Well, no one reviewed... oh well! I won't be discouraged! But seriously, people can I get some acknowledgement? I also changed the summary, if you haven't noticed. I figured that was why people didn't really read it in the first place. One more thing, there may be some spelling mistakes further down. It's a long story, but the bottom line is I don't have spellcheck at the moment. I did my best to proofread, though.

Update 5/21/08: Some routine revision; proofreading, changing some sentences, etc. Also added some description.


Chapter 2

Assarnatamat Shrine

15th Last Seed, 3E 437, 6:30 p.m.

"I sense something ahead," said Im-Ryu almost immediately after the oval door closed behind the party. The three stood at the top of a winding staircase. Due to its twists, they could not see the room beyond.

"What is it?" asked Gil.

"A monster of course, but this spell doesn't tell me what kind." The detect creatures spell she used told her only the general location of a creature. Another drawback was its range, which was why scouting excursions, courtesy of M'Rimba, were needed beforehand.

"Alright, let's use the primary tactic," M'Rimba commanded. He was referring to their most often used and most efficient way of dealing with single enemies. Im-Ryu would paralyze the enemy after which Gil would kill using good ol' fashion steel. M'Rimba was too old to fight, and stayed back to watch for a potential ambush.

The two Argonians nodded. "Right, then," said M'Rimba. "Let's go." He motioned forward with his paw. Im-Ryu took the lead; she knew where the enemy was, and would be making the first strike. Gil followed her, readying his halberd. M'Rimba drew his tanto and followed, wary of his surroundings.

At the bottom of the stairs, was the shrine room. A statue of Mehrunes Dagon towered above them, reaching up to the ceiling. The vast open room was lighted by ancient magical ceiling lights, from which a moldy-looking green mist poured. Torches were aligned in certain positions, significant only to the few cultists who prayed to the alter. Gil shivered, thinking about what sort of sick minded person would worship the Daedra of disease and calamity.

"It's behind the altar," whispered Im-Ryu. As she finished her statement, an agonizing scream tore through the air. All three were startled. Gil's grip on his halberd tightened. M'Rimba had been right; someone was inside, and whoever it was, was in trouble. As the shriek faded through the echoing ruins, the trio began sprinting to its source. They would give their aid, traveler, cultist or otherwise.

Around the back of the altar, was a gruesome sight. A male Wood Elf lay unconscious on the stone floor, blood pouring perfusely from his wounded shoulder. Hovering over his chest were the jaws of a sinister looking Daedroth; the elf's blood dripped from its maw.

With great urgency, Im-Ryu felt for the magicka within her, bending and twisting the energy into the state she wanted. The Daedroth's jaws stretched wider. It reared back in preparation for its final blow. Im-Ryu finished the spell and shoved it toward the beast. A hazy green ball whizzed through the air, aimed at the Daedroth's chest. The monsters teeth began to come down on its target. It was the deciding moment. If the Daedroth resisted the spell, the elf beneath it would be killed.

It worked! The Daedroth froze inches away from the elf's chest, unknowing of what hit it.

"You have thirty seconds!" Im-Ryu spoke quickly.

Gil hissed. "Plenty of time." He charged forward, and with a mighty swing, settled the axe head deep in the beast's chest. The body fell limp and sagged over the shaft. Gil flung it aside, away from the Bosmer.

Wasting no time, Im-Ryu rushed to the elf's aid. She pulled a potion from the pouch at her belt and handed it to Gil. "Have him drink this. It will stop the bleeding." Gil did not hesitate. He pulled the cork from the bottle's mouth. Lifting the elf's head, he poured the liquid down his throat. He coughed violently, causing him to wake. The flow of red began to subside.

He looked up into Gil's eyes. Their blue irises pleaded: "Don't let me die here... not in this hell-hole". Gil soothed him with his flawless Tamrielic, "Fear not, we are helping you."

Im-Ryu lowered her hand to his wound and cast the healing spell she had been preparing. Gil watched in awe as small blue lights began to flit back and forth across the hole in the Bosmer's arm. They made replacement bone, muscle, veins and skin to hold him together until real tissue could regrow in its place.

The elf spoke, "Thank you, seras."

"No trouble at all," said Gil.

M'Rimba moved in closer to the Bosmer. "We are going to leave for Balmora, which is southwest of here. You should come with us so Im-Ryu can monitor your health." The elf nodded in agreement. If the spell failed, he could suffer internal bleeding. It would be helpful to have a healer nearby. "Alright. Im-Ryu, do you have enough magicka to cast Divine Intervention?" asked M'Rimba.

"Yes," she answered. In a few moments, they teleported, bound for the city of Balmora.


How was that? Review please!