Rielle noticed his shame, and felt sorry for him. He was clearly a man of values and felt low when stealing. She felt compassion for the man realising he must have developed a degree of trust for her in the short time they have known one another. She suddenly felt self-conscience. She was standing there before him, dressed in clothes that probably cost more than he had earnt in his life and he was admitting to theft not for greed but for survival.

"Well that is completely understandable. I curse the temple for abolishing their policy of free healing. You need not hide in shame my friend" Her voice had changed, her cold hard tones had been replaced by soft maternal care; and it was sincre "I promise you my friend. That after this you will never need to steal again"

Thandran felt embarrassed and looked away , almost straight away he turned back to them. "I think it time to get moving. Im sure we all have things to do before we set out tomorrow." He bowed to Rielle and gave Lorn a friendly nod and walked towards the door. At the door he turned around. "Goodbye for now i will see you both tomorrow morning" With that he left the room.

Rielle didn't know what to do. She felt he had some sort of self-esteem problem but not in a convensional sense. She hoped this venture worked out for him as then he would be considered a hero by the people of Cyrodil. A title she hoped would allow him to forget about his past recent or otherwise.

"Gooodbye Thandran, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow"

Rielle hoped his social status would not hinder him. She was determined to do whatever necessary to give him the life he deserved. She was however filled with trepidation at what the elder council would say if they discovered she was hiring criminals to helping the empire; they were already opposed to the idea of establishing a party to stop the crisis.

Turning back to her other recruit Rielle smiled.

"Let us now discuss you...."

Although my Paladin does not really use Illison that much or even his Byakugan, over the ten years he would have trained, so he would laready be skilled with it. These a things which I belive suite him and I see no reason why I should not be able to use them.

Lorn bowed and said his goodbyes while he pulled the troll out of the room... When he close the door behind him he looked at Shilleka and yelled "By Lodos! Are you trying to start a fight! ohh well I guess you don't know any btter as you were trained for gaurding your whole life..." He then headed back towards the inn as it was getting very late but before he did he told Mo'qe (sorry if I spelled wrong) that he would be glad to have more companions adventuring with him, in fact he hoped to meet more people along the roads if possible.

Lorn watched Lorn leave and sighed heavily and poured herself a generous glass of wine. She heard a slight tap on the door and her assistant walked in

"Ah friend what an eventful afternoon I've had. I was almost killed by a troll. But at least my party is beginning to take shape.I do have one task for you. Find out more about this Lorn Rocklaner - he looks familiar but I can not place his face or name"

Her assistant nodded and wrote the name down "Anything else?"

"No that is all. I am quite tired and I do have an early morning tomorrow so I shall retire to my apartment. Have all my things been packed?"

"Yes Ma'am I believe so. I've alerted the stables that you will be wanting your carriage tomorrow morning, so they shall have it all prepared. I have also organised an assortment of food to be delivered to the stables to be put into the storage compartments for the travel...shall I organise you an escort to your apartment?"

"No thank you. You're so good to me." she smiled at him and took her leave, her assistant remained standing in the office, sensing a change in his mistresses behaviour, and it seemed a change for the better.

Soon Lorn fell asleep as he kept thinking about that strange goblin... It was impossible that it was related to the gate but... ((I see that a good portion is also doing this so I sugest people do the same shortly unless someone wants to just cut to morning))

Early next morning Rielle was waiting at the entrance gate to the imperial city, impatiently tapping her shoe on the ground as she watched the stablehands harness the white horses onto her exquisite coach.

"This was supposed to be ready by the time I got here" Rielle demanded

"Good morning Ma'am" came a voice behind her. Yurning to see Lorn and Thandran Rielle responded with a forced smile

"Good morning gentlemen. I apologise for the inconvienience but the stablehands were somewhat lazy at preparing our means of travel"

Hours later the three had arrived at Rielle's summer palace, stepping off the carriage the three were greeted with a barrage of servants.

Lorn dismounted Greenleaf and greeted the servants before asking Rielle if there was somewhere he could let the horse roam around...

Meanwhile Shilleka had run into trouble as a midget Argonian was holding onto her for dear life as she ran towards the castle, she had been slowed down when the scaled man had jumped at her thinking she was chasing someone but soon arrived after them before the Argonian huffed "dangerous troll..."


"the trolls not dangerous..."

"What do you mean... it's been chasing you!" finally catching his breath...

"it was following us..."

