Knights of the Nine - New Kvatch, Attempt at fan-fic Options

[mALX]

*

Holy Crap !! (and I do mean Julianos)

The Divine simply said “Neemh.”


The Androform spun around and stared The They/Them in the eye with her Universe blinding blue.

The They/Them flinched.

Julianos turned slowly and simply said. “Don’t ever try that again.” And walked out of the world.

The They/Them shouted, “JULIANOS YOU WILL NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON US!” and raised their hand.

Or will he? MWAAAHAAAAHAAAA !!!!! And another Divine bites the dust !!! Stendarr, now Julianos ... By the time the story ends the Eight will be revealed for their weakness and the only one that will be left standing will be The Plus One - Tiber Septim.

AWESOME WRITE !!!!

*


Awesome Write !!!

[Colonel Mustard]

So another bunch of the Divines are down now. Interesting, very interesting...

[McBadgere]

Oh, ye of little faith... ...

Spoilers...



Cheers...Athynae, Grits, mALX and Mustard...

And a mahoosive thank you to Trey for all that...Again...*Bows*...Thank you so much...

EDIT: Who knew smileys messed up the spoiler tags?... ...

This post has been edited by McBadgere: Feb 5 2012, 08:50 PM

[Fawkes]

That was freaking epic!

[mALX]

Oh, ye of little faith... ...

Spoilers...



Cheers...Athynae, Grits, mALX and Mustard...

And a mahoosive thank you to Trey for all that...Again...*Bows*...Thank you so much...

EDIT: Who knew smileys messed up the spoiler tags?... ...

But wait! I knew Akatosh was good from the meeting with Stendarr, and already said Septim...but ... but ...

The Divine simply said “Neemh.”


The Androform spun around and stared The They/Them in the eye with her Universe blinding blue.

The They/Them flinched.

Julianos turned slowly and simply said. “Don’t ever try that again.” And walked out of the world.

????? Huh?

This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 5 2012, 10:03 PM

[McBadgere]

It's just to show that with the three behind him, in his anger he is so powerful that he will ignore anything...

He is sooo cool...Just so you know... ...

The most powerful Aedra...

You have forgotten... ...

[mALX]

It's just to show that with the three behind him, in his anger he is so powerful that he will ignore anything...

He is sooo cool...Just so you know... ...

The most powerful Aedra...

You have forgotten... ...

Urk...well, on the "Don't ever try that again..." all I could think of was the man on his honeymoon that hires a romantic carriage to take them to their honeymoon hide-away in the mountains, far away from any civilization. A ways up the mountain the horse balks and refuses to move. The man gets down from the carriage and beats the horse.

"That's once." Says he, and climbs back into the carriage.

Further up the mountain the same thing happens. The horse balks, he beats it.

"That's twice." Says he, and climbs back into the carriage.

Way up the mountainside, the horse balks a third time.

"That's three times, now you've had it!" He yells. He beats the horse and then shoots it right there between the carriage stays.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Now how will we get up to the cabin, or back down again? We're out here in the middle of nowhere! How will we carry all our luggage?" The new bride yells.

"That's once." Says the man.

*

Urk.

This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 5 2012, 11:57 PM

[Acadian]

By the Nine! Or maybe the Three or the Two? Or perhaps by the Seven.

Oh, I know! By the Seven of Nine! Oops, wrong lore methinks?

Who can fathom the ways of the Gods? Family squabble? If it is all a lie, then is that fact a lie? If a tree falls or a big bear poops in the forest but no one is there to witness, then did it happen? How would one know?

My faves are always Mara and Kyne. Love, sky and little forest creatures – what’s not to love?

Oh look! A butterfly. . . .

This post has been edited by Acadian: Feb 6 2012, 01:15 AM

[McBadgere]

Riiiight... ...

You seen Seven of Nine in Body of Proof?...She's a thousand times hotter than she was back then... ...

[McBadgere]

[/Drama Queen]

I shall post the chapter as soon as I re-write it...For reasons too sucky to explain...

Many thanks for your ever tested patience... ...

This post has been edited by McBadgere: Feb 11 2012, 08:29 PM

[mALX]

Sorry...I appear to have made a grave mistake...

This story will continue soon...Probably...

Farewell...

GAAAAAH !!! Where is the chapter? Urk?

[McBadgere]

This deserves a new post simply to thank mALX from the bottom of my heart...THANK YOU!!!...

As you will see, it is entirely deserved...

Reet, try again... ...


Thank you all for reading my little snippet btw...I appreciate it... ...

