At first, I thought I would upload this later, as it hasn't been too long since my last update. But I was in the mood, so here is a chapter with a LOT more action. I already have the story planned out, and it will only be a total of 7-8 chapters (I am not sure if I will make a spin-off or sequel yet. If anyone would like to see more of these characters in another fic, tell me in your review!). Also, be warned it is a bit bloodier than previous entries, but nothing too graphic (or at least in my opinion).
Valdor took a last drink of his shein before departing. To get to Pinsun he would have to travel almost directly east of his estate. It wasn't necessarily a long road, but it had a fair share of hills.
It had just begun to turn dark. For this trip Valdor had armed himself in chitin, but did not bring a helm or pauldrons. Also, the raider took a steel claymore to do battle, a custom-made dagger he had purchased from a barterer in Vos, a few picks, a few enchanted scrolls, and a charm with which he could lull his opponents to sleep. This was one of the little trinkets he picked up back in the Sethan Tomb.
"(I would really like to use this little device at least one,)" thought Valdor. "(It really sounds like a fun toy.)"
He regained focus as he spotted a strange shaped brown-looking object in the sky.
"Oh by the Tribunal, not one of those nuisances…" muttered the adventurer.
The cliff-racer darted toward him, giving Valdor just enough time to draw his claymore and strike its head to finish the battle.
Cleaning his sword, he uttered, "These must be the most annoying creatures in Morrowind… no, all of Tamriel."
He continued down his path. Far down the rugged trail his eyes spotted a campfire, and what seemed to be two rogue ashlanders. Reacting quickly he began to turn away, but it was too late. They had eyed him as well.
Both Dunmer sported Netch armor, chitin spears, and like most renegade ashlanders intended to kill on sight. Clan ashlanders were hostile enough- these types were far worse. Valdor drew his claymore once again and prepared for the worst.
As soon as one threw a blow, Valdor had to parry it and quickly turn so he could dodge the other. It almost looked more like a dance than a real battle. But soon the raider found an opportunity. The two ashlanders had retreated back and were planning on sandwiching him with their two spears. All he did was sidestep the technique, and in result the two Dark Elves had impaled each other.
Only a short walk away from his last gruesome encounter, Valdor found the cave. He searched above ground to see if the treasure had, by some lucky chance, not been lost deep underground. No sign of the dagger. While searching, the raider thought he heard something- something like the sound of footsteps. Quickly he raised his head and looked about, but found nothing unusual. He entered the cave.
He was immediately spotted by the two guards: Redguard and Dunmer females. His sword met with the Redguard's, locking them in combat. But still Valdor noticed the other bandit guard, who had been cocking a crossbow. He quickly retreated from his first encounter and disarmed the Dunmer, then drove his sword through her heart. He had just enough time to pull his sword out and fight back against the other thief.
The raider noticed when he entered that the cave entrance had been used to store small boats. The cave was on the Eastern bay, so they must have come from one of the small Telvanni islands. Seeing as he was making no progress in the duel, Valdor retreated again, this time to a more elevated position near one of the boats. He waited until his opponent had followed him into the right position, and then kicked the boat so hard it fell over on top of her!
With a mighty thrust, the raider shoved his long claymore into the wooden boat and through his trapped foe. He didn't hear nor feel any signs of struggle afterwards. Turning to the nearby passage, his journey through the cave commenced.
The next outlaw he spotted was a Dunmer armed in chitin. It appeared as though he didn't see the raider. Using this opportunity, Valdor took out his charm. He held it up and began chanting, closing his eyes. When he opened them, the spell had worked and his enemy was on the ground. So he took out his dagger, and finished him.
As he was traveling down the tunnel he spotted another opening on his left. There was also a pile of boulders on the right, blocking what appeared to be another passage. The adventurer decided to take the new path.
He came across a wooden overhead structure marking a dead end. On the top there appeared to be a mage researching his scrolls. Below, a Nord was oblivious to the intruder…
Using the custom dagger again, Valdor slit the bandit's throat. Unfortunately for him, the woman let out a scream as he ended her life, catching the attention of the mage, who in turn summoned a lesser bonewalker to fight. He killed the weak pest with a quick yet deadly cut, splitting the creature in half with his steel claymore.
The mage had used the creature to stall allowing him to draw his chitin axe, jump from the overhead structure, and charge at the raider.
