The Blackreach Experiments Part 4
The Blackreach Experiments - Part 4 - Lost in Fog
Celine, slowly coming to her senses could feel warmth around her, but also the cold ground.
"By the Nine, my head." She peered up and noticed a man towering over her. "Are you the one who pulled me in here?" she asked.
"Yes, I am. You would have died with the others had I not," he said coldly.
"How many made it out?" She was hopeful that at least a handful of people escaped.
"None. You are it. I have nightingales searching Skyrim but as far as we can tell, everthing from here to Cryodil is in ruins. The dragons have won."
Celine went on her knees. "I think I'm going to be sick! This can't be how it ends!"
The Nightingale helped her over to the water's edge then propped her against himself. "End? No, this is the beginning of something new." But Nocturnal won't sit by and do nothing. She has given us means to affect a change. When you feel slightly better, I'll discuss it with you."
Several hours passed. The sounds of destruction above had since ceased. The flames still seemed to roar as loudly as ever though.
Celine approached the Nightingale. "I know you are aware of who I am. You think I can make that change that Nocturnal needs otherwise you wouldn't have pulled me in here. Am I right?"
The Nightingale simply answered, "yes."
"Why can't you do it? What is stopping you?"she inquired.
"It's simple really. I'm dead. I died in service to Nocturnal. She called me back into service and sent me here."
"Oh! I'm sorry...I didn't realize...how did you...I mean, when did...?" She couldn't quite get the right words out.
"I was the leader of the theives guild. I died practicing my craft. There's not much to tell. I'm going to assume you agree to take part in Nocturnal's plan."
Celine lowered her head, "I have lost everything to these damn dragons. Skyrim, no, all of Tamriel is lost if we don't act." Even the Nightingale, though deceased, showed signs of saddness.
"I'm going," Celine stated.
"Good, then head into the treasure room. The portal is active. With luck it will take you to a time before the Dragonborn's death."
"And without?" Celine asked.
"If something goes wrong, you will trapped somewhere between worlds."
Celine stood before the portal. "Well, it's not like I have anything left to lose." She stepped though and felt her world disolve around her.
She remembered falling. Dizziness, lonliness, despair. It was if hope did not exist.
She was weaker than she had ever felt. Someone or something threw her at the feet of a lich or some kind of dark ominous figure. Under his hollow gaze she could not move. He commanded her to look up. Her body tried to obey without her consent.
It's voice was like an echo and tipped with malice. "You have entered the Soul Cairn. I know not of the method you entered, but you will not leave. You will wander the Cairn until you surrender to it.
Celine was then tossed into the darkness.
She wandered for days but it seemed as if she was going in circles. She finally came upon a person in the distance. As she got closer, she realized it was a ghost of a woman! "Um, excuse me!" Celine shouted.
"How do we leave? Is there an exit?"
The ghost turned to her, "Exit...leave...I don't understand. Where is... I was betrayed. Thalmor stabbed me in the back. The dragonborn...there was a.... He needed help... a plot. I... it's slipping again..." The ghost wandered off mutterring to herself, "My name is Delphine. I am a Blade." Over and over until she disappeared.
A sense of resolve came over Celine. She decided she would not let despair take her. She would escape and do anything she could to avert her future. She spent the next weeks observing the strange creatures of the Cairn.
She watched the inhabitants for any sign of an entrance, exit, or gathering place.
She found it odd that she was neither hungry nor tired, but what was truly distressing was she had a growing desire to return to the dark being she met when she first entered this place.
She found out what she could about the creature from some of the more sane inhabitants. He was called a Keeper. It's job was a bit unclear but it held a large amount of power here. She spent a large part of her day learning about it. Eventually, she lost her way and found herself standing before him.
"I'm here master" Her voice trembled. In her mind, she was screaming to run away but all her body could was stand there. She could hear him inside of her mind, telling her to obey.
The Keeper spoke, his voice cold and rigid. "It took you longer than most. Most mortals come here sooner. Tell me why you came back."
"I'm here to serve you master. Tell me what to do." But in her mind she was screaming, "No! Run! Get away! Don't listen!" She felt hopelessness. If she couldn't even control her own body, how would she escape.
"Master, please give me a task, let me serve."
"Oh, you will," he said with more than a hint of malice. "You are connected to powerful energies. I will draw them out of you and leave you a dried husk. It is ironic that it was the same energies I corrupted when you entered her that now seal your fate.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, Celine was atop a great tower. The pleasant voice of the Keeper faded and something stabbed at her from behind. It was if something were trying to rip her soul from her body.
"Gods help me! It burns!" she screamed.
She heard the cold, vicious, monsterous voice of the Keeper say, "Oh it will burn and you turn to ash. Then your soul will wander these lands with the rest. Mwhahaha"
She wasn't sure how long she was trapped but something knocked against her. She had a brief glimpse of red eyes and fangs barred at her. She woke in a pile of bones, feeling numb all over.
There was no sign of her...attacker? Savior? "Who exaclty hit me?" That's when she saw it. Not a person, but "STAIRS!"
She let out a nervous laugh, "haha..I'm free..stairs...hahaha"
She began climbing. About halway up, she had to rest, the climb was hard, harder than it should be.
As she ascended to the peak of the stairs, a light enveloped her and pulled her in. She found herself in a large room.
It was old, dusty, and probably had not been used in a long time. "Where am I now." She set off to explore her surroundings.
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