Elder Scrolls IV
OBLIVION
Amnesty: The Trials of Kareth Lay
Prisonbreak
Kareth Lay stood six feet tall in the bleak prison wagon which carried him and several others to the Imperial City Prison. It had been a long four months, as a transfer from Morrowind to Cyrodiil was very nearly perilous. Four of the seventeen Legion soldiers were killed in two separate raids conducted by thieves, highwaymen, and assassins.
Kareth was the only Imperial in the prison wagon. There was an reddish-green Argonian named Tolkeen, two Khajiits, a Nord name Frenick, and a Dark Elf named Feren. They all were very hostile, especially the Argonian. The former slave speices always hates the once-master species.
"Halt!" one of the Legion yelled, raising his fist swiftly. The other Legion began to search the area around the wagon for any concealed persons. Kareth and Tolkeen came to the wagon window and looked outward, attempting to see what the commotion was all about.
"It would be wise to be careful, Imperial," Tolkeen said, "Accidents happen all the time."
"I would be best to hold my tongue, Argonian. Don't forget who ruled over you all those centuries ago."
"You filthy swine! You stand there as if you can do what ever you want, only because those Legion are Imperials? You are a prisoner! It does not matter what you are, but what you do! I myself believe it should be you who would be best to hold his tongue. Please remember that Khajiits and Dark Elves do not appreciate your kind either!"
Kareth, distraught by the comment left upon him by the prisoner Tolkeen, stood back and replied, "My apologies. I believe I may have gone too far."
At that moment one of the Legion grunted as an arrow struck him just above the eyes. Nordic bandits appeared from behind trees and rocks and began to attack the Legion soldiers around the wagon. Two Nords ran to the wagon and broke the wooden latch, opening it and freeing the prisoners. They grabbed Frenick and dashed away with him, the other Nords soon following. The rest of the prisoners exited the wagon and wondered where to go.
There were three Legion left. They spotted the prisoners and darted towards them, weapons drawn. Kareth noticed two Legion swords on the ground near them. He retrieved them and gave one to Tolkeen.
"Good luck," he said as Tolkeen readied the sword. The Legion reached them and killed one of the Khajiit. Tolkeen impaled one of them and guarded from another with the impaled one's sword. As the other came towards him, Kareth attacked the Legion as he sliced at Tolkeen, saving him. Surprised, Tolkeen withdrew his weapon from the stomach of his enemy and killed the last Legion with one swift blow.
The other prisoners had left during the short skirmish. Tolkeen and Kareth remained. Kareth retrieved some Septims and a hilt for his sword. He looted some clothing from the dead soldiers so he wouldn't be noticed by others as a prisoner.
Tolkeen did the same, though he donned the full Legion armor.
"Thank you, Imperial. I owe you a debt of gratitude," Tolkeen said. He shook Kareth's hand.
"You owe me nothing. I must ask, though, where are you going?" Kareth laced his boots.
"I shall catch a wagon to the Imperial City. My brother has a shop there and I may be able to help. And you?"
"I may go to Cheydinhal. My family lives there," Kareth grabbed Tolkeen's shoulder. "May we meet again."
"Indeed," Tolkeen said as he shrugged off Kareth's hand and ran in the direction of the Imperial City. Kareth found a map of Cyrodiil in the pocket of one of the Legion and scanned it for directions.
Brotherhood
Kareth had rested in the Lake Arrius Caverns, looting from the bandits he had killed the previous night. He now had 7031 Septims with a nice pair of 500 Septim gloves. He stepped outside only to be greeted by, not the sun, but a magicka-induced blackroom. A blackroom is a small section of void space that can only be accessed by necromancers.
In this blackroom, he found himself staring at two people in long, hooded black robes. There were two others, and they were in leather armor suits, also with hoods. Kareth knew exactly what he was dealing with.
"I thought the Dark Brotherhood doesn't deal with former Morag Tong members?" Kareth chuckled. He tried to draw his brand new silver longsword only to find that it wasn't here. He gasped and stumbled backward.
"Your former heretic life is of no concern to us. Your family is protected by the Night Mother. We have no move we can make towards them. Or you, for that matter," one of the robed assassins hissed. "Our interest lies within your connections with Count Skingrad, Janus Hassildor."
"I shall not assassinate my good friend, thank you very much!" Kareth yelled, frantically searching for his weapons.
"We wish not to assassinate him. You see, his spouse is of particular interest to us."
"And would the big scary man care to tell me what you want with the Countess?" Kareth asked. He stopped his frivolous search and slumped down to the ground, hanging his head down in despair.
"She seems to have killed one of our beloved family members. We wish to repay the pain she has caused upon us. This will be quite difficult, however, as she is now constantly vigilant as a previous attempt to kill her by the now deceased Vincente Valtieri had failed, leaving her only infected with vampirism. She is cured now, and that makes our retribution that much more difficult."
"What do you need me for?" Kareth began to wonder.
"Oh, quite simple. You are goind to convince Count Skingrad to kill his own wife."