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Chapter 20 – The Shrine of Dagon

Dear Martin,

I drank the vial. I am now a full fledged Aetherial. You were right. Our fathers did protect us for a reason. I have chosen to forgive my father. Nothing physically has changed much. My hair is still dark brown. My skin isn't pale. Even my eyes are still brown only now they have a tiny tint of gold in them. I don't even have sharp canines but I have a feeling they may grow every time I need to…to feed. I think maybe my eyes will turn completely golden too. Other than that, I feel…I feel great.

Now to the task at hand. I have found the location to the Shrine of Dagon. I'm on my way there now. Don't worry. I'll be careful. As long as I keep my face hidden, I should be alright.

There may be Oblivion Gates on the way to and/or from the shrine. If there are, I don't want you to be afraid. I know how to close them.

Once I get the Amulet, you will finally become the Emperor and we can end this invasion for good. If for some reason I fail to get the Amulet, I'll find something else to bring back to Cloud Ruler Temple. I don't plan on returning empty handed.

Make sure you pass the news to Jauffre and Steffan so that they are aware.

And I promise…I will return to you.

Sonja

I put on the hooded robe that I bought. It was a red robe similar to Gwinas', only he didn't have a hood.

The shrine was located north of Cheydinhal in a cave called Lake Arrius Caverns. Staying in the Imperial City for almost a week was actually worth it.

I had to get through some bandits, imps and wolves on the way up the mountain, but at least there were no Oblivion Gates. Not yet anyways. I had to stop at an empty bandit camp just so that Arwen could get her strength back up. It was a long trip for her. It's never a good idea to keep your horse on the road without any rest. At least she wasn't eaten back at the Chestnut Handy Stables. I needed to at least get some hours of sleep too.

It was dawn when I got to the cave and tied up Arwen. The Mythic Dawn assassins had a spell that allowed them to conjure up their armor. With my new found abilities, I created a spell similar to it, except I made it so that I could summon my Blades armor.

I lit a torch and walked inside the cave as I thought about all of the tips that Martin had given me in his letters, especially on how to talk to them. Covering my face wouldn't be enough. I had to put on a complete facade.

When I walked a little further into the cave, there was a door with banners on each side of it that had the sun image that I saw at Green Emperor Way. There was also a man in Mythic Dawn robes. He was the Doorkeeper. He was the first one I needed to impress. I couldn't be let into the shrine unless I make a good impression.

He approached me as soon as I got closer to the door.

"Dawn is breaking," he said.

I lowered my voice a little and remembered what Martin said to say. "Greet the new day."

The Doorkeeper looked at me for a brief moment. To my relief, he smiled. He didn't even ask me to take my hood off.

"Welcome, Sister," he said. "The hour is late, but the Master still has need for willing hands. You may pass into the Shrine. Harrow will take you to the Master for your initiation into the service of Lord Dagon. Do not tarry. The time of Preparation is almost over. The time of Cleansing is near."

The Doorkeeper opened the door for me and I walked through. He said that I was to meet someone named Harrow. A Dunmer approached me as I entered the tunnel. He had a robe in his hands.

"Welcome to the Shrine of Dagon," he said. "I am Harrow, the Warden. By following the Path of Dawn hidden in the writings of the Mankar Camoran, you have earned a place among the Chosen. You have arrived at an opportune time. You may have the honor to be initiated into the Order by the Master himself. Now, before we proceed, give me your possessions and put on this initiates' robe."

Without saying anything, I took the robe out of his hands.

"Very good," he said. "I'm afraid there is no time to find a changing area. So you will have to change here. But don't worry…I will not look."

Harrow turned around as I quickly changed into the initiates' robe. I was lucky that the door was closed too. Harrow kept his word and didn't take a peak. Then again, I had my back to him the whole time so that if he did peak, he wouldn't have seen my face. As soon as I had the initiates' robe on, I immediately put the god on. Thank the Nine the robe had a hood.

"I'm ready, Brother," I said to Harrow with my lowered voice.

