VG Rumble II

***K, thanks.***



Dawn came, and the group rose. The rest of their journey was short; they reached Skingrad by midmorning.

Enya looked as worried as ever, probably considering there was no news on their parents or friends back in Kvatch. Kai was worried himself, but he knew better than to show it; it would make Enya panic.

"So, now what?" he asked; he was willing to accept Ivellios as their group leader. The young man obviously had better senses of strategy than the rest of the group.

(Does anyone want to post anything before Adrian's group leaves for Skingrad, or should I just move the story on? Also, some of you still haven't chosen what you want to spend your skill points from the last battle on yet. As always, let me know which one you want and I'll record it.)

(I'm at a lost. If and when you do something in Skingrad I'll do something. When it comes to my points I'm going to save them for now.)

(All right. I'll post something tomorrow.)

(I know I said I was going to post something yesterday, but I couldn'nt because the site was down. I'll post something later today when my classes are done and I've finished my homework for the night. I tell ya, college is a full-time job. )

(Sorry for the delay. Here it is.)

They each took a horse and rode back the way they came on The Black Road. When the road split off into two directions they took the one going south, which put them onto The Gold Road. After a few hours of travel they made it to Skingrad. They left their steeds in the care of the local stable before heading into the town.

"We got here earlier than I expected," Adrian said, leading the way down one of Skingrad's streets. "If we're quick we can get back onto the road and make it to Kvatch just before nightfall. But first we need to get our supplies."

Adrian stopped and faced Edgar. "Edgar, I need you to find us some suitable armor from one of the nearby blacksmiths. There's no telling what enemies we may face, so we need as much protection as we can get." The shapeshifter merely nodded. Adrian turned next to Adam and Balaes. "I need you two to find whatever supplies we may need on the road. That includes rations and tools for repairing our weapons."

"All right, but what are you going to be doing while we're finding this stuff?" Balaes asked.

"My father always told me never to rush into battle without any knowledge of your enemies," Adrian explained. "We know that an Oblivion Gate opened in Kvatch, but we don't know what came out. I'll be asking around town to see if anyone knows anything. Since Skingrad is the closest town to Kvatch there's got to be at least one person who knows something about the enemies we'll be facing."

"Makes sense," Adam said. "What should we do once we find everything?"

"We'll meet up at the stable where we left our horses. We'll leave as soon as everyone is accounted for." With that, they split up.

(Come on, people. I did my part, now it's your turn to post.)

Adam

It was pride more than anything else that prevented Adam from paying for the goods. Not that he stole them from anyone who needed them of course. He found a big looking house with large grounds and a full pantry. It was into that room which he stole, fitting with ease through the large window he wrenched open. He tip-toed across the floor, listening to the light and airy voices coming from the next room. Oh how lucky they were, to have house and home!

He didn't take more than what they needed and then not from the best stock. He took the bread that looked a little crusty, the ham that was near turning sour. It was banquet enough to Adam for there to be food at all and well, if it didn't suit the others they could find their own meal. Just a small sack he filled and then up and back out the window.

Next was tools for repairing weaponry. He'd agreed to meet Baleas at the blacksmiths near the stables so he made his way over there, finding the other man already arrived.

"Did you buy much?" Baleas asked as they entered the blacksmiths together, their voices almost washed out by the sound of the hammer ringing against the anvil. The heat was almost unbearable, unlike anything Adam had ever felt before.

"No," he answered honestly for Adam did not like to lie. He saw no profit in it and he was, afterall, an honorable thief as he kept reminding himself.

Balaes

He almost had to shout for Adam to hear him over the ring of the hammers and the hiss of red-hot metal being fed into vats of water. "Did you buy anything?"

"No." Adam said again, "But no one's going to face hard times because of it."

Balaes shrugged, "I guess it's okay then." He wasn't really in much of a position to criticise Adam for theft, after all, he'd just come out of the same line of work, more or less. And what he'd done put a lot more people at risk than Adam ever had.

Without trying to get further information, Balaes stepped into the main area of the blacksmith's store. The owner stopped what he was doing, resting his hammer across the blade of a sword that seemed to be in the middle of being made. An apprentice took it up a moment later.

The blacksmith pulled off his gloves and used one of them to wipe his forehead, "What can I do for you, boy?"

"We need some stuff for repairing weapons." Balaes said.

The blacksmith let out a roaring laugh, "'Stuff'?" He imitated, "I'm sorry, boy, but I don't make 'stuff'. I make tools for repairing weapons. It's not too much to buy, and they're as high quality as you'll find in this area. You'd have to go to the capital for anything better, and even then you'd be hard-pressed."

When the group made it to Skingrad Ivellios took them to the inn/bar. He got them a table and ordered some hot food. He himself sat at the bar with a cup of ale, I still can't believe what happened. Demons, it happened so fast. Ivellios took another sip and put his hand on his head. It would seem word hasn't reached here yet. He wasn't even sure if they would believe him if he said something.

Just as he was about to take another sip a suspicious looking man walked in. He scanned the area and took a seat at the end of the bar. He appeared to be listening for something. When his eyes reach his Ivellios looked away, The last thing we need is attention.

Unfortunately the man walked over to him any way, "You look troubled. Something happen along the road?"

Ivellios looked at him. It was just now that he realized he was sweating. Sighing he tried to calm himself as he spoke, something about this man made him think he could be trusted, "Kvatch is gone."

