Agents of the Queen Part 25: An Elder Scrolls Online tale

  • Fall of a False Queen

     

     

     

    Ian S. McClure

     

     

     

    Why is it,” Elereth asked, as we approached the refugee camp outside Firsthold, “that Estre always attacks just as we arrive?”

     

     

     

    I'll be damned if I know.” I responded, frowning. She certainly did have terrible timing in that regard.

     

     

     

    Suhr looked around. “There are precious few survivors.” he said, grim. “We should see who is in charge, and offer our help.”

     

     

     

    I nodded. After a bit of walking, we found a Marine guarding the entrance to the grand city. “Hold there.” she said, stern. “The city is under siege.”

     

     

     

    We were sent to help.” I replied. I then said: “I am Ardolan, and my companions are Suhr and Elereth. We're agents of Queen Ayrenn.”

     

     

     

    She hummed. “Eyes of the Queen, you say? Thank Mara. We could use your help. The Battlereeve is in the city, along with the local Mages Guild, his soldiers, and other Eyes. There's some form of barrier around the castle, but they have a plan to bring it down.”

     

     

     

    How'd this happen?” Elereth asked.

     

     

     

    Our Kinlord didn't know of Estre's treachery. He let her into the city, and then the Daedra attacked.” the soldier replied, sighing.

     

     

     

    I put on my helm. “We'd best get going, then.” I said. “We'd better keep as low a profile as we can.”

     

     

     

    Mara keep you safe.” the Marine said, saluting.

     

     

     

     

    Inside the city, everything was chaos. The sky was the same blood-red shade as at Dawnbreak, multiple buildings were flaming, and Dremora were battling Altmeri forces everywhere. Luckily, they were preoccupied with the soldiers, so we could sneak by with little effort, using side-streets to our advantage. The few Dremora we did find were easily dispatched, for we took them by surprise. Eventually, we found our target.

     

     

     

    "Ardolan, the Mages Guildhall is just ahead!" Suhr said, pointing.

     

     

     

    "Good, let's find Urcelmo." I said, looking around for more Daedra before continuing.

     

     

     

    Upon arrival, the Battlereeve eagerly shook my hand. "You've no idea how relieved I am to see your group." he said. "We're holding the line; the Eyes, the Mages, and my Talon soldiers are more than a match for these Daedra." He looked up at the altered sky. "But it's only a matter of time before Estre starts to send more competent soldiers from the Deadlands."

     

     

     

    "The Deadlands?" Elereth asked.

     

     

     

    "The realm of Mehrunes Dagon." I explained, remembering the studies of my youth. "A horrible place, by all accounts."

     

     

     

    "Aye... There are two wards around the city." Urcelmo explained. "Destroy them; that'll let us cross the bridges, and storm the Oblivion Gates."

     

     

     

    "Oblivion Gate?" Suhr said, sounding shocked. "They've opened portals to these Deadlands?"

     

     

     

    Urcelmo nodded. "Giant brimstone structures appeared by the castle. The mages theorize they're stable gates to Dagon's world; the Daedra came out of them."

     

     

     

    "And what would we do, there? How would we destroy these Gates?" I asked.

     

     

     

    "We still don't know." Urcelmo admitted. "For now, deal with the wards. I'll send a runner once the Mages Guild figures it out."

     

     

     

    I sighed. "May the ancestors guide us. Tell me; you think we can save the city?"

     

     

     

    Urcelmo hummed. "Too soon to really say. Kinlord Rilis is missing, most of the civilians are dead or gone, and there's a lot of structural damage. But we can hope, aye?"

     

     

     

    "Well said!" Elereth said, grinning. "Come on, guys, we need to drop those wards."

     

     

     

     

    The wards were, surprisingly, not heavily guarded. "Suhr, scamp on your right!" I cried, parrying the Dremora's strike and beheading him. As Suhr slashed the beast's chest open, a hail of arrows took out another Dremora and a Clannfear. I briefly looked back; Elereth was in her element, firing off missile after missile. A Dremora tried to sneak on her, but she stuck an arrow through its eye before I could even warn her. The final Daedric soldier tried to rush me, but I attacked its legs before skewering its face.

     

     

     

    "Right. You have the fireflasks?" I asked Suhr, sheathing my sword.

     

     

     

    Suhr procured a bottle of bright liquid, and grinned. "Aye. Let us send Estre a very clear message, yes?" he said, before throwing it at the stones! They promptly lit up in flames, and we saw the magical barrier on the nearby bridge fade.

     

     

     

    "Nicely done." I said. "Let's get back to Urcelmo, see if—"

     

     

     

    "Not necessary, my friend." Razum-dar said, emerging from somewhere. "We know what to do with the Gates."

     

     

     

    "Raz! Didn't expect to see you here." Elereth said happily.

     

     

     

    "This one does have a tendency to pop up unexpectedly, yes?" he replied, before growing slightly more serious. "Now then. The Gates are powered by a 'Sigil Stone'. Your task is to find the stone within, and destroy it. That should disable the Gate and plop you back outside."

