Private Harbingers Path * Story thread

Stickied

Please feel free to read and enjoy our little story. Your comments and critiques are welcome in our OCC Thread.


The story premise is like Warehouse 13, from the Sy-Fy channel. a small group of people charged with retrieving items of power, and storing them away safely. Only here in Skyrim, with all Lore of TES being observed if possible. Maybe some stretching to accomodate story elements. What I am looking for is a character driven story, mixing elements of all walks of life in. The credit to the original idea and premise for this story is Gemini Sierra. And will be the first person I ask to join in. all others wishing to join in should be prepared to discuss their character ideas and give some example of writing. I will be limiting it to around 5 to 6 people. To be able to have rapid turn over of story. Please be prepared to contribute at least every 2 days. I use these stories to unwind, de-stress and explore writing.

Group rules:

• 1. Have fun.
• 2. No godding, no killing forum members characters (unless expressly agreed upon by all players involved), or saying so and so robs store of all goods, ruining the experience of other people.
• 3. No profanity. No exceptions.
• 4. All posts should be relevant to the RP, except for Out Of Character which is occ:: I need to go to sleep now, my character will just go along with whatever you guys decide.::
• 5. if somebody leaves due to circumstances similar to the example in rule#4 you cannot say that, the player who just left gives away all their gold. You can only make decisions like whether to go to the cave or the orc camp and stuff like that.
• 6. This RP will be monitored by PurpleShew as story leader will resolve all RP related arguments, like who got what loot from bandits or stuff like that. But Renegader and the Moderators of this forum will have the final say in everything, meaning just because you are in an RP you may not break the rules of the forum.
• 7. Only one "playable" character. you can script your own Npc's they are to be simple and only to be there to help the story. Major NPC's will be scripted by PurpleShew as leader of the thread.
• 8. "Duels" are not allowed in this thread
• 9. Members must check and post once every 2 days, a seven day absence puts your character as inactive. You will be parked and considered out till we can work a way to catch your character back up to the group.
• 10. This time line will act as if the Helgen Attack and the Dragonborn questlines don't exist yet. All posts will be in TES universe Lore/skills/races.
• 11. If you decide to leave, you are required to write your own exit post. It should make some sense in the story and be respectful of the other characters.

Members are:

• Myself
• Hermaeus_Mora
• Minstrel
• Google
• Flint Firestorm
• Caravan Guard

We meet our first character already long on this path...

The letter only said meet a new partner at the Silver Blood Inn. The stamps in the wax though were both the Knights of Nine and Blades seals. So Bruynzeel, is to meet a Knight of the Nine paladin for a adventure that he hoped wasn't like his last partner. What was that now... sometime before the cataclysm. Clevenger WhiteBlade, stuck up, stick up his ass, unable to live in the moment... But when combat came down he was the end all be all of knights. Pity he passed, and not as a warrior but a aged and happy smithy and farmer. Even with a limp he could plow a field, rows straight as arrows, his attention to detail and pride in workmanship transferring to his fields. Sure the skill would be appreciated but there is a lot to be said for the intuition of a situation with a touch of fun.

So here he is on the trail again headed from his shack southwest of Riverwood he took from the hags servant so long ago. On the quiet coast of a lake, where the hunting is good. Headed to Markarth again.
Just then a messeger tops the hill at a run. Bruynzeel recognized his pace when he heard it over the hill top, and reflected by the rocks in this snowy pass south of Highrothgar. As he approached bruynzeel tossed him a pouch of money as he tossed a rather large parcel back. they both continued on their ways. With no words passing. Again the seals on the parchment of the parcel sealed in blue-green and gold ribbons. How festive. Like a gift. What is up with all the combined arms bull though. As he turns it in his hands a smaller note starts to fall but he catches it.
Stops in his tracks, Esbern, what are you up to? Looks around and knows he would hear anyone approaching for about a half-mile. So he pulls his pack around stows the larger parcel. and while crouched down opens the letter breaking the one seal. Reads the note and puts the letter in his armor, replaces his pack tightens the straps, checks his weapon placements. And heads toward his destination. The first stop he will read the files and meditate.


the note read....



Your on your own on this one. Old friend, but we knew you would be one day. Your one of the last Blades. But a greater mission came to light, and they want your help running a team. Train them to do whatever mission the Knight of the Nine representative asks. Just temper it with your experience. You have new 留学生 sensai. Thier files are in the package. May you find your end in glory, my honored ronin.

E.

