Disclaimer- I err…don't own Bethesda, and…I have the game. The locations, and some characters in my story are not original, they are taken from the game.

Nadus Onmar had been serving as a Hlaalu guard for almost his entire adult life. He cut a dashing figure, and was quite a favorite among the ladies. Known as a warrior, in every sense of the word, he'd won countless battles with everything ranging from Ash Ghouls, to Golden Saints. He often found himself escorting Hlaalu leaders, and wealthy merchants from town to town. He'd led strike forces against Rival Houses, exterminated countless rogue wizards. He sported the Sword of White Woe, an Ebony Blade that could make any attacker think twice, and gave him the upper edge in almost any battle. He even wore enchanted clothing, to add to the defenses already given to him by his Bonemold armor. House Hlaalu considered him to be their greatest warrior, unbeatable in one on one combat. He was invincible, a walking god of destruction.

Nadus brought his shield up for what must have been the hundredth time in the last two minutes. He followed it with a quick thrust of his enchanted sword, but the assailant danced out of reach again. The strange attackers arm pumped twice, and the silver daggers flew at him again, smacking into his shield. He doesn't grow tired…The lightning fast strikes came in even faster now, more often. How can he keep up such a pace…The single short sword came with quick, measured thrusts. The silver daggers were always coming at him, always searching for an opening. How many has he thrown… The assailant now drew a dagger, and gave a low stab at his feet, towards Nadus's leg. Nadus thought it was a rather obvious faint, and didn't even bother watching it. Instead, he waited for the short sword to flash toward him. It's only been a few minutes…certainly the spell has run out now. His adversary stabbed with his short sword high, and Nadus had to put his shield in his own line of vision. He screamed for assistance again, but no sound was made. Did he cast another spell? Nadus certainly didn't remember him using the amulet again…The assassin must have struck him with some spell. Or was it…

Nadus Onmar crumpled to the ground without a sound. Lucafein wiped his glass dagger clean, and replaced it with his other weapons. Should have watched the off hand… He gathered the silver daggers he had thrown, and replaced them on his bandolier. This one had been quick, and thankfully so. He didn't want to have multiple guards to deal with. He was warned the foe would be formidable, but he was unprepared, and unassisted. Alone, he was no match for the assassin.

Lucafein filed quickly out of the Guard Tower, and padded his weapons. His prize possession, the trademark katana, was not even used. His employer wouldn't even know his real identity. Now, he had the Sword of White Woe, and was returning to Solding to finish this job.

Lucafein knocked three times on the door of the house. The pawnbroker there had long ago left, and the Hlaalu were renting it out to a traveling adventurer. The story was, he wished to buy the Sword of White Woe from Nadus Onmar. An unbelievable sum of gold had been offered, but Nadus had refused. Apparently, Lucafein mused, he should have taken the offer. The door opened, and a diminutive dunmer cracked open the door. He smiled as he opened the door further. "Do you wish to come in?" Lucafein filed past the fop silently cursing the man for asking such an obvious question. He wasn't there to speak with him anyway. The second he walked in, he took note of his surroundings. One exit. Two tables with some candles, and alchemical supplies on it. There were some cabinets, a dresser, multiple and a large bed. All of them were of the finest quality, with enchanted items no doubt hidden away in their depths. A smaller bed was on the opposite side of the room, and a makeshift kitchen was next to it. There was also a weapons rack directly in front of him. Lucafein eyed the weapon he had been promised, and smiled. Finally finished, Lucafein thought. He then looked at the face of his employer.

