Agents of the Queen Part 5- An Elder Scrolls Online tale

• Posted by Tenebrous January 8, 2016 - Filed in TSC: Long Story - 1,464 views

  An Undead Wardrobe

   

  Ian S. McClure

   

  The camp was in ruins- overturned and broken tents accompanied the unlit, cold pile of logs and the abandoned academic texts. We had a long journey to get to the Temple of the Mourning Springs- it was, of course, on the opposite side of the island from the Shattered Shoals, and it had taken Elereth (who has recovered from the attack of the giant serpent) and I a few days to get there. But now, we were here, investigating a supposed uprising of the undead, mentioned by Ealcil and Razum-dar back in Eagle's Strand.

   

  “Please, a moment.” said the mage, startling us both as we turned. She was, like Elereth, a young Bosmer woman, but where Elereth was clad in medium armor and carried a bow, this spellcaster was dressed in the robes of the Mages Guild, and wielded a Restoration staff. Her hair was red and styled to the back, and she was short- even by Bosmeri standards.

   

  “What's your name?” I asked her.

   

  “Gathwen.” she responded. “Please, I need your help. My master's life is in danger!”.

   

  I looked to Elereth quickly. She asked impatiently, “Well, what happened?”.

   

  Gathwen sighed, clearly anxious. “I'm part of a Mages Guild expedition from Eagle's Strand. While we explored the Temple of the Mourning Springs, the dead began to rise. The others fled, but my master, Rurelion, never emerged. Rurelion taught me to know when to ask for help. Well, I'm asking.”. I nodded, agreeing to help the woman- after all, if we found this Rurelion, perhaps he would know the cause of the undead at the temple.

   

  We didn't have to go far before we encountered trouble. A skeleton, with yellowing bones and empty eyes, approached us by the entranced. I noticed Elereth shudder- luckily, I had much experience with the undead during my imprisonment in Coldharbour. What differentiated this skeleton from the others I'd seen was that a strange black aura surrounding it. It observed us for a few moments, then spoke.

   

  “Hm… You have such intricate stitching...”. I had no idea what it meant. It continued, calmly: “Turn back. You aren't welcome here.”.

   

  “Who are you?” Elereth asked, not without a hint of fear.

   

  He- for it was definitely a 'he'- responded: “I'm whatever I wish to be. I change bodies like High Elves change clothes, though the corpses in this temple limit my wardrobe… What does it matter to you? Why do you trespass?”.

   

  Gathwen spoke up, more bravely. “We're looking for my master, Rurelion.”.

   

  “Ah, the name for my newest outfit.” the skeleton said. “”His flesh sags a bit, though the power in his bones reminds me of my youth. And the robes… I'd forgotten the feel of silk upon newly won flesh.”.

   

  We- Gathwen, Elereth and I, looked at each other. Nobody knew what in Auri-El's name he meant. Finally, Gathwen spoke up. “Release Rurelion immediately.” she demanded.

   

  The skeleton- or whatever inhabited the skeleton- sighed. “I tire of this. Leave or die. It matters not.”. With that, the skeleton collapsed, an inert pile of old bones once more.

   

  Gathwen instructed us on what to do next. There were two magical ward stones in the temple courtyard, blocking access. Once they were both triggered, the ward around the door would disincorporate, allowing us to enter the temple and find Rurelion, to free him from whatever evil had captured him.

   

  “A simple plan.” I said with a smirk. “What could possibly go right?”.

   

   

  The skeletons' arrow whistled past my helmeted head, embedding itself into the stone beside me. “Keep them away a little longer!” Gathwen cried, as Elereth returned fire. But her arrow simply went between the ribs of the skeleton. I shield-bashed another assailant, and it's skull went flying through the air. That's the problem with skeletons- kind of fragile. I raised my shield, and advanced towards the archer, blocking another arrow. And with a swipe of my blade, it's skull was off as well.

   

  Elereth sighed with relief. “That was the last ward, right?” she asked Gathwen, putting her bow back on her back. She nodded wordlessly, leading us within the temple. Inside, there was four pillars with engravings of the two moons- and another warded door. I groaned.

   

  But, this was a test of intellect, rather than combat. It was a simple feat to activate the pillars in order of the lunar cycles. Once the second ward was down, Gathwen stopped us. “The barrier is down. But, before we proceed, I need to speak to you two. I won't let vague threats keep us from my master, but Rurelion is too important to lose. We should think before acting.”.

   

  “Why is Rurelion so important?” I asked, curious.

   

  “The Dominion relies on Rurelion for his sound judgment.” she explained. “He's taught countless students the ways of magicka- even some of the Queen's advisers. If anything were to happen to him…”.

   

  “We'll do what we can.” Elereth said.

