Oblivion's Edge, Book I of the Corruption Trilogy Options

[Zalphon]

Prologue

Five hundred years after the Oblivion Crisis...

Many years ago, the Champion of Cyrodiil stopped the Daedra from invading. The hordes of infernal Dremora and vicious daedroth. When he left Mankar Camaron's Paradise, people viewed him as a hero. However, he had become much darker.

He then went to the Shivering Isles in search of power. When he returned, any traces of humanity had left him. In his demented rage, he slaughtered the Blades, and began a crusade of crimes. However, an Argonian assassin stopped him.

After that, the Argonian and his Khajiiti companion came to the ruins of Morrowind to regain their thoughts. For after they killed the Champion, their long-lost Dunmeri friend arrived in a new-found body of a lich. They killed him and ever since held a deep sense of remorse.

For some time they stayed in the blackened remnants of the Dunmeri homeland, but left. The despair that filled their hearts from seeing the remains of where they met their friend caused them to leave. They were never seen again.

There is rumor in the streets of the Imperial City of a Daedric cult with the power to weaken, or even destroy the seal from our world and theirs. The Champion of Cyrodiil rose up before, I must rise up now. After the Mede Empire fell, a Daedra-worshipper conquered Tamriel.

When I was a squire, they taught me the skills of swordplay, etiquette, archery, and restoration. Now I guess I'll have to put my skills to the test. I must walk in his footsteps, but I must remember the teachings of the Dunmer, the Argonian, and the Khajiit.

The time is near, I must stop time from repeating itself...

[Zalphon]

Chapter Two: Journey

I awoke from dead-sleep. Was it all a dream? I must've passed out and Quick-Strike carried me here. It was so vivid and real. Quick-Strike was asleep next to me in a bed and to the left of me was J'skooma. My legs stood up and I walked outside and sat. We were in a tavern of some sort. Out the window it was almost pitch-black.

I walked out of the room and saw the innkeeper talking to two Dremora. "Yes, they're asleep now," the Innkeeper said. "Wait until they leave and my master, Lord Varen will send two of my fellow cultists to assist."

The larger and more muscular Dremora grunted, "You better not fail us, Hannibal."

"I am a Shade of Oblivion, failure is not an option," the pale, imperial replied.

"We shall see, if you do fail then it'll be your head on the plate of Valkynaz Proditor," the shorter one hissed. "If everything goes as planned, your cult will finally break the seal."

I rushed back to my room and donned my armor as fast as I could. I ripped out my from the sheathe. "Is that so, Dremora?" I called out. "Obviously you didn't expect me to arrive now did you?"

Quick-Strike and J'skooma soon came. They were awake by my shout I guess. The two Dremora rushed up the stairs. My blade lunged at the smaller one's chest and it missed. "The seal must be broken," the taller one screamed. His mighty great sword was slashed at me, bisecting the smaller Dremora, while fortunately missing me.

With almost divine strength, I beheaded the tall Dremora. It flew cleanly and the innkeeper hissed, "This isn't over." With a quick-spell the innkeeper was surrounded in black flame and disappeared.

"I see why this is called the Inn of Ill Omen," Quick-Strike sarcastically remarked.

The Khajiit lifted the Daedric corpse and banished it. "We can't let them succeed in breaking the seal," I explained. "If we do, then all is lost. I have a feeling whatever Daedric prince is behind this will destroy Tamriel."

"Over my dead body," the Khajiit howled. "Then again, I have thought it'd be more fun on the other side where all the dead rocks and plants are."

"Why did I strike it so powerfully?" I questioned.

"Your very blood is divine," the Argonian stated. "Your ancestor was one of the best mortal swordsmen to ever live and his skill with magic surpassed even Divayth Fyr's. Anu created your ancestor, J'skooma, and me with a greater purpose."

"But why did the gods choose me?"

"That is something only Anu knows."

"Who is Anu?"

"You'll learn," Quick-Strike nodded. "One day... One day... That day is not today, for we have more important things than this..."

