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

[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!

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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!

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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.

[Renee]

Nice, you posted the next story on April Fool's Day.

All of them were fiction characters long before they were game characters.

Fictional in Elder Scrolls? Or are any of them from tablegaming days? I've brought a couple (Gunter and Gray Wizard) from the table (high school/'80s) into ES. Which is fun to see how their original strategies and approaches evolve in a modern game.

I swear. You really are bringing a whole new level to the Main Quest with this story, Grits. Especially with the creeps. I enjoyed the MQ, for instance, but I have no recollection of it being so creepy and hair-raising. "Drop your robes..." F**K.

Eesh.

Her hand brushed against the book. Instantly her eyes darkened, and her mind filled with a thousand jagged scream

Wicked. Ah, seems like Lildereth just hit the guy with a Control or maybe a Frenzy... Cool, looks like they're halfway to escape...

This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 3 2025, 05:37 PM

[haute ecole rider]

What a delightful romp through the Dawn's secret lair! The bear was a nice touch - wonder if their name is Thunderpaws? A very different approach to getting out from what I've done, but just as effective.

And Jeelius knows shock! Yay! Always good to have an Argonian at your side in a fight.

Smart to have him hold the Xarxes - not only does it distract them from Lil, but it also makes them more reluctant to attack the priest.

[Grits]

Previously: Lildereth and Jeelius stole the Mysterium Xarxes. Chaos ensued.

Acadian: You got it, Lil takes strange magic very seriously. A daedric blood ritual is about the strangest she has encountered. She’d rather run than risk it. Thank you, Acadian!

ghastley: Exactly, she has gotten them on their way, but they’re not out yet! They’re about to meet some complications. Thank you, ghastley!

SubRosa: I had fun deciding which of Baurus’s scrolls Lil would choose to smuggle in, since she could only have one. Your comment made me think, I wonder if it would count as a sacrifice if Lil kills someone but not with the dagger? Hmm. Thank you, SubRosa!

Renee: All four of the main crew originated after my first Oblivion game, and were created to live in the Elder Scrolls Oblivion game times. As I was playing the Main Quest with another character I had a thought. I wonder how this would go with someone who is from Kvatch? That could be fun to write about. Thank you, Renee!

haute ecole rider: Lildereth laid down some strong boundaries while I was writing this. One was that she was not going to pick up that book! Good thing Jeelius stood up and made a role for himself. Thank you, Rider!

.

Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Thirteen

Lildereth followed the fleeing cultists at a run, adding her screams to the cacophony. Jeelius stayed at her heels, his wheezing breath telling her of his position. They ran through a winding passageway and past a corridor that branched off to the left. Lildereth stayed with the group both for the camouflage they provided and because they knew where they were going. They must be attempting to reach an exit.

A large, roughly rectangular chamber held rows of pallets on the floor and platform beds stacked three high along the walls. They had reached the living quarters. Lildereth slowed to look for a weapon. One cultist turned back at the far doorway. His face betrayed recognition. Lildereth flicked a spell at him. He shrieked and ran after his comrades.

Through the doorway was another corridor. The cultists had already rounded a corner out of sight. Lildereth grabbed Jeelius by the sleeve to make him stop. The noise ahead had changed. Their screams held a new note.

"Something is killing them," Jeelius hissed.

Darnand. He must have followed me almost immediately. Maybe someone opened that door in the rock wall to escape. "It's my partner. He's a fire mage, and he will have summoned something. Can you dispel it if it attacks us?"

Jeelius shook his head, eyes widened until they were completely round.

"Everything in here can burn. Back this way. We need to hide until I can get his attention." Lildereth ran back to the branch in the corridor. It was only a short hallway to an unlit room. From the smell it was a storeroom, and from the sound it was small. "Here. Pray to your gods I can get his attention before he accidentally kills the both of us."

"I shall fall back to the corner," said Jeelius.

Lildereth didn't turn to see if he did so. She crouched at the doorway, watching down the corridor.

The screams intensified until a figure stumbled out of the living quarters, its robe and hair on fire. She didn't have time to react before Darnand stalked through behind it, orange light flickering at his back. He carried the lich's staff in one hand. A bolt of shock from the staff flung the cultist past her and down the corridor. The body lay still. Flames began to nibble at a banner hanging above it on the wall.

"It's me!" Lildereth squeaked. "No fire!"

They met in the junction. Blood streaked his face. Smoke trailed around the hand that reached for hers. "What has occurred?"

