Marco lives in a modest house in Windhelm, despite being a veteran assassin for roughly 60+ years. Nobody in the city know who he truly was since everyone say he’s a retired soldier from the Great War and was living a relatively quiet life. The nords in the city allowed him residence, despite primarily a nord dominated city. Marco is cutting some vegetables in his kitchen preparing for his own soup when he heard a knock on the door. Marco goes to the entrance and upon opening the door he is greeted by Vitrus.
“Hello Marco.”
“Vitrus,” as Marco gestures for him to come into the house. “To what do I owe the pleasure.”
“I have a job for you.”
“You do know we have couriers?”
“A courier would not be necessary, tenacious as they may be. No, I want to offer it in person, seeing how you might find this one personal and may even come with heavy consequences,” Vitrus said.
“Alright, I’m listening.” Marcon responded
“Would you kill Corvus Rem for 10000 septims?” Vitrus asked while Marco did not respond to his question immediately. “After all you two are close.”
“Is the contract exclusive?” asked Marco.
“No, I made this open. But its time sensitive and I need this matter handled quickly.”
“Consider it done.” Marco said seemingly without hesitation.
“Thank you, Marco. I knew I can count on you.” Vitrus said as he exits the house.
After Vitrus leaves, Marco heads towards a closet in the middle of the living room. He opens the door and a secret panel behind the close, revealing a hidden room. The hidden room reveals itself as a secret armory with full of swords, daggers, bows, arrows, poisons and potions. Among the weapons and gears there is a mannequin with the Dark Brotherhood’s Cyrodiilic shrouded armor. Marco takes his signature daedric bow from the weapon rack along with a small dagger and a couple of daedric arrows. Marco takes his gears and heads towards the Windhelm’s stable to ride on his auburn-colored horse.
Elsewhere, Corvus rides his horse all the way from Haafingar to the Rift. After a long journey, Corvus arrives to Riften. But rather approaching to the front gate, Corvus heads towards a large building right outside the walls. Corvus takes his horse to the building’s specialty stable instead of Riften’s public one. Corvus takes his horse to the stable and enters the building, “The Violet Rift”. Not far from the building is Marco, standing near Riften’s main gate and sees Corvus enter the building.
As Corvus enters inside with his bags of equipment, he finds himself at a nice looking interior. It was mostly made of woods from the walls to the furniture, as is most buildings in the Rift. Looking ahead, he sees a receptionist standing behind a counter with customer. The receptionist is a Redguard who wears an Alik’r hood. Not just any Redguard. This one wears a distinct red colored Alik’r hood and Corvus knows him all too well. Nazir. A veteran member of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim’s branch. The customer turns her head and sees Corvus and smiles before turning back to the receptionist.
“Your room will be 206 on the second floor, on the left hallway. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
“Thank you,” said the woman as she turns around and faces Corvus. “Been a long Corvus, it’s good to see you.”
“Thalwyn.” Corvus greeted her casually before walking to the receptionist.
“Corvus, my old friend!” Nazir exclaimed with enthusiasm. “It has been a quite a long time.”
“Nazir, I didn’t know you moved here to the Violet Rift as concierge.”
“Ah well, they needed someone to cover the Violet Rift. Someone must manage this place as a front for our… little haven. I must say though, this place does have its charms.”
“That’s good to hear. I’d like to rent a room for twi nights.”
“Two nights. Got it. I got just the room for you. So Corvus, does this mean you’re coming back?”
“No, it’s just temporary businesses.”
“Well in any case, I can reinstate your membership as part of the Continental and your membership for both the guild and the Brotherhood. Too bad I can’t restore your title to Listener. But don’t worry, the new Listener is up to the task. Reinstating your membership would require an additional 300 septims”
“I see,” said Corvus as he hands a pouch of 350 septims.
“Room 310. On the very top floor at the end of the hall on the right. You got a nice balcony that overlooks the decrepit city of Riften.”
“Thank you, Nazir. Any other changes here while I’m gone?”
“Not much actually. Most of your old friends are still in the guild and same owner is managing the whole place.”
