The Elder Scrolls: Legend of the Dwemer - A Post-Skyrim RP [Started]

[Tortilla the Hun]

Faulgor was sitting in the rear cart as they rolled on, inspecting his weapons and armor, a habit he'd formed from years of experience. The last thing he needed, were he to be in a fight, was his armor to come loose or a blade to be caught in its sheathe. Once he was content with the results of the inspection, he removed one of the daggers and began twirling it expertly in his fingers with a flick of his wrist the knife seemed to float towards his right hand as it mimicked the movements of his left and, in turn, twirling the knife just as skillfully. Faulgor was never one to show off, he just loved watching the blade dance through his fingers and knowing he was the one orchestrating it. It also served the purposes of keeping him on edge, keeping his dexterity at its best, and ensuring he never keep bored for too long. Back and forth the blade went, moving deftly from one hand to the other until the carriage had slowed to a halt, as did Faulgor's blade. Evidently, he'd lost track of time and they'd already reached their destination - an encampment which had been through a 'heated' debate of sorts. The Orc disembarked the wagon and stretched before approaching one of the smouldering remainders of huts.

"Well, seems they've come across a minor problem..." he thought aloud. "Let's hope it's a problem that isn't too fond of recurring."

 

[Redryhno]

Besst magess around,huh? And all they could do was get every hut and sssupply outside of here burned to ashesss, not to mention the ssssccent of charred flesh on the air? I fear for thessse Nordsss if thessse are their mightiessst magess.

Swims'Faster fastened the orish warhammer to his back, careful to keep the head in line where it wouldn't slow him down too much, grabbed a javelin and held it in the hand with his buckler, threw the older spear to Zavier as he had been holding it for the trip, and teaching him the basics during their evenings, he had proven a decent enough pupil and could now use it without stabbing himself with it. The newer spear he kept in hand, ready to move in a moments notice should danger come. He jumped down from the carriage and landed better than he had back in Whiterun when he first acquired the hammer.

"Hmmph, Ssten, you told uss that when we arrived we would be told exactly what it wass we were going after and what we would be facssing."

 

[Stalydan]

Jean could see the Argonian with the warhammer giving him and Aedan looks of smugness.

"Got something to say, swamp-breath?" approaching him close up "Three of my friends just died trying to fend off a dragon. I'd like to see you take one on!"

Walking over to Aedan, he took the bottle of spiced wine from him and took several gulps of it and then gave it back to his fellow mage. The warm sensation trickled down the back of his throat as the cinnamon mixed with the wine hit the right spots.

"If he looks at us like that one more time, I'm pushing him off this cliff" he whispered to the other Breton.

 

[BlackStar42]

"You ever get the feeling that you're not wanted?" Aedan muttered in agreement.

I'd love to see him try and kill a dragon with that pointy stick of his. See how much good a lump of wood does him against several tons of claw, muscle and fire. Well, technically fire doesn't weigh anything I suppose, but still. And now I'm arguing with myself. Not a good sign.

Aedan picked up his staff, made sure his fur cloak was billowing for maximum effect and followed Sten towards the entrance to the ruins.

 

[Redryhno]

Deciding that now was not the time to make enemies, Swims'Faster held his retorts. I will never undersstand these humansss, they missstake curiosssity for haughtinessss, happinessss for anger, and amorousssnessss with confusssion.

Watching one of the mages turn on his heel and allowing his cloak to billow, he couldn't help but smirk, the man was making a child's mistake, a cloak was not suitable clothing to go into the underground with, much less a possible combat situation, it would easily become a liability. The man had obviously not seen true combat.

He began walking faster, up to the ear of the taller Breton mage saying,"That cloak of yours is a liability in thessse enclossssed ssspacesss, you ssshould fold it up or get rid of it, now."

He then outdistanced Sten and holding his spear in the way of the entrance, "I will go no further unlessss you tell uss exactly what you expect to find inssside these ruins Sssten."

 

[Arrogancy]

Zavier carefully studied the destruction of the encampment. He had seen dragons before, usually several hundred feet up in the air, but on one or two occasions he watched from a good vantage point of a dragon loosing its power against its grounded prey. There was a certain elegance about dragons, he supposed, immense power given deadly form. The perfect hunter. More than once Zavier had wondered if he could fight a dragon off on his own. He was not an expert in any type of combat, though he knew a fair bit of destruction magic, but he was one of the eminent illusionists in Tamriel. Could he bend the mind of a dragon, trick it into doing his bidding? Though curious, he was far from foolish and never sought to get that question answered. But if a dragon were here, then that changed things.

