Wisdom of the Ancestors - An Elder Scrolls RP

[AurianaValoria1]

"This one says it would be best if we let them kill each other," Sandhya hissed from the shadows, the only things visible about her being her slightly glowing silver eyes and the tip of her twitching tail. She wasn't eager to get in a fight with this many Thalmor and the skeletons and the dragon.

 

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"Very well," Faeryn replied, beginning to strip the smaller branches off of the junipers with the help of a knife. Before long, he had acquired quite the pile of leafy branches, but he still wasn't quite sure what to do with them...he had briefly been taught to use caves, dungeons, and overhangs as shelters if needed, but that was about it regarding survival in the wilds. His training as a city guardsman was showing.

[mythicdawnmaster]

Sienna's jaw fell agape in disbelief as she observed the horrifying scene before her, her eyes were wide and she shook her head, praying to the divines. "That monstrosity. I must agree with Sandhya, facing three groups of lethal foes is folly- Allow them to whittle each other down, and then we may strike the Thalmor as they weaken. Subterfuge has never been my forte, but a full on assault is not an option. I cannot stop any who wish to face all three of these evils, but I fear it shall be your bodies I give to the earth should that be the case." She dispelled the pulsing enchantment on her blade as she sheathed it on her back.

 

Before she could take another step her body was whacked with a surge of icy cool energy, leaving her feeling lethargic, sapped, black bags forming under the already existing marks. Her magicka was quite literally sapped from her as the hungry rocks fed from her energy. "This place, I fear I cannot continue, it's power is too strong."

 

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Gregor chuckled hoarsely, coughing as he finished. Patting the young Imperial on the back as they continued on, he smiled "Indeed my child you are correct, indeed you are. I do hope you enjoy a bit of sneaking about." Continuing his chuckle, they pushed on through the brush, on a journey that would take them through the forests of Falkreath, and into an unnamed cave system.

 

Cutting right through the Jerall mountains, and spewing them out into Echo cave, Gregor lead the his Imperial escort through the disturbed halls and icy gazes of the other Necromancers, whom flocked around them like crows, dismissed with a wave of Gregor's hand, murderous intent dissuaded until the pair was outside once more.

 

"Now we must proceed to the Imperial City, if you have a desire to escort me further. Her Ladyship will be expecting this letter by now, and this delivery is not a simple process, we cannot waltz into the palace proper." Thinking for a moment as they paused in the torrent of unrelenting snow, the old man reached into his robes and pulled out the letter, holding it out to Suetin.

 

"But perhaps we don't have to... Your legs are younger than my own, faster, this delivery could be made in time if you were to take the lead my boy. Now, listen carefully to my instructions, and do not forget them! In the graveyard surrounding the palace is an empty tomb reserved for the Imperial monarchy of Morrowind, unclaimed so far it serves as... a meeting place of my Queen of sorts. Upon arrival you will find it empty save for a desk, a chair, and a bell mechanism. Pull the lever on the ceiling twice, and she will be notified of your arrival. She will be expecting me, so be respectful, tell her I have sent you in my place, on behalf of Velanya and she may show understanding. Make haste, and do not break that seal."

[darkedge42392]

Adrynn's eyes snapped to the Imperial Knight as she sagged under the weight of the ruin's seeking tendrils as they sapped the magicka from her body. He himself felt it as well, though it was lessened by the extreme chill that kept poking and prodding at his mind. He surged his magicka again to dispel it. It worked. Slightly.

 

"Stand, Knight of the Nine," he said, resting his hand on her shoulder and trying to feed her some of his energy. He had had almost three centuries to build up his deep wells of magicka. Though the ruins were slowly draining it faster than he could regenerate it.

 

He turned back to the scene of battle before him. The Thalmor would not last long. The skeletons were more of a distraction than actual threat, though their numbers made them problematic. It was the undead dragon that was the true threat. It landed in a crash of bone and power, spewing frost at anything in range. Adrynn's face tightened. They needed to destroy it.

 

Azura, what do we do? he asked desperately.

 

He could feel her prescense, and her scent softly whisped around him. She was thinking, considering their options.

 

Destroy the dragon, my child. I will lend you the help you need, though that is all I can do, she said, her voice strained.

 

He nodded slightly. He turned back to the others, the grip on his sword tightened. "We need to destroy that dragon. When it's done with the Thalmor, it will turn on us. We deal with the dead first, then if any of the Thalmor still live, we deal with them next. If you are with me, then lets get this over with."

 

With that said, he pooled his magicka into his left hand and flung a large fireball into the midst of the skeletons, blasting many aside and scattering their bones. He leapt into the fray, his blade crashing into the skeletons around him.

 

"For House Redoran!"

