In service of a fallen god., Yup, I don't know how to quit. Options

[jack cloudy]

Wow, a bit messy this one. I know that this is a major deus ex machina here. Sorry, I'll try to clear it up a bit with the next one.



Out of nowhere, Magicka streamed into the air. Another portal formed right where the first one had been. This one was without any solid structure, just a ring of Magicka that created a gap between two worlds. A welldressed Imperial stepped through, holding the wrecked form of a Dunmer. Blood dripped out of countless wounds, yet the red liquid failed to taint the old man’s clothes. He bent down and carefully put Morvayn down on the ground.
,,I apologize for being late. I was right in the middle of a meal and I never interrupt one of those for saving the world. I finished eating as fast as I could before coming.” He spoke with a thin smile.
,,Morvayn!” Jana rushed over to the fallen Ordinator and crouched down beside him. Her hands found his neck where they felt for a sign of life, no matter how faint. The Dunmer’s heart was still beating.

,,You don’t interrupt meals when the world is in trouble? Geez, gramps. That’s something I could have said. Congratulations for being late, we already took care of everything safe for one thing. Help him.” Luper ordered the old man while pointing at Morvayn. The Imperial shook his head.
,,No, there is simply no way I could heal him fast enough to survive. Magicka isn’t capable of regenerating wounds that large effectively. Let him rest. Don’t prolong his suffering.” He answered.

,,There is a way. You once regenerated a lost heart! Help him, Aureus! Turn him into a vampire if that is what’s needed but don’t just stand here and watch him die!” Jana yelled at the ancient vampire, the oldest of her clan. Aureus Lucis shook his head once more, harder this time.
,,I have once sworn an oath. I would never infect others with the curse of my blood. I regret letting you and your father be infected. I regret that every day. Don’t ask me to betray everything I am for a lost cause. The vampirism takes days to achieve its full effect. He has mere minutes to live. I won’t do it.” He notified before walking away. They wouldn’t appreciate his presence right now.

Jana sank down, crying. An armoured hand rested on her shoulder.
,,Do it. I know you don’t like the idea of this but it’s the only thing that can save him. You just take care of the vampirism and I will do everything else. Trust me, this will work.” Luper whispered in her ear. He then stood back and waited for the woman to infect her friend. It took a moment to happen. Biting in someone’s neck was something even a vampire rarely enjoyed. Once she was done, he knelt beside Morvayn and focussed his own Aedric powers on the Dunmer.

He gripped the blood near the new wound with his telekinesis. Then, he accelerated their passage through time. Seconds turned to minutes, then days. Within a mere moment, he had allowed the vampirism to develop in a process that normally took the better part of a week. He then released his hold on both time and the blood. The fully developed vampirism spread, doing its job. Morvayn’s skin began to burn under the sun.
,,Oh, Cliffracers on a stick!” Luper cursed. He gripped time once more, this time decelerating Morvayn’s entire body. The burning continued, yet so slow it was barely visible by the naked eye.
,,Get him inside, girl. Once the night has come, you can take him home. I think I’m going to pay a visit to an old friend of mine to clean up this mess.” The Aedra ordered. He stood up and walked to Aureus who had been watching.

,,I know that you don’t like what we’ve just done but really, don’t expect us to just stand there and watch someone die. We’re immortal but that doesn’t mean we have to face all of the consequences. Just watch over him. When he wakes up, he’ll have a whole new life to adjust to.” Luper picked up the remains of Chrysamere and the giant sword he’d used to kill Mehrunes Dagon. He was then whisked away by the power of an intervention spell, a spell he hadn’t used in a long time.

[The Metal Mallet]

Really creative thinking with the advanced vampirism trick there Jack. That was pretty cool.

Though I wonder how happy Morvayn is going to be when he finds out he's a vampire now....

[jack cloudy]

Morvayn drifted on the verge of consciousness for days. He remembered a comforting voice, hands that fed him and shook up his pillows. The itching of his regenerating body, the cold touch of metal around his neck. One day, every sensation became clear. He opened his eyes and carefully examined the room he was in. Green walls like those of a plant surrounded his bed.
,,A Telvanni tower? Am I at Jana’s place?” He wondered. He then noticed the feeling of metal around his neck. He brought down his hand which felt an amulet. He brought the piece of jewellery up in front of his eyes. The amulet was eerily familiar, it looked like wet blood.
,,Wet blood? Didn’t Jana wear one of those and her father? Two vampires wearing the same amulet…..Please don’t let it be a mark of vampirism.”

