-Unknown Location-
The portal closes leaving Viperish Night in an unfamiliar location. He glances around. Rocky ground beneath his feet, graceful trees that grow nearby. A mild wind blows and no one and nothing appears around him. Viperish Night reaches for his staff, then hisses softly. It, along with his robe and swords is lost to the Deadlands when the Daedra took offense at his intrusion. And his bag...Viperish Night tilts his head. When did he last have it? Before he attacked the Wyrd. At the very least he memorized what he needed to, though the book made no mention of where the scroll was found in Craglorn. The one who found it was an Imperial by the name of Dioninius Macanis. Viperish Night would have to find him.
Viperish Night notices something gathered on a rock by one of the trees. He stalks to the rock to find an ebony black staff that swirled to a sinister point and under it a robe. No hood and a partially open front. Almost tattered looking but by design. He would look almost like a Draugr in this. Anger tints his eyes. So his former mentor helps him, or perhaps Stalks-In-Darkness. They want him to find the relic. And he wants to as well...but he has no plans to allow them to live to reap whatever rewards they think they will get out of it. He would take these things though.
A little while later Viperish Night sits on a rock clad in the robe with the staff strapped to his back. He had pushed away what happened as long as he could, but no longer. He lowers his head, fury radiating from him. His Egg-Mother acted as if she had no idea he existed as if she never knew she had eggs. She had to be lying, that was impossible. Viperish Night frowns. How did a Bosmer lay eggs anyway? Confusion mares Viperish Night's face. So much of this made so little sense, he tries to make sense of it all but his thoughts return to Jeziasi. She would have never been what he expected. She was fiery with a temper to match. So very strong, as strong as he was, perhaps more so. He did catch her off guard and then the number of dead that came to his call far outnumbered her. He could tell the fall hurt her from the way she moved, but still, she managed to destroy the horde of undead before falling unconscious upon the ground. She was a monster...shedding form to become that in actuality as well. She had to be lying, she had to be cold and heartless. But... the flash of concern and horror in her eyes as she saw his scared back...but she still denied his existence! Could he have not been born yet? No...that was an impossibility. His former mentor and Stalks-In-Darkness would never let him near her if that was the case. His former mentor warned him of traveling outside of Daggerfall. So she had to have bonded with his Egg-father and somehow had eggs... something was missing. Who was his Egg-father? She denied that it was Stalks-In-Darkness. Viperish Softly growls and closes his eyes. Soon he is lightly dozing, the wind blowing against his scales.
Anger, rage. Depths of darkness. Viperish Night opens his eyes some hours later and his dreams had been filled with the screams of the living and then the blessed silence of the dead. The amulet is fully charged and he takes it in his claws and then clenches his fist and it shatters into pieces. Viperish Night slowly smiles. He is no longer in need of this trinket. He can see how to open the portals, the magic of it sang to him. So much did... when he reached for long-ago lessons in Wayrest it came to him so easily. The portals opened and the Daedra poured forth at his command. Controlling that many would have been impossible, even for him. But he did not try to control them. Just let them run rampant in Wayrest, slaughtering who they choose. He supposes they could have decided to turn on him, but easier prey was everywhere. Viperish Night rises, darkness has fallen why he rested. He opens a portal with his staff and steps through.
-The Rift - Nimalten-
The stone floor is covered in crimson red splashes, and so is Viperish Night's claws. He once more needed knowledge he lacked and so he had come into this small guild and was immediately set upon by mages and fighters and his mind was in turmoil so he let go. So much confusion fury and pain, for a time he let the red wash over him and all he knew was the feel of his claws slicing through flesh, the sound of fury and screams, and then at last silence.
It is so very quiet now, the only sound in this small guild is the blood dripping from his claws. Viperish Night shakes it off and reaches for a sword from one of the fallen Nords. It's not Redguard and there is only one, but it will do. Viperish Night's eyes travel to a bookcase next and quickly scans the small collection. He snatches the one he wants and sits down to read. Soon he has found what he needs and soon he is ready to cast the spell. He gathers what he needs from the mage's side of the guild and snatches a metal armband from one of the dead Nord's and chants the spell he found. The band glows brightly and the light fades after a few minutes. Satisfied, Viperish Night claps it onto his upper arm and slowly grins. However, his former mentor and Stalks-In-Darkness have been tracking them...they no longer will be able to. Viperish Night turns and walks out of the guild into the night.
The small village is silent save for the lone cry of a lonesome cat, walking out of the shattered door of a small cottage. Viperish Night tilts his head. Perhaps venting his fury on this small village was a little much. But it had been so amusing to call the dead and send them flooding into the unexpected village before entering the guild. Besides, he had gifted them freedom, and now all was peaceful. Viperish Night raises his staff and the portal opens and Viperish Night crosses through the portal.
