Elder Scrolls: The Fallen

[chukklehed]

Christoph saw what happened to Neesa just before she went in the water. as the river turned blood red, so did his vision. it was all he could do to keep control, and rage dulled the pain of the arrow. he lurched to his feet, diving into the water. he found Neesa at the bottom, bleeding heavily. she was doing her best to heal herself, but it wasn't enough. he focused on the largest wounds and her lungs first, casting Necromantic Healing and trying to slow the bleeding. he realized his magic wasn't enough right now, he had wasted too much of it. desperate, he called up the Equilibrium spell he had learned in his last days of the college, and part of the reason he had left. he couldn't help but grimace at the grim poetry, giving part of his life for her's. as he funneled his own life force into the spell, he could feel the strain on his body. i'm not going to let her die. he thought as the arrow wound reopened. he stopped when her lungs could work again, his own strength fading but not gone. at least i won't bleed to death. he thought as her bleeding slowed. with luck, she would survive this.

[EliteCommander]

Neesa was surprised to see Christoph dive into the water after her, especially since he had to run across a battlefield to do it. Her first reaction was to be relieved, as he was doing his best to heal her, but once the rational part of her brain took over, she realized that this wasn't where he should be. His power was weakening, and the situation was made worse by the fact that he was using a spell of equilibrium to give himself more magicka. She opened her mouth in an attempt to speak, but her lungs were filled with blood instead of air, and nothing came out but silence. His healing was helping her, but if she, or any of them at all, were going to survive this, those bandits needed to die.

In the time Christoph had been healing her, Neesa managed to regenerate enough magicka to cast a rather useful spell. She looked over to the body of the Redguard and powered it with necromantic energy, drawing in the bandit's soul for one last fight on Nirn. The corpse sparked back to life, surrounded by dark tendrils of magic. It grabbed its blade from the bottom of the river, stood up, and walked out of the water, all at Neesa's command. She then looked at Christoph with an almost angered stare and pointed up toward the surface. He needed to get back in the fight, and though she couldn't speak to him, her gaze said it all.

[Chronicler]

Left and right the two rogue's swords and dagger tried to close in on Chronicler and end his life. Still healing his right arm, Chronicler was unable to fight head on with any of his weapons as they required both arms. The situation was looking grim, the two had already made quick work of Chronicler's Familiar leaving him without an ally for this fight. His greatsword still laid somewhere on the battlefield and his bow was on his back. The rogues were obviously confident that they were victorious over Chronicler, landing blows with the blunt sides of their weapons rather than finishing the job. The did, however, underestimate Chronicler's resolve. After a short while Chronicler regained the ability to utilize his right arm and proceed to fight back with all of his might. He charged the duelist with the dagger that he had previously pulled out of his arm. The duelist swung his sword at Chronicler. Chronicler ducked under the sword and it glanced across his leather armor. Unable to have the dagger reach the duelist in time, Chronicler landed a firm blow with his fist into the duelist's jaw. The duelist stumbled backward as Chronicler prepared a followup attack. Unfortunately Chronicler's momentum had quickly ended when the boot of the assassin meet Chronicler's face with tremendous force. Chronicler rolled backward with his nose bloodied. Chronicler was obviously outmatched, he was only seventeen years old while these two were full grown adults who had been banditing for years. "Give up kid, as fun as your resistance is it's starting to get annoying." Chronicler knelt, breathing heavily. There was no way he would be able to win with raw strength. He had to think of something clever and fast.

