Memoires of Rales Sarethi, A Morrowind fanfic Options

[minque]

ohhh many updates since I was here last! And all of them excellent work. I really enjoy how well you depict the romance between Zerina and Rales...so truthworthy and "real"...

Hmm come to think of it..is Rales related to the Sarethi's of Great House Redoran, by any chance?

[Remko]

@Minque: Thank you! Not spoiling it though, you're just gonna have to stick with the story to find out.

@Destri: Errrr, yeah... maybe he's just a quick study.. Have him goof up again with a potion could be... interesting. Will give it some thought.

@SubRosa: Thanks, that reads a lot better. Will change it.


Day 125

Enthusiastically Zerina reacted to the news we had the entire day to waste. No missions or hangovers to spoil it. The rain had dispersed so we went outside for an extensive tour around Vivec, mostly by gondola. We visited an outstanding armourer in the Foreign Quarter to have my boots widened so my feet wouldn’t hurt after wearing them for several hours.
I would’ve never have guessed they could do that if Zerina hadn’t told me after I mentioned I wanted new boots because my old ones were rather uncomfortable.
The un-eventfulness of the day had granted me plenty of time think about the conundrums I faced. I had decided that if Zerina wanted to tell me, she would do so in due time. Women are mysterious and I have a feeling they like it that way.

With the weather cleared up, instead of having something to eat in a tavern, we left the confines of the city and had a picnic on the banks of one of the small, deep lakes that dotted the area.
A spell I had recently learned to master was most amusing to play with. When Zerina was floating on her back in the water and contentedly humming some melody I didn’t know, I cast a levitation spell on her and dispelled it when she was five feet in the air. The first time she shrieked because she hadn’t counted on it but soon the game became a friendly competition who dared to go higher and make a bigger splash.


Chapter 11: Revelations

Day 126

Back in Balmora, Caius was happy to see I had managed to trace all three informants and got the intel from them and it hadn’t even taken several weeks. Since it was quite a lot to read through, the Spymaster suggested I’d come back later so he would have some time to read and digest it all and winked. I knew all too well what he meant, his sharp insight was never too far off. I smiled crookedly and said I’d be back in a couple of hours.
Caius made a rather intimate joke about something I had never given any thought over the last few months that could put a blush on many a people’s cheeks about “us young ones being safe and taking care”.

No matter how personal the matter was; Caius had struck a point. And a good one at that. Denying I had any knowledge about procreation would be hypocritical. I was no stranger to a woman’s bodily function. Back in Cyrodiil, young couples would take consult with the Mages’ Guild, a local alchemist or an apothecary but Zerina and I had taken no such precautions. How did she prevent getting pregnant? Another conundrum but to this one I wanted an answer. Before I was deported to Vvardenfell, someone in Skingrad once told me Dunmer women could turn off their capability of conceiving but I had considered that to be drunken stupor - especially considered the establishment where I had heard it, some tavern I care not to remember.

Zerina was rather surprised when I brought up the matter. My excuse for not discussing children earlier was that I was busy chasing down informants all over Vvardenfell and never had given it any thought before. When she asked me what caused me to wonder about it, I told her about Caius and the Blades and disclosed what the information I needed from the people in Vivec had been all about.
Only Caius and the Emperor know the deeper reason I explained to her truthfully. Once more, her kind-heartedness and intelligence made me aware there was more to her than just a gorgeous package.

She wasn’t shocked to hear I was basically a spy for the Empire. With a mysterious smile she had commented: ’Most people hardly ever make a choice, their lives run as a Foyada; wild and without sense of direction. Some people’s choices however - some of those destined for greatness,’ she paused a while to look in my eyes, ‘will determine the course of history. We can only hope the last category makes the right choice. You have to figure out which you are, the first or the second. But, know this my love: I will always be at your side to support you.’
‘Always is a long time for us Dunmer,’ I said dryly.
‘I do hope so.’

***

What I had discarded as drunken stupor proved to be true after all. Since we Mer have a far longer lifespan than humans, it is less prevelant to bear children on regular basis to sustain our race than it is to humans, Zerina explained to me. Mer women conceive two times, some even three but never more than four times throughout their entire life and have evolved into being able to switch their fertility on or off.

‘Would you want children though?’ Zerina whispered panting in my ear during our mutual grand declaration of love.
‘What? Now?’ I laughed.
‘Oh, you, you- N’Wah! she cursed in good humour.
The truth was; I would love to have children with her but I wasn’t ready for such a responsibility next to the ones I was already facing. I’d want my children to grow up with both parents around. Something I couldn’t be certain about at that time.

