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Celia shrugged. "There's really nothing much you can do, unless you can get more healing potions for the more able warriors..." She gestured to more restless, but somewhat injured men and women. "Besides that, I think we are fine here... at least, until the next batch of injured people, anyway."

Osano lead the group of 20 or so men outside and pointed to where the gates once were, "Help your allies and defend this city," he said as the anxious men ran to the fight. He walked over to the wall and climbed up on top of it to look over the battle. To his surprise the battle was moving quite smoothly. Ald'Ruhn was still ounumbered but one man could take several constructs before being killed. He sat down and felt fatigue take him.

Osano had been so immersed in the battle he forgot to think about himself. He was hungry; hungrier than he had ever been, thirsty, and tired. He scanned the town and spotted a tavern. He stood up, walked to the tavern and opened the door quitely not knowing who was inside. Osano approached the bar and ordered a Sujamma and two loaves of bread and sat down in a corner table hoping the others hadn't noticed him

OOC: by all means feel free to notice him. i dont think serene konrad megil OR otik ( ) know he's good again.

"Apparently I'm not needed anywhere." he said jokingly as he made himself comfortable by sitting on the floor.

OOC: Umm Otik is in the tavern too.

Shakur had noticed that it was almost impossible for such a small group to kill Arcyakt, and for about the first time in the battle, thought about himself. Shakur ran back, past Arcyakt's army shooting fireballs at the fires he had started in their ranks earlier and was happy to see the wall of fire he had created earlier was still burning. He levitated over the wall and to the Rat in the Pot, quickly bursting through the door. "Hey everyone, I'll be out in a bit because of the stragglers, but I need some minor healing for some cuts and bruises. Also, barkeep, I'll take the biggest, tastiest most expensive meat you have, sided with a nice Cyrodiilic Brandy" Shakur smiled to the barkeeper, he had known him for years, ordering the same two things almost every time he had come to Ald'Rhun to see relatives.

The two entity's fought over control of Falx's mind. With Falx fighting a losing battle. The power of darkness was overpowering.

-==-

In the realm of reality, the battle was going well, but Jonacin was by himself confronting Arcyakt.

Megil continued to drink, and think. he then asked the others at the table.

"so what are your plans after this if over?"

Shakur grabbed a chair and sat down at the table with everyone else. "I plan to help rebuild this province, maybe do some freelance work for some good causes. Maybe I'll work with you guys a bit, or help my cousin Darus on the mainland. Actually, I wouldn't mind going back to Sentinel, see how times have changed. How about you, Megil?" Shakur said, many a time he had thought of what he would do after this, but now the future seemed so close to him.

"Not sure, I hav enp desire to return to Azura's shrine, where my home is. Might help rebuild Vivec and establish a residence near the city." Megil said pensively.

Ah...Serene said, I will help rebuild Ald´ruhn....that is my home.Then I hope Jonacin will come and live with me, but maybe he has some obligations as well.I´ll discuss the matter with him anyway.

She ordered another flin, tasted it and made a grimace..."Ewww, it taste foul" she said...I´ll have a brandy instead.

She downed the brandy and ordered one more......somehow she just wished to get a bit drunk.....the battle of Ald´ruhn was an ordeal for her..and it was by no means over yet....

"...I don't know. Most likely I'll end up starting a family in some backwater village and fading into obscurity." The battlemage sighed as he said this, barging into the conversation.

...I can live with that under certain conditions...

Megil nearly spewed the flin through his nose, "You , anthanes fade into obscurity? My it seems that you did learn humbleness during this ordeal. I am glad."

Many of us have changed during this..Serene sighed....and that is good, we will never forget one another..we were so close....

She put her arms on the table and stared out in the air...


Jonacin...where are you...

"Actually, everyone who performs deeds of greatness without taking over control is doomed to fade into obscurity." , the half-dunmer commented.

"yes, yes we have, haven't we." megil said quietly looking down at the table suddenly pensive.

perhaps the change was only temporary, or perhaps it was permanent. War makes people change, it always has and it always will. But the question remains, will i return to being how I was or will I remain on the cusp of insanity.


"Tisk tisk, insanity is such a crude word. I can't believe you are thinking about this my boy, don't you like what i have done to you?"

