Stalks-In-Shadows Ask Blog

Stalks-In-Shadows is an assassin from Skyrim's Dark Brotherhood(OC), feel free to ask her questions!

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She tried to hide the look of insult on her face and focus on the information he told her, but her pride for her race alongside her love of her homeland won over, and the feathers atop her head bristled and she scowled.

"Rude, much? My item did not insult me, in fact it was most likely given to me because of my love of my homeland, alongside my connection to my loved ones." The hand on her satchel gripped it gently, as if protecting the small Hist tree-like bonsai within.

She squared her shoulders. "And if they seek aid from someone as curt as you, then they clearly don't have much hope." She hadn't meant to be harsh, but his statement about her Hist tree had insulted her, ignorant of her ways and race or no.

[mischiefmodig]

Well, there was something he agreed upon. Hope was a trivial, fickle thing. It built up one's heart only to demolish it before anything good can come of it. To have hope was to invite pain, something Loki was not willing to allow ( Indeed, this world had no hope if he was their hero. Loki was anything but that. )

And yet in response to her, he merely rolled his eyes and gestured his hand vaguely.

❝ Seems you were granted fortune, then. ❞ He did not appear swayed in any particular direction, though he admired the spirit ( to an extent ).

❝ I do not care what item you were given, you ignored my inquiry about your key. ❞ He was already growing impatient. He never knew how Thor was able to aid people so easily when he grew so exhausted by it.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Stalks tail flicked behind her, the rattle making a slight clicking noise as a result of the vague movement. Agitated, mildly insulted, but nonetheless...she supposed it didn't really matter now, did it.

With a sigh, she reached into her bag and retrieved the key, mimicking the way he held it, hiding the number as well.

"Yes, I received a key as well. I was...told that it was to my new 'home'..."

She muttered. "Though, I'm not quite sure how I feel about that...they act as if I don't belong somewhere, which I do and it's...confusing..."

She quickly shook her head before he could make some snide comment about her lowered voice and responded at normal volume.

"What of the key?"

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She looks around and waves an arm out from the building she's behind and whispers into the phone.

"First off, if I can handle a Dwarven Ballista, which fires bolts at a force strong enough to break through Daedric armor, and fast enough to have at least ten of them through anyone's armor before they manage to take cover, I can handle this...and second, you tell me, can you see my arm?"

She was right beside the taped off area, just to the left of it, while Badou was on the right side, a little farther away.

[brokeassgoing]

Ah-- there she is. She's right on the other side of him. So close, yet so far.

As Shads describes her skills, he whistles softly-- that IS impressive. Can't ever say she's normal, or ordinary. Or would wilt in a fight.

"Yeah, I see you. And alright, I think you could take on a tank at this rate. You got any ideas? Just run in or...? Sneaky sneak?"

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She pulls her arm back out of sight, speaking softly.

"Bit of both. Misdirection."

She looks around on the ground for a few moments before grabbing a rock of decent size, and throwing it towards a couple of buildings maybe 20 feet down the stone road, immediately crouching back down and going quiet when the impact makes a loud noise that seems to get the bots attention.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She rolled her shoulders while walking. That description was familiar enough.

"Oh, so like Dwarven animunculi. I can handle those." She wasn't fond of Dwarven constructs such as Centurion's, Dwarven Sphere's or Dwarven Spiders. But if she could handle all that, she could certainly handle these 'bots'.

She stopped for a moment and reconsidered her words.

"You probably don't have those here. I'll explain them to you another time, but they roughly match the description you gave."

After a bit of walking, she reached the area he had spoken of and quickly crouched down low beside a building, avoiding the bots line of sight.

[brokeassgoing]

"But they're machines, they move-- and probably have guns in them-- they fire bullets really fast, they hurt real bad." Trust him, he's been there.

Maybe he is a bit worried about her efforts.

He's waiting there, crouched in his spot, and quietly says:

"You here yet?"

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She looks around and waves an arm out from the building she's behind and whispers into the phone.

"First off, if I can handle a Dwarven Ballista, which fires bolts at a force strong enough to break through Daedric armor, and fast enough to have at least ten of them through anyone's armor before they manage to take cover, I can handle this...and second, you tell me, can you see my arm?"

She was right beside the taped off area, just to the left of it, while Badou was on the right side, a little farther away.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She held two fingers to her temples, continuing.

