Chapter 3 – The Mystery Of The Crystals

Ashirbadon Cave, east of Vivec

Fariel Sinclair never failed to be amazed by even the smallest aspects of Vvardenfell. The small island the boat had just anchored at couldn't have been more than a hundred yards across but was home to unusual dome-like rock formations, two huge mushroom trees and several patches of brightly-coloured flowers. The voyage to get there had taken the group past the ruined, but no less majestic Vivec city and the Daedric shrine of Bal Fell.

Laurent Getenne of the Guild of Mages had brought them here. He was a brilliant young man – a Breton gifted with extraordinary intelligence, an expert in aspects of arcane arts that few others in Tamriel could even hope to grasp. After Jurard had placed him in charge of the research project concerning the lilac crystals, he had heard rumours that sailors had seen a dull purple light emanating from this small island.

As soon as the group had landed on the island, they had spotted a cave entrance, from which the same light emanated, albeit less visibly in the bright midday sun.

The five disembarked the ship – Fariel, Laurent, his assistant Steren, and two war wizards, Gavas Sevil and Camrano.

"Steren, you take point" Laurent ordered. "Cast some light in there"

Steren drew his sword with one hand and with the other, cast a spell which caused light to radiate brightly from him.

"Follow me then, everyone"

Steren marched into the cave, Fariel and Gavas following him. Laurent turned to the Altmer, Camrano.

"You'd better stay up here and keep a lookout" Laurent said. "I'm sure no-one will attack us, but there's always a risk…"

Camrano nodded. "I won't let myself be seen. I'll come and warn you if anything unusual happens"

"Hmm, I don't think we needed this light…" Steren said, dispelling himself. The cave was bathed in pale purple light, emanating from many large crystals that seemed to be growing through the walls.

"These are the crystals" Laurent said, having caught the other three up. "Now we need to find out why they're here"

Steren led the way into the cave. It was bathed in an eerie silence, the only sound being that of drips of water hitting the cavern floor. Eventually the four reached a worn, rotting wooden door. Laurent stepped forward and examined it.

"It's trapped" Laurent said, resting his hand upon the door then stepping away from it.

"How do we get past?" Gavas asked.

"I'll use a probe to disarm it" Steren said.

Fariel laughed to herself. "There's a much easier way of disarming traps than that"

Laurent looked at Fariel for a long time. "Very well. Let's see what you can do"

Fariel cast a spell on herself and there was a loud 'Whoosh' as bursts of white light enveloped her. She then motioned her hands towards the door. Bolts of electricity surged through it for a split-second then subsided.

"It should be safe now" Fariel said.

Laurent gingerly placed his hand on the door and pushed it open. "I like your way of thinking!"

Laurent led the group through the doorway into a large cavern. Shallow water flooded its floor, whilst an unusual rock formation provided a walkway to a stone ledge. The most immediate feature, however, was the huge amount of purple crystalline growths that covered the cavern.

"Looks like we've struck gold" Steren said, gazing at the crystals in awe. The room was lit purple, almost as bright as daylight.

"Not quite, Steren" Laurent said. "Someone built that door, so someone must have lived down here. We need to find out who"

--

Outside, Camrano was ducked behind a rock on the shore of the small island. For the past few minutes, he was watching a small dinghy approach the island. He could see that there were two Dunmer on board. They were dressed in common clothing and seemingly unarmed – probably two of the Sun and Moon Cult, Camrano had thought. He was waiting until they landed to find out.

Camrano stepped out of cover as the dinghy ground up onto the sand and the two Dunmer got out.

"Move aside, Altmer" one of the Dunmer said.

"Camrano of the Guild of Mages to you" Camrano replied. "And who might you be?"

One of the Dunmer cast a spell on himself. Camrano reacted immediately by hurling a bolt of lightning at the Dunmer, but the Dunmer dodged the attack and hurled the dagger he had just summoned at Camrano. The dagger slammed into Camrano's forehead, killing him instantly.

--

West Gash region, near Ald Velothi

The six slogged up the hill that led to the magnificent stone bridge that marked the only point of access to the Dwemer ruin. Varo and Sten led, constantly watching around for threats. A dull light emanated from the magical gauntlet on Varo's left hand – Wraithguard.

