The next day we awaken before dawn and quickly make our way to the stables. As I mount my stallion I feel pain spark in my thighs and legs, no doubt all the time in the saddle is catching up with me. Putting my boots to my horse I turn him westward and mentally imagine a map of Cyrodiil. I estimate it'll take roughly an hour to reach the shrine, if we don't run into any enemies or obstacles.

Sighing I try to prepare myself for another endless ride, I've always loved riding but after this trip I doubt I'll ever want to ride again. Once again silence overtakes us and we both get lost in our thoughts. The most eventful thing that happens is a bear roars at us from somewhere in the confines of the forest. It's only when I see the shrine I slow my stallion down to a trot and feel anticipation well up inside of me.

Upon reaching the shrine we tie our steeds to a tree and approach the stone statue. A mass of writhing tentacles and eyes, Hermaeus Moars's Shrine is one of the more disturbing. "Astrid, do me a favor. Wait over by the horses." I say as I run my hand over the freezing rock. Without question Astrid moves over to her mare and begins grooming her side. Pulling the vial of blood from my pocket, I use my claw to remove the cork before slowly pouring the blood in between two of the statues smallest tentacles. I don't know what I expect, but when nothing happens I almost go back to Astrid in defeat. Just as I'm turning I feel another conscious invade my own like Odahviing did months ago, only this presence seems a thousand times stronger than Odahviing.

Yet again my mortal servant summons me to Tamriel, only this time you seek me out for your own gain. First for the Skaal, then for Septimus, and now for yourself. Don't attempt to lie to me mortal, all the knowledge in your head is an open book for me to read at my pleasure. Now I suppose you want to find out what task you must do, what knowledge you must obtain.Heed my words mortal, should your courage fail I will waste no time in disposing of you. In Bruma Castle is a scholar of great knowledge and power named Z'kahr, at one point he swore fealty to me alone.

However, he now bows only to Akatosh and refuses to comply to my wishes. He's hidden his knowledge from me and spends almost all of his day praying. Rip his knowledge from his mind and destroy him, once his body is cold bring his knowledge back to me. Obtain his knowledge by breaking into his mind, as I am doing to communicate with you. This power is uncommon among mortals and I fear you don't have it, I shall briefly grant you the ability to do so. Use this gift only against Z'kahr, or you won't get your reward. Be careful, Z'kahr will feel your presence and no doubt fight back. Only after I have his knowledge shall I consider granting you your last gift.

As Hermaeus Mora leaves my thoughts I sigh in relief, his presence felt as if a dark cloud had suppressed my mind. Shaking my head I make my way over to where Astrid stands, thankfully it appears my conversation with Hermaeus only lasted a few moments. Relaying the news to Astrid I leave out the detail that this isn't my first dealing with Hermaeus Mora. With a sigh she mounts her mare while I mount my stallion. As we begin heading towards Bruma I try to think about how Z'kahr will fight back.


As we enter the castle I spot a guard and make my way over to him, may as well see if he knows where my target is. "Pardon me, have you seen a man named Z'kahr around here?" The guard nods and answers "He sleeps, works, and takes his meals in the barracks. The only time I've ever seen him leave is once when his cloak caught on fire." With a thanks I quickly make my way over into the barracks.

Opening the door I look around the room, two guards sit in one corner and a argonian in a blood red cloak sits at the bar. It's obvious the argonian is Z'kahr, now the problem is slitting his throat without the guards throwing me in jail. First things first though, I need to get his knowledge and memories. The knowledge for Mora and the memories for all of the valuable spells I'm sure he's learned over the years. I consider attacking him from where I stand, but decide talking to him and attacking him mid conversation would be easier.

Making my way over to the bar I sit by him and ask "Are you Z'kahr?" He looks up from his scroll long enough to answer "Yes." And at once goes back to his scroll. "I've heard so much about your work, what are you currently studying?" At once he rolls up his scrolls and looks at me, the gleam in his eyes tells me I found his ego. At once he launches into how he's trying to find a way to make enchanted weapons and armor never need recharging.

I have no idea what he's talking about after that, he begins go on about the magic schools and hows they all are effected by enchantments. Deciding now is as good a time as any I try to form my mind into a dagger, mostly I just try to visualize my attack. Even at my best my mind feels like a blob rather than a dagger. Sighing I look deep into Z'kahr's eyes and mentally fling myself at him.

I expect nothing to happen, but when I feel my conscious slam against a mental barrier I know I've found him. My attack doesn't penetrate his mind, all I do is bounce back into my own skull. At once he stops talking and looks around the room, when he finds no assailant he shrugs it off and goes back to talking. Only no he goes slower and seems to have other things on his mind, it appears he's waiting for an attack. I consider waiting for him to go asleep but I have no doubt a guard would be on watch, and he wouldn't want me standing over someones bed while they sleep.

I once again gather my mind, only this time I force my mind as hard as a can into a sharp point. However this cost more time, thankfully Z'khar hasn't question why I haven't spoken. After my mind is as sharp as I can make it I once again gaze into Z'khar's muddy eyes. Instead of flinging myself I tighten my point even more and throw it against Z'khar's mental shield.

I expect resistance but find none, it's only when I'm in the depths of his mind I realize how strange it is that he offered no fight. Then I feel like a sword has cleaved my head in two, and feel his mind bleed into mine. At once I see flashes of his memories, most of them including Black Marsh. Then he begins grabbing my memories and thoughts and throwing them wildly about. As I feel my mind begin jumbling I hear a greasy voice say "Fool. After I'm done turning you into a babbling idiot I'll slit your throat like a pig. Maybe afterwords I'll do the same to your friend over there."

At once my anger flares and my mind snaps back together. I feel Z'khar's fear as he begins retreating into the safety of his own consciousness, with my mind snapping at his heels. Just as he's raising his defenses I force myself into his mind and latch onto the first thing I can, a memory of his father. Grabbing the memory I blindly throw it behind me. At once his mind has a blank hole where his memory once was, while my conscious rearranges to fit his memory inside. It's then I realize how I'm going to retrieve his knowledge.

He feebly tries to fend me off, or distract me with some stray thought that I ignore. I push on and grab onto whatever stands in my path, throwing it back into my skull. Before long half his mind is a dark hole, while my mind has significantly grown. With a slight laugh I yank another memory from his skull and throw it into my own, long ago Z'khar stopped fighting me and accepted his fate.

When I get to the last bit of knowledge I slowly retract with it into my mind, making sure to scrape his empty consciousness as hard as I can on the way out. Once I'm in my own mind my curiosity gets the better of me, what knowledge he had left was one he originally protected fiercely. Slowly taking the knowledge I examine it, it appears to be a body command. What command he would guard so bravely I can't imagine, taking the knowledge I activate it and wait.

It's only when my breathing increases I realize what knowledge he wanted to protect, simply how to breath in and out. Snapping my eyes open I see Z'khar on the floor with his eyes wide open, the guards are running over looking at him. One of them ask me if I know what happened, the other begins trying to get Z'khar to breath. Saying I don't I see the second guard slowly stop pumping Z'khar's chest and shake his head.

The first guard then leads me and Astrid out of the room and heads toward the Lords Manor. "What happened? You two just stared at each other for an hour." Rubbing my head I answer "I successfully got his knowledge, the starring was a mental battle. Now come on, I think Hermaeous Mora will be more than please." And with that we begin running towards the stables.