S'raffa Assassin Fic

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Bethesda Studios. I own S'raffa.

Chapter 11: Initiation Complete

After visiting Ursanne, I decided to sell the weapons I had acquired, keeping the new bow and sword. I went to a shop in Bravil called the Archer's Paradox. In it, I discovered more steel arrows and bought the whole lot, selling my iron ones. I even managed to find a bow that would be helpful to me, but it was out of my price range, and I could not simply kill the owner and take it. Ah, well. Maybe some other time, perhaps.

I decided to leave the swampy Bravil and head north to that inn Luciene told me about. The Inn of Ill Omen. As I traveled north of Bravil, the air become increasingly pleasant and easier for me to breathe. I smiled to myself and vowed to enjoy it.

Or, at least I would have enjoyed it. A black bear poked its nose out of the bushes and saw me. I did not need this now. I was not that far out of Bravil. Maybe I could lure it back to the town and let the guard handle it. It was a bad idea as the bear tried to take a swipe at me. I flipped over him and started to run, firing my bow as I did.

The bear was the hardest thing I had ever fought before. Despite me putting arrows into its arms and torso, it was still coming at me. I used my Moonshadow power and ran away from the fight, leaving the bear to lick its wounds. I prayed that the spell would last until I reached the inn.

Though I did not know it at the time, I was worried that there might be more bears and bandits and the spell would wear off. I could feel the wind rush through my fur and, though no one could see me, I was making a lot of noise. Thankfully, though, I arrived at the Inn of Ill Omen.

The Inn was not too far away from another inn further down the road, but this one scared a lot of people. It could have something to do with the ominous sign that was there. I walked in, exhausted, but the thought of joining the Dark Brotherhood gave me the strength to go on. I spoke with the innkeeper and he told me that Rufio spends most of his time downstairs in one of the private rooms, asleep. He pays his tab and does not make a fuss. I smile and thank him. I decide to sneak down into the private rooms.

I creep along the wall and come to an open door. I walk in and there, on the bed, is Rufio. I chuckled silently to myself and closed the door silently. Then, I pull out the Blade of Woe and stalk slowly to Rufio. The poor fool will never see this coming. I came near his bed and, raising the blade over my head, let it strike through his heart in one full motion. Rufio opened his eyes and breathed his last as I looked at him with an evil smile in my face. His life slipped away as he tried to reach for me, but failed. Blood seeped through his clothes and I wiped mine off. I wipe the dagger clean on Rufio's clothes and walk back upstairs calmly. I rent a room at the Inn and wait for Lucien to arrive.

That familiar cold feeling returned and Lucien, pleased with what had transpired, said I was now a full initiate into the Dark Brotherhood, and that I should go to Cheydinhal to meet the others. I was to go to the abandoned house and say,

"Sanguine, my brother."

It was the password.

So, the abandoned house is where the Dark Brotherhood has been holed up, eh? Not bad, but I will have to find out how they keep the count away from taking them all down. Probably bribery or something.

Well, a day or so later, I arrive at Cheydinhal. It is around night time and I snuck around the back of the house, making sure to stay out of sight. As I watched someone go by, I managed to pick the lock of the house and quickly slipped in. The place was dark and dusty. I coughed a little and proceeded down into the basement. As I walked down, I was greeted with a painting of a woman holding a child, and, beneath her were people worshipping her. There was a skull that covered most of the background. I said the password and the door opened.

Inside, I moved forward and I saw a skeleton wearing armor and wielding an axe. I stopped, frozen for a moment. That was when I met Ocheeva.

Ocheeva was sort of the matron of the sanctuary, and she greeted me warmly. She explained that, as a Night Sister, I was a full-fledged member of the Dark Brotherhood and, in order to fully appreciate it, she gave me shroud hood and shroud armor. I could feel the darkness creeping inside me as I put it on and marveled at it. It felt as hard as steel, yet it was flexible like silk. I walked around and introduced myself to the other assassins. Antonietta was warm and giddy to say the least that another girl was joining the group, but I cannot help but wonder if the blonde likes me more than she should.

There is also a Khajiit here as well, and a wood elf, Orc, and another Argonian. However, I was to receive my assignments from a man named Vincente. I walked down the stairs and opened the door. That was when I saw him.

Vincente was a vampire. I swallowed and was already having second thoughts about joining the Dark Brotherhood.

Did I mention I really, really, really hate vampires?

Next Chapter:

The first contract…