Welcome to the seventh chapter! Sorry about the crappy beginning. As I said last time, it was originally a part of the previous chapter, so there's hardly any proper introduction. Yeah, I was simply too lazy to fix that.
Lunar Loon - Well written? Maybe. Well planned out? Not really. Sure, I have several files in Liquid Story Binder dedicated to Azirra's and Ted's backstory, skills, inventory and disposition towards factions and one massive file about the economy of Morrowind, but the plot itself isn't really well planned out. I know the general direction in which I move things, but for the most part I simply let things flow on their own - if a character was given a lot of, well, character, one doesn't have to wonder what actions they will take in a situation, you just know. So all it really takes to write a story with such characters is to make up circumstances in which they make desired choices. I sure didn't planned at first to spare Foryn Gilnith, but at one point I just knew outright killing him would clash with Azirra's approach to things. I love it when my characters gain so much life I can't just do anything I want with them. : )
Its your Uncle bourbon - Aaaand the prize for the shortes review goes to you! Still, thanks!
Guest - I played Morrowind after playing Skyrim, now imagine how I felt with reaaallyyyy slooooow movement and stupid combat system. Still finished the game without mods, but ever since then I always had at least two mods for these problems.
With that said, enjoy! There's some action, but don't expect too much, most of the chapter is filled with exposition and worldbuilding.
Shouting got old really fast. At first Ted was just screaming the most famous word in Dovahzul, with little success. After that he tried to take advice given in game by 'dragon sensei' Paarthurnax and meditate on the meaning of the word.
"Alright," said our protagonist after several minutes of pondering the usage of force. "Pushing, crushing, hitting, breaking, smashing and Jedi-ing your way out of trouble. To be a dragon is to be a force... no, THE force. If I won't do this now, I will never succeed."
The dragon faced the remains of the bandit. They were starting to stink. Ted closed his eyes and braced himself. When he opened his jaws, the entire world seemed to slow down and take a breath along with him.
This world is just a dream of a god... and a dream can be changed with your will.
"Fus!"
In the most holy part of the biggest city of Vvardenfell, a certain... being opened his eyes. For a second the perfect balance of the Godplace shifted, bringing his mind back to the mortal realm... As much as it was possible, that is. He frowned. He didn't feel that since the day in which the forests of Cyrodiil were banished from the reality itself. This time it was still much weaker and yet...
"Thu'um used by a godlike being... That is... Unexpected."
He attempted to return to his previous state to find the source of disturbance, but as soon as he did he was hit with another wave. And another. And another.
"Curious."
Locked.
"Oh well. Looks like Rithleen isn't home." Azirra shrugged and went downstairs to knock on Tyermaillin's entrance.
"Enter!" she heard from inside.
She did as asked and the first thing she saw was an Altmer in a robe leaning against the wall. He was frowning. The first thing she felt, on the other hand, was the blade of the sword on her throat.
She gulped and froze.
"We've seen you going to Cosades' house," said someone hidden behind the door, some woman. "Who are you and why did you meet with him?"
Azirra started sweating. She hoped her guess was right.
"Er... I'm Azirra... A new friend joined the circle?"
The sword left her throat and a Redguard woman walked into her field of view. She was wearing a strange suit of armor, as exotic as the one Habasi had, but different. Bulkier, among other things.
"See, Rithleen? I told you everything was alright, after all she hadn't even carried any weapons, and trying to overpower Caius in close quarters would be a suicide," said Altmer, probably Tyermaillin.
"In our line of work, you can't be too cautious." answered Redguard and she smiled. "I'll go get my gift," she added and left, closing the door behind herself.
"Sorry about that, Novice. Most of the time she is easy to get along with, but she doesn't mess around if Caius is in danger," apologized the Blade. Azirra smiled.
"No problem, I understand."
"Now that pleasantries are behind us, let's get to the point," said Tyermaillin, approaching the chest in the corner and opening it. "I have a few things that could be of use to a beginner, but I must know what your specialty is. No point giving you something that will be useless to you."
"I'll go join Mages Guild after I'm done with shopping, so anything in that field would be great."
"Ah, a fellow spell caster? Then, as my gift, I'll offer to teach you one spell, give you several cheap potions, or Journeyman's alembic. Take a pick."
Azirra pondered her choice. She could always buy some potions, but alembic and new spells were gifts that kept on giving.
"What spells are you teaching?" she asked.
"I teach spells from four out of seven schools of magic. Mainly Alteration and Mysticism, but I have also one spell from Illusion and Restoration. From Alteration, I offer weight modifiers and shields. From Mysticism, I have spells that dispell, reflect or absorb magic. The other two spells are Calm Creature and Resist Common Disease, both of which are self-explanatory."
