Full Version: The tale of Telina Delvanni, chapter 5.
Hmm, interesting change. With practice, I'm sure she'll be able to compensate her handicap and be back (well, somewhat) to her old self.
Ok here is a long WAAAAY overdue update to my first ever fic. Hopefully you my faithful fellow readers will appreciate it and not try to stomp me to death for the lack of updates *dodges tomatos, shoes, knives, chairs and everything else the audience may throw*
Anyhow I am now back in business so to speak, and updates will hopefulle become a regular thing once again, at least the amount of time I've spent at my other fics over at Fanfiction.net have improved my rather abysmal former grammar skills. Enjoy a few
Tellies from me as compensation for the long wait.
The answer was in theory simple, but much more difficult to pull off in reality. I needed to train up my muscles again, and I needed to do so soon and without anybody else knowing about it. Fortunately being the Arch Magister I had really a right to what I damn well pleased, so after enchanting a bag to hold a whole lot more potions than should be possible I stocked up as many potions as I could and then created a doorway to Galom Daeus.
Once there I started gulping down potions that temporarily increased my strength to some rather insane levels. Once the potions took effect I started a grueling workout of pure strength building exercises, stopping every now and then to down another set of potions. I quit after ten torturing hours, and prepared myself for when the potions wore off.
It is a strange thing potions. While they may increase your strength, it is purely magical and so you can imagine the pain that hit me, when my emaciated muscles realized the insane workout I had performed. Even though I expected pain I was hardly prepared for the onslaught of sheer mind ruining pain. My entire body was afire, and I felt as if though a thousand white hot knives were tearing into me again and again, in the end I blacked out.
When I woke up I could still feel the remnants of my exercise but I could at least use my body somewhat, and with a sigh I set about doing the same thing I had done the day before, ending with the exact same results.
This continued for the next three weeks, and the only time my employees saw me was when I stopped by to restock on potions and food, though in the end it was worth it. When I had finished I was in better shape than I had ever been, and while I could not see how I looked I knew that I had not an ounce of leftover fat. I had essentially transformed from a five foot four woman with acceptable musculature, into a tight ripped compact ball of muscles, and while the time I had spent could have been better spent on other things I was grateful for it never the less.
After relocating myself to my stronghold I received an unusual set of news. Some upstart Wizard from the mainland had claimed the title Magister and apparently he wanted to meet me in a duel at the Vivec Arena.
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“So Eddie, what can you tell me of this person who has the galls to challenge me?” I asked my Mouth as I continued to fine tune the enchantments on the silver ring I had acquired.
“Well, he is nearly six centuries old, and is a known blade master. He has an uncanny ability with Destruction. He does however have the handicap of coming from a Redoran family, and as such have their foolish sense of honour”.
“You mean that a mer coming from a Redoran family actually joined our house? Why in Dagon’s name would he do that?”
“Eh…apparently he wanted immortality of age so that he could continue his studies and help others, though it might as well be that he has plans of taking over the house and sabotage us from the top”.
I sighed, really I had given up trying to understand the way the male mind works, I knew that males liked three things. Money, Power and a set of breast set below a pretty face, and I had all three, so I had an advantage over most male specimen, though there were of course the odd rumours concerning Neloth and his interest in young boys.
“Very well, at least we can be sure that he thinks me a young innocent woman who only made it to the top with a combination of luck and the fact that other members of the house wanted Gothren gone”.
“Luckily innocence isn’t a state that you are familiar with eh boss?”
“Lucky indeed”, I grinned. While ‘Fast Eddie’ had the ability of getting on the nerves of everyone, myself included he also had the uncanny ability of spreading a touch of humour to any situation, that and he could run like Dagon himself was at his heels when needed.
“So shall I place a bet for you boss?”
“You mean another bet right? Because if you haven’t already betted on me I will be severely disappointed”.
“Of course boss of course that’s what I meant”, he said quickly before grabbing the pouch I handed him and then running as fast as his thin legs could carry him.
I shook my head in amusement before turning my attention to the plain silver band I had before me. After a few tweaks the enchantment was finished and as soon as I placed the ring on my hand I felt magic swirling around me as a full set of conjured armour was placed on my body.
While I was certain that I was going to win this my constant companion ‘paranoia’ wouldn’t allow me to enter this fight unprepared, so that was why I had a full set of extravagant clothing, enchanted to give me almost seventy percent resistance to magic, and when coupled with the conjured armour and my Theurgist clothes on top I felt reasonably sure that I could weather whatever nasty spells he had to throw at me as well as survive physical attacks for a while at least.
Steeling myself I stepped out into the Arena, and was greeted with a multitude of cheers. Most of the cheers came from my ‘Faithful’ fellow house members on Vvardenfell, no doubt they had been threatened to come here, but I was pleased to see many civilians as well amongst the crowd, and best of all was that Caius had shown up, and we shared a quick grin.
My opponent stood in the centre of the pit already waiting for me, and we briefly shook hands before stepping away for the customary ten paces. As soon as we were in position he launched a bolt of lightning at me, probably hoping to end this match before it could begin. He was however disappointed when a simple swing of my staff formed a shimmering shield that easily dispelled the spell.
I went on the defensive soon after that, allowing him to send a barrage of spells at me that were either blocked by my shields or simply diverted by expert swings of my staff. After dispelling another spell I tried my latest trick and turned on the spot and reappeared behind him.
Before he could reorient himself I made two quick stabs with my silver dagger into his side. Nothing life threatening, but more to make a statement, and of course the fact that he had now been poisoned was even better.
Ignoring the pain he swung around with all of his might, trying to cut me in two with his ebony broadsword. He was however disappointed when all he met was air, as I had teleported back a few yards.
He raised his blade again only to recoil as a spasm of pain went through his body. “Feeling a little drowsy are we? Was the young girl more than you could chew off?” I taunted with an innocent smile on my face.
“Poison! I’ll kill you little girl, make no mistake about it”, he spat as he tried with futile efforts to cure himself from the debilitating poison.
“Very well, let’s dance”, I said as I threw a moderately powerful fireball at him. Before my spell even hit I had disappeared and reappeared somewhere else, at which point I snapped out another spell.
I continued this for a few minutes, disappearing and reappearing and throwing a spell before repeating my actions. The crowd roared in approval as I toyed with him. While toying instead of finishing him off was careless, I really wanted to make a statement, I was the Arch Magister for a reason, I decided the actions the House would take here in Vvardenfell and I certainly wasn’t going to allow some other house member from the mainland to just waltz in and interrupt my business, hence the reason I was toying with him.
My effortless counters of his every trick as well as demolishing whatever defenses he had served a statement that couldn’t be delivered by words alone, You never mess with Telina Delvanni if you held your life dear.
My opponent was now writhing on the ground, he had managed to stop a few of my fireballs but was now lying on the ground, screaming in pain as the flames burnt him, sometimes we Dunmer’s natural resistance to flames was a curse as we still felt the pain associated with fire. A quick burden spell held him still as his steel armour suddenly weighed much more than he could possibly move.
Another wave of my hand banished the flames and I stepped a bit closer to him. “I regret that I have to do this to you, but a statement must be made for my potential enemies…I understand if this comes as a small comfort to you, but I would have done the same to any other challenger as well”, I said as I gave him a said smile.
He simply cursed as he futilely tried to escape his bonds, that is until I unleashed pure lightning from my hand. It was no particular spell, I simply concentrated my magic to release itself through my hand as pure lightning. His screams tore into my ears as the ethereal energy was amplified by the steel armour he wore, fortunately after a minute the screams stopped and I looked at my handiwork. Smoke rose from his charred flesh and his armour was glowing red.
I managed to hold my stoic face long enough to give a few waves to the crowd before entering my room and promptly throwing up.
Anyhow I am now back in business so to speak, and updates will hopefulle become a regular thing once again, at least the amount of time I've spent at my other fics over at Fanfiction.net have improved my rather abysmal former grammar skills. Enjoy a few
Tellies from me as compensation for the long wait.The answer was in theory simple, but much more difficult to pull off in reality. I needed to train up my muscles again, and I needed to do so soon and without anybody else knowing about it. Fortunately being the Arch Magister I had really a right to what I damn well pleased, so after enchanting a bag to hold a whole lot more potions than should be possible I stocked up as many potions as I could and then created a doorway to Galom Daeus.
Once there I started gulping down potions that temporarily increased my strength to some rather insane levels. Once the potions took effect I started a grueling workout of pure strength building exercises, stopping every now and then to down another set of potions. I quit after ten torturing hours, and prepared myself for when the potions wore off.
It is a strange thing potions. While they may increase your strength, it is purely magical and so you can imagine the pain that hit me, when my emaciated muscles realized the insane workout I had performed. Even though I expected pain I was hardly prepared for the onslaught of sheer mind ruining pain. My entire body was afire, and I felt as if though a thousand white hot knives were tearing into me again and again, in the end I blacked out.
When I woke up I could still feel the remnants of my exercise but I could at least use my body somewhat, and with a sigh I set about doing the same thing I had done the day before, ending with the exact same results.
This continued for the next three weeks, and the only time my employees saw me was when I stopped by to restock on potions and food, though in the end it was worth it. When I had finished I was in better shape than I had ever been, and while I could not see how I looked I knew that I had not an ounce of leftover fat. I had essentially transformed from a five foot four woman with acceptable musculature, into a tight ripped compact ball of muscles, and while the time I had spent could have been better spent on other things I was grateful for it never the less.
After relocating myself to my stronghold I received an unusual set of news. Some upstart Wizard from the mainland had claimed the title Magister and apparently he wanted to meet me in a duel at the Vivec Arena.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
“So Eddie, what can you tell me of this person who has the galls to challenge me?” I asked my Mouth as I continued to fine tune the enchantments on the silver ring I had acquired.
“Well, he is nearly six centuries old, and is a known blade master. He has an uncanny ability with Destruction. He does however have the handicap of coming from a Redoran family, and as such have their foolish sense of honour”.
“You mean that a mer coming from a Redoran family actually joined our house? Why in Dagon’s name would he do that?”
“Eh…apparently he wanted immortality of age so that he could continue his studies and help others, though it might as well be that he has plans of taking over the house and sabotage us from the top”.
I sighed, really I had given up trying to understand the way the male mind works, I knew that males liked three things. Money, Power and a set of breast set below a pretty face, and I had all three, so I had an advantage over most male specimen, though there were of course the odd rumours concerning Neloth and his interest in young boys.
“Very well, at least we can be sure that he thinks me a young innocent woman who only made it to the top with a combination of luck and the fact that other members of the house wanted Gothren gone”.
“Luckily innocence isn’t a state that you are familiar with eh boss?”
“Lucky indeed”, I grinned. While ‘Fast Eddie’ had the ability of getting on the nerves of everyone, myself included he also had the uncanny ability of spreading a touch of humour to any situation, that and he could run like Dagon himself was at his heels when needed.
“So shall I place a bet for you boss?”
“You mean another bet right? Because if you haven’t already betted on me I will be severely disappointed”.
“Of course boss of course that’s what I meant”, he said quickly before grabbing the pouch I handed him and then running as fast as his thin legs could carry him.
I shook my head in amusement before turning my attention to the plain silver band I had before me. After a few tweaks the enchantment was finished and as soon as I placed the ring on my hand I felt magic swirling around me as a full set of conjured armour was placed on my body.
While I was certain that I was going to win this my constant companion ‘paranoia’ wouldn’t allow me to enter this fight unprepared, so that was why I had a full set of extravagant clothing, enchanted to give me almost seventy percent resistance to magic, and when coupled with the conjured armour and my Theurgist clothes on top I felt reasonably sure that I could weather whatever nasty spells he had to throw at me as well as survive physical attacks for a while at least.
Steeling myself I stepped out into the Arena, and was greeted with a multitude of cheers. Most of the cheers came from my ‘Faithful’ fellow house members on Vvardenfell, no doubt they had been threatened to come here, but I was pleased to see many civilians as well amongst the crowd, and best of all was that Caius had shown up, and we shared a quick grin.
My opponent stood in the centre of the pit already waiting for me, and we briefly shook hands before stepping away for the customary ten paces. As soon as we were in position he launched a bolt of lightning at me, probably hoping to end this match before it could begin. He was however disappointed when a simple swing of my staff formed a shimmering shield that easily dispelled the spell.
I went on the defensive soon after that, allowing him to send a barrage of spells at me that were either blocked by my shields or simply diverted by expert swings of my staff. After dispelling another spell I tried my latest trick and turned on the spot and reappeared behind him.
Before he could reorient himself I made two quick stabs with my silver dagger into his side. Nothing life threatening, but more to make a statement, and of course the fact that he had now been poisoned was even better.
Ignoring the pain he swung around with all of his might, trying to cut me in two with his ebony broadsword. He was however disappointed when all he met was air, as I had teleported back a few yards.
He raised his blade again only to recoil as a spasm of pain went through his body. “Feeling a little drowsy are we? Was the young girl more than you could chew off?” I taunted with an innocent smile on my face.
“Poison! I’ll kill you little girl, make no mistake about it”, he spat as he tried with futile efforts to cure himself from the debilitating poison.
“Very well, let’s dance”, I said as I threw a moderately powerful fireball at him. Before my spell even hit I had disappeared and reappeared somewhere else, at which point I snapped out another spell.
I continued this for a few minutes, disappearing and reappearing and throwing a spell before repeating my actions. The crowd roared in approval as I toyed with him. While toying instead of finishing him off was careless, I really wanted to make a statement, I was the Arch Magister for a reason, I decided the actions the House would take here in Vvardenfell and I certainly wasn’t going to allow some other house member from the mainland to just waltz in and interrupt my business, hence the reason I was toying with him.
My effortless counters of his every trick as well as demolishing whatever defenses he had served a statement that couldn’t be delivered by words alone, You never mess with Telina Delvanni if you held your life dear.
My opponent was now writhing on the ground, he had managed to stop a few of my fireballs but was now lying on the ground, screaming in pain as the flames burnt him, sometimes we Dunmer’s natural resistance to flames was a curse as we still felt the pain associated with fire. A quick burden spell held him still as his steel armour suddenly weighed much more than he could possibly move.
Another wave of my hand banished the flames and I stepped a bit closer to him. “I regret that I have to do this to you, but a statement must be made for my potential enemies…I understand if this comes as a small comfort to you, but I would have done the same to any other challenger as well”, I said as I gave him a said smile.
He simply cursed as he futilely tried to escape his bonds, that is until I unleashed pure lightning from my hand. It was no particular spell, I simply concentrated my magic to release itself through my hand as pure lightning. His screams tore into my ears as the ethereal energy was amplified by the steel armour he wore, fortunately after a minute the screams stopped and I looked at my handiwork. Smoke rose from his charred flesh and his armour was glowing red.
I managed to hold my stoic face long enough to give a few waves to the crowd before entering my room and promptly throwing up.
And here is the next update. Not any action in it I'm afraid, but you should get a closer look at how dirty politics can be sometimes, as well as how far Telina is actually willing to go to remain in control of her life.
“Interesting fight, say would you mind accompanying an old man back to Balmora? We could use a little chat”.
“Articulate as ever old man”, I feebly tried to add in a little humour to Caius. “I’d rather not stand that close to a roasting person again, my nose still works in my young age”.
“Insolent brat”, he mumbled as he lightly poked my shoulder. “So is your stomach ready for a trip with the Mages…oh that’s right the Mages Guild has run into all sorts of trouble lately”, there was no mistaking it now, he wasn’t too happy with me.
