From: Sherrian <sherrian@pagan.net>
Subject: Porc Tales--Nyx's Tale


>"So, Nyxalinth. Tell me a little about yourself. Judging by the atmosphere
>of this cave, we could be together for a while."
>
>I considered my partner's question, and thought of her affiliations.  From
what I knew, the Dreadknights were honorable, and so I decided she could be
trusted.  I decided I didn't care what she thought of my past, for like as
not, her lord would call her to other duties.  "Well, let's see.  My
beloved, Zerith, is a mage-scholar.  They make it their business to know
all things about Tamriel that they can, including various fighting orders.
I noticed the look on your face,"  I explained.  
    Kriella nodded.  "I see.  And what brings you here to stalk this Daedra?"
    I shrugged.  "Typical mage's guild gig.  Actually, I asked them for the
name of a scholar who could help me in my quest.  In return, they asked me
to do them this little favor.  I've fought these bastards before," I said,
my mouth set in a grim line.
    Kriella wiped her dusky brow.  "Mark my words, but one would think that
Zenithar has his forges in here!  So, how is that you have fought these
beasts?"
    I sighed.  "I attracted the wrong sort of attention about a year ago.
A Daedra Lord named Emerald Vex decided I'd make an entertaining companion.
 To insure my cooperation, he held my beloved captive as well."
    "I see.  Continue."
    I looked around at our surroundings.  It had gotten more shadowy here,
in spite of my glowstone, and the heat was unbearable.  A small pile of
animal bones were piled in an alcove, bound together with webbing.  I
sighed.  "Well, I escaped, with Zerith's help.  Had he waited, we could
have escaped together.  I intended to seek help in saving him immediately,
but then I received an invitation to visit my brother, Josian Kaid.  He was
in training at Battlespire to become an Imperial Battlemage."  I was
pleased to see that Kriella looked somewhat impressed.  "He said that the
mages there would be  willing to hlep me, in exchange for the knowledge I
had gained.  I went, but I didn't expect to see what I found."
    "What did you find?" she asked.  Her eyes darted to the side, and I
knew she had seen the animal bones and webbing, too.  An attempt at
decorating?
    I swallowed at the memory.  "Carnage.  Daedra had invaded the
Battlespire."
    Kriella stopped dead in her tracks and peered at me sharply.  "Do you
mean to say that you are *the* Nyxalinth?  The one who defeated Mehrunes
Dagon?  And that is where you have battled spider daedra?"  
    I shrugged, a slow blush creeping over my face.  "I did it to save my
brother," I said simply.
    Her ruby eyes held  a glint of admiration.  "We have heard of your
deeds, Nyxalinth.  Many younger Knights--"  She suddenly stopped.  "Did you
hear that?"
    I heard nothing at first, but then my ears caught a soft, scuttling
sound from behind the bones.  It was soft, it was stealthy.
    And it was deliberate.
    "Back away!" shouted Kriella.  She grabbed my arm hard (I would be
bruised and sore later) and yanked.
    The bones and webbing exploded outward, crashing against the far wall.
A large, all too familiar shape scuttled out to meet us.
    The spider daedra, like others of his kind, was a bizarre blend of
repulsive spider body and attractive male humanoid upper body.  His black
hair was in wild disarray, his crimson eyes danced with feral glee.  He
leered at us almost affectionately before he charged me.