Back to business in the present...

Previously on KOTNNK...Some things...This is actually set after the conversation in the study with Robert McWylde and Seri Ormandin in New Kvatch (Cause that's all in it's own bubble of time) and before the Akatosh/Kynareth confrontation when she changes Aeirawen...Keep up...It's all Divine dahling... ...

And before anyone takes umbrage at anything in here, I remind you that I follow the ancient rules of "Show things now, change it later..." Therefore what appears to come to pass here is not necessarily what will happen...*Points and nods*... ...

It is a longie...I appreciate that...But I couldn't split it...Sorry...Probably best all in one go anyways... ...





1.11 – Galasafon - (pt.7)






3E 438 Julianos' home.







Julianos sat in a high-backed chair. It was soft and comfortable, blue coloured with a red diamond patterning to the fabric. It sat near to a roaring fire, which - despite having been lit for countless years - needed no tending, nor fuelling. Though it produced no smoke, the fire sat beneath a chimney - the imitation of a chimney at least - the outside of which was seemingly all oaken panelling, as was the remainder of the walls and door. Bookcases, chests of drawers, a spacious sofa and a table with papers, a bowl of fruit and a vase with flowers on it completed the living room feel of Julianos' study.

On the imitation chimney breast was what appeared to be a painting. It showed a nice picturesque scene of a waterfall and some countryside. However, the scene was moving, the water fell and made ripples in the pool below. As Julianos was distracted, he failed to notice a cow walk up to the pond. Swish its tail and then drink in the pool.

To one side of the chair was a low table, on which was a cup of steaming tea. A perfect cup of tea. It smelled, tasted and felt exactly like tea should. Julianos distractedly picked up the cup, drank deeply then replaced the cup, as full as it had been.

On the other side of the chair was a small chest of drawers. On top sat a wooden box with a pane of glass on the front side. The box was worked, with rounded edges and shaped motifs in the wood around the glass pane.

Julianos - seemingly a small man in a brown suit, with dark hair that verged on curly, and piercing, intense grey eyes beneath dark eyebrows that hinted at bushy. An average sized nose and a slightly downturned mouth completed the face.

He was reading a book. A book he'd never read before. Which, given that he had all the knowledge and books there had ever been on Nirn, contained here, in his home, made it a rare pleasure in itself.

During the Dawn War, the energies and violence unleashed on both sides was so great that cracks had been rent in the multiverse. The They/Them had closed most of them out there. But some of the small fissures had been missed, and Julianos' home being as vast as it was, contained a few of them. Some things would appear, he would be told where, and the small Divine would go and look with genuine excitement. Sometimes it was nothing more than a fruit, sometimes more. Julianos had once had to entice a cow to follow to him to the Paradise room. A thought which still amused him when it passed through his vast and ancient memory.

The book he was reading had appeared in the room just across from this one, a couple of - what passed for - days ago.

"My travels with an Adventuresome Nord - A Journal, by Darnand Penoit." It declared itself to be. And Julianos was genuinely amused by it. He laughed regularly.

As he did now.

"Hah! Nord, must you fling projectiles?!!...Hah!!...Priceless."

Julianos took another drink of his tea.

A chime sounded and the glass panel on the wooden box lit up blue. A scrawl appeared on the glass and Julianos sighed, closed the book, placed it down next to the teacup and massaged his eyelids.

Turning to read what was on the screen, a concerned frown darkened his face. "Very well, on my way." He said.

He stood up, pulled his waistcoat down and flattened his jacket.

He turned towards the door, took a step, then stopped. He took the step backwards and reached down. He took another drink of tea, and then he left the room.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------



The corridor outside was huge. It retreated into deep distance in both directions, and it would take several steps to reach the doors on the opposite side from where Julianos currently stood. The Aedra knew there were also many branches to the corridor, branches that were sometimes not seen until you were standing next to them. The blue carpeted floor had yet more red diamond patterning to it, but these were arranged so that they also made larger diamonds, running down the corridor in both directions.

Vast and ancient. Julianos' home was alive in a way. Certainly the sounds that could sometimes be almost heard made it seem like it was. He stood and listened. On the very edge of hearing were conversations, snatches of choral work, birdsong and more.

A chime rang and a sound like a cross between a rumble, running a sword over stone and singing, all heard while under water issued forth into the corridor.

Julianos sighed. "Yes, Arrai...I shall stop dawdling presently."

