Riel Stories Epic

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 25.2[85]

Of Burning Deaths

 

Samsal spoke to Willow. "Where first will we go?"

 

Willow sighed. "That I can not tell you but I suggest that you be as well prepared as you can be. Assistance, of surprising kinds, will come to you if you need it. What seems to be the most easiest path could easily turn out to be the most difficult. The beautiful are not always good and the ugly are not always evil. If you feel that you need to take certain 'odd items' with you, trust to your instincts. I can do no more, here and now, than I have done. I hope to see you at the properly appointed time and place."

 

Then she was gone.

 

Mulder shook his head in wonder. "That was a real Goddess and she cured my bad back."

 

Scully smiled. "I hope that she also cured your snoring."

 

The eleven furroaches flew over to the twins with fast whirring wings. One settled into Olisha's arms and she began to stroke its odd shaped head so that it thrummed in pleasure. Soon her, and Samsal's folded arms, were full of the creatures apart from those perched on shoulders and heads. Thankfully the furroaches were very clean and were toilet trained, so to speak.

 

Scully studied the furroaches dubiously. "What will they do to assist our cause?"

 

Samsal answered. "The furroaches will help guide us safely through the Waygateways, as they have become in the many centuries that they were last used. In truth we know little more than you do; Willow could give us only limited, basic, knowledge of such matters. Preparations, for the first expeditionary mission, must start at once. They should not take too long."

Edited February 14, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic
One 26.1[86]
Of Burning Deaths

 

The real Emperor Uriel Septum VII looked to the Blades Commanders, including Marshal Jauffre Tannant who stood as supreme commander 'amongst the Blades'. The Emperor was the supreme commander 'of the Blades'. They had come to him with both surprising and concerning information for they had found where all of the kynes were heading for, across Tamriel.

 

"They are joining a great battle against a great force of strange foes." Jauffre spoke out. "The enemies (of the kynes) are FirstOnes, cousin creatures known as OldOnes, and ancient Aldmer warriors along with unknown other kinds of Mer and 'FolkOnes'. I have met with one Grand Marshal TorekiekaVia and have offered to request help from the empire. For the kynes are battling to open a great, ancient, Waygate that would allow the Nameless Enemy to enter Tamriel proper."

 

The Emperor pondered the situation. "Sire, the Imperial Eye informed me of the meeting but did not know all that took place in it. The Empire will send two Legions, along with Auxiliary Units and what ever else is necessary. The Empire will also once more try to lessen the number of kynes that reach the battle zone."

 

Jauffre frowned softly. The Emperor had changed in the past years to become more suspicious of even his oldest friends and allies. Was it the appearance of the False Emperor (in the WhiteGold Tower), the treachery of the Empress or even more than such matters that had changed him. The Imperial Eye spies, and Imperial Hand assassins, had now been joined by the Imperial Foot couriers, the Imperial Fist elite soldiers (as trained by the Blades and others) but also by the Imperial Brain, the 'special sages and other specialists' of the Empire. The Blades were still favored, to a great extent, but had to share the favoring with Slayers, Imperial Bodyguards and others including the groups just mentioned. It was as if Emperor Uriel Septum VII could not bring himself to trust any one faction.

 

The irony was that the Blades were gaining more resources, Cloud Ruler Temple was being enhanced-expanded, and the Blades were becoming formed into new sub-groupings such as Bladeguards, Bladeknights, Blademages, Blademors and others.

 

Jauffre bowed briefly. "Sire, why do you spy upon the Blades?"

 

The Emperor arched his eyebrows. "Take care with your words, Jauffre! I do as I need to do, as Emperor, and will not be questioned by an old friend like yourself. Yet I will answer; the Imperial Eye Agents were there to help protect you from shapeshifter infiltrators and traitors to the living. The first are known as fleshkynes and the latter are of the True Life Cult who insanely worship the Nameless Enemy, mostly for the most selfish of reasons."