I concentrated a bit and managed to create one of my doorways directly into his house, and had to conceal a grin as he stared dumbfounded. “Well don’t let me keep you I’d rather get this conversation over with”.
He nodded and stepped through and watched with fascination as the doorway disappeared behind me.
“NOW WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME WHERE YOU GET OFF DESTROYING THE MAGES GUILD? IT IS A RECOGNIZED IMPERIAL FACTION, YOU COULD GET HANGED FOR THIS”, ok I admit my mistake. He wasn’t displeased, he was pissed.
“I’d like to remind you that Morrowind is still autonomous to the Empire, some of the Imperial Laws go here as well, but destruction of Imperial Guilds is no crime from what I’ve read in Morrowind’s laws”.
“That’s not the point Delvanni. The fact is that you are a member of the Blades, you ARE Imperial Law, now what’s to stop me from turning you in?”
“Well let’s see, first off all, the Emperor is the one who ordered my release as well as induction into the Blades, secondly I AM Telvanni, and I promise you that if you arrest me, then your skooma problem will be known to persons who would have you in a rope right next to me, and secondly the name of every single Blades member here on Vvardenfell would find it’s way to the Telvanni, and trust me on this, none of them would be able to escape the island alive”.
Both of us glared at the other before Cosades backed down. “So it has come to this then has it? You betray your Emperor and your mission, I wont have a choice now”.
I watched closely as he tried to figure out what he was going to do now, he had gone off the cliff and only I could get him up.
“I never betrayed the Emperor as he never had my allegiance in the first place. The only reason for me joining was to secure my freedom, a freedom no one can take from me…but I have no desire to dangle from the end of a rope either, so if you can give me some more information, then I might reconsider my decision of not helping”.
Caius sighed, he realized that I was untouchable. One rouge Imperial agent was not enough for him to sacrifice both his life and the lives of all the other operatives on Vvardenfell. “You know, when I told you to go out and get some experience I never realized that you would make yourself politically untouchable by the Blades, and you are right, I need you a whole lot more than you need me”.
I smiled slightly, at least he was open for suggestions. “Well, I’ve been a slave to one thing or another my entire life and so when I was given a fresh start I would do whatever it would take to free myself from others, and I’d sooner die than to serve the Empire in a cause that I hold no information about”.
“Very well, the Emperor believes that you might be a possible candidate for the Nerevarine Prophecies, and he wants you to go through them, gathering any information you can about the Nerevarine Cult as well as the Sixth House”.
I sat down in a chair, my entire body felt numb as I realized the impact this would have on my life, and the ingenious plan the Emperor had come up with. Had I been any loyalist Imperial dog and managed to complete what was asked of me then the Emperor would control the Nerevarine, one of the most powerful legendary figures in Dunmer history.
“While I may have reservations about this I can see the potential it can give me as well, but there is the problem of the Ordinators and Inquisition, off which I am a member of…do you have any idea what they will do to me once this gets out?”
Caius actually raised an eyebrow, perhaps he had expected a rather more…volatile reaction out of me. “Name your price, if it is within my power I can make it happen”.
Well that got my attention, nothing gets a Telvanni’s attention more than a chance for profit and power, and as it happened I knew one thing that could get me both. “I want the Caldera Ebony Mine, not only will it serve to enrich both me and the house but it will also be one right in the balls of those bleedin’ Hlaalu”.
“Done, it will be a simple matter to falsify some evidence, but for the Empire to give it and a construction contract to House Telvanni…it will need some reformation of house politics”.
That was an unwelcome snag. Not unexpected from the old Spymaster but never the less unwelcome. “What reformation?”
“I want the trade of slaves to stop here on Vvardenfell amongst you Telvanni”.
‘Ahh, nothing more, that’s good’, I thought to myself. In all honesty the abolishment of Telvanni slave trade was something that had crossed my mind as well.
“Then we have an accord sir, But the abolishment of slavery will take some time, and I cannot demand that those who have already been bought will be set free”. Fortunately Caius agreed with me, and we bickered slightly over the fine prints of the contract before I signed it, and he sent it over to the commanding officer at Fort Moonmoth to be signed, essentially I would be forced to stop all slave trade within the next five years. A daunting task yes, but not impossible considering the extra revenue I would be making from the ebony mine, and the Hlaalu’s reaction at the next meeting of the Grand Council would make it worthwhile.
“Now that we have come to an agreement I have a mission for you”.
“Interesting fight, say would you mind accompanying an old man back to Balmora? We could use a little chat”.
“Articulate as ever old man”, I feebly tried to add in a little humour to Caius. “I’d rather not stand that close to a roasting person again, my nose still works in my young age”.
“Insolent brat”, he mumbled as he lightly poked my shoulder. “So is your stomach ready for a trip with the Mages…oh that’s right the Mages Guild has run into all sorts of trouble lately”, there was no mistaking it now, he wasn’t too happy with me.
I concentrated a bit and managed to create one of my doorways directly into his house, and had to conceal a grin as he stared dumbfounded. “Well don’t let me keep you I’d rather get this conversation over with”.
He nodded and stepped through and watched with fascination as the doorway disappeared behind me.
“NOW WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME WHERE YOU GET OFF DESTROYING THE MAGES GUILD? IT IS A RECOGNIZED IMPERIAL FACTION, YOU COULD GET HANGED FOR THIS”, ok I admit my mistake. He wasn’t displeased, he was pissed.
“I’d like to remind you that Morrowind is still autonomous to the Empire, some of the Imperial Laws go here as well, but destruction of Imperial Guilds is no crime from what I’ve read in Morrowind’s laws”.
“That’s not the point Delvanni. The fact is that you are a member of the Blades, you ARE Imperial Law, now what’s to stop me from turning you in?”
“Well let’s see, first off all, the Emperor is the one who ordered my release as well as induction into the Blades, secondly I AM Telvanni, and I promise you that if you arrest me, then your skooma problem will be known to persons who would have you in a rope right next to me, and secondly the name of every single Blades member here on Vvardenfell would find it’s way to the Telvanni, and trust me on this, none of them would be able to escape the island alive”.
Both of us glared at the other before Cosades backed down. “So it has come to this then has it? You betray your Emperor and your mission, I wont have a choice now”.
I watched closely as he tried to figure out what he was going to do now, he had gone off the cliff and only I could get him up.
“I never betrayed the Emperor as he never had my allegiance in the first place. The only reason for me joining was to secure my freedom, a freedom no one can take from me…but I have no desire to dangle from the end of a rope either, so if you can give me some more information, then I might reconsider my decision of not helping”.
Caius sighed, he realized that I was untouchable. One rouge Imperial agent was not enough for him to sacrifice both his life and the lives of all the other operatives on Vvardenfell. “You know, when I told you to go out and get some experience I never realized that you would make yourself politically untouchable by the Blades, and you are right, I need you a whole lot more than you need me”.
I smiled slightly, at least he was open for suggestions. “Well, I’ve been a slave to one thing or another my entire life and so when I was given a fresh start I would do whatever it would take to free myself from others, and I’d sooner die than to serve the Empire in a cause that I hold no information about”.
“Very well, the Emperor believes that you might be a possible candidate for the Nerevarine Prophecies, and he wants you to go through them, gathering any information you can about the Nerevarine Cult as well as the Sixth House”.
I sat down in a chair, my entire body felt numb as I realized the impact this would have on my life, and the ingenious plan the Emperor had come up with. Had I been any loyalist Imperial dog and managed to complete what was asked of me then the Emperor would control the Nerevarine, one of the most powerful legendary figures in Dunmer history.
“While I may have reservations about this I can see the potential it can give me as well, but there is the problem of the Ordinators and Inquisition, off which I am a member of…do you have any idea what they will do to me once this gets out?”
Caius actually raised an eyebrow, perhaps he had expected a rather more…volatile reaction out of me. “Name your price, if it is within my power I can make it happen”.
Well that got my attention, nothing gets a Telvanni’s attention more than a chance for profit and power, and as it happened I knew one thing that could get me both. “I want the Caldera Ebony Mine, not only will it serve to enrich both me and the house but it will also be one right in the balls of those bleedin’ Hlaalu”.
“Done, it will be a simple matter to falsify some evidence, but for the Empire to give it and a construction contract to House Telvanni…it will need some reformation of house politics”.
That was an unwelcome snag. Not unexpected from the old Spymaster but never the less unwelcome. “What reformation?”
“I want the trade of slaves to stop here on Vvardenfell amongst you Telvanni”.
‘Ahh, nothing more, that’s good’, I thought to myself. In all honesty the abolishment of Telvanni slave trade was something that had crossed my mind as well.
“Then we have an accord sir, But the abolishment of slavery will take some time, and I cannot demand that those who have already been bought will be set free”. Fortunately Caius agreed with me, and we bickered slightly over the fine prints of the contract before I signed it, and he sent it over to the commanding officer at Fort Moonmoth to be signed, essentially I would be forced to stop all slave trade within the next five years. A daunting task yes, but not impossible considering the extra revenue I would be making from the ebony mine, and the Hlaalu’s reaction at the next meeting of the Grand Council would make it worthwhile.
“Now that we have come to an agreement I have a mission for you”.
Thanks for the very interesting installments that herald your return to the forums here. I particularly enjoyed the way Telina toyed with her challenger; it felt like the ultimate expression of Telvanni power, and very appropriate for someone who was willing to risk blindness just to become more powerful.
Telina continues to show how ruthless she can be when it comes to personal safety...and naturally her paranoia and temper does show up a little bit as well.
“I’ve studied the notes that you collected from Hasphat some time ago, and found them to be severely lacking when it comes to information about the Nerevarine Cult, but I believe an orc names Sharn Gra-Muzgob might know more”.
“Where might I find the orc then?”
Here Caius got an amused twinkle in his eye. “You’ll find her in the Balmora Mages Guildhall, so off with you, and try not to destroy something on the way”.
I growled at him before taking my leave. True the man was going to make me quite rich, but that was no reason not to despise him. My mood changed as soon as I stepped into the former Mages Guild hall. As soon as I entered two guards in Telvanni uniform snapped to attention.
“Welcome Arch Magister, everything is under control here”.
I gave the mer a nod as I refocused my vision. I had not managed to regain my former sight completely but I could now see everything in detail…just no colours. The walls were littered with blast marks both from fireballs and other dangerous forms of magic, and there were some splatters that I assumed to be blood, and the most amusing sight was the large blackened area that had the shape of a person running in the centre, clearly that particular fireball had been great if it could cause such a mark.
The main area downstairs was littered by Telvanni employees running to and fro while another duo of guards stood and kept watch over the remaining original inhabitants of the guild hall.
“Ah Arch Magister, I was so hoping you would show up”, A young aristocratic mer with fine clothing and an oily voice walked over to me, bowing as far as his back permitted him to. “Allow me to introduce myself, Saryn Taros, Wizard of the House, and I must say it is an honour to meet you at last”.
“Of that I have no doubt”, I remarked dryly as I looked around, there were a couple of workstations still standing, and after a brief inspection I found something interesting in one of the desks.
“Taros, I’d appreciate if you would give me a private room and send in the orc Sharn Gra-Muzgob…and do bring with you some refreshments, we may have decimated the Imperial dogs but there is no reason we cannot be civil”.
“Of course Arch Magister of course”, he scraped as he bowed again, “a room is ready for you at the top floor”.
I followed his directions and came to a small room with a table and three chairs and sat down. Soon after Taros and Muzgob entered, Taros holding a bottle of wine that had an ominous black aura around it and he was looking positively giddy as he sat the bottle before me.
“Taros, before you leave, I would like you to take a sip and tell me how the wine is”. His smile weakened slightly as he tried to figure out a way to get out of the situation I was now putting him in.
“Oh no Arch Magister I couldn’t possibly drink the wine that is reserved for you, it would be most improper”, he replied, and I was briefly impressed as his voice had lost none of its friendly subservient tone.
“As you wish”, he breathed out a quick sigh of relief. “GUARDS”, his eyes barely managed to widen before the door was smashed open as two armoured guards broke in.
“Detain this treacherous slime”, I said as I pointed a hand at a panicking Saryn Taros.
As soon as the guards held him in a vice grip I grabbed the bottle and walked over to him. “Lesson number one”, I said as I slammed my hand into his gut. “If you think you have the guts to kill me you better declare yourself as Magister first, lest you suffer execution for betrayal.
“Second”, here my knee smashed up between his legs, causing a high pitched scream to erupt from his mouth. “I AM TELVANNI, and I will destroy any who thinks to be my master”, after I had finished I forced open his mouth and forced the bottle into his mouth, and I did not stop pouring until he started to gurgle.
“Throw the honoured user out into the street”, the guards nodded and dragged him with them out of the room.
“Now Muzgob, an old man who lives in this town said you might have some notes for me”.
“But…oh yes, but I need you to do a task for me first”, Sharn looked a little more relaxed now as she possibly thought me to be loyal to the Emperor.
“Indeed”, I quirked an eyebrow as I struggled to think of one reason why I would do any errands for her.
“Let me lay it out for you so that you have all facts. I have taken control of the Mages Guild here on Vvardenfell and the Empire does not suspect anything, second I found a couple of interesting books on Necromancy down in your desk, along with notes on several experiments that you have performed. You do realize that Necromancy is punishable by death here on Vvardenfell? Imagine being burned alive…the smell of your own flesh roasting, trust me it is not an experience you wish to test out for yourself”.
“I-I see”, she stammered as the ramifications of her studies caught up with her.
“However if you were to give me…certain information pertaining a less than legal religious cult, I might just be so submerged in studying said information that I might forget all about what’s in your desk”.
“I-Imagine that”, she said as she grasped onto my words like they were a lifeline. “I…may happen to have knowledge on a subject that might catch your fancy Arch Magister, should you wish for some new material”.
I faked an interested smile, “Indeed, then follow me to my place where we might share information in private, we wouldn’t want to be interrupted”.
She nodded and hurried down to her wardrobe to fetch her travelling cloak while I summoned one of the guards. “Ten minutes after we are gone I want you to inform the Temple that Sharn Gra-Muzgob is a Necromancer, she knows too much about me and unlike the Imperials, the Temple will not believe her when she claims one of their Inquisitors to be a traitor to Imperial Law…and do send a courier to Sadrith Mora telling them that we have need of a new manager here”.
The guard nodded before giving me a crisp salute.
What followed was that I followed Sharn up to Caius’ house where she told us everything she knew about the Nerevarine cult, and then she stormed out of there intent on heading straight back to the guildhall. Unfortunately she was accosted by two Ordinators at the bridge who immediately slapped on magic inhibiting cuffs on her wrist, and I simply nodded politely at her as she tried to get free from their grips while yelling curses at my name.
Dislike killing or not, my first priority was to make sure that I would retain my freedom, and she was sadly in the way.
“I’ve studied the notes that you collected from Hasphat some time ago, and found them to be severely lacking when it comes to information about the Nerevarine Cult, but I believe an orc names Sharn Gra-Muzgob might know more”.
“Where might I find the orc then?”
Here Caius got an amused twinkle in his eye. “You’ll find her in the Balmora Mages Guildhall, so off with you, and try not to destroy something on the way”.
I growled at him before taking my leave. True the man was going to make me quite rich, but that was no reason not to despise him. My mood changed as soon as I stepped into the former Mages Guild hall. As soon as I entered two guards in Telvanni uniform snapped to attention.
“Welcome Arch Magister, everything is under control here”.
