Reticence Saga
World of Grey
Chapter 21: The Island
(Chapter type: Deviating)
Right now, the only things keeping the gang on the planet were its two missing members who were both prisoners of daedra, in a manner of speaking. Find a solution to save both of them was not proving easy to find. Though that didn't stop Chloe from going through virtually every book in the Arcanum.
"Lass, you've been through every tome on oblivion we have. If it's not here, it's most likely not in Skyrim," said Urag, in a stern but not unkind voice. He had been told on the first day she'd come in to start researching, exactly why she was looking by the Arch-Mage.
"Then can't you borrow something from one of the libraries in Cyrodiil?" snapped Chloe, her eyes bloodshot and baggy from all her reading.
"Getting a book from Cyrodiil is more trouble than simply having it sent here, which in itself is a big hassle," said Urag, "A lot of the mages and librarians down there aren't willing to give up their tomes."
"So you're saying cause of some inter-college rivalry, my brother's gonna end up as some wolf bitch's lackey for eternity?" snapped Chloe, before Urag sighed "Have you tried this?" he said, taking a book off the shelf and putting it on the table, the books title being 'The Forge of the Elements.'
Chloe opened the book and read from it. It spoke of an ancient device of unknown origin beneath the College, one that had some indescribable link to Oblivion and could be used to create and conjure objects and beings from that realm. She looked up at Urag who was already walking away before she walked up and out, calling "Tiatara, what's in the basement?"
"This is a bad idea, a really bad idea," said Tiatara carefully, the group in the Midden, near the Atronach Forge.
"It looks like a straightforward procedure," said Chloe, looking in the book, "An interrogation summon should be able to conjure and dismiss."
"These are atronachs. They don't answer to any daedra prince," said Tiatara sternly.
"Then they don't have any loyalty to them," said Chloe.
"Fine, but the first sign of trouble and the spell is ditched," snapped Tiatara, preparing the last rune.
"Ok, here we go," said Chloe before pulling the lever. There was a flash of purple before a flame atronach appeared within the summoning circle. Chloe looked at the feminine fiery form and asked, "Kala, is that you?"
"No, but I know that name," said the atronach, its voice flickered like an open flame, "There is a mortal soul within the Colored Rooms. I, along with my sisters, had been given the task of attending to her."
Chloe glared, saying "You bring her-" before she yelped as the atronach hissed, showing off shark-like teeth and hissed "Or what?"
"Chloe, this Forge is not a portal that mortals can go through," said Tiatara, "Not if they wish to remain mortal anyways."
"Indeed. You are welcome to come and join us as a fellow sister," sneered the atronach with a creepy hiss that was probably chuckling.
"I'll find my own way to the Colored Rooms. Or you could point me the way and save me a lot of time having to torture it out of you," said Chloe with a dark tone.
The atronach hissed angrily, "You cannot harm me without breaking the wards...and if you do I will burn your soul from that meat and drag you back with me."
Chloe sighed and said, "I suppose we can't bargain for that info, can we?"
"Maybe...maybe not. There is a place where you can learn a safe path. Hermaeus Mora has the knowledge you seek," said the atronach.
"Hermaeus Mora? How do I contact him?" asked Chloe.
"That is your concern, mortal, not mine..." said the atronach coldly.
Chloe sighed and said, "Can you at least carry a message to Kala?"
"Only if my mistress is interested in-" said the atronach before freezing. Its face seemed to melt before reforming itself into a familiar shape.
"I wasn't sure if that would work," said the atronach with a different voice.
"Kala?" said Chloe in shock.
"Yeah, don't ask me how I'm able to do this. I barely understand it myself," said Kala.
"Ok, Kala, we're trying to get to you...and get Matt back..." said Chris before Chloe could stop him.
"What do you mean 'get Matt back'?" asked Kala in a suspicious tone.
Chloe sighed. "Erm...well...remember when you dumped him?" she said, backing up towards some cover.
"How can I forget? I've practically been reliving that scene when I sleep," said Kala.
"Well, the good news is that the Matt in that scene was actually a dragon spirit that has since been removed from him," said Chris.
"I sense bad news," said Kala darkly.
"The bad news is he was so convinced you dumped him that he's been claimed by Hircine's daughter." said Chloe quickly, jumping behind a pillar.
Kala stared in shock before saying, "He...did...WHAAAAAAAT?!", her borrowed body's flames leaping up to the ceiling as the temperature in the room rose dramatically in height.
"It wasn't voluntary," said Chris, adding, "Probably."
"At the time, he was still looking for you. We were trying to reach the Colored Rooms but ended up in the Hunting Grounds instead. Hircine's daughter just saw an opportunity," said Chloe.
"He didn't say no?" snarled Kala.
"He probably did. Taelina probably didn't care," said Chris.
Kala stared before glaring at Chris. "Did he offer any resistance?"
"Of course he did. It was a mighty battle of wills," said Chris. Kala gave him a disbelieving look before Chris said, "Ok, we weren't there so we didn't know exactly what happened."
Kala practically howled before her features vanished from the atronach who began laughing cruelly.
"Oh, her spirits have been properly raised and dashed now, bravo. Maybe now she'll stop whining so much about leaving," said the atronach.
"Oh...bugger off, you walking candle," snapped Chloe, kicking over one of the pieces of the Forge.
"Chloe, no!" shouted Tiatara before the atronach grinned and flew straight at Chloe.
Chloe just glared, shifting to her wolf form and snarling, causing the atronach to halt. "Hmm...it seems it is not just the male who was effected by the Hunting Grounds," it sneered before seemingly melting into the air.
Chloe turned to Tiatara and said, "Ok, we know this Hermaeus guy has the info we need to save Matt and Kala. That book we got from the Embassy said something about his Black Books. Where do we find them?"
"I don't know," said Tiatara, "My brother and I only got a glimpse of what Hermaeus is and it's not pretty. I don't think pursuing those books is a wise idea."
"Anybody got a better idea?" said Chris.
That night, the College was dark, many of its inhabitants sleeping and those who weren't in their quarters. As such, nobody noticed three figures wearing crude dragon priest mask knockoffs clambering up the cliff. They could have gone through Winterhold, but their quarry mustn't see them coming.
"Remember, the false one is here somewhere. we kill her while our companions deal with her spawn brother in Whiterun," said their leader as they clambered over the battlements.
"This one is supposed to be the more difficult to fight," said one of them.
"At least she is not surrounded by warriors," said the other.
"No, she's surrounded by mages, trained and untrained alike," scolded the leader, none of them noticing a door at the far end opening and a glum woman walking out with some sort of shadow trying to talk to her.
"She sounded so miserable. I don't think she'd accept Matt's apology even if we could get his mind back," said the woman.
"I can talk to her. She'll listen to me," said the shadow, the intruders looking at one another.
"Take them..." the leader ordered.
"What was that?" asked the woman, turning around.
The shadow sighed "I dunno, look like bandits. Maybe Forsaken. Didn't think they came this far."
"Well I'm in need of stress relief," said the woman.
"You're always in need of stress relief," muttered the shadow.
One of the figures yelled in a guttural voice and lunged at the shadow, before literally vanishing into him, the shadow making a burp. The woman glared, "That's disgusting."
The shadow said, "I had to think fast...plus I was hungry."
The woman rolled her eyes and said, "What the hell. I'm hungry too." Her face shifted to a lupine snout as her legs rearranged and a tail grew out. Her opponent, also a woman, seemed surprised from how she paused before drawing two silver daggers and readying herself to attack. "Where do these people get those silver weapons?" grumbled the she-wolf before lunging at her opponent.
The remaining figure pulled out a double-handed battleaxe and began to walk calmly towards the shadow. "You ate my second-in-command. You'll find me harder to digest," he snapped.
"Nah, I'm not gonna eat you. The first one isn't settling so well," said the shadow.
The leader glared and took a swing, the shadow grabbing the blade. "Hah...ahahahahahahaha!" the shadow laughed, the last part happening as it juddered in place as the axe's lightning runes kicked in.