The strongest Aedra closed his eyes, put his hand to the wall and started walking left. The half-heard sounds seeming like a song that was caught briefly, loved and then forgotten. Julianos opened his eyes and looked at the panelling on the wall. He looked at and followed the lines of graining. These weren't genuine trees that had been felled for the panels - the Divine knew that - but his house kept adding these things and he was always astounded at the beauty it produced.

Another chime, another speech rumble.

Julianos closed his eyes and shook his head.

Sighing deeply, he picked up his pace and walked down the middle of the corridor.



-----------------------------------------------------------



There had been a rush to create life, no matter how big or small, back in the days before the Dawn War. Many beautiful and wonderful species had been made, only to fall to the grotesque and evil. Wonders strode the lands. But since Lorkhan's removal, no-one had really dared, and life had evolved rather than been moulded.

One of these wonders, Kynareth and Lorkhan's Yskraich, had recently re-appeared in the world. "Kynareth's Mistake" their epithet. One of the most successful species ever.

Made uncountable years before the War, they had survived until Akatosh grew weary and forced Kynareth to help him create the Dragons.

It wasn't until these too became a problem that they turned to Julianos for help.

In an age before the Dawn War, Julianos had watched everyone's work be for naught as one or other's creations fell. So he decided that if he were to create something, they would be invincible and ageless. Adaptable and intelligent. Strong and determined. Unbeatable. He would only need one if he made it right.

He watched.

He planned.

He travelled to the furthest reaches of his home and found the ingredients.

A ten foot tall white skeletal frame with dark blue/grey armour on torso, hands and feet. Its head, an oversized dark skull with a ridge on top. Three - what would later be called - Super-Welkynd stones suggested eyes and a mouth in an immobile face, and one smaller one in the front of the ridge atop its head.

Myrrl his name was.

Julianos turned him loose on Nirn and was overjoyed to watch him tear a swathe through the worst of the abominations. And soon, Myrrl was known to all creatures.

Julianos was proud of his son. The Androform had exceeded all that Julianos had hoped for when he'd created the only one he'd need.

So Julianos had watched Myrrl proudly for a while.

And then went and made two more.

Arrai and Neerlah.

Despite putting the same ingredients together in the same way, the two sisters were different. For a start, they were sisters.

Julianos had been stunned that when the spark had been added to Arrai, the white living marble-esque element that had built the frame had taken on a faint rose colour, and upon sitting up it was obvious that a female spirit had rooted in this Androform.

Julianos was nevertheless overjoyed to have a daughter. So it was with a degree of uncertainty that Neerlah was woken. A different hue, but again, another daughter.

Not that they were any less than Myrrl. They took on and defeated everything, including the worst, and tore them to shreds.

When the Dawn War started, the Androforms had appeared before the two Divines. Julianos and Akatosh had explained all of what occurred between the Gods to them.

The Androforms had listened patiently. They had looked to each other in silent communication. Myrrl turned back and simply said -

"Well Father, shall we have at them?"

And so the Dawn War was won.

The Androforms able to stop Gods? Another father could not be as proud. And then one made The Creators pause?

All of them brilliant.

All of them the same.

All of them as different to each other in actuality as the same in appearance.

All of them as mad as a box of cats.



--------------------------------------------------------------



Julianos walked into an immense, domed cathedral-like room. An almost painful blue glow came from the centre of it. He walked along the white marble floor towards it, the ghosts of conversations and whale-song seemed to accompany him through the room.

He reached a glass topped table near to a railing that stopped anyone falling down into the depths of the room. Anyone being him and, once an age, Akatosh.

The point he stood at was halfway from either the giant room's floor or beginning of dome. He looked out into the void. A giant multi-faceted shining brilliant-blue crystal recessed into each of the four white sides produced a giant, lazily turning star field.

Innumerable shining stars went past slowly. Some singly, some dancing about each other in pairs, some in clusters of different sized stars, bound together in an ancient and powerful relationship. All of them had a small scrawl of ever changing numbers and text next to them.

Julianos had spent much time watching this map, every time with awe, watching as stars died, only to be replaced in other areas by new ones. He'd seen stars displaced by a chance encounter in one section weave through countless dangers and distractions, and arrive at another part of the map, be caught by another star and start the ancient dance, more stars to be created.

With a command he could have lines describing the relationship between all the stars. He could ask to have the eventual fate of them predicted. He could have all the lesser stars mapped onto this one, until it was one giant almost perfect sphere of blue stars. He could have them watch only one star.

A large collection of multi-coloured giants dominated one part of the map in a super-cluster. He could see - even without the relationship lines - that they were on a collision course with another cluster.

