The Elder Scrolls: Tales of the Nerevarine

As the older stallions readied their instruments, the crowd moved back to their seats. Slowly the sound of a storm began to filter through the speakers, as well as the chime of a bell. And then they began.

What is this that stands before me?
Figure in black which points at me
Turn around quick and start to run
Find out I'm the chosen one, oh nooo!

Big black shape with eyes of fire
Telling ponies their desire
Sithis' sitting there, he's smiling
Watches those flames get higher and higher
Oh no, no, please gods help me!

Is it the end, my friend?
Sithis' coming 'round the bend
Ponies running 'cause they're scared
The ponies better go and beware!
No, no, please, no!

And as the singer's mournful voice faded away, the crowd erupted in cheer. The band took a bow, all of them leaving the stage to be replaced by a rather intimidating mare in full bonemold armor.

"I would like to thank our guests for the rousing performance. The likes of which is seldom heard in this province. But that's not what you all came here for, now is it?"

The crowd roared in response, ready for the action to begin.

"Good...because here he is! The Grand Champion!" the mare shouted, and a light poured down into the arena floor, illuminating a lone pony, fully clad in heavy ebony plate-mail, a rather large and intimidating black blade on his back.

***
Meanwhile, as Dalamus wandered the cantons of Vivec, he eventually came across the temple. A large building, very different from the other cantons stood across a bridge. Two large statues depicting the same stallion in very differing poses stood on either side atop a flight of stairs. One showed him as calm and serene, meditating as he watched over the city, while the other showed him as a warrior, crushing a vile creature beneath his hooves as he stabbed it with a long spear. There were many offerings of varying sorts about the statues, from flowers to sacks of gems and money.

Floating above the temple and a bit to the side was a very large rock, with several walkways wrapped around it. Dalamus could see several Ordinators patrolling along the walkways on this rock, as well as on the temple proper.

Dalamus crossed the bridged and walked towards the temple while trying to ignore the Ordinators.
He entered the temple and reluctantly asked an Ordinator where he could find the library. "Ordinator, where can I find the library?"

The masked pony turned to Dalamus.

"The Library is closed. Come back in the morning," the ordinator said in a gruff, but somehow feminine voice.

Dalamus nodded in response to the Ordinator and proceeded to make his way towards the arena.

"That's a nice set of armor..I wonder if I could afford one some day..." He said to no one in particular. "Though that sword look kinda scary."

The announcer turned her head, pointing to a large metal door on the opposite end of the arena. "And in this corner, the challengers! Let the games begin!"

The mare performed a rather impressive back-flip, getting herself out of the arena right as the metal door slowly began to crank open. Two loud, guttural roars echoed throughout the stadium, emanating from the darkness behind the grates as they raised.

The champion shifted his stance, drawing the thin and jagged great-sword from his back, holding it in a fighter's stance in his mouth.

[Sneak - 40] Nakuma smirked at the massive crowd in the fight and started trotting through the ranks, but found eyes tracking her while she wandered. Well, looks like I won't be making any extra scratch tonight, she thought to herself and stopped at a gap to watch some of the fight.

Dalamus walked into the arena and was impressed at the sight of the backflip the mare did.
He looks around for the others. (1)

Dalamus saw pretty pretty lights hanging from the ceiling of the arena. In his efforts to chase them, he bumped into a familiar zebra mare.

Dalamus jumped back after bumping into someone while distracted by the pretty light.
"Sorry about tha-" He paused when he noticed who he had bumped into. "YOU!" He said while pointing at the zebra.

Nakuma scowled and turned to confront whoever had bumped her, but froze and stammered at the sight of Dalamus. "No way I'm that unlucky."

"What are you doing here?" He asked the zebra. "Trying to steal more sweet rolls?"

"None of your business N'wah," she snapped and quickly trotted away from the stallion.

"What did you just call me?!"

"You heard me!"

"I thought you said in Balmora you wouldn't be following us." Dalamus said while gritting his teeth.

"Follow you?" she asked and spun back to him. "Why would I ever do that? You followed me here."

With a torrential roar, the first of the challengers charged out of it's cage. The monster stood twice as tall as even the largest pony, and stood on two immensely powerful legs, as thick as tree trunks. It's large, powerful arms ended in jagged claws that looked as though they were built to tear clean through metal and bone. It's lizard-like face had a mouth full of razor-sharp fangs, and it hung open as the beast shot fire out from it's gaping maw. It's serpentine eyes darted back and forth, eyeing the crowd before it finally noticed the Champion. Then the second one walked out.

"Yeah, because you're impossible to stay away from." He said sarcastically.

