Chapter One Act Three: Guardians
Entry posted by Collygon
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Hey guys, welcome to Act Three!
If you have not read previous entries, check them out here:
http://www.loverslab.com/blog/blog-602/cat-147-chapter-one
Once again, the lighting is pretty poor for some parts. Fortunately, I have done a lot of ENB and mod testing and Chapter Two shouldn't suffer from these issues (I hope...
). That's about all I have to say. I hope you enjoy it!
Blackreach was always too quiet for Malkor. He relishes moments of heated battle with the sword and tongue, but Blackreach lacked opportunities in both. The Falmer only growl incoherent noises, and a blind opponent offers no challenge; even if they have other heightened senses. The automatons were thrilling at first, however Malkor quickly discovered how easy it was to rebuild them. In doing so assimilating them to his side. Soon thereafter fighting them only undid his work and was not worth the effort. Fortunately, his boredom was at an end. The time of the prophecy his mistress Boethiah had predicted has arrived, and Malkor could not be more prepared.
Malkor: That is your job. Your only job, falmer.
Malkor:Fail this task, and I will sacrifice every pitiful member that remains of your species to Boethiah.
Malkor: Understand?
The Falmer growls in response, incapable of forming any understandable sounds.
Malkor: The dwemer stole your eyes not your tongues, you pathetic vermin. How can an entire species fall to such a repulsive position?
Malkor closes his eyes and breaths in deep, reclaiming his composure. The mistreatment of elves on Tamriel is something Malkor could never stand for. But elves not fighting back is something he loathed even more.
Malkor took one last glowering look at the Falmer before walking away; stopping at a collapsed automaton that had fallen to the ground.
Malkor: Another one...
Malkor: Every time I rebuild them, they become more and more fragile.
Malkor: The dwemer truly were the epitome of the elven species...
Growing impatient, Malkor returns to his feet and continues on through the subterranean world.
Malkor: Here we are.
Malkor: The centurions... The most impressive remnants of dwemer technology.
The massive, metal contraption sits silent and still. It looms inside it's frame, ever watchful, patiently awaiting it's chance to fulfill its role as a guardian of the ancient cities.
Malkor: But you will not be fulfilling that role any longer...
Malkor: Awake!
The searing sound of boiling vapor hisses out of the centurion. At the snap of Malkor's fingers the previously motionless automaton buzzes with life.
Malkor: Heh... Worked like a charm.
Malkor: If it turns out the dwemer still live, I'll have to thank them.
Malkor turns and marches away, the centurion mimicking his motions.
Malkor: I haven't seen the sun in five years...
Malkor: I wonder if it still shines.
It isn't unorthodox for Skyrim to freeze over. As one of the northernmost provinces in Tamriel, the occasional cold front means very little to it's inhabitants, no matter what time of year it is. Many may only scrunch their face to the bite of frigid air as they open their door or merely swat away the snowflake that dances down from the sky just before it hits their face. But the sudden frost is no minor inconvenience. Even the most renown of Tamrielic scholars can not even begin to guess it's meaning nor the mystery of it's creation. However one girl, with the help of her Daedric master, is about the find out the answer to the omen she was warned about many years before.
In the forests north of Riverwood, those with a keen ear can hear the whimpering of wolves and groans of ancient trees. If they listen even closer, they can hear the sound of a young girl, talking back.
Taeyva: Oh, don't pout, Baum.
The Ancient Spriggan shuffles around, suddenly very interested in the earth below its trunk-like feet. As it did, it's bark encased body creaks and groans with old age.
Taeyva: I'll be back soon. I'm just meeting with Hircine. Then I'll work on making it warm again. I know how much you'd like that!
Taeyva has known Baum almost as long as she'd been in service to Hircine himself. The Daedric Lord assigned him to protect Taeyva after she'd been captured by the Vigilant. They had been together ever since. Baum would scare away the occasional traveler, and Taeyva would nurse him back to health after one of said traveler's felt a little too confident. They never felt anything after that.
Taeyva: Now you watch the hut while I'm away, okay?
Baum lifts the tree branch he uses as a weapon in the air and groans a long "MmmmmmHmmmmmmm" in somber agreement.
Taeyva: That's my boy.
Taeyva gives Baum one last smile before turning away to continue saying goodbye to the other creatures living with her.
Taeyva: Take care of your pup while I'm away, mama. I won't be here to patch up his paw again.
Taeyva: And you be more careful with where you chase bunnies, pup! I'd hate to lose another puppy before their name day.
Taeyva: I'll be gone for a while, so try and help out Baum, okay?
Taeyva kisses mama on the snout and ruffles the ears of her puppy. As she turns away, the puppy barks after her until a growl from mama stops him.
Taeyva: I'll be home soon. I love you guys...
Snow and ice crunches under her boots as Taeyva hikes away from her hut. Ever since her service to Hircine she has lived mostly nude, and the Skyrim air never really got to her. As the day grows colder, however, she can feel her nipples stiffen as goosebumps proliferate across her body like a disease.
