Chapter 14 — A Night to Remember
— A Dragon's Game —
Fun detail I discovered while studying magic under Moira.
Apparently, Wind Magic was completely unknown among mages. I taught her for a bit, and after only a few hours she had Wind Blades down.
A giddy Hagraven is a really odd sight. Amusingly, right after she also had her first breakthrough casting Enhance Pleasure, and to be honest, I should have known.
Dibella's magic is fundamentally selfless. Having sex to make it pleasurable for me instead of just for herself, is what allowed her to cast the spell.
Fire Magic has increased by 2 (74)!
Frost Magic has increased by 5 (66)!
Lightning Magic has increased by 7 (63)!
Wind Magic has increased by 3 (28)!
Illusion Magic has increased by 12 (41)!
Healing Magic has increased by 8 (41)!
Conjuration has increased by 10 (36)!
Mind Magic has increased by 6 (27)!
Necromancy has increased by 4 (16)!
Eromancy has increased by 14 (60)!
Alchemy has increased by 12 (33)!
Your Affection from Moira has increased to 60!
Learning from a teacher has earned you Spell: Magic Ward
Hagravens are randy. While Lydia didn't want sex more than once every few days save a few exceptions, Moira wanted at least trice a day, and not all of it was about learning Eromancy. Even then, my Dibella-given ability tired her out more often than not. There's been more than a few times when Lydia trained me in more mundane fighting methods while Moira was recovering inside.
Shield Proficiency has increased by 2 (40)!
Blade Proficiency has increased by 3 (35)!
Piercing Proficiency has increased by 4 (31)!
Your Affection from Lydia has, over the past time, increased by 10 (90)!
If it seems less effective, that's because it is. I'm getting less and less value from the same trainers. I think that this is why combat is so effective at raising my skills — both because it's a different opponent every time, and because everyone is doing their level best to kill each other, instead of holding back like in training.
Speaking of holding back, Moira doesn't. Therefore, she helped my train in Healing Magic simply by slicing me with the remarkably sharp claws she has for fingernails, while I healed myself up again. I should have got this idea earlier, but I'm still keeping it secret from Lydia. As my housecarl, she swore to keep me safe, and I don't need "What do women want?" to know that she wouldn't approve.
I really can't blame her for not wanting me to be in pain. I might even care more for her because of it. And while Moira likes me, and is very gentle in bed, she has no hangup about inflicting pain.
But back to my progression, I actually got surprisingly little. A perk and two spells.
Mind: Soothe
For 60 (92) seconds, calms a target up to level 4 + [Intelligence * 0.08] (52) at range. Calmed targets don't take hostile actions, but will remember everything that happens.
Cost: 200 Mana
Eromancy: Climax Link
Links you and your sexual partner, evenly dividing pleasurable feelings, and guarantees a simultaneous climax.
Eromancy: Perfect Fit
The genitals of you and your sexual partner are always a perfect fit, vagina's feeling tight and dicks as large as possible without any discomfort.
Magic Ward
Creates a shield in the shape of a half-dome in the direction you desire. The maximum radius of the dome is your height. While maintained, spell damage striking the dome is stopped, and deals 25% damage to your Mana, leaving your health unaffected as long as you have Mana left. When your Mana is empty, the spell fails.
While I definitely already got some milage out of the Eromancy perk and spell, Soothe leaves me… unimpressed. It's basically just a ranged version of Calm, if slightly weaker.
Most important among what I learned by far is the Magic Ward spell. I've seen enemy mages use it before, and its use is to block hostile magic. It's quite efficient at it, though resistances don't affect it. For example, I only take 26% damage from Fire spells because of my 74% resistance, so it might be more effective to just let those damage my health, so I can use my Mana for offensive purposes.
Still, I feel hesitant to leave. It's great progress for a week, and I'm tempted to delay Morvunskar for longer.
Which might have something to do with the cute hagraven currently cuddling into me. We woke up an hour ago, but actually getting out of bed would have been counterproductive to our activities.
"What's with the heavy thoughts?" Moira doesn't move, eyes still closed and basking in the afterglow.
"Lydia and I were going to leave today."
"Ah, right." She doesn't move, despite laying on top of me. "Sure, rob me of my only company." I can feel the exaggerated pout in her voice. She's more than old and wise enough to know and accept Lydia and I should be going, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't like me to stay, either.
"You never get company here?"