The assassin helped the duelist to his feet as they were preparing for and second attempt. Chronicler was staring at the two as he continued to regain his breath. The both smirked as they looked to Chronicler. Chronicler closed his eyes and concentrated hard for a moment. An enigma of dark energy flowed through one of Chronicler's hands until it formed a dark ball radiating with mana. Chronicler's eyes shot open and he released the ball from his hand. A portal appeared in front of Chronicler and a flaming familiar quickly shot out and sprinted at the bandits. "Don't hit that thing!" The duelist yelled. "Then what am i supposed to do?!" The assassin yelled back while holding the flaming familiar away from his face. "DIE!" Chronicler bellowed to the rogues as he chucked the dagger. The dagger stuck straight into the flaming familiar's and killed it instantaneously. Less than a second later the corpse exploded into a fireball that knocked the duelist away and obliterated the assassin. The duelist tumbled around for a moment until he leaped back to his feet and sprinted at Chronicler. "You're going to pay for that!" Chronicler had already drew his bow and had an arrow prepared. He fired but once again the duelist was too fast and dodged the arrow. Chronicler drew another arrow but instead of firing he waited until the duelist was close. The duelist slashed forward with his blades one after the other and didn't let up. Chronicler wasn't able to dodge nearly as effectively while keeping an arrow on the bow string and sustained many hits. His blood cover his clothing and a bit of the ground around them. The duelist saw Chronicler's unsteadiness and attacked with both blades aiming for Chronicler's neck. Chronicler reacted by sliding through the duelist's legs and fired the arrow straight in his back. The duelist screamed in pain as he attempted to quickly turn around face Chronicler but instead he only met Chronicler's bow as Chronicler smacked the rogue across the face with his bow. Blood shot out of the duelist's mouth as he fell over. Chronicler's attention shot towards the fray as he spotted a long ranged healing spell flying to the duelist. Chronicler quickly grabbed the duelist and threw him away from the spell. In the process the duelist lost control of one of his swords as Chronicler ripped it from his hand. The duelist tumbled once again and regained his footing, barely. The duelist was furious and wanted nothing more than to end Chronicler's life with as much pain as possible. Chronicler advanced towards the duelist with a short sword in his hand as he parried the blows from the duelist. Surprisingly, the duelist still had a large amount of vitality despite what Chronicler had thrown at him. Chronicler wasn't used to the weight of the short sword as he was swinging it and frequently misjudged the sword's weight as missed terribly. The stood at a deadlock both slashing, blocking, parrying and dodging. Finally when Chronicler's mana had regenerated enough he summoned a regular familiar behind the duelist which immediately leaped onto the duelist's back and bit savagely into the duelist's neck. Chronicler took the opening and stabbed the sword through his leg. The duelist knelt while screaming in agony and begging for mercy. Chronicler ignored the man's pleas. In one motion, Chronicler pulled the sword from his leg, spun around and decapitated the duelist. "I don't grant mercy to those without honor." He said morbidly. Chronicler threw the sword away from him and knelt over, grasping his wounds. Restorative energy pours from his hands but it wouldn't be enough to heal himself completely. Blood was seeping from Chronicler at an unhealthy rate. The best he could do with his remaining mana was stop the majority of the bleeding but the pain was overwhelming. Slowly things began to become unclear and blurry to Chronicler. The bandits and his friends disappeared from his view until the last of his strength was depleted and he fell unconscious.

[Muttonhawk]

Imras felt the metal of the bandit's cuirass on his fingertips and the paralyzing spell immediately took effect. The bandit, obviously taken by surprise by the spell, froze on the spot and slowly fell down like a statue. Imras stooped to grab the bandit's hammer and wrenched it from his hands. The spell was only meant to last several seconds, but it would be enough. With great effort and a primal grunt, Imras raised the large hammer and brought it down on the bandit's chest like he was chopping a piece of wood, at the last moment before the blow landed, Imras could see a glint of fear in the man's eyes, causing Imras to feel a little sympathy, but it was too late now. The effect was devastating; though the bandit could not scream, his cuirass caved in against his body, indicative of a similar state made of his ribcage. Raising the hammer again, Imras struck his check a second time, a third time, and with one final yell, a fourth time. Imras let the hammer clatter to the ground, satisfied that the ruffian would not be getting up again before the fight was over. He had hoped that it wouldn't be the end for the man, but he had been given very little choice in the matter.

Still with a fast-beating heart and fast breath, Imras looked around for anyone who needed his help. Imras quickly spotted the young Breton who was being ganged up on by a couple of roguish figures. He would need his bleeding staunched at once if he was to survive. Imras jogged towards the boy, only to hear a quiet galloping in the grass behind him. Imras turned around just in time to see one of the enemy familiars running at him with its ethereal teeth bared. Imras lashed out and kicked the familiar across the jaw, but it quickly rolled back onto its feet and jumped for his throat. Imras raised his arm and felt the familiar bite down hard on his forearm, shaking him and trying to drag him to the ground. Imras shouted in pain and briefly attempted to shake the canine off, to no avail. Instead he opted to bring his sword across his front and cut the familiar across it's body. This made the familiar whine in pain before releasing its grip from Imras' forearm and dissipating from reality.

