The Legend of Belthil (part 2)
The archer remembered the day that his family was killed. It was cold rainy night outside of Dagon Fel. A boy sat next to his sister and his parents telling stories to pass the time. That night was filled with laughter and joy. Suddenly, the door was kicked in and a male dark elf walked in with an evil grin. He wore a red robe and had shoulder length red hair with a red beard; he was obviously a wizard. He grinned and pointed towards the father "I told you, I wanted 50 drakes by the end of the week." The elf's eyes narrowed as he laughed "It's time to pay the piper." The boy's father stepped forward and sheltered his wife and children "Please forgive me, I could only collect 40 drakes." The wizard glared and evil eye at the man "When I say 50 drakes, I mean 50 drakes and no less." The wizard lifted his hands towards the man and said without any emotion "Now die." Suddenly, a ball of fire shot from his hands and slammed into the father's chest, causing his entire body to burn like a touch. He screamed in pain and suddenly fell silent as his body hit the floor. The little girl hugged her brother as they looked at their dead father. The wizard laughed "I've been thinking about building my tower on this very spot."
The wife's eyes opened wide, for she knew what he was going to do. She quickly grabbed her children and picked them up "Please, spare my children, I beg you!" The wizard laughed and aimed his hands towards her "I can't have any witnesses." The woman quickly threw her children out the window behind her as her body ignited into flames. The boy looked up to the window to see his mother's burning corpse slide back inside the window. The boy's little sister was devastated by now and was in tears. The boy quickly ran away while pulling his sister by her arm. They ran as fast as they could through the rain. As he ran, he felt his sister's hand jerked from his grasp. The boy turned around to see the wizard holding the squirming girl "Hmm...I could use a servant to take care of my tower when it's built." The wizard grinned at the boy "You...I have no use for." With that, he shot a ball of fire, striking the boys shoulder and knocking him down. His head struck a rock and everything went black.
The boy awoke in a dark room; the ground was like water, but he could walk on it. He stood up and looked into the endless abyss "Hello" he noticed how their was no echo. Slowly, some water ahead of him rose up like a spike. The water slowly took the form of a woman "I am Azura my child, I am here to help you." The boy looked around "Where am I?" Azura smiled warmly "Just a place I made for this encounter. What is your name?" The boy answered "My name is Ilfirin Belthil." Azura walked towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder "It's nice to meet you Ilfirin, I've brought you here because I need your help." Ilfirin tilted his head "What could I possibly do?" Azura laughed "It is not what you can do now, it's what you can do later." She lowered herself down on one knee and looked eye to eye with Ilfirin "I will take you to the city of Vivec, to a faithful follower who will take care of you." Ilfirin's eyes widened "That City is so far away." Azura nodded "I know it is, but if you stay here, that wizard will surely kill you. Your destiny requires you to stay alive." Azura stood up and stepped 3 steps back "Everything will turn black and you will find yourself in the St. Olms canton in Vivec. When you are there, look for a man by the name of Proceus Maltus, and imperial who has shown to be very faithful to me. He will be expecting you." Ilfirin wanted to ask why she came to him, but was cut off by a deep darkness and as she said, he found himself in the St. Olms canton.
Opon arriving in the canton, Ilfirin began asking around for Proceus Maltus like Azura asked him to. He soon learned that he was in a manor in the St. Olms canton. He was told it was once said to be haunted, but it was really occupied by a Hlaalu noble who liked keeping his location a secret. As he walked inside, he saw an old looking imperial with a band of white hair that covered only the sides and back of his head. The old man turned towards him "Hmm...a young Dunmer boy, you must be Ilfirin." Ilfirin nodded sheepishly as he surveyed the area. The old man smiled warmly "Don't be afraid lad, this is my home, and I'll be looking after you." Ilfirin was still nervous as he looked around the room. The old man picked up cup and handed it to him "Here, drink this, it will help calm your nerves." Ilfirin sipped the liquid and found it was not water, but sujamma." Ilfirin looked up to him and smiled slightly as he continued to drink. The old man nodded "Well, as you probably know, my name is Proceus Maltus, you can call me Proceus." Ilfirin smilled and finished the cup of sujamma. Proceus laughed "Well, looks like you could use another cup!"
