Entry posted by Collygon
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Hey guys! Welcome to Chapter Three's Conclusion!
Make sure you have read the previous parts! Seriously. You can find links to them in the act seven index spoiler at the bottom of the page.
Thanks for reading my story. After this though, it will be a long time before The Frost of Ages continues. I want to work on my other stuff, like my mods, my tumblr, and other stories maybe. I'm also considering bringing back "The Girls", but we'll see. This isn't me saying I will be inactive. Quite the opposite. I am going to really try and increase my activity. It just won't be here on LL since this blog isn't the best place for updates on my mods or random, fun screenshots.
So once again, thank you for supporting this year long journey. Let's do this!
Previously on: The Frost of Ages (I recommend reading this as it acts as a smooth transition into the first section as well as a reminder for A LOT of information)
**NOTE: Some of these scenes are from CHAPTER ONE. As such, the image quality is pretty atrocious. They are old and I had worse hardware back then. Just a heads up.**
(From: Chapter One Act Six: The Beginning))
Ellia: You have earned my mercy, Talen. In the new world, I will not kill you, no.
Ellia: I will enslave you for eternity.
Ellia: You will never have to yearn for your wife again. I will be all you crave.
Ellia: I'll show you everything you did wrong when you had me.
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(From: Chapter One Act Six: The Beginning))
Taeyva: I believe that, Hircine. So we need to prepare!
Hircine: We do. But I have a different task for you now.
Hircine: Him.
Taeyva: What? Why? He's pathetic! I punched one time and he whined like a whelp.
Talen: Hey, look you just cau-
Taeyva: Will you shut up? Wait, really? You mean he is her...
Taeyva: It seems I have you to deal with now. Come with me.
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(From: Chapter Three Act Two: The Age of Molag Bal (Part 1 of 2))
Erinye: No, we need to be hunting.
Erinye: She has entered Nirn in another form. Every moment we waste she grows stronger.
Argus: Her power is compressed for now. Even after the dragon break will it take her time to grow to full strength.
Erinye: Always so confident, Argus.
Erinye: But we know nothing of how she did it. We're blind and wasting time. There will be no restrictions once the dragon break commences. No stopping her.
Argus: Enough. We have our orders and it's time to give some. That's why we are here.
Erinye: Do not forget that we are equals, Argus. You do not command me.
Erinye: But you are right, I will admit. If we are tasked with Boethiah we must delegate the remaining tasks elsewhere.
Argus: Speaking of which.
Erinye: Tsk. About time.
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(From: Chapter Three Act Seven: The Last Sermon (Part 2 of 3))
Gerruck: You have it all wrong! I am not going through with it! I refuse to resurrect Alduin!
Castalia: And that's the problem.
Castalia: You see, since Adluin's fiasco with the dragon war, the Aedra don't trust him to do his job.
Castalia: But he is still the only option available. Their only choice is to put him in a form that can be easily controlled and has very little power.
Castalia: A... human form.
Castalia: I came here to crush you. To obliterate everything that defines your happiness.
Castalia: ...by cutting the weave.
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(From: Chapter Three Act Seven: The Last Sermon (Part 2 of 3))
Gerruck: I'll kill you!
Castalia: Awww. How cute.
Castalia: But you can't kill me.
Gerruck: What...
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(From: Chapter Three Act Seven: The Last Sermon (Part 2 of 3))
Gerruck: Why did this happen to her?
Gerruck: This isn't about revenge. I give up.
Gerruck: I don't want to decide anymore.
Gerruck: I just want it to end. I want everything to end. I will do what the Aedra want of me.
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(From: Chapter Three Act Seven: The Last Sermon (Part 2 of 3))
Castalia: We have waited long enough, my Puppet Priestess.
Castalia: Chaos breeds destruction. And it is about time the new world rises.
Castalia: ...you may begin.
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(From: Chapter Three Act Seven: The Last Sermon (Part 2 of 3))
Brynjolf: This won’t be easy, and we don’t have unlimited time. It is up to us to defeat their leader before our army is defeated.
Delvin: We will be forced to play to the only advantage we have. Our numbers.
