Chapter Twenty-one: Protector of People
NOTE: Some parts of this chapter have intentionally been altered from the original plot. This is because of the conversion from a game into a writing. Sorry.
When Merlac and Achen finally arrived back to the Urshilaku camp, they told Sul-Matuul and Nibani Maesa what they found from the Cavern of the Incarnate. They spent two entire days talking with the tribe leader, listening his warnings of how some people will mark Merlac as their enemy, now when he carries the ring of Moon-and-Star. Finally, however, Sul-Matuul had said everything he could, to help Merlac and Achen in their journey, and agreed to declare Merlac as Nerevarine of the Urshilaku tribe.
"Child of Moon-and-Star, kneel.", Sul-Matuul said, while standing in the middle of his large tent. Merlac slowly approached and kneeled in front of the old leader, as Achen and Nibani Maesa sat in the corner of the tent and watched the ceremony quietly.
"Before my heart and kin, and before the People of Wastes, I name you Urshilaku Nerevarine, War Leader of the Urshilaku, and Protector of the People. In token of this, I give you the Teeth, which shall be a sign to all Dunmer, that you are the Nerevarine, and that the Urshilaku shall follow you, in all things, even into death, until the Enemy is defeated, or until you give this back into my hand,"
Sul-Matuul put a necklace made from animal teeth around Merlac's neck.
"Rise, my friend and protector of my people.", he said.
Merlac rose up, smiled and Nibani and Achen applauded to him.
"Now, Nerevarine of Tribe Urshilaku, you must join the three Great Houses of Vvardenfell under one Hortator. You must be named Hortator in turn by House Redoran, House Hlaalu, and House Telvanni. I know little of the ways of the Great Houses, but first I would try the Hlaalu, for they are weak and spoiled, but cunning and crafty. Then I'd try Redoran, for they are warriors, hard-willed, but straightforward. Save the Telvanni for last. Anyone who is not afraid of a 2000-year-old wizard is a fool."
Merlac nodded determined.
"The khans of the Great Houses are called councillors. The khans of House Hlaalu meet in a place on a river far away. They call the place Balmora, Stonewood in our speech. You must find these councillors and persuade them to name you Hortator. I can tell you nothing about these people. You must go there and learn for yourself.", Sul-Matuul continued.
"I am familiar with the Great House Hlaalu, as I spent the first months there after arriving to Vvardenfell.", Merlac said.
"Good. You must go now, unite the Houses, unite the four Tribes. Force them name you as Hortator and Nerevarine. Protect their people, and they will fight for you, when the time requires it. Good luck, Nerevarine of Urshilaku, good luck, my friend.", the old ashkhan said.
Merlac and Achen left the tent quietly. They stood outside the tent for few minutes before looking at each other.
"So...I guess we have a lot to do, huh?", Achen said.
"Yeah... luckily I don't have to do it alone.", Merlac replied.
The two friends shook hands and started their long travel back to Balmora, where it all had started...
---
It was midday a week later when Merlac and Achen reached the walls of Balmora with a silt strider. They paid for the trip and walked down the rock stairs side by side. Merlac was wearing a dark-blue, formal robe he had bought from Ald'ruhn and Achen was dressed in a shiny, green glass cuirass, with a blue markings in the chest which marked him as Merlac's armorbearer.
"The Hlaalu councillors are not to be trusted, Merlac, they are run by money and connections. I suggest you don't believe a word they are saying, unless you get an unanimous vote."
"I know, visited their manor in Balmora almost daily while doing jobs for Caius few months ago. I wonder what they will say when we charge in and say what we are going to do."
"What if they don't even let us in?", Achen asked worried.
"They will, and when they do, the decision is not hard to make.", Merlac said with a blink in his eyes.
"Why not?"
"I have something for them that should help us persuade them to see our point.", Merlac said and tapped a large money bag hanging in his belt.
"And what if septims fail?"
"Them we use the second method.", Merlac said and tapped his longsword.
They arrived to the three-storey building which was decorated with large clothes with Hlaalu signatures in them. Merlac walked to the large doubledoors, closely followed by Achen, and knocked three times. Soon the doors opened and an old dunmer advised them to come in.
They walked into a small hall which had no windows, but it was given bright light by strange blue plants in the corners.
"Who has come to meet my master, Nileno Dorvays, mister...?", the old man asked.
