Strangest Challenge! I've done so far, so let me tell you the context. Basically, the Daedra can gain more power if they sacrifice any animal or plant, and the fastest way of doing this is by sacrificing humans, or incredibly large animals. The most efficient way of doing it, however, would actually be to sacrifice various weeds and magical plants to themselves, and command their followers to do the same.
When I realized that, I thought of this, and now I have to write it.
...Version 1...
I did basic research today on Daedra and learned some interesting things.. I had been trying tto improve my Conjuration, and thought it would be a good start to know what, exactly, I was summoning, but what I found is much greater.
Daedra are hundreds of thousands of lesser divinity that had been drained of most, if not all, their power. They became so weak because they assisted in the process of creation of both the Plains of Oblivion, and in Nirn. The stronger Daedra were called Daedra Princes, and they are as strong, if not stronger than the Nine Divine themselves.
What really interested mm, however, was the fact that Daedra lost their power by creating matter, plants, artifacts, and even humans and servants. Similarly, they could gain a small amount of power by sacrificing plants, animals, and even humans. The power they gained by these sacrifices could be used to create more artifacts, servants, or do incredible spells.
By doing this, the Daedra and even the Divine could do miracles and still keep, and grow their power.
I just realized, but I completely forgot to get my Conjuration study done! I will have to remember to get it tomorrow.
...Time Skip...
It had been several days since then, and the young mage had finally gathered all the life he would need for his experiment. I graded on usefulness of the item itself, rarity of obtaining it, cost to maintain growing it, mass, and the power it gives. It took several days, and nearly all of my free time, but I managed to create a basic replica of a sacrifice.
I'll test out how well it works at the end of the experiment. For now, I need to tell a way to measure it in Mana.
...Time Skip...
It worked! I was able to turn a small sample of most plants and animals into permanent mana. It wasn't much, and I probably could have gotten more by training, but it's progress. I ranked them from 1-4 in basic measurements, 1 being the least useful, and 4 being the most. The rankings I made were as follows:
Small Animals: Usefulness: 3 Rarity: 2 Cost: 2 Mass: 2 Mana: 2
Large Animals: Usefulness: 2 Rarity: 4 Cost: 1 Mass: 1 Mana: 3
Weeds: Usefulness: 4 Rarity: 4 Cost: 4 Mass: 3 Mana: 1
Magic Plants: Usefulness: 1 Rarity: 1 Cost: 3 Mass: 4 Mana: 4
It seems to be exactly what one would expect. Large animals seem to be the best in shot-term experiments, while weeds and grasses seem to be best for a mid-term goal, and magic plants seem to give the most power, but at the most cost.
I'm really hoping on joining the College of Winterhold soon!
...Time Skip...
I gathered a few weeds, grasses, and magic plants. A few enchanted items, mostly defense and absorb enchantments. I also gathered some logs and basic living supplies. I leave at sundown tomorrow, hopefully I'll get there by sundown.
...Time Skip...
They loved me! They asked me to do a simple spell, one that my Dad had taught me years ago. Obviously I succeeded on my first try, and I managed to secure both a room and bed within the day. I also managed to go to a class about precautions of using magic, it was all basic stuff, but it got me thinking about my experimentation.
I checked out the spell, and boy did I doge an arrow there! The spell, if I hadn't revised it, could have mutated my body horribly! I'll look over it more tomorrow, and maybe not add anything to my body for the next week. I guess I can still try maintaining defensive and useful spells with it. Perhaps I can make the plants cast constant Magelight or something?
...Time Skip...
I decided to start a formal journal of my studies today, starting with today as Day 1.
In other news... I did it! I managed to keep all the plants in my room constantly casting candlelight, though it does slightly stunt their growth, now I don't have to spend most of my Mana keeping up the spell as I move throughout my classes. I think I've managed to get most, if not all of the kinks of the spell worked out. At the very least, using it to enchant a living plant seemed to not have any bad effects, and the Mana it produces is almost 100% neutral.
...Time Skip...
Day 20.
I have almost tripled my power since I started my experiments, so today I tried something a bit more... pure. What actually makes a Daedra? What about a Divine? What powers their artifacts and miracle? For now, I'll call it Divinity, an extremely powerful, but nonrenewable resource. Today I was able to make the equivalent of one unit of Mana of Divinity.
