~/~The calm before the storm, the pause before the gates crash open. It lasts a brief amount of time, all of Tamriel seemed to wait with baited fearful breath, and then at last the storm crashes over them and the waves surged throughout the lands of Tamriel. Viperish Night indeed had promised to drown the world as the world drowned him and the flood of undead was as a never-ending tsunami.
No one knew where the next battlefield would break. The dead lurked in the open, in hiding, in secret spots far too close to towns. Once more the Allegiances and their allies were divided, hands full taking care of their lands for no place was safe from attack.
Viperish Night was spotted in battlefields across Tamriel as if he needed to be there to see his armies of undead do the unspeakable and where he went his pack was right on his heels. There was no rhyme or reason to his appearances. The four heroes were reduced to chasing his tail across the lands, sometimes together sometimes splitting up to hunt him and to assist in the many many battlefields.
All mortals know this can end only two ways. And one is unspeakable so all of Tamriel rises against Viperish Night and his pack, and yet he persists and his army marches on, the death toll rising steadily higher. ~/~

-East March-
Tyranius's scythe slams down on Dawnbreaker as he pushes Theodyn back, both of them slipping in the blood-soaked ground as the rain pours down on the battlefield. "Getting good, but not good enough," Tyranius says, an unseen smile crossing his face from under his helm. Tyranius slides back and dodges Theodyn's next strike. He lifts his scythe in both hands and slams it forward, Theodyn once more swings Dawnbreaker and it slams on the scythes handle. Tyranius's scythe suddenly vanishes and Theodyn stumbles forward just in time to get head bashed by Tyranius, their helms making a loud crash against each other. Theodyn staggers back again snarling and Tyranius takes advantage of it grabs Dawnbreaker wrenching it from Theodyn's grasp. The blade pulses angrily and starts to disintegrate Tyranius's armored glove.
"Dawnbreaker is not for you to touch," Theodyn snarls, "Champion of Molag Bal." Theodyn advances on Tyranius, who just laughs.
"Fun to play with your toy for a while. Worth it." Tyranius says and slices at Theodyn with his sword who dodges the swing.
A vine surges from the ground and sends Tyranius sprawling, Dawnbreaker falling from his grip and into Theodyn's waiting hands. Softly-Speckled-Crab stalks across the mud toward them. "Stealing my friend's toys will only bring you suffering," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "You may pay for it in kind."
Tyranius laughs as the scythe returns to his hands. "Can't steal bound weapons. Also, behind you." Tyranius laughs again as Softly-Speckled-Crab spins as red mist forms above her and Zirasha reforms from it and drops on her, sending the two into the mud.
"Those two are having some fun," Tyranius says as he turns back to Theodyn who's looking at him with a murderous glare, Dawnbreaker held at the ready. "Don't want to pause to watch?"
"We will stop you," Theodyn says. "If not this battle, then the next." He lunges at Tyranius, the battle between the two on once more.

The roar of battle the clatter of the dead, roars and screams, the smell of blood on the air. It was very nearly enough to drive Jeziasi's wolf blood crazy. Jeziasi's claws flash down and rend the Nord in front of her too so much meat. A sound behind her has her whirling as a giant of a Nord's shadow falls upon her his battle-ax raised higher. Before Jeziasi can lunge at him a Minotaur skeleton races into the fray, slamming into the Nord and impaling him on his horns. Jeziasi huffs for a moment before turning to the very center of the chaotic battlefield. Viperish Night stands there, a ring of Minotaur skeletons all around him, necromantic energy flowing in all directions. It was breathtaking in a horrific sort of way. Jeziasi stares for a moment longer before huffing again and turning back to the battlefield, confident of her sons' safety and once more she plunges into the fray.

Tyranius's next powerful strike nearly hits Theodyn and Theodyn throws himself into the mud to avoid being decapitated. "Damn you," Theodyn snarls as he staggers up, his golden armor covered in bloody mud.