"My daughters have never been that social. It's been years. Most I ever get are random adventurers, who just attack me."
"They think all Hagravens eat babies or something."
"There's far to little meat on a baby to serve as sustenance." She looks up at me, the very picture of innocence. "And they're too well-protected. Nice and tender if you can get your hands on one, though."
"Uhm…"
She breaks out into laughter. "Hah! You should see your face."
I tighten my embrace, but I can't help but grin. For a split second there… "Bad girl." And I can't believe that I doubted it for that much. Dibella would have warned me. While she doesn't exactly care about making children, she hates harm coming to them.
"I'm a Hagraven. We're the worst girls in existence. Comes with the 'sacrificing humanity for power' bit. But to be accurate, we do get a bit of a taste for meat. But nowhere as much as even bosmer do, though. And cannibalism still sounds disgusting, unlike what those wood elves do."
"Is it even still cannibalism, though? After all, if you gave up your humanity…"
"Dunno. It feels that way, though, no matter what whoever says."
"Fair enough. And do bosmer really…"
"Eat each other? Yeah. But it's not as bad as it sounds, though. Those adhering to the Green Pact eat enemies slain on the battlefield and aren't allowed to harm the vegetation of Valenwood. They mostly eat hunted game and livestock."
I kiss her on the top of her head. "Time for me and Lydia to go, though."
She sighs. "Fine. You'll drop by when you're in the neighborhood, though?"
"Just as I promised. Now get up."
— A Dragon's Game —
Morvunskar is actually pretty close, traveling cross-country. I Freeze Water a river for Lydia and me to pass, but that's the only real obstacle.
So glad I don't have to swim anymore.
Coming up to Morvunskar, we keep our distance at first. The current occupants seem to wear robes. Which probably means that they're either mages, or daedric cultists.
To be honest, I'm not sure which I prefer.
If the first, their friendliness depends on how legal their magical research is, and if the second, on the Daedric Prince they serve.
But the main entrance doesn't appeal to me, anyway. There's a gatehouse with a small killing zone right behind it.
This place is in ruins. There's got to be a better way in.
Circling left, a better way is easily found. Over time, small landslides have reached the level of the walls, so we can walk straight in there.
Well, they'll definitely spot us, but still. If they turn out hostile, we won't be stuck in a small, cramped room that's far too small to run from Fireballs.
Nothing else to it, I guess.
"Lydia, we're going to approach. Look peaceful, but be ready for a fight."
"Don't have to tell me twice."
I cast Courage on her, and then head forward. Now just wait until they spot us…
And the uncertainty is cleared up about as fast as that Firebolt heading towards us.
Well, I really need to get in there, and technically it's self-defense now, so let's do this.
I shoot an Ice Spike at the Firebolt, detonating it in mid-air.
I grin. I practiced that trick for ages with Moira. Good to see that it paid off.
I focus on the mage that threw the Firebolt, and start casting Lightning Bolts, switching between my hands to keep the casting rate high. The first three break on the mage's ward, but then it shatters, and I take him down.
Meanwhile, the others had noticed us.
Since we're outnumbered, I even the odds a little, conjuring a level 46 Storm Atronach.
Storm Atronach
A storm atronach likes lightning, and fights by throwing it around.
Level: 46
Perks
- Race: Storm Atronach
- Spell: Lightning Cloak
- Permanent Static Shield
Attributes (Partial)
- Mana: 1120
- Health: 238
- Stamina: 238
- Lightning Effect Radius: 230
- Lightning Resistance: 200
- Healing Resistance: 200
- Wisdom: 158
- Mana Regeneration: 158
- Lightning Damage: 138
- Intelligence: 112
Abilities
- Lightning Bolt: Shoots a Lighting bolt at an enemy, instantly hitting and dealing 110 damage.
- Lightning Cloak: Cloaks you in Lightning, shocking all enemies in 6.60 meters for 19 damage every second. Lasts 60 seconds.
- Static Shield: You are permanently is surrounded by a second skin of lightning. When struck in melee, the attacker is hit for 290 damage.
They're my most fragile summon, even including the weak Wolf Familiar. However, they have high spell damage. And they're far more likely to hit their target than Flame Atronach's, since their Firebolts have travel time while Lightning Bolts don't.
I only wish I could teach them Magic Ward. They're a tad fragile.
Still, I charge, the Atronach with me, and Lydia keeping an eye out to ensure we can't get flanked.
