Story of a Breton Farm Girl from Cyrodiil, Ch.03, part 20

• Posted by Eviltrain August 10, 2012 - 925 views

  12:20am, 25th of Hearth Fire, 4E201

  Erandur and Nephili entered the library and found a party of Orcs along with Vaermina's followers shaking off the dissipating Miasma. Spread out across the upper and lower levels of the library, the one's on the upper level awoke first and faced their enemies again, just as they had done years ago. The young Breton reached out to the priest who was all but ready to rush the sleepers. She spoke her doubts to him. "Are you sure they must die? Are they not just victims?"

  The priest looked to the young mage and back at the renewed chaos on the upper concourse. "Listen. I know what you're trying to say. Certainly the Orcs did not enter this place without just cause, but not only will their minds be gone but they will only be thinking to kill everyone they find in this tower. If we don't attack them using the element of surprise, they will overwhelm us. I ask you again to trust me. There is no other way."

  Holding his weapon, Erandur proceeded onto the central dais and swung at the nearest Orc fighting a worshipper. Towards the rear of the room, another fight had just ended with an orsimer triumphing against his enemy. The brute began to move around the perimeter to reach the dais and his brother.

  Nephili prayed to Julianos to forgive this horrid situation but hesitated not for an instant. She called forth her familiar and engaged the priest's target. The second worshipper fell under the orcs blade but then he too fell under Erandur's mace and Nephili's fire. The other Orc, already injured, quickly fell in his turn. The two magic users moved down to the lower level where a similar scene played out. The stench of burnt flesh and broken bodies tinged the filth covered room.

   

  ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... blood

   

  Breathing heavily, Erandur wiped his weapon against a dead worshipper and spoke to the Breton. "Barring any more interruptions, perhaps we can locate the information I need. Look for the tome bearing the likeness of Vaermina. It should be here somewhere."

  Searching the ransacked library required some effort and time. Once the tome was located, the priest swept away a table and placed the book upon its surface. "Let me take a look..."

  Nephili took a place next to the Dunmer's arm and studied the pages as they were turned.

  What a treasure of knowledge...

  The priest stopped to read a particular passage. "...Mara be praised! I was right, there is a way past the barrier. It involves a recipe for a liquid known as 'Vaermina's Torpor'. I had not seen its use before so I was not certain it could help. It grants an ability called 'The Dreamstride'; using dreams to travel distances in the real world. You'll view the past memories of another through your own eyes and with your own body. Those in the dream will perceive you as normal and you will find the words you utter may not be your own. Odd principles to be sure."

  The Breton perked up at this most unusual magics. "That's amazing! If it wasn't for conjuration, I would not think it possible, especially coming from the school of alchemy."

  Erandur smiled, only too pleased to talk to a fellow student of the arcane. "I assure you, the Dreamstride is well known in Vaerminian Lore. Sadly, I'll never be able to experience this magic first hand having sworn myself to Mara. The Torpor will only work for Priests of Vaermina, or the unaffiliated. in this case, you."

  The young mage registered his dilemma and tried to hide her anxiety for drinking strange potions but Erandur saw plainly her fears.

  "I understand your concerns but this is the only way. You'll have to drink. I swear upon Lady Mara that your body will be protected and if anything is amiss, I'll use my arts to bring you back. Otherwise, the fate of Dawnstar lies in this endeavor. Once you allow me passage, I'll be able to destroy the daedric artifact using my knowledge as a former Priest of Vaermina and it will be done."

  The young mage nodded in understanding, if only to convince herself. I can do this. I'm sure if Tarerane or the Old Man were here, they would do the same...

  "So where can we find this Torpor?"

  "It will likely be in the laboratory down that hallway. Let us proceed."

  The priest and mage walked past the dead and into the next passageway.

   

  ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... blood

   

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  2:35am, 25th of Hearth Fire, 4E201

  Just like the library, the laboratory also had sleepers, both Orcs and worshippers and much like before, a battle ensued. Afterwards, the two intruders searched for and found an intact vial of Torpor and brought it back to the main passageway where stood the barrier. Erandur turned to face Nephili and handed her the tall vial. "So... I've taken us this far, but you need to guide us the rest of the way. When you are ready, drink."

  The young mage closed her eyes and breathed a ragged breath as she tried to shake her nerves.

  It will be alright. I'm only entering a dream.

  She opened the stopper and embibed the potion. Darkness began to creep into her peripheral vision and then swiftly closed its jaws over the world.

  She awoke in a dream. The edges of her vision were a blur, her mind made ephemeral. The colors were all wrong. She was at the bottom of the Temple and before her stood two men, a Nord and a Dunmer wearing the priestly garbs of Vaerminian worshippers. They spoke of being attacked by Orcs, their slim chances of survival and the threat of losing the Skull to their enemies. They spoke of releasing the Miasma. The Dunmer turned to face her.

  "And what about you, Brother Casimir? Are you prepared to serve the will of Vaermina?"

  "I've made my peace. I'm ready."

  "Then it's decided. Brother Casimir, you must activate the barrier and release the Miasma. Let nothing stop you. Brother Thorek, we must remain here and guard this Skull with our lives if necessary."

  "Agreed. To the death."

  "Then let it be done. Farewell, my brothers!"

  She ran down the hallway, away from the two men and the dais. She felt fervent and determined in her efforts. In the next chamber and the next after that, she saw worshippers fighting for Vaermina and Orcs fighting for revenge. After that was a sleeping chamber with more skirmishers and stairs leading up to the next level. She ran down a long hallway until arriving at her final destination.

   

  ... ... ... ... ... ... ... blood

   

  She grabbed the ring against the wall and pulled, damning every Nede and Mer in the temple to eternal slumber. As the Miasma poured forth, fear gripped her heart, melting her resolve. She realized this was not her dream, not here. She needed to get away, far away from this place.

  She turned to make her escape only to find a magical barrier in the way. Where did this come from? Looking past, she saw two Orc's lying on the ground and standing next to them was an aedric priest, a Dunmer.

  Strange. Did he come in with the Orcs? Was he here to stop her?

  The priest seemed to be motioning to her, yelling... something about the magical barrier.

  She turned back to look at the wall and there before her was a soul gem.

  Of course! It was feeding the barrier! But, why did she not see it before when she pulled the chain?

  No matter. Her escape was at hand. Reaching out, she grabbed the soul gem and broke the spell...

   

  The world, suddenly turned a deep, dark, vermillion.

  Nausea crippled Nephili's body as she fell to the floor. The remains of her last meal spewed forth, acid burning her nostrils and chafing her mouth. A wave of pain shot through her skull and then just as suddenly subsided. She wiped away her spittle as she felt the dizziness and the scarlet hues slowly subside. She blinked. Though her vision had returned, somehow the colors were wrong again. She looked up at the priest and remembered. This man was Erandur, a follower of Mara. They had come here to destroy the Skull of Corruption, to save the people of Dawnstar from Vaermina. She had traveled through a dream to find herself here. But 'here' was not right. 'Here' was not a reality she remembered.

  Because 'here', she was a vampire.

   

  ... ... ... ... ... ... blood

   

  3:00am, 25th of Hearth Fire, 4E201

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  Cursed is the man who dies, but the evil done by him survives.