The Prince of Blood.

[dukejebawe]

An Elder Scrolls fan fiction.

This story will be written in first person, from the perspective of a man named Marcus. Marcus will unwillingly be drawn into the major events of the imperial province of Cyrodiil. The start of the story is loosely based on the Oblivion DB questline, but will later deviate into It's own storyline.

Well, let's get crackin'.

Chapter I: The signing of a Covenant.

I am Marcus, an old man by most standards. I lived most of my life as an archer in the imperial legion, but recently retired to a peaceful life. And so I thought it would last for the rest of my life. I was, tragically, mistaking. It is already a month since it happened, but I still remember it clearly...

I was staying at the Inn of Ill Omen. Me, and an old codger named Rufio were the only ones staying at the inn. I couldn't sleep that night, So I killed some time reading in my room. That's when I heard the door upstairs open. It's worth mentioning at this point, that Rufio and I both had rooms downstairs, bellow ground.

The Innkeeper spoke with his usual cheery tone. "Welcome, welcome, to the Inn of Ill Omen! If you want a bed, we've got plenty of room. Ain't nobody staying here these days, 'cept old Rufio and Marcus downstairs."

There was a short pause, and then a cold, calm voice spoke. "Who is this Rufio?" Odd, I thought. Nobody had ever inquired about Rufio before, especially this late at night. The Innkeeper, cheery as always, gladly explained. "Rufio lives downstairs, in the largest room, which I like to call the 'Private Quarters'."

"Thank you", The stranger said. Soon after, I heard the sound of a trapdoor opening and closing. As the stranger passed my room, I could hear his footsteps, a heavy thumping noise against the wooden floor.

With the sound of a door opening and closing, I knew the stranger had entered Rufio's room. Then Rufio spoke, apparently having woken up. "What? Who're you? Leave me alone! I haven't done anything!"

The stranger only laughed, and said "Oh but you have, Rufio".

Rufio spoke again, obviously frightened. "No! Listen, I didn't mean to do it! She struggled... I told her to just stay still, but she wouldn't listen! please, don't kill me! I'll pay you! What are they paying you? I'll double it! Please, I'll - "

Rufio never finished the sentence. After those last words, nothing was heard but a dull thumping sound, followed by that of a door opening and closing. All was silence, the stranger had left Rufios room, and Rufio was quiet. Too quiet.

I don't know what possessed me to leave my room that night, only that I did, and that it was the greatest mistake of my life. As I opened my door, I found myself face to face with the stranger.

The stranger was white as snow, with flaming red hair and eyes, and black tattoos covering the left side of his face. He was wearing Armour of stainless steel, and a crimson cape was tied to his shoulders. Then I met his gaze and I realized...

I realized I was looking at the Blood Prince.

To be continued.

[madkill]

hmm....remind me of a Dark Brotherhood quest but with a twist.
Did it recently so thats how i remembered it.
I likes it.

[dukejebawe]

Chapter II: Kaella

The Blood Prince...

The Prince of Blood...

The living unification of blood and snow...

And he was standing right in front of me.

I was mortified.

The Blood Prince was smiling.

"Of course", he said. Then he moved on, leaving me standing there awkwardly.

I just stood there, for a few seconds. stunned at what I had experienced. I heard the innkeeper bid the stranger farewell. "Farewell, and tell your friends, the Inn of Ill Omen is open for business, as always!"

Even the innkeeper's voice couldn't bring me back from my thoughts then. for a moment, it seemed that everything had frozen. Then i heard a voice behind me. "Well? Aren't you going to follow him?"

I spun around. A young girl was standing there. She was pale, with black hair, and a beautiful green eye. I word it like that, because while her right eye was intact, a nasty scar ran vertically along the left side of her face, right across the eye. She wore a full set of Ebony Armour, seemingly custom made to hold sockets, in which she had inserted various black gems.