“Same owner?” asked Corvus.
“Same owner. And Corvus, it’s always a pleasure having you with us again,” said Nazir just as Corvus picks up his baggage. He nods and heads towards his room. Corvus arrives at the room, which is a nicely furnished with a considerably luxurious bed that are fit for Jarls. Corvus sets his equipment in the room and walks towards the balcony, which has a view of the city of Riften. Corvus looks at the city for a while and watches the sunset. He thinks back to his time with Haki, about how life seems so blissfully peaceful. After the sun sets, he walks back downstairs to the lobby of the building and goes the tavern’s basement. Upon inspecting a cabinet reveals a hidden passageway that leads lower to the level of the sewer. Corvus never forgot the smell of Riften’s sewers. He walked towards the sewer’s corridor and towards the end he came upon an iron door. Corvus knocks on the door and hears a voice behind the door.
“Fee of 25 gold,” the voice said. Corvus opens the square shaped hatch in the middle of the door and puts a pouch of 25 septims through and a hand takes the pouch. The man behind the door opens to let Corvus in. “Welcome to the Shadow Continental refuge.”
Corvus walks into a very large room that decorates itself as a tavern, but with a lot more luxurious decoration. The place is filled with shady individuals, all sitting at their own tables while some are at the bar section and others watching a performance. A few people even took a quick glance at Corvus as he walks through. This is one of the many refuges of the Shadow Continental in Tamriel, where Assassins, Thieves, mercenaries, and other rogues can gather and mingle. The underworld of Tamriel has never been more powerful and secretive as The Shadow Continental. As Corvus walked around the underground Tavern, he spots two people at the center of the tavern, sitting together at a table. They are both wearing the black signature guild master armors. One of them is a white-haired Imperial woman and the other is an older bald Breton. Looking at them from a distance there was no mistaking those two, Vex and Delvin. Both are veteran and important members of the Thieves Guild, now also appears to be prominent members of the Shadow Continental guild. Corvus approaches them and greets them like two old friends.
“Delvin. Vex.”
“Corvus! It’s good to see you too. How long has it been?” asked Delvin who is surprised to see him.
“Wow, I didn’t think you would come back. Retirement got boring for you?” said Vex somewhat less surprised than Delvin.
“I’m only visiting. Where is Brynjolf?”
“Brynjolf?” Vex responded. “He’s always here. Has been running this whole place since this Shadow Continental was formed. Too bad he’s got his hands full and not really in the game anymore.”
“Where can I find him?” Corvus insisted.
“He’s usually at the corner of the tavern, reading business ledgers and all that. But Corvus, we really got to catch up sometime. Have drink with us or two,” Delvin said.
“Maybe when I find time,” Before Corvus leaves the two master thieves and goes looking for Brynjolf. Corvus finds him exactly where Delvin said he would be. Brynjolf is sitting at a small table reading a book in his hand, presumably a ledger of records and dealings of the Shadow Continental.
“Hello Brynjolf” as Corvus approached him.
“Corvus. Lad…it’s been a quite some time.” Brynjolf smiled. “So…what brings you back?”
“Nerus Trasius.”
“Ah…the spoiled brat of Vitrus, head of the Trasius crime syndicate. What about him?”
“I’d like to talk to him.”
“Talk, eh lad? Well knowing you, I think we both know how your definition of “talk” usually turns out. But tell me, have you returned to the fold?”
“Nazir and Delvin asked me the same thing. I’m just visiting.” Corvus responded
“Have you thought this through though lad? This isn’t just some “dropping by to see old friends” kind of visit. As I recall, you managed to get out of this life. You take even one look at the bottomless well, you might find yourself falling so deep you won’t be able to climb back up.”
“Where can I find him?” Corvus responded without acknowledging Brynjolf’s cautionary warning.
“You know better than most about the rules of the Shadow Continental. No business dealings are allowed in this place without facing serious consequences. Worse consequences apply for members of the Dark Brotherhood with the 5 tenets also applied to them. So, lad, why don’t you get yourself something to drink and just…relax.”
