Imperial City: Green Emperor Way

Joren, Mycroft and Nathiira stood amongst the gravestones gazing at the tomb of the Late Prince Camarril as the sun danced overhead, the Great Tower looming over them vigilantly. Mycroft scratched the back of his head idly, "You are certain of this, milady," he questioned curiously.

"According to the Commentaries, it is said when the sun touches the tower in the midday sun it should light the path," Nathiira replied confidently, "Just be patient."

"As you wish, milady."

"Look," Joren piped up flatly as the door in front of them began to glow with a blood red tinge as the trio approached the door. "It appears that it lies nearly due east of here."

Nathiira studied the details intently. "Yes and this outline… Do you suppose it is the lake south of Cheydinhal?"

Joren eyes darted between the glyph and his map, "Possibly."

"There are a number of caverns cropped up around that area. Most likely their shrine is housed in one of them." Mycroft added casually.

"We need to regroup with Syndel. She might know the area better," Joren replied as he rolled up the map, "she should be headed back to the Temple by now."

XxXxXxX

Cloud Ruler Temple:

It was late into the night as Syndel painfully made her way up the winding path to the Temple, her wounds stinging and raking pain throughout her body with every step. She heard the distant clang of plate mail come up from behind her as she turned to see a pair of torches dimly lighting the way behind her, as she felt weak, fainted, and collapsed on the ground.

XxXxXxX

Syndel opened her eyes slowly to see a blush red, robed form knelt down beside her. She rolled slightly; her body responding sluggishly as she felt a hand catch her shoulder and pull her back onto the bedding. "It is alright, Syndel," Nathiira whispered reassuringly as she pulled back her hood, "I apologize; I did not mean to startle you." Syndel's eyes darted around the room as she realized they were alone, inside the Blades barracks. Her body ached as she attempted to push herself up onto her elbows as Nathiira pressed her hand gently on her shoulder. "Relax, Syndel, relax… your body is still mending."

Nathiira extended her free hand just above Syndel's abdomen as an orb of pure white light fused in her palm followed by the charge expelling onto Syndel as she felt the cooling rush of the healing flow through her as she lay back down. Nathiira smiled warmly, "There. It will take a minute or two to fully take effect; however you muscles will no doubt be stiff and sore for a day or two."

Syndel nodded curtly, "I am in your debt," she answered in a tired tone.

"Think nothing of it," Nathiira waved off her words as she shifted her stance to a sitting position beside her, "we are working together, after all."

Syndel looked over and reached for her pack as she took out a pair of Sigil stones and handed them to Nathiira. "As I closed the first that was spotted, another formed shortly after off in the distance, and then another after that," she said grimly, "The gates are opening sporadically."

"I assumed as much. "Nathiira sighed heavily as she stowed the stones away, "From little we have learned, I also fear that despite our best efforts, even if we close one, it will no doubt reopen in time."

Syndel grumbled slightly as pulled up the blanket slightly and examined her body, "Where is my armor?" she said looking to Nathiira with reservation.

"Joren is repairing it as we speak; however, I am curious…" Nathiira sighed nervously.

"Of what?" Syndel pried, her eyes widening as Nathiira held up the Cruelty's Heart Amulet.

"This pendent," Nathiira replied hesitantly, "it is unlike anything I have ever seen before, yet on the back, it bears the mark of the Night Mother, one of the Daedric deities."

"What of it?" Syndel replied coolly.

"You are one of them… I mean, the Dark Brotherhood, are you not?" Nathiira posed nervously.

"If I am?" Syndel raised a questioning eyebrow,

"You need not worry," Nathiira responded composedly, "I will not speak of it to anyone," Nathiira placed the amulet in her hand, "Joren also knows, does he not?"

"Yes. What of the rogue, Mycroft?"

"He has his… suspicions," Nathiira half heartedly chuckled to herself, "however he is more intrigued about how someone as young as you is so skilled. He knows there is more to you than meets the eye, yet I would not worry about him." Syndel's eyes darted away in contemplation before they eased back to Nathiira. ""It would be best if you tell him yourself," Nathiira added.

A knocking came from the main door of the barracks to which Syndel sat up quickly through the aching of her abs, covering herself modestly with the blanket and Nathiira calmly got to her feet and beckoned the caller to enter. Joren stepped in with a stern look of reservation on his face, followed by Mycroft whose face was also discouraged. Joren knelt down and set Syndel's armor down gingerly at her feet, glancing at her with a nod of acknowledgement as if understanding what had she endured.

"The enemy grows stronger with each new gate."Syndel said in an even tone to him, "it was my choice." Joren nodded with a grunt as he stood up and crossed his arm across his chest deep in thought.

