All the Elder Scrolls properties are under the Elder Scrolls (Bethesda) license; I'm just borrowing.

The following piece of literature is a M'aiq the Liar production. The events are fictional…to this Khajiit's knowledge.

Stuck on a Silt Strider with Strangers

Starring…the Nerevarine.

Also featuring…(in no particular order)…a Dunmer, a Bosmer, a Breton, and an Altmer.

Celebrity guest appearance…Dagoth Ur.

Pre-Prophecy Fulfillment

On a silt strider en route to Balmora from Seyda Neen, there is an Altmer man, a dark-looking Breton woman, a Bosmer man, and a Dunmer driver.

Dunmer: So…who are you?

Nerevarine: Oh, uh, no one really. Do you know who Caius Cosades is by chance?

Dunmer: Nope, I don't know who he is.

Breton: I think I have heard the name.

Nerevarine: Really? Can you tell me—

Bosmer: —Sit on your side, Altmer!

Altmer: Be quiet!

Bosmer: No! I'm not going to take that from you!

Breton: Silence, children.

Nerevarine: Uh…so about Cosades…

Bosmer: Hey, you! Yeah, you! Who do you think you are?

Nerevarine: Well, no one…yet, but I'm gonna be big. I just know it.

The Elves break into laughter as the Breton stares at the Nerevarine.

Altmer: Heh, sure kid. You'll be as big as this Bosmer here, I'm sure.

Bosmer: Hey! I'm warning you, Altmer!

The Nerevarine sighs and turns to the Breton.

Nerevarine: No one understands…

Breton: That's right. You're misunderstood. Just end it all now before more misunderstandings—

Dunmer: No cult crap right now, okay?

Breton: Be damned these Elven folk.

Dunmer: Yeah, yeah.

Breton: And be damned public transportation! If I could, I would—

Bosmer: —Altmer! I'm serious! Put your knee there again and see what happens!

Dunmer: Calm down already!

The Bosmer mumbles to himself angrily, and an awkward silence ensues.

Altmer: Oh, look there. Is that Balmora?

The Bosmer stands to look around.

Bosmer: Where?

The Altmer pushes the Bosmer off the silt strider. The Nerevarine gasps.

Nerevarine: Holy Azura! Did you just push him off the strider?

Altmer: Maybe.

The Nerevarine turns to the driver.

Nerevarine: Aren't you going to say anything?

Dunmer: What are you talking about? I didn't see a thing.

Altmer: And I don't hear a thing, so all's well.

Breton: The voices will start soon. The dark ones will—

The Dunmer shoots the woman a menacing glare, causing her to fall silent.

Dunmer: (Mumbling) I'm 'bout to turn this damned strider around…fed up…no good…

Altmer: Anyway, how long until we reach Balmora? I'm fed up with this ride.

Dunmer: Not too long.

Altmer: Very well.

There is another awkward pause.

Breton: (Whispering) I want you all to die.

The Nerevarine's eyes widen.

Nerevarine: Well, that's a bit extreme; don't you think?

Breton: Extreme? Extreme? You think I'm extreme; is that what you think?

Altmer: (Impatiently) Obviously, the kid thinks that, or else the kid wouldn't have said it…

Breton: I'll have you know that I feel very—

Dunmer: —Hold on!

The strider jerks forwards, sending the Breton colliding into the opposite side of the seating area. She is still lying there after a few moments. The Nerevarine glances down at the woman and then at the Altmer, who simply shrugs and looks elsewhere.

Nerevarine: Shouldn't we do something?

Altmer: Should we do something? No.

The Nerevarine shrugs and sighs. The Altmer begins digging through the pockets in his shirt. He pulls out various objects, giving each a look of surprise as he pulls them out.

Altmer: Well, I didn't know I still had that.

He pulls out a spoon, a few pieces of saltrice, a hack-lo leaf, and a ripped piece of parchment. He sniffs the hack-lo and cringes in disgust. He glances at the Nerevarine, who is looking around at the hills.

