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Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23
Into the Fade: Act II
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Upon leaving Niall at the library artifice with Valor to look after him in case of any dangers that may come, the group had soon found themselves traversing within a luscious and vast woodlands that their guide was excitedly quick to explain. At the head of the group Adventure strolled proudly giving every detail of the Great Forest of Cyrodiil while regaling a tale of Miara challenging a feral horde of Minotaurs that had threatened a village close by.
"What's a minotaur?" Alistair blankly questioned.
He was not alone as those from Thedas never even heard of such a thing.
Serana dryly rolled her eyes; "Anthropomorphic sentient bull-men who live in the heavily forest regions of Tamriel."
"So Qunari," Gin assumed speaking up.
"Nothing like Qunari. Well except maybe their height and horns," Sofie remarked as they kept walking. "Outside of Sten, anyone ever heard of Qunari having fur from the waist down, hoofs for feet, and a tail?" a round of Thedosian heads shook from side to side; "Then not Qunari."
Marcus for the most part half ignored the conversation pacing himself beside the spirit; "You're certain Loke and Bran are close by?" Slight worry spoke in his tone. His worry shared by Neria who was on the opposite side of Adventure.
"Oh yes, they aren't far now." the spirit quipped in a chipper tone.
Leliana leaned towards Brianna; "Do spirits mimic people's voices like that?" Hearing Miara's voice not coming from said spire was more than a little unnerving to the former bard.
"Spirits and demons can do it with ease. And Adventure seems adamant in emulating our friend, she is quite enthralled."
"Sodding Fade crap," Sereda grumped at Faren's side. "Damn glad we dwarfs can't dream given how freaky this place is."
Zevran gave a shrug; "Not so bad at times." The former princess grunted; "Fondly remembering your sexual escapades is quite fun."
"T'is your mind full of nothing but thoughts of perversion?" Morrigan snipped dryly.
"When your job is the grim task of killing people you need to find avenues to keep yourself sane."
That was surprisingly knowledgeable for an assassin Brianna mentally mused while taking in the false surroundings.
A wild tremor soon quaked beneath them. At least, that's the closest way they could explain what they felt. It was like their entire surroundings shook, down to the very air. The dreamland seemed to shudder; wispy, smoke-like figures seemed to emerge from the trees, bellowing battle-cries.
The group tensed and readied themselves for a fight, but stopped when they noticed the shadows began fighting not against them, but amongst themselves.
The sounds of battle and clashing steel filled the air, along with the crackling of magic being cast. Some figures looked more solid than others, allowing them to see myriad of human soldiers clad in a combination of plate and leather with large shields as they clashed against very tall figures donning golden armor.
"Take out the battlemages first!" That was Miara's voice, and at the other end of the battlefield they saw a vision of her, wearing a red-painted and more decorated version of the armor those mostly human forces were wearing, moving with blurring motion, as she took on another one of those tall individuals, this one wearing robes that flowed in the invisible winds as magic was discharged from his fingertips.
"What... is this?" Marcus muttered.
"A battle Miara took place in" Serana said as realization dawned on her. "This is a memory"
A tall muscular man in full armor knocked an arrow at Miara's side; "Bastard Thalmor have dug into the Garlas Malatar ruins!"
Lightning and fire glowing in each of the Dragonborn's hand; "Then we make this place their tomb, Hadvar!"
"With pleasure, ma'am!" The Nordic man's smile was utterly predatory.
"This was during the Second Great War," Sofie murmured. And just as the memory appeared it vanished just as quickly.
"And what a glorious show it was," Adventure exclaimed brightly; "The people of Tamriel uniting to bring down the villainous Thalmor. Many memories like that have been playing out throughout the Fade."
Serana gave the spirit a glance; "There was a lot more to it than that." All bloody and gritty parts were cut out.
"Spirits like Adventure only sees the aspects of heroism and glory," Neria quickly remarked in an almost textbook phrasing. "Anything else she will ignore."
"So basically like an adventure book that focus only on the good things," Oryrn quipped.
Bri gave a nod; "Pretty much."
The spirit placed her hands on her hips; "Many wondrous and awe inspiring journeys I have seen with Lady Miara and yourself Lady Serana." At her words new images appeared of Miara, now donning the ebony armor wore by the spirit who reveres her so with swords in hand. At her side was Serana along with two young Nordic women in full plated armor save a helmet. One had shoulder length brunette hair with a braid, a regal face and sharp blue eyes. The other had blond hair, pale flawless skin, and brown eyes.
The brunette woman had a sword and shield while the blond held a greatsword.
And their last member caught many by surprise at the sight of anthropomorphic grey and black furred cat man in ebony armor holding swords. It even had a tail which swayed about.
The five stood in a massive dwarven ruins as the ground shook from heavy footsteps. "I swear your luck is as bad as mine, Miara," the cat man quipped.
"That's a cat in armor," Alistair numbly mumbled.
"That is a Khajiit, and HIS name is Kharjo," Sofie abolished sternly before looking to her Nordic mother; "When was this?"
Serana only had a scowl as she recalled this event vividly; "When we were hunting down that damn Aetherium Forge for that ghost woman Katria." The heavy foots steps grew louder as a towering shadow engulfed the area. "I fucking hate Dwemer Animunculi."
The Thedosians only stared in awe and fear, at the gargantuan bipedal monstrosity that was made to their surprise, out of pure metal. Every inch of the construct was highly detailed and engraved, with a closed fist right hand, and something that resembled a Qunari cannon Marcus assumed for its left. A glowing red orange hue could be seen from open areas, and the center of its chest. It head resembling the angry visage of a screaming man.
"C'est quoi ce bordel!?" Pure terror rang out in Leliana's voice.
Wynne muttered; "By the maker"
"A Dwemer Colossus," the memory of Miara spoke dryly; "Well our day just got more fun."
The brunette Nord woman gave the elf a glare; "You sense of fun my Thane is left to be desired."
"I concur with my fellow Housecarl," the blond also spoke in a wary tone.
"And I agree with Kharjo," the Serana memory quipped; "Your luck sucks."
The brass giant let out a sound that couldn't be a roar, but it might as well have been, like the sound that came from the hungry flames of the forge mixed with the grinding of gears. As it raised its cannon and aimed right at the group, a hellish glow becoming brighter from its depths.
"Scatter!" Memory Miara shouted, and her party did just that, taking refuge behind pillars and fallen rocks.
The monstrous construct shot a stream of fire like a dragon from its cylindrical arm, and bathed the area in flames.
The flames cleansed the memory, ending it.
"What in the Stone was that?!" Sereda shouted, looking frantic. "Was... Was that a golem?!"
"Of a sort" Oryrn replied.
"It looked like... a machine" Marcus said, both awed and horrified by the prospect of a such a creation.
"Animunculi" Sofie supplied, "Dwemer Automaton. 'Robots' some have colloquially called them. Golems made of highly complex machinery and moving parts powered by a sort of magic and steam. Usually their size and complexity reflects how dangerous they are."