Change is the only constant, your one good lesson.

Stickied

Leo entered the bannered mare after a long day of bounty hunting. All small time crooks and bandits so the pay was not that good. He climbed the steps to his room and reached for his room key but he stopped in his tracks when he noticed the door was already open. He drew his knife scian and slowly entered the room, scanning for danger as he did. Once he was sure the room was clear he shut the door behind him. It was then he noticed a small sealed envelope on the pillow on his bed. He picked it up and examined the seal on it. He then remembered it from his study's and recognized them as the seal of the Blades and the Knights of the Nine. He opened the envelope and began to read.......

Dear Leo,
Rumors of your exploits and talents have come to the attention of our little group. We are forming a united task force charged with a sensitive mission. Details will be given by a most unusual Khajiit named Bruynzeel who will meet you at the Silverblood inn.

Leo thought about the offer for less then a minute before deciding to go with it, thinking that it must be more exciting then bounty hunting. After paying for his room and purchasing new supplies he hired the carriage at the gates and set out for the silver blood inn.

The Knight was riding his horse towards Markarth, when suddenly an outrider appeared. "Hail, Ser Knight. I have been asked to bring you a letter." The rider handed over the letter, and was gone as quick as he appeared. The Knight tried to look at his face, but he couldn't see it. He shrugged and looked at the letter. Two seals were on it, one of the Blades, and one of the Knights of the Nine. interesting. He thought, before opening it. The message said;

"Dear Glass Knight,
Rumors of your exploits and talents have come to the attention of our little group. We are forming a united task force charged with a sensitive mission. Details will be given by a most unusual Khajiit named Bruynzeel who will meet you at the Silverblood inn. "

The letter looked real enough to the Knight, and so he set out towards the Silverblood Inn.

The Dark Knight sat sown in a large room inside the Nchuand Excavation Site. He looked through the list of bounty's that were placed on the table in front of him. "It never gets any smaller, does it?" Aicantar said from behind, but the knight ignored him. "Ok then. I have a letter for you." The knight turned to Aicantar, but said nothing. "I don't know how the carrier knew to give it to me, but he did. Here, I have not opened it yet." The knight took it. He grabbed a knife from the table, opened the letter, and read what it had to say. After he finished, he handed it back to Aicantar. "What did it say?" The knight did not answer. Aicantar looked down at the letter and read it aload, which he always did when reading.

Dear Dark Knight,
Rumors of your exploits and talents have come to the attention of our little group. We are forming a united task force charged with a sensitive mission. Details will be given by a most unusual Khajiit named Bruynzeel who will meet you at the Silverblood inn."

"What an odd letter." He looked up from the letter to find that the Dark Knight was no longer there. Aicantar sighted. "Why does he always do that."

Sita opened the door to a small shack that sat a mile off of the path to Solitude, walked inside, and closed the door behind her. She had discovered the building only two days ago, it was empty and she decided it would work well as her base of operations along side the inns she stayed at. The day before she had set up a small desk with a candle, paper and writing instruments atop of it. In the corner a bare hammock had been strung which Sita had slept in last night.

She threw the dead body of a fox she had just killed on the floor and then walked over to her desk. To her surprise an unusual letter lay on it. She picked it up and examined the two seals. One belonged to the Blades, the other the Knights of the Nine. How anyone could have known she was here baffled her as she had only been here herself a few days, she dismissed the thought however, and proceeded to open the letter. It read:

Dear Sita Acilius
Rumors of your exploits and talents have come to the attention of our little group. We are forming a united task force charged with a sensitive mission. Details will be given by a most unusual Khajiit named Bruynzeel who will meet you at the Silverblood inn


'Well then, I better get myself to the Silverblood inn.' Sita said to herself.

She grabbed her Elven bow and arrows, a bottle of mead and headed out of the door. Not before she scoping the room for anyone who might be lurking in the shadows, but there was no one.

Bruynzeel arrives in Markarth, with little incident, two bears and a small roving band of bandits, the bears he avoided and the bandits seemed more interested in a Imperial patrol that was due through.
Kleeper waved Bruynzeel in close and stated "Your rooms, all 6 of them were paid for. Plus the food for 3 days." Bruynzeel acknowledged him and asked where his was. Klepper replyed largest one at the end of the western hallway, pointed and presented a key. Bruynzeel said "I want all the keys so I can check out the accomodations." Kleppper snorts in derision but reluctantly hands over the keys. Bruynzeel looks over the rooms test the locks, looks for good spot for storage and then gives back the other keys and goes to his own room. Closes the door and inspects the room similarly as he did the others and then pulls his pack around setting it on the bed. He then precedes to take deep breaths concentrating. Calming his mind. Closes his eyes and starts to take off his armor and care for his weapons. Reaching into his pack he pulls his finest clothes out a all white light ornamental leather and cloth set. Silver accents, and clasps. Donning this he stows his Armor and weapons on the shelves and retrieves the parcel of files.

