-Deep under the Brotherhood Sanctuary-
"Truth in shadows," Speaker Malkeyranis says as he leads Rufico down a winding staircase into the depths of a huge cavern. "It is time for The Void to show you the true fate of our fallen brother."
"You knew this the whole time?" Rufico says quietly as he follows behind Speaker Malkeyranis, his footsteps as silent as the speakers.
"Our Night Mother and Dread Father knew what we did not, and kept their silence on it. It is now time for you to break the silence." Speaker Malkeyranis stops at the bottom of the staircase, a pool of inky black water is spread before them. "Enter, and embrace The Void, Brother Rufico, and know what you must know for your quest."
Rufico's eyes are on the cold dark water. Those eyes that were once so haunted, now so cold. Training with the Brotherhood and the far darker training in the cavern below the Sanctuary that was for him alone had taken its toll. Made him stronger, different. But also colder. How much time had passed since he had gone with Speaker Malkeyranis, Rufico had no way of telling. Above time passed as it should, but down in this dark place so close to The Void time seemed to slow. Rufico moves to the pool and takes his Brotherhood armor off, putting it beside the water as he steps into the cold water that leaches all warmth from him. He moves to the middle and sits, the water coming up to his neck. Slowly he closes his eyes and the darkness grows until it envelops him completely.


The Black Sacrament had been performed and Speaker Malkeyranis had assigned the kill to Stalks-in-Darkness. "You will go to Bal Foyen and assassinate a Dunmer named Dalnila Rivuralu. It has been requested that an Argonian assassin carries out the target, and you are to show yourself to Dalnila before you kill her."
Stalks-in-Darkness tilts his head down slightly. "Unusual, but sounds easy enough," Stalks-in-Darkness says, and his eyes tighten slightly.
Speaker Malkeyranis laughs at this. "You prefer harder kills. Still, you are the only Shadowscale at this sanctuary, so the task falls to you."
Stalks-in-Darkness rises from the table. "Dalnila will be silenced," he tells the Speaker. "I will send her soul to The Void."


Stalks-in-Darkness watches from the shadows as Dalnila walks out of Fort Zeren late in the evening. He follows silently as she heads away from the fort to stop in a field of tall grass where she starts to gather flowers and plants. A quick look ensures there is no one else near and Stalks-in-Darkness moves through the grass nearly on his belly, the grass making no sign he's on the hunt. Dalnila is far too easy, but it intrigues him to show himself before the kill. It may not be AS fun, but it does add a little excitement to the murder. When he's a foot from her he suddenly rises and she starts back, the flowers falling from her hand. Stalks-in-Darkness surges toward her and the Blade of Woe shimmers into existence, and it slices at her throat...only to go through it as she vanishes. Stalks-In-Darkness leaps back, hissing. An illusion?
Suddenly portals snap open all around him and Stalks-In-Darkness hisses again, withdrawing a jagged blade as his eyes dart around. Daedra start to pour out and they come for him. "This is peculiar," Stalks-In-Darkness says. "But much more interesting." He laughs as he surges at the Daedra his blade slicing in them, showing no mercy. Still more pour out and Stalks-In-Darkness starts to look for a way out. At this rate, even he will be overwhelmed. Stalks-In-Darkness sees an opening and takes it, racing across the grass. A portal snaps open in his path and he veers, only to have a Daedra cross into his path. Stalks-In-Darkness's knife finds its way into his throat, but another Daedra comes in behind him and Stalks-In-Darkness turns as the Daedra's fist slams into his face. Stalks-In-Darkness falls to the ground but is up in a moment, the world spinning in front of him. His throwing knives fly and more Daedra fall and then another portal snaps open and a huge Daedroth emerges and slams into Stalks-In-Darkness, sending him crashing through another portal.


