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> The Tale of Sudhendra Vahl: Vehk's Path
OverrideB1
post Mar 26 2005, 09:05 PM
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From: The Darker side of the Moon



When I awoke this morning, I was certainly feeling the effects of my fight with Gothren and the Clan Berne. Every single bone in my body seemed to ache and the fatigue I felt screamed in every fibre of my being. Wearily, I opened a portal to Sadrith Mora and translocated to the market square. Llunela took possession of the book eagerly, summoning one of her seemingly inexhaustible supply of messengers to take it to Baladas Demnevanni immediately. “If you’ll pardon me for saying so Sed Vahl,” she said, after examining me for a moment, “but you don’t seem to be very well.”

“It’s been a hard few days,” I responded. “The fight with Gothren wasn’t easy and somebody neglected to mention that Galom Daeus was crawling with vampires.”

She bit her lip and bowed her head, “I beg your forgiveness Arch-Magister,” she said contritely and formally, “I was unaware that vampires had made Galom Daeus their lair.”

“It’s of no consequence Llunela,” I told her firmly, “what is done is done, and there’s no need to make a fuss about it.”

“Thank you Sudhendra,” she said, relief coming off her like steam. “Have you used a large number of healing spells and potions recently?” she suddenly asked. When I confirmed that this was so, she nodded as if in understanding. “I thought as much. Scrolls, potions and spells can only repair so much damage and they consume a lot of the body’s resources to do so. Perhaps a visit to the Imperial Cult shrine up at Wolverine Hall is in order. Or, if you wish to avoid the Imperials, there are a number of very effective healers in Temple.”

“The Temple?” I asked, remembering the large structures in Balmora and Gnisis. “Do you really think that they can help?”

“I’m sure of it Sed Vahl,” she replied. She promised to keep me apprised of the progress on my stronghold while I made preparations to visit the Temple in Balmora.

It was with fairly mixed feelings that I mounted the sweeping stairs that led to the enclosed Balmoran Temple. On the whole, I tended to avoid religious organisations: mostly because the beating that my foster-father administered were so often given in the name of Stendarr, or Mara, to hammer the sin out of me. Don’t get me wrong, the Imperial Cults have done some sterling work but I was leery of them nonetheless. And this… foreign cult that seemed to dominate so much of Vvardenfell? I knew very little of it other than it controlled the Ordinators and wielded a great deal of power.

“Greetings traveller,” the soft voice of a robed and hooded priest sounded strangely harsh in the austere surrounding of the Temple building. Everybody knew about alien religions: the bizarre graven images, the strange behaviour, the wild chanting to unspeakable gods. Aside from a few wall-hangings and a strange circular pit set into the floor, the building was bereft of the trappings I’d expected. Indeed, the Temple was more austere than any Cult building I’d been in: the only oddity a triangular obelisk with engraved images on the front that stood in one corner. “How may we help you?” the priest continued.

I explained my situation in broad terms, leaving out my position as head of Great House Telvanni since I wasn’t certain what frictions might, or might not, exist between House and Temple. I really shouldn’t have bothered ~ I’d forgotten how gossipy the natives of this small island were, and just how quickly news can travel. “Of course we can help Sed Vahl,” the priest responded.

He led me over to the plinth I’d noticed earlier, asking me for a small donation to maintain the Temple. I handed over twenty-five Septims and, following his instructions, placed my hands on the cool stone and repeated his words, “May the blessings of ALMSIVI wash over me. May the strength of their power cleanse and heal me. May the light of their wisdom guide me now and in all things. The ending of the words is ALMSIVI.”

I gasped as a great power flooded into me, almost blinded by the brilliant sparks that swirled around me. I felt the bone-weariness fall away and the ache I’d woken with dissipate and vanish. Dropping my contact with the stone, I looked at the priest and smiled, “That was amazing.”

“Indeed,” the priest said. Then, in that soft accusative tone that priests seem to specialise in when speaking to their wayward flock, he added, “It has been many years since a member of Great House Telvanni saw fit to grace the Temple with their presence.” Pushing back the cowl of his robe to reveal a strong and handsome face, he added, “Their absence has often been noted by Temple hierarchy and commented upon. The poor grace with which missionaries are greeted in Telvanni lands, and the dearth of established Temples are also well known to us.”

Feeling as though I’d just stepped onto a very dangerous ledge, I said, “While I have the authority, I don’t have the power to compel my fellow Mage-Lords to do things they don’t wish to.”

“This is well known to us Sed Vahl,” he said softly, “we may be insular, but we are aware of Telvanni ways ~ even here in Balmora. That you are a stranger in a strange land and don’t know of our ways is also known to us. That Telvanni mores keep you doubly ignorant grieves us bitterly.”