"Yes, Quick-Strike," I politely replied. I had to stop this from happening. If I didn't then well, Tamriel would fall to the Daedric Prince that is doing this...

When we left after morning came, we left with haste. The sun was at its highest point when we saw a traveler on the ground. Quick-Strike warned cryptically, "You should be careful." However, I had sworn an oath when I became a knight to protect the weak.

When I got over, the traveler begged, "Please, don't kill me. You can have all of my septims, just don't hurt me." Her voice was soft and scared.

"Miss, I have no desire to cause you harm," I replied as I gave her my hand. She gripped it and lifted herself up. The young Breton girl wore a black skirt and a matching black blouse. Her eyes were sky-blue and her skin was very light.

"I-I-I am a necromancer," she whimpered. "Please, don't kill me." I had never seen Quick-Strike move as fast as he did. The Argonian darted over to her and lifted the Breton off the ground by the throat.

"Prepare to die, Necromancer," He scowled.

"Release her," I commanded.

With a sigh, he did. "She deserves to die," he hissed. "She dominates those who can't defend themselves."

I glared at him and asked the girl, "What is your name?"

"Evangeline M--Mortalitis," she stuttered. "Master-Argonian, I am a very weak necromancer. My mentor was a lich named Z-Zalphon. He left me though, due to something involving the Daedra."

"Zalphon?" Quick-Strike gasped. "Zalphon Broodikus?"

"Y-Yes," Evangeline managed to say. "He taught me how to perform some basic spells, such as summoning skeletons and lesser zombies and bonewalkers. Zalphon also gave me this book; he said he wouldn't need it anymore."

The Breton pulled out a black-leather bound book which on the cover had the words "Nex Somes," written on it in blood.

"The Spellbook of Zalphon," I gasped. "The spells in there must be powerful enough to turn armies of well-trained soldiers into skeletal warriors."

"I haven't been able to read any yet," she gulped. "They're extremely complex."

J'skooma growled, "Bad magic is bad magic. J'skooma no like this book."

Quick-Strike threatened, "I guess you're with us now, Evangeline. If you harm a hair on Kalian or J'skooma's heads, I'll break every bone in your body and force-feed you your liver."

The Necromancer nodded and we began walking once again.


For several hours we walked, then a knight in steel-armor walked past us. High in the ebon-sky was the silvery moon and the hundreds of stars. He accidentally bumped me. "Excuse me," he said sadly. "I wasn't paying attention."

"Stop at once," Evangeline commanded. "Vampire, remove your helm." The nervous knight removed his steel helmet to reveal long, black hair over his snow-white skin. He had a full face that was thinner than most with crimson eyes.

"Madam," he asked. "Are you going to harm me? I am merely a traveling Knight of the Nine."

"Liar," Quick-Strike scowled. "They don't allow the living dead in their ranks and they were disbanded in the two-hundred thirty-second year of the fourth era.”

"Well, I was four-hundred and seventy-three years ago. My name is Adam Draconis, I am a vampire yes, but I hate it so dearly," he replied. "Long ago, I had a wife, two wonderful children, a family. Now I am a wretched night-walker."

"A Knight of the Nine?" I asked. "They're an ancient order of knights who I studied as a boy, can I please learn from you?"

"If you prove the goodness in your heart," Adam nodded. "The Knights taught me many spells in restoration and many spells in all the schools and how to fight."

"Quick-Strike," I said aside to him. "We could use an additional hand. He seems benevolent enough."

"I won't kill you, Vampire," Quick-Strike hissed. "But you must be willing to take a solemn oath."

"Yes, of course," Adam smiled. "I would be honored, Argonian."

"Quick-Strike," he scowled. "I am the Grandmaster Quick-Strike of--"

"The Nine's Shadows. Is it really you? I would be honored," the Imperial Vampire kneeled. "Sir, if I may be of any assistance, do let me know."

"Swear to me, that you'll never harm a hair on my J'skooma or Kalian's heads and you may travel with us," Quick-Strike demanded.

The Vampire swore the Oath. "Milord, the sun is beginning to rise, may we reach shelter in a nearby cave?"

