Jerric's Story, A Nord's Adventures in Cyrodiil Options

[ghastley]

Well, if Jerric noticed her hair, he was probably looking in a safe direction. Probably.

I hope the crew is dressed appropriately before they get to Gutted Mine. It's snowy up there.

[Acadian]

Thanks for the summary in your opening comments.

A wonderful description of the portal, using such TES-friendly and crystal clear dimensions.

Absolutely loved your depiction of the sky in Moonshadow. And quite expected that it is a beautiful land of perpetual twilight. Where Nords need to use meals to tell time.

The winged twilight's flight and landing were wonderful to read and really showcased the nature of those daedra.

And what an unexpected joy to learn that Jerric will be doing the Dratik quest and rescuing those long-suffering unwillingly vampiric souls. Certainly a quest that Buffy remembers well.

[treydog]

The portal was taller than an Altmer in a Harvest’s End headdress and wide enough for two orcs to pass through side by side.

What a perfectly ES description!

“Just like the last one, only without the fire and blood,” Kjestrid said under her breath.

No PTSD there- nope, not a bit....

“So when a meal is served someone will always be having breakfast?” asked Jerric.

Ma’sani’s whiskers assumed an amused angle. “Nords! Of course, this one should have explained it with meals.”

And another absolutely Jerric moment... Followed by his reaction to the bantam chicken guar... thingies....

Azura's realm and her presence were both wonderfully depicted. And the task she has for Jerric will be difficult, but I think it will also be acceptable to him.

A most pleasant read just at dusk.

[Renee]

Yikes they're walking on snails! And chickens which are really reptiles!

Hey you did a really great job outlining this bizarre world they've stepped into. I wonder if that place will cause Jerric to ... I don't know. Lose some of his mind? Maybe not. He's a Nord after all.

“My Lady,” said Jerric. Dammit, what am I supposed to call her?

Lolz!

[SubRosa]

I too loved your decision to describe the size of the portal in terms of people, rather than feet and inches. It adds a much more lush and personal imagery to the scene.

I hope this portal will be nicer than the last one! Well, maybe not the actual transition, but certainly what lies on the other side.

Waffles around the clock!

I do love the description of the Twilight Realm. I would much rather live there than the Deadlands or Coldharbour!

I will have to talk to the Lady of Twilight about getting some of those snails for Michigan's roads...

Batman Guar? Cool!

A very nice touch of the light in both Azura's hands - Moon and Star. It immediately brought to mind the twin torches carried by Hekate.

[Darkness Eternal]

You provided great imagery when describing the portal to Azura's Realm of Moonshadow. With the many colored portals and gates in ESO, it makes sense that the door to her realm is just as beautiful as the place itself.

"In Moonshadow it is customary to spend eight hours in work, eight hours at personal pursuits, and eight hours at rest.”

This was a pretty interesting piece here. The realms of Oblivion operate sometimes at whims of the Daedric Lord, and fortunately Azura is considered one of the more benevolent Daedric Princes. Moonshadow does seem like a paradise in comparison to the other hellish places! I mean even the weather always nice!

He wore silk draped over both shoulders, belted at the waist and open at the sides. That seemed like a good indication that Moonshadow’s climate would remain this comfortable.

So, the Lady of Dusk and Dawn has given our heroes a quest to fulfill in exchange for her support! A familiar quest at that! I'm excited to see what happens next!

[Grits]

Previously: It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?


ghastley: It’s hard to find a safe place to look on Azura! If Jerric had his way at the Maiden Springs Gate they would have dropped all of their winter gear in anticipation of the scorching Deadlands. Good thing they didn’t listen to him. Thank you for your Moonshadow, which Jerric actually visited in his game!

Acadian: Thank you, Acadian! I need to post the Moonshadow chapter before ESO makes my version obsolete. As annoying as the flappy-flaps can be in our current game, I think the real ones must be fascinating.

treydog: Thank you, treydog! I still think of bantam guar whenever I eat chicken wings.

Renee: I think he’ll be ok in Azura’s realm, but he would have big struggles in the Shivering Isles. He likes to keep things simple. Thank you, Renee!

SubRosa: There is a very cool Azura-like thing you can do in Elder Scrolls Online with light coming out of your hands while you’re floating. Sign me up for a Moonshadow vacation. No sunburn! Thank you, SubRosa!

Darkness Eternal: Thank you, DE! Azura’s realm does seem pretty pleasant. I can’t see the gang taking a shortcut through Coldharbour, at least not on purpose!


Next: The story so far in two sections. Section One has appeared in this thread before, long long ago. Section Two is new and brings us up to date. There will certainly be big gaps in what I remembered to tell you. I will try to give reminders as we go, but if you have any questions please ask!

I’ll post the next story segment in a week and then once per week as long as I have one ready. We’ll wrap up The Path of Dawn in four more posts before rejoining Jerric in Moonshadow. Thank you so very much for continuing this journey with us!!



Section One:

Jerric the Nord battlemage lives happily with his large extended family in Kvatch. He works as a guard for his family's caravan business.

After a drunken brawl on the waterfront Jerric spends his first night in the Imperial City locked up. This is not surprising. Rather than releasing him from the drunk tank along with the others, the guards put Jerric down in the prison. Jerric suspects that his brother had something to do with it.

The surprise comes in the form of Uriel Septim and the remnants of his Dragonguard. They charge through Jerric's cell uttering threats on the way to a secret escape route. Someone has murdered all of the Septims, and the Emperor is next. BUT WAIT! You are the one from my dreams…

After witnessing Uriel's murder Jerric finds himself taking the Amulet of Kings to the Grandmaster of the Blades, Brother Jauffre. The highly trained last remaining personal bodyguard of the Emperor (Baurus) has a target on his back and doesn't know who else to trust.

Jerric gets into some scrapes and makes some friends on the way. (Weye, Aleswell, the Odiils.) He hands over the Amulet and agrees to go warn the last remaining Septim (Brother Martin) as long as it doesn't make him late for his Ma's birthday party. The Grandmaster is in a bind since anyone except for Baurus and Jerric (and Martin who doesn't know he's a Septim) could be part of the assassination plan. No one would believe that this Nord would be dispatched along with a paint pack horse (Flash) to save the world. And Jauffre himself has taken on the huge responsibility of guarding the Amulet.