10 years went by, and the two began so see one another as family. Ilfirin had grown up sense his parents were killed. He was now 16 years old and was becoming good friends with the locals in Vivec. Ilfirin had enjoyed looking at all the weapons, armors, and other trinkets that Proceus had collected. One day, Ilfirin was looking at all the weapons when Proceus walked up beside him "Ah yes, many fine weapons here." Ilfirin looked up and Proceus to see a happy, yet sad look "I've collected many of these weapons in my younger days." Ilfirin tilted his head "Uncle Proceus, why do you look sad, as well as happy?" Proceus smilled warmly and placed a hand on Ilfirin's shoulder "Well, I can't explore like I use to when my body was still young and strong." Proceus flexed his arm and then began moving his fingers around "My body is getting old and my joints are shot fairly bad." Ilfirin looked towards the weapons on Proceus' display "You must have been a great adventurer years ago." Ilfirin picked up a Daedric Battleaxe "Where did you get this one?" Proceus grinned "Ah, I remember that axe." Proceus placed his hands on his hips and stood tall "I got that one from the dead hands of a Dremora, strong one too." Ilfirin smiled as he saw Proceus pretending he was in the fight again "I was looking around some Daedric Ruins when, all of a sudden, this Dremora came out of nowhere." Proceus continued "I drew my Ebony Longsword and blocked his attack! Then, he attacked me, but I was too quick for him and I slashed his face!" Proceus picked up an iron longsword and held it in front of him "He was dazed by the attack to his face, so I took advantage and ran my sword right through his heart." Proceus leaped forward and thrust his sword, but his old joints stopped him and he lurched forward. Ilfirin leaped forward and helped steady him "Are you okay Uncle Proceus?" Proceus nodded "Just old age getting to me." Proceus set the sword down "I think it's about time you learned how to fight with a weapon." Ilfirin placed a finger on his chest "Me, fight with a sword?" Proceus laughed "I know you've wanted to use a weapon before. I've seen you countless time at the arena to see the fights." Ilfirin blushed "Well, I like weapons, but I'd probably hurt myself with one." Proceus smiled "As long as someone teaches you, you'll do fine." Proceus looked towards the wall of weapons "Pick any weapon you like. If you feel drawn to a weapon, then perhaps you should go with it." Ilfirin looked upon the wall and noticed the steel katana "Can I use that one?" Proceus nodded "Sure, it's a weapon too. Elegant and powerful at the same time." Ilfirin held the sword and pretended to shop at an enemy "How was that?" Perceus nodded "Not too bad for someone who's never used a katana before." Perceus picked up another steel katana and stood beside Ilfirin "You must not just chop, but also slice with it, that is one of the basics to using a katana." Proceus showed Ilfirin with a slowed down attack "When the sword hits the enemy, you must push down and pull towards you. If you do that correctly and get really go at it, you could cut of a person's arm in one slice!" Ilfirin held his katana up and looked at it with great interest "I want to fight with a katana." Proceus patted Ilfirin on the back "I've still got a few years left to teach you."
Ilfirin was a quick learner. He quickly became skilled with using a katana and even participated in friendly competitions in the arena. His skill with his katana made his name well known in Vivec. He was known as a strong and skilled young man and was just as kind. Proceus was very proud of him, he taught him everything he knew, and yet, Ilfirin became even a better swordsman than he was in his younger days.
Ilfirin was now 22 years old, he walked into the house he had come into as a child and saw Proceus sitting at the table eating "Look Uncle Proceus, I won at the arena again!" Proceus laughed proudly "That's the third time you've won my boy, you make an old man proud." Proceus pointed towards a plate of Scrib Jelly, Scrib Jerky, some Hacklo leaves, and some Sujamma "Come over here and have some dinner with me." Ilfirin walked over to the table to eat when a scream was heard outside. Ilfirin turned and ran to the door to see what had happened. Proceus stood up and leaned on his cane "Ilfirin, stop, the Ordinators will take care of any problems!" Ilfirin opened the door and saw a group of men in black leather standing above a Redguard woman. They were brotherhood assassins. Ilfirin picked up his steel sword and ran out the door. Proceus walked as fast as his old joints could take him to the door.
