Ancient Blood Ch 10

  • Ancient Blood Chapter 10

    Plague of Nightmares



       Sebastian and Jenassa enter the Windpeak Inn to find a group of frightened Nord  townsfolk gathered around a robed figure in the center of the room. “It’s a curse! It has to be. I-I have to get out of this town.” One woman exclaims. Looking her over, it’s easy to tell she is a lifelong miner of Dawnstar’s mines. “Ignir, Get a hold of yourself.” another woman says, “They’re just dreams… Please tell her, Erandur.” A Dunmer in a priest’s robe steps forward, “Listen to your friend, Fruki. They are just dreams, my dear. I assure you, it is quite normal.” Jenassa notices Sebastian’s eyes narrow as the Elf speaks. Ignir shakes her head, “It’s the same dream over and over again. You think that’s normal? It’s Evil, I tell you!” Fruki looks to the Priest, “Erandur, she has a point. You keep telling us no harm will follow these dreams, but they must be an Omen.” The Innkeeper speaks up, “Give him a chance to speak!... He’s trying to help us.” The priest steps back, “Everyone! Please! I’m doing what I can to end these nightmares… In the meantime, all I ask is  that you remain strong and put your faith in Lady Mara.”

     

       The crowd shuffles around and then separates. Sebastian and Jenassa make their way to the bar. “Things seem to be coming to a head in this village, Master.” Jenassa remarks. Sebastian nods, “Indeed… the Priest is trying to keep them calm, but there is nothing ‘normal’ about these dreams. I can feel the presence of Daedric magic covering this town like a blanket… These people are drowning in it… Amazing that bad dreams are the only thing they are experiencing… YOU THERE… Innkeeper.” The Innkeeper walks over, “Hello there. Need a room? Nightmares don’t seem to be affecting travelers.” Sebastian puts a few Septims on the bar, “We’ll take a room and some dinner. It’s been a long ride… See to our horses outside as well, if you could. They could do with some brushing and feeding.” The Innkeeper counts the gold, “Sure thing. I’ll show you to your room. Right this way.”

     

      Sebastian sits in a corner looking at his Flask as Jenassa finishes her meal. “You haven’t touched your wine, Master… or your blood… Anything I can do?” Jenassa asks. Sebastian puts the flask away and smiles at her, “No… I just have a bad feeling I can’t shake… That Priest is not what he seems.” Jenassa leans back in her chair, “How do you mean? You think he’s lying about being a priest...or lying about the nightmares?” Sebastian tilts his head, “Both probably… He is from Riften… I recognize the order of fish and sewage. The rest however… Mara did not send him. Ridding people of Nightmares is not within her sphere of influence… he is here of his own accord. He knows something.” Jenassa sits up, “Should I kill him?” Sebastian smirks, “Your bloodlust rivals that of any Vampire, my dear. No… Not yet anyway… he may be of some use… in fact, let’s offer him our ‘help’ in trying to solve Dawnstar’s troubles.” Sebastian gulps down the last of the blood from his flask then gets up and walks into the dinning area where Erandur stands. Jenassa watches from the door as Sebastian tries to charm the Dunmer. 

     

       “Good evening, Friend.” Sebastian says with a gentle smile. Erandur turns to him, “Yes, Sirrah?” “Did I hear right?” Sebastian asks, “The good people of Dawnstar are suffering evil omens? What, in Mara’s name,  is going on here?” Erandur replies, “The entire town is being plagued by horrible nightmares. They are all in serious danger. I’m afraid there is little I can do about it.’ Sebastian scoffs, “Don’t be ridiculous. Dreams are harmless.” Erandur bows his head and proceeds to explain his belief that this is the work of the Daedric Lord Vaermina. “I need to return to the source of the problem in Nightcaller Temple. Perhaps you’d be willing to assist me in that regard?” Sebastian narrows his gaze, “Return? You’ve been there before?” Erandur looks around, “I’ve already said too much. If anyone overhears… I would simply ask that you trust me and help me end Dawnstar’s Nightmares.” Showing no sign of disbelief, Sebastian says “Of course… if there is some way to help these fine folks, we must try. Just let me collect my traveling companion. She will be happy to help as well.”

