Memoires of Rales Sarethi, A Morrowind fanfic Options

[haute ecole rider]

To me, the Ministry of Truth has a Kafka-esque or Orwellian overtone. I agree that the Ministry of Truth is just a front for government-authorized torture. Good decision on making it dark.

[Destri Melarg]

Good to see you back, Remko. Sorry to hear about your game. If memory serves, this is the first time that an Ordinator has identified Rales as the Nerevarine. Too bad it won’t be the last. I like your take on the Ministry of Truth. It sounds very much like something that the Temple would do to those it deemed a threat.

One observation I do have is that you might want to say that Zerina’s spell wore off before Mehra looks at Rales and before he looks at Zerina. When I first read it I assumed they were still invisible.

[Remko]

Good to see you back, Remko. Sorry to hear about your game. If memory serves, this is the first time that an Ordinator has identified Rales as the Nerevarine. Too bad it won’t be the last. I like your take on the Ministry of Truth. It sounds very much like something that the Temple would do to those it deemed a threat.

One observation I do have is that you might want to say that Zerina’s spell wore off before Mehra looks at Rales and before he looks at Zerina. When I first read it I assumed they were still invisible.

Yeah, it took me a while to update. Now the ball is rolling again, the next update shouldn't take another 3 weeks.

edit: I put in additional sentence so it's clear they aren't invisible anymore.

This post has been edited by Remko: Aug 18 2010, 04:50 PM

[Olen]

Good to see this updated, especially once it's at the bit of the MQ where Morrowind really starts to shine as one of the best games made. I can't wait to read more, it's so fun reading another take on my favourite game.

Those who haven't played it should

[Acadian]

What a complementary pair the two are!

Rales - I may not know any magic, but I can break down doors and lift heavy things.
Zerina - Say the word and we're magically outta here.

[SubRosa]

Yay its Rales! Once again, he and Zerina make a perfect team. The Ministry of Truth does sound very Orwellian, and I liked you presented it as dark, cold, and cruel.


nits:
small scracks around the lock.
I think you meant either scratches or cracks, not sure which.

Ps. I left some levitation postions for you, just in case.
I am sure that is potions.

a potion could be swallowed in mere seconds and the effect would be instantainuously.
and this instantaneous.

In stead, she procurred a key from her belt.
This ought to be procured.

[Remko]

Glad you enjoyed it Look forward to writing about getting named Hortator. The Telvanni part was big fun while playing and should leave enought gaps for humorous encounters.
I also look forward to sending the pair to "Uncle" Crassius

[mALX]

I wish I knew all the quests too, but even not knowing them this story is great! Like Acadian, I love the balance between Rales and Zerina - like two holding hands, one's skills fill in the gaps the other lacks - really perfect !!!

[Remko]

I promised it wouldn't take weeks but my holiday got in the way. Anyway, I won't keep you waiting any longer.

Still carrying her, we ran as fast I dared with our precious cargo to the altar. ‘Clear the shrine,’ I yelled pantingly.
‘You Ash-borne savages! This is a holy place and I will not stand for barbarians desecrating the shrine!’ the local priest shouted at us.
I growled. ‘We don’t have time for this nonsense.’ Zerina wasted no time. With a single swipe of her arm, the clutter on the altar was cleared and crashed on the floor, much to the priest’s anger.
Gently I placed Mehra - who had finally succumbed to her exhaustion and had passed out - on her back on the altar. Immediately, Zerina’s hands started to glow and soon the soothing light enveloped Mehra’s body. Even the priest had stopped his angry ranting and had jumped into the healing process of the mangled priestess, while I stood there feeling helpless.

‘I can heal her physical wounds but I am not sure I can still get to her,’ Zerina commented exhaustedly. ‘She has withdrawn into a lethargic state and only she can break free from it. There’s nothing else I can do for her.’
‘Pray for the Nine to save her,’ the priest mumbled whle eying the broken artifcats scattered all over the floor. I put my hand on his shoulder while I toed a large shard of a vase that had been on the altar.
‘This,’ I said, kicking the shards to the side, ‘is a worthless piece of clay without people to pay tribute and appreciate to what they represent. Good people like her,’ I said while pointing at Mehra.
The priest’s eyes glowed up. ‘I don’t know who you are, but you are right stranger. How could I have been so blind to the obvious truth? Honouring the Nine isn’t done by worshiping some man-made icon.’ He smirked briefly. ‘Even it was an expensive one. It’s in serving what the Nine Divine care about. Their creation. Us. Thank you.’
I held out my hand in comradery, which the priest grabbed firmly.

