Chapter 9. Plans unfold.
Sadrith Mora. ‘Forest of Mushrooms’ as the translation went. A most apt name, Baladas thought. For every building but two were true Telvanni. Mushrooms, grown and shaped using magic in ancient traditions. The town was shaped in an oval form, with all the buildings surrounding the ancient Tel; Tel Naga. Master Neloth had been killed by lord Nerevar during his quest to become Hortator, and a short time later, the Supreme Magister had asked Baladas to become the new Master of Sadrith Mora. Baladas had known it was only at Divayth’s “suggestion” that this offer had been made, and he had accepted.
The first thing he’d done when coming to Sadrith Mora had been to free the slaves, closing down the slave market and putting up proclamations there. No one in the area of Sadrith Mora was allowed to keep a slave, and any slaves found there, or brought there, were automatically freed. It had made him very popular among some more progressive Telvanni, but traditionalists, mainly people relying on the slave trade for their income, had voiced objections. Two even went so far as to come to Tel Naga and loudly demand Baladas either remove himself from Sadrith Mora, or learn to live with slavery, as it was part of the Telvanni way. He’d known for a while that those two had been ignoring his orders and were still trading slaves, almost under his very nose. He still smiled when he thought back to that moment, after the Mers had made their demands, and he had smiled and simply asked them if they realised death was also the Telvanni way. He had them beheaded, then he put their bodies inside the cells at the now defunct slave market, and had posted their heads on spikes at the entrance to Sadrith Mora with a simple sign saying Slaves are free; anyone wishing to object should feel free to visit Tel Naga any day. No more objections had risen after that incident.
As he looked out the window now, he saw many men crowding the open space of the town.. Dunmer, Khajiit and Argonians side by side, but also some Bretons, Imperials, Nords and even a few Bosmer, Altmer and Orcs. They were all training. Gathering his forces had proven easy. Getting them ready was an entirely different matter. Many of the former slaves were not inexperienced with small weapons like knives and dirks, but getting them to become good enough to be effective in a real battle would prove an entirely different matter. His men were training the less experienced ones, but Baladas had no idea how long he had until they would be forced to see action. Fortunately, what they lacked in training, they made up for in enthusiasm and spirit. Though how well that would serve them, pitted against an experienced army such as that of house Redoran, or house Indoril, Baladas did not care to think about.
“Magister, it is time.” Baladas woke from his ponderings to see a servant standing at the door; he’d asked to be alerted at 6. He was expected at Tel Fyr in a few moments. “Thank you, Daral.” Smoothing out his robes, he cast the spell, and was once again standing before the entrance to Tel Fyr. It was quiet as usual, not having any retainers for himself, gave Divayth the benefit of rest. Baladas made his way up to the Tower of Tel Fyr, and there, as expected, were the same three people he had seen when he came here last. They were, however, seated a bit differently this time. They’d left him a seat to the right of the robed figure, at his right hand, a position of honor. He sat down, uncomfortable next to this stranger, and waited for Divayth to take the lead.
“Welcome Baladas. Obviously everything you hear tonight cannot go beyond these walls. I believe you’ve met Dhaunayne several times before, yes? Good. That saves some introductions. The person you’re sitting next to, however, must remain nameless for now. Even to you. He will reveal himself in due time. Right, let’s cut right to the chase, shall we? As I said at the great meeting, we plan to erect a new Ghostfence that will separate our lands from the rest of Morrowind. Why? So none can interfere with us ever again, and we will be left to ourselves as we prefer. Now,” Divayth stood up and picked up a steel tablet from a cabinet which he laid in the center of the table. With a small wave of his hand, a map of Morrowind appeared, outlining the five Great Houses and their respective borders. “Now Baladas, as you can see, Telvanni holds quite a bit of land, but very erratic borders. We mean to correct that before we place the Ghostfence. We mean to claim all the lands east of the foyada Bani-Dad, including Dagon Fel to the north and the entire Sheogorad region. From the foyada south a bit, and everything east of Ald’Ruhn. Then along the foyada Mamaea, again everything east of that, which is the Molag Amur region. We will also take Suran, and everything east of it. From Suran, we mean to draw our border south for a bit, and then south east, incorporating lands as far as Dervon’s Watch, and ending just to the north of the island of Gorn.”
As Divayth had been speaking, the border he described had appeared on the map. With the border done, Baladas looked down and saw the region described by Divayth was fully one quarter of Morrowind, perhaps a bit more even. How could the Telvanni ever plan to hold such a large region? With the Ghostfence in place maybe, but until it was up there was no way they were strong enough to both keep that area, and defend it against the combined force of four Great Houses. He assumed his face had betrayed his emotions because Divayth went on.