"Syndel has told me that more gates are intermittently opening across the land." Nathiira posed openly looking to Joren and Mycroft with uncertainty as Mycroft shook his head frowningly. "What is it?"

Mycroft sighed and stroked the back of his neck. "It appears," Mycroft begrudgingly groaned, "we have ourselves a Hydra."

"A Hydra?" Nathiira posed confused, "What do mean?"

"For every fire we put out, two more appear." Joren uttered dully.

"Well, we just have to add that to the list," Mycroft cynically remarked, "We have the location of the Shrine, where they are no doubt keeping the Amulet of Kings, yet it appears that these cultists are possibly keeping tabs on the goings-on here and for some reason Bruma, as well."

"We are fighting a battle on two fronts. One being the encroaching demons of Oblivion, the other the Mythic Dawn," Joren stated as stroked his forehead, "The gates are inevitable. That and we know not the strength the Mystic Dawn can bring to bear. From what we have seen, they number many and we are few." Joren pounded his fist in his hand irritably, "Our main priority is to get the Amulet back."

"What of the other Blades or the Imperial Legion?" Nathiira interjected, "Can they not aid in this."

"The Legion will be stretched as it is. There is little doubt these gates are not just cropping up here in the north. They are more than likely going to be able to keep the ones that pass through the gates, more or less, at bay." Joren replied.

"Not to mention, the few Blades that remain from the initial assassination are held up here to protect Martin." Mycroft added glumly.

"It appears they have planned this out well." Nathiira said in mildly defeated tone.

Syndel stood up abruptly and grabbed her armor as Joren glanced and turned around politely while Mycroft raised an amused eyebrow before Nathiira held her hand up, blocking his line of sight as she ushered him to turn as well, shaking her head disapprovingly at him. "I will pursue the spies." Syndel said matter of fact as she began strapping on her armor.

Joren tilted his head back slightly, "We cannot risk you getting overwhelmed."

"They will conduct themselves more discreetly and move more freely as individuals," Syndel replied rigidly.

"Strange as it may sound," Mycroft chimed as he looked to Joren, "I have to agree with her, though share Joren's concern. I do not like the thought of sending you out alone, again."

Nathiira looked to Joren and Mycroft nodding, as they turned back around to face Syndel who bound the final buckle on her armor. "She is fully healed and she is facing mortal threats, not the demon threats from a Daedric realm."

Joren shrugged as he unfurled his map and stepped beside Syndel, pointing to a vague outline along the east. "We know that they are held up somewhere along this area and have a Shrine built. If it is anything like the other Daedric idols, scattered throughout Cyrodiil, it would be massive. Any idea where they could hide such a thing?"

Syndel scanned the map intently as Mycroft and Nathiira looked on patiently as she pointed to the northeastern shore of Lake Arrius. "Cheydinhal rests on a high hill. There are few caves within the hillside except one at the base where the lake resides. The cave would extend into the bulk of the hill."

"That is good enough for me." Joren said approvingly as he rolled up the map and stepped towards the door, "Time to head out."

"Wait a moment!" Mycroft threw up his hand in disbelief, "we cannot just charge in there, banner flying, and just waltz right in as if we own the place. How typically Nord of you…" Mycroft scoffed mockingly as Joren turned back and pressed his fist to his hips as his brow furrowed slightly, "If this is their center of worship, there is no telling how many members are held up within. We need to be a bit more covert."

Joren eased up as he shook his head and snickered, "Okay… okay, you made your point," he replied as he looked to the others before turning his attentions back to Mycroft with his arms crossed pryingly, "Think this through; you may be able to sleaze your way in or sneak past, but Syndel is the only other one amongst us proficient enough to stealth her way in also. Nathiira and I are not so… adept," Joren shrugged, "No offense, milady."

"None taken;" Nathiira replied kindly, "He has a point, Mycroft. You may be able to get in, yet this is far from some simple sleight of hand antics. You will, no doubt, be open and exposed with little chance of getting out with the Amulet… if not alive."

"Still," Mycroft answered optimistically, "it can be done. It is far better plan than blatantly crashing the party."

Syndel reached inside her pack and handed two scrolls to Nathiira. "Then you will need these."

Nathiira unrolled the parchment as she looked to her in modest surprise, "Scrolls of Invisibility… How long will they last?"

"One hour."

Mycroft smiled, "Well! That certainly changes things in our favor."

"Agreed," Joren nodded as he looked to Syndel, "It was said that one of the spies was seen around the Rune Stone, south of here, around dusk. See what you can find out." Syndel nodded as she gathered her things and slipped past them, out the door nearly silently. Joren motioned the other two to follow as Mycroft and Nathiira fell in a few steps behind him.