As it happens Jerric already knows Brother Martin. He taught Jerric his first healing spell at the Chapel of Akatosh in Kvatch.

Jerric arrives at Kvatch and finds it under siege by daedra. There's a Gate to Oblivion keeping his family trapped inside the burning city. Savlian Matius has taken charge, being the highest ranking anyone left alive. He explains the issue. Jerric jumps through the Gate in an attempt to find a way to close it. Eventually he does.

Then he helps the Kvatch Guard take back the ruined city, earning various names in the process. Lionheart seems to stick. In the chapel Jerric has a quiet word with Akatosh. For once the Dragon God of Time seems to listen.

Martin survives. He knows Jerric as a hardworking citizen, a brawler, a womanizer, and a bit of an idiot, but not a liar. He becomes convinced that he is the cause of the sack of Kvatch. The Emperor's words to Jerric echo his own thoughts when he first met Jerric as a lad. Martin follows Jerric (and Flash) to Weynon Priory. Jerric begins having dreams of fire and a great claw splitting him open. He believes he is seeing the moment of his death.

They arrive to find the Priory under attack. Their enemy has discovered the location of the Amulet of Kings and taken it while Jauffre was busy slaying the zealots. Once again everyone is a suspect, especially those who live(d) at the Priory. Jerric agrees to help Jauffre escort Martin to the Blades' secret stronghold of Cloud Ruler Temple.

At Cloud Ruler Temple Jerric is inducted into the Blades as a Knight Brother. Jauffre bends the rules for him, since the dead Emperor's dragon blood showed him Jerric standing at Martin's side. (Or so they figure. The Emperor could have been a little more specific about exactly what he saw in those dreams.) Jerric will act as an agent directed by Jauffre or Baurus according to a code they arrange. A simple code, because… well, Nord. Jerric heads back to Anvil, realizing that the people who could help him beef up his magic skills are in the area. Plus he should probably tell them he's alive.

On the way he sees a Gate to Oblivion. He enters and closes it. Then he spends the next two months wandering the wilds closing Gates when he finds them. His thirtieth birthday passes during this time.

When he finally gets almost to Anvil he saves Darnand's butt from a rogue mage. Darnand immediately returns the favor when a pair of Battlemages sees Jerric as a threat. Darnand eases Jerric's transition back to civilization. The two had begun a friendship the summer before, and their bond strengthens in the course of a few adventures (Siren's Deception, Lildereth's zombie run, assault on Fort Strand). Darnand is a bit of a difficult person who has come to appreciate the effort Jerric made in befriending him. Lildereth is a newcomer having just returned to Cyrodiil from Valenwood. Jerric is Jerric. You know what he's like.

Jerric and Darnand decide to go on a road trip to get their Mages Guild recommendations. Mostly Jerric needs to learn some new spells from Vigge, who has moved to Kvatch. Lildereth decides to come with them. She is not forthcoming about her reasons.

Also now they have a dog (Ulfe).

In the Imperial City Jerric checks in with Baurus. The two discover evidence that confirms the Mythic Dawn cult as the culprit in the assassinations. Baurus directs Jerric to keep searching for Books 3 and 4 of the Mythic Dawn Commentaries, or Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes if you are a rare book dealer with a stick up your behind (Phintias.) Baurus will stay in the IC following up on leads.

In Weynon Priory Jerric learns that Brother Piner has been tortured to death by the Mythic Dawn. Minutes later he meets with the new Blades contact at the Priory, Brother Venco. He also sees that Darnand has been taken into the secret (but known by the Mythic Dawn, hmm) room for questioning. Jerric is not happy about getting Darnand involved. Venco does not care about Jerric's "feelings" on the matter. Darnand is an asset. Venco is kind of a scary badass.

Also Venco tells them that he suspects Lildereth of being a Mythic Dawn agent who hopes that Jerric will lead her to Martin. He doesn't have proof, he's just a suspicious person. That's what happens when you hang around with spies.

Anyway Brother Venco confiscates Jerric's Kvatch and Blades gear, telling him that he will henceforth travel under the name Kjellingsson as Darnand's hired guard to avoid being grabbed up by the MD. He supplies armor suitable for a mercenary and an Akaviri-style shield (Tower of the Nine, awesome) to help with the deception. Venco has Blades agents out posing as Jerric to confuse the enemy. Also as bait to hopefully catch one for questioning. So far they have all killed themselves before the torture "questioning" could get serious.

Lildereth checks back in with the boys, delivering an expletive-laced diatribe against Martina Floria of the Arcane University. It seems Martina wants Welkynd stones in exchange for Master Illusion training. Lil decides to stay with the guys.

While in Chorrol Jerric sends Lildereth on an errand to Weynon Priory to steal his Blades helm back from Venco's secret room. It's his vote of confidence in Lil, plus he gets his enchanted helm back and lets her in on what's going on without breaking his vow and telling her. In return he helps her assault Hrotanda Vale in search of Welkynd stones. They also find the teenaged survivor of a recent battle at the ruin (Valdi). She eats Jerric's sandwich, steals the backpack he leaves out for her, and then disappears.

A word about Abiene. Abiene has moved to Chorrol to pursue her studies in surgery. She and Jerric had enjoyed a lusty summer in Anvil then said goodbye. When he returned to Anvil having survived Kvatch, Abiene convinced him to pick back up with her. (Pretty much by climbing into his lap. It was not a hard sell.) Then they said goodbye again, hoping they would reunite soon in Chorrol. In Chorrol Jerric told her they had to end it for her safety, even though there was really no "it" at least publicly.

At first they had kept it secret in Anvil to hide Abiene's complete lack of professionalism in using her student as a slam piece. After Kvatch but still in Anvil Abiene admitted she didn't want the added heartbreak of being known as his ex after he had left her to probably go off and die. Also her family would not consider him to be boyfriend material, and she did not want to put on her big girl panties and deal with them. Of course they didn't fool everyone while they were going at it like bunnies. Thaurron and Carahil certainly noticed. Darnand did not.