Karliah: We will have to overwhelm our opponent. No matter how skilled they are, they can’t account for all seven of us at once.
Brynjolf: Isran will attack the gates in a few minutes, so listen up! Here’s the plan…
Brynjolf: Isran and Carcette will lead the charge. This should attract the bulk of the daedric army.
Brynjolf: If we're lucky, they will actually distract its entirety.
Brynjolf: But that is a double edged sword...
Brynjolf: ...the more they have to fight, the shorter they will last.
Brynjolf: On the other hand, if there are any staying back then we will have that much more to deal with.
Brynjolf: But I doubt that will be the case.
Brynjolf: Our target will be staying far back. She knows she can't risk dying early on. We will shatter her plans. Karliah?
Karliah: This is an ambush. We will overwhelm her with melee charges and missile fire.
Karliah: I will be close by. From range I will offer support, but can dive into melee if it comes to that.
Karliah: At a further vantage point, we'll need another to shoot at her from range. Who is the best shot among you?
Mike: That'd be Davey and I.
Karliah: Then you will both be there. One will have to guard the other in case of a surprise attack.
Brynjolf: The rest of us will be on the ground.
Brynjolf: We will charge out and take her attention.
Brynjolf: When we do, Mike and Karliah will fire. She'll have no choice but to run and that will be our chance. We'll send that bitch back to Oblivion. Let's go.
* * *
Mike: Alright. I'm locked on.
Slow, steady breaths flow from the air holes in Mike's helmet. He holds the crossbow with an iron grip, stiff and rigid like the rest of his body. The pointed, steel tip of the bolt doesn't move in the slightest.
Mike: Have you ever seen anything like her?
Mike: Her skin is so blue. And that armor... A little over confident, don't you think?
Davey chuckles. Even in the tense situation, he never seems phased.
Davey: It's not over confidence.
Davey: When you wear armor like that, it is to aid mobility. She doesn't need armor because she doesn't plan on taking a hit, believe me.
Mike scoffs, keeping his arm steady.
Mike: No amount of mobility can dodge two projectiles. Karliah and I will bring her down before this fight even begins.
Karliah stares down the arrow's shaft, over the jagged, iron tip, and straight to the daedra's neck. One shot. That is all it will take to send her back to oblivion and slash the link between her and her army.
Karliah holds her hand gripping the bow string steady, but keeps the other loose. When the attack commences, the daedra could respond with a myriad of reactions. If Karliah isn't ready for them, she could miss her mark.
Karliah: What are you gonna do, bitch?
As the archers hold, the rest of the squad prowls behind a large, stone wall. They hug the edge, keeping just out of sight but close enough to get a rapid charge out. Vorn takes the lead, leaning out past Delvin he holds up three fingers.
He nods to Talen and Brynjolf silently. When he receives two back, he drops one finger.
Talen's heart begins to race. His grip on his axe is so tight he can't even feel it. He knows he isn't as competent a fighter as his comrades, with his lack of experience and training, but that isn't what is sending him chills.
Vorn drops a second finger.
It is that daedra, standing haughtily atop the lamppost, that does. She isn't someone he can forget and he is not surprised she is the one here.
He can't explain it, but when Dennis recounted his escape from Riften a few days ago, Talen knew Ellia was the one orchestrating it. It is what made him so adamant to get here and fight back. Defeating her goes beyond reclaiming Riften and even saving the world; it is a personal grudge.
Vorn drops his third, and final finger.
Brynjolf is the first to turn the corner, taking the lead. Vorn charges right behind him, Delvin and Talen sprinting right behind. They each bellow the loudest war cry they can, trying to take the daedra's attention.
All Four: HRAAAAAAAAAH!
Ellia: Hmmmph. Took you long enough.
A split second after they charge around the corner, Mike and Karliah fire.
Mike: Take this!
Davey: Fire! Fire! Fire!
But Karliah hesitates. She catches a glimpse of the daedra's lips, curled into a mischievous smile and the purple orb of a readied spell in her twirling fingers.
Karliah: Oh no. SHIT!
