"Ok though it isn't a great story. I was born on a small island just to the north of Solsthiem. My parents cast a constant effect spell giving me 100% resistance to frost which I still have. Anyway we lived there for 15 years and I loved it that is also where I found my sword Black Ice. My parents were Telvanni and were made to move back to Sadrith Mora. All of the old mages were always looking down on my because I carried a sword and wanted to be a fighter. One of the wizards actually had the awdacity to try and take my sword from me. I wouldn't let him so I stabbed him in the chest. He wasn't expecting it so it killed him. Then I knew I couldn't stay around so I left and lied about my age so I could join the Legion. If any of the mages recognize me I think there will be a fight."

"Why would they look down on you? I have always had a hard time trying to understand mortals that are like that. Well, why is it that you and your parents had to move to Solsthiem?"

That is where they wanted to be. I would rather not talk about it though. Look over there it is Fort Buckmoth, we should probably stop there before going on to Ald Rhun. Also I don't know about you, but I am hungry and tired.

Alex woke up later that night. His wounds were healed, and he was clean with new clothes on. He noticed he had cloth wrapped around a couple of his major cuts, with dried blood that had seeped through the bandages on some. He looked around.... noticing he was in Leo's room... sleeping in Leo's bed. The candles were nearly melted away... and the dim flickers left the room nearly black. Alex stood up. Unwrapping the bandages, and stumbling around. He glanced out a nearby window, which showed an empty street... which meant Leo and Reisil were gone.

Alex's eyes shot open... they left for Decimus.

He tried to hurry over to the door, but tripped over a large chest. It lay open with weapons sitting unorganized and messy within it. Alex grabbed a sword out of it, and opened the door...

He darted down the stairs with his dagger sheithed on his belt, and the silver longsword he had just aquired in his hand.

Opening the tavern's front door, he looked around... seeing his horse had made its way back into town again. He ran up to it, and saddled up... Yelling and kicking the horse's side. It neighed in pain, standing up on its back legs, kicking his front hooves up into the night's cool air. It then brought them down in a loud clop, kicking up dirt... then blasted off towards the old Dwemer ruin...

Alex leaned down, allowing his horse to have less wind resistance. The horse began to pant as it gave all it had to get there. Alex kept yelling and pushing the horse to keep going.

After a while... the moonlit door to the ruin was in sight. The horse was now struggling to run much longer, and because of the hilly terrain, it began to slow down into a trot. Now that he was there, Alex jumped off the horse, smacking it once again sending it off into the darkness.

He then turned around, looking at the entrance, gripping his longsword tight and running up to the crank. He turned it, having to turn a little harder than he thought, since it was rusted. After a moment, the door began to clank, and the ruin was now open... he walked inside, feeling the heat of the metallic cavern as he went from the cool night air into the steamy hot ruin.

Alex began to stalk down the stairway, as the door clanked closed... sealing the ruin shut once again. He crept deeper into the ruin... searching for his friends, who were most likely in deep need of help.

No turning back now...

Solidus was now through his fourth bottle of Flin, he shook his head slightly trying to undo the effects of the alchohol. It went away slightly, he then closed his eyes and cleared his head.

" No more drinks for me tonight."

Solidus then saw Alex rush down the old stairs of the tavern and out the wooden door. He then heard a horse gallop quickly south. Solidus knew what he must do now, he must go to the ruin once again. He was more powerful now with his staff. Solidus took a second or two to appreciate the staff once again. It held a power deep inside that could only be unlocked through a special trigger. The destined moment would come when it needed too. Solidus then stood up, and walked out of the tavern. He saw that Ixosis was still leaning against the wall.

" Ixosis can you teleport me with your smoke to the Dwemer Ruin where Decimus dwells once again. I feel we are both needed there..."

Victrix raised his Daikatana for the final blow, ready to stab down into Leo's heart. But he stopped when he heard Reisil's words. He could not kill this man, otherwise she would not serve him. He withdrew his blade, and stepped back from Leo's prostrated form.
"Very well. But get him out of here! And see that he never returns!" said Victrix, as a swarm of spiders descended upon Leo, knitting his wounds together. One of them injected him with something, a compound designed to counteract the infection.
"REMOVE HIM!"

Finished eating, he let out a yawn and then packed his stuff up into his rucksack. He picked up the bags of jewels and walked over to the centurian. "God damnit! Do you want these or not?! I slit throats for these and found some new ways to examine the cranium getting these."

Not even caring for a response from the centurian, he dropped them on the floor breaking the precious chest and other glass goblets. "OOPS!"

He started to dig through his rucksack again until he came to a rolled up peice of paper stuffed with dried herbs. It wasn't narcotic, but it was actually healthy for him. It restored fatigue and magica. Not to meantion sooth the nerves. He lit it using a fire shield potion and held it out to the barrier. Then he put it back in his mouth.

*Leo groaned as the spiders descended upon him, healing him, the running sweat now cold, whatever was injected into him seemed to be working as the heavy breathing turned into a pant, he looks up at Reisil, the look of confusion in his eyes, he gets up weary, wiping the sweat from his face, not knowing what is happening, his aura burns brightly, ready to fight...seeing his claymore is unreachable, he grabs the hilt of the bloodsword only to find his hand isn't incased in ice, he draws the bloodsword, staring at the muscle like material of the blade, amazed and shocked he smirks at Decimus*

"shouldn't have healed me because now it's you who will need to be healed!"