"All damned," Tyranius says. "Some of us just have fun with it." Tyranius lifts his scythe, following Theodyn's every movement
Softly-Speckled-Crab and Zirasha tumble through the mud and blood until both are covered in it. Zirasha's fangs snap down upon Softly-Speckled-Crab who rolls to the side and vines spring up from the earth to wrap around Zirasha who bursts into mist and reforms a short distance away. "No one can trap me!" Zirasha laughs and in a flash her daggers are once more in her hands as she waits for Softly-Speckled-Crab to rises and continue the fight.
Softly-Speckled-Crab leaps from the ground and then nearly falls as she feels the last of their Nord allies meet their end. "The battle is lost," Softly-Speckled-Crab whispers. Her eyes move to Zirasha's crimson ones. "You will never cease this," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
The battle crazed smile falls from Zirasha's face. "Once this was just about freedom and causing the world pain," she hisses, "But now, my pack is my family. I will never stop as long as they never stop."
Softly-Speckled-Crab dips her head slightly and backs away from her and her eyes glance toward Theodyn who's attention snaps on her. The look in her eyes tells him the battles lost. Sorrow and anger passes through his eyes before he turns toward Viperish Night. Dawnbreaker was fully capable of annihilating the undead in huge waves of burning light, but in response to that early in the battle, Viperish Night had called upon the Minotaur's. All Dawnbreaker did to them was scorch their bones, and they kept going. Kept killing for their master. Once, perhaps Theodyn would have raced back into the fight, but now he backs away as Softly-Speckled-Crab opens a portal. "Damn it," he swears as he follows her through.

Viperish Night stands in the rain, his claws sinking deep into the mud and blood his battle created. Viperish Night's crystal eyes stare out at what remains of the army sent to fight them, mostly Nords. The two heroes that had challenged him here had fled as the battle turned against him. The dead lie upon the ground in various states of death, and slowly they start to rise as skeletons to join Viperish Night's army. Viperish Night closes his eyes briefly as the cold threatens to overwhelm him, and it is his Egg-Mother's words that come to him. iStay with me./i
Words she spoke often when she saw the ice gather in his eyes. Words he hung onto, through the storm he had created. His river had surged on his command in recent days and washed over the land in an unstoppable storm of death. The song of it reached every corner of Tamriel as scores of dead uncounting marched upon it. Massive armies had been raised to fight the undead army but for every one of them that fell, his army grew in numbers. The truth of it was that the endless waves of death gave him peace, but drew him closer to the furthest depths each day. The deepest darkest part of his river sang a song to bring him closer. Promise of the pain ending, of clarity returning from the fog of madness that gripped him, promise to end the war within that had always raged, driving him from the river he had once desired. Only she kept the ice from covering him, kept him from the furthest depths, from surrender. It, at times, was so hard to keep fighting the war. On some level he fears his desired genocide in hopes it would end the war without submission, without letting his Egg-Father win, was in actuality letting his Daedra side win, but he had not seen another path in so very long. Everything was endless agony, and diverting from the river of death even more so. Viperish Night opens his eyes as the last of the dead rise. He no longer needs to be where his army marches, but to be here when the living are silenced eases him. The screams seem to fade, just for a little while in the tide of overwhelming death.
Jeziasi glances up from her meal at her son, her muzzle dark with blood. This time he did not have to transform. More than once over these past days he had changed, when the tide of battle started to turn against them when the forces against them were strongest. This one was one of the smaller ones, and their pack had kept the two heroes at bay. It could have been a different story if all four were present, but the truth of it was the heroes were chasing their pack all over Nirn but had no idea what battlegrounds they may decide to visit. Jeziasi growls softly. Not once had they used the orbs to call their allies, other heroes. Not once, and the why of that made Jeziasi's fur stand on in, because who else but him could stop such a thing? Jeziasi growls once more before she returns to finishing her gristly meal. No longer will she hesitate, no longer is prey left uneaten. The wolf is fed, and Jeziasi is the merciless hunter she needs to be. Shaking off the blood she moves to Viperish Night, shedding her wolf form as she does to stand by his side.