Outside and around the mostly blue stars were giants. With complex orbits they stayed above and away from the star-field, only occasionally did they fall into the morass, for unfathomable reasons.

And above even them stood the super-giants. Intensely burning with colours that matched those of the multi-coloured cluster in the Nirn-Sphere.

This was the map of Nirn's life.



---------------------------------



Julianos felt a presence at his shoulder and looked backwards and up.

"Arrai."

"Father." The Androform replied in her strange grating speech.

"You well?"

"Always, thank you."

"You had something to show me?"

"Yes, there was an incursion. Like the previous spike. But this time there was something else."

"Wait. An incursion?" Julianos worriedly looked up at Arrai.

"Yes."

"The Allfire?" The Divine turned his head slowly and looked at the star-field.

"Imperfect."

Julianos closed his eyes and sighed. He opened his eyes and looked down at the floor. "Show me." He said.

"Which?"

"What?"

"Show you which?"

Julianos turned around and looked at Arrai with his eyebrows raised.

"Very well.

"It's impossible at this point to verify which individual portion is deficient. I would need both Neerlah and Myrrl to sift through the signal. Though it seems that the keyhole - at least - is this one."

The star-field zoomed in on one star.

"This was the source of the incursion."

Julianos looked down at the glass topped table and frowned at the scrawl that appeared there.

"He's one of the Knights." He said, "One of Kynareth's." He added distractedly. "Do we have-"

"Mazken hai warrant sii..." Blared out across the room.

"Mazken?..Dibella's...We haven't seen them for an age." Julianos turned to say to Arrai.

"Yes, I know. But there is something else." Arrai manipulated the Nirn-sphere until it showed moving pictures. They showed a long haired Mazken - a Dark Seducer - cleaving her way through a group of bandits.

Julianos winced and turned his head to one side slightly as if to turn away, but keeping an eye on the proceedings, eyebrows steepled with the wince.

Behind the Mazken, on a rocky outcrop, the Knight stood up and brushed himself off.

"Look here." Arrai said and pointed to the table.

Julianos frowned at the numbers, "Dear...Us..."

"No, I don't think dear is the right word.

"This is the reading that I took at the time."

"Show me-"

The star-field was back with only two stars. One bright green star and a solid line connecting it to a purple giant star.

Julianos seethed. "HIM?!" Julianos swore. Then he said, "I thought he'd been removed not that long ago?"

"Yes, he had. Seemingly. I never noticed his return. He would have had to have Divine help to return to his...State."

"Show me the rest of them."

"Which?"

"Arrai..."

The star-field changed again until all it showed was the outer orbiting giants and the super-luminous super-giants beyond them.

Julianos picked out the various Divines. His luminous blue one, Akatosh's deep red, The newly restored Septim's a lighter red, as befits one of Akatosh's former champions. The three orbited nearby each other. Mara's Copper star circled Nirn alone. Kynareth's green and Zenithar's brown orbiting each other. Arkay, Dibella and Stendarr's trio orbited together. As they ever did, Julianos thought.

"Show me the tie-lines?" The Aedra asked The Androform.

A solid line passed from Julianos to Akatosh and a more faint line to Septim, whereas Akatosh to Septim was as solid as to him. That was good enough for Julianos.

Septim had a strong line to the Commander on Nirn.

"This is going to get complicated."

Julianos sighed and concentrated, then followed lines, strong and faint, up, down, sideways.

Finally, he saw what he was looking for and frowned deeply.

"Arrai, do you know where Neerlah is?"

"Yes."

A pause.

"Then where?"

"Masser."

Julianos closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course she is." He shook his head, "Can you contact her for me? I need you both to link."

There was a brief moment and then "Father."

"Neerlah." Julianos smiled. "How are you?"

"Well.

"How can I help father?"

"Firstly, can you tell me why you're on Masser?"

"It is quiet?"

Which was an answer Julianos found it difficult to find fault with, to which he replied, "Just be careful would you?"

"Always."

"I need you both to link. We need to find out the most likely endpoint for this. Do you agree?"

There was a pause as Arrai stood staring slightly upwards, then she said, "Done."

Julianos stood entranced as the star-field rapidly changed with each possible future evaluated and discarded. Every half second, the star-field snapped back to the original configuration. But even at speed, Julianos could see that the likely end to every future was the same.

Abruptly, the changing stopped and the Nirn-Sphere turned with markedly less stars on it. And in some places, a different coloured stars dominated. Blood red stars. Daedra.

