Chapter 15: Stesha Alone
AN: Welcome back to The Old Kingdom and Alterim.
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"You are now in the Arcanaeum, of which I am in charge. It might as well be my own little plane of Oblivion. Disrupt my Arcanaeum, and I will have you torn apart by angry Atronachs. Now, do you require assistance?" Was the voice that welcomed Stesha into the College's library. Urag Gro-Shub, the bookkeeper.
The Arcanaeum was built of stone bricks with bookshelves implanted in the rounding of the antechamber like they were always apart of the walls. Several books floated around the circumference and several scroll-crafting and spell-creation tables lined the room. A long table over a rug in the center with outlets from the centering walls allowed him to peak into the other sections of the library. Several lanterns and candles illuminating the space. - Urag himself was a greenish grey Orsimer with a balding topknot and gold mage robes that dragged on the floor behind him when he walked.
Stesha mentally rehearsed his sentence prior to speaking, "do you know any spells that can uhm… help me disguise myself or influence people into looking the other way?" His nose twitched.
Urag's visage drew downward into a slight scowl. "Why? What exactly are you intending to do, boy?"
Stesha scratched the back of his neck. "I'm trying to help the college, figure out who's behind these attacks. I have a lead but in order to confirm it I need your help. The other professors just aren't as amicable as I've heard you to be." He hoped that was enough to convince him.
Urag steepled his fingers over his desk. "Very well, Stesha, was it? – Tolfdir has mentioned you on occasion, along with that bookworm friend of yours, Gwendal."
"You must have him mistaken for someone else. Gwendal isn't much of a reader… at least I don't think he is." Stesha watched as Urag stood from his chair and traced around towards an encased brown bookshelf with green glass panes covering it.
Urag opened the drawer and plucked a book from it, dropping it on the desk. "Here, if you need help with the hand movements, I'll be right here."
"Thank you, sir." Stesha slightly bowed.
He opened the book and studied the ancient aldmeri symbols for tas and rin. Tas signified coercion, while rin was a symbol for healing. Stesha copied the fingers as printed in the text, his three middle fingers sticking up while his pinky and thumb jutted out in an awkward angle. While rin was an inward crunching of his digits for a healing spell. Stesha practiced them and they came out better than expected.
"Nice." Stesha smiled.
Urag grabbed a handful of his beard and combed his long nails through it. "Listen, boy… I don't know what your plan is… but it wouldn't be prudent of me if I didn't make sure you were safe." The Orc seemed to weigh his words within his mouth. "Allow me to teach you some spells to defend yourself in case you run into trouble."
Stesha shrugged. "Sure, why not."
"There's still some time before supper, so let's see what we can get done." Urag plodded to the other side of the atheneum. It was blessedly empty today.
"I gotta ask before I forget though," Stesha intervened. "What's the quickest way to Oceanglow? Should I board a train?"
"Aah, you wish to go to the underwater city. The fastest way there would be hitching a ride on a flying whale." Urag crossed his arms beneath his breast.
"How do I find those?" Stesha gave a sidelong glance.
"Climb the sludge mountains towards the Statue of Azura, ingest some joy snow and you'll attract them to you. I have some you can take, but you'll have to do a favor for me." Urag stroked his beard again.
"What's that?" Enquired Stesha.
"There's a certain book – Night of Tears, that the uhm… Jarl of Oceanglow possesses. I would be grateful if you could retrieve this tome for me in exchange for the joy snow," Urag explained.
Stesha clicked his braces a few times. "Alright, but why do you even have joy snow on you…"
Urag gave him a stern look.
"Alright, alright." Stesha waved him off with a flew placating gestures. "Now, these spells?"
Urag caroused a few books laying nearby on the table and recited an incantation in what sounded suspiciously like old aldmeri. A blue spell, sparkling like electricity charged his hands. "This is a lightning bolt spell. Go ahead, try it." He sheathed the magic.
Stesha recited the invocation and copied the precise hand movements, but nothing came of it.
"No, wave your fingers like flames, you're curling them too much," Urag instructed.
Stesha tried again and this time a blue ball of volts electrified his hands. He could feel the tingle of electricity tickle his palm. The power surging through him.
"Very good." Clapped Urag. "Now I'll feel a lot better about you venturing out into the unknown."
"Thank you, sir." Stesha shook Urag's hand. "You're a good man, I appreciate your help."
Urag waved him off. "Don't sweat it. Just get my book for me."
"You got it." Stesha winked and pointed a finger unconvincingly at him, one hand on his hip.
He headed out of the library after Urag gave him the joy snow, spiraling down the stairs and out into the courtyard where a service for Ilas Tei was being held. All of the students and teachers were gathered there in a circle around a burning pyre, the flames ascending to the skies. The clouds were pink, and the sun was setting over the vivid blue ocean. It had been a very long day, but it wasn't over yet. Stesha felt bad about not attending the service but what he was doing would ensure no one would ever be harmed by the snake rider ever again. He pressed the purple orb at the end of the island and was teleported back to the city of Winter Hold.