Holding his now bleeding arm close to his chest and trying to perform basic magical restoration from it, Imras continued to the Breton boy. Imras had got to him just in time to witness the young man decapitate his last assailant despite panicked cries from the bandit. Imras was struck by a wave of morbid fear as the bandit's head rolled, but it looked like the boy had suffered injuries of his own, enough to cause him to fall unconscious. Imras knew that the boy's bleeding would have to be staunched immediately if he were to survive. Raising his bitten arm with a channeling of yellow restorative energy, Imras hovered his hand over the various slashes and punctures and sealed them up, one by one. Imras didn't have the time, energy, or focus to properly heal the boy if he had internal injuries, but he was certain that the Breton may yet survive now.

Another growling sounded behind Imras, he got up and raised his sword. Another familiar was circling him and the Breton. With a loud thrum, a purple portal opened nearby and another familiar emerged, joining in the hunt. A short distance away, the conjurer who was apparently the familiar's host was looking at Imras from afar with crossed arms and a morbid grin. This was bad. Imras slashed at the familiar's wildly, but was in no position to strike one without compromising himself, or the unconscious Breton, to the other familiar. Imras' head darted from side to side as he tried to keep track of the prowling creatures. Why didn't I run when I had finished off that big warrior?

[Leon5431]

Leon tried to rush to help Neesa but the mage and an archer had kept him crouched behind his shield. When he finally got a break in their barrage Christoph had already gone help her. Leon looked to see Chronicler finish off the bandits that were assaulting him and then faint. Seconds later Imras rushed forward to help Chronicler but they were soon surrounded by two familiars. Leon took this as his chance to help rushing toward the nearest familiar. As he came close the ethereal dog released a ferocious growl and lunged for Leon. Leon hit the dog's stomach with his shield sending the familiar over him. The familiar landed with a thud, it tried to stand but Leon brought his sword down on its neck. As it died its body vanished into nothingness. Then a searing pain shot through Leon as an arrow plunged into his right shoulder. Leon stumbled back and raised his shield to protect himself. Leon planted the tip of his sword into the ground and switched his shield to his right hand. With his left hand Leon gripped the arrow taking a deep breath before pulling the arrow out with one strong movement. Leon looked over his wound. The arrow had grazed his armor which would explain why it wasn't too deep in his shoulder. With Leons left hand he sent a surge of restorational energy into his wound. The magic wouldnt heal the wound but it would help. With this Leon passed his shield to his off hand and tore his sword out of the dirt. As he did another arrow whizzed toward him and ricocheted off his shield. Leon looked to the hooded argonian "Cover Chronicler im going after that archer, if you can, get him to cover!" With that shout he dashed forward keeping his shield raised, Leon was unsure whether or not he could trust this argonian but he had to take the chance that archer was becoming a problem and needed to be dealt with. It took moments to get close to the archer who was firing arrows from a rock at Leon. One arrow grazed Leons shoulder as he ran but he pressed on. When Leon got close the archer lept off his rock toward Leon, he used Leons shield to propel himself over Leon, landing gracefully behind Leon. Leon turned to see another arrow flying toward him, he raised his shield to block it but it was too late the arrow plunged into his side. Leon cringed in pain but pressed on, the archer had replaced the bow on his back and brandished a elven longsword.

They circled each other for a moment before the archer rushed forward swinging his sword down toward Leon but meeting shield. Leon bashed his shield forward knocking the archer back but not off his feet Leon lunged forward his sword slashing the archers side. The archer hobbled back bleeding from the wound. Leon rushed forward to help but a portal opened up in front of Leon a moment later there stood a bone man wielding a spiked mace and a shield. The boneman let out a hiss like noise before rushing toward Leon and swinging with all its might down on Leon. Leon raised his shield and blocked the hit, he slashed at the boneman's feet but the hit didn't even seem to phase it. "Damn I hate undead" He shouted before bashing the boneman back with his shield. The boneman stumbled back but soon rushed forward again, Leon prepared to block another hit but instead the Boneman just charged Leon with its shield raised smashing its shield up against Leon. As the hit knocked Leon back the Boneman moved with him, swinging its club around Leon hitting his back. Three of the spikes broke through his armor stabbing into his back but the blunt of the weapon dented into his armor bruising his side and causing more blood to pour out of the wound.