The fight is short. Mages generally have little health, and my magic is getting quite powerful.
I take down an Altmer and a Dunmer on our left, while the Storm Atronach happily electrocutes a Breton on our right. The only one remaining is another Altmer, and she falls swiftly under our dual assault.
And that clears up every enemy in sight.
I dismiss the Atronach, and with Lydia, we check the bodies, Incinerating the corpses. We wait a few more minutes for my Mana to regenerate, and then we enter the fort.
We enter a somewhat sizable hall. Right in front of us is what looks like a kitchen, but it's empty except for some supplies.
From the other side, we hear some hammering, and I see someone working a forge, for some reason. They spot us and attack, and we kill them. Well, I kill them. They're dead before Lydia could reach them.
There're two other doors, and the first we check is locked, with a deadbolt on the other side.
With Unrelenting Force, I could open it, but this one is less likely to have people just passing through than the other one, so we'll check that one first.
There's a staircase downwards basically in the middle of the room, with the last door right there. We pass the door, and turn several corners before we come to another large hall, right below the first one.
There're a few more mages around. One's on a throne acting important towards one standing in front, and there're three more sitting around tables on the left, close to some bookcases.
I assume that power means importance, and there's only one here acting full of themselves.
So I launch a double Incinerate towards the figure on the throne, and then follow it up with a few Lightning Bolts to keep the target in place.
It works perfectly fine. They all look when I launch the fire magic, several summoning their Magic Wards. Due to the Lightning Bolts, my target doesn't manage to get it up in time, and the double Incinerate ends his life.
This means that the other four know where I am, and they retaliate with their own elemental magic.
Eh, I can take it. I got decent resistances, and Lydia is charging off, so I just need to keep them busy.
I toss a double Fireball in between those near the books,
While they have Magic Wards up, those need to actually be between them and the explosion of the Fireballs to work.
And with me tossing Ice Storms at them, they can't turn around.
The two closest to me are pushed off their feet, their concentration broken, even if they survived the attack. A few well-aimed Lightning Bolts end that.
The one in the back had a bit more luck, as he got far enough back that he could shield from me and the Fireballs at the same time.
And meanwhile, the guy in front of the throne has woken up, and attacked me. I can suppress the spasming from his Lightning Bolts, as weak as they are compared to mine.
Still, it's annoying, so I cast my own ward in his direction. With the other, I cast my own Lightning Bolts at the guy on the left as fast as I can.
He holds up his own ward, but after several attacks, it breaks, and I take him down.
Before I can focus on the remaining guy, Lydia reaches him, and he goes down to a simple sword stab in the chest.
We wait a few seconds to see if any others show themselves, but they don't.
I head into the chamber, and Lydia sticks close to me. Something feels off. Approaching the throne, I can sense it in the air.
Conjuration magic. It wants to summon me elsewhere, and it won't work for anybody else.
At least, judging by the dead mage right in the middle, it doesn't. They probably couldn't even feel it.
I'm pretty sure this is the trail to find Sam and figure out what happened, and how we traversed most of Skyrim in a single evening, a journey I'd need a week to make.
Still, I first want to clear the rest of this ruined fort. It's not as if meeting Sam is that urgent.
We sneak through the rest of the fort. We find some empty bedrooms, and then a staircase downwards, with a grate at the end, and an altmer in front of it mumbling.
"They die too quickly. Maybe I'll try and hold off on the paralysis next time. Give me more of a moving target. Good practice."
No reason to wait until he notices us.
I cast two Incinerates, and while they're in flight, I follow up with an unrelenting force.
He slams into the grate violently, and doesn't even manage to turn around to face us before the fire spells strike him, killing him near instantly.
Well, that was at least fast.
We scout the rest of the fort, but we find nobody else, so we return to the main hall with the strange conjuration magic.
I take Lydia's hand, so we won't lose each other, and then I approach the vortex.
My vision disappears in purple flames.
— A Dragon's Game —
The purple flames fade as fast as they came. I still feel Lydia's hand in mine, and she's all right.
This place is different. I'm not talking about the fact that we're not in Morvunskar anymore, nor that it's suddenly dusk instead of shortly after noon.
I can't describe it.
But our surroundings look peaceful. There's nature all around, and we're standing in a kind of hollowed path, earthen walls around us, with trees and bushes on top.
Behind us, the path just… ends.
There's a low mist in this place, playing around our legs, but it doesn't hinder us, and doesn't feel threatening.