"Can't stand lightning, can you?" said the leader before he gestured with a hand and conjured a storm atronach.
"You sssummon?" crackled the atronach, its glowing eyes staring.
"Get that thing!" snapped the leader.
The atronach turned to look at the shadows "You...you are the one called NegaMorph?" it said, ignoring the shocked complaints of its summoner.
"Uh, yeah, how do you know me?" asked the shadow as a shapeless creature emerged from it.
"My charge speaks of you. Too much in this one's opinion. She made us swear to show you respect," said the atronach, the leader snapping "Like Oblivion you wi-" he snapped before the atronach said coldly "Be silent. An order from a charge of Meridia takes precedence over your ramblings."
"I don't care if your order comes from Hermaeus Mora himself! You will do as I say and destroy that demon!" snapped the leader cultist.
"I am not a demon!" snapped NegaMorph. A second later, a blast of lightning engulfed the leader, leaving nothing but a shadow on the ground. The atronach turned to look at NegaMorph who gulped. "Erm...send my best to Kala," he said nervously, the atronach nodding and vanishing.
Chloe, meanwhile, was struggling with her opponent, who seemed to know some martial arts. "I have to admit, you're good. Too bad you've fallen with some creeps," said Chloe.
The figure just glared and managed a flip that ended with her feet connecting under Chloe's jaw, sending her flying back, Chloe clearing her vision to see the figure easily flip NegaMorph over the edge of the balcony, NegaMorph heard going "I'm gonna feel this tomorrow."
"You're really good. You're wasting your talents with those jerks," said Chloe. The response was the dagger narrowly missing her head. "Is that a no?" she said, lunging at the cultist and knocking the mask off. The face revealed beneath it was that of a Redguard woman's. "Ah, guess that explains your proficiency with blades," said Chloe.
The Redguard's eyes narrowed, spinning her remaining dagger in her grip and pulling a new one out before flipping towards Chloe, who felt an energy starting to build. Chloe opened her mouth to roar at the Redguard and startle her to throw her off her game. Imagine her surprise when a red wolf's head made of energy came out of her mouth at the same time. The Redguard barely had time to dodge before the wolf head hit her and sent her flying back.
Chloe coughed weakly and asked, "Where did come from?"
"I dunno, you eat any weird peppers lately?" asked NegaMorph.
"Har-har...you going to eat anyone else? That's gross by the way," snapped Chloe.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine," said NegaMorph before a rumbling sound came out of him. "Not sure about me though," he groaned.
"I wonder what that blast was. I can hear her breathing so it didn't kill her-YIPE!" snapped Chloe, as a white furred anthro wolf leapt out, glaring.
"That's weird. I thought she was a Redguard," said NegaMorph.
"Oh dear...erm...STOP!" snapped Chloe, the anthro wolf skidding to a halt and seemingly waiting.
"Uh, identify yourself," said Chloe.
"Xikita," said the wolf coldly.
"Is that a typical Redguard name?" asked NegaMorph.
"How should I know?" asked Chloe before turning to Xikita and asking, "What were you three doing here?"
"We came to kill the Dragonborn," said the anthro wolf icily.
"Why?" asked Chloe.
"My previous lord commanded it. Miraak...the true Dragonborn," said Xikita coldly.
"Who?" asked Chloe and NegaMorph.
The wolfwoman glared at that, "The lord and master of Solstheim, champion of Hermaeus Mora."
"Oh, that's convenient. We've been wanting to get a word with Hermaeus," said Chloe.
"We were not to return till the twins were dead," snarled Xikita.
"Twins? As in Iguanus is also being targeted?" asked Chloe.
"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure the assassins that had gone after him are already dealt with," said NegaMorph.
"Come on. We'd better wake up Tiatara. You, wolf lady, erm...look human again and follow me," snapped Chloe
"As you wish," growled the she-wolf before shifting.
"Also, put something on that isn't a cultist outfit," said Chloe.
Xikita glared, before removing the robes to reveal why Chloe's impacts had caused little effect. "Oh, nice, dragonbone armor. That's the best you can-" said NegaMorph before gagging and suddenly vomiting out an octopus-like experiment as well as several pieces of dragonscale armor. "Oh, that's why he was bothering my stomach," said NegaMorph.
Chloe and Xikita just stared. "What experiment is that?" snapped Chloe
"I think he's based off of Huggo," said NegaMorph.
"Which experiment is that?" asked Chloe.
"Experiment 489, designed to squeeze the life out of people with his tentacles," said NegaMorph before pausing and saying, "Uh oh."
The experiment was giving NegaMorph a 'seriously?' expression before latching over NegaMorph's face, facehugger style. After a long pause, NegaMorph said in a dull yet muffled tone, "This is more annoying than anything else."
"They tried to do what?" snapped Tiatara, glaring at the sullen Redguard who had literally been ordered to the corner by Chloe.
"They were sent to kill you under the orders of Miraak, the true Dragonborn," said NegaMorph, the octopus-like experiment still latched onto his face.
"And the squid?" said Tiatara in a deadpan tone.
"Also one of them. Unlike Chloe, the guys I infect don't have to listen to me," said NegaMorph.
"Just...throw it back or something," snapped Tiatara, readying a teleport spell.
"Hang on, this guy's lots of suckers," said NegaMorph as he tried to pull the experiment on, "Ah, what the heck, I'll just do it the easy way." He melted his head and tossed the experiment before it found another purchase.
Chloe muttered to him, "Is that safe? Letting it loose?"
"It's a bigger danger for him than for anyone else," said NegaMorph, "Chances are he'll end up something's lunch."
"Ok, we're ready. One port to Whiterun, coming up," said Tiatara, wearing her spellsword gear and a 'take no shot' expression.
"What about her?" asked Chloe, pointing at her thrall.
"If Chloe is anything like Taelina, then the Redguard can do nothing," said Tiatara.
"I'm not sure if I like having that kind of power," said Chloe.
"Well, just be careful with it," said Tiatara, tossing the teleport serum down and causing the group to vanish...
...and reappear in the home of the companions...just as a werewolf tackled a screaming cultist down.
"Well, looks like the cultists didn't have much luck here either," said NegaMorph.
Iguanus walked into view at that. "Sis, I wondered if they came after you too. These guys had the cheek to walk up and say they were gonna kill me. For some scale-shedding idiot, Miraak," he said cheerfully.
"Similar group tried to kill me," said Tiatara, "Except they didn't even get to me."
"They bumped into me and Nega. Oh and I found out I can barf werewolf on people. That girl's one of the assassins. Say, hi, Xikita," said Chloe.
"Hi," said Xikita in an annoyed tone.
"Now stand on one foot," said Chloe gleefully, Xikita rolling her eyes and doing so.
NegaMorph sighed, "We have a location too, for some...one who could help. Bad news is we need to get to Miraak first."
"Round up the others, we're heading out," said Chloe.
"That's the person who shipped you?" said Chloe, looking at the small log ship in Windhelm's dock.
"Indeed, his ship carried us from Solstheim," said Xikita.
Chloe looked over before walking up to the boat, a couple of the crew looking over. "Where's your captain?" she called.
"That would be me," said one of the sailors, "Gjalund Salt-Sage at your service."
"Hey there. I hear you do runs up to Solsthiem. Me and my friends need to head up there, soon as possible," said Chloe calmly.
"Solstheim? No way. I am never going back to that island," said Gjalund.
"Why is that?" said Chloe warningly
"I remember sailing to Raven Rock one day and the next thing I knew, I was returning back to Windhelm with passengers I had never met before. It's not right for a man to forget days like that. That place is cursed. I will not be going back there," said Gjalund.
Chloe was about to talk again before Xikita grabbed Gjalund and snapped in a heavy accent, "You were given gold to ship me and my people back. You dare go back on your word? You will ship my companions and I to Solstheim or I will cut you down like the dishonorable dog that you are."
"Ok, ok, there's no need for bloodshed," said Gjalund, "We'll set sail for Solstheim when our supplies are onboard."
"Yet I see no supplies in need of loading," snapped Xikita.
