Riel Stories Epic

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 32.3[100]

Of Burning Deaths

 

Aisha shook her head, starting to scowl. "You are not Willow for she would laugh at being called 'wondrous' and you do not 'feel' like her. No, you lack her empathy and goodness. You want people to worship you."

 

The fake Willow sparkle shimmered to become a tall, darkly armored figure who glared at the three. This was Talos, who had briefly been a true Divine but who had been pushed down to being half mortal. Once he had been mortal and resented being sent half way back to what he had been (a demigod instead of a god). Talos had lost much of his power and many of his privileges with the change. The Fall of Talos was a mystery to the vast majority of Tamriellans but whispers abounded of Mer pressures against the Empire and Talos' own growing arrogance along with his activities that had displeased the other, more powerful, Divines. He was still very powerful.

 

Talos snorted. "You are mere mortals and will do as I have told you. The glowing stones will make all of the infested suffer the burning deaths and thus make the Septum Empire safe. The Thirteen Divines will know, once more, that I am strong and that I deserve to be a true Divine."

 

Aisha frowned. "That is a brutal answer to the problem and unworthy of any deity linked to the Divinity."

 

It seemed, for a moment, that Talos would strike her down but then he just frowned as if knocking down a mere mortal was beneath his dignity; in truth there were limits on what any Divine could do to any mortal.

 

The real Willow was suddenly there, smiling sadly. "Oh, Talos, will you never learn. You were turned into a divine mortal in the first place because of your foolishness. Do you want to become one again?"

 

Talos scowled at her but then was gone with a sparkling shimmering. The three Slayers gained the subtle impression that Willow had 'kicked' him back to his own divine realm that was a moon orbiting one of the Divine Worlds. "The Nine Divines will punish him yet again but not too hard for he will be needed in the coming troubles. Talos is frightened of the real menace facing Tamriel, facing Mundus, and has given into his fears."

 

Vaish shook his head. "So Talos was a 'divine mortal' which was a reason that he was made into a Divine."

Edited March 3, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 32.4[101]

Of Burning Deaths

 

Willow nodded. "Yes, a divine mortal who had once been a powerful Divine in the Mythic Era. He did something very foolish back then which I can not, will not, speak of. He was given another chance and then was punished again but this time made into a Demidivine instead of a divine mortal. I will give you a bag, each, but these bags will each contain ten softly glowing spheres. The bags will generate new spheres as you use them. Give each sphere to a person to swallow. They will transform and will be enhanced along with being safe from burning death or being transformed into monsters. You are already safe thanks to my previous transforming of you."

 

Aisha showed her puzzlement. "Why don't you Divines intervene and end the burning deaths crisis?"

 

Willow shook her head. "Partly because we are limited in how much we can intervene into mortal affairs, partly because we helped the create the Burning Curse in the first place and partly because we can have only limited effects on it for reasons I can not, will not, discuss at this moment. You will have a strong, but subtle, guiding influence sending you to the places where you will do most good with the spheres. Be careful my beloved."

 

Then she was gone, with a gentle shimmer.

 

More troubles had broken out amongst the crowds, who now feared turning into monsters along with fearing that they would suffer from burning deaths. The three went off to assist in calming down the situation.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Zero 9.1[102]

Of the Orbis Observing

 

The Orbis observed the campaign to use healkooma (healing potion added to shakooma) to cure as many Shaders as possible. Hundreds of refugees, from the Shades, were being cured but there were far too many needs for the available supply of healing serum to please. The name of the kind of healing serum was healoserum, an amazing multiple purpose healing potion that could be used in various ways. Then Willow returned and created two other places where the short list of divine helping goods could be gained from, including the healoserum, but also three ways of gaining the healoserum exclusively. Each of these ways was represented by a metallic stone cube being three metres tall and wide.

 

The Orbis observed more Shadefolk suffer the burning deaths but also begin to turn into humanoid kynes be they hulkkynes, smaller noidkynes or shapeshifting fleshkynes. Increasing skirmishes went on between kynes and those they attacked, which seemed to be anybody other than kynes.

