Ugolin, memories out of sequence. The Atronach

• Posted by Paws March 31, 2013 - 1,021 views

  A perpetual mist surrounded the great stone cricle, a result of steam continuosly issuing from geysers beneath the volcanic tundra. A smell of sulfer hung thickly in the humid air, small pools of ground water rippled with the soft tremors under foot. The area had a denuded beauty, it's dull colours a stark contrast to the lively splendour of the Fall Forest farther south.

  Ugolin could almost feel the spirit of the Atronach exuding from the centre of the Standing Stones; a fierce primal force of a kind that may have permeated Nirn in the deep gulfs of time long before man or mer roamed her surface. Great, unrefined power could be harnessed here by those who knew the secrets and were willing to pay the price.

  And that price was steep. Yet he hadn't travelled many miles, faced countless dangerous and life changing situations only to turn back now. So with a final glance at the barren terrain, Ugolin passed through the only opening to the monolithic structure.

  

  Placing his hands upon the Stone's surface and feeling the primordial energy intensify, Ugolin concentrated and allowed his consciousness to dift away on lines of power radiating  from the Stone and spreading across Skyrim's landscape.

  It felt as though a void had opened up beneath and around him, earthly sounds draining away as if sucked from the world by a vortex. The afternoon sun overhead disappeared amongst constellations unimaginable distances away, leaving only the glimmer of remote starlight to illuminate the darkness; pin pricks in the wall of creation.

  To Ugolin it seemed like a glimpse into the deep past when the realms of Oblivion were young and the elemental spirits were the only beings there existing. Revolving slowly in this ocean of time, his eyes adjusting to the gloom, Ugolin could see all the constellations appearing , gaining brightness in the distance; The Atronach the most brilliant of all.

  The tears the antediluvian spitits - the et'Ada - had made in Oblivion when departing Mundus made up each individual star of the Sign, together and forever leaving an impression, a spirit, which shone through from Aetherius.

  

  In this immense abyss Ugolin felt as if the Stone was the only solid thing anchoring him to the physical realm. He could feel a small amount of the Atronach's prehistoric essence flowing from the glittering star pattern, trying to enter and merge with his own life force. All he needed to do was choose whether to accept or reject the power and curse it would confer.

  The decision made, the compact struck, Ugolin released his hold on the Stone as reality flooded back in an instant. Light flared high into the heavens and briefly played across the surface of the Stone, a glowing map of it's parent constellation vast distances away.

  No time had passed. The world looked, sounded and smelled the same; Magnus occupied the same position in the slightly cloudy sky. Yet Ugolin himself felt profoundly changed. He could feel the Atronach within him increasing his attunement to the rays of Aetherial energy streaming from the cosmos, acting as a guardian and potential sponge against hostile energy harnessed by others.

  Yet this magical osmosis worked two ways and came with severe consequences: his ability to focus magical energy felt filtered and slow; and his power to open a conduit to Oblivion felt screened. Ugolin knew offensive magical attacks could no longer be sustained and extreme mental effort would be needed to summon elemental allies. Could he do that in battle whilst under pressure and focusing on other things?

  Slightly dazed but elated at his new power, Ugolin turned his back on the now dorment Stone and started north towards Windhelm. From now on, Ugolin realised, he would need a solution to that problem, the same sort of crutch a mage of lesser talent would use.

  He would need to obtain a wizard's staff.