I tried thinking about a response, but nothing came to mind. Then I blinked, and she was gone. I yelped in surprise at her disappearance. Then i heard footsteps behind me. I spun around again, and saw the girl ascending the stairs. Looking back at me, she urged me to follow the Blood Prince. "If you don't hurry up, he'll be gone, and that'd be sad." Then she was gone again.

To be continued.

Hmm, this chapter turned out shorter than I planned. Oh well.

[dukejebawe]

Chapter III: The colour of night
She was gone as quickly as she had come. A shadow of a girl, disappearing when the light shifted.

As I stood, wondering what to do, my feet started moving on their own. Before I realized it, I had ascended the stairs. "Huh? Marcus, I didn't know you were awake! Where are you going?" The innkeeper, of course, was the source of those words.

Once again, my body acted without my consent. "I'm going for a walk, my friend. I'll be back in a few hours". "Of course, Marcus. Do you want me to prepare tea for your return?" The innkeeper replied. "No". I said. "I don't think I'll be thirsty when I get back".

As I left the inn, I could swear I heard the girl's voice laughing quietly, as if I had just played directly into her hands.

I found the Blood Prince waiting outside. When he saw me exiting the inn, he told me to follow him. Something about him told me that it was a good idea to do exactly as he said, so I did.

We walked for a long time, going from village to village, and always to the north. Stopping for some time in the imperial city, The blood prince used his influence to get us horses. At the time, I thought he just managed to talk to horse seller into giving us the horses, but I later learned what really happened. Just five months later, the horse sellers body was found on the shore of lake Rumare.

After getting horses, we travelled east from the Imperial City, along the Blue road. Resting at a wayside inn, I awoke in the night. The Blood Prince and I slept in the same room, yet he was nowhere to be found. At first I thought he had abandoned me there, until I heard his voice from outside. Looking out of the window, I saw The Prince, talking to a cloaked man.

"...Now heed this: The slaying of Rufio was the signing of a Covenant, the manner of execution your signature, Rufio's blood, the ink. Sithis smiles upon you, dear child. You are now part of the family. "

As he spoke, the cloaked man's eyes darted back and forth, scouting the area for spies.

"Now, my child, go to to Cheydinhal, enter the abandoned house and walk into the basement. once there, attempt to open the black door. You will be asked a question. Answer thusly: Sanguine, my brother, and the way to the Dark brotherhood will be revealed to..."

He stopped suddenly, his eyes locking mine in place. "spy" he sneered, and drew a bow. As he strung the bow, I was completely paralysed, unable to move. He released an arrow in the direction of my head...

Suddenly a lightning bolt struck from behind me, disintegrating the arrow. I turned to the source of the bolt.

The girl from before sat on my bed, her hand raised towards the window. I noticed she was not wearing her armour, Instead, she was dressed in a black tunic. I also noticed she was not wearing any underwear.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off. "Don't talk, or he'll know." she said. She must have seen the confusion in my face, because she spoke again. "I cast an illusion spell, so he thinks his arrow hit you. You'll be save from him now, unless you do something stupid."

I consider myself a modest man, Yet I could not stop my eyes from gravitating towards her more intimate lower body area. She must have noticed. "Swine" she said. "Don't get any ideas, I was changing when he shot that arrow, and I had to act fast. Show some gratitude, and don't ogle me like that".

I decided it was best to avoid rousing her anger, so I shifted my attention back towards the prince and his cloaked compatriot.
"Speak to Ocheeva at the Cheydinhal sanctuary, she will give you your first contract. Now, I have to go clean up the body."

The girl spoke before I could react. "That's your cue to leave. Don't worry, I'll plant a body in your stead. My name's kaella by the way, Be thankfull I even talk to you."

I decided to do as she said...

To be continued.

[madkill]

I have a slight feeling I know how all this will end.

[sion]

Very nice so far, when will you continue??

[dukejebawe]

Chapter IV: The Black Door.


What choice did I have? I was already mixed up in all this, if I liked it or not.