Zavier turned and examined the new members of the expedition. Both were mages, that much was obvious. Sten spoke highly of their abilities, but Zavier decided to reserve judgment until he had seen them in action. He slid the spear Dromaeus had given him into his bag, that compacting enchantment had never ceased to be useful. It was a worthwhile weapon, but Zavier was by no means proficient with it. If it came to a fight, he'd prefer to put his trust in magic and shadow. He rearranged the bag a bit, pulling his lightning staff and elven dagger toward the top for easy access. More than once such simple preparation had saved him.

"What are we here looking for, anyway?" Zavier asked. He was with Dromaeus on this point, he wasn't going much further until he knew more about the goal of this expedition, and found the best way to maximize his own share of the reward.

 

[Mozza444]

Sten was now getting somewhat frustrated at the situation at hand.. too many questions and all too soon.. if it weren't for the dragon attack he may just have been able to keep the questions at bay, but sure enough.. it's time for answers.

"As much as i do admire your curiosity and.. indeed bravery, let me ask you this, do you think it would be wise to stand here while i tell ye' a tale or should we head inside? Please if you wish to remain in the cold i'm sure we will warm up quick enough when that damn flying beast returns. Otherwise lets head inside shall we? the bridge is weak but i shall watch over you from here with a telekinesis spell to help support the structure."

Sten turns his back and faces the bridge..
"Faulgor for the nines sake cross the bridge last.."

Draghff
Luckily the Orc had ignored him this side of Whiterun, his blade seemed to keep him entertained and his skill still put Draghff somewhat on edge.
Like the coward he was, he rushed across the bridge first even before Sten had a firm grip with his spell.. causing the bridge to crack and shake as he crossed it.

Anoke
"Very well Ssten.. I may be more in your service than the others but i cannot protect you without the knowledge of what we face.. I eagerly await your presence indoors."
He then proceeded to cross the bridge, much more light-footed than the Nord the bridge stayed somewhat firm under his boots.

Upon entering the breeze stops but the sheer cold does persist. Following an icy tunnel you are met with a small camp.
A fire lay at its center drastically improving the ambiance and temperature, above it stew is already cooking next to a gentaly simmering pot of mulled wine.
It's not brilliant but its comfortable.

Spoiler: OOC Where we are for reference

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Alftand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEj2UHWq-Rc

The first cave he enters is where we are staying (Where there is a damaged camp)
However it is much more welcoming with a fire ect.

 

[Malyc]

"As you wish, Sten." Raksada said, lightly stepping across the bridge. Knowing he had better vision in the darkness than the rest of the party, he headed just past the fire, and positioned himself against a wall close enough that he could still overhear the conversation while keeping an eye for denizens of the ruins trying to sneak up on them.

I wonder how Sten is going to avoid giving the whole truth this time. Raksada thought, He is quite adept at it. Almost makes me believe he was a thief at one point.

 

[Redryhno]

With a sigh and a grunt, Swims'Faster pulled his spear from Sten's path and walked across the bridge,We get here and ssstill we are not given ansswerss to the quesstionss we assk. Sten is quickly losing my respect and loyalty

He set up across from Raksada and began to keep watch, his eyes may not have the ability to pierce the darkness to the same extent as the Khajiit's,but he could see the movements of shadows in the dark from his years spent excavating and researching in the dim light of Morrowind's Telvanni houses.

 

[BlackStar42]

Aedan too walked across the bridge. His eyes were not as good as Raksada's, nor as trained as the Argonian's, but that didn't matter. Magic could see more than any mortal eye could. His hand glowed with a Detect Life spell. Granted, it couldn't detect Dwemer machines, but it would certainly detect anything alive close by, and there was no countermeasure on Nirn that could stop it. That he knew of, anyway.

Detecting nothing living nearby apart from the party, he quenched the spell, fingers closing inwards on the otherworldly light. He stepped close to the fire and waited for Sten and the others. He was curious as to how much they had been told. Not much, judging by their demands for answers. He was also curious as to how much gold they were being paid to travel to the desolate north of Skyrim to risk their lives searching through a dangerous ruin.

Spoiler: OOC

Mozza, you used that word "genitally". I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

[Mozza444]

Drahff
Seizing the opportunity with neither Sten nor Faulgor present he helped himself to a large cup of the wine.
Bout time too.. i was getting the shakes
"Do i even get something to defend myself with? I feel like a damn walking target." He questioned anybody who cared to listen who was in the room.

Unlike the others Drahff did not care what lye in the ruin, he had no choice but to be here.. he just did his best to enjoy the ride.
Contempt with his drink he positioned himself in the center close enough to the fire to appreciate its warmth but not close enough to be overpowered.

Spoiler: OOC

Corrected, i'm terrible at spelling.. i normally let chrome do the work.

 

[Malyc]

Hearing the comment from Drahff, and without turning, Raksada threw his steel dagger. It thunked into the dirt in between the drunkard's feet. "Should have thought about that before we left Rifton." He said, not liking the nord's attitude at all.

