Chapter 8 – Vilverin
Staada collapsed with exhaustion as soon as she fell out of the portal, soon feeling the welcoming grasp of Simiri helping her to her feet.
"Are you alright, Commander?" Semiri asked, indicating the black arrow jutting from Staada's arm.
"I've had worse," Staada said as she agonisingly wrenched the arrow from her arm whilst simultaneously casting a healing spell on herself.
The three took in their surroundings. Staada had been on Tamriel before, but the other two Saints had never seen it before in their lives. They stood alone on a small island, bearing the distinctive appearance of the Shivering Isles – it even had a north-south divide between Mania and Dementia. The island was situated in the middle of a wide river basin, surrounded by dense forests, with towering mountains in the distance to the east and a small, decrepit-looking town to the west.
"What can we do now?" Anrea asked. "How long must we wait before it is safe for us to return?"
"Somehow, we have to find Latta" Staada said, gazing around her. "She might be the last hope of the Golden Saints"
"How can we possibly hope to find her in all of Tamriel?" Semiri asked somewhat pessimistically.
"They key is Meridia, Latta's mother" Staada said, sitting down on a nearby rock. "You two may not know this, but the Golden Saints are Meridian in origin. We are similar to Meridia's Auroran warriors. In the beginning, they were the males of our species. I do not know how we came to be in Sheogorath's service, but I do know that male Golden Saints have not existed for long on the scale of Aethereus' history, and were created by some sort of divine intervention from a distant source. All I know is that if we can find a shrine to Meridia, she will help us"
--
New Sheoth, Palace throne room (Dementia side)
Sheogorath scanned over the sheets of paper that Haskill had just handed to him.
"And now, Master, I really must attend to the maintenance of House Mania now it has been all but emptied" Haskill said. "Do not hesitate to summon me if you require me again"
Sheogorath nodded vaguely, engrossed in the words written on the papers.
Sheogorath,
As you instructed I searched Latta's quarters. It seems she has taken quite an interest in abstract magic and may well have paid a visit to Dyus. I might also guess that she has communicated with Meridia. I found many pages of notes that she and others had made and can be summarised thus:
Mortal victories against Dagoth Ur and Mehrunes Dagon should not be viewed in good light as two divine artifacts – the Amulet of Kings and the Heart of Lorkhan – were destroyed.
White Gold Tower is one of many, but is the only one whose location is known. Note the fact that the mortals seemingly have not explored their own realm fully, or have managed to somehow lose the knowledge that dictates the location of at least five towers.
These towers are very important to the safety of Tamriel, but it is fact the stones associated with these towers that create the effect – hence the destruction of the Amulet of Kings/Chim-el Adabal (the Second Stone) and the Heart of Lorkhan (First Stone) being to the detriment of mortal safety.
Meridia warns of being misled into destroying the Third Stone, located in Snow Throat Mountain.
White Gold Tower appears to be semi-sentient.
--
Vilverin, exterior
"I know the architecture of Ayleid cities quite well," Camri said, gazing over Vilverin. "Particularly those that are built underground like this one. Near the entrance there will be a bridge above the main walkway that will lead directly to the sepulchre, where I imagine Verenim will be hiding. It saves one from having to trace a route through the whole ruin. Latta, much of this concerns Daedric affairs so perhaps you should be the one to speak to her. Assurrani, you go with her in case anyone needs killing. Ariel and I will explore the rest of the ruin. Areen, Halisman, that leaves you two on sentry duty"
"With respect, Camri, my job is to protect Ariel" Halisman objected.
"I know, but if I was trying to defend an Ayleid ruin from necromancer reinforcements I'd want a Legion Captain leading the defense"
Halisman sighed and nodded. "Very well"
Areen and Halisman watched the other four make their way towards the ruin.
"Don't worry" Areen said. "His leadership style always takes time to get used to"
--
The four crept into the ruin, Assurrani carrying the portable rope ladder, until they stopped and Ariel indicated a narrow stone bridge above the main passageway. Assurrani carefully threw the ladder up, hooking its two grappling hooks over the edge of the bridge, and Latta began to ascend it.
"You might need this" Camri whispered, offering a strange object to Assurrani.
"The Skeleton Key?" Assurrani replied, examining the object.
"Yes. Ariel said that the door into the sepulchre requires a key, but no lock is unbreakable. That will make the job a bit easier for you"
As Assurrani and Latta ascended the rope ladder onto the bridge and made for the sepulchre, Camri and Ariel continued down the passageway. Suddenly, they heard footsteps – evidently they had aroused the suspicions of someone. In the dim light, Camri could make out a figure approaching them. With one hand he drew his sword, and motioned Ariel to step back with the other. A voice called out.
"Who goes there… Camri? Is that you?"
Camri's face broke out into a wide grin as he realised who the voice belonged to.