[Zephyr2011]

Ra'Qassar shook his head when Sandhya spoke. "No, the living may help us against the dead but we will have no assistance from the dead against the dragon. I bear no love for the Thalmor and they will die, but if we do not assist them now, it is more like than not that they, and all of us will die in here. I prefer to stay alive." Ra'Qassar said it mostly to his fellow Khajiit, and more to himself once Adrynn chimed in with the same sentiment. The two thought similarly in this regard. That was good.

 

He brought up his bow and began aiming for walking skeletons, sending bodkins through their temples, eye sockets and joints. He remained relatively close. When Sienna dropped to a knee Ra'Qassar ran over to her. He knelt down before her and lifted her chin with his hand so that he could stare into her eyes. "Sienna, I have not known you long, but in this brief spell you have proven to me that you are dedicated, that you are noble and that you are relentless. You have not given up before, do not give up now. You must continue. This place feels like it is dragging you into the maw of Oblivion, you must not let it. The greatest trap of Labyrinthian is not the magicka it steals from you, it is the confidence in yourself. It makes you doubt yourself and that is how it destroys you. When you give up. Rise Knight of the Nine, rise and spit in this things face. Show it that you are Sienna, and you shall not die. Not here and not today." Ra'Qassar's eyes shown with a fire that he rarely had. He remembered the first time he had come here. Despite lacking a magical affinity, Labyrinthian had still sunk its claws in him and sapped at all his strength. Magicka was in all things, spells and each person's font of magicka were built upon self awareness, self strengthening and willpower. Ra'Qassar had magicka within him, along with all other living things, he just could not use it. But he still had felt the place grabbing at him. He felt it now, but he willed himself to continue and that seemed to forestall the wretched stones all the more. Confidence, awareness and determination would best these ancient ruins. Of that he was certain.

 

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Galus was still hollering out commands to his slowly dwindling numbers. Three had fallen already. They were keeping the lesser undead at bay, fortunately, but the damned dragon was still slaughtering them. He sighed a slight sigh of relief when he saw some of the other group aiding them. But the writing was on the wall for his small little group. The strange group of adventurers-he had to assume- would probably make it, but not the Thalmor. Then he saw it. The opening. It had been blasted away, a whole in the wall too small for the dragon to follow, though he suspected that the thing wouldn't leave anyway. It was a test after all, and anyone who could best it, in any way, was free to leave it. He gambled.

 

"To me! Follow me!" He bellowed, his voice carrying more than usual, he was a little surprised. He then ran with four more Thalmor past the dragon and through the undead horde. All of them casting fireballs and lightning bolts before and behind them to clear the way and forestall their pursuers. He stopped beside the whole and ushered his troops through while he readied a spell in his hands. What's the point? Why bother saving them? He cleared his head before he cast though, and just in time. The massive undead dragon turned to face him and opened its gaping maw, preparing to freeze him to death. He did not give it the chance. He loosed the most powerful firespell he had ever cast upon the thing. It caught the frost breath in the dragon's throat, or what stood for its throat. The beast shuddered and shook its head, its mouth blackened from the ethereal fire. It reared onto its hind legs and bellowed, ice spewing from its mouth to stop the burn before returning to the ground with a massive shockwave that sent the Thalmor who had not followed Galus to the ground and destroyed a few skeletons. The dragon shook its head furiously, its jaws still burning slightly and looked towards where Galus had been. He had not given it a chance to attack again. He hoped that was enough to tip the scales for the living back in the chamber.

 

Barus's Hellmaw, Uncle probably never dreamed I would bother to learn any of his famous spells, much less use one, and even less, save my life with one, he thought. His uncle had devised a wide variety of spells, all with traditional elements found in spells of the day, but also more inventive things. Most coupled weaknesses with the elements, but a few were more fearsome. Barus's Hellmaw was a fireball of sorts, but it did not explode on impact, it continued pushing through its target, burning all the way, and using the energies found within the victim to fuel itself further. His uncle had once said that it had been inspired by a trip to Oblivion, how the place seemed to feed on you as you went and how pervasive the heat was in Mehrunes Dagons's part of the plane. How fitting that I should first use it in a place so much like Oblivion.

 

Galus and his few remaining companions ran as fast as their legs would carry them through the dungeon. Here it was easier somehow. More draugr were destroyed than walking and there was evidence of battle. It was some time ago, but still recent. Only a fortnight or so at most. He hoped that whatever had carved the way was friendly if it was still alive and dead if it was hostile. The scant few draugr they found, they cut down with ease as they ran. But every now and then they saw skeletons standing, watching. Not in their way, but in galleries and balconies they could not reach easily. They sent a shiver up Galus's spine. Is it getting colder?