"Aw, how sweet," she spat and rolled her eyes. "Why are you even at a fight like this? Shouldn't you be on some big quest or something?"

"I was, but the place I have to go to is closed." Dalamus noticed the Daedroths and stepped away from them

"Oh no," she said in an exasperated tone and put a hoof to her forehead. "What ever will you do?" Her expression flattened out and she dropped her hoof back to the ground. "Ever heard of breaking in?" Her hooves shook slightly from the sounds of the massive beasts behind her, but she tried to hide it until the Dunmer was no longer talking with her.

"Yeah, I'm sure the Ordinators around the place wouldn't mind that at all."

"That's why you don't get caught, s'wit."

"I'm pretty sure whoever we're looking for wouldn't even be there if it's closed."

"Well, that's your problem then." Nakuma peeked back at the fight to make sure it hadn't gone bad.

"Yeah, just as long as you don't make things worse by telling a guard I stole something from you."

"I doubt you have anything nice anyways," she commented. "Now do you mind? I'm trying to watch the fight," she flicked her tail into his chest and turned to watch the arena.

"I can see why, those things down there look like they could be your twins. Are they your brothers?" He said to the zebra as he watched the fight.

"I thought they were your parents," she quipped. "The similarity is uncanny."

Not waiting for the beasts to make a move, the armored pony charged forth, lunging in a slashing motion at the first of the daedroth's legs. The beast moved with surprising speed, sidestepping out of the way and swatting the champion to the side.

The armored pony landed with a thud, having slammed full force into a wall. With a thunderous roar, the second beast approached, the ground rocking slightly with it's footsteps.

"He knows he's going to die, right?" Nakuma asked with a flinch from the attack.

"Damn it." Dalamus said as he looked around. "Where can I make bets around here?"

After walking around the town for a while and being unable to spot her companions, Cienele looks for the nearest sign of a crowd - might as well - and spots the Arena. She quickly pays the fee and sits down to watch the fight.

"I don't know, ask someone who looks like they come here a lot," Nakuma suggested.

"I wasn't talking to you." He told Nakuma before turning his attention back to the arena.

As the second Deadroth reached the champion, the armored pony lunged upward slicing the vile lizard clean in half. Blood sprayed out, coating the champion, as he charged once more into battle with the other Daedroth. The dead one's body slumped over with a meaty thud.

Nakuma closed her eyes and looked away from the scene when the beast fell in half, lifting a hoof to cover her head just in case some blood managed to reach her.

"I need to learn to do that..." She mutters to herself as she watches.

Dalamus cheered at the sight of the beast falling before looking over at Nakuma. "What's the matter? Can't stand the sight of a little blood?"

"I prefer not seeing that much," she commented and looked back at the arena. "It's unnecessary."

While her eyes wandered, Cienele spotted Dalamus. "... not my first choice..." She muttered as she got up and moved over to him, "There you are, where are the--" She stops as she sees who Dalamus is talking to. "--others."

The remaining daedroth let out a furious roar as it saw its brother fall. With a pure hatred in its serpentine eyes, it unleashed a torrential flow of fire. The mighty beast continued to do this for an entire minute, stopping only when it was satisfied that it had roasted its opponent. When it stopped, there was nothing but a scorch mark on the ground where the champion had been.

Seeing this, the crowd let out a gasp, and ordinators rushed to the ledge surrounding the pit. The guards stood, electricity charging in their hooves as they readied to strike down the beast.

Cienele lets out a slow whistle, "Crispy."

"Uh, they can kill that thing, right?" Nakuma asked as she started backing slowly toward an exit.

"Well, I'm happy I didn't bet anything."

"They wouldn't have summoned it if they couldn't have killed it." She says, confidence in her voice but her twitching tail betraying her.

Just as the ordinators prepared to unleash a volley of lightning upon the beast, they stopped, marching back to their posts.

Strangely, at that exact moment, the large beast began to flail around wildly, roaring in pain. The champion reappeared on the beasts back, holding on for his life. As he reached the monster's neck, he struck the beast with a glowing green hoof. The beast froze in place, and the champion took his time to position himself, before drawing the blade, and slicing its head off.

As the beast fell, the champion slid off and casually trotted over to the stage. Standing atop the stage, the pony took off its helmet, revealing a rather pretty looking Dunmer mare with short, jet black hair, and bright red eyes. She had bright blue war paint wrapping around the top of her eyes, and continuing down to her cheeks.

"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!" the mare yelled to the speechless crowd.

At that point, the crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers.

Dalamus cheered with the rest of the crowd.

Nakuma winced at the beheading before smiling slightly and clapping. "That was pretty impressive."