 

The Orbis observed three great battles taking place in Tamriel proper and many other smaller battles, along with even more skirmishes. Star Marshal Drake Septum expertly guided the Empire's war effort using a massive, powerful, magical airship as his mobile command base. Thankfully the war zones were relatively small compared to the size of the Empire which was still functioning much as it always did. The Nine Divines (of the Thirteen Divines) began to send small powerful forces to assist the Empire, and its allies, against the enemy.

 

The Orbis observed Olisha, Samsal, Scully, Mulder and others working in the Good Freshing Temple to gain more knowledge about the burning deaths. The team was soon learning some shocking truths but not just linked to the burning deaths but other mysteries of Tamriel and Mundus.

 

The Orbis observed the on going Imperial Reformation and picked up odd patterns almost list in the greater changes taking place in the Imperium and other aspects of the Empire. Most of the changes took place in Imperiarna (the Grand Imperial City).

 

The Orbis observed the start of a reformation of the faiths of the Divines. A new Divine Templedom began to rise with the start of the construction of a fortified temple in Imperiarna. This Grand Imperial Cathedral would represent all of the Thirteen Divines. Divine Orders were being reorganized and brought under tighter control of the new Templedom High Council except that many orders refused to go along with the changes. This led to growing tensions.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Zero 9.2[103]

Of the Orbis Observing

 

The Orbis observed the covert war as Imperial Forces sought to find infiltrating shapeshifting fleshkynes. They were assisted, officially and unofficially, by many factions. Some were of surprising nature such as the Dark Brotherhood.

 

The Orbis observed the three Slayer battlemages (Aisha, Trento and Vaish) moving through the Shades and giving out the spheres that had a calming effect on folks even before they swallowed them. Every recipient transformed, becoming basically enhanced of mind-body-spirit but a small minority became more enhanced in special ways being of mind, body, spirit and the elemental enhancements of solar, phase and life. The special enhanced ones needed to grow in their abilities, to become more experienced, but from the start they began to assist against the troubles in the Shades. A growing number of the 'enhanced' followed, and assisted, the three battlemages.

 

The Orbis observed that Aisha, Trento and Vaish had been generally enhanced by Willow but now their magical sides were strengthening, as magefolk, and they were gaining some special abilities.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Two 6.1[104]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

The LittleFatWoman met RedSonja, Jadekia and Xandia in the home base of the Hero Demidivines, in Miskihaven (Hawkhaven). It had taken longer for the LittleFatWoman to carry out her tasks than she had previously expected that they would yet the divine entity smiled serenely as she sat on her self rocking chair. She spoke to the three Demidivines. "The kyne attacks on Miskihaven have taken greater toll on this time-space than I had hoped they would. I needed to return the condition of Miskihaven to its version of normal and then push it beyond. The kynes are being sent by the Nameless Enemy but not directly so but through an aspect of itself cut off and trapped in Mundus. The Nameless Enemy remains outside of, at the very edge of, Mundus."

 

Jadekia showed intense interest. "How is it that the WhiteGold Tower is here?"

 

The LittleFatWoman smiled softly. "The WhiteGold Tower is one of many as one towers. In most places, that it stands, only a few can detect it. In other places it is heavily disguised so that the great majority of people think of such structures as being separate from the WhiteGold Tower even if they are often inside the structures. One is the Grand Imperial Lighthouse of the Imperial City of Anvil. Another is the Grand Dragon Tower in Northern Skyrim. Yet another is the Cloud Ruler Tower that centers Cloud Ruler Temple, often half hidden by clouds. Not all such structures seem so grand for there is also the Rickety Wooden Glory of Bravil."

 

Jadekia was a little annoyed. "Why have I not seen this in the past?"

 

The LittleFatWoman sighed. "You all have but you agreed to 'forget' what you knew, with the assistance of the LittleFatMan. Now it is time for you to remember that fully, along with other matters."

 

Suddenly the five Demidivines remembered much that they had gladly forgotten though not all of what they had been aware of had been bad, including Xena and Gabrielle who were in another part of Hawkhaven.

 

RedSonja shook her head. "From the very starting era of Mundus the infestation was here. The Nameless Enemy was created as a side product of the creation of Mundus but why? Because of mistakes made by the Aedra and other ancient deities that were part of that creation. Because of conflicts, deceptions and failures to keep pledges. From the Mythic Era the Nameless Enemy was linked to Mundus though it was expelled out into the nothingness of the Null-Void."

