Practice of Telvanni Magic: Epilogue

  • 13th of Rain’s Hand, 4E 204

     

    An Orc came running towards Bulwark right around noon, closely followed by a small blue creature, which only made the Redoran guards scratch their heads, uncertain what to do about them when the Orc began pounding on the gate. He seemed like he was running from something, but they couldn’t see anything on the horizon and maybe they thought he was running form the blue creature, but the creature was pounding on the gate too.

     

    So one of the guards went to the gate and opened it, stopping the duo with a raised hand. “State your business,” the guardsmer said in a neutral voice, staring at the creature. “And what is this?” The guardsmer was stationed on Solstheim just few months ago, and he never saw such a creature in his life. Looked like a goblin to him, but smaller and blue.

     

    “That’s my...pet,” the Orc answered after a moment of hesitation. “And I’m in a hurry, so if ya’d be so kind and just let me go?”

     

    The Redoran frowned in his helmet, hesitating. He knew Captain Veleth wouldn’t be happy about an Orc running around Raven Rock with a blue goblin, and so he began shaking his head. “I have to report this to Captain Veleth-”

     

    He started, but the Orc waved his hand and said: “You don’t have to report this to Captain Veleth.”

     

    “I don’t have to report this to Captain Veleth,” he repeated, actually feeling that the Orc was right. Veleth had been very unpleasant since the attack, and this seemed like one of those cases that would only make him annoyed.  

     

    “Ya will let us through because I’m just an Orc and this is my pet,” the Orc said.

     

    “I will let you through,” the Dunmer nodded and stepped to the side, allowing them entrance to the city, shaking his head in confusion.

    Grulmar ran through the tunnel under the Bulwark as if he had the flames of Oblivion at his heels, looking back only to urge Mahti to keep up with him, the full sack on his back jumping up and down, constantly hitting his back because he forgot to tighten the straps.

     

    He ran all morning, his face covered with sweat, his bleached college robes were soaked in it. What other choice did he have but to run? Fate was a fickle bitch, and this was the best option he had. He took a sharp turn around the corner, his eyes resting on the ship at the dock and he sighed in relief when he saw it was ready to set sail. I knew I could count on ya, Shiny.

     

    The Orc looked back, noticing Mahti standing behind him, staring at the buildings around them and he grabbed the Riekling by his shoulder and began pushing him towards the ship. “No time for sightseein’!” he barked, which only seemed to confuse Mahti even more.

     

    Äelberon was standing on Northern Maiden’s upper deck, watching him with raised eyebrows as he jumped on board, looking a little amused. “Salt-Sage!” the Orc shouted. “Salt-Sage!”

     

    The Nord appeared from the lower deck, grimacing at Grulmar when he recognized him. “You? You’re the reason for all this fuss?” The captain then looked at Mahti and raised his eyebrows. “And what in Shor’s beard is this?”

     

    The Orc grabbed him by his collar and growled: “Get this tuskin’ boat to sea already, or do I have to tuskin’ push it myself?”

     

    “Grulmar, Grulmar,” the Altmer stepped in, easily pulling him away from Gjalund and fixing the collar of the Nord’s shirt. “Take it easy, son. We will be leaving in short notice.” He raised his eyebrows in a question and the eyes probed the captain. “Am I right, captain?”

     

    The Nord nodded and immediately began ordering his crew around, while Äelberon ushered Grulmar to the ship’s fore. The Orc was breathing heavily, his muscles twitching and his hands trembling. He was too agitated to sit down or even calm down, he just wanted to be gone from this damn island already.

     

    “What happened, Grulmar?” the Altmer asked.

     

    Grulmar had something snarky on his tongue, but when he looked at the Altmer he sighed, swallowing the response instead. He began pacing back and forth. “Bloody tuskers! That’s what happened. Ya know why they wanted to talk with me? ‘Cause they believe I’m their mothertuskin’ prophet or somethin’. His damn prophet! Wanted me to come with them and unify the Orcs - yeah, sure, why not, no pressure, right? Shit! I should have known he wouldn’t let it go just like that! Glorified dickhead! He just can’t take no for an answer. Aarrgghh!”

