"Anything new on the war front?" I ask as I finish sorting through my hoard of potions, years of traveling had left me with a very diverse stock but most would never see any use and it was finally time to cease my loot goblin ways.
"Border skirmishes continue across the whole front" Davos reports lazily while skillfully tossing his dagger about "The legion's advance on Dawnstar has stalled after they finally dealt with the constant raider presence due to the snows covering many of the important roads, they are still advancing but Tullius is taking his time and taking forts one by one."
"Smart of him not to overextend, and the raiders were a massive strain on logistics so attacking without ending them would have been idiotic, and Tullius is not an idiot." I nod and add "Just make sure to tell me when they are about to commence the assault so I can deal with the Vaermina problem, the populace should be sufficiently pissed with their Jarl that if the nightmares stop the moment he falls they will gladly switch sides and we will be dealing with one less headache."
"Another bit of news has caught my ear" He notes after a brief hesitation "It hasn't been confirmed as of yet but there are rumors of Ulfric debating between aiding Dawnstar and rushing Whiterun while we are distracted with the siege."
I look up from my disorderly pile of magical drugs "How sure are you of this?"
He makes a 'so-so' gesture and shrugs "It makes sense if true but as I've said it isn't confirmed yet, I will have Beetle seduce one of the less disciplined commanders, should get us what we need."
"Oh, that would be hilarious." I snort, Beetle was one of the more... sensual of my agents and she held no compunctions about doing seduction work, in fact I think she got a kick out of seducing dumbasses into their doom which I will neither comment on nor think about any further now that I mention it.
"Fucking hypocrites." Davos scoffs, a rare flaring of anger bursts in his chest only to return to his usual relaxed apathy a moment later "Can't have us dirtying their city but the moment they see a pretty one they forget their 'ancestral pride'."
"Never underestimate the mental gymnastics of someone wanting to get some." I chuckle "I've no doubt that a Thalmor Justiciar would probably manage to justify himself into having a tumble with a sufficiently attractive Nord." I give him an appraising look "What about you Davos, anyone caught your eye?"
He stiffens slightly but composes himself just as quickly "I don't have the time for that kind of thing, too much to do, too little time."
"Oh, are you asking for a vacation?" I ask teasingly.
He rolls his eyes "No, I just have more important things to focus on."
"Uh huh." I deadpan "Yeah, you are following me to Falkreath."
His eyes snap to mine so quickly that I can almost feel his neck crack, and then he sighs in resignation "Fucking seers..."
"Out of all the people I know I never expected you to be the shy one." I jab at him.
He deadpans "With all due respect my lord, go die in a ditch."
"Ah, but who would brighten your life if I was gone? A certain pale individual no doubt?" I ask with a shit-eating grin.
The short Dunmer throws his hands up in frustration and stomps out of my study, though I do not fail to notice the pep in his step as he goes to prepare for the journey.
This expedition would probably be my house's biggest effort yet as I was bringing a good hundred warriors, a contingent of agents, and all of the currently rejuvenated Falmer sans Eldor with me (Which added up to about twelve lesser magi not counting Alor and Nightshade).
Naturally, besides a large group of loyal laborers, a veritable horde of automatons filled the ship I hired to take them to Solitude to the brim, the captain almost cried out in joy when I cited the price I would pay for both transportation and discretion.
I held no doubts that after this large a movement the less magically inclined nobles of Morrowind would take notice and then I would have to deal with all that atop my current issues. At least I would get to humiliate some of them I guess...
And to my great surprise, Shalazar also insisted on joining us. The Almighty Lizard Wizard (Praised be!) had struck up something of a friendship with Krein and wanted to follow the dragon around for a bit, when asked why he simply told me that wizards of a lizardly disposition must stick together lest the world fall apart.
The fact that I sensed no lies in his words made me thoroughly question my sanity.
With one final potion stacked up and transported into my personal storage I got up from my seat and went to grab the vampires. I hope Valerica has finally stopped sulking about not being at the top of the food chain around here, her pride was slowly and certainly ruining all the respect I had for her as a scholar.
No matter, they all broke in the end.
'Insert maniacal laughter.' Scorch deadpans
-----------------------------------
(General POV)
Leaving the frowning Isran who once more refused to go through the history of his achievements alone (for now) Alor goes to seek another target.
"So how is it that the moths will help you in the reading?" The curious Falmer asks the exasperated old Imperial "Do you transfer some of the strain onto them or do you use them as a medium to shield your sight?"
"For the fifth time." Dexion patiently says, though one could not be blamed for thinking he was gritting his teeth "They carry the echoes of the deceased, the ancestral spirits if you prefer, which an individual of a sufficiently expanded spirituality may connect to and entreat them for aid in granting their sight temporarily."
"And once again, that is incredibly vague and sounds more like a litany than something a scholar of Julianos would say." Alor looks up from his notes.
