Oasis chapter 4, The sign of prophecy. Options

[jack cloudy]

chapter1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Alright, I couldn't stop writing so you'll get the start of the fourth chapter early.



Chapter 4: The sign of prophecy.

My first action was to gulp down all the potions I had, but even they could not remove the power of the curse. Already I could feel it draining my mind and my will. I could slow the curse with my own magicka, but I could not stop it.

I realized that I was doomed and sank to the floor. It would be best for the island if I destroyed the entrance to the cave and made it my tomb. Yet, there were still a few things I had to do. To clear my mind, I looted the chamber and was rewarded with two gauntlets of a strong material. I put them on and then sat down with a few bits of paper and began to write.

,,You’re back? Good, I was worried.” Caius said when I stumbled into his home. He then noticed that something was wrong.
,,What happened?”

,,I killed Dagoth Gares. He gave me the Corprus. I am a death man, Caius. Take these papers. It will tell you everything you need to know. Ajira will receive the Warlock’s ring and the staff of Magnus. Felisa Ulessen of the Telvanni will get my stronghold. You will get the money and my weapons. If you excuse me, I’ll leave now and go kill myself somewhere quiet.” His response to those words surprised me.

,,Fool! Do you really want to give up that fast?! I will not let you do this! As your commanding officer in the Blades, I order you to go out and get yourself cured.” He grabbed the paper out of my hands and ripped it into little pieces.
,,It is no use to give me a last will if you are not death. As a matter of fact, I have been doing some research while you destroyed that base. A Dunmer named Divayth Fyr is apparently the leading expert on the Corprus disease. Find him and see if he has a cure. But first, you need to rest.”

My objections that his bed might become infected with the disease were met with a smile. Caius wasn’t expecting to use his bed any more. I cast whatever spells I knew to slow the curse and went to sleep. I was once again assaulted by nightmares of the man with the Golden mask. This time, I knew it was Dagoth Ur. He was alive, and not happy with my existence.

,,Luper! Wake up! We’ve got guests of the bad kind!” Caius shouted which caused me to awaken. Through my blurred vision, I could barely make at that there were two people in the room, trying to kill each other.

I tried to get up, but the Corprus seemed to have taken hold of me which made moving very difficult. I pulled my ring of my finger.
,,Caius, catch!” The blurred figure who was coloured the lightest turned towards me for a bit. I threw the ring before dropping back into a slumber.

,,Luper, are you awake?”
Caius towered over me with a worried look. Clearly, sleeping when infected with the Corprus was a bad idea.
,,I’m fine. What happened?”

,,It looks like the Sixth House is getting worried about you. One of their minions paid us a little visit.” Caius handed over my ring.
,,Interesting weapon you’ve got there. It saved our lives. I’ll give it back to you, you’ll need it when you seek out Divayth Fyr. Unfortunately, I don’t know where he lives.” Caius said. He also gave me the last of his money and a Dwemer artefact. He called it a little investment.

Caius didn’t knew where to find Fyr, but I did. We were neighbours, sort of. I’d never spoken to him, but I knew where to find his mushroom. One recall later, and I arrived home from where I could begin my journey.

Travelling was the easiest bit, keeping my sanity wasn’t. By the time I made it, I could feel my mind beginning to slip away. Fortunately, I didn’t need to say a word. One of Fyr’s “daughters” took me straight to him where he revealed his plan to me.

He would give me a potion that theoretically should cure the disease, except for that small detail that it killed everyone who tried. In return, I would take a walk in his Corprusarium and pick up a bunch of boots from Yagrum Bagarn. I was not allowed to hurt any of the other victims, even if they tried to kill me. Brilliant as usual. Any other ways to get myself killed?

I had barely made a single step inside before the first corprus victim moved towards me. My first idea was to simply forget about it and just hack my way through, but I needed the potion. Seeing no other way out, I started running.

I ran and ran, picking my direction at random. At one moment I came across something best described as a humanoid body slapped on top of a Spider Centurion standing next to a pair of Dwemer boots. I grabbed the boots and kept running till I found the exit. The warden slammed the door shut behind me, and a dozen Corprus victims slammed into it.

Before me stood Fyr, clapping his hands and smiling as if he had just seen the most amusing thing ever.
,,Splendid, just splendid! It is a shame that you didn’t tried to raid the chests on the way. I love to tempt a thief. Anyway, a promise is a promise. I’ll take the boots and give you the potion which you should drink immediately.” He said.

I could only nod and the last remains of my mind were now slipping away. It took the help of the warden to restrain me as the Corprus took control of me. I never remembered what happened in those few seconds. Fyr must have given me the potion.

It was all over in a few seconds. When I realized that I was alive, I realized something else at the same time. Not only was I alive, but I was completely back to the way I was before being infected. The only sign that reminded me of ever having been infected where my muscles that had grown while I was cursed. Fyr took me over to his office where he explained things to me. I was not freed of the Corprus. Merely all the bad effects had been removed. The good effects, which included immunity to disease and a stop to the aging process of my body were still there.

Aging process? According to Fyr, I would live far longer than any Redguard and even far longer than an Elf if I didn’t met my end on the blade of a weapon. He suggested that I took things slowly, for I now had plenty of time. I merely smiled and didn’t told him what I really thought of that. I’d seen Therana, who had gone crazy through her age. No, if I was immortal I would have to be impatient in order to preserve my sanity.