"Yes, it's me, Witch Doctor" Camri called back. The figure began ascending the stairs quickly towards them, revealing itself to be a tall, lean Redguard with windswept hair, wearing a black robe over a bulky-looking suit of leather armour – The Witch Doctor.
"What are you doing here, old friend?" Witch Doctor asked sternly. "Vilverin's not safe anymore"
"I could ask you the same thing" Camri replied. "I thought you gave up working for Verenim years ago"
"You know, huh? Well, she couldn't risk me bleating to the Empire once they started poking their nose around in necromancy. She's employed me as a guard here. She pays me well, but I'm not allowed to leave. Didn't really give me much choice in the matter, you know? Go on then, what brings you here?"
"We're here to deal with Verenim. Things have changed, Witch Doctor. Reluctantly, I'm with the Empire now. I'm in the fight against necromancy"
"You're here to kill her? You're not in for an easy ride, my friend. This is a big necromancer den"
"I've got an ex-Morag Tong man and a powerful warrior on her case. Me and Ariel are going to search this place for information"
"Camri, if you were anyone else my sword would be embedded in your throat by now, but your motives are always right, and I'm desperate to get out of this hole. Let me help you. You'll need my keys to get into a few important places"
"Important places?"
"Yeah, I've got the key to Relmyna's study. You said you were here for information…"
"Let's go" Camri said firmly. "Lead the way"
-
Latta and Assurrani ran, single file, down a narrow corridor that had been found beyond an ancient gate, which Assurrani had used the skeleton key to pick the lock of. The pair burst into a large ceremonial chamber… and stopped abruptly in their tracks.
Stood in front of them was a Dunmer woman, surrounded by no less than seven necromancers.
"Relmyna Verenim, I presume?" Assurrani said coolly.
"The very same" Verenim replied. "And you, you must be Falas Assurrani. The assassin-turned-do-gooder I've heard so much about. And who could forget Latta, the fruit of that fool Sheogorath?"
"Sheogorath saved your life" Latta said. "He tipped you off so you could escape. You've got him to thank for the fact that you're not impaled on the end of a Golden Saint's longsword"
"Cut to the chase" Verenim snapped. "What are you doing here? Why shouldn't I order my guards to kill you?"
Sensing the danger, Latta suddenly leapt on top of Assurrani and threw him to the ground just as a ferocious volley of magic blasted over them. Latta jumped to her feet and let off two bolts of lightning, one from each hand, killing two of the necromancers. As the other five watched this incredible attack in shock, Assurrani pulled a dagger out from his belt and threw it overarm, skilfully pinning Verenim to the wall of the chamber through the fabric of the left arm of her robe. Verenim tried to wrench the dagger free, but to no avail, as Assurrani ran over to her and used his sword to pin her other arm to the wall. He would have to use his bow from here.
"Falas!" Latta shouted. "Skeletons!"
Assurrani whipped round and saw Latta parrying with two necromancers, both armed with maces, as two summoned skeletons staggered towards her. Assurrani raced up to one of them and kicked it in its back, shattering its spine and causing it to disappear in a flash of magic, making sure to grab the axe it was carrying before it disappeared. Swinging his newly-acquired silver axe, Assurrani hewed the second skeleton's head from its body, then, not missing a beat, slammed it into the back of one of the necromancers that Latta was fighting. Latta then delivered the killing blow to the other necromancer, then the pair turned to face their final two opponents. Assurrani cast the axe to the ground and drew his bow, loading an arrow as he sidestepped to dodge a fireball. Latta returned two fireballs, again propelling one from each hand, forcing both necromancers to dive to the ground. As one got up, Assurrani nailed him in the scalp with his bow, gruesomely splitting his head like a watermelon, and Latta lunged at the other, running her sword through his chest before he had chance to get his bearings.
Silence fell over the chamber. Relmyna Verenim had stopped struggling to get free.
Latta walked over to the Dunmer and held her sword across her throat.
"Now we're alone, I think it's time for a little chat, don't you?"
"What do you want, Latta?" Relmyna asked, resigned.
"I don't want to have to kill you" Latta said. "Do you know why you were allowed to go free?"
Relmyna shook her head.
"Sheogorath needs you in the Isles. Apart from creating the Gatekeeper you are a useful commodity to the isles. I know of the healing work you have done. I understand that you once healed Commander Staada in the battlefield, removed an arrow from her heart. Had you not done that, she would have died. But Sheogorath wanted someone in particular to think that he had taken a stance against necromancy"
"Who?"
"Meridia. Of all the Daedra she is the most outspoken against your dark art. Sheogorath was trying to impress her, it's that simple. My task is to stamp out necromancy in Tamriel, not the Shivering Isles. As long as you base yourself purely in Dementia you will be safe there"
"You're… You're going to let me go?"
"I see you share your mother's compassion, Latta" Assurrani said in genuine admiration.
"I will let you go if you give us the information we need, and if you promise to go straight back to the Shivering Isles once our business is done. If I see you in Tamriel again, I will not hesitate to kill you"
"Or maybe not" Assurrani whispered to himself.