"Are you sure about all this, Commander?" Sten asked suddenly. "I mean, cancelling the glass and ebony trade. That's our only economy"

"I would rather lose money than more lives, Sten" Varo replied. "And I intend to do something about Dagoth Ur as soon as possible. He has done all I need him to by warning me of the threat"

"What can you do about him, though? He doesn't really exist anymore"

Varo smiled. "Just leave it with me, Sten"

Jurard and Levisson brought up the back of the group. The pair had been talking about the way the newer deposits of glass and ebony contained the essence of Dagoth Ur when Levisson began to slow in pace.

"I'm afraid we don't have time for resting" Jurard said. Levisson said nothing, leaning forwards then falling to the ground.

"Tertius, are you alright?" Jurard said, rushing to help him to his feet. Galmina heard the commotion and ran over to help.

"I feel awful" Levisson said softly. "It's like… like I have no strength"

Levisson put his hand over his mouth then coughed. When he removed his hand it was covered in flecks of blood. Galmina motioned him to sit down.

"When did this start?"

"Just after we landed" Levisson replied. By now, Varo, Sten and Hermidius had joined them.

"I'm sorry I sent Sea Monster away" Varo said. "It sounds like you should have gone with him. Galmina, can you treat this?"

Galmina placed her hand on Levisson's forehead. "It's not fever… this isn't a disease I'm familiar with. I left most of my medicines on the ship. I may be able to do something about the symptoms for now though…"

Pale blue light burst from Galmina's hands and flowed through Levisson. Levisson slowly got to his feet.

"That was only a temporary fix" Galmina explained. "If the symptoms return you have to tell me straight away"

--

Ashirbadon Cave, Inner Cavern

Laurent and Fariel reached the stone shelf at the far end of the cavern, after Fariel had spotted a series of Daedric inscriptions written on the wall.

"Can you understand this?" Fariel asked Laurent.

Laurent shook his head and turned around.

"Gavas, can you understand Daedric script?" Laurent called to the Dunmer war wizard.

"I can translate, but it takes me a long time" Gavas replied as he slowly began levitating towards the ledge. As Steren stood guard at the doorway, Laurent and Fariel continued to stare at the inscriptions.

"I recognise them" Fariel said "But I don't know where from"

She looked at Laurent, who was transfixed by the symbols, his eyes flicking backwards and forwards across the carvings as his brilliant brain tried to decipher a meaning from them.

"Scrolls" Laurent said suddenly. "Magical scrolls, that is. They're written in Daedric script. I recognise the top one as a high-powered fire spell"

Gavas nodded. "You're right. So that would imply that some sort of conjurer or wizard once lived in here?"

"I'd say so" Laurent replied. "I wonder why they wrote this down on the wall though…"

The pair had been so engrossed by the carvings that they hadn't noticed that Fariel had climbed down to the cavern floor, at a point where the water was only a few inches deep. Fariel reached into the water and pulled something out.

"Fariel, what have you found?" Laurent called. Fariel opened her hands to reveal a magical sapphire amulet, which she threw up to Laurent. Laurent caught the amulet and examined it.

"The red light it's giving off would suggest a self-damaging spell, probably a fumbled enchantment attempt… by the Gods!"

Laurent froze as he turned the amulet over.

"What is it?" Gavas asked nervously.

"Actually, I suppose it's of little consequence these days. This amulet bears the emblem of the Sixth House"

"That means it may not have been a wizard who lived in here. It could have been a Sixth House den"

"No, I stand by my original theory. Our wizard probably abandoned their home after Nerevarine was killed, and a lesser Dagoth would have happened across this cave looking for shelter from ash storms after Red Mountain erupted"

Suddenly, there was a loud bang high above them.

"It's the door!" Steren called. "Wait… I can hear two sets of footfalls!"

Instinctively, Steren slammed the inner door shut and sealed it using magic. Gavas raced across the stone walkway back to the door.

"Are you sure that's necessary?"

"Someone's found us" Steren said gravely. "Why would Camrano and one other person be coming into the cave?"

"Laurent, what should we do?" Gavas called.

"Let them come" Laurent replied. "We should at least wait and see who it is before we kill them. Everyone, get to somewhere where you've got a line of fire at the door"

Steren ducked behind a cluster of crystals near the door, and Laurent moved to a position where a rock pillar stood between him and the door. Gavas remained on the walkway, waiting for the intruders.

A spell was cast on the door and it was suddenly flung open. Two Dunmer ran in, where they were confronted by Gavas, who cast a lightning bolt at them. It lanced over the Dunmers' heads, missing them by inches, exploding on the doorframe in a spectacular shower of sparks. A warning shot. Steren stepped out from behind the rock, grabbing one of the Dunmer and holding his sword across their necks. Gavas summoned a dagger and did the same to the other Dunmer.