     

       Sebastian returns to the room and Jenassa asks, “Are we really going to drag that fool along with us?” Sebastian shrugs, “I am certain there is something guarding our target. From the things he said, I believe he knows far more about what’s happening here than he is willing to admit. Besides, he’s a mage. Not a particularly powerful one, but there is a good store of Magicka in his veins…. He’ll be useful, one way or another. Come now, collect your things.” She shakes her head and grabs her bow, “Alright. I must insist however, if he gets in our way... he’s dead.” The pair joins Erandur outside where Sebastian throws up his hood and asks, “Okay then… Where to, Erandur?” “Follow me.” Erandur says, “It feels good to finally have a chance to help these people. Helplessly watching them suffer has been difficult.” Jenassa rolls her eyes and mumbles, “Sure it has…” Either not hearing her or simply ignoring her, Erandur points to a ruined tower on a hill overlooking the town, “That tower is our destination. The people around here call it ‘The Tower of the Dawn’.”



       On the climb up the hill side, Erandur gives them a brief description of the tower and what little he knew of its history. Jenassa found the ramblings to be annoying. Sebastian largely ignored the Priest. He instead seemed to be looking for something. Whether it was what he was searching for or not, a roar and the sound of pounding on the ground signals trouble approaching ahead. Three hulking brutes come into view and Jenessa shouts, “TROLLS!” as she draws her bow. Sebastian summons a Flame Atronach and a familiar as Erandur pulls an Orcish Mace from his hip wielding fire in the palm of his free hand. Sebastian smiles as this priest lunges at the beasts with nothing protecting him but his robes and some odd sense of faith in a Divine. The Dunmer takes several hard blows, but between him, the summoned creatures, and Jenassa; they bring the trio of Trolls down. Jenassa puts away her bow, “You are a damned fool, old man. Those creatures could have killed you.” While using a healing spell on himself, Erandur says, “I do not fear death, Girl. My soul is prepared for the end.” Sebastian looks back towards the tower and whispers, “Good to know…”Sebastian dismisses his creatures and when Erandur is ready they proceed to the tower.

     

       Upon reaching the tower's door, Erandur tells a tale of an Orcish war party attacking the tower, long ago. Unable to defend themselves otherwise, the priest of Vaermina unleashed what they called “The Miasma” before they were overrun. The Miasma would send it’s victims into a deep slumber and, as a side effect, slow the aging process. “The longer one is exposed to the Miasma, the more severe the effects.” Erandur warns, “Some were known to lose their minds entirely. Others…. Never awoke at all. I am unsure of what we will find when I unseal this place.” Erandur heads inside but Sebastian looks back to Jenassa, “You can stay out here if you want. I don’t need to breathe, but you…” Jenassa stops him, “If you are going in, Master. So am I. I am not afraid.” Seeing her conviction, Sebastian nods and opens the door.

     

        Once inside, they find a Shrine to Mara that Erandur had set up earlier, a few dead Skeevers, and rotting benches in a large room with no other exit visible. “This is NOT all there is to the tower…” Jenassa says, “There must be a way in from here.”  “There is…” Erandur says as he approaches a large wall carving of Vaermina, “Give me just a moment and I’ll have this open.” Erandur begins casting some unknown spell at the wall. Jenassa looks at Sebastian, “What is he… Master?” Sebastian’s eyes are focused on the floor, “.... It’s down there… I can feel it from here.” he whispers.

