Chapter 1
Wesk was chosen from birth, like all Shadowscales, to be trained in the way of stealth and murder. He showed considerable progress in his training, but was never able to control his urge for the kill. He spent seventeen years training, but no matter how hard he tried, Wesk couldn't control his urge. It caused him to make foolish mistakes and fail all test given to him. There was also the troubling fact he couldn't turn invisible, like all those born under the sign of The Shadow.
At the age of 18, he decided it was time to leave. He left the Kingdom of Argonia, breaking the code of the Shadowscales. Yet he was never chased or hunted down like other rogue Shadowscales before him. He wondered for the seven years he lived in the small town of Leyawin, located in the Imperial Province close to the border of Black Marsh, why he was left alone. He soon found love in another argonian, having given up the life of a Shadowscale. Yet, Wesk knew he'd never be able to escape his murderous urges.
On one particularly dark day, Wesk suspected his love was not true. He followed her that day when she left him at home to "meet friends", only to find her in bed with his best friend of three years. The urges had finally come back. He bided his time, waiting in the shadows until the couple fell asleep in each other's arms.
His "love" woke to a single hiss from the room. Thinking it was her new lover, she turned only to see the horrible scene of him decapitated and mutilated. "You know, he didn't scream once. Of course, it is hard to scream when you don't have a throat." The voice, she realized, was just behind her. She whirled around to see nothing but shadow, backing up to the end of the bed. Suddenly, the head of her lover came hurling towards her, landing between her legs. She opened her mouth, but no sound came. She was too terrified to say anything.
"You… were the only one I loved. You do have my thanks, however. You helped me realize I'll never have a normal life, and that it's foolish to deny my urges. Don't worry, you won't be alone. You'll see him again. Goodbye, my love." With that, he slit her throat, ending her pathetic life. Taking time to admire his work, he eventually returned to his home to rest. As he slumbered, the room started to become cold, the room dark. "You sleep rather soundly for a murderer…"
Wesk's eyes snapped open and, instantly drawing his dagger, confronted the darkness. "Who are you? Explain yourself." Out of the shadows came a dark robed man. He bowed formally, and started to introduce himself. "I am Lucien Lachance, a speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. The Night Mother has been watching you, observing as you kill without mercy. You are a killer, a taker of life, a harvester of souls. I offer you a chance to be with other individuals who share your lust for death."
"I'm listening." Wesk vaguely remembered that had he finished his Shadowscale training, he would have been adopted into the Brotherhood. "Excellent. Now, to join our family, you must pass a test of sorts. Deep in the woods west of the Imperial City, a Nord by the name of Hans Hard-Hands lives in his cabin, alone. You must prove to me that you wish to join by killing a man who has done you no harm, an innocent soul. When Hans lies dead, I will visit you again and welcome you, as family. Just as he appeared, Lucien vanished into the shadows.
It took three days for Wesk to journey from Leyawin and locate the cabin belonging to Hans Hard-Hands. Lucky for Wesk, it was past midnight when he finally found the small cabin, meaning Hans was most likely sleeping. He crept in through an open window, which seemed odd at first to him. That thought was dismissed the second he saw a large nord in dirty overalls sleeping in his bed like a baby. Wesk slowly and silently walked towards Hans, and was within striking range, but why shouldn't he have some fun? Muttering under his breath, Wesk cast a spell which rendered Hans paralyzed and oblivious to pain.
He began to saw off Hans's arms and legs, ripping through flesh, tendon, and bone. With his work done, Wesk withdrew his spell's effects and slapped Hans out of his deep sleep. The feeling of intense pain immediately erupted to life. Hans's eyes burst open and his gaze fell on the Argonian before him. The argonian was just like all the others he'd seen: More lizard than man, with scales covering every inch of his body, and eyes the color of blood. This argonian had scales as black as a bottomless abyss and that combined with his frightening eyes, this…thing before him looked like death itself.
Hans's first instinct was to grab for his axe, but stared in horror at his now bloodied stump. The next thought was to try and escape, but he only fell to the floor in his attempt to stand. Wesk laughed like a madman as he watched the nord's attempt to escape. "Does the nord want some mead to drown the pain? Well, let me help you." Wesk grabbed a tankard still filled with the drink and dumped its contents on Hans. Despite the fact Hans had no hands or feet, he could still move around enough to reach the door. "Tsk tsk tsk, can't have you moving around too much, now can we?" Wesk grabbed four knives off from the nearby table and stuck one through each of Hans's arms and legs, nailing him to the ground. The nord started to wail like an infant, with pleas to spare him.
Wesk quickly grew tired of the nord's begging. "No, I'm afraid not. It is now time to die. Give my regards to Sithis." Quickly grabbing the knife embedded in Hans's left arm, Wesk plunged the bloodied knife into Hans's throat. Blood slowly trickled through the wound, forming a small pool on the floor. After removing the knives, Wesk hefted Hans's body out to an open field and threw it to the wolves. He soon returned to the cabin and awaited Lucien's arrival. He appeared within the hour.
"Well done, young Shadowscale. I now welcome you to the family. Go now, to the city of Cheydinhal. Look for an abandoned house, east of the local chapel. In the basement, you will find a door. It will ask you a question, to which you will answer "Sanguine, my brother", and you'll gain access to your new Sanctuary. You will meet with an old friend of yours, Ocheeva, to attain your orders. I wouldn't expect her to remember you though, as you have… changed over the years. Now go, and once again, welcome to the family."
As Wesk watched Lucien vanish into the darkness, he felt concerned. How had Lucien known he was Shadowscale? And that he was once friends with Ocheeva? He pondered these questions as he set off for the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, on the path of death, blood, and shadow, leading to destiny that will shake the very roots of the Dark Brotherhood.