"Oh good," he said turning back around. "Hmm. I'm not sure why you need to wear the hood. There's no need to be shy. But if you enjoy being mysterious, I will not judge you. Now follow me. I will take you to the Shrine."

As I followed Harrow down the cave tunnels, he continued to speak. "We've suffered quite a loss recently. The Master's son, Raven, was killed recently. He was in the Imperial City serving as a Sponsor for someone who we thought wanted to join the Order. But we were fooled."

I swallowed hard. "Who killed him?"

"It was that Blade that another one of our Brothers was following," he said. "That Imperial warrior was with him. I figured that the so called Hero of Kvatch was working with the Blades. We haven't gotten much information on her. But now we know that her first name is Sonja." I swallowed again. "She's been closing Gates, and she's also the one who has been protecting the prince…but not for long."

I swallowed a third time. But I stayed quiet.

Harrow continued. "Anyhow. As a member of the Order of the Mythic Dawn, everything you need will be provided for you from the Master's bounty. Keep following. We are almost to the Shrine."

Harrow led me to the Antechamber, where other cultists who walked past me greeted me with "Greet the new day." As soon as we got to another door, Harrow spoke again.

"This is the door to the Shrine. Keep your voice down while the Master is speaking. His daughter, Ruma, will be present and she doesn't like it when anyone disrespects her father. How come. Your initiation awaits."

Through the door was a bigger section of the cave. The alter was down below on a platform. I could see a giant statue of Mehrunes Dagon. I followed Harrow down a set of stairs where we joined a group of acolytes. All of them were looking up at the altar. Approaching the altar was an Altmer wearing blue robes and to my surprise, was wearing the Amulet of Kings. This should be impossible as Baurus said that only those with Septim blood could wear it. But I knew right away that this was Mankar Camoran, the leader of the Mythic Dawn. Another Altmer, female, was near him. She was Ruma, his daughter. She was carrying a mysterious book in her hands and a staff was attached to her back.

Camoran spoke. "Greet the new day, Brothers and Sisters. Praise be!"

"Praise be!" said Harrow, Ruma and the other cultists.

"…praise be," I said softly shortly after.

Camoran continued. "The Dragon Throne is empty, and we hold the Amulet of Kings. Praise be to your Brothers and Sisters! Great shall be their reward in Paradise! Praise be!"

"Praise be!" we all said again.

Ruma placed the mysterious book in Camoran's hands. Camoran lifted the book so that we could see it. My eyes widened as it clicked in me what that book was.

"The Mysterium Xarxes…" I whispered.

"What was that?" Harrow said softly to me.

"Er…nothing."

Camoran set the Xarxes down and opened it. "Hear now the words of Lord Dagon. "When I walk the earth again, the faithful among you shall receive your reward – to be set above all other mortals forever. As for the rest, the weak shall be winnowed, the timid shall be cast down and the mighty may tremble at my feet and pray for pardon." So sayeth Lord Dagon. Praise be!"

"So sayeth Lord Dagon. Praise be!" I mouthed the chant up until "Praise be".

Camoran closed the book and then it almost looked like he was making direct eye contact with me. Then I heard a voice in my head.

"I know it's you, Hero…I know what it is you seek." Camoran smirked at me and caressed the Amulet of Kings wrapped around his neck with his index finger as if to mock me. He was communicating with me through thought. Of course he would know who I was.

Then he faced the rest of the cultists and spoke out loud. "Your reward, Brothers and Sisters – the time of Cleansing draws nigh. I go now to Paradise. I shall return with Lord Dagon at the coming of the Dawn!"

After caressing Ruma's chin and kissing her forehead, Camoran snapped his fingers and a portal opened behind him. He turned around but looked at me with his eyes and his voice spoke in my head again.

"You have lost, Hero of Kvatch. But we will meet again…one…last…time."

I glared at him as he walked through the portal. When it closed, he was gone.

"Damn it," I mouthed to myself.