“How many times is it going to take of me mentioning my line of work for it to stick, Badou?”

She was confused at the term “bots”, however guards- that one she knew well enough.

“I can handle guards- I’m assuming murder is illegal here as well, so I’ll play nice and sneak past with you instead of knocking them out- but what on Nirn is a ‘bot’ ?”

[brokeassgoing]

He stifles a chuckle. "Maybe like 20 more times," he says playfully.

'Murder is illegal' says the assassin. At least she's conscious of that much, and sticks with it.

"A bit frowned on, yeah. Think we'll be fine sneaking, even if we have to knock a few out we'll be fine." He's not worried. "A bot is like-- a little tin...machine."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She rolled her shoulders while walking. That description was familiar enough.

"Oh, so like Dwarven animunculi. I can handle those." She wasn't fond of Dwarven constructs such as Centurion's, Dwarven Sphere's or Dwarven Spiders. But if she could handle all that, she could certainly handle these 'bots'.

She stopped for a moment and reconsidered her words.

"You probably don't have those here. I'll explain them to you another time, but they roughly match the description you gave."

After a bit of walking, she reached the area he had spoken of and quickly crouched down low beside a building, avoiding the bots line of sight.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

“If standup comedy is what I think it is- no thank you- the concept of jesters went extinct long ago back where I’m from- I don’t want to be seen as mad.” Unlike a certain other merryman she knew, who was very much insane.

Her pace grew slower as well, lowering her voice as well over the phone.

“That’s not much of a problem for me but- why, what do you see?”

[brokeassgoing]

"A bard, then."

Jesters-- they may have been extinct, but their legacy surely isn't. And it turns out they're much more valued than anyone ever thought.

"Oh that's right, sneaky assassin." Duh. "There are guards-- and bots around the area. It's cordoned off."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She held two fingers to her temples, continuing.

“How many times is it going to take of me mentioning my line of work for it to stick, Badou?”

She was confused at the term “bots”, however guards- that one she knew well enough.

“I can handle guards- I’m assuming murder is illegal here as well, so I’ll play nice and sneak past with you instead of knocking them out- but what on Nirn is a ‘bot’ ?”

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Her laugh on her end of the phone was more than audible.

“HA! So says the info broker to the assassin~!”

The irony wasn’t lost on her, and it was still funny.

[brokeassgoing]

"Hey, there ya go. When all this shit clears up, maybe you could do standup comedy."

As he draws closer to the meeting spot, his pace begins to slow, his gaze on the yellow tape around the area.

"We might haveta sneak around out here."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

“If standup comedy is what I think it is- no thank you- the concept of jesters went extinct long ago back where I’m from- I don’t want to be seen as mad.” Unlike a certain other merryman she knew, who was very much insane.

Her pace grew slower as well, lowering her voice as well over the phone.

“That’s not much of a problem for me but- why, what do you see?”

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She couldn't help but snicker.

"I'll try, but I'll be honest, it's practically impossible for non-Argonian's to learn Jel, mainly due to how our language is built, some words sound similar and are easy to mistake for another, it's one of the most difficult languages to learn in all of Nirn, aside from the language of the Khajiit, Ta'agra. You would have had a better chance if you were born and raised by Argonian's...but I'll humor you and try my best. Here's an incentive for this whole 'blue moon' task, we help out, I'll tell you what I called you in Jel."

She couldn't help but smirk.

[brokeassgoing]

He sighs-- that's a hefty task at hand. He has the worst chance of learning any of the language, let alone being able to say it plausibly. So much for scholars!

"I guess that's fair. You good two shoes," he teases her.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Her laugh on her end of the phone was more than audible.

“HA! So says the info broker to the assassin~!”

The irony wasn’t lost on her, and it was still funny.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

”That’s for me to know, and you to figure out~!”

She heard the laughing and lightened up a bit. She just missed her home and friends, can’t really blame her for being a little snippy and anxious.

“You’ve got a long LONG way to go if you expect to learn Jel.”

Jokes on him, it’s practically impossible to LEARN Jel. Argonian’s are taught at a young age because it’s so difficult. Other races? Yeah- they pretty much have zero chance unless they were raised by Argonian’s. That’s how difficult it is.

She smirked to herself at the thought.