Viperish Night's eye moves to his Egg-mother. The pain in her eyes is still there, but more distant now. She has managed to remain more the wolf than the mer now. The wolf was merciless. A sharp pain and Viperish Night moves his eyes back to his dead, trying to focus on them and them alone. Was his Egg-mother losing who she was in all of this? Viperish Night hisses softly and feels Jeziasi take his hand in hers. "Egg-mother," Viperish Night whispers and lowers his head.
Jeziasi looks up at her son, sorrow flashing in her eyes. "Say nothing, Viperish Night," she softly says. "We are past the point of words, I understand. Follow your river until the end. I will never leave your side."
A faint smile crosses Viperish Night's face as he closes his eyes, just basking in the peace of having his Egg-mother by his side and the quiet of the dead.
Zirasha sits on the bloody grass, her eyes on the two for a moment before she looks up at Tyranius who's flicking blood off his scythe, helm on the ground. "What girl?" Tyranius says.
Zirasha smiles, her fangs still crimson with blood. "Utter chaos with my pack. With my family." Zirasha says and the smile then fades. "It is more than I thought I would ever have."
"Never had much use for family," Tyranius says as he finishes and hangs the scythe from the back of his armor. "Still, could do worse than this. A lot worse." At Zirasha's look, Tyranius shrugs. "The Zero Legion under my command wanted to do many many bad things. I was fine with most of it. Had to use harsh discipline for the rest. Nice that I have comrades I don't have to do that with."
Zirasha looks back toward Viperish Night and Jeziasi. "So many monsters..." she softly says. "We are monsters too. Just better ones."
Tyranius throws back his head and laughs. "Yeah, girl. Genocidal monsters are the best kind of monsters."
Zirasha hisses at him. "Hey!"
"Call it as I see it," Tyranius says. His scythe vanishes as Viperish Night and Jeziasi walk to him. "Time to go home, pup?"
Viperish Night gives a short nod and the portal home opens, allowing them to return home to rest, before the next battle.

-Elden Root-
The portal opens in the meeting room and Softly-Speckled-Crab steps out followed by Theodyn. Rufico looks up from across the room and moves from the wall to stand a few feet away from Theodyn. The two gazes at each other, both blood-splattered, both weary in body and soul but a trace of happiness and relief is evident in both their eyes. Finally they cross the final few feet and into the other's arms. "If we could just fight together all of the time," Theodyn whispers. "In battle, I feel her light so strongly. It pulls on my soul, wants to force me to be what she wants me to be, Rufico. I need your shadows to show me it is wrong."
"They would come to expect that," Rufico says. "Use it against us. It is what I would do." Rufico lightly touches Theodyn's face and stares into his eyes. "You'll come back to me, Theo, every time."
"And if I don't? If I get lost again?" Theodyn asks.
Rufico smiles softly. "Then I'll dive in the light to find you. The light will never keep me from you."

Softly-Speckled-Crab gazes at the two a small smile on her face before she moves over by Iveryni to give them space. Iveryni is resting at the table and Softly-Speckled-Crab tilts her head slightly. "You almost seem to be glowing," Softly-Speckled-Crab observes as she sits down.
The marks on Iveryni's face flare slightly before dimming and Iveryni looks up at Softly-Speckled-Crab. "Undead dragons. The bastard set them loose on Southern Elsweyr," Iveryni says. "It took a great deal to deal with them."
"Nothing is forbidden to him," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "He will raise all the undead of Nirn if he needs to, all to drown the world that he thinks deserves it."
"And yet, you still think..." Iveryni says and then suddenly slams her fists on the table. "You don't still think that. You cannot!" The marks on her face start to glow and Softly-Speckled-Crab starts back slightly in her chair. Iveryni's fists clench and unclench as she tries to calm. "I..."
"Something troubles you, deeply," Softly-Speckled-Crab says and her hand finds Iveryni's. Almost too hot to the scales, as if she's literally burning up from the inside.
Iveryni lowers her head as she speaks. "There are things I cannot speak off. I will push them to the side. They do not matter in this war."
"But the next," Softly-Speckled-Crab says and the look in Iveryni's eyes chills her before Iveryni looks away.
"Answer my question, for I cannot answer yours," Iveryni says.