I felt like I drank the vial and came all this way for nothing. I felt like I let everyone down. This was my one chance of retrieving the Amulet…or so I thought. I said in my last letter to Martin that I didn't plan on returning empty handed and I meant it. I thought about the Mysterium Xarxes. As evil as the book may have been, I believed that it could be helpful somehow. So I decided to pursue the Mysterium Xarxes, but I was still undercover. I had to think of a war to get to the altar.

"And who is this?" said Ruma as she directed her attention to me.

"Lady Ruma," said Harrow. "This is a new Sister who wishes to bind herself to the service of Lord Dagon."

"I see. Advance, Initiate."

I walked to the right side of the platform and climbed the stairs. The altar was in my eyesight as was the Mysterium Xarxes. But next to the book was a silver dagger and to the left of me was an unconscious half naked Argonian laying on a stone table.

Ruma cleared her throat to get my attention. "You have come to dedicate yourself to Lord Dagon's service. This pact must be sealed with red drink, the blood of Lord Dagon's enemies." She went to the altar and picked up the dagger and looked back at me. "Come. Take this dagger and offer Lord Dagon the sacrificial red drink as pledge of your own life's blood, which shall be his in the end."

I started to hyperventilate as I looked at the dagger, then the Argonian and then back at Ruma. "I didn't sign up for this."

"I understand if this is the first time you've ever killed," said Ruma.

"It isn't," I said. "…I meant in cold blood."

"Nevertheless," she said. "It must be done in order to complete your initiation. Now take the dagger. Lord Dagon thirsts for red drink. Sate him."

I swallowed. My hand was shaking as I took the dagger. Ruma was watching me closely. Everyone in that room was watching me. I approached the Argonian. I raised the dagger over him to make it look like I was going to do it.

How was the time I had to expose who I really was. "I will not kill for you!" I threw the dagger to the ground and took off my hood, revealing myself to the Mythic Dawn.

"It's the Hero of Kvatch!" cried Harrow.

"I knew it," said Ruma. "Kill her!"

The cultists, including Harrow, started climbing up the stairs. I wasn't unarmed for long.

"For the Emperor!" I shouted, triggering the conjuration spell I created.

In seconds, I was wearing my Blades armor and unsheathing my Akaviri Katana. I was faster than I had ever been before. And stronger. I couldn't even tell if I was in control or not. But it didn't matter.

Some of the cultists ran. But those that stayed to fight me didn't stand a chance. Even Harrow met his maker quite quickly when I broke his neck.

Ruma was the only one left and her staff was fully charged. "No wonder you couldn't do the sacrifice. Lord Dagon is displeased!"

"This world is not for Dagon to take!" I yelled.

"Oh but it is…you will see." Ruma aimed her staff at me. "You will rue the day you murdered my brother. And trust me, I will make sure you rue the day you were ever born. Hyah!"

Ruma's staff shot blasts of lighting at me. I ducked, jumped and flipped until one of the blasts actually hit me. I fell to the ground twitching as the shock became overbearing. I couldn't stand up. The most I could do was kneel. Even Aetherials have their limits.

I could hear Ruma laughing and walking towards me slowly. I looked up at her as she smirked wickedly. "You can't stop the Cleansing, Sonja…Lord Dagon will come. And when he does, everyone you have ever loved will die. And only those who serve him will live to see another day. But first…I'm going to kill you so that Lord Dagon can drink your blood…and then,…your prince is next."

I slowly got up after the pain from the shock magic went away and then I took off my helmet. "I have a better idea…how about I drink your blood instead?"

"What?"

My canines slowly extended into sharp points as I saw the fear in Ruma's eyes. She screamed as I lunged at her.

That was the first time that I had ever fed off of a living thing. But I knew that it wasn't going to be the last time and it scared me. The only advantage that I had from becoming an Aetherial was that I could still live like a normal human – walk in the sun, eat food, the whole bit. Aetherials are, for lack of a better phrase, "the ultimate daywalkers." I didn't know how my father got away with something like this and not be hunted down. But there was no going back. I made a promise to myself that if I ever were to feed again, it would only be those who were evil. Which is why I drained Ruma dry without second thoughts or hesitation.