***

‘She’s awake!’ Zerina’s cheerful shout awoke me from my slumber. Yawningly I rubbed my eyes. I had meant to stay awake vigilantly but fatigue had caught up and had lured me into closing my eyes for just a second. Mehra’s eyes still reflected the horrors she had been through when I looked into them.
‘How do you feel?’ Zerina asked her softly.
‘Is it over?’ the priestess shakingly asked.
Zerina nodded. ‘You are safe and among friends now.’
When the realisation dawned she was really out of that dreadful place, she broke out in tears, streaming over her face. In mere seconds her cheeks were soaking wet and her eyes swollen. Zerina just embraced her and let her cry out on her shoulder.

After her tears and cheeks had dried up, we had to take her somewhere safe, somewhere out of the Temple’s reach. ‘Mehra,’ I whispered. ‘I know you have been through a hard time but we really have to leave here as soon as it’s dark. It won’t take the Ordinators long to get back on our track. We have to go somewhere you are safe. Do you know such a place?’
She looked at me with blank eyes. For a moment I feared her sanity was lost, raptured by the harsh interrogations she had endured but slowly intelligence returned together with a spark in her big red eyes.
‘Holamayan,’ she whispered. ‘Take me to the docks in Ebonheart, to my friend Blatta Hateria. Fisherman.’
I sighed in relief. Ebonheart was an Imperial town so the risk of being spotted by Ordinators was minimal. To make sure, I gave Mehra an invisibility potion and told her she needed to drink it because it would make her feel better. Without hesitating she poured the potion down her throat and slowly her form disappeared. Like a bag of potatoes I hoisted her over my shoulder. It might have appeared a bit disrespectful carrying her that way but carrying an invisible person in your arms might raise unwanted questions we wanted to avoid at all costs. Hurryingly we made our way to the docks. Thankfully, the Imperial shrine was only a short distance away from the docks. No one had taken a specific interest in us between the shrine and the docks and soon our boots rapped the wooden walkways towards a female inspecting her nets. Quickly deducing she had to be Blatta as she was the only female Imperial fisherman present, we walked over to her.

‘What do you want, can’t you see I’m b-’ she started but her rude line trailed off as Mehra’s form slowly reappeared on my shoulder.
‘She,’ I head-gestured to Mehra,’wants to go fishing.’
‘Get on board, quickly,’ she breathed. ‘I will take you to the monestary right away.’
‘Monastery?’ I suspiciously asked. ‘Won’t there be Ordinators to arrest her again?’
The fisherman shook her head amusedly. ‘You misunderstand, Holamayan is a safe haven for people who question the temple doctrine.’
‘I also misunderstood you for a fisherman,’ I replied.
Blatta smiled mysteriously, asked me to lift anchor and set sail.

When we arrived at the island, on which the monestary was built, a couple days later, Mehra was almost back to her old self. Her hair had started to grow back and the hollow look from her eyes had all but been replaced by a vivid spark again. Two days at sea had also done her complexion good. In stead of the sickly grey, her skin had regained the usual tone. Somewhere between blue and green.
Gently I awoke Zerina. ‘Wake up my love, we have arrived.’

Stepping onto the dock, we were hailed by a Dunmer donning a simple, brown cloak.
‘You have arrived at the Holamayan Sanctuary. Welcome pilgrims,’ she said.
‘The monastery is up those stepping stones but it will open only at dawn or dusk, so I suggest you find something to pass the time.’
I smiled at Zerina. The sun had set an hour before we had landed at the docks so we had the entire night to spend. Crookedly she smiled back at me and grabbed me by the hand.
‘Will you two ladies excuse us, we eeuhmm, well-’ I didn’t finish the sentence. Mehra and the Dunmer monk who had hailed us grinned. ‘Just make sure you are back before dawn, or you will have to wait untill dusk again,’ Mehra commented.

