Oasis 2, Free from Destiny. Options

[jack cloudy]

Here is the link to: Jack Cloudy's Other Stories


Ok, I've got to be crazy. Starting a third one before finishing the last two? Yeah, definitely crazy. More crazy than Tarhiel, Curio and M'Aiq combined. Ah well, I guess I can't be stopped. (Note to self: Make an Agent update tonight.)





Oasis 2: Free from Destiny.

The task I’d been sent to do had been finished. No, I hadn’t just been sent to do this, I’d been made for it in a quite literal way. Yes, that task was the only reason for my existence. Now that I’d completed it, what was left?

Anyone in my position would probably try to retire and live the remainder of his or her life at peace, preferably with the comfort of nearby friends. I had friends and I could retire easily enough. During the course of my life, I’d amassed a large amount of wealth, including a house big enough to accommodate a whole village. In fact, my house was a village. Then why did I leave? Why was I walking here at this moment, so far away from civilization?

The truth was, I couldn’t. I hadn’t realized at the time, but the reason why I fought was because my friends needed me as much as I needed them. I’d fought to protect them, to keep them near. Yet what should have been my moment of everlasting glory was my moment of defeat. I could no longer see those I considered friends. It would undo everything I’d done.

The sun began to sunk beneath the horizon and I sat down next to the nearest shrub. A small wisp of fire, and I had created a small circle of light to keep me company. The fire was bad company if it was the soul that required comfort instead of the body. Nothing opposed my train of thought. I relived the last moment, the moment it all became clear.

I stood on the slopes of a mountain. Beneath me, several tents had been placed in the ashcovered ground. People milled about like ants. Banners flapped in the gentle breeze. A smile crept across my face. These were the people of Vvardenfell, my people. Most were unknown faces to me but that didn’t matter. In the end, they were all a part of the island. And I would be their hero. Society had been at the brink of collapse but now, everything would be fine. The Houses had united, the Ashlanders received the respect they deserved. The time of politics and struggles for power had ended. There was nothing left to fight over. And I would be right in the middle of it all, basking in glory, everyone would call me their greatest hero. Like a child’s dream come true.

The smile vanished. It would not be fine. There was still something for them to fight over. Ironic as it might seem, that something was me. To win the favour of the land’s champion, the Houses would return to their internal strife, bloodier than before. Those around me would be the victim of it all, as they would be pulled into this conflict. Politics was a plague, hard to control. There was only one thing I could do to prevent this from happening. I would have to leave, vanish into myth.

And leave I did. I never even took the chance to properly say goodbye. I couldn’t say goodbye. If I tried, I would end up staying and make my nightmare into reality. It was a bit of an anti-climax. Whenever I thought about what would come after defeating my enemy, the only things I saw were scenes of fame, glory and perhaps even a bit of worship. I couldn’t let any of that happen though. It would be as destructive as having let him have his way.

Perhaps this is how the guy who killed Jagar Tharn felt after he’d claimed victory in the Imperial palace. He too left right after his greatest moment. To this very day, no one knows his name, or his race, or even his gender. I say guy, but it could have been a woman for all I know. I’ve heard a few stories, but they’re quite conflicting. Some talk about a Redguard pirate, some about an Imperial Battlemage much like Tharn himself, yet others about a scarred Orc or your stereotypical knight in shining armour. Then there are those who take it into the extremes, saying that this nameless champion was none other than Tiber Septim himself or Akatosh or a spirit of death or even a Goblin, though I seriously consider that last one a joke. Well I knew one thing for certain, Akatosh was not involved there. Because Akatosh, that’s me.

Whatever is the case, the champion vanished and I was about to follow his or her example. Where would I go? If I had taken the time to think, I would have concluded that leaving Tamriel entirely would have been best. The legendary continent of Akavir would be a great place for a fallen hero to hide. But I decided otherwise. Instead of going east to Akavir, I would go west, to the place where I was born, all the way on the other side of Tamriel. Despite my achievements, which happened to include the killing of a supposedly immortal being, my fame was still only local.

Hammerfell would be the perfect place to make a living. There, no one would care about Luper Alkad, Nerevarine, the godslayer. There I would be just another Redguard, albeit one who was in possession of several unique artefacts. Yes, Hammerfell would be perfect. But how to get there? Vvardenfell had been saved of the Blight, a horrible disease that turned everything it touched into a raving monster. There was the Corprus which was even worse but likewise, its threat had ended. Despite that, the island was still strictly quarantined. No one could enter or leave, at least not through legal channels.

I knew that there were plenty of smugglers and pirates. I could try to make contact with them, see if they were willing to transport me. While the idea appealed to me at first, I soon changed my mind. So far, the smugglers I met here were a lot more aggressive than the bunch that had raised me. I was unlikely to get a single word out of my mouth before I was parrying daggers, clubs and whatever they were using to kill people. No smugglers wouldn’t help.