"Ruma Camoran is here and hunting us," Lildereth said. "Mankar Camoran took the Amulet through some portal. He said he was going to Paradise."

"No," Darnand whispered. He clenched her hand so hard the bones ached. "Then it is over."

"We stole their evil book, and she knows we have it. I think it's the Mysterium Xarxes."

"What? Where is it?"

"Jeelius!" Lildereth called. The Argonian stepped into the corridor behind Lildereth. "They were going to sacrifice him. He's a priest of the Nine. I don't think I can carry it."

"Nor should I." Darnand looked over her head. "I am Darnand. Are you able to bear this burden?"

"Yes," hissed Jeelius.

"You must remove yourselves from this cave," said Darnand. "I will buy you as much time as I am able."

"I'm not leaving you. Jeelius, that book may be the last chance to find a way to defend our world. Take it to Brother Venco at Weynon Priory. Tell him the Amulet of Kings is in Paradise. Speak to no one else about it."

Jeelius held the Xarxes out in front of him. "I will find the right hands."

Darnand spoke. "Lildereth, I do not expect to defeat Ruma Camoran. Please. Go with Jeelius."

"She will find us in the woods," said Lildereth. "If that's what we think it is, it's a piece of her Prince. She'll be able to scry it or something. I don't want to stay and fight her, but I am. We have to kill her so Jeelius can escape."

They spent a moment wide-eyed while Darnand accepted it.

Lildereth turned to the priest. "Jeelius, get out of that cult robe as soon as you can. The ring will help hide you while you find different clothing."

Jeelius looked at his hand, then back at Lildereth. "Er…"

Lildereth realized the Argonian was clearly visible. "The ring! Where is the ring I gave you?"

"What ring?" Darnand asked, dread in his voice.

"I put the Ring of Khajiiti on his finger," Lildereth said. "At the beginning of this." She looked at both of his clawed hands again. "It's gone. Did you drop it somewhere?"

"It is unlikely that the artifact of a Daedric Prince would let itself slide off a finger," Darnand said. "Far more so that when a supposed Champion of Meridia places her ring on the hand of a priest of the Nine—"

Jeelius brandished the Xarxes.

"—who is carrying the artifact of another Daedric Prince, the Lady of Light took the ring back into her own realm."

Lildereth felt the loss in the pit of her stomach. "Our plan to give it to Jerric would not have worked then."

"Perhaps only long enough to get him concealed into a situation that once removed he would not survive," Darnand said. "Though I regret its loss…" He rubbed fingers across his eyes. "I regret its loss. There is nothing more to it."

Lildereth tilted her head, listening. "Someone is coming."

Ruma's voice echoed down the corridor. "Worm, you have what's mine! Bring it to me!"

"Camoran!" Darnand bellowed, making Lildereth jump. "I killed your brother. Your turn has come. Face me!" He started toward her.

"Wait!" called Lildereth. She pulled him back to the living quarters. "She's not alone. Let's hit them while they're in the doorway."

"I will summon my dremora. If things go wrong we may have a chance to evade it."

There was nothing to hide behind that wasn't on fire. As Jeelius disappeared through the far doorway, Lildereth turned to fight. But it was not Ruma Cameron who appeared. Two cultists rushed forward, both wearing the Mythic Dawn's conjured armor. Each carried a mace in one hand. Behind them was the guard she had met in the upper chamber, his hands filled with arcane frost.

Darnand hit the leading cultist with a long blast of lightning from his lich staff. She fell, but her armor didn't dissolve. Shock energy jumped from her to the other armored cultist as he charged Darnand, mace raised.

As the guard cast his spell at Lildereth, she issued her Command to him. Frost boomed against her neck and shoulder when she ducked too late.

The cultist's mace slid down the staff and struck Darnand's arm. The staff clattered to the floor. As Lildereth's guard caught his fellow cultist, a wave of ice crystals raced over his body. Screams drowned out the merry snap and crackle of burning furniture.

The other mace-wielder had regained her feet. Lildereth's magicka was frighteningly low, so she lunged for Darnand's staff. The frost burns made her cry out as she wrenched it into position. A long blast of lightning from the staff pushed the cultist away from them.

"Down!" called Darnand.

Lildereth hit the floor. A sheet of flame roared over her head, engulfing their three opponents and the bunk beds behind them.

"I used up your staff," Lildereth said. "I'm sorry, it would have lasted longer in your hands."