"I think I'll take alembic after all. Absorbtion spells sound nice, but with alembic I can brew my own potions."
"Here you go then," Tyermaillin was about to give her the apparatus, but then he realized something. "Hold on, you don't have a bag or anything. Give me a second, I think I had an old backpack somewhere."
At this moment Rithleen returned with a big bundle.
"Alright newbie, I see you are about as well armored as a rat, so I have some armor for you. If you are more for sneaking than fighting, you can sell it, steel cuirass and helmet would fetch you a nice sum of gold."
Azirra gaped. Steel cuirass and helmet? She was no merchant, but even average combat equipment was worth quite a lot. It takes some time to make a breastplate, even from the best blacksmith.
"Really?"
"Really. I was using it when I began, but I decided to give up some of that protection for agility and bought myself bone mold armor." So that's what this material is... "Believe me, soon you're going to wish you bought a full suit of armor. I sure did when Caius send me on my first mission. Let me tell you, daedra are a pain in the ass."
Suddenly Azirra felt a lot less optimistic about her future.
Nine-Toes gave her moon sugar. He gave her freaking moon sugar.
She almost gouged out his eyes for such offense, but Argonian insisted that he didn't mean anything by it and that one agent at least pretending to be an addict is already too much. He was right about it being worth a lot, (Ra'virr the trader ended up crying with joy that he finally could restock his private supply. He also kissed her in excitement, for which he earned a slap to the face), so she forgave him. With money from Caius and Seyda Neen she had almost one thousand septims, something she couldn't even dream about back in Kvatch... And that's not including what would she get for armor if she were to sell it. The reason she didn't do it was the same for which despite so much gold in her backpack she felt endangered - a feeling that her very first task for Cosades might prove too challenging and cost her life. She slowly started to realize that adventurers earned a lot of gold, but saved little, since most of it went into increasing the chances of survival in their next quest.
With her resources reaching an all-time high, she bought a full set of expensive clothing. She wasn't one for dressing up nicely, (she learned there are more important things than the quality of one's clothes), but a well-dressed wizard was going to be treated much better than a skilled one. Sad, but true. She also bought a much cheaper set for travelling. Together it cost her almost three hundred septims. Then again, she picked a shop in High Town.
Outfitted like that, in the most expensive robes she could buy without putting her Survival Fund at risk, she entered the building of the Mages Guild.
...
The first two Guild members she met were wearing even more expensive dresses. Fuck.
"No, I'm afraid I cannot advance you in the rank just yet, Apprentice Galbedir. You have skills, I don't doubt that, but you still need to do more duties for the Guild," stated a Dunmer woman in a bored voice. Azirra had a feeling it wasn't the first time she had a talk like this one.
"Ranis, I belive you don't understand. I NEED that advancement. If Ajira advances before me..." The other elf, a Bosmer in the most stunning robes Azirra ever saw, had such an annoying voice the Khajiit was surprised Skooma Cat had not heard the breaking glass all the way in the Shivering Isles. Mad God or not, he would surely strike her down on the spot for such noise.
"First, don't address me by name, we aren't friends. It's 'Wizard Athrys' or 'Guild Steward'. As for Ajira, know that I too used to make bets like the one the two of you did and I understand how they work. I'll judge your actions and skills, nothing else. If you fail to advance before her, it will be because she was more useful to the Guild. We're finished here."
The Bosmer snorted and disappeared behind the corner of the corridor. The other woman looked at Azirra.
"Welcome. Sorry about that, some members sadly don't seem to understand how the advancement works. I'm Ranis Athrys, Wizard in the Mages Guild and Steward of this guild hall. How can I help?"
"Good morning. My name's Azirra. I wish to join the Mages Guild."
Athrys took a moment to take a good look at her and nodded.
"Since the Guild's reputation most likely won't suffer by accepting someone of your standing, I will enlist you as soon as you pass the entrance exam." Azirra nodded, calm on the outside, but already nervous on the inside. What exam? "However, before I'll let you join, I must make sure you understand the expectations and purpose of our organization. We are the ones responsible for providing magic services to the public. We teach spells, sell potions, scrolls and magical items, offer magical transportation, search for new applications of magic, and handle any magic related work government or third parties hires us for. All members have a discount for each other's services. As a new member, you will receive tasks from specific mages. Once you prove yourself, you will have the option to switch to a long-time position, such as guild guide, enchanter or teacher. In order to advance, you must show commitment in your work and in some cases prove your skills by passing exams, namely when advancing to Apprentice, Journeyman, Magician, Wizard or Master Wizard. Know that damaging the Guild's good name, working against the interests of the Guild, or committing a serious crime against other members will get you expelled and it can only be pardoned by the Archmage. Do you agree to those terms?"