Softly-Speckled-Crab takes moments before she slowly answers, "It is impossible at this point. I know this, and I will rend mercy upon him and his pack. But the drop is not yet lost."
"We are past the point it matters," Iveryni says. "You know this, I can hear it in your voice." Iveryni's eyes follow Softly-Speckled-Crab. Out of all of them, she carries the most sadness for not only all that is lost but for Viperish Night as well. As if she can understand his pain in ways Iveryni cannot.
"If we fail..." Softly-Speckled-Crab says in a low tone filled with despair. "It may be the only thing that stands between Nirn and obliteration."
"We must not fail," Iveryni says. "Love is not enough to save him. It has gone too far."
Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes move from Iveryni to Theodyn and Rufico. "It was enough to save our friend," Softly-Speckled-Crab said. "Theodyn was lost as well. He has been found, saved."
"Theodyn did not murder countless people," Iveryni says, pulling her hand away. "He did not throw the world into this nightmare. Even if Viperish Night was to wake up one day and stop, his crimes would never be forgiven. Nor would his pack be forgiven. Not even the Vestige."
Softly-Speckled-Crab lowers her head. "I know. But you do not feel as I do, my friend. I feel his pain when I look into his eyes. Its unending agony. Rage enough to cause the earth to shake, despair enough to drown the world. No one could feel what he does and not go mad. Not think that this is the only way to cease the pain. He was never given another choice." Softly-Speckled-Crab takes a deep breath and raises her head to stare at Iveryni. "Viperish Night must be stopped at all costs, it is a mercy to end his pain as well as the pain he causes. But he should not be written off as just a monster, just an abomination. It is Molag Bal that caused all of this when he created him and tortured him to ensure this is the fate of us all." Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes stare into Iveryni, pleading with her to understand.
Iveryni takes in her words and lowers her head. "Viperish Night... he has a soul as all of us do, does he not?" at Softly-Speckled-Crab's nod Iveryni folds her hands together. "I cannot understand as you do, but I can understand that. Daedric Princes do not...have concerns about what they do with our souls." Iveryni abruptly rises. "I must sleep. Tomorrow will come too soon." she gives Softly-Speckled-Crab one last look before she moves from the room and heads to bed.

"Bed," Rufico whispers to Theodyn. "We should go to bed, hmmm?"
Theodyn slowly starts turning pink. "To sleep, Rufico," Theodyn whispers back. "We need to be at our best."
"Yes, sleep," Rufico says as he turns to the door, his hand in Theodyn's. "We'll sleep. Eventually."
"Rufico!" Theodyn says and Rufico looks at him with a sparkle in his eyes.
"You know sleep will be the furthest thing from your mind once we are cleaned up," Rufico teases. "Just like last night." Theodyn turns even brighter pink and Rufico lets go of his hand to dash to the door. "End of the world, Theo. I'll race you." Rufico turns and darts out of the room and Theodyn stares at him with the faintest smile before he follows.

Softly-Speckled-Crab blinks as she finds herself alone and she too, rises. "I will raid the kitchen," Softly-Speckled-Crab says to herself as she heads out in search of the food that somehow has always brought her a measure of comfort.

-Skyrim Tomb-
Long after the rest of his pack has gone to bed, Viperish Night lingers in the throne room slumped upon his cold throne, his draugr all around him. Viperish Night's claws scour the stone as he shudders softly, eyes closed. In battle, he could lose himself but after the battle all the agony and screams returned allowing him little rest and no peace. Why would they not cease? It had not been this way when he started his war.
Viperish Night slowly opens his eyes, jarred out of his thoughts by the unwelcome presence of his Egg-father who steps from a portal. "Leave," Viperish Night hisses.
"Always telling me that. So little respect, so little submission," Swims-in-Silence says as he stalks to the throne, stopping feet away from it.
Viperish Night's eyes narrow and he suddenly leaps from the throne to land before his Egg-father. "Leave!" Viperish Night snarls. The last time he talked to this monster... the trip to Coldharbour shook him. He could not, would not let Swims-in-Silence get to him.