So in Chorrol Jerric tells her he really means it this time (while in bed right after nailing her, nice timing Nord). Abiene had just told him she wanted their relationship to be out in the open, so she is not happy.

Meanwhile the Mythic Dawn has been opening Gates to the Deadlands. Sometimes they're next to a community and there are massive casualties. Sometimes they're in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason. Jerric's theory is that they use Gates in Tamriel to take shortcuts through the Deadlands, since he has seen multiple Gates open within sight of each other there but only one is visible on the Tamriel side. For example traveling from Anvil to Blacklight with a quick stroll through Oblivion. Also it's known that the sigil stones are made with mortal souls, and Jerric (and others) keep taking the sigil stones to shut the Gates. He thinks Dagon needs more souls.

Regarding Kvatch. Jerric has been calling Savlian Matius the Hero of Kvatch when he tells the story. He's been recruiting the capable but disaffected people he encounters as potential new citizens wherever he goes. Savlian asked Jerric to stand with Rilian as Rilian delivered Count Kvatch's signet ring and made his case to the Elder Council. The Elder Council gave the ring back to Rilian to give to Savlian as the new Acting Steward to hold for whoever the new count will be. Noble families from all over have been sending representatives to "help" since the Goldwine sons had recently been assassinated and there's no heir. Savlian has a curfew in effect among other stringent measures to keep order on the plateau. Ghosts are a big problem. Thanks to the Kvatch City Guard, County Kvatch Militia, and the Imperial Legion, crime is not. After they got hammered in the Imperial City post-council meeting, Rilian asked Jerric if he could come along instead of going home to their burned-out city. Then he passed out. Jerric rather unusually wrote him a letter saying no and telling him what to do with his life. Get married, plant the new generation of Kvatchians in some nice girl with sturdy hips, rebuild the city. It's what Jerric would do himself if he was free. Well, he's not particular about the hips.

Section Two:

While everyone awaits the arrival of Book Three of Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes to the Imperial City, Jerric, Darnand, Lildereth, and Ulfe go to Bruma seeking Mages Guild recommendations for the guys. On the way they stop in Hope Valley, the Breton kahve farming valley whose settlers traveled to Chorrol with Jerric on his first visit. The farmers have lost some of their folk. The three plus Ulfe agree to help find them. Tracks lead to a vampire lair where they meet and work with Chorrolite King Coin's marvelous character, Aravi. After their adventures they camp together. Lildereth fills in some of her background. She is a survivor of the sack of Athay and the Wild Hunt that followed.

At the Bruma Mages Guild Jerric finds J'skar while Darnand does inventory for their recommendations. Jerric joins a Fighters Guild patrol as cover for reporting in at Cloud Ruler Temple. On the way they find a Gate and enter it. The Gate closes behind them, trapping them in a frozen corner of the Deadlands. With the help of Jerric's summoned frost atronach they find another open Gate.

Meanwhile Darnand and Lildereth with the aid of Selena, Volanaro, and J'skar re-open the County Bruma Gate to save Jerric's group. Darnand is accidentally transported to the Sigillum Sanguis. While getting yelled at by Jerric through their summoning communication spell, Darnand closes the Gate. He, J'skar, and Volanaro are promptly arrested in County Bruma.

Still in the Deadlands, Jerric and his Fighters Guild crew encounter a failed raiding party that had entered from the second Gate. Nereli joins them, helps close that Gate, and they all land near Blacklight in Morrowind.

Jerric and Darnand catch each other up on events. Darnand has escaped jail with Lildereth's help and been admitted to Cloud Ruler Temple. He is quartered with a family there. Lildereth was not admitted. She has returned to Bruma to help with the legal release of Volanaro and J'skar. The two have retrieved Jerric's belongs that he left at the Bruma Fighters Guild Hall along with his horses Flash and Kip, and brought them all to Cloud Ruler Temple. Lildereth still has to sleep out in the snow because Jauffre does not trust her yet.

In Morrowind the group decides to take a shortcut home through Moonshadow. Shamir-do and Nereli are both followers of Azura, and the Prince will allow the others to travel through on the promise that they will do a little job for her on the other side. Jerric learns that by using the sigil stones to enchant items, he has inadvertently prevented the souls' former owners from going wherever they are supposed to go in the next life. He immediately breaks the enchantments that he has with him, freeing the trapped spirits. He tells Darnand to break the ones he carries. Jerric also destroys the sigil stone from their last Gate. Thankfully Darnand had placed the Absorb Health enchantment on Jerric's Blades katana (Blade of the Medic) using conventional means, even though he did so illegally. Jerric's sword Redeemer is broken.

Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, and two others from the local Azura shrine enter Moonshadow. Gjaever elects to walk home across Skyrim. He is done with Gates.

Back in Cyrodiil, the news comes that the third Commentaries book is in the Imperial City. Lildereth and Darnand are sent to acquire it. Darnand gets it from Gwinas, meets and kills Raven Camoran with Baurus, and picks up the fourth book. He also takes Raven's fire shield ring. While Darnand cracks the code, Lildereth steals her ten Welkynd stones back from the Arcane University. She has learned the Master level Illusion spells, but she can't cast them (not enough magicka).

Lildereth and Darnand find Where Tower Touches Midday Sun and mark the location of the hidden Dagon shrine. At the meeting with Baurus, Lildereth volunteers to be the novitiate and infiltrate the shrine since Baurus and Darnand are known to the Mythic Dawn and Jerric is far, far away. Of course she is going to want to scout first.

That should catch us up pretty well. Oh! Who has the dog? Ulfe is with Lildereth and Darnand.



***


A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is reading this story. It's taken years and years to get this far, and there's still a ways to go. I hope very much that you'll enjoy the rest of the journey.

This post has been edited by Grits: Mar 17 2025, 03:57 PM

[ghastley]

And just as I was working on my annual update to Clark's story ...

You left Jerric heading for Gutted Mine, and Lil going to Lake Arrius Caverns. Those aren't far apart! However, they're not on paths that would cross, even if the timing were right. I hope they will meet back up before too long (in-story, and IRL).

[Acadian]

Welcome back!