“Now I realise this looks very ambitious, but I assure you we can manage it. You see, House Telvanni will not stand alone in this. As you can see, Dhaunayne is here as well. Clan Aundae will stand with us, and even those vampires beyond Clan Aundae. Would you care to explain it yourself, Dhaunayne?”
“Delighted, Divayth,” came the creepy voice of Dhaunayne, “Thanks to our mysterious friend here, Clan Aundae will soon be the only Vampire Clan left in Morrowind. He has devised an ingenious spell which can actually turn the allegiance of a Vampire. Once cast on a Berne or Quarra, they will become loyal to me and will remain that way until the end of time. I plan to start tonight at Druscashti. I have gathered all of my children, and will assault Druscashti. We will bewitch all of the vampires there, while I kill Vomina Quarra and drink her blood. I’ve heard Quarra blood is so precious that she even bottles some of it. I mean to try it for myself.” At this last, she licked her lips, “The night after, we will visit Galom Daeus, where we will do the same to Raxle Berne. And on the third night, we will do again the same for all the minor vampire tombs of our competition. The end will leave Clan Aundae with more then enough manpower to aid the Great House Telvanni anywhere they should need it.”
Baladas thought about what he had just heard. “A bold move, and it will give you plenty of manpower indeed, men and women who are next to useless during the day.”
“Right you are,” Divayth said, “Which is why we need more men. We will also be joined by the Ashlanders.”
“Ashlanders? Why they have no more love for the Telvanni then they had for the Tribunal.”
“Again, you are correct, Baladas; however, since they have no more love for the temple than they have for us, they will be more then willing if we provide them with a way to become independent for all time. That, and the fact that we will give them the Grazelands, save Tel Vos and Vos of course. And we have one thing no one else has that will assure us of the Ashlanders assistance, and you’re sitting next to him.”
Baladas looked to his left, and asked himself who this figure could be that would be so easily able to ensure an alliance the Ashlanders. Perhaps some mythical figure, a god, or simply a very powerful wizard. Divayth spoke again, “In two days time, not tomorrow night but the day after, Master Aryon will take the forces of Vos, Tel Vos and Tel Mora and head north to occupy Dagon Fel. I do not expect much resistance from them, and I will make sure the spies of other houses and the empire are imprisoned, or should they resist, they will die. One Wizard lord will be stationed there with a garrison and that will be the end of that. I want you to take the forces of Sadrith Mora, Tel Aruhn and Tel Uvirith to Ghostgate. Don’t attack them; instead present the head of the temple with this.” Divayth took a scroll out of one of the drawers of his cabinet and presented it to Baladas. It carried the wax seal of the temple. “Ask to see the head of the temple, hand him this, and Ghostgate will not raise a finger against you. And finally, I will take the men of Tel Branora and Port Telvannis and go through Molag Mar and then take Suran.”
“And,” Baladas said, “You’re going to give the temple head of Molag Mar another sealed scroll, I assume, and they will simply bow down before you?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice as he asked.
“Yes,” came the reply, “they might not bow, but at least they will not oppose me.” Divayth seemed awfully sure of himself; what did he know that he wasn’t telling? The plan seemed sound; they would likely establish the new borders, at least those on Vvardenfall, in a single night, but that did not explain how he meant to get the mainland parts, nor how he meant to defend it. But Baladas assumed no answer would be forthcoming that day.
“Very well; I will make sure my men are ready the day after tomorrow.”
Divayth looked pleased at that and said, “Good. And then there is one more small thing. Two days after the attack, I want you to go to Vivec, and see Eno Hlaalu, Grandmaster of the Morag Tong. He will give you something; examine it carefully and keep it safe. When next you hear from me, take the item to Ald’Ruhn and show it to Athyn Sarethi. You saved his son, so he owes you a life; at least you will be able to leave the town with your life intact, but I believe you will leave with a great deal more than that.”
It seemed that with each sentence Fyr spoke, more questions arose. Sealed scrolls for the temple heads, something from the Morag Tong to deliver to the Grandmaster of the Redoran by a Magister of House Telvanni. Stranger things might have happened, but for the life of him, Baladas could not remember any.
Everything after that was merely repetition, the hammering out of details and some assuring words. It was well after midnight when both Baladas and Dhaunayne left. She to vanquish or subvert the Quarra, he back to Sadrith Mora. As he lay in his bed that night, staring at the top of the Tel, he found it hard to get to sleep. He realised, with the course House Telvanni was taking, there would only be two possible outcomes of this, complete victory, or eradication of their house.