Stalks-In-Darkness springs up as the portal snaps shut. His eyes dart around. He's in a cavern lit by eerie blue light, and it is icy cold. His eyes narrow as he realizes where he is. "Oblivion..." Stalks-In-Darkness hisses. "You dare attack one of us?" Stalks-In-Darkness snarls.
A glowing pair of eyes in the shadows has Stalks-In-Darkness looking up and up as the Daedric Prince moves from the shadows to stand above Stalks-In-Darkness. Grey-blue eyes that glow with unimaginable power and unfathomable depths. A demonic like form, talons, claws, horns. Stalks-In-Darkness stays still, but it takes effort for even him not to step back before the Lord of Domination. He hisses softly, his knives are long gone buried in Daedric bodies. "What do you want? I belong to the Void, not you." Stalks-In-Darkness asks.
Molag Bal regards him. Stalks-In-Darkness's ebony black scales, his emerald green eyes. "A shadow come to life. You will do, Argonian," Molag Bal says. "Submit, and the destruction of your soul will be relatively painless. Fight, and you will know agony beyond your deepest nightmares if such a creature as you has such."
Stalks-In-Darkness's eyes dart to the darkness. No way out, no path save for death. But he refuses this kind of death. His claws move to his own throat, intending to kill himself before Molag Bal can have him.
Molag Bal laughs and Stalks-In-Darkness is frozen in place. "Do you think I would let you?" he laughs. "Agony it is." Dark chains erupt from the ground ensnaring Stalks-In-Darkness and he struggles briefly before stilling, his green eyes locked onto Molag Bal.
"Take me if you can then. But The Void will make you suffer for this, one day." Stalks-In-Darkness hisses.
Molag Bal laughs. "The Void has no power over me. I am the Lord of Domination." Molag Bal's eyes flare ice white and Daedric energy flows through the chains into Stalks-In-Darkness. Stalks-In-Darkness throws his head back but does not scream, just endures like the everlasting void until he cannot any longer and goes limp in the chains, eyes shutting.


Stalks-In-Darkness's eyes open. The darkness is complete without a hint of light. Stalks-In-Darkness knows the darkness intimity, he has swum in it since he was hatched under the favored sign. He likes its currents and the dark tasks The Brotherhood bestowed upon him. But this darkness was not the familiar darkness of the void. This was icy darkness, wrongness on the deepest level. Stalks-In-Darkness hisses. "Come for me then, see if you can," Stalks-In-Darkness says boldly, without a hint of fear.
Molag Bal laughs. "Such bravery, mortal. I cannot help but admire that strength. It will not change your fate...but for your show of it I will reward you." Icy light fills the dark and Molag Bal's towering form is seen briefly before shadows cover his form and when they fade Molag Bal is nearly the same size as Stalks-In-Darkness. "Come mortal, fight your fate since you are so eager to do so."
"My fate is with The Void, not you," Stalks-In-Darkness says and he surges toward Molag Bal and the battle is on.
Stalks-In-Darkness's swift speed, vicious and deadly attacks against the sheer brute might of Molag Bal. The fight lasts mere minutes but in this mindscape, it seems much much longer. In the end, though, Molag Bal's claws wrap around Stalks-In-Darkness's neck and lifts him up. "One last chance to submit," Molag Bal says.
"I only submit to The Void, to the Dread Father Sithis," Stalks-In-Darkness hisses. "He will know what you have done, he and the Night Mother both. The Void will come even for you, Daedric Prince."
Molag Bal just laughs at the threat and Daedric energy flows into Stalks-In-Darkness and once more Stalks-In-Darkness endures the pain, refuses to give Molag Bal the screams he so desires. The agony seems endless as it rips through Stalks-In-Darkness slowly and painfully destroying his soul. At the very last moment, Stalks-In-Darkness does at last scream as his soul is torn asunder and is utterly annihilated.