What a delightfully written and most welcome summary to bring us back up to speed! It just so happens I was musing only a week or so ago as to whether you had plans to continue Jerric’s adventures.

I certainly look forward to following Jerric’s tale in between his episodes of sturdy hip planting, farting contests with Ulfe and getting lost in the Deadlands.

Poor Lildereth - sleeping in the snow! Sounds like she could use a resist frost enchanted toe ring. I think Buffy left the one Jerric gave her with Aradline in Bravil. I expect Ardaline doesn't need it and it's perfectly sized for a wood elf.

[SubRosa]

Yay, Jerric's Story is back once more!

Wow, I forgot just how much there was to get caught up on. Thank you for the recap, I do not think I could have remembered even half of all the shenanigans that Jerry, Abby, Lil' Dereth, and Darnit have been up to.

I look forward to the new content coming up, and seeing what other fine messes they will get themselves into.

[Renee]

but if you have any questions please ask!: I'll probably have a few. Welcome back! Knew this day would come eventually.

Section one helps a lot. It's like a synopsis. "BUT WAIT! You are the one from my dreams…" Love that.

First question: did Jerric know Martin before the events of the Oblivion Crisis?
Okay, seems he does, if he knows Jerric's habits and ways so well.

Second Question: seems you (Grits, not Jerric) got into the spirit of closing gates. Did you enjoy this?

I didn't like them at first. My first character who tried closing them all, didn't enjoy them. But the second time I got addicted. I couldn't get enough of destroying them. My CoC the Gray Wizard (that was his name.. I wasn't as creative back then) would only close gates if they were near society. So if he saw some gate way out in the forest, he'd leave it alone. But if it's near Pell's Gate or Cheydinhal? That has to be closed. I enjoyed closing them! Only the threat of the A-bomb caused me to just finish the MQ.

Anyway, did you enjoy closing them?

Third Question: Did Darnand and Jerric know each other before the Anvil recommendation quest?

I have more questions, but I think I'll just message you. I'll also catch up with Section Two later. About to start work.

Section Two
So this is how Jerric builds his party. I never got around to reading his early days, so this is good to see.

While getting yelled at by Jerric through their summoning communication spell, Darnand closes the Gate. He, J'skar, and Volanaro are promptly arrested in County Bruma.

Oh my gosh! And also: Lildereth had to sleep in the snow, holy crayons!

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 24 2025, 04:45 PM

[Grits]

Previously: Baurus sent Darnand and Lildereth to find the Mythic Dawn shrine near Lake Arrius. Lildereth will pose as the novitiate.


ghastley: Yay for a Clark update! It’s funny how the groups are far apart on paths that will nearly cross, but as you pointed out not at the same time. All roads lead to Cloud Ruler Temple, though, so they will all be back in the same room… eventually.

Acadian: Thank you, Acadian! If those boys in the temple don’t let her in soon, Lil will ride straight to Bravil and borrow that toe ring!

SubRosa: Thank you, SubRosa! I had also forgotten a lot of what they’d been up to. I even had to go back and fix one or two little mistakes. Jerric has accumulated quite a collection of armor, and I had him wearing stuff that was on a shelf in Weynon Priory and a helm that’s in a cupboard in Bruma. Oops. I have learned to keep a running note of who has the dog!

Renee: Ask away! Yes, Jerric and Martin met at the chapel in Kvatch when Jerric was a kid. Martin taught him his first spells, frost and healing. I didn’t like closing Gates much until Jerric’s PC game. He was on a mission to close every Gate that can open in the game, I think it’s 60? The last one he found was somewhere in the Jeralls. I really enjoyed them with him. Between his Atronach birthsign and a couple of spell absorption items he could blaze right through those things. In his original game on the Playstation I was afraid of the A-bomb, so he didn’t do many. Jerric and Darnand met last summer at the Anvil Mages Guild. Jerric took time off work to study there, and Darnand already lived there. They did not get along at first, but by the end of the summer they had become friends. Five months later they met again on the road outside Anvil where Darnand was doing the recommendation quest. Thanks, Renee!

.

Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Eleven

Sun cut through the trees at the angle indicating it would soon drop below the mountains. Lildereth rose and brushed her palms against her thighs. "It's time."

Darnand stood as well. "Lildereth." He spread his hands in a helpless gesture.

Lildereth began to undress, rolling each item and putting it away as she went. There was no fire at their hidden camp to fight the air flowing down from the snow-pack. The chill felt bone-deep. Spring had come to the woods of County Cheydinhal, but not to the high country.

"I'm scared," she said, not looking at him. "I don't regret saying I'd do this. But I'm scared just the same. I already feel… exposed." She pulled a plain linen shift over her head.

"If the Nord were here, he would point out…"

Her head popped through the neck opening in time to catch Darnand's up-and-down gesture, though he had averted his eyes. She snorted. The clothes that made up her disguise were stained and showed many repairs. Lildereth supposed that whomever had owned the garments would be pleased to find the gold she had left in their laundry basket. Footwear had been the only problem. The adult shoes she had found were too wide for Bosmeri feet, and the children's shoes were too short. In the end she decided to wear her own plain camp slippers, hoping that the fine leather would not be noticed under the layer of dust she had rubbed onto them.

"If the Nord were here, I'd have had no chance to scout," said Lildereth. "I can't think of anything that would keep him from storming in there and smashing the place to bits." She glanced north in the direction of Azura's Shrine. He will contact Darnand as soon as he returns to Tamriel, she scolded herself. Worry is a misuse of imagination.

Darnand picked up the pack she would carry into the shrine as her decoy. He had purchased it from a second-hand goods store along with a thin, patched cloak. Her own pack and weapons would remain here with Ulfe and their horses. It did not seem that the cultists sent out regular patrols.

A few final items completed her costume. Everyone carried around some small trinkets that they treasured, no matter how poor. The destitute Bosmer that Lildereth had created as her cover was no exception. A plain ring went onto one finger. She tucked the rest into the pack, then concealed her safety measures.

When Darnand held out the faded cloak, Lildereth moved her braid to the side and turned so that he could drape it around her. He squeezed her shoulders as she fastened the ties. For a man who seemed unable to identify his emotions much less express them, the touch was as eloquent as a sonnet.