The redguard woman lay on the ground by another manor. One of the assasssins unshethed his daedric tanto "Your one of the leaders of the abolitionists are you not?" The woman looked at the blade, knowing that it would end her life. The assassin held it in a thrusting position "You have a bounty on your head by Mr. Lethran, time to die." Before he could kill her, a voice interrupted him "Let the woman go!" The assassin looked behind him to see Ilfirin with his katana ready to fight "I don't like petty assassins who bully unarmed people!" The assassin laughed coldly through his leather mask "Looks like I'll have to kill you too." The assassin rushed towards Ilfirin in an attempt to kill him. Ilfirin saw the attack coming and stepped to the left and extended his right leg enough to trip the assassin. Another of the assassins rushed forward to attack. Ilfirin leaped forward to meet the assassin and thrust his katana into the man's throat. The first attacker looked up to see one of his fellow assassin fall, gurgling on his own blood "Kill him!" The third assassin slowly circled Ilfirin as the first assassin did the same. The first assassin chuckled "Well, we'll have to kill you first I see. We can't let our group be dishonored by having a novice fighter like you be known to have killed one of our members." The third assassin got a little closer "Well kill you and throw your worthless corpse to the Mudcrabs!" With that, the first assassin lunged at Ilfirin, but jumped back before he could be hit "You're a fool!" The woman's muffled voice could be heard. Ilfirin saw that he was tricked and the third assassin held his blade to the woman's throat "Drop your sword and I won't kill her." Ilfirin laughed "If you don't' kill her, you don't' get paid." Ilfirin tightened his grip on his katana "You'll kill and then me." The first assassin readied for his attack when an arrow shot past his head and into the third assassin's left eye. Ilfirin looked in amazement to see Proceus holding his daedric bow and a ebony arrow "I won't let you hurt anyone today assassin!" Proceus yelled, feeling some of his youthfulness return to him in the heat of battle. Ilfirin smiled, it had been a while sense Uncle Proceus seemed so energetic. His joy was quickly snuffed out when the remaining assassin threw a silver dagger into Proceus' throat. Proceus removed the dagger and attempted to hold the wound shut. Ilfirin's eyes widened at the sight of another loved one killed before his eyes "You !" Ilfirin leaped forwards and buried his katana in the assassin's skull. The assassin corpse fell to the ground.
Ilfirin quickly rushed to Proceus and shook him "Uncle Proceus, are you okay?" Proceus groaned "No, I'm afraid not my boy." Ilfirin saw blood trickling through his fingers that held the wound "The dagger severed my jugular vain...I'll be dead soon." Ilfirin becan to tear "We'll get a healer, he'll save you!" Proceus smiled "The healer will not get here fast enough Ilfirin, it was just my time." Tears tripped off of Ilfirin's chin "Please, hold on." Proceus smiIed and placed a hand on Ilfirin's cheek "I'm proud of you boy, live a good live and...be happy." Proceus' eyes shut and his hands fell limp on the ground. Ilfirin held Proceus' head and remembered the days when he began his first lessons with Proceus. His grief was soon replaced by anger and the need for revenge. Ifirin looked towards the woman and asked her, still holding his sword "Who is this Lethran guy and where is he!" The woman stood up "H-He's a plantation owner in the new Dren Plantation. He's second in command at the plantation and is in charge of all slave matters." Ilfirin slung his blade, slinging most of the blood off of it before putting it back in it's scabbard "So you're one of the head abolitionists and he wanted to kill you to keep his slaves in check correct?" The woman nodded "Yes, that's what I believe is going on here." Ilfirin walked way and left the canton and headed north, to the New Dren Plantation.