I gave the mer a nod as I refocused my vision. I had not managed to regain my former sight completely but I could now see everything in detail…just no colours. The walls were littered with blast marks both from fireballs and other dangerous forms of magic, and there were some splatters that I assumed to be blood, and the most amusing sight was the large blackened area that had the shape of a person running in the centre, clearly that particular fireball had been great if it could cause such a mark.
The main area downstairs was littered by Telvanni employees running to and fro while another duo of guards stood and kept watch over the remaining original inhabitants of the guild hall.
“Ah Arch Magister, I was so hoping you would show up”, A young aristocratic mer with fine clothing and an oily voice walked over to me, bowing as far as his back permitted him to. “Allow me to introduce myself, Saryn Taros, Wizard of the House, and I must say it is an honour to meet you at last”.
“Of that I have no doubt”, I remarked dryly as I looked around, there were a couple of workstations still standing, and after a brief inspection I found something interesting in one of the desks.
“Taros, I’d appreciate if you would give me a private room and send in the orc Sharn Gra-Muzgob…and do bring with you some refreshments, we may have decimated the Imperial dogs but there is no reason we cannot be civil”.
“Of course Arch Magister of course”, he scraped as he bowed again, “a room is ready for you at the top floor”.
I followed his directions and came to a small room with a table and three chairs and sat down. Soon after Taros and Muzgob entered, Taros holding a bottle of wine that had an ominous black aura around it and he was looking positively giddy as he sat the bottle before me.
“Taros, before you leave, I would like you to take a sip and tell me how the wine is”. His smile weakened slightly as he tried to figure out a way to get out of the situation I was now putting him in.
“Oh no Arch Magister I couldn’t possibly drink the wine that is reserved for you, it would be most improper”, he replied, and I was briefly impressed as his voice had lost none of its friendly subservient tone.
“As you wish”, he breathed out a quick sigh of relief. “GUARDS”, his eyes barely managed to widen before the door was smashed open as two armoured guards broke in.
“Detain this treacherous slime”, I said as I pointed a hand at a panicking Saryn Taros.
As soon as the guards held him in a vice grip I grabbed the bottle and walked over to him. “Lesson number one”, I said as I slammed my hand into his gut. “If you think you have the guts to kill me you better declare yourself as Magister first, lest you suffer execution for betrayal.
“Second”, here my knee smashed up between his legs, causing a high pitched scream to erupt from his mouth. “I AM TELVANNI, and I will destroy any who thinks to be my master”, after I had finished I forced open his mouth and forced the bottle into his mouth, and I did not stop pouring until he started to gurgle.
“Throw the honoured user out into the street”, the guards nodded and dragged him with them out of the room.
“Now Muzgob, an old man who lives in this town said you might have some notes for me”.
“But…oh yes, but I need you to do a task for me first”, Sharn looked a little more relaxed now as she possibly thought me to be loyal to the Emperor.
“Indeed”, I quirked an eyebrow as I struggled to think of one reason why I would do any errands for her.
“Let me lay it out for you so that you have all facts. I have taken control of the Mages Guild here on Vvardenfell and the Empire does not suspect anything, second I found a couple of interesting books on Necromancy down in your desk, along with notes on several experiments that you have performed. You do realize that Necromancy is punishable by death here on Vvardenfell? Imagine being burned alive…the smell of your own flesh roasting, trust me it is not an experience you wish to test out for yourself”.
“I-I see”, she stammered as the ramifications of her studies caught up with her.
“However if you were to give me…certain information pertaining a less than legal religious cult, I might just be so submerged in studying said information that I might forget all about what’s in your desk”.
“I-Imagine that”, she said as she grasped onto my words like they were a lifeline. “I…may happen to have knowledge on a subject that might catch your fancy Arch Magister, should you wish for some new material”.
I faked an interested smile, “Indeed, then follow me to my place where we might share information in private, we wouldn’t want to be interrupted”.
She nodded and hurried down to her wardrobe to fetch her travelling cloak while I summoned one of the guards. “Ten minutes after we are gone I want you to inform the Temple that Sharn Gra-Muzgob is a Necromancer, she knows too much about me and unlike the Imperials, the Temple will not believe her when she claims one of their Inquisitors to be a traitor to Imperial Law…and do send a courier to Sadrith Mora telling them that we have need of a new manager here”.
The guard nodded before giving me a crisp salute.
What followed was that I followed Sharn up to Caius’ house where she told us everything she knew about the Nerevarine cult, and then she stormed out of there intent on heading straight back to the guildhall. Unfortunately she was accosted by two Ordinators at the bridge who immediately slapped on magic inhibiting cuffs on her wrist, and I simply nodded politely at her as she tried to get free from their grips while yelling curses at my name.
Dislike killing or not, my first priority was to make sure that I would retain my freedom, and she was sadly in the way.
Hmm...a double post again, this wont do 
. Anyways this is just a short one, but I hope you enjoy it all the same, especially the ending which opens up all sorts of choices and theoriesm so please bring forth your best guesses.
Instead of teleporting to Vivec I decided to walk, after all one never knows what the road might bring. I had gotten a mile or so south from Balmora when I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Before whatever was out there could react I had grasped my staff securely and made myself ready to fight.
Normally I would have used my sight to find my assailants, but there was something close by that handicapped it…oh I could still see in colourless detail but was somehow unable to gaze upon their auras. As soon as I heard the soft whistle of an arrow I spun around, and the enchanted arrow splintered to bits when it hit a spherical golden shield, and I smirked slightly when I heard loud curses.
I steeled myself before extending my hand and with an intense effort of will and magic the sky darkened and several bolts of lightning smashed down into the area where the arrow had come from and was rewarded by several screams. My satisfaction was however rudely banished when the pain from an arrow announced its presence in my left arm.
Swearing heartily I ran as fast as I could up to an almost completely hidden door, that I entered and bolted behind me. All too soon I could hear pounding and my rest was cut short as I drained a couple of potions before stepping backwards. Instead of retreating much further into the cave I loaded up the Armageddon spell that Jaron had taught me.
Holes appeared in the door as it was hit repeatedly and to my brief amusement I was hit with a silence spell mere seconds before the door was smashed down…too bad for them that I did not require the use of my tongue to cast spells. With roaring curses they spilled into the cave and as I suspected they were from the Dark Brotherhood. Their thoughts of victory were brutally banished however as the most powerful spell in my arsenal reduced several of the assassins to ashes, and severely burnt the few remaining. Screaming in pain at the burning flames they staggered backwards.
Two were dispatched swiftly as they received a bolt each to the back of their head. Another perished as I hit him with a second less powerful spell. Two more died a bit slower, thanks to their slit throats and then there was only the leader left.
I was tired and low on magicka, he however was afraid of failing and fearful as my skills proved that I could well enough handle myself.
Slowly we circled each other before striking. I winced as my left cheek was split open, while my assailant winced as he readjusted the metal plate protecting his soft tissue. This continued for a while, he was more skilled than I was, but I was much swifter, but after a few minutes both of us were bleeding from a score of light wounds, I was nursing a sore rib while my opponent was walking very carefully, metal plate or not the times I had hit him below the belt was starting to pain him greatly.
Again he struck and I blocked his strike with the Monarch, forcing us into a blade lock…that is when I cheated. I looked into his eyes and smashed into his mind with my own, memories not my own passed before my eyes as I ‘gripped’ his mind with my own and for the lack of a better word ‘squeezed’ as hard as I could. Vaguely I remember screaming from my unfortunate victim, but what I remember most was the feeling of pain and panic from his as I basically tore his mind apart.
Suddenly his memories and feelings disappeared to be replaced with nothingness and then I pulled out, and I was shocked at what I saw. He was lying on the ground, with a glassy look in his eyes with drool and phlegm running out from his nose and mouth. His nails had been ripped out as his body had clawed helplessly on the rocky ground and blood was dribbling softly down from his eyes and ears a true testament of the power behind my mental attack, and the stab into his chest with the Monarch was more of a mercy kill than anything else.
After I was sure everyone else was dead I sat down heavily. While the Dark Brotherhood on the mainland had been eliminated, Vvardenfell was still full with them, though I suspected their numbers had thinned quite a bit after this recent attack. While I survived the attack I could not continue doing this forever, so it was with a grim mood that I opened the small connection that existed between me and my Mouth.
‘Arch Magister, what can I help you with?’, ‘Eddie’s’ voice sounded within my mind.
‘I need you to talk with my advisor about any plans he has formulated on how to remove Duke Dren from the face of Nirn…permanently’.
While he was surprised he held his obvious opinion to himself, which I was grateful for as I had no desire for more fights for the day. Now that the fight was over I started to explore the cave I’d found, and discovered why my magical sight did not work.
The cave was a huge mine, and the reason my magic sight was blocked became clear. Other than the huge deposits of raw ebony that you could almost pick off the ground I spotted a giant vein of silver.
Not many people know this but silver is the most effective natural magic dampener discovered, and if you manage to get past its natural resistance and enchant it then you can sit back and enjoy the almost complete magical protection than one can get. For hours I walked through the massive mine until I realized exactly what was going on. A devilish smirk spread over my face as I marked my location and translocated to my chambers in the Council Hall.
“Llovyn I want you to round up as many workers as possible, I don’t care if they are hired or slaves, get them and I want guards as well, unquestionably loyal guards and I want them all outside five hours ago”, I snapped to my surprised advisor.
Amazingly it took him just two seconds to comprehend what I was saying before he took off at a speed that would rival ‘Fast Eddie’, as a matter of fact I still swear to this day that I could feel the wind draft as he raced past me.
To my great satisfaction it took three hours before I had twenty guards and nearly three hundred workers, most of them wearing slave bracers. I took a quick look over all of them before I opened up a doorway that led outside my stronghold, and after everyone had passed through I followed and closed the doorway.
“Listen up, I have found the lost and legendary Vassir-Didanat silver and ebony mine, and we are going to clean it out, everyone will be compensated for the hard work and the slaves will be granted freedom when the mine has been emptied, I give you all my word”.
Hundreds of loud cheers met me as slaves shouted at their promised freedom, and the Telvanni in the crowd cheered at the idea of robbing the Hlaalu right under their noses. What followed was an intensive hour as I experimented and eventually succeeded at making a permanent doorway, that way we could clear out the mine and bring the silver and ebony directly to my stronghold without Hlaalu scouts in their area being none the wiser.
I was not given a chance at rest however as Eddie requested my presence back at Sadrith Mora to present a solution about the Dren problem.
Once I entered my chambers in the Council Hall I was met by my advisor and a Dunmer female wearing the colours of a Telvanni House Member.
“Well Llovyn, I hear that you have a solution for my problem concerning Duke Dren”.
“Yes Arch Magister, allow me to introduce the Duke’s heir and daughter Ilmeni Dren Spellwright of the House”.
A wicked smile grazed my face as I sat down on my throne, before offering her a set. Daintily grabbing a cup of wine I smiled at her, “please, tell me more”.
And that's it for tonight. I think I have up to ten or twelve more updates to finish before I can call this chapter a wrap as I really want to make the chapter true to it's title...it is after all the Rise of House Telvanni.
And for those of you who can't wait the title of the next chapter is:
Saints and Dirty Politics.
. Anyways this is just a short one, but I hope you enjoy it all the same, especially the ending which opens up all sorts of choices and theoriesm so please bring forth your best guesses.Instead of teleporting to Vivec I decided to walk, after all one never knows what the road might bring. I had gotten a mile or so south from Balmora when I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Before whatever was out there could react I had grasped my staff securely and made myself ready to fight.
Normally I would have used my sight to find my assailants, but there was something close by that handicapped it…oh I could still see in colourless detail but was somehow unable to gaze upon their auras. As soon as I heard the soft whistle of an arrow I spun around, and the enchanted arrow splintered to bits when it hit a spherical golden shield, and I smirked slightly when I heard loud curses.
I steeled myself before extending my hand and with an intense effort of will and magic the sky darkened and several bolts of lightning smashed down into the area where the arrow had come from and was rewarded by several screams. My satisfaction was however rudely banished when the pain from an arrow announced its presence in my left arm.
Swearing heartily I ran as fast as I could up to an almost completely hidden door, that I entered and bolted behind me. All too soon I could hear pounding and my rest was cut short as I drained a couple of potions before stepping backwards. Instead of retreating much further into the cave I loaded up the Armageddon spell that Jaron had taught me.
Holes appeared in the door as it was hit repeatedly and to my brief amusement I was hit with a silence spell mere seconds before the door was smashed down…too bad for them that I did not require the use of my tongue to cast spells. With roaring curses they spilled into the cave and as I suspected they were from the Dark Brotherhood. Their thoughts of victory were brutally banished however as the most powerful spell in my arsenal reduced several of the assassins to ashes, and severely burnt the few remaining. Screaming in pain at the burning flames they staggered backwards.
Two were dispatched swiftly as they received a bolt each to the back of their head. Another perished as I hit him with a second less powerful spell. Two more died a bit slower, thanks to their slit throats and then there was only the leader left.
I was tired and low on magicka, he however was afraid of failing and fearful as my skills proved that I could well enough handle myself.
Slowly we circled each other before striking. I winced as my left cheek was split open, while my assailant winced as he readjusted the metal plate protecting his soft tissue. This continued for a while, he was more skilled than I was, but I was much swifter, but after a few minutes both of us were bleeding from a score of light wounds, I was nursing a sore rib while my opponent was walking very carefully, metal plate or not the times I had hit him below the belt was starting to pain him greatly.
Again he struck and I blocked his strike with the Monarch, forcing us into a blade lock…that is when I cheated. I looked into his eyes and smashed into his mind with my own, memories not my own passed before my eyes as I ‘gripped’ his mind with my own and for the lack of a better word ‘squeezed’ as hard as I could. Vaguely I remember screaming from my unfortunate victim, but what I remember most was the feeling of pain and panic from his as I basically tore his mind apart.
Suddenly his memories and feelings disappeared to be replaced with nothingness and then I pulled out, and I was shocked at what I saw. He was lying on the ground, with a glassy look in his eyes with drool and phlegm running out from his nose and mouth. His nails had been ripped out as his body had clawed helplessly on the rocky ground and blood was dribbling softly down from his eyes and ears a true testament of the power behind my mental attack, and the stab into his chest with the Monarch was more of a mercy kill than anything else.
After I was sure everyone else was dead I sat down heavily. While the Dark Brotherhood on the mainland had been eliminated, Vvardenfell was still full with them, though I suspected their numbers had thinned quite a bit after this recent attack. While I survived the attack I could not continue doing this forever, so it was with a grim mood that I opened the small connection that existed between me and my Mouth.
‘Arch Magister, what can I help you with?’, ‘Eddie’s’ voice sounded within my mind.
‘I need you to talk with my advisor about any plans he has formulated on how to remove Duke Dren from the face of Nirn…permanently’.
While he was surprised he held his obvious opinion to himself, which I was grateful for as I had no desire for more fights for the day. Now that the fight was over I started to explore the cave I’d found, and discovered why my magical sight did not work.
The cave was a huge mine, and the reason my magic sight was blocked became clear. Other than the huge deposits of raw ebony that you could almost pick off the ground I spotted a giant vein of silver.
Not many people know this but silver is the most effective natural magic dampener discovered, and if you manage to get past its natural resistance and enchant it then you can sit back and enjoy the almost complete magical protection than one can get. For hours I walked through the massive mine until I realized exactly what was going on. A devilish smirk spread over my face as I marked my location and translocated to my chambers in the Council Hall.
“Llovyn I want you to round up as many workers as possible, I don’t care if they are hired or slaves, get them and I want guards as well, unquestionably loyal guards and I want them all outside five hours ago”, I snapped to my surprised advisor.