I went through a few more ideas. I was too well-known among the mages and the independent ones were usually Necromancers who would rather have me as their next test subject than give me a quick teleport to the mainland. Buying, building or stealing a ship wouldn’t work. For one thing, ships weren’t for sale here and I would be hunted by the coast guard. Waterwalking might work, but I had no real idea of just how far it was to the mainland. It would be rather embarrassing to run out of Magicka and get devoured by Slaughterfish and Dreugh. In the end, I knew of only one organization that could give me a quick and secret way to the mainland. The Blades, the spy service of the Emperor himself.

I waited till dawn before continuing my trip across the island. I took my time because this would likely be the last time I would see Vvardenfell, the island that had become my home. There was a silent beauty in the Ashlands, now that the dreaded storms which plagued this region had fled. The transition from dry ash to a swamp teeming with life was quite sudden, only a single mountainous ridge between them. Like everything I saw, it brought back memories. Memories of fighting against slavery, getting my leg cracked by a Mudcrab. It had been less than two years, yet it felt like eternity separated Luper Alkad, the badmouthed prisoner who was all bark and no bite, from Luper Alkad, the badmouthed hero who is even more bite than he is bark.

I walked up to the nearest Mudcrab and placed a single hand underneath its shell. With a simple flip of the wrist, I threw it upside down and sent it sliding down a hill. It was a feat of incredible strength I wouldn’t even dare dream about in those early days. I’d definitely changed, beyond recognition. The everburning flame of the Lighthouse told me I was nearing my destination. Seyda Neen, where my journey began and where now a new journey would begin.

[jack cloudy]

Well, I needed something for later on and a plane where Luper is literally God just happens to be the best plottool I could think off. (admit it, few can beat this one.)

And saving the land? Funny enough, now that I think of it. Luper has never actually saved the land. He has up to this point simply been Azura's playtoy that would bring her revenge down on Dagoth Ur and all. If he wasn't around, she would simply bombard someone else to Nerevarine. The fact that Dagoth Ur would eventually conquer everything didn't matter.

Anyway, time for the update. Lup meets Azura. He's matured a bit, but not much.


The portal led to a walkway of pure silver, suspended above a sparkling city of the same stuff. I looked around in bewilderment. Waterfalls, butterflies, flowers. Was this really Azura’s domain? It was definitely not what I’d imagined. More like the opposite in fact. But then again, my view of Azura was coloured by the events of my life and all. I knew her as manipulative, cold and cruel to boot. Oh, and completely self-centered. The glass orb bade me farewell and floated off to the city below. I ventured onward along the walkway. A green and red mass of vines and roses loomed at the end, just a short walk away. Azura living in a palace of roses? Crazy.

When I reached it, I couldn’t control my curiosity and plucked one of the sweet scented flowers from the wall. A grin broke through the glum expression when I examined it a bit closer.
,,Thorns. That’s more like the Azura I know.” I chuckled and threw the flower away. I moved up to what looked most like a gate and peered between the thick foliage. Two unblinking eyes gazed back.

,,You, mortal. Why did you invade upon Azura’s domain? How did you invade? Do you realize the punishment that awaits you? Only those of her kin are allowed here. You should have remained on Nirn.” The creature asked in an icy tone. I simply frowned and shrugged. Then I held up five fingers in the Daedra’s view.
,,Now, not so pretty lady. There are several incorrect assumptions you make. One, I’m not a mortal. Two, I am not invading anything, just passing through. Three, a friend was so kind to open a portal for me. Four, said portal came from my own domain, not Nirn. And finally, I don’t give a bloody damn about whatever punishment you’ve got in store for me. If you want to punish, bring it on. But you’d better think twice before challenging an Aedra, sis.” I replied in the same tone.

The Winged Twilight, that’s what it was, laughed.
,,You, an Aedra? Whoever you are, you sure know how to bluff, mortal. Very well then, what is your name and what are your titles, oh great lord?” She asked me sarcastically yet playful. Well, at least I managed to break the ice, somehow.
,,Luper Alkad, Arch-mage of Vvardenfell, Arch-magister of House Telvanni, Hortator of the Houses Telvanni, Redoran and Hlaalu. Nerevarine of the four Ashlander tribes, slayer of Dagoth Ur, incarnation of Akatosh and to top it all, self-proclaimed swordmaster.” I counted. To my surprise, the plants separated to reveal an opening.
,,I see. Forgive me for my insolence. You have been expected, Luper Alkad. Just follow this corridor. It shall lead you directly to Azura.” The Winged Twilight spoke reverently. Geez, going from hated and mistrusted mortal to funny mortal and then to most honoured guest in less than five minutes? Wow, impressive.

The moment I set foot upon the floor of roots, the floor itself began to move, carrying me with it. I folded my arms across my chest and managed to regain a stern expression on my face.
,,Now this is just plain showing off.” I commented, yet still slightly amused. The wandering roots eventually came to a cavernous chamber which was completely empty except for one thing. Azura. She was as large as the statue of her shrine on the eastern coast of Vvardenfell, and dressed in a deep blue gown. Ash-coloured skin, crimson eyes. The resemblance with the Dark Elves was remarkable, or perhaps not. More than one source claimed that it was Azura who crafted the current appearance of the Dark Elves.

