Ch. 19 Controlled Aggression
Well it's time to check in with our favorite dragon couple and see how things are. Seriously, who doesn't love dragons?
Next week starts my D3 story so keep your eyes peeled for that and I think it's going to turn out to be a good one. I wanna try out a ME story with a female Turian but I also wanna try a Dark Souls story too so tell me what you all would want me to plan most and we'll see what I can do.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters belong to Bethesda. Any OC's belong to their respective creators.
Marius had to shut his eyes as the fires seemed to burn brighter to his sight but there was no mistake that his specter was dead or at least as dead he could be now. Blinking away the irritation of bright orange flames, Marius turned to Paarthurnax and marveled at how different things were from a dragon's perspective as orange and reds become prominent and blue and green were less pronounced but nothing he couldn't get use to after a bit.
The walking part would be a different story.
"How do you feel Dovahkiin?" Paarthurnax asked calmly as Marius grunted.
"Different and yet...whole." Marius replied after a moment. "As if I wasn't all together until this very point."
"As how it should be but you still have a long road ahead of you. We do not have much time left but we can accomplish much if you learn quickly but first," Paarthurnax stopped as Marius fell over. "you must learn to walk."
"I thought I got over that when I was a child." Marius grumbled as he went face first into the snow again.
-With Alduin-
Alduin picked her head off the ground when she felt it. A new feeling that just resounded with pure and unbridled power, power that made her feel excited and warm. There was no doubt where this power came from and that had Alduin licking her lips in eagerness. 'You just keep getting interesting my Dovahkiin, I wonder if you could do enough in the remaining time to pose a challenge though.'
"A-Are you the one...er dragon they call Alduin?" A terrified voice asked as Alduin turned head to see a Breton in the uniform of a Legion soldier.
"You had best speak quickly joor." she threatened as the soldier shook violently.
"We have some ah...news regarding the Treaty. The Council of Elders have...er decided to nullify it, war has officially been declared." The soldier said as Alduin regarded him for a moment.
"You joor work fast." Alduin remarked as the soldier calmed only slightly. "You are aware that your actions have caused my battle plans to be hastened or outright nullified?"
"We...that is to say the Elder Council is slow on most occasions but this was done in haste. I know not why it was done only that I am just a messenger." The soldier replied as Alduin huffed.
"Tol los fahvos hi los tul nahlaas. Be thankful that not all of what I have is ruined but you will inform your leaders that they would do well to slow or halt their actions or else they will lose our support." Alduin said as she turned away from the soldier in dismissal.
The soldier decided to get the heck out of dodge before he wound up dinner.
"Thuri, it is almost time." A dragon said as it landed a safe distance away. "The lair of the weaklings have been found but a magic door is blocking entrance."
"What kind of magic." Alduin asked as the dragon shuffled.
"A pass phrase lock and a decent one at that." The dragon replied as Alduin stood up. "After some trial and error, we have found it out however."
"It is not needed; a very well locked door in a sewer barely posed a challenge to me and this one is no different." Alduin said as she unfurled her wings. "Doors were made with joor strength in mind but the might of the dovah far exceeds what their minds can comprehend."
"Very well thuri, wahl joor motaad ahst hin uld." The dragon before departing.
"I plan on it." Alduin said before she took off to the north.
-With Tullius-
"The Thalmor will not let this go unpunished human! You have signed your own death warrants!" Elenwen yelled before she was forced onto the Executioner's Block. "You cannot do this! You are violating the White-Gold Concordant!"
"That piece of paper was ripped in half a week ago, The Second Great War has officially begun. Elenwen of Alinor, you are hereby charged with kidnapping and murder of numerous citizens of the Empire and conspiring to commit religious genocide." Tullius declared as the crowd roared for blood.
"The Aldmeri Dominion will have this city razed to the ground for this!" Another Thalmor soldier said but he was quickly silenced by a strike to the gut.
"May your own gods judge you favorably because the Nine will not!" Tullius finished as the crowd's chanting became higher and the Executioner's ax rose in the air.
Elenwen's last sight was the blade coming down on her.
Across Skyrim and Tamriel it was like this, Thalmor soldiers, ambassadors and spies were being detained and brought before an execution block or the gallows to be hung. Those that surrendered were offered to renounce their allegiance while those that resisted were offered no quarter. The mere sight of the Imperial Legion marching or dragging Thalmor and their supporters through city streets made those who went against the Empire pause while those who were wavering threw their complete support behind the Empire.
By the end of the month the continent of Tamriel would be split with Eleswyr and Valenwood siding with Alinor while High Rock and Skyrim sided with the Empire. Only Morrowind, Hammerfell and Black Marsh remained neutral but that wouldn't last as the continent was plunged into the first World War for Tamriel.
