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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
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Tiercel's Peregrinations
Topic Started: Jan 10 2017, 09:00 PM (4,160 Views)
Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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Gods, what a decision to have to make! I'm glad Var is supporting her in whatever she decides...I hate the daedra, but better Mora than Bal, and his...proclivities. Ugh! Very good read Sis!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Yeah, every time I think about my only excursions into Bal's territory (during Gray Cowl), I get the shudders - and you don't even meet him "up close and personal". It's the whole knowing about him....

You see, though.... that's the entirety of dichotomy with the princes: you sometimes need to do something for one, in order to avoid one of the others. As trade-offs go, I'd FAR rather deal with Mora than Bal, Namira, Boethiah....

Thanks Sis!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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65 - I do NOT want to do this.... but I must.

And.... here we are, going back into this damned place. It didn’t take long before there was that Book sitting on its pedestal before us. I reached out for it.... and suddenly I - I alone! - was elsewhere. It was an elsewhere ugly in the extreme - paved with loose pages of writing, walled with stacks of rotting books - and surrounded by liquid that was anything but water. And Var - didn't have my back.... or I his.

I slid into stealth. I left my daggers sheathed and hidden, but kept my bow limbered and an arrow nocked.

And then some huge otherworldly voice grabbed every bit of my attention. I - was still rattled that Var wasn’t with me - ugh. Get it together woman! But the gist of its monologue was that - I might find what I wanted, unless I was stupid or a coward. I didn’t consider myself either of those - so time to stop dithering about Var. I hoped he wasn’t dithering about me!

So I settled into the small alcove where I’d landed, still in stealth mode. Damned princes, who could ignore the things that humans learned.... ‘Stop that! Work out what needs to be done, don’t blather!’

All right all right. I purely hate my inner voice sometimes.... I looked around and decided that really there was only one way forward - so that was good. And bad. Only one way meant I didn’t need to worry about side-tracked or back-tracking. Then again, it meant being herded.

No help for it. Sure, that oily voice had said to just read the book again to get out. But that wouldn’t help me bargain with Mora....

I slithered on, dodging strange tentacle-like things that burst from the ugly liquid to each side of the path. I had a feeling that getting hit by one of them might - be a not-so-good thing. The liquid itself wasn’t - drinkable. And dipping one finger into it caused pain. So.... need to hurry along here.... as I didn’t have much water or food with me. Stupid. I should have.... ‘SHUT IT, Tier. Get ON with it!’

Yes, well.... talking to myself is a habit. A bad one, I’ve been told. I hope I live to be told so again....

I found the stacks of moldering, rotting tomes fascinating. There were - more than I could possibly have counted. In fact, I wondered if I even knew enough number-names to count them all. Probably.... not. That was a humbling thought.

And another odd thought: sure Tamriel had its ages of time.... but.... I rather thought not enough ages to produce this much in the way of books. So.... did that mean that Mora scavenged other.... um.... what?.... I didn’t know.

I began to feel that - jittery, jumpy discomfort in my belly. The one that always tells me I’m in over my head. Divines help me.... because once that starts up, I’m usually in deep deep trouble. I forced that thought away, and tried to concentrate on Var, hoping he wasn’t trapped in some other layer of this.... cesspool.

And just at that point, I found a book on a pedestal - and one that looked all too familiar.

Sighing, I opened it. And heard that voice again. “So. You are - either lucky. Or good. Which one do you prefer, I wonder?”

“Hermaeus Mora. I choose both.”

“Hmmmmm. You.... are.... unexpected.... What is it you seek here, mortal?”

“I seek to mitigate Molag Bal’s meddling in my life, and the lives of those I love. Yes yes. I know you don’t understand humans and love. That’s not my look-out. All I want from you is - get Bal out of our lives, That would be my life, Vartain High-King, my family related by blood including any offspring I have, and their offspring down to the thousandth generation, and everyone else in Skyrim who are untainted by Molag Bal, and their descendants likewise.

“Ah. That’s a rather tall order, even for a Prince of note. But if you’ll do it, I will owe you a boon. I will undertake to provide whatever will... please you. Except of course, keeping me here for whatever you think of as eternity.”

The silence was.... deafening.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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Oh shit, she's bargaining with Mora!! One tough lady, that Tier! :clap: I both love it and hate it, LOL
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks Sis! Eh, I'm not really into that either. But that's where it went....

You HAVE to be tough if you're making deals with the devil. Um.... ONE of the devils.... *sigh*
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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Oh, boy.. hopefully she double and triple checks the fine print...
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks Sis! Eh.... she knows there's that "fine print".... but she's only human....
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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true...
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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66 - Regurgitated by a daedric prince. Priceless.