"And these dwemer" Brianna prompted with an intense look, "had many of those things?"
"At the height of their power? Oh my, yes, many" Serana said. "For all sorts of purposes and functions. Construction, transport, mining, security, even warfare. The dwemer mechanized army was one of the most dangerous forces in ancient Tamriel once"
Oryrn continued; "They even had ships that could take flight into the very skies."
"Impossible," Now Morrigan remarked in surprise.
Sofie shook her head; "The empire rediscovered one fully intact within a ruin in Morrowind. And got it working, but it's kept for small uses. And trying to figure out how to make more." Which will likely take centuries for that.
"You speak as if these Dwemer no longer exist," Wynne addressed still regaining her composure of what she had seen.
"Because they don't save one," Serana turned to the elderly woman; "Their entire race disappeared in the blink of an eye."
"H-how..." Zevran murmured as he stared wide eyed.
"They messed with the heart of a dead god and paid for it."
"Riiiiight," Gin quipped before seeing the dead serious faces of the three Tamrielans; "You can't expect us to believe that.. It's just ludicrous."
"Ask Yagrum Bagarn if you don't believe us," Serana shrugged with indifference; "Head to Blacklight in Morrowind some time and the last living Dwemer can tell you himself."
"We have no time for this," Marcus said with a commanding voice. "We need to find Miara, and we still haven't found our hounds!" He turned to the spirit guiding them. "Adventure, we can't keep dallying with these diversions"
"The memories are a byproduct of the demons keeping Miara prisoner" The booming voice of the spirit explained. "Keeping her contained requires a great deal of effort on their part, along with a large number of them. To aid in their efforts, they delved into her mind and brought forth these memories, while trapping her in a singular one that possesses great emotional weight. A large and complex ritual, the only thing that would work against someone like her"
"The enormity of her dragon soul must be too much" Neria theorized rubbing her chin. "So it makes sense their efforts are taxed beyond what a small group of demons can muster"
"Indeed, 'tis not easy to cage a godling"
That word that single word drew sharp breaths and nervous glances from the Tamriels. All while inspiring confusion in the Thedosians.
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" Brianna asked, making sure she heard right.
"Godling. T'is not just the divinity of the dragon soul, but her heritage-"
"Enough!" Serana's suddenly shouted, drawing not just surprise but suspicion from the others. "Take us to her. Now"
The armored spirit nodded, understanding perfectly her intent. "As you wish"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Despite curiosity and incertitude from the others, none attempted to openly question what Adventure meant about when saying 'Godling'. By the rigid countenance bore on the faces of the trio from Tamriel, they were not going to be given answers presently. So the Thedosians kept their silence despite noticing the strange insightful and irksome smirk coming from Morrigan.
So currently the group soldiered on till reaching what appeared to be a set of doors in the middle of the forest. "Ah! There they are," Adventure chimed brightly as she took the handles and opened the doors that lead into a large grasslands.
Both immense relief and amusement washed over the faces of Marcus and Neria as their group had finally discovered their faithful Mabari. A few snickers and chuckles escaped the lips of some as they saw Bran and Loke run through the endless fields that held nothing but meat as far as the eyes could see.
Kneeling down, Neria only smiled; "You boys just care for the simple things don't you?"
Bran's ears shot upward turning barking joyfully running towards his master. Loke took notice and mimicked his fellow war hound upon the sight of his own master.
Marcus knelt down as Loke came up to him; "I'll make sure you get some extra jerky after this. Sound good?" His mabari let out an elated bark as the illusion dispelled and they now all stood in a ash covered land littered with strange, almost alien-like structures never seen by the Thedosians. They all noticed in the distance what an utterly massive shell like structure looked like of all things a crab? Around the settlement were numerous round hillsides and mountains as far as the eye could see.
"Ald'ruhn," Oryrn addressed with emotion; "Means 'old home' in dunmeri. We're at a settlement in Morrowind."
And there they saw another memory of Miara who stood beside two Dunmeri men adorned in fine regal garments meant for the upper class. "You have made our people proud," one of the men spoke who had a goatee and odd haircut. His voice was raspy and deep; "With your funds we have not only rebuilt this place, but many more dunmeri settlements across Morrowind. Our homeland is being restored."
Miara chuckled dressed in a dunmeri two piece; "Thank you Lleril." She soon glanced over to the other male dunmer who had long hair and cleanly shaven gave a mischievous smile; "Not bad for a wayward dunmer of Cyrodiil who barely knew her own people eh Adril?
Said man in question gave a snorted grunt; "You have a long ways to go, girl. You are still only a 'Retainer' in the ranks of Redoran after all."
A booming laugh escaped Lleril's throat as the dragonborn slumped her head grumbling.
"Miara's conscience always demanded she helped others as much as she could" Adventure said, and they noticed her tone grew somber.
In fact, the whole atmosphere around them was growing dark. Literally, the night sky and the sound of waves of a large bustling harbor soon replaced the environment around them.
"For it is guilt that drives many of her actions"
Serana understood immediately where they were, what this memory was.
"Oh no..."
This was Solitude's harbor... and the sight of the Katariah was anchored nearby.
"Mom" Sofie started with a frightened voice, worried over what the others might see. "Is this where...?"
"Yes" She grimly replied.
"Oh fuck..."
Oryrn grimaced as he knew what this was as well.
"What's happening now?" Gin asked, "What are we going to see?"
The vampire stammered, already she saw a familiar shadow skulking in the darkness. "Listen to me, and I want you to listen very well" Her tone reflected absolutely severity turning to the group. "This is Miara when she was at her lowest, this is... the side of her she tries to keep controlled. Every day. And it haunts her, it will always haunt her"
The Thedosians could only look at her in confusion and growing worry.
"Just remember all she's done for you and your quest. The person you got to know her and... Please" She said pleadingly, "Don't judge her for this. She already does it enough on her own"
At the moment those words left her mouth a tall light skinned man in his middle years with shoulder length brunette hair, goatee, and hard expression walked passed them towards the piers below. Adorned in hard black leathers and red cloth underneath, a greatsword strapped to his back, Dread grew on Serana's face.
She knew that man well.
Soon after a figure fully cloaked in black robes and hood shroud their face walked out from the shadows. None of the Thedosians could tell if the figure was a man or woman, but could feel a murderous aura coming off the figure that followed the man down the wooden steps. A shudder escaped Sofie's lips as she looked tense, afraid. The fearless Nordic woman, who has shown nothing but courage and bravery, was terrified.
Terrified of what she knew they were about to see...
Serana spoke not a word as she started going down the wooden steps with the others following. The expressions worn of the faces of the vampire and her children was that of heartache and agony. And none among them understood why but followed them as they saw the man reach the bottom steps and make his way to the end of the main pier. He paid no attention to the people around him or the cloaked figure following his steps.
Finally the man stopped at the pier's end and stared at the ship in the distance. Though his gaze was hard, grief and loss glowed in his eyes. "I avenged you my son. Rest easy," the man muttered quietly. So unaware of his surroundings he failed to notice the hooded figured behind him pulling out a wicked looking curved dagger with a single edge.