That itself tells how powerful this Divinity is, if even after a full day's worth of harvesting only produces one unit of it.
I'll have to increase my production rate if I want to do anything major with Divinity.
...Time Skip...
Day 34.
Okay, I managed to get my Divinity production rate to a remarkable two units without hunting. For now, I think it would efficient to cast a Divinity Magelight spell, it should only take about two weeks until I have a stable way of creating light without using up so much of my Mana.
...Time Skip...
Day 40.
So, it turns out all that Divinity can be used for something else. I managed to create an energy gathering rune that lit a fire big enough to support my plants, provided it's constantly on. I had to charge it initially, but the constant light leaves me to spend my Divinity on something else. Who knows what thirty two divinity can do?
...Time Skip...
Day 67.
I have managed to almost quintuple my power since starting this experiment only one-hundred days ago. All hail the Breton with seven-hundred fifty Mana units!
On a more serious note, it's been almost half the year, and the Civil War down south is only getting worse. I would prefer if both myself, and the college stayed neutral, but I can't be sure we'll have a choice.
I also managed to get a few more semi-rare magic items today, ranging from strong enchantments to a few more obscure plants for potions. The other students realized I grew Alchemy ingredients early in the year, and had originally asked me for various minor ingredients. I hadn't minded at first, but I've had to put a policy up recently, every unit of magic I can get from each plant, along with how many I have, and how long it takes to grow them, all rated on scale.
Basically, I make them give me various magical things in return for plants. The Archmage doesn't seem to mind, and has decided me to give me a bit more room to work with.
So, I got more land to harvest for myself and others in a lower floor of the college, in return for a bit of pocket change and keeping the place clean. Sounds like a good deal to me.
...Time Skip...
Day 100.
It was hard at first, keeping all the wildlife from getting in the garden, but I have finally managed to obtain both an automatic defense system and create enough light to keep the plants healthy.
The defense system is pretty rudimentary, it summons a basic wolf familiar every ten minutes for one minute to keep anything around dead, and anything new, a future sacrifice. What? Just because I focus on plants doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to leave out power.
Otherwise, I've been pretty good. I have some insanely strong spells, and the auto-familiar was more out of convenience than actual need. Seriously, going down there every hour was a major downer on my sleep. I think I've increased my heartiness, but I'm still not, say, average.
...Time Skip...
Day 120.
I finally ran into... it. I suppose he can tell I'm writing this even now. I know I shouldn't be freaking out as much as I am, but it's been forever since I found something so much stronger than me. I don't mean to be rude, but he had even more raw magic power than even I have, which is insane. Who has more than a thousand Mana! Not only that! The giant Magelight thing had more Divinity than I did too!
Even more creepy than him himself, is what he said. "Be carful, do not get so consumed by your power. Your power is great, but you wisdom lacks." The words sent chills down my spine, and I feel like I desperately need to check everything.
I seem to have some weird paranoia about being followed by something ethereal.
...Time Skip...
Day 150.
Finally, experiments are almost completely over. I have many rare and semi-rare plants growing in my little room, and I'm starting to make some serious profit. In a short test, I can produce almost fifty permanent Mana in one day, almost three-hundred non-permanent Mana, and almost ten Divinity.
Well, I suppose I must get on with the real problem. I believe I have become a Dremora... perhaps saying I have become an Aedra would be a better way of putting it. Nevertheless, my body, and/or my magic has been purified and mutated by the Divinity I have produced, and has given me almost unnoticeable ethereal wings. I have taken to using a small ring of Chameleon, one I used a whole unit of Divinity in to perfectly hide my new wings. It can actually cover my whole body, making my about twenty percent unnoticeable, but I currently have it compacted to a 150% Chameleon on my wings.
I just now realized that it technically counts as a Daedric Artifact now.
Well, I suppose quite a few mages wish to ascend, I guess I'm just some sort of super-genius who managed to surpass thousands of years of magical research in only six months.
...Time Skip...
Day 360.