Day 127

‘Hmm, took you long enough,’ Caius grumbled but his eyes were laughing.
‘You have read through the notes yourself?’
I nodded. ‘Even Progress of Truth.’
‘Good, good, I haven’t yet got around to reading that but have flipped through it briefly. Interesting, is it not?’
‘Yeah, although there is a lot I don’t understand.’
‘Understandably so,’ Caius bobbed his head intermittedly. ‘You agree the rumours about the Sixth House could be true?’
I shrugged. ‘Possibly, there is plenty of evidence pointing that way.’
‘I agree, although I haven’t been able to see it for myself. Ah, the curse of superiority.’ Caius sighed deep. ‘I know you won’t like it but I need you to look up another informant- the last one, I promise,’ he quickly added, ‘although this one is a lot more interesting. I’d like you to look up an Ashlander in Ald'ruhn who has abandoned the traditional Ashlander-customs and made a fortune in trading. We need to know more about the Ashlanders, this could be just what we need. Learn of their habits and find out what they know of the legend of the Nerevarine - Lord Nerevar reborn and their interpretation of it. Maybe you could also try to find out what the smuggling operation is about. Oh, and make sure to bring the Ashlander a gift, here’s some gold to cover the expenses.’

Again I found myself walking back to the manor contemplating my latest mission. I agreed with Caius, it would be interesting meeting one of the Ashlanders. No-one really knew much about them. Only that they’re a secluded nomadic people holding on to the old ways of worshipping their ancestors and Daedric Princes. What kind of present would persuade the Ashlander to tell me what I wanted to hear? I figured there was only one way to find out; I’d have to ask him. The Ashlanders I encountered so far were easily persuaded by some gold but I doubted a rich trader would be so easily persuaded. No, I was sure it wasn’t going to be easy this time.

However; I had a trump-card up my sleeve. No man can resist a beautiful woman and I just happened to know someone like that. I picked up Zerina and told her I needed her help with the mission at hand. Her eyes shone with anticipation, she had always wanted to visit Ald’ruhn. To save time, I payed the guild-guide at the Mages’ Guild to have us teleported to Ald’ruhn and warned Zerina about the temporary disorientation upon arrival. The teleportation had affected her balance briefly and she probably would’ve fallen, hadn’t it been for my arm I held out - a completely natural thing to do when accompanying a lady.

Two taverns provided rooms in Ald’ruhn. It wasn’t very likely the wealthy Ashlander was going to be found in the cheap inn called “The rat in the pot”. If he was in Ald’ruhn, he would be in the luxurous place, the “Ald Skar inn”.
My instinct proved correct. The proprietor, Boderi Farano, informed me the Ashlander rented a room in her establishment and that I could find him downstairs, probably reading some poetry.

It’s truly amazing what a huge distraction a woman can create. Hassour Zainsubani, the Ashlander, couldn’t keep his eyes off Zerina, who cunningly had donned a low-cut dress with a long slit exposing her left thigh. From the little interaction I had with Ashlanders before, I knew they always liked to discuss business.
‘Much like the Hlaalu,’ I thought to myself amused. When I asked him about business he reluctantly shifted his attention to answering my questions but only half-heartedly. Exactly what I had in mind with bringing Zerina. Well, that and a more selfish reason. Absent-mindedly he answered all the questions I had for him. I didn’t even have to bribe him for it, or run around in an effort finding him a suitable present.

Soon, I learned Ashlanders like to receive what he called thoughtful gifts. Some will be content with food - like a Trama root - but most prefer gold gifts. I didn’t really need him to tell me that - who doesn’t? I had found out that myself weeks earlier. Conveniently, he too had made notes he handed over. That would save me a lot of time telling Caius all I had learned from him.

Like a pair of tourists we meandered through Ald’ruhn for hours until an ash-storm picked up and our sight was obscured by ash, turning everything to a grey-reddish blur. More on touch than vision we found our way back to the local Mages’ Guild and were teleported back to Balmora. The first time is always the worst; when we returned to Balmora, Zerina didn’t need support.

‘Maybe it’s about time I told you more about what’s really going on,’ Caius excused himself when I handed him the notes. While I was out of town, he had read through all of the notes - including the book “Progress of Truth”.
‘I already told you you have been released by order from the Emperor himself. I never told you why you-’
I interrupted him. ‘I’ve been wondering about th-‘
‘Wait, wait, wait, lemme finish,’ Caius put up his hands in defence. ‘You have been released and recruited into the Blades because the Emperor suspects you fit the profile of the Nerevarine prophecies.’
My jaw dropped.
‘Here, take this.’ Caius gave me a familiar looking package.
‘Isn’t that what I brought you?’
Caius nodded. ‘It is. I decoded it so you should be able to make sense of it. Read it, memorise it and then destroy it. When you’ve read it and think you can handle a more dangerous mission, come back and I’ll brief you. Now, I’m sure you have more- ah, amusing ways to fill your day than hanging around with an old sugar-tooth. By the way; I’m also promoting you. Get outta here Finder.’

