The Bone guy and The Gatekeeper

With the bone guy coming down the path I was finally back to reality, or at least the semblance of it that is the Shivering Isles. Telling Viola who was looking at me straight in the face, "HE, didn't want me to interfere with what happened up there." so she sighed and straightened up.

"If that's the case, fine. you worried us because you started to take off only to stand in a daze all of a sudden. So he showed himself?" she asked. To which I only nodded as our guest was coming now. 

The tall pale Nord was wearing furs for his clothing. Some bones were also visible as a necklace and on his belt. "So do you also seek passed the gatekeeper?" he started.

Throgor answered him, "Yes, we've been told to go to New Sheoth. So we imagine we must pass this Keeper." The Nord nodded then continued. "Then we are well met. In truth the beast is powerful. Normal weapons barely leave scratches. And normal men would be hard pressed to give it a good fight. But i have a solution. The Bones!" 

while most just stared at the madman wondering what the hell he was on about he continued just like someone asked him whatever did he mean. Truly someone who belongs here.

"The bones. They will allow us to defeat the creature. With bones of a similar creature we could harm it and weaken it enough. Thus we need the bones!"

I just sighed, damn Skooma Cat made me all tense and ughhh. "We need the bones of the previous gatekeeper so he can create arrows so the magical defenses of the keeper will go down." My plain speak doing wonders as they just nodded their heads. while also giving me a look to ask if I was alright. To which I would answer... maybe?

"Yes, quite so little one. Do the bones speak to you too?" ughhh, just why is this the guy! and he is so sincere

"No, just a seer wanting to move things along... sigh"

"Oh that's to bad. But the young one is correct we should head to the graveyard to find the remains of the other keeper." So with him leading and Shirou and Throgor behind him we followed along. The graveyard being only a short walk from the steps leading to the gatekeeper. Still a good walk allowed Viola to check up on me. 

"So what really happened. You being told not to interfere wouldn't have made you freeze up like you did." she started.

"So to clarify... I am an idiot. But! In my defense being an idiot helps here." an audible scoff comes from her. "So when he appeared on my shoulder to lay some ground rules I was freaking out and panicked. And he was a cat. So I did what was a reasonable response to try and calm down my mind from the fact i had a god on my shoulder... I asked to pet him." 

A couple whacks from a stick and apologizing later we were close to the graveyard. Throgor opened the gate and a few undead attacked us. Granny took a break to cast a sun blast type spell, Shirou just reinforced and punched one to shatter, And Throgor dismantled one with a stab into the neck. So i was left with nothing to do. 

Jared Ice-veins, as he was called, immediately went to work picking through the bones as the last skelly was down. 

"Thank you friends. With these bones i can make some arrows to fell the beast. Then we can move passed those gates. Come see me in Passwall in a few hours and I should have some ready then." 

"See you soon friend" Throgor answered him. and he was off. pretty damn quick though. 

"So that happened. Also it was much weaker than I thought." Shirou said. Flexing his hand he asked, "Hey Azarius, Why do i feel more solid here? Like my existence is stronger here?" Huh...

"Best I got? This is Oblivion, and Dedra are considered immortal spirits that can't be destroyed. So because you are a spirit made of Magicka given the form of a person the realm treats you like it? maybe? I'm not really an expert." 

"Good enough, just means i don't need to use as much Magicka or Mana to do things here. Which also means I might be able to use stronger abilities."

Well isn't that great. More powerful Shirou is a win in my book. 

The walk back to Passwall as we knew it now was overall peaceful. A trip into the inn led us to meeting the Dark elf crazy woman in a dress. Who all but said we were welcomed to die by facing her Gatekeeper. Meh; an overpowered Arch-mage, A top tier Rouge, and an Archer/ Blademaster. Plus it would be weakened! yeah I don't think so. In the end we just rented a room and snacked on some of the rations of bread and ham we brought.

The night brought me a surprise as my little "Thing" with Sheogorath allowed me to finally advance past a seer! Granted i only got the flexibility enhancement, body control and coordination, and upgraded danger sense. Lost out on being a master acrobat but take what you can get. Also I'm like 8, I can grow eventually.

The next morning we greeted Jared outside of the inn. He let us know he was successful in creating a few dozen arrows from the remains and we could head up. Then a wild thought hit me. Since it was an arrow, couldn't Shirou just reinforce the hell out of it?

And so while walking as a group wandering up to the gatekeeper i voiced my little intrusive thought.

