[b][center]Treads-Heavily: Bravil[/center][/b]

Treads-Heavily was exhausted, he'd fought more in the last hour then he'd done in over a year. Though if he were to count the group of bandits that had hold up the town he'd been in 14 months ago it might break even. With the Empire finally able to fight the invaders he decided to get back on the trail of the assassin he'd spent a lot of time and money finding. 

He began making his way back to the Inn, hoping the fire hadn't reached it or his belongings yet. He made his way through the abandoned streets as quickly as his tired legs could carry him. He reached the Inn the same time as the flames, part of the roof and south wall were alight with flame. The door had been locked and the flames had spread by the time Treads-Heavily managed to break it down. 

The frame had splintered under the force of his blows. Stepping in he found a group of people huddled in the corner, whimpering as the building filled with smoke.

"Get out! The Inn is on fire!" He yelled.

They coward closer together at his words, shying away from him.

"By the eight are you deaf?" he said walking towards them, intent on shoving them out. "I said the Inn is on fi-"

When he reach for them one of the men sprung up, screaming wildly he swung what looked like the broken leg of one of the chairs. Surprised, the makeshift club struck Treads-Heavily's head. Glancing off his horn and striking his head with a solid [i]'thunk'[/i]. His vision went black.

He awoke coughing, the acrid stench of smoke filling his nose. He placed his armored hand over his mouth out of reflex, the blood soaked metal and leather doing little to filter the smoke from the air. He opened his eyes to see the lower floor had begun to fill with smoke before shutting them from the stinging fog and spinning room. He lay still unsure what to do, his head throbbing and spinning telling him to lay still. His lungs begging for fresh air as he coughed. 

Finally managing to recover his wits, he decided to finish what he came here to do. Grunting he forced himself upright, the spinning sensation threatening to expel what little he'd managed to eat that day. He stumbled towards the stairs using tables to remain upright. As he climbed the smoke became thick and hot, orange light flickered through the fog as flames made their way into the building. 

[i]Third door... left side.[/i] He repeated in his head through the spinning and burning in his limbs and lungs. Flames sprouted at the end of the hallway leading to his room, though showing how little time was left allowed him to see through the smoke to his room. Fumbling with the lock for a moment he fell into his room, hurrying about gathering his packs and extra weapon. The dizziness reached its peek, driving Treads-Heavily to the ground. He couldn't tell up from down, causing him to remember the first time he'd swam underwater feeling almost weightless. Grabbing for his pack he pulled out a bottle, removing the cork he drank the bitter contents.

The effect was almost immediate, some of the pain leaving his limbs and head, the spinning had stopped as well. A beam cracking somewhere in the building snapped Treads-Heavily into motion. Running from the building as it collapsed around him, sending showers of sparks and gouts of flame at him. Burst from the building just as something inside finally gave, caving in on itself.

Finally outside he could hear the sounds of combat had returned to the castle. [i]Sounds like the Thalmore have put their distraction to use. All the more reason to leave before I'm swept back into the fighting.[/i] He made his way to the western wall since the gates to the north and south would be under watch, the castle and water were east making west his best chance. Moving more quickly now thanks to the potion he reached the wall in a matter of minutes, the stairs made getting up easy but getting down the other side would be more difficult. Whilst looking for a rope or ladder Treads-Heavily saw the city in its entirety since the fighting began. 

Fires had sprung up though most of the buildings, the church was completely engulfed in flame and balls of fire along with bolts of lighting could be seen falling from the walls of the castle. Just as quickly it had looked that they had held the Aldmeri at bay it seemed that they would overwhelm everything. With that he threw a rope over that he found with a pale tied to the end of it, probably something a guard had used to haul food and drink up without leaving his post. After dropping his belongings over the wall he began climbing down, the rope ended about leaving him 6 feet from the ground. Giving a quick prayer to the gods that they be kind and not break any bones from the fall, he let go.