As she releases the string, Karliah yanks the bow frame to the side just as the daedra vanishes in a burst of purple and black.
At the same time, another orb conjures in the middle of the group below, directly atop of Delvin.
Karliah: Look out!
The portal disappears. Delvin is gone. In his place, the daedra suddenly appears, lurching her heel directly into Talen's jaw.
Talen: GAH!
Brynjolf: What in Oblivion!
Vorn: How did she get behind us?
In her place atop the lamppost...
Delvin: Guh...
...Delvin materializes out of nowhere. The crossbow bolt juts from his skull.
Davey: What the fuck!?
Davey: You shot Delvin! You fucking shot Delvin!
Mike hysterically rips another bolt from his pouch, snapping it into place on the crossbow.
Mike: Shut up! It wasn't my fault!
He raises the crossbow back to his shoulder, arms now shaking with fear. Davey continues to holler at him, incredulous.
Davey: Don't shoot again, man! You're shaking like a leaf!
Mike: I'll only do it if I get a shot! They're moving too fast anyway!
Karliah: Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. I can't get a shot.
Karliah keeps her hand moving, trying to keep the newly drawn arrow poised at the daedra with extreme difficulty. She moves in a blur, faster than anything Karliah has ever seen. After sending Talen careening through the air, she whipped around and is now jabbing Brynjolf under the chin with her boot. Even if she could line up a clear shot, what happened to Delvin is still fresh in her mind.
Karliah: Slow her down!
Vorn doesn't need to be told. He rears back his war hammer, trying to land a hit on the daedra as she kicks Brynjolf.
Vorn: HRAAAAAH!
Brynjolf spirals backwards from the blow. The daedra wastes no time. She recovers her footing immediately, dropping low the ground, ducking cleanly under Vorn's attack.
Vorn: Fuck!
Ellia: Ha! Pathetic fool.
As the hammer passes over her, she lurches back to her feet. Another spell readies in her palm as her curls her fingers around the air. As Vorn staggers, trying to recover, she brings her hand to his gut...
Vorn: Hhhhnnggg...
...and summons a sword in her palm; it's blade embedded in Vorn's stomach.
Vorn: Uck... Uuuu...
Ellia: Awww... Oops.
Ellia: That makes two.
Davey: VORN!
Davey barrels past Mike and leaps over the side of the building. He crashes into the wood shingles and sprints down the roof with wobbled steps.
Davey: Fuck this! I'm going to help!
Mike: Wha- Davey! Stop!
Davey: No! They need our help! Come on.
Mike falters, biting his lip. He has to follow Davey, he knows he does but-
Mike: Bah! Fuck it.
He shakes off the fear holding him rigid and leaps over the ledge.
Mike: I'm coming!
Ellia: Ha ha ha!
Ellia tightens her clawed fingers around Vorn's throat, lifting him up into the air above her.
Ellia: Ready to die, fool?
Vorn clutches the daedra's gauntlet, using whatever strength he can scrounge to tear away her grip. The wound in his gut pulses and sucks away his energy, making his arms feel limp and feeble. He can still suck tiny amount of air into his lungs, but with her grip tightening, he knows he won't be able to for much longer.
Vorn: Ack... You will... die... d-daedra...
Karliah: Shit.
Karliah slings her bow across her back, biting her lip with enough ferocity to draw blood.
Karliah: I have to get in there.
She sees Brynjolf get back on his feet and charge at the daedra. Taking it as an invitation, Karliah draws her own sword and vaults over the roof.
Karliah: Hold on! We're on the way!
She lands on the boardwalk as Brynjolf raises his dagger, screaming a battle cry while he charges in.
Karliah: Brynjolf! Wait!
Brynjolf: Let him go!
Ellia responds with a sinister chuckle. Vorn feels the grip around his throat close, sealing his intake, while his feet suddenly leave the ground. She lifts him by the neck, then, with all her force, throws him backwards.
Vorn: Ack!
Brynjolf: Hraaaah!
With Ellia's back to him, Brynjolf lurches out with his dagger. As Vorn tumbles through the air, Ellia releases her grip. She whips around just as Brynjolf swings out and catches his wrist.
