Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5583506-20160907220147/@comment-5583506-20160911115535

"I don't know how much you know about me as a person", Hildi began, glancing over at Myrdana to make sure that she had permission to continue.

The Imperial nodded.

"I originally come from a small tribe of Outsiders living along the borders of High Rock and Skyrim. We stem from the people they used to call the Forsworn, or the Reachmen. Now, it might have been made known to some of you that I... I have a certain condition which allows me to change my shape. I am not the only one with that gift. Everyone in my tribe has the same ability. Some of them transform into sabrecats, bears, wolves... and so it has been for as long as we can remember."

She smacked with her lips. "Our Elders dates the source of our uncanny ability back to the Great War. They say that we weren't originally born with this... ability. But that we were 'formed'. Our legends tell of how metal-clad men would abduct people from our tribe, expose them to all matter of experiments, resulting in what we are today as a side effect."

Hildi fumbled with her fingers as she began to finish. "S-shortly afterwards the... the Beasts started to appear for the first time, leaving death and destruction in their wake."

Ran'Jinro tried to make some sense from what she had said, but due to the blood loss he had suffered it was all a blur. He got the main gist of it however. He just didn't want to believe it.

"So... what you are saying", said the Khajiit. "Is that... the Beasts... were created? By mankind itself?"

Hildi nodded nervously. "Not only that, but we have reasons to believe that... they are not entirely animal in nature. According to our Elders; when the metal-clad men came they took blood from our tribe along with their experiments. Blood which we have reason to believe somehow became the main ingredient which resulted in these... monsters."

Ran'Jinro could feel cold sweat building up underneath his fur. He started to feel sick.

"So... the Beasts are...?"

"Partially human..." said Hildi. "And with their increased intelligence, I am starting suspect that that human side of them has gone through an awakening of some sort."

Ran rose up, even though he was completely spent with little energy left. He was livid. "Why the hell didn't either of you tell us this before?!" he growled.

Hildi drew for breath. "I... I..."

"Lay down, Ran", Myrdana filled in sternly, having come somewhat to her senses. "This was my decision. I expected that things would take a turn for the worse if people knew that Hildi and the Beasts have more in common than anything else. You know how superstitious and fearful people are these days. What would you have made out of a scenario in which it turns out that the Beasts were born out of the blood of Hildi's ancestors? Would you have considered her an ally? Would you have considered her as someone to trust? I made this decision so that Hildi would remain safe and not an outcast product of this messed up society."

Ran trembled with restrained anger and pain. Though he knew he wasn't really angry with either Myrdana or Hildi. He was... disappointed. Disappointed with mankind. They had all the time believed that the Beasts came from some sort of hostile, alien force, or as a punishment from the Gods themselves. But all this time... it had been mankind itself who was to blame for the end of the world.

The Khajiit slammed his fist aggressively into a tree, barely feeling the pain as his knuckles started bleeding. "BASTARDS!" he snarled, not caring if a Beast heard him at this point. "Why?! Those fucking bastards did it! They destroyed us! They destroyed our world! And for what?! For fucking what?!"

Hildi remained quiet, wondering just people would think of her at this point. She felt... dirty. As if she was to blame. She felt it as if she might as well have created the Beasts herself.

"I... I am sorry", she sobbed, beginning to cry.

Ran breathed heavily, leaning his forehead against the trunk of the tree. "It's... it's not your fault", he commented. "But... but why... Why the hell did they do it? What could they possibly stand to gain? The world is in ruins. Was that their plan?"

"I don't know", said Myrdana. "But now you all know the truth. These Beasts as well as Hildi's condition are connected. Results of cruel experiments carried out by our own kin against ourselves." She sighed. "The Beasts are man-made..."