Viper in the Night

by Knight-Jackalope

He is an Argonian with no tribe Banished for reasons he could not understand, he journeys into a world that is far larger and more dangerous then he expected. He starts out so naive, but the type of magic that nibbles on his tail throws him into a dark and blood-filled world and he follows his strange mentor into the dark. Will he swim the icy river, or find another path?

85. Act 4 - The End of the River

-MossyRocks-

It is the finality of it all that is heavy in the air. Behind the barrier that hides their presence and even their life force, the heroes wait with their chosen allies. The best of the Dominion, The Pack, The Convent, and what remains of the Wyrd, a scattering of others from all across Tamriel, and of course the Argonians. This is their home, The Hist, and all they are. Deathfang Clan side by side with MossyRocks, and so very many other clans. The Hist spoke to them of despair. Of sacrifice, since many clans had to fall to set this trap, the last desperate hope of all that fight for the future of Nirn. And of hope. For without hope, what is left but the inevitability of death and what awaits in the icy dark after?

---

Softly-Speckled-Crab stares out across the marsh. The Argonian who, like many, was born so far from here, and yet the Marsh is in her spine, The Hist whispers to her. And more than that, she feels so very much. Everything that lives in the Marsh, and with each Argonian that falls, each Hist that is taken from the whole, she shatters a little bit more. The only things that keep her together, are her friends, and Keerasi-Zish. Keerasi-Zish against all odds is fighting against the darkness. Fighting for a different river, fighting to save his pack. All their fates hinged on the most simple of things. Love. He loved his pack. Those who fought against the Daedric aspect loved Nirn. It was the faintest of threads, but here and now, it kept her together. Kept her from giving in to the despair and pain and memories.

"A knife in his back," Theodyn says to Rufico, repeating words the assassin spoke of in the past. "And yet..."

Rufico chuckles darkly as he shakes his head and then takes Theodyn's hand in his own. "Madness," Rufico says. "And yet, it gives reason to fight. Even one in the dark can love." his expression darkens. "Still stands, Theo. To save our after, to save everything, I will end Viperish Night. Even if it means ending Keerasi-Zish."

Theodyn is silent for long moments staring out at the marsh. At the dawn that came with the darkest of storm clouds as if the night refuses to give in to the day. "Even if he has helped us, even if his pack decide to help us...they never will be forgiven for all this," Theodyn whispers.

Rufico turns his head toward him. "Forgiveness and redemption are two very different things. But the cold shadows I know... there is no happy ending for them. Even if they were forced in the darkness, in part."

Theodyn meets his eyes. "No going back. No changing all that has happened," Theodyn says as he smiles sadly. "Not sure I would if I could. To still be lost and trying to follow the wrong footsteps, to never know Softly-Spoken-Crab and Iveryni...to never have loved you. That makes the agony of the light, all we have changed, worth it."

"To be forever trapped by my past, my nightmares," Rufico answers, "To never know I could be someone like this. To never have friends I could trust to the ends of Nirn, to never have held you, loved you. Your right Theo, worth it." Rufico leans in and Theodyn meets him and the two kiss as the storm clouds gather, and time grows ever shorter.

Iveryni stands apart from the others lost in thought. Thoughts of this war, and the next, Mehrunes Dagon's words echoing in her head. He only sought to help for his benefit, not that of Nirn and he sought to use her, for she was his champion...and in a way his creation. Iveryni tilts her head up as the first drops of rain started to fall. The fire seeks to devour all she is, or rather all she was before Viperish Night's claws tore her life from her. Cracks had been forming ever since, and she started to shatter. Killing their allies for she lost sight of all but ending the war, and then not learning from that mistake and taking it on her own again to destroy Viperish Night and his pack even though she knew the prophecy. It lead to THIS. And still, the fire was set upon destroying her past self, leaving only Dagon's champion. One who would be as unfeeling as an atronach, with loyalty only to their Daedric Prince. It would be...easy to let it destroy what remained of her. But it would not be the right path. The right path...so very long she saw no escape. But speaking to Softly-Speckled-Crab had caused her buried emotions to surface and at last, she could see another path. But to take it...would take courage and strength Iveryni did not know she possessed.

---

-Near Mossy Rocks-

Is it finality or triumph Viperish Night fees as his army marches across the Marsh toward MossyRocks? One would think it was the latter. The Argonians failed to stop him each time. The Hist failed to save them, or itself. And as far as he knows, no one of the outside world knows that he is not only alive but very near the cusp of absolute victory. Perhaps at first, the necromancer thought that the heroes were smarter, but not once had any from the outside world came to stop him...so Viperish Night's only thoughts are on utter triumph.

---

Near Mossyrocks Viperish Night pauses a dreadful smile on his scaled face and a look of promised agony in his eyes. As his pack comes to a pause behind him he tilts his head up to look at the storm clouds. Even the sun hid from him. "Perhaps I owe Mossyrocks for exiling us. It set my other aspects down a path that would free me. Still...," Viperish Night hisses, "Still they betrayed us. Rejected us. They will suffer for it." he pauses and gestures toward Mossyrocks with his claws. "This one...will be different."

Zirasha stills at those words and her eyes are locked onto the necromancer. Tyranius moves closer his scythe leaning against his shoulder and Duskhollow trails in their footsteps. "How so Viperish Night?" Tyranius asks.

Viperish Night's eyes slit back to Tyranius and he abruptly changes the subject, "Why call me that, my champion? You called us pup before. You call my Vampire Girl, my Egg-mother Wolfy."

Tyranius takes the question in stride as he shrugs. "What they are. You though...are Viperish Night. What else would I call you?" Tyranius answers.

Viperish Night turns his eyes back on the nearby Mossyrocks satisfied with his champion's answer. "The Life aspect named me such when he thought he was naming himself. Now...your question," Viperish Night answers with a twisted burst of laughter. "We'll fight all this Hist throws at us, but do not kill any of them. Capture them instead. Chain them up, have my undead hold them...I want them to witness what I do to their precious Hist and then I'll make every last one of them suffer before I let their Hist murder them so they can join my army...and never return to the Marsh."

Zirasha quietly swallows thinking back of the eggs. Of the little ones who died here and across Tamriel in their unholy quest to end all life. But before it had been a quick end, for nearly all they fought. This... this is something far crueler, and yet still she stays silent though a troubled look crosses her eyes. Before she never hesitated...but things are different now. She is different now, and that causes a shiver of regret to move through her. Tyranius moves to stand closer to her his head tilted toward her slightly and Zirasha glances at him. The brute is concerned for her. He to has changed from what he was, all because of Jeziasi and their Viper. Even though she is different, even though regret and sorrow flow through her Zirasha slowly hisses, "Hurt them all," Zirasha says, "We are your monsters. We do not know mercy."

Viperish Night turns his head back to them and a savage grin crosses his face. "Then let Mossyrocks suffer. Let their screams be the melody that covers all the Marsh, and all Nirn," Viperish Night says as necromantic energy flows from him and he raises yet more undead, all the savage creatures of the marsh to join his army in planned torture and murder.

---

-MossyRocks-

Softly-Speckled-Crab's head snaps up as her eyes stare out into the gloom. "He's here...," she whispers.

Rufico snaps into action gesturing to the mages that are not holding the barrier in place. "Ready the portals," he orders as the black blade appears in his right hand. The plan was simple. Lure Viperish Night into a false sense of victory and then when he moves on Mossyrocks the mages will open portals allowing the heroes and the en-massed army to surround the necromancer and his foes. Once, the portals had been blocked, but now they worked. Why, how, did not truly matter. As the mage's ready, his eyes turn to Theodyn who stands next to him hand on Dawnbreaker. "We go for the head," Rufico says.

Iveryni moves closer to the group withdrawing her staff. "It will not be that easy, even if he suspects nothing," Iveryni warns.

"It never ever is, Iveryni," Rufico tells her.

Softly-Speckled-Crab turns towards her friends. "Keerasi-Zish is helping us. He is fighting Viperish Night," she quietly says and at the other's looks, she bows her head. "I know, we can show no mercy. We are past mercy, past hesitation. If we can take Viperish Night down we must or we will lose everything. But if..." she trails off as a lost look crosses her eyes for the fallen Argonian.

Iveryni finishes, but gently, "It is too late for ifs, Softly-Speckled-Crab. It is almost too late for hope. We destroy him, or he destroys us. Keerasi-Zish...he has given us a better chance than we had before. That will not be forgotten in the end."

"We... if we win this, we won't forget him, or what he did in the end," Theodyn says. "Keerasi-Zish was innocent once. He never asked to created as he was. Molag Bal and the world, and so many others broke him. Never him a chance. He has been our enemy, but I understand him now. Him, and his pack. None of them will be forgotten, for all the bad they did, and for the simple fact they tried to change the ending."

"When," Rufico corrects." At the other's look he shrugs, "I want our after," he finishes and moves to the center of the clearing followed by the others.

Softly-Speckled-Crab moves to Iveryni and walks by her side. "You see another river," Softly-Speckled-Crab quietly says, "I can see it in your eyes."

Iveryni starts slightly and a troubled look crosses her face. "I...perhaps. After, if there is that," she says as she takes her place among the others as the mages form the portals.

---

-Near Mossy Rocks-

The undead swarm at Mossyrocks as Viperish Night hisses in delight and his pack follows close behind. But their progress is halted when bursts of light suddenly surround them and the heroes army pour out of the newly formed portals and before Viperish Night can move four more portals open closer as the heroes leap out.

Rufico leaps from the portal at Viperish Night the blade of woe in his hands, his eyes full of intending to end the necromancer's life. Viperish Night's eyes flicker in surprise for a heartbeat before he nimbly dodges to the side and unleashes a powerful burst of Daedric magic at the assassin. Rufico dives to the side and splashes into the swamp water but bounds up in an instant to press the attack, keeping Viperish Night's attention on him as Theodyn comes from behind, Dawnbreaker glowing. The golden-clad hero slams the sword down and a shock-wave of light heads towards the necromancer.

A flash of dark grey and Tyranius leaps in the path of the attack slamming his scythe toward it and a burst of blue energy clashes with the golden light sending both warriors stumbling backward from the shock-wave. "Keep away from him," Tyranius growls and presses the attack on Theodyn forcing him further away from the necromancer as the two clash blades and wills.