Solding Valundre had made his riches sacking bandit caves, and plundering tombs. Now, he was a reputed businessman, who was changing business locations. That was the story he put forth anyway. Now, he worked big jobs, manipulating small players for big groups. He had located numerous Morag Tong targets, scouted Dwemer ruins for the Mages, even ferreted out heretics to the Temple. He was an untouchable, above the law, and under the protection of multiple organizations. This time, he was working with the Telvanni, and they offered him the most difficult, and the best paying job he had ever taken. He had been promised (almost…) anything he needed, as long as he proved that their demands were being met. Now, he began to put his plan into motion. He had been given special weapons, valuable jewels, an unseemly amount of gold, and was told to use it as he saw fit. Solding had already finished with the beginning aspects, and now he needed some assassinations carried out. He had twenty three targets, and so far, fifteen had been sent to oblivion. Most of the assassinations had been undertaken by Lucafein and his small clan, and it made business easier. Lucafein and his associates were some of the best fighters and assassins in all of Tamriel, and although expensive, they got the job done. Lucafein was once a revered member of the Morag Tong, and now did freelance assassinations. He was under the protection of the Emperor, it was said, thus the Morag Tong could not retaliate against him for any reason. It was also rumored he took accomplices, and even enchanted relics from the shadowy group. They wanted nothing more then his head on a platter. Such are the prices one pays for celebrity, the Nord thought. Solding brought himself back from contemplation, and studied Lucafein. He seemed so confident, so cocky. He needed to bring him down some, needed him to see who he was dealing with. Needed to see who was really in control. Lucafein prepared to speak, but Solding stopped him with a hand. "I need the weapon, and the ring for me to believe you." Lucafein prepared to speak again, but Solding interrupted. "You can quit talking in that strange voice as well. I know who you are."

Lucafein glowered at the Nord. He was losing an encounter, and he never lost the encounter. He brought forth the sword, and tossed it on the table in front of Valundre. He then grasped the ring, and admired it in the torchlight. It was a golden band, embossed with ebony caricatures. The name of the other Hlaalu. Balmora would be busy tonight. He tossed the ring with his usual nonchalance, and sent a smile at Solding. "I trust this is all the proof you need." Solding took a look at the ring, and the weapon, and nodded his head in approval. He grabbed the sword, and exchanged it with the dagger on the rack. Lucafein grabbed it quickly, and put it in a sheath he had prepared. Solding brought Lucafein's attention back to the matter at hand, by pointing to a bag. Solding then grabbed it with his hands, and showed Lucafein the gleaming contents inside. "Thirty diamonds, thirty rubies, thirty emeralds, forty pearls, and the five-thousand gold. I hope that covers our arrangement." Lucafein nodded in agreement, and made his exit. With the riches Solding had promised him, he was prepared to eradicate a leader of some dark and dangerous cult, to kill a well-guarded noble…perhaps the Emperor himself. In the end, it was simply a high-ranking Hlaalu leader, and a guard. The dagger was the clincher. A High-Ranking member of the Cammonna Tong was after the dagger, and Lucafein needed it to buy their secret services. He walked out of the door, and closed it softly.

Solding looked at his new weapon. The Telvanni would not agree with his ways of using them for his own gains. Smiling, Solding figured they need not know.

Lucafein walked into the Eight Plates, fully expecting the crowd, and the insanity, that was to be there. "I heard it was…" "Well he told me…" "She thinks the murderer is…" Lucafein smiled. Rumors flew about like leaves in the wind, and the one responsible stood in their midst. He needed to hurry and get a room, before the drunk and decrepit laid down for the night. At the rate that everything was going, he would have to act quickly. He also needed an alias while in town. He decided to go with his "scared adventurer" ploy, one that he often used in situations like this. "Err…I hear there has been a murder around here…umm, I was gonna try and find the one responsible." The Barkeep looked at him, and kind of shook his head. "You crazy 'venturin types always come around when trouble does. Always with fancy weapons, and purty armor, struttin' about because your daddy bought ye' everythin' ye've always wanted." Indeed, thought Lucafein. How anyone understood this blathering fool was beyond him. "How much does a room cost? I have ten gold with me, but that's it." The Barkeep looked at him, and laughed. "Ten gold? Ha. Ya' got at least fifteen." Lucafein looked at the barkeep, and just gave a shrug. He handed him the gold, and received the key. Lucafein went to his room, and went about the business of heavily locking and trapping his door. He didn't like the looks the Barkeep gave him, and he liked less the pickpockets about the place. He laid down on the hard bed, and dozed away the night.