It was an acquired taste. I could taste the iron in it. But it also had the taste of wine, making it rather sweet. I know it sounds sick. But it is the truth.

I wiped whatever blood was left on my mouth away and then I put my helmet back on. I went back to the Argonian and I cut off the ropes that tied up his hands with the silver dagger and I shook him a little to try to get him to wake up. As the Argonian regained consciousness, he gasped and started hyperventilating.

"Who are you?" he said. "Where am I? What is this place?! Arkay preserve me!"

"Shhh. It's okay," I said while helping him sit up. "I'm going to get us both out of here."

"The Argonian rubbed his head as he stood up. Meanwhile, I walked up to the altar and picked up the Mysterium Xarxes. But that was when the statue of Mehrunes Dagon started to crumble.

"Look out!" I pushed the Argonian out of the way before the statue pieces could fall on top of him. "Stay close to me at all times. We might have to fight our way out." I picked up the silver dagger and gave it to him. "I don't know if you have magic, but at least you will have a weapon. Now follow me."

The door that Harrow and I entered from was now locked. The Argonian and I had to find another way out. We had to fight our way through the living quarters of the shrine. There were at least thirteen guards trying to prevent us from escaping. The Argonian did have spells of his own but he did use the dagger when he needed to. I fed on one and the Argonian just stared.

"Are you a Vampire?" he asked.

"No, I'm not," I said wiping away blood from my mouth. "Well, I am. But I'm also not. It's complicated. No time to go into detail."

The Argonian was confused but he chose to drop the subject.

We found another small room, but there was no door. Only a stone wall.

"By the Nine, no!" cried the Argonian. "It's a dead end. There's no way out. By all that is holy, we must get out of this hellish place!"

"Calm down!" I said. "Maybe the wall is a door. Sometimes caves have secret doors…there you are."

There was a turn handle nearby. I knew that it had to be a secret door. When I turned the wheel clockwise, the stone wall started to lower. Low and behold, we returned to the first room. Which meant that the cave exit was just around the corner.

"Thank you for saving me, friend," said the Argonian. "I don't know who you are, but it is clear that Akatosh guides you."

"I'm Sonja," I said. "And no worries. You didn't deserve to die like that. No one does."

"I am Jeelius. I am a priest in the Temple of the One in the Imperial City."

I raised my eyebrows. "The Temple of the One? No wonder the Mythic Dawn wanted to sacrifice you."

"Is that who they were?"

"They are the ones behind the Oblivion Crisis," I said as I went to grab the red robe that I wore earlier. "Cheydinhal is nearby. I'll drop you off there so that you can get some clothes and rest."

Arwen was patiently waiting. I packed the robe and the Mysterium Xarxes into the saddle bags before getting on her back. I helped Jeelius hop on and he sat behind me.

We started down the rocky path. I was glad to be out of there as much as Jeelius was. I may not have gotten the Amulet but at least the Xarxes would be useful somehow.

The road down the mountain was going well until there was the sound of thunder. Only…there weren't any clouds.

"Why are the skies turning red?" Jeelius said.

I looked up and I saw that the skies were indeed turning red. I sighed. "For the love of Talos, not again."

An Oblivion Gate had opened. Not too surprising. After all, I did wreck Dagon's shrine and killed his followers and stole the Mysterium Xarxes. But I couldn't just leave the Gate open.

"Jeelius, you're going to have to get off and run to the city as fast as you can," I said.

"What about you?" he asked.

"Don't worry about me. I know how to close these Gates. Now get out of here before Daedra come out."

Jeelius got off Arwen's back. "Blessings of Arkay upon you." As he started running towards Cheydinhal, he said "Perhaps our paths will cross again one day!"

Arwen and I got closer to the Gate but I stopped and tied Arwen to a tree where she would be away from any Daedra that would come out. I ran in front of the Gate and unsheathed my katana.

I took a deep breath. "Let's do this." And jumped inside.