Lydia releases my hand and grabs the hilt of her sword.
"Come on." I tell her, as I start along the path. "Let's have a look around."
Lydia nods and follows me, sticking close.
This place is beautiful. After barely a minute, we come across a stream, calmly flowing through the forest. It's making just enough noise to be there, but not enough to be loud. There's a tasteful wooden bridge over it, with lanterns hanging from the bridges' posts.
Everything encourages people to relax. Take it easy. Don't worry. Enjoy the moment.
Even Lydia relaxes. A bit.
And to be fair, she warms my heart with how protective she is, even in a peaceful place like this.
Some five minutes later, we arrive at a clearing. In a corner, a few obvious drunks are singing, while others are still drinking and feasting. And there watching it all… Sam.
The moment I look at him, he raises the mug in his hands, and gestures us over.
There's… something about him, but much like I can't tell what's different about this place, I can't tell what's different about him.
"So, took your sweet time coming here." Sam says. "Had fun?"
"It's… hard to find if you don't know where to go? Not to speak of those mages."
"Oh, right, the mages. I kinda forgot about those, but no matter. Do you have everything?"
"Uhm…" I try to remember, but there's really nothing. "I was supposed to bring something?"
"Yeah, for the staff! I promised you a staff, didn't I?"
"Staff, staff… Oh, right. The bet for the drinking game. Sorry?"
"Ah, don't sweat it. It was mostly to draw you in for an evening of fun, anyway."
"Yeah… about that, I don't remember anything, and neither did Muiri. But the stories I've heard from others are… crazy."
Sam frowns. "Hm, that wasn't supposed to happen." Then he shrugs, and grins wide. "But let me tell you, you had a lot of fun. And so did everyone else! It was an amazing night. A Night to Remember. Well, except for you, I guess. But now, where was I? Oh, right. Your reward. You see, Sam Guevenne isn't my real real name. Because that name is Sanguine."
Sam's face shifts, and not even a second later, I'm looking at a Dremora. "Ah." Sanguine continues. "Feels much more comfortable."
I gape, speechless for a moment. Had I suspected something was up? Definitely. Did I suspect a Daedric Prince, capital letters included?
Definitely not.
"Why don't you two sit down?" Sanguine invites us. Next to him, there's suddenly a table, overloaded with food and at least three types of drink. Each of which smells like having more alcohol inside than anything I ever drank. "My treat." He continues.
Ah, why not. The Daedric Princes might be a finicky bunch, but they can be trusted to act in accordance with their associated spheres.
For Sanguine, the Daedric Prince of Debauchery, to offer food and drink, might be the least foreboding thing he could have done.
I sit down, but Lydia refuses. She's concerned about the situation, and doesn't quite feel it safe enough to let her guard down.
Fair enough. With her having my back, I can concentrate on whatever I'll discuss with Sanguine.
"You'll forgive my surprise, Prince. While I knew something was up, I hadn't expected your personal involvement."
"Ah, you underestimate yourself." Sanguine waves my formality away. "Normally I disguise myself to a look like Sam, because I don't like formality. I like parties and getting drunk. That's a together thing. So no 'oh prince' stuff with me, all right? I'm no Jyggalag."
"Fair enough." Though it'll take me some getting used to. "So, what DID I do that night?"
"You had the time of your life. And frankly, so did I." He takes a swig from his tankard he pulled from… somewhere.
I find I have one in my own hand, and I feel thirsty, so I pour from one of the bottles Sanguine supplied. "Like what? What happened with Moira, exactly? She said she was too drunk to remember everything as well."
"Not important. That's the past. What's important is what parties lie in the present. Like having some eye-candy." He waves his hand, and from a burst of purple fire, three figures appear.
I recognize them, due to my Conjuration knowledge. The odd thing is that I never learned this specific fact. But it's just… included with the rest of the knowledge. These are three of the Mazken, also known as Dark Seducers or Daedra Seducers. The women are their warriors, because they're more physically capable than the men, and therefore most people that encounter one, encounter a female. These all have a dark shade of dark purple, contrasting the blue and gray that their kind sometimes have. They wear their hair long, and while done up elaborately, it's still kept out of their faces to maximize their range of vision.
However, where most Mazken prefer their revealing armor all the time, these wear dresses, transparent everywhere but their most intimate parts.
"Come on, ladies, dance!" Sanguine encourages. Two of the women put their fists on their hips, while the third looks disappointed.