Edited March 7, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Two 6.2[105]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

Xandia spoke then. "We remember a good deal but there is much that we do not know. If the infestation has always been in Mundus, what has been done about it?"

 

The LittleFatWoman shook her head. "The Divines, all of us, gathered together to attempt to wipe away the infestation from the mortal realms of Mundus, where it was strongest. Though they cleansed away most of the infestation, they unintentionally introduced the undeath into Mundus. All of the undead come partly from this but there were also other unintended side effects. The first of the kynes rose into existence and remained after that a constant threat; the kynes also strengthened the link between Mundus and the Nameless Enemy. The undead, and kynes, waged a great war between each other and mortals; there was much death, destruction and disruption. Akatosh unleashed his dragons upon the kyne and undead armies, wiping them out. After that the Divines became more reluctant to get involved in mortal affairs. Some areas, like the Shades, of the Grand Imperial Undercity, remained with infestation."

 

Jadekia spoke then. "I take it that the problem of the infestation was forgotten by the great majority of mortals over the centuries that followed."

 

RedSonja answered. "I suspect it would have been more than just mortals. Why were we asked to forgot certain matters? Yes, it is to do with the secret of Hawkhaven's existence, that this realm of realms is safeguard against the Nameless Enemy and other threats, along with having other purposes."

 

"Yes, it is no accident that kynes have been attacking Hawkhaven, as it really is." The LittleFatWoman showed some regret. "We, the LittleFatFamily, are based here in Hawkhaven. We are are aspects of the Prime Divinity (of the Thirteen Divines) and one of our tasks is to protect Hawkhaven from threat, including from the Nameless Enemy. Hawkhaven is also one possible way that the Nameless Enemy might use to get into Mundus though a very unlikely one."

 

At that moment a great shudder went through the ground and, with an apologetic smile, the LittleFatWoman vanished.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic Story One (Of Burning Deaths) will end and Story Three (Of Burning War) will begin even as Story Two (Of Hawkhaven Challenges) will continue and so will Story Zero in various forms.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

Two 7.1[106]

Of Hawkhaven Challenges

 

Xena, Gabrielle and their nymph companions were in Lakehaven (Hawkhaven) and walking through the streets of the amazing metropolis. Water channels flowed smooth and clear of water, pools and even small lakes dotted the city and there were many fountains along with small waterfalls dropping out of tower structures. Humans, orcs, Mer and others were there as a small minority and while there were many nymphs, most were aquatic nymphs.

 

They had telepathically communicated with the other Hero Demidivines, in Miskihaven (Hawkhaven), and had learned that the LittleFatWoman had vanished after the strange shudder had passed through some of the realms of Hawkhaven. It had been felt in Lakehaven only as a small shiver. Psychic communications was not easy, in Hawkhaven, even for such as Demidivines. They were still seeking to look further into the mystery of Lake of Ever Laughing Tears. As it was they could both 'sense' the strong, exotic, emotions that they suspected was emanating from the lake. The folks of Lakehaven (Hawkhaven) were clearly showing some effects from the psychic-spiritual assault on their minds. Some were clearly agitated while others were hysterical or wept constantly.

 

Then came to them a robed aquatic nymph matriarch holding a magestaff of office. She stopped in front of the two Demidivines, bowed briefly out of respect, and then she spoke. "The thing that dwells, at the bottom of the Lake of Ever Laughing Tears, is growing yet more powerful in its influence on our fine metropolis. Now it expresses also growing fear that drives many into hiding, causes panic attacks. Yet we do not want you to hurt it for we 'sense' that at its core it is far from evil. Please help us soothe it into peacefulness."

 

Xena sighed. "My beautiful companion here, Gabrielle, is much better at such things than I am, and yet we will both do what we can."

 

Gabrielle smiled. "We will need the assistance of all of the calmer minds in Lakehaven, of those trained and disciplined or naturally calm. We need psychic-spiritual healers. We need powerful, healthy, calming serums to put into the lake. We need beautiful soothing music and we also need things that would please a great big child for that is what lies at the bottom of the Lake of Ever Laughing Tears."

