18+ Gone But Not Forgotten

[Ponder]

The gorgeous woman screamed, long and loud. Pilus looked down dejectedly. He'd had his brief moment in the sun, but, like everything, it had quickly passed him by. It didn't even wave. Nevertheless, Pilus firmly gripped a remaining sliver of hope. She hadn't screamed first. That had to count for something. At least he'd been given a fair chance to attempt conversation. Retracing his words in his mind, he wasn't entirely sure where it all went wrong.

Pilus rallied himself. "Please," he cried, misunderstanding the look on her face. "It's okay! It's just an appendix. You don't have to be afraid."

His speech was cut off by the thump of heavy feet. A giant burst into the room, brandishing his sword. "What's going on? Did you harm my friend?" He roared. He glanced at the organ in Pilus' hand, and froze, for a split second. Then, comprehension dawned on his face, followed by a look of horror.

"Please, don't hurt me!" Pilus was terrified. These were dangerous people. The kinds of people he'd promised Grandmother he'd never get mixed up with. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's just an appendix. I swear!"

He slowly and deliberately lowered the organ back into has bag. "It's gone now. You're okay. Nothing's going to hurt you. Appendixes really aren't that dangerous. Except, of course, for the one inside of you. That one's really dangerous." Maybe the woman would give him another chance. He smiled at her hopefully, although his eyes were wide with terror.

 

[Farthlion]

"I think the problem is that you somehow have an appendix. And have obviously made my very brave friend scream," Farth commented, stepping toward the Imperial. He gave the best angry look he could, but in truth he was attempting to hold his breakfast in. "How did you get in here anyway? And why? You don't just sneak into the room of a woman."

 

[Ponder]

"How did you get in here anyway? And why? You don't just sneak into the room of a woman."

Pilus froze. In retrospect, he probably should have explained the appendix first. And these people, hardened adventurers by the look of them, couldn't even stand the sight of a small organ. He would have scoffed, if he hadn't been terrified for his life.


"There was a man. An elf, I mean," he stammered, praying that the huge Redguard would give him enough time to speak. "His daughter was dying. It was her appendix! I had to take it out, or it would've killed her!" He glanced at the woman. "He saw me cutting it out, and misundersto-" There was a crash downstairs, and the sound of shouting. "Oh, Mara! He's here!"

Pilus dove under the bed. "Don't let him hurt me! It's just a misunderstanding, I promise!" The healer screamed. "He has a candlestick! He has a candlestick!

 

[Aerin]

As Farth broke into the room her heart soared, until he turned a peculiar shade of green. She had hoped he would have seemed a little more imposing but considering the strangers reaction it seemed enough.

Following the blur of movement Elsa gaped as the stranger darted under her bed. Looking to Farth she threw her hands in the air in exasperation. "I just woke up and he was there. Watching me. Holding an an...an appendix!"

Crouching beside the bed Elsa glared at the stranger. "A candle stick will be the least of your worries if you don't explain yourself right. Now."

 

[Farthlion]

This guy was crazy. He had to be. That was the only explanation - one simply is not a good citizen after removing an appendix from a young woman. "There was a man. An elf, I mean. His daughter was dying. It was her appendix! I had to take it out, or it would've killed her!"

Who in the world would cut a stranger's appendix out in the first place? Farth, being a positive thinker, came to the conclusion that this madman had truly thought he was doing a good deed.

"Oh, Mara! He's here!" The bard looked toward the door as the man dove under the bed. Talking before attacking in these situations was still an instinct, so he wasn't about to go and kill the guy, but his patience was running thin with this man. Farth didn't understand how one could just break into a woman's room and show her an appendix without understanding that both of these actions were very wrong.

"I don't know if you got into some type of mushroom or something, but there are some very, very messed up things with your story," he spoke calmly and pointed a sword toward the hiding man, unsure what to make of him being afraid of a candlestick. Perhaps a fear of warm objects was a side effect with the mushrooms the man had consumed?

 

[Ponder]

Where does it always go wrong? Pilus thought to himself, cowering under the bed.