Despite the rain, despite the muggy marsh, Iveryni's Daedric fire blooms across the water snaking its way toward Viperish Night only to be blocked by waves of the undead that leap into the flames to protect their master. Once the blaze dies down, before the fire mage can bring it forth again, Duskhollow howls and leaps at Iveryni forcing her backward as she harries the Dunmer like a wolf does a sheep. Iveryni's staff parries the blows as she backs away from the snapping jaws.

Softly-Speckled-Crab comes in quietly from the side, her arms are wrapped in vines covered with thorns and more vines and roots writh at her feet followed by the deadly plants of the Marsh, that come at her command to protect her...and their home. She runs toward Viperish Night but the flow of crimson mist halts her as Zirasha cuts off her attack, reforming above her to drive both into the marshy waters.

Some of the undead flow around Viperish Night protecting him as the forces brought against him clash against the rest of his army. Even now necromantic energy flows down him into the water raising even more, as many more as he can...for his eyes reflect fury and rage at being surprised. "Smarter then I thought," Viperish Night angrily hisses as his eyes dart around the battlefield. He had thought perhaps they might figure it out...but as no one came to stop him he might have underestimated them. The fact that they would sacrifice countless tribes to enact this surprise attack. It was worthy of a Daedric scheme. With that thought, he throws his head back and laughs. "You want to die now instead of later?," he cries, "I'll give you that wish!"

Rufico's blade cuts down a few of the undead surrounding the necromancer. "Death, it comes down to it. But your death, not ours," Rufico says as he once more moves swiftly to attack him.

---

-In the Depths-

Keerasi-Zish raises his head and stares up into the crimson sky. Viperish Night had sprung on MossyRocks. The tribe that abandoned them. The tribe that cast him into the world with utterly nothing. It was all of their aspects that wished vengeance. That wished MossyRocks and the Hist to drown, as well as all of Nirn. He could not lay the blame for that on Death and Daedric alone. His pain had grown to eclipse all he had known until the good he had experienced was washed away. It caused him to betray his friends unto death. Caused him to drag his pack into the depths. Caused him to wage war on Nirn and kill so very many. Death may have had the reigns, but it was Keerasi-Zish's pain that sang so very loudly. Slowly he rises and closes his eyes. He must see the battle. He must look for a chance, however small, and strike. And...he could feel the gladiators fight still. Still keeping the corruption at bay, though what remained of their spirits was weakening and soon would fade to whatever afterlife awaited them. As he watches the battle start he nearly startles. The heroes...they have sprung on Viperish Night, and his claws curl. Perhaps...they will distract the Daedric aspect enough. Enough to give him and Death a fighting chance.

---

-Deep in the Dark-

The faint glimmer of light abruptly vanishes and once more the darkness is total. Jeziasi starts to her feet a growl building as she faces the darkness. "So this is the way you punish me, to try and drown me in the dark," Jeziasi whispers as her eyes flare golden. "I will not surrender! Not to you, not to the dark!" With those words the darkness surges as if it is a living creature and Jeziasi surges back, fighting with all she is against the tendrils of ebony black that tangle around her body, trying to drag her into the sleep that will take her from her son forevermore. A unearthly howl erupts as her form blurs, not quite the werewolf, but not quite the mer as she fights with all she is against the dark.

---

-MossyRocks-

As the battle intensifies the building storm suddenly shatters, unleashing a torrent of rain followed by great booms of thunder and blinding flashes of lightning. One bolt streaks from the sky and hits the ground disturbing Softly-Speckled-Crab and Zirasha's fight and the two fly backward into the marsh waters from the impact. Zirasha springs up so very quickly and Softly-Speckled-Crab leaps up as well but before the battle can begin anew the world stills all around the hero. Raindrops freeze in place, lighting bolts cease to fade. Softly-Speckled-Crab raises her head to the sky, staring up at the storm clouds that hide the sun, that hides the light on this dreadful day and words come to her, a voice she had not heard in so very long. ~You must remember the prophecy. You must remember...so you will know what you must do.~ Softly-Speckled-Crab slowly lowers her head and closes her eyes. The four paths they walked. Death, life, light, and darkness. They faced the very same in Viperish Night and his pack...but no, that was wrong. Viperish Night...was three aspects, and her eyes bolt open as realization hits. Viperish Night was life, death, and darkness. But what of light? And just when those thoughts cross her mind she understands the rest. Why love might save or destroy them all. Jeziasi. She was the one who could have ended this at the very start, but who chose a different path. The Vestige was the one who brought light to Viperish Night's dark world by refusing to kill him. By simply loving him, accepting him, and swimming the unthinkable river with him. A single tear falls from her face as the world slowly starts to move again. As Zirasha starts to lunge she holds up one clawed hand halting the vampire mid lunge. "We must switch partners," Softly-Speckled-Crab insists and does the unthinkable, closes her eyes and giving her trust to the vampire, trusting that what they want is the same thing, trusting that she will listen and wait. And so Softly-Speckled-Crab sends her thoughts down the vines to her friends. So they too will understand what must be done. Only when she is sure the message is received does she open her eyes again to find Zirasha staring at her with a strange look in those eyes. "Send me into the icy depths," Softly-Speckled-Crab asks the vampire.

Zirasha startles. Why she did not force the attack... was hard to say. Viperish Night was not in view and something strange had happened. A powerful presence had come and gone in an instant and somehow that instant had changed the fight. But still...what she is asking... Zirasha hisses angrily. "No!" she snaps. In the depths is HER Viper. The one she would give anything to protect. To let one of the heroes find him if she even could...

Softly-Speckled-Crab regards her calmly. "I need to reach Keerasi-Zish," Softly-Speckled-Crab insists.

"So you can kill him?" Zirasha bursts out angrily her eyes flaring a deadly crimson. "He's our Viper!"

"I...do not know," Softly-Speckled-Crab admits, "I only know Keerasi-Zish is life, as I am. I am meant to be with him on this final battle." she looks deep into Zirasha's eyes. "Keerasi-Zish is helping the marsh. He's holding back the corruption Viperish Night has unleashed upon The Hist. I will help him if I can."

Zirasha startles at the news and then her eyes glimmer with unshed tears from emotions she can hardly keep back. "I...I love our Viper like a brother. He's so broken, so lost. Like me. And he's trapped, and I can not help him! Just like Jez is trapped and I cannot help her!" Zirasha hisses. She knows she should not trust the Argonian hero. The one who was so hurt by Viperish Night...and her as well. But Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes hold truth, and pain, and yet no hatred. No desire for revenge at the agony she endured at their hands. She just wanted this to end a different way. An impossible way. But in the end, when all hope was nearly lost... "Help him," she whispers, "If you can. We want our Viper, our Jez back. We want this nightmare to end. One way or another. But...I do not want it to end Viperish Night's way."

Softly-Speckled-Crab lowers her head. "As do we. We understand you. We suffer, as you do," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.

Zirasha raises her hand as she gathers her vampiric power and thrusts it forward and it engulfs the Argonian who screams once before collapsing in the water unconscious. Slowly Zirasha walks to her and gently picks her up and puts her in a broken tree trunk. Zirasha rises and turns her back. "Save him," she whispers before she bursts into mist to rejoin the battle. Viperish Night must not suspect what she has done. It is not yet time to break his bond on her. And so she goes to murder those who fight against him. More blood, more chaos, once the very substance that gave her will to exist, and yet now...now it is her pack that gives her will to continue.

---

Theodyn leaps back from Tyranius and slightly lowers Dawnbreaker his eyes on the Imperial. "I need to find the light," Theodyn suddenly says.

Tyranius stops. "What in Oblivion does that mean? You are the light," Tyranius answers.

Theodyn stares at Tyranius willing himself to see beyond the Daedric helm to the man underneath. A brute, a murderer, but somehow he senses he is more than all that. The way he protected his pack... "I am. And so is Jeziasi," Theodyn says.

Those words cause Tyranius to protectively stalk closer to the Breton. "Tell me what you mean or I'll assume you mean Wolfy and Dusky harm, and will take your head," Tyranius warns.

Theodyn looks briefly lost. "I... I do not know yet. All I know is I must be with her," Theodyn honestly answers.

"Long way to go," Tyranius responds. "Wolfy's someplace...we cannot reach."

"Let me go, Tyranius," Theodyn says firmly. "We want this to end and so do you I think. I'll...I have to believe the light I should be and the light Meridia tried to make me are two very different things. I... we need to end this but I rather help her than kill her. Trust that I mean it and that I will try."

In response Tyranius raises his scythe, "Can't trust you," he growls, "You know that."

Trust... they once nearly had it with Viperish Night and his pack, before Molag Bal interfered. Now, Theodyn had to prove it once more and so Theodyn tosses Dawnbreaker to Tyranius who lets go of his scythe with his left hand to catch it. "I have to trust you to do this. Strike me with Dawnbreaker. Not to kill but to send me down into the dark. To find Jeziasi," Theodyn says as he stands defenseless in front of the Imperial.

Tyranius slowly places his scythe on his back and raises Dawnbreaker. "Damn it," he swears before striking at Theodyn with his sword, a golden glow enveloping the hero until nothing is left. "...Guess you can trust me. Better not hurt her," Tyranius says. The things he will do to the Breton if he does...but somehow, impossibly, he trusts him in this.

---

Rufico dives into the shadows breaking away from his fight with Viperish Night, the necromancer's angry hiss following him as he slides through the shadows to Iveryni who surrounds them with a ring of fire. "Jeziasi?" Rufico asks, seeing nothing of the wolf who had been harrying the Dunmer.

A frown crosses Iveryni's face. "That wolf is not Jeziasi. She is just a small piece. I took care of her," Iveryni answers. Before Rufico can ask a strange look crosses her face. "I...the fire demanded I end her. But something deeper told me not to. So I left her in the care of some of our Argonian allies. They...say she is the light in the dark. That she must be protected. Is that what Softly-Speckled-Crab means?"

"I..understand what I need to do. Force Death into The Void. Once there..." Rufico says with a determined look on his face. "Viperish Night is yours Iveryni."

"If I get the opportunity I need to use it," Iveryni warns him.

Rufico turns to the fires. "Do what you need to do Iveryni," Rufico says and then pauses. "It would be easy if it was as simple as just ending him. Ending them all. But time and time again we failed in that. And this Viperish Night is much stronger than he was in the past and only getting stronger."

"What are you saying?" Iveryni asks him, a puzzled look on her face.

Rufico turns back to look at her. "This should end in him dying, or all of us dying. But if we cannot kill him, and if we cannot let Nirn end, then what path is there?"

Iveryni stills. "Another path. As Softly-Speckled-Crab wished it. As...even Viperish Night before tried for before the Daedric aspect took over. Is that our only hope?" Iveryni asks.