Go away i don't want to talk to you right now, In fact I don't want you to ever come back into my head, I want you to leave.

Silence.

"Very well, if that is the way you want it, but you can't keep me out forever."

And with that sheogorath left Megils mind, but his presence their had left it mark, a mark that would one day surface again. For madness is always a patient stalker.

Konrad placed his feet back on the stone flooring, uncrossing them and bowing his head. He thought about what he was going to make of himself after the...end...but stayed silent.

Who knows? I'm probably going to die within the hour anyway

He brushed his hand through his hair and slouched back on his chair, gazing at all the people he knew.

"You're uncharacteristically silent, Konrad."

Serene looked up....seing Konrad move

"Are you OK Konrad" she asked smiling....."And you Megil? you look so absentminded..."

Megil looked up,

"yes, yes, I am fine, just thinking is all." he said with a small smile.

"so anyone kept track on how many beasts they have killed today?"

I don´t think I´ve killed any at all.....Serene muttered

"I am not sure. Could care less once Arcyakt gets on the bloody list."

Anthanes grinned.

"Well how many have you spared from death's grasp then Serene?" Megil said trying to spark some conversation.

he laughed at Anthanes's comment, "Agreed."

Anthanes smirked. "So... I noticed my level of irritation is only at the average level for the time of the day. Where's Jonacin?"

"Locked in combat with the mage, how else do you think that we have managed to make a dent in his army. Jonacin is keeping him busy" Megil said,

"I wouldn't worry to much, he can handle himself. and he has the sword," he added, trying to reassure Serene.

OOC: i hope you meant physics. serene is a psychic. so unless your theory had to do with esp, then youmeant physics

Anthanes grunted. "He just had to take the bloody glory for himself, hadn't he." The battlemage then ponders a theory of psychics, considering the hardness of a redguard male when compared to the sharpness of a giant pointy mousetrap.

Oh....hmmm, Serene thought carefully about this....quite a few I reckon she said looking more cheerful than before....

Osano sat quietly listening to the other's conversation. He ate his bread quickly but took small sips of his drink, savoring it.

(ooc sorry school TGIF)


Otik ordered a brandy, "I think I would like to get into the East Empire Company, or at least the Caldera Mining corp." Otik smiled "From the way I've heard that they opperate I should get rich quick" He took a drink "Or I could always be an assasin, I would think that job would be fun."

"If you were an assasin Otik, you would end up killing your bosses, with your itchy fingers when you draw that bow of yours."

Otik threw a kidding punch at Megil,"well if I do that then I will go to the more formal buissness at the east Empire Company. Ya see, I got it all covered. I just hope I don't get into trouble with the guards."

Sel was still seated, twiddling his thumbs. He looked up at Celia after a few long moments of silence.

"Celia," He began after a deep breath. "I'm in love with you." he said, averting his gaze in embarrassment.

OOC: Sel got less stupid!

Celia, caught off-guard, froze in mid-smile, her cheeks reddening. Slowly, the smile faded, and Celia felt awkward not knowing how to reply. She was also confused: She was still not used to young males admitting their affections for her...

She smiled slightly as she quickly crouched to where Sel sat, gave him a sweet peck on the cheek before running out of the room. It wasn't as if I did not like him like that; I am just... too shy for this kind of thing, she tried to assure herself.

Ouch. Sel thought to himself; he knew a rejection when he saw one, though he was appreciative of her nice way of doing it.

He sat there for a few minutes after she left before going outside to kill something.

Celia went outside of the Under Skar towards where she had last met the others: at the Rat in the Pot. If they were not there, she could always wait for them there. She did not see much danger coming her direction, but, to be safe, she ran alongside of the Ald-ruhn dwellings, trying to keep into the shadows whenever she could.

Just in case.

She thought she saw the bad mage from where she was, and immediately sped up, frightened. She barged in through the Rat in the Pot, and stopped at the enterance, taking in her surroundings and the people in the tavern...

Seeing some familiar faces, she sat down at a nearby empty table, feeling tired as well as a little depressed. She hoped this war would end soon... so she could go home in peace... If it was still in one piece, anyway...

Otik looked around," Hey Celia come Join us, We were talking about what we would do after this whole thing is over. Do you like brandy? Here." Otik handed her his drink "'scuse me barkeep could I get another brandy?"