"Prince, we're warriors. Not exotic dancers." One of the two states, though she doesn't truly believe it will help.
"But you're great at it. And sexy! Besides, you lost that bet, so you'll be dancing whenever I ask you. Only seventeen years left to go before it expires!"
The one that spoke pouts, but they line up, and start dancing.
Sanguine turns to me again. "Ah, beautiful, aren't they?"
I can't help but nod. "Indeed." I need to get control over this conversation back, but Sanguine is… not accommodating. And I don't want to sound demanding. I'm pretty sure he could kill me with a thought right now.
"Would you like to borrow them? I can sell my part of the bet to you, have all three of them in your service for those seventeen years. I'm sure we can find a way to anchor them to Nirn for the duration. They're bound to do anything you want, from dancing to fucking to fighting to cooking to making your drinks. Even if I had to teach them the latter two."
That sounds far too useful, even if I'd probably only have them fighting for me. "You spoke about a deal. Then what would be the price?"
"Oh, nothing much, in comparison. But when we partied that night, you told me you were basically alone, except for the bit of companionship you had with Muiri. Well, that and your Dark Brotherhood membership, but you didn't want to talk about that much, even if they made you feel at home."
My eyes bug out. I told him that? Why on nirn would I…
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm not telling. That'd discourage you from getting drunk in the future, and with how fun you can be while drunk, that'd be a crime against debauchery. But anyway, I see you found yourself a nice girl. A Housecarl even, by the protectiveness."
I'm not sure whether I like where this is going. "Lydia's amazing. But?"
"So I'd want her for a year, for me to do with what I want. In exchange, you get these three Mazken for seventeen years. Well, almost. Far more than sixteen years each, though."
I can feel the disgust emanating from Lydia from this proposal, but she holds her tongue. It's not like her to remain silent in a moment like this.
Oh.
OH.
That's…
I don't know how to feel about that.
But apparently, she just trusts me that much. Not that she's wrong, mind you.
It's just, I don't think anyone has ever trusted me like this before.
"No deal." I answer the Daedra.
Sanguine frowns in surprise. "Huh? Why not? Between these three, you have far more variety than just with your housecarl there, they're better in combat, you get to keep them for longer… I don't understand. This is such a good deal for you."
Wait, does he…?
No, the Mazken don't understand either. They're woman enough for my What do women want? perk. While they weren't looking forward to having to server a lowly mortal for that long, they're astonished that I don't take the deal. Real, honest surprise.
I could tell Sanguine that I care about Lydia, but I feel he wouldn't understand. Then… perhaps.
"Aside from the admittedly human emotion of caring about her, she swore an oath of servitude to me. To properly respond to that, it is my duty to allow her her service. Trading her to you would not allow that, even if her oaths would force her."
Sanguine takes another swig as he frowns while staring at a random tree. "I guess I can understand about those oaths." He muses. "Shame. That means I can't get her either by raising the price." He shrugs, then looks at me sneakily. "Any chance I can convince the both of you to do a threesome?"
I feel my eyes widen, while behind me Lydia's surprise strongly overwhelms whatever else she might be feeling. I find my voice first. "Flattered, but sorry. Not interested."
Sanguine pouts at me, which is surreal. I'm having a Daedric Prince pout at me, while I'm inside his own plane of oblivion. It's clear that he accepts my refusal, though. "Shame. I was looking forward to the experience. Some mortals can be… surprising. But anyway, back to the great night we had. I was planning to give you a staff."
I don't know what staff that could be, but I feel the recognition in Lydia, so I prompt her. "Lydia?"
"Are you talking about… the Sanguine Rose? The staff that summons powerful Daedra from your realm?"
Sanguine nods. "Exactly. But, y'know, it took you some time to get here, and there was that guy who stole the elder Idgrod's underwear on a dare, and I kind of gave it to him? I know, I know, I don't exactly think that kind of things through, and it sounded hilarious at the time, and I kinda forgot about you. So right now, I don't have it. Something else I could do for you?"
Is he… serious? Yeah, he's serious. Why did I think it a good idea to go chase the Daedric Prince of Drunkenness a good idea? Oh right, I didn't know. Ah well. I got an idea. "I'm a bit of a conjurer. Let me pull from your plane of oblivion, and I'll be more than happy."
Sanguine adopts a thinking face for a moment, which looks really odd on him. Then he shrugs. "Why not? Sounds great. You should probably study a bit more conjuration before you do, though…"
Your Conjuration has increased by 20 (56)!
