Patar

Alright, sounds like a plan. Would you guys want to jump a few hours ahead at the shrine, after the prayers (unless you had something you planned on doing, of course)? Grihff could make his leave, a fight with Ausar ensues, and he will eventually meet up at Nightingale Hall with the other two nightingales.

No, that definitely helps! I need to find as many services as possible, so I'll definitely look into that! And thanks for the answers guys! I really appreciate it

Maybe we could steal something from the dragons

Hey Silver, out of curiosity, what are you planning on the heist being about? Or do you want it to be a surprise

So, I have a question. I am taking a History of World Religions class this semester, and we were assigned a paper that requires us to visit 3 different worship services/communities, and write an essay on what we observe/felt. I was planning on going to an Easter service tomorrow morning. The problem is, I haven't been to church in years. I'm not religious at all. I want to do well on the assignment, and taking notes would certainly help. But I don't want to appear disrespectful. I I were to be sitting there taking notes, the scribbles of my writing echoing throughout the building, I'd feel very awkward. So my question is pretty much, if I were to be sitting there writing down notes, would people think I was being rude?

Alrighty, sounds good. Perhaps once Grihff leaves the shrine, Ausar can ambush him? A fight ensues, and either ends with a draw or Grihff gets away?

I can do that. Edit: Also, were you planning on having Ausar attack Grihff?

Absolutely. Grihff was lying when he said he planned on visiting him, but I can have him change his mind and go see him, if you had something like that in mind.

As soon as the question left his mouth, Aranea tensed. Grihff readied his wards. Might have prodded a bit to far there. But she didn't attack. "Those who are not careful seldom last long when they explore the powers of Daedra," she said calmly. He chuckled softly. Truer words have never been spoken. He drift off into thought as Siris asked Aranea for a dagger with a fire enchantment. I almost pushed her to far. Whatever she's been through, she clearly wants to forget about it, wants it to stay in the past. I know exactly how that feels. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, as she began to grill the fish, and Siris left to work on the shrine.

I certainly don't mind.

So, she has a fair understanding of destruction magic, I see. He was grateful that she seemed more at ease, and he sat down next to the fire, which burned warm against the cool, evening air. Really hope she doesn't ask me to remove my hood, Grihff thought. If only there was a spell that altered my appearance. His noticeable features helped him become a legend, but they also cursed him by ensuring he would always stand out in a crowd. "I'm on my way to Windhelm, I have an old friend there I haven't seen in quite some time. I was wandering through the woods, and your shrine caught my eye. I do apologize for sneaking up on you, but one can never be to careful in these dangerous times." He eyed her as she prepared the food. ​Stop being oversuspicious. She isn't going to poison it. He took a quick look at Siris. He was observing the lake, admiring the beautiful view. And it is a beautiful view. Aranea chose this spot well. Grihff looked at Aranea. He wanted to confirm his suspicions. He whispered in a comforting, understanding tone. "And you know all about being careful, don't you?"

So... are people ready to start?

I've been considering it, but I don't know if I'll be able to. Which is disappointing, it might be the only time Brandon is in the Atlanta area (where I live) for a while. The time he will be here will be around my finals week, so I'm unsure whether or not I'll have the time. I can always hope. We'll see.

Just got back from an early showing. And honestly, the negative reviews I have seen are completely unjustifiable. I LOVED this movie. I went in with low expectations, and I was blown away. Maybe I'm just a superhero nerd, but this movie in my opinion was very good. I don't want to spoil to much, so I'll wait to discuss more after more have seen it. I will offer two things of advice: 1. Go in with an open mind. Ignore any negative reviews you have seen, make your own opinion of the movie. This is what I did, and I had a great time. 2. I'll save you guys ten minutes of your life. There is no post-credit scene. You're welcome I'm curious to see if you guys enjoyed it as much as I did. I'll give it an 8/10

Well, I suppose it would be rude of me to turn down a meal. Grihff knew these two were suspicious of him, but it at least appeared things would progress peacefully. He doubted the two of them knew who he was. They both appeared new to Skyrim, so they might not have heard the rumors of The White Shade of The Pale, and the things he had done. Even if they did know who he was, he doubted they would attempt to capture him. If Aranea was trying to hide from someone, as he suspected, she wouldn't want to bring unnecessary attention to herself. "I'm grateful for the offer of a fresh meal. I'd be happy to rest a while." The food will be poisoned, the paranoid side of him whispered. But Grihff doubted that. Aranea couldn't have possibly known he'd be coming this way, and have time to prepare. No, Grihff thought. She's dangerous, to be sure. But I truly believe she is simply trying to be at peace and worship Azura. He relaxed a bit, but didn't let his guard down.