There was one more thing I wanted to wrap up before heading home. I remembered Caius’ friend, Larrius Varro, wanted to have a little chat with me.
The Moonmoth Legion Barracks also provided the Imperial Cult shrine so I could instantly travel there by casting a Divine Intervention spell and casting a different spell, an Almsivi Intervention spell would teleport me straight to Balmora’s Temple.

Since I was heading to a Legion Fort I had put on my Legion armour, cast the spell to get me to the Fort Moonmoth and asked where I could find Larrius Varro.
The soldier simply pointed to a large building with a huge steel-enforced wooden door.
‘Trooper Sarethi, I’ll presume?’ an Imperial Legion officer in a black with gold armour, indicating his high rank, greeted me.
I saluted. ‘Yes Sir! You wanted to speak to me?’
The champion beckoned to me to sit down and offered me a drink which I gladly took. The smell and taste of the ash still overwhelmed all my senses. I was more than keen flushing it away with a nice glass of Cyrodiilic wine.

‘Now,’ Larrius started. ‘I’ve heard of your run-in with some bad people in Balmora.’
‘Bad people Sir?’ I acted like I didn’t understand what he meant. Of course I damn well knew he meant the criminals I had torn to pieces recently but I wasn't proud of that at all.
‘Yes, bad people. Let me tell you a little story.’
He told me a story about bad people that had been bribing the local magistrate, Nolus Atrius, into fixing sentences for criminals. Larrius told me he’d been wanting to root out corruption but was faced with the syndicate thwarting his every effort.
Now that I had removed that obstacle he could finally continue with his task and was most grateful for the bloodbath I had created. According to him, it was enough repellent to prevent it from happening again soon. He awarded me with a very expensive enchanted gold ring - from His Majesty’s own finger, he claimed - and a book and sent me on my way.

I saluted, marched out of the building and cast the spell to get me back to the Balmora Temple. A part of me wanted to dump the ring in the river Odai straight away. I wasn’t proud of what had happened that day in the Council Club. I had meant to bring one outlaw to justice, it had not been my intention to slaughter five people and even get awarded for doing so - even if it had been for the better.

This post has been edited by Remko: Apr 16 2010, 11:22 AM

[haute ecole rider]

I am still so enjoying reading this a second time!

Just a nit:

Caius made a rather intimitate joke about something I had never given any thought over the last few months that could put a blush on many a people’s cheeks about “us young ones being safe and taking care”.

I think you meant intimate. Also, the period is outside the closing quote instead of inside. Regardless, this sentence made me smile! Such concerns cross generations and cultural boundaries!

The teleportation had affected her balance briefly and she probably would’ve fallen, hadn’t it been for my arm I held out - a completely natural thing to do when accompanying a lady.

This is deceptively simple and revealing - so in character for Rales. Any woman would be so lucky to be accompanied by him!

Hassour Zainsubani, the Ashlander, couldn’t keep his eyes off Zerina, who cunningly had donned a low-cut dress with a long slit exposing her left thigh.

Ah, the lovely Zerina knows how to use her feminine wiles! She makes a great partner for Rales! Then:

When I asked him about business he reluctantly shifted his attention to answering my questions but only half-heartedly. Exactly what I had in mind with bringing Zerina.

Typical Rales! Pragmatic!

Well, that and a more selfish reason.

This is even more classic!

[Destri Melarg]

Your handling of the ‘baby question’ was both relevant and well-placed within the confines of your story. How many other tales about ‘heroes’ would be comfortable with issues of procreation, fertility, and Dunmer physiology? Chapters like these are what separate Rales from the rank and file, in my opinion.

[Remko]

Why thank you!

@Hautee: I could be wrong but I think the period needs to be outside the quotation marks 'cause I didn't use them for dialogue.

[SubRosa]

I would’ve never have guessed they could do that if Zerina hadn’t told me after I mentioned I wanted new boots because my old ones were rather uncomfortable.
This is both so typically male, and typically female.

Women are mysterious and I have a feeling they like it that way.
Quoted for truth!



nits:
and have evolved into being able to switch their fertibility on or off.
that is fertility, and what a handy trick!

Larrius told me he’d been wanting to route out corruption
that is root.

[Remko]

Part II: Heretic or Saviour?

Chapter 1: Poison

Day 140

For days in a row I was dazed and confused by the ramifications of the contents of the package Caius had given me. Some aspects in it could not possibly refer to me. How could the Emperor have made such a mistake? Sure, I am an orphan but I had known my mother and knew my date of birth, the twenty-first of First Seed. There was no way I could meet the conditions of the prophecy. And then there was the fact the prophecy states the Nerevarine will drive out all Outlanders from Morrowind. Wasn’t I an Outlander myself? It wasn’t making sense at all.