“Its personal,” as Corvus stands up and heads to the bar. He notices a dunmer woman managing the bar. But unlike most dunmers, her eyes are not red colored, but rather purple-colored. Corvus knows that this is none other than Karliah, one of nightingales and an agent of Nocturnal.
“Corvus…it’s so good to see you,” Karliah said as she leaned at the counter.
“Karliah. It’s good to see you too.”
“Tell me, what’s life like not going around stealing or stabbing people from the shadows?”
“It’s peaceful and perfect. Far better than I deserved.”
“I just want to say that I’m sorry about…”
“It’s okay. Thanks”
“It’s strange though. For a master thief and a deadlier assassin, I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Like what?”
“Vulnerable. It really reminds me of Gallus…back then…”
“I’ve been retired for the last 5 years.”
“Not if you’re drinking here. While you’ve been gone, I have learned the fine arts of bartending. So… Black-Briar mead?”
“Thanks,” Corvus said. Karliah then comes back with a cup of black-briar mead.
“Compliments on the house,” as Karliah hands him a cup of the mead. Just as Corvus drinks from the cup, someone approaches behind him.
“A gift from Brynjolf,” Delvin revealed himself as he handed him a small note. Corvus looks at the note with the name of a place “Paradise Lodge” and leaves after finishing his cup of mead.
Within the city of Riften, Vitrus was sitting in the Bee and Barb tavern while drinking his wine. Kjald enters the tavern and approaches Vitrus.
“I just looked and saw Corvus is within the Shadow Continental haven.”
“That makes things interesting,” Vitrus responded. “Welcome home old friend.”
“I also spoke with a Dark Brotherhood assassin. Said she’s interested in the contract and was willing to take him out as well.”
“Well then, if this assassin is willing to break the rules and one of the tenets, tell her that the reward will be doubled.” Vitrus responded as he wrote something a paper and gives it to Kjald. “Give this to our brazen friend.”
“Yes sir.”
(13. On the Hunt - John Wick Soundtrack By Tyler Bates and Joel Richard - YouTube)
Back in his room, Corvus unpacks his baggage and takes out his gears. He suits up in his signature armor and lays out all his arsenals on the bed He takes his Blade of Woe with him along with a smaller steel dagger and some throwing knives. Corvus goes to the stable to fetch his horse and rides towards to Paradise Lodge. He rode towards the southern part of The Rift and came across an extremely large wooden building. There are some clients also waiting to get in as they line up outside the entrance while a doorman lets them in. Among the clients, Corvus recognize Jagar as one of Nerus’ friends who was with him back in Solitude. Jagar was with another goon who went to a secret side entrance to get into the lodge instead while Corvus stalked him from the shadow. Jagar was let in by a large nord who is guarding the side entrance.
Inside the lodge, Vitrus’s chief henchman Durus is scouring around the lodge for signs of Corvus while asking guards at different parts of the building.
“Any sign of him?” he asked.
“Everything’s clear. No sign of him.”
“Good. Where is Nerus right now?”
“He’s at the bathhouse, in the basement floor.”
Durus walks to the bathhouse in the lower level of the lodge. In the bathhouse, it was filled patrons sitting in the steaming pools surrounded by different half naked women. Most are humans, but there were a few elves including bosmers and dunmers as well. At one of the smaller pools is Nerus and Brucus surrounded by a few women. Nerus is visibly drunk from the alcohol he consumed while he is enjoying himself in the pool. Durus approaches the drunken Nerus who is holding a bottle of mead.
“Hey Durus, come join us and have some fun!” said Nerus in an obnoxious and carefree attitude.”
“I’ve been sent here to protect the boy of a powerful man. Not babysit a milk drinking drunk.”
“Oh…you really should relax and take the edge of…”
“Says the boy who angered the most dangerous man in Tamriel.” Durus rebutted.
“Are you scared of Sithis Incarnate? I’m not,” Nerus responded completely disregarding Durus’ concern.
“No? But you should be,” as Durus snatches the mead from Nerus’ hand before leaving.