Mycroft leaned in towards Nathiira with a sly grin, "So, was I right?" Mycroft whispered to her anxiously, "Is she one of them?"

Nathiira shrugged, "I know not. I did not have the opportunity to ask." She softly whispered in reply as Mycroft groaned, disappointed.

XxXxXxX

Syndel waited silently and patiently for her mark, concealing herself within the thick underbrush outside the stone ring surrounding the cryptic formation's center piece. The archaic runes softly glowed with a lime green hue in the light of the setting sun. The sound of shifting dirt and rock alerted her as she saw a female Breton make her way up the rise towards the Rune Stone. The Breton approached cautiously as she scanned the immediate area before she stepped across the ringed perimeter and gazed up at the Temple, taking note of the sentries' movements.

Syndel methodically drew her blade as she crept up on the unsuspecting onlooker. She stealthed her way behind the Breton as she rose up like a striking snake, wrapping her arm around the woman's throat and pressing the tip of her blade into her lower back.

"God's blood!" the Breton yelped and she grabbed at Syndel's arm, "Please! I have no-"

"SILENCE!" Syndel snarled as she tightened her hold and nudged the blade deeper into her back as it pierced the cloth of the Breton's shirt. The Breton winced at the pain, easing her grasp on Syndel's arm slightly. "Who are you?" Syndel pitilessly beckoned.

"My name… is Jearl…" she hesitantly replied, "I am no one of consequence… I just live… over there… in Bruma? Please… Don't kill me."

Syndel turned the blade slightly as it nicked Jearl's skin to which she stifled a meek cry of pain, "Just answer me," she hissed furiously, "and I just may let you live. What are you doing here?"

"I… I am studying… studying the Heaven Stones and Doom Stones."

"LIAR! You are watching the Blades… WHY!"

"NO! I was not spying, I swear! Cloud Ruler Temple means nothing to me."

"YOU FOOL!" Syndel scoffed, "How else would you know what it is called, unless you were watching… Now, you must die!" Syndel drew back for a thrust as Jearl pushed at Syndel's arm, breaking free from her grasp as Jearl spun away to face off with her.

"HA! You foolish, little girl!" Jearl jeered scornfully, "You should have killed me when you had the chance!" Jearl threw up her hand as the Mythic Dawn's signature arcane armor was conjured and appeared around her as she wielded a Daedric War Axe. She looked back to where Syndel had been standing to see that she had vanished. Jearl jerked herself back quickly as she braced herself against the Rune Stone to cover her flank. "That's right, run away!" Jearl sneered insultingly.

Syndel darted for the trees as she took cover behind the largest of them while she sheathed her blade and readied her bow. She knocked an arrow as the invisibility spell was dissipated by the exchange and took in a short, deep, cleansing breath, dropping low as she spun around the tree, took aim at the searching Dagon zealot, and let her shot fly. The arrow sailed through the air with an eerie banshee-like screech as the zealot saw the Daedric missile coming at her, all too late. It breached the mystical armor and buried itself directly in the center of Jearl's chest, knocking her into a daze as she felt herself being drained as her body collided against the heavy, pale rock, slumping prone on the ground.

Syndel raced towards her, slinging her bow, switching to her Glass Long Sword as she pounced upon Jearl's chest like a mountain lion after its prey, her legs pinning Jearl's arms to the ground. Jearl thrashed in a futile attempt to break free before stopping short and glaring at Syndel with burning eyes through her ornate helm as Syndel pressed her blade to Jearl's neck,. "I do not fear death, little girl!" Jearl spat through gritted teeth.

Syndel smirked, "Then, Sithis shall have you," she replied coldly and stoically as she sliced through Jearl's throat.

XxXxXxX

Mycroft strolled through the dimly lit cavern in his green silk finery as the guard at the door approached. "Dawn… is… breaking." The male Imperial watchman said methodically.

"Greet the new day!" Mycroft grinned charmingly.

"Then I welcome you, dear brother." The watchman nodded, "Welcome to the path of the Mythic Dawn. Enter, and speak with Harrow." The watchman turned and unlocked the door, opening it as he returned to his post. Mycroft stepped through and descended the naturally forming steps as a Dark Elf rounded the corner ahead of him.

"Ah, our newest initiate. I welcome you brother, I am Harrow, Warden of the Shrine of our Lord, Mehrunes Dagon." He said attentively.

"Greetings unto you as well… brother."

Harrow handed a folded red and black trimmed robe, "Now, let's prepare you for your initiation. Here are your new garments and I will need all of you to hand over possessions."