"Or not." Sanguine continues. "That's odd, you seem to have absorbed the knowledge you'd need to make a proper Pact with a Daedric Prince just like that. Eh, it'll be fine."
New perk gained: Daedric Pact: Sanguine
"There, that should do it." Sanguine nods, self-satisfied. "Oh, and normally I'd escort you out so you could have fun in your own world again, but if you read that little book of yours, you should be able to get out yourself no problems."
"What book?" I ask.
"Y'know, the one about bridges between realms. Well, good luck!"
Purple flames arise around Sanguine, the Mazken, and the revelers, and they disappear before our eyes, leaving me and Lydia alone.
What book could he… oh. Perhaps this one. I reach into my inventory and pull out Liminal Bridges, which I've had with me for what seems like forever, opening it.
New perk gained: Liminal Bridging
Liminal Bridging
You can create a portal to or from Planes of Oblivion you are associated with. When using a Sigil Stone to anchor the spell, semi-permanent portals can be created.
Abilities Granted
- Oblivion Gate
Conjuration: Oblivion Gate
Create an Oblivion Gate for 1 (2) seconds. You can use a sigil stone to indefinitely extend this duration. You can only open Oblivion Gates to a Plane of Oblivion you are solidly associated with. For example, due to a pact with the associated Daedric Prince.
Note that spell duration can be increased by continuously paying the mana per duration cost.
Cost: 1000 (344) Mana
Perk: Daedric Pact: Saunguine
You have established a Daedric Pact with Sanguine. This means you have his cooperation when you use conjuration magic to connect to his realm, lowing all costs of doing so by half and allowing conjuration of all Daedra there, assuming you have the mana to do so.
Attribute Increases
-Conjuration Affinity: 50
Abilities Granted
- Conjure Scamp
- Conjure Banekin
- Conjure Ogrim
- Conjure Dark Seducer
- Conjure Dremora Fire Mage
- Conjure Dremora Warrior
Conjuration: Conjure Scamp
Conjures a level 10 + [Charisma * 0.2] (93) Scamp to a location in 5.0 (10.6) meters for 120 (254) seconds.
Cost: 200 (68) Mana
Scamp
Scamps are among the weakest of Daedric creatures. They're semi-intelligent at best, though they have a low cunning in battle. They are cowardly and unreliable except in large numbers. They are often used as minions by smarter and more powerful Daedra, since they can be trained and have human-like hands. Most commonly associated with Mehrunes Dagon, they can also be found serving Molag Bal, Sheogorath, and Sanguine, or rarely with other Princes.
Level: 93
Perks
-Race: Scamp
Attributes (Partial):
- Health: 990.0
- Stamina: 990.0
- Fire Damage: 279.0
- Healing Resistance: 200
- Mana Regeneration: 103.0
- Dexterity: 103.0
- Stamina Regeneration: 103.0
- Strength: 101.0
- Health Regeneration: 101.0
Abilities:
- Punch: Punch someone for 30 damage.
- Firebolt: Shoots a small bolt of fire dealing 78 damage
Conjuration: Conjure Banekin
Conjures a level 10 + [Charisma * 0.2] (93) Banekin to a location in 5.0 (10.6) meters for 120 (254) seconds.
Cost: 200 (68) Mana
Banekin
Banekin are small humanoid tailed Daedra. They superficially resemble Scamps, but are scaled and favor shock magic over fire magic.
Level: 93
Perks:
- Race: Banekin
Attributes (Partial):
- Health: 1010.0
- Stamina: 1010.0
- Lightning Damage: 279.0
- Mana Regeneration: 103.0
- Dexterity: 103.0
- Stamina Regeneration: 103.0
- Strength: 101.0
- Endurance: 101.0
- Health Regeneration: 101.0
Abilities:
- Claw Swipe: Slice someone with claws for 45 damage.
- Lightning Bolt: Shoots a Lighting bolt at an enemy, instantly hitting and dealing 59 damage.
Conjuration: Conjure Dark Seducer
Conjures a level 5 + [Charisma * 0.1] (46) Dark Seducer up to 5.0 (10.6) meters away for 120 (254) seconds.