“So, what would you suggest?” I asked.

“That you join the Temple,” he said simply, “openly and freely.”

“Um, what would that entail?” I asked, visions of being ordered to relinquish my hard-won position in Great House Telvanni floating through my mind.

“Nothing as drastic as giving up your current position Arch-Magister,” the priest said, causing me to shoot him a dark look. “A guess at your thoughts only,” he quickly assured me, reading my look as plainly as a book. “The duties would not be onerous,” he continued, “save that you would be required to undertake some pilgrimages to demonstrate your devotion, and some small tasks to demonstrate your piety. Such things, done without any surety of reward, would make a powerful statement from one in your position.”

And that is how I came to join the local Temple, guided by the subtle hand of that Power which had taken such interest in my dealings of late. Although that fact was not revealed to me until much, much later.

Feldrelo Sadri gave me a book entitled “The Pilgrim’s Path”. “It is the duty of all novices to complete the Pilgrimage of the Seven Graces,” he informed me, the capitals dropping almost audibly into place. “By following in the steps of the Lord Vehk, they demonstrate their devotion to the Temple and to the grace of ALMSIVI. When you have completed the pilgrimage, I will assess you and give you further tasks. Or, if you wish, you can visit Temples elsewhere on Vvardenfell and undertake duties for them.”

Bowing low, Feldrelo Sadri went deeper into the recess of the Temple, leaving me with a book and a pilgrimage to undertake. The book contained details of each of the seven shrines a novitiate needed to visit, along with details of what was required at each of the locations. Some, such as the shrine at the Fields of Kummu, had long and detailed descriptions ~ others, such as something called the Puzzle Shrine, had only the vaguest of instructions for getting to them and no detail at all about what was expected. One, called the Shrine of Red Mountain, was wreathed around with dire warnings about what dangers could be expected there.

Feeling that there was no time like the present, and being only a short distance from the first shrine detailed in the book, I caught the silt-strider to Suran: spending the time reading and re-reading the Pilgrim’s Path. One thing I knew for certain, the cowled, woollen robe I’d been given would take some getting used to after so long wearing fine clothing. Fortunately, the robe was big enough to fit over my armour, although Feldrelo Sadri had disapproved of me keeping it on. Which just went to show how little he really knew of Telvanni ways: the armour and the envenomed blade beneath my pillow were the only things between me and an ‘unfortunate, accidental stab in the dark.’ I’d also insisted on keeping the blade and axe with me, preferring to rely on them rather than the stout wooden staff I’d been given along with the robe.

As I crossed the bridge over the Nabia on my way towards the Fields of Kummu, I realised that the stout staff made an excellent walking aid. The road wended its way through the pleasant Ascadian countryside, the air redolent with the smell of late blooming flowers and the crisp tang of winter’s onset. It wasn’t too long before I’d arrived at the small triangular plinth that marked the shrine. Having had the foresight to purchase a small packet of Muck from the alchemist in Suran, I placed the glutinous substance in the bowl provided and read the stanza engraved on the shrine.

Grace of Humility: "Thank you for your humility, Lord Vivec. I shall neither strut nor preen in vanity, but shall know and give thanks for my place in the greater world."

According to the Pilgrim’s Path, the next nearest shrines (three of them) are to be found in Vivec City. Accordingly, I shall make those my next priority. I returned to Balmora and sought shelter in the Temple, figuring that if the Camonna Tong wished to wreak bloody vengeance on me, the fact I was on hallowed ground might give them pause.


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Food, Slave, Telvanni ~ Take your pick.
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OverrideB1
post Mar 30 2005, 06:22 PM
Post #2


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Joined: 12-February 05
From: The Darker side of the Moon



Another day, another problem with those stiff-necked Mage-Guild nincompoops. I arrived, bright and early at the Mage Guildhouse only to have the same stuck-up, snooty Bretonian woman refuse me service again. This time I decided that she could go hang before I’d pay her a single Septim more than standard Guild-Guide fare. I have yet to decide what fate I shall deliver to the Mages Guild, but it will be complex, and horrible, and talked about for a thousand years.

So, instead of entrusting myself to their tender mercies, I stood in the centre of the Guildhouse and, with great delight, opened up a portal and stepped through into the dusty square of central Ald’ruhn. Delas Mrania had no qualms about dealing with me and sold me two additional Void Walk spells (one for the Ghostgate and one for Molag Mar) at a heavily discounted price. While she was preparing the spells for me, we spoke of several inconsequential things ~ including her supposition that the best Blacksmith in the whole of Vvardenfell can be found ‘Under Skar’: Dandra Selaro is his name. I didn’t argue with her, knowing little of the art other than it involves hitting lumps of hot metal with a big hammer. Still, if ever I need repairs to my armour, it’s worth bearing his name in mind.

