The Shadow: Prologue

• Posted by Corey Robinette March 18, 2014 - 491 views

  3E 433

  The red sky was truly something to behold. The crimson orange to blood red hues were mesmerizing to Vedros but he never understood how it was nearly as bright as dawn yet there was no sun. He had no idea how long he had spent staring at the sky, without a sun cycle time didn't seem to pass. No matter how long he had spent here he never grew accustomed to the smell; some horrid mix of rotting and burning flesh, animal waste and spoiled eggs. 

  "We should keep moving. Don't want to give the Daedra more bodies."

  The raspy voice startled him, tearing him from his thoughts. The voice came from Fendris, a fellow Dunmer, and one of the only survivors of the assault on the oblivion gate that opened outside Vivec. Over eighty souls poured into the gate, now only seven remained. The assault was led by House Redoran and was a joint force. House Redoran provided the bulk of the troops but the Mages and Fighters guild and even the Morag Tong sent members into the gate including Vedros himself. Fendris was a member of House Redoran as were three other survivors. Vedros and Casaith were the only survivors of the Morag Tong. The last survivor was a guild-less volunteer, an Altmer, which seemed out of place. Vedros personally witnessed him vaporize a throng of scamps with a single bolt of lightning. Whoever the Altmer was everyone was glad to have him on their side.

  "You're right, let's pack up camp and keep moving."

  A silent agreement washed over the group. None of them wanted to lead, they saw no purpose. Vedros had a purpose. Survival. It was all he needed to push on and drive everyone to keep fighting but no one seemed to want to fight. They were tired. Without a way to truly tell the passing of time it didn't seem to pass at all. All the fight had left them. The only reason they survived this long is because they had switched to guerilla tactics. The original assault was organized, lead by tacticians and fought by well trained soldiers which amounted to nothing. They were slaughtered in open combat. Sliced, stabbed, burned and torn. The order for retreat was too late, the gate had closed behind them. Panic set in and everyone scattered, fleeing in ever direction. The few who stood their ground were killed. Most who fled were killed shortly after. Vedros led what he believed to be the only survivors of the attack.

  "We need more food." Hunger had become a concern. It had driven them to eating the Daedra. The only part remotely edible were the hearts which they removed, cut into strips and smoked over a fire. It still tasted awful but this Vedros was sure it would taste worse if he weren't starving. It reminded him of scrib jerky from back home.

  "Home..." The concept had never appealed to him before but now he longed for it. "What a cruel sense of humor the Divines have" Vedros thought to himself. Missing something he never had to begin with.

  The men had finished packing but the grim atmosphere proved they felt no need to move. They had given up and something had to change.

  "Listen." Vedros spoke softly but his tone was serious and cold. "I know you feel as though we have nothing left to live for. That there's no reason to fight back, stay alive or hope that there will be a tomorrow but you're wrong. We have to fight. It is in our blood. Before the gates opened we were a nation divided. Hate and discrimination plagued our home but look at us now. United for one cause. Let our fallen be remembered. Let not their lives be wasted. We are going to take that tower." he drew his sword and pointed it in the direction of a large spire in the distance. The bright orange slit at the top looked like a burning blade. "We will find a way out of here because I don't know about you but I don't want to spend the rest of my days in this hell hole." The men began to murmur in agreement. "So let's move!" And so they did

  They moved swiftly and silently, sticking to cover, stopping regularly to allow someone to scout ahead before they moved on. The land scape was nearly barren, covered in large rock formations. The vegetation that sparsely blotted the land was dangerous as well with roots that lashed out and strange stems that released noxious fumes. They began to slow from fatigue although they were only half the way there. The slow and tedious movements were exhausting. They needed to rest.

  "Hold on." Vedros held his hand up stopping the group. "We need to rest. Casiath, scout for a safe place to set up some bed rolls. We rest long enough to regain some strength then we keep moving. We're only half way there." Casaith nodded before he left. After a short time passed he returned. "There's a small cave not far from here. Follow me." They moved slowly and deliberately.

  After arriving at the cavern they decided to rest in shifts. Vedros, Fendris and the Altmer took the first watch. They sat in silence for a long moment before Fendris broke the silence. 

  "Well High elf, we've survived this long yet I haven't learned your name."

  "Elandor. Elandor Silimarae."

  "Fendris." He held out his hand which the Altmer swiftly shook.

  "What brought you to Vivec?" Vedros asked, suspicious to why a high elf was even in Morrowind.

  "I see no harm in telling you now, I doubt I'll live long enough to regret it. I'm an agent of the Thalmor. I was sent to monitor Imperial activity in Morrowind, specifically Vivec. That lasted until the gates began opening and the Emperor withdrew his troops. The Thalmor believe this to be a failure on my behalf and I was ex-communicated. So now I....do freelance work. Apparently." A grim smile stretched across his thin lips.

  Fendris managed a dry laugh. "Assassins and spies the lot of you."

  "Ex-assassins and spies, Fenris, ex- assassins and spies." Vedros responded. They all laughed which was followed by silence until their shift was over.

  -

  Vedros stirred from his rest noticing he was the last one still asleep. The men already had everything packed and were waiting for their leader to wake. He stood and stretched his limbs before approaching the men.

  "Alright you know the drill. Be swift and silent. Strike before the know you're there, disappear before they touch the ground."

  "Yes sir." The unanimous response.

  They began their trek again, moving in the same pattern they had before but now they moved with haste and conviction. Vedros was pleased with their pace. The men had a renewed faith in their leader. Casaith scouted ahead but returned with news. "Pack of 12 ahead. 8 scamps and 4 Dremora. Ones an archer."

  Vedros hesitated for only a second. "Ok, Casaith you're with me. We move behind them. Fendris, you and the others from Redoran wait for us to get into position and charge. Elandor, you stay here and provide Fendris with support." They all nodded before he clenched his fist and disappeared. Casaith did the same. As the pack neared the rest of the group Vedros reappeared behind them, arrow notched and aimed at the Dremora archer. He loosed the arrow which pierced the air and struck the Dremora at the base of the skull. It staggered, gurgled and fell to the ground. Before the rest could turn a bright flash of lightning shot through a handful of scamps, disintegrating them instantly. Fendris emerged with the other warriors and charged the remaining Daedra.

  "By the Divines..." Fendris stopped in his tracks as a large stone arch emerged from the ground and ignited the air around it burning the rest of the Daedra.

  "To the gate!" Vedros shouted before diving through.