Ulfe lay with her front legs out and one hip rolled to the side, head up and gently panting. Lildereth ruffled her ears and kissed her on the head. "Be a good girl and watch the horses." She turned back to Darnand. "Don't follow me too closely."

"I shall wait until Jerric would follow, and then wait a bit longer." He started to speak, then stopped. "Keep yourself safe," he finally said.

The walk to the lake was as lonely as any she had ever made. Lildereth used the time to empty her mind of the fears born of attachment. Her posture changed as she slipped into her new persona. So did her gait.

The lake with its cheerful waterfall now lay in the mountain's shadow. Lildereth trudged to the edge and let her pack slide to the ground as if weary from a long climb through the high meadows. No one had been watching yesterday when she scouted the caverns, but that didn't mean that no one could see her now. She placed a hand at the small of her back, leaning in to it.

The cavern's entrance was a simple wooden door set into the hillside, easily spotted from the lake. Lildereth knocked twice before pushing it open. Inside she found a rough-hewn passageway snaking away into near-darkness. "Hello?"

When no one answered, she closed the door behind her and waited until her eyes adjusted. She did not want to demonstrate that she knew any spells. Her feet crunched in dry dirt and loose stone, announcing her progress toward a distant light. She was capable of a silent retreat across such a surface, but it would be slow going.

The cavern she found was as roughly constructed as the corridor. Burgundy banners emblazoned with golden suns hung against the walls. Wood burning braziers lit and warmed the chamber. To her right a tall human wearing a hooded robe of the same clotted blood color stood in front of a closed wooden door. Straight ahead stood a second door that had been concealed to look as if it was part of the rock wall. The mechanism must be on the other side, or hidden better than her swift glance could discern. Here was a possible second escape route once she got further into the shrine.

Though the symbol on the banners was the same as the one that had glowed on the tomb of Prince Camarril, Lildereth doubted that these caves held his secret treasure vault. This must be the Mythic Dawn's shrine.

"Dawn is breaking," the man intoned.

"Greet the new day," said Lildereth, inwardly thanking Darnand for his coaching. She opened her pack to expose the spines of the Commentaries. "I bring the Four Keys."

The man's demeanor changed immediately. "Another initiate! Welcome, sister. The hour is late, but the Master still has need for willing hands. You may pass into the Shrine. Warden Harrow will take you inside for your initiation into the service of Lord Dagon." He unlocked the door. "Do not tarry. The time of Preparation is almost over. The time of Cleansing is near."

'Come with humility, starclad,' the third volume had instructed. She did not need to duck under the lintel, but she humbly lowered her head anyway. However long this shrine had been in use, it was probably built for the purpose of recruitment. Most likely there were grander shrines elsewhere that they used for worship. Perhaps this shrine had been built by another Dagon cult, only to be taken over by the Mythic Dawn. She supposed that the Prince of Destruction would not object to wars between his subjects.

The lock clicked into place behind her. This passage was well-lit and decorated with banners. Lildereth noted the nooks and shadows as she passed.

The next chamber contained a central raised platform with lit braziers on each of four corners. An olive-complected Dunmer in a Mythic Dawn robe approached as soon as she entered.

Lildereth put her pack on the floor and dragged out the four volumes. She didn't have to feign nervousness.

"I am Harrow, Warden of the Shrine of Dagon," he declared.

"I'm Gwendhel," said Lildereth.

"By following the Path of Dawn hidden in the writings of the Master, Mankar Camoran, you have earned a place among the Chosen. You have arrived at an opportune time. You may have the honor to be initiated into the Order by the Master himself."

Lildereth's heart leaped into her throat. She was prepared to fool whatever officials they had working at their recruitment center, but surely Mankar Camoran himself would possess the means to see through her deception. And if somehow he did not, actually becoming a cultist had not been in the plan. You're not even inside yet, she told herself. Stay in this moment.

Harrow took the books over to a table against the wall, returning with a folded garment made of burgundy linen. "As a member of the Order of the Mythic Dawn, everything you need will be provided for you from the Master's bounty. Give me your possessions, and put on this initiate's robe." He looked down his nose like a hawk at a pinned rabbit.

"Yes, m'lord." Lildereth undressed without turning aside, as if accustomed to being treated like furniture. She palmed the Ring of Khajiiti while she folded her dress.

The plain silver ring was still on her finger. Lildereth brought her hand up to show him. "This was my mother's. She's dead to me now." She pretended to fumble taking it off with her hands full.

Harrow snatched the ring and examined it while Lildereth stood with toes curling off the cold stone, the cavern's damp creeping over her skin. The Ring of Khajiiti felt like a boulder in her palm, but she couldn't hide it yet. If this smirking bureaucrat intended to poke his fingers about her person, it would happen now.

He did not. Instead he pocketed the silver ring and pushed the burgundy robe at her. As she made the exchange for her belongings, Lildereth slipped one of Baurus's scrolls from between her folded clothes into his other pocket. He would discover it soon unless she got it back, but the situation had just escalated. None of them had expected Mankar Camoran to be present at the Shrine.

Lildereth found that the robe did not have any ties or pockets. She unfastened her braid and made much of shaking it out. On the last flip she twisted the Ring of Khajiiti into the hairs at the nape of her neck, then handed the hair tie to Harrow. Every nerve screamed at her to disappear and flee. She hoped that her racing pulse if detectable could be attributed to excitement.

"Very good," Harrow said. He tossed the rest of her things onto a shelf. "Follow me. I will take you to the Shrine."

Her sleeves were too long and she had to lift the hem to keep from stumbling. As they passed through the door to the inner caverns, Lildereth got the scroll back. The bunched-up fabric made it easy to conceal.

Harrow led Lildereth through a high-ceilinged chamber with a raised area made of smooth stone blocks in the center. The platform and floors were swept clean, though the chamber was so unfinished that rock formations still jutted up from the floor and crowded down from the ceiling, offering abundant cover. As they passed through yet another wooden door, they met a robed cultist walking back toward the chamber they had just left.

"Dawn is breaking," the human said.