"ohh... well... may I ask your name..." he looked for a second as he saw his teeth were a slightly sharper and larger then the average humans. "Nord?"

"Lorn, Lorn Rocklaner, and you are?"

"I'm Spertikitus, I've been traveling the countryside in search of the rare sigil stone with only my lute to keep me company"

As Lorn remembered how they could use all the help they could get stopping the gate he quickly said " Would you like to come with us? we are heading to one ourselves" as the argonian suddenly did a double take and looked up at him thinking of the possibilities before saying

"sure, that might prove useful..."

Lorn then looked at Rielle as if to get her aproval of the small argonian traveling around saying "it wouldn't hurt... he would make a good entertainer."

Rielle almost laughed at the mischeif the troll seemed to cause where ever it went. But she was far more curious about the midget argonian. Although she had given permission for him to join there band he seemed far to small to be able to do anything but crawl into small places perhaps even sneak well and apprently play the lute.

"Master Spertikitus, it is a pleasure to welcome you to our expedition. We shall explain our aims further over lunch." she was wondering if the argonian had problems other than height. He seemed...energised? "Oh and Lorn we have fields behind the stables, I'll get a stable boy to take all the horeses there....and do not fear my stable hands are much more reliable than those at the City. Shall we?" she said indicating to the large doors that stood open by servants, through the doors was a large tiled foyer filled with light and expencsve decorations, statues of the nine divines and plants. Smiling Rielle led the way

As they entered, Lorn was facinated by a small wax figure that had a human apearance but without hair and quickly realised what it was calling out "you may want to be careful with this! It's a powerful binding spell using somones hair and blood." and continuing forward making sure non of the servants got too close... (( another part of his history)) his Father had one time made one and used it on him to see if it would work... he had accidently melted a drop on the shoulder and at the same time his shoulder developed a small purple dot that had gone away when the figure was disenchanted but while it was there it burned like hell...

Rielle turned hearing Lorn's shout of warning

"Oh that ugly thing. Ha ha I know exactly what that is. It was a gift from some mage I once meet in Vos in Vvardenfell. A Telvanni retainer I believe. Rather grumpy fellow. I gifted him the most exquisite book filled with incredibly rare spells and all he gives in return was some ugly wax enchanted statue. But I display it here due to its rarity and curiosity factor. Many of my guests are attracted to it. I do not like to gossip....but one time the one of the Royal Princes was using this estate during the hunting season, and one of his friends decided to take a closer look at the statue. I believe he was inebriated at the time. I fail to recall exactly what happened - it was very secretive and convered up by the royal family, but from what I've gathered from the rumors is that this young man went blind....it could all be hyperbole but it makes for a fun tale" Rielle smiled, her whole personality seemed to have changed now she was away from court and all politics "Shall we? Lunch is about to be served?"

Entering into the dinning room the three were hit with the sight of a delicious looking banquet and the smell of assorted foods. None had eaten before leaving the Imperial city and there had been little of substance to eat on the journey so by this time all were well and truly starving.

"Please, take a seat" Rielle took a seat at the head of the table and indicated to the other seats "I can imagine how hungry you must be, help yourself" Rielle waved over a servant to fill her glass.

Thandran had spent the night in a cheap inn near the edge of Talos square , the evening before setting out. He didn't get much sleep so when he arrived at Rielles house that morning he was noticeably tired. Lacking a horse of his own he traveled in the Coach with her and soon fell asleep in his seat. Comforted by the rocking sensation.When he woke he found himself at A large , expensive looking Villa in the country side.He hoped out and followed his companions inside to manor. He was expecting something along the lines of the furniture that he had seen in the other house but this one was far more elegant and wealthy. So much so it took his breathe away.He heard Rielle mention lunch and the thought made his stomach growl. He remembered he hadn't eaten for days.Sheepishly he followed them into the eating hall and made his way to the table , laden with food , and sat down to eat.

As Lorn finished off a peice of bread, he tossed an apple in his hand before giving it to the Shilleka. He then took a small piece of boar meat on the table and ate it, sipping a small bit of wine before saying "I know how those figures work... Would anyone here be a subject? don't worry you won't die but you may feel a small sting..." A breton in the corner came up saying he was "magic resistant" and bravely excepted the offer.