"Otik, don't be pushin' brandies on young ladies, ends up badly believe me. But yes, come and join us Celia, parties over here" Shakur smiled, and his food arrived. He started digging in and cut away at the tastey meat.

Celia stood up and reluctantly sat with the others, her face still not smiling. She politely shook her head and handed the brandy back to Otik. "I am sorry, but I am not fond of brandy or anything of that sort..."

She glanced at Shakur as he tore on the defenseless meat. She tried to resist it, but she could not stop her mouth. She giggled softly. "I guess the werewolf is still in your blood, eh? Look at you, gnawing on that thing like a wolf or a wild dog!" She still could not believe how much Shakur has changed... especially the sudden growth of hair.

Sel walked past the Rat in the Pot, looking for a fight with some constructs or undead to take his mind off what just happened.

There were a few nearby, and he flung himself at them. There weren't very many left though, and after dispatching that small group, all the others were too far away to kill before someone else got to it first.

As he opened the door and took a step in, he noticed that Celia was right there. How had he missed her going by him? He stood still for a second, trying to decide what to so. They had probably already noticed him, and it was already too late to walk out, so he kept walking, avoiding eye contact with Celia.

He was a jumble of emotions at the time; he couldn't tell if he was confused, embarrassed, heartbroken, or all three put together, though he guessed it was the latter.

He walked past the group, found an empty table in the corner, and sat downin a slump, still holding on the the faint hope that nobody had noticed him, though they probably did...

"Hmm good point Shakur" Otik finished one of the bottles, "say, whats wrong Celia? When you came over you looked almost sad or confussed or something. Anything on your mind? A is it a septium for your thoughts." he held out a septum and layed it on the bar

OOC: is that to Sel?

okies.

OOC: NO we haven't noticed Sel yet at least I don't think so. I was talking to Celia but Mergirl isn't on at the moment

yes but he took a back table and is facing the other way right?

OOC: *cough* osano is in the bar too you now....

yes but i imagine he's fairly recognizable with a burnt, cut to pieces robe and rather LARGE claymore....

ooc Ah. good point well I wont have Otik notice you........ yet also if we want to haev more conversations lets move this to planing

Shakur smiled when Celia made the werewolf comment, but he was so hungry he couldn't resist. He was so hungry and his brain needed nourishment. A sad looking sel walked past the door, and Shakur ate the last bit of his meat. "If you'll excuse me, I have a friend to talk to" Shakur stood up and put a chair across from Sel. "What's the problem kid? Need some time to think or some alone time? Maybe a little talk with a fellow man?" Shakur took his helmet off.

Damn, damn, damn!. Sel thought. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Especially not his "dad" who now looked more like his "brother".

"I'm fine." he assured Shakur. "Go drink, have fun, whatever you were doing." he replied.

"Sel, when you walk into a bar and sit by your lonesome, rejecting others from coming close to you, there are problems. I've been your age before, I've been through anything you are going through and I know talking to someone is the best thing I've ever done. And since I can't be happy unless my, "son" is happy, you can tell me whats bothering your for both of our sakes" Shakur talked quietly. The last thing a late teenage boy wants is to have his problems out for everyone to hear.

Damn! Sel thought, continuing his earlier line of thought. He searched his brain desperately for some kind of escape from this talk. Shakur had said something about him being by himself...

"Fine, I'll sit with you all then." he said taking a seat beside Serene and grabbing whatever form of alchohol that was on the bar.

OOC: feel free to read his thoughts that consist of "damn" minque

Shakur watched as Sel got up. "Well, I was expecting a heart to heart talk about some deep emotional feeling like love or hate but I guess if he wants to come over, thats ok" Shakur thought as he got up and sat down at his original seat. "So, anyone want me to get more drinks? I worked here for about five weeks but I had to leave to do some freelance work. Actually, that freelance work is what I was doing when I met you all. I had been recruited for some security for a nobleman in Cyrodiil but he passed away from old age when I was almost there, so I had no food, no water and no shelter. That's why I joined you guys. Well, that and the saving of Nirn".Shakur smiled.

Anthanes smirked, looking unnoticably from Sel to Celia. "It is quite obvious." , he said dryly towards Sel.