“Somebody give me another bottle,” Nerus demanded in an impatient tone. He turns to his friend and the women with him when he notices nobody moves. “What are you waiting for, did you forget who I am!? Come on!”
Outside of the side entrance, the big nord stands guard with no other patrons coming to his side. As he is taking the breeze, he suddenly felt a large pinch behind his back, the pinch of a sharp dagger.
“Helo Frangeir.”
“Corvus,” said the big nord barely keeping his composure.
“How many are in the lodge?”
“About 30 guards.”
“30? For one boy? Must be serious for Vitrus.”
“Are you here on…business?”
“I am. Why don’t leave for the night, take a walk?” as Corvus slowly let go the dagger on the nord’s back and he slowly turn around.
“Thank you Corvus,” said Frangeir just as he leaves. Corvus then lockpick the door and sneaks into the lodge.
Jagar and his companion are in the changing room, preparing for the bathhouse. Both men already wrapped themselves in towel. Jagar went to the sink to wash his face and checked his teeth. As he washes his face, he looks up in the mirror and in the reflection, he sees his companion lies dead on the floor. Jagar approaches the corpse of his companion before a hand grabs his head slams him to the wall. Jagar slowly gets up, still recovering from the slam, and sees Corvus in front of him
“Where is Nerus?” Corvus asked in a calm, but angry voice.
“Never…” Jagar responded before attempting to punch Corvus, but he misses and Corvus quickly kicked him in the groin. Corvus grabs a nearby towel and strangles him with it.
“Last time, where is Nerus?”
“He’s…at the bathhouse…downstair,” Jagar barely able to utter a word from the towl around his neck.
“You broke into my house. You stole my sword. You killed my dog.” Corvus responded furiously before pinning Jagar on the floor and swiftly snapping his neck with his shin.
(THINK by KALEIDA (Official Audio) - YouTube)
Corvus exits the restroom and found a door that leads to the lower level of the lodge where the bathhouse is located. He casts a silent invisibility spell and sneaks around the corridor looking for Nerus. Corvus sees a guard with his back turned and he slowly crept up and slit his throat. He hears another approaching guard from the corner and hid. As the guard approached the corner, he grabs him and presses him against the wall. Corvus quickly slams his left hand to the guard’s throat to incapacitate him. Then Corvus covers the guard’s mouth before stabbing him vertically from the bottom of the jaw as he slowly set his corpse while staring dead into the guard’s lifeless eyes. Corvus pulls out his dagger from the skull and made his way into the main room of the bathhouse. He hides behind a shelf of towels and sees Nerus in one of the pools, fondling with one of the women. As Corvus surveys the surrounding area, a door suddenly opens behind him, and a guard quickly spots Corvus and attacks him. Corvus attempts to stab him, but the guard grabs his hand as the two men struggles, which causes them to crash against the shelf, startling all the patrons. Corvus quickly gets back up and slashes the guard in the thighs and pins him on the ground. Nerus hears the commotion and sees Corvus swiftly takes down two with two throwing knives. As Nerus attempts to grab his dagger beside the pool, Corvus turns his head towards him. Nerus, paralyzed by fear, is unable to move as if he was staring at the dread father himself. Corvus quickly slits the pinned guard’s throat while menacingly maintaining his gaze toward the frightened boy. As he slowly approached Nerus, an orc suddenly grabs Corvus from the back. Nerus takes this oppurtnity to escape to upstairs while he grabs a nearby towel. Corvus quickly breaks free from the orc and rapidly slashes him four times in the chest. Corvus sees three more guards approaching and he swiftly pulls out an enchanted shorts word. He slashes and dismembers first guard’s right arm in a quick motion and severs the second guard’s left leg. And he dodges the third guard’s horizontal swing from his hammer and effortlessly decapitates his head. Corvus runs upstairs to give chase.