Leo,
distrustful of elves, history with the Thalmor, but then I am a blade so what else is new? Quite a list of deeds, including taking out a entire band of bandits when his caravan was under attack. With a bow! Has assassin problems.

Glass Knight,
Has a history, and clear father issues, and thats why he hides his name, But the tricks and tactics when using that glass axe. Well seems he has a sense of honor, just a touch rough around the edges. Hahaha Likes to drink and talks alot.

The Dark Knight,
Not really a knight, likes gadgets, and doesn't use magic. Took out the Scarecrow, shoot I remember that crazy khajiit was selling some ramped up skooma, hallucenagenic stuff. So a ex-thief with a hatred for corruption, and a bag, sorry belt of tricks.

Sita, Skilled at bow, attractive, young, but has family issues a kidnapping?, that lead her to drink.

What a bunch of skilled misfits. All seem pretty self taught, all independant, skilled, and all have issues.
Not including what will surely be a lack of reguard for authority, or boundries. Great sounds like a perfect teaching environment.

Packs away the files, primps his appearance and heads out to a chair next to the fire facing the door. "A glass and a ash tray, and for dinner pheasant, with vegetables." Pulls a small leather covered flask and a cigar case out of his breast armor, leans over and grabs a long stick with a coal on it from the fire and lights his cigar. Turns to see the glass presented and pours a bit of brandy into it, and waits.

Sita reached Markarth as the sun began to set. On either shoulder she carried an wolf pelt that she had killed and skinned herself along the way. She hadn't the slightest idea why, it was instinct to her. As she made her way past the market area, men and women who were packing up their stalls all stopped what they were doing to stare at Sita. Even when she gave them each hard stares they continued.

'Oh, for god sake, would you stop staring you old hags!' She said turning back to them.

There was a moment of silence where everyone took in as much of Sita as they could with shocked eyes, but then they continued with what they were doing. She asked a man for directions to the Silver-blood in and then made her way towards it.

'This is probably a trick.' She whispered to herself. 'The Legion have probably found out about one of my carriage robberies.'

Still, she opened the door to the inn and stepped inside. Before she did anything else she dropped her wolf pelts on the floor - another routine she had become accustomed to - and then looked around. Straight away she saw the Khajiit sitting at a chair facing the door, but she had a more pressing matter to attend to. She gave the Khajiit a little wink so he knew who she was and then strolled over to the bar.

'Bottle of mead please'

'That'll be three septims.' The man at the bar said putting a bottle on the counter. There obviously weren't many good looking women around here as the man was wearing a huge smile and didn't know where to look. First her face, then her breasts. Finally he decided on her whole body.

Sita put three septims on the counter. 'Thanks.' She made sure to give him a wink as well.

Grabbing a chair from one of the tables she pulled up along side the Khajiit. She took a swig of her drink and then spoke.

'Are you looking for me?'

Leo saw the red haired girl enter the inn across the street. He had been sitting there for an hour watching for suspicious activity but she was the first to enter in the entire time he had been sitting there. He had also asked around if any newcomers had entered the city in the past week but the only one they Knew of was a khajiit who arrived earlier today.

Leo decided that the odds were in his favor that their wasn't an assassin here. He opened the door to the inn and went inside. He immediately took in his surroundings. He noticed the red haired women talking to a khajiit. Leo sat at the bar and ordered an apple and some water. He watched the pair from the bar as he ate.

The door slammed open. The Glass Knight entered. The barkeeper looked up, and the Knight was at the tap in just over 3 seconds. "I want a lot of mead and a man named Bruynzeel. Yku know him?" Then, the Knight looked around, watching for any suspicious men, or women at that.

Bruynzeel nods to the winking Sita, then as she approaches "Forgive them their looks, for you are indeed a beauty, the smell of freshly tanned leathers is more interesting in my book. Tell me huntress, it is the thrill of the hunt, you like right?" as the she starts to speak.. he holds up a manicured paw and says softly. "Let's keep it to small talk for now, til everyone arrives." observes Leo quietly acting like he was not watching them, as a figure clad in the green glass he so prefers, practically bashes in the door and confronts the entire bar. "Great that one is headstrong and boisterous." poking a claw in the direction of Leo, since he turned to face the entrance of the Glass Knight "And he is with us too."