Cost: 1000 (344) Mana
Dark Seducer
Mazken, also known as Seducers, Dark Seducers, or Daedra Seducers, are a humanoid race of daedra, superficially similar to most other sentient races, aside from their skin tone, which is often blue, grey or dark purple. Powerful Mazken may have large, retractable bat wings. As the females are more powerful, they are the primary warriors, generally favoring maces.
Level: 46
Perks:
- Race: Mazken
- Spell: Lightning Bolt
Attributes (Partial):
- Health: 1020.0
- Stamina: 1020.0
- Mana: 580.0
- Blunt Damage: 230.0
- Healing Resistance: 200
- Dexterity: 153.0
- Stamina Regeneration: 153.0
- Charisma: 112.0
- Strength: 104.0
Abilities:
- Smash: Smashes your enemy for 442 Blunt damage.
- Lightning Bolt: Shoots a Lighting bolt at an enemy, instantly hitting and dealing 23 damage.
Conjuration: Conjure Ogrim
Conjures a level 5 + [Charisma * 0.1] (46) Ogrim up to 5.0 (10.6) meters away for 120 (254) seconds.
Cost: 800 (275) Mana
Ogrim
Ogrims are large, dim-witted Daedra. They're strong and sturdy, able to regenerate health swiftly.
Level: 46
Perks:
- Race: Ogrim
- Regeneration
Attributes (Partial):
- Health: 2040.0
- Stamina: 2040.0
- Health Regeneration: 434.0
- Strength: 204.0
- Endurance: 204.0
- Healing Resistance: 200
- Blunt Damage: 92.0
- Dexterity: 56.0
- Stamina Regeneration: 56.0
Abilities:
- Smash: Smashes your enemy for 449 Blunt damage.
Perk: Regeneration
Instead of per day, health regeneration is now per minute, just like Mana and Stamina Regeneration.
Conjuration: Conjure Dremora Fire Mage
Conjures a level 5 + [Charisma * 0.1] (46) Dremora Fire Mage for 120 (254) seconds up to 5.0 (10.6) meters away.
Cost: 1000 (344) Mana
Dremora Fire Mage
A fire-aligned dremora specializing as a mage.
Level: 46
Perks:
- Spell: Incinerate
- Race: Dremora
- Fire Dremora
- Dremora Fire Mage
- Spell: Fireball
Attributes (Partial):
- Mana: 2040.0
- Health: 560.0
- Stamina: 560.0
- Fire Damage: 280.0
- Intelligence: 204.0
- Healing Resistance: 200
- Wisdom: 194.0
- Mana Regeneration: 194.0
- Fire Affinity: 188.0
Abilities:
- Incinerate: Shoots a bolt of flame that deals 730 fire damage to the target, and sets it burning for 23 seconds, dealing 25% damage each 0.76 seconds.
- Firebolt: Shoots a small bolt of fire dealing 337 damage
- Fireball: Launches a ball of Fire, dealing 616 damage to all targets in a 5.00 m radius where it hits.
Conjuration: Conjure Dremora Warrior
Conjures a level 5 + [Charisma * 0.1] (46) Dremora Warrior for 120 (254) seconds up to 5.0 (10.6) meters away.
Cost: 1000 (344) Mana
Dremora Warrior
A fire-aligned dremora warrior.
Level: 46
Perks:
- Race: Dremora
- Fire Dremora
- Warrior Dremora
Attributes (Partial):
- Health: 1480.0
- Stamina: 1480.0
- Mana: 660.0
- Blade Damage: 255.0
- Piercing Damage: 255.0
- Healing Resistance: 200
- Strength: 153.0
- Dexterity: 153.0
- Health Regeneration: 153.0
Abilities:
- Stab: Deals 251 piercing damage
- Slash: Deals 179 slashing damage.
Okay, that is… a lot. Well worth the little uncomfortable chat there.
First off, Liminal Bridges. I'd let me open up a path to Nirn for… fourteen seconds, or close to that. At the cost of my entire Mana pool. Still, more than long enough for me and Lydia.
Also, wow, that is a lot of mana. I'd learned from stories that Akatosh held the path from Oblivion closed to prevent the Daedric Princes from invading the place, but that's still a lot of mana.
Second… the Daedric Pact. Fifty Conjuration Affinity alone would have been amazing. Between that and the boost to Conjuration magic, I now only have to pay around a third of the base Mana cost for Conjuration spells.
And a wide variety of summons. First off, the Scamp and Banekin. They're… kinda weak, actually. That level might be a high number, but they don't even match the Atronach's I can summon.