I took up the offer to spend the night in the guest room. When everyone was asleep, I got up again. So Fyr liked to tempt thieves to rob his Corprusarium? Well I felt more for robbing his house.

I came up with the fur of some creature made into a cuirass. hanging in a closet. It looked expensive and all, so I took it. My second prize was a bit harder to obtain. It all started when I took up a key and used it to open a small chest from which I took an amulet. Out of fun, I put the amulet around my neck.

Before I knew what had happened, I was standing inside a Daedric shrine.
,,So, mortal! You have come to challenge me, Dregas Volar?! I shall bathe my Crescent in your blood!” A voice boomed through the shrine. A Dremora leapt out of the shadows, holding a sword with two blades shaped in half a circle.

I ducked around the first blade and parried the second with my summoned sword. Daedric against Daedric, if I was still using my Glass Longsword, it would have snapped like a twig.
For a few minutes, our swords clashed. I was grateful for the excellent protection of the Lord’s Mail, as well as my new Flamelance spell that focussed what would have been a large fireball into an area the size of a coin to cut through its target. Finally, I gained the upper hand and defeated the Dremora. I just managed to grab hold of its sword before the amulet transported me back to Tel Fyr.

After that, I decided that it would be safest not to find out what would be protecting his other treasures and performed a Divine Intervention back to Sadrith Mora from which I travelled to Caius.

[jack cloudy]

Ok, just a small update.



I no longer had any doubt about it. I was the Nerevarine. Now my day was officially ruined. I recalled to my mushroom and proceeded to get drunk. I was still busy that night when Felisa paid me a visit. She found me on the floor and wasn’t quite happy with it.
,,Oasis! What are you thinking, getting drunk like this?!”
I mumbled back something along the lines of having a bad day. At least I think I did, I can’t quite remember.

,,Bad day? What could possibly happen to make your day worse than mine. I constantly have to put up with Therana.” She said with a big frown.
,,This.” I answered and held up the Moon-and-Star which caused her to stumble back in shock.

Did I tell that good old Felisa was as interested in ancient artefacts as I was? She knew what she was looking at.
,,Is that a replica….or the real one?” She finally whispered. I could barely hear her.
,,I entered a cave with a big statue, got to punch Azura in the face who kept on rambling about this Nerevarine silliness so yes, it is the real thing. As you can see, I have a good reason to call my day ruined. And if I want to get drunk then that is my own decision.”

It was silent for a while and I took the chance to pick up another bottle of Flin. I was so drunk that I dropped it and broke it on the floor. Now my day was really ruined. Before I knew what had happened, Felisa had shoved a handful of Ash yams down my throat. That instantly got me sober. She then cast a recall spell that transported us to Tel Branora.

,,If you are the Nerevarine, you must become Hortator of the Houses. For that, you need the vote of the councillors. Since you are already here, you might as well start with Therana. Don’t worry, I’ll handle Therana. You just stand back and be quiet.” Felisa told me as she continued to drag me up the tower.

,,Mistress, I…” She never got further than that before Therana got one of her freak attacks again.
,,Ash yams! I smell Ash yams! I don’t like Ash yams! Nonononononono!” She then tried to destroy the source of the smell, me. Fortunately, I had gotten drunk with my gear still on me and I cleaved her from head to toe with Chrysamere before she got to her second spell. No chance for me to get a vote from her.
,,Did you by any chance have a plan B, Felisa? Felisa?”
She was gone.

I stormed out of the room and caught her descending one of those shafts the Telvanni love.
,,Felisa, where are you going?!”
,,To pack my bags! I don’t blame you for this, it’s all my fault. I should have remembered that Therana hated Ash yams before I shoved them into your mouth!” Great, she was bugging out.
,,And what about your duties to the House?!” I shouted down the tower at the top of my lunges.
,,Duties?! My duties where to my patron and she’s death! What duties do I’ve got left?!” She shouted back. I went back into Therana’s chamber and found what I was looking for. It was dusty, covered in cobwebs and it looked like Therana had been drooling all over it, but it would do. I did what I could with a sleeve and went to seek Felisa.

I found her in her room when she was just about to leave. I blocked the exit and held up the item I’d taken from Therana’s chamber.
,,The Silver staff of War. Mouth Ulessen, the councillor of Tel Uvirith, member of the great House Telvanni has deemed you worthy. Do you accept this staff and the rank and responsibilities that go with it? Will you take your place on the council of House Telvanni?” After a few seconds, she dropped her bags and took the staff. Tel Branora had a new master.
I grinned. ,,Great. I do suggest you clean it a bit. The previous owner seemed to have liked the taste of silver in her mouth. Speaking of mouths, you’ll need one.”

She was grinning as much as I was.
,,Oh, I know a guy who scrubs the decks of the boat at the dock. He’s very handsome. Maybe we should have a small talk.” She said and winked.
I burst out laughing.
,,So is this the way people flirt in House Telvanni, by making other people their Mouths?” I asked after I finally got some of my breath back.
,,No, it is the way I flirt. Such a shame you became councillor so fast. Now I never had the chance to practice. Anyway, if you want to become Hortator, you have my vote. Now if you excuse me, I have a boat to catch.”