"A pleasure to meet you Aranea, Siris. My name is Verioc. I apologize for approaching you in such a manner, I was simply curious as to what you were constructing. I can assure you I mean no ill-intent." Grihff studied them as he spoke. The man, Siris, claimed he could decipher when he was lying. He very well could be able to. He looks like a smart fellow. But Grihff had a very liberal interpretation of the truth, he had gone by the name Verioc some years ago on a job in Whiterun. He considered the woman, Aranea. She built this all on her own? Impressive. But the way she carried herself stuck out to Grihff. She was rightfully distrustful of him, he couldn't blame her for that. But she seemed careful around Siris as well. Was she just distrustful of strangers? Or was it because he was another dunmer? The dunmer were not smiled on in Skyrim. They often kept to themselves, keeping company with other members of their own race. So why would she be worried about a member of her own race, unless she was on the run from them? He was willing to bet she knew how to use that dagger, and those enchantments gave the impression that she was skilled in some schools of magic. Grihff chuckled, he would need to keep a wary eye on both of them, but he was relieved that this encounter would not usher conflict. "That is a shrine to Azura, is it? Very impressive. I would be glad to pray with you, if you'd have me. After that I'll likely be on my way."

Hey Silverblade, in one of your posts you mentioned that Grihff had took the bones of the dragon he killed and wore them as a trophy, but I don't remember saying that he did. That would attract attention to Grihff, and that is the last thing he wants. Or was this just a misunderstanding on Ausar's part?

"Why don't you stop hiding so we can chat?" Ah, so she had seen me. He had noticed her shoot a quick glance towards where he stood as he approached. He noticed the enchantments she had on her jewelry, one of them must have been infused with detect life. Smart. Grihff really didn't want to have to fight, he had only approached out of curiosity. He had been careless. At least she didn't immediately attack him, and was willing to talk. She seemed cautious, careful. Grihff was willing to guess that she wanted to fight as little as he did. The hand that hovered where her dagger lay sheathed indicated that she was ready to fight if it came to it. What worried him more was the man near her. While the two seemed to have just met, he tensed when he asked if there was trouble. Keep a careful eye on both of them. One or both of them may be tracking me. If it came to a fight, Grihff was more than prepared. No need to be the aggressor. He considered casting Calm on the both of them, but he had the feeling they would notice the effects, and question why he would feel the need to cast Calm on them. Well, let's see how this goes. Keeping his hood up, he made himself visible. "Good evening to the both of you."

I was just planning on having Grihff hang around where he could overhear them. He might eventually realize that she has some enchantments and likely knows he is there, but since she hasn't attacked him, he might just turn it into a waiting game.

Perhaps Aranea could call him out, and he can join their conversation after a little bit once it's revealed he means them no harm?

Grihff left the tower a few hours later. He had enough rest, and he was ready to continue his journey. He hadn't heard the dragon in some time, hopefully it had either moved on or landed somewhere far away. He gathered what few things he had, threw on his dark black cloak, and went on his way. He kept one eye to the sky as he traveled. He knew the dragons hadn't forgotten what he'd done. Though it was done out of self-defense, the dragons still viewed Grihff as a murderer, who slayed one of their own number in cold blood. The fact that Grihff had defeated a dragon left the rulers of Skyrim nervous, although they were to prideful to admit it. Here was a man nobody knew anything about, had incredible skills with magic, and defeated a dragon on his own. He hoped that with time, the dragons would forget about the incident, and he could fade back into mystery, though somehow he doubted that would happen. If he was being honest though, the battle had been close. After the dragon fell dead, Grihff had fallen as well, exhausted, out of energy, bleeding on the cold, hard ground. He had truly believed his time guarding the Twilight Sepulcher was about to begin. But I didn't die, he thought, as he neared Lake Geir. He briefly wondered if he should suspend his trip to his home city of Dawnstar. It might be nice to simply wander- Grihff stopped. Voices. He crouched and snuck behind a cluster of bushes. Two dunmer stood by what looked to be an unfinished shrine. And an impressive one, at that. Did these two make that all on their own? Grihff was curious, but he couldn't have anybody seeing him, lest they recognize him and perhaps attempt to claim the bounty that was on his head. But he really wanted to know what that shrine was, and why the dunmer were building it. Grihff had been moving silently in the woods, it didn't appear that they had heard him. He cast muffle just to be safe, threw on his hood, and turned invisible. He then approached where the two stood, slowly, to eavesdrop, and hopefully discover what in the hell that shrine was for.

It looks like Grihff is in the same general area as the Shrine. Should he perhaps stumble across the Shrine and interact with Aranea and Siris? Or should he fly solo for now, and he can meet them in some other way?