-The Cave-
Viperish Night's former mentor touches the scrying pool. He can no longer scry for Viperish Night, his former pupil had managed to find a spell to hide from prying eyes. Slightly impressive if not aggravating. And Jeziasi had vanished from view as well as soon as she had been pulled from the Deadlands. Something, no someone, was responsible for this. As predicted, she had been pulled into this matter. Just as expected. Mentor glances over at Stalks-In-Darkness and then back at the now useless scrying pool. Her part in this should have been done, but Stalks-In-Darkness had ordered him to watch over her as well as Viperish Night over the years, and even interfere at times when her life was directly threatened beyond what she could deal with. It was madness. Mentor frowns. Utter madness to keep her alive. To go so far too ensure that she would be apart of this. It was also the very reason Viperish Night's egg was brought into the past. So he would rise to his dark power when Jeziasi was sure to be alive. He had rather hoped Viperish Night would manage to kill her. But no, of course, everything had gone the way Stalks-In-Darkness wished it. Mentor stares into the pool, but he is no longer angry. Perhaps he should...do something interesting. With both of them hidden from view, he had a little more freedom. It was time to take advantage of it. No matter how this ended, he was going to make sure he came out on top of it. No matter what.
-Elden Root-
Iveryni is buried in books, looking for anything else that mentions The band of T'zlich. It's early in the morning and only she and Rufico are awake as of yet. "Nothing," Iveryni says with a sigh.
Rufico leans against the wall arms crossed and eyes stormy. "Damn it," he mutters and Iveryni looks at him. "The Imperial researcher that found the scroll. It mentions a name."
"Of course. Why did I not think of that?" Iveryni says and flips to the back. "Dioninius Macanis."
"Damn it," Rufico says again.
"It is a good thing, Rufico," Iveryni says. "It's a lead since the book fails to mention where this researcher found the scroll."
"Good thing. Until you think about where we have to go to find this guy. If he survived the planemeld," Rufico says, eyes darkening. He looks away from Iveryni's intense gaze. "I ran away from home and I never went back. Never wanted to."
"You never wanted to find your family?" Iveryni asks. Rufico's face darkens.
"Trust me, you do not want to go there, Iveryni," Rufico says. "My family is no one I want to know. If they are dead, I won't shed a single tear." he falls silent for a moment. "Cried all my tears when I ran away. I have none left," he says.
Iveryni places the book she is looking at down, her intense gaze on Rufico before she looks away. "I will inform Razum-dar and gather the others. We are running out of time. Viperish Night will know this as well. He will seek the Imperial City." she looks at him. "You could stay here."
"No," Rufico says. "We need to be together. I may have been alone for a long time, but I know we have to stay together now."
They are all gathered in under an hour and Iveryni readies to open the portal. Jeziasi hangs back and catches Razum-dar's eyes and he moves to her. "Raz," she says softly. "If we find Viperish Night...I need to speak to him before we act. Please."
Razum-dar growls. "Foolish, Jeziasi. You know this. You must know this."
"And yet," Jeziasi says, a glimmer of something in her eyes before she hardens them again. "He was not always this way. I know what he has done cannot be forgiven, but if there is a chance of ending this before it goes further..."
"Is that the reason?" Razum-dar says. "Or do you not wish to..."
"I will do what I must," Jeziasi says tightly. "Make no mistake of that. My blades or my claws will find him if I must. Will end this, if I must. But...he is mine, however, it was done. I went with Swims-In-Silence of my own will, even if I did not know the truth of it." she pauses and briefly shuts her eyes before opening them. "I think...I had to agree to bond with him for him to do what he did, Raz."
Razum-dar pauses before he asks his next question. "My friend..." he trails off.
"I..." a lost expression crosses Jeziasi's face as she figures out what Razum-dar wants to ask. "How can I deal with it? How does anyone deal with something like this? It makes me almost wish I was back on Oblivion. It was on the edge of survival there, but at least I did not have to think."
"This one should have checked in on you," Razum-dar said. "Not once in three years did Razum-dar." he sighs. "Razum-dar wished to give you space. Perhaps you would have come home, then."
"Valenwood is not my home," Jeziasi said. "Although...I never did seek you out after the wars. I never sought anyone out. The wars changed who I was."
"This one thinks you should have," Razum-dar says. "You must see that."
Jeziasi softly sighs. "You will never accept the path I went, will you? You cannot tell me everything you have done for the Dominion has been free of blood."
"This one would never claim that," Razum-dar says. "But this one did it for this one's Queen and the Dominion." He stops before he says something he regrets. "Let us not fight again, my friend."
"Fight later," Jeziasi says. "After this is all said and done," she looks at Razum-dar. "Raz."
Razum-dar throws up his hands. "Do not look at this one that way! With those eyes of yours," he grumbles. "Very well, but we will be close by. That is not up for debate."