Taeyva: This is way too cold. Even by Skyrim's standards.
Taeyva: At this rate Lake Ilinalta will completely freeze over.
Hircine is a Daedra quite... obsessed with rituals, as Taeyva would describe it. He was never one to set up a simple meeting or even inform her that he wished to speak to her. If he wanted a meeting he would suddenly show up; and if Taeyva wanted one, Hircine somehow seemed to know and would show up close by as well. It was never quite that easy, however, as he never did show up as himself.
Taeyva: There he is... As expected.
Taeyva: I'll never understand why he insists on doing this every time.
Taeyva: Especially under such circumstances.
Taeyva sighs.
Taeyva: Oh well... I guess there's nothing for it.
Taeyva: And I do get a chance to use my magic.
The White Stag yelps and falls to the ground. Despite knowing that the stag was nothing more than a vessel for her Lord, Taeyva still flinches as it hit the snow. Unless it is one of the civilized races, she loathes to see any living thing die.
Still, she can't help but grin as the Aspect of Hircine emerges from the fallen corpse. It has been too long.
Hircine: Hello, Hunter!
Taeyva: Hunter? My Lord, I wish you would not insist on calling everyone you meet that.
Hircine: Yes, you may be a witch and guardian of my realms, but a hunter as well! However, if you do not adopt this role soon, hunter, there may be nothing left for you to guard.
Taeyva: What? Nothing left?
Hircine's words terrify Taeyva. With nothing to watch over, her life has no purpose.
But this was a life she threw everything away for, and she would not give it up easily.
Taeyva: You warned me about this frost years ago. Said I had a role to play. Well? What is it?
Hircine: It is an Aedric Prophecy, hunter. One I fear even I had overlooked up until recently. And I am sure many others have as well.
Taeyva: What does that even mean? What prophecy?
Hircine: The mortals of Nirn refer to these prophecies as: "Elder Scrolls." I'm sure you have heard of them, hunter. It is important I keep track of them as a Daedric Lord, and even more important that other Lord's do as well. The Aedra are not so forgiving of our kind.
Hircine: I have followed the prophecies closely, hunter. It is because of this that I failed to notice the prophecy occurring until only a few years until it's fruition. A prophecy thought fulfilled. The Elder Scroll you mortals would call: Dragon.
Taeyva: Am I supposed to know what that means? Dragons are extinct, right? What could an Elder Scroll do with an extinct species?
Hircine: The dragons are only extinct on this plane. In terms of time and space, they have only been postponed by the Aedra. The Nords of Skyrim revere the ancient heroes for stopping Alduin and saving the world, but it was Kynareth who allowed that to happen, not the strength of mortals.
Taeyva: I... don't understand
Hircine: The world was not saved back in the Merethic Era! The Aedra were not in agreement upon the time Nirn must be reborn, and thus Kynareth fought Akatosh for the right to choose; using Nirn as their battlefield and dragons and mortals as their puppets. Kynareth was victorious, giving the Elder Scroll: Dragon to the mortals to seal Alduin in time until the Aedra could agree on a time to remake the world.
Hircine: That time is now, hunter! Soon the time rift will appear and Nirn will be consumed by chaos. This chaos is ripe for other Daedric Lords. They will use this chance to defeat the Aedra and claim control of Nirn for themselves.
Hircine: Nirn grows colder because it is dying. I for one do not wish to see that. The prophecy can be stopped, but first we must not allow Daedric Lords who wish to see the land fall into chaos gain strength. I cannot speak for all the Daedric Lords, but I can assure you of these. Dagon is too weak. The oblivion crisis sapped him still. Hermaeus Mora does not care about Nirn, and only sees it's destruction as a chance to learn. Boethiah will surely strike, but can be managed. Her forces are small, especially compared to those of nature. The biggest threat is Molag Bal. As you know, he and Boethiah have been enemies for ages. Currently she sends her priests to defile his shrines and murder his followers. This may keep his grip on Nirn weak for now, but he will surely send his children to change that. One of them is on their way to the shrine as we speak. You must stop her, before it is too late!
Taeyva: Me? I don't fight, I heal. Even if I brought Baum, I doubt we could fight a daedra plus the entire cult of Boethiah! How am I supp-
Hircine: You will not be fighting. You will be leading.
Taeyva: Leading? Who...
Taeyva: Oh wow...
Taeyva: This... this I can definitely do.
To be continued...
I hope this chapter wasn't too confusing. A lot of this story is based off of an Elder Scrolls theory of mine where the Aedra interact with the world indirectly through Elder Scrolls and that Alduin's return in the fourth era was not actually a coincidence. If you are confused by something and want me to explain, just ask and I'll try my best. Not all of it is revealed though, and I will be doing so in future acts. The plan so far is to have it fully explained after Chapter Two Act One (I have planned the entire story through already). Let me know what you think. I hope you liked this act!
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