Darys refused to answer any questions until they were in the tower. Once they arrived, everyone gathered in the Main Ops Room. Darys walked to the center of the room and removed his helmet. The Titans gasped as one – the blue-grey skin, the pointed ears, fierce eyebrows, sharp chin, and more than anything, the slanting, red eyes – all gave Darys' face an infernal look.
"My name is Darys Othrelas. I am a Dark Elf, a Dunmer. My home is the world of Nirn, or Arena – a place that exists separately and independently from your own, a place we call Mundus. We are in a different plane of existence, or different universe, or another dimension, maybe all three – the technical details are unimportant."
"What is important is that the entirety of Mundus is in danger, and I must ask – beg – your help if it is going to survive. It has been revealed to me that there is only one being in the Multiverse capable of doing so. That being is here, now, among us."
Having said that, he turned towards Raven, took a deep breath and proclaimed in a powerful voice.
"I am Darys Othrelas, Dovakhiin – the Dragonborn, bearer of the dragon blood, the one who defeated Alduin the World-Eater. I am the Slayer of Miraak, the First Dragonborn. I am the destroyer of Harkon, Lord of Vampires; I am Master of the Thu'um, Archmage of the College of Winterhold, Harbinger of the Companions. I am one of the most powerful beings on Nirn –" he walked over to stand in front of Raven, then suddenly fell to one knee before her "– and I humbly beseech your help to save my world from the evil force that is threatening to consume it."
The Titans were speechless. Raven bent and took hold of Darys' arm.
"Please get up. I am not used to people kneeling before me."
She helped Darys get up and guided him to the couch, making him sit down.
"We owe you a debt that must be repaid. But we cannot help you without knowing what is going on."
The Titans quickly sat down around them, waiting for Darys to start his tale. He swept his gaze over every one of them, ending it by looking at Raven. Still holding her in his gaze, he spoke.
"Several weeks ago – at least according to my time, since the passage of time may be different in your plane – and by pure chance, I discovered a stone disk or token that looked like this." He lifted his hand and repeated the simple spell that caused the disk to appear hovering in the air, rotating slowly, the baleful sign glowing on one of its faces.
"The Mark of Scath!" Robin whispered. "Trigon!" Raven said through clenched teeth.
Darys nodded. "Aye. At first I did not consider it anything more than a curiosity. But a few days later, it was stolen from my quarters at the College. This in itself meant that the token was much more important than it appeared. I shall not bore you with the details of my search for answers, but I will tell you of its results."
"Mundus is home to many sentient beings of many races. But it is also the dwelling of powerful forces of Order and Chaos, Creation and Destruction, Constancy and Change. These forces we know as the Aedra and the Daedra. While the Aedra are bound to the Bones of the Earth – the very laws and principles that make our world – the Daedra represent the forces of destruction, change and renewal. One of their most powerful representations, incarnations or manifestations – there is no correct word for it – is Mehrunes Dagon. He is known as the Daedric Prince of Destruction, Revolution and Ambition. He is always looking for ways to enter Nirn and establish his supremacy over it."
"We have foiled his attempts before. But now he succeeded in contacting, or was contacted by, another force of evil and destruction. Somehow he and Trigon touched each other's minds and found much in common. So they agreed on a plan that would give them both what they wanted, the extension of their rulership and therefore the increase of their power."
"It is not easy to talk of these beings in terms that mortal minds can comprehend fully, but for our purposes it is enough to know that they struck a bargain. Mehrunes Dagon would take over your world, while Trigon would conquer Mundus."
"Their plan is based on the fact that any magic or craft created outside the planes where their influence resides cannot affect them. This is why you could not harm Mehrunes Dagon. Only I could do it, and he is so much more powerful than me that I had to use Mehrunes' Razor, an artifact of enormous power, an artifact of Dagon's own making, to banish him."
"And so your world is now safe from Dagon. But my world is still threatened by Trigon, and there is nothing anybody can do. He is outside of the influence of our magic and our weapons. Even the Daedra and Aedra would not be able to fight him. Only the one that has banished him before could do it again." He concluded, his gaze resting once more on Raven.
Raven stood up and walked over to the panoramic window, looking though it but not really focusing on anything. Behind her, everybody waited in silence.
Raven was silent for a long time. Robin got up from the couch and walked over to her. In a soft voice, he said "Rae, this is your call. Whatever you decide, we are behind you."
Raven gave Robin a rare, almost shy smile, and turned to the others.
"My decision was made a while ago. But I must forbid you to join me in this task. It will be too dangerous."
Starfire got up from the couch and flitted over to her, taking Raven's hands into hers.
"Friend Raven, we have faced so many of the dangers together so far. It is not possible for us to leave you to do the battle alone, without us joining in the fight. Do not ask from us the sacrifice of such magnitude."
"I cannot risk your lives!" Raven almost shouted.
"That is true." Starfire replied. "You cannot. The risk to our lives is not caused by you, it is caused by us. It is our will that moves our muscles and our minds that decide to put ourselves in the way of the harm, for the sake of our friends."
"I was afraid that this would happen. And yet, Trigon must be stopped." She looked at Darys. "We will come with you."
"Wonderful!" laughed Starfire and hugged her. Raven returned the hug, then frowned and said "Please stop hugging me."
"So, when do we leave?" Robin asked Darys.
Next chapter is already being prepared, will upload in a day or two. Please let me know what you think so far.