"Greet the new day," she and Harrow replied. Lildereth felt certain that her decoy backpack and servant's clothing would soon be ransacked.

The next cultist they encountered though unarmed had the demeanor of a guard. The air changed abruptly as they left the stale corridors for an immense, misty cavern. Finished stone pillars supported the roof. Harrow walked her to a broad ledge overlooking the shrine proper.

Below, a giant stone statue of Mehrunes Dagon dominated a central raised platform. Two Altmer-sized figures stood at its feet. One spoke to a group of perhaps a dozen robed cultists. Unlike the others, he wore blue. This must be the Master, Mankar Camoran.

Eighteen cultists, Lildereth mentally amended, adding in those they had passed in the outer chambers. No doubt they were annoyed at missing their Master's speech. Her chest felt tight, and her pulse sounded like thunder in her ears.

Harrow walked her down into the shrine to a set of steps at the side of the platform. A thin man in an initiate's robe stood there gazing up at the Master. Lildereth stifled a gasp when she saw the massive blood-red gem at Camoran's throat.

"The Dragon Throne is empty, and we hold the Amulet of Kings," Camoran declared. "Praise be to your brothers and sisters. Great shall be their reward in Paradise."

"Praise be!" the congregation responded, Harrow's voice among them. "Praise be!"

By the gods, the Amulet of Kings is right there. They aren't even trying to hide it. I'm going to have to join this cult today. We didn't prepare for this!

"Hear now the words of Lord Dagon," Camoran continued. "'When I walk the earth again, the faithful among you shall receive your reward. To be set above all other mortals forever!'"

Darnand may as well be in Northpoint for all he could help her. If she ran away now, their next attempt would be much harder. Lildereth took a slow breath and let it out. She thought of Jerric's smile, his eyes warm with reflected firelight.

I am not alone, for I carry you in my heart. In this world or the next you will hear the tale of this day. I will find a way to serve this mer and get the Amulet back. I can do this.

The Master kept speaking Dagon's words. "'As for the rest, the weak shall be winnowed, the timid shall be cast down, the mighty shall tremble at my feet and pray for pardon.'"

"So sayeth Lord Dagon," the congregation intoned. "Praise be!"

"Praise be," Lildereth squeaked. And Nord, if I'm murdered and consigned to the Deadlands, you had better come and get me!

Camoran made a broad gesture. "Your reward, brothers and sisters! The time of Cleansing draws nigh. I go now to Paradise. I shall return with Lord Dagon at the coming of the Dawn!"

Before Lildereth could take in his meaning, a small portal opened beside Mankar Camoran. Without another word he stepped through the pane of fire and was gone.

[Renee]

Okay, so J & M already have known each other many years. Were Jerric, Darnand, Lili, and others individual games at first, combined on PC? Because I know you were also a consolite back in the day.

Yes, 60 gates is the max. Some folks like tmar and glargg closed 'em all with certain characters. I want to say I got maybe half of them.

In his original game on the Playstation I was afraid of the A-bomb, so he didn’t do many.

Yep, this was me too! I'd lost two games to the bomb by then, we both (you and I) knew by then we safely had maybe 300 to 350 hours before the bomb would show its ugly animations. Anyway, sounds like you got obsessed with them too once you were on PC.

Hee I like that. She steals some clothes but leaves a coin behind! - Also that's clever, Lil's disguise as a struggling wayfarer. "Initiation into the service of Dagon?" Yikes. What is she up to here? Four volumes. Okay, so this must be part of the MQ. Dang, I can't remember this scene at all. Been since summer 2011 for me. Oh man, she has to undress in front of this Harrow dude? Cripes this is creepy.

Ring of Khajiiti, what a coincidence. macole's story this week also features this same ring. Different reason though.

"Decoy backpack" clever. Ransack away, ruffians.

Mankar slips away. Yeesh, what a creepy chapter. (that's a compliment).


This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 24 2025, 05:23 PM

[Acadian]

I enjoyed learning how precisely Lildereth put together every aspect of her disguise. Of Jerric, Darnand and Lildereth, she is definitely the right one for this subterfuge/infiltration mission. That said, you did a great job of painting her fear.

’Worry is a misuse of imagination.’
- - Wisely put!

’Her sleeves were too long and she had to lift the hem to keep from stumbling.’
- - 'Tis the life of a Bosmeri lass. . . .

Deeper into the cult’s lair she goes as the suspense builds and she realizes the deeper she goes, the more difficult any escape will be. Between the subtle indignations of disrobing for that bureaucrat and the brainwashed stuff she is hearing, I suspect she’s really going to want a bath to wash this cult stuff off when she’s done!

There’s the Amulet of Kings! Poof, not so fast as Mankie ports off with it.

[ghastley]

I assume that the Mythic Dawn did not expect to recruit any Bosmer, or they would have an appropriate size of robes. Mankar Cameron himself was supposedly born to a Bosmer mother yet was Altmer, so there is a bit of a bias against Wood Elves involved, maybe. I wonder if that will get her singled out?

Her preparations, and sneaky skills seem to be working so far. She has not taken the diversion to the storeroom for equipment that my characters usually did, so I hope that scroll does what she brought it for.

I never decided if Mankar wearing the Amulet of Kings was real, or illusion. Which way are you playing it?

[SubRosa]

If the Nord had been there, it would have been: "Hulk Smash!"

Lil' D is undercover, and taking a giant risk. Here is hoping that the cultists remain unaware of the destruction of the Imperial City cell, and are unprepared for possibly being infiltrated.

Harrow is a perfect name for someone with the title of Warden.

No pockets in the MD robes? It must have been made by the same people who make women's clothes.

Phew, that was a nerve-wracking episode, as Lil went deeper and deeper into the cult's fortress. As she noted, Darnit is well beyond offering any help here. It is her vs. 18 cultists, which are some long odds.

[Grits]

Previously: Lildereth entered the Mythic Dawn’s secret shrine, posing as the novitiate. She left Ulfe in charge of the horses. Darnand is hiding outside. To Lildereth’s surprise, Mankar Camoran was at the shrine. He took the Amulet of Kings to Paradise.