"My possessions?" Mycroft nervously stammered, "Why?"

"It is not you place to ask questions." Harrow posed adamantly, "You will do as you're told. Now… your possessions…" he barked as he held out his hands.

Mycroft sighed uneasily as he shed his finery and handed over his blade and skeleton key. I guess it was not such a bad idea to hand over the more important stuff to Joren prior to this, after all. He thought to himself as he donned the robe.

Harrow eyed Mycroft displeased and with reservation, "Come, the master awaits." Mycroft raised questioning eyebrow as Harrow continued down the cave as he fell in line behind him. The two passed through another door that opened into a vast underground chamber as the sounds of a man addressing a crowd echoed lightly in the stillness of the space. Harrow whispered to him to remain quiet 'for the master was speaking' as they respectfully skirted the rocky rise around the perimeter and moved deeper into the hollow.

Mycroft looked to the center where nearly a dozen followers were gathered at the base of a raised dais with a trio of altars that formed the base of the shrine where an ominous rendering of the Lord of Destruction stood menacingly overlooking them all. A High Elf male, who Mycroft could only assume to be the infamous, Mankar Camoran, was dressed in more ornate robes; apparently preaching to his flock with a female High Elf was standing off to his right with mage's staff slung on her back, whom vaguely resembled him like a daughter. Mycroft watched in begrudgingly silence as the so-called Master held up the Amulet of Kings announcing that he intended to use it to bring their Lord to this world. He knew now it would be all that more difficult to reacquire it.

Harrow took a place amongst the other followers as they affirmed their faith in his words be following his every statement with "Praise Be!" Mycroft tried to gain a better position to steal the Amulet, if he could, as he skirted along the edge of the small crowd, holding a neutral composure as best he could in the awkwardness of the situation. He was forced to abandon his attempt on getting to the higher ground as he noticed Harrow casually keeping tabs on his place within them. He looked up suddenly as the speaker announced that he was going to join Dagon and return with him as he saw a golden portal open in the middle of the dais as he passed through effortlessly. "Damn!" he muttered under his breath in anger at the missed opportunity as the room fell silent.

Harrow stepped forward amongst the crowd and looked to the female High Elf that remained, "Lady Ruma! We have amongst us a new initiate." Harrow announced energetically as he gestured to Mycroft who felt a cold chill run up his spine at Harrow's words.

"Come forward, dear brother. " Ruma said ethereally, looking towards Mycroft as he made his way up the steps regretfully. Mycroft scanned the scene before him, seeing the thick tome lying on the center altar with a number of Daedric runes inscribed upon it as Ruma took a dagger from the altar and approached him. Mycroft watched as from the other side of the dais, two cultists were carrying an Argonian who had been beaten, bound, and stripped as they set him on a stone slab before the idol.

The two cultists unobtrusively stepped away and back down to the lower level as Mycroft's attention was drawn to Ruma as her dark and heartless eyes gazed upon him intently. "In order to become one with the great Mehrunes Dagon, the red liquid must be given unto him. Give unto Him this sacrifice, so you may bond with him." She instructed through a stoic candor.

Mycroft gritted his teeth as Ruma held out the ornate dagger in front of him. Mycroft snorted a heavy breath as he took the dagger and approached the Argonian. The Argonian laid on his side looking at Mycroft desperately through an un-swollen eye as he heaved a burdened breath, "Please… don't… do this…" he pleaded.

Mycroft sighed as he covered the Argonian's eye as the Argonian softly whispered a prayer to Akatosh, "Sorry, my friend…" Mycroft grimly replied as he leaned in on the Argonian and ran the blade along the centerline of his torso, allowing the edge to merely scrape upon his scales, drawing no blood, and still giving enough force to cut through ropes binding his wrists, "but you will have to make a run for it…" he whispered into his reptilian ear. The room fell silent as the Argonian whispered his thanks to Mycroft.

The Argonian pushed himself off and away from the sacrificial slab as he made break for freedom while Mycroft tossed the blade up in the air, snatching the blade's edge between his fingers, spun around abruptly, and hurled the dagger with all his strength as it flipped end over end towards Ruma.

XxXxXxX

Joren and Nathiira looked on as the dagger sailed through the air and thrust its way into Ruma's stomach as she momentarily stumbled to one knee. Nathiira reached out and brushed her hand against Joren's body since he had removed his armor to avoid audible detection, causing their Invisibility spells to drop as she cast a Greater Protect Other spell upon him to compensate.