(Le Castle Vania – Red Circle (LED Spirals & Shots Fired) - YouTube)
Nerus runs to the main gathering room of the lodge, with his towel barely tied onto his waste as he runs and stumbles across the room in utter fear. Other patrons look at him as if he is high on skooma. Across the room, Corvus emerges from the stairs and menacingly makes his way towards Nerus as he shoves aside some onlooking patrons. Nerus sic two guards towards Corvus, but they were quickly slain by Corvus’ violent attacks as the patrons watches in horror. Corvus sees Nerus runs to the second floor of the lodge and Corvus continues to give chase. Nerus runs into another large room with patrons and guards.
“Guards, he’s here! He’s behind me there, kill him!” Nerus yelled as several guards are on high alert and rushes towards the door.
Corvus suddenly emerges from the doorway and begins to slaughter guards in the room. One by one, he dismembers seven guards with his short sword and dagger in both hands. Corvus slashes an eighth guard in the chest with his dagger and kicks him to another room. Corvus quickly slides near another approaching guard and wraps his legs against the guard’s to immobilize him. Corvus pins the guard with his legs as he throws a throwing knife at another guard running towards him with a mace before stabbing the pinned guard in the right eye. Corvus makes his way to the second-floor balcony overlooking the main room of the lodge and kills four more guards swiftly before regaining his site on Nerus. Corvus rushes towards him while Nerus continues to flee in panic and opens the door towards the kitchen. Suddenly, Corvus was attacked by a big guard with a war hammer, but he quickly slashes him in the shin before grabbing the guard’s big beard and slamming his head onto table and penetrates his skull with his dagger. As he rushes towards the kitchen, Corvus was struck by a thunderbolt spell by Durus, sending him flying. Corvus barely recovers from the shock spell and rolls for cover. Corvus quickly sheathes his dagger, with only the short sword in hand, and attacks Durus as he approaches. The two men engages in a sword fight, but they quickly disarm each other and proceeds to go hand to hand combat. The two men brawled, with each other trading punches and kicks. Just as Corvus manages gain the upper hand, Durus grabs a nearby mead bottle, smashes it, and stabs Corvus in the abdomen before throwing him off the balcony floor. As he recovers from the fall and Durus looking from above, Corvus quickly slings a nightingale strife spell at Durus to force him retreat. Corvus quickly escapes and picks up his short sword on the way out.
Not far in the Rift, Nerus and his friend are frantically riding their horses.
“Where is Jagar? Did you see him?” asked Nerus.
“No…I…I think he is fine…” Brucus responded hesitantly.
“No…he got him…” Nerus fully realizing the wrath of Sithis incarnate and nothing will stop him until he’s dead.
Corvus returns to the Violet Rift, staggering with his left hand pressed at his wound in the abdomen. He approaches Nazir, who is reading over a ledger.
“Ah Corvus, how did the hunt go?” Nazir asked
“Not so good.” Corvus responded
“Well, those bathhouse lodges are always filled with nasty businesses. Especially the patrons.” Nazir responded sarcastically.
“Is the doctor here?”
“He is, currently in his room.”
“I need his service. Send him to my room.”
Corvus returned to his room and slowly takes off his armor. Shortly after, Corvus hears a door knock and he is greeted by an elderly Breton in rugged clothes with a backpack on his back.
“I’ve been informed that you are in need of my service,” the old man responded.
“A wound.” Corvus responded in a straightforward manner.
“Let’s take a look,” as the doctor settled in.
Corvus takes off his shirt and reveals the wound he sustained. The doctor quickly gets to work as he unpacks his backpack and takes out his tools as he begins to stitch the wound.
“How does it look?” Corvus asked.
“Eh, the wound is not too bad. The only thing you should avoid is performing extreme movements. But if you still intend to go on with your business, take these potions. They will lesson any form of pain you receive. The stitch will open, but you can still function.” The doctor handed him three bottles of red colored potions from his backpack. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No that’s it.” The doctor leaves and Corvus then proceeds to lie on his bed to sleep.
