Born from Shadow & Death
Chapter 1 – Shadow
Lugbul sat in the South Wall Corner Club at a table sodden with alcohol, his huge hand wrapped around a tankard of beer, three empty and several filled cups surrounding him. He swallowed the beer in two gulps and let his hand fall to the table, grabbing another as soon as he let go of the last. His huge frame was steady and calm as he drank, the beers barely taking effect on the massive seven foot orc. Lugbul glanced around the room, huffing a huge sigh and turning back to his last tankard. After finishing his last cup, he reached for an empty tankard and took a swig of nothing before turning again to order another drink. A hand fell on his shoulder as he went to raise his hand, and a hooded figure stood behind him. "A drink, barkeep," the cloaked stranger called, "the last the good orc ordered." The Dunmer barkeep stacked a number of beers onto a tray and strode over as the stranger sat next to Lugbul. "Hail friend," the figure said, pulling back the hood to reveal a face of Breton heritage, dark hair framing stern features, a dark goatee and green eyes gazing at him across the table, "I take it you are Lugbul the Giant?" Lugbul straightened up, beers spinning his head slightly and the stranger's confrontation plucking at his nerves. "And who's asking?" The great orc grumbled. "Calm now," the stranger snapped back, "I am Ernand, your contact." The orc relaxed a little, scowling at the manner of the Breton. "and these," Ernand continued, gesturing to a table across the room, "are your fellows." A female Khajiit, a female Argonian and a Redguard male left their table and strolled over to sit next to the pair. "Allow me to introduce," Ernand started.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," the Khajiit interrupted, "this one's name is Moonsmile, a Khajiit as you see," she smiled broadly, "and maybe more. All you need know is you need my talents." She winked at Ernand, and purred. Her brown and black fur was short, with her ears perky and her brown eyes alert. "I'm Waylas," the Redguard started, a muscular, tall man with bushy black hair, "a warrior, same as you and Smile here. Some skill in climbing and getting out of tight situations, and of course, other invaluable talents." He smiled broadly too, an arbour of beaming faces blooming in front of Lugbul. "Please, you'll all be hired," Ernand interjected, looking slightly annoyed, "lastly, though, we have Watch, or Watches-Her-Tail to use her full name." The Argonian turned to Lugbul, bowed her head, "A mage, like Ernand," she said quietly, "skilled in Illusion and Mysticism, but dapple in Restoration." She had a red and green colouration to her skin, slicked back fins on her head and a soft expression, a stark contrast to Ernand's fierce visage. The orc took his drink and finished it in a single gulp, buelched and slammed his cup onto the table. "Lugbul," he muttered brusquely, "Warrior."
"An orc of few words," Ernand said after a short pause.
"And one of fewer strikes, let's hope." Waylas finished. Moonsmile chuckled and Watch smiled slightly. Ernand took a small swig of beer and placed his drink down firmly. "Let me explain why I've called you here." The mage said, looking round at the table. "I work as a retainer for a very powerful mage, politically as well as magically. He has contracted me to investigate a nearby tomb and cave system to find the cause of these nightmares he's been having. I have hence hired you to prepare for every eventuality." He looked around the table again, "Lugbul the giant, for muscle and raw power, Waylas for extra muscle and his acrobatic prowess, Moonsmile, for her quick reflexes, night eye and…more unsavoury talents, and finally Watch, for her Illusion talents." He smiled at the team he assembled, and placed four bags of gold on the table. "And here is the payment my master promises." Lugbul's expression softened somewhat, and the mood of the entire table lifted a little. "Around 300 gold for each of you, a suitable price for perhaps three days of work," Ernand said, "And maybe a bonus, if you manage to complete the task expediently. Even a possible contract if you show real worth."
"Very nice," Waylas said, "I'm willing, but let's hear more. You ever been to these tombs or cave systems?"
"Yes," Moonsmile purred, "have you seen inside these tombs? Moonsmile wants to know what brings you to bring us together."