"I don't know if you got into some type of mushroom or something, but there are some very, very messed up things with your story,"

He took a deep breath, and tried to explain. "Listen, I'm a healer. A healer!" The shouting was growing closer. "I heal people! It's what I do! But you can't always just cast a spell. Sometimes things need to be removed from the body, or the body will shut down. The man chasing me-" he whimpered as he heard someone climbing the steps "-his daughter's appendix had failed, and if I hadn't taken it out she would have died. Please! He doesn't understand that it needed to be removed. He thinks I hurt her! He wants to bludgeon me to death with a candlestick! I don't know how to fight! I'm a healer!" he repeated himself, hoping they'd understand, as the angry Dunmer grew ever closer.

 

[Mesmerize]

As Jadoric spoke to Relyn, the Redguard approached the table. His eyes met the vampires and confusion filled his eyes. "Are you sick, sir?" Jadoric chuckles at the Redguard's question. "You can say that." Suddenly, a scream erupts from upstairs. It sounds like a woman's scream. Possibly the Nord's? The Redguard and Dunmer both rush upstairs, apparently to check on their friend. Jadoric just sits quietly, petting Vapor's soft, cold, dark fur.

Jadoric's attention is averted to the loud slam of the door being thrust open with great force. An angry-looking Dark Elf carrying a candlestick barged in, shouting for an Imperial man named Pilus. Must be the same man I saw coming in earlier. Jadoric then slowly gets up, and steps in front of the Dark Elf. Jadoric stares into the elf's eyes, with his hypnotic stare. He then casts his Vampire Seduction on the Dark Elf and leads him to a small empty room. Vapor sits outside the door, keeping out any unwanted visitors. Nothing is heard as the Breton slaughter's the victim, stealing his very life force and capturing it into a black soul gem. Jadoric then resurrects the Dark Elf, and walks casually out of the room. Followed by the elf and Vapor.

Jadoric walks up the stairs, and stands outside of the door where the commotion is going on. He hears the Imperial screaming about a Dark Elf wanting to kill him. Time to have some fun. Jadoric commands his new thrall to "enter the room and scare the living s**t out of the Imperial." The thrall, mindless and obeying says "Yes master." The thrall enters the room and starts screaming at the Imperial, threatening his life and existence. Outside, the Breton is laughing like a mad man, enjoying every minute of it.

 

[Aerin]

Narrowing her eyes Elsa listened closely to the poor man who was quivering under her bed. He claimed to be a healer and the more he talked, the more obvious it became that he was hardly a threat. Dropping her head against the bed she groaned as her new found sense of morality kicked in. Apparently spending your every waking hour with people who actually possessed a conscience had an effect.

"I am going to trust you on this. Hesitantly I might add." Strapping her daggers around her hips Elsa pushed her hair from her face. "And you promise you weren't in here trying to steal my...appendix?" At the poor man's desperate whimper Elsa rolled her eyes. Standing up she turned to Farth.

"I don't know what is wrong with this guy but I feel like kicking him out would be a morally bad thing to do." Elsa looked unsure as if trying to gauge whether her diagnosis of the situation was correct or not. Before she would have had no qualm in booting the imperial out, but after her time with the group she had learnt to be more patient and less, how had Farth put it?...morally questionable. As the apparent dunmeri father approached Elsa questioned her actions one last time before bracing herself for the imminent confrontation.

An enraged dunmer brandishing a candlestick burst into Elsa's room and for the second time that day she briefly wondered what had happened to privacy and good manners. It takes a moment for Elsa to realise that the dunmer standing before her is no longer living. At a complete loss for words Elsa backs against the bed, subconsciously putting herself between the bizarre apparition and the equally bizarre imperial. How she found herself in situations like this was beyond her. Steeling herself she slashed her twin blades through the body in front of her, the dunmer falling to the floor. Stepping forward she turned to the bed and offered a hand to the imperial. "Get out from under my bed."

Looking to the now fallen figure on her bedroom floor Elsa did her best to quell her growing temper. "Can somebody please tell me what is going on. I have been rudely awakened by a stranger holding what I now know to be an appendix, and now have had to deal with an undead dunmer holding a candlestick. I am not in a patient mood so I suggest you talk quickly." She was well aware that she was shouting at a corpse but she couldn't find it in her to care, green eyes burned with barely contained fury. Though much had changed since Elsa had first joined the caravan, one thing remained the same. Elsa was not the most level-headed in the mornings, and today was no exception.