Leon cringed in pain "Gahh!". He drove his sword into the boneman's side. The boneman was hurt but still pushing Leon back, Leon unable to push the boneman of him was stuck stabbing him repeatable. Finally the boneman stepped back, Leon took this as a chance to attack. Leon charged the boneman bashing its shield pushing it back, as it struck at him with the mace Leon blocked the hit, this left the boneman open to attack, Leon stabbed upward with his sword through the boneman's jaw and out the top of its head. The summon faded as this happened as it faded the archer came into sight with an arrow drawn and aimed at Leon. As soon as the Boneman died the archer loosed the arrow. Leon barely blocked the arrow in time. As soon as the arrow was blocked Leon sprinted forward as fast as he could, the archer had planned to kill Leon with that arrow and had positioned himself to close to Leon. The archer had just enough time to drop his bow and draw his sword, in desperation he stabbed toward Leons chest but Leon knocked his blade to the side with his shield and drove his sword through the archers stomach. As Leon did this the archer smiled and with the last of his strength tore out his dagger and drove it into Leon's side, hitting the same spot as the bone man the knife broke through his armor easier than if he had hit anywhere else. Leon tore his blade out and with one clean swipe cut the archers head off.

Leon grabbed his side, he looked over his wound the knife was protruded from his side. Leon went to reach back to use some restoration magic but as he did he felt extreme heat from behind him. As he turned Leon was met with a torrent of flames. His left arm was burned rather badly, but he raised his shield before too much damage could be done. Leon yelled in pain but held his ground. He hid behind his shield as the healer sent a stream of fire at him. For what felt like hours Leon sat there blocking the spell. But finally the stream was broken Leon heard a ferocious growl then a yell of pain from the healer. Leon looked to see Chroniclers familiar biting down on the arm of the healer, Leon used this as his chance he urged himself forward. The healer punched the familiar in the throat causing it to release its grip, as soon as it released the healer sent ice spike through its skull killing it. Just then Leon reached the healer he slashed once but met nothing but air, the healer having stepped back just in time. Leon slashed again this time the healer faltered and stumbled to the ground, the slash still missing. Leon took the chance and drove his sword into the gut of the healer then dragging the blade upward until he reached the center of his torso then tearing the blade out and bringing it down on the healers throat. Leon dropped to his knees next to the healers corpse trying to regain his energy, he felt light headed from his wounds but he was still awake if he could gather a moment to rest he could get back in the fight.

The conjurer looked to his fallen allies, they were losing that much was apparent. He summoned up the last of his magicka for a spell that might hopefully take one of them out of the fight. "TAKE THIS YOU BASTARDS!!! BURN IN OBLIVION!!!" He shouted as he shot the spell towards the ground near the hooded argonian. When the spell hit the ground a portal opened and out stepped a Wrathman. The conjurer dropped to his knees nearly exhausted. The Wrathman let out a loud undead hiss and hoisted its double sided battle axe above its head and brought it down on the ground in front of it. Slowly the undead creatures gaze turned to the hooded argonian when it saw the him it let out a loud undead hiss and advanced toward him, ready to kill.

[EliteCommander]

Neesa was still sitting at the bottom of the river and had managed to calm down from the frenzy of the fight, which meant her adrenaline had wore off and she was now in immense pain. She could hardly manage to think, let alone move, but she forced herself to the surface for a few moments regardless. Between her and Christoph's healing, her lungs were in better shape than before, but they were still filled with blood, and still had a puncture wound through one side. As a result, she could only pop her head up for a few moments, so she only had a general idea of what was going on. Many of the bandits were dead, but some of her own allies had been wounded. She couldn't see Christoph, but she did see that the Argonian they had met on the road was being accosted by a wrathman. Fortunately, Neesa was in sort of a position to assist. With her telepathic link to her thrall, she ordered the reanimated Redguard to protect the Argonian, then ducked back under the water to resume healing herself. Hopefully, the sight of their reanimated commander would throw the bandits off guard.

