Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-3293219-20140210211511/@comment-3293219-20140211163232

Nepht sat at the table, threading her ogre teeth through a piece of string that was long enough to fit around her neck.

She hoped to carry them as a memento, to remind her of her first adventure, a battle that the bards shall sing about in years to come. The dunmer tightened the string and let the teeth fall in line, they weren't as pretty as she had imagined. She didn't care though; their appearance didn't matter to her, that's not why she had them turned into jewelry.

Lott wasn't home; he had gone to the book store to 'browse their wares.' Nepht suggested several books as he was about to leave but he didn't seem all that keen on them. She didn't mind as the dunmer wasn't exactly a book expert.

Nepht stood up and looked around, sighing as she noticed that everyone was gone. She had this afternoon off as all three of her employers wanted to keep her away for damage control and Veneficus hadn't sent for her.

She looked out of the window at two, well dressed children. They were fighting with a wooden sword and a wooden shield, shouting the names of random heroes as they struck down at their imaginary enemies. A lot of them opted to be C'laro, the khajit warrior who was said to have saved Nirn from many evils. She smiled as she would have been out there with them, a few years ago. Daniel Howe would join the fray and help C'laro banish the evil daedra and the hagravens back to Coldharbor, saving the orphaned children.

The dunmer sighed, realising that life was; unfortunately, nowhere near as fun...

Unless you make it fun...  She glanced up at her sword and smiled, getting up to take it.

''Guess I should train, that would be fun and I'd be learning something. ''

Nepht had been working on her speed technique, her swing was far too slow and she knew that it wouldn't connect fast enough. Her confidence had grown, since the fight with the ogre but the thought of getting herself into a fight still bothered her.

She walked out of her house, glancing around as she locked her front door, unaware that she was being watched by unknown forces. She went over to the chapel, stopping to visit her grandfather, hopping over the fence and kneeling in front of the grave.

It had cost her family a great deal to have the gravestone made but Veneficus let them have the plot for free. She was always grateful to that priest, her whole family were, even her grandfather.

-

Nepht arrived at the east side of Lake Arrius, it was the perfect time to be there as the sun was casting down on a tree and its shadow was cast over the grave stones that stood before it.

The dunmer loved to practice in the shade, though it got harder to do it in the city, as she got older. She'd come here more often but she feared that she would run into Mikasa and Petra. They were good people but they were considerably older than her and she feared that she would bother them if she spoke to them too much.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht stood in front of the tree, drawing her sword and shield and getting ready to spar with the air around her. She liked it as a sparring partner as it didn't hit back...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Dunmer swished her sword through the air, imagining some wretched hagraven being cut down. She was always distracted by the thoughts of her future as an adventurer, the thought of going into an unknown place and not having to put on a brave face. That incident with the ogre would be called 'Middas' and she would return home, one day, weighed down with the riches that she had taken from some, fabled, dragon priest.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perhaps a book would be written about her? They'd probably lie... pretend that she was magnificently beautiful as if that was the only thing she would be able to accomplish in her life. If she had anything to say about it, it would say that she was brave, level headed an-

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"You'll break your wrist, doing that!"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not... very observant...

<p style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The dunmer turned around, confusion in her eyes as a woman in a cloak stood behind her. The woman was a nord, definitely older than her... older than Mikasa. She looked like she was in her mid to late thirties at a guess but Nepht could never tell. She had brown hair, at medium length, which looked like it hadn't been washed for a while.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I'm sorry?" She asked, it was all she could blurt out.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The way that you swing that sword around? You're going to break your wrist if you put that much pressure on it."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht didn't know what to say. Who was this woman? In her green, embroided cloak and leather armour, that didn't have sleeves.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Could she be an adventurer?