Zerina and I awoke before dawn, our bodies entangled as usual after a passionate night. Breathlessly we watched the early rays of light piercing the purple hue of the morning sky. Breaking free from the mesmerizing sight we got dressed and made the short trip to the monastery. Mehra and the monk were already there when we arrived just before dawn.
As soon as the sun peeked above the horizon, the stone mantle hiding the monastery opened with a mighty rumble and slowly revealed the ancient monastery of Holamayan.

This post has been edited by Remko: Sep 9 2010, 10:40 AM

[Olen]

Good to see this continued. The slight deviation from the game works well and makes more of the effects of Mehra's imprisonment. And now they arrive at Hlormaren where I suspect Reles will find certin answers to some questions. Certainly the best part of the game begins around this point.

[mALX]

Yeah! You finally updated and I got my fix of Rales and Zerina !!!!!! Woo Hoo !!!!!

[treydog]

Cool! New Rales! Your much darker take on the Ordinators and the Tribunal is spot-on, I believe. There has to be a reason they wear those masks to conceal their true identities- and it has to do with more than just "honoring" their Chimer ancestry.

[SubRosa]

Honouring the Nine isn’t done by worshipping some man-made icon.
People have been tortured and murdered for saying that IRL! However, that should be worshiping.

Your story certainly has taken a darker turn since you began to take a closer look at the temple, ordinators, etc... Which is not a bad thing at all, imho. It feels that you are upping the stakes. Where before it felt like a cut and dried good guy vs. evil monster king, now things become much grayer, and dingier, in Morrowind.

The monastery only opens at dawn and dusk? Would Azura be worshiped there by chance?


nits:
It might have appeared a bit respectless
The word you are looking for there is disrespectful.

‘I will take you to the monestary right away.’
This is monastery.

When we arrived at the island on which the monestary was build several days later
You have the wrong tense here. For past tense, that should be built.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Sep 1 2010, 10:14 PM

[Zalphon]

I like how it's in line with the game

[Remko]

Thank you all I am glad you appreciate my darker take on things. It seems the story has strayed far from what started as a light-hearted MW fan-fic
Imo darkness is far darker when there's light to contrast from.

That last part was really fun to write; it allowed me to go deeper into the conflict between the dissident priests, the temple doctrine and the Imperial Cult. The battle between the Nerevarine and Dagoth Ur is far less interesting because it's the chewed out good vs evil.

@SubRosa:

Honouring the Nine isn’t done by worshipping some man-made icon.
People have been tortured and murdered for saying that IRL!

I had a feeling you'd pick up on that.
You probably figured out I have little sympathy for religion. I (usually) respect religious people but please don't ask me on how I feel about churches and stuff

[Acadian]

A neat journey you have us on. As ever, the centerpiece is the interaction between Rales and Zerina and those they encounter. Nicely done!

[Remko]

Chapter 11: Dusk and Dawn

Day 412

The four of us were greeted by a wrinkled Dunmer. He looked even older than Divayth Fyr.
‘Mehra!’ he exclaimed emotionally. ‘What happened to you?’
I could see the pain in Mehra’s eyes while she shook her head. In stead of answering she threw herself in his arms, her eyes filling with tears again.
‘They will pay for this,’ the Dunmer hissed between clenched teeth. ‘They have gone too far. This can’t be what lord Vivec had in mind.’
‘No Gilvas,’ Mehra sofly said. ‘Don’t be angry with them. They are misguided souls and should be pitied, not punished.’
The old monk scoffed but didn’t comment. ‘Who are your…. friends?’ he asked.
‘These,’ Mehra started,’are Rales and Zerina. They have rescued me from the Ministry’s holding cell.’
The monk’s eyes narrowed. ‘And why would they do such a selfless thing?’ He drew his staff threateningly. ‘Maybe they are Temple spies, sent to infiltrate our ranks under the pretenses being your friend.’
Mehra shook her head. ‘They are not spies.’ I cringed with that remark, glad she didn’t know the whole truth about me. Or maybe she did but decided to keep silent about me being in the Emperor’s secret service.
‘Then why are they here and how come you are so sure they’re not spies?’
Mehra shrugged. ‘I don’t know but somehow I am sure they are not.’
I decided to come clean and hoped the Dissident Priests had a more open mind towards the Lost Nerevarine prophecies. ‘Truthfully, we are here to find the Lost Prophecies.’