Azirra just nodded. She wasn't sure she would manage to keep her voice even.
"In that case follow me. We will perform an exam downstairs, in the main hall. There's not enough place here."
As they were slowly descending into the basement of the building, our heroine's mind was descending into panic. She could cast some spells and brew potions, but that's all. No solid knowledge, no proper education. She knew how to bend fingers and what phrases to think to send a bolt of lightning into someone's face, but the theory behind it was unknown to her.
She could already see it - a long, massive table and behind it a row of old wizards, all looking at her intently and searching for any mistakes...
So you can imagine her surprise when at the bottom of the stairs she found herself in quite cozy and a little bit messy room. There were some bookstands and bench to her left, while to the right she saw a tiny 'lecture hall', if a small space sheltered from the rest of the room with paper walls could be called that. Further in was a similarly screened area with beds for the guild members and on the opposite side a few desks. At the opposite wall was an entrance to the small room with some complicated runes on the floor. There was even some pretty plant growing in the center. Several mages were reading something at the bench, but no one reacted to their entrance.
"Well, cast your spells."
Azirra blinked. Was she really so deep in thoughts she missed something vital?
"I'm sorry, did you said something?"
Guild Steward sighed.
"I asked you to cast your spells. As far as I know there's only one meaning to that sentence," stated Ranis Athrys coldly, clearly not liking it when others paid no attention to what she said. She pointed to her right. "If your repertoire includes Destruction spells, aim them at that cracked wall over there, we reinforced it for such purposes. Show spells from at least three different schools and one extra. And please, don't set anything on fire."
Spells... She had to cast spells. That she could do. Alright... Here comes the first one. Azirra extended all fingers and with a flick of the wrist she cast her oldest spell, Spark.
"That's one. Continue."
Not changing the position of her fingers, she extended her arm in front of her and cast her second spell, Fire Bite, coating her hand in a cloak of flames. She learned it mostly so that she could easily make a campfire. To her disappointment it wasn't as effective as she expected, but at least it was useful in a fight.
"That's two spells from Destruction school. Now something from others."
Now only the pointing finger and the middle one were extended. What Azirra didn't know was that while those particular gestures during the spellcasting were helping stabilize the flow of mana, it was unnecessary unless conducting really advanced spells, though it wasn't detrimental in any way with simple ones. After a short mental command, she was enveloped in a blue light.
"Ah, that's Restoration. One of the spells in Balyna's series, correct?"
"Yes, Balyna's Soothing Balm. For small cuts."
"Carry on."
Azirra extended all fingers except for the thumb and, after a barely noticeable sheen covered her body, her coloration started to match that of surroundings behind her. A great spell if someone you would rather not meet was searching for you.
"One of the Chameleon spells, Illusion school. That makes four spells and three schools. Welcome to the Guild."
Azirra frowned. That's what they were calling an exam? Though, truth be told, if she asked for six spells, Azirra would be in trouble.
"Not that I oppose, but... Wasn't this a bit easy?"
Athrys sighed.
"It was. Sadly, the one in charge of establishing the rules of the entrance exam was a new Archmage of the Morrowind branch of the Guild, Trebonius Artorius. And that's relatively well done work when it comes to him. As you can guess, his assistant's task ever since then was making sure the most important documents were already filled and introduced to him as 'just a formality you need to sign'."
There are freeloaders everywhere you look. Yep, this sure is a part of the Empire, thought Azirra with a smile.
"You have the rank of Associate now. I don't have duties for someone of the lowest rank. Ask Ajira about it, she surely has some small tasks. Once you've finished several, and learned more spells, you can ask me about the advancement. Apprentice Dren!"
An older Dunmer wizard, who up until now was lost in the book at one of the desks, lifted his head.
"Hm?"
"Please, give our new member a tour. I must return to my duties, someone at Council Manor wanted to speak with me. Once I'll return, I'll prepare your paperwork, Associate. Goodbye."
After that Athrys left the room. Dren shook his head.
"Typical. Now she believes herself too good to do some introductions."
"Is it really so bad?"
"Bad? It's not terrible, but she's getting on everyone's nerves. She simply wants respect. The problem is, she doesn't deserve it. All she does is bullying mages from outside of the Guild, both Telvanni and independent ones. It will end badly, I just know it." The wizard sighed. "Oh, but that's not really my problem. I'm Marayn Dren, Apprentice. I sell spells from the four schools of magic and train in efficient use of three."
"Name's Azirra. There's a difference between teaching spells and training in magic?"