His scream was muffled by a hard black and red leather gloved hand clamping over his mouth as the figure plunged the dagger into the man's back. "Afraid you didn't kill all of us Commander Maro..." Shock glowed of faces of the Thedosians as they heard Miara's voice from the hooded figure; "And just like your son Gaius, you die alone."
Struggling to turn his head, Maro's brow rose as he saw crimson eyes glaring at him with murderous hatred. "Oh you should have seen how your son bleed out from my blades. Tell him I said hi." the sheer coldness and venom in her voice made everyone feel a chill up their spines. It was nothing like the maternal warmth of the voice they were familiar with!
Rage surged in the commander's being but was fading as quickly as the blood from his wound. And soon his eyes grew lifeless and the dunmer let his body drop unceremoniously off the pier and into the cold waters. As no one was around presently, none saw the act done, thus no alarm was sounded by the guards.
The Dragonborn gazed back to the far off ship before jumping into the waters. Her cloak discarded and floating away.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
At the moment they saw Miara's figure swim towards the ship, the group found themselves inside the very bowls of the ship. It look like it was where they stored the supplies for the ship was at sail. A man in sea bearing clothes stepped inside the room. Holding a scroll; "You'd think Lieutenant Salvarus would relax. The Dark Brotherhood is finally dead for the Eight's sake," he grumped before a faint noise of a glass falling and breaking caught his attention.
He was unaware of the killer waiting in the shadows.
Slowly striding over a gloved hand reached from the darkness and pulled him in. He could not even scream as a dagger torn into his throat. His body became limp as Miara rose out from the darkness and the group finally got a good look of her.
For her children they felt as if their hearts and blood turn to ice within them. To the Thedosian group they felt unnerving fear seeing the pure savage rage fueled smile of the elven woman. "Nowhere to hide, Titus," Miara whispered with blood lust.
This wasn't the mother who raised and loved Sofie, Oryrn, and Sarya. This wasn't the moral support, teacher, and maternal figure that had been there for Marcus and the others.
This wasn't the Miara they knew; this was a pure stone cold killer.
And for Serana only stared at the memory of her lover fighting back the tears forming in her eyes. Just seeing this felt like a dagger in her heart.
Miara's shame, her regret, it shouldn't be portrayed to them like some twisted and macabre play. The demons had no right to do this to her…
They all watch on as Miara who wore hard leather stubbed armor that was both black and red in color with numerous belts and pockets. She soon drew an ebony sword latched to her belt, covering her head in a hooded mask. "What in the name of Mara is taking so long Nerory?" A man yelled on the other end of the door; "You better not-" the door swung open revealing another man in simple clothes. Likely another crew mate who was soon swiftly killed by the sword shoved into his chest.
From there the real slaughter had begun. Miara mercilessly killed anyone who came across her path. It didn't matter if they were soldiers or crew hands, the dark shrouded dunmer slayed them all the same.
From below the ship to upper deck. None survived her relentless onslaught.
Gin felt his stomach churned at the sight of the dunmeri woman literally disembowel the man he guessed was the captain of the ship. Not even given the chance fight back and her sword slashed through his stomach with ease, leaving him to die.
Neria's hands covered her mouth horrified, as the Dragonborn almost idly slayed a young elven maid who's only mistake was crossing her path at the wrong moment. She couldn't have been older than twenty...
Sofie and Oryrn could only stare numbly as their mother chocked to death a Lieutenant Salvarus. Her smile as she watched the man die made their hearts sink like a stone. Their elven mother had confessed her actions done upon this ship, confessed with painful tears of her guilt. But to actually see the full horror of her actions…
To Marcus, the scene unfolding before him was a repeat of Howe's massacre at Highever, when his soldiers ruthlessly killed both his home's dutiful guards, and the innocent servants who had been caught in the crossfire. Such evil he had never expected of a man who had been close to his family for so many years.
...And much less from the woman who helped saved his family.
A guard stumbled across the wall next to a wooden door, bloodied hand leaving an imprint before slowly trailing down, painting a red road.
Miara's memory smirked, spinning the dagger and sword in her hands with great dexterity, like she was savoring the moment. Before bursting the door open with a kick, and facing the man inside.
"Titus Mede II" She said, her voice cold as the grave. "I come for your coward head"
A bald gray bearded man, already entering his winter years, dressed in the finest furs and leathers, looked up from whatever document he was reading. He did not seem startled by her appearance at all; neither the black and red leathers nor the bloodied weapons in her hands inspire the slightest shred of fear in him.
"Ahhh so you finally arrive" He said, smiling slightly and beckoning her forward. "Come in, no need to stand in the doorway like a courier"
"Serana..." Marcus slowly asked with edging tone. "Who is this?"
The vampire paused before answering, "The late emperor of the previous dynasty"
His words made the dunmer balk; he treated her like she was a guest. "You... expected me?"
"Of course I did" He replied like it was the simplest thing. "I was preparing myself for this moment ever since the reports came to me. There is no stopping the Dark Brotherhood, 'tis never a matter of if only when, their blade finds their mark" Though there was resignation in his voice, one could also hear the calm acceptance to it. As though he already come to terms with his death.
Miara snapped herself out stupor. "Well, color me surprised" She stepped in with a play gait to her step. "He actually shows courage in the face of his impending doom" Her voice was full of scorn. "If only you could have shown that bravery against the Thalmor..."
His expression turned sad, a rueful smile tugged at his lips. "Ah... you took this contract for personal reasons then"
"You let them walk all over the empire, even after all the pain and misery they brought" She accused him, decades of anger bubbling on the surface. "After all they took from us... and you bent your head to them, giving them your blessing to torture and torment your people, the people you swore to protect" Her voice came out hissing.
Titus lowered his head in shame, "I have, haven't it?" His eyes met hers once again. "Who did they take from you?"
"...Everyone" The elf continued; "My home was Ravenna."
Recognition glowed in the elderly man's eyes; "The farming village near Cheydinhal. Late Captain Antius Corinius retired there saying it was his home. He was a good soldier."
"Eighty lives died that night when the Thalmor came. Their Justicar commander Uulril was more than willing and happy to slaughter innocent people. Including the children!" She screamed the last part seething.
Mourning bloom in the face of the emperor who shook his head; "So much needless lives lost... And I did nothing but concede by signing that blasted concordat." He turned his gaze to the elf; "I failed you my dear; and the rest of Tamriel greatly."
"Feeling sorry is not enough!" She stabbed one of the blades over the desk, just a few inches near his hand. He didn't even flinch. "You should have stopped them! You should have been done more!"
"I should have... But with what forces, the diminished and tired legions? Dead soldiers are of no use to anyone except vile necromancers" The man looked back at his assassin with defiance. "I bear the weight of my fallings fully, my dear. All the soldiers who fell under my command, all the families who lost someone, all oaths and promises of unity this empire once stood for as I sold our own people's land like it was mine to give. But what of you?"
"Me?"