"I have been there," Ernand admitted, "it is not far from here, about half a day's hike. I did not go far into the tombs. There are obstacles, as well as some undead wandering about. Hence, I have enlisted your help, mostly for your combat expertise." The mage drained his tankard before continuing. "So there are two options open to us," Ernand said, "we could stay here for the night, the best option, in my opinion. Or we leave tonight and hike toward the site, setting up camp when it gets too late."
"We stay here tonight," Moonsmile interjected, "we have drunk much, and need good bedding."
"It's already quite late," Waylas said, "we wouldn't get far before having to set up camp. Best start first thing in the morning." Watch nodded, saying nothing, and Lugbul grunted in agreement.
"The it is decided," Ernand said, clapping his hands together, "I'll pay for your night's stay, it shouldn't be too expensive, but likely we'll have to share rooms. The Khajiit and the Argonian will stay together, the rest of us will be in a separate room. It's only polite." The mage smiled and went to pay the barkeep. As he left, Moonsmile turned to her new partners. "This Khajiit feels wary of the mage," she purred softly, "his face, it has the look of great cruelty. This one thinks he plans to rob us."
"Ha, you think so, Smile?" Waylas laughed, "even a mage like him can't match us four at the same time. He's taking a big risk, considering he has 300 gold and we have little by comparison." The Khajiit dwelt on this while Lugbul looked down at the empty cup before him. "He's paying, I'm going," he grunted, "need the money, want the work." The short, blunt response was never met with a reply, as Ernand returned. "We have rooms, we have food, and we have breakfast," he said, placing a small tray of bread and kwama eggs on the table, "Kwama eggs and bread. I have some apples in my bag should anyone feel the need for anything different." The mage sat as Moonsmile picked up one of the eggs and Waylas took a chunk of bread. "This'll do for tonight," he said, taking a large bite. Lugbul took one of the eggs and broke it open, slurping at the liquid within, while the table tucked into the meagre meal. "So, my accomplices, we know names but no stories," Moonsmile beamed a smile worthy of her name sake, "let Moonsmile hear your life."
"I'll start," Waylas said, "these two don't look very talkative," he said gesturing to Lugbul and Watch, "I grew up here, in Balmora with my mother, who was worker in the nearby Kwama Mine. She died when I was twelve, in an incident with a Kwama Warrior, and I joined the Fighters Guild. Been here all my life, explored a bit, been in the wild, seen some things I'd rather forget, but the guild has kept me in good health and wealth for a long time. Except for recently mind. Youngsters I train at the guild call me the Old War Horse, and they're taking all the jobs like I'm already out to pasture," Waylas grabbed a kwama egg to finish the last of his bread, "I'll show them though, bring back an undead head and show them the real world. Most only know the Guild Hall and Balmora. I'll set them right though, teach them something drills can't them." His expression was light, but his voice had the slightest ring of bitterness. His tale finished, Waylas smiled again, his toothy grin almost a match for Moonsmile's. "I'll take over," Ernand began, "I'm a Tel'vanni retainer, working for a wizard who rather not be known to his employees in such a delicate task. His nightmares warn of an old rival back from beyond the grave, seeking revenge, and has decided to deal with this anonymously. But as for me, I'm but a simple Breton mage, looking to garner deeper secrets in magic. I was originally the son of a farmer in High Rock, before a fire burnt down the house, killing my mother. My father left High Rock after that, and we came east, looking for work in Skyrim, before coming to Morrowind. His savings took us all over Vvardenfell, but there was no work to be found anywhere. In the end, I don't know what became of my father. In one busy street in some city I don't remember the name of, he was stabbed in the side and I was taken from him. I was kidnapped by a retainer of the same wizard I now work for," Ernand rolled up his robe sleeve, revealing a horrific scar, "and this is what he wanted with me. Practical knowledge of the destructive arts. This is a magicka burn, after freezing first. He practiced on me when possible, but given the illicit nature of the experiments, it wasn't too often. I bear him no grudge now, given that he shared his findings with me when I came of age and he took me into his employ." The mage then fell quiet. Watch's eyes had widened considerably, and a sombre look was spread across the other's face. "I can tell you, I wouldn't have left the wizard alive if he had done that to me." Waylas commented. Ernand turned to the man.