[brokeassgoing]

"How about you teach me Jel stuff, and I'll teach your euphemisms from my time. You'll be hip and cool here, and no one'll think differently of ya."

They will, because she's a huge lizard, but you know. She'll be cool.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She couldn't help but snicker.

"I'll try, but I'll be honest, it's practically impossible for non-Argonian's to learn Jel, mainly due to how our language is built, some words sound similar and are easy to mistake for another, it's one of the most difficult languages to learn in all of Nirn, aside from the language of the Khajiit, Ta'agra. You would have had a better chance if you were born and raised by Argonian's...but I'll humor you and try my best. Here's an incentive for this whole 'blue moon' task, we help out, I'll tell you what I called you in Jel."

She couldn't help but smirk.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She sighed when he explained the bleeding heart term. That wasn’t exactly untrue…though it also wasn’t exactly true.

She snapped out of her thoughts when he called it a shit plan and huffed.

“Quit being a xuther and let’s just do this.”

What he didn’t know was “Xuth” or “Xuther” was basically Jel for “fuck” and “fucker”. She meant it playfully, but also partially out of annoyance…she hated not being taken seriously.

Finally grabbing the handle of her door and opening it, she steps out into the night, hopefully ready to face what it has in store for her.

[brokeassgoing]

"Did you just call me an asshole?" But he's laughing gently-- finally a little vinegar, a little sass, from Stalks.

To the info broker, that's a good sign. Things are going to be alright if she can still be a little sassy.

"I hear ya, I hear ya."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

”That’s for me to know, and you to figure out~!”

She heard the laughing and lightened up a bit. She just missed her home and friends, can’t really blame her for being a little snippy and anxious.

“You’ve got a long LONG way to go if you expect to learn Jel.”

Jokes on him, it’s practically impossible to LEARN Jel. Argonian’s are taught at a young age because it’s so difficult. Other races? Yeah- they pretty much have zero chance unless they were raised by Argonian’s. That’s how difficult it is.

She smirked to herself at the thought.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She huffed...what is with all these terms he uses?!

"Again, don't know what that term is- and this time I don't get the gist of what you mean." She rolled her eyes before continuing.

"Anywhere that needs our help the most, let's just get anyone in danger to safety."

She pulled her cloak on, grabbing Zephyr and a couple of arrows she managed to refine and put in a sheathe, alongside the Blade of Woe, grabbing the phone with her free hand while the other hovers over the handle of the front door.

[brokeassgoing]

Though he doesn't have his own guns, Badou's at least managed to get a couple of things to protect himself since those incidents in the forest, and the one in the mall. He keeps them on his person-- another paranoid note, but helpful all the same.

"Bleeding heart means you care about people, to your own detriment."

He's already out the door now, walking towards danger.

"Okay, that sounds like a plan. Probably a shit one."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She sighed when he explained the bleeding heart term. That wasn’t exactly untrue…though it also wasn’t exactly true.

She snapped out of her thoughts when he called it a shit plan and huffed.

“Quit being a xuther and let’s just do this.”

What he didn’t know was “Xuth” or “Xuther” was basically Jel for “fuck” and “fucker”. She meant it playfully, but also partially out of annoyance…she hated not being taken seriously.

Finally grabbing the handle of her door and opening it, she steps out into the night, hopefully ready to face what it has in store for her.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Her smile could almost be heard as she spoke.

“Badou, I’m an assassin- we don’t roll that way either.”

The laugh on the other end warmed her heart.

[brokeassgoing]

Badou scoffs at that.

"I've only known you for so long, and I can already tell you've got one of those bleeding hearts. You're too big for me to carry out, so keep that in mind."

But his shoes are already on, so.

"We meeting at the scene of all this shit, or at one of ours?"

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She huffed...what is with all these terms he uses?!

"Again, don't know what that term is- and this time I don't get the gist of what you mean." She rolled her eyes before continuing.

"Anywhere that needs our help the most, let's just get anyone in danger to safety."