The archer remembered the day that his family was killed. It was cold rainy night outside of Dagon Fel. A boy sat next to his sister and his parents telling stories to pass the time. That night was filled with laughter and joy. Suddenly, the door was kicked in and a male dark elf walked in with an evil grin. He wore a red robe and had shoulder length red hair with a red beard; he was obviously a wizard. He grinned and pointed towards the father "I told you, I wanted 50 drakes by the end of the week." The elf's eyes narrowed as he laughed "It's time to pay the piper." The boy's father stepped forward and sheltered his wife and children "Please forgive me, I could only collect 40 drakes." The wizard glared and evil eye at the man "When I say 50 drakes, I mean 50 drakes and no less." The wizard lifted his hands towards the man and said without any emotion "Now die." Suddenly, a ball of fire shot from his hands and slammed into the father's chest, causing his entire body to burn like a touch. He screamed in pain and suddenly fell silent as his body hit the floor. The little girl hugged her brother as they looked at their dead father. The wizard laughed "I've been thinking about building my tower on this very spot."
The wife's eyes opened wide, for she knew what he was going to do. She quickly grabbed her children and picked them up "Please, spare my children, I beg you!" The wizard laughed and aimed his hands towards her "I can't have any witnesses." The woman quickly threw her children out the window behind her as her body ignited into flames. The boy looked up to the window to see his mother's burning corpse slide back inside the window. The boy's little sister was devastated by now and was in tears. The boy quickly ran away while pulling his sister by her arm. They ran as fast as they could through the rain. As he ran, he felt his sister's hand jerked from his grasp. The boy turned around to see the wizard holding the squirming girl "Hmm...I could use a servant to take care of my tower when it's built." The wizard grinned at the boy "You...I have no use for." With that, he shot a ball of fire, striking the boys shoulder and knocking him down. His head struck a rock and everything went black.
The boy awoke in a dark room; the ground was like water, but he could walk on it. He stood up and looked into the endless abyss "Hello" he noticed how their was no echo. Slowly, some water ahead of him rose up like a spike. The water slowly took the form of a woman "I am Azura my child, I am here to help you." The boy looked around "Where am I?" Azura smiled warmly "Just a place I made for this encounter. What is your name?" The boy answered "My name is Ilfirin Belthil." Azura walked towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder "It's nice to meet you Ilfirin, I've brought you here because I need your help." Ilfirin tilted his head "What could I possibly do?" Azura laughed "It is not what you can do now, it's what you can do later." She lowered herself down on one knee and looked eye to eye with Ilfirin "I will take you to the city of Vivec, to a faithful follower who will take care of you." Ilfirin's eyes widened "That City is so far away." Azura nodded "I know it is, but if you stay here, that wizard will surely kill you. Your destiny requires you to stay alive." Azura stood up and stepped 3 steps back "Everything will turn black and you will find yourself in the St. Olms canton in Vivec. When you are there, look for a man by the name of Proceus Maltus, and imperial who has shown to be very faithful to me. He will be expecting you." Ilfirin wanted to ask why she came to him, but was cut off by a deep darkness and as she said, he found himself in the St. Olms canton.
Opon arriving in the canton, Ilfirin began asking around for Proceus Maltus like Azura asked him to. He soon learned that he was in a manor in the St. Olms canton. He was told it was once said to be haunted, but it was really occupied by a Hlaalu noble who liked keeping his location a secret. As he walked inside, he saw an old looking imperial with a band of white hair that covered only the sides and back of his head. The old man turned towards him "Hmm...a young Dunmer boy, you must be Ilfirin." Ilfirin nodded sheepishly as he surveyed the area. The old man smiled warmly "Don't be afraid lad, this is my home, and I'll be looking after you." Ilfirin was still nervous as he looked around the room. The old man picked up cup and handed it to him "Here, drink this, it will help calm your nerves." Ilfirin sipped the liquid and found it was not water, but sujamma." Ilfirin looked up to him and smiled slightly as he continued to drink. The old man nodded "Well, as you probably know, my name is Proceus Maltus, you can call me Proceus." Ilfirin smilled and finished the cup of sujamma. Proceus laughed "Well, looks like you could use another cup!"