Rufico turns back into the fire the Black blade forming in his hand. "If it is, we need to follow where we are being led. And trust that it is not death that we must deal when we reach the end." Rufico responds.

"Trust in the impossible," Iveryni says and a strange expression crosses her face. "I do not like this. But I have already caused harm in my rage. I will distract Viperish Night long enough for you to pull Death into the Void. Will...he loses control of his undead?"

"...I suspect not. If I was Viperish Night I'd have figured a way to use and eventually take all of Death's power. This aspect of him is Daedric. Daedra do not share," Rufico says and with those last words Iveryni lowers the flames and they enter the fray once more headed back toward the dread necromancer.

A burst of flames erupts near Viperish Night and Iveryni bursts from the inferno her staff held high as she calls forth blazing meteors to rain down upon the necromancer forcing him to dodge backward. As Viperish Night thrusts his staff in retaliation blazing bolts of lightning rage with the flames but unlike before his magic now is laced with Daedric Power, just as Iveryni's was. "We...are a match," Iveryni hisses at him as her staff collides with his sending sparks of flame and lightning in every direction.

Taking full advantage of Iveryni's showy display of power, Rufico moves from the shadows running toward the two. Shadows follow him from the dark as DeathFang warriors use their death magic to move as he does and set upon all the undead that block the assassin's path allowing him free access to Viperish Night's back. But as silent, as Rufico is, the necromancer is just as cunning and careful and he spins around and grabs the Blade of Woe with his hand as Rufico slices it at his back.

"You think this will end me?" Viperish Night hisses. "I am the lord of death and all that IS dead."

Rufico smirks at the necromancer's grand words. From the very start, he had his suspicions that the blade was not meant to end Viperish Night, and Softly-Spoken-Crab had confirmed it. So when he struck at the necromancer he meant to do something very different than end him. "Got what I was after," Rufico says and Viperish Night's eyes widen in surprise, and tries to release the blade but it is far too late. The Black Blade of Woe casts utter darkness around the necromancer and the assassin and when it fades only Viperish Night is left behind.

Viperish Night turns on Iveryni calmly. Only the rage in his eyes indicates his fury. His eyes move to his fallen dead, some incinerated by the fire mage, some by the Deathfang warriors who have melted back into the shadows, their job done. Slowly he starts to stalk toward her. "Do you think the temporary loss of Death will weaken me? He will destroy your assassin and return to ME," Viperish Night hisses.

Iveryni resists the urge to laugh in his face. Did he truly think he had all the advantages? Sheer power, yes. An army that grew even as the undead was cut down, yes. But he thought Keerasi-Zish was buried and could do nothing trapped deep in the depths as he was. He thought his pack's loyalty was absolute as well but was it? "You underestimate us. Time and time again," Iveryni quietly says, though an undercurrent of rage is in her voice.

Viperish Night starts to stalk around her and she follows him. "You and your power are nothing," Viperish Night hisses then smirks. "Tell me this how does it feel little fire witch? To underestimate me? To be so very wrong? You could not have known I was alive, so blinded by rage as you were."

Iveryni scowls. "We figured it out in enough time to trap you. It will be enough to end you!" Iveryni hisses back.

Viperish Night's eyes glance around at the battle and his smile is frightful. "My dead went to sleep, fending true death. They come even now from all over Tamriel. From the skies, from the ground, from the water. None of you have any hope."

Iveryni's fiery blood nearly freezes. He's not wrong, now that he has illuminated her to the truth. The earth trembles, and not just from the battle. Ripples are erupting in all directions from the water. And the faint cry of undead dragon roars echoes from the sky. Their forces were holding the line, but just. Once the necromancer's full army was here...with a shudder of realization she knows Rufico spoke truth. They could not end him or his army. This Argonian standing before her was the most powerful necromancer to ever set foot on Nirn. All the power his DeathFang Tribe blood granted him, all the control The Band of T'zlich let him wield, and the Daedric Prince's blood that ran through his veins making him so very much stronger than any mortal should be...though in this form, this Daedric aspect, he truly was not mortal. Even if they managed to strike him down, he may very well reform and return. It seemed utterly hopeless...but still they fought. Until the end. Iveryni grips her staff with both hands, complete understanding flowing through her. She was darkness to match his darkness, but not to end him. Her purpose was to fight him until the impossible happened. For now, all their hopes, and the hopes of Nirn itself, rested on a miracle happening. On the heroes doing what they were truly meant to do, on all those who fought against him to rise up and do the impossible. "Your right," Iveryni says calmly. "But I would rather go down fighting than kneel before you."

"If that is what you desire," Viperish Night hisses as his grin grows. "Before you try and fail, tell me, what did your shattering feel like? How much of who you were did you lose?"

Iveryni's eyes narrow as he tries to get to her. Tries to make her lose her control, once more. "I refuse to give you the pleasure of an answer," she answers.

His eyes glimmer in amusement. "Out of all of you...Softly-Speckled-Crab. Because she was the kindest of you all. Because she tried to reach my lesser aspects. Why...she was the only one I wanted chained and at my mercy...or lack of it." Viperish Night hisses changing the subject.

Memories flash of what this monster did to her friend. Nearly enough to snap her control, but that is what he wanted. And why not give him what he desired? He would be arrogant enough to believe that her control snapped, yet again. And so Iveryni lets the fire take her and lets it transform her into the fiery goddess Dagon made of her and as she floats into the air the rain sizzling off her molten translucent skin. "I will destroy you," Iveryni growls as fire drips from her setting the very water to burn. From the look in his eyes, he thinks she has once more lost control. His mistake.

Viperish Night looks up at her and laughs. "Little fire witch, in all your rage you have no chance against me. And I can do that too. Much better than any of my lesser aspects." With those words, his form distorts but instead of the expected huge bone colossus form something darker emerges. Bones erupt to cover the necromancer in armor of razor-sharp bits, horns distort until they are more Daedric in aspect and his claws lengthen. The necromancer's size does not change but the Daedric power that flows from him intensifies as glimmering blue shards of energy streak through the razor-sharp bones. Unlike his previous transformation, this form is utterly under his control and so very much more powerful. He laughs and charges at Iveryni who meets his charge with one of her own.

---

-The Void-

A place of darkness beyond darkness. What could be the end, or the very beginning. It is here Rufico brought Death, and it is here that Rufico stands frozen, the Blade of Woe vanishing from his hand. "You... feel akin to The Void," Rufico breaths.

Death stares calmly back. "I come from Stalks-In-Darkness, from his tribe DeathFang, and perhaps from the Dread Father himself, in part," Death answers.

A puzzled expression crosses Rufico's face. "I am...I thought I was meant to fight you," he says.

Death tilts his head at the assassin carefully regarding him before he answers, "I am with Viperish Night...only so he thinks I am with his river. In actuality, I walk with life, the one you call Keerasi-Zish." Death's eyes then narrow taking on a deadly air. "Do you wish his death?"

Rufico stares right back, the same look in his eyes. "Viperish Night must be killed," Rufico says in response.

A swirling black sword appears in Death's clawed hand. "Killing Viperish Night your way will end Life, and myself and is doomed to failure besides. I will not allow that" Death hisses in threat.

The Black Blade appears in Rufico's hands and he shifts his body in attack form. "A blade in his back...," Rufico whispers and then pauses. "Is there another way? And is it worth the risk of losing everything if it fails?" This question... the assassin had been observing the battle even as he fought against the necromancer. For every dead their forces failed, three more roses to take their place. And death was all around them. More of the undead were coming from all directions, including the Dread skeleton dragons that could fly under the band's power. There was...the hope for victory that their trap had hoped for was slipping away. As much as he hoped for their after, he was ever pragmatic. They would lose this war and everything with it.

"Killing the Daedric aspect will very nearly be impossible," Death tells him, "Even though he has far fewer allies than he suspects, but our Egg-father has yet to make a move. He's still on Viperish Night's side."

Rufico's grip tightens on the blade as his mind works on this information. Death was implying that his pack was...of course. They would be on Life and Death's side, not the Daedric. They may only fight by his side to save the Viperish Night they knew, to save Jeziasi. And then his thoughts turn to Theodyn's words and Softly-Speckled-Crab's hope and at last, the blade fades returning to the Void until he calls for it again. "This...must be the path I am to walk. Not fighting death, but with death. Tell me what the plan is," Rufico says.

Death's blade fades as well and he moves closer to Rufico. "The whispers told me I could trust you. You are death, you were trained by The Void," Death tells him as the two settle into the dark to plan.

---

-In the Depths-

The crimson moons, the bloodstained sands. The depths of a dark memory, this is what greets Softly-Speckled-Crab when she opens her eyes. And in the middle of all this despair, is Keerasi-Zish. Slowly she walks to him and startled he leaps up to stare at her.

"...Have you come to kill me?" Keerasi-Zish asks her.

Her expression saddens. She can feel Keerasi-Zish's despair, regret and sorrow, and unfathomable pain. And yet there is the faintest trace of hope in those eyes of his. "You fight for the marsh, for Nirn. I will help you. I am meant to help you. We both are life," Softly-Speckled-Crab responds.

Keerasi-Zish lowers his head. "After what he did to you? After...," Keerasi-Zish hisses. "How can you call me life when I helped rend so much death? It was not just my other aspects alone. I wanted...part of me still does...to drown...to end Nirn.

Softly-Speckled-Crab moves closer to him and her hands cup his face and he startles at her gentle touch. As if he feels he deserves so very much worse. "So much drove you into the depths. You must know the Daedric aspect was the viper at the core of it. For the rest, you are changing. Trying to stop all of this that has been wrot."

Keerasi-Zish raises his eyes to hers. "And if I only do it for my Egg-Mother and my pack?" he honestly asks her.

The love in those eyes, the fear of what may happen to them. Slowly a smile crosses her face. "I feel the spirits who aid you. Perhaps at first, just for your pack, your family. But now, now it is different," Softly-Speckled-Crab answers.

A few moments pass before he speaks again. "I want to find my Egg-mother. I want to save my pack and stop the Daedric aspect. And I want to return the bodies of those I betrayed on the island home, so they may rest," Keerasi-Zish tells her and then looks down again. "I...don't know what else I want. I just know I and Death must win against Viperish Night."

It is Softly-Speckled-Crab's turn to startle and she drops her hands and stares at Keerasi-Zish in wonder. "You...understand each other. Before I felt such divide in both of you," she responds.

