I feel like a flashbang just went off in front of my face, combined with the sudden expulsion of so much Magicka I almost pass out on the spot. Thankfully I have been through a similar experience so many times at this point that I manage to pull out a potion on reflex and down it in one long swig.
A wave of relief hits me and I lay down on the ground with a contented sigh.
"Wha- what in oblivion was that?" I hear the pained voice of Adar to my left.
"The spell or the demon?" I snark.
"Yes." He deadpans, making me snort.
I slowly get up from the ground and approach the Nord who is still clutching his arm. Wordlessly I start casting a healing spell on him and he mutters a thanks.
"Ugh" I hear to my right and turn to see Irileth getting up, she shakes her head and breathes deeply in an attempt to clear her vision. She looks the battlefield over and asks "Are you certain that the Daedra is defeated?"
I can see why she is the leader of the Jarl's guard, not letting her guard down even now.
I finish healing Adar's broken arm and take a look over the place. It seems like the Daedric aura has all concentrated on one spot, leaving even the desecrated shrine clean of its influence.
The only thing remaining from our foe is a blackened skull, still bearing the massive horns of the creature, and in this skull is held its remaining power, likely awaiting the next time it would reincarnate.
"All is clear" I say and while the rest are catching their breath I walk cautiously toward the skull.
=============
After making sure there is nothing nefarious waiting for me I grab the skull and am once again encased in a vision, I do not worry however as I learned that the Daedra cannot really do much when projecting like this or I would have been eaten alive when Namira tried to influence me.
In front of me in a fetal position lies a tiny satyr shivering in fright, he looks at me with fearful eyes and I feel a tiny influence in the back of my head attempting to make me pity the creature.
I roll my eyes and ask "Are you trying to insult me at this point?"
The satyr scoffs and gets up slowly, he looks me over with a mischievous expression and shrugs "It's just a little prank, no need to get mad."
"Riiiight...." I drawl "And was making Rorik sacrifice people to you for thousands of years also a prank?"
He nods enthusiastically "Yes, my best one yet!"
Yeah, I am so killing this bastard.
He raises a finger "I would like to offer you a deal!"
I feel like punching him in the face, but I might as well humor him before I ruin all his hopes and dreams.
I wave my hand as if to say 'go on'
He smirks "My master, the great Clavicus Vile can offer you much for letting me go." He clasps his hands conspiratorially "All you need do is tell them I am dead and my master will offer you whatever you wish for, even immortality!"
Never in my life has my bullshit sensor blared this loudly.
At first, I pretend I am tempted and see his eyes gleam victoriously, but then my mouth distorts into a disgusted sneer "I think I have a better idea."
A hint of worry appears in his eyes and I pull out Mephala's pendant.
Suddenly the vision is overtaken by a sea of spiderwebs and we both hear chittering behind him.
He shivers in absolute terror.
My face is overtaken by a vindictive grin, I might not be the biggest paragon of virtue in the lands but these kinds of creatures are something I always hated in stories and now in my new life, and seeing the pure terror he is now showing makes me more contented than even my small mountain of gold back in Winterhold.
"Have fuuuun~" I say in a singsong tone.
"WAIT! NO PLEASE! NOONONONONO-" he is covered in a massive horde of spiders and devoured.
I hear a purr in my ear "You give me the nicest things" and am once more back on Nirn.
===============
I quickly stuff the skull into a bag and turn to the others.
They all seem to have their wits about them again, Adar and Ungrim are going around checking if anyone is alive. Irileth and Lydia are busy tying up the surprisingly still-breathing Jouane.
Remembering Mephala's words about something useful waiting for me here I search around the edges of the grove. I quickly find a small cave at the opposite end of the passage and after making sure there isn't anything dangerous inside I enter.
The cave is small and mostly empty, save for a medium sized old chest, looking it over I feel a bright, almost blinding aura.
Please don't be what I think you are going to be...
I approach the chest and open it cautiously, and what I see inside almost makes me weep in pure despair. Why Mephala? Why must you curse me so?
It takes me a couple of long minutes to accept my fate.
I let out a determined grunt and grab the accursed item waiting for me.
The moment I touch it an incredibly loud voice blares in my ears "A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON!"
-------------------------
(Balgruuf's pov)
As soon as we see the gates open and quickly close once again, signifying that the rest have left for the shrine, we burst into action.
Hrongar and I leave the house and head toward the lodgings provided to my guards, the Dunmer agent left by Reyvin disappears from sight but my gut tells me he is nearby.
The guards seem confused when we arrive to wake them up, but I quickly explain what must be done and they all get ready in moments.
Once everyone is armed and armored we burst into Rorik's home, my men detaining everyone inside.
I walk into the central room and see the leader of this town sitting on his chair, sharpening his blade, he looks up at me and there is a hint of realization in his eyes.
Despite this, he still decides to pretend "Why are you attacking my home Balgruuf? I have always followed your law without question."
"You know what you did you filth!" My brother shouts.
Rorik scoffs "And what did I do? Enrich your hold by providing a massive amount of food and wealth? Hunt down bandits and trolls that plagued your lands? Should I apologize for doing so?"
"Have you been consorting with Daedra Rorik?" I ask, sounding less tired than I felt.
He sighs "So we have been found out then... How did you figure it out?"
I laugh without any humor "If it weren't for Reyvin traveling with us we would have noticed nothing, but the moment he approached the place he felt it."
Rorik chuckles with mirth "Ah yes, it would take one to know one."
"What do you mean?" Asks Hrongar.
"The mage you traveled with also consorts with Daedra" He sneers.
Wha- wait, he is probably trying to do as much damage as he can out of spite, I will not distrust my allies at the word of a traitor.