Molag Mar is similar in construction to Vivec City, although it is about the size of one of the Cantons and the upper plaza is open to the air. There was a small, but very busy, market going on when I stepped onto the plaza ~ lots of bustling about and shouting. And, I noticed, several stern-faced Ashlanders standing in their own pools of silence: being scrupulously avoided by the jostling crowd.

The Proctor of the Temple in Molag Mar was a tall Dunmer by the name of Tharer Rotheloth. Unlike most members of the Temple I’d met, Rotheloth wore the hood of his cowled robe thrown back, revealing strong features with more than a hint of Ashlander in them. This was accentuated by the way he wore his hair, long in the back with a topknot ~ a style I’d seen on more than a few warriors in the Zainab and Ahemmusa camps. I got the impression that he wasn’t too keen on me, although he said and did nothing to reinforce that impression.

“So, you’re looking for suitable duties Ser, eh?” he asked when I’d introduced myself to him. “Hmmm, Sadri wouldn’t have sent you here unless you had already completed the Seven Graces. Well, since your feet have been set on Vehk’s Path, I think that I have just the duty for you.” He walked over to a small and cleverly designed chest ~ lifting the lid allowed the front to drop down: thus revealing several deep drawers. From the middle drawer he withdrew a small phial of bluish-white earthenware. “There is a Redguard in Tel Mora by the name of Lette,” he said, passing me the bottle. “She’s suffering from Swamp Fever and there is no Imperial Cult nearby that she can get to and no Temple. Take this potion to her and see that she’s all right.”

Travelling to Tel Mora was simplicity itself for me: I simply opened a portal from Molag Mar to Tel Vos and translocated. The small skiff that plies passengers back and forth between Vos and Tel Mora took me the rest of the distance.

“Why do you want to know?” the House guard asked when I quizzed him about Lette’s location. I looked up at his imposing height, allowing the weak sunlight to penetrate the shadows of my cowl. “Erm, sorry Sed Vahl, she’s over there, on the northern shore, do you want me to escort you?” he gabbled at speed.

Leaving him quivering at attention, I crossed the short stretch of water and approached the woman I could see sitting there. “Are you Lette?” I asked.
“Go away,” she said, not looking up. “Can’t you see I’ve got Swamp Fever?” Indeed, the large purplish splotches that marred her dark skin were clearly visible even from where I stood.

“I’m here to help,” I said, putting my hand under her elbow and lifting her to her feet. “If you have no objections, I have a potion here that will cure you.”

“Oh bless you Ser,” she said, “may ALMSIVI’s light shine on you.” Taking the potion, the Redguard drank deeply. In seconds the splotches had started to fade and her colour, which had been very pale, started to improve.

When I was sure that she’d recovered from the disease, I cast a Recall and returned to the Temple in Molag Mar. Rotheloth was pleased that I’d completed the mission so quickly and said, “I think that you should seek the blessings of Lord Vehk. It is common for those based here in Molag Mar to travel to Mount Kand and seek the shrine there.

“I must warn you, however,” he said, raising a hand as I started to turn away, “that many who visit the caverns of Mount Kand do not return.”

With that warning firmly in mind, I left Molag Mar and headed into the Molag Amur. Fortunately, the road to Mount Kand was clearly signposted and, while steep and often beset with Cliff Racers, it presented me with no great problem other than long stretches of boredom interspersed with frantic hacking and slashing at the annoying avian pests. Before long, the road curved northwards and upwards and I found myself in a wide gully that wended up the mountain side. Near the peak was a cavern door, the weathered sign outside proclaiming that this was ‘The Caverns of Kand’.
With no really clear idea of what to expect inside, I took out one of my torches and incanted a short spell that made it burst into flame. Torch in one hand and the Last Wish in the other, I pushed open the door and stepped into these mysterious caverns. It was a lucky thing that I had several torches in my pack, without one I’d have had to fumble my way through the pitch-black tunnels. Even with the torch providing a warm circle of flickering light, the passageway stretched ahead of me darkly.

I hadn’t gone too deep into the caverns when I became aware of a flickering light ahead. As I drew nearer to the source, I felt the temperature climbing slowly. A Fire Atronach stepped into the end of the passageway, effectively blocking it off. Even as I hefted my sword, it spoke:
CODE
A metal neither black nor red

As heavy as man's golden greed

What you do to stay ahead

With friend or arrow or steed.