"Of course there is. By 'selling spells' I mean selling books augmented with magical potential. If you are talented, you will learn a spell after reading it once, but not everyone is brilliant. Some need to take their time and continue reading even after the original teaching spell dissolves or even ask someone to show them what is it all about. Anyway, come, I'll introduce you to others."
The first person they met was surprisingly an Orc woman. She was searching for something on the bookcase.
"That right there is Sharn gra-Muzgob, our resident researcher and necromancer."
She immediately stood upright and turned around with dangerous fire in her eyes.
"I am NOT a necromancer! Stop saying that, it's not funny!"
"Oh, you know I don't mean anything by that."
"Yes, but not everyone knows you. Someone might get a wrong idea and away I go, taken by Ordinators."
Ordinators?
"I'm sorry, I'm new to Vvardenfell. Who are Ordinators?"
Sharn gra-Muzgob smiled bitterly.
"Holy enforcers of the will of the Gods and protectors of the Tribunal Temple... If you ask their priests, that is."
"And if you question anyone else, they will tell you they are a band of thugs who break the legs of anyone who earns their ire," added an old Altmer woman with white hair tied in a bun, who sat nearby in a chair. "I'm Estirdalin. I teach and sell spell books as well. I'm sorry, my hearing isn't so good anymore, what is your name?"
"It's Azirra." She was slowly getting tired of repeating her name so many times in one day. "The local religion holds an armed force? How is this legal?"
"It's all in the Armistice," explained the Orc. "It was signed back when the Empire was still expanding. Tiber Septim and Vivec met in person and, to ensure peace, they came up with terms on which Morrowind would become an imperial province. The Empire got a figurehead king chosen by the Emperor, reduction of Morrowind's military force, law to run mining operations, monopoly of magical services for our Guild and, most importantly, the Numidium, with which Septim walked all over the Summerset Isles. The Armistice gave Dunmers many rights protecting their culture, Great Houses were given a lot of political power, slavery remained legal, the Temple is free to persecute religious dissidents and Morrowind became the only province in which necromancy is illegal."
Khajiit's ears moved. Wow, I dodged an arrow back in the exam...
"You sure would know, Sharn."
"Shut up, Marayn. Look, I must finish this assignment for tomorrow, can you bother someone else?"
The Dunmer shrugged.
"Fine. Come on, Azirra, there are two more people I would like you to meet."
After that they entered a small room in the back. In one corner was a big platform covered in runes. In the opposite end was a desk covered in the alchemic ingredients. There were two mages here, a Breton next to the platform and a Khajiit behind a desk, who right now was grating something in the pestle.
"Over there stands Masalinie Merian, our lovely guild guide. She can teleport you to any other guild hall, as long as you can pay a modest fee."
The mage rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, Marayn, stop hitting on me. Just because you are the only man in this building doesn't make you a big deal."
The other Khajiit chuckled and stood up.
"This one is Ajira, guild alchemist. It is nice to know another one of my kind will live under the same roof. Welcome to the Guild, sister."
Azirra smiled.
"I'm Azirra. It's the second time this day I was called that by a fellow Khajiit. Are all Khajiits close to each other in Vvardenfell?"
Ajira's fur bristled. The heroine looked in confusion at such reaction.
"Please, friend, I know it's a lot to ask for, but... If we talk with each other, can you avoid speaking like that? It always disturbs me greatly when a Khajiit talks like not Khajiit. And yes, Khajiits of Balmora, Pelagiad and Vivec are close to each other."
"I..." started Azirra, but quickly corrected herself, seeing Ajira's twitching tail. "This one will try, but no promises. Azirra is from Cyrodiil, not Elsweyr."
"Well, I believe my job here is done," stated Dren. "I doubt you would want to meet that brat Galbedir for anything not related to enchanting. Oh, one more thing, as a guild member you can sleep in one of the beds and use one of the chests to store your stuff. You can get a key from Athrys once she returns. See you later."
Ajira wasted no time engaging Azirra in another talk.
"So, if Azirra just joined the Guild, Athrys surely told you to ask Ajira for some duties."
"She did. You have something for me?"
"Mhm. It's not a hard task, but one that takes time and requires to take a small trip. Ajira is preparing two reports on local flora and their alchemic uses. Athrys allowed Ajira to assign duties that would help her finish this task. And there's a rather big problem... Ajira has an allergy for mushrooms."
Azirra shifted uncomfortably.
"So do... So does Azirra."
"Oh." The other mage frowned. "That is troublesome. Ajira knows how terrible the allergy is, but Ajira assures you that if you take that burden, it will be a great boon to your advancement. This one will also add four minor health potions as a payment. Please, don't make Ajira do that herself!"