The Daedric Prince division was gone. No stars turned in that orbit.

It was the Divine sphere that made Julianos' jaw drop. A look of surprise turned quickly to a determined frown and finally to seething, boiling rage.

Julianos turned on his heel and left the room.



-------------------------------------------



The door opened and Julianos walked through with Akatosh in tow.

"...And then he said...Hah!...Nord must you fling projectiles at me?!..Ha-haaa!!" Said Julianos as he walked forward towards the table.

Akatosh just grinned.

"Arrai!" he said to the Androform.

Arrai spoke her unintelligible language, but the words appeared - superimposed - on the Nirn-Sphere.

"Lord Akatosh, it is good to see you again." And she bowed her head slightly.

"And you." Akatosh replied.

"Neerlah is on Masser apparently." Julianos said with eyebrows raised. "As you do."

Akatosh's face made it obvious he was impressed.

"Arrai, would you run through the sequence for Akatosh?"

The stars changed, moving and displaying to an increasingly angry Akatosh , the future most likely.

Of the original Divines' stars, all that remained were Kynareth, Arkay and Stendarr. But joining them were three of the Daedric Princes' stars.

"Why would they do this now? And how fercryingoutloud? " he asked.

The stars resolved into the separate dominating forces which ended with the sphere disappearing as a patch of sky was focussed on. Two circles appeared around two areas with names on.

"Lorkhan and Kyralee? They're back?" asked Akatosh.

"No. But they're influence is. And what they represent."

"Which is?"

"The others thought they were right, Lorkhan told them they were right, and we stood in their way. Us and Kyralee. We told them they couldn't have it. Lorkhan's murder of his sister and then Lorkhan's removal because of it must have created a burning hatred for everyone and everything. They loathed Lorkhan for the murder, but hated us because without Lorkhan, they weren't strong enough." Julianos shrugged. "Arkay wanted power? Kynareth wanted power?" Julianos turned away. "Whatever it is, we need to stop it."

"Father." The word appearing on the screen as well as spoken.

"Yes Neerlah."

"This star is the balance. And this point in time is the tipping point." She said changing the Sphere remotely through Arrai. "All that needs done is removal of this star at this time and all changes again. But he has to be removed for it to change."

"And how the hells do we do that?" Akatosh asked. "The They/Them would stop...Them...Neerlah, why don't The They/Them stop all of it?"

There was a pause and Neerlah replied, "The house says The They/Them are looking the other way at the moment."

"The house?"

"Yes."

"Which house?"

"This one." Julianos said with a smile.

Akatosh sighed and shook his head. "What now?"

"We wait and see...And watch our backs." Julianos looked up at Akatosh, "Warn Septim. And make him wait will you? He wasn't known for his patience."

"Father."

"Yes Arrai."

"The Knight portal? He will not survive long enough without help."

"What do you suggest?"

A name appeared on the Sphere.

Myrrl.

Julianos grinned. "Of course."

"Where's he?" asked Akatosh looking about.

"Aldmeris." Replied Arrai.

"HAH! Of course he is." Said Julianos. "Can you contact him for me?"

There was a pause. "He is a little occupied at the moment, but he will be here as soon as he can." Said Neerlah.

"There?"

"Oh...Yes...I told Arrai...I have found something up here."

The Nirn-Sphere disappeared and was replaced by a moving picture of a city within a crater. Giant towers, spires, walls and the like were visible for miles. Figures and lines depicting angles to smaller craters through the line of broken and toppled towers showed that the city was extremely old. But Neerlah followed that with. "There is power. Much power."

Akatosh raised his eyebrows, grinned and looked at Julianos. He nodded his head sideways towards the picture.

"Oh yes." Was the smiling reply.

"Arrai." Akatosh nodded.

"Lord Akatosh." Arrai bowed.

Julianos put his hand on Arrai's arm and said "Thank you. Love you. See you later."

Arrai nodded. "I love you too father."

The Divines left.

"Take care Neerlah. Love to Myrrl."

"Will do. Arrai." With that, Neerlah broke the connection.

Arrai changed the picture back to the present Nirn-Sphere and watched.





--------------------

[Athynae]

Amazing!!?!?!?!?! I read it, then I read it again, then...well

The depth of thought is astonishing, and the small details make it quite a work of art...not much else to say really, I could quote a few things but then the rest would be jealous and rightfully so, so I will leave it where it is. The way it is is ...........just right.

Do supply more please, in short order...great write...