 

Xena was surprised but clearly the nymph matriarch was not.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 33.1[107]

Of Burning Deaths

 

Olisha hurled a powerful bolt of broiling energies, something that she could not have done before Willow had enhanced her, and the result was an explosion amongst the followers of MehrunesDagon, the imperial traitors who had come previously to the Good Freshing Temple. MythicFist Soldiers, the fighting wing of the MythicDawn Cult, were destroyed as they were hurled in all directions. Except that they were not really MythicFist but were deceptive, shapeshifting fleshkynes.

 

While Olisha built up her power, Samsal fired off a powerful bolt of broiling elemental energies identical to that which Olisha had fired off. The others were hurling their own powerful energies except the physical elemental ones using weapons with enhanced strength and the psychic enhanced using psychic attacks while the spirit enhanced drew forth and hurled exotic energies of other kinds.

 

The living dead fake MythicFist warriors came in rushing attacks and with them came noidkynes and fewer, bigger, hulkkynes.

 

Olisha spoke out even as she hurled another powerful bolt of energies. "These ones, attacking us, I suspect they were normal Shadefolk once."

 

It was a disturbing idea but it made too much sense.

 

Scully came up from behind, aimed her semiautomatic pistol and fired off elemental magical bullets that blew apart the heads of attacking kynes in a very dramatic fashion, the headless bodies burning away. Other Slayers were coming to assist against the sudden onslaught of the kyne humanoids along with Imperial Legionards and even militia soldiers of the Shadefolk.

 

Olisha spoke again. "The kynes are attempting to stop us learning more about the burning deaths but too late. We know that the infestation was caused by an events that spread effects through out time, through out the history of Tamriel and which changed much but not everything."

 

Yes, the infestation had entered Mundus at different times but from the Null-Void where timeless time was so different from the passing time of Mundus and Tamriel. Thus the infestation had become many intrusions of infestations explaining why many had to deal with them though out history.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

Riel Stories Epic

One 33.2[108]

Of Burning Deaths

 

Scully crouched as she reloaded her pistol with a fresh magazine of ten elemental magical cartridges. "The infestations, the burning deaths, that effected peoples in Terrariel and Earthriel, came from traveling through Waygates. The burning deaths there may have been caused by the Nameless Enemy trying to get into Mundus or being part of its creation at the start. I wonder who I know of such things."

 

The LittleFatWoman suddenly stood there almost as if she had always been there. "I am providing you with information you need. There have been many mistakes made by powerful peoples in the histories of Tamriel but they were always misguided by the Nameless Enemy through its powerful, malignant, dangerous aspects trapped here known as the Antidivinity and the Antidivines that serve it. The Antidivinity, and the Antidivines, have most often been disguised as other identities and often posed as wise, good, forces but most often their own natures have led them to being discovered before they can do great harm."

 

The kynes had ceased attacking, had burned away at the mere presence of the LittleFatWoman. She turned and indicated the machine with the capsules holding infested Ayleid. "The Grand Aldmer, the FirstOnes, were seduced by an entity known as Sashasa who offered to assist them in fighting the Nameless Enemy and defeating the infestation; it was false and was the Antidivinity that arose out of the troubles that took place during the creation of Mundus. The Grand Aldmer machines here were meant to assist people but instead they increased, intensified, the infestation in people. It was this trick that caused the FirstOnes, and the Grand Aldmer, to discover the truth about the falseness of Sashasa. Later the Ayleid gained access to the machines and were tricked by them before they sealed them up again."

 

Samsal turned to face the LittleFatWoman. "Have we done any good against the burning deaths?"

 

The LittleFatWoman smiled. "You, and others, have done your best and have shown great courage in doing so. Even those who would not normally be heroic have shown heroism and even sacrifice." She reached outwards with her hands and, with a shimmer, the capsule enclosed Ayleid vanished. Then the machine melted inwards and downwards, becoming a solid compacted metallic cube with the capsules, and other odd features, vanishing into the mass. "I will dispose of all of these dangerous devices for this is the time to do so. Everything has its proper time and place."

Edited March 7, 2014 by Maharg67