"By what right do you judge me? Did you not come here for the sake of petty revenge? Did you not slew your way through loyal soldiers and honest people just doing their duties? Is this the justice you seek? Is this how you want to avenge your people, by spilling innocent blood just like theirs was spilled?"
"Do not compare me to the Thalmor!" Though the words were spoken softly, the sheer unrelenting rage was enough to shake the bravest of warriors.
Yet Titus continued, "And so you've wielded that anger and hate against those who never even lifted a hand against you or your own" He signaled at the body near the door with a wave of his hand. "You repaid violence and injustice with more violence and injustice. They did not have to die"
Miara's grip tightened around her dagger and sword so much that her fist shook. "You were the one who brought them here! They were here to protect you!"
"And they did it out duty and loyalty. I will forever honor their sacrifice, in the last moments of life here unto eternity"
"The only eternity that awaits you is the void!" She reached forth and grabbed him by the collar, screaming in his face even as he remained unflinching. "Silence, blackness, nothingness! You will never feel the light of the gods!"
"I know, and I have accepted it. I... have many regrets, but I will never feel this life of mine was not worth it in the end. That all I did was for naught. Maybe I just paved the way for the new to come, the empire will endure. It will not be the same, but its legacy is eternal"
"Stop! Just... Just stop!" Miara seethed out. "It was not meant to be like this! You-You were supposed to beg on your knees and cry for mercy!"
"Like a coward?"
"YES!"
"You just wanted me dead, what difference does it make?" He goaded her. "Is this not what you wanted? 'Justice' for all you lost? Well here I am, my assassin, do your Brotherhood proud"
Miara ripped the hood and mask from her face, "To hell with the Brotherhood, I'm doing this for myself!"
She thrust her arm forward, and her hear blade buried itself in his chest.
Titus Mede grunted, pain etching into his face as blood poured forth. Miara let out shaky breaths as she finally let go of his collar, and he slumped back against his chair, clutching to his wound.
The emperor's ragged breath was the only sounds present in the room, with each gasp a bit of his lifeforce left him.
"It won't end with you" Miara swore through hot burning tears. "The Thalmor, all of them, everyone responsible, they will all die"
Titus looked at her pityingly. "Then... will you be satisfied, will you... be at peace?"
The dunmer did not answer.
"How many have died... for your 'revenge'? How many more innocents... have to fall to your blade before you can be satisfied?"
Those were the final words of Emperor Titus Mede II as his body grew still and the life his eyes faded. Adventure, who had been silent through the entire memory as it soon faded spoke; "She did not find the coward she had dreamed of killing. He did not beg or gravel, he did not plead. He showed courage and honor at the end of his life. And the final words he spoke struck a chord deep in the depths of her heart."
"It took time for Titus's words to finally reach her," Serana shuddered rubbing her arms; "But they it hit her hard. As did the consequences of her actions. The Stormcloak civil war in Skyrim only grew more violent once word spread of the former Emperor's death. And Miara realized it was all her fault." Her voice cracked; "And she never has forgiven herself for all the innocent people she killed."
Around her the others were silent as varying degrees of shock and horror. Marcus was the first to utter a word; "She told me once she had done a lot of wrong in her life. Hurt people that didn't deserve it. But this... The emperor of your lands..."
"All those people on that ship," Neria could not hold back the tears; "She tore them apart without mercy." Brianna held her friend's shoulders as she tried collect her bearings after what they had seen.
"And I thought I've seen every sodding thing there was," Faren soberly quipped.
Zevran crossed his arm, the least shaken by the slaughter he saw. But still overwhelmed by the dunmer's past actions; "I take it this Dark Brotherhood is like the Crows?"
Serana nodded her eyes still looking to the ground; "A guild of deadly assassins that was more of a death cult. And Miara was their best, but she had disbanded them not long after the emperor's assassination."
"How many innocent lives fell by her hand?" Wynne questioned.
"...Many," Sofie murmured in a hushed tone.
A visibly shaken Leliana had her hand to her mouth as her eyes were wide; "To have fallen that far."
"Mother had redeemed herself," Oryrn remarked passionately, turning his gaze to everyone; "She will never see it, or even believe it. But she has come a long way, and paid the price for her actions."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
After collecting themselves the group pressed on into a large cave. And soon coming to a stop as before them now stood a gate, on its arc were carved the runes of the Nordic language they had seen in Sofie's gear before. They did not know what laid beyond that wooden door, but they could feel it. Pain, agony, self-loathing and misery. It slipped through the nooks like miasma, coating the air with dread.
"Beyond there, you will find her" Adventure said, "Trapped by the demon of Guilt. He has never fed so much on a single person before, and has grown bloated and mighty. Be warned, his powers now rivals those of old demons of pride and fear" The spirit paused for a moment. "This is as far as I can take you, this where the Adventure becomes Tragedy"
Serana placed a hand on the door. "The sum of all of Miara's regrets..."
She knew exactly what they would find. She had spent decades hoping to spare their children from this.
"Something so powerful and painful... that can keep someone like Miara prisoner" Alistair muttered to himself, horrified by the prospect.
"Arm yourselves" Adventure said as she backed away. "Therein lies only remorse"
The Thedosians looked at each other, and then at Miara's family. Oryrn kept himself resolute, willing to face all that his mother carried within her. Sofie's knuckles popped from the strain of her tightened fists. They all tensed as Serana gripped the handle and turned it.
The gate opened, and what they saw made the blood in veins run cold.
They stood in a vast open field, and at their feet laid bodies upon bodies as the green grass around them were soaked nothing but blood and visceral. "By the fucking Maker," Brianna shuddered feeling her stomach churn. A low whimper escaped the maws of Loke and Bran. The corpses seemed endless, stretching on forever.
"What is this?" Alistair murmured with horror in his eyes.
Serana, Sofie, and Oryrn however looked down at the bodies, staring at their armor which was made of hard leathers, fur, and blue cloth. "Stormcloaks," the Nordic vampire spoke in a near whisper.
"Écoutez maintenant, Andraste, fille de Brona, aux cœurs vaillants chanter la victoire en attente, qui n'a pas encore été réclamée aux faussaires en acier de Tevene stérile," Leliana Trembled muttering in panicked Orlesian. The horrors she had seen as bard paled at the sight before her.
"This is worse than Ostagar," Gin remarked breathlessly.
Marcus was not so sure of that, if only because they did not see for themselves what happened at Ostagar, by the time the battle was over they were far away from the bodies.
But he imagined this was what Ostagar had looked like when the Darkspawn crashed their army.
Nothing but blood, rot and massacre. Broken bodies littering the ground as the blood caked the grass beneath them.
And at the center of it all, stood Miara. Bloodied, but none of it was hers. Wearing the same red armor when she led her legionnaires. Her arms slack at her sides as she held the still dripping swords that had slayed them all.
She looked dead to the world, her gaze utterly broken, haunted by the deeds committed this day, and by the voices of the dead.
"Why, Dragonborn? Why?" One of the corpses asked her.