"Your names" Steren ordered.

"I am Salen Gothren" the Dunmer who Steren was holding said. "My companion is Vanur Aryon. Our business is our own"

Gavas pulled his dagger closer to Vanur Aryon, making a small cut in his throat. "Perhaps you'd like to tell us what happened to Camrano"

"Dead" Aryon replied, smiling wickedly. "As you will be soon"

Steren cast a spell on the two Dunmer, silencing them. "Let's see them fight their way out of this one. They look unarmed and now they can't cast spells"

Laurent stepped out from his hiding place. "Aryon and Gothren were the surnames of two high-ranking Telvanni wizards during the time of Nerevarine" he explained. "I think we know where our new friends' allegiances lie"

"Makes sense" Steren said, nodding at the crystals. "Alright, what are you doing here?"

"The same as you" Gothren said. "Investigating the crystals"

"Maybe they can be of some use" Laurent said slowly. "House Telvanni are not enemies of ours. They severed any alliances they may have had with the other Dunmer factions years ago. Alright, what do you know?"

The two Dunmer said nothing. Suddenly, Gothren tore himself free of Steren's grip and punched the Redguard hard in the face, knocking him to the ground. At the same time, Gavas released his grip on Aryon, who bolted out of the cave. Gavas then handed his dagger to Gothren, who plunged it into Steren's chest.

Gavas hurled a fireball at Laurent, who leapt to the ground to avoid it. The fireball burst in a colossal explosion on the wall of the cavern.

"I thought I could trust you, Gavas!" Laurent shouted, leaping to his feet. He was in trouble now – both Gavas and Gothren were armed, and Laurent's combat skills were adequate at best. Desperately, Laurent backed up onto the stone ledge…

Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot up from the floor of the cavern, slamming into Gothren. The Dunmer was sent flying off the walkway, screaming until he collided head-first with a rock protruding from the water on the cavern floor. His neck snapped loudly in two and he lay motionless, floating in the water.

Fariel.

Laurent had forgotten all about her.

"Your life can be spared, Gavas" Laurent said, holding his hands up. "If you come peacefully we will let you go…"

Gavas shook his head, summoning another dagger and throwing it at Laurent. Laurent tried to dodge the attack but felt searing pain as the dagger struck him, piercing through his thigh. Laurent roared in pain and fell to the ground.

As this happened, Fariel was racing up the walkway, trying to get to Gavas. As she neared the ledge, she saw Gavas looming over Laurent, ready to strike the killing blow…

Fariel lunged forwards and shoulder-barged Gothren, sending him toppling over, landing on top of Laurent. In one swift movement, she pulled the summoned dagger from Laurent's thigh and plunged it into Gavas' back. The Dunmer flinched for a second then rolled limply off Laurent onto the ground.

"Impressive, Ms Sinclair" Laurent said, wincing.

"Here, let me help you" Fariel said, sitting down next to Laurent. She had learnt a lot about healing from her mother, and could easily treat a stab wound. Fariel wiped the blood away from the wound on Laurent's leg then held her hand over it. Laurent's thigh was enveloped in a pale blue glow as the wound healed.

"We were lucky to survive that, Fariel" Laurent said, getting to his feet. "Poor Steren. And Camrano, too…"

"There was one more of them" Fariel said, making her way back towards the cavern door with Laurent following. "Aryon. He got away, but he can't be far"

As the pair reached the doorway, Laurent nodded back at Gavas Sevil's dead body. "He betrayed us and tried to kill us in cold blood" Laurent said in a low voice. "Just like a member of House Telvanni would"

"But why? Why would they do this to us?"

"House Telvanni are obsessed with power. And they believe knowledge is power. They want to know what this island is capable of, and they want it for themselves. We should tell your father immediately"

--

Dres Palace, Tear, mainland Morrowind

In the throne room, a Dunmer warrior stood proudly before his masters. He was wearing the best-quality armour he could find – a full suit of ebony armour, forged by the finest craftsmen of House Dres. A Daedric longsword lay in a scabbard on his belt, and a bow was slung across his back. Rings on his fingers and an amulet around his neck glowed with magical enchantments.

"You are clear on what you must do?"

"Yes. Dagoth Sinclair and all his allies must be destroyed"