Caius had been right about one thing; I now knew exactly what the Emperor wanted from me. He wanted me to force my way into becoming the Nerevarine - as his puppet on a string. Not something I really felt like doing; helping to subdue the Dunmer people - my people - by being instated as His Majesty’s agent to become a local legendary hero. My unease with the Emperor’s letter was countered by the fact the prophecy also stated the Nerevarine is prophesised to cleanse the land of what was festering within the Red Mountain, something I learned from reading all the notes and books I had been handed throughout my persuit of all the informants. They way I saw it, I was faced with two choices; become the Emperor’s puppet and help my people along the way or run, throw everything away and basically leave my fellow Dunmer to rot.
It was time I found out more about my heritage, it was time to seek out my relatives in Ald’ruhn. I needed to know who I really was and to determine who I was to become.

The nightmares that had plagued me hadn’t bothered me for weeks but returned worse and more vivid than ever. A man behind a golden mask calling me Nerevar dominated every single one. In some he was my enemy; I could see him being killed by a Mer in armour clearly indicating he was some sort of commander and with a strange ring around his finger. In another nightmare he hailed me as a friend. He said we had been friends and if I wanted, it could be that way again. One thing was always the same: I’d wake up screaming and sweating all over.

It didn’t take me long to figure out the man behind the golden mask was no other than Dagoth Ur himself. His claim we could be friends again was undone by the attack that followed. One night, I was snoozing after I had woken up from another nightmare when I felt something in our bedroom was wrong. With sleep-ridden eyes I just managed to see a creature with a skin almost as grey as ash, I had never seen before, wielding a spiked club that was aiming for my head. Acting purely on instinct I shoved Zerina aside from the bed but couldn’t avoid being hit by the club myself. The club hit me full in the chest, several spikes on it pierced my skin. I could taste the metallic aroma of my own blood filling my mouth.
With my strength failing I grabbed a dagger I had within arm’s reach and stabbed the thing several times wherever I could. The last thing I heard was Zerina screaming, a spell being cast and smelled something I can only describe as smouldering remains of a camp-fire. Then; everything went black.

When I got around again, there were several people by my bedside in a room I didn’t recognise. Zerina; her face grey from exhaustion and with bulging eyes from crying, Caius; frowning in his typical way, the Khajiit alchemist; Ajira, Uryne; our servant, even Nileno Dorvayn was at my side looking quite worried.
‘We thought we had lost you there son,’ Caius said and looked at Zerina.
‘Hadn’t it been for her, we would’ve never got to you in time.’
I tried to speak but found I couldn’t utter more than some grunts because of my dry troat and my severely weakened state.
Caius shook his head. ‘Don’t speak. The club was poisoned, you were very near death. A spike punctured one of your lungs, Nileno and Zerina patched you up and Ajira made a potion to counteract the poison. We moved you to a different location in case of another attack.’
I pointed at a pitcher with a trembling hand. Uryne immediately filled a glass and held it to my mouth.
Grateful I drank some water but couldn’t empty the glass. I tried to sit up a bit more but the effort drained me of my energy and I passed out again.

***

How long it had been, I don’t know but when I opened my eyes, Zerina was the only one remaining in the room, sitting vigilantly next to the bed. We shared some glimpses words couldn’t hope to describe.
She got up from her seat, laid herself next to me and wrapped her arms around me lovingly. Just her presence, the very beating of her kind heart lifted some of the pain surging through my entire body. The poison that had been used must have been a potent one. Lifting my hand to wipe the tears from Zerina’s cheek took nearly all of what little strength I had left. Zerina smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. I smiled back, in an effort letting her know I was going to be fine and how much I appreciated her.

For weeks I was torn between waking and unconsciousness. The pain was ever present, so were the nightmares of the man behind the golden mask. Since the attack, he no longer pretended to be my long-lost friend; he was always my enemy, always the betrayer out for my demise and utter failure. In some of the nightmares I could even see myself dying - dissociated, like I wasn’t a part of it. In one I would fall and burn to a cinder in the fiery heart of Red Mountain. In some I would be destroyed by some huge, reddish pulsating artifact and in another Dagoth Ur stabbed me through my heart with a strange looking short-sword.
Every time I woke up in a sweat, screaming. And always was Zerina there.

Gradually, my system flushed out the poison - aided by Ajira’s potions - and I was starting to feel like myself again. The changes to my mental state however, were profound. If there was one thing the Sixth House had accomplished by poisoning me in my own house, it was that I was even more determined in rooting out the evil they spread, to the point of it becoming a grim obsession. I wanted to grab a sword and wipe out everything and everyone supporting or sympathising with House Dagoth.
Not to save Vvardenfell, not for the Emperor. I just wanted them wiped from existance. Again, it was my Zerina who kept me from slipping over the edge.
I kept my sanity and over the following weeks I shed most of the grim determination that had firmly grasped my heart in its icy talons.

