'Sup all? Glad you found your way to the RP group! This is a bit of a cross between RP group and Story Corner territory, but I figured I'd post it here as it has to do with the official live RP of the Skyforge. Check it out here on Discord: https://discord.gg/suQfNNZ
This server is of very high quality with an engaging story, quality DMs, and interesting characters and NPCs. It's run by our very own Fimvul as well, so I definitely recommend you check it out.
The character I am running on that server is Kh'aius, a Redguard with a past as a Blade, fallen from glory after the end of the Great War. If you want a bit of backstory, check out my Character Profile on him here. But as to the present of the RP, I have been recording Kh'aius' story as he travels through the "Rise of the Empire" storyline, recording Kh'aius' dialogue, his thoughts, and dialogue from other player characters and NPCs. You can have a read through it here if you like. I will be posting chapter by chapter. Enjoy :D
The Elder Scrolls: Rise of an Empire - Kh'aius' Tale
Chapter I: Of Blades and Lords
Kh'aius, sitting at the bar in Windhelm's Candlehearth Hall, picks up a bottle of mead, staring at it. The temptation to add it to his pack is great, but he resists, setting the bottle down. Mead has dulled his pain for long enough. Pain is a teacher, and he has refused to be taught for nearly 27 years. He hoists his pack onto his back and exits the inn for the last time. As he steps out onto the streets of Windhelm, he notices the quiet, and not for the first time. The city must still be mourning the death of their last Jarl, Ulfric Storm-Cloak. Shaking his head to clear it, he allows the guardsman to open Windhelm's heavy doors for him, and he sets foot for the first time in months on the bridge that leads out beyond the city.
Outside Windhelm, Kh'aius pays 20 septims to get a cart ride to Markarth, where he can set out into the Reach's craggy peaks to join the Blades. Where they me be precisely he does not know, but rumors of Blades activity in the Reach have reached his ears.
As the cart trundles to a stop outside of Markarth, Kh'aius observes the city. He hasn't seen it for many years. By Oblivion, he hasn't seen much of Skyrim for many years. He hoists up the heavy backpack that contains his gear and walks through the city gates. The city commons is a massive area surrounded on all sides with tall structures and high cliffs and plateaus.
It turns out that the Blades are just as good at hiding their existence as ever. Kh'aius knows that the old Skyrim temple has been ransacked in the Purge by the Thalmor, and there is little chance that the Blades have set up there. He has heard vague notions of Blades activity in the Reach, and thus has come to Markarth. Thinking it unsafe to ask about randomly, particularly in a city with such heavy Thalmor presence, he makes his way to Understone Keep to request an audience with its Jarl.
Kh'aius, having made his way up the many steps to Understone Keep, approaches the Guardsman outside the massive doors that lead into the hall.
"Hail, Guardsman."
"What is it you need?" the Guardsman asks curtly.
"I would request an audience with your Jarl."
The Guardsman pauses for a moment . . .
"When I am relieved of my post, I could perhaps check in with him ... but you see I am a very busy man. If I were to have some sort of incentive ..."
Jeryin Lion-Heart, Jarl of Markarth, having just returned to his city, walks up to Understone Keep "Guard, are you asking for a bribe?"
Kh'aius' face hardens with barely suppressed rage at the obvious corruption. He is about to let out an angry retort just as Jeryin walks up behind him. Kh'aius turns around in surprise.
The Guardsman glances at Jeriyn. "Oh uh ... no! My Lord. Er ... of course not. I was just about to request an audience with you for this ... fine citizen here when you arrived."
Kh'aius observes the interaction, reasoning that this man may be a steward of some kind, or perhaps even the Jarl himself. He awaits the man's response.
"Then let's not waste anytime." Jeryin motions towards the keep. Kh'aius nods his gratitude and follows Jeryin into Understone.
Jeriyn and Kh'aius make their way to a private study. "So,” the Jarl begins, sitting down and motioning for Kh’aius to do the same. “What are these ‘delicate’ questions?"
Kh’aius takes a seat, steepling his fingers. "Before we start I must have your word that what I ask in this office will remain strictly between you and I. It could prove potentially . . . hazardous to my health if they were to be disclosed."
The Jarl considers him for a minute. Then, “"You have me word as Jarl."
"A relief, my Lord. You have my thanks. Apologies for all of the secrecy thus far. I'll get to the point. I am one of the last surviving members of the Blades. I have been in exile, hiding from the Thalmor for nearly two decades. The word of the return of the Dovahkiin, an incident I am sure you are well aware of, has rallied the remaining Blades in Skyrim to begin rebuilding, as I understand it. However I know not where they make their headquarters, but heard whispers that perhaps it would be somewhere within your Hold. I would ask for any information regarding their whereabouts that you may be able to provide me."
The Jarl continues his careful scrutiny of Kh’aius as he formulates his response."Ah, the Blades. I've had a couple of run-ins with them. I don’t know much about the location of their headquarters but you are more than welcome to stay here until you find it."
Kh’aius, slightly disappointed but not entirely surprised, inclines his head to the Jarl, saying: "Interesting ... thank you for the offer. If any of your men spot anything, do not hesitate to call on me. I will await word in the Silver-Blood Inn if you find anything for me. If I am not present when you or your men wish to contact me, leave a message to the innkeeper and I will come to you. Meanwhile I will continue my search. Thank you, my Jarl, for your time and generosity."
"If you would like you can stay in the keep." Jeriyn offers his hand out.
"Generous of you indeed my Lord. My pockets would thank me if I accept your offer. I must admit my coinpurse is none too heavy." Kh'aius shakes the Jarl's hand, gets up, and makes to leave. But before he exits through the door. "My Jarl. One more question has just occurred to me. What do you know of the disappearance of the Dovahkiin?"
"Nothing but I am searching for him. I need some answers."
"Perhaps then we can help each other, then. I will relay to you any information I discover of his location, or indeed, his existence at all. Strange, for a man to amass such prestige and power and then ... gone."
"Indeed we can, yes and what alarms me about this is that no one is looking for them."
"Not no one. The Blades are. Be sure of that, my Lord. Thank you once again for your generosity. I have traveled long and would retire to whatever quarters you have deigned to grant me."
"It's right down the hall from here. Third door on the right." Jeriyn looks down at a map of the Reach. "If you need me, I'll be in here looking for answers to both of our questions."
"Thank you, my Lord." Kh'aius bows to the Jarl and leaves the study, heading to his room in Understone Keep.
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