"We were not expecting passengers. We'll need extra food rations," said Gjalund.
"Fine. I'll stay here...and make sure you don't have...any schedule changes," snapped Xikita.
"Your new wolf shows potential," muttered Techo.
"Indeed. NegaMorph, make sure she doesn't change the schedule herself," said Chloe.
"Will do," said NegaMorph. Contrinus gave an uneasy look at the bay and said, "We're going to be sailing over water for how long?"
"Don't tell me you're starting to get a feline's hydrophobia," said Chris.
"No, I'm just queasy from donating a good amount of blood and magicka to start the development of Takes-in-Light's new body," said Contrinus.
Her eyes glowed for a second before Takes-in-Light snapped, "The sooner I have my own body, the better."
"You ought to have been there when the procedure started," said Draco, "Contrinus had to give so much Argonian blood to pump into that thing. Then it formed into what looked like an Argonian egg only without the shell. Man, that thing was so pulsing and squishing and moving its tiny little limbs..."
NegaMorph was the only one who didn't look unwell at that. Takes-in-Light said, "At least I have a body now. It just needs to hatch."
"The sooner the better," groaned Contrinus.
The trip to Solstheim and Raven Rock was pretty quick, but Chloe had questions, in fact everyone did, aimed at Xikita. "Ok, talk, see? Why'd you try to rub out our compadres?" snapped Draco, a little drunk on apparent power, shining a lantern in an annoyed Xikita's face who said something.
"You don't answer to Miraak anymore. You answer to her," said Chris.
"I did not...answer...to him...in the first...place. I was hired, simple as that," snapped Xikita.
"Let me guess, the guy who hired you didn't tell you want the job entails," said Techo.
"He told us everything, otherwise I would have parted his head from his shoulders," snarled Xikita.
"And you couldn't tell he was lying?" asked Chloe.
"He was...certain we would succeed," said Xikita.
"So, was it Miraak himself who hired you?" asked Techo.
"No...some underling in the docks," said Xikita.
"Of course," said Techo, "What do you know about Miraak?"
"Not much. He leads this cult, kills anyone who gets in his way, claims that he is the one true Dragonborn. He claims to have the power to bend a dragon's will," said Xikita.
"Yeah right. Dragons have pretty inflexible wills," said NegaMorph.
"He managed it...the Bend Will shout," snapped Xikita.
"Never heard of it," said Iguanus.
"That is because Miraak invented it," said Xikita.
"We'll have to speak with this Miraak at some point," said Tiatara.
"We'll need to find him...and how much do you bet Matt and Taelina will pop up?" said Chris bitterly.
"Do they have transport over water?" asked Chip.
"They are daedric. I do not think they care," said Chloe.
Raven Rock was a small town, with only a few houses, most of them built under the ashy soil. However, windows were not a high priority so no one noticed when a pair of anthro wolves appeared behind one house.
"So this is where we can find an alternative to the ritual?" said Matt, not sounding impressed.
"Something that won't require the lunar alignment," said Taelina, "I'm not taking any more chances."
"So...this Miraak can tell us as such? I don't like the idea of working with a daedric prince who looks like something HP Lovecraft dreams up after too much cheese before bed," said Matt.
Taelina paused and looked at Matt. "You have got to stop using your offworld references. I can't follow anything you say when you talk like that."
"He's a demonic squid monster. Plus, you do not have to stay here. I could show you the multiverse," said Matt lustfully.
"Your crew would never accept me as your mate," said Taelina.
"So? We lure a ship in, overpower the crew, and leave," said Matt.
"I doubt it could be that simple," said Taelina.
"More than you know," said Matt gleefully, before a voice said "Hey...who are you?", the two turning to see a guard, Matt grinning "Just looking for dinner..."
Taelina also grinned and said, "You look good enough to eat. Let's find out." before the guard was grabbed and dragged screaming into the alley, the scream cut off with a crack.
Line break
Matt and Taelina weren't the only supernatural visitors on Solstheim. A certain pair of vampires had just finished with a small group of Reavers. "Personally, I prefer the higher classes than these ragamuffins," said Ghoulwyrm, "They tend to have cleaner blood."
"You could have left one alive. The dead tend to be useless as sources of information," snapped Tahaussia
"Oh please. I can interrogate the dead as easily as the living," said Ghoulwyrm.
"Go ahead then, try. Reavers tend to think of that..." said Tahaussia.
"We'll see," said Ghoulwyrm before zapping one corpse with a reanimating spell.
Tahaussia counted down the seconds till Ghoulwyrm had a mind link and paused, walking calmly over to pick up a discarded axe and cutting his own head off. "Warned you," she said mockingly as Ghoulwyrm's head reattached and regenerated.
"Those bandits were more resourceful than I gave them credit for," said Ghoulwyrm.
"What was it that you heard anyways?" asked Tahaussia.
"A three-month long nightmare...with aeiou," said Ghoulwyrm in a distant voice.
"Oh, a nightmare wall hex. I thought they were outlawed," said Tahaussia cheerfully.
"For good reason," said Ghoulwyrm.
"Yes, they were...a little zealous in their response. Still, at least it didn't send you mad," said Tahaussia.
Ghoulwyrm blinked. For a second, he thought he saw a man in a spacesuit behind Tahaussia. He made a mental note to clean his brain when he got back.
"Are you ok, dear aeiou?" asked Tahaussia, causing Ghoulwyrm to scream. Tahaussia grinned and said, "Oh, I'm going to get so much fun out of this."
Chloe and company jumped down the gangplank and into the harbor. "Ok, first things first: we need to get a lead on Mr. Tentacle," she said.
"Oh sure, he ought to stick out like a sore chela," said NegaMorph.
"We spread out, ask arou-and what's so funny, whelp?" sapped Chloe and Xikita laughed, the latter saying "He removed the memories from the captain. The people here will be no trouble."
"Oh like no one will have any idea who Miraak is," said Chip before tapping a passing Dark Elf on the shoulder and asking, "Pardon me, do you know where we may find someone named Miraak?"
"Here in his temple," said the Dark Elf in a dull voice.
"Great, which temple?" asked Chip.
"Here in his shrine," said the Dark Elf with the same dull voice.
Chris said "Zombiiiies…" in a sing-song voice.
"No, they have a pulse," said Chip, "It's actually more like he's sleepwalking."
"Shame we left Morph behind. He coulda woke them up," said Chris.
"Oh, he'll show up eventually," said Draco, "Right when it'd the funniest."
"Let's just find a way to snap them out of it," said Chloe, calmly.
"Let's see where they're going," said Chip.
At that, another elf walked by, the group looking at one another before following. The elves walked out of the town along the beach. It was easy to see where they were going. There was some sort of monolith standing in the middle of a pool of water and several of the townspeople were building something around it.
"Oh boy, brain suckers. It's that time Megan tried summoning all over again," said Chloe.
"Mind control and construction usually don't lead to good things," said Chip.
"Yeah, but we can't smash it...yet. This Miraak creep might come near it," said Chris carefully.
"Not sure if we can smash it," said Contrinus, "That thing's giving off a lot of magic."
"Ok, we wait till these people leave. Then we go in and take a peek," said Chloe.
"How long could that take?" asked Draco.
"Could be a while. We might want to find something to do in the meantime," said Chip.
"We could see if there are any other towns here. Ones preferably not mind controlled," said Chris sarcastically.
"From what I hear, this island has only three settlements," said Iguanus, "There's Raven Rock here, a village of Skalls on the opposite corner of this island, and a Telvanni wizard living on the other side of this shore."
"There must be somewhere that isn't mind whammied," snapped Chloe.
"That guy doesn't seem to be doing anything," said NegaMorph, pointing at a bald-headed Dark Elf wearing a red robe who was watching the workers.
"Good, let's grab him," said Chloe with an evil grin.
"Uh, Chloe, I don't think you want to-" started Tiatara.
"I know what I'm doing," said Chloe, "We just jump him before he knows what's happening."
Chloe stomped out, pushing two elves aside before putting a hand on the cloaked figure's shoulder. "Ok, cheeky, start talking!" she snapped.