"You were meant to be our hero" Another accused.
"Why would you sell us to oppression?"
The demands for truth went unanswered, their accusations another dagger into the dunmer's heart.
"Why crush our spirit? Was it not enough to break our bodies?"
"Who will hold my child now, Dragonborn?"
"Was our freedom that much an affront to you, Dragonborn?"
"Was our faith an insult to you?"
"Why, Dragonborn?" A blonde man at her feet asked, his eyes milky white as blood poured forth from his neck. "Why this?"
The bodies all asked in unison.
"Why, Dragonborn?"
"Why?"
Miara finally wept.
"I'm sorry..." She sobbed, "I... never wanted this"
In the blink of an eye the Dunmer's lover and their children was at her side. "Miara," Serana held her lover's shoulders; "Miara, snap out of it. This is all just an illusion." Her words were gentle but full of concern. Serana's eyes pass over to dead Nordic man with blond hair before returning Miara's near dead gaze. "None of this is real."
"Yes it is..." Miara's voice rang out hollow, broken; "I killed all of these people. Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters," the dunmer's lower lip trembled staring at the blond Nordic man; "Ralof..." Tears surged from her eyes. "I murdered my own friend."
"Mom," Sofie's voice crack; "Uncle Ralof made his choice by staying with the Stormcloaks. He was never going to give up on Ulfric's vision."
"Then why did I even bother to save him and Hadvar in Helgen? Why didn't I try harder to convince him?" Miara screamed out in pain; "Why wouldn't any of them listen!? None of them had to die!"
Sorrow and grief radiated off the elven woman who wailed in agony at her failings.
Pity shone in the eyes of many of the others who watched on.
The woman who had once remorselessly killed so many people who were on her way now broke before the judgement cast upon her by the dead. The weight of all her sins came crashing down upon her, and forced to face all her victims, taking upon her the blame for an entire field of corpses.
Miara had sought revenge against all those she held responsible for her pain, for taking those she loved from her. Now the tables had turned, and she had become the very thing she sought to destroy.
Thanks to her, the Civil War worsened, thanks to her, many more Stormcloaks felt emboldened to take their campaign further. Invigorated by what they perceived to be a sign of a rotting empire's fall. Justified in their believed of an independent Skyrim for all her children.
Then came the Dragonborn, the foretold hero of their people, and she broke their dreams and hopes. With Shouts from their own legends, she brought them low and slayed them to the last. For their great Ysmir had made her intentions know.
'Skyrim is not yours to take. The empire shall rule'
She had killed their spirits long before she took their lives.
"This is your 'hero', Skyrim" Miara bitterly spat. "An amoral killer, a dragon who values nothing but her own desires and instincts... The hero who saved you from Alduin, only to destroy all you stood for herself..."
"You had rose above that, mother," Oryrn spoke back in concern; "More over you opened the eyes of those who refuse to see the civil war was a ploy of the Thalmor. But Ulfric and the Stormcloaks were never going to listen. No matter how hard you tried."
And she had, by the gods did she ever. When discovering the damning truth in the Thalmor Embassy she brought it before Ulfric and Galmar Stone-Fist to show them. But her desperate pleas, they fell on deaf ears. Too impassioned by his convictions and burning with his hatred, the Arl of Windhelm rebuked Miara's evidence as lies and trickery.
Thus the Arl had exiled her from the hold.
And she had not returned until at the side of Hadvar, General Tullius, Legate Rikke, and a regiment of Imperial legion to end the war once and for all.
But it did not have to come to that; it did not have to come to Ralof dying in Miara's arms. Her and Ulfric battling throughout Windhelm till bringing the Arl's end in the Gray Quarter in front of her fellow Dunmer. The deaths of countless good and honorable people could have all been prevented!
But it was not meant to be...
The Stormcloak rebellion was crushed, and while many in Skyrim sang her praises for her vanquishing of the dragons, and her actions in the Second Great War, there were still those who cursed her name. Thanks to her many were missing a father, a mother, a child, families who suffered under that pointless conflict.
All because of her mistakes...
Serana stood before the dunmer, taking her gray hands into her own and held them with all gentleness and caring she would use when holding their infant children. "I once met an elf, we started off pretty badly" Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "I was lost, angry, and without hope... She saw through it all, through all that ailed me and saw into my soul. She found good inside me, when there shouldn't have been any. She made my nightmares end, and gave me something worth living for"
Ever slowly, Miara's tear stained eyes looked into the vampire's.
"I grew to love her, for she had a beautiful soul. Wild, untamed, just like a dragon. She wrestled with that part of her so much, and despite only seeing her mistakes, did so much good for many other people. Caring for them, saving them... just like she saved me"
The Dragonborn blinked away her tears as the nord enveloped her in a tight embrace, and kissed her hair lovingly.
"That woman did so much to atone. It kills me to see her being so haunted by the past, so please... Just stay with me, Miara, in the present, where I need you the most"
Marcus and the others took note of their surroundings as the bodies soon begun to disappear. "She got through," He murmured as Neria and the others eyes shone with hope.
"NO!" It felt like the Fade itself shook from the roar of a thundering ear-splitting voice forced everyone to cover their ears and making the Mabari whimper; "MORE! I WANT MORE!"
The surroundings changed once again and all found themselves in what looked like an arena that was utter enormous and spanning for what had to be miles.
But it was far from empty as the group found themselves completely surrounded. Yet not by beings of the Fade...
"What the hell?!" Alistair proclaimed drawing his sword as the others followed reaching for their respected weapons.
"Oh this isn't good!" Gin swore at his side holding his daggers.
Morrigan gave the man a dry glare; "You think!?"
"What in the fucking Stone are these things!?" Sereda bellowed with her back to Marcus. "There is so many!"
Sofie's eyes surveyed their enemies with immense discomposure; "Daedra... They're all Daedra!" Loke and Bran growled ready to battle.
Hunger glowed in the crimson eyes of many Dremora; both male and female. Some of them were armored, others barely clothed. But not alone as four hulking muscular blue toned horned Xivilai were amongst them. As well as Golden Saints and Dark Seducers, and finally the snake-like Harvesters.
"How are these things even here!?" Brianna declared holding her staff; "We should be seeing Fade Demons..." Her voice soon grew deathly still as the revelation not only came to here but to Neria who stared back in terror. "Can't be."
"All the demons holding Miara became daedra," Fear rung out in the young elven mage's voice.
"We... are no longer slaves to the mortal minds" The gurgling echoing voice that had shouted before made itself known once more. Manifested in a blur of magic akin to wind carrying dust, dispelling to later reveal a monster of enormous size comparable to a Pride Demon.
It was bulbous, very bulbous. With a thick skin like a leathery hide, its enormous belly flapped with the slightest moments. Such was its weight that it was forced to sit down for its stout legs could not properly lift him. Enormous arms of fat and muscle rattled multiple chains of varying sizes and lengths wrapped around them, connecting to a larger chain network around its upper body, and dangling over its belly, finally ending with large trapezoid weights.