"There was a Redguard, like you, in those cells. When they came to give him the choice, he charged them. As far as I know, he's still down there, either dead, tortured or worse. The choice was never much of a choice, but I made the right decision." The Redguard's mouth curled slightly at the edges and his eyes were fixed on Ernands'. "You find torture of your kin funny, Redguard?" Lugbul spoke up. Waylas turned to the orc. "Not in the slightest, my fine orc," he replied, "I find it funny that a mage is trying to fuel my fire with a load of kwama shit about one of my own being down there with him. He was lying, and it was so obvious, it was amusing to me."
"The Redguard has a keen eye," Moonsmile joined in, "The mage is trying to pluck his nerves like a lute." Her teeth shone as she beamed. Lugbul looked to Ernand.
"It's true, there was no Redguard," he admitted, "I'm prickly when it comes to criticism, especially of something that caused me great pain." Ernand looked each of them in eye. Moonsmile purred, Waylas chuckled, Watch looked down at her bread and Lugbul kept his stare constant. "More," Moonsmile demanded, "This one enjoys the conversation, there must be more."
"Then tell us your tale, 'Smile," Waylas shot back, "You demand more, but give nothin'. I want to hear what makes for such a curious Khajiit." Moonsmile reclined in her chair, finishing her Kwama egg and stroking her own stomach. "Very well," she said finally, "You will hear this one's story. It begins in Elswyr, as a cub. On the streets of my hometown, one day, this one runs away from this one's parents. This one hides and hopes the parents seek. A hand grabs this one's soft fur, and a bag covers this one. The world turns black, and when it returns, this one is in shackles, and surrounded by others in chains. This one lives as a slave in the fields for many years, before breaking free and running away. This one comes to Balmora, selling this one's body for money. The shadows see this one, and put this one to use. Now this one has luxury and work, and hopes to buy new things with fortune of 300 gold." The Khajiit smiled broadly, as it seemed she had been doing all night. Attention turned to Lugbul, and the table waited. "Ahem, I will tell my tale next," Watch said timidly, "I, like Moonsmile, was taken prisoner from an early age. I escaped my servitude when a fellow Argonian mage broke my bonds and brought me here, to work at the Mage's Guild. It has been several years since I escaped, and I've learnt much in that time. Much of it is Illusion and Mysticism magic, as these schools complemented my saviour's repertoire." She fell quiet.
"So you have relations with this Argonian gentleman?" Waylas said, almost mocking her polite, well-mannered tone. "Not in the slightest," she answered quickly, blushing slightly, "he has been kind to me out of pity."
"And your name?" Moonsmile asked in soft, husky voice, "Tell this one why you watch your tail so?"
"It is the name my saviour gave me," she answered, "after slavery, much made me jump. Having no memory of my own name, he decided that would be a good one for me." Again, she fell quiet, and attention turned to Lugbul. He had finished his bread and Kwama eggs, taking a little more than the others, given his large build. He looked at each of them, his stare hard and unyielding. Eventually, he began. It wasn't a story he relished. "It begins," he started, "in Hammerfell, in the Dragontail Mountains. Near, there is an estate where my clan lives. I was once Lugbul Rugob, but now I am Lugbul the Spurned. Once in the mountains, when I was younger and less knowing, I took my smaller clanmates into mountains to hike, and there we came across a group of vampires. I told my clanmates to hide. I was afraid of vampires. We hid, but they found us. I ran, but the others were slain. I returned to my clan and they spurned me, and turned to Malacath for guidance. He told them to throw me out. I was exiled, and travelled here, working my way through Tamriel." He sighed when he finished. The table sat quietly, the other patrons all drinking and talking still. "I think it's time we stole away," Ernand said eventually, "to our rooms. We'll be starting early, so let's get some sleep while we can. Follow me." The table emptied as the group followed Ernand upstairs.