Edited March 10, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic
One 26.2[87]
Of Burning Deaths

 

The Emperor paused before speaking again. "In truth the Imperial Eye is made up of people who have inherited special abilities that allow them to fairly easily detect deceptive shapeshifters of many kinds. This includes hostile mageborn, undead doppelgangers, living-dead fleshkynes and even dead flesh living creatures generated in tanks. Though stretched of resources, they have been seeking to discover as many shapeshifters as possible. We (the Imperium) expected there would be but a few hundred and, in most parts of the Empire, that is true. Alas, in others, including the Grand Imperial Undercity, this is far from true."

 

"Though we do not know why, the Blades appear to be empty of such entities, but we had to check. I, myself, am checked at least once a day to make sure I am the real Emperor so please do not feel you have been unfairly focused upon in such matters. Imperial Eye Agents check each other and are tested by wizards. The creation of new units is to make it harder for shapeshifters to gain too much power by taking over one faction. This is not to do with the expansion, and subfactioning, of the Blades."

 

The Emperor shook his head, just a little. "My mind is not what it used to be, is not as alert, because the only reason I am alive is that I am firmly attached to this Dragonthrone. It is not the primary Dragonthrone so can not give me a new life but only sustain me. I need the primary Dragonthrone. You will ask the new allies, of the Empire, if they have any information that might lead to the location of that Dragonthrone. The Blades are to focus on cutting down the number of kynes reaching the great battle and in locating fleshkyne infiltrators."

 

Jauffre smiled, bowed, but it was at that moment he began to suspect that the real Emperor was somehow not truly himself but was under some kind of exotic, powerful and subtle influence. "Sire, we will begin the new operations at once."

Edited February 16, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic
One 27.1[88]
Of Burning Deaths

 

Olisha, and Samsal, passed along a gray hallway of an active Waygate with four furroaches leading them and four more perched on their shoulders. The walls, floor and ceiling were almost totally solid but at times shimmered in a concerning fashion.

 

Olisha spoke even as the two Slayers kept moving in a smoothly efficient manner. "Stability must be suffering because of neglect of maintenance."

 

The voice spoke out of the air, being female and strong but not quite human.

 

Waymind: "That is one important factor but the major factor was the way that the Nameless Enemy, the Great Life Eater, damaged everything when it tried to invade Mundus. It was hurled backwards by the FirstOnes, and the Grand Aldmer, but they paid a heavy price in doing so. It should be noted that the ones who became trapped into the Waygateways were not the ones who tried to use Waygates most foolishly; they suffered an even more horrible fate. I was set up as the quasi-mentality entity to direct, coordinate and supervise the Waygateways that make up the Wayweb. There are also the Wayzones where the surviving FirstOnes, and Grand Aldmer, live as best they can."

 

Olisha spoke. "Where are we heading towards?"

 

Waymind: "Odd that you do not know but perhaps that is explained, at least partly, by the influences of a powerful Divine upon you."

 

Samsal nodded. "Willow of the Wild Divines."

 

Waymind: "Yes, outside of my direct experience but my archives carry data of the Wild Divines. Willow, yes, one of the most powerful of the Wild Divines but also one of the most subtle, and wise, in her actions. It was said that she took part in the Grand Healing of Mundus that took place after the Nameless Enemy was ejected. In truth the Grand Aldmer, and FirstOnes, had the assistance of the Divines, the Daedric Gods and others that I will not speak of at this time and place."

Edited February 17, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic
One 27.2[89]
Of Burning Deaths

 

Olisha spoke even as ahead the tunnel forked to the left and right at fairly narrow ankles. "Who created you?"

 

Waymind: "A thousand FirstOnes gave themselves over to form the basis of myself. They are now my foundation. They serve me willingly."

 

The furroaches, ahead, did not even pause but went right at the same steady flying pace they had kept up since their turn had begun to guide the twins. The twins turned, just as smoothly, and followed.