 

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Baltis felt the roar of battle in the dragon's chamber. Felt that fire as it battled against the beast and felt the pulsing of the Thalmor approaching his lair. He saw them too, through his servants. Before he had sent them back out he had bothered to establish mental links to all of them. A slightly time consuming process and more energy than he cared to spend, but still, a necessary precaution. It allowed him to see all in real time, rather than hours later. He pondered awhile. How best to great his "old friend?" He decided that he would choose the form he favored when they first met.

 

Ash grey ooze seemed to bubble up from all of the nooks, crannies and holes in his corpse. Rising, boiling and writhing up as it slowly took form. An ashen grey plain appeared with wiry black grass all about it. Slowly his old body reappeared, at least, the appearance of it. The only things missing were his eyes. He never restored them anymore, it was a lot of work to make them functional and he thought it amusing to meet his "old friend" with a hint of the truth they both knew. He did not disguise his spell hand though. The hand he had lost at the shrine. It was not skeletal and rotting anymore, but it was not his skin. It was the same hard, tanned and callused hand that it had been when it still belonged to a northman. A bandit who had gotten more than he had bargained for with a "feeble old grey-skin," perhaps the man's nature would lessen Balti's noble acquaintance's "righteous fury." He chuckled. This time it was not internally, but actually made a sound, with all is illusary muscles and organs. His cold laughter echoed off the chamber walls slightly before dying. He stood and waited.

[AurianaValoria1]

Sandhya growled and rolled her eyes, crouching as she stuck to the shadows and worked her way towards the hole in the wall, trying to find an advantageous spot from which she could stab any passing Thalmor. She had no desire to reveal herself anytime soon, not with these enemy numbers.

[Macman253]

Felix and Svarn burst into the cavern through a hidden door on the far wall, the hidden path climbed up the mountain to where Felix and Svarn scaled it and came out right behind the Skeletons that assaulted not only the Thalmor but also their companions. The nord swung his axe in a wide arc that cut several skeletons down in a single swing. The once hostile skeletons now turned into a pile of spare bones. Felix extended his staff and vaulted himself into a pair of skeletons, his feet taking their heads off, turning the rest of their bodies into mounds of bone and dust.

 

Felix landed on his feet like a khajiit and swept back his hood, "Hurry! Attack the beast... we will handle the skeletons!" He yelled as Svarn vertically bisected a skeleton with his axe and drove the rear spike into the skull of an unsuspecting Thalmor soldier that was tangling with a Skeleton. He pulled the long dagger from his belt and drove it to the hilt into the skeleton's eye socket and wrenched his axe free from the Altmer's corpse.

 

Felix twirled his staff to deflect a Skeleton that wore a helmet with deer antlers and carried a shield. He ducked the wild swing that would have taken off his head if he had been any slower. Felix pushed the skeleton back with a sharp kick to his exposed chest and delivered a final blow with a throwing knife to the eye-slit in his helmet.

 

"How many you got Nord?" He said with a laugh and a smirk as he bashed another skeleton over the head with his staff.

 

Svarn sliced through a skeleton and bashed another in the skull with the pommel of his axe.

 

"Seven..." Replied the Stoic Nord as he ducked a Firebolt spell hurled by a Altmer wearing the long dark robes of a Thalmor Wizard.

 

Felix looked at Svarn with a slight look of surprise. "Seven! Already! By the Eight..." Felix quipped, he too ducked the Firebolt thrown by the Altmer and hurled a dagger at the mage. The blade sang through the air and sunk to the hilt in the Wizard's chest.

 

"Four..." Felix added with a wide grin. "We don't lack for enemies... may the best fighter win." Felix said as he and Svarn went back to back and the skeletons began to surround them.

 

"I plan too..." Replied Svarn as he readied himself for the fight to come.

[Zephyr2011]

Ra'Qassar heard Felix and nodded, rising from Sienna. She would make her own decision, he could do nothing for her now. He drew his bow and selected an array of bodkins with hollow points. He drew fourth several vials of a thick, crimson substance and dipped the arrows into it as quickly as possible. With his arsenal ready, he let loose. Shaft after shaft flew from his quiver, through his fingers, sailing through the air and struck the great dragon. The bodkins bit and sank deep into the ancient bones as bright merry flames burst from each wound. The poisonous fires seemed the antithesis to the beast's cold hatred. The monstrosity reared and came down with a crash, crushing one of the Thalmor before unleashing an icy gale upon Ra'Qassar. The Khajiit tucked and rolled behind a pillar, hugging it to protect himself from the arcane cold.