Brynjolf: GAH!
His dagger flees his grip. Ellia coils her fingers around his arm, twisting it viciously.
Ellia: Pathetic.
Karliah: Brynjolf! Move!
Karliah charges in, her blade extended like a spear.
Karliah: I'll save you!
Ellia snarls with a snide smile.
Ellia: Think again.
Keeping her grip tight around her captives wrist, she lurches out with her other hand. She grasps his neck, this time strongly enough to eliminate any chance of breathing, and yanks him towards herself.
Ellia: Come here, bitch.
His eyes fill with dread as he is yanked to Ellia, filling her with an erotic glee. The color drains from his face as he sputters feeble attempts to breath.
Karliah: Take this!
As the elf sprints towards her, blade extended, Ellia releases her grip around Brynjolf's wrist. Still keeping a firm grip around his neck, she takes an immediate and sudden step forward, shooting out her hand and her captive with it.
She loosens her grip just enough to hear him gurgle.
Brynjolf: G-g-g-g...
Karliah: Wha...
Karliah: How did...
Karliah: No no no no no!
Karliah shrieks and lets go of the blade. At the same time, Ellia does the same, letting Brynjolf tumble lifelessly onto the deck.
Karliah: I didn't... I... I... How could...
Karliah stumbles backwards, each step heavy and uneasy as if there were weights attached to her ankles.
Karliah: I... I...
Ellia: Hmmph.
Karliah: Aahh.
The arrow pierces her forehead, silencing Karliah with crack.
Ellia breaths out a sigh, dispelling her conjured bow.
Ellia: Ah.
Ellia: That was quite easy. I- huh?
Talen: FUCK YOU!
Ellia: Oh, you have gotta be kidding m-
Ellia cuts off as Talen barrels into her. He crashes against her, shoulder plowing into her chest.
Ellia: Wha-
Talen: GRAH!
He shoves his body into hers with all his force, toppling each of them over the railing.
Ellia manages to kick him off as they fall, making it so she lands gracefully. Talen doesn't wind up so lucky, tumbling over himself, he face plants the walkway with an audible smack.
Ellia: Well well well...
Ellia: It's you.
Talen grunts, the wind completely knocked out of him.
As he struggles to get up, Ellia does so with ease, smiling deviously the whole way.
Ellia: I didn't think you'd make it this far. I thought you'd lost hope at the Shrine of Boethiah.
Ellia: But no. You wound up here. At the feet of your mistress.
Ellia laughs wickedly.
Ellia: I'm sure you remember my promise to you.
Ellia saunters towards him. As Talen pushes himself up, she kicks him in the stomach, launching him through the air.
Ellia: That you're my slave!
Talen: Oof!
He tumbles over, rolling over himself before coming to a stop. He hastily heaves himself up and shouts at Ellia.
Talen: Never! I'll make sure you die! You will never succeed! NEVER!
Ellia laughs, amused by his stubborn bravery.
Ellia: My my, you remember it better than I thought.
Ellia: But I'm not going to wait until then. I think I'll enslave you right no-
FWIP!
Ellia: Ugh...
Ellia: Oh, what the fuck is this supposed to be?
Ellia curls her lips as she stares down at the crossbow bolt jutting from her chest with more distaste than pain.
Talen cranes his neck around and gasps.
Vorn holds out a crossbow in a shaky hand. He shoots Talen a pained, stern glare and nods.
Talen nods back as Vorn's grip fails. He collapses against the railing, lifelessly.
Davey: Hang in there! I'm coming!
Mike: Vorn!
Davey drops to his knees and slides to Vorn's side as the crossbow leaves his fingers.
Davey: No no no. Come on, man! Get up!
Davey leaps into his medic mentality and desperately tries to tug Vorn to a more stable position. While he does, Mike leans over the railing, taken by the rush of movement below.
Mike: What the- Talen!
Ellia grumbles and grabs the wooden shaft of the bolt.
Ellia: Interrupting me. Maybe I'll enslave that one t-
Talen springs forward. Kicking against the floorboards, he wraps his arms around Ellia's legs.