Amazingly it took him just two seconds to comprehend what I was saying before he took off at a speed that would rival ‘Fast Eddie’, as a matter of fact I still swear to this day that I could feel the wind draft as he raced past me.
To my great satisfaction it took three hours before I had twenty guards and nearly three hundred workers, most of them wearing slave bracers. I took a quick look over all of them before I opened up a doorway that led outside my stronghold, and after everyone had passed through I followed and closed the doorway.
“Listen up, I have found the lost and legendary Vassir-Didanat silver and ebony mine, and we are going to clean it out, everyone will be compensated for the hard work and the slaves will be granted freedom when the mine has been emptied, I give you all my word”.
Hundreds of loud cheers met me as slaves shouted at their promised freedom, and the Telvanni in the crowd cheered at the idea of robbing the Hlaalu right under their noses. What followed was an intensive hour as I experimented and eventually succeeded at making a permanent doorway, that way we could clear out the mine and bring the silver and ebony directly to my stronghold without Hlaalu scouts in their area being none the wiser.
I was not given a chance at rest however as Eddie requested my presence back at Sadrith Mora to present a solution about the Dren problem.
Once I entered my chambers in the Council Hall I was met by my advisor and a Dunmer female wearing the colours of a Telvanni House Member.
“Well Llovyn, I hear that you have a solution for my problem concerning Duke Dren”.
“Yes Arch Magister, allow me to introduce the Duke’s heir and daughter Ilmeni Dren Spellwright of the House”.
A wicked smile grazed my face as I sat down on my throne, before offering her a set. Daintily grabbing a cup of wine I smiled at her, “please, tell me more”.
And that's it for tonight. I think I have up to ten or twelve more updates to finish before I can call this chapter a wrap as I really want to make the chapter true to it's title...it is after all the Rise of House Telvanni.
And for those of you who can't wait the title of the next chapter is:
Saints and Dirty Politics.
And here is the next installment.
Ilmeni smiled as she took an offered goblet. “My father is deep in the Empire’s pocket, and what’s more I know of his…other position. I do not consider a cutthroat as family and he plans to marry me away to that…slime Varus Vantinius, whatever I can do to help I will”.
I grinned as the possibilities opened up to me. “If you can get me into his chambers I can kill him. House Telvanni will naturally support your new status as Duchess, and your uncle will support it as well, meaning that House Hlaalu will support you, and that is all that is needed”.
Ilmeni looked shocked at me for a second. “How will you get Orvas to support me, I thought he would push to be Duke himself”.
I gave a short laugh. “He likes to be alive more than he’d like to be Duke, you see I have evidence that he is the leader of the Camonna Tong, and that he is aware that several members are dabbling in Necromancy…you do know the penalty for Necromancy don’t you?”
“Death”, she stated as a light went up in her eyes. “That will definitely guarantee his support, so what are your goals after I’m made Duchess, Arch Magister?”
“My sister is about to receive a promotion, and seeing as the Hlaalu manor of the late Reynesa Rethan was destroyed by me that particular area could be gifted to House Telvanni by rights of conquest. We can then tax the Hlaalu travelling between Balmora and Suran, if you procure the construction contract of course”.
All three of us shared a laugh, as we imagined a noose tightening around the neck of House Hlaalu. They had prospered for a time as Imperial presence in Vvardenfell increased, but it was only a matter of time before they were eradicated.
“After we have taken care of that, we can make sure that incriminating evidence is found at the East Empire Company. Naturally with House Telvanni being the discoverer of said evidence will take over their sites here in Vvardenfell”.
“A brilliant plan Arch Magister, I shall dispatch our very best spies to place the evidence, as soon as it is finished I’ll let you know”, Llovyn said as he wrote furiously at a piece of parchment.
Ilmeni handed over a key that would take me into Duke Dren’s quarters. “By your leave then, Arch Magister”.
I waved her away as I readied myself. I would have to be careful when I infiltrated Dren’s castle, as there would still be guards on duty.
I had waited until nightfall before I teleported to Ebonheart. As I suspected the place was crawling with legionnaires and I wrinkled my nose in distaste as I passed by them unnoticed, thanks to a powerful chameleonic spell. ‘You just wait, your time will come and when it does it is leave or die’.
Infiltrating the castle was easy with the hefty use of my chameleon spell and handy use of telekinesis and before long I stood in Dren’s room. Before he could act I slapped a paralyze spell on him. The look on his face as I opened up a bottle of untraceable poison was most satisfying, and soon he was gurgling with foam coming out from his mouth as he desperately struggled to hang onto his life. But it was not to be and I gently placed him in his bed and vanished any trace of the foaming around his mouth. To any observer it would appear that he died a natural death in his sleep. I grinned with nostalgia as I wondered if people would start to compare me with Helseth soon.
My enemies did seem to die, or lose handily to my convenience but without definite proof I was still untouchable. Knowing that my work was done I teleported back to my chambers in Sadrith Mora, where both Llovyn and Eddie were waiting for me.
Taking a seat I gave them my leave to speak. “Arch Magister, events have now been set in motion that will destabilize the East Empire Company, but with all that has happened lately I feel it would be best if you made yourself scarce for some time, perhaps doing some more work for the Temple?”
I nodded absently, my thoughts similar to his. “Good, I shall take your suggestion, I will do some more work for the Temple, at least they won’t question my intentions”.
The next day I met up with Lord Inquisitor Czevak in the Ministry of Truth. “Due to the increase of Daedra worship we are reinstating an old part of the Inquisition. The Ordo Daemonicum is from now on your new station, the headquarters is in the underworks of the St.Olms canton, report there for further orders.
I saluted him before taking my leave, stopping only to suit up in some Indoril armour. A quick walk later found me standing in a large library in the St.Olms headquarter, where an Inquisitor clad in red robes awaited me.
“Good day Inquisitor Delvanni, I am Tharer Neloth, Lord Inquisitor and in charge of the daily running of this place. Tell me what do you know of our Order”.
I sat down in a chair and accepted a glass of wine. “To be frank my Lord I know nothing, but I expect it has something to do with Daedra”.
He nodded as he took a sip from his own goblet. “You are correct. You see when the amount of Daedra present grows too large, barriers separating us from Oblivion grows unstable and some places ‘gaps’ may appear, releasing hundreds of Daedra. Our job is to hunt down the Daedra and destroy them”.
My eyes widened, that particular piece of knowledge was news to me, and frankly it was unsettling, I did not fancy having an army of Daedra camping outside my stronghold.
“Disconcerting is it not?” he asked as he read the look on my face. “I want you to go out and hunt down as many Daedra as you can, and bring me their hearts, get enough of them and I’ll promote you to Master Inquisitor”.
I was about to leave when he stopped me. “You may need this”, he handed me a folded scroll. “This is an Inquisitorial Mandate, it gives you the right to do what is necessary to contain the Daedra threat here on Vvardenfell, though be aware should you misuse this mandate you will be hunted down and executed”.
I licked my lips as whole avenues of new possibilities opened to me. “What would you count as misuse?”
“Well, large scale murder for example. The Mandate gives you the right to ‘borrow’ any item you may wish to aid you, and we do realize that sometimes civilians are caught in the crossfire, and that sometimes laws have to be broken for the greater good…but do try to keep any law breaks to a minimum”.
I nodded respectfully. I might be a ruthless paranoid Telvanni Arch Magister, but that did not mean that I was without a conscience or a sense of duty. I had sworn to protect the people of Vvardenfell to the best of my ability, and if doing so also allowed me to promote House Telvanni’s position, well who was I to blame.
“I will cleanse any Daedric Shrine I come across in my travels”, I said. Little did I know how that would come back to bite me later.
Ilmeni smiled as she took an offered goblet. “My father is deep in the Empire’s pocket, and what’s more I know of his…other position. I do not consider a cutthroat as family and he plans to marry me away to that…slime Varus Vantinius, whatever I can do to help I will”.
I grinned as the possibilities opened up to me. “If you can get me into his chambers I can kill him. House Telvanni will naturally support your new status as Duchess, and your uncle will support it as well, meaning that House Hlaalu will support you, and that is all that is needed”.
Ilmeni looked shocked at me for a second. “How will you get Orvas to support me, I thought he would push to be Duke himself”.
I gave a short laugh. “He likes to be alive more than he’d like to be Duke, you see I have evidence that he is the leader of the Camonna Tong, and that he is aware that several members are dabbling in Necromancy…you do know the penalty for Necromancy don’t you?”
“Death”, she stated as a light went up in her eyes. “That will definitely guarantee his support, so what are your goals after I’m made Duchess, Arch Magister?”
“My sister is about to receive a promotion, and seeing as the Hlaalu manor of the late Reynesa Rethan was destroyed by me that particular area could be gifted to House Telvanni by rights of conquest. We can then tax the Hlaalu travelling between Balmora and Suran, if you procure the construction contract of course”.
All three of us shared a laugh, as we imagined a noose tightening around the neck of House Hlaalu. They had prospered for a time as Imperial presence in Vvardenfell increased, but it was only a matter of time before they were eradicated.
“After we have taken care of that, we can make sure that incriminating evidence is found at the East Empire Company. Naturally with House Telvanni being the discoverer of said evidence will take over their sites here in Vvardenfell”.
“A brilliant plan Arch Magister, I shall dispatch our very best spies to place the evidence, as soon as it is finished I’ll let you know”, Llovyn said as he wrote furiously at a piece of parchment.
Ilmeni handed over a key that would take me into Duke Dren’s quarters. “By your leave then, Arch Magister”.
I waved her away as I readied myself. I would have to be careful when I infiltrated Dren’s castle, as there would still be guards on duty.
I had waited until nightfall before I teleported to Ebonheart. As I suspected the place was crawling with legionnaires and I wrinkled my nose in distaste as I passed by them unnoticed, thanks to a powerful chameleonic spell. ‘You just wait, your time will come and when it does it is leave or die’.
Infiltrating the castle was easy with the hefty use of my chameleon spell and handy use of telekinesis and before long I stood in Dren’s room. Before he could act I slapped a paralyze spell on him. The look on his face as I opened up a bottle of untraceable poison was most satisfying, and soon he was gurgling with foam coming out from his mouth as he desperately struggled to hang onto his life. But it was not to be and I gently placed him in his bed and vanished any trace of the foaming around his mouth. To any observer it would appear that he died a natural death in his sleep. I grinned with nostalgia as I wondered if people would start to compare me with Helseth soon.
My enemies did seem to die, or lose handily to my convenience but without definite proof I was still untouchable. Knowing that my work was done I teleported back to my chambers in Sadrith Mora, where both Llovyn and Eddie were waiting for me.
Taking a seat I gave them my leave to speak. “Arch Magister, events have now been set in motion that will destabilize the East Empire Company, but with all that has happened lately I feel it would be best if you made yourself scarce for some time, perhaps doing some more work for the Temple?”
I nodded absently, my thoughts similar to his. “Good, I shall take your suggestion, I will do some more work for the Temple, at least they won’t question my intentions”.
The next day I met up with Lord Inquisitor Czevak in the Ministry of Truth. “Due to the increase of Daedra worship we are reinstating an old part of the Inquisition. The Ordo Daemonicum is from now on your new station, the headquarters is in the underworks of the St.Olms canton, report there for further orders.
I saluted him before taking my leave, stopping only to suit up in some Indoril armour. A quick walk later found me standing in a large library in the St.Olms headquarter, where an Inquisitor clad in red robes awaited me.
“Good day Inquisitor Delvanni, I am Tharer Neloth, Lord Inquisitor and in charge of the daily running of this place. Tell me what do you know of our Order”.
I sat down in a chair and accepted a glass of wine. “To be frank my Lord I know nothing, but I expect it has something to do with Daedra”.
He nodded as he took a sip from his own goblet. “You are correct. You see when the amount of Daedra present grows too large, barriers separating us from Oblivion grows unstable and some places ‘gaps’ may appear, releasing hundreds of Daedra. Our job is to hunt down the Daedra and destroy them”.
My eyes widened, that particular piece of knowledge was news to me, and frankly it was unsettling, I did not fancy having an army of Daedra camping outside my stronghold.
“Disconcerting is it not?” he asked as he read the look on my face. “I want you to go out and hunt down as many Daedra as you can, and bring me their hearts, get enough of them and I’ll promote you to Master Inquisitor”.
I was about to leave when he stopped me. “You may need this”, he handed me a folded scroll. “This is an Inquisitorial Mandate, it gives you the right to do what is necessary to contain the Daedra threat here on Vvardenfell, though be aware should you misuse this mandate you will be hunted down and executed”.
I licked my lips as whole avenues of new possibilities opened to me. “What would you count as misuse?”
“Well, large scale murder for example. The Mandate gives you the right to ‘borrow’ any item you may wish to aid you, and we do realize that sometimes civilians are caught in the crossfire, and that sometimes laws have to be broken for the greater good…but do try to keep any law breaks to a minimum”.
I nodded respectfully. I might be a ruthless paranoid Telvanni Arch Magister, but that did not mean that I was without a conscience or a sense of duty. I had sworn to protect the people of Vvardenfell to the best of my ability, and if doing so also allowed me to promote House Telvanni’s position, well who was I to blame.
“I will cleanse any Daedric Shrine I come across in my travels”, I said. Little did I know how that would come back to bite me later.
A VERY long one today.
Deciding to check at the High Fane to see if there were anything for me to do I checked in with Endryn Llethan. “Yes I do have something for you. It appears that Tanusea Veloth, a devout pilgrim has contracted the Corpus disease and I want you to convince her to visit Divayth Fyr’s Corpusarium before she can spread the disease to others”.
“And, where might I find sera Veloth?”
“I’ve heard that she is spending her time in the arena canton, for the most part at least”.
I nodded my thanks and took the gondolier service over to the arena, where I quickly found her in the spectator’s area. She was easily spotted as the one who was avoided like the plague and the angry red blotches on her sickly greying skin. Steeling myself I approached her.
“Arch Magister Delvanni, I, this is a most unexpected honour, I witnessed your last match”.
I smiled gratefully as I sat down. Every part of my incessantly paranoid mind fought with tooth and claw to get me as far away as possible, but my stubborn nature prevailed. “I wish sera Veloth that this was nothing more than a friendly visit, but I’ve been tasked by the Temple to inform you to seek aid for your disease”.
“Di-disease, I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather but nothing that the healers of the Temple won’t be able to fix, they they told me so”.
I sighed, clearly she refused to believe that she might be infected with Corprus so this would require a measure of tact. “Then seeing as they have not produced any results would you seek out Master Fyr? I’m sure it’s nothing serious, but he is the greatest healer on the island and might shed some light over your ailment”.
She looked suspiciously at me, but her meagre skills of detecting lies was nothing compared to my own skills with lies. “I-I suppose it would do no harm, and it is always best to be sure about these things…I will seek out Divayth Fyr then”.
I sighed with relief as she left and instantly teleported back to my stronghold for a quick bath before my return to the Temple. While I was at my stronghold I was pleased to see that work on robbing the Hlaalu mine was going faster than planned and better yet was that the large wall surrounding my land had been erected, with a massive steel gate that required a full dozen strong pack guars to open.
“Arch Magister?” Raina’s voice shook me out of my musings. “Yes Raina”.
“I was wondering if you would consent to allow me to start the construction of a city here. We have nearly a hundred families with different professions who wish to settle down, many of them are reputable merchants who have fled from various points in the Empire due to prejudices that have been shown to them”.
