Severius Shadowsong

2E 451 (Born)- In a small village in the Ashlands west of the Red Mountain on Vvardenfel, northwest of the city of Ald'run, a dunmer child named Malas becomes the first-born of Esar and Zula. His hair begins to come in as a vibrant red.

2E 457 (6 years old)- Awakened by his mother Zula in the middle of the night, handed a pack and told to run toward the "big city" and not look back. Flees into the ash, as flames and smoke rise from the huts of the village behind him, as the sound of his family's scream ingrains itself in his head for the rest of his days. Found by a hunter named Sulis in the Ash, 3 days later. sleeping from exhaustion and dehydration among a nest of Bantam Guar. Upon being woken and fed by the hunter, is escorted to Ald'run where the guard is informed of the incident. Sulis stays with him for the days following while awaiting word of his village. The boy is told a week later that his village is gone, what appears to have been a Daedra attack left no survivors. Sulis offers to provide a home.

2E 470 (19 years old)- Over a decade of hunting and tracking through the Ashlands with Sulis has taught young Malas well. Living in the rough and wild has developed him as a sleek built, very fast and agile Dunmer, his hair has grown long and red as in kept braided down his back. His frequent trips to the local villages and cities have allowed him to trade skins and meat for books, which he has taught himself to read, and delves into as often as possible. He states his desires to travel to his adoptive father, who smiles, nods, and wishes him well. Before he goes, Sulis gives him the gift of a sword, it is simple in it's design, but razor sharp and well oiled. With his bow, arrows, sword, and wrapped in leathers, the young Mer steps out on his own.

2E 473 (22 years old)- Malas has kept mostly to the countryside, surviving on his own and exploring at every available opportunity. He has traveled through Ebonheart, into Cyrodiil and has found the city of Bruma. After trading his recently hunted game for coin, he purchases a new book to read on his travels, and begins exploring the city. He's attracted the attention of a gang of local criminals, who attempt to jump him as he is passing between buildings. When he refuses to give them his pack, they draw daggers on him, and he draws his sword. The four assailants rush him, the first attack he swats away easily with the blade, the second comes closer but he dodges, the third leaves a slash across his upper arm, and the fourth finds it's way into his shoulder. Without a cry or whimper, he spins reactively, cleaving head from shoulder of the man who stabbed him. The other three, seeing this, roar in fury and double their attacks. During the next few moments, he is slashed a half dozen times, stabbed once more, and has two more bodies at his feet when the final attacker decides to run, but not before leaving his dagger stuck in Malas' side.

The Dunmer pulls the dagger from his ribs, with little more than a grunt. Inspects the hilt, the blade, and the coating of his own lifeblood upon it, before wiping in clean and sliding it into his boot. Stumbling out of the alleyway, covered in blood and wounds, a local woman screams at the sight of him and the guards are called. He is taken to the local guardhouse where his wounds are tended to and he is left to sleep through the night in a locked cell. Upon waking, and realizing he is still in the cell, he is told that because of the nature of the situation, and the identity of one of his victims, he will be held until the situation is resolved. Thirteen days in a prison cell, being questioned by the local captain of the guard, until a local authority stepped in and apologized for his mistreatment.

Malas was informed that he had been freed upon the statements of the bookseller, and the merchant he'd sold his quarry to, as well as a witness who saw the gang keeping an eye on him. One of the men he'd killed was the nephew of a well known businessman in the Imperial city, and the survivor had claimed that the Dunmer has started the fight. Thankful to be out of the cell he'd been pacing in for nearly two weeks, he simply nodded, collected his belongings and weapons, including the dagger, and left the city.

2E 477 (26 years old)- Having heard the stories of the tree city of Elden Root, he has made his way to the south of Valenwood. While there, he meets a local Bosmer Named Larena who was not much older than him at that point, While not his first love interest, she was one of the women whose affections and memories he would remember always. They enjoyed a summer together, mostly in the forest, exploring and laughing as she would teach him the local flora and fauna and show him the hidden spots as she knew them. When her father discovered that she had been spending her time with a Dunmer vagrant, he forbade the continuation of their relationship.

Malas asked her to come with him, that they could travel the wilds across Tamriel together, but she told him that she had a responsibility to stay in the Valenwood, that unlike the freedom which he sought, her needs were to be with her people and home. Understanding, but hurt, Malas decided it was time to make his way back to his homeland to see Sulis, who he'd not seen in seven years.

2E 478 (27 years old)- While passing through Cheydinhal on his way back towards Vvardenfel, he saw a familiar face. The man was noticeably older now, and heavier set, with a much darker sense of purpose to him. Malas followed the man at a distance through the city, curious about how the years had changed him. The man went into the Mages Guild for several hours, before leaving and going to the inn for lunch. Finally, around middas he made his way East out of town. Following behind in the forest off the road, the hunter watched his quarry walk for miles, before finally going off road toward the mountains bordering Morrowind and Cyrodiil. Just as dusk settled, the man made his way into a small cave with a hidden entrance a ways up the base of one of the mountains. Now, thoroughly intrigued, and alert, the Dunmer made his way into the cave after the man from his past, sliding a dagger from his boot to his hand.

