Huzzah, I've gotten good reviews so far, AND hints of a reader following with this one. But anyway, I realize it's been two chapters, and we still don't know what Isa is. First thing next chapter I'll reveal her race.

And yes, I also realize that I've sort of ripped off Harry Potter with the painful tattoo bit, but I couldn't think of any other creative ways to emphasize her newfound Sixth House connections.

Most of the characters/places/etc. herein are owned by Bethesda Softworks. The only things I own are the main characters and the plot line. Woe!

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A loud and hallow clunk caused Isa to abruptly sit up from the bed she was lying in. Bed... wait just one moment. Where am I, she thought to herself as she groggily sat up. Isa's mind reeled. Her last memories were running out of Balmora and then calmly walking to Caldera, until the signpost got blown up. Was she near the culprit that had been following her? Why was she in a dark room on an unmade bed? Standing, determined albeit slightly tottering, she made her way out of the small chamber. Isa soon realized that she was in a Dwemer ruin, and a hot one at that. A layer of dust covered the floor in most places, and it wafted into Isas' nostrils as she wandered the corridors. It was a rancid smelling dust, musty and heavy in her sinuses.

As she turned the corner she bumped into a golden saint. Isa reached for her wakizashi, but was shocked to find that it was gone. Panicking, she held out her hands to attempt to cast a spell, but found her wrists wore a pair of slave bracers. Finally, she did the one thing she was truly good at: running. In her panic, what she didn't realize was the golden saint wasn't going to attack her. Instead, it just stared after her with its head cocked to one side in confusion.

Isa ran blindly, at a great disadvantage in the unfamiliar territory. She flew down a set of stairs and through one of the metal doors, only to come face to face with an ascended sleeper. After somewhat of a struggle the sleeper was dragging Isa kicking and screaming through the ruins. As a thief she never imagined that her life would end in such a way. Perhaps a homeowner would catch her robbing them. Or, a rogue smuggler or wizard would end her life after she ventured in one cave too many. There also was the possibility of dying during hard labor in prison. But, not being a savvy adventurer, Isa never imagined that she would be maimed by one of Dagoth Ur's servants.

The pair went through a wooden cavern door to a large, fairly empty room. Chairs were piled on top of tables in the corners, and a cabinet sat near another opening in front of them. The last thing Isa noticed was the ash vampire standing before them, but when she did she let out a yelp of fear and struggled with more zeal against her captor.

"By the Divines, would you stop raving?" Dagoth Gilvoth said shaking his turbaned head, "Now that you've brought her you may leave." He said turning his attention to the sleeper. With a bizarre sort of bow the ascended sleeper turned and strode out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"You must be wondering why I haven't butchered you yet." Gilvoth said.

Isa, who had begun to tremble, stopped. That was a very good point he had brought up, "Well, it is a bit of a surprise to find myself still living."

"Lord Dagoth has been watching you from your birth. Have you ever read the series The Poison Song?"

Isa shook her head and Gilvoth continued, "I thought not, considering your poor lifestyle. It's the story of a boy who was born into the Sixth House, but following its disbanding he was moved. He lived the better part of his life under a lie, but one day in his childhood he discovered the truth about his birth. His aunt helped to nurture his growing understanding of his roots, and he eventually moved from what he knew as home to do the bidding of his Lord."

"So," Isa began cautiously, "What does this have to do with me?"

"As you know, Lord Dagoth has lived for many generations. When you were born he traced your bloodline back to one of the founding members of the Sixth House."

"Are you telling me that my life is nothing more than a mockery of a piece of fiction?" Isa said outraged. As Gilvoth told her the story she put the pieces of the puzzle together in her head.

"It is a very noble life. Which is why you were brought here. You posses great skill, and you will take part in bringing the Tribunal Temple to its knees."

Isa laughed then, despite herself. She didn't find what Gilvoth was saying to be humorous, only confusing. In her mind no coherent words could encompass her reaction, so she only laughed.

"And how do you expect me to do that?" she asked once she managed to move her mouth to make words.

"The Heart of Lorkhan grants immortality to those that would use it properly. What Lord Dagoth has had made for you isn't nearly as powerful as the Heart itself. Should you try and defy Him He could easily strike you down, but to mere mortals you will be practically a god."

Gilvoth walked over to the cabinet and pulled forth a sword in its sheath. He handed it to Isa, who looked at it with mild interest.

"Go ahead, take a closer look at it." Gilvoth said crossing his arms and adopting a complacent look on his face.

Things had been going fairly decent for Isa thus far, and she certainly didn't want to arouse anything that would endanger her life. She grabbed the hilt of the blade with her left hand and pulled it from the sheath. Almost immediately she could feel new levels of power begin to run through her body. Everything seemed to pale in the wake of her new omnipotence as she examined the blade.

"So, what makes this thing so powerful?" Isa asked as she gained her bearings from the sudden power surge.

"It was forged with alchemical ingredients that promote immortality. The main one residue from the Heart itself. Only when you carry it unsheathed will you feel its power, and much like the moon-and-star of Nerevar only you can wield it."

It all seemed so surreal to Isa. One day she was running from the law, and then the next day she finds she's an all-powerful descendant of an ancient Sixth House noble.

"What if I refuse to follow orders?" she asked.

"Oh, that's quite impossible. Look on your right shoulder blade." Gilvoth instructed.

Isa peeled her shirt down (She was in rags at the time) and found a tattoo of an insect that resembled a beetle.

"The very moment that you disobey orders that tattoo will cause you pain. I highly recommend you listen to your superiors. By the way," Gilvoth said returning to the cabinet. He returned to Isa with a small stack of clothes and a pair of Daedric boots and gauntlets, "You'll need some type of protection as you're aiding our House in the downfall of the Temple. Along with your sword Lord Dagoth had a seamstress armorer make you these. The finest silks woven with adamantium and ebony. After you change you will report to Gnisis for your first orders."

Gilvoth left Isa to change alone. She looked into the surface of a broken mirror when she was finished changing and had to admit that her new outfit looked sharp. Her clothing matched the color of the armor pieces. The overcoat she was given came down mid-thigh, and the metal buttons shone in the dull light in two columns down her front.

Isa managed to navigate her way out of the citadel and stepped out into the tumultuous ash near the mouth of Red Mountain. Her mind focused only slightly as she fought off the blighted creatures. Her entire life had been spent in uncertainty, and now that it had a path of sorts she couldn't help but feel a little bit frightened with her new life as Dagoth Isa.