"Tell him Merlac is here, he'll recognize my name."
The old man walked away and soon returned with a noble dunmer man, much younger than his servant.
"Ah, Merlac, I haven't seen you in a long time, I thought you left with Caius or something. I'm sorry but I'm a bit busy right now, as the councillors from Vivec are here discussing about some important matters, so please be quick. How can I help you?", Nileno said.
"I know the councillors are here, that is why I'm here. I wish to talk with them, is that ok?", Merlac asked politely.
"You... err... Hah, you're always joking, Merlac.", the nobleman said and gave a short laugh.
"No, I'm not joking, I wish to see the councillors immediately.", Merlac asked again, this time with more demanding voice.
"I'm not entertained anymore, please come back later, I must go back to the councillors now."
"I really must see the councillors, the rules of Hlaalu force you to allow me an audience with them."
"What? What kind of rule is that, I ask you?"
"I want them to declare me the Hortator of the Great House Hlaalu."
Nileno stared Merlac for few seconds and then burst into laughing tears.
"Whoa... that was a good one, now get out of here, I'm really busy, Merlac."
"I'm afraid I have to help myself then.", Merlac said and walked past Nileno and Achen followed him.
"Hey, you cant go there!", the nobleman tried as Merlac determinedly walked towards the assembly room's door.
Before Nileno was able to stop him, Merlac opened the assembly room's door and walked straight in. Inside the room was a large, round table with four Dunmer noblemen and one woman sitting around it.
"What is the meaning of this?!", the woman yelled and stood up.
"Mistress Velanda Omani, I'm extremely sorry for this incident, this man just wouldn't listen to me!", Nileno said.
"Well get him out of here, this is a private meeting!", the woman yelled.
"Right away, ma'am. Guards!", Nileno yelled.
Four armed guards with yellow bonemold cuirasses rushed in and surrounded Merlac and Achen. Merlac didn't even look at them, but stared at the councillors and spoke.
"I am Merlac, and I'm here to give you a word of warning."
"Nonsense! Take him out of here!", another man said and also stood up. The guards tried to grab Achen but he kicked one guard into chest and grabbed second one's hand. Merlac wrapped the sleeve of his left hand and conjured a bright stunning spell into both guards on his other side. Achen swinged his guard's hand and threw him against the last remaining guard.
The rest of the councillors rose up and were about to yell for help, but Merlac wrapped also his right sleeve and showed his palm. It took few seconds for the councillors to notice it, but one by one all of them turned their attention into the small golden ring in Merlac's finger.
Merlac waited until everyone was quiet and staring at the ring, until he spoke.
"My name is Merlac, and I'm the bearer of Moon-and-Star, the only one who can carry the ring of Nerevarine and live. I speak with Azura's blessing, when I say I've come here to ask for your help. I want you to name me as Hortator of the Great House Hlaalu, protector of your people."
Slowly, the councillors sat down.
"The Hortator of House Hlaalu? Are you mad, outlander?", One of the dunmer said finally.
"Why do you say so?"
"There is no need for Hortator, everything is in order in Vvardenfell, at least everything that considers our Great House."
"That is not true. I have come here to give you a warning about the Sixth House."
"The Sixth House?", another councillor asked. "There has been only little trouble with that cult and the Imperial legions are dealing with that."
"They cannot deal with the cult, as it is led by Dagoth Ur himself and his family.", Merlac said
A short silence filled the room, until it was broken by the woman councillor.
"Dagoth Ur? Are you crazy? He disappeared long ago, probably dead already!"
"I can assure you he is still alive, and in control of an army of ash vampires and other creatures. I must unite the three Great Houses of Vvardenfell to face this threat."
"Impossible, we would have noticed, there hasn't been any more movement inside the Ghostfence than decades ago, and even if there were, they can never get through the Ghostfence itself!"
"Have you noticed the spreading ash storms around Red Mountain? Or the epidemic blight disease among the animals?", Achen asked.
Some of the councillors looked like they were about to say something, but they remained quiet and looked at each other.
"Err... even if you would convince all Hlaalu councillors, the decision has to be made by Orvas Dren, the leader of our house. And even then, the three Great Houses of Morrowind will never unite against any enemy!", Nileno said finally.
"How do we know you are a capable war leader, anyway?", one of the men asked.
