Adrian8562

In the rotting port city of Daggerfall seventeen year old Kael Vos moves in the shadows not out of principle, but because it’s the only way to survive. Fresh to the city and tied to the howlers, a street gang clawing for relevance in a city choked by crime, Kael takes the jobs he’s given no questions asked. He’s not a killer, not yet but he’s no hero either, just another blade trying to make rent. 

When a simple debt collection job goes sideways Kael finds himself branded unreliable. He’s caught between rival factions ready to tear each other apart. Nine criminal houses carve Daggerfall to pieces, the cities noble lord looks the other way as long as his belly stays full. 

As pressure mounts Kael must chose between playing the pawn in a game he barely understands or carving his own path In a city that eats men like him alive. But survival in Daggerfall comes with a cost, and blood always pays.

daggerfall: the nine nooses

Kael stepped under the rust colored tarp. The air inside smelled like dried roots and boiled ash. Shelves lined the back wall, cluttered with jars sealed in wax and bundles of dried herbs. A woman sat behind the counter, carving into a knotted black root with a dull blade

Kael didn't speak. He slid the folded cloth from his coat and placed it on the counter

"Mara's?" she asked. Her voice was worn and flat

"She already paid." Lenna turned, rummaged beneath the counter, and came back with a mana stone wrapped in cloth, slight blue pulsing light came off the stone

"Tell her next time to pick up her own errands." Lenna went back to her carving. Kael didn't linger

Outside, the market pressed in heat, noise, bodies

Kael kept to the side rows, walking slow. His coat was pulled tight, the stone tucked safe inside. He didn't look like a man worth noticing

He ducked between two canvas stalls, a narrow path where crates were stacked high on one side. The noise of the market dimmed behind him

A foot swept his leg from behind fast, low. Kael stumbled, caught himself against the wall

Then a hand grabbed his collar and yanked

He twisted, swinging a fist blind. It cracked into someone's shoulder too light, to stop them

Another shoved him back into the crates. Kael hit hard, ribs flaring pain along the stitched wound

"Hold him!" one voice barked young, panicked

Kael reached for his sword, but a boot slammed into his forearm before he could draw. He grunted, dropped to a knee, elbowing one of them in the gut as he fell

A second later, fingers jammed into his coat, yanking the stone, Kael reached for the stone causing it to hit the ground. It rolled once, twice, then bounced under a nearby crate

One of them dove after it. "Got it!"

Kael lunged for the kid, catching him by the shoulderbut another tackled him from the side, knocking the breath out of him

They scattered feet pounding, laughter and curses echoing off stone

Kael pushed himself up, gasping. His side throbbed, stitches pulling. One palm scraped raw against the ground

Boots slamming the path, eyes locked on the kid ahead short, fast, arms tight around the stone like it was gold

Kael didn't shout, Didn't call threats

He just ran, jaw tight, sword still sheathed, blood buzzing in his ears

ambush