-Raven Rock-
Imperial Soldiers flanked Legate Beril Levan as he stood before Councilor Morvayn while Second Councilor Arano stood at Morvayn's side.
"The Empire abandoned Raven Rock and now that we have put it back on the map you want to reclaim it?" Morvayn asked calmly as his guards twitched. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't order your ship sunk."
'It's politicians like this that make me glad I left Morrowind.' Beril thought as he ran a dark skinned hand through his graying hair. Gray hair on a Dark Elf not even in his 100th year was rare but fighting through numerous campaigns in two wars took their toll faster than time itself. "We aren't interested in claiming Raven Rock but we aren't interested in the Ebony you mine. The Empire is willing to be generous for any ore you sell us."
"And just why should we trade with an Empire that abandoned us during a very bad period and hasn't given a damn about us since?" Adril Arano asked as Morvayn raised a hand.
"Calm yourself Adril losing our heads isn't going to help." Morvayn said as Beril gave a soft sigh. "I do have to agree with my friend however. Why would sell what we have to a dying Empire?"
"The Empire has found it's spine again. The White-Gold Concordant has been nullified and Thalmor are being found and executed even as we speak." Beril replied as Morvayn and Arano raised their eyebrows. "What are asking for isn't an alliance nor a support armistice, instead we want a trade agreement."
"You still haven't explained why we should even listen to your terms." Morvayn said as Beril mulled it over.
"I am not permitted to say why but I can tell you that the need for Ebony is worth more to the Empire than you think right now. We have a...project that requires more than we have in reserve and we are fully prepared to pay handsomely for it." Beril said as Morvayn leaned in. "We have already pitched the idea to the rest of Redoran and they are waiting for your opinion before moving forward."
"Then we have a right to know what we are signing." Morvayn said as Beril nodded.
"Everything is right here, no tricks or traps." Beril said as he handed a scroll over to Morvayn, who opened and began reading.
The terms were pretty straightforward; The Empire would agree to buy ore from Redoran controlled mines for a modest fee and the Empire would provide the caravans and guards necessary to transport the ore leaving Redoran to do nothing but mine it and sit back. There were other small items such as Redorans right to renegotiate prices or to end the agreement altogether if one party isn't satisfied but those were moot points. At the bottom was what stuck out at Morvayn.
"This has been signed by every Councilor! I thought you said they were waiting for our opinion?!" Morvayn said as his guards drew their weapons while the Legion drew theirs.
"As you can see by Paragraph 2 "This agreement is not in effect until all Councilors have given written and unforced consent. No coercion or forceful tactics can or will be made by the Legion or its soldiers to influence a decision". I have yet to force you or coerce you into signing it." Beril said as his soldiers sheathed their blades.
"I will not sign anything until I know what exactly is happening to our ore. I will not be allowing you to have anything that could be turned against us." Morvayn said as Beril didn't even flinch.
"You both did not hear this conversation correct?" Beril asked to the soldiers flanking him.
"What conversation sir? Last I checked we were ordered to watch over a storeroom." One said as the other nodded. Despite their best efforts, a small chuckle did escape Morvayn and Arano.
"Carry on then." Beril said as the two soldiers moved a respectful distance from him before Beril turned back to Morvayn with a serious face. "I think that you will be more than eager after this to sign our agreement."
-Scene Change-
"Use your wahrok- your tail, to balance when you move. Your weight will crush your wing if you do not use your tail to counter that shift in weight distribution." Paarthurnax said as Marius gave a yelp as his wing felt like it was about to be pulverized from his weight. "Perhaps a better approach would be to allow you the opportunity to figure out how to control the different parts of your body," Marius was about to speak but his scales began to fade and his skin burn off as his shape began to fold in and a cloud obscured him from view. Another painful second later and Marius was back in human form and on the ground passed out. "Or we can pick this up tomorrow."
"Rok praag wah kos zuk fein daar." Vulonnah said as Paarthurnax grunted.
"Mu kent kos prem uv voz niidro pah fah nid." Paarthurnax replied as he carefully picked Marius up and deposited him on his bedroll.
"Her patience may run out." Vulonnah stated as Paarthurnax sighed.
"Then we must make sure he is ready."
And we will end it right there. Things have started heating up and Aldy is about to wipe out another chapter of dark history and the Legion has a project in the works. What project requires a lot of Ebony and what is happening now that the Thalmor have been on the receiving end of their own medicine? Find out next time.
Nothing else to say except give your feedback on the next planning story!
Translations courtesy of Thuum . Org
Tol los fahvos hi los tul nahlaas – That is why you are still alive.
Wahl joor motaad ahst hin uld – Make the mortals tremble at your might.
Wahrok – Tail
Rok praag wah kos zuk fein daar – He needs to be more than this.
Mu kent kos prem uv voz niidro pah fah nid – We must be patient or else it's all for nothing.