MARAUDER: The Hunt for Marauder One

[Arashikage]

Remembering what she was there to do, Nora ran after Charylin, "Wait for me!" She said, giddy from the very thought of what was going to occur in the longhouse.

[Star_Dragon]

As the team headed for Dragonsreach, they were approached by a Breton woman. "Hello there," she said. "Been a while since we had Dragonarian visitors outside of the agency that came here to aid us in the second great war."

Vokun frowned. "Agency?" he repeated.

"Oh, I'm sure you've heard - Shadow Dragon? That Dragonarian Black-Ops group?" The Breton asked, as though she expected Vokun to remember the group. "Oh, well - it's no matter. Was there something I could help you with?"

"Yes, as a matter-of-fact - we need to get in touch with Balgruuf, Tullius or Ulfric Stormcloak - do you know where they are?" Vokun inquired.

"Yeah, I know where they are - follow me!" The Breton woman said. She wandered off, and Vokun followed.

[ballisticwaffles]

Chayrlin Chewed on the end of her Cigar, her eyes flying this way and that. "Keep your eyes peeled, Dragon" Chayrlin whispers to Nora, following the Breton woman with carefully placed steps. Each step was slow enough to give the impression of weakness, along with staying back behind Vokun.

"This woman knows a little too much."

[Geo Stelar]

Geo shared Chayrlin's opinion. Vokun easily followed the woman without hesitation, and she seems to know what they know. Yet, even without sign of them being followed, Geo was quite certain someone is watching their movements and clutched his weapons and shield cane more tightly.

[Salem]

Vanessa kept an eye out for anything suspicious almost certain this woman was leading them to a trap of some sort.

[Star_Dragon]

(Sorry for the wait, ppl - honestly, I got angry at someone among us, and took a break. On top of that, I have been rigging a mod for EAW:FOC to work RIGHT, working on a new Star Fox FanFiction, and ever since I burned my arm on the oven the other day, I have not been feeling my best. But I'm back. Again, sorry for the wait.)

The Breton woman led the team toward Dragonsreach, and stopped just shy of the doors. "Now, mister... whoever you are... I would advise you and your comrades be straightforward and to the point with Balgruuf," She said. "Since Shadow Dragon came to our world, he has been... busier. Don't be coy, and don't be stupid - you can afford neither. " She opened the doors, and said, "The Jarl is on his throne at the back of this room. If Ulfric and Tullius aren't with him, they're probably with Balgruuf's Court Wizard."

"Thank you, miss..." Vokun began.

"Delphine," the Breton woman replied with a smile.

Vokun nodded to Delphine by way of a thank you, and led the team into the palace. Contrary to what was expected, the palace seemed... peaceful. An odd unit was imbedded throughout the ceiling, a small system in the center played a melody of low vocals and drums, and lights attached to the unit made sure the palace was well-lit.

A Dunmer took notice of the new interlopers, and approached them with an assault rifle in her hands. "Halt!" She commanded. "What is your business here?"

Vokun remained undeterred. "We seek an audience with the Jarl," he said. "About someone we think came here."

The Dunmer frowned. "Marauder One?" she asked.

Vokun frowned. How did she...? "That's the one," Vokun affirmed.

"Irileth," the Nord at the throne said, "Let them speak."

The Dunmer - Irileth - stepped aside, and Vokun stepped past. Guests already at the table migrated to the other side of it, watching Vokun and his comrades. Vokun stopped just shy of the steps, waiting for the rest of his team to catch up to him as he said, "I assume you know why I am here, Balgruuf."

[ballisticwaffles]

"But i dont!" From the large doors still ajar from entry, Chayrlin slowly bade her way to the Throne, the taps of her cane rythmic and off tune to the music playing. Ignoring Delphine and Shooting a disinterested glance at everyone who met her gaze, she stopped next to Vokun, eyeing the ageing Jarl. With spindely fingers she draws out a puff before blowing it up in the air, through clenched teeth and angled eyes she stared.

And finally she spoke.