[Grits]

I love these parts with the Aeadra. The scale of Julianos’ house is amazing, but he enjoys a good read in his cozy study with the perfect bottomless cup of tea. Er, that is to say endless cup of tea. The detail and creativity here made me go make my own tea and read it again just to savor.

I am enchanted with the idea of the multiverse, it so beautifully explains what we do here when our separate characters occasionally meet. It’s as if their worlds brush against each other.

The way magic looks like technology is inspired! I have considered that magic use might be what keeps people in Tamriel from advancing in science. They study magic instead. And really, the result looks very much the same in a lot of cases.

Of course Julianos enjoying Darnand’s literary effort made me smile and smile. And I’m still smiling. Also, Julianos’ version of swearing had me in stitches every time. As did Arrai’s conversational style.

Definitely my favorite part so far, and I have to admit that all of them have been my favorite. But this one really is my very, very favorite part! (so far )

[mALX]

The whole imagery of Julianos sitting in the high backed chair sipping tea and reading a book had me floored! Having an imitation chimney was a hilarious touch, but this trumped it all:

"My travels with an Adventuresome Nord - A Journal, by Darnand Penoit." It declared itself to be. And Julianos was genuinely amused by it. He laughed regularly.

As he did now.

"Hah! Nord, must you fling projectiles?!!...Hah!!...Priceless."

Julianos took another drink of his tea.

A chime sounded and the glass panel on the wooden box lit up blue. A scrawl appeared on the glass and Julianos sighed, closed the book, placed it down next to the teacup and massaged his eyelids.

This whole section had me rolling. Loved the whole chapter, but this was the icing that made the whole cake for me !!! Awesome Write !!

[Acadian]

‘It showed a nice picturesque scene of a waterfall and some countryside. However, the scene was moving, the water fell and made ripples in the pool below.’
As a connoisseur of waterfalls, I approve!

And Julianos reading Darnand’s Nordic observations. What a superb choice of reading material!

Just a divine Aedric day at home for Jules and his kids, reading books, sipping tea and playing in his own Orrery!

[McBadgere]

Cheers all...I'm glad you all were okay with the...Divine strangeness of it (the chapter) and the Androforms... ...

Thank you Acadian and mALX, glad you enjoyed it and the Jerric cameo... ...

Thank you Athynae for your ever kind words towards my efforts... ...

Grits, thank you so much for allowing the use of Darnand and by hint, Jerric...Endless cups of tea are an idea of heaven to me... ...And I totally agree about the use of magic holding Tamriel back...I may have to see what I can do about that... ...In my wonderings about stuff and the future I have wondered myself about that very subject...

The idea of the Multiverse is obviously not a new one, but I think that reference to the fact that we've all got the same characters from the game - let alone our creations - running around the same places doing different things can be explained that way...I love the multiversing things...But I shan't be using it too much more...Unless it's in Julianos' house, of which there is no more planned...Just yet...Well, one room, but that's it...

Aaaamywho...

More interludeness for you lucky people!!... ...

Previously on KOTNNK!!...Julianos was told in converation that his "firstborn", Myrrl was in Aldmeris (Which is the Elder Scrolls Atlantis if you didn't know)...As the piece will now demonstrate....

I thang yore...






1.11 – Galasafon (Interlude)





A name appeared on the Sphere.

Myrrl.

Julianos grinned. "Of course."

"Where's he?" asked Akatosh looking about.

"Aldmeris." Replied Arrai.

"HAH! Of course he is."




16th daytime of calendyear Six, in the Aldmerian cycle, 25373 ADW. (After Dawn War).



Danikka was scared. She’d been caught out. Not even fourteen summers and she was dead. Well, if the Spydros don’t get her then her mother would. The rule was, stay on the agri-land, stay within the eyeline of the guardian stones and all would be well.

Seven giant nightmares were swarming over the city’s shields.

The Spydros was an oversized man’s head in front of a disgusting, fat spider-like body and eight almost human legs, four each side, ending in far-too-tiny feet. The extra joints, to make the leg fold down making the nightmare even worse.

She watched the ground bubble where their vomitous attacks were being repulsed by the shield - a bright blue bubble of energy covered the city and beyond, produced by the Sentinels. Giant figures with intricate, currently glowing carvings covering their silent, ever-vigilant selves. They held both arms out, one forward and one above. From each hand, an energy field blazed forth and merged with the nearest Sentinel’s to produce the city shields.

The shields she currently found herself the wrong side of.

