Chapter 27: Uninvited Guest
(a/n 3643 words, gimme stones! so Sivreth can use them to enchant his gear!)
Hermaous Mora's Daedric Realm of Oblivion - Apocrypha:
Amidst the eerie silence that would occasionally be broken by alluring whispers of knowledge and forbidden secrats.
A strange distubance in the surroundings deep within Apocrypha occured, it took only a few moments later until a figure emerged from thin air.
"Ouch! Couldn't he have made it so i landed on my ass than my head!" The feminine figure of the goice blurted out.
Of course, this was Elika of whom Sheogorath had just teleported to Apocrypha on her behalf.
Elika stood up and took in her surroundings.
'So this is the Realm of a Daedric Prince?'
"No time to waste I suppose, I'll need to be careful. I fought some Atronachs in mock duels but the real thing is on another level."
I was grateful that Siv forced me to listen to his explanations on Oblivion and the Daedra, much to my disinterest at the time.
Had he not made that serious face I might not have paid attention, and I wouldn't have a clue on what to do.
I am in Apocrypha, the Realm of Hermaeous Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Secrats.
From what Siv told me, Black Books contain incredible power and are scattered within Apocrypha upon numerous altars.
There are also alternative versions of these Black Books comes in volumes that are used as a means of transportation and teleportation throughout all of Apocrypha.
Siv seemed afraid of one particular Black Book volume that, from what he said, would transport one to the Summit of Apocrypha, the centre and highest point of this Realm along with the most dangerous.
Additionally, there are Daedra called Seekers and Lurkers, along with 3 or 4 Dragons and a Human with a Mask with details reminiscent to the Human's master, the Daedric Prince Hermaeous Mora.
Seekers from what Siv said are manageable, but Lurkers are to be avoided.
And Dragons...
Actual Dragons!
They aren't all dead!
But who's the Human, considering he's the only one Siv refused to talk about other than saying "If you ever see him, hide and run to a Black Book to escape Apocrypha, or take your own life before he finds you."
I should avoid attracting unwanted attention than what is necessary, find Siv and escape.
First I need to find a Black Book so I can backtrack to it with Siv when we want to escape.
After a few steps forward my foot came in contact with something.
I looked down and saw a book with a black hand mark painted in blood.
It wouldn't hurt to peek at it quickly?
Picking up the book I opened it and looked at its title.
[The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood]
Skimming past many pages I took only glances at it until I came across a date.
'188th of the Fourth Era.'
That was less than a decade ago?
*******
"...Alisanne Dupre, the Last Listener of the Dark Brotherhood was killed by her father Uther Nere in Wayrest.
Aldrik Galenblade, also known as the Forgotten Hero, who had been previously hired by Uther to kill the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood by false words and deception that Alisanne had killed her mother, when in fact it was Uther himself, Aldrik chose to try and defend Alisanne but in the end she met her end at her father's hand.
A few years later the last of the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary was destroyed. With the Listener dead and no new Listener chosen by the Night Mother, the Dark Brotherhood was forced to rely on word-of-mouth to gather new contracts.
In order to preserve the Night Mother's quickly deteriorating corpse, the surviving Black Hand re-instituted the ancient position of Keeper, charged with keeping the Night Mother's corpse intact so that her spirit could remain in Tamriel and speak to the Listener.
However, the Night Mother still did not speak, demoralizing the surviving membership in Cheydinhal further, and the Black Sacraments went unheard.
Eventually Rasha, the leader of the Cheydinhal Sanctuary and only remaining member of the Black Hand, proclaimed that he was the Listener.
However, when he failed to confirm the words that the Night Mother taught to all Listeners and confirmed by all Keepers, he was killed on the pleas and demands of Cicero.
The Sanctuary was reduced to just three members - Cicero, Garnag and Pontius: then finally to two, when Pontius was slain by a common bandit in the streets, and then to one, when Garnag disappeared without trace, either dead or deserted.
Soon, the only known remaining member in Cyrodiil was Cicero, the Keeper, who went mad from a combination of isolation, demoralization, and desperation.
Meanwhile, the Forgotten Hero, Aldrik Galenblade would continue his travels, leading him to the Clockwork City in the year 201st of the Fourth Era."
*********
201st?!
What?!
But that's...that's years from now!
Wait...calm down!
"Siv did say that Apocrypha has books that contains knowledge from the past and future. This could be one of such volumes from the future."
