The Disappearance of Ri'Zharim

It was a cold morning in S'renja, Ri'Zharim was about to open up the shop, when he noticed a letter pinned to the post with a familiar looking blade. The letter read:

Dear Brother,
Turdas 12am Grahwood, Under the Tree

"Brother?" he thought, Ri'Zharim had no brothers he knew of. There are many trees in Grahtwood as well, which tree? The Great Graht Oak of Eldenroot? It was then Ri'Zharim realized exactly what tree they meant... The burial site.

It was raining in Grahtwood, the scent of the flowers and trees filled the air. Upon arrival at the meeting site, Ri'Zharim was met with silence, nothing but the sounds of the forest. Ri'Zharim was alone under the tree.. the site where he burried his companions. Hours pass and still no sign of whoever wrote the note.

It was starting to get cold, Ri'Zharim had started a campsite, pitched a tent and lit a fire. As he sat he looked past the flames, eyes fixated on the graves, a tear rolls down his cheek. After some time lost in thought, a twig snapped behind Ri'Zharim, he bolts up and reached for his staff. A boot slams down, pinning Ri'Zharim's hand against the log he was sitting on, fingers just out of reach of the staff. Looking up towards the assailant, the man was wearing a mask, showing just his mouth. It was then the figure spoke.

"Senses dulled, it was little effort to sneak up this close, reaction times slower then I recall as well, have you been eating too much, possibly not getting your exercise? " he says sarcastically

Ri'Zharim had recognized the mans voice, but could not place from where. The man lifted his boot, letting free Ri'Zharim. "This one believes you wrote the note, yes?" asked Ri'Zharim, rubbing his sore wrists The masked man looked towards the graves, he gave out a heavy sigh and responded "yes brother"

Ri'Zharim gave a puzzled look "you called this one brother in the letter as well, this one has no brothers, the closest to brothers one has are in these graves"

The masked man looked towards the graves, he walked slowing past them, brushing his hand across the top of each tombstone. He stops on the last one, and kneels down. He stared at the tombstone for a moment, silently, tracing the engravings with his fingertips.

The tombstone read:



"Fisherman, Swordsman, Guardian... sums me up nice and tidy, doesn't it?" he said with a smirk

Ri'Zharim dropped to the muddy floor as tears flew down his cheeks.

“A beautiful spot for a burial” Thairus stated, tracing his fingers over the engraving of a small wolf on his tombstone. He looked back at Ri'Zharim who's tears were masked by the fur of the khajiit's face and rain falling onto the forest floor.

Thairus stood up to face the soaked khajiit sitting in the dirt and offered a hand “Get up out of the mud, a wet cat is bad enough, let alone one covered in muck” Thairus said with a grin as Ri'Zharim was trying to force a smile.

“Dogs smell far worse then khajiit when wet” Ri'Zharim sniveled as he reached out his hand to let Thairus pick him up.

Thairus had heard the whimpering in Ri'Zharim's voice and tilted his head slightly to the side. Wondering if the khajiit was crying out of joy from seeing one of his closest friends for the first time in a long while, or out of the torment of an old memory.

“That happy to see me old friend?” Thairus questioned, hoping they were tears of seeing a friendly face

Ri'Zharim's eyes fixed on his friends face “This one thought you were dead... Ri'Zharim killed you” staring at the other tombstones next to the one belonging to Thairus “and the others...” Ri'Zharim cried

Thairus balled his fist in anger and punched Ri'Zharim, knocking him into the mud. Then he said with an angry growl “Everyone ran, we had to! You are no more to blame then I am”

The rain was still falling on the two of them. Thairus grabbed Ri'Zharim's shoulders, stood him up and dusted him off. “It was easy tracking you down, I just wanted to show my face, let you know I was alive”

Thairus glanced over at his tombstone with a serious look in his eyes. He walked over to his satchel, and pulled a mace off it's strap. Looking back at his grave again he gave a large grin and roared as he charged at it. The forest echoed with the sound of steel and rock colliding as Thairus broke down his tombstone. The sound sent birds flying away from their perches.

“You should get back to S'renja, they must miss you over there. I still have work to do in the forest” explained Thairus

Ri'Zharim scratched his head at the comment “Work in the forest?”

Thairus gave Ri'Zharim a solemn look and put his mask back on “The bandits are still alive, filling their bellies with food and ale... I intend to stop that as soon as I track them down.”

Walking back over and mounting his horse, Ri'Zharim nodded to Thairus “let Ri'Zharim know when you find them, he will help you”

“Still have a stomach for this type of work? You seem to be living a nice and comfortable life now” Thairus gave a large grin under his mask

Ri'Zharim responded with a nod “We will see when the time comes” he said as he rode off back to S'renja

the end...