‘Then you are spies,’ he growled. ‘Nobody knows about those, except us and the Temple.’
‘And the Ashlander tribes,’ I added.
His demeanor changed immediately. ‘What do you know about them?’
I sighed deeply. ‘More than I’d like to. The Lost Prophecies are about me. I am here to find more answers about the prophecies. Unfortunately, the Ashlanders don’t have the written word on it and parts have gone missing through the ages. The Urshilaku Wise-Woman believes we could find the Lost Prophecies with the Dissident Priests and unless I am very mistaken, I have found them.’

‘You,’ Gilvas hesistated. ‘You are the prophesised Nerevarine?’
I nodded slowly. ‘I didn’t want to believe it at first either but I-,’ I corrected myself while looking at Zerina,’we have been through too much to still deny the simple truth.’
‘I see,’ Gilvas reconciled defloatedly. ‘How much do you know?’
I told him everything I had learned the last few months, about the Corprus disease I had contracted and defeated and how we had rescued Mehra from the Ministry of Truth.
‘Follow me,’ he said after I finished. ‘I think we have the answers you are looking for.’

All the answers we had been looking for, were right there. Gilvas and I talked for hours about the prophecies, how they had gone missing with the Ashlanders and the difference of opinion between the Dissident Priests and the Tribunal Temple’s point of view. It was the Temple’s opinion that the Blight could be defeated by resolute, unified faith but it was the Dissident Priests’ opinion that the only chance in defeating the evil underneath Red Mountain lies in the spirit of the great General Nerevar Indoril and the unification of the Dunmer underneath a single banner.

Gilvas then explained that if they could find a way to show the Temple the Dissident Priests were capable confronting Dagoth Ur and his minions more effectively than the Temple and the Buyant Armigers could, the Morrowind people might recognise the Tribunal’s power was waning and that they were gradually losing the war.

‘The worst thing,’ Gilvas said, ‘is the fact the Temple are hiding the awful truth.’ He showed me some books, exactly the ones we had come looking for, that held the terrible truth about how the Tribunal had acquired their godhood so long ago. In an ancient document, called “Kagranac’s Tools”, the event was clearly decribed. The Temple had persecuted the Nerevarine and the Dissident Priests to hide the fact they had used the same corrupt power as Dagoth Ur had. According to Gilvas, the persecution has to stop and the Tribunal, the Ashlander tribes and the Nerevarine have to stand together as one against the true enemy; Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House. But for that to happen, the people of Morrowind needed a miracle. The look he gave me told me I needed to be that miracle. I was going to have to be the one to give shape to the ancient legend, to become someone people could look up to, someone to follow. An avatar of hope and renewal.

‘Take these.’ He handed me some books, containing more explanation concerning the Nerevarine Prophecies - including one that specifically stated the Nerevarine was prophesised to be an Outlander, something the Aslanders might have resented or even rejected, hence the disapperance of that specific prophecy.
‘May our Lady of Dusk and Dawn be with you. Good luck….. Nerevarine.’
‘Lady of Dusk and Dawn?’ I thought to myself. ‘Azura? Again her meddling?’ Had she been coercing me towards my destiny since birth? Deciding that it mattered little, I said my goodbye to Gilvas, thanked him for the books and went to find Zerina.
‘Bring the books back when you are done with them, please,’ Gilvas shouted after me halfway the stairs.

This post has been edited by Remko: Sep 8 2010, 12:21 AM

[mALX]

The more I read of these quests, the more I am dying to play Morrowind!!!!! Awesome write Remko! (as usual, I knew that already!)

[Olen]

And the journey continues. I always thought the dissident preists got too small a part in the game but you brought them to life rather well.

‘Bring the books back when you are done with them, please,’

That line made me grin, the mismatch between 'save the world' and 'look after my books' is one I appriciate.

And for those who haven't played Morrowind you should, the GOTY version is availible for peanuts on ebay/amazon etc and it's not exactly hard on the old processor.

[Acadian]

I nodded slowly. ‘I didn’t want to believe it at first either but I-,’ I corrected myself while looking at Zerina,’we have been through too much to still deny the simple truth.’

As ever, the centerpiece is how Rales and Zerina SHOW how they care for each other. Wonderful.