     

       The wall carving turns translucent and Erandur steps through the wall, “Now I can show the source of Dawnstar’s nightmares… Over here.” They follow him into the tower and look down  through an opening in the wall. “Behold,” the priest says, “The Skull of Corruption. The source of Dawnstar’s Woes. We must reach the inner sanctum and destroy it...Come.” As he turns away, Jenassa grabs her dagger intent on killing the priest. Sebastian stops her and simply shakes his head. Jenassa is confused but puts the blade away and they continue to follow Erandur to a mystical barrier and  a number of Orc bodies on the ground. The bodies begin to stir and the Orcs rise. Dazed and confused, the berserkers lash out blindly. They are put down with relative ease. Erandur approaches the barrier, “Damn it! The Priest must have activated this barrier when the Miasma was released.” “Looks difficult to breach.” Jenassa says. “Impossible, actually.” Erandur states. Sebastian looks the barrier over and just gives an odd smirk. “I must inspect the library for a way to bring down this barrier.” Erandur says. Sebastian folds his arms, “You seem to know a great deal about this tower, Priest of Mara.” Jenassa pulls her blades, “Start talking, Fetcher!” With a sigh, Erandur reveals that he was once a Priest of Vaermina at this Temple, but fled during the attack. He admits to returning in an attempt to redeem himself for his past life in this temple.

     

       With the truth aired, the trio continues through the tower. Jenassa whispers, “What was it, Master?” Sebastian looks at her, “Hm?” “Earlier” she says, “When you were looking at the barrier.” Sebastian shakes his head, “Nothing really…” They fight several more raging orcs and wild eyed priests before reaching the center of the  library. “Barring any more interruptions, Perhaps we can find the tome I need… It’s called the Dream Stride. It bears the likeness of Vaermina on the cover. If you will check above, I will check down here.” As they search the shelves for anything the Orcs had not burned, Sebastian pockets a few tomes that were not too badly damaged. Jenassa walks over, “I believe I found it… this foul creature can only be a Daedra.” They present it to Erandur and he studies it for a moment. “Mara be praised… There is a way passed the barrier… It’s called Vaermina’s Torpor.” He goes on to explain the potion’s function and use in the cult’s rituals. Drinking the potion can send the subject through the memories of another one and physically transport the subject to another part of the world. The hope is to  send one of them into the memories of a priest here and come out the opposite side of the barrier. Jenassa found it to be only a fool's ramblings, but Erandur is certain the potion works as described in the tomb. They move deeper into the tower to search the Laboratory for an intact bottle.



       Beyond several more of the Awakened, they find the lab. After clearing it, they set about looking for a bottle of the Torpor. Sebastian, again, pockets what is still of use, but does not find any bottles except for empty wine bottles. Seems the Priest of Vaermina were heavy drinkers. Jenassa finds an unmarked bottle with a foul odor and brings it back to Erandur, “Is this what you wanted?” Erandur inspects the contents, “That’s it! You found it. I’m relieved you found one intact… This place looks like it was ransacked by the Orcs. You’ll have to take us the rest of the way, my child… Drink.” Jenassa steps back, “What?” she looks at Sebastian. He shrugs, “Assuming it works the way the book describes, it will only work on Vaermina’s faithful or the unaffiliated… Erandur has promised himself to Mara and I have my own patron deity… So, It won’t work for me either.” “Please hurry,” Erandur says, “The longer you wait the more harm Vaermina could be doing to those poor people.” Jenassa gets a look of disgust as she takes the bottle and gulps down the foul sludge. She wobbles for a moment and then suddenly stops. Jenassa begins losing color and slowly vanishes from sight.

     

       Sebastian reaches for Jenassa, but finds only air, “Where… Where is she…” Erandur mutters, “Incredible…” Sebastian turns, “Where is Jenassa?!” The Dunmer shakes his head, “The potion was filled with the memories of the priests here. She could be anywhere in the tower or any place the priests had been in their lives. It depends on the memory she latched on to.” Sebastian begins stepping slowly towards the Elf intent on ripping his head off when they hear the barrier drop. They run back to the blocked off passage and find Jenassa holding the gem that was projecting the barrier. “Jenassa... What happened? Where did you go?” Sebastian asks. She drops the gem, “I’m not sure… I saw… I saw the attack. As if I were really there.” Sebastian looks Jenassa over to see if there are any lasting effects of the Torpor. Erandur steps forward, “We must return to our mission and put an end to the skull. Once and for all.” Sebastian only glares at the Priest. “I’m fine, Master.” Jenassa says, “Really. I’m fine. Let’s finish this.” They push on…