     

    “He? You mean-”

     

    “Yes!” the Orc growled. “Yes, the one and only. Who do ya think was pullin’ the strings all along? Him and the other heap of shit, fightin’ over their toy.”

     

    “Grulmar. Calm down. We are leaving, see?” the Altmer pointed at Raven Rock, which suddenly began growing distant as the oars started pushing them out of the harbor. “Do not worry, little one,” he heard Äelberon calming down Mahti who surely had to feel out of his element, sailing over the big salty puddle as he called it. “Pruzzah, remember?”

     

    “Prrrruzzaaa,” Mahti repeated with a giggle, but Grulmar couldn’t force himself to smile. He watched Raven Rock getting more and more distant, and he could even make out Tel Mithryn, he was so far from the shore now.  

     

    He didn’t want to leave. He had been prepared to call this strange place his sanctuary, his hideout, now that everything was over. And He had taken away even that from him, by sending His minions to snatch him like a bag of potatoes and drag him to their damn city of Orcs.

     

    Grulmar felt the exhaustion spreading over his body, unable to stand anymore and he sat down on the deck, leaning against the handrail. Serana then showed up and gave him a look, smirking.

     

    “So what did you bungle this time?”

     

    “He actually didn’t bungle,” Äelberon replied.

     

    “Oh. ‘Cause you warned him,” she grinned.  

     

    The Mer nodded, “Aye, that I did.” He sat down next to Grulmar, motioning for Mahti to sit down as well. But the Riekling was more interested in watching the water pass by the ship - even though it was really the opposite way. For someone so small, he certainly had too much energy, because Grulmar was exhausted, while the Riekling seemed full of energy. “What happened, lad?” Äelberon asked. “Did you play Burn with them?”

     

    “Ya know me too well, for yer own good, Shiny,” Grulmar murmured, closing his eyes. “I invited them for dinner. I talked with them and that’s when the bloody fanatics began rammin’ their bullshit down my throat.  How I was the chosen one to unite the Orsimer and make them rise from the dust as a nation and bla bla bla bullshit!” Grulmar was growling again, the whole thing just making him too angry. “A prophet, my arse. Me? Ridiculous! Just as their tuskin’ belief in strength, honor and unity - they can keep it and choke on it for all I care.” He paused for a second, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I poisoned their food. They’re goin’ to sleep for more than a day. Heh,” he then suddenly chuckled. “Can ya imagine Neloth’s face when he finds them in the steward’s house? Tusker probably won’t even notice I’m gone, he’ll be just happy he has more subjects for his experiments.”

     

    “So you are running once again,” Äelberon observed, keeping his voice low. “I understand it,  but, Gru, I am not sure if you can run forever.” He shook his head when he studied the Orc’s weary face. A bear paw of a hand then found Grulmar’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring pat. He remembered pushing that hand away a year ago, but no, now, it was a welcome gesture. “No, let’s leave it at that for now, eh? Had a lot thrown at you. We have time to talk. I have spoken with Captain Gjalund and he said that another ship from Skyrim isn’t due to arrive at Raaven for more than two weeks. That ship will be heading to Solitude, making a stop at Dawnstar. You will have a substantial head start and they will have a difficult time following you.”  

     

    “Good,” Grulmar murmured, sighing. “Speakin’ of Gjalund… How much did ya give him to make him leave now? That couldn’t have been cheap. I...borrowed some money from Neloth, which he has no idea about-”

     

    The Altmer stopped him from reaching for the pouch with the coins, shaking his head. “Keep it, you will need it more than I, I think.”

     

    “Come on, Shiny, I just want to repay ya-”

     

    “I insist.”

     

    “Fine,” Grulmar snorted. “Stubborn old fart.”

     

    “Are you still surprised?”  Serana chuckled, sitting down next to them.

     

    Grulmar rolled his eyes. “I shouldn’t be.”