"While I may be a scholar I am first and foremost a priest." Dexion smiles at him, allowing a bit of mockery to flow into his tone.
Alor goes to retort but Nightshade, who had been standing and staring at them silently suddenly perks up and looks toward the entrance, all of the attentive Dunmeri warriors following suit.
A familiar sensation of dread washes over everyone, the Dawnguards present stiffening and grabbing their weapons but instead of being afraid of the new arrival, those of House Dagoth all stand up just a little bit straighter.
"Is it finally time?" Isran asks, not even bothering to get up.
"Our lord is here." Nightshade notes needlessly and looks to the warriors "A proper welcome is in order."
(Reyvin's POV)
The winding caves at the side of the Jerral Mountains gave way to a clear opening, the scene beyond gave both myself and my current companions pause as we were greeted with the sight of an eternal autumn canopy of colorful trees somehow growing freely with only the barest hint of proper sunlight, a shallow pond of what I could only guess was natural mineral water surrounded ancient looking stone edifices lacking any mural or carving, yet despite that the rudimentary stone arches surrounding the central podium-esque rock gave off the feeling of monolithic solemnity.
And then the smell hit me, and I swear to all the gods it was the most relaxing thing I had felt in forever, if not for the branch of a nearby tree reaching out and touching my shoulder I would have probably dozed off for an entire minute. No, the sudden shuffling of the vampires and Davos quickly shook me out of my fugue just in time to see the branch retract.
I was not the least bit surprised that Kyne made this place on of her own.
I turned back to the welcoming procession and couldn't help but smile in satisfaction as twelve halberds were held up in a salute, two of them carrying the black and purple banner I had grown to consider as my own.
"At ease." I command and as one the weapons are shouldered, with a satisfied nod I pass the eager-feeling masked elves and come face to face with Nightshade "Everything in order?"
She offers a deep bow "Nothing out of the ordinary, my lord. We arrived two weeks ago, followed by Dawnguard reinforcements one week hence, there were no incidents of note save for those afflicted with boredom complaining more than necessary." Even while keeping her respectful posture she sends an affronted glare to Alor.
"Isran." I nod at the Dawnguard.
"Court Mage." He greets back, just as gruff as usual.
"Have you brought it?" The excitable voice of an old man interrupts my intended trolling of the ever-serious Dawnguard as Dexion practically teleports in front of me, his eyes almost shining with eagerness.
I chuckle at the old man and move to the side while presenting my companions, both holding a scroll or two "I have indeed. For those unaware allow me to introduce Lady Valerica Volkihar, another ally of convenience in our quest."
There is some grumbling from the Dawnguard and I swear I hear Isran mumble "By Stendarr, another one?" But they had learned their place by now so grumble is all they do.
"I trust you are eager to begin?" I ask the priest and that was all he needed as he simply grabs the scrolls from the hands of the confused vampires and runs off toward the center of the room, grabbing a leather pouch on his way.
Seeing the dumbfounded looks of everyone present I simply shrug and follow after him "Come on then, let us get this over with."
It takes a minute for everyone to shuffle around the ritual site and Dexion to finish his preparations, and just as he finishes mumbling a prayer of some kind the small crack in the ceiling suddenly directs all of its light toward him, completely covering him and doing nothing but illuminating his surroundings with an eerie and solemn glow.
Something within the surrounding magic shifts and hundreds and then thousands of the colorful ancestor moths all fly toward the old man, surrounding him in a merry dance and enhancing the ethereal glow with each new added insect.
As the glow becomes almost blinding, the Moth Priest picks out the first scroll, opens it only for a brief moment and then repeats the action again until he reaches the final one, leaving it open this time.
Stuck in a trance he begins to speak, his voice far heavier than I had ever heard him "Among the night's children a dread lord will rise..." He pauses slightly his eyebrows moving as if he were squinting "In age of strife..." He pauses and his frown deepens "The next part seems muddled, as if something was changed."
I suppress a very satisfied grin and simply say "Continue."
"When... the unknown event occurs, darkness will mingle with light and night and day will be one. Yet light shall war against darkness and both shall seek to end the other, none may win without attaining the string of divine sunlight waiting atop a forgotten vale. Blood shall spill and twilight shall battle the dawn, and once the fighting settles only one shall remain." Dexion closes his eyes and lets out a long shuddering breath.
His eyes open, holding the same glow carried by the moths within them "The reading is complete" He sighs "I know exactly where we must go, my sight shall not leave me until then, but forgive me, I need to rest before we move."
"Take all the time you need old man." I grab him by the shoulders and gently lower him to one of the bench-like rocks nearby "We can enjoy the place while you rest."
"You have my thanks." He closes his eyes and enters some kind of meditative state.
"Now that that is done..." I turn to those gathered with an ominous tinge to my voice, only to completely shift it into one of excitement "We party!"
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The party demands more stone!
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