   

   

  Upon going back outside, we were met with a curious sight. An old Altmer man stood outside, his back to us as he observed the temple. He too was dressed in the robes of the Mages Guild. “Wait, that's Rurelion!” Gathwen cried. “What's he doing up there!?”. The Altmer turned then- and I saw the same blackened aura surrounding him. This was not Rurelion.

   

  He spoke then, in the same voice as the skeleton before him. “Ears that large and you still don't listen? Perhaps you need a few alterations.”. He focused on us. Suddenly, Elereth clutched her head, groaning. As she did, I felt a foreign presence invade my mind- before leaving as quickly as it came, as though scared. Curious, but I had no time to reflect on this, for my companion was now surrounded by the same aura.

   

  “Elereth!” I cried raising my shield.

   

  The being- still using his own voice- spoke with Elereth's body. “There was a time when the sound of Uldor's voice commanded the terror of thousands. That time shall come again!”. Before he could do any harm as her, however, Gathwen fired a spell at my Bosmer partner, and she passed out.

   

  I ran to her, checking to see if she was alright, as the being- still using Rurelion- continued. “I am Uldor. I see your 'Dominion' teaches you nothing of my people. But, I shouldn't bemoan your ignorance. You fools ended centuries of captivity when you removed the Mourning Stone… Behold, this Rurelion fellow! Such vibrancy. I could use more like him, but one must be willing to run through a bolt of silk for the finest coat.”.

   

  “Release Rurelion immediately.” Gathwen growled, with surprising anger- an anger I now shared.

   

  Uldor chuckled. “Oh, I believe I'll keep him. At least until the summoning ritual wears him out. You see, undead are all so… beige. But I'm willing to wear hundreds of tawdry outfits in order to collect the more colorful garb at Eagle's Strand.”. I realized with horror what he meant- he meant to possess the whole fort!. Uldor cackled. “Now drown, in a sea of bones!”.

   

  Gathwen spoke as Rurelion floated up, the aura splitting and flying to various mounds of bone around the temple's inner courtyard. “Leave Rurelion for now, we have to disrupt the summoning ritual.” she said. “It'll take a moment to weaken the circle. Keep the undead away from me!”. I drew my blade once more, determined to do just that.

   

  The battle that followed was intense. Undead warrior after warrior charged us, only to fall at my sword's strike. Occasionally, one would get past my defenses and slash me, and my armor was beginning to wear from the relentless assault. Not only that, but I was getting tired- dangerously so. Every swing was exhausting, every blow painful. And then- no more. “Go.” Gathwen panted. “Help my master. I'm right behind you.”.

   

  Rurelion- not Uldor, but the mer himself, cried out at that moment. “Uldor! Get- out of my body! Now!”.

   

  But Uldor cackled, assuming control over the mer. “Silence! None command Uldor!”. With that, he went further into the temple. I caught my breath, and chased after.

   

  But within the temple, Rurelion took control once more. Forcefully, he said: “Uldor, I command you. By the Tears of the Two Moons, return to your prison!” With a cry, a spiritual being flew out of him, floating through a nearby door. “You're Gathwen's ally, yes?” he panted. I nodded in response. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Despite all my knowledge, Uldor's influence was absolute. I'd be little more than a puppet without you… No matter. As Uldor sensed my thoughts, I sensed his. He plans to overwhelm Khenarthi's Roost with an undead horde by the next dawn!”.

   

  “How is that possible?” I asked, awed and horrified.

   

  “Uldor was a powerful Maormer wizard.” he explained. “He learned to separate his mind from his body, even in death. He can 'wear' hundreds of mindless forms at once. Thankfully… I know a weakness. When Ealcil removed the Mourning Stone- damn that mer- he set Uldor free. Once again, Ealcil's sloppy methods are nearly the death of me. These gems-” here he showed me them, glittering and blue, “-they focus the Stone's power. If Gathwen recovers the Mourning Stones, we can restore his prison. Simple enough, I suppose?”.

   

  “But,” I asked. “Won't he try to possess me? Or you?”.

   

  Rurelion thought for a bit. “No. Not you, at least.” he finally said. “After he tried it, he became convinced that to 'wear' you would destroy him. But not even he knew why.”. I nodded, acutely aware of a possible answer. Had Molag Bal's machinations with my soul caused this?

   

  Before I could ponder it any further, Gathwen ran up to us, followed closely by a somewhat-dazed Elereth. Apart from her mildly unfocused eyes, she seemed in perfect health. I walked up. “Nasty scare, that was. Are you alright?” I asked. She nodded a bit, and so I turned back to Gathwen and Rurelion, the former speaking.