Still, it was clear I had lost my youthly light-heartedness, nothing was ever going to be the same again. Except for the bond Zerina and I had, a bond nothing could sever, not even Wretched. She was more than the love of my live, she was my soulmate, my very reason I hadn’t ventured out on a indiscriminate killing spree. There was nothing I hid from her anymore. My doubts, fears and hates, I laid them bare for her to dissect and rationalise.
She was the saviour of my soul, my beacon in the mist.

[haute ecole rider]

This is well-written. The transition from Rales Sarethi, Outlander orphan to the Nerevar Reborn begins here, in a subtle yet profound manner. Now we see what will drive Rales through the rest of the story.

I liked how Zerina came to his aid when he was attacked by what? an ash-creature? Sorry I'm not up on Morrowind lore, but I'm guessing this is one of Dagoth-Ur's minions? And she stayed with him through his recovery, as she has done before. The bond between them only gets stronger with time, and here we get to watch it. It is a wonderful thing to watch, too.

Well, I'm rambling on, but I want to let you know how much I'm enjoying this story the second time around!

[Remko]

I- I.. err... euhm... I am speechless.... Thank you Hautee!

Since I havent posted many updates this last week, here's another.

Chapter 2: Artifacts

Day 197:

My sword, Wretched, I usually thoroughly despised for its awful effectiveness, suited the gloomy state of my mind. Caius and I had discussed recent events and came to the conclusion we should count on another attack on me by the Sixth House. Our house in Balmora wasn’t safe anymore until we - or rather; I - did something about it. For that, we needed to know our enemy. It was crucial to determine their bases of operations and plans. Caius was confident there should be a base nearby from where they could launch their attack. The Imperial Spymaster suggested I’d venture out on a search and destroy mission to nearby Sixth House bases, most likely dark caves but advised me to quest for powerful artifacts to assist me first.

Zerina didn’t agree, but I insisted she’d return to her mother for a while. The path ahead of me was going to be dark and gruesome.
I left Balmora and headed east. After half a day of walking I left the green pastures and entered the violent, fire-scarred parts of Vvardenfell in search of my enemy.
In Hassour, the Sixth House base I found, I windmilled my way through the same kind of grey-skinned creatures that had attacked me with total disregard for my own safety, leaving a trail of scattered limbs and dead bodies in my wake.

After having ripped my way through the lesser Ash creatures, I encountered a creature with tentacles instead of a face, that was apparently far more intelligent than anything I had encountered so far. The abomination safely stayed out of range of my terrible blade and kept pounding me with spells. It mocked me with saying he would leave some pieces of me for Dagoth Ur when he was through with me. I hissed through clenched teeth it would be hard for him to do that as a smouldering heap at my feet but I knew my insults to be bluff. I couldn’t hope to defeat him; my meager spells were useless, he dodged them or seemed to absorb them. Even worse; I couldn’t get a single hit with Wretched in. I did something I never thought possible: I cut my losses, turned and ran.

Bloody and with gashes all over my body I returned to Balmora with my head hung in shame. I had failed. How was I to defeat Dagoth Ur if I couldn’t even defeat his lesser minions? Caius didn’t even ask; my face told my story.
‘I failed,’ I sighed with my spirit broken.
‘What do you mean, failed?’ Caius was puzzled.
‘Just as I said,’ I snapped. ‘I failed, I couldn’t defeat them!’
‘Didn’t I warn you to quest for powerful artifacts first? What did you expect? Just to barge in and wipe out the Sixth House cult? I knew you were brave but never considered you stupid or utterly senseless!’ he retorted angrily.
Of course, Caius was right. Headlong I had plummeted myself into something I didn’t really understand yet and had almost lost my life in the process. However; at least now I had an idea of the formidable foe we were facing. It would take something special to break through their lines. Just a frightful sword wasn’t enough, I needed something to tip the scales in my favour, just as Caius had said.

After a brief stop in Gnisis to pick up Zerina - I realised I needed her at my side with what was at hand, more than I had thought - we travelled all over Vvardenfell, looking for books and hints on locations of lost powerful artifacts. We travelled around for weeks before we finally learned an enchanted cuirass, the Lord’s Mail, had just recently mysteriously vanished from the armoury in Ebonheart. The enchantment on it would protect the wearer against magical attacks, just the thing that would be a big help to my cause.
All my collegues in the Legion based in Ebonheart, stubbornly denied the rumour but an Argonian ex-slave told me he hard heard it might have been an inside-job and that the thief shouldn’t have gone far.
He suggested looking underneath Ebonheart.