A few minutes he came back with an unusualy small dagger and the figure, completely ignoring how valuable it was he put it on the table and went up to the Breton and cut out a small lock of hair and pricked his finger for a drop of blood and then put the blood on it's head while he worked the hair to resemble the servants... He then took the small dagger and parted the lips with it very gently as the Servants mouth opened and then put the head into his glass of wine, as the servant started to choke slightly. The Lorn pulled it out and the servant fell on the ground hicupping slightly before saying "He'll be drunk shortly." He then mumbled something that no one could catch and pulled off the hair and putting a drop of water on it's head to wash off the blood. As the servant's hair became soaked he said "thats just simple bits of what these can do... if you cut off an arm then the one who is enchanted's arm will shrivel up and fall off in agonizing pain... Lorn handed it back to one of the servants who quickly put it away.

"After this meal I should take the left over meat and dry it... it will be good for the road." As he bit into another slice of bread ocasionally setting small tid bits of food on the table on the floor for the troll...

((Spertikitus))

As Spertikitus sat at the table He ignored the going ons and quickly took a large slab of beef that most thought that an Argonian that small could never ingest, he could barely reach onto the table! Sure enough though he finished it and grabbed a small piece of bread... Unlike the Nord he didn't use any utensels...

At the table Thandran paid no heed to what Lorn was doing. He pulled a dagger from a sheath on his ankle and cut into a large chunk of steak. Reaching for an assortment of foods , what ever was in reach , his plate soon was piled.He wolfed down the succulent food wolfishly only than did he realize that Rielle was watching him. He gave her a embarrassed smile than slowed down. When he had finished his meal he felt fuller than he had in months. The feeling was indescribable. Now full he leaned back in his chair and watched his companions. The people he would be spending the next few months even perhaps years with. I could do worse i guess. he thought to himself.

Intially Rielle was shocked at the men's eating habits. She couldn't help but stare at Thandran as he used his own dagger to eat when there was the finest silver cutlery lining the table. Thandran looked up and court her looking, he quickly looked down embarrased. Rielle also blushed. She was disgusted in herself, she had dinned with someone of Tamriel's wealthiest people, all of whom had been versed in noble ettiquite. These people she realised did not have the status that required the learning of such rituals. She felt terrible for judging these people, but she vowed to herself to if possible avoid changing them. Instead she decided to set about changing her own stuffy somewhat snobbish manner. Perhaps she thought, I'll be the one to learn something.


Rielle watched with interest as Lorn showed his knowledge of the wax statue. She watched as one of her servants volunteered himself as a test subject and supressed laughter when he collapsed drunken. She indicated he be taken away to his chambers to sleep off his stupor.

"Hmmm thank you for that demonstration. It is magically secured onto the pedastal and I have been guarenteed that no theif could steal it. But I do not believe that completely. Anyone with the right ability would be able to. Gentlemen, I can see you are all tired. I shall get you taken to your rooms. You're things have already been put away."

They all stood as a group of servants came to take them all individually to their rooms

"Oh, and also there is a smithy coming tomorrow to create or repair weapons for you all. If you need any specific materials write them down before you sleep and give them to your accompanying servant and they will pass it on. Sleep well" Rielle walked out of the room heading toward her study hoping to continue with the plans and where her assistant was waiting with knowledge of who Lorn Rocklaner was.

Thandran followed the servant up to his room. He looked around with interest as he passed through the halls and walkways of the manor. he found his room to be a large area on the left side of the house. Through the copious windows and intricately decorated balcony he had a nice view of the surrounding country side and the vast fields that made up Rielles land. The room itself was furnished as lavishly as each other rooms he had passed through but was dominated by a wide wooden bed with blue silken sheets. He walked over to it and sat on the end. He found a note on a desk next to it with a quill and ink. In it was a empty list and a description of how to order armor or weapons from the blacksmith. Thandran took the opportunity to request some new armor , preferably flexible leather ( the chest piece containing strips of metal within the layers to reinforce it) , a new cloak , some light weight boots with good grip on the sole , a fresh quiver of arrows , a 15 inch dagger (serrated on one edge) , to 8 inch knives , two short swords and a clip of throwing knives. He knew he was asking a lot but he wanted to do his best on the journey coming up and as so not to let down Rielle. An image of her came to his mind but he quickly pushed it out.

He finished the list and placed it on the table. When he looked up he noticed an extra room attached to his. Getting out of his seat he wandered over to it and found it contained a porcelain toilet and a large copper bathtub. Thandran called for a servant and asked if he could have warm water brought up as well as fresh clothes for today and tomorrow. It was about time that he cleaned himself up. I must look like a mess. He thought. I probably look like some sort of street urchin.