-Imperial City - Arboretum District-
Iveryni and Theodyn walk down the path of the Arboretum surrounded by small trees, still growing into their full size. Theodyn's eyes are wide, the Imperial City is larger than any city he has ever seen, though the scars of the planemeld are still evident years later. From the records office, if the information was accurate, Dioninius Macanis could either be in his shop, taking a daily walk in the Arboretum, or at home in the Elven Gardens District. The group had split into three groups, for even though the city was peaceful, that could change.
Iveryni and Theodyn pause and glance at each other. "Dioninius Macanis is not here," Iveryni says. "We should head to the market district to meet up with Razum-dar and Jeziasi," Iveryni says and turns to head back down the path.
Theodyn follows and then pauses, his curious eyes looking at a small cluster of trees. "There is a spirit in those trees," he says puzzled.
Iveryni turns and looks a frown crossing her face as she carefully moves closer, Theodyn behind her. "That is no spirit," she says softly, regarding the glowing blue figure. Mage cloak with the hood pulled over his head and a cloth mask across his face. Iveryni reaches for her staff, and Theodyn's hand moves to his sword. The glowing figure looks up at them. "No need for that," he says. "I was looking for someone else, and then I saw you." he gazes at them, his eyes sharp. "I overheard you, you see. You seek the same man as my former pupil does."
The blood drains from Theodyn's face as Viperish Night's words drift through his head. He had said his former mentor murdered Seriana, his sister. The world goes red and Theodyn rushes at Mentor, his sword swinging wildly. "You are the one who murdered my sister!" Theodyn screams. The sword cuts right through Mentor and Theodyn stumbles and spins around.
"Theodyn!" Iveryni cries as she dashes after him, but Mentor is to fast and spins, a knife suddenly in his hand as he pins Theodyn to the tree, the blade drawing a drop of blood from Theodyn's neck. Iveryni freezes, trying to figure out how Mentor is doing what he is doing. Insubstantial one moment, the next...this. "What do you want?" she asks.
"You cannot possibly give me what I want." Mentor answers. "And neither can Stalks-In-Darkness."
Theodyn struggles to regain calm, though his eyes are boiling with fury. Iveryni studies Mentor. "Who are you?" she asks. "And do not tell me you're selling him out, we are not stupid enough to believe that."
"This boy clearly is," Mentor says. "As for who I am, that is not your business." His eyes narrow. "I am not foolish enough to sell Stalks-In-Darkness out," he utters. "You would be wise to get out of his, and Viperish Night's way, but you are heroes, so that advice is wasted on you. Now, I have a question for you, unless you want your friend's throat slit."
"Speak and be quick of it," Iveryni says coldly, her eyes darting briefly to Theodyn, begging calm and silence of him. He is struggling, she knows this. This is the man... no mer, that murdered his sister in cold blood.
"Tell me," Mentor starts, "Jeziasi seeks Viperish Night even now, does she not? To kill or save, one never knows with her. Does she know yet? One of Stalks-In-Darkness's truths?"
"He came to her under the assumed name Swims-In-Silence," Iveryni says, a glint of anger in her eyes. For anyone to do that... "She knows." Iveryni finishes tightly.
"Don't tell this bastard anything!" Theodyn says.
Iveryni holds up her hand, her eyes looking at Theodyn, asking him to trust that she knows what she is doing, and he calms again.
"Assumed...is it really?" Mentor says. "Is he Stalks-In-Darkness or is he Swims-In-Silence?" Mentor laughs. "It's best to refer to him as Swims-In-Silence now. And it would be wise not to expect him to act as you think he would act."
"As a Shadowscale, an assassin," Iveryni says, her gaze sharp on Mentor. She still has not figured out why a former Dark Brotherhood member would do this if she can get any clues from this mer...
"Yes of course," Mentor says.
Iveryni realizes something then. "You hate him," she says. "Why would you help him?"
"I have my reasons," Mentor says.
The hate was evident when he spoke of him...and of another. "You hate Jeziasi as well, don't you?" Iveryni guesses.
Mentor's eyes flare with anger and he drops the knife from Theodyn's throat and vanishes.
"Theodyn," Iveryni moves to him and he shrugs her off.
"Sorry...I lost my head." Theodyn says. "I..." hurt glimmers in his eyes. "He's a monster."
"He is not the only one," Iveryni says. "This has been informative." she glances at Theodyn. "That mer knows Jeziasi, and hates her."
"If we can figure out who he is, we may know more." Theodyn finishes. "We need to ask Jeziasi how many mer's hate her."
Iveryni just stares at him and turns to go. The list of people who have reason to hate Jeziasi is longer than she cares to think about.