"Jarl Balgruff" She held the last F for a bit, drawing it out for effect. "My Sincere Greetings From The Deus Mortens Armagistrae" She bowed herself, her free arm shunting her hat off her head and around to hover over her heart

[Geo Stelar]

Geo followed and was standing behind the group as usual, listening to the music. His forefinger tapping his walking stick in rhyme with the music, he also tried to listen to what the others are talking about. He looked around and wondered what Marauder One has business to do anything with this place. He avoided eye contact with the people watching their group in the most subtle way. H also had to act his part and walk like he really needed the walking stick he was holding.

[Salem]

Vanessa walk in after Geo looking lightly side to side keeping a eye out for anything that might happen.

[Star_Dragon]

(Kage, I'm waiting for you. Don't wanna leave you in the dust, comrade.)

[Arashikage]

(Oh thanks, much obliged)

Nora entered the building, observing the looks she was gathering from the passers by. A few seemed frightened, after all, Skyrim is in an all out war with her kind. A little child tried to tug on her pant leg, she snorted, a small plume of smoke escaping her nostrils as the child became frightened and ran to hide behind a nearby chair. She smiled, amused at how easily scared these tiny warm-bloods were. Returning her attention to the group, she listened to what was going on around her.

[Star_Dragon]

(Excellent! We're all here after all. Now for the next part.)

"But i dont!" From the large doors still ajar from entry, Chayrlin slowly bade her way to the Throne, the taps of her cane rythmic and off tune to the music playing. Ignoring Delphine and Shooting a disinterested glance at everyone who met her gaze, she stopped next to Vokun, eyeing the ageing Jarl. With spindely fingers she draws out a puff before blowing it up in the air, through clenched teeth and angled eyes she stared.

And finally she spoke.

"Jarl Balgruff" She held the last F for a bit, drawing it out for effect. "My Sincere Greetings From The Deus Mortens Armagistrae" She bowed herself, her free arm shunting her hat off her head and around to hover over her heart

Balgruuf nodded by way of a greeting. "Greetings to you, madame," he said. The aging Jarl looked to Vokun. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"Well, we came for one we know as Marauder One, but you know him as Dovahkiin," Vokun explained.

"For what purpose?" Balgruuf asked.

"Well, my team is divided over what should be dome about him. Some of us merely wish to kill him - though, given how he saved our lives, I can't imagine why - while others among us think otherwise," Vokun elaborated. "Encarmia here thinks him responsible for a string of massacres."

"But you think otherwise?" Balgruuf inquired.

"I believe he is innocent - or at most, trying to identify what is causing these massacres," Vokun responded. "Did he ever mention them to you?"

"Yes," the Jarl said, rising from his throne. "The Dragonborn mentioned something about it - as I remember, he put it, 'there is something in the galaxy, recently awakened... an army of the dead, hungry for souls.'"

It was when the Jarl finished quoting what he had heard from Dovahkiin that the unit in the ceiling went active, depositing a shimmering Kadgeron Force Field around them in the blink of an eye. Not even enough time to react. On top of that, when the force field went active, every inhabitant at the tables rose from their seats, pointing all manner of weapons at the team, now imprisoned behind a force field that would disintegrate a grown man with a single tap.

A trap.

A laugh came from somewhere above, followed by a single man clapping his hands. A lone figure walked down the steps to the right of the Jarl's throne. He was a wolf in appearance, but had the telltale signs of Dragonarian blood. His legs were double-jointed with clawed, four-toed feet, like that of the Ryukaissen Dragonarians. His eyes were that of a dragon, crimson in color.

"Well done," he said. "You walked blithely right into it."

Vokun stared in shock at Dovahkiin. His mouth hung ajar, and all he could say was, "You..."

"Been a long time, Shadow Hound," Dovahkiin said.

"I... don't understand. I read the report from Earth - they said you were dead!" Vokun exclaimed.

"Yes, they're very restful," Dovahkiin responded. "But they served their purpose."

"What do you want?!" Vokun demanded. "If you wish us dead--"

"If I wanted you dead," Dovahkiin interrupted, "I'd have blown you out of the stars long before you even landed on Cairn. No, such as it is, I need you all alive."

(Well, hell... that turned out longer than I expected. Oh, well.)

[ballisticwaffles]

"I TOLD YOU YOU STUPID FOOL" Chayrlin roared, slamming her cane into the floor. "I TOLD YOU ALL" She spat again at the rest of them, chiding herself as to trusting Anyone other than herself.