Stalks-In-Darkness opens his eyes, the emerald green replaced by baleful grey-blue. A grin crosses his Argonian face and he flexes his claws, moves his stolen mortal form. A portal snaps open moments later and two Xivkyn emerge dragging a bound and chained Mannimarco, whom they throw at Stalks-In-Darkness's feet before leaving. Mannimarco struggles into a sitting position and he looks up at Stalks-In-Darkness with eyes wreathed in pain. Stalks-In-Darkness kneels down and grips Mannimarco's face with his claws and as Mannimarco looks into those eyes he recognizes them. "What have you done?" Mannimarco says.
"What I needed to do for my plans," Stalks-In-Darkness hisses. "I will have all the souls of Nirn one way or the other," he tilts his head. "Do you want to help me? I will free you briefly from your punishment for this."
Mannimarco's blue eyes glare in hatred at the Daedric Prince. "I seem to have little choice." he snarls.
"I'll take that as a yes," Stalks-In-Darkness says, dropping his claws from Mannimarco.
"She'll stop you again, you must know this," Mannimarco says.
A smile that would turn anyone's blood to ice crosses Stalks-In-Darkness's face. "The Vestige stopped me once before, but this time she'll help me," Stalks-In-Darkness says.
Mannimarco looks at Stalks-In-Darkness in disbelief. "Are you mad?" he says, then flinches at asking that.
Stalks-In-Darkness just laughs. "I have had eyes on her when I can. She is lost in her own strength now, one of Hircine's wolfs. I'll go to her when she's alone and at a crisis point and she will come with me, willingly." Stalks-In-Darkness smile grows. "She thinks herself unbeatable. She thinks she can take on the Daedric Princes themselves. She'll be shown her weakness in thinking this in the end."
Mannimarco is silent then a small smile appears on his lips. "I...would enjoy seeing her fall. She left me in your clutches, after all." His eyes grow angry again. "I want you to release me for my help when this is all over," he tries to demand of the Daedric Prince.
Stalks-In-Darkness's eyes glow and Mannimarco shrinks back. "Never," Stalks-In-Darkness hisses with fury. "But I am willing to ease your torment. Unless you still refuse, then I will continue torturing you every moment of every day until the end of time."
Mannimarco's eyes turn icy. "What would you have me do?" he asks.
"Teach her son the ways of necromancy. Make sure he falls into darkness, so he will use the Band of T'zlich in the proper way when it is time." Stalks-In-Darkness instructs him.
Mannimarco's eyes widen, he has heard of the Band of T'zlich and the story around it. He thought it myth, but... "It is real. Of course, you must have been the one responsible for its creation." Mannimarco starts to say something else but then confusion crosses his eyes. "I did not know Jeziasi had a son," he says. "And I know of the curse upon it...of course. That part must be incorrect."
Stalks-In-Darkness regards Mannimarco. "Not yet. And the curse is truth." Stalks-In-Darkness laughs at Mannimarco's utterly baffled look and a twisted grin crosses Stalks-In-Darkness's face. "You'll have to help with the creation, as well. Daedric magic in part will have to be used."
A look of horrified understanding crosses Mannimarco's face as well as a glimmer of intrigue. He focuses his gaze on Stalks-In-Darkness and at last, understands why Molag Bal has assumed a mortal Argonian form. "You intend to..." Mannimarco trails off.
"A willing union is needed," Stalks-In-Darkness says. "So no, I will not dominate the Vestige that way. But this way..." Stalks-In-Darkness laughs. "To have her willingly submit to me is even better."
Mannimarco swallows. "You cannot just use...someone else? Someone more easily fooled?" Mannimarco asks.
"They may not survive. Mortals are not made for what I intend. But Jeziasi is something more." Stalks-In-Darkness says and his eyes glow again. "She refused to submit...so I will deceive her into it this time."
"With respect, I have my doubts you can," Mannimarco says and Stalks-In-Darkness's gaze turns furious and Mannimarco looks down. "Yes, yes. I will assist regardless."


Rufico opens his eyes and thinks of what he has been shown. The horrific nature of what Molag Bal had done to the Shadow Scale. The Void gathered the scant remains of Stalks-In-Darkness's soul...though all that remains of him now is memories of his final moments, and moments after before The Void retreated to bring what it had gathered to the Dread Father and Night Mother. Rufico rises from the water and walks to Speaker Malkeyranis, streams of water pouring from his body as he regards the Speaker. No words are spoken, no words need to be. Rufico turns and dresses. It is personal in a way, though he would have thought The Brotherhood and The Void beyond that. "It's time, is it not?" Rufico asks quietly.
Speaker Malkeyranis nods. "You are our Dread Father's dagger in the night, Rufico. You understand why we are involved in this. For this betrayal, and for the souls, the Daedric Prince intends to try to steal. He cannot continue to lay claim on all the souls of Nirn. The Void and other Princes are in like mind about this." Speaker Malkeyranis says. "It is time to finish your training."
Rufico swallows and turns from Speaker Malkeyranis to look further in the cavern. Its dominated by the strange pool, but in the far back is a place where the shadows gather like inky pools. Just looking at it is enough to raise goosebumps. One can cross from Nirn into The Void there, and that is not something that should happen until one has fallen. To go when alive... Speaker Malkeyranis had warned Rufico when he started down this course. If he lacked resolve, if he lacked anything at all, it could break his mind, at the very least. It was not something the old Rufico could venture into. But the old Rufico was nearly gone, was he not? Once Rufico stepped into The Void, all that was his old self would die.
"When you are ready, Brother." Speaker Malkeyranis says. "You know silence now, and you know time is nearly up. I trust you will finish your training and be what you need to be." Speaker Malkeyranis turns and moves to the stairs. "I have a meeting to attend to," he says as he leaves Rufico.
Rufico stares into the shadows, his mind moving backward as he reflects on his first days here.


