Author's Note: So here we start seeing me begin to include some of the heavier lore concepts that are constrained purely to lore books and Michael Kirkbride's supplementary stuff. As well as some more ESO stuff. You may also notice some strange capitalization, that means the word used is being used in a Conceptual Sense. It is the vocal sublimation referencing the purest form of the word. And if that doesn't make too much sense, good it's not supposed to we're mortals struggling to define the nature of the universe. As I mentioned in the previous note, I post chapters as I finish them on AO3, and at most once a day here giving me a chance to catch and fix more mistakes. Also pace will slow down as my job picks up, I've been having time to write 1.5-4K words a shift even making sure everything is done because we're slow, but once the season picks up in 10 or so days that won't be the case anymore.
Chapter 17: Bloated Man's Grotto
The morning sun beat down over the mountains as the new companions broke their fast.
"So, Harald...I must ask, the deer? I have never seen any Conjuration quite like that. In fact it has a form startlingly similar to that of the White Stag Hircine took the form of when I began this cursed venture,".
Harry nodded, "That is passing strange I will admit, but it is a kind of...hmm totemic construct I believe were the words F...my father used. I've never felt comfortable with Daedric summoning so I combine the warding and anti-undead natures of Restoration and the physical presence of Conjuration, and my father also speculates a small amount of Alteration for the form as well. It is most effective at banishing wraiths and Illusion magicks, but it works well enough as a Familiar as well,".
The Reguard tilted his head, "What interesting magic...my home was run by a cabal of mages back in the Second Era, had you heard of the Blackcaster Mage Guild?"
"No, I admit that the history of Hammerfell is not one I am very familiar with, at best I know the geography of the areas bordering High Rock and Skyrim,".
"They had some strange magicks," Faisal continued, "The folk tales I have heard say they were led astray by the Serpent and turned into necromantic monstrosities, but how can a constellation of stars communicate with mages? I think it is just a tale to warn people off of Necromancy. Which of course makes sense, as the King of Worms was running around Tamriel at that time, openly trying to bring the King of Strife into the world,".
"Necromancy…" Harry hissed out a bit angrily, his experience with Voldemort in his own world had not endeared him to the concept at all, "Foul thing. A pity the Atmorans practiced it so rigorously, their barrows are full of those draugr,".
"Ah yes, the restless dead. Bound to defend the tombs of their masters for eternity," The man shook his head in distaste, "Enough about that, what do we do with those?"
Faisal gestured vaguely towards the Daedric enchanted armor and ring sitting in a discarded pile by their campfire.
Harry frowned deeply and thought long and hard about the items before them.
The ring was certainly deeply connected to Hircine, Father of the Manbeasts. The armor...much less so, it was seemingly created as an afterthought by the Daedra. Harry could sense none of the deep and hungry energy that roiled off of the ring.
No, Harry thought to himself, that was wrong, it was as if the armor was...actively the opposite of the ring. The ring felt inextricably tied to the nature and aura of the being he had seen rise from the corpse. The armor felt almost repulsory to that nature.
A passage on Daedric artifacts Harry had read clicked into his mind.
"The Savior's Hide, it really was gifted to someone that escaped Hircine's Hunting Grounds!" Harry gaped at the concept, it was like Heracles or Orpheus escaping Hades. Admittedly neither truly had come away with what they wanted, but it was an amazing concept.
Faisal raised an eyebrow, "I am passingly familiar with the tale, but what does that have to do with its nature?"
"I think...I think Hircine respects a few things, and power, skill, and independence are high up there on his list. I wonder…" Harry strode over and began to move pure Magicka over the artifacts, feeling them out in an almost sonar-style.
"Yes...I think you can safely wear it without binding yourself fully to Hircine. The armor I mean, the ring I would not put on if my life depended upon it. The...oh blast my father could explain this so much better. The...concept of the Armor is a Gift for One Who Defied the Huntmaster, powerful artifacts like this are...well you saw the body was not truly skinned to create this, merely reformed, transmuted. The Concept of us killing Sinding allowed Hircine to transform or relocate or manifest the armor, and I believe the act of your refusal allowed it to keep its original metaphysical connection to the defiance of Hircine instead of his service," Harry rubbed his temples, this stuff was definitely more Hermione's territory, though he considered that perhaps this was too abstract and esoteric even for her.
"So...throw the ring into the ruins of the Red Mountain and keep the armor?"
"I...yeah? Kind of? That's simplistic but sure, the point is that the armor exists as a Monument to the Defiance of Hircine. Your soul won't go to his Hunting Grounds from wearing it, you'd have to do something else, though wearing it will likely keep his attention upon you and ensure further attempts at claiming your soul,".
"I can't say I like that idea, besides which I tend to prefer something a bit heavier than this," He tapped his heavy pauldrons and the chest plate over his mail.
Harry nodded, "Then I suppose I can take the Hide and figure out something to do with it, not wear it though, maybe study and replicate the combination enchantment upon it through more human means. You can take and protect the ring, stop it from ever being used again, that thing even with the extra curse removed should not see mortal use,".
"I do not know, you said that your father was the court wizard of a jarl and that you know the Companions?"
Another nod.
"Would not perhaps both of these items be safer with one of them? Or split between the two? You say you are heading off to the College of Winterhold as well, perhaps they could lock these away?"
Faisal, Harry thought, made quite the valid point. Harry's first instinct was to immediately separate the items, but it may be better to get them to safer locations for separation instead of doing so and allowing them to be in less secure hands.
"I do not suppose you would want to join the Companions, the College, or even the Legion as a Battlemage? You spoke of being a Spellsword, and I am sure all of them would be happy to have you," Harry posited to his new friend, in all three of those locations he would be likely to run into the man again at some point and Harry had gotten the impression that the man was searching for his purpose in some way.
The Redguard shook his head with a wry smile on his lips, "No, Harald I do not believe my destiny lies with such groups. I have always heard the call of my father's stories of Ragnar the Red and my mother's stories of Cyrus the Restless pushing me to be the errant hero, the lone wanderer who travels the world seeking to aid the weak and build their legend! Joining up with a group simply would not be in my nature," he explained apologetically.
Nodding in understanding Harry replied, "I understand, however should you ever be in Whiterun, you can simply let my father, Farengar, know you are a friend of mine and will find some sort of aid in your quests. The Companions as well gladly would ally with shield-brothers who are proven. And I myself will help should you ever find yourself in Winterhold!"
Faisal clasped arms with Harry, "Indeed! This has been well-met Harald, for all the misfortune of our venture. I spied a shrine to Talos inside the grotto, I plan to pray there for forgiveness and to beseech him to hide me from Hircine's gaze, do you wish to join me first before we part?"
"A fine idea, but I shall save my prayers for my return to Whiterun," Harry was still somewhat skittish around the gods of Tamriel.
The pact made, the two young heroes went their separate ways.