Again he brings those tortured eyes up to meet hers. "Our divide resulted in madness, agony. We will be one...if we can win against Viperish Night," Keerasi-Zish says.

Thoughts consume the hero at his words. Rufico is with Death. Rufico the assassin, the once self-proclaimed useless thief, now is the most steady and level-headed of them all. She knows that the assassin will understand Death. Will reach an accord with him to help end Viperish Night and this war. He will understand they are not meant to fight and kill, but to help find another river. The only one that has a chance at ending this nightmare. "We will help you. Iveryni holds back Viperish Night. Rufico will speak with Death, Theodyn will find Jeziasi in the dark," Softly-Speckled-Crab tells him.

A look of understanding crosses his face. "My Egg-mother told me of the prophecy. That is...what it meant. And My Egg-Mother...," a small sad smile crosses his face. "She is my light in the everlasting dark. She reached not only I but Death and the rest of our pack as well. She changed us and showed us another river."

Giving him a small smile in return Softly-Speckled-Crab nods. "She could have ended you. Zirasha and Tyranius would have been killed or imprisoned after Craglorn. None of you would have another river but despair, if she had chosen the easy path," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "She is light." and with those words, she turns to look all around her. "Come, Keerasi-Zish. Let us bring life to this memory of despair. Let me help you prepare a surprise for when you and Death fight Viperish Night here." She moves further into the sands and with a nod he follows.

---

-Deep in the Dark-

The darkness total. Perhaps once Theodyn would have startled at it. But Rufico is shadows and those shadows are...home. So even though this darkness may be vile and lack Rufico's warmth, it is something he is more than capable of dealing with. As the hero gets his bearings a wretched howl echos out throughout the darkness and he turns in the direction it came from and in his hand Dawnbreaker appears casting golden light in the dark. Without further hesitation, he runs into the darkness.

Claws and fangs sink into the darkness that hunts her with little effect. The more she fights the tighter the tendrils wrap around her and at last they succeed in dragging her to the ground. The world wavers as the deadly sleep latches its treacherous claws into her dragging her toward oblivion and once more she howls but not in rage this time, instead it is a call for help. She needs help to free her, help to escape, so she can find her son in his darkness. All the strength she has is not alone enough. This...she at last knows.

Another howl but this one...Theodyn's eyes widen. This howl cries for help. The short time he knew the Vestige she never once asked for it. But now, she was. A burst of speed, at last, puts him in view of Jeziasi, Dawnbreaker being the only light in this place and he takes it in in a moment. The tendrils that ensnare her, her fierce will to fight, though her struggles weaken. With a growl of his Theodyn charges forth and slams down Dawnbreaker sending down a burst of golden light into the dark mess of tendrils that shatter at the light freeing the Vestige. The blinding light fades but it leaves behind a warm glow around Theodyn and Jeziasi that keep the shadows back.

Jeziasi returns fully to mer and falls on her back her fierce gaze looking up at Theodyn. "You...saved me," Jeziasi quietly says.

"You asked for help. I came, Jeziasi," Theodyn says.

Jeziasi sits up and her gaze turns thoughtful with glimmers of sadness reflected in her eyes. "...I should have asked for help before this. I just could not see how the world... and all of you could help save my son when all Nirn saw of him was a monster," she says.

Theodyn sits across from her, Dawnbreaker in his lap. The time he wanted to destroy this Bosmer, when he thought his hatred was his own, seemed very long ago. All she wanted to do was to save her son. And she did not know how to ask for help. She did not know how to make the world see what she saw. So she did the most unthinkable things for him. For love. Such a simple thing, but the fate of the world hung on it. "Once, I was blinded. You were the monster, Jeziasi, as well. But I know love can save the most damaged souls. I was shattered. The light made me a monster as well. But Rufico saved me. I just don't know...," he trails off unable to finish.

She looks down knowing what he means. Not faulting for it, because it is truth. "I cannot see any ending save for death or damnation for us either. But if that is our fate for all the wrongs we have done, then I want to be with my son when it comes for us. He never deserved any of this. The depths of darkness I knew Molag Bal was capable of from the war...somehow this eclipses that." Jeziasi quietly says as a tear runs down her cheek.

Two paths...was that all there was? Softly-Spoken-Crab seemed to think differently. Perhaps she was right. Even if the path was still in darkness. "The end is not written yet," Theodyn says in response, "I...," he trails off and starts again, "You are the light Jeziasi, as I am."

Jeziasi looks back at him startled then barks out a laugh. "I...what?" she asks.

He shrugs. "You are Vipers, Keerasi-Zish's, light. And you and I are meant to be here in the final battle." Theodyn responds.

She frowns, "To fight?" Jeziasi asks.

"...No, I do not think so," Theodyn says. "We cannot win against Viperish Night the way we were trying to. We must find another way. Together."

Before the Vestige can respond the darkness starts to move toward the light and she stands growling at it. "I... Mannimarco is helping me escape but he's not done yet...help me keep back the darkness until he is ready to break the collar's magic." Jeziasi says.

It is Theodyn's turn to look started as he stands, Dawnbreaker held at ready. "You don't trust...no of course not," he frowns as he regards the darkness, reflects on his power. Even with the light at his command, he cannot shatter this darkness. "I can not see a way to free you, but he can?" he asks.

"At cost. I have no choice," Jeziasi answers. "For my son, Nirn, revenge, anything. I'll give everything up for a chance to see him again. No matter how it ends."

"Then we fight the darkness together, Jeziasi," Theodyn says. "We hold the line."

Jeziasi's eyes glimmer the gold of the wolf as she nods and faces the darkness with her unlikely ally as the tendrils come for both of them.

---

Bloody carnage all around her and a feast of a Nord held in her crimson-streaked hands. Zirasha looks up from the Nord's savaged throat startled out of her meal by something... slowly she hisses and stands staring around in confusion and shock. The raindrops, the battle, all of it is in a frozen tableau of horror. Nearby Tyranius is also noticing the strangeness. After Dawnbreaker had vanished he had waded back into the battle doing what he did best...until this unnatural stillness swept over the battlefield. And then, a whisper in the stillness. So very soft but it sings in the right note and Zirasha and Tyranius pause to listen. ~Soon, you will be needed. Keerasi-Zish will need his pack. Once the champion of Dagon falls, you must strike at Viperish Night. Do not let him kill her or it will be the end. Break the chains that bind you to the Daedric aspect. It will be enough for Life and Death to drag him into the depths to war against him.~

The world returns to movement and Zirasha stares up at the rain that sweeps down from the sky then turns her direction toward the middle of the battlefield, where Viperish Night and Iveryni war with fierce intensity. She bursts into mist and moves toward the battle. Trusting an unknown voice, but for her Viper, it was worth any uncertainty or risk. Tyranius dispatches the few soldiers near him and then turns in the same direction moving quickly back to Viperish Night. Also trusting in this. For what other way is there now?

The inferno meets the icy lighting in an explosion that topples swamp trees and eclipses the storm itself. When it fades Iveryni hovers over Viperish Night for a few long moments before she falls from the sky and crashes in the shallow water with a sizzling splash as her Daedric form flees. The Dunmer struggles to rise as Viperish Night laughs and stalks to her side. "This is all Mehrunes Dagon's champion can do? I eclipse you in every way," the necromancer hisses with delight. "You are the most powerful one that stands against me, and yet you lie helpless at my claws, defeated." He throws his head back and laughs. "I will kill your friends one by one. It is tempting to keep you alive so you can enjoy their screams, but you are far too dangerous."

Iveryni's eyes briefly close before she forces them open. All her power and this was the result. Was it enough? Enough for an impossible path. "We...will never surrender," Iveryni whispers.

Viperish Night kneels beside her and runs his claws gently across her throat causing her to flinch from the touch and the memories it brings to the surface. "I killed you once. This time I'll take my time with it. You will scream until your strength fails and die knowing I will do the same to each of your friends. Nirn is mine, and it will drown under my power."

Heavy footsteps as Tyranius moves toward Viperish Night and the necromancer's dead allow him access. "You got the fire witch," Tyranius says.

Viperish Night laughs. "You want to play with her too? My dead stream in from all corners of Tamriel. No one will be able to get through to rescue her." Viperish Night hisses and his words are punctuated by the scream of undead dragons landing all around the battlefield.

A burst of blood-red mist and Zirasha reforms by Tyranius her crimson eyes on Viperish Night and Iveryni and she glances at her pack brother who nods slightly. "Sure, Viperish Night. We want to play. Just... not with her." Tyranius responds.

Viperish Night freezes then slowly and deliberately stands up and turns to face his monsters. Slowly he hisses, his eyes glimmering with Daedric power. "You would dare? You are my monsters. I made sure of it. Tell me you mean something else. I would hate to rend you to pieces, I rather like you two being on my leash."

"Our Viper never wanted us on a leash. He never wanted us to be his monsters," Zirasha responds. "We were pack. You took that from us. You took our Viper from us, our Jez!" the vampire says as she stares at the necromancer and slowly hisses. "Do you think we'd just forget that? Forget that you took who we love from us?"

"Love? Monsters do not love!" Viperish Night snaps and then his eyes dart to Tyranius. "My brute, tell me you don't feel the same way."

"Never liked being on Bal's leash. You think I'd want to be on yours?" Tyranius says and then answers the question. "Pup let me off the leash. Gave me the war I wanted. And yet Wofly showed me how to want more than that." His grip tightens on his scythe and the tone of his voice changes, the depths of anger he has kept in all this time come out in what he says next, "You took Viper from us. You took Jeziasi. You put me back on a damn leash. And what you threatened to do to Zirasha... Damn right I am not your monster."

Viperish Night's eyes glow and the dead turn inward at the threats to their master. "You do dare. But you are my monsters and you will kneel. I hold your leash. I am not so foolish to let you run free. Kneel, or I will force you...and what I do to both of you after for this...," a twisted grin crosses his face. "Zirasha can be first. You can watch what I do to her. Listen to her screams as I shatter her. Now KNEEL," he hisses and the power flows. Power that links him to his monsters, the links he created to ensure they would never be able to betray him.

Zirasha throws her head back and screams as her blood seems to turn to acid and slowly she sinks to the ground her hands clasped against her head. Tyranius is next to feel utter agony as his armor contracts on him nearly breaking bones as it forces him to the ground as well. "You will stay here until the battle is done. In agony, in despair at thoughts of what I will do to you after," Viperish Night says and turns his back on them.