"Alright, alright! It's not the first time I've... Sorry, Azirra has done that. What mushrooms do you need?"
"First, Luminous Russula. Short and smelly toadstool, it's brown on the top. Next is another toadstool, Violet Corpinus. It has a long stem and actually glows in the dark. Bungler's Bane and Hypha Facia both are brown and grow on trees, the second one is smoother and it's color is slightly lighter. Unlike Bungler's Bane it is also not poisonous."
"Uh..." Azirra patted her pockets, but realized she didn't bought any kind of paper. "Can you write it down? I don't have a pen and paper on me."
"Sure, here, take Ajira's original assignment. Everything is there." Ajira handed her a small note. "You can find all mushrooms on the Bitter Coast. When you leave the city by the south gate, follow the Odai River until you see a wooden bridge. Don't cross the bridge, just go west over the hills and you are there."
"Then Azirra guesses she'll go there soon, maybe even today. Say, you know people around, who should this one ask about Destruction spell books?" asked Azirra. All this Khajiit talk was wearing her down.
"Athrys knows the best spells, but her services are for upper ranks only. Marayn sells some Destruction spell books, but if my memory is right his spells only increase the weakness to a spell, not deal actual damage. For that go to the Altmer, Estirdalin."
"Thanks. Azirra will be going now."
"Until next time, sister."
In the end Azirra bought two spell books from an old Altmer: Poison, which was a distance spell of average strength, and Poisonous Touch, which was even stronger, but limited in the range. Spell books sure were expensive - they were, next to armor, amongst the most demanding things to make. Scribes had to work hard entire day just to make a single, small book. And that's just the cheap ones, without those fancy letters. An enchantment, which made it easier to learn a spell, also was costly - the more advanced the spell, the bigger the price. In other words, don't act so surprised at the fact she now only had a little bit over two hundred septims. Still, a good investment in her lifespan, few enemies are resistant to poisoning spells.
At the moment, our heroine was bracing the hills Ajira told her about. And damn, they were steep. Think forty fives degrees steep, on both sides. Of course, that's when she stumbled, just as she was almost in the swamps of Bitter Coast.
"Son of a...!"
*SPLASH*
There. Now she indeed was in the swamps of Bitter Coast.
With the exception of this single accident, which thankfully dirtied only her traveling clothes (and fur, can't forget about that, it takes a lot of effort to get rid of mud in one's fur), her trip up until then was undisturbed. A small... worm thingie, that's what she decided to call it, couldn't really count as a disturbance. The disgusting pest jumped at her just south of the city and the Khajiit heroically squashed the vermin under her foot, thus giving her contribution to public safety.
Finding 'shrooms was easy, they were everywhere - that's what both her eyes and nose told her. What her senses failed to inform her about was much more important than some spores in the air.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A Khajiit all on their own?"
...I'm so dead.
Not even few meters away from her stood two very different people. One was a nervous, skinny and poorly dressed Khajiit. The other...
"Don't you know that in this land a Khajiit going around on their own is asking to become a slave? You sure don't look like you can take care of yourself. Not even armor or a weapon to protect yourself." A male Dunmer, outfitted with iron cuirass, greaves and boots.
Double crap. I left my armor in the backpack... Don't act so surprised, would you put on armor just for a mushrooming?
"It would be risky for me to travel with two slaves at once... Too dangerous..." Thank gods. "Though... I only just left Hla Oad. If you were to, let's say, faint, it would be my duty as a citizen to bring you somewhere away from the dangerous wilderness... Where you could wait at my return from my little trip with Rabinna..." Gods, I hate you!
Azirra decided to not give the Dunmer the advantage of first move. With a wave of her hand she sent a green ball of magic right into his gut, making him gasp and take a step back. Judging by the sudden change in the coloration of his skin, the spell was a success, which in itself was amazing - she only opened both spell books back at the Guild just to use the enchantment, she hadn't done any reading.
And yet the Dunmer started holding his stomach as if any moment now some kind of a parasite would jump out of it. That... was disturbing. Disturbing and... kind of awesome?
Sadly, once her enemy stood up straight with gritted teeth, she realized the spell wasn't meant to beat someone on its own, but rather distract the enemy. An opportunity wasted, I suppose.
"You will pay for that."
The Dunmer pulled out a short iron sword. Judging by the gray shine, it was enchanted, as if she wasn't already done for. Azirra's eye twitched.
"Before this day ends, you will know the true meaning of pa... ARGH!"
This time he was shocked with her Spark.
"You really talk too much," commented Azirra in a voice that almost convinced her she wasn't actually dying of fright. She knew very well that Spark was useful only for scaring away rats.