My day was just getting better, more people meant more money, more money meant more protection and more protection meant better chances of living to the end of days, I would be a fool to not accept. “Of course, see that it is done, but make sure that areas are cordoned off and the like…though I hate to say it the Imperial city is a strategic nightmare to attack, do something similar here”.
She nodded as she started to draw out schematics on a map, drawing in new walls and gates, some places like Mzanchend and my Ebony and Glass mine would be completely restricted, as would entrance into the area where my Tel stood. The mine and city districts would be guarded by House guards, while my ‘Inner Circle’ and Mzanchend would be guarded by programmed Dwemer constructs.
As soon as I had rested a little bit I returned to the High Fane, where Endryn was so pleased that he gave me four books and a pair of cure disease potions. “Now I want you to make a pilgrimage to Sanctus Shrine, but there is a catch, you must take a vow of silence and that you will walk the entire way, no use of transportational magic of other forms of transport”.
I nodded surly as I made the vows. I may be willing to renege on promises given to Imperial filth and others who sought to dominate me, but not the Temple. I KNEW that the ALMSIVI was the real deal, and I knew of their deeds, and I would rather be with that power than set against it. Still this was probably the worst quest I had accepted to that date and it would take me days to reach that shrine which was conveniently up north, west of Dagon Fel.
The seven days I spent walking to Sanctus Shrine was spent in a perpetual dark mood, and I made true to my word as I cleansed seventeen Daedra Shrines of their inhabitants. Where before I had been creeped out and yes even fearful at the sight of the ruined shrines, my being was now filled with fiery passion as I imagined every cultist and Daedra to be someone I hated. The Emperor, Cosades, Tienus Delitian, Neloth even Helseth was imagined sometimes, and it was with great relief that I prayed to the shrine that was set up, I was shocked however when a voice spoke back to me.
Still the ruins had given me an abundance of coinage jewels, enchanted weapons, Daedric and Ebony weapons and armour and most importantly I now had over a hundred and fifty daedra hearts.
‘You have done well Delvanni. Sotha Sil and I have watched you and we are most pleased at what you have become…you may not know your purpose yet, but continue your path and it will be revealed to you’, I shivered. The voice that had spoken in my mind was male, and there was really only one male voice I knew of that could hold that kind of familiarity with Sotha Sil, still I could not help but think of why in the name of Azura, Vivec and Sotha Sil had been following my actions.
(----------------)(--------------)(-----------------)(-----------------)(-----------------)(--------------------)
“Excellent Delvanni, I hereby promote you to the rank of Diviner, and also should you chose to accept it another assignment”, Endryn if nothing else shocked when he heard my explanation of why I had taken a full week to walk up to a shrine when most did it on four to six days, still once I told him that parts of my duties as an Inquisitor was to cleanse Daedra Shrines he had quickly stopped asking questions.
“You see, someone stole the Shoes of Saint Rilms, and we believe the perpetrator is hiding in the Daedra Shrine of Ald Sotha and…! My word, those are indeed the shoes, I take it that you have already cleansed the shrine then?” at my nod he reverently accepted the shoes.
I really only have one other thing for you to do then. Rumours of a Daedra cult in the St.Delyn canton has reached our ears, but Ordinators have been stretched thin lately, and the Inquisition even more so. Find these heretics and place them under your sword”
Instead of making my way over St.Delyn I visited the headquarters of Ordo Daemonicus first to deliver the Daedra hearts. “Excellent, by the powers granted to me by Grand Master Tholer Saryoni, Archcanon of the Temple, Lord Inquisitor, Master of Sermons, House Father of Great House Redoran and Master Scribe to our Lord Vehk, I promote you to the rank of Master Inquisitor, and present you with the Armour of Power, and Starbreaker”, he finished reading from the scroll, and I was forced to roll my eyes.
Though the Temple did many good things for its people its top officials loved to cling to their titles. My annoyance instantly evaporated as I caught sight of the armour. It was the same armour I had seen Divayth Fyr wear, and I now recognised it as Daedric armour and it was heavily enchanted. Starbreaker also raised my eyebrows as I studied the massive enchanted Dadric warhammer. Though it looked identical to Veloth’s Judgement it was imbued with a powerful spell of feather and a special spell of Daedra banishment.
“Would you like help with fitting the armour onto your body?”
I nodded, and almost collapsed when the heavy Cuirass slipped over my shoulders, only to gasp in surprise as it turned weightless. “The cuirass is enchanted with a feather spell, the boots are for speed the greaves are for endurance and the gauntlets and pauldrons for strength. This is one of three sets left in existence enchanted by Sotha Sil, here in the Ordo Daemonicum we provide the best for our best…never forget that”.
I nodded dazedly as my mind razed, wearing armour enchanted by a living God, who wouldn’t be amazed. “Forgive me my Lord, but why me, I’m sure there are others as well who are…more qualified than I am”, I cursed my self as soon as the words left my mouth, here I was handed the best armour once could get and I started to complain.
“I carry one, and the one in charge of our operations on the mainland carry one. Normally one of his agents would receive this, but you me and Grandmaster Sarioni are the only ones left of the Ordo Daemonicum here on Vvardenfell, the rest have died chasing down a most foul Daedra which resides in Ald Daedroth, I suggest you visit him before you leave for the Shrine”.
I thanked him again and left. The trip to St.Delyn cleared my mind however and after a thorough search of the canal works I came to the entrance of the shrine. When I stepped through the door I was already prepared, and a bolt was fired from the crossbows I held in each hand, and one of the cultists collapsed as he was pierced by both bolts.
A ferocious thrust by a sword was stopped as I conjured forth a golden bubble formed shield that enveloped my body. While I kept the shield going I prepared another a raw orb of magic to form in my hand, and then I dropped my shield while releasing the orb of magic.
Everyone in the room, including me was flung away as the orb exploded on a hapless cultist, who to my fascination simply…disintegrated, and for the first time that day I praised my new armour as I barely felt my impact against the wall in the shrine.
I fumbled after my staff which I had lost in the explosion but was forced to discard it and draw my new hammer instead as a pair of Dremora Lords advanced on me. Holding the Daedric hammer that was now shining brightly at the presence of the Daedra I prepared myself for a tough fight.
The two Dremora however seemed to recognise the Holy weapon, and after a brief look at each other they turned on their summoner, and sliced him to ribbons before disappearing in a swirling cloud of dust. Everyone of us looked at each other in shock at what had happened, and then the cultists started to advance again.
‘I need a distraction’, I threw the hammer as hard as I could towards the leader who was carrying a deadly looking white spear. He managed to dodge but the mer behind him was not so fortunate and the hammer plunged into his head with the pointy end first.
With practised ease I summoned my staff, and swung it as hard and fast as I could, and a blast of wind was pushed out. The moving air travelled so fast that three of my enemies were bisected at the power of it, but any more spells were out of the question as my remaining two enemies were upon me.
I dodged a stab by the nasty looking spear, and swung out with the staff driving him back. My armour deflected a clumsy thrust by my other adversary as I went after the leader. We traded blows for a while, He was blocking while I dodged his return thrusts, relying on my armour to protect me from the paltry iron sword the other one was using. Finally the leader did a mistake and he managed to skewer his compatriot when I dodged out of the way.
Before he could retrieve his sword however, I jumped on him and delivered an armoured haymaker directly into his face. He screamed with pain as my gauntleted hand smashed his nose in, and he spat out several teeth. Instead of allowing him to recuperate I pressed my attack, delivering punch after punch. He futilely tried to hit me back, but I grabbed him by his wrist and dragged him forward while at the same time slamming my spiky armoured knee into his abdomen.
He fell weakly to the floor as he grabbed his bleeding stomach, and did not even try to fight as I grabbed his head in a vice grip and twisted. A loud ‘SNAP’ sounded and he went limp in my arms as his neck was broken.
I picked up my hammer and staff, and after brief consideration I also grabbed the spear which I realized was the Spear of Bitter Mercy, other than that I picked up a few scrolls. Sweeping the bloodied room again with my gaze I put it to the torch and headed up to the High Fane to speak with the Archcanon.
For those of you who might raise your eyes at Telina's new armour, I figure that there can't be many more dangerous jobs than to go and hunt down daedra, and it only makes sense that the Inquisition would provide the best armour possible for its warriors...and the armour of Almalexia's hands is still better (those who guard her in her chambers, not the regular High Ordinators).
Also a cookie and to the one who manages to guess why Vivec and Sotha Sil have been watching Telina and what plan they have for her. Read and review and I'll see you guys (and girls minque) later.
Deciding to check at the High Fane to see if there were anything for me to do I checked in with Endryn Llethan. “Yes I do have something for you. It appears that Tanusea Veloth, a devout pilgrim has contracted the Corpus disease and I want you to convince her to visit Divayth Fyr’s Corpusarium before she can spread the disease to others”.
“And, where might I find sera Veloth?”
“I’ve heard that she is spending her time in the arena canton, for the most part at least”.
I nodded my thanks and took the gondolier service over to the arena, where I quickly found her in the spectator’s area. She was easily spotted as the one who was avoided like the plague and the angry red blotches on her sickly greying skin. Steeling myself I approached her.
“Arch Magister Delvanni, I, this is a most unexpected honour, I witnessed your last match”.
I smiled gratefully as I sat down. Every part of my incessantly paranoid mind fought with tooth and claw to get me as far away as possible, but my stubborn nature prevailed. “I wish sera Veloth that this was nothing more than a friendly visit, but I’ve been tasked by the Temple to inform you to seek aid for your disease”.
“Di-disease, I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather but nothing that the healers of the Temple won’t be able to fix, they they told me so”.
I sighed, clearly she refused to believe that she might be infected with Corprus so this would require a measure of tact. “Then seeing as they have not produced any results would you seek out Master Fyr? I’m sure it’s nothing serious, but he is the greatest healer on the island and might shed some light over your ailment”.
She looked suspiciously at me, but her meagre skills of detecting lies was nothing compared to my own skills with lies. “I-I suppose it would do no harm, and it is always best to be sure about these things…I will seek out Divayth Fyr then”.
I sighed with relief as she left and instantly teleported back to my stronghold for a quick bath before my return to the Temple. While I was at my stronghold I was pleased to see that work on robbing the Hlaalu mine was going faster than planned and better yet was that the large wall surrounding my land had been erected, with a massive steel gate that required a full dozen strong pack guars to open.
“Arch Magister?” Raina’s voice shook me out of my musings. “Yes Raina”.
“I was wondering if you would consent to allow me to start the construction of a city here. We have nearly a hundred families with different professions who wish to settle down, many of them are reputable merchants who have fled from various points in the Empire due to prejudices that have been shown to them”.
My day was just getting better, more people meant more money, more money meant more protection and more protection meant better chances of living to the end of days, I would be a fool to not accept. “Of course, see that it is done, but make sure that areas are cordoned off and the like…though I hate to say it the Imperial city is a strategic nightmare to attack, do something similar here”.
She nodded as she started to draw out schematics on a map, drawing in new walls and gates, some places like Mzanchend and my Ebony and Glass mine would be completely restricted, as would entrance into the area where my Tel stood. The mine and city districts would be guarded by House guards, while my ‘Inner Circle’ and Mzanchend would be guarded by programmed Dwemer constructs.
As soon as I had rested a little bit I returned to the High Fane, where Endryn was so pleased that he gave me four books and a pair of cure disease potions. “Now I want you to make a pilgrimage to Sanctus Shrine, but there is a catch, you must take a vow of silence and that you will walk the entire way, no use of transportational magic of other forms of transport”.
I nodded surly as I made the vows. I may be willing to renege on promises given to Imperial filth and others who sought to dominate me, but not the Temple. I KNEW that the ALMSIVI was the real deal, and I knew of their deeds, and I would rather be with that power than set against it. Still this was probably the worst quest I had accepted to that date and it would take me days to reach that shrine which was conveniently up north, west of Dagon Fel.
The seven days I spent walking to Sanctus Shrine was spent in a perpetual dark mood, and I made true to my word as I cleansed seventeen Daedra Shrines of their inhabitants. Where before I had been creeped out and yes even fearful at the sight of the ruined shrines, my being was now filled with fiery passion as I imagined every cultist and Daedra to be someone I hated. The Emperor, Cosades, Tienus Delitian, Neloth even Helseth was imagined sometimes, and it was with great relief that I prayed to the shrine that was set up, I was shocked however when a voice spoke back to me.
Still the ruins had given me an abundance of coinage jewels, enchanted weapons, Daedric and Ebony weapons and armour and most importantly I now had over a hundred and fifty daedra hearts.
‘You have done well Delvanni. Sotha Sil and I have watched you and we are most pleased at what you have become…you may not know your purpose yet, but continue your path and it will be revealed to you’, I shivered. The voice that had spoken in my mind was male, and there was really only one male voice I knew of that could hold that kind of familiarity with Sotha Sil, still I could not help but think of why in the name of Azura, Vivec and Sotha Sil had been following my actions.
(----------------)(--------------)(-----------------)(-----------------)(-----------------)(--------------------)
“Excellent Delvanni, I hereby promote you to the rank of Diviner, and also should you chose to accept it another assignment”, Endryn if nothing else shocked when he heard my explanation of why I had taken a full week to walk up to a shrine when most did it on four to six days, still once I told him that parts of my duties as an Inquisitor was to cleanse Daedra Shrines he had quickly stopped asking questions.
“You see, someone stole the Shoes of Saint Rilms, and we believe the perpetrator is hiding in the Daedra Shrine of Ald Sotha and…! My word, those are indeed the shoes, I take it that you have already cleansed the shrine then?” at my nod he reverently accepted the shoes.
I really only have one other thing for you to do then. Rumours of a Daedra cult in the St.Delyn canton has reached our ears, but Ordinators have been stretched thin lately, and the Inquisition even more so. Find these heretics and place them under your sword”
Instead of making my way over St.Delyn I visited the headquarters of Ordo Daemonicus first to deliver the Daedra hearts. “Excellent, by the powers granted to me by Grand Master Tholer Saryoni, Archcanon of the Temple, Lord Inquisitor, Master of Sermons, House Father of Great House Redoran and Master Scribe to our Lord Vehk, I promote you to the rank of Master Inquisitor, and present you with the Armour of Power, and Starbreaker”, he finished reading from the scroll, and I was forced to roll my eyes.
Though the Temple did many good things for its people its top officials loved to cling to their titles. My annoyance instantly evaporated as I caught sight of the armour. It was the same armour I had seen Divayth Fyr wear, and I now recognised it as Daedric armour and it was heavily enchanted. Starbreaker also raised my eyebrows as I studied the massive enchanted Dadric warhammer. Though it looked identical to Veloth’s Judgement it was imbued with a powerful spell of feather and a special spell of Daedra banishment.
“Would you like help with fitting the armour onto your body?”
I nodded, and almost collapsed when the heavy Cuirass slipped over my shoulders, only to gasp in surprise as it turned weightless. “The cuirass is enchanted with a feather spell, the boots are for speed the greaves are for endurance and the gauntlets and pauldrons for strength. This is one of three sets left in existence enchanted by Sotha Sil, here in the Ordo Daemonicum we provide the best for our best…never forget that”.
I nodded dazedly as my mind razed, wearing armour enchanted by a living God, who wouldn’t be amazed. “Forgive me my Lord, but why me, I’m sure there are others as well who are…more qualified than I am”, I cursed my self as soon as the words left my mouth, here I was handed the best armour once could get and I started to complain.