The Dark Elf raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, you aren't ensorcelled like the others. Are you a newcomer?"
"Yes I am. Did you do the en...sorcer...ing? Is that a word?" said Chloe, her train of thought wobbling on the tracks.
"Me? No. I'm merely observing. It's quite an accomplished work of arcane power," said the Dark Elf.
"Oh?...oh..." said Chloe, feeling a little embarrassed.
"What puzzles me most is the cycles this ensnarement goes through," said the Dark Elf, "The workers aren't always working on these constructions and they seem to have no memory of doing so during their rest periods."
"And he's building?" said Chloe, in a prompting tone.
"He who?" asked the Dark Elf.
"This Miraak guy," said Chloe.
"Miraak? Miraak? Where have I heard that name before? Oh yes, now I remember...though it doesn't make any sense," said the Dark Elf.
"Why not?" asked Chloe.
"Because Miraak has been dead for ages," said the Dark Elf.
Chloe paused before saying "Zombies?" before there was a howl in the distance that sounded like 'fucking undead'.
"I doubt that. Zombification does not last too long and the subjects are capable of much independent thought," said the Dark Elf.
"And you know this from personal experience?" asked Chloe.
"I've dabbled in Conjuration. A Telvanni wizard must know all schools of magic," said the Dark Elf.
"So...how can a DEAD GUY..." Said Chloe, screaming the last words in the wizard's ear before she continued "...manage to take over an island?"
"No need to shout," said the wizard, "Perhaps the answer lies in his temple. Miraak had a large temple at the very center of this island, on top of the mountain."
"Ok...and is there anyone on this rock that isn't mind whammied?" snapped Chloe, starting to lose patience.
"By that, I assume you refer to people who are not enthralled all the time," said the wizard, "You might check the Skaal village. They have some unusual magic that might have been able to counteract this controlling force."
"Skaal village, check...and I'm assuming the temple is a deathtrap, right?" said Chloe sweetly.
"Well, what ancient temple isn't a deathtrap?" said the wizard in a snarking tone, "Miraak was a dragon priest after all, a particularly clever one at that."
"You're an asshole," said Chloe bluntly.
"I've been called worse. And the name is Master Neloth, though I wouldn't expect a barbarian to know enough about Morrowind to know what it means," said the wizard.
"Bite me," said Chloe bluntly before walking back to cover, "Guys, we got a nice location."
"Where to?" asked Chris.
"Center of the island, Miraak's digs are up there. We go up, chop his head off, kick it in a volcano and raid his notes," said Chloe cheerfully.
"That's a tough climb," said Contrinus.
"I'm sure there's a pathway up there," said Chloe.
The pathway was rather clearly marked, with dragon skeletons on either side of it.
"Hmm...speaking as someone with dragon DNA, this is fucking creepy," said Chloe finally.
"I thought Miraak was a dragon priest," said Techo.
"He's also a Dragonborn," said Tiatara, "I guess those two things clashed."
"The dragon priests followed the dragons, right? Maybe he didn't like being told what to do," said Chloe, the group heading up the path
"Or perhaps someone made him a better offer," said Iguanus.
"Like who? If it was whatever the resistance was in those days, he wouldn't have been locked up," said Chloe.
"Miraak wasn't just a priest for the dragon cult," said Tiatara.
"Yeah, but if he was a Dragonborn and helped the locals beat said dragons, why kill him after?" said Chloe, the group arriving at the entrance, several cultists watching with mild interest, two more above with crossbows aimed.
"Somehow, I doubt a ghost would be able to command this much power," said Tiatara.
One of the cultists seemed surprised. "Xikita, we thought you dead," it said in a metallic voice, some sort of heavy armor obviously under the mask.
"I survived and I've brought new acolytes to Miraak's temple," said Xikita.
"Hmm...interesting choice, two Argonians too?" said the cultist suspiciously.
"Their arms are strong. They'll make good builders," said Xikita.
"Hmm...and you managed to kill the Dragonborn?" said the cultist, clearly suspicious, as he waved to the other guards who began to walk forward.
Chris noticed that Chloe was starting to shake and unsightly body hair was starting to sprout up. "Chloe, now's not the time," he whispered.
One of the other cultists, clearly a mercenary, said "Heh...she part Khajiit with that hair?"
Chris sighed as Chloe snapped, snarling "Xikita, break that idiot's neck!", the cultists stepping back in shock at that.
"Here we go," said NegaMorph dully.
Xikita seemed to grin before grabbing the shocked cultist by the neck and twisting, even as a crossbow bolt missed her.
"I suppose we might as well start fighting too," said Draco. The other cultists had snapped out of their shock at that, lunging at the group, one making the mistake of going for Draco. Draco grabbed the guy and tossed him over the side of the scaffolding. Another one tried to slash him at that only to be engulfed in an ice blast and frozen solid.
"Watch your back, Draco," called Tiatara before firing another ice blast.
"Hit the snipers," called Chris, wolfing out and lunging at a heavily-armored cultist who actually managed to match his strength.
"Got it," called NegaMorph before shooting at the archers.
Two fatal screams confirmed the hits at that. "Warn the master! The Drag-" yelled the last one before Iguanus stabbed him through the chest.
"Ok, that's all of them," said Iguanus. And yet despite the fact that many of the cultists screamed as they died or the fighting got close to them, the workers didn't seem to notice them at all. And it was not just Dark Elves working on the construction, there were several Nords in Carved Nordic armor. Curiously, only one of them was not working on building and was actually trying to talk the others out of it.
Chris walked towards the Nord at that. "Hey...hey, you ok?" he called, before jumping as the Nord span, hand on her sword hilt.
"Be gone, werewolf. I'll not let you make easy prey of my kin!" snapped the Nord.
"Hey, I'm a civilized werewolf. I don't want to eat them!" yelped Chris.
The Nord paused and said, "Few werewolves have the clarity of mind to be able to speak in beast form."
Chloe walked into view at that. "We're not normal werewolves. We're here investigating an attack on our friends by these wackos," she said sternly.
"Taelina! Has Hircine aligned himself with Miraak?" snapped the Nord.
"Hey, I am not Taelina. I am far nicer and in better shape," said Chloe.
The Nord glared before saying "Hmm...the Daughter of the Hunt would hardly waste her time trying to help mortals...fine. My name is Frea of the Skaal. I am here trying to free my kinsmen from the curse that enslaves their minds."
"Do you have any idea what enslaved them?" asked Chip.
"I am unsure," said Frea, "Something has taken control of most of the people of Solstheim. It makes them forget themselves, and work on these horrible creations that corrupt the Stones, the very land itself. My father Storn, the shaman, says Miraak has returned to Solstheim, but that is impossible."
"Why's that? He sent a load of goons to attack me and my brother so he must be alive," said Tiatara
"Then you and I both have reason to see what lies beneath us. Let us go. There is nothing more I can do here. The Tree Stone and my friends are beyond my help for now. We need to find a way into the temple below," said Frea.
"Are there any of your kin who isn't enslaved?" asked Iguanus.
"There are a few of us left unaffected by this curse," said Frea, "My father, Storn, the shaman, protects them in the village. I fashioned an amulet to guard me against whatever has taken hold of the Skaal, but it is the only one of its kind. If I cannot find a way to save them, then there is no hope for my people."
"Then we'd better fix this," said Chloe confidently, heading for the temple doors. Just then, two more cultists came into sight and started attacking. "Oh good, I hadn't quite gotten my fill yet," said Chloe before she rushed them.
Frea winced as Chloe lunged at the cultists, grabbing one by the head and literally twisting his head off before slashing the second across the throat, her eyes glowing the same color as Taelina's had when they had encountered her. "Are you sure she is safe?" asked Frea.
"Werewolves aren't safe, but they can be trusted," said Chris.
Chloe walked back at that, panting a bit before saying, "Let's find this Miraak. I have had enough of this entire mission..."
"Yes, this quest has dragged out longer than it has to. We've been away from our home village too long," said Chris loudly.