"COVER THEM!" Joren yelled as he charged the group of cultist who were racing towards the dais as Nathiira readied her Lightning staff and moved toward Mycroft as he shielded the Argonian. Joren leaped into the air from the elevation and gripped his hammer firmly with both hands as he landed a blow from overhead on to the spine of one of the mystics and following through with a swing to either side, using the momentum of the rush to bat away the small gaggle of assailants.

Mycroft darted from left to right through volley of lightning spells coming from the downed Ruma as he bolted towards the center altar and seized the rather mysterious tome. He sprinted for the right side of the dais to make his escape. Mycroft bound off the edge as he felt the brunt of a spell nail him directly in the back as he suddenly sensed himself become encumbered by an artificial weight that sent him crashing to the ground. He tried with all his might to pick himself up, but had not the strength to overcome the burden.

Nathiira sprinted toward Mycroft on the upper rock outcropping along the right side as four cultists rushed towards her prone stricken ally. She cast a Frost Blast at the group which encompassed their immediate area in bitter cold. Two of the mystics turned and cast a pair of Fireball spell towards her. Nathiira managed to sidestep one as the other caught her point blank. Her natural immunity afforded her a fair amount of resistance but the searing pain lingered as the spell bounced off of her through her Ring of Spell Reflection as half of the jolt returned to the sender and was released upon the pair of casters, dispatching them.

Blow for blow, Joren mowed his way through the mass of half a dozen followers as the Hammer kept him resilient as Harrow summoned his armor and began to exchange blows. "DIE, NON-BELIEVER!" Harrow screamed as he dispelled the protection spell upon Joren. Harrow reached back and swung at Joren with his war axe as Joren cross-blocked the strike as the two became locked in a hold.

"Send my regards to Dagon!" Joren spat as he pushed his weight forward, driving Harrow off balance as their weapons broke free and Joren brought his hammer low, in a controlled spin, swinging it upward in the turn as it caught the right side of Harrow's helm, snapping his head viciously around, breaking his neck as the armor faded and the Dark Elf slumped backward.

The two remaining cultist on the right pressed on as they summoned Daedric armor and blades. They descended upon Mycroft for the kill. "NO!" Nathiira shrilled as she dropped down, draping over Mycroft and dispelled the Burden upon him as the bladed pair attacked with thrusts. Their assault thrashed into Nathiira's body as she yelped in excruciating pain as her body went limp and slid off of the now freed Mycroft. Mycroft looked on in horror at the fallen mage as his shock turned to rage.

"You… BASTARDS!!!" Mycroft screamed as he dodged incoming slashes, rolling between them as he grabbed Nathiira's staff. The two attackers turned inward as Mycroft drove the pointed end of staff through the eye slit of one his attacker's helms as the body shuttered, the armor faded, and the dead man fell to the ground in a heap as his body began to twitch wickedly. The other foe pulled back his blade and lanced Mycroft through the side as he shrieked in anguish as he was forced to his knees being pressed upon. Mycroft squinted as he saw a dagger strapped on the convulsing dead body's belt as his attacker pulled out his blade. Mycroft swiftly clutched the handle, twisted his body around in a fluid-like motion and lunged up at his foe, the blade driven up through the jaw into his brain as he fell with the body as it thudded hard against the ground.

Joren strode up onto the dais, blood seeping from numerous gashes across his arms and torso, his Hammer resting casually on his shoulder as he walked up on the wheezing Ruma Camoran who was leaned against the altar, soaked in blood from the waist down. "I…" Ruma coughed as she spat blood, "do not… fear death…"

"Good," Joren replied flatly as he clocked her upside her head with his hammer as she folded over on her side, "neither do I." Joren looked about as the room fell quiet as he knew there was more present, deeper within the cave. "Nathiira!" he called out hoping for a relative response.

"Over here!" Mycroft yelped as Joren made his way hurriedly over to the right side and hopped down as he saw Mycroft frantically tearing strips away from his robe, tying them around Nathiira's wounds as she laid there unconscious. "She is hurt bad. We need to get out of here."

Joren eyed the deep gash along Mycroft side as he took a long strip and wrapped it around Mycroft's abdomen as he tied it tightly, causing Mycroft to grunt as he attempted to suck in the pain. "Can you make it?" Joren asked steadily.

"Yes..." Mycroft grunted through the pain as he picked up Nathiira's limp body in his arms, "I have no choice."

Voices echoed through the room as torch light started to filter in as Joren took note and stared into Mycroft's eyes steadfastly, "Get to the Chapel in the city. I'll cover your exit."

"But, you cannot take-"

"Shut up and GO!" Joren belted as he shoved Mycroft forward and headed towards the fray as Mycroft did not look back and carried Nathiira off, making his exit from the cave with all his might.