So, here's my second attempt at the whole Elder Scrolls - Game of Thrones crossover thing. For those who haven't seen the update for the other one, or are here the first time, I became unhappy with both the direction and the overall quality of the first attempt. Looking back it's clear I was still finding my feet as a writer, though that really hasn't changed much, only this time I'm vaguely certain I have the correct shoe size.
Another reason for the change, which is probably more important than the others, is that I have completely lost my patience with the show as it stands. First 4 seasons are still excellent but I imagine a lot of you already know my feelings on 5,6 and 7. That means that this particular incarnation of the crossover will be primarily book based as I still enjoy those and they hold a place of pride on my bookshelf beside books on the Plantagenet dynasty.
Before I forget, the setting! Yes, the setting. Our story begins a decade following the end of the Dragon Crisis and all seems well in the realms of men in Tamriel, the Elves lie defeated in the fields of Cyrodiil and peace reigns once again, if only fate would allow this to last.
Anyway, enough rambling, hope you enjoy the read.
**I own nothing**
Sanguine
The tongues of mortals did not have a name for the varied pocket realms that made up the Plane of Sanguine, Daedric Prince of debauchery, sin, greed and other delicious excesses. The most they did was name the few they had had the pleasure of visiting. Instead, they were as a whole merely called Sanguine's Realm, which was as accurate as one could get.
The pocket realm that Sanguine had chosen to manifest in at this moment was simply called the Pleasure Garden, named as such by a certain Imperial author in the Third Era. Not that this mattered to Sanguine as he sat, or more precisely draped himself, on his ostentatious throne, watching proceedings in the mortal world with great interest.
His little prank was masterful, elegant and at the same time simple. All it had taken was manifesting in Tamriel (Auri-Els' attempt to seal Mundus away from Oblivion had not been as successful as he might have liked) and from there challenging a local to a drinking competition, the alcohol would do the rest. And that it most certainly had.
The Nord who had so courageously taken up the challenge was currently persuading a rather unpleasant Hagraven to part with the engagement ring he had given the creature in order to return it to the original owner, whom he had already paid handsomely to purchase her silence on the subject to his wife. Oh, how that had made Sanguine chuckle.
Now all that had to be done was to wait for the fellow to finish his business there and make his way to the Misty Grove via a fort belonging to some of Sanguines' more... enthusiastic followers, they would make a worthy sacrifice for the prank Sanguine reasoned. Considering the progress the Nord had made so far, the wait shouldn't be long at all.
Sanguine pushed himself off of the throne, practically dismounting it like a horse. As he did so, the image of Mundus fell to the ground and vanished in a puff of red smoke.
The Pleasure Garden had a purpose beyond that of its boundless beauty and relative seclusion, for it housed the roots of the Rose, the flower planted only a few delectable moments after Lorkhans' heart had been torn from his body and sent careening into what would become the second tower, and the very beginning of time. From this flower came one the Daedric Princes' prized possessions, a staff that had sown such mayhem and merriment across Mundus, the Sanguine Rose. And just as luck would have it, the new one was ready for plucking.
As he bent to pluck the magnificent rose, a familiar sensation came over him. Someone had entered the Pleasure Garden, and not just anyone. No, the new presence he felt was one of his fellow Princeps. Their identity was revealed near instantly to Sanguine, and he straightened to greet them, a friendly smile growing on his lips.
"Hircine!" Sanguine exclaimed jovially as the Daedric Prince of the Hunt materialised before him. "It has been too long since my realm has basked in your presence friend!" Though it was impossible to tell the expression that the physical manifestation of Hircine bore behind the stag skull it wore, Sanguine could already tell he was not in a partying mood. When no response came, Sanguine persisted. "Do pull up a throne, Hircine, and enjoy some sweet wine with me, we can await the results of my plan together. I assure you, you will find it most entertaining."
Hircine did not pull up a throne, nor did he accept the conjured wine, instead he looked to the Sanguine Rose and then slowly back to its owner. Gradually, the skull wearing Prince crossed his arms, only then opening his mouth to speak. "If you would kindly double check the fingers of the mortal you are... pranking, Sanguine."
With a frown, Sanguine wondered what in Oblivion Hircine was getting at with the request. "Fine," He threw up his arms. "I'll humour you." He conjured up his view of the mortal realm, for now forgetting about the Rose. The Nord in view was the same as before, though now with specks of Hagraven blood adorning his chainmail and feathers dotting his face, she had been a feisty one. The fingers too were the same as far as Sanguine could tell, right down to the ring... oh. "... He carries your ring." Sanguine groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"And what have I told you about those who bare my gifts in your games?"
Another groan escaped Sanguine. "Do not seek to directly include them, only if they drag themselves in. Fine!" He threw up his arms. "I'll go down there and call this whole thing off. I swear I did not know he was one of yours and that ring of yours is not exactly easy to spot, any chump with a decent smith could decorate their silver rings with a wolf head." The Rose would have to wait, another idea formulated, the groundwork laid, cultists placed in another set of ruins, work work work.
Hircine at least has some welcome news at long last. "You need not call the entire hunt off, I merely wish to add some conditions."
"It's not a hunt, Hircine." Sanguine speedily corrected, he always did call these sorts of things hunts, a force of habit mayhaps. But with the notion of conditions raised, Sanguines disappointed frown receded, replaced now by one of delightful curiosity. "Oh? And those are? Do tell."
"First, you shall not give him the Rose." Well, that was a given. "And the other, I request a slight favour."
A broad smile spread across Sanguine's face. "I'm all ears, Hircine."
For once, Hircine hesitated. "I will need him transported elsewhere."
"And where would I be sending him?" Sanguine pressed, smile still firmly affixed to his face. This was an odd request. Usually, if a Daedric Prince required a champion in Mundus they either directed an existing one or chose a new champion from stock local to the objective, mortals willing to bend to the whims of the Princeps were hardly rare.
Hircine sighed, whatever the request was, it was far out of the norm. "The Plane of Ice and Fire."
Sanguine's smile vanished in an instant, finding itself replaced with a bored scowl. "There? That Plane has been bone dry since Auri-El created the second Tower. Dozens of Kalpas and nothing, just the centres of heat and cold Magnus experimented with." To say that barren expanse of nothing had fallen out of everyone's notice, Et'Ada and Mortal alike. Oh, there had been attempts by a few to do something with it, but all had quickly grown bored and moved back to their own realms where they might exert more potent control. After all, why bother with a failed prototype when every Plane of Oblivion was endless like Aetherius itself.
"Here's the thing." Hircine began after a short silence while he let Sanguine show the appropriate disdain towards the plan. "Meridia tells me she felt something off in the waters of Oblivion and thought to check on the old project..." Ah, so this was Meridia's doing, of course. Sanguine remembered something about her being one of Magnus' chief assistants during the whole ordeal, makes sense she'd have something to do with this.
"And?"
"It's been populated."
Well... That changes everything.
Thanks for sticking with it. Feel free to leave reviews, I read and take into account every single one.