Stesha exited the capital of Skyrim and trailed over the ice bridge, shivering in the cold as the aurora borealis diffused into the sky above. A myriad of colors reflecting off the firmament beautifully. Tendrils of light shining brightly, their rim touching the sky.
I could really use some skooma. His insides clawed at him. This joy snow better hold me over.
Big butterflies and floating jellyfish bobbed around the sludge mountains. The peaks drooping over as a drizzle sloshed the clay downhill. Stesha lifted his feet up and down the muck towards the big hill, wading his way through the grey slush. It was beautiful tonight, and a thousand winds sang a symphony of Skyrim. Of the battles that had been hard fought. The history that was etched into the ground. And of the people that bled for this land. The downward portion of the landscape morphed into ice near the shoreline. Towering walls of glacial verglas with mammoths and giants prowling through. Stesha continued up until he arrived at the towering, grey statue of Azura. Her slender figure holding up an eight-pointed star with a gem encased in the center. The star's points curving like stems.
Stesha took out the small packet of joy snow and poured it in on the table in front of the statue. He rolled up a scrap of parchment and snorted the drug into his nose. A wave of something hit him off balance and he laughed giddily. A burning sensation tickled the back of his throat.
Stesha stared at a small peak made of clay and thought he saw a face there. The snow forming eyes atop the greyness. "Well, hey there. You've come out to play today. But have it your way, ain't ya say?" Said the mountain.
"Joy snow brings out the fun in everyone!" Squeaked a butterfly as it danced on Stesha's shoulder. "Oh, won't you join us in a song?"
Stesha hiccupped happily. "I'm sorry but I can't miss butterfly. I need to find a flying whale." He dizzied.
"I got you!" The butterfly zoomed off, flapping its patterned wings.
Stesha waited a while then he saw something swimming through the sky. A blue whale. A large aqua-colored body with a pale underside and tendrils sticking off its massive flippers. It lowered itself near Stesha and he climbed on, seating himself on its center. The whale spun around and soared through the sky, flapping its flippers to gain traction in the air.
Stesha's eyelids popped open when he saw the view of Skyrim. Spires of ice that reached to the sky, dwarven ruins and ancient towers in odd spots. Frozen waves in the ocean reaching fifty feet in height. They flew over the remainder of Vetrbyr hold and into The Pale. This subregion between Drekaholl and The Pale was called the Pink Sea. Hills made of pink flower petals, pink trees, and pink bushes, endless pink sculpted the heart of Skyrim. A giant flower forest awaited them next within the confines of the Pale. Flowers of all shapes and colors the size of large houses decorated the northern holding. He continued to fly, searing past mountains of ice and mountains that looked like ice cream mounds. Snowmen dotting the hills until they passed the massive arched city of Solitude, its whole outward gates constructed of ice. It was all snowy here as they struck over a forest of frozen forestry toward the northwestern shoreline. Somehow the whale without asking had sensed where Stesha wanted to go, perhaps they became spiritually or mentally entwined thanks to the joy snow.
Stesha pet the whale and it breathed calmly at him, blinking slowly. He gazed over the purple coastline under the nighttime sky. There was a fort on a secluded island way ahead and some icebergs in the sea along with snowberg islands. A portal of snow elven make rested at the edge of the shore near Icewater Jetty. Stesha stepped through the wayshrine and walked out into a domed underwater city; Oceanglow.
The dome seemed impenetrable and protected the city from flooding. Stesha staggered through, observing the colorful plants popping through and small ball shaped edifices and homes elevated on large coral reefs. He stepped through a section of the municipal that was a coral forest and promenaded toward the large glass palace in the back. In the mold of a hexagon. The Sea Elven guard wore styled, silver elven armor, holding halberds.
"Remember, no sudden moves. You're now in Potentate Orion Cympoleia's domain. This is Northshore hold, a territory of Pyandonea, not Skyrim," advised the guard.
Stesha nodded and entered. The palace was comprised entirely of glass and shimmering tiles. It was conjoined with the city's wall so there was a full view of the outdoor sea through its windowing. A swordfish and a few dolphins and seals swam by followed by a school of shrimp. Stairs led up as Dreughs stood guard for the Potentate who sat on his throne at the tippy top of the rise. Stesha ascended the stairs toward him. – The impromptu Jarl of the independent city-state had greyish-mauve skin with white bangs and red face paint over one eye.
"Well, if the gargoyle king wants to play. Then play he shall to no dismay!" Orion cheered in his high-pitched lark. He wore royal blue robes with a black vest and cloak.
Stesha bowed before him.
"And who's this? Does he deserve a kiss?" Orion laughed out loud, hopping up and down in his royal chair.
"My king, uhh… I was hoping you could let me take a book from your library… uh, Night of Tears," gulped Stesha as his stomach felt queasy.
Orion's expression shrunk then his grin stretched to the ends of his ears, threatening to break his face in half. "Night of Tears you may have if you give me a blight of smears…"
"What?" Stesha's eye twitched.
"You can have the book… but tell me… what do you know about the Night of Tears." Orion's grin increased… if that was even possible. It was rather creepy.