 

[Ponder]

The Dunmer was dead. Well, undead. Or quite possibly un-undead. He stared in horror at the woman who had ruthlessly cut the thrall down. While she was still quite beautiful--and, Pilus noticed, had lush green eyes reminiscent of his mother's--he was also rather frightened of her. The Dunmer was only trying to protect his daughter, and she had mercilessly cut him down. His only fault was being, technically, dead. To his surprise. Pilus found her moral ambiguity rather...attractive.

"Get out from under my bed."

Pilus scurried out, breathless. "Yes. Of course. Sorry. Thank you. You saved me! Thank you!"

She glared at the men in her room. "Can somebody please tell me what is going on. I have been rudely awakened by a stranger holding what I now know to be an appendix, and now have had to deal with an undead dunmer holding a candlestick. I am not in a patient mood so I suggest you talk quickly." Her eyes, Pilus thought. Just like Mother's. It's fate! It has to be!

An opportunity presented itself. They look like they're going somewhere. She looks like she's going somewhere.

"Please," he said. "My name is Pilus. I don't know what's going on, but you look like you're going somewhere. I could help! It's always good to have a healer. And I can cook!" He smiled as best he could. "And I promise to leave all your appendixes alone!"

 

[Farthlion]

Farth nodded slowly, "I trust your judgement, but I'm also extremely creeped out."

A crazed Dark Elf suddenly appeared, and Farth was sure he was now hallucinating. He watched as Elsa quickly dispatched the elf without further thought. His friend was quite pissed off - and with every right. After the Imperial left his hiding spot, he immediately sheathed his weapon and went to place a strong hand on the man's shoulder.

He gave the young Nord girl a look that said 'Are you seriously going to say yes to this wackjob?'

 

[Aerin]

Shooting a rather despaired look at her friend Elsa shrugged. Turning to the quivering man beside him Elsa pouted. "Look at him Farth, I mean yeah, he's kind of creepy but, he could get himself killed going about the way he is."

As she thought about it something in her just screamed to at least keep an eye out for the stranger, Pilus, she amended. The poor man looked like he was about to faint and frankly they could use a good healer in their group. Perhaps if they'd had one before they wouldn't have lost Sorex. Trying her most charming smile Elsa looked up at Farth. "Come on, how bad can it be? He promised not to steal our appendixes. If he does try I'll take care of it. Understand Pilus?" Her voice turned from friendly to firm, fixing the imperial with a stern look. If she was going to try and convince Farth and Relyn to offer some form of protection to Pilus she knew she would have to accept full responsibility if he turned out to be a complete lost cause.

 

[Mesmerize]

The Breton finally regains his composure after he hears the screams from the Imperial and the groans from the thrall being slaughtered. Just as planned. Jadoric then steps into the door frame and leans against it, petting Vapor as he sits and drools. "Oh now, come on. I don't go around killing your thralls, do I?" He gives a little chuckle as he looks at all the confused faces. The Nord of is pissed off, and the Imperial who is scared s**tless.

"It seems I arrived just in time for the party." He spits on the ground. Vapor looks up at Jadoric, begging to be fed. "Go on, boy. Enjoy the meal." Vapor then runs full speed to the dead Dunmer and starts devouring the meat. "He prefers Elf."

 

[Gentleman Adventurer]

Relyn dashed around the corner just in time to see Jadoric's hound eating an elf's corpse. "He prefers Elf." Relyn cleared his throat, making his presence known. "How nice. My friends, this interesting fellow is Jadoric Delnares. He would like to travel with us."

 

[Farthlion]

"I unfortunately trust your judgement," Farth's grip on the Imperial's shoulder tightened and her began to steer him to the door, "We are going to let Elsa wake up and wait for her downstairs now."

He stopped as he noticed the sickly man from earlier in the doorway, and his dog eating the deceased Dark Elf. This day was getting insane. Why was it that every first day of a journey, things began to be unrealistically strange. Dragons first, now this?

"Are you seeing this Relyn!?" he exclaimed, groaning in frustration as he spoke his next words, "He wants to come with us? You will need to talk to Garrus then... I was just going to escort... this man to our kind leader."

Farth groaned, passing the two and directing the insane Imperial out the door and into the lobby of the inn, where Garrus was sure to be waiting. Why Elsa felt the need to bring him along and shelter him, he had no idea.

