Fear and Loathing in Vvardenfell

Vivec City: the Interrogation

The first thing I noticed was my splitting headache. Not that I wasn't used to headaches -- the familiar early morning head splitters are like old friends to me, thanks to the alcohol -- but this one was different. Worse than usual somehow, even though it was hard to imagine a worse headache than what I was used to, until now. Instead of a dull pain spreading all over my forehead and temples, this was a sharp and throbbing pain on the left side. Like the pain went into my brain and into my very soul.

I realized I was laying down on a hard concrete floor, gravity pulling me uncomfortably onto the pavement giving my sides another dull and ever present pain. And my body? Everything ached. I was positive someone had beaten me, violently, within an inch of my life with a large metal club. My mouth was dry. My eyes were locked shut due to dried pus, tears, or so other hardened fluid. I rolled over, rubbed my eyes, and eventually worked them open.

A dark, tiny, and threatening room. Two torches hung on opposite walls surrounding a dingy wooden table placed directly in the center of the room. Two shoddily constructed wooden chairs were placed at the table on opposite sides. On the far side of the room, past the lone table, stood a group of three men: two of which wore armor and the third in a robe. I looked towards the wall nearest to me, and two golden adorned figures stood motionless on either side of a door. The only door in the room.

Where was I? What time was it? What was I even doing here? I couldn't recall anything from the past -- it all seemed so foggy -- but I recalled Skingrad and the streets and the trees, but no. This was after all of that. And...Morrowind? And my assignment? And then I was on a boat to...Ebonheart? Yes. And then Vivec City, was this where I was? Or was that weeks and months ago. Force yourself into the present, follow the train of memories, and...Vivec's Palace. Did I meet with him already? No. Vague memories of punching and kicking a door, and the men. Yes, the men. And the guards just like these two that stood next to the door. Ordinators, that's right. And...oh. Oh! In that moment all was made clear, or as clear as could be in my rough state: I had fucked up this time.

One of the men nodded towards me and the rest of his group turned to look. They walked over. Three Dumner men, two of which were well-built and threatening. The only thing that could be more threatening would be the intimidating golden armor and the terrifying mask. Just regular Dumner, well built, armored, and threatening Dumner -- goons of the temple -- but regular Dunmer nonetheless.

The third dunmer was well dressed with a grey robe rimmed with black. He walked over to me as the goons accompanied him, looked down and said, "You're awake Mr Venandus. Would you like to have a seat over here? I want to have a little chat with you." His voice sounded friendly but something about it was too friendly. This was a guy that could talk his way into and out of any situation, and more worrisome, could talk his way into and out of anyone's head. A dangerous sort of man if you let him work his magic on you. These sort of people you never let your guard down around.

I only stared at him. He sighed, nodded, and the two Dunmer forcefully picked my crippled and beaten body off the floor and dragged me to the table.

The nicely dressed man said, "please have a seat." And on cue the men violently slammed me down into the chair. I swayed around in the chair before allowing myself to sulk my head down onto the table top.

"So, Mr. Venandus, Octavian, how are you doing today? Do you feel better? We hope we didn't cause you too much physical harm." A warm and friendly smile spread across his face as he moved the chair out and sat down across from me. He put his hands together and crossed his finger and continued to smile at me unnervingly. What a sneaky bastard. I stayed silent, still trying to get my bearings on the situation. "Let me introduce myself. I am Tarer Barayn from the Office of the Watch. Part of the Tribunal Temple.