"I have already been declared the Nerevarine of the Urshilaku tribe. I have faced their traditional tests of warrior and wisdom, and passed them."
"Ashlanders, huh? We care nothing of them, their pathetic tests mean nothing to us!", the woman said angrily.
"I'm also the one who killed the ash vampire inside that Sixth House secret base some time ago."
"Nonsense, there were no ash vampire's body to be found there", the woman said.
"Err... that is actually not the case, ma'am...", a quiet man interrupted from the other side of the table.
"What do you mean?", the woman asked and all five other councillors stared at the man.
"Well... there was indeed some unusual ash to be found inside the throne room..."
"Why didn't you tell us this? Why didn't the imperial legions tell us this?", the woman yelled.
"Because there hasn't been ash vampires outside the Ghostfence since the dwemer wars, it would have launched a massive panic all over Vvardenfell!", the man replied angrily.
"Well, this changes the situation", an old man said.
"So what is your decision?", Merlac asked.
The six councillors stared each other and nodded.
"The decision is still up to Lord Orvas Dren, but yes... you have the unanimous support of the whole Hlaalu council to become the Hortator of the Great House Hlaalu."
"You have my gratitude", Merlac said and bowed politely."
"Umm... where can we find this Dren-guy?", Achen asked.
"He lives in his own plantation north of Vivec, but I believe he is currently in Vivec meeting Grassius Curio. You should find him there, and Curio will handle the formalities in case Dren accepts you as our Hortator.", Nileno answered.
"Very well, we will leave for Vivec then. Sorry for interrupting your meeting.", Merlac said and he and Achen politely left the manor.
"Ok, that wasn't so bad", Achen sighed.
"The Hlaalu are run by money, like I said. Any possibility of a blight epidemy or raging ash vampires would totally mess up their business, so they won't take any risks. I doubt the Redoran or the Telvanni will be as easy ones... and we'll still have to make Dren agree with us."
"Sigh... well, to Vivec it is then..."
---
"Would you like a cup of tea, pumpkin?", Grassius Curio asked with a sugary voice.
"Err... sure, please", Merlac answered politely.
Merlac and Achen had arrived to the city of Vivec and were currently sitting around a small, decorated table in Curio's personal manor in the Hlaalu canton. As the nobleman wobbled away, Merlac grinned and whispered to Achen.
"It seems little Grassius likes men...", he said.
"...but luckily he seems to be interested in you, might help us to get agreement from Dren.", Achen needled Merlac.
Suddenly, a dunmer male with a sharp beard walked to the room and sat down before Merlac and Achen managed to stand up.
"Yes, yes sit down please. You must be Merlac, the...err...the one who wants to be the one.", the man said.
"Orvas Dren, I presume?", Merlac asked politely.
"Yes, that is me. I got a magical letter from my councillors in Balmora just before you arrived. I have to say this is most unusual."
"Yes, but I hope you understand the threat Dago...", Merlac started, until the man interrupted him.
"I also heard the council has already given you unanimous support on behalf of the Great House Hlaalu, so it's up to my voice, yes?"
"Yes, so I underst...", Merlac began again.
"Well... I have to say I find this most uncomfortable. You see, if I name you the Hortator of House Hlaalu, the Tribunal Temple starts to breath on our necks, and that is never good for our business. They can't force us to leave this island, but they have the power to startle our partners and traders."
"I'm aware of that, that is why I'm ready to make a... personal donation, to the House Hlaalu, as an assurance.", Merlac said and dropped a rather large bag on to the table. "Ten thousand septims", Merlac said when he saw Dren's surprised look.
"Err... I appreciate your...donation, but..."
"I hope you do understand how it will affect your business, if the blight continues to spread and the creatures of Red Mountain start to threaten the security of Ghostfence itself?"
Though Merlac knew Dren wouldn't really believe in Ghostfence failing, he knew this had hit the right spot. Dren leaned back and stared the moneybag with his hands crossed.
"Can you promise you won't bring any disgrace to our House, in case no threat really exists?"
"I will take the blame completely on myself", Merlac said convincingly.
"Very well then. Grassius! Bring me the Belt of Hortator!", Dren yelled and put the moneybag into his pocket. Few seconds later Curio wobbled back to the room with a large teapot.
"You won't stay here for tea?", he asked looking sad.