Refusing to read anymore I dropped the book on the ground with lost interest as I began making my way through the halls of Apocrypha, without further distractions to hinder me from reaching my objective.
...
...
...
I'm lost...
Where do I even go!!!
This place is endless!
I had originally started off from a platform of some kind suspended above the "waters"? of Apocrypha.
There were some sort of land beneath the platform i was on along with many broken ships.
I guess the rumours and myths of sailers being wary of Hermaeous Mora while at sea wasn't a myth but was fact. These ships must have belonged to those unfortunate souls.
I had followed the hallways from the platform and came across weird pod like things.
They seemed to bloom like a flower when I had accidentally touched it due to my own recklessness.
I was growing weary wandering this place for so long.
After the pod opened and bloomed, something must have happened as the environment changed.
Which led me to where I am now, I don't know where else to go.
I've been wandering this area for hours!
?
I think I heard something?
I followed the sound, as it was my only lead after hours, dangerous as it may be I need to progress in this area and this could be my way out.
I approached the railings and saw a Seeker...staring directly at me...
"Shit!"
The Seeker, upon seeing me, began to float upwards towards the upper level i was on.
I quickly ran back from the railing and prepared a combination of spells of both fire and lightning in my hands, ready to burn the aquatic like Daedra to a crisp while the lightning will weaken its connection to using its magic.
The Seeker arrived at where I had been preparing my spells to hit, and I released them upon the creature.
The spells hit it directly but to my shock, the creature began dissipating in a explosion of green mist.
An Illusionary clone!
I frantically looked around while stretching my hands both in front and to my rear while casting simultaneously a ward with each hand.
My rear ward was struck, but since my concentration on the ward was half what it would have been, it shattered and I went stumbling forwards as I hit the floor.
Immediately I rolled to the side to avoid any kind of follow up attack it may launch and scrambled to feet.
The panic and fear of facing off against a Daedra in its original Realm of origin was so much that my movements were becoming sloppy.
Looking at the Seeker's direction there were two more.
'One of them is real and the other is fake.'
Using minimal magic, I channeled a small damaging spell to attack both the Seeker's as I ran circles around them while using the occasional cover to allow myself time to catch my breath.
It took some time but using [Chain Lightning] continuously on them it managed to deal enough damage to cause one of the Seeker's to disappear in a puff of green mist like before.
All that was left was the real one.
I got ready to cast another spell in my hands when a sudden pain assaulted my head!
I-i used too much Magicka!
The after effects of overusing one's own Magicka was catching up on my body as my mind hurts and my body felt tired.
The Seeker released its own spell, a series thin green like threads in the form of a spiral vortex.
I couldn't avoid it as my body refused to listen to my commands fast enough and the spell struck me.
"Aarrrgh!"
I fell to my knees before collapsing to the ground, writhing in pain.
It hurts!
It feels like my body is being shocked over and over again!
I could see from the corner my fading eyesight that the Seeker was approaching me.
It hovered over my body as it prepared another attack.
I struggled to move but all the strength I could muster was only enough to move a single limb of my near completely paralyzed body.
!
Realising I can move my hand if I tried, I reached down to my chest and under the academy's 2nd layer of clothing I wore.
Grabbing the item inside I pulled it out and used the remaining strength I could muster, I threw my arm in the direction of the Seeker.
The object I threw lodged itself inside the Seeker's eye as it screeched in pain.
It looked back at me with what I would assume to be rage as it prepared to kill me.
*boom*
The Seeker's head exploded as its body turned into a pile black goo on the ground.
The object I threw was a small needle, on the blunt end of the needle was a tiny diamond fragment.
It was something Siv made but called a failure, I had asked him if I could keep it. He said it was a failure as the material cost was too great and there was a unknown chance that the enchantment inside the needle wouldn't even work but instead expload like it did now.
The original enchantment was supposed to automatically use thread to sow and repair torn fabrics.
I'm glad I asked him for it, and that the Enchantment backfired when I needed it too most.
I sighed in relief as i passed out from the pain.
...
...
...
My body...
!
Out of shock, I reflexively sat up straight from my previous position on the ground.
I looked around me and slowly I realised what happened.
I actually beat a Daedra!
Shaking me head, I got to my feat with much effort.
The pain and exhaustion still lingered.
Clutching my chest with my hand I looked around me. I found the area that I had originally spotted the Seeker and made my way there.
It was the only path forward from this place.