The Ogrim is sturdy, regenerates a little over seven health per second to be even more sturdy, and is slow. Sure, fifty Dexterity was a lot when I started out, but it's really not that much. Anything that could pose a danger to me could simply dodge every blow this Ogrim could dish out.
Then we come to the Dark Seducer. A very weak ranged magical attack, but apparently very good with their maces. Triple the Dexterity of the Ogrim, so I assume they'll definitely be able to hit their targets, and for about the same damage. I assume they'll also be smarter. And if I get good enough at Conjuration, those I conjure will have wings, which is definitely something to look out for. They hit hard enough to hurt a dragon, and I could really use a summon to send in the air after those.
The Dremora are also promising. That Fire Mage can dish out a ton of damage, even if he appears to be made from paper. Sure, sturdier than my wolf familiar, but even Scamps will last longer.
The Dremora Warrior looks great in melee. Triple the health from the Fire Mage, but great armor against Blunt, Piercing, and Blade damage. It looks like they have a full suit of Daedric Armor. This would make them very strong in melee, while their swords deal too much damage for my enemies to ignore.
"Do'samma?" Lydia asks, shaking me from my thoughts.
Oh, right. Get out of here. With Sam Guevenne having been Sanguine, — and I really should have figured that out, with how those sounds the same — we're currently stuck in what's probably one of the Myriad Realms of Revelry. "Yes, I'll teleport us out." I answer my housecarl. "Be ready to pass through the portal swiftly, I won't be able to hold it open for long. You will go first, and I'll follow you."
"I'd much rather guard your back."
"Not this time. You'll jump through first. It costs a large amount of Magicka to keep the gate open, so if either of us can't come through, it should be me. I can just make a new one after all, but I don't have a clue how I'd find this realm of Oblivion again if I lost you here."
"As you say, Do'samma."
"Be ready."
Lydia stands at my side, tensing up to jump through.
I cast the spell… and realize I have to focus on a destination. Morvunskar comes to mind, but to be honest, I don't see the point. Instead, I focus on Breezehome.
As soon as the swirling purple flames erupt in front of me, Lydia jumps through. I don't waste time, and jump after her.
Huh, that was faster than expected. Almost ten full seconds left. I let the portal close, conserving my Mana.
"Oh, you brought us home." Lydia remarks.
Right, I hadn't told her. "I did. I didn't see the point in going to Morvunskar."
"And you can do this both ways?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"So… even if you need ten minutes to recover your Magicka, this spell can take us anywhere we want to go?"
I blink. That's… actually a really good idea. Even though… "Not directly. We'll always have to go through Oblivion. But yeah, it should. If I already know the destination well enough."
"Still useful."
"It is. Thanks for thinking of it. And speaking about that…"
"Do'samma?"
I turn to her. "Back there, when Sanguine tried to convince me to trade you, you didn't doubt me for a second. Thank you."
She looks at me oddly, until I hug her suddenly. While surprised, she hugs me back. "It is… that's just who you are. You don't abandon."
I can't quite stop myself from rubbing my head against hers. "And yet, thank you."
She slightly tightens her hug, and I relax against her.
Your Affection from Lydia has increased to 100!
You have gained a new perk: Fealty!
Perk: Fealty
Whenever one swears an oath to or by you in good faith, you will know. If you accept their oath, you will be benevolent to them. In return, their oaths will be unbreakable, sealed by the power of their own soul. Once sworn, these oaths cannot be broken or betrayed, by either party.
I feel something. Lydia's Housecarl oaths to me. And I accept them, so I may never hurt her.
A/N: Moira mentions wood elves as cannibals. She is under-informed, but not entirely wrong. A significant section of the wood elf population follows the Green Pact. Do nor harm the forests of Valenwood. Do not eat anything made from plant life. Eat only meat. Do not kill any creature you are not planning to eat. Therefore, a victorious warrior and his family eat defeated enemies.
A/N 2: I promise I was planning this when I gave him Liminal Bridges. Just check the books' contents. If you read between all the needlessly complex words, you'll see it's about keeping open a corridor between Oblivion and Nirn, even if I… adapted it a bit to my end. Say welcome to Fast-Traveling!
A/N 3: The Mazken would have followed Do'samma, and not rebelled. While we don't have the same proof positive we do for Dremora, I'd consider them likely to hold oaths and obligations in the same high esteem.
A/N 4: Do'samma gets his first perk from maxed affection. That many more may follow.