-Imperial City - The Elven Gardens-
Softly-Speckled-Crab darts into a bakery after she and Rufico had gone to Dioninius Macanis's house. He had not been there and they had been informed he was at work today. So they started the walk back to meet up with Razum-dar and Jeziasi, but a bakery filled the delectable bread had caught Softly-Speckled-Crab's attention and she had darted inside. Rufico leans against the wall next to the bakery. He had not followed her...he remembered this place from when he was a kid. That was a long time ago, but he rather not anyone recognize him. It was strange enough being back here and seeing things so...normal. Sure, there was still rebuilding going on, a lot of the buildings are less than five years old and the replanted trees are young. And the looks in the eyes of the civilians...the same look that he sees in the mirror. Haunted by horrors the mind could hardly comprehend, but could also not forget.
A guard passes and Rufico tenses as he passes. Rufico's eyes follow the guard. It reminded him of the Zero Legion. What had happened to those monsters? Did they ever pay for their part in the atrocities? In going along with the cult? The sound of a knife drawn has Rufico starting. Next to him by the ally is a man peeling an apple with a knife. Rufico frowns. Had the man been there the whole time? He had not noticed him before now.
The man glances over at Rufico. "Such hate in those young eyes," the man remarks before popping a piece of the apple into his mouth. Rufico swallows. "Ever think of tracking down any of the Zero Legion and..." the man makes a slicing motion with the knife in front of his throat.
"That...will not change anything," Rufico says.
The man shrugs. "Might make you feel better. Or...," he finishes the apple and throws the core into the street. "Or it could open up a door, one you could step through to become something else altogether." Rufico stares at the man and the man laughs and turns, vanishing into the shadow of the alleyway.
Softly-Speckled-Crab comes out of the bakery and looks at Rufico, who is looking more than a little spooked. She holds out a sweet bun to him and he takes it and slowly eats it as they walk down the street. Rufico glances at Softly-Speckled-Crab once. All that talk of becoming and this strange encounter. He needed to get it out of his mind before he jumps out of his skin.
-Imperial City - Market District-
Jeziasi looks around curiously. She has never been to the Imperial City before though a part of the wars took place here. A lot of the city looks rather new, much of it must have been destroyed in the Planemeld. Razum-dar is following right behind her and Jeziasi glances at him remembering how he growled at her when she made her intentions clear. Still, he agreed, he trusted her to do what was necessary should it come to it. She had always been good at that, no matter the personal cost. A shadow crosses her face. That is a large part of why she stayed in Oblivion as long as she had. She turns her eyes forward again until Razum-dar makes a strange noise and she glances back to find him looking only at her, and his gaze is rather low as well. "Raz!" Jeziasi says. "There is a lot of pretty Imperial women around that you could be looking at."
Razum-dar raises his eyes to look at Jeziasi. "This one is just going to keep his eyes on you," he says. "You might vanish into Oblivion again if this one does not. Besides the view is rather nice."
Jeziasi stares at him. "You know I happen to be what would be referred to in some cultures as married," she says.
"All the better," Razum-dar says happily and Jeziasi stares at him for long moments before she starts laughing. "Now, my old friend, that is the Jeziasi I remember." Razum-dar purrs. "Wild and sure of herself."
Jeziasi pauses. "I always have been. Until now." Uncertainty crosses her face again.
"We will fix this," Razum-dar firmly says. "This one will help you put a blade in Swims-In-Silence if that is what you want. If..." he trails off.
"If I let you help me." Jeziasi finishes and falls into a thoughtful silence before nodding yes. "I...guess I may need help. What I feel towards Swims-In-Silence is complicated...I am ready to tear him to pieces for what he did, but the time we spent together, I cannot just erase that from my mind. Still." Jeziasi's eyes narrow. "I will not let him get away with hunting me or what he did to Viperish Night." She stares at Razum-dar daring him to say something. She knows her desire to try and talk to him is foolhardy at best.
Razum-dar throws his paws up. "When your mind is set on something, Jeziasi, not even Jone and Jode can sway you."
"True," Jeziasi says with a smirk. "Now let us find this shop and hope we are not too late." She turns and Razum-dar falls in step with her.
-Imperial City - Market District - Curios & Wonders-
Viperish Night drops the Imperial to the ground his neck broken. The unassuming shop is deep in the market district. This was not the first body Viperish Night had to drop, even here they know of him, have wanted posters with his face on them. A hood may help, but Viperish Night is done hiding. Let the world try to stop him. A savage grin crosses Viperish Night's snout as he laughs softly. Once, hardly anyone knew him or of him. Now? All of Nirn seemed to. And yet, no one seemed able to stop him. The bounty posted for him kept going up as well. Viperish Night's eyes glimmer with darkness. Wait until the Nords found out what he had done to Nimalten. He had left only a stray cat alive in that village. Viperish Night walks into the store.
-Imperial City - Market District - Curios & Wonders-
The small building Curios & Wonders. Jeziasi opens the door and heads inside the small shop with Razum-dar. An assortment of relics, old weapons, and curios from around Nirn are on the shelves and behind glass cases. "No shopkeeper," Razum-dar murmurs. "Razum-dar does not like the feel of this."
