the prohecy.

"It's now or never." Kiln said

York nodded stepped closer and closer to the door as Kiln stood beside it silently waiting, wondering what would happen. The nord stood there quietly and put his hands on the door, waiting for it to open. He waited and waited before the voice of azura spoke to them.

"The door is locked, the star is the key, and only the nerevarine may enter." The door said softly

York stepped away and placed his hands on it again with the same effect. He stepped back and sat down, leaning against the mountainside behind him.

Red sat quietly for a moment and then looked to York.

"So that's it then?" Red asked

"I guess it is...I'm not the nerevarine...I have failed." York said in a defeated tone

Kiln examined the markings on the door as York and red continued to talk among themselves. The carving was truly an exquisite work befitting only the door to the cavern of a god, the swirls in the stone formed a magical look and the door itself was incredibly tall, covered in markings to the very arch at the top.

As he looked over the door he saw something, markings that seemed to be writing, impossible for Kiln to read as they were written in daedric language but even though it was useless for him to try he had to see the rest of the letters so he gently wiped the dust from the cracks in them.

When Kiln's hand touched the door he noticed it seemed quite cold and it began to move a bit. Confused, Kiln moved back from the door as it began to slowly open.

"In the dawn hour under Azura's star, the door is opened, enter nerevar." The door spoke loud

Kiln looked to York who seemed very dissappointed but still motioned for him to enter.

"From here you go alone...nerevar." York said slowly

Confusion and fear filled Kiln as he entered the cavern. He looked around as he walked the hallway toward the end, in the middle of the Room stood the statue of Azura. The room around the statue glowed with a strange light that was somehow calming, mushrooms grew around the edges and the pools of water even glowed with a sort of radiance that Kiln had never seen before.

Though it all amazed him, Kiln did not understand how it was possible that he was the incarnate. He remembered the curse upon the ring, the danger of instant death but still he picked it up slowly and clenched his teeth as he prepared to slip it onto his finger, hoping that he would survive. As the ring slid down his finger he opened his eyes and breathed the air, happy to still be among the living. A soft voice rang out through the cavern, it was soothing and gentle voice of a woman.

"Nerevar Reborn, Incarnate:
Your first three trials are finished.
Now, two new trials lie before you.
Seek the Ashlander Ashkhans, and the Great House Councils.
Four tribes must name you Nerevarine.
Three houses must name you Hortator.
My servant Nibani Maesa shall be your guide.
And when you are Hortator and Nerevarine,
when you've stood before the False God
and freed the heart from its prison,
heal my people and restore Morowind.
Do this for me and with my blessing."

Kiln stood there, confused.

"Azura...I am native born...in Morrowind...how can I be the incarnate? I am no outlander and I knew my parents...how can this be?" Kiln questioned but was unsure of if he would get an answer

"I know you are unsure of yourself nerevar but trust in the fact that you are the incarnate and the answer to your questions reside within the journal you carry." The voice rang out again and the cavern became silent

The voice was gone and the ghosts of the past incarnates filled the cavern, whispering among themselves about Kiln and the fulfillment of the prophecies. Kiln turned to one of the ghosts which was approaching him.

"Welcome, Incarnate. I am Idrenie Nerothan. I was not the one. But I wait and hope. Ask, and I shall tell you my story."

"Please tell me of your story Indrenie." Kiln said knowing the ghost wanted nothing more than to tell the story of its end

"I lived in the late years of the Tribunate, and behind the scenes, I helped us demoralize, then repel the Akaviri invaders. I knew nothing of the Nerevarine or Dagoth Ur until I took refuge with the Ashlanders. I died a fool, trying to loot ruined Kogoruhn. Here. Take these. Maybe there's something in the world left worth stealing." The ghost told him

"Thank you and may your soul rest in peace." Kiln said softly

Many other spirits stood around the cavern but Kiln wasn't looking for handouts so he turned and left the cavern. In light of the new situation Kiln would be faced with many more challenges than ever before and he would truly be tested in the coming months as he completed the nerevarine prophecies.

York, Jinx, and Red all outside and as he walked from the cavern they stood and joined him at his side. Kiln could tell that York was dissappointed, he must have truly believed that he was the nerevarine and the blades would not be pleased that York had failed his task to impersonate the nerevarine.

Kiln would be a mark for temple fanatics and bounty hunters alike, Azura could not protect him from them he would need to rely on himself and his skill with the blade to survive this ordeal.

The party slowly made their way toward the Urshilaku camp and sat down around the fire. York removed the belt that was given to him by the tribe and laid it into Kiln's lap.

"That was given to you York." Kiln tried to push it back to him

"No, it was given to nerevar, the incarnate and protector of the people...you must take it...may it serve you well friend, for my time with you is done...Azura's plans are clear and from this moment you must go alone...you must bear this task without our help." York said sorrowfully

Jinx stood from the ground and looked at York, puzzled.

"Wait, we cannot abandon him this is the time when he needs us most." Jinx said

"It is not my decision...we cannot help him any longer, we must report back to Caius' place and see if he has returned...we must report our failure." York said

"I will not let him do this alone..." Jinx started but was cut off by York

"It is not our place to help him any longer and you will follow your orders." York said stepping closer to Jinx

Kiln could tell a fight was about to happen between them and so he stepped in the middle.

"I will travel alone, do what you must but my path is no longer with you." The very words hurt Kiln to say but he couldn't stand to see one of them fall if they should come with him

Kiln turned toward Sul-Matuul's yurt and walked toward it. He had newfound faith in himself though he still was unsure of how he could be the nerevarine...he would read from the journal as soon as he could to try and find out if the words Azura had told him could be true but for now he must seek the counsil of Sul-Matuul and find out exactly what to do next.
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Hope this explains a few things to everyone and sets things up for Kiln to continue his journey.

Author's note: I originally told Minque the plot for my story in chat in which York was the nerevarine and Kiln was just following and helping him fulfill his task. Plans have changed a bit since then and now Kiln is nerevar, though it may be a bit hard to understand from earlier story elements I do hope you can bear with me for a bit since I can't edit parts of the first few chapters due to them being locked.

A few errors I would like to point out occur in the first chapter such as nearly no description of the character and the first two posts are in first person and then every part past that moves to third person but all of these things along with spelling errors and such will be fixed in the final draft of this story which I will begin work on after It's been completed in its current form.

Thanks for reading,
-Kiln

I'm glad you decided to go on, great story Kiln.

Hi Mr.Oven... you know me it's the usual comment that come from me....Amazing. Do you use magic when you write or something, as it's to grand to be just....human

Well, it's really interesting to see Kiln become Lord Nerevar reborn, but now as York and Jinx are going away, what will happen to Red...I'm just wondering.

Please give us more, you deserve many

Great addition Mr Kiln. Yes I am curious as to what is going to happen to Red and I think Jinx is going to "stalk" Kiln and follow him even though he doesn't want him to

I almost feel sorry for York. He is crushed. Well, keep up the good work and we are patiently awaiting a new section(thingy)

Well, that came as a surprise. I had not anticipated that Kiln would turn out to be the Nerevarine. It is sad to see him leaving his friends; I do hope they are not gone for good.

Thanks for your continued effort on this story. I continue to look forward to each new installment.