     

     

     

    "We're going to the Deadlands, then." I said. "Never a dull task as an Eye of the Queen, huh?"

     

     

     

    "Indeed. We do what is necessary." Raz replied. "Sneaking about. Killing those who do not deserve it. Riding a guar butt-naked through an Argonain temple..."

     

     

     

    "Wait, what?" I asked.

     

     

     

    "A tale for senior agents. One day he shall tell you, but not today!" Razum-dar said, suddenly merry.

     

     

     

    "...Right. Shall we go, Ardolan?" Suhr piped in.

     

     

     

    "Go. He'll meet up with you later. Bright Moons, yes?" Razum-dar said.

     

     

     

    We approached the gate, then. It was as Urcelmo described it: huge, a spiky black gate of stone. The interior was glowing a sickly orange; I knew that we had to go through to arrive in the Deadlands. "Ready, everyone?" I asked the group.

     

     

     

    "Ready. Let's go." Elereth said, determined.

     

     

     

     

    The Deadlands were even worse than I imagined. It is a place where lava runs freely over ruined structures, where flaming bodies are feasted upon by Daedra. “Dark Moons.” Suhr whispered, watching all of this.

     

     

     

    Right. Everyone stick together.” I said. “Watch for Dremora, or whatever else Dagon throws at us.”

     

     

     

    Cautiously, we advanced, making as little noise as possible. Eventually, we entered a cave, which was lit with a bright red, sourceless light. And in the distant end of the cave was a stone, emanating raw power. The Sigil Stone. I pointed at it, and wordlessly we moved to retrieve it.

     

     

     

    Fools! Auridon belongs to Lord Dagon now!” the massive Spider Daedra hissed, dropping from the ceiling.

     

     

     

    Immediately, I drew my weapon, aware of my companions doing the same! Suhr and I charged, though Suhr was faster. He slid underneath the beast, slashing its underside, as I attacked the front amidst Elereth's arrows. It snarled, and unleashed bolts of lightning at us; we all dodged them just barely. But as I landed from my roll, the Daedra picked me up, throwing me against the wall! I gritted my teeth; already I felt some of my bones had shattered from the blow.

     

     

     

    Ardolan!” Elereth cried, but I lifted a hand.

     

     

     

    I coughed up some blood, then gasped: “The Stone! Grab the Stone; it'll bring us back!”

     

     

     

    The Spider Daedra skittered towards me, claws crackling with more shock magic, but suddenly everything went white… And we were back at Skywatch. I collapsed on the ground, dimly aware of the lack of enemies; clearly, the Marines had prevailed against the remaining enemies.

     

     

     

    Ardolan!” Elereth cried again, highly upset. “Someone get—“

     

     

     

    I dug in my pack, grasping the soul gem, and focused. The feeling of my bones knitting was disconcerting, but not as disconcerting as Verolias' image suddenly flickering into my vision! He looked the same as when I last saw him; a young Altmer boy, with eyes determined yet sad.

     

     

     

    What are you...” I began, but he interrupted me.

     

     

     

    Estre is in the castle's portal.” he said solemnly. “You have to kill her. Then, I can move on...”

     

     

     

    I understood, then. Since I absorbed his soul to revive myself at the Veiled Keep, I had continued to feel his influence, occasionally reliving his memories. I thought it was a side-effect of using his soul like that, but I now knew that he stayed with me to ensure I killed the Veiled Queen!

     

     

     

    As he faded, Elereth placed a hand on my shoulder. “I forgot about the soul-gem thing.” she said. “Thank the gods for that.”

     

     

     

    I got to my feet with a grunt, noting Urcelmo and Razum-dar nearby with Suhr. “There's a portal inside the castle.” I said. “Estre's in there.”

     

     

     

    How in Phynaster's stride do you know that?” Urcelmo said, quirking a brow.

     

     

     

    Let's just say, there's plenty of people who want the former High Kinlady dead just as much as we do.” I said, deliberately cryptic.

     

     

     

    Well, the other portals were cleared. The castle is accessible…” Raz said thoughtfully. “This one will go with you. If Estre is there, we end this!”

     

     

     

    I go as well.” Urcelmo said, nodding. “Stars know how you work, Ardolan, but it'd be an honor to fight alongside you.”

     

     

     

    I looked at Elereth and Suhr, then. Both nodded as well. “Then Estre is already dead.” I said, to general cheering.

     

     

     

     

    There is a portal! You were right.” Elereth said, as we entered the castle.

     

     

     

    After you. You've earned it.” Razum-dar said, signaling to the portal somewhat dramatically.

     

     

     

    We all went through, seeing the sight. Estre stood on an island, in a sea of boiling magma. We crossed the bridge from the portal, and she watched us scornfully. “Ah.” she began, her voice magically amplified. “The lackeys of Ayrenn arrive. The servants of a wench queen and her allies of cats and midgets!” She laughed. “Did she really think she could just sail home and we'd all bend a knee!?”

     

     

     

    Elereth fired an arrow, but Estre merely stopped it mid-flight. “Give it up, Estre! You've already lost!” I shouted. “Or have you forgotten Torinaan, Skywatch, Vulkhel Guard?”

