The Tale of the Listener Vol III

[Listener]

Awakening-4E 200

Whispers echoed in the darkness, they were frustrated and urgent, and soon a burning light started to light a hall. Entering the tomb were a small company of Imperial soldiers, dressed in iron and leather, led by a gruff Orc. Guided by only their torches, these misguided men have entered a place that was supposed to be found by any mortal.

“This is definitely the wrong way.” The orc said, his eyes scanning the room carefully. With their combined light, the room was illuminated to show a almost empty room with only a large black-and-gold sarcophagus sitting against the far end of the room.

“Wow, that looks expensive,” A Imperial legionnaire commented. Despite their better judgment, they approached the old coffin.

Examining the artifact, they quickly found it covered in dust, but blowing some of it off, they found the coffin was sealed with some magic. It has weakened enough for someone to break it.

“This is a waste of time; let’s keep finding a way out.” The orc ordered and started to move out of the room. “Yea, it was probably the other corner.” A stocky Imperial soldier grumbled.

Yet, the young Imperial continued to look at the sarcophagus. There was something about it that made him want to open it. Suddenly his head ached; it started as a small buzzing noise, then vivid vibrations and whispers.

Holding the throbbing pain in, he groaned as he held his head. “Do it.” A whispering voice hissed in his mind, it was hard to tell if it was man or woman. “Break the seal, boy. Release him.”

“No, I can’t.” The Imperial whimpered. “Break the seal!” The voice commanded with a intense trilling. He started to cry out now, catching his comrades’ attention.

“Rafius!” The orc hollered, running to him. “What is wrong, boy?” “Please, sir. Break open the sarcophagus. The noise won’t stop.” Rafius said. “What noise?” The orc asked, watching the young man whine and thrash about as the noise worsened.

“DO IT!” The voice commanded.

“Please,sir!” Rafius screamed and the orc, on instinct, pulled his warhammer off his back and slammed it onto the coffin.

A loud explosion occurred, pushing everyone back in a wave of screaming energy.

As the dust settled, everyone coughed, and called if everyone was okay. As far as they knew, they were.

However, within the sarcophagus, the lid was removed from the blast, and inside was the corpse of an crocodile-like Argonian.

Coughing, the Orc looked inside at the contents. The Argonian was large and very dry-looking; its scales were nearly white with a barely noticeable brown tone with black cornering its thick neck, dressed in little by a loincloth and a few jewelry. It was no telling how old the corpse was, but he knew it should have been hit by decay, unless it too was enchanted to stay preserved.
Looking back at Rafius, who seemed to have calmed down, the Orc sighed. “Come on, before something else happen, and leave the dead in peace.”

“Peace.” A crackling voice hissed.

Hearing it all too well, the Orc looked down at the corpse. It remained the same. As he looked at it, he noticed something wrong. There was a sudden cold that wasn’t in here before.

Suddenly the Argonian’s eyelids opened to reveal his dark red eyes and a evil wind blew the torches. The screams of the soldiers echoed out of the hidden tomb of the vampire.

[Listener]

The New Era-4E 200

The Argonian-splattered in his victims’ blood and his thick white scales starting to regain a more lively tan color-looked around at his new surroundings in confusion; it was mountainous region, blanketed in snow and ice.

“Where…where am I?” He asked himself, his voice dry and gravelly.

Taking cautious steps as he climbed down the slippery slope, catching himself on bushes and trees every once in a while. His movements were sluggish, his head aching, and most importantly, he could barely remember anything before leaving the tomb.

He knew he was a vampire, that fact was obvious, with his still heart and little discomfort with the icy cold that would freeze a normal Argonian. Finally hitting flat ground, he tried to look around to find some bearing of where he was.

Suddenly a vision flashed before his eyes, a fort-like city sitting over a nearly frozen river, its gates held before a mighty bridge that crossed the river. A standard was hung; the form of an azure bear was seen. The memory appeared and vanished as quick as a lightning flash, but he saw it all.

Groaning at the mild pain, he shook his head, and started to look about. After that small flashback, he felt like he knew where to go.

As the Argonian was about to make his journey, he smelled something, Something that make his dry mouth water.

Suddenly a large beast slammed into his back.

Hissing in surprise, he rolled over to his side, and elbowed whatever hit him. His eye caught the sight of a large snow-pelt cat with large saber-like canines. Growling, he elbowed it again, making it yelp in pain, and dug his claws into its thick neck.

Hollering in pain, the large cat scratched and snapped at the Argonian, but he felt no pain from the beast’s claws, and at the sight of its red blood, he felt hunger.

Slowly, getting up, unhindered by the cat’s noticeable insignificant strength compared to his, he stared into the eyes of his next meal.

The sabre-tooth made a strike to his eyes but the Argonian caught the arm. Growling, he opened his mouth to reveal a salivating maw full of razor-sharp teeth.

His thick tongue shot out and speared into the cat’s neck with a powerful boned end. Crying in pain, the cat suddenly became limp as the vampire’s venom took quick effect.

Closing the gap, the Argonian bit his powerful jaws on his victim’s neck.

The scarlet elixir, known to all as blood, fell freely into his mouth and tongue. Drinking the cat’s blood, he felt stronger with ever heavy drink, and gripped the paralyzed beast tighter as he drained it of all life. Finishing his meal with a final inhale, he ripped his mouth and tongue away, and roared in power.

Standing up, he dropped the dried corpse of his victim aside, and stayed completely still. Enjoying the strength given to him, the Argonian felt more…alive is the best description of the sensation.

The vision of his destination seemed to be clearer to him now. Gripping the right side of his pale chest, where his unbeating heart should be, he closed his eyes and searched in his hazy mind for the place.

Windhelm…that is the name of the city he sees.

Opening his eyes, he growled in his throat, and started his journey to this Windhelm.