 

Samsal spoke. "Just where are we heading? Please answer the question."

 

Waymind: "Why do you demand an answer to the question?"

 

Olisha frowned softly. "Because if you can not answer the question, so that it goes positive with our truth-senses, than you are not part of the main, positive, Waymind but most likely a cut off fragment or even a dangerous rogue serving the Nameless Enemy."

 

Waymind: "You are heading towards some place known as the Dark Temple Zone, of the Grand Imperial Undercity. Good, you really are the ones that Willow promised to send to assist me. She prepared you with some important knowledge. Yes, I am the positively main Waymind. Beware of the one named Webmind. You are leaving the zone where I was able to contact you."

 

Then the 'presence' of Waymind was gone.

 

Olisha, and Samsal, kept moving along with their exotic companions.

Edited February 17, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Story Epic

Two 4.1[90]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

Xena, and Gabrielle, came to a gateway at the edge of Ghosthaven. It was transdimensional but looked like a thing of solid stone blocks much like many gateways of Tamriel. Except that there was a massive humanoid squatting in the centre of it, a thing of greasy platelets, a kind of kyne that was uncommon. Its big black orbs, of eyes, stared sharply at the newcomers and the thing gaped a huge mouth full of massive teeth. Yet the teeth were not its main weapons.

 

Xena, and Gabrielle, fired divine magical arrows from horseback as the household nymphs fired off their own bows, shooting elemental magical arrows. The great hugakyne screamed out sounds of rage but out of its great mouth swarmed hundreds of small, fast, dodging creatures that sought to claw, bite, stab and even burn the enemies of the hugakyne. They were tinakynes and they sometimes exploded like small, shrapnel, scattering bombs.

 

The tinakynes might have gotten closer to their targets if they were not up against two very dangerous Demidivine warriors using very potent magical weapons. Xena, and Gabrielle, shot the small flying monsters and caused them to explode so savagely that other tinakynes were destroyed around them. The household nymphs shot many of the small creatures out of the air but it was the divine amazons that caused most of the damage.

 

The hugakyne charged towards them and burned away dramatically as Xena threw something, glittering and red, that land down its throat.

 

Gabrielle frowned. "Was that thing meant to be there?"

 

Yasiya, leading household nymph of those there, spoke out. "It should be impossible that it was there. Look beyond is the forest clad version of Hawkhaven that is tree-houses of towering, interlocking, trees. We must go through there and do so with much care. Beyond that is but a short, safe, way to Lakehaven itself. Or at least that is the normal situation. Odd things are happening in, to, Hawkhaven."

 

Xena nodded, yawned and thrust her chest out. Then she relaxed her body. "I agree so we take things as they come and don't assume anything. Soon we will rest."

Edited February 21, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Zero 8.1[91]

Of the Orbis Observing

 

The Orbis observed the Imperium's discovery that a large number of steammagic machines, and weapons, had been manufactured by the Factors Guild but then stolen away. Large warehouses, that were officially full, were found to be empty except for some rubbish. Much coinage, and other strong currencies, had been stolen along with many other resources capable of supporting a large army, such as arcane magical weapons and armor. The more the Imperium's Investigators investigated the situation, the worse it appeared.

 

The Orbis observed the movement of two Imperial Legions towards the secret battle scene, along with various other elements. They moved as quickly as they could, including in magical flying craft of varied kinds. They were doing so in different parts of Cyrodiil, in the heartland of the Septum Empire, and were focused on moving. It was to be expected that they would be somewhat complacent in such an area. Yet they were well trained, commanded and experienced so when the two large ambushes took place, on the two Legions, they suffered great damage but were far from destroyed. Marshal Terisha drew back her Legion into a well sited defensive position while Marshal Karashi had no real options but to launch his Legion into a fast counter attack.

 

The Orbis observed Olisha, and Samsal, continue their journey through the Waygatenet but it was dull traveling with Waymind not contacting them.