Swims-in-Silence starts to circle Viperish Night and Viperish Night's eyes follow him angrily. The Draugr move slightly, mirroring Viperish Night's fury. "Do you enjoy it?" Swims-in-Silence asks. "Being in such exquisite agony? Do you even know what causes it?
"The living, Egg-father," Viperish Night hisses. "The pain will end when I can no longer hear their screams."
Swims-in-Silence stops behind Viperish Night. "You have ended so many mortals' lives, Viperish Night. So very many. So why does your pain only grow? Why do the screams intensify?" Swims-in-Silence asks with a hiss. Viperish Night stills for a moment and then spins on Swims-in-Silence hissing wildly. Swims-in-Silence laughs at the confusion he sees in Viperish Night's eyes and he moves closer. "It is not the dead causing it either. Some part of you questioned that in this moment, did it not?"
The question is asked by more angry hissing and Viperish Night snaps, "The dead bring me peace! Do not think you know what I think. LEAVE."
Swims-in-Silence steps back and sits on the throne. "Tell me this, and perhaps I will," Swims-in-Silence responds. "When you started all this, was there such pain, such agony? Viperish Night stills utterly his mind traveling back to the early days of his war. Killing towns with Zirasha and Tyranius, swimming in the river of death with wild abandon. "I see it in your eyes," Swims-in-Silence continues as his claws grip the throne. "She is the reason you are in pain. She keeps your mortal side alive. It is the life magic within you that screams in your mind. That causes unending agony. You can feel them all die, and the magic protests to that tortures you for it because you will not embrace your Daedric side and let that part of you die. For all the lives you have taken, it will never give you peace, never stop causing you agony until it is drowned utterly."
Viperish Night growls softly, the Draugr becoming more active as his fury builds, his eyes filled with murder as he stares at his Egg-father. "Never speak of my Egg-mother like that," Viperish Night hisses.
Swims-in-Silence smiles and Viperish Night's eyes widen as he realizes the trap he just fell into. "Egg-Mother, not pet. Such emotion in your voice, in your eyes. I suspected as much." The smile fades from Swims-in-Silence's face as his eyes darken. "She makes you weak." Viperish Night starts to leap at Swims-in-Silence again but suddenly stops and Swims-in-Silence stares at Viperish Night. "Something just occurred to you, did it not?"
Viperish Night's claws curl. Long ago thoughts he had after his Egg-Mother woke come back to him unbidden, unwanted. Part of him had always screamed at him to stop, sending shards of agony through him. He had dived into the river in Oblivion's Isle and drowned that part of him. But his Egg-mother had brought all that to the surface when she came to him. Viperish Night starts to back away in horrified shock and then stops and angrily hisses and stalks forward. "You will silence!" Viperish Night snaps. "It is not true! She brings me a small measure of peace!"
Swims-in-Silence leans forward. "Tell me then that the pain did not grow, that the tide of madness did not surge when Mannimarco brought her to you," Swims-in-Silence says and Viperish Night freezes. Swims-in-Silence tilts his head. "You think I am unaware of his schemes?" Swims-in-Silence laughs. "You will not see your mentor again anytime soon, Viperish Night, he is being punished for what he has done."
The thought of that monster being punished almost makes Viperish Night want to smile, but he refuses to give his Egg-father that satisfaction so Viperish Night just slowly asks, "What he has done?"
Swims-in-Silence's eyes narrow. "Mannimarco sought to keep you from me. Thought it would save him. He did not count on the pain it would cause you..." Swims-in-Silence pauses before continuing. "...Or did he? He must have known. Know how it would torture you. He never cared if he hurt you, did he? And he hurt you in so many ways." Swims-in-Silence grins as he sees the murderous desire fill Viperish Night's eyes, see him shake with rage. "He will be yours, once you accept who you are. Once you accept me." Swims-in-Silence rises and moves past Viperish Night, pausing. "I can offer so much, so very much." Swims-in-Silence hisses and continues and opens a portal. "Think on all of this before you decide."
Viperish Night snarls softly. "Decide to accept my Daedra side? I never will, Egg-father." Viperish Night hisses softly. Flashes of his Egg-mother cross his mind, the screaming in his mind threatens to swell as confusion swirls through his mind. "Leave. Just leave."