Jeziasi goes still. She smells blood, fresh blood. The click of claws on the floor..." He's here," she breaths and looks at Razum-dar.
"Razum-dar will be here. Be careful, this one thinks there is no saving this one. You know this, Jeziasi." Razum-dar cautions.
"I know," Jeziasi says, her voice tinged with sadness. "I also know I must try." She leaves Razum-dar to head through a door to the storage room past the shop area.
The storeroom is bigger than she would have thought and at the very back is Viperish Night. At his feet is an Imperial man, blood pouring from his neck to puddle on the floor. Jeziasi freezes. Viperish Night kills so easily...just as she has in the past. "Viperish Night," she breaths.
Viperish Night stills and turns to her, his eyes filling with the depths of rage and hate. He snarls at her as he stalks toward her. Jeziasi holds up her hands. "I am here to talk, just talk," she says.
"Talk?" Viperish Night hisses as his eyes once more fall on his Egg-mother. "Or more lies?" Blue energy glows from the tips of his claws as the dead Imperial rises, his flesh melting off bone till all that's left is the skeleton, its eyes glowing with unnatural blue light. It moves to stand by Viperish Night. "This city is rife with the undead." Viperish Night states. "I am not sure even I could raise them all...but to kill you I may very well try." Viperish Night says.
Jeziasi's eyes widen in shock. She had been told what he did at Oblivion's Isle and in other places, but to hear him say it...did he have no doubt about doing something so horrific? "You would never..." she trails off as she sees the madness glittering in his eyes. She swallows. "Talk to me," Jeziasi insists. "I will let you leave after. I will not attack if you do not raise the dead in this city against me."
"You care for the living that much?" Viperish Night says. "But...not for me, is that it?"
"I did not know," Jeziasi explains. At Viperish Night's furious glare she adds, "Let me explain. But first..." she softly growls.
"Very well." Viperish Night hisses. "But I make no promises I will not kill you myself after, Egg-mother." The skeleton falls to the ground in a pile of bone dust.
The way he said Egg-mother, so much loathing, and hate but also pain. Jeziasi realizes he never had anything close to parents. She breaths in and out and then speaks. "Black scales like night, twin rolls of horns. As if shadow was given form and life," she softly says.
The hatred in Viperish Night's eyes grows. "Stalks-In-Darkness," he says with a furious hiss. "You said you did not know him!"
"What did he do to you?" she asks.
"You want to know that? You must have given my egg to that monster! Or will there be even more lies and denials!" Viperish Night snaps.
"Did someone tell you I did that?" Jeziasi says, bewildered.
"Stalks-In-Darkness said you were culpable. And now you admit you know him." Viperish Night hisses.
Moments of silence pass before Jeziasi speaks again. "I...am culpable but not in the way you think. I was with an Argonian named Swims-In-Silence for a few weeks. I bonded with him, though I failed to remember that until yesterday. He made you, somehow, and used me to do it. And I let him, though I did not know the truth of it. I thought..." she trails off. "I still do not know everything."
"And why should I believe you?" Viperish Night asks, his eyes locked onto hers, seeking truth from lies.
"I cannot lay eggs, Bosmer cannot breed with Argonians," Jeziasi says. "And yet you are mine, half of my blood runs through yours. It took me a while to accept it. I never knew what Swims-In-Silence did before recently." Jeziasi pauses, remembering what Viperish Night had said when she first met him. That the other eggs failed. That only he hatched. A lost look crosses her face. What kind of twisted magic did Swims-In-Silence inflict on those eggs?
Viperish Night's claws tighten on his staff. "This...Swims-In-Silence is my Egg-Father then," he says.
"Yes," Jeziasi says. "And...he is also Stalks-In-Darkness. I never knew he gave me a false name until yesterday. I never knew a lot of things."
Blue necromantic energy crackles from Viperish Night's staff as he shakes. "I will kill him," Viperish Night hisses. "Rend him to pieces. I suspected he was...but he would never tell me! How could an Egg-father do this?"
Viperish Night's eyes filled with such hatred and darkness Jeziasi almost steps back. She fears he will lose control and set the dead loose upon this city. "What did he do to you?" she asks again, trying to get his attention to focus on her.
Viperish Night stalks closer. "He, along with this world turned me into a monster. It became my only path to freedom, to be strong enough to withstand it all!" He snaps.
"Let me help you hunt him," Jeziasi says. "Stop this quest of yours and go after the real monsters, not Nirn. Not the people in it." she gazes at him, into his eyes trying to plead with him, trying to reach him. She will hunt with him if he stops this.
Viperish Night meets her gaze. Those eyes of his Egg-mothers. So hard and unforgiving, Viperish Night can see his doom in them. She offers this...but the moment he kills anyone she does not deem a monster she will turn on him. Everyone always turns or dies on him. His eyes harden.