Down into the dark he followed, pausing only for his keen eyes to adjust to the dark. The descent took a short while, and although the cave branched off at several junctures, his exceptionally well honed tracking skills allowed him to follow. A dim light ahead slowed his approach, slowing to allow his eyes to adjust as he crept forward. The sight before him was something he'd read of, but had never seen before. An altar, feature a large statue of a horned creature, carrying a mace, with a long spiked tail leading behind it, it's other clawed hand raised up, wrapped around the tiny shape of a man. Malas recognized the figure carved in stone as the Daedric prince Molag Bal. Upon the base of the altar were skulls from all manner of creatures, including men and mer, the scene lit by candle light, with the man he'd followed knelt at it's base, hunched over a book.

As silent as a shadow, Malas made his way to just behind the man. Close enough to smell the lunch that he'd eaten in the inn. Pausing only to take a quick account of his surroundings to make sure they were alone before reaching out. His hand came around and clasped over the mouth at the same moment the tip of the dagger pushed ever so gently into the small of the man's back. The man froze, as was the intended effect. Breaking the silence, Malas whispered to the man, in a soft and low, almost-growl.
"I wasn't sure at first what I intended for you, but I've decided to return something to you. You left it with me years ago after I slew the other three." For a second, nothing, and then the man stiffened even more as memory dawned upon him. He let out the faintest of whimpers through the hand clutched over his mouth, before the dagger was driven hilt deep into the small of his back through his Kidney. He crumpled, still held tightly by his assassin, as the blade was pulled out and drawn across his throat in one swift motion.

Letting the body collapse to the floor to bleed out, Malas looked at the dagger in his hand. The blade was sharper and better cared for than it had been when he himself had been stabbed by it, and once again it was coated in blood. He knelt beside the dead man, laying the bloody dagger at his side before standing to look once more at the statue that seemed to fill the room. His voice, once again a threatening whisper, "This is but the first, I will root your kind out wherever I come across them and leave them in pools of their own blood.". He then spat upon the base of the altar, took the book that the now-corpse had been reading, and made his way to the mouth of the cave. As he approached the exit, the walls of the cave shook for a moment, and a voice that sounded like stones being ground down, that seemed to come from everywhere at once, said but five words. "Your time will come mortal!"

The book, he furst attempted to burn at a campfire that night, but the bindings nor pages would catch flame. Instead, it was wrapped in loose leathers from a past hunt, and buried at the base of a tree that he recalled on his travels not far from the border into Morrowind.

2E 479 (28 years old)- Returning to the Ashlands for the first time in nine years, he found the small hut that he had been raised in, occupied by an Argonian female. At first, simply shocked to see an Argonian this far into the Ashlands, he just stood there. When she tapped him with a broom and asked what he was doing in her home, he asked where Sulis was. She gave him an inspective looking over and asked his name. With the reply "Malas, his,.... son." the Argonian became more open and hugged him. Explaining that Sulis was on a hunt and would be so pleased to know that he had returned. Over the next few days, Shei-Reen filled him in on much of what had happened and how she had met Sulis:
Shei-Reen had developed an issue while in her home city of Seafalls in Black Marsh, and was told that her ailment could not heal with so much moisture in the air around her. She had always wanted to see the Red Mountain after hearing the tales of it since she was a young hatchling, and decided to make her way north. She had made it as far north as Caldera after sailing up the Odai River to Balmora, when she had disturbed the nest of a wild Alit. The beast had attacked her, and just as she thought she would perish, a series of arrows came sailing through the sky to end the beast. Sulis came to her aid, helped her to heal, and offered her a place in his humble hut until she was healthy enough to travel back south. That had been four years earlier, and while her ailment had healed, she hadn't wanted to leave Sulis.

Upon the return of Sulis to the hut, Malas shared stories of his travels, bringing out small trinkets and oddities from his pack, as well as a fine bottle of wine from the Valenwood to share. There were many laughs, and gasps of shock and amazement over the shared tales over the next two weeks. As well as shared hunts, and Malas was glad to have returned to his homeland.

One night, while talking late into the evening, he asked Sulis about his plans for the future, especially with Shei-Reen. He was informed that Sulis had been considering moving down to the Black Marsh with her, but wasn't sure if he would be able to hunt and provide there as he was able to do so for her now. Malas convinced him that if the three of them traveled down together, he and Sulis together would be able to learn the land. Within a week, what they couldn't carry had been sold, and they made their way down through Morrowind to settle into the Black Marsh.