Upon finally reaching the area I spotted three weird scorn like things emitting a Blue, Green and Red light from within them.
It felt strange, they don't look dangerous, and given Hermaeous Mora's own ideology on power, he wouldn't set traps like this to prevent one from attaing knowledge in his Realm.
(A/n Mora is neither good or evil, he himself said that Knowledge is power and all are welcome to his Realm. If a man dies to another, do you blame the sword (knowledge) or the person that is the weilder/killer?)
Going near to the green scorn I reached out my hand to touch its light.
As soon as I did, the ball of green light took me by suprise as it swirled around my body.
I-im not tired anymore? I feel I like I just woke up from the best sleep I've ever had.
"If the green light removes my fatigue and exhaustion, then..."
I reached my hand to the red light and as I expected.
"The red light heals and restores one's vitality. The green restores one's endurance and stamina. The blue one restores Magicka. This will be useful while I'm here."
Now that my body is as good as new, I made my way forward through the Halls of Apocrypha.
I followed the path ahead of me for quite some time until I came across a fork in my path.
I went to the right up the stairs but came to a dead end as only a table with a few soul gems and books laid here.
I looked at the book's title on the table.
[Sword Singing of Yokuda]
Isn't this...
This is what Siv was looking for!
He always said how he has been searching for anything related to a number of different subjects, one of them is on the unique magic of the Redguards called Sword Singing.
The knowledge on Sword Singing had been forgotten and lost to time since the continent of Yokuda was destroyed.
My hand reflexively reached out to grab it...
No!
I pulled my hand back, even taking some steps away from the book.
"This Realm is trying to tempt me! I refuse! I only care about finding him and nothing else!"
I turned away and ran back to the fork in the road I had taken the wrong turn at.
This time I went to the middle one down the stairs and making a turn to the left only to come to a dead end yet again.
Yet another table was there but this time the books were all arranged in a upwards manner that forced me to see their titles.
[The Prophecy of the Snow Prince]
[The Falmer King and Alduin]
[The Life of Emperor Sivreth Aival Erdys Lyr Es Aur-I-El]
[Death of the Last Dragonborn]
[Rella Ashenclaw's Slaughter of the Falmer]
M-mom?
No!
All these names, it's too much of a coincidence!
Hermaeous Mora's watching me!
I refuse to let him tempt me!
I ran back, this time taking the last forked path, descending down it many more books that Siv wanted crossed my eyes, even some loose pages carried by a magical wind would pass by.
[Zahkrii Do Dovahkiin]
[The Zero Stone]
[Imperial Report: Commander Rella Ashenclaw, former member of the Penitus Oculatus, currently serving under General Tullius. Reports that the mission to eliminate the Twin Falmer the Thalmor had been pursuing was partially successful. The mother was killed personally by Commander Ashenclaw but the child's corpse was nowhere to be found...]
[Blessings of the Time Gods Auriel, Akatosh and Alduin]
[...in the year 201st of the Fourth Era, the young Elf King Sivreth Aival Erdys Lyr Es Aur-I-El met with the other factions leaders involved in the Civil War conflict in Whiterun to...]
[Shadow Magic]
[Dawn Magic]
[The seven secrat Arts of Dwemer Metallurgy]
[Ysgramor, forget about the construction efforts of Windhelm. Your sons will be able to manage the Falmer slaves in its creation in your absence. This is urgent, we must speak in person. Immediately. ~Ahzidaal]
[Ammended Imperial Report: it would seem that the Snow Elf child that survived was non other than the newly crowed King Sivreth Aival Erdys Lyr Es Aur-I-El...]
[Secrats to attainment of CHIM ascendancy]
So many...
I was tempted to take them but I held strong and did my best to ignore everything I saw. At least it was only a glimpse or a few words my eyes were drawn to.
I should be able to forget it given the stress I am feeling trying to find Siv.
But Mom...she had something to do with Siv's mother...it doesn't matter now. I need to find him!
After so long I came across a few strange altars in the center of the room.
Three in fact, but all are clean and the books that once rested upon them were on the floor in a mess.
Seeing as I have no other choice I picked them up and read its titles.
They were bland books but had strange names and the alters had symbols on it.
Remembering Sivreth's words on one of the Daedric Prince's tests, I realised that I needed to pair the books to the correct altar.
Spending some time reading over the books I quickly knew which pedestals they needed to go on.