     

    Her hand found his other shoulder and she gave him a shove. “So what now, Bungler?”  

     

    The Orc grimaced and then shrugged. “Don’t know, didn’t think it really through, ya know. Maybe… I don’t know.” He looked at them and then sighed. Of all the tuskin’ people y’are about to ask.  “Could I stay at the homestead for a while? As ya said, I have a good headstart. They might not even know where to look.”

     

    “You are welcome at the homestead, always will be,” Aelberon smiled, the Mer then smirked. “On one condition.”

     

    “Damn, y’are startin’ to be like me, Shiny. What’s yer condition?”

     

    “Not really a condition, but you pulled some fancy magic at Kolbjorn. You think you could teach an old dog some new tricks?”

     

    “Me teach you?”

     

    “Only an arrogant mage doesn’t shirk an opportunity to learn. And arrogant mages quickly become dead mages. Yes, Grulmar Telvanni, I would learn from you.” The Altmer extended his hand. “Deal?”

     

    They shook hands. “Deal.” Yes. I wouldn’t mind that, Grulmar thought, but then he frowned, something poking his back. He shifted and reached into his sack, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.  

     

    “Something is wrong, Grulmar?” he heard Äelberon asking, but as if it was from a distance.

     

    “Once you leave ash and snow behind, look for Inkseeds.”

     

    He could hear that slow voice echo in his head as he removed his hand from the sack, leaving it there. When he was leaving Tel Mithryn he knew he didn’t pack it, he didn’t even touch it since the day he read it. He had left it in Tel Mithryn. So why in Oblivion was that Black Book in his sack? ‘Cause y’are not free. Mora doesn’t take a no for answer either.

     

    “Nothing,” he muttered. He vaguely heard the Altmer grumble back ‘nothin’, my arse’, but he ignored it, his eyes set on the island he was leaving behind. And somewhere on that island was buried his free will.

     

    Only power remained.

    “Where is that stupid Orc?” Neloth murmured, looking around his laboratory. He just figured out a new way to regrow lost limbs and he wanted the Orc to be his test subject only for that fool to disappear somewhere. In theory, the Orc was standing in the way of progress - or more, by not being present, he was halting progress and that was infuriating Neloth. How could be someone so irresponsible?

     

    He was forced to look around Tel Mithryn and neither the cook or Elynea had seen either his apprentice or his steward. How can both apprentice and steward be lost at the same time? Useless bunch of fools. The only place he didn’t look yet was the steward’s house and so he had to lower himself to walk over there. Yes, he could levitate, but he didn’t feel like it. The halt to progress had put him all out of sorts and he didn’t feel like casting spells. He would need tea later.

     

    He barged in without knocking and stopped in the doorway when he noticed three Orcs instead of one. They were all lying on the floor, sleeping, and Neloth narrowed his eyes.

     

    “Damn Orcs. They breed like rabbits…” he murmured, but then he raised his eyebrow as curiosity set in. There was only one and now there are three. Hmm… Did they perhaps multiply? Vivisection may be required.

     

    Well, at least this way he had more test subjects.

    Life isn’t fair.

     

    In one moment you have everything you ever desired, you feel safe and secure with what you have and not for a second do you consider the option that you might lose it. And then, in the blink of an eye, without the slightest warning, it’s all gone. Taken away.

     

    Why? Why is life so unfair?

     

    Maybe it wasn’t life, maybe it was the gods. But the gods never punished anyone, they didn’t give a shit about anything that happened in the cursed world they created.

     

    It just isn’t fair, Mogrul mused, staring at the stump of his left arm. The burned flesh was healing slowly, and he was still alive. Yet he wasn’t really sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

     

    The days after he crawled out of that cursed barrow were rough. He was delirious, stumbling through the ash, until he stumbled on a house half-buried in the ash, with its basement still intact. And empty.

     

    It was there where he cultivated his anger and resentment. There were echoes in his mind, remains of the Dragon Priest’s control over him, which made him hear and see things that weren’t really there. He was of a mind that he was spiraling into madness. And madness… well, that only amplified his hatred.