The portal opens deep in the wilds of Mournhold and Speaker Malkeyranis walks to a rock-face and moves inside a small opening that one would only be able to see if they knew to look for it. Rufico follows him to a menacing black door with a skull upon it. Rufico almost steps back, the door feels alive, it seems to breathe and Rufico can feel a heartbeat in the stones all around him. Speaker Malkeyranis glances back at him. "We will teach you to embrace death, and you will shed your fear," he says as he turns back to the door and places his hand on it.
The door speaks, in a voice like bones raking over the ground. "What is life's ultimate prize?"
"The Void," Speaker Malkeyranis replies, and it opens to let the two of them pass.
The Sanctuary is cast in stone and much of it is under the rock face that they entered in. Speaker Malkeyranis quickly moves through its twists and turns to a large meeting room, where the rest of The Brotherhood is waiting. Rufico's eyes move from each in turn. A elder Dunmer woman with crafty cunning eyes. An Altmer with long silver hair who's lying on a table, her golden eyes following Rufico. A grey-furred with black markings Khajiit leaning against a wall, picking at his claws, and a short Bosmer with light brown hair who gazes at him with silver eyes framed with black. "This is your new family, Rufico Lexonus." Speaker Malkeyranis tells him. "Vilvyna is our Matron," he explains, his eyes moving to the Dunmer woman. "Mircarya has joined us recently, Vashfazir is the one who trains new members, and Magore is our current Silencer."
Magore glares at Rufico. "One height joke, you'll find a knife where ya really do not want one," he warns.
"He seems like a jokester," Mircarya says, moving from the table and circling Rufico, who tries to keep her eyes on her lithe movements. "So that should be interesting to see," she laughs and runs her fingers down Rufico's neck before leaping back on the table, spinning around before sitting with her legs crossed.
Vashfazir looks at Rufico up and down. "He does not look like much to this one," Vashfazir says. "Like a little ruffian far from home. Do you want to run home, little ruffian?"
Vilvyna holds up her hand and approaches Rufico, her eyes lock onto his and in them, Rufico sees death, darkness. Perhaps another would break away from her intense stare, but Rufico had known both.
"You have seen horrors, little Imperial," Vilvyna says softly. "Death will welcome you. We, welcome you, though this situation is unusual for us. But what Our Night Mother whispers to us, we follow." Vilvyna turns her eyes to Vashfazir. "He is young, but the Speaker has told me of his story. He escaped the Plane-Meld at a very young age." Her gaze moves back to Rufico. "To know death at such a young age. Perhaps your path would of always lead you here," her gaze intensives. "Speaker Malkeyranis has also told me that you like to act like a carefree ruffian. That will not hold here. Drop your little act, and be who you really are." Vilvyna smiles, a smile with just a hint of cruelty. "We'll help peel those layers from you until all that's left is your core. Then you can be remade as the Night Mother and the Dread Father needs you to be."
Rufico swallows. "That is why I'm here," Rufico says. "Though I still don't understand why me," he admits. "I'm hardly anything at all."
Vashfazir moves closer to him. "This one thinks that is the point. Now come with Vashfazir. This one thinks you may hate me a little soon." The Khajiit grins, showing so many fangs and turns, walking deeper into the sanctuary. Rufico swallows again. Once, he may have made a careless joke or two, but that part of him seems to have already started to die with the horrific battle at Craglorn. Seeing two people he had come to call friends at death's door had shaken him more than he told anyone. He could not be a worthless ruffian anymore, and he no longer wanted to. So he follows the Khajiit and pledges to let them do what they must to change him. To make him something other than worthless. Something that can help his friends, next time.


Vashfazir was right, Rufico thought as he snaps out of his thoughts. The training was not for the faint of heart. Endless matches against the Khajiit and the other Brotherhood members until he knew how to fight from the shadows, how to be lethal, deadly. Learning the art of poison, of blades, of stealth and when he was ready...murder. The Speaker sent him on Sacraments as soon as he was ready. The first time he killed he almost hesitated. Only the thought of wanting to be more than worthless kept him moving forward until the Breton woman he had been sent to kill was dead at his feet. Her eyes...he will never forget those eyes as the light faded from them. It got easier after her, though and Rufico slowly started to change.
And now? Now it was time to finish the change. To step into The Void and destroy the last bit of who he used to be. Murder the useless ruffian who could not even help his friends. Rufico's eyes narrow. He will never be useless again. He would help his friends, help Nirn. He would murder for both until the ground ran red with the blood of those who The Void wanted ended. Rufico steps forward and moves toward the shadows.