"It is I who must apologize," said Darnand. "I spent much of my magicka getting this far." As he fumbled with a potion, Ruma Cameron strode through the doorway.

"Return what is mine, and I will give you a swift end," Ruma said. A smirk twisted her elegant features.

She won't want to damage the book, Lildereth reminded herself. And she isn't sure who has it.

Darnand opened a portal between himself and Ruma. As the dremora stepped through, Darnand dropped the potion bottle. Blood ran freely from his fingertips.

"On your belly, nikyn!" the dremora howled. To whom was unclear.

Lildereth couldn't count on her Illusion spells against Ruma. She could still disappear and leave Darnand. Ruma would chase Jeelius, if he held on to the book. Lildereth could live, and track Ruma. The thought slid like a cool knife through her panic. She clenched her teeth against it. There was another option.

Taking in a deep breath, she focused on the center of her chest where she imagined her very life's energy resided. On the exhale she pushed that energy down her arms and out through her hands. A translucent bow staff formed between them. The grip felt warm.

The dremora took a wide stance as the mages battled for control of him. When Ruma turned to Darnand with a triumphant smile on her face, Darnand lifted his arm. Instead of the expected wall of fire, a narrow jet of flame erupted from his outstretched hand toward her. The dremora raised his sword.

Lildereth reached forward with the bow in her left hand, and with her right drew an arrow into existence from tip to feathers, aetherial blue like the bow but as solid as wood and sinew in her hands. Tension told her that the bow string was ready. As Ruma whirled away from Darnand's fire, Lildereth shot the arrow through the center of her chest. She felt it pass through Ruma's body, the Altmer's blighted soul connected for an instant to her own.

She closed her eyes against the feeling, though it didn't help. When she opened them the bow had faded into a glow around her palms. Ruma lay on the floor. Darnand was upright beside an open portal. The raging dremora dissolved in a swirl as he was sucked backward into it, like water down a drain.

Awe replaced Darnand's customary tone of scholarly inquiry. "What was that?"

It took two attempts to force sound from her throat. "Make sure she's dead."

Jeelius appeared in the far doorway. "My friends. Allow me to assist you."

Lildereth stayed on the floor. "The way you follow directions, priest, are you sure you're not a Nord?"

"I accept," said Darnand. He staggered as he stood up from checking Ruma.

As Jeelius tended Darnand, Lildereth stripped off the hateful robe. "There will be clothes somewhere in here for you," she told Jeelius. "Probably right in that little storage chamber. They take everything away from their initiates."

"Let us make haste," Darnand said. "Even now Ruma may stand in her father's realm, telling him of our deeds."

"And this whole room is on fire," said Lildereth.

Jeelius spoke from inside the robe as he pulled it over his head. "Where you lead, I follow. I am convinced that you work on behalf of all that is light."

Now is not the time to tell him that you are not a necromancer, Lildereth thought. She stifled a deranged giggle.

Jeelius turned to Lildereth, healing light in his hands. Her deep cuts, scrapes, frost burns, and bruises faded away, but the hollow ache in her chest remained. "I cannot help you further," he rasped.

"It will pass," Lildereth told him, swiping at her blood-smeared hip and leg. "Thank you."

"I shall collect documents," said Darnand. "I entered past some offices. There are none there left alive."

"Be quick," said Lildereth. "This isn't your friend's library."

The store room held piles of personal items sorted by type. Her pack and clothing would eventually have made their way to this eerie chamber. She supposed any valuable items had been removed and used for the benefit of the cult. Or had been diverted into some cultist's pocket, like her borrowed silver ring. "Jeelius," she called from the doorway. "It's getting very warm out here, but it's cold where we're going. Get a cloak."

"I have found my own robe!" called Jeelius. "Right at the top of this pile!" He returned to the smoky chamber and bent to buckle sandals onto his feet.

"It's a shame you weren't wearing boots when they captured you," said Lildereth. "Let's move."

They picked their way through the shrine's living quarters, past torn and smoking bodies. A few of the cultists must have escaped the caverns, alerting Darnand to the change in plan. Without leadership they should not be a problem in the woods. Lildereth moved carefully in case any had decided to return.

The concealed door stood open. Here gore splashed the walls in the patterns she recognized as the daedroth's rampaging. They stepped over scattered body parts and dark puddles.