“I carry one, and the one in charge of our operations on the mainland carry one. Normally one of his agents would receive this, but you me and Grandmaster Sarioni are the only ones left of the Ordo Daemonicum here on Vvardenfell, the rest have died chasing down a most foul Daedra which resides in Ald Daedroth, I suggest you visit him before you leave for the Shrine”.
I thanked him again and left. The trip to St.Delyn cleared my mind however and after a thorough search of the canal works I came to the entrance of the shrine. When I stepped through the door I was already prepared, and a bolt was fired from the crossbows I held in each hand, and one of the cultists collapsed as he was pierced by both bolts.
A ferocious thrust by a sword was stopped as I conjured forth a golden bubble formed shield that enveloped my body. While I kept the shield going I prepared another a raw orb of magic to form in my hand, and then I dropped my shield while releasing the orb of magic.
Everyone in the room, including me was flung away as the orb exploded on a hapless cultist, who to my fascination simply…disintegrated, and for the first time that day I praised my new armour as I barely felt my impact against the wall in the shrine.
I fumbled after my staff which I had lost in the explosion but was forced to discard it and draw my new hammer instead as a pair of Dremora Lords advanced on me. Holding the Daedric hammer that was now shining brightly at the presence of the Daedra I prepared myself for a tough fight.
The two Dremora however seemed to recognise the Holy weapon, and after a brief look at each other they turned on their summoner, and sliced him to ribbons before disappearing in a swirling cloud of dust. Everyone of us looked at each other in shock at what had happened, and then the cultists started to advance again.
‘I need a distraction’, I threw the hammer as hard as I could towards the leader who was carrying a deadly looking white spear. He managed to dodge but the mer behind him was not so fortunate and the hammer plunged into his head with the pointy end first.
With practised ease I summoned my staff, and swung it as hard and fast as I could, and a blast of wind was pushed out. The moving air travelled so fast that three of my enemies were bisected at the power of it, but any more spells were out of the question as my remaining two enemies were upon me.
I dodged a stab by the nasty looking spear, and swung out with the staff driving him back. My armour deflected a clumsy thrust by my other adversary as I went after the leader. We traded blows for a while, He was blocking while I dodged his return thrusts, relying on my armour to protect me from the paltry iron sword the other one was using. Finally the leader did a mistake and he managed to skewer his compatriot when I dodged out of the way.
Before he could retrieve his sword however, I jumped on him and delivered an armoured haymaker directly into his face. He screamed with pain as my gauntleted hand smashed his nose in, and he spat out several teeth. Instead of allowing him to recuperate I pressed my attack, delivering punch after punch. He futilely tried to hit me back, but I grabbed him by his wrist and dragged him forward while at the same time slamming my spiky armoured knee into his abdomen.
He fell weakly to the floor as he grabbed his bleeding stomach, and did not even try to fight as I grabbed his head in a vice grip and twisted. A loud ‘SNAP’ sounded and he went limp in my arms as his neck was broken.
I picked up my hammer and staff, and after brief consideration I also grabbed the spear which I realized was the Spear of Bitter Mercy, other than that I picked up a few scrolls. Sweeping the bloodied room again with my gaze I put it to the torch and headed up to the High Fane to speak with the Archcanon.
For those of you who might raise your eyes at Telina's new armour, I figure that there can't be many more dangerous jobs than to go and hunt down daedra, and it only makes sense that the Inquisition would provide the best armour possible for its warriors...and the armour of Almalexia's hands is still better (those who guard her in her chambers, not the regular High Ordinators).
Also a cookie and
to the one who manages to guess why Vivec and Sotha Sil have been watching Telina and what plan they have for her. Read and review and I'll see you guys (and girls minque) later.
Just a short one today. Oh and please tell me what you think...double posting several times in a row is a bit sad 
“Ah Delvanni, good to see you. I wish for you to perform the Pilgrimage of the Four Corners, starting with the Shrine of Malacath. Go to his shrine west of Dagon Fel and offer four Daedra hearts, and return here afterwards”.
“As you wish my Lord”, I answered with a bow of respect. I proceeded to teleport to my stronghold where I restocked on potions and deposited both my new spear and the hammer. While both were potent weapons they were heavy and with my new armour I had to fight differently than I had done before.
Earlier speed had not been a problem but with my new armour my agility and speed was lessened…despite the heavy enchantments. After a brief look through my armoury I settled for a Dwemer longsword with a potent fire enchantment, so with the sword at my waist and two crossbows hanging on my left and right thigh holsters and staff in hand I teleported up to Rotheran.
The two Telvanni guards on station hastily drew their swords at my arrival, only to sheath them and bow their heads respectfully when the established my identity. “Apologies Arch Magister, we were unaware that you would visit us”.
“Quite alright gentlemen, I applaud your reflexes, I’m sure they will be put to the test sooner or later”.
“Thank you Arch Magister…is there something we can assist you with?” One of them asked carefully.
I nodded briefly, “You can summon Elwin to me…I have need of his services”. One of them immediately sprinted into the ancient Dunmer fort and returned shortly with Elwin.
“Ah Arch Magister…what is thy bidding?” I smiled at his playful question, he was one of the few real friends I had…not that I would ever admit to having friends to my fellow Telvanni of course, perceived weaknesses and all that.
“I need to visit Malacath’s shrine, and was hoping you would be so kind as to give me a guide as I’d rather not waste any time…events that I want to get to the bottom off are swirling around me”.
He nodded to the guard who had fetched him. “Ralyn knows these parts better than anyone, he will see you up there sooner than you think”.
I nodded at the guard who gave me a crisp salute before heading out. We walked for perhaps an hour before we spotted the shrine…and the four Orcs attending it.
“Leave them to me”, I snapped at my guide as the four Orcs charged us. The crossbow wielding Orc never got to fire his weapon as his chest was penetrated with two bolts from my own crossbows. Instead of waiting for them to reach us I teleported into their midst and before they could realise what had happened I summoned up a strong portion of my magic and let it blast out like a concussive bubble that threw them away like ragdolls.
One screamed in pain as his spine shattered upon his impact on Malacath’s statue. Without pause I ran over and sliced the throat of the Orc nearest to me. More on instinct than anything else I swerved to my right and avoided the deadly axe chop that would surely have given me an unwelcome haircut, as a response I gathered my magic and focused on him. With a panicked roar he tried to swing at me again, only to miss as he was floating in the air well beyond reach. His futile efforts and roars stopped instantly as I clenched my fist and was rewarded with the sound of bone and metal breaking.
Curiously I looked at the result. What had once been an Orc well over eight feet was now reduced to a mass of flesh and metal, I had crushed his entire body on instinct and for the first time I questioned the creation of my staff. Sure just to have it on my person amplified my already considerable magicka levels to new peaks…but it also resulted in these rare instinctual attacks…something that could go awfully wrong one day.
With the cultists dead I offered a Daedra heart and teleported back to Vivec for my next assignment from Tholer.
And that's that...the chapter is coming close to an end and next update will start to unravel the mystery about Vivec and Sotha Sil...naturally any guesses and theories you might have are welcome (and encouraged)
“Ah Delvanni, good to see you. I wish for you to perform the Pilgrimage of the Four Corners, starting with the Shrine of Malacath. Go to his shrine west of Dagon Fel and offer four Daedra hearts, and return here afterwards”.
“As you wish my Lord”, I answered with a bow of respect. I proceeded to teleport to my stronghold where I restocked on potions and deposited both my new spear and the hammer. While both were potent weapons they were heavy and with my new armour I had to fight differently than I had done before.
Earlier speed had not been a problem but with my new armour my agility and speed was lessened…despite the heavy enchantments. After a brief look through my armoury I settled for a Dwemer longsword with a potent fire enchantment, so with the sword at my waist and two crossbows hanging on my left and right thigh holsters and staff in hand I teleported up to Rotheran.
The two Telvanni guards on station hastily drew their swords at my arrival, only to sheath them and bow their heads respectfully when the established my identity. “Apologies Arch Magister, we were unaware that you would visit us”.
“Quite alright gentlemen, I applaud your reflexes, I’m sure they will be put to the test sooner or later”.
“Thank you Arch Magister…is there something we can assist you with?” One of them asked carefully.
I nodded briefly, “You can summon Elwin to me…I have need of his services”. One of them immediately sprinted into the ancient Dunmer fort and returned shortly with Elwin.
“Ah Arch Magister…what is thy bidding?” I smiled at his playful question, he was one of the few real friends I had…not that I would ever admit to having friends to my fellow Telvanni of course, perceived weaknesses and all that.
“I need to visit Malacath’s shrine, and was hoping you would be so kind as to give me a guide as I’d rather not waste any time…events that I want to get to the bottom off are swirling around me”.
He nodded to the guard who had fetched him. “Ralyn knows these parts better than anyone, he will see you up there sooner than you think”.
I nodded at the guard who gave me a crisp salute before heading out. We walked for perhaps an hour before we spotted the shrine…and the four Orcs attending it.
“Leave them to me”, I snapped at my guide as the four Orcs charged us. The crossbow wielding Orc never got to fire his weapon as his chest was penetrated with two bolts from my own crossbows. Instead of waiting for them to reach us I teleported into their midst and before they could realise what had happened I summoned up a strong portion of my magic and let it blast out like a concussive bubble that threw them away like ragdolls.
One screamed in pain as his spine shattered upon his impact on Malacath’s statue. Without pause I ran over and sliced the throat of the Orc nearest to me. More on instinct than anything else I swerved to my right and avoided the deadly axe chop that would surely have given me an unwelcome haircut, as a response I gathered my magic and focused on him. With a panicked roar he tried to swing at me again, only to miss as he was floating in the air well beyond reach. His futile efforts and roars stopped instantly as I clenched my fist and was rewarded with the sound of bone and metal breaking.
Curiously I looked at the result. What had once been an Orc well over eight feet was now reduced to a mass of flesh and metal, I had crushed his entire body on instinct and for the first time I questioned the creation of my staff. Sure just to have it on my person amplified my already considerable magicka levels to new peaks…but it also resulted in these rare instinctual attacks…something that could go awfully wrong one day.
With the cultists dead I offered a Daedra heart and teleported back to Vivec for my next assignment from Tholer.
And that's that...the chapter is coming close to an end and next update will start to unravel the mystery about Vivec and Sotha Sil...naturally any guesses and theories you might have are welcome (and encouraged)
It's so delightful to have Telina back! Strong, shrewd and professional...a true Arch Magister. I think you're doing better and better dear Tellie, a natural thing of course, you get better the more you write, but still I think it should be mentioned.
I sincerely hope you will have the time to stay with us now and please us with your excellent writing!
I sincerely hope you will have the time to stay with us now and please us with your excellent writing!
I started reading this on the FanFiction.net site - but got so wrapped up in your sequal that I didn't come back and finish it. I will, but I hope [beg, beg] that you keep writing the Oblivion one too!!
It's been a long time since I've done a proper action scene and so you'll get an installment filled with it now. I hope you enjoy it, as it really shows just how far Telina's magical abilities have developed (and they're still not near the levels of Vivec or Sotha Sil). Enjoy
The next week was a blur of travel. The next pilgrimage I had to make was to Mehrunes Dagon’s shrine in the already cleansed Ald Sotha, and as such there were no troubles there. After that I had to make a trip up to Bal Ur north of Suran, and to my great fortune a group of Ordinators were ‘escorting’ the few surviving cultists out of the shrine, however the last shrine was going to be a bother, and my conversation with Tholer was still fresh in my mind.
Flashback:
“Well done Delvanni but now the greatest test of all is approaching. The shrine at Ald Daedroth used to be a place of refuge for the Ahemmusa Tribe, but a most fierce Daedra that goes by the name of ‘Khazrak the Conqueror’ has taken the shrine for himself”.
“So far we have lost seven Inquisitors and near thirty Ordinators trying to reclaim the shrine at three separate occasions”.
“The Conqueror? My Lord” I asked carefully.
“Yes, this Deadra has been at the forefront of every incursion Mehrunes Dagon has unleashed on Tamriel, thousands of souls have been claimed in Dagons name by him…and I want you to sent that cursed Daedra spawn screaming back to Oblivion”.
A grim smile spread over my face. “Do not worry My Lord, I have a better plan for his fate…now will I receive any sort of backup up there?”
Tholer looked thoughtful as he checked over his papers. “I believe that we have a pair of Ordinators and an even dozen of Armigers that we could spare”.
It took all of my considerable willpower not to smack him over the face, the last thing I needed was a group of wet behind the ears Armigers to back me up…but then again they could prove useful distractions and I felt a bit more secure when I had a dozen poet flesh bags to throw at the Daedra that was no doubt swarming inside.
“I’ll take them then, I will meet them up at the shrine”, Tholer nodded his thanks and started to write down the orders that would be delivered to my ‘backup’. “Oh Delvanni?” he interrupted me just as I was about to step out of his office. “Good luck”, I nodded stiffly at his and exited his office before teleporting away to my stronghold.
Standing outside the entrance to Ald Deadroth I thought hard about how we should proceed while dimly stroking the pointed end of Starbreaker. I had decided to go back to using the heavy weapon simply for the fact that I would need its devastating power this time, and with the cramped corridors I wouldn’t need the advantage of speed anyways.
“My Lady, we are ready”, one of the Ordinators interrupted my train of thought.
I turned to face the gather Temple warriors. “Well gents we are in for the fight of our lives here. Several of our brothers have lost their lives here already so be on your guard. Once we enter we will take the way to the left and clear the shrine one room at the time…and a word of caution if you see a Dremora larger than any other you stay away from it…its soul belongs to me”.
The Armigers nodded worrily as they drew silver swords with shaking hands, while the two High Ordinators who had been stuck here on Vvardenfell due to the blight simply drew their heavy ebony scimitars and banged a clenched fist at their chest plates. I smiled grimly as I strapped my helmet onto my head. Those two warriors were veterans of a hundred battles and if anyone would make it out from here alive it would be those two.
“My Lady”, one of them said as he unwrapped a green cape from his sack. “Every Inquisitor should wear one of these, not only as a badge of office, but it also helps us to discern you from the Daedra we will be fighting”.
I thanked him as I inspected the fine cape, made from the finest silk the rim was decorated by golden bands stacked with protective charms and the symbol of the Almsivi was embroidered with silver on the back. I stood still as he fastened the silver clasp and I gasped slightly as I felt the protections take place.
I raised my hammer and shouted “FOR THE ALMSIVI”, without waiting for a response I kicked the door open and sent forth a trio of fireballs, which immediately ignited the lone scamp standing inside. We surged forward and headed down the left stairs when we came to the first intersection, so far we had met frighteningly little resistance but I knew the Daedra wanted to lure us into more open space where they could use their numbers to great effect.
The Armigers hungry for glory and wanting to outshine the Ordinators did exactly what I expected of them. They rushed past me and my two competent fighters and into the first large room where they encountered resistance in the form of two fire Atronachs and a Dremora. I stopped and held out a hand to halt the two Ordinators.
“Now we go back up to the intersection and head into the inner shrine from there”.
“You’re using them as bait? My Lady”, one of the Ordinators half asked half stated.
“As long as Khazrak is alive, fresh reinforcements will arrive and their spirit will head strong. I am sacrificing the Armigors so that a greater good can be achieved”, a bit distasteful perhaps but it was a Telvanni thing to do and Tholer would understand.
“We understand, we’ll hold the entrance as long as possible”. I whirled around and looked up at the Ordinator.
“You will do no such thing, if you’re not alive when I return I’ll resurrect you so that I can kill you myself. I ORDER you to stay alive…do I make myself clear?”