On to the next chapter
Sadrith Mora. ‘Forest of Mushrooms’ as the translation went. A most apt name, Baladas thought. For every building but two were true Telvanni. Mushrooms, grown and shaped using magic in ancient traditions. The town was shaped in an oval form, with all the buildings surrounding the ancient Tel; Tel Naga. Master Neloth had been killed by lord Nerevar during his quest to become Hortator, and a short time later, the Supreme Magister had asked Baladas to become the new Master of Sadrith Mora. Baladas had known it was only at Divayth’s “suggestion” that this offer had been made, and he had accepted.
The first thing he’d done when coming to Sadrith Mora had been to free the slaves, closing down the slave market and putting up proclamations there. No one in the area of Sadrith Mora was allowed to keep a slave, and any slaves found there, or brought there, were automatically freed. It had made him very popular among some more progressive Telvanni, but traditionalists, mainly people relying on the slave trade for their income, had voiced objections. Two even went so far as to come to Tel Naga and loudly demand Baladas either remove himself from Sadrith Mora, or learn to live with slavery, as it was part of the Telvanni way. He’d known for a while that those two had been ignoring his orders and were still trading slaves, almost under his very nose. He still smiled when he thought back to that moment, after the Mers had made their demands, and he had smiled and simply asked them if they realised death was also the Telvanni way. He had them beheaded, then he put their bodies inside the cells at the now defunct slave market, and had posted their heads on spikes at the entrance to Sadrith Mora with a simple sign saying Slaves are free; anyone wishing to object should feel free to visit Tel Naga any day. No more objections had risen after that incident.
As he looked out the window now, he saw many men crowding the open space of the town.. Dunmer, Khajiit and Argonians side by side, but also some Bretons, Imperials, Nords and even a few Bosmer, Altmer and Orcs. They were all training. Gathering his forces had proven easy. Getting them ready was an entirely different matter. Many of the former slaves were not inexperienced with small weapons like knives and dirks, but getting them to become good enough to be effective in a real battle would prove an entirely different matter. His men were training the less experienced ones, but Baladas had no idea how long he had until they would be forced to see action. Fortunately, what they lacked in training, they made up for in enthusiasm and spirit. Though how well that would serve them, pitted against an experienced army such as that of house Redoran, or house Indoril, Baladas did not care to think about.
“Magister, it is time.” Baladas woke from his ponderings to see a servant standing at the door; he’d asked to be alerted at 6. He was expected at Tel Fyr in a few moments. “Thank you, Daral.” Smoothing out his robes, he cast the spell, and was once again standing before the entrance to Tel Fyr. It was quiet as usual, not having any retainers for himself, gave Divayth the benefit of rest. Baladas made his way up to the Tower of Tel Fyr, and there, as expected, were the same three people he had seen when he came here last. They were, however, seated a bit differently this time. They’d left him a seat to the right of the robed figure, at his right hand, a position of honor. He sat down, uncomfortable next to this stranger, and waited for Divayth to take the lead.
“Welcome Baladas. Obviously everything you hear tonight cannot go beyond these walls. I believe you’ve met Dhaunayne several times before, yes? Good. That saves some introductions. The person you’re sitting next to, however, must remain nameless for now. Even to you. He will reveal himself in due time. Right, let’s cut right to the chase, shall we? As I said at the great meeting, we plan to erect a new Ghostfence that will separate our lands from the rest of Morrowind. Why? So none can interfere with us ever again, and we will be left to ourselves as we prefer. Now,” Divayth stood up and picked up a steel tablet from a cabinet which he laid in the center of the table. With a small wave of his hand, a map of Morrowind appeared, outlining the five Great Houses and their respective borders. “Now Baladas, as you can see, Telvanni holds quite a bit of land, but very erratic borders. We mean to correct that before we place the Ghostfence. We mean to claim all the lands east of the foyada Bani-Dad, including Dagon Fel to the north and the entire Sheogorad region. From the foyada south a bit, and everything east of Ald’Ruhn. Then along the foyada Mamaea, again everything east of that, which is the Molag Amur region. We will also take Suran, and everything east of it. From Suran, we mean to draw our border south for a bit, and then south east, incorporating lands as far as Dervon’s Watch, and ending just to the north of the island of Gorn.”
As Divayth had been speaking, the border he described had appeared on the map. With the border done, Baladas looked down and saw the region described by Divayth was fully one quarter of Morrowind, perhaps a bit more even. How could the Telvanni ever plan to hold such a large region? With the Ghostfence in place maybe, but until it was up there was no way they were strong enough to both keep that area, and defend it against the combined force of four Great Houses. He assumed his face had betrayed his emotions because Divayth went on.