In the city of Riften, Marco climbs onto one of the rooftops of one of the buildings, which directly overlook the Violet Rift, despite being divided by the city wall. Marco navigates the roof under the cover of night and finds a perfect angle that lines up to the balcony of Corvus’s room. Marco pulls out his daedric bow with his custom scope attached to it and a daedric arrow from his quiver. Marco sees Corvus, lying on his bed, and begins pulling the bow’s string with the arrow in place. Through the scope, Marco has a clear shot right onto Corvus’s skull with him completely vulnerable. Instead of releasing the string, he moved the scope to check the surrounding. Behind the bed, he sees the door to the room slowly opens and a shadowy figure slowly approaches. Marco quickly moves the scope back to Corvus and releases the string. The daedric arrow flew and hits the pillow, inches away from Corvus’ head. Corvus becomes alert and rolls off the bed. As Corvus recovers from the roll, suddenly the shadowy figure lunges at him with a dagger. Corvus quickly rolls away as the intruder’s dagger puncture the floor.
“Hello Corvus,” the shadowy intruder revealing herself.
“Thalwyn?
“I thought I would let myself in.”
“I noticed.”
Corvus quickly disarms Thalwyn as she lunges another attack and pins her against the wall.
“Never knew you would get out of bed for less than thousand.”
“Vitrus will pay double for breaking the lodge rule and the tenet!”
“Big mistake you just made.”
Corvus tosses her to the ground, but she quickly recovers and the two engages in a brutal hand to hand fight. The two assassin brawls ruthlessly as they throw each other around the room and crashing into furniture.
“I knew you’re always a milk-drinker!” Thalwyn mocks Corvus as he picks her up from the floor before she lands another punch. Thalwyn manages to pin Corvus against the floor and proceeds to punch him on his stitched wound on his abdomen, but it hardly hindered him. He manages to overpower her and uses the bed’s blanket to wrap around her head before landing a heavy blow on her head and threw her at the door. On the rooftop in Riften, Marco sees Corvus is victorious and quickly leaves. As Corvus recovers from the fight, he hears loud footsteps coming down from the hallway. He quickly goes to the hallway and finds Nazir approaching.
“There you are! I was just informed that there were some…loud noises from this floor.”
“Sorry about that Nazir. Inform Brynjolf that I was dealing with…an uninvited guest.”
“Consider it done. Would you perhaps in need of…disposal services?”
“Maybe…for now I have some questions for the guest.”
As Nazir leaves, Corvus turns around and sees Thalwyn attempting to crawl out of his room. Corvus quickly approaches her to grab her by the hair and presses his dagger against her throat.
“Where is Nerus?” Corvus asked but was only met with angry grunts from the wounded assassin.
“Where is Vitrus?” he asked again.
“I’m telling you nothing!”
“Are you that eager to send yourself to the void? Give me something!” as Corvus pressed his dagger harder against her throat. Thalwyn groaned from the pain.
“There is a chapel of Talos, west of Windhelm.”
“What do you know?”
“It’s a front used by Vitrus. He keeps his most valuable treasures and assets in the vault.”
“Thank you,” Corvus said right before knocking her out. Suddenly, Corvus hears string of a bow being pulled and freezes.
“Do I know you?” a scaly voice asked behind him.
“I would think so?” as Corvus slowly raises his arms and slowly turns around. He sees an argonion in some rugged sleeping clothes who has a bow with an arrow drawn. However, the argonion quickly lowers the bow.
“Greetings Corvus. Been a while.”
“Pale-Scale.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah…everything is fine now.”
“I can see. I’ll let you be then.”
“Wait…are you keen on earning 750 septims from me? Keep an eye on her.”
“So, catch and release?”
“Catch and release.”
Replies
Hey, sorry for the delay. As my schedule gets busier, it may take me longer to find time to read but I'm here. My advice this chapter would be not to introduce to many original characters as it may confuse the reader.
now what I enjoyed, I really like your ability at creating atmosphere. It really does feel like the John Wick movies. Corvus having to deal with so much now as Vitrus' contract on him goes public. It'll be interesting to see where it goes and what you change/keep from the movie!
Your names are also good like Thalwyn, Marco, and Pale-Scale.