But the ruins! No one goes to look at the ruins. Danikka had pouted to her mother. The attacks by the Spydros were so few and far between these days why shouldn’t she go and explore? Mother says I need to learn, so I’m learning.

Two overturns of the calendyear and I’ll be fourteen, how grown up do I have to be?

Sadly, all Danikka had learned was that just because the Spydros had lessened their attacks on the fair city of Drzancheleft, doesn’t mean they’d stopped.

To add to the city’s – and Danikka’s – misery, a Draig had also decided to have a go. The giant Draig hovered, an intense, almost white flame came out of its mouth, aimed at a precise spot on the shield.

For the briefest moment there was a hole, Danikka watched as the flame sliced through a tower. One of the Spydros tried to take advantage of the hole but was vaporised by the Draig’s flame.

The Sentinels’ eyes glowed red and an alarm started shrieking through the second city of Aldmeris.

Danikka whimpered quietly. She wasn’t all that far from one of the Guardians - A carved head, with a giant sloping brow, deep set glowing blue eyes, a pointed nose and downturned mouth - but it was open ground between here and there. She’d be dead before she was halfway.

Oh why don’t I listen to mother? The thought wailed.

Danikka had been praying to Aldmeris’ Anshall, the high Guardian, Muir-El since the teeth grating sound of the activating shield had begun the girl’s terror. The dark haired girl had no idea how long it had been since the attack began, but she was starting to give up hope.

She crept around under cover of the ferroaken trees, so as to be nearer the Guardian stone, the colour of the hanging down foliage hiding the brown of her overalls. The girl took a step out and her heart leapt as one of the Spydros screamed, but it wasn’t for her. Still, Danikka ran back to the cover of the trees. Oh damn you Muir-El! Where are you?

There was a deep hum, she saw the shimmer and then the Muir-El was simply there, with sword drawn, between her and the Spydros.


----------------------------------

One of the spiders reacted and launched itself at Myrrl. He rushed forward under the arc of the Spider’s leap and split the creature’s underside from front to back with his sword. The five others all tried to descend on the Androform, but the Dragon was there first. With a screech that scattered the spiders in all directions the Dragon came at Myrrl.

Wings outstretched, the Dragon dove at the skeletal figure and flame belched out. The Androform took it and turned himself around as the Dragon pulled up and turned itself around for a second pass.

This time, Myrrl leapt and landed on the Dragon’s nose. The Dragon immediately climbed for altitude, it then started to shake its spiny head back and forth, trying to shake off the Androform. Myrrl had grabbed two of the spines and held on.

With a mighty roar, the Dragon stood on its tail, its body vertical to the ground, beat its huge wings and hurled itself at the stars.

Myrrl clambered downwards to the creature’s eye and repeatedly punched it.

The Dragon howled but continued its headlong flight to the black.

Although it wouldn’t make a difference to Myrrl, he could tell it was getting colder. He looked past the Dragon’s body and judged the distance.

He leaned out and put his head firmly in the Dragon’s eye-line. The red, hate filled orb swivelled ‘round to stare with disgust at Myrrl’s continued existence.

He waved at it.

And vanished.

The Dragon continued its climb for a few seconds until a sword removed its head from its body.

The two parts continued upwards for a distance, stopped and then started to fall, separated.

Myrrl enjoyed the rushing air as he fell, and watched the ground come towards him for a time.

He vanished.


---------------------

Danikka had wailed as the Draig had carried off the Muir-El into the sky. Her green eyes rimmed red with the tears of fear, shame and anger at herself for being so stupid and arrogant. She had watched the Draig get smaller until a nightmarish scream pulled her attention back.

The Spydros had restarted their assault on the city and were getting as far as they had been before.

The Imperial girl sat down hard and wept some more. Drzancheleft was far away from the next city, far to the north-west of the continent. Even with the travel portals, Commander J’Drell and his oh so amazing Armeris - even if they were on their way - would be hours yet. Ours being stuck behind the shield. The dark haired girl thought.

Someone should have planned that better.

Aldmeris was a hard and unforgiving land.

I should have listened mother, I’m so sorry. Danikka thought.

------------------------------------------

There was a hum and a shimmer and Muir-El was back. Danikka stood up again and clasped her hands together.

She heard the strangest noise come from the Anshall and all the Spydros turned as one. They skittered with all the speed they could at the figure. Muir-El was dwarfed by the five nightmares that were easily twice his height.

The Spydros unleashed their fury with everything they could. Acidic vomitus, teeth, legs, it was carnage in there.

Danikka wailed again.

