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I enter the temple and immediately tense at its aura. The feeling and most disturbingly, the smell reminding me all too well of Dyrren's tower, even the bone chilling gaze of the disgusting Daedra was present.
Behind the ruined gate stood a massive chamber housing a Dovahzul word wall, using it as some kind of support for the entire building. The dozens of Forsworn inside were all scrambling into position as a small circle of witches were busy chanting and seemingly forming yet another flesh golem while half a dozen sacrificed Reachmen were rapidly decomposing below them.
Barely a second after I walked in, arrows started flying toward me followed by bolts of fire and lightning. Unfortunately for the Forsworn, it seemed that all the competent witches died at Haraldstead, so I contented myself with merely standing at the entrance and making them waste their strength and ammunition in their enraged focus on me, while my party killed them all.
After all, why should I bother if I have other people to clean up the mobs?
Besides, it should be a nice and controlled lesson for my apprentices.
(General POV)
As Reyvin calmly stood before the Reachmen, further enraging them, his group was not standing still.
The Dunmer started systematically taking out the enemy mages while Davos targeted the golems with his enchanted crossbow.
Minthara, like many of her people, didn't have much patience for skirmishing so she threw herself into battle becoming a whirlwind of air magic and rapid hammer strokes, leaving her enemies in pieces or at the least crushing every bone she got in melee range of.
Marco was forced to finally unsheathe his rapier and guard the overeager Nord's back as the Forsworn started swarming them.
"You don't think you should help them out, boss?" Davos asked calmly while hitting a golem in the eye and exploding its head.
Reyvin waved both him and another arrow off "Let them get battered up a bit, otherwise they might think they will always get away with rushing in like idiots."
Davos flinched suddenly "Boss I think one of them just stabbed the brat in the leg."
"Pain is weakness leaving the body." Reyvin nodded sagely, his tone uncaring but his eyes glowing at attention.
"Ummm boss, one just smacked Minthara with a mace" Davos sounded even more unsure.
"Its fineee" Reyvin drawled "She is wearing armor."
Davos flinched again "Boss I don't think that leather and steel mail are all that good against a dozen Briarhearts."
Reyvin groans "Fine you pansy, I will help them out" With a casual wave of his hand he launches an overcharged chain lightning at the group, perfectly avoiding his students and killing the last of the Forsworn.
Seeing the bloodied and battered forms of his students Reyvin nods to himself "See, they are fine!"
Davos groans and shakes his head.
(Reyvin's POV)
I approach my students and quickly scan them with my eyes. Minthara's entire left arm is broken, and her right eye is barely holding itself together, yet she is still stubbornly standing and glaring at me.
Marco is in a similar state, merely with a lot more broken bones and cuts everywhere.
"So kids, what did we learn?" I ask cheekily.
"Just kill me please." A wheezing voice comes from below.
Minthara's glare deepens "Why did you leave us surrounded?" her tone is hard but I sense she expects a lecture.
Before I can respond Marco wheezes again "Paaaaaain"
"Fine, fine" I huff and start healing both of them at the same time "The two of you rushed forward on your own, not at all caring that there were far more of them than us, without even consulting me or at least someone who actually knows what they are doing. That is why I let you get your shit kicked in."
Marco groans as he gets up "Why do all of your life lessons have to include pain?"
"Because it is a good teacher" I snark.
Minthara sighs "You are right of course" Her fixed eye twitches "Why am I hearing chanting?"
"Oh?" I think for a moment and my eyes land on the word wall "You might want to approach that"
She gives me a confused look, but seeing that I was not about to elaborate she started walking. "It is getting louder" She says and finally stops a meter away from the wall.
I do not feel the energy flowing into her but I definitely see it, it looks somewhat similar to that of Kyne but definitely has a different theme to it.
"What is 'tiid'?" Minthara asks absentmindedly.
Now that I think about it I did always come to a similar place in the game to finish that shout... "That'd be time" I answer her after a moment.
The leader of the Dunmer stops our conversation "We should move on, you can debate this after we have completed our mission."
"Careful, Guildmaster" I drawl "You do not command here."
They quickly give me a light bow "Of course not Serjo, I was merely reminding you."
"Fine" I nod "Let us move on"
And so we did, there were multiple doors to the sides of the temple but they all led to the same stairwell leading up to the summit of the temple. As we walked inside I noticed that the internal construction of the temple was an odd mix of stone and wood, almost like they were attempting to recreate whatever the Nords built here but failed spectacularly.
A couple of surprised and terrified witches tried to stop us on our way, launching desperate attacks and one even sacrificing herself in an attempt to curse me. They were given no mercy.
The higher up we went the more horrifying the scenes became, the somewhat orderly chambers of the witches were replaced with what I can only describe as charnel houses filled to the brim with cursed flesh, that alone would have been fine but the presence of the patron Daedra was also growing.
Marco was shaking like a leaf the entire time, the fact that our enemies soon became rotting zombies did not help his situation.
My two apprentices fought much more conservatively this time, Minthara warding off the attackers while Marco focused on crowd control by pushing them around with his brand of force magic. Whenever they were about to get overrun I destroyed the creatures with my solar magic, the speed at which they fell was honestly disappointing.