Ellia: Why you!
Talen hollers and lurches forward.
Talen: Hrah!
They both tumble over the edge and into the canal with a splash.
Before they hit the water, Ellia kicks herself free. They sink into the shallow depths. Bubbles rise to the surface around them and the sub-aqueous foliage reaches upwards like tentacles.
Ellia glares at him, every semblance of mischief or glee erased. Talen gapes back, feeling a sudden apprehension. He tackled her into the water, but he has no idea what to do now. He is a swimming target. If he tries to run she'll catch him for sure and he can't survive down here for more than a couple minutes.
Ellia opens her mouth, her malicious expression returned. Talen feels a chill from what she does next; speak.
Ellia: I'm a daedra, fool. I can't drown.
Bubbles rise from Talen's lips as he gasps. He starts to twists around and retreat when a sight stops him. Up ahead, through the murky water, is a shadow.
No. Not a shadow. It's a silhouette.
Talen freezes. The silhouette raises a hand slowly, but undeterred. The water doesn't seem to affect it. It is standing, walking, as if it were on solid ground.
Ellia notices Talen's transfixing and turns. Then her face fills with an expression Talen didn't think she'd ever express. Fear.
Ellia: You? W-what?
The figure holds its hand outstretched and then flares it's fingers. Its head rotates to Talen and then stops. A voice speaks out, deep and foreboding. It ripples through the water and rings in Talen's ears as if it were being said directly beside him.
Voice: She does not control your fate.
Then the water surrounding Ellia starts to boil.
Celann hacks at the daedra opposing him. His arm is beginning to grow tired and his legs threaten to give out. Each step he takes is a splash in the blood pooling below him. He fears if he takes too big of one he will trip over the many corpses that have accumulated below him.
The battle has not lasted long, but this fight is more exhausting than any other he has experienced. His opponents are fierce, deadly, and skilled. At least they are now. When Isran informed the army of their weakness, Celann was shocked. It seemed so simple. Kill the leader and the spawns become worse than common bandits. As soon as the battle began, he realized it won't be so easy.
These daedra may not be equally skilled as their leader, but they are damn close. Nearly every attack Celann made has been blocked, and those he successfully feinted and followed up were dodged. He has so far only landed one direct hit, but it was a powerful one. His axe dug clean through the armor and drew a streak of blood. It wasn't enough to kill, but it filled Celann with hope. Once the leader has been eliminated, he could slice through his foes with ease.
Celann: Hiyah!
Another blow is swiftly countered. The daedra holds its blade sideways, locking it against the end of Celann's axe. The daedra pushes against it forcefully. Celann tries to fight back, locking his elbow to keep his axe steady, but starts to shake. His foe notices and stomps forward, snapping the lock of Celann's elbow and forcing it to bend normally. His arm quivers even more. He locks eyes with the daedra, feigning bravery with a forced glare, but he knows it is transparent.
The daedra chuckles and Celann gulps. He can't hold on any longer.
His muscles give and the daedric sword comes swinging towards his face. Celann squeezes shut his eyes and desperately swings out his axe in a final effort.
He feels his axe make contact, himself completely unscathed. He hears a painful roar followed by a thud and opens his eyes.
Celann: No way...
Celann stares down in shock. The daedra lies dead on the ground below him with a deep gash through its armor and chest. Celann knows he should have taken a hit. The sword was swinging right at him. Even if he landed this killing blow, he would have gotten hit first. It can only mean one thing.
Celann: They are weakened! We can kill them now! Go!
The soldier cheer at the cry, or what little that are left. The daedra, though outnumbering them, drop their weapons and retreat. They storm through the soldiers and sprint out the gate.
Celann: Don't let them escape! Charge!
Mike: What in oblivion!?
After he saw Talen tackle the daedra into the canal, Mike raced after him. But he didn't make it far. He had to tear himself away from the corpses to keep from stopping, but a loud boom! made him freeze anyway. A geyser of water spewed from the canal, reaching all the way to the bridge. From it, a body was shot into the air like a cannon ball.
Davey: What the fuck!?