Underneath Ebonheart, that meant sewers. We walked around Ebonheart in search of the sewage entrance and made our way into the sewer through a partially submerged iron gate. The stench of human waste was overwhelming but Zerina didn’t complain once.
Out of all places, why someone would want to hide in this damp, cold hole I didn’t know but after looking around the rumours proved to be true. Nearly hugging his campfire I encountered an Imperial donning a powerful looking cuirass.
He wasn’t happy with our presence and angrily asked about our motives.
Calmly I explained to him I was after the cuirass he was wearing and told him I was willing to pay him royally for it.
He shook his head. ‘However tempting it may sound, no can do. It needs to remain a secret. Since you two,’ he paused to look at Zerina and me dauntingly,’ already know of it, I’m sorry to say you have to take my secret to the grave.’ The Imperial got to his feet and drew his sword. I was already reaching for Wretched when I felt Zerina’s hand gentily restraining my sword-arm. ‘I have a better idea,’ she whispered.
Her hands began glowing and the next moment the Imperial was suspended in the air, paralysed and upside-down. Grinning in amazement I took the cuirass from him and wondered if he had known the true potential of it.

We could hear him screaming in anguish just as we surfaced outside of the sewer.
‘How did you do that?’ I asked Zerina who was wringing her hair and wrinkled her nose because of the putrid smell of the water dripping down.
‘Oh, a little levitation, a little paralysation and some telekinesis,’ she answered airily.

***

Except for the cuirass, our hunt for ancient artifacts turned out rather fruitless. Nearly empty-handed we returned to Balmora to report with Caius.
He had a pleasant surprise for us; to help me defeat Dagoth Ur and his minions he had sent the Blades out for artifact-hunting as well. From a small chest underneath his bed he took several rings and amulets, all infused with magical properties. Some of them had been missing for most of the third Era. Among the trinkets was an enchanted blood-red ring he called the Vampiric Ring. Supposedly, the wearer could leech of his or her target’s life. I solemnly vowed I would never use it against another living being. From what we learned in books about it, it’s power was truly horrible, but I wouldn’t hesitate using it on those foul Sixth House abominations.

Most of the amulets and rings he produced, provided the wearer a magical shield, something I most certainly could put to good use. I wasn’t much of a mage, I knew some basic spells, but as soon as the rush of battle set in, I confided in my blade skill and the everlasting sharpness of Wretched. With my new cuirass - it was a lot heavier than what I was used to but far lighter than the heavy Ebony monstrosity I had but never used - I was a lot more confident my armour could deflect powerful weapons, like Ebony or Daedric weapons and the magical trinkets should protect me adaquately from powerful spell-casters. Maybe, after some more training, I wouldn’t be without a chance of defeating Dagoth Ur after all. That night, I went to bed in a far better mood than the weeks before and planned the trip to Ald’ruhn in search of my relatives I had postponed and dreaded for so long.

This post has been edited by Remko: Apr 16 2010, 05:22 PM

[Olen]

Good stuff, we being to see the change to Nerevarine, and again you've really caught the feel of the game here and how the gameplay and feel changes as you get further into the sixth house.

You fitted the change into Rales smoothly, the question of who he was doing it for being removed by his anger and doing it just to destroy them. The on going mystery surrounding Zerina is excellent too, I want to find out who she is and how she knows so much magic...

One thing I saw: a little paralysation and some telekinetics,’ -- I think you mean telekinesis (telekinetic is an adjective associated with telekinesis).

Great stuff.

This post has been edited by Olen: Apr 16 2010, 05:12 PM

[mALX]

Sorry Remko, my PC crashed. I finally got it running. These last chapters are amazing!

[minque]

my date of birth, the twenty-first of First Seed

Amazing! Rales and Serene have the same birthday!!

Great chapters! I really enjoy reading this...So curious about the continuation!

[Remko]

Chapter 3: Heritage

Day 233

From the Stiltstrider we headed straight to the Manor District where the Sarethi manor was located. After having wandered through the maze of rope bridges connecting all the houses under Skar - the shell of a long-dead gigantic Emperor crab where-in the manor district was founded - we finally found the entrance to Sarethi manor. Not having forgotten my manners, I knocked on the door.
‘Enter,’ a gruff voice answered. For the special occasion I had put on my best clothes but I was still nervous.

‘Rales, is that really you?’ an older Dunmer dressed in exquisite clothing asked me when we walked into the expensively decorated manor.
I bowed to the man I presumed was my first cousin, Athyn Sarethi.
‘Yes Serjo Athyn. How did you know?’ I respectfully inquired.
He send me and Zerina a knowing smile. ‘How could I not recognise the adopted son of my dear niece? Besides, rumours have been spreading about a certain Rales Sarethi and his pretty red-head lady.’
‘Excuse me. Adopted?’
Athyn’s surprise was evident on his face. ‘You didn’t know?’
I shook my head in denial.
‘One day she found you on the doorstep of this manor. In fact,’ Athyn continued, ‘you were the very reason my niece left Vvardenfell fifteen years ago. She left out of fear for your life.’
I was shocked. First I found out I was adopted, then I heard I had been the reason my mother - or rather; fostermother - had left Morrowind.
‘How come?’ I asked.
‘Well,’ Athyn’s face turned grim, ‘it’s kinda complicated. What do you know,’ he lowered his voice,’ about the legend of the return of Lord Nerevar Indoril?’
I decided to be vague. ‘I’ve heard of it.’
‘And what do you know about the Moon-and-Star ring?’
‘No idea,’ I answered truthfully.
‘You better sit down Rales, this could be a shock.’
I did as suggested and awaited what was to come.