2E 484 (33 Years old)- After nearly five years in eastern Black Marsh, Malas was developing wanderlust once again. Both he and Sulis had taken to the new land well, although Sulis took a little longer getting used to how wet everything was, but was skilled enough to adapt. Malas bid farewell to the pair and made his way across country once again.

2E 485 (34 years old)- Venturing into the Imperial City on his way up toward Sentinel, Malas finds an amazing book shop and spends a good chunk of gold on three books to read during his travels. He spends a week in the city, making new friends and acquaintences, particularly an Imperial woman named Roehdell who he becomes quite attached to while there. The books would be well worth it, as they lasted most of the journey to Sentinel. As well as gave him information on dozens of new areas worth exploring during his travels.

2E 495 (44 years old)- Returning to the Imperial City after a decade, little of the city itself has changed, although many of the people are different. After touring the city, he returns to the sewers below the city. He is recognized by an old acquaintance, they share several drinks in the Refuge bar, and he is asked if he has any interest in a lucrative opportunity. Intrigued, Severius learns the details. Rumors in the right circles of a Redguard shopkeeper who had been trying to get someone to eliminate a merchant noble. The noble had violated the Breton's daughter, but through wealth and stature had evaded any payment for his crimes. The girl had ended her life following the accusations and harassment brought upon her as she had been labeled a liar. The noble was well guarded and rarely went anywhere without several bodyguards, two attempts had been made on his life already, the first a failed attack, leaving the would-be assassin's cut open on the pavement of the market district. The second had been a poisoning attempt which resulted in the death of the noble's house chef. Interested based on the morals of the situation, as well as the challenge of it, Malas finds out the name of the Redguard to make his final decision.

Upon speaking with the man, Malas realized that the story was true, as well as more grisly specifics of the assault. Over the next two days Malas watches the noble's moves. He is seen only once, intentionally, when he bumps into one of the man's guards in the market district, palming a key from his belt without notice. Malas apologizes to the guard, and looks the noble in the eyes, for just an instant, but he sees all the needs to about the man. He has a duplicate of the key made in the refuge, while paying a skilled young pickpocket by the name of Stick to get the key back into the guard's belt.

Late that evening, as the guards are changing shifts, Malas slips in through the side entrance of the manor that he had seen the guard using the prior evening. He makes his was through the rooms, slipping from shadow to shadow. He finds the noble's office to be occupied, with two guards outside the door. He slips into an unoccupied room nearby, slides out the window, and proceeds to shimmy across the the office window, which is opened ever so slightly. pulling himself up against the window, he applies a liberal amount of oil from a small flask to the hinges of the window. Readjusts his position while letting the oil seep in, and then slowly opens it enough to get inside. Silence. The noble sits alone, his back to the window, busily scratching away at a letter on his desk with a fine quill pen. A sudden splash of red across the paper is the first indication that the man has of anything amiss, but by then it is already too late. His throat opened wide and unable to speak, he slumps back into his chair as life leaves him in the form of rapid arterial gushes. Malas gives a quick account of everything in the room, as well as the most likely places for hidden valuables. Within minutes, everything that can easily be sold for a tidy profit is in his satchel, slung tightly across his back. He makes his way back out of the window, shutting it behind him, and shimmying further along to the master bedroom. A servant girl is feeding the fire in the room, as Malas repeats his oiling of the window hinges. He watches and waits, noticing the barely concealed bruises on her arms as she turns toward the door and leaves the room. Again, without noise he opens the window and enters the room, listening for a moment to make sure that the girls steps took her away from the bedroom. This room takes him two minutes to gather the valuables from before he exits via the window. Backtracking to the first unoccupied room, and then following his route through the shadows, he is gone before the noble's body has cooled.

In the refuge he fences his gains, making more than the Redguard had offered. He waits several days before returning to the man. When the reward is offered, Malas tells the man to instead hire the servant girl he's seen in the noble's home, and give her somewhere safe to reside. The man agrees and thanks the shadow for his deeds.

2E 499 (48 years old)- For several years, Malas traveled throughout Cyrodiil, following stories of injustices at the hands of men. He would speak with the victims, his face wrapped in cloth similar to that of the hunters in the Alik'r desert, if the stories turned out to be true, he would request a mild compensation, and would deliver a swift and final resolution to those responsible. The body count rose rapidly, as it would seem that there is no shortage of injustice in Tamriel.

During a return trip through the Imperial City, he stopped into the shop of the Redguard man who had provided him with his first target. The young servant girl was older now, and far happier than when Malas had seen her through the window. The Redguard thanked him again, and also gave him a rolled piece of parchment from a box under the counter saying only, "They gave you a name, it's,... well you'll see"

Back in the security of the cistern refuge, Malas unrolled the parchment. It was a pamphlet listing several of his more well known victims through the past year, going into vague descriptions of an assassin's cult sacrificing the innocent of Cyrodiil. The title however was what caught his attention. "Severe Danger in the City! The Shadow Calls for Blood!"