Altmer: Say, kid. You want some hack-lo?

The Nerevarine perks a brow.

Nerevarine: Pardon?

Altmer: Hack-lo. Would you like some?

Nerevarine: I'm not well acquainted with Vvardenfell flora, er, anything.

Altmer: Well! Allow me to tell you how valuable this is. I would say most leaves of hack-lo run at…oh, seventy or ninety in gold at least.

Nerevarine: Really? Is it rare or something?

Altmer: Hah! 'Is it rare?' You hear this kid? It's hack-lo! It's definitely not a common shrub.

Nerevarine: Well…that might be useful to have…

Altmer: Sure. I'd be willing to sell it to you for, oh, sixty in gold.

The Dunmer coughs loudly. The Nerevarine stares at the Dunmer momentarily.

Nerevarine: Are you all right?

Dunmer: Uh, yeah. (Cough) Swallowed a rat—a bug—er, yeah…

The Altmer waves the hack-lo around.

Altmer: So, you want this? Just sixty in gold!

Nerevarine: Well, I'm afraid I only have about fifty. It's to be used for things I need.

Altmer: Why, sera, there is nothing more you need! It's quite the herb really. It'll keep you feeling lucky, and if you're fatigued, it's quite the thing to help you out.

Nerevarine: Hmm, I dunno…

Altmer: Come on…

Nerevarine: Oh, all right!

The Nerevarine gives the Altmer money for the hack-lo leaf, which, unbeknownst to the Nerevarine, is quite wilted and spoiled. The Dunmer glances at the Altmer as he counts his money. Finally, they reach Balmora.

Dunmer: All right, let's shove out.

As the Altmer gets up to leave, he trips over the still-unconscious Breton.

Altmer: (Falling) Whoa, whoa—damn!

The Altmer tumbles down the steps. The Dunmer frowns and pushes the Breton's body onto the strider deck. He not-so covertly reaches into her pocket and takes out a handful of gold. The Nerevarine and Altmer glance at the Dunmer.

Dunmer: What? Consider it a 'passing out' fee.

The Nerevarine leaves without another word, shrugging dismissively.

On a shorter ride from Vivec to Suran, the Nerevarine is on a strider with only one other stranger, who seems to be a rather odd man. He wears a large, golden mask with three eye slits. The only clothing the man wore was a scant, red cloth flap hanging from his waist.

Nerevarine: Who are you?

Dagoth Ur: What? Me? Oh, no one.

Nerevarine: Oh. Why do you dress so funny?

Dagoth Ur: Funny? There's nothing funny about what I wear.

Nerevarine: Um, well, it's not like anything I've ever seen.

Dagoth Ur: Well, my type live way out, you know, not in town.

Nerevarine: So…what brought you to Vivec?

Dagoth Ur: …business…

Nerevarine: May I ask what kind of business?

Dagoth Ur: No, uh, no…

Nerevarine: Why are you headed to Suran?

Dagoth Ur twitches angrily.

Dagoth Ur: Let me ask you something…

Nerevarine: Okay.

Dagoth Ur: Why the hell are you asking me so many damn questions! I can't wait to get back home to finally finish my plans to annihilate all you s'wit! You ruin all of Tamriel with your existence! Not even the Nerevarine will stop me! I WILL KILL—excuse me. I've said enough. You must sleep now.

Nerevarine: Sleep, but I don't wanna—

Dagoth Ur quickly knocks the Nerevarine out. The Nerevarine awakens later after the strider is at its dock. He exits the strider just in time to see the strange man from the silt strider sneaking into Desele's House of Earthly Delights.

Nerevarine: Hmm, with that setup he's got, I'm not surprised. He's a weirdo really; I'm glad I'll never have to see him again…

The Nerevarine shrugs and walks off into the city, forgetting all about the curious man.