***

‘When you were still an infant we already knew there was something about you. Has your mother ever told you about the incident with a ring?’
‘No.’
Athyn breathed in sharply and took a sip from his cup. ‘I think it was several months after she found you, something really miraculously happened. I haven’t told anyone since but there is good reason to believe you are the prophesised Nerevarine. Your mother told me that one day you held out your hand and grabbed a very particular ring out of thin air. To be more specific; you held the Moon-and-Star ring, which no-one, except its true owner, can hold. As suddenly as it appeared it also vanished. We believe the goddess Azura herself had something to do with it. Why else do you think we decided your birthday was to be the twenty-first of First Seed? Hogithum, the summoning day of Azura? Be careful pursuing your destiny though; if the Temple would find out, they’d most surely hunt you down and imprison you as a heretic - or worse.’

I was speechless. For a while I remained silent, in turn looking at Athyn and Zerina.
All the pieces of a puzzle were suddenly falling into place, like they had been there all along, waiting for the right sequence.
Now, the realisation dawned to me the Emperor had been right and what I had thought to be true in the past turned out not to be as certain as I had previously assumed.
Some of Zerina’s words about choices spun my head, especially the sentence:’some destined for greatness’, now held more significance than I - or she - could have ever anticipated.
I was to rise up to the greatness thrust upon me - or fail and die in the process.
Just like in my nightmares.

I was hailed into House Redoran as a lost son, even though I officially wasn’t a Sarethi at all. To Athyn, that made no difference; in heart, mind and soul I was a Sarethi. That made me a Redoran through and through, he said convincedly and wouldn’t hear otherwise. That night, a banquet was organised for all of House Redoran’s members wishing to attend. Of course, Zerina was welcome too.
For a while, all problems ahead of me were ignored as we carelessly laughed, ate and drank to our hearts’ content deep into the small hours.

***

Zerina’s previous encounter with too much drinking had taught her a valuable lesson. The next morning she was completely clearheaded and tauntingly scorned me for not being as fresh as her. Varvur - Athyn’s son, in whom I had immediately taken a liking - and I had continued drinking and talking long after she had excused herself so it was my turn to be out of my usual self. I stayed in bed in the guest-room overthinking my next course of action. Diving into the next Sixth House base was out of the question; the debacle the last time I tried that was reason enough to refrain from that for a while. Artifact-hunting had been a good start but I was sure my skills were lacking - not to mention my self-confidence that had been severely dented.
Maybe by now, General Darius in Gnisis had some jobs for me. Several weeks, he had said. Weeks had turned to months, if I waited any longer they might consider I had deserted. I made a mental note I also still needed to look up the mysterious Ashlanders, something I was actually really looking forward to. From what I gathered, the Ashlanders were a proud and honourable people - my kind of people.

[SubRosa]

I am better late than never I hope. As others have stated, seeing the transition from Rales-the-Adventurer to Rales the Neveraine was wonderful to read. This is a very important part of the story, where we see Rales finally learning who he really is, and what is ahead of him. A daunting proposition!

Out of all the stories I am seeing the second time around here, I think I am having the most fun re-reading Rales.

[haute ecole rider]

I liked how you turned Rales's world upside down with the revelation that he was adopted into the Sarethi fold, not born as he had thought all his life. That is pretty earth-shaking for him. I also found it funny that this time it is Rales's turn to have the hangover. Smart Zerina!

[minque]

Ahhhh.....now then this is interesting! Rales being the adopted son of Athyn's niece! (Didn't know Athyn even hed a niece!, question is is she the daughter of Athyn's sister or brother????)

Anyway I really enjoy this and desperately want to hear more....

Oh my some ideas come to my mind reading this

[mALX]

This chapter does not lose anything in the re-read - it is very powerfully done!

[Remko]

Thank you all for the kind words

@Minque: I don't know. Athyn had a brother but he was killed in that duel right? To be honest, I made it all up so it might be clashing with the lore. I couldn't really find much about the Sarethi family-tree.

This post has been edited by Remko: Apr 21 2010, 08:54 AM

[Acadian]

My goodness you have come so far since you began this story on the other forum. Your skill has grown most impressively. This is wonderful to read. I don't understand the Morrowind stuff (as you know), so Rales is my guide. I did enjoy the way you refined things this time around as far as elven procreation - makes perfect sense given their longevity - otherwise the world would be overrun by elves instead of those pesky humans.

[Remko]

Thanks Acadian. I appreciate it!