Her breath was almost taken away when there was a deep rumbling hum. She looked right and Muir-El was there, right next to her.

The Anshall looked down at her and tilted his head.

Then he looked up at the Spydros and made the grating noise again.

Danikka’s eyes widened in terror at the Anshall and then she turned back to the Spydros.

The five Spydros took one step and were crushed as the body of the Draig landed on them.

Danikka was stunned as Muir-El made a shouting noise and then started applauding himself!

He looked down at Danikka, nudged her gently, pointed at the scene of carnage and then applauded again. Feeling elated, Danikka applauded along with him. This seemed to please the Muir-El, who suddenly looked up into the sky, and Danikka felt as though the noise that issued forth was a swear word somehow, but, as she was then many feet away from where she had been moments before, and a Draig’s head was in the place where she’d been stood, Anshalls swearing was the least of her concerns.

Danikka looked up at the Muir-El and then fainted.


----------------------------------------------------

Myrrl caught the girl as she fell, he put her in the crook of one elbow and carried her towards the Watcher. He reached the giant carved head and paused. He touched a finger to the brow and a series of glowing glyphs appeared on it. Satisfied, he started walking towards the city, girl in arm.

Suddenly he stopped and looked up at the sky. He stiffened up in surprise at one point.

He nodded his head and then looked down at the girl’s sleeping form. He gently placed one finger on her head. Myrrl stood taking readings for a couple of moments, until a groaning started coming from the girl. He moved the giant finger away, aware that that may not be the greatest way to wake up, for a human at least.


-------------------------------------------

Danikka woke up in Muir-El’s arm and was stunned when he gently knelt down and tipped her up to standing.

He started talking in the strange language he had. It seemed almost song like.

Although she had no idea what was being said, she could tell it was a chastisement. Muir-El was pointing to the Guardian, the city and making a dome shape with his hands. Finally he pointed to Danikka herself, her head and then he patted her on her shoulder. Each time he’d touched her, the Imperial was surprised that something so strong could be so gentle.

Suddenly, a cloud of dust resolved itself into a shape.

Danikka’s jaw dropped. A large Argonian stood in front of them.

Muir-El stood, said something and Commander J’Drell answered, “Good to see you too.” And bowed.

The Anshall talked some more, gesturing all the time. A couple of times Muir-El pointed to her and she could see the Argonian’s brow wrinkle.

Finally Muir-El stopped speaking and turned to her, and Danikka knew she would never ever forget the moment that the Anshall Muir-El bowed to her.

Why would he bow to me?!! She shrieked internally.

Muir-El stood up and laughed. There was no other word to describe the sound she heard. Had he heard what she’d thought?

Muir-El patted her shoulder again, nodded to her, turned to J’Drell, shrugged and then vanished.

Danikka shook her head and looked up at the Argonian as he walked to her.

The shields had vanished – the Sentinels back in dormant state – and people were streaming out towards the scene of battle. The girl could see her mother.

She welled up with tears again, but she wiped her eyes lest the Commander think her weak.

Danikka looked up to see the Argonian smiling down at her.

“Am I in trouble?” she asked.

“Ooooh!!...More than you can imagine,” the commander replied with a laugh, “Myrrl wants me to train you for the Armeris.”

“WHAT?!!”

“I’ve no idea. Let’s go find your mother. You start first thing in the morning.”

Danikka pouted.

The Argonian frowned, “You get to explore the ruins.” He said raising his eyebrows again.

Well, that sold it.


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This post has been edited by McBadgere: Apr 3 2012, 03:25 AM

[Colonel Mustard]

So now we have universe jumping. Interesting, very interesting indeed.

You know, the more I read this the more and more do I get the feeling that this is going to be just bigger than Nirn. This looks, might I say, to be more along the lines of Paradise Lost or something...

[McBadgere]

Lol... ...

Thank you for the compliment... ...

But it's not jumping universes...One universe is big enough for me... ...Just suggesting that there are other ones bordering on this one...And stuff falls through...

I thank you matey...Nice to see you btw... ...

[Colonel Mustard]

But it's not jumping universes...One universe is big enough for me... ...Just suggesting that there are other ones bordering on this one...And stuff falls through...

Oh, OK. I assumed that with all the twisted up names (Drago instead of Dragon, for example) in the last part this was, perhaps, set in another reality with bits from Nirn coming through to it or something like that, seeing as the last part was with Julianos examining various bits of reality to try and find Myrrl/Muir-El. Ah well, still looks damn good so far.