"You are no battlemage, outlaw," said Valdor as he quickly disarmed the Dunmer and impaled him on one of the supports for the structure. It was certainly turning out to be a very dirty affair.
He returned to the original tunnel, and came across another unwary bandit. He did a quick stealth kill. The tunnel turned left, and he came face to face with a Redguard mage and an Imperial thief. Valdor ran back to the entrance, dodging the mage's fireballs throughout the cave.
Back at the entrance, the raider found a boulder that would hide him. When the two passed him, he sprang and struck down the weak-bodied mage in one blow, then while his remaining opponent was still in a surprised state, he swung his sword madly, in turn decapitating the Imperial. He returned back to the wooden door-gate, opened it, and found what appeared to be a living area. There were a few scrolls scattered on a desk. He browsed through them, and found one with explosive effects. Valdor grabbed it and returned to the boulders blocking the path.
He chanted the ancient language of the scroll. The spell caused an amazing explosion that removed the obstacle in a blazing flash. The path that appeared to slope downward. Deeper into Pinsun the raider went.
At the end there was a pile of rubble. In it he sensed a powerful presence. He began digging with a miniature shovel he brought, hoping to find the artifact. After a few minutes, he managed to excavate what appeared to be a daedric dagger, giving off a faint glow. Engraved into the hilt was an upside down triangle, with a line segment dividing it in half. It was the Eye of Drek. He heard someone applauding behind him…
Turning, he saw a Dunmer armed in glass and wearing a long black cape.
"What a magnificent performance, Imperial! My, that was amazing."
"Who are you?" replied Valdor.
"They call me Bladehand. I am just here to take back what belongs to my master. I am so impressed with your work I will let you leave here alive. You can also take anything you want from the bandits. A good job indeed. Just hand me the dagger."
"I don't think that's going to work. You see, I came here to get this dagger, I did the work, so I will be taking it home."
"Well then, I am afraid you must die. Such a waste of good talent…" said the strange Dunmer as he opened his crossed arms and revealed an incredibly large supply of high-quality throwing knives.
"Perhaps you wish to reconsider? This is your last chance, Imperial."
"I think I'm good, thank you," replied Valdor with a smile.
"Pity."
Valdor drew his sword and prepared himself. Before he knew it, a knife was stuck in his stomach. It was a seemingly impossible feat. Bladehand had drawn and thrown the knife faster than his eye could detect. The raider stumbled. The mercenary laughed. In a fit of pain, the raider tried to run past him.
Bladehand let him run by, but then turned and followed. The mercenary was playing with his prey.
As the once great raider ran, he was rather certain his time was over. But then he saw an armored man- he looked to be from the Imperial Legion. He kept running toward him, with the blade still stuck in his body. The Imperial removed it, then handed the weakened adventurer a scroll.
"Use it. This fight is for me, Sir Darkus!"
"Wh…. What?"
Valdor collapsed, losing his blood and breath. Sir Darkus drew what appeared to be dwarven styled claymore and faced the raider's pursuer.
"What are you doing fool? This matter doesn't concern you!" growled Bladehand.
"I am afraid it does, swine! Years ago, my ancestor was the only knight who survived the slaughter of your bloodthirsty club! I have trained my body and mind to tear apart all survivors of your putrid faction. I am Sir Darkus, THE LAST RUNE KNIGHT!"
"Then die, and take your old grudge with you to the grave."
Through the exchange of the two sworn enemies' comments Valdor had slowly begun chanting with the Almsivi Intervention scroll, and managed to teleport right as they began to fight. The last of the scene he could remember was Darkus' eyes burning with hatred and vengeance.
The worn adventurer found himself on the ground, collapsed of exhaustion in the Molag Mar temple. A Dunmer priest came over to him, wide-eyed and bent down to get a better look.
"We do get a lot of weary folk coming in, but this is ridiculous. What in the Gods' Graces happened to you, man?"
After a couple days of rest, Valdor sat at his personal home bar quite literally drowning himself in Cyrodiilic brandy. He felt he deserved it after all his hard work.
Once again, if you see something that doesn't make much sense or is just plain wrong, please tell me in the review. I am willing to improve.
ReadingWhiz89: Woo hoo! I finished catching up with your fanfic. And yes, rumors and legends do add variety.
Necromancer and Sorcerer: I sorta decided on the Rune War idea a bit late, but it will continue to be a vital part to this story in coming chapters. Oh, and my story takes place right before yours. I hope this will give you some ideas and flexibility with Valdor ;-)