I shake my head and say with steel in my voice "Your word means nothing Rorik, you have betrayed your kinsmen and will face the appropriate punishment."
"Such willful ignorance" He grabs his sword and gets up from his seat "Very well, if you wish to kill me you will have to defeat me first."
I unsheathe my sword and prepare for a fight.
We stare each other down. Both he and I know that there is only one way this ends.
Rorik gathers all his determination and prepares to charge, he takes a deep long breath... And suddenly collapses onto the ground.
In his place stands Davos with a soaked cloth in his hand.
We stare at him, dumbfounded and he shrugs "Boss said we need to kill them in a specific order, best not to risk it."
"I guess you are right." I deflate.
'So unmanly' I hear my brother mutter to himself and thank all the gods that he didn't inherit the hold.
---------------------
(Reyvin's pov)
As we are walking back to Rorikstead I think I hear something next to me.
I turn to see Lydia trying to say something, but merely point to my ears and shake my head.
She seems to get angry and stomps to the other side of the formation.
Dear gods Meridia has no mercy...
Finally after a bit more walking the potion I drank kicks in and my hearing returns. I let out a sigh of relief.
"-eyvin! Sorcerer!" I suddenly hear from my side and jump away on reflex. Losing one of your senses and then having it back is incredibly disorienting.
I see Ungrim looking at me worriedly "You alright there?"
I nod and wave him off "Yeah, just some backlash from overcharging a spell, no need to worry."
"It would take something like that to take down that big bastard." He agrees as we continue walking.
"Were your weapons able to do anything to it?" I ask.
He shrugs "We did manage to cut it or pierce it but it seemed like it didn't even feel our blades."
"So physical resistance but no immunity" I nod to myself.
Adar cuts in "It's really annoying that we need magic to deal with such creatures."
"You really don't" I say offhandedly.
"Oh?"
"Yeah" I Nod "Just use silver weapons, they usually ignore Daedric or undead resistances."
They both seem intrigued by the idea and we spend the rest of the walk discussing the best way to kill demons.
We arrive at the town some time later to see a large crowd gathered in the center, with the guards making a circle to keep everyone away from the Jarl and the tied up Rorik.
We are quickly let through just in time to avoid the townspeople who start panicking once they see the tied up Jouane.
"Is it done?" Balgruuf asks.
Irileth nods "Yes my Jarl."
He nods gravely and turns to the crowd "People of Rorikstead!"
They all quiet down and he start explaining what transpired. Every word he says seems to have been chosen after long deliberation and I am surprised at how well spoken he can be.
Once he uncovers what Rorik and the rest have been doing the crowd almost goes feral, but he manages to keep the peace.
Finally we get to the crux of the matter "So tell me my dear subjects, is it worth selling your own for a bit of bread? Should I not remove the heads of these fools that dared sell out their brothers and sisters?"
The answer is the expected roaring condemnation.
He approaches Rorik who is glaring at me for some reason and says "Rorik of Rorikstead you have been found guilty of the highest of treasons, the sentence is summary execution."
Hrongar doesn't wait for even a moment and swings his greatsword splitting the man's head from his body.
The same thing happens to the now awake yet delirious Jouane.
The Jarl turns to me and soon the crowd's gazes follow his own.
I pull out the cursed book and lay it on the ground.
A fire appears in my right hand "And so ends the curse of Rorikstead." I say dramatically to the crowd and set the book aflame.
[Quest completed]
An ear-piercing scream erupts from the burning book, but only lasts for a moment.
Everyone is quiet for a couple of long and tense seconds... before the crowd erupt in cheers.
Another feast is prepared, even if the occasion was a somber one this time.
--------------
We are once more seated in the local tavern, with everyone sharing drinks.
This time, however, we can actually relax and enjoy the evening.
Adar and Ungrim are busy telling the tale of our battle to everyone, leaving out how they basically butchered twenty townspeople of course.
Lydia is currently getting a dressing down from Irileth while Hrongar is laughing his ass of at his daughter's suffering, a little bird might have told on her about her lack of discipline 'hehehe'.
I feel someone tap my shoulder and turn to see Balgruuf offering me a pint of ale.
I take it and clink it against his own. After a bit of silence he says "You have helped my people twice already, I honestly don't know how to reward you at this point..."
I roll my eyes "Just do what we already agreed on and I will not complain even a bit."
He sighs "It feels too little when compared to what you did."
I shrug "If you are so insistent just help me out when I need it in the future."
"A favor then?" He asks and I nod.
"As long as it isn't anything dishonorable you will have the aid of Whiterun." He says after some more silence.
"My thanks" I smile "Now enough of this serious talk, let us enjoy the feast!"
We share a toast and the night turns into a blur.
------------------
The Jarl's entourage left the next day after the townspeople selected a new representative.
I remained in the town for a couple of days to keep my promise to Lokir.
In the meantime I went to the grove and cleaned up Kyne's shrine, since she has blessed me I might as well do something nice in return. The grove's aura now turned from the cold and gloomy feeling of a Daedra to the welcoming embrace of nature.
Resting there made me feel like a baby sleeping next to it's mother.
A couple days of waiting later, Lokir's wife birthed their daughter without any complications. I didn't even need to be there but they still thanked me profusely and forced me to take at least some of their food with me.
I said my goodbyes to everyone I met during my wait here and Davos and I set out on the road toward Dragon Bridge.
"Finally done with all of this Daedra business... If I never have to deal with this kind of thing again it will be too soon." I hear Davos grumble as we walk.
I stop and turn to him with my most radiant smile.
The poor mer merely whimpers.
----------------------------------
Gimme stone.
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