Jeziasi's expression falls as she sees his reaction to her plea. She knows at that moment she has failed to reach him. "I made a mistake with Swims-In-Silence," she whispers. "I do not want this."
"This?" Viperish Night snarls. "Or me?" His eyes fill with pain before fury and hate fills them again.
"That is not what I meant," Jeziasi says. "You exist now and I can accept that and you. Just stand down. Please."
Viperish Night regards her, his fury melting into icy cold. Nirn is what she would choose over him. Nirn and her precious living no matter how much they made him suffer. Viperish Night moves like lightning and surprises her, wrapping his claws around her throat. She could reach for her daggers. Could kill him at this moment, perhaps. Betray him as so many others have. He gazes into her shocked eyes. "Egg-mother," he hisses. "Watch as your precious Nirn falls before me. Watch as I murder and free every living soul from this worthless world. Know you helped create a monster." Viperish Night leans in closer to whisper in her ear. "I will kill you only after I kill everyone else." He lets her go and turns to walk out. The sound of her knives being drawn causes him to glance back. She waited to do that, but still, she did it. Despite telling him she would let him go. "Try and I will raise the dead."
She makes no move toward him, just clutches the knives tighter. "Do not do this," she tells him.
"It is too late to save me, and soon it will be too late to save Nirn." Viperish Night says as he turns his head from her and starts to walk out, before Razum-dar moves in front of the door, blocking his escape.
"Raz..." Jeziasi says.
"Razum-dar heard." Razum-dar growls. "This one will end him before he can raise the dead." Razum-dar's eyes move from hers to Viperish Night. He knows she told Viperish Night he could go if he listened to her, but Razum-dar could not allow it. "This one is sorry, Jeziasi," he says as he draws his sword.
Before Razum-dar can leap at Viperish Night a figure in dark grey and silver armor with a skull-like helm appears behind Razum-dar. Razum-dar spins as the armored figure's scythe slams down. Razum-dar blocks it with his sword but is thrown back crashing to the ground near Viperish Night. He rolls away toward Jeziasi and springs to his feet by her side, growling softly. Jeziasi looks at him, then at the armored warrior, her feet shifting, ready to fight.
"Viperish Night." The armored figure states, moving into the room.
"Another of Stalks-In-Darkness's lackeys?" Viperish Night growls. He has not forgotten Zirasha, though she seems to have stopped following him after he left her in Bangkorai.
"I am no one's lackey!" he snaps. "I am Tyranius Vivicus of the Zero Legion."
Razum-dar growls. "Invoking the name of the traitorous legion, not a good thing to do." Razum-dar growls.
Tyranius Vivicus glares at Razum-dar. "The Dominion's pet kitty, you seem well and truly housebroken." He laughs as Razum-dar snarls at him. "You two," he says pointing at Razum-dar and Jeziasi. "You are Viperish Night's enemies, therefore you are mine. So to you, I am The Reaper."
Razum-dar tightens his hand on his sword. "That one is known to the Dominion," Razum-dar says, speaking of Tyranius Vivicus. "The atrocities he committed during the Planemeld..."
Tyranius Vivicus laughs. Viperish Night is watching all this with narrowed eyes and he snarls at Tyranius Vivicus. "Why?"
"Why?" Tyranius Vivicus answers. "I owe someone a favor. You have me for that reason." he cracks his neck. "Was getting bored with hiding and mercenary work anyway. Do we kill these two?"
"No," Viperish Night says. "Leave my Egg-mother and the house cat to watch the end of Nirn." Viperish Night glances once more at Jeziasi. If she had found him in Daggerfall things would have been different. But because of Stalks-In-Darkness's machinations, she was not even his Egg-mother then. So he turns and opens a portal and steps through, Tyranius Vivicus following behind him.
Jeziasi watches the portal close. He is lost then. The world seems to dim and she fights to stay on her feet and fails. Razum-dar's warm arms catch her and she angrily growls at him.
"Enough of that, Jeziasi." Razum-dar gently says. "You asked for this one to help you."
Jeziasi stops growling. "I cannot reach him, Raz," she says, moving from his arms to stand on her own.
"My friend, you knew that going in. You still tried." Razum-dar says.
Jeziasi stares at the spot the portal was. "He must have gotten what he needed, Raz." Jeziasi knows Razum-dar tried to stop Viperish Night, she cannot hold it against him. She should have ended it when he had her by the neck. She could have but for once in her life, she was frozen, unsure of what to do. Now though? Sadness crosses her face. She would have to hunt him, to save her world.
Razum-dar rests a paw on her arm before going to the bloody mess Viperish Night had left of Dioninius Macanis. "We will retrieve Iveryni. Perhaps she knows how to call his spirit back, briefly."