The pain, overwhelming. And yet a glimmer of power within her untouched by the agony coursing through her veins. That power shimmers to her in the crimson fog the pain has cast over her and Zirasha reaches for it. That which Count Verandis gave her. That which will break her hold on Viperish Night if she has the will to do so. And for her pack, she does have the will and so she grasps at it with all she is, and the power courses through her driving out the pain and shattering the connection with the Daedric aspect in one fell swoop. Zirasha throws her head back and howls as change courses through her. Once more she takes her gloriously imperfect monstrous form but this time it is different...and so much more powerful. The ebony skin and mane of wild hair that's even darker, the jagged wings and graceful horns, crimson eyes and talons and claws made for ripping and tearing. But now she's clad in blue-black armor that shimmers in the storm, studded with razor-sharp blades on both arms. The bond, shattered. The transformation, complete. Zirasha roars to the storm and roars for her Viper and Jeziasi as she faces Viperish Night's back. "Viperish Night," her angry hiss reverberates through the stormy day.

Crushing agony envelops Tyranius and for a few heartbeats, it is all he knows until a glowing warmth on his bicep starts to spread down his arm. Power enough to break the bond if he has strength enough to take it. Always power for power's sake. For his own sake and the war he craved. But now, it is for his pack and so he grasps onto it with all he is and wild power flows through him as he roars to the sky. The Daedric armor he has worn since the Plane-Meld cracks and then shatters as his body contorts and changes. Silver fur streaked with obsidian black ripples, fangs enough to crush skulls, claws long enough to rend flesh to the bone, and when the violent transformation is at last complete a giant werebear stands where the armored Tyranius stood and his growl pierces the dark day as he echos Zirasha's cry. Calling for Viperish Night to face all the rage and protectiveness of his new form.

Viperish Night spins around his eyes reflecting shock as what had been his monsters shatter their bonds and turn on him with new powerful forms. "How...," he hisses in furious anger and then lashes his tail against the ground. "You think you can take me? You may be different monsters but I am more powerful than anything on Nirn! NOTHING can kill me!"

Iveryni finds the strength to stand and barks out a weak burst of laughter. "Your right about that. We can't kill you. But you will be defeated all the same," she says as bursts of fire move all around the group keeping the dead at bay. Giving the necromancer's former monsters the chance they need.

Zirasha is the first to strike and her claws slash deep grooves in Viperish Night's bone armor. Tyranius is next to charge, slamming into him and knocking him into the water. The necromancer leaps up with an angry roar and bolts of Daedric lightning burst in all directions. Zirasha bursts into mist to avoid and Tyranius charges straight through them. As the necromancer dodges to the side a blast of vampiric drain hits him as the vampire strikes at him with all her might and fury and he throws his head back and howls in pain and rage. The werebear's claws are next to rend more grooves in his armor that sink straight through to flesh. Again the necromancer howls and then his armor pulses sending Daedric energy to stagger both. "Enough!" Viperish Night hisses as blood drips from the rends in his bone armor. "Traitors! You know what I do to those who betray me! The things I will do to you!"

The necromancer's eyes glow icy blue as power ripples through him and as the werebear turns on him once more Viperish Night spins on him and grabs Tyranius by the neck in seemingly impossible strength and hurls him into a fallen tree with a sicking thud. Still, the Imperial rises to charge once more. Undead skeletons erupt from the ground and envelop the werebear tearing and ripping fur and flesh. A mighty roar and Tyranius shatters them but when he turns on Viperish Night once more a blast of Daedric magic hits him head-on sending him crashing to the ground once more. A short struggle to rise and then Tyranius goes limp the bear melting away from him.

Zirasha screams and flings herself at Viperish Night who spins on her hissing with rage. His bone armor glows bright and erupts impaling the vampire on shards of bone. She screams as her blood splatters and Viperish Night flings her to the side. She lunges to her feet once more eyes glowing crimson and bursts into mist reforming behind Viperish Night. As he spins her armored blades come down tearing great rents in chest and arms. He staggers back and hisses throwing out his arm and bolts of Daedric lightning surge into her sending her crashing back into the ground and she struggles to rise again but unconsciousness takes her and her monstrous form melts away.

"The ways you will suffer, you foolish monsters," Viperish Night hisses. But before he can turn his attention back to the battle the shadows come alive and Rufico appears in front of the startled necromancer. In silence, the assassin's blade plunges into the necromancer. Hissing in anger Viperish Night backhands Rufico who flies backward and hits the water by Iveryni with a splash. "No one can...," Viperish Night starts to say and then he stumbles backward. "No!," he screams. "You dare drag me into the depths again? I WILL REND YOU ASUNDER!" With an angry howl, his armor shatters and floats until it forms a bone shell around him, and silence descends around the clearing. In the distance sounds of battle continue but it is as if it is very far away.

Rufico sits up and glances upwards at Iveryni. "Death is on our side. It is up to him and Keerasi-Zish to finish Viperish Night," Rufico tells her.

Iveryni leans against a half-shattered tree. "We...our part is not yet done. But how do I know this?" she says.

Softly-Speckled-Crab walks past the undead, who are utterly still. Outside this unnatural spot of silence, the necromancer's dead still fights, yet the ones here are frozen just as the necromancer is in his shell. The Argonian hero stops first by Tyranius kneeling for a moment by his side before roots erupt from the ground covering him in a protective cage. Next, she moves to Zirasha, again kneeling and again summoning protection for her before moving towards the others. "They live, just," she says quietly and then looks at her friends. "We are not done, we have yet a role to play in this. We must all be here."

A burst of golden light appears and when it fades Theodyn is standing before them. "Jeziasi is safe," Theodyn says as he looks at the others, relieve in his eyes that they are well. "The Vestige will be free soon," he adds with a small frown. "I could not free her. I was there...to help her fight the dark...she asked for help."

As Theodyn moves to lean against Rufico the assassin studies him. "That frown Theo," Rufico says.

"Mannimarco. He's the only damn one that can break that thing.," Theodyn says with a small growl.

It is Rufico's turn to frown. "Makes sense," Rufico says. "Also makes sense he's hedging his bets. Bet Viperish Night and Molag Bal have no idea he's playing on our side too." his eyes turn to Softly-Speckled-Crab. "Now?" he asks.

"Now, we wait," Softly-Speckled-Crab answers. "I have aided Keerasi-Zish. Showen him how to use his life magic to give him an edge. All now rests on his and Death's spines."

---

-In the Depths-

The haunting memory changed. The fallen gladiators gone. The stands and sands are covered in towering trees, long grass, lush plants, and vines that writh in the moonlight. Viperish Night's eyes dart around and this and he hisses, furious. "That is how my corruption failed to spread? You? WHY? You hate them as much as I, as Death! You desire Nirn to drown, have you forgotten all it has done to you?" the Daedric aspect spits.

Keerasi-Zish moves out from behind a tree to stand in front of Viperish Night. "Truth. But it is truth our Egg-Father, our former mentor caused much of it. Forced us closer to the depths," Keerasi-Zish hisses in response, and then his eyes narrow. "And truth, you were the cause of our suffering as well," The life aspect lets out a breath and then raises his head. "But also truth. My pack means more. Enough to lay aside revenge and all the pain I carry."

Viperish Night stalks closer. "Foolish little life aspect. Your pack is weak. You are weak. You should have faded away, now you will suffer in untold agony before oblivion takes you!" he hisses.

Keerasi-Zish's eyes lock onto Viperish Night's and a small smile crosses his face at just how very blind the Daedric aspect truly is.

Understanding starts to dawn on the Daedric aspects face. "How did you pull me into the depths?," Viperish Night demands.

The smile stays on Keerasi-Zish's face as he answers. "I did not."

Viperish Night freezes and then turns his head as footsteps approach and shock reverberates through him. "You? We are together in this!" Viperish Night snaps at Death.

Death stares back at him with his black gaze. "You would end me as well as life when you got what you needed from me. And...," Death hisses as anger flashes in his eyes. "You want to devour me, not be one with me as life now does, and you would hurt and destroy our pack! I may be Death and part of the Void itself but...they are our family." With those words said a black sword appears in his hands and he nods at Keerasi-Zish and the life aspect holds out both his hands and twin blades made of wood and bone appear in them.

Viperish Night lowers his head and Daedric swords appear in his hands. "If I must crush you utterly to send you to oblivion, I will. But I will make you suffer for your betrayal. I will make everyone suffer for it until I am all that is left!" Viperish Night screams as Life and Death leap at him and the battle begins.

---

-Deep in the Dark-

The dark, dark no longer. Theodyn has gone but left behind a warm golden glow. Jeziasi stares up past it as if force of will is enough to shatter the prison, or at least see what is happening. The lonely dark is soon broken however and she lowers her gaze at the figure walking into the golden light. "Mannimarco," Jeziasi softly growls.

A smirk across the necromancer's face as he comes to a halt before her. "Such a tone for the only one who can free you, Jeziasi," Mannimarco says and at her fierce glare, he laughs. "Payment, Jeziasi, Payment."

She allows the growl to fade and regards Mannimarco carefully. "What do you want?" Jeziasi asks.

A small crafty smile crosses the Altmer's face. "You or your son will kill Swims-In-Silence. I will be free once you do," Mannimarco says and then pauses at the murderous look in the Vestige's eyes. "You still want to kill me, don't you?"

"A thousand times over, Mannimarco," Jeziasi growls. "For all, you did to my son."

"It still amuses you choose him over Nirn," Mannimarco responds and then the amused look fades from his face as he stares at the Vestige. "I am aware both of you, provided you survive, will hunt me across the face of Nirn and beyond. I rather not have Hircine's chosen champion and the son of Molag Bal on my trail," he says as he narrows his eyes. "My price, Jeziasi. Your vow that you and my former pupil will never hunt me in any way, shape, or form or send any other to hunt me. You will leave me be." At his words, Jeziasi growls louder and her eyes glow with the golden glow of the wolf but before she can say a single word he holds up his hand. "Nor will I cross either of your paths in turn. I have no desire to set eyes on either of you ever again."

This price...to never set her claws and fangs on the mer who hurt her son so very badly. To promise that her son will never have his chance to rip his former mentor apart. But... what has the path of vengeance wrot? Nothing but despair, nothing but death. There is no other choice. She cannot escape this darkness on her own, and not even Meridia's champion could set her free. The only way to ever see her son again, if she can find him in the depths. If the Daedric aspect does not destroy him, their pack, and all of Nirn itself. "Damn you, Mannimarco," Jeziasi whispers.