Chloe glared. "That's not what I meant and you-" she began before Chris sighed and kissed her on the lips, backing up as Chloe stared with a surprised look.
"Well, we better be moving on. We've got an evil sorcerer guy to fight," said NegaMorph quickly.
"Yes...we'll, erm...continue this talk later in private, Chris," said Chloe in a dazed voice.
The inside of the temple was a lot like other Nordic tombs they've been in. And yet it was grander and dragon motifs were a lot more common. Frea looked around before saying "Check the side rooms. There might be something of use."
"Eh, looks like basic loot to me," said NegaMorph, "Pretty good stuff though."
A grunt came from the far end of the main hall at that, a trio of draugr walking into view before they spotted the intruders. "Oh look, draugr," said Tiatara dully before shooting a fireball that engulfed the three of them.
The 'guards' dispatched, the group continued on, Frea leading the way with NegaMorph. "Beware of traps. These old temples can have them anywhere."
NegaMorph sighed. "Oh please. Don't be so paranoi-duuuuur…" he said, his intelligence lowering significantly as an arrow shot out a side hole and into his head.
Frea let out a squeal of shock. "Way to blow our cover, NegaMorph," said Draco as he pulled out the arrow, black ooze dripping from it as the hole healed up.
NegaMorph just fall over at that, making bubbling noises. "He'll be fine. He overdosed on healing potions as a baby," said Tiatara quickly.
Frea stared before shaking her head and said, "We cannot let ourselves be distracted. The root of the corruption must be found and torn out."
"Ok, let's go then," said Chloe, pushing past.
Frea glared before saying calmly, "This place...Miraak tried to take power here...and protect himself in the process."
"Protect himself from what?" asked Iguanus.
"The legends say he betrayed his dragon masters. So most likely, from them," said Frea darkly.
The group looked around the large chamber they had found themselves in, a half dozen hanging cages, many still 'occupied' hanging from the center. Frea walked over to the guardrail and said faintly, "I do not wish to imagine the kinds of things that happened in this chamber. Who were these poor souls trapped in these cages? What tortures did they suffer at Miraak's hands? Was it in service to the dragons, or for his own purposes?"
"This torture chamber has probably seen a lot of ugly things," said Contrinus, "I can only imagine the screams."
Just then, the group started to hear something, it sounded like...giggling? "Ok, that's not something I expected," said NegaMorph before looking in the next room, "I take that back, this was totally expected."
The rest, minus Frea who headed to check another room, peered in to see Morph tied to a rack and pretty stretched. "Oh, hi guys, I have a feeling these guys aren't licensed chiropractors," he said cheerfully.
"Oddly enough, the only question I want to ask is 'how did you get here ahead of us?'" said Chloe.
"I asked for directions." said morph
"That was about as sensible an answer as I could have expected," said Chloe before she untied Morph's. Of course, this caused his stretched body to slingshot forward into the air as he went 'wheeeee'. Chloe sighed, catching him as he landed. "You need to look like something other than...you," she snapped.
Morph looked confused for a second before saying, "Oh, I know!" before shifting into Houdini and turning invisible.
"I suppose he'll be harder to spot," said Chip.
"It's good enough. Do not turn visible till we tell you to," said Chloe.
"Okeydokey," said Morph's voice.
"And no talking either," snapped Chloe, as Frea walked in.
"I think I found a way further in, but the stairs are out," said Frea.
"I think we can find a way to work around that," said Chloe.
After going through several chambers, including one with swinging blades and another with bridges and draugr, the group finally made it to the temple's sanctum and there was a noticeable shift in architecture.
Frea looked around, saying "I do not know what it is Miraak learned that gave him reason to turn on his masters. But his path seems to have been a cruel one. I wonder if we will find some answers to what happened so long ago."
There was a familiar growling sound up ahead. "Looks like some of those answers will find us," said Iguanus. A half dozen skeletal warriors walked into view, one drawing its sword across its neck and pointing the blade at them. "Skeletons? What? Was Miraak expecting rookies to get into his sanctum?" asked Iguanus, almost sounding offended.
Several cultists also walked into view, one in heavy armor and holding a warhammer. "Ok, that's more appropriate," said Iguanus.
"Kill the intruders," called the Warhammer-wielding one, Chloe lunging at him and being sent flying with a squealing yelp; the cultist's warhammer was inlaid with silver
"You'll pay for that!" snapped NegaMorph before letting loose several crossbow shots. The crossbow bolts simply bounced off, the cultist sneering under his helmet, stomping forward, even as NegaMorph backed up. "Oh, my bones will be feeling this in the morning," groaned NegaMorph. The cultist brought the hammer down on NegaMorph, pounding him into the floor, Nega rasping, "Just when I think I've discovered all forms of pain, I discover new and interesting versions…" before the cultist turned and advanced on Iguanus.
"You heretics will fall long before Miraak returns," said the cultist.
"I don't think so. I learnt a few things," said Iguanus, before yelling something in the dragon tongue. The cultist laughed...right up until a blast of icy wind flash froze him.
"Indeed, let's show them we are true Dragonborn," said Tiatara before letting out a Shout that cause fire to shoot out of her mouth. Half the skeletons were caught in the blast, reduced to piles of smoking bones which left the remaining two cultists.
"This is your best chance to surrender," said Techo, "I suggest you take it."
"NEVER!" yelled one of the cultists, only to receive an arrow to the chest from Frea, the other getting stabbed by Chris as he charged.
"Ok, let's keep moving. You ready to go Chloe?" asked Chris.
Chloe's crossed eyes looked at him and she saw an incredibly dashing wolfman. "I'll go with you anywhere," she said in a dreamy voice.
"Uh, ok, come on," said Chris a bit awkwardly.
After going through a caged corridor, Frea commented, "How much deeper can this be? I have been told that Miraak's power was great, but to have built so large a temple... It cannot be much farther now. I feel it in my bones."
Chris looked embarrassed as the still recovering and still dazed Chloe clinging to his arms, practically with hearts for eyes as the group walked into a smaller room with a dragon skeleton hanging from the ceiling, a word wall at the back.
Frea looked up at the skeleton, saying "I had heard Miraak has turned against the Dragon Cult, but to display the remains in such a manner as this... It is no wonder the dragons razed his temple to the ground. Seeing the remains hung up like trophies must have enraged them to no end."
"Yeah, dragons don't like being reminded they can be killed, seeing their bones used as trophies must really get under their skin," said Draco.
"You talk like you know how they feel," said Frea, reading something on the wall as Iguanus walked towards the word wall in a daze. As usual, a particular rune on the wall started to glow as energy started swirling towards Iguanus as well as Tiatara.
"No, wait!" Frea called before a sarcophagus in the corner opened with a crash.
The draugr looked like a typical overlord, but there was some strange radiance round it. "You dare steal the master's knowledge?" it gurgled, glaring at the Dragonborn who were still in a trance.
"Uh, guys, not a good time to be out of it," said Chip.
"A draugr's still a draugr. We can take him," said Contrinus as sunfire appeared in her hands.
"Allies of thieves will share their fate," gurgled the draugr, before walking with surprising normality towards them.
"They must have packed this one with better preservatives," said Chip. The draugr sneered and swung at Chip at that. Chip brought up his shield and blocked the blow, though it was strong enough to make him stagger. The draugr smirked again and kicked Chip in the shield, knocking him over before reaching back to block an attack from behind.
"If you cannot defeat his vanguard, how can you hope to beat Miraak?" sneered the draugr.
Chloe snarled, her current body filling her with rage at this...thing. "How dare you?" she began, striding towards the draugr who just laughed.
"One of Hircine's spawn...be gone," he snapped, using the 'Fus' shout to send her flying.
"That's it, you're going down!" roared Chris as he tackled the draugr. The draugr turned in surprise as Chris tackled him, Chloe dizzily looking up, part of her brain saying there couldn't possibly be a choir as Chris stood up from his tackle.
"So where do we go from here? It's a dead end," said Techo.
"There's always a false back to one of the sarcophagi," said Tiatara, "Just start looking."