     

     

     

    Minor setbacks!” she shrieked. “I am the rightful queen of the Isles!” A blazing inferno began to rain from the heavens, as she continued: “And with the aid of Mehrunes Dagon, all will submit or die!”

     

     

     

    We all dodged the raining fireballs, which soon became flame atronachs. As I fought, everywhere I looked I saw my friends doing the same—Suhr a whirlwind of flashing steel, Urcelmo a brutal juggernaut with his mace, Razum-dar a dancing specter, and Elereth firing volley after volley of arrow. I took out two of the Daedra, and looked at Estre, who was busy channeling her magic, surrounded by an aura of flame. We couldn't reach her like that, and the atronachs would—slowly but surely—wear us down. But I had an idea.

     

     

     

    Keep them off of me!” I roared, before sheathing my blade! Everyone seemed confused, but did as I instructed. I closed my eyes, abandoning the sounds of battle, attuning myself to the void where my soul belongs. My body cried out for my lost essence, and I saw blue outlines of everyone present… Estre included. In my mind's eye, I reached out, and began to take hold of her soul, feeling it trying to worm it's way into me. I ignored it, focusing harder. She fought valiantly, but I was stronger, and I managed to grab her essence.

     

     

     

    And I tore it out of her body.

     

     

    I returned to reality, watching her crumple to the ground, dead. The flame atronachs dissipated as well. I looked around, noting that everyone was watching me. “What… Did you do?” Suhr asked.

     

     

     

    Estre won't be coming back.” I said simply.

     

     

     

    Urcelmo grinned, shaking my hand. “Then you are a true hero, Ardolan Larethbinder. Grab her Stone, let's get out of here.”

     

     

     

    As we exited the portal, the first thing I saw was Queen Ayrenn and Prince Naemon! “She's dead, isn't she?” Naemon asked, full of sorrow. “My wife is dead?”

     

     

     

    Ayrenn held her brother's hand as I said: “She is.”

     

     

     

    He sighed. “She was a traitor to the crown, and deserved nothing less. But I loved her, and will miss her dearly.” He sighed, shook his head, and stormed out of the castle.

     

     

     

    He will recover from his loss, in time.” the Queen said softly.

     

     

     

    My Queen, this one has to commend Ardolan. Without him, we would all be the dead ones instead, yes?” Razum-dar said with a smile.

     

     

     

    She nodded. “The city is saved, as is Rilis. You all fought valiantly; you all are heroes of the Aldmeri Dominion. With your help, our enemies will fear the Eagle's cry.”

     

     

     

    Elereth tapped my shoulder. As I looked at her, she grabbed my face and kissed me! “We've done it, Ardolan!” she said, overjoyed.

     

     

     

    I smiled as Suhr playfully punched my shoulder. “We have! Stars, it's a relief.” I said, suddenly tired.

     

     

     

    Ayrenn chuckled. “You're exhausted, aren't you?” she asked. “I'll arrange for a carriage to Skywatch. There is more to be done elsewhere, of course… But that comes later. For now, enjoy your victory.”

     

     

     

    Ah, no rest for the wicked, eh?” Suhr asked, as the Queen left with Urcelmo and Raz. He sighed. “This one does wish Lili was here to celebrate, however.”

     

     

     

    We all do, Raz.” Elereth said. “But she'll be fine. Probably will come with us on whatever comes next, too.”

     

     

     

    I hummed. “She probably will, yes. Her wanderlust is… Insatiable.” I added.

     

     

     

    Elereth grinned. “So, let's catch that carriage! I'm beat—can't wait to get to Skywatch again.”

     

     

     

    That makes three of us, I imagine...” I joked, to general laughter. “Come on, let's go.”

     

     

     

    That's all for this entry. Who knows when it is I'll next write, but until then…

     

     

     

    -Ardolan Larethbinder

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Comments

5 Comments   |   DeltaFox and 2 others like this.
  • Caladran
    Caladran   ·  August 4, 2017
    Well, I loved this story, even though you decided to abandon it.  I laughed and nearly cried while reading through the chapters. Well done!
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 7, 2017
    Sorry it took so long Tenebrous. 
    Heart felt moment about the wife yet distant as well. An odd feeling. 
    • Tenebrous
      Tenebrous
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sorry it took so long Tenebrous. 
      Heart felt moment about the wife yet distant as well. An odd feeling. 
        ·  July 10, 2017
      Naemon is definitely an interesting character, huh? Thanks for reading!
  • DeltaFox
    DeltaFox   ·  May 23, 2017
    Nice battle scene with a spider Dremora. I've waited for a new AotQ part for ages. Glad to see it's as amazing as the others.
    • Tenebrous
      Tenebrous
      DeltaFox
      DeltaFox
      DeltaFox
      Nice battle scene with a spider Dremora. I've waited for a new AotQ part for ages. Glad to see it's as amazing as the others.
        ·  May 23, 2017
      Thanks! I'm pretty proud of this part, actually. Glad you liked!