In the antechamber Lildereth dressed herself in the clothing that she had worn to the shrine. "Here's a pack for you, Jeelius." She handed him the four volumes of the Commentaries that she had brought. Jeelius placed them in the pack along with the Mysterium Xarxes.

Darnand called from the corridor, "It is I." He emerged carrying both his lich staff and Ruma's. A satchel hung over one shoulder.

"Let us leave this cursed place," said Jeelius.

[ghastley]

The plan was just for Darnand and Lildereth to report back to Baurus, but now Jeelius and the Mysterium Xarxes have been added to the mix. I also don't recall where Baurus expects to meet up with them.

I'll just have to wait and find out.

How many times has she seen the results of Darnand's daedroth summonings to be familar with its gore pattern? Do left-handed daedroth spatter differently from righties? Flame before or after rending slash? The true connoiseur knows the signs.

[Acadian]

Following the frightened crowd helped quite a bit – for a time.

Darnand to the rescue! That he intended to fight Ruma solo and likely lose in order to buy time is unacceptable to Lil. Just as Lil’s order to Jeelius to run was found unacceptable to the priest. Good thing, as it took all three to handle Ruma, her minions and heal them up after. What a nailbiter of a fight!

Woohoo! A conjured bow!

Escape at last! No amulet, but all three of them survived and they have the Mysterium Xarxes.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Apr 8 2025, 08:16 PM

[SubRosa]

More chaos ensues as Lilius flees along with the pack of cultists. Danger ahead as well? That can only mean Darnit is doing his damnedest to cause damage to the devilish dolts of the Dawn. Unless I am deceived.

I was wondering why Jeelius was visible as well. I am not surprised that the Daedra are fickle with their gifts.

That was a close fight with Ruma. Good thing for that Bound Bow spell, every Wood Elf's best friend.

It looks like the sun has set upon the Mythic Dawn's headquarters. Or at least their recruitment center. With the Necronomicon Mysterium Xarxes in their possession, they are one step closer to defeating Mankar Camoran.

[haute ecole rider]

More rollicking romping through the roses Mythic Dawn outpost!

Dammit Darnit sounds like quite the loose cannon with his fire.

Chuckled at Lil's admonition that no, we are not in your friend's library!

And chuckled again at Jeelius's glee at finding his own robe. Though I do know the comfort of finding one's own belongings intact after having had to leave them behind all too well - high school gym anyone?

Now what?

[Renee]

Yesss, Darnand's here to rescue! Go, go go!

Phew, Ruma is down. Dremora is gone, "like water down a drain". What a chaotic scene, but at least it seems things are going right.

....I am convinced that you work on behalf of all that is light."

Now is not the time to tell him that you are not a necromancer, Lildereth thought.

Love that part. I barely remember any of this, by the way. Really intense to read these events.

[Grits]

Previously: The Dagon Shrine at Lake Arrius Caverns. Darnand and his angry summoned daedra joined the fight against the cultists. Lildereth killed Ruma Camoran. Jeelius, carrying the Mysterium Xarxes, has suggested they leave.

ghastley: Baurus expects Darnand and Lildereth to meet him at Cloud Ruler Temple, assuming they all survive the journey. I’m sure the gore pattern from Darnand’s daedroth is way, way higher on the walls than from anything else he can summon. How many times has she seen it? 100% times too many! Thank you, ghastley!

Acadian: The decision to stay with Darnand was a big deal for Lil, thank you for mentioning it. It’s a milestone in her quiet journey. Jeelius surprised me with plans of his own. I do love Argonians! Thank you, Acadian!

SubRosa: I thought you might catch that Jeelius was not Chameleon-ed last episode, and the reason was unfortunately not given until this episode. The downside of splitting scenes. Thank you for bearing with me!

Rider: It didn’t strike me until Jeelius was in the storeroom that his clothing would be on the top of the piles. Lil was thinking the same about Darnand’s fire and remembering when he almost roasted Aravi back in their Hope Valley vampire adventure. Thank you, Rider!

Renee: In the game this part can be absolute bonkers. There are a ton of different ways to do it, and I’m sure an equal number of glitches you can cause. I’m glad you enjoyed Lil’s not-a-necromancer thought. Lighthearted is her natural state, but she has a lot on her mind with the world ending. Thank you, Renee!

.

Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Fourteen

In the woods Lildereth lagged behind Darnand and Jeelius, concealing the signs of their passage. The camp had not been disturbed. Lildereth pointed out their supplies. "Jeelius, you will find trail rations and water there. Help yourself. Do not start a fire." She took a swallow of Jerric's Juice potion.