10 years went by, and the two began so see one another as family. Ilfirin had grown up sense his parents were killed. He was now 16 years old and was becoming good friends with the locals in Vivec. Ilfirin had enjoyed looking at all the weapons, armors, and other trinkets that Proceus had collected. One day, Ilfirin was looking at all the weapons when Proceus walked up beside him "Ah yes, many fine weapons here." Ilfirin looked up and Proceus to see a happy, yet sad look "I've collected many of these weapons in my younger days." Ilfirin tilted his head "Uncle Proceus, why do you look sad, as well as happy?" Proceus smilled warmly and placed a hand on Ilfirin's shoulder "Well, I can't explore like I use to when my body was still young and strong." Proceus flexed his arm and then began moving his fingers around "My body is getting old and my joints are shot fairly bad." Ilfirin looked towards the weapons on Proceus' display "You must have been a great adventurer years ago." Ilfirin picked up a Daedric Battleaxe "Where did you get this one?" Proceus grinned "Ah, I remember that axe." Proceus placed his hands on his hips and stood tall "I got that one from the dead hands of a Dremora, strong one too." Ilfirin smiled as he saw Proceus pretending he was in the fight again "I was looking around some Daedric Ruins when, all of a sudden, this Dremora came out of nowhere." Proceus continued "I drew my Ebony Longsword and blocked his attack! Then, he attacked me, but I was too quick for him and I slashed his face!" Proceus picked up an iron longsword and held it in front of him "He was dazed by the attack to his face, so I took advantage and ran my sword right through his heart." Proceus leaped forward and thrust his sword, but his old joints stopped him and he lurched forward. Ilfirin leaped forward and helped steady him "Are you okay Uncle Proceus?" Proceus nodded "Just old age getting to me." Proceus set the sword down "I think it's about time you learned how to fight with a weapon." Ilfirin placed a finger on his chest "Me, fight with a sword?" Proceus laughed "I know you've wanted to use a weapon before. I've seen you countless time at the arena to see the fights." Ilfirin blushed "Well, I like weapons, but I'd probably hurt myself with one." Proceus smiled "As long as someone teaches you, you'll do fine." Proceus looked towards the wall of weapons "Pick any weapon you like. If you feel drawn to a weapon, then perhaps you should go with it." Ilfirin looked upon the wall and noticed the steel katana "Can I use that one?" Proceus nodded "Sure, it's a weapon too. Elegant and powerful at the same time." Ilfirin held the sword and pretended to shop at an enemy "How was that?" Perceus nodded "Not too bad for someone who's never used a katana before." Perceus picked up another steel katana and stood beside Ilfirin "You must not just chop, but also slice with it, that is one of the basics to using a katana." Proceus showed Ilfirin with a slowed down attack "When the sword hits the enemy, you must push down and pull towards you. If you do that correctly and get really go at it, you could cut of a person's arm in one slice!" Ilfirin held his katana up and looked at it with great interest "I want to fight with a katana." Proceus patted Ilfirin on the back "I've still got a few years left to teach you."
Ilfirin was a quick learner. He quickly became skilled with using a katana and even participated in friendly competitions in the arena. His skill with his katana made his name well known in Vivec. He was known as a strong and skilled young man and was just as kind. Proceus was very proud of him, he taught him everything he knew, and yet, Ilfirin became even a better swordsman than he was in his younger days.
Ilfirin was now 22 years old, he walked into the house he had come into as a child and saw Proceus sitting at the table eating "Look Uncle Proceus, I won at the arena again!" Proceus laughed proudly "That's the third time you've won my boy, you make an old man proud." Proceus pointed towards a plate of Scrib Jelly, Scrib Jerky, some Hacklo leaves, and some Sujamma "Come over here and have some dinner with me." Ilfirin walked over to the table to eat when a scream was heard outside. Ilfirin turned and ran to the door to see what had happened. Proceus stood up and leaned on his cane "Ilfirin, stop, the Ordinators will take care of any problems!" Ilfirin opened the door and saw a group of men in black leather standing above a Redguard woman. They were brotherhood assassins. Ilfirin picked up his steel sword and ran out the door. Proceus walked as fast as his old joints could take him to the door.