Its large leathery bald head possessed many horn-like antlers, all rough looking and scratched. Its maw was a giant think from which hanged thick and flabby flesh, separated in different segments, with a lower row of teeth lined up beneath a higher one that actually connected with the upper sharp and crooked teeth.
"What, in damnation, is that?" Morrigan muttered, for once, the witch was truly out of her depth.
"A daedra" Serana spoke, casting the great monster a hard glare still holding Miara. "One that took an independent form"
The creature gurgled deeply and spoke with a throaty voice. "You stand before the master of that which holds you back, the pain of your own psyche. I... am Guilt! And I have gorged upon the self-loathing and remorse from this one here, and became far more powerful than you could imagine!"
Serana sharply looked back to Miara who was still her arms. The elven woman's hand had rose up and gently held her lover's arm. "I'm alright now," Her voice neutral as the blood on her body and Imperial armor vanished returning to her real equipment. Letting go, the Nordic vampire took note of Miara's hair shrouding her eyes, but not the deep frown on her lips.
The dragonborn turned her gaze to her children and friends; "Everyone." Her voice seemed to resonate all around them making the others peer over to the elf. "Were you all placed in the same situations?"
"...More or less," Marcus spoke up as he paid attention to the dangerous unreadable edge in Miara's tone. "The demons either showed us nightmares, or fantasies to use against us."
No reaction came from the dovahkiin who begun to look back at Guilt; "Miara," she paused as Neria called out; "We... know. About Titus Mede II... We saw your memories all over the Fade."
"We will discuss that once this is over," Miara's tone broke no room for argument before stepping forward in front of the group. "You," though she spoke softly her voice radiated throughout the area. "Cretins..." All the eyes of the newly born daedra have their gazes fixed upon the one who made them whole. "You dared to violate our minds by using our own memories?"
Guilt laughed; "It is mere child's play to us now. Because of you Miara," he spoke her name with mock reverence. "We are whole, complete, and eager to take the mortal world as our own!"
"You barely even comprehend what you've become," a snarling growl crept in the dunmer's voice.
A dremora female smiled with a feral hunger; "Oh we know what we are now. As we know what you really are. And you won't stop us."
The dragonborn slowly turned her gaze as her upper face became visible. Glowing amber golden slit eyes shined in place of her crimson orbs; "You dare stand before me, with the arrogance that you are MY betters?!"
All around them the Fade shuddered and shook from the mounting rage rising from Miara as her voice rose more and more in volume. "You stand before Ysmir! And you shall be judged!" She roared as her body was engulfed by a blinding white light.
"MUL" The Fade seemed to shake before the sheer immensity of her Words. "QAH DIIV!"
A rainbow of sparks emerged from her mouth and merged into the light, molding it within its array of colors as an aura began taking on a new draconic shape which her glowing body soon began matching. Limbs elongated as mass expanded, muscles and sinew warping as a scale-like surfaced acted as her skin, with hard protrusions emerging in various points, her fingers ending as long sharp claws. Her long legs too were covered in scales, sharp crests forming in multiple places as her feet shifted into sharp ends. A long thin tail emerged from her waist.
The width of her back and shoulders extended as two more limbs emerged, growing by the moment, with long bone segments connected with long membranes made of the same texture as her skin, with a claw-like finger standing at the top. Reptilian wings flared open with a flap.
Curved horns sprouted from the crown of her head, as a solid crest of those protrusions in her skin form upon her forehead. Her eyes were slits like a dragon, the iris blazing amber golden that almost seemed to glow. She had grown at least half a head taller than her Nordic daughter, which now made her the tallest thing in their party. The armor of her body was almost none-existent, replaced by a combination of fine silks that covered her modest, falling between her legs with a flap, and a piece of metal inline on red silk over her chest, exposing most of her limbs and stomach, which coiled with new wry, defined and powerful looking muscles of inhuman nature.
Inhuman, that was a good word to describe her, not even elven-like. Miara had discarded her form and adopted one that was halfway between a mortal and a dragon's, as some kind of impossible hybrid.
If one were to ask the people aware of this side of her, they would describe that form as a 'dragony Winged Twilight with arms'.
The sheer power and magic emanating from her was enough to make the mages weak on their knees. And far across the Fade, the most ancient and powerful demons felt a twinge of interest as the enormity of this soul echoed throughout its infinite depths.
"I hope this does not frighten you" Even her voice was deeper, more guttural, as if reflecting how much she actually shouted.
"...Gods above and below" Morrigan breathed out in awe.
Neria gulped down in fear, while Brianna tightened her grip on her staff. Alistair clenched unto his weapons tightly, as Marcus just stared slack jawed. Such reactions were shared amongst the rest of their companions, from Gin who struggled to comprehend what was happening around him, to even the jokester Faren who would usually take everything in stride stared wide eyed.
Miara pushed away the dejected feelings she felt. People always reacted this way towards her true nature, and it always reminded her she wasn't like them any longer.
Placing a hand upon her lover's now larger arm, Serana smiled at her comfortingly, and showed her own support by indulging into her other side as well. Blood seeping from her eyes and mouth as it covered her like a cocoon, growing and twisting as something struggled to get from underneath.
It exploded with a shower of blood, rendering her into another monstrous looking being that was quite different from Miara. The wings were two short things bereft of any large membrane or long bones, but they carried her off the ground all the same. Her skin was a leathery deathly pale, her bald face twisted into a semi-permanent frown sharps even larger than before clear on her dry lips. Her attire even more revealing, fine silks and pieces of armor designed to look more royal in nature, exposing the twisted and larger muscles of her new monster like proportions, wide shoulders, and long arms that ended in sharp claws.
"By the Maker," Wynne's voice uttered in slight panic; "They are abominations." Even the Mabari hounds looked frightened by the sight before them.
"No," Oryrn was quick to speak glaring; "My mothers are something else."
"Debería haberme quedado en casa," Zevran murmured with shock at the sight before him.
A low hiss came from Serana; "These bastards made the wrong mistake crossing us," though her voice was more deep it still held the same tone as it always had.
"And they will all pay dearly for this grievance," Miara declared with a fury in her tone. "Marcus!" The Cousland sharply peered away from Serana's new form to the dragonborn; "While these rabble are dangerous, they are still newly born daedra. You can handle them."
A harvester hissed; "You are weak against us! We are many, you are few!"
Neria and the others recoiled as a burst of light erupted beside them. It soon faded as a towering figure in solid engraved heavy white armor stood beside her. The figure wore an engraved helmet that shrouded his face, holding a beautiful white sword and shield; "They are not alone you vile filth. We stand beside them!"
"Valor..." Surana remarked breathlessly. No longer was he a transparent being, his change was completed and now he stood as something new. "Wait. We?"
"Indeed!" Miara glanced back swearing she heard her own voice as another figure appeared wearing HER ebony armor and swords in each hand. "Let us face these villains and save the tower!" Much like Valor, Adventure was now also solid and whole. A newly born daedra that was ready for glorious battle ahead!