"Oh! Lets go to the planet where he asked us to go instead of bombing it back to the STONE AGE DAMNIT"

As Marauder Made himself known, Charylin yelled.

"Piss off, hybrid monstrosity! The grown ups are talking!" She Reached for her cane, as if to bludgeon her way through the forcefield, then stopped, examining the field further.

"Nobody touch it, the idiot Tribals put the setting too high" She says, looking at the gun she had thrown at Marauder, vaporizing as it hit the Field.

"AND put those goddamned weapons down! If we cant get out, damned sure those cant get in! Bloody tribals..." She Glared at Marauder.

"Did you give them these weapons? Did you really think arming them would be a good idea? Did you really think that giving warlike species weapons Beyond their maturity would EVER IN THE SLIGHTEST be a good idea? Iesus Christe! I may not believe in killing, but once im out of here, im gonna bring you pretty DAMNED close!"

[Salem]

"That's gonna get us out real quick Chayrlin, yell and threaten some more!", Vanessa said sarcastically clearly in a bit of a panic.

[Star_Dragon]

"Calm down, Charylin!" Vokun roared. "I was counting on this."

"Yes, calm down, Encarmia," Dovahkiin added. "These were just security measures to ensure safety. And to answer your question, I armed these people, trained them, so they might defend against the threat arrayed against them - at the time, it was the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominion. Now, it is another darker, more serious threat."

"What?" Vokun asked, "What is the enemy now?"

"I don't think it is a question of 'what' as much as it is a question of 'who,'" Dovahkiin said. "Did Paarthurnax ever tell you about what I found in Thalmor possession?"

[ballisticwaffles]

"you... you..." Her face wasnt of betrayel, lord knew Charylin HAd been suspitious from the start, but... what?

"Wait... What?" Marauder's "Answer" to her Rhetorical questions absolutly stunned her, to the point where her agression was immediatly replaced by utter confusion.

"Okay Then, now that we are introduced, and you can verify i wont Maim you until i get some valid and non- non euclidian answers... LET US THE F" The insults and Words flew from her mouth, staining the very air with their presence."OUT NOW!"

[Geo Stelar]

Geo, trying to block out Chayrlin from his ears, tried to ponder around what Marauder One said. "I need you all alive", "Now it is a darker, more serious threat", and "I don't think it is a question of 'what' as much as it is question of 'who'". There was definitely something going on over here. Who is this, 'thalmor' guy Marauder One's talking about? If he needed them alive, does it mean he needed their help? 'And what is this threat he's talking about? Is this 'Thalmor' the one responsible for the crimes Marauder One has been accused of?', Geo finally thought.

He then turned to Marauder One, then asked, "Is this, 'Thalmor' you mentioned.... the one responsible for the crimes you're accused of? And what is this newer threat you're talking about? You mean worse than those massacres?"

[Star_Dragon]

"First off," Dovahkiin said, "The Thalmor isn't a person, they're a faction - the Altmer-Elven version of the Romulan Tal Shiar. Second, no - they are not responsible. The Thalmor disbanded after the end of the second great war - but you didn't answer my question. Did Paarthurnax ever tell you of what I found in their possession?"

[Geo Stelar]

Geo tried to remember Vokun's previous conversation with Paarthurnax... then, it suddenly hit him

"Yes, it was something done during the Second Great War against the Aldmeri Dominion," Paarthurnax elaborated. "It was during that time that the Dragonarian Empire found him - and lent their support to the Empire, despite the threats by the Thalmor. But the war wasn't important, so I'll spare you the glory details - it was what Dovahkiin found in Thalmor possession after that final battle."

(sorry, I just quoted it, it's too long to type )

"Well, he did mention something that you found something after the final battle. But he didn't mention what it was, exactly", Geo replied, looking him in the eye. He calmed his grips on his disguised weapons.

"What is it that you found in Thalmor's possession, by the way? What does it have to do with anything?"

[Star_Dragon]

Dovahkiin's crimson dragon eyes looked directly at Geo. "What I found in Thalmor possession was what led me to suspect that this threat was not of Nirn - it came from the stars."

"But what was it?" Vokun asked.

"The Thalmor were trying to use Necromancy to revive a Mikaarj Battle-Demon," Dovahkiin replied.