"I changed my mind. I'll just kill you." This time, instead of talking even more, he snarled and ran towards her.
Azirra, not encumbered by armor, dodged the first and second strikes, if just barely. The Dunmer however had no intention of playing fair and, instead of continuing an attack with his sword like any proper swordsman would, he punched her in the face with his empty hand when she tried to get around him. Azirra landed on the ground with a bleeding nose.
"Eh heh heh..." chuckled the Khajiit, no longer hiding her panic. I'm going to die. "Can't we just talk about it?"
"Do I look like someone who wants to?" asked the Dunmer with a grin.
"I don't know. My life is flashing in front of my eyes and it covers everything."
"A joker, huh? Good for you. You will really need some laugh in the Void." The slaver lifted his sword.
That's when Azirra decided to play dirty herself and tossed a handful of sand in his eyes.
"RAAAAAAGH! You bastard!"
The Khajiit got on all fours and jumped with her claws extended.
Armor is a good protection, but it won't save your ass if it doesn't cover your throat in this sort of situation. For the slaver Relam Arinith, it didn't.
Azirra, who's entire life's combat experience ended at giving others burns or kicking men in the crotch, was looking in dread as the Dunmer choked on his own blood, while more of it was pouring out his armor, on the ground and her hands, still lodged in his throttle. She jumped back and saw as, no longer supported by her grip, the dying body fell. The fall was slow, as if a great tree was giving in to the power of time. When it hit the ground, only the lifeless eyes of the man she murdered looked back at her - the soul that used to hid behind them was already on the way to Etherius. It was one thing to prepare for a day in which she would have to kill in self-defense, and completely another to do the deed.
I'm a murderer, was all that Azirra was thinking. Right now, it didn't matter that he wanted to enslave her and then kill her. It didn't matter he was the one who started it or that he most likely had done something like that many times before. Just this one fact. I killed him.
A frightened sobbing was what brought her out of her somber, full of dreaded thoughts. Once the other Khajiit, now cowering on the ground, noticed Azirra looking at her, she yelped and curled up on the ground, not caring about the presence of mud.
"Sera, do not hurt Rabinna!" cried the miserable Khajiit. What... "You killed bad master, but do not kill Rabinna! Rabinna good slave, Rabinna useful! Rabinna will serve, Rabinna will..."
"Stop, just... just stop." Azirra had no words for this. "You are, uhh, free, yes. So..."
She yelped when the other Khajiit had crawled over to her and hugged her feet.
"No! Rabinna is a slave, Rabinna must have a master... A slave without a master is just... dead."
At first Azirra thought Rabinna was broken beyond repair if she said such things, however she realized there was some truth to her words. Slaves had nothing. If left alone in the wild, they were doomed to perish. The young mage gulped. She could do one of the two things. Her first option was to tell her she was on her own, and wish her good luck. The only other choice was to ask her to follow... but follow where?
"Rabinna, was it? Do you have any family, friends?"
"Rabinna had a family... in Elsweyr... Haven't seen them in a long time."
Of course, it would be too easy.
"First, please stand up." The request was hastily fulfilled. "Is there anyone in Morrowind who helps slaves?"
"...Rabinna heard there was someone. Twin Lamps. They fight masters and free slaves. My master was often angry about them. Kept saying they were stealing all workers and giving them all to the Argonian Mission in Ebonheart and they were sending everyone home."
Azirra frowned, trying to remember what little she was told by the scout back in Seyda Neen. Note to self, I really need to buy a map.
"It's west of Vivec, right?" Vivec, the capital... Well, not really, she was pretty sure the true capital of Morrowind was on mainland, but here, in Vvardenfell, the city of Vivec was the biggest. The most important part? It would require a lot of walking to get there. "He mentioned some town... Was there some sort of travel services where you two came from?"
Once it became clear to her she couldn't just leave the other Khajiit on her own, (she valued being able to sleep at night, thank you very much), and decided having her around would just burden her, it was obvious she could only dump the problem on someone else. Someone who had time, money, and guts to do what she couldn't.
At least that's what she kept telling herself. The truth is... just a few days ago, she was a lot like this slave. She would help her because she wished someone had helped her back then with no strings attached.
"There are ships and boats. Rabinna doesn't know if there were any to Ebonheart."
"Let's go check it then," concluded Azirra, but stopped half-step. "But first... Help me throw the body into this pond over there so that no one will find him, after we remove the armor that is. Also... do you have an allergy for mushrooms?"
You have no idea how boring it is to be a peaceful dragon. If this is how bored Alduin felt in the Merethic Era before the Dragon War, no wonder he decided to liven things up.