The draconian dunmer just stared, "Who the hell- Ugh, I've not the patience to deal with this" And spread her wings, ready to take action.
Guilt just laughed; "Get them, may we feed on them for eternity!"
Dremoras, Saints and Seducers all charged at once, the tall Xivilai hefting a giant battleaxe leading the charge. Marcus took out his sword and shouted; battle was met in the land of dreams.
Miara's wings flared open, and leapt towards the newly born dremora. She landed upon a Saint, clawed foot first, crushing her torso with her mere weight. Before charging at a Harvester with a draconic roar. Four limbs cast magic at the same time, arcs of lightning and swaths of flame striking her at once.
"Fus roh!" The words escaped her mouth with half of power of a full Unrelated Force, pushing sparks and fire away and hitting the Harvester head on. Momentarily stunned, Miara seized her chance and swung a large fist at its gaunt horned face, before grabbing her by the neck and lifting her, her serpentine body still touching the ground, but her multiple limbs wildly flayed about.
Claws struck at Miara's face, she hissed as one came close to her. So she tightened her grip on the dremora, bringing her other hand to the Harvester's face, and searing her eyes with hungry flames. Miara's claws then let go, until to bury themselves on its chest and pierce its heart.
Another Harvester came upon Miara, seeking to strike her with powerful magics before its kin's body even hit the ground. But a blur of red mist manifested behind her, and two powerful limbs grabbed the horns. Serana let out a gurgling sound as she pulled, ripping two horns from the head, and stabbing them right back into the skull.
Oryrn roared bashing his shield into the face a Dremora with all his might. The force of the hit sent the new daedra flying back and colliding with the ground. But it had no time recover as the Tamriel Templar came upon him and ran his blade through the Dremora's skull. The Dunmer's crimson eyes sharply caught the sight of a Xivilai roaring as it hefted its giant greatsword to bring down upon his prey that was deflected by Sofie's blade.
The Nordic woman using the surprise as an advantage charged and tackles the towering daedra into the arena wall. Pain and rage bellowed from the Xivilai who dropped his blade. But brought up a fist that slammed into Sofie's face as she stood up. The impact reeled her for a moment before bringing her own fist to bear and striking the daedra's jaw.
Close by Gin ducked and weaved from several swipes from a Seducer's axe who soon snarled as an arrow struck her arm from Leliana's bow. Sparks dance from the blades of Marcus and Alistair who fought back to back against two Dremora females. "They are fiercer than Darkspawn," declared the former Templar.
While agreeing, the Cousland paid attention to these monster's movements. They were wild, feral, no technique, and just raw strength. And that could be used against them.
One of the dremoras raised her sword above her head with a wild cry; the blatant opening gave Marcus a chance to slash at the abdomen. His family sword barely managed to slip past the ungodly strong jagged plate, but it drew blood all the same. The dremora stammered, and Marcus sidestepped around her to cut her back. She let out a cry and fell, and Marcus buried his swords through her back, putting all his strength behind the finishing blow so they would pierce the armor.
Alistair however was not fairing much better, his dremora opponent kept a savage assault on him, bringing down that red and black jagged sword upon his shield over and over, with each strike his knees buckled slightly. It was a good thing this was not a physical realm, for he doubted his shield would remain intact after such savage onslaught.
The former Templar wasn't sure how much he could cast those lyrium granted abilities, ever since he stopped the consumption of the barest amounts of lyrium with for his training, they had been growing weaker as time went on. He reckoned he wouldn't be able to cast more of those techniques before the year was over.
Alistair had little idea of how well that translated over to the Fade, but with his back against the wall, he tried anyway.
A silent prayer to the Maker to focus, his teeth gritting in concentration and he drew upon all the shreds of lyrium left in his blood, and stood up with his shield raised, a burst of light emanating from his person as the area-wide Holy Smite knocked back his attacker.
The daedra cried out in shock along with pain stumbling before being struck, over and over again by Alistair's shield. With a roaring battle cry the young man smashed the side of his shield into the dremora's jaw with a spray of blood pouring from her mouth as she fell to her knees. Her crimson eyes only saw the flash of steel as Alistair's sword severed her head from her neck.
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Fire, lightning, and ice erupted from the staffs from Neria and the other mages who fought magic against magic with a Xivilai and several dremora. "You will fall," the blue daedra laughed with maliciousness as it smiled.
None of the women responded to his goading as they kept focus on their enemies.
Wynne called upon a large barrier that enshrouded them, the Fade more than providing her mana. Blows from weapons and offensive spells were repelled from the shimmering barrier. Brianna twirled her staff, the lyrium infused on the top shining as she channeled a burst of magic that exploded upon impact with a dremora's blades, the lessons fresh on her mind, she used her staff as a melee weapon, battering away at the demon with repeated blows enhanced with magic, even the nigh-unbreakable armor giving in slowly as the dremora was pushed back.
She raised her hand, casting a bubble of telekinetic magic that suspended the dremora into the air, gravity no longer having an effect on him, before slamming it down with great force. Jagged plate and mail crushed with great forth as the otherworldly being was splattered upon the ground.
Morrigan leapt back from the spells cast by couple of Dark Seducers, before smirking predatory. Her entire form glimmered and was shrouded in smoke, from whence it emerged a giant snake larger than two horses put together. It slithered across the ground with great speed and dexterity, evading bites of cold and long arcs of electricity, before snaring both Seducers beneath its grasp. Morrigan felt satisfaction as the powerful muscles of her serpentine form coiled, crushing the two daedra with ease.
Paws ran across the ground as Loke and Bran leapt at a scantily clad Golden Saint. Their large maws biting into the daedra's flesh making her shriek in pain. Her cries were silence by a flying dagger that pierced her throat. Zevran whistled with the Mabari running back to him; "Well done my canine friends!"
A low growl emanated from Valor as his shield and the shield of a Saint grind together while their sword lock together; "You should be with us," the Aureal quipped; "No longer are we bond. And we can take this world as our own!"
"I would never become like a disgrace as you," Valor pushed back; "We have gained true form and yet your first act is to bring meaningless slaughter and death! I shall not stand for it!"
"Rightly spoken comrade," Adventure declared as her ebony swords danced against the swords of a male dremora; "You fiends shall not enter the mortal world while we stand against you!"
The dremora glowed with rage; "Then we shall end you both!"
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Xivilai were considered as high in the ranks of daedra as even the infamous dremora. Something which the Kyn would dispute with might and blade. They were warriors, yes, but did not possess the savage brutality of the warlike dremora. They fit more the roles of assassins, slave masters, knights and champions. And as such, these four great horned demonic entities were powerful; enough that scores of adventures would die before even falling one.
Sofie was not most adventurers, taking a pair of Xivilai at once was not a threat, it was a fun challenge. The muscular daedra roared as it brought down the great battleaxe with immense force behind the swing. Her knees buckled slightly under the weight as she blocked with it her sword. She parried the weapon away and struck with a blow from the pommel, shattering the nose and splattering blood.