,,Hi, Azura.” I called across the distance, simply so I could annoy her by speaking first. She didn’t move a single muscle and looked completely emotionless though.
,,Good evening, my son.” She replied simply. Instantly, anger flared up from deep within my soul. With one single word, she’d managed to evaporate all of my self-control.
,,Don’t you dare call me that! My mother is an Alkad, my father is an Alkad. You, you are just a manipulative witch who killed them just so you could use me as your pawn in the whole Dagoth Ur scenario!” I shouted. My right hand clenched into a tight fist as it gripped empty air. It had moved to the place where Chrysamere’s hilt used to be. I corrected the motion by drawing my saber till a fingerwidth of the blade showed outside its sheath.

Now, Azura cast a neutral smile.
,,Are you going to draw that sword, Luper? Are you going to attack me again? I’d hate to see that you haven’t learned your lesson from last time you tried.” She said, still with that damn calm voice. I was still fuming but my sword remained where it was, half-drawn. Last time we met I’d tried to punch her in the face and actually managed to hit my target. But my blow lacked any effect and the Daedric Prince showed the gap between us power-wise by breaking nearly all my bones without even moving. Aggression wouldn’t take me anywhere. And even if the impossible happened, then what? She definitely wouldn’t help me return to Nirn after I whacked her. And then there was Revan.

,,Now that I’m here, you’ll tell me why you sent Revan after me, why you took me from Nirn.” I demanded without any useless diplomacy. Azura’s smile widened slightly.
,,You would order your mother?” She asked me in return.
,,Don’t call yourself that!” Great, I began to lose it again.
,,There are many reasons for what I did, Luper. Yet most of them are as of yet beyond your capability to understand. After all, by mortal years you haven’t even made thirty. Most mer would consider you a mere child even. Most Daedra would consider you even less than that. I shall give you the easiest to understand. Power and responsibility.”

With a loud hiss, I pushed the saber back into its sheath.
,,Power and responsibility? What does this mean?” I asked warily. Rarely, I mean never, had I liked her answers.
,,You are the incarnation of Akatosh and that makes you one of us, an immortal. While fighting Dagoth Ur, your strength ascended faster than any mere mortal could ever hope to match. Even now, your power continues to rise towards unfathomable heights.” I nodded and grumbled incoherently. I had indeed gone from plain loser to hero in a rather short time.
,,And then there is a promise we made with those of Nirn. No Daedric prince nor Aedra shall ever physically come to Nirn again. Only those of low rank can, when summoned. That is how you came to the world, powerless, unformed and summoned by one of my priestesses. But now, our promise has caught up to you. When Revan was about to banish you, your power flared beyond the allowed limit and so you were cast into your realm by the power of the Dragonfires, that which protects Nirn from our meddling.”

The likely conclusion came to me before Azura could continue.
,,So I’m now too powerful to return to Nirn as long as those Dragonfires exist. Destroying them would likely bring about a full scale invasion of Daedra which would make my return more harmful than good. So what am I supposed to do now, twiddle my thumbs for eternity? I think I asked the same question earlier today.” I interrupted. An hourglass rose up through the floor before my feet.
,,Time is a fickle thing, one of those few forces I cannot control. Yet your father, Akatosh, can. To return to Nirn is in all of our interests, for that is where your responsibility lies. But to return, the Dragonfires must not be allowed to block your path. To pass them, you must return to a point in time where they do not yet exist.” Azura pointed at the hourglass as she continued her speech.
,,I get it. So I’ll travel back in time with that thing, go to Nirn and then use my lack of aging to survive till I’m back at the proper timepoint. But that won’t work. When the Dragonfires are born, made, whatever, I’ll simply be cast back and we’ll be back where we started.” I interrupted again.

,,Only if you fail to convince the mortals of your required presence in the world. There is a possibility for an exception to be made, an exception that allows you full passage on Nirn and Oblivion. Find that exception and utilize it. Claim your destiny, Nerevarine.” Azura fell silent and waited for me to do something, like a statue. I stared long and hard at the hourglass but in the end, I concluded that whatever she was plotting, I was going to play my part whether I liked it or not.
,,And just when I thought I was rid of you.” I complained as I bent to pick it up. The last words before the world swirled into nothingness chilled me to the bone.
,,You’ll never be rid of me, not even if you return to the birth of everything.”

[blockhead]

,,Hi, Azura.” I called across the distance, simply so I could annoy her by speaking first.

The (at times) obnoxious ways of our hero really make the story rock.

Hmm: so now he'll be way back in time. Hey, let's change history. let's cause the locals to never believe in Azura, thus diminishing her power? That would be a nasty twist.

Hey, or have Dagoth Ur never come to power to begin with?

Maybe putting in a time traveling Aedra might just make the plot a tad *too* open? Maybe our hero just became too uber?