I have completed most, if not all the training the instructors can give me. The simple fact that I have over three thousand Mana helps. Nevertheless, I have decided to stay for another year, and search for recruits while I'm at it. I've managed to impress the Archmage enough for him to teach me the Ageless spell. It's a master-ranked Restoration spell I can only cast because I put in twice as much Mana as I should. The Archmage noticed this, I think, but when he saw I had no real strain on my body, even after a straight hour of having it on continuously, I guess he decided I could handle.
Well, it was decided I should take four or five days off to look for new recruits. Apparently, when you can create a four-foot tall wall of pure fire and maintain it without end, people want to show you off. I'm not complaining, as this is way further than I ever thought I would go two years ago, at least in this time, but spending the entire day stocking up on almost ten thousand temporary Mana is not my idea of fun.
Though the scrolls and enchantments are pretty useful.
...Time Skip...
Day 365.
The Dragonborn! The Dragonborn, though apparently he hasn't mastered his Shouts yet, has come to our fair college. He was tested normally, or course, but now we have the Dragonborn himself as a student! Legends of the Dragonborn are something every boy and girl of this land grew up on. It's simply amazing I got to meet him.
I suppose I could count as legendary myself, but I can't compete with someone like the Dragonborn himself. Strangely I don't think many of the others seemed to notice. Some sort of magic spell perhaps?
...Time Skip...
Day 370.
Half the college was at the new ruins today. I was assigned with trying to decipher some of the runes. It was extremely hard, but I think I've gotten the hang of it. The Dragonborn apparently battled some stuff with Tolfdir. Personally, I wonder why they didn't get me from across the hall, you know, the Destruction specialist. Even worse, he apparently had some pretty serious wounds.
I'm more than slightly worried about what's going to happen to my beloved college.
The giant ball of plates held together by magic makes that worry even worse.
...Time Skip...
Day 375.
Today's entry will be short. I just came from a massive battle between the high elf and the college. He somehow activated the Eye of Magnus and sucked in its power. I managed to keep him occupied while the Dragonborn found the staff of Magnus and the teachers healed the Archmage.
Well, I'm tired, I'm going to sleep.
...Time Skip...
Day 389.
I'm thinking of starting a new experiment with my Divinity, to test its limits. I've got to get rid of some anyway so my wings don't become physical. I'm thinking of making a far more advanced defense system, maybe around the entire college.
It'll take quite a while though, so I'll try it with my garden first.
...Time Skip...
Day 397.
I managed to create a small little army of plant monsters. Right now I've equipped them with a giant leaf, depending on what kind of plant they are, and a outer layer as strong as iron. It can be argued that this was a waste of my time, but it still is a good defense. I would rate the average of my plant monsters to be around that of a scamp, not that I see very many of those.
It was totally worth a hundred Divinity and fifty permanent Mana for each of them.
Time Skip...
Day 405.
I'm so stupid! I could have just made reproductive organs on the plants instead of paying for them myself!
Well, the new Archmage, the Dragonborn, is very lenient on my research, not even questioning why I have so many plants going to war with each other and gardening.
Maybe when I have everything worked out I can sell the extra for money. As if I don't have enough right now!
...Time Skip...
Day 423.
The Dragonborn has requested me to help me in some of his adventures recently. I have to create a auto-gardening system.
...Time Skip...
Day 450.
Finally returned! The auto-gardening system took forever, especially since I was so far away. I managed by controlling my plant-minions to create one for me. I didn't realize until recently just how flabby I was! The Dragonborn can do physical tasks I've never even dreamed of! Perhaps I can use my plants to increase that as well?
...Time Skip...
Day 464...
Done! I've finally managed to create a self-strengthening spell. It's a master-level Alteration spell, and technically falls into the category of Restoration, but I've made it.
That makes me wonder actually. How many spells have I already made?
...Time Skip...
Day 473.
Okay, I've gotten my Mana up into the ten thousands, my Divinity is enough to materialize a full wing, and I only have one more magic to master. Thu'um! It'll probably take me more than a lifetime, as I'm not the Dragonborn, but I think it would increase my power greatly. Actually. What do I want to do with my power? Until now I've been gathering more and more just because I could.
Depressing thought.
...Time Skip...
Day 480.
Okay, by selective, magical, breeding I've managed to improve my plant-minions. Right now, each little minion has the strength of a fully-equipped town guard. I've also been contemplating on letting them grow and create armor recently.