Seriously, dragons had very few activities. Hunting, fighting, flying, half-sleeping. That's it. There was no TV, no computer, no books, not even just another person to talk with, since mortals would just run away screaming. He had no intention to fly to Skyrim just to meet Paarthurnax, he wasn't that desperate. It's not like he could fly to some settlement and enter a tavern.
Once he got rid of the bloody mess with several uses of Fus (which, by the way, got old really fast when there were no urns and NPCs to send said urns at), he spent a short while fangirling. After he managed to calm down, he decided to take a flight. Nothing else to do.
I think I'm getting better at it, thought Ted while increasing his altitude so much he could see a big chunk of southern Vvardenfell just by looking down. The sight was truly marvelous, if a bit somber.
At least a half of southern Vvardenfell was covered by ash, which Sahqo-Strunmah, Red Mountain, generated over the centuries. Right under him began Molag Amur, an area so unhospitable that Sauron would mistake it for his Mordor. Even with how far Ted could see in his position he could barely notice the eastern edge of this cursed land and the small city of Molag Mar. To the north was an even more ominous sight - the Ashlands and Red Mountain itself. Even now, when weather in the visible part of the province was just perfect, there was a grim, dark red cloud hanging over the greatest volcano of Tamriel... A cloud that wasn't exactly natural. Storms carried the ashes cursed by the Devil himself, so that one day he can invade the very minds of the people of this land. Ted subconsciously squinted his eyes and in relief he noticed the fortress of Ghostgate and the magical Ghostfence were still standing tall, warding off the seat of power of the terrible Dagoth-Ur.
From his elevated position, he could also see Balmora, the second biggest city in Vvardenfell. The city of trade, from which West Gash started. Those citizens who would look up at this moment probably would assume he was some sort of a bird or a cliff racer, if they would notice him at all - that's how high he was flying.
To the west stretched the Bitter Coast, a long streak of dark green swamp, interrupted only in one place by gray mountains... The mountains that were his place of origin in this world. Somewhere under those trees were the villages of Gnaar Mok, Hla Oad and Seyda Neen, mostly hidden from his sight.
The dark green of Bitter Coast yielded to the lighter shade of the Ascadian Isles somewhere around the capital of the district. This place was a proof that Vvardenfell wasn't a land of just fire and ash – the beautiful Lake Amaya surrounded by fertile lands became a heart of the island. Across the Isles cities and towns of Suran, Pelagiad, Ebonheart and, most importantly, Vivec stood proud. Even at this distance Ted still could see all nine cantons of the massive metropolis. There was however one tiny detail that made him frown.
Vivec was the only city in Tamriel that had a freaking moon hanging over its border. A moon that, once god Vivec will lose his power, will fall and start a reaction that will break this land forever. Forget Dagoth-Ur and his twisted armies of abominations, this was a Majora's Mask all over again... But even worse because there would be no Link to save the day.
It was then that Ted realized he wouldn't be able to just sit back and watch as almost the entire province dies... Just like he wouldn't be able to ignore the Oblivion Crisis, the floating island of Umbra, Thalmor's rise to power and civil war in Skyrim... Not with knowledge how many people would die, how many would suffer... Not with how much he knows about what is going to happen.
"I don't have to act," stated the dragon, lowering his altitude so that he was almost grazing the tips of mountains of Molag Amur. "I really don't have to, since in the end the mortal kind as a whole will be alright... But I WANT to. I don't want to see this land on fire, I don't want Martin to die, I don't want Ulfric to start the war just because he believes he's responsible for the fall of the Imperial City. I just can't ignore all of that. I'll change what is going to happen. That's my... duty... my purpose." Suddenly his eyes widened, not at the orange clouds that were coming in his direction, but at sudden realization.
"Aak. Guide. That's what I'll be. Not a schemer or a leader, just... a guide. To those who listen to a Word Forging Dragon. To those who can change the history. A guide... of Heroes. Being a dragon I can't intervene in subtle ways by myself, but they can." Ted smiled, even as the flying conditions were getting worse with every second. The name... He finally found his new name.
I don't know much about Eternal Champion of Arena, so I'm useless for him, or her, if it's even the time of Imperial Simulacrum, the same goes for the Apprentice and, what was their name again... Soul of Conflict, yes. And fuck the Agent with his Numidium, I'm not getting close to something that erases people from the history. Hero of Dawnstar, even if it's his time, which I doubt, did just fine on their own. Not to mention their task wasn't so important, just like that of, pfff, Master Tunnel Rat. I still can't believe they named him that... And that the final boss in that silly game was a prison warden. Vestige and Cyrus lived long before the Empire of Septims appeared in Morrowind, so there's no need to worry about them. That leaves only the most important trio... the Nerevarine, the Hero of Kvatch, and the Last Dragonborn.