"Not that," Swims-in-Silence responds and his head turns toward Viperish Night. "I will not suffer such insolence as what your planning... or is it all my mate's idea?"
Viperish Night stills in utter shock and his head turns slightly toward Swims-in-Silence. How does he know? How can he know?
"I can forgive your schemes, you are my son after all. Provided it goes no further." Swims-in-Silence threatens and then enters the portal and vanishes.
Viperish Night is utterly still for a long moments before he throws his head back and howls, a scream of utter rage and pain, and the Draugr respond in kind. Once the unholy scream fades, Viperish Night falls to the cold ground and curls on his side as his eyes close. They are undone, and if...Viperish Night snarls to himself. He was lying about that. He had to be lying about that. All Viperish Night needed to do was end them all. She, who gave him such love, could never be the cause of his agony.

Sleep did not come easily. As Jeziasi lay down staring into the flickering lanterns light, thoughts consumed her. All that had happened right before they started the war. Watching her son fall further down into the depths, what had happened with Naryu. Even more memories she'll never be able to escape from or forget. Jeziasi suddenly sits up and Zirasha moves to her, sitting back to back with her.
"You loved that Dunmer," Zirasha whispers.
Jeziasi's eyes close. "I do not know. The word love, the emotion. I think with her and with Raz, I felt a brief shadow of it, the most that was capable of getting through to me back then. It was such a short period I was with Naryu, it seems like a dream at times, a dream that turned into a nightmare."
"A shadow..." Zirasha whispers and leans against Jeziasi. "More than I ever had, ever felt. Before..." Zirasha trails off and moves her hand to grasp Jeziasi's. It is so very warm, the wolf blood running hot within her. Once she thought love was that, as well. Or did not even exist. But now with her pack, with Jeziasi. "We are friends," Zirasha finishes. "Pack, a family."
Jeziasi wraps her fingers around Zirasha's in turn at Zirasha's words. Strangely enough, a family is what they had become. Monsters and the one who dove in after one of them and became the same. Doomed, yet throwing themselves into the river with wild abandon. None of it made much sense, and yet this part of it did. Jeziasi had no family since her parents died and she ran out into the larger world and got caught up in fate and destiny. Always running, never knowing what her damaged soul searched for. "Yes," Jeziasi whispers. "I may regret many many things, but not this. Not at having a pack, a family at last. I would want a different river for us, but if this is our river, then until the end."
"Told you, Jez, you can't save us," Zirasha says. "I...am glad you are here though. You changed us. Both of you."
"Is that enough?" Jeziasi says, closing her eyes.
"Yes," Zirasha says. "We are a pack, we are family, we are more than just common monsters. That's enough for me." Zirasha closes her eyes. "We should sleep now. We can be the very best monsters tomorrow."
Jeziasi starts to reply but Viperish Night's blood-curdling howl echos throughout the tomb and has her bolting up and racing through the door. Zirasha leaps up as well as she watches Jeziasi run towards the throne room. She almost follows, then pauses, knowing it is up to Jeziasi alone.

Jeziasi crashes into the throne room and is by Viperish Night's side in a moment, her hand moves to his feathered crest. "Viperish Night," Jeziasi says and then her eyes dart around the throne room and she slowly growls as she catches the scent of Swims-in-Silence, though he is no longer present. "Did he hurt you?" Jeziasi says.
Viperish Night opens his eyes to look up at his Egg-mother. Peace, she must bring him that. Any other answer will undo him. Will undo everything. "He..." Viperish Night starts then trails off. "Just more meaningless lies, Egg-mother. It was the screams that caused the pain," Viperish Night softly hisses.
Jeziasi's eyes flash with pain and she leans down, pressing her forehead against his shaking. Something she cannot hunt, can not chase away, cannot stop from hurting her son so.