So. Here I am back in this barrow in front of the pedestal, which now has no book. The book, it seems, is in my backpack.

Var, white about the lips, grabbed me in such a hug that my ribs were crying mercy. “You.... you.... just faded out and then weren’t there. It’s only been a few minutes. But what happened?”

I detailed the strange “realm”, and the meeting when I got to the Book. “Mora.... didn’t say aye or nay. It said that if I found and read all of the Books, then it would bargain with me. And it wouldn’t tell me how many Books there are. What if it keeps writing them and strings us along forever?” I kicked the pedestal, which of course was stupid since now my toes hurt. “And then all of that place just - went away, and I was here again....” I let tears run this time, but not for long.

“He brushed me off as if I were nothing more than a fly. I wonder if there’s anyone who knows how many of those Books there actually are....”

Var just held me closer. “We - should.... go home I think. If Bal’s out of your mother’s mind now, surely your family will have done something to keep him out in future?”

“I hope so. No one knew she was so - vulnerable. Yet - she’s always been the weakest of us, so we’ll hope Bal will just keep haunting me, and leave the others alone. Yes. We’d best get back home.” We didn’t mention the Books again. I thought - g’ma might have some ideas....

We were both glad to leave the boat in Windhelm, and take the small boat to Solitude. “You need to see to province business, love, while I let the family know how things stand. I - can’t be in the same town with you.... this way....”

“I know it. And it makes me want to kill something. But - well, we must deal with it as it stands.”

One long loving kiss, and I headed for Morthal. I could only hope my house was livable again....
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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Oh man, Tier having to separate from Var...NOT good, even if it looks like they must. Damned Daedra.
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Well.... yeah. Neither likes it - and that's an understatement. But joining physically, while Bal's looking for an opening - nope. They know it can't happen. But of course the whole thing just makes them stronger - and more intent on solving the problem.
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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That really bites for them... but what has to be done.. does.
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Yup. You can't give the devil an opening. They both get that. Of course they don't like it. But.... it is what it is.
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neildarkstar
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Y'know, I kicked a fire hydrant once... and only once. Broke my damned foot (well, the big toe at least :) )! I kinda imagine kicking the pedestal would be like kicking a fire hydrant, eh? ;)

Can't say as how I blame her though, unless it turns into a habit and she goes all S&M or something. If she does though, we're gonna want screen shots... Just sayin'...

:D

Betterer and betterer, this story gets!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks neil! Yep, I imagine the pedestal and a fire hydrant are about the same amount of solid, and since AFAIK there aren't steel-toe work boots in Skyrim (well.... iron and steel armors etc, but she doesn't wear those).... No S&M, I think she's not into that!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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67 - G’ma’s a lot smarter than some give her credit for....

Well, yes, the house was all back to normal. My skin crawled when I walked in though - and I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be living there any more. I sighed. I had loved this house all my life. And now a damned prince and a former love had done me out of it.

I walked out, mounted Vigilant, and headed for Morthal and the Hall.

G’ma looked me over, and said “Well. I knew you wouldn’t think of staying there. So, use the extra room here until you fix things up.”

I slanted her a glance. She bid fair, as she got older, to make Idgrod the Elder look like a hedge witch....

“So? You’re reading my mind now? I’m fine with that, by the bye. Better than I would be if it was ma for sure. How IS ma?”

“She’s.... herself. And as we all know only too well, that’s being a bit scatty, and a lot vaporish. She - doesn’t remember what happened at all. Where’s himself? Oh.... I mean Vartain, the High King of course.”

I snickered. G’ma was.... irreverent when it suited. Apparently this was the time. “He’s - in Solitude with things to see to regarding provincial government.” She didn’t let me off.

“Oh? I hadn’t heard anyone had even missed him.”

Sighing, I rubbed the crease between my brows. “Until we get Bal out of our lives, it’s best we’re - apart. If that suits you.”

She nodded. “It doesn’t suit me - and obviously doesn’t suit you either, and I’m sure himself is fair ready to kill something....”

“Aye. So he is. But until we figure out how to get back to normal - that would be before Bal decided to co-opt Vintan to get to me....”

A strange look crossed her face. “What?”

“I wonder. Are we barking up the wrong tree? What if.... it’s not you specifically, and your mother was only collateral damage? What if.... there’s something here - in Hjaalmarch, in Morthal.... that Bal wants....”

My jaw dropped.
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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Oh.... Ha... the easy answer isn't always the right one... good read!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks! I really hope I find out what's actually going on one of these days....
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neildarkstar
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Overlord
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:clap:
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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OOH! Love this, that all may not be as it seems!!
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