Vokun was utterly shocked. Mikaarj Battle-Demon...? In his native Dragonarian, he asked, "The Plague-bearers of ancient times?"

"Correct," Dovahkiin affirmed. "I left after I destroyed it, and headed to their ancient burial ground - only to find it empty, recently disturbed."

"Meaning someone dug them up and revived them," Vokun surmised. "How do the Yaut'ja fit in?"

"There are two possible ways," Dovahkiin replied, "Either A.) They're hunting them per their nature, or B.) Some of them may be infected themselves by the Mikaarj. The former seems more likely, as the Yaut'ja I drilled would have attacked you as soon as they saw you had they been infected."

"So who brought them back?" Vokun inquired.

Dovahkiin shrugged. "I wish I knew," he admitted. "His identity eludes me as it eludes my allies, dragon and otherwise. It would take a very powerful person, however, to awaken the Mikaarj from their eternal slumber."

"Someone with that power should be pretty rare," Vokun murmured. He looked to the others. "I don't suppose you all would know someone who would fit this description?"

(If any of you have ideas pertaining to who the enemy is that brought back the Mikaarj, plague-bearing demons of ancient Dragonarian times, PM them to me - I'll compare them to my own ideas. RPing is a group effort, is it not?)

[ballisticwaffles]

( My charecter is inside a "Impregnable" force field and im being read Expostition, not exactly the most interactive Interactive fiction. ANd i dont know what the plague bearers are, so i cant tell you, unless i assume they look like 40K Plague bearers, then i say its the god of PLague Nurgle)

"Thats nice and all, but im not listening to you until you let us the HELL OUT OF HERE!" Chayrlin was sick of this already, She was close to considering breaking out her secret, but decided against it, prefering to turn solumbly to the Dovahkiin.

"LEt us free right now i i assume your lying and report you to someone with access to orbital bombardment. Either that or the TAbloni family, they owe me one."

[Star_Dragon]

(It was not a reference to anything related to Warhammer 40K - the Mikaarj are a race that plagued the Dragonarian Empire in their ancient history, long before they even developed firearms. According to their legends, the Mikaarj were banished to a far away world by a powerful Dragonarian warrior, who vanished with them. No one had seen the Mikaarj since then. Anyway...)

"Now, now, now," Dovahkiin said, "You'll get out - but I must be sure you won't try anything stupid. As I said, I need you all alive."

"Why us?" Vokun asked.

"Because you all can pass yourselves off as mercenaries, gaining you access to places I cannot infiltrate without my cloak-and-dagger tactics and Infiltrator-grade PCD," Dovahkiin explained. "You all need no such devices - and I think I have found a pattern to these attacks, and therefore know where the enemy - whoever they are - will strike next. If we're lucky, we'll get there before the fireworks start and find out who's turning these wheels."

"Can you provide evidence of all this?" Vokun asked. "Evidence that leaves no doubt that you are not responsible for these massacres?"

"Perhaps," Dovahkiin said, "If your... friend there can keep her calm long enough to deal with this threat and see what I've gathered. If we can all agree to cooperate against the enemy, I'll lower the field and set you free. Deal?"

"I have no problems with it," Vokun said, "But I don't speak for the others." He looked to Geo, Charylin, Nora, and Vanessa. "Can we put aside our hostilities and deal with this threat?"

[ballisticwaffles]

(You aren't privy to telling anyone anything of your own custom race until it fits you, and you asked for idea's, so i gave one that fit the bill.)

Chayrlin only glared, returning her hat to her head and placing the tip of her cane back on the ground. She gave a breath and whipped out a Fresh cigar, lighting it with a hastily drawn lighter. Puffing smoke into the Force field, Which disintegrated it she assumed, she spoke.

"I work for Vokun because i was hired by the government to work for Vokun. I will not work with you, Hybrid, but i will follow Vokun's orders until my check is cleared"

[Geo Stelar]

Geo looked at Dovahkiin and said, "I follow Vokun, too. But whether he agrees with you or not is of no importance, and him agreeing with you just makes it easier, doesn't it? Just prove your innocence, then I'm willing to cooperate."

Geo then finally eased his grip on his disguised weapons; at least now he'll know whether he'll need them or not.

[Salem]

"I'm willing to corporate", Vanessa said in a assuring tone.