 

[Mozza444]

Drahff
"It's not like i had time to pack.. That damn green beast threw me into a wagon before i knew what was going on."
He picks up the dagger and wipes it oh his shirt.
"You must have mistaken me Kahjiit.. real Nords don't use damn twigs to defend themselves. That war-hammer your lizard friend has got looks more like my style."
With that said he returns to gulping his wine.

 

[Stalydan]

Jean was one of the last few to cross the bridge, holding fairly well despite the dire state of disrepair it was in. Walking in the ice caves, he saw the camp fire lit and the jug of wine beside it. Walking past the Nord who had just had a knife between his feet, Jean picked the cup out of his shaking hands.

"How kind of you to pour me one in advance" he said with a smile. "There's always a drunk" he thought to himself as he sat down by the fire to warm his hands. Alftand was one of the few ruins he'd been to that had been hidden beneath the ice of Skyrim's mountains. Even in some of the Ancient Nord ruins near the most Northern points were not this badly frozen.

Even from this distance, Jean was able to hear the Dwemer's machinery still turning and rumbling. It was a strange existence they had; one of the most powerful and knowledgeable races in all of Tamriel, building cities in mountains and creating living machines and yet they disappeared without any trace of where they went. Not that he agreed with everything they did. He had heard the legends of the Falmer as a young boy, an ancient race called the Snow Elves, enslaved by the Dwemer and blinded with poisons. Knowing that most legends have some truth to them, Jean was not too surprised when he met his first in an exploration of a place called Kagrenzel.

"So everyone. How much is Sten paying you to explore this place?" he said loudly, grabbing the attention of the others.

 

[Arrogancy]

Zavier kept quiet, constantly scanning the darkness ahead and behind. Years in the shadows had given him a well-trained eye for seeing things hidden in the dark. Out of habit, in his off-hand Zavier carried his lightning staff, in his fore-hand, he prepared an illusion spell.

Sten was carefully dodging their questions, carefully, at least, for someone not very adept at lying. He came off too stiffly, couldn't say the right things to stop the questions.

Dwemer ruins were naturally dangerous, the dwarves built countless machines to keep invaders out, most still functioned, long after the disappearance of the race that made them. Some of them wouldn't make it out of here, Zavier realized, it had always been a possibility, but now it was a certainty. He looked over the party, who would be the first murderer then?

 

[BlackStar42]

Aedan just couldn't help himself.
"Maybe real Nords do. What I can see is no real Nord. What I can see is a pitiful drunkard who couldn't even handle a horker, much less a Falmer. What the hell Sten was thinking when he brought you along, I have no idea."

 

[Redryhno]

Hearing the Nord's comment, Swims'Faster walked back to him, snatched his bottle of wine away and threw it against the the nearby wall, shattering it and handed him a javelin in his now free hand.

"Thisss iss your weapon Nord, now sstop drinking, and quit talking, we do not know what iss insside thisss place. Unlessss, of course, you are volunteering for the possition of trap tessster?"

 

[Mozza444]

Drahff
After a barrage of insults and threats the nord decided he would address the group as a whole, speaking loudly:
"Trap tester.. wouldn't that be ideal? You wouldn't know where to put me.. you'd be too busy concentrating on my movement while you get hit by one yourself. I have no choice to be here but.. the rest of you, not a smart move. A real Nord knows your plans are idiotic, you'd all follow a damn redguard into oblivion and back and for what? Gold? Ha, you've no even got that.. just because he so called promises it."

They may hate me.. but i got a spear out of it.

The little wine he had at least took away the harsh withdrawal from it, I wonder if that bloody lizard had took my skooma yet.. My skooma.

 

[Stalydan]

"Word of advice drunkard, the Falmer love Nord flesh. Try anything, I'll personally roast and give you to them myself." Jean said, opening the palm of his hand and demonstrating that he was indeed able to summon fire magic.

"And for your information, I followed Sten here because I trust him. He would not lead us to a Dwemer ruin if it meant certain death, especially when what's to be found in this place is most valuable."

He had said his words, hopefully the Nord would back down now. Guessing from his attitude so far though, that seemed unlikely. He hoped Sten would get here soon. As soon as he told the others why they were here, they could start going deeper into the ruins. Who knew what they might find in there though.

 

[Malyc]

"Just think of it this way, Nord." Raksada said, rapidly growing tired of the pessimistic Drahff, "You could try to be a bit more pleasant, or, and I'm fairly sure no one would stop me, I could escort you out of here and into a troll den. He was pretty hungry last I saw him, and his den is out of the way enough that I doubt he's gotten much to eat in the meantime. Your choice, but I'd recommend shaping up."

Here's hoping that will quiet him, if only until this venture gets underway. He thought to himself.