Also, I figured out my current goal. With my power, and it's vast growth, I want to share the very basics of the magic across the world, but tell no one how to actually do it. Then, I want to create a fan-base, who sacrifice some plants and animals to me. Perhaps I could do something in return? Anyway, then I want to create an entire realm. One that could help me create more power indefinitely!
...Time Skip...
Day 490.
I'm almost completely done. I've decided to upgrade my plant-minions to the level of a mage, and I've grown enough brain-power to learn basic spells and make armor. I can't wait until to show them off to the Dragonborn.
...Time Skip...
Day 492
Okay. I had a little spar with the Dragonborn today, and he asked me to accompany him on one, final adventure.
Let's start with the spar. I managed to hold my own against the Nord. I, obviously, was still not as durable as him, so I kept my distance, using my Conjuration spells keeping his axe too busy to slash at me. Using one hand to do that, I used the other to cast powerful spells, each strong enough to destroy a lesser man. The Dragonborn, however, is no lesser man.
After a few seconds of getting hit by my powerful spells, he ran forward and slashed me with all his might. Shouting some Thu-um I don't recognize. I am proud I lasted past that, but it basically told how the battle went. I casted two powerful spells, knocking him off his feet, and he got in a powerful slash.
Sadly, I went down first.
Well, now for the final adventure I guess. The original Dragonborn, Miraak, has come back, or at least someone using his name. Whoever it is has already sent to cultist after the Dragonborn, and he wishes to make sure this doesn't happen again. Still, he says he need backup, just in case this is actually Miraak we're dealing with.
We'll depart tommorw.
...Time Skip...
Day 497.
I'm finally back! It didn't take long to find Miraak, but actually defeating him took almost two straight days of battling! He healed himself from the brink of death to full! That's my thing!
He had a-you know what I don't care. I'm just going to lay down in my bed and go to sleep. I'll continue with everything tomorrow. I'm hoping to start some semi-free contracts with some of the non-evil daedra. See you tomorrow.
...Time Skip...
So this is his journal, huh. Well, I guess I should explain what happened. Oh! Where are my manors. I am the Dragonborn he talked so much about. He helped me defeat Miraak, Alduin, and countless others.
Three days ago he created his semi-free summoning contract, summoning countless simply bored daedra. He had many of them work for basic things, from books to more land to explore. They were bound to a small 'city' around a hundred meters, and it worked pretty good.
Yesterday, however, five hundred days after the start of his experiments, he ascended. I'm not quite sure what happened, but everyone claims to have seen a giant pillar of light, and, then, nothing.
I know he didn't die though, though I'm not sure how. I just know, after reading his journal, that he became one of two things. Either a Daedric Prince, or one of the Divine themselves.
Godspeed old friend, may you find this notebook yet. And may I find all your Divinity powered artifacts!
...Version 2...
I had been doing research when I was man-handled into that carriage. Well, I suppose I have to start my story anew.
I'm a scholar, attempting on finishing my father's work, to figure out how to ascend past our mortal limits, and into Divinity. I think I found a way there. If I take some power from the things I fight and kill, I can raise my strength slightly. I'll have to test it out more, but I think I've found a possible way to ascend like my father always dreamed of.
I had helped the imperial man get out of a dragon attack, warned Riverwood with him, and even gone to Whiterun to request aid.
After I did that, the court magician sent me on a quest to find something called the Dragonstone. I found it, luckily, and fought one of the strongest undead I've ever seen. The undead used his Thu'um on me! That's something only seen in fairly tales!
On a more serious note, I returned, and had to fight a dragon. I... I think I ate its soul. It proves my theory, but wouldn't that make me the Dragonborn? I'm personally confused on how, exactly, a Breton can be a Dragonborn, but also afraid about what that means.
I don't think I'll be able to live a quite life in the capital anymore.
On a positive note, that does prove my theory about how to ascend, I just have to eat a lot of animal and plants. I should probably stay away from humans though, just in case.
And thus began the legend of the Tenth Divine! The lord of Magic and Sacrifices, slayer of Alduin, Slayer of Sithis!
Random Sentence! That moment when your code is 6166.