2E 500 (49 years old)- Malas travels to Black Marsh to bring in the quincentennial of the Era. While he is visiting, Sulis and Shei-Reen are wed in a brief but lovely ceremony. Many fond memories are made over the next few weeks before Malas heads back to his travels, explorations, and contracts.

2E 515 (64 years old)- Having extended his business of privately available justice throughout much of Tamriel, he has now killed someone in almost every region of the mainland continent. At the time, he finds himself in the city of Kvatch on the Gold Coast, he sits behind a chimney pipe on the roof of a house across from his target's window. He has seen the man push open the window before going to sleep for the past three nights. Now he waits, an arrow knocked loosely on his bow, ready to deliver the death strike to a man who had killed his brother on a hunting trip. It was claimed as an accident, however his brother's finances and property were to be his inheritance in the case of death. The brother's widow was the only one speaking out against him, and had hired Malas to end him. Malas had seen the man performing some form of ritual the prior night, from this same vantage point on the neighboring rooftop. While it was not any Daedric practice he was aware of, he was certain that the man needed to be put down.

This night, before the man went to bed, he had an unexpected visitor. As he turned and was about to open the window, unaware of the arrow leveled at his heart from across the way, the bedroom door crept open behind him. From his vantage Malas could see only the lower half of the visitor, all black, long dark robes. The visitor stepped forward as the target pushed open the window. The arrow found it's mark, the target was dead before he hit the floor. Drawing a second arrow as the first left his bow, he prepared for some reaction from the robed figure, but the man was already gone.

The next day Malas returned to the home of the woman who had hired him. As he approached, he saw the door, ever so slightly left open. He knocked, and received no answer. Stepping into the home without a sound, he saw her. Sitting in a chair against the wall. One hand on her lap, the other on the table in front of her, curved around a full cup of tea. Her eyes were trained on the door, dead, lifeless eyes peering out over the crimson moon that was her throat. A cursory inspection showed no sign of struggle or of the attacker. Malas turned to leave, searching the street outside to make sure there were no witnesses or an ambush. As he went to leave he saw it, a black hand print, only barely visible against the dark stone wall of the house. He left the house unnoticed.

2E 517 (66 years old)- Sleeping in the wild in the forest east of Woodhearth, he has made a friend of a wild Senche tiger after having released it from a trap left in the wild by hunters not of these woods. The beast allowed him to apply a healing salve to the wounds, and then followed him through the forest for the rest of the day. Malas had fallen asleep, with the Senche lying at his side after the two had shared a small meal. He wakes in the middle of the night, fully alert, without moving as he senses the Senche do the same. The only indication it is awake is the rising hairs along it's back, Malas feels the same of the hair at the base of his neck. The Senche growls.

Sitting a mere twenty paces from them is a dark figure, wrapped in black robes. The the face is hidden, but two glowing crimson eyes can be seen in the darkness. The voice is dry, with a crackle like fall leaves underfoot,
"Keen senses and awareness, very good, but still room for improvement." Malas' hand finds the hilt of his sword at his side.
"There will be no need for that, I offer opportunity, not violence."
His hand still on his sword, he sits up sliding his back against the tree, the Senche also sits up, it's head low and ears flat against it's skull. Malas keeps his eyes on the hooded figure, bringing his sword to his lap, his muscles loose but ready to move at a moment's notice.
"Your talents are requested. The choice is yours", the figure rises slowly, stepping back into the shadow, and disappears. Where he has been sitting is a note, there is a date, and a location.

Several days later Malas finds himself in Reaper's March an empty room over a pub in Arenthia after a hard ride from Greenshade. He stands, leaning with his back to a wall while facing the door, a single lamp lights the room. Malas keeps his hand resting on the pommel of a sheathed dagger, loose and limber if a quick draw is needed. A voice from a shadow in the corner whispers "At ease young one."
While surprised to find that he is no longer alone in the room, he composes himself and turns slightly, hand still on his dagger.
"Why am I here?" he asks the corner.
The two glowing eyes ignite from the shadows in response, "Your abilities have been noticed, and an opportunity has presented itself."
"The opportunity is?"
"A life."
"You're going to need to give some more details or I'm done here." Malas shifts his weight on his feet, preparing to leave toward the door.
"You will take a life of my choice, and in turn you will receive a life of your choice."
Malas raises an eyebrow and the voice in the dark continues. "Your skills are well honed, but can be improved greatly with my aid. For what is to come and what you wish to do, the skills I can teach you will help you to destroy your enemies entirely"
After a brief pause to contemplate the options, Malas took his hand from off the dagger.
"Who's life am I taking?"