The two stay that way for long moments and at last Viperish Night's trembling ceases and he slowly rises and moves away from his Egg-mother, who rises behind him. Slowly he turns his head to regard her. The one who would chase the pain away if only she could. The one who loves him without conditions. Viperish Night turns his head away before she can see the confusion in him and starts to walk out of the throne room. He must rest, and put his Egg-father's lies far away. He must also tell his Egg-mother what else Swims-in-Silence has said, the part that cannot be lies. The part that has undone their plans. Viperish Night pauses. "Egg-mother..." Viperish Night trails off.
Jeziasi moves closer to him. All she wants to do is comfort him, chase away his pain and demons, but no matter how far down she swims with him, she fails. Always fails. "We'll hunt him and kill him," Jeziasi softly says. "It may not change anything, but he will feel my fangs on his neck for what he's done to you. To both of us."
"...Yes, Egg-mother. We shall drown him, drown them all." Viperish Night whispers, his eyes briefly closing before he opens them and walks out of the throne room.
Jeziasi stares after him for long moments, her spine prickling, the fur under her mer form raised. Something in this moment... "Viperish Night..." Jeziasi whispers softly but if he hears her he does not stop, just walks away from her to his room. Jeziasi stares in worried silence for a moment before slowly returning to her room.

-Unknown Location-
Again the four Daedra Princes meet, in the strange glen that exists outside of Nirn. But this time, it was another who called to them to meet. Who insisted upon it.
He stares at the night sky, observing the stars that glimmer above in this strange place. His back is to the Princes as if they are nothing. Anger radiates from Meridia, Mehrunes Dagon shifts with an air of irritation. Only Azura and Hircine remain calm and patient.
After long moments Mehrunes Dagon crosses his arms. "Speak already, Sotha Sil." Mehrunes Dagon says, his eyes narrowing a fraction. "We are aware it is you who now stand in our way."
Sotha Sil's head turns just slightly. "Do you disagree," he says. Not a question, not from him.
"Why?" Meridia says, barely controlled fury in her voice. I must remain in contact with my champion. First, the Prince of Madness manages to block me, now you?"
Sotha Sil, at last, turns to face the four Daedric Princes. "You will be tempted to interfere past the point you should." Sotha Sil tells them, tilting his head slightly.
Azura's eyes follow him and she dips her head in agreement. "Things must place out as they must," she says.
Sotha Sil is silent enough to earn a snort of irritation from Mehrunes Dagon and he, at last, speaks again. "He may yet be tempted to cross into Nirn. He must be the only Prince tempted to do so."
"You want Molag Bal to break the compact," Hircine says with a laugh. "Tell me living god, do you see but two outcomes or do you see other ways this hunt will end?" Sotha Sil just gives another small head tilt at this and Hircine crosses his arms satisfied. "That is what I thought. Jeziasi makes things far more interesting."
Meridia turns toward Hircine and starts to snap at him but Mehrunes Dagon interrupts. "Enough, Lady of Light," Mehrunes Dagon says. "I tire of your endless tirade against the Vestige. We all do."
Meridia's glare turns from Hircine to Mehrunes Dagon but Sotha Sil merely raises his hand and the Princes fall to silence, their attention returning to him. "Jeziasi...is very interesting. I saw she would free the world. She did so from Nocturnal's plot and then..." Sotha Sil trails off. "I should have still seen her, as one sees a star in the night sky. But she was somehow cast from my sight. She should be as certain to me as all are. But she is not."
"She has done the unspeakable," Azura says. "For love, she may free the world from life itself. She may shine as a dark star, or she may be trying to shine through the darkness."
"She is uncertainty giving form and substance," Sotha Sil says and he turns his back on the Princes again to stare up at the night sky. "Do not forget you are bound to The Compact as Molag Bal is." Sotha Sil's head moves slightly to regard Meridia, the only one of the four who is not bound to it. Sotha Sil waits.
Meridia stares at him for long moments before lowering her eyes. "I seem to have little choice," she says. "We...are one in this pact of ours. I will refrain."
Sotha Sil's head turns and he vanishes without another word. The Daedric Princes soon follow.
A familer tabby is resting in the grass and he watches them leave one by one before he rises and shakes out his fur. "She is utterly mad. They all are." Sheogorath meows as his eyes seem to shine. "Still on my list if she helps end all madness!" Sheogorath hisses and fades from the meadow.