As I said last chapter, this is the one where we finally learn what race Isa is! Also, I'm introducing the second main character. Be sure to let me know if the switching back and forth between the two doesn't read smoothly.
Also, whenever things are in ()'s it usually means it's an aside from myself, or it's something that just isn't worth elaborating on. Anyway, enjoy!
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"You're looking for an Ayleid female. She is the average height of an Imperial male, has braided black hair and brown eyes, and is commonly seen wearing commoners' clothing. Her weapon of choice is an iron wakizashi and she has a reputation as a thief throughout Morrowind."
Caelestis Quintus listened intently to Tienius Delitian as he rattled off his orders. Caelestis was an Imperial male nearing mid-life. At an early age he joined the Imperial Legion, and upon becoming a Knight Protector he wanted more out of life still. He'd heard of Mournhold and Helseth's Royal Guard, and needless to say his interest had been piqued. Caelestis moved to Mournhold as quickly as he could gather his meager possessions and what little gold he had. Years of military service left him with a stony countenance, a sinewy physique and graying hair.
"She was last sighted in Morrowind." Tienius continued, "In Balmora. She was sighted around two days ago on foot, so she can't have gotten far. You will report to Balmora and conference with witnesses of her escape that night. You're one of our best trackers, Quintus, so His Majesty isn't expecting you to come back empty-handed."
After the near-successful robbery Helseth's reputation had been tarnished. Peasants on the streets mocked his authority, and when Barenziah spoke on his behalf things were made worse. He was no longer seen as the powerful, yet tyrannical monarch he came to Mournhold as. His following shifted over to the Temple, or to crime. While on the subject of the Temple let's not neglect to mention that even they mocked Helseth, despite their claims of being humble and polite. The High Ordinators made remarks as they passed the Royal Guards while on duty, and in some extreme cases brawls among the factions would erupt.
Caelestis was happy to be returning to Morrowind. He had spent nearly a decade away form the island and was looking forward to returning to his hometown of Seyda Neen.
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The denizens of the Ghostgate Temple eyed Isa with some discretion.
"Can I help you, Sera?" the head priestess Uvoo Llaren asked.
"I would like to purchase a scroll of Divine Intervention, please." Isa replied, her voice slightly raucous from ash inhalation.
"I'm sorry, but I can only serve members of the Temple. If you like, I can provide you with locations that offer similar services."
The tattoo on Isa's shoulder blade began to itch and creep, "I think it would be in your best interest to turn over possession of one petty scroll."
When she walked in, Isa appeared to be pleasant enough, but those in the large circular room noticed her disposition sink dramatically. Her head hung slightly forward and her eyes were blank.
"Are you feeling well?" Uvoo asked, reaching a hand out to Isa.
Isa couldn't quite figure it out, but for some reason the sound of the woman's voice infuriated her just then. Her hand wandered over to the hilt of her scimitar and grasped it uncertainly. She could feel her mind being overridden by an outside source, and the more she tried to fight it the tighter her grip became on the weapon.
Isa suddenly began feeling pressed for time. She had to get to Gnisis at all costs. In one gliding motion the scimitar came forth and through Uvoo's breast. The Dunmer landed with a dull thud in the circular ash pit.
Those in the room at the moment began attacking Isa, of course. She could feel the metals in her clothing conducting the heat and frost of their spells, but she felt no pain. Isa mused on all of the possibilities of her newfound prowess while her opponents wasted their mana. Gilvoth wasn't kidding, she thought to herself with mild amusement; I am practically immortal with this thing. She looked at the scimitar with mixed idolatry and curiosity. Isa heard a small voice in the back of her mind tell her to look right, and when she did she saw one of the priests coming at her with staff raised. She caught the pole with her empty hand and delivered a sidekick to the stomach of her opponent, thus disarming them.
While the priest caught his breath on the ground Isa became coherent of her surroundings. Her mind free, she realized that her short-lived killing spree couldn't go on. Isa dashed over to the corpse and rummaged through its belongings, tossing potions aside and frantically unrolling the scrolls and scanning their scripts. She heard footsteps coming from the Tower of Dawn and surmised that the other priest must have gone for help. The door crashed open and the metallic footsteps of the Ordinators were heard running toward her.
At last, Isa found the correct scroll. She turned away from the Ordinators in a last ditch attempt to hide her face and cast the piece of parchment. She could feel her body being pulled away from the Ghostgate Temple, and moments later she landed face-first in front of the Buckmoth Imperial Shrine.
"You're a mess. Are you inebriated by chance?" one of the Imperial officers asked.
While still in Red Mountain something told Isa to don her trademark hooded cloak, and now she was thankful for that "something". Had her hood not been up the guards would have recognized her, and more bloodshed didn't bode well with her.
Isa ignored the guards' comment, instead deciding to leave rather than play the dozens. Too lazy to walk around the craggy landscape, she simply struggled against the slopes. After a messy slide down a hill she noticed a figure standing some feet away from her. She neared it, and realized that it was a Dunmer man, clad only in brown pants and with a layer of filth covering him.
When he noticed her he prostrated himself, "Hail! Heir to Lord Dagoth Ur, hail!"
"Stop that," Isa said looking around nervously, "You're going to attract attention. And for the Gods' sakes, get off of your knees!"
"Dagoth Isa, the Nerevarine is coming to Morrowind! You must slay him before he realizes his destiny! You must go to Gnisis!"
Isa deemed the man as raving, "That's where I'm going," she said placing one booted foot on his forehead, "But I won't make it there if I keep running into outlandish characters like yourself."
With an annoyed push of her foot Isa knocked the man onto his back and proceeded to the silt-strider.
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Caelestis sat bored as he listened to the Khajiit tell his story.
"Yes, Dro'Irrah knows of the Elf you speak. Dro'Irrah does not know her name, but he does know that she came here often. For an Elf she was very kind to Dro'Irrah. She would listen to him whenever he had a tale to tell. She kept to herself mostly."
"What type of Elf was she?" Caelestis asked.
"Dro'Irrah does not know. Her skin was green, like an Orc. But other than that she looked like any other Elf."
"What did she do for a living?"
"She was a thief. I haven't seen her since her last job though."
At this last statement Caelestis looked up, "Last job?"
"Oh yes," Dro'Irrah began, stroking his whiskers, "She is the head of the Thieves' Guild, she sees over several jobs. This one was personal Dro'Irrah thinks. A great heist, outside of Morrowind. She said that if she pulled it off the Thieves' Guild would be able to work its way out of the Comanna Tongs' grip."
Without a word Caelestis rose from his seat and exited the Lucky Lockup. At the mention of "personal job" he knew that Dro'Irrah was talking about his desired quarry. He made his way to Fort Moonmoth to relay his findings to Tienius via a messenger. As he walked he noticed some commotion in the courtyard.
"What seems to be the trouble?" he asked the guard captain, who was frantically relaying orders to soldiers.
"Ah, a Royal Guard! There's been an attack at the Ghostgate Temple!"