Renee: Jerric, Lildereth, Darnand, and Abiene all had individual games in Oblivion and in Skyrim. Then I made them as NPCs so they could be in each other’s games. Jerric was the only one who did the main quest. The others, especially Lildereth, I played mostly to understand how their characters’ combat would work in the game. All of them were fiction characters long before they were game characters. This part of the story is very close to how it can go in the game. I’m glad the creepiness came through. I was very creeped out the first time I did this part of the quest. Thank you, Renee!

Acadian: Thank you, Acadian! I wasn’t sure if I should spend so much time on her preparations, but she doesn’t get many pages in her own point of view. Managing her fear is another skill that the fellows don’t really see, they just get the results. She is going to be so ready for a splash in that waterfall!

ghastley: I figure the initiate robes would be few and cut to fit most, which means they probably don’t fit anyone. They probably have a stack of unfinished cultist robes somewhere ready for quick alteration. If they get two Bosmer at the same time, they could just split a robe! The gang will have to ponder “is it real or is it Illusion” about Camoran wearing the Amulet. Lildereth is assuming it’s real, for the moment too surprised to consider the alternatives.

SubRosa: That’s how she knew the dress she borrowed was homemade – it had pockets! Harrow’s name does set the scene for what comes next. Thank you, SubRosa!

.

Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Twelve

"No!" Lildereth gasped.

"It is a shame that the Master himself did not initiate you," Harrow said in agreement. "However, the Master's daughter Ruma is here." Harrow indicated the Altmer on the platform. "It is a great honor…" He sighed as if the honor was perhaps not so great.

The Amulet is gone. To Paradise, wherever that is. Lildereth pushed away her panic and thought of Darnand, head bent over some musty documents. Stay alive to tell him. He will figure something out.

Harrow called up to Ruma. "We have a new brother and a new sister who wish to bind themselves to the service of Lord Dagon." He pointed to the side of the steps and spoke to the two of them. "Drop your robes there before you go up."

The Altmer beckoned. "Advance, initiates."

Lildereth slipped out of the robe, twisting a sleeve so that her scroll wouldn't fall out and betray her. She and the man walked side by side up to the platform. Here comes the blood part. Hopefully more his than mine. Then she saw a figure lying on a low altar at the statue's feet. An Argonian, naked as the two initiates, wrists and ankles bound. His eyes were closed.

Ruma spoke as they ascended the steps. "You have come to dedicate yourselves to Lord Dagon's service. This pact must be sealed with red-drink, the blood of Lord Dagon's enemies." She motioned with a graceful, gloved hand. A silver dagger rested on the altar beside an evil-looking tome. "Take up the dagger and offer Lord Dagon the sacrificial red-drink as pledge of your own life's blood, which shall be his in the end." Her other hand swooped at the Argonian in a dramatic gesture.

That book, thought Lildereth. It must be important. At least I can bring that back with me. If I can just get away.

"I will slay the sacrifice!" the other initiate shouted, stress or excitement making his voice overly loud. He grabbed the dagger.

"Lord Dagon thirsts for red-drink!" crowed Ruma. "Sate him!"

Lildereth suddenly knew that though she didn't have a plan, she was not going to risk becoming Dagon's minion by getting splashed during a blood ritual. "We will do it together," she cried, grabbing the man's wrist. Her hand brushed against the book. Instantly her eyes darkened, and her mind filled with a thousand jagged screams. She reflexively twisted away from it, slamming into her fellow would-be initiate. He tried to pull away, yanking them both against the low altar.

The jostled Argonian opened his eyes. "Where am I? What is this place?" He thrashed upright, struggling with his bindings. "Arkay preserve me, I remember now…"

Lildereth reacted with the first spell that came to her mind. Green mist trickled from the fingers she still had clamped around the man's wrist. He had already reached a near frenzy in anticipation of cutting the Argonian. It was easy to redirect his aggression to another target. The man howled, lunging at the surprised Ruma with the silver dagger.

"…hooded men grabbed me as I left the Temple…" the Argonian rambled. His hands were busy rubbing wrist bindings against his toe claws.

"Lord Dagon shall drink your blood instead," Ruma shrieked at the man. As she reached for the staff on her back, the man tackled her off the raised platform. A collective gasp rose from the cultists.

Lildereth ripped the Ring of Khajiiti out of her hair. "Can you fight?" she asked the Argonian.

"I am a priest of the Nine!" he cried. He staggered to his feet, kicking off the severed bonds.

Then a cursed tome shouldn't harm you. Lildereth shoved the ring onto his clawed finger. "Wear this, it will make you fast and difficult to target. And grab that book! It might save our lives!" She turned and readied another spell, hoping that the priest would act quickly.

Without warning Lildereth found herself face-down on the floor, blue-white arcs dancing across her vision. Her skin felt the pain-prickling that came with a fever. A shock spell, she dimly realized.

"He dares to touch the sacred Xarxes!" a voice sounded over the roaring in her ears. "Kill him!"

Harrow's incredulous, "Did you just take that?" was followed by a series of loud cracks as the massive statue began to break apart. Sulfurous smoke joined the rising dust as several cultists summoned weapons and armor.

Lildereth scrambled back toward the stairs they had come up to make the sacrifice, flinching as stone blocks crashed to the floor. Her spell was gone from her mind, evaporated by the shock bolt. She brought it back as she found her target. It was Harrow, who now held a mace and wore summoned armor. With no time to refine her intent, she simply drove him into a rage.

"For Lord Dagon!" Harrow shrieked and attacked the cultist next to him.

"Follow me," Lildereth called to the Argonian. As she dashed down the stairs, she scooped up the discarded initiate robes. The scroll slid into her hand.

"By all that is holy, we must get out of this hellish place," the Argonian wailed. He seemed to be following.

Through the rising dust Lildereth could see a cluster of combatants surrounding Harrow and another around Ruma and the other initiate. All it would take was one with their wits about them to overwhelm her and take the book back from the priest. Her invisibility spell came unbidden to her hand, the urge to disappear was so strong. She shook it away.

The priest clutched the book in one arm. That could be the Mysterium Xarxes. Now they both had to escape. She flicked open the scroll and pushed its spell with her will. As she tossed the disintegrating parchment into the midst of the cultists, it roared into life in the form of a black bear.