Stesha searched the libraries of information within his brain. "Wasn't it when the Snow Elves assaulted the Nords in their ancient settlement of Saarthal?"
"Saarthal is a rotting ruin buried under the snow… there's no proof it even exists! Servants, get him the book. Chop-chop." Orion clapped his hands and the Dreugh butler scuttled away. It's massive, hulking figure stooping down the hall.
Stesha glanced around nervously, avoiding Orion's one-eyed stare from under his bangs.
Orion seemed to grow restless in his gilded, bejeweled throne. "Ooh do tell me you'll join us for some biscuits and a spot of tea!"
Stesha side glanced as the Dreugh scurried back, its legs making a ruckus over the linoleum floor. It handed him the book and Stesha bowed again before the king. "Sorry sir, but I really must be going." He tucked the tome into his knapsack.
"Oh, you're no fun!" Orion dismissed him.
"Before I go, may I use your washrooms?" Stesha used his thumb to scratch his lip.
"Yes, yes." Orion shooed him away.
Stesha scampered down the small steps to their left and into the doors on the righthand side. The bathroom contained black and white tiles, stalls and dwarven sinks. There was a manhole in the corner.
This should take me to the sewers where the Synod are hiding out.
He climbed down the ladder and came into a sewer system made of magically enchanted glass. The glass was charmed so it could never break, judging by the lack of cracks. A similar enchantment had been utilized in Wayrest Château. He could see through everything, fish swimming behind the glass and beneath the walkway. He spotted a tunnel up ahead that emptied into a stone hallway. Stesha picked his feet up and down the waterway until he made it through and was in a classic shale dungeon. He heard whispering coming from the room ahead. Stesha cast the illusion spell Urag taught him and traded out his clothes for a pair of spare ones lying on a wooden stool.
This must be where the Synod are secretly conspiring against the college.
The uniform matched, black with a skull over it. Something a necromancer would wear. Stesha pulled it over his undershirt and made sure the hood was far over his head before packing his blue college robes within his pack. He creaked open the door slightly and slipped in.
There he was: the snake-rider. Long white hair and black, braced armor. Several hooded members of the organization stood around, dawning the same necromancer robes as Stesha.
"Mannimarco, is it true Vanus Galerion was your brother?" Asked Mirabelle Ervine.
Stesha did his best to hide his expression. Mannimarco… the King of Worms is who's attacking the college?! And Mirabelle and Sergius are traitors! Sergius and Mirabelle stood among the Order of the Black Worm.
"Yes," Mannimarco purred. "Many fools thought the Champion of Cyrodiil killed me, but the truth was that I survived. Now, in order to stop the coming wickedness and onslaught, we must reforge our Order and take the resources required from the College. There is simply no other way."
"What's coming?" Sergius squinted.
"Something wicked this way comes," Mannimarco said, curling his fingers. "A dark threat looms over Skyrim, and it will spread to all of Tamriel if we don't stop it. Have you not heard the whispers of a sickness in Dawnstar? We will save Skyrim and then we won't be forced to live in the shadows like this. Thankfully, we still have our insider in the College in case Mirabelle or Sergius get ousted."
So, there's another traitor in the college… I wonder where that amphithere is?
The room went silent. It was made of macadam bricks, bijou encased within the center with low lanterns and candles in brackets illuminating the expanse. Water leaking through the ceiling in a small drip, drip, drip on the floor.
"Now, there is a certain pest among us I wish to extinguish." Mannimarco pointed his finger ahead.
Stesha's heartbeat skyrocketed and he stepped back. The Worm King, however, pointed at a different Breton. A scrawny, ugly thing with a scruff and gelled brown hair.
"Mathias Bradlyn, you have failed me with your reports. Your inane scribblings are incomprehensible and because of you I did not receive accurate reports about the College." Mannimarco grabbed the Breton's skull and broke it, killing the man as he squabbled onto the flagstones.
Mirabelle cleared her throat, "Savoss and Tolfdir are onto the Synod. They believe the Synod are trying to attack the College. They are unaware that the Skyrim conclave is a front for the order however."
Stesha breathed deeply. So, Savoss was right. The Synod are involved in this… but this can't be the real Synod from Cyrodiil. No, this Synod is a fake conclave, a front for the Order of the Black Worm. Stesha looked around some more. Aside from Mirabelle, Mannimarco, and Sergius, everyone else here must be apart of the Skyrim Synod, he realized. The Synod would never come to Skyrim, the conclave in Winter Hold has to be a front. A hideout for Mannimarco.
The King of Worms stepped over the limp body of Mathias. He brushed his hair over his shoulders. "Those of you in the Synod, return to your conclave and rehearse the chart notes. We need a suitable weapon to break into the College. It is up to you to find it before our next meeting here."
Stesha secretly slipped sideways out into the sable foyer. I need to warn the College.
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AN: Haha, Mannimarco is the antagonist of the College of Winter Hold Act. However, he is NOT the main villain of the story. That has yet to be revealed! Thank you for reading, please leave a review. ;)