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Umm... thank you, I'll keep that in mind." Nepht mumbled, she'd go back to what she was doing but it was embarrassing with somebody watching her.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The nord woman smiled at her, the smile was brief as the awkwardness sank in, like salt-water sinking into a wound. The nord woman drew an apple from her pocket and bit into it, she seemed to enjoy it as she closed her eyes as she tasted its strong flavors.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"So... who are you?" The dunmer asked, no longer able to hide her curiosity.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I'm Manja, you?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Nepht..." The dunmer whispered, she recognised this nord's voice and her appearance but she couldn't place it. She wasn't exactly unique as far as her appearance and voice were concerned, perhaps she just reminded her of nords in general.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Are you an adventurer?" She blurted, she really wanted to know.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Nope, I collect taxes." The nord replied. Her sarcasm wasn't that obvious to Nepht, who still found the concept difficult to grasp and hilarious, in the rare cases that she did.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"You're... dressed rather odd for a tax collector..." She noted as this ‘Manja’ woman took another bite out of her apple.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"No I'm not; this is what all tax collectors wear."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht knew that she was pulling her leg at this point...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Oh really? Since when?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Since I took over the department, I walked in, saw the old uniform and said 'it has to go." The nord was obviously suppressing a giggle.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Right... I know that you're not a tax collector."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"What gave me away?" Manja smiled the little freckles of light that had broken through the gaps in the branches shone on her face. She glanced around, trying to figure out what would bring a youth to this obscure place...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"So... what are you doing out here? Apart from breaking your wrist, so that you can get off work..."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I'm training, hoping to improve my skills with a sword and a shield." Nepht explained, trying to hide her pride.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"You want to be a guard?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"No..."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Fighter's guild?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Nope." Nepht smiled and shook her head; her confidence was growing around Manja. Though, she still wouldn't go near her.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Err..." Manja was kind of stumped, the Companions didn't exclusively accept dunmer and even more importantly, they didn’t exist in Crodiil.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Tax collector?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht giggled at Manja's last answer, she might as well come clean.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I want to be an adventurer."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja's jaw slipped on the apple and an awkward crunch could be heard. This dunmer wanted to go into caves, ruins? With relatively no training?

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"That's... kind of rare these days." The nord forced out, trying not to discourage the poor thing.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Yeah, people don't really see the magic in the world anymore..." The dunmer agreed her hatred for industrialisation is one of the reasons she wanted to leave.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It's just us. Well... people like us." Manja smiled as she noticed that Nepht was beginning to doubt herself.

<p style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Alright, give me your shield." She finally sighed, throwing the apple core to the floor.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"What?" Nepht spluttered, thinking that she was being robbed.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja smiled at her, glancing to her shield.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Let me see how good you are with your sword!"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Oh, sure... it would be nice to have someone to talk to, while I train."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja took the shield, her shield arm wasn't all that strong but how hard could a small, dunmer teenager hit?

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Ready?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Go for it!" The nord encouraged, prompting Nepht to swing her iron sword into the shield. There was a loud 'clunk' that caused Manja to stumble, letting out a quiet 'oof.'

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Okay... quite hard... ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"You okay?" Nepht asked she was worried that she had truly hurt the woman.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Nah, fine... just... let me catch my breath." She wheezed, grabbing her ribs.

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Why do I always get winded? ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She shook it off and took another hit; she was prepared for this one.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Alright, that wasn't too bad but you need to actually fight the impact or it will hurt your wrist."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht nodded in agreement, it did hurt a little...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After a few hours, Manja had sharpened Nepht into a pretty decent combatant. Her shield arm was a lot stronger and she no longer posed a bigger risk to herself, than her opponent. Nepht had grown exhausted, eventually sitting down in the shade of the tree as the sweat poured off of her brow.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Not bad..." Manja panted, grabbing her knees and leaning forward. "You might just get the hang of this."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht turned her head and smiled at her mentor, she hadn't had lessons like this before, she felt so much more... grizzled and experienced.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She had learned a lot after this afternoon.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was a long pause, the two of them breathed heavily as the lessons of this afternoon rushed through Nepht's head. Her hands were aching... hell, everything was aching!

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The two of them had spent a bit of time panting, eventually catching their breath.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Alright... let's see what you've learned." Manja groaned she hadn't trained like that in years.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht glanced up; could she give me a minute?

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The dunmer groaned as she shambled to her feet, grabbing her sword and her shield and facing her teacher.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Okay, now don't... cut my hand off or anything, okay?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I won't..." Nepht replied, cheerfully, she already knew the rules of sparring.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja drew her dagger, it kind of unnerved Nepht as the weapon was no longer her sword but somebody else's dagger. All sorts of paranoid thoughts rushed through her head...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Get ready to block..."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja swung her knife forward, holding back in case the dozy sod in front of her zoned out and forgot to lift her shield. The dagger hit the shield with a 'clunk' but it didn't do any damage or make her stagger.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"That’s all you got?" Nepht taunted, though she secretly hoped that it was...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht swung her sword forward, not sure about Manja's ability to dodge or block. The nord intercepted it with her knife, with a swish; the blade was knocked to her right, almost sending the blade flying out of her hand.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They smiled at each other as Nepht stepped forward, again, striking own with her sword. Manja clashed it this time, knocking it to one side. The nord came back with a counter attack, which Nepht, swiftly, blocked.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The sparring session went on for some time, they took turns in throwing and receiving attacks and by the end of it and both of them were stronger fighters than they were before.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They stopped and washed their faces in the lake, removing the smell of the heat induced sweat and drinking up as they got dehydrated from the fight and the hot weather.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"You're not bad kid, someone in your family good at it or something?" Manja wheezed as she stood up and walked back to the tree.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Y-yeah..." Nepht muttered, drying her face with her sleeve.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"My grandfather and aunt, he was a soldier and she's a..."