"N--" Quick-Strike tried to say.

"Yes," I interrupted as I began to walk towards a nearby cave. I was growing to be quite the leader. I had an Argonian Assassin, a Khajiiti Mage, a Breton Necromancer, and now an Imperial-Vampire Knight in my service. Now the real question was, would my companion be enough to stop the Crisis? I wasn’t quite sure, but I removed my armor and sat against the wall.

When I awoke, I heard Adam and Evangeline arguing. "You're a bloody vampire, and you claim to serve the Nine? Arkay, the God of Life and Death is one of the Nine," she hissed. "Listen, Vampire, I will decapitate you if you hurt that Dunmer. I...well...it's unimportant."

"You have feelings for Kalian?" He asked. "I respect the man for his wisdom and lack of prejudice. Evangeline, he won't want you, he's too restless."

I decided to continue eavesdropping. Evangeline rebutted, "Yes, but he's so sweet, I'm sure I can tame his wild heart."

"Unlikely," he shook his head. "He doesn't have any feelings for you, he doesn't even trust you. You are a necromancer, nor do I blame him."

The Breton ran off, I heard her sobs. Then I got up and donned my armor. It was dusk. "Adam," I called. "What was that about?"

"Sir, she insulted me for being a vampire and then threatened my life. She also claims to have feelings for you, don't trust the kwama-scum," he explained. "I don't due to her choice of study."

"Kalian," Quick-Strike stated. "He's right."

"I know," I sighed. "She's a necromancer, but I feel some good in her heart."

The Argonian lifted his palm to his face and dragged it down. "I'll be watching," he growled as he sprinted into the shadows. J'skooma was nowhere to be found either. They were my followers, yet I had a feeling by the end of my journey Evangeline or Adam would be dead, due to the other.

The stars were high in the sky. They were shining, silver lights in the middle of the black sky. Adam said to me as we walked, "I have a secret I am obligated to tell you."

"What is it?" I asked. "You're a Knight of the Nine, you are a divine guardian."

As we walked, our armor clanked. The dirt road was dark in the night and we could hear a wolf howl. "I did a horrible act, long ago," he barely managed to say. "I did something you'll hate me for."

"I doubt that's possible, Sir-Knight."

His voice was a shameful tone as his head hung low. "I followed a man named, ‘Zalphon’ when he slew the Knights of the Nine. He spoke of a 'purification' of the Knights of the Nine. He told me they were corrupted and we were the only ones who weren't."

"What?" I shouted. "You're the reason the Knights of the Nine are a forgotten Order?"

"Yes," he said glumly. "After we finished the 'purification' he tried to kill me with a spell, however somehow I survived. I think the Nine were watching over me as he cast a spell that engulfed my body in a shadowy maw."

"When I awoke," he continued. "I was a vampire. The one who turned me was an ancient wizard. He left shortly after. I have fed for over four-hundred and fifty years on the blood of marauders and bandits. I do not like my mortal form, but it has granted me the ability to atone for much longer."

Quick-Strike appeared out of the shadows and held the vampire above ground by the throat. His scaly fingers wrapped tightly around Adam's throat. "You killed the Knights of the Nine," he scowled. "You betrayed them. Sir Vladimir, Sir Kristopher, Lady Sylvar, Sir Krall, Sir Bearspirit are all dead because of you. You killed all the knights, except one."

"There aren't any Knight of the Nine," Adam barked. "I watched Zalphon kill them."

"The most powerful Knight of the Nine isn't dead," he said as he pointed at me. "You must teach him the 'Old Code' and the 'Old Religion'. Believe it or not, Kalian, the Nine are a dead religion. Ever noticed how the Temple of the One is devoted to the Pantheon of the Daedra, and each city has a temple dedicated to a specific one."

"Quick-Strike, you do kno--," he managed to say.

"Yes, he will take the trials," Quick-Strike replied. "When he succeeds, he will find ‘The Knight’s’ ancient artifacts and use them to kill Zalphon. He is 'The Knight', but he must be slain..."

"I am ready," I stated. "I will destroy him to save Nirn..."