,,Ah, you are awake, finally. I was getting worried, though I know that regenerating takes time.” Morvayn turned his face to the door. An old imperial stood in the doorframe. He to wore one of the red amulets. The Imperial bowed.
,,Good morning, Morvayn Dres. It is a pleasure to meet you.” He said with a polite tone.
Morvayn shook his head. He just didn’t know what to make of things.
,,Who are you?” He asked bluntly.

The Imperial smiled.
,,You will learn my name in due time. I was the one who saved you from that army of Dremora swarming around you. Just a simple display of telekinesis to hurl them over the horizon. Nothing hard for someone as old as me.” He responded, still with the same polite tone.
,,I will inform lady Mirhtri that you are awake. Don’t worry about anything, you are in good hands.” The Imperial left before Morvayn could say anything. The Dunmer lay down in his bed.
,,That wasn’t exactly helpful.”

As predicted, Jana came into the room a bit later.
,,I hope you’re hungry, I’ve been working on this meal for the better part of the day.” The woman told him. She was indeed carrying a tray that smelled deliciously. Morvayn nodded and happily began to eat the tray’s contents. He now realized he was starving.
,,So, who was that old man who came in a bit earlier? He was definitely bragging, something about throwing an army of Dremora across the horizon.” He asked between mouthfuls.
,,That? Oh, that was none other than Aureus Lucis, the owner of that tower our Nord friend broke into last time. He is a Wanderer. He can naturally feel things like Oblivion gates so he arrived just in time to help save your life. And I doubt he would be bragging.” Jana laughed.

Morvayn raised an eyebrow.
,,Aureus Lucis, isn’t that this ancient vampire your father warned me about? The one who would take down any group of Ordinators that might be sent here? He didn’t look like much, I can’t possibly see how he would do all that.” He questioned. He was quite puzzled.
,,Trust me, he can. You have seen Luper. Well, Aureus may not beat Luper at swordfighting or sheer brute strength but when it comes down to Magicka, even ten Luper’s wouldn’t be able to beat him. At least, before Luper learned how to manipulate time. Aureus, he is more of a god than the whole Tribunal at the height of their power.” Jana told him seriously before taking on a worried expression.
,,I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you. I know that you respect Vivec.”

Morvayn gave a sour smile.
,,Don’t worry about it, I am getting used to it. I’ll believe you when you say that this old vampire can defeat Luper and I’ll even go as far as believing that Vivec won’t swipe him away like a bug. It doesn’t matter, I’ve got bigger problems on my hands. Such as how I can ever go back to my role as High Ordinator now that I am a vampire.” He replied.
,,I’m sorry, but it was the only way we could save you. And I don’t think you have to worry about that. Luper left right after the battle. He said he was going to meet an old friend to clean up the mess. You can believe whatever you like but I don’t think that there will be any need for Ordinators once he returns. His definition of cleaning is dangerously similar to his definition of making a mess.” Jana explained to him. She smiled at him and left as fast as she could. The Ordinator would have to make his opinion without distractions.

Vivec was meditating. His eyes were closed yet he still saw everything that happened inside his city. Walls were no barrier to his mind. Something was bothering him. There was a small spot where he couldn’t see, as if he was blind. That spot was now ascending the stairs to his palace. Vivec’s eyes shot open. This abrupt movement caught the attention of his guards.
,,Something is coming. Prepare your arms.” The god ordered them. He drew two Dwemer blades himself, Purebreath and Coldfinger, the divine blades of fire and ice. Something knocked on the door.
,,Why does he knock? Doesn’t he know that the door only opens for the right key?”

A giant sword cleaved through the door. The Ordinators stepped back and exchanged worried expressions. Vivec remained calm. He was expecting this guest.
,,Mehrunes Dagon, come in.” He spoke, loud and clear.
,,Ha, I knew you were involved with all this. It just had to be you.” A taunting voice called out from beyond the door. The voice did not belong to Mehrunes Dagon. It was a voice Vivec could never forget, a voice that haunted him every moment.

An Ordinator had entered the palace. He wasn’t an Ordinator, Vivec saw that instantly. No Ordinator was this casual when in the presence of a Tribunal god.
,,Yes, what do you want?” He asked the man.
,,Let’s play the name-game.” Was the fake Ordinator’s response. The man sounded very disrespectful.
,,Do you remember the name, Kagrenac?” The first question annoyed him. Who was this man, that he dared to play a game with Vivec?
,,Everyone knows that name. He was the mastersmith of the Dwarves.” He responded. The warning tone of his voice wasn’t heard by the false Ordinator.
,,True, but do you remember the name Lorhkan?” Nowhe was getting slightly worried. The choice of names was eerie. Now the man raised his left hand which bore a ring. A ring that Vivec had hoped never to see again.
,, Last one. Do you remember the name….Nerevar?” It was the Moon-and-Star. The man was Nerevar Indoril, the ancient general he betrayed in exchange for immortality.