Seeing the decision in her eyes he holds out a hand to her. "I have your vow then? I will shatter your prison, and you will leave me to my own devices. And please, Jeziasi. This is binding in every way for both of us. I made sure of it," Mannimarco tells her.

Jeziasi stalks forward, understanding his words. Not just a vow or promise, but one bound with magic, and once done neither can break it. With one last angry growl, she takes his hand, the only path to freedom, the only path to her son. "I vow it," she softly growls and magic surges coursing through both their hands until the vow is set and then the darkness shatters around them casting her once more into the world.

---

Duskhollow's golden eyes bolt open and she surges to her feet in joy. With a mighty shake of her head, she throws her muzzle back and howls, and magic swirls around her as the collar shatters and she and Jeziasi become once more. When it fades the Vestige is kneeling on the wet ground, rain coursing through her hair and she stares up at the Argonian's all around her. The first Argonian steps forward. "Peace, we mean you no harm," he says and then motions to the rest who part leaving Jeziasi a path to freedom.

Jeziasi slowly stands and looks around briefly. The injured and dying, soldiers from all the allegiances, and yet the Argonian's are letting none approach her. A small sound from behind her and Jeziasi slowly turns around. Near the Argonians Razum-dar is standing looking at her. His expression is grim but the relief in his eyes is real. He has stopped her before however, will he now? As she looks at him Razum-dar lowers his head.

"Go, Wild one. Go, my old friend. This one will not stop you. Do what you need to do." Razum-Dar says to her.

Words escape her, and time is short. But still, a small sad smile crosses her lips. He at last understands and it means more to her than she can ever express. Jeziasi nods and then turns and takes off in a run across the stormy marsh. Her son is waiting for her and she will find him. She will save him, no matter the cost, and end this nightmare.

---

-In the Depths-

A blur of Argonian forms and blades. Blood splatters the grass staining it red, hisses, and angry growls. The three break for a moment from their frantic battle. Death and Keerasi-Zish stand together, blood-splattered and injured but still strong. And Viperish Night stands alone, in a similar state. His strength is more than both of them, and yet their unity keeps him from striking either down. "One last chance," Viperish Night hisses, "Surrender. Kneel to me and become MINE and I will spare you the suffering that will follow."

"Lies," Death says. "We have betrayed you. Our pack betrayed you. We always drown what betrays us, even when perhaps it is the wrong river. You are the worst of us and will never let this stand." He then tilts his head. "Though our pack was loyal to us two, not you. How can one betray what they are not truly loyal to?"

"You will hurt them. You have hurt them!" Keerasi-Zish hisses. "You will take us and we will cease to be, and you will continue to hurt our pack!" he holds his head high. "I surrendered far too many times. I will not surrender again. My pack does not surrender, they fight for us!"

"Your pack will DIE!," Viperish Night snarls. "Perhaps if you had surrendered to me I would have made it quick. Perhaps...," a twisted smile crosses his face, "Perhaps your right. Perhaps I would have lied about a quick death. They and you deserve so much agony as does Nirn." With those words, the Daedric aspect's eyes glow and a burst of energy rends the air all around them, and the dead rise. Memories of the dead, and those the life aspect called will not head the Daedric aspects song, but the bloodthirsty fans do and they stream from the stands in all directions.

Keerasi-Zish shoots Death a glance and Death's eyes glimmer with the song of death and yet the dead still come. "The band," Death hisses. "He has managed to wrest full control of it from me. He alone is its master now."

Green energy flows from the life aspects arms into the ground and the plants start to ensnare the dead, though there are far too many to ensnare. "We will fight," Keerasi-Zish hisses. "We will not surrender." he turns on the dead that are surging towards him and Death and the fight continues.

---

Jeziasi races through the battlefield Argonian's appearing by her side whenever any dead try to stop her. Soon the strange bone shell is in sight, as well as the heroes and her fallen pack. Jeziasi growls and puts on a burst of speed only to be stopped as a portal opens and Swims-in-Silence steps in her path as the portal close. The Vestige stops as the Prince regards her, and the fact she is free. "As strong as ever, my mate," Swims-in-Silence says and at Jeziasi's angry growl at the term, he laughs. "We are still bonded, Jeziasi. We always will be."

The desire to rend him to pieces for those words. To growl in protest but anger does not drive her path, nor does pain. Not anymore. And so Jeziasi stills as realization crosses her face and a small savage smile of her own appears as she meets his gaze. "I bonded with you. Duskhollow did not," Jeziasi says as her eyes began to glow golden with all the wild of the wolf. "We are one now, Molag Bal. Our bond is void."

The shattering of it is silent but it is felt at the deepest levels by both. Swims-in-Silence's eyes narrow in anger and he snarls, "You DARE defy me?"

"I dare," Jeziasi answers, "I always will. You can not keep me bound any longer, Molag Bal. You, in the end, failed."

Swims-in-Silence control shatters with those words and with a look of rage and near madness, he leaps at Jeziasi and Jeziasi lets the wolf sweep over her as she meets his charge with a mighty howl.

---

Iveryni turns at the howl and starts forward, only Softly-Speckled-Crab's claws on her arm stop her and she looks back at the Argonian's serious gaze. "He will not let us help her," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "Look, Iveryni." The Fire mage turns her attention back onto the battle between Swims-In-Silence understanding dawning. Rufico and Theodyn turn their attention as well. A shimmer in the air of icy dark. A torchbug flies into it and is disintegrated in a heartbeat. "This is the Vestige's fight now," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. Two fights in which so very much depends. One in the depths, one taking place in the fury of the storm and darkened day. And both are beyond the hero's ability to do anything to help at all.

---

-In the Depths-

Viperish Night was brought down to one knee. Bleeding from multiple slices and breathing hard and eyes with depths of fury that know no bounds as he glares at the Death and Life aspects. He is so very much stronger than they are, he has all the band's power and the song of death at his command and yet he has been brought to his knees. "Damn you," Viperish Night snarls as the two move in on him.

"Surrender," Death tells him. "You sang the song of death out of sync, and it has failed you."

"There is no other choice. We have beaten your dead. We have beaten you," Keerasi-Zish tells the Daedric aspect.

Viperish Night lowers his head and closes his eyes hiding the grin that stretches across his face. When he had been forced here he quickly realized that Life had been able to see what had been happening, as he once did. He thought him too weak to do so, to beaten. Clearly, mistaken. And with the bone shell covering him the battlefield was blocked from all their sight. But he could feel the truth. Feel that their Egg-father had, at last, joined the battle. That he and their Egg-mother was in a fierce fight. Slowly he starts to laugh startling Life and Death as he rises. "Our Egg-Father will destroy our Egg-mother. She has little chance of victory."

Shock and understanding move across Keerasi-Zish's face. "Our Egg-mother is...," he trails off. No further words are needed. Softly-Speckled-Crab had told him Theodyn would help his Egg-mother if he could. And now... no longer in the darkness, she was alive. And yet, in so very much danger and fear flashed in his eyes.

Death takes the news without showing a hint of emotions and he can see what Keerasi-Zish cannot. "She can win against him. Our Egg-father is in mortal form and our Egg-mother fights for us. He fights for nothing more than to make her suffer."

Viperish Night regards the two the twisted grin never leaving his face. "Always so foolish. The depths of obsession and madness he has in regards to her. She defies him, and he will defy the compact itself to drive her to her knees if he must!" Viperish Night hisses.

The fear grows in Keerasi-Zish's eyes and Death turns to him to urge caution but before he can Keerasi-Zish's hiss of anger echos out and the life aspect throws himself at the Daedric aspect with a wave of rage. The battle once more joined Death throws himself forward to but the memory suddenly shatters sending all three of them flying in different directions. Shards of color, night to day, and the city of Wayrest is spread out before them.

Viperish Night stands on the stairs of the mage guild looking down in contempt at Keerasi-Zish and Death as they rise. "I control the depths. I control everything!" Viperish Night says and then throws back his head and laughs. This is the memory of when they called Daedra to Wayrest. And so the dead rise at his command followed by all the Daedra of that day and they descend upon Life and Death like a flood.

---

Lightning flashes across the sky, the storm showing no sign of abating. Jeziasi and Swims-In-Silence clash, claws rending, fangs sinking into flesh. The water all around them stained with blood and as a bolt of lightning crashes nearby the two spring apart and start to circle one another again. The werewolf's eyes follow Swims-In-Silence. Back in ShadowFen he was always stronger than her wolf, but now she matched him. Now she had everything to fight for. But in her heart, she knew this was not the way she must finish their battle and the wolf melts away to leave the Mer, who takes her daggers out.

His eyes confused as he regards his former mate. "Why leave your wolf form? Truly you do not think you can take me like this?," Swims-In-Silence hisses at her.

Jeziasi smirks at him. "Once, perhaps not. Here and now? I am stronger than you. You surrendered too much to chase me," Jeziasi says.

A rattling hiss of rage and Daedric maces studded with spikes appear in his claws. "I am the Lord of Dominion. I surrender nothing!," Swims-In-Silence hisses and plunges into the fight again, maces clashing with daggers.

Moments pass, though it seems like longer. Blood coats both weapons as they spring apart once more. Frustration on the Prince's face at his failure to gain the upper hand. Fierceness in the Vestige's face. "Reason, sanity, that and so much more," Jeziasi growls. "You wanted to make me submit. To make me yours. You cast yourself in mortal skin to do so!" A savage smile crosses her face. "I am Hircine's champion. And I am a mother wolf who fights for their cub. You have no power over me. And no chance of winning." Again she snaps Swims-In-Silence's control and in rage, he flings herself at her with full force and she throws herself back into the fray slowly but surely gaining the upper hand on him.

---

-In the Depths-

Keerasi-Zish struggles against the grip of two powerful Daedra that grip him. Did he even call the Daedra warriors to Wayrest on that day or is Viperish Night manipulating this memory, just as he did? His eyes dart to Death who impels a Daedroth before being set upon Daedric warriors. Blood flies but when it is over they drag him to the ground and hold him there. Slowly Keerasi-Zish's head falls. He and Death fought so very fiercely. Using all their life and death magic to fell the dead, to fell the Daedra, but in the end, the sheer numbers overwhelmed them.

Viperish Night's claws snap on the stones as he approaches the life aspect and grabs his face roughly. "How does it feel? To fight so very hard and to fail, yet again? All you have done in your wretched life is to fail. Time and time again until you surrendered to Death. And then when that failed, you surrendered to me." Viperish Night hisses and turns his attention to Death. "You should have never betrayed me. But you were right, I would have claimed all you are. I will not risk betrayal from within or without," With those words, he lets go and turns his back on both. "Chain and cage them. Let them watch as I torture and kill their pack. Let them watch as our Egg-father defeats our Egg-mother. Let them watch Nirn drown, and then I will return and end them so very slowly."