*he roars, blood flowing back through his arms as he swings the longsword straight at Decimus' metallic left arm, ShadowJ's eyes widen, he leaps out of the shadows and stands infront of Decimus, the bloodsword strikes him in the chest, as soon as the bloodsword strikes, a bright light is created around ShadowJ, the blade of the bloodsword embedded within some kind of shield, the shield comes down and ShadowJ glares at Leo*

"leave while you still have your life, it's not time yet"

*Leo glares at ShadowJ, he could have ended the evil and prevented the destruction of Neomorrowind, become a hero, yet ShadowJ had other ideas, his aura flares up even more, ShadowJ sees this and motions to the bloodsword, he then sends a telepathic message to Leo..."go, there are things you must learn, don't let glory go to your head"...Leo narrows his eyes at ShadowJ as he message is sent, Leo turns looking to Reisil, his eyes pleading her to come with him...he then turns his head to look at the centurion and looks back at Reisil...his heart split between staying with her or allowing her to do what she's doing, deciding to keep the centurion thinking that he hates Reisil, he speaks, his head hung down so he's looking at the metal ground*

"thanks for what you did, I owe you my life but I owe you nothing since you broke my heart"

*hoping that she catches on, he gives her a quick grin and walks off, so full of emotions he forgets his claymore, he notices two rows of spider bots on either side of him, wanting to pounce on him yet it looks like something is stopping them, like a barrier, he ponders as he passes them...maybe if he and Reisil could come up with a plan where she deceives the centurion, possibly even get control over the spiders...he continues to walk and think, his mind not fixed on where he is going, he looks at he bloodsword and thinks about what ShadowJ said...had he reached his power*

*Ixosis nods to Solidus and they both disappear in smoke, reappearing outside the door to the Dwemer Ruin.*

"Here ya go bud."

*Ixosis takes out his sword and turns the crank as they walk in.*

Alex moved through the shadows... eventually reaching the main room. He peaked his head around. Seeing bright flashes, and auras of great power flowing between Leo, and what looked to be Shadowj.

He pulled back into the shadows...

After a moment, Leo came walking into the corridor. Being escorted by rows of mechanical spiders.

Alex decided to stay hidden within the ruin. Getting some information about Decimus. Shadowj. Even better... to try and figure out what the Hell Reisil was getting herself into.

Solidus did not coughed slightly after him and Ixosis appeared in front of the doors to the Dwemer Ruin, they stepped inside but were interupted by a man who shimmered in front of them. Solidus charged a spell... the glass sphere in his staff glowed brightly and then shot a purple energy ball with black lightning encircling it. The basic spell was heading toward the man at a fair speed.

~

Jack saw the dark energy ball shoot at him, he knew Solidus fired the spell out of caution... not purposely. With unimaginable speed Jack unsheathed his katana, and sliced at the spell, splitting it in two and negating it.

" Hey man watch where you fire that... It's me Jack your tutor."

" Oh I am terribly sorry it's just that you can..."

" Never be too sure, I know that one already... So you came here a little late I see, the fight is over between Leo and Decimus... there was no victor. You came because you feel the need to protect your friends right Solidus."

" Yes I will do whatever it takes to ensure there safety, how did you know."

" I, along with Shadowj, and your master..."

Jack pointed at Ixosis.

" Skeletorious are somewhat of Gods, more like Ancients. I am the Ancient of Fire... I can possess it, control it, produce it... anything. I know this because I are already know what the outcome of this battle will be... it is up to you guys to choose it. I know this because I too once had to make that choice, unfortunately I made the wrong one for myself, and the rest of this land. That is why I am here Solidus, I am your guide... I promise you this, I will do everything in my power to help you make the right choice. Leo will be out here shortly... I shall wait with you."

Solidus stood in shock all this information came to fast for him. This was going to be a very interesting. Solidus then exited the Dwemer Cave along with Jack. Solidus sat down and waited for Leo to come out.

*Seeing daylight at the entrance, Leo hung his head in shame, he continued to walk until he reached the exit, blinking as the light hits his eyes, being down in the dim light, his eyes had adjusted to it and now are adjusting to the bright light, knowing there was no threat infront of him, he drags his bloodsword behind him and walks like the final battle had been fought and he was the only survivor, without looking at the others and still looking at the ground, he speaks, the dark red aura fading back within him, walking past the others*

"go home, go back to your loved ones while you can, I have failed twice, ShadowJ saved my life again and even Reisil pleaded to spare it...I am not the hero, the savior you think I am...either fight without me or just go home"

*he sighs, everything he trained for, gone in an instant, he continues to drag the bloodsword along as he heads back to Dagon Fel slowly, thinking of how long before the destruction of Neomorrowind*

This message was edited by shadowj on Jun 28 2004.

Solidus had waited a few short minutes before Leo out looking quite tired and depressed. Leo spoke without even lifting his head to look at them...

" Go home, go back to your loved ones while you can, I have failed twice, Shadowj saved my life again and even Reisil pleaded to spare it... I am not the hero, the savior you think I am... either fight without me or just go home."

Solidus put the hood of his robe down, and looked over at Jack with a kind of worried look. Jack just nodded and sent a telepathic message to Solidus *... you know what to do...* Solidus nodded, and then stood up he walked over to Leo who still had his head down and was dragging his mighty claymore on the red sand and rock of Red Mountain.

" Leo, you must not give up... you know why Reisil pleaded for Decimus to save your life... she loves you. As hard as it may seem to endure because she is working for the evil, but you must know it Leo, nobody will ever love you as much as she does. Shadowj also saved you for a reason... you were meant to be our hero our savior... you can do it you just have to learn to let go and trust the people helping you. The friends you have alongside you in battle give you the will, and compassion to fight on... you must understand Leo, we are meant to destroy the plague this land will receive. We were sent here on that ship for a reason. I knew since that day you helped us escape you were born to be a leader... our leader."

Solidus waited to see how Leo would react to his speech.

WHAT! I love him, what the hell!?!?!

OOC: Just trying to get him back on our side. Have to motivate him somehow. It may be true or may be not.