“Now I realise this looks very ambitious, but I assure you we can manage it. You see, House Telvanni will not stand alone in this. As you can see, Dhaunayne is here as well. Clan Aundae will stand with us, and even those vampires beyond Clan Aundae. Would you care to explain it yourself, Dhaunayne?”
“Delighted, Divayth,” came the creepy voice of Dhaunayne, “Thanks to our mysterious friend here, Clan Aundae will soon be the only Vampire Clan left in Morrowind. He has devised an ingenious spell which can actually turn the allegiance of a Vampire. Once cast on a Berne or Quarra, they will become loyal to me and will remain that way until the end of time. I plan to start tonight at Druscashti. I have gathered all of my children, and will assault Druscashti. We will bewitch all of the vampires there, while I kill Vomina Quarra and drink her blood. I’ve heard Quarra blood is so precious that she even bottles some of it. I mean to try it for myself.” At this last, she licked her lips, “The night after, we will visit Galom Daeus, where we will do the same to Raxle Berne. And on the third night, we will do again the same for all the minor vampire tombs of our competition. The end will leave Clan Aundae with more then enough manpower to aid the Great House Telvanni anywhere they should need it.”
Baladas thought about what he had just heard. “A bold move, and it will give you plenty of manpower indeed, men and women who are next to useless during the day.”
“Right you are,” Divayth said, “Which is why we need more men. We will also be joined by the Ashlanders.”
“Ashlanders? Why they have no more love for the Telvanni then they had for the Tribunal.”
“Again, you are correct, Baladas; however, since they have no more love for the temple than they have for us, they will be more then willing if we provide them with a way to become independent for all time. That, and the fact that we will give them the Grazelands, save Tel Vos and Vos of course. And we have one thing no one else has that will assure us of the Ashlanders assistance, and you’re sitting next to him.”
Baladas looked to his left, and asked himself who this figure could be that would be so easily able to ensure an alliance the Ashlanders. Perhaps some mythical figure, a god, or simply a very powerful wizard. Divayth spoke again, “In two days time, not tomorrow night but the day after, Master Aryon will take the forces of Vos, Tel Vos and Tel Mora and head north to occupy Dagon Fel. I do not expect much resistance from them, and I will make sure the spies of other houses and the empire are imprisoned, or should they resist, they will die. One Wizard lord will be stationed there with a garrison and that will be the end of that. I want you to take the forces of Sadrith Mora, Tel Aruhn and Tel Uvirith to Ghostgate. Don’t attack them; instead present the head of the temple with this.” Divayth took a scroll out of one of the drawers of his cabinet and presented it to Baladas. It carried the wax seal of the temple. “Ask to see the head of the temple, hand him this, and Ghostgate will not raise a finger against you. And finally, I will take the men of Tel Branora and Port Telvannis and go through Molag Mar and then take Suran.”
“And,” Baladas said, “You’re going to give the temple head of Molag Mar another sealed scroll, I assume, and they will simply bow down before you?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice as he asked.
“Yes,” came the reply, “they might not bow, but at least they will not oppose me.” Divayth seemed awfully sure of himself; what did he know that he wasn’t telling? The plan seemed sound; they would likely establish the new borders, at least those on Vvardenfall, in a single night, but that did not explain how he meant to get the mainland parts, nor how he meant to defend it. But Baladas assumed no answer would be forthcoming that day.
“Very well; I will make sure my men are ready the day after tomorrow.”
Divayth looked pleased at that and said, “Good. And then there is one more small thing. Two days after the attack, I want you to go to Vivec, and see Eno Hlaalu, Grandmaster of the Morag Tong. He will give you something; examine it carefully and keep it safe. When next you hear from me, take the item to Ald’Ruhn and show it to Athyn Sarethi. You saved his son, so he owes you a life; at least you will be able to leave the town with your life intact, but I believe you will leave with a great deal more than that.”
It seemed that with each sentence Fyr spoke, more questions arose. Sealed scrolls for the temple heads, something from the Morag Tong to deliver to the Grandmaster of the Redoran by a Magister of House Telvanni. Stranger things might have happened, but for the life of him, Baladas could not remember any.
Everything after that was merely repetition, the hammering out of details and some assuring words. It was well after midnight when both Baladas and Dhaunayne left. She to vanquish or subvert the Quarra, he back to Sadrith Mora. As he lay in his bed that night, staring at the top of the Tel, he found it hard to get to sleep. He realised, with the course House Telvanni was taking, there would only be two possible outcomes of this, complete victory, or eradication of their house.
On to the next chapter