As we approached another room I felt something on the floor, focusing my eyes I noticed a bunch of runes stretching across the hallway we were standing in. Everyone pulled back at my signal and Minthara gladly removed the obstacle with a fire breath, her thu'um was so strong that it pushed through the door and into the room causing whoever was inside to scream in agony.
We rushed inside and found a half-burned hag who upon seeing us immediately teleported away, causing the dozen crossbow bolts the Dunmer launched the moment they saw her to strike the wall behind her.
"A slippery little shit this one" One of the guildsmen scoffed.
Focusing on the creature's aura I felt before it ran away I nodded to myself "We have found our target." the Dunmer all stood a little straighter and some of them started applying paralytic poison to their weapons and ammunition.
We moved further up, the disgusting imagery slowly giving way to... a luxurious suite? The fact that creatures as disgusting as Hagravens would have something like this should not surprise me but I am still stunned by the contrast.
I notice a bunch of jewelry thrown everywhere with the most prominent of all being of Altmer make. "I guess this explains why they attacked." I say as I twirl a moonstone necklace in my hand.
Marco frowns "They were planning on committing a massacre for a bunch of trinkets?"
"It shouldn't surprise you that much city boy" Minthara quips mockingly "People kill for far less."
"You are not wrong" I nod "Though the fact that it is four-fifths moonstone and obviously made by Altmer hands feels like the n'wahs are rubbing it into our faces."
"They will get their due" Minthara smirks maliciously.
Marco huffs "Hey! Not all Altmer are like that!"
I roll my eyes "You know damn well who we are talking about, stop being such a drama queen."
"Drama queen?" He looks at me bewildered "I am a literal bard!"
There is a sound of moving stones as one of the guildsmen presses a button and a secret door opens up "Found the way forward boss!" he calls over and we all proceed with utmost care.
We follow the short passage and it leads us to a large open balcony, a small but powerful shrine to Namira stands at its center, and more importantly, a very burned Hagraven currently busying herself in an attempt to glare me to death.
Without any input from me, Scorch summons himself and perches atop the shrine, his mere presence burning away some of its aura.
"YOU!" The hag immediately turns to the fiery hawk "YOU SENT THESE THINGS TO BURN ME!"
Scorch raises his beak proudly "I did indeed! My servants have come to show you how disgusting you are!"
While the two creatures argue who the better bird was I slowly turn to the guildsmen and nod, they all raise their crossbows and loose as one.
The hag doesn't even react as a dozen poisoned bolts penetrate her and keeps ranting at Scorch, all the way until the poison knocks her unconscious and she falls over.
The Guildmaster looks at me expectantly and after instructing apprentices not to interrupt I drag the unconscious Hag to the shrine, much to Scorch's glee, and start carving a ritual circle with my staff.
As I carve the circle I feel the familiar presence of Namira attempting to worm its way into my mind, but much like last time Mephala's pendant explodes in power and pushes it back.
The sounds of battle are getting less and less pronounced as each minute passes, I await the perfect moment, and the instant I sense the battle stop completely, signaling our total victory, I plunge my dagger into the heart of the priestess.
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As the knife pierces her heart and the life fades from her I feel her soul get dragged into a very familiar place, and I suddenly find myself standing in a great hall covered in spiderwebs. An army of Daedra stares at me with a mixture of respect and disdain, I even notice Xelzaz in the crowd who gives me a wave.
I turn around and see Mephala in all her glory holding what is definitely the hag's soul in her hand like a precious gem, her eyes focus on me the desire behind them obvious to all "You have done well, my chosen."
I raise an eyebrow "Odd that I would have to be informed of such a change in status by a bunch of assassins" I smirk and mock-bow "My Prince."
"Cheeky" She smirks back "If you wish to be pedantic about it they are technically a monastic order of mine."
I look around the hall and raise an eyebrow "And since when were you into pedantry?"
She bursts into melodious laughter as some of her Daedra glare at me, while others share in our amusement.
"Was there a reason for this" I wave my hand around "Prestigious gathering?"
Mephala straightens up in her seat and tosses the soul to another unnaturally beautiful Daedra "We are here to celebrate my victory and award you for your services." She declares regally.
"Well if the reward is worthwhile I am glad to have been of service." I smirk.
"Indeed" The Prince nods "You are hereby granted command of any of my believers in Skyrim, and the Morag Tong will forever be barred from targeting you. The power of the locket I granted you all those months ago shall also grow, and any spider you meet shall follow your command."
I school my features, even if hiding my glee is completely useless in front of a literal demon god "My thanks for your generosity my Prince" I bow.
She smiles radiantly "I am indeed generous, unlike many others" She raises a dainty hand "Now you are unfortunately needed back on Nirn so I won't keep you."
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And as soon as the words leave her mouth I am once against standing in front of the shrine, now covered in barely-visible spiderwebs and with the hag's body nowhere to be seen.
I turn around and see all of the Dunmer, including Davos and the Guildmaster bowing to me. "What is your command, my lord?" The leader asks with devotion.
I try and keep the toothy grin in check... and fail completely.
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