 

The Orbis observed Xena, and Gabrielle, traveling through Foresthaven. They paused to rest and the household nymphs communicated with local forest nymphs (cousin people) so that the journey was peaceful.

 

The Orbis observed that the frequency, and number, of burning deaths increased in the Shades, of the Grand Imperial Undercity. The third batch, of 1,000 bottles, of shakooma was completed and tested on those with the red rashes and the survival rate increased greatly from the testings of the second batch.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

The post above has been edited and expanded.

[Maharg67]

Riel Story Epic

Two 5.1[90]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

The Hero Demidivines had found the actual name of the version of Hawkhaven they had first appeared in, that they had first met the LittleFatMan in. It was Miskihaven (Haven of ancient states of mysterious existence). It was the original Hawkhaven way back and long before the name of 'Hawkhaven' even arose. The only actual Hawkhaven was the one linked mostly closely with Tamriel and with humanity, and other peoples, there but not with many of the Mer.

 

The supposed humans, and others there, had changed shapeforms more than once as had the appearance of the metropolis.

 

RedSonja, Jadekia and Xandia stood examining the WhiteGold Tower that centered Miskihaven as it did every version of 'Hawkhaven'. It had been a shock to discover something that had always been there but which revealed itself to them as it had always done to the exotic inhabitants of Miskihaven.

 

RedSonja spoke out the thoughts of all three of them. "Why is the WhiteGold Tower here, as it is in the Grand Imperial City, and why is it that we are now fully aware of it?"

 

"A very good pair of questions." The LittleFatWoman was suddenly there and was smiling as she gave out small blue ice books from her basket to local entities who lined up to take them. "For the answers look what the LittleFatMan has already told you. Please return to your home base, where I will meet you soon to talk with you. There are actions I need to carry out that would only confuse you and your vision of what you must do."

 

Finding that they fully trusted the LittleFatWoman, the three Hero Demidivines returned to their home base of a transformed house once typical of those of Miskihaven (Hawkhaven).

Edited February 23, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic
One 28.1[91]
Of Burning Deaths

 

Olisha, the six furroaches, and Samsal came out of the Waygateways but not inside the Dark Temple Zone. Instead they were just outside of it and inside a series of huge chambers as designed and built by the Grand Aldmer. Ayleid had once been there and had left evidence, of there living there, in the form of big free standing statues of hard polished stone.

 

The Ayleid were followers of MehrunesDagon but also of some non daedric deities, in a lesser way. These were usually divine Ayleid figures and the ones there were three healing divinities of mind, body and spirit. The largest of the statues were of the three divinities. It was said they were caring in a strange harsh fashion.

 

The Waygate, that the twins and furroaches came out of, was opposite of the three statues. It was exposed now but a secret wall entrance had opened when the twins had come out of the Waygate.

 

Such areas had normally been abandoned for many centuries but there was harsh evidence that people had been in the chambers just recently. Two bodies, freshly killed, lay sprawled across the stone floor next to a fairly neat stack of equipment and supplies. They wore the armor, and surcoats, of the MythicFist. The soldiers of the MythicDawn Cult had been killed by some kind of savage magical attacks, holes being burned into their chests.

 

Olisha frowned. "Kynes have been killed here and have burned away. There are more MythicFist Soldiers in the area, I can 'sense' them as you can."

 

Samsal nodded. "Also MythicDawn mages and battlemages but why abandon this lot of valuable equipment and supplies?"

 

The language was Ayleid and was cut into a big free standing slab of stone, horizontally fixed like a small wall. It translated as the 'Good Freshing Temple'. Underneath that was a most startling message that went: 'Come here, in the name of Ayleid Health and Fitness in All Matters, to avoid the burning deaths'.

 

Startling as the message was, it only made sense that the Ayleid had also encountered the problem of the burning deaths in the area that others had.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Maharg67