2E 519 (68 years old)- After nearly two years of contracts and training, Khadran (the vampire to whom Malas has been apprentice) has decided that a new name is in order. On the evening of his new name, Khadran places a scroll into Malas' hands. The Dunmer unrolls the aged and browning parchment, and smiles as he recognizes the sheet from many years before "Severe Danger in the City! The Shadow Calls for Blood!"
"Your name will be based on the origin of your darker half, from this evening forward, whenever you shed blood of those who I have chosen for you, it will be done through the will of Severius Shadowsong."
The name suits Malas, and he realizes at that moment how deeply he relishes the call of blood. It is a thirst for death that he has had for as long as he can remember, and now it has a name. Severius Shadowsong is born.

2E 531 (80)- Shortly after realizing that his 80th year had started, Severius decides he would like to venture again into the world on his own, rekindling the name of Malas in the world as he had for many years been mostly Severius. A pact was agreed upon with Khadran that should he be needed, he will respond to the call.
The Dunmer spent the better part of the next ten years continuing his travels and explorations across Tamriel.

2E 546 (95 years old)- While traveling through the marshlands west of Blacklight, he notices smoke rising from the direction of the city of Windhelm. Running through the trails and bogs toward the burning city, he spots a group of farmers and refugees surrounded by a dozen Akaviri raiders. From the shadows and brush he fires a hail of arrows, killing several of the Akaviri before they realize they are under attack. The men, and some of the women realize that this is their chance, and rally on the remaining Akaviri. Some of the refugees are cut down, including a Nord woman named Kurda before Severius joins the melee. His blades dance as he cuts through four more Akaviri before squaring off with their leader, a fierce warrior who adds several new scars to the patchwork that is Severius' body, until a well timed feint, and a thrust from a hidden dagger ends his life.

While the Nords collect themselves for travel, and prepare stretchers for the injured, Severius relieves the fallen soldiers of their valuables, and provides a quick death for those who are only injured. He does this silently and methodically, however only the wounded Kurda notices.

Escorting them through the marsh to the nearest settlement for aid, He uses the loot from the Akaviri to pay for the room and board of the refugees, as well as to purchase healong salves for the wounded from the local alchemist. He then hires a Siltstrider to bring word of the attack to Blacklight before dividing the rest among the survivors. A week after the attack, he leaves in the night without a word.

2E 549 (99 years old)- While traveling back through Skyrim After a year of journeying across the southern coastline of Hammerfell, he encounters a familiar face in Windhelm. The Nord woman Kurda. She spots him as he is making his way through a crowded market and her eyes light up as she smiles warmly and becons him over. He hadn't realized how beautiful she was when they had last crossed paths.

Kurda brings him to her small shop in the market where she crafts and sells leather armor, upon inspection of her work Severius is impressed, she is a talented clothier. She tells him that she will craft him a custom set of armor, ignoring his objections, as she considers it an honor to be able to craft something as thanks to the Mer who saved her life. Over the next week, between sizing him and working on the armor, the two spend a lot of time together, eating, drinking, and enjoying the Springtime in the land surrounding Windhelm. They become more than mere friends in this time.

The armor turns out to be the finest gear that Severius has ever worn. Custom fit and tailored to his movements, with sheaths and hidden pockets throughout. Kurda explains that he made such an impression on her with his fighting style that she had thought long about how to better outfit a warrior who seemed almost to dance through the bladestorm. The armor doesn't go back on for several days. Kurda asks him if he would like to accompany her on a journey to the Isle of Solstheim to the north, after the passing of the new moon. Within weeks the two are seabound. The first month passes into the next, the two sharing much time together, except on the evenings of the full moon. Kurda tells him it is part of a Nord ritual which she will explain when the time is right. The Spring passes into Summer, Summer into Fall. The evening before the next moon, as Kurda gathers her things to leave for the night, Severius stops her at the door. "If I'm there, will you attack me?".
Kurda pauses, looks at him with sadness in her eyes, and says softly, "I don't know, I've only done it around others of my kind."
His hand gently brushes her cheek, and he steps aside. Later that night he follows her tracks out into the wilderness. Around a small stone cairn tucked into a shallow cave lie her pack and clothes, as well as those of a dozen others, men and women. The tracks turn from the feet of men, to that of large padded pawprints, which he follows, heading deeper into the forest. He tracks the prints up through the western mountain range, where he spots the pack from a distance as they feed on a recently killed bear. They appear to be led by a massive gray wolf nearly twice the size of the others. They then head up the western slope where Severius watches from a distance as the werewolves produce a chorus of howls that raises the hairs on his neck. They then make their way back toward the cairnstone within the cave, He doubles back over his tracks, and even takes a long detour across two streams and a small river to keep the pack off his scent. He doesn't mention this to her.

2E 551 (100 years old)- In the Spring, Kurda tells him that she's spoken with some of the elders of her clan, and that they would like to meet him before the next full moon.