Frea peered in the draugr's coffin to say "You have done this before?" stepping aside to show an open iron gate.
"You'd be surprised," said Tiatara.
Frea nodded, the group headed down and into a circular room that looked lived in, several busts of some sort of creature around. Frea walked up to a ruined book on the side and muttered "I wonder if there is something here that tells the story of Miraak..." before looking around and saying "I do not recognize this statuary. We passed a few of them earlier, but they are becoming more frequent as we get further in. I do not like this place. It almost looks as if these statues will come to life at any moment."
"Ick, ugly fish," commented NegaMorph, "Their mugs are as nasty as Lucius's." He paused before looking in the mouth of one. "There's a handle in it," said NegaMorph curiously
"Uh, I wouldn't go pulling strange handles in fish heads unless I knew what they activated," said Chip.
Frea sighed. "I will do it," she said, reaching in with a grim look and pulling the lever.
With a slow grinding sound, the gate in the floor opened, revealing a spiraling staircase. "Hopefully this is the last one," said Chris.
The spiral staircase continued down, until they reached another door, which led to a huge chamber, which was home to a giant statue of some sort of...crab thing.
"What is that thing supposed to be?" asked Draco.
"I'm not sure, but it looks familiar," said Tiatara.
"Looks like Cthulhu," said Chloe to herself.
"I get the feeling that Miraak didn't just decide to worship himself," said Iguanus.
"No...that's something else," said Frea darkly, pulling a lever at the far end, behind the statue, a hidden door opening.
The door led to a rather twisted tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a circular room. The architecture of the room was far less chaotic and twisted as the rest, almost seeming like a shrine. In the center of the room was a podium, on which rested a black book with a cover embossed with a seal of a monstrous crab/squid creature not unlike the statue they saw. Rather ominously, dark mist swirled from it.
"Ok...that's not good," said Chloe weakly, the energy radiating from the book making her feel ill.
Frea looked at the book with unease. "This book... It seems wrong, somehow. Here, yet...not. It may be what we seek," she said.
"Great...draw lots to see who opens it?" asked Chris.
Tiatara sighed and said, "I'll do it."
"Sister, wait, it could be dangerous," said Iguanus.
"It has to be done by someone," said Tiatara.
"Oh please, it's a book. What's it gonna do, eat us?" said NegaMorph.
Tiatara approached the book slowly before opening it up. She had a second to look at the strange verse written on the front page before dark green tentacles started emerging from the book and wrapping around her.
"NegaMorph...never speak again," snarled Chloe.
"Tiatara!" yelled Iguanus as he tried to pull the tentacles off of his sister only for them to ensnare him as well.
"Oh...poop," muttered Chloe before Frea watched in horror as the tentacles grabbed them too, leaving her alone.
The thing the group knew, they were in a place completely unlike any they've ever seen. In all directions was an endless green sea with islands scattered across it and structures made out of twisted metal and what looked to be countless books. In the distance was a tall tower over which a cloudy vortex swirled. On the island they were on right now, there were several floating creatures that looked to be mostly composed of tentacles with two arms, a mask for a face, and robes. There was also a man wearing grand robes and a strange tentacled mask.
"Uh oh..." said NegaMorph in a low voice as Chloe glared "You...you're Miraak?" she snapped.
A wave of force suddenly forced the group to their knees. "Who are you to dare set foot here?" demanded Miraak before looking at the Argonian twins, "Ahh... You are Dragonborn. I can feel it." He gave the others a brief glance and said, "You are just offworlders, vagabonds who do not know the true nature of Tamriel." Miraak waved his hand dismissively and said, "You are beneath my notice."
"Don't you dare-" began Chloe before she, Chris, Techo and NegaMorph vanished.
Miraak turned to the Argonians and said, "You have slain a great many dragons, I see. And yet..." He Shouted in the dragon language and suddenly energy armor appeared over him. "You have no idea of the true power a Dragonborn can wield! Mul... Qah Div! This realm is beyond you. You have no power here. And it is only a matter of time before Solstheim is also mine. I already control the minds of its people. Soon they will finish building my temple, and I can return home." He walked over to a serpentine dragon and said to the tentacled beings, "Send them back where they came from. They can await my arrival with the rest of Tamriel."
Frea stared as the book seemed to spit up the two Argonians. "You're alive. Your friends…" she said.
"What happened?" asked Tiatara.
"You are the first to return. Wherever that...daedric thing took you, your friends are yet to return," said Frea, the group looking with concern at the book.
The group were wandering through the book piles, trying to find a way out. "Man, I'd hate to see the library fines at this place," said NegaMorph.
"Save the jokes for after we're back in our proper reality," said Chloe.
"Urgh...while we're here, let see if we can find a book on getting to the Colored Rooms," said Chris, before a giggle was heard from a side corridor. "Erm...anyone else hear that?" he said.
The group walked down the side corridor until they came to a stone wall, which was slightly out of place among this twisted architecture. On the wall was an engraving of a pyramid with an eye in its top surrounded by a ring. "Hmm, isn't that the universal symbol of enlightenment?" asked Techo.
"Who cares? We need to find a way out of here," said Chloe.
Techo looked closely at the engraving and said, "Maybe this might be the way out." He poked at the pupil of the eye and jumped back when it lit up.
Golden light started moving over the lines of the engraving, highlighting it. But the light was also going outside the lines and forming other pictures. Within the ring, several odd symbols appeared, including an open bag of ice of all things. The pyramid itself gained stick arms and legs as well a top hat and bow tie. As the engraving finishing lighting up, an echoing laughter could be heard. Suddenly, the pyramid peeled itself off the wall and formed into a solid creature, mostly yellow and yet flat as a plate. "Well, well, well, it's a small omniverse after all," said the creature as it floated around the group.
"Oh no...everyone...best behavior...NSC has a file on that guy," said Techo quietly.
"Who is this guy?" asked NegaMorph.
"Name's Bill Cipher, nice to meet ya!" said the pyramid being, lifting up his hat. The four of them suddenly lifted up into the air and fell back down as Bill put his hat back on.
"Oh no...another Discord," said NegaMorph to himself.
"Oh Discord, great guy, has a really catchy song, we hang out a lot at the Mad Gods' Club," said Bill.
"So what are you doing here?" asked Chloe.
"Freelance work, toots," said Bill, "I can't spend every day plotting the total collapse of reality. A lot of Daedric Princes need a go-between guy and I get along with a lot of them."
There was a rumble at that, Bill actually looking worried for a second. "And I certainly wouldn't think of double-crossing them. I saw what happened to the last guy," said Bill quickly, pointing to a bandaged-up doppelganger who groaned "Remember, don't steal from mad gods."
"So anyways, if you're here, that means you're looking for-" started Bill before he noticed the others' eyes glowing green. "Oh c'mon! I'm the one who's supposed to be giving that information!" snapped Cipher.
A deep voice, from all four, said, "So you could fool them into releasing you? You were warned...demon." adding, "Perhaps I should inform them of your...vulnerability?"
"Ugh, fine, whatever happened to professional trust?" grumbled Bill.
"Trust? Talk to Meridia if you want that," sneered Mora's voice.
Bill just glared before noticing the others were coming out of it. "So then, now that you've been informed of the rules, let's get down to business. What kind of info are you looking for today?" he asked in his usual cheerful demeanor, "Wait, wait, don't tell me, let me guess." He stretched one arm towards Chloe and pulled out a card behind her ear, "Is this what you're wanting?"
Chloe snatched the card and read, "A guide to moving between the Oblivion realms undetected."
"Ooh, good pick," said Bill, "Best way to get to those hard-to-reach plains of Oblivion. But it's gonna cost ya..."
"No, we won't help you escape," said Chris is a deadpan tone.
"I can sweeten the deal..." said Bill.
"I don't think so," said Techo, "We already have enough trouble from one reality warper."
"Oooooh...you mean the new girl?" said Bill.
"Most likely, unless there's anyone else," said Chloe dryly.