She pulled her cloak on, grabbing Zephyr and a couple of arrows she managed to refine and put in a sheathe, alongside the Blade of Woe, grabbing the phone with her free hand while the other hovers over the handle of the front door.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She huffs and facepalms- “I don’t know what that expression means, but I get the gist- like I said, I’m not an expert on deadly plants, that was Gabriella’s thing…but I can certainly help people get to shelter…but I can’t do it alone. In comparison, you know more about this place than I do and I have a better chance helping out if I have someone like you who can help…”

She really hoped he wouldn’t say no…

[brokeassgoing]

Badou sighs, but there's a smile on his face that she of course can't see. How would he have guessed that the Professional assassin of a lifetime would want to help the living.

"Alright, we'll do this. But we're gonna be smart about it-- no risking our lives stupidly, ya got that? I don't roll that way."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Her smile could almost be heard as she spoke.

“Badou, I’m an assassin- we don’t roll that way either.”

The laugh on the other end warmed her heart.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

As she was getting on her boots, she startled- excitedly that she had figured out the blasted contraption- and as a result, she tripped over her boots, effectively falling over into one of her bookshelves and knocking a few off the shelf with a clattering noise on her end, as well as her letting out an f-bomb as a result of hitting her head, before clambering over to her phone.

“Ha ha, no it isn’t. The hell am I supposed to react to this, Badou? The only type of plant that I know is effectively deadly is Nightshade and Deathbells, both of which have to be consumed to do any harm, this is not up my alley, but I’ll be damned if I just sit here and do nothing! You saw the alert on your device too, right?”

She rubbed her now freshly bumped head, her tail flicking behind her anxiously while occasionally peeking out her windows past the curtains.

[brokeassgoing]

The crash, and following curses, startles Badou, even going as far as to put a stop to his frantic pacing-- cold worry rushes through his veins before she continues on. She must be okay....jeez.

Sighing to himself, he rubs a hand through his hair.

"Nightshare, yeah, sounds about right in books I've read." Poison isn't really the thing of the people from his world, but it had existed for sneaky things, once upon a time. People like steel and bullets better.

"I got the alert, of course-- woke up half the neighborhood. What are you planning on doing? If you go running in with your pants down your ankles you're not gonna get very far."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She huffs and facepalms- “I don’t know what that expression means, but I get the gist- like I said, I’m not an expert on deadly plants, that was Gabriella’s thing…but I can certainly help people get to shelter…but I can’t do it alone. In comparison, you know more about this place than I do and I have a better chance helping out if I have someone like you who can help…”

She really hoped he wouldn’t say no…

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Call To Action(Blue Moon)

It has been some time since she first formed into the Isles, and Stalks has settled in fine so far, having made a friend in Badou.

But now, tonight, as she lay peacefully in her hammock safe in her new home, she startles awake upon hearing her phone start going off, with a rather unpleasant alert repeating. She didn't know what to do, seeing as the item had been silent since she first arrived, and only lit up when she held it certain ways.

Scrambling to get out of her hammock, she looks at the now lit up screen with what seems to be both a warning and an alert for all residents...quickly reading through the information, she learns that tonight is a Blue Moon, and as such, a dangerous moss known as the Nightmare Moss is spreading across the Isles, and all Aercons and Echoes are being called to action to either help repel it, or help those seeking shelter.

"What..." She looks out her window, indeed seeing a Blue Moon.

She pulls the curtains shut once more, tapping her foot talons in thought for a moment. She remembers what the Guardian had called her..."young Echo". She feels she'd be mad to ignore a call to action, let alone a call for aid...but she doesn't know where to begin to help. Her head perks up upon remembering: Badou. Maybe he can help her.

As if the object had heard her thought, her phone lit up with the words "Do you wish to call Badou?" with a green check mark and a red X mark.

Stalks thinks for a few more moments, decisively pressing the green check mark and allowing the object to ring while she grabs her cloak, struggling to get her boots on while the phone continues to ring, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up.

"Badou, I may not know how this device works, but you better answer!"

[brokeassgoing]

At least there's no way Badou was asleep when Stalks' call comes through. He, and the rest of the island residents, wide awake and pacing, occasionally poking a head out to take a look around.

There isn't any chaos in the streets, no riots or anything of that ilk, nothing like home. But it makes his own anxiety skyrocket.

"Well, well, I know it ain't Stalky asking for a cup of sugar, is it?" He answers warmly. The info broker's glad to hear a familiar, friendly voice, especially after such weird news.

He's also proud of her for figuring out the phone. He'll have to remember to praise her about it later.