The Dark Knight entered the inn. It was not normal for him enter somewhere without using steath, but he knew that no one would try and bother him. He had come to the conclusion that a stranger had writen the letter, as none of the natives here have ever used the symbols that he had noticed on the letter. He looked around the room and noticed a warrior in glass armor getting a drink at the bar. He was a stranger, but he doubted he was the one that sent the letter. Most of the natives looked nervous. Not surprising, as everyone in Markarth knew who he was. Slowly, he observed his surroundings, and noticed a Khajiit in an expensive clothes near the fireplace. He stood out more then of the other strangers here. If anyone was to have written a letter like the one he had received, it was most likely him. And by the looks of things, these strangers are here for more then just drinks and conversation. No doubt they also have been given a letter like the one Aicantar had handed him a few days ago. He walked over to the fireplace and sat down in one of the chairs. The Dark Knight desided it would be best to wait for the Khajiit to speak first, as to better understand what was happening before the he did anything.

As the dark Knight stepped a touch more to the interior of the tavern. Bruynzeel produces 4 septims and tosses them into the air while pulling his tanto dagger and as they fall he hits each one, to one of the four assembled. And says smoothly and calmly "There is a private dining room and its already set for dinner. These are for your tips." Stands extenses his paw to Sita to assist her out of her chair. Nods to the rest in turn. And then procedes to the rear of the kitchen. Opens a door and seats himself at the far side of the table set for six.

"Well there goes my mead!" The glass knight stood up and went to the dining room, where he encountered the Khajit. "Are you Bruynzeel?" He asked.

The Dark Knight followed the warrior in glass as he entered the dinning room. Instead of asking any questions, he decided it would be best to sit down and listen to what the Khajiit had to say.

"Were you not told to expect me? I was told to expect you all. Plus one I have no idea about." Points at the chair opposite him. "Your correct I am Bruynzeel, you are Glass Knight, favor glass armors and weapons have a good reputation as a moral and noble fighter. You are the Dark Knight, vigilante guardian of Markarth. You are Leo, yourself, and Sita, both have reputations for your bowman skills. And again I am Bruynzeel, I only recieved the instructions to train you four for a mission, that I don't know what it will entail. I think we should just relax and enjoy getting to know each other with the provided rooms and food." to illustrate he raises a glass of wine and waves the others to sit.

When they have he continues. "I am old, I don't look it. but I am much older than even your grandparents. I have files on each of you that are yours for the asking. I hold nothing back. Your curious, then ask questions. All I ask is that you listen. If I say your technique can be improved, its not a bash on your skill, I will look at the way you move and make suggestions but your warrior path will still be your own.

Some may have noticed the two seals on their letters. Blades seal, I am a member. And the Knights of the Nine, not present yet." again waves at the empty chair. "I think I included all I know but left out your juicy bits. and mine. Any other questions?"

"Why were WE especially chosen? I'm sure there are much more hardened warriors out there. And the Knights themselves could also provide men...."

"A really good question, having looked over yours files. I would say its because you are surviviors, adapters, game changers, and have a sense of honor in your dealings. I would suspect they want something done repeatedly. And quietly." waves at his own attire "Course I am a bit flash myself, so they need some distance from us. Like these guys are just working on their own. By the set-up we have been given. We will be after we have some training time." dinner is delivered... 5 plates of pheasant and vegetables. Bruynzeel, takes a napkin and tucks it in. Then starts to cut his pheasant. lifts his fork admires the smell. "Guys, even if this is nothing... it looks like a fun path."

"Tell me Bruynzeel, why should we trust you? How do we know this isn't a set up? The seals on those letters are not that hard to replicate. I'm sorry but I'm going to need some reassurance that this isn't a set up" Leo said, his hand on his knife.

"What proof do you require?" Putting down his utinsels palms then flat on the table. "None of us come here directly. I too got a letter " which just happens to appear in his right palm. "Here read what you will." Passing it along the table to Leo's swordhand.

Leo read the letter quickly to himself before looking back at the khajiit. "Yet again it could be a forgery. I've heard stories of adventurers being led to there deaths or used as cannon fodder by people claiming to be part of organizations like these before. So I say to you again good sir, some reassurance please"