Chapter 4: Conspiracy

Day 236

Zerina happily agreed with my proposition to visit Gnisis - she could visit her mother while I looked up the general in the meantime - and afterwards continue with looking up the Urshilaku Ashlander tribe after I did my duty for the Legion.
I left Zerina and her mother just after tea; the reunion of the two women was rather emotional. I figured I’d best let them to it while I prepared myself to travel to the Malach Tradehouse where general Darius resided.
My intention was to travel light. I took some potions, some food, my armour, a bedroll and Wretched with me. A tent wasn’t going to be necessary; the Legion provided a roof over the head for any legionnaire in need of one. Besides, the Vabdas house was just outside Gnisis, maybe spending the night in the Legion barracks wasn’t going to be necessary. In fact; I was counting on it.

‘Ah, trooper Sarethi, how nice of you to finally drop by,’ Darius said, his voice filled with sarcasm.
‘Please excuse me Sir, I was badly wounded and haven’t been able to report in earlier.’
‘Yes, well, I have a mission you might like. I think it’s just the thing for you.
I’d like you to find a missing tax-collector. From what I’ve heard, you’ve had some experience in that area in Seyda Neen.’
‘You’ve heard of that, Sir?’
Darius smirked. ‘Oh yes, Socucius wouldn’t stop talking about the heroic Dunmer solving his problem. Anyway; Ragash was last seen heading to Arvs Drelen, the wizard’s tower at the edge of town to collect the taxes. The owner, Baladas Demnevanni is a bit of an eccentric Telvanni mage. Be careful what you say to him. Now, off with you.’

The general had been right, the Telvanni wizard was indeed eccentric. Throughout his tower, several, non hostile, Daedra were posted. They followed my every step but took no effort in obstructing me. I was certain things would be different had I drawn Wretched. They appeared to be docile but the flame of rage was easily identifiable in their eyes. I wondered what power the wizard held over the Daedra for them to be restrained like that.

When I mentioned the tax-collector a thoughtful expression appeared on Baladas’ wrinkled face.
‘To be quite honest, I have no idea where she is, I had her thrown in the dungeons somewhere downstairs. You can take her when you find her but unstand this; I refuse to pay taxes to those… those- Imperial usurpers. I have been here long before those savages ever heard of Morrowind and I will still be here when their precious Empire has fallen and their bones have turned to dust. Promise me the Legion - or anyone else from the Empire for that matter - won’t bother me again and I’ll even give you the key. Now, leave me!’
This was not the time to disagree and possibly agitate the wizard. I was in no position to argue with a several thousand year old mage, he’d probably turn in me into a Scrib before I could say “Kwama”. I simply nodded, promised to belay the message to my superiors and took the key he held out.

Ragash gra-Shuzgub, the orcish tax-collector, couldn’t believe it when I finally found her cell in the dungeons and opened her cell-door.
‘You are here to set me free?’ she asked me wide-eyed. You’re not going to kill me?’
‘Kill you?’ I frowned. ‘Now, why would I want to do that? General Darius has sent me to get you out of here. I must insist on you not bothering Baladas again though. That was the condition of your release. No more tax-collectors at his door, I promised him.’
‘I won’t.’ Ragash shook her head frantically. It was obvious she was terrified of the ancient Telvanni wizard.
‘Let’s get back to Gnisis,’ I suggested. She was more than eager to leave the wizard’s tower, never to return.

In short words I told the general what Baladas Demnevanni had instructed me to. Darius wasn’t too happy with the news but wouldn’t risk losing any of his men to the whims of an eccentric wizard. He joked to just raise all the other taxes to compensate.
‘While you’re at it, I have something else for you to investigate. Recently, weaponsupplies have been mysteriously disappearing. I also noticed the morale has been steadily declining. I have a feeling something is wrong within our ranks. See if you can find out where those supplies have gone and why a lot of men seem unhappy. It wouldn’t surprise me if these two things are related. You are dismissed trooper.’

General Darius hadn’t exaggerated, the morale of the legionnaires in Gnisis was far below standard. Most soldiers wouldn’t even talk about it during the day and grumpily told me to leave them alone. It’s a known fact alcohol tends to loosen lips. I too was well aware of this and conveniently used this knowledge at night in the tavern. I pretended to get hammered along with the rest of my collegues but as soon as my target of interrogation looked the other way I poured some of my drink away into a plantpot and meanwhile pretended to guzzle it down. I just hoped Scathecrow plants liked Sujamma or it would show in the morning. Acting almost as drunk as most of the men I managed to scratch the surface of what was going on in the Gnisis Legion. Rumours of a conspiracy spread through the ranks like a disease. No wonder morale was low, no one dared to trust one-another. Unfortunately, all I got the first night were rumours of the conspiracy. What the conspiracy was about no one knew or dared disclosing. Rather disappointed I, keeping up my act of being sloshed, swayed back to the Vabdas residence.