On a brisk afternoon a week before the moon, they travel to the Eastern shore of the island. Meeting in the hall of a wizened old Nord wrapped in a robe, who looks Severius up and down and asks him to sit by the fire. Kurda is told to join the others in another part of the hall. Against the wall behind the old Nord, in the flickering shadows of the fire, sits a bear of a man with long braided gray hair and a beard split at the center into two thick rows of hair through gold rings. The old man begins to speak, watching Severius with cool blue eyes, asking questions about his life. The Gray one does not take his eyes off of Severius. He can't see them in the flickering light and shadow, but he can feel them on him.

The questions cover his homeland, some of his travels, and what he has done. Some of the stories are those of his explorations, others of his battles. The old man asks if he has ever murdered someone, not in self defense. Severius pauses for a moment and tells him the truth. He is asked to elaborate, and tells of the first man he murdered, the Daedra worshipper in Cyrodiil. The Nord nods and asks him if there are others. Again the truth. He tells of some of his assassination contracts, as well as bounty hunts. The Nord nods again, while the gray one continues to watch on. He is asked where his loyalties lie. Without hesitation, "My loyalty for the most part lies with me, that extends to those around me who I would call friend and kin, and brothers in arms. Beyond that there is little that ties me to anyone."
"And what do you think of our kind, having seen us shed of what makes us men?" The voice was deep, and hard, coming from the Gray bear of a man in the shadows as he stood, showing the immensity of his size.
Looking now at the Gray, Severius replied,"You are terrifying in your pure savagery, but also beautiful in the perfect melding of man and beast."
The Gray smiled at this, as did the old Nord, Severius followed with permission to ask something. The gray nodded, one brow shifting slightly upward.
"Are you in control, as you are of yourself now, or does the animal instinct override who you are?"
The two Nords looked at one another, the Gray nodded. When the older man turned back to him, the calm blue of his eyes are gone, replaced by fierce red ringed in gold, the pupils shift as the eyes focus on the Dunmer. His pulse quickens, but Severius stays seated, leaning slightly forward to look closer into the eyes. As he does so, he sees hair growing and expanding across the man's body, he twists in his seat as his form shifts into something larger. Finally standing and pushing back the chair as he sheds his robe. His body continues to contort, his knees buckle once as his legs take on a different form, his nose pulls forward and expands into a snout, a tail grows from the base of his body out behind him. The entire process is over in moments, and where the wise old man once sat, now stands a full sized werewolf, towering over Severius.

The wolf growls. Slowly, ever so slowly, in absolute silence, the Dunmer rises from his seat. Now standing only paces from this creature he sees the power in it's form, and marvels at the size of it. His hand gently rises, palm up, toward the wolf. Again it growls, low and deep. Severius pauses, then continues raising his hand to the creature, he whispers softly. "You're still in there aren't you. Otherwise I'd be dead." Lowering it's snout closer to his hand, the beast sniffs at him. It pushes his hand gently, before stepping back and turning toward the Gray.

The big man steps toward Severius, taller even than the werewolf now standing behind him. His eyes are also blue, but a hard blue, like that of ancient blue stone. He stares directly into the smaller Dunmer's eyes now, Severius stares back, waiting. The Gray laughs, deeply and heartily, "You've got some stones on you." He laughs again. "I'm going to give you a choice now, and you must answer only with the truth, not the truth of the moment, but the truth of your heart." A big meaty finger pushes into Severius' chest to accentuate the last word.

The Dunmer smiles, "Yes."

2E 554 (103 years old) - While his earliest transformations were rough, and he barely managed to maintain hold over the animal savagery of the beast he'd become, he has learned well. Now fully in control of himself in the form of the wolf, he has taken to traveling again. First down to the Black Marsh to visit with Sulis and Shei-Reen, who he had not seen in five years. He catches up with the happy couple over two weeks, tells them about the home he had been living in on Solstheim, as well as tells them about Kurda. They share many laughs, and stories. Especially when sulis notices that Malas' hair is starting to change from his vibrant red to a silvery white along his temples. They also explain that the local areas have been having some trouble with a criminal element who had set up further north along the shore and were shaking down the local Argonian shopkeepers and some of the farmers. The group had recently been responsible for the death of a shopkeeper who refused to pay, it was meant as a warning to the others. Severius stays for a few more days, then says his goodbyes. He hugs Sulis tightly before he goes, thanking him for all that he's done. The elder Dunmer cries tears of joy as his son heads out along the shore. Shei-Reen say's something along the lines of 'If only I could make water with my eyes', which makes the both of them laugh.