       Through several more passages, they delve into the bowels of the tower. They kill several of the Orcs and Priests as they go until reaching the central chamber. The Skull of Corruption sits atop a large altar with an otherworldly barrier around it. The evil within can be felt in the air. A pair of Priests show themselves. The last of the cult remaining. Erandur recognizes them and they recognize him, though it be by a different name. They banter for a moment, but Sebastian’s patience for these mortals has reached its end. He snaps his fingers and Jenassa throws her blades into the Priests chests piercing their hearts. The two drop dead. Erandur looks down, “Wha… you killed thACK!!!” A hand bursts from Erandur’s chest holding his heart, Erandur hangs lifeless on Sebastian’s arm. He drops the Elf’s heart, “Thank you for your assistance, Priest of Mara… I’ll take it from here.” and flings the body against the wall.

     

       Looking down at Erandur’s body, Jenassa says, “He was a mage of some skill, Master. Seems a shame to let all that blood go to waste.” Sebastian takes off his hood and gauntlets, “His blood is filled with the poisons of Vaermina and his mind is addled by the rantings of Mara… I would sooner feed on a diseased horker… Stay there.” Jenassa looks at him, “Master?”  Sebastian feels his way around the barrier protecting the Staff then steps back slowly several feet. He rolls up his sleeves, “Time to see just how much of my power has been restored… You wanted to know what I found so amusing...” Dark energy begins to smolder up from his body, his eyes flare with an unholy light, and electricity jumps between his fingertips. Sebastian slowly swirls his arms around and chants in a language Jenassa has never heard before. Cupping his hands in front of him, the electricity and dark emissions converge into his palms as he draws them to his side. A deafening sound erupts when Sebastian shoves his hands forward and a maelstrom of Magicka floods out of him directed at the barrier. Jenassa drops to her knees holding her ears trying to block out the howl of magic ripping through the chamber. The barrier trembles and pulses under the strain until the barrier cracks releasing a massive implosion of Daedric power.

     

       The chamber goes quiet as the air is filled with smoke and dust. Jenassa waves her hands in front of her, “Master?… Master?!........ SEBASTIAN!!!” She stops when she sees glowing blue eyes in the smoke. Slowly, the room clears and she sees Sebastian holding the Staff. His robes are in tatters and the air around him still hums with power. “M-Master… are you… Alright?” she asks. He is silent for a moment then his eyes fade back to their usual red hue. He tosses the staff to Jenassa, “Stuff that in my Saddle and bring the horses up here… I’ll meet you at the entrance to the tower, shortly.” Sebastian starts walking. She just looks up at him, “Where are you going?” Sebastian stops, “I could smell imperial blood in the air and could hear the clank of a smith’s hammer when we got here... Probably what attracted the trolls. There’s a camp somewhere over the ridge… and I am ever so hungry now.” Then he vanishes into the dark of the passage leading out.

     

       Jenassa sits on the ground of a dead tower holding a demon lord’s staff. She looks up to the altar and back to the staff. That barrier was not generated by some odd gem stone crafted by a demented cultist. That barrier was generated by the power of a Daedric Prince. A being of incomprehensible power. Her mind reels at the implications of what she has seen tonight. She stands and looks back down the passage whispers with a quake in her voice, “....Master?” It has been a long time since she has felt this sensation. It takes a moment for her to recognize it… Fear...

     

     

    The Story So Far:

    Ancient Blood Ch 1   Ancient Blood Ch 2   Ancient Blood Ch 3   Ancient Blood Ch 4   Ancient Blood Ch 5   Ancient Blood Ch 6   Ancient Blood Ch 7 Ancient Blood Ch 8   Ancient Blood Ch 9   Ancient Blood Ch 10   Ancient Blood Ch 11   Ancient Blood Ch 12   Ancient Blood Ch 13   Ancient Blood Ch 14   Ancient Blood Ch 15   Ancient Blood Ch 16   Ancient Blood Ch 17   Ancient Blood Ch 18   Ancient Blood Ch 19   Ancient Blood Ch 20   Ancient Blood Ch 21