Davey has not even gotten a chance to look over Vorn. The rupture ripples through the air and blasts in his ears like an explosion. A body rockets into the air, limbs fluttering like a rag doll. It reaches its peak, nearly higher than Davey can crane his neck to see, and crashes back down. It smacks into the bridge with a cracking splat.
Davey staggers to his feet, dumbstruck.
Davey: Is that...
Mike: It's her.
Mike: It's the daedra. She's dead.
In stunned silence, they gawk at the corpse.
After a few seconds, loud cheer erupts from the gates. Davey and Mike snap back into attention.
Davey: Mike! Go see if Talen is okay!
Mike nods affirmatively, immediately diving into a sprint.
Mike: I'm on it!
He dashes towards the stairs and swings himself over the railing. He barrels down the steps frantically.
Mike: Talen!
Mike: Talen! Are you okay?
Talen hangs over the side, trying to heave himself up while his body shakes.
Mike slides to a stop before him and immediately extends his hand. As Talen reaches out to accept it, Mike grabs hold of his wrist.
Mike: I got you, man. I got you.
Talen manages a smile through heavy pants.
Talen: Ha... thanks Mike.
With a mighty heave, Mike tugs Talen back onto the dock. While Talen catches his breath, Mike rubs his helmet, still bewildered by what just happened.
Mike: Fuck man... How in oblivion did you do that?
Talen's shoulders swell up and down as he sucks in needed breaths. He shakes his head, just as baffled as Mike.
Talen: I have... absolutely no idea.
Talen: Someone... Something... I don't know. It was under the water. It killed her and then shot her in the air. When I looked again it was gone.
Mike shifts his footing.
Mike: Well that sounds like crazy talk. But you know what, crazier things are happening to I'm inclined to believe you.
He extends his hand once more.
Mike: Come on. Lets let Davey know you're alright.
Davey: I'm sorry, Vorn.
Davey sighs. He stares at his old friend and feels that familiar feeling. Another loved one gone. It hurts a lot, but not as much as the first time. Davey isn't sure if getting used to this is a good thing or a bad thing.
Talen: Davey? Is Vorn...
Talen trails off as Davey nods his head.
Mike gestures to the bridge with a nod.
Mike: He didn't die for nothing. If he hadn't shot her you'd be dead Talen, as would all of us probably.
Talen sighs grimly. No matter the reward, the cost will always seem too steep.
Davey crosses his arms as they approach, his normal jovial aura gone.
Davey: Looks like it's just the three of us now. I'm sorry, Talen. Mike and I were too late to help.
Talen swallows and glances at Vorn's body.
Talen: Don't apologize. You did what you could. It's over.
Davey doesn't respond for a moment. He then chuckles halfheartedly, and points his thumb behind him.
Davey: It's not over yet. The main force is killing off the stragglers. What do you say about us killing a few of them? For Vorn's sake?
Talen and Mike nod in unison. Though they still can't manage a smile, they feel their hearts lift a little.
Talen: Let's do it.
Mike: Fuck yeah.
The trio sprints out the front gate, having to clamber over the mound of corpses that had accumulated on the inside. Outside, there are much less. A few daedra bodies are scattered inside of the makeshift defenses along with a couple of dawnguard.
What remains of their army stands on the other side of the defenses, weapon raised. What opposes them makes Talen's heart stop.
Isran: We slaughtered your army! We'll do the same with you!
Isran bellows out, his brazen confidence unmatched by his soldiers cowering at his sides. All of their eyes are locked ahead at a beefy, brutish daedra glowering at each of them. At his feet lies a dead vigilant. Behind him, a smaller force of daedra than the one that attacked Riften flaunts their drawn swords.
As soon as Isran finishes, the daedra responds abruptly. His voice is resounding and deep, like the roar of a bear.
Argus: I am not the same as that spawn, Ellia.
Argus: My name is Argus. One of the two commanders of Bal's armies. What you killed was a worm compared to me.
The soldiers shift nervously. From behind them, Talen can hear their gulps and the rattles of weapons on her hands.