Iveryni crouches next to what remains of Dioninius Macanis. In her hand is a simple wedding ring, she had found it in what remained of the Imperial. She softly chants and calls his name and soon a spirit appears though his form is faint. "We will make this brief so you may rest, Dioninius Macanis," Iveryni says. "Where did you sent Viperish Night, the necromancer who murdered you?"
"I thought the plague of necromancers was finished, but it seems to be our curse," Dioninius says. "May the Divines forgive me, for I told that beast what he wanted to know. He threatened to find my family. The things he said he would do..." he closes his eyes. "The scroll was found near The Howling Sepulchers in Craglorn."
"Thank you, Dioninius," Iveryni says softly. "You are forgiven, go in peace to your Divines." Iveryni bows her head as the spirit vanishes.
Jeziasi watches the ritual, her face set in stone. Only the faintest glimmer in her eyes shows the inner turmoil within. Razum-dar moves to her and rets a paw on her shoulder. "You tried, my old friend," he says.
"I know," Jeziasi says. "A few words cannot make all he went through vanish. He is lost in it now, as lost as Veya was, perhaps even more so. I will do what I must. Viperish Night will not get the relic. This I promise, Raz."
"We will help you, Jeziasi," Razum-dar says. "You will not be doing this alone, this time."
Jeziasi sighs. "Why would Swims-In-Silence do this, Raz?" A shimmer of hurt passes over her face. "That's what makes no sense to me. No sense at all."
Iveryni moves toward them. "Jeziasi, Razum-dar," Iveryni says and continues when she has their attention. "I and Theodyn ran into Viperish Night's former mentor. I learned a little from him, though not much. He's a powerful mer and he hates Swims-In-Silence." At Jeziasi's puzzled look Iveryni adds. "He insisted that we refer to Stalks-In-Darkness as Swims-In-Silence and not to expect him to act like a Brotherhood assassin."
Jeziasi is still confused on her face. "Now things make even less sense," she says.
"There is more," Iveryni adds. "Viperish Night's former mentor knows you, Jeziasi.
Razum-dar glances at Jeziasi. "Just how many people have you angered, my friend?"
"..." Jeziasi crosses her arms over her chest.
"That is what this one thought!" Razum-dar purrs.
"It is not funny," Jeziasi says. "I fought against many mages and necromancers." A curious expression crosses her face.
"Jeziasi?" Razum-dar says. "Share with the group?"
Jeziasi shakes her head. "I thought...but no. It could not be him, for he's..." she tilts her head. "Let us say locked up right now and leave it at that. There is no way he'd be out. So it must be someone else, but I am not sure who right now."
Theodyn leans against the wall with his eyes closed. He's not paying any attention to what the others are doing, instead, his thoughts are in turmoil. His fists open and close. He was so close to his Sister's murderer. But what would killing that mer, even if he could, do? It would not bring her back. It would not make her happy, either. No... revenge was not the path Theodyn wished, and so he sighs and calms himself.
"You are wise not to stray down the path of revenge." a soft female voice tells him.
Theodyn starts and looks over. There is an Imperial girl with long blond hair and pale eyes leaning against the wall next to him. Theodyn blinks rapidly, is he imagining her? "Where did you come from?" he asks.
"Hmm..." she says. "Perhaps you will find that out one day." A look of sorrow crosses her face. "I hope not though, Theodyn Vautrine."
"You hope not?" Theodyn says confused.
"It would mean the worst has come to pass," she says. "It would mean he would have found the means to defile this world with the undead, more so than any other necromancer ever has."
Theodyn swallows. This impossible girl is speaking of Viperish Night, of the relic. Goosebumps run down his neck. She is not a simple Imperial girl, she is something so far more, and Theodyn finds himself near terrified to be so close to her. "I do not want this. I hate this," he says and looks over at Jeziasi. "I wish it did not have to be this way."
The girl's expression tightens. "We all make our own choices, Theodyn Vautrine. She made hers and we all suffer for it. Pray she has the strength to fix her grievous mistake, or the suffering so far will be nothing compared to what's next."
Theodyn is silent for a moment, gathering his courage. "That's a little harsh..." he trails off, for the girl is now gone as suddenly as she appeared. Theodyn leans back against the wall and closes his eyes, trying to cease the trembles that course through him.
Softly-Speckled-Crab and Rufico enter the back of the shop soon after. Rufico leans against the wall with Theodyn and Softly-Speckled-Crab moves over to the others. "You don't look so good," Rufico says.
"We failed again," Theodyn said softly. "By the time Iveryni and I got here, Viperish Night was gone with the location."
Rufico glances at the others. "Razum-dar and Jeziasi were too late as well then." he guesses but Theodyn shakes his head.
"Jeziasi tried to reach him but failed. Razum-dar tried to stop him, but a..." Theodyn trails off.