I lowered my axe, aware that here was another of those little puzzles that it seems the Temple likes to set for pilgrims. Obviously I was intended to answer the riddle and a moment’s thought gave me the answer. “You may pass,” the Fire Atronach said, shimmering slightly in its own heat haze. Giving the creature a wide berth, I entered the next section of tunnel.

The tunnel wended deeper into the mountain side, a cold breeze coming from up ahead. As the shimmering blue light grew brighter and the air grew colder, the tunnel came to an abrupt end, a stone bridge led from the lip of the tunnel down to the floor of the chamber ~ a floor covered in a thick layer of ice. The reason for the ice was simple: a huge Frost Atronach stood in the very centre of the cave. Knowing what to expect, I clambered carefully down and approached it. In a voice like ice grinding on ice, the Atronach spoke:
CODE
If you lie to me I will slay you with my sword. If you tell me the truth, I will slay you with a spell.

This one was a tough one, the answer to the first riddle had been a simple play on words but this one was not. If I told the Atronach the truth, it would use its powers to blast me but, if I lied to it, it would use a sword to fight me. So, if I told it that it would kill me with a spell, I would be… no, wait, that wasn’t right. With a great sigh of relief I heard the Atronach respond, “That response is correct, you may pass,” when I gave it the answer.

I was prepared for the third Atronach, this one a glowering Storm Atronach. As I got close, it raised a massive rocky fist and grated:
CODE
My fellow Atronach, Zedias-soko, was slain. The Altmer claims the Dunmer is guilty. The Dunmer says the Khajiit did it. The Orc swears he didn't kill Zedias-soko. The Khajiit says the Dunmer is lying. If only one of these speaks the truth, who killed Zedias-soko?

Uh-oh. Let me see, the Altmer says the Dunmer did it but if he’s lying then the Dunmer definitely didn’t do it. But, if the Altmer is the one telling the truth, then the Dunmer did do it. The Dunmer says the Khajiit did it so, if he’s lying, the Khajiit didn’t do it: whereas, if he’s telling the truth, the Khajiit did. Erm, so if the Orc is telling a lie, then he did kill the Atronach but if he’s telling the truth, he didn’t. Now, if the Khajiit is lying, then the Dunmer is telling the truth but if the Khajiit is lying, then the Dunmer is also telling the truth. No, wait, that’s not right. Let’s approach this from a different angle.

If the Altmer is telling the truth, then the Dunmer is lying when he says the Khajiit did it; the Orc is lying when he swears he didn’t do it, and the Khajiit is lying when he says the Dunmer is lying. Now, if the Dunmer is the one telling the truth, the Altmer is lying when he says the Dunmer is guilty, the Orc is again lying when he swears he didn’t do it, and the Khajiit is lying when he says the Dunmer is lying. Ahh got it….

“You may pass and read the inscription on the shrine,” the Storm Atronach rumbled, turning away. With a huge sigh of relief, I followed the last few feet of tunnel to the now familiar stone plinth. This one bore no inscription but when I touched it I felt a massive jolt of power surge through me.

I returned to Molag Mar and persuaded Tharer Rotheloth to let me use one of the bunk beds for the night.


