Chapter Twenty: The Stories of the Dead
Merlac and Achen sat down on a large rock and started listening, as the first ghost, Conoon Chodala, kneeled in front of them and started telling his story.
"I was an ashkhan.", the ghost began. "I led my people against the Akaviri while the Cyrodiil dogs fled before them like Kagouti. I quested deep into the strongholds and Red Mountain, cleansing the unclean things in their own blood. I did not heed the councel of the women, and, to my shame, I craved glory, but never saw my real enemies. My axe and boots are yours, with my blessing."
The old ashlander tribe leader handed a pair of old boots and a sharp, enchanted axe to Merlac. Merlac thanked the man, and slowly the old ghost vaporized into air.
The next ghost slowly slid forward and stopped in front of Achen. It was a ghost of a young Dunmer man.
"I am Hort Ledd. I was not the one. But I wait and hope. Ask, and I shall tell you my story."
Achen nodded politely to the ghost.
"I died four hundred years ago, in the last days of turmoil and unrest after the Empire came to Morrowind. I was a thinker, not a doer, and though I was marked by the stars, I was not a hero. Take these things of mine. My bones won't complain."
The man kneeled, and put an old, brown robe and a small daedric cup with some words in it. "Ae herma mora altadoon padhome lkhan ae ai.", Achen read, but did not understand a word.
Again, the ghost vaporized and a third one took his place, this time a young woman, also a Dunmer.
"Welcome, Incarnate. I am Idrenie Nerothan. I was not the one. But I wait and hope. Ask, and I shall tell you my story."
Merlac nodded.
"I lived in the late years of the Tribunate, and behind the scenes, I helped us demoralize, then repel the Akaviri invaders. I knew nothing of the Nerevarine or Dagoth Ur until I took refuge with the Ashlanders. I died as a fool, trying to loot the ruined Kogoruhn in the Test of Warrior. Here, take these, maybe there is something in the world worth stealing."
The woman handed Merlac a complicated lockpick and a black robe, and then vaporized.
"I am Erur-Dan", the next ghost said and took the woman's place. Once again, the ghost said the same words about asking as the three ghosts before him.
"I saw Morrowind fall to the Empire. I lived through the humiliation of surrender, swore hatred and vengeance against Imperial and Tribunal alike for their betrayals. In later years, I despaired, and turned to Red Mountain, where I grew old and died fighting the blight and Red Mountain monsters. Take my weapons and armor, I have no further use for them."
The man handed a broken glass spear and a beautiful glass cuirass to Achen.
"My name is Ane Teria", said the ghost of an old imperial man. "I was a holy crusader of the Temple in the golden era of the Tribunate. I contributed substantially to the writings that were later suppressed by the Temple, and now would be called Apographa. I followed the Tribunal unquestioningly, to my regret. I never believed in the Nerevarine prophecies until it was too late. Take my humble possessions, with my blessing."
The old man handed Merlac an old dusty book labeled 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 12 and a steel mace.
When the old man's ghost had vaporized, only one ghost remained, floating in front of Merlac and Achen. She was a young girl, a peasant. She didn't look strange at any way, but something in the expression on Achen's face caught Merlac's attention.
"Err... Achen?", Merlac asked carefully.
"I've seen her before... haven't I?"
The young girl nodded.
"Where?", Merlac asked with a surprised expression on his face.
"In Caledra, few months ago. Her mother lived only few houses away from mine. Then suddenly, you just disappeared, and nobody found out where. There are still some notes around the village about a missing girl, named Peakstar."
The girl smiled and nodded again, and then looked at Merlac.
"Welcome, Incarnate, Moon-and-Star Reborn, Hortator, Nerevarine, Mourner of the Tribe Unmourned, Redeemer of the False Gods. I am Peakstar. I was not the one. But I wait and hope. Ask, and I shall answer, if wisdom guides me."
"Please, tell us your story", Merlac said politely.
"I am a failed Incarnate. So are all these who remain here with me in the Cavern of the Incarnate. I survived the blight, but fell in battle with an Ash Vampire. I could not master the arts of war. Nor could I learn the ways of the Great Houses. They would not have accepted me as Hortator. Please, take these few poor things... they are of no use for me..."
The girl handed Merlac a small bag of colorful stones, very beautiful ones, but did not vaporize away like the other ghosts.
"Umm... Peakstar?", Merlac asked carefully.
"Yes? You may ask about the journey that stands in front of you, and I shall answer if the wisdom guides me. I shall stay here until you no longer have anything to ask."
"Oh... very well then... Peakstar, you called me Moon-and-Star back then, what did you mean?"
The girl pointed at the small ring in Merlac's hand.
"You bear the Moon-and-Star, the ring of Nerevar. None may deny; you ARE the Nerevar reborn, the prophesied Incarnate. The Temple will know you as an enemy. Ordinators will mark you for Death, and the Tribunal Faithful of the Great Houses will hate and fear you. The doubters of the Tribes will test your strength and doubt your honor. You will be known. You must prepare, and be ready."
"What is a Hortator?", Achen asked.
"Your friend must go before the Councilors of the Great Houses and satisfy them, for only the Councils of the Great Houses can name you Hortator. I do not know the settled people of the Great Houses, and can offer you no councel."
"You also said something about the Ashlanders, that they should name me Nerevarine?", Merlac continued.
"You must go before the ashkhans of the Wastes People and satisfy them, for only the ashkhans of the Four Tribes can name you Nerevarine. Speak first with Sul-Matuul of the Urshilaku, and with wise woman Nibani Maesa, for of all the Ashlanders, they are wisest in the lore of the Incarnate, and you have already shown Sul-Matuul proof of your worth."
"Err... what is the point... umm... I mean, why do the Great Houses and the Ashlander Tribes have to name Merlac a Hortator and Nerevarine?", Achen asked.
"Dunmer of the Ashlands and Dunmer of the Houses have traditions of a War Leader set over all the tribes in times of need. First, your task is to prove to them their need. Then you must prove that you should be their war leader; the Nerevarine, for Ashlanders, the Hortator, for the Great Houses."
"Prove them their need? I don't understand...", Merlac said.
"To show them their need, you must tell them about the Tribunal, how they have adopted the profane tools of the Dwarves, how they have betrayed and misled their people, and give them proofs. You must tell them about Dagoth Ur, and the Sixth House, about their powers and plans, and how the Tribunal no longer has power to contain them."
"Any idea how Merlac can prove them he is a capable war leader?", Achen asked.
"Your friend must demonstrate his might in battle, his honor in speech and his wisdom in leadership. Nothing more, nothing less.", Peakstar answered.
"So... I must convince the three Great Houses and the four Ashlander tribes that they should name me a war leader, who must defeat Dagoth Ur and deny the Tribunal, the three Gods who are not really gods?"
Peakstar did not say anything, but only smiled, and vaporized away, leaving Merlac and Achen alone in the beautiful, small cave.
"Well, I guess we should head back to the Urshilaku camp them...", Achen said. Merlac just nodded quietly, while thinking what the ghosts had said. After the two companions had left, the candles slowly went out, one by one. Merlac thought he had walked a long path, but his journey had actually just began...