Screams drowned out the bear's growl. Lildereth saw it rise up onto its hind legs and then lunge downward. She found herself knocked to the side by a fleeing mer, then to her hands and knees by another.

Someone pulled her up by the arm, their claws piercing her skin. "There!" the Argonian hissed against her ear. While some cultists were bunched up trying to escape through a side passage, a few others had run up the stairs.

A sizzling bolt of lightning hit a cultist mere feet in front of Lildereth and the priest, followed by a furious shriek. "Get them! Get them!"

Ruma. She brandished the staff above her head, waving at the two of them. Lildereth caught motion out of the corner of her eye and dove to the side. A mace grazed her hip as she rolled away. The priest stood frozen, the book held up in front of him in both clawed hands.

"The Xarxes!" shrieked Ruma. "Be careful!"

The resulting instant of confusion was enough to let Lildereth dart between her assailants. Someone caught her shoulder, but their fingers slipped off bare skin. She looked up to see what was happening at her target exit at the stairs. The cultists there were milling and shouting. "Open the door! Let us through! Open the door!"

"That way is blocked," Lildereth called to the Argonian. She whirled around to find a battered Harrow with mace raised, ready to bring it down on her head.

A blast of lightning knocked him sideways, the mace dissolving as it flew from his hand. The priest now held the Xarxes tucked in one arm. Shock energy danced around the palm of his outstretched hand.

"Get out of the way!" shouted Ruma. She struggled toward them, pushing would-be helpers aside with her staff.

Lildereth's stomach lurched. Under combat conditions, this foe was beyond her ability to influence or cloud with spells. She reached for the Argonian with one hand, readying her invisibility spell in the other. "Don't let go, and don't speak!" White magicka shimmered across Lildereth's skin, down her arm to their clasped hands, and then over the priest's scaly form. In its wake, they disappeared. With this crowd, Life Detection magic would be difficult to use.

"Find them!" Ruma swung wildly with her staff. Lildereth pulled the priest by the hand, leading him to the shadows behind the altar.

Crouching behind the shrine, Lildereth broke their invisibility with a whisper directly into his ear hole. "There are too many of them for me to fight," she said. "We'll put the initiate robes on. We won't blend in for long, but it should help while they're still panicked. There is a Breton outside called Darnand Penoit. I will protect you as much as I can, but if I fall you must take that book to him." She gripped his shoulders, bolstering his confidence through her touch. "My name is Lildereth. Please believe me, there are those who can bring this crisis to an end. If Darnand does not find you, seek him out through the Mages Guild. You must survive and bring him that book!"

"I am Jeelius. Let us make haste. They will certainly look for us back here."

The priest's words could have been a prophecy. Even as the baggy robes settled over them, a shout sounded through the confusion. They were discovered.

A Frenzy spell would be disastrous if she and Jeelius got caught up in the fighting. There was no time to individually Command cultists to do her will. They needed to be carried in a tide of the remaining cultists. Lildereth flicked her wrist and sent a swirl of Fear into the nearest enemies. As expected, they ran away shrieking.

Several of the cultists were already trying to escape. A group of their own fleeing in loud terror was enough to push the rest over the edge. Lildereth watched to see where they were going, then glanced into the shrine chamber. The bear stood on all fours amidst scattered lumps in burgundy robes, tearing at a screaming form with its teeth. Ruma was not within sight, but Lildereth could hear her shouting on the upper ledge where she and Harrow had entered. It wasn't clear if someone had unlocked the door leading back through the antechamber.

She followed the fleeing cultists down the side passage and deeper into the caverns, adding her screams to the mayhem.

[Acadian]

"No!" Lildereth gasped.'
- - Fortunately, Harrow interpreted Lildereth's disappointment that the Amulet escaped as wishing she had been indoctrinated by the Master.

Even if Lil was willing to participate in the initiation with her fingers and toes crossed, Dagon might not see it that way. And now there is the innocent Argonian that she’s not about to slay in sacrifice.

Thank the Nine for Third Era illusion magic!

What an edge of our seats battle! Magic, melee and plenty of foes. Despite the intentional chaos, Lil did a great job of sharing her perspective as the fight waged on.

Thankfully, it seems the priest knows some helpful shock magic, allowing Jeelius and Lil to save each other’s lives.

Hopefully, being caught up in the chaotic fearful stampede (courtesy of more of Lil’s illusion magic) Jeelius the bookholder and Lil will be presented with an opportunity to escape this daedric den.

[ghastley]

Lildereth seems to have avoided becoming the focus of interest in this. Jeelius has the book, the other initiate is the attacker, so unless anyone actually noticed who cast the fear and frenzy spells, she's just one of the fleeing crowd.

But of course she wants Jeelius to get the book out to Darnand, so that may be difficult to sustain. The more panicked cultists she can keep around them, the better, which makes this rather different from the usual clearance attempt. Interesting.

However, Ruma is connecting her with Jeelius, even if the others might not. It all depends on whether she can keep him inconspicuous among the stampede.

[SubRosa]

Mankar and the Amulet have slipped through Lil's grasp. But Ruma is still there, along with the Mysterium Xarxes, and the entire hideout of cultists. I would not want to go through with that ritual either. Aside from the whole murdering innocent people part, accidentally becoming a Mythic Dawn cultist does not sound like a good thing to me.

That is some book, if just brushing against it brings such visions. HP Lovecraft would have been envious.

And now things get going. The Frenzy spell was a good choice, that is two fewer foes that Lil has to worry about for now. The irony is of course, that I am sure Dagon does not care if one of his cultists kills another of their group. If he did kill Ruma, he'd probably still be initiated just as well as if he had killed the priest. Granted, Daddy Camoran might have had a few words for the guy later.

But someone else out there has a talent for lightning bolts. Lil better get out of there, or go on a Wolverine-esque berserk killing spree.

Well, a bear certainly covers the Wolverine-esque berserk rampage part... And it looks like Jeelius can pull his own weight in a fight too.

Lil's illusion magic is really paying off in this confused mess, turning it into an even greater maelstrom of chaos, and creating an opportunity for escape.