The Ordinator, even though he was over a head taller than me gulped. “Of course My Lady, a slip of the tongue I assure you”, I nodded at him and slowly opened the door. “You hold them here…their numbers will count for nothing in this cramped corridor”, then I left them and headed further into the shrine, I had a magical glove to offer Sheogorath’s statue and a Dremora Lord to destroy.
My trip was nearly unhindered until I reached the Room where Sheogorath’s statue was surrounded by Daedra who were busy trying to tear it down. At the back a flaming portal stood and every minute or so a small group of Daedra came through it.
I was about to launch my most powerful Theurgist spell at the portal when a Dremora Lord the size of a storm Atronach whirled around. “They’re in the shrine, kill them”, he yelled to his bodyguards.
“Oh Bugger”, I muttered as the twelve Dremora Lords turned towards me and advanced with their large axes held high. With a sigh of frustration I dismissed the spell and threw myself towards them with an insane yell of courage and fear. I didn’t even need to use magic to see at this point. Their powerful souls stood out as bright beacons of light in what was perpetual darkness for me.
Following my instincts I swerved under a chop that would have left me as two halves. In return I smashed the spike on my hammer into the stomach of one of them and his aura disappeared in the blink of an eye as he was banished back to the realm that had spawned him. I grunted in pain however as a second later I was smashed in the back by one of the heavy axes and I fell hard to the ground.
A whistling sound told me what was about to happen and I blocked the strike with my hammer. I broadened my senses and nearly screamed with pain as my mind touched the minds of the otherworldly creatures. With a grunt of extortion I sent out a telepathic ‘punch’ that left them staggering. Using the brief respite I got to my feet and smashed my hammer as hard as I could down upon the heads of one of my adversaries, and I watched as his aura was scattered before disappearing, I swung around and managed to impale another one with the spiked end and I cursed as it was embedded into a pillar.
Without breaking pace I drew my staff and marvelled as my black and white vision returned, hastily I deflected a strike that would have caved my head in, and with an image in mind and desire firmly implemented I slammed my staff into the floor. Ethereal screams of fear and pain spilled from the mouths of the Dremora’s as the floor underneath them cracked and shot up great spikes that impaled them. The single Dremora left alive was blasted into dust as I unleashed a torrent of lightning on him.
Now I was finally alone with Khazrak and he smiled cruelly as he drew a serrated Daedric claymore in one hand as if it weighed nothing.
“I shall enjoy killing you mortal”, it threatened with a voice that tore into my head like a thousand souls screaming in pain.
“I hear a lot of talking from you…but see little truth behind your words”, and then the duel began. Both of us unleashed spells that tore at the fabric of reality. Pillars were blasted into pebbles, the ground cracked and splintered, dark slivers appeared around us as the veils protecting Nirn from Oblivion were disrupted and the air almost ‘stank’ with magic as we tried to annihilate each other.
But despite his skill I was better, my magical talents were beyond his and I had the advantage with the fact that I did not need to stop his spells, merely teleporting out of their way…while he wasted precious energy to deflect my own spells.
Three times I had been forced to unleash my powers against his reinforcements, and the ground was littered with dust from banished Daedra. All of a sudden he went on the offensive and by the Almsivi he was fast. He swung the claymore as if he was a master swordsman fighting with a weightless blade and it was all I could do to stop him.
Due to his speed and strength I just barely managed to redirect his strikes away from me with my staff and I had no chance to retaliate. Suddenly he struck again and I cried out in denial as my staff was thrown out of my hand, before I could summon it back unbearable pain lanced through my body as his cursed blade sliced into the weak knee joint of my armour and I fell to the floor with blood pouring out.
As he raised his blade for the kill I applied what little focus I had left and slammed my mind into his with the subtlety of a battering ram. Both of us screamed in pain at the attack. To him it probably felt like something smashing his mind onto pieces, while for me simply being inside his mind was tearing away at my sanity and I withdrew quickly. Scooting backwards my hand touched my hammer which had fallen to the floor when the pillar it was stuck in had been destroyed. Grasping it I swung it as hard as I could and the fiend screamed in pain as the powerful enchantment tried to sever his link to the mortal realm but to my astonishment he simply doubled over in pain.
Snarling I swung it again crushing his left knee. Ignoring my pain I managed to rise and unleashed what little remained of my magicka into a storm of ice cold wind, and when I was drained a statue of ice stared up at me with undisguised hatred. I smiled with triumph as I down two potions to restore my magicka and heal my injuries. Before he could unfreeze I cast a soul trap spell at him and I grinned a feral smile when I saw the panic in his eyes from inside the ice. Raising the hammer above my head I smashed it down with as much force as I could and the sound of ice and Dremora Lord breaking into a thousand pieces was like music for my ears, and a short burst of heat informed me that I had trapped the cursed Dremora’s soul forever.
Now that I was alone I downed another potion to fully restore my magicka reserves and with a brief though my staff returned to my hand. I trained my eyes at the glowing portal and spread my arms as if trying to embrace it and once I felt sure that I had it as my sole focus I ‘pulled’. Slowly but surely the two jagged spikes that held the portal open started to creak before with a crumbling sound the entire portal collapsed.
I breathed out a sigh of relief, this was the hardest battle I had been in to that day and I thanked my lucky stars that I had survived. Slowly I walked over to the statue of Sheogorath and deposited the glove that Tholer had given to me, having finished my pilgrimage I turned to leave when a book caught my eye. Laying on the ground was a thick yellow bound book with a runic ‘O’ on the cover, grasping it I gasped as I felt the power from the book. Trembling I read the title and dropped it in shock. I had stumbled across one of the few remaining copies of the ‘Mysterium Xerxes’. The book was altogether evil, and I decided to destroy it…as soon as I had memorized its contents of course, after all knowledge is power and power was a comforting thing for someone in my position. My work now done I headed back the way I came from and met up with the two still living albeit battered High Ordinators and surprisingly a sole Armiger as well who had managed to survive and together we headed out of the shrine and set out towards Vivec.
And that's it for now, we have perhaps another three or four updates before I can call this chapter under wraps and start 'Saints and Dirty Politics', meanwhile I'll get back to writing an update for Salina so keep your eyes open for an update (within the next 48 hours most likely)
The next week was a blur of travel. The next pilgrimage I had to make was to Mehrunes Dagon’s shrine in the already cleansed Ald Sotha, and as such there were no troubles there. After that I had to make a trip up to Bal Ur north of Suran, and to my great fortune a group of Ordinators were ‘escorting’ the few surviving cultists out of the shrine, however the last shrine was going to be a bother, and my conversation with Tholer was still fresh in my mind.
Flashback:
“Well done Delvanni but now the greatest test of all is approaching. The shrine at Ald Daedroth used to be a place of refuge for the Ahemmusa Tribe, but a most fierce Daedra that goes by the name of ‘Khazrak the Conqueror’ has taken the shrine for himself”.
“So far we have lost seven Inquisitors and near thirty Ordinators trying to reclaim the shrine at three separate occasions”.
“The Conqueror? My Lord” I asked carefully.
“Yes, this Deadra has been at the forefront of every incursion Mehrunes Dagon has unleashed on Tamriel, thousands of souls have been claimed in Dagons name by him…and I want you to sent that cursed Daedra spawn screaming back to Oblivion”.
A grim smile spread over my face. “Do not worry My Lord, I have a better plan for his fate…now will I receive any sort of backup up there?”
Tholer looked thoughtful as he checked over his papers. “I believe that we have a pair of Ordinators and an even dozen of Armigers that we could spare”.
It took all of my considerable willpower not to smack him over the face, the last thing I needed was a group of wet behind the ears Armigers to back me up…but then again they could prove useful distractions and I felt a bit more secure when I had a dozen poet flesh bags to throw at the Daedra that was no doubt swarming inside.
“I’ll take them then, I will meet them up at the shrine”, Tholer nodded his thanks and started to write down the orders that would be delivered to my ‘backup’. “Oh Delvanni?” he interrupted me just as I was about to step out of his office. “Good luck”, I nodded stiffly at his and exited his office before teleporting away to my stronghold.
Standing outside the entrance to Ald Deadroth I thought hard about how we should proceed while dimly stroking the pointed end of Starbreaker. I had decided to go back to using the heavy weapon simply for the fact that I would need its devastating power this time, and with the cramped corridors I wouldn’t need the advantage of speed anyways.
“My Lady, we are ready”, one of the Ordinators interrupted my train of thought.
I turned to face the gather Temple warriors. “Well gents we are in for the fight of our lives here. Several of our brothers have lost their lives here already so be on your guard. Once we enter we will take the way to the left and clear the shrine one room at the time…and a word of caution if you see a Dremora larger than any other you stay away from it…its soul belongs to me”.
The Armigers nodded worrily as they drew silver swords with shaking hands, while the two High Ordinators who had been stuck here on Vvardenfell due to the blight simply drew their heavy ebony scimitars and banged a clenched fist at their chest plates. I smiled grimly as I strapped my helmet onto my head. Those two warriors were veterans of a hundred battles and if anyone would make it out from here alive it would be those two.
“My Lady”, one of them said as he unwrapped a green cape from his sack. “Every Inquisitor should wear one of these, not only as a badge of office, but it also helps us to discern you from the Daedra we will be fighting”.
I thanked him as I inspected the fine cape, made from the finest silk the rim was decorated by golden bands stacked with protective charms and the symbol of the Almsivi was embroidered with silver on the back. I stood still as he fastened the silver clasp and I gasped slightly as I felt the protections take place.
I raised my hammer and shouted “FOR THE ALMSIVI”, without waiting for a response I kicked the door open and sent forth a trio of fireballs, which immediately ignited the lone scamp standing inside. We surged forward and headed down the left stairs when we came to the first intersection, so far we had met frighteningly little resistance but I knew the Daedra wanted to lure us into more open space where they could use their numbers to great effect.
The Armigers hungry for glory and wanting to outshine the Ordinators did exactly what I expected of them. They rushed past me and my two competent fighters and into the first large room where they encountered resistance in the form of two fire Atronachs and a Dremora. I stopped and held out a hand to halt the two Ordinators.
“Now we go back up to the intersection and head into the inner shrine from there”.
“You’re using them as bait? My Lady”, one of the Ordinators half asked half stated.
“As long as Khazrak is alive, fresh reinforcements will arrive and their spirit will head strong. I am sacrificing the Armigors so that a greater good can be achieved”, a bit distasteful perhaps but it was a Telvanni thing to do and Tholer would understand.
“We understand, we’ll hold the entrance as long as possible”. I whirled around and looked up at the Ordinator.
“You will do no such thing, if you’re not alive when I return I’ll resurrect you so that I can kill you myself. I ORDER you to stay alive…do I make myself clear?”
The Ordinator, even though he was over a head taller than me gulped. “Of course My Lady, a slip of the tongue I assure you”, I nodded at him and slowly opened the door. “You hold them here…their numbers will count for nothing in this cramped corridor”, then I left them and headed further into the shrine, I had a magical glove to offer Sheogorath’s statue and a Dremora Lord to destroy.
My trip was nearly unhindered until I reached the Room where Sheogorath’s statue was surrounded by Daedra who were busy trying to tear it down. At the back a flaming portal stood and every minute or so a small group of Daedra came through it.
I was about to launch my most powerful Theurgist spell at the portal when a Dremora Lord the size of a storm Atronach whirled around. “They’re in the shrine, kill them”, he yelled to his bodyguards.
“Oh Bugger”, I muttered as the twelve Dremora Lords turned towards me and advanced with their large axes held high. With a sigh of frustration I dismissed the spell and threw myself towards them with an insane yell of courage and fear. I didn’t even need to use magic to see at this point. Their powerful souls stood out as bright beacons of light in what was perpetual darkness for me.
Following my instincts I swerved under a chop that would have left me as two halves. In return I smashed the spike on my hammer into the stomach of one of them and his aura disappeared in the blink of an eye as he was banished back to the realm that had spawned him. I grunted in pain however as a second later I was smashed in the back by one of the heavy axes and I fell hard to the ground.
A whistling sound told me what was about to happen and I blocked the strike with my hammer. I broadened my senses and nearly screamed with pain as my mind touched the minds of the otherworldly creatures. With a grunt of extortion I sent out a telepathic ‘punch’ that left them staggering. Using the brief respite I got to my feet and smashed my hammer as hard as I could down upon the heads of one of my adversaries, and I watched as his aura was scattered before disappearing, I swung around and managed to impale another one with the spiked end and I cursed as it was embedded into a pillar.
Without breaking pace I drew my staff and marvelled as my black and white vision returned, hastily I deflected a strike that would have caved my head in, and with an image in mind and desire firmly implemented I slammed my staff into the floor. Ethereal screams of fear and pain spilled from the mouths of the Dremora’s as the floor underneath them cracked and shot up great spikes that impaled them. The single Dremora left alive was blasted into dust as I unleashed a torrent of lightning on him.
Now I was finally alone with Khazrak and he smiled cruelly as he drew a serrated Daedric claymore in one hand as if it weighed nothing.
“I shall enjoy killing you mortal”, it threatened with a voice that tore into my head like a thousand souls screaming in pain.
“I hear a lot of talking from you…but see little truth behind your words”, and then the duel began. Both of us unleashed spells that tore at the fabric of reality. Pillars were blasted into pebbles, the ground cracked and splintered, dark slivers appeared around us as the veils protecting Nirn from Oblivion were disrupted and the air almost ‘stank’ with magic as we tried to annihilate each other.
But despite his skill I was better, my magical talents were beyond his and I had the advantage with the fact that I did not need to stop his spells, merely teleporting out of their way…while he wasted precious energy to deflect my own spells.
Three times I had been forced to unleash my powers against his reinforcements, and the ground was littered with dust from banished Daedra. All of a sudden he went on the offensive and by the Almsivi he was fast. He swung the claymore as if he was a master swordsman fighting with a weightless blade and it was all I could do to stop him.
Due to his speed and strength I just barely managed to redirect his strikes away from me with my staff and I had no chance to retaliate. Suddenly he struck again and I cried out in denial as my staff was thrown out of my hand, before I could summon it back unbearable pain lanced through my body as his cursed blade sliced into the weak knee joint of my armour and I fell to the floor with blood pouring out.
As he raised his blade for the kill I applied what little focus I had left and slammed my mind into his with the subtlety of a battering ram. Both of us screamed in pain at the attack. To him it probably felt like something smashing his mind onto pieces, while for me simply being inside his mind was tearing away at my sanity and I withdrew quickly. Scooting backwards my hand touched my hammer which had fallen to the floor when the pillar it was stuck in had been destroyed. Grasping it I swung it as hard as I could and the fiend screamed in pain as the powerful enchantment tried to sever his link to the mortal realm but to my astonishment he simply doubled over in pain.
Snarling I swung it again crushing his left knee. Ignoring my pain I managed to rise and unleashed what little remained of my magicka into a storm of ice cold wind, and when I was drained a statue of ice stared up at me with undisguised hatred. I smiled with triumph as I down two potions to restore my magicka and heal my injuries. Before he could unfreeze I cast a soul trap spell at him and I grinned a feral smile when I saw the panic in his eyes from inside the ice. Raising the hammer above my head I smashed it down with as much force as I could and the sound of ice and Dremora Lord breaking into a thousand pieces was like music for my ears, and a short burst of heat informed me that I had trapped the cursed Dremora’s soul forever.