Argus: Still. Somehow, you did it. I don't know how. You not only murdered her here, but erased her soul from Coldharbour. That is not an easy task.
Though there is a displayed anger is Argus' demeanor, he speaks calmly. He raises his hand, and points a clawed finger to the back of the group.
Argus: It was you. Back there. Yes.
Talen falters as the daedra addresses him. When all eyes turn to him, he grows rigid. But then he shakes it off. Fear is controlling them right now and it will continue to unless someone can supply courage. Argus just gave Talen the chance to do just that.
He straightens his shoulders and confidently marches through the center, bearing an assuring complacency despite the trepidation gnawing at him.
Talen: Yeah. That's right.
Isran: What? You were the one?
Celann: Talen?
Talen stops himself from gulping. It is taking every ounce of self control he can muster to keep from shaking. He clears his throat in an effort to make sure he speaks sternly instead of skittishly.
Talen: You should leave. You don't want it to happen to you too.
The threat only seems to amuse the daedra.
Argus: Heh. I know you didn't do it yourself, boy. You had help somehow and I know that whatever helped you cannot do it again anytime soon.
Argus: Completely eradicating a daedra requires quite immense power. Eradicating a daedra like me requires power beyond what you can fathom.
Talen: Then what is holding you back? Come at me!
The daedra shakes his head and chuckles.
Argus: I'm not like Erinye. I make my decisions only when I am completely confident and completely positive of the outcome.
Argus hefts his hammer, jutting it towards Talen as if it were a small stick.
Argus: Be glad she is occupied with her target right now, else you'd all be dead.
Talen: Whoever she is, she will end up just like you!
Argus ignores him and continues.
Argus: These spawns will deal with you instead. Should you kill them, congratulations.
Argus lowers his hammer and turns away. As he marches away, a portal materializes in front of him.
Argus: Should you die, count yourselves lucky.
Argus: You don't want to come across me again.
Talen huffs.
Talen: I'll see you then.
He watches the portal disappear with Argus without a word. His previous melancholy is consumed by a vexation. This is not going to be the end.
Vigilant: Oh gods...
Vigilant: We're going to die.
Carcette: Here we go again.
Dennis: I guess this is it.
Mike: I won't be missing Vorn for long.
Davey: I'll take as many down with me as I can.
Isran: Let's end this. One way or the other.
Talen: This is not how we end our tale!
Talen hollers to the soldiers around him. All the fear within him flees as courage fills him. He whips around, turning his back to the daedra now stomping forward, and looks at each and every one of his comrades.
Talen: We didn't claim this victory only to have it taken away from us!
Talen: We won here to prove to the daedra that we are not so easily crushed!
Talen: That's a lesson we taught the last foes we faced.
Talen: These bastards just haven't learned it yet!
Talen: So let's teach them the hard way!
He whips back around and raises his fist.
Talen: Show them why we are the survivors! Show them that we-
Talen cuts off...
Talen: What the...
...as he hears a ferocious roar.
Olivia: It will be done, seamstress.
Olivia removes her finger from the leather cover, cutting the connection. The link can only be activated with the seamstresses will anyway. Olivia has no method of communicating with her controller unless given express permission. Every other time, the link is only one way.
Olivia faces the crowd and raises one hand. Though they were already silent, her gesture somehow makes the air around them even more tranquil.
As the hush settles, Olivia smiles. It is time to begin.
Olivia: Children. We are the children of the divines.
Olivia: Small and fragile, we must be nurtured; cared for. We are more than protected by the divines. We are cherished. Like every mother and father, they have a responsibility to teach us, help us grow, and guide us to prosperity through their discipline.
Olivia: And we have the responsibility to graciously accept that.
Olivia: We have failed.
Soft gasps mutter from the crowd.
Jala: What...
Ciraeya: No...
Olivia doesn't slow down. She raises clutched fingers like talons and proclaims her words even louder.
Olivia: The strong few outweigh the weak many.
Olivia: There are those who seek the burden of a throne.
Olivia: With armies of metal and the enslaved, they will wreak upon our world a havoc not seen for centuries!
Olivia: There are those who wish to claim a destiny,
Olivia: And those who wish to escape one.