Rielle had ordered the servants she had assigned to each person to stay with them day and night without actually infringing upon their privacy. They were to be their personal servant for the duration of their stay and help eaase them into the next four days they would spend here.

She has also given strict instructions to the men that they should not fear asking their servant anything, and not to feel awkward doing so, they were permitted to use any amenities at the villa and they needn't ask for permission. For the next four days this house was to be theirs as much as hers. Rielle expected there to be much activity centred around the extensive, well appointed training rooms that had been built into the villa. It would be good for them to get some use thought Rielle.

Rielle decided to postpone her meeting with her assistant and instead go and see how all her guests were doing. She entered Thandran's room just to hear him request his servant bring him hot water, the servant didn't move and instead stiffled a laugh.

Rielle laughed and both the servant and Thandran turned to look at her

"Oh Thandran you need not cart water up from the kitchens in my home. This was uniquely built to include internal plumbing. It is a somewhat revolutionary ideal, and most of my guests find it the most exciting luxurious thing in my palace and I suppose they are right. The novelty must have worn off for me though. Have you completed your list?"

Thandran; looking slightly embarrased gave Rielle his list and apologised for asking for so much. Rielle dismissed his apologies at once "Don't be ridiculous my friend, no request is considered to great for my heroes. I shall ensure it is all done. I shall now take my leave as I can see you have a bath to retire to. I shall see you when you wake" Rielle turned to leave as the servant finished drawing the bath. Rielle and the servant left just as Thandran started to take off his linen shirt. Rielle couldn't resist the temptation and snuck a look. Deciding to not continue with the other guests she walked quickly to her study to meet her assistant.

"What is so enticing about this Thandran anyway?" She demanded of her assistant.

"Ma'am I do believe you are developing feelings for the young thief"

"But he is a commoner!? A lady of my status cannot do that. It is unconscieceable!" Rielle knew he was right though but she had to hide her feelings, she could not allow them to get in the way of the expedition "anyway, enough with such talk. Tell me about this Rocklaner fellow"

Thandran took off his shirt , he saw Rielle look back as she was leaving and he smiled to himself. He made sure they were gone than stripped. The mosaic floor was cold beneath his feet so he walked across to the bath as fast as he could. He lowered himself slowly into the water. Submerged in the water he had a look at the water delivery device in the bath.The water appeared to be carried into it through a series of tubes. Ingenious. Thandran relaxed in the water , almost falling asleep. With the excitement of the initial arrival and the feast he had forgotten how tired he was but it had returned. Once he had cleaned himself up he walked out into the bedroom. The clothes he had requested were on his bed. He picked them up delicately. They were made of a soft linen and he feared it would rip but thankfully it didn't. He dressed and collapsed on his bed.When he got his new equipment He thought out loud. "I think ill go to one of the practice..."He yawned deeply"...rooms...tomorow" After that he quickly succumbed to his tiredness.

Lorn entered the room and saw the bath but decided it was useless at the moment... meanwhile he began his list... "lets see here..." his list looked somewhat like this



"though most of these, I hope, have little use I would like the following...


1. A new suit of silver armour
2. lightweight leather for the troll that may have little use against swords but protect against arrows
3. a pair of lightweight gloves for harvesting the flora and fauna should the food suplies run out
4. a cross bow though they are rare here in cyrodil along with some bolts
5. 25 healing potions
6. a soulgem of any calibur
7. dried meat for the troll
8. a cloak for rain
9. a robe to coneal my armour after seeing those knights... it may prove usefull, preferably green or brown to blend in with the enviroment
10. 20 septims in case I run into any rougish types along the way...
He laughed at his list before seeing someone enter the room, it was only the servant...

Lorn checked out the servant, she was a very good looking imperial and she asked "is there anything you need?" with a slight tone of innocent youth...

"actually... yes, can you take this list to Rielle and..." he whispered something in her ear and she started to turn a slight shade of red before she smacked him and went off to deliver the note. He then chuckled slightly.

meanwhile the servant whispered in his ear "if you ever say something like that to me again I'll rip your heart out and feed it to the ogres"

"you know your cute when your angry"

The servant then lit one of her fingers on fire with a fire spell and singed Lorn's left eyebrow slightly... he got the picture...