---

The bone shell shatters and the heroes turn to it. All their hopes on this one moment as the shards of the shell fall with a splash into the water. The necromancer stands there for a few long moments head down before he raises his head his eerie blue eyes glowing with rage as he stares at the heroes. "You... helped them drag me into the depths..." Viperish Night hisses, his words promising agony and despair, "They are weak. You are weak. All of you failed!" With those words, a low furious laugh follows and he throws his claws out and the shards of bone rise from the water and fly in the direction of the heroes.

The heroes dive in all directions to avoid the deadly shower of bones thrown by the furious necromancer. Softly-Speckled-Crab is first to rise staff in hand and a look of loss on her face. "Keerasi-Zish," she whispers. "Keep fighting. If you can, keep fighting!" With a defiant hiss she flings herself into battle once more as the dead flood to Viperish Night's song of rage and the necromancer throws himself into the fray.

"Damn it. Damn it!" Rufico swears as the shards impel a fallen tree he had ducked behind. The Blade of Woe in his hands, for all the good it will do. "Death, do not go into the void. Not why this bastard still lives," he snarls before he rejoins the battle.

Dawnbreaker shatters the shards before they can pierce his armor and Theodyn's eyes are wide with shock. He had thought it would be enough, but perhaps a miracle was not that easy. "Until the end," he vows and glances once back at Swims-In-Silence and Jeziasi's battle some distance away. "Kill him, Jeziasi. Your son needs you." Too easy to give up. Too easy to believe that Keerasi-Zish and Death had fallen to the Daedric Aspect. But to believe that...would be to abandon all hope. To abandon Rufico, his friends, Nirn itself and so he banishes the dark thoughts from his mind and plunges into the midst of battle the undead falling by Dawnbreaker's light.

Weakened from the earlier clash against Viperish Night, Iveryni still grips her staff tightly as her flames incinerate the deadly shards that come for her. Her eyes are lost to the fire as she stares at Viperish Night, who had declared an end to all hope. Or did he just wish them to believe it? The Dunmer summons all the fire at her command and dives into battle once more. It was not over. It could not be.

---

The shattering of the shell, the words of Viperish Night that carry freeze Jeziasi in her place. She stares past the barrier Swims-In-Silence has made. The Prince clad in Argonian scales laughs at the fear in her eyes. "What is wrong, my former mate? Do you want to surrender now? Perhaps if you get down on your knees I'll forgive you...after an eternity of pain and torture."

The fear in her heart, the pain that threatens to overwhelm her. But Jeziasi pushes all of that away and closes her eyes briefly. Searching beyond sight and reason for the small glimmer of light she had always seen in her son's eyes until the darkest hour came and the Daedric aspect banished it. That moment when his dead put the collar on her neck and send her into the dark...she thought she had lost it. But when Mannimarco forced her to wake from the sleep of oblivion she knew she did not have to see it. She could feel it, though it was faint and just as lost as she had been. And so she searches for it once more and a smile crosses her face as she finds it. Lost still, but still there. Her eyes open and she stares at Swims-In-Silence. "We will never surrender. Not to you, not to the Daedric aspect," Jeziasi says and she springs at him once more and the furious clash of weapons echos throughout the marsh.

---

-In the Depths-

Locked in cages of Daedric metals. Chains pinning wrists to the bars, collars around their necks to keep them utterly bound, utterly helpless. And yet as Keerasi-Zish watches the battle there is still hope reflected on his face. It is true that most of the sight is of Viperish Night's battle with the heroes. But shards of his Egg-mother and Egg-father's fight are seen and she is besting the Daedric Prince clad in mortal form. She is winning, and she will come for him.

Death also has his eyes closed but now he opens them and looks at the life aspect. "She will come for us. But I want to go to her. You want that too, don't you?" Death asks.

Keerasi-Zish opens his eyes to meet his gaze with death. "She swims in our river. Always swimming towards the depths for us. Yes. I want to swim to her, for once," he says as an expression of sadness crosses his face. "We have caused her so much despair. She, who gave up everything for us."

Death is silent for a few moments before responding. "I...remember the feel of her head pressed against mine. So warm when everything was the cold of death and the dreadful touch of insanity."

Keerasi-Zish hisses and focuses on the memory. Viperish Night thinks he controls the depths again but does he? This is a memory they all share. All of them are a part of it. Death looks satisfied and starts to focus as well. For a way to bend it to their will. To free them, and drag the Daedric aspect down into the depths for good so they may go to their Egg-mother, whom fights with all she is for them.

---

The battle is slowly being lost. All around more and more of the allegiances fall as the dead overwhelm them. The skeleton dragons are far too much and all they can do is retreat as the dead take over. Viperish Night can feel his dead winning and as he gazes all around him at the heroes locked in fierce combat he at last moves. As fast as a snake he leaps and lands behind Theodyn. Rufico's shout comes too late as the Daedric's aspect's blade shatters past armor to sink into his body. The heartbreaking cry of the Imperial, as Theodyn screams once and falls into the water with a splash, the glow of Dawnbreaker fading as blood pools in the water.

"Theodyn!," Rufico cries. The sound of his beloved's scream and the world seems to still. Their after, threatened. Perhaps gone. Ever the sensible one. Ever the calm one. This is enough to break the calm and Rufico screams in rage and loss as he takes to the shadows to appear in front of the Daedric aspect the Blade of Woe plunging down. The necromancer grabs him by the arm and snaps it and holds him up by the shattered limb.

"You failed," Viperish Night hisses. "Enough with the games. I no longer want to make you scream. I just want you to DIE!" Daedric energy flares and the necromancer sends it into the assassin who screams in agony before going limp and Viperish Night tosses him into the water by the Breton's side as his eyes lock onto Softly-Speckled-Crab who's staring at him in despair.

Theodyn, Rufico. Softly-Speckled-Crab cannot tell if they are alive or dead. The battlefield has become too chaotic, the dead scream, and the living suffer. It all mingles until it is enough to rend into her mind. "No, no," she hisses, and then her eyes find Viperish Night and she sees her end in them. The necromancer comes at her and she brings up roots to block his strike but his swords shatter them and pierce her body. The world goes grey as her staff falls from her hands and she crashes off his blades into the water.

His claws covered in crimson red water. So very much blood. So very much dead. He throws his head back and laughs as turns on the last hero remaining. "Come, Fire witch. It is time for you to die now." Viperish Night hisses.

It would be easy if the fire had devoured her emotions instead of just burying them. They had come back, and now agony courses through Iveryni as her friends fall one by one. Not knowing if they are dead or alive. Not knowing if they have any hope at all. Knowing her strength is all but gone, yet she still runs at the necromancer flames covering her body as she leaps at him. Her flames meet his Daedric lightning and as her flames fade and die she closes her eyes. Another surge of Daedric magic strikes her and she fly's backward hitting the water with a crash and does not rise again.

Viperish Night throws his head back and laughs. All of them defeated. Their allies on the run or dead. All of Nirn to soon be his. The desire to return to the depths and torture Life and Death until they surrender is nearly all-consuming. To see such despair on their faces...but first, he wants to see his Egg-mother die. She who kept him in the depths, she who escaped from the dark, she who tries to kill his Egg-father. If he wanted Molag Bal dead, he would do so himself! And so he stalks near their fight and watches with eyes that reflect the depths of evil he possesses.

---

"Face it, my former mate, you have lost!" Swims-In-Silence snarls as blood pours from his arm.

Jeziasi is not unharmed either. Deep claw marks in her shoulder, a slash in her leg that nearly staggered her. But she has the upper hand on him, and both of them know it. It has taken all she is to focus on him, however. Not to worry about her son in the depths. Not to still in horror at the heroes fall and the quickly turning tide of battle. If she can just win this fight, she will take on the Daedric aspect and find her son. She has to. Even if... even if it is just to be with him in the end. As Swims-In-Silence continues to mock her the words blur and she moves far more quickly than she should. A dagger thrown and he dives to the side and she moves with him her remaining dagger sinking deep into his side. Blood pours out and he staggers back in shock and slams into a tree claw clutched to the fatal wound, staring at her in shock. She stares back, crystal eyes filled with triumph. "You are the weak one, Molag Bal. I will be with my son, we will defeat the Daedric aspect or not, but either way, you have lost."

Swims-In-Silence lowers his head but not in defeat. Slowly he starts to laugh. "Oh, my former mate. How wrong you are." Slowly he lifts his head to stare at her and his eyes start to glow.

Jeziasi stills as the world seems to shatter all around them. Shards of the stormy Nirn sky intermixed with the eternal gloom and despair of Coldharbour's. Humid marsh air mixes with soul-chilling air. Marsh trees tangle with the dead withered ones and she starts to back up as she realizes what is happening. What Swims-In-Silence...what Molag Bal is daring to do. "You...You would not dare!" Jeziasi growls softly.

"Oh, I dare," Swims-In-Silence hisses as his form distorts, shifting between his stolen Argonian and his true form. "To bring you to your knees, I DARE!" The madness of obsession, combined with a mortal shell trying to contain a portion of a Daedric Prince. Enough to at last unbalance him utterly and cause him to will himself into Nirn. "I will have you, Jeziasi! I will have you on your knees, I will have you screaming, until the end of time itself!"

More and more of his Daedric form is taking over the mortal one. Twisted horns, claws that dwarf an Argonian's claws. In desperation, Jeziasi surges forward with her dagger as the world shatters around her. Trying to end him before he can fully bring his Daedric Prince self upon Nirn and before all is utterly lost but in a speed, she cannot hope to match he surges forward and his claws slash her shoulder and sends her crashing back into the water. The Vestige is up in a moment even as the blood pours down her arm and once more she tries to spring. Once more he's too fast as his tail, now more Daedric than Argonian wraps around her neck lifting her to dangle helplessly before her. As Jeziasi struggles she plunges her dagger into his tail and it shatters. As she grips his tail with her hands they become claws as she partially transforms but even her werewolf claws cannot pierce him and he brings her closer. "All you had to do was submit and you would have had everything," Molag Bal tells her.

"Yo..ur everything," Jeziasi says struggling against his grip. Hardly able to breathe, much less speak. And yet she still struggles, still fights. She could call the wolf now, but even her wolf is not as strong enough as him as he is now. Halfway between mortal and immortal, halfway between Argonian and Daedric Prince. "I...refuse to submit ever again."