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Don't say guard captain, she might kidnap you and hold you to ransom. ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Guard..."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I see..." Manja noted her pause, before 'guard.'

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Impressive."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"What about you? What do you do?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Me? That's a bit of a long story and the short version will make you run away." The nord laughed, drying her face on her cloak and putting it back around her shoulders.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I trust you, if that's what you're worried about..." This wasn't entirely true as Nepht still didn't know anything about this strange woman. She seemed over confident, too keen and interested.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja sighed, she felt like she had proven that she wasn't her enemy.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I... rob people." She admitted, expecting Nepht to flee. The dunmer stayed in front of her, she seemed more intrigued than frightened.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"People like me?" Nepht asked, her tone breaking with worry.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Look at me; do I look like someone who robs people like you?" She laughed, throwing her arms up in the air. "My people rob carriages and those... ‘motor car’ things." Manja explained.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"So... you're in a gang?"

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"More like, I run the gang." Manja said with a smile and a nod.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Do you... hurt people?" Nepht asked, placing her hand on her sword’s hilt.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja's face grew serious as she saw that the dunmer was challenging her.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"No, not if it can be helped..." She assured her, keeping her gaze fixed on her hand. "Even when we do, we never kill."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht didn't know what to make of this woman, she seemed honest enough and she had the chance to kill her. In fact, she's had several chances to kill her...

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Why did you follow me here, if it wasn't to rob me?" Nepht muttered, feeling like she was trying her luck.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I didn't 'follow you.' I came here to see someone and... You were there." Manja smiled again, dropping her arms to her waist. "Oh and I mean a specific someone. I don't just go around, looking for young, dunmer girls to torment."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht looked around, ''this place is so secluded... who'd come here?''

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Who'd you come to see?" Nepht asked, expecting that to be a cue for the unknown person to fall from the tree and plunge a knife into her belly.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja chuckled, slightly with a saddened look; Nepht had distracted her from what she had come here to do.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I came here to see my brother." She answered, truthfully.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Does he live in the town; I might have seen him..."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It's okay, I already found him." Manja said with a smile, Nepht hadn't deduced what she was getting at.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Oh, well... thank you for everything, Manja." Nepht wheezed with a bow, unable to suppress her smile.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It was my pleasure... you should think about joining us, if you did want a life of adventure." The nord paused, "I mean... I don't want to force you into anything but your skills will always be appreciated with us."

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Erm... I'll consider it." Nepht mumbled, turning back to the town.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"That's all I ask." The nord smiled as she took seat, under the tree.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With that, the dunmer left, walking back to the town to return to her mum and aunt.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manja stood up and walked over to her 'brother's' grave, she waited for Nepht to leave the area, before kneeling down in front of the stone slap and kissing it.

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It's cleaner than I imagined... someone must tend it. ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She noticed the flowers, perhaps it was Lilly?

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The nord reached for her offering, some red flowers from Morrowind that grew close to the red mountain. They weren't pretty but they were from the Red Mountain and that's why she chose them...

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I hope that you're taking care of each other, not driving each other too crazy. ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> A tear came to her eye as she chuckled; the nord looked up and saw that it was getting dark.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With a heavy sigh, the nord pulled up her hood and went home. It was probably a pile of ash by now... knowing C'laro's cooking skills.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nepht had arrived at the bottom of the hill; she could see Cheydinhal on the horizon.

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This day couldn't get any better! ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The dunmer thought to herself as the chapel spire rose from the town as more of it became visible.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She then noticed that an altmer was approaching her, dressed in some rather odd armour. Leather armour...

''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Is he with Manja's group? ''<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The altmer looked old, a lot older than Manja and his armour was a completely different colour. The man was obviously walking towards her, carrying an elegant shield and an elvish sword.

<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He raised the shield, slightly as he got closer. Nepht looked up as he raised his arm and before she could react he swung it, striking her across the face and rendering her unconscious.