"Ooooh...lovely. Now then, what do you have to offer? We don't take freebies here," said Bill, his eye glowing red at that
"One moment please," said Chris before the group went into a huddle, "Ok, guys, what does an interdimensional nutcase like Bill want? Asides from freedom or our souls."
"Hey, he's just a middleman, it's Hermaeus Mora we have to bargain with," said NegaMorph.
"Or do you?" said Bill, suddenly part of the huddle. The group jumped back with a yelp. "Oh, it's so nice to have some new guys to play with," said Bill.
NegaMorph glared. "Now look here. Don't make me blast you, you little pizza slice," he snapped.
Techo yelped and gibbered, "He didn't mean that."
NegaMorph pushed Techo away, snapping, "Hell, yes I meant it."
"Oh, ho, ho, the asymmetrical mutant blob thinks he can handle little ol' me," said Bill, "Now isn't that HILARIOUS?" Bill said the last word with a very deep voice as he suddenly became 10 times bigger than the group and bright red with a black eye.
NegaMorph raised an eyebrow. "Really? Four against-GET BACK HERE YOU COWARDS!" he snapped, turning to see the others had run for cover.
"I think you need a lesson about how the rules work around here," said Bill as NegaMorph floated up, "I might not be able to appear on your mortal plane and my powers may be a fraction of what they once were. But there's still circumstances were I'm allowed a lot of LEVERAGE!"
NegaMorph yelped as gravity quadrupled for him, flattening him. "I'm sure you aren't allowed this." he rasped.
"Mora gives me leeway when costumers are being unruly," said Cipher as he peeled NegaMorph up and started spinning him like a basketball, "Now let's see, what would be agonizingly painful and horrifying to a creature that can regenerate from a single speck?"
Bill let go of the spinning NegaMorph to think before grinning (minus the mouth part of course). "I knooooow…" he said, reaching into nothing and pulling out a disc marked 'Matt's singing'. "Open wide," said Bill before stuffing the disc into NegaMorph's head.
NegaMorph went bug-eyed before his mind's ear could hear Matt's horrific singing...in stereo...and repeating. Bill let the now-screaming Nega fall before saying, "Well then, where were we?" Bill looked around, his eye letting out a searchlight-like beam. "Where did my new buddies run off to?"
"This is nuts. A Class Z working for this guy...and scared of him? Let's just find a mage and try a random gate again," said Chris desperately as the trio ran for it.
"Yeah, I mean it's not like we've got a time limit to do this," said Techo desperately.
Chloe thought about this before she stopped running. "No, we do have a time limit. That lunar alignment is approaching and I can't afford any more delays. We have to find a way to get Kala back before it's too late."
"You want knowledge of the hidden paths," said the deep voice from earlier, echoing from everywhere at once.
The group looked around before looking up. Above them was a rippling abyss in the center of which was a huge eyeball with a dumbbell-shaped pupil. Eyes and tentacle regularly spawned and disappeared on the edges of it. "I thought would find my appearance to be...overwhelming," say the abyss with a deep, slow voice that almost sounded like it was yawning, "That is why I had Bill Cipher speak on my behalf first. But there is no need to fear yet. You wish to bargain and I am willing to listen."
Chloe glared, Chris beginning to say "Chloe, this is a bad-" before he and Techo seemed to lose all color, freezing in place.
"I believe this should be in private," said the voice.
"Ok, you eldritch librarian, what do you want from me in return for that guide through Oblivion?" demanded Chloe.
"Knowledge for knowledge...that is the usual pact," said Hermaeus Mora.
"What do I know that you want?" said Chloe icily.
"You are a new breed," said Hermaeus, "A unique blend of human, dragon, and elemental. You do not know it yourself, but the knowledge of your species is inside your mind."
"And what would you want with such knowledge?" asked Chloe, "Are you going to make more Shar-Ekta?"
"I am a collector," said Hermaeus, "New information from beyond Mundus is always interesting and has its own value. I do have quite a collection of your Nullspace realm's secrets."
"And this information?" snapped Chloe, Hermaeus laughing "I would be a fool of a collector if I let my prized possession be seen by anyone."
Chloe gulped a bit before asking, "Will it hurt?"
"I can be quite gentle if I wish to be," said Hermaeus, "As proof of my good will, I can even give you a hint as to how you may free your brother from Hircine's daughter."
"Fine...spill it," said Chloe darkly.
"Your friend holds the key, your pet can reach the lock," said Hermaeus.
"That's it? Can't you give me something clearer?" asked Chloe.
"I promised only a hint. Make of it what you can," said Hermaeus.
"Fine...and the road map?" said Chloe icily.
"You shall be given it the second time you visit my realm," said Hermaeus, "The way to the Colored Rooms lies through another of my books. You will find it on Solstheim." There was a strange light in the large eye and suddenly Chloe knew precisely where she had to look to find that book.
"Ok, and your payment?" asked Chloe.
"I shall collect it when you use the book," said Hermaeus, "The Daedric Prince of Fate knows how to wait."
"Oh kiiiiids!" sang Bill Cipher's voice at that, the demon of the hour floating into place. "Ooh, you caught them," he said cheerfully before pausing, "Wait...you never kill customers."
"The bargain has been struck, Bill Cipher," said Hermaeus, "You may go now."
"What? That's not fair. These are the-never mind!" he yelled, screaming the last part as a tentacle sent a green beam out that almost hit him.
"If you wish for something more to do, you may return them to Mundus," said Hermaeus.
Bill Cipher glared, clicking his fingers to open a portal back to Mundus before grinning and igniting several ice spikes. "Then again, so many ways to get someone back," he said, sending all three spikes at Chloe.
Chloe barely had time to scream before the spikes hit her.
Chloe sat up and screamed before she realized she was not in Apocrypha anymore. The others were also back, though by the way they were rubbing their heads, they had headaches.
"Urgh...that goddamn pizza slice...check on NegaMorph," said Techo.
NegaMorph was twitching rather badly, his Dark Elf form randomly shifting parts to his true form. "Nega...you ok?" asked Chloe.
NegaMorph giggled. "I have your brother's greatest hits in my head on repeat...HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEEEEEL?" he said, screaming the last part in her face.
"Ok, Morph, NegaMorph needs a brain wipe," said Chloe. There was silence at that. "Erm...Morph?" said Chloe.
Meanwhile…
Morph looked around at the Apocrypha landscape before saying "Hello? Anyone?"
"Eh, he'll turn up at some point," said Chris, "So, did we get anything useful from that book depository of the damned?"
"Yes, the next book. It'll have what we need," said Chloe, with an echoing tone.
"Okay..." said Chris slowly.
Chloe blinked and said, "Oh, and I got a riddle that could save Matt."
"Riddles, great, what is it?" asked Techo dryly.
"My friend holds the key, my pet can reach the lock," said Chloe.
"Great...that absolutely useless!" snapped Chris, before Iguanus was heard calling "Guys?"
"Over here!" called Chloe.
Iguanus, Tiatara and Frea ran into view at that. "You're ok," said Tiatara, hugging Chloe, "When Miraak teleported you away and you didn't reappear, we didn't know what had happened. Apparently Hermaeus Mora has a habit of keeping people who refuse to give him knowledge."
Chloe had a glassy look in her eye at that. "Uh, Chloe, you ok?" asked Iguanus.
"She's ok. Just in shock. We'd better find camp for the night," said Chris carefully.
Frea said, "You'll be safer at my village."
"Ok, which way is your village?" asked Chris.
"If we come out of the right side of the mountain, it shouldn't be far," said Frea.
The elder of the village had been kind enough to set the gang up in a few empty houses near the edge of town, and NegaMorph had finally gotten the songs purged and a sleeping draft.
Chloe sighed before tensing up as she heard the door behind her open. "Busy?" asked Chris.
"Only trying to puzzle out this riddle," said Chloe.
Chris sat down on the bed next to her. "Well...'pet' could mean Snowbell. Glad Xikita is petsitting her," he said cheerfully, the two looking at each other before coughing a little unconvincingly
"Well, at least we can rescue Kala," said Chris.
"Somehow, it doesn't seem right to do it without Matt. And yet Kala seems to be the only one who could snap Matt out of Taelina's control if I can't work this riddle out. It's a real catch-22," said Chloe.