Olivia: With powers beyond comprehension, they will devastate us!
Rikke: Oh my...
Aldis: What in oblivion is she talking about?
Olivia: But above all, one group has failed the most.
Olivia: Mankind.
Talen: What the...
Olivia: We are rebels! We disobey the divines!
Olivia: We put our word against theirs! We seek the aid of evil to benefit our lives!
Olivia: We have disgraced those who gave us life.
Olivia: But we have not lost our chance for forgiveness. We can still claim redemption!
Olivia: In their ultimate compassion, they have sent us a harbinger of their word.
Olivia: By allowing him to commence the divine's vision, we can atone!
Orc: What is that?
Olivia: We must accept their gift!
Olivia: We will bathe in the warmth of their holy flame!
Olivia: The suffering cold will ail us no more!
Olivia: By the fire of their champion, our lives will be snuffed.
Olivia: He comes for us now!
Olivia: To burn our cities, to slaughter our loved ones, and to destroy this world we call home!
Olivia: We are small and fragile! We are not worthy of being nurtured and cared for!
Olivia: Instead we will perish in fire!
* * *
Talen cannot find the words to speak.
Every single one of the daedra is dead...
...by a small pack of werewolves.
Celann: What just happened?
Isran: I... I have no idea.
Carcette: They aren't moving. Why are they not attacking us?
Voice: Because I told them not to.
A unanimous gasps emanates from the soldiers as a lone figure strides from the bushes.
Voice: I don't mean to scare you. I only brought a few. The whole army would send you scurrying.
Voice: These daedra though, they really aren't as strong as you think.
She steps over one of the corpses smoothly, running her fingers over the snout of one of the werewolves as she does.
Voice: Combat ability means nothing if one is caught by surprise.
Voice: Hunters are excellent at that sort of thing, wouldn't you agree?
She bends over and slides her hands around a discarded helmet.
Voice: It's something you all could learn to do.
She stands up. She holds the helmet high in her hands, just in front of her face.
Voice: I know you want to believe you can win this war by yourselves. But that frankly just isn't possible.
Voice: You will need help from those like me.
Talen didn't realize he has been holding his breath. Sucking one in with a loud gasp, he manages to croak out a faint response.
Talen: You... You saved us.
Taeyva lowers the helmet and smiles.
Taeyva: I did.
Taeyva: I'm sorry I'm late, Talen.
Taeyva: I won't be from now on.
Taeyva: Because I came here to help.
Taeyva: We have a war to fight.
End of Chapter Three.
Act Seven Index:
Author's Note:
Thank you. To you, reader/fan/lurker/friend/whoever you are. I know I already thanked you in the pre-spiel, but when I typed out "End of Chapter Three" I felt a surge of emotion and just had to say it again. This started over one year ago as just an idea and a little bit of inspiration. The Frost of Ages was just a small project, but has blossomed into one of the biggest parts of my life. While it is unfortunate that it will be on break for the time being, content will continue. Going forward, I am going to finish Collygon's Poser V3 then I am working on other mods/stories and preparing Chapter Four. I want to overhaul my game with better textures, visuals, etc. To start off, I will be going over and giving everyone a unique face and updating the current ones. I will stay true to their current look, don't worry, but I do want to make them less blocky and, to be honest, more sexy, haha. In addition, Davey, Mike, Argus, and Erinye will FINALLY be getting faces. No more cheating with helmets. I know Davey does "technically" have a face already (it is just a vanilla face revealed at the end of chapter two), but he has a big part to play in Chapter Four and I want him to be special. Want a hint? Well I won't give it here, but it has been foreshadowed a little.
Also, regarding the poser, probably around 70%-90% of the poses you saw in this part were custom. All of Olivia's poses were custom during her sermon and also Taeyva's at the end. The battle in Riften was 99% custom posed (excluding maybe four or five poses), from Vorn being stabbed to Talen tackling Ellia to Davey running down the rooftop. As usual, they are all in the running consideration for Collygon's Poser V3. So if any stood out and you would like them included, let me know.
I'll see you guys soon. Peace!
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