The redguard woman lay on the ground by another manor. One of the assasssins unshethed his daedric tanto "Your one of the leaders of the abolitionists are you not?" The woman looked at the blade, knowing that it would end her life. The assassin held it in a thrusting position "You have a bounty on your head by Mr. Lethran, time to die." Before he could kill her, a voice interrupted him "Let the woman go!" The assassin looked behind him to see Ilfirin with his katana ready to fight "I don't like petty assassins who bully unarmed people!" The assassin laughed coldly through his leather mask "Looks like I'll have to kill you too." The assassin rushed towards Ilfirin in an attempt to kill him. Ilfirin saw the attack coming and stepped to the left and extended his right leg enough to trip the assassin. Another of the assassins rushed forward to attack. Ilfirin leaped forward to meet the assassin and thrust his katana into the man's throat. The first attacker looked up to see one of his fellow assassin fall, gurgling on his own blood "Kill him!" The third assassin slowly circled Ilfirin as the first assassin did the same. The first assassin chuckled "Well, we'll have to kill you first I see. We can't let our group be dishonored by having a novice fighter like you be known to have killed one of our members." The third assassin got a little closer "Well kill you and throw your worthless corpse to the Mudcrabs!" With that, the first assassin lunged at Ilfirin, but jumped back before he could be hit "You're a fool!" The woman's muffled voice could be heard. Ilfirin saw that he was tricked and the third assassin held his blade to the woman's throat "Drop your sword and I won't kill her." Ilfirin laughed "If you don't' kill her, you don't' get paid." Ilfirin tightened his grip on his katana "You'll kill and then me." The first assassin readied for his attack when an arrow shot past his head and into the third assassin's left eye. Ilfirin looked in amazement to see Proceus holding his daedric bow and a ebony arrow "I won't let you hurt anyone today assassin!" Proceus yelled, feeling some of his youthfulness return to him in the heat of battle. Ilfirin smiled, it had been a while sense Uncle Proceus seemed so energetic. His joy was quickly snuffed out when the remaining assassin threw a silver dagger into Proceus' throat. Proceus removed the dagger and attempted to hold the wound shut. Ilfirin's eyes widened at the sight of another loved one killed before his eyes "You !" Ilfirin leaped forwards and buried his katana in the assassin's skull. The assassin corpse fell to the ground.
Ilfirin quickly rushed to Proceus and shook him "Uncle Proceus, are you okay?" Proceus groaned "No, I'm afraid not my boy." Ilfirin saw blood trickling through his fingers that held the wound "The dagger severed my jugular vain...I'll be dead soon." Ilfirin becan to tear "We'll get a healer, he'll save you!" Proceus smiled "The healer will not get here fast enough Ilfirin, it was just my time." Tears tripped off of Ilfirin's chin "Please, hold on." Proceus smiIed and placed a hand on Ilfirin's cheek "I'm proud of you boy, live a good live and...be happy." Proceus' eyes shut and his hands fell limp on the ground. Ilfirin held Proceus' head and remembered the days when he began his first lessons with Proceus. His grief was soon replaced by anger and the need for revenge. Ifirin looked towards the woman and asked her, still holding his sword "Who is this Lethran guy and where is he!" The woman stood up "H-He's a plantation owner in the new Dren Plantation. He's second in command at the plantation and is in charge of all slave matters." Ilfirin slung his blade, slinging most of the blood off of it before putting it back in it's scabbard "So you're one of the head abolitionists and he wanted to kill you to keep his slaves in check correct?" The woman nodded "Yes, that's what I believe is going on here." Ilfirin walked way and left the canton and headed north, to the New Dren Plantation.