The image of the "Oblivion Gate" as Silus Vesuius had called the Daedric Oht letter, was etched onto the scabbard of Mehrune’s Razor with supernatural precision. Standing in the late Silus’ house and surrounded by Mythic Dawn imagery, Ugolin examined the artefact, whilst recalling his conversation with the Daedric Prince of Destruction:
“I am pleased, mortal, and give you my Razor. Use it to wreak havoc on Tamriel”
“I will use it as I see fit, Dagon”
“Spare me your pitiful pride, you are but a tool in my ambitions mortal. Never forget that.”
Ugolin laughed at that as he attached the dagger to his belt: Ironic to be called a tool by the Puppet Prince himself, ever the pawn in Lord Hermaeus Mora’s schemes.
Ugolin turned his attention to the other items in Vesuius’ museum; a torn and burned page from The Mysterium Xarxes as well as the complete collection of Mankar Cameron’s Commentaries on that same book. Again, the Oht letter prominent.
Old Mora had once called Xarxes his “servant”, Ugolin recalled, back when he went in search of the Oghma Infinium. Xarxes, called the Scribe of Auriel in the book Varieties of Faith, had penned that tome using knowledge gained from Mora himself. It seemed as though Xarxes had at some point passed information to Mehrunes Dagon who used that knowledge to write the Mysterium Xarxes.
Ugolin had to wonder just how many pies Herma-Mora had his tentacles in and if the Oht rune was like a criminal calling card used by the Prince of Fate.
It would impossible to guess what the demon’s overall plans might be but being the master of the Tides of Fate seemed to tie Mora closer to Akatosh than Ugolin had considered before. it made a certain kind of sense when factoring in Xarxes. Why had Auriel’s scribe defected to the Daedric Prince of Knowledge?
Unless it wasn’t a defection at all and that Auriel and Mora are the same entity.
Ugloin picked up volume one of Mankar’s Commentaries and took a seat next to the fireplace. Even with all his knowledge gained from time spent in Apochrypha it was a hard book to understand fully and it raised more questions than it answered.
Had Mora subtly orchestrated the events of the Oblivion Crisis by allowing his servant Xarxes to share knowledge with Dagon? It was all ancient history now, of course, but Ugolin needed to understand the role he played in Mora’s game in order to free himself of it. Just like Miraak before him. The irony wasn’t lost on Ugolin.
A passage in the book caught his eye:
Offering myself to that daybreak allowed the girdle of grace to contain me. When my voice returned, it spoke with another tongue. After three nights I could speak fire.
Mora seemed to have an interest in Dragonborn and possibly the power to grant the gift itself if that sentence implied Mankar learned the ability after reading The Mysterium Xarxes. Mora certainly had access to words of power not found on Tamriel.
Yet what Mora’s interest ultimately meant was still difficult to understand. Miraak’s purpose as Dragonborn to defeat Alduin had been subverted by Mora yet Ugolin’s destiny had not been.
And what of Jurgen Windcaller? Why out of all the Ancient Nordic crypts was Ustengrav unique in having Daedric script to mark a resting place rather than the usual dragon runes?
The implications were almost unimaginable...
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