     

    Hatred for injustice.

     

    His thirst for justice.

     

    He lost his mind, he lost his arm. His money and his power over Raven Rock were taken away from him. His army shattered. Even his flail was stolen. But he still had his life, and as long as he had that, he would spend every breath he had left on making sure they all paid for his suffering. They would suffer in return, yes they would.

     

    There was still that armor, of course, resting in the corner, haunting him. Promising power, tainted by the distant whispers echoing through his skull. Scaring him to the bone, driving him crazy. Feeding his hate. He could get back into that armor and exact his revenge, but what if he lost his mind in the process?

     

    What if he already had?

     

    Names were constantly ringing in his head. Zahnirbildaar. Äelberon of Dusk. Grulmar Telvanni. Serana. Sapphire. Neriila. Venhen Ules-  

     

    “Yes?” a voice suddenly sounded and Mogrul jumped to his feet, his eyes immediately darting towards the armor in the corner. But he stopped when a shimmering figure stepped out of the wall above the armor and the Orc bared his remaining tusk in building anger.

     

    “I’m sorry, have I come uninvited? I knocked and then I heard my name,” the ghost of Venhen Ules rambled. “Oh, it is so good to see you, Orc. Well, not really, but you get the idea, I am sure. We have an unfinished business, remember?”

     

    He sharply turned around, prepared to make a run for the ladder leading back to the surface, only to meet the hard gazes of a Nord woman and one-armed Dunmer woman.

     

    “Do you remember what I promised you?” Sapphire bared her teeth. “I wanted to see you fall. I wanted everything to be taken from you first. I wanted you to suffer first. I wanted you to reach a point when you would want to die. I wanted you to fall and be forgotten. And here we are,” she said, pulling out her knife with a wolfish grin. “Nobody... will hear you scream.”

     

    And Mogrul screamed.

     

    He screamed and screamed until he couldn’t anymore, but they didn’t stop. They continued cutting, burning, and flaying even though he could no longer scream.

     

    They reduced his life to agony.

     

    And eventually...

     

    They took that away too.

     

     

Comments

6 Comments   |   A-Pocky-Hah! and 6 others like this.
  • Caladran
    Caladran   ·  May 28, 2018
    I love everything you wrote where and before. :) It was quite story that
    I really enjoyed to read. I love the way you wrote this.  I'm sure
    Grulmar's story will continue at some point and I thought you'd spare
    Mogrul, but I'm hap...  more
    • Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Caladran
      Caladran
      Caladran
      I love everything you wrote where and before. :) It was quite story that
      I really enjoyed to read. I love the way you wrote this.  I'm sure
      Grulmar's story will continue at some point and I thought you'd spare
      Mogrul, but I'm happy to see him die away. :)
        ·  May 29, 2018
      Thank you, Cal, for following the story. I appreciate it very much. Glad you enjoyed it.
      And yeah, more Grulmar in the future, more stories. Plenty of stuff to do and write. :)
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  April 21, 2018
    More dots! All the dots! AHahahahahahAH! It's so satisfying to start seeing the little puzzle pieces click together, fitting in place... almost as satisfying as having in my .

    And yeah, I've already said this before, but the character growth...  more
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  April 21, 2018
    Yep, more questions than answers, but it's a nice thing seeing the progression of Grulmar and Aelberon's relationship. I remembered the incidents at Chasing Aetherius and the anger in the first Practice of Magic. And when Albee's hand was on Grulmar's sho...  more
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  April 21, 2018
    And so it ends. Wonder what's next for our bungling greenskin friend? For an epilogue, you sure leave a lot of questions...
    • Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      And so it ends. Wonder what's next for our bungling greenskin friend? For an epilogue, you sure leave a lot of questions...
        ·  April 21, 2018
      Yeah, I guess I do. I would say because I can´t stop thinking about what´s next after this, so it might be why this is basicaly half a closure. But hey, at least one Orc got a closure, no? :D