Anger in his eyes and then a malevolent grin crosses his face. "You deny me even now. Perhaps you think you can escape still and return to your son. Perhaps you even think you will reform so you can still go to him even if I snap your neck, my former mate." A dark laugh and his claws move to her face as he forces her to look into his eyes. "So very tempting to drag you back to Coldharbour. To do things that would make your nightmares seem pale in comparison. But I tire of your refusal to submit. You forced me to do something I perhaps should not have done," Molag Bal pauses and darkness covers his gaze. Evil beyond the depths of evil, darkness all-consuming and he releases her and she crashes to the ground. "Stay in the mud, Jeziasi. Kneel and I will let you see our son in between your eternal torment."

Fear courses through her, despair as well. But still, Jeziasi rises, still, she defies him. "I will never submit," she growls again. "And I will find my son. Even death will not keep me from him." And with those words the wolf claims her and she flings herself at Molag Bal with a mighty howl and the two crash to the muddy water stained with so much blood.

Jeziasi's fangs snap on anything that is still Argonian. His claws rend into her fur and flesh and yet she ignores the pain to continue the fight. At last, an opening and her jaws snap down on his throat savaging it and yet even that is not enough to fell him and his tail snaps around her neck again as he flings her off of him to crash into the water as he stands. Once more she leaps at him. A flash of his claws and she howls in agony as they pierce her chest. Molag Bal laughs as he lifts Jeziasi into the air as her wolf leaves her and he brings her closer and grips her face in his clawed hands and he asks her one last time. "Submit, my former mate."

The color seems to bleed out of the world as the strength starts to leave Jeziasi. Blood...so very much blood. "I...will never submit," she growls, defiant even in the face of certain death. "I will come for my son. I will come for you," she promises. Death had taken her before. Mannimarco's knife across her throat, and she had awoken in the nightmarish plane of Coldharbour. And yet she returned from there. Forever different, and not truly mortal. The smallest of facts she had never let herself dwell on. But now, if it was enough to bring her back from this, she welcomed it.

An unholy laugh as Molag Bal's eyes locks onto hers. "You deny me even as your blood splatters on the ground, even as life leaves you," he says. "You are right, Jeziasi. Never before has a mortal like you existed. Reborn in Azure Plasm as one of my soul shriven only to return to life, only to take back your soul. And you made pact with Hircine, insuring if you truly are reborn as the Daedra are, you will be reborn in your Prince's realm." A look of infinite cruelty grows in his eyes and fear pierces through the Vestige. "You think to reform and come for me, to come for your son. You very well might have. But my former mate, I will take even that from you. You will die and forever be separated from your son," he hisses, and then blue Daedric energy swirls in his claws and surges into her taking which makes her more then mortal. Taking the only chance she had beyond death to come for her son and Jeziasi throws her head back and screams, one of utter loss and despair as Molag Bal laughs and then throws her into the water. "Now, watch as our son sings the death knell of this world. Knowing you have lost everything." He turns from her and walks away.

Jeziasi's eyes slowly close and by sheer force of will, she forces them open. After the war ended, the cold remained. That is what it had been. A part of her that belonged to Coldharbour. That would return it there when she died. Only becoming one of Hircine's wolves had lifted it. She would...have returned to her Prince's realm when she died. Not as a fallen wolf but as something else? But now... now she would never know. Never... Jeziasi howls. Weak but still containing a flash of strength. Not a howl of pain or a cry for help. A howl for her son. All she wants is to see him one last time. And that desire is the only thing that keeps her eyes open. The only thing that keeps her from fading from this world. "V..iper," she whispers.

---

-In the Depths-

The battle lost. The war, nearly so. The sounds of battle fade and Keerasi-Zish and Death watch as Viperish Night stalks away from the fallen heroes to watch the fight between Swims-In-Silence and their Egg-mother. How she had bested the Daedric Prince. Struck a fatal blow in his mortal form. And then how everything had gone so horribly wrong. The world starting to shatter, the Daedric Prince refusing to surrender as he forced himself into Nirn. Their Egg-mother never once gave in. Fighting with impossible strength and courage until she could fight no more. As the final blow was struck Keerasi-Zish shattered. Death shattered. All hope gone. Everything gone and both lower their heads until her song reaches them, even in the depths. Their Egg-mothers howl to her son reaches even here. "Egg-Mother," Keerasi-Zish whispers, echoed by Death and at that moment both have one wish only, to be with their Egg-mother. The memory shatters and the Life and Death aspect float in the dark depths. As their eyes meet a flash of light and then there is only one, where two stood. Life and Death, united as one in body and soul. Keerasi-Zish throws his head back and howls.

---

Viperish Night watches his Egg-father rend his Egg-mother into the mud and starts to laugh until a shard of agony courses through him. The Daedric aspect throws his head back and screams. "I will not return to the depths!" Viperish Night screams but the force of Death and Life united at last overwhelms him as the depths claim him once more.

Slowly the dark scales with crimson markings fade to grey with copper stripes. The dead withered feathers spring to life and when he opens his eyes they are crystal clear once more. Slowly he moves through the water until he comes to a stop in front of his Egg-father. Rage? He is beyond rage. Beyond pain and despair. "Leave," Keerasi-Zish hisses staring up definitely at Molag Bal.

Shock crosses the Daedric Prince's face but before he can say a single word glowing metallic chains shoot up from the ground wrapping around the Daedric Prince's neck, tail, limbs, and slowly his Daedric self is forced back to Coldharbour leaving only the mortal shell behind. ~End him. Now. I will deal with further punishment later.~

Words from a source of power, a voice he has never heard. And they bind his Egg-father in his mortal shell, and bind him in silence. All this monster has done to him and his Egg-mother. All the pain and despair. Once he wanted to murder him as slowly as possible. But now? Now revenge does not matter. His Egg-Father does not matter. Only his light in the dark world he was thrust into matters. "You are not worth it," Keerasi-Zish says and with a quick slash of his claws against Swims-In-Silence's throat, it is over. The chains glow brightly and the Daedric Prince's mortal shell disintegrates as Keerasi-Zish continues past him.

The rain falls from the sky upon her face as she stares up at the clouds. And at last, her son comes to her. His eyes, so much like hers, and they stare down at her filled with so much love, and so much sorrow as he kneels beside her and takes her hand in his. "Egg-mother," Keerasi-Zish whispers as the tears start to fall. "I tried. I could not wrest myself from the depths in time. I wanted to swim to you. You who love me. You who swam to me all this time. You who are my light in the dark."

Jeziasi's eyes fill with tears as she gazes up at her son with love. All the strength she has left allows her to raise her arm to cup his face in her hand. "So much time we never had," Jeziasi whispers. "What we had, I will never forget."

Keerasi-Zish makes a small keening sound and falls beside his Egg-mother, his forehead against hers. She's so very cold and yet she fights to stay with him even as death pulls her forever away. "I never wanted to fall so far," he whispers. "If not for you, I would have never known love enough to save me. Never found my true family. Never united with death, never. And you, you gave everything for me. I should have never been hatched."

A lance of pain through her at his words. "Never say that," Jeziasi growls and he pulls back slightly to look into her eyes. "You are worth everything," she says. "I will never regret going with Swims-In-Silence because it gave me you. I was broken and missing so much. And I never knew what until you. I wanted a family. I wanted you. You...are worth the world. Never forget that." Slowly her hand falls from her face and she shudders slightly. "I love you. More than Nirn, more then anything. Swim your river. Be free."

Another keening sound and he once more presses his head against hers as if his mere presence is enough to bring her back from the brink. "I love you, Egg-mother. Please do not leave me. You promised you would not leave me!" Keerasi-Zish pulls back and the last thing he sees in his Egg-mothers eyes is overwhelming love as they slowly shut. One last breath and she goes still and silent. Keerasi-Zish stays shaking against her for long moments before he throws his head back and howls his loss to the world.

When the howl fades overwhelming despair grips Keerasi-Zish. Once more, he has lost what he loved. In the past, he drowned in the loss, the pain. He tried to drown the world in it. Slowly his eyes open and he looks around. The dead that stand frozen awaiting orders. They would drown the world if he so desired it. But... his eyes fall on the heroes. Those who once tried to kill him, but in the end helped him. Softly-Spoken-Crab who had been so gentle with him, without a trace of hatred in her eyes. Rufico who had come for Death and understood him. Iveryni who kept the Daedric aspect at bay. Theodyn, who helped saved his Egg-mother from the dark. And then his eyes fall on Zirasha, who lies as still as the heroes. The broken Altmer who swam in blood for him, but who started to change as his Egg-mother brought light to all of them. Tyranius. The brute who wanted war, and yet fought to protect his pack as fiercely as a bear, and in the end that is what he became. His pack, his family. And lastly, all the mortals of Nirn. Those who fell under his song of death. Those who came to fight, even when it seemed hopeless. Keerasi-Zish lowers his head. Would it ever end? Even if he fought to his last day the Band sung a song of despair. It came from his Egg-Father. And the Daedric aspect would one day covet the power again and try to drag him into the depths and it would all begin anew. And... he no longer wants this. No longer wants to drown the world in his pain. No longer wants THIS to be his river. And yet The Band of T'zlich is eternal, and forever bond to him. For long moments he stays utterly still and then he moves his claws to rest on the band. Slowly life and death magic grow and his claws grip it tighter. "Egg-mother," he whispers. "You wanted more for me, and you gave up everything to swim in my river of death to save me. For you... this will never happen again. You showed me another river, and I swim in it. Even... even if it was just for a brief moment of time." With those last words he lets the magic shatter the band and a wave of dark magic covers him and everything around him. With a burst of brilliant light it fades leaving nothing behind.

A burst of energy surges from the clearing radiating outward and when it hits the dead they burst into dust and return to eternal rest never to be disturbed again. The shock-wave continues throughout the Marsh, and to all corners of Tamriel. Silence descends upon the former battlefield and the storm, at last, quiets the clouds parting to let the evening sun shine down upon the survivors. Razum-dar speaks to one of the Thalmar and then moves to the clearing. There is nothing left behind. Viperish Night and his pack, gone. The four heroes, gone. Swims-In-Silence, gone. Jeziasi...gone. Sorrow fills the Khajiit's eyes. Somehow he knew as he looked into her eyes before she ran it would be the last he saw of her. And now? Now the war had ended. Now they had their victory, their after, but it was so very bittersweet.