As she brought her blade high in arc to finish him, it was ripped out of her hands with a burst of magic. Another Xivilai, this one's partner most likely (she was not too sure on how much they truly copied the manners and cultures of the daedric race), smirking smugly as magic shined in his hands. She reached for the axes on her on her waist, and threw them both at the daedra.
The xivilai merely caught them in a telekinetic grip; choose to leave her disarmed by throwing them far away over his shoulder.
That arrogant face was making Sofie's blood boil, as proven by the glowing veins emerging under her skin.
"You think I'm defenseless because you took my weapons?!" Her voice growled roughly, "Let me show you why they call me Dragonforged!"
Skins solidified into a scale-like surface, her already strong muscles rapidly expanding, bones becoming denser and even her stature increasing, growing larger and more powerful. Arms the size of a lifelong smith which carried all the might of a dragon's furious. Magic burned her, but she relished that sensation, as she leapt with wings of flames and slammed down two flaming fists upon the Xivilai, whose expression quickly morphed from arrogance to fear as they descended upon him like boulders.
Leli paused at the sight; "Fight now gawk later," Sereda reproached slamming her sword through the belly of a Seducer.
The Xivilai roared in pain as Sofie slammed her burning fist into her opponent. Her senses were not solely focused on her prey as the other blue skinned daedra reclaimed his axe and charged towards her. "FUS ROH DAH!" The Nordic woman head shot up like a spring as bellowed the thu'um taught to her by her mother.
Sofie's shout proved its strength as it sent the Xivilai flying helplessly through the air.
A dremora screamed as glass shattered on his face and ignited into flames. Faren laughed; "Weren't expecting that were ya you sods!?" The Fade shuddered from a roar that erupted from Miara who flew above the battle as she threw a now headless Seducer to the ground. Her glowing gaze now fixed of the falstaffian Guilt who roared back in challenge. The dwarves and former Bard stared on as their 'friend' flew straight for the giant daedra; "We should have stayed in Redcliffe," the rogue murmured; "don't think that pub near the tower as enough booze to get me drunk once this is done."
Spells of Fire and lightning collided in an explosion that came from Guilt and Miara rocking the area. "Is this all you have Dovahkiin?! I expected more of the butcher of the Stormcloaks!"
Miara roared out a draconian sound. Her entire form ablaze, she hurled torrents of fire at the great monster. But Guilt had grown far more powerful than ever, even against the Dovahkiin's mighty he could erect a barrier strong enough to block her flames. The winged godling descended, claws slashing as the solid wall of magic, cutting into it like glass.
Guilt laughed all the more, and grasped one of the chains that bound him, swinging it at the dragon-kin. Miara was smashed by the heavy weight at the end of the chain, breaking the ground as she collided. She quickly stood on her knees, pushing herself up, snarling and baring her teeth at the demon.
Magic beyond mortal prowess glowed in his large hands, the fake skies above crackled and thundered. Lightning fell upon, the bolts striking her form over and over. Miara screamed as the storm unleashed an unrelenting fury upon her, her entire form quivering with the arcs of electricity forming around her.
Serana was quick to her beloved's aid. The Vampire Lord flew over Guilt, conjuring hexes of pain and confusion, striking the monster upon its horned head. But Guilt, already a creature that feed on those things, was unfazed. Before the vampire could change her strategy. Guilt raised a meaty arm and pulled, magic forced the vampire down and into his grasp. Rugged fingers grasped her form and squeezed.
Serana shouted, stabbing her sharp claws on his arm, but Guilt did not let go. His multiple jawed mouth gurgled with laughter. Forcing a moment of focus, Serana channeled her magic to the ground. The vampiric enhanced telekinesis pulled out a chunk of rock, and forced it into the shape of a jagged spear. With a hurl, the spear pierced Guilt's should, the daedra scream in agony and let her go.
But Serana's freedom was temporary, as the chains that surrounded his bulbous body moved on their own and snatched her, holding her tight.
"Your Dragonborn is not the only one with guilt..." He said bitterly and with sadistic pleasure. "You two have enough to feed me for a thousand mortal lifetimes!"
"Gaaaaan... LAH HAAS!"
Guilt's eyes widened, feeling his strength leaving him. Magic and his own vitality evaporating like boiling water. His already heavy body felt heavier, like he could never move properly on it. His magic, titanic in its own right thanks to his feast, loosed its hold on this domain of the face. Parts of the fake Skyrim fracturing and becoming floating islands.
"My guilt is my own" Miara, recovered from the multitude of lightning strikes that should have reduced in a giant to a smoldering corpse, growled with rage. "Not yours to play with!"
Raising a shaky arm, Guilt thought to strike her again. But Serana's binds loosened enough for her to cast a wave of cold so powerful; it turned his limb into an icicle. The vampire pulled with her magic, and Guilt roared as his limb was torn from him, shattering, as black ichor flowed.
"Wuld!" Miara was over the giant daedra in a flash of movement. Climbing upon his body as the pressed a foot down his lower jaw, while her hands pried upon the upper one. Her draconic muscles coiling with effort as she forced it open, the sound of cracking bone heard from the being's mouth.
"You want my pain, my remorse, my rage?" Miara growled as her throat seemed to glow. "Well... have all of it!"
"Yol..." She took a deep breath. "TOR SHUL!"
She dragged out the Shul, as many of her kin would do, and breathed dragon fire right into Guilt's throat.
The battle around Guilt came to a halt as all turned witnessing the giant daedra soon explode in gore, visceral, and fire that rose like a pillar to the heavens. In a matter of moments the surroundings of Tamriel vanished and became the unnatural Fade once more. Fright soon claimed the remaining enemy daedra as the flames vanished and only Miara and Serana remained.
Both floated above the ground in their true forms, their eyes glared with a fury that brought mere mortals to their knees in terror. Soon electrical sparks buzzed in Miara's clawed hands; "This battle is done," Her voice rang out across the Fade before unleashing a torrent of pure lightning that struck the remaining Xivilai. However the lightning branch out hitting one daedra after another till all the enemies shrieked in agony. "RETURN TO THE VOID!" Once more the Fade reacted violently to the dragonborn's power as if the entire realm quaked.
The lightning soon grew more intense and went from blue to a brilliant white. Within seconds all the enemy disintegrated to nothing but ash falling to the ground.
A slightly winded Alistair gazed around him as he and the other saw every enemy now ashes around them; "Well that was… horrifying."
No one around him gave a retort as they all kept their sights on Miara and Serana as they returned to the ground, the dragonborn's wings wrapping around her like a cloak; "You have questions I gather?"
"Questions," Marcus muttered; "For everything we discover about you, we found you keep two more secrets. Our journeys are far from done, and it's clear now that your presence invites even more complications. So just... tell us the truth, Miara" The young Cousland pleaded.
"The truth..." Miara paused, letting out a deep breath. "The truth... I'm a god"
Silence claimed the group.
"I have spent my 113 years trying to live as a mortal, but the more time passed, the more I realized that as much as I walk among them, it will never change my nature. The truth is, I was born a god"
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The truth...