New Mount on Mount

Michael and Durnehviir brawl it out... Well, not quite. The dragon's method of combat differed greatly from the others he'd faced, simply flying around and animating the numerous skeletons lying around, all while occasionally blasting him with Drain Vitality and Soul Tear...

Unlike how the Dragonborn is forced to fight, Michael can fly... Which surprised Durnehviir thoroughly when he received a kick to the face a hundred feet in the sky. One pummelling later and Durnehviir faded into particles, dead for now.

He reformed a moment later of course and elected to greet Michael as soon as possible to see if his offer was actually worth anything.

"So, out with it, tell me what has brought you all this way." the dragon curiously asks.

Michael nods, "What if I told you that I have a way to free you from this place? I could bring you to Tamriel, still bound but free to fly and do as you wish."

...

"Whatever your intention, it will not work. My soul is ever bound here, stuck in this realm until the end of all things."

Michael shakes his head, "Then we just have to take your soul out."

In the game you could summon Durnehviir by shouting his name, this would bring a sort of 'Astral Projection' that would fight for you until the duration ended and the Soul Cairn pulled him back.

Michael had a different option though, he could open a Dimension Gate and take Durnehviir directly to Tamriel... He'd still be linked to the Soul Cairn, meaning he'd end up back there if he died, but he'd be free until that happened.

"Let us say you do have a way to grant me refuge... What would I have to give in return?... My soul is already bound, my magic is lesser to yours..."

Michael grins, "I want you as my mount." he states determinately. "Here you are the slave of the Ideal Masters, and out there you would be my slave. The only difference would be the location of your servitude."

...

"You make a compelling offer... I long to feel the wind on my scales, the echo of my father... If I must lower myself to that of a glorified horse... So be it." the dragon eagerly accepts despite his reluctant front.

For Durnehviir not accepting simply wasn't an option. There weren't any negatives, nor did he think his new 'master' would make him do anything so egregious as to regret his decision. He'd gladly burn anyone or anything that stood in his way for this chance.

"Then we are in agreement." Michael grins before jumping atop Durnehviir, sitting himself atop the scales on its half-rotten neck. "Fly to the entrance of this place, I have friends waiting."

The dragon does as he's told, and they soon land in front of the vampire duo. Valerica is taken aback by his apparent taming of the biggest menace in this realm, but Serana just shrugs her shoulders, "Hello Durnehviir."

"Greetings, stranger."

"As you can see, Serana, I brought him under my 'Wing'." he chuckles as he looks down at them.

"Very funny."

"It's easy to be funny when you have the High Ground..." he crooks a brow at the silence, "Huh, note to self, show you the prequels... Whatever, you guys good to leave yet? We're taking the back exit with Durnehviir here."

"Ah, allow me to retrieve my Elder Scroll... Leaving it in this realm just seems like a disaster waiting to happen." Valerica says as she shuffles to get it.

...

"So, how's... Things?" Serana tries to make smalltalk with Durnehviir.

"Things are." he simply replies, leaving the group in silence.

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Valerica safely makes it back to Tamriel, and while she isn't all that happy about the terms Michael made the Volkihar clan accept, she reluctantly agrees to follow them regardless. He also managed to extract a promise to have her tutor Tiffania in Alchemy. Anyone who can open the way to the Sou Cairn with some Void Dust and elbow grease deserves to be called a master of the craft.

Durnehviir would be staying atop the Throat of the World for the time being. He couldn't exactly have the dragon hang around Winterhold right now, people were tense enough whenever Illococoo's dragon form passes by, adding another dragon onto that might just implicate Michael in the return of the dragons somehow...

He wasn't sure when he'd see Serana again, but he'd be sure to visit her with Saeko... The fact that the girl hadn't seen the prequels wasn't affecting his decision-making at all...

With the vampire shit all but cleaned up, he turned his attention to the other troubles afflicting Tamriel... Solitude had been taken by Ulfric Stormcloak and Elisif the Fair had been taken prisoner. The vampire attack that'd struck Solitude had only weakened the defenders, apparently they'd tried to kidnap some nobles but failed in the end.

They'd actually almost freed General Tullius from his cell, but the Imperials soon slew the vampires with help from Sybille Stentor, the secret vampire knowing exactly how to deal with her brethren.

With the whole of Skyrim now under Ulfric's rule, the Civil War had all but come to an end... A few villages were still resisting but they didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. For now, Ulfric seemed intent on stabilising Skyrim for future battles.

All Thalmor were either expelled or executed depending on their position and crimes... There was some trouble with racist Nords but they were stamped out pretty quickly since Ulfric saw all those under his care and loyal as true citizens, who should be afforded the same rights as anyone else.

Indeed, most Dark Elves in Windhelm were surprised to find their living conditions improve upon the Imperial Legion's defeat... Things were still tense however, as everyone knew Ulfric's eyes were now turned towards Cyrodil and the Summerset Isles...