 

[Aerin]

Rubbing a hand over her face Elsa whimpered and picked up her things, taking time to readjust her leathers. If she took the time to acknowledge the strange dog feasting on the dead elf on the floor she was certain she would burst into tears. It was simply too early in the morning to deal with all this madness.

She glanced at Relyn and his new friend and winced. Walking past the strange looking man now stood in her room she paused, taking in his sickly appearance. Something about him made her feel uneasy and she quickly followed after Farth and Pilus.

Making her way downstairs she looked to the bar and couldn't help but feel that a few ales would make this morning easier to deal with. She sighed, the heel of her hand rubbing at tired eyes as she stood beside Pilus. He was a strange man but she was hopeful that he would prove useful to them. He seemed so helpless, at least they would be able to offer him some kind of protection.

 

[Mesmerize]

After watching his Death Hound finish off the Dark Elf, Jadoric catches the Nord woman's eyes. She stops in front of him, mesmerized by his appearance. She has no idea what he really is, so he intends to have some more sickly fun. "Come on, Vapor." The Hound runs to his master's side, satisfied by his latest meal. Jadoric then looks at Relyn "That was interesting enough, I suppose." He then turns and follows the group of travelers downstairs.

He enters the main lobby and takes a seat in his original spot. He observes the group of travelers as the begin talking to the man who is apparently the leader of the group. The man that the Redguard called Garrus. Jadoric catches a small glance every now and then from the different group members. He just smiles at them, ravishing in the fear he caused the Imperial not too long ago.

 

[Farthlion]

Farth sighed in relief when he easily saw Garrus. Keeping his grip on the crazy Imperial's shoulder, he guided him to the man. He looked over his shoulder to see Elsa and the sick Breton had followed.

"Garrus... this is, well, these are two strange men who have requested to join us on our journey. This one," he pointed with his free hand at Pilus, "Was found in Elsa's room, and the other is friends with Relyn." Upon finishing his sentence, he realized he probably should have worded the statement a bit better. For his friend Elsa, he wasn't going to mention that he was found holding an elf's organ to the young girl, but stating he was found in her room was a tad vague.

 

[Rextoret]

"Garrus... this is, well, these are two strange men who have requested to join us on our journey. This one was found in Elsa's room, and the other is friends with Relyn." Garrus eyed the two newcomers. One looked cowardly and shy, almost frail. The other, had a look in his eye that sent shivers down Garrus' spine. He had heard about vampires before, and what he heard was not good. This man was obviously one, his yellow eyes and pale skin stood out like a sore thumb. Not to mention this 'dog' he had with him. Turning back to look at the other, he saw the man's robes where covered in blood and vomit. He was being held by the Redguard, and it looked like he had just seen a ghost. 'Odd pair.' He thought. He knew exactly how difficult this journey would be and he could not guarantee any of them would survive, not even himself. But he was not about to deter any possible allies away.

"So long that one stays away from my neck, and that one doesn't run away in a battle, they may come along." Garrus said, followed by a sigh. He honestly didn't think any of these companions of his would prove useful in any way. Especially the cowardly one. "I want everyone ready in a few minutes. After that we will set out for Tear, a port town in Morrowind. Our first stop will be in Kragenmoor. If you do not want to proceed with us, then leave now." Garrus walked over to the door and leaned up on the wall next to it, ready to leave.

 

[Farthlion]

Farth was ready to depart. The bard released the Imperial, but watched him closely. "What did he mean by staying away from his neck?" he wondered innocently out loud.

 

[Aerin]

Wincing a little at Garrus's brisk tone Elsa rubbed the back of her neck. Quirking a brow at Farth she hazarded a glance at the breton. "Uh, not sure, but I think I can share the sentiment. Maybe he's contagious or something?"

Looking over at Pilus Elsa couldn't help but sigh. She felt partially responsible for the man now, and the young girl was aware of one thing that needed to be taken care of immediately. "Pilus, I don't suppose you have any other robes do you? You have...fluids, all over those ones and it's beginning to smell." Worrying her lip she wondered if Relyn had a charm that could clean the robes, it would certainly prove convenient. Perhaps she could grab a set of robes on their way out. She was familiar enough with the layout to be quick.