Chapter 1: Balmora

From the Series Nerevar Blue: A Series Based off The Elder Scrolls and mods Ashlander Julan by Kateri

First Two Weeks


I woke up in the morning to the sunlight beating down across my legs in the slightly decrepit apartment I managed to find and rent.  It came cheap as part of the door was buried in the foundation of another building, and the stench of stale beer floated up from the bar close by.  Standing, I took a deep breath.  From that breath and onward, careless weeks were spent taking in the sights and sounds of Balmora.  I stopped at taverns across the city and drank until I saw beauty in the river Odai.

In between hitting various dens and caverns, the time and the money earned on such pursuits was spent training as I knew my skills had diminished while languishing in an Imperial dungeon.  I also knew I had to report to Caius Cosades--I just didn't want to.  The idea of helping the Imperials in any way made me physically ill, so I just hung around town doing odd jobs for various guilds. I was a natural thief, so I gravitated toward Southwall Pub, home of the Thieves Guild.  One night, while staring into my Matze, I lucked into seeing an old man running around the bar half mad from skooma.  I was shocked to learn that this skooma addict, Caius Cosades, would be my mentor for the Blades.  It was comical in an odd way and I had a few laughs at the Emperor's expense. His bender was several days solid, and on the third night I followed Cosades back to his home.  In the time I watched him, I observed a handsome man with white hair and intense blue eyes.  He never seemed to wear a shirt, and spent hours drinking and pouring over books when he was not busy sucking on worn brass skooma pipe.  Occasionally he would look up towards his window as if he knew instinctively that someone was watching him, and then slowly turn back to his papers.  I knew I had to report to him, though I just couldn't bring myself to go in, at least not yet. There were still things to do...

I came upon Nels Llendo as he was skulking in the bushes around the Ascadian Isle region, a short and picturesque walk south from Balmora.  Taking in the fresh air and well paved road lined with Mushroom trees and golden kanet, I spied Nels waiting for his next victim.  I knew I was in no danger as he snuck like a child, loudly and clumsily.  It's a wonder how he makes any money in this business whatsoever, I thought.  Rather than avoid him, I decided to make my way past.  I figured I could practice my newly honed skills should he be foolish enough to try me. I picked up a stick and started walking, then followed a well-worn trail around the cluster of bushes in which he was skulking and caught him by surprise, putting a twig to his throat. He pushed me off and spun around.  I started laughing, and after staring blankly for a second, so did he.

"I am Nels Llendo, famed highway man, at your service." He took a deep bow and continued, "I see by your blush that my name is familiar to you." I had never heard of him but decided to play along. He took a moment, pausing for effect.  "From a charming and gracious a woman as you, I would ask for but a single kiss."

My gods you've got to be kidding me, I thought. "You want a kiss? Really?"

He cocked his head to the side and gave me warm. smile."Well, yes...A kiss from you would be the most precious prize I have solicited from a...client."

"Oh, what harm could it do, I suppose?" I reached over and kissed him.  He wasn't bad looking; with the trademark red eyes of his Dunmer kind, he also had reddish brown hair and a sly smile, and well, it had been awhile.

"Ahh...yes. Though they call me a thief, it is you, Annika Blue, that have stolen my heart. That kiss is worth more to me than the gold I might find in a Duke's treasury."

Bah! Didn't voice that thought out loud though, as he might change his mind and try to snatch my purse. Thought it best just to bat my eyelashes and giggle like a ninny.

"I must take my leave of you, fair lady," he continued, bowing deeply. "Though, should you ever need me, I take my lodgings at the Halfway Tavern in Pelagiad.  Perhaps you will do me the pleasure of visiting me sometime."

"I will indeed," I said, smiling graciously.  Of course I knew Nels was a con man, but right now I was willing to be conned. And though he was both an ineffective bandit, and most certainly a rouge, Nels was not an unpleasant sort and he might be of use. I decided to take him up on his offer, spending about a week with him, er training, particularly on short sword. His lessons did include some invaluable information.  From him I learned where I could unload my loot, who's card tables were lucrative, and the location to some ill-guarded caverns. He also taught me some Dunmer terms. N'wah was a derogatory term for a slave or Outlander. S'wit wasn't too bad, just another term for dolt, and fetcher, seemed to be a universal term. I had heard it used in Cyrodill, its meaning implied filth--someone low enough to fetch. Sadly though--for Nels, I grew tired of the country air and decided to take my leave of him and Pelagiad.

Continued: Chapter 2: The Metal Queens