Darnand knelt by his pack, one arm around a wiggling Ulfe. "Tell me the plan," he said when Lildereth looked at him.

"Get the horses ready. Jeelius can ride with me. For now we take the road. They won't be able to find where we leave it."

"I concur. We will go faster on the road, and anyone who fled will still be hiding. For once, time is with us." Tension made his face rigid.

Lildereth knelt beside him and placed a hand on his knee. "Put everything aside for now," she murmured. "Think only of your next task. Whatever occurs, we will handle it."

"If we fail…"

"Don't try to solve all of it yet. Ready the horses. Then we'll get some distance behind us. Tonight we'll have clearer heads. We can plan the rest."

Darnand leaned down until his forehead touched hers. Then he got to work.

Lildereth spoke as she dressed in her own clothing. "Jeelius, what do you need the most?"

"A bask and a good soak. Until then I can heal these injuries. I expect that my appetite will return with health. For now I need to rest." He shook the empty waterskin. "I am sorry, but I have consumed all of your water."

"I'll fill our skins. I can't make the sun come up, but I can heat some stones for you."

"Ah, the gentle magic of the tree folk." Jeelius's eyes closed to orange slits. "That would help."

Lildereth fastened her boot and then moved to the Argonian's side. "Here, lie down by these rocks. I chose this spot so we wouldn't have to move anything." A moment's concentration had heat flowing up from below. She draped her costume cloak over him.

"Yes," Jeelius's sigh ended in a hiss.

"I can give you ten minutes. Then we must ride."

***

Lildereth bent forward in the saddle to brush snow from her hood. At her back, Jeelius leaned heavily against her. She had pushed them for days with little rest and limited food. They had stayed out of sight on narrow paths and game trails through the wilds the whole way to County Bruma. Now they were on a road in plain sight, hoping to catch the attention of whoever stood watch on the hidden walls of Cloud Ruler Temple.

Darnand brought Banner up to walk beside Rose. "Are we close?"

"Yes. They should be able to see us by now, even in this weather." Lildereth signaled Rose to stop. Darnand and Banner followed suit. They stood for a moment listening to the snow crunch under Banner's shifting hooves. Ulfe's tail began to wag. "Someone is coming."

A tall figure appeared walking straight down the middle of the road. He stopped a few paces away from them. "Darnand. Lildereth. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Captain Steffan," said Darnand. "We bear important news. Will you admit us? We are weary."

Jeelius was shivering so hard, Lildereth doubted he could speak. "This Saxhleel is a priest," she said. "We encountered him at the lake. You'll —"

The captain stepped aside with a come-along gesture. "Let's get you lot in by the fire."

Lildereth glanced over the guard positions and smooth stone walls as they passed through the gates, more out of habit than expectation she would need to escape. Within a few moments they had settled the horses. Captain Steffan led them into the temple proper, a stable hand trailing behind with their packs.

Katanas glittered along the walls and pillars. This must be the Hall of Blades. Lildereth was most interested in the giant fireplace, but she gave her attention to the men at a nearby table. The one wearing a gray woolen robe stood up from his clutter of books and alchemy apparatus as they approached. Behind him, wearing the armor of the Emperor's Dragonguard, stood Baurus.

The robed man spoke quietly, but his voice easily carried. "Ah, you're back. I told Jauffre not to worry."

Darnand bowed as he spoke. "Your Grace. May I present Lildereth of the Mages Guild, and Jeelius, Priest of the Temple of the One. My friends, here is Lord Martin Septim, last son of Emperor Uriel."

Jeelius made a bow. Lildereth slid one foot back and dipped at the knees in a curtsy. "Your Grace," she said. "And hello, Sir Baurus."

They gathered around the table closest to the fire. A teenager disappeared through a side door. Lildereth hoped that it led to their kitchens.

When they were seated, Martin spoke. "I can see you have bad news. You didn't recover the Amulet, did you?"

"No," Lildereth said. "Mankar Camoran himself was at the shrine. He took it with him to his Paradise realm. But we killed Ruma Camoran and some of their followers. Jeelius was meant to be sacrificed in the initiation ritual. He carries the Mysterium Xarxes."

"By the Nine!" Martin exclaimed. "Such a thing is dangerous even to handle! Forgive me, Brother Jeelius. You were right to bring it. But you'd better give it to me. I know some ways to protect myself from its evil power."