"What?" Rufico says. "Just spit it out already."
"An Imperial helped Viperish Night escape. Razum-dar said his name was Tyranius Vivicus and he was a Zero Legion from the wars."
Rufico's brow furrows. "I am not sure, but I think I overheard my father say something once about him. How even the other legion soldiers feared him." Rufico's eyes turn stormy. "Did the damn Empire even make any attempt to charge the Zero Legion with war crimes?"
"It is easy to want revenge," Theodyn says. "I thought I wanted it the moment I set eyes on my sister's killer." At Rufico's startled look Theodyn shrugs. "He seemed to be looking for Viperish Night. But he was some sort...here and not here. I don't know. You'd have to ask Iveryni."
"You thought?" Rufico says.
Theodyn nods. "Yes, but after I realized, I don't want to murder someone for my sister. She would hate that. And I would become something I don't want to become. If I kill him in battle, that's different. But wanting to murder for revenge... I cannot be that kind of person."
"I don't think I want that either," Rufico says. "But...I'm not as sure as you, Theodyn." Rufico's thoughts drift to the strange man he talked to outside the bakery, but he does not bring him up.
Softly-Speckled-Crab moves to each of her friends in turn, lightly brushing her tail against their legs before gazing sadly at the spot the Imperial died.
Iveryni glances at Razum-dar. "We know where to go, we should go now."
Razum-dar regards her, then turns to Jeziasi who's leaning against the wall eyes closed, in the middle of calming herself. It cannot be easy and he knows he's been hard on her. The stakes are too high... but she must know that. Razum-dar then turns to Theodyn and Rufico, both who look upset and troubled as well. "This one thinks not everyone is in the best frame of mind, even though time is of the essence."
"We must go now!" Iveryni insists but Softly-Speckled-Crab tugs on her robe. Iveryni turns to look at her.
"Tonight is too soon, even for Viperish Night," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "We need to be at our best. We need rest, calm, and peace to do what is right at Craglorn. And even then, we may falter. And if that happens... Nirn will suffer and we will have to become." Softly-Speckled-Crab looks around. "Viperish Night is half life, half death. To stop him if he gets the relic, we will have to be the same."
Iveryni stares at her puzzling over her words and Theodyn and Rufico come over to the group. Razum-dar glances at Softly-Speckled-Crab and he nods his head at her and goes over to lean against the wall with Jeziasi.
"So how do we be half life and half death?" Rufico asks puzzled. "Blood? I don't want to drink blood."
"Life and death, darkness and light," Softly-Speckled-Crab says softly, her words seem to resonate in the small room. "We are four, though our paths will be our own to travel."
Iveryni is the first one to understand. "If we fail to stop Viperish Night and must become, two of us will travel down the path of life or light. Two down the path of death or darkness," she says.
Softly-Speckled-Crab nods. "It must be this way. Only then will we have what we need to stop him, in proper balance." She glances at each in turn. "The danger of getting lost is greater for the ones who will walk in the shadows. And..." she softly nods. "You already know what your path will be, should we fail at Craglorn. It needs not be spoken, in fact, it should not be spoken to each other at this time." Silence falls at her words.
Jeziasi opens her eyes and looks at Razum-dar a question in her eyes.
"Softly-Speckled-Crab speaks of becoming, should we fail to stop Viperish Night from claiming the relic," Razum-dar explains. "This one and you are what we are already. But those four will need to become more. More is not always..."
"It does not lead to happy endings." Jeziasi softly says. "The road to becoming what is needed to save Nirn is not a easy one. And there are so many twists and turns."
"You went the path you thought you had to," Razum-dar said. "You should have come for help, Jeziasi, but this one does understand what drove you. You will always be this one's friend."
"You don't want to be my enemy," Jeziasi says. "I never want that either, Raz. I did miss you. I just thought it was better to be on my own. Less to lose that way. Or I thought it was less to lose." She gazes at the four young heroes. "We must stop Viperish Night at Craglorn. If we do not, the world will be at war again and they will have to give up so much to stop him. Too much."
"You're determined then," Razum-dar says. "This one is, this one has to be, but..."
"But he is mine." Jeziasi finishes, her eyes looking so lost for a moment. "I never wanted children. But now I wish I could have saved him before he got this way." She falls silent for a moment before shaking her head. "I cannot let him do what he is going to do. We will stop him, no matter the cost."
"We will help you. If this one can, the final blow will not fall to you." Razum-dar says. He wonders if she will forgive him if it comes to that. If she could forgive whatever one of them it is to strike the final blow. But he trusts Jeziasi to see this through. The four finish their gathering and move to Razum-dar and Jeziasi. "So, we return to Elden Root and rest," Razum-dar says. "Tomorrow, we end this." Determined eyes meet him and the group gathers around Iveryni as she opens a portal to take them back to Elden Root, to rest and prepare for tomorrow.
