We stood crouching inside Autumnwatch. Canary was frowning at me as per usual. "Did you really think we could fight a dragon?"
I shrugged, "Technically we can't kill it. However I'm sure I can make it regret living."
She stared at me, "How are we going to... I don't know bring it down?"
Hajvarr shook his head, "I joined because I was curious. However I didn't really sign up to fight a dragon."
I looked at Viree, "Any comments?"
She gave a half-hearted shrug, "You planned this, so I assume you have plan to actually kill a dragon. I was just waiting to see what you came up with."
I let out a snort and covered my mouth. Viree tilted her head at me, and I buried the thoughts of how well she was starting to understand me. I pulled out a chain that ended in two four-pronged hook. I never used one of theses before, so I made sure I had a few of them.
Canary blinked, "A Bolas?"
"Is that what they are called?" I nodded, "Yeah, its made to destroy the membrane of a dragon wing."
Canary nodded back, "Clever, do you have more I can likely shoot them from an arrow."
I passed her one and passed two others two Viree and Hajvarr. Hajvarr looked at me like I was crazy, but I ignored him. The dragon was in the normal position sitting atop the word wall. It was perfect still, it seemed like it was asleep.
I unequipped the staff of panoply from my belt. I could use the power I get from it, but the power had a cooldown. When I held the staff in my hand dozens of spells appeared on my spell list. Dragons aren't resistant to Lightning so I chose Thunderbolt.
With a chain of lightning I attacked the dragon. Its eyes shot opened as it screeched in pain. The dragon jerked it's head toward us. It threw it's wings out and began to take off. However I began to twirl the Bolas.
Canary shot arrows into the dragon's wing. I threw the Bolas at one of it's wings. Viree and Hajvarr hit the other Wing. The dragon seemed to realize the plan and tried to shift to weight. I used the staff of Panoply again and fire another Thunderbolt.
Two of the Bolases struck the dragon's wings. The membrane that made up the wings were torn apart. One of the Bolases were caught around the arm of the wing. The dragon looked at us furiously and it tilted its head. I ducked out of the way as fire blasted towards us.
When the fire stopped I looked at the dragon. An Arrow was in its eye, and Canary was hanging off edge of the watch tower. I moved to grab her, but the dragon charged forward. It spoke in Dovahzul, "Zu'u Maarnid, Fen Diivon Hi Win Ahrk Kod Hin Qeth Ol Nashor Strin."
It seemed like it wanted to use my bones as tooth picks. Viree slammed her mace into its head and bounced off from the force. I pulled Canary up and turned back to the dragon. "So Maarnid was it? Weren't you ever taught that Dovah names have power?"
It's reaming eye went wide and it decisively flicked his hand toward me. I ducked out of the way and stabbed Sable Wave into its arm. The Dragon winced and it opened its mouth, but it closed it quickly and just attacked with physical abilities.
So we fought a slow battle on the very top of Autumnwatch. It seemed I scared it into not speaking. Eventually it slowed, I thought I could almost see tears in its eyes. The dragon slammed a fist into the ground and seemed to complain. "Hi Bein Atmoran! Zu'u Dahmaan Hin Fron. Nust Kriaan Zu'u Ont! Zu'u Ni Laan Wah Dir. Zu'u Bolog Hi!"
I blinked as I stopped my attack. The Dragon had his head to the ground. My party also stopped attacking, as they noticed it's behavior. Viree looked at me, "What did it say?"
Canary and Hajvarr also looked at me with curiosity. The dragon began to whisper the same two words. "Zu'u Bolog, Zu'u Bolog, Zu'u Bolog!"
I blinked and stared at the dragon, "He's begging."
Canary looked at me and asked, "He said Atmoran, aren't you from Atmora?"
I rubbed my neck, "Uh, you can understand Nord language, but can't speak it right?"
Maarnid spoke, "Pah Dovah Los Kogaan Voth Faal Zul Wah Mindoraan Joor."
Ugh, I had to think about what he was saying. I didn't know all the words off the top of my head. No matter how many times I've read through my dictionary. "So you understand... Now I feel bad, mainly because I planned out how to kill you and harvest your bones, scales and blood."
Maarnid eye widened, an arrow was still sticking out of the other. The dragon was crying and I blinked. Canary frowned at me, "So are we killing the damn thing or not?"
I thought about the fight and I sighed. "Maarnid, how many times were you killed or enslaved?"
Maarnid raised its head and seemed to think, "Zu'u Lost Kriaan Jlatak Tiid... Ruz Zaamhus Voth Faal Tsaesci Fah Aan Joor Laas Tiid."
I raised an eyebrow, Canary reacted to the same word I did. He was enslaved by the Tsaesci? I asked, "So, you were killed 5 times during the Merethic era and enslaved during the second era."
Maarnid responded and I slowly adjusted to the conversation. He explained how he was scared of Alduin, because Maarnid was used as cannon fodder. Alduin resurrected Maarnid just before his own defeat. Maarnid realized he was free and ran south. Which was apparently fun for a while until he got caught up in a war and captured by the Tsaesci. They used him as a mount and humilated him until he began to grow sick.
Dragons didn't actually grow sick, so I guess he means depressed. When he became sluggish the Tsaesci tried to kill him. They had used the exact same tactics as me apparently. Using lightning and weird strings to destroy his ability to fly. He did escape, but he ended up buried under the mountains of Autumnwatch.
Alduin found his body about a month ago and resurrected Maarnid. Thankfully Alduin asked nothing of him and let him stay here. At least until we showed up and started bullying him. Maarnid whimpered again with his head to the floor.
The rest of my party had long since stopped listening to our conversation. Viree stayed behind interested in the dialogue. However she sat silently as we conversed. When Maarnid stopped talking Viree finally asked me, "So what's up?"
I didn't expect a dragon to have trauma. I guess it makes sense when you are relatively immortal. "We have come to an agreement. Though I cant really explain it."
Maarnid ducked its head and murmured to itself. Viree asked, "No dragon loot?"
I gestured, "Eh..."
Maarnid agreed to letting me take some of his blood. Well, he more begged that I only take his blood. Seemingly Maarnid was a rather cowardly and dumb dragon. I suppose not every dragon fits the standard. When he tried to be arrogant he accidentally used his name. Normally that wouldn't matter much, unless said dragon was enslaved for several years. Their name would be very important to them and revealing it would be stupid. Which was why he resorted to begging.
This whole situation was by far disappointing. I was not a good person, but I wasn't without emotions and killing Maarnid after he literally begged for his life just seemed bad. Specially since it went against my ideas of dragons. What's worse was even if I killed him it wouldn't matter.
One of the reasons why I chose to hunt a dragon was question them. The problem here was, Maarnid couldn't speak any other language. Second, he wasn't treated well by other dragons. Third, even if I did kill him I likely wouldn't use it parts for a long while. Which meant I would've likely tried to eat him and just save the other parts until I would use them.
Overall Maarnid was useless, even as an ally. He was cowardly, so even if I do manage to learn how to use the voice. Summoning him was a double edged blade. Which lead me to the forth reason for why I wanted to hunt a dragon. The voice! Thu'um! I wanted direct translation of the voice from a dragon. However Maarnid didn't speak another language! How had he never learned to speak another language?
I sighed, "Viree, just help me take some of Maarnid's blood."
Maarnid whimpered behind us. He wasn't willing to betray us either, which I felt was even stranger. Two of us had left, you would think maybe he would attack. Except he didn't... I shook my head. How had I managed to find one of the least dragon-like dragons.