As I walk toward the dormitories, new strength coursing through my body, I get a devious idea. I quickly turn toward the conjuration tower with what must have been a look of menace.
I enter Phineas' office and see the Breton without his usual glamor covering him, ivory white bone with glowing purple eyes, almost every single part of said bone covered in ornaments or runes.
He looks at me, practically radiating annoyance, not at all flustered by me seeing him like this.
I shake my head and speak "Professor, I was looking for a specific type of soul gem and was wondering if perhaps you had one in stock"
He seems even more annoyed by the interruption now but speaks in an ethereal voice "And what might you need such an item for?"
I grin "Why to punish an old fool of course"
He deadpans at me "And I should care because?"
I roll my eyes, not caring about showing disrespect to a creature who probably already lost most of his emotions "Do you have one for sale or not?"
"Good, I don't like when children waste my time trying to finagle free things from me. I have one, a thousand septims, take it or leave it."
I nod and drop a bag on his table, grabbing the black soul gem he levitates to me "It has been a pleasure professor"
He waves me off "Get out, I am busy"
Well, at least he is the cranky kind of lich instead of the murderous type.
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After I am done with that final bit of preparation I go to meet my Dunmer colleague. I find her in the dorms, thankfully alone.
"Hey Edrasa, I was wondering if you had some free time, I need to select some clothes for a thing they are planning in the Jarl's keep sometime soon"
She smiles "Of course Reyvin, when did you want to do this?"
"I was thinking right now, that is if you aren't busy"
She gives me a sarcastic smile "I would be busy if someone remembered to give me the damn notes I wanted"
I facepalm, pretending I forgot "Ah! Of course, I knew I forgot to do something, I will give them to you when we get back, deal?"
"Deal"
We soon leave the boundaries of the college, and head toward a tailor I purposefully chose that worked at the edge of town.
Just as we are passing an empty looking street I take one last look around and with no hesitation launch her behind a corner with my telekinesis.
She grunts as she hits the ground and goes to stand up, but is met with my burning eyes which make her freeze in place. She shakily tries to speak, but I raise a hand, lightning covering it "Now, miss Moabain, you will in great detail explain to me what your retard of a father thought he was doing when he tried to mind control the lord of a great house?"
Her eyes widen at the final part "What do you mean a lord?"
I chuckle "Ah but of course, I never did fully introduce myself. Reyvin, Lord of house Dagoth, at your service" and give her a mocking bow.
She now looks even more terrified and stars shaking like a leaf.
My annoyance grows "Well, little Telvanni, I am waiting. Speak up!"
She calms down a little bit and stutters out "H-he w-w-wanted to get your spid-d-der schemmat-t-tics" before breathing a bit more and speaking somewhat normally "I warned him that you were being watched by most of the Masters due to your progress, but he needed more money for his hobbies" she looks absolutely disgusted saying the last word.
"Oh, and what are those hobbies if you would be so kind to enlighten me?" I ask genuinely curious.
She shakes her head "I am not going to tell you that, he would kill me"
I raise an eyebrow "You do realize your situation right now?"
She rolls her eyes "Oh please, even if you let me go I would be killed"
I laugh out loud "Oh this is precious, you think he will live after today?"
She looks genuinely shocked at my response "You think you can kill a Telvanni Master?"
I scoff "If a bunch of farm tools can kill the Archmagister, a Lord can kill a measly Master"
She looks extremely offended by my words, but I channel Magicka into my eyes and she goes back to a shivering mess "Now, Moabain, you will tell me what I want to know"
She goes to refuse, but I hit her with an underpowered sparks spell while forcefully shutting her mouth with telekinesis, she lets out a muffled scream but I continue not caring one bit.
After a minute of asking, shocking, and asking again she finally surrenders "Fine, FINE! STOP! please..." I shrug and let her continue, I am beyond caring at this point "He is a cultist of Namira, he uses most of the servants as cattle, constantly re-growing their limbs after eating them... most are broken by now" she shivers, apparently more uncomfortable with what she said than with what I just did to her.
I facepalm and sigh heavily "Seriously, what is wrong with your entire house? I know my own doesn't have the best track record, but there is like one Master that I don't immediately disrespect in your entire great house... No matter, tell me about the towers defenses, number of guards and everything else, keep in mind if you try to lie to me your fate will be worse than death" I pull out the black soul gem and cast terrifying gaze again, she is naturally scared shitless and starts listing off details and numbers.
The questioning goes on for a good ten minutes, one Nord seems to notice us, but a calm spell and a hit to the back of the head sends him to dream land.
Edrasa finally gets done with the layout and enchantments of the tower and I nod, writing them all down. After I finish I turn to her "Now for the final matter"
She gives me a defeated look and I continue in a grave tone "You now have a choice to make. There is only one way you are making it out of here alive, you knew what he would do and didn't warn me, now I know that he is your father and I a mere colleague, but at the moment I am not feeling terribly reasonable."
She lets out a shaky breath and asks "What do you want?"
I straighten myself up and speak harshly "You will either immediately swear loyalty to me, the Lord of house Dagoth, or I will kill you and burn your body."
She starts shaking on the still snowy ground, and seems to be very deep in thought but I interrupt that "Tik, tok, your time is running out, if you do not give me an answer soon I will chose for you."
She stands up and I allow it, we both know she stands no chance even if she tries to attack me, after a minute of silence she kneels on the ground and speaks in a very forced tone "I, Edrasa Moabain swear to serve the house of Dagoth until my last dying breath or until my Lord Reyvin releases me from service"
Not perfect but it will suffice. I grin "Good, very good. Welcome to the sixth house retainer, now sleep well" She looks at me surprised, but I am already swinging the butt of my summoned spear at her head.
She falls to the ground unconscious and I carry her toward the back of the guard house where I planned to meet with my guard friends.
When I arrive, most of my co-conspirators are present, everyone gives me a weird look when they see me carrying Edrasa, but after a quick explanation of who she is they all seem to understand.
I soon feel a tug on my mind, it seems dear Dyrren wanted to meet me soon... perfect.
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