   

  “…won't let you throw your life away!” the Bosmer mage cried. When Rurelion remained silent, she turned to us. “Rurelion's plan is to let Uldor possess him! They'll both be sealed away in the tomb, forever. But he doesn't have to do this. I'll take his place.”. As Rurelion looked up finally, shocked at this, she continued: “Rurelion is too important for the Dominion to lose. I-I've made my peace. I'm ready.”.

   

  Rurelinon spoke up then. “That's madness. I've experienced so many summers. My greatest accomplishment was watching Gathwen blossom into someone who'll far surpass my own deeds… No, she must recover the Mourning Stone. You and I should confront Uldor.”. His eyes were calm, his voice even. I knew that he would willingly spend an eternity under Uldor's control if need be. I sighed.

   

  “He's right, Gathwen.” I finally said.

   

  Rurelion walked up to Gathwen then, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You can't do this, master.” she whispered, tearful.

   

  The old mer smiled. “The Dominion will thrive without me. It's far stronger than it knows.”.

   

  Gathwen let out a watery chuckle. “The Dominion, or me?”. She sighed. “Then I should recover the Mourning Stone. Farewell, Rurelion, I-I...”. She couldn't finish. Magical energies flowed out of her hands, as she opened a portal to Eagle's Strand. Gathwen warped away, looking back at Rurelion.

   

  “I know, Gathwen. I know.” he said.

   

   

  “You!” the spirit of Uldor cried. “I won't wear a poisoned outfit!” he snarled.

   

  Then, Rurelion entered the spacious tomb, a charming smile on his lips. “I've reconsidered what our combined power could do, Uldor.” he lied, clasping his hands together. “I willingly give myself for our benefit.”. The spirit grinned, and flew into Rurelion. “Hurry!” he cried, clutching his head. “Place the Tears of the Two Moons- the gems- in their pedestals!”. Suddenly, he scowled, an ugly thing, as the aura overtook him. Lightning splashed forth from his fingertips!

   

  I dodged, hitting the ground with a metallic clank. I scrambled to my feet as another magical bolt flew at me, running to the pedestal. More lightning arced to me, but I knew I would reach the pedestal. I placed the gem in the pedestal just as I was struck by the magic. A resounding sound hit my ears as my cuirass was ruined, a hole punched through it as my back lit up in unbearable pain. I blacked out.

   

  However, suddenly a warm light appeared in my vision, and I could stand, albeit clumsily. I looked to Rurelion. The same charming smile was on his lips. “Go, quickly.” he said. “I feel Uldor's weakness fade. Tell Gathwen of my plans' success. But don't mourn for me. I earned a useful fate. Few can say the same.”. I exited the tomb, hearing Uldor cry out. And then I closed the door.

   

  “It's done, isn't it?” Elereth asked groggily. “Rurelion is sealed inside the tomb with that monster?”. Gathwen sniffled, and I nodded.

   

  “I… I'll ensure the Mourning Stone remains guarded at all times. I'll make a report to the Dominion, so that they understand the threat.” Gathwen said, looking up. “No good comes from dwelling on the past. Rurelion yet lives, which means there's hope. He's a good man, a great man. I don't care how long it takes, I'll free him from Uldor.”.

   

   

  Outside, night had fallen. “So.” Elereth said, seemingly disappointed in herself. “First the snake, now this. When will I ever be useful?”.

   

  I chuckled. “Come now, Elereth, you're useful. I don't think any normal person could resist possession by Uldor.”.

   

  “You did it.” she said, grumpy.

   

  I sighed, rubbing my hands together. “About that. I'm not quite what you'd call… ordinary.”. I explained, then, how Molag Bal had claimed my soul during my time in Colddharbour, and how, by some small miracle, I had escaped.

   

  Elereth was silent for a long while. “No soul… I can't imagine that. How can a mer live without it? But it explains a lot. It explains the Anchors, for one thing.”. Noting the confusion on my face, she elaborated. “Giant machines- kind of like the Dwemer ones- that are pulling Tamriel into Coldharbour. They're popping up all over the mainland- even saw a few in Auridon.”. She looked at me. “I guess he's planning to steal the souls of all of us.”.

   

  I nodded. “I think that's his plan, yes.” I said. “But, you know better than anyone that there are many that won't accept that. They'll fight- to the end, to their very limits.”.

   

  “People like you?”. Elereth chuckled. We were silent for a while. “Razum-dar said to meet him at Mistral, right? It's not far from here. And from the looks of your armor, it's going to need serious repair. Or you could just buy a new cuirass. Either way, we should really visit the city. Kind of missing civilization.”.

   

  “Then at first light, we're off.” I said, rubbing my hands together, excited for what was to come.

   

  Well, that was quite an entry. I'll write once we reach Mistral, and meet with Razum-dar.

   

  -Ardolan Larethbinder

   

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