Rielle and her assistant had been sitting in her study, it was a large room with walls covered in books in many languages both common books that could be brought at any store and rare books of which there was only one copy. A large desk dominated the room which had two padded chairs in front of it and a large chair behind it. To the side of the room in front of an unlite fireplace was a large sofa and two armchairs. The other wall was taken up by a large floor to celing window which opened up onto a balcony. Rielle and her assistant were sitting on these when Lorn entered the room

The servant assigned to Lorn entered the study when the man had finally drifted to sleep

"Ma'am, sir" she said bowing to Rielle and her assistant "Master Rocklaner has gone to sleep now. Here is his list"

"Oh thank you" Rielle answered taking the list, Rielle had assigned these servants not only to help the guests and to make them feel welcome but also to allow her eyes and ears into their more reclusive lives "What is Lorn like?"

"He tried to seduce me ma'am; it resembled The lusty Argonian Maid to some degree. Needless to say I replied with a little heat - if you know what I mean" the servant replied with a wink.

Laughing Rielle answered "Ha ha perhaps he will learn to resist his urges now? No guest messes with my servants" although very few people knew it all members of Rielle's staff were very well trained in the arts of war and domestic service. Rielle spent hundred of thousands of gold pieces on their training a year. And she was quite confident that any member of staff could kill in a number of methods without even batting an eyelid. She also treated her staff with intense respect, there wages were higher than most palace retainers and they had well appointed luxurious rooms. No person in Rielle's service was to be treated like a common household slave.

"Very well, thank you. I am not sure if our guests will be awake for dinner, and even if they are after such a large lunch I doubt they will be very hungry, so please alert the kitchen staff that we will be eating lightly. Perhaps we will even enjoy our meal on the north terrace?"

The servant left and Rielle went back to discussing Lorn and her past run in

"Should I show that I am aware of who he is? Or should I continue to act ignorant?"

Spertikitus put only one thing on the list, a high grade alchemical set...

meanwhile Lorn looked out his window to see a group of purple masked men coming near the doorway, he quickly saw who they were and went out of the room towards The servant and said " M'lady I'm sorry for my rude conduct earlier but do you know where Rielle is? I have spotted a group of rougish sorts coming this way..."


it was much larger then most of the groups he had seen who mugged and killed people... and the necrophilliac in their little group... he guessed there were at least 20 or 30 of them!

(( signing off for the night))

"It is awful hard ma'am. I am not sure of how you should go about it, perhaps you should just wait and se..." her assistant was cut short by the loud bang that the study door made when it flew open and hit the wall and announced Lorn stanidng in the doorway panting

"Madam...I apologise...for the interruption but there...." Lorn spoke, he had obviously run from his room

"Lorn? What is it?" Rielle asked

He inidcated to the balcony, Rielle, her assistant and Lorn walked out there only to see in the courtyard a large group of purple robed people looking up at them. Rielle could sense the evil they radiated

"Who are they?!" she whispered even though they already knew she was there, turning to the servant girl assigned to Lorn "Go and get the captain of the palace guard now. Tell him to hurry, and if you could check on the other guests and if they are awake bring them too"

The servant ran off, Rielle turned to Lorn "explain please...who are they?" Rielle had done a lot of business with many underground factions and guilds but never had she seen such attire before....they reminded her of necromancers...or even vampires. But they were all wild speculation

((minor mistake... THIS is my last post... I really need to go to sleep it's 2:15 but the plot is so good!))



"From what I know they call themselves the theives brotherhood, they aren't like the thieves guild at all though since they have no problem murdering for a few septims... I'm guessing though that if this many are here then there are more hidden and on their way..." he suddenly saw one jump into one of the tree's and instantly pulled Rielle down onto the ground as a good chunk of the wall came out right where their heads had been moments ago...

Thandran was jolted awake by the sound of yelling. He lay on his bed where he had dropped above the sheets and stared into the falling darkness in confusion , thinking he had dreamed it. He got out of his bed lazily and went to get a drink. As he passed the windows he saw movement outside. He peeked through the curtains and saw men outside the house. Hiding among the trees. In the near darkness he could see the unmistakable color pf purple. He suddenly flattened himself against the wall next to the window to hide. How did they find me here?! He heard voices coming from further into the house. Rielle! He ran to the desk where he had left one of his daggers. The rest of his weapons had been left downstairs to be repaired tomorrow. He picked up the trusty weapon and tried to make his way through the dark halls to find the others. He realized he still wore the cloth sleep garments but he had no idea where the servant had put his old leather armor. As he made his way to where he was told the office was he heard the sound of shattering glass downstairs.Running to the top of the main stairway he could see shadows moving in the darkness downstairs.