(There ya go Dynamo )

(Just so you know, Adrian is 16.)

Adrian didn't seem at all surprised by the news. If anything, it only confirmed his thoughts. "Do you know if the chapel's priest made it out alive?" he asked.

Ivellios gave him a strange look. "Uh... I'm not sure. We were too busy trying to get away from all the chaos."

"I see..."

"You seem oddly unfazed by this news," Ivellios said. "Does Kvatch's destruction not surprise you?"

"The town was destroyed by a horde of demons that came through a demonic gate, correct?"

His eyes went wide. "How did you know? Who are you?"

"My name is Adrian Arakor, son of the king's general and the arch mage of the Mage's Guild," he told him.

"What are you doing so far from the capitol city?"

"While I can't tell you what my mission is, I can tell you it's of great importance, and the priest of the Chapel of Akatosh is the key to my mission's success. My companions and I are heading to Kvatch within the hour, and any information about the demons that attacked that you can provide will be of great help."

"I didn't get a good look at any of the demons, other than the ones that attacked us on our way through the forest," Ivellios told him.

"Then tell me about those."

Ivellios told Adrian about the Skamps and the Frost Atronach that attacked them as they fled Kvatch. When he finished their descriptions he said, "There were other demons as well during the attack. Most of them I couldn't make out, but within the chaos there was one that stood out the most. Men with skin as black as the night sky and eyes as red as blood. They wore armor and weapons that looked to be forged from the fires of Hell itself. Just looking at them sent chills down my spine."

"What is your name?" Adrian asked.

"Ivellios."

"Thank you, Ivellios. This information will help us a lot on our mission. I now have a good idea of what kind of enemies to expect. Just one more thing. I have friends who live in Kvatch. A girl by the name of Enya and her older brother Kai. Tell me, do you know if they made it out of the town?"

(Back to you, piepiemann )

Enya was standing across the room, looking at intriguing paintings on the wall, when she heard her name. And Kai's. She looked up and toward the bar, toward Ivellios. There, beside him, was...

"Adrian!" she screamed. Next thing she knew, she was bounding across the room and leaping at him. "You're alive! It's so good to see you! How have you been? Have you seen my parents? Please, tell me they're okay!" Kai chuckled, walking up as Enya continued her babble, finally ceasing after a moment. She just grinned, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes, and embraced Adrian again.

Kai smiled at his friend. "Good to see you."

Ivellios smiled as the friends reunited. It was nice to see some form of happiness in these horrible times. Regaining his composure he said with a calm face, "I want to join your mission. I know I will have to earn your trust to be told all of the details, but," he looked at Kai and Enya, "I can't ignore what is going on and a sure as hell can't sit by while it's happening. I planned on joining the royal army soon any way, so consider this my enlistment." He held out his hand.

(Sorry it's short, but I need to post something.)

Adrian reached out and shook Ivellios' hand, fanding it a little awkward with Enya still clinging to his body. "If this turns out well, I'll put in a good word for you," Adrian said. He looked down at Enya. Blushing slightly, he said, "Uh... Enya?"

She finally realised she was still holding onto Adrian. She pulled away and said, "Sorry, I was just so relieved to see you."

"So am I," Adrian said. "I was afraid you and Kai didn't make it out in time."

"If it wasn't for Ivellios, that would have been true," Kai told him.

Reon came over and asked, "Are you going to Kvatch?"

Adrian nodded. "We need to find a priest by the name of Martin. I'm told he's in the Chapel of Akatosh in Kvatch. He may even be the reason why the town was attacked."

"Then let me come with you, too. I have friends who might not have made it out during the attack, and there may still be useful potions left in my shop that we can use, if it wasn't completely ransacked by the demons."

"I'm actually hoping all of you can come with us," Adrian said. "The mission I'm on may determine the fate of Arcadia, and I need all the help I can get."

"What is this mission you keep speaking of?" Kai asked.

"I can't tell you what it is until we're out of the town, but I can tell you what it has to do with." Adrian looked across the bar counter to see a copy of The Black Horse Currier, Arcadia's national newspaper. he went over to it and picked it up. Right smack on the front page were the words, 'King Uriel Septim, Assassinated.' The media sure works fast, he thought. Adrian tossed the paper so it landed in front of everyone. "That is the reason behind my mission."

Adam

Respect for a man who took pride in his work came naturally to Adam and he shook the blacksmith's hand heartily. This made the matter of gold so much simpler, it would be like giving favor to a man who pleased rather than an exchange of goods and money.

"Show us your wares and we'll see if your skill meets your tongue," Adam said sharply but he flashed a grin to show there was no harm in his words.

"It meets my tongue when there's gold to meet my eye," the blacksmith bantered. Adam was impressed, he'd not met many who worked with their hands that could also use their minds and when he had, they'd all been members of the darker trades.

"We can pay," Baleas said, a look passing between him and Adam. It was the sort of look that warned you not to contradict it, as if Adam would have dreamed of cheating an honest, working man! Okay so maybe he might have but not one who'd grown so quickly in esteem. To show his willingness to both parties, he took one of the smaller purses from within his shirt.

With a nod, the blacksmith led them to one side of the store and began picking through the items there. His hands were rough and calloused and he worked with a measured smoothness, selecting tools by method of sight and weight.

"What weapons will you be wanting the tools for?" the blacksmith asked.

"We'd best have all of them, just to be on the safe side," Adam said.