Snippet #939725

Elliot Naser opened his eyes and stared upon the dimly lit room. He had been mediatating in the Fighter's Guild Basement in Chorrol to focus his magical energies after practicing with his trusty blade and blunt weapons. Trouble was brewing for the Fighters Guild, and Vilena Donton, the Master, was insisting that everyone remain calm and stick to their duties. Elliot was inclined to follow orders, but neither her nor the Champion, Modryn Oreyn, would discuss the matter. However, he was Argonian, and his circle of intelligence did not end at Chorrol.

The problem was the Blackwood Company, a band of mercenaries that had started up an organization in Leyawiin. They were very much like the Fighters Guild, in that they had a base of operations, training halls, and a rigid heirarchy. The Fighters Guild, however, could only accept contracts that did not violate the laws of the Imperium and its surrounding counties. The Blackwood Company operated with no restrictions whatsoever. They even bragged that they would take on any job, even the ones the Fighters Guild refused. Many Fighters Guild members were being undercut on contracts as a result of this, and some had even defected to the Company.

Elliot was a Guardian in the Fighters Guild, a fairly high rank befitting his status and abilities. As such, he felt it was his responsibility to help comfort and train the lower ranking members. Even so, the stress he was under was causing him considerable fatigue, and he had to relax somehow. He was just standing up when a mouse crawled to his feet. It looked up at him, and opened its mouth.
"Elliot?"

Elliot bent down on one knee.
"A talking mouse? What enchantment is this? Did the Arch-Mage send you?"
The mouse hopped up and down.
"Oh, thank the Daedra I found you! We have real trouble!"

Elliot cocked his head to one side.
"In the Mages Guild?"
The creature stopped bouncing and looked at him.
"No, Elliot! I've come on behalf of Lord Clavicus. He needs your help!"

Elliot was taken aback, and examined it closely.
"Bardas?" he asked after an examination.
"Yes! Thank Azura you're quicker on the uptake this time."
The mouse shook and morphed into a tiny statue of a dog. Elliot leaned forward a bit.

"Has Clavicus Vile summoned me?"
With the problems he was facing, he was not sure that he could do any tasks for the Daedra, and his apprehension must have shown through.
"Well...No. But he still needs your help!"
"Calm down, Bardas. Tell me what needs to be done."

The dog shook a bit.
"OK. You know that sword you got for Lord Clavicus awhile back...the Umbra sword?"
Elliot nodded.
"Of course. I'll never forget the battle I got trying to take that thing from Lenwin."

Bardas' statue shook a bit.
"Well, I warned you not to give it to him, that it would upset his realm. And now it has! Lord Clavicus is a prisoner of Umbra!"
Elliot felt his jaw drop.
"How?"

"Lord Clavicus has been sealed inside the Umbra sword, and now Umbra rules that Plain of Oblivion. With the power he now wields, I fear he will march on Tamriel next. I have no love for this place, but if the mortals are destroyed, there will be no one for whom the Daedra Princes can work through. You have to stop him, Elliot!"
Elliot nodded.
"So, does this mean I have to go to Oblivion?"

"No, of course not. Every other Prince has sealed it off from mortals. You can only challenge Umbra in the midst of his invasion."
Elliot could feel his heart sink like a stone.
"An entire army, Bardas? I may be the The War-Mage, but even I cannot fight an entire supernatural army!"

The dog statue of Bardas smiled.
"I never said you had to fight it alone."
Elliot flicked his tongue instictually.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you need allies. Maybe from your Fighters Guild friends, or the Mages Guild."

Elliot shook his head.
"I'm afriad that I could not trouble the Guilds with this. They are all too busy with other things."
"Ah, to be a mortal," Bardas said in a singsong voice, "To be so busy with trivial matterd as the world falls down around them."
Elliot's mouth turned to a grim line.
"None of the Princes will challenge Umbra?"

Bardas shook his head.
"Mehrunes Dagon would normally have chopped Umbra to confetti by now, but since his defeat at the hands of the Avatar of Akatosh, he is in recuperation. With the most bloodthirsty of them neutralized, most of them see it as folly to try. One Daedra Lord has all ready been imprisoned, why add more? No, it has to be a mortal who stops him."
"Gee, I feel so honored."

Bardas rolled his eyes.
"Well, despite your sarcasm, Lord Clavicus does need help. I will help you in any way I can. Can I count on you?"
Elliot placed Bardas into his pack.
"I would give my life to save Tamriel."