"No, I'm not just going to blow up the creepy flesh monster." "But why not?" "since this is a test just let it be one." i went to raise a finger and open my mouth but i really couldn't argue with him. "Also you are staying back. No need for you to engage." 

"But come on" Granny Viola chimed in, "No buts. This is a serious opponent for us as this Gatekeeper uses the realm to power it. It truly is a powerful foe. Had to listen to that Bitch Remilda talk my ear off about her creation last night as I went for some Tea. Stupid Childish woman didn't even recognize she destabilized her creation though." 

"How so?" don't remember this part. "She bound the Dedra in a Flesh Atronach with utilizing her feelings and magic as a base. This makes the Dedra susceptible to her. Hence here is a bit of her blood. While it may not work as well as something else, smear it on the tips of the arrows. Should give them a nice kick."

Ahh, Right her tears thing. Really is a lot i forgot about huh. But using her blood as an intermediate instead works? 

And so we crested the top of the stairs to finally see the Gate keeper. The bladed cleaver still had blood crusted on it. Some bodies were spread around from the people yesterday. yeah, maybe it would be better to hang back. 

Granny took the lead, "Alright boys, Throgor is on dodging and harassment duty, Shirou and Jared stick to arrows, and ill keep to using healing. If you don't want the stick better keep moving, got it?"

"Yup"

"Understood"

"Aye"

And so they got into positions. Shirou moved to the right of the circular platform while Jared moved to the left. Throgor moved straight forward to the colossal creature. Just as he reached it an arrow screamed by and buried itself in the thing.

As it reaped back in pain with a visible ripple of purple magicka running through it's body Throgor moved through its legs and sliced the back of one knee. It responded by buckling and swinging blindly at him.

A well timed arrow from the left hit the arm with the cleaver to stun it. So Throgor pressed his assault. Shirou took his time placing his shots in the head of the Gatekeeper. An even tempo with the twang of his bow.

The gatekeeper was looking as if it would be stunned to death from all of this but it had other plans. A ripple of magicka burst from it as it slammed a fist into the ground. It was also begining to regenerate a few of the wounds as well. Moving at a speed it's size didn't suggest it fell upon Throgor with a bladed cleaver at the ready.

Throgor wasn't to be outdone though. His time with myself and Shirou taught him more than the mages guild did. With a flash of blue a ward for the physical was put up and he was smacked away mostly unharmed.

Now it was granny's turn as she chose to use alteration to change the stone at its feet. Griping the gatekeeper and holding it in place.

Shirou picked up on the non moving target and aimed to get rid of the cleaver arm. Adjusting to the bait no longer in the middle he took it upon himself and rushed forwards. His arms held the new sword in a draw style as he quickly approached.

He slid to a halt. His magic circuits flaring to life. As he drew the sword the gatekeeper made an impossible movement to block the blade from striking his chest. The cleaver arm crossed his chest and a ringing sound of the two blades colliding rang out.

But Shirou wasn't alone. A shadow sprang from behind the gatekeeper looking for revenge. And while it was occupied with the recoil from the force of Shirou's attack, he pounced.

The Dedric blade flashed at the neck of the gatekeeper and dug into the flesh. The gatekeeper roared and swung to create space. And the two gave it to the creature.

Because Granny Viola was finished charging her spell. She did say she would use the restoration school. And that she did in the form of a pin point spell of pure unadulterated sunlight.

The spell hit the wound created by Throgor and had devastating effects. The wound burned and festered setting the creature alight. And now it was open.

Shirou took the back seat as Throgor summoned a shield from his storage. Blocking the wild swing followed by a traditional hoplite stab with his sword into the guts, Shirou took his opertunity to finish the former cut. Another arrow from Jared further disoriented the creature as Shirou came up behind after circling about.

The sword once more in its sheathe he muttered something barely audible by normal sounds. The strangeness though was we all heard his voice. "Aria"

The draw on my magicka became a bit more pronounced with that muttering. And winds formed at his fingertips as he started the draw.

He was much faster this time as I couldn't even see the process, but the head flying from the Gatekeeper was telling enough. They had defeated the Gatekeeper. And as they celebrated my perception was triggered to Haskell standing at the base to the stairs leading to the gate.

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An:// sorry for the delay took my time to write the fight as I wanted to show that things aren't as easy as they would have been in the game. It took genuine effort! Which goes more into just how much can be nerfed from lord perspectives. Just like Dedric princes are their realms. As such while they may have complete control of them they may have blind spots in their visions. But if they are looking that's a different ball game.

Things are stronger and while the party is also strong, it was a party effort.

Love you guys tell me what you think!!!