Further north along the coast Severius picks up the trail of one of the brigands after speaking to an Argonian smithy east of Riverbridge. He follows the trail North to a small pirate den and their main ship tucked into a hidden cove. He eliminates the pirates along the shabbily build dock from the shadows with his blades. With his bow he clears the topside of the sea vessel, then he turns and takes care of the rest in the cabins below deck. Not one makes it out of the cove. Severius takes the coin that was gathered from the locals, as well as the ledgers of what came from who. He sets the ship and dock alight and waits until the cove is fully ablaze before heading to Helstrom and leaving the books and gold with the local fighter's guild officer in charge. He then offers to pay the guild from his own coin purse to return the stolen gold to it's owners. He is informed that he is actually owed gold, as they had just gotten the contract to stop the coastal raids and retrieve the stolen goods. .

He decides he'll make his way toward Highrock and travel through the lands of the Orcs for a bit.

2E 560 (109 years old)- Back in Solstheim for the Winter with Kurda to enjoy the snows with the pack. While in the port at Raven Rock trading skins, he overhears news from a captain in the market. A disease had spread across much of Black Marsh, and was killing off non-Argonians. That travel to and from most of the Marsh was strictly limited indefinitely. When asked if there any letter carriers traveling into Black Marsh, the captain cannot say for certain, but when he travels back to The Mainland he will try to get something sent. Severius writes a letter to Sulis in Seafalls. He returns home to Kurda and tells her the news and that he must try and get word to Black Marsh. She offers to go with him, he tells her to stay because he may have to reach out to certain members from his past.

2E 561 (110 years old)- Word of the Knahaten Flu afflicting Black Marsh has spread across Tamriel, but getting word in or out is still nearly impossible. Severius travels west, stopping in at every den of thieves he can, seeking out a very particular type of Argonian. He finally finds what he is seeking in western Cyrodiil, a Shadowscale assassin resting in the outlaw refuge of Anvil. He explains his need to get word into and from Black Marsh, as well as the coin he will donate to the cause of the Dark Brotherhood. She just stares silently at him for a while, then finally nods ever so slightly. He writes the letter to Seafalls, and gives her the location for a way to reach him with a response.

2E 562 (111 years old)- The Shadowscale finds him in Windhelm, hands him an envelope and walks away.
The letter is written in a shaky hand from Shei-Reen. Sulis has died. He became ill with the flu, and though he fought it long and hard, the illness took him like so many others in early 2E 561. She mentions that his last wish was that his ashes be returned to Vvardenfell, however there is no way for her to get his urn shipped out of Black Marsh yet. Once she is able, she will travel north to Stormhold, but she doesn't know when that will be.

Severius spends the next four years traveling between Solstheim and Stormhold, occasionally detouring further into Morrowind or Cyrodiil. Kurda travels with him often.

2E 566 (115)- Shei-Reen sends word that she is on her way to Stormhold. By the time she makes it there, Severius and Kurda have already arrived and are awaiting her at the inn. A heartfelt and emotional reunion and a new introduction take place, as Kurda and Shei-Reen meet for the first time. The Argonian and the Nord bond instantly. Many stories from the past are shared, and a new story is about to begin. Kurda is pregnant.

2E 567 (116 years old)- Still in Stormhold, the child of Severius and Kurda is born, his name is Sulis Twice-Born. He has the appearance of a Nord, but the firey red hair of his father. Severius' own hair is now mostly white with long streaks of brilliant red remaining.

Severius, Kurda, the new child, and Shei-Reen relocate to a village in southern Vvardenfell, near Lake Hairan. Sulis had enjoyed traveling down there with Shei-Reen in their time together, and Kurda liked the idea of being able to visit the Temple city of Vivec.

Severius travels south to disperse Sulis' ashes in the shoreline near Vivec City.

2E 571 (120 years old)- At the ten year anniversary of Sulis' death, Severius travels north to the Ashlands to hunt again, as a way to reminisce on his youth with the man. He spends three months in the winter there. Most of what he kills he donates to local towns and villages.

2E 572 (121 years old)- Windhelm is sacked again. Akaviri forces led by the Kamal Prince Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal has struck again at the Northern Skyrim city. Dir-Kamal receives word that his second target, Riften has been fortified, he skips the city, bringing his army across the Sea of Ghosts to march south through Vvardenfell to attack the Tribunal city of Vivec. While the losses were great, the greater part of the Akaviri forces survived and attempted an assault on Mournhold in Stonefalls on the Morrowind mainland.

Severius is traveling north from Stormhold in the Black Marsh to Narsis in Deshaan when he encounters Nordic armies of Jorunn the Skald-King. Upon realizing that the army was not interested in attacking the Dunmer, he questions one of the Skald-King's outriders. The rider initially intends to pass the Dunmer blocking his path, but the arrow trained at his throat gives him pause. Severius heads north toward Ebonheart, desiring to take passage across the sea to his family, the way is blocked. The armies of the Akaviri are in conflict from the Nords from the west, the Dunmeri armies led by Almalexia from the south, Severius joins the fray. At first, firing arrows into the Akaviri ranks, but their lines were too well shielded. Bladed in hand, he joins the ranks and file of Almalexia's Dunmer militia contingent. The fighting is fierce and bloody. The militia almost break at several points throughout the battle, but the inspiration of being led by the living goddess Almalexia, keeps the militia strong. The battle is hard fought from all sides, and is almost a loss for the Dunmer. Until a phalanx of Argonian shellbacks led by a trio of Battlemages came up from the south, driving a wedge in the Akaviri line, allowing the combined forces of the Nord, Dunmer and Argonians to push the Akaviri footmen back into the sea. The force of their front lines collapsing drove those behind into the waters where many drowned in their armor as the weight pulled them under waves aided by magic.