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Food, Slave, Telvanni ~ Take your pick.
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Posts in this topic
OverrideB1   The Tale of Sudhendra Vahl: Vehk's Path   Mar 26 2005, 09:05 PM
Fuzzy Knight   Nice story Override :D   Mar 26 2005, 10:29 PM
Aki   So Sudhendra joins the Tribunal Temple... *dun Dun...   Mar 27 2005, 12:19 AM
OverrideB1   Deciding that, since I had three shrines to visit,...   Mar 27 2005, 09:29 AM
Wolfie   Brilliant. Keep it coming   Mar 27 2005, 12:03 PM
Aki   Ayem, Soth, and Vehk ~ better known as Almalexia,...   Mar 27 2005, 05:19 PM
OverrideB1   According to the book, the third shrine was known ...   Mar 28 2005, 01:57 AM
burntsierra   Brilliant, as always. This story is such a pleasur...   Mar 28 2005, 07:48 AM
OverrideB1   Feeling much refreshed, I made my preparations for...   Mar 29 2005, 10:27 AM
burntsierra   Great update again. Nice descriptions on actually ...   Mar 30 2005, 10:47 PM
Alexander   Great update again. Nice descriptions on actually ...   Mar 31 2005, 12:41 AM
Wolfie   I love this story.............well, maybe love is ...   Mar 31 2005, 12:54 AM
jonajosa   Still pushin for Telvanni huh alexander. Great ...   Mar 31 2005, 06:06 AM
minque   [quote=burntsierra]Great update again. Nice descri...   Mar 31 2005, 07:39 AM
Alexander   Still pushin for Telvanni huh alexander. ...   Mar 31 2005, 11:20 AM
Fuzzy Knight   This is great... still nice Override :D   Mar 31 2005, 03:37 PM
OverrideB1   Tharer seemed rather nonplussed this morning as he...   Mar 31 2005, 06:47 PM
Wolfie   cool. Why does her tower appear to be so different...   Apr 1 2005, 02:01 PM
Alexander   another great addition, and to lonewolf, I think t...   Apr 1 2005, 07:01 PM
minque   I think you are right.....in a way Alex, but I´d l...   Apr 1 2005, 07:13 PM
OverrideB1   The main square in Ald’ruhn was almost deserted th...   Apr 1 2005, 08:55 PM
minque   So our little lady is in Redoran-country now huh, ...   Apr 1 2005, 09:36 PM
Alexander   I agree minque, I only did that quest once I think...   Apr 2 2005, 12:19 AM
jonajosa   Very nice. i liked how you did the lost ring quest...   Apr 2 2005, 03:57 AM
minque   Override run out of quests??? No way...hehe he´ll ...   Apr 2 2005, 02:18 PM
jonajosa   Yes but we don't want Override to get lost in that...   Apr 2 2005, 06:01 PM
OverrideB1   The stiff-necked Mages again refused me permission...   Apr 3 2005, 10:00 AM
minque   Interesting and amusing as always...wow Sudhendra ...   Apr 3 2005, 10:29 AM
OverrideB1   I spent some time asking questions around the Fore...   Apr 4 2005, 10:02 PM
minque   .. :rofl: Very amusing and enjoyable as always....   Apr 4 2005, 10:17 PM
Aki   .. :rofl: Very amusing and enjoyable as always....   Apr 5 2005, 05:12 AM
Wolfie   All i can say is SGM   Apr 5 2005, 09:51 AM
OverrideB1   Having spent the last couple of days in contemplat...   Apr 5 2005, 06:50 PM
burntsierra   Flames licked and spluttered on their ebony blac...   Apr 5 2005, 07:06 PM
minque   YaY...well said there...Christmas in April...t...   Apr 5 2005, 07:12 PM
Wolfie   Cool a replica BattleSpire. Can only hope she "sec...   Apr 5 2005, 08:27 PM
OverrideB1   Fortunately, Aryon’s glove proved to be effective ...   Apr 6 2005, 08:45 PM
Wolfie   Cool. I want one of them :( But seriously, keep u...   Apr 6 2005, 08:56 PM
minque   What on Nirn would Sudhendra do with a.....Battle ...   Apr 6 2005, 09:14 PM
Wolfie   She's gonna go and destroy Cyrodil! MWAHAHAHAHAAAA...   Apr 7 2005, 01:33 PM
OverrideB1   Since Endryn Llethan had said he had no more dutie...   Apr 7 2005, 06:32 PM
OverrideB1   The amulet pulsed warmly against my chest as the s...   Apr 9 2005, 03:12 AM
jonajosa   Another great addition. Keep it comin. :goodjob:   Apr 9 2005, 04:45 AM
Alexander   I agree, as always excellet work here :)   Apr 9 2005, 09:04 AM
Wolfie   Keep up the good work   Apr 9 2005, 12:36 PM
OverrideB1   The ruins hadn’t proven to be the ideal resting pl...   Apr 9 2005, 08:43 PM
Wolfie   Cool. I like this story in case you havn't noticed...   Apr 9 2005, 08:51 PM
minque   oh dear...off to kogoruhn....is it now...Let´s hop...   Apr 9 2005, 08:53 PM
OverrideB1   Yestere was extremely frustrating. I’d started the...   Apr 10 2005, 11:57 AM
minque   I got the creepers from this one, I can just feel ...   Apr 10 2005, 01:43 PM
burntsierra   I got the creepers from this one, I can just feel ...   Apr 10 2005, 05:24 PM
OverrideB1   Uvoo Llaren was delighted to have the sacred relic...   Apr 11 2005, 06:29 PM
OverrideB1   There was an odd mood prevailing in the plaza of S...   Apr 12 2005, 06:45 PM
minque   ahh....entertaining..as usual, oh the conversation...   Apr 13 2005, 05:21 PM
OverrideB1   Vivec City was my first stop this morning. Yestere...   Apr 13 2005, 06:47 PM


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