"You don't have to do this alone," said Chris, looking at Chloe.
"I'm not sure who can help me or who could even survive this quest," said Chloe.
"Including yourself?" asked Chris. Chloe didn't reply, but the look on her face answered Chris's question. "Chloe, there's a good chance we can do this, but there is a slight chance that one of us might not be there at the end. So there's something I'd like to do before we jump into the abyss." Chris pulled out a necklace with a pendant hanging from it.
"Is that an Amulet of Mara?" asked Chloe.
"Yeah, well, I thought that as long as we're here, I may as well do it by local custom," Chris got off the bed and down on one knee before Chloe, "Chloe Lynch, could you give your consent and allow me to become your husband?" Chloe just stared for a minute, before Chris said "Erm...is that a no?" only to get slapped.
"Of course not, you big lug," said Chloe happily, hugging him and kissing him passionately on his lips.
Chris just kissed her back before pulling away and asking, "May I?" Chloe nodded and lifted her hair, allowing Chris to put the amulet around her neck. Chris carefully attached the amulet before saying "It looks good on you."
"I hope it does," said Chloe before leaning in and whispering, "Because that's all I'm gonna be wearing in about 5 minutes."
Chris sighed happily before they both shifted to anthro wolf form, Chris carefully running his claw across her chest as they leaned back. Chloe just murmured as she felt across Chris, tracing the outlines of his muscles.
Chris smiled, slicing his claw through the string holding her chest armor on, before saying in a low voice, "You know...Matt probably will be pissed."
"Who cares? He's in no position to be criticizing me," said Chloe in a bitter tone.
"Shh, shh, don't think of him now," said Chris, "It's just you and me."
Chloe nodded, moaning as Chris massaged her chest. "One day...when we fixed what that doc did to me and Kala...maybe...we can find somewhere quiet on Avalar?" she said before gasping in pleasure.
"Only if I can treat you like a she-wolf," said Chris with a playful growl.
Chloe smirked. "Haven't you heard? I'm the alpha...and you're my mate," she said, before hugging him close.
At Frostmoon Crag, the werewolf pack was bringing back their latest game. This island was seeing more excitement than usual. Strange creatures have been spotted. Rumor was it that Hircine's daughter herself was here as well, though she hadn't visited them yet. "Just imagine, Hircine's daughter, what I wouldn't give to have a chance at her," said Akar.
"Like you could match up to her," joked his brother, Majni.
"Why is it that every time a new female appears, all you two can think of is mating with her?" asked Rakel with annoyance.
"Jealous?" teased Majni.
"If you two could have me, you'd have done it a long time ago," said Rakel.
Hjordis just chuckled and said, "Oh, to be young and hot-blooded again."
Rakel was about to comment when they all paused, sensing an energy that caused them to all stop what they were doing and look in its direction.
"Well, looks like Taelina has finally found her mate," said Akar.
"Don't be foolish," said Hjordis, "If Hircine's daughter had established her mating bond, every beast and werebeast on Nirn would know and howl in celebration. Besides, the bond moon alignment isn't until next month."
"Huh...it cannot be another with the Prince's blessing...can it?" said Akar.
"Well, it has to be a mating of some significance," said Majni.
"It doesn't matter. This means that there are more werewolves on Solstheim," said Rakel, "You know what that means?"
"That our pack can grow again, fresh blood," said Majni.
"Perhaps they know where Taelina is," said Akar.
"If nothing else, it's an opportunity to get down from this mountain and meet our new neighbors," said Hjordis, "Congratulations are in order after all."
"Indeed..." said a female voice by the cave. The group turned and immediately bowed before the daughter of their patron deity. "Oh please...get up. I always hated that ceremony," said Taelina coyly, running a claw under Akar's chin while the others turned to see a second pair of eyes in the shadows, narrowed at Akar. "You have spirit, but not enough. I've already found a mate worth keeping," said Taelina.
"It never hurts to dream, does it?" asked Akar.
"Indeed...but a dream is all that it will be, sadly," said Taelina, as a male royal werewolf walked in. "May I present my mate-to-be..." said Taelina.
"I thought he'd be bigger," said Majni.
"Oh, you know as well as I that size is not everything...and he has strength enough where it matters," said Taelina scoldingly as Matt walked up to Rakel
"So, you're the only other she-wolf on this island, eh?" he asked, his grin rather, well, wolfish.
"Erm...yes," said Rakel, having only heard stories of the more humanoid royal werewolves of Hircine's Hunting Grounds
"And yet you're still unbonded despite these..." Matt glanced at the other werewolves in the pack and said, "Actually, it's completely understandable why you don't have a mate."
There were a few angry snarls from the brothers at that, their leader chuckling to himself.
"Not for lack of trying, I'm sure," said Matt, "I mean, when you're all alone on this rock, you had to have tried to break the monotony. I can show you how a proper wolf does it." Rakel blushed a bit before Matt waved a glowing paw, causing her to shift form to a royal form. "Much better," said Matt, leaning in and going cross-eyed as Rakel kneed him.
"I may be the only other she-wolf on this island, but that does not mean that I'm desperate," growled Rakel.
"Point...noted…" managed Matt, Taelina laughing with the others. "Oh, she has the heart of a royal," Taelina managed, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye.
"I hope you find more to value in your mate than his brains," chuckled Hjordis.
"He is smart. Just eager. The moon is so far away," said Taelina.
"And where did you get this one?" asked Hjordis.
"Oh, he stumbled into my realm. He was trying to save his ex-girlfriend from Meridia's realm, but he chose the wrong door," said Taelina.
"You stole someone else's mate?" asked Hjordis, all humor draining from his voice and becoming serious.
"Oh please. She had already abandoned him. She's trapped in the Colored Rooms and Meridia uses her body," said Taelina before getting a shocked look as Hjordis cuffed her across the back of the head.
"And you think because they argued that their devotion is dead? You are still a foolish pup."
Taelina glared and said, "I am far older than you, old dog."
"And yet you still look young," said Hjordis, "And so your mind remains young. I accept old age with grace because with it came wisdom and thankfulness I managed to live so long. But you immortals, you take everything for granted and think your rules are never wrong."
Taelina growled at that before she found her own hand stayed, by her father. Clearly he respected this old dog. "You took him from his mate...and his mind will clear when the bonding is complete...and he will hate you for all his immortal days," said Hjordis sagely.
"And you expect me to turn him loose? When I fought so hard to catch him?" asked Taelina.
"Sometimes the greatest hunt is when you allow you prey to go free," said Hjordis. Taelina glared before Hjordis said, "I don't expect you to listen to an old dog like myself. But remember, when he is cursing your name in the Hunting Grounds, what I told you." before he got up and walked away from her.
By all rights, Taelina should have struck down Hjordis for his insolence and disrespect. And yet, she couldn't deny there was truth in his words, even if those truths left a bitter taste in her mouth.
She jumped as she felt Matt sit next to her and nuzzle her neck. "My mate...is there a problem?" he asked kindly.
Taelina should have felt comforted by that, but instead, it made her stomach start to curdle. Matt's affection was forced, artificial. He was not truly and willingly giving himself to her. That kindness, that love, should be for his true mate. And Taelina took it from her.
"I'm...I am fine...Hjordis is...an old friend. We will be safe here while they go pay their respects to the new mated," said Taelina with a forced smile.
"And it won't be long until we are mated too," said Matt as he snuggled up against her. And for the first time, the knowledge of that made Taelina feel dread.
And with this chapter, the story is starting up again. We're finally working our way to the end of this fic, though it's not going to be simple. Those who have played the Dragonborn DLC need no explanation as to what's happening with this chapter, even if there are a few liberties taken. Namely the appearance of Bill Cipher, who is indeed the same mind demon from Gravity Falls. Of course, he's considerably reduced in power here, even if he exist physically in the planes of Oblivion. And in lighter news, Chloe and Chris are engaged now, good for them. The next chapter is almost done and hopefully will be up soon. Please review.