[Muttonhawk]

As Imras' magicka regenerated with the standoff against the familiars, he decided to take the opportunity to cast an ebonyflesh spell on himself. It was painful to strain his bitten arm to do so, but he reckoned it wouldn't be the last time he would sustain a wound in the next couple of minutes. Spotting closing movement, Imras turned to see the Nord warrior, apparently leader of the group he was now fighting with, engage one of the familiars and kill it with a swift knocking down and a sword to the neck. The Nord then told Imras to get 'Chronicler' to cover. Assuming that this was the name of the unconscious young Breton he was protecting, Imras nodded swiftly as the Nord went on to join another fight, partially restoring and shrugging off his wounds as if they were nothing.

Imras brought his attention back to the remaining familiar just in time to see it lunging towards him at full force. Taken by surprise, Imras stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground with his sword arm on the summoned wolf's neck, trying to separate it's snapping jaws from his neck. Imras turned his head away to try and keep his nose being bitten but the wolf didn't relent. With his wounded arm, Imras pushed the wolf to one side and rolled to try and pin it with his arms. He managed to restrain the creature for but a moment before it's thrashing and wild biting loosened Imras grip. It was just enough time, though, for Imras to level his sword with the wolf's neck and slice the familiar back into nothingness.

Wasting no time, Imras grabbed 'Chronicler' by the back of his collar and dragged him over the ground to a spot behind a tree. Hopefully he wouldn't be hit by any stray projectiles now.

Suddenly, Imras heard the desperate yelling of the bandit conjurer. Previously showing a smug expression, the conjurer was now visibly desperate and could be seen channeling a powerful new spell in his hands. He faced his palms toward the ground near Imras as the spell reached a crescendo and, to his dismay, Imras beheld an armoured undead man step out of the portal. At at least one and a half times his size, the wrathman loomed over Imras, hefting a large two-handed axe. Imras seemed to have the wrathman's full attention.

Imras' legs began to quiver as he stood still, Oh Divines, what do I do? What do I do? Imras thought. He raised his sword in a guard stance as he tried to circle the wrathman away from Chronicler, but this creature would be too much for Imras to deal with on his own. Without further delay, the wrathman ran up to Imras and swung his axe over his head, bringing it down on Imras. Imras tried to step back away from it but had to resort to parrying the blow away with his sword. The blow was jarring to say the least. The attack was followed up by the wrathman stepping through and knocking Imras in the chest with the pommel of his weapon. Imras tried to slash the creature on its approach but, while his sword landed, the undead creature ignored the wound completely. Imras was winded by the attack, but the ebonyflesh saved his ribs from being broken.

Imras kept his distance to catch his breath, but the wrathman wasn't done yet. Letting out a deathly hiss, it charged Imras again and tried to cut his head off. Imras ducked under the axe and cut his sword into the wrathman's waist, but had very little visible effect. Imras followed through and ran behind the wrathman, narrowly missing his axe that he had brought the other way. Imras turned to face the creature again, but was running out of options. If I had more magicka, maybe I could paralyze him or try to reflect the damage done to me against him, but I haven't much left with the ebonyflesh spell. I need more time. I need...

"Help! Please!" Imras shouted, sidestepping the wrathman's following attack.

Nearby, the Redguard leader of the bandits emerged from the lake like a spectre. His slumped head had a blank look on its face, and he didn't seem to be breathing. Behind him, his sword made a ringing sound as he dragged the tip of it along the dirt behind him. As the Redguard strode towards the conjurer, who was observing his summon's handiwork, the conjurer looked to him and smiled. "Took care of that boot did you? We've turned this around, but we're going to need some recruits after all- uh, are you alright?" the conjurer asked.

The Redguard didn't respond, the conjurer's face turned into a frightened one. The Redguard thrall swung his sword at the conjurer's torso and he yelped as he brought a ward up to block it. "What are you doing? Wait, NO!" The thrall swung again, this time, cutting the conjurer's arm slightly. In response, the conjurer threw an ice spike at the Redguard. The Redguard thrall recoiled, but did not relent as it continued it's attack, the spike protruding from his chest.