Ted landed atop of some ancient Dwemer tower. Everywhere he looked he saw ash or lava. Not that he could see far, mind you, by now the ash storm was in full swing. He decided to wait it out. Yes... It's not yet the time of the Last Dragonborn, since not all of Vvardenfell looks like that. In fact, I believe the story of the Nerevarine is about to begin, possibly very soon, if the presence of the Dwemer puzzle box means anything. Furthermore, I already changed the story, even if not on purpose. There's no way I can put that item back where the player would find it in the game, even the front entrance is tiny, not to mention it's a freaking rotating door made of Dwemer metal, I won't pass them just by hitting them with my head. Ugh, it means I'll have to watch it all the time to make sure I don't miss the Nerevarine...
Ted sighed and immediately started to cough, since some of the ash found its way into his mouth.
Damned ash. I don't know what it is protecting my eyes from it, but it sure doesn't help with the visibility.
"H-hello? Is someone there? Help!"
Ted turned his head in the direction from which voice came. There was someone walking through the storm at the bottom of the tower.
"Hello? Yes, I'm from Erabenimsun, but I promise, I have no ill intentions! I'm a bit lost, do you know which way to go to the coast? Where are you?"
Erabenimsun... Not the kind of people I would like to meet. Then again, I'm not the kind of creature anyone would like to meet.
"We are in... Uhh...," Damn, what was the name of those ruins again? I'm sure there were only one Dwemer ruins in the area... "I don't remember the name, but it's the Dwemer ruins to the west from your camp. As for me, I'm on the top."
The figure stopped, surprised both at his words and how well he heard them despite the storm, as if the speaker was right next to him, even though that wasn't the case.
"On the top of what?"
"The tower, of course."
The man looked up and froze. Ted smiled, presenting his sharp teeth to the world.
"Greetings. I am Rotheimaak, the dragon of Red Mountain. And you?"
The Dunmer fainted.
A/N:
Those of you who have at least six points in Perception in your SPECIAL skillset surely noticed that seven schools of magic were mentioned and that might have triggered some readers that I hoped to push away by throwind a human turned dragon into Morrowind. As most of you know, there are five schools in the last game. In Morrowind there are six - Mystycism disappeared somewhere between Oblivion and Skyrim (I bet Sheogorath had tried modding and ended up breaking the save). I, being a person that treats common sense as an optional ability, decided to apply scientific categorization to laws of magic and in the end I deemed it necessary that Enchanting, which clearly requires some knowledge of the arcane, should also count as a school of magic, even if it doesn't have spells you can use outside of enchanting table. If giving an object magical properties is not a field of magic, then I don't know what is. The other difference from the game are ranks of Ajira and Galbedir. Do you know that, according to game files, bratty Bosmer already is a Journeyman, which makes their bet illogical? That's not all. Ajira, who can give quests that will count into official guild duties, has the lowest rank, Apprentice. I don't know about you, but to me that sounds like terrible organisation. So here instead both Ajira and Galbedir have a rank of Associate, which is just below Journeyman. And one more bit of knowledge for those who for the first time see the term 'Skooma Cat' - it's one of the names Khajiit of Elsweyr have for Sheogorath (the other being Sheggorath). Why Azirra knows the term if she rarely met other Khajiits? Because if you have heard it once, you will remember, for you aren't going to forget something so ridiculous. Why Skooma Cat? Because according to Khajiits nothing is madder than a cat on skooma. If there are other things you do not understand, but you want to learn in a way that won't spoil too much, ask away - my response, even if delayed, will be safe to read.
Let's talk of the plot now. Azirra joined Mages Guild, some of you saw that coming. She will do many quests for them and will stay in their ranks... for some time (nope, that's totally not a foreshadowing, scout's honour). She also met Rabinna, easily one of the most miserable Khajiits in the history of the series. In the game, you could talk to her master Relam Arinith if you were to enter Camonna Tong's hideout in Hla Oad. The guy would offer you to escort his slave Rabinna to a man in Balmora. If you were to try talking with her on the way, you would learn she was too scared to speak anything at all. For a good reason - if you were to deliver her and not interfere, the man would kill her, so that he can get the real treasure - sacks of moon sugar Arinith forced her to swallow. So yeah - even with older graphics and absolutely no gore Morrowind can be more brutal than Skyrim. Fortunately, the solution presented in the fanfic is possible in the game as well. On another note, how do you like Ted's new name? Personally, I love it. It both makes sense and sounds nice.
We're slowly getting to the point in which two heroes meet again. Until next time. Favourite, follow, leave a review!