Jeelius slid the book toward Martin.

"Can the Xarxes lead us to Camoran?" asked Darnand.

"I don't know," Martin said, tentatively touching the book's cover with his fingertips. "Maybe. I suspect that the secret of how to open a portal to Camoran's Paradise lies within these pages. But I will need time. Tampering with dark secrets, even just reading them, can be very dangerous. I'll have to proceed carefully."

"You need not proceed alone," rasped Jeelius. "My duties at the Temple of the One will wait. I place myself in your service, Your Grace. As you have said, we priests have ways to protect ourselves."

Darnand cleared his throat. "Your Grace, I offer my assistance as well. Though I know myself to be perhaps more vulnerable to its suggestion than most, I believe that you will find ways to use my knowledge."

Martin nodded. "Yes, I accept. You both will stay here at Cloud Ruler Temple. Darnand, we are eager to hear of Jerric's return to this realm. When he contacts you, please report immediately."

A trio of youths entered through the side door, steaming bowls and mugs in their hands. Lildereth, Darnand, and Jeelius were soon sipping apple-blackberry tea and spooning up beef soup with carrots and onions. Ulfe was given a bowl of food and a basin of water. She emptied both and stretched out with her paws toward the fire.

Martin addressed Lildereth. "Your friends speak highly of you, Lildereth. I am pleased that my guardians have at last agreed that you are worthy of our trust. I hope you will find us worthy of yours."

"Your Grace, even I cannot think of a way that I could have orchestrated events to bring me before you for some ill purpose." She flicked a glance at Baurus. "But their concern has become my concern. I am at your service."

A Breton in a simple monk's robe entered the great hall. He gave Lildereth a piercing look as he approached. With a nod to Martin, he sat down.

"Grandmaster Jauffre," said Lildereth. She tilted her head to the side, smiling at him. "Finally we meet."

"Lildereth of Athay," said Jauffre. His eyes twinkled but his features remained stern. "Or is it Doriel of Arenthia?"

"It's Lildereth." She glanced at Darnand. "I've told you the truth from the start. How did you make the connection?" she asked Jauffre.

Jauffre pointed a finger at her, the smile breaking over his weathered face. "Property transfer! Why would a deceased Bosmeri lass inherit a manor house? She must have some life left in her. You had lived there as Doriel."

"And I recently paid my taxes, under my own name," said Lildereth. She pointed her spoon right back at him. "Because I'm not hiding anything."

"She is quite alive," said Darnand. "You should have asked the Mages Guild."

"Doriel was a great asset to the Legion," said Jauffre.

Darnand looked utterly confused but ready to jump to her defense.

"The Imperial couple I told you about," Lildereth said to him. "They were Legion. I trained with one and worked for the other, as Doriel. On a contract basis. But 'Doriel' is retired." She turned back to Jauffre. "I'm impressed. Not many have access to the records you must have found."

"You told me you were a market hunter," Darnand said.

Lildereth nodded at him through her tea steam. "Mmm hmm. I've always been a hunter. Different markets."

Jauffre said, "You should consider straightening out your paperwork."

"I'd have to know who made the mistake in the first place. Even I didn't know that I'm supposed to be dead. I guess no one else has disbelieved me enough to look back that far." She tipped her mug to Jauffre. "Perhaps you could fix it for me."

Martin cleared his throat. "I expect you will want to rest and refresh yourselves from your journey."

Jeelius was practically asleep at the table.

Jauffre pushed himself to his feet. "As Cloud Ruler Temple has no guest quarters, for now we will house the three of you in the Emperor's Wing. We have room for an entire royal family and their personal servants, though only a few chambers are ready for immediate use. When you have recovered from your journey, I will hear a report from each of you. Lildereth, Captain Steffan has a job that is suited to your talents."

"Of course, Grandmaster." Lildereth gave him a wink.

"Any questions? Rest well. Tomorrow there is much to do." He directed a slight bow at Martin. "Your Grace."

Darnand's eyes were still round as an owl's as Jauffre strode out the side door. "He did not reference our loss of the Amulet," he said.