 

He nimbly ran from pillar to pillar loosing arrows at the massive dragon. He had run out of his poison, but that did not stop him from unleashing his barrage of bodkins on the beast. He was beginning to run short however, and he knew the dangers of Labyrinthian. He did not want to be without his armor-piercing arrows for the rest of the dungeon. He stowed his bow and drew his sword and shield just as a skeleton came around his pillar and attacked. Ra'Qassar ducked expertly under a heavy two-handed battleaxe, bashing upwards with his shield to destabilize his opponent before running his sword up the skeleton's chin, decapitating it and piercing the skull.

 

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Galus and his four companions ran as fast as they could through the horrible dungeon. "Cloaks!" He bellowed and they all cast cloaks of fire and ran faster. A few draugr approached them but stumbled backwards as they burst into flame. Galus spared a glance over his shoulder in time to see one stumble into a pile of oil, incinerating it and about a dozen other undead. He also spotted the remains of many others who had tried to attack them, they had all succumbed to the fires. Not surprising with three destruction adepts, and two destruction experts running with flame cloaks.

 

They finally stopped and panted in a junction where the crypt-like ruins opened into a large cavern, complete with a rushing underground river. Their cloaks still burned so they were largely protected while they recuperated a bit and examined this strange twist. While they caught their breath, ate a small bit of their rations and quaffed a few restorative potions, Galus noticed two more pairs of glowing blue eyes in the cavern. He couldn't make out the beings they belonged to, but he could guess. More of those strange skeletons watching them from afar. He set his jaw. He didn't like this at all.

[darkedge42392]

The sudden reappearance of Svarn and Felix was a boon to Adrynn. He had been battling through the skeletons to try and reach the dragon, but had found himself surrounded on all sides and forced to fall back. He caught sight of the dragon recoiling from the arrows of Ra'Qassar, fire blazing from where they pierced. An idea quickly came to him.

 

Sweeping aside the few skeletons that pursued him, he sheathed his sword and gathered what little of his magicka remained to him. Fire. The one thing feared by all undead. Adrynn pooled his magicka in both hands, overcharging the spell until it glowed a fiery white. Now would be the time for some help, Azura. he shot toward his patron. Almost immediately, he could feel a surge of power flow through his body. Hissing against the pain that came with it, he pushed this new energy into the spell, his arms shaking from holding the spell at bay.

 

"DRAGON! Taste the flames of Oblivion!!!" He yelled, catching the dragon's attention as it opened its maw to bathe him in frost. He released the spell. It swirled and tore through the skeletons before slamming into the dragon's open mouth, exploding on impact. The force of the blow rocked the chamber, and the skeletal dragon fell back, screaming its fury and pain.

 

Adrynn sagged to his knees, exhausted. The spell had drained the last of his magicka from him. With trembling hands, he pushed on the stone floor to stop himself from passing out. The world was spinning around him, and he fell into blackness.

[AurianaValoria1]

Sandhya's eyes flicked from left to right, watching all the magical explosions that occurred all around the room. She had seen the Thalmor leave by way of the hole she stood near...curiosity compelled her to follow them, but she did not. Not yet. She saw Adrynn in trouble after he had unleashed his powerful magic upon the skeleton dragon, and she decided to risk grave injury to get to him. The khajiit dodged and weaved past Svarn and Felix, between two remaining skeletons, under the dragon's still lashing and screaming head, and over the bonemold-clad dark elf.

 

"Adrynn!" she hissed, "Wake up! It is not yet over!"

 

The dragon's claws came at her from the left and she parried the blow, the steel of her daggers clanging against bone.

Edited July 30, 2013 by AurianaValoria1

[darkedge42392]

Light. Sound. Pain. Adrynn snapped open his eyes and took a deep gasp of air and pushed himself up to his hands and knees. He was covered in a fine sheen of cold sweat. The sharp hiss of a Khajiit's accent broke through the haze of pain clouding his mind. He glanced up to see Sandhya parrying the dragon's claws, her legs like furry trees as she planted herself between himself and the dragon. He admired her courage. Shakily standing he laid his hand on her shoulder and tugged to show her he was awake.

 

"Come Sandhya, fall back to the others!" He yelled over the noise of the dragon's roars. He drew his sword and hacked at the dragon's wing as it swung past him, quickly realizing he needed to regather his strength. He stumbled away from the dragon and slid behind a pillar, feeling his sword slip from numb fingers. It clattered to the ground. The Redoran closed his eyes and took three deep breaths, feeling the tremors that still plagued his muscles lessen.

 

You have done well, child. The beast is almost finished... Azura softly whispered, a smile in her voice.

 

Adrynn grimaced and pushed against the hungry tendrils of the magic of Labyrinthian seeking to drain his strength. He hoped for all their sakes that someone could finish the damned thing.

 

"Sorin! Kill the dragon!" He yelled through the din.