"What do you think of all this shit? Not a great welcome, huh."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

As she was getting on her boots, she startled- excitedly that she had figured out the blasted contraption- and as a result, she tripped over her boots, effectively falling over into one of her bookshelves and knocking a few off the shelf with a clattering noise on her end, as well as her letting out an f-bomb as a result of hitting her head, before clambering over to her phone.

“Ha ha, no it isn’t. The hell am I supposed to react to this, Badou? The only type of plant that I know is effectively deadly is Nightshade and Deathbells, both of which have to be consumed to do any harm, this is not up my alley, but I’ll be damned if I just sit here and do nothing! You saw the alert on your device too, right?”

She rubbed her now freshly bumped head, her tail flicking behind her anxiously while occasionally peeking out her windows past the curtains.

[askstalks-in-shadows]

Call To Action(Blue Moon)

It has been some time since she first formed into the Isles, and Stalks has settled in fine so far, having made a friend in Badou.

But now, tonight, as she lay peacefully in her hammock safe in her new home, she startles awake upon hearing her phone start going off, with a rather unpleasant alert repeating. She didn't know what to do, seeing as the item had been silent since she first arrived, and only lit up when she held it certain ways.

Scrambling to get out of her hammock, she looks at the now lit up screen with what seems to be both a warning and an alert for all residents...quickly reading through the information, she learns that tonight is a Blue Moon, and as such, a dangerous moss known as the Nightmare Moss is spreading across the Isles, and all Aercons and Echoes are being called to action to either help repel it, or help those seeking shelter.

"What..." She looks out her window, indeed seeing a Blue Moon.

She pulls the curtains shut once more, tapping her foot talons in thought for a moment. She remembers what the Guardian had called her..."young Echo". She feels she'd be mad to ignore a call to action, let alone a call for aid...but she doesn't know where to begin to help. Her head perks up upon remembering: Badou. Maybe he can help her.

As if the object had heard her thought, her phone lit up with the words "Do you wish to call Badou?" with a green check mark and a red X mark.

Stalks thinks for a few more moments, decisively pressing the green check mark and allowing the object to ring while she grabs her cloak, struggling to get her boots on while the phone continues to ring, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up.

"Badou, I may not know how this device works, but you better answer!"

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She didn’t know any of what he said. Movies? Karaoke? “Reality TV”? What in Nirn was any of that?

“I do indeed sing…though, I can’t say I know what ‘karaoke’ is… or ‘movies’ or any of the rest of what you said…”

She hoped to the Hist that she didn’t seem like an idiot.

[brokeassgoing]

He doesn't stop walking, but Badou's gaze does fix on her face for a moment as if a lightbulb has gone off.

"Ah, if you don't have cigs then it makes sense you don't have that yet. This is gonna be great," he crows excitedly, grinning now. "Karaoke is where you sing with a group of friends, and drink and eat...reality tv is less important."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She smiles. It’s not often she does something like that, let alone with friends…however.

“That sounds rather nice. A good time.”

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She gives him a smile. “Of course I do things for fun!” She chuckled with a playful grin. “Hunting is one of my hobbies, alongside cooking.” She gestured to her back, which had a bow that looked like it was made of gold from Badou’s perspective, but it is actually just Dwarven metal. “I don’t have Zephyr for no reason, after all.” That was the name of the bow. She knew because when she found it in a dwarven ruin, she saw that it’s name was engraved into the handle.

“I also enjoy listening to music at just about any tavern, and I sometimes sing.” She looks at him.

“What about you?”

[brokeassgoing]

She named the bow too? Well, well, she's certainly the real thing, if she named it! It sounds legit anyway, naming your bow. Not lame, like naming a car or motorcycle or something.

"Can't say I've ever gone hunting, we don't have that kinda critter ratio where I'm from..." And cooking, Badou can at least live off of it, but it certainly takes a long time.

He brightens.

"You sing? You know what karaoke is, then?" As for himself, god what does he do except work. "I guess I watch movies and stuff. Not much for reality tv."

[askstalks-in-shadows]

She didn’t know any of what he said. Movies? Karaoke? “Reality TV”? What in Nirn was any of that?

“I do indeed sing…though, I can’t say I know what ‘karaoke’ is… or ‘movies’ or any of the rest of what you said…”

She hoped to the Hist that she didn’t seem like an idiot.