Grihff Madhart, known through whispers and rumors as The White Shade of The Pale, traveled silently throughout the forests of The Rift. He had just finished up some business in Riften, and was currently traveling back to Dawnstar. He was proud of the progress that the Thieves Guild had been making, all while maintaining their air of secrecy. Most still believed that the Thieves Guild was a rumor. But if the Thieves Guild were only rumors, than what Grihff was is no more than a fairy tale. Grihff was a Nightingale. One of the three most elite thieves in all of Skyrim. For all the realm knew, they didn't exist. They were a myth to scare rookies into doing what they were told. Grihff and two others had taken an oath to serve their Lady Nocturnal. He was bound to the Night Mistress for eternity, even after death he would guard the Twilight Sepulcher until Nocturnal was satisfied with his service. In return, Grihff was granted the power of shadow and darkness. Grihff treked through the night, cautious of the dangers the wildlife presented. Ever since Grihff had slain a dragon some time ago, he had to be on alert at all times. Normally members of the Thieves Guild never killed, at least while on the job. Grihff was delighted to discover that Nightingales were exceptions to that rule. When Lady Nocturnal deemed it necessary, Grihff was given passage to eliminate those in his way. That didn't mean leave a trail of bodies in his wake, that would only serve to attract unwanted attention. But when blood needed to be spilled, Grihff was happy to oblige. The White Shade of The Pale heard the faint roar of a dragon circling the mountains of The Rift. Damnation, that's the last thing I need. Although Grihff had slain the dragon months ago, the creatures tended to hold grudges. The arrogant bastards had set a bounty on him, although all attempts on his life had ended in utter failure. Most couldn't even find him, and those skilled enough to track him were struck down by his magic. Not only was Grihff one of the most skilled thieves in Skyrim, but also one of the deadliest mages. Dawn started to appear over the horizon. Grihff had plenty of energy left, but that dragon sounded close. He could probably avoid it, even in broad daylight. Invisibility wasn't hard for him to pull off. If it came down to it, Grihff might be able to hold his own against a dragon. But that was a fight that Grihff didn't want, or need, to come. He wasn't in a hurry, best play it safe. Fortune was, as it normally was, on his side. The silhouette of a watchtower approached, a fine place for Grihff to camp out. Unfortunately, it appeared occupied by a handful of bandits. They didn't appear to be moving anytime soon, so Grihff supposed he'd have to remove them on his own. He didn't want them to escape only to spread rumors of his whereabouts, so they would have to perish. He hoped Nocturnal didn't mind. Two bandits stood outside the small watchtower, keeping guard. Grihff remembered the dragon circling overhead. He couldn't make a spectacle, lest the dragon turn his attention to where he lay hidden. Spectral weapons it is. He summoned a bound bow, and let off two spectral arrows in the blink of an eye. Both bandits dropped before either could react. He dispelled the bow as he approached the tower, it wouldn't be much use in close corridors. He cast Detect Life, and saw five separate red mists occupying the tower. He dragged the bodies out of sight, he'd take care of them later. He stepped inside, warmth from a fireplace overcoming him. Two bandits sat at a table on the bottom level of the tower. He wanted to remove these two quietly, but now that he was indoors, out of the dragons sight, he could afford to have a bit of fun. He used telekinesis, and pulled a fork off of the table, towards the open door, where Grihff crouched behind some crates a few paces in front of. One of the bandits stood up in fright. "You saw that, right?" "Probably just the wind. Go close that door, and tell those two fools outside to keep it shut!" The bandit approached cautiously. The other had turned his attention back to the cheap mead on the table. A bound dagger appeared in Grihff's hand, and a moment later the blade plunged into the guards heart. He quickly pulled the corpse behind cover before the drunk bandit noticed anything suspicious. Now, how to get that one? He knew that he couldn't play the same trick twice. Instead, he cast Muffle, which made his footsteps incredibly quiet. He cast Invisibility, and slowly walked to where the guard drank. He didn't hear or see The White Shade of The Pale coming. His throat bled scarlet waterfalls a moment later. Three left upstairs, Chain Lightning should do the trick. He dispelled his invisibility and bound dagger as he slowly ascended the stairs, black cloak fluttering behind him. He opened the door, and three faces turned towards him, a mask of terror covering their face. Grihff cast Chain Lightning, and the bolt struck a bandit in the chest, disintegrating him instantly. The bolt bounced to the other two bandits, and they fell into piles of ash before they could even scream for help. He gathered up the ash, and cast the grey flakes into the wind. He disintegrated the other bodies as well, but not before taking any valuables they had on them. He then cast them out into the morning breeze as well, leaving behind any trace of his work. Grihff removed his hood, and caught a brief glance of himself in a mirror. Pure white hair, and glowing white eyes. These were what gave The White Shade of The Pale his name. He gazed out the window as the sun rose. He said a quick prayer to Azura, the Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn. Nocturnal didn't seem to mind who he worshiped, as long as his main loyalties lay with her. He took one last look outside, hoping to get a glimpse of the dragon who circled the mountains of The Rift. He didn't see the beast, however. Relieved, Grihff sat down to rest.

Almost done with Grihff's first post, but I gotta get to class. I'll get it finished up and posted when I return.

Alright, so some clarification on the time period. Sorry if this sounds repetitive, but I just want to make sure I know things before I start writing. This is set BEFORE the people rebelled against the dragons, and Alduin was sent forward in time. The dragons and dragon priests ruled over Skyrim, and the Dragon Cult is made up of the dragon's most loyal followers. After the Rebellion, known as The Dragon War, the surviving cultists went into hiding. So, if all that is correct, is this during or before the rebellion? Or perhaps some of the events in the RP could lead to the start of the rebellion?