The Ebonheart Pact is formed.

Bleeding from a variety of wounds at the end of the battle, Severius still makes his way among the fallen, dispatching Akaviri, and aiding his fellow soldiers. His armor, handmade by Kurda, is broken beyond repair but had saved his life time and time again through the battle, finally falls off of him. He is treated in the army camps, where he remains for several days before word is brought back from Vvardelfell. The Akaviri march had cut through the the hills north of Vivec near the lakes, the loss of life had been complete for all of the villages in their way.

Still badly wounded, Severius hires a boat to take him across the water to the north, at first the boatman says no, but the deep menacing growl from the haggard warrior tells him otherwise.

The village is gone. Razed completely to the ground. Severius collapses to his knees in a pile of Ash that used to be his family and his home. Days later he comes back with three funeral urns. He collects what he can. His eyes no longer have tears. Severius shaves the sides of his head, leaving the remaining long, white hair pulled back into a braid running down his back. He travels south to disperse the ashes alongside that of Sulis in the shores around Vivec City, seeing for the first time the scale of destruction that was brought down upon the Dunmer Tribunal City. Alongside the ashes, he scatters his cut hair, so that a part of him will always remain with his family.

Weeks later on Solstheim he informs the remnants of the pack of their loss. The following Moon, the howl of the wolves are long and filled with pain and loss. Severius leaves Solstheim the next day, and does not return.

The name of Malas is left behind permanently, Severius Shadowsong is all that remains.

2E 576 (125 years old)- Emperor Leovic legalizes Daedra worship accross Tamriel. Severius has spent much of the prior years systematically hunting and eliminating Daedra worshippers throughout Tamriel. The legalization of it does nothing to change his actions toward those who would cavort with the beasts. instead, Severius adjusts his focus to include Imperial supporters of Leovic's decree. Particularly in Cyrodiil. While in the northern part of the region, catches a group of scouts in the wilderness south of Bruma off guard. Is informed that they are part of Varen Aquiarios's rebellion against Leovic. Severious signs on as a forward scout. His scout squad's front line reconnaissance reports are instrumental to several of the rebellion's decisive victories over the Imperial forces.

Before the year's end, the armies marched on the Imperial city. The fighting in the streets was vicious and bloody. Severius is part of a squad that had infiltrated the city through old sewer lines, allowing for a gate on the outer wall to be opened from the inside for the invading forces. Emperor Leovic is killed in his throne room by Varen Aquiarios. Severius leaves the city while still healing from his injuries, heading back to Morrowind.

2E 579 (128 years old)- The Soulburst wreaks havok across Tamriel as Deadra from Oblivion make their way through portals between the planes. At the time, Severius is in the east of Hammerfell traveling through the wilds when a rift opens nearby. As Daedra begin pouring through, Severius unleashes an onslaught unto the hordes. Over the next several weeks, he makes the Daedric armies suffer for every inch that they advance. Repeatedly targeting and eliminating the upper ranks from the shadows and working his way down. Eventually the military forces stationed nearby break through the Daedra that had boxed them into their fortress, and march on the portal. The leaderless forces offer minimal resistance as the Covenant tears through to shut down the portal.

Severius disappears back into the shadows of Tamiel, continuing his work against all Daedra, and challenging the forces of Molag Bal at every opportunity. While a nightmare to most, the Soulburst presents a unique opportunity to revel in bloodshed and darkness to Severius.

2E 580 (129)- Severius finds himself on the Summerset Isles island of Auridon. Having successfully tracked and dispatched a Daedra worshiper who had fled from the Mage's Guild of Vulkwasten, news comes in. The return of Ayrenn Arana Aldmeri, missing princess, and now Queen. Having never seen a royal coronation, he makes his way to the north of the island, joining the throngs in the city of Firsthold.
On the 7th of Frostfall in the year 2E 580, Queen Ayrenn is crowned. Severius finds that he is impressed at the strength of character that the new Queen exudes, and decides he will have to return to the Dominion territory to see how she develops as a ruler. Severius makes his way back to the mainland to continue hunting down Daedra and their followers.

2E 582 (131 years old)- Currently, Severius is back in Dominion territory, hunting out the remnants of a Daedra Cult that has gone deep into hiding after Severius tracked them down to their headquarters and eradicated most of their leadership.

History Information Here