Martin gave the Xarxes a little shove and leaned back in his chair. "We have not lost the Amulet of Kings," he said. "Our enemy has taken it out of reach, but only until we find means to recover it. Here we have Warrior, Mage, and — Lildereth, I will not say Thief, but Hunter — on our side. We work under the blessings of the Divines, and one in whom I place much faith, Jerric Lionheart, even now has the gaze of a Daedric Prince upon him. A Prince who is very much the enemy of our enemy." He leaned forward, meeting eyes with each of them as he spoke. "We will learn the secrets of this Mysterium Xarxes. We will take back the Amulet of Kings. The Dragonfires will burn again. Right shall prevail."

Ulfe broke the silence that followed with a yawn and bone-cracking stretch. She padded over to Martin and shoved her great head under his hand.

"The humblest of your subjects agrees," said Lildereth. She gave Captain Steffan a lifted brow.

As Martin filled his hands with dog ears, Captain Steffan rose to his feet. "With Your Grace's permission, I will get these folk settled in their accommodations." The group began to shuffle around, shifting plates and packs. Darnand bent his head to speak with Martin.

Lildereth paused beside Baurus.

The grim Redguard had a gleam in his eye, but he kept his gaze on Martin. "Nearly pissed my greaves when you went at it with the Grandmaster," he murmured to Lildereth. "Any chance that's going to happen again? I'd like to prepare myself."

"Unlikely," said Lildereth. "Any chance someone's going to murder me in my sleep?"

"Emperor's Wing. They'll have to come through me to do it."

One of the teenagers led the way, with Jeelius leaning on his arm. Lildereth fell in behind Darnand next to Captain Steffan. "Is this a today job, or can it wait? I just want to know so I wear the right shoes."

Steffan snorted. "You'll want to be near the Hestra Rune Stone at dusk. Know where that is?"

Lildereth nodded. "I saw a couple of folks in that area when I was looking for your front door. They thought they were being sneaky, but they were not."

"Ha! I'm glad you're on our side. We think they're spies for the Mythic Dawn."

"Let me guess," said Lildereth. "Find out who they are, where they're from, and what they're up to. Kill them or bring them somewhere for questioning?"

Steffan stopped so that the others got a little ahead. "Can you do the questioning?"

Lildereth looked up and up so she could see his eyes. He seemed simply curious. "Not like your Brother Venco would. I have some persuasive spells, that's all. I prefer never to have contact with my targets."

"At your discretion, then. See what you can find out." Steffan tipped his head back toward the Hall of Blades. "You know they'll devour any documents that you can get your hands on. See Captain Burd of the Bruma Guard if you need their cooperation. He may have some information for you. Grandmaster Jauffre asked the Countess to have the guard keep an eye out for strangers."

"Do they know about…" Lildereth lifted her chin toward the Hall.

"They know we have a bird in the nest, and they know better than to ask questions."

"Tomorrow, then," said Lildereth.

Captain Steffan bent forward and spoke quietly through a tight jaw. "We all want to spill blood in the name of our Lord Uriel. We crave it. We Blades will keep the Emperor safe here. You have been given the freedom to attack our enemy. Good hunting."

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Apr 15 2025, 01:56 PM

[haute ecole rider]

Aaahhh, warm stones! Lil is a rock star! I'm sure Jeelius much appreciated her consideration. It's obvious Lil had a lizard as a pet growing up - that's a little touch that never occured to Julian!

Hmm, so both Jeelius and Darnit will be assisting Martin with the Xarxes? I smell a hint of Daedric shrines and Ayleid ruins in their futures . . .

And we have a Warrior, Mage, and . . . Hunter? If my memory serves, in the Reach in 2E, they did not have Thief, but Hunter as one of the three main constellations, so this works for me.

Spies! Will Lil be bringing back heads for Jauffre to stick on the walls of CRT?

[SubRosa]

So we have a brief respite at Cathode Ray Tube Cloud Ruler Temple, as we take stock of recent events and plan the next moves.

Jauffre lives up to this role as master of spies, as he untangles the web of paperwork around Lil's previous lives.

"We have not lost the Amulet of Kings," he said. "Our enemy has taken it out of reach, but only until we find means to recover it. Here we have Warrior, Mage, and — Lildereth, I will not say Thief, but Hunter — on our side. We work under the blessings of the Divines, and one in whom I place much faith, Jerric Lionheart, even now has the gaze of a Daedric Prince upon him. A Prince who is very much the enemy of our enemy." He leaned forward, meeting eyes with each of them as he spoke. "We will learn the secrets of this Mysterium Xarxes. We will take back the Amulet of Kings. The Dragonfires will burn again. Right shall prevail."

Spoken like a true Emperor.