Now that I was alone I downed another potion to fully restore my magicka reserves and with a brief though my staff returned to my hand. I trained my eyes at the glowing portal and spread my arms as if trying to embrace it and once I felt sure that I had it as my sole focus I ‘pulled’. Slowly but surely the two jagged spikes that held the portal open started to creak before with a crumbling sound the entire portal collapsed.
I breathed out a sigh of relief, this was the hardest battle I had been in to that day and I thanked my lucky stars that I had survived. Slowly I walked over to the statue of Sheogorath and deposited the glove that Tholer had given to me, having finished my pilgrimage I turned to leave when a book caught my eye. Laying on the ground was a thick yellow bound book with a runic ‘O’ on the cover, grasping it I gasped as I felt the power from the book. Trembling I read the title and dropped it in shock. I had stumbled across one of the few remaining copies of the ‘Mysterium Xerxes’. The book was altogether evil, and I decided to destroy it…as soon as I had memorized its contents of course, after all knowledge is power and power was a comforting thing for someone in my position. My work now done I headed back the way I came from and met up with the two still living albeit battered High Ordinators and surprisingly a sole Armiger as well who had managed to survive and together we headed out of the shrine and set out towards Vivec.
And that's it for now, we have perhaps another three or four updates before I can call this chapter under wraps and start 'Saints and Dirty Politics', meanwhile I'll get back to writing an update for Salina so keep your eyes open for an update (within the next 48 hours most likely)
I'm still not caught up on this, but wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying this story so far - of course my favorite is the sequal, lol. You ROCK !!!
More of the plot around Telina is revealed as we get a look at two of the Tribunal this time. Enjoy.
“Well done Delvanni, there is but one task left for you”, Tholer said as he shook my hand firmly. “You must make the pilgrimage to Mt.Assarnibibi where Molag Bal oversaw the 99 lovers of Boethia that gave birth to Almalexia…once you have completed the pilgrimage return to me so that we can discuss your future in the Temple”.
I nodded gratefully to him, hopefully this would prove to be a more pleasant trip than some of my earlier pilgrimages, and I was lucky enough to have visited the small shrine before so it was a small matter to teleport directly too it.
I walked over the small triangular shrine situated in a ring of tall stones and knelt, offering a small prayer. My little moment of retrospection was broken when something heavy smashed onto my head and my next choice of words were something that would have made a soldier blush, that is until I saw exactly what had fallen on my head. It was an ebony like cuirass sculpted with the finest hand to look like a genuine female torso, and with shivering hands I picked it up only gasp in shock as I felt the strong enchantments on it. I looked back at the shrine in wonder and almost threw up a shield as a lance of what I assumed to be white light blasted at me.
A sense of bliss permeated my entire body and mind as I felt old wounds and scars heal and disappear completely and when I opened my eyes I nearly fainted with shock. I could see clearly again, and with a burst of concentration I realized that I could swap between normal vision and ‘magical’ sight. A few checks with my magic revealed that the effect was permanent.
I had been prepared for a small blessing perhaps not to receive the mythical Ebony Mail, crafted by Sotha Sil himself, with slightly shivering hands I reverently wrapped the cuirass in my green cape and teleported back to Tholer’s office, where I handed him the armour.
His eyes held a brief look of longing before he handed it back to me. “This is your reward Telina. By the authority granted to me by our Lord Vivec I promote you to Patriarch of the Temple and the new Archcanon”.
My eyes widened, surely I must have heard wrong. “Did-did you say Archcanon? Patriarch…but I can’t”, he held up a hand to stop my ramblings.
“I don’t expect you to settle down yet my friend, so until you feel ready to take over my duties I shall stay here to handle affairs…now I have a question for you, do you wish to keep the Armour of Power or should I give it to one of our new agents?”
I thought about the matter silently for a minute before I answered. “This armour is the best one I’ve ever had or tried, but it is too cumbersome so you can take it back…and take the hammer as well, I believe a more active member should posses it”, a bit foolish of me to give up items of such quality, but I had other toys so it wasn’t too much of a give away.
I unstrapped my armour and donned the Ebony Mail instead, and sighed as the enchantments washed over my senses. “I suppose I could always pick up some new boots and greaves while I’m here”.
Tholer smiled, before you do I suggest you take this key, as the Temple’s new Patriarch it is one of your privileges to be permitted access to Lord Vivec’s inner sanctum, and he does wish to speak with you so you better hurry”.
I ran as fast as I could, out of the High Fane and up the stairs of Vivec’s Palace. A strange mix of fear, excitement and joy was coursing through me. To meet a living God, not many could say the same and I wondered briefly how my former friends in the Dark Brotherhood would have reacted to that.
When I reached the door that led into Vivec’s inner sanctum however I stalled. While books told great stories about Vivec and his greatness I also knew that he was a cunning and powerful mage and warrior, had he after all not single handily thrown Mehrunes Dagon back to Oblivion? Steeling my mental shields I unlocked the door and went inside.
Once I stepped inside I saw two figures that made me go weak in the knees and my magical senses went completely haywire at their presence. One was undoubtly Vivec, half Dunmer half Chimer, he wore nothing more than a simple loincloth and he was hovering cross-legged a few feet above the ground. His eyes held a great wisdom and sadness within, and even with my mental shields I more felt than anything that he looked straight through me.
The other one, though different was just as imposing. His skin was the gold colour of the Chimer with a short goatee and his body was bedecked in ancient plate armour of unknown design, this was undoubtly Sotha Sil the Enchanter, and I was humbled as I realized that my own prodigious magical power and skill was dwarfed by his own.
“Greetings Telina, I am Vivec and beside me is Sotha Sil. We have watched you for a long time”.
I fell to my knees as Vivec spoke, his voice ethereal as though a hundred voices spoke simultaneously, “My Lords”, I whispered reverently.
“Do not kneel for us child, for soon you shall be like us in spirit and in body. We know the reason you have come here, and your work for the Blades…but unlike the Emperor of Cyrodiil we know the truth. You are not a candidate for the Nerevarine Prophecies, you ARE Nerevar Reborn”.
The words that Vivec spoke hit me like a sledgehammer, and I feebly tried to offer a protest but silenced when Sotha Sil held up a hand.
“I know this must be hard for you, but it is the truth no matter what you believe. You will fulfil your work for the Blades, you will take the Trials and you will pass them, this is your mission and when the time comes to destroy Dagoth Ur we shall join you and together the three of us shall end the Blight”.
There was something missing in this picture though, and unknown factor. “But, why only you two? What about Almalexia?”
Vivec sighed as he pointed to a small desk that held four pieces of parchment. I read them all and suddenly I understood the truth about the three Gods of the Dunmer, how they had used Kagrenac’s tools and turned themselves into immortal Gods, but with the tools lost to them they were starting to lose power while Dagoth Ur grew in strength.
“As you can see our powers are dwindling, Almalexia is giving into her despair and our job is much more difficult. At first all three of us held the Ghostgate operational now there are only the two of us and it is depleting our powers more every day…so we beg you will you do as we ask?”
I nodded my head. “I will My Lords”.
“Then go with our blessings Saint Delvanni, for now that is what you will be know as”.
“Well done Delvanni, there is but one task left for you”, Tholer said as he shook my hand firmly. “You must make the pilgrimage to Mt.Assarnibibi where Molag Bal oversaw the 99 lovers of Boethia that gave birth to Almalexia…once you have completed the pilgrimage return to me so that we can discuss your future in the Temple”.
I nodded gratefully to him, hopefully this would prove to be a more pleasant trip than some of my earlier pilgrimages, and I was lucky enough to have visited the small shrine before so it was a small matter to teleport directly too it.
I walked over the small triangular shrine situated in a ring of tall stones and knelt, offering a small prayer. My little moment of retrospection was broken when something heavy smashed onto my head and my next choice of words were something that would have made a soldier blush, that is until I saw exactly what had fallen on my head. It was an ebony like cuirass sculpted with the finest hand to look like a genuine female torso, and with shivering hands I picked it up only gasp in shock as I felt the strong enchantments on it. I looked back at the shrine in wonder and almost threw up a shield as a lance of what I assumed to be white light blasted at me.
A sense of bliss permeated my entire body and mind as I felt old wounds and scars heal and disappear completely and when I opened my eyes I nearly fainted with shock. I could see clearly again, and with a burst of concentration I realized that I could swap between normal vision and ‘magical’ sight. A few checks with my magic revealed that the effect was permanent.
I had been prepared for a small blessing perhaps not to receive the mythical Ebony Mail, crafted by Sotha Sil himself, with slightly shivering hands I reverently wrapped the cuirass in my green cape and teleported back to Tholer’s office, where I handed him the armour.
His eyes held a brief look of longing before he handed it back to me. “This is your reward Telina. By the authority granted to me by our Lord Vivec I promote you to Patriarch of the Temple and the new Archcanon”.
My eyes widened, surely I must have heard wrong. “Did-did you say Archcanon? Patriarch…but I can’t”, he held up a hand to stop my ramblings.
“I don’t expect you to settle down yet my friend, so until you feel ready to take over my duties I shall stay here to handle affairs…now I have a question for you, do you wish to keep the Armour of Power or should I give it to one of our new agents?”
I thought about the matter silently for a minute before I answered. “This armour is the best one I’ve ever had or tried, but it is too cumbersome so you can take it back…and take the hammer as well, I believe a more active member should posses it”, a bit foolish of me to give up items of such quality, but I had other toys so it wasn’t too much of a give away.
I unstrapped my armour and donned the Ebony Mail instead, and sighed as the enchantments washed over my senses. “I suppose I could always pick up some new boots and greaves while I’m here”.
Tholer smiled, before you do I suggest you take this key, as the Temple’s new Patriarch it is one of your privileges to be permitted access to Lord Vivec’s inner sanctum, and he does wish to speak with you so you better hurry”.
I ran as fast as I could, out of the High Fane and up the stairs of Vivec’s Palace. A strange mix of fear, excitement and joy was coursing through me. To meet a living God, not many could say the same and I wondered briefly how my former friends in the Dark Brotherhood would have reacted to that.
When I reached the door that led into Vivec’s inner sanctum however I stalled. While books told great stories about Vivec and his greatness I also knew that he was a cunning and powerful mage and warrior, had he after all not single handily thrown Mehrunes Dagon back to Oblivion? Steeling my mental shields I unlocked the door and went inside.
Once I stepped inside I saw two figures that made me go weak in the knees and my magical senses went completely haywire at their presence. One was undoubtly Vivec, half Dunmer half Chimer, he wore nothing more than a simple loincloth and he was hovering cross-legged a few feet above the ground. His eyes held a great wisdom and sadness within, and even with my mental shields I more felt than anything that he looked straight through me.
The other one, though different was just as imposing. His skin was the gold colour of the Chimer with a short goatee and his body was bedecked in ancient plate armour of unknown design, this was undoubtly Sotha Sil the Enchanter, and I was humbled as I realized that my own prodigious magical power and skill was dwarfed by his own.
“Greetings Telina, I am Vivec and beside me is Sotha Sil. We have watched you for a long time”.
I fell to my knees as Vivec spoke, his voice ethereal as though a hundred voices spoke simultaneously, “My Lords”, I whispered reverently.
“Do not kneel for us child, for soon you shall be like us in spirit and in body. We know the reason you have come here, and your work for the Blades…but unlike the Emperor of Cyrodiil we know the truth. You are not a candidate for the Nerevarine Prophecies, you ARE Nerevar Reborn”.
The words that Vivec spoke hit me like a sledgehammer, and I feebly tried to offer a protest but silenced when Sotha Sil held up a hand.
“I know this must be hard for you, but it is the truth no matter what you believe. You will fulfil your work for the Blades, you will take the Trials and you will pass them, this is your mission and when the time comes to destroy Dagoth Ur we shall join you and together the three of us shall end the Blight”.
There was something missing in this picture though, and unknown factor. “But, why only you two? What about Almalexia?”
Vivec sighed as he pointed to a small desk that held four pieces of parchment. I read them all and suddenly I understood the truth about the three Gods of the Dunmer, how they had used Kagrenac’s tools and turned themselves into immortal Gods, but with the tools lost to them they were starting to lose power while Dagoth Ur grew in strength.
“As you can see our powers are dwindling, Almalexia is giving into her despair and our job is much more difficult. At first all three of us held the Ghostgate operational now there are only the two of us and it is depleting our powers more every day…so we beg you will you do as we ask?”
I nodded my head. “I will My Lords”.
“Then go with our blessings Saint Delvanni, for now that is what you will be know as”.
Whoooo! Telina and the super gods! hah that was very interesting, I really enjoyed reading this installment, very nice twist.
Did I tell you how wonderful it is to have you back here, amusing us with your stories about the Delvanni-sisters?????
Did I tell you how wonderful it is to have you back here, amusing us with your stories about the Delvanni-sisters?????
I love that at the end! I have never played Morrowind that far and don't know if that is part of the game or just part of your story, but it is a very powerful scene!!!!
I'm letting you know that this is the end of Chapter 5 and that Chapter 6 is in the process of being written so the first part should be out within the next 24 hours.
Thank all of my fans (old and new) who has followed my story and commented (some of you have done so for 5 years). I cannot express how touched I am that you have supported me for so long and far, now if I can just finish editing the old chapters Alex promised he would put them up at the main page.
A little progress rapport, I've started playing Morrowind a lot again and have recently gotten my inspiration going and started to go over all my notes on the story, we are closing in on the end but fear not there is still a little way to go. So for now goodbye and we'll see each other soon enough.
Thank all of my fans (old and new) who has followed my story and commented (some of you have done so for 5 years). I cannot express how touched I am that you have supported me for so long and far, now if I can just finish editing the old chapters Alex promised he would put them up at the main page.
A little progress rapport, I've started playing Morrowind a lot again and have recently gotten my inspiration going and started to go over all my notes on the story, we are closing in on the end but fear not there is still a little way to go. So for now goodbye and we'll see each other soon enough.
QUOTE(Tellie @ Dec 5 2010, 06:44 PM) 
I'm letting you know that this is the end of Chapter 5 and that Chapter 6 is in the process of being written so the first part should be out within the next 24 hours.
Thank all of my fans (old and new) who has followed my story and commented (some of you have done so for 5 years). I cannot express how touched I am that you have supported me for so long and far, now if I can just finish editing the old chapters Alex promised he would put them up at the main page.
A little progress rapport, I've started playing Morrowind a lot again and have recently gotten my inspiration going and started to go over all my notes on the story, we are closing in on the end but fear not there is still a little way to go. So for now goodbye and we'll see each other soon enough.
GAAAAH! Will you be updating the sequal as well? [insert puppy dog eyes]
QUOTE(mALX @ Dec 6 2010, 12:48 AM)
QUOTE(Tellie @ Dec 5 2010, 06:44 PM)
I'm letting you know that this is the end of Chapter 5 and that Chapter 6 is in the process of being written so the first part should be out within the next 24 hours.
Thank all of my fans (old and new) who has followed my story and commented (some of you have done so for 5 years). I cannot express how touched I am that you have supported me for so long and far, now if I can just finish editing the old chapters Alex promised he would put them up at the main page.
A little progress rapport, I've started playing Morrowind a lot again and have recently gotten my inspiration going and started to go over all my notes on the story, we are closing in on the end but fear not there is still a little way to go. So for now goodbye and we'll see each other soon enough.
GAAAAH! Will you be updating the sequal as well? [insert puppy dog eyes]
*mysterious voice* Possibly.
QUOTE(Tellie @ Dec 5 2010, 07:25 PM)
*mysterious voice* Possibly.
GAAAAAAH !!!!! WOOOOOOOT !!!!
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