Now this man stood before him again, without the armour of an Ordinator this time. Vivec’s face revealed no emotions but inside, he was frightened and angry.
,,Your survival was unexpected. The prophecy claims that the Nerevarine is not harmed by age, it appears that the prophecy was right. I also see that you still bear Wraithguard. And you have managed to unlock the secrets of Kagrenak which you used to create a second Wraithguard. Why have you returned, Nerevar Indoril? Or do you want me to refer to you by a different name? ” Vivec practically spat out those words. Luper gave a smug grin, exactly the same one he’d given all those years ago.
,,You could have called me Luper Alkad, Repul Dakla, Akatosh or even Nerevarine. But know one thing, I am not the old general. It was all a lie, the whole prophecy. Nerevar would never return so Azura chose the easy path. She took the essence of Akatosh and formed it into a being to replace Nerevar. She created me. Now as for why I am here.” Luper paused for a moment. The Ordinators were slammed against the wall and sank to the floor, unconscious.

,,That staff created a gate to Oblivion. A gate through which an army of Daedra came. Mehrunes Dagon himself followed a bit later. You knew that this would happen, didn’t you? Am I right, when I think that you wanted to do just that. Give Mehrunes Dagon his gate for a reward. Were you planning to sacrifice Tamriel just so you could have your immortality back?” The Aedra continued. His grin had vanished, replaced by a stony mask of barely controlled rage.
,,You don’t know how I suffer each day for what you did. You took my pride, my power. You have slain my kin. You mocked me with your very existence. The Nerevarine, who united the Dunmer like no one had ever managed before. Who succeeded where we failed. Who was victorious, even when fighting a god! A mortal, claiming to be greater than we were. Yet after all that you have done, you still dare to judge me?” Vivec replied with a venomous voice.

Luper shook his head.
,,Yes, I killed Almalexia. No, I did not kill Sotha Sil. He was death when I arrived, slain by Almalexia’s hand. I put her down to bring an end to her insanity. The Heart of Lorkhan, it grants immortality but look at the cost. Even as it gives you unimaginable power, it steals your soul. Kagrenac, Dagoth Ur, Almalexia, they all fell to its temptation and its curse. Even you, Vivec. Even you are suffering from it. Slowly, your mind is slipping into insanity. For the good of the world and for yourself, I will judge you. Rest well, together with those who have passed on before you.” The Nerevarine spoke with the calm tone of voice he’d last used when he spoke with Almalexia moments before her death. Vivec never raised his hand in defence as Chrysamer penetrated his heart faster than he could see.
,,Rest well Vivec, last of the Tribunal.” Luper repeated. He left the god as he was. He vanished from the temple without a word. Now his last living connection with the Nerevarine prophecy was death.

Morvayn was sitting on the balcony, enjoying the night’s breeze. He’d accepted his new fate. Now that he couldn’t return to Vivec, he would just have to make the best of life. Somehow, it felt good to be free of the Tribunal. He never had time for his personal life before. Luper had returned months ago, only to leave right after he’d dropped off Mehrune’s sword. Where the man was now, the Dunmer could only guess.
,,Wherever you are, I hope you manage to ease the pain of your heart. It is a curse. People come and go yet we immortals shall remain till the end of time.” He whispered into the wind. He looked down at the fire burning in the village center. Tonight was the night his child would receive a name. He couldn’t wait.
,,Being a vampire isn’t so bad. It’s pretty good as long as I have Jana and this amulet that keeps me fed.”

THE END

[The Metal Mallet]

I wasn't expecting such a thrilling end as this, jack! Excellent work!

You wrote the emotion wonderfully in this conclusion and tied things up nicely.

So when are ya starting the next one? Next week? Haha, just bugging ya. I'm sure we'll see something from you again, and I'll gladly read it like I have your other stuff.

[jack cloudy]

Thank you for reading it. And yeah, I know that I tend to whip up the next one right after finishing. Don't get your hopes up though. I plan on working on some original fiction of my own for now. So that means no Luper and no Chrysamere.

[The Metal Mallet]

Ohwell, it'll be interesting to see what you do this time then. That is, if you intend to release it on these forums, which I hope you will!

[minque]

Thank you for sharing this excellent story with us! I have read it all but I´m sorry for not commenting as much as would have liked to!

You are a gifted writer indeed!