I travelled for what seemed like weeks, going east. Hoping my ordeal would soon be over, I entered town. As I passed the gate, the guards eyed me suspiciously. I was unsure of myself, and with nowhere to go, so I went for the nearest inn, hoping to acquaint myself with the locals.

I chatted and exchanged rumours with the men and women in the inn for hours, and what I learned was Ill news indeed. "The Emperor's been murdered!" one man -a brawny Imperial- said. "Right under the noses of the Imperial guard! His sons too! It's a disgrace!"

"A disgrace? That's a damned understatement!" another patron -A gruff Nord- cut in. "The guard don't even know who did it? How can anyone feel safe when they can't even protect the emperor?"


Just then, the room fell silent. The young girl, Kaella, entered the inn, once again wearing her armour. Silently, she approached me. When she reached the table at which I was sitting, she looked directly at me and announced: "You will be coming with me"

Slowly, I stood, and followed her outside, accompanied by a few whistles from the inn. They obviously had no idea what she could do. When we were out of earshot, she gave me further instructions which, by now, I knew to obey. "Go to the abononed house, but do not enter. Meet me in the back yard, then follow me. Most importantly, do not speak."

With that, she departed in a flash of magic, leaving me to find the abandoned house she spoke of by myself, a task which proved easier said than done. Most I asked claimed no such house existed, others simply refused to speak of it. By the time I finally stumbled upon the house(by accident) several hours had passed.

The house was obviously uninhabited, being riddled with holes and cobwebs. A broken stone wall surrounded it's old garden, which was as unkempt as Troll's ass hairs. The back yard contained an overgrown well, which looked rather worse for wear.

As I entered the back yard, Kaella was already waiting for me. Upon my arrival, she promptly jumped head first into the well. I awkwardly approached, halfway expecting to see her stuck at the bottom.. Instead, I found a ladder leading into a dark, deep hole.

It was a long and tiresome climb, and my clothes were torn and my limbs bloodied before I reached the bottom. Kaella, who despite her quick descend had somehow managed to remain uninjured, and more amazingly, unstained, was waiting for me at the bottom. She turned away from me and went silently through a small tunnel, leaving me behind.

When I caught up, breathing hard, she was sitting still a few meters from an opening into a larger cave. I heard voices on the other side.

"...What's the point? Why bother with all that sneaking and skulking..." "I have had ENOUGH with these incessant missions! I need my rest!" "My brother, I assure you, this is the last..." "Dear brothers, I bring good news. A new member has been recruited, and is to arrive here in a few moments. I must ask you all to prepare for his arrival, while I take care of... other responsibilities."

Kaella looked at me. "Follow me" she whispered. "And do so without hesitation."

She took off quietly, going past the opening and proceeding towards bend in the tunnel. I quickly set after her, not wishing to be left alone in this place. When I caught up with kaella again, she was sitting at the end of the tunnel, peering through another opening. On the other side, the blood prince approached a black door. As he neared, a cold, disembodied ghostly voice spoke. "What is the colour of night?" it requested, and the prince answered "Sanguine, my brother". And so the door swung open, speaking words of welcome.

Then the blood prince drew his blade and entered the sanctuary of the dark brotherhood. Seconds passed, then screams echoed from beyond the doorway, then silence. As the prince returned once again, his blade red with blood, the black door once again closed, sealing the sanctuary like a coffin.

Kaella turned back towards where we had come. I did likewise and... I reeled back in shock. There, in all his dark magnificence, stood the man who the prince had spoken to earlier. I heard Kaella's voice behind me. "Hello Lucien" she said.

I am not quite sure what happened then. Lucien, as Kaella had called the man, widened his eyes in shock as he looked past me, Kaella pushed me aside, there was a blur of movement, and Lucien was gone.

As I looked around, confused, I noticed Kaella wiping blood off of her cheek with a dreamy expression on her face...

To be Continued

[sion]

Oh man you had to stop when it got really really good. I hope you continue it soon.