I liked doing puzzles like this with Siv in my free time when I was at his laboratory so a few riddles like this are easy.
Upon placing the last book on the pedestal, the room began to shift and change as the walls crumbled away.
So much for not wanting to draw unwanted attention.
The room changed drastically as the where I stood soon became a platform high in the air.
It was going higher and higher into the air levitating all the way to what I soon saw as a separate area of this Realm.
High in the sky was a new area entirely almost like a floating fortress made of books akin to the legendary Battlespire of old.
After the platform finally rose high enough I saw a new Pedestal in front of me.
This one was bigger and there was...a...
"A Black Book...this must be it."
I reached out my hand to touch it...
"Aaargghhh" a yell from behind me caught me off guard!
I ducked to the floor and kicked my attacker, hopefully staggering them.
The sound of them hitting the ground, after being struck by my kick, was heard.
I turned around to look at my attacker while preparing a spell in my hand.
"W-what?!" I screamed out in shock as my eyes went wide in horror and disbelief at the sight before me.
"S-Siv?!"
My attacker, whom was on all fours like a wild animal, had a monstrous appearance.
The left lower jaw was nothing more than tentacles reminiscent to that of the Seeker's I had fought.
The right jsaw was still Humanoid along with the left eye area.
But the right eye had became slitted and black with black scales around it.
Had it not been for the figure's clothing, pointed ears, skin ad pale as snow and the white silk scarf I had given him as a birthday present, I wouldn't have believed it.
"Sivreth! What happened to you?!"
The spell in my hands dissipated.
Sivreth upon seeing this took his opportunity and leapt at Elika.
He tackled her to the ground with all his strength as he desperately tried to bite her face off, the tentacles of his jaw elongated and wrapped around her neck, intending to suffocate her to death.
"P-please Si-Sivreth! *gasp* It's M-me, Elika!"
Elika being strangled, was barely able to speak, she didn't want to hurt him but he left her with no choice.
She saw in the corner of her eye they were close to the edge of the platform they were on along with the Black Book.
She was able to spot some ground beneath and came ro a decision.
Elika, with all her strength, hurled the both of them off of the ledge of the platform as they both fell through the air only to crash through the roof, made of books and pages, of a tunnel.
*********************
Elsewhere, inside of Apocrypha, a male figure with a Mask held a book as he continued to read Apocrypha's endless newly aquired volumes of knowledge.
He was Miraak, the First Dragonborn.
Miraak turned his head to the West upon hearing a tremor in the distance.
"Someone found [Lazarus Rune-Song]..."
Putting the book down Miraak moved to a fair distance back from the crowded area he was at.
"Sah Rot Aar!"
(Phantom, Word, Servant)
Moments later a large serpentine Dragon landed near Miraak, it lowered its head in respect and reverence.
"Hail Thuri"
(Hail my Overlord)
Miraak did not say anything in response and simply climbed aboard the back of the Dragon as it took flight and headed West in the direction of where the [Black Book: Lazarus Rune-Song] was located, along with a certain uninvited guest of Apocrypha.
*********************
Sorry about delay but I was glad that I did delay chapters, I just finished ESO new DLC Necrom and Holy Shit!
I did not expect that much to drop on us!
Like wtf?!
This Dlc just established Mora as the most powerful of all the Prince's, whereas before he was the lower part of the top tier
But now he is just as strong if not stronger than Jyggalag with new lore from Necrom DLC.
Daaaamn!
And Miraak made Mora scared of his potential! That speaks volumes of Miraak's and the Dragonborn's power!
Everyone who has ever said any other TES protagonist (I'm looking at you Cyrus the Redguard and you Nerevarine) is stronger than the Dragonborn or Miraak they are completely wrong!
That DLC was epic!
I suggest you play it or watch videos of it online if you don't have it.
If you still don't know what I mean by how op this is, Necrom DLC is heavily related to this, and the implications and lore behind it is absolutely mental for TES Lore as a whole?!
"A Hero or Heroine, sometimes described as being doom-driven or referred to as a Prisoner, is a mortal blessed (and cursed, from another point of view) with a special fate and the ability to rule their own destiny. Heroes are closely related to the prophecies revealed in the Elder Scrolls, but are not bound by them. They often grow to become far more powerful than most other mortals."
Key words being "Fate" and "Destiny" being major in Necrom DLC.
I won't spoil anything but do note next chapter I will spoil it for those of you that want to know more in the author note at end of next chapter.