--
"This big room coming up is the mustering station," the Witch Doctor whispered. "Looks like someone twigged onto the fact that something was wrong. It's filling up"
The three were quietly descending a stairway that, through a large iron grate at its end, they could see a large open chamber lit by torchlight.
"The study's on the left side of the chamber" the Witch Doctor continued. "Stay here. I'll go and unlock it for you. When I've done that, give 'em hell"
"This is very risky, Witch Doctor" Camri said. "You could very easily get killed"
"I would welcome death right now, brother"
Camri said nothing as the Redguard led them on. Eventually, he motioned them to stop and strode purposefully into the large room. Camri and Ariel heard voices coming from inside the mustering station.
"Witch Doctor. What's going on?"
"Word on the street is that the Empire are planning a big raid on us. They'll send the Expeditionary Force in who'll probably work out how to go the back way. Watch the lower door down there – that's where they'll come from"
Clever, Camri thought to himself.
"Hey, that's Relmyna's study! Are you allowed to go in there?"
"Yeah, why do you think I've got a key?"
The necromancers were starting to get suspicious. Camri glanced around, looking for loose items, preferably sharp ones, and found the pieces of a broken barrel and some shards of glass from a smashed potion flask. As quietly as he could, Camri scooped them into the path of the doorway with his feet.
"For the love of the Nine, wait until I'm out the way" Camri whispered to Ariel. "Come in and help me once you're done. I'll cover you"
Ariel nodded as the air filled with the loud clack of a lock being opened. Camri nodded to Ariel.
Go.
Camri drew his sword and raced into the chamber. A necromancer squared up to him and licks of flame began appearing at his fingertips, but Camri danced forwards, executing a full spin and decapitating the necromancer. Then, he leapt to the left, towards Relmyna's study, just as Ariel unleashed the full power of her telekinetic abilities and a barrage of razor-sharp glass and wood shards blasted out of the passageway, gruesomely cutting down several of the necromancers. Then the Witch Doctor came into play, drawing his sword and slaughtering a necromancer who was standing near him. This threw the remaining guards into confusion – Camri and Ariel seized the moment and bolted for the study, racing into it, dodging fireballs and lightning bolts, as Witch Doctor slammed the door behind them and locked it.
"Ayleid stone – they're not getting through that," the Witch Doctor said, tapping the door. "I hope you've got an escape plan"
"We'll come up with something," Camri said. "Let's see what Relmyna's got in here"
Ariel was already stood at a large stone workbench, instinctively picking up papers and documents that she knew to have some sort of importance. Then, her gaze was drawn to some papers stuck to the wall – a large map of Tamriel with several locations marked on it, which Ariel committed to memory, and a calendar, with a particular date circled with a thick red line – the 13th of Rain's Hand – four days' time.
"Clear her out" Camri said as he began shovelling handfuls of the documents that Ariel had sorted into a large leather backpack. "What's happening on the 13th?"
"Look, there's other dates marked" Ariel said, still examining the calendar. "Every seventh day has SR written next to it – the Shade of the Revenant. The 13th is one of those. Every eighth Revenant one comes along that is brighter and more powerful than the others. The 13th must be one of those… but none of the others are marked… unless Relmyna intends to use the more powerful Revenant for something"
"No idea what you're talking about, Ariel"
"The Shade of the Revenant is an astral phenomenon involved in the creation of black soul gems. It happens once a week at certain sites around Tamriel"
"Do you know any of them?"
"Only by name. The Dark Fissure and Fort Linchal are the only two I know"
"The Dark Fissure's there" Camri said, pointing on the large map of Tamriel on the wall. "It's a big cave high up in the mountains near Cheydinhal. I see Relmyna know this too – it's marked on the map"
"Everyone knows about Dark Fissure, Camri," the Witch Doctor said. "A big fight went down there when the Mages' Guild were fighting Mannimarco a few years ago. Everyone knows it's best to stay away from there"
"I seem to spend my life in places that it's best to stay away from. And I've got an escape plan"
Camri handed a phial of potion to Ariel. It was a mixture of carrots, clouded funnel cap mushrooms, ginseng and water hyacinth – a potion that Camri had always carried with him ever since he had met Ariel, which he used to fortify her magical abilities to semi-godlike levels as and when it was required. Then, he took all of the arrows out of his quiver. Ariel nodded in understanding.
"Good luck to you both" the Witch Doctor said as he unlocked the door and threw it open.
In an instant, Ariel took several gulps of the potion and ran out into the chamber as Camri tossed his arrows high up towards the ceiling of the mustering station. Then, with a flick of Ariel's wrists, each arrow took on a flight of its own, all with flight paths directed straight towards every single remaining necromancer. It was a massacre – more than ten remaining necromancer guards, all killed in an instant.
"There'll be more on their way!" Witch Doctor called. "Run!"